Gossip Column           Business Directory            Classified Ads         Bulletin Board
Arrest Record          Island History           Key Deer           Recipes           Island Information       Maps
Advertise Here         Live Web Cam            Archives           Home           Daily Horoscope


Archives of Old Kudos and Whiners

November 2005

Wednesday November 30, 2005


Today is the official end to Hurricane Season. Hurray! I don't think I can handle much more. I'm still surprised how the rest of the country doesn't know how much we were damaged by Wilma.
I would like to know how it is ok for the person who accused the Winn Dixie manager of getting two women pregnant while working. How does this person know when a particular woman conceived? Even if this person was one of the supposed women, how could they know for sure when another woman conceived? And what is allowed by the editor to be said about someone? This is a vicious rumor that could end up hurting this man's career and family. It's all fine and dandy to whine and b*tch about matters that affect them, but to disparage a man's name and reputation is uncalled for. More than the fact that you should have included that person's email address, I think you should ban them from participating on this site.
Cute manager at W/D in Marathon. So he used his cuteness to score girls. Are you jealous? I am.
How have the flea market family contributed to the community for 35 years? I'm not criticizing, but someone said it yesterday and I'm curious.

Ginger, AKA Spinny, Spin-Boldak, Snora-Bora, Old Gal, Spinderella, Herm, Hermy and Girlfriend et al.  She went to Doggie Heaven one day shy of her 15th birthday.  She was (is) much loved.  So Long Old Gal.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn
louder."
Ed: Graphics are seasonally apropos.  You do a good job. Many Thanks for continuing to be here.  Good Day. (Ed: thanks for the flag.)
To the person who responded to the denial of torture using a quote regarding torture statistics by Army personnel. You didn't cite where this quote came from. I don't know where it came from and I have no way of knowing if what you say is true. What I do know is that the US Army and Dept. of Defense does not tolerate torture or abuse of prisoners. Recent high profile courts martial cases and countless investigations support the fact that this type of behavior is not tolerated. Obviously, it has occurred and guilty parties have been court marshaled. Now are you more proud of being an American?
Calgon. Take me away!


I'm going to miss the "Hello Neighbors, Hi Bubba's and Hello Sweetheart's" I heard almost every day for the last 11 years.  You were amazing.
Here we go again. Iraqi diaper-heads have kidnapped peacemakers. Why on earth would anyone voluntarily go into a war zone in a militant country where your head could be chopped off for having blue eyes?
Come on Ed.  Enough of the Bacon Grease Lady already.
I have to share this information with everyone who is calling the 800 number for DirecTV. Last week I called the 800 number for DirecTV, and they told me that my installation would take about 2 months, then my neighbor told me about the Phone Depot who is a local DirecTV dealer. I went to the Phone Depot here in Big Pine, and filled out a work order, and that same week I got installed. These guys are great, and it seems that not too many locals know about them. So, here's the scoop guys, call the Phone Depot. You can't imagine how happy I got when they showed up on the day and time frame they had given me. Thumbs up guys, keep up the good work!
$100 Reward for Bright Orange Tabby Male Cat, Semi-Long Hair and Orange Nose.  "Snooty" has been seen around Eden Pines and has been lost from his Wilder-area home since Wilma.  Owner is heartbroken and his other furry friends too.  Please try to pick-up "Snooty" and ring Cathy at 797-0892.  He is trying to get Home and needs your help. 
animals available this week:
1. Carter is a Shi-Tzu mix who LOVES everyone -- extremely friendly and affectionate, and cute to boot!
2. Mimi is a gorgeous Pit Bull mix who loves to pose for the camera -- and she's very photogenic.
3.  Parker is a Chocolate Lab who LOVES to swim.
4.  Tico is a big guy -- part Great Dane who would do well with a lot of attention.
 
Come see these and our other fantastic animals at 10550 Aviation Boulevard, Marathon, or 279 Industrial Road. 
 
 And don't forgot our low-cost spay/neuter clinic, scheduled for December 4th at the Big Pine Clinic.  For more information, or to inquire about any of these fantastic pets, give us a call at 305 743 3779.
I'm disappointed that not one person has spoken against our use of torture. it appears that most of the responses are based solely on revenge and Piners agree with our use of torture.
Kind of makes you think about how little time we all have on this earth, and how valuable it really is. Try not to waste it.

A lot has been going on with the Mile Marker 24 gang. We are in Las Vegas as I am writing this and we are looking forward to heading back to the Keys later this week. We are then off to Nashville next week to start work on our new CD. This will be released in March.  We will keep you posted.

 

Also, we are excited to return home this weekend and will be playing our favorite place. The Looe Key Tiki Bar on Ramrod Key. We will be there both Friday and Saturday night. December 2nd and 3rd. If you are in the area, please stop by and party with us. As always, have a free margarita on the band. Also, we have a lot of new Mile Marker 24 apparel that we will be selling. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross.

 

Also, Howard Livingston will appear live on US1 Radio on Friday December 2nd at 10:00 AM eastern time. Tune in on the radio or over the Internet at www.us1radio.com. He will be performing one of our new songs to be recorded in Nashville next week.

My cat is a big pussy and afraid of rats. He saw one of the Key's big rats and hauled ass in the other direction. I guess he implied that I am on my own with the rat problem. I heard a rumor that if you keep a New Jersey woman in the house, the rats won't come near the place, but then there is the NJ woman to deal with. I have to think about which is worse.
I will raise my doughnut everyday to the guy who likes big women. Here's to you!
About the people who got money from FEMA that really didn't get affected from the storm. That's true and the people who got lots of damage got 0 dollars from wonderful FEMA.  Yes, I am one.  I pay $500 a week in taxes and they said to me, "Sorry, but you get nothing."  It's a shame. 

I am tired paying taxes and always get stepped on.  Here we go, people don't want to work, they get food stamp and money and a disaster happens and they get lucky, but we get stepped on with all the high paying taxes and high insurance.  We are just rewarded for being hard working people who love to live a good life.

To the person who wrote about the manager of Winn Dixie that got the two girls pregnant. Get it correct because the new managers there are new.  They seem to be very nice and very good looking, I agree.  That's a big plus.  They are young but you can really call them eye candy.  Stop being so negative. Trust me, it's not that fool that got the two girls pregnant.  I couldn't stand him myself.  And I agree the store looks so much better but the health and beauty section need some stocking.  And be thankful we don't have of  lots of Haitians working here that don't speak English.
They do make a car cover for older cars but it really is a kind of large waterproof bag that you do drive your car into. It's like a giant-sized waterproof rafting wag. (?)
I am curious. Has anyone actually seen a big woman eat? In public they eat salads and drink water. Where the heck are they getting all the calories to support their ever-increasing mass? Are they like air plants or something? What the hell are they consuming? Is it safe to stand near them?
I think they should call the car baggie a car condom, or for you infomercial loving folks, "Kar Kondom." It would come in lubricated and non-lubricated styles. Bonus points: it also could be used for keeping your Cow Palace Heifer dry during a rainstorm. I suggest selling them for three payments of $19.95, but wait, there's more...
Ok, Sorry about the car bags, I can spell, I just can't type Ok. Some antique dealers do indeed use them to protect their $500,000.00 cars. Yes, they do drive over them and then bring the sides up to form an airtight bag.
Anybody that thinks the flea market should go is out of their friggin' mind. It is a great community asset.
Re: W/D. Please indicate which W/D you are talking about. We don't want the BP W/D manager confused with the Marathon manager, James (also known as the man with many wives and under age teen heart throbs.) Sadly, everything that was said yesterday is true.
A word about rat poison. Yep, the rats die inside your walls and stink for months, they really stink. Worst than that is when they crawl outside to die and one of our prey birds swoops down and eats the rat, the rat poison then kills the bird.

The lady at Wild Bird Rescue tells me that rat poison kills more birds than anything else around. So let's use traps. Rats love raw bacon, just tie it on with a little dental floss and use a baggie, latex or rubber gloves when removing the dead rat. I know, I know, traps are a pain but we really need our birds. After you've done a couple you'll think nothing of it, plus you'll have "bragging rights."

 If you can spare a buck or two, I'm sure the Wild Bird Rescue lady can use it for food and medicine for the sick birds.
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like a fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action. - George Washington
To the person talking about the injustice of the tortured terrorists. You are still missing the point--We don't care!.
I have been extremely happy with my Metro PC phone.  There are no contracts (can’t find that anywhere else), can call anywhere, any time, for as long as you want, you get all of the extras, voice mail, text messaging, etc.  for like $5 a month.  It’s a great deal. The only bad point is service only goes to Palm Beach or so, but if you don’t leave too often, like me, your good to go. 
What's this about homeowners not being allowed to rebuild after a hurricane because it's considered new construction and FEMA won't insure for flood? All because of the endangered deer? Whatever happened to "government of the people, by the people, for the people?" Maybe it should be "of the deer, by the deer, for the deer?
To the guy who wanted to bring his family to the "Oceanside Swimming Hole" on Big Pine Key. Don't do it. You are referring to the Blue Hole, which isn't really oceanside at all and is occupied by a large crocodile. If you let your kids swim there, they will become lunch for the croc. Or maybe that's what you really wanted.
Conch & Stein reopening?  I doubt it.  They were losing their arse with crummy food and lousy service except for the Tiki bar out back.  The Tiki was their one and only redeeming quality.  Don’t look for them to re-open anytime soon.  And, thanks to Monroe County and their oppressive rules, it’s doubtful anyone else would buy the joint and try to make of go of it. 

Stand by everyone.  As one business after another closes and no one can afford to buy in and deal with the county Gestapo it won’t be long before U.S. 1 looks like a boarded-up slum.  Of course, that will make the tree huggers and the Big Pine Watchdogs more than happy
Can someone tell me who Joseph Nuck was?  I moved from Eden Pines a few months ago.  My neighbors name was Joe,  a very nice man.  I never new his last name.  Was he the guy that walked his dog down Bittersweet every morning,  I believe he was originally from Astoria NY.

Wednesday November 30, 2005

 

Tuesday November 29, 2005



A sincere heartfelt thank you from Joseph Nuck's daughter Monika Wittliff and family for all the kindness you have shown us since we have arrived. My dad's service will be held at St. Peter's church on Wednesday November 30th at 4pm. Any cards and flowers can be sent to the church.
Re: In denial of torture. "During the past few months declassified documents and testimony from Army officers show that torture and abuse of prisoners has become widespread since 9/11. 44 prisoners who died over there while in US custody show signs of torture. Autopsy reports on them use words like "strangulation," "asphyxiation" and "blunt force injuries."

Certainly a reasonable person can ascertain from the Army's own documents that we are torturing prisoners with more than bright lights and loud music. Lights don't cause blunt force injuries or strangulation. Or do you deny any report that disagrees with your view? If this is the kind of America you want there is nothing I can do.
FEMA benefits. I have a neighbor who lives on stilts and had no wind or water damage. How is it she has received cash, new washer, dryer, food, etc.?  And the people that really have lost can get nothing.  I do believe this is called fraud, or am I wrong?  Maybe all of us tax payers should get together and make our government aware of who they are.  Shame on you low life's out there, not always but sometimes what goes around does come back around and you know who you are!  Watch out.  









Re: rat problem. Just get a cat.  It'll run all your rats out in no time.  Keeps them away too.
Can someone tell me how to get to the Oceanside swimming hole in Big Pine Key? My wife and kids looked for it last week and couldn't find it. We live in Tavernier and our kids were really looking forward to it.
I think it is sick that someone is talking about how cute this new manager at Winn-Dixie is. You need to realize that this is the same guy who got two different girls pregnant on the clock while working! He was taking them in the upstairs conference room and bending them over while they were supposed to be working! Winn Dixie just brushed it under the rug by making one girl work at a different store. How cute is he now?
I would like to know who wrote about the flea market and how they would be glad if it was a ballpark. Well it has been a vital part of Big Pine since 1981 or 1982. Yes it has brought a lot of traffic to Big Pine but it has also kept the snowbirds on Big Pine too. Instead of them going to Key West for a day of shopping they stay here.

I think that if you want a ballpark you should give up your place of business so that they could make one there. Watson park has been there for at least 25 years and no one has tried to do much improving to it. I don't see snowbirds spending the day at the ball park eating and shopping and spending their money on the island. The family that owns the property where the Flea Market sits is a fine family and they have contributed to the community for 35 years. Some of them have moved away and some are still in the community and those that are gone still monitor the nasty things that you locals have to say.
Of all the islands in all of the Caribbean , why do the Stupid People have to come to Key West?  Many fly here, others come by boat, but many, oh, so many, drive.  Be it on a bicycle
or a scooter or even walking. Oh, yes, they walk into the sides of buildings, into cars, into each other, but far and away the worst thing they do is drive, or maybe, stop...like on the 7 mile bridge and say "Oh look Marge, water." Or make left hand turns from right lanes without even looking, or running stop signs and lights.  And they're impatient. They pass on the left when a double yellow line is there, or on the right into the dirt. People get killed this way.  So citizens all
be warned. To drive up and down the highway is to risk your life, and to, God forbid, enter into
Key West borders on sheer insanity.
Big kudos to Big Pine Liquors. You guys have done a hell of a job with the lights. Looks great and I'm one who knows about Christmas lights. Signed, Mike of the Christmas truck.
To the person stating that our Senators and Congress do not pay into Social Security. This is totally false according to Snopes.com.  It's another one of those urban legends that keep circulating on the Internet.  I wish people would check these things out before spreading more crap.  Check out the link below. http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/pensions.asp
I was really sad to hear that my account executive for 98.7 Conch FM and US 1 Radio 104.1 FM, Roberta DePiero, was retiring from the Radio station. She has been an asset for our business for the last five years. She was truly a pleasure to work with for our advertising needs. I have always loved hearing her from the many remotes around town and could keep up on the happenings in town.  I don't think the new management knows what they are losing. I understand she will be working with her husband as they are staying in town.
Metro PCS is a great company. Quick and easy and very cheap too. But don't go to the one in Key West next to Lantana Ins. Company. They are rude and slow. The Big Pine store is a great one. Good luck with it. And, no, I had service all over, besides like a mile off the island in a boat. If your a Picnic Island fan, don't even bother taking it out there.
Joe Nuck will be missed by all. His friendly hello's made a new comer feel welcomed to our community in Eden Pines.
Kudos to the person praising the BP W/D.  We work hard to keep it going under all kinds of
corporate problems.  Yes, we do have a good manager and hope he stays for a long time.




Has anyone met the guy who likes us heavier girls? I would be curious to know if he is for real or not. Any feedback postings will be appreciated. I'll post too if I meet him. Thanks Girls.
I wouldn't mind a ballpark instead of the flea market. it sure would improve our traffic problem.
Do not gut your downstairs enclosure if it is more than 4 years old. Judge Payne ruled the county cannot force you to gut your downstairs.  Nor are you to be harassed by code enforcement. Check the ruling.
I am moving in a week. I need some traveling money. Anyone need a hard worker for a few days? I will do most anything. keywestbarter@yahoo.com
Dear "Pissed Off Across the Pond"... On the Greg Proops anti-Brit thing– Well, I posted the quote mostly because it was Thanksgiving-related comedy. Greg Proops is no pseudonym. He is a stand-up comic, (that particular quote was taken from his half-hour stand-up special on Comedy Central). He garnered recognition from the British improv show "Whose Line is it Anyway?" with Clive Anderson, (and eventually joined the show's move to the U.S. with Drew Carey). Mr. Proops also voices Bob the Builder. He's been on several BBC specials, (he lived in England for quite a while). And, if you can honestly tell me British comics don't mock the U.S., that's just a steamin' shovel-load. Don't get your knickers in a knot... it's just comedy. www.gregproops.com
Re: A true friend. A true friend is one who has never left to start with.
If anyone in Port Pine Heights lost a blue/green wooden row boat with a shark painted on the bow and a skull and crossbones on the stern and misses it, they can pick it up on Blue Lagoon St., south west side, about half-way down the block, near the canal.
I enjoyed the picture of the Cracked Egg!  I'm a tourist and I enjoy seeing pictures of the places that are discussed here. I hope to get back to the Keys sometime and it helps to know some background on places I hope to visit, or not.
Re: Congress and social security/retirement pensions.  I'm not sure who sent in the drivel regarding Congressmen not paying social security and how pensions are calculated but that note is just plain wrong!  Versions of your gripe have been floating around the internet for several years and are considered an urban legend.  If you're interested in knowing facts, here's a link that explains what Congressmen pay and how their pensions are calculated:  http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/pensions.asp.  As far as FEMA budgets are calculated, remember the Federal budget is signed into law months before the hurricane season begins.  I suspect there are more than a few people around who didn't plan their finances adequately this hurricane season given the number of evacuations, etc. 
Retired folks:  We do it because we earned it!
They're back!  I was at the Cow Palace the other night and I heard loud grating voices coming from a table engulfed by several Rubenesque women whining about everything in the Keys. It turns out they were snowbirds from New Jersey. Big surprise, no pun intended.
Who is the guy on the Harley Road King with the flames? That is the guy who changed the tire for the old couple down by Bahia Honda. That was somebody's parents coming to visit, and they wanted to thank him too.
A true Southerner knows that "fixin'" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
Re: Auto Baggie Reward. What a misguided person is who wrote that insulting post saying that a plastic cover for antique cars would suffice to protect our vehicles from a flood and then saying that if we read the news we would see this.

A car cover is made to go over a car not under it. You would not be able to drive a car onto one. Where in the news has it been written to use car covers to protect from floods? Also you spelled "Duh" wrong. It is d-u-h not d-a-h. Do you feel good insulting someone you don't even know over such a petty issue? A better person would have said the same message in a kinder manner and it would have been received with less hostility. At least you didn't accuse me of being a tourist.
Anyone thinking of getting Direcway satellite internet should know that you have to wait forever for installation, (if they show up at all) and then a few months into that a technician has to come out and fix the dish because they haven't worked out all the bugs yet.  When the tech does come out, he complains about the company and how nobody tips. (we tip)  Then the billing dept. won't give you credit for lost time because their equip.. wasn't working right and they can't get anyone to come down here.  Wait a few more years and maybe a better company will come along.  For now, you're better off sticking with your land line!
(Ed: I think satellite internet is very slow.)
I hope they do open a Dunkin' Doughnuts in the Winn Dixie Plaza. That way the cops would be automatically drawn there, to their natural craving and need of doughnuts, rather than hanging out in front of the bars, pre-spotting cars and watching them leave the parking lots. Hic!
Re: ...anti-American stinking butt. Calling a writer anti-American for not condoning torture is a perfect example of how far America has deteriorated from our founding ideals.

Can you print this? To a wonderful and loving person who has been by my side through some very hard and sad times. I love you Rick with all heart. Have a wonderful birthday. Love, Tammy xox

Tuesday November 29, 2005

 

Monday November 28, 2005
Thanks again to the Southern Most Abate Chapter, and all the folks involved in yesterday's Toys for Tots run. That was awesome and a great day for it. A lot of good people and good riding! Oh, and Nancy ain't over 40. He, he, he.

Joseph Nuck.  He lived the American Dream.  He loved life, people and America.  He was a wonderful friend and neighbor and will be missed.  I always considered him to be the unofficial mayor of Eden Pines.  Rest In Peace Joe.
This game is slightly addictive. I couldn't stop until I placed all 50 states in their proper locations. Place The State - Intermediate

In denial of torture. The so called “Torture” issue is nothing more than the ultra liberal press running amok with a nothing story just to sell their media product.  No one has been “tortured” in the literal sense.  So some of those animals we’ve captured have gotten slapped around a little bit or some G.I. crapped in one of their holy books or we played loud music to break them down for information. So what?  Remember the 3000+ people that died at the World Trade Center?  The real problem is an American media hell bent on selling sensationalism for the sake of a profit.  The captured Taliban fighters deserve anything we can throw at them to get the intelligence information we need.  F**k the rag-head animals!
Local banks:  Like a lot of others, I lost my vehicle in the flood.  I went to my local bank (TIB) and inquired about a car loan for a replacement.  I was told to fill out an application and it would take 24-48 hours to get an approval and the interest rate would be “somewhere between about 6 and 18 percent” depending on my credit standing.  They were offering no special rates for flood victims. 

Meanwhile First State bank was offering special, low interest vehicle replacement loans with quick approval and the Keys Federal Credit Union was offering same day approval and 100% financing for replacement cars.  I am now in the process of changing banks and will be leaving TIB after many years and taking my accounts and future business to First State

Want to know why there's no FEMA money? Ask these guys.

Social Security: Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.

You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their "own" benefit plan. In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan.


For all practical purposes their plan works like this:

For example, Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275, 000.00 during the last years of their lives.

This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two Dignitaries.

Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives. Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. Nada, zilch.


This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal "Senator" Bill Bradley's benefits!

Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. That change would be to: Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us then sit back and see how fast they would fix it!

They have a similar medical plan. Take away their medical plan and very shortly hereafter we would have national health insurance.

I would like to thank FEMA and all of the regulation drafters in Monroe County for bending me over and shoving their inane and needless rules and regulations up my behind.  Because of them I now have to gut my downstairs enclosure.  It was never used for living, had no water, bathroom or meaningful furniture.  Just a window unit to de-humidify the air and keep my stored things from getting too rusted or mildewed.  Monroe County is getting more and more like a communist/dictatorship state every year with us already overburdened taxpayers getting more and more abuse.  And, hang on people, it ain’t over yet!
Re: W/D Manager. Oh, yes. Good looks always goes hand in hand with good service.  Thank God the manager's cute. Does he speak English?
Congrats on an appropriate choice of flag for Black Friday and the Shopping Season.
To the individual who is ashamed to be an American because during war, the beheading Muslim SOB's were "tortured" in Iraq. You can leave this great country anytime you want. What's keeping your anti-American stinkin" butt here? Go live in Iraq with your murdering Muslim buddies. Bye!


Those speedboats by No Name Key on Friday were loud and annoying, but they sure do look like fun!
I remember when you had to travel to Marathon or Key West to go to the supermarket. So, all this crap about a good looking clerk or manager at the Marathon Winn Dixie, is just that---crap. Be thankful you have a Winn Dixie in BPK. Think of all the moaning and groaning we'd be hearing if the BPK store closed--as 200 others have. And give credit where credit's due: We have a decent supermarket here, and don't care what the manager looks like!
 
This space is sounding more like the Citizen's Voice every hour.
I would like to comment on the idiot criticizing the police for stopping people driving 15 to 20 mph over the limit, instead of those who drive safely under the limit.  The posted speed limit is the maximum, not the minimum.
 
If you are going to be late by obeying the law, stop being a lazy A-hole and get up a little bit earlier. This way you have time to get to work on time and maybe even enjoy your drive to work.
The return of the bacon grease lady.

Thoughts from England. Can I remark on the entirely false diatribe by the obvious English hater Greg Proops.  (Why the pseudonym).  The English have never thought that all Americans were fat and stupid.  It stands to reason that some are slim.  As to sending all the Texas Militia, Hate groups and gun toting weirdoes here, that is obviously not possible.
 
The reasons for this are 1) There is is simply not enough room in the British Isles. 2) Texas would be empty.
The person quoting the origin of P&Q is half right. The customers who ran a tab and let it run out of control were warned to watch their P's & Q's.
A ball park in place of the flea market is a good idea. And maybe a pool and a decent park and playground for the kids too.
Re torture. Unfortunately it is a fact of war.  We only get to hear what "we" are doing; god only knows what is happening to our guys that get detained.   
To the person with the picture of the cracked egg. You have nothing better to do than take pictures of that dump. I think you better get a life.  Why are you so hung up on the the egg anyway? Are the waitresses your girls? Do you go to AA with them or something? 
Why is it that illiterate people like you say personal when the rest of us say personnel?
The one time I ate at the Conch and Stein the food sucked so bad I really hope it stayed closed.
Has anyone else noticed that on the billboard for Winn Dixie right past Skeeters boatyard, there's a Dunkin' Donuts emblem)?  Are they going to put a Dunkin' Donuts in the plaza?  That sure would be great on a Sunday morning.  Go out and just grab some bagels or donuts for a late breakfast.  The people that own the bagel shop in that plaza are never there and they aren't open on Sundays. 

With so many people coming out of church and just having a lazy Sunday, you would think that Sunday would be one of their biggest days.  There are days when I just wish I could have a cup of coffee and a good donut.  I don't think that a Dunkin's would be such a bad idea.  There are no local businesses on the island that serve donuts, bagel sandwiches and coffee, so no mom and pop's would fret.  What say you Big Pine?
Let me tell you this about a young person.  My husband is 67 yrs old, he get's up at 5:00 a.m. 5 days a week and goes to work as a carpenter.  We have a thirty-something person with children who lives next to us and keeps us up all night long several nights a week. I would usually call it a potty mouth but this young person has a sewer mouth big time. Now who are the rude ones here?  I hope if you get to live to be a retired person you won't have to put up with this type of treatment. These young children next to us have a very bad example being set for them.   


Auto Baggie for flooding. Why should you get a reward. Maybe for being so slow to realize that car baggies have been out for years for storing antique cars. Dah! Start reading the news.

Monday November 28, 2005

 

Sunday November 27, 2005
If you flea market venders are so dependent on the property for a living you should get together and buy it. If  you don't, you have no one to blame but your selves. 
What you call torture I call Justice.  If that is what it takes to get the information needed to save even one American life I say torture every suspect.
Thanks Jason for making our thanksgiving day the best ever. He played for our private party on BPK and rocked the place.
Why is it that retired folks always get up early on weekends and make as much noise as possible? The people that live near them that work have only 2 days a week (if that) to catch up on some sleep. The retired folks don't have a job and can do what they want any day of the week.


There is a new Group on the music scene. Their name is More than 4. They  play everything from Country, Folk, Rock, Island, and Contemporary Christian Rock.  The group consists of 2 guys and 2 girls.  They are very good musicians with great vocals and stage presence and they are a breath of fresh air. Keep an ear out.
I have a suggestion for the person bashing the local musicians and bands. Stay home and listen to the top 40 on your radio while the rest of us enjoy the wide variety of live music we have here in the Keys. The musicians here do support one another. You, who sits in a place of judgment, stay sitting--at home.
Flood prevention. I have to admit the car baggie is one of the best ideas I have seen.
I should care if a people that have no trouble torturing and beheading their own people; as well as anyone else they can get a hold of including American soldiers get tortured? Nope.  Sorry, I don't care. Should I give a Smoot?
Yeah, the Winn Dixie store in Marathon looks good now. I guess being a good store manager and having good looks goes hand in hand.
It wouldn't break my heart for the flea market to be sold and made into a ball park. It's just for snowbirds anyway.


The Bird flu strikes Donald Duck.
I am Joppe Douwes from the Netherlands. I am a certified taijiquan (tai chi) instructor. I am on the board of the Dutch and European Federation, and the president of the CHIMAN (all Dutch Chinese martial arts organization).
 
My stepfather owns a house on No Name Key. I will visiting No Name Key and Big Pine key from December 16 thru January 10. Maybe it is possible to organize a workshop or seminar taiji? Hope to hear from you,
Is the Conch and Stein going to re-open? I think it is a disservice to the community to remain closed. There are only a few places to go and I hope someone will open it back up.




Kudos to Steve Estes for his editorial on the three stooges, Dixie, Murray and Sonny. My guess is that this will be their last term.
Jason will be playing a solo show at The House of Music, Sunday Night at 9:00pm. Locals and tourists should catch this live performance on the inside stage.
Why does nobody clear the stones from in front of their property on the bike path? It is their stones on our bike path. The stones in front of Breezeswept stumps are a danger! These stones are your stones not our stones. Are you stoned or just to lazy? Maybe you should get stoned and do it. Maybe we should stone you to do it.
I too am very proud of the two children helping to hand out food, ice, and water after the storm. They are what keeps me going through all the hard times.  Michael Sr., Michelle, and Michael Jr., Mommy is very proud of you. I hope you get lots of lights this year. Mike, I have already donated some and hope all the other people do too. The lights have been in our lives for over 5 years now. And hopefully many more to come; no matter where you all go.
PS. 143 and I miss you all so much. Take care and have Happy Holidays!
People should be pulled over for going 10 to 15 mph over the posted speed limit, being local or non-local  doesn't matter.
Sunday is the Toy Run. We're hoping you all can join the fun and the spirit of this holiday season with us--and Santa.
Hopefully she's a "double breasted American".


Palm pilot.
A true friend is someone who walks in the door when everyone else is leaving.
Cracked Egg. Yep, it's got yellow all over it. They're called shutters and doors. It's refreshing to see we have moved to the outside of the building now. Soon we will get a full description of the parking lot.


On this day in 1942, the movie Casablanca had its premiere at the Hollywood Theater in New York City. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," and, "Here's looking at you, kid."

Re: Vehicle. Why is it that only emergency and law enforcement personal say, "vee-hic-al" instead of "ve-ik-al" like everyone else in America does?
All the bands here simply rule. To the person who is not happy: how's about a new pappy? If you make pappy happy then you would not be unhappy.
&'s. Mind your P's and Q's. In English pubs, ale is ordered by Pints and Quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them “Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.” It's where we get the phrase “mind your P's and Q's”
Royal Newman?  He died, he's dead, he's probably going to stay dead.

Sunday November 27, 2005

 

Saturday November 26, 2005
Kudos to the News Barometer for telling it like it is and calling the County commission's triad of power a "cabal" and referring to some of their contentious rulings "bone-headed decisions." Way to go, Steve!
America the land of torturers. I'm ashamed to live in a country that condones torture. I'm not leaving so Bush had better wake up and change his policy or he'd better leave. This is not my America.

During the past few months declassified documents and testimony from Army officers show that torture and abuse of prisoners has become widespread since 9/11.

44 prisoners who died over there while in US custody show signs of torture. Autopsy reports on them use words like "strangulation," "asphyxiation" and "blunt force injuries."

Is this our beloved country? Piners are worried about killing iguanas. You should worry about humans and impeach Bush and his henchman Cheney.
But, you have to agree, the Cracked Egg is a 1/2 step up from Marathon's Wooden Spoon. As many codes that we have to deal with here; I can't build something without a permit, but they can operate like that. Maybe that is why they serve Pepsi.
Thanks a Million to Marathon Vet Hospital who saved our pets life this week.  Wow, they are all the best. Early prevention is the Key to keeping your critter around for as long as possible, so if he starts to throw up, not eat or "go" normally, please take your pet to the Vet immediately.  It's nice to have such a great Vet over the Bridge, who didn't break our pocketbook for the Holidays.  Thanks to Doctor Stephen and the compassionate staff.
All the bands here simply rule. To the person who is not happy. How's about a new pappy? If you make pappy happy then you would not be unhappy
The Cracked Egg's parking lot is full because someone keeps spreading a rumor that there is a storm surge coming and the Cracked Egg's parking lot is the highest point on the island. I know who said it. It ain't funny. Yes it is.
She is not a "babe" or a "chick" - she is a "breasted American."



Does anyone have any information about Royal Newman?  I understand he passed away in about 1998 or 1999.  Any information is appreciated.  I used to work with him in Illinois before he retired to the Keys and was wondering what became of him. 
Our good George Nugent went public saying that they want to buy the flea market to put in a ball field. Well, duh, we went though this before. Show us the money!
Please do not scare us 100 locals that we will be out of business and might have to move away to make a living. We live  here, we love it and would have to move away because they won't let us put a flea market any where else. We are your neighbors and you all support us and if the flea market was gone--we'd all lose and we'd have to move to somewhere that allows us to be in business. Please, dear county,  make my future not suck. I love the Keys and want to stay here and even voted for you.

Ha! I knew someone would say something hilarious to the yellow building comment.  Yeah it's white but it has bright yellow all over it.   Whatever...get a life!
I hope Monroe County is putting aside some money to pave No Name Key Road.  The dump trucks that are carrying fill dirt out of the quarry are destroying it.  It is going to be as bad as Key Deer Blvd. very soon.  No back scratching is going on with Monroe County and the developers is there?
Where have the airplanes, helicopters and trucks been that work for the mosquito control?
Someone wrote in about wrapping your vehicle up in plastic making a baggie to keep the surge water out. When you do that, you have to make sure that the blue side and the yellow side make green when you seal it, or it won't work!
I just heard the FHP (Florida Highway Patrol, that is for you snow birds) are going to pull over and write up people going 10 to 15 mph over the posted speed limit. If the FHP are looking for more money or revenue they should pull over and  ticket drivers going 10 or 15 mph under the posted limit. They (police) would make more money from the people who don't live here year round, and drive under the speed limit. Idiots in front of us locals trying to get to work on schedule. The locals do obey the speed limits, and we're the people that live and work here for you out-of-towners who cause these laws. People from out of town, get a grip!  
I was looking up a unit of measure called a 'smoot.' Don't ask why.
 
"The bridge in Cambridge, MA that leads from the MIT campus to Boston Proper (named the Harvard bridge, strangely) is measured in smoots. One smoot is 5.58333 feet, the height of an unfortunate fraternity pledge named Oliver Smoot who was used to measure the bridge in 1958.

The bridge's length is 364.4 smoots, plus one ear."
To the person that wants to know what to do if the kid unbelts and opens the car door. Answer: Give it a push!

The Cracked Egg does have bright yellow on it and is very noticeable when you drive by. Duh,  maybe you should put the crack pipe down, my man.
Probably the reason the comments about the Cracked Egg dropped off is that the busybody is trying to find where the dishwasher with the clean bare feet went. Strange they were so well informed about day to day changes there if they found it so bad. Personally, I think it was a ruse to chase off other customers so they could find a seat for themselves.
I went to the Nextel Cup race this last weekend and I met this person at the KOA campground named Cyril Kallabah Fish. His picture is enclosed in this email. He did say that he doesn't represent any terrorist community because he is a member of the Fugowee Tribe. Thank you Big Pine Race Fans!
Regarding “Moving on Up” – Would you please enlighten us on how you can get conventional financing on flood damaged real estate?  If it’s financed, you must pay for insurance.  We would like to know what bank and insurance company you intend to use to complete your conventional financing transaction.  We would like to change banks and insurance companies to the organizations you use.
I am beginning to think that someone is trying to stir up trouble down here with their snide little comments about bands and musicians. The folks in the bands around the lower Keys all tend to respect and support each other.  It is rare that you hear any negative comments from them about other bands. I would suggest that people not respond to any negative comments about musicians or bands. Let's not play this person's stupid game.
While my wife and I were honeymooning in Hawaii, at dinner one night, I noticed a man wearing a No Name Pub shirt. I decided to strike up a conversation. I mentioned I lived on Big Pine. He said he usually stayed at one of his friend's many properties in the Keys. (He put special emphasis on many properties... I decided I might regret talking to this guy). Then, he goes on to say that he mainly comes down for lobster mini-season and he takes pride in disregarding the limits– loading up as many coolers as he can. (Yup, I disliked him immediately). Nothing like traveling that far to meet the same kind of knucklehead I could find down here during mini-season. Weird story. I thought I'd share it. Hope everybody had a great Turkey Day!



To the person who thinks you can't earn a lot cleaning windows. I live in Big Pine and earn $25 an hour for cleaning homes and rentals including windows, sometimes more than that.  Lazy people will pay what you ask so they don't have to do it themselves.
I don't know about other people's rat problems, but I know for a fact that when I poisoned the little buggers living in my attic, some of them decided to neglect their great thirst for water and died up there. Maybe they did it just to piss me off, but it took about a month to get the smell out of my house.
Does anyone know when the Boot Key Harbor Christmas Boat Parade is going to be held this year? Or not? There are so many rumors going around. Is it true that the parade is being cancelled this year because everybody on the Harbor is in a bad mood after Wilma? Or because all the boats sunk and their Christmas lights were contaminated from salt water intrusion? Or because the Dockside is now off limits to locals? Can anyone shed any light on this important question?

Saturday November 26, 2005

 

Friday November 25, 2005
Prevent flooded cars. Lay a plastic sheet on the ground, drive your car on it and then tie the ends together making a baggie for your car. Easy, cheap and it'll work! The rising water will compress the plastic against your car preventing that nasty sea water from doing any damage. Brilliant, I should get an award.

Yesterday the turkey was stuffed, today I'm stuffed. What great food and company. We hope everyone ate as well.
Re: Rats. Can't you read? Use the rat bait traps. They cause insatiable thirst in the rats causing the them to leave your house in search of water. When they drink the water they die outside of your house. What don't you understand about that?
Only a brilliant person or a total cynic can be above belief. how's that for profound?
I was in the Kmart parking lot and was amazed at how many new cars and trucks have temporary dealer plates on them. One more flood and there won't be any old cars around.
Friends are not your personal employees.  Do-Me-A-Favor friends live in voice mail land without call backs.  Especially the ones requesting heavy labor or a chore which takes up several hours of your time after you haven't even talked with your "friend" for a week or so.  I don't rely on friends to do my work, that's what the paid professionals are for.  Before I help, I ask myself, "Would they do the same for me?" and "Would I have the nerve to ask the same of them?"  Sadly, the answers are no and many of the Keys people have agendas which are sorely and sadly one-sided and all about them.
Is it still the law that we're supposed to remove doors from discarded refrigerators? If it is we're all going to jail. I think that law was passed in the 50's when they used mechanical latches on refrigerators and a child couldn't get out if it closed. Now they use magnetic strips that are easily pushed open from the inside.
Louisiana is one of twenty states without building codes. That's pretty scary for a state in the hurricane zone.

The traffic light at Sugarloaf School is the fastest light I've ever seen . It only stays red for about ten seconds.
I've been so unhappy since Wilma I wish all this would be over, but I have to realize that I'm never happy. I'm not unhappy, but I'm never happy. It might be my old age. I'm not ever depressed--just not happy.
Yes, James at the Marathon W/D is cute. What has that to do with being a good store manager?

Can anyone tell me if PC Metro cell phone service is as good as Cingular? Are there any dead spots in the Keys? I need a new phone and would like to buy it on BPK.
Am I the only one who has not even seen or heard from a flood adjuster? Fidelity is our carrier. We are homeless. Waiting patiently, anyone else waiting also?
FEMA sucks big time!
Port Pine Heights is a stupid name. It's lower than many other parts of Big Pine. If it was the heights it wouldn't have gotten so flooded.



I guess I struck a left wing wacko nerve.  This is great!  Merry Xmas from the Big Pine Key NRA club.
Movin' on up! I am hoping someone out there can help us out. We've outgrown our current home and are looking for something larger. We are a hard-working 10 year local family. If you are considering selling your flooded house "as is", we are the buyers for you. We need 3 bedrooms and a big yard, preferably fenced. We like ground level, but it is not a must. Storm damage is not a problem. Your fixer-upper may be our dream home. We would consider anything from Sunshine to Rockland Key. We prefer owner financing with payoff within one year to give us time to fix your place and sell ours but conventional financing is okay, too. Email us at bigpinerogue@hotmail.com


Without a doubt, Bo is the best guitarist and showman in the lower Keys. His show keeps you coming back.
Re: Mikes Christmas truck. I think it's wonderful what he does everyday to help the community. The time he donates to help each and every person he can, takes care of his two great kids, putting a smile on kids faces is a great gift. Mike, we all need one about now. What you do is wonderful. A drop box is a great idea. Keep the Christmas spirit Babyboy. 
Eden Pines neighbors would like to express their deepest sympathy to the family of Joseph Nuck at the loss of their beloved father, brother and grandfather.  The community will not be the same without him.  We love and miss him.  Our prayers are with you during this difficult time. Sail on Joe until we meet again.
Taking a child for a car ride to calm them down may not be the best way for all. If the child doesn't sit quiet and grabs the wheel, if they kick the dash with their feet, ball their fist and hit the side window, is this something good while driving?  Taking a child for a car ride could prove to be catastrophic if the child unhooks the belt, opens the car door while you are driving and attempts to jump out, what do you do? How would you handle all this and drive too?  

Is it possible that the confines of the car makes you as the controller more in control?  It's a small space and maybe you feel they will listen better when they are strapped into a car seat belt and just a foot away from you?  Could this control be the only way that your child will listen to what you have to say, at least until they get out of that car again?  My child was sat down in their room where it's safe and talked to in a calm manner explaining the consequence of their actions and why.  Your way may have worked for you but some children are more unruly and one way doesn't always work for another.  Just another opinion, not a criticism.
Re: Laser surgery.  I have been told that they will not perform this operation on anyone over 65 years of age.  It is offered all over the place but the best eye care in the country is at Bascon Palmer in Miami.  It is operated by the University of Miami.  Give them a call as they have so much business they won't try to scam you.
Hey, Ed. What happened to the Christmas truck video? (Ed: I couldn't upload it. Sometimes I can sometimes I can't. I haven't figured it out yet. As soon as I get caught up with flood damage repair I'm going to upgrade my website software and I hope that'll make it easier to display sound and video. Stay tuned.)
Re: lights for Mike: I went to so many houses in Port Pine Heights I'm not sure who you are but I'm glad that I could help you after Wilma. I pride myself on helping other people in times of need and that was a time of need. Plus my kids loved it. Helping other people is all they wanted to do; we would wake up and I would ask, "What do you guys wanna do today? We wanna go help people with ice and water like we did yesterday." I'm very proud of them with all my heart.
(Ed: What no Cracked Egg, barefoot comments today. What's wrong? Who's next?)


If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?

Friday November 25, 2005

 

Thursday November 24, 2005

Commissioner Murray Nelson says that the new ruling preventing property that holds endangered species will set back affordable housing 10 years. Commissioner Nelson, there is no such thing as affordable housing in the Keys and there never will be. It's just impossible. What is possible is protecting the environment. Don't you get it yet?
Regarding the FEMA and  Red Cross benefit cards. I saw people buying a new Play Station for a spoiled kid, large pink shrimp and a bunch of non-priority things with those cards.
 
I've heard another person in the store even asking a manager "I've got this card, show me a nice expensive steak to buy."  I am not a proud taxpayer who refused to get a card, I've been  working hard since the hurricane to cover my losses. I didn't have a chance or the time for filing one of those applications.


There have been improvement at Winn Dixie in Marathon because of James McGuire. He is soooo cute.
Re: Xmas truck. Mike, where can we drop off the lights and what type do you need? Piners we can purchase lights here on BP  True value, WD, CVS ,Bell's, Ace Hardware all sell Christmas lights.
Re: rats in the house. Tree huggers would never protest killing those rats because the types of rats that enter homes are non-native pests. If anything, tree huggers would appreciate your eradicating any invasive exotic, plant or animal.
Re: The Cracked Egg a bright yellow building? Its a white building. Man you need to put the crack pipe down. Wow, some of you people are way out there.
To the guy who refuses to clean yard naked. I would really appreciate if you can tell me exactly where I can earn $15-25 per hour washing windows. For me it sounds unreal, unless I should wash it naked.
Re: rats. To the person that uses the d-con pellets. Wouldn't one want to seal all holes in their house? Why would you leave them an avenue to come and go?  I want them gone without dealing with the funk of dying vermin in the walls.  So far I've had no luck with snap traps baited with apples.  Raw bacon maybe?
Eat all you want! Happy Thanksgiving.
To the music critic.  Where are you playing? You must be better than everyone you slammed. Let the people know where you are playing so they can judge you for themselves. My guess is  you don't have a gig and that speaks for itself. So put up or shut up !
I got a laugh out of the "Hook Up" classified ads being posted then decided it might be a good way to meet someone. If your a big girl and looking to play, check out the ad.
Re: Christmas truck. I'm trying to go with a theme this year of solid color strings. I need the icicle lights in red, white and blue. Garland lights in the same colors. It is complicated to put all the lights on the truck making both sides match and make it look good, but after years I have come up with a good plan. Also anyone with Christmas music CDs. If they can burn me a copy of all the popular songs that would be great. I have lost a lot of them that I had last year. (flood)
 
I had close to 12,000 lights in all I spent almost $1000 last year in just lights alone. $150 on the attachments to mount them and about $600 in fuel. 
 
You can donate lights or a gift card to Kmart or CVS or Home Depot (they have the best selection) for lights or other things such as a lighted train or Santa. All money or lights donated will be used on the truck. People who have seen it in the past know that one year I had an 8 ft Santa in the back. I've had a train on the top blowing smoke. Every year is something different. My cell number is 305-395-0379.  I work at Napa and I can meet with anyone at anytime. PS 143 and I miss you.
I live on Pig Pine and like a lot of us living here work and live paycheck to paycheck. Four hurricanes cleaned me out of mad money not to mention I lost everything. I am not whining but the fact is that The Red Cross, FEMA and SBA are here to help us in some way or another.  It has been a month now and I still haven't heard anything from them.

I am not looking for a hand out although this is our tax dollars at work. Patience is short and the holidays are upon us. We, as a community here in the Keys, I wouldn't trade for anything, but it cost to much money to live here anymore. We need to continue to stick together as a community. We have it in us.

For the displaced on Big Pine. Has anyone gotten a trailer yet? Remember we're dealing with FEMA/SBA/Bush administration. Need I say more? On that note, everyone have a great turkey day. And for the garbage pickers: One man's garbage is another man's treasure. Maybe someone needs it worse than me.
Has anyone had any experience with Laser (glaucoma) surgery? My 92 year old mom wants to have it done. I can't find anything about it.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving everybody!
A few friends and I ate at Parrotdise restaurant the other day and the food was great, but the waitresses and bartenders need to get rid of the orange juice containers that say "concentrate" on the side because we were totally ignored for the longest time. There were only 6 people at the bar, four 4 tops and 2 waitress, 1 barmaid and a food runner could not handle it. To the owner: you need a waitress meeting of the minds if there are any.
That barefooted dishwasher really doesn't bother me as long as he doesn't come out of the kitchen, hold my fork in his toes and try to feed me.






Happy Thanksgiving to all the folks in the fabulous Florida Keys, the out islands of the United States of America.
Re: Ugly dog' Sam dies at 14. I'll miss him he kept the snowbirds out of my yard.
Someone told me today that the Big Pine Coffee shop has two theme songs, Aerosmith's "Dude Looks Like  a Lady", and Eric Clapton's "Cocaine." Man, that's funny. I'm still laughing.
I agree there's too much band slamming here. All I hear is how fat Bo is. Who cares, he can play.


Re: Outdoor Xmas decorations.  Don't worry your wife will find someone else to hang her decorations, maybe nail her too.
I doubt very seriously that the guy who gave the review of the local bands is a musician because he made a positive comment about the Reiffersons. They are not very good.  The worst thing I have heard was a trio at the Tiki about six weeks ago with two guys playing guitar (not sure about the one guy, if he was actually playing) and a gal singer. I don't know what they called themselves but it should be "The don't quit your day job trio"
Re: The dishwasher quit the Egg.  Maybe they told him to put shoes on and he quit to find another barefoot job.  I agree with the person about why the parking lot is always full. The place looks nice from the outside until you walk inside.  I have gone in there and they weren't even serving breakfast. I was, like, " But your called "The Cracked Egg" how can you not serve breakfast? The damned place is only open 'till 2pm.
Re: They want me to clean up crap naked. Oh, I very much doubt that.
To the person looking for a computer repair person. Todd at Computer Nation in Key West is Great. I do not know if he makes house visits.
Re: Bad Bank. I bet I know what bank you use.  Is it 3 letters?  I used them and they suck.  They hold everything including cash.  Change banks like I did. They are not all that bad.
As you open your pockets for yet another natural disaster, keep these facts in mind: Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross's salary was $651,957 plus expenses. Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary, plus numerous expense benefits.

The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization.

Thursday November 24, 2005

 

Wednesday November 23, 2005
The biggest improvement at W/D so far is there new manager Robert ,he is most helpful
and friendly.
Haven't you ever heard of mail service people going postal?  Their job is stressful and if you haven't done it, or lived with a person who works for the post office you couldn't understand what they go though.  How about your newspaper delivery person, do you tip them?  They get up early and get off early to supply you and they are just doing their job too.  Most people are just doing their job each day.  A TIP to your postal person is something one chooses to give or not.  Why does it have to be money, couldn't you give some small gift just in appreciation?  I got a letter from the United States White-house and my delivery person brought it to the door.  I thought that was most thoughtful, not sitting in a mail box or bending it in any way. Do you tip a baby-sitter, they may have been extra caring to your child, over and above.  If you choose to be particular on who gets your tips you could argue the point endlessly.  Do you deduct the tax off the balance of your check to give the percentage you give?  You don't want to tip on the tax do you?
I again want to thank Mike (Big orange truck) for going door to door in Port Pine Heights, with ice and water, the day after Wilma. I never met Mike before he knocked on our door that day, but knew of him because of the Christmas lights on the truck. He has done much for our community and think we all should do something for him in return. Lights for Mike. If it is alright with Mike, I would like to start a drop off box where people can donate Christmas lights for your last Christmas with us here in the Keys. Maybe it can be the brightest one yet.



The wife wanted me to put up some outdoor Xmas decorations that would compliment the ambiance of Big Pine Key.  I think I nailed it!
About the mail person. I was not receiving my mail for a week or so. I had discovered later that mail person thinks my mail box is blocked by my yard waist (few tree branches and palm leaves about 6' away). But she never left any notes about this and I was wondering where my very important letter was. She also never comes up to the house if I have a package or something for signature. She leaves a note and I have to go to the post office. So I have to sit by the window if I want to catch her in time and get my packages.
Re: Help us clean up our streets and roads. Trust me, these people aren't cleaning our area for a favor; they make very good money at it.



Big Al Roker. He's the man.
Reliable computer tech: Brian Zirkelbach in Marathon. He's worked on my home computer and those of many of my friends and acquaintances whenever needed for five years now and also contracts with my company as well as many others in and outside the Keys. The work is good, he knows what he's doing and is flexible to your schedule. He can be located at the Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys, where he works maintaining their IT system.
Trafficated. (v.tr.) A state in which the roads are packed so full of traffic that it is beyond what normal bad traffic can describe. Example: The highway was really trafficated today!


Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?
Re: Rats. To the person with rats in their house. don't use poison. The rats will die in the attic or between the walls and stink the house up for a long time. Traps baited with pieces of apple and peanut butter work well. Just make sure you don't tell the local tree huggers what you are doing. They will protest.
Re: Lights on your truck. How many can we fit on there? Let us know so we can go shopping.

Many times I've been asked the following question: As a cop and a successful parent what's your opinion on "Using Reason vs. Spanking?"

My response has been as follows: Most of Americans believe that it's improper to spank children and though I was raised by a spanking Mexican mother, I have tried other methods over the years to control my kids when they were having one of "those moments."  

One that I've found very effective for me was to just take the child for a car ride and talk with them. They usually calmed down and stopped misbehaving after our little car ride together.

I've included the photo below of one of a session with my son, when he was younger, in case you would like to use this technique. It was very effective! I hope this will assist you!  Ciao Amigos.
Re: Rats. Use d-CON mouse and rat poison granules. They work very well. The rat eats the poison and craves water so it leaves your house to find water. As soon as it drinks water it dies (out of your house). I've been controlling rats with it for many years. You can get it at W/D.
What do you think of the school teacher that was bonking a 14 year old student and got caught and convicted and was not sent to jail because she is too beautiful and jail would do her harm? If it was a man they would call him a pedophile and notify the neighbors when he moved into a neighborhood. a beautiful woman--they think it's cool.
Re: Banking query.  Find yourself a local girl.  From there on you won't have to worry about your money at all--you won't have any.
I was at the Cracked Egg this morning. It was great as usual although they were operating without a dishwasher, imagine that. The barefoot guy who was a wonder doing dishes with his bare feet got pissed and quit. I thought my plate was a little dirty this morning. Come back barefoot guy, I miss you.
Well, here it is two days early– because I plan on spending my Thanksgiving stuffed to the gills, curling up with the new wife and a bottle of scotch, and watching a DVD marathon of Mystery Science Theater 3000 like they used to have on Comedy Central, (some may remember that). It's my own goofy tradition. I'm also not sure if our editor will be posting tomorrow. Anyhoo... enjoy your Turkey Day, fellow Piners! Good food & fun to all! See ya next week.

BPK Funny Fridays "Turkey Day edition"– Because if humanity is the turkey, laughter is the stuffing. Or maybe if humanity is the mashed potatoes– laughter is the gravy? Humanity/pumpkin pie... laughter/whipped cream... dammit! Now I'm hungry!

If you're at Thanksgiving dinner, but you don't like the stuffing or the cranberry sauce or anything else, just pretend like you're eating it, but instead, put it all in your lap and form it into a big mushy ball. Then, later, when you're out back having cigars with the boys, let out a big fake cough and throw the ball to the ground. Then say, "Boy, these are good cigars!" ~Jack Handey

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-time takes twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.
~Erma Bombeck

Third world countries, where people go to bed hungry every night, must find us rude. We have a national holiday where we stuff food... into other food. ~Bill Maher

Most turkeys taste better the day after Thanksgiving... my mother’s tasted better the day before. ~Rita Rudner

"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!!!"
~Arthur Carlson (WKRP) After having live turkeys dropped from a helicopter as an advertising stunt.

I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land. ~Jon Stewart

President Bush is planning on spending Thanksgiving out at his ranch in Crawford. And you know how he always pardons the White House turkey? Bad news for the turkey: There are three cabinet members ahead of him. ~Jay Leno

What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children?
"If your father could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy !"
~Some 6-year old

We're taught a lot of lies about American history growing up. And one of the chiefest lies we're taught is about Thanksgiving. Right? Ever since you were little you heard this: "The Pilgrims left England to escape religinimous persecution and to seek religious freedom in-im-in the New World!" And even when you're little, you're like, "Um... bullsh*t? You're just saying that, right?" [singing] 'Cause it sounds better than the truuuth. La-la-la-laa-la-la-la-la-laa! It sounds better, and it tastes better, so we'll all pretend it really happened! There were no women or minorities! Just a bunch of white guys wearing wigs... -–My feeling is, the Pilgrims were asked to leave England. England was never funner than when the Pilgrims split, right? The people of England got a little tired of these dour, right-winged conservative psycho-Christians wearing all black, bumming people out, confusing everyone by wearing buckles on... their heads. "Is that tight enough for you, Cotton?" "Yea, verily." Finally, someone went, "Hey, I've got a crazy idea! Why don't you freaky little weirdos get in a rickety, leaky, dinky little boat and get the f**k off the island, huh? Sail around until you hit the New World, when you get there, commit genocide on the indigenous people, all right? Have a groovy time. Have a witch trial, let us know how that works out for you. We'll be back in England, having the Renaissance in case anyone needs us." So, they send this group over, right? With guns and Bibles, and no farming implements. How English is that? "Oh, surely there'll be a shop open..." "I say, Squanto, can you make us some baked beans on toast?" They send this group over. Then, I have to hear this all the time in England: "Well, all Americans are fat and stupid, mm-hm-hm-hm-hm." Really? Well, thanks for sending over the best and brightest to start the party! Maybe we can send a few freaky, Texas, militia, hate-group, gun-toting weirdos back to your country!
~Greg Proops

David Letterman's Top Ten "Changes Planned for This Year's Macy's Thanksgiving Parade"

10. Anatomically correct Spider-Man balloon.
9. Potholes filled with delicious cranberry sauce.
8. Goodbye N.Y.P.D. marching band– Hello fat guy with an A.M. radio.
7. Popeye balloon now sporting several new obscene tattoos.
6. Porn shop owners marching with helium-filled inflatable dolls.
5. For the first time, parade will feature guys in turkey suits stuffing each other.
4. Instead of smiling and waving, Santa Claus gives spectators the finger.
3. Local schoolchildren ride down Broadway on the backs of giant rats.
2. Before an audience of millions, Bob Barker will neuter the Underdog balloon.
1. Willard Scott's brand new gravy-scented hairpiece.

David Letterman's Top Ten "Thanksgiving Movies Playing In Times Square" (mind you, this is from 1997).

10. "Pantsless Pilgrims"
9. "The Full Squanto"
8. "Basting Amy"
7. "Starship Hooters"
6. "I Know Who You Did Last Summer"
5. "That's Not Stuffing... But Don't Stop Stuffing"
4. "John Grisham's THE GRAVYMAKER"
3. "Boogie Nights"
2. "Martha Stewart Has Too Much Champagne"
1. "Pantsless Pilgrims"

P.S. On CBS.com... they had a Letterman's Top-Ten List contest for their website– "Least Popular Thanksgiving Pie Flavors". I entered "Under-the-Fridge Pan Cobbler".
To someone who is looking for a Computer Tech. Can you describe what's wrong with your PC and what's the problem ? I guess I know one.
I plan on helping the Christmas Truck Guy out and the community should too. He has spent many hours making it fun for all ages. He has put a lot of love into making the lights a part of all our lives, no matter what situation you were going though. Baby boy, let us know how to donate to the light fund. I will be the first to help out. It has been a part of my life for 5 years.


A quick note to the band critic: I have noticed that people that slam bands down here are usually frustrated musicians that haven't got the social skills necessary to function in a group. Some of these folks are excellent musicians, but they just can't get along with people. I would suggest that the band critic do a solo act.
To see these and our other wonderful pets, stop by the Marathon Shelter at 10550 Aviation Boulevard in Marathon, or 279 Industrial Road, Big Pine.  Or, drop us a line at sufapets@earthlink.net
Re: banking. Your bank stinks. Get a new one.  They shouldn't hold cash and they shouldn't hold state checks, for heaven's sake.
Re: Christmas Lights. I also agree with the fact that the Christmas lights need to go up after  Thanksgiving. Christmas has become a "selling" holiday. That is sad that the stores are in such a rush to get the Christmas stuff out--some even before Halloween. The Christmas season is coming upon us quickly, and yes there will be lots of shoppers in the usual rush to get all they can. The reason for the season is to celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us be thankful for what he has done for us. He died for your sins and mine, what have you done for him lately?
Also, the fantasy fest celebration. They are not called "church people." You know, the ones you say you are tired of them whining about fantasy fest. They are "Christians" those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Don't bash them because they do not attend or condone the behavior at FantasyFest. Nudity, drinking, sex, swearing, fighting, etc. Of course those of us who do not condone it will not attend and those of you who enjoy that kind of stuff will. God gave us all free will, and we all know what is right and wrong in this country. And we all will have to answer to Jesus for what we have done with the life he gave us. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and your Christmas.








All right ladies, form a line to the left please.
In reference to the FEMA whiners. Here's the way it works for receiving the FEMA freebies. All you have to do is disregard insurance coverage for your vehicle and dwelling (plus a poor credit rating) and the freebies will come pouring in. Weeks after Winn Dixie was re-opened, I saw people at the disaster center hauling out their free water, ice, red cross cleaning kits, and stuffing them into their Lincoln Navigators. Well guess who sooner or later will have to pay a share of this government handout? The taxpayers. So keep on sucking it up at the trough, the bill will be coming soon. Signed: a taxpayer who was too proud to take charity, and too stupid to have insurance.

The reason that The Cracked Egg is always busy is because it’s a bright yellow building and it’s called the Cracked Egg if you didn’t know any better (tourists) you would think it’s a nice place to stop for breakfast.  You’ll be thinking twice once you go inside
Some guy offered me $7.00 hourly to clean up after the hurricane. How can someone live on that? With the septic overflow $7.00 an hour would not pay for the clothes to work in. I guess they want us to work naked. I don't understand it. A girl can make 15 to 25 dollars an hour washing windows and cleaning house. They want me to clean up crap naked.
Nearly one in eight of us will be on the road this Thanksgiving.  Stay safe and drive sober!




Ugly dog' Sam dies at 14. No one will miss him.
Muskovy ducks. I would take the eggs and put them in the freezer. That way you won't have those nuisances crapping all over your docks, walkways, etc. I know what pests they are from personal experience, and they are non-native.
Is it just me or is this a contradiction in terms? "Re: Darren Bell. No he is not in prison, he is free like a bird. He even got married last Wednesday."

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,
and May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs.
Disgruntled visitor. This has to be the dumbest and most useless CENSORED website I have ever seen in my life !!! Not all the people talk CENSORED but for the most part that's all this website is about. Haven't you ever hear " If you dont' have anything nice to say then shut the CENSORED up !!! " If you have something to say say it their faces like a real man !!! I'm Rick James, CENSORED !!!
What's the best thing about dating a homeless women? When your done with her you can drop her off anywhere.


Another news anchor bids adieu. So long Ted Koppel, thanks for a job well done.
Keys Sea Center has oil mixing cups that will show any amount of oil to mix for most quantities of fuel.




On Nov. 22, 1963 President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a
motorcade in Dallas and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th president of the United States. Where were you?

I’m more of an Uncle Jesse kind of gal.
Where is the picture of fish at NASCAR this past weekend? Jason, do you have them? What's up are you still sleeping? Fish fans want too see them.

Wednesday November 23, 2005

 

Tuesday November 22, 2005
Banking query. I'm a former Keys resident, check kudos and whiners often, and notice you can usually get general knowledge from other readers. This question is kind of boring, but I bank out of state and have lots of problems and don't understand their policies. It's a private, local bank and they hold my money more than I'm accustomed to.  Out-state-checks are held for five business days, they say. If you put your check in on a Monday before 2:00, Tues=day 1, Wed=day 2, Thurs=day 3, Fri=day 4, Sat and Sun don't count, Mon=day 5.Tuesday you can get your money out, but only after 2:00.

So, I live paycheck to paycheck like many Americans and maybe it's just me, but that felt like almost 9 days. I have bills to pay. Are the banks just using our money to make money? Also, when you put money in your checking account at this bank and have a debit card, it takes 24 hours to be able to use your card when you're at the store or the ATM.  I.E. I put money in my account on Mon, but it was after 2:00. So that deposit goes into Tues. batch. It begins processing Tues. at midnight, sits until next midnight, finally Thurs. it was available after 2:00, of course.

Now does it seem weird to you to put your own money (and it was cash) in the bank on a Monday and not be able to use your ATM/debit card until Thurs. afternoon? I know, I probably need to get a good job and be able to make enough money to not have to bitch about this, but sh** happens and I don't, and I'm stuck with this pain in the a** bank. Is it just me or does it not seem quite right.    PS, god forbid there is a holiday and the Federal Reserve Bank is closed, it's like pulling teeth to gain access to your money. They've even asked me for my i.d. when I've been depositing cash into my checking account.  If I'm way off base, just tell me I'm crazy.
Does anyone know of a reliable Computer Tech to come to my home to work on my PC?
I saw a dead deer yesterday on Kyle Rd in Port pine Heights. The vultures were having their way with the carcas. i wonder if it died from starvation or lack of fresh water or the auto.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who are here from many different areas to help us clean up our streets and roads. These people are away from their homes and have many hardships to deal with while they are here. For instance, long work hours, poor living conditions and sometimes grouchy Key residents. Please treat them with respect and kindness as they are doing us a really big favor. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Re: Runner.  I might be able to help you get ready for a local 5K Race or the 7 Mile Bridge Run.  I do quite a bit of running and ran the bridge run last year among a lot of other races.  If you're interested in getting into shape, drop me a line at gettingbettereachday@yahoo.com   I wouldn't mind finding some local runners for longer runs, a single female runner would be perfect!
If the rat comes out of your boat with a white flag he's still fair game because he boarded without permission, just make sure he's above the waterline.
Instead of telling you how many ounces of oil per gallon, why don't I tell you how to do it for yourself?   
1.  How many ounces per gallon?   This is easy - 4 quarts at 32 ounces apiece is 128 ounces per gallon.
2.  40 to 1 is just that.  128 ounces (gallon) divided by 40 is 3.2 (ounces). So, add 3.2 ounces to a gallon of gas.
3.  50 to 1 is 128 divided by 50 or 2.56 ounces to a gallon of gas.


Some people just don't get it.
I just attempted to pay my property tax via the internet. Guess what? Monroe County decided to add an additional $35 to my bill for "Convenience Tax." Where the hell do they get off?

Building permits and code enforcement started to insure against dangerous building conditions and made a lot of sense. Why do we now have to pay for permits to paint or sheet rock? I never heard of anyone being killed from falling paint. Wasn't there something in our 1776 argument with the British about unfair taxation? We are suppose to elect officials to represent us. It is clear that almost all public officials are on one side and we are on the other. Re-elect no one. Get new blood in until we find some good ones.
It sounds like Darren Bell might have burned a bridge or two.



Happy Turkey day to all.
I talked with an employee at the Key Deer Refuge a couple of months ago, asking what was done to help key deer who were hit by cars or otherwise injured. He informed me that anything done for the deer was done for public relations and that their responsibility was for the habitat only (I suppose this also includes highways). I thought there were other bureaucrats administering trees, shrubs and water.
Overly large brain. Fish & Wildlife? Isn't that an oxymoron?

Ducklings coming. Muscovies not yet hatched. I don’t know the incubation period for them but they’ve been under a broody hen duck for about two weeks now. Great bug and foliage control. Free when hatched. Call 304-8814
For the person wanting help getting in shape for the 7 mile bridge run or a 5k. I guess I could ride behind you and bump you along with my car, would that help?
I would be willing to bet that FEMA gave out more money to Liberty City residents than they did to all the people in the Keys. You have to be politically correct to survive in government, and FEMA is very much big government. If we had more slums down here, we would have gotten a lot more money.
It's the Christmas light truck man here. I just wanted to let everyone know that because of Wilma this year I lost almost all my Christmas lights for the big orange truck. They all went under salt water. I plugged them in and they started smoking so I don't really want to have a fireball riding down the street, but I will try my best this year to make all the kids happy.

My kids and I have been doing the best we can after Wilma trying to get a new trailer now and don't know if I will be able to have as many lights as we did last year, but there will be some on the truck. I should start doing the lights around the first of Dec. I just wanted to let everyone know that this will be my last year doing it for the kids and I plan on moving back to Va in March or so. We will miss all of you. 
I for one don't  care where Darren Bell is. 
On Nov 19 in 1863  President Abraham Lincoln got up in front of about 15,000 people seated at a new national cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and delivered the Gettysburg Address. The ceremony was to dedicate the new cemetery.

It was a foggy, cold morning on this day in 1863. Lincoln arrived about 10 a.m. Around noon the sun broke out as the crowds gathered on a hill overlooking the battlefield. A military band played, a local preacher offered a long prayer, and the headlining orator Edward Everett spoke for over two hours, describing the Battle of Gettysburg in great detail, and he brought the audience to tears more than once.

Lincoln got up, and pulled his speech from his coat pocket. It consisted of ten sentences, a total of 272 words. Lincoln did not mention any of the specifics of the war or any of the details of the battle of Gettysburg. He did not mention the North or the South. He did not mention slavery. Instead, he explained, in ordinary language, that our nation was founded on the idea that all men are created equal, and that we must continue to fight for that principle, in honor of those who have died fighting for it.

It begins, "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

And ends, "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Help! Two rooms in my house have recently gone dark due to rats chewing my wires. Luckily I've found the chewed up spots, but has anyone else on Big Pine had the pleasure or getting rid of these nasty beasts?  It seems like everyone's got a different solution, but what works?
More Lincoln. Literary and Historical Notes: On this day in 1864, President Abraham Lincoln wrote one of the most famous letters in American history. It was a letter of condolence to Mrs. Lydia Bixby of Boston, who was reported by the War Department to have lost five sons in battle. He wrote to her:

"I pray that our Heavenly father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of liberty."

But it was later confirmed that only two of Mrs. Bixby's sons had died in battle; one was later found alive and honorably discharged, and two deserted.

Re: Computers and Generators.  If you want to play on the computer while running a generator, invest in an "uninterrupted power supply" (UPS) box.  They run about $50-80 and they plug in between your wall outlet and your computer. 
Re: oil to gas mixture cup.   They have convenient little containers all made up already in different ratios to a gallon of gas so you don't have to burn to many brain cells figuring it out, they can be bought at almost any hardware store on the island. You might try the lawnmower shop over by the flea market also.
If the Dishwasher at the “Egg” had no hands, I could understand the problem of bare foot dishwashing, but heck, we’re in the islands and it is his own health he is taking in his own feet to work like that. I think it is in good keeping that barefoot dishwashing should take place there. After all, he is only reinforcing the name of the place. He must be a bit of a “cracked egg” himself.
Parrotdise. It is the only restaurant on Little Torch Key so it isn't a big thing to say it is the best food on the island. They have a reputation that proceeds them for being slow and uncaring service. It takes more than an email to this website for them to change their reputation. They need to show more attentiveness to their patrons to start.
All music review.
Reiffersons. So Chief Billy has a big ego, his band can support it.
Root Band with Adrienne. Very good with her, ok without.
Red Ball Jets. If you like the 60's these guys are great.
Conch Republic. So much talent, so little enthusiasm. Yawn.
Moondogs. Our local Garage band, someone close the door and start the car.
Bo and the Hitchhikers. Could I get extra gravy on that road kill please?
Moose. Tops the list. Keeps you dancing and smiling.
Jack Nasty. Pass the barf bag please. These guys are disgusting. But then maybe that's their goal.
Angus Bangus. Has anyone ever actually heard them?
Re: blocking traffic. Maybe FWC was with a broken down vehicle on the 7 mile bridge and trying to get people to slow down for safety reasons and did not actually pull them over. That was not too hard to figure out, for a person with a normal brain. 

Running a computer on a generator. I run all my delicate electronics on my generator because it is an inverter generator made by Yamaha. It provides a very steady current. The inverter provides such precise voltage because it is a modified sine wave inverter. Whatever that means, but it is made for electronics.


To the person who keeps it up about the Cracked Egg. If you are right why is their parking lot always full?
Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?

I got mail for three different places delivered here last week. I don't even tip the mail carrier at Christmas as is custom because I think they're doing much better financially than most other workers in the Keys. They have everything, good pay, health insurance, sick days, etc. Why should we tip them for only doing what they are paid for? It's not like they're waitpersons who only make minimum wages and no benefits. The mail person can't even deliver the correct mail to my house.


Re: John McCain's honesty. Do a little research on Mr. McCain.  He was one of the Keating 5 (the saving and loans scandal) involving millions of dollars.  And while you're at it, ask his ex-wife about his honesty.  He may be better than some of the other scoundrels in politics, but honesty is not his best suit. 

The recent vote to save the Arctic from drilling (whether motivated by self-interested politicians trying to save their jobs, or pure desire to do the right thing) gives us some hope that the impossible is sometimes possible. 

And this message from Florida Hometown Democracy adds to that hope, and should inspire us not to throw in the towel to developers and their political enablers, even here in the Keys where it seems too late.

Pet peeve: Whenever someone disagrees with a posting they accuse the writer of being a snowbird or just moving here. I've been accused of the same and I've lived here most of my life. How can some people have such a narrow view that they think anyone who disagrees with them is somehow inferior, dumb, a tourist, snowbird or newcomer?


I agree, Bob Saget is hot, but Danny Tanner is even hotter!

Tuesday November 22, 2005

 

Monday November 21, 2005
One month ago today, Wilma showed her wrath to the Florida Keys.


I just found out a rat chewed up some wiring on my boat. Do I have to identify the little bastard to make sure he is not endangered before I blow him away? What if he comes out of my boat waving a white flag?
I've been trying to find an oil to gas mixture cup but can't. Can someone tell me how many ounces of oil to mix with one gallon of gas for my lawn mower? It calls for a 50:1 mixture ratio and my chain saw which calls for a 40:1 mix. It will be very helpful. I've found mix cups, but they are for large quantities of fuel and I only care about one gallon at a time.

To the person who was wondering what Fish & Wildlife actually does. All that I can tell you is what I've seen recently. One of those pickups had someone pulled over on the 7 mile bridge, forcing semi trucks and other traffic to go around them, making for some dangerous driving conditions with the oncoming traffic. It doesn't seem like it would take an overly large brain to figure out that it might be safer to wait until the car is off of the bridge and then pull them over. Is that too much to ask?
In response to the criticism of  the service received at the Parrotdise.  I have eaten at Parrotdise many times, and have always found them to be attentive, and have found the food to be excellent.  There is a lot of stress right now for all of us, and I urge you to be more forgiving. Everyone can have an off-day. It is unfortunate that the couple who wrote in to complain about the service did not give them another chance or bring their concern to the attention of management. The food is the best on the island, and the management and owner do care about the needs of their customers. One poor experience should not be a reason not to patronize the restaurant. Give them another chance, and let the owner know of your experience. You will find it well worth the effort


Re: Generator. My 5000watt ran lights, a 5000btu a/c, our refrigerator/freezer upstairs, computer and 3 full-size freezers downstairs. It was all great until the water came in.
Re: Darren Bell. No he is not in prison, he is free like bird. He even got married last Wednesday.
Is there anyone out there that would be willing to help me get in shape for a 5k run or the 7 mile bridge run?  If so please respond back to Kudos & Whiners with some info.  I'm trying to get back into running and it's hard without a little motivation and help.
We'll keep trashing the trash restaurants until somebody takes some disinfectant and a mop to the place. What harm would that do?



Re: Frozen pizza dough. Get real. Don't you ever shop in the frozen section? Duh! That frozen pizza sure would have been great 2 weeks ago.
If you choose to dig through trash that's your business, but remember there could be hiding spiders and scorpions ready to attack you. Let's not forget to mention wood that could be termite infested, so watch what you take and do it cautiously
I am a democrat and if John McCain ran for president, I'd be the first one in line to cast my ballot for him. We need an honest  man in charge for a change.
Why are people even talking about rummaging thought the trash piles? If something can be reused it's a lot better than paying someone else to haul it away; and then latter dumping it somewhere else and enlarging their land fill. Rummage Piners!
Just a reminder to people who wonder where all this money in aid is coming from.  No welfare or food stamp queen. The Government didn't just print up new hundred dollar bills.  This money comes from people who have a job and  then pay income tax on their wages. 
I moved to Eden Pines 4 years ago and the first few months my mail was all screwed up as well.  You have to go into the post office and talk to them.  I believe some of their mail ladies get confused easily.  Been on the job to long maybe. I hope they don't start shooting.
Isn't Darren Bell working at the Square Grouper grill?
After reading all of the negative comments about the Cracked Egg I can only agree.  The place is really dirty and a waitress that reeks of last nights booze is going too far.  Any eating establishment that allows an employee to work in bare feet has a lot to learn about sanitation and appearances.  The last time I ate breakfast at the “Egg” I spent the afternoon and evening staring at the bathroom wall quite uncomfortable.  Obviously I haven’t been back since.  I always have had good food and service at the Big Pine Restaurant and Coffee Shop and have also discovered that the Galley Grill serves an excellent breakfast and lunch.
I run my satellite dish and TV very easily on my generator. I wouldn't even consider using a computer on a generator because of the fluctuation in power. If the power varies on a TV, it shuts off. If your computer shuts off incorrectly, you could damage files. Better to stay off the computer and play catch up when the electricity returns. 

To the person wondering what FWC (Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) really does:  Well, they give speeding tickets at the infamous Key Deer tunnel bridges for going 52 in a 45 zone.  However they seemingly can speed up and down Key Deer Blvd. in their trucks at 40 with no consequence.  They also do an outstanding job of conducting those so called harassing "safety checks" on boaters doing nothing wrong except trying to enjoy an afternoon on the water.  Of course it’s also in their job description to allow dirt bag owners to live on inoperable, half sunken boats with no lights, no safety equipment, no sanitation (just doing your business in a bucket and tossing it over the side isn’t sanitation) while allowing them to pollute the water with leaky bilges and all sorts of trash and garbage.  Oh yes, then there’s their important contribution of inadequate enforcement of the catch limits during lobster mini-season allowing some jerk from North Carolina going home with 200 lobsters (about 50 of them are likely short).  Pretty important stuff all accomplished with an attitude.
Two FEMA representatives were robbed at gunpoint yesterday in Liberty City. It's called biting the hand that feeds you. Duh!

Everyone in Eden Pines had problems with the mail delivery.  First of all you must call the Post Office and complain.  My mail was held some where for 3 months and just delivered last Sat. I've received my neighbors (5 different) in one delivery. They need to know how bad it is.

(unedited) Re: Ladies needing vibs or Keys style dating.

Wanted: Attractive lady / desperate housewife for domestic type duties on part time weekly bases.  Very good pay / benifits for light work helping a 60 year old gentleman. Please apply with photo (face pic not required)  in maid attire and be ready to be personally interviewed with complete privacy and discreetness.

This is a real add, apply to:  keysangler@hotmail.com

 

Hello,
I was thinking this would run in the kudos and whiners section in response to the gals bitching about dating and using vibrators / finding a real man. That's why the header line is in the add.
But it is a real add also, maybe it could run both places?.  Also added the word benefits  & (face pic not required)
Here's a shocker to the fellow making the comment that John McCain is going to be the next president and Democrats don't have a contender. There's a lot of democrats that like John McCain and they will vote for him. Its the Republicans who are so party oriented,  they would vote for Saddam if he became a Republican. For Democrats its America first, party second. For Republicans its party first, America  second. Take a look at the current administration. They wouldn't be hired to run a McDonalds. Well, maybe a gas station.

On the west side of Puerto Rico is the beautiful rain forest of El Yunqui (or something like that) probably the most incredible thing there. Don’t miss it. On the right, right is the ferry to the island of Viaques (or something like that). The island is nice. It looks a lot like KW, but with hills. The ferry ride is the thing. I liked that the most. (Most people don’t know that it’s a ride--like as in fun. They just think its transportation.)  A couple of years ago it only cost a dollar for this hour plus cruise. It goes through the calm, colorful and tropical waters that are the shallows off Puerto Rico. I rode it a couple of times it was so lovely. The ferry is big. I don’t remember them carrying cars, but they might have. They sure are big enough.

I got real drunk at a water bar close to the ferry dock on Vieques. It was a good place to wait for the ferry. While I was waiting for the ferry, and coming on sunset, I heard three long blasts from a boat’s horn. I knew a big boat was signaling that they were backing from the dock. I turned to see it go and realized that it was the ferry--the last ferry. Just before I realized it was my ferry I was thinking, “What a beautiful site. The sun’s going down in this beautiful place and look at that big beautiful ferry steaming away. I wonder where they’re going.” Then a light bulb went off in my brain and I thought, “Oh, no. That’s boat! Shit.”  So I had to spend a night in Vieques (or something like that).

To get watts, check the power sticker or whatever on each device. Multiply voltage time amps. For example, 120 volts times 5 amps equal 600 watts. Add everything up and add about 25 percent. Don't forget some things, especially motors, draw quite a bit more amps/watts when they start up. Your generator has to be able to handle this also.
That concrete structure next to Boondocks is definitely the Bacon Grease Girl down on all fours. I got turned on just by driving by it. I wonder if they will call that hole the "tunnel of love?"
Christmas decorations should go up after Thanksgiving. Sell, sell, sell. That is the motto of American business. Stop to think of Jesus Christ for a change. The best gift you can give is to love one another. Feed the hungry, house the destitute.
Upon my travels into Key West from Cudjoe I recently experienced what I call The Ark Landing. As I slowed down to take a picture it was truly a biblical scene. First off were two iguanas who were explaining that they were dying to have some delicious hibiscus. I told them that Shark Key was their best bet since there might be a bounty on their head in Big Pine Key. Next, two alligators jumped up and asked directions to Big Pine as they heard there were some family members at the Blue Hole. I gave them a few way points and told them to take the Gulf side and bid them, "see ya later, alligator." Next was a couple from New Jersey who wanted to know the closest place to have a drink. I gave them a choice of either the Purple Porpoise or Knuckleheads. As I drove away the last thing I saw was them flipping a coin! Go figure.
There is a web site (maybe through www.myflorida.com I'm not sure) that lists the restaurant inspections by the state or whatever agency it is. If you check out reports from any of our beloved eating establishments--you wouldn't eat at any of them. Don't get me wrong, I eat at all of them, but the reports are pretty scary. I know someone who knows what the site is. I will post it when I get the info. This past week I was at a local watering... (Ed: the rest of this posting was lost in cyberspace.)
No magazine delivered? Go to the post office and complain about it. Whether you know it or not, the people who work here on Big Pine are very friendly and helpful. Bring your complaints to them.

If the guy at the Cracked Egg is washing dishes with his bare feet, at least his feet are clean, probably more so than yours. You sure can tell the snowbirds are back when this kind of stuff starts cropping up. If they don't like it here maybe they should drive to Miami 3 times a day to eat in their SUV's.
FantasyFest. What's the big deal? It happens every year and no it's not everyone's thing to do, but some enjoy it. Personally I don't like crowds so I don't go. I'm also tired of the church people whining about it. No one is dragging anyone to the event and it's not like its conflicting with anything family orientated that night. All Duvall Street has to offer at any given time, night or day is T-shirt shops or bars. So stay home, hide under your beds and let the party begin.
"Storm reawakens you" was the subject line of a recent email. What a fake. It was an ad for Viagra. These spamers and hackers really are good.







Re: Outlook calendar has Thanksgiving on Wed. My Microsoft Outlook calendar shows Thanksgiving being on Thursday. Sounds like you need to upgrade.

Monday November 21, 2005

 

Sunday November 20, 2005


We should all thank the Rotary Club for all the work it takes to store, repair, put up and take down our lavish Big Pine Christmas decorations. They look real good.
Music is the only art form that occupies the same space as human emotion. Rock on!
John McCain is going to be our next president. The Democrats don't have a soul that's even a contender.
Did you see the Big Pine Liquor store's tree decorations? It looks like the new owners really have the holiday spirit. Go guys!
I was wondering if anyone really knows what Fish & Wildlife actually does. I mean I have seen them giving out speeding tickets in Marathon in the middle of the day when no actual wildlife is apparent in the immediate area except maybe by the Overseas or the Brass Monkey. As far as I have seen it's just another money generator. I guess all those Dodge Rams and radar guns can get costly and you never can tell when they might have to clock the speed of a Key Deer.

I suspect they don't do anything for the Key Deer because last year one showed up in my yard with a broken leg and when I called to inquire for assistance their answer was they would "put it down" even though they have veterinarian facilities. I asked why they couldn't work on her leg and my answer was they don't like to interfere in the Deer's lives, I guess a bullet to the brain pan doesn't constitute interference.
Re: Picking through the piles.  I just want everyone to remember that some people are waiting for adjusters to come and take a look at what they lost.  Everything that I owned is in my driveway now.  I've taken pictures of every item worth anything, but my insurance company told me not to throw anything out until the adjuster has seen it.  Please don't pick through the piles still on people's property.  They need it or else it would be on the side of the road.  Side of the road is fair game in my book.

Does anyone now how many watts a 19" TV, Computer setup and Satellite receiver use? Where can I go to find out? I'm planning on buying a generator for next years' weather events.
I'm wondering just how long and how many times these idiots trashing restaurants are going to continue before they move onto another restaurant?
I heard a nasty rumor that one of our pizza parlors is using frozen pizza dough. Can that be true in this area of discernable palettes?
My Citizen's insurance adjuster had a 300 gallon diesel storage tank in the back of his truck. He said that usually when he goes to a disaster area there is no fuel and this tank keeps him mobile until things get back to normal.


System of a Down's lead singer has so much energy I don't know he does it. He's got to be a crazy man. Does any one know his name?
On Microsoft Outlook's calendar they show Thanksgiving being on Wednesday. I'll bet even our time-challenged editor knows it's on Thursday. (Ed: Ouch.)
Go figure. One of the first plants to recover from Wilma's wrath is the Florida Holly.
I saw an ad here for a guy who wants to trade a tent for work. I don't know if I want anyone who lives in a tent to come on my property and see where I live.
I am still looking for a bicycle trailer and other camping gear. I am willing to do hurricane cleanup at your home or business. I need a good sleeping bag, and a trailer large enough to carry two midsize dogs as well as my gear. I would also be interested in any temporary labor work/hurricane demo. keywestbarter@yahoo.com


Do you think the guy at the Cracked Egg is washing the dishes with his bare feet? If that's the case...get pictures!
It seems like a never ending debate about the snow birds/out of state homeowners/vacationers making the Keys more crowded that normal. Truth is as long as people keep having babies, they will grow up and need a place to live and vacation. I own a home in Virginia and Big Pine. Seems like I hear the same story in VA with one twist, the long term folks love to complain about the new comers because they are going to ruin the existing way of life. I guess every area in the country just longs for the old days where every small town stayed that way!

As far as housing costs, that too has escalated in the past few years to a point that is restrictive for new comers and lower income folks. I don’t quite have an answer for that one yet. I guess everybody needs something to rag on but the fact remains that more people in the population lead to these concerns. Can't we all just get along? We have enough people in political office working to drive a stake through the masses. If we, as regular citizens fall to that level, well it just seems to add to the problem.
I do believe I have met all of you, and as busy, stressful and tedious as it is, I have enjoyed getting to know all of the good people in Big Pine. Treat my young associates well, they only want to help you. I will be leaving the Keys Dec, 27. This is not due to anything except the high cost of living. I love you all, David L. Irick Assistant Manager, Winn-Dixie (The Night Manager)
Dave in a former life Dave's former place of work Dave and D. Attell and someone else.
I wish people would think twice before rummaging through the trash piles. Our "perfectly good" couch is out in the pile for a reason. As we all witnessed four feet of water in our development, the septic overflowing, there is no way to "disinfect" some of these items. God forbid a child should someday sleep on these pieces and become ill. 

As for pickers, I am the Queen of picking, but at this time, we all have to see that the owners don't want or need the mess of someone rummaging through the piles and leaving a bigger mess.  I do have one question though, how come Cudjoe Gardens is already spotless? Big Coppitt and north of Cudjoe is still trashed and on a drive yesterday, Cudjoe Gardens is spotless. Is it the ole verbiage "the squeaky wheel gets the grease?" 

Since I'm on a roll, the Egg is cracked. The Coffee shop is awesome. Period.

I live in Eden Pines and for the last 2 months I have had problems with mail delivery. I have a subscription to People magazine and it has not been delivered. I have called customer service and asked for the magazines to be redelivered and even they have not come. My question is, is there anyone else having this problem; and if so how have they handled it?
I'm here before you, to stand behind you, to tell you something I know nothing about.
To the idiot who is complaining about being offered a SBA loan and not a cash payout, I have to ask what brand have you been smoking.  To all you lazy asses who sit around waiting for a government handout,  your ship ain't coming in!  It's time you get off your butts and join the American capitolist society and figure out how to make a living in a world where the hourly worker only get's further and further behind.  Please quit whining and blaming everyone except yourself for whatever situation you find yourself in.  This world is full of choices and whatever decisions you made in your life are yours and yours alone.
Does anyone know where that dirt ball Darren Bell is these days?  Is he in prison serving a long sentence and getting poked by a big, smelly inmate boyfriend, or what?





Thanksgiving is usually one of my favorite holidays, but this year I'm not in the mood for turkey of visitors. I'm still numb after Wilma's visit.

Sunday November 20, 2005

 

Saturday November 19, 2005

Re: Millipede infestation. That happened to us after Georges. (The little 1 1/2" buggers.) After the high water they appeared out of nowhere and climbed all our trees and house columns to about 5 or six feet high. God forbid, you should get one in your house. He'll multiply and will be terribly hard to get rid of along with his heirs. I used a commercial outdoor bug spray that I had to mix. I had to spray repeatedly. If you don't they'll multiply faster than rabbits. They do it in the thousands. I knew a guy on Little Torch that said he was shoveling them into garbage bags--there were so many.

They're like the plague. You have to be very vigilant once you have them under control and start expanding your kill area all over your property. We had to spray our whole acre. It took about a month until I was able to put the sprayer out of sight. And even then I'd see and spray the occasional millipede. They live in the dirt just below the surface and under rocks.

SBA came yesterday and said we had $30,000 in damage to our home. (I got all excited thinking I could pay off my new vehicle that I was compelled to take out a loan for.) Then he said it would be a loan. Well, hell I've already got a loan. I need money. Cash. These hurricanes have really put us in debt. We were doing so well before this hurricane season.



Do you think the guy at the Cracked Egg is washing the dishes with his bare feet?
Kodak says their Infoguard CD-R should last 200 years. Lifetime of a CDROM disk
The Center for Disease Control has released a list of symptoms of bird flu. If you experience any of the following, please seek medical treatment immediately:

1. High fever
2. Congestion
3. Nausea
4. Fatigue
5. Aching in the joints
6. An irresistible urge to poop on someone's windshield.

I liked the Groucho Marx comment, "I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought, I'd rather dance with the cows until you come home."  If Groucho were still alive, he would definitely be hanging out at the Cow Palace.
Once again our county officials have found another way to totally amaze me. But I guess it's that positive cash flow that makes the world go 'round. What I'm talking about is the use or the old Mariner Resort, oh wait. I mean the new Public Park Site. That's the site where the boat basin sits idle awaiting it's demise; being used for storage of damaged vessels at what I'm very sure is a very high rate of cost to the insurance companies, and of course in the end, all of us in the Keys boaters.

It would have seemed to me to have contracted someone with private rental space, like a marina or boat yard or at least someone in the boat business so they might at least see a small profit in these hard times of no business. Just how and why would the county even get evolved? Oh wait, is it the short problem solving at work once more? Maybe just like the new idea to bus people from south Dade County to do all of our labor at a reduced rate after riding the bus while we're paying them to ride. Now we would never want to build some place nice for our workers to live, would we? And the bus thing is working sooo well here on Big Pine. I now see all kinds of new faces all over the place. Not. All I see is a few new people riding up and down the bike path, all minorities I might add, that I'm sure will never own a damn thing in the Keys, have no green cards, working as sub-contractors without a lick of insurance, on your property right here in the lower Keys. And all of us pay taxes for these wonderful privileges from our county officials. I really really wonder what will happen to the service industry here in the Keys.




FEMA. I finally heard of someone receiving a $6,500 check from them. Hurray.
Did I get this right? City Electric is offering phone service? Am I dreaming?
Harsh. To the idiot who shoots the iguanas: I wish someone would shoot you then brag about it.
The reason that you see so many complaints about restaurants and bars here is because there are a group of women that go from bar to bar and restaurant to restaurant until they get fired.  I can tell you of some that have worked in every bar in Big Pine and other places.
 
I do not know who is at fault, I can only say that there are a couple of rude ones, one in particular that went from Parrotdise to Square Grouper to Looe Key, and then to another. I will not name the other because it doesn't matter who she is, what matters is that this covey of women kind of migrate throughout the lower Keys in order to survive, but it seems that they get ruder as they migrate/get fired.  Those among you who have been here for a while know exactly who they are.  But what really pisses me off is when they start blaming their employers for their inadequacies and start name calling. 

Six months ago I told John and Samantha (Big Pine Coffee Shop) that they were the only restaurant in Big Pine that was not bad mouthed by some idiot on this website then all of a sudden, some idiot showed up, and said things that only an idiot would. No, I do not work for them or anybody else.  I do know the caliber of help you can expect here, and I know that anyone who can be successful here with their own business, must really have their stuff together to put up with the sub par help. 

Having said that, there are some very good ones too.  After years of disaster with idiot bartenders, Looe Key finally hit the jackpot with Mike, the little redhead (sorry) and Georgie.  Parrotdise has a good one who was drafted on the first round from the Key dear (no pun intended) and I am sure there are more because I do not frequent them every night so pardon me if I did not mention your A student. But if there is a girl or guy with a resume that says he/she worked in 5 bars or restaurants here shouldn't a red flag go up? But again, when you have no one to wait on tables/ tend bar I guess you have to deal with whomever.


To those that say cancel FantasyFest.  What about the poor workers that rely on tips? They haven't had much of an income for over two months.  This will bring them a little money to spend on Christmas and even pay outstanding bills.  Think of other people once in awhile and don't be so self-centered.
Re: Garbage picking: Yes, I went though the piles following Wilma. I didn't throw stuff all over the street. I just neatly took what I needed from the pile which was perfectly good furniture, without upholstery, that just needed to be cleaned with disinfectant. I even found stuff for a couple of my neighbors, who needed everything as they had nothing left. We didn't even have a car or truck to carry it; we had to walk or carry it while riding a bicycle. Only wealthy people have good replacement insurance. The rest of us don't and whatever pittance we get from the insurance company will not cover both structural damage and the contents of our home.

A fair amount of the stuff thrown away was perfectly good it just needed to be disinfected. There were even brand new appliances that had just gotten wet and just needed new motors. But what disturbs me the most is that why the people discarding this stuff didn't contact habitat or take it to the Salvation Army. They could have donated it and said that it only needs to be cleaned, instead of throwing it on a trash pile to be discarded. Unfortunately, in Doctor's Arm they started consolidating the trash piles very early following the storm. I was sickened to see so much good furniture crushed by the mechanical equipment when it could have been used by so many people that I know. It saddens me that there are even a few selfish, petty people living here.
What's up with Red Cross? I spent over half a day at Habitat waiting to fill out paperwork. That's o.k., I know everyone is busy trying to get past the last hurricane. They finally came to my home today. Even though I have pictures of my entire Florida and living room being flooded, also showing washer, dryer, freezer and refrigerator under 2-3 feet of water they say that I'll still have food and clothing, so I am not eligible for any kind of assistance.
I know many folks who had less damage and loss and have received their assistance.  Red Cross, shame on you! No more checks from me to your cause.
The Noseeums ate all the Mosquitos.



Re: Pictures and prices of local hookers. Now there's a good idea.
Are there any good, clean pay-for-play ladies out there?
Is Key West Going Straight? (November 18, 2005 NYTimes) For decades, the remote Florida town of Key West  has been a refuge for gay tourists, a kind of Southern bookend to Provincetown, Mass. - a place where drag shows, all-male guest houses (complete with communal hot tubs) and a spirit of unbridled hedonism attracted everyone from closeted Midwest accountants to Tennessee Williams.

Could Key West, the place that Readers of OutTraveler magazine named the second best resort town in the world (behind Provincetown), be going straight? "I'd say Key West is less gay friendly than it was 10 years ago," said Gregory Gearhart, a hairdresser from Fort Lauderdale who visits three times a year. Mr. Gearhart was sitting at the Atlantic Shores pool bar, an iconic gay hangout that plans to close next year. He took a sip from his Skyy and Coke and contemplated the impact of his words. "Actually, I wouldn't say it's gay unfriendly. It's becoming different, though. It's not what it once was."

Of course, Key West retains a gay sensibility. There are gay tourist charters to the Dry Tortugas and gay sunset cruises into the Florida Straits. Rainbow flags flutter across Old Town. It's nothing to see a pair of men or pair of women walking on Duval Street hand in hand. A sign posted on a house on Frances Street states: "That 'love thy neighbor' thing, I meant it. - God."
Hey Cowboy fan: The Eagles defense spanked your ass for 4 quarters. You got two or more lucky breaks. Our quarterback has been hurt all year and we just got rid of a cancer called T.O. Of course you should know all about that with all the bad apples the Cowboys had to get rid of during the late 90's till now. 

Don't get too froggy, the Cowboys are not that good; they just caught us at the right times.  As they say, "sometimes it is better to be lucky then good" and that my friend is why Dallas won that game.  We will be back!
As a long time resident and a former employee of the egg, I personally feel the key to the solution would be on a "day off" why not do a little cleaning?  We (former employees of 2-3 yrs ago) worked very hard to keep the restaurant clean and friendly.  There were days when one or the other was hung over or whatever.  However, when this was apparent, the others pulled together to make the place as hospitable as could be.  Although our employer was somewhat of a troll we displayed respect because we all needed our jobs and the customers rewarded us with generous tips. 

Take heed to the warnings of the locals, owners, because you work hard and deserve the business.  Can you truly at night sleep peacefully knowing that you treat your employees with human dignity?  You lost the best "team" you ever had mostly due to disrespect.  This place has gone down due to the attitude of troll-like behavior.  Come out of the kitchen and take a look around and treat the staff you have with some dignity and maybe we can all enjoy your delicious ability to put out the best food on the island again.  It's understandable you have been through a rough year but try pulling yourselves out of this mess and smile a little at what you have rather than beating the old tired dogs to death.  I stand beside you but the restaurant reeks of lack of respect in every way.


Hi!  I'm a big fat, smelly person who doesn't do anything.  But eat.
Why hasn't the Conch and Stein reopened?

Key Deer Bar and Grill again fails the test.  I went in two days ago for a burger and it took more than forty five minutes to come out of the so called kitchen.  I ordered medium rare--the meal was burned to a cinder and the fries were cold and lousy as well.    The lettuce looked like it was scraped off of the kitchen floor.  I ate about two bites and left.  In the mean time the help were obviously fighting amongst themselves and the place looked like no one was in charge except the inmates.   Go to drink if you want but don’t bother with the food service.

Help wanted now!
Electricians, helpers, and laborers. Contractor seeking qualified commercial Electricians, helpers, and laborers. Projects in Key West and Marathon. Must have drivers license. Please call 872-2200. Ask for Bob.

Saturday November 19, 2005

 

Friday November 18, 2005
Citizens Windstorm Insurance. After waiting for three weeks the adjuster came by yesterday to see our water-soaked ceilings. The wind drove the rain up under our siding and by-passed the flashing ruining our ceilings. He sympathized with our trouble, but informed us that we had a $2,000 deductible based on the amount of insurance we had. We insured our house for $100,000 and he said that the deductible is 2% of the insured value which is $2,000.

I was shocked, but not as shocked as when he told me that the damaged ceilings were caused by "wind driven rain" not "wind damage." I thought they were the same. He said that in order to claim windstorm damage there has to be an actual hole in the roof. I asked him if I had put a hole in the roof if I would be covered and he said, "yes." He said that one hole in the roof would have gotten us a new roof minus  the $2,000.

He also said that no wind driven rain damage claims were paid in New Orleans.

So, if you want to collect a windstorm damage claim make sure you shove a tree limb through your roof or some other convincing hole.
For the writer that wants FantasyFest not to happen this year.  It is one week out of a month, FantasyFest is a tradition to the Florida Keys, and I don't think we should have to give it up because people like you don't like it.  If you are so against it why don't you just sit in your fully decorated house or have a get-together with your friends that also agree with you.  But please don't ruin things for other people.

Let's see if Friday's Funnies shows up now that the funnies guy got married.

During the hurricane flooding frenzy my husband was in the submerged yard trying to save what he could and a large alligator swam by. My husband came back inside the house.


A cool game to see what you can do with a dozen eggs. This should end the Cracked Egg talk. http://www.rit.edu/~smo4215/flash/Eggs.swf
Alligators have always been here. Always will. Do you really believe that the ones in the Blue Hole were the only ones here? Ask anybody in Port Pine Heights about alligators. Over the years in the past, more than one dog went missing from there. There was (before Wilma) a nice alligator trail leading into one canal there that a particular alligator used quite frequently. How about the few that lived near the mouth of the canal in Eden Pines? If you think they are not there you are wrong. I saw one after Dennis and a few other times this summer behind my house having his way with an egret (once) and just swimming in the salt water. I first noticed this after Georges. Long Before Georges, I used to see them all the time on the Torches while riding my bike. Just because you haven't seen them, doesn't mean they aren't here. Kind of like the southern diamondback rattler. We have lots of those also. How many have you seen?

I don't care how long the Coffee Shop closes for. I will never eat at the Egg unless there are some major changes there. I am not the one who usually complains about their food. Nor am I one of that person's 8 friends who won't go. All I know is that they are not alone. I used to eat at the Dip 'n Deli all the time so it isn't that the building is old. Old is fine, dirty isn't.
To Fantast Fest in Dec opposer. I'd be willing to bet that the "we" you refer to is a very, very small group and doesn't include anyone that is actually in the service industry let alone any other business that gains from the trickle down effect of tourism dollars.
No see-ums need to eat too, like the Key Largo Rat and marsh rabbit, they are a native  species that have more rights than you.
Tip: To insure promptness? The Keys has waitress's and it has wait staff. You can go in some restaurants and wait 15 minutes and they don't even look at you. You can go in others and they follow you to the table. Isn't that everywhere?
Hey iguana shooter where do you live?  I can take you out further than that.  I'll use a silencer though.

I solved the no-see-em problem by getting a fine mesh (600) no-see-um net over our king size bed. It makes all the difference. i think they're so bad now because of all the wet stuff from Wilma.
Re: Disgusted by people digging in Hurricane Debris.  What disgusts me is that there is so much to be done and these people are strewing trash all over the road, bike path and into the woods looking for something free that someone else lost.  Why don't you volunteer to help those who are not as healthy or able as you are?  Habitat, churches, neighbors need help.  Want to help the ocean?  There is plenty of debris in all canals and mangroves.  Think of someone else for a change.
To the snow bird who thinks he or she is so important we would not need all the services if you stayed away.
Wow, the vast array of topics and info proffered on this site never ceases to amaze me!  The www.iSerenity.com  website is so very cool! 

This is Eden Pines, Rose Drive.  The utility  pole has a white make at the 8ft. mark.  We had at least 7 feet above mean high tide.  Enough.
How to tell a Key person. You own more than three large coolers. You can wish that other people get hit by a hurricane and not feel the least bit guilty about it. Three months ago you couldn't hang a shower curtain; today you can assemble a portable generator by candlelight. You catch a 13-pound redfish in your driveway. You can recite from memory whole portions of your homeowner's and flood insurance policies. You consider a "vacation" to stunning Tupelo, Mississippi. At cocktail parties, women are attracted to the guy with the biggest chainsaw. You have had tuna fish more than 5 days in a row. There is a roll of tar paper in your garage (if you still have a garage). You can rattle off the names of the meteorologists who work for the Weather Channel. Someone comes to your door to tell you they found your roof. Ice is a valid (and deeply interesting) topic of conversation. Your "drive-thru" meal consists of MRE's and bottled water. Relocating to South Dakota does not seem like such a crazy idea. You spend more time on your roof than in your living room. You've been laughed at over the phone by a roofer, fence builder or a tree worker. A battery powered TV is considered a home entertainment center. You don't worry about relatives wanting to visit during the summer. Your child's first words are "hunker down" and you didn't go to UGA. Having a tree in your living room does not necessarily mean it's Christmas. Toilet Paper is elevated to "coin of the realm" at the Red Cross shelter. You know the difference between the "good side" of a storm and the "bad side." Your kids start school in August and finish in July. You go to work early and stay late just to enjoy the air conditioning.


Joanie did love Chachi, and Bob Sagett is hot.
Just after Wilma, I saw a 5 foot alligator in Eden Pines right in the middle of the road.  At the time I thought it was unusual, now with the recent postings, I guess its par for the course.  He also looked tired and confused.
Internet Slang Dictionary & Translator Know what the young'uns are saying!
Just to let all of you out there know, we all lost a brother yesterday. Crazy Mike Howell passed away suddenly on 11-16-05. As far as I am told, it was sudden. All of you bikers who have lived here in the Keys for a spell, will remember Mike. Please say a prayer, or have a drink in his honor. And be sure to share your great memories of him with others!

Jolly Roger Estates,  Little Torch  Key.
Re:  Tourist area. Yes, fishing was the way to make money here many years ago. Fish stocks aren't what they used to be in the 50's and 60. Or even the 80's. Red tape and "people who know better" have taken away the ability for all but a very few to earn their wages fishing. Hurricanes over the past few years have even bitten the fishermen harder yet. So what else is there? Even in the 50's and 60's people were coming here to experience the fabulous Florida Keys. Tourism was a factor then before the money mongers set their tourism snares. 

One of the wonderful things about this country (something that can also be horribly sickening) is that we all have a right to go wherever we want in the United States. This is not the only place that has been found by tourists. Reality is that we all dislike tourists and the "treat me special because I'm on vacation" attitude that comes with them.  But tourism is necessary for our economy. (and I can't believe I'm saying that but it is the truth.)

I worked directly in the tourist industry for years. I couldn't wait until April when we had a few months reprieve from the snowbirds and tourists. I remember well paying additional money in February and March for my rent and utilities so that I would be able to still live in my apartment or house during September, October and November when there was no money to be made. How nice it was to be able to cross the street or in my case, roller skate on US 1 in the summertime and fall. Those days are long gone, as are the weeks of 100 ft plus visibility we used to have all summer. Like it or not, we have to deal with the reality of the dreaded tourist.

 
P.S. I apologize for assuming you were a newbie here. Too many of them come here and assume that after a partial summer season, they are locals.
I really do appreciate the pictures of the animals for adoption, but as a single male down here,  I would also like to see pictures and prices of local hookers and crack ho's. These ladies need some TLC also..

I am a local in Big Pine.  I think the Cracked Egg is a good restraint. Their food has always been good. Sometimes the service is slow, but it is in all other places too. People that bash these establishments should stay home.
Iguana shooting reply. The person writing about shooting iguanas is just an out-of-state dildo jerking our chains. Don't give him the benefit of a reply.
Just an observation.  Why is it that the fattest people around, typically snowbirds from out of state, insist on parking their cars in the fire lane at the post office? A little exercise may make these folks a little thinner and maybe less cranky, but I doubt it.

The single women in the lower Keys are getting serious. One of them who lives down the street told me she purchased a kick-start vibrator on EBay. Foolish me I thought the loud noise on my block was my neighbor running a generator.
BPK Funny Fridays Old School– Because the classics never die... they just get bought by Ted Turner.

Groucho Marx~
What do you say the three of us get married? You girls have everything, you're short and tall, and slim and stout, and blonde and brunette. And that's just the kind of girl I crave!

I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought, I'd rather dance with the cows until you come home.

You can leave in a taxi. If you can't get a taxi, you can leave in a huff. If that's too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff."

If I held you any closer, I'd be in back of you.

I have a mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it.

Remember men, we're fighting for this woman's honor, which is probably more than she ever did!

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I don't know

W.C. Fields:
Of course, now I touch nothing stronger than buttermilk... 90-proof buttermilk.

(Fields gave this rationale for not drinking water:)
"Fish f*ck in it.

I certainly do not drink all the time. I have to sleep you know.

(Fields' retort from his dressing room after a director had shouted, "Camera reloading!")..."Fields reloading!"

T'was a woman who drove me to drink. I never had the courtesy to thank her."

I like to keep a bottle of stimulant handy in case I see a snake... which I also keep handy.

I feel like a midget with muddy feet had been walking over my tongue all night.

Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.

I'd rather have two girls at 21 each than one girl at 42.

Mae West~
I like my clothes to be tight enough to show I'm a woman... but loose enough to show I'm a lady.

When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before.

Those who are easily shocked... should be shocked more often

Marriage is a fine institution, but I'm not ready for an institution.

It's better to be looked over, than overlooked

Dorothy Parker~
All I need is room enough to lay a hat and a few friends.

If all the young ladies who attended the Yale prom were laid end to end... no one would be the least surprised.

That woman speaks eighteen languages, and can't say "No" in any of them.

The Monte Carlo casino refused to admit me until I was properly dressed so I went and found my stockings, and then came back and lost my shirt.

The transatlantic crossing was so rough the only thing that I could keep on my stomach was the first mate.

You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.

Hopkins : "Don't you think she ought to wear a brassiere in this scene?"
Dorothy : "God. No. You've got to have something in the show that moves."

Frank Case (Manager of Hotel where she was staying): "Do you have a gentleman in your room?"
Dorothy : "Just a minute. I'll ask him."

This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.

George Burns~
Actually, it only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth.

Happiness is a good martini, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman . . . or a bad woman, depending on how much happiness you can stand.

I love to sing, and I love to drink scotch. Most people would rather hear me drink scotch.

Henny Youngman~
I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up - they have no holidays.

I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places.

My Grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle.
Be careful following one of those debris trucks. A 4 x 6 foot closet door flew off one yesterday and crashed down in an intersection intact. The truck keep speeding off. I was on foot nearby and saw this happen. If someone had been following illegally close like most of us do they'd be dead. I dragged the door out of the intersection to a pile that hadn't been picked up yet.
Re: "It wasn't (a tourist area) until the early 70's that Ed Swift, Chris Belland and Mo Mosher restored the 600 Block of Duval Street and started to bring tourists here big time.".

Ed, Chris and Mo started restoring the 600 Block of Duval to stimulate the Key West economy because the Navy had pulled out and there was no longer any employment in Key West. They replaced the ugly storefronts and strip joints with the beautiful buildings that are there today. Tourism was a natural progression, thank God. I don't think we could support our families on "fishing and shrimping and drinking", the major businesses you seem to remember being here when you arrived.
As the saying goes one person garbage is another person treasure and if you don't want someone going thru your  garbage put a sign, "no picker's allowed." 
This is really cool!  Be sure to get the music with it! I wish my dog was that smart or could dance that well.  Video_Sound/rookie2.wmv
Maybe the person ragging on the Cracked Egg is a former employee.  Maybe they were fired for being sober. He, he, he.  You have to admit the place is a bit on the dirty side.  The food is great though. All the staff does have a bit of an attitude, but what can you do.  I like the place but I too have seen a man come out of the kitchen carrying dishes and he didn't have shoes on, which I thought was pretty gross. But I always go back.
Re: private adjuster. If your friend is interested in doing business here, I am sure their are many of us that can use his advice and/or services. Would you be so kind as to put him in touch with me. The one I used for Hurricane Georges is now in jail, yes he took more than 10%. RATBPK@aol.com

I live in Big Pine and for months now we have had these hard shelled worms all over our house.  They are downstairs, they are crawling up the walls, there are on our back porch, in our house, in our plants, everywhere.  They are dying everywhere.  What are they?  Why are there so many?  How can we get rid of them?  They are driving me crazy.  Is anyone else having the same problem?  Help!
Please correct my spelling in the previous mail from make to mark.  Hell, I don't care if you rewrite the whole thing.
Well Egghead, like I said before, I have been in there (Cracked Egg) and have witnessed these things and, like I said before, I have at least 6-7 friends that have also eaten at the rotten egg and I know a few of the ex-waitresses,  so I know what I am saying is true.  All I can think is that you are either the owner yourself or a close friend or family member. Unless you are just plain blind to your surroundings.  Oh I know, you must be just like them and don't see anything wrong with filth and rudeness and filth (oh yeah I already said that).  Why are you so defensive?
That guy making his living off tourists and paying his help poverty wages sure gets upset when the truth hits home.  He sure does know a lot about drinking and how to do drugs too.
Yeah I agree, lay off the rotten egg already.  There are not enough places to eat in Big Pine.  Just go to the rotten egg and eat your greasy food.  Don't look in the kitchen or on the floor. Just pull the hair out of your eggs and eat.  What's the big deal anyway? I found hair in my eggs there but I found a dead fly in my salad at Rob's Grill.  That's life.  So what if the waitress are rude and hung over, look at Capt. Dan.  Welcome to Big Pine Key.
Is Wednesday "Felon Day" at the Tiki?  Yikes, there are scary looking people down here.
Message to the "dead" woman:  Every time I found myself getting closer to you, you did something stupid to set me back two steps.  Sleeping with another guy and lying though are two things that I can never abide by. When I said," find someone else" I was sincere, but I am pretty sure I meant, "someone to love." I cannot control the way I feel and turn it off and on, but now the switch is broken and stuck in the off position. Does any of this make any sense to you?

Friday November 18, 2005

 

Thursday November 17, 2005
Re: Private Adjuster.  We hired one but he's a friend so I know we can trust him.  He has said there are a lot of bad ones out there; so buyer beware sort of thing.  By law their cut is only 10% so if you are calling around and he says it's higher don't go with that one.  If you find a good one it's a good thing to have if you have a lot of damage. He is going to get us probably double, maybe triple what the insurance company would have given us.  The private adjuster works for you not the insurance company, unlike the insurances companies hired adjusters.



Cats dying from spaying is not common and should not be expected.  It's surgery and can have complications result, but a good vet can avoid and prevent most of them, most of the time.
I read an article from the Guardian, and it makes me want to cry.  We supposedly went to war in Iraq to prevent the use of chemical weapons, and here we are using them.  And napalm!  Jesus, didn't Vietnam teach us not to mess around with that?  The US used chemical weapons in Iraq - and then lied about it. Now we know napalm and phosphorus bombs have been dropped on Iraqis, why have the hawks failed to speak out?
We have to be opposed to having FantasyFest in December. First of all December is the month of Christmas, and many of us are busy with our shopping and getting our homes decorated for Christmas Day with our family and friends. Can't we leave Christ in Christmas for once? It is the celebration of Jesus' birth. And FantasyFest is nothing close to anything to do with Christmas, Christ, or Jesus. Plus you all want it on Pearl Harbor Day! What is wrong with you people?

Why not just give it up this year? We all have clean up after the storm (yes, it takes more then a week) we have Thanksgiving next week, and then Christmas. Just let it go this year. I wish it would just go away like a bad dream anyhow. I know you all that go to the parade think it is the coolest and the greatest thing ever. I have been there several times in the past, and it is disgusting.


I can only pray that since Key West now has a Mayor who is a Christian (thank you Lord) that things will start to change down there for the better. That place needs some major cleaning up and I am not talking storm damage.
Just get over your losses and it will be a better year next year. You'll make it without the "Fest".



The big difference between tourist and snowbirds. Tourist come and spend money and enjoy the way things are. Snowbirds cause the rise in real estate to go up, spend very little money, take take, take then go back north and hope we watch their properties. It is time to stop watching.
Re: Unrealistic Tom Thumb credit card limit. Here is an idea...pay with cash!
I shot an iguana from 40 feet in the head with a pellet pistol. I'm a good shot.
To the person whining about Tom Thumb, park the Humvees, and get an automobile that can fill a tank with that amount of money!
Pedophile Page: Family Watchdog Home Page something locals might want to check out
A car is a depreciating asset.  The smartest way to buy a vehicle is 1,2, 3 years pre-owned.  The dim-wits driving brand spankin' new cars and making under six figures while renting will be driving those new cars back to the Kentucky trailer parks where they belonged in the first place. 

Maybe their self-esteem goes up while they struggle to make ends meet down here in "Paradise" which looked like a slum before Wilma.  Many of us non-Keys-diseased people wave the checkered flags to these types during the mass exodus in progress.  Lucky for them they don't even have to dump their junk in the woods for a while longer, they just dump it on the street.
Oh yes, true story. I saw it first hand and took a picture when my husband tried to catch it.  He had to be about 3' or more.  We were coming home from dinner a few nights after the hurricane in Coral Shores/Bayview Dr. off of SR4A and I could tell something was in the road.  The closer I got I freaked out because I could tell it was a gator.  He looked lost and confused and tired.  A cat even walked right by him and he didn't care.  My husband got out of the car and tried to catch him (like a fool) but I do have pictures on my cell phone I just need to read the owners manual to figure out how to pull them up.  Funny part my neighbor was driving the opposite way and almost ran over it....I yelled at her, but the next day she thought I was calling for a neighbor or screaming at the kids.  I even tried to call the guy who's yard it was walking to but he was stuck on the 7 mile bridge.  I told him to, "watch your step when you get home."  As soon as my daughter gets back in town I'll send in the picture she knows how to do all that cell phone technology.  I just answer them or call out.

That's not the first time one has been spotted.  We had one jump under our boat one day according to a neighbor who said it was huge but I've never seen that one and still swim in the canal with caution.
Note: photo is of gator in editor's pond.
Re: Restaurant person. The tip for the wait person to know when you need something is usually by them seeing the menu out of your hands.
I shot eight iguanas today with my pellet gun and I'm happy for the first time since Wilma! Thank God they are exotic pests and it's legal to shoot the heck out of them! Shoot them now or else bow down to their leaders later
Please enlighten me on the proliferation of the no-see-ums. Is this a flood effect or just the way it is? 
What's up with the "It makes me so disgusted to see people digging through hurricane debris", comment?  You are just a snob and I am glad you think you are just too good for trash/treasures.  I pity your poor husband or wife.  Forsake it all, it's just garbage. Do you have a secret desire to strip naked and jump in the pile yourself?  Is that what you are afraid of?  Come on now...you know you do!
Even post-Wilma, there are still wonderful animals to be had at the Marathon Animal Shelter, 10550 Aviation Boulevard and 279 Industrial Road, Big Pine. 

Frieda is a small Pomeranian mix, full with energy and love!  Parker is a golden Labrador who came to us with a bum leg, and is now on his way to full recovery.  He loves to swim.  Red (2) is a Pit Bull mix who is shy, but starting to come out of his shell. He needs an owner with lots of patience, who will spend a lot of time with him. 

For information on these and our other wonderful animals, give us a call at 305 743 3779 or drop us an email, sufapets@earthlink.net.  And a big thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make our latest low-cost spay/neuter clinic a success!
Next summer those whiners griping about snowbirds ought to take a drive around and look at all of the empty houses and give some thought to what their taxes would be like if snowbirds didn't own homes and pay all of the same taxes - but only use services like trash and police for a few months a year, and don't use the schools at all! Paradise isn't cheap any more especially when you also want to educate your kids. When you're willing to have taxes double to support your quality of life then feel free to complain about the bad traffic for a couple of months a year.
Why are people so greedy?  It's no wonder our insurance premiums are through the roof.  At my place of employment most claimants are junking perfectly good stuff and counting on Uncle Sam to give them all new.  And, guess what?  They will get it. Myself, I am still without transport but a nice lady did call today with the offer of a free ladies bike.  Are any readers suffering from short term memory loss?  Lethargic, melancholic, malaise,  ambivalence and an overall feeling of saying "To hell with it all'?  Short tempers are rampant.  I think this is a form of PTSD.  Time heals all wounds, but money does not grow on trees.

To the individual who needs to haul PA and Music gear using a bicycle. Build a trailer for your bike: http://www.re-cycle.org/trailer/Trailerbw.pdf
I still like the Cracked Egg. I bet when the Big Pine Coffee Shop closes for vacation or on Mondays we'll see you in the Cracked Egg.
What kind of idiot was that that freaked out about the Cracked? Apparently he wanted you to print exactly what he said. And evidently the jerk doesn't realize we have freedom to say what we feel. And why would this nut want to close this web site when we and how many hundreds of thousands read it daily? Keep up the good work Ed. (Ed: 108,000 visitors last month.)
I miss the ole Dip & Deli.  The best place for breakfast now is without a doubt the Big Pine Coffee Shop.



Suggestions for the ladies and their vibrators...Rechargeable batteries.

I have seen the 4 1/2 - 5 foot gator on Little Torch sunning itself on the canal wall off of Pirates Road at our friends house.  Watch your small pets and little kids.
I am looking for a 3-5 person tent and a bicycle trailer. I am willing to do hurricane cleanup in trade. I lost my car and job in the storm. I have a bike and would be willing to ride anywhere from Ramrod to Big Pine. If you have any work for these items please email me at keywestbarter@yahoo.com
I so agree with the person that quoted the article in the paper about Dr. Mader's comments on iguanas.  I remember reading that article.  I have lived here for many, many years, and I have been seeing iguanas on my property most of that time.  There are a lot more of them now (especially since Hurricane Georges).  They like to hang out in the neighborhoods, because they like a lot of the plants in our yards, so some people think of them as pests.  I've planted things that they don't eat, mostly native stuff. 

Re: Pissed captain. He seems to think that because he's been to Cuba (probably never even left Hemingway Marina) that nobody else has. also he doesn't seem to understand our constitutional need for the separation of church and state or the need to preserve our environment. Every exception to the rules is another chip out of the system and if you chip away enough you end up with a different system.
Good background white noise while you're thinking.  iSerenity - Environments "screensavers" for your speakers.  White noise environments for meditation and concentration.
A writer says we're not doing anything for anyone. We're just taking the handouts from FEMA. I've taken free ravioli and ice and I've also helped my neighbors. As far as picking through the debris, what's wrong with that? It's called recycling. Recycling doesn't exist only in blue plastic tubs. It's reusing things that are still useable. Waste is a problem. Be upset about something that is wrong.
The guys who consider one night stands ok or cool only think so because they know they have no skills. They can't work up the courage to ask you out again because they are too embarrassed about their performance. Put yourself in a man's shoes, would you rather lie and say "this never happens, I usually go all night", or sneak out the door early in the morning and never see the woman again.

One of the few differences between the Bush White House and the Nixon White House is that Bush doesn't have an "Enemies List" (that we know of). Why were top White House officials and Vice President Cheney so concerned about an obscure former diplomat like Wilson (They outed his CIA wife Valerie Plame.)? Because he had the nerve to offer public dissent. By showing how evidence of Saddam's WMD had been cooked, Wilson undermined the very reason the U.S. military went to war. He was more than "fair game," as Karl Rove called him. He was a mortal threat.

This has been a Bush pattern. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill presciently says a second tax cut is unaffordable if we want to fight in Iraq--he's fired. Bush's economic adviser Larry Lindsey presciently says the war will cost between $100 billion and $200 billion (an underestimate)--he's fired. Army General Eric Shinseki presciently says that winning in Iraq will require several hundred thousand troops--he's sent into early retirement.

By contrast, CIA Director George Tenet, who presided over two of the greatest intelligence lapses in American history (9/11 and WMD in Iraq) and apparently helped spread "oppo ammo" to discredit the husband of a woman who had devoted her life to his agency, receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Horse helps copter crash victim to safety. Authorities are amazed that a 26-year-old woman walked away from a helicopter crash Thursday afternoon south of Rancho Murieta, Calif. that destroyed the vintage aircraft she was flying. She had a broken back. The week before this event she was in Louisiana hunting alligators after Katrina.

Perhaps even more remarkable, after walking nearly two miles from the crash site, Alika Rogers was rescued by a horse when her injured body could go no farther. Rogers had ducked under the fence near a ranch house, but could not get back to her feet. She screamed for help, but no one arrived - except the horse in the pasture, which came to her side when people in the house failed to hear her cries.

"The horse came over to her and nudged her with his nose, and she held onto his nose and he lifted her up" and helped her to the house. "That was the way she described it," said Debbie Jo Baker, who comforted Rogers while emergency responders arrived.

Re: "...complain about living in a tourist area; one that was a tourist area long before you moved here..." Don't always assume people that complain just moved here, we didn't. When I moved here the major business was fishing and shrimping and drinking. It wasn't until the early 70's that Ed Swift, Chris Belland and Mo Mosher restored the 600 block of Duval St and started to bring tourist here big time.
I've been thinking...does Joanie really love Chachi?

Thursday November 17, 2005

 

Wednesday November 16, 2005
Kudos to the Charter School and the wonderful staff that work so hard for our children. I wish more of the parents would put some effort into supporting the students and teachers and less effort into making themselves look good in front of others. Why are the parents forming cliques this year, it feels like a blast from the past- remember all of the John Hughes movies in the 80's? C'mon people let's set a good example for our children!
Big Kudos to Big Pine Bike Shop on County Road.  Unlike all the other services I have needed in the aftermath of Wilma, I called them and he picked up my bike 5 minutes later and had it ready to roll the next day.

This is important as I am waiting for my van to be hauled away and I am probably not in a position to buy another vehicle for a while. In addition, the repair bill was less than expected and someone less honest could have sold me a bunch of stuff that I did not need.  Now if I can figure out how to haul a PA system and musical gear with it I will be in great shape. But, for now thanks to the bike shop for great service and integrity in doing business (even if he is a Michigan Alumni.)
The person who stated that Wilma was a category one hurricane is obviously a snow bird that just came back or someone that was drunk throughout the storm.  I've been through all of them here since 98, 6 in Carolina before that and 5 typhoons in the Pacific, and this was no cat one, believe me.  Also, the radio stations kept saying how all the damage was on the Gulf side.  I was on the ocean side staying in a friends house and he still has 3 feet of sand in the lower (legal) enclosure. Go out to Bay Point on the ocean side and see the damage out there.
Why is it than when guys hook up for a one night stand it is considered OK, sometimes even cool, but when us women do, we're considered tramps? Kind of unfair isn't it. We need to get it as much as the guys do. No wonder vibrators are so popular. Ladies out there, got any suggestions?
Why does the Tom Thumb have a $45.00 credit card limit when you pay at the pump? The clerk at the store says this is for security, but if this is for security why are we wasting our time entering our zip code for security in the machine? Get real! With gas prices so high these days the limit needs to be raised. All it does is tick off the person pumping the gas so you have to stop sooner at another gas station remembering that you can only half fill your tank at Tom Thumb without having it shut off on you.

Just use your card a second time at the pump you say...not acceptable for security reasons in case it was dropped or stolen. So in other words, pay at the pump and be half satisfied or take children and all out of the car and have to hassle with standing in line to pay and deal with someone that can not understand English or be happy and go elsewhere. Bottom line--Tom Thumb raise your limits!

Is anyone using a private adjuster for their flooding and windstorm?  I've heard horror stories about the insurance companies not paying what you deserve and don't really know what to do.  Any stories either way?
Well my submission from yesterday never got posted! No great loss to the world, just thought I'd let you know.

You aren't posting mine. No worries, just letting you know.

(Ed: Cyberspaceman finally located all your lost postings; so today we'll have a long and interesting read. I'm still missing my spam, but I don't think I'll complain about that.)


I agree about the jam at Chris's. It was friggin great! I had a great time and enjoyed playing with different musicians. The grub was also killer. I do hope we do it again.
I sent the following yesterday and it didn't show up:
 
How do you know the "iguanas are not native"?  It has been questioned whether they are actually exotic or indigenous.  Dr. Doug Mader, a leading authority in iguanas and other reptiles (he has written several papers on such) brought this up in an interview by the Free Press a year or so ago.  The article said "But their classification as non-native invasive exotics, is questioned by Doug Mader, a local veterinarian...In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, Mader watched an iguana ride ashore upon a raft of branches.  It likely came across the straights from Cuba, he said.  Iguanas can be found throughout the Caribbean.  Mader also disagrees with the popular assertion that iguana have no natural predators in the Keys.  Black racers and other snakes, raptors such as sparrow and broad-winged hawks, and raccoons will all kill them." 
 
Granted, there are a lot more of them now, but there are also a lot more people, more Key deer, more raccoons, more alligators, etc.  Of course, in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, we may see a decline in a lot of our wonderful critters.  The lack of fresh water is doing some of them in.  Check out the Blue Hole.  Most of the fish and turtles have died...two alligators in there have since died too...so sad.
It's the birthday of cartoonist and author and William Steig, (books by this author) born in New York City (1907). When he was 23, the New Yorker bought his first cartoon for $40. He collected his cartoons in books such as Small Fry (1944), Spinky Sulks (1988), and Our Miserable Life (1990). It was only late in his life that he began writing books for children. In 1990 he wrote Shrek!, about a green ogre whose name means "fear" in Yiddish and who has nightmares about fields of flowers and happy children who won't stop hugging and kissing him.
Re: Congresswomen not representing us. You may not think you're not being represented by Ileana, but I am. I want oil wells. You can even put one in my yard, as long as I get less expensive gas. The fishing around offshore oil wells is very good and when is the last time you heard of a problem caused by an offshore well? Well?
Galveston, Texas (AP) - Nov. 15. The Coast Guard says a leaking oil barge in the Gulf of Mexico about 100 miles east of Galveston rolled onto its side Monday.
The mentality level of some people is hilarious, if you can't stand the Cracked Egg and don't go in there, how do you know there's sugar ants and drunk waitresses? Do you know how freakin' stupid you sound? I do go there and there is none of the above--not that I've seen. There are no employees in the kitchen, the owners do everything and I know they both wear shoes.

I cant believe you print this crap. If I were them, I'd sue you for everything you have and have this site shut down. It's slander and it's against the law to print what your printing. jealous people just talking out of the side of there bung hole. I checked, its illegal. I don't know the first name of the person writing this stuff or their last name, but I'll bet their middle name is, Duh.

Nov 15. The draft. It was on this day in 1940 that 75,000 men were called to Armed Forces duty under the first peacetime conscription in American history.
What is the deal with gators on Little Torch?  I saw the Keynoter story.  Any first hand knowledge there?
Go ahead and complain about living in a tourist area. One that  was a tourist area long before you moved here and will remain so long after you move away. Maybe the quality of life is worse than it was in times past because the cost of living has sky rocketed over the last generation at a much higher rate that any previous time in history. Not only here but everywhere else in the United States. We tend to blame everything we don't like here on tourism but consider the alternative.

Most people here need the tourists to finance their jobs. Those people that work for few dollars do so for various reasons. Most being lack of education or experience. If you are good at what you do and go to work everyday sober, there is no problem making money here. So quit complaining about the tourists and get out of the bar, put that joint down or the straw (or whatever) and get your ass to work. Maybe your quality of life will change, Even with the tourists coming back to town. P.S. When did you move here, two months ago, or two years ago?


Father Hernandez is a good guy. He gives communion to Jews without a thought.
It is not the tourists that are the problem.  A tourist spends, in a week, what a snowbird spends in two months. When the roads are clogged up in the winter, place the blame where it belongs. 
To the folks that don't like FantasyFest: Don't go!  But why must you ruin it for the fun loving folks that do not have severe hang-ups?
There is another rumor going around that Duncan Doughnuts is taking over Edie's Hallmark. Does anyone have the real facts?
Lay off the Rotten Egg already. There are too few eating establishments around as it is. Cook your own food if you don't like em'.  Don't look in the  kitchen, just shut up and eat. They make the best cheeseburger you will find in the lower Keys, including Square Grouper where you get a burnt black gristly patty, raw in the middle.
I remember reading John F. Kennedy's great quote, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country".  Do you think the Politically Correct would even let him say that now?  It makes me so disgusted to see people digging through hurricane debris on the side of the road, people lining up for FEMA giveaways, driving up for free food and doing absolutely nothing for anyone.  People have lost their pride and dignity and replaced it with greed and laziness.  Lack of self respect does not lead to happiness.
Re: salted cars.  You run a www.CarFax.com  report on the vin number to see if it has been flooded, amongst other damages.  $24.99 (I think) and you can run multiple reports.  It's not that difficult.  If it turns out the title was messed with or the report untrue, they buy the car back from you.

I'm glad to see the ad for Bottom Painting (BP Marine Services, Industrial Rd.) I'm just curious as to whether or not it's non-toxic and how long before I can sit again? Is there a special for FantasyFest? After so many square inches painted do I get a few inches for free?
Restaurant review: After all the great comments I have read about Parrotdise I decided to give it a try. My finance and I had no kid at home and one night to spend together and be alone for a romantic dinner. Well, we were seated by a nice hostess and unfortunately ended up by the bathroom due to the tables being so small and my man of large stature (no big deal). It was not busy at all and it was fairly early on a Thursday night. Well we looked at the menu for quite a while and all I wanted was a drink to relax and kick off the night. So I kept looking at the menu and 15 minutes had passed. Several people walked by us totally ignoring our existence. We both decided we would wait 5 more minutes and then we would leave because obviously they didn't want our patronage. So I let 10 minutes go buy me being very patient and I said, "OK I am ready to leave."  As we got up a man with dirty dishes in hand says, "Hey ain't you guys gonna have dinner?" I told him we where twenty minutes ago. He said, "Oh, I forgot you where here" or something.

So needless to say their service sucks and who knows about the food because you can't get any of it not even a glass of water! We ended up at Rob's where we hadn't been for a year due to lousy service there last time. We were greeted and had drinks in less than 5 minutes. The bartender was wonderful and Kudos to him for making our night enjoyable and serving us. Then we went to the House of Music and the band rocked! We had the time of our lives! No thanks to Parrotdise which I had been longing to go to for some time. Such a shame you can't get any service on this Island. At $20-25.00 a plate I thought maybe I could have a nice dinner. I was wrong. I spend a lot of money locally and I was sad that I couldn't even get served on a Thursday night. I was hoping it would be a regular place for us, but I'm doubtful we will return after being treated so lousy.
I think I did the impossible in The Keys.  I met someone who is also single and a great catch.  Well I hope I can say she was single and now considers us a couple.  You know who you are, hun.  Is it possible to fall in love at Walgreens?  I think so.
In reply to: "Go figure. People getting free food from FEMA and complaining... " People love to complain and I think this is the message board for it. Most people I know did not receive help from FEMA in any way shape or form; even if they should have. No big deal. They just bought new cars and stuff and moved on with their lives with out posting positive or negative feedback on BigPineKey.com.

What's ironic is that like you, I can't stand those that complain about handouts either. In fact I can't stand those that whine about anything, including your comment about all of those other people complaining. What's even more ironic is now I'm whining about your whining about everyone else whining on a message board that exists for the sole purpose of whining about how unfair the world is. Weird.
Someone's precious soiled their little pair of Fruit of the Looms which ended up in my drive. I'm leaving them right where they landed just to remind me of the virtues of humanity. Free Andrea Yates, that's what I say, free Andrea Yates. Lyle and Erik, as well, while we're at it, they're the poster children for family values.
Hey Mr. or Ms Anti-everything, no growth, I got mine, tree bugger. Not only do we need oil, but the fishing is great around the platforms. Gulf states have asked the oil company's to leave  the Rigs standing even though they are no-longer in use. As a rule the oil companies would remove them. You should worry about two tankers hitting each other off shore loaded with God (Yes, I used the God) knows what. We move some bad stuff around the world in those big boats just off shore. Now you have a whole new thing to complain about.

Yes, I have been here all my life. Yes I am a working master captain. I am so over this anti- everything, don't touch "My Keys." And oh, yes, have you ever been to Cuba?  I have. What do you know about Cuba? My guess is you know just about as much as you know about oil drilling in the Gulf waters. There must be some middle ground. Leave Christ in Christmas, under God, the Lords prayer, and In God we trust, alone. They don't hurt anyone either. I am so pissed.

I have experienced both a hurricane and living up north where blizzards, sleet and snow are alive and well 8 months of the year. I'll take a hurricane any day!

The northern weather is not only freezing to the bone, it ruins cars, homes, etc. Just getting to work is torture each and every day--a trial in survival. The freezing, wet wind tears at your clothes and flesh, rips apart umbrellas and can knock you over if you are able to stand up on the slick ice. Windows are blown out. (How about some flying glass in your face?) If your office is warm enough you may thaw out by noon, at least enough to move your fingers. Your car is snowbound. I once saw the snow high enough to pile up over the height of a school bus. But when a hurricane hits, simply go for cover. The hurricane only lasts a day or so. Clean up after the hurricane, the weather is warm enough to be comfortable. Shifting sands and blown apart decks and homes can be rebuilt. Move your car to high ground. At least you don't freeze to death for 8 months. Be glad you live in a warm climate. No wonder the yankees are crabby. I wouldn't live up north again for anything in the world.
I am sick of the constant whining about snowbirds and Yankees, chain stores and tourism. The fact is, many people on Big Pine are poor! If you want to live in Big Pine and aren't wealthy, yes, you will have to deal with Yankees and snowbirds--they are the people who are paying your check through tourism. And the chain stores actually help keep the prices low so you can afford to buy your cartons of Marlboro's at a decent price. Stop crying and realize that most people would give their right arm to live there and appreciate it.
The person who keeps ragging about the Cracked Egg sounds like a disgruntled ex-employee to me. How else would they know if the cook (who is not visible from the front) would be wearing shoes or not. You probably got fired for a reason so get over it already.

We saw Big Bill Morganfield at BP House of Music.  He was awesome!  Thanks House of Music and Big Bill. It was nice to get out and listen to some great blues.  Here's his website if your interested in a CD.  www.bigbillmorganfield.com
In answer to the yankers and snowbirds being grandfathered.  You are lucky to have them. The quality of life would be a lot lower if you had to rely on only locals to pay your wages as you might have noticed, they don't pay very well. Without tourism there would be a lot less need for workers; so therefore, you would have to move from the Keys to find a job. Don't knock the tourist as they might figure out who you are and take their trade some place else. As you know it gets pretty slow when tourist are not here putting money in our economy.
The sender would like to recall the message, "Kudos And Whiners".
Your server being down for a couple of days probably got you off a lot of automated lists for spam.  Don't worry, it's temporary.  They'll find you again soon!
Hey Piners. On Wednesday, December 7th at 10 AM, the Monroe County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at the Marathon Government Center.  This "hearing" will be about the taking of our Property Rights.  Many folks here on Pine Key feel that they have no interest in what happens to business owners  here on our island. You are wrong. When a store like Publix is not allowed to build on land that is properly zoned for such a business, it hurts us all.  Mostly, it hurts the working folks.  Keep in mind that the "I Got Miners" already have all they need.

Without growth, our tax base continues to increase, and that affects your rent, your food cost, your gas cost; and in general, your pocket.  Publix is just an example because they would have provided good jobs with health and retirement programs for people in our community, not to mention "healthy" competition for the other food store on this island. 

I have been here all my life, my kids have grown up here and I would like to finish my life here.  I am part of a family business that someday would like to sell.  To change the rules in mid-game is unfair and very hurtful to everyone and that is what this hearing is about.  The stagnant, no-growth attitude of a few will hurt us all in the long run.  There is no reason why there should not be any planned growth on U.S.1. We can still keep our back-country and rural areas pristine. There are many small business that could open and prosper along U.S.1 if we had work here on this island so that people had money to spend with them.  

Listen folks, the Government continues to grow and a great deal of the monies it needs come from property taxes. Are we to foot that bill?  The services that we Piners need come from those government dollars.  Publix would have provided a bunch more money in wages and taxes. This is a great place to live and raise your kids. The, "I got miners" have everything they need.  Don't let them take yours away.  Please attend this meeting and show your support for a strong and healthy business community.  P.S. If you would like to help keep this community strong, please contact me at JCBSR@Comcast.net.

Re: Cracked Egg aka Rotten Egg.  Sorry to tell you, but no, I am not a tourist, I am a Big Pine resident and have been living here for years.  It sucks when you try to go out for breakfast once in a while and you spend your money on a place like that dump.   Also, I personally know some of the staff there and know what I am saying is true. There are at least 7 Big Pine/ Little Torch residence that I know feel the same way I do.  The place is a filthy dump and they treat people like crap.  I go to the Big Pine Coffee Shop very often and they are always friendly and have  a nice clean place.  The staff  is always very professional.  Maybe you are the tourist that doesn't know what your talking about. Next time you go there open your eyes and look around. Its not hard to see.  Take a look at the kitchen while your at it.
God only knows your website needs a periodic injection of humor.

A man was found dead over the weekend. They found a man face down in his bathtub. The tub had been filled with milk, sugar and cornflakes. A banana was sticking out of his butt. Police suspect a cereal killer.
'Twas the night before Wilma,
when all through the state
Not a gas pump was pumping,
Not a store open late
All the plywood was hung,
on the windows with care,
Knowing that a hurricane,
Soon would be there
The children were ready with their flashlight in hand
While rain bands from the hurricane covered over our land
And Mom with her Mag-lite,
and me and my cap
Had just filled the bathtub for flushing our crap
When out on the lawn,
there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the closet
to see what was the matter
The trees on the terrace,
and the neighbor's roof torn,
We feared we'd be dying
in this terrible storm.
With a little wind gust, so lively and quick,
I remembered quite clearly
our walls were not brick
More rapid than Eagles,
her courses they changed!
And she whistled and wafted and surged all the same.
Off shingles! Off sidings! Off rooftops! Off power!
Down trees! Down fences! Down trailers! Down towers!
Screaming Blow away! Blow away! Blow away all!
As wind ripped and tossed, the debris through the sky,
I peeked out the shutters at the cars floating by.
So go to the safe room my family did do,
With a portable radio and some batteries too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the set,
The end was not coming for a few hours yet!
As I calmed down the kids and was turning around
Through the window it came with a huge crashing sound
A tree branch it was all covered in soot
The wind blew it smack-dab on top of my foot!
A bundle of twigs now lay in a stack
And my Living Room looked like it was under attack.
The wind how it howled, the storm very scary,
Myself and my family were all too unwary.
The dangers of hurricanes are serious you know,
They are taken for granted as Frances did show.
With the winds dying down and the danger beneath,
I noticed my tool shed was missing its sheath
So I grabbed my last tarp, and nailed it on down,
Then I got in my car and drove into town.
The traffic was awful and stores had no ice,
My 5-gallon cooler would have to suffice
Generators were scarce, not one left in town,
There were trees on the roads and power lines down.
FEMA was ready with people to work,
Electrical companies came in from New York.
I sprang to the car, and gave my family a whistle,
Then away we all went like a Tomahawk missile!
You could hear us exclaim as we drove out of sight,
"The hell with this place,
Vermont seems just right!"

Wednesday November 15, 2005

 

Tuesday November 15, 2005
Morgan Genevieve Brennan was born to Julie and Mike Brennan in West Palm Beach on September 28 at 2:42 pm, weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces. Julie is the daughter of Arlene and Dick Conklin of Marathon; Dick is a local newspaper columnist and Arlene is active in the Marathon Garden Club and the Council of Catholic Women. Mike is the son of Mrs. Genevieve Brennan of Jacksonville, and is a teacher and coach at Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach. He is also a part-time musician, and recently performed at the Overseas Lounge in Marathon.
Go figure. People getting free food from FEMA and complaining about the food they get. If you aren't happy about what you get for free go to the store and buy whatever you want. I'm sick of the freeloading side of people I'm seeing. Doesn't anybody have self-respect here? Instead of being happy because of what you didn't loose, bitch, moan and complain about everything that isn't being done for you. Than makes sense to me.
 
It Seems like very few people can do anything for themselves anymore. After loosing everything in Georges, (I didn't like that carpet anyway) being out of my house for many months while we repaired it (very happy for the upgrades), I am very thankful we only had 1 1/2 feet of water  under our house  this time. I didn't need that stuff I lost anyway, apparently. And I am proud to say, I never asked anybody for free help with my recovery. Under normal and unusual circumstances, we remain able to take care of ourselves. Our self-respect is secure. Maybe some of you complainers would be happier in general if you learned how to rely on your own abilities instead of on other peoples compassionate giving nature.

The deer are eating plants that I've never seen them eat before. I think it's because all the plants that they usually eat are dead. I too put out fresh water for the deer and they really do gobble it down. I've had to enlarge the bowl to a five gallon bucket because they drink so much water.











The Clinton library is now open.

You should be able to buy just one cigarette.  There are those of us who only want one every now and then, but we don't want to buy a whole pack. That'd be far too tempting. (Marlboro Man. Fact: The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer. So did the first “Marlboro Man.” [The macho, manly Marlboro man was also gay.])
Re: Spayed cat dying. I had my cat spayed in Key West and she died. It happens frequently no matter who does it.
Re: "To me chain stores aren't the reason for quality of life going down; it is an economy based on tourism.  What does tourism do for me or more importantly what does it do for the people who live here year round?  Basically it provides poverty level jobs, uses the natural resources without compensation, crowds the roads and in general puts people in the position to reduce the quality of life in Big Pine"  Amen, one intelligent human being!

Hey Eagles fan. Can you say, "swept?"  It looks like your team has imploded. Go Cowboys!
Our Keys representative in Congress Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is not representing us at all. She has voted to drill for more oil in our Gulf of Mexico and she votes to enforce the embargo of Cuba. Two issues that most Keys' residents disagree with her. Get rid of her and her Miami-Cuban politics.
suggested security fix for windows available for this here;

The Botanical Society meets Thursday November 17, 7:30pm at Lord of the Seas Lutheran Church. The guest speaker will be Reggie Whitehead whose subject will be  Propagation techniques for ferns. But I'm sure someone there will also be able to answer questions about our dying plants from Wilma.



I'm getting prepared for the next flood. I got these heavy duty shrimper boots at Ace in BP for $20.
It seems like there is no room here for someone to voice their dislike for a dirty restaurant without them being classified as something other than local. Even if I lived in a mobile home that was totaled ( as my house was in Georges,) I still wouldn't eat at the Cracked Egg.  Anybody that chooses to eat there has that right, as does anybody that chooses, not to eat there. I have tried to eat there on several occasions and was not happy with what was served to me. I don't like over greased, burnt food.  

I choose not to eat there. Why is it that somebody writes a dissatisfied opinion and gets blasted because some people lost their homes in Wilma? How does one relate to the other? We read dissatisfied views of other restaurants without angry rebuttals all the time. That response in Sunday's addition would keep me away from the Egg by itself, even with no consideration to the conditions of the restaurant. Where is the health department these days?



Kudos, kudos, kudos to Father Hernandez, pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Key West. You are 'da man! It is so rare and unusual for a pastor of any denomination to take a stand on anything, especially in the Roman Catholic Church! You spoke out against FantasyFest, and we thank you. Maybe now a few more brave souls will get on the bandwagon and put some pressure on our "conservative" elected officials to do the right thing. Amen, brother!
(Ed: If you don't see your Kudos and Whiners posted please let us know as we're only receiving a fraction of the usual submissions and no spam or viruses. We usually receive about 200 spams a day.)
Regarding salted cars. Those cars that drowned in saltwater may not be resold in this state. Just like the salted cars in Louisiana can't be sold in Louisiana. What's stopping people from buying these new cars and putting new electrical systems in them and selling them out of state? How do we know the used car we buy isn't a reconditioned car from Katrina or Rita? Buyer beware!



Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson.  Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn’t added until 5 years later.

Tuesday November 15, 2005

 

Monday November 14, 2004
Now that the Monroe County Development Review Committee may prohibit chain stores some things are not clear to me.  Like what will happen to Winn Dixie, NAPA, Nextel, Tom Thumb, and the 10 or 15 other chain stores in Big Pine?  Are they going to grandfather in the existing stores and ban new ones?  If so will they grandfather in the existing Yankees,  Snowbirds and other worthless things and ban new ones from coming in?
To me chain stores aren't the reason for quality of life going down; it is an economy based on tourism.  What does tourism do for me or more importantly what does it do for the people who live here year round?  Basically it provides poverty level jobs, uses the natural resources without compensation, crowds the roads and in general puts people in the position to reduce the quality of life in Big Pine.


Kid letter to God.
(Ed: Today We didn't receive any spam. Usually we get about 100-200 a day and at least one virus, but today we didn't receive any! I don't like it. It must be some kind of plot.)
Bush said this week after looking at a map, "Wow, Brazil is big." This is the leader of the free world.
Hurricane Wilma was a "High 3".  Winds were sustained at 125mph with gusts to 150mph in Key West.  152mph gusts were recorded on Summerland Key, before the instrument broke.  That was no 1.
Did anyone out there that had there animal fixed at the lost cost clinic at the Big Pine Animal Shelter this Friday have complications with there pet afterwards? My female cat died the day after. I am still waiting for an answer from them.
Well, Chris you did it again! You pulled together many wonderful local musicians and music lovers alike Saturday night. You put out a great spread and gave us all one hell of a night with a wide variety of wild music. What a great jam and a great time was had by all. Can we do it again, one more time in the spring? Are you sure you want to leave the Keys and all the great music here? Thanks Chris for bringing us all together and thanks Tom for your inspiration to start the jams. This one was for you. Rock on!
Desperate woman:  She is desperate from the standpoint that she is getting older,  and not attractive and her lack of self-esteem shows it. It is not a question of sex, she apparently has sex often with many partners. But sex is not love--it is sex.
Sex may not be love, but it's a damned good substitute.

I just got a new car that has more gadgets and buttons than I'll ever use. If they wanted to add a good button for me it would be a button I could push and it would tell me what the speed limit is. That's something I could use.
Re: preserving iguanas. Funny thing, though, the iguanas are not native.
What's with Little Palm Island 's help wanted ad calling for "Cast Members?" Do they think they are Disneyland? What role are they playing? Cook, maid, bartender?

Monday November 14, 2004

 

Sunday November 13, 2005
This is how Texans arrest purse snatchers: Video_Sound/ArrestedTexasStyle.wmv

This is a picture of some rescued critters from La. who are living in the back seat of a car. How'd that cat get in there?
To the person who wants advice on jacking up their car. Just get one of those hydraulic jacks like the ones in a repair shop. Then you can jack it up through garage roof.
Re: Cracked Egg Whiner. It's got to be a lousy tourist who came back as soon as Wilma passed to see all the crap we locals are going through. A lot of the work force here on Big Pine Key live in mobile homes that were flooded. Some lost everything (with no help from FEMA ) by the way. They are trying to serve you and take care of their personal lives also. Give them a break. I've been going to the Cracked Egg for quite a while and always like it. So go back to your hotel room and take your hot shower and powder your butt.
To the person on Wednesday's posts that said "And let's keep shooting the iguanas! Anyone who advocates the preservation of them does not have a yard worth looking at."  I beg to differ with you.  Before Hurricane Wilma, I had a beautiful, lush yard, full of native plants, such as Firebush, Tamarind, Blackbead, Thatch Palm, Sable Palm, Cinicord, Geiger, Buttonwood, etc., plus a few exotics, such as Hibiscus, Key Lime, Coconut Palm, Banana, Persian Lime, and Papaya. 

We have many iguanas that hang around our place all the time, ranging in size from a few months old up to 5 feet long--not a problem.  When we plant a new plant, such as Hibiscus, that we know they like to eat, we just put a little fence around it and across the top of it, to protect it until it gets some size to it. Then they normally only eat the flowers, which makes the plant put out more flowers the next day.  They haven't killed one plant in my yard yet.  They don't like most of the native plants. Do you see a pattern here?  Plant native!  I've learned to live with them, and I think they are beautiful animals that have as much right to live here as we do. Hell, we're the worst exotic of them all.  Killing them just because you think they are a pest is just wrong.  There are ways to deal with them without hurting them.  I hope I don't meet (or know) any of you animal killers.

Kid to God.
Re: Wednesday's post from the person who feels like he/she's getting screwed. I, too, got myself a toasted car (All paid off with 4 brand new tires that were a week old, thankyouverymuch).
 
First, the law states that when a car's electrical system is fried, it must be crushed. (Straight out of a PO officer's mouth.) But I have also heard (rumors) that once the wrecker gets your car (and the title, of course), they can do what they want. Then again, one would think this constitutes fraud, and in times like these, when there are so many damaged cars, I would think that any wrecker or used car dealer with more than two brain cells to rub together would think twice about it.
 
I also have Progressive, and I can't say enough good stuff about them. I put in my claim ( My big hint that my car was toast came the day after it got flooded, when I started it and the tachometer was buried. So I drove to work in KW, (probably a stupid and unsafe thing to do - I have friends whose cars just went up in flames spontaneously; good thing they left them out from under the carport, eh?) and drove back, all the while keeping some pressure on the brakes. The car would cruise at 50mph with my foot nowhere near the accelerator. (That's when I conceded that it was flambéed.)
 
Well, all I had to do was leave the car key on the front seat. They came and got the car, and brought it to a staging area. I can't imagine these guys going door-to-door. (Talk about a long wait for your money) They contacted me after it was assessed (I think it took a day or two--it was pretty quick), and told me all I had to do was sign over the title and send it to them, and they'd sent the check. This I could do. So I did. Now of course, I have to wait for the pony express to deliver the mail. (I get mail maybe twice a week. I guess I could stand some cheese to go with that whine.)
 
A lot of us got nailed with flooded cars, because we'd become complacent regarding storm surges that the weather guys always warn us about. Let's just say I think complacency will now be replaced with a little more action (you know, using ramps, parking near high spots, etc.) I know I'll be parking my car higher up somewhere. And of course, if there's a next time, there will be a much bigger race to find those spots!
 
So, all that said, I don't think you're getting screwed. If the floor boards got wet, in all likelihood your electrical system is/will be sometime soon, fried. Live and learn. You know I'll be relegated to buying a lo-mileage (with any luck) used car, because I'm definitely not taking out a loan.
 
So hopefully we've learned something from this--like "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"...that kind of thing.
 
So that's my take on this debacle. Oh, and by the way, the check will be for the Blue Book value of the car, so I'm not complaining (too much). Man, this thing could have wiped out a lot more so I consider myself lucky. The tenant downstairs was not so lucky, their car's ok because they were out of town, but their apartment was wrecked, and they lost just about every thing they owned. It's all relative, so I'd say that if it was just the car, be very thankful, and get on with your life.
Paul (Appliances), man, I wish I could hit the lottery and pay for a vacation for you. You earned it, and helped everybody get new appliances, and always do great work. Thanks!
Well, I guess it's my turn.  I have Geico Insurance. There was a "bad" rep adjuster that came to my house, and did not total my truck, and every question I had, she gave me the same answer; "Vehicles are made to get wet!" Hmmm, yes, I have to agree with that; I drive my truck in the rain and I love driving through the puddles after a good storm (rain water!), but never, have I ever had my truck fill up with "salt water" after a storm surge. She gave me (don't laugh) a check for $800.00, and told me to, "drive" my truck to Duncan's and they would fix it." Duncan's are not excepting any flood damaged vehicles for repair, and I got a hold of a good adjuster that looked at it and totaled it like it should have been from the get go. If you get a bad adjuster, you can call and request another one, and another one will be assigned. There are many good ones out there, and I did get the help I needed, and will stay with Geico.
Re: A desperate woman in the Keys. She has to be new here or she has to be waaaay ugly.
See you around town, and when you see my big red delivery truck with my American flag flying in the windshield, give me a honk! I served 24 years in the military, and would serve another 24 if I could. Thanks for all the support, and a salute back to you, and all the Veterans out there, and that includes Mike Leachman, for those of you that frequent Coco's Cantina in Cudjoe. I think about him everyday, and will always miss him. 
As for being a Big Piner, Paradise Petroleum is our neighborhood Gas Station with fellow Big Piners working there. I won't go anywhere else. They are great people and yes, we all have bad days. Katie, you have my support, and you are a beautiful girl.
FEMA? Does anybody know Jeb Bush's phone number?  Maybe M&M's auto mechanics might be able to fix FEMA, but I doubt it. Those mechanics are  good, but I don't think they are that good! 
The devil's own. I never thought that I'd say this, but maybe the cancellation of Fantasy Fest is a good idea. It doesn't belong on Pearl Harbor Day or during the Christmas season, and it brings nothing but trouble to our town. Mayor Morgan you are a person of faith, how do you feel about this embarrassing event? Why not assume a leadership role in the effort to end this abomination once and for all?
After Hurricane Georges, FEMA actually helped people recover. Since the monkey man decided FEMA needs to be under the dome of Homeland Security, all FEMA does is spend money trying to convince people how useful it is. It has succeeded in proving just how useless it is.  But that's just my opinion.
If you ever see the guy that works at Ace walking down the highway, pick him up and give him a ride! Most of us lost our vehicles and all should be considered neighbors.

Again, has anyone got anything but Beef ravioli from FEMA?
Has anyone gotten any response back from Citizens Insurance yet?  Its been over 2 weeks since we filed a claim and no response for us yet.
(?)That would be "price gouged", and no, It's just the cost of living in Paradise, just ask anybody.




Re: Dumb. Why isn't Sunday the 13th the same as Friday the 13th?

Sunday November 13, 2005

 

Saturday November 12, 2005

(Ed: The Foibles of Webman. The server for Bigpinekey.com’s email has been down for two days and their phone lines are jammed so I can’t find out when our email will be returned. We’re just all a twitter with anticipation on what the Pine Cone community is thinking. We hope to have email soon. As soon as we get it will update the site. Thanks for your patience. We have a few emails from the other day and have enough to entertain you for a few minutes.)
Baseball is wrong: A man with four balls cannot walk.                        

Homeland security. I flew from Key West yesterday and because I had a one-way ticket (Terrorist take note: If you fly one-way, security will give you the special and through security search) I was singled out for the extra security search. I was taken behind the glass wall and had my feet sniffed with a special wand that they have for that purpose. Then another wand was passed over my entire body. Then I had to loosen my belt so he could feel the waist band of my trousers for stuff. Then I was patted down. Meanwhile my bag was emptied of everything except for the three boat flares! I was using my boat bag to carry my things and I forgot that the flares were in a small side pocket where I usually keep them. My camera had to be opened and inspected; the same with my laptop. They passed several swabs over everything and put them in a machine to sniff for terrorist things. I guess explosives aren’t one of those things because I think are classified as explosives.

I noticed the flares when I was on the Miami shuttle bus and was looking for my cell phone. When I unzipped the pocket with the flares, I saw them and quickly zipped the pocket closed again as fast as I could. I felt like the cat that just ate the mouse.  Everyone on the bus knew I was a terrorist. I was sure of it. There was a guy next to me who I knew worked at KW airport and I told him about the flares. His eyes bulged and after calming down told me to contact one of the security guards at the airport so he could dispose of them and report it to KW airport security (TSA). I was going to do that, but being basically cheap I didn’t want to loose the twenty dollar flares. So I figured I was already past security and no one was going to search me again before I boarded my next plane and I was afraid that Security would create a very big scene with me as the focal point that I decided to remain mum. I get searched more than the average traveler already and I didn’t want any “flags” placed next to my already besmirched name.
Total existing-home sales, which include single-family and condos, were at the highest pace on record in the second quarter, with 42 states showing higher sales in comparison with a year earlier. The latest report from the National Association of Realtors® on total existing-home sales shows that the national seasonally adjusted annual rate was 7.22 million units in the second quarter, up 4.6 percent from the previous record of 6.90 million in the second quarter of 2004. Real estate is still hot!
Things you never say to a cop:
1. I can't reach my license unless you hold my beer. (OK in Texas)
2. Sorry, Officer, I didn't realize my radar detector wasn't plugged in.
3. Aren't you the guy from the Village People?
4. Hey, you must've been doin' about 125 mph to keep up with me. Good job!
5. Are You Andy or Barney?
6. I thought you had to be in relatively good physical condition to be a police officer.
7. You're not gonna check the trunk, are you?
8. I pay your salary!
9. Gee, Officer! That's terrific. The last officer only gave me a warning, too!
10. But offisher, I wasn’t drinking, I’m too stoned for alcohol.

If we disconnect our batteries will that help save our vehicles? My neighbor jacked up the front of his truck and that saved it. The trailer wire by his rear bumper was the only thing that corroded, but his truck works fine. I don’t want to move my vehicles to higher ground because then they’ll be subjected to flying objects. I’d rather have them under our house where they’re protected. It’s really a Catch-22: Higher open ground and risk flying object damaged or under the house and risk flood damage? I think I’ll keep them under the house and jack up the front and disconnect the batteries. Does anybody else have and suggestions (without sarcasm please)?

FEMA again. I bought a car and financed it at the dealership. The application asked: Name, address, phone numbers, date, place of employment or self-employed, social security number and estimated yearly earnings. That was it. In an hour I was approved for a $30,000 loan.

I had applied right after Wilma for a Small Business loan from FEMA. I sat in line in Key West for two and a half hours just to receive an application. Then I went to Marathon and sat there while the woman filled out that application—it took her a full two and a half hours, and she does this all the time! Then I had to hire an accountant to give me a balance sheet and profit and loss statement. (Irony: Having to hire someone so I can apply for financial aid.) I then had to gather my tax returns for the last two years for my personal and my business taxes. Then back to Marathon to submit the additional tax returns. Of course they told me that tax returns weren’t necessary any more.

So after all this bureaucratic bull crap, I still hadn’t heard from FEMA about the car loan that I was requesting and I was still without a car after two weeks so I answered the 10 questions at the car dealer and had a new car and loan within two hours. That’s the difference between bureaucracy and someone who wants your business.

Honeymoon. This is in tribute to the Dude who supplies the much valued Friday Funnies who just got married and returned from his honeymoon in Hawaii.

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month which we know today as the honeymoon.


Cream's (Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker) last performance was in Providence Rhode Island. I was at the apartment of the dudes that were hosting the after concert party and the girl I was living with had never smoked pot before and got goofy and made me leave. So when Jack Bruce played at the party, I was home trying to be nice to this chick after making me miss Cream.

I'm getting into swing dancing. Not on purpose. Some parts of my body are just prone to swinging.

Two percent milk is just one percent less than whole milk. Whole milk is just three percent to begin with. They always try to fool you. i thought milk had much more fat in it.

I just drove through Georgia where gas is only $2.15. Do you think we’re being price gauged down here?
Today is Armistice Day. It is the anniversary of the official end of World War I, November 11, 1918. It commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning — the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month." While this official date to mark the end of the war reflects the ceasefire on the Western Front, hostilities continued in other regions, especially across the former Russian Empire and in parts of the old Ottoman Empire.

Saturday November 12, 2005

 

Friday November 11, 2005

Today is Veterans' Day. Although there is no parade we all must thank those that have given so much. In war everyone is a causality.
Please spell Carmela's name correctly.  One L.
What's wrong with FEMA? Right after the flood we applied to FEMA for a loan to purchase new vehicles. It's almost three weeks after we filled out over one hundred pages of applications and tax returns--and still no loan.

In exasperation, I applied to GMAC for a $30,000 loan by answering about 10 questions. In less than two hours I was approved! There is something terribly wrong with FEMA and it should be fixed before we have another disaster.
To the person who goes out 5-6 times a week for breakfast: If you don't see what I see at the Cracked Egg you must be nuts. Maybe you are a Bar Rag also, and see nothing wrong with coming to work with dirty hair and clothes, stinking like liquor from the night before.  The cook doesn't even have shoes on in the kitchen.  That place hasn't been cleaned in who knows how long. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to see that place is a dump.  It definitely has great potential. New staff that know how to shower and smile and be at least a few days sober.  The owners need to clean that place up.
I am amazed that anyone would actually choose to live in the Dakotas. It is mostly flat, ugly land with a bunch of underground missile silos. I heard that during blizzards in that hell-hole part of the country, they have numerous "Donner Party" incidents and it only has to snow an inch or two for that to occur.

(Big Pine Key, FL) My Key West Emergency Relief Fund established at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys in cooperation with the Key West Chamber of Commerce, The Rodel Charitable Foundation – Florida and Cooke Communications LLC recently presented Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys a grant of $50,000 to assist with the recovery efforts being staged at the Big Pine Key office.

Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys, Inc. was established in 1997. The explosive growth of the organization was in response to the overwhelming need of reparations following Hurricane Georges in 1998. Then the hydropower havoc of Wilma came to town.

The day after the storm moved out of the Keys, Habitat for Humanity’s Home Center was

open providing furniture, building materials and appliances to the soggy residents of our resilient community. Within a week, over 200 people were being served daily and the administrative offices were transformed into a staging area for FEMA, the Red Cross, Small Business Administration, Operation Blue Roof (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation and Project Hope.

The next stage of recovery for Habitat is assess the emergency housing in our community, recruit caravans of volunteers to help rebuild and coordinate accommodations for the volunteers.

Habitat for Humanity is located a 30320 Overseas Highway behind Rogers Furniture in Big Pine Key. Habitat needs your help to rebuild our community. To volunteer, call 872-4456 or email info@habikeys.org
Another reminder, Friday is Veterans Day. We should all thank the veterans everyday.
Spell-check:  Nice work on your “Exercise” but isn’t what you really need is an Exorcism?
BPK Funny Fridays. Because an infinite number of monkeys, given an infinite number of computers and an infinite amount of time, could eventually produce this kind of humor...
...but there'd just be monkey crap all over the place.

I'm always amazed to hear of air crash victims so badly mutilated that they have to be identified by their dental records. What I can't understand is, if they don't know who you are, how do they know who your dentist is? -- Paul Merton.

You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is. --Ellen DeGeneres

First you forget names, then you forget faces. Next you forget to pull your zipper up, and finally– you forget to pull it down. –George Burns (on getting old)

The pen is mightier than the sword, and considerably easier to write with.  -- Marty Feldman.

We had gay burglars the other night. They broke in and rearranged the furniture. -- Robin Williams

For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off. --Johnny Carson

Did you ever walk in a room and forget why you walked in? I think that's how dogs spend their lives. -- Sue Murphy

Now they show you how detergents take out bloodstains, a pretty violent image there. I think if you've got a T-shirt with a bloodstain all over it, maybe laundry isn't your biggest problem. Maybe you should get rid of the body before you do the wash. --Jerry Seinfeld

I played a lot of tough clubs in my time. Once, a guy in one of those clubs wanted to bet me $10 that I was dead. I was afraid to bet. --Henny Youngman

I once heard two ladies going on and on about the pains of childbirth and how men don't seem to know what real pain is. I asked if either of them ever got themselves caught in a zipper. --Emo Philips.

I got in a fight one time with a really big guy, and he said, "I'm going to mop the floor with your face." I said, "You'll be sorry." He said, "Oh, yeah? Why?" I said, "Well, you won't be able to get into the corners very well." –Emo Phillips

We live in a country where John Lennon takes six bullets in the chest. Yoko Ono is standing right next to him... Not one f**king bullet! Explain that to me! Explain that to me! –Denis Leary

I think we should take Iraq and Iran and combine them into one country and call it Irate. All the pissed off people live in one place and get it over with. –Denis Leary

I believe in making the world safe for our children, but not our children's children, because I don't think children should be having sex. –Jack Handey

A recent police study found that you're much more likely to get shot by a fat cop if you run. –Dennis Miller

The easiest job in the world has to be coroner. Surgery on dead people. What's the worst thing that could happen? If everything went wrong, maybe you'd get a pulse. –Dennis Miller

A good rule of thumb is if you've made it to thirty-five and your job still requires you to wear a name tag, you've made a serious vocational error. –Dennis Miller

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman where the Self Help section was. She said if she told me- it would defeat the purpose. –Dennis Miller

I was on the Craig Kilborn show, and the next day I was at the airport, and a guy turns to me and says "Dude, I saw you on TV last night", but he did not say whether or not he thought I was good, he just confirmed the fact that I was, indeed, on television. So I turned my head away, for about a minute, then I turned back and said "Dude, I saw you at the airport, about a minute ago... and you were good." –Mitch Hedberg

Alcoholism is a disease, but it's the only one you can get yelled at for having. "Goddamn it Otto, you are an alcoholic!" "Goddamn it Otto, you have Lupus!" ... one of those two doesn't sound right. –Mitch Hedberg


There was a rumor that in the aftermath of "Wilma" there evolved a strain of mutant Chihuahua that traveled in packs and attack unsuspecting humans without being provoked. As I went to leave my door this morning there were about 35 of them in my driveway and I was unable to get out and go to work. At least that is what I told my boss.
C'mon people. Do you really think that Norah wrote that note about the Big Pine Cafe I really don't think anyone would be stupid enough to sign their name to slander like that. It's such a shame there are nasty people out there looking to hurt John and Sam. They are such wonderful people
I went and saw the son of Muddy Waters (I forgot his name) last night at HoM and really enjoyed myself. There were a lot of people and the band was real professional and weren't bitching about tips all night. They didn't even have a tip jar.

I saw a picture of Key West on Channel 6 this morning and all the trees were brown from the hurricane. A tourist looking at that shot must think that it's autumn in the island city.
Key West has cancelled the annual Veteran's Parade that we always lead on our motorcycles. Please don't forget to donate toys for our annual toy run on November 27th. Drop-offs are everywhere. Just look in the ABATE newsletter.




Another Bush screw up: The Pakistan earth quake. We've sent very little help over there. And that is the place that we're trying to win "Hearts and Minds." When they need us the most we're only sending token help. They need more of our helicopters because of the rough terrain in the country. Do you think our small presence is because Pakistan only has rocks and no oil?
This weeks capulsualization. Too much whining going on.  My solutions. Been to see FEMA four times and no money yet?  Stay at work, be productive and take care of your own needs. Comcast vs. DirecTV?  Get them both and decide for yourself. Singles meetings?  Expect nor accept anyone with more or less to offer than you have to give.
Are you going through debris that hard working people have cleaned up and have put out to be picked up?  Are you leaving it in the road and on the bike path?  You are a no good loser who probably spends the rest of your day waiting for people to give you something. Katie, welcome to the Keys where some people have nothing to do and all day to get it done.

Re: Cell phone restarting. Thanks for reminding me. I haven't turned my phone off for months. That usually does work for a quick fix. It's the same with computers. At the first sign of trouble, simply turn it off, wait 15 seconds and turn it on again. That will fix most non-virus problems.


My very large garden looks like the movies of the bombed-out Philippines in WWII when McArthur returned.
Now I ain't no Nostrodomus or anything, but If weather history really does cycle, between now and 20035 we will be hit by a category 5 storm, a super-typhoon. The storm surge will be 5 times what you experienced in Wilma. Evacuation sucks but someday...

Wilma a Category 3 hurricane? I don't think that the winds were of cat 3 force. We had a few gusts that were that strong but mostly I thought the winds were a sustained Category 1. The flood was certainly cat 3.

Warning. I opened a bottle of formerly submerged Champagne and was glad I did (in more ways than one) because the metal cage holding in the cork was corroded. I think it was the combination of the lead foil cover touching the steel cage with the addition of the salt from the water that made it corrode so fast. So neighbors, drink all your storm-surged Champagne as soon as you can.
Gail, you probably have a good heart, but I am relatively sure that your head is messed up.  I was trying to like you but I can never be with someone who lies right to my face. You claimed to "love" me but I think your definition is different than mine as to the word love. Patience and understanding are good qualities that I seek in a woman, but honesty is the most important.  Are you so lonely and desperate that you just need a 'warm body'?  In the literal sense as well. Is that loud ticking sound that of your biological clock?  I found this whole thing to be pathetic. Oh, you were right about one thing; I am a good man. Oh well.

Friday November 11, 2005

 

Thursday November 10, 2005


Big Bill Morganfield will be playing a FREE concert at the Big Pine House Of Music Thursday Nov. 10th at 7pm. Bill is the son of Blues legend Muddy Waters. This promises to be some of the fines Chicago Blues ever.
To the person looking for Party Time Limo, here is her numbers. She is great. Give her a call. 305-744-0905 or 305-304-8332. Have a great time.

Re: Salty Car. I feel for the person who's car is almost paid for, but I think if your battery is connected when your car is flooded the electrical current goes through the entire system and that's why they total the vehicles--there's nothing that can be done. It's not a scam, it's real. Some cars will run for a while, but then the corrosion creeps and spreads!

I'll tell you the truth. I feed the Key Deer vegetables all the time--always have. But I never thought of giving them water until the refuge people said it was all right to water them while the ecology gets back to normal. So I put a big salad bowl filled with water out the day before yesterday. When I looked it was empty and I thought my spouse had used it to water the plants or something. I filled it up again and after lunch I noticed that it was half empty already. I filled it up again and that evening it was empty again. Boy, those deer can really drink. I'm really surprised.

There was one here today with a brand new broken leg. I wish there was something I could do for it, but by the time the deer people get here, it'll be gone. And they'd shoot that Batman-type net over the poor deer and traumatize it even more; maybe even causing another leg to break. So I'll just let it suffer and try not to look at it and keep on filling the water bowl.
I have to agree with yesterday's posting about the parked car.  I was the other person in the car and she was right.  It was a lot of fun.  I've seen her a couple times since then and really like her a lot.  I hope it was the first date of many more to come.  I hadn't played kissy-face in a car in a long, long time but it was a great, long goodbye kiss.  This could be the start of a great thing.


This might be usable for chicken week in Key West.
Dish Network kept me waiting all day yesterday. They were supposed to adjust my dish and we had an appointment for two weeks. Phone support said they would be here by 12 then by 1 and then by 5. No one ever called or came.
Is anyone else having a problem with their Sprint cell phones?
Carmella has a wife?
Please add this link to my post about DirecTV. http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1080086608278
Snow hater. Oh, go screw yourself, Mr. Northern Plains blizzard idiot.  Do us a all a favor too, don't come back to the Keys ever!
Habitat Landing did poor. Most everyone here did not evacuate. Lost everything in our enclosures.  Those who did not park their vehicles on high ground lost their cars.
TV Paranoia. Thanks to everyone that gave me the 1-800-comcast number. They did indeed credit my account for the days of lost service and further stated that they were automatically doing this for everyone.

To the people recommending sat-dish, no thanks. DirecTV (Rupert Murdock/Fox News) is the most irreputable company in the nation, maybe your service is fine but be careful they don't do a planned ECM (electronic zapping), which renders your card inoperable and then charge you $150 to replace it. Or worse yet, count you among the 25,000 people they've accused of being pirates and sued, for merely replacing the card cheaper, purchased on internet sites. DishTV is not quite as crooked but they have been known to play that game too! This site is one of many that will give you info to back-up my claim: http://www.lawyers.com/lakeshorelaw/directv.jsp




New Use for Fishing Line. This years winner of the 2005 World's smallest (legal) swimsuit.
Re:  "Because she was the one slamming."  Okay, I now understand.  If someone were to send a contribution to Kudos and Whiners that was of a "negative personal nature" the email address listed as sending would be added to the post.  And then if someone were to send a rebuttal that was also of a "negative personal nature" the email address listed as sending would not be added to the post because the first one started it.  Makes perfect sense. Not!  Yet, that is how I interpreted your response.  I believe email accounts can be manipulated, and you really have no idea that the sender of an email is actually the person listed as the sender.  The name listed on this email is not my name and the email address listed is not my email address.  Ed, this is your site, not ours, manage it however you like. 
I have, well had (due to Wilma) a beautiful yard with Rose bushes, Hibiscus, Gardenia and many more flowers/plants that Iguana's love to eat.  Instead I feed them my left over veggie and fruit scraps--I eat salad everyday.  If they dare get close enough I tell the dog to chase them.  We have a mutual understanding now.  They leave my yard alone and I get to enjoy the beautiful creatures.  The only reason you should ever kill anything is if you are going to eat it.
http://reference.aol.com/space/article?id=20051108162109990001
Watch for Fireballs in the Night Sky. Unusually bright flashes have been startling sky watchers around the globe. The streaks of light are fireballs from the Taurid meteor shower and will be visible through mid-November.
FEMA.  This is a neat trick. I am a renter who lost everything I own and can't live where I was.  Because I do not have insurance and have good credit they would happily give me a loan but not any assistance.  Like I need any more debt!  Thanks a lot US Government.  And where the hell is the Red Cross?  I thought they were supposed to be coming door to door.
Pervert Watch. Family Watchdog Search This is so detailed they even supply pictures and the charges.  Type in your address and a map will pop up with little red squares showing the location of local sex offenders.  Click on the red square for pics and detail

Re: Comment "In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the worlds social problems evaporate." Duh. It's so frigging cold most of the time nobody leaves their house, therefore no social problems, just immensely obese people with cabin fever attitudes. The bad news is they are all headed here.

Go here and move your mouse around. http://www.broenink-art.nl/maukie2.swf
2 feet of snow coming down in 50 mph winds doesn't compare with 130 mph winds with coconuts flying. I do believe a snowflake is a bit lighter than a coconut and in order to get 8 feet of water, there would have to be 80 feet of snow. When the Dakotas get 80 feet of snow and hurricane force winds, then we'll listen with a bit more sympathy.
FEMA claims can be entered on www.fema.gov  No lines, no waiting. The catch is you have to figure out all the stuff yourself.
I live on Summerland Key on Airport Dr South. Does anyone have a working house phone? I still don't have phone service. Could someone let me know if they have service?
Big Bill Morganfield will be at the HOM Thursday night, get outta your little dwellings and enjoy the live music. Something different. I caught him at the Hurricane Tues night and he is very soulful and heartfelt, really into his craft. And he's pretty hot, looks strong as an ox. Mmmmm, eyecandy. It'll be nice to have a little change of scenery ladies.
Has anyone gotten the $1500 dollar direct bank deposit promised from FEMA if your house is uninhabitable?
I was one of the biggest Key Deer/Capt Dan bashers for a long time.  Then I met Dan and spoke with him and my feelings were completely changed.  He is a complete gentleman and really does his share and more for the community.  He had a rough hand to play when he took over Key Deer and is doing a great job turning it around.  Dan is a true class act.
 
For those of you reading this thinking I am one of Key Deer's employees or a friend of Capt Dan writing in to make him look good you are wrong.  I have only been in there a few times since Dan took it over and still don't care for the bar crowd.  I will say it is getting better each time I go in.  It will take time to turn the crown around as it is tough to keep a clean crowd when booze is involved but Dan is giving it 150% and is making positive changes there.

More Panama. It was on this day in 1906 that Teddy Roosevelt went against more than a century of tradition and became the first American president ever to leave the country while in office. He went to view the construction site of the Panama Canal.

Thursday November 10, 2005

 

Wednesday November 9, 2005

Has anyone actually gotten and help from FEMA? I went down to turn in a claim for buying a generator and gave up in disgust. It is a circus, I talked to someone I knew who had been there four times and hadn’t even gotten to talk to anyone yet. In two previous hurricanes FEMA help was just a pipe dream then too. Eliminate the whole agency, lower taxes, and let people take care of themselves. That’s who you have to depend on anyway.
Re: Telephone service Eden Pines:  The blonde is Carmella.  She is my friend and is irreplaceable as an employee of Bellsouth and as a friend.  She has and has had multiple losses and heartaches of her own.  I only have outgoing phone service and we have a small business 
and are probably losing many calls,  but the DSL is up.  Carmella, I truly do not know what in hell we will do when you finally get your well deserved break. Your A/C guy and wife thank you. You are the best.
It's not so easy to recover from a force 3 hurricane with 8' storm surge of dirty seawater mixed with debris and sewage. I wonder how the Dakotans could handle being in the middle of Wilma , Rita, or Katrina. Not so well, I think. Amusing, if it were not so true...

Weather Bulletin
Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from a Historic event --- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard  of up to 24" inches of snow  and winds to 50 MPH that broke trees in half, stranded hundreds of motorists  in lethal snow banks, closed all roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

FYI:
George Bush did not come....
FEMA staged nothing....
No one howled for the government...
No one even uttered an expletive on TV...
Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.....
No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House....
No one looted....
Phil Cantori of the Weather Channel did not come....
And Geraldo Rivera did not move in.
 
Nope, we just melted snow for water, sent out caravans to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars, fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Aladdin lamps, and put on an extra layer of clothes because up here it is 'work or die'.  We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.

Even though a  Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early...we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.

"In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the worlds social problems evaporate."
For those who can't log on to the NY Times web
Inside French Housing Project, Feelings of Being the Outsiders

Nov. 8 - Amin Kouidri, 20, has been hunting for a job for more than two years now and spends his days drifting around a government housing project here under the watchful gaze of France's national police.

He and his neighbors in one of France's now-notorious housing projects say that they feel cut off from French society, a result of a process of segregation lasting for decades, and that alienation and pressure from the police have now exploded in rage across the country.
Oh, what to do?  Progressive came today and declared both our vehicles total losses.  Both still run.  Now do I take a total loss on my car which only had water in the floor or deny the claim, pay it off and get a repair and take my chances or do I commit to 4-5 years of payments again?  My car was within months of being paid for and I have taken excellent care of it.  I believe the water only inundated the floorboards and got the "brain" which is located under the drivers seat.  The agent even said it was beautiful and well kept, like new.  Believe me I don't think I'll ever buy New.  Any mechanics out there with advice?.  You should know we vacuumed all the water out as soon as it receded and washed the underneath with fresh water immediately.  I have driven through standing water deeper than the surge.  I feel like I'm getting screwed.  The agent posted an orange salvage tag in the car with all good parts (this baby was fully loaded) except the engine and transmission.
I have heard it is a scam and in the best interests of the insurance co. to total these vehicles.  Oh, what to do?  I hope to hear from many Pine Nuts as I need advice.  


Comcast cable sucks the big one. Lousy service.  Two drops of rain south of Miami and the service goes out.  Non-existent customer service.  I’m gad I switched to dish!
I answered one of the singles ads and could not be happier. I haven't had that much fun in a parked car in a long time!

My car was totaled in the hurricane along with so many others.  I saw just what I wanted on the lot at Island Auto Sales on Ramrod Key.  I stopped in and spoke with owners Jimmy and Jeanne and was off the lot owning my replacement vehicle within 45 minutes.  They were very helpful and willing to make a reasonable adjustment on the price of the vehicle to give me a break.  The price was well within the blue book pricing guidelines for that year vehicle.  No pressure and no BS, just friendly, helpful service.  I would recommend them to anyone looking for a replacement for their damaged or totaled vehicles.  Kudos to Island Auto Sales.

Could you handle the stress. I know I couldn't pee with them looking. Hell, I can't even pee if there's a guy standing next to me.
The satellite TV guy is coming today to realign my dish. It got knocked out of whack in the storm. Even out of whack it still worked a lot of the time. It still beats cable.
www.walmartmovie.com I can't wait to see this movie!
Just think of all the new cars that are going to be on the islands in a couple of weeks. It's going to look like a rich place.
I don't think that's the same Sysco.
I want to thank Murray's Grocery store in Summerland. We are happy they opened so quickly. Their staff are always looking to please you. Keep up the good work.
Something interesting about cell phones I just learned from my phones' customer service that they must be turned off every so often. It seems the phone company's download program updates to them when you turn them back on. It probably takes a few minutes after turnoff for the network to clear the phone so this can happen, so just a quick off/on won't cause this to happen. Give it at least 10 minutes (my guess). My just quit working until the lady manually forced such a download. Then presto, everything was normal again.
Everybody who has cable and complains about it does have a choice. I  have a satellite dish and took it off my roof before the storm and put it back myself and have had TV even when I had no power (generator). It's cheaper, and much better than it used to be regarding storms. It has to rain real hard and be windy before the signal is disrupted.

Over the past few years, my few moments without a signal haven't come close to the total time the cable has been out and you are still paying for it. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to set a dish up. All it takes is a compass and a few minutes. When we have a torrential rain, I may loose my signal for the duration of that torrential rain. Maybe a half an hour. Nowhere near the weeks that the cable has been out.

My only complaint is having the local weather on the weather channel, for Boston or wherever, instead of Miami and the way Jim Cantori (meteorologist for the weather channel while he was in Key Largo) was urging Wilma to give us all she's got before the storm came, I don't want to watch the weather channel anyway.

I haven't looked at this site in a while and couldn't believe the bad comments about our local restaurants. I eat breakfast out 5 or 6 days a week and spread out between the Coffee Shop, Cracked Egg and the Galley Grill. I go mostly to the cracked egg because of the waitresses and all three places have good food and service. If you don't like local color then cook your own food. Keep up the good work girls.


To the iguana dispatcher: "Keep on rockin' in the free world."
I hope the Keys get back to the beautiful state they were in before Wilma. Keep working hard and let's hope FEMA does as good a job as they have for the rest of this hurricane season. 

And let's keep shooting the iguanas! Anyone who advocates the preservation of them does not have a yard worth looking at.

And anyone who has an idea of who it was who tore through the Cutthroat Dr. area on Cudjoe Key in the early morning hours of Nov. 8th, please call the cops and let them know. We will survive!
My Comcast instructions give their customer service/repair number as 1-800-COMCAST. I've called it a couple of times and I has always been answered fairly quickly. One time I asked the person where they were and they said they were in Louisiana (of all places). Apparently they have several call centers and calls switch between them automatically. My problems did get resolved, but since they have been doing so much repair work I can't say it was in direct response to my call. Calling Key West is not the thing to do.
Comcast sent out a message this morning saying they were aware people were without service and would automatically give them credit for their loss of service. This came in directly from them over one of those fancy DVR boxes that I sprung for. They routinely send out messages that come in over the thing, usually trying to get you to buy some special event. This was more welcome.
The Big Pine Computer Club meets at 10 am at the Senior Center (BPK) on November 12.
Re: History of flooding. Look back in Keys History. Donna flooded a lot of the Keys in the 60's. Many old dwellings had water marks high on them for years that were from Donna. How about the 1935 hurricane that brought a 20 foot wall of water over the upper Keys?

We have been lucky  for many years. At least we now have to build our homes to more stringent codes and have them to return to, even without our non-conforming downstairs enclosures, we are luckier than many who experienced the same strength storms last year and ended up with nothing.



Dear Ed: Why no name on the Nora Jones slam?
(Ed: Because she was the one slamming the Coffee Shop people.)
Someone posted  "French rioting. It's on all the news..." You have the internet-- read about it yourself, or do you need an interpreter? It's like, "I know what's happening but I don't understand a damn thing." You poor baby.
Flu shots will be available at the Senior Center on BPK Monday, November 21, from 10 am to 1 pm.
Someone just wrote that they're going to attack Capt. Dan again. Well, I'd better quick thank him and his crew for being there for us after the storm. No one else was open. He and his crew opened for breakfast each day until the other breakfast places opened, then he ceased his breakfast service. I saw several customers without money get service anyway with no problem and no bill!

Then came Halloween on Monday. I took my kids to the Key Deer Grill and the kids' party was on as it has been since Capt. Dan purchased the Key Deer. He made candy apples, pop corn balls, soda's, pizza and an apple dunking tub. The cost to attend--free as usual. Whether you were a regular customer or not he welcomed everyone and he made it happen.

P.S. If you're going to say something bad about the Capt., sign your name. The man doesn't steal, lie, or cheat so let him have a look at his accuser.

Wednesday November 9, 2005

 

Tuesday November 8, 2005
It seems everybody's making money from the hurricane but the boat guys. No one seems to be in the mood to go boating yet.

French rioting. It's on all the news and in all the media but no one is saying just what they are rioting about. I know that they are poor, but what are they asking for?
Don't forget Veteran's day is Friday, 11 Nov 06. Don't ever forget!
Please remember that after using your generator that you should not leave a full tank of gas in it.  This event seems to gum up the system and makes it very hard, if not impossible depending on the length of time to restart the generator.  Suggestion: burn off the tank of gas that is left.  Although this may seem a waste, you will be happy in the long run. Remember after having gas in a tank too long it seems that there is more water than gas in the mixture and that does not burn well either.
A perfect format for low lifes.

Where the hell is Allstate? (Ed: In the parking lot of Office Depot in Marathon. I saw them yesterday sitting there all by themselves at a table.)
If it is snowbird season than why can we not shoot them?
Hey Nora Jones from Sysco. I bet your employer is real proud of you regarding the comments about John and Sam from The Big Pine Restaurant.  What a back stabbing bitch you are!  How much money have you made from their orders?  I bet you won't make any more from them now.  John and Sam are the most down to Earth people and are no way, shape or form fake.  You seriously need to take a good long look at yourself before you call other people fake.  What's the matter with you?  Since George left town have you been not satisfied in "life"?  Opps..... did I say that out loud?
To John and Sam - We miss you guys so much.  Remember there are other companies out there who can get you your supplies.  Maybe you can make sure Corporate Sysco gets a copy of her input.  I am sure it will have serious repercussions. We love you and miss you, both.
I personally spoke with one of the Bell South advisors in regard to the Cudjoe phones and I think Summerland Key phones.  The main box located off  Blimp Road was submerged under salt water and has to be replaced--it all shorted out.  It was immediately ordered but then they were advised that it was on backorder and would be at least two weeks out.  Could be longer.  This gentleman was hand writing up repair orders for lines that had been downed during the storm and is having crews to fix these lines.  Even though the down lines may be repaired this is only a first step.  The box has to be received and all of the lines have to be redone.  I anticipate that they are doing everything in their power to get this done in a timely manner so that they would not have to hear further complaints
I've called Comcast repeatedly for over a week now, I've either been cut-off by a voice mail or reached a busy signal. Does anybody have a phone number that I could call, other than the local/Keys offices? Has anyone else had this problem? I generally don't bother with requested reductions on my bill for cable outages but since Comcast has become so greedy and unreliable of late, I'm going for it. This time, 7 days of no service and I'm probably among the luckier ones. I don't think I would ever consider their internet service.
 I'm looking for a company that makes totally plastic bedroom funiture. ie dressers, chests of drawers, night stands etc. Please respond to this site if you know of something like that.


This website reminds me that simple minds talk about people, average minds talk about events and great minds talk about ideas.
I'm curious here.  Did anyone answer the singles ad?  Did anyone meet someone?  I think it could be a great thing.  Any feedback form anyone?
My friends and I are now back home (north) from a trip to BPK to help several friends with cleanup from Wilma. Kudos to businesses and workers who already are up and running, and to those who aren't yet but will be soon, thank you.  We ate at Parrotdise, and had a wonderful meal, served by a wonderful person named Matt, thank you Matt.  We were able to buy supplies and groceries for our friends at the Winn Dixie, hardware store, and the flea market too.  We'll be back soon to offer more assistance, and of course patronize the local businesses.  We were impressed by the amount of clean up already done, as well as the great job Waste Management is doing.  You're in our hearts and thoughts.
I used to remember a lot, now I can't remember what I forgot.


Why don't they let anyone that looks like an out of place crab trap pick it up and bring it to a trap collection sight and collect a bounty on it? There are numbers in them and they could be returned to their rightful owners. That could save the fishermen money and save the lives of a lot of crabs.
Did the great hurricane that blew the Overseas Railroad away have thes same floods? Has the Keys ever flooded before? I haven't seen such widespread flooding in over thirty years.
To the guy who shot 100 iguanas. I would like to shoot you 100 times. 







I saw this ad on the NYTimes web site
Car Insurance.  I have Metropolitan Casualty through AAA.  My car loan is paid off in full, they are sending me a check for my equity and the car is sitting here waiting to be towed.  We pay $1300 each year for 2 vehicles insured to the hilt.  It took a little finagling to get them to pay the note w/o taking the car first, but I was told not to let my car go before making sure they were going to pay off the loan because once they have your vehicle you could get screwed.  Still waiting for a rental from Enterprise tho.
I agree that the Flea Market community has gone overboard defending their turf and honor. Methinks they may be protesting just a little too much. And don't worry, those bored snowbirds will buy anything if they think it's a deal.



All right. You guys have convinced me. I won’t vote for George Bush for President again.
That world wide piracy report is sorely lacking. How come the big oil companies aren't listed?
Progressive Ins is coming to our home on Thursday with two wonderful checks to replace our drowned, towed and totaled vehicles.
OptOutPrescreen.com - Frequently Asked Questions Heard of the no-call list?  This is the equivalent for junkmail like pre-approved credit card solicitations and insurance offers.  I know I don't like that stuff going through the mail system with all the identity theft going on.  Best to do it over the phone, though, because you do have to provide you social security number.



And you worry about squirrels in your bird feeder?
Movies. When people are driving in the movies and having a converssation sometimes the driver doesn't look at the "road" for thirty seconds. In real life that would cause an accident and it always distracts me from the movie. The studios should have a driving simulator game on the screen for the actor to see just to make it more real.

Tuesday November 8, 2005

 

Monday November 7, 2005
The great sailfish caper. In regards to the stolen sailfish, I hope that you get it back. I know about sentiments. It sounds like your thief has turned him or herself into to this site. I as well have lost things that floated away or are in the bottom of the canal. As far as the Flea Market folks, They are not out stealing from the public to make a buck. Just to make a living. an working for a living. I have lived on Big Pine and worked at the market for 18 Years. If your fish is spotted there will let you know. Thanks for all the locals and tourist that support us. Will see you all soon. Give the man back is fish!
Phone repair. Two digit numbers in cross-boxes went under water do you know how many people get their dial tone from 1 box?  One phone lady I talked to said there are people all over the islands from out of the Keys working 7 days a week.  Bitch, bitch, bitch, why don't you read a book or get and IQ test and take it.  That blonde phone lady on Big Pine Key works like a dog, give her a break!

Boy, the unusual things you see after a flood.  It’s 10:00 PM Sunday and one of those big flat bed wreckers just pulled up at the house across the canal and picked up a small SUV that I hadn’t seen move in a week.  Funny thing was he had to offload 2 other cars, put the SUV in the middle, and reload the other two.  All told, it took him 45 minutes of juggling things.  Kind of fun watching it with just his running lights and his flashlight.  Better than daytime.  Glad my car is safely hidden in my garage.
Greetings from paradise almost lost. I hope you and the forest survived. New Town is now Swamp town. It's very sad riding the free bus down Flagler, every house is emptied of there first and only floor. Half the town is homeless and careless. And the f**king Conch Train passes with a half dozen cruise-shippers. Parasites and perverts 24/7.
About a year ago a commercial fisherman was out working and saw a dive boat near his trap line. When he pulled a trap up a guy was stuck in it with his arm reaching in the trap. He made two phone calls; first to his friends, then to 911. The diver got on the boat and went to a dock in Marathon his friends were waiting. Well the guy wasn't in good shape when the police arrived later than fisherman's friends. That is how we feel at the Flea Market. God help someone who shows up with looted stuff to sell!
If you haven't had iguana stew you haven't eaten. And iguana on a stick, fabulous! Beware though you may get the desire to start climbing trees and eating your neighbors plants.



I heard that Kim Z is going to be sewing again.  She's the best seamstress ever. I  hope she starts soon. Please let us all know at bigpinekey.com  when you will be taking business. I'm sure there's lots of other people who need things fixed and altered and hand sewn.  Can't wait. Thanks. Kiss, kiss.
Flag etiquette. Long May It Wave.  Let us not forget if we don't take our flags down at sunset, we must have a light shinning upon it.
I went to Google and typed in "failure" and then "I'm feeling lucky." The first listing was George W. Bush's biography...hmmm.







Here's the new Florida quarter.
Sam and John owners of Big Pine Restaurant are fake! In life, in every way. Watch your back with the both of them! We still believe she is a transvestite! 
-Jones, Nora 016 [Jones.Nora@sfl.sysco.com]
I shot a pesky iguana and then went to the post office to mail a package; and a guy in front of me was inquiring if the iguana that he had mailed had arrived yet.

Does anyone know if Bahama Jack's is going to reopen?  I remember a sign saying closed for vacation going up about 6 months ago.

I have Progressive auto insurance.  The adjuster was at my home three days after I called and I should have a check in hand by Tuesday.  Another adjuster from Progressive will be here Monday to see my motorcycles.  I was treated very fairly with the car settlement and expect the same for the bikes.  I have no complaint with Progressive.
More Hawaii honeymoon pictures. The first one is sunrise at the summit of the dormant volcano, Haleakala on Maui. At an elevation of over 10,000 ft, we were high above the clouds. We rode mountain bikes all the way down to the base. The other picture is of a plant called the Silversword. Found only on top of Haleakala and nowhere else.
Progressive insurance gave me more than fair market value for my car. That's real good.
To the person who just got here and doesn't want to make enemies. You're not getting off to a very good start!


Eden Pines off of Bittersweet. Downstairs swamp.
Ok, you want to talk about being rude. Every single person working at Murray's Food Market in Summerland Key is rude. (except for the 2 guys that work at the deli counter). The workers in that place make you feel like you want to throw your food in their face.  I won't even shop there anymore because they act like they are doing you a favor by selling you high priced stuff.  The worst attitude comes from the 2 girls behind the deli counter--the young, thin girl and the heavy women with the thin hair in a pony tail.  Those two are never friendly even if you try and be nice to them.  I gave up on that place  a  while back, it wasn't worth it.
Enough with the Katie crap already!  Who cares anymore.
To the person complaining about the Coffee Shop. You must not eat there often. I remember it before the current owners bought it and looking up at the ceiling and wondering how many years it had gone since its last cleaning. The new owners have not only cleaned it up and put a lot of work into the old place but both of them work as hard or harder than their employees. All the employees I've encountered there are friendly and hard working also. I'm sure you won't find a cot in the whole place.
The wonderful redheaded chick, Katie was one of our very first friends we made when we moved to BPK in July 2001.  She is one of the people we miss most now that we have moved away.  Katie, we will always love you, we are so grateful and proud to be your friends, and we miss you so much.
More pictures from Port Pine Heights. The before and after of the storm surge. Notice the white car under the house.
Oh, Oh, time to print a name. It's time for me to start raggin' on Capt. Dan again. I will be posting new information on the low down dealings of the "self proclaimed" do-good-er of the lower keys. Will you ever learn old man?
This Katie thing is over played, man. It is so true what the guy said last week. I, for one, think it was good for her to be called on her service. It, in the long run, will hopefully teach her a valuable lesson. So many times down here in the Keys customer service is put by the wayside. It's not just here it's everywhere. So just take your constructive criticism and be glad that you are able to have a choice to right your wrongs.


Wow, the flea market fraternity is really sensitive. Take a pill people and have some Kool-aid to wash it down.

The Cracked Egg seems to do a good business, but I agree about the dirty, greasy menus and the grumpy, complaining waitress.  The last time I had breakfast there I became quite ill later.  I can only attribute it to poor hygiene and poor sanitation/food handling in the kitchen.  I’ll never go back.

Is the building department in Monroe County going to relax permit requirements so that homeowners can rebuild and fix their homes without having to meet septic requirements? Understanding of course the silliness of putting in a conforming septic when it is expected to hook to sewers in the near future.

In regards to the Google search for "failure" or "miserable failure" taking you to George Bush's biography. Check out what Snopes.com  says about it.  It's amazing that people can manipulate the Internet to cause something like this political fiasco.  They say "How did this come about, especially since the phrase "miserable failure" appears nowhere in the President's biography? It was the result of a "Google bombing" project organized by George Johnston back at the end of October 2003, in which he used his blog to urge others to include links connecting the phrase "miserable failure" (a term used prominently by Democratic hopeful Dick Gephardt) with the President's biography in their own web sites and blogs:"  Read on at http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/google.asp.  Enough already.

Monday November 6, 2005

 

Sunday November 6, 2005

This is a weekly world wide piracy report. I've been checking it for years. The worst places these days are around Somalia (25 this year) and the South China Sea.  The pirates sometimes climb up the anchor chain and then rob the ship. A cruise ship was the latest attempted piracy. The pirates were in two 25 foot boats and fired guns and grenades at the ship. The cruise ship wasn't boarded due to the captains skill. http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php
You can get free transportation to pick up a rental car, banking, shopping, etc. from the County just by making an appointment at (305) 292-4424.
To the person who thinks us local hardworking vendors at the Flea Market would tolerate anyone selling stolen things from Wilma--please know that we would have them arrested in about ten seconds. All us vendors had massive damage at our homes and at the Market. We have zero tolerance for theft. We worked hard, threw away large amounts of damaged things and are back in business already. As of this weekend we have nice fresh produce again and lots of new, not used, merchandise. Some of the vendors can even accept the red cross cards for clothing, tools,
and home repair items.
FEMA has moved from the church to the Marathon Airport. There are free credit cards at one of the churches in Big Pine.

Could we please get a dialog going on how many cars were flooded and the outcome with each particular insurance company?  I am looking to change companies when and if they ever come to see my flooded vehicles.  I have Progressive and by the time they get here it will have been 16 days or longer.  Have any readers had especially good luck with any one company?
Grouper back with more to offer. Oh my god, I went to dinner tonight and instead of waiting outside smelling septic, I was taken to a great way retro waiting area. Brand new. New owners but same great food with the infamous Lynn Bell behind that kitchen doing the same great thing with pride. Go Square Grouper! I can't get enough of that key lime pasta!
A big thank you to all the people who have helped their friends and neighbors.  We are a caring community and  I'm proud to be part of it.

Long may it wave.
My two drowned vehicles were picked up the other night and we didn't receive any receipt and were nervous until a Progressive agent called us and said that both cars were totaled. He said that they will call within 48 hours (Monday) and tell us how much they will pay on our claim. We have our fingers and toes crossed.
Complaint about Katie  Just to let you know a lot of Katie friends brought her flowers after the incident happened just to cheer her up. If you are going to stay here I would recommend that you go back to Paradise Petroleum and let Katie know that you were the one she has said that she would really like to apologize to you in person. Who knows, you might see what everyone else here sees in her--a young and very sweet lady.


Re: Flea market whiner. Do not blame the honest merchants at Big Pine flea market for the stuff you collected from your friends and neighbors in the dead of night; or while they were out shopping. I do hope that they all come to your yard sale. It should look like the 4th of July.
This is a reply to the "pre-dick-ter": First of all I go to the flea market quite often. Those people don't sell used stuff that's why I shop there. They all have new and unique items. If you are looking for who stole your stuff you might check on your own street first. I did notice today that the people from the flea market allowed FEMA and Red Cross the use of their parking lot to give out money and your tax dollars to the very people that probably took your belongings. This island is full of people trying and getting away with scamming everyone they can.

Can you also predict why my tax dollars are spent on giving out free water when stores are open and selling water and the boil water order has been lifted? Maybe our tap water is not good enough for these losers. Look at the garbage being dumped along the roads, is this all related to Wilma? Hell no. Unless Wilma blew the debris off of that 1966 mustang and other vehicles that have not ran in the past 20 years that Tommy Fletcher is dragging out of the woods. This is just a way they can get free pick-up. People need to be arrested and prosecuted for any thing they are taking advantage of, from selling stolen junk to scamming FEMA to commercial dumping. -starsnbars@bluebottle.com

Does anyone know how to reach Partytime Limo of Cudjoe Key?  I think her name is Patty.
I sell gold-silver beach bags and hats at the Big Pine flea market. Everything is new. Not from some poor soul who has lost every thing. Whoever wrote the comment about the market had better look in his on back yard.
What? You say we might be able to buy our stuff washed away from Wilma at the flea market? Really? Do you think so? So, there's a chance I may be able to get my "bongo" back?  Did anyone in Big Pine see a big bongo floating past their house? Wouldn't it be kind of funny if someone actually did and took it to the Looe Key Tiki Bar? I play the bongos there every other Monday. Well, now I just play the one bongo, but you can still dance to it and have fun.
Katie is cool. Quit picking on that cute little redhead. It is a little known fact that redheads actually have a secret cabal, and if you attack one of them the rest of them will band together and call you dirty names for the rest of your natural life. If you don't want to be known as "Dickweed" or "Butt Munch" or "Rump Wrangler", I suggest you buy a nice bouquet of flowers for Katie and beg forgiveness.
Who removed the ladder from the piece of dock down the main canal in Port Pine Heights, that belongs to Capt. Ray Ward on Poinciana St. off Kyle Blvd?  He had every intention of retrieving the ladder as it is expensive to replace. It was taken sometime Friday. He went to get it Saturday and it was gone. Please return to owner.
About Big Pine Coffee Shop. I have been eating there for a long time. You know it used to be called the "Share Cropper" but you wouldn't know that. Then again, you sound like you don't know much of any thing. The food and service has always been good, but I am sure that they "do things much better were you come from."
What's all this dialogue about a clerk with a bad attitude. She does and apologized already. So stop this petty defending of a clerk with a bad attitude. This site gets so trite sometimes. Is everyone who knows her going to write in and say how nice she is?
A big thanks to Toni for taking my little boy of four trick or treating while I was performing. Being car-challenged as many of us are right now, I took my boy in his costume with me to work at the Tiki Bar. Wilma wasn't taking his Halloween away too. I thought he would have fun just being dressed up. Toni is such a wonderful lady, she is so full of that warm Keys spirit. (She left the Tiki and came right back with candy. And not that small stuff either. She handed it out to all of the costumers.) Then my happy little ninja turtle took his bucket from bar stool to bar stool saying, "Trick or treat!" He wanted to go back the next night to do it again! Thank you. I love you. I'll sing some Stevie Nicks just for you women.
Keys Energy did a great job getting service back to Cudjoe, but BellSouth seems to be a little slow to respond. Does anybody have any idea of what is taking them so long? Are they redoing their entire network? Any info on this would be appreciated
Re: The Time Machine comment about what three books one should take into the future to rebuild civilization. Forget the books, latch on to a few of the hot blonde nymphets in the future and enjoy yourself.  Who needs to read and build?


How true it is!  Go to www.Google.com  and type in the word "failure".  Click on “I’m feeling lucky” and see what happens!
Sorry, I thought you were a woman, guess you just sounded like one with the whining and all.  I apologize to the woman for thinking you were one also. I, for one, think you should have enough nerve to apologize to Katie and maybe you ought to find out that nice little Mexican's name at Tom Thumbs and apologize to him for being a racist.
My neighbor has shot over 100 iguanas. Are they good to eat or something?
To the person saying bad things about the Coffee Shop. You obviously have not eaten there lately because Johnny has been working his butt off. Why do people want to bring other's down? How pathetic you are. May you find peace with your dark insides. From a very satisfied customer from the Coffee Shop and fellow business owner on Big Pine. We love you all at the Coffee Shop and appreciate your hard work.
I've seen lots of pictures of Father Tony's pumpkins, but I would really like to know how the rest of the St. Peter property fared.  Also, how about No Name Pub and Little Palm Island.  How did they come through Wilma?  Did anyone see any of No Name's dollar bills floating around?  And the Habitat Landings. How did the houses and cars do?   Did most of the homeowners evacuate?
To the person who finds so many rude people. Maybe you better look in the mirror as maybe you are causing the problem. I am sure you are going to stay and will probably join a property owners association. You certainly sound the type.
We finally got our phones back this morning. You do not know how much you miss the internet until you have to be without it for a while.

Sunday November 6, 2005

 

Saturday November 5, 2005

Key Deer Blvd. No wake zone.
Prince Charles an Camilla are visiting New Orleans. Whoopee. Who cares? What a non-event.
Know how to prevent sagging? Just eat till the wrinkles fill out.

Trivia: Old movies are 24 frames per second, television is 30 frames per second and BigPineKey.com's live web cam is 15 frame per second.
Here are some more pictures off Ships Way and the Pumpkin patch and Lucky's Landing and the Big Pine Moose Lodge. The last two are Grassy Key.  The last picture is of our hurricane Wilma sunset.
 
Another thank you. We live out in Port Pine Heights and had about a 4 1/2 ft storm surge. Sometimes a person might not realize how many people care until something like this happens. I want to thank Anthony for the loaner car and his wonderful wife-to-be Anita. Heidi and George, Mike E. Scott V. at Overseas Lumber,  Carrie and Maryann at Ace for thinking of us. Our neighbor Bill and Phyllis for helping  to carry the generator to higher ground. The man who drives the big orange truck (Mike) for going door to door in our neighborhood with ice and water the day after. Andy at bank of America for stopping by to see if we need a ride anywhere. The national guard and Big Pine Fire and everyone who came to Saturday night's: We hate Wilma BBQ.
Pictures from Port Pine Heights our fence in the one picture is 6ft high and the others pics are from our neighborhood off Gulf Ave.
For starters, I am the one with the complaint about Katie and I am not a woman. I am married to one. I understand that people have bad days and no one is perfect. And Wilma has everyone stressed out including myself. There seems to be an acceptance of rude behavior here in the Keys from bartenders, wait staff, store workers, etc. and the "If you don't like it you can leave" attitude. I just bought a home here and I'm not leaving. Part of working with the public includes manners and respect. If you don't make your customers feel welcome, they'll go elsewhere. Yes, I should have told Katie to her face about her actions, and I apologize for not doing so. But I felt so disrespected that I got angry and left. I don't want to make enemies around here, all I want is to be treated kindly when I conduct business.

Bush is finally getting a picture of how the rest of the world sees him while he's at the summit in Argentina. When that many people take to the streets a president should know that there is something wrong in the pumpkin patch!
I love the hurricane pictures. Send in more!
Re: Big Mike. I'm surprised that no one has said good kudos to the fellow in the huge orange truck, all his running food in knee high water to those in need, getting groups together to make things run smoothly, finding fork lifts, when needed. the orange truck is a bit tired, but you can bet its out there every day helping the people in need.
What ever happened to Tim & Teri. AKA TNT?


Missing Cat from Indian Mounds Estate neighborhood in Sugarloaf. She was last seen around 2:00 pm Thursday, 10/27. She's a Grey Tabby, who is de-clawed on the front claws (we adopted her that way--and did not do that to her) and has no collar. Please call 745-7555.

To the Guy who had two cars picked up by an unknown person, got no receipt and believed they are actually dumping these in the ocean. Wow. This makes me a believer of the saying, “There’s one born every day.” Sir, you need to check your birthday.
I hope we all have a great turn out and the proposed singles meeting works out.  This could be the start of something good.
I am the person who was robbed of his Sailfish during the hurricane my Email address is Domistorm@aol.com

Libby's new tactics.
http://www.wonkette.com/politics/scooter-libby/scooter-libbys-reign-of-fire-135134.php
I predict the Big Pine Flea market will be an interesting place to be for the next couple of months. Lots of people are going to see their stuff that disappeared during Wilma for sale.

(?)The best bartender on the island and no one realizes. We want our bartender back!
Come on, sis, you're drunk again.  What if Mom finds out.
In H.G. Wells' Time Machine the main character returns to the future and brings with him three books that will hopefully help to rebuild their civilization. What three books would you bring? I'd bring one on making and working steel. Another on making electricity. And one on making liquor.

Saturday November 5, 2005

 

Friday November 4, 2005
I was robbed during the hurricane. Someone broke into my downstairs and stole a 9 foot sailfish off my wall. The sailfish has a broken eye. Anyone with any info about my fish please E-mail me back. The Sailfish was caught by my father when I was a child and it has sentimental value to me. It really hurts when people steal from you. My pain is imbedded into that sailfish and the people who have on their wall, will feel it. I am shocked that the Keys have changed it was never was like this before.
Ramrod Chevron food mart:  "Jorge your the Man"  Through all these hurricanes, you have kept the gas flowing and the store open.  That generator has served the community well. Thank you, Jorge and Michelle for being there for us.  We appreciate you more than you know.  And your gas prices remain low. Thank you very, very much.
The Bigpinekey.com command center has just made a major purchase to insure you that we will be publishing and broadcasting the Live Web Cam during all hurricanes and power outages from now on. We bought a $658 Yamaha 1000w inverter generator that is the quietest generator on the market (57db). The modified sine wave inverter insures that a steady output of electricity will be provided for all our sensitive electronics. Yahoo!

I called to complain about the KW to Marathon bus's lack of keeping to a schedule and the guy hung up on me. Can you spell customer service?
FEMA says you can get Disaster Unemployment Assistance at www.fluidnow.com  but I suspect that, like every other assistance they advertise, no one will qualify.
Someone came yesterday and took our two drowned vehicles. It was unnerving because they didn't give us a receipt and they said that they were going to dump all the vehicles in the ocean.
I live on Edward Road and we had no water under the house in the storm. Very cool link to the Wilma-on-BPK pictures! Are there anymore killer pictures like those out there? Link? Also I am looking to remove a few smaller downed mahogany, lignum vitae and pine logs to get a few small logs to saw some boards out of.

Got milk? Everybody wants some.
I've lived in the Keys most of my life. I have dealt with Paradise Petroleum since they opened, I know the owners and I think they have always done their best to accommodate their customers. As far as Katie being rude, personally, I think she's a class act with a mature attitude as seen with her response to the attack against her character. In fact she always gets on me when I say the Key's would be a far greater place with a few less Yankee's telling us poor dumb Big Piner's how to do it. Also for the woman attacking Katie's character you have to love her opinion of the people at Tom Thumb, Debra & "that little Mexican guy."  Talk about a caring statement. For the people bitching about all the wrong things in the Key's, if you don't like it here, all you have to do is leave!
The Searstown Photos were awesome (Sorry but the word fit here.)  Keep em' coming people.
I can't eat breakfast at the Big Pine Coffee Shop and wait a half  hour for my breakfast because the people in the kitchen are slower than sap running down a tree in Minnesota in the  dead of winter. The owner needs to get off his cot and help out.
I too have purchased a Generac generator and it has failed during four of the last seven power outages.  The cost of installation is almost two times that of the purchase price of the generator.  With the high cost of propane it costs about one hundred dollars a day to operate.  Which means that you better have at least two hundred gallons on hand.  I wish that I had done my homework better.  Thanks to bell Electric for keeping me sane.  And thanks to Home Depot for nothing.
To the person or persons that took Cody's leash in front of Aromas, Please return it. It belongs to him, it keeps him safe. What I am using now I don't really trust. After Wilma he is glad to get back to his routine just as much as we are. Tomorrow he will have to stay and I can't explain to him why.
Glad to see that the person suggesting the singles meetings followed through and posted it in the classified section here.  Let's all get together and shoot to make this a success.  It will be interesting to see if the whining on this website lessens once all us singles become couples and everyone is getting theirs.
Dear Big Pine Nuts & it's editor nut-in-chief. This is the BPK Funny Fridays guy. Back from honeymooning in the Aloha State. Nothing like coming back to find out your neighborhood was submerged, (Eden Pines). Well...cleanup gets to be a habit. The price to pay I suppose. Anyhoo- a little too weary to post a Funny Fri. tonight, so I'll just submit a couple pics from the trip if that's okay. Aloha!
I have come up with a few name suggestions for the singles group being formed: Sizable Singles, Porkers in Paradise, Thirty Men and a Lady, and Married Guys Incognito. I wonder if Capt. Munch will join the group?
To the snowbird that is trying to find out conditions here in the Keys so he can return:  There was flooding in many areas that have never had that problem with previous storms.

The worst part of the aftermath of Wilma is there is a new type of mutant Chihuahua that travel in packs and attack humans without any provocation.  You cannot go out after dark because the less fortunate residents and now flesh-eating zombies. Key deer have obtained high-powered rifles and are giving 'payback' to speeding mainlanders. And there is a new strain of flu that results in inverted genitalia. Other than that everything seems to be status quo.  You may want to stay in New Jersey this year.

“I need help”, I’ve lost everything”, “Where do I begin to replace what’s gone?”

Inventory that existed prior to Hurricane Wilma at the Habitat for Humanity Home Center has been depleted and your help to continue to lend a hand to others is essential.

The demand for dry furniture and appliances, undamaged from the storm far exceeds the current supply. Topping the list of requests are washers, dryers and refrigerators. Lightly used dressers, sofa beds, tables, chairs and beds are being accepted. Building supplies such as drywall, plywood, insulation, nail and screw guns, nails and screws, power tools, hammers and other common tools are going to aid in the rebuilding process. Donations from businesses and individuals can be made now and are tax deductible. Call 305-872-2883 to arrange for pick-up service.

Tarps for temporarily fixing damaged roofs and providing protection from the elements until permanent repairs can be made are available at the Home Center for you to install. The BLUE ROOF program provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting applications at the Habitat for Humanity administration office. Food, water and baby care items are available too.

The Habitat Home Center is located at 30320 Overseas Highway behind the Roger’s Furniture store in Big Pine Key and can be reached by calling 872-2883.
How do you bust your butt, if your sleeping in your office/storeroom all day or having extra marital affairs with your staff?
Who cares what Bill Maher says? Or Ted Turner who calls all Christians "Bozos"? Most media pundits proclaim far-left political views, which they try to pitch as "news". If more people made an attempt at hearing both sides of a story, they might be surprised to know that there really are two points of view, not just the one-sided liberal garbage that the mainstream media offers. Fox News is a breath of fresh air because they at least make an attempt at being "fair and balanced." They may not always succeed, but they are doing a far better job at it than the others. If Fox seems conservative in their news reporting, maybe its because you have been hearing the liberal side for so long that you assume it is middle of the road.
Two Cats found in Big Pine.  (tabby and black and white, both small)  There are two cats at the Big Pine Shopping Plaza that are at the Laundry Mat.  One is a Tabby with a large head, a little shy but healthy.  The other one is black and white, and his tongue is hanging out of his/her mouth.  The black and white one looks filthy and may have ridden a wild wave to his new home at the laundry mat. 

If anyone is missing a family pet that fits these descriptions, you can find them at the laundry mat.  If the black and white one is yours, you better get it soon.  It didn't look well. (and for those of you who say I should have picked them up, I had a truck full of laundry and groceries for my kids, my arms were full and I'm just as exhausted as everyone else, it was night time and all I wanted was my bed and pillow.)  If you need some love, adopt them, they need help. 

Best of luck to everyone, PS.  If you need your priorities put in line, spend two hours at the laundry mat and listen to the people and their hurricane stories.  Great people!
Signs of the times.

Friday November 4, 2005

 

Thursday November 3, 2005
I would just like to thank some of the people and places on Big Pine. First and foremost the all of the local fire dept for all of their help through and after the storm. The national guard from Miami-Dade. We had a lot of other fire depts. from Fl come down to help also. The Electric company and all the workers from all over the state. The Red Cross at the Habitat center. All of those people in the red outfits are all volunteers, so be a little nicer to them, they are doing a hell of a job. Baby's Coffee for supplying coffee at the center. Ryan construction for the use of their fork lift and to AAA Cooper for the operator to off-load ice and food. Coca Cola and Overseas Lumber for both the use of their forklift and they both provided operators to off-load food at Scotty's. All of the stores on Big Pine and the Lower Keys for helping their customers in any way possible. Big Pine Coffee Shop for feeding a lot of people working off generator power.

I saw a lot of people helping anyone that they could or if they could not help they would find someone who could. Napa Auto Parts: Pete Ira, Danny and Teresa for being open and helping anyone with parts and info about their cars and if they were worth saving. A big kudos to Ramrod Chevron for opening and having fuel and coffee. The Lions Club on Big Pine and to everyone in Eden Pines for making Halloween great for our kids. Everyone needs to write in to this site and thank the people who have helped them. I know there are a lot of people and places I did not mention so if anyone can add please do.




Oh my god, I totally agree about the rotten egg.  That place has the potential to make so much money.  But it is filthy and the waitresses are so rude. They have about 5 teeth between them and they are absolutely miserable.  They need to shower before work and hit an AA meeting after work.  I don't know who owns that place but they have no business sense.
What happened to the wonderful girl, Michele that worked at Paradise Petroleum? She was the nicest person there. I will not be going there anymore because the rest of the people are so rude
Katie the young redhead at Paradise Petroleum is really a sweet person. I think the person who perceived her as stuck up and rude was prejudging. Youthful  shyness can be mistaken for aloofness. 
American Medical Association researchers may have made a remarkable discovery! It seems that some patients needing blood transfusions may benefit from receiving chicken blood rather than human blood. It tends to make the men more cocky, and the women lay better. I just thought you'd like to know!
Most of us are very grateful to our local firefighters.  Don't let a few whiners get you down. Keep up the good work.
Regarding looting after a storm, Lack of newspaper reports doesn't mean it doesn't occur.  There were many damaged boats looted from the Boca Chica Marina at the air station following Wilma.  Following Katrina, many live-aboard boats were looted including some in Big Pine.  I'm actually surprised a reporter doesn't write about the amount of looting that had occurred.  Has anyone else heard stories from live-aboards who were robbed following a storm?  I know 3 people personally who were robbed.

Returning a used generator. If you wrote this to “prank” people, consider me “pranked”.   Generator packaging contains information regarding  “generating” capacity. Did you read any labeling, or just succumb to impulse buying?  You say you operate a local business.  That does not excuse diminished reasoning on your part. Suck it up, you made an uninformed purchase.  It is not the store’s fault.  Take responsibility for you actions.   

The generator whiner should have consulted the post sent to this site showing the wattage requirements for most appliances and electronics. Computers need a lot of juice.







Re: Doctor's office. Where can someone under 65 get a flu shot?
Attorney's advice--no charge. A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.
1. the next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "Photo ID required."

3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, do not put the complete account number on the "for" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check-processing channels will not have access to it.

4. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO box, use your work address. Never have your social security number printed on your checks, (duh!). You can add it if necessary. However, if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when traveling either here or abroad. We have all heard horror stories about fraud that is committed on us in stealing a name, address, social security number, credit cards.

6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for keys (and they all seem to do that now), do not turn the "keys" in. Take them with you and destroy them. Those little cards have all of the information you gave the hotel, including address and credit card numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee of the hotel, can access all information with no problem whatsoever.

Unfortunately, as an attorney, I have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a Visa credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer and received a pin number from DMV to change my driving record information online. Here is some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. The key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). However, here is perhaps the most important of all. (I never even thought to do this.)

3. Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and social security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done.
There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend, someone turned it in. It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet and contents being stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Transunion: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271








Kudos to Eden Pines another great Halloween.
Re: Single dating. Sorry, size does matter!

Here are some photo’s of Big Pine after the Wilma  visit... http://dnet.net/user/esapp3/  

What a kind wonderful letter from Katie. She has always been so sweet to us, I thought when I read the letter about her that maybe she was stressed out like 90% of us and that I would do something nice for her. A young girl like Katie that can apologize so sincerely will surely go far in life. I'm proud to know you, Katie.
I had to laugh at the poor dumb SOB who is complaining because he bought the wrong generator at Home Depot and wants an exchange it after using it. How about a new car because you didn't realize that yours wasn't waterproof or a fridge full of fresh food because the power went out and someone else was at fault. Do your research next time before you buy. I suppose that you are sitting around waiting for the government to come in and make you whole again because you just don't seem like the type to take responsibility for your own decisions.





New computer upgrades.
I work at Sea Center on the front desk. I am the handsome blonde, with teeth and most of my hair. First off, Sea Center pays better than most employers in the Keys, with Medical and profit sharing. I worked for a Marina in Marathon for 6 months, never missed a day, never late more than a few minutes, usually 5 minutes early. Never got a raise, never got Medical. And when I told the owner I had found a new job closer to home on Big Pine, his attitude was one of contempt rather than trying to counter their offer.

The owners of Sea Center have shown me nothing but appreciation, and rewards for doing my job well. I am happy to work for them and will continue to do so as long as they will have me.

Katie, that was a very cool apology and nicely done. Good luck to you.
I stood at Sears and tried to duplicate the photo of North Roosevelt during Wilma.  Unbelievable!  Maybe you can make them smaller and side by side?
I am a snowbird who will arrive at the end of December and I am wondering what is the extent of the damage from Wilma? What is the situation now? What do you think it will be like come Jan. 01? I would very much appreciate your assessment.
Voice of Compassion. Re: CIA's Secret Prisons. You damn sure don't want me in charge. I would set their naked body in a pig skin chair, give them BLTs or BBQ ribs to eat. The only paper they could use to wipe there terrorist butt with would be pages from their Koran. There would be bright lights 24/7 and very loud rock and roll. The cell would be very cold and wet. There would be no bed or covers, just that pig skin chair. Then we would " talk and talk" there would be no sleeping; and buddy, that would be the good part.
More Halloween animal costumes:
 
I sure agree with the comment about the Cracked Egg. It should be named the rotten egg.  The place is filthy and the staff are so rude.  
I went to the Southernmost Singles in Key West a couple of times a year ago; there were about 20 men and two hefty women who would barely rank a three in normally populated cities. The guys were, of course, trying out their best lines on the ladies. I would suspect that a singles group up here would be about the same but compared to your hand it may be worth a try.
As to the comet about the red head at Paradise Petroleum why did you not leave your name? Maybe you were rude to her. Not everyone down here is going to be happy and cheerful all the time. Have you ever had a bad day or even a bad couple of hours?  You should tell her so she can apologize to you in person. She is a very sweet lady.
It was nice to see that other Big Pine area people would also like to start a meeting place or group for single people to meet other single people. We all seem to work a million hours here which makes it tough to form a social life. I think this is great and will make it a lot easier to meet not to mention that everyone who attends will be single and looking and we all know that. This will save a lot of time and energy using cheep bar room pick up lines. I am going to post an ad in the personals regarding the singles meetings. I hope to hear from all my fellow single Keys people.
I agree with the comments about the cracked egg.  The place is a dump.  The food is good (if you like grease) but the waitresses are very unfriendly.  They act like they don't want customers.  I don't know how the owners don't have the health department shutting them down. The dining area is so dirty. I can only imagine how the kitchen looks. There are flies and ants everywhere and the staff all need to bath before work and put one some clean clothes.  Come on, clean up the place!
I am so fortunate to have such great friends in BPK. While I was out of town, they cleaned up all the downed trees! Awesome!

Big Kudos to Katie the "Red Headed Chick" at Paradise Petroleum.  My hat is off to you for sure.  The posting you wrote in yesterday took a lot of guts and shows you're a class act.  I have never seen you in Paradise Petroleum as I don't get in very often but I will make it a point to look for you now.  If this Big Pine Singles meeting thing works out I hope your single and you attend.  I always liked red heads and I like your style.
This is to the person who wants the "redheaded chic" at Paradise Petroleum to have PR lessons:  First off she has a name, as you know now it's Katie (maybe you didn't put that in because you didn't want your name involved).  Second off, if you know my sister (Dana) and I (Tara) so well, how come you didn't come to us, or our parents first?  Now all you have done is publicly bashed an honest, caring, hard working fellow community member.  Being publicly humiliated on a web site is absolutely horrible, I know I have been there.  Even being an extremely confident person, I had second guessed myself.  Now for you to do this to someone who is just now becoming more confident in herself, has had some serious repercussions. 

Do you have any idea what is going on in her life?  Everyone has bad days, some deal with it better than others. As I understand there have been some major problems down there from Wilma.  Did you ever stop to think that just maybe these things have affected someone other than you?  You have received your apology from her now where is her apology from you?  You could have dealt with this matter in a more appropriate manner. 

 
As for you little Miss Katie, I love you and miss you.  Remember to hold your head up high and smile (people will wonder what you did wrong).  Be proud of who you are--I am!
 
Lastly, viewers of BigPineKey.com, please think before you type. 
To all those who had no power after Wilma, and purchased Generac generator home units at Home Depot called the Guardian.  We have experienced problems from the get go, during the last three storms. I must say kudos to Doug Bell Electric, Al, Mark, and John who came out right after the storm. Great job guys! 

They informed us that the generator which was supposed to protect us, and guard us during our time of need completely failed. The thing did not go under water and started up like it should have, but then it took a leave of absence, and needs a complete overhaul. Oh, well, they just don't make things like they used to. We are now only hoping that they will stand behind what they sell. The real guardians were Doug Bell Electric. Thanks guys for taking care of your customers during trying times. 
Wow, I notice a lot more kudos and a lot less whines. Way to go Pine nuts!
Dave, I have a crush on you. (The Dave from Joe, Dave, and Barry.) Can I get with you?
I have a girlfriend and she is my mushy mushy. I love holding her. She is soft and sweet. I love you Denise. Love me. Your girlfriend.

Thursday November 3, 2005

 

Wednesday November 2, 2005

Singles club. I'd like to have a club where we can meet and have a drink and snacks. It'll be single people just being around other single people. The possibilities are wonderful. We could meet every six weeks or so. (Familiarity breeds contempt, so we can't meet every week. We need to build longing, so I think we should stretch out the gatherings like once every six weeks. That's what exclusive means and only meeting once in a while would make it special.) And announce it on bigpinekey.com and keep it exclusive for those of us looking for companionship and a nice time. Size won't matter.

Dear Abby is so formlumatic that every solution is worded to be legal and cover all legal options. Just about every answer is, "Seek professional help." Give me a break! She doesn't even know whose she's dealing with. Most of us people are just working folks who don't have a pot to piss in; never mind paying for professional help (plus the embarrassment of people you know seeing you going into the shrinks' office.) Especially in a small area like this. When is she going to give us some real answers to our problems instead of telling us to spend money we don't have on professional help?

(Ed: Dear viewers, when you patronize local businesses it would be helpful to us if you mentioned that you saw their business on BigPineKey.com. We sure could use some more advertisers. (And would you find out why Boondocks won't spend twenty dollars a week to advertise here?) So, instead of asking you Piners for donations like other websites do. We'd just like you to mention that you saw the peoples' businesses on BigPineKey.com. That's beats asking for donations, doesn't it? Thanks a lot.)

The CIA, it has been confirmed, has three secret prisons. One in Thailand and two in eastern Europe. They have these secret prisons so they can torture prisoners without accountability. Go Bush, defender of the faith!
In case you missed Bill Maher last Friday night, his closing bit:

"Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money to spend--you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit cards maxed out. No one's speaking to you. Mission accomplished.

"Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service and the oil company and the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or space man? Now I know what you're saying: there's so many other things that you as President could involve yourself in. Please don't. I know, I know. There's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela. Eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote.

"But, Sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised that you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire city to rising water and snakes.

"On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two trade centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans. Maybe you're just not lucky. I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side.

"So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.' "


I'm still laughing at the picture of the tootsie roll pup, how cute!  Thank you for the pix, and a great laugh today!
If your mower still won't start after doing what I said and has spark - its time to figure out what's up with the fuel system.  First, drain the tank.  Next you should remove the fuel bowl from the carburetor - it will most likely have a single screw holding it on underneath - be very careful when removing it because there is an o-ring that may be brittle. If it breaks you can match one up at the hardware store.  Make sure the bowl is clean and install it back on the carburetor and fill the tank with fresh gas.  A little starting fluid or carburetor cleaner sprayed into the carburetor before starting always helps to get it running at first.  If that doesn't work try a new plug.  If that doesn't work deposit your mower in a dumpster and head for Home Depot!  I hope this helps.
I am a career Firefighter/Paramedic stationed at Big Pine for 7 years now. I'm also a Florida State Certified Fire Instructor that teaches for the county. I too was a member of the Big Pine Volunteer Fire Dept. some years ago. As such, I would like to respond to some of the  allegations being made both here and in the paper, especially that the public was put "in danger" by the break down of our first engine. This is absolutely false. 

Vehicles break down from time to time, it happens in all departments, which is why the county has a contingency plan in place for such things. We do have another engine in the station, always have, it is a Tanker actually, which can do the same job and has even more water capacity than the engine in question. Additionally, the county immediately provided us with another back up engine the same day. We also had another engine and 4 man crew from out of county that were stationed with us; that came down a few days earlier to help us after the storm. That makes a total of 3 engines and 7 certified firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics that were available in the station at the time. There was never a time the community was without fire protection. There was also a comment made by one of the "officers" regarding the pump capacities of these apparatus that is so far off the mark I have to question just how much pump training he has. (I do know the answer to that question since I teach the class) Both engines in our station meet state class A requirements. 

I love what I do, have spent years in training to become a professional firefighter and am proud to serve our community. It is unconscionable to me that anyone who claims to be one of us, would intentionally use a public forum such as the newspaper and this column to spread false information in order to incite the public to forward their own agenda. It seems obvious that this person needs to become more familiar with the equipment in their own station, which in turn seems to support the Chief's stand for the need of in-service training. Having said all that, rest assured that there are professional, qualified personnel both career and volunteer serving our community that would not allow anything to jeopardize your safety.
My name is Katie and I am the "red headed chick" at Paradise Petroleum. I feel bad that Paradise is once again being criticized at this site because of me.  I am old enough to know that I should not let my frustrations affect my attitude at work, but young enough that I sometimes fail to behave appropriately.  I've been told that dignity and tolerance come with age and I'm really working on it.  My apologies to Liz, Sam, and Dana.  I would also like to apologize publicly to the person I was rude to.  Please introduce yourself next time you come in and I will be more than happy to apologize personally. 
I was looking through the crime report to see if there was any looting in the Keys after Wilma figuring with all the places that have no power we might have some.  I was very pleasantly surprised to see none listed.  There are a couple differences between the Keys and Louisiana I guess.  Louisiana has a large black population and had a large looting problem.  The Keys have a very small black population and no looting.  Anyone see a pattern here?  Surprise, no blacks no looting.
Remember that FEMA is a prime example of affirmative action at work.
I recommend forming a designated Big Pine Singles Social Hour.  It can rotate among local watering holes or restaurants for those who don't like the bar scene.  Waist size or dental deficiencies shouldn't be a reason to keep someone out. 


Kudos to Suburban Propane for going out of their way on Tuesday at 8pm to deliver us propane.
This could only happen in the Lower Keys.  I needed to have some pea rock moved in my yard that was moved during Wilma. I asked a fellow at the Tiki on Ramrod if he knew of anyone with a back hoe. He said I could find a few hanging around the Avenues on Big Pine.
Returning a used generator. Buyer beware. I am a