Good morning!

I got up late! 10!

Unusual for me. But it felt good.

A most interesting radio show yesterday. Many comments afterwards. All directed to the same topic.

My Cousin Rose.

Rose and I grew up together. The early years.

Rose is ten years younger than me. She is presently 65.

Her parents, my aunt and uncle, were Fannie and Frank. Fannie was my father’s sister. Aunt Fannie passed on at age 86. Uncle Frank years ago.

Fannie and Frank went childless for many years. As the story goes, my Aunt was around 50 when she had stomach pains. They thought it was appendicitis. It wasn’t. It was Rose.

My Aunt and Uncle always said Rose was a gift from God.

At age 14, Cousin Rose went into the nunnery. It was her decsion. She wanted to go. It was not uncommon back then for girls to enter the nunnery at a young age.

My Aunt and Uncle said their gift was being returned to God.

It was not easy going for Rose’s parents. They could not see her but one day a year.

Rose was a nun. No question about it. Prayerful. Mindful. You could see it in her eyes.

Rose’s life is and has been her work among the poor and needy.

As the years went on, I rarely got to see my cousin. Generally, a wake or wedding. It has been at least ten years since I last saw her.

I received a telephone call this week. From another cousin. Rose is sick. She has leukemia. She is in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse undergoing 35 days of chemotherapy.

I telephoned Rose. Spoke with her two times. Each conversation brief. She sounds terrible.

All she said was, ” Pray for me.”

This woman who has spent her life praying for everyone else now needs the prayers of everyone else.

Please say a prayer for my Cousin.

Hello world!

Still dark outside. I am up a bit early.

The weather suddenly changed around 5 yesterday. A strong wind came in off the ocean from the northeast. Bringing a decided chill with it.

I had bocce. Changed my clothes. To long pants and a sweat shirt. I needed it.

This morning The Key West Lou Legl Hour. A big show! Great topics! Timely!

Like airport security, Haiti and American dollars, President Obama disrespected, terrorist trial result, golfer court case, stripper sued for causing whiplash, private prisons and immigration, Madoff auction results, no congressional oversight as to how money spent, Michael Vick, Truman and November 19, Mother Marianne and college tuition for illegal immigrants.

Plus New Jersey weird dumb laws, a Judge’s wife resigns, Social Security judges threatened, a walk back in history with Teddy Roosevelt, Iran and human rights lawyers, County Executive Jack Johnson and a same sex marriage update.

A full plate!

Listen in!

On the radio at KONK 1500 AM. Watch and listen on the internet world wide at www.konkam.com. 10 am this morning.

My day yesterday started with a haircut. It was Lori time!

Then one of my retirement duties kicked in. I ran errands for Lisa. The cleaners, health food store and drug store.

I spent most of the day working on today’s radio show. With broadway in the background. Terri flitting around practicing her Broadway tunes for her La Te Da Crystal Room opening Thanksgiving evening.

A doctor visit in the middle of the afternoon to get my stress and other test results. I am going to live.

Bocce last night. A bit cold.

It was a money game. We lost the first two games. We played good, we played bad. But not good enough to win. Joanie was spectacular in opposition!

I left after the second game. I still had some more work to do on today’s radio show.

Listen in at 10 this morning! I promise you will enjoy!

Have a good day!

Golf yesterday!

El magnifico stunk! I played terrible!

I lack consistency. I play well for a couple of weeks. And then…..nothing! I was toppmg the ball and all those good things!

Played with Don and Yankee Jack.

As bad as I was, Yankee was good! He was the big winner. Destroyed Don and I. Though Don won a few dollars also. I was the big loser. $12.

New Jersey’s Tom is back. It was good to see him at the golf course. He and his wife Nicki are two terrific people.

It was a strange time on the golf course yesterday. No breeze! Rare on an island. The sun was biting hot.

I live on a Broadway stage. My house guest Terri is of Broadway fame. She is preparing for her seven nights at La Te Da’s Crystal Room beginning Thanksgiving evening. She walks around the house, inside and out, singing. Yesterday it was Summertime and When You’re Down and Out.

Golf knocked me on my butt. I slept a good part of the afternoon.

Dinner last night was at the Yacht Club. With two beautiful women. Donna and Terri. A fun time.

Then to the Bottle Cap for Larry Smith’s variety radio show which was also ustreamed world wide. Great show! Larry does a big time job organizing and directing the show. Jenna was her usual magnificent self.

Terri did a guest appearance. Sang one song. It brought the house down!

Within seconds of her starting to sing, there was absolute silence. You knew you were in the presence of greatness. At the end, a thunderous ovation.

Terri is quality. A true professional.

Pati Wilson-Crimmins is a former Key Wester. She now lives in Sierra Vista, Arizona. She watched Terri’s performance via the internet. She wrote me on Facebook afterwards and said, “Terri just blew the doors off the Groove Lounge.” True.

Cheryl and Roger are back in Key West for the season. A long one for them. They will be here through April.

Cheryl and Roger are from Kankakee, Illinois. Cheryl is a beautiful woman. Both nice people. Good to have them back. They were at the Bottle Cap watching Larry’s show last night.

My good friend Mike Yutzy was in town. Just for the evening. He hooked up with me at the Bottle Cap.

Mike is from Las Vegas. He was with his girl friend of a year. First time I met her. Eimy. Pronounced Amy. She is from Hallendale. Originally from Costa Rica. I told her that was unusual. Many Key Westers and Floridians move to Costa Rica. Others vacation there. She did the trip in reverse.

A lovely woman. She is an accountant. Calls herself simply a bookkeeper.

I joined them later at Martin’s where they were having a late dinner. I like Mike and have always enjoyed his company. Eimy was easy to like. They are a couple. I wish them well!

That was my night. A busy one. A good one.

Today is going to be busy, also. A haircut this morning. A visit to the heart doctor this afternoon for the test results. And bocci tonight.

In between, I will be preparing for tomorrow’s radio show The Key West Lou Legal Hour. A multitude of topics to be covered. The terrorist trial results, Michael Vick, Mother Marianne, college tuition for illegal immigrants, the lack of Congressional oversight on spending, Social Secuity judges facing threats, a major County Executive allegedly caught with his hand in the till, the results of the Madoff auction, Iran and human rights attorneys, and more.

Listen in at 10 am friday on KONK 1500 AM radio. Better yet, watch and listen world wide at www.konkam.com.

Enjoy your day!

I did it! I survived my stress test yesterday!

Yesterday’s stress test was not my first. I have probably done a dozen over the years. However this time I was to do it with the knowledge I have a heart problem. Ergo, the concern.

It was a piece of cake!

Had a number of other tests also. Plus blood work. I get all the results thursday afternoon.

My tests took almost 3 hours. Afterwards, I headed over to Hogfish for lunch. I had had no breakfast since I had to fast for the blood work.

The weather was perfect. I read the newspapers while I ate. A ray of sun was on my back. The warmth felt terrific.

Donna and Terri are busy. Very busy. Terri rehearsed for the first time with Michael Thomas yesterday afternoon. He is going to accompany her for her seven night gig at La Te Da’s Crystal Room. The show Best of Broadway opens Thanksgiving evening. A big deal! Terri is working very hard.

Donna is the back room person of the team. She does the paperwork, negotiating, contacting, etc. A multitude of jobs.

Dinner was at the bar at Outback. Read the Miami papers and watched the Ohio State/Florida basketball game.

Outback is a locals place. Few tourists go. It is out of the way in the Sears shopping center. Mick Barnes was at Outback last night. One of Key West’s prominent attorneys. I walked by without seeing him. He called out to me.

Jackie and Michael Lefferts were there also. In fact, they sat next to me at the bar. Jackie is my primary care physician. A terrific diaognostician. Michael is an occasional golfing buddy.

I was watching TV late in the afternoon. Caught the last bit of a Washington ceremony. The President was bestowing the Congressional Medal of Honor on a soldier. His name is Sol Giunta. He is the first living recipient since the Vietnam War. Sol’s life changed yesterday. Big time!

I received an e mail later in the day from Tom and Cindy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Turns out they know Sol. He lives about a mile from them. They watched him grow up. Yesterday the center of the world was not Key West. It was Cedar Rapids!

Besidce managing Terri, Donna still has her jewelry business. She makes jewelry. Donna is having a showing of her jewelry tomorrow night. Tomorrow evening is the monthly Walk on White. Donna’s will personally be exhibiting at the Stone Soup Gallery at 802 White Street from 6 to 9. Stop in. Her work is exciting!

Golf this morning. I am excited. It has been 10 days since I played last.

Enjoy your day!

Today is the day.

Stress test at 9 am.

Yesterday started with a visit to the gym. Boxing and the treadmill.

Then a walk over to Don’s Place. Next door to the gym. I needed a drink of water.

Rob was bartending. It was noon time. The breakfast crowd was finishing up.

I was sitting next to a woman at the bar. She said…..ketchup and mustard? We both laughed. She was referring to Robert eating broccoli. I had mentioned it in yesterday’s blog.

A loyal reader!

Then to the Coffee House. Sipped and read the morning papers.

It was time for a manicure. I drove over to Lee Nails. They have moved. Still in the shopping plaza at 3122 Flagler Ave. But now in the middle. A move of six stores.

How beautiful! Modern! Colorful! Tammy and her husband have done a grat job in the remodeling.

Tammy and I visited as she did my nails. I admire her and her husband. I do not know how long her husband has been in the United States. But Tammy has been here only 8 years. They both work hard and are striving to achieve the American dream.

I think they may already have!

Lisa had jury duty yesterday. She was not picked. She does not have to return. Her jury duty is done for a year.

This was the first time for Lisa. She said she enjoyed the process.

I visted with my house guests Donna and Terri a bit later in the afternoon. They are both busy beavers. Working on the La Te Da show starting Thanksgiving evening. Doing detail work for Feinstein’s in January.

I am discovering that being a Broadway performer involves a lot of background work.

Dinner was special last night!

Kurt telephoned me. Said he had a huge prime rib that he was cooking out on the grill. Come over for dinner!

I went.

Kurt bartends at Don’s place. One of his house mates is Robert. Robert bartends at the Sports Page. Robert was there for dinner also. And Pat. Pat is Kurt’s friend from Indiana. He drove in over the weekend. He just applied for a permit to be a street performer. He wants to play the guitar and sing while meandering Duval.

There was one other guest. Carol Ann.

Carol Ann is from Big Rapids, Michigan. I have it right. Big Rapids. Not Grand Rapids.

She loves Key West. Visits 3 times a year.

It was her last night in Key West. Kurt knows her from Don’s place. I met her there 2 years ago. She is a loyal reader of the blog.

A lovely woman! Charming! We hugged and kissed when I entered.

Dinner was excellent! Kurt is a top shelf cook. He has three outstanding qualities. Besides being a nice guy. He is a bartending personality, a good cook and one of the best golfers in Key West!

Drinks and dinner were enjoyable. A lot of laughs. The wine flowed.

After dinner, Kurt decided to take Carol Ann to the Pier House for Larry Smith’s monday night jazz show. I decided not to join them. Ever mindful of this morning’s stress test, I opted to go home to bed.

Enjoy your day! I hope I enjoy mine!

Yesterday was a normal Sunday. Which is not bad!

Watched Meet the Press and Chris Matthews.

I am beginning to wonder if anyone really knows how to solve the debt problem.

Then to the gym. Boxed first. Learned from the day before. Followed by the treadmill. Tomorrow is my stress test. Hope I am ready for it. I have some concern.

Convenience is a wonderfiul thing. The gym is next door to Don’s Place. A short walk and I was watching pro football. All of Key West is at Don’s Place for pro football on a Sunday aftenoon.

Lisa’s for an early Sunday dinner.

Robert hates broccoli. Lisa says he must eat it. Robert buries the broccoli in ketchup and mustard. Lisa does not care. As long as he eats his broccoli.

Afterwards, it was the Gardens. Kate Miano’s success! Packed! Donna and Terri there, also. Terri sang. Thrilled everyone!

A run of the mill Sunday in Key West. Not bad. Rather good. Nothing out of the ordinary.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour of 11/7/10 is available for viewing on the internet at www.tikilive.com/video/28369.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

Another lovely Key West day in the making! Not a cloud in the sky. Boats going up and down in front of me. Sunday is party day for the locals. Especially those with boats.

I went to the gym yesterday morning. First time in a few days. My good intentions were set back a bit because of no car. I am getting ready for my stress test tuesday. I did the tread mill first. Fifteen minutes. Got it up to a good speed with some elevation.

Then I headed to the back of the gym to box. I could not get the gloves on. My hands were too sweaty from treadmilling. I washed and dryed my hands. Still too much sweat. Gloves would not slide on no matter how hard I tried.

So I returned to the treadmill for another 10 minutes.

I have learned. Box first. Then the tread mill.

Visited Lisa and the grandkids. Corey was working. Played a bit with Robert and Ally. Robert is into tennis and Ally soon to be. They had new tennis balls. I lobbed the balls and they hit them. Or tried to.

Read the newspapers for a while.

Then I headed home.

Wrote a bit. Then to bed for a nap.

I was awakened by loud hellos! It was Donna and Terri! They had arrived!

We chatted a bit on the deck.

Terri is going to be one busy girl while here. She is doing 7 shows at the Crystal Room at La Te Da. The first one is Thanksgiving evening.

Additionally she has to start getting ready for Follies which she starts rehearsals for in April. The Washigton, D.C. opening with Linda Lavin and Bernadette Peters is in May. One of Terri’s numbers involves a solo 10 minute tap dance. Terri is a hoofer. But it has been years since she tap danced. She needs to practice. She is going to work out here in Key West with Bruce Moore. Bruce is a former Broadway performer who operates a dance studio in Key West where he specializes in teaching tap dancing. Terri is going to get in shape!

Donna and Terri went out to a birthday dinner and then to La Te Da. I cooked a steak and went to bed to watch TV.

My radio show The Key West Lou Legal Hour is now available on the internet at anytime. The November 7th show can be seen and heard at www.tikilive.com/video/28369. Take a peek.

Today is sunday. First, Meet the Press and Chris Wallace. Then pro football at Don’s Place. Followed by some gym time. The gym is immediately next door to Don’s Place. Tonight I hope to make the Gardens. It has been some time since I did a sunday evening there.

Enjoy your day!

The weather outside……delightful!

We are lucky to live in Key West!

Yesterday’s radio show a hit again! People like it! Bountiful favorable reaction after the show!

It is interesting what seems to appeal to the listening audience. The topic that draws the most attention. Yesterday it was Oregon’s law prohibiting self service gas stations. Yes, Oregon has a law that says you can’t pump your own gas!

The people of Oregon are happy with the law. The reason behind its adoption was two fold.

First, Oregonians thought it was more friendly to have someone pump their gas. That simple. The second reason was jobs. Approximately 7,600 people are employed at gas stations pumping gas. A job is a job in a bad economy. These same persons might not otherwise be working. Food for thought here?

Speaking of the radio show, the video for last week’s show is now available. That would be November 7th. www.tikilive.com/video/28369. If you missed the radio show over the internet, you can watch it at this site. In due course, the radio station will have archiving down to a science and I should be able to offer the show to you more timely.

Afterwards, I visited Lisa and Ally. Ally had the day off from school. Lisa and Ally were having a mother/daughter day.

I spent my afternoon at home writing.

About 4:30 I got a telephone call. My Mercedes was ready. Finally! The mechanic had it for 10 days. Needed a part. Since the car is 23 years old, the part had to come from Germany. I have been without a car since tuesday when I returned my leased Audi. I bummed rides during that time. Fortunately, I had enough friends who were helpful.

This is power boat week. Those very long expensive boats. Big time dangerous racing! Exciting!

The boats were lined along Duval Street for viewing.

Jenna was with me last night. We started the evening by walking a few blocks of Duval admiring the boats. Then it was to the Chart Room. A good crowd. Mostly power boaters. Sean and Katherine there. Michael bartending.

It was the Hot Tin Roof for dinner at the bar. Manager John was all excited! His Wisconsin football team is ranked 5th in the country!

After I dropped Jenna off, I stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. Glad I did. Many friends. Kurt bartending. At the bar Rob, Bebe, Herschel, Erica, Russ, Angus, Mikey and Boomer.

Key West stores are already featuring Christmas ornaments and gifts. And it is not even Thanksgiving yet!

Speaking of Christmas gifts, take a look at the many interesting items Lisa is offering on her on line gift store Via Key West. You may wish to do some of your holiday shopping simply and easily with Lisa. www.viakeywest.com.

Enjoy your day!

Today is friday. Friday is radio time. The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

Listen in at KONK 1500 AM. Better yet, watch and listen world wide at http://www.konkam.com/. 10 this morning.

I spent yesterday fine tuning the show and writing.

Visited Lisa and the grandkids later in the day. Robert proudly showed me his new tennis raquet. Ally is toying with the idea of playing also. She is not sure she wants to.

Bocce last night.

I forgot how long it had been since I last played. Five weeks! In between I had a trip to New York. Another to Phoenix. And for whatever reason, missed three other matches.

Initially my game showed it. I sucked most of the first game. Except for my last two shots. Everyone else carried me. But, we won handily.

The second game I started like a dynamo. I was back! We were ahead 10-0. We were lucky to win 16-13.

We lost the third game. Happily, however. The team we were playing prior to last night had only won 1 game all season. So their victory was a moment of joy for them!

I played with David, Keith, Michelle, Herschel and Erica. Good people all!

We had a good time!

Dino De Laurentiis died. The flamboyant Italian film maker.

He produced some of the really great movies of all time. Like one of my favorites War and Peace. Plus King Kong, La Strada, Ulysses, Barbella, Serpico, Three Days of the Condor, Ragtime and Conan the Barbarian.

Donna and Terri are on their way back. They should arrive tomorrow night. They will be my house guests through the first of the year. Terri has seven shows booked at La Te Da’s Crystal Room during that time.

Enjoy your day!

What a gorgeous day!

Sun bright. Not one cloud in the sky. Just a touch of cool.

A typical comfortable Key West day in the making!

I am without a car. Returned my leased Audi tuesday. A week ago tuesday I took my Mercedes to a garage for some repair work. Was supposed to get it back last friday. Still waiting. Mechanic waiting also. For a part from up north.

Fortunately, my home is not a bad place to be isolated at.

I spent yesterday working on friday’s radio show. More to do yet. This week’s topics include the Supreme Court’s first visit of Obama’s new health plan, Oklahoma and Sharia law, the mother who allegedly burned her one month old daughter in a microwave getting a third trial, Hemingway’s six toed cats in court, furburger and blowjob in a New York City class room, a Kelly McGillis update, Oregon weird dumb laws and more.

Listen in at 10 tomorrow morning on KONK 1500 AM. Better yet, watch and listen on the internet at www.konkam.com.

Kurt was kind enough to join me last night and play chauffer, also.

The night started at Aqua. Bobby Nesbitt time! Also his birthday!

Aqua was jam packed. For Bobby, of course. Love was in the room. He is a Key West icon.

Then to the Yacht Club for a quiet dinner.

Nine on wednesday evenings has become Larry Smith time. His KONK radio variety show. A big crowd for the show last night at the Bottle Cap. Like four times more people than usual. Carmello had to set up folding chairs for the excess viewers.

Larry’s show improves each week. It is good. Gets better.

Spectacular as usual was co-host Jenna. The special vocalist was Deb Hudson. Good voice and good lyrics. She wrote them herself. Alex, Petra, the Improbables and everyone else contributed mightly.

Today is Veterans’ Day!

One thing I have learned over the years is that small town parades are the best. Key West is no exception. The parade starts at 4. On Duval. Lisa and Corey take the grandkids to all the parades. That means I go also. I will be there with them.

Later tonight bocce! I have not played in 3 weeks. I am anxious! One of the greatest pleasures I experience in Key West! The participants and the game are both terrific!

It is also Howard Livingston night! Howard’s television show Key West Time will be on channel 354 at 9 pm. Tune in! He is the best! Personally and professionally!

If you were by the tennis courts at Bayview yesterday afternoon at 4 you would have seen my grandson playing. Six year old Robert is taking tennis lessons! He’s thrilled!

A message. Marty, come back!

Enjoy your day!