FROM INTERNET SHOW TO BP RELATED DOLPHIN DEATHS

Yesterday’s internet show a winner! The Key West Lou Legal hour was back to normal. The trip is yesterday’s news.

I was bombarded following the show with e mails and telephone calls. People telling me what topics interested them most. Yesterday’s were the two stories concerning Presidents.

The John Holland story. Holland was a forefather of FDR and the two Bushes. Said a better way, FDR and the two Bushes are Holland’s descendants.

The other involved Grover Cleveland. Cleveland was the Democratic candidate for President in the 1884 election. Politics back then as dirty as today. It came out during the campaign that Cleveland had a 10 year old illegitimate son. He was supporting both the son and his former mistress. The Republicans came up with a tidbit for the campaign: “Ma, Ma, where’s my
Pa? Gone to the white House, ha, ha, ha.”

Cleveland won the election. I doubt he could today.

Visited Lisa for a while after the show. Robert somewhere in middle Florida with the cancer survivor group and Ally at day camp. Lisa and Corey pick up Robert today in Miami. The family will be a unit once more.

Then a visit to the dentist. A minor problem.

Last night started with the Chart Room. Big crowd. Many locals. Emily, Sheila, Captain Peter, Sean and Katherine. Hemingway Hank was back with his wife Patricia. Hank was proudly wearing a medal around his neck. For the ninth year, he has been selected as a finalist in the Hemingway Look A Like Contest. Hope he wins. He’s due.

Met Billy and Cindy Schott.

Billy is a true blue loyal reader of this blog. Every day. He and Cindy were married last year at this time on Smathers Beach. Key West is in their blood. Billy occasionally e mails me. He was at the Chart Room last night to meet me.

Billy and Cindy are from the Austin, Texas area. Billy was a kicker for the 1971-1975 Texas University football teams. Later, he played pro ball with the Houston Oilers. Today, he works for the Big 12 as a TV liason. Off season, his responsibilities incude collecting urine samples for testing. He might be described as the Pee Commissioner of Texas.

Cindy is an art teacher and also has her own catering business.

I spent my whole time at the Chart Room with them. Interesting and nice people. I suspect that since they were married in Key West, they will continue to visit each year at this time.

Dinner was at the bar at the Hot Tin Roof. Great food, as usual. I had chicken. I had had it before and liked it. The breast is splayed, grilled, and then quickly seared in a light oil. Magnificent!

A packed house at the Hot Tin Roof, also. Joseph and Valerie were kept busy.

The new Publix opened thursday where Albertson’s used to be. It was pushing 11 in the evening. I decided to stop by and see it on my way home.

The store is set up just as Albertsons was. I knew none of the employees. I suspect they were all former Albertson employees.

Publix is going all out in the customer war with Winn Dixie. Visitors since the opening get a lovely bouquet of flowers. Baskets emptied by an employee at check out. Carts delivered to your car with the groceries by an employee. It will not last. However, it is a nice touch.

I purchased nothing so I received none of the benefits described.

There has been an increase in dolphin deaths in the Gulf area. A significant increase. 186 washed up on shore in a three month period. More than half young ones. Calves. This is occurring in the area between Louisiana and western Florida. The dead dolphins are grossly underweight and anemic.

Some experts attribute the deaths to the BP spill and the cold waters of the last two years. They zero in on the BP spill as a causing factor because tests indicate the dolphins were undernourished and anemic before the cold waters came. It is thought that the BP spill screwed up the dolphin food chain.

BP came out last year and said everything A-OK. Worry not folks. I said no way could such a mammoth problem be cured in such a short time. The effects of the spill would be felt for years. The dolphin problem is an example.

A brief comment regarding the Colorado movie house shootings. There are two schools of thought on how to avoid such a situation. One is better gun control. The other is everyone should carry a firearm for protection purposes. Shoot the bad guy before he shoots you.

The right to bear arms has been clearly recognized by the courts in the past few years. Most people seem to have missed these decisions. In some states, people may openly carry a fire arm. Some college campuses permitt students to do so.

Those against guns walk around with the misconception that laws are in place to protect them from weapon bearing individuals. They are clearly wrong. While they slept, the NRA did its job.

Let me say what I have said before on my show and in writing. Twenty years from now we will be a gun bearing society. Just as in the Old West.

My day is going to be busy. I have to work through the trip photos so they can be posted in due course.

Enjoy your day!

KEY WEST LOU LEGAL HOUR

Good morning!

Heavy humidity. Can cut it with a knife. When I opened the glass sliding doors in the kitchen, a blast of heat enveloped me.

This is Friday. Friday is my internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 this morning my time. World wide. www.konkbroadcasting.com. Join me!

Besides commentaries involving Penn State, the Syracuse/Pitt Big East resolution, and Germany banning circumsicion till 14, there are many other interesting and thought provoking issues being discussed. Like the woman who started a hug a day movement, one drug cocktail executions as opposed to three, a Wendy’s server who sold child porn while turning the food over to the customer, John Holland and three Presidents, Grover Cleveland’s out of wedlock son revealed during Presidential campaign, bras older than previously thought, aging and drinking, and a public decency trial in which charges were dismissed. Plus more.

Good stuff!

Someone commented and asked whether the German circumsicion decision was anti-semetic. I do not know. All I can tell you is that research indicates Germany has been cutting back on the rights of minority groups over the past several years. There are only 180,000 Jews residing in Germany at present. It is reported the German Jews consider this a step back in relations. One which makes them uncomfortable.

Germany is acting strangely in many respects of late. Consider its hard ass handling of Greece which I reported on during my trip. I fear Germany is feeling omnipotent once again.

Yesterday was a simple one. I sat outside under the tiki hut and finished my work for today’s show. Then did research a bit for one of my books.

I finished around 7. I was tired. Made a sandwich, took a shower and went to bed. No Key West for me last night.

Enjoy your day!

MAJOR COLLEGE SPORTS BIG AND BAD

Show time tomorrow! The Key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 am my time. World wide on the internet. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

Interesting timely topics. Tomorrow’s will include the German court decision that makes circumsicion before 14 illegal. Religious reasons take a back seat. A decision with earth shaking ramifications. 4 million Muslims and 180,000 Jews presently reside in Germany.

I will discuss the ongoing Penn State saga. My position is enough is enough. People have been fired, punished and convicted. Lets end the mea culpas. The clamor is reaching mob frenzy proportions. Leave Penn State alone. Leave Paterno’s statue in place.

It was announced in the last 24 hours that Syracuse has made its peace with the Big East. It can leave the Big East based on a $7.5 million payment. Syracuse will also be permitted early departure.

$7.5 million! What have college sports become? The answer that comes to mind makes you understand how a Penn State could happen.

Great topics. Join me.

I published another column/blog on Amazon Kindle yesterday: Jailed Prisoners Entitled to Adequate Health Care. The U.S. Supreme Court has mandated better health care for prisoners than most people have. Jailed rapists, robbers and pedophiles receive better medical care than the tax payers who pay the bill.

I walked. In the parking garage again.

Then visted with Lisa a bit. Robert is still off at Miami Childen’s camp for cancer survivors. Ally is going to a daily camp for two weeks. Poor Lisa was all alone.

Last night started once again with the Chart Room.

Emily bartending. She looked terriific! Reminded me of some of the Greek women I saw in Athens and Mykonos. Greek women wear black and tie their hair in a bundle behind their heads. They are slim. Emily was all of these last night.

Sheila was there once more with friends Hemingway Hank and Patricia. I had met the friends the night before. Wrote about them in yesterday’s blog. Hope Hemingway Jack wins the Hemingway Look Alike Contest this year.

Sean and Katherine having a drink. Always glad to see them. They are about one week back from their honeymoon. Both still smiling.

It was steak time. I decided on the bar at Outback. Had a prime rib. No problem. I enjoyed.

Busy day today. I have to finish tomorrow’s show and walk. Need groceries. Publix’s new store opened this morning. I look forward to seeing it.

It amazes me. I find the opening of a new super market exciting. Only since I retired. Never before.

Enjoy your day!

A GOOD KEY WEST DAY

My yesterday started with an early morning dentist visit. My implants still not staying in. Though I did not mention it, the teeth were a real problem on the trip.

I spent two hours in the chair. The dentist concluded it had to be my bite. He reworked the hardware and my jaw a bit. Voila! I think we finally have it! They are solid as a rock. A tank could not move them.

Ability to chew everything was new. It had to be tested. Off I was to Hogfish. Fish and chips. Do not laugh. I could not chew fried fish or french fries all this time. The meal was a good test. Everything worked fine!

Started my evening at the Chart Room.

The Chart Room has a terrific pop corn machine. I have not been able to chew pop corn. Last night I did! With no problem.

JJ was bartending. He welcomed me home. Sheila at the bar. A hug and kiss.

Sheila had two friends with her. Hank and Patricia Wielgosz. They are from Melbourne. Frequent visitors to Key West.

The husband Hank is the man. He is in the Hemingway look alike contest this week. He looks like Hemingway. A terrific white beard. If he had any negative, he was a bit thinner than the robust Hemingway.

Hank goes by Hemingway Hank. He has been a candidate in the contest for 19 years. He has been a finalist 8 of those years. I think it is time he won.

Not easy to win. About 120 contestants this year. I read somewhere that it takes an average of 12 years participation before one becomes a winner. Hank is long overdue!

Hank had a bribe bag. A sort of shopping bag filled with packages of goodies. He gave me one.

Interesting contents.

A cookie. With Hank’s face on it. You eat the whole thing. A white mint. With his name on it. The mint was for for consumption, also. Other goodies like a water pistol. The pistol goes to Ally today.

I decided to grab a bite at Tavern ‘n Town in the Marriott Beachside. Glad I went. It had been a big night. I got there a little late for the festivities. It was Michael Thomas’ birthday.

Michael Thomas is one of Key West’s premier performers. He plays piano and sings.

My eyes first caught Midge and Steve at the bar. Friends. I bent over and kissed Midge on the cheek. She hesitated a bit. Like who is this guy? She did not recognize me with the beard. Steve did.

I am into beards. Steve has a terrific one. He has had it for years. White and full.

Larry and Christine Smith were there. Larry gave me a hug. Larry evidenced his respect for Michael Thomas by being there. One top performer honoring another.

Larry e mailed me several times on the trip. He thought the trip was exciting. It was.

Lovely Christine has become one of Key West’s most popular painters in the past few years. Her watercoloros are selling big time. I periodically run into Christine on a Key West street doing a painting. She will be sitting in a low slung chair. Her paints by her side. Brush in hand. A wide brimmed hat on her head. A short easel and canvas before her.

I ate at the bar. A real test for my teeth. Fried calamari. No sweat!

Tonight a steak! It has been impossible to enjoy one. It will be a delight!

Enjoy your day!

A NEW USE FOR PARKING GARAGES

Today’s blog is late. Sorry. I had a 9 o’clock dentist appointment. I could not get the blog done before the dentist visit.

I was in the chair two hours.

The tune Onward Christian Soldiers runs through my mind. I keep going and going and going to the dentist. Will it ever end?

My implants did not hold during the trip. A problem. Did not let it spoil my good time, however.

The implants have been an ongoing problem.

I think we finally got it this morning. I just finished lunch and experienced no difficulty.

The hills and steps got to me on the trip. I did perseverve, however. Actually I had no choice. It was either walk up them or go no where.

By the end of the trip, I was in better physical shape than at the beginning. The hills and steps were responsible for my reconditioning. Unintentionally, I had improved my physical being.

My intent is to keep walking to keep me in shape. One of you recently wrote me and suggested a stairclimber. Key West has no hills. It is flat. I needed the up and down to keep in shape.

I did not want to return to the gym. Did not like it. Came up with a brilliant idea.

Use a parking garage!

The Key West hotels that have garages have huge ones. Generally at least four stories. Things are slow in the summer. Ergo, little if any traffic in the garages. I picked one and went. I was correct. No cars, no traffic. I walked up the four stories and then down. Up and down for an hour. The up was a good incline. Raised a sweat.

The parking garage is my solution. Until I get arrested for loiteering.

Needed to get out last night. My goal was La Trattoria for dinner. Wanted to see Kathy and Becha.

I started at the Chart Room. Packed. Not even breathing room. No one I knew. All tourists. I left.

Then to Don’s Place. Todd bartending. Jimmy at the bar alone. Joanie working selling tee shirts at the Green Parrot.

Jimmy and I had a couple of drinks together and a good talk. Jimmy reads my blog and knew every aspect of the trip. Jimmy had been in Europe in the 1980s with the service. He was personally familiar with Italy and Turkey. We had a great discussion about the various countries and peoples.

After Don’s Place, I headed over to La Trattoria.

There she was! Mistress of the bar! Kathy!

Love Kathy. Everyone in Key West loves Kathy. She had some heavy surgery several months ago and is on the mend. I got my kiss and enjoyed sharing words with her. She had a busy bar and got to me to chat in between customers.

No Becha. Night off. I was disappointed.

I was enjoying a drink and had not ordered yet. I looked up and there was Dottie. I have not seen Dottie in four years. She married and went to Mexico to live. She is back in Key West working. Her husband is in Mexico.

It was wonderful seeing Dottie again. An embrace and a kiss, of course. Then we started talking as if we had just seen each other last the day before. We continued the evening together dining at the bar.

Dottie is working at a jewelry store on Duval. She appeared happy. I am happy for her.

My beard continues to grow. It is now six weeks old. Looks good, looks bad. Have not made up my mind yet. Comments from others are interesting. Makes you look older, makes you look younger, are you cracking up, what happened, and the like.

I have no immediate intention to shave.

Enjoy your day!

LOTS HAPPENING

I wrote yesterday that Robert was attending a one week fun trip under the auspices of the Miami Childrens Hospital for youthful cancer survivors. The group consists of about 32 kids. Boys and girls.

Saturday night they attended the Marlins game. The group received all kinds of goodies and acknowledgements. Met the players, practised on the field, one threw out the opening pitch, etc.

I write this blog and everyone things I am very computer savy. I am not.

Lisa received a picture yesterday of Robert at the Marlins game. He is standing in a line with the other cancer survivors. Some Marlin players behind them.

Lisa posted the picture on Facebook this morning. Go to facebook and see it. Search Lisa Malcom. Robert is the third from left. The one with the blond hair. The picture will touch your heart. Guaranteed.

Because I am computer inept when it comes to posting pics, I have to send you directly to Lisa on Facebook.

These children are cancer survivors. Lisa talked with the mother of one of the other children last night. The mother had visited with the kids briefly yesterday. When she came upon them, they were openly talking about having had cancer and that they could have died. They were showing each other their scars.

Robert is aware of what he went through at birth. Even though cured, he is aware it affects his life. For example, he has to be checked at Miami Childrens Hospital till he is 21. He and the family pack up the car and go several times a year. How could he not understand!

God bless these kids!

Sloan and I worked long and hard yesterday morning. Our early Sunday was committed to organizing the 600 pictures taken on my trip. Soon some will be exhibited in epilogue fashion. Not all 600. That became clear yesterday. We have decided on showing the best 50. We are still getting down to that number. If 50 does not do it, I will figure some way of showing more. You shall not miss the good ones.

Walked big time again. After Sloan and I had finished. Longer than the previous day. I must keep it up! That last comment sounds sensual. Not meant to be. Sounds good, though.

There are many tourists in Key West. I am pleased. Both tourists and merchants are happy. This is a good time to visit Key West. Prices are generally half off. Meals 2 for 1. A bargain.

I spent a lot of time at the Plantation Coffee House. Reading the Sunday newspapers and sipping coffee. Both Theo and Diane were there. A hard working couple. Pleasant people.

There were several tourists seated in one area. They were chatting about the weather. The topic of discussion was whether it was going to rain yesterday. It was around one. The sun was bright and hot. Few clouds. The morning had been the same. They were convinced it would not. One of them even said he checked everything out on the internet and he was certain that it was going to be a dry day.

I wanted to tell them how wrong they were. I did not want to bust their bubble, however. It rains every day in Key West in the summer. it is our rainy season.

Sure enough around four, the deluge came. Torrential rain.

Chickens have been a problem over the years in Key West. Several years ago the city fathers paid someone to remove the chickens. Chickens are some sort of an endangered species in Florida. They cannot be killed. They must be captured, properly crated, and sent to a chicken farm somewhere in northern Florida to enjoy the rest of their days.

Key West hired a chicken catcher. He was to receive $20 per chicken. The caging and trucking expenses north were to come out of the $20. The chicken catcher did not last long. He quit. Said he could not make money. The chickens still rule the streets of Key West.

Yesterday’s Key West Citizen had an interesting article. Somewhat related.

Page 2 of the Citizen daily publishes historical events. The paper calls it Today In Key West History. One of the items mentioned occurred 100 years ago. It involved the city and county commissions getting together at a special meeting to combat what apparently was a problem at the time. The bubonic plague. Heavy stuff. The two commissions voted to pay anyone who would help to eliminate the rodents who caused the problem. Five cents per rat, one cent per mouse. Dead or alive.

Hemingway Days start to day. Run through Sunday. One of the big events is the Hemingway Look A-Like Contest. It is held annually at Sloppy Joe’s. Now that I have a beard, all of seven weeks old, I considered entering. On second thought, I realized I am not ready. The beard needs to grow more. Perhaps next year.

I feel good. The jet lag seems to have gone. However, I layed down again yesterday afternoon at 4 for a short nap. Did not wake till 9. Screwed up my game plan for the night. It was to have been dinner at the bar at La Trattoria and visiting with Kathy and Becha. Perhaps next week.

Enjoy your day!

ROBERT AT MARLINS GAME LAST NIGHT

Robert’s day yesterday! He was at the Miami Marlins game with all the frills. He got to play on the field before the game, received a hat and jersey, met the players, etc. A big night for Robert.

His appearance at the Marlins game came about strangely. I have told the story before. It would be remiss not to tell it again.

Robert was born with cancer. Cancer of the liver. Babies are not supposed to be born with cancer. It is an after birth acquired illness. Only .007 per cent of new births come into the world with cancer.

Unfortunately, Robert was one of them.

In the first eight days of his life, Robert had two major surgeries to remove the cancer. He spent many days in the hospital. The hospital was Miami Childrens Hospital.

I was there as this terrible tragedy played itself out. Fortunately, everything turned out well.

Miami Childrens is one fantastic place. Big like a collefge campus. Many building. Thousands of people daily moving about. The best doctors in the world for kids. Miami Childrens tries to/does cure many illnesses.

I believe Miami Childrens Hospital and God saved Robert.

Robert is now 8. Maturing well. Healthy.

Miami Childrens started something last year which has been continued this year. A one week trip for the children they treated who now are cancer survivors. It is a big trip. Robert not only attended last night’s Marlins game first class, he also will visit Disney World, swim with the dolphions and do many other wonderful things.

Miami Childrens says the reason they do this is to celebrate the lives of those they have saved. The comment is further to the effect…..we treat so many and so many do not survive.

That is why Robert was at the Marlins game last night. I am glad he was there. Thrilled. More because he is alive and well and could do it.

My morning yesterday started with foolishness. Cracked me up.

I had showered and dried off. Went to deodorize. I had purchased deodorant in Italy. Figured I would use it. A big can. Had anti-arrossamento printed on it. I assumed that had something with deodorizing.

Lifted my arm and gave it a shot. It was not deodorant. It was shaving cream. All over my arm, side of my body and beyond. The beyond was the the glass enclosure of the shower and the floor. A mess.

I looked in the mirror. Smiled. And said aloud…..You asshole!

The trip helped. I am physically in better shape that when I left. Much better shape. It was the hills and steps. I want to improve on my condition, if I can. Walking big time is my goal. I did yesgterday. Walked twice the distance I normally would when I did walk. In the mid day sun. Other than being soaking wet at the conclusion, I was A-OK.

Stopped at Coffee Plantation on Caroline afterwards. Had a late lunch. A toasted bagel with cream cheese and a bottle of water.

Owner Diane was there. She came over to say hello and welcome back. She reads this blog and my weekly column in KONK Life. A nice person. We chatted a bit about the trip. She and her husband Theo hope to make a trip to Italy some time soon.

Sloan due here later in the morning. We are going to work on the Epilogue to my trip. Over 600 pictures to be organized and shown very soon.

Enjoy your Sunday!

A BUSY FRIDAY

Good morning!

A lovely Saturday to you!

It rained big time yesterday. All day. This is Key West’s rainy season. However not as much as yesterday. Normally, it rains once a day around one in the afternoon for 10 minutes.

I was driving home at one point and it started pouring. Heavy. Like I almiost could not see. It started on the boulevard and continued on US 1. I turned into Key Haven. Went 100 feet and noticed everything was dry. It had not rained in Key Haven where I live. This is not an uncommon happening. Many times Lisa will telephone to warn me not to go out. The rain was too heavy. I ask…..What rain? It would be raining in Key West, but not Key Haven.

A humid Friday morning yesterday. Heavy. Felt like you could cut it with a knife.

My morning was busy.

My first stop was the dentist. My cell phone was broke and I wanted to make an appointment. For my teeth, not the phone. I see the dentist Tuesday at 10. My implants screwed up on the trip again. My teeth do not stay in.

Then it was to KONK Broadcasting to do my internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. The show was good. A bit of a travelogue, followed by a segment of news commentary. I was pleased to be back doing the show. I had missed it.

KONK Broadcasting is on the third floor of an old renovated building in Key West. Actually, it is in a very well done remodeled attic. There are two flights of steps to KONK. Many and steep. Prior to the trip, I had to pause at the first landing to catch my breath. When I reached the top, I had to pause again.

Yesterday, I moved up those two sets of steps like a young kid. Easy and swift. No concern. No getting winded. The trip had helped me in this regard. All those hills and steps I complained of in Italy and Greece had conditioned me a bit.

My cell phone was not working. Ergo had to stop at Dr. Leffert’s office to make an appointment. My little finger on my right hand is infected at the tip. Swollen. Reddish. Looked pussy. It got cut getting a manicure in Athens ten days ago. An appoinment was made for one o’clock.

The next stop was Verizon. My man there is Diego. He swiftly took care of the problem. It was not the phone. It was me. I did not know what I was doing.

Then to Walgreens. I had picked up one of my prescription drugs the day before. It was not correct. I had a new prescription that Walgreens had already filled and failed to cancel the old one. The mistake had cost me $134, even with insurance. I am in the doughnut. A screw job in and of itself.

Got my $134 back. Had to wait 15 minutes for the manager to do it. An inconvenience. Walgreens never learns. They are inconsiderate to their drug customers. Long lines, waiting. With all the money they are making off prescription drugs, they could hire another two people and not even feel it off their cash flow.

Back to Dr. leffert’s office. Yes, I had an infection. She told me what to do. I will do it as well as taking an antibiotic. My pinkie will be well in short course.

I needed to publish a column on Amazon Kindle. Did. The title: Life Begins First Day of a Woman’s Last Menstrual Cycle. A bit confuing. You havve to read the title a couple of times to fully grasp it. There was no other way for me to say it.

Arizona is anti-abortion. They have a new law designed to shorten the time within which an abortion may be performed. They passed the law just to cut two days off the time frame. In order to do it, they had to disregard and manipulate medical science and natural law.

An interesting column.

I am getting better with the jet lag. However at 4 I was tired. I intended to go out for dinner. Layed on the bed for a short nap. Woke at 9. Too late to go out. Stayed in.

Tom Dixon lives in Buffalo. He is a Key West snow bird. Owns property here. He wrote me toward the end of my trip and said that the jet lag was not as bad flying back. He was right! It is no where as heavy as the initial trip to Italy.

Enjoy your day!

KEY WEST LOU LEGAL HOUR RETURNS

The Key West Lou Legal hour is back. This morning. Ten my time. World wide. www.konkbroadcasting.com. Join me! I am going to do a little rerun on the trip, together with some thoughts on Obama healthcare, Penn State, and Romney’s tax returns.

Jet lag was bad yesterday. Very bad. An all day event.

The blog took me almost four hours to do. My mind and fingers were slow and not working together. I slept four hours in the afternoon. The sleep of the dead. When I woke it was 5:30. The sun was up. It was shining through the window. What the hell was the sun doing up so early? I thought it was morning. It took my mind a few seconds to realize it was supper time.

Dinner was at Lisa’s. My belated birthday dinner. Robert and Ally sitting on each side of me. No Corey. He is diving off Key Largo this week.

Hopefully, today will be better. I am sure it will be. It is now four days I have been back.

A short blog today. I did not do much yesterday. Ergo, I have little to report.

Remember to join me for my internet show this morning.

Enjoy your day!

AVALANCHE KILLS SIX NEAR CHAMONIX WHERE I WAS TWO WEEKS AGO

My sleeping is all screwed up. Still feeling the effects of jet lag. I am into day 3. Yesterday was not bad. I thought I was on the mend. Today, I feel like a brick wall fell on me.

I was shocked when I read the news on the internet this morning. There was an avalanche in the Alps near Chamonix, France. Six killed.

I was there two weeks ago.

I stayed a week in a valley that sits half way up the Alps. An Italian town. Courmier. A half hour drive away is Chamonix, France. Chamonix is in the Alps, also. I spent two days in Chamonix.

The Alps are big! Bigger than anything I have ever seen!

The vally was in/on Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc is not one mountain. It ia range of mountains consisting of eight or eleven peaks. I cannot recall the exact number. One of the peaks itself is called Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc peak is the highest in the Alps and Europe. The third highest peak is Mont Maudt. Some people were attempting a climb to the peak on Mont Maudt. An avalanche occurred which killed six people.

I recall that each of the Molnt Blanc peaks was covered with humongous ice glaciers. One morning when I woke and stepped outside, the glaciers and a good part of the mountain top wrere covered with a snow which had fallen during the night. As I was driving into Chamonix that morning, I noticed the temperature was 11 degrees C., which is something around 29 degrees F. At the time I was at least a mile below the peaks. So cold it was and cold enough to snow.

It was Lori time yesterday. Did I need a haircut!

For the past two years, my head has been shaved. While on my trip, I did not get a haircut. My hair was shooting out all over the place when I sat in the chair yesterday. I told Lori….I want the keep the hair. She trimmed it accordingly. Looks terrific!

Lori wanted to trim my beard a bit. It is now six weeks old. I was hesitant. It is not full grown yet. I had her only tidy up the neck portion.

I look like one of the Smith Brothers. How many of you remember the Smith Brothers?

Had lunch with two of my favorite people. Robert and Ally. They picked I Hop. While I enjoyed two eggs and toast, Robert devoured a Philly cheesesteak sandwich and Ally a huge cheeeseburger. God bless young appetites!

Tomorrow Rolbert goes to Miami Children’s Hospital for his semi annual check up. Then Saturday he is off on a week’s vacation under the auspices of Miami Children’s as he did last year.

Robert was born with cancer of the liver. He had two major surgeries the first eight days of his life. At Miami Children’s Hospital. Robert survived. Miami Childen’s and God saved him.

Last year Miami Children’s started a program to take those saved on a fantastic one week vacation all over Florida. Robert enjoyed it. He returns this year for another such trip.

Robert still sees the same doctors who worked on him during those early days. When one doctor was asked why the trip, the docotor explained…..we lose so many…..we want to celebrate in a happy fashion those saved.

I slept yesterday afternoon. I am letting my body call the shots.

I did go out around 5. I wanted to see my friends.

First stop was Don’s Place. No Don. For whatever reason, he did not even play golf yesterday. Kurt, Herschel and Herschel’s brother were there.

Kurt generally wears a bushy white beard. He said I needed some trimming. He agreed with Lori. Herschel has some hair on his face. He thought mine looked good.

My next stop was the Chart Room. Home coming time!

Emily bartending. Love Emily. One of the nicest and sharpest people I know. She reads this blog every day. Knew my trip intimately.

Captain Peter was there. Peter is not into computers. Does not own one. He knew I was in Europe. The other Chart Roomers kept him up to date regarding the trip.

Captain Peter has been everywhere in the world. He is British born. Now an American citizen. Has been to Greece, Italy and France. He chatted with me for a while about the Greek isles he has visited.

The Captain was excited. He had purchased a van while I was gone. Took me out into the parking lot to show me. It gives him a land place to sleep when he is not on his boat. The boat is moored two miles out. Some nights it is difficult to find. I fear Peter is going to end up in Cuba one of these days.

Sheila greeted me with a hug and kiss. She keeps up with the blog daily, also. Sheila drives one of Ed Swift’s conch trains.

David came in. Good to see him, also. A loyal reader. He wrote me several e mails commenting on the blogs while I was away.

The newlyweds arrived. Sean and Katherine. Just returned from their honeymoon two days ago. Both happy and rested. I owe them a dinner and wedding present. Next week.

While they were luxurating on a Caribbean beach, an announcement was received that Sean had won some sort of junior type Pulitizer Prize for an article he wrote. Sean is a newspaper reporter.

Tourists Mark and Kimberly at the bar. They were taking in the conversation about my trip. They joined in.

Mark and Kimberly are from Columbus, Ohio. A great place! I did legal work there as a young attorney.

Mark works for Ford. Kimberly is a school teacher. Mark a Republican. Kimberly I am not sure. However, it was evident she was an unhappy trouper. Ohio’s Governor had tried to cut back on some of her teacher benefits.

Mark and I got into it briefly on a friendly basis. Kimberfly kept telling her husband to be quiet. He was not and I was not. We had a polite exchange. This is their third year in Key West. They have stayed at the Pier House each time. They are becoming locals.

Then it was early home to bed. Jet lag ruling the evening.

I learned from Herschel that our bocce team did not make the playoffs. We ended up in 5th place. Need to be in the top 4 to qualify for the playoffs.

There is bocce disconnect. Some teams/players are upset with each other. As a result there is no bocce banquet/party scheduled.

Who would think people know of Watertown? A city in the northern part of New York. About 80-90 miles from Utica. I mentioned yesterday that I had run into Ryno. I said he used to live 14 miles away from me in Watertown. I must have been screwed up from the jet lag. It is Waterville. A ton of you corrected my misstatement. Thank you.

I am back as regards my internet show, also. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Friday at ten in the morning my time. Worldwide. Join me. Besides hearing my enlightning words, you can see my new beard.

i am going to touch on many topics tomorrow. Including Greece and the euro. As I reprted in the trip blogs, the problem has the makings of a World War III. It is incindiary. I was there and personally observed the feelings. I plan on sharing some trip highlights, also. It should be an interesting show.

Enjoy your day!