HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA

 

Happy birthday daughter Lisa! Love you dearly!

This is #49 for Lisa. She will not be offended that I mention the number. A father could not have a better daughter. She has been the best! I am a lucky man.

It took four days for us to come up with her name. We expected a boy. Previously, we had a boy and two girls. It was time for another boy. His name was to be Louis. Since it was a girl, we were unprepared!

Lisa’s middle name is Marie. It was easy to arrive at. It rhymed with Lisa. Lisa Marie.

Lisa was born while we were remodeling our home. Typical of construction, the job was two months behind. Lisa came home with the work not quite complete. No furniture yet. Workmen busy. Lisa received her first meal from her mother while sitting on steps inside the house. We had beds and a crib. That was it!

Lisa always was mine. My little girl. Even now at 49.  She showed me great love and attention. From her early years and into adulthood, Lisa would frequently jump in bed with me on a weekend day, cuddle up, and tell me how much she loved me.

She was the fourth of four children. I believe parents tend to be easier and more lenient with each successive child. Which means we imposed on Lisa the least with regard to rules to be followed. I believe she took advantage. She was a hellion. The ultra conservative Lisa of today compares little with the high school and college Lisa.

I discussed on Friday’s TV/internet show the number of arrests in the U.S. each year. Something like 12.2 million. The unusual thing was that only 500,000 were for serious crimes. Over 11 million were for minor misdeeds. Misdemeanors. Of that number, 80 some odd per cent were for drug possession. More than half the possession crimes related to pot.

The U.S. has 5 per cent of the world’s population. However, we have 25 per cent of the persons jailed world wide. An abnormally high number. The reason being that our mind set for more than half a century has been to jail most drug offenders. Even those carrying small amounts of marijuana.

I pointed out it costs $85,000 a year to maintain a prisoner in jail. A lot of money. Especially in these difficult economic times.

A news article this morning stated how much it cost per prisoner for New York City to maintain its jail Rikers Island. $167,731 per inmate. My figure was an average. Rikers has to be on the very high side.

I had to get out my KONK Life column  for next week. It took all of my Sunday!

The article will be published next Thursday. Its title is Governmental Waste…..Buried On Our Backs.

I shared some wasteful activities discovered. What I revealed is a mere drop in the bucket. I was motivated to write concerning the topic because of the House’s cutting $40 billion in food stamps this past week, breakfast food for children coming off the table, Republicans wanting to get rid of Obamacare, etc. Plus the cries for reductions and/or abolishment of Social Security and Medicare. The poor, young, sick, and elderly are under attack!

Some of the wasteful examples included a U.S. Senate barber shop that runs $500,00 in the red each year, a $2.6 million study on how to train Chinese prostitutes to drink responsibly, a credit card abuse by the U.S. Postal Service involving a charge of $13,500 for a dinner party at a Chris steakhouse, the Pentagon spending $998,794 to ship two $ .19 washers from South Carolina to Florida, $500,000 authorized to promote specialty hair and beauty products for cats and dogs, $97,000 for floating outhouses for Oregon fishermen, and $386,000 for a study on how best to massage rabbits.

There is more in the article!

Congress and branches of government are wasting tax dollars at the same time there is a movement to deny the least of our citizens the benefits needed to properly survive.

Tomorrow night Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. My blog talk radio show. I will be discussing the government shut down amongst other things. Plus, the wastefulness already described.

Join me. A quick half hour of interesting material. Nine in the evening my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

 

SATURDAY…..STARTED SLOW, FINISHED FAST

Outstanding weather this morning! Again , no breeze. Is it a sign of anything?

My yesterday started slowly. However, I did enough last night to make up for it.

I wrote my blog late in the morning. After having laid around in bed a couple of hours longer than normal. Made myself a sandwich. Read a bit. As I was reading, I noticed how tired I was getting. It was just after 1. An unusual time for me to be tired. I did the normal. I went to bed. Slept till after 4.

Whatever the reason, it was a good sleep and I felt much better afterwards.

Don’s Place first last night. Several bocce team members there. Hershel, Stan and Erika. Nate and Michael, also. Bocce was the topic of conversation. Whereas I believe we have to concentrate more with every shot, Hershel believes we have become complacent. Whatever. We are talking about the problem which is good. Hopefully, it will help us win.

Then to the Chart Room. JJ and Peter for company.

JJ had some beans that were soaked in apple cider. Good! No, great! He buys the apple cider, cooks the beans himself, then puts them in the apple cider to soak. Great flavor!

I was hungry. Where to eat? What did I want to do?

I decided I would like to watch the Alabama/Old Miss football game. Not at home. From somewhere crowded with people yelling and screaming. I went to John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Pub. I sat at the back bar, enjoyed fish and chips, and watched an excellent game. Old Miss looked good in the first half. Not in the second when Alabama ran away with the game.

I was impressed with the number of people in the place. Absolutely packed! Everyone drinking and eating. I told John how pleased I was that his investment was working out. He had a gleam in his eye. If anyone deserves success, it is John.

Syracuse did not play yesterday. A week off. Next week Clemson! Number 3 in the country. It would be terrific if Syracuse won. Though I doubt it. I expect the Vegas line to be 30 points at least.

I have to comment on the Washington situation. They are all crazy! Lunatics! Like kids playing at a game. They forget people’s lives and pocketbooks are at stake.

Silvio Berlusconi is up and at it again! He is a shrewd politician. Here I am complimenting him when he is doing the same thing the Republicans are here.

A Court decides this week if Berlusconi keeps his legislative seat. He has two felony convictions. Berlusconi must be nervous. He sent a letter to his followers yesterday. An Italian  friend wrote me about it. He wants everyone to come to Rome tomorrow or the next day. He will pay everyone’s way. To demonstrate on his behalf. He wants the Court to recognize his power and back off.

Berlusconi’s party is a close second in power. Italy’s President is of the opposing party. The President cannot stay in power if Berlusconi yanks his party’s support away. It is coalition government. Berlusconi has threatened to have his party’s five cabinet members resign. The result would be turmoil. A new election would be required.

Politicians everywhere play hardball. Whether the U.S. or Italy, if you do not play the game their way, they threaten to take their football and go home.

A local criticism. Regarding the Key West Citizen. I have recognized of late that Key West’s only daily newspaper publishes little if any  news of major public events. I especially noted it this past weekend when the Poker Run got next to no mention. I think two photos.

From what I gather, it is all over money. Apparently, Key West’s weekend events do not or are not paying to run ads. Advertising!

The situation is a shame. I do not know who is right or wrong. The public is screwed, however. Locally and nationally. Many read the Key West Citizen via the internet. Key West has a special place in many hearts.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

FIRST SNOW

 

I woke this morning to learn that Montana has the distinction of being the first place in the U.S. where snow fell this year. Last night. The pics on TV showed heavy stuff.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour was yesterday morning. My TV/internet show. The topic that garnered the most interest surprised me. It was my dissertation regarding Pope Francis and his evidencing that he is a flaming liberal. I thought my comments regarding Congressional waste would be #1.

All comments concerned the Pope. Not one about Congressional waste. Could be people are so fed up with Washington that they pay little to no attention to anything about them any more. On the other hand, the Pope is a breath of fresh air. He appears to be energizing peoples of all faiths.

Per my usual custom, I visited the Chart Room first last night. Emily was back from vacation. It was good to see her. I like Emily. Even more, I like the popcorn she makes. A little extra butter and a bit more  salt. Emily spent ten days vacationing on a hilltop in Ashville, North Carolina. She showed me some photos and videos she took with her cell phone. A beautiful place!

Sheila and Corey at the bar. An English family at the table. I did my hellos. They were leaving so I could not get any background information on them. I wish they had stayed longer. I would have enjoyed talking with them.

Then a drink at Don’s Place. Don, David, Michael and John in attendance. Don and I spoke of bocce. What else! We lost all 3 games thursday. I think we are in last place. Should not be. We are a better team. A much better team. One of our problems may be we know we are good. Ergo, we do not concentrate with each shot. We toss the ball figuring it will go where it is supposed to. It does not.

Bocce continued to haunt me. I went to Publix. After 9. Quiet. A good time to shop. I ran into two different ladies at opposite ends of the store who play bocce on thursday nights, also. Of course, they wanted to talk bocce. One proudly said we won all three games thursday. The other, we won two out of three. I humbly responded each time we lost all three. Tough!

I am distressed by this morning’s news regarding Greece. I find the Greek Nazi party, the Golden Dawn Party, totally reprehensible. Bad people. However they were legally elected. The third largest group in the Greek Parliament.

The government arrested the head of the party and 17 other high party officials yesterday. Warrants out for 20 others. The arrests were without question politically motivated. The leaders were arrested for basically being bad people.

I continue to believe from my early Catholic education that…..The end does not justify the means. You just do not go out and arrest the opposition. It is the same as has been happening in Egypt. What has occurred could unleash unrest on the streets and violence. Plus whatever else .

The Euro Commission and Euro Central Bank are said to have been consulted prior to the arrests and were in support of them.

I fear bad events are in the making.

Yesterday’s Key West Citizen had an interesting item in its Keys History section. On yesterday’s date in 1955, there was a motel price war in Key West. A bad one! Prices really low! Eight motels had signs up saying free rooms to tourists.

It would never happen today!

I was playing around on the computer researching Key West history. There was a Louis in Key West at one time who owned a department store on Duval. In the early 1900s. A. Louis. He owned the Bee Hive Department Store.

A lovely day outside. Sunny and bright. A blue sky. No breeze. The water still. Can’t wait to get out.

Enjoy your day!

 

WIRELESS ZONE

 

My divorce from Verizon at the K Mart shopping center was finalized yesterday. I was fed up! I am not going into all the details as to why. You have heard me complain enough the past two years.

I discovered another Verizon store in the Winn-Dixie shopping center. It is called the WIRELESS ZONE. Do not walk. Run when you need cell phone assistance. My sense is the people are good.

The place is locally owned. I met one of the owners who was kind enough to take care of me. His name is Manny Rioseco. He dealt with my problems professionally and politely. He was unhurried. He dug deeper into my cell phone that anyone had in the past. The phone is working today. I hope it continues to work. My tablet a sudden problem, also. I am not sure yet if the problem is resolved.

Manny also told me I was entitled to just under$100 a month off on my monthly billing. Why didn’t the other Verizon tell me in any of my many visits to them?

My new friends…..Manny Rioseco and the Wireless Zone.

I have already done my TV/internet  show this morning. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. One of my best! If you missed the show, it is You Tubed. You can catch it beginning tomorrow. Enter Lou’s Legal Hour.

I get pissed off on occasion. A report just came out that the median family wage has gone down over the past five years. Add to it the House of Representative’s recent action passing a bill to eliminate $40 billion from the food stamp program.

I countered with some things Congress does to spend money inappropriately. In other words, wastefully. Like the US Senate. This a…..Did you know? The US Senate has its own barber shop. It is called Senate Hair Care Services. The barber shop is run with taxpayer dollars. It runs a deficit of about $500,00 a year. It has lost $5.25 million over 15 years.

Hooray for the Senators! They get next to free haircuts at taxpayer expense. They are required to pay $3.50. All the while, the median family wage has gone down, $40 billion is being cut in food stamps, and free breakfasts for children is being eliminated.

A shade of another color. The House of Representative members who want to do away with Obamacare get the very best medical free as Congresspersons.

Our elected representatives are caring people!

My yesterday was busy.

Started with a haircut with Lori. Always pleasant. Then a manicure with Tammy. Another delightful experience.

Tammy and her husband recently bought a new home on Seidenberg. Big! Tammy and I chatted about it yesterday. She recalled her life in Hue, Vietnam. She said when it rained outside, it rained inside. The whole family lived together in a small abode. The bathroom was an outhouse. Cold and scary at night.

It was Blossom’s for lunch. New owners! Five days. I wish them well. I enjoyed my usual Cuban cheese toast with tomato and a cup of Cuban coffee.

I spent what ever free time I had working on my book which is soon to be published. The World Upside Down. I am working with the publisher now editing, etc.

Bocce last night. We lost all three games. Something is wrong. This is the third consecutive season we have sucked. I see a meeting coming. Don and David will ask the team members….. What are we doing wrong? Hours will go into the discussion and hopeful resolution.

Remember the Kim I mentioned last weekend. I met her and her male counterpart last weekend at the Chart Room. Kim is a bocce player. She played against us last night. A terrific player! Always on the money! Killed us with every shot!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

BANKS SUBSIDIZED

 

Every now and then, I come across something that rubs me the wrong way. It happened last night.

I discovered a recent Huffington Post article regarding banks being subsidized with tax dollars. My initial impression was so what! Banks received stimulus monies. The article had to be about that.

It was not.

Turns out U.S. banks are being subsidized by the government. Free handouts. The money comes from tax dollars. Where else? It amounts to 3 per cent of every tax dollar.

The claim is the money is required for research. What research, I could not determine.

The 3 per cent amounts to $87 billion a year. It averages out to $722 per family.

Even the big banks are so subsidized. The five wealthiest banks in the U.S. are J. P. Morgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs. It was reported that these five banks receive three quarters of the $87 billion.

Blew me out! It gets worse, however. The article indicated that without the taxpayer subsidy, the banks would not show a profit.

Running at a loss, need a taxpayer subsidy to be profitable, and still pay exorbitant bonus’s to high level management.

I cannot understand.

A busy day ahead. A haircut and manicure this morning. Probably lunch at Blossoms. Tonight, bocce.

Tomorrow morning, my TV/internet show airs. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. In addition to the bank subsidy issue, I will share some large wasteful government spendings, that Lancaster, Pa. was once the capital of the U.S., the recent U.S. arms treaty, Egypt’s Muslim brotherhood, Obamacare, a medical first, Pope Francis, and more.

Join me. Ten in the morning my time. The show airs via television from Key West up through Boca Raton on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. It is available world wide via the internet. www.weyw19.c0m.

Enjoy your day!

 

KEY WEST AND SECESSION

 

The mini series North and South that I watched on TV over the weekend got me back into the Civil War. Where did Key West stand during that time?

A strange situation. Florida seceded. After Lincoln’s election and before he was sworn in. Technically, Key West would have had to also. As a practical matter, Key West was in limbo. It had seceded as a part of Florida, yet remained in Union hands because of a U.S. military presence that already was in Key West.  The U.S. Navy.

The Navy had a fort to go with it. Fort Zachery Taylor. To protect Fort Zachery Taylor and discourage a Confederate attack, two mini forts were built . East Martello and West Martello. They were connected to Fort Zachery Taylor by railroad tracks needed to carry munitions.

The Civil War never made it to Key West. Fighting never occurred.

The people of Key West however were sympathetic to the Confederacy. Many flew Confederate flags over their homes. The two sides however were able to get along and live together.

I spent yesterday morning researching and writing. My afternoon was involved with two lengthy meetings followed by a visit to the Plantation Coffee House.

My blog talk radio show was last night at 9. The show was well prepared. Interesting topics. Like Pope Francis and my thought that he is a flaming liberal (a good thing), economic issues including the attempt to cut back on food stamps while the median household income has fallen in the past five years and a Senate give away occurred which was not proper from my perspective. I also hit on the Kenya mall attack and the fact that it included as terrorists two American and one British citizens. I talked about the toilet paper crisis in Venezuela, how there are too many arrests in the U.S. for minor crimes, and a stupid remark by a U.S. Senator.

A terrific show! Except no one heard any of it, except for the first five minutes! I did the whole show thinking everything was ok. It was only afterwards when the emails and telephone calls came that I realized I was off the air five minutes into the show! I still do not know why. Frustrating.

Theodore “Fats” Navarro was born in Key West. He left town as soon as he finished school. The world awaited him. He became a highly regarded jazz trumpet player. Perhaps the best of his era. He was paid mega dollars for his performances.

Drugs and tuberculosis did him in. He died in his 20s in New York City. He had a sister Delores who was born in 1932. I understand she still lives in Key West.

Earlier this week, a Jean Marie Lindor was sentenced to 24 years in prison. His crime was his involvement in fraudulent BP oil claims. Lindor lived in Homestead. There is always some one who attempts to take advantage of a sorrowful happening.

Enjoy your day!

 

THE ROSE TATTOO

The Rose Tattoo was a mid 1950s movie. Starred Burt Lancaster and Anna Magnani. Lancaster was a big time hero type Hollywood star of that era. Magnani was an Italian star.

Magnai played a wild woman in the film. Lancaster loving and submissive to her. An unusual role for Lancaster. The movie won Magnani the Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress.

The significance of the movie is that it was filmed in Key West.

Hal Wallis was the producer. During this week in 1954 he was in Key West scouting locations for the film.

The selected site was a small house on Duncan Street.

Duncan Street is key here.

Tennessee Williams wrote the play from which the movie was derived. Williams lived two blocks away on Duncan at the time. My lovely Lisa lives on Duncan today. Her home is three blocks from the Rose Tattoo house and two blocks from Tennessee Williams’ home.

The Rose Tattoo house still stands. Run down. Covered with unkept shrubbery. I believe it is presently a rental.

The Tennessee Williams house is owned by others now. The house looks terrific.

A lovely morning here in Key West. Sun shining. A few white clouds. Water green.

I spent my day time yesterday researching and writing. The writing has altered my life style. Most of my days lately are spent inside typing away.

It was the Chart Room last night.

Merri bartending. Notice I have spelled her name differently. One of my readers emailed me and told me her name was not spelled M A R Y. It was M E R R I. I asked Merri last night if it was so. Yes, she said. Merri is a loyal blog reader. I asked why she never told me I was misspelling her name. She said it made no difference to her.

Sat next to Brian. First time I met him. A Key West local. He works for a boat towing operation. An interesting business! I learned much from him. His company comes out to get you if you run out of gas or get stuck on a sand bar. They also do salvage work.

I wanted Italian for dinner. Stopped at Roostica on Stock Island on the way home. Enjoyed baked ziti. I have thus far eaten three pastas at Roostica. Lasagna, spaghetti and ziti. The pastas were all good. The sauce leaves something to be desired. Too light. Tends to be watery. I enjoy a thicker and more bodied red sauce. My Italian upbringing!

Roostica has been open less than a year. It is a gold mine. Always crowded. I must be the only one the sauce bothers. Actually the place is more of a pizza restaurant than pasta one.

You will recall when I returned from Italy in August, I flew Delta from Atlanta to Key West and seated next to me were Paul and his daughter Katlyn. Paul was a reservist and also a fire lieutenant in the keys. Katlyn a high school student. We had a great time. The conversation most enjoyable.

At the Key West Airport, Paul introduced me to his wife Tracey.

As I was eating, a woman came over and said hello. It was Tracey. She called over to Paul and Katlyn. Nice people all. I was happy to see them again.

Show time tonight! Blog talk radio! My show!

Join me at 9 for a half hour of interesting chatter about world events. Some topics eye openers. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

TOM DIXON IN CHINA

I received an email this morning from my friend Tom Dixon. He, his charming wife Fran, daughter, son in law and son in law’s parents are in China. Good for them!

Tom told me they have been in four cities. All sold Beefeater Gin. He and the family have become accustomed to Beefeater martinis. Good once more!

Tom is an interesting guy. He comes from Buffalo. Still lives there. Visits Key West 3-4 times a year. He owns a piece of the Ocean Key House. A Syracuse fan. I enjoy his company immensely. I enjoy wife Fran’s company also, though she does not make all the trips.

Yesterday was Meet the Press time. I spent my morning in bed watching the political talk shows.

Lunch time found me at Higgs Beach. I needed sun. My body was looking white. My eyes required a bit of relaxation, also. Watching the bikini clad ladies.

Two hours was enough for me. I headed downtown to Duval. Poker Run festivities were still ongoing. I walked several blocks. Some had magnificent motorcycles parked one after another. I enjoyed a late lunch at one of the food stands. An Italian sausage sandwich.

Sunday dinner once again at Lisa’s. Jake went crazy when I came in. He is doing it again. I fear he is going to attack me. Then it is over and we are friends. Robert was doing last minute homework. Ally playing games on her tablet.

I changed my mind on the column for this week’s KONK Life. I wrote yesterday and early this morning about Pope Francis and why I believe he is a flaming liberal. Written with respect and admiration. Relatively short. If you have the opportunity to read it, I suspect you will agree with my characterization of the Pope.

I just heard from Dee. She is up in Boston teaching. I had not heard from her in several weeks.

Anna emailed me from Camogli. She spent yesterday in Portofino. Her son and my friend Antonio has been trying to reach me via Skype. He is working somewhere in southern Italy at the moment.

The weeks run by fast. Tomorrow is tuesday again. Tomorrow night my blog talk radio show. I will be chatting about the Pope, guns, and I don’t know at the moment what else. Join me. The show is a fast moving half hour. Nine in the evening at www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

NORTH and SOUTH

I enjoyed an unusual Saturday yesterday. I watched television most of the day. Not planned. That is how it worked out.

I was a history major in college. I had a special interest in the Civil War. I took extra courses involving the Civil War.

At noon yesterday, an old mini series appeared on TV. All six segments at one time. From noon till eight in the evening. Concerning matters which lead up to the Civil War. The series was appropriately called North and South.

I watched it all! I was in all my glory! As a result, I never went out.

The only interruption was when Lisa showed up with Robert and Ally to swim. I said hello, how are you and kissed each one. Then it was back to the television set.

While watching, I enjoyed a sandwich and a couple of drinks.

There are things happening that I would like to make comment regarding.

Toilet paper. Back in May, in this blog and on my TV show, I made mention of the acute toilet paper shortage in Venezuela. People were without! Still are! What could be worse?

Venezuela has a large toilet paper making factory. The government took it over this week. Nationalized it, in effect. Shades of Hugo Chavez. Actually, things were good for the people of Venezuela under Chavez. We may have disliked him. His people did not. He took care of everyone.

Syracuse football. Syracuse beat Tulane yesterday 52-17. Big! Syracuse has a new quarterback the last two games. It is said he is the difference. Plus, the defense has been playing unusually well. My recollection is Syracuse blocked four kicks yesterday. Three punts and a field goal attempt.

The proof of the pudding comes in two weeks. Clemson! A top team.

A tropical storm beat the hell out of Acapulco this week. Tropical storm Manuel. 100,000 tourists in Acapulco at the time. The airport is a mess and not in use. A military one is ok, however. Roads are wiped out. Mud slides everywhere.

I have visited Acapulco several times. Not the place to be when a disaster occurs. I was there when a minor one occurred. 40,000 tourists are still stranded. All waiting to be airlifted out by the military. Things will be tough until they get on a plane.

Germany’s national election is today. Merkel is favored to be returned as Germany’s leader. A shame. Europe teeters while Merkel continues to play her hard assed economic game.

Terri White. My friend, my love.

Robin Williams has a new television show. It starts this week or next. In the third show, Terri White will be guest appearing. A big deal! Watch for the show. I look forward to the day when Terri gets her own TV show.

Enjoy your Sunday!

KEY WEST POKER RUN

This is the weekend! Key West Poker Run weekend! The 41st year for this event.

The Poker Run has Key West giving itself over to bikers. More than 10,000 motorcycles have roared down US 1 into Key West. They leave with the same noise sunday evening and monday morning.

The bikers ride in on the most expensive motorcycles. Alone or with a companion. A wife or girl friend sitting behind them and holding on for dear life.

The Poker Run is a charity event. In the area of $100,000 will be raised. One of the recipients is the Key West Rotary Club. The Rotary turns the money over to specified charities.

Eight blocks of Duval Street have been closed off. A mini Mardi Gras atmosphere exists. Tents and stands. Cold beer and food. This afternoon in front of Sloppy Joe’s there will be a stage and all kinds of entertainment.

The bikers look like tough mean guys. Black leather vests, Hitler type helmets, etc. Most are doctors, lawyers, accountants and business men from all over the United States. Most have their bikes shipped to Miami. The bikers fly down and pick up their bikes in Miami. Then the 155 mile ride down US 1 with the sun, wind and water encircling them.

It is noise time, also. Big time noise! The bikes roar! However, this weekend no one cares. It is their time! Biker party time!

Did my tv/internet show yesterday morning. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. I heard about it all day and into last night. Viewers were excited about my supermarket comments/expose. Rising prices, corporate farms, favorable laws, and genetically modified seeds. The genetically modified seeds really hit home.

I had a good time last night. Unusually good.

My evening started at the Chart Room. Took me a bit longer to get there from my home in Key Haven. I was behind about 30 bikers coming into town.

A new bartender. Victor. He is filling in for Emily who is on vacation. Sheila and Peter holding court.

Met some terrific people.

Trish and Tommy. They live in Marathon. Marathon is all of 45 miles away. They periodically come into Key West for a fun weekend. We had some deep conversation about the economy. Nice people.

Then Mark and Kim. Locals. High school sweet hearts who found each other again after 41 years. Kim plays booce on thursday nights. My night. I will be looking for her from now on.

David was a no show. I wanted to play billiards with him this afternoon. I did not have his number and Sheila could not remember it. So much for billiards this afternoon.

Today is David’s birthday. Happy birthday, David!

I was hungry. Desired a good meal. Walked across Duval to the Hot Tin Roof. Chatted with manager Joseph a bit. Enjoyed scallops over a bed of extra wide linguine covered with a light oil. Finished the meal off with a snifter of Grand Marnier.

At that point, I should have gone home. It was time. My body was ready. I was prepped for bed.

Instead, I went to Don’s Place. Glad I did! I had a good time there, also.

Spent time chatting with Don, Michael, Nancy, Joanie, and David. I do not know who I love more. Nancy or Joanie?

Don introduced me to two young ladies. Karen was from Buffalo. Don is from Buffalo. Actually, Karen was from Amherst which is close to Buffalo.

Karen, I loved dearly! She reads my blog every day!

She is becoming a Key Wester. Has a condo at Truman Annex. She also is an acquaintance of a lawyer friend from upstate New York. Garry Outtrim. Garry practices in Herkimer, New York. He is associated with my law school class mate George Aney. Love George! George graduated somewhere near the bottom of our class. He turned out to be a most successful attorney. The best! George frequently joked about his class standing and his success later in the practice. He would say…..So and so was smarter than me, but I made the money!

Melissa was with Karen. Melissa is from Seattle. She has been living in Key West six weeks. Working. Still looking for a place to live.

I read an article yesterday about Pope Frances. The writer referred to him as a “…..flaming liberal.” I agree. Jesus was a liberal, loved everyone. Why should his representative on earth be any different.

Syracuse plays Tulane today. The Vegas line is 17 points. Syracuse is favored.

I was critical last week of Syracuse scheduling Wagner in football. Apparently it is habit forming. Miami, a football giant, plays Savannah State today. Miami is a 60 point favorite.

Enjoy your day!