GARDEN GIRRRL

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I spelled Girrrl correctly.

Last night at the Chart Room, I met Laura and Gary from Virginia. Laura is National Sales Manager for Dish Network. Gary, a gun dealer.

Laura is also the Garden Girrrl. She writes a blog! We bonded immediately. Her blog can be found at gardengirrrl@wordpress.com.

We chatted about blogging, WordPress, and related matters. She was excited when I mentioned I had just published my first book. The World Upside Down. She asked where it could be found. I happily told her Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Read Laura’s blog.

Kevin is a snow bird. In Key West for the winter. We had met before. Howard came in. He and Kevin are friends. The three of us sat together.

Howard is originally from Manhattan. Now retired, he lives on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. He used to own a coffee shop on the Outer Banks which he sold. He still works there part time.

Emily comes into the picture. Emily knew Howard well. Chart Room Emily once lived and worked on the Outer Banks. She braided hair.

I enjoyed talking with Kevin, Howard, and Emily.

Kevin has a terrific party planned for Sunday afternoon. He invited me. Nice guy. Not sure I can make it.

I left and drove over to Don’s Place. David was leaving as I arrived. Met a woman who knows Lisa. Her name escapes me. I sat down to talk with Grant. He stayed five minutes and left. Apparently did not enjoy my company. Only joking!

I was hungry. Stopped at Outback for a prime rib dinner. My concession to good health was I ordered the small portion and steamed vegetables.

My doctor called me. X-rays showed no fractured ribs. Probably bruised, however. I still hurt. Between the pain pills and a few drinks the pain disappeared. Slept good, also.

The morning was involved with my TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. The issues that interested most people were twofold.

One involved police brutality, courts that support such activity, and legislation that permits unreasonable acts by authorities. My comments were motivated by the strip search of the Indian Deputy Consul General in New York City this week.

Also, a New Mexican woman aged 54 that was anally searched for drugs, compelled to move her bowels in front of hospital staff and police officers and otherwise infringed upon. No drugs found, of course. The hospital billed her $6,000.

Crazy world! Getting more so by the minute.

I visited Tammy at Lee Nails after the show. Manicure and pedicure. Tammy is a joy! A tiny and beautiful Asian woman. We have interesting conversations.

Key West weather continues to be delightful. Low 80s by night, low 70s by evening. Sleep with the windows open. I can feel the breeze coming in over the ocean.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

OH, THE PAIN

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I am into pain big time! The rib I did something to Tuesday. Pain yesterday afternoon horrible! Ended up seeing the doctor and taking x-rays. I do not know the results yet. My doctor furious with me.

The pain has been joined by a large bruise.

Painkillers and a gin last night. I was feeling no pain afterwards. Plus, a heating pad. My doctor seems more concerned about me developing pneumonia in a week. Breathe deep, she told me several times. When we have pain in the chest, we tend to take small breaths. Deep  breaths  cause pain. Breath, she exclaimed! Every few minutes, I remember and take several deep breaths.

This getting old is a pain!

I cancelled all gym activity till after January 1. Then we shall see.

I did stop in at the gym in the morning. Merely to get my metabolic results. I need something. I was in the bad in all classifications.

A tragedy in London. The falling of the Apollo theatre’s ceiling. Some five stories. On a full house!

Eight years ago I was in London for a week. A great city! Most of the theaters are in the Piccadilly Square area. Apollo was just outside the Piccadilly. I saw three shows. None was at Apollo. What I do recall specifically was a pub near Apollo. Pubs are popular in London. I visited this one several times. It was my favorite. Got into warm beer. Not bad. Different from our beers which cannot be drunk warm.

Already finished my TV/internet show this morning. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Fun!

I am off to see Tammy for a manicure and pedicure. Want to look my best for the holidays.

Enjoy your day!

AN EVENING WITH TOM AND CINDY

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I like Tom and Cindy. Great people! From Iowa. Black hearted Republicans, but we get along.

We had dinner last night at Square One. Cindy looked lovely. A charmer. Life has not gotten her down. One breast and one leg gone to cancer. Still cheerful! She is amazing!

They wanted to go to Don’s Place after dinner. We went. Fortunately, Don was still there. He and Tom bonded. They were talking business all night.

My day started early yesterday. The metabolic test for WeBeFit. I am in terrible shape. worse than I thought. Stayed a while after and did some time on the tread mill. Then an hour at Plantation Coffee House reading the papers.

My TV/internet show tomorrow at 10. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Via television from Key West through Boca Raton on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Via the internet world wide. www.weyw19.com.

My chest/rib is killing me. I did not work out today. Already! I see the doctor at 4.

Enjoy your day!

FIRST DAY WITH TRAINER…..THINK I BROKE A RIB

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Yesterday morning was my first work out at WeBeFit with trainer Dan. Dan also owns the gym. It was grueling! I am absolutely and without question out of shape. Felt like I did when I could not climb to the top of the Santorini volcano two years ago. The one hour session took forever. It could not end soon enough for me.

To make things worse, we heard a pop when I was doing  some exercise on my side and stretching my arms with a foam roll under my armpit. The pop was associated with an instant big time pain. Then no pain. Pain now when I move certain ways.

Dan thought I broke a rib. We finally decided I pulled a muscle. This morning, I decided it is a broken rib. I will see the doctor tomorrow.

I cannot win. I am not dissuaded, however. I am committed. Not just to lose weight. To live.

This morning, I was back at the gym at 7. To see Martina. She gave me a metabolic test. Percentage of body fat, etc. I get the results tomorrow. After the test, I stayed around a half hour and did the tread mill. Dan told me to do it on my own as often as possible to gain cardiovascular strength.

My blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. People get pissed off when their government or someone else fails to tell them something. This time it had to do with the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan three years ago. The U.S. sent the USS Ronald Reagan to help. The ship basically was parked 10 miles off shore from the disaster area. When U.S. ships are deployed, they rely on ocean water for their water needs. The salt water is desalinated. The salt is removed. The water is then used on board for drinking, cooking and bathing.

Fifty one sailors have thus far come down with some form of cancer. Primarily thyroid, testicular, and leukemia. They claim it was from the nuclear pollution that was in the water. The Department of Defense says no way. Safeguards were in place. The sailors disagree. The first news of what is happening came forth this week when the 51 sailors sued the company that ran the nuclear facility.

Why didn’t the government tell us about the cancers? Even if they were not assuming responsibility. Shades of Vietnam and Agent Orange. Typical of Agent Orange, the government is refusing initially to assume responsibility.

On this day in 1865, slavery ended in the United States with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment. Today, we have a new form of slavery. Economic  slavery.

Some people are just plain stupid. Especially when it comes to race. Do any of us really know what color Jesus was? Whites believe white. Blacks, black . What about Santa Claus?

A New Mexico school teacher her told her grade school children to come to school dressed as Santa Claus, an elf or a reindeer. A little black boy came as Santa Claus. He had a white and red cap on and a white beard. The teacher chastised him. Asked him in effect didn’t he know Santa Claus was white.

There is an investigation.

Several years ago, Shack was published. One of the best books I have ever read. God was portrayed in the novel as a fat black woman. Jesus as a 6 foot 6 inch Jew with a large hooked nose. Who is to say otherwise?

I cannot wait for dinner time tonight. I am having dinner with two old friends I have not seen in three years. Tom and Cindy from Iowa. We are meeting at Square One restaurant.

I have written of Cindy before. She has had six different cancers and seven major surgeries. She is missing one leg all the way up to the groin. She cannot wear a prosthesis. There is no stump  to attach it to. She gets around in a wheel chair or on titanium crutches.

Cindy is not inhibited by her physical problems. She goes everywhere. Gets around. She has the best personality. Always cheerful, always excited. I am having dinner with a special person.

My book The World Upside Down is experiencing an interesting development. It is backlisted on one of the purchasing sites to January 15. Sign the book is selling? I don’t know.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

DAY ONE

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Day one. I am not looking at the words and thinking this is the first day of the rest of my life. Though it is. For you and for me. Day one refers to the fact that today will be my first time at WeBeFit with a trainer. I am taking another shot at getting healthy. I cannot seem to do it on my own. Ergo, the trainer.

Up early to get the blog done before I leave. Temperature 69. Was a bit lower in the night. Will reach mid 70s today.

Yesterday was cold! First cold one of the season. Little sun and a cold chill blowing in off the ocean. Sweatshirt time!

The cold spell is only going to last a day or two. Then low 80s again.

The mundane occupies all our lives. Yesterday afternoon  was my time. I had to run errands. Nothing important, but had to be done. Places like Office Max, Walgreen, and Sears.

Chart Room first last night. Busy. Very busy. Sat at the round table and chatted with Jean, David, Sheila, Frankie, and Peter. Robert was at the bar. I went over to say hello. Back when, Robert and Kurt shared a home in Key Haven. I met Robert through Kurt. Played golf on occasion with Robert. A long ball hitter. Robert bartends at the Tuna place off Duval. We spoke of Kurt who is now in Indianapolis.

Stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. Just briefly, I thought. Two hours before I left. Sat with Grant. We talked. about everything. It was the first time Grant and I have had the chance to chat so long. He is an interesting person.

It is Tuesday again. Time for my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine this evening. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. I will be ranting about the winds of revolt in Italy, McCain not having any business in Ukraine, the media and Iceland’s revolt, a woman who was operated on to remove a 40 year old fetus she had been carrying, some anti Saudi Arabia comments, and more.

Guaranteed you will enjoy.

Have a good day!

 

PAT CROCE

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Pat Croce has come into our lives.

I was babysitting for a couple of hours yesterday. When I went to pick up Robert and Ally, Robert showed me a book he had purchased earlier in the day at a garage sale for $1. The Pirate Handbook by Pat Croce. He is into pirates.

I asked 9 year old Robert if he knew who Jim Croce was. He did not. I proceeded to tell him about the Pirate Museum that no longer was, the Rum Barrel, Island Dogs, and the Green Parrot. He knew of the Rum Barrel having seen it while riding by. He knew not the other entities.

I explained who Pat Croce was. The Philadelphia 76ers, his entrepreneurial background. Robert was duly impressed.

We were going to lunch. We had earlier decided on the Ocean Key House deck. The grandkids enjoy sitting by the water at a colorful table under an equally colorful umbrella. Robert had the hot dog the last time we were there. Delicious! I had tasted it. Robert and I both wanted a hot dog. Ally never changes. A cheeseburger and French fries.

We discussed stopping at the Rum Barrel. The Ocean Key won out because of the hot dogs.

The Ocean Key House deck was a mistake. The hot dogs were nowhere as good as the last time. Robert and I looked at each other after our first bites. Bad! Robert finished all of his. I not even half. Ally of course put everything down. They are good eaters.

Our waitress irritated me. From the second we sat down, it was like she did not want us there. Cool. Showed us none of the cheerfulness she showed other customers. Robert and Ally both made mention that she did not like us. We needed more diet soda. Could not even get the waitress’ eye. Never the less, she was running around refilling free glasses of water at two tables near us.

We were customers, too! The grandkids and I discussed the situation. I explained to them she probably thought we would not be spending much money or looked like we were poor tippers. The situation quietly irritated me a bit. The three orders of fries cost $2.50 extra for each of us. The sodas were equally as expensive. No water for us. We were spending money!

My heart is always in the right place. I said nothing and left her a 20 per cent tip on a $53 bill.

We agreed we would not be returning soon. Not because of the waitress. We did not like the hot dogs.

We further agreed the next time it would be the Rum Barrel.

My afternoon was spent finishing this week’s KONK Life column. It is about Iceland’s revolution that had its beginnings in 2008. The one we never heard about. The thrust of the column is the U.S. mainstream media’s silence. Which I attribute to the mega corporations that own our TV, radio, newspaper and magazine outlets.

The column was a bit long. Detail was required that made it long. I had to cut it in half. A Part I this week and a Part II next week. Guy de Boer was going crazy over the phone. Too long to print!

I am still autographing books. My recently published one. The World Upside Down. An interesting experience.

The book is available on the internet in e book and soft cover paper back. Love the cover! Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and Absolutelyamazingebooks.com. The book makes for a thoughtful Christmas gift.

My blog talk radio show tomorrow night at 9. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Two things for certain I will be discussing. The winds of revolt in Italy and questioning why McCain was in Ukraine. He has become an irritating troublemaker.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

A WONDERFUL DINNER PARTY

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The dinner party I attended last night was one of the best. I have gone to many. This one turned out to be special. From the people to the food to the conversations.

Larry and Christine Smith were the hosts. The party at their lovely home. About 20 people. Christine dressed in season attire. A red dress and Santa cap. A  great hostess. The martini glasses were chilled. I was impressed.

There was one more hostess. Kathleen Peace. Kathleen is visiting and staying for a few days with Larry and Christine. Kathleen did the cooking. Everything tasty. Especially the best chicken I ever tasted which turned out not to be chicken. It was pork! At that point, I only had had one drink.

Kathleen prepared a special sauce. It would have made steak taste like chicken! She cooked the roast seven hours.

I was back at the buffet table for my second helping of the “chicken.” Kathleen was nearby. I told her the best chicken ever! What chicken, she asked. I pointed. She laughed. It’s pork!

John and Ali are visiting Key West once again. They come every year at this time for one month. They reside in Leeds, England. Great people.

Larry is getting along well. He can stand. He can walk with a cane. He is driving. Still in pain on occasion.

There came a time when there was only Larry, Don, and I sitting outside by the pool. Don and I had overstayed our welcome. Everyone else had left. The three of us were having a fun conversation. A lot of Roger Bell talk. I knew I should have left earlier when Kathleen came out of the kitchen and announced she was going to bed.

The party conflicted with the Christmas Boat Parade. I made the wise choice. As good  as the boat parade generally is, the party was much better.

I babysit today at noon. Lisa is going Christmas shopping for Robert and Ally. Gifts from Santa Claus. They still believe.

I never made it to the turtle event yesterday. A once very sick turtle now healthy was being returned to its natural habitat. The Atlantic. I did find out the turtle’s name. Hunter. The Turtle Hospital people want Hunter to go forth and make baby turtles. For real. It is the season.

Enjoy your Sunday!

KEY WESTERS MAD

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The Bill O’Reilly thing was the talk of the town yesterday. People were upset. Properly so. The Watters’ report was irresponsible and non representative.

The Key West Citizen ran a major article re the problem front page in yesterday’s paper. It turns out the Mayor was interviewed/filmed and pictures taken of typical Key West places of interest. Like an art gallery. Neither the Mayor nor the art gallery appeared in the film.

I spoke with two of the “stars.” Both felt they had been made to look like fools. They each claimed there was more to the interview that the brief comments shown. Their words had been supportive of  Key West. The feeling was that the portion shown represented slanted cherry picking on Watters’ part.

Time to bury Bill O’Reilly’s fifteen seconds in Key West. It is not worthy of further discussion.

Last night was Chart Room time. Peter and I sat at the round table and chatted for two hours. Peter is a smart man. A world traveler. We spoke of many things. I enjoyed my time with him.

Then it was over to Don’s Place. The O’Reilly thing dominated the conversation.

Yesterday morning was my TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. WOW! is the only way I can describe the reaction to the Iceland story. Some were shocked. Others believed that in today’s world such could happen.

I squeezed in an hour of private time for Louis in the afternoon. Stopped at Higgs Beach, pulled my old sand chair out of the trunk, and spent an hour on the beach. Taking in the usual beautiful sights…..women running around in two piece bikini/thong type bathing suits. Yes, I am a dirty old man. I like to look!

A very sick turtle was found more than a year ago in the keys. The poor thing had lockjaw and several infections. He was undernourished because he could not eat. The Turtle Hospital has fixed the turtle up. He is being returned to the ocean today at noon. At Higgs Beach behind Salute’s. A huge crowd is expected. I hope to be there. I am plan on taking the grandkids.

Enjoy your day!

 

I WAS ENGAGED TO HER !!!

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I spoke with Larry Smith yesterday morning on the phone. Asked if he knew Mary Angel Coploff. Her name had come up the night before at the Chart Room as being his friend.

Do I know her, Larry exclaimed! I was engaged to her!

It is a small world indeed. Mary lives in Pennsylvania. Larry told me not only are he and Mary still friends, her husband is one of his best friends!

Bocce party last night. Don’s Place. Strictly for the five teams that play their own competition during the bocce season. A side bet sort of thing. The best bocce party yet! Good company, good food. What more could be desired.

The sliced tenderloin was exceptionally good. David cooked it on an outdoor grill. I had two helpings.

Inside and out were packed with bocce partiers. Larry Smith showed up. He is doing good. He is now walking with the aid of a cane. His legs are straight. He had the worse case of bow leggedness I had ever seen!

Larry brought Kathleen Peace with him. Everyone loves Kathleen! Everyone misses her! She has moved to northern Florida. She is visiting Key West for the weekend.

I joined a health club yesterday afternoon. WeBeFit. It is located on First Street. In Doc Covan’s building. I can see my psychologist and trainer at one time. Joking, of course. Though I probably have always needed a psychiatrist/psychologist, never did it. doubt that I will at this age.

I start my actual workout on Tuesday. three days a week. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Hopefully, my body will become beautiful.

I am signing an increased number of the book each day. Humbling and interesting.

The book is The World Upside Down. By yours truly, Louis Petrone. It is available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Enjoy your day!