SWIM MEET THIS MORNING

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Big morning! Robert and Ally are participating in their first competitive swim race. At the college. Lisa said they were up at 5:30 all excited. I will be there!

Yesterday, the show! The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Went well. I love doing the show and that may contribute to its success. I especially enjoy doing it live on television.

Two topics received the most post show comment.

One was the report that soon smart phones and tablets will be operated by the eyes. Impressive!

The other had to do with camera and microphones being built into TV sets. The purpose is so others can watch us as we watch TV. To help advertisers decide what we like. Beware! One major TV manufacturer has already dione it with certain of its 2012 models. Quietly and unbeknownst to the American public.

Yesterday was December 7. Pearl Harbor.

It bothers me that in recent years more is not made of the day. We cannot forget. We should not forget. The best tribute I could find yesterday was the movie Tora Tora Tora on Turner Classics.

Pearl Harbor galvanized America. It educated a generation that would never have seen college. Many your grandfathers and fathers. The education created a previous non existent middle class. Finally, the day eventually led to a prosperity the Nation had never known.

It was announced yesterday that the US Supreme Court was going to hear the same sex marriage issue. Finally.

I am concerned with the possible result. The Court has four conservative Justices and four Liberal ones. An even split in the anticipated vote. The remaining Justice swings both ways. Justice Kennedy. I have been saying for two years that I am fearful Kennedy will vote the wrong way. With the conservatives. Defeating same sex marriage.

I could be wrong.

The way around the problem is for one of the Justices to resign or pass on. Then Obama would get to name the replacement. Undoubtedly a liberal and a vote for same sex marriage.

Yesterday was a lot of nothing that kept me busy all day. A manicure with Tammy. A walk starting at Square One and going through the Southernmost and Reach and then back to Square One. Wrote next week’s article for KONK Life. Worked on my new radio show. The Key West Lou Blog Talk Radio Show. The radio show kicks off at 7 in the morning on Tuesday, December 18. Join me. A half hour talk show. Listeners can call in.

Directions as to how to find the blog radio show will follow soon.

Time to shower and head over to the college. A proud grandfather morning ahead!

Enjoy your day!

THEO ACCEPTS PAINTING COMMISSIONS

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Sandyy a WOW!

I was hooked on the storm. Stayed in last night glued to the TV. Went to bed. Could not sleep. I was up all night following the storm.

What can I say? What can anyone say? A major disaster. Most people seem to be handling the storm effectively from the President to local fire fighters.

I was particularly impressed with New Jersey’s Governor Christie. He was on the front lines. On TV last night, he was soaking wet from the rain. I am beginning to think he is a class guy. He gave President Obama credit for his help thus far. No politics here. One responsible person helping another. A responsible person acknowledging the help.

Apparently, Atlantic City’s Mayor Langford screwed up. He told Atlantic City residents not to evacuate. Instead, he sent them to shelters. Christie was pissed off big time at the Mayor’s action.

There are many stories coming to our attention this morning on a rapid basis.

One spoke tons about Sandy’s strength. Sandy picked up railroad box cars from a siding and dumped them on the New Jersey Turnpike. Christie said cranes were working this morning to lift them off the highway.

Key West has a reputation for hurricanes. In my time here, I have never seen anyuthing to compare to Sandy. The last big time destructive hurricane was the category 5 1935 one which leveled Key West.

I did get out and about a bit yesterday.

Started with a noon manicure at Lee Nails. Love Tammy! Her poor husband was walking around with a soft cast on the bottom half of his leg. He broke the leg. Tammy said he got up off a chair and had pain. Turned out to be a fracture.

Walked Smathers Beach a bit. Then sat on one of the benches facing the ocean. Nothing but blue water as far as the eyes could see. Turned into soul searching time for me.

Then to the Plantation Coffee House. I like the place. Comfortable. Relaxing. Good people running it. Diane and Theo.

Diane was working when I arrived. No Theo. A little later I was sitting on the porch reading when Theo came up the steps. He was carrying a painting. About 3′ x 4′. It was of a Key West home. I told him how terrific it looked. I also asked who painted it. Turns out it was Theo. I did not know he painted. The painting was a commission. His first. He was excited. Diane was excited.

If any of you are considering a commissioned piece, check with Theo. Excellent work reasonably priced.

I spent part of the afternoon writing. First for friday’s internet show. Then did this week’s KONK Life article. Different Strokes For Different Countries. A take off on different strokes for different folks. Involved Greece, Italy, China, and the United States.

Busy day ahead for me. Jenna coming over at 1:30 to work with me. Then Sloan at 5. Hopefully, I will get out tonight.

Enjoy your day!

DATE NIGHT…..LISA AND ME

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A terrific Sunday morning! Sun, sky and water magnificent! A God is in His Heaven, all is right with the world morning.

Did a noon visit yesterday with Tammy at Lee Nail’s. Needed a manicure. The place bustling with customers. I was glad I had an appoinment. I think I am the only customer who is not asked to pick out a color upon arriving.

Afterwards visited with Lisa for a while.

Dinner last night was a big deal! A date was daughter Lisa. Just me and her. Tavern ‘N Town. A long slow meal. No pressures or distractions.

Lisa insisted on paying the bill. I let her. A thoughtful end to what had already been a very pleasant evening.

Bobby Nesbitt was performing at Tavern ‘N Town. An added pleasure.

I was home early. Before nine. I had no desire to drive into town. The construction is a pain in the butt.

Donna and Terri were sitting outside. We chatted a bit. They are in the process of moving to Los Angeles. They are in Key West to get their furniture out of storage. Then to New York City to empty their apartment out there. Finally the drive cross country to Los Angeles. They are driving the van themselves. One in the car and one in the van. Unless they decide to hook the car to the back of the van. Going to be a hell of a trip!

Once Donna and Terri are settled in in their new apartment in L.A., they have to hop a plane to Germany. Terri is performing two evenings with a German Symphony.

Sloan will be here at 10:30 this morning. I hope we will be able to conclude our work re the trip pictures.

Tonight is Donna and Terri night. They are my guests at the Yacht Club.

Enjoy your Sunday!

ALMOST GOT A TICKET

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Hogfish for lunch yesterday. A Cuban sandwich. Good! First time I had one there. Read the newspapers.

There were very few people. I could not understand why. Then it hit me. Owner Billy Mangello opened a pizza parlor this week three blocks away on Stock Island. Everyone had to be there. The waitress agreed with me.

As I was turning onto MacDonald Road, I improperly cut around a tourist bus. I did wrong. Within seconds I heard the siren. A motorcycle officer pulled me over.

I immediately said…..I know I am wrong…..I got tired of waiting for the bus to move.

The officer and I chatted a bit. I reiterated once more I was wrong.

He was a gentleman. Gave me a warning. Told me he saved me $260 and 3 points. He told me I was wrong, but that the bus driver was slow to move. That he was in training to be a bus driver.

I lucked out.

Robert and Ally were in the pool when I returned home. With Corey’s father, Curtis. Grandmother Karen was sitting nearby. They are visitng for a couple of days.

Needed a pedicure. The last time I had one was on Mykonos. The day I got hit by the car.

I enjoy Tammy’s company. Nothing gets by her. She knew Jenna and I had been out together Saturday night. Jenna is her customer, also.

Worked on Friday’s internet show. The key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 am my time worldwide. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

Some interesting topics. Like the woman who tried to break into jail, babysitters averaging more than twice the minimum wage, a reason not to hide cash in the oven, woman who got butt injection with cement died / the person giving the injection charged with manslaughter, and You Tube nailing a speeder.

Plus, a run away camel on a Dubai highway, gay voters a significant block, the recent Greek election and media reports, the Postal crisis, a person pursued by police hides in a septic tank, Brazilian court orders Chevron to stop drilling or face a fine of $244 million a day, Columbus leaving Spain’s Paloa for the Indies, the first day ever opening of the Saratoga race track, and more.

A good show in the making.

Sloan visited me in the evening. We worked on the 600 pictures of my trip. We have them down to 100 for the proposed epilogue.

I thought I was done with the dentist last week. After 1.5 years. I was wrong. I am not. Have pain. Big pain. I have a 9:30 appoinment this morning for another adjustment.

Enjoy your day!

DAY 21

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Today could be the most significant day in history since the close of World War II. The Greek elections are being held.

The issue boils down to whether the Greeks want to continue operating with the euro as money or would they prefer a return to the drachma. I have talked with many since I arrived in Greece. I am getting divergent opinions.

Yes, I saw grown men and women spit on the ground when they heard Merkle’s name at a protest rally in Athens. That is not all of it however. I have found the bankers and very affluent support continuing with the euros. Why not. They are doing terrific under it. Making money!.

Then there are the small businessmen. They are struggling. They want a return to the drachma like yesterday. They also want out of the European Union.

Then come the people. The Jims and Janes on the streets. Those going to work every day to put food on the table. They feel the oppression of the euro. But I suspect they will not vote in large numbers. They claim it is too late. The Mafia is controlling everything.

I find it surprising that people still revert to the Italian wrongdoers of old to blame. I think they do not really mean Mafia per se. What I sense is that they believe that government has been bought by big business. Believing that, I suspect most will not vote. Simply because they believe their votes will mean nothing. The banks and big business will control in the end no matter who wins.

Sense a similarity with the USA?

Germany could ease the pressure. Germany is making money with the euro. Germany has become in effect the banker for the rest of the euro nations. Which includes Greece.

Germans as a people tend to be anal. Black and white. By the book. Greeks on the other hand go with the flow. They take everything in stride. Are not as serious about things as they probably should be. Like money.

Germany is in a position of power. The third time they have so been in less than 100 years. The Kaiser in 1914 and Hitler in l939 were two instances. Germany felt it was omnipotent. Two world wars resulted.

This Germany/Greece thing is a war that is erupting. Except this time it is with money instead of bullets. Each can have a devastating effect. This euro thing can result in a world wide recession of a sort never before experienced.

I have a suspicion. It is based on what I have experienced and read over the past three weeks. I believe the euro people will win. Why? Because they will vote. They are doing well as indicated hereinbefore under the euro. The people on the street appear to have already given up. They will not turn out in the numbers necessary to throw out the euro and return to the drachma.

I cannot wait till later tonight to see if I have called this correctly.

The trip caught up with me yesterday. I have been at this three weeks. All of a sudden I was tired. Dead tired.

I walked into town and had lunch. Something I have not done since arriving. I then sat in the shade at the sidewalk cafe where I had lunched and watched the world walk by.

Eventually, I got back to my hotel. And my bed. I slept the afternoon away.

I was still tired when I woke. Opted to remain at my hotel and dine in its dining room. Glad I did. A great meal! The service unusually spectacular. I am staying at a small hotel. I have gotten to know everyone. This was the first time they had the opportunity to show me what they could do. They wanted to show me, to please me.

And please me they did! I won’t go through all the specifics, except to relate that the meal was heavy with tomatoes, olives, cheeses and oil. Dessert was a Greek chremboule. Two gins. Beefeater. One of the few places in Mykonos that stocks it. And a shot of something after dinner on the house.

I could not thank them enough.

I was up and out early this morning. Needed a manicure and pedicure desperately. The last ones were more than 3 weeks ago.

I had to walk up the highway about a quarter of a mile. A beautiful salon for nails and massages in a small strip mall. I was their first customer. Everyone sitting around. Ergo, I had three ladies working on me at one time. One on the toes and the other two each had a hand a piece.

A good job! I was pleased.

I asked them if they had voted. They said no. I asked if they were going to vote. They said no. Why, I asked. Mafia!

Not a bright response, but that is the way it is. Again, I have heard that same response many times over the past three weeks.

Now for the fun part of this morning.

I got hit by a car.

There are no sidewalks. The driving lanes are narrow. Drivers speed constantly. The only place for pedestrian traffic is on the edges of the road.

I was in an area that had a three foot stone wall running on both sides of the highway. Between the road edge and the wall was two feet. No more.

I was casually walking down the road against traffic. Staying in my little two feet. All of a sudden this guy came around a curve. There was no oncoming traffic. He had a good fifty feet after the curve to see me. He never tried to avoid me. He clipped my right arm with his passenger door mirror. I went flying over the wall. I looked up to see the car speed away. The driver had to feel the impact and hear its sound. The thud was loud.

I was concerned. The last thing I want is to be sick in a foreign country. There was no one around who saw or could help me. I eventually got up. My right arm beneath the elbow was sore. As was the right side of my neck.

I walked back to my hotel with no difficulty. It has been about two hours since the event and all I am experiencing is pain in the two areas I complained about. I lucked out.

So far on this trip I have survived three earthquakes and one auto accident.

I still have three weeks to go.

A beach day again today. Paradise Beach. The one two days ago was Super Paradise Beach. Two separate beaches. One old, one new. I am going to the older one today.

Enjoy your day! And be careful as you walk.

DAY 6

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Greece is a time bomb waiting to explode.

The people are unhappy. The financial crisis is choking them.

Economics is the topic of conversation everyday. Expressed with increased vehemence each day.

Riots around the corner. Protests already. The situation a tinderbox ready to ignite.

I was on my way to the Metro Underground beneath the plaza in front of Parliament yesterday. Thousands of people walk the plaza hourly. In one corner near the entrance to the Metro, several young people were carrying signs. One was talking into a loudspeaker.

Speaking Greek, of course. I neither speak nor understand the language.

About 50 persons milling about listening. I mingled in the crowd. I was able to pick up the gist of the protest from comments made by onlookers. Economics. The euro.

Listeners aroused. The name Merkle caused several to spit on the ground.

Recently, Greece had an election. Neither the left nor right obtained enough votes to control the government. So the Greek Parliament is floating along. The country in limbo.

A new election is scheduled some time in June.

Italy’s former Prime Minster Berlusconi announced yesterday the unless Germany backed off the euro, Italy should return to the lira. Germany appears the only European nation benefitting from the euro. The Greeks and Italians dislike the Germans. They feel Germany is being hard ass about doing something corrective regarding the economy. Whatever might be done would not be to the financial benefit of Germany.

Beware. I sense bad days ahead. Keep in mind that we live in a global world. Whatever happens in Greece and elsewhere affects us in the United States.

I spent 3 hours doing yesterday’s blog. I sat in one position and typed for the three hours. When I finished, my legs from my knees to my ankles were full of fluid. I went back to my room, took a fluid pill and lay on the bed three hours till the problem was relieved. Today I am getting up and moving about on occasion as I write.

I took the Metro Underground. It is a subway. I have not been on a subway since my senior year in college in New York City. 1957.

The purpose of taking the Metro was to visit Acropolis and the Parthenon. Way up a hill. Better to ride to than walk. One stop on the Metro.

A problem. The Metro Acropolis stop was still at least a mile from the entrance. An uphill walk. At a constant 30 degree angle. In the boiling sun.

Not my cup of tea. I had to stop not several times, but many times to sit and rest. As I sat, many passed me by going to the top. Many  older than I. Some obviously infirmed. While Louis sat, they marched.

The first part of the return trip was a problem also. The initial path down was of marble. Huge irregular blocks. Slippery. Small cuts in the marble to minimize the sliding factor. I slid, did not fall. It was not easy.

The trip was worth it. I was a part of history during the time I was on top. Acropolis, the Parthenon and other smaller temples. The most stimulating factor for me was the realization that all I saw was constructed BEFORE Christ. Way before.

Acropolis was a temple to the Gods. The most exciting feature of the Parthenon the columns.

The smaller temples had columns also. However, they were copies. Some time back, there was a violent earthquake. The columns could not handle the movement. To protect them from a future abuse by nature, they were removed and replaced. The originals sit in a museum at a point down the hill.

Two generationally different fat cats responsible for much of what has been done. Pericles back in the 400s BC. The Rockefeller Foundation in recent times.

All the buildings are fragile. Thousands of years old. Modern man is constantly working to preserve that which was. There are scaffolds and cranes every where.

There had to be a topping on the cake after such a glorious walk back in history. It came in the evening. Dinner at Dionysus Restaurant.

Dionysus sits at the foot of the historical mountain. About a mile away. It is a huge outdoor restaurant. Top self. Great lamb. Greater view. Expensive. Worth it.

There in front of my eyes on top of the hill sat the Acropolis and Parthenon. All brightly lite. Awe inspiring. The viewing emotional.

Traditionally Dionysus was the God of the grape harvest. He was also known as Bacchus. Party boy! Festivals galore!

Did I sleep last night? Finally! The first full night’s sleep since starting this trip. I hope the jet lag is behind me.

Today is my last in Athens. Tomorrow I leave for Santorini. I still have not danced nor thrown dishes around. Hopefully tonight. There is a little Zorba in each of us.

Yesterday was Ally’s birthday. Seven years old. I forgot. I will Skype her later and make up for it. I selected a birthday gift for her before I left and gave it to her. So I am only half bad in forgetting.

I know not what today holds. Whatever, it will be good. I am in a place where it cannot be bad. And tonight….hopefully dancing and dish breaking.

Enjoy your day!

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It is a lovely morning here in Key West! Sun bright! Water blue! Just enough breeze!

Lisa called me to come over to lunch yesterday. While there the grandkids wanted to play cards with me. Crazy 8s! I think I have finally learned the game.

I played each of them separately. Figured I could win at least one game. Good luck! First, Ally whipped me! Then, Robert! And I was trying!

Robert did a victory dance afterwards. He was stomping on my beaten bones!

Last night I was out early. Around 6.

Stopped first at the Chart Room. The hsitory of the place is compelling! You can feel it every time you are there.

Initially the bartender and I were the only locals. Only tourists at the bar.

The conversation by the tourists centered itself on the recent news reports that the City Commission was seriously considering a clothing optional beach. The tourists were all for it.

Apparently there are many communities in Florida that have clothing optional beaches. It must be remembered that the only industry in Key West is tourism. Many of our visitors come from Europe where such activity is commonplace and permitted without a second thought.

The Commission is considering Higgs Beach for the location. Located behind the West Martello Fort, it is a perfect palce.

A couple of guests houses maintain clothing optional pool areas. For guests only, however.

For many years Atlantic Shores was the clothing optional place in Key West. Part of a motel complex, the nudity was in the back on the ocean. The area was a gold mine! Packed every day! Outsiders were permitted. So if history is any measure, there is a market for such a beach!

Atlantic Shores got torn down a couple of years ago and replaced by a modern upscale hotel complex. With no clothing optional facitility!

Catain Peter and Marty showed up. We decided to eat at the Wine Galley.

Larry Smith was playing. Other locals were there.

We had a light dinner at the bar.

Mary Deasy talked to me for a while. I have not seen her in several weeks. Mary is in Facebook. I joined about 3 weeks ago. Mary and I have become “friends” on Facebook.

I joined to get more exposure with this blog. It worked! I have already increased my reading public by more than 1,000 hits a day! Amazing!

I only had one drink last night. A good boy am I! However it hit me! I was feeling good! So I stopped after one and went home. I was in bed by 9:30. It seems I am getting to bed earlier and earlier. I am beginning to wonder if it is part of the aging process!

Today is Sunday. I enjoy Sundays. I look upon Sundays as a time to nuture my body and soul. You do likewise, also!