THEO ACCEPTS PAINTING COMMISSIONS

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!

BREASTS…..THE FEMALE KIND

I got eye strain last night. Bad!

I walked Duval from the Pier House to 801 and back. Naked breasts galore! Spray painted or with pasties. Some ladies even painted their privates.

It was a good night to be a man!

Sandy was still affecting Key West. Winds and a light rain. The winds are cut in half this morning. Down to 20 miles per hour. A few scattered clouds. White ones. Not gray or black. Palm trees no longer bending. Sun bright already.

The bullet missed us again. Fortuantely. I fear for those up north where ever Sandy hits. Sandy is a triple cocktail. The hurricane, a northeaster and an Artic cold front all coming together. A first! All three have never joined before. Even the experts are not sure how bad Sandy will be.

To my friends north of me, listen to what you are told to do. Get ready. Sandy will not be a joke once it hits.

I was enjoying doing the internet show yesterday morning. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Love doing it. About 35 minutes into the show, everything went crazy. A song came on. A 4.5 minute one. I good not get rid of it. I was alone in the studio. An engineer I am not. I assumed my face could still be seen. No voice, however. Just the music. I said screw it and waved good bye to everyone.

Though shorter than normal, the show did arouse significant interest with one topic. Sandy! Hurricanes are interesting and serious business.

After the show, I stopped at the Plantation Coffee House. Read the newspapers and enjoyed a coffee. The place was packed. Fantasy Fest. Sandy also helped get people into Plantation. The dark clouds and rain kept visitors off the beaches.

Diane was working. Swift and hard. Lovely as usual. She must have gotten sun earlier in the week. What a tan!

Ally telephoned while I was at the Coffee House. No school yesterday because of Sandy. Poppa, will you take me and Robert to lunch at the new Five Guys? Of course. What else would I say. I was pleased she asked.

We have a new Five Guys in Key West. A big one. In the Winn-Dixie Plaza. Real big! Packed. It was lunch time. The line about 20 deep at all times. Moved fast, however. There is twice the staff as the one at Truman and Duval.

We each had a small bacon cheeseburger and a cheese hot dog. Robert and Ally said they were still hungry after downing the burgers so we tried the hot dogs. These grandkids of mine have healthy appetites!

My evening started at the Chart Room. Emily working. These are big nights for her. Peter and Ollie there also. Chatted a bit with each.

Then I took the trek down Duval where my eyes were hanging out of my head. Evryone in a festive mood. Some in wheel chairs. Some of the ladies in the chairs proudly exhibiting their twin sisters. Good for them, I thought!

I was hungry. It was back to the Pier House for me. I ate at the Wine Galley. Enjoyed Larry Smith while dining. A good crowd in the Wine Galley. Mostly locals. Exchanged a lot of hugs and hellos.

The parade tonight. Fifty to 60 floats participating. Tomorrow’s newspaper will tell us 80,000 people watched the parade. I believe the figure. Key West will be busting at the seams tonight. The parade is the big event of Fantasy Fest.

I wonder every year where they all sleep. There are not 80,000 rooms in Key West. Not even 40,000. If you drive half way up the keys, like 60 miles, there are still not enough rooms. Some will sleep on the beaches. Some in their cars and vans. Where do the rest go? The question perplexes me every year.

Enjoy your day!

CHAMONIX…..$20 HOT DOGS

There is news regarding Greece this morning.

The Greek government has proposed further pay and pension cuts. Part of the austerity program to help Greece pay back the euro monies loaned them. Germany being the primary lender, the bank in effect.

This will be the third pay and pension cuts the Greek people have experienced because of the loans.

As I have indicated many times, the Greek people will not stand for what is happening to them too long. Imagine Washington cutting your salary by one third and taking a portion of your pension. Futher, appreciate that the Greek government is not as here in the United States. We get mad at Washigton, say bad things about our legislators, etc. Most Greeks in government are outright thieves, however. The Greek people know it and are at the point of saying screw you!

I was in Greece this summer when demonstrations occurred. In the past twenty four hours, there have been riots.

As we slept, the Greeks began a 24 hour protest. An anti austerity protest. Greece is closed down at the moment. People not working and so forth. The people are demonstrating in the streets. Thousands of them. Four thousand additional police have benn called to control the riots. Molotov cocktails have been thrown.

I visted France on my European trip. Only two days. Only one town. Chamonix. Chamonix is also known as Chamonix Mont Blanc.

Italy and France connect via the Mont Blanc Tunnel. 11 km. A magnificent piece of construction. An architectural masterpiece. Well maintained. Beautiful views on either side. A half hour car drive Courmayeur to Chamonix.

Chamonix was the home of the first winter Olympics in 1924. It is a sking mecca. A tourist haven. Five million tourists a year visit. The normal population is 10,000.

I found Chamonix pleasing to the eye. Beautiful buildings. Many small attractive shops. Many outdoor cafes. Lovely restaurants.

I did not like the French people. Snobs. Even the merchants. Could care less about visitors. Tourists were not treated as they are treated in Key West, another tourist mecca.

My first day in Chamonix was the same day that I woke to an August snow storm in Courmayeur. It was cold and rainy when I arrived. Long pants time. Layered clothing.

I have only two photos of Chamonix. Besides me, each shows the buildings and beauty of Chamonix.

I had lunch in the restaurant behind me in the first photo. Very nice appearing. Because of the rain, I ate inside. Lovely. Comfortable.

The menu was in French. No English sub titles as I was accustomed to on the trip. What to do? I scanned the menu and recognized an item. Sausage and potatoes. In French, of course. I pointed to it on the menu. The waitress took my order.

When the meal arrived, it consisted of two boiled hot dogs and french fries. I called the waitress over. A mistake. No, she said. You ordered sausage and potatoes. She pointed to it in French on the menu. Turns out the French word sausage means hot dogs.

The manager came over. I explained the error. No sympathy. No let me get you something else. Note that the two boiled hot dogs and french fries cost $20.

I am a grandfather. I have eaten boiled hot dogs before. So I said what the hell!

I did request ketchup. For the french fries. Another tragedy! The waitress was insulted as she told me…..We are a French restaurant! No ketchup.

I enjoyed my lunch. I would not let the situation spoil my day. It was my fault anyhow. I should know how to read a French menu.

Yesterday was a lot of nothing. Enough to keep me busy, however. A haircut with Lori. Coffee and the papapers at the Plantation Coffee House. Diane and Theo working. Nice people. Back to home where I worked on friday’s internet show.

Published an article on Amazon Kindle. Hooversville, Hoover Blankets, Hoover Soup.

Hoover was a millionaire and a humanitarian. He headed the massive relief program after World War I to feed the starvinbg Europeans. He was much respected. Hoover became President in 1928. The big deprerssion hit in 1929. People were sleeping on the streets covered with newspapers, eating in soup kitchens, losing their homes, hurting big time. The federal government did not help. Hoover believed public monies should not be used to help the people. He refused to provide federal relief funds. He publically stated that people had to get out of the hole they were in without public assistance. Their problems were not a federal concern.

Tough.

I compared the sitaution then to now. Though not as bad, we are experieincing difficult economic times. I compared Hoover and Romney. Two men from similar backgrounds. Birds of a feather philosophically.

Dinner was late. At the Town ‘N Country in the Marriott Beachside. Wednesday night there is a deal. At the end of your meal, the manager flips a coin. If you call it correctly, the meal is on him. I called it correctly. Heads. My prime rib was free.

It rained all night. It is raining this morning. Overcast. Much thunder. Some lightning.

Today is thursday. Bocce night. Will we be able to play?

Remember…..The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Tomorrow morning. Friday. Ten, my time. World wide. On the internet. www.konknet.com/tv/personalities.

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!