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!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

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What a difference a day makes.

Yesterday morning the TV news, TV talk shows, and internet news were bombarding us with a $5.5 billion default by the U.S. Postal Agency within 24 hours. This morning nothing. Not on TV. Only a brief back page article on the internet.

The Post Office is still going to default. At midnight tonight. The government does not seem concerned. The default will not affect the day to day operations of the Post Office. Congress goes into recess Friday for the month of August. Congress takes the position that the problem can await resolution till it returns in September.

A disgrace! An example of Congressional irresponsibility! First in passing the 2006 law that primarily created this postal crisis. Second, in failing to timely correct the problem.

Whatever happened to pride. This is an agency of the United States government. There should be no waiting. The problem should be resolved now instead of four weeks plus from now. The Washington genius’ know what they are going to do. They should do it now and avoid embarassing the government.

I am beginning to think that not paying bills on time is no longer considered an item of shame. If the U.S. governemnt can do it, why not the people. The economy would really fail if everyone payed their bills one month late.

I walked yesterday morning. In the blistering humidity. My tee shirt soaking wet when I finished.

Then to the Plantation Coffee House. No coffee. A bottle of cold water. Diane working. I also had one of her blueberry muffins. She bakes them herself. Delicious.

I was getting ready to leave the house last night for the Chart Room when Dotti called. She has recently returned from Mexico.

Meet me at the Commodore and I will buy you dinner, she said. OK by me. Rarely does anyone purchase my dinner. Especially a beautiful lady.

I met Dotti at the Commodore a half hour later. We drank, ate and laughed. Dotti is an old friend from Key West who married and ran off to Mexico to live several years ago.

It has been at least four years since I dined at the Commodore. The food was terrific! Better than I remembered it. I enjoyed a delicious prime rib. I plan on returning soon.

I rarely get to the end of Front street where the Commodore is located. It is only two blocks from the Chart Room, but out of the way. Front Street dead ends at the Commodore.

There has been much talk of late of the Boathouse. Everyone has told me it is near the Commodore. The Boathouse has become a new and exciting place to drink and eat. I had never been there nor seen it.

Turns out the Boathouse is directly under the Commodore. Boathouse first floor, Commodore second floor.

What a lovely place! Made for the oceanfront. It sits on the ocean. Open aired. The place was packed. Looked like fun. I must try it soon.

Donna and Terri have been here since late afternoon Sunday. I rarely see them. Our bodies operate on different time schedules. I have seen Terri for a total of 30 seconds. Donna 5 minutes. Show biz people!

Two major figures passed on in the past 48 hours. Tony Martin and Gore Vidal.

Tony Martin was 98. A popular singer in the 1940s and 1950s. Married to two different Hollywood stars. First the singer Alice Faye. Then the dancer Cyd Charisse.

I remember and enjoyed Martin’s movies. All good time happy ending ones.

Gore Vidal was 86. A novelist, playwrite, and political commentator. He was often described as a political troublemaker. He called them as he saw them! He was a non conformist and controversial. More of his irritating type are needed in today’s world.

May they both rest in peace.

Enjoy your day!

SCREWED AGAIN!

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Bend over folks. It is happening again. The American people are being screwed.

I apologize for the descriptive words used. However, I want there to be no doubt about what is about to be reported.

TV, the radio and newspapers will be redundant today with the announcement of the possible failure of the U.S. Post Office. The Post Office has a $5.5 billion payment due wednesday and a $5.6 billion payment due in September. It will not be able to meet either. Unless of course there is a Congressional bailout.

How did this crisis come about?

There is no question e mails, Federal Express and other new methods of communication have had their effect on the Post Office. But not to the extent as another cause. The major cause!

The Republican Congress in 2006 passed legislation that Bush 2 signed into law. It was the Postal Accountability & Enhancement Act. It requires the United States Postal Agency to pay $103.7 billion into a fund. The purpose of the fund was to pay health benefits of Postal retirees for seventy five years. You read it correctly! The law compels the post office to prepay retiree health benefits for seventy five years.

As such, the law requires the prefunding for people not yet even in the employ of the Postal Service. Perhaps not yet even born.

The most egregious part of the legislatioon is the time frame within which the $103.7 billion is to be paid. Payment is accelerated. It has to be paid in full by 2016. That means within ten years of its becoming law.

What went on in the back rooms of Congress and the White House, I do not know. How such stringent legislation could be passed is difficult to comprehend.

What happened?

Whatever it is, it is happening all over again. It is one surprise after another.

What I am about to express is not a political statement. Rather it is fact.

The American public has been caught sleeping again. Just as it was when Republican power deregulated banking rules which assisted the mortgage crisis to occur, fight Obamacare which would provide health care to most Americans, and got us into an ill conceived war in Iraq. The same Republican Party that is attempting in several states to cut the pensions of public employees.

Bottom line. The present postal problem is a Congressionally created deficit approved by President Bush only six years ago. It was lunacy to assume such a large 75 year obligation could be funded in full in ten years. Or maybe not lunacy. More like they did not care. Or maybe were not paying attention.

Before this day is out, the Republicans will be shouting that the plan was self funding. It payed for itself. Smoke and mirrors. It was a gigantic give away that has blown up in everyone’s face. Sooner than anyone conceived.

I was going to get into the price of gasoline this morning. A gallon of regualr has dropped $.20 in one week. Good. But how? Normally it moves the other way. Upwards and more expensive.

My day yesterday was good. Blossom’s for lunch. Cuban cheese toast and coffee. Watched the Olympics with the grandkids. Wrote in the afternoon and evening. Never got out.

Pay attention today as this postal crisis develops.

Enjoy your day!

MY SUNDAY

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I cannot say yesterday was busy. It just moved along at a slow steady pace.

It was Sunday. Sundays are meant to move slowly.

I was up early. For no particular reason. Did a little research.

Sloan came by. We spent three hard hours working. From getting my new print machine to talk to the computer to further organizing the trip pictures.

My afternoon was spent in front of the TV watching the Olympics. Upsets were in the air.

Lisa showed up with Robert and Ally to swim.

Dinner last night at the Yacht Club with Lisa, Robert and Ally. It was Spanish night. Lamb! Excellent! As was the chicken.

After dinner, I stopped at Don’s Place. Chatted with Rob, Erika and Herschel. Herschel into day 2 of no smoking. He was hypnotized two days earlier. Herschel looked a bit worse for wear. He said he felt alright. It appeared to me the nicotine deprivation was taking its toll.

Toni was at the bar. She thanked me for the day by day rendition of the trip. Said she read every one. With a map at hand.

Published another article on Amazon Kindle. Under Key West Lou Law. The title: No respect For Women. The two culprits Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.

Hannity recently had a black man on his show that said the root of America’s problems today result from women having the right to vote. Would you believe!

Limbaugh does not like NOW. He has started sort of an opposition organization. Rich Babes For America. Note he refers to the membership as “babes.”

If you are a memebr of Amazon Kindle, read the article. It is interesting and stimulating. If not a memeber, join. Only $.99 a month. I receive $.33 of that amount. I should publish a book about how to get rich by writing!

They are here! Donna and Terri arrived last night. Never saw them. They arrived while I was sleeping. They are still sleeping this morning.

Enjoy your day!

A SUMMER SATURDAY IN KEY WEST

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Lisa had given me my marching orders. I was babysitting for a couple of hours Saturday morning so she could get her hair done.

Robert and Ally were waiting for me. I told them Pepe’s or Harpoon Harry’s for breakfast. They had never been to Pepe’s and were a bit reluctant to go. I said…..you must go. We went. No room at the inn. I did not want to stand on the sidewalk waiting for a table. We walked down the street to Harpoon Harry’s.

Robert and Ally were comfortable there. They had been to Harpoon Harry’s many times. We had a long slow breakfast. Talked of many things important to children. Like Disney World. I asked if they knew Bugs Bunny. They did. I told them how Friday was his birthday. He was born on July 27, 1940. His first film came out. Wild Hare. I explained to them what a hare was.

Returned the grandkids to Lisa. Went directly home. Worked about three hours writing. Tried to do it outside. Could not. Too humid. Exceptionally humid. Worked inside in the comfort of air conditioning.

Needed a break. Drove to the Plantation Coffee House. Enjoyed a cup of coffee and read the newspapers.

When I returned home, Lisa and the grandkids were in the pool.

Jenna and I went out together last night. My date!

Jenna had not seen me since my return from Europe. My beard blew her out. She liked it.

We hit the Chart Room first. JJ, Frankie and Che there. Jenna and I did not communicate much with them. She was interested in my trip. It consumed our time at the Chart Room.

Dinner was at the bar at Michael’s. Suzette bartending. I had the veal chop special. To die for. Jenna had the coconut shrimp appetizer. Jenna is a cheap date. She does not eat.

We had a good time at Michael’s. Besides the trip, Jenna brought me up to date on her activities as a TV anchor.

I dropped Jenna off after dinner and headed over to Don’s Place. It was next to empty. Kurt bartending. We chatted a bit.

Erika and Herschel were shooting pool. Herschel had been hypnotized earlier in the day. He is trying to stop smoking. It might work. He snuck a puff or two afterwards and upchucked.

Sloan is due later in the morning. I have a lot of catching up to do.

Tonight the bands will play and the drums roll. Donna and Terri are returning. They will be my house guests for ten days.

Enjoy your Sunday!

SUNDAY, SUNDAY…..

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Yesterday was Sunday.

I was lazy till mid afternoon. Stayed in bed watching the British Open and then a movie.

Ernie Els won the British Open. I was pleased for him. He has had a difficult time the past few years. He is on the downward spiral of his career. Then from out of the blue, he wins a major championship!

I thought Tiger Woods might do what Els did. However, Tiger faded as the day went on.

Poor Adam Scott. Played fantastic golf for 3 days and 14 holes. Then the world fell in on him! I suspect he choked. It happens. He bogeyed the last 4 holes.

Els’ demonstrated the champion he was when he sunk a 15 foot birdie putt on the last hole to tie Scott.

It was an early dinner at the Yacht Club. Lisa and the family joined me. First time I had seen Robert since he returned. He enjoyed it all! He told me about his first baseball game watching the Marlins play, swimming with the dolphins again, and bacon.

Lisa is fanatic about what she feeds her children. Little meat. Turkey bacon. None of that fatty greasy stuff.

Robert had bacon every morning at camp. Real bacon. He acquired a taste for it. Went to the salad bar twice last night to refill his plate with bacon pieces.

Ally was wearing the dress I bought her in Navaro. Long and white. Beautiful. An angel.

It was Chinese night. Everything was brought to the table family style. Robert demonstrated something else he did for the first time at camp. He ate with chop sticks. Clumsily, but he did it. With no fanfare. He picked them up and started eating. Never said to anyone that he knew how.

I expect Robert and Ally here at any moment. I am babysitting today. I am taking them to Five Guys for lunch. Bacon cheeseburgers. Robert will go wild!

Stopped at the Chart Room for a drink. A good crowd. JJ, David, Captain Peter and Frankie. I was amazed. These guys were talking about Paula Deen. They all knew of her and watched her Food Network shows. David ran into her at Fausto’s and exchanged a brief pleasantry with her.

Deen cooks Southern style. Lots of butter. The Chart Room group talked about her appearance on Oprah. Oprah asked/told Deen….. all that butter, isn’t it unhealthy. Deen replied…..I am a cook, not a doctor.

She was here for the Hemingway Look Alike Contest. Her husband Michael Groover was entered. He did not win. No shame. There were 139 other contestants. My friend Hemingway Hank did not win either. He was a finalist for the ninth time.

I was not aware that Paula Deen was known to so many. I find it interesting that her cooking show has so many viewers from all walks of life. The whole world watches her!

Then to the movies. Tropic Cinema. Wanted to see To Rome With Love. Do not bother going. I was disappointed in the film. It never came together.

Roberto Benigni was in the film. He is the Italian actor that won the Academy Award for Best Actor about ten years ago. He was the only good thing in a film which had many big stars.

Besides Benigni, there was a part of the film that excited me. Benigni was a white collar worker. He and his family lived in a nice apartment in a typical Italian building. In one scene, Benigni walks out the front door of the building and is overwhelmed by the press. In the background is a clothesline with clothes hanging to dry on it. A first floor clothesline.

The same type clothesline I saw in every part of Italy I visited. Clotheslines were everywhere to be seen on the trip. Prosperous homes, poor homes. Window to window, as in the film. On front porches, also.

Ran into Stacey and Robert at the theatre. Donna’s daughter and son in law. Donna and Terri arrive on the 29th for a week.

Joe Paterno’s statue came down in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. Six thirty. Like a thief in the night. An acquiesence to the mob’s cry for blood.

His statue will be returned to its place of honor in 10-20 years. America is forgiving.

I could not help thinking as I watched the covered statue being removed of Shakespeare’s words. Uttered by Mac Anthony in eulogy to the dead Ceasar…..The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones.

The Greek portion of my trip is constantly popping up in my head. I truly enjoyed Greece.

Enjoy your day!