NUDITY NUDITY NUDITY

Sixty thousand to seventy thousand people come to Key West each year to enjoy Fantasy Fest. They come because it is an adult party. Adult means some degree of nudity.

A small handful of local citizens want to change things. They cry there is too much nudity and sex.

I have never seen open sex during Fantasy Fest. I have occasionally seen some nudity. Generally, the female vagina. Not that many, however. Maybe a total of a dozen in the 16 years I have been attending Fantasy Fest.

Local ordinances require a woman’s nipples to be covered. That means pasties. Plus, the privates of men and women. I can live with that and so can the 60,000-70,000 who come to party.

There is a vocal minority that wants to change things. How much I am not certain. They probably total no more than 40 persons. They are the squeaky wheel, however. If church goers, the ones who sing the loudest at services. They are getting a lot of attention. As evidenced by this morning’s Key West Citizen. The headline read Nudity Tops The List Of Fest Complaints.

The group sounds like the religious right. I am offended that they seek to impose their moral standards upon me and the 60,000-70,000. I  believe most Key Westers would agree with me.

Walked again yesterday. I am proud of myself! From one end of Duval to the other and back.

This weekend is the Waterfront’s Cole Porter show A Swell Party. Jenna and I will be going together. I was lucky to get tickets. The show is apparently a sell out. Someone had just canceled two adjoining seats in the third row. It is called being there at the right time.

My blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A quick half hour of interesting and stimulating talk. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics tonight include Ferguson and the KKK, genetically modified potatoes approved by USDA for sale in the U.S., Obama changing his tune re immigration, a tough on drugs governor pardoning his son’s drug conviction, a British/Iranian woman who is to receive a public lashing because she wanted to attend a volley ball game, and more.

Ferguson is a hotbed in the making. A tinderbox that could and probably will erupt. Missouri’s governor announced yesterday  he was declaring a state of emergency. The national guard has been called out. The governor is getting ready for whatever occurs when the grand jury report comes out.

The governor’s move is stupid. He is sending the national guard in in advance. Such is an invitation to aggravation, dissension, and violence. It says to the black community we know you are going to blow up and we are ready for you. In a sense, a we dare you move.

Missouri’s political leaders leave a lot to be desired.

Enjoy your day!

 

PARROT HEADS COMING

Regarding opportunity, it is said that when one door closes another opens. The saying applies in other areas also. Fantasy Fest 2014 closed down yesterday. Wednesday, the Parrot Heads begin arriving. This coming weekend is Parrot Head time!

Key West gave birth to Jimmy Buffett. Jimmy Buffett gave birth to the Parrot Heads. They are Jimmy Buffett followers. Loyal fans all these years. Thousands will arrive this week.

They are different from Fantasy Fest visitors who might be described as a bit out of the norm, hell raisers, etc. Parrott Heads are more representative of a quieter conservative America. They think they are raising hell. However comparatively speaking, no way in comparison to Fantasy Fest participants.

The buzz on the street always is whether Jimmy Buffett will show. Every 3-4 years he does. For 2-3 hours. Flies in, does his thing on Duval, flies out.

They are called Parrot Heads because many wear caps that look like a parrot head. And proudly so!

I walked Duval early yesterday morning. Not to exercise. I do it every year. To see how the cleanup the morning after the parade is going. Well, as usual. It is amazing how the City clean up crews get the job done swiftly and properly. When finished, you would never know that 70,000 people stood there 15 hours before watching the parade..

Sloan showed up later in the morning. We are trying to come up with a musical introduction to my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Only 5-6 seconds. Tough! Larry Smith is my musical genius. We aren’t there yet. It is back to the drawing board and Larry. It is not Larry’s work that is the issue. It is my likes and dislikes. Unfortunately, I am not sure yet what I like.

Lisa and family came over for a while in the afternoon. Needed to store something in my garage. Storage space is non existent in Key West.

Late in the afternoon, I sat down to watch a little TV. I came across a rerun of Rich Man, Poor Man. Old. A 12 or 13 series show. One hour each week.  All 12-13 shows were running consecutively yesterday. I got in early. Stayed glued to the TV till after midnight. It took me back. I watched the series when it was originally presented in 1976.

The significance of the series is that it made Nick Nolte. Back then he was an unknown. He was given the secondary lead position. The star was Peter Strauss who had already gained some fame. Nolte dominated the series and went on to become a major Hollywood figure. Strauss faded into the sunset.

The Boca Chica Naval Base has been busy this past month. Carrier pilots arriving to train. The training goes on for another month. A new group will be arriving this week. By sunday, it is estimated 500 sailors will be at Boca Chica participating in the air to air combat training.

Parrot Heads and sailors this weekend in Key West!

Janet Yellin is the Chair of the Federal Reserve System. She announced this past week that the average net worth of 62 million households in the United States is $11,000. Sad, disgusting and terrible! Not a national pride item.

Enjoy your day!

 

CONCH REPUBLIC DEFEATS U.S. FORCES

It never fails! Once again, the Conch Republic defeated the forces of the United States in a great sea and air battle!

The Conch Republic never loses!

I watched the battle from the porch of the Hot Tin Roof. I was worried the first time I saw the Coast Guard vessel. A big one! Powerful water guns. The best yet. I feared the U.S. might overcome the Conch Republic with the new guns. The Conch Republic Navy hung in there. Conch pirate ships showed no mercy. It was the same with the Conch Air Force. The toilet paper bombs did a number on the Coast guard vessels.

An exciting event! As usual!

I was at the Hot Tin Roof bar prior to the battle. A couple dining at the other end of the bar. The gentleman asked if I was Louis. Louis Petrone?

His name H.B. Barrett. Call me H.B., he said. His lovely wife, Grace. H.B. said he reads this blog. Though that is not why he recognized me. He and Grace are long time friends of Lisa. From when she was at the Custom House. A small world.

H.B. and Grace own a home off Duncan near Lisa. Rent it out. Their real home is in Islamorada. They were in Key West for the battle.

The battle. The battle was terrific! One of the hardest fought yet. There did not seem to be as many people watching , however.

The Ocean Key Dock is a popular place to watch from. Only about half full. With a canopy. Unusual. I discovered later there was a private party on the dock.

I walked over to the Pier House Deck. I could not gain entrance. Another private party.

I was looking for Jean and Stephanie. Could not locate them.

I ended up in the Chart Room for a drink. A new bartender covering for Emily who is on her way to the Kentucky Derby. Dave. John Lukas and a couple of his staff came in. John is one of the nicest people in Key West. The Big Ten Sports Pub is his operation. We chatted briefly about college basketball. His Wisconsin and my Syracuse. He has great expectations for Wisconsin next year. Four of the starting five are returning.

David showed up. I have not seen David in a couple of months. He was at Aqua prior to the Chart Room. I like David. A great guy! A good friend!

I walked Duval on my way to Kelley’s. Duval was packed. The reason twofold. The battle brings people in. Additionally, the season is over. Accommodation and restaurant prices are down.

Kelley’s overwhelmed me! I have never seen the place so busy. Chris was getting slammed. He said the night before there was nobody.

On the way back to my car, I ran into Sean and Katherine on their bikes. Not literally.

I worry about the Russia/Ukraine situation. Putin is on a roll. Russia just made its first oil shipment ever from the Arctic. No country owns any significant part of the Arctic. Putin is making claim for Russia. He just moved ten warships and four nuclear powered ice breakers into the area.

Obama has to do something. Otherwise history will view this era as another Munich.

Enjoy your day!

 

VICTORY AT LAST!

We are already 6-7 weeks into the bocce season. Until last night, our team had not won one match. Don’t ask me why. None of us know. We are not that bad. It just has not worked for us till last night. Our team won all three games.

I did not play because of my back. I sat and cheered the team on. Plus, two players from the opposing team.

Last night was unique. Florida schools are on vacation this week. Kids and their parents traveling all over the State. My Robert and Ally are in Cape Coral visiting the other set of grandparents.

Only one player showed up for the other team. An automatic win for us. However, the player had a visiting friend and his two children. Visiting from Point St. Lucie. Our team agreed to let the visitors play. Including the children.

I have to mention the visitors were black. Normally, it would make no difference and I would not mention color. However, last night it contributed to what was an All American evening.

Emma is 9 and her brother Julian 7. They had neither seen a bocce court nor played bocce before. They played well!

Neither bashful. Both well behaved, however. They threw like they had been playing for years. Especially, Emma. She understood the mechanics of the game immediately. She killed us! She even took the wind into consideration. There was a heavy breeze off the ocean. She yelled at one of her balls that was dying that the wind should take it. I might add she gave Hershel a hard time in the second game. She frustrated him. Hershel would throw a good shot. Emma would follow it with a better one.

Emma and Julian were kids and behaved like kids. Children having a good time. They jumped around excitedly each time something happened.

The best description of the evening…..A scene from a Norman Rockwell painting.

The big tournament moves on.

Stephanie Kaple is all excited. Would not leave me alone. Came over to our court several times to let me know Dayton was winning last night. Telephoned me when I was home in bed to tell me Dayton had won. I told her not yet. I was watching the game. There was still 2 minutes to play.

I am happy for Stephanie and her parents. May Dayton go all the way! Tomorrow night is Dayton’s hardest game so far. Florida. #1 in the country, #1 in the seeds.

Then there is my friend John Lukas. John is as much a Wisconsin fan as I am a Syracuse one. I am thrilled his team won last night, also.

There has been a war going on for several months involving sound and Duval Street. Duval is noisy. Always has been. Neighbors are complaining the noise is too much.

There is a sound ordinance. The neighbors want a tougher one.

I do not know what the Key West Commission is going to do. They have been arguing the issue for several weeks. They will do something.

My opinion is the neighbors should not complain. They should put their tails between their legs and back off. When they purchased their homes, they knew they were in or close to Duval Street. They were aware of the noise coming from the bars. They should not complain at this stage.

Enjoy your day!

GOVERNMENT WASTE

 

People want to know! They should know! Where their government is wasting taxpayer dollars.

I decided to talk a bit each week on my TV/internet show about tax dollar waste. Provide a few examples.

Yesterday was the first day of this new portion of the show. Besides the story I enjoy repeating about the U.S. Senate’s private barbershop which loses $500,000 a year, I threw in three other juicy morsels. One had to do with the House of Representatives approving a $2.6 million study to determine how to teach Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly on the job. A winner!

The House is the outfit that recently voted to cut $40 billion from the food stamp program.

Feed back following the show indicated the waste examples garnered the most interest. Easy to understand.

The Chart Room first last night. Emily bartending. I enjoy her company. Even more, her popcorn. The best!

Chatted with Peter and Sheila. Sheila will be off to the Mexico/Cancun area wednesday for a few days. Good for her!

Sean and Katherine came in. They have been traveling frequently of late. I told Sean enjoy it. When the first baby comes, it is all over! He laughed.

Met an interesting couple. Ian and Kaylin from Scotland. Actually, the Island of Erin. It is off the west coast of Scotland. Ian is a builder and his wife works with him in the office.

Scotland. He must play golf, I thought. I was wrong. Ian does not play golf, even though there are seven golf courses on his island.

Ian, Kaylin, and their family have visited Key West often over the years. They are Key Westers at heart.

I sat a while in the Pier House lobby. Reading the newspapers. A comfortable setting. I have done it several times lately.

The next stop was Don’s Place. Bocce partner Frankie was there. He looks good. You will recall he had a couple of heavy heart surgeries several months ago. Died on the table during one of them. He just returned from three weeks in Mexico. The trip did him good. He looked like the Frankie of old.

Chatted with two of the guys from the team we beat thursday night. Good people. We agreed the water soaked clay decided the match, not talent. It was throw the ball and hope it gets somewhere near the polina. In some instances, three feet was a victory. We were luckier than they were. They drank more Polish brandy than we did, also. A contributing factor to our victory. A planned one. Hershel deserves the credit. It was his idea.

Decided on Outback for dinner. No room at the inn. Including the bar. I figured at least a 1/2 hour wait. Not my cup of tea. Instead walked down to the Chinese restaurant nearby. A mistake.

I enjoy Chinese food on occasion. I ordered the wrong dish. I wanted orange chicken. I got screwed up and ordered lemon chicken. A disaster!

Lemon chicken consisted of thin slices of white meat buried in fat. The final product resembled small pancakes. A similar color, also.

Awful! I ate half the meal before giving up. The lemon chicken did not give up. I was uncomfortable till 4 this morning.

I am interested in seeing the new movie Gravity which opened this weekend. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Sandra is an astronaut who breaks way from the outside of her ship or something while fixing it in outer space. The story is about her floating around and what experiences she had. The big question being did she survive. The movie is in 3D. Has to be terrific! The reviews all say it is a winner.

Saturday evening is not the right time to go to the movies. Too many kids. I am going to shot for tomorrow night. Probably will invite Jenna to join me.

Syracuse/Clemson this afternoon at 3:30. On ABC or NBC. Hope the game is aired here in Key West.

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!

SYRACUE MY SYRACUSE

A new football season. A new Syracuse team.

Syracuse lost yesterday to Penn State 23-17. I was not disappointed in Syracuse’s performance. I would rather the team had won. Syracuse played well. They could have, might have, won.

Syracuse is still a rebuilding team. They are working towards being what they once were. A great team. Oh, so long ago. It is coming, however. The team I saw play yesterday was the best I have seen in years. Everything is a step at a time. In this instance, a year at a time.

After the game, I headed down to Duval. Brewfest!

I walked Duval a few blocks. The streets were jammed with people. Stands selling beer.

I stopped into three places. Sloppy Joe’s, Smokin’ Tuna, and Captain Tony’s. Enjoyed the people and a beer at each place.

David frost died yesterday. He was 74. British. A talented journalist, broadcaster, and media personality. His Richard Nixon interviews represented his best work. Each show was dramatic and thrilling. Frost will be best remembered for the Nixon interviews.

We are in the middle of the Labor Day weekend. Labor Day used to be a big deal. Labor itself was big. I remember as a youngster the parades. Huge. Everyone marching. Everyone excited.

As labor’s influence and strength have diminished over the years, so too has interest in Labor Day as a time to remember labor’s achievements. Today, it is a time for cook outs and partying. The successes of labor are forgotten and buried in the closet.

Enjoy your holiday Sunday!

SHE RODE THE DONKEY

 

Oia is a town on the Greek island of Santorini.

I spent ten days there last summer. You will recall it as the place where I failed in my attempt to climb the volcano.

Santorini is a huge cliff sitting in the water.  The sides run straight up to the sky. At one particular point in order to get to the bottom, one drives a car or walks. The walk is a wide pathway seemingly attached to the cliff. The cliff is at least 1,500 feet tall at that point.

The pathway is in reality a donkey trail. It has steps, widely apart. Donkeys carry people up and down. People walk the path also. However, they do so gingerly because of the dung along the way.

Others drive to get to the bottom of the cliff. I drove. There are restaurants and apartments at the bottom which sit on the sea. My favorite Oia restaurant Katrina Taverna is one of the restaurants.

About a month ago, my dear friends Bob and Helen Marks visited Oia. They walked the donkey trail. That same day, they climbed the volcano. Bob is 75 years old.

I never met anyone who rode a donkey. Until last night. Her name is Elaine Jette. Met Elaine and her husband Fred. They are visiting Key West for a few days.

Elaine likes to travel. She goes all over the world. In addition to Greece, she recently visited Africa. Fred does not like traveling so he stays home. He mentioned that the only places he travels to are the Bahamas and Key West..

Elaine was in Oia. She rode a donkey! It had to have been a fearful experience. If you fall off, you fall off the pathway also. Into the sea below.

Fred and Elaine are from Stuart, Florida. Fred is a civil engineer. He builds roads and bridges. Elaine works for Merril Lynch.

I met Fred and Elaine at the Chart Room.

Frankie came in while we were talking. Frankie is Admiral of the Conch Republic Navy. A big deal! Frankie got into the Sea Battle which takes place every year. Fred and Elaine listened attentively.

I pointed out to them that you can’t experience anything like the Sea Battle in Stuart. They agreed.

I wrote about killer whales yesterday. I forgot to mention how they got the name killer whales.

Killer whales do not kill humans. There is no record of any human fatality, except with whales in captivity. Turns out their name initially was the reverse of what it is today. Whale killers. Why? Because killer whales kill bigger whales of a different breed.

We all know dolphins are not afraid of whales and that whales fear dolphins. Killer whales are not whales. They are dolphins.

Interesting!

This morning my tv/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten my time.

I will be chatting a bit more regarding killer whales. I will also get into Senator McCain’s recent foray into Syria. A bit on the Catholic Church and hypocrisy. Some words about Father Andrew Greeley who died this week. Plus more.

Join me for a fast moving informative hour. The show can be viewed on television from Key West all the way up through Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Via the internet world wide. www.weyw19.com.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

TWO FOR ONE

 

Bargain day! Two blogs for one.

My computer was still in the shop yesterday. Sunday morning. I had to go to Lisa’s to do the blog. My bed felt good. The bed won out! I never did yesterday’s blog. Sorry.

Following is what would have been yesterday’s blog covering Saturday’s events.

I hurried to Lisa’s and did the blog. Visited with the grandkids. Then the drive home. Bikers and runners galore. The trip took forever. There was a Triathlon with over 400 participants. Traffic diverted every where.  Traffic lanes closed down to accommodate the bikers and runners.

It took me 1.5 hours to make the return trip. Normally 15 minutes. That was it! As much as I love Syracuse, no way was I going back out to fight my way to Caroline and John’s Big Ten Pub. I missed the Syracuse/Villanova game. I see Syracuse won by 11 points. Good!

Remember the Auntie Maime movie of forty or more years ago. Starred Rosiland Russell. She had a female friend staying with her. Sort of a social retard. Never went out, never dated. Then she did. There was a scene several months later as she descended a staircase. She was obviously pregnant. She shouted out, “I lived!”

I lived Saturday night!

Ate and drank.

Don and Stephanie hosted a small dinner party at the Braza Lena. I was invited.

The Braza Lena is the restaurant where they serve all the meat you want. I figured what the hell! It was time I blew my diet.

I drank and ate. Big time. Even had desert. It felt good!

The company was good, also. Beside Don and Steph, there was Herschel and Erika and David.

My car was parked at the Pier House. I walked Duval to get it. Something struck me. For the first time, I thought Duval was honky tonk. Yes, sadly it has become so. A decidedly different flavor from 15-25 years ago. I did not like it.

Now for yesterday. Sunday.

As I already told you, I stayed in bed in the morning. Comfortably buried in the sheet and blanket.

Watched Meet the Press from the bed. I was impressed with Colin Powell. As always.

Tim Reynolds called. One computer fixed. The old one. The newer one with the virus was still being worked on. I drove over to pick up the repaired one. The one I am writing on at the moment.

The virus is Money Pak. What a pain! Locks the screen. Hopefully, Tim will have it repaired by today. I am becoming uncomfortable.

Stopped at Lisa’s on the way home. Robert and Ally were doing homework. Studiously and diligently. I was impressed. I read the Sunday newspapers and then left for home.

The Seattle/Atlanta game was terrific! Especially the last two minutes. Even more so the last 20 seconds. It is called professionalism.

The big thing on the agenda today is a routine visit with the heart doctor.

Tomorrow morning at 7 my blog talk radio show. The Key West Lou Blog Talk Radio Show.

I will be there! The cell phone problem has been corrected.

The show is a one half hour talk show. I talk. You talk, if you call in.

You do not have to wait till 7 when the show starts to call in. You may call in before 7 and will be placed on hold in the order called in.

Find me and the show at www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

WENT OUT LAST NIGHT

 

I cannot diet and visit my usual haunts. The near occasions of sin are food and drink. So, I remain home evenings. My recollection is that last night was the second time in the 35 days I have been dieting that I went out.

I was excited. It was exciting.

The Chart Room was the venue selected. It had not changed. JJ bartending. Dave, Sheila, and Captain Peter in attendance.

I was good. Did not drink nor eat pop corn. Two diet Pepsi’s instead.

Captain Peter never ceases to amaze me. I learned last night he was a bird watcher.

The Captain spoke specifically of two birds. I did not know them. I know nothing about birds. He had sighted one species here in Key West. Another flying in mass over Miami recently. Both totally foreign to Florida.

The birds’ habitat is Labrador. They were far from home. Captain Peter attributes their Florida presence to Hurricane Sandy. Interesting.

Duval Street was packed. Jam packed. Traditionally, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is the busiest for Key West. Come Wednesday morning, there will be no one. You can throw a bowling ball down Duval from one end to the other without hitting any one.

Tomorrow my blog talk radio show! Seven in the morning my time. You can listen and/or call in. The show is quick moving.

This will be show #3. Help me! Not only listen, telephone me from anywhere with a comment or thought. I am going to lead with the fiscal cliff, France trying a 75 per cent tax on its millionaires, and Silvio Burlosconi having to pay his wife $3 million a month. We are not limited. Can talk about any topic you wish.

Those living outside the United States can listen in/participate via Skype.

It may be radio, but a computer is required to join me. It is a radio internet show. Found easily at www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Click on the second box that appears. The one with the date of the show. Voila, you will be in business!

I plan on going out again tonight. I will cheat, however. Plan on drinking. The game plan is to walk Duval a bit and at midnight watch Sushi come down on the red shoe at the Bourbon Street Pub. If I change my mind and stay in, I will still watch Sushi. CNN carries the drop live each year.

Hillary Clinton. How sad! How terrible! Hope her condition clears up swiftly.

Many were critical of Hillary when she announced she could not testify before the Congressional committee looking into Benghazi because  she had fallen and suffered a concussion. Many thought it was a convenient made up excuse. One of this blog’s loyal readers wrote and referred her malady as an “immaculate concussion.” I must concede, I thought ill of the situation as well. A lesson to be learned. Never jump the gun…..give a person the benefit of the doubt. Not all political figures are the same. Some tell the truth.

Enjoy your New Year’s Eve day! Better yet, enjoy this evening!