HONEYMOON OVER…..TV / INTERNET SHOW NO MORE

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All good things come to an end. Fortunately and unfortunately. My Friday morning TV/internet show The Key West Lou Legal Hour will no longer be aired.

I started with KONK six years ago doing an internet show. Two years ago moved over to WEYW television which joined television and the internet together for me. The reception has been fantastic! People in many countries watched the show.

I will still be doing my blog talk radio show tuesday evenings, writing my once a week column for KONK Life, and writing my daily blog.

The television show was fun to do. Hard work, also. It took 10-12 hours a week to prepare for the show. Hard to believe. My plate was becoming full. Publishing my first book recently made me anxious to do another. I was working as hard as I did when I was practicing law. Something had to give.

The bottom line is there will be a new book out sooner than I thought. I am restructuring my day so as to work on it at least 3 hours a day.

This week’s KONK Life is on the stands today. You must read it. I am the cover. Me all alone. The cover page in effect announces my new book. I thank KONK’s owner Guy de Boer for providing the opportunity to further publicize The World Upside Down.

Terri White is back in the news! It was announced yesterday that Terri has received the New York Cabaret Award for 2013. The award is for The Best One-Show Special Event of 2013. It was for Terri’s performance at 54 Below, Broadway’s premier supper club. Good girl, Terri! Go!

Interestingly, Terri was blackballed on Broadway in the early 1980s when it was discovered she was gay. Now she receives awards. As the world turns.

I had a good time last night. Don and I went out together. To the Chart Room. Stayed a long time. Chatted with Emily, Peter, Sean, and Sheila. Don is good company to be out on the town with. I was the designated driver, of course.

Enjoy your day!

TUESDAY BLOG TALK RADIO

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At 9 last night, I did my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. From the kitchen table in my frosty home. A Key West home. Not supposed to be cold.

Yesterday and last night it was! As were all parts of the eastern seaboard. Normally, I do the show in shorts and a tee shirt. Last night long pants and a sweat shirt. Normally with the glass sliding doors open and a bit of heat pouring in. Last night with the doors shut. A closed door did not keep the cold out, however.

I enjoy doing the blog talk radio show. I started it just a year ago. In January. The following is terrific. It took hold almost immediately.

Three topics I thought were exceptionally interesting. One was the question as to whether the U.S. is an emerging police state what with NSA surveillance and police body searches. Another involved the Chrysler bailout. Chrysler is evidencing its gratitude to the American people for saving its ass. They plan to build plants in China. The final topic concerned North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. He had his uncle executed a couple of weeks ago. One hundred twenty wild dogs were unleashed upon him. How can we do business with such a mentality?

Syracuse, my Syracuse. Beat Virginia tech last night 72-52. Syracuse now 15-0.

I never got to Lukas’ place to watch the second half of the game after my show concluded. I went upstairs to change. I had turned the heat on earlier. The room felt so comfortable. I went to bed instead and watched a movie. No local TV of the game last night.

Walked a bit yesterday. Home Depot. Since it wa around 60 degrees, I was dressed accordingly. Long pants, a shirt and my leather jacket. I walked. It was uncomfortable. The jacket was too heavy and too warm as I got into a gait. Should have left the jacket in the car.

Then to the Plantation Coffee House to read the newspapers. Followed by home to finalize my notes for last night’s show.

The weather was cold yesterday. It was cold during the night. It is cold this morning. I gave in yesterday afternoon. Turned pn the heat on the second floor where my bedroom is located. My bedroom faces the northwest. When the cold wind comes in off the ocean, you can hang meat in the bedroom.

Enjoy your day!

CHEERIOS

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Cheerios is my breakfast cereal of choice. Primarily because it purportedly reduces cholesterol.

Cheerios is the breakfast of choice of mothers to feed their babies once the baby is capable of mushing them.

All America considers Cheerios safe and healthy!

I was shocked yesterday to read that General Mills announced it would no longer make Cheerios with genetically modified ingredients. Wow! Who knew?

General Mills said it was not because anything was wrong with genetically modified products. Rather, it was the growing number of people opposed to the use of genetically modified ingredients that compelled their decision.

Good for General Mills!

I have been speaking out in opposition to genetically modified seeds for several months. As recently as yesterday morning on my TV/internet show The Key West Lou Legal Hour. I mentioned the two world wide demonstrations that took place in 2013 protesting their use.

Last night was a biggie!

I had dinner with Jenna. An  interesting young lady. I enjoy being with her. This 78 year old man with a 27 year old lovely.

We had dinner at Square One. It has become a favorite of mine once again. Together with Hot Tin Roof. Carmelo and Carolyn have done a wonderful remodeling job and are serving the finest meals. The kind to die for.

Jenna and I had a drink at the bar first. Wanted to say hello to Patrick. Bartender Patrick has been a friend for well over 15 years. He is daughter Lisa’s best friend. My grandkids love him.

Jenna introduced me to Clay and Laurel at the bar. Nice people. Clay is involved somehow with the BP lawsuits. Interesting work.

Our dinner was long. We had much to talk about.

After dropping Jenna off, I stopped at Don’s Place. Glad I did. Don, David, Toni, Grant, and Jeff were there. I joined David in watching the Ohio State bowl game. David is a die hard Ohio State fan.

Don introduced me to a couple. Emma and Trevor. From London. Emma is a television producer.  Trevor a vice president with Bank of New York. They are in Key west for three days. Appear to be doing a South Florida trip. Miami, Coconut Grove, South  Beach and Key West. They are staying at a guest house near Don’s Place.

I would like to run into them one more time before they leave. They were interesting and interested.

My book has been out a little less than a month. The World Upside Down. My housekeeper Anna bought several copies to give as Christmas presents. She gave one to Nancy Robinson. Nancy is one of the dames of Key West. A lovely person inside and out. If you think I keep busy at 78, you should meet Nancy. She has to be in her mid to late 80s. She goes, goes, goes. Her daughter Martha lives in Key West, also. Martha is an eager beaver in whatever she does. I can see where she got her drive from.

The World Upside Down is available for purchase on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Syracuse basketball this afternoon at 2. Against Miami. Syracuse’s first ACC game. I suspect Syracuse will win. The Vegas line is 19.5 points. I hope to watch the game at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Pub.

Enjoy your day!

TAX BICYCLES?

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TAX BICYCLES? is the title of this week’s KONK Life column. An interesting subject. Taxes have been imposed in some communities already. The article will be especially interesting to Key West readers since Key West is a bicycling town.

The column is researched. I will write it later this afternoon and this evening.

My computer is fixed, but not in my hands. I will be picking it up after I finish this blog. I am presently at Lisa’s.

My yesterday started with the TV/internet show The Key West Lou Legal Hour. A multitude of sins were covered. The topic that seems to have garnered the most interest was the story of the Dallas VA Hospital that would not let local fourth graders deliver hand made Christmas cards to patients. The administrator said no Christmas cards containing Merry Christmas or God Bless You were permitted.

The administrator relied on a VA Handbook that established the rule. Some idiot in Washington apparently came up with what might be perceived as a political correctness item. I do not blame the administrator. I blame whoever in Washington came up with the idea. I wonder what the impact was on the fourth graders, what they thought, how the rejection was explained to them.

Then to Lisa’s to do yesterday’s blog.

I followed the blog up with an hour well spent at the Plantation Coffee House. Got to visit with Diane, enjoy a bagel, and read the morning newspapers.

I went to Don’s Place just before 6 last night to watch the Syracuse/Minnesota bowl game. Don advised that a group was going to Benihana at 8 for dinner. Would I join them? Of course.

I got to watch the first half of the football game. Syracuse was winning 7-0. I never got to watch the game further. While I was eating, someone passed by mentioning that Syracuse was down 3 points with 3 minutes to go.

I checked the game result  when I returned home. Syracuse won 21-17. Locked the win in with 1.5 minutes to go.

More Syracuse this afternoon. Syracuse/Villanova basketball at 2 on CBS. Should be a great game. Both teams undefeated. Syracuse ranked #2 and Villanova #8 nationally.

Dinner at Benihana was a lot of fun. There were 8 of us. Don, David, Keith, Jennifer, Clara, Hershel, Erika,and me. Stan was working.

Russ was at Don’s Place. I had not seen him in many months. He is now chef at Blue Heaven. We spoke of Big East basketball. We both agreed it was a shame Syracuse had left the league. Russ is a St. John’s fan.

A crowd at Don’s. Besides those already mentioned, Toni, Michael, Jeff, and Grant.

I go now to Tim Reynold’s to get my computer.

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!

 

 

A BAD BOCCE NIGHT

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There is no joy in Mudville…..Mighty Casey has struck out!

So it was with bocce last night.

Let me put it in perspective.

It was a money game. The championship game in effect of the 5 team mini league we have within the big bocce league. We were tied for first place with the team we played. Whoever won 2 out of 3 games, won it all!

It wasn’t us. We lost all three.

That is not what made it bad. Defeat is easy to handle. It was how we lost in the first game that bothered us. We were winning 13-3. We lost 16-15.

Says it all!

Momentum, the tempo, was set. We lost the next two also. Though with dignity.

My day started yesterday with a Lori visit. Needed a haircut and beard trim. Then to the Plantation Coffee House. Said hello to Diane and read the newspapers.

The afternoon was non eventful. Stayed home researching and writing. However, did it outside under the shade of the tiki hut. Every now and then, I would dunk myself in the pool to cool off. Sometimes laid out a but till the sun dried me off.

It is Friday. The weekend is here. I have nothing planned. Such a weekend normally turns out to be pretty good. We shall see.

No TV/internet show this morning. I have been replaced for a live showing of the power boat races. I return next Friday.

Enjoy your day!

KEY WEST AND SECESSION

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The mini series North and South that I watched on TV over the weekend got me back into the Civil War. Where did Key West stand during that time?

A strange situation. Florida seceded. After Lincoln’s election and before he was sworn in. Technically, Key West would have had to also. As a practical matter, Key West was in limbo. It had seceded as a part of Florida, yet remained in Union hands because of a U.S. military presence that already was in Key West.  The U.S. Navy.

The Navy had a fort to go with it. Fort Zachery Taylor. To protect Fort Zachery Taylor and discourage a Confederate attack, two mini forts were built . East Martello and West Martello. They were connected to Fort Zachery Taylor by railroad tracks needed to carry munitions.

The Civil War never made it to Key West. Fighting never occurred.

The people of Key West however were sympathetic to the Confederacy. Many flew Confederate flags over their homes. The two sides however were able to get along and live together.

I spent yesterday morning researching and writing. My afternoon was involved with two lengthy meetings followed by a visit to the Plantation Coffee House.

My blog talk radio show was last night at 9. The show was well prepared. Interesting topics. Like Pope Francis and my thought that he is a flaming liberal (a good thing), economic issues including the attempt to cut back on food stamps while the median household income has fallen in the past five years and a Senate give away occurred which was not proper from my perspective. I also hit on the Kenya mall attack and the fact that it included as terrorists two American and one British citizens. I talked about the toilet paper crisis in Venezuela, how there are too many arrests in the U.S. for minor crimes, and a stupid remark by a U.S. Senator.

A terrific show! Except no one heard any of it, except for the first five minutes! I did the whole show thinking everything was ok. It was only afterwards when the emails and telephone calls came that I realized I was off the air five minutes into the show! I still do not know why. Frustrating.

Theodore “Fats” Navarro was born in Key West. He left town as soon as he finished school. The world awaited him. He became a highly regarded jazz trumpet player. Perhaps the best of his era. He was paid mega dollars for his performances.

Drugs and tuberculosis did him in. He died in his 20s in New York City. He had a sister Delores who was born in 1932. I understand she still lives in Key West.

Earlier this week, a Jean Marie Lindor was sentenced to 24 years in prison. His crime was his involvement in fraudulent BP oil claims. Lindor lived in Homestead. There is always some one who attempts to take advantage of a sorrowful happening.

Enjoy your day!

 

KILLER WHALES DON’T KILL

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The front page of yesterday’s Key West Citizen had a photo of some whales. A brief article described them as killer whales and indicated they were discovered about 30 miles offshore of Key West.

A question entered my mind. Who do killer whales kill? I did a bit of research

Killer whales kill no one, except for seals and fish to feed themselves. There is no recorded instance of any human fatality involving killer whales. There have been situations however where those in captivity have turned on their keepers and killed them.

Turns out killer whales are good people, so to speak. They live in groups. Known  as pods. They live their entire lives within the group. Do not go out of it even for sex. Killer whale society is matriarchal. The mother/grandmother rules the roost. Females live to 80-90 years of age. The males only 40-50 years of age.

I learned much more. I plan on sharing additional information during the Key West Lou Legal Hour tomorrow morning.

I was up early yesterday. Had chores to perform. The cleaners, post office, and optician. The optician to tighten up two pairs of glasses.

The optician’s door was closed and locked. A phone number on the window. I called. The optician said she did not feel like working yesterday, might do two hours today and did not know about friday.

I stopped at Don’s Place on the way home to see if he was there. As I was leaving, someone was behind me. As we walked to our cars, he told me he had called his employer and told him he would not be in yesterday. It was too nice to work, he said. This was before the rain storm.

There must be something in the air or water in Key West. Two people who did not feel like working and did not. Typical Key West.

Stopped at the Plantation Coffee House. Enjoyed the coffee and morning papers. Diane working.

Theo her husband is an artist. He is painting up a storm. Every time I visit, there are new works on the walls. The place is turning into an art gallery. A lovely one.

Rained again yesterday. I do not know where all the rain is coming from. Torrential. Went on for a while. Streets flooded again.

I was driving north on Fogarty. It had not rained yet. All of a sudden, I saw this dark gray wall four blocks ahead. It was coming straight at me. It was the rain! It hit like a ton of bricks.

Florida’s Governor Scott signed a bill into law yesterday. A much needed one. An anti-texting law. No texting and driving from this point forward.

The Key West Citizen does a Day in Key West History. One of yesterday’s entries  set forth that Sloppy Joe’s had its grand opening on Duval on this day back when. Sloppy Joe’s advertised the grand opening. Its ad stated…..Free Dancing!

My Tuesday night blog talk radio show was a total screw up. We switched to Skype and everything became confused. I thought I was not on the air. I telephoned Sloan while the computer was still on. I said a bad word. The whole world heard me. The show had been broadcasting correctly. I heard from Italy, Indonesia, Key West, and Iowa that they heard me say a naughty.

I still have the Skype problem. Sloan and I worked on it with the blog talk radio people for two hours at dinner time. Still screwed up. I finally called computer guru Tim Reynolds and asked if he knew what to do. He will hopefully have an answer this evening.

On my way into town last night, I stopped at Don’s Place. Chatted a bit with Don, Hershel, David, Tom, and Joanie.

Then to the Chart Room. Not many people. Emily, Peter and I. Plus, two tourists. Don showed up. He never goes to the Chart Room unless he is with me. He came to find me.

Don and I had dinner at Hot Tin Roof. Lite fare. We shared shataki, mashed potatoes and a shrimp cocktail.

Please watch my tv/internet show tomorrow morning at 10. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. I have a terrific show prepared! Comcast Channel 87, U-Verse Channel 19, and www.weyw19.com.

Haircut time this morning. I have to hustle.

Enjoy your day!

MOORE, OKLAHOMA

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Moore, Oklahoma.

Hard to believe!

All the devastation and loss of life. TV this morning vividly portrays the destruction. Reminded me of Hurricane Andrew. I drove through Homestead soon after. Houses and buildings down as far as the eye could see. As if the city had been bombed.

The number 20 again! Twenty young school children died when their school was blown apart. Shades of Newtown.

Why? Is it global warming? Is it a warning from up on high? Simply nature at work for no reason? I do not know. I have no opinion. A tornado of this magnitude is beyond my ability to comprehend.

A thought occurs. A political one. I wonder if Congress is going to screw around and delay with federal aid as it did with New Jersey.

Tonight my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine o’clock. A fast moving half hour. I share my thoughts on whatever turns me on at the moment.

Tonight, I will definitely comment on the tornado, the new Vermont End Of Life Law, throw in a few Washington comments, and my thoughts re the banks and major corporations getting richer and the former middle class not. Note the use of the word former. Plus, whatever else comes to mind. Or yours. You can call in and chat with me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Yesterday was easy. I did nothing of consequence.

A business meeting in the morning, a bagel, coffee and the newspapers at the Plantation Coffee House, and lunch at Blossoms. The afternoon and evening I stayed home reading and resting. A lazy day.

An interesting experience at the Plantation Coffee House. As I was leaving, I heard Diane’s voice behind me…..Louis, don’t you want to pay!

Again, please join me for my blog talk radio show this evening.

Enjoy your day!