TONIGHT…..TONIGHT…..

My blog will be short this morning.

Comcast screwed me up. Lost an hour. The screen came up no internet service. Telephone help re do this, then that, disconnect, connect, etc. Finally worked after an hour. Made me tired.

I have an early haircut appointment. Do not want to miss it. Lori leaves tomorrow on a three week vacation.

Then the car to the garage. Many thanks to all who wrote and gave me advice as to the cause of the problem. I will let you know what when I know.

Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou tonight at 9. My blog talk radio show. A half hour of fast moving dialogue re current events. From my perspective, of course. Join me. www.keywestlou.com/key-west-lou.

Topics tonight will include my warning to the ladies that contraception is back on the table, a police epidemic of murders, an update re the children’s immigration, the disgrace of Marietta, corporate welfare and Eric Cantor, GMO info re Cordoba’s cancer deaths, Australia and milk, and Hillary Clinton supporting GMOs, wood in our food, and more.

My time out was limited last night. I was fearful the car would not turn over at some point. So I limited my travels to Don’s Place. Enjoyed chatting with Grant and Don.

Robert came in. I have not seen him in ages. He now bartends at Smokin’ Tuna. I overheard a brief conversation between Robert and Don. Robert told Don the great score he had shot on the golf course. Don reponded…..Did you play all the holes?

The lines coming out of Don’s Place could form the basis for a funny TV show. The problem is no one seems interested when I bring it up.

Enjoy your day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOUIS

Today is my birthday. Seventy nine years old! Wow!

I thought of titling today’s blog Happy Birthday Key West Lou! Would have been an error. Key West Lou is only 8 years old.

Two previous birthdays bothered me. Forty and 50. Forty for a whole year. Why, I am not sure. Perhaps because my 30’s were behind me. Fifty lasted 24 hours. Not even worth commenting on.

Reaching today has bothered me for 3 months. I have a feeling it will continue to bother me after today for a period of time. I suspect it is because the next birthday is 80. A real big number! Whether I like it, I am  getting old.

It is Cindy’s birthday today, also. Cindy of Tom and Cindy. Cindy from Iowa who frequently visits Key West. Cindy my friend who has had many cancer surgeries. She has only one leg and one breast. Yet, the most positive and fun filled personality of any person I have met.

Happy birthday Cindy!

I am running late doing today’s blog. Almost 11 in the morning. Probably being lazy because it is my birthday.

The world responds. It is wonderful. So far I have received at least 15 happy birthday e mails and telephone calls. Some from as far away as China, Indonesia, South Korea, and South Africa.

It is a small world. Thank you all.

Finished my research yesterday for my next KONK Life submission. I will write the column this afternoon or tomorrow. The title is John Paul Jones. Revealing! An interesting figure. He of…..”I have not yet begun to fight” fame. I compare him in many respects to World War II’s General George Patton.

Car problems yesterday. I shaved and showered. Dressed a bit tidier than normal. And was out on the town to celebrate my birthday. Stopped first at Don’s Place. Don had just returned from a family reunion in Buffalo.

I went to leave. The car would not start. A 2010 Volkswagen convertible. Had its 10,000 mile check up in Miami. Due soon for the 20,000 mile one.

The starter was not kicking in/turning over. Jimmy came outside to see if he could get it going. To no avail. I had Lisa and family come over and pick me up and return me home. My night on the town a bust! I was disappointed, but not unhappy. I enjoy many celebratory evenings in Key West. An evening of TV and reading was ok.

Lisa is cooking for me tonight. She and the grandkids baked me a cake. They will also be chauffering me back and forth between houses.

Tomorrow, I will have to get someone over to look at the car.

This morning’s Key West Citizen had JJ’s picture on page 3. Person of the Day. JJ is now at the Galleon Sunset Pier. I stopped three times to see him. Wrong day each time. I have not tried again in a while. Parking a problem.

KONK Life’s E Blast carried a picture of the Vandenberg today. In celebration of the 4th, several divers attached a huge American flag to the Vandenberg. What a sight divers will have to behold!

Only in Key West. It has roughly been three years that we have had to put up with the construction work on North Roosevelt Boulevard. The repair work is not expected to be completed till the end of August. Driving has been a pain in the ass for three years. No one will deny the representation.

I have avoided North Roosevelt as much as possible. Instead, I have used Flagler. Rather than going right at the triangle at the end of US 1, I turn left onto South Roosevelt Boulevard for several blocks till I reach Flagler, where I make a right to head into town.

I read this morning that repair work will begin on South Roosevelt Boulevard tomorrow. To last several weeks. From the triangle at the end of US 1 to the Riviera Bridge. The same distance basically I have to travel to get to Flagler.

Both entrances to Key West will be screwed up at the same time!

Why must this second construction be started before the first is completed? Key West City fathers fouled up here!

Enjoy your sunday!

FORGETFULNESS

 

My radio show tonight! Blog talk radio. Nine o’clock. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

So many things to discuss. So little time. Topics such as the government shutdown, Senator Cruz, Congressional pensions, governmental waste, and Egypt.

The show is quick hitting and entertaining.

Went to see my internest Dr. Jackie Lefferts yesterday. A tough no nonsense female doctor. I visited her because of my swollen hand caused by something that bit me.

She could not tell what type bug. She was concerned with whether the poison had traveled up my arm. She satisfied herself it had not. Prescribed an antibiotic and some other things.

My drug store is Walgreen. Dr. Lefferts suggested for the antibiotic that I go to Publix. It was free at Publix. So I went. No waiting line. My prescription was ready. The bill was zero dollars. I was shocked. No one gives anything away for nothing in today’s society. I smiled and told the woman behind the counter…..thank you. She looked surprised. Must be most people do not say thank you.

There was a sheet of information in the bag. There are several antibiotics Publix provides free. You might want to look into it.

I drive a Volkswagen convertible. Two tone. Blue and white with a black top. A unique color arrangement. Only one other in Key West. I parked my car across the street from Dr. Lefferts’ office. When I came out and went to the car, the door would not open. I kept clicking and nothing happened. I tried the key. Nothing. I tried the trunk. Nothing. How the hell did I get an electrical problem which apparently caused everything to shut down?

I looked in the window. There was a woman’s bag on the front seat. I do not carry a woman’s bag. I looked up and behind the car. Two cars back was another Volkswagen convertible with the same colors. Mine! Who would have expected the only two similar cars in Key West to have been parked within 30 feet of each other.

Yesterday was a bit of a be good to Louis day. I went to the Pier House Beach Bar for lunch.

Lovely! A perfect setting! Sitting on the beach at the edge of the ocean.

A lot of people. In fact, as I drove over I noticed many people on Duval. It reminded me of season.

I had fish and chips, admired the view and read the Miami Herald. Much full page advertising  for senior citizens re signing up for Obamacare. Apparently the time to sign is now through some date in December. The insurance companies are after senior business big time. The prices were much less than I am paying now and seemed to offer more.

I missed Kathleen Peace and Larry Smith. Many times when I would lunch at the Beach Bar, Kathleen would come out of her office and provide a cheery hello and kiss. Larry would be doing some work in the Wine Galley in preparation for his evening show and walk by. Larry did not kiss me.

Then to Publix. To pick up the antibiotic prescription. I went to the new Publix. It is the one I generally use for grocery shopping.

The parking lot is huge. When I came out, I could not remember where I parked the car. For real! Up and down the rows I went till I spotted it.

A first for me. Worries me. A sign of old age. My father used to do it. I have become my father once more. Amazing.

Spent my evening working on tonight’s blog talk radio show. Please join me.

Enjoy your day!

MIAMI TUNE UP TRIP

THERE WAS NO BLOG YESTERDAY.

I felt I had finally entered the 21st century the past two days.

The Volkswagen had to go to Miami to the dealership for its 10,000 mile check up. I left Monday. Prior thereto, I purchased a GPS. Figured out on my own how to make it work. Not everything, but most of it.

I was absolutely impressed by the GPS.

The dealer was located in Coral Gables. I typed in the address before I left home. The GPS directed me all the way! Loved it! Turn right, turn left, turn 80 yards, etc. All one has to do is listen to the GPs and go!

The wonders of modern scince! From one who still cannot operate most of the features on his new cell phone.

I drove with the top down to Islamorada. Stopped for luch. At the Loreli. Such a beautiful place. Sits out on the Gulf. Always a breeze. Enjoyed a cheeseburger.

My friend Lu Kramer once owned the Loreli. A number of years ago.

Put the top up for the rest of the trip. The sun was getting to me.

Dropped the car off and the dealership shuttled me to a Marriott South Beach hotel. If I was to be stuck overnight in Miami, I figured I might as well enjoy it.

I spent a couple of hours sitting at an outside table on South Beach. Nursed a drink and watched the South Beach world walk by. Beautiful women. All young. A world I knew long ago.

My game plan was to have an early dinner at Joe’s Stone Crabs and then return to the hotel to watch the Presidential debate.
I showered and cabbed it over to Joe’s.

The meal was outstanding! Stone crabs are my favorite food. My meal consisted of stone crabs, hash browns and creamed spinach. Key lime pie for desert. Fantastic!

I felt a bit out of place. Dress wise.

Key West is very laid back. Shorts and a shirt. Sneaks, crocks or sandals. Not Miami.

I was the only one in shorts. Men wore long pants. Most jackets. Many blazers.

In addition, I am regrowing my beard. It is only a week old. I looked like a bum in comparison!

I had forgotten there was another world when it came to attire.

The debate went well from my perspective. I thought Obama beat Romney decisively. My Republican friends will obviously think otherwise. I have found that who won or loss is generally determined in one’s mind by the political party with which the person is affiliated.

I was up at six the next morning. My computer had traveled with me. The hotel provided the Wi Fi information. I could not get the computer to work. My 21st century genius had not lasted long. The hotel had a computer available to guests. I threw on some clothes and went to the lobby to use it. No key board. I asked at the desk why. The clerk told me some one had stolen it and the hotel had not yet replaced the key board..

Such are the reasons for no blog yesterday. My inability to make th Wi Fi work and the hotel’s keyboard not being available.

I picked up the car and headed back to Key West. Again the GPS leading me.

I was in Islamorada just after one. Might as well stop for lunch. Not the Loreli, however. I proceeded just down the road to the Islamorada Fish Company. I enjoyed a stone crab lunch! I had the dinner portion. Stone crabs twice in less than 12 hours. It was an I thought I had died and gone to heaven moment.

The whole drive back, the water was moving swiftly. White caps all the way. When I arrived home, the palm trees were bending a bit. The effects of Tropical Storm Sandy. Sandy will not hit the Keys. But its peripheral effects were felt yesterday and are still with us this morning. Even though it is only at Jamaica at the moment.

I have to babysit this afternoon. For about two hours. I will pick Robert and Ally up after school. Ally telephoned me twice yesterday to remind me.

Enjoy your day!