FAT LADY SINGS

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The Ryder Cup proved once more that…..It ain’t over till the fat lady sings!

As Yogi Berra said…..It ain’t over till it’s over!

The United States was humbled yesterday. Europe deserves all the plaudits it is receiving.

Enough said about a bad day.

I bought a beard razor about three weeks ago. Many parts, connections. Several settings. Depending on the length of the beard desired. Different parts of the beard require different settings. I generally need three to do the job.

Yesterday, I screwed up! Used a #1 setting where I should have used a #3. Mowed the grass short on both cheeks. I knew I was wrong after I did one side of my face. Way too short. Should I leave the other side as is? Or, trim it short to balance with the other? I opted to go with the short cut for balance puposes.

It will grow back.

Happy birthday dinner party last night! At the Yacht Club. It was Lisa’s birthday. We were all there.

It was Moroccan night.

The sole previous time I had eaten Moroccan cooking was on my recent European trip. I made a Moroccan friend in Novara. She cooked for my 77th birthday. That meal was terrific. Last night’s meal was terrific.

Beef, lamb and chicken dishes. Cous cous. Delicious pita type bread.

Robert went crazy. Enjoyed it all. I had to twist Ally’s arm to try some of the dishes. She finally acquiesed. Was thrilled!

It was a happy occasion. Lisa enjoyed. She is easy to please. Pleasure for Lisa is to be with her family. Nothing more is required.

We went back to Lisa’s for Happy Birthday cake. Robert and Ally had made it with Corey’s help. White cake with white frosting. Why no cholcolae, I asked. Because Mommy does not like it, the grandkids reponded.

One thing never fails. The light in children’s eyes as they sing Happy Birthday and help blow out the candles.

I went shopping after dinner. At the new Publix. As soon as I walked in the door, I spotted Emily. Emily of the Chart Room. She was checking out. I went over and gave her a hug and kiss.

Emily always wears black. Must be her work clothes. I have never seen her other than at the Chart Room.

Last night she was wearing a light green loose dress. The dress played well agaisnt her pale face and light hair. A beauty!

I bought real food. Not diet food. Cheaper to eat real food I discovered. Like a 50 per cent difference.

Enjoy your day!

LISA’S BIRTHDAY!!!!!

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Today is Lisa’s birthday! My baby! The youngest of the flock!

Happy birthday, Lisa! I love you!

The Ryder Cup consumed my yesterday. All day.

The U.S. may be ahead, but the battle is not over. Not with 12 singles matches scheduled today.

Ian Poulter looked great! Five consecutive birdies! Against Tiger Woods!

I thought Tiger looked good, also. He made several cluth putts. Yet he and Stricker lost to Poulter and his partner. I sometimes think there is a black cloud over Tiger’s head.

Spent the evening with Jenna. We had not been out together in over two months.

Jenna is a terrific young lady. All of 26 years old. Does my ego good to be with her. We have become close friends over the past three years.

Jenna is a TV personality. She does a five day a week talk show on local TV. She is seen from Key West to Fort Lauderdale. Prior to Key West, she was the sportscaster for a local TV station in the Carolinas. She claims she ran up and down college football fields doing her job while wearing heels. She refused to give up the lady like symbol.

We started at the Chart Room. Sheila and JJ there. Sheila dressed in black. It was Saturday night. Looked good!

Then to Hot Tin Roof.

What a surprise awaited us. The place was packed. Just like in season. I could not believe it. Only two seats open at the bar. Grabbed them.

I enjoyed five large delicious scallops over large linguine and greens covered in a light oil. Delicious. It is so nice to be back eating everything!

Jenna had macaroni and cheese.

Hot Tin Roof has sort of a taspas menu, also. Jenna does not eat. Never eats. Runs 5 miles a day. That is why she is tall and thin. Jenna ordered macaroni and cheese. A small plate. Tapas style. She only ate a third of it. Took the rest home.

A cheap date!

Wish I could eat that little! Wish I could run 5 miles a day!

It will never happen! Not at this stage of my life.

Dropped Jenna off after dinner and went over to Don’s Place for a drink. I was looking forward to chatting with Kurt. Saturday is his night to bartend. No Kurt. His schedule has changed. No problem. I enjoyed the company of some others at the bar.

I was distraught to read this morning that two more American soldiers were killed by a supposedly friendly American trained Afghan soldier. What are we doing in Afghanistan? We initially went there ten years ago to get Bin Laden. We got him. We shoukld get out. Now. Not next year or the year after. Afghanistan is not worth one more American life.

It is the old story. You can bring a horse to water, but cannot force the horse to drink. The Afghans do not want us. They do not like us. Screw them!

Enjoy your Sunday!

INTERESTING SUNDAY

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From my perspective, Sunday was quiet. However so many things happened!

First, Meet the Press and The Chris Matthews Show. Between what is going on world wide and the Chicago teacher strike, these TV talk shows were the best place to be in the morning.

There appears to be a brief lull in the embassy crisis. Most experts believe it will reoccur and soon. Afghanistan’s involvement in the past 48 hours is sad, but was to be expected. We have 66,000 troops there. We are training the police and military to protect their own country. We have given the Afghans billions of dollars.

What happens? Either a police officer or soldier we have been training turns his gun on American soldiers and kills four of them.

Obama has a lot to deal with.

The Chicago teachers continue to enjoy their time in the sun. In the meantimne, the kids are still not in school. For shame!

Illinois law permits school teachers to strike. The law spells out the reasons why they may strike. Emanuel says the reasons the teachers are still out does not fall within the legal guide lines. He goes to court today to force the teachers back into the class room.

I wrote a bit.

Then watched some pro football. From the comfort of my bed. Second Sunday in a row I have not been to Don’s Place. Bad!

Dinner was special last night. Ate at the Yacht club. My guest was Lu Kramer.

An interesting woman. A terrific business background.

She spent several years as a Regional CFO for CIGNA Insurance. Then owned the Loreli in Islamorada. Her next business venture was owning the Hetrz franchise here in Key West. Her present ventures are two specialty stores in Clinton Square Mall.

An industrious lady! An intelligent woman ! I enjoyed her company immensely.

The reason I was at the Yacht Club was that it was prime rib night. I am on the Atkins diet. Low carb, high protein. Just the meal for me.

The assistant chef slicing the prime rib was a young man. Tall and lanky. Appeared not to have a pound of fat on him. I had him cut me an extra slice. I explained to him I was on the Atkins diet.

He broke into a smile when I mentioned the diet and said he had lost 60 pounds on it. My hero!

This morning is the end of my first week on the diet. Lost 5 pounds. I am not happy. I expected 8 the first week and then settle into 3 pounds a week. I have done this diet before.

I cheated last night. Had two gins. It was time.

The Huntington Post recently published an interesting article on Key West. The title referred to the 10 best kept secrets in Key West. Find and read! It was right on!

Enjoy your day!

WAITING FOR ISAAC…..

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Everything is Isaac this Sunday morning in Key West. Today is the day! Later in the afternoon, Isaac will hit. Probably as a 1.

I have so much to share regarding Isaac to this point.

The first thing is how to spell Isaac. The correct spelling apparently is Isaac. Up till this morning, I have been spelling it Issac. How could I have been so wrong? Easy. I am a poor speller. However, I believe everyone was spelling it my way the past few days. The correct spelling would have been obvious otherwise. I googled Isaac. Sites came up under Issac also.

Al Roker is in Key West. Saw him several times on TV this morning. Great to have  him here! Problem is they have him standing in the wrong place. He is down on the Weston Pier. It looks like the corner opposite Orvis. Normally, national television sets itself up on Duval next to the former Fast Buck Freddie’s. Each time without failure an out of town announcer would get on live TV and tell the world that in six hours 3 feet of water would be running down Duval. It never happens!

Roker should be there. Or…..at the Southernmost cone or on the White Street Pier.

Roker is located in a bland spot.

It’s 7 in the morning. Everything looks dark looking out. Supposed to be. Every window and door, except one, on my housed is boarded over with large sheets of plywood. The job was done yesterday afternoon.

I opened the garage door to go out to the front. Wind blowing about 20-30 mph. Palm trees blowing. Everything dark. Warm. Humid. Not bad. I would call it the calm before the storm.

Opened the lone door on the back of my house capable of use. Went onto the deck. Walked to the water. My deck is huge. 144′ x 40′. Then the ocean. The back of the house looked strange. Every orifice covered with plywood. My home looks deserted. Like some one just upped and left. Abandoned

The ocean is moving. Sizable waves developing. Not yet breaking. Very few white caps. Breaking waves and white caps will come.

Lisa and family arrived in the early afternoon yesterday. Lisa said Robert and Ally were already stir crazy. She had to get them out.

They arrived timely. I was getting ready to dump the deck furniture in the pool. Corey helped me. And Robert and Ally. We had a ton to throw into the pool. Four small tables, 8 chairs, 4 chaise lounges, 9 bar stools and some miscellaneous items.

This is Robert and Ally’s first hurricane. The last storm hit Key West six years ago. Robert and Ally are 8 and 7 respectively so have no recollection of a hurricane.

They helped dump the deck furniture in the water. Laughing all the time.

Before we started the dumping process, Ally took the four noodles out of the pool. She announced they should be in the garage and took them there.

My flashlights and candles are lined up. Appropriate food and water stored.

I am ready for Isaac.

Lobsterfest party last night at the Yacht Club. Big time fun! It was sort of a pre hurricane party also.

Lobsters available buffet wise three different ways. Stuffed, broiled and boiled. All you wanted. Delicious!

I had guests. Don and Christine, David, Jimmy and Joanie, Larry and Christine, and Herschel and Erika. Everyone ate, drank, and enjoyed.

Since it was my party, at the end I did something I have been doing frequently the past few years. I ordered shots of Patron Silver Tequila for every one. A piece of lime included. A toast was made and the shots all downed at one time.

Neil Armstrong died yesterday. Eighty two. The first man to walk on the moon!

I remember the event well. As I am sure most do who were alive at the time.

It was an evening in July 1969. Later in the evening,. Perhaps 11 or better.

I did at the time and still do consider the event the greatest achievement of man in my life time. It blew my mind. Man on the moon!

My four children were aged 7-12 at the time. Lisa was the seven year old.

They were in their beds sound asleep. I woke them all and brought them down stairs to watch the event on TV. I wanted them to remember it the rest of their lives.

They do not.

Nothing to do now but wait. Wait for Isaac. I will read and watch TV. At some point, the power will go off. No more lights, no more TV. That is the uncomfortable time. Flashlights and candles do not provide enough light power for anything. I have said many times and repeat now…..I do not know how Abraham Lincoln read law by candle light.

Enjoy your day! Talk with you tomorrow. Hopefully. Probably. Definately!

 

IT’S ALL ISSAC !!!

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It has started. During the night. Issac’s precursor. Forty mile winds and rain.

Issac is not scheduled to hit till sometime tomorrow evening or early Monday morning. By that time it will be a 1. Possibly a 2. Winds around 75-85 miles per hour, if a 1. Around a 100,  if a 2.

A pain in the ass! A bit of fear and trepidation is starting to set in. It is the unknown.

Complacency is evident. Reflected by all of us who live in the lower keys. It has been six years since the last hurricane hit. There have been numerous since, but none that affected us. Most hurricanes start out heading directly for Key West. People are told to evacuate. Hotels and businesses close down. Then the path of the storm deviates and it does not hit.

We thought Issac was going to be another one of those misses. Does not look that way at this point. Headed directly for Key West! Passing right over us!

No problem if Issac is merely a tropical storm or 1. A bit of a problem if a 2. But we will survive. If a 3, we are in trouble. A 4 or 5 and we could be dead.

Issac is projected to become a 1 before it hits Key West. Hurricanes are fickle. They change swiftly. Direction and speed. Could be a 2.

I started preparing yesterday.

Water is important. The water system breaks down or gets contaminated. Publix had little water left. I should be ok. I have about 60 regular size bottles and 2 gallon jugs. I will fill the bathtub with water tomorrow morning. If the water system breaks down, the toilets do not flush. That is the reason for the bathtub water.

I bought all kinds of goodies to eat that do not need to be refrigerated. The electricity is sure to go. If down a substantial time, everything in refrigerators and freezers spoil. There are few stoves, etc. run by gas. Electric is generally used. Cannot cook.

So it is peanut butter, crackers, cookies, tinned fruits that need not be refrigerated, bananas, apples, cakes, canned sodas, etc. Neither a normal not healthy diet. But hurricane time is sort of party time, so what the hell!

Today the windows must be boarded. The wind at the moment will not make it easy. I never purchased hurricane shutters. I have sheets of plywood I have used for years. They are marked as to which window or door. Adam will screw them in. By some point this afternoon, every window and door in my home will be covered, except for a small door leading to the deck. There has to be  a way in and out. It will be dark dark inside.

I purchased two additional flashlights yesterday at Home Depot. I have a ton of candles. Again, the electricity will probably go. Which means no TV also.

All deck furniture will be thrown in the pool. That is how it is done. Garbage pails and other incidental items will be stacked in the garage.

Then I will be ready!

Oh, I forgot. No air conditioning if the electric power goes. Very uncomfortable!

I have a party tonight. Though the one I am attending was planned, there will be many pre hurricane parties. That is how locals react.

Tonight is Lobsterfest at the Yacht Club. I am throwing a small party. Ten guests. It was supposed to be outside. Has been moved inside. Should be fun. I will bitch big time as I drive in and from the Yacht Club. Because of the rain and wind. It will be…..Louis. you are stupid…..you should have stayed home!

One other comment of note. Yesterday’s show was terrific. People are very much into the Todd Akin rape controversy. I spent about 20 minutes on the issue. Revealed the “doctor” authority Akin was relying upon. There are two. One is a medical school professor who takes the position rape sperm and the woman’s egg do not unite. He says generally ovulation does not occur in a rape situation. His authority are Nazi studies done during World War II at extermination camps.

Women were grouped together who were due to ovulate. They were placed in gas chambers. Everything was as if they were to be executed. But they were not. They screamed and reacted as if it was the real thing. They did not know. They were then retested and most had not ovulated.

Sick.

Ok…..this is it! Bring on your worst Issac. We are ready for you!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

HEART OK / ISSAC COMING

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Saw my heart doctor yesterday. Test results ok. Nothing different from last year’s tests. No new heart problems.

Why the pain? It has been more frequent this week. Doctor thinks it may be gastric. Two new pills added to my daily regimen.

It has been six years. Six calm years. No hurricanes. Issac is around the corner. Probably a Monday arrival.

Will it hit Key West? Present projections have Issac coming right over us. I think we are in for a bit of trouble.

Hurricanes are fickle. They move suddenly in a different direction. Hope it happens this time. The projected lines make me uncomfortable.

Presently, Issac is either a tropical storm or about to become one. That we could handle. It is thought Issac will be a 1 when it hits. One not bad. Maybe a 2.  Not bad again. With either, I and every one else in Key West will be staying.

The problem is that a 1 or 2 can suddenly become a 3. Then we would be in trouble. The die will have been cast, however. We will be stuck here.

The Yacht Club for dinner last night. With Sean and Katherine Kinney.

Sean and Katherine married two months ago. I could not attend. I was away in Europe. Last night’s dinner was my acknowledgement of their marriage.

Some of us had stuffed florida lobster. Others, steak. Both good.

Howard Livingston was at the bar when we arrived. Good friend, Howard. The problem is we rarely see each other. We hugged and chatted  briefly. Howard was with Paul Toppino and others. Howard’s group was concerned about Issac. As we all are.

I did not have dessert at the Yacht Club. On the way home, a desire for ice cream hit me. I stopped at Publix. Bought cappuccino fudge. Ate two dishes  when I got home.

This morning a haircut. Lori. Going to trim the beard a bit. It is starting to get unruly.

I found another company that made big dollars in profit and paid no tax. Travelers Companies. The President is Jay S. Fishman. He was paid $15,837,099 last year. Good for him! He is not my concern. It is the tax Travelers did not pay. Travelers paid no tax. Got a refund!  $176 million.

Something wrong here. It appears the United States survives on the taxes paid by the middle and low income classes. These two groups support the government. Big companies such as Travelers do not.

Something wrong with that scenario.

Enjoy your day!

TRUTH BEHIND CREDIT CARD MISUSE

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I advised yesterday that one of my credit cards had been used in London. Not by me. I have not been to London in six years.

The bank told me they were cancelling the card and to come in to sign for a new one. I did yesterday. Chatted about the credit card misuse with my bank representative. I was under the impression my computer had been hacked and the credit card number obtained in that fashion.

I was wrong.

While talking with the bank representative, I was told the bank had had a lot of London problems over the past few days. All similar to mine. Which meant…..The bank’s computer system was hacked. Not mine.

The card replacement fee was waived. However, I have to wait 7-10 days for a new card.

My big out of the house experience yesterday was lunch at the Yacht Club with a friend. Good food and good company.

Saturday night the Yacht Club is having its annual Lobsterfest.  It will be outside on the dock. I am putting together a party of friends. Should be a good time.

I felt out of sorts last night so stayed in.

Football is around the corner! College and professional. I love college ball. Find pro ball exciting since  it means Sundays at Don’s Place.

I am a liberal at heart. Generally watch the political talk shows on MSNBC. Occasionally I switch to FOX. Want to see what the other side is saying.

Last night was shocking! Each station said its party was ahead and how terrible the opposing party was. Both sides could not be ahead. Each side was finding evil in everything the other did.

Fair and balanced did not apply to either MSNBC or FOX.

Occasionally, I trip across a piece of interesting information. Taxes and how much a person or company pays is much in the news these days.  Vikram S. Pauht is President/CEO of Citigroup. He earned $14,857,103 last year. God bless him! We should all do so good! It is not his salary that is the point here. It is the taxes Citigroup paid. Zero. None. To make matters even worse, Citigroup received a tax refund of $144 million.

Only in the United States!

Todd Akin has to be the most recognized Congressman today. Whether for good or bad, his name is out there. Rape, forcible rape, and legitimate rape have made him quite identifiable.

Something is wrong when women’s rights are in the forefront of Presidential debate. Rights that were defined and settled in most instances more than fifty years ago.

When are the respective campaigns going to talk about Afghanistan and jobs?

American troops are being killed by Afghan military and police. Our friends. We should get out of Afghanistan and fast. These people bite the hand that feeds them.

Unemployment and the economy in general is killing the very essence of our country. The candidates are bogged down in rape. Even Medicare. We have heard both sides of the Medicare issue in exhausting depth. Enough is enough. Move on. People understand Medicare issues better today than ever before.

Enjoy your day!

 

AUTUMN IN NEW YORK

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There is a song that begins…..Autumn in New York.

I am originally from upstate New york. Way up. A 4.5 hour drive from New York City.

Autumn comes early. I always considered August 15 the start of Fall. Every year it was the same. All of a sudden in mid August, a morning chill in the air. A few leaves started falling. The pool was used less frequently.

I closed my pool the day after Labor Day Weekend. Every year. The weather had started turning. No one ever used the pool after Labor Day.  The leaves were more plentiful.  The leaves clogged the pool.

The proof of the pudding is the morning temperature. It is 51 in upstate New York this morning. The temperature will rise during the day. Into the 70s. The evenings will be cool and comfortable.

Merely for comparative purposes, the temperature in Key West this morning is 81. The high is projected to reach 89.

I walked yesterday morning. In Home Depot because of the heat. Afterwards, I headed over to Harpoon Harry’s for breakfast. Always a crowd. Enjoyed ham and eggs. Followed breakfast with a fast walk along the waterfront. The walk took me past Schooner Wharf. If not already done, some one should paint a picture of early morning there. A few breakfast eaters, a few early morning drinkers. The view from the dock into the heart of Schooner Wharf is always interesting.

Spent the afternoon reading, watching TV and snoozing a bit.

Last night was dinner with Lisa and the family. They were gone so long, we all missed each other big time. Ergo, dinner together two nights in a row.We did Sunday night at the Yacht Club. A buffet. Prime rib and turkey. Every one enjoyed.

Cameron is a senior in high school. Next year is college for him. Corey and Cameron visited three colleges this past week. All in Florida. Cameron has already been to New York University. An exciting time for Cameron. Everything is in front of him.

Before walking in the morning, Sloan and I worked. Primarily on the You Tube show being developed. We are getting there. We are at the stage of deciding where to present the show from. My Key West home of course. Wanted to do it outside with the ocean or MTV house as a backdrop. It did not work. The sun was too bright. The plan now is to do it either from the dining room or living room. If the dining room, there will be a Jack Baron painting behind me. If the living room, two paintings to be seen in the background.

I may very well do the show from both locations. Move it around.

Enjoy your day!