KEY WEST APPEARS SAFE

Missed the bullet again! So it appears. We get past tomorrow and everything definitely ok.

99L is still 99L. Has not reached tropical storm or hurricane strength. It will pass over us some time today and tonight. Big rain and wind. When it hits the Gulf, it may grow to hurricane status. Will not affect the Keys.

At the moment, 99L is near Cuba.

Better safe than sorry. I finally hurricane shopped yesterday. Even if only for a couple of days of rain and wind.

Not expensive. Probably because I did not buy enough. I have no faith that the storm will have increased in strength when it goes over Key West.

$80 covered everything. Two flashlights and a battery operated lamp at Home Depot. Crackers, peanut butter, jam, sardines, fruits and puddings already prepared that do not require refrigerating, gallons of water, bottled water, etc. at Publix.

A sign that the storm is not being taken seriously was Home Depot and Publix. When a storm is around the corner, they feature everywhere water, flashlights, batteries. Publix, certain foods.

No such displays yesterday.

Another indication that a problem may be ahead are the shelves of bottled water. Non-existent. Yesterday, not even a dent.

For those unaware, foods must be purchased that do not require refrigeration. Electricity is the first to go. Galloned water needed to flush the toilets. the plumbing screws up.

My plan was to spend yesterday afternoon researching this week’s KONK column. I would then write it today.

I started around 2. Did not get far. Pop ups. Multiple full page ones. Not with every site. Definitely with the sites I needed for research.

The column will be about Mylan, its CEO Heather Bresch, her father Senator Joe Manchin, and Epi Pens. The connection between politics and corporate America. Favors done. A today issue. As regards Mylan, on the verge of becoming explosive. A shameful situation.

I telephoned Tim Reynolds in Tampa. Used to live and work in Key West. Computer guru. does it for a living. He is hooked up to my computer so he can take care of problems.

Took four hours to get rid of the pop ups. A pain in the ass! By the time the problem was corrected, I was exhausted. I was working along with Tim.

Not in any condition to research. Not even go out. Put the research off to today. Research and write in one day. Onerus!

I got up at 5 and sat at the computer immediately. Research complete. I will write this afternoon.

I love my roots. Utica, NY. Unfortunately, economically depressed more than sixty years. My brother in law Robert Palmieri is Mayor. He has a thankless task in trying to get things going.

A study was recently done re the 10 worst places to live in New York State. Utica was #9. I would have expected it to be closer to #1. Reasons included crime, jobs, income levels, and cheap homes.

The sole favorable report was that General Electric was returning. Many many years ago, GE was one of Utica’s major employers.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

CROCODILES CLAIM THEIRS

Two photos in this morning’s Key West Citizen kick off today’s blog.

The first of a crocodile. The picture not of concern. The place where taken is.

The four foot crocodile was photographed off the seawall on South Roosevelt Boulevard. One quarter mile from Smathers Beach.

The crocs are moving in. Not in large numbers yet. But every few months another sighted.

It bothers me. Whether Orlando was a croc or alligator, I do not recall. However, the story of the 2 year old frightening.

Many tell me the area belonged to the crocodiles and alligators before man arrived. It is their home man has taken. The crocs are merely reclaiming what was theirs.

The other photo was a 1967 one of the newly constructed Key West Towers. Ain’t no more Key West Towers in Key West. Looked like Key West by the Sea to me. Could not be, however. I have always been under the impression that Key West by the Sea was initially Navy offices and barracks during World War II.

Did a little internet searching. Hard to find a Key West Towers. Finally found an historical piece advising that Key West by the Sea was built in 1967, Ergo, Key West by the Sea initially was Key West Towers. The Navy never was involved.

My day yesterday began with a manicure with Tammy. Tammy is Vietnamese. Wears her black hair long. Yesterday it was streaked. Typical woman. She wanted a change.

Looked good. The Americanized version of a Vietnamese beauty.

We were engrossed in conversation while she worked on my nails. An hour after I left, I discovered she had forgotten to buff the nails on my left hand. One hand is bright and shiny, the other bland and dull.

I am returning thursday for a pedicure. She can fix my nails at that time.

I was hungry hungry. Decided on 5 Guys. It had been a long time. I knew I would be sorry when I finished. I was. Shot over to Home Depot to work the bloat feeling off by walking.

Last night, Aqua. Monday cocktail time is Dueling Bartenders. I enjoy the place. The mixture of music is delightful. They play and sing old, relatively new and in between music. I am not familiar with today’s music. 1940s, 50s and 60s is what I know and recall. I get my shot of it monday’s at Aqua.

Tom Luna bartending. Always bartending. A magnificent voice.

Tom has been in Key West close to  30 years. Arrived January 2, 1989 and never left. He has achieved iconic status. Everyone loves and respects him.

Goddess Galore aka Rick Dery was not to be found.

Beatrix Dixie was working the bar and singing along with Tom. I am relatively new to Aqua on a steady basis. I suspect Beatrix is new. Not sure. Whatever, she is a beauty! Sultry. sexy.

Beatrix has an ass, boobs, great legs, lovely face, wonderful hair. Even her voice is feminine. Looks real. Hard to tell.

A couple of weeks ago, Sheila was around the corner of the bar from me. Beatrix was singing. First time Sheila had seen her. Sheila came to me and said…..Would you believe! A compliment to Beatrix’s talents.

Tonight my podcast broadcast. Tuesday talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Generally, I am behind. This week, I have already prepared three times the material needed. My problem this afternoon will be to pick and choose. Then organize.

I am beginning to receive comments to the show. Same as those of you who comment here. One difference. So far, all nice. Listeners must be a different breed of people from readers.

Enjoy your day!

SOME KEY WEST HISTORY

Big trees from little acorns grow…..

The Pier House Motel opened this date in 1968. Fifty units. From that modest beginning, the Pier House of today grew. Key West’s premier hotel.

My friend from physiotherapy David Wolkowsky responsible. The 50 unit motel was his brain child. The hotel’s growth guided by his hand.

David is 96. God bless him!

David has been responsible for more than merely the growth of the Pier House. Key West is his baby! He made it what it is today.

Mom’s Tea Room was once a popular place. Always busy. A man’s place. A whore house, house of ill repute, bordello. It is no more.

On this date in 1941, Mom’s Tea Room was raided. Three prostitutes arrested.

Not Mom’s first raid/arrest. The U.S. Navy a thorn in her side. Weighed on local government to close down the place. The Navy believed the place was not healthy for its men.

This is not the first time this blog has reported on Mom’s Tea Room. Twice before. April 9, 2015 and February 8, 2016. More detail in each writing. The blogs are archived on www.keywestlou.com. Right hand side of page, scroll down. Find month and year. Click on. Find date.

The owner of Mom’s Tea Room was Rose Rabin. She ran three places over the years. One off and on Stock Island through 1953. Another on Truman Avenue before World war II. The third a post World War II place known as the Imperial Club. The Navy was on her ass re all her clubs.

Whore houses are a thing of the past. Today are primarily escort services and gentlemen’s clubs (strip clubs). Services the same. Merely obtained via a different method.

Walked Home Depot yesterday. Only 15 minutes and at a slow pace. Exhausted afterwards. Concerns me.

While walking, I heard from Dee. She was calling from somewhere in Michigan.

Dee worked 30 years for AIDS-Help here in Key West. Her boss during those years died this week. She was in Michigan to attend his services. She is scheduled as one of the speakers.

Dee was a wreck. Crying. Understandable.

Stopped at Walgreens. To pick up Nexium generic for my acid reflux.

I am pissed at pharmaceutical houses and insurance companies. I have a drug policy through AARP. Does not pay everything. Always a co-pay. Then there is the donut.

I have been taking two Nexiums a day for years. My co-pay $40 a month. A couple of months ago, the price out of pocket for me became $174. No way! I switched to the generic. The generic costs me $41.50 a month. Slightly more than the for real pill.

Generics are supposed to be cheap.

I talked to Walgreens, the insurance company and the pharmaceutical house at the time. The insurance and pharmacy houses not nice at all. Actually impolite. Basically, the prices can be raised at any time. The judgment that of the pharmaceutical house. Take it or leave it!

F–k ’em!

Excuse my exasperation.

Back Door last night with Mark Watson. David there. Met Tim and Todd. John, who I had met before.

Tim and I talked quite a while. He manages Joe’s Chicken Shack on Duval. Another place for me to try.

Then to Outback’s for dinner. Ran into Doc. I only know him as Doc. Never have known his real name. We played golf weekly 20 years ago. I rarely see him now.

I was thrilled when he told me how much he loved my KONK Life column, reads it every week, etc. Thought I spent all week researching.

Doc made my night. It thrills me whenever someone compliments the column. I take pride in it.

The local hospital problem a real one. Will be ongoing quite a while. There will be some resolution. How much, difficult to determine.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reported the City Commission was having a meeting tonight re the issue. The Citizens’ Committee, hospital representatives and public invited.

Key West’s City Commission is inept. Typical politicians. Want the public to know they are doing something. Generally not the right thing.

Certain Commission members are prepared to sue the company that owns the hospital. I believe it not the time, if ever. A lawsuit is only going to screw things up, delay resolution, etc.

Whatever, the Commission blowhards seem committed to a lawsuit. Then the problem is off their shoulders. Let the City Attorney worry about it. Blame delays and lack of resolution on the lawsuit.

In the mean time, what about patients? Any lawsuit will delay resolution of patient problems for years.

Enjoy your day!

PETS FOR DINNER

When I started this blog oh so many years ago, the purpose was merely to share with the world what I had done the day before. My Key West life. As time progressed, I found I enjoyed pontificating. So I added some political/social commentary.

Understand, some days I do nothing. If so, there is nothing to report the next day. No one can go full blast every day.

Yesterday was a slow one for me. Hard working. However not in the bars and grills of Key West.

I started the day with an early morning walk at Home Depot. I continue to be a good boy. Walking and watching my food.

Returning home, I began fine tuning last night’s podcast. My blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

I found I had accumulated too much data. Too many topics. A busy week world wide. Needed to cut back the volume, organize the progression, and fine tune  the show.

Took longer than normal. A lot more. Maybe I was slow.

As reflected, a busy week. Much happened. Most of which was worthy of discussion. Only so much can be fit in a half hour show however.

One of the items I did comment upon involved Venezuela. I have been following, writing, and talking about Venezuela since the country ran out of toilet paper four years ago. They are still experiencing a toilet paper shortage.

A food shortage as well. Worse in its impact than the toilet paper shortage.

There is no food available for purchase. Assuming there was money to pay for the food.

The farmers stopped growing long ago since it cost more to raise the crops than they could get selling them. Store shelves are empty. Few working. Electricity scarce. Most businesses permitted to operate only one day a week because of the power scarcity.

It has come down to the following. Families are killing and eating their pets. Dogs and cats. Others are abandoning their pets along highways because they cannot afford to feed them. Hunters are going out and shooting the abandoned pets. Then returning home and using them for food.

There is another world out there. One not involving immigrants, ISIS, Trump or Clinton.

Thank God it is not our world. May it never be.

Trump’s numbers are up this week. Concerns me. I fear he may win. It would be destructive for America.

I feel Trump would drag us into a dark place. One none of us want. His moment in history comparable to Hitler’s in the 1930s.

Wednesday is hump day. For me, it is screw off day. I have nothing to do.

This week’s KONK Life column The New Prostitution hits the stands at 5 this afternoon. Read it. Surprising material..

Enjoy your day!

 

 

VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE

Dallas last night. St. Anthony and Baton Rouge a few days earlier. Multiple black killings by police officers the past several years.

You know the facts. I want to share a few sayings that from my perspective apply to the Dallas killings: Violence begets violence. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. You hit me, I’m going to hit you back harder. What goes around, comes around.

The problem is now totally out of hand.

One positive: Cell phone cameras.

A couple of items involving Key West notables.

Ernest Hemingway. Beloved Key West resident for ten years. Hemingway was wounded this day in 1918. Severely wounded. He was 18 years old. An ambulance driver with the Red Cross. Stationed on the Italian-Austrian front.

A mortar shell landed nearby. Some were killed, others wounded. Though severely wounded, Hemingway carried one of the other wounded out of danger. Hemingway had no recollection of the event afterwards. The Italian government awarded him a medal for valor.

John Spottswood. A Key West icon. His name will be remembered for all time as one of those who made Key West great.

Spottswood was a four term sheriff and a four term state senator. Also, a big Democrat. He owned at one time the Casa Marina and La Concha hotels.

He fathered four sons. All successful business persons today. All contributors to the Key West scene.

I only know one. Robert Spottswood. And, his wife Elena. Two better people do not exist. First class in every respect.

Interestingly, the Spotswoods today own the Marriott Beachside. One of Key West’s finest hotels. Robert is responsible for the management of the Marriott Beachside.

PT-109 was being filmed in 1962. The story of John Kennedy during World War II. The movie was filmed on Munson Island. Today known as Little Palm Island.

John Spottswood owned Munson Island at the time.

As a side note, Cliff Robertson played Kennedy. Many years later, I was privileged to meet Robertson. He was ancient in appearance. Clear in mind. Dapperly dressed.

He was in Key West to head up an international fund raiser for the Mel Fisher Museum. He was Honorary Chairman.

Oxitec. The British company that wants to test their genetically modified mosquitoes in Key Haven. They found another guinea pig. The Cayman Islands. The testing begins next week.

This does not mean the Key Haven test is dead. Don’t know.

Yesterday morning, it was a haircut with Lori. Her husband’s name is Jamie.

Then a walk. I did it in Home Depot. Air conditioned. The humidity outside too heavy.

My column in KONK Life this week is Who Pays for Booze and Balloons? The financing of national political conventions. It is estimated each convention will cost $100 million this year.

The column hit the stands yesterday. It was linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. www.keywestlou.com. It also was run in this morning’s KONK E-Blast.

Enjoy your day!

RESEARCH

A considerable amount of my time is spent researching. For everything I do. KONK Life column, blog talk radio show, the daily blog, and for the books in process I am writing. I enjoy/love doing it!

Permit me to briefly share what goes into the weekly KONK Life column as an example.

First, I need a topic. A subject to explore. I search for the generally unknown. Also for one that appeals to me personally. When a topic crystallizes, I search the internet for further information.

The unfortunate thing is that after I give the topic the internet run, it turns out not to be as I thought. So it is back to searching for a topic again.

I am supposed to have the column into KONK Life by wednesday each week for publication the following wednesday. It is thursday this week and I do not have a column yet. It could take me through sunday. The two items I thought had appeal fell apart upon research. I am still looking. I fear not. Something always comes up. Like a bolt out of the blue!

A good chunk of my yesterday was spent researching.

The only break was a walk once again at Home Depot.

Last night was Don’s Place. I stopped in around six. Don, David and John at the bar. I sat with them. The chatting continued for more than two hours. First with all three. Then we lost David. John followed soon thereafter. It was Don and me till Larry showed up. The three of us finished the evening..

A good time out. Pleasant company. Many things discussed. One of course was bocce. We play tonight. Our team has started with a bang. We are 8-1. The team we play tonight is 9-0. The opposition is a good team. Better than us. We have had experience with them. They beat us the last two times we played.

It will be an interesting evening.

Syracuse plays its final game of the season saturday. Against North Carolina State. Both teams are 18-12. Should be a good game.

Have to hustle. A haircut appointment with Lori this morning.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

GREAT THEATER

Netanyahu’s speech yesterday was great theater. Better than any State of the Union address. The content worthy of the Biblical expression…..Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

He indicated he knew the contents of the US/Iran deal. Does not surprise me. Israel has the best intelligence service in the world. My problem with the talk was that it offered no alternative. Merely that a better deal should be had.

I took what he said with a grain of salt. This is the same man who said authoritatively that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction back when Bush and Cheney were promoting an Iraqi invasion.

The Republicans beamed as never before. They had insulted the President.

While I am at it, a comment re Petraeus. The mighty shall fall. Unfortunate in his case. The man was an exceptional military leader. Similar to Eisenhower. Considered Presidential timber.

We have lost what might have been a great leader. He took a bite of the apple.

My blog talk radio show was last night. Love doing it! I talked about everything. It was that kind of evening. Actually, week. Many things happened.

The topic that garnered the most interest however was my advising a new type banking on the horizon. At some point, banks will pay you to take out a loan and charge you for holding your deposits. A reverse! Already being done in many European countries. So far in the U.S. only by J P Morgan Chase with big accounts.

My yesterday began with a manicure. Tammy always good company. Then a walk at Home Depot. Followed by a business meeting downtown.

The World Almanac section of this morning’s Key West Citizen set forth that there were 77,865 ready people in the U.S. waiting for body transplants. Makes it easy to understand why the black market in body parts is such a big business. Most body parts go for $100,000 to $150,000. Even ISIS is in the  business. They remove body parts from some captives. Men, women and children.

This week’s KONK Life hits the stands at 5 this afternoon. My column this week is on the light side. The Minnie Ball Pregnancy. I guarantee you will find it amusing.

Enjoy your day!