ONE VOTE

Better late than never. Blog late. Sorry. Something arose that had to be dealt with. Pushing 2 in the afternoon as I begin.

Tomorrow will tell if Kavanaugh has made it to the Supreme  Court. The final vote.

Today, the Senate voted to advance Kavanaugh’s nomination Under Senate rules, the actual vote cannot take place for 30 hours.

It appears the matter will be settled by one vote. Two votes against required to defeat Kavanaugh’s nomination. Murkowski has advised she will be voting against. That leaves two additional no votes. Collins and Manchin.

Does either have the courage?

Chart Room last night. John, Steve and Cindy. Good conversation. Some dwelled on David Wolkowsky. Steve and Cindy lived in Key West in the 1970’s and observed Wolkowsky’s activities first hand. They also knew him. Cindy for many years was secretary to Jimmy Buffett. Wolkowsky and Buffet were partners in various business ventures.

My bedroom TV down again. This time for good. I cannot blame Comcast. The set is shot. Need to buy a new one.

The weather seems to be adjusting itself. Temperature down from 90 to 80. Last night cool. Weatherman predicts tonight will be clear and breezy. His heart tells us…..Stars on the water.

My dear friends Tom and Fran Dixon in Santorini. Envy them! One of the most beautiful places in the world. They sent me a photo of themselves. The look of happy honeymooners.

Tomorrow at 12:20 Syracuse/Pitt. Syracuse a 3 point favorite. I believe Syracuse will win by more than 20 points.

The International Monetary Fund is concerned the world economy might be at risk of another financial crisis. It reports debt is above the 2008 level. That and the fact that the banking system has failed to reform itself makes the Fund uncomfortable.

There are suspicions J. P. Morgan might be the Lehman Brothers of 2008. Several reasons. China’s debt is growing too rapidly. It is becoming volatile. Regulators are complacent. Finally, breaking of international agreements, especially by the Trump administration.

The talk is of a Great Depression.

Getting back to Kavanaugh and the Senate vote, it comes down to a battle between good and bad. From my perspective, Kavanaugh brings disrespect to the Court and could be the seed for a slow but deadly erosion beginning first with respect followed by decisions contrary to the public good.

The authoress Becca Fitzpatrick wrote: “Sometimes bad things have to happen before good things can.”

I hope she is correct.

Authoress Mackenzie Herbert wrote: “Bad things happen to good people. Rain always falls on the people who deserve nothing less than the sun.”

Happening to the women of the U.S. at the moment.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

 

Happy Fourth of July!

Independence Day. The birthday of our country.

Two hundred forty two years old. It was July 4, 1776 at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia that the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

We are a young nation. Compare our age to that of European nations. Still growing. Tensions abound. The Trump era crazy and dangerous.

America celebrates. Tonight, fireworks! In Key West, off the White Street Pier.

This past week has been strange politically. Relatively quiet. We have not heard from Rudy Giuliani and other Trump cohorts who were making the news. Are they quiet because of Michael Cohen on the verge of possibly flipping?

Cohen is making noise like Trump when he wants something. He is using the media. Cohen seems to be telling the Second District he wants to jump fence and play on their side. Thus far they have not picked up on his offer.

Spent yesterday afternoon fine tuning last night’s podcast. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Thoroughly enjoyed doing the show. Covered a multitude of sins. Wish I had had more time.

Casey joined me for dinner before the show. At Roostica.

Casey and his 70′ x 30′ catamaran sit in the water off Hogfish. Casey new to Key West. Been here all of 10 days. Yesterday, he took his dingy and visited Wisteria Island. He is interested in Key West lore. The day before he went out into the Gulf a bit and did some diving.

Jennifer waited on us. It has been two years since I last saw her. She was pregnant at the time and due any day. She proudly showed me her son’s picture. Two years old. A handsome little man.

Good friends Fran and Tom Dixon have arrived. Buffalo their home. They visit four times a year. Stay at Ocean Key. Tom is on the Board.

We are doing dinner tonight. Meeting at 6 at the Chart Room. My turn to host. Probably the A&B Lobster House. Plan on calling for a reservation since today is a holiday.

Fran is concerned for me. She thinks I am not well fed. She brings me food from Buffalo. Tonight, I will receive at least 4 jars of homemade sauce containing pork, sausage and meatballs. Plus low carb bread and home made candy.

Love the woman!

You have to believe in guardian angels! God, too! Two examples evidencing why.

A few days ago, the cruise liner Norwegian Gallery was 28 miles off the northwest of Cuba. A crew member fell off the ship. His fall seen. The ship backed up and searched. Could not find him. Authorities notified. Air and sea searches proved fruitless.

The next day, the cruise ship Carnival Glory was traveling in the opposite direction. Twenty one miles off the north coast of Cuba. Saw the crew member in the water. He was rescued. In good health.

The man had been in the water 22 hours. Treading. No life jacket. Fortunately the water is warm and calm this time of year. Even more fortunate, a shark did not come upon him.

Did the man have a guardian angel? No question in my mind. God was looking after him.

A Thailand event the other example.

A 12 member soccer team and their coach got lost in a mountain gave in north Thailand. The boys 11-16.

The cave is part of a huge mountain. Full of corridors of all sizes. Some entrances small. The boys had to squeeze to get through. The team was able to get down into the heart of the mountain about one mile.

Then stuck. Water all around them. The caves have flowing water in various depths.

They could not get out. Spent 10 days in the dark and without food. Searchers and divers arrived from all over the world. A total of 1,000 looking to provide assistance. Two British divers found them over the weekend.

All basically in good health. Food, water and medical assistance provided.

At this point it is clear the kids and their coach had a special guardian angel looking over them. God directing their rescue.

The rescue is not complete however. It has been raining since the team got lost. The rainy season. Every day. The rain sometimes six inches in an hour. Cave passage ways flooding.

The team will have to swim and dive in order to get out. A mile.

None know how to swim or dive. Present plans are to teach them how to swim and dive. Then take them out. Two professional divers guiding each team person.

It is estimated the plan will take months. However so far the only way determined to get them out.

Hope the guardian angels and the good Lord stay with them.

Children detained in chain linked cages. We should be ashamed! I do not understand how Trump supporters find nothing wrong with the scenario: “They broke the law.” “They brought their children into the U.S.” “They invited what is happening to them.”

For shame!

The Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis is expressing its concern and disagreement. Statues of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus sit on the lawn of the Church in a chain linked enclosed cage.

BOB says it is a holiday. He is not writing today.

Enjoy your Fourth!

 

I AM WOMAN

Two items of historical significance occurred this date, though in different years.

The year 1972. Helen Reddy’s brilliant song I Am Woman hit the top of the pop charts. A work for the ages. Perfect for the burgeoning women’s movement. One of its beginnings.

I Am Woman’s words involved personal empowerment. Identified women as a class unto themselves.

The song still with us today. Reflected in the sexual harassment issue facing society today.

Women have come a long way!

The other event of historical significance occurred in 1854. Alfred Lord Tennyson’s The Charge of the Light Brigade was published. The charge having occurred at Balaklava during the Crimean War.

I first read the Charge in high school. It resonates with me to this day. “Into the valley of Death / Rode the six hundred / …..Their’s not to reason why / Their’s but to do and die.”

Dinner at Donna and Terri’s last night. Donna cooked special for me. My diet. Pieces of beef. Delicious.

Terri looks better each time I see her.

The Lighted Boat Parade was scheduled for tonight. Canceled. Rescheduled. The weather.

Raining like hell already. Temperature has already dropped. Sixty nine at the moment. High will be 72. Mid to high 60s during the canceled Boat Parade. Sixty two when I wake tomorrow morning.

The cause has to be the snow storm moving northeast out of Texas. Key West will not experience snow. Don’t think we ever have. However, we are being hit with the outer limits of the storm. Cold and rain.

The Lighted Boat Parade has been rescheduled for next saturday.

The cold spell will be with us till thursday.

The Sheriff’s Animal Farm’s annual Christmas event tomorrow. One to 3. Wear a sweater or jacket.

What would Christmas be without Larry Smith? Larry’s annual Holiday Jazz Concert friday at The Studios of Key West. Always an enjoyable event. I will be there.

Wife Christine will be singing as only she can.

Leave well enough alone! My words directed to the Catholic Church.

Pope Frances announced he wants to reword the Lord’s Prayer. After 2,000 years!

His concern is with “Lead us not into temptation.” Claims it sounds like God is leading us into temptation when in reality it is the devil.

Blames the problem on the translations of the Lord’s Prayer over the years.

The Lord’s Prayer is part of the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christian traditions. Basically as presently worded.

There has been a movement in the Church towards the change for several years. Frances lending his support by his announcement.

The Catholic Churches of France and Spain have already adopted the change.

I remember years ago when the Catholic Church changed the Mass from Latin to English and mandated Church goers sing during services. I believe the Catholic Church lost half its followers because of the two changes.

God help Donald Trump! He needs it.

His very recent recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is having immediate consequences. Three days of fighting in the streets between Israelis and Palestinians. The violence is escalating by day. Yesterday, rockets from Gaza into Israel, retaliatory air strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip.

Trump is bristling to get us into a war.

Richard Cohen in a recent article in the Washington Post made several interesting comments re Trump: He “has made us a meaner, smaller people.” “Moral principal has been replaced by political cowardice.” “This is America’s darkest hour.”

Eugene Robinson writes for the Washington Post, also. He recently wrote that the Party of Lincoln has devolved into the Party of Trump. The GOP today belongs to Trump.

The Republican Party no longer can claim the mantle of honesty and purity.

Displaced boats in the lower Keys because of Irma exceeding the number anticipated. Thought to be 1,300. Up to 1,500 already raised and cleared. More to go.

Overall in Florida, 2,069 boats have already been raised.

Irma did its job!

The State immediately began replacing trees following Irma. The trees are replanted close to each other. We have learned that planting trees close to each other helps them survive strong wind storms. The trees break the wind and protect each other.

Syracuse/Colgate at 2 this afternoon. Syracuse will win.

Irma and Me’s sales numbers good. Higher than expected at this point. I am pleased.

Irma and Me is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and KoboBooks.

Thus far, Irma and Me is the only book written re a person’s experiences involving Irma.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter!

Happy Holiday!

There are two Easters. One religious, the other not.

The religious Christian. Recognizes Christ rose from the dead……He is risen, He’s not here!

The non-religious for everyone. The Easter bunny, baskets, small yellow candy chicks, chocolate bunnies, etc.

Did the non religious this morning. Just after the sun rose. The annual Easter egg hunt at Lisa’s. In the back yard. Robert and Ally searching for the colored eggs and gifts their parents had hidden.

Something for Jake, also. Never left out. An artificial bone, something to else to chew on, a ball, etc.

Jake as excited as Robert and Ally.

Followed by a huge Easter breakfast prepared by Lisa. Lisa made guzza (guzzad) again. Italian ricotta cheesecake. Second time. Excellent. Vanilla. Told her to move on next year to one with chocolate, cherries, green fruits, etc.

I am invited to four different dinners/gatherings this afternoon. Don’t know if I will make any. May just lay around all day. I am already bloated from breakfast. Will miss the holiday company, however. We shall see.

Began last night at the Chart Room. New bartender Maureen working. Her father bartended at the Chart Room 30 yeas ago for many years. A retired FBI agent. His name Ted. Was known as Ted the Fed.

Then to Hot Tin Roof. Glad I did. Jean Thornton was at the bar having dinner with Eddie. They finished. Eddie left. Jean stayed with me while I ate.

Then back to the Chart Room with Jean.  Che’s birthday last night. Eighty four. God bless him! He was not there. Did not answer his cell phone.

First time Jean met Maureen. They chatted away. Jean liked Maureen and vice versa. A friendship was born.

I drove Jean home. Her bike was broke.

The clamor yesterday on TV rising from the nationwide demonstrations calling for Trump to release his tax returns. Worry not. At some point in time  they will be revealed. Against Trump’s wishes. He will be able to do nothing about it.

The two Congressional committees can subpoenae them. As well as the FBI. Assuming all or at least one will have the balls to do it.

Enjoy this Easter Sunday!

FRIDAY THE 13th

Friday the 13th. A good day to stay in bed!

The day is the most superstitious day of the year. An ill omen permeates the day. An unlucky 24 hours. So it is believed.

Why friday the 13th? Two reasons. Jesus died on a friday. Thirteen persons had dinner at the Last Supper the night before.

So feared, during the Middle Ages no weddings were held on the day. Nor did many begin a journey.

Americans paid no attention to friday the 13th till the early 1900’s. In 1907, Thomas W. Lawson wrote a popular novel. Friday The Thirteenth. The boom disseminated the superstition big time.

Not all nations pay attention to the day as a superstitious one. Spain, Greece and Italy do with a variation or two.

Spain and Greece fear tuesday the 13th. Not friday. Italians, friday the 17th. Italians consider the 13th a lucky day.

Paraskeoidekatriaphobia. Big word. Too big even for the national spelling bee. It is the official name for fear of friday the 13th. Of Greek derivation.

A wonderful day yesterday!

As one gets older, the body becomes a garden. Things grow. Different shapes and sizes. Different colors. Some could become dangerous if not removed. All must be removed. The growths cannot be tested unless removed and sent to a lab.

My growth factor  is substantial. Yesterday, I had 28 removed. All on my face and head. They didn’t look bad till the doctor started snipping away. I looked beautiful afterwards. Ugh! Will continue to look beautiful for a week. It will take that long for the wounds to clear up.

Under the circumstances, I did not go out last night. A lot of oozing. Tonight, I will be out and about. All 28 spots covered with Vaseline. No one will love me.

My home town Utica, NY experienced an early summer yesterday. The temperature hit 80.  A cold wave coming in. It will arrive in the next few days. Probably down into the 50’s.

Sex perversity knows no bounds. We know it goes on. Sometimes however we are shocked where it is discovered/exists.

A part time Arkansas judge for 30 years recently resigned his judgeship. Following investigation. He was giving reduced sentences to young men in exchange for sexual favors. Generally done at his home. He liked to take suggestive photos. There are thousands of them. Sometimes, he paid the boys. By check. Investigators have the checks.

The judge even did it one time in open court. He had the boy show his back end. The judge photographed  him. Then dismissed the case against the boy.

I cannot understand why it took 30 years to discover what the judge was doing. Where were court staff and attorneys? Many had to be aware and said nothing.

This blog is carried on a dozen different sites. A new one was just added. Tumblr. The blog can be found at .keywestlou.tumblr.com/

I am not suggesting you change the site you are presently using. I merely wanted to reflect the growing nature of the blog.

Enjoy your day!

 

STRANGE RAIN

I have seen this before in Key West. Never mentioned it, however. Rain, no rain, and then rain again!

It poured big time around 6 last night for an hour. Heavy stuff. I was driving up Flagler. All of a sudden, no rain. The roadway was bone dry for about a half mile. Then, the storm again.

Not uncommon. I have seen it rain on one block and not on the other. Even across the street once. Lisa will occasionally call and say watch out, it’s raining. What rain? No rain in Key Haven.

My day yesterday started with the anti-gravity treadmill. Love it! I am still taking steroids. Today, the last day. I hope the problem is resolved. I am concerned the pain may return.

Then to the Conch Coffee Queen for Cuban cheese toast and cold Cuban caramel coffee. Read the newspapers. An ad for a painting grabbed my eye. I was shocked.

It was a 4 inch x 4 inch ad on the bottom right hand corner of the first page of the Life Section of USA today. For an oil by Jean-Paul Cassigneul, a French painter. No price listed.

Cassigneul is a contemporary  by reason of age. We were both born in 1935.

I bought a Cassigneul around 1970. Cheap. My recollection $200. Liked the work. He painted women. All beautiful, tall and slender. All from another era.

I never bought anymore because he was basically an unknown. Not any longer apparently!

My problem is I have to go back and find the painting. I did nor bring it to Key West. It is stored somewhere in Utica. I have no idea as to its value.

These happenings are unusual. They do happen, however. Many years ago, I purchased a small watercolor in a tiny shop on Route 20 in upstate New York. For $40. I never liked it. Always wondered why I bought it.

Two years after purchasing the painting (I cannot recall the artist’s name), I gave it to a doctor friend as a birthday gift. Several years later, he sold it for $14,000. The painter had become somewhat popular.

Oh, the pain!

Don’s Place first last night. I wanted to see David. David is captain of our bocce team. Bocce begins a week from thursday. The team will be shorthanded the first evening. Don is on vacation somewhere up north at his lakeside home, Stan and Claire are going to be in Michigan City.  There will only be 5 of us.

I was curious as to David’s plan re allocating team members. I should not have been concerned. He had it all worked out.

Had a drink with Grant before leaving.

Decided to try Sq. 1 again. The paper noted Sq. 1 was providing a 25 percent discount to locals. A light dinner at the bar. The meal inexpensive. I like the setting. I am not sure yet the food moves me. The issue is selection, not preparation.

There is no honor among thieves. Or is it, there is honor among thieves? I do not know. Not important. I merely want to note that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been arrested for securities fraud. So many State politicians arrested in recent years. Most convicted.

Then there are those Congresspersons who obviously dance to the tune of the rich. Not proper.

My KONK Life column which hits the stands tomorrow analyzes the issue. I call it The Stealing of America.

My blog talk radio show tonight at 9 my time. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Topics include the Federal judge in the NFL/Brady matter big time out of line, see Planned Parenthood videos before commenting, Lois Lener and immunity, Big Latch On month, the rich taking over America, and more.

I am not a religious man. I believe, but do not actively practice my faith. I am a fallen away Catholic. I preface what is to come because I do not wish to give the impression I am a church going Christian. Especially, a Bible totting one.

I would further preface my comments with the fact I have many friends of different faiths or no faith. Non-Catholic Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and atheists.

Somewhere in my readings yesterday, I came across the statement…..Lord, I am tired. I was at the moment. I googled the phrase to see what would come up. Jesus was tired and Jesus wanted to help people rest.

John 4:6 makes reference to Jesus being tired…..”Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.”

Matthew 11:28…..”Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

I especially like the Matthew quote.

Enjoy your day!

NEVER IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN CONFLICT…..

On this day in 1940, the Battle of Britain began. The Great Air War. It lasted 114 days.

Germany’s air forces significantly out numbered the Brits. The Germans more experienced. Yet the British beat the hell out of the Germans. So much so, that Hitler pulled all German air activity away from Britain and sent the planes to Russia. He could not afford to lose planes so rapidly. Germany’s air industry was unable to replace the planes as swiftly as the British were shooting them down.

Winston Churchill was preparing comments to be delivered to Parliament regarding the great victory. He penned the words while riding in the back seat of a car. Somewhat like Lincoln who penned the Gettysburg Address while riding a train.

He ran a phrase by a friend riding with him. “Never in the history of mankind….was so much owed to so few.” The word mankind seemed inappropriate to his companion. He asked, “What about Jesus and his disciples?”

Churchill changed the wording to “Never in the field of human conflict…..” The corrected sentence…..”Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

A haircut yesterday from Lori at Blown Away. Quiet. Only Lori and another working.

Summers slow for Lori. Even though there are many tourists in town this summer. Her business is made up of locals and snowbirds. The snowbirds are gone during the summer. Many locals on vacation. I was the only customer.

Lunched with KONK Life owner and publisher Guy de Boer at Roostica. We periodically get together for no special reason. An enjoyable luncheon. He has expanded KONK Life throughout the entire Keys. Key West to Key Largo.

I had some time to kill in the afternoon. Decided to write. It was back to Growing Up Italian. Two days in a row! Good for me.

Mel Fisher Days continuing. The J. B. Magruder has been commissioned into the Conch Republic Navy. Tomorrow a big day. The Duval Street festival. Afternoon and evening. The blocks around Sloppy Joe’s will be crowded. Music. Drinking, Partying. What people do at a Key West street festival.

Enjoy your day!