HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Belongs to the Irish. For this day alone, everyone is Irish.

Years ago, I did the Duval Crawl on St. Patrick’s Day. Drank green beer. Pissed green. Whooped it up.

No more. Time has caught up with me.

I look forward however to a good meal of corned beef and cabbage. Will do so with Donna and Terri.

Reservations generally required. Even with them, difficult to be seated timely. This year we are playing it smart. Take out from Shanna Key.

Parades a big deal this day. The only time I marched was when I was in college in New York City. I was in the Air Force ROTC. We marched in perfect precision up Fifth Avenue. A sharp eyes right as we passed St. Patrick’s Cathedral where the Cardinal sat.

Interestingly, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in New York City in 1762. As early as then there already was a large contingency of Irish living in New York.

Let me share with you an old Irish blessing: “May your troubles be less, your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.”

Yesterday, a party at a lovely home on the water in Sugarloaf. Hosts Anita and Tom. Great company and food. A magnificent setting sun.

Watched Syracuse defeat TCU last night 57-52. Another squeaker.

Next game sunday against Michigan State. CBS at 2:40 pm. Syracuse the underdog once again.

Big week ahead. Folks coming in.

Today or tomorrow, Don and Chris. Their wedding next saturday at the Hyatt. I see a week of partying ahead. Liver abuse time!

Tomorrow, Tom and Fran Dixon from Buffalo. Recently returned from a trip to Italy. Fran will be bringing me frozen sauce with meatballs, sausage and pork. If I am lucky, home made pasta. Tom and Fran excellent company.

I mentioned earlier this week that long time Key West artist Jon “Tosh” McIntosh had passed on. This weekend’s Key West Citizen has an Editorial Page “cartoon” honoring Tosh. Tosh was the Editorial Page cartoonist for 20 years.

We have bad leaders in Washington. Whose fault? Ours.

Leaders rise from the people. We elect them. Ergo, we are complicit in the fact that our President and Congress are bad or have gone bad.

All cause and effect.

We live in a time where power has gone mad. Two occurrences in the last 24 hours proof. The firing of Andrew McCabe and Trump suing Stoney Daniels for $20 million.

This morning’s news tells us that Russia has found its way into our power grid. The computers, etc. that control electricity, etc. By the push of a button, Putin can shut the U.S. down. Place us in immediate danger. Our nuclear weapons and other defense items work off electricity.

A President’s first obligation is to protect the people. Trump is failing/has failed. First, by his reluctance to acknowledge and do something about Russia’s intrusion into the 2016 election. Now the danger of Russia turning off the U.S.’s power grid.

I am old school. I believe people should stay married, children should live with two parents, etc. I am one of the divorced. My wife divorced me after 52 years. Ouch!

I mention divorce because it has been announced Donald Trump, Jr and his wife Vanessa are divorcing. Apparently her idea.

Divorce is a lifer changer. I feel sorry for both of them and their children.

Donald Jr. may find additional aggravation from Mueller as a result. Vanessa might decide to reveal whatever she knows which might be adverse to her husband. Though certain laws might bar such testimony by her because of marriage, it would not bar her from sharing any information she has with regard to Donald Sr.

A woman scorned thing.

Have we become a society where there is no shame? Michael Flynn is Trump’s former National Security Adviser who plead guilty several months ago to lying to the FBI.  He has opted to take a deal, is providing information to Mueller, and agreed to testify against Trump if it becomes necessary.

Flynn was recently in California. He campaigned with and spoke on behalf of the Republican candidate who is running against Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

Flynn was selling out America on a cell phone on inauguration day while Trump was being sworn in. Flynn seated several rows from Trump.

No one seems to care about character any more. For sure, Flynn, the Republican candidate he was speaking for, and the crowd that gave him a rousing cheer.

I am not sure why. Yesterday’s readership doubled. It happens occasionally. It had to be one of two blogs I wrote.

Enjoy your day.

 

CONFIRMATION…..NEW WORLD HAS ARRIVED

I am despondent this morning. Yesterday’s Senate vote the reason. The vote that passed the Senate Republican version of the tax bill.

What was a question in my mind now a reality. Government as we have known it gone. No longer of the people, by the people, for the people. Now government by and for large corporations and wealthy Americans. The people no longer count.

Patricians rule. Like 5 percent of the population. The rest of the people peons.

Money controls Congress. Its members bought. Thirty pieces of silver.

Michael Flynn. A nail in the coffin.

Finally got hot water yesterday afternoon. Without since tuesday. Cold showers and no shaving during that time.

Simple things do mean a lot. A warm shower!

Frankie the Plumber showed up to correct the problem. He and his wife Sandy friends. If I had known he was the fixer, I would have called him and had hot water the first day.

The problem took less than a minute to correct. The reset button was turned off.

Irma and Me selling. I am running into people carrying it and/or telling me they ordered it. Great!

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

Giorgio’s evening last night! Drinks at the Chart Room. Dinner at the Pier House’s One. I had intended to entertain Giorgio at Hot Tin Roof for dinner. Not able. Hot Tin Roof was having a private party.

Tom and Fran joined us at the Chart Room. One hour of great conversation. Tom and Fran recently joined the Sons and Daughters of Italy. Fran Italian.

Giorgio has decided to leave Key West tomorrow instead of monday. He is moving to the Villages. Already purchased a home there. His Key West home for sale.

I will miss Giorgio. We became good friends in the short year we have known each other.

Kevin and Che at the bar. I have not seen Che in months. He has become a recluse in his old age. He is one year older than me.

I thought it was Irma time again last night. Returned home at 9:30. No TV, wi-fi or land line. Comcast said it would take till noon today to repair. Fortunately, everything was up and running when I rose this morning at 6.

A big day today! I am seeing two friends I have only seen twice in 30 years. Bob and Helen Marks. I was their Best Man. They are in on a Viking cruise for the day. We will be having lunch at Louie’s Backyard.

Syracuse/Kansas tonight. Kansas ranked #2 nationally. An 11 point favorite. Early in the season. Let’s see what happens.

Conflict time tonight. The Christmas Parade. Immediately following the game. Hope to make the parade. Don’t know.

Tiger Woods doing well. In 5th place after two days. Seven strokes off. In the game!

History is a wonderful thing. We learn.

This morning’s Key West Citizen made mention of the cigar business in Key West in 1900. The Key West cigar industry turned out 1.5 million cigars this day alone in 1900.

Enjoy your day!

 

SALLY YATES…..A STAR IS BORN

Sally Yates is the Acting Attorney General Trump fired because she reported Michael Flynn’s lies, danger of being blackmailed, etc. to the White House. Yesterday was her day before a Senate Committee regarding her actions.

A star was born! A woman of unusual character revealed to the world!

Yates was unbelievable! Intelligent, capable, knowledgeable, prepared, honest, and straight forward. She did her job and was fired for it. The Washington mentality at work.

Yates was a life long public servant. She worked her way up the ladder in the Justice Department. She did not ask for this moment in the sun. It was forced upon her. She handled it well. Exemplary!

This is the type individual to be considered for a Supreme Court seat. A no bullshit up front person. Probably will never occur because neither Democrats nor Republicans could depend on her for a favorable vote.

Yates evidenced her ability best in handling questions by Senator Conyers and Senator Cruz. Both tried to sand bag her with stupid asinine questions. Obviously politically motivated. She handled everything they threw at her well. To the extent of even showing that they were not aware of subsequent changes in the law nor additional pertinent facts.

It was a pleasure watching her.

I had a 10 am morning meeting on Stock Island. Decided when it concluded to visit the new hotel at the end of Stock Island. Ocean Edge.

Wow! Magnificent!

Its outstanding quality is the silence. Not even a bird’s tweet. Another world.

I enjoyed lunch at the outside dining room.

Spent the afternoon preparing for tonight’s podcast show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A fast moving eye opening thirty minutes. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include Sally Yates, a robot update, a new kind of GMO modified food which escaped regulation, Big Pharma and superbugs, a Texas governor fighting sanctuary cities, an Oklahoma governor signing an anti-protest law, North Korea a major opium producer.

Also, the new French President a former Rothschild banker, Russia and Turkey begin construction of major pipeline to deliver Russian natural gas to Turkey and then Europe, and movie hero Steven Seagal denied entry to Ukraine for national security reasons.

Last night was Dueling Bartenders at Aqua. Terri White guest performer.

The largest crowd I have ever seen at the Dueling Bartenders event. Huge! Had to be Terri’s appearance. She performed outstandingly. Huge clapping and cries of excellence following each song.

Every one there to hear Terri. Among others, Bob and Lynda Frechette, Jean Thornton, Bobby Nesbitt, Liz, Mary, and Joseph.

A perfect evening.

Bobby Nesbitt next week.

The Historical Section of yesterday’s Key West Citizen made mention of a yesteryear house of ill repute’s madam. Alice Reid. She was sentenced to three years in jail for violation of the Mann Act. She brought ladies across state lines for purposes of prostitution.

I did not mention the event.

Diana Millikan e-mailed me. She reminded me I wrote about Alice Reid in detail in February. I forgot.

Went back and reviewed my comments. Longer than yesterday’s mention in the Citizen.

Reid was a madam. A well known one. Spent man years running two houses. Each at different times.

These were Navy days. A large contingency stationed in the Key West area. Customers galore!

Reid called her establishment Mom’s Tea Room.

The Navy was anti-prostitution. Brought federal and local police down on Reid many times. In addition to the morality issue, the Navy had too many venereal disease cases to deal with.

Whore houses as such are gone today. Replaced by escort services and socially acceptable strip joints/gentlemen’s clubs.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

TRUTH CAN BE SHOCKING

Wow! Would you believe! The way the Trump/Russia matter is playing out.

Michael Flynn may be given immunity. If so, he will blow 90 percent of the players in. Including Trump. The FBI generally gives immunity where it enables the government to get at some one higher up. Only one person higher up to Flynn as National Security Advisor. Trump.

The public does not understand immunity. The impression I get from comments being made. Later today on my Facebook video show, I plan on giving a short and simple rendition re immunity.

My yesterday began with a haircut with Lori. Good conversation. I always look forward to my visit with her.

Bocce last night. Don’s Place won 1, lost 2. Not a spectacular season in the making.

Date night. Not for me. For couples with child/children who need a babysitter. A night alone for Mom and Dad.

Glad Tidings Tabernacle on United is sponsoring a couples reconnect, reunite and resurrect evening. The Church will take care of the babysitting. A date night. Tonight. Check with the Church for details.

I reported re the syphilis epidemic yesterday. My numbers were wrong. Eleven cases instead of 10 in the last six months. Zero six months ago. Three of the cases women.

Some are calling for a revival and expansion of sex education programs in Key West schools.

There is a bill before the Governor awaiting his signature which sets forth the rules and regulations by which vehicles such as Uber and Lyft can operate.

Key West has been without Uber for 2 years. Key West began arresting drivers at the time.

The sense among Uber and Lyft drivers is that the legislation will be signed and they will be back to work in Key West. Several Lyft vehicles on the road already. Yesterday, the first Uber. In anticipation that the Governor will sign the legislation.

Her name Lelanette Roberts. Described as a Key West beauty. Lelanette disappeared August 2, 1949. Two and one half years later on March 31, 1952, her skeletal remains were found on Saddle Bunch Key.

Ship salvage was big business in Key West in the 1800’s. Those doing the actual salvage work were called wreckers. Well, not all. Some were called wrackers. Note the substitution of the a for the e.

Wrackers were originally from the Bahamas. They moved to Key West to do salvage work. They pronounced wreckers wrackers and spelled it similarly.

Man does not change. History does repeat itself.

ISIS beheads Christians who refuse to become Muslims. In 1492 Spain, Catholics put to death Jews who refused to convert to Catholicism.

Drinks today at 5 at Louie’s Backyard with Callie. The lady I met last week while at Louie’s. I am looking forward to it.

Enjoy your day!