SARAH IS BACK IN TOWN

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Dinner at Roostica last night. The sunday pasta special. Sat at the bar.

Sarah bartending! Back from Greece!

Excited. The trip flowed from her lips. No question she had a good time.

Three days in Athens. The balance of the trip on the island of Crete.

Sarah is a hiker and runner. I was unaware. Her days in Crete were spent hiking through one mountain pass to another and back. Or, up a rocky hill and down.

I would have died!

She had a wonderful time. I have to dine at Roostica more often to get caught up re the entire trip.

The Debate. I kept waiting for the shoe/bomb to fall. Never did. Donald was generally good. The result of the debate was a tie or I’d give Donald the edge.

I remain anti-Trump. His being a thug and bully evident. The man is not qualified in any respect to be President.

Trump and his team say the tape is of no consequence. Eleven years old. Bill Clinton’s shenanigans are more than 20 years old.

Fantasy Fest around the corner. One of the top events each year is Headdress Ball.

This year Headdress will be held under a gigantic tent at Truman waterfront. Tom Luna the emcee. Christopher Peterson and Terri White making special appearances. And of course the Headdress participants.

This years’ event will be the 34th. A record!

I know Headdress Ball from its Pier House days. On the beach. Thousands of people all over the property. Great show. A fun time!

Larry Smith was active with Headdress for many years. Some as Director. Always did an excellent job.

Headdress Ball is held on thursday night. There is another prime event that evening. Sloppy Joe’s Toga Party. Which spills out of the bar and covers 2-3 blocks of Duval. The ladies occasionally showing a personal body part in exchange for beads.

Between Headdress Ball and Toga Party, thursday night my favorite Fantasy Fest time.

Now my enjoyment will be limited to Toga Party. The Waterfront site is too far away for me to make both. I am not complaining, however. I am a voyeur at heart. Toga/bead exchanges more than enough to make my evening.

My bocce team continues to do good. Actually, excellent! Won all three games again thursday. Now 11-1. Tied for first with Hell’s Rangers. The best of the best for years. An interesting match when the two teams meet.

Again, I point out the team is doing better without me than it did with me.

Most of the Atlantic beaches devastated by Matthew are gone. Especially dunes. Have to be fixed. I  observed correcting such a beach problem following Wilma. Key West’s Smathers Beach. Smathers had no dunes, however.

The surge blew the sand across the road. Piled it high between curb and the treeline behind. Like 20 plus feet.

The area stunk. Smell horrible. The sand replete with dead fish and I don’t know what else.

The beach correction a simple process. Two fold.

First, the sand piled on the other side of the street was filtered. A huge screen. Lets the sand pass through. The dead fish and everything else held by the screen.

The sand spread over the former beach.

Still not enough sand. Sand had to be brought in. It is purchased from elsewhere and driven in in dump trucks. The sand dumped on the beach and spread.

Voila! Smathers Beach was as before.

I am trying to recall where the sand came from. Something tells me Bermuda. I could be wrong.

The worst Vice President of modern times was Spiro Agnew. He resigned this date 1973 from the position. After pleading guilty to income tax evasion. The tax evasion charge was based on his taking kick backs while Governor of Maryland and continuing to receive them while Vice President.

I never liked Agnew. He was a law school graduate who never really practiced. Became an Allstate claim adjuster. Allstate claim adjusters back then were not nice guys.

During the campaign, Agnew spoke in extremely disparaging terms about those protesting the Vietnam war. Venom fell from his lips.

The man was a bully. I thought a little crazy, also. He got what he deserved.

Oh, he ran as Vice President on Richard Nixon’s ticket. Nixon resigned less than a year later. Birds of a feather.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

HEMINGWAY RECALLED

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The past few hours have been Hemingway time! Hemingway time recalled.

I stayed in last night. I was tired. Watched TV. Hit a gold vein! Hemingway’s For Whom The Bell Tolls. The 1943 movie starring Gary Cooper.

Woke at 4 this morning unable to sleep. Turned on TV. The gold vein had not run out. Hemingway’s A Farewell To Arms playing. The 1932 movie starring Gary Cooper.

I believe A Farewell To Arms was Hemingway at his best.

More Hemingway.

Hemingway frequented Sloppy Joe’s. He and Joe were best of friends. Hemingway started drinking at Sloppy Joe’s when it was located on Green Street.

Late in the evening on this day in 1935, Joe moved his business to its present location on Duval. Hemingway helped him move. Carried tables and bar stools. Took the ceramic urinals home. Those urinals today are hooked up to the water system and supply the cats who make their home at the Hemingway House on Whitehead.

A special morning weather wise. Absolutely no breeze. Water calm. Like a mirror. Sky blue. No white clouds. There is a taste/smell in the air. Of spring, not summer. Interesting since the past two weeks have been humid and I have been describing it as summer time having arrived.

Lunched at Waterfront Restaurant yesterday. Business poor. Few customers. I ate at the bar. Was not crazy about my lunch. First time I have felt that way. I am concerned for the viability of this generally fine Key West restaurant. I wish the proprietors good luck. They have big dollars invested.

Road construction in the area did not help. Lower Caroline and the huge parking lot being repaired at the same time. What idiot in City Hall made that decision?

Big race saturday morning! The Zero K Race. Course is the length of Cow Key Bridge. Three hundred feet. 1,500 runners expected. Many dressed as cows. Record time 23.1 seconds. Some will be out to beat it.

This week’s KONK Life column is titled When education Fails, A Nation Fails. It is on the stands. Also linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. .keywestlou.com.

Navy Seal commandos have returned. They are training in Key West harbor waters.

Merle Haggard died. A country music icon. He had 38 #1 country hits.

When we think of the American Revolution, it is of the land battles. Concord, Lexington, New York, Trenton, and Saratoga are recalled. Rarely do we hear of the naval battles.

Today is significant in the annals of naval battles at the time. On this day in 1776, there was a second Lexington battle. The U.S. warship Lexington defeated and captured the British warship Edward off the coast of Virginia. A big win for our new country.

Part of Key West folklore/history is Count Carl Von Cosel. His lady love Elena Hoyos died. He stole her body. Kept her in a bed for several years while treating her in every possible way to make her appear alive.

An attempt is now being made to memorialize the event. The Morbid Anatomy Museum is located in Brooklyn. Ronni Thomas is a filmmaker in residence and director of the film.

Funds are being raised to produce the film. $50,000 the goal. Thus far $5,550 raised. Deadline for the fund raising is April 26.

Von Cosel’s a Key West bred story.

Take a look at the website re the film. An historical document. Interesting. http://bit.ly/voncosel.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

JIMMY BUFFETT / KENNY CHESNEY

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A lot to cover this morning.

Jimmy Buffett was in Cuba during the Obama visit. There is a photo of him on the internet joking around before the baseball game. Proper that Buffett be in Cuba these recent important days. He’s Key West’s man. Got his start here. He and Key West one.

While Buffett was in Cuba, Kenny Chesney was in Key West. Saturday at Sloppy Joe’s. A free concert. Traffic gridlock. People clogging the streets who could not get in. Sound equipment set up so they could hear.

I approve of Obama’s visit to Cuba. However a sense of hypocrisy overrides the visit. Obama publicly criticized Castro for human rights violations. What about Guantanamo? Our shame, our human rights violations.

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Yesterday busy busy.

Spent the afternoon fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Did the show at 9. The Maldives tale drew much interest. Most people 30 and under have been divorced three times. Not a burden, not a cross. Getting married and divorced cheap and easy.

The Maldives have the highest divorce rate in the world. Reason. Horniness. For real.

Did Happy Hour at Martin’s with June. Her friends Peggy and Wayne joined us. Great conversation. Included Catholicism as it affected all of us growing up.

Then to Aqua. Aqua Idol finals. My friend Howard Livingston judging and performing. Stopped by to say hello. He had not yet arrived.

Left June at Aqua. She wanted to see the show. I headed over to Larry and Christine’s. They were having a party. Their parties always good. Everyone there. Including my former bocce team and his. I stayed two hours and left. Had to hurry home to do Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

Larry advised he went to Yankee Jack’s memorial service at the Bull and Whistle sunday. A good crowd. I don’t know how he knew. The event was not publicized in the paper. I would have gone. Loved Yankee!

Big day in American history. On this day in 1775, Patrick Henry uttered his famous words: “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”

Anna back home in Novara. She e-mailed what is happening. The Brussels bombings impacted life in the Mont Blanc area where she had been skiing over the weekend.

Mont Blanc is the highest point in Europe. Majestic. The roads do not go over Mont Blanc. Several mile long tunnels have been constructed beneath the mountain.

To get back and forth between Italy’s Courmayeur and France’ s Chamonix, a tunnel drive. Long.

Anna returned monday to Novara. Part of her trip was driving through the tunnel. Brussel’s explosions yesterday/tuesday. Anna reports authorities thought the tunnel was in danger. Italian and French military and police were all around and in the tunnel. The tunnel closed down , of course.

Immigration a problem Italy. Not so much Muslims from the Middle East. Rather, Muslims from North Africa.

Ann a wrote me of a tragedy which occurred sunday. A Romanian immigrant involved rather than one from North Africa. He tried to rob a 22 year old girl on the train connecting Novara and Milan.

A train I have taken many times. One Anna takes frequently. He hit the girl in the head with a hammer. Fractured her skull. He has been arrested for attempted murder. She operated on for a fractured skull.

The two dead Brussels terrorists must be disappointed. No 21 virgins.

Remember George Carlin. A great comedian in the 1960s and 1970s. Prone to use off color words during his shows. Carlin had a litany of seven dirty words. He described them as “filthy words.”

The words were shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker and tits.

Mom, forgive me!

He was arrested for using them on one occasion

In 2000, a law was passed establishing the U.S. National Recording Registry. To be maintained in the Library of Congress. Today Carlin’s seven dirty words become a part of the Registry. He joins such other memorables as the song I Will Survive and Martin Luther King’s I Have A Dream.

Qualification for entry to the Registry is that the recorded words must be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

Carlin’s words acceptable on TV and in movies today. Not used often on regular TV. Used as they fit in on cable TV. Legal since 2010.

As with the Virginia Slims advertisement of many years ago, we have come a long way!

Syracuse plays Gonzaga friday in the Sweet Sixteen. Game time 9:40. Hope I can stay awake.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

TOGA TOGA TOGA

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This is the night! Perhaps the best of Fantasy Fest! Toga Party!

The place Sloppy Joe’s. Inside and out. The street packed.

Men and women wearing white togas. More women than men. Togas skimpy.

It is negotiation time. The key for the ladies is to get as many beads as possible. The men want to see and the women are willing to show. First, the breasts. Then a move downward, front and back. Each a separate transaction. The lower the body part exhibited, the more expensive. Breasts go for one ring of beads. The southern exhibits, two or more.

Ain’t nothing under the toga or covering the privates.

I suspect I enjoy Toga Party best for three reasons. First, I am a voyeur. What a bad boy am I! Second, I am a man. Men are visual. We enjoy looking at naked women. Third, I never got to a toga party while in college. Remember the movie Animal House? I went to a Catholic college and we did not do those things.

Years ago, I would not have missed the Toga Party. In recent years, they are not as important any more. Tonight, I have bocce. Bocce supersedes toga. An age thing, I suspect.

I watched the Republican debates last night. Each Republican debate is worse than the previous one. I don’t understand. There is much talent on the stage. The moderators are a major problem. Last night’s were the worst. The questions stupid, no respect for the candidates, not fair with follow ups.

Mike Huckabee got into something close to my heart. Social Security. He talked about the $3 trillion the government in effect stole from the Social Security Fund.

My day yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. The power went out while I was on the machine. About 10 minutes into my workout. Power failure common in the Keys. Some people left. Never know how long these things last. I waited it out. Locked into the treadmill. Power returned in fifteen minutes. I was glad I waited.

My next  chore was to get the flat fixed. The tire was sitting on my back seat. With a rim in it, the tire would not fit in the Volkswagen Beetle trunk.

Got to Sears at noon. Told it would take to 4 or 5 before car was done. I suspected it would take that long. I was like 88th in line!

I left the car. Walked over to Regal Movies. I figured I would have lunch and then go to the movies. That would kill the 4-5 hours.

No afternoon movie available at the theater.

Enjoyed a two hour lunch at Outback. Read the newspapers. Left at 2. How long could I sit there? I even ordered a dessert to kill time.

Then to T.J. Max and Sears. Looked over men’s clothes. Not much time killed. Looked at everything else, except ladies’ underwear.

It was now three o’clock. Where was I to go? I was at the Sears Shopping Center without a car. I opted to return to the tire facility. My car was still in the lot. Had not been touched yet. Asked the guy about when. He said many still ahead of you. About five o’clock.

Went into Sears’ waiting room. Air conditioning not working well. Slept off and on.

Finally, the car was finished at 5:30. They could not find a hole. Did not know why tire went flat. Cost, $24.

I am concerned it will go flat again. We shall see. The tire is only six months old.

I hurried home to watch the debates which began at 6. First thing I did was pour myself a gin. Then blended into the recliner chair to watch.

I was tired.

Never got to watch the Royals/Mets game. Mets down 2. Next two games in New York should be interesting. The Royals almost won the World Series last year. I think they are committed this year and will be difficult to deny.

This week’s KONK Life column Boudicca, Warrior Queen linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. keywestlou.com.

Syracuse plays Florida State saturday. Syracuse a 20.5 underdog at the moment.

Bocce tonight. Play Larry’s team. We are tied with his team in third place. Serious business tonight.

Enjoy your day! If you are in Key West, add to it. Visit Toga tonight at Sloppy Joe’s!

RUNNING OF THE BULLS

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Pamplona, Spain and Key West were one yesterday. The Running of the Bulls!

I was there. Hemingway look alikes. Dressed Pamplona style. White shirts and pants. Red berets and waist bands. White hair and beards, of course.

The bulls machete and wood on wheels.

The race as in Pamplona. Pure chaos. If real bulls, several of yesterday’s Hemingways would be no more. Fun to watch. Exciting.

Paula Deen in Key West again this year for Hemingway Days. Her husband Michael Grover a Hemingway look alike contestant. I did not see her this year.

Lunched at the Pier House Beach Bar afterwards. Duval was too busy and hot with all the people. Chatted with Janine.

I have always had difficulty spelling Janine’s name. What I am writing today is correct. First time I have had it right. I mentioned my problem with spelling her name. I added it was fortunate her sister Mary had a simple name. Janine looked at me and said no she doesn’t. Her name is spelled Mari. With an i and not a y.

Ran into Michael at the Beach Bar. Michael was already a Key Wester when I started coming 26 years ago. I first met him at Atlantic Shores. He was a regular. Bare assed and bronzed. I had not seen him in 15 years. He is still bronzed. As to bare assed, I do not know. He was not yesterday.

Spent some time later in the afternoon researching this week’s KONK Life column. More research to do and then writing it. Will be done today. The topic/title Harry Truman’s Mother In Law.

Dinner at Roostica last night.

Lobster Mini Season a few days away. Wednesday and thursday. Thirty thousand expected for the event.

This is year 50 for Christ of the Deep. A 9 foot bronze statue of Christ was planted under water in the John Pennekamp State Park near Key Largo fifty years ago. Only 25 feet down, many have seen and enjoyed the statue. Even to the point of touching Christ’s hands and face.

Heard from Anna again. She is still on Amorgos. Has a problem. She has to be out of her accommodation 7/31. Her ferry boat reservation is for 8/5. She is having trouble finding a room. No wonder. Things are cheap in certain areas of Greece this season. Even cheaper on a small hidden away island such as Amorgos. A place that has few accommodations to start.

Maybe she will have to sleep on the beach.

Anna tells me there are many French tourists. The reason is that a good portion of the French movie Le Grand Bleu was filmed in the waters off Amorgos. The French and others visit because of the film. It was a winner when first filmed. Won many awards. Today, a cult film.

The car works. The key turns easily.

Enjoy your Sunday!

L’ATTITUDES

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Dinner at L’Attitudes last night. A very fine dining experience.

L’Attitudes is located on Sunset Key. A boat ride away. All of five minutes. The restaurant sits just off the dock where the boat disembarks customers.

The last time I was at L’Attitudes was 15 years ago. Beautiful then. More beautiful now. It has been remodeled.

I had not been in all that time because of the boat ride. An inconvenience from my perspective. I now realize my loss.

Everything magnificent! From the view to the food to the service. Viewing the sunset while dining is special in and of itself. The sun set through gray clouds in a large orange ball. Mallory Square dressed up.

I asked for a table inside when I made my reservation.  By a window so I could see the sunset. My request was met. Thank you, Chris and Dan.

My waitress was Eve. Short for Ivelisse. Puerto Rico born. She has been in Key West 16 years. Efficient. Charming. Lovely.

L’Attitudes making a ton of money! Obvious. The place full. The boat bringing customers back and forth. The customers tourists. I did not recognize any locals.

Would I return? Yes. To dine alone at the bar and read the newspapers. With the added benefit of the setting sun.

My day yesterday began at Farmers Market. Bought bread. A long thin crispy loaf. Two. Toasted half of one for lunch. To die for.

Then Publix. Picked up a few essentials. Ran into Paul Toppino. Two bachelors grocery shopping. What the final quarter of life brings.

Spent part of the afternoon working on tuesday’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

My evening ended in a bit of disaster. I had to leave my car in the Weston garage. The key would not turn in the ignition.  Walked down to the Chart Room, had a drink, and Emily called me a taxi.

I have not taken a taxi in ten years. Expensive. $27.50, without tip. Pier House to my home in Key Haven. Bring on Uber!

When I finish this blog, I have to find someone to drive me to the car. The key problem happened once before. I left the car in Don’s parking lot. The next morning the key turned with no problem. Hope it works the same way today.

Tons of events scheduled for today as part of Hemingway Days. The one that appeals to me is the second preliminary round of the selection/elimination process in the search for this year’s Hemingway look alike. Sloppy Joe’s at 6:30. A full house guaranteed.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports Sheraton Suites was sold for $94 million. Most if not all of Key West’s major hotels have changed hands the last three years. Why not! Key West is packing them in. Guaranteed high occupancy at high rates.

Last but not least. Perhaps the most important item this morning. Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi announced a budget reduction for the next year. Almost 6 percent. Taxes will be reduced! When was the last time?

Gastesi should run for President!

Enjoy your day!

 

HAPPY HUMP DAY

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I have been visiting Key West for over 25 years. Bought a home 17 years ago. Been a Florida resident 9 years.

Never heard the term hump day till my Key West days. Thought it meant that wednesday were set aside in the Keys for sex. How nice, I thought. It was only a few years ago when I mentioned the sex thing in this blog that I was made aware it represents the middle day of the week.

I do not recall hump days in upstate New York. I live and learn.

A happy hump day one and all!

Key West weather continues to be outstanding. Warm/humid every day. One problem. Insufficient rain for this time of year. July brings summer weather. Rain every day. Not long in duration, however consistent. Every day. No rain every day this July. We could use it. Otherwise, a problem.

I spent some time yesterday morning shopping for baby clothes on Duval. A gift package. Hard to find quality baby clothes in Key West. Several stores. Basically, all selling the same. Guess I will be going to the internet.

Lunched at the Cuban Coffee House. Ran into Bobby. He’s been in Key West longer than me. I first met him 25 years ago when I was visiting. The last time I saw him was five years ago at the Casa Marina for July 4th fireworks.

It was good running into him. He was going to Peter Diamond’s for a haircut. Peter’s barber shop is next to the Cuban Coffee House.

Yesterday afternoon  was spent researching a bit further for last night’s blog talk radio show. Then fine tuning the material.

Reaction to the show was as I expected. Post show comments indicate a furor with the recent revelation that Planned Parenthood has been selling the cells of aborted fetuses and actual body parts of partial born aborted fetuses. My KONK Life column this week is devoted to the abomination.

This week Key West celebrates Hemingway Days. 125 plus Hemingway look alikes in town. Another city is celebrating a similar event, except for Santa Claus. Copenhagen this week is holding its annual World Santa Claus Congress. More than 125 Santa Claus’ in attendance. Their purpose to study Santa Claus problems. This year the issue is too many cookies. The kids leave Santa so many cookies that Santa is gaining weight.

Today’s Hemingway Days events include Meet the Papas at Sloppy Joe’s at 5:30. The Key West Marlin Tournament kicks off. $50,000 in cash prizes. Last night was meet the Hemingway look alikes at Sloppy Joe’s. Key West is into Hemingway days!

There is a company on the internet called Car Decal Geek. Love the name! The company makes vinyl decals and stickers for cars. They have a section depicting Key West. Terrific! It’s all there! Everything!

Car Decal Geek is a Michigan based company. A growing company. Take a look at their website for some great decals.

Enjoy your day!

TIME AT SLOPPY JOE’S

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Pleasant morning yesterday. The anti-gravity treadmill to start. Then the Cuban Coffee House for lunch. I am becoming a regular customer. The reason, parking. The public parking lot behind Antonia’s has reopened. Cuban Coffee Queen part way up the alley leading to Duval.

Peter Diamond was walking by. He came over and sat with me. I enjoyed a long conversation with him. Peter is popular in the Key West music world. He performs weekly at Little Palm Island, the Gardens, and Grunts. Married to Holly. A unique personality. Currently in Connecticut visiting family.

My afternoon was spent doing background research for one of the books I never seem to complete.

Last night was Sloppy Joe’s!

I am in Sloppy Joe’s 2-3 nights a week. I never mention it because it is merely a walk through. There is never a bar spot available to me. There was not one last night either. However, a tall table was empty against the wall beneath the large photo of Hemingway.

It has been well over a year since I ate at Sloppy Joe’s. Not gourmet cooking/dining. Food good for the soul, however. I enjoyed french fries buried in a red sauce with melted mozzarella on top. Delicious!

My diet is out the window.

The visit gave me time to observe the tourists. Primarily tourists at Sloppy Joe’s. Drinking and dancing. The drinking I can handle, the dancing I cannot. It’s the music. Not for me.

Key West born Manuel “Pete” Fernandez was an ace during the Korean War. He is credited with 14.5 kills. The third highest number of kills of any ace.

Fernandez’s time in Key West was limited to the few years following his birth. The family moved to Miami where Fernandez was educated. He grew up in a working class environment.

His grandparents emigrated from Spain. First to Cuba. Later to the United States. Fernandez is remembered as the Hispanic ace and Latino fighter ace.

I heard from a blog reader who lives in Athens. An American expatriate. E-mailed me. He was aware from my blogs of my love for and interest in Greece. Recently, I have been telling people to vacation there this summer. A cheap vacation. The dollar stronger than the euro. Greek’s economic problems make for an inexpensive trip.

He wrote not to be concerned re the Eurobank problem. He believes it will be worked out. Consistent with my recollection of Greek thinking. They let nothing bother them. Kumbaya all the time.

He also wrote Athens was filled with tourists. The cheapest Athens has been in years.

Athens has a special place in my heart. Hard to describe. Everything there. New and old. Plus, the people themselves. A joy!

It is back to the heart doctor this morning for two tests. I remembered to fast this time. Then a haircut with Lori. Between the doctor and haircut, I plan on breakfasting at the Cuban Coffee Queen.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

GREAT BASKETBALL

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It cannot be denied. Last night was great basketball! Both teams should be proud. Unfortunately, both teams could not win.

From my perspective, the game was won by Duke in the last 5 minutes and won because of coaching. Krzyzewski slowed his team down. They held onto the ball and did not attempt a shot till there was only 7-8 seconds left on the shot clock. Duke only had a 3 point lead when they started playing in this fashion. Turned out it was the thing to do. Duke won by 5 points.

One negative re the game. Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan’s interview comments following the game. He was hurt. Dejected. Two years in a row he had been to the final game and lost.

Ryan’s bitterness showed in his comments re the refereeing. He thought not enough nor proper foul calls were made when his guys were being pushed around.

I did not see it, could not agree. Yes, it was  a hard fought game. Neither team had a referee calling advantage or anything else, however.

Bo Ryan is a great coach. He will be back. He probably regrets his comments this morning.

My blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include California’s water problem and Nestles, another police shooting full of apparent lies by the police officers involved, a Monsanto employee inadvertently revealing Monsanto has a whole department dedicated to destroying anything and anyone who speaks out against Monsanto, Iceland’s dramatic success in handling banks, and more.

Sloppy Joe’s. Began at the present location of Captain Tony’s on Greene Street, then moved to its present location on Duval. The Key West Citizen’s This Date in History section indicates the move occurred on this date in 1935. I think the date is wrong. It was May 5, 1937.

Whatever, it is easy to make a mistake re historical facts. I know.

The weather has been outstanding and will continue to be so the rest of this week. Mid 80s. Still not humid.

I fell two weeks ago and injured my left hip. Would you believe, it still hurts! I could not lie in bed for 10 days. Had to sleep in  a recliner chair. Not the best, but better than the bed. The last 3 nights I have slept in bed. Only half the night. The pain moves me back to the recliner chair.

The hip was x-rayed. No fracture.

Interesting is the bruising. Note, I am on a blood thinner. The bruising began two days after the fall. It is an expanding bruise. It now covers my entire left hip and buttock. Has moved along my lumbar back and appears on the right buttock. The bruise also runs down the side of my left leg and then moves around behind the left knee. Every place a deep purple.

I have never seen such bruising on my body before. Though I have seen it. My father fell a lot and had similar bruises. No question, I am my father’s son.

Buffalo’s Bob Saraceno arrives today. A loyal Key West Lou fan. We are scheduled to meet friday night at the Chart Room.

Enjoy your day!

SUPER BOWL

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Big day in America! Super Bowl!

In my other life, I attended many. Not that I was a sport fanatic. I enjoyed the partying. Since moving to Key West, I have become lazy. I dislike leaving the island for anything. As for partying, every night is party night in Key West.

Three choices as to where I will watch the game. Don’s Place. Will be fun. Tavern ‘n Town. All TVs will have the game with audio. The audio is important. My bedroom in my new recliner chair. This third option may be the one. I can pour myself a drink and lean back.

I did my Saturday night usual. Dinner at the bar at Tavern ‘n Town. Good food and Bobby Nesbitt. An excellent combination.

Saw my heart man Dr. McIvor. Stress test ok. Pain back in my chest returned. Don’t worry, don’t know I was told. It hurts, however.

I have been tired this past week. Extremely. Physically and mentally. Turned out my meds for blood pressure had to be reduced because of my weight loss. I have been off them for 24 hours and feel great this morning. Half doses from now on.

Doctor’s scale said 34 pounds lost. It may be off a bit. Thought I was at 32. Either number makes me happy.

Key West has a new live theater. The Key West Theater. On Eaton Street, just one block off Duval. Beer and wine available during the show.

Key West has several live theaters. All doing well. Truly an artsy community.

I love the way my bedroom is coming! I have been redecorating it. I put the new lamp on the corner of my desk. A tan shade covering a colorful oriental vase. The lamp sits between a painting of my mother and a Henry Moore print. Magnificent!

An interesting item in the Key West Citizen’s History section this morning.

On this day in 1935, Ernest Hemingway was fishing with the editor of Scribner’s and the editor of Rod and Reel. On Hemingway’s boat. All three caught a sailfish.

I am sure they headed for Sloppy Joe’s afterward. Not the one we know today. The original on Green Street. Now Captain Tony’s. Sloppy Joe’s did not move to Duval till 1937.

A letter to the editor caught my attention. There are a small number of do gooders and holier than thous who want to correct what they consider not so healthy nudity at Fantasy Fest. My Bible recollection is God created Adam and Eve without clothes. If it was good enough for the Lord, it should be good enough for Key West. Though most wear some clothing during the festival.

Blasphemous I am not trying to be.

I dislike people who seek to impose their beliefs on others.

Here it is Sunday and I have not written my KONK Life column yet. Had neither the desire nor energy during the week. I attribute it to my meds.

Today is the day. One of two topics. I have not decided which.

One about the Greek election and what I see coming down the road this year. Greece could initiate a world wide depression or be the place where World War III begins. Or, both.

The other is about Japan’s loss of libido. The young people of Japan have lost their sex drives. For real. As a result, Japan’s population numbers are decreasing dangerously. The reasons why sex drives have been put on the shelf would be the substance of the article.

Enjoy your Sunday!