I DANCED!

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A busy last night.

First stop was Tavern ‘n Town. No room at the inn. There had been an outside wedding scheduled. The cold and wind moved it inside. Took up the entire new dining room.

Headed downtown to Hot Tin Roof. An excellent soup of shrimp and mussels. A light red sauce. Even better, dunking bread in the sauce at the end.

Hot Tin Roof filled up. No room. Tourists galore.

Restaurants and bars cannot complain things are tough. I have never seen so many tourists at any time in the past. It has been non-stop since Christmas week.

Then to La Te Da. First time in the new inside bar. Great music. A full house. Dance floor crowded.

I danced. Three times. The last time I danced was four years ago in Greece at an outdoor restaurant in the Playka. Danced Greek style with the locals. Threw a few plates afterwards.

I spent the afternoon researching this week’s KONK Life column. Yankee Doodle Dandy. The story behind it and what the words actually mean.

I have a bit more research and then the writing today.

Big pro football day! The AFC and NFC championship games. I would have enjoyed watching the New England/Denver game at 2. Column writing at the same time. I will listen to the TV audio while writing. Hopefully, I can still do two things at one time.

Syracuse plays Virginia at 7 tonight. Virginia a 9 point favorite. If Syracuse wins, it will be because of Boeheim. His hands on coaching in the final minutes.

Sounds of the Kelly McGillis flag football Classic can be heard. The ladies began coming in the past few days. Monday begins social activities and practice. The games begin friday. Sixty teams from all over the world.

Today is January 24. This morning’s Key West Citizen History Section makes mention of Sally Rand. The Citizen did the same thing on January 24 last year. I commented then. I comment now.

Sally Rand was a fan dancer. The fans moved erotically. She was before my time. By 1960, she was into semi-retirement.

I met her in 1964 at a cocktail party at Grossinger’s in the Catskills. A lady. We had a pleasant uninterrupted ten minute conversation.

Sally once a part time Key West resident. She owned the large lovely Victorian home at 916 Eisenhower Drive.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

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You may have wondered how I come up with the topics that become my weekly KONK Life column. The topics are diversified.

I rarely know what I am going to write until saturday or sunday. The column is due at KONK Life on sunday.

I read a lot. My whole life. When 7, I was reading heavy adult material while seated in an easy chair with a dictionary at my side.

This week’s column will involve Abraham Lincoln. His personal life. Things most of us did not know.

I got into Lincoln because of a small piece I read somewhere earlier this week. It said Lincoln was the only President to be a licensed bartender. I never knew.

I started researching the bartender item which lead me to personal characteristics of Lincoln. Most unknown. A column  was born!

Research is complete. I will write the column this afternoon. It will touch on Lincoln’s bartending days and his being considered lazy when it came to physical work. Also, mention will be made that he was non alcoholic, neither smoked nor chewed tobacco, did not use a gun, advocated the vote for women, dressed sloppy, and rarely combed his hair. Finally, the story of his first love who died young causing Lincoln to suffer a severe depression.

Interesting material. Be sure to read the column itself which hits the stands wednesday.

Nancy Robinson was a unique individual. A class act. She died two weeks ago. The Celebration of Her Life will be at 11 this morning at MCC at 1215 Petronia Street. Martha and family will be there. Friends, also. I doubt the Church will have sufficient room for all who attend. Nancy touched everyone.

Stone crab season began thursday. Yesterday at Keys Fisheries in Marathon a stone crab eating contest was held. Twenty five stone crabs per contestant. Participants were required to break the shells also. The winner devoured his 25 stone crabs in 13 minutes 30 seconds.

Disqualification a risk. Throw up and you were out of the contest!

The Humphrey Bogart Film Festival begins wednesday and runs through sunday. The place Key Largo.

Two items on the must see list. The house where the movie Key Largo was filmed. The African Queen boat that Humphrey Bogart and Katheryn Hepburn made the trip through African waters on. There will also be films shown and talks held at various places in Key Largo.

Bocce standings in this morning’s paper. My team dropped from 2nd to 4th place as a result of the two games lost this week. The team that beat us is a half game ahead in third place. We are 4 games out of first place.

We are at a tough place. We have to win most of our remaining games. I am getting nervous.

Watched the first three quarters of the Syracuse/Virginia game yesterday. Missed the last quarter and as it turned out, three overtimes.

When I left, Syracuse was winning by 17 points. In the end, Virginia won 44-38.

Sportcasters indicate the Syracuse defense fell apart in the last quarter and the overtimes.

My thinking is crystalizing. Syracuse is a young team. Many freshmen starting. Even the quarterback is a freshmen. The balance of the season will be so so. Win a few, lose a few. Next year will be different. Glory days will return!

I pray to God!

Last night was Tavern ‘n Town. Two bocce friends showed up and we had a good time chatting about everything. My friends had to leave early. They were chaperoning the Homecoming Dance at the high school.

My Thailand blog friend Sangjarn sent me a video yesterday. Of a two-headed snake. Ugh! Ugly! The thing was alive. Yellow and orange body. The two heads each looked like a man’s penis with the foreskin pulled back.

I wrote Sangjarn and told her how disgusting! She responded she sent it to me because in her country to see a two headed snake is good luck. She wanted me to have good luck.

Enjoy your sunday!

BIG DAY FOR GENDER EQUALITY

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Music maestro! A day of days is upon us! Actually, upon the ladies.

A female sex enhancer begins sales today. Called Addyi. FDA approved. The Viagra equivalent.

Addyi does not work the same for women as Viagra does for men. Addyi fights low libido in women. Works on the brain.

The pill pink as opposed to blue.

I am happy that women will have the opportunity to be happier. I do have a concern, however. Is the pill safe? It was twice rejected by the FDA. There is question even today that the pill might not have been tested sufficiently.

The approval/sale of Addyi is considered a victory for women. A gender equality thing. Most feminists groups pushed hard for approval.

The company manufacturing Addyi spent considerable dollars pushing for approval. In excess of $100 million. Which raises the question whether the approval was the result of an industry spin job. Pushed along by pressure from feminists groups.

A prescription is required.

I am interested to see what the cost of a month’s supply will be. Viagra to this day is extremely expensive. Like $400 for a one month supply of ten pills. Not covered by most insurance companies. The ladies will be shocked if Addyi costs in the same area and in addition not be covered. Addyi will probably cost more than a one month supply of birth control pills.

Whatever, it is a glorious new day for ladies! Enjoy and God bless!

The anti-gravity treadmill first yesterday morning. Love it! Moved up a few notches yesterday. It has been a trip. First, two days a week. Then, three. Now, four. Moving speed and mileage up a bit occasionally.

Rushed home after working out on the machine. I was due on radio 104.9 at 12:10 to be interviewed on KONK News by Guy de Boer. Got 15 minutes yesterday. Guy and I discussed this week’s KONK Life column Worse Ever Congress.

Last night strange! Very strange!

It was pouring rain. I wore my yellow slicker. It was coming down that hard.

My first stop was the Chart Room. I forgot that on rainy days the bars are full. The Chart Room was. All tourists. Raising hell and having a good time.

I stood at the end of the bar, had one drink and left. Too crowded and noisy for me.

It was still raining heavy. I decided against Hot Tin Roof because of the walk to the restaurant in the rain. Slicker or not, it would have been messy and uncomfortable.

I had a brilliant idea. Tavern ‘n Town at the Marriott Beachside. I could park in the connected  garage and walk into the hotel. Would not even need to wear the slicker.

It was not to be. The Navy Ball was at the Marriott last night. Parking impossible. Parking attendants outside waving cars around. My garage was full. I would have had to park three garages down and outside. A worse walk than to Hot Tin Roof.

Screw it! I would go to Roostica.

Because of the rain, everyone must have decided to eat out last night in addition to drinking. I could not even get into Roostica’s parking lot. Cars parked on the street, also. So much for Roostica!

Hogfish next! Good luck! As I drove by, I could see people standing just inside waiting for a table.

I went home! Stripped down to some comfortable clothes and cooked myself a steak. Enjoyed a gin before, of course.

This afternoon, Syracuse and Virginia meet in a football clash. Syracuse has a significantly better record. However, Virginia is a one touchdown favorite. I hope I can get the game on television.

Still bad weather in Key West. I suspect a rainy day and evening.

Enjoy your day!

DEFEATED!

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It finally happened. We lost a bocce match last night. The first of the season. Ballz Against the Wall beat us 2-1.

We killed them in the first game. Trounced them. Game 2, they trounced us just as bad in return. Game 3 was no different. They trounced us again.

I played game 2. Terribly!

We will drop one or two places in the rankings.

A Joe Liszka addendum. Iowa’s Tom and Cindy e-mailed me yesterday a video titled A Tribute To Frank Romano. It can be found on You Tube.

Frank and Joe were one. The video shows their relationship and the obvious love they had for each other. As well as the humorous nature of each.

Stone crab season opened yesterday. One of the best foods in the world. They will be enjoyed by many here in Key West this weekend.

Yesterday morning, the anti-gravity treadmill. Later this morning, once again. I will get to chat with my new found friend Dave who uses the machine just before me friday mornings.

Cuban Queen for Cuban coffee and cheese toast for lunch yesterday. Stayed well over an hour enjoying the newspapers.

My trip home from the Cuban Queen took forever. I opted to get to US 1 via Flagler. Traffic backed up many blocks. Moving an inch at a time, when it moved. I could see the Boulevard in the distance. Nothing moving.

I decided to try coming up via the Boulevard. Took a sharp left into one of the side streets. Ended up making a right onto the Boulevard at First Bank. Traffic normal.

Only for 200 feet. Then nothing moving. It seemed like forever in both lanes.

Has to be a big accident, I thought. One and a half hours later as I was turning onto US 1, I noticed neither an accident nor road construction. Many police officers, however.

US 1 up to Macdonald bumper to bumper slowly, also.

I was taxed. Not from the delay. I can handle such things. However, the anxiety from a gas tank on empty. No where on the Boulevard could I position myself to get into a gas station. I kept thinking this is no place to run out of gas!

Syracuse plays Virginia tomorrow. Syracuse a one touchdown underdog. After last week’s game, I am back to a no comment position.

This morning’s E-Blast carries this week’s KONK Life column. Worse Ever Congress.

I will be discussing the column when Guy de Boer interviews me on 104.9 at 12:10 pm. All of ten minutes! Listen in, if you can.

Enjoy your day!

 

WINSTON CHURCHILL

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Being home bound for a few days gave me time to catch up on my reading. Operation Sea Lion had been started several weeks ago. Then deserted for a time because of the Italian book. It was back to Operation  Sea Lion which is an inside story of Great Britain during the early days of World War II.

Churchill obviously a major character.

Churchill’s speaking ability was discussed. I have always considered him to be  one of history’s great orators. Exciting. The revelation was that his great speeches were not off the cuff. Churchill was not a natural speaker. He spent considerable time writing each oration before its presentation. His approach was meticulous. He sought particular words that best conveyed his message. Resulting in the quality the world came to know.

One of Churchill’s most memorable speeches was given in 1940 before the House of Commons. Sentences crafted before hand word by word. “We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and on the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.”

My health is better. Back still hurts, but less and less each day. Face still looks like I got beat up.

I went out last night. It was like getting out of jail! St. Paul’s Church and Publix.

The Friends of the Key West Library’s lecture series continued last night. Edward Hower was the speaker. An author of some note. I did not enjoy his presentation. He read the whole thing. I had difficulty keeping awake. The question and answer period which followed was better.

Then a hurried stop at Publix. I was anxious to get home for the Syracuse game. Publix is changing product locations. For example, fresh fruits hit you almost upon entering. My only problem concerned Entenmann’s. No longer at the end of an aisle near the milk. I could not find it. I asked a stock person where it might be. He did not know what I was talking about. I will find Entenmann’s next time when I have more time.

The Syracuse game was a disaster. Lost to Virginia 59-47. As it should have been. Virginia ranked #2 nationally. Only one game left. Then the season is over. It is impossible at this stage for Syracuse to get 20 wins. Only the third time in Boeheim’s illustrious career this has happened.

My blog talk radio show tonight. I spent much of yesterday in preparation. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou airs at 9. A quick half hour of current events and my thoughts. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include Homeland Security and Netanyahu, new shocking bank rules on the way, and life at hard labor without parole for being involved in a $20 pot purchase.

Almost forgot. I shaved! A close call. A close shave. I was seriously tempted to go for the beard.

Enjoy your day!

GOING OUT TODAY

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I continue to heal. Black eye lighter. Still obvious. Cuts by eye not totally healed. Scab fell off lip. Cuts still obvious, however. Back better, but not good.

It is called progress.

I have not shaved since wednesday. I have a good start on a beard. Not sure which way I will go.

I have been in since wednesday night. Time to get out of the house today. A brief walk somewhere. Tonight the Friends of the Key West Library at St. Paul’s. Author Edward Hower is speaking re his latest book about writing personal essays and travel stories.

Syracuse plays Virginia tonight, also. Normally, I would miss the Friends event and watch the game. It does not make any difference this season however. Syracuse plays Virginia, #2 in the country. I expect it to be as the Duke game went saturday.

If I work things properly, I should be able to watch the second half of the game.

Syracuse only has two games remaining. They have won 18 so far. The goal is always 20 wins. It has been years since Syracuse failed to reach 20. Though two games are left, I see Syracuse losing tonight. Which would mean that at best it might only be a 19 win season.

Nobody’s fault. It was a hard year for Syracuse from the beginning. Three players from last year expected to return this year did not. They went pro. Our big freshman center was injured early on and has not been able to play. I am not even throwing the NCAA investigation into the mix.

Wait till next year! The whole team returns with the exception of Christmas.

There was an article of interest in this morning’s Citizen. A four year study has revealed that Big Pine, No Name., and Bahia Honda have the lowest death rates in the County. Makes sense. The area is quiet country. Limited hell raising. Tranquility.

On this day in 1951, Harry Truman started a three week vacation at the Little White House. I often wonder if he ever visited the local haunts in the Duval Street area. We know he read, swam, fished and walked. Enjoyed a drink. Truman is recognized as a regular guy. He had to be at Sloppy Joe’s on occasion looking for the next Hemingway to talk with.

Enjoy your day!