It continues to amaze me how many people read this blog. And their locations!

Yesterday I received an e mail from Jim Brown.

Jim lives in Crete. Crete is one of the Greek isles. Jim loves Crete’s warm weather, island living and his new grandson. He works two jobs. His evening work is as lead singer in what he describes as a rock, blues soul band. Jim claims he is living his dream when doing it.

Sounds like our Howard Livingston.

Jim’s comment was received over Facebook where my blog runs daily also.

Good hearing from you, Jim. Keep enjoying your life. I hope I get out your way some time and we can tip a few together! Or, you come here! It matters not which island we enjoy each other’s company on. As long as we enjoy!

I lunched at the outside beach bar at the Pier House yesterday. Warm. Humid. It was leisure time. I read the papers and observed the ladies.

Then to Lisa’s. She was seated at the kitchen table with her computer dutifully working on her internet department store Via Key West. The grandkids were building things with blocks. Cameron was in his room playing the guitar. And Corey was doing something upstairs.

Stayed a while.

I spent the rest of the afternoon at home watching the President’s Cup. Good competitive golf!

Last night started as usual at the Chart Room. Marty, Captain Peter and Frank. Michael bartending. A drink or two and some easy conversation.

Then Marty and I were off to La Trattoria.

Beecha welcomed me at the door. Always love to see Beecha!

Erin was bartending.

Marty treated me to dinner.

We had discussed going over to the Keys Piano Bar after dinner. Marty changed his mind as we left La Trattoria. By the time I got to my car, I changed my mind also. So it was home to bed.

Today is Sunday. Love Sundays! The Sunday papers, Meet the Press, Lisa and the family, the Gardens and Kate, the Wine Galley and Larry and what have you.

Enjoy your day! I plan on enjoying mine!

The cold spell has left us. It is warm! Yesterday hit 90! However we were blessed with a strong breeze from the east. There where white caps on the Atlantic.

When Paradise Cafe was forced to close down, the ownership moved a block away to Blossom’s. Two of Paradise’s employees opted to start their own place. They opened a sandwich type shop on Bertha, just off Flagler. It is called Lucky Lady.

I stopped at Lucky Lady for lunch yesterday. What a great place!

Big inside. Tableclothes. Unusual in a sandwich shop.

The sandwiches and prices were the same as Paradise. Why not! That is where they learned!

I enjoyed my cuban toast with tomato and cheese. Sat at a corner table and read the newspapers. And watched the customers come and go. Try the place! You will enjoy Lucky Lady!

I spent the afternoon painting a bit and continuing to read the Lincoln book.

Interesting the things we learn. Lincoln as we all know came from poor stock. Not an unusual occurrence in these United States. Look at Obama.

Lincoln’s father had his drawbacks. His mother was illegitimate. His people came from Kentucky before settling in Illinois. There were Lincolns however that came over from Europe soon after the Mayflower. They settled in Massachusetts and apparently were quite successful socially and economically. In his early years, Lincoln would sometimes suggest that he was of the Massachusetts clan.

Last night I intended to do the Oktoberfest party at Don’s Place and then the Lace and Leather party at the Chart Room.

I did neither.

That is one of the things that is nice about Key West. Your options are many. You are free to go with the flow or do what you want.

I decided to do differnetly last night.

I met Marty early at the Chart Room. It turned out neither of us was in the mood for the parties. We both wanted to see the Couples Retreat movie which opened last night at the theatre in the Sears shopping Center. So it was off to the shopping center.

We intended to have a quick bite at Outbacks. The place was packed. Friday night and every one had money in their pockets. So we went over to the Chinese restaurant a few doors away. We ordered too much and ate too much.

The Couples Retreat movie is a comedy. It featured Vince Vaughan as one its stars. I like Vaughan. A funny guy.

Although the movie was only rated C+, it was a hoot! I laughed throughout. I have learned that these movie ratings mean little.

The movie was packed. Not a seat left. Unusual. And the crowd consisted of all generations, except for teenagers.

Experiencing the crowd, it occurred to me that when the economy is bad, people seek cheap light hearted amusement to relieve their anxieties. Couples Retreat was just what the doctor ordered!

Yes, I thought the movie was economically reasonable. $7 for a senior ticket! I remember on the other hand when I started going to the movies. The James Street theatre in Utica. It was four cents! That price bought 2 films, a cartoon and a serial.

This morning I have a painting to finish. Then to Lisa’s. I have not seen the grandkids since Tuesday.

Lisa is busting her butt tieing up the loose ends on her internet department store Via Key West which is soon to open. Perhaps this next week.

I am up early this morning. Black outside my open window. It will be another glorious Key West day. And with a good cool breeze. I can hear the ocean running rapidly beneath my window and the waves hitting on the rocks below.

Enjoy your day!

THE chicken was at bocci last night!

It was a first!

A rooster! Tall and majestic. Red and brown. Proud.

He was all over the courts. Running from one to the other. Preening. Naturally avoiding the balls. And trying to avoid the balls.

No one shot at the rooster intentionally. But he was nuts to be there! Liking running back and forth across an eight lane highway at high traffic time.

Whatever, the rooster finally learned and disappeared. He probably said to himself these humans are nuts! They’re trying to kill me!

Bocci was a big night all around last evening. Landon Nordeman was there.

Landon is a New York professional photographer. He is in Key West for a few weeks at The Studios of Key West. He spotted the bocci courts and the throng of people. He decided to stop. What a night he had!

He took pictures and made recordings. The jumping, the finesse, the yelling, the screaming, the cursing. He recorded it all!

I hope we get a chance to see and hear the results.

I got to talk with Landon a bit. An interesting guy. Into his business. Relatively young. Probably around 30. I checked him out on the internet this morning. In 2006 a major photo organization selected him as an”…emerging photographer to watch.”

I checked out his protfolio on the internet also. He has an interesting sensitivity when it comes to selecting subjects for his work. A winner in the making!

So far 2 big things at bocci. And now for the third. We won 2 out of 3 games. Hip, hip, hooray!

Jules was our star! She played the first 2 games we won. We benched her for the third so all could play. A mistake. It was the third game we lost.

Whatever, 2 victories is good! In the last 4 weeks we have won 8 and lost 4. Not bad. Better than losing 12 in a row like we did last season.

After bocci, I went over to Don’s Place for a drink. Ran into Randy. Randy is a golf friend. He does not play bocci. He is a good golfer. We had a drink together at Don’s outside bar.

Speaking of Don’s Place, tonight is the big Oktoberfest Party. German food and beer. Everyone go and enjoy!

And when you have consumed enough brockwurst, wienerschitzel, hot potato salad and beer, go over to the Chart Room for the Leather and Lace party. If you do not wish to be a participant, you can always watch. I have to believe the watching will be good!

Yesterday was quiet. Breakfast at Blossom’s for cuban toast and coffee. Lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. I spent the afternoon reading. I enjoyed 2 books that I am reading simutaneously. One is about Abraham Lincoln and the other the very early history of my hometown Utica.

Both have a similarity. A connection. I am into the early 1800s in both books. Our nation was rough and rugged at the time. Whether it was upstate New York or somewhere in Illinois, things were the same.

Lisa continues to fine tune her internet department store Via Key West. I suspect it will be ready to go sometime next week.

Enjoy your day!

The response to the anouncement of my radio show starting November 5 has been
overwhelming. People may actually listen to it!

I am trying to come up with a name for the show. The intent is to have a talk show discussing legal issues of the day. Sometimes just me. Other times guests. And telephone call ins.

I asked for suggestions for a name for the show yesterday. Twenty eight responses! Thank you. Keep them coming!

Golf yesterday! First time in 3 weeks. Fun! It was good to be back!

I played with Yankee Jack and Randy. The privilege cost me $15. Yankee was the big winner.

For some reason, Yankee became unreasonable yesterday. He was cheap with the strokes. Normally I get 1 on every hole except the 3s and 2 on the 4 toughest holes. He would not give me 2 strokes on the 4 hard ones.

By the end of the match, he was giving me 1 on the 3s and telling me to hit from the yellows.

His conscience had caught up with him!

It was hot on the golf course. Very little breeze. Not true. No breeze! Knocked me on my ass! I went home and spent the afternoon in bed.

Last night I skipped the Chart Room. Went directly to Antonia’s for dinner at the bar. Good drink, good food and good company!

And then home to bed. Still tired from golf.

Don, Kurt and Aaron also played golf. They went out in a separate 3 some. We met afterwards for a drink on the club house porch.

Don is going to have a first at Don’s Place Friday night. An Oktoberfest party! German food and German beer. All you can consume for $20. From 4 to ?.

Besides being intended as a fun thing, it also is a charity fund raiser. For certain kids at Bryant School who exceed.

The bar maids will be wearing appropriate Oktoberfest attire. Don says he will be dressed in leather shorts and hat. To see Don that way is worth the $20 alone!

Friday night is going to be busy. The Chart Room is continuing its Friday night costume parties. Or lack therfeof! Mark tells me that this Friday is Leather, Lace and Feathers. Ho ho! Starts at 9.

Do both parties! Start at Don’s Place and finish the evening at the Chart Room. If you can last that long!

Tonight bocci. Don lectured me yesterday. My game has to improve tonight. Last week was a disaster.

I shall try.

Enjoy!

Guess what?

I am going to do a radio show!

My own. I am going to host a one hour talk show weekly on Konk 1680 AM. The show starts
Thursday November 5 at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

The subject matter will be the law. Guests and call ins.

The show will be dedicated to local and national legal issues of interest.

The show will be available locally via radio and nationally and internationally via the internet. It will be able to be heard all over the United States and world wide by my friends and those interested.

I am excited!

We have not come up with a name for the show yet. Help me! If you have any ideas, let me know.

Lunch and the newspapers yesterday at Harpoon Harry’s. Every now and then I feel this need for old fashioned Mom type cooking. Yesterday it was meat loaf. Need I say more.

Then to Borders for some serious reading. I continue to leaf through John Morse’s biography of Abraham Lincoln. Morse lived during Lincoln’s presidency. It is exciting to read about Lincoln from a man who was there!

I woke during the night and flipped on the TV. There was a Civil War movie playing. Robert Duval was General Lee. Jeff Daniels played a Union general. What a waste of life!

Soccer time again last night. Ally was playing. Ally is 4 and this is her first season.

She did well! She ran with the ball and tried to get at it. A few times she was able to kick it a distance. She has one draw back. An intelligent one. When everyone is mixing it up and kicking, she slows up and backs off a bit. Who are these nuts kicking me! She will out grow it.

No question but that she will turn into an excellent player in a couple of years. She is swift. She is focused. And she is absolutely beautiful! A knockout in the making!

The Chart Room was quiet last night. Just Mark, me and a hotel guest.

I went to Kelley’s for dinner. Wings. Always good! Chatted with Chris the bartender. Bob was at the bar. Have not seen him in a while.

I ended up watching the Minnesota-Detroit game on TV. Good game! Something like 12 innings. Minnesota will now meet the Yankees. Some great baseball coming up!

Key Wester Wendy Grom was on Facebook with a message today. This must be that day of the week. She wished everyone a Happy Hump Day! Good girl, Wendy!

Golf this morning. I am anxious to play. I have not played in 3 weeks. I do not care how bad I play nor how much I lose. It is just good to be playing again!

Enjoy your day! I plan on enjoying mine!

I am up early again. Black outside. I cannot hear the water moving by. Which means there is no wind.

It was on the warm side yesterday. Temperature got up to 91. I wonder if the cold spell is leaving us.

I started my day at Blossom’s. Blossom’s is the old Paradise Cafe transported to a new location and new name. It was early so I limited my intake to cuban coffee and toast. And read the newspapers, of course.

Lunch was at home. Domestication is upon me. I had made a huge bowl of egg salad Sunday. So I am into eating it. I must say, not bad! Perhaps I have a new calling in my old age as a cook.

I had a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon. Such appointments become a way of life as one gets older. OK as long as anything found is fixable!

Soccer last night. Robert plays on Monday. It was a big occasion! Robert scored his first goal!

I am proud of him!

Robert is playing better this year. Not because of the goal alone. He is mixing it up and going after the ball. And then there are times he just isn’t with it. He starts day dreaming and looking around when the play is on the other side of the field. I noticed that the other 5 year olds have this problem on occasion also. It is a focus issue. But it is being imporoved upon. In a year or two they will all look like pros.

After soccer, I went over to La Trattoria for dinner. La Trattoria has been closed for a couple of weeks for renovations. They must have been minor because I could not notice any discernable changes.

La Trattoria has good flavor. I am speaking of its atmosphere. That the food is good goes without saying.

Kathy was bartending. I have not seen her in about 3 weeks. She had a one week trip up to Albany for a family wedding before the renovations. She has a great personality. And is a first class human being to boot.

It is a small world. The couple I was sitting next to at the bar were from Syracuse!

Tom and Jeannine are actually from Cicero, a suburb of Syracuse. Tom owns an employee leasing company. Jeannine is manager of a furniture supply chain. Nice people. We spoke of Syracuse football. What else! I loved it!

They have a double time share at the Galleon. Are in Key West every year at this time. Like the rest of us, they will eventually buy here. I could tell. They are hooked on Key West!

I just looked out the window. The sun must have come up. But I cannot see it. There are heavy clouds at the moment. So the sole palm tree and ocean in my view are all gray. A pretty sight.

Lisa continues to work hard on her Key West internet department store. Via Key West will open soon. She is tweaking it ad infinitum!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

I am up early. Everything is pitch black outside.

I can hear the water. The ocean is running beneath my window.

I can hear the garbage truck. It is Monday morning pick up time.

After spending yesterday morning lounging in bed and watching TV, I headed for Don’s Place. Sundays at Don’s during football season has become a tradition. Every one shows up! All friendly faces!

Then I was off to Lisa’s. To see my loving daughter, her husband Corey and the grandkids. Robert and Ally are getting big. They seem just a bit taller each time I am with them. I also was able to read the Sunday papers while there.

I went home to catch the tail end of the PGA Turning Stone Golf Tournament. It ended in a tie. Went 2 extra holes when play was suspended. It gets dark in upstate New York early these days. The players could no longer see the ball. They tee off again at 8:30 this morning.

I enjoyed watching the tournament. It is Fall. Turning Stone is about 15 miles from my hometown of Utica. The leaves are turning, just as the name of the resort indicates. They are all kinds of bright colors. Reds, yellows and browns. The tournmanent on TV gave me the opportunity to do a New York autumn without experiencing the cold and rain that accompanies it.

Marty telephoned. My friend Marty Leshaw. Who has been gone from Key West for about 10 days now.

He wanted to know who Garcia was that I mentioned in yesterday’s blog. I told him he/it was a bit confusing. My message from Garcia technically was a message to Garcia. The term had been bastardized over the years. It had to do with Cuba, the Spanish-American war of 1898, Tyrone Power and the U.S. Navy. A story in and of itself and reserved for another day.

Anyhow, Marty will return in 3-4 days. My lonely dinners will be over!

Marty told me he had been in New York City over the weekend. He left Fort Lauderdale Friday and returned yesterday, Sunday. The purpose of his trip was to see Amy Culver in her maiden public performance as a comedian.

Amy is a Key Wester, former owner of Mangoes Restaurant and a much loved woman here in Key West. Marty said Amy was absolutely terrific! She is outstanding as a comedian! A hidden talent revealed!

Good girl, Amy! You broke a leg!

Last night I had dinner at Antonia’s at the bar. Good food!

TK was bartending. Tiffany waiting on tables. And Bart hosting. All good people!

I hurried home after dinner to catch Mad Men on TV at 10. Love the series! What a show! If you are not into it, get into it! It is the 1960s as it was!

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday was a typical Key West day. A good one! They are all good!

To begin, the weather continues to be perfect. The lack of humidity makes all the difference in the world.

Lisa and Corey came over yesterday morning with the grandkids. They have a Saturday ritual. Yard sales. They religiously do them every Saturday morning.

Robert and Ally are each given $.25. To use to buy whatever they want. But they can only spend a quarter a piece.

They are getting quite good at it. Both have learned bartering. At 5 and 4 years old, they negotiate if something costs more than they can afford. Occasionally they will luck out and get a $2 item for twenty five cents.

Yesterday, Ally was all excited. She bought a toy plastic hair dryer. Pink. Pink made it all the more special. It is her favorite color. She made believe she was drying my hair!

Robert had some space war soldier toy. He loves those things.

After they left, I drove into town for a walk. I walked the waterfront again. It was lunch time. The tourist places like Conch Republic, Schooner’s and Half Shell Raw Bar were busy. I ran into Captain Peter. He was sitting by the water sharply dressed wearing his straw hat.

I stopped at Harpoon Harry’s for cuban toast and to read the newspapers.

Then home to watch college football and golf on TV.

The PGA is at Turning Stone this weekend. Turning Stone is a gambling casino and resort in Verona, New York. Verona is about 20 miles from my home town Utica.

Turning Stone is a big time operation! The fact that they have a PGA tournament speaks for itself. Five golf courses! All in great shape. A pleasure to play. And terrific restaurants, spas and what have you. I never visited for the gambling. Gambling never turned me on. I had to work too hard for my money and had too much respect for it. However, the amenities that surrounded the gambling attracted me to Turning Stone. It became my social place evenings when I was still back in Utica practicing law.

It is Fall up north. The seasons are changing. Summer has slipped into Fall. It was evident yesterday watching the golf tournamnet. The leaves have changed! They were aflame in color!

Last night I hit the Chart Room first. Michael was bartending. Mike and Tina were there. Mike and Tina are from Hartford, Connecticut. They own a home in Key West also. Near the cemetary. They seem to be down here once a month. Good for them!

Last night they were with Mike’s parents. The parents were having a good time! Very personable people.

While we were at the bar, two guys came in dressed strangely. Even for Key West.

They had to be in their 50s. They were both wearing what I would describle as faux fur coats. Long. Heavy appearing. One pink and the other light blue. Both were also wearing huge hats made of similar material. The hats were like large pancakes sitting in their heads.

What the event they were to attend, what the party, I do not know. Again, it was strange attire even for Key West.

They were already fairly inebriated. They had a couple of quick drinks and were on their way. To where, we knew not. They had one complaint in the short time they were with us. They had been required by someone or some authority to wear shorts under their coats. They wanted to go bare. They were confident that before the night was over, the shorts would be gone.

Little did they know, that their night was probably going to be a short one. It was not even 8 o’clock and they were already shot. I would be surprised if they made it to midnight!

I had a need for a steak. So it was off to the Strip House at the Reach. I enjoyed an excellent strip steak with creamed spinach and potatoes. Shades of a New York steak house!

Fred Kulzer is a friend on Facebook. He resides in Munchen, Germany. He wrote today something to the effect that daydreaming is a harmless vacation. It struck me. How true!

Today is Sunday. Always a big day. The Sunday papers, Meet the Press, Don’s Place for professional football, Lisa and the grandchildren and the Gardens. What could be better!

There is a message from Garcia to Jean and Marty. Where ever you are, hurry back to Key West. You are missed!

Enjoy your Sunday, also!

What a beautiful morning!

The sun is shining. The water still. No breeze. And best of all, no humidity! This cold spell, which has dropped the Key West temperature to about 88 degrees, is wonderful!

Late yesterday morning, I took a walk along the waterfront. Key West beauty never ceases to amaze me!

Afterwards I opted for lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. It has swiftly become a new favorite of mine.

Earlier in the week, I saw a lady eating potatoes and eggs covered with a sausage gravy. Our eyes met. She gave me that smile indicating that her meal was to die for!

So yesterday I had scrambled eggs and potatoes covered with sausage gravy. So good! Orgastic!

And filling! Fat may taste good, but it sits in the tummy all day.

I took another walk. I needed it.

Last night I skipped dinner. I knew I could handle no more food.

Instead I stopped at the Chart Room. Chatted with friends. Talked with Mark the bartender. Mark has started friday night parties. First, it was a pajama party. Last week a half shirt party. Last night a movie star party.

Although the party was 2 hours off, Mark was already partially dressed. He had a red/purple false punk hair wig on top of his head. He was to be some female movie star. Forgive me Mark, I forget who.

While enjoying my drinks, I noticed the antlers were missing. The ones that Che had hung. I asked Mark what had happened to the antlers. He said Captain Peter had hung his straw hat on the antlers. The antlers fell. Che did not get mad. However he took the antlers home and was putting together some sort of board to atttach the antlers to that would then be screwed into the wall.

I decided to go to the movies. The Tropic was showing Inglorious Bastreds. So I walked over.

A good movie. Strange ending. Worth seeing.

Ran into Don and Stephanie in the lobby before the show. Don thought the movie was a comedy. He was serious. I told him no. Actually supposed to be a bit gruesome. It was.

I was walking Duval on the way back to my car when I ran into Jennie. She was with her boy friend. Jennie plays bocci when I do and works the drug counter at Walgreens where I purchase my prescription meds. I was the recipient of a happy hug and kiss.

Lisa just telephoned. She worked late into the night on her internet department store Via Key West. The weekend will be the same. She is in the home stretch to her opening.

Enjoy your day!

I am up early this morning. Still dark outside. Black.

I had a busy morning yesterday.

A visit to the doctor first. Spider bite check up. What a difference a week makes! Last friday I stayed in bed all day with pain. My thigh had balloned up and was flaming red.

Modern science is wonderful, however. The pills worked. The doctor says I must stay on the antibiotics yet for a few more days.

Then to see Lori for a haircut. Always a pleasure! She is lovely and good company! I am pleased to see her business flourishing. She has been open less than a year and is doing well. Lori says hair care is the one of the last things to go in a poor economy.

I bought a bunch of newspapers and lunched at Hogfish. Spent a couple of hours there.

Then home to continue with Lisa’s painting. I screwed up!

You will recall that the birthday painting I had done for her the day before was damp and I could not finish it. I could not figure out why. I was using acrylics and the paint should have dryed immediately.

I figured out why! I have oils and acrylics. I used the oils instead of the acrylics to do Lisa’s painting. It takes a week for an oil painting to dry!

So much for paying attention!

I then took a nap in preparation for bocci later.

I should have stayed up!

Bocci was a disaster! I played terribly! The worst in a long time!

We lost all 3 games.

None of us played that well. But I will take responsibility for my shortcomings last night. I shoot first. My job is to get the ball on the polina. Good luck! I was not even coming close.

Sorry fellas!

I was so despondent that I did not even go over to Don’s Place for a drink afterwards. Home and to bed, instead. I must have continued to be bothered. I slept poorly all night.

Enjoy your day!