Good morning!

I have returned!

I am back in Key West!

A good feeling! I am home!

Travel back from Utica was a bit long. I left at 7:30 in the morning. Had a one hour drive to the airport in Syracuse. Three planes to accomplish the trip.

Syracuse to Detroit no problem. Detroit to Atlanta a disaster. Took off 2 1/2 hours late. Which meant I missed my Atlanta flight to Key West. Had a 3 hour lay over in Atlanta. Finally arrived in Key West at 9:30 in the evening.

A 14 hour trip! Worth it! Key West is here I belong!

I spent my down time in the airports reading and girl watching. Both satisfying pursuits.

The book is New York by Edward Rutherfurd. Recently published. I do not think it is a top 10 best seller. But should have be! I am taken by the book!

It starts in the 1500s when Manhattan was first discovered by Henry Hudson and others and concludes with the TwinTowers disaster of 9/11. The book follows the lives of several families over that period of time.

Engrossing! An I can’t put it down type book.

It is over 800 pages long. My War and Peace days are long gone. I avoid lengthy books. So I started the book at around page 400. The Civil War chapter. I love Civil War tales. I was a history major and took extra courses in the Civil War.

Before you knew it, I finished the book. From somewhere in the 400s to page 862.

Then…..I went back to page 1 and started the book where I originally should have. I am presently at page 268. About 150 pages to go.

I agree. A stupid way to read a book. But that is what happened in my reading of it.

I recommend the book! Big time! Excellent! Again, engrossing!

Women watching was my other time killer in the Detroit and Atlanta airports. Not a bad pass time. Something I have not done with such interest in many a year.

I think I know why.

Besides turning 75 last tuesday, I was in court. Divorce court. My wife of 52 years decided she wanted me no more. She had sued me for divorce. Tuesday was the final court date.

I am single once again.

I suspect my new single state contributed to my opposite sex gazing.

My observations were surprising and interesting.

The best looking women were black. Black women were never my cup of tea and I suspect will never be. However they were the best groomed and attired. Regardless of age. They took pride in their appearance.

The other group of women I found attractive were middle aged. Specifically flight attendants. Still stewardesses to people of my age.

When I first started flying in the 1950s, stewardesses/flight attendants were young. Very young. It was a requirement of the job. No more. Today it would be age discrimination.

The ladies I saw yesterday, those in the their 50s, were sharp! Lovely! Carried themselves well!

I ran into Melissa while killing time in the Atlanta airport. Melissa is a Key Wester. She is Executive Director of the Mel Fisher Museum. Corey’s boss. I have known Melissa for years.

Melissa was returning from a conference in Virginia. She had earlier in the day visited Georgie’s home as she put it. Mount Vernon.

I enjoyed my brief time with Melissa. Our paths cross too infrequently here in Key West.

Sitting next to me on the last flight into Key West was Ash. Ash lives in Milford, Connecticut. He is involved with recruitment at the University of New Haven. Travels the world looking for students to attend his University.

Ash is 34. Jordanian. Describes himself as Jordanian Greek. He is of the Greek Orthodox faith.

We had a most interestng conversation covering a multitude of things.

Ash is gay. He was booked into the Island House. Wanted to know if it was a correct selection. I assured him he had made a wise choice. It is problably the finest gay guest house in Key West.

Lisa met me at the Key West airport with the grandkids. It was 9:30 in the evening. Late for them. They were in their pajamas. Wide awake! Yelling and screaming. Welcome home Poppa! We love you Poppa!

I love them!

Corey was out of town last night. Up in Key Largo diving for the Museum. So Lisa and the grandkids slept over with me. Robert in my bed and Ally in Lisa’s. I don’t know about Ally, but Robert was out as soon as his head hit the pillow. It was 11 in the evening! They do not stay up that late.

My friend Ryno has several comments on Facebook this morning. About the nut who stands on our street corners carrying signs to the effect that God hates fags. He says it is time to counter demonstrate or something.

My first reaction is that we live in a strange community. This guy can carry his hate signs for the world to see. However women cannot go topless. They will be arrested.

From a layman’s perspective, both should not be tolerated. On the other hand, I am a lawyer. I understand the sign carrying guy’s right to free speech. I also understand gender equality. So my position is that both should be tolerated.

Sorry I cannot agree with you Ryno. No disrespect intended. I just believe that if we do not permit the nut to carry those signs, then you and I some day will not be permitted to speak out in opposition to our elected leaders. It is called freedom of speech. As distressing and sickening as it may be in some instances, the worst of it must be tolerated to preserve our rights in other regards.

Lisa, Robert and Ally are taking me out to breakfast this morning. To celebrate my return! My choice. Harpoon Harry’s. The grandkids have never been there. They are excited!

Enjoy your day!

Middle of the night.

Not sleeping well.

Probably because I have to get up early. Flying back to Key West today.

The day yesterday was quiet. Breakfast and the morning with my father. Visted a lawyer friend. Read.

Last night I stayed in. Read some more. Packed. Early to bed.

Lisa and the grandkids will be waiting for me at the Key West airport. Can’t wait! The plan is to go out to dinner together.

Good bye Utica. Hello Key West. Here I come!

Enjoy your day!

I am still in Utica. This is my last day. I return to Key West tomorrow.

I spent yesterday with my father. I did not know we had so much to talk about. We are chatting non stop.

We lunched at Cavallo’s. A big local bar that serves cheaply priced food.

I used to lunch there often when I was practising law. It was interesting yesterday. Nothing had changed in the four years since I had last been there. The same people were coming in and out for lunch. All moving at the same pace as yesteryear. Some fast, some slow.

My father is from the old school. Obviously. At 96, what else!

I make mention of this fact since he has dinner at 5. Precisely. Early for me. Timely for him. We had just finishedf lunch at 2. And there I was at 5 downing a steak and potatoes.

I watched Lebron James last night at 9. The show was a bore.

I anticipated he would go to Miami. Why not! The opportunity to play with two other great players. The possibility, no probability, of a basketball dynasty and several championship rings.

Now lets see if he was correct. Some times the best layed plans of mice and men do go astray.

My Key West shoe girl friend Stephanie Kaple had an interesting comment on Facebook this morning. How can she get mad at Lebron James she asked. She left Ohio for Florida also!

I am having breakfast with my father at 9 this morning. More food! They are going to charge me for two seats on my return flights!

Enjoy your day!

Birds chirping. Loudly. Every morning. I forgot the sound. It is nice to wake to. The chirping is common here in the north country in the summer. In the winter, nothing. They have all gone south.

I spent time with an old friend and former employee yesterday. Bob.

We visted in the afternoon. Had dinner together last night.

I had not seen Bob since I retired 4 years ago.

He showed up in the afternoon with a sandwich for me. Wrapped in aluminum foil. Still warm. Fried eggs and peppers on thick white Italian bread. From a little hole in the wall sandwich shop named Rosa’s here in Utica. I had already had lunch. But ate the sandwich anyhow. My diet is being absolutely destroyed this trip!

Bob and I had a pleasant time talking about days gone by.

I first met Bob when I was a young lawyer. Very young. Twenty five. Just out of law school. Working for an older lawyer.

Bob owned a dog. Ollie. Ollie bit a baby that was visiting someone else in the building where he lived. Pretty badly. Thirty two bite mark scars on the little girl’s face after healing. This was 1961. The art of plastic surgery back then was not what it is today.

Bob had no insurance.

He and his parents hired the older lawyer I worked for to represent Bob when he was sued by the little girl and her parents. I was assigned the trial. My older lawyer employer told me it was a loser. That was why it was assigned to me. The dog had bit three other people previously in three seperate attacks. A good case to bite my teeth on, he thought.

New York law at the time was known as the one bite rule. An owner was liable if the the dog bit one person previous to the case you were involved in. The one bite put the owner on notice of the dangerous propensities of the animal.

Such was my first civil case to defend. A loser.

I could not accept that I was going to lose. Such was the nature of the beast. Me.

I visited the 3 previous people who had been atttacked by Bob’s dog. I found out none had reported the bites to Bob. Bob confirmed that no one ever told him about the attacks. Interesting. The notice of his dog’s dangerous propensities had never been conveyed to Bob.

I defended the case on the lack of notice. After a 3 day trial, the jury returned a verdict for Bob. The jury said he was not responsible.

I won my first civil trial. Bob was not liable.

Ollie never knew. Bob had the dog put away after the attack on the little girl.

I saw Bob off and on over the years. We lived in the same small town. There was no relationship. We were just two people who knew each other and would say hello.

Bob married Jeanette.

They worked hard. Never quite made it. Owned a restaurant in Old Forge for several years. It failed. They were forced into bankruptcy. Lost their home to foreclosure.

Bob futzed around. One odd job after another. Just making enough money. Sometimes not enough.

I ran into Bob about 14 years ago. Asked how he was doing. Terribly, he said. He was out of work. Things were tough.

I gave Bob a job in my law firm. Always room for one more employee.

Bob became the firm’s gopher. A glorified one! It was he who called himself the gopher. He ran errands. We had offices in Utica, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Saratoga Springs at the time. He drove to them for various reasons. He went to the courthouse to file papers, went to Rosa’s to get me lunch, did some data entry. He had his own small office. If any odd ball thing had to be done, it was…..call Bob!

We all came to depend on him.

In the meantime, Bob remained gainfully employed with the law firm, taking home a pay check every week, had hospitilization and a pension plan. He even bought a new house.

Yesterday was the first time in 4 years that we saw each other.

Bob retired two years ago. After 12 years with the firm.

He is now 73. He has aged a bit. Lost a lot of weight. Has a hip problem that slows him down. And his wife Jeanette of 51 years died 4 months ago.

How sad! He is still grieving. I grieved with him yesterday.

He is ok money wise. Just sold his house at a handsome profit. The same little house he bought while working for me. He has his pension from the firm and Social Security. He has found a nice apartment in an excellent complex in Utica.

He and Jeanette were blessed with two loving daughters. He has grandchildren. Hopefully time will heal his wounds over the loss of Jeanette.

I told him to get himself down to Key West to visit. That would fix him up!

It was good to spend some time with an old client who had become an old friend.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning friends!

Actually it is the middle of the night. About 2 in the morning. Woke and decided to write.

I am still in upstate New York. Brutally hot. Not hot like Key West. Different. The air is heavy. Difficult to breath. No one stays out doors. Air conditioning is the requirement of the day.

Better than snow, however. The cold here in the winter time is worse. I miss it not since I moved to Key West.

Yesterday was my 75th birthday. It seems like I have been celebrating and mentioning it for the past week. I promise to say it no more after today.

I had a good 75th! Spent it with my 96 year old father yesterday afternoon and evening.

The older I get, the more we seem to have in common. Especially the aches and pains!

Dad, his friend Frances and I had dinner together last night at a local restaurant. A good time! A terrific time! One of the best birthdays I ever celebrated!

We talked and laughed the whole evening. He is sharp for his age. Mind good. Body wearinmg down unfortunately.

I ate badly. For some reason, I was unusually famished. I devoured a whole 18 ounce rib eye. For shame.

My father and I shared a cannoli for dessert. An unusually large one. About 8 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. A cannoli is an Italian pastry. A thin cylinder crispy crust filled with sweetened ricotta, an Italian cheese. It was covered in chocolate syrup.

We devoured it like two kids!

I think the dinner is why I am awake at 2 this morning. Acid indigestion!

It was worth it!

Modern science is wonderful. Lisa sent me a video of Robert and Ally screaming and singing Happy Birthday! over her cell phone to mine. It came in the middle of dinner. My father was thrilled with it! As I! Lisa is the best!

Things like this blog and Facebook also make it possible for us to expand our friendship base and communicate. I received over 200 Happy Birthday messages from around the globe. Wild! Thank you all!

I had assumed in retirement people would forget me. I would just fade quietly into the sunset. It has not been that way. My relationship base has expanded dramatically. Interesting.

Enjoy your day!

My bag finally arrived. My cell phone started working on its own again. All is well!

Today is special. My birthday. A big one. 75!

Wow!

My Father is 96. Will I?

It is amazing the distance this blog travels. Yesterday I received two comments regarding my lost bag and cell phone. One was from Jim Brown who lives on Crete in Greece. The other from Rita Botha who lives in Capetown, South Africa.

Marty wrote last night. He and Tom were partying late in the Key West in the Chart Room. About 10 o’clock. Che and Michael were with them.

In came two lovely women from Massachusetts. Where was Lou? Key West Lou? One of their moms back in Massachusets reads the blog every day. The ladies were there to meet Lou.

Instead they met some Chart Room regulars and visiting Tom. I could say poor ladies. But I cannot. Marty, Che and the rest are all good guys. I am sure a fun time was had by all.

Marty says the ladies will be returning tonight.

May everyone enjoy another Key West evening!

It is amazing the things we learn!

I was watching Moby Dick last night. The classic starring Gregory Peck.

Starbuck was Ahab’s first mate. Starbuck was from Nantucket. He was against Ahab’s destructive pursuit of the whale.

Turns out the owners of Starbuck named their coffee business after Moby Dick’s Starbuck. Originally they wanted to name the business after Ahab’s boat the Peguod. However after some wrangling decided the name was a bit strange.

And so Starbuck it was!

What will this day bring? How will my 75th birthday play out? We shall see.

Enjoy your day!

I’m having fun. Not really.

My plane got into Syracuse late last night. I made it. My bag did not. A big Delta jet and I was the only one not to get his bag. It is after 12 noon today and I am still waiting.

My cell phone works this morning in every respect, except one. I cannot receive calls. People who call get a busy signal. And no message to me that someone has called.

I went to the AT&T store here in Utica. Spent 1 1/2 hours there. Every one very solicitous. They do not understand the problem. So…..I was told I have to go 50 miles to Syracuse for a remedy. To Apple. It is the nearest Apple store. Why? I bought the phone from AT&T. It is only 4 months old. It is one of those sexy 3G things. Does everything. I was told because my contract with AT&T provides that Apple is responsible. No one told me that when I purchased the phone.

Wow!

I bought the phone in Key West. Is there an Apple store in Key West? Or do we have to go 155 miles to Miami for service?

What a screw job!

Go buy some one else’s phone!

Other than those two events, the trip back was ok. Uneventful. Not that many people traveling on Sunday of the holiday weekend.

The gender equality parade was yesterday in Key West. Because of my trip, I did not see it. However, Marty and many other people did. Marty reported to me.

Only about 8 women showed up with bare breasts to march. Each had their nipples covered. One was arrested. But not for bare breasts. There apparently was an outstanding warrant against her.

I am disappointed that the women covered their nipples. Not for viewing reasons. This was a nationally hearlded female bare breasted demonstration to support a woman’s constitutional right to go bare breasted. If a man could do it, so could a woman. It is called gender equality. NOW supported these ladies.

Local Key West law provides the nipple area has to be covered.

The ladies apparently opted to back off from the issue. They had been publically clamoring for weeks of their constutional right. When push came to shove, they did not put their nipples where their mouths were.

All to avoid arrest.

The blacks in the 1960s faced confrontation when they marched in support of civil rights. Worse confrontation. Not just arrest, but also water hoses, beatings and slurs.

You cannot stand for an ideal or right unless you are willing to go the route for it. These ladies backed off. For shame!

The weather here in Utica is delightful. Just like Key West. Warm and humid.

I have to deal with the phone issue. Rest assured I am not going to Syracuse. I plan on seeing my Father. And I don’t know what else.

Enjoy your day!

A Happy Fourth to one and all!

Remember what it means! With all that is going on in our contry today, I have concern.

My morning started with a smile. A telephone call from Robert and Ally. Happy 4th of July Poppa! Lisa said they ran into her bedroom this morning with the same greeting. The good things they learn in school!

I received another Happy Fourth greeting on Facebook. From my friend Jim Brown. Jim is a Scot living on the island Crete in Greece. Thank you Jim for remembering.

A freedom confrontation of sorts is going to take place later this morning in Key West. The police announced yesterday that they will be arresting the women who will be marching at 11 on Duval with their breasts exposed. It is a gender equality issue. The police will first warn them to cover. If they fail to do so, they will be arrested.

I researched the issue for my radio show The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Did a whole segment on it 2 weeks ago.

Florida has a state statute which lists body organs which may not be publically displayed. Female breasts are not listed.

Key West has a statute which requires female breasts to be covered from the tip of the nipple back. I did not write the law. Some very precise person did. I understand the law was written as a result of female bare breasting during Fantasy Fest.

There is an obvious conflict between state and local law. I suspect in the end that state law will prevail.

There is another legal issue. A Constitutional one.

If men can go bare breasted, why can’t women. What is good for the goose, is good for the gander. It is called equal rights.

Key West will be in the evening news. A constitutional confrontation is in the making.

This local march by the women today is supported by NOW. This demonstration has national backing. I susupect the issue will be prominent as it runs its course through the courts.

It is another gorgious day outside. A good day to walk around bare breasted!

I had dinner with Lisa and the family last night. Lisa says Robert and Ally are going crazy over golf. They especially love the real golf balls I gave them the other day. She says Robert is really into it. He is getting the language down. Par, birdie, eagle, etc. And only 6 years old!

After dinner, I headed over to Louie’s Backyard. Marty had called to tell me he and Tom were there.

Louie’s has one of the best views in Key West. It sits over the wide Atlantic.

Next door to Louie’s is Dog beach. A small beautiful beach. It is so called because it is for dogs. People bring their dogs. The dogs run around, sun bathe and swim with their owners.

And poop all over the place! Humans must walk the beach with care.

Only in Key West!

I had a couple of drinks with Marty and Tom. And some good laughs.

We were talking real estate. Marty told us Jimmy Buffett used to live next door to Louie’s. I told him I looked at the same house 20 years ago to buy. It was only $70,000 at the time. Today, even in this depressed market, you could not touch it for $1 million!

Then it was home to bed for me. Marty and Tom left for dinner somewhere.

I leave for Utica, New York later today. You will hear from me tomorrow from the foothills of the Adirondacks.

Enjoy your day!

The rainy season must be moving in. It rains in the summer once a day. Around 1 in the afternoon. For about 5 minutes.

I was having lunch yesterday at Hogfish. Fried calamari. It was a few minutes before 1. It poured! Just like that! Buckets of rain. Heavy. Five minutes later it was all over.

On my way into town last night, I stopped at Lisa’s to visit the family.

They had had take out chinese for dinner. Egg foo young and ribs left. I sampled a bit. Just a little as I had plans for dinner.

Robert and Ally were practising putting. They are into golf big time since they took four hours of lessons at the golf course.

They were down to one plastic golf ball. No good, I thought. So I took them out to the car. I had 2 for real golf balls on the front seat. I gave them each one.

Excited! Wow! And they could keep them!

I anticipate a broken window shortly.

Many friends at the Chart Room last night. Marty is back. He brought a buddy Tom with him. Tom is a retired trial attorney from the Fort Lauderdale area. Che was there. And Sean and Katherine. All good people. I received a warm Happy Birthday! from all.

Marty, Tom and I headed over to La Trattoria for dinner.

Erin was bartending. I had seen her at Outback with some girl friends the night before. I told her she looked like a school girl at Outback. I observed she was wearing no make up when I saw her. She said I was right. And smiled. She will probably go without make up from now on.

Becha. Lovely Becha. She came over and hugged me and kissed me. I whispered in her ear as she held me…..marry me and run away with me. She walked away mumbling and laughing. Probably saying to herself…..this old nut!

It was the start of the 4th of July weekend last night. Key West was filling up. La Trattoria was packed.

Going to be a big weekend.

Enjoy your day!

What a beautiful morning!

Everyday is glorious in Key West!

The whole world should live here!

The sun is shining already this morning.

Across the water from me is the MTV house of 3 years ago. You know. That TV show that annually tracks the living style for a week or so of young people living in some exotic place. Three years ago it was Key West.

My neighbor rented his home to MTV for 3 months for outrageous money. It took 3 months to prep the house for the show and finally run the show.

A group of young people arrived. Lived in the home for a month.

I never heard nor saw them except on two occasions. Both involved the show participants diving off the dock into the ocean during day time hours. Whatever occurred for show purposes happened inside and late at night or in town. Times when I was sound asleep.

The house is bright yellow on the outside. Trimmed in pink and a pastel blue. When the sun is upon it, as it is now, the place is a knockout! Great on the eyes! A sight everyone should behold.

I have that view every morning.

Lunch yesterday was at Harpoon Harry’s. A locals place. An old time diner sitting in a large store front.

Management and staff are friendly. The food good. Portions large. It was a late breakfast for me. Ham, eggs and whole wheat toast.

Afterwards, I took a walk over to the watrerfront. All of one block away. To the Turtle Museum. Glanced around a bit.

I was into turtles yesterday for two reasons.

First, Ally discovered turtle eggs in the sand at Fort Zach beach Sunday. She was all excited! This is nesting season.

Yesterday, the local paper reported a turtle crisis because of the oil spill. 70,000 eggs are in danger because of the Gulf oil spill. The eggs already dropped into the sand on beaches and awaiting hatching. The turtle egg period is about 60 days.

I am referring to the eggs in the Louisiana, Alabama and Northern Florida areas. Areas already devestated by the oil.

A plan is underway to carefully recover the eggs, place them in a lab somewhere in northern Florida and have them hatch thusly. Thereafter, they will be returned to an appropriate beach and allowed to walk as nature intended into the ocean.

It is an attempt to save a species. If it fails, there will be turtles no more in the Gulf area.

Last night I was at Outback for dinner. Salmon and fresh steamed vegetables. Healthy. What a good boy am I!

Enjoy your day!