We are into the rainy season. It rained heavy during the night. Lightning flashing in through the windows.

This morning it is absolutely beautiful! Bright sun, little breeze and not one cloud in the sky. But…..it will rain during the day at some point. For 5-10 minurtes. Then the sun returns and the humuidity shoots up.

Key West weather is dependable.

Yesterday’s blog touched many. My comments received regarding the Wisconsin recall election. If comments were bullets, I would be full of holes. Actualy, some did agree with me.

This nation of ours is on a far right ride for a while. The Wisconsin vote made that clear. The majority of comments reflected such.

I see things the other way.

Back in my college days, I recall doing some reading on the  indispensable opposition. It was part of one of my political science courses. I sense I am now one of those. One of the indispensable opposition. The far right does not understand the plight of the have nots. And with our dwindling economy, the have nots grow each day. The right talks in platitudes. Neighbors will help each other. I do not buy it. Fifty years ago, yes. Now, not so much. I believe the haves have a blind eye to the suffering of most trying to get along in the American economy today. In many instances, to exist.

So…..I shall speak out on occasion and those of you who disagree will shoot me and my beliefs full of holes.

Golf yesterday! Another bad day at black rock! Two weeks in a row I have played horribly. There is no excuse for it.

I played with Kurt, Rob and Aaron. Kurt and Rob played a money game. Rob won again. I did not play for money. Fortunately! I played leisurely. Took a few mulligans. Several. Moved the ball a bit for a better lie on occasion.

I was hungry. The refrigerator was empty. I went to Harpoon Harry’s for lunch. Sat at the bar, ate a full turkey dinner and read the newspapers. Harry’s was air conditioned and cool.

I was tired. Took a three hour nap.

Skipped dinner. The turkey lunch was too much.

Jean Thornton is back in town. She texted me that she was taking Sheila to the Chart Room. Could I make it? Never did. Sheila, I love you but had other plans..

I wanted to go to the movies. It had been a long time.

I took Barbara. We went to see the new Ape movie. I found it ok. Not great. Nothing like Planet of the Apes or its two successor films. Worth seeing, however.

Ate some pop corn.

By the time the show was over, I was hungry. It was around 9:30. The cupboard was bare again. I need to shop today. I had to eat. We stopped at Marriott’s Tavern ‘n Town.

Robert a top notch bartender. Charming. Barbara and I shared a small pizza and a piece of key lime pie. Around 10 last night. Not healthy! But, oh so good!

Sadly, I will not be doing the Key West Lou Legal Hour tomorrow morning. I was advised yesterday the studio would be closed for a few days. Guy the owner is visitng his lady friend ML in Annapolis and they are participating in a sail boat regatta somewhere in New Jersey. Jenna leaves today for a long week end in Indiana. She is visiting her grandmother and attending a friend’s wedding. Guy and Jenna run KONK. The operations. One of them has to be there to turn on the machines, etc. No one else knows how.

KONK being closed tomorrow is typical Key West. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is more important than enjoying life. Even a broadcating business. Sailing and visiting grandma take precedence. I agree.

All is not lost, however. One of my old shows will be rerun. So if you are still inclined, please listen in at 10 am my time at http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/.

What does bother me is that I had some new and interesting topics to discuss. Like the Wisconsin vote, the barring of circumsicion thrown off the San Francisco ballot, Viber Erect, a new Missouri law forbidding teachers and students from communicating on Facebook unless a parent has access, the recent Dodd-Frank Act and its implication for gold purchases, guns on campus in Texas, and more.

Lisa just telephoned. She wanted to know what I was going to do today. I said I did not know. That is the way most of my days are. What happens, happens. Generally for the good, fortunately.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

I am up early. Pitch black outside. This morning, golf!

There is a message in the Wisconsin recall election results. Beware!

As far as I am concerned, the good guys lost.

The results clearly indicate the way America wants to go. Conservatism. Radical conservatism. Not the good old fashion kind.

The pendulum will swing back some day. It is too far to the right not to. In the mean time, middle class America will further erode. Many of those who supported the Wisconsin recall results will realize the error of their ways. They are middle class also and will feel the deprivation.

The result is a victory for corporate America over the working class.

When people in general realize what is happening, they will be in the streets. It is inevitable.

Mary Jo died. I wrote about her yesterday. Everyone wrote about her. One terrific obituary in the Key West Citizen. It suggested she danced through the pearly gates.

Mary Jo, you touched many. Keep dancing!

I spent two hours yesterday in the dentist chair. No pain. Worked on fitting the implants.

I am totally impressed with the procedure at this point. Just wish it were over!

Got a haircut yesterday. Lovely Lori.

Lori looked terrific. Better than usual. She was out on her boat Sunday. The blond hair and deep tan are a perfect combination. She leaves this weekend for a two week trip up north to visit family. One of her stops will take her as far north as Maine.

Barbara is visiting. We hit the Chart Room first last night.

Keith Little was at the bar talking to Mary who was bartending. Her one night a week.

Keith is brother to Ed Little who died a couple of days ago. I never knew Ed Little, nor was I even aware of him. Strange! Because the Chart Room was his favorite haunt also.

Turns out Ed came in around 10 every evening. I would be long gone. My Chart Room time is 6-8.

I learned much about Ed last night. He was a diver, was with Mel Fisher when the gold was first discovered, etc. And…..a nice guy to boot! I telephoned son in law Corey. Do you know Ed Little? Yes. Well. We dive together. We also served on the board of the Key West Historical Newspaper as officers at the same time. A good guy!

I feel bad we never met. His friends are having a Key West send off for him this weekend at the Chart Room. I hope to be there.

Barbara and I had dinner at the Hot Tin Roof. John was all excited. His Wisconsin team is ranked #10 preseason in football. I told him to beware. I recall almost 25 years ago when Syracuse was ranked #1 preseason in basketball. The opening game of the season was at Springfield, home of the National Basketball Hall of Fame. Syracuse was playing North Carolina. I chartered a plane to fly to the game. Syracuse lost!

So much for preseason rankings! Based on my Syracuse experience,  I consider them a jinx!

Golf this morning. I have to hustle. The guys I play with tee off earlier and earlier.

Enjoy your day!

Mary Jo Da Silva has left us. She passed on yesterday morning.

God is having His hands full with her! She will rearrange Heaven a bit and keep Him jumping!

Mary Jo and I met when we both were relatively new to Key West. I cannot recall where we met. But a bond developed between us.

As I think about it, a bond probably developed between Mary Jo and every one she met.

She loved to dance. La Te Da was one of her favorite places to hang out and dance. Especially at the Sunday tea dances.

Mary Jo was special. She was of Portugese extraction. And let you know it!

She fought cancer for 5 years. Never complained. She was supposed to have died 4 years ago. A “last” brthday party was thrown for her at La Te Da. The whole world was there to honor her…..and say good bye.

She fooled all of us.

A Key West icon has left the fold.

It finally rained properly yesterday. We needed it. The rain poured straight down for about one half hour. No wind, no side blowing rain, no monsoon type rain. Just an ordinary rain storm.

Emily petered out. Tourists were worried a week ago. The storm never even reached the shores of the United States. It did some damage to Haiti and brushed the Bahamas. Then it fell apart.

I dined at Outback last night. Alone at the bar.

Some wonder why I frequent Outback when there are so many good restaurants in Key West. For two reasons. The first has to do with my appearance. Sometimes I do not shave for a week at a time. Last night I had a five day beard. Although Key west is casual, I feel I would be insulting owners and guests if I joined them in such a scrungy state. The other reason is that Outback is near my home. A quick drive.

I enjoyed a rib eye last night. Medium rare. Delicious.

It is wonderful to be able to chew again!

Today looks to be busy.

The dentist first. I am close to being done with my jaw and teeth. Not quite yet, however. Then a haircut. Love visiting Lori! Plus other things to do.

Enjoy your day!

I was a good boy yesterday morning. I walked!

Home Depot. Where else.

Then to Walgreens. Needed a prescription filled. It is amazing how many pills you are required to take as you get older. These pharmaceutical companies are getting rich! Sadly. The bill to seniors is too much, regardless of insurance. I have just discovered the donut in my private drug policy. It is enough to drive one to drugs! Drinking is passe.

Then to Hasrpoon Harrys for Sunday brunch.

The place was packed. No room at the bar. I took a small table. Grabbed some Sunday newspapers before sitting down. I spent two hours picking at an omelette and reading.

I planned to go to the beach afterwards. I have a golfer’s tan. My body is white.

I keep a sand chair and beach towel in the trunk at all times. I am what is known as “beach ready.”

I decided on Higgs Beach. My luncheon Friday had turned me on to the place.

It was a wonder! Bikini’s everywhere! Age had no bearing!

I looked for a while. Then fell asleep for an hour.

That was enough beach for me.

The balance of the afternoon was spent at home watching golf on TV. Tiger did not distinguish himself. He was no different than before. His former caddy did, however. Steve Williams carried for Scott who won. Williams also had some unkind inferences regarding Woods when he was interviewed after the tournament. His ill feelings run deep.

Last night was Hogfish. The place was quiet. I sat at the bar, picked at a piece of snapper, and read the local weekly papers.

This morning is lovely. It will rain a bit off and on. Nothing to spoil the day. It is that time of the year.

Enjoy your day!

The Washington debacle of the past month has left us in a bad way. How bad remains to be seen. I fear the worst is yet come.

Our government is dysfunctional. More need not be said. The obvious speaks for itself. However, I would like to share quotes from three American figures of note regarding elected officials. Two of the speakers are for real, one fictional.

Harry Truman…..”My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politicain. And to the truth, there is hardly any difference.”

Will Rogers…..”The world is full of politicians, but very few statemen.”

Forrest Gump…..”Stupid is as stupid does.”

The major and only event of yesterday was a manicure. With Tammy, of course. Fortunately, I had an appointment. There were two groups of  happy giddy women getting manicures and pedicures for weddings later in the day. Standing room only for the waiting!

Lisa and Corey visited in the afternoon. Swam in the pool. We chatted. I continue to be impressed with Lisa’s progress in her new business. Social media marketing. She is at the cutting edge of where marketing is today. Smart businesses need her. There are few having her talent and knowledge in the media
marketing area.

My Father telephoned at one point from Utica. He wanted to know how I was and how bad the rains were. What rains, I asked. He said he was watching the news and the report was tropical storm Emily was bombarding Key West with heavy rains and wind.

The sun was shining, nary a cloud in the sky and the temperature 92 degrees.

This frequently happens. The national media often misrepresent/magnify weather conditions here in the keys. I recall a hurricane that had been threatening us. One of the national TV channels was parked on Duval near La Concha. The TV announcer looked down Duval toward the Gulf and announced that in 6 hours there would be 4-6 feet of water running down Duval towards his position. It never happened. It did not even rain.

I spent the other parts of my day and evening writing. It is amazing how in my old age I enjoy remembering and composing from my experiences.

Today is Sunday. Love Sundays! I have two minuites before Meet the Press.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Another great morning! God is good!

Yesterday started with my internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

It was wild! Not the content. The location and operation of the show itself. Murphy’s law. Everything that could screw up, did screw up.

KONK has moved its studios. Now at the end of Applerouth Lane. The Whitehead end. Yesterday was my first day in the new studio. It is in the moving in status. The set up still a work in progress.

I do not know if the air conditioning was working. The broadcasting studio itself was small. The window open and an over head fan going.

The view from the window was an accurate protrayal of Key West. A touch of Whitehead and the Courthouse. An appropriate setting for a legal talk show. In addition, people were waving as they walked by.

Wires hanging all over the place. Could be seen on screen. The machinery before me was set up a bit diffrently. You cannot see the machinery. I can. It is there for me. But my mind was not readily adapting to its new location.

I screwed up major time. Talked through the first three commercial breaks! A no no.

On top of it all, some people in certain locations could only see me, not hear me. Cindy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Rita in Calitzdorp, South Africa.

Bottom line…..the content was good, the presentation left something to be desired.

Post show comments suggest two topics stimulated viewers the most. I thought it would have been Washington. Or maybe China’s credit rating. Instead, it turned out to be Donna and Terri’s remarriage and free birth control for women.

Needless to say, I have a huge female following!

Lunch was at Salute with the friday discussion group. A multitude of sins were discussed. I am still new to the group. Interesting people. Interesting minds.

We sat outside at Salute’s. Next to the beach. I could see all the prettiy ladies walking about. I arrived at an interesting conclusion. Most of the women, regardless of age or body shape, were wearing bikinis. One piece bathing suits were not to be seen. Our table of men took note.

I stopped by Lisa’s for a while. She was working hard. Her new business, The Social Suite, which provides internet marketing and consulting services, is going well. She is busy busy!

The grandkids are away. Visiting with Corey’s parents in north Florida. I miss them. Lisa misses them more.

I was Tom and Karen Dixson’s guest for dinner last night at La Trattoria. It was one of the finest dinner experiences I have had in a long time. These are two wonderful people. It was a most enjoyable time.

Tom and Karen are from Buffalo. Tom is one of the owners of the Ocean Key House. I look forward to their next visit and spending time with them again.

Lest I forget, it was great seeing Becha. She has not been working my past few visits. Her hug and kiss always makes my day.

I have to move on. A manicure this morning with Tammy.

It’s a tough life!

Enjoy your day!

The world is crumbling around us. I fear for life as we knew it. It may be a long time before it returns, if ever.

A sad start to today’s blog. But negativism is all around us. It is how I feel at the moment.

Today is friday! Friday means the Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten this morning on the internet worldwide. http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/. Join me for some interesting observations.

The show starts with a little Will Rogers and Harry Truman. A lead into Washington today. Then the proposed deep water channel in Key West, Donna and Terri’s remarriage, New York gay marriage opponents, free birth control for women, and more.

I finalized today’s show yesterday. Then refined it with Jenna. My guru.

Donna emailed me. Terri and the Follies show are in a state of refinement. Twelve hours a day for the September 12 New York opening. Dress rehearsal previews begin in about two weeks.

I find it interesting that a show that has already had a one month success at the Kennedy Center in Washington requires more work. Terri told me once that is how show business is. No matter how good, you always work to make it better.

Borders is closing. We all know. Sad.

Borders became my library in Key West. I was almost a daily visitor. It was peaceful and calm. I enjoyed sitting in those little black chairs and reading.

I am one of those who contributed to Borders’ demise.

I rarely bought a book. I sat in Borders and read them for free. Every two or three months, I would purchase a book. One for me to take on a trip or some reading for the grandkids. Also, I occasionally needed a beach book. A book is easier to read at the beach than a newspaper.

I really put the nail in the coffin six months ago when I purchased an Amazon Kindle. That was the end of Borders for me.

Many years ago my Congressman up north said of our local airport: Use it or lose it. We lost it. The same with Borders. We failed to use it.

Catch my internet show at 10!

Enjoy your day!

The highlight of my day on a wednesday is playing golf. Not yesterday. It was Sam Durso. A friend from the past.

Sam found me via my Amazon Kindle legal blog. From there he was he was able to trace me back to this blog.

I have not seen Sam in more than 30 years. We are close in age. He is 74. We were lawyers together a long time ago in Utica.

Sam’s best friend at the time was Bob Lutz. Both fine trial lawyers. Both bachelors. Both married later in life than most. They enjoyed their bachelor years!

Sam and Bob owned a boat. Summers they kept it in Alexandria Bay. St. Lawrence River country. It was the party boat from Heaven!

We old married folk were never invited nor were we permitted on it.

Sam and Bob use to play on the boat on weekends. They would come into court on Monday mornings with huge grins on their faces. We all hated them!

Sam early on tired of the actual practise of law. He obtained an appointment as a federal Administrative Law Judge in the San Francisco area.

That was 30 plus years ago. And also the last time I saw Sam or had any communication with him. Until this week.

Sam is now living in San Diego. Five minutes from the beach. He refers to himself as a San Diego beach bum. Good for him! He was divorced many years ago. Has a Japanese girl friend with whom he lives. He says it is working well. He cooks, she does the dishes.

The girl friend is very lovely. He sent me her picture. 

It is good to be reacquainted!  Sam, lets not lose each other for another thirty years.

It is amazing how every few weeks this blog will reunite me with a person from my past. Generally, my distant past. I enjoy being hooked up again. I consider myself lucky that it is happening.

Now to golf.

It was good. I played with Kurt and Rob. Both of them are at least 40 strokes better than me. No way I can even compete with them. I would need at least 3 strokes a hole and that is just not in the cards! It was decided even I could not afford the beating I would receive at their hands. So Kurt and Rob played each other. I merely participated in one of the side betting games.

These guys battled toe to toe. Especially on the back nine. It all came down to the last hole for them. A par 5. Each hit three great first shots. They were in 3 where I would have been in 6. Rob won the hole. It was great golf to watch!

I did not come out badly. Lost $1 to each of them.

The humidity was heavy. Needed 2 extra clubs to accomodate for it. All three of us were sweating profusely. I went home and to bed immediately. It took me about three hours to reenergize. I did not even go out last night. Cooked a steak and watched TV.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour tomorrow morning. 10 am Florida time. On the internet at http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/. Watch and listen, if you can. The show is streamed world wide.

Some interesting topics. I will be kicking butt with regard to what has gone on in Washington this past week. Plus…..cell phones for the poor, banks barring customers from their day in court, China’s credit rating, buy only American, free birth control pills for women, North Carolina and sterilization, nudity to attract attention, and more.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

I am up early. Golf this morning. Dark outside.

As a weather forecaster, I stink! I predicted a big storm yesterday. It never happened here in Key Haven where I live. Within 20 minutes, the sun was out and the black clouds had passed.

I live three islands up from Key West. About 2.5 miles separates my little key from Key West. It apparently rained big time in Key West. I could see huge puddles all over the place when I was driving in town last night.

I share this bit of information with you because of the uniqeness of the weather in the keys. It is not uncommon for it to rain in  Key West proper and not the 1 or 2 islands to the immediae north. In fact, it is not uncommon for it to rain in one part of Key West and not another.

Emily has become the topic of conversation. Even among the tourists. A storm on the way? The tourists do not understand how the locals take it all in stride. Too many times, we have been warned to evacuate. Many do not. It has become old hat. Get out, bad weather on its way! And then nothing. The storm turns and goes elsewhere.

The only danger is that some day the forcasters are going to be correct and it will be too late to evacuate.

Emily is not an evacuation type storm. So to locals it is like water off a duck’s back. It is given no concern.

This morning’s projection has Emily skirting Florida and hitting the United States proper in the Carolinas. It is also projected that Emily will increase in speed by that time to a hurricane 1. Still no big deal.

All this Emily information can change dramatically. Hurricanes are fickle. They move as they want. Ergo, the problem is that certainty in prediction is never a certainty.

I had a perfect day yesterday. I sat at my kitchen table with the doors open to the water behind me and wrote. All day. The weather was just right to do so. I wore only shorts and did not utilize the air conditioning. By the time I had finished, I was soaking wet.

I had dinner last night with Steve and Helen Purciello. We met through this blog. Steve is a daily reader. They visit Key West two times a year. We had drinks together six months ago at the Chart Room. We did it again last night, plus dinner at La Trattoria.

Steve and Helen hail from Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Both are educators. Steve an administrator and Helen a teacher. They have a time share here in Key West.

Both of them had spectacular tans. They ride their bikes each day to Fort Zachrey beach and lay out. They do not rent a car while here. Walking and biking are their modes of transportation.

Steve was a history major in college as I was. We are both political junkies. Politics dominated our discussions. With what has gone on in Washington the past few weeks, we had much to talk about.

 I enjoyed Steve and Helen’s company. I look forward to their next visit in November.

My blood pressure is stabilizing. I am anxious to play golf this morning. I missed last week because of the blood pressure problem.

Enjoy your day!

Another lovely day! Perfect! Calm and peaceful. Little breeze. Scattered clouds.

But…..the first hurricane of the season that might be a problem is on its way.

Emily.

Emily is presently a tropical storm. Sometime today it will cross Puerto Rico. Then Emily’s projection is for the storm to take a sharp right and head north.

Emily has three projected paths. One to the west of Florida and up into the Gulf. One to the east of Florida and north up the Atlantic. The third directly over Florida and Key West.

Storms are fickle. You never know the precise direction till the last minute. And even then, the storm’s path can change quickly and dramatically.

It is anticipated Emily will reach the Florida keys Saturday morning. Winds are projected to be 70 mph. Still within he scope of a tropical storm. Not a hurricane.

There is another possibility. Emily may never reach us at all. It may peter out.

I have noted over my years in Key West, that the natives will start talking about the storm when it is still a few days out: Will it hit?…Oh, it’s nothing!…I never worry…Who cares…Are you leaving?…No, I’m staying…Where would I go?

The topic of conversation!

I wrote an interesting blog for Amazon Kikndle yesterday. Economy and The Law. Tried to show how a depressed economy affects the operation of the courts. Tax dollars support the courts. Interesting. San Francisco has recently announced it will close a portion of its Superior Courts on September 1. Budget problems. Going to lay of 200 staff and shut down 25 court rooms.

I stopped at Lisa’s later in the morning. Cameron was there.

I learned some new things regarding his Mongilian trip. He ate horse meat. Said it was good. Apparently a Mongolian staple. Cameron further said all the food was different and exciting to the taste.

Cameron makes mention on Facebook this morning that he is bored. The trip obviously turned him on. In one month, he experienced a whole new way of living. The other 16 years of his life are old hat. Mundane. Of course he is bored! It will not last, however.

I then stopped at Office Max. I needed some supplies. I have learned that this is one of the best times of the year to shop at Office Max. They have all kinds of sales for the kids returning to school. I try to take advantage of these sales. Like a ruler for 1 cent. Can’t beat that!

I was also looking over the printers. Need a new one. No terrific sales with the printers though. Obviously not a required item for school children.

I am getting tired of typing on the computer as I write. My fingers do not work as fast as my mind nor as accurately. I am looking into Dragon. I will speak and the Dragon program will print my words on the computer.

Any of you who have Dragon experience, write and let me know what you think, your experience, etc.

I then walked. Home Depot.

Then home to write a bit. Inside. Too hot outside.

Last night I headed over to Hogfish for dinner. Alone. Sat at the bar. Read some local papers. Chatted with the barmaid. A charming woman originally from England.

I am glad this Washington fiasco is finally being put to rest. A shame on our government. A shame on us for not having figured out how to correct the situation yet before they bury us. My suggestion. Vote them out! All of them! Invoke stringent term limits. One six year term for a Senator and 2 two year terms for a Representative. Then let them return home and work like the rest of us.

Enjoy your day!