Sunday morning. I slept late. A comforting thing to do on occasion.

I had a date last night! For real. A blind date.

I have had several blind dates this past year. I swore them off. They were all difficult. I said, no more!

I gave it a shot again last night, however. Glad I did. Had a terrific time!

The lady is a strange duck in one regard. There may be more, but I am not aware of them as yet. She considers herself a private person. She does not want to be named in the blog. Prefers anonymity.

What to do? How can I share what turned out to be one of my better Key West evenings unless the lady has a name.

I came up with a solution which she agreed to.

A little background is required.

The lady is a snowbird. This is her second season in Key West. She formerly used to do Palm Springs. However after a brief visit three years ago, she decided Key West was more to her liking. She considers herself a Key West type.

She is.

Home for the lady is the Jersey shore. A good place to be from.

She appears to have a kind heart. She takes in stray cats and dogs. Besides homeless, they are generally sick or hurt. She brings them back to good health and keeps them.

The lady presently has 13 cats and 1 dog living with her in New Jersey. She brought 4 of the cats with her to Key West. The others are with her children up north.

The preceding sets the ground work so you will understand why I came up with the name for her that I did.

Cat Lady!

Cat Lady is ok with her.

Cat Lady and I did the Chart Room together. Few people. A dead time in Key West.

Dinner later was at the Hot Tin Roof. Very few patrons there also. It was John’s last night as restaurant manager. In mid December, he is opening a sports page bar at the old Pt’s on Caroline. John formerly owned and ran three sports bars in Minnesota. I am confident his new place will be a huge success

After dinner, we went over to the Wine Galley. Cat Lady had never been there. Larry Smith was playing and singing. Occasionally Mary Deasy joined in.

Cat Lady and I talked long into the night.

After I dropped her off, I headed over to Dons Place for a drink. Thought Kurt might be working. He was not. He is on vacation some where up north. Don and Russ were at the bar. Chatted with both for a while and then headed home.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Another great morning! Another great Key West day in the making!

Yesterday’s weather was the same. Except around 5 in the afternoon. It poured! Big time! For about a half hour. I had intended to go out last night. I never did. Island Shoe Girl Stephanie Kaple was a celebrity bartender at a charity fundraiser at the Bottle Cap. Sorry I did not make it, Stephanie.

My internet show yesterday morning was outstanding! Excuse the modesty. But…..it was! If you have not seen it yet, try some friday morning.

I was buried in post show comments regarding Penn State and Paterno. And some involving Syracuse’s Bernie Fine. Syracuse and Bernie fine were not on the agenda for the show. After the blog went out, I started receiving e mails and telephone calls which brought the situation to my attention. I worked it into the show.

I am a Syracuse graduate. A die hard fan/alumnus. Bleed Orange.

I am acquainted with Bernie Fine. His last name says it all. A finer person cannot be found.

I got to know Bernie initially because I acquired 8 basketball seats immediately behind the Syracuse bench. Got the seats when the Carrier Dome opened around 1980. Those same seats have been kept over the years by me and now my family. No one gives up their Syracuse basketball seats!

My grandchildren grew up in the Syracuse atmosphere. That included attending the basketball games on occasion. They started as toddlers. They crawled around the aisle between my seats and the team. They also crawled in my air box at the Dome.

Bernie has at least two daughters. They were always at the basketball games. As little girls, they were running around while at the games with their father. They generally sat near Bernie on the Dome floor. I saw Bernie’s girls grow up at the games.

I went to many Syracuse related events over the years which Bernie also attended. We chatted on occasion.

I know Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim well. A person of character. He says the charges levied against Fine are “…patently false.” I believe him. And I believe what my eyes showed me over the years.

The two alleged victims are now adults. Thirty nine and 45. They have come forward many years after the alleged events. They are also stepbrothers.

There are numerous investigations ongoing. The truth will out. If Bernie is guilty, he will pay with jail time and humiliation. If determined innocenl, he will carry the scars of the accusations for a life time.

Enjoy your day!

Today is Friday! This is friday morning! Which means The Key West Lou Legal Hour!

Join me and my world wide friends at 10 this morning my time for another exciting show. The world is crazy and provides me with interesting topics every week. http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/.

In addition to Penn State/Paterno, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and topics I touched on yesterday, there will be a discussion concerning the Occupiers and police and Russia’s treatment of gays

My day started yesterday with another dental visit. I should own stock in my dentist’s business!

A nothing visit. Just to remove stitches from last week’s activity. My next appointment is a month from now and then three consecutive months to see how things are going. The dentist will be checking the two implant posts and additional cadaver bone put into my jaw last week. In the fifth month, assuming everything goes well, I shall be fiinished. Hopefully.

Bocce last night.

There were only two weeks left in the season. Last night and the thursday after Thanksgiving. The top four teams at the end of the season make the playoffs. My team and two others are basically tied for fourth. Ironically the other two teams are our scheduled opponents these last two weeks.

It is for all the marbles!

The first game was tight. Each team played extremely well. I was impressed how good we played.

We lost 16-14.

I left at the start of the second game. I was not feeling well. I do not know what happened thereafter and it is too early to call anyone. I will learn today and you will learn tomorrow.

Again, join me at http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/ at 10 am. The material to be shared is exciting and interesting. Shocking in some respects.

Enjoy your day.

I walked yesterday morning big time!

Up and down Duval, from the Atlantic to the Gulf and in between.

There are people in town. Tourists. More than I recollect at a similar time in the past few years. Has the economy improved? Are they spending money other than for their hotel/motel rooms? When things are tough, many visit Key West who do not do the restaurants and bars. They bring their own hard stuff. Buy beer from a store. Purchase pizzas or subs and eat them in their rooms.

I get the thought that ice cream has discovered Key West. In the past two years, at least 6 new ice cream shops have opened on Duval. We only had two for years. All appear busy!

As I competed my walk and was entering my car at Square One, I noted Bob Burton sitting in the SUV next to me. I opened the door and visited with him for a while.

Bob is 81. He was sitting there with the oxygen thing in his nose and the canteen/bag to which it was attached on the floor. I asked him, “Is this what I have to look forward to?” He laughed. Not so funny from my perspective. I am 76. Only 5 years separates us.

Bob and Jack Baron were a couple. For well over 50 years. Baron was an artist. Jack died about 7 years ago. I miss him. He was wise. He saw things others might not. I used to visit with Jack and Bob six days a week at Jack’s studio. An hour or two each morning. Others would stop in also. We talked about anything and everything. We solved the world’s problems.

Bob and Jack would be legally married today had Jack lived a bit longer. Nevertheless, Bob and Jack lived as a couple and were respected as such. I attended anniversary parties # 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52. All terrific. Generally a couple of hundred people mulling around having a good time.

I worked on Friday’s show yesterday. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 am. http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/. Join me. Another great show!

Topics of course will include Penn State, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich. I hope you will be listening to my take on Penn State/Paterno. It may be different from anything you have been subjected to thus far. Other topics will include blocking of graphic displays on cigarette packages, the $8 million artifact collection in the cellar of a building in bankrupt Harrisburg, the art owned by the city, a Chinese hospital screw up, a for real $1 million dollar mistake, the great basketball star Yao Ming, the economic crisis impacting Santa Claus, the Catholic Church changing things again, and more.

Tonight bocce! I will be there! It will take a train wreck to keep me away!

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday morning was spent researching. Sat outside at an umbrella covered round table and did my thing.

It consistently amazes me how much easier it is to research in the era of the internet. I recall back in college all the books to be searched in the library, notes and quotes on cards, etc. Tedious.

Lisa telephoned around two. Corey’s grandmother had died. A quick shower and I was at their home. Corey was home. I hugged him and told him I loved him. What else can be said at such a time.

Corey’s grandmother lived in Stuttburg, Germany. That is where she died. Ninety three. God bless her!

Corey took a two week trip to Europe a year ago. One week was spent in Stuttburg with his grandmother and family. Corey’s son Cameron was 15 at the time. His grandmother last saw him when he was 2. Corey took Cameron with him. It was good he did.

I stayed with Corey and the family till early evening. I call it sitting. An Italian shiva. Except no one brought baked goods.My tradition is we visit the family of the person who died and sit with them. Talk, sometimes serious, sometimes humorous. Say nothing. Do nothing. Mere presence provides comfort to the bereaved.

Lisa decided we would have dessert. Maybe to put a sparkle in things. Lisa does not put out the usual desserts. She is totally into good health for herself and her family. An apple, a piece of orange, a cut up banana. Last night she authorized me to buy some kind of baked good for dessert.

Robert came with me.

We ended up in the bakery section of Publix.

My intention was to purchase some baked goods located in the counter. Robert and I checked them out. Did not turn us on. We bothered the poor woman working there three times with questions. She helped me make it a big deal for Robert.

Then we circled the baked goods displayed on the aisle. It came down to Boston creme pie or a pumpkin pie. The Boston creme pie won out!

Robert and Ally had never eaten anything as bad or as good as Boston creme pie. They went crazy over it! Exclaiming, how good! The chocolate on top, the cake, and the vanilla pudding in the middle!

Lisa says I teach her children bad things. No. I am merely expanding their life experiences.

A grandfather thing.

I am a failed alumnus. Syracuse and Manhattan played Monday night. I graduated from both schools. I did not even know the game was on!

Last night Syracuse played Albany. Only on the internet for viewing. I could not get the game to come up on ESPN 3.

Syracuse won both games by the way.

Golf this morning. I am going to skip again this week. I have some things to do. There was a time nothing was more important than golf. What terrible thing is happening to me?

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

I am energized this morning.

Started yesterday with two doctor visits and one dentist visit. I scheduled them all together in a 3 hour span. I was sick of running to doctors almost every day. My new approach is…..let’s do it and get it over with!

I saw my internist Dr. Lefferts first. She was happy with me. I do not have to see her for 2 months. We have been seeing each other almost weekly for months.

Then my heart physician, Dr. McIvor. He was happy with me also. Blood pressure 110/78. Ankles no longer swollen. Nausea gone. I had been on a frequent visit regime with Dr. McIvor also. He said…..see me in 2 months!

Finally! My life is mine once again. Except for the dentist.

I visited my dentist Dr. Lindner last. He wanted to check my stitches. Stitches good. He will remove them thursday. Of course, it is almost impossible to eat . My gums are still swollen.

This implant thing is going to take another 4-5 months.

I spent the afternoon doing what I seem to enjoy most lately. Writing. I did my legal column for this week’s Konk Life. It will be published thursday. The column deals with new regulations that require graphic pics on cigarette packages which must exhibit the unhealthy results of smoking.

First stop last night the Chart Room. A good crowd. No one I knew. Tourists.

I met an interesting couple at the bar. Who also have interesting occupations. They make flavored feed for cows.

Peter and Pauline Naylor are from Manchester, England. The company they own is called Inroads International. They spend six months a year in Dubuque, Iowa and the other six in Manchester. They also have a condo in Fort Myers. They were visiting Key West for a couple of days.

I could not help but think that the flavored cow feed business must be good. Homes in Manchester, Dubuque and Fort Myers.

Nice people. They intend to return to Key West.

My next stop was the Wine Galley. Monday is jazz night. I was there early. Larry was playing the piano and singing. His charming wife Christine was singing, also.

There were only three tables occupied when I arrived. By the time I left, most were filled. It was a strange night. I knew someone at each table. A rarity.

I sat at the bar. Decided to have dinner there also. Pier House food is always good. It was a lobster bisque and a piece of snapper. I handled the soup easily. The fish was a problem, but I got through it.

Several young ladies had come in and sat next to me. Lovelies. Late 20s, early 30s. I got to talk with the one seated directly next to me. Susan Varriale. A New Jersey school teacher. She wants to move on and become an ultra sound technician. Much more money, she says.

Susan’s home town is Point Pleasant. Once I heard that name, I was off and running. When my children were young, my brother in law lived in some town near Point Pleasant. Point Pleasant being on the ocean. My family and I would visit my brother in law for two weeks every summer. He had a huge home. It was a free vacation. Most days we went to Point Pleasant.

You have not lived till you have visited a Jersey beach. They are the best in the world. Point Pleasant was one of those beaches. We had to pay to use the beach. We were given little clothe tags to wear to identify us. The sun was good. The kids were terrific. The hot dogs and hamburgers delicious.

I appreciate this blog is a bit longer than usual. But so many good things happened last night and this morning. Bear with me as I continue and share a few more items with you.

As I drove home, I noticed the moon. A 3/4 one. Big and bright.

The weather is such that air conditioning is no longer required. I slept with the glass sliding doors to my bedroom open. As I turned off the light and crawled into bed, what did I see? Not Santa Claus and eight shinny reindeer. The moon again! I thought God is good .

This morning had another goodie.

This must be dolphin week. I heard a splash. Turned around and looked out on to the water. There were two dolphins doing their thing. Leaping and diving, leaping and diving.

The dolphins are out and about generally in early morning.

I have seen dolphins off my deck for the 14 years I have owned this home. It occurred to me that the viewings go in spurts. A lot of dolphins for several months. Then none for a long period.

I concluded it must have to do with the time change. The dolphins are not aware of it. They have no clock to change. They are up at the same time. But I at a differnet time.

My conclusion may be wrong. That is how I see it, however.

Lastly, Gary and Tecia…..where are you? I know you are in Key West. I want to hook up with you for drinks and dinner..

Enjoy your day!

A photographer I am not! As revealed by the photos presented here the past several days.

Many have communicated with me as to the poor quality. Advice given. Everything from cleaning the camera lens to what to buy to perform the task correctly.

No more photos till I have been appropriately educated and purchased the correct equipment. Knowledge is the key here.

There will be one pic today. Not taken by me, however. It is a photo of a piece of art.

I wish to talk a bit about Tennessee Williams. World famous play write and author.

Tennessee Williams lived in Key West for many years.

Tennessee Williams’ home strangely is located in  the new town portion of Key West. On Duncan. It is presently owned by my friend Evan who lives there several months year.. The home has been restored. It is beautiful to behold.

Williams was a regular visitor to Key West from 1941 to his death in 1983. Until he purchased the home, he resided at the La Concha Hotel on Duval. Williams purchased the home in 1949. He listed Key West as his permanent address till his death in l989. The Duncan Street home was the only house Williams ever owned. He rented elsewhere.

The home is located at 1431Duncan street.

Williams had drinking and drug problems. He was always seeking stimulation. He needed the uniqueness of this island and other places “…to stimulate his writing.” He came Key West when “…he discovered….a startling new place.”

The Rose Tattoo was one of Williams top works. He wrote the play in l951. It won the award for best play of the year. A movie of the play was made in 1957. The movie starred Anna Magnani and Burt Lancaster.

Williams did not have to go far to perform his writing duties for the movie. The film version of The Rose Tattoo was made in the 1400 block of Duncan Street in Key West also. Williams’ house was on the northern corner. The Rose Tattoo house the south. The home is still standing. Overgrown by trees and shrubbery. Pratically invisible to the eye. A rental.

Two historical homes of a sort on the same block is a wow!

Anna Magnani received the Academy Award for Best Actress as a result of her performance in The Rose Tattoo.

Williams’ play was presented world wide after its Broadway and Hollywood successes. Dublin, Ireland was one of those places.

It was 1957. Things then were not as they are now. Society was repressed and reserved. Sex was dirty.

The play was shown. One of the scenes required a condom to fall out of a pocket. That’s all. The cast mimed the condom’s fall. The director and theater owner were arrested. The charge was they had made a “…lewd statement.”

The photo of the painting of Williams’ home posted here was done by the artist Ruben Concepcion. My Lisa has it for sale in her Key West Internet department store Via Key West. Take a look at it and other paintings which reflect Key West people, places and things. http://www.viakeywest.com/.

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday was a good day! My movings about brought me in contact with all good people!

I started in the morning with Tammy. A manicure. You cannot appreciate the old time immigrant drive till you meet her.

Then to Lori. Haircut time. Long overdue. She told me I had more hair than she could remember. It was the colonoscopy and dentist that contributed to the situation. I am bald once again and happy about it.
Stopped to see Lisa. Grandkids a thrill. Ally was all excited. She was at the Pier House yesterday for lunch and the boat races. She and her girl friend made the green/yellow one their favorite. Robert all excited because he has been invited to ride on a float for the Xmas parade.

As a result of the dental work, I cannot chew. The blender is my best friend once again. The problem, I had no blender food. So it was off to Publix on the way home

Jenna and I dated lat night. Love her.

We started at the Chart Room. Sheila joined us. JJ bartendoing. A great time was had!

Then to Hot Tin Roof for dinner. I cannot chew. Too much pain. I had soup. Jenna ordered normally. I did change my drink, however. To a cosmopolitan. All because of Molly Ringwald. A story for another day.

John will soon be leaving the Hot Tin Roof. He has been an excellent manager.

In mid December, he is opening a sports bar at the old PT’s. Has to be a winner. John owned three before he came to Key West from Minnesota.

I dropped Jenna offf after dinner. Decided to stop at Don’s Place for a nighgt cap. Friend Kurt bartending.

I watched portions of Oregon/Stanford’s first half.

Boomer and Russ left for Herschel and Erica’s home. They were having a fight party. Some championship battle. I optd not to go.

It was time for home and bed.

Enjoy your Sunday!

The weather is changing. Ever so slowly. It does not change like up north. Where the trees turn and then one morning you awake and there is snow!

Key West does not have snow.

But the nights are now cool. Around 70 degrees. Cool here! We are accustomed to 80 degree weather by day and night. Blankets are required in the evenings now.

No humidity by day. Still 80 degrees. But you can feel the coolness drifting in from the ocean.

Pretty soon, perhaps in another 3-4 weeks, it will be long pants time.

I am still recovering from thursday’s dental work. Jaw swollen and sore yesterday. Prevented me from going out.

I see from Facebook that Cheryl and Roger enjoyed a good Key West evening. The Veterans’ Parade at 4. Then the Chart Room. Followed by Hogsfish.

I probably would have run into them at the Chart Room and ended up having dinner with them. They are snowbirds. Just returned from Kankakee, Illinois.

My game plan was to do the Veterans’ Parade with the grandkids. Key West has great parades. I enjoy watching them with Robert and Ally. They get all excited!

I spent the evening home in bed watching Syracuse get beat. Lost to South Florida 37-17. Syracuse is now 6-6. Too bad. The road to a better team and record is a long and arduous one.

These times alone at home are somethines a blessing. Peace and quiet does not exist enough for us. I spent most of my day being Amazon Kindle familiar. The New York Times and Chris Matthew’s book on Kennedy.

Jenna and I are supposed to go out this evening. Even if I cannot eat, I will go. I enjoy Jenna and am stir crazy. I need to get out!

Enjoy your day

A dentist visit yesterday. Still working on the implants. I thought it was going to be easy. A walk in the park.

Was I fooled!

Work started on placing the permanent implants. Two hours. Blood. Cut to the jaw bone. More cadaver bone required. Pain like before when the process began. No pain pills for three hours. Take my head!

Still screwed up this morning. It might have been better had I gone toothless.

Internet show this morning. 10 am. Key West Lou Legal hour. No way can I do it. There will be a rerun of a previous show. Just voice. no picture. You will see an open mike and me pontificating. Make believe it is that old form of entertainment called radio.

Think of it. Radio was the first of the communication/entertainment vehicles. And it is still with us!

I am disappointed I will not be doing the show. What with Penn State and Cain, it was going to be a humdinger! Especially the Penn State/Paterno portion. I still think Paternio is getting a bum rap. Perhaps next week I will be able to explain in detail why.

Both with Penn State and Cain, the whole stories are not yet out. Cain’s can get only worse. As to Penn State, the whole story will out. Inevitable. It will probably run to Board members, political figures and who knows who else. Then a proper judgment can be made.

Keep in mind that a District Attorney did investigate and determined there was no ground for indictment(s).

Penn State is going to come down to who knew what and when. Typical.

Enjoy your day! Mine so far is extremely uncomfortable.