DIET AFFECTING MY LIFE

 

Dieting has its shortcomings. Really no fun. Gluttony must be corrected, however. Dieting becomes a necessity.

Success is keeping me going! I have been on the diet 17 days. Lost 14 pounds! Big! Easy to do. I eat next to nothing.

The diet affects my social life. Which in turn affects what I write here. Difficult to go out when dieting. At least for me. Temptation all around. I am weak and easily succumb. Which means…..I have little to report about exciting Key West. Sorry. I shall return.

Yesterday was hotter than normal. I believe the temperature hit 80 degrees. I needed to turn on the air conditioning for a while. The heat also affected my walking. I walked inside. Home Depot. Cool.

Home Depot was my only excursion out of the house yesterday.

I need to get out. I am starting to feel confined. Need people…..socialization. Maybe tonight.

I spent a good portion of my inside yesterday working on Friday’s TV/Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Came up with some interesting topics for discussion. Such as the Florida python hunt, Congressman Darrell Issa the richest man in Congress / like $450 million, Italy’s Mario Monti to resign / will Silvio Berlusconi return?, the 73 year old man finally sentenced for killing a 7 year old in 1957, the Elizabeth Rudavsky story, the European Nation winning the Noble Peace Prize, Google legitimately avoiding $2 billion in taxes with a Bermuda banking account, a burglar who called 911 to save himself from a gun totting homeowner, and more.

The movie Lincoln has or soon will be opening in Key West. Key West is one of the last communities to get it.

I started last night reading a bit about the movie. All of a sudden I was deep into Lincoln and the Civil War. Too interesting to stop reading. Lincoln was wily crafty politician.  I spent four hours reading the article.

Enjoy your day!

KWL BLOG TALK RADIO…..WORKING ON IT

 

 

KEY WEST LOU Blog Talk RADIO.

That is the name! Capitals included!

A lot to putting this show together. Surprising.

Today, I am going to put the cart before the horse. I am going to spell out how to call into the show to ask a question, make a comment, etc. Even before I advise how to find the show for listening purposes. The reason is I do not have the find the show info down pat yet..

The show is talk radio. I talk. You talk, if you so desire. There are two ways to call in.

The first is direct dial. The number is 646-478-5731. The other is via Skype. There is a “Skype to Talk” button on the screen during the show. Click on it and join the show as a live caller.

Skype is free. You must have Skype to utilize it, however. Ergo, if without, sign up for Skype. It is free. The free application is at www.skype.com.

American callers can use the direct dial or Skype procedure. Those outside the United States, Skype.

There will also be available a direct click button on Facebook. You can find the show that way. Perhaps on Twitter, also. Though I am not sure at this time.

The first show is Tuesday December 18 at 7 in the morning my time. I selected the time. Lets begin and see how it goes. I can always change to a later time and more time. The show at present will only be one half hour. I am crawling before I walk.

I encourage listeners to call in. It is a talk show.

A typical Sunday yesterday. A bit of shopping. Walgreen and Publix. A bit of walking.

I ran into Mandy and Tonto to at Publix. I have not seen them in well over a year. Not just nice people, great people! They have been a Key West two some forever. Mandy works at a mortgage brokerage house. Runs the shop. Tonto is a bartender. The last I knew she was working at La Te Da. We exchanged hugs and a Merry Christmas.

Seven years ago, I realized my Christmas had changed. I would now be alone, except for Lisa and her family. I always loved Christmas. I am the type that enjoyed all holidays and their celebration. I needed to create the Christmas spirit in my Key West home. To begin, I needed a Christmas tree!

To say I enjoyed the holiday is correct. However, not all aspects of it. I hated decorating the tree. Left the job to my wife and Utica grandchildren. It was obvious to me that a tree that had to be decorated was not in order. I researched through the various catalogues. Came up with a six foot artificial tree with over 400 lights on it. Top quality the ad said. Will last many years. The cost was around $450. I figured for that price it would last.

I have not been disappointed.

What a beautiful tree! I am impressed. The lights still work. I got what I paid for.

My Key West Christmas has moved from my home to Lisa’s. I really do not need the tree any more. My emotions of seven years ago are different today. Lisa now uses the tree. This is her second year. The family came over to get the tree yesterday. I store it well wrapped in the garage. Robert and Ally were all excited.

Enjoy your day!

 

FOG

 

Dense fog this morning.

Fog is rare in Key West. Once or twice a year. I can hardly see the MTV house across the way. Just a shadow of Ed Swift’s. Nothing more. Not even the ocean.

Loved the swim meet yesterday morning! Robert and Ally competed.Tthey both looked good!

Four races each. Ally had 3 seconds. Robert a second and third.

I was impressed. This is their first year. I can see where they will continue with this program through high school. Denizens of the deep in the making!

Key West Christmas Parade last night. One of the finest parades I have ever seen. I say it every year. Because it is. Two and one half hours of pure joy. And at the end Santa Claus!

The floats throw candy to the children along the route. The kids scour for the candy. Robert and Ally included.

Egypt remains in turmoil. A simple reason. Democracy is hard to learn. It does not happen over night. After centuries of pharaohs, kings and dictators, one year is far too little to make the adjustment.

I still think we were better off with Mubarak. The reality of it is that it is not important what you or I prefer. It is what the Egyptian people want. As it should be.

Enjoy your Sunday!

SWIM MEET THIS MORNING

 

Big morning! Robert and Ally are participating in their first competitive swim race. At the college. Lisa said they were up at 5:30 all excited. I will be there!

Yesterday, the show! The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Went well. I love doing the show and that may contribute to its success. I especially enjoy doing it live on television.

Two topics received the most post show comment.

One was the report that soon smart phones and tablets will be operated by the eyes. Impressive!

The other had to do with camera and microphones being built into TV sets. The purpose is so others can watch us as we watch TV. To help advertisers decide what we like. Beware! One major TV manufacturer has already dione it with certain of its 2012 models. Quietly and unbeknownst to the American public.

Yesterday was December 7. Pearl Harbor.

It bothers me that in recent years more is not made of the day. We cannot forget. We should not forget. The best tribute I could find yesterday was the movie Tora Tora Tora on Turner Classics.

Pearl Harbor galvanized America. It educated a generation that would never have seen college. Many your grandfathers and fathers. The education created a previous non existent middle class. Finally, the day eventually led to a prosperity the Nation had never known.

It was announced yesterday that the US Supreme Court was going to hear the same sex marriage issue. Finally.

I am concerned with the possible result. The Court has four conservative Justices and four Liberal ones. An even split in the anticipated vote. The remaining Justice swings both ways. Justice Kennedy. I have been saying for two years that I am fearful Kennedy will vote the wrong way. With the conservatives. Defeating same sex marriage.

I could be wrong.

The way around the problem is for one of the Justices to resign or pass on. Then Obama would get to name the replacement. Undoubtedly a liberal and a vote for same sex marriage.

Yesterday was a lot of nothing that kept me busy all day. A manicure with Tammy. A walk starting at Square One and going through the Southernmost and Reach and then back to Square One. Wrote next week’s article for KONK Life. Worked on my new radio show. The Key West Lou Blog Talk Radio Show. The radio show kicks off at 7 in the morning on Tuesday, December 18. Join me. A half hour talk show. Listeners can call in.

Directions as to how to find the blog radio show will follow soon.

Time to shower and head over to the college. A proud grandfather morning ahead!

Enjoy your day!

SANTA LAST NIGHT

 

Santa Claus arrived last night! At the annual Yacht Club Christmas party for the kids.

Robert and Ally were there. It was their party.

I am beginning to suspect they may know. They were rather quiet and lacking in enthusiasm.

I continued my diet while everyone else ate a terrific meal. Switched. Two diet Cokes. And a cup of decaf.

The diet is working. I am into it. Thirteen pounds in two weeks.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour this morning. Ten my time. On television throughout the Keys and Miami-Dade County. Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. On the internet world wide. www.tvchannel19.com.

Join me. A good show.

One of the topics to be discussed is the withdrawal from their present positions of Dick Armey and Senator DeMint. Another topic  is a plan underway to place cameras and microphones in TV sets in your living room and bedroom for the benefit of advertisers. A decided no no.

Have to move to get to the TV station on time.

Enjoy your day!

GREAT DINNER COMPANION

 

I dined with a charming lady last night. Stephanie Kaple. A dedicated worker for the homeless. A lover of women’s shoes for which she is known as the Key West Shoe Lady. Everyone is Key West something in this town

We had dinner at the Marriott Beachside’s Tavern ‘N Town. Great atmosphere and good food. Add Stephanie to the mix and I had it made!

Steady easy going conversation prevailed throughout the meal. Stephanie enjoyed wine and snapper. Louis, two diet Pepsi’s and a decaf coffee. The bill was cheap.

Tavern ‘N Town has become a favorite spot for locals. One of the owners Robert Spottswood was there. We talked for a few minutes.

Another quiet day.

I walked Smathers Beach late in the morning. Mid afternoon it was the doctor. He cut/burned out whatever on my back. Hurt only a bit. Visited Lisa. Ally out. Spoke with Robert. He is excited about Santa Claus tonight at the Yacht Club and the swim meet Saturday.

Tomorrow the Key West Lou Legal Hour. An interesting and informative show has been prepared. Watch, if you can.

The show airs on TV from Key West through Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. The show is also available world wide via the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

Ten in the morning my time.

Topics for tomorrow include Pearl Harbor, Dick Army, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane, Egypt, Sgt. Matt Brukbacher, Citigroup, the banning of cellphones for women, TV cameras, kinky sex accepted at Harvard, lobster cannibalism, eye operated smartphones and tablets, the barefoot man not homeless, and more.

A fast moving enjoyable hour.

Enjoy your day!

 

BLOG TALK RADIO COMING

 

If anyone asks what you do when it appears there is  nothing to do, tell them to look at me.

I am going to do a blog talk radio show. It will be known as the Key West Lou Talk Show.

I have decided to start slowly. A one half hour show. Tuesday mornings at 7. My time.

Your computer is the radio. Turn it on and tune me in. Listen to the show while you eat breakfast, shave, etc. Just as you do now with the TV that you are not actually watching.

A current events show, I will make my position known. Listeners can call in, make a statement, disagree, ask a question, whatever. If it works, the airways could get hot!

Initially,  I can handle five call ins.

If the show works out, I will be thinking time change and a longer show. The time could stay morning, be mid afternoon, dinner time or late at night. It will be my option. Yours, also. I will be asking for input.

Next week, I will provide the particulars as to how to call in.

Sounds like a fun time in the making.

When I was a practicing attorney with a large staff, all personal matters were taken care of for me. Now I am like every one else. I am my own staff. Difficult to handle on occasion.

Yesterday, I wanted to renew my medicare supplemental policy and my drug policy. Both are with AARP sponsored United Health Care. Each renewal required its own call. One comapny, two separate divisions.

The drug renewal call kept me waiting 3.5 hours on the phone before a human came on. That is how it works. If you want to do business with them, you dance to their tune. The medicare supplement was not so bad. Only a half hour.

Disgraceful. United Health Care makes a ton of money. There should be no problem in putting on another 50-100 telephone sales persons.

Those four hours spent waiting conmsumed my afternoon.

I did get out to walk in the morning before the phone calls. The Marriott Beachside parking garage. Open aired. Four levels. Up and down for a half hour.

My diet is stalemated. I lost a ton the first 10 days. Twelve pounds. Gained a pound yesterday. From this point forward, I suspect the loss will be 2-3 pounds a week. I will be happy with that.

Going out to dinner tonight! How? I am on a very restrictive diet. Easy. I plan on eating my diet meal before I leave. While dining, I shall limit myself to two diet Pepsis and a cup of coffee. All the time talking with my guest Stephanie Kaple, the Island Shoe Girl. She will be stuffing herself. I will hate her by the end of the meal.

Congress in disarray. Cannot agree on anything. Has been this way for years.

This is not the first time. Two other occasions come to mind. I am sure there were more.

From 1840 to 1861, the issue was slavery. Whether new states and territories would be free or slave. As bad as the economic issues are today. So bad that one political party disappeared and a new one appeared in its place. The one that nominated Abraham Lincoln.

Another occasion was most of the 1930s. It all started with Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s election. The Republicans thought he was going to ruin the country with  his socialistic plans. Things like Social Security. Bad blood and bad talk were rampant.

The bottom line is we are living under circumstances that have occurred in the past. The Nation will survive. It always has.

I would be comfortable however if these asses in Washington would get their acts together and get things done in a more orderly fashion. The items they favor are not of such importance that they should threaten the country. There are round holes and square holes. A round item will not fit in a square hole and vice versa. Both parties rely too rigidly on their basic philosophies.

I visit the doctor again this afternoon. One of those things cut off my body a couple of weeks ago came back bad. More has to be removed. No big deal. I am not concerned.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

XMAS TIME IN KEY WEST

 

Key West’s Christmas season kicks off this week.

Thursday night is the Yacht Club Christmas Party. For the young. Santa Claus will be there with gifts.

Saturday is the Christmas Parade. Long. As with Macy’s, Santa Claus is on the last float. This is one of Key West’s best events. For young and old alike. All ages enjoy.

The Lighted Boat Parade is December 15. Sponsored by Schooner Wharf, it is a fantastic event. Many many boats will be dressed in Christmas lights. Ingenuity knows no bounds. Several times, I have done the Parade while on one of the boats. A party! Food and drink, music and dancing. Plus, cold! Out on the open water this time of the year, it is very cold. Boat people that night wear everything and then more.

The Parade can also be watched from shore. Two to three thousand will be watching and drinking and partying.

Robert and Ally are members of a swim team. The team is having its first meet Saturday morning. Robert and Ally will be swimming. Exciting!

My day out yesterday was simple. The bank and paid some bills.

The rest of the day was inside. Worked on Friday’s show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Read more of the Ulysses Grant book. I am up to 1858. Grant was a failure. As a soldier, businessman, and farmer. Generally lived poorly.  Hard to believe that shortly he would be the North’s most successful general and later President of the United States.

The diet keeps me in. Away from food and booze. I avoid the near occasions of sin.

The diet has been working well till this morning. The scale said I had gain a pound. From 12 pounds lost to 11. I am not discouraged. Part of the dieting process.

Syracuse basketball!

Syracuse won again last night. Beat East Michigan 84-48. Syracuse is now 6-0. Even better, Syracuse is ranked #4 in the country.

The Orange played sloppy, especially in the beginning of the game. Eighteen turnovers.  Sutherland who scored 35 points in the last game, only scored 4 last night. On the positive side, three Syracuse freshman were in the double figures.

It is still early in the season. I question the ability of this year’s team. The Big East games after the first of the year will tell the story.

Sloan will be in late this afternoon. We are doing another practice blog talk radio show. It’s getting there. The show will be questions, answers, and exchanges between me and the caller.

A chill in the air this morning. Overcast, also. It will clear and be warm later.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

SOME KEY WEST HISTORY

 

Key West was not always called Key West.  Back in days of old, the island was known as Cayo Hueso. Translated, Bone Island.

Why Bone Island? There were many bones on the island. Human bones. The interesting story involves the source of the bones.

One theory is that the island was once the scene of a Native American battlefield. An Indian war.

Another is that it was a burial island.

The third is that the southern keys were inhabited with cannibals. When the meal had been captured, he/she was taken to what is now Key West for cooking and dining. The bones were all that was left following the feast. There was no clean up. The bones remained.

The most popular scenario is the cannibal one. Locals tell the story as such. I have never heard the first two, except from history books.

To be a Conch is the biggest of honors in Key West. Today, a Conch is a native born Key Wester. Only native born can claim the title. A person can live in Key West for fifty years and still not qualify for Conch status.

Conchhood is a matter of great pride.

The first Conchs were immigrants from the Bahamas. White in color. They initially were of European ancestry, settled for a period in the Bahamas, and then found their way to Key West. Many many years ago.

Typical Sunday yesterday. Quiet. Especially quiet because of my diet. No drinking or excessive eating. Some exercise. Things I find I do alone.

Walked Smathers. At mid day, there were few walking the beach. I think because of the sun.

Afterwards, I went to Sears. I noted in the newspaper that Sears was having a big sale. I was interested in upgrading my Key West attire for my soon to be new body. New tee shirts and shorts. I was not impressed and purchased nothing.

Then to Publix. Just a few things required. Diet foods.

Last night was the final showing of Boardwalk Empire.  I thought it was going to be the end of the series. It was not. It picks up with a new year in January.

The show failed to impress me. Actually confusing. Too many minor plots apparently had to be concluded with the final show. It was too much in too little time. At least for me. Made for a disappointing show.

Enjoy your day!

 

BOCCE REPORT

 

Not a bad day yesterday! The bocce playoffs.

This was our team’s third trip to the playoffs. It is like any other sport. You have to be there a few times before you can win.

We had not defeated anyone in our first two playoff appearances. Yesterday, we did!

Our noon game was against the #4 team from the Tuesday night league. We are #4 in the Thursday night league. The win was convincing. We won 16-4 and 16-5.

Wild!

At six, we played the #1 team from the Monday night league. They are the best of the best. Won everything last year. Lost only 2 games this year. In addition, Monday is considered the toughest league.

They destroyed us. By scores similar to those by which we won in the morning.

They were exceptional! Precise! Blasters! Whereas we worry about making one point, they were always figuring how to get two or three points from one shot.

It was a pleasure watching them win, even though it was against us. I complimented an opponent after a particularly good shoot. He said it took years of practice.

My team members are overall pleased. We move up another notch each year. At some point, we will be there.

My diet continues. I am into day 9. I will not tell you how much has been lost. You will think I am crazy.

The diet does affect me. I am slower than normal, dull and tired all the time. But the diet is working!

I got to watch the last 4 minutes of the Alabama/Georgia game. Must have been a thriller!

Key West weather this morning is perfect. An all blue sky. A bright sun. A touch of breeze.

During bocce yesterday, the weather was as it should be this time of year. Tee shirts and sweat in the morning. Sweatshirts and a bit of a chill in the evening.

Enjoy your Sunday!