Cold outside. Cold inside. ‘Nuff said.

One more point, however. I wore long pants yesterday.

Spent the morning reading the local newspapers and watching the talk shows.

Anyone who has spent time in Key West is aware that the Key West Citizen has a crime report section. It is entitled Crime Report and is at the bottom of page 2. It generally reports some odd ball criminal thing that occurred the day before.

Yesterday’s was more than normally interesting. It was the story of an adult man who apparently got ripped off by a massage parlor. At 5 in the morning. The individual claimed he wanted a massage of his right shoulder. Paid with a credit card. The bill was to be $500. The massage parlor charged $9,000 to his bank card!

Later when he discovered the error or rip off, depending on how one might view it, he contacted the police. The Key West police. He was told there was nothing they could do about the situation since he in fact did receive the massage. The police considered the overcharge a civil issue.

I think the police were wrong. But that is another matter. An $8,500 overcharge on a bank card is larceny in my book. Grand larceny!

I suspect there may be more to this story than we have been made aware of.

I did not know massage parlors were open at 5 am. I am usually in bed by 10 or 11. The bars close at 5. I am unaware of any place to eat at 5 am. Then again, it is not my world at 5 in the morning.

This is not the first story of this nature about which I have heard. A couple of years ago a man was at a gentlemen’s club. A strip club. He was there during normal business hours. His credit card was charged close to $15,000.

I hope he had a good time for that kind of money!

The balance of my day consisted of a normal Sunday. Quiet. A visit with the family, coffee at Plantation coffee, browsed through the New York Times. And a manicure. Late in the afternoon with Tammy. Jenna was there. Enjoyed running into her.

Tonight Syracuse basketball! The season is winding down. Only 5-6 games left before tournament time.

Syracuse plays Louisville. Louisville generally beats Syracuse. I hope not tonight. Syracuse is the better team. However, that means nothing in a Big East game.

I shall be enjoying the game at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Bar.

Enjoy your day!

Whitney Houston. What can be said. A troubled person. May she find the peace in the hereafter which eluded her here.

It is amazing! Just yesterday I commented at length about the weather. Specifically, how great it has been. I should have waited one more day. A cold front came in yesterday afternoon. Last night the temperature was in the 50’s. The high today will be 63. The cold front is with us through Tuesday.

Long pants time!

My day yesterday started with the Syracuse/Connecticut game. Watched it at the Sports Page Bar.

What a crowd! About 25 Syracuse fans. Orange tee shirts and all. I sat with Don, Lisa and Marty.

The score does not accurately portray the game. Syracuse won 85-67. It was not a blowout. It was close to about six minutes to go. Then Syracuse came alive. The last two minutes of the game Syracuse was a power no one could beat.

Fab Melo made a new contribution. He sank three long shots. Jump shuts. All 2 pointers. From long range, however. A few inches back and they would have been 3 pointers. Melo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday night it is Louisville. Louisville is not as good this year as previous years. Syracuse has not beaten Louisville in years. It is the Rick Pitino thing. Hopefully, Syracuse will get by Louisville this time.

I get irritated at the sports media. Syracuse is #2 in the country. Syracuse has only lost one game. Rarely does a commentator write or talk about Syracuse. It is as if Syracuse does not exist. It has always been this way. I can understand comment re Kentucky. However, I am sick of hearing and reading a lot about teams like Missouri and Ohio State and little about Syracuse.

Stopped by Lisa’s after the game. Robert and Ally doing homework. Both quiet and involved in what they were doing. No complaining. Ally admonished me not to talk to her as she was doing homework. Tomorrow’s Einsteins in the making.

Then Walgreen’s and Publix.

At some point the government has to deal with the pharmaceutical houses. Not Obama, however. He found it necessary to make a deal with them to get his health care program through.

The cost of drugs is outrageous. Even with insurance. There have to be many who go without because they cannot afford. The solution is simple. A one party payor system. Medicare for all with drugs provided. It will come, though not in my life time.

I stayed in last night. Wanted to watch Kentucky play. They are ranked # 1. At some point Syracuse and Kentucky may meet. I wanted to check out the competition. Kentucky is one hell of a team! To be respected. Offensively Kentucky seems better than Syracuse. Defensively, Syracuse has the edge. What a game it will be!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Good morning!

What a beautiful morning! Another spectacular Key West day in the making.

We have been lucky this winter. Yes, Key West does experience winters. Not bad, but bad enough. Temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s. This year not. A couple of isolated days. That’s all.

I had an early morning drop off yesterday morning. Anna at the airport. She was returning to Milan.

Then my Friday morning Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. What an interesting show! As I continue to advise, it is not me. What makes the show what it is are the world’s inhabitants who do sad, stupid or odd ball things.

Post show comment clearly indicated that my discussion of the Catholic Church contraception debate was the top received issue of the day. I shared a few personal thoughts. The contraception battle is more than 50 years old. The Catholic Church should get off the issue. The Catholic Church is run by old men who do not understand some of the basics of life. The Catholic Church is and has been in a down hill spiral the last 30 years. The national organization of bishops does not speak for me.

I was in no way being offensive to the Catholic Church. I am a Catholic. Attended Catholic grammar school, high school and college. I am a fallen away Catholic, however. Attend Church rarely. Yet communicate with my God frequently. I  have never forgotten how to pray.

I spent the rest of the day sitting outside under the beach umbrella working on one of my books. My book writing had received scant attention in recent weeks because of my house guest.

I had intended to go out last night. Then I looked in the refrigerator. The left overs looked better than anything I could purchase in a restaurant. I stayed in. Enjoyed reheated left over goodies.

Spent the balance of the evening in bed watching TV.

Syracuse basketball again today. Connecticut at Syracuse. Should be good.

Pre season Connecticut was thought by many to be the best team in the Big East. For a number of reasons, it has not worked out that way. Connecticut is not even ranked. Nevertheless a threat to Syracuse.

Game time is 1 pm. I shall be watching the game at the Sports Page Bar with some other Syracuse fans.

Enjoy the day and weekend!

I arrived at the doctor’s office for my 10 o’clock appointment yesterday morning. No appointment. It is next week.

I was up and out. No sense in wasting the morning. Headed over to Blossom’s for Cuban toast and coffee. Then home to finalize today’s Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal hour is at 10 AM this morning, Join me for what will be an interesting and exciting show. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

The Chart Room first last night. Emily bartending. Chatted a while. Then to the Hot Tin Roof for a light dinner.

My house guest Anna leaves this morning. Returns to her home in Milan, Italy. It was a pleasant experience having her here. She flies Key West to Miami to Zurich to Milan. A long trip. Twenty four hours. Generally not that long, but she wanted to spend today in Miami shopping.

We live and learn. Anna told me yesterday she could not run the dryer. I thought it strange. I suspected some thing was amiss. There were always clean clothes hanging all over the place drying while Anna was here. Turns out Italy does not have dryers. Not enough electrical power. Nor do they have air conditioning in their apartments. The same reason.

Mussolini made the water good and the trains run on time. Either he or one of his successors should have worked on the power problem.

Again, please enjoy my Internet show at 10 this morning.

Enjoy your day!

I spent the day yesterday working on tomorrow’s Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

Another week of interesting world wide developments provided an abundance of items to be discussed. Those selected for discussion tomorrow include the Catholic Church contraception issue, Pfizer’s
recall of 1 million packets of birth control pills, Lee Westwood’s Mom making him apologize for using a bad word on the golf course, a college vending machine offering the day after pill together with condoms and pregnancy kits to students.

Also, DeGeneres and J.C.Penney, Proposition 8 shot down again, a 15 pound Chinese baby born, a whole California school staff transferred because of sex issues, and an interesting bit about Leonardo Da Vinci.

And more.

Join me at 10 in the morning my time tomorrow. Friday. Available for viewing on the Internet world wide. http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/.

Syracuse basketball last night. Watched the game at John Lukas’s new Big Ten Sports Bar. Watched  with Dan and Marty. Don showed up. Nate bartending.

Syracuse beat Georgetown in overtime 64-61. A close one. All the way. Syracuse could have lost.

Syracuse exhibited its unique ability to win the close ones once again. They have not lost yet when the game has been neck and neck going into the last few minutes.

Syracuse’s weakness is consistent. The team is not rebounding. They were out rebounded last night 52-35. Reminds me of days of old when Syracuse could not make a foul shot. Now they make foul shots, but cannot rebound.

Anna was a trooper again last night. Sat through the game with me. Her third basketball game ever.

I watched Kentucky play a couple of nights ago. They are good. Appeared better than Syracuse. Time and chance will tell.

I have to hustle. Another early morning doctor visit. Gets frustrating after a while.

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday…..spectacular!

Lunch the high point.

My neighbors Andrew, Jazz and baby Kai were to join us for lunch. Anna cooking her good Milanese food. Jazz, a Zurich transplant, anxious to enjoy it. Milan and Zurich are not far apart. They enjoy the same style cuisine.

Twenty month Kai never showed. His parents left him home with a baby sitter. I was disappointed. Kai was present at two previous lunches. We had become friends. I laid out some of Robert and Ally’s old toys on the oriental carpet in the living room for him. A good host am I, even to a twenty month old!

Lunch was outstanding! Absolutely!

Anna prepared many dishes. She had three separate servings. She wanted the meal to be enjoyed Milanese style. It is impossible for me to describe the dishes. There were many. It would take reams to do them justice. Let me describe the lunch thusly…..It could not have been better!

Jazz brought the dessert. Apple strudel Swiss style. With a delicious white sauce.

A little wine.

It was a party!

The conversation was terrific. How could it not be. Anna with her world travel stories. Jazz with her European tales. Even Andrew is a bit of a world traveler and made his contribution. Mine was minimal. I have only traveled to Europe on two occasions. A month in Italy and a week in London.

Later in the afternoon when we were alone, Anna decided to swim in my pool. I stepped outside to see her. She was suddenly very apologetic. For not wearing a bathing cap. Odd! Turns out that in Italy it is against the law for any one, male or female, to swim in a pool without a bathing cap. For health reasons. Anna says one can be arrested for so doing.

I told Anna not to worry. I would not report her to the Key West police.

I was full from lunch. No dinner last night. A quick stop at the Chart Room for a drink and then back home.

Tonight Syracuse basketball. Georgetown v. Syracuse at 7. The sports writers say it will be a test for Syracuse. Syracuse is # 2 nationally. Georgetown # 12. Syracuse has lost 1 game thus far this season. Georgetown 4.

I plan on watching the game at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Bar. Dan and Lisa from Skaneatles will be joining me. Also, Marty from the Syracuse area. We will be whopping it up for Syracuse!

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday started with an early morning doctor visit. Just to have blood drawn.

I was hungry. Required to fast for the test. Decided to try Blossom’s for breakfast.

I have not been to Blossom’s in at least two years. The food part then was being operated by the former owner of Paradise Cafe. The best Cuban toast and sandwiches in Key West! I stopped going because there was no air flow inside. No vents, no windows open. My clothes smelled like a smoke stack when I would leave.

There are apparently new owners. I did not see my friend of yesteryear. There was a small vent. Two windows wide open. The problem no longer existed.

The quality of the food the same. The best! I shared a Cuban toast and a cheese tomato toast with Anna. Good! I will be returning soon.

Blossom’s is located on White Street, just off Eaton.

It was gym time again with Courtney in the afternoon. I survived. I am getting better. Three weeks ago when I began I was pumping 20 pounds. Yesterday 80.

Stopped into Don’s Place for a glass of water afterwards. Rob and Russ at the bar. Boomer bartending.

Russ is an avid St. John fan. We talked about the Syracuse/St. John game.

Then home for a long nap. I was tired. I continue to be tired. That is why I took the blood test in the morning.

Dinner last night was at Pepe’s. Anna loved it. Home cooked food. I had a half of a barbecued chicken with mashed potatoes buried in gravy. The plate overflowing.

A big lunch today.

My neighbors are coming for lunch. Andrew, Jazz and Kai. Jazz is from Switzerland. Anna lives in northern Italy, just a stone’s throw from Zurich where Jazz worked.

Anna started cooking last night. The meal and conversation are guaranteed to be excellent. I am looking forward to Andrew and family’s visit.

Enjoy your day!

Terrific day yesterday. I did nothing.

Rain and the game determined yesterday’s activities.

It poured big time all day. Sufficiently so, that there was no desire to leave the house.

Last night the game! What a game! Exciting!

Otherwise, I laid around and ate. Anna prepared foods for me off and on all day. She is a fantastic cook. I suggested to her we should open an Italian restaurant in Key West. Key West already has some great ones. Like La Trattoria and Antonio’s. A Milanese restaurant would be a step above both.

I start today with a doctor visit. Have to give blood for testing. No food or drink till after the test. I will probably have breakfast afterwards at Blossom’s. Coffee and Cuban toast.

Enjoy your day1

Am I late with the blog this morning!

I did not sleep well during the night. Made up for it by sleeping later this morning.

Another Syracuse win yesterday! Syracuse decimated St. John. It was expected, however. Syracuse was supposed to win and decisively. So no gloating involved.

The next game is against Georgetown next Wednesday. Supposed to be a test for Syracuse.

I watched the St. John game at the Sports Page Bar. Anna joined me. She is a trooper. Never saw a basketball game before 10 days ago. Now has seen three. I am not sure she is enjoying the experience. Tonight she will see her first American football game. Football in Italy and Europe is soccer. Anna has never seen our kind of football.

Two friends from previous years showed up to watch the game with me at the Sports Page Bar.

Marty. Marty lives near Syracuse. Comes to Key West during the season to work. He is a handy man.

Dan showed up. A nice guy. Runs a restaurant in Skeneatles. Dan is here for a month. He and his wife rented a house around the corner from Don’s Place. They were in Don’s the other night and visited with Kurt who was bartending. I had introduced them to Kurt at Aqua one evening last season.

It was good to have these two back. They will be joining me for the Georgetown game which I will be watching at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Bar. John’s turn.

The cupboard was really bare! A visit to Publix was in order.

Publix was strange. The same people normally do the same things all the time. The same job day in and day out.

Not yesterday. The man who stocks the yogurt and cheeses was at the other end of the store refilling the frozen food refrigerators. A man who has worked the checkout counter for years was bagging. All strange.

I spoke with several of the employees. The consensus was that as long as THEY pay me, I will work anywhere. I sensed a bit of unhappiness.

Dinner was an experience again last night. Why go out to eat! Anna is going crazy preparing northern Italian dishes for me.

Last night it was pasta with carbonata sauce. The sauce to die for!

Must tell you what was in it. Start with two teaspoons of virgin olive oil in the frying pan. Then take 1 slice of bacon. Cut away all the fat. Cut the remaining bacon into small cubes. Golden the bacon in the oil. Then remove the bacon. Two eggs. Yolks only. Whites went down the drain.

Then add to the frying pan grated parmesan cheese. Technically, a cheese made from sheep’s milk is to be used. However, Publix had none. Add two teaspoons of milk cream.

Then the grand finale. Add 1 teaspoon of the water the pasta was cooked in. Throw the golden bacon bits in. Add black pepper. Heat a bit further and pour over the pasta, which last night was pennes.

Wow! The taste! The texture! Yes, sauce can have a texture. Cannot be adequately described. I wish every one could enjoy it.

As a side dish, a whole sweet potato each. I know. All the carbs! But I have lost 5 pounds since Anna has been here. I suggested she buy sweet potatoes since they are purportedly healthier than white ones. Last night we had sweet potatoes.

Anna microwaved the potatoes. When she sliced them open after cooking, she was surprised that the potatoes were orange in color. In Italy, they are white. She has also spent time in Venezuela where she says they are white, also.

We are probably eating a hybrid sweet potato here in the U.S. Perhaps so colored to conform to Thanksgiving.

Super Bowl tonight! A big deal! I am going to watch it from the comfort of my home. A glass or two of gin and some Milanese food. No hamburgs or pizza for me tonight.

Anna has seen her first basketball games this trip. Tonight, her first American football game. Football is big in Italy and the rest of Europe. However, it is soccer which is called football by the Europeans.

Ten in the morning here. Overhead, gray. A light drizzle. If it does not clear in the next two hours, I suspect it will be like that all day.

Enjoy your Sunday! Enjoy the Super Bowl!

Terrific Internet show yesterday!

Anna was a winner! I received a ton of emails and telephone calls regarding her. She made an excellent guest.

I did two segments with Anna. Intended to do only one. However, she was so interesting, I opted to continue.

The interview was a bit difficult for Anna. Her English is not perfect. Both understanding and speaking are problems. But she could grasp enough and express herself well. I doubt any one was aware of her struggle.

Anna is a world traveler. She took us from Milan to France to Switzerland to Germany to England to Saudi Arabia to Venezuela. She knows money. Economics. She explained the euro crisis from her perspective. Her Saudi Arabia observations were funny.

It was the gym for me in the afternoon. A work out with Courtney. His 46th birthday.

Speaking of birthdays, it was Corey’s birthday also yesterday. His 49th.

We partied at Lisa’s. Corey’s parents in. The grandkids all excited.

I bought Corey one of those water shirts. A Columbia. At Orvis. Corey liked it. He put it on and wore it through dinner.

I did not go out after dinner. I continue to be tired. It was home to bed for me.

Syracuse basketball today! Syracuse plays St. John at noon at Madison Square Garden.

Syracuse should win. But…..you never know in the Big East. St. John almost beat Duke the other night.

I will be watching at the Sports Page Bar. I now have divided loyalties. The Sports Page Bar and John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Bar. The next game will be at John’s place.

It will be interesting talking with Russ after the game. Russ is a former New Yorker and a St. John fan. He will probably be working while the game is on. Russ is the chief chef at The Strip House. A very fine place for steak in Key West. I believe it to be the best place for steak.

Key West is packed with tourists. The season is beginning. The streets crowded. Traffic a bit slower. Every one having a great time. As it should be.

Enjoy your day!