FATHER / DAUGHTER TALK

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Every now and then it is good for a father and daughter to sit down and talk. About anything and everything. Whatever might be on one’s mind at the moment.

Yesterday was such a day for Lisa and I.

It is difficult to chat at her home. The kids may be around. She might be working. I wanted her away from outside pressures. I wanted us both to devout the time exclusively to each other.

We did.

We went to the Plantation Coffee House. First time for Lisa there. We sat away from everyone.

Yesterday turned out to be Lisa’s time. We talked about Robert and Ally, her work, her health, whatever else came to mind. A good talk. The concerns of life had been lifted, at least for the moment, for the both of us.

Last night was most enjoyable! The Vienna Boys Choir at Tennessee Williams. Jenna invited me. The seats were the best. Fifth row center. I was impressed.

The event packed the house.

Needless to say, the young singers were outstanding. Professional in every way.

The choir members were probably in the 8 to 14 year old range. Watching them brought my youth to mind. The gangling arms. They all had them. Their voices. Unique. I doubt most will have the same voices 5-10 years from now. Voice change in boys is part of the growing process. I recall when mine changed.

We stopped at Tavern ‘N Town afterwards for a drink and bite to eat. It was the first time I had been there since the remodeling. Fantastic!

Tomorrow is tuesday. Tuesday is my blog talk radio show. Note that the time has been changed. It will now be heard at 9 in the evening. Make note. Join me. Chat with me. One half hour of current event opinions and observations.

I have renamed the show. Why not! It will hence forth be known as Tuesday Talk With Key West Lou.

You will find the show on the internet the same as always. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I have to hustle. Another dentist appointment this morning. When will it end? I suspect I am close.

Enjoy your day!

TALK SHOW MOVING TO 9 TUESDAY EVENINGS

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The Key West Lou Blog Talk Radio Show is moving. Time wise. From 7 in the morning to 9 in the evening. The day will still be tuesday.

The name is being changed also. From this point forward, it will be known Tuesday Talk With Key West Lou. Sounds better, moves off the tongue easier.

I am moving the show to 9 for two reasons. First, getting up at 4:30 is bothering me. Yes, I have to be up that early to be ready to open the show at 7. Second, many of you tell me 7 is too early…..do the show another time. I am listening.

I hope 9 in the evening works better. The 7 time slot had many listeners. Not enough from my perspective, however. I hope 9 proves to be better.

And all of you who argue with me in person, via comments, and e mails, this is your opportunity to discuss our contrary positions live.

I invite you to join me tueday evenings at 9 for Tuesday Talk With Key West Lou. Find me the same way as before. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Cold this morning!!! Like 59 degrees at the momnet. Today’s high projected at 62 degrees. Key Westers will be dressing warm! No shorts today!

The cold front hit yesterday. It is a 48 hour one. It will leave tomorrow. The high tomorrow is 72. The rest of the week 80 degrees. We can live with two cold days.

My heart is taking a beating watching these Syracuse games! Seton Hall last night. Syracuse was down by 10 points after 10 minutes of play. Syracuse came back, however. Beat Seton Hall 76-65. We played well the last 30 minutes of the game. Not well enough though. Seton Hall had lost six straight coming into last night’s game.

Trische looked fantastic. Scored 29 points.

The Vienna Boys Choir is appearing in Key West for the first time this evening. The Choir is guesting with the South Florida Symphony at Tennessee Willaims. Should be a great show.

I am going. As Jenna’s guest. How nice!

The South Florida Symphony is the old Key West Symphony. It has broadened its base to include Miami and other mainland cities. The Symphony also moved its primary location from Key West to Miami.

I was a board memebr of the former Symphony for a couple of years. My former wife for eight.

Today is the middle day of a three day holiday weekend. It is sunday. So far the weekend has been good. Sushi with Jenna friday evening. Syracuse basketball last night at John Lukas’s place. The Vienna Choir and Symphony this evening at the college with Jenna.

Enjoy your day! Enjoy the long weekend!

MINIMUM WAGE AND WORKING POOR

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Another great Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday! I love doing the show. God is good!

My minimum wage dissertation interested many. Especially when tied in with the working poor. The topic drew the most response post show.

Yesterday’s show is available 24 hours a day on You Tube. A few You Tube wrinkles still being worked out. However, it is there.

I wrote next week’s KONK Life column. On the minimum wage. Tied it into the working poor. Felt the issue was newsworthy as so many people seemed to be into it. I liked the completed article. Published it immediately on Amazon Kindle as well.

Key West experienced one of those monsoon type rainstorms thursday night. My cell phone was charging at the time. When I took it off charge after the storm, everything was screwed up. The face was different. The icons different. Nothing where it had been. I could find nothing. Could not even figure out how to call out.

After yesterday’s show, I went to Verizon to get the phone fixed. There was no problem. At the same time as the storm, Verizon was changing over to something new. That is why my phone was as it was. It was not broke.

I was not intertested in the new format. I was comfortable with the old. I wanted the phone changed back to the old system. No way, I was told. You have to use the new. So teach me, I said. It took all of two minutes.

Mechanically inclined I am not. I get nervous when something changes or goes wrong.

Visited the Chart Room alone last night. All the people! We are into a three day holiday weekend. Tourists arriving in droves.

I saw Peter sitting by the wall. I joined him for a drink.

Had a date. Jenna at eight. Picked her up. We headed to Ambrosia for dinner.

Jenna never eats. Runs 5 miles a day or roller blades. I should be so thin!

She eats sushi, however. More than me! We had a good time. Sipped champagne along with the meal.

I had not been to Ambrosia in a couple of years. I prefer Orgami for sushi. Not because of the food, but the ambiance. Very calm and settled. Whereas Ambrosia is a modern high ceilinged emporium with a Las Vegas flavor. Interesting and pleasant in its own way.

I had seen in the paper earlier in the week that the Bottle Cap was having a ’50s, ’60s and ’70s music night last night. From eight to midnight. Apparently for the old folk such as myself.

Jenna was really not interested in going. She is a mere 27. Not here type music. She went to accomodate me.

The Bottle Cap was empty. At 9:30. Only Jenna and me. The bartender said no one had come to the event. They were not even playing the old music when we arrived.

Jenna and I had one drink at the bar and left.

Remember Becha? My Becha! The manager at La Trattoria for years. No more. She is now working at Bottle Cap. After a 20 year run at La Trattoria. We hugged. Love her hugs. Intoduced Becha to Jenna.

I dropped Jenna off. Then to Don’s Place. Don had telephoned earlier and said drop by.

Don and I spent a long time at the corner of the bar chatting. Without a doubt, Don is one of Key West’s nicest people.

Syracuse basketball tonight. Against Seton Hall. Eight o’clock. I will be at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Pub. John is doing a Syracuse night. Free pickies during the game!

The meteor that zoomed over Russia is some thing! The news reported it had the force of 30 Hiroshima atomic bombs!

Betweem now and the game tonight, I am going to screw off. Just lay around. My body is telling me to do it.

Enjoy your day!

GUESS WHO SENT ME A VALENTINE CARD

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This world of high tech is amazing. I received an e mail Valentine message yesterday from Silvio Berlusconi. Former Prime Minister of Italy and probable Prime Minister again after the next election.

I have never met Berlusconi. I have mentioned him several times in this blog. I speak of him often on my television/internet show. Many Italians follow the blog and TV/internet show.

Whatever, however, my name is now apparently on his e mail list.

The Valentine greeting was in Italian, of course. I do not speak Italian. But the jist of the message was understandable. Greetings, I love you, vote for me!

A very busy day yesterday. Started with the dentist. I think we are getting close to resolution. Then the Plantation Coffee House. Chatted briefly with Diane. Tammy for a manicure. Her 5 year old son had gotten sick in school. He was sent home. He was running around the salon having a good time. A fast recovery! Publix for some groceries. Then spent the balance of the day fine tuning today’s Key West Lou Legal Hour.

With all modesty, today’s show is terrific! Especially my discussion of the minimum wage issue. You will love it!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour is available at 10 this morning my time. On  television all the way through Miami-Dade County via Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. World wide via the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

Join me!

Peter, Paul and Mary were from my distant past. All of a sudden, Paul is a part of my present. I learned yesterday via the Key West Citizen that Paul, aka Noel Paul Stookey, has become a Key West snow bird. Has recently been spending one month during the winter in Key West. A couple of days ago, he did a fun musical thing with the high school kids. Some to honor him, dressed as hippies and carried signs stating Peace Not War.

Syracuse basketball tomorrow night. Play Seton Hall. Eight in the evening.

John Lukas is throwing a party for Syracuse fans. Free appetizers. Come enjoy the game with me at John’s Big Ten Sports Pub.

Big evening tonight! Jenna and I are having sushi at Ambrosia. Good company and good food!

Enjoy your day!

 

OH SYRACUSE MY SYRACUSE…..

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It has been a tough season for this Syracuse sports fan! Syracuse basketball has been up and down. Last night down.

Connecticut beat Syracuse 66-58. We did not look like a Top Ten team. Connecticut was by far the better team.  Syracuse never made one of its fabled runs. Nor did it control the backboards or make its 3 point shots.

My heart has been in my throat every game.

Syracuse plays Seton Hall saturday night. At 8. It is a Pay View game so not available to most fans on TV. Unless you are at a sport bar.

I watched the game last night at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Pub. John sat and watched with me.

John wanted to do something for the Syracuse fans. He will be doing it saturday night.

Saturday’s game will have the special VIP rooms open to Syracuse fans. Additionally, there will be appetizers. Butler style, John says. Served throughout the game. Free!

There is no decision to be made. Join me saturday night at John’s place for the game.

Key West weather continues to be phenomenal! Eighty again yesterday. The quality of the weather is reflected in the quantity of tourists. Tons of them. All over the island. Everyone happy and having a good time.

As it should be.

The weeks go by swiftly. Tomorrow is my friday television/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time. Broadcasting on television throughout the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. World wide via the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

Another good show! In addition to the topics described yesterday, I will be talking about Senator Lindsay Graham, the hula hoop, German co-op banks, the minimum wage, O’Hare Airport, and the battleship Maine.

Join me! You will enjoy the show!

I have to move on. A busy morning. A haircut, dental visit and hopefully a manicure. A retired person’s life!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW…..

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It is all about Oz! The Wizard of Oz!

Key West High School is presenting the show next week. Grandson Cameron has a lead role. Strawman. Grandkids Robert and Ally are all excited. Practicing away. They are munchkins. I am excited. Cannot wait to see them perform!

I stayed in last night. State of the Union time.

The State of the Union has become ritualistic. The President comes before both houses of Congress and spells out his agenda for the year. He also comments on the health of the Nation. Congress sits and listens. The President’s party smile. The opposition look grim. Contrast Boehner and Biden last night behind the President.

The best part of the State of the Union from my perspective is the gate keeper who enters the Congressional Chamber and speaks in a loud voce, just short of yelling…..The President of the United States!

What did I learn last night? The President’s program is ambitious. He needs only to accomplish a small part for it to be a great year. Jobs are key. I am for infrastructure. I wish the Republicans would bend on  this point. It is a sure way to jobs and positive cash flow.

The Republicans have to give some. Being the opposition does not mean opposing everything. On occasion, cooperation for the good of the country is required.

Senator Cruz was making news on all the TV channels this morning. A new Senator. He has the good fortune of being on the Committee passing judgment on Hagel. Cruz went a step too far in tuesday’s discussions. He accused American war hero Hagel of cozying up to Iran. Not just absurd. Stupid! Even McCain came to Hagel’s defense.

Comcast is in the news big time this morning. My favorite internet provider. Said with tongue in cheek. Comcast bought out GE’s 49 per cent interest in NBC and Universal. Comcast now owns all 100 per cent of NBC. Comcast is also the largest provided of internet services. They became the same in 2002 when they bought AT&T Broadband.

Two thoughts.

First, I hope Comcast does not screw up NBC as it has its Key West internet service. Sometimes top management becomes too distant from its people in the trenches.

Second, is this purchase a step too far? Corporations like Comcast get larger and larger. Just like the banks did. At some point too big to fail? I sometimes think banks and major corporations are our shadow government.

Friday is two days away. My TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. The show is developing well. Interesting topics. Like the Pope’s resignation, the State of the Union message, wrestling and the Olympics, a Vienna Museum nudist showing, an Akron police chief and DNA, and more.

Join me friday morning at 10. I guarantee you will enjoy!

Syracuse basketball again tonight. Seven o’clock. It is being carried on ESPN. I am not sure whether I will be watching from bed or John’s Big Ten Sports Pub.

I hope Syracuse wins. I am not sure this season. Every game is a nerve wrecker.

Enjoy your day!

NORTH DAKOTA OIL BOOM…..WOW!

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Very interesting evening last night at the Chart Room!

Che and Peter engrossed in conversation in the corner with a couple from Las Vegas. Dorothy and Doc in for a drink. Mary bartending.

Me, I met Kevin from North Dakota. What an education I got! Learned so much! I want to share every morsel with you.

Kevin owns a small company that manufactures drill bits. He sells world wide. He is on vacation in Key West with his wife Sheila. First time. They love it!

He and I really got into North Dakota. Recall news over the past couple of years of building an oil pipeline running from Canada to Louisiana. Build or not to build the issue. Environmentalists strongly against it. The pipeline was an issue in the recent campaign.

North Dakota is presently benefiting from an oil boom. It would benefit even more if the pipeline were built. The pipeline would create thousands of good paying jobs up and down its length in the United States..

Here is what Kevin told me.

Young men just out of high school are earning $100,000  a year. Work a 60-70 hour week. Employed as roughnecks.

Wal-Mart is not know for generous wages. Wal-Mart pays its stock clerks $17 an hour.

MacDonald pays $15 an hour with a $300 sign up bonus.

There are presently 3,500 unfilled jobs. People are coming from all over to fill them. Kevin told me he sees many Florida plates.

Kevin lives in Williston. Five years ago it had a population of 15,000. Today, 50,000 and growing.

The United States is in an economic recession. We need jobs. Plain and simple. To build/extend the pipeline to Louisiana would create a ton of jobs. Good paying ones.

It is the eternal clash. I was an environmental attorney. I understand the importance of protecting our lands from damage caused by corporate greed. However on occasion the pendulum must swing when there is a greater need. In this instance, jobs!

The rest of my yesterday was not as exciting as my conversation with Kevin. I did the dentist thing again. Will be doing it for a while yet. Pain still there. However, minimal. Read a small news piece in the Key West Citizen about a Senator Stephen R. Mallory. From Key West. He as a US Senator in the 1850s. Came the Civil War, he went the other way. Joined the Confederacy where he served as Secretary of the Navy. Mallory Square is named after him.

The python hunt ends monday at 5. 1,500 hunters involved. Through last friday, a total of 50 pythons killed. Does not seem to have been worth the effort.

Pope Benedict XVI is retiring at the end of the month. I find his retirement strange.  I do not buy the age/health argument. Last Pope to retire was around 415 AD. I think it has more to do with the ongoing Vatican Bank investigation involving money laundering. Time will tell.

The Olympics have decreed wrestling will no longer be one of its sports. Beginning with the 2020 Olympics. What are they going to replace it with? Foosball?

I did my blog talk radio show this morning at 7. Still not enough people calling in. I had one this morning. It was over the Pope’s retirement. I am considering trying a new time. If it does not get enough call ins at a later time, then it is me. I would not have been cut out to be a blog talk radio host.

Enjoy your day!

 

KEY WEST DURING CIVIL WAR

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Spent three hours with Lisa and the family around lunch time yesterday. Read the Sunday newspapers and visited with Robert and Ally.

There is some sort of Civil War Days celebration at Fort Zach. Robert and Ally had been there the day before. They were excited in telling me about it.

Key West was a strange duck during the Civil War. Florida went with the Confederacy. Key West however remained with the Union. An unusual situation. Understandable when you realize how far Key West was from the rest of the Florida. There was no railroad or roads from the mainland. Water vessels were the only contact.

The Union constructed two forts to ward off invading Confederate vessels. They stand to today. East Martello and West Martello. They were never needed. The war never came to Key West.

Key West’s primary function on behalf of the Union was to take in captured Confederate  vessels and do whatever had to be done with them.

After the Fort Zach Civil War treat, Corey took the grandkids on a trip through the woods. Which, I do not know. Key West has all kind of woods. All kind of mangrove growings.

Corey is an archeologist. Educated and work wise. He was educated at Indiana University. Worked in the Middle East in evacuations. For the last 25 years has served as Mel Fisher’s Chief Archeologist.

I find it strange that Corey grew up never seeing the ocean. Yet in his adult life, makes his living exploring the ocean bottom.

Corey has told me many times that as a child when other boys were playing baseball, he preferred to walk in the woods looking for strange items.

Therein I suspect  lies the reason why Corey takes Robert and Ally on wood expeditions.

The Saturday trip proved fruitful to Robert. He found a dried snake skin. Head and all. He was all excited  as he showed it to me. Ugh! Made sure I touched it.

Ally discovered nothing of interest. Ally is taken with spiders. Would you believe! She picks them up outside her home.

I was coming down with a cold. Went home to bed for the rest of the day.

Watched the Syracuse/St. John’s game from the comfort of my bed. Syracuse won handily. They looked good. Southerland won his appeal and is back playing. He contributed his 13 points.

I have been down on the team. Perhaps I have been too harsh. The nice way of saying I was probably wrong. I was impressed with their play yesterday. Especially on defense. We shall see.

Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) is my blog talk radio show. The Key West Lou Talk Show. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Seven in the morning my time. Early! If you are up and around, join me. Exciting stuff. Tomorrow I want to know what you think of drones killing Americans, Senator Lindsey’s rumblings re Benghazi, and whatever else tickles your interest. It is a fun show!

Have to hustle. Dentist again at 10 this morning. Feeling much better. Some minor problems yet to be resolved. I think my dental work is like the Jaguar of the 1960s. A lot of money and a lot of problems.

Enjoy your day!

 

ROBERT GOT A BASKETBALL

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Stopped at Lisa’s yesterday morning. Robert was on the porch. He had a basketball. We played catch. He threw the ball well. Caught it well, also. I had him dribble. Did well at that also. However, he kept looking at the ball. He told me that maybe his Dad was going to erect a basket on the palm tree in front so he could play. We talked. I told him it was better to go to Bayview to play on a real court.

Ally had no interest in basketball. The first time she has not wanted to do what her brother was doing. A sign of maturity. She is growing up.

Then to the Plantation Coffee House. Owner Diane working. A nice person. The place was busy. The sign of a good season.

Those of you who have visited my home know I let the mail collect for months on the kitchen counter. Looks terrible. Makes me look lazy. Yesterday afternoon, I cleaned it up. Went through the last 30 days. The rest got dumped.

The Chart Room last night. Another good evening! Sheila, Sean, and Peter. Met Katherine from Michigan. We talked basketball. She is an avid fan. Dorothy and her husband came in. I chatted with Dorothy. Turns out she, her husband and children were frequent visitors to Club Meds world wide. I did a few in my younger days. We compared notes.

It was time to eat. I walked across the Pier House property to the Wine Galley. Larry Smith was playing the piano and singing. Had a light dinner at the bar. While I was sitting there, Katherine from Michigan showed up. She was not following me.

College basketball continues to be crazy. #3 Michigan got beat by Wisconsin. Friend John at the Big Ten Sports Pub had to be excited. He is a Wisconsin  grad. Louisville lost to Notre Dame in five over times. Wow!

Syracuse plays this afternoon. At 3. St. Johns. I will be watching at the Big Ten Sports Pub.

Enjoy your Sunday!

NIA

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Don and Stephanie Manaher are grandparents again! Daughter Katie gave them a lovely new granddaughter. She has been named Nia.

The birth was two days ago. Don and Steph were at the hospital. Steph was in the birthing room and helped deliver Nia. Don was in the reception area waiting.

I was with Don and Steph at Don’s Place last night. Steph was buying everyone a drink in celebration. Her box of cigars.

Spent about 3 hours at Don’s. Chatted with Don, Steph, David, Hershel, Erika, Puff, Kurt, and I cannot recall who else. It was a good friday night crowd.

Dinner was at Don’s also. Steph sent out for food. Pizza, wings, and some sort of oriental peas. Don, Steph, David, and I enjoyed. I especially enjoyed. It was the first pizza and wings I have had in three months.

You are already aware of my dental calamity. I was back in the chair at 8:30 in the morning. Fix me! I hurt!

It took an hour. Think it worked this time. Pain 90 per cent gone. Better this morning. I was able to eat pizza and wings last night.

Spent the balance of the morning and part of the afternoon writing my column for next week’s KONK Life. The article is revealing. Hits you in the face with facts the US media seeems to ignore. The true story of the inter play between Greece and Germany arising out of the euro. I  venture that if there is a third world war, it could very well start in Greece between the Germans and Greeks. Not in the Middle East as most believe.

KONK Life will be on the news stand next thursday. Pick up a copy and read the column. I guarantee the contents will surprise you.

My television/internet show the Key West Lou Legal Hour was broadcast yesterday. No question which topic was enjoyed most. The one concerning an 18 year old girl up on drug charges in a Miami court who gave the Judge the finger and told him f–k you. She got 30 days for contempt of court.

Friday’s Key West Lou Legal Hour is now available 24 hours a day on You tube. Look for Key West Lou Legal Hour. Easy to find.

A friend living in Armogos e mailed me yesterday. Maria. Amorgos is a Greek island.  Maria and her husband own the apartment I rented by the sea. The one with the terrace I enjoyed so much.

Greece is in a bit of turmoil. Her words reflected the situation: “…things here a little difficult…we hope for the best.”

Difficult does not describe the chaos well enough. If you wish to know the down and dirty re what is happening in Greece, read my next week’s article in KONK Life. I apologize for repeating myself. However, I believe the world should be aware of what the Greek people are experiencing and where I think it may all lead.

Nemo. We now name snow storms. This one a BIG ONE! Boston really getting hit. I have a friend who lives on Cape Cod. Right in the middle of it all. She will probably be digging herself out for a month.

Enjoy your day!