PIER HOUSE SOLD

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The rumors are true. The Pier House has been sold. For $90 million!

What a country, America!

It is worth every penny. A great top shelf hotel. Property and personnel the best.

I hope the new owners do not screw around with the Chart Room. It has been the same for 45 years. One of the last vestiges of the real Key West.

My day yesterday started with Tammy. A manicure at Lee Nails. Always a pleasure.

I received a haircut from Lori the day before. Both at the Lori’s place and Lee nails, there were obviously fewer customers. The same in restaurants and bars. A sign the season is over!

I spent an unusually long time in the afternoon writing next week’s KONK Life column. I titled it Avalanches, A Tsunami And Hot Water. A global warming piece. Similar to the segment I did on my tv/internet show in the morning. With additional facts added.

The Arctic and melting ice are prominent in the article. You will be surprised how much the Arctic ice mass has and does affect everyone in the northern hemisphere. Including Key West.

Greenhouse gases played a prominent role in the article.

This morning, I read in an Internet article that greenhouse gases are affecting the atmosphere at the highest level in years. It was announced by some organization  that studies greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide that carbon dioxide measured 400 parts per million. That is comparable to the stock market having hit 15,000 for the first time this week.

It was further reported that the level has been rising faster in recent decades because of the Industrial Revolution. Something we all knew.

I ate at the bar at Outback last night.

Tina recently reminded me that I was eating there again after blaspheming Outback in a blog a few months ago. I had concluded that Outback was charging an extra $5 for sides. I thought it was outrageous.

I was wrong and wish to publically acknowledge my error. I must have had one drink too many when I surveyed the menu the night in question. I made a mistake! Please……everyone…..enjoy dinner some evening at Outback. The prices are right and the food excellent.

I was at the Outback bar at 6. I planned on seeing the Gatsby movie at 7:20.

I only somewhat enjoyed the movie. The first half moved too slowly. The second half, fast! The acting was superb. Leonardo DiCaprio another version of Gatsby. He played the part well. The movie is worth seeing. I viewed the 3D version. The movie itself will not win an Academy Award for best picture. DiCaprio deserves to be nominated for Best Actor.

Benghazi continues to be in the news. A lot of nothing? A bit of something? I do not know.

What I do know is that the Republicans are being two faced. Typical politicians. The Democrats are equally as bad when they think they have an issue by the proverbial testicles.

Issa and other Republicans voted in 2009 to cut $1.2 billion from State operations, which included funds for 300 more diplomatic security positions.

House Republicans voted to cut the administration’s request for embassy security funding by $128 million in 2011 and $331 million in 2012.

Just sharing.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour is being rerun today at 4:30. On television via Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19 all the way up through Miami-Dade County.

The show is now totally You Tubed. You can watch it there anytime.

I watched the rerun of my show yesterday morning. I was impressed! Excuse my modesty! It was entertaining. I was sad, happy, serious, and funny. I should be on television! Ho ho!

Enjoy your Saturday!

I BABYSAT JAKE

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It is amazing what my life has been relegated to. It is only seven years ago that I was handling multi-million and billion dollar environmental lawsuits.

Today it is babysitting the family pet. Yesterday was Jake’s day. I babysat him!

I was driving to get my glasses fixed. Lisa telephoned. Where are you? I need you right away. I have an appointment outside my home. There is no one to watch Jake.

I sat Jake for two hours. I had some apprehension. Jake and I have not bonded well. He growls at me. I think it is my voice.

As soon as I arrived, I sat on the floor with him. Rubbed his head. Then his back. Then Jake turned over. He wanted his belly rubbed.

I periodically fed him a pretzel.

Thereafter, I sat on the couch watching the golf tournament. Jake sat on floor next to my feet. He kept looking up at me with those big sad eyes. A rub or two and he was content.

I think Jake and I have made it. We are finally friends!

My morning started with a haircut. Lori also cleaned up my beard where I had missed.

Then to Publix for some groceries. Not much. The bill was $60 plus. I do not understand how families do it. What with the high cost of food and gas.

Bocce last night. A good time. Very warm. The sweat was running off my forehead.

We won 2 out of 3 games. Not good. We played the newest team. They had only won 3 games before playing us. They beat us in the second game.

We almost lost the third. A young lady who had never played before played for the first time. At the beginning it was obvious she was a novice. Then God was on her side! She was devastating. Almost caused us to lose the third game.

We destroyed the other team in the first game 16-4. As it should have been all three games.

Larry Smith brought his Mom to watch. Larry yells and swears a lot when playing bocce. He expresses himself. His mother had to think…..I did not teach him to behave like that!

I think Larry’s mother is 86. She has it all going for her. Sharp. Does not look her age either.

Finished the night at Don’s Place with other bocce players.

The federal government issued some numbers regarding the diversity in hospital costs. The report was a study based on Medicare and Medicaid charges. An amazing revelation! Hospitals in the same community charge different prices for the same surgery/care. Close to a $100,000 difference in some instances.

Hospital expenses are a killer. As are drug costs. I hope Obamacare gets a handle on these items.

A Great White shark has been sighted off Marathon. You will recall one was sighted off Key West last week. It is not certain whether it is the same shark or another. The suspicion is it was another. That is the fourth sighting in recent weeks.

Great Whites are not common to our waters. Scientists say they have traveled this far south this year because our waters are warmer than normal.

Authorities are trying to tag the Great Whites for all obvious reasons. So far they have not succeeded in tagging even one.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour at 10 this morning. I recorded the show wednesday because Krystal would not be available today. I plan on watching myself from the comfort of my bed.

The show will be available on its usual venues. Television on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. All the way through Miami-Dade County. Via the internet world wide. www.weyw19.com.

Topics include some interesting items regarding global warming, my thoughts on Benghazi, some revealing historical data, psychiatric patient dumping, Bangladesh, euro problems in France, Germany and Spain, and more.

Join me. An interesting show. A bit of an eye opener.

Enjoy your day!

 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES…..

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Most of yesterday, I was in a stupor. This morning I feel great! Rarin’ to go!

During my recent back problem, I was on pain killers. I had difficulty sleeping. So I took Advil-PM. Supposedly helps to relieve pain and makes a person sleep. It did. I slept terrific the two nights I took the Advil.

I have had trouble sleeping the past few days. Two nights ago, I decided to pop an Advil-PM. I slept 10.5 hours straight without waking. Wow!

A problem was evident when I woke yesterday morning after my long sleep. I was heavy headed, moving slowly. The word stupor I used earlier is the correct description. I even had trouble doing yesterday morning’s blog.

I was still in the condition described when I went to the TV studio at 3 to record friday’s show. My sense was whatever my thoughts were, the words were coming out slowly. My biggest problem was pronunciation. Bangladesh and blasphemy would not come out right. I finally looked the camera in the eye and said…..I have difficulty pronouncing big words!

I am anxious to see friday’s show. To see how bad it all came out.

Krystal was engineering the show. She said she could see nothing wrong. I don’t know.

If you are interested in watching, the show is available via television on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19 from Key West through Miami-Dade county. World wide via the internet. www.weyw19.com.

The Key West Lou Legal hour airs at 10 in the morning my time.

The show is also You Tubed. People are apparently viewing the show on You Tube. Many who are unable to watch at 10 in the morning have told me they are watching the shows at their convenience via that mode.

Returned home after the recording and decided to trim my beard. A mistake! I was still feeling tipsy. I ended up chopping my moustache too short on one end. Went back to the other side and cut some off to balance it. Cut more than I should have. So it was back and forth. Needless to say, my tache is a bit shorter this morning.

I also did a number on my neck. Irritated the hell out of it.

By dinner time, I felt better. The clouds had left me. I was famished. Dee joined me at the Yacht Club for dinner.

Bocce tonight! Can’t wait!

Enjoy your day!

LONG WEEKEND

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I have a long weekend ahead. Unusual.

Fridays I do the Key West Lou Legal Hour in the morning. In the afternoon, I write my column for KONK Life.

All  I will have this friday is the KONK Life piece.

Krystal is my engineer at the TV studio. She is necessary to doing the show. No Krystal, no show. Krystal is off friday. Instead of no show, we are recording the show today for friday showing.

My awareness of no Krystal friday took place yesterday. The show obviously was not ready for recording today. Ergo, I busted my butt yesterday and will do so most of today getting ready for the 3 this afternoon recording.

Without the Legal Hour to do on friday and in spite of still having to do the KONK Life article, it will be a long weekend for me.

I had my blog talk radio show last night. I was ready for the show by 5. Decided to go out for a light dinner. It was Hogfish and a pulled pork sandwich. Read the newspapers.

Kathy or Katey came over to kiss me. I am not sure which name it is. I will refer to her as Kathy for purposes of telling her and her parent’s story.

Kathy presently works for TSA or some private company at the Key West Airport. Security is her job. Kathy is in charge of checking bags, making sure shoes are off, etc. as passengers go through the line. She has been at it a few years. She is now an officer.

Her parents are the Michaels. For many years, the parents owned and operated Paradise Cafe. How I loved the place! It was my breakfast haunt. The best cuban toast with tomato and cheese in Key West! I would sit outside and read. Talk with others there. Wave to friends as they rode by on their mopeds.

The Michaels sold Paradise Cafe. There is now a second group that has purchased the property since the sale. The new group does not sell Cuban sandwiches. I am not sure what it is they actually sell. It must be good. The place is packed every day. My problem is I did not enjoy the new food and stopped going. I miss the old Paradise Cafe!

I initially met Kathy at Paradise Cafe. She helped her parents.

Kathy was celebrating her birthday last night. Happy birthday and thank you for stopping by to say hello.

The blog talk radio show went well last night. I did it from my deck. The weather was perfect and there was no noise. I could not even hear the water running by.

Covered basically two topics. Financial ripoffs by government, drug companies, and corporate America. The second topic involved my Church, the Catholic Church.

Both topics were discussed in last friday’s tv/internet show, also. Last night with elaboration.

As regards the Catholic Church, I shared new found information. The U.S. Bishops Association (everyone today has an association) spent $26.6 million last year for lobbying. Against  things like birth control, contraceptive use, same sex marriage and similar matters. The social considerations facing America today.

What galled me is those dollars are a lot of money and could have been put to better use. It would be better if the Bishops had spent the money feeding the poor. That kind of money provides a lot of fish and many loaves of bread. The Bishops would be more Christ like spending the money on assistance to the poor rather than on lobbying for legislation that does not necessarily impact on their lives.

Another sore spot with me is the story of a Cincinnati school teacher. She taught in a Catholic school. She and her husband had difficulty conceiving. They resorted to artificial contraception. Successfully. She lost her job. She was told that her conduct in utilizing artificial insemination to get pregnant was not within the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

Mark Sanford was elected to Congress yesterday. He today is a new Congressman from South Carolina.

Mark has a checkered background.  Simultaneously I think of the admonition…..let he who is without sin cast the first stone. It will be interesting watching how Congress receives him and the job he does.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

SIRIUS’ COUNTRY MUSIC MAN

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Met some interesting folks at the Chart Room last night.

John and Coleen from Nashville. John is the head of Country Programing for Sirius. The conversation was excellent. Nice people. Hope I run into them again this week.

John had one drawback. He was respectful. He kept calling me SIR. I hate it!

Chatted a while with Larry and Robin. Both retired. Live in Bradenton in northern florida. Larry described the community as the old town. I have never been there.

Larry wore a full brimmed white hat. Had attached to it what appeared to be a for real police badge. It was better. Upon close inspection, I discovered it read Brothel Inspector. A good job if you can get it!

My day yesterday started with a visit to the heart doctor. Two separate visits for two different problems. His office set me up with back to back appointments.

You will recall that two weeks ago I had an echocardiogram. It indicated perhaps a problem Another test was scheduled. A CAT scan. I received the CAT scan results yesterday. There is a problem. A new one. Do not worry about it, I was told.

I stopped worrying at that moment. However, I was worried the whole time from the echocardiogram till I received the results of the CAT scan yesterday.

It’s amazing! Those instances when I have been concerned regarding a medical result which could be bad, the mental strain has been heavy. I live under a black cloud. Then as yesterday, when the news is good, I walk out of the doctor’s office building and notice…..The sun is shinning brighter!

May it always shine brighter!

Since I had dodged the bullet, I decided I was entitled to a treat. Eating foods I normally avoid.

It was to Harpoon Harry’s. Ham and eggs with fried potatoes and whole wheat toast and butter.

I wiped the plate clean. Tasted so good.

I like Harpoon Harry’s. It has a 1950s diner flavor. Serves diner food. Hearty! Help always polite, always friendly. Customers primarily local.

Harpoon Harry’s best feature is its eggs. Fresh tasting! The only way I can describe them.

Then took a long walk around the seaport area. Extra long. I wanted to be sure I had the stamina/endurance. Did good! Moved around at a fast clip.

I told you about my friend Nini yesterday. A tractor fell on him while he was cutting the grass on a golf course he owns in Italy. The initial medical report to me was a broken back. Later, I learned he has fractures to both hips, a pelvic fracture and some broken vertebrae. They had to bring in a crane to lift the tractor off him.

He will survive. However mending will be long.

Nini and his wife Germana are good people. The golf course is a side business for them.

Northern Italy is the largest supplier of rice in Europe. I never knew that before I knew them. As far as the eye can see, there are rice paddies. The ground is flat and well nurtured by natural springs below the ground. Rice needs constant flooding to grow. No problem in the Novara area.

Nini took me for a ride to see his property. He is one the larger rice growers in the area. Mile after mile of flooded fields on both sides of the road. He and Germana owned it all.

One piece of his land was hilly. Not good for growing rice. He decided to construct a golf course. It was there the tractor tipped over and ended on top of him.

It is tuesday again! The days move swiftly. Tonight at 9, Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Blog talk radio. A fast moving half hour. Watch on your computer. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I plan on opening with global warming and the Catholic Church. Two separate items. Followed perhaps by a little Bangladesh. Global warming may sound uninteresting. It will not be this evening when I talk about the northeast coast of the U.S. being in danger of a tsunami. From New Jersey to Maine.

Sounds crazy. It is not!

I occasionally make a factual mistake in the blog. One or more of you always catch it and remind me. I am happy to receive your comments.

Yesterday, I feel I got one over those of you who are critical and keep me on my toes. I wrote of Hemingway and The Old Man And The Sea. I said Hemingway received the Pulitzer Price for the book in 1933. I was off by 20 years. It was 1953. A typo. The book was written in 1951 and published in 1952.

I discovered the error on my own!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

HEMINGWAY

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This day in history 1933…..Ernest Hemigway was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for The Old Man And The Sea.

Hemingway lived in Key West from 1931-1940. Early on, he purchased a large home on Whitehead Street. He, his wife, and the six toed cat moved in.

I have done several tours of the Hemingway House, as his home is now called. The thing that impressed me the most was the place within the property where Hemingway did his writing.

Behind the house is a garage. Two storied. Hemingway had the first floor doors sealed off.

The garage was free standing. Ten feet or so away from the main house.

Hemingway required solitude and silence when writing. He made the upstairs of the garage his place to work.

Access to the room is what is interesting. The only way to get to the second floor of the garage was to go to a second floor room of the house facing it. There was a window on the second tier of the garage. It was directly opposite the bedroom window. Hemingway had a large board that he slid from the bedroom window to the garage window. He then walked across on the plank. Following which he pulled in the plank.  No one could bother him.

Guy de Boer. A Key West notable.

Guy got me into the tv/internet business. I did my first internet show several years ago for his company, KONK Broadcasting. While doing it, Guy decided to branch out. He started a local weekly newspaper. Circulation now from Key West through Key Largo. He asked if I was interested in writing a column for the paper. I was.

The newspaper was and is known as KONK Life. It is one of the most read of such newspapers in the Keys. Everyone appears to be reading KONK Life. I know. One to three persons a day will comment directly to me how much they enjoyed my column, agreed or disagreed with what I wrote, etc.

Guy recently distinguished himself in another area. Sailing. Recently, he has been sailing in some tournament or another every weekend. I did not know how good he was.

Guy is the Captain. His vessel the multi hulled Key West Magnum. Last week, Guy took first place in the finals of the Schooner Wharf Wreckers Race. A feat! Guy’s boat beat 44 other vessels in 8 different classes.

Good going, Guy!

My yesterday was dedicated to doing nothing. Hung around the house. Watched TV. Sunned myself by the pool. Napped.

A good day!

This morning I received sad news from Novara, Italy. Via e mail.

My friend Nini owns a golf course outside Novara. Though I never got to play, I had visited the course several times and enjoyed a drink in the club house.

The golf course is small. Though 18 holes. Nini was on the tractor cutting the grass. The tractor tipped over pinning Nini beneath it. Nini broke his back. That is all the information I have at the present time. He is in special care at a local hospital.

Two heart doctor visits today. I may buy stock in the doctor’s office.

Tomorrow night is my blog talk radio show. Join me on the internet at 9. An interesting half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

A FIRST COMMUNION LUNCHEON

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A terrific lunch yesterday!

Anna has been my housekeeper for 8 years. A Polish immigrant, now a proud citizen. Her daughter Julia was making her First Communion. Anna invited me to the celebration following Church.

The luncheon was at Sole’s. Anna’s husband is a chef there.

What a meal!

Perogies, lobster tails, lamb chops, egg plant in oil, and on and on. Fantastic! I made a pig of myself on the lamb chops.

Little Julia was lovely. Anna was lovely. First time I have seen Anna dress dressed.

Anna’s mother and sister flew in from Poland for the event. The mother I knew from the times she has visited in the past. The sister was new to me. Very attractive. Unfortunately, English not spoken by either.

Then to Lisa’s. As soon as I walked in the front door, I knew something was wrong. Robert and Ally were seated on small chairs at the coffee table. Busily doing home work. Never raised their heads to acknowledge me.

They had been bad. They were being punished.

Lisa said they were behind in their homework and had not helped to clean up the house mess they had made. Whatever Lisa said must have been forceful. I have never seen Robert and Ally so cowed.

There was a benefit to me. Jake had no one to play with. He was stuck with me. Yesterday, we were friends. I hope he remembers the next time I visit.

I watched the Kentucky Derby at Don’s Place. A great race. Orb looked terrific in coming from behind in the mud to win.

Joanie was sitting next to me at the bar. We had all bought into a pool. There was a $10 one and a $5 one. Joanie bought one of each. You pulled your horse blind out of a glass. Joanie got Orb each time. She was moaning and groaning……How can I win?

She won $300! God bless!

I was down for some reason last night. Intended to go directly home from Don’s Place. At the last minute, I changed my mind and headed over to the Chart Room.The race crowd was still there.

Spent some time chatting with Sheila.

Then Mike and Tina came in. Two of the grandest people! Worldly. They are frequent travelers. All over the globe!

I had not seen them in well over a year.

Good people! I am especially enamoured with Tina.

Mike and Tina own a home in Key West. On the street across from the cemetery. Should be dead at night. Not recently, Mike told me. Too many tourists partying till late in the morning.

Tina and I talked quite a while. About everything.

By the time I left the Chart Room, I felt good. Actually, terrific! My spirits were up. I give Tina the credit.

Mike and Tina were with some neighbors from the cemetery street. Don and Sue. Wisconsin people. Snowbirds. Don was or still is in the food business. Sue in marketing research. I spoke with Don a while. Sue got lost in the crowd.

JJ was bartending. JJ was a celebrity yesterday. His picture and a brief bio were in the Key West Citizen. JJ was Person of the Day.

The Audubon House was pictured in the Key West Citizen also yesterday. Obviously named after John James Audubon. I have always wondered why the Audubon house is named after Audubon.

Audubon lived the home roughly one month back in 1832. That’s all! He painted birds and plants from the house’s backyard. He also painted them from other areas in Key West and the Tortugas. Some ended up in his famous compilation The Birds of America.

Someone must have decided to name the house after Audubon to make it a tourist attraction. It is. However, a local’s also. The grounds are lovely. Many the party I have attended on those grounds. The interior is a bit spartan. Many antiques. Not enough. Worthy of a visit.

May 5 is Cinco de Mayo. I never heard the term till this past week. There are reminders all over Key West that Cinco de Mayo is to be celebrated today.

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for fifth of May) is a holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 12, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin.

So what!

I am confused. Not only have I never heard of the holiday in the 25 years I have been frequenting Key West, there is not a sizable Mexican community living here. There are many of Spanish origin and descent. Few of Mexican.

If the city fathers came up with Cinco de Mayo as another Key West holiday to be celebrated, they are crazy! We have so many holidays now that they are overlap each other.

The last item I want to talk about this morning is peanut butter.

I love peanut butter! Not on bread, not with jelly. Directly out of the jar on a tablespoon 2-3 times a day. I am a creature of habit. I have enjoyed Peter Pan creamy peanut butter for years. Yesterday, I discovered a new and better peanut butter! Sorry, Peter Pan.

Jif creamy! Smoother in texture and better taste. The only reason I bought it was Publix was having a sale.

The best parts of my day yesterday were chatting with Tina and discovering Jif peanut butter!

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

KEY WEST RETURNS TO NORMAL

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The wind and rain two days ago was something. Yesterday some streets remained flooded.  As long as two blocks.

It was more than an average storm. The Key West Citizen reported front page yesterday that 7 inches of rain fell. A lot of rain in a 6 hour period!

I visited Lisa after my tv/internet show. We talked about the previous day’s storm. Jake did not like the rain. Nor the wet grass following the rain. Ties into his dislike for the ocean and my pool, It is obvious Jake is not a water lover. The family tried to give Jake a bath last week. In the tub. He jumped out and ran through the house streaming water and suds behind him.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour went well yesterday morning. I was wound up. There was a lot of interesting material to share.

Two topics were especially well received.

One had to do with the American public being ripped off by the government, drug companies, and big business. The other concerned the Catholic Church and my thoughts as to the areas where the Church was overreaching.

I thought the rip off would make for intersting reading, also. I used the material in writing next week’s KONK Life column.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour is You Tubed. Take a look if you have a few minutes. Go to You Tube and enter Key West Lou Legal Hour.

Spent some time at the Plantation Coffee House after the show. Diane running the shop. Read the newspapers while sipping away.

The Chart Room was my first stop last night. Enjoyed Emily, Sheila, Sean and Katherine. Emily was beat from the big crowd in the Chart Room the night before. Sean and Katherine shared parts of their Hawaii trip from which they had just returned.

Everyone in town is talking about Mark Watson’s performance in Deathtrap at the Waterfront Playhouse. Local newspapers are praising his acting.

I like Mark. A fine human being. Besides acting, his Key West efforts  include being a drag queen, singing, and bartending.

Everyone loves Mark! That’s the kind of guy he is.

I am glad I went to see Deathtrap. Mark was superb! The show runs through next week. I recommend you see it.

I am going to a First Communion party at noon. At Sole’s.

My housekeeper Anna’s daughter Julie is making her First Communion.

Congrats to Julie!

I cannot wait to attend the party. Anna is Polish. She told me they will be serving home made perogies. I love perogies!

Enjoy your Saturday!

FLOAT AWAY TIME

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Key West is a tiny island. One and a half by four miles. Yesterday I thought the island was going to be ripped from its moorings and blown away.

The wind and rain! Similar to a hurricane. For three hours non-stop. Wind bending the palm trees. Someone told me last night a palm tree in the Smathers Beach area was uprooted. The rain was coming in sideways. You could actually see it! Driven by the powerful wind. Right off the ocean.

I drove into Key West in the early evening after the rain had stopped. The flooding was the most I have ever seen, outside a hurricane. Everywhere. Most intersections. Whole streets in  certain places. Two consecutive blocks in others.

It was pick and choose to get into Key West. I saw some people walking at the entrance to Old Town. Water up to their knees.

While the storm was raging, I was sitting at the kitchen counter fine tuning today’s TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten my time. Via television from Key West to Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. World wide via the internet. www.weyw19.com.

Join me! Today’s show may be one of the best I have ever done! Terrific material!

I finally made it to Don’s Place last night. No booce. The courts had to be flooded. Jimmy show me a picture of the courts on his cell phone. He had gone over earlier to look. Overflowing. Even the concrete walkways were  covered.

Don’s was basically empty.

Went to the Chart Room. A trip! Some downtown area streets for swimmers only. Finally made it. The Chart Room was basically empty. Emily and one couple.

Decided to try TGI Friday for dinner. It recently reopened under new management. Very few people, also.

I was disappointed in Friday. The new owner owns several restaurants in Key West. Varying in cost. All good. Friday not.  Ok, if you enjoy that kind of food.  Had three appetizers and finished none.

Months went by prior to the reopening. We all assumed renovations were going on. Apparently not. The place is the same. The barmaid told me they cleaned the place up and bought new chairs. That was it!

Overall, a disappointment.

Why were all three places basically empty? Had to be the weather. Although the storm had passed, people were not venturing out.

After my show this morning, I have to hustle to Montessori. Robert and Ally are in some kind of event where they are showing off their recyclables. Robert a ukulele and Ally a dress.

Two days ago, I mentioned Italy’s new President. I spelled his name Latte. I was wrong. It is Letta. Four persons from Italy e mailed to correct me. Sorry.

Lisa just telephoned to see if I was alive and well. She does so every morning. She told me her street was flooded yesterday. She could not get her car out.

Robert and Ally had to be picked up from  school. They needed boots and rain jackets. Lisa walked the three blocks. She said the water came up to just below her knees.

Enjoy your day!

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

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There is a sense of pride in living on an island where writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams once resided.

Williams lived in Key West for well over 30 years. As I mentioned earlier this week, his former home is one block from Lisa’s.

Today’s Key West  Citizen notes in its Keys History section that on this day in 1955 “…Key West resident Tennessee Williams” received the Pulitzer Prize for his Broadway hit Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

I never saw the play. I did see the first movie made of the play. It starred Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.

Thunder by the ocean is special. At least to me. I have always enjoyed the booming sound while next to the water. I recall years ago when I frequented the Jersey Shore. I would sit on a bench during a heavy rainstorm under an umbrella enjoying the drama of it all.

Yesterday was a similar morning in Key West. It thundered all morning. My home is on the water. No need for a bench or umbrella. It was a thundering morning followed by some heavy rains.

The weather forecast is for similar rains today. At the moment, it is overcast. No rain yet. My concern is that tonight is bocce. We cannot play on a wet/flooded court.

I worked most of yesterday on friday’s Key West Lou Legal Hour. Some terrific topics. Like the Catholic Church becoming too political, a millionaire child support fight, cancer doctors attacking drug companies, psychiatric hospital patient dumping, money rip offs  such as Karzai, extra terrestrial hearings and Con Edison, what we are not told about Social Security, the Bangladesh building  collapse, horse meat being produced in the United States, Syria and chemical weapons, the Japanese war crimes trials, Machiavelli, Joe DiMaggio, and more.

A combination of diverse subjects. A lot to cover. It will be a fast moving interesting hour. Join me. Via television from Key West through Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. World wide on the internet. www.weyw19.com. Ten in the morning my time.

Last night started at Don’s Place. Don wanted to join me for dinner. We stopped at the Chart Room first. Ran into fellow Manhattan College alumnus Jack Kelley. The three of us went over to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner. The dinner conversation was interesting.

While I was at the Chart Room, a fellow by the name of Jerry came over to introduce himself. He is a local, though we had not met before. He lives on White Street. He told me he reads this blog every day. Thank you, Jerry. And thank you to every one else who does so also.

I screwed up already this morning. I had a 9 am appointment with my heart doctor. Not to get the results of my CAT scan. Rather for a 4 month check up of how I am doing in a special study I agreed to be a part of. Has to do with fish oil and specifically how it affects the heart. Some miniature aspect is being studied. World wide. I am one of many in the study.

I forgot blood work was involved. Fasting blood work. I ate. Must return monday at 9 to do it correctly.

Enjoy your day!