LUNCH WITH TOMORROW’S LEADERS

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I enjoyed lunch yesterday with two of tomorrow’s leaders. My grandchildren, Robert and Ally. Always an experience!

We ate at Lobos. First time for all of us. Lobos is that little outdoor place with picnic tables on the pathway from Duval to the parking lot behind Antonio’s. We keep looking for new places to eat.

Lobos has to be a gold mine. The place is small, but was packed. Mostly tourists. Drinking beer and wine one after the other. One table of ladies champagne. Bottle after bottle.

Some clever/interesting comments arose during the luncheon. Everything originated in their minds and came out of their mouths. Like why do people always give the President a hard time? Perceptive, I thought. We want a Butterball turkey for Thanksgiving. Mom never makes one. Why Butterball, I asked. Because there is a ball of butter in it, replied Robert.

Sleeping Thanksgiving weekend will be a bit of a problem. Cameron will be home from college. Robert has taken over his bedroom. Robert will have to move into his sister’s bedroom and sleep in the bunk bed. He was not happy! Plus, the grandparents will be sleeping in the upstairs bedroom.

Spent some time in the afternoon working on the KONK Life column for this week. A little nationalistic pride. The topic is one few people are aware of. I only know because I am old enough to. Most who came before me are dead.

The topic is the Doolittle Raid. A World War II tale of pride and heroism.

I received an email from the publisher of my soon to be published book. The World Upside Down. The email had attachments consistiong of a 6″ x 9″ formated manuscript, the jpg cover, and the back cover text. Exciting! Another closer to publication!

Syracuse beat Maryland 20-3. Unexpected. I am proud of my alma mater. Syracuse is now 5-4. One more victory and Syracuse will receive a bowl bid.

I was unaware the game was to be televised. It was no big deal so as to be on national or regional TV. But there it was! I watched the game from 4 to 8. Never went out of course. The game kept me glued to the TV set.

I thought Syracuse played well. The best I have seen them play this season. The defense played especially well causing some fumbles and interceptions. I read a post game review by a sports columnist in a Maryland paper. His take was that Maryland handed the game to Syracuse because of their sloppy play. He had it wrong. The Syracuse defense caused Maryland to play poorly.

Go ‘Cuse!

Enjoy your Sunday!

WHERE HAVE CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY GONE?

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This morning’s news carried the story of two U.S. Navy admirals who have been suspended pending further investigation in a major bribery scandal involving a Singapore defense contractor. Several other high ranking Navy officers were previously removed from duty. The two Admirals are at the top of Naval intelligence.

It has to be the pinnacle in one’s life to have achieved Admiral status. The ultimate in respect goes with the status.

When I read something like today’s news report, I wonder what has happened to character and integrity. It was important once to each individual. Today, it appears it not as important. If I am correct, it is a cancer eating away at our society.

I add most of our Congressmen to the group. Where has honor gone?

Reviewed some new numbers yesterday for this blog. It is now being read in 68 countries. Amazing! The last time I looked it was 49. There was a definite upswing in readers in Sweden and Hong Kong. The blog took a nose dive in South Africa, however. My friend Rita in Calitzdorp, tell me what is happening!

Talking about the blog, permit a suggestion. I know a large number read the blog every day. Most by dialing up Keywestlou.com and reading it on Facebook. Why go through all that work. SUBSCRIBE instead. In the upper right hand corner is the word Subscribe. Click on and you will then receive the blog directly in your email every day. What could be easier?

Yesterday was another simple laid back Key West day. Visited Tammy for a manicure at noon. Tammy is Vietnamese. She has lived in the United States about 15 years. She recently became a citizen. A proud one.

She has two children. Approximately 3 and 5. American holidays are strange to her. She is taking them a step at a time.

This was the family’s first real Halloween. It is also the first Halloween Tammy and family have their own home. They did tricking and treating early. Then greeted other children at their door. Tammy said they ran out of candy after one hour and had to use her children’s stash.

I bug Tammy every year about Thanksgiving. She is not there yet. Cooking a turkey intimidates her. She still feeds her family Vietnamese style. Tammy says in a few years when her kids understand Thanksgiving, she will learn to cook the meal.

Wrote the rest of the day. Hope some day people read what I am writing. One of the other books  is Growing Up Italian. I like it. Hope others will, also.

Speaking of books, I am waiting for the publisher to advise the date of publication of my first one. The World Upside Down.

We worry about hurricanes in Key West. Every Fall. A typhoon is a hurricane by another name. Atlantic storms are labeled hurricanes and Pacific ones typhoons.

The Philippine typhoon that hit yesterday was enormous. It is claimed to be the worst storm in recorded history. It ended up a category 4, close to a 5. Winds 147 miles per hour. Gusts up to 170 miles per hour. So far only 12 have been reported dead. I suspect the worse is not yet known. I fear the final number will exceed 1,000.

A category 4 would wipe out most of Key West. Especially one close to a 5. A 5 definitely would knock everything down.

If you will recall, Andrew was a category 5. It went through Homestead. I drove through Homestead three weeks after the storm. I could not believe what my eyes beheld. Not a building was left standing.

I pray we never get hit that bad in Key West.

Syracuse plays again today. Maryland. The Vegas line has Maryland a six point favorite. We shall see.

I am anxious for this season to be behind us. Syracuse is a building team. We expect the team to do better next year.

Enjoy your day!

 

A BAD BOCCE NIGHT

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There is no joy in Mudville…..Mighty Casey has struck out!

So it was with bocce last night.

Let me put it in perspective.

It was a money game. The championship game in effect of the 5 team mini league we have within the big bocce league. We were tied for first place with the team we played. Whoever won 2 out of 3 games, won it all!

It wasn’t us. We lost all three.

That is not what made it bad. Defeat is easy to handle. It was how we lost in the first game that bothered us. We were winning 13-3. We lost 16-15.

Says it all!

Momentum, the tempo, was set. We lost the next two also. Though with dignity.

My day started yesterday with a Lori visit. Needed a haircut and beard trim. Then to the Plantation Coffee House. Said hello to Diane and read the newspapers.

The afternoon was non eventful. Stayed home researching and writing. However, did it outside under the shade of the tiki hut. Every now and then, I would dunk myself in the pool to cool off. Sometimes laid out a but till the sun dried me off.

It is Friday. The weekend is here. I have nothing planned. Such a weekend normally turns out to be pretty good. We shall see.

No TV/internet show this morning. I have been replaced for a live showing of the power boat races. I return next Friday.

Enjoy your day!

TWO BLOG DAYS IN ONE

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The frustrations involved with modern machinery.

WordPress is important to everrything I do involving Key West Lou. Without WordPress, there is no Key West Lou.

Such it was yesterday. WordPress was not resdpondiong correctly. Actually, not responding to me at all. Sloan finally got it worked out with them. Thank you Lord for Sloan!

Since I was not able to do the blog yesterday, I am doing a double header today. Enjoy.

My blog talk radio show wet well Tuesday evening. I hit poverty big. I also used a new headset and microphone. I was looking for better clarity. Apparently, I got it. I heard from about a dozen people that my voice came through loud and clear. Three of those commenting were listening from as far away as Novara, Italy, Calitzdorp, South Africa, and Jakarta, Indonesia.

I had a luncheon appointment at Salute’s tuesday. I was stood up. It was an established author. I ate alone. I told the author afterwards that I would not be buying his next book. He apologized. He had forgotten. The funny part is he had done the inviting, not me.

Though alone, lunch at Salute’s was pleasant. Ate outside. Terrific views of the beach and water.

Election results. Without question, the results showed an unhappiness with the Tea Party. On the other hand, I view it merely as an indication. Next year’s Congressional elections are a long way off. Much could happen in one year to demonize the President and return the Tea Party to its more favorable position.

The Tea Party bothers me. One reason is that the losers tuesday were still hard assed. No humility. They were going to go on and fight even harder.

I am waiting for the publisher to let me know the publication date of The World Upside Down. My first book. I feel like a woman waiting to give birth to her first child.

It has been difficult, at least for me, to get the You Tube thing straightened out. Notice, I have not mentioned You Tube in a week. There are new instructions. Hopefully the last.

Both for the TV/internet show and the blog talk radio show, go to You Tube and enter key west lou. That’s all. I have decided to join both shows together on You Tube. To separate them would be a mess. It meant that key west lou could only be used to gain entry to one. Needed another name considerably different from key west lou for the other show.

To the computer geniuses who read me: Help me. How do I get the most recent shows to appear at the top or first in the listing of shows. Most recent date first.

We have made one other change. You will not have to view five separate segments to see the TV/internet show. It is being posted as one unit. There will be an abrupt break and return when the show goes to commercials. All of a second or two. that’s all.

Enough for tuesday. Lets move on to wednesday.

Disaster! An arm on my newest set of glasses fell off. Just like that. I assume it can be fixed. I searched and found one of the smallest screws I have ever seen. It had to have fallen from the glasses. My optician is away till next Wednesday. No problem, I have another set. In fact, I have several sets of prescription glasses in all shades and colors.

Walked yesterday a bit far for me. I was ambitious/energetic for some reason. Walked the Atlantic on South Roosevelt Boulevard from the airport to 1800 and back. I have not lost a pound in several days. Have not gained either. I am still eating little. I keep getting on the scale hoping for a three pound drop all at one time.

Don’s Place first last night. One drink. Chatted with Keith and Jen.

Then to the Chart Room. Surprisingly, very few customers. The powerboat people apparently were not drinking at that time.

Emily bartending. Key West’s oracle of wisdom. Peter and Che at the bar.

Met a lovely lady. Cheryl. She knew Emily. Cheryl used to live in Key West. Had to go north to North Carolina several months ago to care for her mother. Now she is back. Cheryl is an ultra sound technician. She is working at the Advanced Urgent Care Center on North Roosevelt Boulevard.

A nice person. Hope I run into her again.

The TV and radio shows take time to prepare. Especially the TV show. I finished my research and prep one day early this week. By Wednesday afternoon, I was done. I was pleased with myself. It meant I could screw off this afternoon.

Krystal called me late yesterday. There will be no show Friday morning. The television studio will be filming live the power boat races starting at 10. My show was scheduled for 10.

I complained a bit. All the work I had done! Krystal said to use it next week. I cannot. Most of the material is stale by then. Oh, well.

An important historical event took place on this date in 1918. The start of the Russian Revolution. The one between the White Bolsheviks and the Red one’s. A fellow by the name of Kerensky was a White Bolshevik and the first Presinet of free Russia following the Czar’s dethroning. Philosophical differences arose. Lenin was head of the Red group. Finally, the Reds beat the Whites. That is the war that started on this day in 1918.

Kerensky had to flee Russia. Flee or be killed. The choice was simple. He left. He eventually ended up in the United States.

Why the Russian history lesson? I was fortunate to have known Kerensky.

It was 1956-7. I was a senior at Manhattan College. A history major. One of my courses was Russian history from around 1880 to a couple of years following the Revolution. Kerensky taught the course. He was my/our professor. Imagine how exciting it was to hear from the lips of a man who not only lived during those years, but also was the important leader of one of the two revolutionary groups.

Bocce tonight. I look forward to it. Our last money game. We have to win 2 out of 3 games to come in first in the 5 team mini competition we also play.

Enjoy your day!

DON’T TREAD ON ME…..NAVY AND TEA PARTY CONFLICT

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U.S. Navy Seals have been told they no longer can wear the Continental flag and snake patch on their jacket shoulders.  The patch symbolizes Don’t Tread On Me. The reason is some what associated with political correctness. The Navy claims the symbol is associated with radical groups. Without so  stating or signifying, the flag of the Tea Party is a Don’t Tread On Me one, also.

The topic is # 1 for discussion on my blog talk radio show this evening. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Followed by cattle rustling, truck hijackings, and Tide thefts being on the rise and why.

Join me at 9. A fast moving half hour of interesting and revealing information. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Ran around a bit during the day yesterday.

Visited the Radio Shack. I do tonight’s blog talk radio show via Skype. Need headphones and mike for clarity. The set I have been using was falling apart. The new one appears to work fine. I tested it this morning.

Then Publix. Always fun. There may be a story in my Publix exploits.

Home Depot the final stop. Walked the aisles. Everyone of them.  A 25 minute jaunt.

I am in need of an air compressor. Nothing fancy. To put air in the bicycle tires and so forth. Adam bought one for me two years ago. He always used it. I let him do whatever had to be done. Adam was not available. So I tried to put air in the tire. The machine did not work.

Adam had purchased it at Home Depot. I decided to pick one up yesterday. I found the exact same one boxed. Read the directions. Lo and behold! It had to be plugged in! Ran on electricity. I did not know. Did not figure it out because the cord was wound into the machine. It could also be old age catching up with me.

I did not buy a new one. Later today I will try the one I have again. Plugging it in first, of course.

Wrote the rest of the day. Put together tonight’s blog talk radio show.

The weather continues to be spectacular. Around 80. However last night and this morning forceful winds. Coming off the Atlantic. Strongest yet this Fall. Not hurricane strength. Could be tropical storm strength, however. Palm trees and shrubbery bending big time. Waves in the pool.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WORKS TOO HARD

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The title is a joke! We all know better!

It is however the title to my column in this week’s KONK Life which will be published Thursday. What it concerns is the fact that the House only worked 126 days this year and plans on working  113 days next year. The point of the article is if House members only work part time, they should be paid part time.

I believe you will find the column interesting.

The weather fantastic! Low 80s yesterday. The cool breeze off the ocean makes everything comfortable. It is a strong wind. At least 30 mph this morning.

I walked in the late morning yesterday. Parked the car at Square One. Headed toward the Atlantic. Went through the Southernmost Complex. Then the Reach. Followed the same path on the return trip. The walk took me through parking lots and garages, pool areas, and beaches. Excellent sight seeing. The water generally in my view.

Stayed in the rest of the day. Some reading, writing, and napping.

Permit me to share progress with regard to my book which will be published sometime this month. When I know the exact date, I will share it with you. The title is The World Upside Down.

The cover was finally agreed to by all concerned yesterday. I never realized how much time goes into a book cover. I like it. I hope you will. More so the book itself, of course. Parts of the book are still being edited.

We live and learn. Especially me. I refer to the following.

Tide is being stolen off store shelves in big numbers. Some stores to the extent of $10,000 to $15,000 a month. The stealing is across the United States. Why is Tide detergent all of a sudden in such big demand by thieves?

Tide is now a currency in the drug trade. It is used to purchase marijuana and cocaine. Interesting in itself. More interesting would be to know how the drug dealers turn the Tide into hard dollars.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

A COLD FRONT…..73 DEGREES

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If you do not live in the Keys, it can be difficult to understand. When you have lived here several months and the temperature has been in the mid to high 80s, you are cold when it drops to 73. I am told it is because a person’s blood thins when they live in the sun so long.

The temperature is 73 degrees this morning. The high is anticipated at 81. It will remain cool, however. The front has strong winds. Thirty to sixty miles an hour.

I drove to Cudjoe Key yesterday. I have a friend who has a home there. She has been back in  Boston for a while. I wanted to make sure the house was still there, everything in good shape, etc. It was. Would I have been surprised were it not!

Cudjoe is only 20 miles up US 1. The trip was also an excuse to put the top down and get some sun.

Normally, I would have stopped on the way back at No Name Pub. The best Philly cheese steaks anywhere! Plus a side order of big fries covered with melted cheese.

Because of the diet, I did not. The temptation was great. Especially as I approached the intersection in Big Pine. I was a good boy, however.

Spent some time in the afternoon writing. I have three books going at one time. Two of them for a couple of years. A few days on this one, then I skip over to another. And so on.

This is Parrot Head weekend. They are scattered around the island. The greater number are  at the Casa Marina. Headquarters for their meeting. Day long events planned.

If it is your first time entering onto the Casa’s beach, it could be a cultural shock. All these adults running around with parrot hats on. Definitely different.

A band was playing. The Coral something Unplugged. Good music. I stayed a bit and listened. Watched the parrot heads moving around.

Not my cup of tea. I do not think I could ever be a parrot head. I am a Jimmy buffet fan. However, the head dress is too much!

I was home early. The diet controls. If I go out, inevitably I eat something wrong. The gin and roll the other night at the Marriott are examples. A little bit of the wrong food screws up my metabolism

Syracuse beat Wake Forest yesterday. 13-0. Syracuse had a great third quarter. Syracuse now 4-4.

The clock changed today. Always screws me up. All my life. I am like a little kid. I get confused…..ahead…..behind.

Enjoy your Sunday.

 

 

BUSY DAY YESTERDAY

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Friday began with The Key West Lou Legal Hour. My TV/internet show. Jenna was out of town. It was just me and Krystal.

I spent a lot time talking about present day poverty in the United States. Reductions in the food stamp program was my motivation.

Permit me to share three observations.

I recently read that one out of every four Americans works for $10 an hour or less. I also read that one out of four American children are enrolled in the food stamp program. If true, we are in more trouble than most think. Seeds have been sewn that can have serious consequences.

The last item concerns members of the House of Representatives. They went home yesterday. Their schedule for the balance of the year was announced. It indicated little time in Washington, much at home.

We have budget problems and a multitude of other matters confronting the Nation. Some with specific deadlines coming up in the next 2-3 months. What the hell are these guys doing?

Whatever I said on the show apparently hit home. Post show comment indicated a gigantic interest in the poverty issue.

After the show, it was off to Lisa’s for a while. A little father/daughter time. Jake was with us. Yesterday, he did not bark at me once. Was quiet and sedate. Just  hung around my feet. I cannot figure him out.

I continue to be tired. Maybe the blood pressure. Perhaps the diet. Could be a combination of the two.

Dinner with Pati last night. At the bar at the Marriott Beachside.

Pati is an environmentalist of the first order. To the extreme, I occasionally think. Motivated by goodness all the time, however. In one of my recent shows, I made a mistake. The issue involved the environment. Pati wrote. First apologizing all over the place. Then telling me she did not wish to offend. Then laying the error upon me.

I appreciated her letting me know. Last night was a sort of thank you. Also, we have always been saying lets have dinner together. Last night was the occasion.

The bar was packed. Michael Emerson was playing the guitar and singing. He chatted with us during breaks.

I ate a diet meal. Four shrimp. a little  tiny bit of some shredded beef, and a roll. One gin. My big meal of the day! Of the week!

It was a nice evening. I enjoyed Pati’s company.

Three brief comments regarding Greece, Egypt and Germany.

Two members of the Greek Nazi party were shot and killed this week outside a suburban headquarters. A couple of weeks ago, the leaders of the Nazi party, the Golden Dawn Party, were arrested on some BS charges and are in jail awaiting trial. Good cannot come of what is happening.

More than a year ago after my first trip to Greece, I wrote Greece was a tinderbox. Do not be surprised if the match is being thrown.

Egypt’s last President, Mursi, goes on trial Monday. He was arrested and has been confined to jail for months. Has not been permitted a visit by his attorney nor has he been provided with the written charges against him. And monday his life is on the line!

So much for the new democratic Egypt that our leaders cheered about when Mubarak was overthrown. I hope lessons have been learned. A massive street demonstration is no guaranty that a democratic government will follow.

I do not like Angela Merkel. She is a trouble maker and opportunist. It was announced yesterday that she had sent her intelligence people to Russia to interview Snowden about who knew what and when concerning the U.S.’s bugging of her cell phone.

Merkel has economically destroyed many European countries with the Euro Union and the euro. She recently indicated that the member nations of the Euro Union should have one army. With Germany being in charge of the air force and navy. She is blowing the cell phone tapping incident out of all proportion. She is another Putin.

Now to the important. Syracuse plays Wake Forest today. The Vegas line has Syracuse a 4.5 favorite. My fingers are crossed.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARROT HEADS / POWER BOAT RACES

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Key West weather continues to be magnificent! Outstanding! High temperatures with no humidity. Air conditioning not  required while sleeping.

Keys’ weather changes dramatically. Next month, we could have evenings from high 40’s through mid 60’s. The issue then is not air conditioning. It is do you gave a heater or do you bury yourself under blankets.

Today is Friday. TV/internet show time. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning. Join me.

Great topics. The best may be poverty. The impoverished are becoming a bigger and bigger class in American society. For example, were you aware that 1.2 million public school students are homeless. They leave for school each morning from under the bridge, the woods or an abandoned car.

Disgraceful!

I spent a bit of yesterday lying by my pool. When uncomfortable, I walk into the pool. Dunk all of me, including my head. And then come out to go through the routine again after a while.

I spent a good deal of the afternoon fine tuning this morning’s TV/internet show. It’s a good one!

Last night was bocce. I never made it. Took a shower and felt weak. Very. Thought I might pass out. Laid down. No help. Called David and told him the team would have to win without me. Ho ho! I also telephoned Lisa. My plan was to stop by before bocce to see Robert and Ally in their costumes. No way could I handle it.

I was in bed around 5 and stayed there. I do not think it is the diet. I suspect my blood pressure. You will recall several weeks ago it was running high and I could not control it. Finally, Dr. Mc Ivor got it under control. When I took my blood pressure at 5, it was 90/69. Under control plus!

This is Parrot Head weekend.  The organization is twenty two years old. Jimmy Buffet fans. They wear crazy hats, love Jimmy Buffet, and enjoy a special Key West weekend. Every 4-5 years, Buffet flies in, sings for an hour or two, and flies out. Always a surprise.

Parrot Head activities are centered at the Casa Marina.

Sunday afternoon begins the Power Boat Races.  A spectacular event! A world wide event! It lasts a week.

The boats are massive. Long thick cigar type. Fast. Expensive. Those who participate in the sport are well off financially. A boat obviously is required. Ahe rich owner to drive it. The owner and his crew, plus wives and girl friends, to enjoy the week.

They are spenders. Big time! Power boating is a millionaire’s sport. The restaurants and bars will do well. It is thought the Power Boat Races are the most profitable business wise for Key West.

It is excitement time watching the boats race. Make big time noise. Little or no mufflers. You turn your head swiftly as they race by. Her and gone just like that. An example of how fast they go.

There is another excitement. Many helicopters overhead zooming low to get pictures of the boats in action. You think you are in the center of a war zone when they sweep over.

I hope I get out tonight. I plan at starting at Don’s around 5. Then to the Chart Room. Then I do not know where. But, there will be a where.

Enjoy your day!