The Key West Lou blog has made many friends for me over the years. Close personal friends. From all parts of the world.

Theo Markis telephoned yesterday from Greece to wish me a Merry Christmas. Love the man! We have become close personal friends over the years. The blog first having brought us together.  Theo and his wife now visit Key West twice a year. His next visit in 3-4 months. Can’t wait to see the both of them.

Tonight Brady’s Irish Pub. Carola, good people, good food, and good drinks. Carola has become a friend. Stories of her native Ireland, stories of her still alive Dad, Irish foods she shares with me, etc.

Carola is divorced. Lives with her 11 year old son. She is a typical mother. Especially loves decorating her home inside and out for holidays. Her Halloween decorations were terrific. Christmas even better. Her son helps with the decorating. Minimally as most children do. He held the ladder as Carola was hanging lights on the roof.

Carola shared some Christmas pictures of her home with me. I share two with you.

A Christmas surprise. The White family in Lexington, Kentucky, chop down their Christmas tree. This year’s tree was in their living room decorated for four days when a baby owl was found in the tree. It was caught and released into their yard.

A “Robert” (not my grandson) commented on my observation in yesterday’s blog re Trump’s statement that immigrants were spoiling America, poisoning our blood, etc. Robert’s comments were right on! To a T! 

     “Yes, I too read where Trump said in a public speech that it’s immigrants who are spoiling America, not himself. I immediately thought he was talking about his mother Mary, his grandfather Frederick, former wife Ivana, his current wife and her Communist parents, Victor and Amaliija Knavs.

     Then there is that boat load of different immigrants he imports every year to work at his vineyards in Virginia and the many many immigrants that can be found working at Mar-a-Lago and various golf clubs around the country.

     Amazing how this two faced walking douche bag can be taken seriously (or allowed to speak publicly).”

The Grand last night. Another wonderful Happy Hour! Guy de Boer joined Steve and I. As well as Cindy, Ed, and Christina.

Guy and Steve go back to 1974. Guy rented a room from Steve in the same house Steve still owns on Olivia Street where I am staying. Guy recalled Steve being in the taco business on Duval Street at the time. Guy met Cindy for the first time last night. Steve and Cindy married in 1980 or 1981 when Guy was no longer a tenant. 

I did not enjoy the crispy duck I had been yearning for. It was not crispy.

Today’s podcast goes back 6 years. Involves a revelation by TK concerning Irish White Slavery in the U.S. First time I ever heard of it. Probably a first for most of you.

Those of you my age or close will recall the Mickey Mouse Club. Five o’clock mondays – fridays on TV. For kids and young adults alike.

The best part were the Mouseketeers and singing along with them the Mickey Mouse theme song: M I C K E Y M O U S E, Mickey Mouse…..”

I was in college and most of the guys in  my dorm would gather for the show in the game room each day to watch the show. We all sang “Mickey Mouse” when the Mouseketeers did. Foolish perhaps, but fun. 

Those were the days!

I mention “Mickey Mouse” today because one of the original Mouseketeers Tommy Cole became 82.

A court finally said Trump was disqualified from a Presidential ballot. In this case, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Trump was ineligible to be on the Republican primary ballot based on the Constitution’s 14th Amendment “Insurrectionist Ban.”

The case will go to the U.S. Supreme Court. No one is certain which way the Court will rule. Legal experts held in the highest regard are divided.

This cold weather is killing me! Hate it! Still waiting for the floor heater I ordered from Amazon.

The temperature is 64 degrees at the moment, 8 am. High today will be 71.

A Newsweek appropriate headline: “Stop Talking About Biden’s Mental Acuity. Start Talking About Trump’s Signs of Dementia.”

Crazy, weird thinking. Steve Bannon is and has been a big Trump supporter. He is an all out advocate for tearing down the American democratic establishment.

His latest “hard to comprehend theory” calls for arming kids with guns to stop school bullying. He intends they be trained first in how to use the guns.

Pure insanity! Advocating shoot outs by children. Every school will become a shootout similar to the one historically known as Gunfight at OK Corral.

Enjoy your day!

I’m back after two days off. Sunday and monday. Sunday because I overslept and then had to hurry to catch a one o’clock Syracuse game at Jack Flats. Yesterday because of my annual physical, etc. beginning at 8 in the morning. Followed by a manicure at 10 and a couple of business matters thereafter.

The weather is off major concern. It is COLD! Eight am at the moment and 63 degrees. High today will only be 67. A  long pants day definitely.

Syracuse played Oregon sunday. The team’s finest game this season. Syracuse continues to improve with each game. Syracuse won by 20 points 83-63.

It was a comeback game, so to speak. Syracuse was down by 10 points 14-4 after 8 minutes of play. Despondency was setting in. I feared the basketball season would be as the football one. Then Syracuse started playing basketball. The team was ahead by 8 at half. Demolished Oregon offensively and defensively in the second half.

Actually, Syracuse was not playing bad in the early minutes when they wee down by 10 points. The problem was the ball was not dropping into the basket. Even easy shots were being missed.

Syracuse’s next game is thursday against Niagara. Should be an easy one for Syracuse. Never know, however. Game begins at 5.

Guy de Boer is back in town. He has been away for a couple of years racing in Europe and elsewhere. Spent some time living in the Canary Islands. Called me yesterday. Said he was back to stay a while.

Yellow fever during the Civil War was considered by some to have been more deadly than bullets. Many, in and out of the service, died from the disease.

Key West’s renowned treasure hunter Mel Fisher died at his home in Key Haven this day in 1998 at the age of 76. His 16 year search ended in success when he found the “mother lode” of the Spanish galleon Atocha in 1985.

September 11, 2001, better known as 9/11, was a devastating day for the United States. New York City’s Twin Towers came down following attack. Nearly 3,000 were killed.

It took 3 months for the fire that burned beneath the ruins to die out.

A developing reality. Young people are not attending church in increasing numbers because they are sick of preachers praising Donald Trump instead of Jesus Christ.

I heard on a radio talk show an interesting comment yesterday. It was to the effect that regarding anti-Semitism, American universities are where Germany’s  were in the 1920’s.

Scary.

Today’s podcast goes back 5-6 years. If I had to title it, it would be Politicians Are Asses.

So much the Devil and Saddam and Gomorrah talk these days. Satan has become part of our everyday discourse.

The Satanic Temple is on the move. It is in the process of launching an After School Satan Club at Chineyrock Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee. The community is not happy about it.

The Memphis – Shelby County School District Board Chair Althea Greene told a group of concerned parents, religious leaders, and school officials, that “Satan has no room in this District.”

However, it seems the Prince of Darkness just might. The Satanic Temple says it can and already has 4 other clubs in the U.S.

The path for Satanic after-school clubs has become possible because of the ease by which evangelical Christian groups have created religious clubs which have gone unchallenged.

The Trump world is furious over the “massive” Rudy Giuliani defamation verdict.

Good! Let them be furious. Let them learn you cannot lie about important things which bring pain upon those you lied about. Let them be aware the mighty cannot defecate upon those of lesser status without recourse.

Power is no license to walk on anyone.

Trump continues to evoke Hitler when it comes to immigrants. He did so again at a recent rally in New Hampshire stating that migrants coming into the U.S. are “poisoning the blood of our country.” Hitler’s quote in Mein Kampf: “All great cultures of the past perished only because originally creative race died out from blood poisoning.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was attending a concert recently when he fell and broke his hip. He has had surgery. He is 76 years old.

His fall was a mere simple trip as was described by him. It happens as we get older.

Pope Francis celebrated his 87th birthday this past week. Happy Birthday! to a good man. The world needs more people like him.

Tonight, the Grand Cafe hopefully. Their crispy duck has been on my mind.

Enjoy your day!

A story lost to history. Italian immigrant workers were responsible for the first Rockefeller Christmas tree. It was Christmas time 1931. Early stages in the construction of Rockefeller Center. The workers primarily Italian immigrants. They thought a touch of the holiday season was required. They pooled their money and came up with a 20 foot tree. Their wives prepared garland at home which was wrapped around the tree. The decorated tree was completed on December 24th.

Big trees from little acorns do grow. The Rockefeller Christmas tree a perfect example. That 20 footer wrapped in simple garland turned into the mammoth tree electrically decorated today. An American tradition.

The rain is endless. Poured all night. Still coming down this morning. If it keeps up, the island will be washed away. I can imagine how flooded some Key West streets are at the moment. If this rain ever stops, people will kayak and swim in certain water flooded streets. It never fails!

Huge storm warnings out for Florida this weekend. A gale storm coming in off the Gulf. Big time rain and wind. Technically has not yet begun. Supposed to hit at 4 this afternoon and continue till 6 am sunday. Key West supposedly not involved. This peripheral rain and wind makes me wonder. Central Florida to be the worst to suffer. The storm to run as far south as Broward County. Wind gusts in central Florida projected to be 50-55 mph.

Syracuse/Oregon tomorrow at 1. The two schools are 2,802 miles apart. They will meet half way in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The game will be available on CBS.

Syracuse is 7-3, Oregon 7-2. Should be a good game.

My plan is to watch from Jack Flats. 

DeSantis speaks from his derriere rather than brain. He had a comment re the Satan figure beheaded in Iowa. Condemned Satanism, then followed his comment up with he would help pay the responsible culprit’s legal bills once caught. DeSantis trying to cover all bases and appeal to everyone once again. He’s worse than Trump in this regard.

Florida has become a fruitcake populace when it comes to voting. A strong MAGA population supporting Trump. A stupid governor. A Republican legislature that is off the wall with its thinking.

Linda Chaney is a Republican legislator. She came up with a bill that has already gained movement in Florida’s Republican legislature. Her bill is to define 16 year olds as “not children.” Rather as “youth workers.” She believes there is a labor shortage and children must be returned to the labor work force.

What she fails to realize is that there are tons of immigrants looking for work. Give them the jobs. That was how the U.S. handled things for years before Trump demonized immigrants.

Chaney’s bill has already passed its first of three committee votes before being submitted to the full House. It passed by a 10-5 party line vote.

Excuse me, but I  must make an observation. The sound of rain pounding on my roof at the moment is the loudest I have ever heard. Absolutely amazing. And Key West is not even a part of the pending gale storm.

Florida is not the only state off kilter. Texas is even worse. They recently had a “Holy Sexuality Week” in Texas. The scene the Abilene Christian University near Dallas. The University is openly anti-LGBTQ. The evil of homosexuality a basic belief.

Some students became upset. Two thousand signed a petition decrying the University position. The University President argued: “Opposition of homosexuality is holiness.”

The battle is on. The line drawn in the sand. A debate re the issue is scheduled for January.

An old piece of news that I only recently became aware of. Hitler planned extermination of North American Jews. Hitler’s blueprint is in book form. It clearly describes how to accomplish a North American holocaust. The 137 page report is titled “Statistics, Media and Organizations of Jewry in the United States and Canada.” It was compiled in 1944 by the German linguist Heinz Klaus at Hitler’s request and funded with Nazi monies.

Today’s podcast is 5 years old. Concerns the Pittsburg synagogue shooting which resulted in 11 deaths. The anti-Semite doing the shooting used an AR-15 rifle and 3 handguns.

The jury returned yesterday in the case against Rudy Giuliani brought by two black Georgia election workers he defamed. His statements as believed by the jury were baseless. They were the ones he made in the wake of the 2020 Presidential election.

The jury awarded the two women a total of $148 million. It was $100 million more than the women had sued for. Which is ok under most state laws. A jury may return more than the amount demanded in a Complaint.

The Washington, D.C. jury deliberated 10 hours. They believed Giuliani had concocted a fake ballot processing scheme that caused the two women all kinds of real pain and suffering. Each woman was awarded $16 million in compensatory damages and $75 million in punitive damages.

Key West has a magnificent historical structure known as the Custom House. The government awarded the contract for construction on December 15, 1891. The amount $107,955.96. You can’t build anything today in Key West for that amount! Occupancy took place 3 years later in 1891.

I continue to live and learn. I always though bamboo was a part of the wood family. It is not. It is a member of the grass family. Yes, grass.

Last night was an enjoyable one. Brady’s Irish Pub. Pierogi special night.

When I arrived, the parking lot was full. Unusual. Had to park 2 blocks away and walk in the cutting wind to the restaurant. When I arrived, the place was mobbed. Every seat at the bar and tables in the bar occupied. Many standing. Most dressed in Christmas attire. Even Carola. She had tree lights in her hair and hanging from her neck.

Turned out it was trolley car night to see the homes decorated for Christmas. Planned by Ed Swift’s organization. The buses would leave from Brady’s.

Shit, I thought. Can’t sit, can’t stand. What to do! Russell saved my ass. He was seated at the bar and was soon going to leave. He gave his seat to me and finished his beer standing. Russell and I have been friends for 30 years. Became acquainted at Don’s Place. He is chef at the Half Shell Raw Bar in Key West. Lives near Brady’s. Obviously, a good guy.

He introduced me to his two friends who were seated next to him. Richard and Tracie. Richard is manager for one of Ed Swift’s companies. Tracie a manager at the A & B Lobster House. I enjoyed their company. We chatted quite a while. Richard originally from England. Tracie the Poconos. Interesting people. A new terrific acquaintance made.

The rain still pummeling down. Wind not too bad at the moment.

Enjoy your day!

A touching story on the internet this morning. What I view as making life a bowl of cherries for a brief moment in a person’s life.

I have shortened the story in the interest of time and space. The entire tale can be found in Weird Fantastic & Ridiculous Things in the World. A tear jerker.

A cab driver went to pick up a lady. She was small and frail. In her 90’s. Dressed like the 1940’s. Behind her he could see her furniture covered in white sheets. She carried a small satchel.

She gave him an address. Told the driver to take her through the downtown area first. He told her it was out of the way and would be costly. She said it did not matter. She was on the way to hospice. Her doctor told her she only had a few days to live. She had no family.

The driver ended taking her all over town. She had him stop in front of certain places and explained her life experience in front of each one.

When they finally ended up at hospice, two kindly attendants came out with a wheel chair to take her inside. She asked the cab driver how much. He said nothing…..I would want my mother to be treated as I have treated you.

The cab driver made the woman feel good. He made himself feel good at the same time.

Two nights ago, power from Islamorada to Key West was out for up to 4 hours depending where you lived. Affected were 56,000 people. The Florida Keys Electric Co. reported yesterday “high winds” caused the power failure. 

Keys people have come to not necessarily believe utility companies when they explain why something stopped working. Water and electrical companies the worst. 

I never heard high winds during the evening. Checked the weather report. Winds during the time in question were 20 mph, with gusts up to 25. Not the kind of “storm” to close down power for 4 hours. The problem with our utility companies is they fail to maintain and rehabilitate. Yet they spend money exorbitantly on salaries at the high end and in certain instances awarding board members lifetime medical insurance.

One of the greatest movies of all time premiered this day in 1939 in Atlanta. Gone With The Wind starring Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable.

Love Gable’s closing line: “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

The New York Times yesterday ran an interesting story for the “frugal traveler” titled: Key West for Cheapskates. Although detailed and specific, I don’t buy it. I have been here 30 years and prices overall have become outrageous. You really have to love Key West to continue living here.

The weather continues to be chilly and rainy. Today’s high will be 74, low 70. Eighty percent chance of rain. Correct. It has been pouring heavy the past two hours. Wind 25 mph, with gusts of 30-35 mph. It will warm up 3-4 degrees over the weekend. 

Fortunate it is not Christmas yet. Santa and his reindeer would have a hard time making visits.

Podcast today 4 years old. Trump President. My ranting involves Trump’s children benefitting from Trump fund raising.

I wrote yesterday about the Satanic display erected at the Iowa State Capitol building in Des Moines. A “holiday” display.

The Satan display was damaged “beyond repair” yesterday.

A wacko position. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a non-religious group, is seeking to remove books from school libraries they consider dangerous to young people. The Bible on their hit list! The group claims more than 100 sexually explicit references contained therein.

Why can’t God be left alone?

A God’s in His Heaven, all’s right with the world thing follows.

A 4 month old baby boy was sucked from his home by a tornado and miraculously found alive in a tree. The baby, named Lord, and his family were in a mobile home in Clarksville, Tennessee, last week when a powerful twister ripped the roof off their mobile home and sucked Lord out of his bassinet.

Lord’s mother and father searched. Ten minutes later found Lord lying in a fallen tree in the pouring rain.

His mother thought he would be dead. Not so. Looked like ‘he was placed on the tree gently. Like an angel guided him safely to that spot.”

Have to move swiftly. A busy morning ahead including a manicure at noon.

Enjoy your day!

Satanism is a governmentally recognized religion. Would  you believe?

Sometime back around 2019 when Trump was President, the IRS officially recognized Satanism as a religion for its purposes.

Too much religion these days involved in our politics. Even Satanism popping up on a frequent basis. Iowa the latest place. In Iowa there is a Satanic organization known as the Satanic Temple of Iowa. It has on display in the State Capitol what it described as a “holiday” display. So erected with the State’s permission. It consists of a small altar on the Capitol’s first floor. Relatively near the Nativity setting.

It represents the group’s involvement in the forthcoming Iowa primary. A leader of the group said, “We’re going to really relish the opportunity to be represented in a public forum. We don’t have a church on every corner.”

Conservative God fearing Iowans, what is happening in your State?

I had to gas up yesterday. Cost was $2.91 a gallon. I was shocked! Cannot recall the last time gas was less than $3 a gallon in Key West. Hope it keeps going down.

I read yesterday of a way to recognize when Trump is lying: His lips are moving. Brilliant! He rarely if ever speaks the truth.

Which brings me to today’s podcast. It was done during Trump’s Presidency and involves Trump and COVID. His lips moved a lot in those days.

One of America’s most horrible days. This day in 2012. Twenty children and 6 staff members were murdered at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Eleven years later, the gun problem still exists. If Sandy Hook didn’t resolve the gun battle, what will?

Pew Research came out recently with a startling finding which was part of its report re 2023 gun killings of U.S. children and teens. The number increased 50 percent in the 2 years between 2019 and 2021. Again raising the point that the gun problem continues even after Sandy Hook. In 2019 there were 1,732 children and teen gun killings, in 2021 2,590.

Gustave Eiffel, the man who built the Eiffel Tower, was born this day in 1832.

I came across a comment this morning: “You say why, I say why not?”

Brought to mind a Philosophy quiz I took in college. I found the course a bit difficult. Also, the Professor did not impress me. The quiz asked one question: “Why?”

I thought, how stupid! After meditating for awhile, wrote my answer: “Why not?”

The C grade I received adequately rewarded my “genius” which at the time I thought was equal to the Professor’s question. I actually expected an A or F, depending how Prof reacted to my response. I assume he was confused, not sure what to do, took the easy way out and gave me the C.

Dinner last night at Brady’s Irish Pub. Fish and chips and excellent company.

It was Carola’s 43rd birthday. Everyone Happy Birthdaying her. Two persons brought in cakes. I enjoyed a piece of one. Carola’s Mom in Ireland sent her a package containing a lovely necklace and ear rings and different candies. Carola gave me a bunch of the candies which I have sitting on my desk and will pick at during the day.

Met Kim again. More recently met her at the Thai Bar. She was having dinner alone. Her husband an attorney. He was busy with something. Kim worked years ago with the Blue Paper when it was Blue. Today’s mild in comparison. We talked long covering a multitude of sins and problems.

Kim left and Whalen came by. I met Whalen for the first time last week at Brady’s. He is from Wisconsin. A Key West contractor these days.

We both recalled we are on opposite sides of the political spectrum. He is a Trump supporter. Our chatting involved much political chatter. The interesting thing is we were able to discuss opposing viewpoints without getting upset with each other. Few exist today who are able to so communicate.

The proposed Missouri “abortion homicide” bill I discussed yesterday died a swift death in the Missouri House. It was withdrawn following bipartisan backlash. The Senate bill is still alive, however.

It’s 5:30 am. Lights just went out. All power gone, inside and out. Writing this note by flashlight for incorporation in the blog when power returns.

Power has returned. Off a bit less than 2 hours. I have a busy morning ahead so I am going to press with what I have.

Enjoy your day!

New York drops the ball at midnight every New Year’s Eve. An American tradition. One to be proud of. 

Key West has its own dropping New Year’s Eve. Actually, five. A Key West tradition. Which we are equally proud of.

I list the five. To inform. If you are out and about at midnight, make plans to view one. A fun event!

—–The shoe drop with Christopher Peterson at the Bourbon St. Pub.

—–The gigantic conch shell drop at Sloppy Joe’s.

—–The Historic Seaport/Schooner Wharf Bar pirate wench drop. Schooner Wharf Bar owner Evalena Worthington the wench. She is dropped from the mast of the tall America 2.0 ship.

—–The landing of a replica Pan Am 1927 aircraft with a costumed flight attendant at First Flight Restaurant.

—–A key lime pie wedge splashing down into a larger than life margarita glass at Ocean Key’s Sunset Pier.

Today’s podcast a real oldie. Six or seven years. Concerns Trump, the Paris Accord and pollution. I was upset when I did the podcast. Trump really irritated me in this one.

Ukraine’s President Zelensky came to Washington with his hand out and returned home with it empty. He was here to convince Congress to approve the $64 billion Biden had recommended. Republicans have been stalling approval of the request. Acting un-American in so doing. Trump and his MAGA supporters opposing the need. Failure to provide the monies could vey well lead to a Putin victory.

If the U.S. fails in this instance, we will look extremely unreliable in the eyes of the world. It will be another example of “our word” no longer can be depended upon.

Italy’s record in World War II was dismal, with one exception. Italy’s treatment of Jews.

Mussolini and a majority of Italians rejected Hitler and Goebbels’s desire to destroy the Italian Jewish population. Italy protected those of the Jewish faith in Italy itself and in Tunis and occupied France. The Italians refused to draft Jews for work or compel them to wear the Star of David. Further, Italy refused to deport Jews from Italy or Italian occupied Croatia and France to Auschwitz.

Gender issues are moving in a somewhat radical and too swift manner.

An example is a Seattle high school student. In a recent quiz, two  true/false questions give credence to the statement. One query: “Only women can get pregnant.” The student answered “true.” The other, “All men have penises.” The student answered “true.’

Both answers were marked “incorrect” by the teacher. Such ultimately led to the student receiving an F grade on the quiz.

The student’s parents are upset. They feel politics is coming into the classroom. The gender issue affecting their son’s responses a perfect example.

Bad guys, dirty pool! What is going on? How far will Trump MAGA followers go in attempting to debase opposing candidates?

More than a step too far happened to Joe Biden at the Army-Navy football game saturday. A video posted on Instagram (direct link, archive link) shows spectators chanting: “Fuck Joe Biden!”

Fact checking proved the video had been altered. The anti-Biden statement was digitally added. The original video shows the crowd singing along to a song.

Enjoyed Happy Hour at the Grand Cafe yesterday. Packed! Steve, Cindy, Joe, Jean, Eddie, Christina and I can’t recall who else. Good company all!

I mentioned yesterday that as part of the Grand’s 21st year in business, entrées were free all day to everyone. I was wrong. Not everyone, only locals. The half price on drinks and appetizers continues however to all. Tourists as well as locals.

The weatherman said it was going to rain today. It is. Appears it will do so till this evening.

Enjoy your day!

Missouri Republicans refuse to give up the battle when it comes to abortion. Their latest move is proposing legislation which would allow women who receive abortions to be charged with murder.

Cold during the night. Temperature dropped to 66 degrees. Still 66 at 7 am as I write. High today will be 74. The cut-off point for we locals, most of whom who will feel chilled at that number.

My game plan was to go out for dinner last night. Never made it. Got hung up on a modern movie version of Shakespeare’s Tempest. Filmed in 1982. A great cast: John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Susan Sarandon, Victorio Gassman and Molly Ringwald. Most scenes filmed on a Greek isle. The pressures of life a key theme.

This was Molloy Ringwald’s first movie. She played a teenager. Later went on to major filmdom success. My recollection was a movie called Sixteen kicked her into the category. She attempted a comeback in later years as a stage actor. I recall watching her perform here in Key West some 20 years ago during that time.

Though not her first, Susan Sarandon was a young Susan Sarandon. I apparently never saw her in those days. An absolute beauty! Magnificent eyes!

Yogi Berra quotes more humorous than accurate. One of his has the ring of truth in it, though not intended as such when made: “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”

Today’s podcast some 6 years old. Made following a Trump visit to Key West.

Sears has only 12 stores left in the United States.

Richard Sears and Alvin Roebuck started Sears in 1892. In its early years, it was primarily a catalogue company. By 1969, it was the largest retailer in the world. Five years later, it moved into Sears Tower in Chicago.  The Tower at 110 stories was the tallest building in the world. Today, only 12 stores remain. Why? The way of the world. Walmart, Amazon, and poor management.

Liz Cheney speaks words of wisdom when it comes to Donald Trump. She keeps ringing the alarm. Are people listening?

She is now contending that if Trump was back in the White House, his election would be our last election.

Climate change a major issue world wide today. The first ever international climate change meeting took place this day in 1915 in Paris. The group adopted the first global pact to fight climate change, calling on the world to cut and eliminate greenhouse gas pollution. 

Obviously the agreement did not work well at all. No sanctions were imposed on countries that did not comply. We are still waging the battle more than 100 years later.

Grandson Robert Malcom published another interesting article re FSU football on December 10. A story re an official visit to FSU and commit by Turner Hickman as a future Seminole. NoleGameday.com.

For those of us who recall, two famous singers of yesteryear have birthdays today. Connie Francis is 86, Dionne Warwick 83.

Tonight, the Grand Cafe at 4 for Happy Hour. Everything half price. The entire menu. Part of the Grand’s thank you and in celebration of their many years of service.

Enjoy your day!

By day, yesterday was excellent.

Sloan and I had a worthwhile 2 hours working on the podcasts. Hopefully we have things down pat now.

Spent two comfortable hours at Higgs Beach in the afternoon again. Overcast. Still comfortable. Nothing like sitting by the ocean. The sounds and smell of the water.

The evening sucked, however. Did not let it bother me. The afternoon was still in me and I refused to let anything spoil it.

It started with dinner. I decided to be good to myself. An excellent dinner. Selected Antonia’s. Closed. Pitch black inside. Strange, I thought. Closed on a sunday evening? Tons of people walking Duval. Other restaurants and bars doing a bang up business. Opted for La Trattoria. Same problem. Closed. What the hell?

Understand, I had already overwalked. Returned to my car. My right leg killing me.

Refused to let the closings get me down. Pepe’s popped into mind. I had not been there in a while. A broiled half chicken would be my meal.

Found a parking spot. People crowded outside and in waiting for a seat in Pepe’s. I asked the hostess if there were any seats at the bar. She said yes. So I plodded through the crowd. No seats available at the bar.

Where next? Decided on the Boat House. A bit of a walk. My other leg joining the right one in pain. Made it, however.

In all my Key West years, I had never been to the Boat House. The old or new. It was crowded. Found a seat at the bar. Decided I deserved a drink after all the work/walking I had done. I had not had one in 10 days. Beefeater on the rocks. Only one. And a diet Pepsi.

Ordered an appetizer for dinner. Conch fritters. Seven huge ones. Delicious. I was feeling better.

Wanted a second diet Pepsi. Took me 15 minutes to get one. Three young ladies working my section of the bar. They were tied up bullshitting with 4 older gents (younger than me) at one end of the bar. Left me and others sitting without service for the 15 minutes. Pissed me off! Some of my neighbors at the bar, also. Lousy service in the extreme!

I said nothing. I am a good tipper. Not last night. The bill was $27. Normally, I would have left a $10 tip. Left only $3. Came close to leaving nothing.

I will never return to the Boat House.

Yet, my disposition remained ok.

This morning I had a 9:30 appointment with my heart doctor. Two years and I have yet to meet him. We are down to 3 heart doctors in Key West. A nurse practitioner has been caring for me. I have come to respect her talents. Not that I have any choice.

April was not in. No one called me. I corrected the receptionist re no one had when she insisted. Said April would phone me. I insisted on a personal visit another day. Fran came out to give me a hand. She is a nurse who works under and with April. I blew. Couldn’t help it. We agreed she would call me with an appointment for next week with April.

I was not out of the office 10 minutes and getting into my car when the phone rang. A recorded message. April would call me at 11 tomorrow.

I have not dealt with that call yet. Will not have to as it turns out. April just called me. I vented again. She took my abuse and apologized, which made me feel worse. Anyhow, everything back to kumbaya with them. I have the answers April would have given me in a face to face.

I feel like a smuck, however. April has been out of work for 10 days taking care of her elderly father who is sick.

It is cool today. Seventy degrees. High will be 72. No ocean to relax by. 

Today’s podcast goes back to the early days of COVID. Greece was hard hit at the time also. The Greeks are different from us, however. They paid attention to their government. Everything closed down. People remained home. The podcast deals with my friend Theos. Following the podcast is a note I received from another Greek friend Jim Brown. Deals with how the Greek people were handling COVID also. His story similar to Theos’.

Jim Brown from Crete: “Sending Key West Lou best wishes from Crete. Lockdown has been obeyed by the people here. Sadly not earning at the moment. But health before weather as they say.”

“Big trees from little acorns grow.” Applies to goldfish in the Great Lakes where goldfish have physically grown. As large as a busty 18 inches. They are disrupting the ecosystems of the Great Lakes. They now number literally in the tens of millions.

They have become an invasive species. Who would have thought?

An example of the pot calling the kettle black. Donald Trump called Joe Biden a “real threat” to democracy.

The man is mad. The pressure getting to him. He is becoming “more explosive” than ever.

Rudy Giuliani has become equally as crazy as his comrade Donald Trump. Giuliani claims Obama has taken the U.S. back 40 or 50 years on race relations.

I don’t understand that one.

Enjoy your day!

Syracuse/Georgetown was a great game yesterday! Not because Syracuse won. Rather because Syracuse played its best ball of the season so far. Against a competent and able Georgetown team.

Syracuse won 80-68.

Syracuse has improved with each game. Hope they keep improving. Still have a ways to go. However yesterday was the best yet. Syracuse’s defense was effective the entire game. The team’s offense exceptional in the second half.

The defense kept Georgetown’s 3 point shooting the lowest for the season at 19.2 percent.

Syracuse is now 7-3. Their next game next Sunday at 1 pm against Oregon.

An unusual factor I may have advised in an earlier blog also. There was a time that a group of Syracuse fans followed me where ever I was watching the game. Anywhere from 10-20 would show up. It was Syracuse party time!

No more. Yesterday, I was the only Syracuse fan at Jack Flats watching the game.

Florida has always been a haven for sea fish, etc. who become sick in other waters. Sea turtles an example. It happened again. Frigid Cape Cod waters have affected turtles. Especially Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Fifty two were “cold stunned” and flown to 4 separate turtle facilities in Florida for saving and rehabilitation. Once recovered and Cape Cod waters become suitable to their existence, they will be returned to their natural waters.

In 1867, former Confederacy Presidnet Jefferson Davis stopped in Key West on his way to Havana where “he was going for his health.” He was not a favorite son of the Union at the time.

Actor Ryan O’Neal has died. He was 82 years old. One of his most famous roles was as the sorrowful young husband in Love Story. He received a Best Actor nomination for the part.

I missed the Christmas Boat Parade last night. Don’t feel comfortable doing a boat with the cane. Neither can I stand on shore long with the cane. Legs can’t handle it.

So I missed again what is a great Key West holiday experience. Hope many of you heeded my advice and signed up to be on one of the boats.

Trump is scheduled to testify tomorrow in his own defense in the New York civil fraud case. He will initially be questioned by his own attorneys.

The Army-Navy football game was decided by one inch yesterday. It was the final play of the game. A second or two remaining on the clock.  Navy was on Army’s 2 yard line. A touchdown meant a Navy victory. Come up short and Navy would lose. Everything was “on the line.”

It was 4th down. 

Navy tried a “tush push” quarterback sneak. Came up one inch short. Army won!

Today’s podcast 4 years old. Concerns Trump and Social Security and Medicare.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Yesterday was friday. It was a good day.

It began for me at 5:30 in the morning. I was up and completing research for the day’s blog. Finished around 8:30. Decided to hold off writing until after I had my morning Monkey smoothie fix. It was off to Date & Thyme. Returned 20 minutes later and went to work. Blog finished and published at 11:30. 

A quick light lunch at home.

Decided to go to the beach. A big deal for me. The last time was pre-COVID. As it took me a long time to start going out evenings on a regular basis following COVID, I still had not gotten into the beach routine again.

I needed a beach chair. Lisa gave me one of those big blue ones that only sits upright last Christmas. I no longer can use a sand or lounge chair. Once down, I cannot get up. Lisa’s gift was perfect.

I packed it into the car together with sun tan lotion and lipscope I had purchased earlier in the week. Even bought a new baseball cap to wear in the sun.

It was off to Higgs Beach. Set the chair up at the far end by the wharf that runs out into the ocean. Next to the Casa Marina.

Did not bother oiling up. Though warm, it was overcast. Stayed 1 1/2 hours. Felt good being out there. It was comfortable, the ocean beautiful, the smell of the ocean familiar.

Very few people where I set down. There was a woman about 10 feet off to my side going towards Salute’s. Striking I thought as I set down.

Fifteen minutes later she spoke. Asked me to watch her purse and chair as she wanted to get another glass of wine. Asked if she could get me one or a beer. I declined. Assured her I would not run off with her purse.

When she returned, we spent the next hour chatting. One of those fortuitous meetings. Her name Terri. She is in the process of moving to Key West from Ocean City, Maryland. Attractive, 50ish. A fine dining waitress there. Hopes to get similar employment in Key West. I told her, as I am sure she was well aware, no problem. Key West restaurants are crying for dining room help.

She has already rented an apartment for herself and her two labs.

She returns to Ocean City today to finalize the sale of her home there and other matters. Returns January 15.

Enjoyed Terri’s company. Would enjoy running into her when she returns.

Showered, shaved, etc. and was off to Brady’s Irish Pub and Carola. Pierogi night and Irish sconces baked by Carola.

Met a couple at the bar from northern Ohio. Here for a wedding. The service at St. Mary’s By the Sea, reception at the Hemingway House. They last visited Key West 20 years ago. I told them to read up on the Hemingway House on the internet last night before attending the wedding and reception. So much history with the Hemingway House. It would be a shame to miss any part of it.

Carola gave me two Irish sconces in a plastic bag to take home. Told me to heat and butter up before eating. I could not wait to get home to try one. Microwaved it for 20 seconds and then melted butter on top. To die for! The other I will eat later this morning for breakfast. This one with jam.

Settled into bed to watch a movie. Selected Mama Mia. A terrific musical comedy starring Meryl Streep which hit the movie houses in 2008. Saw it back then. Besides Streep who I greatly admire and enjoy, the site of the film motivated me to watch also. A Greek isle. I am a Greece fanatic. Love the country which I have visited many times for stays as long as two months.

I was not disappointed. The movie had its emotional moments which caused me to shed a tear or two.

My day could not have been better.

Hopefully today will be as good. I started today’s blog at 5 this morning. There will be no time for a Monkey smoothie fix. I have to be at Jack Flats by 11. Syracuse plays Georgetown at 11:30. Want to get a good screen and bar seat.

Should be a good game. The rivalry goes back to 1979. Jim Boeheim and John Thompson the coaches. They literally hated each other from 1979 forward. A real dislike. Not sure exactly why, but it existed. 

Both teams entered the Big East which was formed around that time. I watched most of the Syracuse home games at the new Carrier Dome from 1980 forward, plus games in the Big East end of season tournament for years in Madison Square Garden and NCAA tournament games at season end.

Thompson was so distrustful of Syracuse that when Georgetown played at the Carrier Dome he began the practice of setting up chairs on the court itself during time outs to talk with his players. The message was clear. Syracuse was a cheater.

The bad blood continued for 20 plus years till after Thompson retired. Boeheim and Thompson met at at college basketball coach conference, chatted privately and were bosom buddies from that day forward. The two men literally loved each other.

Thompson died in 2020, Boeheim now retired.

Not sure what else I have on the agenda for today following the game. May do the beach thing again. Everything stored in the car ready to go.

Enjoy your day! Hopefully as much as I enjoyed mine yesterday!