I have said and written many times over the years that the Key West of today would not exist were it not for David Wolkowsky. I doubt any would disagree.

Steve Thompson’s recent batch of writings makes mention of David. Steve and Cindy knew David way back when and until David’s passing a few years ago.

Steve wrote…..I pulled into the Pier House at 4 am in ’73. I was tired and I could hardly see. A guy named David was working the front desk. I told him a single room. I just needed some rest.

He said $42 was as low as he could go.. I thought he sounded snobby. I said no. He said ok, I have a room for $25 a night. I told him that would work, it sounded right.

I found out later he wasn’t a snob, he just sounded like one. And the odds he would lose a customer at that hour was not acceptable to him.

David Wolkowsky was an architect, a hotelier, and an entrepreneur. He never slowed down. He was always in high gear.

David had a private island called Ballast Key. He gave it to us for the weekend for our 10th anniversary.

In 1990, he had a penthouse above Margaritaville on Duval. He said Cindy was there to help whenever he would call.

David played a big part in the Key West building boom. Buildings all over the island. The most important, the Chart Room.

Leaving Steve and David, we move on to teachers in the Florida school system today. A despicable situation exists.

Florida schools opened this month. Short 4,000 teachers.

Two reasons.

The first are salaries. Starting salary is $44,040. Average salary is $51,009. The average salary especially shocking when one is aware the living wage in Florida is $49,625.

The other problem is the DeSantis inspired political atmosphere. School boards and teachers are constantly under attack.

A Mickey Mantle baseball card is under auction. It is anticipated the card could bring $10 million. It is in mint condition. If it does sell for $10 million, it would be the most expensive card sold to date.

The auction ends 8/27. The most recent bid $6.5 million.

My father was a baseball card collector and trader. He had 4 shoe boxes full of cards. As he got older, he was trading with grammar and high school kids. Never for money. Pure card for card trading.

Dad died at 98. He gave up the trading in his 70’s. He gave his entire co0llectoion to one of the young boys he had been trading with.

we are all aware art is generally auctioned. Rare written documents also. A rare original copy of the  United States Constitution was sold last year at auction for $43 million. “Rare” means more than one copy exists. it is believed a dozen copies of the Constitution exist.

Russia is failing in the war against Ukraine. An excuse was given yesterday as to why: “We’re failing on purpose!”

The Kremlin’s military chief admitted Russia has “slowed” its war with Ukraine, but claims it’s all part of a “kind hearted plan.” The reason: To avoid civilian casualties which he said was slowing down their progress.

Bullshit! Typical of authoritarians and authoritarian regimes. They all lie. The facts speak for themselves. Putin has bombed a maternity hospital, playgrounds, theaters clearly marked as safeguarding children, apartment buildings, a shopping mall, etc.

Busy morning. Doctor appointment and visit with Lori for a haircut.

Enjoy your day!

The primaries and certain early elections are behind us. We now know who will be running against whom in the elections themselves. The battle is on!

There were also a handful for final type elections themselves yesterday. Democrats seemed to have fared well. Abortion was a deciding influence in certain of them.

May the best candidates win. From my perspective, it means the Democrats.

Biden will be announcing his decision re student debt forgiveness today. Word is he supports a $10,000 forgiveness for those earning less than $125,000. Schumer has pushed for a $50,000 forgiveness.

I have written several times over the years re college debt. It was obvious early on that the program was a failure. More pain than good.

The kids were not the winners. Greed was. Everyone but students benefitted. Even the federal government got a piece of the pie. Universities and banks ate big time. The universities raised tuition, room and board, etc. easily and frequently. The bigger the loan, the more the banks made.

Everyone benefitted, but the students in the final analysis.

Some borrowed into the six figures. Required a lifetime to pay back. They are still paying back. A legalized rip off.

Many are quick to blame the students. Not I. They were young and stupid. Unaware of the ways of the world. Borrowing easy. Payback difficult and in many instances impossible. They were hoodwinked by the schools they attended, the banks and the government.

Florida’s Governor DeSantis is as bad as Trump. Perhaps worse. An example is the Office of Election Crimes and Security he created.

DeSantis announced his creation had caught 20 illegal voters. Florida has 11 million voters. A minuscule number apprehended.

The “election police” has an operating budget of $24.3 million. Eleven caught. Good job Governor!

I knew nothing about turtles till I moved to Key West. Over 30 years, I have learned much. And continue to learn.

The most recent information involves turtle gender.

The birth of female turtles is outpacing males. The reason involves heat/temperature. Turtle eggs are buried by the mother beneath the sand on beaches, where they eventually hatch. Temperatures, especially summer ones, have been increasing in Florida. Ergo the beaches are warmer.

Females are produced at 31 degrees Celsius, males below 28 degrees.

We live and learn.

Hurricane Andrew hit Florida this day in 1992. Homestead was destroyed.

Three weeks after Andrew struck, I was driving to Key West from Miami. The trip took me through Homestead. I had never seen such devastation first hand in my life. As far as the eye could see in every direction, the town was flat. A total wipe out. It was as if an atomic bomb had been dropped.

The end of August is approaching. Not even a hint of a  hurricane yet this season. Highly unusual. May it continue to be so.

Terri Johnston was elected Mayor of Key West yesterday. Her third consecutive victory. She deserved reelection. Works hard. Generally gets results, though not all the time

This morning’s Citizens’ Voice had an interesting comment. So true: “The city and county commissions kicked the affordable housing can down the road so long that we’ve already lost an estimated 40 percent of the service workers. Demolish trailer parks there goes another 20 percent. This time next year, visitors will be making their own mojitos and making their own hotel beds.”

On this day in 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted. Pompeii and Herculaneum buried. Twenty thousand killed.

Very little of Pompeii has been uncovered.

I was exposed to excavations frequently on my Greece trips. Especially, Athens. Digging everywhere. Homes, rooms, etc. becoming apparent. I recall having lunch in Playka one day. Behind me was an ongoing excavation. Interesting. Whole living areas 20 feet below the surface.

I came across an interesting Herman Melville quote in my readings yesterday.

Early on, I learned that in order to be a winner you must first be a loser. Applied when I was young and getting into sports. Applied to my very early career as a lawyer. I lost 12 of my first 13 cases. All small. However, important to my client as well as me.

I learned well and went on to be a highly successful trial lawyer.

Herman Melville wrote, “He who has never failed somewhere, that man cannot be great.”

Enjoy your day!

In recent years, every election day has been termed the most important ever. And so they have been. As our nation divides, voting has become the most important weapon short of civil war by which we define ourselves as a people.

So be sure you vote this primary day. Every office from the highest down to local school board elections are of vital importance.

The Monroe County Commission has approved a $100 million airport expansion to the Key West Airport. I hope it is enough money. Improvement to the airport is needed big time.

I have lived in Key West some 30 years. There have been several airport expansions. Each not enough. The County has the habit of only improving the airport to make it current. Bring it up to date. No concern is ever given to the natural growth an airport experiences. As a result, we have been left each time with a soon overcrowded too small facility. $100 million sounds like a lot of money. The question however is it enough so 5-10 years from now we will not be experiencing the too small squeeze again.

Womenfest is coming! Five days with the ladies ruling the roost. Deservedly so. Now more than 20 years old. Lesbians will arrive from all corners of the world. They will party and meet. Key West is happy to welcome them. September 7-11 are the days.

Schooner Wharf remains one of the last vestiges of Key West. Steve Thompson reminds us of its beginnings. A time he experienced.

In the early eighties, a schooner docked in Key west. The perfect place to stop for a rest. The Diamante was really cool. And Paul and Evalena were, too. They said, “Bring your own wine, enjoy it on deck.” They didn’t have their liquor license yet.

They kept spreading out getting bigger each day. And they really cleaned up the area.

There was a time you didn’t go near at night. Unless you wanted to end up in a fight.

For 40 years Schooner Wharf has survived. Good food, good fun, and good music live.

Susan Neill has been a friend more than 20 years. Susan who ran Dr. Michael McIvor’s office. Dr. McIvor was my heart doctor. He passed away a year ago.

Susan became my go to person when I had a strange ache or pain. Always a simple telephone call away. We did dinner together on occasion.

Soon after DR. McIvor died, Susan became seriously ill. All kinds of serious problems at one time. I hurt for her.

She moved to the St. Petersburg area for professional care and to be near her children. We kept in contact via telephone and e-mail.

Then nothing. No response from her. I did not know how to contact her children. This no response began several months ago. I assumed she had died.

Till yesterday. Susan telephoned me. I cried. She was alive and in a rehab facility. Her ailments had significantly minimized themselves. Tears fill my eyes as I share this good tiding with you.

St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church is a significant part of Key West history. St. Mary’s was dedicated on 8/21/1904.

Its educational facility will expand to include a high school. The high school will open August 2023. Initially for its first two years.

Too much money in politics. It corrupts and controls. Contributions become larger each year. On both sides. I have been of the position for years that elections should be publicly financed. Especially federal ones.

In addition to the Supreme Court’s recent abortion ruling, one of the worst was years ago when the Court declared corporations were people. As a result, corporations acquired the ability to contribute financially to elections. Conservative Republicans seem to have the edge in this regard.

The corporate contributions are viewed as “dark money.” The term speaks for itself.

Marble Freedom Trust is a new conservative non-profit corporation. It recently received $1.6 billion from a single donor. The $1.6 billion being the largest single contribution to a politically focused non-profit.

The donor is Bare Seid. Seid is a 90 year old electronic company executive. The $1.6 billion was in the form of corporate stock.

Marble Freedom the recipient is led by Leonard Leo. Leo is Co-Chair of the ultra conservative Federalist Society. Leo will distribute the funds further to candidates, etc.

One of the beauties of this type giving is that Leo’s group is not required to disclose to whom the money is distributed. Why such recipients are referred to as “dark money” groups.

An interesting New York Times Guest Essay today: Ukraine’s Russian ‘Liberators’ Are Seeing That We Live Better Than They Do. The author is the Ukrainian Yegor Firsov. His opening line: “The invaders have seen the reality: The Ukraine’s live better than they do.”

Putin continues to come up looking bad. From the quality of his soldiers and military arsenal to the quality of the the Russian people’s lifestyle. Have to give Putin credit however. He bullshitted the world for years. It took tiny Ukraine to expose Russia’s short comings.

Enjoy your day!

I’m back!

What a wonderful feeling!

A new game plan. The blog will be published daily for 3-4 weeks. Then to podcasting also. Three podcasts a week. One to 3 blogs per week also.

The past 2 months have been hell. I temporarily stopped doing the blog in preparation for my parathyroid surgery in Tampa July 13. Late in June, I fell down the stairs. Fractured 2 vertebrae. Hospital, 4 day stay at Lisa’s, pain for 10 days. The pain excruciating!

The parathyroid surgery went well, except the outcome not as anticipated. Could be some problems down the line.

I was home a week recovering from the surgery when my right ankle swelled to the size of almost 2 soft balls. Pain. As bad as the fractured vertebras. Difficult to walk. A potassium problem. I am on a heavy daily dosage of potassium. It has been a month. Pain and swelling gradually reducing. Swelling down to one soft ball. Pain down to 10 percent. Doctor says another 4 weeks and ankle will be ok.

Whatever, I am finally back! Thrilled!

My maladies kept me confined to home, with few exceptions. Walking and driving next to impossible.

My few home departures revealing. Key West quiet. Duval has many empty stores. Restaurants and bars with limited service. Help the problem.

Hotels expensive. Rediculously so.

Grandson Robert left for college friday. His first classes today at Florida State. Excited! A new world is opening to him. Ally is a high school senior. She begins college next year. Which will mean a whole new world for Lisa and Corey.

Corey spent more than 30 years at Mel Fisher. Corey became a world respected expert re Spanish wrecks and slave ships. He has moved on to another position.

Tom Hambright has been the beloved Monroe County historian for 36 years. He retired. Corey has replaced him as Historian. Corey and Robert starting new careers at the same time.

Many who are not targets of an investigation nevertheless seek to avoid subpoenas. Lindsay Graham being the most recent example. Such should not be the case, especially where the individual is an elected official and not a target. These individuals are taking advantage of the court system and its built in delays to avoid testifying.

The law should be adjusted to prohibit elected officials under such circumstances to avoid giving testimony. The alternative is always available for them to take the Fifth Amendment if they have something to hide.

Formal religion has been on the downslide the past 40 years. Churches consolidating and/or closing. People either practicing religion in their minds and homes or abandoning religion entirely.

People need to believe. In something or someone. It is an inherent need. Trump has replaced God for many. Most of his followers cultists. He is their new God.

God help us.

I went out for the first time in weeks last week. Fran and Tom Dixon were in from Buffalo. We met by prearrangement at the Chart Room. First time in at least a year I was there.

John bartending. Steve Thompson came down when he heard I was in.

It was good to see them. I missed my Chart Room family.

Steve brought with him some notes he has put together regarding Key West in the 1970s. An addition to materials he provided me a yar ago. Great tidbits re Key West. His historical recollections are first hand. He lived them.

I will occasionally share one with you.

Today’s share concerns Mamoo. First time I heard the name. Mamoo a 1970s character.

Mamoo hung out on lower Duval. He was the one always having a ball. He had an Aussie accent and wore a sarong. That’s a skirt from the waist that hangs long. He was always around, he never went far.

He 86ed from Sloppy’s for handstands on the bar. It would have been ok and they wouldn’t care if he only had been wearing underwear.

He came to Steve’s taco stand every day. He wanted his burrito made a certain way. Extra everything with sour cream. A whole half pound with beef and bean. We called it the Mamoo Special and it was a big hit. If you were on Duval in the 70’s, you probably tasted it. That one item turned out to be gold. In all, over a million were sold.

Jean and Joe Thornton are in town. My ankle has prevented me from seeing them yet.

I’ve made it to Geiger Key twice in the last 2 months. Like the place. The setting perfect. Like being in the quiet middle of wetlands.

News reports indicate an extra large influx of Cubans. Most caught and returned. Several of their boats have found a final resting place at Geiger Key’s docks. Why, I don’t know.

They are interesting to see. How people can endanger their lives and those of their families is difficult to understand. Drowning is as certain as reaching the Keys. It is worth a trip to Geiger Key to see the boats. Food for thought in many respects.

Jean Thornton worries about everyone. Like me during my recent days of infirmity.

Captain Peter, aka British Peter, one of her recent concerns. She has telephoned her concerns to me recently via telephone.

Peter supposedly now living in the Melbourne area. Does not answer his phone. Even his family does not know where he is.

Peter is on in his years. I am 87. I would guess he is around my age.

Steve and Cindy Thompson have been in Melbourne this past week. They found Peter. He is ok. Problem is he has a new telephone. He is having difficulty learning how to work it. Sounds like me.

Anyhow, Jean and everyone else happy Peter is alive and well.

A couple of brief comments re Steve and Cindy Thompson. Husband and wife forever.

Steve visited Key West for the first time in 1972. He came down full time in 1974. He lived the Key West life in its hey day. Knew everyone and everyone knew him.

Met and married Cindy. A charming couple even today.

Cindy had her own Key West life. She was Jimmy Buffett’s assistant for 23 years.

So much for my first blog. Hope you enjoyed!

Key West Lou returning soon!

Originally posted August 2019

For Key West, this is that time of the year. Hot! Heavy humidity…..like you would not believe! Close to a ghost town….. too hot for visitors!

September the worst. Every year without fail. The humidity heavier.

Things start cooling down in October. By Fantasy Fest, all is back to normal. Hot without humidity by day, cool by night.

I often think how the weather was this time of the year up north. My home town Utica, N.Y. In the heart of New York State, in the center of the State.

Without fail, the leaves start changing color by August 15. By Labor Day, a significant number of leaves had fallen. So much so that I closed my pool every year religiously the day after Labor Day. Leaves the problem. They screwed up the filter system.

Those up north are already into a bit heavier clothes. The men, for example, long pants. Perhaps a jacket. In Key West, long pants rare. If required, generally in January for 2 weeks. Gets cold enough at that time that even winter jackets are worn.

I prefer the hot. Never enjoyed the cold and snow of winter. I am happy wearing shorts and a sports shirt most of the year.

Hurricanes coming! Hurricane time of the year!

Two moving in as I write.

Dorian. Began hearing of Dorian last week. Mid week. It is presently a tropical storm. By tomorrow may be a category 1 hurricane.

The cone tells us Dorian should miss the keys. It has been edging northward every day. Close of enough for a lot of rain, however.

Later today or early tomorrow, Dorian will pass over Puerto Rico. A state of emergency has already been declared for Puerto Rico.

Elaine. Still no name. Elaine what it will be once it gets stronger as anticipated. Expected to pick up wind and rain later today. Cone reveals Elaine will be no problem for the keys. Elaine is making a dramatic right hand turn up the Atlantic. She is not expected to hit U.S. shores till she reaches New Jersey.

Saturday morning, disaster befell a Key West resident. Fifty two year old Bryhan Thompson.

He was diving the Vandenberg with a partner. Both experienced divers. Both had enjoyed the Vandenberg before.

Bryhan’s partner signaled they needed to surface. Bryhan ignored his partner’s signal. Instead, he entered a lower room in the Vandeberg.

His body was found in the wreck. One Hundred ten feet down. Twenty five feet into the vessel and away from any exit.

His body when found had no diving gear on it, except for a face mask.

A horrible ending.

The U.S./China tariff war is being felt throughout the U.S. lobster industry this year. I wrote recently how bad it was affecting Keys spiny lobsters. Obviously, the situation is far worse nationwide.

U.S. lobster exports can best be described as having “fallen off a cliff.” China is now purchasing lobsters from Canada.

The drop in the U.S. lobster industry itself is dramatic. Killing. Through June last year, 12 million lobsters were exported by the U.S. to China. This year, a mere 2.2 million. An 80 percent drop.

U.S. farmers are totally frustrated with Trump’s China tariff war. Their patience becoming short. It will not take much more for Republicans to lose the farmer vote in 2020.

Farmers are specially upset with Trump’s lies that the farmers are starting to do great again. Far from it. Brian Thalman is President of the Minnesota Farm Growers Association. He said yesterday that he could no longer support Trump as he did in 2016.

The numbers tell the story. In 2014, Minnesota exported $24 billion of farm product. Last year, $9.1 billion.

College football season is upon us. Syracuse opens saturday against Liberty at Liberty. Syracuse an 18 point favorite.

Last year Syracuse was 10-3. Its best season in many many years. An even better season anticipated this year.

I hope it is true!

Love tuesdays! My blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine this evening my time. A quick moving half hour. I rant and rave a bit. Tell it as I see things. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Stayed tuned! Key West Lou will be back soon!

Originally posted August 2019

No question history repeats itself.

Man constantly seeks ways to end war for all time. The most recent example is atomic weapons following World War II.

Never seems to work, however. Man prefers war over peace. Must be. Look at the number of wars through the centuries. Look at the number of wars ongoing at the present time.

I found it amusing when I came across this piece of history involving the crossbow. The primary tool of war in 1146. European leaders got together. They wanted to outlaw war for all time. They banned the use of crossbows.

It is not the type of weapon that controls. It is man’s nature. For some reason, man enjoys killing. As time progresses, in the most diabolical of ways.

Dorian, Dorian, Dorian. We are in trouble!

Projected a category 4. Landfall somewhere between Miami and Melbourne. Landfall was supposed to be monday night. Then tuesday. Now, wednesday.

Big time lightening this morning while still dark. Heavy rain, also. The lightning came through the blinds into the bedroom. Seems Dorian too far away to have been the cause. Beyond my level of knowledge, however.

The rain and lightening were coming off the Atlantic. I live 1 mile from the Atlantic.

Did my thing yesterday at Publix, etc. getting ready. Publix at 9 in the morning was next to deserted. Perhaps I was the only one concerned.

No lines at the gas stations, either.

No one even talking about Dorian.

Better safe than sorry. Dorian can make a sudden southward turn and all of a sudden Key West is in trouble. The meteorologists have the southern part of the cone at Miami. One hundred fifty miles from Key West. Minimal distance when it comes to a storm like Dorian. A twist in direction, and Dorian could be here.

All of Florida is in an official state of emergency. A big area. Which means the experts are not yet sure precisely where landfall will occur. When they are, those in the path of danger will be jumping in their cars to get away. May it not be too late.

A couple of news articles indicated Dorian was heading straight for Mar-a-Lago. Maybe that is why Trump cancelled his trip to Poland. He wants to stay and protect his property.

Dorian as a category 4 is obviously a big time danger. Heavy winds, lots of rain.

Another reason comes into play with Dorian. Called a King Tide. Today or tomorrow we are into King Tide. Lasts 4 days. Occurs once or twice a year. Not because of climate change or anything like that. It just happens. A product of nature. Has been occurring for hundreds of years.

A King Tide is one with a 4 foot difference between high and low. The high the highest of the year. Not healthy. Key West sewers cannot handle it. Some will be swimming in the intersections, others rowing kayaks down Duval.

For real.

After doing the grocery preparedness, I hurried home to unload the car. Then back to White Street to get a haircut. My appointment was for noon. I was a week early. In fact, Lori did not even come into work yesterday.

I get mixed up on occasion these days.

Drove over to Hogfish last night for dinner. At the bar.

Hogfish only a third of its usual crowd. Empty seats at the bar. Off season.

The bar is a drinking and smoking place. I had forgotten. This no drinking and smoking not easy to handle. Two months already. It bothers me. I assume at some time I will acclimate.

Key West businesses will hurt this weekend. It is Labor Day weekend. The town usually crowded. Doubt it will be this year because of Dorian.

Next week, Key West will be the center of the universe for lesbians and their friends. Thousands will be visiting our island. To celebrate Womenfest.

Every bar, club and hotel will be involved. Alexander’s Guest House is official host.

The ladies will take over Key West and have a good time. Boats, sunbathing, dozing in the shade of a palm tree at a pool, playing ball, etc. Busy all day and then all night till the wee hours of the morning.

Interesting how some stories cross paths. I wrote a few days ago about Judy Garland. It was the anniversary of the 1939 debut of the Wizard of Oz.

My research indicated Judy was drugged while making the Wizard and other movies. The Hollywood custom in those days. Keep the young ones working. Mickey Rooney was like wise subjected.

An article appeared this morning announcing that a movie of Judy’s early years and her last year of life had been made. Titled Judy. Scheduled for release September 27.

Renee Zellweger plays Judy.

The movie dwells on Judy’s use of drugs. Began when she was a child star. Caused an addiction which was with her the rest of her life.

Zellweger commented, “They fed her pills! She was addicted her whole professional life.” Further, “Judy was struggling…..toward the end of her life.”

The Devil must be given his due. Unemployment rates are down. Very much so. An all time low.

Workers are needed. Iowa, New Hampshire and Florida 3 states where because of an insufficient number of employees, companies are unable to keep up with business demand. It is hampering growth. Will continue to do so until more workers are found.

To help relieve the problem, Florida companies are bringing back retirees, increasing the use of interns and apprenticeships.

Florida has a constantly aging population. Needs to refuel those employees who become to old to work, retire, etc. Florida relies on immigrants.

Problem is the devil who may be or is responsible for the low unemployment rate does recognize the need for immigrants.

Enjoy your day!

Stayed tuned Key West Lou will be back soon! Until then enjoy this post.

Originally posted August 2018

John McCain died yesterday. A true American hero. A man for the ages. A person to be emulated. He will forever be remembered.

We need more John McCain’s.

David Wolkowsky’s 99th birthday party! As expected, over the top. Champagne flowed. David and champagne go together.

A wonderful man. An American hero in his own right. His successes in Key West and Philadelphia speak for themselves.

As I raised my glass to David, I thought…..Next year! Hope you make 100 my friend!

I was invited to Donna and Terri’s for dinner. Was running early. Stopped at the Blue Macaw first for a drink. There was Terri at the bar sipping a ginger ale. Donna and Terri live across the street from Blue Macaw.

I joined Terri. Enjoyed a drink. Following which she took my right elbow and we went home.

We talked about one of Blue Macaw’s bartenders. A tiny lovely young blond lady. Montana her name.

People in Key West work hard. As most others in the U.S. do today. Montana has two jobs. Her daytime job begins at 7 in the morning. Not sure what it is. I admire how hard she works. The Macaw bar is huge. She moves around it swiftly.

Dinner delicious! What else! Donna cooked. A gourmet chef in disguise. Meat loaf! Like Mom used to make. Outstanding!

Bear coming along. Stitches come out Friday. I still hate what they had done to him. Neutered.

I am moving my ass this morning. Terri sings at 10 at Hard Rock Cafe. She and Larry Baeder entertain together 10-12. Stop over for brunch and enjoy the duo.

I early voted this week. Did not recognize any of the State wide candidates, except for Gwen Graham. Gwen is running in the Democratic primary for Governor.

One of the reasons I did not know the candidates is that the Key West Citizen rarely mentions the State races.

I received this morning via e-mail a copy of the August 23 edition of Florida Politics. There was a big pic of Gwen and a story involving her and Big Pine.

Gwen, her parents, sisters and children were in Big Pine last Sunday. Working with Brian Vest’s Conch Republic Marine Army to clean up debris yet remaining from Irma. Yes, almost a year later much cleanup and repair work yet remains.

Gwen’s team had contacted Vest to ask what they could do. He said come on down and help. The candidate and her family came. The pic showed Gwen in shorts and a t-shirt in the water with gloves on pulling debris out of the water. Sweating like a pig as the saying goes. She was working!

The title of the article was Gwen Graham Gets Hands On During Cleaning Up Day In The Keys.

I make mention for 3 reasons.

First, I support Gwen’s candidacy.

Second, I and my fellow Key residents appreciate Gwen paying attention to the Keys. We are generally the forgotten relative.

Third, the Key West Citizen made no mention of Gwen’s visit. For shame! In fact, very very little of any of the State races have been reported on thus far.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Key West Lou coming back soon! Stayed tuned!

Originally Posted August 2018

Key West’s beautiful, flamboyant, orange-red petaled Royal Poincianas are under attack. A plague. The culprit some type caterpillar.

The caterpillars just short of 2 inches long. Attack only by night. The Dracula of the vermin world. Eat the flamboyant flowers and foliage. Destroy the trees.

Major outbreaks occur every 10-15 years. This obviously is the year.

Treatments are available to protect against and/or control the caterpillars. Information is available through the County. Contact Michelle Leonard-Mularz. She is an Environmental Horticulture Agent. mularz-michelle@monroecounty-fl.gov.

There is a concern among some that the City of Key West itself may not be doing enough to help.

Yesterday another busy one. Began with lunch at Sandy’s Cafe. Followed by several errands.

A quick nap late in the afternoon.

An early evening start. Monday night so it was Dueling Bartenders at Aqua. Tom Luna and Rick Dery the best!

A decent crowd for August. Including Liz, Josefina, Mary, and Linda. Another Mary joined me. Mark Watson came hurrying through and gave a wave.

Dinner with Mary at Antonia’s bar afterwards.

Mary Lou Hoover and Charlie Waite at the bar, also. Good people. Mary Lou looked tired. She has been campaigning 9 months for election to the Key West City Commission. The battle over. Enjoying a late dinner.

We chatted a bit. As you are aware, I one hundred percent support Mary Lou. A more interested and concerned person I have never met.

Ran into an old friend I have not seen in years also at Antonia’s. Mary Ann Westerland.

Today is election day in Florida. For local races, today is the day. Not in November. If you are a Key Wester, please consider voting for Mary Lou.

Staying with the election for a moment, today is primary day for federal and state offices. I have been supporting Gwen Graham to be the candidate for Governor on the Democratic ticket. A member of Congress, she also is the daughter of Bob and Adele Graham. Bob the former Governor of Florida and a member of the U.S. Senate.

Politics is in Gwen’s blood.

Tuesday means podcast time for me. My podcast. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine in the evening. A quick moving interesting half hour. I tend to rant and rave.

Join me. Guaranteed you will not be bored. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

A late night ahead. Being a political junkie, I will be glued to the TV for election results.

Love the Key West weatherman. Always a quip following his weather prediction. Today and tonight, showers. Following the report…..Free carwash.

I close with Trump. Not the disrespect and pettiness he exhibited with John McCain’s death. I did enough of that yesterday.

My concern at the moment is the redoing of the NAFTA agreement with Mexico. Yesterday, Trump in effect claimed victory. Similar to his announcement following the meeting with North Korea’s Kim. Not really a victory. Nothing finalized. Many items still to be covered.

Whatever, Trump got on the phone in the Oval Office. Seated behind his mammoth desk. Regal appearing. He called Mexico’s President. Reporters present.

I will not go into the details. They are all over TV and the newspapers today. Trump looked bad. Though a few points were generally agreed upon, it was obvious a deal was not yet close.

Typical Trump. There must always be a victory! A victory he made possible.

Trump already made a fool of the United States and himself re the Kim situation. I compare Kim and yesterday’s telephone call to Neville Brand when he got off the airplane in September 1938. He had rushed to Munich to have a face to face meeting with Hitler in a last ditch attempt to avoid war.

Chamberlain got off the plane waving a paper. “Peace in  our time,” he shouted.

World War II began soon after.

Chamberlain bullshitted as Trump has been. Sometimes Trump bullshits himself.

Enjoy your day!

Good news! Lou will be back soon! Visit daily to see new posts!

Originally posted July 2017

I frequently write or say…..Only in Key West! Last night it was only in the Chart Room!

Great people. All interesting.

During the course of the evening, Jessica appeared. I mentioned Jessica a few days ago. The lovely 40ish woman who came into the Chart Room.

I was in the process of leaving. Jessica mentioned to the bar her husband had returned home that day. She was staying a week to have fun. The intimation sex.

Fine. Strange. Her business only. Why share.

Jessica reappeared last night. Stood at the end of the bar and said, “I’m buying for the bar. Shots.”

She then proceeded to tell us she was in a hurry. Someone was coming to her room. No intimation this time. Sex!

A meretricious relationship awaited her. The term a throwback to my lawyering days.

With that, Jessica was off.

Her total time in the Chart Room all of two minutes. Time enough to buy for the bar and announce what was next on her agenda.

An efficient use of time. Hope she was not as time efficient when she returned to her room.

The others at the bar were not revealing with regard to later evening intentions.

Met some nice people. No misunderstanding. Jessica was nice, too.

Sitting next to me was Jeff Wear. Got a boat education. Jeff is involved in boat sales in West Palm Beach. Mariner Marine. Specialize in Grady-White boats. Better described as elegant outboard powerboats.

He and wife Michelle have a 37 foot Grady-White that they frequently power to Key West for a weekend. The boat last night was at the Galleon.

Jeff once was a Keys resident. Lived 5 years in Islamorada.

Interesting. Jeff and Michelle live in Stuart and work in West Palm. A fun area. Yet they find Key West more appealing for get away weekends. The flavor of Key West difficult to find elsewhere.

Mike and Amy were seated on the other side of me. From western Massachusetts. They have visited Key West many times. The first time for their honeymoon.

At the other end of the bar were Mark and Kim from Connecticut. Their fourth visit. Mark builds computer boards.

John enjoyed himself while bartending. It was a fun evening.

I had not eaten. Stopped at Tavern ‘n Town on the way home. The Tavern’s new 9-11 happy hour terrific. Since it is late, I eat less.

The cost can’t be beat. Fried calamari, bread and two drinks. $18. I feel ashamed every time I pay the bill after a late evening there.

Spent yesterday afternoon reworking Growing Up Italian. Some day, I will finish the book.

This Trump meeting of a year ago involving Donald Jr. gets stranger by the day. Seems hard for young Donald to tell the truth.

We were informed yesterday there was a fifth person in the room. A Russian-American lobbyist who once was a member of Russia’s military and counter-intelligence.

A few minutes ago on MSNBC, I heard announced that one of Jr.’s attorneys called in and said their was a sixth person in the room. Sounds like a joke telephone call. By the end of the day, we will know if the message was genuine.

I do not mean to insult Donald Trump, Jr. by referring to him as Jr. Fewer letters to type.

A day or two ago, his father referred to him as a good kid. Probably is. He is neither Jr. nor kid, however. He is 10 days younger than the French President.

Got to hurry. A haircut appointment.

Enjoy your day!

Originally posted July 2017

Turtle hatchling time.

The eggs sit beneath the sand. They start breaking up. Tiny turtles struggle out of their shells and upwards to the air. The ocean their goal. The moon their guiding light. Instinct and the moon light their way to the ocean and new home.

Salute’s sits on Higgs Beach. Sunday night the restaurant was full. All of a sudden someone ran in and shouted the turtles are hatching. Every one left their tables and ran out to watch. One hundred five baby turtles came up out of the sand.

A fine article re the occasion in this morning’s Key West Citizen.

An interesting observation in the Citizen. The female hatchlings will return in 25 years to dig their own holes with their back flippers to bury their eggs.

Nature is wonderful! Wish hurricanes were as predictable.

My yesterday began with a brief walk in the new neighborhood. Walked before the sun was up. The humidity a killer even though dark. Worse when the heat of the sun joins it.

My manicure/pedicure appointment at 1.

Tammy still in Vietnam. With the two children. Visiting the family. Ricky left home to watch the business.

Nina has been doing my nails in Tammy’s absence. A lovely person.

Nina a stunning woman. Beautiful. A slim body. The face of an angel.

Twenty three. Arrived in Key West from Moldova only 9 months ago. Did not speak English. I thought her fluent. She thinks not. Modest.

Moldova is a small East European country. Part of the old Soviet Union. Population 3.5 million. A poor country.

Nina studied journalism for three years in college in Moldova. Did not finish. Took no English courses. She learned how to do nails in Moldova.

Loves the United States! Her new home. Has no desire to return to Moldova, except to visit family. Her sister is marrying next year and she plans to return for the event.

As to my nails, she does an excellent job! Has my wants down to a science. Short, round and buffed. She has strong hands. Resulting in great hand and foot massages.

Welcome to America, Nina! May your every dream be fulfilled.

Mel Fisher Days begin today. Run through saturday.

Today’s featured event a day time laboratory tour. The Private Conservation Laboratory. Special. The lab is generally off limits.

Hurry and make an appointment. The tours are limited to 8 persons and last 45 minutes. Each tour was sold out last year.

William Hackley mentions today the death of two persons. Died on separate days. Each buried around 5-6 on the day of death.

Why buried same day? I assume because of the heat. If another reason, let me know.

Remember government of the people, by the people, for the people? It is slipping away. Becoming more and more government of the rich and influential.

A perfect example is what has been reported in the media this morning. Involves Attorney General Jeff Sessions. A Southerner. A bigot and racist from a 100 years ago. A person who believes he and his ilk can do what they want when they want.

Sessions has had a memory problem re his visits with Russians. In order to qualify for the Attorney General position, Sessions had to file a form listing his Russian meetings.

Some believe he was less than truthful in his responses recently before a Congressional Committee. A Federal Court order was obtained requiring the Justice Department to release within 30 days the form listing Sessions’ contacts with the Russian government.

The 30 days ended yesterday. The Justice Department failed to turn over the required document.

Note Sessions as Attorney General is the head of the Justice Department.

Guaranteed Sessions is going to get his ass reamed before this matter is over. You don’t screw with a Federal Judge.

Enjoy your day!