My blog for today…..
My father died this morning. He was 98.
He had a good life. He was a good father, husband and person. A family man.
I feel empty.
MY FATHER IS GONE
BIONIC DENTISTRY / REAGAN AND THE MILITARY
Sunrise this morning was a fiery orange ball breaking through a bank of dark gray clouds. Pretty.
Busy day yesterday. Began with the dentist. One of my implants was screwed up. Actually, not screwed any longer. Something fell out. A tiny gasket. Took all of ten minutes to correct. These implants are amazing. I feel like the bionic man. Bionic as far as my teeth are concerned.
After the dentist, I went over to Publix. Robert was sick and had a fever. Lisa wanted popsicles for him.
I spent the rest of the day working on You Tube. The technical aspects. Like where to do the show from. It will be my home. But where specifically? I decided to move around. Inside and out, depending on the day.
I was hopeful You Tube would be locked in by the end of this week. It will not. I now suspect it will take till the end of next week.
Lisa telephoned in the middle of the afternoon. She needed me to babysit a while. She had to pick up Ally from school. It was easy. Robert was sound asleep on the couch. He looked sick.
I spoke with Corey this morning. Robert is still aching. Still sick. But on the mend. He ate last night which was good. He was still asleep. Unusual for Robert. He is generally awake by six. It is now 8:30.
My plan was to start with the Chart Room last night. I never made it. I opted instead to stay in. I read. I am still reading Rachel Maddow’s book Drift. I dislike her writing style. Her paragraphs are loaded with details and her opinions. Too much of both. Makes for difficult reading.
The story itself is interesting, if you can hang in there. Has to do with the use of military power by Presidents. Assuming her research of the Reagan years is correct, Reagan mislead everyone as to Grenada and the strength of Communist Russia. I find it amazing that she has come up with facts to support her premise. I consider Reagan to have been one of our great Presidents. Even if what she says about Reagan is true, his results overshadow the means used to achieve them. I recall President Johnson saying once that Presidents have to be devious. He gave us Vietnam.
Enjoy your day!
FROM A SIX YEAR OLD TO DAVID IGNATIUS
Yesterday was a pleasant uneventful Sunday.
The day started with Sloan in the morning. We worked long and hard on You Tube. I had thought we would be ready to go live by the end of the week. Now it looks like some time next week. There is a lot more to it than I had thought. Lighting, where I sit, introduction, etc. I was under the impression I would download or whatever You Tube and speak. It is that simple. But not if you want the product to have a quality to it.
Walked. The Casa Marina area. Parked my car and started with a walk through the Casa Marina grounds. The Casa Marina is one of Key West’s finest hotels. Then around the neighborhood. I ended up at Salute’s, a beach side restaurant near the Casa. Sat outside at a little round table and watched the ladies in their swim wear. A pleasurable activity for a senior citizen!
Sunday dinner once again at Lisa’s. Ally is six years old. In the first grade. She was doing homework. She had to write a sentence using the word “grip.” She did not know what the word meant. She did not ask anyone. She walked over and picked up this big blue book. I asked what the book was and what she was doing. She said I have to write a sentence using the word grip and I do not know what it means. The book was a dictionary.
Some TV commentary.
I love Mad Men. It is a 1960s story. I started practicing law during that decade. The show has been a hit for several years. Last night I got the feeling it might have run its course. The show is becoming unreal.
I watch at least the first hour of Morning Joe every morning. A guest this morning was The Washington Post’s David Ignatius. He was being interviewed about a column he recently wrote. It had to do with where the United states would be/could be by 2020. Only eight years away.
A couple of his opinions I found interesting and informative.
Ignatius says that our national gas production will be so significant by 2020 that the United States will be exporting natural gas to the same extent that Saudi Arabia is oil now.
Another was that international companies are beginning to change their minds about opening plants in China. Labor in China is 60 per cent of what it would cost in the United States. There has been a slowly increasing cost to Chinese labor.
So why the United States over China for a new plant? Productivity. United States workers turn out more and better. The difference in labor costs is overcome by the productivity factor.
Both of these opinions is dependent on a separate and distinct factor. Washington must get its act together. It will only happen if the politicians work together.
My day is starting rapidly. Lisa telephoned that Robert is upchucking. Buy popsicles. Yesterday one of my implants broke and the teeth don’t stay in. I just called the dentist. I have to be in his office at nine.
Enjoy your day!
A MISSED BIRTHDAY PARTY
I screwed up.
I hurried over to the Chart Room at 4:30. It was Sean Kinney’s birthday. His wife to be Katherine had planned a party for him. I had been invited.
As I walked into the Chart Room, I saw Sean and three other people. Did not make sense. Sean is a very popular Key West figure. I shook Sean’s hand and wished him a happy birthday. I asked…..Where are all the people. What people, he asked in return. For your birthday party, I said. That was last week, he responded.
Oh, well!
I stayed anyhow. Chatted with Sean and JJ. The bar got crowded. The most people I have ever seen at the Chart Room. All there for the Kentucky derby. I stayed around and watched. Even got into a pool.
I forget who won. But it was a terrific race. A long shot horse and a first time jockey came on strong at the end to beat the favorite. An American success story!
Sean told me Ryno is back in Key West. He left for the north country several months ago. Ended up in Syracuse. Disc jockeyed a radio show for three months. Now has returned to us. Ryno is very much loved. Sean said he was disc jockeying four hours a day at one of the Key West radio stations.
Welcome back, Ryno!
This is Songwriters Festival time in Key West. Musicians from all over come to participate.
Duval to Caroline was closed off for the festival. Streets and bars had bands/groups playing. I went from the Chart room to the festival.
Enjoyed a Mexican band on the street. Stopped into Smokin’ Tuna. First time. It has been open about a year. On a small one block side street. Kurt had told me he would be hanging out there.
Smokin’ Tuna was jam packed. Bodies pressed together. Good luck finding Kurt. I wiggled my way in. Listened to the music a while. Don’t know who was playing. It was country music and sounded good to me.
Rumor has it Kenny Rogers was in town Wednesday night for the start of Songwriters Festival. I was told he showed up at the Pier House’s Wine Galley and visited with Larry Smith.
I was hungry. It was past dinner time. I headed over to Hot Tin Roof.
Another filled up place! I found a seat at the bar, however.
Angie was bartending. I like her. Pleasant. Soft spoken.
I enjoyed scallops piccata. Four huge scallops over a bed of wide pasta and cooked to absolute softness greens. The food at Hot Tin Roof is spectacular!
Joseph was there. He manages the Hot Tin Roof. John Lukas was the previous manager. John developed the restaurant over a 3-4 year period. When he left, Joseph who had been a waiter was given the responsibility of managing. Joseph has taken the Hot Tin Roof to another level.
I was home in bed around 10. Not a bad evening.
Enjoy your Sunday!
A GOOD FRIDAY!
What a glorious Key West morning!
A God in His Heaven, all is right in the world, morning.
Sun bright. A sprinkling of white clouds. No breeze. Palm trees and water still.
Terrific show yesterday morning. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Based on post show comments, the Chen Guancheng story proved to have generated the most interest. He is the Chinese activist in the news. My comments during the show were critical rather than supportive. Whatever, the comments got people talking about the topic.
After the show, I went to the Plantation Coffee House. Ordered a plain bagel toasted with cream cheese and a cup of coffee. Sat down and read the papers. The bagel was a further testing of my new chewing prowess.
A couple own Plantation. The husband is Theos. I do not know his wife’s name. I am ashamed. She knows mine. She reads my column in KONK Life religiously and comments on it when I come in.
I spent the afternoon at home writing. One of the things I wrote was next week’s column for KONK Life. It has to do with jailed prisoners receiving better health care than you and me.
Kurt telephoned at dinner time. Let’s have dinner! We met at Michael’s a half hour later.
We ate at the bar. Kurt introduced me to the bartender. It had been a while since I was in Michael’s. His name is Tim. A nice guy.
Suzette was waitressing. She came over to talk to us. She knows Kurt well. Suzette and I have met but are simply on a hello basis. The last time I saw Suzette was 4 years ago. The night of the Fantasy Fest parade. We were at a party upstairs in the old theatre building on Duval. It has a huge balcony. A perfect place from which to watch the parade.
Suzette had a husband at the time. I had a wife. Neither of us has a spouse now. Her husband Emmett was a good guy. He used to bartend at Michael’s. We occasionally played golf together and had a drink at Don’s Place.
Suzette is extremely lovely. A knock out. A charming personality besides. The three of us had interesting chatter together.
I was still testing my chewability. I ordered the veal chop. It is the house specialty. To die for.
The veal chop consists of a large veal cut. It is served on the bone. The chop is stuffed with a bit of crab meat. Not much. The outside of the chop is covered in a light film of bread crumbs held on by a touch of oil.
Everything went well! I chewed with no problem at all. Enjoyed the taste even more. It was a pleasure to be dining on real food again and experiencing individual food flavors.
I stopped at Don’s Place afterwards with Kurt. Kurt was scheduled to work last night. From 9 to 6 this morning. We had a drink at the outside bar.
Nine o’clock arrived. Kurt went to work. I went home.
I was in bed by 9:30 and slept like a baby all night.
Enjoy your day!
A TWO DAY BLOG
No blog yesterday. Sorry.
As you are aware, I am developing a new website, putting together a You Tube show, etc. Big time work. Detailed. Confusion occurs. Yesterday morning when I went to do this blog…..nothing. It was not me. It was Google and Granddaddy. Problem lasted till almost 5. It was too late for the blog by then.
Some of you are having problems in finding me. Others not. Hang in there. We are getting there. Hopefully in another week everything will be in order and no more mishaps.
One comment is consistent. Everyone likes the new website page. Those that can find it.
You Tube under construction. It should be up and running by the end of next week also.
Later this morning my Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time. Worldwide. Join me. Always interesting and informative. www.konkbroadcasting.com.
Topics will include the Chinese activist looking for a place to go, Muslims burning churches in Ethiopia, the Roger Clemens trial, Oklahoma running out of execution drug, Kentucky courts budget slashed/courts to close down, manhole covers being stolen in NYC, college student unknowingly kept in jail 5 days without food or water, and more.
Wednesday night I decided to celebrate and try out my new implants. It was a prime rib dinner at Outback. I chewed and chewed and chewed. I am happy to report everything went well. One and a half years later, I am normal again. I can eat like every one else.
Bocce last night. We only won 1 of 3 games. All games close. But we did not have enough to get over the finish line in two of them. Plus, it was a money game. We are not doing well in the money game category this season.
With Albertsons closed, Publix is going crazy in an attempt to garner Albertsons business. Store hours start one hour earlier and close one hour later. A new quick check out counter has been opened. And the huge Publix electrified sign outside which has not worked in years is under repair.
Finally for the funny of funnies. I have been so busy all week with the website change over and preparing for You Tube, I never prepared today’s Internet show. I forgot. Remembered when I got home after bocce last night. I was up till 2 this morning doing it.
Enjoy your day!
I HAVE TEETH!
I have teeth! Implant procedures completed! I am thrilled!
Took one year and four months. A long time. Sometimes uncomfortable/painful. Worth it however now that everything is done. The implants are like my own teeth. And they work!
My first stop to test them was Blossoms. Cuban toast with cheese and tomato and Cuban coffee. Toast crispy. Teeth worked. I wanted to shout out I was so excited.
Last night I intended to get a steak. Changed my mind along the way. Had crispy fried chicken instead. I have not been able to chew chicken. Last night I did! Another wow! experience.
The weather continues to be strange. Rainy. Looks like it will rain again today. Weather reports confirm my thought that a front has been sitting over Key West. It will remain till thursday.
I showered, shaved, dressed and headed out for a night on the town.
The first stop was the Chart Room. JJ bartending.
Met Leslie. A lovely young lady. Early 30s. New to Key West. She has been here this trip about two weeks. She does not intend to leave. Has made Key West her new home.
Leslie is originally from Nashville. A legal secretary. She is looking for legal work here. Has an interview today. I wish her luck.
Her trip to Key West was not uneventful. Passing through Tampa, she broke her leg. She was sitting at the bar with a cast on.
Things seem to be working out for Leslie. In two weeks time, she has found a place to live and a boy friend.
Welcome to Key West, Leslie!
Mike and Tina came in. I have not seen them in about a year.
They are from the Hartford, Connecticut area. Also own a home here in Key West. Small conch type over across from the cemetery. The neighborhood is quiet.
Mike’s work takes him all over the world. Spends a lot of time in Japan. Tina recently left her job in Hartford. She is going to be a Key West lady of leisure for a while. I like these two. We chatted and joked for well over an hour.
During the Leslie, Mike and Tina conversations, I was munching on popcorn. Something I have not been able to do in a long time. It was like filet mignon to me.
The next stop on the agenda was Don’s Place. A good crowd, including Don. Don and I chatted about bocce. What else!
I still have the mouse/mice problem in the wine closet. They are smart creatures. Adam has two large traps sitting in there. With cheese. Two days in a row, the critters have removed the cheese and apparently eaten it. Neither trap sprung either time.
I have nine o’clock dentist visit. Just to see if I am happy. I am.
Enjoy your day!
THE AFRICAN QUEEN VISITED
Unusual weather.
I wrote yesterday morning that the rain and wind were big time. Two hours later, the clouds were drifting away and the sun was shining brightly. Two hours after that, the monsoons hit!
It poured extremely heavy yesterday afternoon. Key West and south Florida were under a 24 hour flood alert.
This morning, I do not know. Sun not yet completely up. Gray clouds. Minimum breeze.
I was at Montessori when the stoprm hit. Robert and Ally were in a fashion show. The one requirement was that their attire had to be made entirely from recycled items.
The show got moved inside because of the weather. Children and adults were gathered into a 200 x 10 foot hallway. Walls completely lined with spectators. No air conditioning. Sweat glands got a work out.
The kids walked the 200 foot length of the hallway and back. To the roaring cheers of everyone.
Ally is an actress. I suspect actually a model. She went down with one hand on her hip and a smile on her face. Walked tall and proud. Robert was a knight and conducted himself as such as he transversed the runway.
Remember the movie African Queen? 1951. Starred Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Bogart received an Academy award for his performance. The African Queen is the name of the boat in the film.
The African Queen was recently reacquired and rehabilitated. Its home port is Key Largo. The vessel is being utilized for dinner and regular cruises in the upper Keys.
Recently, the African Queen did a public relations trip through the Keys all the way down to Key West. It visited Key West Harbor.
The boat is nothing dramatic. It is one of those put put things. However, it has historical and memorabilia value. I wish I had seen it. I recall seeing the movie back when. I was in high school.
I hope the band plays and the drums roar this morning. I have a dentist visit. Supposedly the one where the implants will be finalized. If so, I will be able to chew!
I announce again that I will be on You Tube starting some time next week. Key West Lou. It will be a commentary type show. One item a day, seven days a week. 2-3 minutes of informative material shared with you. The show will be available 24 hours a day.
I am excited.
Enjoy your day!
Key West Lou You Tube Show Soon
The weather!
Strange!
Yesterday started out lovely. Then the weather turned. Rain. Rain all night. Rain this morning.
It has been 4-5 days of rain.
The rain this morning is wind driven. It is moving horizontal rather than vertical. Sharp and biting.
There are waves in the ocean. Larger than normal. White caps besides. Moving rapidly.
Son in law Corey tells me that the front that came up from the south a few days ago is sitting over Key West. It is a black cloud that does not move.That is why the weather is as it is.
In spite of all this, the temperature will reach 80 today.
Sloan and I spent a lot of time yesterday morning working on the optimization of this blog. All the work! Amazing!
A major change is forthcoming. It excites me. Thrills me no end.
Sometime next week I shall have my own You Tube show!
Many of you are unable to view my Friday internet show at KONK because of work. The new You Tube show will be broadcast daily. Seven days a week. It will generally only be 2-5 minutes. Where my KONK show has about 15 topics in one hour, You Tube will have but one. A hard hitting fast moving topic.
The nice thing about You Tube is that it will be available for viewing 24 hours a day.
I shall continue doing my Friday one hour KONK show in addition.
Dinner last night with Lisa and the family. It was Sunday. Mashed potatoes and gravy for me. I am getting sick of my diet. Man was made to chew and taste individual foods. Not lump them all together as I am with one foreign flavor. Tomorrow is dentist time. I believe, I hope, I will be chewing afterwards. I am dying for a steak!
This afternoon a fashion show. Robert and Ally are in one at Montessori. It has to do with recycling. The kids have to make their costumes. Even accessories. All from recylced materials.
Robert is going to be a knight. He did it all. Shield included. Ally is a princess. Ever so. Made her own skirt and jewelry. Both can recite every part of their costumes as to the origin of each part.
Robert and Ally are excited excited. Isn’t redundancy terrific!
There is one problem. The fashion show is outside. Who knows what the weather will be at 1:30.
I told you of my mouse/mice problem. I don’t know if Adam was successful in catching them. However, I have heard no noise for 48 hours.
I read this morning that 84 percent of the households in the United States have experienced pest problems in the past 12 months. Those in the pest control business have experienced a sharp incline in business.
It comforts me to know I have company with this rodent problem. It is not one which people brag about. Ergo, who knew the extent of the problem.
Enjoy your day!
There are certain givens in any community. In Key West, chickens and cats.
There are certain givens in any community. In Key West, chickens and cats. Chickens running up and down the streets. There are also an unusually large number of cats. The reason is the rodent problem.
Any island is encumbered with rats/mice/rodents. Whatever you wish to call them. Key West is no exception. You hardly ever see them. However, they are there.
Common wisdom tells us that if there is a living cat in the house, the rodents stay away. I do not have a cat.
Friday night I was sitting at the kitchen counter working on the computer. I began hearing a whinny scratchy noise. It got louder. It was coming from a closet in the kitchen. Sounded like mice.
Understand that I am a coward. No way would I open the closet door to check. Instead, I called Adam. Adam takes care of my property. Mice removal falls within his job definition.
Adam came by yeaterday morning to check. No mice or rodents of any nature visible. A couple of new holes heading to the crawl space under the house, however. The mice probably came and went.
I told Adam of the shrill noise I had heard. It was like scratching on metal.
My only use for the small closet is to store wine. There is a metal wine rack. There were roughly a dozen bottles sitting in the rack.
Adam told me my nocturnal visitors had tried to get into the wine. Every bottle had the paper covering torn away. Every bottle had the cork chewed in some fashion.
The dirty things were trying to get at my wine collection!
Adam left traps in case the vermin return.
I babysat yesterday morning. Early. At least for me. 8:30. I had told Robert and Ally we were going to breakfast. I left the place up to them. They have been everywhere. They decided upon Harpoon Harry’s. We had a great breakfast. No child portions at Harpoon Harry’s. Robert ate 3 stacks of pan cakes. Ally eggs, bacon, potatoes and whole wheat toast. They order for themselves. I drank coffee. Still not chewing.
We had a good time! Talked the whole time.
Afterwards, we walked the waterfront. They like to look at the boats. They have been there many times with their Dad. Robert pointed to a boat in the distance and told me it was a glass bottom boat. So people could see under the water. We walked over and examined the boat. Robert was correct. It was a glass bottom one.
Last night was Geiger Key. I have not been to Geiger Key in ten years. I stopped going because the customers all seemed to live on Geiger Key. They were snooty and clickish. I was an outsider who never was given the opportunity to become one of the gang. Geiger Key is the only place in the keys where I have found this attitude.
I gave it a shot last night. Several people recently have told me how great it is. Friendly, also.
Bobby Mangella (I probably spelled his last name wrong) bought Geiger Key last year. Bobby also owns Hogfish, one of my favorite spots. Bobby did some remodeling and changed the menu to coincide with Hogfish.
It was different! People were nice. Everyone talked with each other. A couple of my fishermen friends from Hogfish were there. I had a good time. The food, a given. Good.
It is raining this morning. A slow steady drizzle.
The weather has gone back to being fantastic. Low 80s by day. 70s by night. No humidity day or night. No need for air conditioning. Sleep with the windows open. The only thing that might interrupt my sleep is the sound of the water.
Enjoy your Sunday!