Happy Easter!

I enjoy holidays. I think it is because when I was young we were less than affluent. As were most at the time. However, on holidays that seemed to change. The food was out of sight. Each child in the family received some small gift.

The Easter gift was a colored Easter egg. Not done as today. My grandmother would boil onions till they were reduced to a brown liquid. She would then place the eggs in the liquid. Voila! Brown Easter eggs.

We egg colored yesterday at Lisa’s. It was supposed to be Robert, Ally and me. However, every one has the child in them. Before we were done, Lisa and Corey had joined the adventure.

I always fear when egg coloring that a cup of coloring is going to spill. Robert and Ally were moving swiftly across the table. Their arms. To mix colors, to change eggs. Disaster in the offing. It never happened.

I was blessed with two women last night. Golden Girl Jean Thornton and Island Shoe Girl Stephanie Kaple. We had drinks at the Chart Room. Then to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner.

A big night for Key West! Tourists all over the place. The Hot Tin Roof was unusually crowded. We were lucky to grab three seats at the bar. At some point, Frankie joined us.

The company and food were good. We were there quite a while.

After dinner, I headed home. The ladies hopped on their bikes and went to Vino’s. I seem to be the only Key Wester who goes home after dinner. For most, it is the start of the evening.

The Easter bunny visits Robert and Ally. He leaves colored eggs and gifts hidden in the bushes in their back yard. The big gift from the Easter bunny this year were skate boards. I do not approve! But then, I am only the grandfather.

Easter dinner later today with Lisa and the family!

Enjoy your day!

A brilliant gorgeous Key West day in the making. Bright sun. Cool breeze. Blue sky. No humidity.

God is in His Heaven! All is right with the world!

Another interesting Internet show yesterday morning. I spent some time discussing the Supreme Court. An analysis of the court overall and a look at the political thinking of some Justices which is plaguing the Court today.

Turns out the Supreme Court was the topic which drew the most post show comment. Most considered it an eye opener.

After the show, I chatted with Jenna for a while. She was at the radio station. Dressed to kill! Beautiful! You always look good, I said. But why so special today? Jenna is the star at the new local TV station in Key West. She was attired to tape a show later in the day.

We made a date to attend Larry Smith’s show at St. Paul’s Church a week from tomorrow. It will be at 4 on a Sunday afternoon.

I stopped at the Plantation Coffee House. I did not have time for breakfast before the show. Read the newspapers, drank coffee and enjoyed a large toasted bagel with cream cheese.The cream cheese is lumped on the plate, not the bagel, and resembles a huge scoop of ice cream.

Spent the afternoon at home. Wrote next week’s KONK Life column. Had to get it out. The deadline was 5 yesterday afternoon.

The subject matter was a bit scary. I titled it 1712 Slave Revolt In New York City. The revolt in and of itself was not the thrust of the column. It was the punishment which twenty Africans suffered afterwards. They were burned at the stake!

Burning has been a favored method of punishment from the earliest days to the present. The world should know it is still with us. An example being 400 women who were burned in an Iraqi city in one year as recently as 2006.

Last night was Passover. Happy Holiday to all my friends of the Jewish faith!

For the past several years, Christian Louis has celebrated Passover with Donna and her family. I have been honored to be invited to the Passover dinner. I do it all when I attend. From the skull cap to the readings to singing to sipping the wine to eating the special foods.

I was invited again this year. Never made it. As I was getting ready to leave, I fell down the stairs. The center stair case in my Key West home. Only two steps. But enough to bang my head on the tile floor and some how hurt my leg.

I spent the evening in bed with an ice pack on my head.

Tomorrow is Easter. Terrific. Love family holidays. There will be an egg hunt for Robert and Ally in the morning. Easter dinner with Lisa and family. Sitting around gabbing. Watching the final round of the Masters on TV.

What could be better!

I am not ready for Easter, however. I still have to buy Robert and Ally Easter baskets. It will be done today. I might even get Lisa one. A daughter is a little girl to her father forever.

Jean Thornton, where are you? You are back in town. So I am told. Since Thursday.

Enjoy your day!

I met only nice people yesterday.

I was trying to get my passport done.

My first stop was the Federal Building. I assumed that was the place to go. It was not. However the deputy at security was very helpful in directing me to the correct place.

It was the Community College on Stock Island. Drove over. Huge parking lot. Huge buildings. Where to go? I lucked out. The first door I entered was the place. How’s that for good fortune!

An extremely knowledgeable and pleasant woman in charge. Within minutes, I had a short form application in hand with specific instructions jotted down by her on a piece of paper. Complete the paper work and mail everything yourself to Philadelphia. She even gave me a black pen to take away. The application required black ink only.

The application was a piece of cake. When finished, I took it to the Post Office. The one in the Winn Dixie Plaza. The helpful woman at the college advised me to send it priority mail traceable. The post mistress behind the counter was a charmer. She smiled constantly. Helped me with the special envelope, etc.

Three public servants in one day. All pleasant. All helpful. Not a grouch among them.

The rest of my day was busy. Too busy.

I fine tuned today’s Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time. World wide. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

Some interesting topics. Like today’s Supreme Court, the Connecticut death penalty, a slave revolt in New York City, a tax on beards, Brigham Young and his 27th wife, the birth of Hostess Twinkies, and more.

Spend an hour listening to me challenging the world!

Bocce last night. Terrible! Me and the whole team! No one any good. We were killed, decimated and destroyed! It was a money game. We lost to a very good Larry Smith team. It was bad!

The only good thing was that I got to meet Jessica. Jessica is new to Larry’s team. I think she is Shane’s girl friend. Young and pretty. Of Italian heritage.

I found her employment fascinating. She is a civil servant. Works for the State of Florida. She assists in breeding/growing/raising coral. Coral is dying. The reefs and fish are not becoming endangered, they are endangered. The ocean is important to Florida in many respects. The coral Jessica is developing will eventually be taken out into the ocean to be replanted at and repair the reefs.

Good going, Jessica!

Everyone enjoy their day!

And the band played on!

It was that kind of night.

A storm came through.

Rained non stop. Could hear it beating against the house. The wind was as drums playing. All octaves.The lightning. Nothing like it when you live on the ocean. Big and bright. Fills the bedroom. Through closed shutters.

The weather report this morning says there is in effect a severe weather warning alert. I already knew it.

Winds at 35 miles per hour. Wind gusts on top of that number. Minor flooding and pooling of water in streets. There is at least six inches of water sitting in the street in front of my house.

The weather report also indicates minor wind damage. It had to have been a hell of a wind. I went out on the deck before I started the blog. I have a potted plant. The pot itself is about two feet high. Filled with dirt. It would take two men to move. It is laying on its side five feet from its original position.

That is wind!

The weather report indicates rain off and on this morning. Then clearing. This afternoon will have a record high of 85 degrees. It always amazes me how the weather in the keys changes so swiftly.

Some one commented to yesterday’s blog that the pink sky was perhaps the result of dust from the Dallas tornadoes. Key West’s pink sunrise was roughly 24 hours later. The commentator could be correct. I checked wind direction, etc. The wind over Texas was coming down on the keys in a direct line.

I am contemplating an Italy/Greece trip. Need a new passport. The present one is thirteen years old. Started the process yesterday. Passport photos. Walgreen’s does them. The man took my picture. Told me to come back in a half hour to pick them up.

I decided to have lunch while waiting. Went across the street to Goldman’s Deli. In the middle of my lunch, I heard….. Poppa! A second later, Robert and Ally were all over me. Lisa had brought them for lunch. It was an accident that we ran into each other. A good one.

Got the photos. I look like a gangster. An old one.

This morning I have an early dentist visit. Right after I shall hustle down to the Federal Building to make application for the new passport.

Dinner last night at the Yacht Club with Cheryl and Roger. Lovely people from the Chicago area. Dear friends. We had fun.

Afterwards, the three of us headed over to Don’s Place. Don was still there. He beat me up on bocce. Was I ready for tonight’s games against Larry Smith’s team? I will let you know if I was tomorrow morning.

Enjoy the day!

Pink sky this morning.

Unusual. Never saw one before. Perhaps never noticed.

Why pink? I researched the issue.

The answer interesting. There had to be an increase in patches of pollution, dust or water in the atmosphere. Such creates red particles in the atmosphere. As the particles move through the atmosphere, the blue sky combines and creates the pink color.

Do I now qualify as a meteorologist?

Yesterday was a nice day. Today will be a nice day. Every day is a nice day. This is Key West!

I drove around yesterday with the top down. Wore a hat this time, however.

My first stop of the day was Dr. Lefferts. I was scheduled for the completion of my annual physical. The first time the good doctor has ever told me I was in good shape. It scares me!

I ran into Norma. Have not seen Norma in ages. Nor her husband. She and husband Chuck live in Truman Annex. They have had a home in Key West longer than me. They are originally from some where in the midwest. Owned a chain of Dairy Queens.

Key West has a Dairy Queen. On United, just below White. A very popular ice cream stand. Always a line. The ice cream is absolutely delicious! We often take Robert and Ally there. I occasionally will stop alone for a small cone of soft chocolate. When the top is down on the car, I have to lick fast. Or my clothes will be covered in melted chocolate!

Walked the waterfront. I mix my walking venues. Gives me a change of view. The boats and waterfront bistros make for interesting viewing. Any time after seven, the bars are already doing a bustling business. I sometimes think if the bars were permitted to open even earlier, there would be a crowd.

Spent most of the afternoon till about eight in the evening writing. Under the shade of the tiki hut. With the time change, I can work later outside. I prefer working outide. I enjoy the boats going by, the breeze and the salty taste of the water.

Enjoy your day!

Chickens abound in Key West.

I was walking down Applerouth Lane the other day. Applerouth is is a narrow one way side street.

All of a sudden and with a huge clatter, a bunch of chickens came running down the street. Four roosters and two hens. The hens were a couple of feet in front of the roosters and seemed to be running for their lives.

It was sex time. The roosters were horny and were chasing the hens. The hens wanted nothing to do with them. Typical females.

I suspect the hens lost the race. The roosters were bigger and faster. Just like men.

Chickens have a gestation period of 20-22 days. In about three weeks, there will be a number of chickies running around Applerouth Lane.

Did the gym yesterday. With Courtney Aman.The best of the best when it comes to trainers.

Afterwards, I was off to Sears. I have been looking for sneaks. Need a new pair. I am a wide. Could find wide no where. Some one suggested Sears. Sears did have wide.

Diane works the shoe department at Sears. Never mer her before. Quite attractive. We chatted a bit. She has only lived in Key West six months. Came here from northern California. Originally from Long Island.

A good personality. She was born with Key West blood. She will fit right in.

Dinner with Stephanie Kaple last night! I was her guest.

We ate at Outback. I had a real good time. I assume Stephanie did also.

She is young and full of energy. She wants to change the world for the better. Her present employment is with the homeless. Says it all. In fact, she has a Masters degree in such social work.

I suspect we will be dining together again in the future.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Stephanie is also known as the Island Shoe Girl. She is always in heels. Generally six inch ones. Last night’s were such. Woody would best describe them. Lovely.

I wondered last night as I watched her walk away after dinner how she could maneuver on such high heels. Whatever, she did. Gracefully. With no problem.

Got home early to watch the game of games. Kentucky/Kansas. Hopped in bed just as the game started.

I fell asleep almost immediately. The game was 11-7 at the time. When I woke, it was half time. Oh shit was my muted comment.

I made myself comfortable to watch the second half. Never saw it. I feel asleep again. I found out this morning Kentucky won 67-59. I have no comments or observations concerning the game. I never saw it!

I have my annual physical at 10 this morning. Last week involved the preliminaries. This morning the pushing and prodding.

Enjoy your day!

A quiet Sunday.

Watched the talk shows from the comfort of my bed in the morning. Layed around the pool in the afternoon. Dinner with Lisa and the family in the evening.

The dinner was special. It was Cameron’s birthday. Seventeen years old. One year away from college.

We did Happy Birthday! Enjoyed a chocolate marble cake with thick chocolate frosting. Lisa was the maker of the cake.

Robert and Ally were all excited. They each had made Cameron a present. They each presented their gift to Cameron with pride. Robert and Ally also enjoyed singing Happy Birthday and helping to blow out the candles.

Taylor and Hannah are visiting the Malcom household this week. Taylor is Corey’s cousin. Hannah her girl friend. Both are 17. From Indiana. Nice people. Corey took them to Fort Zachery Taylor beach yesterday. One of them had never seen the ocean.

Then home to bed for me. Mad Men back on TV. Watched it at 10. Love the show! It is set in New York City in the mid 1960s. Involves the advertising world. The people, clothes, hair styles (male and female), speech, attitudes, etc. remind me of back then. The time frame is similar to my first ten years practicing law.

Donna had left a note on my computer last night before going to bed. The girls had been out to the Gardens. Terri sang. They ran into Dick Naselli from Syracuse. They chatted. My name came up. He knew me. Told Donna and Terri how I had saved him millions in a lawsuit back when. They told me he said I “…saved his ass” and spelled out the dollar amount involved to them.

I ran into Dick a few years ago in Key West. He reminded me of the case also and the bucks involved. He was very grateful. I hope I run into him during his present trip to Key West.

Key West’s local newspaper the Citizen had a couple of interesting features yesterday.

The second page left hand column of the Citizen has a reader comment column. Short pointed blurbs called in. The first yesterday regarded the Key West Commission having voted to have the Gay Pride Parade joined with the Veterans’ Day Parade to save money. I thought how stupid. As accepting as Key Westers are, this is carrying it a little too far. Lisa agreed with me.

Then I saw the date on the newspaper. April 1. April Fools’ Day. The Citizen got me!

There was an article in the legitimate news portion concerning paddle boarding. Paddle boarding is a relatively new water sport. Involves a surf board type raft and a light row boat type paddle. Generally the participant stands on the board and paddles about.

There are many paddle boards in Key West. The sport has gone crazy in the past two years. I see at least a dozen a day on the water in front of my home.

The reason for the news article was that there are new safety rules/laws affecting the use of paddle boards. A life jacket and whistle must be attached to the paddle board. Understandable.

Saturday night while watching the Final Four at Don’s Place, I spoke to one of the customers. A person I knew. He was limping. What happened? Fell. Ankle. Broke or sprained? I don’t know. Did you take an x ray? No. The last time I went to the hospital it cost me $22,000. I had no insurance and am still dealing with it.

His final comment on the problem I found profound. He calmly looked at me and said, “…I don’t know why people are against Obamacare.”

Tonight big! Dinner with Island Shoe Girl Stephanie Kaple. I am her guest. Nice.

Then home to bed to watch the college basketball game of the year! Kentucky/Kansas. Alone, of course. Always alone.

Enjoy your day!

It was a new world!

I picked up my new prescription glasses yesterday. Everything bigger. Clearer. Print easier to read.

I waited too long to have my eyes rechecked. Seven years at least.

Spent sometime yesterday with Lisa and the grandkids.

Tom and Tino are two friends. Golfing and bocce buddies, also. They have met Robert and Ally on occasion. The last time two weeks ago when Robert and Ally were on the putting green at the golf course. They are loyal readers of this blog. They read last week that Robert and Ally were hitting golf  balls in the backyard and that I anticiated a broken window.

Tom and Tino bought the grandkids a dozen plastic golf balls. Nice guys! I gave them to Robert and Ally yesterday afternoon. They were thrilled. Wanted to know what clubs to use. I told them their pitching wedges and 5 irons. Worry not. They do not hit their 5 irons 150 yards. More like 15, if they make good contact.

I needed some groceries. Not much. Decided to shop at Albertson’s instead of Publix. Albertson’s carries an ice cream brand that I enjoy and which Publix does not.

Albertson’s has a reputation for being cheaper than Publix. I did not find it so. Maybe a few items. Overall, I found it more expensive.

Let me make the following observation. Whether Albertson’s or Publix, the price of groceries is creeping up like gasoline. We are being had!

Basketball last night! Final Four time! I had planned to watch the second game with David. The Ohio State/Kansas game. We watched at Don’s Place.

Kansas won by two points. A surprise! Ohio state was favored.  Ohio State played a terrific first half. The second half belonged to Kansas, however. Kansas made Ohio State look inept in the second half.

I felt bad for David. He felt as I did last week when Syracuse lost.

Saw the first game also. The Kentucky/Louisville game. I was pulling for Louisville. I know Rick Pitino. Kentucky played great. As expected. Louisville played the best they could. And well. But were just a tat not as good as Kentucky last night.

Monday night is going to be big time! The final game. Kentucky and Kanas. If I were a betting man, my money would be on Kentucky.

A lot of friends at Don’s Place last night. Kurt bartending. Don floating around. Herschel, Erika, Boomer, John, Angus, etc. sitting around partying. Every night is party night in Key West.

Terri and Donna showed up. Their visit made the evening perfect!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Twitter got screwed up yesterday. I was hacked. Lisa telephoned me at 9 in the morning to tell me. Twitter had warned everyone. The hacked message that had gone out to all my Twitter viewers was to the effect I had a method for them to make money.

The first thing I did when I heard from Lisa was to write everyone not to open any direct mail from me. Thn I got Sloan on the problem. She had it all corrected in a short time. Everything ok now. Feel safe in using my Twitter account.

The problem did not occur with any of my other web sites.

It is good to be healthy and up and running normally every where again!

These weirdos who engage in this hacking sickness should have their testicles chopped off. If a woman, I know not an appropriate punishment.

My Internet show in the morning a success. How could it not be. I had Terri White as a guest.

The dialogue between us was light and informative. Covered the gambit of her recent Broadway successes in Finian’s Rainbow, Chicago and Follies, her family background, early musical experiences, and her same sex marriage with Donna Barnett.

Love Terri! Glad she was able to join me!

A couple of hours after the show, I took a walk. Outside this time. Smathers Beach from the airport to 1800 Atlantic and back. I was exhausted afterwards. It was home to bed and a nap.

I was in the mood to be alone last night. So I went to Hogfish. Grabbed a seat at the bar. Figured I would know no one and could quietly read the papers while eating. I was wrong. It is impossible to go to Hogfish and talk to no one. I ended up chatting with the local fisherman at the bar.

Received a call before I went out last night. My new glasses are ready. The prescription ones. Not the cheapie readers. I will be picking them up later this morning. They have transitional lenses. Needed here in Key West. First time I will ever have had them.

Tonight is the beginning of the Final Four. I am sad Syracuse did not make. Such is life!

I promised David I would watch the Ohio State game with him. It starts around 9. I assume we will watch at Don’s Place.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Friday!

Show time!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten my time. Broadcast world wide. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

Terrific show this morning.

I have a special guest. Broadway star Terri White. Plus some chatter re the Supreme Court and Obamacare, a Trayvon Martin update, in vitro children denied American citizenship, God on the football field, and more.

Join me! Join Terri and me!

Busy busy day yesterday.

Started with an early morning haircut. With the tantalizing Lori. Then hurried to the hospital for a chest x-ray. A long wait. The sign in staff apparently was on coffee break. I cancelled my gym appointment in the afternoon. No time. I worked fine tuning today’s Internet show.

Last night bocce! Always fun! Great people! A pleasure to play.

We won 2 out of 3 games. All tough. Both teams scratching for points. I played well. First time in weeks. Frankie was spectacular! He was blasting away big time. Everyone played a top game.

Stephanie Kaple is on another bocce team. She is Key West’s famous Island Shoe Girl. She invited me to be her guest for dinner Monday night. A pleasure.

Cheryl and Robert watched most of our match. Cheryl sat next to me on the bench. We made plans for dinner next Wednesday.

Remember…..watch my Internet show this morning!

Enjoy your day!