Happy Palm Sunday!

I recall when I was a little boy. Palm Sunday was a big deal. Most of the family went to Church. Even those that rarely went. Everyone wanted to get palms.

There was a big family dinner. Family dinners in those days included grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. Everyone who attended brought a palm. A kiss and exchange of palms always took place.

Certain of the family were adept at making crosses and other things from the palms. After dinner they would sit around doing so. I watched. I tried. I could never get the hang of it. I both admired and envied their ability.

The men would eventually fall asleep in the living room. The ladies remained in the kitchen washing dishes and cleaning up. I played games with my cousins.

Those days of yesteryear are no more. Fewer attend Church. Churches provide less palms. Family dinners are not the same.

This is what occurs with the progression of time. I do not like it.

I did like last night, however!

What a night!

Terri White sang!

The San Carlos was packed. Excitement was in the air before Terri’s performance. Excitement permeated the theatre throughout her performance.

Terri is Key West’s Broadway star! A professional in the truest sense. You could see it. Feel it. She has it all!

Jenna was my date. We had a drink at La Trattoria before the show. After the event, there was a party at the Gardens. Lovely. A huge crowd. Good food, good drink, good company.

It was late. I dropped Jenna off.

Stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. Had a night cap with Russ. Saw Mikey.

By the time I got home, it was after one in the morning. Not my style. But I did have a good time!

Donna and Terri arrived four in the morning yesterday. Their late night flight Miami to Key West got screwed up. They had to drive in. They slept till noon. Terri rehearsed all afternoon. Then did the show and party last night. She flew out of Key West at six this morning. She has rehearsals later this morning in Washington, DC for Follies.

A hard working trouper!

Donna is still with me. Her family has all arrived. Passover Seder dinner tomorrow night. I cannot wait. Then Donna leaves Tuesday morning to join Terri.

I did not go to Church. There will be no palms for me. No exchange, either. There will be no large Palm Sunday dinner.

Things change.

However…..I will enjoy another terrific Key West Sunday! Something I did not have back then. New is not the same. Different can be hard to adjust to. But new can be good!

Enjoy your day!

Key West just keeps growing on a person. Each passing days adds to that good Key West feeling. No question. It is that God is in His Heaven, all is right with the world feeling!

Even doing nothing is a big deal!

My yesterday started with the Key West Lou Legal Hour internet show. Good again! I am not being immodest. The show is excellent and fun to do.

Thank you all who watched. Those that did not, try next week. You will not be disappointed.

After the show, it was the Coffee House. Browsed the New York Times.

Home for lunch. Me and my blender.

I spent the afternoon outside in the shade of the tiki hut. Researched and wrote.

This past week was the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Fort Sumter.

I have always been a student of two wars. The Civil War and World War II. I fooled around a bit on the computer regarding the Civil War. Came up with two new tid bits.

Abraham Lincoln is considered one of our great Presidents. Many of his words live with us even today. Some guide us. Lincoln made a profound statement I had never read before: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. It will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

Something to think about.

I had not heard of Daniel Sickles till yesterday. A Yankee Civil War general, a rogue, a politician, a Medal of Honor winner and a murderer. All wrapped up in one person!

Sickles is best known for being the first to have successfully asserted a temporary insanity defense. His wife was cheating on him. With the son of Frasncis Scott Key, author of the Star Spangled Banner. Sickles shot Key dead. Turned himnself in. Degraded and embarassed his wife greatly during the trial. Reconciled with his wife after the trial.

 Today’s Amazon Kinlde legal blog will be about Sickles.

Donna and Terri have returned! Though I have not seen them yet. They are still sleeping. They arrived around 4 this morning.

Terri is doing a solo performance tonight San Carlos. Jenna and I will be attending together. Do yourself a big favor. Go! Terri is terrific!

Enjoy your day!

Sorry to be so late today. I had to be at the radio station early this morning to complete preparations for today’s show.

Good show! Covered such topics as Barry Bonds, Montessori schools in NYC, Arizona immigration, Arizona birth certificate requirement for Presidential candidates, Arizona and guns on campus, Glenn Beck, a serial killer who beat the system,  Atlas Shrugged, Alan Dershowitz, pedophilia in Germany, German privacy lawsuit, a priest and an affair, Wisconsin election probe, same sex couples and visas, US Immigration Court in trouble, love springs eternal, Muslims demodernizing, a new Egypt?, and more.

Bocce last night. We faltered. Lost 2 out of 3 games.

We won the first game decisively. The two we lost were close.

We lost to Larry’s team. There is no joy in Mudville.

It was the fifth week of the season. Up to last night, we had won 2 out of 3 games each week. Placed us in a tie for second place. A double loss last night should not hurt our overall standing too much. Only our pride has suffered.

My lesbian wives arrive tonight. Donna and Terri. Terri sings tomorrow night at San Carlos. Then she is on a 6 am Sunday morning plane. She is in rehearsals for Follies which opens next month. Donna is staying for Passover monday night and leaving tuesday. I will be doing Passover with Donna and her family for my fourth consecutive year. I wear my cap, read, sing, etc.

We are all Jews monday night.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

Another glorious Key West day! A slight breeze. Not one cloud in the sky. Water moving gently along. Warm, of course.

Yesterday, golf!

I played terrible! Shot 123. Lost $20. Deserved to lose that much money!

I played with Tom, Tino and Yankee Jack. We laughed throughout the 18 holes. Not because of my awful play. We just had a good time. A very good time.

The golf course was crowded. Tourists. We had to wait on just about every shot. Took us five hours to play.

I hurried home after golf. Jenna was due. We had a lot of prep work ahead for my friday show. We worked a couple of hours. Did not finish. She returns at nine this morning.

I grabbed some quick shut eye. Golf always tires me out.

My evening started with Aqua and Bobby Nesbitt. By prearrangement, I was meeting Bill and June Hudson there. We had planned to have dinner together.

Between my teeth and everything else, I have not been going out much. It was the first time in months I was at Aqua. My absence apparently was noticed.

Bobby shouted a warm hello Louis from the piano as I walked in. Many friends there. Besides the Hudsons, Tom and Kathy, Lynda, Mary Jo, and more.

Mark Watson was working. I did not get a chance to chat with him, except for a warm hello. I was told that he recently wrote a play. Submitted it in some national competition. Ended up one of five finalists. Went to Chicago. Came in second.

As soon as I know more, I will share it with you. Donna and Terri arrive friday for the weekend. They will know everything.

Then the Hudsons and I went to La Trattoria for dinner.

The same thing again! Becha. Louis, where have you been? I was thinking about you today. Followed by a great hug and kiss.

We had a terrific dinner. I struggled with caprese as a starter. The cheese I could handle. The tomato I could not. I had scallops for an entre. No problem.

The table conversation was so enjoyable. Bill is a recently retired divorce lawyer from Delaware. He and June are two of the nicest people in the Keys. We have known each other for some 15 years.

After dinner, Bill and June headed to Larry’s Show at Hogs Breath. I was tired and opted to go directly home.

On the way down Truman, I changed my mind and stopped in at Don’s Place. Had a drink with Bebe and Rob.

Then home, again. Or so I thought. I realized the cupboard was bare. Publix was closed. Went to Albertson’s. They are open 24 hours.

I bought some ice cream. Sugar free. On sale. Looked good. I could not resist!

When I arrived home, I devoured the ice cream. Ate more than I should have. Sooooo good!

My doctor called  in the afternoon with my brain MRI results. I am ok. Surprisingly, nothing wrong with my head!

Tonight bocce! A money game. We play Larry’s team. A blood match!

Enjoy your day!

Black outside. Quiet, too. Cannot hear any breeze nor the water. Humid.

Going to be another terrific Key West day!

Good!

I play golf this morning. That is why I am up early. I did not play last week. Had to babysit Ally. I am anxious to play today.

I started yesterday with a walk. Per my doctor’s orders. Along Smathers Beach. My doctor keeps telling me to get a dog. That way I would be forced to walk.

Afterwards, I stopped at the Coffee House. Browsed through the New York Times as I sipped.

Spent the rest of the day working on friday’s Key West Lou Legal Hour. This past week has been full of interesting events. I am overloaded with material for the show.

Jenna telephoned. I told her about all the material I had. She is stopping in after golf to help me sort it out.

Stayed in last night. I got hooked on a series of old Ray Milland movies. One co-starred Arlene Dahl. A 1940-1950 movie star. I became acquainted with her in the 1970s on one of my trips to La costa. She was still a beauty!

May I shoot well today!

Enjoy your day!

It’s a great day today!

I feel good!

Just enjoyed breakfast. Me and the blender. Egg whites, ham and cheese. Tasty!

My yesterday started with an MRI and a chest x ray.

Spent most of the rest of yesterday writing. In between, ran a friend to the airport. Visited Office Max to fax papers to my CPA. Walked the aisles at Dollar Store.

I had a business meeting in the late afternoon at Grand Key. When the meeting was finished, I walked to the outside bar to see what was going on. Met a nice girl. Celeste. Fortyish. Slim. Blond. Tanned. Attractive.

We enjoyed a couple of drinks together.

Then I was off to Don’s Place. Visted with Rob and Bebe. Great people! Love them! And their obvious affectiuon for each other! When I walked in, Rob was rubbing Bebe’s butt. I laughingly walked up to them and said, “My turn?”

I screwed up my sleep last night. Watched two long movies. Till 3 this morning

Today is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. The shelling of Fort Sumter.

In many respects, I do not believe the war has ever truly ended. The South has this continuing animosity towards us Yankees.

There is an excellent book on the subject. I have recommended it before. Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz. Horwitz is a Pulitzer Prize winner, though not for this book.

I have an open day. I have absolutely no idea what I will do. And that is the way it should be!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

I am up early. Have a doctor’s appoinment at 9. No big deal. An x-ray.

Still dark outside. Warm already. Another great Key West day in the making.

I watched the Sunday news talk shows yesterday in the morning. The Masters in the afternoon. Pulling for Tiger! He almost did it!

In between did prep work for friday’s internet show.

Dinner at Lisa’s. Fun! Love those grandkids!

After dinner, Robert and I watched the final holes of the Masters together. A nice feeling.

Enjoy your day!

Happy Sunday!

And happy birthday!

Happy birthday to my Father. He is 97 years old today.

His parents named him John Robert Petrone. He was born April 10, 1914.

Dad’s parents were Louis and Albina. They were both born in Italy. Southern Italy. They did not meet there, however. They met in Stamford, Connecticut.

My grandfather Louis came to this country first. Around 1912. My grandmother Albina years later.

They settled in Utica. In an Italian neighborhood. Immigrants tended then and now to group together.

My grandfather bought a six family home. Three stories high. Two apartments a floor.

My grandparents’ children all lived in the house following their marriages. At one time, I lived with my parents in the third floor front apartment.

My Father was one of seven. A sister died early in life. My Father is the last of the brood alive. His sister Mary died last year at the age of 102.

My Father quit school in third year high. He had to work. In the mid 1940s, he sort of returned to school. He studied at home. Took his high school regents with the kids. Passed. And graduated on stage. Cap and gown and all. He was proud. I was proud. I was there.

My Father first met my Mother when he was 14. As the story goes, he saw her from across the street for the first time and shouted “…I am going to marry you!”

My Mother’s name was Fortunata. Italian for Fortune. She was born in Italy. A place called Foggia. She was the ninth born of nine children. The other eight were all boys. That is why her parents named her Fortune.

Mom and Dad married in the early 1930s. I came along in 1935. I have been told many times my father was so excited that he ran up and down the street shouting he had a son!

We lived third floor front till 1941 when my parents bought a home on James Street. My Father would live there more than 60 years till he sold it and moved.

Along the way, my parents made my sister Joan. She is ten years younger than me. My mother was not supposed to have any more children after me. However, she did not want me to be alone. So my Mother gambled with her health. Forunately, everything worked out well!

In the l930s and prior to World War II, my father worked in a fishing tackle plant. Horrocks-Ibbitson. The biggest manufacturer of fishing tackle in the world at the time. Dad worked in the glue room. On bamboo poles. The dirtiest job in the place. The worst. A job that was reserved for Italians. There was a prejudice in Utica and the country as a whole at the time.

World War II came. Dad tried to enlist. He was 4F. He had a punctured eardrum from faulty medical treatment when he was young. He was totally deaf in one ear.

My Father went to work in a defense plant instead. For the length of the war.

After the war, he returned to Horrocks-Ibbitson. This time as a white collar worker. The war had changed things. He had a desk and all that went with it. He was involved in production. He continued in that field later at Bendix and then a toilet paper manufacturing plant called Sitrue. Except for several years when he served as a Deputy County Clerk.

My sister and I grew up during this time. I went off to college and law school. My sister to Florida.

My Mother passed on some twenty years ago. My Father continued to live in the house on James Street alone, until he met Frances.

After retirement, he worked in my law office till a couple of years ago. He started at 65 with many duties and responsibilities. They diminshed as he got older. He was a big help as my firm grew.

Several years ago, he developed a heart condition which minimizes his activities.

He found a friend and new partner in life about ten years ago. Frances. She is a blessing. She is now 72 years old.

They live together in a new complex for people 55 and older. They have a lovely 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment. And a shaded outside patio where my father sits and reads in the warm weather.

Except for the heart, his body is good. So is his mind. He and Francis get out at least once a week for dinner. Sometimes breakfast, also.

I think all fathers want their children to be athletes. My Father worked with me in baseball. I believe he thought I would be another Joe Dimaggio. I let him down. It did not matter. He took pride in my success as an attorney.

I hope Dad makes a 100! A 100 plus!

I telephoned Frances this morning and asked to speak with him. She told me he was still asleep. He had a bad night. Difficulty sleeping. He was worried he would not wake up to be 97!

That’s my Father!

Happy birthday, Dad!

Magnifique!

The only way to describe this Key West morning!

During yesterday’s internet show, the Key West Lou Legal Hour, I commented on synthetic drugs. The reaction during the day and last night was overwhelming! I did not realize the popularity and interest in this new type fix. People were coming up to thank me for warning them of the dangers involved. They did not know. They thought synthetic drugs were harmless.

Synthetic drugs are phony drugs. Phony pot, phony cocaine. They are drugs that mimic real drugs. With one major difference. Synthetic drugs are supposed to be harmless. They are not!

Many users of this new fun high are ending up in the hospital. Not just sick. Very sick. Since January, 2,700 users have been hospitalized. Nine died.

Usage can result in extreme paranoia. Users report seeing monsters, demons and aliens. Many reported suicidal thoughts.

Synthetic drugs are generally sold in head shops. In the form of incense and bath salts.

Interestingly, it appears the users are adults and seniors citizens. I guess everyone is looking for a quick harmless fix, regardless of age.

Synthetic drugs are not the way to Nirvana. Beware!

I apologize for pontificating. But again the reaction was so overwhelming that I felt the issue deserved to be commented on herein.

Like that last word? “Herein.” I sound like a lawyer!

On the way into town last night, I stopped at Lisa’s. Wanted to see the grandkids. Ally up and running around. Like she had never been sick this past week. Robert wanting to know if we were going to lunch again this weekend. He is on the eternal quest for a Philly cheesesteak sandwich.

I had dinner at the Southernmost’s Beach Cafe last night. A perfect setting. On the ocean.

There was a wedding going on on the beach. Reminded me of Lisa and Corey’s wedding. They were married on the same beach.

I returned to the Beach Cafe for dinner because of the mussels I had eaten there this past week. Excellent! I wanted more. I was not disappointed. They were just as good the second time.

I needed something extra.. Ordered a shrimp salad. Wow! What taste! Small shrimp sauteed in a soy sauce. To die for!

Although it is only an outside beach bar, the Beach Cafe serves outstanding food. Cheaply priced, also.

I recommend the Beach Cafe.

Enjoy your day!

Great bocce last night!

I am still on the team! I played well in the first game. From the very first shot!

We won 2 out of 3 games. Lost the last one.

This was the fourth week of the season. Each week we have won the first two games and lost the third. Badly each time. Has to be mental.

Anyhow, we are tied for second place. Not bad. We have never been that good.

After bocce, it was off to Don’s Place. Packed.

Tino and Maria had 2 female guests visiting from Chicago. I spoke to one of them for a while. Her name was Blanch. Pretty. Charming. She works for a bank.

This morning was the Key West Lou Legal Hour. Wild! Love doing the show!

Ally better. Went to school today.

Tonight? I haven’t decided yet.

Enjoy your day!