The Widow Grimm took me out yesterday.

To the movies and dinner.

I first met Roland and Jackie Grimm about 10 years ago when I bought my home in Key West. They had purchased a Key West home at about the same time.

I used to run into Jackie in those days at Jack Baron’s gallery. We both had made friends with Baron. She was tall, thin, vivacious and absolutely lovely. Still is!

I admired Roland greatly. He was the smartest money man I ever met. He knew the market and finances as no other. Roland passed on last year. Sad.

Jackie gave me a call thursday and asked if I wanted to go to the movies. She had purchased two tickets for a special showing of two films at the Tropic Cinema for yesterday. The films were to be shown at 3:30.

I was a bit hesitant to accept. I had not been to an afternoon movie since my children were small. And what do you do after the movie? It’s still early.

The things I worry about.

We went.

One movie was a history of Aids here in Key West. Well done. A tribute to those who passed on and a larger tribute to those who were able to survive. The other was a film about Key West drag queens. It starred and was the story of Sushi. Sushi is a respected individual and top drag artist. Well admired and loved here in Key West. He stars at 801.

The films were good. Well done. However I could have done without both. Not my cup of tea on the infrequent occasions I get to attend a movie. I prefer a good comedy that leaves me bouncing when I leave the theatre.

The movies ended. It was only 5:30. Neither Jackie nor I are presedntly drinking. Too bad because it was the perfect time to have a few. I do miss an occasional drink.

We went over to the Chart Room. Jackie devoured club sodas and I diet Pepsi. And we ate popcorn. The Chart Room has the best popcorn.

Captain Peter was there. I introduced Jackie and Captain Peter. The Captain was taken with her. He still has the devil in him.

Dinner was light fare. Tapas upstairs at Louie’s Backyard. Good food. Excellent atmosphere.

Jackie beat me to the bill. She insisted on paying. She had invited me she said.

Our conversation was interesting through out the day. We both had a good time.

Thank you Jackie for a fun day.

And may each of you have an equally enjoyable day today!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour is on the radio and internet today. Yes, friday. At 10 am. KONK 1500 AM. You can see as well as hear me on the internet at www.konkam.com.

Please join me. I would like to share the hour with you.

The biggest event of the day yesterday was the Syracuse/Georgetown basketball game. The world stopped for it!

Syracuse ranked #5. Georgetown #10. Two giants!

Syracuse killed Georgetown two weeks ago in Syracuse. Last night the game was played at Georgetown.

I was concerned. Frankly, I questioned whether we would win. A doubtful Thomas!

Syracuse won!

Closely!

Could have lost!

Syracuse was winning by 23 points at mid point in the second half. Georgetown made a run. What a run! All of a sudden it was a 1 point game! My heart was pounding! Syracuse finally pulled out the victory by 4 points.

Wow! One terrific game!

Now Syracuse has to get past Villanova next week. Then it will have been one hell of a season!

I watched the game at the Sports Page Bar. My growing entourage of Syracuse fans were there also. It is always more fun to watch a game with other fans.

Dan and Lisa from Skaneatles. Howard and Elaine from North Carolina. Dan and Sue from Spenceport. Steve, a 1977 Syracuse graduate, who now lives full time in Key West. The Scott family of trucking fame. Hello Sybil! And a new couple. I cannot recall their names. They own a big computer medical billing company in Auburn. Turns out Skaneatles Dan and the husband grew up together in Auburn.

There were tons of other Syracuse fans also.

It was a loud noisy evening. Many highs and lows. And one huge sigh of relief when the game had concluded with Syraciuse winning!

I stopped at the Chart Room before the game.

Mike and Tina were in from Hartford. They get here on a regular basis at least once a month. Soon I will not be seeing them for a while. They may be heading to Japan to live and work for a few years.

Captain Peter, Dan and Frank were at the bar. Good people.

What an evening! Go Syracuse!

Enjoy your day!

Tomorrow begins a new day and time for my radio show.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour will henceforth be heard fridays at 10 in the morning. Listen in at KONK 1500 AM. See and listen on the internet at http://www.konkam.com/.

During the show I will share with you an interesting tidbit about the Judge hearing the Proposition 8 California gay marriage case, make the point again that arrest does not mean guilt, explore some dumb weird Canadian laws and make note of U.S. Presidents who have visted Key West.

Hope you can join me!

Golf yesterday!

A disaster!

I played Yankee Jack. He destroyed me! I shot 122. He shot 104. I deserved to be beaten!

My partner Rob did well. He shot an 89. After shooting over 100 each of the previous two weeks. He played Randy. Poor Randy. Randy is a good player. However he caught Rob on a day when Rob was shooting extremely well. As Randy said…..Just my luck!

Last night was wednesday. Wednesday is Bobby Nesbitt time at Aqua. A great voice!

June and Bill Hudson were there listening to Bobby. They have just returned to Key West from their northern home in Delaware. Good people! Long time friends! We had a great time together.

We made plans to have dinner together monday night.

Then I was off to Outback.

I am enjoying Outback. Great bar seats. Good food cheap. And big TV screens to watch basketball.

Last night it was Duke/Miami. A game! Duke losing by 12 at half. Miami all excited about possibly beating the #6 ranked team in the country. Then the second half! Duke went to work and literally destroyed Miami.

The weather continues as it has. Cold! The high today will be 61.

Big time Syracuse basketball tonight! Syracuse plays Georgetown at Georgetown! The #5 and the #10 teams meet. A battle! Especially after Syracuse beat Georgetown badly 2 weeks ago at Syracuse. Georgetown will be seeking revenge.

I will be watching the game at the Sports Page Bar. A bunch of us Syracuse fans will gather to yell and scream in support of our alma mater.

Enjoy your day!

The cold continues!

Presently 54 degrees. High projected at 62.

I am playing golf this morning. Stupid! However I am teeing off at 8:22 in league play. My opponent is Yankee Jack. In spite of the cold, it will be a fun match. Yankee hits his drives where I go in 3. My close game will keep me in the match, as long as Yankee screws up his. He also has to give me 8 strokes. Not enough!

The radio show yesterday was terrific! Hope you were able to listen in.

The time for the show has changed again. It will be fridays at 10 am. That is it! It is fixed! Locked in!

The radio station has new and more powerful call numbers. 1500. Great reception! Clear and distinct!

Several people commented last night that they had received internet messages during the day from people in Havana. Cuba is receiving KONK 1500 radio shows! Turns out the more powerful 1500 station was previously Spanish speaking and its power extended to Cuba.

Cuba is only 90 miles to the south of Key West.

I spoke on the radio show yesterday of Presidents who had visited Key West.

One was John Kennedy. He spent a month here at the Little White House after the Cuban missle crisis.

One of the more prominent Key West families today are the Spottswoods. They are into everything professionally, businesswise, civically and socially. Good people all! Genuine! Their hearts are into Key West and its peoples.

Back in the early 1960s when Kennedy visited, their father was Sheriff. A big man! A big job!

Sheriff Spottswood spent much time with President Kennedy. He took him around on occasion and showed him the sights, including the florida keys as they existed back then.

A movie was in the planning stages. A World War II movie about Kennedy’s exploits as a PT boat commander. Kennedy had been a war hero.

An island was required as the locale for the movie. Spottswood owned what was then Munson Island. The island was about 30 miles north of Key West. Immediately south of Big Pine.

Spottswood took Kennedy for a ride and showed him the island. He suggested it was a good place for the movie.

Apparently Kennedy and every one else involved agreed. PT 109, as the movie was called, was filmed on Munson island.

Munson Island no longer exists today under that name. It is now known as Little Palm Island. World famous. For the Noble resort located there.

Most are unaware or have forgotten the island’s Kennedy/Spottswood/PT 109 history.

The Chart Room was jam packed last night! Really full! The cold is not keeping the tourists away from Key West.

Marty, Sean, Katherine and Che were there. I spent some time chatting with Sean and Katherine. Great young people! On the move in life!

Sean is a local reporter. Does a radio show also on Konk 1500 as I do. And he hosts a weekly TV show on channel 5.

Katherine is on the rise at the Ocean Key House. Another Noble resort vacation spot.

Marty and I had dinner at the bar at Hot Tin Roof. John Lukas is manager. A great guy! Runs a smart place!

John is a Wisconsin graduate. He is as crazy about Wisconsin as I am about Syracuse. As I walked in the door last night, I exclaimed…..We both got beat last week! Wisconsin lost a game and so did Syracuse. Wisconsin is ranked 12th in the nation and Syracuse 5th in the new rankings. Basketball is big when John and I talk.

Thursday is one of the big games of the year for Syracuse. Georgetown. At Georgetown. Georgetown is ranked #10. Georgetown will be out for revenge! Syracuse embarrassed them badly at Syracuse 2 weeks ago.

That’s it for today! I have to dig out the long johns for today’s golf match!

Enjoy your day!

My radio show is today!

Yes, today!

At 10 am.

I got moved from Thursday to Tuesday. And with a new time besides.

KONK radio has powered up. It can now be heard all the way up the Florida keys. With a new number. 1500 on the dial!

Join me this morning. The internet address remains the same. http://www.konkam.com/. We’ll chat a bit about the Proposition 8 California trial, a couple of recent federal court matters in Miami, Canadian dumb weird laws, the proposed Monroe County lobbying legislation, separation of Church and State, a bit about rape and what have you.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour at 10 this morning!

The lights went out last night in Key West. Around 8 o’clock. Not unuusual. The lights always go out in the keys. We are like a Caribbean island in that regard. The blackout only lasted about 10 minutes.

It was unusual for me, however. It was the first time I was out during a blackout.

I was on Duval walking towards La Trattoria. Key West is packed. It is the season.

Suddenly, darkness. Black. Pitch black.

The people walking on Duval were no longer clearly visible. They were merely moving shadows. It was eerie.

My day yesterday started with babysitting. From 9 to 1. Robert and Ally treated me well. I did my thing by playing checkers with Robert and doing beads with Ally. Then they were bored with me and left me alone to read the papers and work on today’s radio show.

Marty is back! Hip, hip, hooray! He was gone for 3 weeks.

We met at the Chart Room. Chatted a bit. Merla came in. Charming and sweet. It was good to see her again.

Dinner was at La Trattoria. Kathy bartending. Many people. Waiting lines for a table. I had called in earlier for 2 seats at the bar at 8. The seats were waiting for us.

The whole world was at La Trattoria last night. Cheryl and Roger at a table. My Syracuse friends Dan, Lisa, Howard and Elaine at the bar. It was agreed we would meet at the Sports Page Bar at 7 Thursday night for the Syracuse/Georgetown game. A big game! Marty might even attend.

After dinner, I sat at the bar watching Connecticut beat Villanova. A strange season! A tough Big East! Connecticut is unranked. Villanova moved up to #2 yesterday before the game. It won’t be #2 when the new rankings come out next Monday.

I have to review my notes for the radio show.

Enjoy your day!

It finally happened! Syracuse lost! The second time this season. They are now 23-2.

Terrible! A tragedy! But deserved. They did not play well.

Louisville beat Syracuse 66-60. Syracuse was leading by 11 points at one time in the first half. And by 2 mid point in the second half.

Louisville is not in the same league as Syracuse this year. Louisville may not even make it to the big tournamnet. Last night helps them, however.

Syracuse deserved to lose. It was time. Perhaps inevitable. Maybe now they will return to playing a 40 minute game.

Syracuse plays Georgetown next. Thursday night. Georgetown is ranked #7. However Georgetown lost yesterday to Rutgers. It will be a grudge game. Syracuse beat Georgetown by 17 points a couple of weeks ago at Syracuse. Thursday’s game is at Georgetown. Going to be wild!

I watched the game at the Sports Page Bar. A Syracuse group has gathered.

Dan and Lisa from Skaneateles were back. Their friends Howard and Elaine from North Carolina. Dan from the Rochester area. His son went to Syracuse’s Maxwell School. And the Scott family.

All will be back for the Georgetown game Thursday. A blood committment.

The Scott family was a family. Three generations of them. Some 2-3 years old.

The Scotts are from the Blossville, New York area. Blossville is just outside Rome and close to or touches Oneida Lake.

I first spoke with Courtney. She grew up with Syracuse basketball. She now lives with her family on Oneida Lake. A couple of the little ones were hers. They all were wearing Syracuse tee or sweat shirts. Cute! Reminded me of my grandchildren when we would take them to the Syracuse games years ago.

Mother Scott is Sybil. A die hard Syracuse fan also.

The father of the brood was Lynn. I may have his first name wrong. If so, I apologize.

They have a family business. The Lynn H. Scott Trucking Company. Well known in the area. A sizable organization. Respected.

See you guys Thursday!

The game was early. At 1. So afterwards I stopped at Borders to continue reading Game Change. Spent a couple of hours.

I am at the point where Hillary has lost the primary. She and Obama just did there thing in Unity, New Hampshire. Tensions remain high between them.

Interestingly, every one thought Bill Clinton was screwing things up. Every one except for Bill Clinton. They relegated him to the small towns in hopes that anything improper he might say would be overlooked. As the campaign team learned, a former President is never overlooked!

Valentine Day dinner was at Lisa’s. The grandkids were excited. They had been to a party earlier at their school, Montessori. They were tired. Robert fell asleep before dinner.

We had a great family meal. Followed by a special Valentine cake with a sprinkled heart on top. Lisa and the grandkids had made it.

While watching the basketball game, I received a call from Guy deBoer, my boss and Konk radio station owner. My radio show The Key West Lou Legal Hour has been moved from Thursday to Tuesday. It will be heard at 10 in the morning.

No problem.

And the station number has changed. It is no longer 1680. It is now 1500. The reason for the change is to provide more power. The radio portion now will be heard far up the keys.

The internet remains the best place to listen. And watch! Worldwide. http://www.konkam.com/.

The first thing on the agenda this morning is babysitting. Robert and Ally have the day off. Poppa has to work. Ally just telephoned. They are waiting for me!

Enjoy your day!

My son in law Corey has lived in Key West for more than 25 years. He is the Director of Archeology at the Mel Fisher Museum. Corey says he never remembers it being so cold so long. Plus, the weather is strange. Every week or so there is a mid to high 70s day.

Corey says it does not make sense.

I spent quite a while at Borders yesterday. I continue to read Game Change. A good political book! It covers the 2008 Presidential campaign.

I just finished the Texas primary. Hillary won. But it is obvious she is going to lose.

Yesterday’s interesting observation was the disorganization and lack of money in the Hillary camp. Surprising since she was the up front anticipated winner.

A very beautiful young Asian woman sat next to me at Borders. She was reading an Anne Rice book. I warned her she would end up having nightmares. Rice writes vampire tales. She laughed. We talked a bit. A most pleasant person.

Lisa telephoned while I was at Borders. There is a new toy store in Key West. Supposed to be terrific. They were taking Robert and Ally. Did I want to go? Yes. These are the things one does when retired.

I left my new found oriental friend for the grandkids.

The new toy store is known as the Key West Toy Factory. It is located in the Clinton Square Market. The gray/white building next to the Custom House. On the second floor.

A wow! Outstanding! Go see it even if you are not a kid or have no kids. That good!

The store takes up half the floor. Its appointments/decorations are terrific! You enter through a forest with an iguana (I can’t get away from them), turtle and other animals. Then you are into this huge room. So large, it is overwhelming!

There is a huge pirate ship. With all kinds of canons. Hanging overhead is a very big white shark, a hammerhead and an octopus. Everything is jungle. A family of monkeys.

There was a magician. He did a show just for Robert and Ally. They were impressed and excited!

The toys are quality. Prices fair. Neither high nor low. And lots of customers. There was a steady flow in and out. One problem though. I did not see any one making purchases. Look, yes. Buy, no. Such could be a problem.

Go take a look. Worth the visit.

I ran into Catain Peter at the Chart Room last night. First time I had seen him in weeks. He told me he had been in Miami for surgery. He is back, working and well now!

I had dinner at the bar at Outback. Watched the winter Olympics.

I do not understand the scoring yet. I was watching the skiing/flips and was confused. I shall eventually get it.

Big day today! Sunday!

Syracuse plays Louisville at 1. I shall be at the Sports Page Bar watching. Having lunch at the same time.

Then to Borders to read more of Game Change.

Dinner is with Lisa and the family tonight. It is Valentine Day. Happy Valentine Day to all! Lisa and the grandkids are baking a special cake for the event. It will be a warm and loving evening with them.

Enjoy your day!

The weather continues to confound us here in Key West.

It is 63 degrees at the moment. The time is 8 am. I slept late.The low tonight is projected at 52.

What is happening to our sub tropical paradise island! To the whole country for that matter! Wow, what a winter!

To top it off, we had a storm at dinner time last night. It was the frosting on the cake!

Around 5, TV started flashing weather warnings. Something had developed in the Gulf of Mexico and was rapidly heading our way. Heavy rains with 40 per mile hour winds and gusts to 60 miles per hour. Almost hurricane winds! The warning was stay in. Don’t go out. Seek shelter.

Lisa telephoned. Don’t go out! I have to meet people at 7:30. Cancel! I will wait and see.

TV said it would be over by 6:45. It was.

The storm hit around 6:30. Monsoon rains from the southwest. Big wind! Very big! Bend the palm trees type.

And then it was gone. And I went out.

I was meeting Tom and Cindy at the bar at La Trattoria for dinner. They arrived before me. They weathered the storm at the Green Parrot. Gutsy people! Happy too! They drank their way through the storm!

I just met Tom and Cindy this past week. Terrific people!

They have been reading the blog since last summer. They are not strangers to Key West, however. They have been coming here for 10 years for 2 weeks each year. Their game plan is to spend 6 months here each year and 6 months at their home on the Mississippi River where it winds through Iowa.

I did not know the Mississippi traveled that far north.

Tom and Cindy are from Iowa. Cedar Rapids.

Cindy has one leg. Her other a victim to cancer.

She maneuvers in a wheel chair and on crutches. Titanium crutches. Just like golf club heads.

Cindy is one of the most charming women I have ever met. Tom a good guy, also. We laughed our way through the evening. Talked about everything from sex with a one legged lady to Hillary and the Iowa caucuses.

I have made 2 new friends. No question about it. I am sure they feel the same way. Unforunately they are leaving tuesday. But there will be next year! And e mails in between.

Key West and Harry Truman are joined at the hip.

Truman visited Key West and liked it. He spent a total of 175 days in Key West during his Presidency. His residence on the island was at a white house on the then naval base. It is located just off Truman Annex. Today’s Truman Annex was once part of the naval base.

President Harry was married to Bess. Bess did not like Washington. So Harry generally lived alone in Washington’s White House while Bess resided in the family abode in Independence, Missouri. Harry dutifully wrote daily letters by hand to Bess.

Bess occasionally visited Harry here in Key West.

The Key West home they resided in is known as the Little White House.

Today is Bess Truman’s birthday. If alive, she would be 125 years old.

There will be a party this afternoon at the Little White House to celebrate Bess’ birthday. I believe it begins at 1 pm. Cake will be served free to the first 200 guests. Bess will be there. Harry, also.

I have never seen today’s Bess. But Harry I have! He is the perfect replica of Truman. The first time I saw him was on Whitehead several years ago. He was walking. It was warm. He was wearing a flat topped straw hat and carrying a cane. Truman it was! Amazing!

I have been in most of the week. Today I am responsibility free. I am going to get out. Regardless of the weather. What I will do, I am uncertain. But the door awaits!

Enjoy your day!

The cold continues!

It is almost boring to continue to speak of it.

I have never known Key West to be so cold so long. Last night at bocce an old timer was telling us it was like this back in the 1970s. Cold all winter for several years. Not something to look forward to.

The radio show was a hit yesterday! I am pleased. I always worry.

I did a commentary on rape. The segment was inspired by New York Times writer Nicholas Kristoff. He did an article in April 2009 entitled ” Is Rape Serious?”

The basic thrust of the article was that our police enforcement/prosecutorial society is indifferent to rape crimes. Yes, that is what he said. And that is the issue I explored on the Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday.

About 15 people contacted me during the balance of the day to comment on the issue. Even at bocce last night people were coming up to me to discuss their thoughts.

Rape appears to be an issue which requires further exploration and attention.

Interestingly, I turned on TV this morning. There was Nicholas Kristoff. On Good Morning Joe talking about jobs.

Bocce started last night. Always good! Not just the game. The people playing. It was like old home week.

I now play with the Donkeys. Got traded. Nice people. Made me and my other team mates who were traded feel welcome. Norm is our captain. A good guy and a good player. Ron, the same. Joanie, my love. We really hit it off last night! We played the last game together.

I played in the first and third games. We won the first 16-8. The second was close. We lost 16-15. I was back playing in the third game. We lost 16-14. Sort of a moral victory. We were down 10-5 and came back.

The last shot was mine in the third game. The win or lose shot. A tough one. I either had to go off the board or straight at the polina. The balls were all bunched together. I opted to go off the board. Everyone said no! I had to take my shot. Off the board I went!

I did not even come close to the polina! I blew it! We lost!

But it was fun. And I can see we will have fun all season. And even distinguish ourselves on occasion.

Cheryl and Roger showed up during the games. Nice people. The first time they stopped at the bocce matches. They are in Key West for a few months. They have gotten to know many people. They have become Don’s Place patrons and were chatting it up with Don and David last night.

I hope some day Cheryl ad Roger can regulate their Key West time so as to play in the bocce league.

Turtles are big in the keys. It used to be a major industry here. We have a turtle museum. There is a turtle hospital in Marathon.

The recent 3 week very cold spell was not healthy for the turtles. They ended up floating bottom up in the water or washed up on beaches. Most were taken to the Turtle Hospital. Some required surgery. Those that were saved, and most were, have been returned to the sea.

Over the years turtles with other ailments have been treated at the Turtle Hospital. Some have been cared for on a long term basis.

There are those turtles that have sustained spinal cord injuries. Such require special forever type care.

There are five such turtles. They have been at the Turtle Hospital for several years.

Recently, these turtles were carefully transported overseas to the Weymouth Sea Life Park in Dorset, England. Weymouth has agreed to care of the turtles as part of an educational exhibit it is establishing.

It is going to be cold for at least another week!

Enjoy your day!

No blog yesterday! Sorry!

My computer froze up. Took all day to get it working again. Ah, the problems of life!

So today’s blog will be a bit longer. Have to make up for the missed day.

Today is thursday. Radio show day! The Key West Lou Legal Hour. 1 pm. KONK 1680 AM. Better on the internet. You can watch as well as hear. www.konkam.com.

Some of the topics to be covered today include the Toyota recall, rape, the status of the Proposition 8 California trial, Michael Jackson’s personal physician Conrad Murray, Sarah Pailn, Cuba/China and some weird Calfornia laws. I ran out of Florida ones!

You can call in and harass me, ask a question or just say hello. Happy to hear from you. 305-294-2769.

Donna telephoned the other day. With two big pieces of news.

Donna and Terri are finally legitimately married! They tied the knot this past weekend in Milford, Connecticut. Connecticut recognizes gay marriage.

Congratulations to two of the greatest people I know!

Couples have to eat. Donna makes jewelry. Terri sings professionally for a living.

Terri is recently out of work. The Broadway show in which she was starring closed down. Terri is lucky however. She did not even have time to collect unemployment checks. She is going into the revival of Chicago. Terri will be playing Matron Mama Motron. Queen Latifah played the part in the movie.

Golf yesterday. I should have stayed home! Played poorly! Very!

Rob and I played a league match against Don and David. Even though David had to give me 10 strokes, he still whipped my ass royally. Don and Rob split their match.

It was cold on the golf course. Temperature was in the low 60s. The sun was out. But so was the wind! The wind was a killer! About 35 miles an hour. Rather than a tan, I ended up with a wind burn on my face.

Syracuse basketball last night. Syracuse squeeked out a close win over Connecticut.

I watched the game at the Sports Page Bar on Green Street. I will be there every time Syracuse plays from now on. They carry the Big East basketball games on TV.

I enjoyed the game with some other Syracuse fans.

The night before I met Steve at Outback. He is a 1977 Syracuse grad. We made plans to hook up at the Sports Page for the game. He showed with a lady friend. He had made up two Syracuse shirts. He took orange tee shirts and painted Syracuse in black letters on them. Looked good! A fan! The only problem was the paint smelled.

Sittng near me at the bar was a couple from Skenneatles, New York. Just outside Syracuse. Fans also.

Dan and Lisa Reardon. They own and operate the Blue Water Grill in Skenneatles. For 15 years. They are here for a month vacationing and resting up.

Dan and Lisa are very much die hard Syracuse supporters.

Then there was Tom and Cindy. Good folk from Iowa. Here in Key West for a couple of weeks.

Tom and Cindy are loyal Key West Lou blog readers. They are doing all the restaurants and places that I haunt. They have been writing daily to me while here. We just did not hook up till last night. The Sports Page Bar. They knew I would be there.

Tom spent a life time in industry. Yes, Iowa is more than farms. Cindy worked for a large foreign insurance company that had personnel in Iowa.

Me thinks I am going to learn much about Iowa.

Tom and Cindy are genuine people. I look forward to getting to know them better during the balance of their trip.

Tom apologized for going to Antonia’s. No problem I told him. It still is one of Key West’s finest restaurants, even though I no longer patronize the place.

Cindy and I have something in common. Our birthdays. Both born on July 6th.

Bocce tonight! The start of a new season.

I got traded. From Bat Construction to the Donkeys. So did Don, Jules and Mike. Just like professional sports.

This trading is a strange feeling. Don will no longer be captain. Norm is. Norm works at Home Depot by day as a greeter.

Joanie plays for the Donkeys. I like Joanie. We have a mutual admiration society. So it will ease the pain.

Up and at ’em, folks! The morning is upon us!

Enjoy your day!