It is going to be another beautiful day here in Key West.

The sun is up. Cloudy though. So gray outside. A bit breezy. The clouds will move out. And it will be another bright 80 plus degee day!

Yesterday I was up and out early. Needed a haircut. Got to chat with my barber Lori. She now owns her own shop. She has become a businesswoman! It is interesting to talk with her.

I then walked over to the Coffee House on Duval. Had a choca mocha. Good! And read the local newspaers and the New york Times.

Then to Borders. I was still in a reading mood.

I recently finished the Abraham Lincoln book On Becoming Abraham Lincoln. It was written in 1893 by a John T. Morse. Morse lived during Lincoln’s Presidency.

I enjoyed the book tremendously. The fact that Morse was there when Lincoln was President gave it a special flavor. The only negative concerning the book was that it ended with Lincoln on the train to Washington to be sworn in.

Two things stood out in the Lincoln book.

The first was the clamor over slavery. For 30 years prior to the Civil War, it was a big time political issue. Much like abortion is today. Compromises were made. The issue seemed to be settled. Then it would rear its ugly head again.

The other was the degree of hatred that existed with regard to Lincoln. He may have won the election. But many in the country had a profound dislike for him. Mocked him mecilessly. Much like Obama is attacked today.

After his election, Lincoln had to travel to Washington to be sworn in. He had no secret Service for the trip. Appaarently he would get Secret Service protection after he was sworn in.

There was a plot to kill Lincoln as he changed trains in Baltimore on his way to Washington. Lincoln became aware of the plot. He made the train trip with a friend. Just the two of them. He wore a different hat. Not the usual one he was known by. He sat in a train car with other passangers. No one recognized him.

Lincoln also changed his route. He skipped Baltimore.

I started a new book a few days ago. David Plouffe was Obama’s campaign manager. His book The Audacity to Win has just come out. Interesting so far. I am only up to page 65 so not in a position to comment yet, except again that it is interesting.

My afternooon was spent getting ready for tomorrow’s radio show. Mortgage forelosures! Listen in to Key West KONK 1680 AM radio. My guest is Jerry Coleman. The subject mortgage foreclosures. Outside Key West you can pick up the show on the internet at www.konkam.com. The internet hookup is available world wide. So everyone, please listen in! It is going to be a people versus the banks show!

Last night was soccer and Ally. As I was getting ready to go over to the field to watch my granddaughter play, Lisa telephoned. Stay home. It is raining.

Rain is strange here in the keys. I live on the island of Key Haven. Soccer is played at the school on Stock Island. The next island from me. Not even a quarter of a mile away. It was raining on Stock Island, but not in Key Haven!

So I headed straight for the Chart Room. No sense in wasting the extra time.

A good crowd at the Chart Room.

Valerie was there. She is one of the bartenders at Hot Tin Roof. And so was Stepanie. Stephanie is the shoe girl. She writes a terrific social blog which always starts with shoes and ends up discussing a world problem. www.theislandshoegirl.com. Stephanie also runs an agency dealing with the homeless.

Che and Marty were at the bar also. These two solve the world’s many problems every time they get together.

Mark was holding up the fort by bartending.

Later, Marty and I headed over to Michael’s for dinner. It was steak night. The steaks were terrific!

Golf this morning! I have not played in 3 weeks. I will play lousy. But I look forward to playing. I have missed the golf and the nuts I play with.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

Up and at ’em! It’s going to be a beautiful day!

I am looking out the open window. It appears Ida has passed us by. Yesterday was it. Thank God!

A normal sun shinning mid 80s day in the making for Key West.

Ida has been running through my mind the past few days. The name. The word. A tune…..”Ida, sweet as apple cider.”

Where did it come from? Drove me crazy. Then I remembered. An early movie singer of old. The 1930s and 1940s. Short, big eyes. A singer and dancer.

His name escaped me.

Last night it came to me. Eddie Cantor!

Cantor was a big time entertainer. Vaudeville, Zigfied Follies and the like. His wife’s name was…..yes……Ida! And he sang “Ida, sweet as apple cider” for her!

The words to our songs have certainly changed over the years!

Last night started as usual with the Chart Room. Michael bartending. Marty, Che and Myra at the bar. The primary thrust of our conversation was the computer and its intrusioon into our personal lives. Some people do not like the loss of privacy. Understandable. My answer is simple. If you do not like it, do not use it.

Obviously Marty was back. We had dinner at the bar at La Trattoria. Kathy was working. Always good to see her. Beecha was working also. The best! I got my hug and kiss!

A good crowd. And then all of a sudden the bar was jam packed. A party of about 15 waiting for a table.

The speed boat races are this weekend. The boaters started coming in yesterday to prepare for the races.

The races are exciting. Big sleek power boats with 2 people. One a driver and the other a navigator/engineer. These boats race around Key West at dangerous speeds. More than 100 miles per hour. Helicopters swoop low over them. Heart pumping. Exciting. It makes the blood boil!

The speed boaters are spenders. As opposed to the sail boaters who tend to be conservative in their spending. The merchants will be happy this week.

The speed boaters in La Trattoria last night were from the New York City area. They were having fun. I hope they will be sober enough to drive the big power boats come the weekend!

Haircut this morning. Lori time! I do not understgand it. My hair seems to grow faster the less I have.

This week’s radio show will be interesting. Big time!

Mortgage forelosures. The legal ins and outs. What people can do to protect themselves from this personal major economic problem.

Jerry Coleman is my guest.

Jerry is a well known top notch Key West attorney. One of his specialties is mortgage foreclosures. He represents people against the banks. The knight on the white charger!

Pleaae listen in. Thursday at 1 pm. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Key west radio station KONK 1680 AM. On the intenet anywhere, http://www.konkam.com/. And telephone call ins 305-294-2769.

Banks have irritated me my whole life. I viewed banking and borrowing as the renting of money. Nothing more. Over my lifetime, bankers turned into pompopus know it alls who really knew little. They became greedy in the worse sense.

The economic failures of 2008 can be laid largely at their doorstep.

And their pomposity and wrongdoing continues.

The three largest banks in the United States received billions in recovery money. Our tax dollars. Did they spread it amongst the borrowing public? No. They kept it in house and made what they considered safe investments.

Now with unemployment at its highest level in years and mortgage foreclosures rampant, they are giving out billions in bonuses to their employees. The bonuses being financed with our tax dollars.

To make it even worse, this is the swine flu season. We are all told to get the swine flu shot. I cannot. There is not enough serum. Many others cannnot.

But the bankers can!

It was announced on TV yesterday that the swine flue vaccine has been made available to top staff at the major Wall Street banks. These people are considered a group to be protected. Before you and me.

What bullshit! When is it all going to stop?

Because of computer problems, I could not do my blog on Sunday. Yesterday I did it late. Around 3 in the afternoon.

If you missed yesterday afternoon’s blog, go back and read it. It was interesting.

I salute again today Shaneka, my AT&T saviour. Read about her in detail in yesterday’s blog.

Again, so beautiful outside. Warm, sunny, a mild wind. A great day in the making!

Enjoy your day!

I am back!

My computer was down a couple of days. That is why no blog yesterday.

I finally got it turned on this afternoon. It took me about 3 hours with AT&T.

An experience! I am too old for this!

I went through several AT&T personnel before I found some one who could help. I think the reaon was she wanted to help. It is easy to say it is not my problem, you have to call another department, etc. I was getting moved around and exasperated till I found Shaneka.

My heroine, Shaneka. She works for AT&T in Birmingham. She should be promoted! Given a raise! A good AT&T representative! She stuck with me through thick and thin and got me up and running.

I told Shaneka to read this blog. I am now telling her to have her superiors read it. Sometimes people have to be made aware of who their valued people are.

Thank you again, Shaneka!

Ida. Ida is here. No question. It is still hurricane season. We made it all these months without a single storm till now. And the hurricane season ends in 3 weeks.

Ida is coming up at us from the Caribbean. Nicaragua to be exact. Unusual to have a huricane from the south. They normally start off the coast of Africa and travel west towards us.

Whatever, Ida is approaching. And she is to be feared. Ida already left 124 dead when she passed over El Salvador.

There is wind every where today. Around 40 miles per hour. The trees are blowing every which way. There is no consistency in the wind direction.

Years ago when I used to sail in a 44 foot Morgan in the summers off the north coast of Long Island, I learned that wind is fickle. You never know which way it is going to blow. And that is the way it is today. Fickle! Every which way!

Whitecaps on the water, also.

Cloudy. Dark gray all day.

In spite of the wind and everything else, it is warm. 86 degrees.

I have sand all around my home. Not normal. The wind is blowing it ashore. You cannot see it till it settles. You cannot feel it if you are outside. But once it is on the ground, you can see it. I have a large amount about an inch deep in front of my driveway. The concrete area around the pool is covered with sand. And when I went out to get the mail, there was sand inside the mailbox and the mail was covered lightly with sand. The mailbox is closed. An indication of how strong the wind is.

Saturday night I went to a terrific party. A wedding party.

Patrick has been my friend for 20 years. He was one of the first people I met when I initially discovered Key West.

Patrick has been partnered with Les for 27 years.

They finally got married. Three weeks ago. In Iowa. They went to Iowa because Iowa recognizes and permits gay marriages.

Last night a surprise party was thrown for Patrick and Les at the Smith home on Shark Key. A first class party. Lovely people. Everyone happy for Patrick and Les. Everyone otherwise happy, anyhow. That is the way it is here in the keys. Everyone loves everyone else and everyone is happy. What a life!

I had a wonderful time last night! It was more special because Lisa and Corey were there. Lisa is even closer to Patrick than I. My grandkids love him and he loves them. He is Uncle Patrick.

As you will recall, my friends Donna and Terri married last week in New York City. Gay weddings seem to abound.

I love them both dearly. They have sent me some wedding pictures and there are others on Facebook. Looks like I missed a terrific party!

Terri success seems to grow and grow. From being a homeless person last year sleeping on a park bench in New York City to a starring role today in the newly opened Finian’s Rainbow on Broadway.

The New York Times did a page one story on her last week. She appeared on the Katie Couric show last friday. And Donna tells me that People Magazine just interviewed Terri for an article.

Go Terri! You broke your leg big time!

Shaneka, thank you again! I never would have made it today without you!

Everyone…..enjoy your day!

Ida is a nice name.

My boyhood friend in Utica was Basil. His mother’s name was Ida. She was a wonderful person!

Ida is now retired and still alive. She has to be in her nineties. She is is a leading and respected figure in Naples these days.

Basil’s mom comes to mind because a tropical storm/hurricane may be upon us. And its name is Ida!

The hurricane season ends November 30. We almost made it. No hurricanes so far this year. But the news has been telling us of Ida the past few days.

Ida is a strange one. It is coming off the Caribbean. Generally our storms start off the coast of Africa and travel west towards the keys. Ida is coming up from the south towards us. From Nicaragua.

As it turns out, hurricanes from the south are not uncommon this time of year. They generally occur in November, if at all.

Ida has been a 1 the past few days and is now a tropical storm.Aaround 40 miles an hour. But it will pick up speed over the water. And it has a lot of water to travel over as it moves towards the United States.

It is presently projected that Ida will hit some where in the Gulf. From Texas to Florida. Too early yet to say specifically where.

No one in Key West is excited or nervous. The more knowledgable say it will be some rain and wind. But nothing big. I am comfortable with that. So I am not worrying at all.

Hope I am correct! I have seen these storms change and turn into monsters!

The Parrotheads are in town.This is their week.

Parrotheads are Jimmy Buffett fans. And he has many of them! There are a couple of thousand in Key Wst now celebrating.

I assume they are called parrotheads because of the headpieces they wear. Many resemble parrots.

This is a Jimmy Buffett party. Buffett got his start here in Key West. But he does not often return to the parrothead party. He makes an appearance every few years. This year is not one of them.

Yesterday afternoon from 1 to 6 there was a big parrothead party at…..where else…..Margaretaville on Duval Street. The whole block was closed off. Music and people. A fun event.

My friend Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24 played for a couple of hours around 4 o’clock.

They were dancing in the street!

Lisa’s internet department store Via Key West continues to grow. I am packaging and running to the post office daily. The biggest seller so far are the Key West Lou T-shirts. Lisa’s internet site is www.viakeywest.com.

Tino and Maria are back. They spent the summer in Chicago. Tino was at bocci the other night.

Iguanas are not my favorite peiople…..animal…..whatever. They eat my shrubbery and deficate all over the place. I know few who like them.

However there are some who do. One is Alex Okinczyz. Many of you know Alex. I have mentioned him before. He is retired here in the keys. He sings and blows a horn with Larry Smith. A nice guy besides!

How he could like iguanas I do not know. But he does. And he went so far as to make a video of his iguana pets. He titled it “Dining with the Iguanas in Key West.” It is yours to enjoy or dislike. Actually, it was not too bad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCBnP_dzDLA.

The swine flu is a scare of major proportion. I recently heard rumors of cases here in Key West. Two bocci players are reported to have come down with it.

Be careful. Get your shots.

Notice the “s” on shot. You need two. The regular flu shot and the special one for the swine problem.

I got my first shot. My swine flu shot was scheduled during the time I was in Miami. When I returned, I telphoned my doctor’s office for a new appointment to get the swine flu shot. No appointmnet. The vaccine was all gone! I am on a list waiting for more to be delivered.

So I am a bit concerned. You should be also no matter where you are. Get your shots!

I am going to go out now and wait for the wind and rain from Ida to begin!

Enjoy your day!

Big day yesterday!

My first radio show and bocci!

The radio show went well. Or so I am told. I received about 15 e mails and a similar number of telephone calls. The e mails were from all over. Some from Key West, most from the States and one from Milan, Italy. The telephone calls were all local.

It looks like Louis Petrone presents the Key West Lou Legal Hour is going to make it.

I found the experience exciting! Never did radio before. My two guests made my job easy. Raieppe Avael and Tala Dutson were from the Southernmost Homeless Assistance League. Very knowledgable. Very helpful. Made my first time easy.

I was disappointed there were no call ins. I would like to mix it up over the telephone. In due course.

Next week I am doing a show on mortgage foreclosures. Something that affects most families and every area of the country. It should be a great show. Please listen in.

Bocci last night!

We lost 2 out of 3 games. We played a team that was tied with us. Both teams are fighting to get into the playoffs. They destroyed us in the first game. Beat us by 2 points in the second. And we beat them by 2 points in the third.

Every one played decent bocci, except for………………….Donald! Don, you said it was alright for me to say it in the blog!

Don celebrated a bit too much before he arrived for the games. And a bit more during the games. He is generally very good. Last night he had a Louis night as when Louis is off. It was hard for him to locate the polina on the court! But he did keep the ball on the court!

Such is life! We all still love you Don!

We still can make the play offs. There are 6 games left. I am told we have to win 4 of the 6. Sounds easy. Not. We shall see.

There was a strong wind last night. Came off the Atlantic. The bocci courts are on the Atlantic. I could feel the chill. Wished I had brought a sweat shirt. It was touching on cool and yet the temperature was 79 degrees.

This morning the wind is blowing big time. The palm trees are bending. The ocean waves are 2-3 feet. The wind is coming from the north.

I suspect the wind is the result of the bad weather up north.

There is a hurricane which has formed in the Caribbean. It is presently off Honduras. It is not expected to be a big one. It will hit somewhere in the Gulf. Perhaps the keys. We are not feeling the hurricane wind yet.

We have been lucky so far this year. No hurricanes. November is the last month for hurricanes. It would be a pain to have to put up with one at this late date. It is a pain to put up with one at any time. Regardless of its force.

November is not too late for a hurricane to hit Key West. In the last 10 years my recollection is Georges and Wilma hit us, both of which were big ones. I could be wrong on the names. But there were 2 November disasters.

Typical of Key West people, no one is worrying about this possible hurricane which could hit next week.

I am going to shower and then take a walk along the waterfront. Then I will treat myself to breakfast some where. The cupboard is bare again! I need a woman to shop for me!

Enjoy your day!

I spent the early part of yesterday running errands for Lisa. Her Key West internet department store Via Key West is up and running. She is getting orders. Some one has to package and mail out. I am that person.

The Key West Lou T-shirts continue to sell well. I mailed some more out yesterday.

Take a look at her site. www.viakeywest.com.

After doing my thing for Lisa, I went over to Borders for a while. I am reading Newt Gingrich’s new book on Washington crossing the Delaware. Gingrich was a history professor before he was a politicain. He has written historical novels before. This is the first of his I have read.

I am not impressed so far with the book. It moves slow. I am a history freak and have read other Revolutionary War books. By dramatizing the event, he belabors it. I will give it another day or two and see if it captures my attention. If not, there is a new Civil War book I will try.

The rest of the day was spent getting ready for today’s radio show. My first radio show!

I am excited!

Louis Petrone presents the Key West Lou Legal Hour!

Nothing runs smooth. Everything screws up.

I had two guests lined up for the show. Both had to back out. So I had to scramble to get two more. Fortunately I was able to. Both also are experts on the homeless situation. It is amazing how many people and organizations are involved with helping the homeless. Should be a good show. I recommend you listen. Actually, I hope you listen!

The show is at 1 pm Eastern Standard Time on Konk 1680 AM radio here in Key West. Outside Key West, it can be heard on the internet at www.konkam.com. Telephone call ins can be made at 305-294-2769.

I stayed in last night. Made myself a light dinner. And watched the Yankees/Phillies World Series baseball game.

I think the Yankees won. I say I think because I fell asleep during the seventh inning when the Yankees were ahead by 3 runs.

Hope I am correct that the Yankees won!

Enjoy your day! And again, if you have the time and/or inclination, listen to my radio show!

An interesting morning.

I was up early, as usual. I stepped outside. The sun was breaking over the water to the east. I could see the orange reflection in the water. I turned around. There was the white moon sitting in the sky to the west sending its white reflection running towards me on top of the water.

I was caught in between.

What a sight! God is good!

I spent the day yesterday working on my first radio show which is scheduled to open tomorrow-Thursday-on KONK 1680 AM radio. Homeless and the law is the topic of the day. Listen in! You will find it interesting and sometimes shocking!

Ally played soccer last night. I went over to watch. Four years old. She is good! And that is not just a grandfatherly recognition. She is focused. Runs fast. I could see her kick into high gear with her running when it was required. And she can kick the ball!

She even scored a goal!

Then to the Chart Room. Quiet after Fantasy Fest. Sheila and Dan there. We chatted about the parade. Sheila drove the pace car. Dan was driving a float. Good spots to do the parade from!

After Sheila left, Dan and I chatted about the homeless, banks and foreclosures. Dan is a banker. He will be a guest on the radio show when the topic is foreclosures.

I went to La Trattoria for dinner. Duval was crowded. Unusual at this time. Key West generally dies after Fantasy Fest till Christmas week. Except for this coming weekend when the Parrotheads arrive. Another story.

Anyhow, people were moving along the street in a joyous mood. And La Trattoria was full. People had a short wait for tables. The bar was packed. I was lucky to get an immediate seat.

Erin the bartender found the crowd unusual also.

Beecha was not there. Must have been her night off. I missed my hug and kiss.

I was home early. 9:30ish. Watched some election returns and fell asleep.

Tomorrow is the big day! My first radio show. Hope you will listen. 1 pm Eastern Standard Time. 1680 AM on Key West radio. Outside Key West and anywhere in the world, http://www.konkam.com/ on the internet. Telephone questions/comments during the show can be made to 305-294-2769.

Enjoy your day!

My radio show starts Thursday. At 1 pm. Konk 1680 AM here in Key West.

I am excited. I have never done a radio show before. So it is all a learning experience also.

I spent 3 hours at the radio station yesterday learning the nuts and bolts of what I am to do. It is not just speaking into a microphone.

I sit on a stool in a little room with all kinds of equipment. A big mike is in front of me. My guests sit across. They are partially blocked from my view by their mikes.

I have a panel in front of me. To control the volume for each speaker, including me. To my left is like a large clock. But in letters and words. Like a computer screen. I have to keep my eye on the time on that screen as I talk into the mike and chat with my guests.

Sounds confusing. I will problably screw up a few times. But I should have in down pat by the end of the first show.

The show is entitled the Key West Lou Legal Hour. Got to keep Key West Lou going!

My vision is for a 3 way format. I will talk. Express opinions. There will be a guest or guests. And telephone calls can be received. So remember to call in if you have a point to make or a question to ask. I don’t want to be left alone for an hour trying to come up with something to say!

Konk 1680 is an AM station. So it can only be heard in Key West proper. Once you are on U.S. 1, reception is lost.

Not a problem however. As long as you are not in your car. For everyone outside Key West, the show can be heard on the internet. All over the world. Amazing!

Go to www.konkam.com. Then to the upper left hand corner to a large read circle that says LISTEN. Put the arrow on LISTEN and press. I will be there!

So my dear friends all over the world, tune in via internet. It would do my heart good to know you are listening to me from England, Italy, Greece, Indonesia and where ever else. As well as the U.S.

Time is a problem. I am on at 1 pm Eastern Standard Time. You have to figure out what time that may be for you if you are not in my time zone.

Let me go over it again. It is the lawyer in me summing up.

In Key West, radio is KONK 1680 AM.

Outside Key West, it is the internet. www.konkam.com.

Telephone is 305-294-2769 (305-294-CROW).

Don’t ask me where crow came from. I do not know.

The first show is going to be on the homeless. Sounds dull. Is not. The homeless is a big issue from a legal perspective. You will be amazed how it impacts on not only Key West, but every community. It includes your pocket book as well as your conscience.

In subsequent weeks, I will be touching on criminal sentencing. Shades of the Acevedo cases. Also, the death penalty, gay adoption, gay marriage, Truman Annex, the waterfront Navy property, mediation, domestic issues, foreclosures, the court house, personal injury, the Mel Fisher story, code enforcement and what have you. Also based on a story in yesterday’s Key West Citizen, a show dealing with grouper fishing.

So hang in there! Stay with me! And listen to the Key West Legal Hour on Thursday at 1 pm!

Yesterday included more than the radio station. But not much. I was tired from not having slept well the evening before.

Lisa telephoned last night. The grandkids had just returned home from tricking and treating. Because of the Fantasy Fest parade Saturday night, families were asked to move Halloween to last night.

Robert and Ally apparently had a good time! Ally was on the phone shouting to me how much fun she had and how much candy she received. She said she was saving some for me! Good girl!

Other than that, I watched the Yankees get beat last night. I thought they had it made after scoring a run the first time up. But Philadelphia immediately came back to score 3 runs. I knew in my gut at that point the Yankees would lose.

The rest of the week will tell. The Yankees are up 3 games to 2. Philadelphia is good. I am nervous.

As Porky Pig of old was wont to say……That’s all folks!

Talk with you tomorrow!

Yesterday was a normal Sunday. Quiet and unassuming. Relaxing. The way it should be after several days of Fantasy Fest.

I stayed in bed in the morning. Watched Meet the Press. Then a couple of reruns of the Sopranos. My ethnic heritage causes the Sopranos to be compelling.

Then to Don’s Place! What is Sunday without Don’s place for pro football watching!

Most looked hung over. They were hung over! From the parade and partying the night before.

Ergo, it was quieter than normal at Don’s Place.

I never seem to buy enough groceries. The cubboard was bare again. So after Don’s I was off to Publix. And then home to put my goodies away.

This hour change thing had me screwed up. I was hungry and tired. But it was not time for dinner yet. So I took a nap. Solved one of my problems, at least.

Later I was off to Lisa’s for Sunday dinner. Robert and Ally were in costumes again. This time different ones. They had been to the children’s Fantasy Fest party at Bayview Park. Robert was some sort of spaceman. A cool costume. He had an air inflated chest. Ally was a 1950s girl with appropriate attire and black rim glasses.

The grandkids were very tired. The heat of the afternoon at the park and the extra hour had taken their toll. It was a quick bath after dinner and to bed for them.

TV was terrific last night. The World Series and Mad Men!

Glad the Yankees won. A good game. The Yanks came through in the last inning. They deserved to win last night.

It was 10 pm. I was trying to watch both the baseball game and Mad Men. I was switching back and forth between the channels.

I enjoy Mad Men. It is as it was in the 1960s. The show has some terrific writers. I do not know how they come up with the many sub plots. What imaginations!

The blond wife is getting ready to leave her husband. She was throwing him out last night. She thinks he deceived her (which he did) and that she is in love with another. She and the other have been together a total of 3 times and have exchanged 2 kisses. He tells her he wants to marry her. She believes him.

Only 2 shows left for the season. A rude awakening ahead for her!

After the game and Mad Men, it was around midnight. I should have been exhausted. I was. But I could not sleep.

I came up with an old movie on TV. 42nd Street. It came out 76 years ago in 1933.

42nd Street is one of those cute musicals of the 1930s. Most intertesting were the actors.

Warner Baxter starred. Who remembers him? I did. He was a dramatic actor type back then. Disappeared by the 1940s.

More interesting were the stars yet to be. The actors in the film who had smaller or very small parts and later became big time Hollywood stars.

Dick Powell was one. He had a second banana type singing role. By the 1940s he had given up singing and was a respected dramatic actor.

Ginger Rogers! Fred Astaire’s dancing partner in several movies. And a big time star in her own right in many films through the 1950s. She had a nothing part in 42nd Street. She was just part of the chorus.

And Ray Bolger. Ray was the straw man in Wizard of Oz. A dancer. He later starred in many films, Broadway shows and on TV. He, too, was merely part of the chorus in the film.

I finally fell asleep around 2 in the morning. And it is not even 6 am and I am up writing this blog.

Me thinks I am going to be tired this day!

Enjoy!

Yesterday was Halloween. It was for all practical purposes the end of Fantasy Fest.

Lisa and Corey brought the grandkids over to visit me in the afternoon. Robert and Ally had been to a costume party at the Botanical Gardens.

They were both dressed as pirates. Cute!

And they had a huge bag of candy goodies. They brought the bag in to share with me. I had my choice. I took a couple of crunch bars and a bag of M & Ms.

I was not in the mood to watch the parade last night. I have probably seen 15 Fantasy Fest parades over the years. Even rode on a float once.

I wanted just a touch of the parade.

I had made plans to meet Marty at Cafe Marquesa at 8 for dinner. Marquesa is just a block of Duval where the parade would be going by.

Parking is a big time problem. 80,000 people in town for the parade. Most with cars.

Corey was helpful. A good son in law. He suggested I drive to his home, leave my car there and he would drive me where ever I wanted to go. And then he would pick me up.This guy is a gem!

He dropped me off a half hour early for my meeting with Marty. So I opted to walk the block to Duval. The Duval corner is where the La Concha Hotel is located. The parade had not reached there yet.

Remember Fantasy Fest is an adult party. Even though I was not in the mood to stand around for 2 hours watching the parade, I did want to get my fill of almost totally naked women. A man I am!

As I walked toward Duval, I passed a massage parlor. Two lovelies with next to nothing on walked out and proceeded toward Duval ahead of me. Wow! What a start to a voyeur experience!

I only stayed at Duval a couple of minutes. Too many people. A zoo. With many topless women milling around!

I headed back to Cafe Marquesa. Marty was at the bar. His wife Donna was in for the weekend.
It was good to see her again.

Maggie was bartending. A lovely young lady. She has worked at Marquesa for several years.

I noticed as I sat down at the bar a table of 3 couples by the window. They appeared to be wearing little by way of clothes. The women had short sarongs covering their bottoms and spray paint covering everything else. The men wore next to nothing also.

These people were my age. One of the men was very distinguished appearing. He had on a white loin clothe with a slim thong string running up his derriere. And a black bow tie. Nothing else.

The law permits bare female breasts in the area of Fantasy Fest. However they must be spray painted or covered with pasties. Men and women must have their genitals/bottoms covered however.

Maggie told us the table of six were from a Carnival ship which had docked friday evening and was to leave at midnight last night. My recollection is it was the Carnival Miracle.

The Carnival ship was a nudist venture. I was told 3,600 nudists were on the vessel for Fantasy Fest as part of its voyage. Another wow!

The table of six enjoyed themselves. Clothing apparently has nothing to do with an enjoyable eating and drinking experience.

Costumed people came in and out of Marquesa all night. It was an exciting evening!

I had not dined at Cafe Marquesa in quite a while. I am glad I did last night. My meal was absolutely delicious! I had a strip steak. Normally I would eat only half. But the taste was so spectacular, I finished the whole thing!

When dinner was concluded, I telephoned my son in law Corey. Our game plan was that he would pick me up when ever I was ready. Ten minutes later Corey arrived.

I was home in bed before 10. And I had a wonderful evening.

Today is sunday. Technically the last day of Fantasy Fest. Some small parties yet to wind the event down.

My sunday will be a normal one, however. Meet the Press, the sunday newspapers, Don’s Place for pro football and then dinner with Lisa and the family.

I hope your day will be as good as mine!