SYRACUSE BASKETBALL AT LUKAS’ BIG TEN PUB

 

Syracuse fans who visit Key West! There is a new place for watching Syracuse basketball. John Lukas’ Big Ten Pub. Located on lower Caroline Street.

You have previously joined me at the Sports Bar on Green street. It is no more. Closed. In the meantime, John Lukas opened a new  sports bar. Fortune shined on us. The place is terrific!

The season has started. San Diego State is behind us. I stopped in to see John last night at his sports bar. I made the deal for the season. There will always be at least one TV set aside for Syracuse viewing. The same one. We have our own corner, tables and chairs. It matters not whether pro foot ball or other sports are playing. Syracuse basketball will be available! Guaranteed!

The food is good, also. Extra good.

We need a Syracuse flag. I told John  I would get one. The flag we had at the other bar was supposed to be returned to me. Never got it.

You will like John. He is a gracious host.

My yesterday started with a hair cut at Lori’s Blown Away. I was surprised when I walked in. Lori was finishing up Lisa. A pleasure to run into my daughter. I asked how Ally did after I left the day before. Lisa said she redid everything per my instructions. Ally was thrilled with the result. A good grandfather am I!

I had Lori trim my beard a bit. Not much. Under the chin and neck. I had more hair on my neck than on my chin.

I researched and read till late afternoon. I had a 4 o’clock appointment at the Comcast TV studio. Jenna and I fine tuned the physical portion of the show. The dark/night background is gone. A light orange replaces it. Chairs were changed, etc. Crystal the engineer and owner Rick helped.

Everything should work properly this friday. I consider  friday my first show. Four minutes last week was not enough to qualify. We are doing a run through this afternoon to make sure everything is A-OK.

The show….. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time friday. Available on television in the Keys on Comcast Channel 87. Available world wide via the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

I stopped at the gas station on US 1 and Key Haven. A Sheriff’s car sitting there. Out jumped Matt Dowling. Matt is an old friend I see not enough. He is obviously a deputy. We were both glad to have run into each other.

The Chart Room was interesting. JJ bartending. The only other customer besides me for a while was Dan. I met Dan last night for the first time.

Dan is manager at the Sunset Pier Bar.

The three of us chatted. Dan’s wife is Sheila. Sheila is the bartender at the Hot Tin Roof. I told Dan how I once judged a high heels contest at Vino’s. Sheila was in it. Very high heeled red shoes. He recalled. Says she has never worn them since. We decided women buy a lot of clothes they rarely use.

Some how the conversation got around to Cape Cod. JJ spent his wedding night at the Chatham Bar Inn. I stayed at the Inn once or twice a summer for several years. A great place.

We chatted about another Dan. The Dan presently the manager of Hogsbreath. Formerly manager of the Yacht Club. I shared that Dan was once the manager of the Impudent Oyster in Chatham.

A small world.

Then it was to John Lukas’ sports bar. While there, I watched the first half of the Michigan State/Kansas basketball game.

I finished watching the game at Don’s Place. A close game. Michigan State won. Terrific basketball! Unusual this early in the season.

An Italian friend emailed  and told me that Italy would have a demonstration today. I was told the papers were not even reporting it for fear the demonstration would get out of hand.

Italy is six hours ahead of us time wise. The demonstration has already occurred as I write this blog. Thousands of people. No reported injuries or damage.

Turns out several countries demonstrated yesterday. Greece, Spain and Portugal included. The people of each country are sick of the austerity programs being imposed on them. They have had two years of austerity already.

Germany’s Chancellor Merkel visited Italy monday. She was not welcome. The Italians are beginning to dislike Germany as the Greeks do. Germany is the banker.

If it were not so serious, it would be a joke. Germany is never going to collect all the dollars it loaned. Did Germany pay back the heavy reparations following World War I? Of course not. There is only so much that can be done in spite of promises made.

I have an appointment to see a dermatologist later this morning. I  developed a growth on my back. It is going to be cut out. Ouch!

Enjoy your day!

 

SUNDAY

 

I sometimes think I have too much on my plate.

Yesterday, I worked on the Epilogue to my trip. The photos. Still organizing and selecting. A real task when there are 600 pictures.

Work done, I decided to go to the beach. Read the Sunday papers and look at the lovely ladies.

I went to Higgs Beach. My intent was to sit in my sand chair a couple of hours. Then walk over to Salute’s for a fish sandwich.

It was not to be.

Higgs Beach stunk! In fact, most of the Atlantic side beaches smelled. Including Smathers.

Like dead fish.

It was Isaac getting the last laugh. Isaac had thrown seaweed and fish life onto the beach area and beyond. You could see where the water had come over the sea walls. The sidewalk and grass still had sun bleached brown sea weed splattered about. The water at Higgs Beach was also a disaster. Brown. Isaac had churned the bottom. The water not yet settled.

No Higgs Beach for me!

I drove to Fort Zachery Taylor Beach. Also on the Atlantic. But around the corner of the island. Fort Zach’s Beach was clean. I could see my toes in the water. There was no smell.

The beach was packed. Everyone out enjoying a lovely Sunday. Many probably transfixed from Higgs to Fort Zach.

Dinner last night with Lisa and the family. Robert and Ally a joy. As always.

Part of the meal consisted of corn on the cob. Robert had no trouble devouring his the normal way. He has teeth in front. Ally does not. Lisa had to scrape the corn off the husk for Ally. Ally put away two cobs of corn in that fashion.

Stopped at the Chart Room for a few drinks. Knew no one. All tourists.

Duval was also packed with tourists. In Key West enjoying a fun filled weekend. Merchants had to be happy. The visitors were.

Enjoy this last day of the Labor Day Weekend!

 

A POLITICAL JUNKIE’S DREAM

 

Last night was stay at home time. Layed back in bed and watched the Republican convention.

Ann Romney impressed me with her charm and delivery. She was every woman last night. She connected with the ladies in the audience and at home.

What she failed to do was reveal to the world the personal Mitt Romney. Nothing about their personal life, his time with their children as they grew up, etc. Other than he was a support during her medical problems, Romney the husband was missing in action. As was Romney the father.

Cris Christie did a terrific job for Cris Christie. His speech left me confused. I thought a keynoter’s purpose was to speak of the Presidential candidate and knock the opposing candidate. Not last night.

Regardless of the presentations, it was my kind of night. I am a political junkie. It was thrilling to watch. Even if the two main speakers did not go on till 10 and after. I am genrally asleep well before 10.

Key West missed the bullet with regard to Isaac. Isaac stayed a tropical storm and passed over our island quickly. Now over New Orleans, it is a #1 hurricane and is stalled for a couple of days. New Orleans is getting beat up again. Even Al Roker was taking a beating. Some day one of the hurricane TV announcers is going to get hit by a flying piece of metal or wood. Then they will all do what we do when a storm approaches….stay inside!

A special luncheon yesterday. With Robert and Ally. 5 Guys! Fun! They both had bacon on their burgers. Lisa is still not buying real bacon. The grandkids are hooked, however.

I later took them for a walk at the Weston Pier. Robert and Ally had watched Isaac on TV. They had seen Al Roker. I took them to the spot on the pier where Roker was announcing from. They could visualize it all.

I wanted to do something special with them. We talked. We agreed it was a visit to the new Pet Store on the Boulevard. The former location of Borders. We wanted to see the pets that were for sale.

The parrots and cockatoos excited them. The baby mice freaked them out. The ferrets, also.

The tropical fish were the big item of the day. There were many. The grandkids were impressed.

We were disappointed there were no puppies.

I drove Duval both ways going and returning from Weston’s. Duval was basically deserted. Less than that. It is the same every year at this time. It is the first week of school. Ergo, no family visits. Parents are broke. Spent their extra money on school clothes. It is stay at home time for them.

Wrote a bit later in the afternoon. I have found the grandkids are inspirational for my writing.

Enjoy your day!

ISAAC ONE MORE TIME

 

Isaac is long gone. The aftermath good weather. Yesterday was magnificent. Today will be also.

I said yesterday that Isaac had been a nothing. I was wrong. It did cause some problems. I did not know till last night when I visited the Chart Room.

Before I tell you, let me say that whenever it rains heavy, the street in front of my home is flooded. One foot or more. It did not flood at all during or after Isaac.

Duval did, however! Front street, too! Plus some side streets. Anywhere from one to three feet.

I did not know. I never read yesterday’s local newspaper. At the Chart Room everyone was talking about the street flooding. Some showed me pics on their cell phones.

Two vessels took a beating. One was a large power boat. Sank in the water at the dock. Ass end up.The other was a sailing boat that somehow sailed off unmanned and got damaged.

Wind direction has been peculiar the past two days since Isaac passed. It is coming from the southeast. The wind normally comes from the east, northeast or northwest. When it comes from a southerly direction, bad weather is on its way. There was no bad weather yesterday and none is anticipated today.

I am sure this southerly wind has something to do with Isaac. Just cannot figure it out. Isaac is now way to the northwest of us heading for New Orleans.

Good friends Don and Chris are in town. We got together last night at the Chart Room. They hail from the Syracuse area. Don is involved with solar panels. He spends most of his time in China selling solar panel products. Chris works for the same company. She is in charge of marketing. The two travel together on many of the China trips.

Don got promoted! He is now a Vice-President. Congratulations, my friend.

Sheila, Sean and Katherine were at the Chart Room, also. Three great people. We chatted a bit.

The honeymoon is over. Robert and Ally return to school tomorrow. I am taking them to lunch today to celebrate either the end of their summer vacation or the beginning of school.

Enjoy your day!

LONDON CREDIT CARD PURCHASE…..NOT ME

 

Received a call from my bank yesterday. Did you make a credit card purchase last night in London? Such and such a place for x number of dollars?

Not me. I have not been to London in six years.

Someone uses my credit card and now I am inconvenienced. My card is cancelled. I have to wait seven days for a new card. The bank will permit me to withdraw cash. But cannot give me a new card with a new number for a week. Does not make sense to me. Lisa’s credit card number was hacked a month ago. Her bank gave her an immediate temporary card good till the new one came in. I must be doing business with the wrong bank.

Talk of hurricanes has begun.

There is a tropical storm out there. If it reaches hurricane speed as anticipated, it will be named Issac. TV started reporting yesterday that Issac could hit Tampa just before the Republican Convention next week.

I checked Issac out on the National Hurricane Center site. No one yet knows where the storm/ hurricane will hit land in florida, if at all. The present projected lines take it over the keys and south Florida. However, all projections mean little at this point. It will take five days more before somewhat valid projections can be made.

I suspect the news media embellishes a bit. Issac hitting Tampa and the Republican Convention is newsworthy. Reality is not.

Key West natives will start talking a bit. Will it hit? The same conversation for each hurricane. No one panics in spite of the projections. We are getting porky the last couple of years. No Key West hurricanes the past six years. Ergo, all foul weather news is received with a cavalier attitude.

I was involved with a fender bender last week. The construction on the Boulevard being the actual cause. Had to take my car to to a body shop. Every one told me to go to Cooper’s on Stock Island. I did yesterday morning. An impressive operation. Large and efficient. Staff whether office or garage smiling and gracious.

I have a rental. A Chrysler convertible. Nice!

The grandkids came over to swim after “school.” School was to have commenced yesterday . They attend Montessori. Two weeks ago it was discovered some walls and windows were defective and could fall. The building could no longer be used. A new facility was found directly across the street. It needed outfitting for class rooms. School has been delayed a week. Actual school. Instead, the kids are being taken to Botanical Gardens to spend their days. I asked Robert if he really went to school or played. He smiled…..played.

Went to the movies last night. Had a light dinner at home so I could enjoy a bag of popcorn.

The movie was Hope Springs with Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones. A must to be seen by all couples married more than 25 years. Tommy Lee Jones played a different part for him. An Academy Award nomination performance.

Phyllis Diller died yesterday. Ninety five. A comedian from the 1950s through 1970s. Eccentric hair and an unusual laugh. Referred to her make believe husband as Fang.

Diller became a hit while doing 23 shows with Bob Hope. Shows that were performed in war zones. This activity was followed with numerous appearances on The Jack Paar show. She became big time! Every one in America knew her.

May she rest in peace.

Missouri’s Todd Akin…..What can I say? What can any one say? What is important is that every one understand there are many people who believe as he does. The religious right has twisted and demonized some truths regarding abortion. The result is the lie becomes the fact. And a prominent citizen and Congressman  believes it and mouths it.

That’s it for today.

Have a good day!

ALMOST GOT A TICKET

Hogfish for lunch yesterday. A Cuban sandwich. Good! First time I had one there. Read the newspapers.

There were very few people. I could not understand why. Then it hit me. Owner Billy Mangello opened a pizza parlor this week three blocks away on Stock Island. Everyone had to be there. The waitress agreed with me.

As I was turning onto MacDonald Road, I improperly cut around a tourist bus. I did wrong. Within seconds I heard the siren. A motorcycle officer pulled me over.

I immediately said…..I know I am wrong…..I got tired of waiting for the bus to move.

The officer and I chatted a bit. I reiterated once more I was wrong.

He was a gentleman. Gave me a warning. Told me he saved me $260 and 3 points. He told me I was wrong, but that the bus driver was slow to move. That he was in training to be a bus driver.

I lucked out.

Robert and Ally were in the pool when I returned home. With Corey’s father, Curtis. Grandmother Karen was sitting nearby. They are visitng for a couple of days.

Needed a pedicure. The last time I had one was on Mykonos. The day I got hit by the car.

I enjoy Tammy’s company. Nothing gets by her. She knew Jenna and I had been out together Saturday night. Jenna is her customer, also.

Worked on Friday’s internet show. The key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 am my time worldwide. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

Some interesting topics. Like the woman who tried to break into jail, babysitters averaging more than twice the minimum wage, a reason not to hide cash in the oven, woman who got butt injection with cement died / the person giving the injection charged with manslaughter, and You Tube nailing a speeder.

Plus, a run away camel on a Dubai highway, gay voters a significant block, the recent Greek election and media reports, the Postal crisis, a person pursued by police hides in a septic tank, Brazilian court orders Chevron to stop drilling or face a fine of $244 million a day, Columbus leaving Spain’s Paloa for the Indies, the first day ever opening of the Saratoga race track, and more.

A good show in the making.

Sloan visited me in the evening. We worked on the 600 pictures of my trip. We have them down to 100 for the proposed epilogue.

I thought I was done with the dentist last week. After 1.5 years. I was wrong. I am not. Have pain. Big pain. I have a 9:30 appoinment this morning for another adjustment.

Enjoy your day!

SCREWED AGAIN!

Bend over folks. It is happening again. The American people are being screwed.

I apologize for the descriptive words used. However, I want there to be no doubt about what is about to be reported.

TV, the radio and newspapers will be redundant today with the announcement of the possible failure of the U.S. Post Office. The Post Office has a $5.5 billion payment due wednesday and a $5.6 billion payment due in September. It will not be able to meet either. Unless of course there is a Congressional bailout.

How did this crisis come about?

There is no question e mails, Federal Express and other new methods of communication have had their effect on the Post Office. But not to the extent as another cause. The major cause!

The Republican Congress in 2006 passed legislation that Bush 2 signed into law. It was the Postal Accountability & Enhancement Act. It requires the United States Postal Agency to pay $103.7 billion into a fund. The purpose of the fund was to pay health benefits of Postal retirees for seventy five years. You read it correctly! The law compels the post office to prepay retiree health benefits for seventy five years.

As such, the law requires the prefunding for people not yet even in the employ of the Postal Service. Perhaps not yet even born.

The most egregious part of the legislatioon is the time frame within which the $103.7 billion is to be paid. Payment is accelerated. It has to be paid in full by 2016. That means within ten years of its becoming law.

What went on in the back rooms of Congress and the White House, I do not know. How such stringent legislation could be passed is difficult to comprehend.

What happened?

Whatever it is, it is happening all over again. It is one surprise after another.

What I am about to express is not a political statement. Rather it is fact.

The American public has been caught sleeping again. Just as it was when Republican power deregulated banking rules which assisted the mortgage crisis to occur, fight Obamacare which would provide health care to most Americans, and got us into an ill conceived war in Iraq. The same Republican Party that is attempting in several states to cut the pensions of public employees.

Bottom line. The present postal problem is a Congressionally created deficit approved by President Bush only six years ago. It was lunacy to assume such a large 75 year obligation could be funded in full in ten years. Or maybe not lunacy. More like they did not care. Or maybe were not paying attention.

Before this day is out, the Republicans will be shouting that the plan was self funding. It payed for itself. Smoke and mirrors. It was a gigantic give away that has blown up in everyone’s face. Sooner than anyone conceived.

I was going to get into the price of gasoline this morning. A gallon of regualr has dropped $.20 in one week. Good. But how? Normally it moves the other way. Upwards and more expensive.

My day yesterday was good. Blossom’s for lunch. Cuban cheese toast and coffee. Watched the Olympics with the grandkids. Wrote in the afternoon and evening. Never got out.

Pay attention today as this postal crisis develops.

Enjoy your day!

MY SUNDAY

I cannot say yesterday was busy. It just moved along at a slow steady pace.

It was Sunday. Sundays are meant to move slowly.

I was up early. For no particular reason. Did a little research.

Sloan came by. We spent three hard hours working. From getting my new print machine to talk to the computer to further organizing the trip pictures.

My afternoon was spent in front of the TV watching the Olympics. Upsets were in the air.

Lisa showed up with Robert and Ally to swim.

Dinner last night at the Yacht Club with Lisa, Robert and Ally. It was Spanish night. Lamb! Excellent! As was the chicken.

After dinner, I stopped at Don’s Place. Chatted with Rob, Erika and Herschel. Herschel into day 2 of no smoking. He was hypnotized two days earlier. Herschel looked a bit worse for wear. He said he felt alright. It appeared to me the nicotine deprivation was taking its toll.

Toni was at the bar. She thanked me for the day by day rendition of the trip. Said she read every one. With a map at hand.

Published another article on Amazon Kindle. Under Key West Lou Law. The title: No respect For Women. The two culprits Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.

Hannity recently had a black man on his show that said the root of America’s problems today result from women having the right to vote. Would you believe!

Limbaugh does not like NOW. He has started sort of an opposition organization. Rich Babes For America. Note he refers to the membership as “babes.”

If you are a memebr of Amazon Kindle, read the article. It is interesting and stimulating. If not a memeber, join. Only $.99 a month. I receive $.33 of that amount. I should publish a book about how to get rich by writing!

They are here! Donna and Terri arrived last night. Never saw them. They arrived while I was sleeping. They are still sleeping this morning.

Enjoy your day!

A SUMMER SATURDAY IN KEY WEST

Lisa had given me my marching orders. I was babysitting for a couple of hours Saturday morning so she could get her hair done.

Robert and Ally were waiting for me. I told them Pepe’s or Harpoon Harry’s for breakfast. They had never been to Pepe’s and were a bit reluctant to go. I said…..you must go. We went. No room at the inn. I did not want to stand on the sidewalk waiting for a table. We walked down the street to Harpoon Harry’s.

Robert and Ally were comfortable there. They had been to Harpoon Harry’s many times. We had a long slow breakfast. Talked of many things important to children. Like Disney World. I asked if they knew Bugs Bunny. They did. I told them how Friday was his birthday. He was born on July 27, 1940. His first film came out. Wild Hare. I explained to them what a hare was.

Returned the grandkids to Lisa. Went directly home. Worked about three hours writing. Tried to do it outside. Could not. Too humid. Exceptionally humid. Worked inside in the comfort of air conditioning.

Needed a break. Drove to the Plantation Coffee House. Enjoyed a cup of coffee and read the newspapers.

When I returned home, Lisa and the grandkids were in the pool.

Jenna and I went out together last night. My date!

Jenna had not seen me since my return from Europe. My beard blew her out. She liked it.

We hit the Chart Room first. JJ, Frankie and Che there. Jenna and I did not communicate much with them. She was interested in my trip. It consumed our time at the Chart Room.

Dinner was at the bar at Michael’s. Suzette bartending. I had the veal chop special. To die for. Jenna had the coconut shrimp appetizer. Jenna is a cheap date. She does not eat.

We had a good time at Michael’s. Besides the trip, Jenna brought me up to date on her activities as a TV anchor.

I dropped Jenna off after dinner and headed over to Don’s Place. It was next to empty. Kurt bartending. We chatted a bit.

Erika and Herschel were shooting pool. Herschel had been hypnotized earlier in the day. He is trying to stop smoking. It might work. He snuck a puff or two afterwards and upchucked.

Sloan is due later in the morning. I have a lot of catching up to do.

Tonight the bands will play and the drums roll. Donna and Terri are returning. They will be my house guests for ten days.

Enjoy your Sunday!

AVALANCHE KILLS SIX NEAR CHAMONIX WHERE I WAS TWO WEEKS AGO

My sleeping is all screwed up. Still feeling the effects of jet lag. I am into day 3. Yesterday was not bad. I thought I was on the mend. Today, I feel like a brick wall fell on me.

I was shocked when I read the news on the internet this morning. There was an avalanche in the Alps near Chamonix, France. Six killed.

I was there two weeks ago.

I stayed a week in a valley that sits half way up the Alps. An Italian town. Courmier. A half hour drive away is Chamonix, France. Chamonix is in the Alps, also. I spent two days in Chamonix.

The Alps are big! Bigger than anything I have ever seen!

The vally was in/on Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc is not one mountain. It ia range of mountains consisting of eight or eleven peaks. I cannot recall the exact number. One of the peaks itself is called Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc peak is the highest in the Alps and Europe. The third highest peak is Mont Maudt. Some people were attempting a climb to the peak on Mont Maudt. An avalanche occurred which killed six people.

I recall that each of the Molnt Blanc peaks was covered with humongous ice glaciers. One morning when I woke and stepped outside, the glaciers and a good part of the mountain top wrere covered with a snow which had fallen during the night. As I was driving into Chamonix that morning, I noticed the temperature was 11 degrees C., which is something around 29 degrees F. At the time I was at least a mile below the peaks. So cold it was and cold enough to snow.

It was Lori time yesterday. Did I need a haircut!

For the past two years, my head has been shaved. While on my trip, I did not get a haircut. My hair was shooting out all over the place when I sat in the chair yesterday. I told Lori….I want the keep the hair. She trimmed it accordingly. Looks terrific!

Lori wanted to trim my beard a bit. It is now six weeks old. I was hesitant. It is not full grown yet. I had her only tidy up the neck portion.

I look like one of the Smith Brothers. How many of you remember the Smith Brothers?

Had lunch with two of my favorite people. Robert and Ally. They picked I Hop. While I enjoyed two eggs and toast, Robert devoured a Philly cheesesteak sandwich and Ally a huge cheeeseburger. God bless young appetites!

Tomorrow Rolbert goes to Miami Children’s Hospital for his semi annual check up. Then Saturday he is off on a week’s vacation under the auspices of Miami Children’s as he did last year.

Robert was born with cancer of the liver. He had two major surgeries the first eight days of his life. At Miami Children’s Hospital. Robert survived. Miami Childen’s and God saved him.

Last year Miami Children’s started a program to take those saved on a fantastic one week vacation all over Florida. Robert enjoyed it. He returns this year for another such trip.

Robert still sees the same doctors who worked on him during those early days. When one doctor was asked why the trip, the docotor explained…..we lose so many…..we want to celebrate in a happy fashion those saved.

I slept yesterday afternoon. I am letting my body call the shots.

I did go out around 5. I wanted to see my friends.

First stop was Don’s Place. No Don. For whatever reason, he did not even play golf yesterday. Kurt, Herschel and Herschel’s brother were there.

Kurt generally wears a bushy white beard. He said I needed some trimming. He agreed with Lori. Herschel has some hair on his face. He thought mine looked good.

My next stop was the Chart Room. Home coming time!

Emily bartending. Love Emily. One of the nicest and sharpest people I know. She reads this blog every day. Knew my trip intimately.

Captain Peter was there. Peter is not into computers. Does not own one. He knew I was in Europe. The other Chart Roomers kept him up to date regarding the trip.

Captain Peter has been everywhere in the world. He is British born. Now an American citizen. Has been to Greece, Italy and France. He chatted with me for a while about the Greek isles he has visited.

The Captain was excited. He had purchased a van while I was gone. Took me out into the parking lot to show me. It gives him a land place to sleep when he is not on his boat. The boat is moored two miles out. Some nights it is difficult to find. I fear Peter is going to end up in Cuba one of these days.

Sheila greeted me with a hug and kiss. She keeps up with the blog daily, also. Sheila drives one of Ed Swift’s conch trains.

David came in. Good to see him, also. A loyal reader. He wrote me several e mails commenting on the blogs while I was away.

The newlyweds arrived. Sean and Katherine. Just returned from their honeymoon two days ago. Both happy and rested. I owe them a dinner and wedding present. Next week.

While they were luxurating on a Caribbean beach, an announcement was received that Sean had won some sort of junior type Pulitizer Prize for an article he wrote. Sean is a newspaper reporter.

Tourists Mark and Kimberly at the bar. They were taking in the conversation about my trip. They joined in.

Mark and Kimberly are from Columbus, Ohio. A great place! I did legal work there as a young attorney.

Mark works for Ford. Kimberly is a school teacher. Mark a Republican. Kimberly I am not sure. However, it was evident she was an unhappy trouper. Ohio’s Governor had tried to cut back on some of her teacher benefits.

Mark and I got into it briefly on a friendly basis. Kimberfly kept telling her husband to be quiet. He was not and I was not. We had a polite exchange. This is their third year in Key West. They have stayed at the Pier House each time. They are becoming locals.

Then it was early home to bed. Jet lag ruling the evening.

I learned from Herschel that our bocce team did not make the playoffs. We ended up in 5th place. Need to be in the top 4 to qualify for the playoffs.

There is bocce disconnect. Some teams/players are upset with each other. As a result there is no bocce banquet/party scheduled.

Who would think people know of Watertown? A city in the northern part of New York. About 80-90 miles from Utica. I mentioned yesterday that I had run into Ryno. I said he used to live 14 miles away from me in Watertown. I must have been screwed up from the jet lag. It is Waterville. A ton of you corrected my misstatement. Thank you.

I am back as regards my internet show, also. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Friday at ten in the morning my time. Worldwide. Join me. Besides hearing my enlightning words, you can see my new beard.

i am going to touch on many topics tomorrow. Including Greece and the euro. As I reprted in the trip blogs, the problem has the makings of a World War III. It is incindiary. I was there and personally observed the feelings. I plan on sharing some trip highlights, also. It should be an interesting show.

Enjoy your day!