TALK WITH LOUIS TONIGHT

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Tuesday again! The week moves swiftly. Tonight is my Tuesday Talk With Key West Lou show. Blog talk radio. Listen or call in on the internet. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Everything discussed. Some of the topics tonight may involve sequestration, what the Italian election results mean, Syracuse basketball, Pope Benedict’s resignation, austerity v. stimulus, and Time Magazine’s recent article regarding outrageous medical bills.

You can call in to chat with me. Disagree or whatever. If you know before hand that you will be calling in, I suggest you do it 10 minutes before. Calls are taken in the order received. If you decide to call in while the show is on, do so. There may not be anyone in line waiting.

The show is a mere half hour. Interesting and exciting. Insightful. You will enjoy!

If you have not read last week’s Time magazine article on why medical costs are killing us, do so. You will be doing yourself a favor. It is an eye opener. Steven Brill wrote it. The article is available free on the internet.

A thought occurs to me. If hospital and doctor bills are so far out of line, why do the insurance companies pay them? A thought inspiring question!

This morning’s news tell us a hot air balloon blew up over Egypt. Twenty one passengers on board. Eighteen killed.

Three years ago while in Arizona, I took an air balloon ride. First time. Looked interesting.

There were 19 of us on board. What appears to be a small bucket under the balloon, is really large. Compared to the ballon, it is small.

Hot air balloons have captains that operate them. The process involves fire and gases. Wind actually is a minor component. I asked the captain if the balloons ever blew up. He said, “No way!”

The Italian election results are in. No clear winner. There will probably be another election in a couple of weeks.

The decided loser was present Prime Minister Monti. His party received less than 10 per cent of the vote. So much for austerity as far as the people were concerned.

Berlusconi and Bersani’s parties ran closely together. It is doubted a coalition government can be formed.

The why  I am sharing this information with you. Fifty seven per cent of the Italian people voted in effect against austerity. Their cry could be labeled as stimulus over austerity in order to recover economically.

The election results will have an immediate heavy impact. The euro is in trouble.  European banking as a whole is in trouble. It is doubtful Germany will be paid back any monies in the immediate future.

My day yesterday started with the dentist. Again. I have another appointment thursday.

I visited with Lisa afterwards.

In the afternoon, I wrote two short stories. The Bakery and Grandpa Asserts Himself. Both will be in the book of short stories I hope to publish at some point this year.

The Chart Room in the evening. David and I had some interesting discussions. Especially regarding the Academy Awards. We disagreed on who looked good and who terrible.

Mary was bartending. She joined in the talks on occasion.

I wanted to do more after I left the Chart Room. I walked over to Sloppy Joe’s. Sloppy’s is not one of my favorite places. I rarely go there. Too crowded and too noisy for me.

I had a drink at the bar. The place was packed with tourists. It is the music that bothers me. I guess  have gotten old. I left after one drink.

A reminder again. My blog talk radio show this evening at 9. Please join me, if you can.

Enjoy your day!

 

DEPRESSION ABOUNDS

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My heart cannot take much more of Syracuse basketball this season! It is constantly in my throat.

It is a game by game situation. One good game followed by three bad ones. Not good for my health!

Yesterday blew me out. Syracuse played long time foe Georgetown. I expected a close game. The Vegas line had us up by 7. Syracuse lost by 11.

What bothers me is why we lost. I read a couple of reports on the game this morning. No one is calling a spade a spade. Syracuse lost because it could not play against Georgetown’s zone defense. Plain and simple. Syracuse could not get a decent shot off from any where.

Boeheim says the team did not shoot well and that is the reason for the loss. With all due respect, it goes a step further. We could not penetrate effectively against Georgetown’s zone defense. That is why Syracuse did not shoot well.

Coach Louis suggests Syracuse practice big time over the next few days as to how to play against a zone defense. I see a lot of teams utilizing the zone defense against Syracuse in future games.

Son in law Corey has been affiliated with the Mel Fisher Museum for about a quarter of a century. He is the Museum’s Chief Archaeologist.

Corey has come up with a brilliant idea to educate people as to the wonders of underwater ship discovery and subsequent restoration. Mel Fisher will be scheduling evening get togethers to explain how a ship wreck is discovered and the ship and its contents restored. An interesting process. I have already been exposed to it.

The cost for an evening of fun and marvel is $20 per person. Do it alone, with your better half or with a group of friends. Telephone 305-294-633, extension 22, for reservations.

Big day today!

Frankie the Plumber had massive heart surgery recently. He is still mending. A fundraiser to help with the medical costs is being held this afternoon from 1-6 at Don’s Place. Everyone come! Frankie is the best of the best.

Then tonight the Academy Awards. I love watching the award show every year. Will be doing so this evening from the comfort of my bed.

Italy’s national election starts today. It is already underway. A two day event. Will end tomorrow evening. I am curious to see the direction the Italian people take.

Sloan and I worked together yesterday morning. She is educating me step by step. I am getting pretty familiar with my tablet. Published my first photo on Facebook. A big deal for me!

The Chart Room first last night. Peter and JJ there. Peter and I had a good discussion concerning Block island. He sailed into Block many times. I did a couple of times and also rented homes a few summers. A great place for a summer vacation!

Tourists included a Delaware couple and a group from Cleveland. All were repeat visitors to Key West. Having a terrific time!

JJ was surprised I was doing a TV show. He happened upon it friday morning. He had to run so he taped it for future viewing. Another viewer! That makes 3. No, I am joking. Fortunately, many are enjoying the show. From 35 different countries roughly.

There was no room at Outback. I walked over to the Chinese restaurant for dinner. I should not have. Ate too much. Enjoyed every morsel, however. I will have an extra 2 pounds of water bloat for a couple of days.

A very old friend and I crossed paths again. Dee. I met Dee for the first time 25 years ago.  The last time I saw her was 10 years ago. We ran into each other friday evening.

I mentioned to Dee her face, eyes and neck looked strange. Bloated. I wanted to be delicate. Our first meeting in 10 years. She could have gotten fat. I doubted that was the cause, however.

Her eyes were puffy slits. I asked if she was taking steroids or had a thyroid problem. No.

Whatever, I roused Dee’s concern. She went to the emergency room yesterday afternoon at 2 and was released at 10 in the evening. She was on intravenous and got two shots in the butt during that time.

Dee has a cat. Her cat would not come out from under the bed. Dee reached in for the cat. The cat scratched her arm several times. Whatever cat infection can occur, Dee got. Supposedly very dangerous. Gets in one’s glands also. Can be fatal.

I told Dee she owes me. I saved her life.

Enjoy your sunday!

 

 

BOCCE SEASON BEGINS

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Nothing is more important than bocce! Except the grandkids.

The new bocce season began thursday night. I missed it. I was at the Key West High School watching Robert and Ally perform in the Wizard of Oz.

My team did well without me. They won all three games! Hopefully the start of a terrific season for us.

My TV/internet show was yesterday morning. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. It is supposedly being You Tubed. I am not certain if yesterday’s show was. It has been sort of hit and miss. I am trying to have the situation corrected.

My discussion of Time Magazine’s brilliant article on why medical bills are killing us was the most popular. Without peer. Steven Brill’s article is an eye opener. All 18 pages are available free on the internet. I suggest you read it.

The cupboard was bare. It was Publix time. I forgot to buy a lottery ticket.

I wrote next week’s column for KONK Life. Titled it A Little Bit Of Everything. I quick hit on several topics venting my feelings about the issues. Things like the Key West $17 million lottery winner, Key West being one of four cities nationally where women earn more than men, China and cybertheft, sequestration, and Berlusconi and sunday’s election.

A pleasant evening last night.

There was supposed to be a showing of Jack Baron’s works at the Joy Gallery on Duval. I walked up and down the street. Could not find Joy Gallery. The phone book said 1100 block of Duval. Not there. I will telephone today to find out where it is. I suspect the gallery has moved.

I have 15 Jack Baron pieces. Jack has been dead 6 years now. I am curious what the market is for his work.

The Chart Room was next. A good group of friends. Emily, David, Peter, and Sheila. Shared a couple of drinks and decided I was hungry.

Walked across the street to the Hot Tin Roof. Wow! All the people! Even in the bar area. Fortunately, I was able to grab a table in the corner.

Big time basketball this afternoon. Syracuse and Georgetown. At 4. At Syracuse.

The Syracuse/Georgetown rivalry is well known. Many hard fought games over the years. No more league play after this season, however. Syracuse is leaving the Big East.

The teams have played each other in Big East ball for 33 years. Today is the next to last game. Two weeks from now Syracuse and Georgetown will meet once more at Georgetown.

The end of an era.

Today’s game will be typical. Hard fought. Down to the last minute. Syracuse is ranked #8 nationally, Georgetown #11. That says it all.

In recognition of the admiration Syracuse fans have for the rivalry, it was announced earlier this week that the game at the Carrier Dome was sold out. 35,012 people expected. The most ever for a home Syracuse basketball game.

Son in law Corey has a big deal starting up at Mel Fisher’s. It is for the benefit of those interested in slave ships, merchant ships, discovery of both beneath the surface, and how the treasure discovered is restored.

I will share more with you in tomorrow’s blog.

Enjoy your day!

MINIMUM WAGE AND WORKING POOR

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Another great Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday! I love doing the show. God is good!

My minimum wage dissertation interested many. Especially when tied in with the working poor. The topic drew the most response post show.

Yesterday’s show is available 24 hours a day on You Tube. A few You Tube wrinkles still being worked out. However, it is there.

I wrote next week’s KONK Life column. On the minimum wage. Tied it into the working poor. Felt the issue was newsworthy as so many people seemed to be into it. I liked the completed article. Published it immediately on Amazon Kindle as well.

Key West experienced one of those monsoon type rainstorms thursday night. My cell phone was charging at the time. When I took it off charge after the storm, everything was screwed up. The face was different. The icons different. Nothing where it had been. I could find nothing. Could not even figure out how to call out.

After yesterday’s show, I went to Verizon to get the phone fixed. There was no problem. At the same time as the storm, Verizon was changing over to something new. That is why my phone was as it was. It was not broke.

I was not intertested in the new format. I was comfortable with the old. I wanted the phone changed back to the old system. No way, I was told. You have to use the new. So teach me, I said. It took all of two minutes.

Mechanically inclined I am not. I get nervous when something changes or goes wrong.

Visited the Chart Room alone last night. All the people! We are into a three day holiday weekend. Tourists arriving in droves.

I saw Peter sitting by the wall. I joined him for a drink.

Had a date. Jenna at eight. Picked her up. We headed to Ambrosia for dinner.

Jenna never eats. Runs 5 miles a day or roller blades. I should be so thin!

She eats sushi, however. More than me! We had a good time. Sipped champagne along with the meal.

I had not been to Ambrosia in a couple of years. I prefer Orgami for sushi. Not because of the food, but the ambiance. Very calm and settled. Whereas Ambrosia is a modern high ceilinged emporium with a Las Vegas flavor. Interesting and pleasant in its own way.

I had seen in the paper earlier in the week that the Bottle Cap was having a ’50s, ’60s and ’70s music night last night. From eight to midnight. Apparently for the old folk such as myself.

Jenna was really not interested in going. She is a mere 27. Not here type music. She went to accomodate me.

The Bottle Cap was empty. At 9:30. Only Jenna and me. The bartender said no one had come to the event. They were not even playing the old music when we arrived.

Jenna and I had one drink at the bar and left.

Remember Becha? My Becha! The manager at La Trattoria for years. No more. She is now working at Bottle Cap. After a 20 year run at La Trattoria. We hugged. Love her hugs. Intoduced Becha to Jenna.

I dropped Jenna off. Then to Don’s Place. Don had telephoned earlier and said drop by.

Don and I spent a long time at the corner of the bar chatting. Without a doubt, Don is one of Key West’s nicest people.

Syracuse basketball tonight. Against Seton Hall. Eight o’clock. I will be at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Pub. John is doing a Syracuse night. Free pickies during the game!

The meteor that zoomed over Russia is some thing! The news reported it had the force of 30 Hiroshima atomic bombs!

Betweem now and the game tonight, I am going to screw off. Just lay around. My body is telling me to do it.

Enjoy your day!

NORTH DAKOTA OIL BOOM…..WOW!

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Very interesting evening last night at the Chart Room!

Che and Peter engrossed in conversation in the corner with a couple from Las Vegas. Dorothy and Doc in for a drink. Mary bartending.

Me, I met Kevin from North Dakota. What an education I got! Learned so much! I want to share every morsel with you.

Kevin owns a small company that manufactures drill bits. He sells world wide. He is on vacation in Key West with his wife Sheila. First time. They love it!

He and I really got into North Dakota. Recall news over the past couple of years of building an oil pipeline running from Canada to Louisiana. Build or not to build the issue. Environmentalists strongly against it. The pipeline was an issue in the recent campaign.

North Dakota is presently benefiting from an oil boom. It would benefit even more if the pipeline were built. The pipeline would create thousands of good paying jobs up and down its length in the United States..

Here is what Kevin told me.

Young men just out of high school are earning $100,000  a year. Work a 60-70 hour week. Employed as roughnecks.

Wal-Mart is not know for generous wages. Wal-Mart pays its stock clerks $17 an hour.

MacDonald pays $15 an hour with a $300 sign up bonus.

There are presently 3,500 unfilled jobs. People are coming from all over to fill them. Kevin told me he sees many Florida plates.

Kevin lives in Williston. Five years ago it had a population of 15,000. Today, 50,000 and growing.

The United States is in an economic recession. We need jobs. Plain and simple. To build/extend the pipeline to Louisiana would create a ton of jobs. Good paying ones.

It is the eternal clash. I was an environmental attorney. I understand the importance of protecting our lands from damage caused by corporate greed. However on occasion the pendulum must swing when there is a greater need. In this instance, jobs!

The rest of my yesterday was not as exciting as my conversation with Kevin. I did the dentist thing again. Will be doing it for a while yet. Pain still there. However, minimal. Read a small news piece in the Key West Citizen about a Senator Stephen R. Mallory. From Key West. He as a US Senator in the 1850s. Came the Civil War, he went the other way. Joined the Confederacy where he served as Secretary of the Navy. Mallory Square is named after him.

The python hunt ends monday at 5. 1,500 hunters involved. Through last friday, a total of 50 pythons killed. Does not seem to have been worth the effort.

Pope Benedict XVI is retiring at the end of the month. I find his retirement strange.  I do not buy the age/health argument. Last Pope to retire was around 415 AD. I think it has more to do with the ongoing Vatican Bank investigation involving money laundering. Time will tell.

The Olympics have decreed wrestling will no longer be one of its sports. Beginning with the 2020 Olympics. What are they going to replace it with? Foosball?

I did my blog talk radio show this morning at 7. Still not enough people calling in. I had one this morning. It was over the Pope’s retirement. I am considering trying a new time. If it does not get enough call ins at a later time, then it is me. I would not have been cut out to be a blog talk radio host.

Enjoy your day!

 

ROBERT GOT A BASKETBALL

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Stopped at Lisa’s yesterday morning. Robert was on the porch. He had a basketball. We played catch. He threw the ball well. Caught it well, also. I had him dribble. Did well at that also. However, he kept looking at the ball. He told me that maybe his Dad was going to erect a basket on the palm tree in front so he could play. We talked. I told him it was better to go to Bayview to play on a real court.

Ally had no interest in basketball. The first time she has not wanted to do what her brother was doing. A sign of maturity. She is growing up.

Then to the Plantation Coffee House. Owner Diane working. A nice person. The place was busy. The sign of a good season.

Those of you who have visited my home know I let the mail collect for months on the kitchen counter. Looks terrible. Makes me look lazy. Yesterday afternoon, I cleaned it up. Went through the last 30 days. The rest got dumped.

The Chart Room last night. Another good evening! Sheila, Sean, and Peter. Met Katherine from Michigan. We talked basketball. She is an avid fan. Dorothy and her husband came in. I chatted with Dorothy. Turns out she, her husband and children were frequent visitors to Club Meds world wide. I did a few in my younger days. We compared notes.

It was time to eat. I walked across the Pier House property to the Wine Galley. Larry Smith was playing the piano and singing. Had a light dinner at the bar. While I was sitting there, Katherine from Michigan showed up. She was not following me.

College basketball continues to be crazy. #3 Michigan got beat by Wisconsin. Friend John at the Big Ten Sports Pub had to be excited. He is a Wisconsin  grad. Louisville lost to Notre Dame in five over times. Wow!

Syracuse plays this afternoon. At 3. St. Johns. I will be watching at the Big Ten Sports Pub.

Enjoy your Sunday!

OH, THE PAIN!

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I told you yesterday that my implant problem kept me in the dentist’s chair three hours. No problem, however. No pain. All mechanical.

I was kidding myself!

Oh, the pain! Last night, all night. I was back in the dentist’s office this morning at 8. I think everything is ok now. I hope.

It is 9:30 my time now. The Key West Lou Legal hour starts at 1o. Watch, if you can! I prerecorded the show wednesday.

The show can be seen on television throughout the Florida keys and all of Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Also available world wide via the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

If you miss the show this morning, no problem. It is now available on You tube 24 hours a day. Just click on You tube and type in Key West Lou Legal hour.

My only stop last night was the Chart Room. The while world was there! It was fun time. Except for my mouth. As I was sitting there, my mouth, jaw and ear started hurting. Bad! Like bang my head against the bar time.

I left and headed home. Two aspirins and to bed. Aspirins no help. I fell asleep after a while.

What a college basketball season! Another #1 ranked team has fallen. Indiana got beat by unranked Illinois 74-72. The #1 spot is turning out to be a bad luck place to be.

Some years in some leagues, all the teams are basically good. It is called parity. Is parity extending to collegiate basketball nationally?

Enjoy your day!

 

THREE HOURS IN DENTIST CHAIR

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I am very late with today’s blog. I am starting it at 2 in the afternoon. Sorry.

I had to be at the TV studio at 8 this morning. Need producer Jenna and engineer Krystal to do  my show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour is normally broadcast live at 10 on Fridays. This weekend presented a problem. Krystal is leaving tonight for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Ergo, my show had to be recorded this morning for viewing tomorrow morning.

Show recorded. Then hurried to a 10 am dental appointment. My implants were not working again. I spent 3 full hours in the dentist chair having them worked on. Thank God the problems were mechanical. No pain and suffering involved.

I did not have the time to do this blog before I left for the studio. It is now 2 in the afternoon and I am getting to it. I was in the dentist chair till one.

Spent yesterday afternoon writing another short story. Malocchio. A southern Italian version of the evil eye.

Last night was the Chart Room first. Emily, Che, Peter, and David at the bar. We were like at each other’s throats last night. Each a little edgy. Even Emily. I would give David a pass. He is incapable of speaking harshly to anyone.

The comments were sometime biting. We concluded at the end of the evening that we were a bit out of sorts and that we still loved each other.

I had to eat. Where? Did not want much. But craved real food! The diet hangs over me like a black cloud.

I went to 5 Guys. Did good. Ordered one cheeseburger with some veggies on it and a diet Pepsi. No fries, no peanuts.

I ate the cheeseburger by itself. No roll. Pushed it to the side.

Afterwards I thought….. What a good boy am I!

Please watch the Key West Lou Legal Hour tomorrow morning. Ten my time. Televised through out the Florida keys and Miami-Dade County via Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Available on the internet world wide. www.tvchannel19.com.

Since I have already done the show, I can guarantee it is a good one! From Super bowl to Mickelson to Mc Cain to a young female defendant who gave a Judge the finger and told him f–K you to an analysis of Greece’s today problems to the illegality of women wearing pants in Paris to a German Cardinal announcing that new morning after pills were ok for German Catholic women to take in the event of a rape to more. All good stuff. Even a touch of the French and Indian War.

A major announcement. I am finally and definitely on You Tube. I verify it. I saw me myself.

You tube is carrying my friday TV/internet show the Key West Lou Legal Hour. Go to You tube and type in Key West Lou Legal Hour. The last two weeks are already in. Tomorrow’s show will allegedly be posted after the show’s scheduled completion. The shows will be aired 24 hours a day. So if you miss a friday or have not been able to watch at 10 friday mornings, You tube is available to you.

The You tube material has some kinks. Not many. All curable I am told. My show is done in five 8 minute segments. The show has been posted with each segment appearing separately. When Krystal returns from Mardi Gras, her first assignment is to make the show one segment.

That’s it for today!

Enjoy your thursday!

 

CHELSEA CLINTON

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The mystery has been solved! Chelsea Clinton was in Key West in recent days. Peter was correct that he saw her jogging at Fort Zach beach.

Key West Golden Girl Jean Thornton is home in Atlanta at the present. She knew. She emailed me yesterday to say Chelsea Clinton was in Key West to interview Judy Blume for NBC.

I believe I was the only one to publicize her presence. The newspapers even did not know. I spoke with one. I was told they could not verify her presence.

Two significant points are to be made. Peter has good eyesight and always believe Peter.

The more interesting question is who is Judy Blume? I never heard of her. I say this with shame. I googled her. She is a big deal. Must be if she was interviewed by the likes of Chelsea Clinton.

Judy Blume has had a home in Key West for years. She is an authoress. She has sold more than 80 million books. Her books have been published in 31 languages. The most famous was Tiger Yes, which also was made into a movie. It reached #3 on the New York Times Best Seller List. She is also a two time cancer survivor.

I asked the Chart Room regulars if they knew or had heard of her. The oracles of Key West lore. None had, except for JJ. He knew who she was and his wife knew her personally.

I felt less ashamed at that point.

It is amazing. You think you know everyone. None of us really do. I would like to meet this woman. I probably will.

It is not strange that another author of prominence would have settled in Key West. The home one time of Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee  Williams.

I walked the seaport yesterday. Bustling with tourists. It is a good season!

Afterwards, I stopped at the Plantation Coffee House. Enjoyed a cup and read the newspapers. The place was crowded. On the porch and inside. Another example of the large number of tourists in town.

Then spent a few hours at home preparing for this morning’s blog talk radio show.

Last night, it was the Chart Room first. Sean, Katherine, Che, Peter and JJ. Katherine and I had an interesting discussion about generations and what each expected from life. The boomers representing the age of entitlement. I enjoyed her perception of her generation’s expectations. I am not sharing them yet. I want to have a further conversation with Katherine on the issue first. I was finishing my second drink and my memory is a bit hazy.

I was hungry. Decided to eat out. A treat! Desired a prime rib. Headed to Outback. Too early. The place was crowded. No seats to be had anywhere, not even the bar.

I walked a 100 feet to the Chinese restaurant. Why not? It had been a long time. I destroyed myself. I could not get enough. My taste buds were alive.

Remember the five weeks I spent in Greece last summer? I visited Athens and four Greek isles. I reported getting stuck 3 extra days on santorini and 6 days on Armogos because the ferrys were not running. The seas were too high.

Today’s news carries a story about the Greek ferry boats. The ferry boat employees have been on strike for six days.

Understand that the ferry boats connect the islands. Most do not have airports. It is the boat or nothing. The ferry boats serve the Greek isles as the subway serves New York City.

The ferry boats also carry necessary supplies such as food, gasoline and other every day necessities. In some instances, even water.

Without the ferry boats, inconvenience and possible disaster.

The employees are on strike for pay arrears and monies they have lost because of austerity measures. It all has to do with the euro and Germany. More than half of Greece is unemployed. Things are tough. Going from bad to worse.

A side observation involves the Greek Nazi party. It is known as the Golden Dawn Party. On the rise in Greece. Won seven per cent of the vote in last November’s elections. It is thought if the elections were held today, a mere three months later, the Nazi party would come in a strong third. In a country where coalition government is the way, such gives the Nazi party big time clout.

The party operates similar to Germany in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Anti-Semitic, anti-immigration, convinces its followers Auschwitz was not a bad place. One of the party’s messages is speak Greek or else. Immigrants are beaten. Their homes and places of business vandalized.

These things bother me. That is why I share them with you. As a people, I believe we must be more aware of what is going on in the world. A global existence today. The problems of a far away nation may be ours tomorrow.

Syracuse beat Notre Dame last night 63-47. I did not watch the game. I did not know it was on.

The new national rankings came out yesterday. Syracuse is still in the top ten. Ninth and 10th in the two polls. I was surprised. I thought surely Syracuse would drop to 12-14. It only means most of the top teams are having problems. Misery loves company.

Verbose today. Sorry. I had much on my mind that I wanted to share.

Enjoy your day!

MY FIRST MEAL

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It has been ten days since I ended my diet. Since then I have been extremely careful about what I eat. In reality, I have consumed small portions of this and that. Never anything even close to a meal.

Till last night. I did it big!

A prime rib, baked potato (no butter) and steamed vegetables. No bread. Ate it all! My plate was clean at the end. It was as if I had not eaten in ages.

I was at the bar at Outback.

Renee sat next to me. Originally from Ghana, she now lives in Homestead. She went to college here in Key West for two years. Then elsewhere to get her bachelor degree. Now she is working on her masters via the internet. She works with blood donations in the keys. Brings her to Key West once a week.

Interestingly, she has never given blood. Needles scare her.

I started the evening at Don’s Place. Don, Herschel and Mike there. Nancy came in later on. I was happy to see Mike and Nancy again. About two years ago, they pulled up stakes and returned to Pennsylvania. They are back! Everyone is is thrilled they are!

My next stop was the Chart Room. Captain Peter and Charlotte. The lovely Charlotte from North Carolina that I wrote about a couple of days ago. Even more striking last night! Mary was bartending. Business was slow. The four of us chatted a while.

I did my blog talk radio show earlier this morning. My sixth week. It is a talk show. Not enough people are calling in, however. I end up talking with myself. No fun. I have heard myself before and know what I think.

I can tell there are a number of people listening in. From all over. Even one from Italy and one from South Africa this morning. There are stats on the computer screen providing and updating the information during the show.

Call!!! I feel like a woman waiting for a recent date to call back. Not nice.

A tragedy occurred in Key West sunday. Sailboats were engaged in the annual Wreckers Race. The weather was warm. High 70s. However, there was a strong breeze coming in from the north east. The wind at times gushing 30-35 knots.

The Schooner Hindu is a Key West icon. Seventy five feet. Has the highest mast in Key West. Besides racing, it takes tourists out for sunset cruises.

Hindu’s mast snapped. People were injured. Ambulances all over.

The incident occurred off Fort Zach beach. Captain Peter spends his afternoons at the beach sunning and reading. He was watching the race. He saw the mast snap and fall. Peter is an experienced seaman. He said the gusts were too strong for boats to be out there.

Enjoy your day!