NO QUESTION…..FANTASY FEST IS HERE

 

Without a doubt, Fantasy Fest has arrived! In all its naked glory! That is how I know!

Today’s discourse will be limited to last night at the Chart Room and a brief walk down Duval thereafter. Any more would be too much to relate.

I arrived at the Chart Room just after 5. About four people there. Tourists. They had ridden bikes in the Zombie Ride the day before. The Zombie Ride celebrates its third year as part of Fantasy Fest. It originally was conceived for locals. To give Key Westers something to do on Sunday before the avalanche of Fantasy Fest guests arrived.

Somehow, and properly so, the tourists have discovered the Zombie Ride. Over 4,000 bicycle riders participated in a ride through Old Town and along Duval. Bikes decorated in scary type zombie taste. Most bikers stopped frequently along the route to indulge.

The four in the Chart Room had participated. They were thrilled with the event!

Merri was bartending. She was a guru re the Zombie ride. Knew its brief history and some strange stories attached to the ride.

Merri told me the Pier House was sold out. For the week! I have a sense that this is going to be one of the best Fantasy Fests for the merchants in many a year.

Two couples came in from the pool. In their bathing suits. Middle aged. Happy as hell! One said they were drinking their way back to their room.

Peter arrived. He has been doing Fantasy Fest for more than twenty five years. Not this year. He is off to Melbourne this week to visit a lady friend. Preferred the quiet, he said.

A Princess of the Chart Room arrived. Charlotte! With  boy friend Skip. This is the second time in weeks they have  visited. Charlotte said it is here fourth trip this year and plans on making another one in December. She and Skip are from the Carolinas.

They are into Fantasy Fest. Participated in the Zombie Ride the day before.  Charlotte had a 2 x 1.5 inch spider web tattooed above her breasts. I did not recall ever having seen it. It was a temporary one. She had it put on for the Zombie Ride the day before.

Sheila arrived. Freshly returned from her vacation in Cancun. Looked rested, looked terrific. Not staying long. She is off in a day or two to visit her girl friend Sandy in Houston. Sheila is another Key Wester escaping Fantasy Fest week. Same as Peter. Must be something in the air.

Jean and husband Joe arrived. Jean is the Key West’s Golden Girl! She discovered gold while diving with Mel Fisher. Changed her life.

The Chart Room was now packed. People were moving about as if at a cocktail party. Charlotte returned to chat.

Charlotte told me she and Skip were going to a kink party later in the evening. Kink? What do you mean kink? A BD/SM party. At Dirty Harry’s. An appropriate name.

Charlotte was chatting with Peter and me at the time. She told us her costume would fit in her clutched fist. That small. She then showed us a picture of her in the costume on her cell phone. She would not need to use her entire fist. Wow!

I am constantly surprised by things people do. I am still on Charlotte. It is not the BD/SM party I am referring to. It is what she did the weekend of October 12 and 13. Charlotte ran in 2 marathons back to back on consecutive days. 26.2 miles each time. The first was in Hartford, Connecticut, the second in Newport, Rhode Island. She told me it takes her about five hours. However, the Newport one took an extra half hour because she was tired from the day before.

All this transpired in 1.5 hours.

I decided to walk Duval a bit. Only three blocks. To the Bull and Whistle and back.

I saw a few topless ladies on the way to the Bull. I saw many more on the return trip. I guess good viewing and  timing go hand in hand.

The women were of all ages. From the early 20s into the 50s. Breasts spray painted, of course. All happy and giddy. And proud!

The return trip also revealed several couples obviously dressed for the BD/SM party. Women for this type event appear to wear generally less clothing and next to none. A couple of pasties on the breasts and a g string covering on the lower front.

I enjoyed it all!

By Saturday, there will be hundreds,  if not thousands, of women walking around bare chested.

Tonight is my blog talk radio show. I hope I can keep my mind on it. Only joking.

Nine o’clock. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I will be talking about the computer glitch involving Obamacare, the U.S. spying too much, governmental waste, and I do not know what else at the moment. Join me. You will enjoy.

Maybe I will chat briefly about Fantasy Fest.

Enjoy your day!

 

A NIGHT AT THE CHART ROOM

 

Yesterday began with an early morning visit to the bank. Then immediately home. I spent the entire day inside working on tomorrow’s TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

Great topics! With all the foolishness going on world wide, how could it not be! Stories like a tiny Eurasian country that announced its Presidential election results the day before the election, the shut down, Catholic Bishops out of line, and an update regarding the Vatican bank corruption scandal.

Plus, ATM changes, additional government waste examples, chemical weapons destruction in Syria, Greece considering grabbing personal bank accounts (shades of Cyprus), the great Social Security theft, global warming and walruses, and more.

The show airs 10 in the morning my time. It can be seen from Key West all the way up to Boca Raton via television on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Worldwide via the internet. www.weyw19.com.

My first stop last night was Don’s Place.

A new bartender/barmaid. I am not sure which is the politically correct designation. A lovely young lady. I am embarrassed to say I do not recall her name. Next time.

Spoke with Jimmy. Where is Joanie, I asked. In Colorado. Her only son is getting married. Have a wonderful time, Joanie! For the past year, she has spoken to me on several occasions about the type and color of dress she should buy. I listened.

Hershel, Stan and Frankie at Don’s, also. Bocce discussed. We play tonight.

The Chart Room was the hit of the evening! I met and chatted with old friends and new friends. David, Peter and Emily friends of old. I am always happy to be with them.

Several of the new friends were women. No disrespect to the others, but Raylene  touched my heart! She was waiting to meet me. She told me she reads my blog every day and watches my TV show on You Tube. Thank you, Raylene!

Raylene and her husband Gary are from Garden City, Kansas. Five children, five grandchildren. They visit Key West once a year. This trip they rented a small private home in Old Town.

Raylene has been a county treasurer back in Kansas for 27 years. Gary is a general contractor. He builds the big ones. Hospitals, colleges, schools, office buildings, etc.

Gary is on his way to being a true Key Wester. He has not shaved since he arrived. He is half way to a beard.

After Raylene and Gary left, I chatted with Sarah and Chris. From Nashville. Sarah is a librarian in a middle high school. Chris, a corporate pilot. Interesting people. They are staying at the Casa Marina.

It seemed like I was moving down the bar. I finally got to talk with Dave and Nadene. Parrotheads! Obviously love Key West and Jimmy buffet. They have visited Key West many times. They hail from Columbia, Maryland.

Dave is a retired printer. Nadene is employed by Liberty Mutual as an administrative assistant. They have two boys.

Dave’s time if filled with the Parrothead world and the PT Cruiser world. Dave paints cars to reflect Key West. Air brushes most of them. His private vehicle is a 2004 PT Cruiser GT Turbo. He drives it around Columbia and all over the country to PT Cruiser events. Dave custom air brushed his personal PT Cruiser to reflect his passion for the Jimmy Buffet/Parrothead life style.

Dave has a website re his car and Buffet/Parrothead activities. You may want to take a look. www.HemisphereCruiser.com.

For me, it was a long night. Went directly home from the Chart Room. Had something to eat and then to bed.

Enjoy your day!

 

GOVERNMENT WASTE

 

People want to know! They should know! Where their government is wasting taxpayer dollars.

I decided to talk a bit each week on my TV/internet show about tax dollar waste. Provide a few examples.

Yesterday was the first day of this new portion of the show. Besides the story I enjoy repeating about the U.S. Senate’s private barbershop which loses $500,000 a year, I threw in three other juicy morsels. One had to do with the House of Representatives approving a $2.6 million study to determine how to teach Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly on the job. A winner!

The House is the outfit that recently voted to cut $40 billion from the food stamp program.

Feed back following the show indicated the waste examples garnered the most interest. Easy to understand.

The Chart Room first last night. Emily bartending. I enjoy her company. Even more, her popcorn. The best!

Chatted with Peter and Sheila. Sheila will be off to the Mexico/Cancun area wednesday for a few days. Good for her!

Sean and Katherine came in. They have been traveling frequently of late. I told Sean enjoy it. When the first baby comes, it is all over! He laughed.

Met an interesting couple. Ian and Kaylin from Scotland. Actually, the Island of Erin. It is off the west coast of Scotland. Ian is a builder and his wife works with him in the office.

Scotland. He must play golf, I thought. I was wrong. Ian does not play golf, even though there are seven golf courses on his island.

Ian, Kaylin, and their family have visited Key West often over the years. They are Key Westers at heart.

I sat a while in the Pier House lobby. Reading the newspapers. A comfortable setting. I have done it several times lately.

The next stop was Don’s Place. Bocce partner Frankie was there. He looks good. You will recall he had a couple of heavy heart surgeries several months ago. Died on the table during one of them. He just returned from three weeks in Mexico. The trip did him good. He looked like the Frankie of old.

Chatted with two of the guys from the team we beat thursday night. Good people. We agreed the water soaked clay decided the match, not talent. It was throw the ball and hope it gets somewhere near the polina. In some instances, three feet was a victory. We were luckier than they were. They drank more Polish brandy than we did, also. A contributing factor to our victory. A planned one. Hershel deserves the credit. It was his idea.

Decided on Outback for dinner. No room at the inn. Including the bar. I figured at least a 1/2 hour wait. Not my cup of tea. Instead walked down to the Chinese restaurant nearby. A mistake.

I enjoy Chinese food on occasion. I ordered the wrong dish. I wanted orange chicken. I got screwed up and ordered lemon chicken. A disaster!

Lemon chicken consisted of thin slices of white meat buried in fat. The final product resembled small pancakes. A similar color, also.

Awful! I ate half the meal before giving up. The lemon chicken did not give up. I was uncomfortable till 4 this morning.

I am interested in seeing the new movie Gravity which opened this weekend. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Sandra is an astronaut who breaks way from the outside of her ship or something while fixing it in outer space. The story is about her floating around and what experiences she had. The big question being did she survive. The movie is in 3D. Has to be terrific! The reviews all say it is a winner.

Saturday evening is not the right time to go to the movies. Too many kids. I am going to shot for tomorrow night. Probably will invite Jenna to join me.

Syracuse/Clemson this afternoon at 3:30. On ABC or NBC. Hope the game is aired here in Key West.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

SATURDAY…..STARTED SLOW, FINISHED FAST

Outstanding weather this morning! Again , no breeze. Is it a sign of anything?

My yesterday started slowly. However, I did enough last night to make up for it.

I wrote my blog late in the morning. After having laid around in bed a couple of hours longer than normal. Made myself a sandwich. Read a bit. As I was reading, I noticed how tired I was getting. It was just after 1. An unusual time for me to be tired. I did the normal. I went to bed. Slept till after 4.

Whatever the reason, it was a good sleep and I felt much better afterwards.

Don’s Place first last night. Several bocce team members there. Hershel, Stan and Erika. Nate and Michael, also. Bocce was the topic of conversation. Whereas I believe we have to concentrate more with every shot, Hershel believes we have become complacent. Whatever. We are talking about the problem which is good. Hopefully, it will help us win.

Then to the Chart Room. JJ and Peter for company.

JJ had some beans that were soaked in apple cider. Good! No, great! He buys the apple cider, cooks the beans himself, then puts them in the apple cider to soak. Great flavor!

I was hungry. Where to eat? What did I want to do?

I decided I would like to watch the Alabama/Old Miss football game. Not at home. From somewhere crowded with people yelling and screaming. I went to John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Pub. I sat at the back bar, enjoyed fish and chips, and watched an excellent game. Old Miss looked good in the first half. Not in the second when Alabama ran away with the game.

I was impressed with the number of people in the place. Absolutely packed! Everyone drinking and eating. I told John how pleased I was that his investment was working out. He had a gleam in his eye. If anyone deserves success, it is John.

Syracuse did not play yesterday. A week off. Next week Clemson! Number 3 in the country. It would be terrific if Syracuse won. Though I doubt it. I expect the Vegas line to be 30 points at least.

I have to comment on the Washington situation. They are all crazy! Lunatics! Like kids playing at a game. They forget people’s lives and pocketbooks are at stake.

Silvio Berlusconi is up and at it again! He is a shrewd politician. Here I am complimenting him when he is doing the same thing the Republicans are here.

A Court decides this week if Berlusconi keeps his legislative seat. He has two felony convictions. Berlusconi must be nervous. He sent a letter to his followers yesterday. An Italian  friend wrote me about it. He wants everyone to come to Rome tomorrow or the next day. He will pay everyone’s way. To demonstrate on his behalf. He wants the Court to recognize his power and back off.

Berlusconi’s party is a close second in power. Italy’s President is of the opposing party. The President cannot stay in power if Berlusconi yanks his party’s support away. It is coalition government. Berlusconi has threatened to have his party’s five cabinet members resign. The result would be turmoil. A new election would be required.

Politicians everywhere play hardball. Whether the U.S. or Italy, if you do not play the game their way, they threaten to take their football and go home.

A local criticism. Regarding the Key West Citizen. I have recognized of late that Key West’s only daily newspaper publishes little if any  news of major public events. I especially noted it this past weekend when the Poker Run got next to no mention. I think two photos.

From what I gather, it is all over money. Apparently, Key West’s weekend events do not or are not paying to run ads. Advertising!

The situation is a shame. I do not know who is right or wrong. The public is screwed, however. Locally and nationally. Many read the Key West Citizen via the internet. Key West has a special place in many hearts.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

FIRST SNOW

 

I woke this morning to learn that Montana has the distinction of being the first place in the U.S. where snow fell this year. Last night. The pics on TV showed heavy stuff.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour was yesterday morning. My TV/internet show. The topic that garnered the most interest surprised me. It was my dissertation regarding Pope Francis and his evidencing that he is a flaming liberal. I thought my comments regarding Congressional waste would be #1.

All comments concerned the Pope. Not one about Congressional waste. Could be people are so fed up with Washington that they pay little to no attention to anything about them any more. On the other hand, the Pope is a breath of fresh air. He appears to be energizing peoples of all faiths.

Per my usual custom, I visited the Chart Room first last night. Emily was back from vacation. It was good to see her. I like Emily. Even more, I like the popcorn she makes. A little extra butter and a bit more  salt. Emily spent ten days vacationing on a hilltop in Ashville, North Carolina. She showed me some photos and videos she took with her cell phone. A beautiful place!

Sheila and Corey at the bar. An English family at the table. I did my hellos. They were leaving so I could not get any background information on them. I wish they had stayed longer. I would have enjoyed talking with them.

Then a drink at Don’s Place. Don, David, Michael and John in attendance. Don and I spoke of bocce. What else! We lost all 3 games thursday. I think we are in last place. Should not be. We are a better team. A much better team. One of our problems may be we know we are good. Ergo, we do not concentrate with each shot. We toss the ball figuring it will go where it is supposed to. It does not.

Bocce continued to haunt me. I went to Publix. After 9. Quiet. A good time to shop. I ran into two different ladies at opposite ends of the store who play bocce on thursday nights, also. Of course, they wanted to talk bocce. One proudly said we won all three games thursday. The other, we won two out of three. I humbly responded each time we lost all three. Tough!

I am distressed by this morning’s news regarding Greece. I find the Greek Nazi party, the Golden Dawn Party, totally reprehensible. Bad people. However they were legally elected. The third largest group in the Greek Parliament.

The government arrested the head of the party and 17 other high party officials yesterday. Warrants out for 20 others. The arrests were without question politically motivated. The leaders were arrested for basically being bad people.

I continue to believe from my early Catholic education that…..The end does not justify the means. You just do not go out and arrest the opposition. It is the same as has been happening in Egypt. What has occurred could unleash unrest on the streets and violence. Plus whatever else .

The Euro Commission and Euro Central Bank are said to have been consulted prior to the arrests and were in support of them.

I fear bad events are in the making.

Yesterday’s Key West Citizen had an interesting item in its Keys History section. On yesterday’s date in 1955, there was a motel price war in Key West. A bad one! Prices really low! Eight motels had signs up saying free rooms to tourists.

It would never happen today!

I was playing around on the computer researching Key West history. There was a Louis in Key West at one time who owned a department store on Duval. In the early 1900s. A. Louis. He owned the Bee Hive Department Store.

A lovely day outside. Sunny and bright. A blue sky. No breeze. The water still. Can’t wait to get out.

Enjoy your day!

 

THE ROSE TATTOO

The Rose Tattoo was a mid 1950s movie. Starred Burt Lancaster and Anna Magnani. Lancaster was a big time hero type Hollywood star of that era. Magnani was an Italian star.

Magnai played a wild woman in the film. Lancaster loving and submissive to her. An unusual role for Lancaster. The movie won Magnani the Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress.

The significance of the movie is that it was filmed in Key West.

Hal Wallis was the producer. During this week in 1954 he was in Key West scouting locations for the film.

The selected site was a small house on Duncan Street.

Duncan Street is key here.

Tennessee Williams wrote the play from which the movie was derived. Williams lived two blocks away on Duncan at the time. My lovely Lisa lives on Duncan today. Her home is three blocks from the Rose Tattoo house and two blocks from Tennessee Williams’ home.

The Rose Tattoo house still stands. Run down. Covered with unkept shrubbery. I believe it is presently a rental.

The Tennessee Williams house is owned by others now. The house looks terrific.

A lovely morning here in Key West. Sun shining. A few white clouds. Water green.

I spent my day time yesterday researching and writing. The writing has altered my life style. Most of my days lately are spent inside typing away.

It was the Chart Room last night.

Merri bartending. Notice I have spelled her name differently. One of my readers emailed me and told me her name was not spelled M A R Y. It was M E R R I. I asked Merri last night if it was so. Yes, she said. Merri is a loyal blog reader. I asked why she never told me I was misspelling her name. She said it made no difference to her.

Sat next to Brian. First time I met him. A Key West local. He works for a boat towing operation. An interesting business! I learned much from him. His company comes out to get you if you run out of gas or get stuck on a sand bar. They also do salvage work.

I wanted Italian for dinner. Stopped at Roostica on Stock Island on the way home. Enjoyed baked ziti. I have thus far eaten three pastas at Roostica. Lasagna, spaghetti and ziti. The pastas were all good. The sauce leaves something to be desired. Too light. Tends to be watery. I enjoy a thicker and more bodied red sauce. My Italian upbringing!

Roostica has been open less than a year. It is a gold mine. Always crowded. I must be the only one the sauce bothers. Actually the place is more of a pizza restaurant than pasta one.

You will recall when I returned from Italy in August, I flew Delta from Atlanta to Key West and seated next to me were Paul and his daughter Katlyn. Paul was a reservist and also a fire lieutenant in the keys. Katlyn a high school student. We had a great time. The conversation most enjoyable.

At the Key West Airport, Paul introduced me to his wife Tracey.

As I was eating, a woman came over and said hello. It was Tracey. She called over to Paul and Katlyn. Nice people all. I was happy to see them again.

Show time tonight! Blog talk radio! My show!

Join me at 9 for a half hour of interesting chatter about world events. Some topics eye openers. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

SYRIAN SETTLEMENT, SUMMERS, NAVAL YARD SHOOTING…..TONIGHT

What a week! Already! Unanticipated developments world wide!

Tonight, I do my blog talk radio show. Come join me. It is simple to locate. Turn on your computer and enter www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. I will be there! At 9. A one half hour quick moving talk show. Listen to me via your computer as if it were a radio.

I will be discussing the folly of the Syrian settlement and why it will not work as anticipated, the good fortune for the United States that Larry Summers withdrew from Federal Reserve consideration, and the Washington Naval Yard shooting.

Spent yesterday researching and writing all day. Conferred with my publisher.

Last night was the Chart Room. David and I were at the end of the bar. I enjoy his company. We talked about everything from mountain bikes to billiards. We agreed to meet some Saturday afternoon soon at the Monkey Bar to shoot a few games. I have not played billiards since I was in high school.

Peter and Mary at the Chart room, also.

I was hungry. Craved a full meal. Went to Outback. A rib eye steak, baked potato with butter and steamed vegetables. I always smile at the inconsistency in my vegetables when I eat there. A baked potato buried in butter and steamed vegetables. I am satisfying my desire for the bad and need for the good when I eat them.

Enjoy your day!

EDITING

I have written a few books over the past several years. I have finally decided to publish one. The book is in the final stages of editing. The title is The World Upside Down.

A fun time last night!

First was the Chart Room.

Surprise! Charlotte was in town! Lovely Charlotte. From Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte visits Key West 3-4 times a year. The Chart Room is her favorite haunt. She is lovely and cheerful. A hug and kiss from her exciting!

Charlotte has always been a loner on her trips to Key West. Not last night. Charlotte is enamoured. She has a boy friend. Skip. Skip is a radio announcer. A nice guy.

My heart is broken!

Sheila and Peter were at the bar, also. JJ bartending.

In came Jaime! Another lovely! Jaime is from Raleigh, South Carolina. A big day and evening for her. It was her 30th birthday!

I normally would not mention a woman’s age. However, Jaime was happy and telling everyone so I assume it is ok. Jaime was sitting at the end of the bar on a stool with her feet up on another stool holding court. She was openly discussing what she had thus far done and not done in her life. An interesting review. She still has a lot of living before her.

Interestingly, it did not appear Jaime was upset about having reached 30. Most people these days are. I can assure everyone it is not the end of the world. I am 78 and still enjoying. And on rare occasion, experiencing something new.

Happy birthday again, Jaime! Enjoy your birthday and Key West! Come back and visit us soon!

A bunch of tourists were standing nearby. They were discussing their high school days. Back in the 1980s. Poor me. My high school days were from 1949 to 1953.

I stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. For one drink. I ended up staying quite a while.

Everyone was there. Including Don, Larry, David and Stan. I enjoyed the balance of my evening chatting with them. Good people all!

While at the Chart Room, JJ handed me a business card that some one had left for me. A week ago.

It had a brief note written on the back. It was from Buffalo’s Bob Saraceno. He had stopped in looking for me. Sorry I missed you, Bob. Next time we will get together for sure.

In the last 10 days, I have visited doctors for two problems. My blood pressure was out of control. My ankle was killing me. The heart doctor increased one of my blood pressure medications. The foot doctor soft casted, ace bandaged and booted my leg. My blood pressure is fine. A bit on the low side. My ankle has not hurt since it was wrapped.

Amazing what a few days can do!!

Syracuse won big yesterday. Beat Wagner 54-0. Now that we have proven we can beat the little guys decisively, lets schedule more of the big guys. You have to play the best to be the best and establish credibility.

I have to move fast. Sloan will be here to work with me on the book at 10:30.

Enjoy your Sunday!

KNOCK KNOCK

I am 78 years old. Yesterday, I played Knock Knock with a 4 year old girl. Fortunately, I had the experience to play. In recent years, it has been with Robert and Ally.

I was at Lee Nails getting a manicure from Tammy. Her 4 year old daughter was about. All of a sudden she came up to me and said…..You no belong here, you boy!

Then it was Knock Knock. She stood behind me, to the front, all over and Knock Knocked me. I think she thought it was fun that I could play. Strange, also.

She followed me out the door when I left. Her mouth was going a mile a minute. You have bike? No, I have a car. Why no bike? Where your car? And so on.

It was the best part of my day.

I now have two little friends. Jake and Tammy’s daughter.

I recorded this morning’s show yesterday afternoon. Still cannot do it live. Something is broke and not yet fixed. It was Krystal and me. Krystal is a most talented person!

I look forward to watching the show on TV in about a half hour. Join me. I think you will find today’s show interesting. I am disappointed in Obama. Distrust Putin. Fear the Saudis. That is how the show begins!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour is at 10 my time. Available on television from Key West through Boca Raton. Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Available world wide via the internet. www.weyw19.com.

Stopped at the Chart Room just after 4. It does not open till 4:30. Whoever is working always lets me in. Not yesterday.

It was Emily’s Day to work. No Emily. No JJ or Mary covering. A strange bartender. A bit of an ass, also. He saw me through the window and ignored me. I left.

Emily…..Where are you? I have bad vibes. Call or write me, please.

I had planned on watching my team play bocce last night. Never made it. I was tired from dragging the boot around all day. Heavy! Instead, I stayed home with my leg up watching television.

One thing, however. My ankle has not hurt since I was tapped up and began wearing the boot.

Tonight, I must go out! I am getting a bit stir crazy.

Enjoy your day!

THE BAND IS PLAYING

When my children were small (oh, so long ago!) and it thundered big time, we used to tell them it was a band playing in Heaven. They came to accept the explanation and it soothed them.

Lightning was hard to explain. We let them curl up with us.

Thunder and lightning are different on the ocean. This morning is overcast and the band plays on! It has not stopped thundering for two hours. Loudly. Like the sky is going to crack open.

A couple of nights ago, I was driving home and observed bright lights in the sky. Lightning! Out over the ocean. When the lightning occurred, the sky lite up as if it were day time.

I enjoyed a treat yesterday morning. I got to watch my TV show from my bed uninterrupted. Because of technical difficulties, I was required to record my friday show thursday morning. A one time event. Worked out well for me. I was impressed with the show. First time I had seen it all, including commercials, uninterrupted. Excuse my humility.

Wrote a bit afterward.

Sloan arrived mid afternoon. It took us quite a while to figure out and eliminate the crackling sound that occurred during last tuesday’s blog talk radio show. I hope it is now ok. I will not know till the next show on tuesday night.

Big time last night! Dinner with Jenna!

Jenna and I have not been out together for at least four months. We had an especially good time!

Jenna does my ego good. She is 27 and I am 78. Besides which, she is a knockout!

We have become very good friends over the past five years.

We stopped for a drink at the Chart Room. Emily was bartending. She came over to me. She appeared concerned. Where have you been, she asked. We have been worried.

It had been better than a week since I was in the Chart Room. The last time there, I mentioned concern with my blood pressure problem. Then I dropped out of sight. She and my bar brethren thought something bad had happened to me.

Nice of Emily and nice of the others to be concerned.

Except for bocce, I did remain home every evening.

Jenna and I picked at this and that at the Hot Tin Roof. Included were a dozen raw oysters and shataki. Shataki consists sushi which you cook/heat a bit yourself over a tiny grill brought to the table.

We had fun.

The Key West Citizen made mention this morning that a prior owner of Sloppy Joe’s bought the property in 1917. It was a restaurant at the time called Victoria’s. The property was purchased for $7,800. $7 million would not buy it today!

Syracuse football tonight. Against Northwestern. Northwestern is ranked #19 in the country. I suspect Syracuse will give Northwestern a battle. Syracuse could win. Syracuse looked good last week in losing to Penn State.

How swiftly fortune passes by! Last week’s Syracuse/Penn State game was nationally televised. No national TV for Syracuse this week.

Enjoy your day!