LOCAL FOLK SUNDAY

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Key West Sundays are relatively quiet for the local folk. Each the same. Laid back.

I watched the Sunday morning talk shows on TV. The furor over Benghazi is too much. They are at the stage of splitting hairs. Our nation’s leaders have more important things to talk about. The debt crisis is looming.

Syracuse beat Wagner in basketball as expected. A little guy playing a giant. Compliments to Wagner for traveling to the Dome knowing that there was little chance of winning.

At one point early on, Wagner was leading. I could read the players’ minds. Just maybe…..

The basketball game was early afternoon. When over, I went to Don’s Place to watch pro football. Don has the pro football package. There are TV sets all over the place, inside and out, showing the games. I sat in back outside with Don and friends and watched five different games at one time. The TV sets were placed  next to each other in a row.

Good company! Besides Don,  there were Stephanie, David, Keith, Larry, Toni, Frankie, Sandy, Boomer and Angus. Always a good time.

I returned home for a while. Read. I have started a new book. A biography of Ulysses Grant. Recently published, the book is entitled The Man Who Saved The Union. Written by H. W. Brands.

From love and BD/SM sex to a presidential history. A jump!

It was Sunday dinner with Lisa and the family.

Christmas  already in the air. Robert and Ally showed me the letters they had written to Santa Claus listing the 10,000 gifts each wanted. I am surprised they still believe. Robert is 8 and Ally 7. Last year some of Robert’s class mates told him what they perceived to be the true story. There ain’t no Santa Claus! Robert did not buy it. I hope he does not buy it this year either. Nor Ally. Santa Claus is good for them.

I was home to an early bed.

I am into the HBO Boardwalk series. Only two more shows before the series concludes. Everyone is getting killed. Worse than the  Godfather trilogy. I hope the “hero” survives.

This Hostess/Twinkie situation is interesting and sad. An example of a little guy taking down the big guy. In this instance, every one loses however. A hollow victory.

Enjoy your day!

 

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

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Book review time! I finished reading Fifty Shades of Grey yesterday morning.

The book is a trilogy. The three volumes fast moving. The author is a woman. E. L. James. I specify her sex since from my perspective it is a woman’s book written by a woman.

Fifty Shades is #1 on the New York Times best seller list. It is being read world wide. Book stores keep running out.

Fifty Shades is a love novel. Again, written by a woman for women. Not generally the type of book men read. Too lovey dovey.

My sense is the book is going to raise sex to another level.

Sex and love are big time in the novel. They are integrated. One.

I am 77. This is the fourth time in my life that I have seen something occur which affected societal mores.

The birth control pill became popular in the 1960s. It freed women from the fear of unwanted pregnancy. Pre-marital sex and promiscuity were rampant. The female was liberated.  Women were able to have sex like men without the fear of consequence.

The pill elevated sex to a new level.

Then came the Joy of Sex. A 1972 novel. Explained the mechanics of sex. Advised men and women how to better enjoy sex.

The major piece of information in the book was the clitoris. Not known as well then as it is today. Hard to believe, but that is how it was.  Women were generally only enjoying vaginal orgasms. The clitoral revelation made it possible for them to enjoy clitoral orgasms. And for some, orgasms for the first time.

Joy of Sex was an international best seller, #1 on the New York Times best seller list.

Once more sex was elevated to a new level.

In 1981 and 1982, two relatively small studies were done regarding the g-spot. Medical science had been aware of the g-spot since the 1940s. A Dr. Grafenberg identified it by name in the 1950s. The g was taken from the first letter of his last name.

Some men’s sex magazine became aware of the studies. Playboy or Penthouse, perhaps. A major article was written. The thrust was that a man’s knowledge and use of the g-spot would place him in a position to better satisfy his woman.

The g-spot raised sex to even a further level.

Now comes Fifty Shades. No question a love novel. Different, however. BD/SM is the primary method of sexual play and expression.

More women than men are reading Fifty Shades. Most will want sex to provide the pleasures reflected in the book. The belief being that  BD/SM will provide increased sexual satisfaction.

Fifty Shades elevates sex to another level. Just as the pill, Joy of Sex, and the g-spot did.

Exploration time in the bedroom again!

Lets move to the more mundane.

Last night was fun! Jenna and Krystal were my guests for drinks and dinner. It was the Chart Room and Hot Tin Roof.

After the ladies left,  I stopped into the Chart Room again. Che was at the bar. I said hello. Did not have a drink. Told Che I was heading over to Don’s Place. He opted to follow me in his car.

Don was at the bar talking with Stan. I joined them. Bocce the conversation. We are team mates.

I missed Thursday night bocce this week. I was behind with the material for my Friday show. Every time I do not play, my team wins!
There has to be a message in that. The team beat Larry’s team 2-1.

Che arrived. The conversation changed. All sort of problems were discussed. The conversation got cerebral. I left. My head could take no more.

Syracuse beat Missouri in football yesterday 31-27. Good for Syracuse! A struggling team this year. They are now 6-5.

Today Syracuse basketball! One pm. I will be watching the game at John Lukas’ Big Ten Pub.

Syracuse is playing Wagner. A warm up game for Syracuse. Syracuse should win easily.

My Utica good friend Gus graduated from Wagner. It would have been nice if we could have watched the game together.

The college football picture was screwed up big time yesterday. Both Kansas State and Oregon lost. Notre Dame is the only undefeated major college team. Notre Dame has to get by USC next week to stay numero uno.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

 

SYRACUSE BASKETBALL AT LUKAS’ BIG TEN PUB

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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!

 

SATURDAY DATE WITH JENNA

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Clock changing time!

It is nice to see the sun up and shining when getting out of bed in the morning. The problem is the evenings. It will be dark around 6. Within a month, 5.

Spent most of yesterday’s afternoon working on next friday’s show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Up to this point, it was an internet show. The show has graduated. Henceforth, it will be a TV/Internet show. New broadcasgting station and everything. New call letters. The show will be available on Comcast Channel 87 for television viewing throughout the keys. It will be available world wide via the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

Ten in the morning my time.

Prepared for discussion is female viagara. Yes, it’s on its way! The purpose is to provide and/or enhance the female orgasm. The pharmaceutical industry leaves no stone unturned where a profit may be made.

I wonder if when the new prescription is available, whether it will be free to women under Obamacare? If so, what will the position be of the Republican right and Catholioc Church? Recall that the Church’s position is that sex is for procreation and not recreation.

Other topics include Oklahoma’s open carry gun law which went into effect November 1, the death of a World War II code talker, and gas shortages in the 1970s from a personal perspective.

My Saturday evening date was the lovely Jenna. A beauty inside and out! Jenna is a local TV personality and person about town.

The evening started at the Chart Room. Where else! Sheila and David at the bar. Chatted with them a bit. Jenna and I enjoyed a couple of drinks and good conversation.

Then to the Hot Tin Roof.

My Mother enjoyed mussels. She would devour them at every opportunity. The Hot Tin Roof has mussels as an appetizer. I asked for a double order. That was my meal. They were prepared in a light tastety red sauce. The bread dunking type. Delicious!

Jenna does not eat. She is a cheap date. I doubt she is even a size 2. If there is a zero classification, that is her size.

The Hot Tin Roof has a macoroni and cheese appetizer. The women seem to love it. Jennna does. She always orders the dish. Nothing else. It is a small portion. She doggy bags most of it.

After dropping Jenna home, I stopped at Don’s Place. Convenient. Jenna lives a half a block from Don’s. Chatted with Don, Herschel, Erika, Stan, and others.

Don introduced me to a new couple. Dan and Betty. Dan has been playing golf with my golfing buddies recently. The couple is from Tampa. They vist Key West often. They have a mobile home.

Dan is an Army veteran. He is able to park his mobile home at the Navy base. A good deal. Cheap. Even the bar that serves alcohol is cheap. I have been a guest a few times. Every thing is $1.

Lisa just telephoned. Daddy, come to dinner tonight.

Enjoy your sunday!

SANDY UPDATE

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As Sandy heads for landfall in New Jersey and New York, its effects are still evident in Key West.

The weather was beautiful yesterday. No clouds. Sunny all day. Mid 80s. The one exception was the wind. It was cut in half to about 25 miles per hour from the previous day. Held steady all day. Blowing a bit less this morning.

I have two large flower pots, one on each side of the glass sliding doors leading to the deck. Filled with dirt. Rather than flowers, they have some green plant that is not affected by the salt the ocean throws at us daily. The pots are exceptionally heavy because of the dirt. I have never been able to lift them.

Yesterday, when the wind was cut in half, both pots were blown over. One broke. It had to be the wind. However, the wind was not as bad as the day before. I concluded the wind direction had changed. Not much. But enough to knock the pots over. A first! The pots have been sitting there for ten years.

I have lived long enough in Key West to have experienced a few hurricanes. I want to share some advise with my friends up north as to what to do.

1. If you know you are going to be in the path of a bad one, get out! Simply stated. It is too late when the storm hits.

2. If you remain, fill your bath tub with water. To flush the toilets. The sewers may not function. Nature does, however. The ability to flush is required.

3. Your power will go off. There will be no electric. Maybe no gas. It may be intermintent or for a few days. You must be prepared for any such eventuality.

4. Have at least 3 flashlights. Make sure they work. Even if they do, buy new batteries.

5. You need candles. There will be times you will live like Abraham Lincoln in his youth. That means matches or a lighter, also.

6. Drinking water. Buy a lot of bottled water.

7. Food. Remember, your power will be off. You do not know how long. Buy only foods that need not be cooked nor kept in the refrigerator. Your refrigerator will be useless to you also if power is off for an extended period. You need foods like crackers, cookies, peanut butter. Whatever requires no preparation. Purchase also canned foods that need not be heated. Like sardines. Make sure you have a can opener. Popeye you are not.

8. There is a small radio that operates on batteries. It is strictly for emergency purposes. It will provide weather reports, hurricane news, and updated survival advice. Nothing else. One can be bought at a Home Depot or similar store.

9. Stay in. Do not go out. You could end up in Missouri.

Last night was the big Fantasy Fest parade. I did not go. When you have seen as many as I have, you can skip a year or two occasionally.

I headed for the Chart Room early. Before 5. I wanted to get in and out. The streets would soon be blocked off. I stayed for a couple of drinks and fun conversation with Captain Peter, Sean and Katherine. Peter was going to skip the parade also. Sean and Katherine were dressed as Swiss yoddelers. They looked good! They were headed for a party at La Concha.

Many tourists in the Chart Room. In and out. All dressed in costumes. All having fun. It was another evening when the elctricity could be felt in the air.

When I drove out of the Pier House parking lot, Front Street was blocked at its intersection with Simonton. I was stuck for the parade. I would not be able to get out till at least midnight. Necessity is the mother of invention. I got out of the car, moved the barricade, drove through, then got out again and returned the barricade to its proper position. Fortunately, there were no police officers nearby.

I stopped at Don’s Place. Parade traffic no problem at Don’s. Many costumed people. Drinking and playing pool. Soon to leave to walk to the parade. The same electricity again.

I kissed and hugged Joanie. Danced a bit with her. Said hello to Jimmy. Greeted Boomer. Chatted a while with Kurt.

Then to Outback for dinner.

I was home in bed before 8:30. Watched two terrific football games. Alabama continues on its role to a national championship. Notre Dame looked fantastic. A great college football year.

Must hurry. Want to watch Meet the Press.

Enjoy your Sunday!

LARRY SMITH’S AMERICAN DREAM

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One of Key West’s premier muscians and entertainers has done it again!

Larry Smith recently introduced a new video to the world. American Dream – Key West Style. A patriotic musical video. Different it is. Take a look. Runs five minutes. www.Youtu.be/6Zr935f8U5c.

It was a rainy blustery day yesterday. I stayed in during the day time. Fine tuned today’s internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Join me. 10 am my time. World wide. I guarantee you will enjoy it.

The show is presently viewed in 38 countries. Amazing!

One of the topics this morning will be Newsweek. It was announced late yesterday that Newsweek will cease publication of its hard copy magazine December 31. It will only be available via the internet. Sad. However a reflection of how time moves on. Yesterday is sometimes no longer popular in today’s world.

KONK Broadcasting has moved. That is why there are new call letters to receive the show. www.konknet.com/tv/personalities. Knowing how things can get screwed up, if you cannot get the show at that address, try the old one. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

No bocce last night. The rain flooded the courts. Water ankle deep.

Instead, I stopped at Don’s Place. Visted a while. Then to Pepe’s for dinner.

This is the last day of my trip photos. Four pics. Of steps. Every where on the trip I was confronted with steps. Some difficult to navigate.

The first two photos are of me climbing the steps from my cave in Santorini. It was hard!

The next is a staircase to a restaurant on Santorini. Very little was street level.

The last photo is me looking down some steps toward an outdoor restauant on Mykonos. Note Little Venice in the background.

That’s it for the trip photos! Hope you enjoyed. Next time I promise to be more adept and make the pics part of my daily running commentary.

Tonight is the start of Fantasy Fest. Goombay! I will be doing Goombay. Expect to end up at Blue Heaven and party with Don and friends. Before Goombay, I will be stopping at the Chart Room. Need a shot of Emily. Don and Chris are in. We are meeting for drinks at six.

Remember to watch my show at 10.

Enjoy your day!

VOLCANO DAY

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I think I have the hang of getting the photos to publish. Three yesterday! When I complete the blog this morning, one more. The volcano photos!

This photo/pic thing is a constant education for me. I was unhappy that the pics were so small. Detail is important and did not show effectively. Yesterday, I clicked on a pic. Lo and bhold…..it enlarged! Clicked on it again. Got even bigger!

The message is that if you want a larger and clearer photo, merely click once for larger and twice for largest.

Today the volcano! It was hell for me that day. I realized my age. I also became aware that I was definitely out of shape. You will recall I could not complete the climb to the top of the volcano.

There are 10 volcano photos.

The volcano sits out in the bay off Santorini. The first photo is off the volcano. It was taken from the walkway on Santorini. The volcano is the black island in the distance.

The next pic is of me walking up the volcano. There were about sixty of us. Every one made it but me. I started at the head of the pack. Soon I was at the end. Then I was with the stragglers. Finally, I was the last straggler. This photo is of me at a time that I was third from the rear. Only two ladies behind me. The stress of the climb was upon me.

Fifteen minutes later, I was dead last! No one any where near me. All way ahead. Photo 3. I suggest you click once and then again a second time. I would like you to experience the line of people ahead of me and how far behind I was.

Photo 4 is where I said…..NO MORE! I could go no further. I gave up. Happily.

I stopped several times on the way up. To rest and drink some water. such is photo 5.

Photo 6 is of me walking down the volcano all alone. I was not ashamed!

A boat took me to the volcano and then took me away from it. Photo 7 is of me sitting on the boat as it left the volcano. I was dead! I did not care what happened to me! If I did die, dump me overboard was my thought.

On the return trip, the boat stopped at the island of Thirassis. A small nnothing. Two restaurants and a gift shop. The gift shop was operated by a tall bearded Greek dressed in monk’s robes and a hat. Photo 8 is me sitting alone enjoying lunch.

Photo 9 is one of the best. Double click this one. View it at its largest. It is a pic of the reataurant owner grilling lunch. Note the stove. Look especially at the octopus he was grilling. Octopus was a dish served at every restauant. A tentacle was chopped off. Generally, 10 inches. About 2 inches in diameter. Grilled before and after. Rubbed with oil occasionally. Served thusly done. Tender and delicious! Sweet. No sauce required. Fish suvlaki is the other item being grilled.

The last photo is me dead on the bed when I returned. I had never been so tired!

Good night last night.

Started at Don’s Place. Chatted with Don, Herschel, and Frankie. All team mates. Discussed and analyzed our bocce team.

Then the Chart Room. A crowd. Emily bartending. Che and Captain Peter talking. Jean Thornton her usual lovely self. My Jasper friend Jack Kelly and his wife Sabina. Met a criminakl lawyer from long Island. Michael.

I chatted with Jack and Sabina a while. Then with Jean and Che. Che is a Congress of Vienna expert. Which means he is a Napoleon expert as well. We talked about Napoleon. I made mention of the bridges I observed in Northern Italy on my recent trip. Many were built by Napoleon. The northern Italians did not speak ill of Napoleon. They were proud of what he had done for them.

Decided I would walk Duval a while. A lot of people.

I stopped into Sloppy Joe’s. Planned on grabbing a sandwich. No room at the inn. Not a seat in the place.

Walked by Coyote Ugly. About 20 young guys at the bar. Two young ladies dancing and singing on the bar. The Bull was empty. I thought Yankee Jack might be playing. I ended up at Kelley’s. Enjoyed the wings!

Nothing was accomplished by the Merkel visit to Greece. Why then did Merkel even make the trip? The British press reports this morning that Merkel went to Greece to show the British she was not afraid to face the Greeks. It was show time. Her purpose was to insist face to face that Greece pay every penny owed. Plus interest and penalties.

Merkel has an election coming up. Her opponent has been attacking her regarding the Greece pay back problem. He claims Merkel has been too easy on Greece. Ergo, the trip. The Greeks still have to pay, suffer austerity. Merkel was in and out in six hours. Nothing accomplished to assist the Greeks.

No Internet show tomorrow. The Key West Lou Legal Hour will miss another weak. KONK Broadcasting owner Guy de Boer will be in Miami for heart surgery. Good luck, Guy!

Bocce tonight. Bocce tomorrow night. A make up game.

Enjoy your day!

A GRAND EVENING

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MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: My European trip photos will start posting Monday! Finally! Thank you for your indulgence.

The pics will be spread over 12 days. Each grouping will involve a particular activity or place.

The photos are not as good as I would wish them to be. Took all of them with a couple of years old cell phone. Next time, I will do it better. A camera. In addition, I would post the pics daily rather than save them to the end.

Nevertheless, you will enjoy!

Last night was one of the most pleasant I have spent in quite a while. My evenings are always good. Some however are better than others. Last night was one of them.

I attribute the quality of the evenining to the people I ran into. All a pleasure.

I started at the Chart Room. Jean Thornton was back. Seated at the bar. Next to her, Stephanie Kaple.

Jean is known as Key West’s Golden Girl. She found gold and jewelry on a Mel Fisher dive years ago. Changed her life.

Stephanie is Key West’s Island Shoe Girl. She wears the most expensive high heel shoes. The higher the better. She may not eat well, have extra money to spend, but she does have shoes! Stephanie also writes a blog every one should read. Whatever the topic, she ties it into women’s shoes. Many of her writings involve social issues. You can find the blog under IslandShoeGirl.com.

I saw two familiar faces at the end of the bar. Dan and Nancy. We had met before on one of their previous trips to Key West. Dan is from Toronto and works for Dow Chemical. Nancy is a nurse from Detroit. She is a colonoscopy expert.

Love Nancy! She reads my blog every day! Dan is less diligent. An occasional reader. Nice people. I spent a bit of time with them chatting. They are here for at least annother week. I look forward to running into them again.

While I was talking with Dan and Nancy, Jean came over and invited me to join Stephanie and her for dinner at Hot Tin Roof. Jean specified she was paying. I could not say no.

I was a lucky man. Two ladies to dine with. Two lovely intelligent ladies.

We sat at the bar at Hot Tin Roof. Talked a very long time before ordering. One drink too many too long.

While I was sitting there, a couple stopped by. They had been looking for me at the Chart Room. Emily sent them over to Hot Tin Roof.

I am a Manhattan College graduate. A few miles up the road is Cudjoe Key. A fellow Manhattan graduate lives there. He reads this blog religiously and occasionally comments. He too is a Jasper. Jasper is the nick name for Manhattan grads.

His name Jack Kelly. Graduated from Manhattan College in 1968. A young man compared to me. I graduated in 1957.

He was with his charming wife Sabina. A real nice person.

We talked a while. I was excited to have finally met him. He likewise was excited. We are probably the only Manhattan graduates in the Keys.

Jack did the Air Force ROTC while at Manhattan. Later was a fighter pilot. Retired from the military at some point. Now enjoys Key West and the lower keys.

Jack brought back memories of Manhattan College. He was wearing a tee shirt with writing and an emblem on it. The Pershing Rifles. The organization was a gung ho extension of the ROTC at Manhattan. Meant Jack was really into the military thing while a student. Contrasted with Louis. I left the ROTC after two years. It was enough. I hated the marching, left face, right face, etc. Officers were always shouting that I was out of step. Mentally, I would respond that it was not me. It was the rest of the group.

I actually did not go on with the ROTC after two years because a four or five year committment was required upon being commissioned. I wanted to go directly to law school. A four or five year delay was not part of my plans.

We intend to have dinner together soon.

My evening out turned into a big time winner! Dan and Nancy. Then Jack and Sabina. In between, Jean and Stephanie.

I loved last night!

I finished the evening at Don’s place. Toni and Puff at the bar. Puff watched the end of the Syracuse/Pitt game with me. Syracuse won 14-13. I chatted with Kurt a bit. Don came in. Sat next to me. We talked a long while. I like Don. He is first class.

There was some day time activity, also. A haircut with Lori. A manicure by Tammy. A visit with Lisa.

Today is Saturday. I have no plans. Lets see what happens.

Enjoy your day!

STORMY RAIN

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Walked Home Depot again yesterday. Don asked me why I walk inside Home Depot. It’s air conditioned, I replied. Brilliant, he said. He never thought of it.

The rains came twice yesterday. Big time each time. A good two hours in the afternoon. Briefly but heavy in the evening.

I thought bocce would have been cancelled. No. The courts were dry when I arrived to play.

We lost the first game. Close till 10-10. Then the other team broke away and beat us 16-10.

My time to play came in the second game. Only two rolls. A dark black noisy storm came in from the Atlantic. That was it for bocce. Everyone ran to their cars and scooters.

Don’s Place was like New Year’s Eve. 7:45 and no where to go! A spirited gathering.

The rain was strange last night. It did not pour every where. Rained heavy at the bocce courts. A mere sprinkle while at Don’s Place. I was home before 9. My street was unusally flooded. More extensively and deeper.

The diet is over! I decided to put it to rest this morning. Eighteen days and only 7 pounds lost. Insufficient reward/result. Depressing.

Show time this morning! The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Another terrific show! Join me at 10 my time. World wide on the internet. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

While jumping around on the computer this morning, I came across an interesting item. Today is a baseball day of note. On this day in 1941, Ted Williams ended the baseball season with a .406 batting average. No one has achieved that level of performance since.

Have to hustle to get to the broadcast studio on time.

Enjoy your day!

BILL CALLI DIES

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A good person has passed on.

William S. Calli Sr. Better known as Bill Calli.

Bill was a fellow Utican and attorney. 87 at the time of his passing yesterday. An automobile accident. A distinguished attorney and public servant. He spent many years as a member of the New York State Assembly. He finished his public career as a member of the New York State Senate.

We were friends. Not drinking buddies. Professionally and a bit more.

If there was one word to describe Bill, he was a gentleman.

I interviewed for employment with his law firm when I graduated. It was Bill and his father Rocco heading the firm. Several attorneys were associated with them. I had three separate interviews. I did not make it. I was not hired. I was very disappointed at the time. We used to laugh about it in later years when my practice blossomed. I used to remind Bill he would be sharing in my financial success had he and his Dad hired me back when. Not that he had any need for my earnings. He was extremely successful in his own right.

When Bill arrived at the pearly gates yeserday, if there was any hesitancy as to his admission, I am sure he calmly talked his way in.

May he rest in peace.

The Navy is in town. Ships of several nations. Something like 14 destroyers and amphibious assault ships. All here for a joint Caribbean training excercise. Locals who were in Key West during the Cuban missle crisis in the early 1960s were telling me last night this is the largest assemblage of war vessels since that time.

I started with the Chart Room last night. Mary bartending. Poor Mary is working her butt off. She is covering for Emily who is on a two week vacation. Che there also.

Che and I spent much time together last night. I sometimes introduce Che to people as a participant in the Cuban revolution. Actually, a joke. Che is a Jewish mercant from New York City transplanted many years ago to Key West.

There was a gentleman named Ron sitting next to us. From Atlanta. Here with his new bride of one week. She was not with him. Still in their room. Ron was an interesting and intelligent fellow. The three of us discussed many things. Like religion, Catholicism and politics. A good talk.

There is a new bar in town. On Duval. Opened last Wednesday. The Ugly Coyote. I wanted to see it. Che joined me.

I was not impressed. Nor was Che. Actually, I was depressed. The bar gave me that feeling.

It is an old time salon. The ladies working there get up on the bar and talk, sing and dance. All in tight jeans. Not all good bodies, however. Young. Very young. Early 20s at best. Sad appearing. Tired faces. I doubt they were locals. Appeared imported.

The bar had a good crowd for a Monday night at eight. This is a man’s place. There were only two female guests. The guys were mostly young. A strange group. We needed another bar stool. There were several available. One had a customer’s foot on it. Another an arm. I asked if the stools were in use, could I have them? All I got was a blank look in response. No words.

When Che and I were finally seated, we figured it out. All the young fellows had crew cuts, short cropped hair. They were part of the navys of several nations in Key West this week for joint maneuvers. When I asked for the stools, they did not know what I was saying!

One of the bouncers was named Lou. He seemed to be the boss. He came over to talk with us and invited us to return.

Lou sws a nice guy. Looked tough, however. Big and burly with a gut.

The place obviously is not for the older generation. Che and I were the only ones over 40. Maybe 30.

I had the feeling when I walked in that I could get rolled. The place was tough appearing. Rolled I was not and would not be. However, I share my initial impression with you.

Will Ugly Coyote make it in Key West? I woukd like to be favorable. I cannot. It does not fit into the Key West atmosphere. We like young good looking women who fit into the Key West life style. The bar they work at must also have the Key West flavor. Remember, Hooters did not make it in Key West.

I suspect Coyote Ugly’s rent has to be $35,000 a month. That is the tab in that section of Duval. A big monthly bill to pay!

I doubt Coyote Ugly will be here next year at this time. It may even be gone by year end.

I forgot to mention. Coyote Ugly is a chain. They have been in business for many years. Hooters was a chain also in business for many years.

I hope I am wrong. I wish Coyote Ugly good luck.

Stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. Had my final diet coke of the evening. Chatted a bit with Billy and left.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Romney. He cannot keep his foot out of his mouth!

Enjoy your day!