I SURVIVED

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The shoulder was still sore yesterday morning, though better. Should I keep my gym appointment? I decided to stop by and tell Albert and see what he thought. No problem, he said. And it was not. He worked my lower body the whole hour. Nothing above the navel. Felt not a twitch in the shoulder.

Though only half my body was exercised, my whole body was tired afterwards! Big time!

I had a manicure/pedicure appointment with Tammy a couple of hours later. I fell asleep during the manicure. Then fell asleep again  during the pedicure.

Stopped briefly at Don’s Place on my way into town last night. Hellos all the way around and I was gone.

I had a 6:30 appointment at the Chart Room to meet Diana Millikan. Diana is a loyal blog reader.

Enjoyed Diana’s company for about an hour. Her home is outside Flint, Michigan. She visits Key West several times a year. Has a birthday coming up the 24th of this month. She is writing her first novel. A mystery.

It was Hot Tin Roof for dinner. Nothing exotic. Shrimp warmed in melted butter and mashed potatoes. Hot Tin Roof has the best mashed potatoes!

Joseph stopped by to say hello. He is the general manager. He does an excellent job running the Hot Tin Roof. Josh was bartending.

The humidity gets heavier by the day. Rained big time during the night. Woke me a couple of times. Raining right now. Sky black. May rain all day. No question, the rainy season has arrived.

Medical marijuana is going to be on the November ballot in Florida. An opposition group is running a cute ad: Don’t Let Florida Go To Pot.

There was an interesting editorial in this morning’s Key West Citizen. Opposed to medical marijuana’s approval. Claimed today’s pot not the same as Mom and Dad smoked in the 1980s. Today’s is increased in potency fourfold and therefore presents a danger.

This marijuana thing can be confusing. It was used for medicinal purposes during the Civil War. Although banned, use went crazy in the 1970s and has continued in varying degrees. Billions have been spent to catch and incarcerate those who smoke and sell the dirty weed. Jails are expensive. More monies have been spent trying to put growers out of business.

It is realistic to say attempts have failed. Several States permit medical marijuana use. Colorado now allows recreational use. Lets stop chasing a dead horse. Marijuana use is like gay marriage. Its time has come.

A great sport day! The US Open and Heat/Spurs game. I am going to enjoy!

Enjoy your day!

A BOBBY NESBITT GATHERING

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Good morning! Happy Sunday! An absolutely glorious morning! Key West at its best!

Spent yesterday afternoon writing next week’s KONK Life column. Human Organs For Sale. Got it to de Boer two days late. He will not be happy.

Watched the Belmont at Don’s Place. A happy jovial crowd. I felt sorry for California Chrome. I question whether any horse today is capable of winning all three races of the Triple Crown. Horses of yesteryear were trained for stamina. Today’s horses, speed. One and a half miles is a long jaunt. Especially after running two big races within weeks of the Belmont.

One of California Chrome’s owners spouted off after the race about horses that only run one of the races. As happened yesterday. The winner did not run the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. I thought the owner was out of line. Showed poor sportsmanship. He should have saved his heart felt comments for a week from now. Rules and tradition are rules and tradition. The horse that won yesterday won within the rules and traditions of a great race.

I was on my way home when I decided to stop at Tavern ‘n Town for dinner. Glad I did.

Bobby Nesbitt was playing. His singing makes me happy. Bobby is one of Key West’s best entertainers!

It was old home week! Bobby’s fans follow him. I saw some people I have not seen in a while. Like Lynda and Bob Fraschette. Jimmy Olsen. And Stevie! Steve is the former bartender at the Wine Galley. The new management upset him and he told then to shove it. About a year ago. I have not seen him since. He looked good. Thinner. Was as happy to see me as I him.

I did my bar routine. Read the newspapers and listened to Bobby sing while enjoying a first rate dinner. I had salmon over risotto. Wow! Delicious! I was pleased by my choice.

I was too overjoyed with the evening, perhaps. I finished it off with a snifter of Grand Marnier. It did me in! I could not believe it! I have been exercising and watching what I eat of late. My drinking has been substantially less as a result. My drinking was out of training last night.

Enjoy your Sunday!

JUNE 6

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A day of days. June 6, 1944. D-Day!

Today is the seventieth anniversary of that memorable day. The Allied invasion of Europe.

Wars and the folks back home do not appear to be the same today. Everyone was into World War II. It was part of everyone’s life. Our soldiers were heroes when they returned home. We did not need television to tell us. Emotion and warmth for our soldiers was common place.

Today, things do not feel the same. We seem to take wars for granted. Perhaps we have been in too many. The enthusiasm here in the States is not the same. Perhaps with time, people change.

June 6 has another significance. My Cousin Rose.

Rose died three years ago following a difficult cancer battle. Today would have been her 69th birthday. She is in my mind. We grew up together. She lived second floor front and I third floor front in the Petrone family home. We played together daily.

Rose became a Catholic nun. Did she get into it! She was one of the first to throw off the habit and dress in civilian clothes. She moved out of the convent and into a poor Syracuse neighborhood. She spent her life living amongst those who needed help on a daily basis.

I miss her.

Yesterday, no blog. Sorry. My plate was full. A busy day. Non stop from 7:30 in the morning to 10 at night. No way could I have gotten out a blog of any decency. Ergo, I opted not to do one at all.

Last night was our second bocce party. The big one last week, the smaller one last night. For the five teams that have an inner league and a side bet of their own. Ball Busterz won the inner league battle.

The party as usual was at Don’s Place. One of the best parties yet! Company and food outstanding. Everyone had a good time. Even me.

We had an additional competition last night. Bocce played on a pool table. I will not go into the details. My partner was David. We made it to the semi finals. Fun!

I did the gym routine for the fourth time wednesday. Survived! My trainer Albert is beating the hell out of me. Tough! Pushes me to the limit. Carefully. I could not believe what he had me doing in only our fourth meeting.

Later this morning, I hope to go to the gym and spend some time on the tread mill.

Enjoy your day!

 

A NEW STAR IN THE HEAVENS

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She shines bright! Maya Angelou.

My admiration for people who rise above all sorts of adversity to succeed for themselves and others is without reservation. Maya Angelou was one of those persons.

With all the reading I have done in my lifetime, I am ashamed to say that I never read her autobiographies. Not even one. However, I have read  some of her poetry books. Especially when my favorite reading place in Key West was Borders.

I have always had an interest in poetry. Tried my hand at it as far back as college. Not for me. The talent was lacking. Though I could not write, I could read. I never read any of her poems back then. I am not sure any were as yet published. This is back in the 1950s.

There were times when I have wanted to favor someone with a special gift. I would give a book of Angelou’s poems.

Maya Angelou was frequently referred to as the…..Black woman’s poet laureate. She was a poet laureate regardless of color.

It was back to the gym yesterday morning. I survived another hour. The workout was harder. i suspect each day will be more difficult. I did it without injury. I am being handled differently this time. The first time back in Decmeber, it was like being slammed against a wall. This time it is a step at a time. A short step.

I got tired again in the afternoon. A bit sore here and there. Muscular. I went to bed and took a nap. Felt fine afterwards. I am free until monday when I will have my third session.

Stopped at Don’s Place around 6. Chatted with Don and David. Exchanged hellos with Stan, Clare and Hershel.

Then to Geiger Key for dinner. It was still bright. A couple of hours of daytime left.

Geiger Key is a good change of pace. Not as crowded as normal. The season is over. I sat at the bar and enjoyed a reuben. All the while looking out over the calm water.

This blog is a bit late this morning. I had to get out of the house early. Someone who might be interested in buying was stopping by with a contractor.

I am doing the blog at Lisa’s. I am at the kitchen table and she at her desk. Neither bothering the other. Each intent and busy.

Enjoy your day!

LUNATICS IN CHARGE OF ASYLUM

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Governments sometime get carried away. Do whatever it takes becomes the cry. The Biblical admonition that the end does not justify the means is forgotten.

The crazies take control.

The European Union has screwed up Europe. Many of its member countries are in dire economic shape. Like Greece, Italy and Spain. Germany is in good shape. However, if the debts of other nations are not paid, Germany will go down the tubes because a considerable amount of German monies are being loaned out through the European Union’s bank.

The internet has been afire the past 24 hours with news that Italy was going to include drugs, prostitution and smuggling sales in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculation this year. The inclusion of the  underground monies would help the GDP to relieve budget deficits.

Italy is going to cook its books to make its financial statement look better!

How Italy will be able to tax these illicit dollars confuses me. We are talking about the illegal. Dope traders, hookers and smugglers are going to set forth their earnings on tax returns? No way!

At this point, you are probably thinking…..Stupid Italians! No, stupid European Union!

The European Union and its bank have been having difficulty for years getting their loans paid. The European Union began considering new rules and regulations last July. The rules, etc. were finalized in January. The new rules require member nations to include in their GDP all activities that will produce more in their national accounts, REGARDLESS OF THEIR LEGALITY. Included is income from drugs, prostitution and smuggling.

Desperate people do desperate things. Desperate countries do desperate things.

Spain jumped on the band wagon in January when the new Euro rule was passed. Italy is getting into it now and will be following the new rule as of October 1.

It is not Italy that is crazy, it is the European Union and its bank. The European Union is both worried and greedy re monies it lent. They want to get paid back at some point. In order to do so, its member nations must have attractive balance sheets so the Euro Union can work its its internal machinations.

Such stupidity! The prelude to failure of this thing called the European Union over the next ten years. A house built on sand cannot stand.

Lets bring this absurd scenario down to the Key West level. Little Key West.

I was sitting at the bar at Don’s Place yesterday afternoon for a couple of hours. The realtor was showing my house again and I had to get out. I was thinking about what I subsequently wrote here. I glanced down the bar and it hit me…..These guys could do as well as the Euro people in resolving the European Union financial crisis. Perhaps better.

Enjoy your day!

I MISSED SEAN AND KATHERINE’S PARTY

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Sean and Katherine are leaving Key West.

A farewell party was planned at the back bar at Aqua. I went. I thought it was last  night. The only one at the bar was Mark Watson. It was 5:30. Isn’t a party scheduled, I asked. It was last night, he said.

I’m losing it!

Sean and Katherine, in the event I fail to see you before you depart, good luck! You have left your mark on Key West. You will not be forgotten. Keep in touch.

Next was the Chart Room. It was still there. I made no mistake.

Emily was back. She attended the Kentucky Derby. She looked rested. Her pics of her and the Derby were fantastic. I was glad she was back. Emily has become as much a part of the Chart Room as those whose ashes rest in the bar rail.

Sheila and Jean at the bar. They and Emily laughed when I said I had just come from Sean and Katherine’s party. They had been there the night before. They also reminded me I did the same thing regarding another party recently. I could not remember.

Dana and Tim were at the Chart Room. I met them last year, They hail from Wilmington, North Carolina. Dana was Miss Carolina in 2003. She represented North Carolina in the Miss America Pageant. Dana is still a beauty. She could participate in the Miss America this year.

Key West’s Annual Songwriter’s Conference began last night. More than 150 of Nashville’s songwriters are in town to play their music and have fun.

The Songwriter’s Festival is a big deal! Performances last night were held all over the island. Sunset Key Pier, Margaritaville, the Pier House, Rick’s / Durty Harry’s, the Conch Republic, and Smokin’ Tuna.

I heard music and singing as I left the Chart Room. It was coming from the Beachside Bar. I walked back. A special stage had been erected. The performers were warming up. The bar was already packed as well as many of the beach lounge chairs which had been organized on the sand around the stage. I stayed a while and enjoyed what I was hearing.  Could not help but think how fortunate we are in Key West. Goodies like this festival periodically come along. We are privileged to enjoy. Festivals and special weekends are part of our daily lives.

Stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. Chatted with Hershel. Politics and bocce. Hershel is a bocce team mate. Our team is on a roll. We have won 8 out of the 9 last games. Two nights left. Tonight the first. We hope to sweep or come close to sweeping both nights. If we do, we go to the finals!

Enjoy your day!

A WONDERFUL EVENING

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Every Key West evening is good. Some are just better. Last night was one of the better ones.

The early evening was at Joy Gallery. The Jack Baron exhibit. Over 50 paintings. Several mine.

The gallery was packed when I arrived. Owner/curator Jim Wallace and his wife Theresa. It was the first time Theresa and I met. She was aware of me initially from the devastating operation I underwent in Key West about nine years ago. I lost 25 per cent of my colon needlessly. She had recently undergone some sort of stomach surgery with the same doctor. A disaster also from her perspective.

Some of my friends were in the crowd. Tom and Kathy from Connecticut. Larry and Christine with England’s John and Ali. I was honored Christine attended. She is a for real artist. Her works are selling well. Whereas, I did not paint. I merely collected.

People were taking pictures of me with their spouses or alone in front of some of the Baron’s. I met Ed Krane for the first time. He took pictures of me with Jim and Theresa Wallace. Ed was at one time with the same TV station I had been. We had interesting war stories to share.

I ended up explaining certain of my Baron acquisitions and how they came to be. Everyone  had an interest in Jack Baron.

Jim Wallace did an excellent job showing Baron’s paintings and bringing out the crowd he did last night.

My next stop was the Chart Room. No one I knew. A bunch of younger guys whooping it up. I had one drink and left.

Last night would have been Emily’s night to work. She is in Lexington for the Kentucky Derby later today. She has attended many. She is originally from the area. She told me before she left that she was making the hat she will wear herself.

Larry let me know as he left Joy Gallery that they were heading over to the Key West Pub. A new place. Across the street from La Te Da. In my 26 years in Key West, I have seen several businesses come and go in the building. They all start with a bang. Hard to survive, however. The rent! The last tenant was paying $14,000 a month. You have to sell a lot of booze to cover that nut!

Perhaps this place may make it. I hope they do The inside is different. Multi colored walls and bright lights.

The Pub was jam packed. Fortunately, there was an empty seat at Larry’s table. The booze was flowing. Food was free. Huge sliders. Everyone spoke well of the sliders.

I was impressed with the greeting crew. There were two men standing on the sidewalk outside the entrance. One said hello Louis. The other…..Key West Lou. I do not recall having met either before.

Met Sean the manager inside. A hug and big kiss on the cheek. He was kissing everyone. As I was leaving, the owner came up and introduced himself. Stephen Pointer. Garbed in a sharp tuxedo. He is from England. I wished him well. Time will tell. The fact that La Te Da is across the street does not hurt. People tend to enjoy both. They will move from one bar to the other several times a night.

Then it was across the street to La Te Da. There was new owner Christopher standing in the entrance. Christopher is the former owner of Antonia’s. You will recall I stopped going to Antonia’s several years ago. It had nothing to do directly with Christopher. It was, if you will excuse the vernacular,  his asshole manager at the time. Christopher gave me a big hug.

It had been several years since I was at La Te Da, also. No reason. Just stopped going.

I ate at the outside bar. I have been a customer at La Te Da off and on for 25 years. Tonto has always been the outdoor bartender during that time. Love Tonto and her partner. Old friends, we generally meet in Publix while grocery shopping.

Twenty five years ago and ten years ago, I always enjoyed La Te Da’s lacquered duck. I enjoyed it again last night. Wow! Outstanding!

After dinner, I grabbed a snifter of Grand Marnier and walk into the inside bar. Sassy no longer bartending. He was a mainstay. A Key West icon. Casey is the new bartender. A lovely. She said Sassy now lives somewhere in Pennsylvania.

I was hoping to catch Debra and Patrick. Regulars at La Te Da for more than 20 years. They were away for the weekend. Instead the Spectrelles were entertaining. If I recall correctly, they used to appear in the Utica area at the Turning Stone casino. Absolutely outstanding. I stayed at the bar listening to them longer than I had intended. The three ladies wore wigs. The bouffant style of the late 1950s and 1960s.

Randy Roberts was at the other end of the bar. We nodded hello to each other. He is a female impersonator at La Te Da. He has been performing there more than 20 years. It must have been his night off. He was dressed casually. He looked amazing! Younger than when I first met him years ago.

Today, the Kentucky Derby. I have not paid attention this year. Have no idea who is running. I will watch the race at Don’s Place. The ladies will all be wearing bonnets of sorts.

Sorry this blog is a bit long. It was a long evening, however. Filled with all kind of good happenings.

Enjoy your day!

 

MIKE AND DON

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What could be better! An evening with Mike and Don. Drinks with Mike at the Chart Room. Dinner with Don at Hot Tin Roof.

I stopped into the Chart Room first last night. Mike of Mike and Tina fame was seated at the bar. A friend. He and Tina are starting to feel like family. We had an enjoyable time talking about everything. Everything includes parts of our Italian ancestry. Tina included in the stories. She is of Italian extraction, also.

I like Tina more than Mike. Who would not! The lovely lady is in Washington working on a special project. She returns to Key West tonight or tomorrow for the weekend. Then back to Washington.

Mike’s friend Nick Pontecorvo arrived. Mike is a pilot and co-owner of Key West Seaplanes. A cool job! Flies seaplanes all over Florida and occasionally into Georgia. His company has 4 seaplanes going soon to 5.

Nick occasionally pilots a party on a seaplane to Little Palm Island for lunch or dinner. What a way to travel to one of the world’s most exotic places!

After the Chart Room, I stopped in Don’s Place. Don was at the bar with John. Don and I chatted a while. Don said he was hungry and wanted to eat. Unusual for Don. He never eats!

I took him over to Hot Tin Roof. Don was the usual cheap date. A couple of drinks, a shrimp appetizer, and he was full.

Don is one of the best people in Key West. Friend to all. I am pleased to know him.

I spent the afternoon writing next week’s KONK Life COMMENTARY column. Titled it: Obama and Putin. An interesting piece.

Bocce tonight. Always a fun time. Hope we win.

This morning’s Key West Citizen has a front page picture of Stan Ellsworth. Stan is the host/star of the television show American Ride. He’s the guy who rides the Harley. Stan was in Key West yesterday filming his show at the Hemingway House.

Enjoy your day!

Mont Blanc Landslide

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One of my favorite places in Italy is Courmayeur. I have had the pleasure several times in recent years of enjoying Courmayeur. The highest mountain in the Alps…..Mont Blanc and a tiny municipality sitting half way up the mountain. Glorious!

Courmayeur is in the northern tip of Italy. A half hour from France and one hour from Switzerland. The weather recently has been warm. Yesterday, there was a maxi landslide. It stopped before doing any damage. However, the landslide is unstable and is sitting above Courmayeur and the entrance to the Mont Blanc Tunnel which connects Italy and France.

No one is certain what, if anything, will occur next. If the slide starts up again, a portion of Courmayeur could be buried. Also, the entrance to the tunnel connecting with France. The tunnel was closed for 20 minutes yesterday.

I hope nothing happens. Mont Blanc is unquestionably magnificent to behold. However, it can also be dangerous as yesterday’s activities indicate. I have always viewed Mont Blanc from where ever I have been situated as a disaster waiting to occur. I used to get the feeling especially when I would sit in the Courmayeur Square sipping a gin and looking up at majestic Mont Blanc hanging over me.

We are working on having this blog publish also in KONK Life’s E-Blast each day. The blog will then be available this way and the Blast way. Still working on how to get the blog from here to there. Not easy for me.

I write a weekly column in KONK Life. Under the title of Key West Lou COMMENTARY. Last week’s article involved Sweden and the Muslim impact upon the country. Bad things are happening. Someone wrote a Letter to the Editor which was posted in yesterday’s E-Blast. The writer disagreed with my reporting and clearly indicated I did not know what I was talking about. Challenged me to list my references.

The gauntlet had been thrown. I responded with an Email to the Editor which will run in today’s E-Blast. Not only did I list that which was demanded, I also concluded the woman criticizing the column did not know what she was talking about. Read today’s E-Blast for the retort.

I am not perfect. I do err occasionally. However catch  me when I am wrong, not when I am correct.

Tonight is my blog talk radio show. Nine o’clock my time. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Interesting topics. Like Latin America striking back at Monsanto, Vermont passing a GMO food labeling law, the price of food to double in the next decade, oranges joining limes in becoming more expensive, a story of Jesus suitable for description today, Putin’s purported genius, and more.

Stopped first at the Chart Room last night. Che at the bar, Victor bartending. A tourist came in looking for Mel Fisher and Jimmy Buffet photos. Che was the right person to point them out. He is one of the two remaining persons whose ashes will find their way into the Chart Room bar rail.

Then to Don’s Place. Grant and Toni at the bar. Hello to both. Sat with Jimmy and Joanie. Both play bocce. Joanie described bocce night as a 160 person cocktail party. She was correct!

Outside bartender Tina stopped by to chat. It was her night off. However her Dad was in town and they were partying with friends. As I left, I saw Tina and her Dad and two others playing bean bags. Only in Key West!

I stopped at the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center on the way home and treated myself to a Philly cheese steak sandwich for dinner. Good!

Enjoy your day!

HAPPY EASTER

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Happy Easter!

I love holidays. Things change as one gets older however. I miss my grandmother and mother’s Easter cooking. Especially the ghzzad (probably spelled wrong) and sausage pies. Easter foods. Heavy. Took forever to digest. So good, however!

I attached an Andre Rieu You Tube presentation on my Good Friday blog a few days ago. If you did not see and hear it, go back and do so. It is my Easter gift to you. Andre and his violin, together with the Nun’s Choir  with a rendition that may bring tears to your eyes.

I spent all day yesterday writing. Received a call about 5. It was Jenna. What are you doing? Lets go out. We did. Square One for dinner. It was catch up time. I do not see Jenna as often as I did. She is too busy with her television career.

I stopped at Don’s place after dropping Jenna off. Don and David at the bar. Don asked…..Where were you? Where was I what? The holiday dinner party at Hershel, Erika, Stan and Clare’s. Three smoked pigs.

I forgot!

Embarrassing, wow! More embarrassing when just at that moment Stan and Clare walked in. I told them the truth as I apologized. I forgot.

This seems to be Maggiore week. A couple of nights ago, I ran into Rocco Maggiore at the Chart Room. He used to live in Utica. This morning I received an e mail from Anna. She is spending the holiday on Mount Santa Maria Maggiore.

She is with her son Antonio, his wife Mariam, and their two children. Antonio has a chalet near the top of the mountain. Anna reports it is cold and there is 20 inches of newly fallen snow.

Enjoy the holiday!