KEY WEST WEATHER STILL GOOD

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Here it is mid October and still humid. Fantastic weather!

I walked my island yesterday. Early to beat the humidity. I live in Key Haven, three islands north of Key West. All of 2.5 miles.

Key Haven was originally known as Racoon Key. The maps still call it that. The reason for the name was that raccoons lived on the island. Many.

When I first bought my home here 16 years ago, there were raccoons all over the place. Ergo, the  name was appropriate. Today, there are none. Why, I do not know.

I spent most of yesterday glued to the TV. The Washington political mess intrigues me. Stupid! Thank you primarily to the tea party group. I might add….. And to the people who elected them!

While watching, I fined tuned last night’s blog talk radio show. The show was at 9. Went off with out a hitch. Two topics particularly interested me.

One was Congressional pensions as opposed to Social Security. Over 400 former Congressmen are receiving Congressional pensions from $40,000 to $71,000 a year. Not bad.

Whereas, the average Social Security benefit paid is $1,160 a month. Roughly $14,000 a year.

And Congress wants to cut Social Security! Cut the retired Congresspersons’ pensions first!

The other topic involved Germany. Germany has benefitted the most economically from the euro situation. Most European nations are suffering under Germany’s oppressive thumb.

When the European nations entered into the euro agreement some 15 years ago, there was a provision that one military be formed for all the nations. It has not happened yet. Germany is pushing the concept now. Germany wants to be the head of the air force and navy.

Germany gave us World Wars I and II. They helped give many euro nations a weak economy. Now, they want to head the military for all the euro nations. I would not trust them.

While screwing around on the internet yesterday, I came upon an interesting article involving Albania. You will recall that Albania is Flora’s home. Flora of Flora’s Story that I wrote about this summer.

I learned from the article that Albania is the other Riviera. As opposed to the French and Italian ones. However considerably cheaper. The article said the cost of lodging and drink was 1/10th of the other two Rivieras. I know the cost of the Italian Riviera. I visited there twice. Once each of the past two summers. I stayed in Camogli. Next door to Portofino. Perhaps I should visit Albania next year.

My hand is getting better. The swelling is down 95 per cent. No more itching.

The two bite marks remain pronounced, however. You can see the bites and the red skin around each. I am beginning to think I was only bit once. By some wide mouthed bug. The bites remind me of those on a person’s throat in a Dracula/vampire movie.

Enjoy your day!

FORGETFULNESS

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My radio show tonight! Blog talk radio. Nine o’clock. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

So many things to discuss. So little time. Topics such as the government shutdown, Senator Cruz, Congressional pensions, governmental waste, and Egypt.

The show is quick hitting and entertaining.

Went to see my internest Dr. Jackie Lefferts yesterday. A tough no nonsense female doctor. I visited her because of my swollen hand caused by something that bit me.

She could not tell what type bug. She was concerned with whether the poison had traveled up my arm. She satisfied herself it had not. Prescribed an antibiotic and some other things.

My drug store is Walgreen. Dr. Lefferts suggested for the antibiotic that I go to Publix. It was free at Publix. So I went. No waiting line. My prescription was ready. The bill was zero dollars. I was shocked. No one gives anything away for nothing in today’s society. I smiled and told the woman behind the counter…..thank you. She looked surprised. Must be most people do not say thank you.

There was a sheet of information in the bag. There are several antibiotics Publix provides free. You might want to look into it.

I drive a Volkswagen convertible. Two tone. Blue and white with a black top. A unique color arrangement. Only one other in Key West. I parked my car across the street from Dr. Lefferts’ office. When I came out and went to the car, the door would not open. I kept clicking and nothing happened. I tried the key. Nothing. I tried the trunk. Nothing. How the hell did I get an electrical problem which apparently caused everything to shut down?

I looked in the window. There was a woman’s bag on the front seat. I do not carry a woman’s bag. I looked up and behind the car. Two cars back was another Volkswagen convertible with the same colors. Mine! Who would have expected the only two similar cars in Key West to have been parked within 30 feet of each other.

Yesterday was a bit of a be good to Louis day. I went to the Pier House Beach Bar for lunch.

Lovely! A perfect setting! Sitting on the beach at the edge of the ocean.

A lot of people. In fact, as I drove over I noticed many people on Duval. It reminded me of season.

I had fish and chips, admired the view and read the Miami Herald. Much full page advertising  for senior citizens re signing up for Obamacare. Apparently the time to sign is now through some date in December. The insurance companies are after senior business big time. The prices were much less than I am paying now and seemed to offer more.

I missed Kathleen Peace and Larry Smith. Many times when I would lunch at the Beach Bar, Kathleen would come out of her office and provide a cheery hello and kiss. Larry would be doing some work in the Wine Galley in preparation for his evening show and walk by. Larry did not kiss me.

Then to Publix. To pick up the antibiotic prescription. I went to the new Publix. It is the one I generally use for grocery shopping.

The parking lot is huge. When I came out, I could not remember where I parked the car. For real! Up and down the rows I went till I spotted it.

A first for me. Worries me. A sign of old age. My father used to do it. I have become my father once more. Amazing.

Spent my evening working on tonight’s blog talk radio show. Please join me.

Enjoy your day!

WHO IS WINNING…..ANTS OR ME?

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Living on a sub-tropical island is always a joy when it comes to bugs! They are a given. You become accustomed to them. On those occasions when they invade your home, you deal with them.

The ants came in several nights ago. The very small ones. Tons on my kitchen counter and sink area. TERRO is the solution. Everyone’s hero in the Keys! Does the job with ants.

I went to Home Depot and bought TERRO. Little plastic houses with gook inside. You lay them out where the ants are. The ants go in and eat the stuff. They do not die there, however. The ants  return to their nest where they contaminate the rest of the flock and they all die happily together.

No more ants!

Did not work that simply this time. The ants were gone overnight from where they were. However, they moved to another area of the kitchen. The ants moved four times. I put TERRO out on four different days in four different places.

No ants this morning. I think I won.

This was my week for bugs. Saturday night around 6, I took a shower. Picked up a clean towel to dry myself. Felt a sting to the back of my left hand. Something had bitten me. What, I do not know.

My left hand is now almost the size of a softball. I see the doctor at 11:30. Itching was the initial problem. All saturday night and most of sunday. I went on the internet to see what to do. The oracle of our wisdom.

The most popular relief is to use a hair dryer. On the bite area. Has something to do with the proteins bugs leave under the skin. Aim the hot air on the bites. I have no hair so I had no blow dryer.

The backup remedy was hot water. As hot and as long as you could stand it. It worked. The relief lasted about four hours. Then the hand under the hot water faucet again.

Sunday dinner at Lisa’s. Salmon. Delicious.

I had a prearranged meeting with two ladies afterwards. Business. We had a drink and talked.

Happy Columbus Day!

There was no Columbus Day in my earlier years. Italo-Americans wanted a national holiday for one of their ancestry. Columbus got the nod. The Sons of Italy, of which I was a member, was very instrumental in the drive to have Columbus Day recognized.

Enjoy the holiday!

 

 

NORTH ROOSEVELT BLVD. 2 WAY…..UGH!

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North Roosevelt Boulevard went two ways yesterday. I was not impressed.

I had to go into town twice. Traffic backed up big time going and coming. Used to be a four lane highway. Two lanes each way. I am doubtful this new temporary concept which also permits a middle turn lane will work. Besides delay, my sense is that there will be an increase in accidents.

I have decided to use Flagler for going and coming for a while. It will be out of my way a bit on the ingress portion of a trip. However, faster and safer.

Lisa and family over for a swim. The grandkids are fish!

I watched most of the Syracuse/North Carolina State game in the later afternoon. Syracuse won! 24-10. A big victory for the Orange who were a 6 point underdog.

Syracuse’s ground game looked good. Especially in the second half. Syracuse is now 3-3.

If I were inclined to suicide and cut my wrists, my blood would have flowed orange in pride.

Saturday bocce last night. A make up game. Could not be played when scheduled because of rain.

We won the first two games. I left at the start of the third. For some reason, I was very tired.

I played the first game. Frankie my partner. Don and Stan playing the other side. I sucked. Those three were the ones who actually won.

The second game found us down 10-0. I hate those games. We won 16-11. A comeback!

People are starting to get angry with the Washington fiasco. Here and there. From Washington to Hawaii. Veterans asserted themselves yesterday by visiting the World War II Memorial. Some came from as far away as Florida. Same in Hawaii where the December 7th Memorial was visited. Each time gates and barriers were opened by the visiting veterans. The  police never interfered.

I view the happenings here and there as seeds of unrest. The beginning of protests of sorts. In these instances, silent ones.

With regard to federal activities, only those deemed essential remain open. The House of Representatives have their own private gym. Must be essential. It is still open.

Most of the House members are still being paid, also. A small number have said they will donate their pay to charity. Most have not. Probably because they need a check to live on. Just as the hundred of thousands of furloughed federal employees do.

Our county is Monroe County. We house federal prisoners for periods of time in the county jail. The federal government pays rent for this service. Rather than a check, an IOU was received last week by the Sheriff.

Enjoy your Sunday!

JENNA AND ME LAST NIGHT

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A first class evening last night. A good way to enjoy friday after dark. Jenna and I went to Square One for dinner. A terrific date and a great meal!

Jenna as always was her beautiful self. Lucky will be the man she falls in love with.

I started going to Square One over 20 years ago when Michael Stewart first opened it. For many years, it was my favorite haunt. Three to four times a week. Other regulars attended with the same frequency. We all had a good time. Bartender Patrick “Patty Cakes” Hayes became our friend. To this day, he and Lisa remain extremely close.

Carmelo used to own La Trattoria. He sold it several years ago. Bought Bottle Cap. He still owns Bottle Cap. Last year, he bought Square One from Michael Stewart.

Carmelo knows the restaurant business. He updated the restaurant interior. Introduced a new menu. The place is gorgeous! The food outstanding!

Jean Zimmerman. I have not seen Jean in probably 10 years. Saw her last night. She was hosting at Square One. Jean, lovely as ever!

Jean is from the Square One days of old. She hosted there around 15 years ago. It was good to see her again. Always a warm smile. Last night an addition. Long flowing white hair. Magnificent!

Bartender Patrick was not working. He is vacationing in Europe with husband Les.

I started yesterday morning with my TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Post show comments and emails indicate Social Security was the topic garnering the most interest. Many were unaware that the U.S. government has legally stolen from the Social Security fund to the tune of $2.7 trillion. Social Security is the U.S.’s biggest creditor. Not China or Japan.

Unfortunately,  the money will probably never be paid back.

Then a manicure with Tammy. A nice person! The American dream fulfilled. Immigrated  from Vietnam 12 years ago. Worked hard. She and her husband bought a business. Last month, a new home.

Sloan and I worked together for a while in the afternoon.

Followed by a nap. I was tired!

Tonight, bocce! I know, it is saturday. Bocce is thursday. It is a make up game. At 7. Saturday night at the bocce courts. Should be interesting. We will probably be the only ones playing.

Syracuse football this afternoon. Go ‘Cuse!

Syracuse plays North Carolina. North Carolina is a one touchdown favorite. Hopefully, Syracuse will come out on top!

Enjoy your day!

 

A TYPICAL KEY WEST THURSDAY

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Sorry for the delay in getting this blog out. Friday morning is my TV/internet show and things get tight time wise.

Yesterday began with a haircut.  By Lori. A tiny very thin woman with long blond hair. A beauty to behold! I enjoy our conversations when she is cutting away. Not that much to cut these days. She takes a #1 and slides it over my head.

Visited the bank again.

A couple of weeks ago, the grandkids and I had lunch together. I was babysitting. I took Robert and Ally to lunch at Pepe’s. They had never been there.

Ally had a cheeseburger. I tasted it. Delicious! I have craved one for Louis ever since.

Ergo, I went to lunch yesterday at Pepe,s. Me and the newspapers. Ordered the large cheeseburger. Great taste!

Key West cheeseburgers were made famous by Jimmy Buffett. Cheeseburger in Paradise.

I occasionally would eat in the drug store. The one where Buffet got his inspiration for the song. It had  small tables and an old type drug store sitting counter. Drugs and lunches for sale.

The cheeseburger was not special. However, I always ordered it out of deference to Buffet. The drug store was purchased by a bank. A bank replaced a bit of Old Key West. Not nice.

My afternoon was spent working on this morning’s TV/internet show. It may be the best I have done. I had  a feeling it was special as I did it. All kinds of today/crazy things discussed. Like how Social Security has been stolen from us and additional examples of governmental waste. If you missed the show, it is on You Tube. Today’s show goes on tomorrow. Merely go to You Tube and enter Lou’s Legal Hour.

Bocce last night! We continue to play poorly. A gross misrepresentation. Lousy is a better description. We lost 2 of the 3 games.

To add to the shame of it, the other team had three new players. This is their first year. Only four showed up to play from the opposing team. Which meant the four had to play all four games. They played with honor! Nice guys! However, I was extremely unhappy when we lost 2 of 3 games.

No play offs for us again this year.

Tonight, Jenna! In all her pure unadulterated form. Sometimes I wish she were adulterated. Jenna does not tout a bible. She does not need one. Lines from Scripture roll off her tongue with regularity.

We will have a good time together. We always do.

Enjoy your day!

A NIGHT AT THE CHART ROOM

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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!

 

STAY OUT OF MY BEDROOM!

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Two years ago, I wrote a KONK Life column entitled Stay Out Of My Bedroom! It had to do with the morning after pill and politicians who were against it.

I find the need to write a brief bit bearing the same title. Stay Out Of My Bedroom! This time regarding the Catholic Church.

One of the topics discussed last night on my blog talk radio show involved Bishops and birth control. It was revealed monday that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had written a letter to the House of Representatives requesting THE GOVERNMENT BE SHUT DOWN, unless religious employers were given a special right to deny birth control coverage to their employees. In effect, an alteration of certain provisions of Obamacare.

I was confused. I am confused. Just two weeks ago, Pope Francis said the Church had been too obsessed with gays, birth control and abortion. Too doctrinaire. The issue required a new look.  The Bishops apparently did not hear the Pope. The U.S. Bishops are involved once again politically with regard to the birth control issue.

The Good Book says…..render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, to God the things that are God’s. Sounds like separation of Church and State to me as set forth by Jesus himself centuries ago.

I am willing to listen to my priests preach whatever they like from the pulpit. That is their venue. I am adamantly opposed to the Church becoming involved in the political arena, however.

Another part of this whole thing that bothers me involves food. The House of Representatives recently passed a bill removing $40 billion from the food stamp program. A program that helps feed the poor, old and young alike. Free breakfasts for children are on the way out. Milk for babies  whose mothers cannot afford the sustenance is being denied to babies at this very moment because of the government shutdown.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York is the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A very humorous man. A very fat man. Extremely. His body structure suggests he is eating. And eating well. Though many in his flock are not.

Somewhere along the way, Cardinal Dolan forgot two things. First, the Pope is his boss. How can he come out so forcefully against an item that the Pope recently said was subject to review? Second, how can he support a government shutdown that is contributing to the poor having less food available, especially milk fed babies?

Cardinal Dolan and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are wrong, wrong, wrong! They are the Tea Party of the Catholic Church.

Enjoy your day!

ANTS

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When you live on a semi-tropical island such as Key West, you become accustomed to an occasional bug invasion. Over time, one becomes knowledgeable as to cause and effect. It helps to diminish the number of invasions.

I screwed up last night. I was preparing something to eat and spilled some olive oil. Extra virgin. On the counter top next to the sink. I cleaned it up. Apparently not well.

When I came downstairs this morning, they were there! Ants! The tiny little ones. Appeared to be in the hundreds. On the counter, in the sink, on the cupboard doors and on the floor.

I looked for repellant. I had none, except for a mosquito one. With a West Nile repellant built in. Obviously to rub on the body. Not for ants in the kitchen. But, I made do. I sprayed the stuff all over. It worked! Terrifically! Though I did not use it as the manufacturer intended.

The ants died in their tracks. Now I have all this sticky stuff on the cupboards, in the sink, on the floor, etc. I am leaving it stand for a while to deter further ants from entering.

The last ant invasion I had was four years ago. Home Depot sells the right stuff to eliminate the problem. I cannot recall its name, but will recognize it when I see it. So when I am done with the blog, it will be off to Home Depot.

Cleaning up the mosquito repellant  later on will be a pain!

My blog talk radio show tonight. Nine o’clock. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

The topics I will hit on include the government shutdown, Supreme Court Justice Scailia, and what the banks started doing with ATM machines this week in anticipation of a disaster next week. An interesting show. Join me.

Yesterday was a simple one. A bank visit, lunch at Blossoms, and research and writing the rest of the day. I had intended to have dinner at Hogfish. Wish I had. If so, I would not be dealing with an ant problem this morning.

Yesterday was the second time I have been to Blossoms under the new management. I ordered my usual cheese toast with tomato and Cuban coffee.

They do not have it down yet!

I have spent 20 years eating the same combination. Under three different owners at Paradise Café and now into my third owner at Blossoms. All made the cheese toast the same till the new owners.  The last Paradise owner moved to Blossoms and carried the knowledge as to how to make the sandwich with him..

The bread has been changed. A big difference! Cuban bread is made with pig fat. I do not think the new bread is. Affects taste and texture. The bread being used is also smaller.

The sandwich is not being cooked correctly. It should be lathered in butter and pressed down to a quarter inch. The one now being served does not have sufficient butter and is served about one inch thick. The difference being comparable to a thick bread pizza and a regular one.

The coffee has been luke warm both times. Like dish water.

I was going to tell the new owners yesterday. Politely, of course. As I was getting ready, the door opened and about 15 young men came in to order sandwiches. Tourists. All appeared new to Blossoms.

The young men were making the new owners’ day. I did not want to affect it. The next time I will tell them, however. If I cannot get the sandwich I have enjoyed for 20 years, I will stop going. I will also rarely stop at any Cuban sandwich place. The former Paradise Café/Blossom’s sandwich was unique.

Enjoy your day! I am off to Home Depot.

 

 

GRAVITY

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What a picture the sunrise created this morning! The sun came up behind a bank of stretched out gray and white clouds. The sun radiating its brilliance through the openings. Multi colored! A sight to behold!

A good day yesterday.

Watched Meet the Press in the morning. Did this week’s column for KONK Life. Enjoyed a drink with Jenna. Went to the movies to see Gravity with Jenna. Enjoyed a drink and lite fare at the Marriott Beachside Bar afterwards. With Jenna, of course.

Gravity is one of the finest movies I have ever seen. Without question! A work of art!

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star. Sandra Bullock is outstanding! An Academy Award performance. I will be shocked if she is not nominated and does not win. The movie itself could very well get the Best Picture award.

Tense! The only way to describe the film. Every moment of it. Bullock plays an astronaut lost in space. Outside her space ship!

Gravity normally is not my type movie. Space ships, science fiction, etc. This one excited me no end, however.

The movie is in 3D. Try to watch it in 3D. We caught an afternoon showing which was not in 3D.

Jenna and I were together from before the movie till long afterwards. I picked her up at the TV studio at 3:30. She was working. Said she had some catching up to do. We drove to the Regal. We were an hour early for the film. My fault. I read the time table wrong on the internet.

Not one to waste a moment, I suggested a drink. We walked down to Outback. It was empty mid afternoon  on a sunday. Maybe three customers. We sat at the bar and enjoyed a drink as well as each other’s company.

Then the movie. Again, a WOW!

After the movie, we drove to the Marriott Beachside. Sat at the bar and ate some kite fare.

A good late afternoon and early evening!

I spent my morning into the early afternoon writing this week’s KONK Life column. Columbus Needs A Pied Piper.

Columbus, Ohio has a big time rat problem. An even bigger problem is Columbus does not have the money to deal with it. My suggestion was Columbus find a Pied Piper.

I had been considering writing about the Columbus rat situation and mentioning the Pied Piper. I mentioned the story line to several people the past few days. I was interested in what their reaction might be. No one knew or had ever heard of the legend of the Pied Piper. The people ranged in age from the mid 20s to 50.

I read the Pied Piper when I was in grammar school. Is it still read? If not, sad.

To make sure everyone understood the Pied Piper’s involvement in the article, I told the story of the Pied Piper in the first half of the column.

Tomorrow night is blog talk radio time. My internet show at 9. The shutdown will obviously be discussed. Also the U.S.’s recent raids into Libya and Somali. I question the wisdom and propriety of these raids. The issue will make for interesting talk. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Today is a significant day in history. My history. My Mother, were she still alive, would have been 99. Happy Birthday, Mom!

She died 24 years ago at the age of 75. I still miss her terribly. She continues to be in my mind almost daily. I talk with her. She was a wise woman. I generally ask her Why? when something not to my liking occurs.

Enjoy your day!