SATURDAY NIGHT WITH JENNA

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I went out last night. A big deal. I have not been going out because of my diet. I am easily tempted. To be near food and drink is difficult.

Jenna was my date.

Just what a 77 year old needs. A 26 year old dinner companion.

We started the evening at the Chart Room. Ran into Captain Peter in the parking lot. A good man.

JJ was bartending. Jean and Joe Thornton were there. Two of the best. Alabama grads. I may watch the game with them Monday night. Told them I am pulling for Notre Dame.

Dinner was at the Hot Tin Roof. Jenna ate. She eats little, however. I had two diet Pepsi’s, a glass of water and a cup of coffee. The company kept me going.

After I dropped Jenna off, I headed over to Don’s Place. I have not been there in five weeks because of the diet. I felt like I had returned home!

Rob and Bebe, Herschel and Erika, and Boomer at the bar. Stayed a brief ten minutes talking with them. Then got out of Dodge fast! I was dying for a drink!

It is amazing! I feel so good this morning. I attribute it to having gone out last night.

Syracuse basketball today at noon. We play South Florida. I will be watching at John’s Big Ten Sports Bar. Only diet Pepsi on the menu for me.

I see in the news this morning that Syracuse is losing its head football coach, Don Marrone. Sad. Don has done a terrific job in returning Syracuse to winning football. Don is going back to professional football. He will be head coach for the Buffalo Bills.

Don of Don’s Place is a Buffalo native and die hard fan. I am confident Don will be happier with Marrone as head coach.

The debt ceiling problem gnaws at me. It should not be a problem. Never was till the Republicans made it one last year.

The Republicans are playing a dangerous game if they shut down the government as threatened. The United States will not be able to pay its bills. Any of its bills. No Social Security checks, no doctors and hospitals being paid via Medicare, no federal salaries, no nothing where federal dollars are involved. Globally their conduct could bring down our economy and that of the world.

Washington mugging the people!

People will go to the streets. There could be riots and the like. I would not expect federal troops to interfere. They are not being paid. Additionally, I cannot conceive of them exercising force against their fellow citizens under the circumstances.

It will not be as after World War I when veterans were protesting in Washington pension problems. They established a tent city. MacArthur went in with federal troops and broke up the demonstration. I have always considered the day to have been a black one in American history.

I am assuming Obama will prevent the debt ceiling crisis by exercising certain never used before Presidential powers under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

LONG LOST FRIEND TO BE LOST AGAIN

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A long lunch yesterday at Hogfish. Interesting and pleasant. I was with an old friend. The relationship very old. It goes  back to the early 1960s.

Her name is Ann Kimble. Actually, no more. That was her maiden name. That is the name I knew her by back when. She thereafter married and has been married more than 25 years.

Ann was a reporter for the local Utica newspaper. She was not native to Utica. Born in Delaware, I think. I knew her for a couple of years. Good company. An intelligent person. Wanted to write. She ultimately did publish one book: A History of the Delaware Constitution. I kid her about it.

I had not seen Ann for many years after she left Utica. About ten years ago, I was at a charity fundraiser here in Key West at East Martello. Who do I run in to? Ann! She and her husband were living in Big Pine.

So for the last ten years, Ann and I would get together for lunch or coffee like every three months.

Ann is leaving me again. Her husband is on in his years and sickly. He has to be near top notch medical care. They depart today for their new home in Naples.

Yesterday was our farewell lunch.

Ann brought her sister Melanie with her. Melanie is a retired school teacher. She lives outside Albany, New York.

The lunch was long and pleasant. I was sad when I hugged her good bye. I realized I might never see her again.

While I was waiting for the ladies to show for lunch, an Asian family sat at the table next to me. A lovely young lady. A one year old baby. The husband, a young person also. And Grandpa.

Two things garnered my attention. They ordered a ton of food. However, they ate it all. I was amazed. The other was that Junior was hungry. The mother lowered her dress and fed him. Rarely seen. Nice to observe. My daughter Beth used to do it when Samantha was a baby and we were out.

The TV/Internet show went well again yesterday. I have the The Key West Lou Legal Hour down to a science.

I spoke of many things. People are presently into the Washington political scene and the debt issues. These items were the most talked about in post show comments. Even my conservative friends are becoming a bit concerned.

My Italian friend Anna e mailed me. She is at her home on Mont Blanc. Snow and cold, she said. She plans on driving with friends today to La Thuile in the north west part of Italy. Minutes from the French border. A shopping and short get away trip.

Anna lives a picturesque life. Her mountain escape in the Alps is a Swiss type chalet. The area has a  1,000-2,000 year old castle every half mile. Her home sits half way up Mont Blanc. The view is spectacular.

I am going out tonight. I have promised myself I will not eat. I did not eat at lunch yesterday with Ann and her sister Melanie. Two diet Pepsi’s and a cup of coffee. The same tonight.

My lady of the evening is Jenna. We have not been out together since before the holidays.

Syracuse basketball tomorrow! At noon. Playing South Florida. I will be watching the game at the Big Ten Sports Page Bar. I assume I will have the company of Dan and Lisa Reardon. Syracuse fans and my friends from the Syracuse area. They are in Key West for a month. Both Syracuse fanatics as I. Any other Syracuse people out there come and join us!

We are into the start of the Big East. Now we find out how good Syracuse really is.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

KEY WEST LOU LEGAL HOUR THIS MORNING

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Another friday. Another show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time. Watch! Fast moving and interesting.

The show airs on television in the Florida Keys and through Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Elsewhere and world wide via the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

I am going to touch this morning on the fiscal cliff, the debt limit, Hillary Clinton, Benghazi, the Mayor of London, Silvio Berlusconi, and the Emancipation Proclamation. All from perspectives you may not have considered.

Additionally, the NRA, publishing gun permits in the newspaper, the Indian rape, Columbus, first appendectomy, Nixon, Carter, Olympics, Gingrich, Pelosi, Romney, and Santorum.

A full plate.

Please join me at 10.

I completely screwed up with yesterday’s blog. It was a good one. I lost it just as I finished. Searched for 10 minutes. Could not find it. There was no time to do it over. I had a doctor’s appointment.

Sorry.

One of the interesting things in the lost blog was my grocery shopping at Publix with Robert and Ally. A fun experience! Who drives the cart, who wants what, etc. I went to buy two items. Ended up with eight.

Key West weather continues to be amazing. Mid to high 70s. Calm. No humidity.

We are fortunate. Normally, this is our cold time.

I had an appointment with the heart doctor yesterday. No problem. Feeling well, fortunately.

You will recall my telling you I am part of a national heart study. Something to do with fish oil and triglycerides.

I had been taking fish oil pills daily for years. The first thing I had to do was purge my body of fish oil. Off the tablets for three months. Then last month I received a full physical.

Yesterday, the study began in earnest. I received a four month supply of fish oil pills. Maybe. I do not know if I have the real thing or the placebo.

I am being closely watched. I went into the study with my triglycerides at a good number. 140. If it gets out of whack, it means I am on the placebo. At that point, I am out of the study and back on a daily regimen of oil pills.

The only other event of interest yesterday was a manicure with Tammy.

My life is at such a mundane level. It is the diet. I do not go out while I am dieting. I am naturally weak. Know I will cheat. Ergo, best I stay home.

Again, please watch today’s show.

Enjoy your day!

TIME FOR A THIRD PARTY

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Pure politics this morning.

The chaotic fiasco of the past few days confirmed conclusively that the United States government is dysfunctional. It is broken.

What to do?

The first reaction is vote them out. The solution is impractical. Through legal political maneuvering over the years, 95 per cent of Congressional incumbents are reelected. The same persons are returned to Washington term after term.

There is a growing interest in term limits. A wise solution on the surface. Unfortunately, it would not work in a timely fashion.

Some 15 odd years ago, several States set term limits for their federally elected representatives. The already seated Congressmen did not like it. They went to Court. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in a 5-4 decision that term limits could be imposed only by Constitutional amendment.

In this day and age, a Constitutional amendment would take 10-15 years to achieve. The United States as we know it might not survive that long.

A third party is another possible solution. It is the one I deem the most practical at this time.

The United States is no longer split between two parties. The Republican and Democrat Parties. There is a third unnamed party. Independents. They make up approximately one third of the voting population. The Republicans and Democrats share equally the remaining two thirds.

Whereas the numbers are equal, party structure is not. The independents are totally without organization.

It is time for one or two persons of substantial wealth to step up. They must put their money where their mouths are. There are many such men. Mayor Bloomberg is one.

Running a Presidential candidate will not be enough. The independents must join together in a new party and run Congressional candidates in each and every Congressional district and State. Therein lies the reason why a man of stature with big money is required. The fight to save this country must be waged at the grass roots level.

It could work. The thought is not far fetched.

Think about it.

 

STARTED NEW YEAR RIGHT

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I am off to less than a good start this New Year’s Day.

My blog talk radio show was scheduled for 7. About five minutes ago. I could not get into it. At my end, there are several steps to set up the show. The last two would not connect. I apologize to those of you that were up and waiting to hear pearls of wisdom fall from my lips. They would have included the fiscal cliff fiasco and Hillary Clinton, off course.

Again, my apologies. This was only week 3 of the show. Obviously still some rough edges to be worked out.

I partied last night as planned!

My goal was Duval somewhere near the Bourbon Street Pub. I wanted to see Sushi come down in the red heeled shoe.

I made it. With some difficulty. Parking was a problem. Seems like I had to park ten miles away. It was a long walk to Duval Street.

People crowded like sardines in a can. All happy. No one out of hand. The pre midnight entertainment excellent. Drag ladies performing on a stage set up in front of the Bourbon Street Pub.

I enjoyed a couple of drinks. I was able to push my way into 801 for some gin.

Several years ago, I did the midnight drop at Sloppy Joe’s. Immediately following the drop, the crowd dissipated, Sloppy’s emptied out. The night was over.

It was the same last night. Once Sushi made it down, every one left. The evening was concluded. It was ok by me as I was tired.

Sloan just telephoned. I called her earlier to figure out why I could not get into the talk radio show. She does not have it worked out yet.

My government/our government disappointed me yesterday and last night. So little, so late. Deadlines seem to mean nothing to these people. They should work for a living like every one else. If a deadline is not met, you are out of a job!

Government is broke. I am not telling you anything you were not already aware of.

Hillary Clinton’s problem bothers me. I am sure it bothers you, also. We know her. She is like family. How terrible her malady! I hope her recovery is swift.

Enjoy your New year’s Day. I am going back to bed.

WENT OUT LAST NIGHT

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I cannot diet and visit my usual haunts. The near occasions of sin are food and drink. So, I remain home evenings. My recollection is that last night was the second time in the 35 days I have been dieting that I went out.

I was excited. It was exciting.

The Chart Room was the venue selected. It had not changed. JJ bartending. Dave, Sheila, and Captain Peter in attendance.

I was good. Did not drink nor eat pop corn. Two diet Pepsi’s instead.

Captain Peter never ceases to amaze me. I learned last night he was a bird watcher.

The Captain spoke specifically of two birds. I did not know them. I know nothing about birds. He had sighted one species here in Key West. Another flying in mass over Miami recently. Both totally foreign to Florida.

The birds’ habitat is Labrador. They were far from home. Captain Peter attributes their Florida presence to Hurricane Sandy. Interesting.

Duval Street was packed. Jam packed. Traditionally, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is the busiest for Key West. Come Wednesday morning, there will be no one. You can throw a bowling ball down Duval from one end to the other without hitting any one.

Tomorrow my blog talk radio show! Seven in the morning my time. You can listen and/or call in. The show is quick moving.

This will be show #3. Help me! Not only listen, telephone me from anywhere with a comment or thought. I am going to lead with the fiscal cliff, France trying a 75 per cent tax on its millionaires, and Silvio Burlosconi having to pay his wife $3 million a month. We are not limited. Can talk about any topic you wish.

Those living outside the United States can listen in/participate via Skype.

It may be radio, but a computer is required to join me. It is a radio internet show. Found easily at www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Click on the second box that appears. The one with the date of the show. Voila, you will be in business!

I plan on going out again tonight. I will cheat, however. Plan on drinking. The game plan is to walk Duval a bit and at midnight watch Sushi come down on the red shoe at the Bourbon Street Pub. If I change my mind and stay in, I will still watch Sushi. CNN carries the drop live each year.

Hillary Clinton. How sad! How terrible! Hope her condition clears up swiftly.

Many were critical of Hillary when she announced she could not testify before the Congressional committee looking into Benghazi because  she had fallen and suffered a concussion. Many thought it was a convenient made up excuse. One of this blog’s loyal readers wrote and referred her malady as an “immaculate concussion.” I must concede, I thought ill of the situation as well. A lesson to be learned. Never jump the gun…..give a person the benefit of the doubt. Not all political figures are the same. Some tell the truth.

Enjoy your New Year’s Eve day! Better yet, enjoy this evening!

 

NEW YEAR MIDNIGHT DROPS

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Midnight New Year’s Eve, the world watches the ball drop on Time Square. In person and on television.

Key West has its own drops. Three traditionally. Perhaps a fourth this year.

The original drop is Sloppy Joe’s. A ball drops onto the roof. There is a huge clock marking the seconds.

The Sushi drop is at the Bourbon Street Pub. The drop is about 15 years old. Sushi is one of Key West’s most infamous and beautiful female impersonators. Sushi sits in a huge red slipper which is dropped at midnight.

The third is the drop near the Schooner Wharf at the Historical Seaport. A pirate girl descends from a high ship mast as cannons boom.

There may be a new drop this year. Cow Boy Bill’s. A honky talk saloon. A huge property. Famous for its mechanical bull. More famous for its Wednesday nights when it is competitive bull riding time for the ladies. Topless.

Word is that Cow Boy Bill’s will have a lady or ball descending from a tall scaffold.

The Bourbon Street Pub/Sushi drop is world famous. CNN carries it world wide at midnight.

A few observations this day.

We keep hearing about the four Americans killed at Benghazi. Including the American Ambassador. Ten or more injured persons were airlifted out. Why have we not heard their stories? I cannot believe they were not interviewed. They seem to have been lost in the shuffle. No one talks about them.

Syracuse won a double header yesterday!

The football team beat West Virginia 38-14 in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. The team ends the season with a 9-5 record. Good for Syracuse! We have been a poor football team the past 15 years. The last few have seen Syracuse win a game here and there. Last year was better. This year the best. We should be even better next year.

The basketball team won, also. Beat Alcorn State 57-36. Nothing to write home about. Alcorn State plays a different game altogether. The game was merely a warm up for Syracuse. What happens next week when the Big East begins is what is important. Syracuse will do well this year. The question is how well. Much is expected from the basketball team each year. That is the price of success.

Income taxes continue to be a big issue. How much should the very rich pay? Obama wants 39.6 per cent. He will probably agree to less.

France has a taxing problem, also. The President wanted a rate for France’s millionaires of 75 per cent. It got shot down by a Constitutional Council on technical grounds. It is expected to return shortly and may pass.

It has been reported that some French millionaires are considering moving to the United States to avoid a high income tax.

Our millionaires should not complain!

Tuesday, I will be doing my blog talk radio show. My third one. Seven in the morning. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. A one half hour talk show. Listeners may call in to discuss topics with me.

I appreciate it is New Year’s morning. However, that is the day and time the show airs. If any of you are up, listen in. Enjoy a cup of coffee with me. You will enjoy.

We talk about anything and everything involving current events.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

BURNED PANCAKES

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As you are aware, I have been on a diet. In 4.5 weeks, I have lost 20 pounds. The diet is Nutrisystem. It obviously works. It should. I am taking in less than 1,000 calories a day.

The food comes prepackaged. One of the items is a mix for pancakes. Total calories 140. I made the pancakes this morning. The mix resulted in four pancakes, each two inches in diameter.

Not much.

I left them in the frying pan on the stove cooking. Returned to my computer which is about five feet from the stove. I work with the doors to the ocean open behind me.

After a while, I started to smell something burning. Who is cooking out at this hour of the morning, I thought. I kept working. The smell became more pronounced. Finally, it dawned on me! The pancakes! Burned to a crisp. Stuck hard to the pan.

A bad start to the day. Food is the most important thing when a person is dieting.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour was yesterday morning. Just me and Krystal. No Jenna. Jenna went back home to Indiana for Christmas. She was supposed to leave Wednesday. The snow storm hit. The storm continued through thursday. Today is the first day she could fly out.

Krystal and I made do. Though the inconvenience was more on her shoulders than mine.

The show went well. I was surprised what interested viewers the most. I thought it would have been the fiscal cliff. Instead, it was Germany from various perspectives.

I discussed four  German related items. The Neo-Nazi party in Greece which is now Greece’s third largest political party, a statue of Hitler recently placed in front of the Warsaw Ghetto, Germany in effect now deporting its elderly to Eastern Europe and Asian nursing and assisted care homes, and a German cabinet minister who insists God is a woman.

After the show, I walked. Since it was warm, I walked inside Home Depot. Comfortably air conditioned.

I would term myself a floor walker at Home Depot. Many think I work there. I am constantly asked questions like where is this or that, what do I need to do a particuar job, etc. Me, who never even owned a screwdriver his whole life!

Home Depot takes care of its property. Sometime in the last 48 hours, the floors were polished. They sparkled.

I wrote next week’s column for KONK Life. Titled Term Limits. The thrust was that it  is not that easy to invoke term limits on our Senators and Congressman. People should be aware. Term limits might not be the solution.

KONK Life hits the streets wednesday. Read the article. It is an eye opener.

Key West weather continues to be excellent. We are blessed!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

LES MISERABLES

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Les Miserables.

Magnifique!

I saw the movie last night. One of the finest I have ever seen. Reward yourself. Go see it.

Anne Hathaway plays a tubercular ridden prostitute. She lost thirty pounds to do the role. An Academy Award performance!

Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman outstanding, also.

The lines are sung, not spoken.

The film was uniquely made. The actors sang live. The singing was not prerecorded and then lip synched. The first time this approach has been utilized since the musicals of the 19390s and early 1940s.

My yesterday began with a haircut with Lori. I fell asleep while she was cutting my hair. Strange! My pills?

It was a bit cool. I walked Smathers Beach afterwards. I am up to 20 pounds lost on the diet. However, I have plateaued again.

Spent some time in the afternoon finalizing today’s TV/Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time. Available via TV on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Available world wide also. www.tvchannel19.com.

Four interesting items involving Germany have been added. Extremely revealing.

Join me at 10.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

DOWN FOR THE DAY

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A minor cold spell is upon us this morning. It is 68 degrees. The high will only be 73. Tomorrow a return to the low 80s, however.

The previous paragraph was written with tongue in cheek. The snow storm up north is horrendous. My home town of Utica is buried in a foot of snow.

I remember the snow and storms. It was never fun. I always hated it. Tthought there had to be a better way. Found it. Key West.

Yesterday was a real quiet one for me. I spent most of the day down.

Since Christmas eve, every time I got up I felt light headed. Like I was going to pass out. My stomach not feeling right, also. Continued through yesterday. So I stayed in bed.

I seem ok this morning. I suspect with my weight change that I may need an adjustment in the blood pressure medicine.

Since I was in bed, I missed Les Miserables again. Perhaps this evening.

Tomorrow, the Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time. Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Worldwide on the internet at www.tvchannel.19.

Join me. Another good show.

Besides the subjects already reported, I shall be discussing the fiscal cliff, the need for term limits, Bone Island, God’s gender in dispute, the Pledge of Allegiance, Ben Franklin and Poor Richard’s Almanac, the 38th parallel, and Tennessee Williams’ Night of the Iguana.

Quite a mixed bag.

Enjoy your day!