BACK TO DIETING

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Back to dieting.

Last night was my one cheat. Whether a guilty feeling or what, I did not enjoy my Christmas eve meal that much. Ergo, I opted not to eat Lisa’s big Christmas morning breakfast.

Glad I made the decision. I felt better almost immediately. Lisa understood.

Spent my afternoon resting. Watched some TV, researched a bit. One of Christ’s movies was on the Turner Channel. The one Jeffrey Hunter starred in. Robert Ryan made a terrific John the Baptist.

I decided to go to the movies last night. Les Miserables. I felt like Joseph. There was no room at the movie. Sold out.

I went home. Will try another evening this week.

My friday TV/Internet show is coming together. Some great material to discuss. Obviously more  about the Second Amendment and the NRA. Included thus far also is how Chicago Airport’s O’Hare got its name, the Indian bus gang rape, Romney’s transition bill presented to the United States for payment in the amount of $8.9 million, Christmas in the colonies, and Greece and the rebirth of a neo-Nazi party.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour is 10 in the morning my time on fridays. Airs on television throughout the length of the Keys and all of Miami-Dade County via Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Available on the internet worldwide at www.tvchannel19.com.

Join me on friday. Always a good show.

Key West had a cold spell for about three days. It is gone. The day time temperature yesterday was 80 degrees. The night time 74.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve and Morning

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Merry Christmas!

A happy time.

I did Christmas eve at Lisa’s. The evening is a big deal in the Italian tradition. In addition to everything else, the meal is special.

Italians eat seven fishes at the Christmas eve dinner. Lisa only does three. However, one is stone crabs. The stone crabs more than make up for the missing four.

Christmas eve dinner with Lisa was a warm event. As always. Robert and Ally were dressed in their new finery. Ally a new dress. Robert a shirt and tie. Robert is in to ties. He was proud of his.

While we were enjoying cocktails and pickies, who should appear but Santa Claus! Big and boisterous, he came through the door. Robert and Ally ran to greet him.

Santa had to leave his sleigh and reindeer several blocks away because of the Boulevard construction.

Santa stayed a while. Chatted with the grandkids. Chatted with the adults. Then he was on his way. Said he had a busy night ahead of him.

Ally loves to sing Christmas caroles. She led us during various parts of the evening.

I had my blog talk radio show this morning at 7. Only my second week. I finally had a call in. My first! I was thrilled! It was Larry Smith  calling to wish me a Merry Christmas.

After the show, I received a telephone call from another person who tried to call in. I missed seeing it on the screen. I felt bad. Hopefully next week she will try again.

The radio station provides me with immediate numbers following the show. I was very impressed by the increase from last week in the number of people listening. Thank you.

This morning’s show was recorded and can be heard on Facebook, Twitter, and Word Press during the week. It will pop up on your screen at least twice a day. Just click the box and you will be able to listen to the show.

Lisa did a big breakfast this morning. At 8. That is why the blog is late. I had to hustle over to Lisa’s for the holiday breakfast. Whereas I cheated on my diet last night, I did not this morning. One time was enough. Strangely, the thing I ate the most last night was bread. I could not get enough.

Santa was good to Robert and Ally. Their major gifts were tablets. Just like yours and mine. Only a bit smaller.

Robert and Ally looked beat. They both stayed up late last night. Then up at 5:30 this morning to see what Santa had brought. They will be napping part of the afternoon away.

Enjoy Christmas day!

 

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

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Key West is unique in many respects. One is the abundance of musical talent residing on the island.

Last night was the 29th Annual Christmas Concert. It is always held at St. Paul’s Church on Duval. A large Episcopalian church. The Concert is held on the altar. The pews the seating area.

All kinds of music are played. The connecting thread  being the Christmas season. The best of Key West’s best perform. Most are professional entertainers.

Included in the array were Larry Smith, Christine Cordone, Kathleen Peace, Peter Diamond, Carmen Rodriguez, JodyRae Campbell, Melody Coope, Michael Thomas, and Maj Johnson. They are all friends.

The Key West community turns out for the event. St. Paul’s normally holds 500 people. Extra chairs were provided last night. In addition, a huge number stood in the back of the Church.

It was Christmas! The feeling was there from the time one arrived till long after the Concert had concluded.

After the Concert, I headed over to the Pier House’s Wine Galley. It was Sunday night. The Larry Smith Sunday Showcase was being presented.

The Wine Galley was packed as St. Paul’s had been. Many of the performers from the Concert joined Larry. It was a gala evening! More Christmas singing plus.

It was joy to the world time!

Two songs played particularly affected me. By the manner in which they were sung. Jingle Bells was one. Performed by Christine Cordone and Kathleen Peace. The other was Oh Holy Night sung by Nancy K. Hoffman. Nancy sang the tune in Yiddish.

Steven the bartender sings also. He got involved.

My good friends and annual Christmas time visitors John and Allison Blenkinsoop were at the Wine Galley. They are from Leeds, England.

Tonight Santa Claus!

Santa is my personal friend. We talk via telephone with each other off and on during the year. As a special favor, he is coming to Lisa’s home at dinner time to sit a bit with my grandchildren Robert and Ally.

I have been doing this for years. Not only with Robert and Ally, but also with my children and other grandchildren. You can’t beat having Santa Claus for a friend in the eyes of the young ones!

Tomorrow at 7 in the morning my time, the Key West Lou Blog Talk Radio Show. One half hour. Via the internet. Need your computer and telephone. If you like, you can even call in and wish me a Merry Christmas, discuss current events, etc. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Join me with your egg nog and coffee.

Enjoy Christmas Eve!

 

 

 

COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I have been writing recently how terrific the Key West weather has been for this time of the year. 80 by day, low 70s in the evening. This is normally Key West’s cold time.

The cold finally hit yesterday. Just like that! High around 70. Night temperature in the high 50s.

As I write this blog, it is 59 degrees. The high today projected at 66.

As cold as it is (and it is cold to us who live here), the sun is shining brightly and not one cloud in the sky.

The cold wave will be with us through monday.

I started Christmas shopping yesterday. Immediately knew why I have always disliked it. Hordes of people! A zoo!

After shopping, I wrote this week’s article for KONK Life. I liked it. Decided to publish it on Amazon Kindle, also.

The title: The Conscience of a Nation. Concerns itself with the NRA’s reaction to the Newtown shootings. Wayne La Pierre spoke on national television yesterday on behalf of the NRA. I did not like his looks. I disliked his comments even more.

The presentation was from left field. Lacking in common sense. Connecticut’s Senator Blumenthal described it as “tone deaf.” I had a further thought. La Pierre spoke as the Romneyites did in the campaign. They did not get it. He does not get it. All from another era.

Let me share a few numbers with you.

In 1957, 54 per cent of households had guns. In 2010, only 32 percent. Which means we are dealing with a minority. A vocal one, however. Typical of our country, those that shout the loudest seem to get the most attention.

The mix of this minority is further interesting. Most are white middle aged men from Southern states. Fifty per cent are Republicans, 22 percent Democrats.

The numbers make sense.

I got out last night! Mingled with the rest of the world!

I went to the movies. Saw Lincoln. Excellent!

The movie left me with two thoughts. First, politicians are politicians regardless of the era. Second, Lincoln was an adept politician who did what he had to do to get things done. Including lying.

I did not stop at the Chart Room, Don’s Place, or anywhere else. I know my temptations.

Syracuse basketball today! Syracuse plays Temple at noon at Madison Square Garden.

Syracuse presently ranked #3 nationally. The team has a 10-0 record. Temple has a decent record, also. 8-2. One of Temple’s loses was against Duke.

Should be a good game. Showing on ESPN2. I can watch it from my home which is what I plan doing.

Last night was the first night in almost a month that I was out. I liked it! Plan on going out again this evening.

Remember to listen to my blog talk radio show Tuesday morning, if you can. Seven my time. Christmas morning so you may already be up. A call in show also. So call in! We can chat about anything and everything. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. The telephone numbers to listen and/call in are set forth.

The show is also listed on Facebook and Twitter. By the end of today on Word Press. Just click on the notice and you are immediately at the blog talk radio site for my show.

The show is also available worldwide via Skype.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

KEY WEST LOU LEGAL HOUR TOMORROW

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Tomorrow is friday. Friday means the Key West Lou Legal hour. Ten in the morning my time.

Available on television and the internet. Airs on TV on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. From Key West all the way north through Miami-Dade County. The show also airs world wide via the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

I prerecorded the show yesterday. Jenna and Krystal will be off friday for the holiday. That left me with neither a producer nor engineer. With all the machinery involved, no way could I do the show alone.

Yesterday was Krystal and me. Jenna had left the day before. Working alone, Krystal had double duty to do. She was involved every minute. Did a good job! Understand. I am the “star.” I just sit. I am not permitted to move.

A good show! Wished all a Merry christmas. Got into Newtown. Explained who the Westboro Baptist Church is. Talked some tea party, Egypt’s Constitution vote, anti-noise laws, and more.

Even I am going to watch the show! It will be a first.

My heart doctor visit began the morning. I am in a national medical study. Has to do with mortality and morbidity. Whatever that means. As I understand it, the study involves specifically what fish oil does with regard to heart ailments. A five year study. Hope I live that long. I do not know if I am getting the real pill or phony one.

Took a nap in the afternoon.

Played around with how to get into the blog talk radio show I am doing. Much too complicated as I last reported. Got it down now. Two simple steps. Go to www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Do not forget the hyphens in key west lou. Up will come the blog talk radio screen. Two fairly large sized boxes will appear. Both involving me. Click on the second box. The one giving you the date and time of the show.

That’s all

Thank you again John Gapinski.

The blog talk radio show is tuesday mornings at 7. Bright and early. Coffee time. Enjoy yours while I enjoy mine. Only one half hour. A talk show. Call in and we can chat a bit back and forth. The subject matter is current events. But since Tuesday is Christmas Day, I would enjoy receiving a Merry Christmas call or two.

I am having a typical Louis Xmas shopping time. I have done none yet.

I enjoy giving. Always have. Do not enjoy shopping, however. Not just for gifts. For things for Louis, also. Like suits, shirts and ties.

Enjoy your day!

BUSY MORNING AHEAD

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A busy morning ahead.

Starts at 9 with a visit to the heart doctor. A routine check up. Fasting blood work to be done.

Then I have to hustle over to the TV studio. The Key West Lou Legal hour is scheduled friday each week. Still friday this week. However, studio staff will be away for the Christmas holidays. Ergo, I am doing the show this morning. It is being recorded for showing friday at 10.

Great stuff to talk about this week. How could there not be The Newtown tragedy will take at least two segments. Therre are some post tragedy stories out there. Like the Westboro Baptist Church and a North Carolina tea party organization. One a hater and the other insensitive. Perhaps both insensitive.

I will also be discussing the Egyptian constitutional vote, anti noise legislation, a China big wig with 4 wives and 10 children, an Indian village barring their women from using cell phones, an Australian worker’s comp case deciding a sex injury is compensable, and more.

Remember, the show is not today. It is friday. Ten in the morning my time. Via TV throughout the Keys and Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Also available world wide via the Internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

I walked again yesterday. The scale is still stuck. I continue to keep a low profile. No one sees me out in the evening. I am not out. I continue to avoid the near occasions of sin for me. Food and drink.

Spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon reading the Ulysses Grant book. Long! Like War and Peace. Grant is interesting. A loser who became a winner!

I could breathe easy again yesterday afternoon. Santa telephoned me. My Santa of the past few years. I had lost his telephone number. He asked whether he was still on for Christmas eve. Of course!!!!!

Enjoy your day!

FIRST BLOG TALK RADIO SHOW OVER

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I did it! My first blog talk radio show. This morning at 7. I was nervous and excited.

One problem. No one called in. Hard to do a talk show without someone to talk with. I know people listened. Blog Talk Radio provides a list of callers after the show. One listener was from as far away as Italy.

PLEASE…..Listen and CALL IN to chat with me next week! As the saying goes, I was all alone by the telephone.

Jerry Gapinski is a loyal Key West Lou blog reader. He suggested an easier way to get into the blog talk radio site. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. It eliminates one or two steps. You still have to go to the Search Bar, delete it, and type in Current Events. From that point follow the specific instructions I provided in my 12/16/12 Key West Lou blog.

Thank you, Jerry!

One final thought. Several of you who read my daily blog periodically write to me to disagree with a position I might have taken. Some strongly. Where were you this morning? Lets have a dialogue. Call in!

Yesterday, I walked Home Depot again. I notice my legs get tired within the first 10 minutes. I cannot understand why. Fat or skinny, my legs look terrific. They are muscular. Appear to be the legs of an athlete.

Ran some errands.

Worked on this morning’s radio show and friday’s TV/Internet show.

I am getting despondent with the diet. I need to see success. Success to me is the scale. I have been stalemated at 16 pounds for a week. I am beginning to feel sorry for myself. Not good. Soon I will say what the hell and have a drink!

My thanks to those who listened to today’s blog radio show. To those who did not, I still love you. I bear you no ill will. Please however listen in next week.

Enjoy your day!

 

ALLY AND I WENT TO THE NUTCRACKER

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After doing yesterday’s bog, things changed. Sick Robert did not mind it Ally and I went to the Nutcracker. Ally wanted to go. I wanted to take her. We went!

Ally was excited. This was her second visit to the Tennessee Williams Theater. Her school attended the Symphony there a couple of weeks ago. She thought the Symphony was in her words…..Awesome!

The Nutcracker was better! Had to be. All the lights, color and dancing. Ally thoroughly enjoyed herself. She sat on the edge of her seat taking in every movement on stage.

Ally is 7, however. At intermission, she thought the show was over. She was ready to go home, she told me. She was tired. The look on her face was priceless when I told her we were only at the half way point. She hung in there without complaint. The ballet second act blew her out.

I have seen many Nutcrackers over the years. This was the best! The show was reworked to give it a Key West flavor. Things like chickens, fish and the Atocha replaced the mice, etc. of the original show.

Joyce Stahl is responsible for Key West’s Nutcracker. A Key West icon, she is a former ballet artist herself. She has dedicated many years to the Key West production.

The show was first class. Perfection. Not one item or move out of place. No small town production. I was very impressed!

Key West should be proud!

I returned Ally home after the show. Visited with sick Robert. Though he was energetic while I was there. Read the Sunday newspapers.

During the Nutcracker, I was looking at the children participating. I could not get Ally and Robert out of my thoughts. The Newtown tragedy is with me. Ally is 7 and Robert 8. There but for the grace of God…..

Chilling!

Tomorrow the day! The morning the time! Seven to be precise. The first ever talk radio show by me. The Key West Lou Blog Talk Radio Show. Shortened, the Key West Lou Talk Show.

I am excited!

I appreciate 7 am is early. However, many are up at that time .Please join me. Call in and participate. We will talk about anything and everything.

The show can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com.

Not that simple, however. You cannot just click on the site and be there. More is required.

I spelled out in yesterday’s blog (12/16/12) the instructions as to how to get to the Show to (1) listen and (2) participate/call in. You must follow the instructions. Otherwise, you will never find me. Return to yesterday’s blog (12/16/12) and follow the 10 step program to arrive at the show.

Grab a cup of coffee and listen. Call in, if you like. Only one half hour. It will be fast moving and interesting. I hope!

My next blog will be after the talk show tomorrow morning.

Enjoy your day!

DIRECTIONS FOR BLOG TALK RADIO SHOW

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Before getting into anything else, I have to mention the weather. It is absolutely perfect this morning! Everything about it. Key West has experienced a cold front the past two days. It is now gone.

A cold front of course is an evening temperature in the low 70s.

Let the bands play and the drums roll. My first blog talk radio show Tuesday morning. Seven o’clock.

Disregard any directions/instructions I previously gave regarding how to locate the show. Following is a more simplified version. Follow it step by step.

1. The site is www.blogtalkradio.com.

2. In the upper right corner of the page that comes up, there is a box saying “Search blogtalkradio.com.” Delete the verbiage. Enter in its place Current Events

3. A new screen will appear.

4. About 2 inches down, there are a series of tabs. Click on Advanced.

5. A new screen will appear. On the left side of the page will be a series Advanced Search. Boxes beneath. You must enter key west lou in two places.

6. First, the box labeled All Key Words.

7. Then the box entitled At least One of the Words.

8. Then enter. A new screen will appear. There will be a series of shows and pictures. Mine will be there. Click on it.

9. You will have arrived! The new screen is the how to and to listen.Follow the final instructions on the page. A simple one or two step thing.  If any person wishes to call in, the instructions are there. It is simple. If you are calling from outside the U.S., use Skype telephone.

10. Sit back,  enjoy your coffee, and the show.

There is a quicker way. Through Facebook. I have not got it figured out yet. If you do before me, let me know. It is merely the click of one button. Everything above can be avoided.

There is another Facebook way also. Go to Key West Lou’s status page. The page where I briefly set forth each day what is contained in my blog. The radio show is being promoted twice a day there.  Separate boxes. Click on one of those boxes and you will gain immediate entry.

The blog radio show is a talk show. Call and discuss anything you like with me. We do not have to agree.

The Lighted Boat Parade was off Schooner Wharf last night. I talked to a few people already this morning who were there. Terrific as usual.  A bit cold.

This is Nutcracker week in Key West. There is an afternoon performance today. I wanted to take Robert and Ally. I took my three daughters years ago when they were small. Robert is sick. Temperature, sore throat, etc. I cannot take Ally alone. Robert would not be happy. So we are off to next year. Too bad because I would have enjoyed taking them.

I am having trouble finding a Santa Claus. For a Christmas eve visit to Lisa’s house. The one I have had the past two years seems to have disappeared. If you know of anyone, let me know.

The Newtown tragedy has rekindled the right to bear arms controversy. I want to share with you some brief information concerning guns and the Florida Keys.

Florida is a concealed gun State. Which means it is ok to carry a gun if it is properly concealed on your body. Before you get excited, a total of 49 States permit concealed carry. Forty four permit open carry. Which simply means on your hip as in the days of the Old West.

There are close to one million permits to carry hand guns in Florida. Key West and all the Florida Keys basically make up Monroe County. There is some additional area north of the Keys. Insignificant however for purposes of this discussion.

Monroe County has the second largest number of permits to carry hand  guns per capita of any county in the State. The population is 73,000. There are 5,600 permits. A big number! Concealed must mean concealed. I have never seen anyone toting a gun in any fashion in Key West.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

WHY?

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Why?

That is the question yesterday, today and for many days to follow.

The title to Devon Corneal’s blog in Huffington Post says it best: The “…right to bear arms is not more important than a child’s right to grow up.” In the blog itself, Corneal stated  children are not “…shooting galleries.”

After yesterday’s events involving the Newtown school shooting, everything else seems unimportant. However, forward movement is required.

My TV/Internet show the Key West Lou Legal Hour went well yesterday morning. I got the attention of the ladies with my comments regarding Michigan’s proposed restrictions to a woman’s reproductive rights. The ladies were aroused!

Tonight, the Lighted Boat Parade! An annual Key West Christmas event. Boats decorated to the hilt with lighted Xmas decorations. Most having a Key West slant.

I could have watched the parade from the Pier House deck with lovelies Stephanie Kaple and Jean Thornton. I declined. Too cold and too late for me.

Tuesday morning my first blog talk radio show! I am excited! One half hour. Seven in the morning my time.

Disregard all previous instructions given. Tomorrow I will have a new and simpler set for you to listen and/or call in. Call in! If not, I am going to feel foolish not having any one to talk with on a talk show.

One of the topics will be the Newtown school disaster and Second Amendment gun rights.

Enjoy your Saturday!