A SAD STORY…..THE WORST

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I spent all day Monday writing. From morning to early evening. Initially outside in the shade of the tiki hut. When the rains came in the afternoon, they were of the monsoon type. Blowing side ways. I moved inside. It was better anyhow. The air conditioning was a relief.

I spent a considerable amount of time working on Friday’s internet show. It is coming along. When I tired of it, I wrote ten pages of the book I am working on. Ten pages is a lot. I was in the right frame of mind and the material poured out.

One of the topics for Friday’s show involves an Ashley Moser. Ashley was in the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado last week. Her six year old daughter was killed. Ashley was shot. Ashley was pregnant at the time. She miscarried. She was advised this week that she will be paralyzed the rest of her life. The doctors are not sure whether she will be a paraplegic or quadraplegic. It depends on whether she will have the use of her arms.

They say God never gives any person more than what that person can handle. The statement does not apply in Ashley’s case. What mental strength this woman will require to go on.

I woke in the middle of the night with a red and sandy eye. I think I have pink eye. I have an appointment this morning to see Dr. Lefferts.

Enjoy your day!

DATE NIGHT…..LISA AND ME

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A terrific Sunday morning! Sun, sky and water magnificent! A God is in His Heaven, all is right with the world morning.

Did a noon visit yesterday with Tammy at Lee Nail’s. Needed a manicure. The place bustling with customers. I was glad I had an appoinment. I think I am the only customer who is not asked to pick out a color upon arriving.

Afterwards visited with Lisa for a while.

Dinner last night was a big deal! A date was daughter Lisa. Just me and her. Tavern ‘N Town. A long slow meal. No pressures or distractions.

Lisa insisted on paying the bill. I let her. A thoughtful end to what had already been a very pleasant evening.

Bobby Nesbitt was performing at Tavern ‘N Town. An added pleasure.

I was home early. Before nine. I had no desire to drive into town. The construction is a pain in the butt.

Donna and Terri were sitting outside. We chatted a bit. They are in the process of moving to Los Angeles. They are in Key West to get their furniture out of storage. Then to New York City to empty their apartment out there. Finally the drive cross country to Los Angeles. They are driving the van themselves. One in the car and one in the van. Unless they decide to hook the car to the back of the van. Going to be a hell of a trip!

Once Donna and Terri are settled in in their new apartment in L.A., they have to hop a plane to Germany. Terri is performing two evenings with a German Symphony.

Sloan will be here at 10:30 this morning. I hope we will be able to conclude our work re the trip pictures.

Tonight is Donna and Terri night. They are my guests at the Yacht Club.

Enjoy your Sunday!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

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What a difference a day makes.

Yesterday morning the TV news, TV talk shows, and internet news were bombarding us with a $5.5 billion default by the U.S. Postal Agency within 24 hours. This morning nothing. Not on TV. Only a brief back page article on the internet.

The Post Office is still going to default. At midnight tonight. The government does not seem concerned. The default will not affect the day to day operations of the Post Office. Congress goes into recess Friday for the month of August. Congress takes the position that the problem can await resolution till it returns in September.

A disgrace! An example of Congressional irresponsibility! First in passing the 2006 law that primarily created this postal crisis. Second, in failing to timely correct the problem.

Whatever happened to pride. This is an agency of the United States government. There should be no waiting. The problem should be resolved now instead of four weeks plus from now. The Washington genius’ know what they are going to do. They should do it now and avoid embarassing the government.

I am beginning to think that not paying bills on time is no longer considered an item of shame. If the U.S. governemnt can do it, why not the people. The economy would really fail if everyone payed their bills one month late.

I walked yesterday morning. In the blistering humidity. My tee shirt soaking wet when I finished.

Then to the Plantation Coffee House. No coffee. A bottle of cold water. Diane working. I also had one of her blueberry muffins. She bakes them herself. Delicious.

I was getting ready to leave the house last night for the Chart Room when Dotti called. She has recently returned from Mexico.

Meet me at the Commodore and I will buy you dinner, she said. OK by me. Rarely does anyone purchase my dinner. Especially a beautiful lady.

I met Dotti at the Commodore a half hour later. We drank, ate and laughed. Dotti is an old friend from Key West who married and ran off to Mexico to live several years ago.

It has been at least four years since I dined at the Commodore. The food was terrific! Better than I remembered it. I enjoyed a delicious prime rib. I plan on returning soon.

I rarely get to the end of Front street where the Commodore is located. It is only two blocks from the Chart Room, but out of the way. Front Street dead ends at the Commodore.

There has been much talk of late of the Boathouse. Everyone has told me it is near the Commodore. The Boathouse has become a new and exciting place to drink and eat. I had never been there nor seen it.

Turns out the Boathouse is directly under the Commodore. Boathouse first floor, Commodore second floor.

What a lovely place! Made for the oceanfront. It sits on the ocean. Open aired. The place was packed. Looked like fun. I must try it soon.

Donna and Terri have been here since late afternoon Sunday. I rarely see them. Our bodies operate on different time schedules. I have seen Terri for a total of 30 seconds. Donna 5 minutes. Show biz people!

Two major figures passed on in the past 48 hours. Tony Martin and Gore Vidal.

Tony Martin was 98. A popular singer in the 1940s and 1950s. Married to two different Hollywood stars. First the singer Alice Faye. Then the dancer Cyd Charisse.

I remember and enjoyed Martin’s movies. All good time happy ending ones.

Gore Vidal was 86. A novelist, playwrite, and political commentator. He was often described as a political troublemaker. He called them as he saw them! He was a non conformist and controversial. More of his irritating type are needed in today’s world.

May they both rest in peace.

Enjoy your day!

MY SUNDAY

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I cannot say yesterday was busy. It just moved along at a slow steady pace.

It was Sunday. Sundays are meant to move slowly.

I was up early. For no particular reason. Did a little research.

Sloan came by. We spent three hard hours working. From getting my new print machine to talk to the computer to further organizing the trip pictures.

My afternoon was spent in front of the TV watching the Olympics. Upsets were in the air.

Lisa showed up with Robert and Ally to swim.

Dinner last night at the Yacht Club with Lisa, Robert and Ally. It was Spanish night. Lamb! Excellent! As was the chicken.

After dinner, I stopped at Don’s Place. Chatted with Rob, Erika and Herschel. Herschel into day 2 of no smoking. He was hypnotized two days earlier. Herschel looked a bit worse for wear. He said he felt alright. It appeared to me the nicotine deprivation was taking its toll.

Toni was at the bar. She thanked me for the day by day rendition of the trip. Said she read every one. With a map at hand.

Published another article on Amazon Kindle. Under Key West Lou Law. The title: No respect For Women. The two culprits Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.

Hannity recently had a black man on his show that said the root of America’s problems today result from women having the right to vote. Would you believe!

Limbaugh does not like NOW. He has started sort of an opposition organization. Rich Babes For America. Note he refers to the membership as “babes.”

If you are a memebr of Amazon Kindle, read the article. It is interesting and stimulating. If not a memeber, join. Only $.99 a month. I receive $.33 of that amount. I should publish a book about how to get rich by writing!

They are here! Donna and Terri arrived last night. Never saw them. They arrived while I was sleeping. They are still sleeping this morning.

Enjoy your day!

BIG TEN SPORTS BAR LAST NIGHT

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My friday morning yesterday was the internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour went well. I was bombarded after the show by people commenting on the puppy mill topic. Most were shocked by what was revealed.

Hurried home after the show to write my column for next week’s KONK Life. I did a bit on the hookers displaced by the London Olympics. The article covers prostitution in general in England, also. Interesting.

Last night turned out to be one of the most enjoyable I have spent in Key West. Good people and good conversation throughout the evening.

The night started at Don’s Place. I was to meet David. We planned on dinner together.

Besides David, Erika, Herschel and Jimmy were at Don’s. Herschel was giving away his cigarettes. Today he is being hypnotized to help him stop smoking. I wish him good luck.

David and I decided to eat at the Big Ten Sports Bar. John Lukas’ place.

It was packed! The most people I have ever seen there. A fundraiser was going on. For four year old Kylee Farrow. A cancer victim. She begins extensive therapy today.

Kylee’s mother and grandmother were there. It is a hard situation. I felt for them. I remembered Robert eight years ago.

David and I met David at the bar. The additional David instantly became a new friend. He is from England, retired and spending some time in Key West. A real nice guy. As we were chatting, the Olympics was on every screen.

Nate was bartending. I had not seen him in a while. One of the nicest guys in Key West. He was earning his pay last night. Busy, busy.

My former bocce team mate Lori came in. She looked terrific! It was friday night in Key West!

David and I stopped back at Don’s Place for a night cap. Kurt was bartending. I like Kurt. Kurt has had a beard for years. He was making suggestions as to how I should trim mine. So had David during the evening. David looks like Santas Claus.

I have to baby sit at 9. Taking Robert and Ally to breakfast. Probably Harpoon Harry’s.

I was totlaly impressed by the Olympic opening show. Top shelf theater. I trust Romney will find nothing negative about it. The show was perfection.

Enjoy your saturday!

BABYSAT BY DAY / BILLY AND CINDY SCHOTT BY NIGHT

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My internet show tomorrow morning at 10. Ten my time. World wide. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

Join me.

In addition to topics set forth yesterday, I am going to chat a bit once more about Sharia law. There have been some recent interesting revelations. Some time will also be dedicated to a discussion of puppy mills and the Amish and Mennonite involvement with them.

An interesting show. Miss it not!

Babysat all day yesterday.

Robert, Ally and I drove to No Name Pub for lunch. We destroyed ourselves. Robert and Ally enjoyed foods their mother Lisa keeps away from them. It is a grandfather’s responsibility to provide such pleasures.

No Name Pub is an interesting place. it is located in the woods no where. Hard to find. Always packed. No Name Pub also has a distinctive history. In the 1930s, a brothel operated on the second floor.

After lunch, we were off to Boondocks for miniature golf. Robert and Ally played. I refereed and offered suggestions. They played equally well. They ended in a tie. Robert and Ally enjoyed the competition.

Some how Robert won a free ice cone. We had two. One for each. I tried both. Tastey and refreshing.

Then to my house for swimming. Lisa arrived later to pick them up.

I took a quick half hour power nap. Needed it.

I was scheduled to have dinner with Billy and Cindy Schoot last night. Met them at the Chart Room. Sheila was there. With family and friends from Indiana. Talked a bit with them.

Dinner was at Hot Tin Roof. A long leisurely dinner. Great conversation. Many laughs.

Yesterday was National Tequilla Day. I ordered Patron Silver shots for the table. It was that kind of evening.

Have to hustle. I have a ten o’clock hair appointment.

Enjoy your day!

DINNER AT SLOPPY JOE’S

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My yesterday started with a business meeting at 11. Then to the eye glass store. Eye Eye Eye. Had to pick up a pair of new prescription sun glasses and have another pair fixed. Followed by lunch with Lisa and the grandkids at their home.

Last night my first stop was the Chart Room. JJ bartending. Captain Peter, Che, and Key West Greek at the bar. Billy and Cindy Schott from the other night sitting at a table with friiends.

Che has a beard. Saw mine for the first time last night. Gave me pointers on how to clean it up and give it definition. It is starting to grow all over the place.

Key West Greek was seated at the end of the bar. Met her once and we are friends. We kissed. I got two kisses. one on each cheek in Greek fashion. Greek said because of my earlier mention of her in a blog, Michael at the Greene Street Cigar Company had hung several more of her paintings. I hope they sell. She also advised that the Hemingway House yesterday started displaying additional pieces of her work.

Billy and Cindy extended their stay through Sunday. I am having dinner with them tonight. They were with friends. Also from the San Antonio area. Herb and Melinda Pounds.

Herb is an attorney. Formerly a bank president, he now is in private practice. His specialty is representing people against stock brokerage houses. Herb and I had a good lawyer conversation. He and Melinda are frequnet Key West vistors. I look forward to getting to know them better the next time they are here.

I was hungary.

As you recall, I have been trying to have dinner at Slopopy Joe’s for a while. Can never get a table. I took a chance and stopped in last night. Got one.

Though not gourmet dining, Sloppy Joe’s has some great menu items. I love their french fries buried in ground beef and macaroni sauce, covered with melted cheese. That is what I ordered. Delicious!

Saw a picture of Donna on Facebook yesterday. She was in a hospital bed in Detroit. I still do not know what happened. She and Terri are due here Monday for a week.

My Friday internet show The Key West Lou Legal hour is coming together.

The Olympics start today. In London. Prostitution was one of the preparatory items for the Olympics.

The English are hypocritical about sex. Sex is legal and not legal in England. It depends where it is being done and/or solicited. Street walkers and brothels are on the no no list. London police have been working the past several months to clean up the Olympic neighborhood of street walkers and brothels. The English do not wish the Olympics to get a bad rap because of prostitution.

If you are wondering, prostitution is legal if done in a room one on one. There can be no street solicitation. Only one girl per apartment. Otherwise, the place is deemed a brothel.

I plan on discussing prostitution and the Olympics on my Friday show. Together with the U.S. poverty level being at its all time high since the 1960s, the Paterno statue, the NCAA penalties against Penn State, Bank of America and Balboa Insurance, and the right to bear arms. Plus more. The show is still in preparation.

Today is a big day. I am babysitting again. All day. Robert and Ally planned our today yesterday.

Swimming at my house in the morning. Then miniature golf at Boondocks. Followed by a late lunch at No Name Pub.

Robert and Ally are excited. Especially with going to No Name Pub. Ally wants fries covered with melted cheese. Both of them look forward to writing their names and mine on a dollar bill and stapling it to the wall.

I am having dinner this evening with Billy and Cindy Schott.

A full day!

Enjoy your day!

BABYSITTING IN KEY WEST

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I babysat all day yesterday.

I had a morning dentist appointment. Took Robert and Ally with me. Had them sit in the waiting room while I was being worked on. They have their own dentist. They visited their dentist two weeks ago for a yearly checkup. So the surroundings were comfortable for them.

Happiness abounds! Yesterday was my last dentist visit regarding the implants. Eighteen months after starting the process, I am done. Happily so. Pleased with the final result.

The past few days have been Paula Deen time. She was here in Key West this past week. At the dentist’s office, I picked up a July 9, 2012 copy of People Magazine. Who was on the cover? You guessed it. Paula Deen!

After the dentist, the grandkids and I walked over to the Butterfly place on Duval. We had been there several times before. An exciting experience each time. The butterfllies favored Robert and Ally. Several perched on each of them at different times. I apparently was not so likable. None perched on me.

Lunch time! 5 Guys. Robert and Ally had never been there. They loved it! We all had bacon cheeseburgers and fries. I bought the small burgers. Had to buy a second one for Robert. He was still hungry.

Surprise of surprises! As I was driving on the boulevard yesterday and passing the Winn Dixie plaza, I saw some renovation work going on. At the large building to the left as you drive into the plaza. The building years ago housed some sort of buffet restaurant. It has been empty for years.

Some of the large windows were totally removed. That is what initially caught my eye.

The new tenant…..5 Guys. A WOW! The Duval 5 Guys is small. I understand this one will be larger with more seating room. A perfect location. It will be a gold mine!

The grandkids were my responsibility till 4. I still had a couple of hours to go. We went swimming at my house. Robert can now do a flip as he dives. He taught Ally how to do it.

I took them home at 4. I was dead! Babysitting requires constant attention and interaction. There is no down time for the babysitter. At least not this one.

I needed a manicure badly. Stopped at Lee Nails on the way home. Tammy did me.

Tammy and her husband work hard. They are at their business seven days a week. All day till 7:30 in the evening. They are not afraid of hard work. As a result, they are achieving the American dream. The business is successful. They are looking for a home to purchase. A large one. Typical of the Vietnamese, many family members will live with them.

Another group of hard wrokers I recently observed were the Greeks. Tourism in the warm months is their primary source of income. Whether Athens or one of the Greek isles visited, they all work seven days a week, twelve hours a day for a six month period. The Italians do not. They work much fewer hours. Many commercial enterprises like stores and restaurants are closed on weekends. Especially on Sunday.

The impression that Greeks are lazy and do not work is not true. Such is an erroneous impression developed during the euro crisis.

Again, I was shot by dinner time. I had no desire to go out. Made myself a sandwich and went to bed early.

Enjoy your day!

SUNDAY, SUNDAY…..

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Yesterday was Sunday.

I was lazy till mid afternoon. Stayed in bed watching the British Open and then a movie.

Ernie Els won the British Open. I was pleased for him. He has had a difficult time the past few years. He is on the downward spiral of his career. Then from out of the blue, he wins a major championship!

I thought Tiger Woods might do what Els did. However, Tiger faded as the day went on.

Poor Adam Scott. Played fantastic golf for 3 days and 14 holes. Then the world fell in on him! I suspect he choked. It happens. He bogeyed the last 4 holes.

Els’ demonstrated the champion he was when he sunk a 15 foot birdie putt on the last hole to tie Scott.

It was an early dinner at the Yacht Club. Lisa and the family joined me. First time I had seen Robert since he returned. He enjoyed it all! He told me about his first baseball game watching the Marlins play, swimming with the dolphins again, and bacon.

Lisa is fanatic about what she feeds her children. Little meat. Turkey bacon. None of that fatty greasy stuff.

Robert had bacon every morning at camp. Real bacon. He acquired a taste for it. Went to the salad bar twice last night to refill his plate with bacon pieces.

Ally was wearing the dress I bought her in Navaro. Long and white. Beautiful. An angel.

It was Chinese night. Everything was brought to the table family style. Robert demonstrated something else he did for the first time at camp. He ate with chop sticks. Clumsily, but he did it. With no fanfare. He picked them up and started eating. Never said to anyone that he knew how.

I expect Robert and Ally here at any moment. I am babysitting today. I am taking them to Five Guys for lunch. Bacon cheeseburgers. Robert will go wild!

Stopped at the Chart Room for a drink. A good crowd. JJ, David, Captain Peter and Frankie. I was amazed. These guys were talking about Paula Deen. They all knew of her and watched her Food Network shows. David ran into her at Fausto’s and exchanged a brief pleasantry with her.

Deen cooks Southern style. Lots of butter. The Chart Room group talked about her appearance on Oprah. Oprah asked/told Deen….. all that butter, isn’t it unhealthy. Deen replied…..I am a cook, not a doctor.

She was here for the Hemingway Look Alike Contest. Her husband Michael Groover was entered. He did not win. No shame. There were 139 other contestants. My friend Hemingway Hank did not win either. He was a finalist for the ninth time.

I was not aware that Paula Deen was known to so many. I find it interesting that her cooking show has so many viewers from all walks of life. The whole world watches her!

Then to the movies. Tropic Cinema. Wanted to see To Rome With Love. Do not bother going. I was disappointed in the film. It never came together.

Roberto Benigni was in the film. He is the Italian actor that won the Academy Award for Best Actor about ten years ago. He was the only good thing in a film which had many big stars.

Besides Benigni, there was a part of the film that excited me. Benigni was a white collar worker. He and his family lived in a nice apartment in a typical Italian building. In one scene, Benigni walks out the front door of the building and is overwhelmed by the press. In the background is a clothesline with clothes hanging to dry on it. A first floor clothesline.

The same type clothesline I saw in every part of Italy I visited. Clotheslines were everywhere to be seen on the trip. Prosperous homes, poor homes. Window to window, as in the film. On front porches, also.

Ran into Stacey and Robert at the theatre. Donna’s daughter and son in law. Donna and Terri arrive on the 29th for a week.

Joe Paterno’s statue came down in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. Six thirty. Like a thief in the night. An acquiesence to the mob’s cry for blood.

His statue will be returned to its place of honor in 10-20 years. America is forgiving.

I could not help thinking as I watched the covered statue being removed of Shakespeare’s words. Uttered by Mac Anthony in eulogy to the dead Ceasar…..The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones.

The Greek portion of my trip is constantly popping up in my head. I truly enjoyed Greece.

Enjoy your day!

FROM SLOPPY JOE’S TO MICHAEL’S

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Good morning! From glorious Key West. Where it is raining! And looks like it is going to rain all day.

I am sorry there are so many photos of my trip. Over 600. To be expected I guess from a seven week trip.

I spent the better part of yesterday going through the pictures. Selecting the ones I thought best to share with you. I did not finish. Selected too many. They are all good!

I have been advised I cannot run 600 pics. Would slow down everyone’s computers. A decision has been made. I am going to break the photos down to each of the seven places visited. Plus an extra category or two for some unusual experiences. Like the volcano. Then select the best ten of each category.

I feel bad. Like I am cheating everyone. Any ideas, let me know.

I walked Duval a bit early in the evening. Hemingway Days in full swing. Booths along the street selling all kinds of things. One of the most active booths was selling food. Greek food. I looked. Nothing looked like what I ate in Greece. I passed. Did not try any of the items.

Worked my way into Sloppy Joe’s. More people than the fire laws probably allowed. The Hemingway look a likes were on stage. It was the finals.

The heat was too much for me. I left Sloppy’s and Duval. Headed for the air conditioned Chart Room.

JJ bartending. Sheila and Captain Peter at the bar.

I sat next to a lovely woman. Turned out she was Greek. Her name Elena. Likes to be referred to as the Key West Greek.

I had never met her before. Elena has been in and out of Key West her whole life. She has lived elesewhere, also. All over the world!

Elena is an artist. A mixed media artist. Paintings, woood burning, etc. Her work is being shown at Hogfish, the Greene Street Cigar Company, and the Estate Liquidation Warehouse.

I enjoyed her company. She knew Greece intimately. Great conversation!

Elena made me feel good. She brought up ages. Told me she was older than me. I said no way. I am older than everyone. She said she was 59. Blew her mind when I told her I was 77. I think it is the beard. I may never shave it off.

Sheila had a friend. Mary Antoine. Mary was down from Fort Lauderdale. She is into cruising and franchising.

I desired a veal chop. To Michael’s.

Sat at the bar.

Two gentlemen next to me. In their early 60s. We chatted. One started talking about Woodstock back in 1969. He had been there. For all three days. Made sense. Once you were in, you could not get out.

He told us about his experiences at Woodstock. Except for one. His friend and I asked simultaneolusly…..But did you get laid? The laughs were gut wrenching. He did. In the mud and rain.

It was celebrity night at Michael’s. Paula Dean came in. With a large group. Her husband is a contestant in the Hemingway look alike contest. Paula is the TV chef. Oprah loves her. She is world famous.

Paula was well received. Most knew of her. I did not realize so many people were into cooking. She was gracious. Acknowledged everyone. Enjoyed her evening.

Robert got home last night. Lisa and Corey drove to Miami to pick him up. Lisa said he was tired. He looked like he had not slept in a week.

The family and I are having dinner together tonight at the Yacht Club.

It is 10 am. The British Open is coming up on television. Must hurry to watch it.

Enjoy your Sunday!