Square One Restaurant

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I had dinner last night at the Square One Restaurant. I should refer to it as the new Square One. It has been open about a year. Second time there for me.

I could not believe all the people! The place was packed. I could not get near the bar. I was glad I had telephoned for reservations.

Patrick Hayes was bartending. A Key West icon. I have known him for 25 years. He is best friends with Lisa. I recall attending he and Les’ wedding reception a couple of years ago. Patrick and Les had to go all the way to Iowa to make it legal.

Carmelo is the new owner of Square One. The décor is lovely, the food outstanding!

Jenna was my date. We had not been out together for quite some time. I enjoyed her company. We get along well together.

Yesterday morning, I did my TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. I am not ashamed to admit I get a kick out of doing it.

I am into government waste. If Congress wants to screw the poor by reducing food stamps, cut elderly benefits available through Social Security and Medicare, and punish the sick by abolishing Obamacare, then it is high time the American people began looking closely at how Congress operates. Especially in the area of waste and apparent lack of concern about it.

The national debt is $17 trillion. I found where $8.7 trillion is sitting out there with no one able to say where the money went. Half the national debt!

The Pentagon since 1996 has not been able to explain what happened to $8.7 trillion. Via whistleblowers, the figure has been documented. As well as claims of doctoring the books. It boils down to the Pentagon not being able to balance its books.

You and I may not have known. However, all of Washington has for several years. Nothing has been done, except to give the Pentagon through 2017 to balance the books.

This Pentagon/$8.7 trillion problem was the one that most interested viewers to yesterday’s program based on e mails and telephone calls received after the show. Evidencing that the American people are starting to wake up a bit and are pissed the way government operates.

Syracuse and Pitt today. Syracuse has one other game after today. Boston College next week. I have no idea how Syracuse will fare today against Pitt.

Syracuse basketball coming alive. So far Syracuse has won all the easy ones. A couple close point wise, however. I wonder how my team will do when they start playing the big boys. We will get an indication starting tomorrow night. Syracuse is in a four team tournament in Hawaii. They open against Minnesota. ESPN2 will be carring the game at 5:30.

Happy birthday Milly Falabrino. Milly is an Italian friend.

The book is out there. Milly already has one in Italy. I am curious as to how many will actually read the book. The World Upside Down. No one has had time to finish reading the book as yet so I have no indication as to how people feel about it.

The book is available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Enjoy your day!

SYRACUSE IN TROUBLE

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Good bye Top Ten! Syracuse lost again yesterday. To Pitt. 65-55.

Syracuse is decimating itself. One of its stars has been out for several games for academic reasons. Another had knee surgery this week and is on crutches. Syracuse was only 7 deep at the beginning of the season. It is now 0 deep. Down realistically to 5 active players. The last statement is not precisely correct. Down to 3. Two of the presnt starters are not ready for the big time yet.

I feel sorry for Boeheim and the team. Hopes were bright at the beginning of the season. But a team needs its horses if it is going to win. This year’s scenario is like last year’s when Melo was lost at March Madness time.

It is going to be a long season!

I researched and wrote in the afternoon.

Last night was fun. Jenna and I went out.

The first stop was St. Paul’s Church. Elizabeth von Trapp was performing. Excellent!

Recall Sound of Music. The Captain and wife were her grandparents. Her father the oldest son.

In between songs, she shed some light on the realities of what the family went through when it escaped Austria and Hitler.

One was that her father was not a teen ager at the time. He was 21. When the family arrived in the United States, he was 23.

The family was escaping the Nazis. But it was not as described in the musical or movie. In both instances, the family snuck out of the house in the dark of night. They had to cross the mountains in the distance to get to a safe haven.

Elizabeth said no way! Over the mountains led directly to Germany. Instead, her grandfather locked the door to their home and the family calmly walked to the train station where they took the train to Italy.

The family was singing in the United States. They had two years of performances booked. All of a sudden, the US government feared they might be spies. They were placed on Ellis Island for three days. Three days of hearings.

Grandmother was confident. While the hearing was going on in a room, she had the family in the hall way singing and practicing. Three days later, the family was found sinless and permitted to remain in the United States.

It was an experience hearing Elizabeth. Her family is a part of our memories and history.

The show was over early. Jenna and I headed over to Hot Tin Roof. Last evening at Hot Tin Roof was one of the most enjoyable I have experienced in a long time.

We sat, drank and picked on food. Like sataki, hot shrimp and mashed potatoes. Yes, mashed potatoes. Jenna likes mashed potatoes. Actually, the mashed potatoes were unusually good.

The conversation was pleasant. A multitude of items discussed.

Big day today! Not Super Bowl. It is son in law Corey’s 50th birthday. Happy birthday, Corey! The best son in law a wife’s father could have.

The event is being celebrated with a special dinner this evening. Corey’s parents are in town for the event.

After the Corey festivities have concluded, I plan on stopping at Don’s Place to watch what is left of the Super Bowl game. The place will be crowded.

Was Peter correct in identifying Chelsea Clinton at the beach the other day? I suspect so. Though no one actually seems to know. Some one thought that she was in Key West to interview a Key West figure for NBC. All mysterious and strange. My gut feeling is that she really is in town and is being secreted for some reason. Perhaps privacy?

Paul of Peter, Paul and Mary is in Key West also. He will be attending Larry Smith’s special show tomorrow night at the Wine Galley.

Sloan is due here in an hour. We have work to do.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAVES IN THE POOL

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The sun is shining. There are no clouds in the sky. The temperature is 74 degrees. However, it is cold at my house.

My Key West home sits on open water. Any wind from the north, northwest or northeast hits it head on. Ocean wind is always cold. Even in the humid heat of summer.

The wind is still blowing today. Around 20 miles per hour. It is hitting my pool perfectly. There are waves in the pool.

Did the Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday morning. My TV/internet show. There were some technical difficulties at the beginning. The audio was screwed up. No one could hear me. Otherwise, the show went well.

My Mc Cain comments to the effect the once hero was now an arrogant old man initiated quite a deal of comment. Most agreed with me.

The other topic that generated a great deal of interest had to do with the 60 year old woman who just won a $1 million lottery. She wanted to give back, help others. Since 2008, this woman and her mother were financially destitute. They relied on charitable organizations to get along.

One such organization provided toilet paper to her and her mother. One roll per person per month. Apparently not enough. She wanted to send a truck load of toilet paper to the organization.

Visted Tammy for a manicure after the show. Tammy’s company is always a pleasant experience. I could not help wondering what Vietnam has been without her.

Tammy became a US citizen last week. I shook her hand in congratulations. She is proud.

When I returned home, it was time to do next week’s KONK Life column. The publishing deadline was 5 o’clock.

I wrote about China and its one baby per couple rule. China is now considering going to two babies. Together with the reasons therefore. Read the article if you have the opportunity. It is interesting. An eye opener.

Dinner with Jenna was to end my day. I called and canceled. I was tired. I had been tired since the day before. Decided to go to bed instead. I did. Fell asleep early. I feel energized this morning.

Do not think I am letting Jenna get away. In place of dinner last night, we have decided to attend a performance at St. Paul’s Church this evening.

Remember Sound of Music? The story of the von Trapp family escape from Nazi Germany in the late 1930s. Lots of children.

One of the von Trapp granddaughters is singing tonight at St. Paul’s. I am excited. I am sure the program will include songs from Sound of Music.

I saw my first Broadway shows in 1960. The second was Sound of Music.

Syracuse/Pitt basketball at noon. I am concerned. More than ever.Though Syracuse is ranked #6, it is going to be difficult to stay in the top ten. Our sixth man has been benched for academics for several weeks. This week a starter had knee surgery and is on crutches. The team only went 7 deep at the beginning of the season. We are in trouble.

I have decided to watch the game from the comfort of my bed. It is being broadcast on ESPN.

Ed Koch died yesterday. A great New York City Mayor, a respected voice since he left office, and an all around good person. The world has lost a great one.

May he rest in peace.

Enjoy your saturday!