MOTHER’S DAY…..BELATED GREETINGS

 

I shoved Mother’s Day aside yesterday to express my feelings regarding the possible closing of the Chart Room and Wine Galley.

Sorry Mom! I still love you!

My mother is no longer with me. She passed on some 25 years ago. However, I am certain she walks with me every day.

To all mothers everywhere…..Happy Mother’s Day! Belatedly!

I now celebrate Mother’s Day with Lisa and her family. We went to Sunday dinner at the Yacht Club. Always a pleasant family experience.

Ally is 7, soon to be 8. She has begun to express her independence. She wants long hair. Long long hair! It is already down to her shoulders, if not a bit below. Her bangs cover her nose.

I suggested to Ally she have her hair cut. No way!!!

Robert is 8. He will be 9 wednesday. His independence is obvious, also. His hair is a bit long. One missed haircut long. Robert’s hair has become extremely curly. He looks terrific! The young ladies will be after him some day.

Great golf yesterday afternoon! I am glad Tiger won. Golf needs the excitement he brings to the game. I was pulling for Jeff Maggert, also. At 49 considered old for golf. He was in it till the end. Came in tied for second. Sergio committed the master screw up of the day. He put two in the water on 17.

Dinner was over by 8. I was showered, shaved and dressed. I did not want to go home. Decided to stop at Don’s Place. Only five at the bar. I knew no one. I surmised everyone was celebrating with their mothers and went home.

Jake got out of the yard. Lisa’s home is surrounded by fence. Robert and Ally left the front gate open when they came home from school. Jake went exploring.

Lisa was terrified! She found him a block away. Running all over. Jake is not car trained. She finally got him. Got Robert and Ally also. They were properly admonished. I doubt the front gate will ever be left open by them again.

The annual Truman Symposium is at the end of this week. Technically referred to as the Truman Legacy Symposium. May 17-18. At the Little White House. Truman made 11 different trips to Key West while President and stayed a total of 175 days.

Key West loves Harry Truman!

Doom and gloom abounds! Word is the Chart Room is going down. Could be unfounded gossip. The rumor is based on the fact that the Chart Room will be closed today. The employees have been told not to come in. As I understand it, they have not been told either way whether they have or do not have jobs.

No word on the Wine Galley.

Show time tomorrow night! Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. My blog talk radio show. Two items up for discussion. One is the IRS oppressing tea party organizations. The other, Muslims beheading 813 Italians in the late 1400s for refusing to convert to the Islamic religion. Plus anything else that comes to mind. Mine or yours.

Join me at 9 in the evening. An internet radio talk show. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A FIRST COMMUNION LUNCHEON

 

A terrific lunch yesterday!

Anna has been my housekeeper for 8 years. A Polish immigrant, now a proud citizen. Her daughter Julia was making her First Communion. Anna invited me to the celebration following Church.

The luncheon was at Sole’s. Anna’s husband is a chef there.

What a meal!

Perogies, lobster tails, lamb chops, egg plant in oil, and on and on. Fantastic! I made a pig of myself on the lamb chops.

Little Julia was lovely. Anna was lovely. First time I have seen Anna dress dressed.

Anna’s mother and sister flew in from Poland for the event. The mother I knew from the times she has visited in the past. The sister was new to me. Very attractive. Unfortunately, English not spoken by either.

Then to Lisa’s. As soon as I walked in the front door, I knew something was wrong. Robert and Ally were seated on small chairs at the coffee table. Busily doing home work. Never raised their heads to acknowledge me.

They had been bad. They were being punished.

Lisa said they were behind in their homework and had not helped to clean up the house mess they had made. Whatever Lisa said must have been forceful. I have never seen Robert and Ally so cowed.

There was a benefit to me. Jake had no one to play with. He was stuck with me. Yesterday, we were friends. I hope he remembers the next time I visit.

I watched the Kentucky Derby at Don’s Place. A great race. Orb looked terrific in coming from behind in the mud to win.

Joanie was sitting next to me at the bar. We had all bought into a pool. There was a $10 one and a $5 one. Joanie bought one of each. You pulled your horse blind out of a glass. Joanie got Orb each time. She was moaning and groaning……How can I win?

She won $300! God bless!

I was down for some reason last night. Intended to go directly home from Don’s Place. At the last minute, I changed my mind and headed over to the Chart Room.The race crowd was still there.

Spent some time chatting with Sheila.

Then Mike and Tina came in. Two of the grandest people! Worldly. They are frequent travelers. All over the globe!

I had not seen them in well over a year.

Good people! I am especially enamoured with Tina.

Mike and Tina own a home in Key West. On the street across from the cemetery. Should be dead at night. Not recently, Mike told me. Too many tourists partying till late in the morning.

Tina and I talked quite a while. About everything.

By the time I left the Chart Room, I felt good. Actually, terrific! My spirits were up. I give Tina the credit.

Mike and Tina were with some neighbors from the cemetery street. Don and Sue. Wisconsin people. Snowbirds. Don was or still is in the food business. Sue in marketing research. I spoke with Don a while. Sue got lost in the crowd.

JJ was bartending. JJ was a celebrity yesterday. His picture and a brief bio were in the Key West Citizen. JJ was Person of the Day.

The Audubon House was pictured in the Key West Citizen also yesterday. Obviously named after John James Audubon. I have always wondered why the Audubon house is named after Audubon.

Audubon lived the home roughly one month back in 1832. That’s all! He painted birds and plants from the house’s backyard. He also painted them from other areas in Key West and the Tortugas. Some ended up in his famous compilation The Birds of America.

Someone must have decided to name the house after Audubon to make it a tourist attraction. It is. However, a local’s also. The grounds are lovely. Many the party I have attended on those grounds. The interior is a bit spartan. Many antiques. Not enough. Worthy of a visit.

May 5 is Cinco de Mayo. I never heard the term till this past week. There are reminders all over Key West that Cinco de Mayo is to be celebrated today.

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for fifth of May) is a holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 12, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin.

So what!

I am confused. Not only have I never heard of the holiday in the 25 years I have been frequenting Key West, there is not a sizable Mexican community living here. There are many of Spanish origin and descent. Few of Mexican.

If the city fathers came up with Cinco de Mayo as another Key West holiday to be celebrated, they are crazy! We have so many holidays now that they are overlap each other.

The last item I want to talk about this morning is peanut butter.

I love peanut butter! Not on bread, not with jelly. Directly out of the jar on a tablespoon 2-3 times a day. I am a creature of habit. I have enjoyed Peter Pan creamy peanut butter for years. Yesterday, I discovered a new and better peanut butter! Sorry, Peter Pan.

Jif creamy! Smoother in texture and better taste. The only reason I bought it was Publix was having a sale.

The best parts of my day yesterday were chatting with Tina and discovering Jif peanut butter!

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

GREAT WHITE SHARK?

 

There was talk friday night at the Chart Room and the Hot Tin Roof of a Great White Shark being seen by divers around the Vandenberg. No one discussing the shark had seen it. Local newspapers have not reported any sightings.

So what is the story?

Great Whites are not common to Florida waters. Too warm for them. However, this past winter the ocean has been unusually cool.

Three weeks ago, a Great White was caught one mile off Fort Lauderdale. A female, 13.5 feet long weighing around 1,000 pounds. The fishermen released the shark. Federal and state laws protect Great Whites. Something I cannot understand since Great Whites eat people.

Divers have reported sightings of a Great White in other Florida waters. They claim to have watched in awe as the shark swam around them, but did not attack.  Great whites are not known to bother divers.

Now the purported sightings off Key West at the Vandenberg.

I wish someone who actually saw one would come forward. In the meantime, I recommend caution. Great Whites may not bite divers, but do attack surface swimmers. It would be awful if a tragedy were to occur.

I spent some pleasant time with Tammy yesterday. A manicure and pedicure. I especially enjoy a pedicure. I think I have a foot fetish of sorts. It truly relaxes me.

Hotel people were at Lee Nails. Kate Miano from the Gardens and Carrie Babich from the Southernmost Complex. Friends. Both operate top notch resorts.

Stopped at Lisa’s afterwards. Robert was busying making a replica of a ukulele out of recyclables. Montessori is having a show friday of things the students have made from recyclables. A big deal. Parents and family will be in attendance. I will be.

Ally has the same assignment. She was not into it, however. She was wandering around moaning she did not know what to do. Lisa and Corey were telling her to think, come up with a plan, and do it. Ally kept responding…..I can’t!

That is Ally.

Forgot to mention meeting Kevin for the first time at the Hot Tin Roof while watching the Great Sea Battle friday night. Kevin was at the table next to us. He owns the Angelina Guest House. He was with some of his guests.

Yesterday, I wrote of hospital medical repatriations. When I get a hold of something, I stay with it.  This morning I am dismayed to report about patient dumping by psychiatric hospitals. They do not fly their patients out of the country. They put them on a Greyhound Bus to another state. The mentally ill. Without money, food, meds, or any plan for continued treatment. In fact, with no one to meet them.

A Nevada hospital has been reported. The claim is the hospital dumped 1,500 mental patients into the 50 states between 2008 and 2011. The hospital is under investigation.

Money was the motivating factor same as with the illegal immigrants.

Enrico Letta was appointed Prime Minster of Italy yesterday. A coalition government. Not strong. Could break apart momentarily. Letta is in power because of the support of Berlusconi’s Democratic Party. Berlusconi’s people insist Letta must state openly in his acceptance speech that he will abolish the unpopular housing tax and repay everyone the monies they paid into the government based on the tax in 2012. Amounts to some 8 billion euros.

There will be a confidence vote tomorrow following the speech. If Letta fails to comply with the Berlusconi party’s demand, Letta will be the shortest lived Prime Minister in Italian history.

My back went out again yesterday afternoon. I thought I was all better. Apparently not. Pain then and this morning.

I stayed in last night because of the discomfort.

Lisa and family are coming over this afternoon to swim in the pool. This will be Jake’s first visit to my home. We are hopeful he will enjoy the pool better than he does the ocean. If he wants to play with Robert and Ally, he will have to. They are never out of the water.

Life experiences are expanding with Jake in the Malcom home. He got worms. The vet said they were caused by a mosquito bite. One pill and Jake has no more worms. Jake is favoring one foot. I see another vet visit ahead. Added costs not anticipated. Jake sleeps in a cage in Lisa and Corey’s bedroom. He now cries at night. Once in bed with Lisa, he quiets down and goes back to sleep.

Ho ho!

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

MY BACK IS KILLING ME!

 

This morning’s blog will be sweet and simple. I threw my back out. The pain is horrendous. Spasm. I cannot sit, stand or lie down.

I have a bad back. Every 3-4 years it goes out. It did again last night.

I was doing nothing. Had just returned home from dinner with Lisa and the family. I was in the bedroom changing my clothes and boom! It hit!

The night was not bad. I took Advil, the one that makes you sleep. I slept. Need Motrin. Do not have any. Looking for some one to make the drug store run. I will die if I have to do it!

Funny part is Lisa has had a bad back all week. There must have been a transference from daughter to father last night!

Boston heart wrenching! What more can be said. Man’s inhumanity continues.

Worked all day yesterday. Writing.

Dinner at Lisa’s.

No Robert and Ally till dinner time. I had arrived early. They were at band practice. A new one to me. A bunch of kids getting together at someone’s home.

When they did get home, I asked what they were playing. Robert said the drums. He has a bongo drum that he does well with. Ally told me she did not play any instrument, but that she was the assistant manager of the band. What does the assistant manger do, I asked. Hires and fires people, she said.

I can see what is happening. Ally is one year younger than the rest. The other band members are all boys. They are putting her at the end of the line. Typical male chauvinism.

Topic of discussion at the dinner table was Jake.

Jake has been to Dog Beach twice. Dogs have their own beach in Key West. He does not like the ocean.

Jake came home the second time loaded with sand. Lisa decided he needed a bath. His first one.

Jake did not like the bath.

Lisa and the kids had Jake in the bathtub. He jumped out. They closed the bathroom door thereafter so he would not run around the house wet. He kept yelping while they bathe him. Apparently, Jake does not take to water.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Two topics discussed extensively. The Boston bombings and the Pope and nuns. The show was archived and is available 24 hours a day. You might want to listen to it.

Enjoy your day! I have a feeling mine is going to be hell!

GLORY OF CUBA

 

The loss of an hour will bother me for a few days…..such is my nature!

Key West’s daily local newspaper is the Key West Citizen. It regularly prints on page 2 Today in Key West History. Yesterday, it mentioned that in 1896 Juana Borrero Pierra, poetess, Cuban patriot and painter, died in Key West at the age of 18.

My curiosity was aroused. Eighteen? I had never heard of her.

I did some research. Her story is a must to be told.

Juana was Cuban by birth. A writer. A poet. She wrote her first poem at 4. Her first published poem was at 14 in the literary magazine La Habana.

Cubans had desired independence from Spain for years. Minor rebellions would start up and stop. In 1895, Cuban rebels were on the move once again. The fight for independence was reignited.

Juana and her family had to leave Cuba immediately following the failure of the insurgency. They were part of the rebel group.

They fled to Key West.

Juana wrote five volumes of poems. One poem was Los Proscriptos. The poem described her last night in Cuba. Most of her other poems described the pain and loneliness of exile.

Juana’s works became popular with Cuban exiles in the late 1950s and early 1960s who were forced to flee Castro’s Cuba.

Juana died of typhoid fever at the age of 18. She was buried in the Key West Cemetery. Her final resting place became lost, so to speak. It could not be recalled specifically where within the cemetery she was buried. Her place of rest was finally discovered in 1972. Her remains were exhumed and buried in a special vault. The caption on the vault reads Glory of Cuba.

As mentioned yesterday, the reaction to my TV/internet show as to why Obama is so hated were well received. I wrote my thoughts up for publication in next week’s KONK Life. Yesterday people were still talking to me about my Obama dissertation. I decided therefore to publish next week’s KONK Life article immediately on Amazon Kindle. Which I did.

Syracuse lost again! Decimated by Georgetown! By around 20 points.

The second half was especially discouraging. Georgetown made Syracuse look like it had never played the game before yesterday.

I have been saying off and on this season, that Syracuse was not the same quality team as in previous years. I am sorry to say it appears I was correct. I hope I am made to look like an ass and Syracuse wins the Final Four!

Georgetown looked great! Like a #1 seed for March Madness.

There was a touching moment at the end of the game. John Thompson, Jr. sought out and found Jim Boeheim. They embraced. Better said, Big John engulfed little Jim in a bear hug!

Two giants who were there at the beginning of the Big East more than thirty years ago. The end of an era that these two greats helped make successful.

The word has always been that Thompson and Boeheim disliked each other. Vehemently. Not yesterday. If animosity existed, it was wiped away by that embrace and the look on their faces. Two old war horses who had been there and done it.

I watched the game at the Big Ten Sports Pub. I arrived just as the game was to start. Two men were sitting near the door. One asked if I was Key West Lou. They were Gordon from Cape Cod and Charles from Oregon.

Gordon told me he reads my blog every day. He and Charles had come to the Sports Pub to meet me. An honor. I was a bit impolite, however. The game was starting. I said my hellos and thank yous and went to a chair at the bar to watch the game.

I figured I would spend half time with them. It never happened. They left soon after we had our brief conversation.

I would like to sit and chat with Gordon and Charles a bit. Share a drink or two. They are visiting Key West for a month. I am sure Gordon is reading the blog this morning. Gordon, please stop by the Chart Room and visit with me. I am generally there every evening from 5:30 to 7, except thursday when I play bocce. I will not be there tonight, however, I am having sunday dinner with Lisa and the family.

My car was parked in the lot next to the Big Ten Sports Pub. When I left after the game, I noticed five roosters nearby running around and under a pick up truck. Only roosters. No hens. I thought this strange. Roosters are always seen cock a doddling and chasing after hens. The thought occurred…..these roosters must be gay!

I am going to the movies this afternoon. Playing grandfather. There is a remake of the Wizard of Oz. I am going with Robert and Ally and Lisa and Corey.

Enjoy your sunday!

A PROUD GRANDPARENT

 

I saw them last night! Robert and Ally. Playing munchkins in the Key West High School production of the Wizard of Oz.

They were absolutely magnificent! For real! They sang and danced like pros.

What impressed me before and after the show was how calm they were. Taking everything in stride.

There is a third component to the grandkid thing. Cameron. Cameron is not young, however. He is a high school senior. Off to college in September.

Cameron played the Straw Man. He was the best performer by far. I was impressed.  He should seriously consider pursuing dramatics as a career.

Needless to say, Lisa and Corey were proud parents..

My day yesterday started with the dentist once again. When will I finish?

Then to the Plantation Coffee House. The lovely Diane working.

I enjoy reading newspapers. Especially free ones. I spent about two hours drinking coffee and plodding through various newspapers.

Show time this morning. At 10 my time. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. In addition to topics already shared with you, I am going to comment on this week’s Time article on how medical costs are killing us. The article is an outstanding piece of investigative journalism.

My show is available on television and the internet. It may be viewed on TV via Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19 from Key West through Miami-Dade County. World wide on the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

Join me for an interesting and fast moving hour.

Ran into an old friend yesterday. One I had not seen in several months. She looked terrific! Where have you been, I asked. I had a stroke, she replied.

We never know.

Celebrities keep popping up in Key West. Last week it was Robin Roberts. Half of the host team on Good Morning America. She was diagnosed with cancer several months ago. Had some heavy treatment. Including bone marrow transplant.

She was vacationing in Key West prior to returning to work this week. She was back on Good Morning America this past monday morning.

Good for her!

Remember my show at 10.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

DON’T SIT UNDER THE APPLE TREE

 

Weather change in Key West can be dramatic. Just like that.

I woke two hours ago. The sun was shining. Little breeze. Everything calm. The start of another 80 degree day.

I stayed in bed an additional two hours. Got hooked on an old movie starring Mario Lanza and Katheryn Grayson. Great singing! When I got up again, the weather had changed. Dramatically!

The wind was blowing at least 30 miles per hour. The sky was laden with black clouds. The wind off the ocean was cool and made everything on land cool. White caps on the water.

The surprise will probably have left us in an hour. That is the way it is in the keys. Someone sneezes hard and the weather turns. The weather blows its nose and everything is back to normal.

Patty Andrews died yesterday. Ninety four. She was one of the Andrew Sisters. A singing trio from World War II days. Patty was the last of the Andrew Sisters.

One of their contributions to the war effort was participating in war bond drives. In order to raise money to conduct the war, the US government sold war bonds for $17.50 which were redeemable after 10 years for $25. Everyone purchased war bonds.

It was 1943 or 1944. I was 8 or 9 years old. The Andrew Sisters were appearing in downtown Utica as part of a war bond drive. My friends and I rode our bicycles to the event. The street was mobbed in four directions in front of the Savings Bank. The Andrew Sisters sang. Songs like Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and Rum and Coca Cola. The crowd listened and then many rushed up to purchase war bonds.

The Savings Bank had a huge chain link fence around it. The links were at least 4 inches and thick as your thumb. It was announced as part of the war bond drive that day that the Savings Bank was donating their chain link fence to the war drive. A big deal! The US needed metal from where ever it could get it to make guns and ships, etc.

A passing thought. We used to pay for our wars on a pay as you go basis. Not like the last two wars that were not financed in any fashion. Wars don’t come cheap. The unfinanced two wars are part of today’s national debt.

May Patty Andrews rest in peace.

I had to grocery shop again yesterday. I needed more. I  bought more. More than the day before.

Spent a few hours afterwards at home writing. Finished a short story I have been working on. A Daughter of the American Revolution. I have written several others. I intend at some point this year to publish them. I promise.

I fine tuned tomorrow’s Key West Lou Legal Hour. Added additional topics like the prostitute who was not too bright, the Vienna Museum’s Naked Men show, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, a bit about Trygve Lie who was the first Secretary General of the United Nations, and David Letterman.

With all due modesty, it is a good show! Join me. You will find the comments made interesting and in some instances provocative.

The show is aired on television from Key West to Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. It is also available world wide on the internet. www.tvchannel19.com. Ten in the morning my time.

I babysat at dinner time. Robert and Ally performed for Poppa their parts as munchkins in the coming Wizard of Oz presentation. Ally skipped. Robert recited his 25 lines. He already has them down pat.

Then it was off to Don’s Place. Billy was intensely watching TV at the bar. Don, Tom, David, and Herschel were at the end.

Don’s grandson is in the Wizard, also. He is a clown munchkin. We will be two proud grandfathers at the event.

We talked about our beloved friend Frankie the Plumber. He is still recovering from big time heart surgery.

Larry Smith also occupied our conversation. He is having a terrific show next monday and tuesday at the Pier House’s Wine Galley. Entertainers coming in from all over the United States. I am going with Don, Steph, and Erika. Erika is my date. Her husband Herschel cannot attend.

Enjoy your day!

 

FORGET ABOUT #1

 

Last week I was irritated Syracuse was not ranked #1 after beating Louisville. Only #3 and #4.

Yesterday Syracuse played unranked Villanova. A few nights ago, Villanova defeated Louisville who was ranked #5 at the time. Yesterday, Villanova beat Syracuse.

Two top 5 teams in one week!

An accomplishment!

Syracuse limped away.

Excuses/reasons. Two of our starting 5 fouled out. The bench gets smaller in height as you move down it. In the first half, the ball just would not go in the basket. That simple. Too many shoots missed. Many were lay ups.

Syracuse played better in the second half. But not good enough to win. Villanova came out on top in overtime.

Such is life!

I watched the game at the Big Ten Sports Pub. I was the only Syracuse fan there until the overtime when Dan and Lisa came in. Where were the 20-30 Syracuse fans who usually show up? They were there for the first two Syracuse games. The crowd has dwindled till yesterday it was basically only me.

Why, again? I doubt it is me. I shower before each game. I have concluded it has to be the Big Ten Sports Pub. The fans may not like the way it is configured, the noise, etc. I do not know. All I know is that something is wrong.

I also do not know where they are watching the game. John’s place is the best venue in town for sports viewing in my opinion.

Remember the former college guys at the Chart Room the night before raising hell. They were celebrating their ten year reunion. They were at the Big Ten yesterday during the Syracuse game. They were not watching the game. They were playing foosball. Had a competition going. Yelling and screaming same as the night before. Downing shots every few minutes.

Gentlemen they were. They asked me to play foosball with them. I declined. I am too old for the sport. Ho ho.

The Wizard of Oz will be playing a major part in our lives for the next month. Robert and Ally are munchkins in the high school play to be performed at the end of February.

Robert has graduated. He is playing a munchkin with a speaking role. Robert has 25 lines. Wowie!

Chittenango is a little town between Utica and Syracuse. It is on Route 5, a two lane New York State highway. Route 5 runs right through the center of downtown chittenago. Downtown is modest. All of 5,000 people.

Lisa said she had a vague recollection that Chittenango had something to do with the Wizard of Oz. I did not know. I knew the town was famous for hams. It is the Ham That Am town.

I checked Lisa’s comment on the internet. She was correct. Chittenango and the Wizard of Oz are tightly related.

L. Frank Baum wrote the Wizard of Oz in 1900. He was a resident of Chittenango at the time. To commemorate the event, Chittenango has a yellow brick road. The sidewalks on both sides of downtown Route 5 are painted yellow. There is a store called Auntie ‘Ems. There is also an annual three day festival. Several of the surviving munchkins show up each year. Munchkins from the 1939 movie which starred Judy Garland.

A small world!

Enjoy your Sunday!

SYRACUSE RODNEY DANGERFIELD OF RANKINGS

 

It seems like I have been up all night. I had my blog talk radio show at 7. Was out of bed at 5 in anticipation. I am going to bed when I finish this blog for a couple of hours of much needed shut eye.

Syracuse, my Syracuse! Rarely loved by anyone other than the alumni.

#6 Syracuse beat #1 Louisville saturday by 2 points. A top notch game. I assumed Syracuse would be ranked first when the new rankings came out yesterday. Syracuse was not. Tied for third in one and fourth in another. The teams ahead of us have one defeat also. However, none beat Louisville.

Then I read an article by a spoprtswriter. He spelled out five teams from which the Final Four would emerge. He never mentioned Syracuse.

Remember Rodney Dangerfield? His best line was that he never got any respect. So it appears with Syracuse. Previous years, as well as this one.

It does not matter as long as we keep winning. Screw them all!

Syracuse played Cincinnati yesterday afternoon. Another squeaker. Syracuse won by 2 points. Syracuse did not play well. Cincinnati did. Cincinnati was deadly with their three pointers.

Watched the game at the Big Ten Sports Pub with Don and Chris and Dan and Lisa and others.

Then it was to the Chart Room with Don and Chris. Followed by dinner with them at the Hot Tin Roof.

A pleasant afternoon and evening. Especially good company.

I watched the inauguration yesterday. The swearing in portion. Excellent! Moving! Produced a tear or two out of me. I thought the ceremony was upbeat and positive. Almot 1 million standing out in the cold watching. I switched to FOX afterwards for their comments. They cut up and dissected every part of the ceremony, including Obama’s speech. It was disgraceful. They should know better. Yesterday was  a Democrat AND Republican day.

Robert and Ally are into the theatrical world. Key West High School is having a play late in February. The Wizard of Oz. Robert and Ally will play munchkins. They are excited!

Cameron is also in the presentation. He is playing the scare crow.

I was up before the crack of dawn this morning. At 7 was the Key West Lou Talk Show. A one half hour call in show on blog talk radio. Finally, some one called in. Anna from Novara, Italy. Her concerns involved the Italian economy, the euro, and Germany.

This afternoon I have my other radio show. Around 4. On Pirate Radio in Key West. Ryno’s show. Only 8-10 minutes. Ryno and I talk about anything and everything. Locals, if you are free, listen in.

Enjoy your day!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN…..

 

Normality has returned to my life! With the demise of the diet, I was out and about yesterday. Freedom!

Last night it was the Chart Room. For about two hours. Friends like Captain Peter, Ollie, Sean, Katherine, Dave and Sheila. And the always charming Emily! I chatted with all about things important and unimportant. While enjoying two drinks and popcorn.

A glorious evening! I did not go out to eat. I did not want to push my luck.

I experienced another enjoyable Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday on TV and the internet. Apparently my viewers did also. The NRA issue attracted the most comment. The gun issue heats up more each day.

Two phases of the issue struck a chord. The one dealing with 67 million guns having been sold in the United States since Obama’s election in 2008. The other being the reponsibility of gun manufacturers and retailers for the fervor generated by the NRA. They are the power behind the scene.

After the show, I went over to the Plantation Coffee House. Enjoyed a cup of coffee and read the newspapers. Charming Diane and husband Theo were watching the shop. I avoided the Plantation Coffee House during the two months I was dieting. Normally, I would order a toasted bagel loaded with cream cheese. Not healthy for a diet.

I was pleased with myself yesterday. Even though back in the saddle, I did not order a bagel. Not even tempted.

Then to Lisa’s for a visit. Robert and Ally were home. A pleasant surprise. For whatever reason,  no school in the afternoon. Robert was outside. He has a pocket knife. His father is teaching him responsibility. Worries me. He was carving on a piece of wood. Ally was inside at the kitchen table with Lisa playing a game.

Syracuse basketball this afternoon at 4! A big game! The biggest so far this year. Syracuse plays #1 ranked Louisville. Both teams have lost one game. Statistically, the teams are evenly matched. Louisville however is a 7 point favorite on the Vegas Line.

Louisville has always been a tough game for Syracuse. Pitino who worked under Boeheim early on in his career, seems to have Boeheim’s number. Additionally, Louisville is at full strength whereas Sutherland, Syracuse’s third highest scorer, is benched for academics.

My gut tells me we are going to lose. Hope I am wrong.

I will be watching the game at the Big Ten Sports Pub along with Dan and Lisa and Don and Chris and a multitude of other Syracuse fans.

The weather was as I predicted two days ago. The cold front came in about 5 in the afternoon thursday. It always happens fast. Within ten minutes, the wind was howling, the sky black and the temperature dropped 10 degrees. Dropped another 8 during the night to 62. Cold!

Yesterday and last night were cold also. Temperature in the low 60s. I wore long pants and a leather jacket while out.

Temperature is slated to return to 75 today. Already in the low 70s outside.

Enjoy your day!