MADONNA AND CHILD

Jack Baron’s art is as Key West as Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway’s writings.

This morning’s KONK Life E-Blast published a story about Joy Gallery’s soon to happen Jack Baron exhibit. Some fifty pieces. I am excited! I own 14 pieces. Several will be for sale.

E-Blast ran a picture of one of Baron’s more famous works. The Black Madonna and Child. Black is how Baron described the painting. The Madonna and Child is my painting. The first I ever bought from Jack. The picture on E-Blast presented the piece well. Jack was a genius when it came to painting!

Key West weather continues to be outstanding! 85ish with a touch of humidity. Blue skies and water. Nary a breeze. A special time in Key West.

Sloan was here quite a while in the late afternoon. We are having mechanical problems with my blog and commentary which are being carried on E-Blast. We will have them worked out in due course. The problems exist because I am a pain in the ass. I require perfection!

The Chart Room first last night. Enjoyed Jean and Victor’s company. I learned two very close friends will be leaving Key West in two weeks. I am not at liberty to share their identity with you at this time.

I continuously write and talk about food and the prices thereof. I also frequently refer to genetically modified organisms.

Publix bananas have always concerned me. I would buy them green today and they would be browning tomorrow. The label said Chiquita.

The last two times I bought bananas at Publix, they were not green. There were no green ones. Only yellow. I was stuck, I thought. They would spoil even sooner.

The recent bananas had no Chiquita label. No label, in fact. Whatever, these bananas are still yellow 3-4 days later. I suspect genetically modified.

Tonight, Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. My blog talk radio show. Nine in the evening my time. A quick paced half hour of political and social goodies.

Tonight, topics like 49 million underfed people in the United States. Muslims and Jews now entitled to halal and kosher food in food banks in case of an emergency, five reasons why poverty is on the rise in America, the Brits revealing they will not send troops to Ukraine, Russia’s presence in the Arctic, China becoming the most Christian nation in the world, and more.

Join me. You will be glad you did. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-com.

Sunday’s bocce continued to bother me till around four yesterday afternoon. Wow! I was beat!

Enjoy your day!

16 YEAR OLD UMBRELLA DEAD IN THE POOL

I bought and furnished my Key West home 16 years ago. Deck furniture was among the items purchased. Included was a round table with a blue shade umbrella. The umbrella survived all 16 years till yesterday. Let me say first that the enemy of anything on the ocean is sun and salt. Neither bothered the umbrella. I was impressed. It took strong winds to bring about its demise.

Yesterday was sunny and lovely. In the afternoon, a storm came upon us that quick. In a matter of minutes, it gets dark, the temperature drops 10-20 degrees and it begins raining like hell.

I worked for a while. Kept the glass sliding doors behind me shut. The rain would have gushed in. After a while, I was tired. Took a nap. Two hours later, I woke. Still raining, but not as bad. I went downstairs and opened the glass sliding doors.

The first thing that hit my eyes was the pool. The wind was was still strong. There were ripples on top of the pool which clouded the water. I saw what I thought was a body in the deep end. I hurried out to investigate. It was the umbrella. The metal parts I could see where broke. Lying on top of the umbrella was a large ceramic vase. It was the vase that gave the initial impression of a body.

The vase was purchased 16 years ago, also. I have two sitting at the shallow end of the pool by the steps for decorative purposes. The vases are heavy. Three feet tall, 1.5 feet wide and thick. It takes all I have to lift one one inch.

The metal umbrella post must have snapped.Then it hit one of the chairs at the table. The chair is destroyed. The umbrella must have then hurled sideways of the chair and picked up the ceramic vase on its way into the pool.

There is a 30 foot distance between the table and where the umbrella landed in the pool. Had to be a hell of a wind!

I already called Keith. Told him to come over saturday with Jennifer. Wear their bathing suits. Get the stuff out of the pool!

It is not going to be easy. It is about seven feet down. The vase has to be full of water. The umbrella will hold water in its pocket as it rises. Not a job for Louis. It would be heart attack time.

The loss of the umbrella is my fault. I know better than to leave it open during a storm.

ABC and Good Morning America did themselves proud this morning. Key West was featured on the show. ABC has been doing this show in Key West for several years. I always thought the show sucked. They did not show Key West as it truly is. From what I saw this morning, this year they did.

ABC’s Ginger was broadcasting. The first shot was of her and a crowd of shorts and tee shirted people at Mallory Square. Yes, the rain and wind are gone. It is sunny and warm once more.

The next segment showed two Key West favorites. Key Lime Pie and Stone crabs. A great last meal! The following segment were walkers at Smathers Beach. Then came the Westin Dock with a huge cruise ship in the background.

Ginger kept referring to Key West as Paradise. She was correct.

I could give the show no more time. I have a big morning. I believe my friend Howard Livingston is going to do a guest appearance at some point. The best of the best.

The only negative in the show was that I saw no locals during the time I watched. They were all tourists. I recognized no one.

Bocce obviously rained out last night. I did not have to call in and beg off due to my back.

Two Ukraine observations.

First, what is going on is not unlike our Civil War. The South seceded. They had no right to do so under the Constitution. Crimea is in effect seceding from the Ukraine. This matte can only be handled properly and honorably if there is an Abraham Lincoln in the Ukraine of today.

The other observation involves the pipelines. Russia’s income comes from its oil and gas exports. Seventy five per cent. The pipelines go through Ukraine. One of the reasons Ukraine is important to Putin. I think Ukrainian leaders should slowly start sabotaging some of those pipelines. With the added threat that if Russia interferes in any way, all the pipelines will immediately be blown up. Putin has to back off immediately. The opposition for once would have the upper hand. The problem will then be possible of immediate resolution. Fire must be met with fire. When dealing with a bully, you must hit harder back than he hit you.

So thinks Louis.

Enjoy your day!

CATHY HOLLNER

 

“She burned too bright for the world.”

Spoken of another Cathy. Cathy of Wuthering Heights.

The words befitting our Cathy.

Cathy Hollner was my friend. She was everyone’s friend in Key West. A lovely charming person.

I first met Cathy at La Trattoria. Probably where we all met her. Kathy was a bartender and waitress. Always a smile. Always a cheerful greeting. I sometimes went to La Trattoria for no other reason than to enjoy Cathy’s company. We had similar backgrounds. Both from upstate New York. She, Albany. Me, Utica. We agreed we hated northern winters. We agreed Key West was the place to be.

Cathy got sick about three years ago. What, I am not certain. Whatever, it was worthy of several operations, The first in Miami. The surgeries and ailment took their toll. She went from a good figured woman to pathetically thin. Non recognizable. That bad.

During her illness, we spoke a few times on the phone. She telephoned me last about a month ago. Just to talk.

I saw her last about two weeks ago in Publix. I almost did not recognize her. She was even thinner. Drawn. We hugged and kissed. She told me she was getting better. She had gained 10 pounds. I could not see it.

Cathy died a couple of days ago. Sad. Very sad. I hurt.

There is a service scheduled tomorrow at one in the afternoon. At an appropriate place. La Trattoria. I will be there. As will most of Key West.

On a happier note, today is Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to all who so qualify. We deserve such a day!

Yesterday was a quiet one for me. I read and watched the PGA. A tough course! Sloan snuck in for an hour. I am still learning how to post photos. Published a few to WordPress and Facebook. Anna stopped by to iron some shirts and shorts for me for Europe. I leave Thursday.

For whatever reason, I thought I was leaving Wednesday. Good thing I checked my itinerary. I can see myself standing at the Delta counter at the airport saying there must be some mistake…..can you get me on anyhow?

Florence and Venice have been added to the trip. Both places will be a first for me.

It was bocce banquet time last night at Turtle Krall. I was not up to it. Too much partying recently. Needed a light meal and sleep. No drinking.

I had dinner at Roostica. A strange sounding name. It is Bobby Mongelli’s new Italian restaurant on Stock Island. Second time I have gone.

Outstanding! Roasted chicken and potatoes. Just like my mother used to make.

The place was packed. Tables turning over. Bobby’s got another winner. He also owns Hogfish.

Today a special time in Key West history. The 45th anniversary of the Chart Room. A celebration party is scheduled from 5-8. I will be there. I would not miss it.

Marty, I hope you come in for the party! I have not seen you in ages.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

SQUARE ONE RESTAURANT

 

I had a special experience last night. Dinner at the new Square One Restaurant. Run. Don’t walk. The place is spectacular. The food exceptional.

Carmelo is one of the owners. A brilliant restaurateur. Experienced. He and his brothers started La Trattoria. Then they opened Virgilio’s. Then the Bottle Cap. La Trattoria and Virgilio’s have been sold.

It is the same Square One Restaurant. Except the colors are a warm subdued brown. The pictures  new. The menu expanded.

The food to die for! I had the seafood lasagna. I could taste every piece of fish. The pasta was light. The sauce just right.

Carmelo stopped by to chat a few times. I congratulated him on what is a winner without question.

One other observation. The place was three quarters occupied. Inside and out. This is off season. Mid week. No restaurant has that kind of occupancy. Carmelo has been open about two months. The large number of customers is a credit to the quality of the operation.

Ran errands yesterday morning. The dermatologist, Walgreen and optician.

Sloan and I worked three hours in the late afternoon. We are into me taking pictures on my cell phone and somehow getting them to my blog. Probably easy for most of you. Hard for me. A generational thing. I do not have it down yet.

I leave today for a few days of play in Washington, DC. I have never really seen the capitol. Though I have been to Washington before. It was always for business. Fly in in the morning, fly out in the evening. The few times I stayed overnight, it was dinner with clients or business associates.

I am going to play tourist. See the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and as many historical places as I can.

I will be writing my blog daily from Washington. At some point hopefully with some pics. www.keywestlou.com.

I will also be doing my tuesday evening blog talk radio show from Washington. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. My computer via Skype. I have it down. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

My friday tv/internet show is a problem. I cannot do it simply and effectively. Ergo, a rerun will be available for viewing. View, if you can. It may be one you missed. If so, I believe you will enjoy. Via television on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19 from Key West through Miami-Dade County. Via the internet world wide. www.weyw19.com.

I have picked a good time to fly to Washington. I will be traveling with Tropical Storm Andrea all the way. I question whether I will be able to fly out of the Key West Airport. Andrea should not be a problem for Key West. It will be for northern Florida and all the way up the eastern coast.

Have to hustle once again. Must finish packing.

Enjoy your day!

 

MY FIRST PIRATE RADIO SHOW

 

I am becoming the Walter Cronkite of Key West.

I did my first radio show appearance for Pirate Radio yesterday. A Key West name! I will be appearing every tuesday afternoon as a guest on Mark Ryno’s show. Either at 3:45 or 4 o’clock.

The topic will be whatever Ryno and I want to talk about. Yesterday, it was the NRA, the military industrial complex, and the Sandy funding issue in Congress.

The whole talk exchange is 8 minutes.

Ryno has two distinctions. He was raised in upstate New York in a town called Waterville. About 15 miles south of my home town of Utica. The other is that when I did my first radio show three years ago at KONK Broadcasting, Ryno was the one who taught me. He took me in a little room, swiftly pointed to several knobs and said do this and that. And he walked out! I knew nothing and screwed up big time!

The Pirate Radio Station is located in a lovely tiny two story building at Sunrise Marina. Next to the County Jail. It was my first time there. The view from Pirate Radio over Sunrise Marina is the best I have seen in Key West. A wow!

The call numbers for Mark’s show are 101.7 WKYZ and 96.7 WKYZ. It is aired from Key West northward to the middle Keys.

Worked alone a bit in the afternoon on friday’s TV/Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. The show is developing. Topics so far include the NRA, the debt ceiling issue, Hulk Hogan, escape from a Greek jail, the Pope’s chief of staff Archbishop Georg Ganswein and his picture on the cover of Vanity Fair, Louis Armstrong, Eastern Airlines, John Kennedy, Louis XIV’s beheading, Roe v. Wade, and more.

A good show in the making!

Worked with Sloan at 5 for a while.

A big day today!

A pedicure and manicure with Tammy at noon. Babysitting the grandkids at 5:30. We will probably go out to dinner together.

Key West weather continues to be abnormal. Eighty one degrees yesterday. Sixth day in a row in the 80s.

The London helicopter crash is frightening. Two persons killed. I know the area where it occurred well from my London trip several years ago. South of the River Thames near the Underground and Train Station.

Syracuse basketball saturday. Against Louisville. Louisville presently ranked #1, Syracuse #6. Both teams have only lost one game. A battle!

I have not seen Louisville play this season. Understand they are close to perfect. Syracuse has been less than perfect. The team has not blended yet. It does not play as a team. It does not make foul shots. Plus, Southerland is benched because of grades. I feel uncomfortable about the outcome.

One good thing is that I shall be watching the game with good friends. Dan and Lisa and Don and Chris. Plus, the rest of the Syracuse gang. At John’s Big Ten Sports Pub, of course.

Enjoy your day!