MENDING FISHING NETS AS IN THE TIME OF JESUS

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Enough said. Stay sober.

I am a weather man today. The wind is from the south this morning. Rare. Whenever from the south, it rains/storms. Lovely out at the moment. Sun shinning. Nary a cloud. However, palm trees bent north from the south wind. Ripples in the pool running north, also.

The weather report says only a 10% chance of rain today. I disagree. Let’s see if I am correct.

The Greek isle of Amorgos is my Shangri-la. When there, I live as the natives. A small apartment on the waterfront. Few amenities. No airport. The boat comes in with people and supplies once a week.

Saturday’s Keynoter had a picture on the editorial page of a fishing net and well attired gentleman who apparently had been mending the net. The net was hanging  from some sort of post in the picture. The picture a 1977 photo.

My Amorgos home was about a hundred yards from Adelphos’ home. Each time I walked into the heart of the village, I had to walk by Adelpho’s place.

Most afternoons, I would find Adelphos sitting on the ground in front of his abode. About 30 feet from the water. In his lap and surrounding him was a large fishing net. He was always mending the net. Daily. Otherwise, the net would fall apart in a few days. The mending involved looking for places to repair and untangling parts of the net that had twisted together. Adelphos worked primarily with his fingers. Adeptly. Sometimes with some sort of needle. About four inches long.

Mending nets is referred to in the Bible in several places. Four of Jesus’ disciples were fisherman who joined him while mending their nets. Mending nets probably goes back to the beginnings of man.

In all the centuries, nothing has changed for Adelphos or the fisherman of Amorgos who came before him. Though it has changed here in the United States and most of the modern world. The mending is more technical and machine driven.

I had to get out of the house early due to the open house. I was at the Plantation Coffee House at 11. Stayed till 3. Would have stayed longer. However, the place closes at 3 on Sunday. I did not know. While there, I did yesterday’s blog, read some Sunday papers, had a couple of cups of coffee and a toasted bagel. Chatted a bit with owner Diana. Yesterday’s blog was unusually long. The spread of European Nazism and the failure of the American media to keep us advised is bothersome from my perspective.

I could not return home till after 4. It was only 3. I was driving along the Atlantic and passed the Key West Airport. I turned around and headed to it. My goal was the Airport’s restaurant.

I am glad I decided to go there. Only when traveling would I normally stop.

It was old home week. Victor was bartending. Several years ago, Victor was the bartender one night a week at the Chart Room. Someone came up and hugged me as Victor and I were talking. It was Jana. I enjoyed seeing her again. Big time!

Jana immigrated from one of the eastern block countries to Key West. She is presently 32. Our connection goes back to the Paradise Cafe. My daily morning haunt of years ago. My favorite place for Cuban cheese toast with tomato. The best! Never that good again!

Jana was the enterprising sort. She opened her own restaurant on Bertha Street after Paradise closed. She had a hard time. The place did not take off. She took a financial beating. I used to go frequently because she was serving the same Cuban cheese toast with tomato that I had enjoyed for so many years at Paradise Cafe.

A few years have passed. Jana looked terrific. Happy. The pressure off her face. A bad business will do that to a person. She has been a waitress at the Airport for over a year. Married, also. A retired military man.

The twenty young men have left the MTV house across the way. Yesterday. Replaced by couples and children. When I went outside this morning, a mother carrying a baby waived at me..

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is in the process of purchasing Miami’s Channel 10. South Florida’s second largest TV station. Welcome Buffett and company. Anyplace/anything he decides to buy has to be good!

Syracuse is a #3 seed in the South Region. I am surprised. I thought it might be higher. That is all I have to say. We shall see how things go as the tournament progresses. Friday is the first game.

Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day!

MAILING CHILDREN / AN INFANT INDUSTRY

Pay the postage, affix the stamps, put a name tag on ’em, and mail them out! Children!

There was a time. Like 1913. The U. S. Postal system was looking for new ways to make money. Someone came up with the idea of parcel posting children. Babies and small children. They had to weigh 11 pounds or less.

Not an expense. To ship a qualifying child from Stratford, Oklahoma to Wellington, Kansas cost 18 cents for postage. The child was delivered to the post office and arrangements made. Thereafter the child traveled with a postman to the final destination.

The system did not last long. Fortunately, it was stopped before one of the “child packages” got lost.

I have to thank Ryno for this interesting piece of information. Ryno posted it on FB this morning. Ryno grew up about 15 miles from my hometown and is now a local Key West radio announcer. One of the best. When I started internet broadcasting several years ago, Ryno taught me. He took me into the broadcasting studio, told me to punch this then that, etc, and left me. I knew from nothing what to do before I arrived and after he left!

I am glad that for all intents and purposes the Syracuse basketball season is over. I could not take much more. Yes, Syracuse will be in the Big Dance starting next week. As a 7 or 8 seed. Not a #1 seed as anticipated as recently as two weeks ago. Syracuse has lost 5 of its last 7 games. The team went 25-0 before disaster struck.

The season has exhausted me. Wiped me out. Too many emotional games. I do not give Syracuse much hope in the big tournament. If the team wins two games, it will be lucky. I am of little faith.

Last night, Syracuse lost to North Carolina State 68-63. Syracuse was a 9 point favorite.

I watched the game at Lukas’ Sports Pub with Don, Chris and Ed. Don flew in from Korea thursday. Spent friday in South Beach. Now winding down in Key West for a few days.

Met Nancy last night. She is the owner of Salsa Loca, John Lukas’ new partner in the Big Ten Sports Pub. Nancy is the food end of the operation. A nice lady. However, we did not start off well. She is a North Carolina State graduate. I told her I would eat elsewhere after Syracuse lost!

I spent several hours yesterday editing some chapters from Growing Up Italian. Writing is easy. It is the editing that is a pain. Takes 3-4 times longer  than the writing. Necessary, however. Editing polishes the writing. Big time!

The MTV house sits across the water from me. In all its colorful glory.

There are college kids staying this week. It is Spring Break time. The MTV home and property are huge. A separate gym building, in addition. Tennis courts and a basketball court outside.

The college kids are all males. I counted 20 yesterday morning sitting on the deck, shoulder to shoulder. Who was fishing, who was chatting, who was sleeping, who appeared to be getting over a hangover, etc.

There is a large bus parked next to the gym. I assume the guys rented it for the trip to Key West.

One problem. No, they not noisy and rowdy. Actually, quiet quite. No girls. I have not seen one young lady since they arrived sunday. Highly unusual! I suspect the group may be part of a gay fraternity.

St. Patrick’s Day is monday. The Key West party started friday. Everyone doing the Duval Crawl. Wearing St. Patty Day tee shirts, green hats, and drinking green beer. Day and night. The party will continue through monday. The partiers having a good time. If it rains, guaranteed the sewers will overflow green.

I am perplexed by the loss of the Malaysian plane. In this day and age, how can a large jet with well over 200 passengers disappear. I read this morning that the Malaysian government has hired  a shaman to help locate the plane. A shaman is a person with extra mental and telepathy powers. They see, hear and feel where others cannot. Comparable to one who claims to be able to talk with the dead.

Modern science is amazing!

Enjoy your day!

 

LOVERS WHO MET ON THE INTERNET

I was sitting at the table in the Plantation Coffee House around noon yesterday researching. Two couples were seated nearby. Chatting. Eventually, I got involved in the conversation. Best as I could. It was difficult with so many people around.

One couple appeared to be 40ish. Both good looking. The lady was from Dubai, the man from New York City. The man had previously lived in India.

They had met initially on the of the couple matching sites on the internet. The email meetings led to their meeting in Key West this week. The face to face meeting was for the first time. Excitement was written all over their faces.

The couple they were talking with had a similar experience. The lady lives in Key West. The man from New York City. They now live together in Key West. They appeared to be in their 60s.

Wild!

I was unable to get names. Too many people again and little time. However, both heart warming stories.

Syracuse finally won and won decisively yesterday. Beat Florida State by 16 points. 74-58. Florida State was no slouch. My recollection is that their record was 18-11 going into the game.

This was the last season game for Syracuse. Next week the ACC tournament. Syracuse is the second seed, Virginia, first. Syracuse plays next this friday evening. Then the big tournament! Syracuse has to do well in the ACC tournament to be considered a #1 seed in the big one. Probably win the ACC tournament.

I watched the game at Lukas’ Sports Pub. I was the only Syracuse fan. John sat with me most of the game. My heart fluttered on occasion. Syracuse was up 11, then up 1 before they came back to go up 13 and then 16.

I am anxious to see the national rankings which come out later today. Syracuse dropped from 1 to 7 the past two weeks. However, everyone good lost this weekend. Syracuse won. I see Syracuse moving up to #5 or #6. Maybe even #4.

A concern has been developing in me since the Cuban earthquake of 2 months ago. It was felt a bit in Key West by some. Not me. There were three aftershocks till yesterday. Yesterday, the fourth occurred which was felt. It was a 4.7. Just after 7 yesterday morning. I did not feel it. Some at the Casa Marina did.

After the initial earthquake, I did a little research. Seems there were around 400 quakes last year off the north coast of Cuba. Small. Ergo, we did not hear of them. The article pointed out the quakes are increasing in frequency. Therein lies my concern.

My friend Grant is going to be on national television friday night at 10. On the Food Network Channel. Grant is a chef at Bad Boy Burrito. Cooking famer Guy Fieri chatted with him when his show covered the Bad Boy Burrito two months ago. Go Grant! Everyone will be at Don’s Place waiting for him to appear on the screen. He will receive a big applause.

Fantasy Fest nudity continues to waste the time of the Key West Commission. No one cares about bare breasts, except for a few old time politicians and ultra conservative church ministers. Sixty thousand other people who attend Fantasy Fest come to view the  breasts, amongst other things.

A woman who was instrumental in the first Fantasy Fest some 30 odd years ago is one of the ones upset. She wrote “…..get rid of the PUBLIC debauchery, the vomitorium and the debacle.” She and I are not seeing the same Fantasy Fests. I am sure a minimal amount of what she describes occurs. However, I have never seen an orgy or vomiting. I cannot respond to debacle because I am not sure what she is specifically referring to.

Interestingly, the first Fantasy Fest parade she was instrumental in getting started had leading the parade a completely bare assed woman painted in silver riding on the hood of a car.

Tomorrow night at 9, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. My cup runneth over with material. The story of the mother who knew best, Russia’s new terrorist law, China’s bubble bursting, Crimea, what Ukraine should do to set Russia on its ass, the head of the neo-Nazi party running for President of Ukraine, how the bank looting of Ukraine has begun, polygamy in Utah’s today, and more. Listen and enjoy. A stimulating and revealing half hour of dialogue.

Enjoy your day!

I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO TITLE TODAY

 

My Sunday was quiet and uneventful. An item in this morning’s news disturbing.

The big thing yesterday were the March Madness seedings. Syracuse is a #4 seed. I thought it would be. Hoped for a #3. Four however is good enough.

I woke this morning to the news that the euro bank was planning on levying/taxing Cyprus bank accounts. Savings accounts. What shit!

The Cyprus legislature has to approve the plan today. If not approved, it’s bankruptcy for Cyprus.

A dilemma!

The worst thing European nations did was enter into the euro more than a decade ago. Greed motivated each country. The Germans were smarter than everyone else. Most other nations, such as Cyprus, are getting beat up.

Can you imagine waking up one morning to the news that your savings account was having 6-12 per cent taken out to pay back in effect monies owed Germany?

The run on Cyprus banks has begun. Too late, however. The ATM machines are empty and the banks are withholding withdrawals till things get figured out.

I felt a similar panic when I was on Greece’s Santorini island last summer. The euro problem was all the people were talking about. The Greek people. That and they hated Germany’s Merkel. It was rumored that all Santorini banking was going to close down.

Santorini is a large island. Tremendously larger than Key West. Only two ATM machines on the island.

When I heard the news, I thought I should replenish my euro cash supply. Not everyone in Greece took credit cards. Euros were needed. I walked the mile to the ATM machine near me. It was out of money.

The only other ATM machine was located on the other side of the island. A two bus trip each way. Fortunately, that ATM had money in it.

The crisis swiftly ended. Twenty four hours later, there was cash in the ATM near me.

Merkel is being blamed for Cyprus’ present crisis.

When something like this occurs, a madness sweeps in. A collective madness. Germany keeps pushing the envelope. I said it last summer and I say it again. The next war may start in Europe rather than the Middle East. If it does, it will be because of the euro and Germany pushing its neighbors for repayment.

I felt under the weather yesterday. My stomach was off. Other than a stop at the Plantation Coffee House, I spent the day home lounging around.

I feel fine this morning.

Enjoy your day!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

 

The day has arrived! St. Patrick’s Day! Celebrated throughout the USA.

In most communities, it is a one day event. Not in Key West. Forty eight hours! All day Saturday and all day Sunday.

I took a walk down Duval in mid afternoon yesterday. Everything and everyone green! Even some dogs! Everyone happy! Doing the Duval Crawl.

Syracuse basketball has been a strain on my heart this season. For real. So many ups and downs. Never consistent.

Last night was the Big East championship game. Against Louisville. Syracuse had a 16 point lead. Syracuse lost by 17 points. What a turn around!

The final score was 78-61.

Syracuse’s dynamite offense crumbled before Georgetown’s zone defense and Louisville’s full court press.

The seeds for the big tournament will be announced tonight. I suspect Syracuse will be a #5 seed. Maybe a #4. Louisville will be a #1 seed definitely!

Sloan and I worked together in the late morning. She showed me last month’s stats for this blog. It was viewed in 49 countries. The largest number yet. It is heavily read in the United States and Canada. Panama, Finland and Malaysia reflected a significant increase in readers.

Thank you one and all.

My evening started at Don’s Place. Chatted with Don and David. Hershel and Erika there, also. They were both wearing large straw hats and green all over. They were in fine humor. They had just completed the Duval Crawl.

Next the Chart Room. JJ, Sheila and Che. Sat next to Sheila. Had a long talk with her. A lovely person inside and out. After Sheila left, Che and I chatted.

A police officer from Valley Forge, Pa. was sitting next to us. He is a 2-3 time a year visitor to Key West. He was waiting for his wife who was in their room in the Pier House getting ready for their second Duval Crawl of the day. God bless them!

Made it to the Big Ten Sports Pub for the 8:30 start of the Syracuse/Louisville game. Syracuse looked terrific in the first half. Then it was over. Decimated in the second half.

While I was watching the game, Che showed up. His first time in the Sports Pub, I believe. He came to watch the game with me.

My on the road time yesterday started at 4:30 in the afternoon. I did not return home till  just after midnight. A long time for me. I was tired!

Enjoy your day!

 

THERE IS JOY IN MUDVILLE…..

 

Although relative to baseball, the line can be applied to any sport. There is joy in Mudville! There is joy for Syracuse fans world wide! Syracuse beat Georgetown last night 58-55.

We came back!

Tonight Louisville for the Big East Tournament championship. Another great game awaits!

I watched last night’s game with my friend Andrew at the Big Ten Sports Pub. Andew is my neighbor. He owns the MTV home across the water. He was supposed to be in Thailand. He telephoned me to say hello, I am here, let’s have dinner tonight. A business matter required a quick return to Key West. He left wife Jas and son Kai in Thailand. In a few days, Jas and Kai will be in Sweden with Jas’ mother. Thereafter, Key West.

This is St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Actually, tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day. I love corned beef and cabbage. Once a year. Today or tomorrow is the time.

My mother made corned beef and cabbage frequently. It tasted better back then. Whatever my mother did. Plus, the meat was extra fatty which contributed to the great flavor. I do not recognize that taste anymore.

Schooner Wharf is big on corned beef and cabbage this holiday. They cook it special. I may stop to enjoy the meal.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour aired yesterday morning. Love doing it! Post show comments indicated the bank issue hit home. People understood. The thrust of the topic was that the same banks that were too big to fail several years ago, are now too big to prosecute. The shame of it all.

After the show, I went over to the Plantation Coffee House. Read the newspapers and enjoyed a cup of coffee.

The deadline for my KONK Life column is The article was entitled: New Pope and U.S. Catholic Social Issues…..Resolutions? I mentioned at length that I thought the new Pope was more inclined to deal with basic issues affecting the poor rather than the social issues confronting the U.S. Things like priests marrying, a woman eligible to be Pope, birth control, same sex marriage, pedophilia, etc.

The BBC this morning quoted Pope Francis as saying yesterday that he wanted “…a poor Church for the poor…I would like a Church that is poor working for the poor.”

I am sorry to say I called it correctly. I think it is time to deal with all issues. The Catholic Church has been floundering too long.

I published the KONK Life article to Amazon Kindle, also.

Jake has been part of the family all of five days. He seems to be doing well. He loves Robert, Ally, Corey and Lisa. They love him. He is out car riding this morning and walking Duval. What a life! I told lisa…..no green beer for him!

I was speaking with my friend Anna yesterday. I was complaining about Key West’s cold front. It was 68 degrees at the time. She told me not to complain. It is cold and snowy in Italy. A new storm had come down from Siberia. Siberia? Just the mention of it gives me a cold chill!

That’s it for this morning.

Enjoy your day!