TEAM OF DESTINY?????

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It happened again last night! Syracuse won a squeaker in the last few seconds. It was Syracuse over North Carolina State by one point. 56-55.

Tough on the heart!

Too many close games this season. Extremely close. I think there have been eight close games. All eight could have gone the other way and Syracuse would not even be ranked.

Whatever, we are 25-0. There has to be a message in that number of wins and no defeats. Could it be…..Team of destiny?

It was a screwed up basketball day yesterday. The game was scheduled for 3. I was at the Sports Pub at 3. No game. No one could figure out why. I headed over to Don’s Place to see if he had the game. No game. Toni figured it out using her I phone. The game had been pushed up to 7 because the North Carolina State team had just arrived. They were supposed to have  come in the night before.

I returned to the Sports Pub for the 7 o’clock tip off. Still could not get the game. John Lukas spent a good 15 minutes on the phone with his provider. They knew from nothing. No game continued.

John happened to mention there was a way to bring in whatever national channel was carrying the game. He did not know how. He needed a TV/computer guru. A lovely blond spoke up and said she understood what had to be done. She did. Five minutes later we were watching the game.

The lovely lady was Keegan from Rochester. A die hard Syracuse fan, she was enjoying the game with Jeremy. Also at Keegan’s table were Jackie and Bard. I assume from Rochester or Syracuse. All family.

I love Jackie! When I introduced myself, she said…..I read your blog every day! Thank you, Jackie! It was a pleasure meeting you. Hope we run into each other again soon.

I mentioned I had recently published my first book. Keegan was interested in the title, how to obtain it, etc. I told her it would be in the blog in the morning. The book is titled The World Upside Down. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Though I used both Key West Lou and Louis Petrone as my names, the book sellers are using Louis Petrone as the author. Tie it in with the book’s name when searching.

My good friends Dan and Lisa were sitting with me for the game. Dan and I seemed to be moaning in unison. The games are not getting any easier. Dan and Lisa have house guests. Dave and Karyn from Auburn or Baldwinsville. I am not sure which. Born and raised in one and now live in the other. Wherever Dave and Karyn are from, they were nice people. I suspect we will all be together for the Boston College game Wednesday night.

I stopped at Don’s place on the way home. Don’s place had the game. They watched it on ESPNews. Don does not have the basketball package, John does. You figure it.

It was hip, hip, hooray! The bar knows I am a Syracuse fanatic. I sat a while and had a drink with Stan and Clara.

When I was driving into Key West for the 7 o’clock game, there was a sight to behold! I came in via the North Roosevelt Boulevard. Palm trees had been planted along the way. About every 40 feet. Tall and straight. Strange palms. The scene beautiful! Made me think the aggravation has been worth it.

I have to get out of my home later this morning for several hours. The realtor is having another open house. I will be taking my computer with me. I have to write this week’s KONK Life column. Either at the bar at Don’s Place or the Plantation Coffee House.

Enjoy your Sunday!

IT DID NOT RAIN ON SYRACUSE

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What a night! What a game! Snow and rain falling on most of the country. But not on Syracuse! Syracuse beat Pitt 58-56 at the buzzer. There was joy in Mudville!

Tyler Ennis threw in a 3 pointer from 35 feet at the buzzer with two Pitt defenders on him. A beautiful high arcing shot. Wonder of wonders!

I had given up with two minutes to go. It was a Pitt win. Pitt was up by one point with 4.4 seconds to go. Who expected Ennis’ shot? Probably only Ennis. He said in an interview after the game that he thought the ball was going in as soon as it left his hands. He was not bragging. He is not the type. Just telling how it was.

Saturday, North Carolina State.

It started raining during the game last night. The heavy stuff. Continued all night. I had to drive the boulevard on the way home. Big time flooding. The street in front of my home flooded, also.

It is not raining now. However, very overcast.

Bocce season starts tonight. I doubt we will play. There could be a boat race on the courts at the moment.

Some things are aggravating! Some things are wrong! I am not talking about the rain soaked bocce courts. I am talking about Comcast.

It was announced on TV this morning that Comcast is buying Time Warner Cable for $45.2 billion. Comcast already owns 100 per cent of NBC. The new acquisition will make Comcast a giant among giants.

Mergers and buys of this type should not be permitted. Our country is more and more owned, controlled and operated to satisfy the needs of corporate giants. Once there were laws prohibiting these mergers. They are still there, but now ineffective. New laws are required. Such will not occur. Not with a Washington dominated influence wise by corporate America.

I had to smile. The CEO of Comcast was asked in an interview this morning why Comcast was so successful.  Service, he said. Bullshit! Comcast provides the worst service in Key West. I know and every one else that subscribes to Comcast knows. There is an erosion at Comcast’s base which is eating away at its foundation. Giants topple when they forget how they became big.

Enjoy your day!

SPRING BREAK MADNESS

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March is Spring Break time. The college kids storm the beaches. Key West jumps for 3-4 weeks.

The madness in the title is not attributed to the college students. Rather to Key West Commissioner Tony Yaniz. He wants to bring the Spring Break Court back.

I can recall ten or better years ago when spring breakers descended in mass upon Key West. They did not seem bothersome, except it was no time for locals to hit the beaches. The collegians covered them completely. Duval merchants were happy. Business boomed in the evenings. The motels happy, also. Rooms were filled, even though their might be ten people to a room.

Key West city fathers at the time decided that a different way of handling what they perceived as wrong doing was required. If the kids got in any trouble, they would be hauled before a special Spring Break Court. The punishment for whatever wrongdoing was generally eight hours the next day cleaning Key West streets.

My sense at the time was that there was an extra effort to apprehend alleged wrongdoers. There was a special court to deal with them and it should be kept busy. It was.

The Spring Break Court worked so well that college students stopped coming to Key West. Word spread rapidly through the college grapevine. Key West was not a good place for spring breakers.

Only a handful kept returning. Significant business was lost. The Spring Break Court had done its job well.

In recent years, college students have started returning. No where in the numbers they had years ago. But it is obvious more are on the way.

Key West Commissioner Tony Yainz wants to bring back the Spring Break Court. I believe he is wrong. Leave well enough alone. Let the usual police/court system deal with any problems. Permit the chicken that lays the golden egg to return. The college students were never that great a problem.

My blog talk radio show went well last night. Comments since the show aired indicate listeners were most interested in government waste. Items in the new Farm Law, the $5.4 million the State Department spent on new exquisite crystal glassware for U.S. embassy parties, and the $100,000 outhouse in Alaska seem to have attracted the most attention.

The Farm Law issues are dealt with in detail in my KONK Life column this week.

Tonight, Syracuse/Pitt. Going to be a tough game. Syracuse beat Pitt by several points at the Carrier Dome a couple of weeks ago. Tonight’s game is at Pitt. Difficult! The spread is 1.5 points, in favor of Pitt.

We shall see.

The game is at 7. I will be watching it at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Bar.

Finally, bocce returns! Tomorrow night!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

SUNDAY NIGHT SYRACUSE BASKETBALL

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The games do not get any easier! Tough on the stomach! Syracuse won again last night. Beat Clemson 57-44. What bothers me is we are not blowing anyone out. Syracuse may not all season. Boeheim has a new strategy this year. No more running. Wait for the shot. Slow the pace.

As long as it works, so be it.

A tough game coming up wednesday. Pitt again. This time at Pitt.

I watched the game with Dan and Lisa. They had a couple of Skaneateles friends with them. Dan and I suffer alike during the games. We moan and groan.

Stopped at Don’s Place after the game. Got into the new farm law with one of the customers. He was knowledgeable. Disagreed with me. An interesting conversation.

I had spent the better part of the day writing this week’s KONK Life column. New Farm Law…..A Gravy Train. Guaranteed you will enjoy the article. It’s an eye opener.

The Syracuse game was at 6. I was out of Don’s Place by 9. Stopped at Publix on the way home. Sunday night at 9 is a good time to shop. Next to one in the place!

Tomorrow night my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine o’clock. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I find that my agenda for the show keeps changing right up to show time. Things keep happening. I want the show to be as current as possible. One item that will definitely be discussed is the new farm law. There are some bad things about it which don’t seem to get shared with the American public.

Enjoy your day!

 

I’M LOSING IT

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No one can deny Syracuse basketball is big in my life. So how did I miss that Arizona lost saturday?

When I walked into the Sports Pub last night to watch Syracuse/Notre Dame, John Lukas yelled out a Congratulations! For what, I asked. Syracuse is #1. How? Syracuse was voted in #1 ahead of Arizona because of the Duke win?

No, Arizona lost to California saturday night.

I live on the internet. Including the sports sites. I read the newspapers. Sundays, the Key West Citizen and New York Times. This past weekend, I failed to read the Times. The Citizen rarely carries little of national importance. There was no Arizona lost in the sunday paper.

I felt like an ass. I thought…..Louis, you are really slipping!

Then Skaneateles Dan showed up to watch the Syracuse/Notre Dame game with me. I told him how I did not know about Arizona losing. He said I should not feel bad. He had just learned that morning (monday).

Maybe its the weather in Key West.

I did not expect a Syracuse blow out last night. Syracuse had to be dragging after Duke. In addition, it is hard to get up for the next game after a big one. Syracuse won. That was all that was important.

It was a big night at the Sports Pub for Syracuse fans. Met a whole new bunch. Bob from Rochester. Shawn originally from Saquoit which is like one mile from Utica. He also was either a Town of Paris legislator or County legislator or both. Steve and Lynn from Sidney, Ohio. Snowbirds. Six months in Sidney, six months in Key West. Finally, Kathy from Ohio. She proudly showed me a picture of her and Boeheim which was taken during the Big East last year in New York.

Turns out Steve reads this blog religiously. Thank you, Steve. Hope to get to know you and Lynn better since you spend so much time in Key West.

Tonight, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine o’clock. An interesting and revealing half hour of current event chatter. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics tonight will include Iceland’s 4 per cent unemployment, Mexico surpassing Japan as an auto exporter to the United States (thank General Motors for one), sport commissioner salaries similar to those of bank presidents, increasing police brutality, and more. The more is always interesting. Things will happen today that will tickle me and I will discuss them in the evening. The show evolves till show time!

Enjoy your day!

 

QUIT YOUR JOB AND MOVE TO KEY WEST

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It was the dentist at 2 yesterday afternoon. I now have teeth again. Thrilled I am! The best fit ever!

When you get on in years, you will understand.

Had to test the new teeth immediately. A toasted bagel at the Plantation Coffee House. They worked!

I had some time to kill. Checked out the local books for sale. David Sloan is a famous Key West author. I saw his book Quit Your Job And Move to Key West. I read about a third of it before returning the book to its place on the rack. A fine work! It was obvious why Sloan’s writings are highly regarded. Buy the book. You will enjoy.

One of Sloan’s comments in the book…..Key West consumes more alcohol per capita than any city in the U.S. A fair statement. Correct from my perspective. The comment might suggest to some considering retiring to Key West that they should buy a bar rather than
do nothing.

Stopped at Don’s Place. Chatted with Joanie. One of the happiest people I have ever met.

Then to the Chart Room and Emily. I was the first customer. Sheila came in. The three of us commiserated. Peter, aka Captain Peter, has left Key West. After 20 years. He upped and moved to Melbourne. Just like that. A Key west icon. He will be missed.

Had to try the teeth out some more. Stopped at Outback for a prime rib. Everything worked!

You have to appreciate what I have gone through the past three years. These marvels of modern dental science cost me $35,000. I have had one problem after another the first two years. This last visit merely had to do with might be described as a mechanical tune up.

Selena Gomez. I know little about her other than she is a lovely young lady and a star. I read some where yesterday that she is keeping company with pop star Austin Mahone. Gomez is 21, Austin 17. The significant detail in the article was that Mahone lives part time in Key West. I was not aware.

Big game tomorrow night. Syracuse/Duke. This game is similar to the Villanova and Pitt games. A test for Syracuse. The game is at 6:30. I will be watching it at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Pub. With Dan, I hope.

Enjoy your day!

A GLORIOUS SUNRISE

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A glorious sunrise this morning!

I was up early for a dentist appointment. As I leave my home, I drive towards the ocean. Fo

ur homes ahead is open water. As I approached the open water, the sun was breaking over the horizon. A bright orange ball!

The drive home gave me another beautiful viewing. Involving the water once again. I was driving up Southern Boulevard with the Atlantic on my right. The sun caused some sort of mist on the water. Like a light fog. Beautiful!

I needed a new tire on the Volkswagen. I had shopped around. The usual places such as Sears were extremely expensive. Someone told me about a business that comes to your home and changes the tire. I was further told that the price would be relatively cheap. I was not disappointed. I made a telephone call on Friday. Put in the order. I was told they would be at my home 10 o’clock monday morning. They were on time. It took 15 min. to change the tire.

The company is called Pit Stop Tire Shop. The owners name is Junior. The telephone number is 305-414-3992. The price was $100 cheaper than was quoted anywhere else. Do business with these people!

I did my blog talk radio show last night at nine in competition with the President’s State of the Union message. Such is life! I hate cannot wait to see the numbers. I am interested in how many listeners I ended up with.

I was advised this morning that the same audio problem I had last week occurred last night. We thought we had it beat. We will be working with the blog talk radio people this week to correct the situation.

Tonight is Syracuse basketball! Wake Forest the opponent. Nine o’clock. Syracuse an 8.5 favorite on the Vegas line.

I need to watch the game from my bed because of the teeth situation. I am not leaving home. I do not know if the game is televised. Someone help me. What is ESFC and can I get it on TV.

I stopped at Publix yesterday afternoon to pick up some liquid food. I will not be able to eat solid food today. Hopefully, I will lose a pound or two.

This week in driving up and down the Boulevard, I noticed that Checkers was closed. I figured they were either out of business because of the Boulevard construction or had closed down for remodeling. Turns out Checkers will be no more in Key West. The Checkers lease runs out February 1. Starbucks got in competition with them for the new lease. Starbucks out bid Checkers. Ergo, there will be a new Starbucks on the Boulevard. A good spot and size for a Starbucks.. The only other Starbucks in town is in the La Concha Hotel. I never stop him because it is too small. I’m sorry to see Checkers leave. They made a terrific cheeseburger.

Enjoy your day!

A KEY WEST SYRACUSE DAY

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My cold is better. Just a tinge left. I only went out for the basketball game yesterday afternoon. Afterwards, came home and went to bed. Slept from 4 to 8. Up to eat. Back to sleep at 10 till 7 this morning. My body apparently was in a healing mode.

A typical Syracuse game. Tough on the heart! Syracuse was winning by 18 ten minutes into the game. We were going to kill Miami, I thought. With 8 minutes to go in the game, Miami was one up. Syracuse won by 12 points 64-52.

Syracuse knows how to win. This was the seventh close game they have played tight with minutes to go and went on to win. It cannot be done all the time. There will be a first defeat. I wonder where it will come.

Next game is Wednesday at 9 against Wake forest. I will be watching the game at Don’s Place. Saturday is Duke! Could be the  one. I hope not.

Dan and Lisa were at Lukas’ place to watch the game with me. They brought David and Judy from Orlando. Dan and David were born and raised in Auburn, NY. David and Judy moved to Orlando 26 years ago. He is in the import/export of sea food business.

David and Judy were very likeable people. Much like Dan and Lisa. Hope I meet them again.

It is interesting. Both Dan and David grew up in Auburn. They left to make their fortunes elsewhere. Dan in Skaneateles and David in Orlando. I occasionally tried lawsuits in Auburn Supreme Court. My recollection of Auburn is a sad one. I thought the city was depressing. Uniquely so. It hit you in the face as soon as you entered the city limits. I am originally from upstate New York, also. Utica. Some 65 miles from Auburn. Utica was and is old.For whatever reason, the depression factor is not as evident in Utica.

The problem is these cities are all part of the northeast rust belt. The mills left 60-80 years ago and these communities continue to find it difficult to dig out.

Lest I forget. David told me he was reading my book The World Upside Down. Made me feel good! Dan told me that he especially liked the last essay. The one having to do with Greece and the rise of a present day Nazi Party.

Traffic driving into Key West was atrocious. It took me one hour to get to Key West itself once I entered onto US 1. The Bone Island Triathlon was going on. The participants were at the last stage. The bike riding one. Right down US 1 into Key West. My usual 5 minute drive turned into a long one.

Bone Island is the English translation of the original Spanish name for Key West. It was called Bone island because the Indians would bring their captured persons to Bone Island to cook and eat. The Indians were cannibals. They left the bones strewn around when they returned to their homes on a different key.

John Lukas is the owner of the Sports Pub. There was an article in the Key West Citizen a few days ago telling of a tourist who went to six different places to eat and drink  in one day and left all without paying. John was one of the ones hit. The bill was something like $66. The thief must have been entertaining.

This weekend is the Key West Craft show. Always an interesting and exciting event. It is on Whitehead by Truman Annex. Art, wood work, jewelry, clothes, etc. All good stuff. No junk. White tents for several blocks from whence the merchants sell their wares.

Jack Baron is one of the finest persons I have met in my lifetime. Smart, also. He died six years ago. I used to visit his art studio in Square One. There were several of us who would gather mornings to chat. We solved world problems.

Though I admired Jack’s work, I never bought one of his paintings. I did not want to get involved with local art. Jack’s forte was black women. He worked with acrylics. He had painted a black Madonna and Child. I loved he painting! It had been unsold for a year. Jack knew I wanted to buy it. But if I did, it would have been contrary to my decision to avoid local art.

At the Key West Craft Show 15 years ago, I came upon Jack’s white tent. His featured painting and the one having the most prominence was the Madonna and Child. I became excited. It was my painting! What are you doing, I asked. Selling it, he said. I have to eat! I bought the painting on the spot. Jack was laughing. It was a gotcha moment.

I ended up buying  a total of twelve Jack Baron paintings. Most hang in my dining room. The dining room is all Jack Baron. The Madonna and Child hangs in the living room in its own special place.

Enjoy your Sunday!

THE DAY AFTER

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This is the day after. I loaded up on garlic yesterday. Jean Carper’s home remedy for a bad cold.

I had to go to Publix to buy the garlic. I do not keep it. Lots for sale. Two different types. One more expensive than the other. I bought the cheaper one.  A nice hard big one. I could not wait to get home to try it! Ho ho!

Was not bad! I cut out a couple of cloves and chewed away. Not the best thing I have ever tasted. Not the worse, either. Got it down.

The garlic worked. I did it four times yesterday. Kissable I was not. But must tell you, the garlic kills everything! The sneezing, runny nose and sore throat. Two cloves good for 2-3 hours.

I feel better today. Cold still with me. The worst behind me, however.

On top of it all, I fell. In my garage. I was on my knees checking out the numbers on a tire. Need a new one. Went to get up. Difficult for me to do in my old age. Pushed too hard. Shot forward before falling on my right side. Head to toes. Head ok. Shoulder and arm sore this morning. Right hip sore. Scrapped my right knee good. Have it covered with several band aids.

Way to go, Louis!

Today Syracuse/Miami basketball. At one. Syracuse should win. Who knows. I appreciate Syracuse will lose a few games before the season is over. But as I die hard fan, I am always wishing the team does not.

I will be viewing the game at the Sports Pub. I assume Dan will be joining me.

I love Southern old white men. They are at it again with women’s bodies. They should make love to the ladies  rather than dominate them. Huckabee said a couple of days ago in a speech that Democrats believe women need government to control their libidos and reproductive systems. To the contrary Mr. Huckabee, they need you guys to stay out of their vaginas and bodies legislatively and recognize the inherent right of women to control their own bodies.

It was reported this past week that a kindergarten teacher locked one of her pupils in a closet. It was a time out for something the 5 year old had done. The teacher forgot the child in the locked closet and went home early because she was not feeling well. The child’s mother wants blood! My recollection of my early school days was that if you were bad you were made to sit on a stool in the corner with a dunce cap on. Both screw up the child’s mind to a degree. The dunce cap one is easier on the child from my perspective.

Enjoy your day!

 

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HEART FAILURE!

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These Syracuse basketball games can be too much! Yesterday was one of them. Syracuse beat Pittsburgh by 5 points. 59-54. With 4 minutes to go, I was sure Pitt was going to win. So did everyone else I am sure.

An example of the kind of game it was. Ten minutes into the second half, Syracuse was up by 10. In 1 minute and 9 seconds, Pitt makes three 3s in a row. All by the same player. Now only a one point game.

I watched the game at Don’s Place with Dan and Michael. Michael is Dan’s friend from Syracuse. Michael mentioned he was reading my book The World Upside Down. I was thrilled and thanked him. After the game, he told me he was going back to the house to continue reading it. Go Michael!

Tino came in with Tom after the game. First time I have seen Tino in almost two years. He was looking well. Tino never changes. It was good to see him again.

Angus was a the bar watching the game. One of the best people in Key West.

After the game, I had a drink with Grant and Jeff. Today is Grant’s birthday. Twenty nine! Congratulations, Grant!

Late morning, I visited with Alyson and Chuck from the Boca Raton area. Alyson is a loyal blog reader. Love her! That is how we met. The three of us spent a pleasant hour together at the Plantation Coffee House.

Alyson and Chuck are looking to relocate to Key West. They are searching for a business to buy. If anyone has anything, let me know. I will pass the information on to them

One of my favorite spots to eat is No Name Key Pub. If you have ever been there, you understand why. In one of Mark Howell’s writings this week, Mark made mention that No Name Key was the rugged training grounds for the anti-Castro forces prior to the Bay of Pigs. I did not know. Another piece of information from Louis’ collection is that during World War II, the upstairs of the No Name Pub building was a brothel.

It’s called history!

Big tournament of sorts this afternoon. At Don’s Place. Don’s Annual Rib Cook Off. A delicious place to be. There will be many entries. Don also sponsors a chili cook out. Another winner.

I mentioned yesterday that Peter Max was in town. I wanted to meet him. My plate was full yesterday. Hopefully, this afternoon. Between writing this week’s KONK Life column and the rib cook out.

Enjoy your Sunday!