OCEAN WEATHER

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Key West is a tiny island. Like 1.5 x 4.0 miles. Key West sits with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Weather is wild and uncertain. Changes occur suddenly.

Two days ago, we had a healthy all day and part of the night rain storm. Flooding everywhere. Sun never shone.

This morning the island is at peace. Nothing moving. There is no breeze. The water flat and quiet. Sun shining. A few scattered white clouds. High today will be 80.

I find the weather changes exciting. Always a surprise.

Today is a big day in American history. On this day in 1939, Superman made his debut as a comic strip hero.

The college football game of the year tonight. The BCS Championship Game. Florida State and Auburn. The young men on both teams probably do not appreciate the life time impact the game’s result will have on them.. Those who play on the winning team will remember the night the rest of their lives. In all likelihood, it will be the biggest event in their lives. The experience hard to duplicate. These are lucky men who will be playing. Few of us have the opportunity to know such an experience.

I will watch the game at either Don’s Place or home. Depends how I feel.

Another easy Sunday yesterday. I was up early. Did my blog early. Watched the first half of the Cincinnati game with Don and David. Then to Publix. Out of food again. Sunday afternoon is not the best time to grocery shop. Publix was so packed there were only three carts available. Last night, early to bed and sleep.

I lead such an exciting life!

Tomorrow night at 9 my blog talk radio show. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. A quick half hour of interesting developments. You can call in if you like.

I plan on dwelling on the huge increase in body cavity searches by the police, the Little Sisters of the Poor’s last minute application to the Supreme Court to get rid of a portion of the section of Obamacare dealing with birth control, the Attorney General continuing to not prosecute bank officials, the perfect example being JP Morgan Chase, how we got screwed again with a bailout, the story of Chrysler, Fiat, and automobile factories to be built in China, and more.

Interesting, revealing, and fun to listen to. Join me.

Enjoy your day!

 

THE RIORDANS ARE BACK IN TOWN

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The Riordans have returned!

Dan and Lisa Riordan hail from Skaneateles, New York. They own a restaurant there. The Blue Water Grill. Normally, they rent a house for one month. This year, two! Good for them! Eventually they will buy. The pattern is the same for all of us.

Two daughters and a boy friend are with them for a few days.

I will be blessed for the next two months with Dan and Lisa watching the Syracuse games with me. Voracious fans!

One of their daughters works for the U.S. Treasury in Syracuse. She works with Michael Timpano. A name I have not heard in years. Michael grew up with my son. The best of friends back then. I knew Michael’s parents well. My contemporaries. I hope they are alive and well. Timpano was and still is a well respected name in the Utica area.

Dan and Lisa arrived in Key West Friday. They had to stock up on groceries. Went to Publix. They were shocked at the cost of food in Key West. Much higher than in upstate New York. The high price of groceries in Key West is an item of frequent discussion  amongst those who live here. A rip off!

I watched the Syracuse/Miami game with the Riordans and guest yesterday. A heart wrenching game. Nothing but pain.

Syracuse won 49-44. A football score. An ugly game. We were 20 point favorites going in. I hope this is not that type season.

What irritates me is that whenever I become a believer that this year’s Syracuse team is a great one, something screws up. Villanova made me a believer this year. Miami now makes me question my judgment. We shall see.

It was hard to believe yesterday’s weather. Rain! Rain! And then more rain! It never stopped. The type of rain that accompanies a hurricane or tropical storm. Monsoon type. Blew sideways on occasion.

I drove home from the Sports Pub immediately after the game at 4. I was fearful of flooding roads that might prevent me from making it. The streets were horrible! Water everywhere! The boulevard was especially dangerous. Because of the construction, the highway was flooded more than normal. You had to drive slow. I was concerned my car would flood.

It took me 35 minutes to get home. Normally, a 15 minute trip.

I heard from a friend in Greece this morning. Come buy an apartment he told me. Condominiums in central Athens that previously sold for several hundred euros a piece are now on the market for 14,000 euros. About $21,000 American money. A steal!

I continue to believe violence will occur in Greece. The unemployed figure continues to rise. Supermarkets are closing because people do not have the money to buy food. A bad situation.

What a difference as day makes! It is Sunday. The sun is shining. There is nary a cloud in the sky. Anticipated high today 80 degrees. However, rain is projected for this afternoon and evening.

Enjoy your day!

 

CHEERIOS

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Cheerios is my breakfast cereal of choice. Primarily because it purportedly reduces cholesterol.

Cheerios is the breakfast of choice of mothers to feed their babies once the baby is capable of mushing them.

All America considers Cheerios safe and healthy!

I was shocked yesterday to read that General Mills announced it would no longer make Cheerios with genetically modified ingredients. Wow! Who knew?

General Mills said it was not because anything was wrong with genetically modified products. Rather, it was the growing number of people opposed to the use of genetically modified ingredients that compelled their decision.

Good for General Mills!

I have been speaking out in opposition to genetically modified seeds for several months. As recently as yesterday morning on my TV/internet show The Key West Lou Legal Hour. I mentioned the two world wide demonstrations that took place in 2013 protesting their use.

Last night was a biggie!

I had dinner with Jenna. An  interesting young lady. I enjoy being with her. This 78 year old man with a 27 year old lovely.

We had dinner at Square One. It has become a favorite of mine once again. Together with Hot Tin Roof. Carmelo and Carolyn have done a wonderful remodeling job and are serving the finest meals. The kind to die for.

Jenna and I had a drink at the bar first. Wanted to say hello to Patrick. Bartender Patrick has been a friend for well over 15 years. He is daughter Lisa’s best friend. My grandkids love him.

Jenna introduced me to Clay and Laurel at the bar. Nice people. Clay is involved somehow with the BP lawsuits. Interesting work.

Our dinner was long. We had much to talk about.

After dropping Jenna off, I stopped at Don’s Place. Glad I did. Don, David, Toni, Grant, and Jeff were there. I joined David in watching the Ohio State bowl game. David is a die hard Ohio State fan.

Don introduced me to a couple. Emma and Trevor. From London. Emma is a television producer.  Trevor a vice president with Bank of New York. They are in Key west for three days. Appear to be doing a South Florida trip. Miami, Coconut Grove, South  Beach and Key West. They are staying at a guest house near Don’s Place.

I would like to run into them one more time before they leave. They were interesting and interested.

My book has been out a little less than a month. The World Upside Down. My housekeeper Anna bought several copies to give as Christmas presents. She gave one to Nancy Robinson. Nancy is one of the dames of Key West. A lovely person inside and out. If you think I keep busy at 78, you should meet Nancy. She has to be in her mid to late 80s. She goes, goes, goes. Her daughter Martha lives in Key West, also. Martha is an eager beaver in whatever she does. I can see where she got her drive from.

The World Upside Down is available for purchase on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Syracuse basketball this afternoon at 2. Against Miami. Syracuse’s first ACC game. I suspect Syracuse will win. The Vegas line is 19.5 points. I hope to watch the game at John Lukas’ Big Ten Sports Pub.

Enjoy your day!

COLD IN KEY WEST!

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It is cold this morning  in Key West! 67 degrees. A 13 degree drop from yesterday. Wind gusts 30 mph. It will get no warmer today.

I know you are laughing if you are from anywhere in the northeast. Boston and the Cape are buried in a couple of feet of snow. Temperature in the minus. My hometown Utica is -7 degrees this morning.

I received an e mail from a reader in Sydney, Australia. They are enjoying the warmest summer ever.

When ever it is extremely cold up north, we feel it here in Key West. The wind outside my house is blowing in cold and big time from the northwest.

Long pants and a jacket today.

Yesterday morning was busy with a haircut and manicure. Spent a good part of the afternoon and early evening finalizing this morning’s TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten my time. On TV in southeast Florida on channels Comcast 87 and U-Verse 19. Worldwide on the internet. www.weyw19.com.

More anal cavity searches. Disgusting. Thoughts whether we are heading for a police state. Whether the government is protecting JP Morgan Chase from investigation. And more.

Poor Alabama. Got their asses whipped last night. Congrats to Oklahoma. It is difficult to be #1 every year.

My condolences to Jean and Joe Thornton and to David. You win some, lose some.

Enjoy your day!

KEY WEST LOU LEGAL HOUR…..TOMORROW

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I am late today! Sorry! Had a full morning.

Tomorrow morning the Key West Lou Legal Hour airs. Nine my time. Great topics! What is Sotomayor doing?, French tax 75 per cent of all executive salaries in excess of one million euros, too many antibiotics finding their way into our bodies, anal cavity searches on the rise, some Oregon citizens take policing into their own hands, government refusing to subpoena JP Morgan Chase records, fracking, drug testing Florida welfare recipients declared unconstitutional, and more.

All interesting issues. In many instances, revealing. I bring to your attention things you might not know or have heard.

The show can be seen on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19 from Key West to Boca Raton. Otherwise available via the internet worldwide. www.weyw19.com.

Staying with tomorrow’s show, I spent a good deal of yesterday afternoon working on it. Not finished yet. I have another two hours to put in later today.

Chart Room last night. Fewer tourists. The locals returned. En masse. Visited with Emily, Sheila, Peter, Jean, Katherine, Katherine’s cousin Katherine, Sean, and Cheryl.

Cousin Katherine presently hails from Dallas. She is somehow affiliated with the Dallas Cowboys.

Cheryl is held in high regard by our family. Especially Lisa. Cheryl was the technician who performed the sonogram on Robert when he was born and discovered his cancered liver. Nine years ago. Seems like yesterday. Cheryl recently returned to Key West. She is working as a nurse in Dr. Boro’s new walk in clinic on the boulevard.

I had been looking for Jean Thornton for 3-4 days. We finally met up last night. Chatted a while. Then decided to head over to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner. I invited Sheila to join us. She declined.

Joseph managing, Matias bartending.

Jean and I had a long and interesting evening. We conversed about everything. We stopped back at the Chart Room after dinner. Ollie was there.

With final prep still awaiting me re tomorrow’s TV/internet show, I doubt I will get out this afternoon or evening.

Enjoy your day!

 

I CANNOT TELL A LIE

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George Washington has nothing on me! He could not lie about chopping down the cherry tree. I cannot lie about last night. I stayed home. In bed. Never went out.

My plan was to do 801 and watch Sushi come down in the red slipper. The eleventh time that I would have seen it. When it was time to shower and dress, I thought why go? Parking will be a problem. I have already been towed twice on special occasions. The crowd will cover several blocks. I will not be that close to 801. During all of this time, I would not even have been able to buy a drink because of the crowd size.

Screw it! I am going to bed was my thought. I poured myself a healthy Beefeater on the rocks and climbed into bed. I fell asleep. A phone call wakened me. Only 11 o’clock. Fell back to sleep. Another phone call woke me at 11:30. Otherwise, I would have slept through midnight.

I flipped between NBC and CNN. NBC had class. I thought CNN sucked. Kathy Griffin does nothing for me. I did not consider her funny. She detracted from Anderson Cooper, also.

I stayed mostly with CNN. Wanted to see 801 and Sushi in the shoe drop. I did. At 12:15. Exciting, as usual. The crowd several blocks deep.

John Zarrella is an old time CNN reporter. He has done 801 and Sushi for 11 years. Last night was his last. He retires tomorrow after 20 years with CNN. I wish him well.

One observation. We who live in Key West are lucky. Every evening is New Year’s Eve!

I was content. Wished myself a Happy New Year, closed the light and went back to sleep.

I wish each of you a very Happy New Year!

A complaint. Probably caused by old age. Perhaps not. My complaint is one every person probably has. The cost of drugs. I went to Walgreen to pick up my new prescription for Effient. A blood thinner. I get the pills in a 90 day supply. The cost to me was around $340. The fine print told me my insurance company saved me around $650. If no insurance, roughly $1,000 for a three month supply. $330 for a one month supply. Legalized thievery! An abuse of the American public. Think of the people who do not have insurance and/or cannot afford even the discounted price. They go without. Obamacare is not going to solve the drug problem any time soon. It is a weak spot in the Affordable Care Act.

I decided to walk Duval in the afternoon from the Atlantic to the Gulf and back. Only made it half way. Had to turn around. Too many people on Duval. It was impossible to walk at a normal or fast clip. The holiday week has turned out to be a good one for the merchants. A lot of families, a lot of children. Contrary to Bill O’Reilly’s comment that Key West was not a good place for children.

Yesterday was the anniversary of John Denver’s birth. Most of you will remember him. A great singer and entertainer. He died in 1997.

Many years ago when Lisa was small, I was in New York with her mother, sister Lori and Lisa. It was a hot summer day. You could fry eggs on the sidewalk! I took the family for lunch to the Brasserie. One of my favorite N ew York City spots. Lisa was somewhere around the sixth to eighth grade. She did not want to go! Made an issue out of it. Her conduct cemented that we were going.

I told Lisa that many movie stars went to the Brasserie. She looked at me as it to say oh, ya.

Dad was correct! John Denver sat at the table next to us. He started  chatting with us. Especially Lisa who was closest to him. He even asked if he could have some of her French fries which she gladly shared with him. When his order arrived, he shared something off his plate with her.

A lesson to be learned. Always trust father!

I learned something new. Yesterday’s Key West Citizen had a note as to how West Virginia was formed. Turns out that when the Civil War began, not all counties in Virginia wanted to secede. The ones that wished to remain with the Union formed a new State. It ultimately became known as West Virginia.

A new year, a new league for Syracuse basketball. The league is the ACC. Syracuse at this point is ranked #2 nationally and is 13-0. ACC play starts this week. Syracuse opens against Miami on saturday. Now we will see if Syracuse is as good as the numbers reflect and as good as I think they are this year.

Enjoy your New Year’s Day!

 

 

 

A LITTLE NEW YEAR’S EVE / A LITTLE EVERYTHING

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It is already New Year’s Day in New Zealand and Australia. Auckland was the first major city to welcome 2014 in with a fireworks display. Then Sydney. In both places, people were dancing in the streets. Much like Key West and New York City will be this evening.

I have a blog follower in Papua, New Guinea. Since Papua is close to Australia, I assume Papua has likewise welcomed the New Year.

An historic event occurred yesterday/Monday. The first flight from Key West to Havana took place. The first in more than 50 years. It will not be a regular flight. At least not yet. This one took two years to arrange. The rules limited the size of the plane to a ten seater.

Castro screwed the Cubans when he took over. Especially the affluent ones who lost everything and had to escape to the United States. I would hate Castro if I were one of them or one of their families. However, all that took place was three generations ago. The Cubans who came to the United States have as a whole done extremely well for themselves. Especially in South Florida. I believe the time has come to lift the travel and trade ban.

I walked yesterday. Not long. A half hour at Home Depot. It was a bit humid and rainy. Michael was working. Michael was on our bocce team several years ago. A good player. We exchanged New Year greetings. Michael told me about the home he and his wife are in the process of purchasing in Mexico. They close on it next month. Good for you, Michael!

I needed a few things from Publix. Yesterday was the wrong time to shop. Everyone was. The aisles were two way traffic. I only needed bread, Weight Watcher cakes, bananas and yogurt. Took forever!

I now have three books in the works. The newest one concerns the parents of today  who are a forgotten generation when it comes to their adult children. I have to settle into one book and go for it!

It was the Chart Room first last night. I was all alone. The place was packed. However none of my usual acquaintances were to be found. I chatted with Gary who works a rescue boat when a boat breaks down on the high seas.

There was an interesting occurrence. I am not trying to be gross as I share the experience with you. There was a lovely young lady in the Chart Room with exceptionally large breasts. Had to be man made. She was wearing what appeared to be a very strong halter which she occasionally pulled down to exhibit her good fortune to admirers. She was proud of what she had. Rightfully so.

I had a similar experience earlier in the day when I was walking in Home Depot. Another young and beautiful woman. Her breasts huge! Too big! My initial thought after WOW! was how can she balance herself as she walks. Obviously man made, also. Had to be.

I walked over to Hot Tin Roof hoping to run into friends. None to be found. Asked Sheila where everyone was. She found it strange also.

Even without my local friends, the place was packed! A good business night!

Met Matis. He is a new bartender. Recently arrived from Rhode Island. We talked a bit about Block Island.

Traffic  was a pain yesterday. My evening trip into Key west took 45 minutes. Normally, 15. I figured let me get home and avoid the people and traffic later in the evening. Home I went. It still took me 40 minutes to get home. The traffic was a combination of the boulevard construction and the exceptionally large number of tourists.

When I finish this blog, I will be off to Home Depot again. Walking two days in a row will be a major accomplishment.

This afternoon I will either watch the Syracuse game or work on Friday’s TV/internet show. I am not sure who Syracuse is playing. The game is this afternoon. If it is not on local television, I will not be seeing it. I do not wish to handle the traffic to get to John Lukas’ Sports Bar.

Tonight, I am not sure. I have a couple of parties to attend. I might watch Sushi drop in the red shoe at 801. I may stay home. At the moment, home is attractive to me. I am lucky. Every night is New Year’s Eve in Key West.

This day reminds me of a special one I had about fifteen years ago. I thought it might be my father’s last New Year’s eve. I decided he and I should spend it together. We did. Quietly alone in my living room in front of a roaring fire. We spoke of many things. Mostly from the past. His past. Our past together. His wife, my mother. I treasure the evening.

I was wrong that it might be our last together. My father did not pass away till last year. He was 98.

Happy New Year. Chat with you in the morning. The first morning of the New Year.

KEY WEST NEW YEAR’S EVE HIGHLIGHTS

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The big night is tomorrow. New Year’s Eve. It has a flavor all its own in Key West.

The bars and restaurants will be full. Not just on Duval, everywhere. Duval cordoned off in certain spots. People mobbing the streets.

The biggies are Key West’s own rendition of the ball falling on Time’s  Square. Three places for sure. Perhaps one more.

The Bourbon Street Pub drop will be crazy. Probably the best drop on the island. Sushi comes down in a red shoe. People yelling in the street.

Sloppy Joe’s has its own drop. A conch shell from the top of its building. For a couple of hours prior to midnight, a band plays on Sloppy’s roof. People in the street watching, dancing and raising a bit of hell.

Schooner Wharf is an exciting place to be, also. Schooner’s party is known as New Year’s Eve Madness. There will be a schooner docked nearby. A pirate ship for the evening. A wench will be dropped from the mast.

I understand the Ocean Key House Pier will also have a drop of some sort. I believe this year will be the first. Bound to be good.

What I enjoy most New Year’s Eve are the fireworks at the White Street Pier. Magnificent! The whole community comes out to watch. Many families. The fireworks can be seen as far away as Duval Street.

Yesterday was Sunday. A good day. However, things were not as anticipated. I was lazy once again.

I did my blog early morning. Then back to bed to watch Meet the Press. I had completed my research for next week’s KONK Life column the day before. Tax Bicycles? I wrote the article. When finished, I felt tired. Back to bed, this time for a nap.

I planned on going out in the evening. Hogfish. I did not want to battle the tourists downtown. My plans changed when I saw that Lawrence of Arabia was going to be shown on the Turner Classic Channel at 8. A great movie! Four hours long. I fell asleep four times during the movie. Probably viewed less than half of it. Such is life!

Since tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, I will not be airing my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. I doubt very many would be listening. I suspect I will be out also.

Enjoy your day!

WHAT A BASKETBALL GAME!

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Syracuse, my Syracuse! What a basketball game yesterday! Syracuse beat Villanova 78-62.

Both teams undefeated prior to the game. Syracuse ranked #2 and Villanova #8.

The game was a marvel! Villanova took an early lead. Syracuse was down 25-7. I thought…..oh, shit! Then Syracuse went on a 20-0 run and took the lead 27-25. Syracuse finally won by 18 points.

THIS is a good team! To come back from the pit of defeat and destroy the other team. Syracuse won by making shots from everywhere on the court. Outside, inside and from the foul line area. Syracuse’s defense was excellent once the team got beyond the 25-7 beginning.

It is the start. Teams are not even into league play yet. But after yesterday, the ACC teams better watch out. Syracuse is coming to town!

My yesterday began with a visit to Lisa to use her computer to do the blog. Afterwards, I went over to pick up my now virus free computer from Tim Reynolds. Fear not, the virus was not such that it affected any of your computers.

Did the Chart Room last night. JJ bartending. A gentleman.

Ted was there. I first met him two years ago. He is from upstate New York. Madison County to be exact. A neighbor of Oneida County  from whence I came.

Ted is a lawyer. He is Clerk to Judge DeStefano. The court sits in Wampsville. Many the case I tried there. The court room was unique. Circular. The judges excellent. My contemporaries have long since retired.

Ted comes down for about a week every year. We talked of the judges, past and present, the court room. Syracuse basketball and football, my book The World Upside down, and whatever.

Sean and Katherine came in. Sean joined Ted and I.

While at the Chart Room, four tourists came in looking for anything about Mel Fischer. The bar blew them out.

I had a craving for wings. Kelley’s wings. I walked over by way of Duval. Key West was packed. Every bar, every restaurant I went by was jammed full of people. Some standing waiting to be seated. Kelley’s was the same way. I have never seen so many people at Kelley’s. I had to sit at the inside bar.

On the way back to get my car, I stopped at Grunts. Packed inside and out!

The cash registers were ringing big time last night. Come January 2, they will be silent for about three weeks. That is the way it goes.

I am not going to do my blog talk radio show Tuesday evening at 9. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. It is New Years Eve. I doubt anyone would be listening. I may be out and about, also.

Enjoy your Sunday!

TAX BICYCLES?

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TAX BICYCLES? is the title of this week’s KONK Life column. An interesting subject. Taxes have been imposed in some communities already. The article will be especially interesting to Key West readers since Key West is a bicycling town.

The column is researched. I will write it later this afternoon and this evening.

My computer is fixed, but not in my hands. I will be picking it up after I finish this blog. I am presently at Lisa’s.

My yesterday started with the TV/internet show The Key West Lou Legal Hour. A multitude of sins were covered. The topic that seems to have garnered the most interest was the story of the Dallas VA Hospital that would not let local fourth graders deliver hand made Christmas cards to patients. The administrator said no Christmas cards containing Merry Christmas or God Bless You were permitted.

The administrator relied on a VA Handbook that established the rule. Some idiot in Washington apparently came up with what might be perceived as a political correctness item. I do not blame the administrator. I blame whoever in Washington came up with the idea. I wonder what the impact was on the fourth graders, what they thought, how the rejection was explained to them.

Then to Lisa’s to do yesterday’s blog.

I followed the blog up with an hour well spent at the Plantation Coffee House. Got to visit with Diane, enjoy a bagel, and read the morning newspapers.

I went to Don’s Place just before 6 last night to watch the Syracuse/Minnesota bowl game. Don advised that a group was going to Benihana at 8 for dinner. Would I join them? Of course.

I got to watch the first half of the football game. Syracuse was winning 7-0. I never got to watch the game further. While I was eating, someone passed by mentioning that Syracuse was down 3 points with 3 minutes to go.

I checked the game result  when I returned home. Syracuse won 21-17. Locked the win in with 1.5 minutes to go.

More Syracuse this afternoon. Syracuse/Villanova basketball at 2 on CBS. Should be a great game. Both teams undefeated. Syracuse ranked #2 and Villanova #8 nationally.

Dinner at Benihana was a lot of fun. There were 8 of us. Don, David, Keith, Jennifer, Clara, Hershel, Erika,and me. Stan was working.

Russ was at Don’s Place. I had not seen him in many months. He is now chef at Blue Heaven. We spoke of Big East basketball. We both agreed it was a shame Syracuse had left the league. Russ is a St. John’s fan.

A crowd at Don’s. Besides those already mentioned, Toni, Michael, Jeff, and Grant.

I go now to Tim Reynold’s to get my computer.

Enjoy your day