Another beautiful day in Key West!

I got up at the right moment this morning. The sun is shining brightly on the yellow MTV Real World house across the water. What a sight!

Lunch at MacDonald’s yesterday! Robert bought. With the money he received from the tooth fairy. He was proud and thrilled. I enjoyed the family’s company. But not a Sunday MacDonald’s lunch. I would have preferred eggs benedict at Harpoon Harrys.

Ally was a champ about the whole thing. It was Robert’s day. No sibling rivalry. At one point she elegantly congratulated her brother on the loss of his first tooth.

My cell phone was screwed up. I went over to the AT&T store after lunch. Took about an hour. They did what they could. I have had to run programs since returning home. Still have another to run. So far, so good. You need a PhD. to operate these phones!

Worth it, though! I am absolutely inppressed with all the things my i phone can do!

Sunday is definitely New York Tmes day. So it was to the Cofffee House. I sat, sipped and read. Alone. Quiet. Nice.

I did the Gardens last night. First time in a long time.

Love Kate Miano, what she has accomplished and what she continues to do with this famous Key West hotel.

Peter Diamond was singing. Terrific! My friend. Originally from Syracuse. For many years now a Key Wester.

Donna and Terri showed up. Terri of course was asked to sing. Thrilling!

Kate was wandering around. Ever playing the gracious hostess. What a lady!

I took Donna and Terri to dinner at the Yacht Club. My dear friends. My house guests. They came to visit for one week. I thought they had stayed three already. Turns out, as they reminded me, that they have been here four weeks.

They could stay four years as far as I am concerned! My friends! Always welcome. However we decided at dinner that henceforth my home will be known as Hotel Louis! Louis being pronounced in the French fashion as Louie!

The Keys Piano Bar was packed! Last night was its last night for six weeks. Closing down for the Key West slow season.

Fortunately, we had a table up front. Terri ws scheduled to sing. Being with a notable has its rewards!

Saw Mindy and Tonto. Been a while since we have run into each other. Tonto bartends at La Te Da. Mindy works for a mortgage broker. Love them both! Especially Mindy!

Saw Jean Thornton, also! One of the Golden Girls! She found gold and emeralds years ago while diving. Changed her life. We agreed to have dinner together some night this week.

And tons of other people. The place was packed.

There was a young female couple that had just returned from England. Were married there. Terri sang a song to them and to Donna that she sang at her own committment ceremony. It was late October in New York City. On the stage of the St. James theater where Terri was starring in Finian’s Rainbow. Terri cried while singing. Donna cried listening. A beautiful moment!

A nice Sunday! A Key West one!

Enjoy your day!

I just got home. It is midnight. I am wide awake. Figure I might as well do tomorrow morning’s blog now.

Lets see if it comes out any differently late at night instead of early morning.

The humidity is getting thick. Each day a bit more. Not a problem. But you are constantly aware it’s there.

Stayed in bed late. Then to Lucky Day for what might be described as brunch. Because of the time. Cuban toast and coffee.

Then to Lisa’s.

Everyone finally healthy.

Everyone there. Lisa, Corey, Cameron, Robert and Ally.

The grandkids and I watched some PGA. They also practiced their putting on the carpet. The Tiger Woods of tomorrow in the making!

My next stop was the Coffee House. A lot of people! My favorite chair was unavailable. Because of the humidity, skipped coffee. Drank water. Read the New York Times.

Then home to bed. Nap time. Watched a bit more of the PGA before dozing off. It is an open tournament. Any one of 10 players can win tomorrow. Tiger will not be among them.

Big night tonight/last night!

Started with the Chart Room.

Sean and Captain Peter at the bar. Katherine at the table chatting with some people. Michael bartending.

The conversation was extemely humorous. It is amazing how the mundane can make us laugh.

Sean reminded me of his telephone call earlier in the week. He had been out and about. There is a new bar on Caroline called The Porch. The bar features specialty beers. He asked if I had ever heard of Saranac. The bottle’s label said it was made by Matt’s Brewery in Utica, New York. Did I know of the brewery and Saranac? Of course! A big deal! A major employer! A respected family of German ancestry running the business!

A small world!

Lisa telephoed while I was at the Chart Room. Robert lost his tooth. His first tooth. She told me to go to my i phone. She had videoed me Robert showing his tooth. Robert was all excited. He feels the loss of his first baby tooth marks his entry into manhood. He said he was now big!

I dined at La Trattoria. Becha, my Becha! There with a hug and kiss as soon as she saw me. Love that women!

After dinner, I walked over to the Keys Piano Bar. Michael singing. Terrific! Terri was supposed to sing. However, neither Donna nor Terri showed up. So I left after an hour.

I was disappointed to not have heard Terri once more. She and Donna are now Broadway people and on different time schedules. Tenish is bed time for me. Not even there dinner time yet.

The door will be locked when they return in the wee hours of the morning!

On the way home, I opted to stop at Don’s Place. Glad I did. Don is back after a one month vacation somewhere up north.

I chatted for about an hour with Don, Dave and Russ. Good guys all!

Kurt was bartending.

There had been a birthday party earlier in the evening. Kurt dressed for the party. He bartended dressed. In ladies clothes! Female attire!

Kurt, I did not know! Ho ho!

I was shown a picture of Kurt bartending so attired. Actually, he looked pretty good! Kurt said he made more in tips during the hour he was dressed. He just might do it again!

Lovely Karen was there. Karen is David’s lady friend. I thought she was my friend. She never talked to me! Karen love, I feel slighted! No kiss, no hug, no nothing.

Tomorrow is Sunday. Enjoy your Sunday!

I already have a part of my Sunday scheduled. Robert is placing his tooth under his pillow tonight. The tooth fairy is going to visit and leave him a dollar. Robert telephoned me. He is taking me and his family to lunch at MacDonald’s. And he is paying the bill with his dollar!

Great radio show yesterday! Excellent response afterwards. Especially to the masque and Afgan woman topics.

Unfortunately, it was only radio yesterday. Ustream was not available. My apologies to my friends outside Cuba and the Florida keys who could not listen in. Hopefully what ever the problem was, it will be resolved by next week.

I hurried over to Lucky Day after the show for an early lunch. Cuban toast with melted cheese and tomato. Good food! Cuban food is good food! All food is good food! That is why I am always in trouble with my weight.

Read the Key West Citizen and some local weekly papers while at Lucky Day.

I spent most of the afternoon doing paper work. There truly is no rest for the wicked. It never ends.

Lisa telephoned. She was home sick. Robert was sick also. So I drove over.

Lisa and Robert were in bed together. Both with fevers. They looked cute lying there.

Marty and I met at Louie’s Backyard for drinks. Louie’s is becoming Marty’s new favorite place to drink. He says it’s the view! It is spectacular!

Dinner was at the Wine Galley at the Pier House. Larry Smith was playing. One of Key West’s premier musicians.

I had to leave early. My 1987 Mercedes was being driven down from New York. The driver was expected around 9:30.

The car arrived. I love my Mercedes! Twenty three years old. Only 105,000 miles. Has not been driven during the winter in over 10 years. Always garaged. Has not been driven at all in the 4 years since I retired and moved to Key West.

The Mercedes made the trip well. It was like an old friend was returning to my life. An old friend was.

I took the driver over to Hogfish for fish and chips. He loved the place!

Terri sings tonight! At the Keys Piano Bar. It is going to be a terrific evening!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

Lovely day in the makng. Quiet. Calm. Little breeze. Slow moving water.

Radio show today! The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

Just a couple of hours away. 10 am. KONK 1500 AM. Better yet, watch and listen via ustream. www.ustream.com. When the page opens, type KONK in the box and I will be there!

Great topics! Stimulating and informative!

I open with America’s newest hero, the Jet Blue flight attendant. Then Louis’ solution to the proposed mosque near the 9/11 World Trade Center site. Followed by some cautions regarding BP and the federal government’s position regarding the Gulf oil spill–too much joy too soon! Plus, a walk back in Key West history and a bride story, time to get out of Afghanistan, the debit card hold policy, California’s Prop 8, another walk back in history with George Washington and whiskey, Utah dumb weird laws, the Blagojevich jury and more.

Join me! Interesting and fun!

My house guests Donna and Terri are still here. They came for one week and are into their third. No problem. Good guests. Easy to live with. I just have to remember to keep the toilet seat down.

Terri has a green thumb. She loves working with shrubbery, plants and growing things. My grounds are beginning to look neat and tidy again. She sings here way around the outside of the house trimming here and there.

I met Marty last night at the Chart Room. Susan bartending. Che, Don and Valerie enjoying a drink. Good people all!

Valerie and her husband Clayton will soon be opening a wine bar on Duval. In the heart of Duval. They will be great hosts. Both have charming personalities. I wish them success!

Marty and I had dinner at the A&B Lobster House. Maine lobster! To die for!

Hannah was bartending. First time I met Hannah. She and Marty own boats. It was a boat conversation. The Dry Tortugas, Bimini and every where else. Heads became a topic. Who had one, who did not. How the problem was handled without. All while I am trying to enjoy my lobster.

I was tired after dinner. Too much boat traveling conversation. I told Marty I was heading home. He was on his way to the Keys Piano Bar. I thought Terri might be there singing a bit.

Have to shave and pretty up for the radio show.

Listen/watch, if you can.

Enjoy your day!

Late with the blog this morning. Sorry. Slept late. Then had to get the car to Sears for new tires. Long line. Just getting to the important in my life now. The blog.

A mixed day yesterday! Not bad, but not necessarily good at certain moments.

I got a flat tire. No spare. Never had the tire that blew last month replaced. Needed a new one.

Fortunately the flat occurred about 2 blocks from Lisa’s place of business. I walked over and got her car. Drove to my car. Took the damaged spare out of the trunk and drove over to Sears.

The tire was obviously filthy. That black stuff. My hands and nails looked like I worked for a living!

Waited while Sears mounted a new tire. Then drove back to where I had left my car. On Alberta Street, just off South. About 2 blocks from Louie’s Backyard.

Called the Audi repair service. Someone would be there in 45 minutes. Good luck! It was about 1 1/2 hours before some one appeared. The service only changes tires. Does not repair flats. That is why I had to do the preliminary work

No problem. I had bought some newspapers and sat in the car reading. And waiting. And when I finished the newspapers, I was still waiting.

Key West is a good town. A special place. The people exceptional.

A bunch of college kids walked by while I was waiting. You have a flat! Can we fix it for you? No thanks. I have some one coming.

Then a Diggin Key West truck parked across the street. A guy got out. You have a flat. Can I change it for you? He was Mark Harris. I had never met him before. Just a nice guy. Originally from North Carolina. He said we all have to help each other.

The Audi people finally came and the tire got changed.

I decided I would never get my nails clean. The black soot was imbeddded under the nails. I needed a maniucure anyhow. So it was off to Lee Nails to see Tammy. She said no problem. And there was none. My nails were shining clean after she finished.

Last night Marty and I hooked up with Kenya at the Chart Room. Jean and Sheila were there also. Susan bartrending. We had a good time!

This Kenya is a wonder! Turns out she was the Florida State Champion in 1983 while in high school. In the 100 yard butterfly swimming event. Then at the University of Nebraska, which she attended on a swimming scholarship, she was an All American as part of the relay team.

I can’t swim more than 30 feet!

We had dinner later at the Yacht Club. Lobster. It’s in season! So good!

I had not been out in a while. Decided to make a night of it. So it was off to the Keys Piano Bar. Glad I went. What a wonderful evening!

Michael was singing. Gave me goose bumps on occasion listening to him.

Captain Dan bartending. I had not seen him in a while. He came over and gave me a big hug.

I know Dan from his time at the Pier House. A big burly guy. A boater.

About 2 years ago, he left the Pier House to sail his boat to Puerto Rico. Alone. He never made it. A bad storm. Boat wrecked. He ended up on an island with just a few natives and no communication with the outside world. A touch of Robinson Crusoe!

Dan had a few broken bones. The natives healed him. Eventually a boat showed up and he got off the island.

Now he is back and healthy and working in Key West again. But not for long.

Next week he leaves for Puerto Rico again. Says he has to do it. I told him he was crazy.

I asked how long it would take. He did not know. Said it depended on the winds.

I must tell you something. If I was not involved in some business matters at the presnt time, I would join him. Sounds like a fun trip. Assuming we would survive!

Gina Masseratti was there. Last night he was Gino. I have never seen him as Gino. Only Gina. He really is Gino. Loves to dress. So is known as Gina.

Last night he was in male clothes.

He sang. Sings better as Gino than Gina.

He is in love. With what he described as his partner of 10 years. They are now engaged and planning on marrying. She was all excited.

It was a good time in every respect last night.

Enjoy your day!

Golf this morning.

But not for me.

Grandson Robert sick. I am babysitting.

I feel like a truck rolled over me!

I had difficulty sleeping last night.

Was up after midnight. Tried writing blog at that time. Computer would not work.

Just not my evening!

Had a great lunch yesterday. With the lovely Kenya I had met the evening before at Louie’s Backyard.

The place…..Hogfish!

Kenya is a most interesting person. A champion swimmer. Went to the University of Nebraska on a swimming scholarship. Skis. All over the west. Even Chile! Travels. World wide. Big time.

And a business woman to boot! A good mind!

Somehow we got into Howard Livingston. She had never heard him. I told her to hit Capt. Tony’s last night. Howard was playing. Capt. Tony’s birthday was being celebrated.

I could not go. Had to stay in. Things to do. Or I would have joined her.

Worked on friday’s radio show last night. One hour of radio time takes about 5 hours of preparation.

I have to hustle to get over to Robert so Corey and Lisa can go to work. Hope he’s not too sick. It bothers me when these kids get sick. Simple illnesses seem to knock them on their asses. Fortunately, they recover quickly and well.

Enjoy your day!

Kenya.

Lovely.

The country?

No, the woman.

Met her last night. At the outside bar at Louie’s Backyard.

Long blond hair. Mid 40s. Striking personality, though a bit on the timid side. Reserved might be a better word.

I was to meet Marty at Louie’s bar. He was there. She was there. They were already chatting.

I listened more than talked. At one point, Kenya stated that I appeared bored. To the contrary, the conversation between her and Marty was interesting and I was taking it all in.

Kenya is no stranger to Key West. She has vacationed here many times. So have her parents. They love Fantasy Fest and never miss it!

Kenya speaks of Key West in warm glowing terms. I sense her parents will probably retire here. They are into that pattern that Key West lovers follow.

The strange part of all this is that Kenya and her family live in Fort Lauderdale. In a very nice area from Marty’s perspective. Not the same living as Key West, however. As the Kelly family has discovered.

Kenya’s Dad is JJ Kelly. Mother is Dorothy. Dad is a Fort Lauderdale magnate of sorts. A very successful and well known business man. Everyone in the Fort Lauderdale area knows of him. He is into used buses, RVs, equipment, home auto supply stores, machine parts stores, storage, real estate and what have you. JJ Kelly!

Kenya is in the business also. Most of her time is spent with Cruise America RVs.

Kenya has a son. Michael. He learned to kite board here in Key West at the end of Smathers Beach. Kenya was concerned about the nude beach replacing the kite boarders. I told her to worry not. The issue is still on the table for discussion and did not appear to be moving rapidly.

Marty invited Kenya to join us for dinner. She said she already had eaten. At Hogfish. I knew at that moment this lady was someone special! She said she frequents Hogfish often. Just plain likes it.

So much for the Kelly family. Hope I get to meet Mom and Dad some time. Sound like my kind of people.

Rained big yesterday. Was raining a bit while Marty and I were at Louie’s Backyard. It is still raining this morning. Unusual for it to rain this long. True, it is the rainy season. However the rain generally last 5 minutes and it’s gone for 24 hours. This is steady. Like the rain cloud came yesterday and is sitting over our island refusing to move.

Marty and I decided to eat at La Trattoria. Always a great place!

Kathy was bartending. Such a nice person!

Becha hosting. The best! A hug and kiss for me.

Last night turned out to be the evening for striking women. There was another one! Marilyn. She was sitting across the bar from us. Actually she moved there so Marty and I could have two seats together.

Magnificent hair, again. Long and black. Swirled in the back at some time. Wore it long and swirled during the course of the evening. Changed her hair style while sitting at the bar. A statuesque woman. Bartends at Blue Heaven. This was her night off.

I left Marty at the bar. Fortunately, I had my rain gear. It was no problem walking through the pouring rain to my car and home.

As I left La Trattoria, I could hear Marty ordering another Manhattan.

Enjoy your day!

Movies are an American art form. Perhaps America’s finest.

A movie star died in the past hours. One of significant repute. An outstanding performer.

Patricia Neal.

I especially enjoyed her in The Fountainhead. To this day I am not sure whether it was her performance or Ayn Rand that made me feel that way.

She received an Oscar for Best Performance in Hud. She played a gutsy older woman to the younger Paul Newman.

In 1965, she suffered several strokes. She was only 39 at the time. Taught herself to talk and walk again. And returned to movie making. A big accomplishment!

Yesterday was Sunday. I did my usual thing in the morning. Stayed in bed watching the talk shows. Then it was up and out.

It was be good to Louis time. So I went over to Lee Nails on Flagler for a pedicure. Tammy did me, as usual.

While enjoying the pedicure, I was reading an old Vogue. Women’s places of business do not have men’s magazines.

There was a lengthy article in it about Robert Di Nero, Martin Scorcese and the making of Raging Bull. So interesting! So absorbing! I sat in the chair for at least a half hour after my pedicure was complete to finish reading the article.

The movie literally took years to agree to, prepare, do and recover from. Rememeber, Di Nero gained 60 pounds for the ending portions of the film. He took 6 months off and went to Italy. Ate his way through the restaurants to gain the weight. Then he returned and the picture was completed. Then the poor guy had to spend 6 months getting rid of the extra weight!

Di Nero won an Oscar for Best Actor for the film.

This is not movie day. It is just the way things occurred in the past 24 hours.

I had a quiet lunch at Lucky Day. Cuban toast actually. Still was concerned with my stomach. Drank water. Not even diet Pepsi.

Then to the Coffee House. Two hours spent reading the New York Times. The Sunday Times is a fix. Need it!

Still in a reading mood when I left the Coffee House. It was time for Borders.

I am into my third day of a new book. I like it! A winner! Read it! War by Sebastian Junger. It is about a small group of American soldiers in Afghanistan. They comprise a part of the 173 Airborne Brigade. The author spent 14 months with these soldiers. Living and joining them in their battles in the Korengal valley.

The book was a New York Times best seller. A documnetary was filmed by Junger and another. The documentary won an award at the recent Sundance Film Festivial.

The reason I became motivated to read the book was a show I saw on Morning Joe this past week. Junger was a guest. Everyone on the show had read or were reading War. Everyone was excited about the book. In fact, the show devoted a whole half hour to Junger’s interview.

I had to read the book! Glad I started it.

After some War reading time, I stopped at Lisa’s. My grandkids were excited to see me. We watched the PGA golf tournamnet together for about an hour. Robert and Ally are really into this golf thing!

Last night I hosted dinner for Donna and Terri at the Yacht Club. Marty joined us. He is back in town. It was a long feast. About 3 hours. We had a good time chatting about everything.

I went home after dinner. Donna and Terri went into town. I don’t know where Marty went.

Enjoy your day!

Lobster season is upon us!

Not just diving/fishing. Eating!

Key West is celebrating Lobsterfest this weekend. Everyone is selling lobsters! Prepared a 1,000 different ways.

Part of Duval was closed off Friday night and Saturday afternoon. As part of the celebration.

Friday night had to be terrific! My friend Howard Livingston and his Mile Marker 24 group singing from a band stand in front of Sloppy Joe’s.

Both friday night and yesterday afternoon, street stands selling lobster prepared in all kinds of manner.

For my friends outside Florida who might be unaware, Florida lobsters are not as you might imagine. They are different. They have no claws. As a Maine lobster would. The tail is everything. It is the meat from the tail that is prepared and consumed.

Also, the meat is not as sweet nor tender as a Maine lobster. Ergo the need to prepare/cook a Florida tail with some additional spice, oil or butter.

What ever way a Florida lobster is prepared, it is absolutely delicious when ready for consumption!

The best experience I ever had eating Florida lobster was about 10 years ago. Cousin Sergio took me out on his boat to dive. We went out about 10 miles. Snorkled and dove for lobsters. We caught what ever the law permitted.

Afterwards, Serge steered the boat close to a mangrove island. The water around the boat was about 3 feet deep.

Serge cooked the lobster tails on the back of the boat. Buried them in butter.

I was standing in the water along side the boat drinking a beer. Serge handed a tail over the side of the boat to me. Hot and dripping in butter. I ate it standing there in the water. What flavor! Delicious!

I ate several more the same way. When I had finished, I was a mess. Covered in greasy butter. No problem! I merely ducked down in the water and voila I was clean!

A memorable day.

A Key West day!

I never got to enjoy friday night or saturday afternoon of Lobsterfest weekend this year. My stomach was still off into yesterday. So except for a brief walk in Home Depot, I was home in bed all day.

Not bad though!

It was Errol Flynn day on the Turner Classic Movie channel. He did it all! From a swash buckling swordsman for England, Robin Hood, a WW I and II hero, conquering Burma, finding a cure for an incurable disease and what have you. A man’s hero! An interesting evening and day at the movies for me!

In between movies, I watched golf. Tiger Woods is in trouble! He appeared to want to complete the round as quickly as possible and get off the course.

I did not blame him.

Lisa and the family have been away for a few days. Got home last night at dinner time. She called. I got up and went over. But did not eat. Missed them all and wanted to see them.

Robert’s tooth is still loose. Has not fallen out yet. He is proud of it. Ran up to show it to me as soon as I arrived. He thinks he is man now. Claims he has some hair above his upper lip also. He told me he may have to shave soon. Six years old.

I went along with him.

Ally was thrilled to see me. She looked like she grew a couple of inches in a few days. She asked if it was ok if we did not watch golf. She was already into a kid’s movie.

Then back home to bed for me and more of Errol Flynn!

Enjoy your day!

I expressed a bit of anger yeserday on the radio show. I was pissed off!

Instead of people getting mad at me as might be anticipated, the opposite occurred. I came out a minor hero of sorts.

The issue I enunciated with emotion was not part of my prepared program. Rather it concerned an item I read on the front page of the Key West Citizen just before doing the show.

The article was entitled Senators Criticize Fort Jefferson.

The long and short of it involved Arizona’s Senator Mc Cain and Oklahoma’s Senator Coburn.

Obama’s stimulus package has $13 million set aside for renovation work in 2013 at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. The Fort and Dry Tortugas are part of the Key West tourist enviroment.

Mc Cain and Coburn were of the opinion the $13 million was a waste of money. Even though the facility is part of the National Park Service. Not enough people visit the location from their perspective. Only 59,000 last year.

These two great Senate minds described the expenditure as giving “…..taxpayers the blues.”

Stimulus monies were intended primarily to provide jobs! Work for the unemplyed! There are other reasons. Such as creating and sustaining economic growth. But jobs are the first reason for the monies being spent.

And we do need jobs in the keys!

All the curb replacements and sewer work in Key West this year payed for with stimulus dollars provided no income coming in as a result of the work. We merely repaired the old.

I used to have great respect for Mc Cain. A war hero. I admired him when he ran for President. But since he lost, he has become a changed personalty. He is running for reelection this year in Arizona and having a hard time of it from news reports. His positions vacilate. He is part of the NO! crowd in the Senate.

His heroic glorious image of yesterday is rapidly becoming tainted.

I said on the radio show in no uncertain terms that these two Senators should keep their noses out of Florida business! And I say it again here!

If these guys want to disrupt something that is good for the Florida keys’ local economy, then maybe someone should take a closer look at the monies being spent in Arizona and Oklahoma. I have to believe with Mc Cain running again this year that the stimulus monies and pork barrel spending are terrific. I know, Mc Cain says he takes no pork barrel monies. I have always questioned that statement when he made it. There has to be more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to these things.

I woke yesterday morning feeling ill. I was. Fever, upset stomach and what have you. A bug. Made it through the show, however.

Then it was home to bed for me. Stayed in bed all day and night. Ate nothing. Drank little. Feel better this morning. Actually feel good!

Glynn Archer School is in Key West. There is a large sculpture of a tiger on its front lawn. Very imposing!

First State Bank on the Boulevard has a sculpture of a manatee on its front lawn. Imposing, also!

Both sculptures were done by Key West artist George L. Carey.

Carey died yesterday. Sad. May he rest in peace.

Enjoy your day!