Good morning!

I am up early. Dark outside. Pitch black.

Radio show today. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 am. Listen in from Key Largo to Havana, Cuba on KONK 1500 AM radio. Better yet, watch and listen via ustream. www.ustream.com. A box will appear. Type KONK in it and I will appear!

Great subject matter to share with you on the radio show. Proposition 8, of course. Plus the Gulf oil spill and landfills, Harry Truman and this date in history, Elena Kagan’s favorable Senate vote, Washington, D.C. weird dumb laws, the proposed Muslim mosque near the 9/11 site, the rise of neo-nazism in Mongolia, an Australian sexual harassment case and more.

I need to walk on a more consistent basis. I am getting lazy and going without exercise. I have been using the humidity lately as an excuse. Just too hot!

So I moved into Home Depot yesterday morning. Walked the aisles for a half hour. At a brisk pace. Air conditioned.

Spent the afternoon fine tuning today’s radio show.

Last night was a long dinner with Donna and Terri at the Yacht Club. We talked much. We enjoy each other’s company immensely.

Terri has appeared in 10 Broadway shows thus far. A big deal! Her first was Roar of the Crowd. She was 16. Her most recent Chicago. What a career!

It was almost 10 by the time we finished dinner. We were the last table sitting.

Donna and Terri headed to the Keys Piano Bar. They were meeting Anne O’Shea for a drink. Anne is one of the Executive Producers of that great new movie The Kids Are All Right.

I headed home and to bed.

Enjoy your day! And don’t forget to listen/watch The Key West Lou Legal Hour!

Great golf yesterday!

The best I have played in 10 years!

Shot 100 even. Two months ago I was shooting 125.

Played with Larry and Aaron. Larry was back from his New York trip.

Larry and I played a money game. Larry shoots around 85. So he has to give me strokes. I won the first 9 holes of our match. Wow! So Larry said we had to reconfigure the strokes. I expected it. We did. I took less. It did make a bit of a difference. I only won 3 holes on the back side. He won 4. We tied the rest. But I did not care. I was playing better!

And won $5!

Why am I playing better? It is not that my skills have improved. It is my heart.

You will recall that back in October I was diagnosed with a heart problem. Cardiomyopathy.

My heart had weakened. The heart muscle had stretched. I was not pushing blood out fast enough. Ergo, I was lacking the strength to hit the golf ball far. The doctor told me how to correct my health and indirectly my golf game. Stop drinking, smoking and go on a diet. I stopped drinking and smoking immediately. I have done neither since October 29 when he admonished me. And I dieted off 30 pounds.

The doctor said I would notice a return of strength gradually. I have. That is why I am hitting the ball farther.

I love it! Good living has its rewards!

Soon I will be reporting that I have broken a 100! That will really be a WOW day!

The humidity was extremely heavy yesterday. My tee shirt was wet before I even teed off on the first hole. Tired me out. Not enough to bother my game, however.

After golf, I lunched at Hogfish and then returned home. I went straight to bed and slept the balance of the afternoon away. That is how tired I was from the humidity!

I opted to stay in last night. Worked on friday’s radio show. The show is developing. The topics timely and interesting. Like the Gulf oil spill and landfills, the Proposition 8 decision and same sex marriage, a bit of Key West history involving Cary Grant and Tony Curtis, Mongolian neo-nazism, the Muslim mosque near the 9/11 site and what Harry Truman was doing 65 years ago on August 6, 1945.

I have no plans for today. Lets see what develops. It is always interesting.

Enjoy your day!

Jasper John!

My conservative friend from New Jersy. Fellow Manhattan College graduate.

Jasper John wrote a comment yesterday. About recent newspaper reports regarding Key West and dengue fever. Dengue fever is a very bad malady which occurs from mosquitos.

The newspaper articles were nothing more than newspaper hype! Bad reporting at its best. Shades of the recent Sherron case.

Mosquitos are a problem in the keys. However, the lower keys have a Mosquito Control Board. Elected officials to run it. A huge staff and budget. Spray baby spray! Planes and trucks. Also periodic property visits to make sure no pools of water are around which might permit breeding.

The bottom line. Mosquitos are not a problem in the lower keys.

The newspaper article reported 1,000 cases of dengue fever last year. Gross misrepresentation. Actually there were only 5. Mild cases. Some one at the newspaper end obviously failed to properly do their homework before writing the article.

The bottom line is that not only is dengue fever not a concern, neither are mosquitos. My Italian blood is sweet. I was always getting bit in upstate New York. Rarely if ever in Key West.

My day was spent in doctor visits yesterday. The morning visit with my internest led me to a plastic surgeon in the afternoon. A growth. Had to be cut off. The novicane shot was worse than the slicing.

I did Chinese last night. It has been ages. I was out and had a desire for egg foo young. Which was accompanied by fried rice, an egg roll and egg drop soup.

Between doctor visits and later in the evening, I spent time sitting outside with my guests, Donna and Terri. I am enjoying their visit. So are they! Their one week visit is now into its second week. Neither they nor I are sure when they are leaving. Ok by me. They are good people!

The big thing for Terri last night was the sunset. An orange ball. A beauty as it disappeared below the horizon.

Spent some time yesterday preparing for friday’s radio show. Some interesting topics. Like the Gulf oil spill and its impact on garbage dumps, the rise of Mongolian neo-nazism and a pagan’s right to pray.

Golf this morning! Ho ho! Hope I do good!

Two good friends are away. Larry is up north. Marty back in Hallendale. Get your butts back guys! Miss you both!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

Another beautiful Key West day to wake up to! Sunshine. A light breeze. Magnificent colors.

A single word to describe Key West mornings is the word beauty. I am a very visual person. What I see here each morning is a wonder to the eyes!

Which reminds me of a phrase involving beauty. One we are all familiar with. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

From whence did it come? Its origin?

Some say old Greek writing. Others give credit to Shakespeare. Some say Benjamin Franklin.

Actually, the responsible party is an Irish authoress by the name of Margaret Wolfe Hungerford. A mouthful!

Margaret was born in Ireland. Some time in the mid 1800s. Her father was a minister.

Margaret was college educated. Very unusual for a woman at the time.

She wrote successfully in Ireland. Her second book made her. She became a popular writer with it. The book was written in 1878 and titled Molly Brown. It was in Molly Brown that Hungerford wrote the famous line…..beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Thereafter, Margaret wrote for the flourishing American market. It was the time of Irish immigration in the United States. She knew the people, their feeelings and aspirations. For some unknown reason, she did not write in the United Stats under the name Hungerford. Her writing name was The Duchess. She preferred to write anonymously.

Everything The Duchess wrote was swiftly purchased. Whether by way of novel or short story.

Returning to the beauty of Key West, the only thing that could destroy this beauty would be a hurricane.

We are into the hurricane sesason. Problems start popping up in August. September is the worst month.

So far, so good.

The weather reports tell us the fourth storm of this hurricane season has started off the coast of Africa. Most of the hurricanes coming this way start there. The presnt storm has just formed. It is moving swiftly. It is anticipated it will bend north before it reaches land here. Might brush Bermuda and then go out to sea.

We are all a bit anxious this time of the year. Understandably so.

I walked Duval around lunch time yesterday. Stopped into St. Paul’s Church on Duval. Joe Lowe plays either the organ or piano each day between noon and one. Sometimes classic, sometimes religious, sometimes Broadway tunes.

The Church is cool. The music relaxing. It is a good place to rest.

Yesterday was Broadway tune time! Big time! God and the Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and Oklahoma. Performed by organ. Beyond description.

I spent most of the afternoon into the early evening sitting outside by the pool with Terri. She spent most of the time sitting on the steps in the shallow end. Her body half in and half out of the water. Sipping on a cocktail. Smoking a cigarette. Working on her tan.

Terri is naturally black. Extremely so. However, she is not an African American. Rather part American Indian and part Brazilian.

We spoke much of the business aspect of Broadway. Terri is a Broadway star again. Her two recent successes have been Finian’s Rainbow and Chicago.

The business part of being a Broadway star is mind boggling. A maze! Yes, she has an agent. But even more is required. You have to constantly be aware, be on your guard. Terri feels fortunate that she now has Donna to look after this aspect of her career.

Terri is an artist. A musical actress can be thus described. She, too, is enthralled with the beauty of Key West. She constantly comments as she sits in my pool and on my deck of the wonderous beauty in every direction.

I am off to the doctor again this morning. Have to hustle.

Enjoy your day!

I am a creature of habit.

An example are Sundays. They always start the same. Lie in bed all morning and watch the TV talk shows. Meet the Press and the like. I am a political freak at heart.

By the time I was out of bed yesterday, it was after 12 noon. I headed out to Harpoon Harrys for Sunday fare. An omelet. Made with cream cheese. A first. Delicious.

Also bought the New York Times while I was there. Rarely do I buy a newspaper. Harpoon Harrys had none for free yesterday morning. I think the earlier customers took the free ones home!

Cost me $6! Expensive!

But pure pleasure. I sat at Harpoon Harrys about 2 hours browsing through the paper.

My house guests have finally locked into Key West time. Donna and Terri have been here a week. They came in like a tornado. That New York speed thing. They are finally moving at a reduced speed. A crawl. Second day in a row I have noticed it.

They do not want to go anywhere. Both are content to sit outside next to the water by day and by night. I tend to leave them alone. But when together, we are having some interesting conversations.

Donna has high blood pressure. Just diagnosed. She is under the care of a Key West doctor while here for it. Neither have the time to doctor in New York. Both are concerned about Donna’s high blood pressure. Worry not, I told them! I have been afflicted for 40 years. The doctor will get you on the right pill and you will be ok. However, some life alterations are in order. Less drinking. Cut out smoking. Stop getting hyped. Etc. Listen to me preach! Nothing worse than a reformed drinker and smoker!

Watched Mad Men last night. A terrific show! Just like things were in the 1960s. Love it! Those were the years when I was starting my law practice.

The Gulf oil spill is bothering me again. Beware of BP and the federal government with their recent comments that the surface oil is dissipating and less atention to the problem will be required. No one is presently talking about those two large plumes under water. My recollection is that one was 25 miles long by 10 miles wide.

The problem is no one knows where these plumes have gone. They will reappear. Perhaps to cause havoc.

Mark my words. An additional bad something will develop as a result of the oil spill and these plumes. BP will say…..Gee whiz…..not really our problem…..things were better…..must be something else that caused them…..even the federal government said things were better back when.

It never fails! I have seen it occur too many times before in my life work. Remember, I was an enviromental attorney.

Took my monthly Boniva pill before starting today’s blog. I have osteoporosis. My doctor has had me on this woman ‘s pill for 3 years. Plus two calcium tablets daily.

It is a familly problem. Hereditary.

In the lat 4 years, I have lost 2 inches in height. For real! And I am slouching more. My Aunt Mary who recently passed on at 101 shrunk quite a bit. Got down to under 5 feet. My 96 year old Dad has lost inches and is significantly bent over.

Hope the monthly pill works! If it doesn’t, I have a good idea how I am going to look in a few years.

Enjoy your day!

Another lovely day in Key West! The weather is soooo good! The sun is shining on my neighbors’ homes across the water. A yellow one and light green one. Great to see!

God is good!

My day time was well spent yesterday.

First, a manicure. At Lee Nails on Fogarty. Lovely Tammy an owner and my manicurist. Sometimes when I am there, the place is packed. Other times, it is dead. Yesterday I was the only customer.

Then I picked up the grandkids. Robert and Ally. We were off to the golf course.

Since they took their first formal lessons a couple of weeks ago, Robert and Ally have become official members of the golf course. Yesterday was the first day we were to play together. Previously, we had just practice putted.

They were excited. More anxious to ride in the golf cart than actually play golf. To be expected at ages 6 and 5.

We only played two holes. That is what I had plannned. Took 2 hours.

The golf course is empty aftrernoons in the summer. No one in front or behind us.

I hit first off the tee to give them some thing to strive for. I was afraid I would hit a lousy shot. I did not. They were duly impressed.

We had a deal. Ten shots a piece and then we pick up. This was short of the green. We would then go to the green and they could putt as long as it took to get the ball in the hole.

It went well. They did well. Taking their ages and experience into consideration. Primarily whiffs and some dug up turf. Though each of them did hit the ball up in the air a few times.

Ally was big on rules. No talking while hitting. She kept chastising her brother for talking.

I let each of them drive the cart a bit. Sat them on my lap. Their feet could not reach the pedals. They steered. I did the feet thing. The high light of the day for each of them!

They were both exhausted at the end of two holes. And properly so. We rested up in the restaurant drinking diet Pepsi and eating hot dogs.

Last night turned out to be an exceptional one for me.

I started at the Chart Room. Captain Peter and me. Then a couple who are in the Chart Room often. Their names escape me. He is a retired dentist. They have a home here in Key West, their primary home in Miami and another on the shore in Connecticut. The husband turned 75 July 4. I turned 75 July 6. So we had much in common.

The conversation got around to Club Meds. I did not know Club Meds were still in business.

Many many years ago I did three. This couple have been doing them for years. All over the world. As recently as 3 weeks ago. They took their children and grandchildren, 11 in all, to a Club Med to celebrate the husband’s 75th birthday.

Turns out Club Meds have become family vacation spots.

They were not when I went. They agreed. I shared with them my first experience on a topless beach at the Martinique Club Med. I did not know the beach was topless. I walked out and saw a 1,000 breasts! It was a cultural shock!

Then it was to the Sports Page Bar for a sandwich and newspaper reading. Robert bartending. Chris who usually bartends had a night off. Where was she? At the other end of the bar having a sandwich. On her night off, she was back to her place of work! Not good!

Chris came over and we chatted for a while. She was all prettied up for a night on the town. She said she would be hitting Duval later.

Robert came over and asked if we would like a couple of shots of Tequila. Six months ago, yes! Now, no! How sad!

The Miami Herald was interesting. The article regarding Key West hurricanes and booze consumption was in the paper. The same article that had been in the Sacramento Bee the day before. With my quote again.

Later when I got home, I brought the article up on the internet. There were a couple of pictures accompanying the internet article. I was in one of them. Sitting at the bar in the Chart Room.

I received a lot of e mails in the last 24 hours on the article. People think drinking and hurricanes are a problem. No problem! Just another example of media hype! Peope are too busy during an actual hurricane to get pollutted. Their primary concern is protecting themselves and their property from harm.

I was home early. Dark already, however. And there were my house guests, Donna and Terri, seated out on the deck. They never went out. Decided to eat in and enjoy the solitude of the night by the water.

Donna had spent the day in bed resting. She came to Key West with a terrible cough and congestion. She is under doctor’s care here. Getting better, but still tired.

Terri said she was outside for 4 hours during the afternoon. In the pool and laying around it. She keeps working on her tan.

I find her tan thing humorous. Terri is a black person. Very black. Ain’t no question regarding her ethnticity!

Yet she is always sun bathing! Always talking about working on her tan!

It was dark. I asked why they did not have the lights on. They did not want them. Said it was better with no lights.

They were comfortably slouched in chairs looking up at the stars. It was a clear night. They were commenting on the constellations.

They lucked out. There was a shooting star! Terri saw it and went crazy. A first for her!

I spent a couple of hours sitting out there with them. They said this was impossible to experience in New York City…..to just calmly sit and look up at the stars.

Such was my day. Such was my evening. A good one in every respect.

Today is Sunday. Enjoy your Sunday!

It’s 9 o’clock in the morning!

I just got up!

Partied with my house guests Donna and Terri last night!

An exciting evening! Enjoyed myself tremendously!

We went to the movies. Not just an ordinary movie. A special one.

The opening night in Key West…..the debut of….. The Kids Are All Right. At the Tropic Cinema Theater.

The movie is about a married lesbian couple. Played extremely well by Julianne Moore and Annette Bening. And their two teen age children. Thrown in for good measure is the recently discovered sperm donor for the kids.

I went to watch a movie about a married lesbian couple with a married lesbian couple. I am really into this same sex marriage thing!

One terrific movie! Humorous on occasion. Heavy on occasion. I had tears in my eyes at the end of the film.

See it!

There was an opening night gala at the Tropic Cinema. A champagne party to start. Then the film.

The movie has a special connection with Key West. One of the Executive Producers is Anne O’Shea. Anne lives in Key West with her husband Brian.

Donna and Terri are close friends with Anne and Brian. Anne and Brian have seen Terri in New York in her two most recent Broadway triumphs.

We got the royal treatment last night. Because of that relationship. Passes. No waiting in line. A special escort through a side door into the theater. We were the first ones inside. Choice of seats.

A movie critic I am not. A viewer I am. Big time! I know whatI like and what I think is good. This is a good movie! The acting in the two lead roles is special. I would not be surprised if either Moore or Bening receive an Academy Award nomination.

We went out after the movie. Nothing special. Took a walk over to Kelley’s. Ate at the outside bar. And talked. And talked. And talked. Three friends enjoying themselves.

A good radio show yesterday morning! Excellent feed back afterwards. The Catholic Church commentary was a big hit. Also the Dr. Samuel Mudd and Arlington National Cemetary bits.

I did lunch at Goldman’s. The only for real Jewish type deli in Key West. Hot pastrami on rye with russian dressing. I know. What happened to watching the weight!

Then some house keeping duties. Groceries. The company eat. Needed some drug refills at Walreens, also.

You will recall I mentioned being interviewed by a reporter from the Miami Herald last friday while I was at the Chart Room. She was in Key West writing a story on our local county law that gives the authorities the power to prohibit the sale of alcohol duiring a hurricane. The power has only been invoked once. During a 1998 hurricane.

I have been reading the Miami Herald daily since the interview. No article.

This morning I found a comment from Sheila on yesterday’s blog that I was mentioned in the Sacramento Bee newspaper. Sacramento, California. Turns out the Sacramento Bee and the Miami Herald are both part of the same chain.

The article was by Rebecca Huval, the young lady who interviewed me. It was titled “No lights, No Air-Conditioning, No Booze?”

My quote for posterity…..”People act responsibly during hurricanes and the government doesn’t need to tell us how to save our asses.” True.

I am sitting outside under my tiki hut writing today’s blog. Another magnificent Key West day. Sun bright. Just a sprinkle of white clouds against a very blue sky. A slight breeze. The water equally blue and moving along.

Enjoy your day!

I am up early this morning. Still dark outside. Black.

I made the coffee and sat outside a bit. A strange morning. No breeze. Absolutely none. The water is not moving. Looks like a mirror. The palm trees are silent. Just standing there. Not a branch moving.

Radio show this morning! The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Try to listen in. 10 am. KONK 1500 AM radio from Key Largo to Havana, Cuba. Watch and listen world wide on ustream. www.ustream.com. When the site opens up, type KONK in the appropriate box. There I will be!

Stimulating comments this morning on the radio show. The court decision in the Arizona immigration law case, of course. Heads the list of topics. A bit on the Catholic church and female priests and priests marrying. Controversial isues.

Also, Arlington National Cemetery, the Duck Boat case’s resurrection, a same sex marriage update, some Pat Paulsen humor, the Gulf oil spill and more.

Got my haircut yesterday morning. Lori was extremely busy. Her last day before her vacation. She is driving north to New York making several stops along the way. Enjoy the trip, Lori!

After the haircut, visited the Coffee House. Jane was there. My lady friend who is always dressed in flowing white. She was engrossed on her cell phone. I tapped her shoulder and nodded a hello. She continued on the phone. When she finished, she hurried out, hopped on her bike and was gone. Without even a hello in return. She must have had something on her mind. Not like Jane at all.

Lunch was at Hogfish. Read the newspapers. I enjoy the atmosphere at Hogfish. Different. Quiet. Another world.

Home after lunch. Decided to swim a bit. Swim I did not. Just floated in the pool with a noodle under my arms.

From my position in the pool, I could see the boats going in and out. It was the second and last day of the mini lobster season.

I was antsy. Needed something to do. Decided to paint. I have not done so in months.

Set myself up on the deck. Easel, canvas and all. Acrylics. Did a quick painting (like two hours) of the many boats sitting on the horizon lobster diving. The finished product was not that good. But I felt good. It will sit in the closet with my other not so good works of art.

Stayed in last night. Cooked a bit of pasta. Heated sauce from a bottle of sauce I had purchased. Some cheese on top. A good meal!

The only thing I dislike about cooking in is the cleanup. Last night I had 2 pots and a calendar to wash, in addition to the dishes. The dishwasher was too full for the pots and calendar.

The black outside has now turned to gray. It is easier to see. The water remains still. The palm trees quiet.

Enjoy your day! Listen to my radio show, if you can!

There is excitement in the air! Something is happening!

It is the two day mini lobster season!

Yesterday morning it was the overloaded boats going out to dive. Last night it was Duval Street. Full of people. Many families.

The purpose of mini lobster sesason is to give ordinary people a chance to dive for lobsters before the commercial fishermen go at it. The offiicial season starts August 1. That is when the the men who fish lobsters for pay will be setting and pulling their traps..

Tom of Tom and Cindy of Iowa fame wrote me yesterday. I had mentionbed the Iowa 6 day bike race in yesterday’s blog. Tom corrected and updated me.

I was wrong as to the length of the race. It is 7, not 6 days. The short name for the race is RAGBRAI. 50,000 people come to Iowa for the event. Not all race, of course. Support staff is required for the racers. And then there are those who just visit to watch and party. Tom says the partying each night is big!

The race basically goes from the western part of Iowa to the east. Each biker dips the front tire of his bike in the Missouri River in the west at the start of the race. One week later each biker dips the rear wheel of his bike in the Mississippi River to the east signifying the end of the race.

An interesting accomplishment completing the race!

Golf yesterday morning.

Played with Aaron and Yankee Jack. Yankee and I played a money game. I whipped him good! Even though I lost 3 of the last 4 holes. Won $10!

The humidity was an abomination! The worst of the summer yesterday! My tee shirt was soaking wet before I even teed off for the first hole.

Tired me out big time. After golf, I grabbed a quick Cuban sandwich at Lucky Day. Then to home and bed for the afternoon. I was wiped out!

Last night was relativly quiet. Spent a little time at the Chart Room. Then dinner at the bar at Outback while reading a couple of newspapers.

This morning is haircut time!

Some one recently observed that I am always getting a haircut. I thought about the comment. It is true. My hair is extremely short. The little I have left. It seems to grow faster. Really does not. Just looks sloppy when it does grow a bit. Ergo, the need for a haircut on a more frequent basis.

I don ‘t care. It is a good excuse to visit with Lori.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour tomorrow morning. KONK radio at 1500 AM. At 10 am. Ustreamed world wide also. www.ustream.com. When the screen comes up, just type KONK in the appropriate box.

The show will cover a multitude of sins. Topics include a recent Catholic Church proclamation regarding female priests, broadcasters and free speech, Duck Boat owners back in court against Key West, the Gulf oil spill, the court decision in the Arizona immigration case, the lobster mini season, New Mexico weird dumb laws, a same sex marriage update, Pat Paulsen and Indian humor, the weird lawsuit of the week arising in Germany, a trip down an historical lane with Samuel Alexander Mudd and more.

Listen in! The show will be interesting and fun!

Enjoy your day!

The mini lobster season is upon us! It starts today and ends tomorrow.

The boats are already running by my home. All sizes. Filled to the brim with people. Even kids. The limit is six lobsters per person. So every body on board counts.

I walked out on the deck. I can see way out into the ocean. There are already a ton of boats sitting on the horizon.

It is a festive time! I have participated some years. Always had a good time.

This morning however I would rather play golf. And that is what I shall be doing shortly with Yankee Jack and Aaron.

Yesterday morning started early with blood work. Fasting blood work.

Afterwards I was hungry. Figured why not have a big breakfast!

It was Harpoon Harrys and pancakes. A huge pile. Lots of butter. And even extra syrup. Harpoons heats the syrup. So good!

When breakfast was done, I headed over to the Coffee House to read the New York Times. I kept nodding. Could not keep my eyes open. Wanted to sleep.

Crazy!

So I left.

Went to Borders. Tried reading a book. Same result.

Too much to handle. I went home to bed and slept for 3 hours. I think I had too many carbs. Between the pancakes and syrup, I was knocked out!

I spent the afternoon at home working on friday’s radio show.

One segment of the show will be a commentary on the Catholic Church and its recent proclamation on July 15, 2010 making the ordination of women as priests a grave crime under Canon Law. Described in Latin as a delicta graviora. The Church placed female ordination in the same category of wrongdoing as the sexual abuse of children by priests.

My evening started at the Chart Room. Very few people. Michael bartending. Don from State Bank there. And two lovely ladies. Ruth and Linda.

Ruth and Linda afre two middle aged girl friends who get together once a year for a trip somewhere. This year Key West. Both are retired school teachers. Both very attractive. Both charming.

Ruth is from Safety Harbor. Somewhere up north in Florida. Once widowed, once divorced.

Linda is from Naples. Still married. She and her husband are long distance bicycle riders. They have done Miami to Marathon. Her husband is presently in Iowa participating in a 6 day bike ride. His 26th consecutive year doing it. The race is called the Registered Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa.

I did not know there were enough miles to do a 6 day bike race in Iowa. Linda told me the route is up and down the state and cross wise.

The ladies were staying at the Pier House. A good place to stay. They had hung out at Sloppy Joe’s the night before. Were uncertain what haunt they would visit last night.

Nice people. They leave today. Hope our paths cross again if and when they return to Key West.

I walked over to the Spots Page Bar for dinner. It was good for the Sports Page that I did. I was the only customer for a while!

I enjoyed my sandwich and conversation with the bartender Kristin.

The first time I met Kristin I had an instant dislike for her. It was during basketball season. I ran in. The bar was packed. I elbowed my way to the bar and asked rather abruptly what TV set for the Syracuse game. She gave me a dirty look that said slow down buddy. And walked away!

We have become friends. Even though I thought she was a bitch and she thought I was an ass when we first met.

She had all the time in the world to talk with me last night. I was her only customer! I received top shelf service. She said the cook was thrilled that I had come in. He had someone to cook for!

Then it was home to bed.

I had an e mail from my friend Anna this morning. She is in Greece. Has been there living on a boat for the whole month of July. She does it every summer.

She wrote she was off the island of Ikaria. Ikaria is locatd on the Ikarian Sea ironically. It is the place in Greek mythology where Icarius went down into the sea.

Icarius was escaping from the island of Crete. His father had made him wings of wax. Icarius was to fly away on those wings. His father warned him to stay away from the sun.

Icarius was having such a good time flying, he failed to heed his father’s warning. He flew too close to the sun. The sun melted his wings. Icarius crashed into the sea and drowned.

The line of boats going out this morning to dive for lobsters is endless. Reminds me of the old movie Mrs. Minerva with Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson. I watched it for the 100th time the other night on the Turner Classic Channel. A World War II movie. Part of it involved the fleet of private boats of all sizes that left England and crossed the English Channel to save the British soldiers stranded on the beach at Dunkirk. A virtual armada. That is how it looks this morning!

The boats this morning also bring to mind another movie. One of more recent vintage. Jaws. The boats are overloaded with people. Just like the boats going out to get the shark in Jaws.

Time to get ready for golf.

Enjoy your day!