Yesterday was a weird one! One of those days where everything seemed a bit out of whack.

My radio show was scheduled for 10 in the morning. I pulled out of the garage at 9:30 for the 15 minute drive to the station. Car backed out strangely. I had a flat!

I telephoned Lisa at work in Key West. Need a ride! Ok! She rushed out to get me.

On the way into Key West there was a police car behind us all the way on US 1. Lisa decided to take Flagler when she hit Key West. The police car followed us. It was as if the Officer knew we wanted to speed.

I got to the radio station with 2 minutes to spare. Rushed in, put on the head phones and got ready.

Six minutes into the Key West Lou Legal Hour, station owner Guy deBoer came running in. You are not on the air! I forgot to press the button so everyone could hear me!

So I had to apologize and start all over. What the hell! I told everyone about my flat, rushing and what have you!

In spite of its tardy beginning, I believe yesterdy’s radio show was the best ever. The topics were fresh, today and hit home.

Comments afterward supported my thinking.

I talked first about the economy. Unquestionably a problem. I started with Thomas Paine’s “…These are the times that try men’s souls.” Talked about Wall Street vs. Main Street. Threw in advice my grandfather used to give me to the effect that “…when there are money problems, love and happiness go out the window.”

Some other topics found interesting included the dumb lawsuit of the week. It involved a woman in Brazil in 2005 who sued her lover for failing to give her an orgasm. The Judge properly threw the case out of court.

I talked about the death by stoning penalty imposed on a woman in Iran for having commmitted adultery and the burqa ban in France.

And more. Thanks for listening and watching.

After the show, Larry visited the studio. Larry, Guy, Jenna and I talked about the previous night’s variety show at Bottle Cap. It was a good discussion. We challanged ourselves, were critical of various aspects of the show and so forth. Good will come from the meeting. We go live for the first time on wednesday August 18 at 9 pm. Live from the Bottle Cap. And will continue each week at that time and place.

This week celebrates Mel Fisher Days.

Mel Fisher discovered the Atochia 25 years ago with all its gold and jewels. Changed his life and many other lives. We are talking hundreds of millions of dollars.

The 200 block of Duval was cordoned off. Games, drinks and eats. Lots of people. A stage at one end in front of Sloppy Joe’s. It was party time!

I got there around 7. I was to meet the family. Found them sitting on a curb across from Sloppy Joe’s. They had already been there an hour.

I decided to give Lisa and Corey a break. I took Robert and Ally and we walked the area. One in each hand.

It was fun to be with them! They found the sights exciting! It was discovery time for them.

There was a pirate. With a parrot on his shoulder. And a real peg leg. Robert knew he was not not for real. Ally thought he was. She was pulling back on my hand.

Then there was Uncle Sam on stilts. He stood about 8 feet tall. Both grandkids were impressed. They could not comprehend my explanation regarding the stilts. They were hidden under his pant legs.

The best was a show in front of the Bull. A woman sitting on top of a huge barrel of water. In her bathing suit, of course. The idea was to throw balls and hit a huge black button. That would cause the woman to fall into the water.

Robert and Ally understood the concept. We waited like forever. Really about 15 minutes. No one could hit the black button so we never saw the woman take a bath.

My friend Howard Livingston was performing on the street stage. We worked our way up front to watch him. What a talent! From Chicago industrialist to premier beachcomer entertainer!

I had it by that time. Gave the grandkids back to their parents and left.

I went over to the Chart Room. A disaster! It was closed! Sign on the door said closed for the evening.

I have never known the Chart Room to be closed! A first! Turned out whoever was to bartend had called in sick and no one could be found to help.

I felt like I had nothing to do. No friends. No place to be. What was I to do? Where was I to go?

I ended up at the Sports Page Bar having a sandwich and reading the newspapers.

Robert was bartending. A nice guy. About 50. We have become friends over the past several months. Robert now lives with Kurt in Key Haven. I live in Key Haven also.

I told Robert he looked thinner. He was. About 20 pounds. Said it happened since he moved in with Kurt. Robert rides his bike to work and back each day.

Big!

Key Haven is 2.5 miles outside of Key West. Then it is another 2.5 miles to the Sports Page Bar. That is 5 miles. Each way. Every day.

Maybe I should give up my car and start riding a bike!

On the way home I decided to stop into Publix. The cupboard was bare again. Really bare. I was down to one huge tomato and a loaf of whole wheat bread the past 3 days. My lunch each day was a tomato sandwich.

Love grocery shopping here in Key West! Never did it in my other life. Would not be seen dead in a super market!

Grocery shopping in the keys is a social thing. I see my friends. Make new friends.

I feel a need to pontificate a bit. I may offend some. Such is life. We all have our own opinions and should feel free to express them. We can still disagree and remain friends.

These wars we are in take too long and are too costly.

We should never have invaded Irag. Afghanistan is now our longest war. Ten years.

Lives and money are being wasted.

No one, including the United States, is ever going to tame Afghanistan. These are tribal peoples fighting from mountain caves. They bankrupted the Russians. Will do it to us also if we continue too long. We have already contiunued too long from my perspective.

We do not fight wars as we used to. My belief is that the people of a nation as well as their armies and leaders must suffer. If a people support a despot, then inflict death, injury and damage upon them also. This being careful not to injure the citizenry does not make sense to me. It is the people of a nation that put their leaders in office and/or support them. They should pay as well and also be placed in a frame of mind where they will seek the downfall of their despotic leaders.

That is how World War II was fought. Only after Truman gave a go to the atomic bomb and destroyed two cities and their populations, did the Japanese surrender. And my recollection of Germany at the end of the war reflected a totally destroyed nation and people.

Our enemies are not as thoughtful as us. Look what they did on 9/11. Three thousand dead!

I am all for getting Bin Laden. Do it covertly. What ever happened to a CIA type involvement that quietly goes into a country in the dead of night and kills an enemy?

Which brings me to a final point.

Yesterday’s USA Today had an article on Army suicides. Our Army. The U.S. Army.

Thirty two American soldiers committed suicide in the month of June. The highest number ever! And that made for a total of 65 for the year so far.

Our guys are killing themselves!

Probably because we keep sending them back to the fighting. Many are doing their 3rd and 4th tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

How much can they be expected to take?

I was surprised to read also that this is an ongoing problem. So much so that the Army has an Army Suicide Prevention Task Force headed up by a Colonel.

All food for thought.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

The rainy season is upon us. It has rained off and on the past few days. Looks like it is going to rain today. After a while the rain sets into a pattern,. It rains for 5 minutes every day at 1 in the afternoon.

Last night was a blast! Different! We did a test run of the new Larry Smith variety show. When the loose ends are tied together, it will be featured on KONK 1500 AM and ustreamed also.

The show will emenate from the Bottle Cap. A perfect setting.

When I arrived about an hour before the show, the place was in turmoil. Wires hanging all over the place. People moving things around on the stage. Turmoil! Organized, however.

By 9 everything was in place and the show began.

All in all, I thought it was pretty good. Needs more work. But that was the purpose of last night’s run through. To show us the weak spots.

A big cast. Larry, Jenna, Gigi, Alex, Dr. Covan, Clayton, Adare, Kathleen, Christine, Mary and I can’t recall who else. Probably left someone out. Oh yes, me!

The singing was terrific. Over the Rainbow, Drive me Daddy, Go Lassie Go and Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace had to be the hit of the evening!

I did some weird laws of Florida and discussed the history behind Amazing Grace.

The show is off and running!

Carmello runs a great venue. Bottle Cap. I will be stoppoing there occasionally from now on.

Jill Jarvis came up to me after the show. A lovely young lady. Asked if I were Key West Lou. Yes, I am.

Turns out Jill is a KONK 1500 groupie from Minneapolis. Listens to the show over the internet. Reads my blog daily and listens to the Legal Hour also.

Jill is at the tail end of a two week vacation. Plans on returning. Works at group homes for the mentally disabled back in Minneapolis.

Also met Pamela Newton. Charming. Interesting. A psychiatric nurse here in Key West. Pamela has a sense of humor. She did an impromtu skit with our psychologist friend, Dr. Fred Covan.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour this morning on radio! Listen in! At 10 am. KONK 1500 AM. Watch and listen worldwide at www.ustream.com. Bring up the site and type in KONK. and there I will be!

A great show this morning! Covers a multitude of world sins! One of the most interesting shows I will have done!

Rita from South Africa e mailed me this morning. Wished me good luck with today’s radio show. Thank you, Rita.

Mel Fisher Museum is celebrating the discovery of the Atochia 25 years ago. A big weekend!

Son in law Corey is Director of Archeology at Mel Fisher.

Tonight the streets around Sloppy Joe’s will be blocked off. There will be a street celebration. Howard Livingston will be peforming. My grandkids Robbert and Ally will be there. And daughter Lisa. And so will Poppa!

Come out and have fun with us!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

It is around 8 in the morning. I am sitting on my deck over looking the water while doing the blog this morning.

God is good!

Radio show tomorrow morning. The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

I have been unavailable the past two weeks. My shows have been reruns. Tomorrow I am back live.

Listen in! Watch! A great show!

Going to discuss things like the failure of the bare breast confrontation in Key West, Illinois new law requiring testing of all rape kits, restrictions on the right to pray in the military, the delayed stoning of an Iranian woman, Dr. Mudd revisited, a decision by Great Britain providing asylum for gay people facing prosecution in their home countries, a federal court decision protecting free speech, the first Guantanamo detainee to face trial in a U.S. civilian court, a gay mariage litigation update, France’s burqa ban, legislation saving Wall Street while Main Street is dying, and more. The more of course includes the weird dumb laws of a particular state and the weird dumb lawsuit of the week.

Much on the plate! A lot to be discussed. A swift moving hard hitting program.

Listen in at KONK 1500 AM radio. Watch and listen on the internet world wide at http://www.ustream.com/. Just go to ustream and type in KONK.

Golf was terrific yesterday! I am killing the ball! Never have I hit it better. Even my pitch shots to the green. Putting still a problem. However it was better yesterday.

I played with Larry and Yankee Jack. I was the big winner. All of $2! Cost me $7 for drinks. I could care less.

We ran into a scramble tournament and were delayed. So we replayed 2 holes. Fritz joined us for those two holes. Fritz plays and sings evenings at the Ocean Key Pier at sunset. He is an excellent golfer. Shoots in the 70s.

The conversation centered on Evan. Evan is an eight grader here in Key West. He also is an extremely fine golfer. Probably has a professional future. But he is still young. About 13 years old.

He played with Fritz the other day. Evan bogeyed the first hole and ended up shooting a 67. That’s WOW golf!

Larry said he used to play with Evan a couple of years ago. Larry generally shoots in the 80s. Evan would give Larry a stroke a hole and beat him.

The Tiger Woods of tomorrow lives in Key West!

I stopped in the Chart Room last night. I was the only customer. Just me and Susan. Susan is the new bartender. She has been there about two months.

Susan is from South Carolina. A charming individual. She came down to Key West for 2 nights New Years Eve. Was so impressed with the island, she stayed two weeks. Then went home, closed down her life there and returned to Key West.

Welcome Susan! You are a pleasant addition to our island!

I dined alone last night. At the bar at Outback. It was quiet. Read the papers. Greg and Kristen working.

Greg is a good guy. We have become friends. He was also working lunches at the Shrimp Shack on Stock Island. He sadly advised me the Shrimp Shack has closed. Maybe for good. I thought perhaps just for the summer. Turns out the fresh fish store in front moved across the bay. The Shrimp Shack was not part of the retail store. Ergo, it had to close.

A good eating place down the tubes.

Lisa telephoned last night all excited. Her internet department store Via Key West http://www.viakeywest.com/ is having a big week. The two big sellers are the Key West bunt cake and books about Key West. And Yankee Jack CDs.

Go Lisa!

Enjoy your day!

I am back to normal.

My upstairs air conditioning is fixed. It was a pleasure sleeping in bed instead of on the couch last night. Son in law Corey fixed my computer. We have become a totally dependent society where computers are concerned. To be without one is a calamity.

My morning yesterday started with a haircut. Lori time! Always good to be with her. Her personality is as lovely as she is.

She greeted me with a congratulations.What for? Your divorced. Turns out she was divorced 14 years ago. She told me it was the start of a new life for her and would be for me. I hope so.

Then to the Coffee House. I love the place! There is nothing like sitting in a green leather wing back, sipping coffee and reading the New York Times.

I have been following the case of the Iranian woman Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. The one who was sentenced to death for having committed adultery with two men. The incidents occurred some time after her huband had died.

Death was by stoning.

Ms. Ashtiani was to be buried up to her neck and then stoned by a group of men.

These people are nuts!

And they are in the process of developing nuclear weapons!

Because of the hue and cry of other nations, civilized ones, the Iranian government decided not to stone her. They are contemplating a more humane ending for her. Perhaps by hanging.

I am going to chat a bit about this case during my radio show The Key West Lou Legal Hour on friday. KONK 1500 AM. On the internet to be seen and heard world wide at http://www.ustream.com/.

George Steinbrenner died yesterday. The former owner of the New York Yankees. A dynamic figure.

I had the privilege of meeting Steinbrenner once. About 20 years ago. I had a client who was doing business with him. We met with Steinbrenner and his lawyers in New York City. Business was done and Steinbrenner said lets go to the ball game.

It was a limousine to Yankee Stadium. Dinner at a special Yankee dining room in the stadium. Then we all watched the game from Steinbrenner’s private box.

I am not particularly a baseball fan. Prefer basketball and football. However the game under the circumstances was a tremendous experience for me. The thing I remember most were the hot dogs. Those served in the box were the best I have ever eaten.

Now, from hot dogs to hamburgers.

Dinner last night was at MacDonalds.

It was Corey’s first full day home in 10 days. The grandkids wanted to celebrate by going to MacDonalds.

I joined them.

We consumed thousands of calories. All for $24.

Robert and Ally were thrilled. Especially with those kiddie bags. They are like the Cracker Jack boxes of old. Come with small toys and games. The MacDonalds deal seems better. You get a lot more toys and games.

As we were leaving MacDonalds, I thought how lucky we were to be dining at the only MacDonalds in the world situated on the ocean. There is MacDonalds, the Boulevard and the wide expanse of the Gulf. All for the price of a hamburger! An only in America thing! No, only in Key West!

Remember my friends Cindy and Tom of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I am enamoured with Cindy. She has had several cancer surgeries, lost one leg and one breast to the disease and most recently broke her arm getting out of a boat.

Tom is now hospitalized with a heart problem. Aortic valve and a bleeding situation. Inconsistent problems. But that is their illness pattern.

Some of you know Cindy and Tom. They winter here in Key West.

I am confident Tom will be ok. It seems to be the nature of this couple. One tragedy after another. Yet they hang in there. And continue to have a positive outlook on life.

Golf again today. Twice this week. I am anxious to play again. I love hitting the ball long off the tee. Hopefully I may drop a putt or two today to go with it.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

I am writing today’s blog late. My computer still on the blink. I am at Lisa’s using hers.

Golf yesterday was terrific! I am hitting the ball! Long off the tee!

I played with Larry Smith. I even out drove him on occasion. And he hits the ball real long!

My short game sucked. My putting was non existent. I did not drop one putt yesterday. But I am happy. It will all come around. The golfer’s dream!

I played with the monday group. Larry, Chuck, Mark and Mike. All good guys. All good golfers.

I only lost $2.

Sunday I got a manicure. Tammy is my manicurist. She is a young Vietnamese lady. Married to a Vietnamese gentleman. They have 2 young children. Three and younger.

Tammy came to the United States 8 years ago. She went to work as a manicurist. Met her husband at her place of employment. They married.

Last year Tammy and her husband bought the business. They work hard at it. Employ many people. Stay open 7 days a week.

They have become Americanized. The proof of the pudding was sunday when Tammy told me she now has a live in nanny to watch the kids.

Only in America!

Corey has been away for 10 days. Up in Key Largo. Diving to find artifacts and perhaps bodies from the slave ship Guerrero. The Guerrero went down in 1827 near what is presently Key Largo.

Corey returned last night. He is black. From diving for 10 days. The water was not deep where the ship went down. Only 10-12 feet. So the sun was constantly on him.

He described the wreck as an unlikely one. Parts of the boat were strewn several hundred feet in every direction. No actual large boat parts remained. Only small remnants. Like nails, ballasts, pieces of pottery, glass bottles, a piece of wood from the ship itself and cannonballs.

No bodies. No bones.

A British ship had been pursuing the Guerrero. The British ship got stuck on a reef. In order to get off the reef, it threw many things overboard to lighten the ship. Corey said they also found some items from the British ship.

My evening started at the Chart Room last night. Che, Captain Peter and Michael in attendance. And others.

Che is a student of history. We spent well over an hour discussing all sorts of historical matter. Che knows his stuff!

Then it was to La Trattoria for me. Glad I went.

Jean Thornton was there. With Gail Miller.

Jean is one of the golden girls. She is from Indiana. About 15 years ago she was vacationing in Key West and dove with Mel Fisher himself. She personally discovered gold and emeralds on her dive.

Changed her life! Now she spends as much time as possible here diving.

A terrific woman! One of the best! I am happy to call her friend. And lest I forget, Gail is a good person too and I am pleased to have her as a friend also.

They both jumped up and hugged and kissed me when I arrived at La Trattoria. We ate at the bar and had a terrific time. Kathy was bartending. Always good to see her.

Met a new lady last night. Gallo. Kathy introduced me. Gallo already knew Jean and Gail.

Becha was there, of course. A kiss and a hug. Jean told her to marry me. Not a bad idea. I am joking, of course. Well, maybe not. Ho, ho.

My upstairs air conditioning went late yesterday afternoon. No help available till this morning. Hope they are at my home now.

It was a boiler room upstairs. I slept downstairs in the parlor on a couch last night. Not the same as a bed. But better than the intolerable heat upstairs.

Enjoy your day!

I am writing from Lisa’s home.

For years she would not trust me to baby sit. Said my attention factor was lacking. Now the story is different. I have them all the time! Either her need has become desperate or I have proven myself.

I think it is a bit of each.

I have to take the grandkids to summer camp at Montessori. Lisa has to be at work early. Corey is working up at Key Largo. So it is Poppa time! I had to be here at 6:30 am.

The drive in was delightful. The sun rising. Shining on the house boats and boats along the boulevard.

A sight to be seen only if one lives on an island.

Yesterday started with breakfast with Lisa and the grandkids. At Harpoon Harry’s. First time there for Robert and Ally. They liked it.

Robert had to pee. I took him to the men’s room. Occupied.The door locked. I took Robert back to Lisa and said take him to the ladies’ room. They went. Came back. Lisa said he would not go. Robert told her he was a boy and boys did not use the girl’s room.

Robert is becoming a man. He is all of 6 years old.

Later in the day we all went to the beach. Higgs Beach. Very few people. I like it that way.

I took a noodle with me. Went out a ways, put it under my arms and floated for a while.Then to my sand chair to read.

The sun was a killer if you were out of the water. So I bid the family adieu and left.

It was home and a shower. And then a nap on cool sheets.

Yesterday turned out to be family day all around. I did not want to leave Lisa alone with Corey gone. So I joined Lisa and the grandkids for dinner.

Lisa made a pizza. Almost from scratch. She buys bread dough and tosses it around. And works the pizza up from there.

The pizza was good! We ate and laughed. Robert and Ally are funny.

Then a treat! To celebrate my return.

Ice cream at Dairy Queen.

I do what the grandkids do. They had swirl on cones with sprinkles. So did I. Wow! Terrific! What a way to live!

I left them afterward and headed home. Early to bed and sleep. The sun had knocked me out.

After I drop them off at Montessori summer camp this morning, I will be heading for the golf course. Playing with Larry Smith and the monday morning crowd. Whoever they may be. It has been two weeks since I have played. I am anxious to hit the ball. I have a feeling I will play well this morning.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

I have returned!

I am back in Key West!

A good feeling! I am home!

Travel back from Utica was a bit long. I left at 7:30 in the morning. Had a one hour drive to the airport in Syracuse. Three planes to accomplish the trip.

Syracuse to Detroit no problem. Detroit to Atlanta a disaster. Took off 2 1/2 hours late. Which meant I missed my Atlanta flight to Key West. Had a 3 hour lay over in Atlanta. Finally arrived in Key West at 9:30 in the evening.

A 14 hour trip! Worth it! Key West is here I belong!

I spent my down time in the airports reading and girl watching. Both satisfying pursuits.

The book is New York by Edward Rutherfurd. Recently published. I do not think it is a top 10 best seller. But should have be! I am taken by the book!

It starts in the 1500s when Manhattan was first discovered by Henry Hudson and others and concludes with the TwinTowers disaster of 9/11. The book follows the lives of several families over that period of time.

Engrossing! An I can’t put it down type book.

It is over 800 pages long. My War and Peace days are long gone. I avoid lengthy books. So I started the book at around page 400. The Civil War chapter. I love Civil War tales. I was a history major and took extra courses in the Civil War.

Before you knew it, I finished the book. From somewhere in the 400s to page 862.

Then…..I went back to page 1 and started the book where I originally should have. I am presently at page 268. About 150 pages to go.

I agree. A stupid way to read a book. But that is what happened in my reading of it.

I recommend the book! Big time! Excellent! Again, engrossing!

Women watching was my other time killer in the Detroit and Atlanta airports. Not a bad pass time. Something I have not done with such interest in many a year.

I think I know why.

Besides turning 75 last tuesday, I was in court. Divorce court. My wife of 52 years decided she wanted me no more. She had sued me for divorce. Tuesday was the final court date.

I am single once again.

I suspect my new single state contributed to my opposite sex gazing.

My observations were surprising and interesting.

The best looking women were black. Black women were never my cup of tea and I suspect will never be. However they were the best groomed and attired. Regardless of age. They took pride in their appearance.

The other group of women I found attractive were middle aged. Specifically flight attendants. Still stewardesses to people of my age.

When I first started flying in the 1950s, stewardesses/flight attendants were young. Very young. It was a requirement of the job. No more. Today it would be age discrimination.

The ladies I saw yesterday, those in the their 50s, were sharp! Lovely! Carried themselves well!

I ran into Melissa while killing time in the Atlanta airport. Melissa is a Key Wester. She is Executive Director of the Mel Fisher Museum. Corey’s boss. I have known Melissa for years.

Melissa was returning from a conference in Virginia. She had earlier in the day visited Georgie’s home as she put it. Mount Vernon.

I enjoyed my brief time with Melissa. Our paths cross too infrequently here in Key West.

Sitting next to me on the last flight into Key West was Ash. Ash lives in Milford, Connecticut. He is involved with recruitment at the University of New Haven. Travels the world looking for students to attend his University.

Ash is 34. Jordanian. Describes himself as Jordanian Greek. He is of the Greek Orthodox faith.

We had a most interestng conversation covering a multitude of things.

Ash is gay. He was booked into the Island House. Wanted to know if it was a correct selection. I assured him he had made a wise choice. It is problably the finest gay guest house in Key West.

Lisa met me at the Key West airport with the grandkids. It was 9:30 in the evening. Late for them. They were in their pajamas. Wide awake! Yelling and screaming. Welcome home Poppa! We love you Poppa!

I love them!

Corey was out of town last night. Up in Key Largo diving for the Museum. So Lisa and the grandkids slept over with me. Robert in my bed and Ally in Lisa’s. I don’t know about Ally, but Robert was out as soon as his head hit the pillow. It was 11 in the evening! They do not stay up that late.

My friend Ryno has several comments on Facebook this morning. About the nut who stands on our street corners carrying signs to the effect that God hates fags. He says it is time to counter demonstrate or something.

My first reaction is that we live in a strange community. This guy can carry his hate signs for the world to see. However women cannot go topless. They will be arrested.

From a layman’s perspective, both should not be tolerated. On the other hand, I am a lawyer. I understand the sign carrying guy’s right to free speech. I also understand gender equality. So my position is that both should be tolerated.

Sorry I cannot agree with you Ryno. No disrespect intended. I just believe that if we do not permit the nut to carry those signs, then you and I some day will not be permitted to speak out in opposition to our elected leaders. It is called freedom of speech. As distressing and sickening as it may be in some instances, the worst of it must be tolerated to preserve our rights in other regards.

Lisa, Robert and Ally are taking me out to breakfast this morning. To celebrate my return! My choice. Harpoon Harry’s. The grandkids have never been there. They are excited!

Enjoy your day!

Middle of the night.

Not sleeping well.

Probably because I have to get up early. Flying back to Key West today.

The day yesterday was quiet. Breakfast and the morning with my father. Visted a lawyer friend. Read.

Last night I stayed in. Read some more. Packed. Early to bed.

Lisa and the grandkids will be waiting for me at the Key West airport. Can’t wait! The plan is to go out to dinner together.

Good bye Utica. Hello Key West. Here I come!

Enjoy your day!

I am still in Utica. This is my last day. I return to Key West tomorrow.

I spent yesterday with my father. I did not know we had so much to talk about. We are chatting non stop.

We lunched at Cavallo’s. A big local bar that serves cheaply priced food.

I used to lunch there often when I was practising law. It was interesting yesterday. Nothing had changed in the four years since I had last been there. The same people were coming in and out for lunch. All moving at the same pace as yesteryear. Some fast, some slow.

My father is from the old school. Obviously. At 96, what else!

I make mention of this fact since he has dinner at 5. Precisely. Early for me. Timely for him. We had just finishedf lunch at 2. And there I was at 5 downing a steak and potatoes.

I watched Lebron James last night at 9. The show was a bore.

I anticipated he would go to Miami. Why not! The opportunity to play with two other great players. The possibility, no probability, of a basketball dynasty and several championship rings.

Now lets see if he was correct. Some times the best layed plans of mice and men do go astray.

My Key West shoe girl friend Stephanie Kaple had an interesting comment on Facebook this morning. How can she get mad at Lebron James she asked. She left Ohio for Florida also!

I am having breakfast with my father at 9 this morning. More food! They are going to charge me for two seats on my return flights!

Enjoy your day!

Birds chirping. Loudly. Every morning. I forgot the sound. It is nice to wake to. The chirping is common here in the north country in the summer. In the winter, nothing. They have all gone south.

I spent time with an old friend and former employee yesterday. Bob.

We visted in the afternoon. Had dinner together last night.

I had not seen Bob since I retired 4 years ago.

He showed up in the afternoon with a sandwich for me. Wrapped in aluminum foil. Still warm. Fried eggs and peppers on thick white Italian bread. From a little hole in the wall sandwich shop named Rosa’s here in Utica. I had already had lunch. But ate the sandwich anyhow. My diet is being absolutely destroyed this trip!

Bob and I had a pleasant time talking about days gone by.

I first met Bob when I was a young lawyer. Very young. Twenty five. Just out of law school. Working for an older lawyer.

Bob owned a dog. Ollie. Ollie bit a baby that was visiting someone else in the building where he lived. Pretty badly. Thirty two bite mark scars on the little girl’s face after healing. This was 1961. The art of plastic surgery back then was not what it is today.

Bob had no insurance.

He and his parents hired the older lawyer I worked for to represent Bob when he was sued by the little girl and her parents. I was assigned the trial. My older lawyer employer told me it was a loser. That was why it was assigned to me. The dog had bit three other people previously in three seperate attacks. A good case to bite my teeth on, he thought.

New York law at the time was known as the one bite rule. An owner was liable if the the dog bit one person previous to the case you were involved in. The one bite put the owner on notice of the dangerous propensities of the animal.

Such was my first civil case to defend. A loser.

I could not accept that I was going to lose. Such was the nature of the beast. Me.

I visited the 3 previous people who had been atttacked by Bob’s dog. I found out none had reported the bites to Bob. Bob confirmed that no one ever told him about the attacks. Interesting. The notice of his dog’s dangerous propensities had never been conveyed to Bob.

I defended the case on the lack of notice. After a 3 day trial, the jury returned a verdict for Bob. The jury said he was not responsible.

I won my first civil trial. Bob was not liable.

Ollie never knew. Bob had the dog put away after the attack on the little girl.

I saw Bob off and on over the years. We lived in the same small town. There was no relationship. We were just two people who knew each other and would say hello.

Bob married Jeanette.

They worked hard. Never quite made it. Owned a restaurant in Old Forge for several years. It failed. They were forced into bankruptcy. Lost their home to foreclosure.

Bob futzed around. One odd job after another. Just making enough money. Sometimes not enough.

I ran into Bob about 14 years ago. Asked how he was doing. Terribly, he said. He was out of work. Things were tough.

I gave Bob a job in my law firm. Always room for one more employee.

Bob became the firm’s gopher. A glorified one! It was he who called himself the gopher. He ran errands. We had offices in Utica, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Saratoga Springs at the time. He drove to them for various reasons. He went to the courthouse to file papers, went to Rosa’s to get me lunch, did some data entry. He had his own small office. If any odd ball thing had to be done, it was…..call Bob!

We all came to depend on him.

In the meantime, Bob remained gainfully employed with the law firm, taking home a pay check every week, had hospitilization and a pension plan. He even bought a new house.

Yesterday was the first time in 4 years that we saw each other.

Bob retired two years ago. After 12 years with the firm.

He is now 73. He has aged a bit. Lost a lot of weight. Has a hip problem that slows him down. And his wife Jeanette of 51 years died 4 months ago.

How sad! He is still grieving. I grieved with him yesterday.

He is ok money wise. Just sold his house at a handsome profit. The same little house he bought while working for me. He has his pension from the firm and Social Security. He has found a nice apartment in an excellent complex in Utica.

He and Jeanette were blessed with two loving daughters. He has grandchildren. Hopefully time will heal his wounds over the loss of Jeanette.

I told him to get himself down to Key West to visit. That would fix him up!

It was good to spend some time with an old client who had become an old friend.

Enjoy your day!