I am ashamed!

My friend Stepanie Kaple did her first radio show yesterday. 3 o’clock on KONK radio. My station. She was simultaneously on the internet for viewing.

I did not hear her. I did not see her.

I forgot she was on! While she was doing her first show, I was at home watching Gary Cooper in Sgt. York.

For shame!

My apologies, Stephanie!

Some did watch, however. I understand Steph’s first show was a hit. Fashion is her topic. Her guests were her friends and mine, Clayton and Valerie.

Clayton was a bartender around town. Val still bartends at the Hot Tin Roof. They are husband and wife. They both have been operating a new business for the past six months. Dirty Dog Tee Shirts. http://www.dirtydogtees.com/.

What a great idea by Steph! To have tee shirt producers as her first guests. Tee shirts are everything in Key West. They are the primary mode of dress for males and females in Key West.

Stephanie, I promise to watch and hear you next week!

By the way, Steph does a weekly blog. It all starts with shoes. She is a shoe nut. Buys all kinds of high heeled shoes. Spends all her pay on shoes. So what else would she write about! She starts with shoes and ends up discussing some earth shaking problem. Deep stuff. You can read her material at http://www.theislandshoegirl.com/.

My radio show The Key West Lou Legal Hour was yesterday morning. Went well. I thought it was one of the better ones I have done. These shows are not easy. It takes 5 hours of preparation for each 1 hour show. The topics selected have to be just right. They have to flow one to the other. There must be continuity. Timing is extremely important.

I do not always do good. Sometimes I screw up. I can sense whether good or bad as I am doing the show. Yesterday I sensed nothing but good.

I received many favorable comments after the show. From as far away as Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kankakee, Illinois and Crete, Greece.

Two main topics yesterday were the Gulf oil spill and Amazing Grace.

I did not hit on the factual aspects of the spill. Everyone knows about them. The story is all over the media. I went a step further to tomorrow. The lawsuits to follow.

I have a feeling Amazing Grace is going to be with me for a long while. I have been writing and discussing it for 2 weeks. And people still comment on it. I feel I have been responsible for some sort of resurgence for Amazing Gace.

After the radio show, I hurried over to the Coffee House. Sat back with a cup of coffee and the New York Tmes. Enjoyed myself!

Last night started with the Chart Room. As usual.

A good Chart Room night! Jean and Joe Thornton, Captain Peter, Che and others. We sat around the round table and talked. Three big issues. The oil spill, the market and Stepanie’s first radio show.

Afterwards, I walked over to the Sports Page Bar. I am impressed with the business the place does. Big time! Packed!

I had a turkey sandwich and watched the Cleveland/Boston game. LeBaron James is one hell of a player!

On the way home, I stopped at Lisa’s.

Corey was in the living room reading. Lisa in her bed with the grandkids.

Robert hid under the covers as I walked in. Ally shouted Robert is hiding! Everyone was happy!

Mother’s Day is tomorrow. If you are in need of a last minute gift, try Lisa’s internet department store Via Key West. http://www.viakeywest.com/. Quick and easy!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

Today is friday. And friday means radio show time!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour can he heard at 10 this morning on KONK 1500 AM. The show is available also world wide on the internet. http://www.konkam.com/. It can be seen as well as heard on the internet. The wonders of modern technology!

The radio show topics will be interesting and fast moving this morning. I will touch on the oil spill, women serving on submarines, women fighting in the Civil war, Florida gay adoption, Terri White, New York weird dumb laws, the Times Square attempted bombing defendant, the new Arizona immigration law, John Newton and Amazing Grace, a comedian who won a mother in law lawsuit, Obama’s stimulus package, a new California law to protect seniors, the gospel and Thomas Jefferson, a lead contamination lawsuit and the locked doors to the Key West Police Station.

A full plate!

Key West weather has been absolutely magnificent of late! Sunny and warm. Low 90s yesterday. Some humidity.

I spent the morning fine tuning today’s radio show. Then I decided to take advantage of the good weather.

I drove up to Boondocks for lunch. With the convertible top down.

Boondocks is 30 miles north. Up US 1. Near Big Pine. A great drive! The speed of the car cooling me.

I sat quietly in the shade at Boondocks, ate a light lunch and read the newspapers.

When I returned home, I took a swim in the pool. Actually floated around for a while. My eyes saw beauty all around. The blue sky, green palm trees and my white house. All backgrounded by the ocean. A God is good feeling overcame me.

I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning golf balls.

From the supreme to the mundane!

I had bought a bag on the golf course wednesday from a homeless guy who had collected them. They were dirty dirty. I scrubbed them with a brush under the water. Then marked each ball with my initials. Since I was in such a good mood, I even painted a little happy face on each ball with the marker.

That, my friends, is how a retired person spends his day in Paradise.

Enjoy your day! Tune in to my radio show this morning if you can!

Daughter Lisa is the love of my life!

A special person!

Apparently some one else thinks so also.

There is another Key West blog out there. Key West Sunshine. Described as The Musings of a Sunshine Girl.

The May 4 blog was entitled Mother’s Day in Key West.

It was about Lisa. My Lisa.

The blog described Lisa as wonderful people, spoke of her family life and her great love at being a Mom. The blog also made mention of Lisa’s internet department store Via Key West. http://www.viakeywest.com/. It was suggested that a last minute mother’s Day gift might best be acquired from Lisa’s store.

The sensitive part of the blog concerned Lisa’s gift of a Mother’s love. As with all mothers, Lisa’s children are everything to her.

If you wish to read the blog, it can be found at http://sunshinekeywest.wordpress.com/.

Great golf yesterday!

I hit the ball longer and farther. Even putted well. Missed 2 putts I should have made. But dropped 5 I would normally have missed.

I was the big winner. All of $8!

Played wth Tom, Yankee Jack and Aaron. I was benefitted by the fact that Tom and Aaron did not play as well as they normally do.

The Gulf oil problem contiues to be of concern here in Key West. A looming tragedy! It all depends on the water loop that could bring all that oil down upon the keys. So far the winds blowing from the south are keeping the oil out of the loop. Good for Key West. Bad for Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle.

I learned a long time ago when I used to sail summers off the north shore of Long Island that wind can be fickle. We are in the hands of the gods!

Hot yesterday! Summer hot. Humid. Very little breeze.

I was sweaty and beat after golf. A good tired, however. I hurried home. Threw off my clothes and jumped bare ass into the pool. Refreshing! So refreshing that I felt energized. I swam for a half hour.

Then I was really tired. Went to bed. Fell asleep immediately. Did not wake till 7 in the evening.

Dinner time! Decided on the Shrimp Shack. When I arrived, I noticed no one was there. There was a reason why. The sun this time of the year was beating down directly on the deck where the tables are located. The heat intensity was indescribable.

Not for me. Back to my air conditioned car. Decided to go into town.

I ended up at Pepe’s. It was a while since I had eaten there.

Pepe’s is the oldest restaurant in Key West. Small. It has another claim to fame. It is said the pirates met there in the 1700s and 1800s to plan their raids on the Spanish galleons.

Pepe cooks wholesome rib sticking food. And the plate is always overloaded!

Last night I dined on ground beef, mashed potatoes buried in gravy and steamed carrots. The carrots were excellent. Soft and tender. Plus great corn bread.

The best however was dessert. Hot apple crisp with ice cream. I could handle it. I had played golf and swam. I was not concerned with gaining weight.

Pepe’s is located on the waterfront. I took a walk after dinner. By Schooner Wharf, the Conch Republic, Bo’s, Turtle Krall and other famous Key West bars and restaurants.

My walk finally took me to the Art Bar. Barb Grob’s famous store. Her top selling item for years are her black tee shirts with words in white that read Art Slut.

Barb and I chatted for a while. I like Barb. A good person. A hard worker.

Join me tomorrow morning at 10 for my radio show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. On the radio at KONK 1500 AM. Better on the internet. Can be seen as well as heard. http://www.konkam.com/.

Many interesting topics to be shared tomorrow on the radio show. The oil spill, Amazing Grace, females serving on submarines, women serving in the Civil War, Florida gay adoption, economic stimulus in Key West, the locked doors to the Key West Police station and more.

Enjoy your day!

The big item of discussion here in Key West is the oil leak. There is concern, concern, concern!

And properly so. If it reaches Key West, and all believe it will, the impact will be massive and take years to resolve. Tourism and fishing will take major hits. And there is nothing else from an economic perspective here.

In the meantime, life goes on. Sunday is Mother’s Day. Gift time!

Consider Lisa’s internet department store for Mom’s gift. http://www.viakeywest.com/. Quick and easy to order. Various prices. Interesting and charming gifts.

My day yesterday started with a visit to Lori for a haircut. I like her. A good person.

Lori is a runner. She ran in the marathon last week on the 7 mile bridge. Finished in better time than she expected. She was all excited. Properly so.

Then It was over to the Coffee House to sip and read the papers. Everyone said you’re early. Haircut was my response.

My nails were long. So I followed coffee and the papers with a manicure.

Tammy is a lovely Vietnamese woman. Mid to late 20s. Short and thin. Long flowing velvet black hair.

When I walked in, she was no where to be seen. At least by me. I asked one of the other nail ladies to telephone her. She lives upstairs.

Everyone laughed. Tammy was there. She was seated behind the counter. She is so small, I could not see her.

Last night was La tratoria for dinner.

It must have been ladies’ night! The bar was full of lovelies. All women, no men.

A good place for me to be.

Becha was there. It was her night off. She was partying at the bar. Came over and gave me my hug and kiss. Love Becha!

Barb came in. Runs the Art Bar. Of Art Slut fame. She sells tons of black tee shirts with white print. The white print reads Art Slut.

And many other ladies I knew, but whose names I could not recall.

A smorgasborg!

Friday’s radio show is around the corner. In addition to amazing Grace, the oil spill, New York dumb weird laws and Florida gay adoption, I am going to chat a bit about the recent change in law/regulation which now will permit women to serve on submarines. I have a tie back to the Civil War that you will find interesting.

The radio show is friday morning at 10. Called the Key West Lou Legal Hour. KONK 1500 AM radio. Seen and heard world wide on the internet at http://www.konkam.com/.

Golf this morning! Whoopie! Hope I continue to ht the ball long and straight. I have confidence I will. We shall see.

Enjoy your day!

Wow did I start something with my mention of amazing Grace the past few days!

People are e mailing, telephoning and talking to me about Amazing Grace. They are listening to my Crete friend Jim Brown’s video. They are listening to other videos. They are sending me renditions by other singers and groups. Even Larry Smith was playing Amazing Grace last night at the Wine Galley.

I started my day yesterday with a visit to the doctor. Everything ok. Thyroid still off. We are lowering the dosage a bit more. The thyroid problem is the result of losing 30 pounds. I am now overdosed.

Had a late breakfast at Lucky Day Cafe. Cuban toast and coffee. Read the morning papers.

Then I took a walk. A long one. I have stoped walking. Bad! Need to get back to it. It is my only form of exercise.

I walked the Atlantic. From the airport to 1800 Atlantic and back. Along smathers Beach. A long walk. A very long walk! I was tired when I was done. It was about 85 degrees. A blazing sun. And humid.

I worked for a while in the afternoon on this coming friday’s radio show. Amazing Grace will finally be a discussed topic. Also the oil spill, New York weird dumb laws and Florida gay adoption. Researching those topics took up my afternoon.

Michael was bartending last night at the Chart Room. Che and Captain Peter were there when I arrived. Che wanted to know where Marty was. I said he has left us. No longer loves us. He has returned to Hallendale.

Turns out Che is into horses. Racing horses. He was talking about the Kentucky Derby. Che thinks the horse who came in second will win the Preakness.

Che got into Saratorga. He has been a visitor on occasion. So have I. Utica is about a one hour drive from Saratoga. We exchanged Saratoga stories.

I had an 8 o’clock meeting in the Wine Galley with Larry Smith and Guy deBoer. Larry and I were there. No Guy. I telephoned the two numbers I have for him. No answer.

Guy, you forgot us!

I waited a half hour and left. Stopped for a few minutes in the Chart Room. And then home.

Bought some chocolate covered donuts on the way home. I was in the mood.

Yesterday was a typical Key West day. As it should be. Quiet and easy.

Enjoy your day!

Jim Brown from Crete sent me a video he made of Amazing Grace celebrating his Mom’s life. She passed on a few years ago.

I was so taken with the video, I wanted to share it with you. I am not computer literate. I tried to make it part of my blog yesterday. It did not work. That is till last night. Ergo many of you may have missed it.

Son in law Corey finally figured out how to do it and retaught me again last night. This morning I am providing you with Jim’s video. I received it via You Tube. Listen to it. It is short.

http://www.youtube.com/user/jimbolou15#p/a/u/0/BE1rGl9H6Do

Amazing Grace has been all over my blog this week. Its story has yet to be told. I will be sharing what I have learned about Amazing Grace with all of you on my radio show friday. KONK 1500 AM radio. To be seen and heard on the internet world wide at http://www.konkam.com/.

I shared a hen story with you a couple of days ago. The story was correct. My conclusion incorrect.

I told you about a Canadian law that permitted hens to be raised in the back yard of a person’s home but prohibited roosters to be raised with the hens. The purpose of the law was to encouarage home egg production.

I asked how could the hens make/lay eggs if there were no roosters around. I assumed roosters were necessary for sex purposes to make the eggs.

I was wrong.

Live and learn.

Hens do not need roosters or chicken sex to make eggs. You heard me correctly. Roosters are not required. Roosters are only needed if the eggs are to be fertilized so little chicks can be made.

A long time reader of this blog, Kerig B of Toronto, Canada brought my error to my attention. I checked out his info on the internet. He is correct! Thank you Kerig B!

I spent some time with the grandkids yesterday morning. We played cards. Fish. They won all the games. I won none. I am beginning to think that subconsciously I let myself lose and them win to make them happy. Or am I kidding myself? I just may be inept.

Lunch was at the outside deck at the Pier House. Read the newspapers. A beautiful day.

Spent the afternoon finishing my reading of the The Help. A good book. About the American south in the 1950s. I recommend it.

I decided to stay in last night. Had a sandwich and went to bed early.

About 8:30 the telephone rang. It was Howard Livingston. He was at the Pier House with Larry Smith.

We have not talked in a while. He wanted me to come over and join him. No, I said. I am in bed for the night. An example of old age having set in.

It was good talking with Howard. It has been a while. We will hook up soon.

I have an early morning appointment with the doctor. It seems that is all one does when a person gets old. Visit the doctor!

Kurt just telephoned. He wanted me to play golf with him this morning. His group needed a fourth. Told him I no could do. Doctor visit. I would have enjoyed playing golf with Kurt. The last time I rode with him he shot a 72. I a 120. He never complained about my slow play and searching for my ball all the time in the woods. He is a true gentleman!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

It’s Sunday!

The best day of the week!

God gets his due. And so do all of us. A day of rest.

I spent quite a while yesterday visiting with the grandkids.

Robert wanted to play bingo. So the three of us did. Robert, Ally and me.

I did not win one game! It’s like being on the golf course or bocci courts. I can’t win! Even playing kids!

Later in the afternoon I sat home reading The Help. Really a good book! The American South in the 1950s.

Jim brown is a friend. A Facebook friend.

Jim lives in Crete. An island in Greece. He is probably around 30. Married. Has a young son. A musician.

Jim and I exchange greetings every couple of months. He reads my blog/this blog. He also evidences a sense of humor.

A nice guy. I hope to meet him face to face some day.

This past week I have mentioned Amazing Grace a couple of times. I will be discussing it at length on my radio show next Friday. Amazing Graced is that church hymn generally heard at funerals.

Jim wrote me yesterday on Facebook about Amazing Grace and his Mom. He also shared with me a video he made about his Mom wherein Amazing Grace is an important part of the message.

I was touched by the video. I want to share the video and his message to me with you.

“Not sure if it is the same thing i read on your blog Amazing grace, but it was the anniversary of my mums death on 25th april this year and i put together a few pics to my bands acoustic type version of amazing grace. we did this live first time on the beach as a tribute to my friends wife who died here on crete a few weeks ago, so i thought i would use it for my wee mammy, a very sad day indeed”

This is Louis. Click on the line below below. Return here after you listen to the video. http://www.youtube.com/user/jimbolou15#p/a/u/0/BE1rGl9H6Do

Another teriffic radio show yesterday!

With one difference.

Normally I speak of many things. Sort of hit and run. Keep everything short and lively.

I could not do that yesterday. Current legal events control. This past week was loaded with major events that had or would have a major legal impact. The oil spill, immigration and financial reform. Each required a little more explanation and exploration.

There was so much material that I never got to everything I wanted to talk about. I was especially disappointed that I could not share my findings on U.S. laws affecting slave ships, John Newton and Amazing Grace. The three are tied together. Next week.

There was a meeting scheduled immediately after the radio show. Guy, Larry and I discussed the variety show concept Larry has. Not sure where all this is going. We shall see.

Started my evening with the Chart Room, as usual.

Susan the new bartender is doing great! A natural at the job! A pro!

Notice that I refer to Donna as a bartender and not a barmaid. A couple of years ago there was another Donna bartending at the Chart Room. I used to refer to her as a barmaid. She took offense. Said she was a bartender! So bartender it is. Must have to do with equal rights.

I had dinner at the Pier House deck. A pleasant place for outside dining.

Lynda and Bob Frechette were nearby.

The Wine Galley is immediately off the outside deck at the Pier House. It is Larry Smith’s room. He has entertained there for years.

So inside I went after dinner.

Larry was playing and singing. Pepe was on the drums. Mary Deasy was in the audience and sang a few numbers.

Gigi wa there as a spectator also. Gigi is part of this Larry Smith variety show that is still in the conceptual stage. She and I will be participating in it together.

Gigi is only 26. Worldly however. Tall, thin and beautiful. A professional model from her teens to last year. Worked in New York, Paris and London. Big time! Got tired with it all last year. Moved to Key West for a new life.

Met Don Burns. An author. Has published several books. The most recent Stuff to Spy For. He has a book signing at Borders today at 1. Stop in. You will find Don and his book interesting.

Don is no stranger to Key West. He is out of Tampa. Used to be in the advertising business. One of his accounts was Key West Aloe. He is good friends with Frank Romano.

Larry introduced me to the audience. He asked me to share some of the dumb weird laws I had talked about earlier in the day on the radio show. A good thing I no longer drink! I could not have handled it if I did.

I told the group about the Illinois chicken law that prohibits a rooster from crowing within 300 feet of a house. My question, which the audience picked up on immediately, was how can the rooster read the law so he would know how to conduct himself.

The other strange legal tidbit I shared with them was the Illinois law which prohibits mosquitos from flying over and through a particular town. Again how would the mosquitos know and understand the prohibition so as to comply with it.

Afterwards one of the guests came up to chat with me. I apologize for not recalling his name. Think it was Larry also.

Anyhow, he was originally from Canada and now works in Louisiana. He will be retiring next year and moving back to Canada.

He shared with me a law that was passed in some Canadian community several years ago.

Homeowners were permitted to keep hens on their property. However roosters were prohibited. The purpose of the law was to encourage egg production.

The question he raised, and I am sure you have it already, was how could the hens make eggs if there were no roosters!

Strange laws all over the place!

The Kentucky derby today!

I enjoy horse racing. I am not a bettor. Not even a gambler of any sort. I respect money too much. I had to work hard to make it.

I enjoy the beauty of a race horse, however. What an animal!

TV tells us it is going to be a wet rainy Derby. Too bad. Not fair. Means much of the training was for naught. A muddy track generally results in an unexpected winner.

I probably will watch the race at Don’s Place. He has a party starting at 4. I watched there last year. Fun! Food and drink. The ladies in their bonnets.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

Rise and shine!

Another great day about to embark upon us!

But at this moment just after 6 am, it is pitch black outside!

This morning the Key West Lou Legal Hour! Please listen in. At 10 am. KONK 1500 AM radio. Better yet, on the internet world wide to both see and hear. www.konkam.com.

Some of the topics to be touched upon and their legal implications include the oil spill, Y-Net and the Monroe County School Board, financial reform, Illinois weird dumb laws, immigration, Eisenhower and a stimulus package, recognition of Israel, Amazing Grace and more.

The afternoon was overcast yesterday coupled with a cool breeze from the ocean.. I sat on my deck and read for a couple of hours. I am mid way through The Help. A book about the American South in the 1950s. It is presently #2 on the New York Times best seller list. A friend loaned it to me. I am into it enough to say it makes for interesting reading. I enjoy anything about the South that helps me to comprehend what motivates the South of today.

Bocce last night. It started raining about an hour before. Lightly and then a bit heavier. Enough to screw up the court surfaces. Bocce was called off.

I went over to Hogfish. Because of bocce, I had not eaten. Enjoyed fish and chips and read the newspapers.

The long cold spell affected the iguanas. They burrowed deep to avoid the cold. There were few to be seen.

All of a sudden in the past two weeks, there are iguanas all over the place. Especially on the golf course. Running all over, climbing trees. Especially energetic.

I figured the warm weather brought them out. I was wrong. I read somewhere a couple of days ago that this is iguana mating season. They are chasing each other!

Hope you can join me for my radio show a 10!

Enjoy your day!

An outstanding time on the golf course yesterday!

I hit the ball longer, farther and straighter than I have in 10 years!

Wowie!

I did not win. No problem, though. Lost all of $2. Tom was the big winner with $8.

Played with Tino and Yankee Jack, also. Tino’s last day of play with us till the fall when he returns. At this very moment, Tino and his good wife Maria are on their drive back to Chicago. They will be missed.

On my way out last night, I stopped at Publix and bought the grandkids some ice cream. Ice cream on the stick. Vanilla covered with chocolate.

Actually, the ice cream was for Robert. Last week I bought Ally an egg slicer. Robert was offended that I did not buy something for him at the time. The ice cream was Robert’s egg slicer.

Robert was excited. I had purchased a whole box. I told him to share with his sister Ally. She was standing there. He said no. She won’t let me use her egg slicer.

I dealt with the problem. He shared. It was like trying to get the bank reform bill to a favorable vote in the Senate.

Then to the Chart Room.

Marty is back! Finally! My dinner date.

He had a friend with him. Luis. A good looking individual from Houndouras originally. Late 30s. Lives in Fort Lauderdale. Takes care of Marty’s house in Hallendale. A charming outgoing personality. We had a lot of laughs over the course of the evening.

I chatted a while with Michael and Captain Peter. The oil spill. It is the item of discussion every where in Key West. We live on an island. The spill will eventually reach our beaches. It will affect our economy.

There is concern. Validly.

Met Susan. Susan is the new bartender at the Chart Room. It took a long time to find a replacement for Mark. Michael was there last night training Susan. She needed no training.

Susan is an outgoing personality. She will do well at the Chart Room.

Dinner was at the bar at La Trattoria. The three gringos at the bar. Well, actually two gringos and Luis. We had a good time.

Luis is not new to Key West. He has been here before. He wanted to go to Virgilio’s after dinner. Virgilio’s is the night club behind La Trattoria.

I have not been to Virgilio’s in well over a year. Why, I don’t know. The place is alive. People enjoying themselves.

This was to be Luis’ place last night. He fit right in. A good looking guy. A terrific dancer. An instantaneous hit!

Marty and I left after a while. Luis did not need us.

I was walking on Duval towards my car when I heard Louis! shouted from across the street. It was Jean Thornton. We missed each other for a whole week. And now we keep running into each other. Even on Duval.

I crossed over and joined her. A golden girl in every respect!

She was with the shoe girl Stephanie Kaple.

Stephanie is one terrific person. She works with the homeless. She has an affintiy/addiction to female shoes. Every free penny she has goes into buying another pair of shoes. And cheap they are not!

Stepanie is intellectually talented. She writes a weekly blog. Deep. She starts off talking about shoes and somehow turns the dialogue into a treatise on some world shaking problem. Her blogs are all very well done.

You can read Stepanie’s blog at http://www.theislandshoegirl.com/. I recommend it!

Stephanie shared a piece of information with me I was unaware of. She is going to do a radio show also. Good girl, Steph! I wish you luck!

She will be on KONK radio as I am. You can hear her on fridays at 3. I am not sure whether she will be starting this week or next. However look for her and listen to her show. The topic will be fashion.

Speaking of radio shows, mine is tomorrow at 10. KONK 1500 AM radio. See and listen on the internet world wide at http://www.konkam.com/.

Enjoy your day!