To steal the words from a song…..Oh, the weather is so delightful!

But the song spoke of snow. No snow here. Don’t know if it ever snowed in Key West.

Just great sun!

Big meeting yesterday morning. At Larry Smith’s house. A bunch of us are trying to put together an internet/tv show. We are not certain where it is going. We are still in the formative stage. Just our third meeting.

Larry is our leader. We all contribute. The meetings are democratic. Unless Larry disagrees.

Lovely Gee Gee was in attendance. A tall thin beauty. Turns out she was a model in her former life. All over the world. Now 26, she has made Key West her base.

Adair. Met him for the first time. What a body! Adair is 64 and has a young man’s physique. Muscles. Ripples. He is a retired auto manufacturer from South Bend, Indiana. Has lived in Key West for 10 years. Now works as a personal trainer.

My friend Clayton Lopez. Clayton is a Conch. Means he was born in Key West. Lucky him! Clayton also serves as an elected City Commissioner. He has an excellent singing voice and performs locally most evenings.

Chicago Tino. A retired federal officer. My friend and golf buddy. Soon to return to Chicago for the summer.

Alec who lives on Big Coppett. A retired fireman from somewhere up north. Blows a horn and writes musicals now for a living.

Doc Covan. A psychologist. Former New Yorker. Served as Chief Psychologist at Bellevue. Wrote a best selling book. Now doing private phsychology work here in Key West.

Larry is originally from Danville, Pennsylvannia. Came to Key West by way of Woodstock. He is now one of Key West’s premier musicians.

We sat and talked. Interacted. Key West talk. This just might work. We shall see.

Afterwards, I headed for Lisa’s to have lunch. I ate with my grandkids Robert and Ally. Bagels, yogurt and the like. And hard boiled eggs! Ally proudly sliced the eggs with the cutter I had purchased for her the day before.

I hung at Lisa’s most of the afternoon. Then home to watch the golf tournamnet on TV.

I fell asleep. When I woke, it was 7. So I decided to make myself a sandwich and stay in for the evening. Which I did.

Facebook has provided me with many friends. People I would never have known nor met were it not for this marvel of internet communication.

There are two friends I would briefly like to speak of.

One is Maria. Maria is a school teacher in Tampa. We met originally at Don’s Place a couple of years ago. She was visiting my bocce partner Jules. We have mainitained our acquaintance via Facebook.

Maria shared an interesting quote on FB yesterday. “Your ego is not your amigo.”

Wow! I can think how those words may have applied to me at one time and to many others all the time. The Key West way of life has toned me down. Or at least I think so!

My other Facebook friend is a new one. Roberta.

Roberta is a snowbird by description. She spends part of her year in Key West and the other in Ontario, Canada.

Roberta and I became friends the past few days. We have exchanged a few messages. An interesting lady. She wrote this morning to tell me she liked this blog so much that she had recommended it to 16 of her friends who either live in or have an interest in Key West. A nice touch.

Anyhow…..Roberta appears to be a bit of a thinker. Sensitive also. She lists several quotes on her Facebook info page. One is by the physicist, writer, mystic, friend to famous writers and more. Joseph Campbell.

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

Very true. But sometimes we have to hear some one else say it to become aware of it.

Enjoy your day! It’s Sunday!

Good morning world!

The weather is fantastic here in Key West! A long time in coming. But better late than never!

The radio show was terrific yesterday! Cheryl telephoned while I was on the air which made it even better. She is somewhere on her way home to the Chicago area with husband Roger.

I added a last minute bit about the economic stimulus to the show.

One of yesterday’s Key West local newspapers had a story about the street/sewer construction going on in Key West all of a sudden. It seems every other street is torn up. Detours all over the place.

It is the stimulus money Obama signed into law last year!

Seems it finally trickled down to Key West. There is a deadline for its use. Sometime in July. The Key West city fathers do not intend to miss a penny of it. Work being done all over the place. Which means jobs all over the place, even if temporary.

Hopefully more stimulus will be available as time goes on.

I was and am thrilled that I can finally see and experience the stimulus package at work. Good for Obama and good for us!

Saw my heart doctor yesterday afternoon. He is happy with my progress. Should be! Since my disaster last fall, I have stopped smoking and drinking. And lost 30 pounds to boot!

What a good boy am I!

The egg cutter saga. I returned to the Restaurant Store with the egg cutter I had purchased the day before. Not a big deal. A $5 item.

I told the woman who had taken care of me of my plight. I had hand washed the metal cutter before using it. The result was a gray soot. I then washed it in the dish washer. Same result. Then I hand washed it again. Still black soot.

I should not have used the dishwasher, she said. That is what caused the black stuff. She made it sound like it was my fault.

I had brought a clean tissue with me. In anticipation of needing to demonstate the problem. I hand swiped the egg cutter. Black on the tissue! I do not intend to eat eggs off this, I politely said.

She agreed to return my money. I said I do not want my money back. I want an egg cutter. They had another one on the counter made of plastic. A bit more expensive. I took the plastic one and paid the difference.

I thought she had a poor attitude. She did. Why blame me for using the dishwasher! What do I know about these things! Anyhow I do not believe the dishwasher had anything to do with it. The soot was there after the first hand washing job.

Lisa brought Robert and Ally over later in the afternoon to swim. I was ready for them. Especially Ally. The egg cutter was for her. I had hard boiled eggs before they arrived.

I made a production out of slicing a hard boiled egg. Let Ally press the lever down. She was thrilled! I was thrilled! Poppa had done good!

We all ate hard boiled eggs.

I was stuffed afterwards. Sufficiently that I did not go out to dinner last night. It was early to bed.

I am to be at Larry Smith’s at 10 this morning. Larry, Don, Tino, Alec, Petra, Kathleen, me and I cannot recall who else are trying to put together a Key West radio/TV show. This will be our third meeting. I do not know what will come of it. From a simple half hour talk show, it has grown into a big time variety production exhibiting various Key West talents and attributes.

Enjoy your day!

It is Friday and Friday is radio show time!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 am. KONK 1500 radio. And if you want to watch as well as listen, try the internet at http://www.konkam.com/. The internet provides viewing and listening world wide!

Yesterday morning was haircut time. For the past several years, I wear my hair Key West style. Short cropped!

You would assume I could go longer without a haircut. No. I still need one every two weeks.

Not a problem, however. It gives me the opportunity to spend some time with the lovely Lori who cuts my hair. A charming peson.

After the haircut, I was off to the Coffee House. Read the papers. Talked to no one.

The town is quieter. By day and by night. The season is over. Which is good! After a while the mass of humanity becomes a bit too much. Now a walk on the streets becomes easy. No bumping into people. Seats are readily available in restaurants. A relaxing quiet has settled over the community.

Ally is into hard boiled eggs. So I went to the Restaurant Store and purchased an egg cutter. It seems to be made out of hard cast aluminum.

I hand washed it. I dishwasher washed it. I hand washed it again.

It continues to emit a black soot. Heavy black.

I will be returning it to the Restaurant Store today.

Last night bocce.

I had a wonderful time! Both teams had a wonderful time!

All 3 games were close. We won the first. Lost the second and third. But had fun.

The big match of the night turned out to be Larry Smith’s team who played the Bubbas.

The Bubbas are the best! They have played together for years. They are always in the playoffs. They even practice.

When you play the Bubbas, you have fear in your heart! You know before hand they are going to destroy you!

Not last night!

Larry’s team beat the Bubbas 2 out of 3. They won the first two games. Even beat the Bubbas 16-0 in the second game. Unheard of!

And Larry was not there for this momentous occasion! He was at the Pier House working.

My congratulations to Tino, Tom, Chris, Maria and every one else on Larry’s team.

Needless to say, the Bubbas were devestated afterwards. They had been beaten up physically and mentally.

It happens.

It was Tino’s birhtday yesterday. A surprise party was planned for him afrterwards at the Pier House’s Wine Galley.

A good crowd. We sang Happy Birthday and ate cake. Kathleen and Christine lead us in the singing. What voices these two ladies have!

Many bocce players in attendance. Some Bubbas. It reminded me of when Syracuse lost to Butler recently in basketball. “…..there was no joy in Mudville…..mighty Casey had struck out!”

Big day today. The radio show this morning. Heart doctor this afternoon. Tonight, I do not know.

Enjoy your day!

My sleep pattern is getting screwed up.

I woke at 1 and read till 4. I had to read. Comcast off.

As a result, I slept late this morning.

Golf yesterday. An absolute pleasure!

I was hitting the ball long. Even off the tee. Putting an abomination, however. Missed several easy ones.

Such is life! Especially in golf. You correct one problem and then that which was OK goes array.

Played again with Tom, Yankee Jack and Tino.

Normally I play poorly and win a few dollars. Yesterday I played well and it cost me $9! You figure!

I also did not tire on the golf course yesterday. Perhaps the pills are working and my heart is getting stronger. I suspect my ejecton factor is better. I see the heart doctor next week and will know for certain.

Lisa and the grandkids were over again in the afternoon to swim in the pool. Fish! A joy!

I was laying around last night and trying to decide if I wanted to go out for dinner or eat in. Finally decided to go to Outbacks. Dinner at the bar with their TVs works for me. I also brought a newspaper with me.

A pleasant day overall. Golf the highlight of my day.

Tonight bocce.

By the way, please try to listen to my radio show tomorrow morning at 10. KONK 1500 AM in the keys. www.konkam.com anywhere else in the world to see and hear. The Key West Lou Legal Hour will be a most intetresting one tomorrow.

Enjoy your day!

Since I got up and came downstairs to make coffee, it has gone from black to gray outside. The sun is making its move. In ten mimutes, I will be able to see it break over the horizon.

I am lucky to live in Key West where such a visual experience is available each day.

My day time yesterday was spent preparing for friday’s radio show. It took all day! I went from nothing to more than I need. Better over prepared than under. I always worry about the day I will run out of material and still have 10 minutes of show time left.

Great topics!

Rape. Yes, rape. Women are still under respected in our society. This is an issue which requires further analysis. You will be surprised how poorly the law handles rape cases and why.

Other issues will include an update on California’s attempt to legalize marijuana, the still locked Key West Police Station, the pending U.S. Supreme Court nomination, the homeless, Maine weird dumb laws, further Acevedo fall out, a bit about Presidents Reagan and Nixon, this Confederate history mnonth thing in Virginia and Mississippi, careers in the legal field and the U.S. Supreme Court and clean drinking water.

Decidedly an hour full of material to be heard.

Listen in at 10 friday morning on KONK 1500 AM. Better yet, listen and watch on the internet at http://www.konkam.com/.

On the way out on the town last night I stopped at Lisa’s. The whole family had just returned home from Miami.

A routine trip to Miami Children’s Hospital for them.

You will recall that my grandson Robert, now 5, was born with cancer of the liver. Very uncommon. People are not born with cancer. It is an after birth acquired problem

Anyhow, Robert had two major surgeries in the first 8 days of his life. Both at Miami Children’s Hospital. He recovered. There is no present problem. And hopefully never again a problem.

However, Robert must be checked frequently as a result. To be sure. And as a study case. His problem was that unique.

The hospital visits initially were once a month. Then once every three months. Now every six months.

It has become a family game.

They all load into the van. Corey, Lisa, Robert and Ally. Games. It is a 4 hour trip each way.
On the return, they stop at Targets in Miami to get the kids something. Robert and Ally look forward to Targets. And of course there is Wendys.

Robert is a pro at these check ups. He is proud he no longer cries. They take his blood, prod him, x ray him.

He gets a sucker from the staff aftrerwards. Ally gets one also.

I visited them on their return.

Robert and Ally were fine. Still juiced up. Lisa bordering on a wreck. She is always concerned with these visits. That they might find something. And then there is my poor son in law Corey. He was dead tired. Mostly from the 4 hour drive each way. Burdened also with thoughts similar to Lisa’s each trip.

Corey was on one computer. Lisa another. Robert was in the bath tub. And Ally was sitting on the toilet pooping in the same bathroom. Ally was crying out…..Mommy, come clean me!

A pictorial view of the modern family. Today’s All American family.

It was late. I stopped at La Trattoria for dinner. The bar was almost empty, though the restaurant was doing well. No question. The season is over.

Becha cheered me up. She always does!

Golf this morning. I need it! I don’t care how I play. I am looking forward to being out on the course with a good bunch of guys and enjoying myself.

By the way, guaranteed I will utter a few cuss words along the way to join with some of my bad shots. And every one I play with will do so also. It goes with the game. I know no one who does not occasionally let go after a bad shot.

My point. The media should get off Tiger Woods’ back. He’s human!

So he took the Lord’s name in vain. I have heard worse.

And don’t tell me Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus never did. They did, I am sure. However when they were playing those very sensitive large round hearing things were not on the golf course following a player. You can hear a pin drop from 100 feet away today!

Tiger may have promised to swear no more. Actually, I never knew he did that much. And I watch him all the time!

The guy cannot be expected to change his entire life. Even if he says he is going to. Just won’t work.

So Tiger Woods, go back to being what ever you were on the golf course before your very public fall from grace. Bed performance and course performance are two different things. One should be changed. The other not.

Enjoy your day!

Another great Key West day in the making!

I seem to be buried in paper work lately. Spent all of yesterday morning catching up.

When so involved, I am not living in Key West time as my friend Howard Livingston would say.

It has been ages since I enjoyed a cuban toast with melted cheese and tomato. Yesterday was the day! At Lucky Day. It is located on Bertha, just off Flagler.

Then to Walgreens. Needed prescription refills. I take 16 pills a day. Ergo, I am always at Walgreens.

The process is simple. I no longer have to order. The computer does it all. I merely wait in line for 10 minutes and then approach the counter. Give them my name. The computer coughs up my order and it is handed to me.

I received 3 prescription refills. Did not check the labels. Payed for them and left.

Two of the refills are no good. I cancelled them 2 weeks ago. The doctors are fine tuning my meds. Now I have to go back today to return them and get a refund. $60 some odd dollars involved. No problem, except time wise. This has happened before. It takes the store manager to reverse the order and return my money. Could take as long as a half hour. That bothers me!

The brunt of the afternoon was spent with Lisa and the grandkids. She brought them over to swim. With the weather turning to the good, this will now become a frequent thing.

There was a fly in the pool water. Ally went crazy. She would not go in till the fly was out.

I do not understand.

Ally is into spiders. Yes, spiders. She will pick them up with her fingers and bring them to you. But she will not go in the pool if a fly is in the water. Typical woman! Inexplicable.

Last night started as usual with the Chart Room.

Captain Peter and I had a long conversation. A most interesting one. I am a fallen away Catholic. Peter a fallen away Episcopalian. Peter is also British born and raised.

We talked of the Catholic Church, the Pope, confession and asking for God’s help and then forgetting his benevolence one week later.

Great exchanges. Many humorous, though heavy in content.

This is the second time in a week I have had a religious conversatin with some one. It is the Pope thing. People have an interest.

I was in the mood for meat loaf. Again. So it was over to the Sports Page Bar. Monday is meat loaf time there.

The Sports Page Bar is huge. The place was empty. Only six customers. More TV sets than customers.

Owner Patrick came over to say hello. He asked if I was happy with the Syracuse flag hanging nearby. Yes, I told him. Not only I, but also the many Syracuse fans who would be returning next year to the Sports Page to watch Syracuse basketball. I explained to Patrick how I keep in touch with many of them via the internet.

I have to work on my radio show today. The show is friday, only 3 days away. And I have not yet prepared one iota for it.

Enjoy your day!

Middle of the night. Can’t sleep.

So…..blog time!

Yesterday was a pleasant day.

Sunday, of course.

The morning TV news shows were terrific. Kept my attention.

Then a quick shower and I was off to a manicure. No manicure to be had. Tammy in Miami.

So it was the Coffee House. Spent a lot of time there. The Sunday New York times takes forever to read.

And many people to chat with in between pages.

Rock was there. Reading the New York Times, also. We talked a bit.

After he left, Jane came in. My new friend!

We talked a lot.

She is lovely. Dressed in flowing white. Short white cropped hair. Beads embracing her neck. And a constant cheery smile. Her words were cheery as well.

She had just come from Mass. She was surprised to learn I was Italian Catholic. Thought I was Jewish. It’s the nose and lips I told her.

We both explored our Catholic educations. And of course today’s Church.

A most interesting discourse.

Jane left and Gail came by. Only a quick hello. I have not seen her in a while.

Then to Publix. The cupboard bare again. I am better off with less food in the house. The less there is, the less I eat. Simple.

I spent the balance of the afternoon watching the Masters. A great win for Mickelson.

Tiger played lousy yesterday. And the day before. And yet, he only lost by 4 or 5 strokes. What a player!

I should play so bad!

Two things stood out.

The first was the Mickelson family image. His wife, mother and two young daughters were there. You will recall that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. Two weeks later, his mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Mickelson took several months off to be with his wife during her time of tragedy and treatment.

Now yesterday the whole family was there to share in his moment of triumph. Lovely. Good for golf also. In sharp conrast to Woods’ situation.

I am neither judging nor adversarially reflecting on Woods. However the contrast was glaring.

I felt sorry for Woods. Sorry that his wife and children were not there. Sorry that he is having difficulties.

I also became aggravated with the stupid questioning of Woods by a reporter at the end of the round.

Woods had advised before the tournament that he was going to be kinder and gentler while playing. He never was bad. He just was within himself. Nothing wrong with that from my perspective. My golf game requires concentration. I can only imagine the degree required for professional play.

Anyhow, the reporter questioned Woods on why he lost his cool on a particular hole. Woods comment was to the effect…..lets not carry this thing too far…..I had 3 bad holes in a row where I hit bad shots…..then I hit a bad one on the fourth hole…..what do you expect?

I guess he uttered a bad word. Heard afterwards he took the Lord’s name in vain.

Get off the guy’s back! Human is human.

Last night was dinner at Lisa’s. Robert and Ally were in their usual rare form. Love ’em!

A good meal! Raviolis and chicken. Well done, Lisa!

I came home to bed to watch TV. No TV. The rainstorm had knocked out Comcast. So I read. Someone recently gave me a book called The Help. I started reading it. About the south in the 1950s. Interesting so far. Not sure yet where it is going.

Enjoy your day!

Hello World!

Welcome to Sunday!

It cannot be a better day. The sun is already shining. The temperature will be in the low 80s. Meet the Press at 9. The finals of the Masters this afternoon. And dinner with Lisa and the grandkids this evening.

Yesterday was an important and momentous day. My father’s birthday. He was 96!

Wow!

And still living life!

My Mother passed on about 25 years ago. My Father lucked out 10 years ago when he met Frances. They have lived together the past 10 years.

Frances is very good to my Dad. Actually, they are fortunate to have found each other. She is about 25 years his junior. She takes very good care of him. She cares for him!

They live a normal existence. No assisted living required.

Old age seems to run in the family. My Dad is one of six children. Except for an uncle who died of a brain tumor, the rest lived into their 80s and 90s.

Only Dad and his sister Mary are still alive. Aunt Mary celebrated her 100th birthday last September.

My Father says he is going for it! Do it, Dad!

And Happy Birthday again!

Last night I tried a new restaurant. Azur. I am a creature of habit. This was uncommon for me.

Glad I did!

Azur is located in the middle of Old Town. Actually one block on the side steeet from my old favorite sandwich place Paradise Cafe.

The owner is a former chief chef at Antonia’s. About 3 years ago he took a shot at this own place. And opened Azur!

It was an instantaneous success! Seeing as how I am upset with Antonia’s, I should have tried it sooner. The preparation is the same.

The food is excellent! Outstanding!

I enjoyed gnocchis. I have not had gnocchis in about 2 years. Gnoccis is pasta made from potatoes.

Great for the diet!

Mine were suberb! Made with a mushroom sauce and a tint of garlic. Light to boot! Hard to believe, but not heavy at all.

The reason I opted to try Azur last night was Rock.

Rock is a fellow I sit next to occasionally at the Coffee House. We have become friends. He waits tables at Azur during the Key West season and Martha’s Vineyard during the summer. In addition, he teaches yoga on both islands.

A very personable guy.

I tried to watch the Blue Angels show from my bedroom terrace yesterday afternoon. The good part of the aerial show is immedialtely over Boca Chica which is 5 miles away. I could see it, but the planes were too far away and too small to really enjoy.

However the planes were not too small when they took their swings over my house to get into a new formation. They flew low. Right over my head. I thought I could touch them. They were that low. And the noise! Deafening!

I enjoyed my day yesterday. I hope you did yours.

May you enjoy today!

It is after 8 in the morning. I layed in bed for a while.

A beautiful day! Every day is beautiful now. Finally!

I spoke of humidity yesterday morning. Hot hot!

Turns out it was not humidity. I had a fever.

And the fever lasted into the middle of last night night. I spent the day in bed, except for the radio show. I was hot. Sweaty. And chillls in between.

Then in the middle of the night, the fever broke. But not before I sweated through the pillow case and my tee shirt. I had to change both.

I feel terrific this morning!

The radio show went well. I did not know I was sick at the time.

I received 2 negative comments about the show afterwards. Both concerned my dissertation on the Crimean War and the cardigan sweater. The point made to me was why did I make it part of the show. It did not seem to fit.

The comments are probably correct. The Crimean War/cardigan sweater episode did not fit.

I have a problem. I enjoy reading poetry aloud and quoting from famous novels. The Crimean War bit gave me that chance.

The topic concerned Alfred Lord Tennyson’s The Charge of the Light Brigade. I could not pass up the opportunity to say aloud…..”Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred…..Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die.”

I was so turned on by the quote, I recited it 3 different times in 3 different places in the segment.

Sorry. I will be more careful in the future.

Big day today and tomorrow. The Blue Angels are flying over Boca Chica Naval Base. About 5 miles to the northeast of me. I should be able to watch the show from my second floor balcony.

Enjoy your day!

Hot this morning! Humid is a better description!

Very little breeze. The water not moving.

I am sweating as I write this morning.

I am not complaining. Two weeks ago we were freezing our asses off!

My radio show this morning!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour!

10 am. KONK 1500 AM. Better yet, dial up www.konkam.com on the internet. You can see as well as hear there. Modern communication is amazing!

I spent the day doing paper work. All day! Except for a break at lunch time. I went over to the Shrimp Shack on Stock Island.

What a beautiful setting! I sat out on the dock under an umbrella with the shrimp boats only 5 feet away.

The place was packed. To see the Blue Angels.

The Blue Angels will be doing a public show at Boca Chica Naval Base on saturday and sunday. Yesterday they were practising. And repeatedly zooming over the Shrimp Shack.

The noise was a blast!

Bocce last night. We won the first game and lost the next two. Such is life! One compensating factor is that we played one of the best teams in the league. Not an excuse. A fact. The best players on my team are not as good as the worst players on their team.

I am ashamed to admit that the reason we won the first game was that one of the opposing players did not show up on time. That meant our opponent only had 3 players to our 4. And 2 balls to roll to our 4 every other turn. In other words, we beat a crippled team! It is like fighting an opponent who has one hand tied behind his back.

As bad as it may sound, we were happy to do so! A win is a win! We have had few this season.

Norm made a brief appearance. He is our captain. He was involved in a terrible accident about 3 weeks ago. Had to be airlifted to Miami for some heavy surgery. He came to briefly cheer us on. With a strange looking neck brace that kept his head tilted up, a limp and a cane. He is on the mend and will make it. Thank God!

I stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. Chatted with Rob and Nate. Both good guys.

Rob wanted to play golf today. I said, no. Radio show.

Nate played on the pro golf circuit for a couple of years. A hell of a golfer! Hits the ball a country mile! He offered to take me out and give me some tips. I am the world’s worst golfer!

Have to move my butt! Need to get ready for the radio show.

I had a cup of coffee while I was writing today’s blog. A mistake. Tied in with the humidity, I am sweating profusely.

Enjoy your day!