Another lovely Key West day in the making!

Sun bright. A soft breeze. Cool.

Yesterday was spectacular weatherwise. Low 80s, yet cool. No humidity. Everyone was commenting on what a terrific day it was.

Lisa telephoned me Saturday night. Be here at 9 tomorrow morning for breakfast.

I was.

Always an experience. The grandkids make it so.

Lisa went all out. Eggs, pancakes, granola, yogurt and raisin bread toast. And bacon. Turkey bacon! Lisa is a health fanatic where food and her family are concerned.

I hung around Lisa’s for a couple of hours doing family things, including playing a bit with Robert and Ally.

Then I was off to the Coffee House to read the Sunday newspapers. The Coffeee House was unusually crowded. Had to be the boaters who were still in town for the finals of the power boat races later in the day.

I did not attend the power boat races yesterday. However I understand they were the best ever! Speeds of upwards of 111 and 116 miles per hour. The helicopters zooming low overhead. Perfect weather. And a perfect sea. Calm.

The power boat races are international in nature. The boats and their crews come from all over the world annually to Key West for this race.

I spent the afternoon at Don’s Place watching the football games. The crowd was a bit less than normal. Perhaps the boat races impacted. I am not sure why.

In any event, Sunday afternoon at Don’s Place is always fun! Good people! Good TV! And good food!

I went to bed early. Around 5. That is early!

I watched the Colts/Patriots game from my bed. What a game! The Colts over the Patriots 35-34. All the action was in the last quarter. Not quite correct. The last quarter was exciting. The last minute thrilling!

A good Sunday!

Enjoy your day today!

A quiet day yesterday.

I ran errands. Had lunch at Lisa’s. Ran some more errands.

Spent the balance of the afternoon watching college football games.

Last night early at the Chart Room. Crowded. Mostly tourists.

Marty and I had dinner at the bar at Hot Tin Roof.

Sheila bartending. John managing. John is into college football big time. He was lamenting on the various unexpected losses yesterday.

Sheila shared a Stephanie Kaple story from Friday night.

Steph is a friend. The island shoe girl. She is totally absorbed by shoes. Her income plus goes to purchasing the best in female footwear.

Steph is always in heels. Generally high ones. Even when working. She cares for the homeless.

Friday night Steph was at the bar at Hot Tin Roof. A bunch of tourists were in. One was celebrating her birthday. The birthday girl mentioned that her mother had always served her Lucky Charms on her birthday as a treat.

I am too old to know what Lucky Charms are. They did not exist in my youth.

Sheila and Marty told me Lucky Charms are a cereal. A cereal with tiny marshmellows.

Steph wanted the birthday person to be happy. She rushed over to CVS hoping the drug store might have them.

CVS is 3 blocks from the Hot Tin Roof. Steph hurried over. CVS did have them! She hurried back with a box.

She made good time. The tourist was happy. Steph was happy she was happy.

Only one problem. Steph’s shoes were not made for the 3 block rapid trip each way to and from CVS. Designer shoes are neither hiking shoes nor sneakers.

Steph got a blister! A big one! Her reward for a good deed done.

Actually, knowing Steph the blister made no difference. She would have been pleased to bring a special smile to the birthday girl’s face.

Today is Sunday. My day.

Meet the Press. The Sunday newspapers. Breakfast this morning with Lisa and the family. Pro football this afternoon at Don’s Place. And then tonight probably home early to bed watching TV.

What could be better!

Enjoy your day!

I slept late this morning. It is already 8 o’clock.

The sun is up. Nary a cloud in the sky. A soft breeze. The water a silvery blue and moving slowly.

A good day in the making! It would appear our minor cold spell is behind us.

Terri White! Terri White! Terri White!

That is the only way to express her!

This week there will be a featured article about her in People magazine. Last week she was on Katie Couric. The week before on the front page of the NY Region section of the New York Times.

Finian’s Rainbow is a hit. Terri’s role in it has been expanded.

All a wow!

Good girl, Terri!

Nancy Pastore is a personality! Stephanie Manaher a gem! The two of them together awesome!

Nancy has run many businesses in Key West. She is the hired hand. The professional. Presently she is general manager at Don’s Place. Previous to that she was general manager at Fastbuck Freddies.

Stephanie has an even bigger job in life. She is married to Don Manaher, an owner of Don’s Place. A job unto itself! In addition to which she is also a school teacher.

Somewhere, somehow Nancy and Steph became aware of the extreme poverty of Ugandans. Uganda is that place in Africa that has suffered much the last 20 years. Genocides, war and now poverty.

There is a program to help the Ugandans. Especially the children. It is called Beads for Life. The impoverished Ugandan women take colorful recycled paper and turn the paper into beautiful beads. Beautiful is the word! I have seen the beads. Dramatic!

The beads are being sold world wide. Good hearted people like Nancy and Steph have a bead party. The proceeds of the sale–all of them–go directly to Uganda. The monies are used to provide food, medicine and school fees to Ugandan children.

The Beads program at the Uganda end is a 27 month one. The program is to make the children independent of the program after 27 months. At that time they are hopefully prepared to care for themselves. Sad, but yet wonderful. That children are independent and on their own at an early age, yet able to care for themselves. Not every one lives as we do in the United States.

Nancy and Steph are having a Bead for Life party this Tuesday, November 17, at 5 pm at Don’s Place. Go, see and buy a few. You will look better for it and you will also feel better that you have participated.

I had an interesting dinner last night with an interesting dinner companion.

Dinner was at a new restaurnat. The Columbia. It is located in Bahama Village. Deep in Bahama Village. It is in the block past Blue Heaven.

Obviously the food is enthnic. Columbian based. As is the decor. The food was fantastic. The mood of the room equally delightful.

My dinner companion was terrific! An interesting person! Maxine Makover.

Maxine has just returned from a month in Los Angeles. She was there assisting her son Travis Fine in making a movie. Travis wrote and directed the film. Maxine is executive producer.

The film is The Space Between.

Maxine advised the filming is complete. They are now at the editing and sound stage. The film should be completed in all respects by year end.

The movie is about 9/11. You will recall all flights in the United States were grounded after the Twin Towers were hit. One of the grounded planes landed in Texas. On board alone was a 10 year old boy. Of obvious Arab extraction. He had to be returned to New York. His father worked in the Twin Towers. A flight attendant was assigned to return him.

The film involves the interaction between the boy and an unhappy flight attendant and the obvious Arab animosity which existed during the return trip.

The star of the movie is Melissa Leo. She plays the flight attendant. Melissa was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in 2008 for her role in Frozen River.

Hopefully a very successful film in the making. It was interesting dinner conversation listening to Maxine relate her experiences with the making of the film.

May the movie break a leg as Terri White has on Broadway!

After dinner, Maxine and I took a walk along Duval. The speed boats were all lined up. The street closed.

The boats were imposing up close!

Then we headed over to the Keys Piano Bar to conclude the evening. I had not been there in several weeks. My loss. The music and singing were warm and happy. I felt good listening to Mark Watson and the other entertainers.

Personally, I did good! No drinking. And no smoking!

The smoking bothers me. It is a battle.

Enjoy your day!

Cold in Key West this morning!

Whenever the weather changs here in the keys, it is dramatic! Even 10 degrees.

I had to wear a sweatshirt while playing bocce last night. The quilt covered me in bed for the first time in months. The temperature dropped to 65 during the evening.

It is not yet 70 this morning. The high today will be 72.

Tomorrow will be cold also. Then we return to the low 80s.

Where this cold front came from, I don’t know. I am aware of the cold weather coming off the Atlantic from the Carolinas northward. Maybe we are getting a small piece of it. Local weather reports do not speak of where this weather is coming from. It is just here.

We shall survive. Actually, it is quite refreshing to have a few days of cold. No one is complaining, including me. Merely sharing.

I did my second radio show yesterday. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. I had a ball! I enjoy doing it.

The issue yestrday was mortgage foreclosures. My guest was Key West attorney Jerry Coleman.
An expert in the area of banking and mortgage foreclosures.

A good show! We explored many things of which I am sure the listening public was unaware. Matters that could affect a homeowner favorably in opposing the bank industry’s onslaught with these foreclosures.

Every one sins in these situations. The banks were wrong in loaning and investing as they did. And were further wrong in not using the billions in stimulus/ TARP dollars received to help bail people out. The American public was wrong in biting off more than they could chew in certain instances when monies were borrowed.

From my perspective, the banks were and are the bigger of the wrongdoers. Together with our political leaders who empowered the banks legislatively by deregulating them.

Whatever, the problem needs to be resolved. In the meantime, the American public needs protection from the banks’ collection activities.

Again, the show seemed to be well received. The e mails and telephone calls have been significant.

Tune in next Thursday at 1 for my next radio show. The topic? I do not know yet. I am still mulling it over. I will let you know as soon as I decide.

Following the show, I opted to be nice to Louis. I went for a manicure.

Then to Publix for some grocery shopping. I still do not have this grocery thing down pat. I never seem to buy enough.

I stopped on the way home to visit with Lisa. She was working hard on her internet department store Via Key West. http://www.viakeywest.com/.

We chatted a while. Father/daughter things. Love her!

Last night bocce! I should have stayed home! My team should have stayed home! We were destroyed. Lost all 3 games.

The season is coming to an end. Last night was actually the last evening. Next week is for make up games. We have a match to play. However it makes no difference.

We played well this season. Masterfully.

We had to win 2 out of 3 games last night to make the play offs. The team we were playing had to win all 3 games.

They succeeded. We failed.

The team that beat us was the best I have ever played against. In addition, they were on last night. They could do no wrong. Every time we threw a good shot, they followed it with a better one. They were spectacular!

This is the closest we have come in 5 years to making the playoffs. We are proud of our season.

Maybe next year!

After bocce, it was Don’s Place. We assembled as a defeated team. However we were in total agreement. The team that beat us was the best ever. They could do no wrong. We were better this season. We will get there…..some day!

I am into day 17 of good health. I stopped smoking and drinking 17 days ago. Doctor recommended.

I have not mentioned it earlier. I was not sure if I would make it, could handle it.

I think I am going to make it.

The drinking does not bother me. Except it sometimes is difficult to sit at a bar with friends who have had a few. You’re not in the conversation.

The smoking is another story, however. The craving is there. A hundred times a day. Or so it seems. I always want a cigarette.

I will make it! I have determination.

Enjoy your day where ever you are!

My radio show today!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

At 1 o’clock. Radio station KONK 1680 AM here in Key West. On the internet worldwide, www.konkam.com. And if you wish to call in with a question or comment, telephone 305-294-2769.

Today’s subject matter: mortgage foreclosures. People versus the banks! How Key Westers and the rest of the American public can stand up to the economic force which seeks to consume them!

Hope you can listen in!

I was wrong about the weather yesterday. A rarity. Key West weather is always so predicable, it is hard to make an erroneous projection.

It rained in the morning. Heavy. For about an hour. While we were playing golf. We had to go into the club house for an hour.

Golf was fun yesterday. I played with Kurt and Tino. Two good guys!

I played well considering I had not played in 3 weeks. And further considering that I am not the best golfer out there. I hit a lot of good shots and sunk a few putts. My problem remains the same. I cannot get off the tee.

Kurt and Tino played a personal match. Tino got strokes, of course. Kurt is a spectacular golfer. Kurt won in a squeaker. The last hole decided it all.

Yesterday was Veterans Day. It has become a big time holiday once again. There was a hiatus during and following the Vietnam War when America forgot its veterans. No more. Rspect is back! Big time! And properly so!

Key West is huge on parades. We have a parade for everything. One of the best is the Veterans Day parade. The military sharply marching. The Navy here. Proud vets marching and in cars. Some in uniforms of yesteryear. Floats. Bands blaring. Flags everywhere.

I watched the parade yesterday in front of Antonia’s. With the grandkids. Robert and Ally loved the parade! They sat on the curb. Waived their flags. And occasionally ran out to pick up the candy being thrown from the floats.

An excellent experience for the my grandchildren and the rest of the kids watching the parade. It introduces them to pride and patriotism at an early age. And it is good for us old timers, also. It reminds us!

Later in the evening I was at the Chart Room. Marty, Rick and Don were there. Mark bartending.

Don is a Vice-President at First State Bank. A veteran, also.

Don told me that his bank had a dinner a few nights ago for the Monroe County CPAs. Since Veterns Day was around the corner, Don brought up military service. He asked for a show of hands as to those who had served. About half the room, he said.

One of those raising their hands was a tiny white haired woman. A CPA from Islemaroda. Don engaged her in conversation. She told him she signed up in 1944 during World War II. In the Navy. She became a pilot. Flew fighter planes. Women were not permitted in combat in those days. Her job was to ferry the fighter planes to where ever they were needed.

This morning on the news there was a story about these women. There was a dinner honoring them last night in Dallas. These heroines of World War II were called Wasps. We have one of our own. Just up the road in Islemaroda.

Rick was also at the bar at the Chart Room. I have never spoken with him other than a hello. Till last night.

Don runs the hot dog stand on the corner of Duval and United. I see him there everyday selling hot dogs, cheeseburgers and on Fridays, pulled pork. His stand is located near the coffee house I visit evey day.

Rick appears to do a big business. People always standing around munching. And chatting. Seems his stand is a place where people congregate.

Later Marty and I went over to Square one for dinner. Rick joined us later. A good meal and good company. Square One’s bar is always crowded with locals.

Patrick was bartending. I attended his and Les’ wedding party last Sunday night. Patrick is one of the best people in Key West. I have known him for 20 years. They do not come any better.

Bocci tonight! I have not played in 3 weeks. Only 2 evenings left. We are close to making the finals for the first time. But first we have to win tonight. And then again next week.

We shall see.

Enjoy your day!

It is going to be another beautiful day here in Key West.

The sun is up. Cloudy though. So gray outside. A bit breezy. The clouds will move out. And it will be another bright 80 plus degee day!

Yesterday I was up and out early. Needed a haircut. Got to chat with my barber Lori. She now owns her own shop. She has become a businesswoman! It is interesting to talk with her.

I then walked over to the Coffee House on Duval. Had a choca mocha. Good! And read the local newspaers and the New york Times.

Then to Borders. I was still in a reading mood.

I recently finished the Abraham Lincoln book On Becoming Abraham Lincoln. It was written in 1893 by a John T. Morse. Morse lived during Lincoln’s Presidency.

I enjoyed the book tremendously. The fact that Morse was there when Lincoln was President gave it a special flavor. The only negative concerning the book was that it ended with Lincoln on the train to Washington to be sworn in.

Two things stood out in the Lincoln book.

The first was the clamor over slavery. For 30 years prior to the Civil War, it was a big time political issue. Much like abortion is today. Compromises were made. The issue seemed to be settled. Then it would rear its ugly head again.

The other was the degree of hatred that existed with regard to Lincoln. He may have won the election. But many in the country had a profound dislike for him. Mocked him mecilessly. Much like Obama is attacked today.

After his election, Lincoln had to travel to Washington to be sworn in. He had no secret Service for the trip. Appaarently he would get Secret Service protection after he was sworn in.

There was a plot to kill Lincoln as he changed trains in Baltimore on his way to Washington. Lincoln became aware of the plot. He made the train trip with a friend. Just the two of them. He wore a different hat. Not the usual one he was known by. He sat in a train car with other passangers. No one recognized him.

Lincoln also changed his route. He skipped Baltimore.

I started a new book a few days ago. David Plouffe was Obama’s campaign manager. His book The Audacity to Win has just come out. Interesting so far. I am only up to page 65 so not in a position to comment yet, except again that it is interesting.

My afternooon was spent getting ready for tomorrow’s radio show. Mortgage forelosures! Listen in to Key West KONK 1680 AM radio. My guest is Jerry Coleman. The subject mortgage foreclosures. Outside Key West you can pick up the show on the internet at www.konkam.com. The internet hookup is available world wide. So everyone, please listen in! It is going to be a people versus the banks show!

Last night was soccer and Ally. As I was getting ready to go over to the field to watch my granddaughter play, Lisa telephoned. Stay home. It is raining.

Rain is strange here in the keys. I live on the island of Key Haven. Soccer is played at the school on Stock Island. The next island from me. Not even a quarter of a mile away. It was raining on Stock Island, but not in Key Haven!

So I headed straight for the Chart Room. No sense in wasting the extra time.

A good crowd at the Chart Room.

Valerie was there. She is one of the bartenders at Hot Tin Roof. And so was Stepanie. Stephanie is the shoe girl. She writes a terrific social blog which always starts with shoes and ends up discussing a world problem. www.theislandshoegirl.com. Stephanie also runs an agency dealing with the homeless.

Che and Marty were at the bar also. These two solve the world’s many problems every time they get together.

Mark was holding up the fort by bartending.

Later, Marty and I headed over to Michael’s for dinner. It was steak night. The steaks were terrific!

Golf this morning! I have not played in 3 weeks. I will play lousy. But I look forward to playing. I have missed the golf and the nuts I play with.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

Up and at ’em! It’s going to be a beautiful day!

I am looking out the open window. It appears Ida has passed us by. Yesterday was it. Thank God!

A normal sun shinning mid 80s day in the making for Key West.

Ida has been running through my mind the past few days. The name. The word. A tune…..”Ida, sweet as apple cider.”

Where did it come from? Drove me crazy. Then I remembered. An early movie singer of old. The 1930s and 1940s. Short, big eyes. A singer and dancer.

His name escaped me.

Last night it came to me. Eddie Cantor!

Cantor was a big time entertainer. Vaudeville, Zigfied Follies and the like. His wife’s name was…..yes……Ida! And he sang “Ida, sweet as apple cider” for her!

The words to our songs have certainly changed over the years!

Last night started as usual with the Chart Room. Michael bartending. Marty, Che and Myra at the bar. The primary thrust of our conversation was the computer and its intrusioon into our personal lives. Some people do not like the loss of privacy. Understandable. My answer is simple. If you do not like it, do not use it.

Obviously Marty was back. We had dinner at the bar at La Trattoria. Kathy was working. Always good to see her. Beecha was working also. The best! I got my hug and kiss!

A good crowd. And then all of a sudden the bar was jam packed. A party of about 15 waiting for a table.

The speed boat races are this weekend. The boaters started coming in yesterday to prepare for the races.

The races are exciting. Big sleek power boats with 2 people. One a driver and the other a navigator/engineer. These boats race around Key West at dangerous speeds. More than 100 miles per hour. Helicopters swoop low over them. Heart pumping. Exciting. It makes the blood boil!

The speed boaters are spenders. As opposed to the sail boaters who tend to be conservative in their spending. The merchants will be happy this week.

The speed boaters in La Trattoria last night were from the New York City area. They were having fun. I hope they will be sober enough to drive the big power boats come the weekend!

Haircut this morning. Lori time! I do not understgand it. My hair seems to grow faster the less I have.

This week’s radio show will be interesting. Big time!

Mortgage forelosures. The legal ins and outs. What people can do to protect themselves from this personal major economic problem.

Jerry Coleman is my guest.

Jerry is a well known top notch Key West attorney. One of his specialties is mortgage foreclosures. He represents people against the banks. The knight on the white charger!

Pleaae listen in. Thursday at 1 pm. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Key west radio station KONK 1680 AM. On the intenet anywhere, http://www.konkam.com/. And telephone call ins 305-294-2769.

Banks have irritated me my whole life. I viewed banking and borrowing as the renting of money. Nothing more. Over my lifetime, bankers turned into pompopus know it alls who really knew little. They became greedy in the worse sense.

The economic failures of 2008 can be laid largely at their doorstep.

And their pomposity and wrongdoing continues.

The three largest banks in the United States received billions in recovery money. Our tax dollars. Did they spread it amongst the borrowing public? No. They kept it in house and made what they considered safe investments.

Now with unemployment at its highest level in years and mortgage foreclosures rampant, they are giving out billions in bonuses to their employees. The bonuses being financed with our tax dollars.

To make it even worse, this is the swine flu season. We are all told to get the swine flu shot. I cannot. There is not enough serum. Many others cannnot.

But the bankers can!

It was announced on TV yesterday that the swine flue vaccine has been made available to top staff at the major Wall Street banks. These people are considered a group to be protected. Before you and me.

What bullshit! When is it all going to stop?

Because of computer problems, I could not do my blog on Sunday. Yesterday I did it late. Around 3 in the afternoon.

If you missed yesterday afternoon’s blog, go back and read it. It was interesting.

I salute again today Shaneka, my AT&T saviour. Read about her in detail in yesterday’s blog.

Again, so beautiful outside. Warm, sunny, a mild wind. A great day in the making!

Enjoy your day!

I am back!

My computer was down a couple of days. That is why no blog yesterday.

I finally got it turned on this afternoon. It took me about 3 hours with AT&T.

An experience! I am too old for this!

I went through several AT&T personnel before I found some one who could help. I think the reaon was she wanted to help. It is easy to say it is not my problem, you have to call another department, etc. I was getting moved around and exasperated till I found Shaneka.

My heroine, Shaneka. She works for AT&T in Birmingham. She should be promoted! Given a raise! A good AT&T representative! She stuck with me through thick and thin and got me up and running.

I told Shaneka to read this blog. I am now telling her to have her superiors read it. Sometimes people have to be made aware of who their valued people are.

Thank you again, Shaneka!

Ida. Ida is here. No question. It is still hurricane season. We made it all these months without a single storm till now. And the hurricane season ends in 3 weeks.

Ida is coming up at us from the Caribbean. Nicaragua to be exact. Unusual to have a huricane from the south. They normally start off the coast of Africa and travel west towards us.

Whatever, Ida is approaching. And she is to be feared. Ida already left 124 dead when she passed over El Salvador.

There is wind every where today. Around 40 miles per hour. The trees are blowing every which way. There is no consistency in the wind direction.

Years ago when I used to sail in a 44 foot Morgan in the summers off the north coast of Long Island, I learned that wind is fickle. You never know which way it is going to blow. And that is the way it is today. Fickle! Every which way!

Whitecaps on the water, also.

Cloudy. Dark gray all day.

In spite of the wind and everything else, it is warm. 86 degrees.

I have sand all around my home. Not normal. The wind is blowing it ashore. You cannot see it till it settles. You cannot feel it if you are outside. But once it is on the ground, you can see it. I have a large amount about an inch deep in front of my driveway. The concrete area around the pool is covered with sand. And when I went out to get the mail, there was sand inside the mailbox and the mail was covered lightly with sand. The mailbox is closed. An indication of how strong the wind is.

Saturday night I went to a terrific party. A wedding party.

Patrick has been my friend for 20 years. He was one of the first people I met when I initially discovered Key West.

Patrick has been partnered with Les for 27 years.

They finally got married. Three weeks ago. In Iowa. They went to Iowa because Iowa recognizes and permits gay marriages.

Last night a surprise party was thrown for Patrick and Les at the Smith home on Shark Key. A first class party. Lovely people. Everyone happy for Patrick and Les. Everyone otherwise happy, anyhow. That is the way it is here in the keys. Everyone loves everyone else and everyone is happy. What a life!

I had a wonderful time last night! It was more special because Lisa and Corey were there. Lisa is even closer to Patrick than I. My grandkids love him and he loves them. He is Uncle Patrick.

As you will recall, my friends Donna and Terri married last week in New York City. Gay weddings seem to abound.

I love them both dearly. They have sent me some wedding pictures and there are others on Facebook. Looks like I missed a terrific party!

Terri success seems to grow and grow. From being a homeless person last year sleeping on a park bench in New York City to a starring role today in the newly opened Finian’s Rainbow on Broadway.

The New York Times did a page one story on her last week. She appeared on the Katie Couric show last friday. And Donna tells me that People Magazine just interviewed Terri for an article.

Go Terri! You broke your leg big time!

Shaneka, thank you again! I never would have made it today without you!

Everyone…..enjoy your day!

Ida is a nice name.

My boyhood friend in Utica was Basil. His mother’s name was Ida. She was a wonderful person!

Ida is now retired and still alive. She has to be in her nineties. She is is a leading and respected figure in Naples these days.

Basil’s mom comes to mind because a tropical storm/hurricane may be upon us. And its name is Ida!

The hurricane season ends November 30. We almost made it. No hurricanes so far this year. But the news has been telling us of Ida the past few days.

Ida is a strange one. It is coming off the Caribbean. Generally our storms start off the coast of Africa and travel west towards the keys. Ida is coming up from the south towards us. From Nicaragua.

As it turns out, hurricanes from the south are not uncommon this time of year. They generally occur in November, if at all.

Ida has been a 1 the past few days and is now a tropical storm.Aaround 40 miles an hour. But it will pick up speed over the water. And it has a lot of water to travel over as it moves towards the United States.

It is presently projected that Ida will hit some where in the Gulf. From Texas to Florida. Too early yet to say specifically where.

No one in Key West is excited or nervous. The more knowledgable say it will be some rain and wind. But nothing big. I am comfortable with that. So I am not worrying at all.

Hope I am correct! I have seen these storms change and turn into monsters!

The Parrotheads are in town.This is their week.

Parrotheads are Jimmy Buffett fans. And he has many of them! There are a couple of thousand in Key Wst now celebrating.

I assume they are called parrotheads because of the headpieces they wear. Many resemble parrots.

This is a Jimmy Buffett party. Buffett got his start here in Key West. But he does not often return to the parrothead party. He makes an appearance every few years. This year is not one of them.

Yesterday afternoon from 1 to 6 there was a big parrothead party at…..where else…..Margaretaville on Duval Street. The whole block was closed off. Music and people. A fun event.

My friend Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24 played for a couple of hours around 4 o’clock.

They were dancing in the street!

Lisa’s internet department store Via Key West continues to grow. I am packaging and running to the post office daily. The biggest seller so far are the Key West Lou T-shirts. Lisa’s internet site is www.viakeywest.com.

Tino and Maria are back. They spent the summer in Chicago. Tino was at bocci the other night.

Iguanas are not my favorite peiople…..animal…..whatever. They eat my shrubbery and deficate all over the place. I know few who like them.

However there are some who do. One is Alex Okinczyz. Many of you know Alex. I have mentioned him before. He is retired here in the keys. He sings and blows a horn with Larry Smith. A nice guy besides!

How he could like iguanas I do not know. But he does. And he went so far as to make a video of his iguana pets. He titled it “Dining with the Iguanas in Key West.” It is yours to enjoy or dislike. Actually, it was not too bad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCBnP_dzDLA.

The swine flu is a scare of major proportion. I recently heard rumors of cases here in Key West. Two bocci players are reported to have come down with it.

Be careful. Get your shots.

Notice the “s” on shot. You need two. The regular flu shot and the special one for the swine problem.

I got my first shot. My swine flu shot was scheduled during the time I was in Miami. When I returned, I telphoned my doctor’s office for a new appointment to get the swine flu shot. No appointmnet. The vaccine was all gone! I am on a list waiting for more to be delivered.

So I am a bit concerned. You should be also no matter where you are. Get your shots!

I am going to go out now and wait for the wind and rain from Ida to begin!

Enjoy your day!

Big day yesterday!

My first radio show and bocci!

The radio show went well. Or so I am told. I received about 15 e mails and a similar number of telephone calls. The e mails were from all over. Some from Key West, most from the States and one from Milan, Italy. The telephone calls were all local.

It looks like Louis Petrone presents the Key West Lou Legal Hour is going to make it.

I found the experience exciting! Never did radio before. My two guests made my job easy. Raieppe Avael and Tala Dutson were from the Southernmost Homeless Assistance League. Very knowledgable. Very helpful. Made my first time easy.

I was disappointed there were no call ins. I would like to mix it up over the telephone. In due course.

Next week I am doing a show on mortgage foreclosures. Something that affects most families and every area of the country. It should be a great show. Please listen in.

Bocci last night!

We lost 2 out of 3 games. We played a team that was tied with us. Both teams are fighting to get into the playoffs. They destroyed us in the first game. Beat us by 2 points in the second. And we beat them by 2 points in the third.

Every one played decent bocci, except for………………….Donald! Don, you said it was alright for me to say it in the blog!

Don celebrated a bit too much before he arrived for the games. And a bit more during the games. He is generally very good. Last night he had a Louis night as when Louis is off. It was hard for him to locate the polina on the court! But he did keep the ball on the court!

Such is life! We all still love you Don!

We still can make the play offs. There are 6 games left. I am told we have to win 4 of the 6. Sounds easy. Not. We shall see.

There was a strong wind last night. Came off the Atlantic. The bocci courts are on the Atlantic. I could feel the chill. Wished I had brought a sweat shirt. It was touching on cool and yet the temperature was 79 degrees.

This morning the wind is blowing big time. The palm trees are bending. The ocean waves are 2-3 feet. The wind is coming from the north.

I suspect the wind is the result of the bad weather up north.

There is a hurricane which has formed in the Caribbean. It is presently off Honduras. It is not expected to be a big one. It will hit somewhere in the Gulf. Perhaps the keys. We are not feeling the hurricane wind yet.

We have been lucky so far this year. No hurricanes. November is the last month for hurricanes. It would be a pain to have to put up with one at this late date. It is a pain to put up with one at any time. Regardless of its force.

November is not too late for a hurricane to hit Key West. In the last 10 years my recollection is Georges and Wilma hit us, both of which were big ones. I could be wrong on the names. But there were 2 November disasters.

Typical of Key West people, no one is worrying about this possible hurricane which could hit next week.

I am going to shower and then take a walk along the waterfront. Then I will treat myself to breakfast some where. The cupboard is bare again! I need a woman to shop for me!

Enjoy your day!