BLOG TALK RADIO COMING

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If anyone asks what you do when it appears there is  nothing to do, tell them to look at me.

I am going to do a blog talk radio show. It will be known as the Key West Lou Talk Show.

I have decided to start slowly. A one half hour show. Tuesday mornings at 7. My time.

Your computer is the radio. Turn it on and tune me in. Listen to the show while you eat breakfast, shave, etc. Just as you do now with the TV that you are not actually watching.

A current events show, I will make my position known. Listeners can call in, make a statement, disagree, ask a question, whatever. If it works, the airways could get hot!

Initially,  I can handle five call ins.

If the show works out, I will be thinking time change and a longer show. The time could stay morning, be mid afternoon, dinner time or late at night. It will be my option. Yours, also. I will be asking for input.

Next week, I will provide the particulars as to how to call in.

Sounds like a fun time in the making.

When I was a practicing attorney with a large staff, all personal matters were taken care of for me. Now I am like every one else. I am my own staff. Difficult to handle on occasion.

Yesterday, I wanted to renew my medicare supplemental policy and my drug policy. Both are with AARP sponsored United Health Care. Each renewal required its own call. One comapny, two separate divisions.

The drug renewal call kept me waiting 3.5 hours on the phone before a human came on. That is how it works. If you want to do business with them, you dance to their tune. The medicare supplement was not so bad. Only a half hour.

Disgraceful. United Health Care makes a ton of money. There should be no problem in putting on another 50-100 telephone sales persons.

Those four hours spent waiting conmsumed my afternoon.

I did get out to walk in the morning before the phone calls. The Marriott Beachside parking garage. Open aired. Four levels. Up and down for a half hour.

My diet is stalemated. I lost a ton the first 10 days. Twelve pounds. Gained a pound yesterday. From this point forward, I suspect the loss will be 2-3 pounds a week. I will be happy with that.

Going out to dinner tonight! How? I am on a very restrictive diet. Easy. I plan on eating my diet meal before I leave. While dining, I shall limit myself to two diet Pepsis and a cup of coffee. All the time talking with my guest Stephanie Kaple, the Island Shoe Girl. She will be stuffing herself. I will hate her by the end of the meal.

Congress in disarray. Cannot agree on anything. Has been this way for years.

This is not the first time. Two other occasions come to mind. I am sure there were more.

From 1840 to 1861, the issue was slavery. Whether new states and territories would be free or slave. As bad as the economic issues are today. So bad that one political party disappeared and a new one appeared in its place. The one that nominated Abraham Lincoln.

Another occasion was most of the 1930s. It all started with Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s election. The Republicans thought he was going to ruin the country with  his socialistic plans. Things like Social Security. Bad blood and bad talk were rampant.

The bottom line is we are living under circumstances that have occurred in the past. The Nation will survive. It always has.

I would be comfortable however if these asses in Washington would get their acts together and get things done in a more orderly fashion. The items they favor are not of such importance that they should threaten the country. There are round holes and square holes. A round item will not fit in a square hole and vice versa. Both parties rely too rigidly on their basic philosophies.

I visit the doctor again this afternoon. One of those things cut off my body a couple of weeks ago came back bad. More has to be removed. No big deal. I am not concerned.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

XMAS TIME IN KEY WEST

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Key West’s Christmas season kicks off this week.

Thursday night is the Yacht Club Christmas Party. For the young. Santa Claus will be there with gifts.

Saturday is the Christmas Parade. Long. As with Macy’s, Santa Claus is on the last float. This is one of Key West’s best events. For young and old alike. All ages enjoy.

The Lighted Boat Parade is December 15. Sponsored by Schooner Wharf, it is a fantastic event. Many many boats will be dressed in Christmas lights. Ingenuity knows no bounds. Several times, I have done the Parade while on one of the boats. A party! Food and drink, music and dancing. Plus, cold! Out on the open water this time of the year, it is very cold. Boat people that night wear everything and then more.

The Parade can also be watched from shore. Two to three thousand will be watching and drinking and partying.

Robert and Ally are members of a swim team. The team is having its first meet Saturday morning. Robert and Ally will be swimming. Exciting!

My day out yesterday was simple. The bank and paid some bills.

The rest of the day was inside. Worked on Friday’s show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Read more of the Ulysses Grant book. I am up to 1858. Grant was a failure. As a soldier, businessman, and farmer. Generally lived poorly.  Hard to believe that shortly he would be the North’s most successful general and later President of the United States.

The diet keeps me in. Away from food and booze. I avoid the near occasions of sin.

The diet has been working well till this morning. The scale said I had gain a pound. From 12 pounds lost to 11. I am not discouraged. Part of the dieting process.

Syracuse basketball!

Syracuse won again last night. Beat East Michigan 84-48. Syracuse is now 6-0. Even better, Syracuse is ranked #4 in the country.

The Orange played sloppy, especially in the beginning of the game. Eighteen turnovers.  Sutherland who scored 35 points in the last game, only scored 4 last night. On the positive side, three Syracuse freshman were in the double figures.

It is still early in the season. I question the ability of this year’s team. The Big East games after the first of the year will tell the story.

Sloan will be in late this afternoon. We are doing another practice blog talk radio show. It’s getting there. The show will be questions, answers, and exchanges between me and the caller.

A chill in the air this morning. Overcast, also. It will clear and be warm later.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

SOME KEY WEST HISTORY

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Key West was not always called Key West.  Back in days of old, the island was known as Cayo Hueso. Translated, Bone Island.

Why Bone Island? There were many bones on the island. Human bones. The interesting story involves the source of the bones.

One theory is that the island was once the scene of a Native American battlefield. An Indian war.

Another is that it was a burial island.

The third is that the southern keys were inhabited with cannibals. When the meal had been captured, he/she was taken to what is now Key West for cooking and dining. The bones were all that was left following the feast. There was no clean up. The bones remained.

The most popular scenario is the cannibal one. Locals tell the story as such. I have never heard the first two, except from history books.

To be a Conch is the biggest of honors in Key West. Today, a Conch is a native born Key Wester. Only native born can claim the title. A person can live in Key West for fifty years and still not qualify for Conch status.

Conchhood is a matter of great pride.

The first Conchs were immigrants from the Bahamas. White in color. They initially were of European ancestry, settled for a period in the Bahamas, and then found their way to Key West. Many many years ago.

Typical Sunday yesterday. Quiet. Especially quiet because of my diet. No drinking or excessive eating. Some exercise. Things I find I do alone.

Walked Smathers. At mid day, there were few walking the beach. I think because of the sun.

Afterwards, I went to Sears. I noted in the newspaper that Sears was having a big sale. I was interested in upgrading my Key West attire for my soon to be new body. New tee shirts and shorts. I was not impressed and purchased nothing.

Then to Publix. Just a few things required. Diet foods.

Last night was the final showing of Boardwalk Empire.  I thought it was going to be the end of the series. It was not. It picks up with a new year in January.

The show failed to impress me. Actually confusing. Too many minor plots apparently had to be concluded with the final show. It was too much in too little time. At least for me. Made for a disappointing show.

Enjoy your day!

 

BOCCE REPORT

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Not a bad day yesterday! The bocce playoffs.

This was our team’s third trip to the playoffs. It is like any other sport. You have to be there a few times before you can win.

We had not defeated anyone in our first two playoff appearances. Yesterday, we did!

Our noon game was against the #4 team from the Tuesday night league. We are #4 in the Thursday night league. The win was convincing. We won 16-4 and 16-5.

Wild!

At six, we played the #1 team from the Monday night league. They are the best of the best. Won everything last year. Lost only 2 games this year. In addition, Monday is considered the toughest league.

They destroyed us. By scores similar to those by which we won in the morning.

They were exceptional! Precise! Blasters! Whereas we worry about making one point, they were always figuring how to get two or three points from one shot.

It was a pleasure watching them win, even though it was against us. I complimented an opponent after a particularly good shoot. He said it took years of practice.

My team members are overall pleased. We move up another notch each year. At some point, we will be there.

My diet continues. I am into day 9. I will not tell you how much has been lost. You will think I am crazy.

The diet does affect me. I am slower than normal, dull and tired all the time. But the diet is working!

I got to watch the last 4 minutes of the Alabama/Georgia game. Must have been a thriller!

Key West weather this morning is perfect. An all blue sky. A bright sun. A touch of breeze.

During bocce yesterday, the weather was as it should be this time of year. Tee shirts and sweat in the morning. Sweatshirts and a bit of a chill in the evening.

Enjoy your Sunday!

BOCCE PLAYOFFS THIS MORNING

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Big day!

Bocce playoffs this morning!

Whether we win is immaterial. We are thrilled to be in the playoffs.

We have been a team for about 8-10 years. Some additions and deletions along the way. We always got beat at the beginning. It takes 15-20 years as a team to become extremely good.

A few years ago, we came in last. The next season we came in 4th. Made the playoffs! A very big deal!

We got crushed that first time 16-0, 16-0. We did not score one point! We did not care. We were thrilled to be there.

Two seasons ago, we made the playoffs again. We won the first game, lost the second two. To the team that eventually won.

We have been making progress. Today, we hope to do better.

I enjoyed doing the Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday on TV and the Internet. A professional setting. I have a producer and engineer.

Post show comment indicated interest/discussion involving two topics.

The first was the Chinese woman who sat on the toilet and ejected her new born baby into the toilet. The baby disappeared down the drain. Firemen saved the baby. I thought this was a unique situation. Turns out it was not. Several people told me it was common place and not newsworthy. Interestingly, one such comment came from an Italian viewer and another from a Chinese one.

Teen pregnancy and the rise of HIV among 13-17 years old drew much attention. A serious topic. A scary one.

The TV station is located at the beginning of Stock Island on Route 1. I decided to walk a bit of Stock Island immediately following the show. I walked streets rarely seen. Streets I had never seen when driving through Stock Island.

The streets were a disgrace. Monroe County should be ashamed that people are permitted to live in this fashion. I could not believe what I saw. Run down homes and buildings, filthy streets, on an island in between two rather nice living areas. Key West and Key Haven. There is no question affordable housing is needed.

Where is it? Why is  it not getting done?

Syracuse basketball last night. On ESPN, so I was able to watch from my bed at home.

Syracuse won 91-82. Beat Arkansas.

I was disappointed in the Syracuse team. They do not have it together yet. They were missing easy shots and having the ball stolen from them. Syracuse’s fabled zone was being penetrated. Except for a 12 point run in the middle of the second half, they did not look like a Syracuse team. Many times I thought Arkansas did.

Big sports day today. Bocce this morning. The Alabama/Georgia football game this afternoon.

Enjoy your day!

WE MADE THE BOCCE PLAYOFFS!

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Bocce last night! Last games of the regular season. There are 14 teams in the thursday night league. The top 5 go to the playoffs.

We were #4 going into last night. We played the #3 team. All games close. We needed to win 3 to move up to third spot. We won only 1, lost 2. However, the 2 defeats did not drop us in the standings. We still ended up 4th.

The playoffs begin at 10 tomorrow morning. A big deal! Tents to cover the players heads to avoid the sun, food and drinks. A very festive occasion.

Bocce is played 4 evenings a week. Five teams from each evening compete in the playoffs. Lose and go home.

Cheryl stopped by while we were playing. A loyal team fan. A friend. She had a new hairdo. Short. Looked terrific!

Key West Shoe Girl Stephanie came by. She has just returned from Paris. We are having dinner together next wednesday.

Pati came by for a hug and kiss.

The courts were relatively quiet. No Larry Smith. Without him, it was like playing in silence.

I spent time yesterday fine tuning today’s TV/Internet show. Teen pregnancy is my opening topic. You will be shocked by some parts of it.

The show can be viewed via television on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. On the internet world wide. www.tvchannel19.com.

Show time is 10 in the morning my time.

Join me, if you can.

I walked Duval yesterday as part of my good health program. Walked more than I intended. The people and store fronts attracted my attention.

Time is short friday mornings. I have to shower, etc. and head over to the TV station.

Enjoy your day!

A WHALE AND ALASKAN WASTE

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The two items in the title are totally unrelated. Both interesting, however. I wanted to give each its just due.

I am on a diet. Generally people in Key West give dieters the same advice. Swim, eat only fish, and drink plenty of water.

I came across a comment yesterday that fit the advice and showed the error of the advice.

A whale swims all day, eats only fish, drinks water, and is FAT!

Walked again yesterday. This time did the hotels. Each day a different place so I do not get bored.

The Casa Marina and the Reach. Plus up and down and around blocks in between.

Both hotels lovely. Especially the Casa Marina. A jewel! Neither crowded. Must be the time of year. A good time to visit. Prices cheaper.

I worked on friday’s TV/Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Still have some fine tuning to do. The show is a good one. They all are. We live in a crazy world and I report the craziness I discover.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour airs on two separate TV channels. From Key West to Miami-Dade County. Comcast Channel 87 and U-Versa Channel 19. The show is also available world wide on the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

The show is one hour and begins at 10 in the morning my time.

I published another Amazon Kindle article yesterday. Abuse of Power. Involves a three year old and the police.

Now to Alaskan waste. You are not going to believe what I am about to share.

Alaskans appear to be smart people. They may decry the federal government. However, they are adept at securing federal funding. Generally for irrational purposes.

The bridge to nowhere became household words when Sarah Palin was running. A bridge as long as the Golden Gate Bridge. Problem was the bridge went nowhere. The projected cost $398 million. Federal stimulus dollars had been allocated for the project.

After the election, Sarah Palin withdrew Alaska’s plans to build the bridge.

The Alaskans did get the federal government, however. They built the Gavina Island Highway. Cost $25 million. Note it is built. The problem is the highway was to connect to the bridge to nowhere. No one uses the highway because there is no bridge to connect to.

It has to make one wonder how much oversight from Washington is involved in the stimulus program. The highway and the monies for the bridge to nowhere were either approved and/or disbursed during Bush 2’s administration.

Now comes the airport in the middle of nowhere. The place is Akutan, Alaska. Alaska got approval to build a $75.5 million airport to service Akutan.

Akutan has 75 full time residents, 5 boats, and 1,000 seasonal workers. They needed the airport like a hole in the head! The money approved, but not disbursed. I doubt it ever will.

The airport was to be built on an island six miles across the Bering Straites from Akutan. Rough and turbulent waters. A means was required to get customers from Akutan to the airport. No problem. About $13 million was approved. Part of the $75.5 million package. To build/acquire some  kind of hoverboats as they were called to transport people back and forth.

We are not done yet.

It was decided a harbor was needed somewhere in Alaska. The harbor was built. Cost $29 million. The problem was there were no roads to connect the harbor to the town. Some one forgot to provide electricity and water to the harbor, also. Because no road and the other problems, the harbor is not used.

These monies are all stimulus dollars. Under both Bush and Obama administrations.

I see two problems.

Oversight with regard to the stimulus dollars does not appear to be effective. Perhaps non existant in some instances. What a waste of money! Taxpayer dollars!

The other problem is that Alaskan officials are pigs. Smart pigs. They knew these projects were not ready for use nor feasible. Nevertheless they went ahead and applied for the monies. Their explanation is that they were planning for the future.

No wonder as a Nation we are in economic trouble. Washington should watch its dollars as we do ours. We know they do not. I am not opposed to stimulus. All I ask is that it be used where it will do the best and immediate good. Immediate being the operative word.

Enjoy your day!

 

The runways were to be

THE DIET

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Dieting is such a pain in the ass!

It got to me yesterday afternoon. Only the third day. Weak! Big time! This morning the same thing.

It will pass. Another day or two. In the meantime, I drag.  As I said yesterday, the penalty for overindulging.

I walked yesterday. The airport. The four lanes in the parking garage, back and forth. Shaded, cool. Occasionally I would walk up the ramp outside where departing persons are dropped off.

I seem to have this thing for walking in garages.

Lunch was home. The diet lunch. No Blossoms or Harpoon Harry’s for a while.

Early afternoon did more work on friday’s show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Additional topics include 3 months in jail for having sex in a cab in Dubai, a Swedish woman who slept with human bones, the saving of a baby accidentally and unknowingly flushed down the toilet while the mother was sitting on the toilet, Italian markets without business, and more.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Friday mornings at 10 my time. Worldwide. TV via Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. The internet via www.tvcomcast19.com.

Later in the afternoon worked on blog radio. I had a test show to do at 5. Some additional preparation was required.

Yes, I am going to do a blog radio show. Will start in about two weeks. I am presently contemplating making it a talk show. People can call in free from where ever, world wide. Details will be provided in due course.

I hope the show works, is a success.

I love the Turner Classics Channel. Great old movies! Yesterday was a favorite. Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. Starred Laurence Oliver and Merle Oberon. Strong! Dark! Touching!

Enjoy your day!

MONDAY IN KEY WEST

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Pleasant weather. Makes you feel good to be in Key West

Walked again yesterday. Parked the car again at the airport. Instead of walking along Smathers Beach towards 1800 Atlantic, I walked in the opposite direction. Towards Flagler

What a difference turning around made! An equally exciting view as the Smathers Beach walk. This time the time shares, restaurant and fort on the other side of the road. Another flavor of Key West.

Lunch was at home. Had to be. I am on a diet and have to prepare certain foods.

I spent the early afternoon working on friday’s TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Initial topics prepared include teen emergency contraception, Toys ‘R Us and a stupid gender discrimination case, Euro banks in trouble, Germans want to link tax Google, woman arrested for riding a manatee, sex toy industry big in China, and Alaskan waste.

Remember to watch the show, if you can. Friday morning at 10 my time. Airs on TV two ways. Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. The show is available from Key West through Miami-Dade County. The show can also be seen via the internet world wide. www.tvchannel19.com.

I played grandfather later in the afternoon. Took Robert and Ally to swimming practice. They are on a swim team. Practice is at the college.

I felt sorry for them. The air was cool, the water cold. The pool is not yet heated. Robert and Ally came hurrying over after practice was concluded. I had huge towels and jackets with hoods for them. Wrapped them immediately. Robert said it was cold. I felt bad for the both of them.

Drove them home. Visited with Lisa and Cory for a while. Did not stay for dinner. I can only eat special diet food.

I arrived home famished. Prepared and gouged  my meal  down. A very small pizza and one cup of grapes. Not enough food. That is the price I must pay for having overdone for quite a while.

Diet or not, I still have to get out. To see people. To socialize.

I headed over to Hogfish. Two diet Pepsi’s at the bar and the good company of some local fishermen.

The Key West Citizen reported Kelley McGillis flag football would be returning to Key West. I knew Kelley McGillis socially back when I first bought a home in Key West. Then she divorced and left. She returns on occasion for flag football and Womanfest.

For those who might not recognize the name, Kelley starred in many movies. Two of her most famous were Top Gun with Tom Cruise and Witness with Harrison Ford. Yes, that lovely woman!

Old movies are my forte. Love them. Woke this morning and watched a part of Treasure Island. A 1932 movie based on the Robert Louis Stevenson book.

The star was a boy. Jackie Cooper. The same Jackie Cooper I would spend time with years later at La Costa. Cooper’s movie career  had concluded. I think his last movie was as the editor in a Superman film. When I knew him, racing was his thing. He owned and raced horses.

Enjoy your day!

LAZY DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING

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Somehow yesterday morning I forgot to press a button. Necessary to publish yesterday’s blog. It failed to get published. Discovered the error this morning. Pressed the button.

Ergo, you will have two blogs to read today. Yesterday’s and today’s.

I walked around feeling sluggish yesterday. Had to be the two Thanksgiving meals from the day before.

Did something pleasant for Louis. A manicure. Tammy her usual bright cheerful self.

Tammy has two children. Pre schoolers. I asked if she cooked a turkey. No, she said. I told her she has to do the American holidays. Her children are growing up Americans. She cooked Vietnamese dishes instead. Her excuse was she does not know how to cook a turkey. I believe her. She promised to try next year.

Bocce last night. I felt like the living dead. It was a make up game. We were the only ones using a court.

We won all three games. The most points the opposing team scored were six. It was a good night, an easy night. Before you get the impression we were that good, I have to confess that the team we beat is either at the bottom or next to the bottom in standing. They are new and relatively inexperienced.

The three victories help. We are close to making the playoffs. There is only one week to the season left.

Herschel and Erika brought a goodie. Smoked snapper dip and crackers. Herschel had smoked a turkey the day before and smoked the salmon along with it. Delicious!

The team headed over to Don’s Place afterwards. I had one drink and left.

Frankie. Frankie. Frankie. My partner, my bocce team mate. The best bocce player in the thursday night league. Perhaps the best player in the whole league.

Frankie did not play last night. Though he did stop by with his wife Sandy to say hello. Frankie is having heart valve surgery monday in Miami.

I wish my friend well.

This Fifty Shades of Grey book is being discussed by most people. Especially  women.

I reviewed the book from my perspective yesterday on the TV/internet show as I did recently in this blog. My main thrust was that the book was an event which would elevate sex to a new level. As had the birth control pill in the 1960s, the Joy of Sex in 1972, and the g-spot in the early 1980s. My review received big time comment. Mostly from women. All excited. All loved the book. Some commented they even agreed with my observation. With one exception.

The importance of the Joy of Sex was that the clitoris was unknown by most prior thereto. For real. The book introduced the world to the clitoris and clitoral orgasms.

One female reader did not like my use of the word clitoris. How else would I label it? That is what it is. That is what it is called. I did not think it offensive. It is an appendage on the body. Like an arm, leg, the tongue. My comments were to the point, brief, and not sexual in nature. I was reporting on a fact which had occurred.

So much for today. Read yesterday’s blog, also.

Have a good saturday!