An exceptional television experience last night. The PBS showing of Leonardo Da Vinci, “The Disciple of Experience.” Two hours of the best of the best.

It was not what I expected. I thought there would be more about The Last Supper. The questions I raised yesterday about Mary Magdalene, a child, the marriage of Mary and Jesus, etc. were not entertained. The very issues raised during the lectures I received first hand in my two visits to The Last Supper in Milan.

Nevertheless, the presentation was dynamic. Outstanding. I learned so much more about Da Vinci. His genius surprising. The intelligence he applied to his paintings and sculptures.

The show continues this evening with its final two hour presentation. I am anxious to view it. I could have seen the second two hours last night. However, it was 10 o’clock and my eyes were getting heavy.

Do yourself a favor and watch the second half this evening. Such an opportunity is rare.

“Four score and seven years ago…..” On this day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.

St. Peter’s Basilica was consecrated this day in 1626 in Rome. 

It became the world’s largest Catholic Church. I can attest to the fact. Have been fortunate enough to have visited several times. So big, tiring to walk around. Tons of alters. Masses going on all day. When beat, I would go to one of the Masses and sit. Did at least a part of three Masses each day.

An interesting piece of information follows. I write about it for a particular reason which I will share at the end of the topic.

The Third Amendment of the U.S. Constitution has never been argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Let’s hope it never does.

It has seldom been used. Never directly. It is the least litigated Amendment in the Bill of Rights. Last involved in the federal appellate case Engblom v. Carey, 677 Fed.2d 737, in 1983 where national guardsmen were determined to be “soldiers” within the meaning of the Third Amendment.

What the Amendment is all about: The Third Amendment forbids the government from forcing citizens to house soldiers in their private homes without their consent during peace time.

I share the Third Amendment with you in view of Trump’s plan to immediately act on removing invalid immigrants from U.S. soil. He is talking 0ne million plus and using the military or national guard to assist. The number to be removed is massive. It will require a massive number of military to do the job. Where will they sleep? Not in the homes of non consenting U.S. citizens!

Syngman Rhee was President of South Korea from 1948-1960. His tenure included the Korean War. His grandson Thomas Rhee was my college roommate. He introduced me to Korean cooking, some of which I vehemently disliked.

Tom was exceptionally thin and generally sick with one thing or another. I told him it was so because of the food he ate.

He did not enjoy my Italian food. It was tit for tat.

It is claimed William Tell shot an apple off his son’s head. The story questionable. If true, it occurred this day in 1307.

Today in 1928 a big one for Mickey Mouse! Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” was released. It was the first Mickey Mouse sound cartoon.

Key West has been without cancer services for a couple of years. A tragedy for those in need. I have several friends who have done without or traveled north for the basic attention required to keep them alive.

It has been announced that Baptist Health will open a new facility for cancer treatment in Key West. Terrific! One problem, however. It will not be till the summer of 2025.

Why so long a wait? The need is constant. It is a “now” one. Many will suffer needlessly, travel long distances for monthly care, or die without it.

It is great Baptist Health is opening a Key West facility for cancer treatment. The problem again is timing. Why can’t the Hospital do better?

Enjoy your day!

I started my morning with the neurophysiotherapy. What a session! Grueling, but good! Good in what I hope it will do for me. 

Then to Publix to pick up a few things. I was shocked! The price of something had dropped!

Bananas!

You may think no big deal. I eat one or two a day. So I buy weekly. The price has been a steady $.71 a pound for at least a year. Every week I wait for the price to go up as everything else has. This morning was a shock. The price of one pound of bananas had dropped 10 cents. Now $.61 a pound.

I bought a couple of extra bananas.

My intent this morning was to mention that the price of Campbell soups have shot up dramatically in one year. I drink a lot of soup. What was less then one dollar a can about a year ago, is now $2 plus. Comparing that increase to the banana decrease, the banana decrease should have dropped to $.35 a pound.

A special TV show this evening. Not to be missed. PBS is running a two hour show beginning at 8 pm titled “Leonardo da Vinci.”

God has been good to me in many respects. I have twice viewed da Vinci’s The Last Supper. In Milan at the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Actually, the basement of what was originally a Catholic Church. High ceilings.

Da Vinci painted perhaps his greatest work on a stone wall. The painting process referred to as tempera. The painting is massive: 15 feet x 29 feet.

When The Last Supper is viewed, a lecture accompanies it. So interesting! There is a shade near the Apostle John. Is it Mary Magdalene? She appears to be holding what might be described in the shadow a child. Is it the child of Jesus and Mary? Were they married?

I do not know if these items will be covered on the PBS show. They were covered in the lectures. If so, You are in for a ride!

This is artists’ day.

One of the world’s greatest modern sculpturers died November 17, 1917 at the age of 77. Auguste Rodin.

His “great works” include “The Thinker,” “The Kiss,” and “The Gates of Hell.” I was fortunate to view each more than one time while on loan exhibit from a Paris museum to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

“The Thinker” and “The Kiss” moving. Each in its own sense exotic. The best from my perspective was “The Gates of Hell.” Tiny humans fighting to escape Hell. Pain and suffering distinct in every face. Emotional to view!

I remained in yesterday. Concerned about my back. Laid around doing nothing.

Today may be the same. I did my physio, shopping and some banking. A lot for me in a short period of time. Will probably remain in the rest of the day.

The Titanic continues to hold fascination. 

An auction was held this week re the gold pocket watch given to the ship captain who rescued 700 survivors from the Titanic. The watch sold at auction for nearly $2 million. The watch an 18 carat Tiffany one.

It was given by three survivors. One Mrs. John Jacob Astor. Two other wealthy woman joined her in making the gift. All three had been saved by Captain Robert Rostron of the passenger ship Carpathia which hurried to the sinking Titanic scene. It was dark and cold. The Titanic had already sunk. The 700 survivors were huddled in less than adequate clothes in life boats. They would have frozen to death had Captain Rostron not changed course and hurried to them.

Remember “Tom Dooley?” Great music with a great lyric.

In November 1958, the Kingston Trio’s “Tom Dooley” hit #1 on the Billboard pop chart. I recall their singing the song well. I was in my first year of law school at the time.

An example of insanity. Pure and simple.

The 918 people who died in a mass murder suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, this day in 1978. The group was led in their deaths by the cult group Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones. They drank the drink. They drank a poison laced punch. A third who perished were children.

Sick!

This one bothers me. I listen to Morning Joe every morning. I start with the 5 am portion which introduces them at 6. This morning Joe and Mika, with broad smiles, announced they had met friday with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. They kissed the ring!

Mika said it had been 7 years since they had talked. They both indicated it was time to “bury the hatchet” and “restart communications.”

Actually, they began the process of covering their asses. They have been anti-Trump for years. Trump has sworn to get media figures who were against him as part of his retribution program.

I can’t blame Joe and Mika wanting to protect their business interests. However, something rubs me wrong here.

Received an email from Fran Dixon yesterday. They were in St. Thomas. She said it had been raining and thundering all morning.

Steve and Cindy are back! Missed them!

Steve knocked on my door in the dark of the evening last night. We chatted a while. Great trip!

He said everything I had told him about Greece was true. From Athens to Santorini to Mykonos to other islands. People great! Food terrific! Everything cheap! Except for Mykonos. He was not particularly thrilled with Mykonos. Neither had I been on my 3 visits. A late night young peoples’ town. Everything gets going at 11 in the evening. I was always asleep by then as Steve was. The other thing was tourists were gouged. The only place I ever experienced it in Greece also. Everything higher than high.

Enjoy your day!

2024 has not been a good year for me physically.  However, what can a person expect at 89 years of age. First the heart attack which brought with it 5 1/2 weeks at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami and three heart surgeries. Just as I was feeling better, my back started bothering me three months ago. Diagnosis revealed 3 slipped discs at lumbar 2-5 which were impinging on the nerve and massive arthritis in the area. Big time pain with the back problem.

I find it amusing. I experienced no pain with the heart attack. Merely passed out. The back has been the worst pain of my life. I am seeing a neurologist for it and undergoing neurophysiotherapy. Just began the special physio last week.

When I am sick as I have been this year, I care nothing but getting better. The blog falls by the wayside also. It takes me 6 hours a day to research and write the blog. Difficult to do if you are hurting big time.

I am back. Not sure if the blog will be daily. Probably several times a week. When I can comfortably do so.

I began the blog some 20 years ago. For me. For my pleasure. Not to entertain readers.

It amazes me how the blog has taken off over the years. My subscribers are in the thousands and are world wide.

I began the blog by talking strictly about Key West. I was out and about most evenings 20 years ago. Did everything, attended everything. Then came COVID. I need not tell you how everything changed. I decided to totally remain  home. A person my age was an excellent candidate to get the disease and die. The only time I left home for more than 2 years was to visit the doctor or go to the hospital.

No longer could I write about Key West. I was not experiencing the town. Needed to supplement the missing Key West stories. Decided on politics. Those smart asses who read and comment re my blog, be aware that the politics at a minimum quintupled my subscriber base. Amazing! So you who say go back to only writing about Key West, I cannot because I do not go out as I used to. Which leaves me politics to discuss.

My political followers are not always the nicest of people. Many are foul mouthed and vile. Prone to write nasty things about me. Never was of concern to me. As long as people read the blog, I was happy. Differences of opinion are a way of life if you write about politics. Must say it again however, some go too far. Most recently with my absence, some had me taking off to Venezuela because of Trump’s election. One had me escaping to Puerto Rico. One even hoped I died: ” Forget about how Lou’s doing, he brought this all on himself for not supporting Trump. I HOPE HE CROAKS.”

Need I say more?

I have not commented on the election results. The media is doing enough of it. The people. for various reasons, reelected Trump. Time will tell the wisdom of their choice. One to two years is all that is required. Perhaps less.

One thing that bothers me that I will mention is that 52 percent of white women voted for Trump. Blacks and Latino ladies went for Harris.

Why did the white ladies vote more for Trump than Harris? Abortion affects them, their daughters and granddaughters. I find the 52 percent number hard to understand.

Syracuse’s Don and Chris are back for the month of November. I have not seen them yet. My back has basically kept me in. Constant pan is a difficult thing to handle.

Steve and Cindy are to return today from their one month trip to Europe. I have missed them.

Buffalo’s Tom and Fran are on a Mediterranean cruise. They will return to Key West for Thanksgiving. 

Now for my yesterday.

A doubleheader involving Syracuse. Basketball and football.

I cannot get Syracuse games on TV. Brady’s Irish Pub has become my place of choice to watch Syracuse games. It is a sports bar. 

Syracuse was playing its third basketball game of the season at 1. Football at 3. A long afternoon was ahead of me.

The basketball game was against Youngstown. Brady’s could not get the game either. So I left and returned at 3 for the football game.

Syracuse beat Youngstown 104-95 in double overtime. Syracuse’s previous 2 wins were by one or two points. Both against lesser teams. Is the handwriting on the wall that the basketball team will suck this season?

I found watching games at Brady’s while seated at the bar next to impossible. The high stool somehow aggravated my beck.

I spoke with Chrystal about it. Said I wanted to sit at a table on a regular chair to see if it helped. She had the solution! In a back dining room, there is a TV set and tables and chairs. She set me up there. It worked! I enjoyed watching Syracuse beat California 33-25. Don’t let the score lead you to believe it was a close game. It was Syracuse all the way! A 21 point second quarter solidified the win for Syracuse.

Syracuse is now 7-3.

Next Saturday it is Connecticut at noon.

While watching the game, a fellow came over to say hello. He recalled me from Antonia’s where he had been a waiter. He was with his girl fried. A physiotherapist. She and I enjoyed an interesting conversation. She presently is working with disabled children. She has a PhD. in physiotherapy. 

A gentleman close to my age and his wife sat at the table next to me. He was 86. Last name Russo. We had an enjoyable conversation about from whence our people came, etc. I was one up on him. My mother was born in Italy in Foggia.

My friend Theos telephoned from Greece yesterday. He was afraid I had died.

What will I do today? I do not know. Maybe go out for lunch. Not certain yet.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Such is life!

A sweep.

Why?

Today, the moment of truth! Election Day!

As I stated yesterday, I see Kamala Harris winning. I add today that I do not believe the final result will be extremely close. Harris closed in a windstorm the past two weeks while Trump dug his grave deeper.

For months now, my blog has been heavily invested in the election. That time is over. Yes, I will speak of the final result, Harris appointments, etc. However, today I am not going to dwell on politics. The time over. The result is the only thing important. And that will take one or more days to determine.

I am going to share some nonpolitical items with you today. Hope you enjoy the political pause.

Amusingly, I began with a political figure. His story is fraught with humor.

Tucker Carlson.

He claims a “demon” attack while he was in bed left him bleeding. An amusing story if Carlson was not so influential. He’s one of Trump’s crazies.

On this day in 1941, the Combined Japanese Fleet received Top-Secret Order No. 1 that Pearl Harbor was to be bombed one month later on December 7.

Would you believe? New York City’s first motorized taxis were electric vehicles. Called Electrobats. The year 1897.

Longevity/distance a problem. They went out of use in 1907 replaced primarily by gasoline run vehicles. Electric operated taxis did not return to New York City streets till 2022.

A lock of George Washington’s hair will be auctioned at the end of the month. Starting bid is $15,000.

Catholics found it difficult to remain in the Church and pulpit even in 1605. Guy Fawkes was a Catholic. He led 13 Catholic conspirators who planned to blow up King James I and Parliament.

The plot was discovered, Fawkes and his group were arrested. Fawkes was tortured and then executed.

Today is celebrated as Guy Fawkes Day in England. His effigy traditionally burned on a bonfire accompanied by fireworks.

Illegal votes an “issue” under Trump. There was a “for real” illegal vote in 1872. Woman’s advocate Susan B. Anthony voted for Ulysses S. Grant. Two weeks later she was arrested, tried, found guilty of illegally voting and fined $100. She refused to pay the $100 and never did.

Forty eight years later in 1920, women voted for the first time. Eight million women exercised the right for the first time.

On this day in 1917, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisville, Kentucky, ordinance requiring blacks and whites to live in separate areas.

Some local Key West items.

It’s that time again! The Key West World’s Fastest Boat Races. The boats have arrived. Sitting all over town. The actual races will take place wednesday, friday and saturday.

Jean Thornton knows everything about Key West. She has been here for years. She called me yesterday. Told me more boats in Key West for the races than ever before. Significantly more!

Proof. The Boat Parade was sunday night. The line of power boats ran nearly the entire length of Duval Street.

I have a visit scheduled this afternoon with Dr. Norris re the lower lumber MRI I did last week. I am anxious to find out the results.

I close with the weather. Key West weather. Are we in line for a tropical storm or hurricane in a few days?

The hurricane season ended October 31. As has happened in the past, hurricanes never know it. They do not pay attention. There have been one or two post October 31 hurricanes.

Rafael may be forming. If it does, it appears it will hit Cuba as a hurricane. Key West and the Keys will have heavy winds and tons of rain. The Key West weather was expected to begin later today. It is 8:30 in the morning as I am writing this blog. The rain has already begun. Pouring big time!

Enjoy your day!

One day more! Tomorrow Election Day!

Vote! Vote for Kamala Harris!

What more can I say. America’s survival depends on it. 

Harris is about us, the people. Trump is about himself. Need I say more.

I see Harris winning. Her momentum the past two weeks indicates it.

Polls have not been dependable the past 10 years. If my recollection is correct, they have only been accurate one time in recent years.

If Trump wins, evangelicals will have been a major contributing factor. God will have been on the wrong side in this election.

Which means, woe is our nation.

Moving on to other issues.

An important issue on the Key West ballot. One I voted NO to the several times it appeared.

Those items authorizing a total of $226 million in the next 30 years for parks and recreation, transportation, police and fire, and climate change adaption projects.

An open checkbook to the Key West City Commission!

A person has to be crazy to give these politicians that much dollar power. Most cannot even balance their own checkbooks!

Something I was not aware of. My Catholic grammar school, high school and college educations made me aware of the Catholic Church’s Index. The Catholic Church indexed books it deemed contrary to the Church’s beliefs.

I worked in the Manhattan College Library while in college. A Catholic institution. A portion of the library was dedicated to storing certain books which had been indexed. Prohibited to lay reading.

I had access. Over a period of four years, browsed many of the Indexed books. Many interesting. Some I thought were not bad at all and should not have been banned.

The Catholic Church began publishing the Index in 1571. The Church stopped so doing in 1966 due to the sheer number of books involved.

I close with an oddball joke I ran across on the internet yesterday: What’s green, furry, has 4 legs and will kill if it falls out of a tree onto you? A pool table.

Not the best of odd statements. However, the best I came across yesterday.

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday was an odd one.

I decided to vote. Drove to the new Election Bureau building on Stock Island. Packed. Parking in the lot and on both sides of the highway. Easily 40-50 cars. My handicap sticker proved valuable. There was an open handicap spot in the lot and an attendant directed me to it.

There was a long line waiting outside to gain entrance to the building. Before I even got to it, I ran into Ashley. One of my physiotherapists. She had just finished voting. Still sweating. Not from the voting. Ashley is a runner. She had run from her condo behind the Regal Theater and was going to run back. A beauty. All a woman should be at 27 yeas of age. We enjoyed a pleasant conversation. She told me the whole voting experience would take about an hour.

I got in line. Outside, of course. I counted the people waiting. I was number 35. The line soon became 50.

It was a bit warm. The building and trees blocked the wind.

It took 35 minutes before I entered the building where the line continued inside.

There was a couple in front of me in line. We talked the whole time. Mid-forties. From Summerland Key. The husband began the conversation. He expressed his feelings re the election. Sounded like a Harris supporter. I merely nodded yes to what he said. I have always felt a polling place is not where politics should be discussed. People are there to do their thing. The talking behind them.

We talked about their kids, my Robert and Ally, the weather, cost of groceries, and a ton of other miniscule things. Every now and then the husband tried to direct the conversation to politics. I avoided his move each time. There was something strange about him. Just before we gained entry to the building, I understood why. He was a Trumpie. I had misread him. He was wearing a red cap with Make America Great Again emblazoned on it.

The building inside was terrific. Air conditioned and clean. A huge room well organized. A number of election staff personnel standing about directing people. I was impressed with the organization. And the joviality. Each staff person smiling and courteous.

My Trumpie friend proved what he was. There were different colored lines on the floor. We had to stand behind each as we progressed. The one near the end before receiving your ballot was orange. My Trumpie friend stepped over the line before his time and walked 5 feet ahead. He was kindly reminded to go back behind the orange line. He kept his head and nose up and ignored the woman staff person. She kindly reminded him again. He went back, but only to the line. Neither touched nor crossed it. A Trump asshole was all I could think.

When I entered the building, there was an empty chair inside by the door. I was asked if I wanted to sit. Only me. No one else. I said no. Thought, do I look that old? 

High rise tables were set up for people to stand at and complete their ballots. Also, 4 small tables with chairs for I assumed the aged and infirmed. 

By the time I was ready to receive my ballot, I felt aged. I was tired. I had been standing about 40 minutes. It must have shown in my body and face. I decided I was going to ask if I could sit and complete my ballot. Before I could, another worker asked if I would like to sit and I graciously accepted.

It felt terrific to sit.

It suddenly dawned on me that I must look old. Don’t laugh. Before my heart attack in January, I was 89 years old. People always took me for a person in his 60’s. Since the heart attack and three heart surgeries plus losing 60 pounds, I am still 89 but now must look it!

The thought did not make me happy. Vanity, I guess.

When I left and was in the lot at my car, the MAGA couple were waiting for me. They wanted to say good bye and how they enjoyed our conversation. If they only knew I was a Harris fan. They said I looked disgruntled. I quickly explained how the age problem bothered me. They helped by replying you are old and look old, etc. I disliked them even further.

That’s the new me I guess. Eighty nine and look eighty nine!

I hustled over to Brady’s Irish Pub for the Syracuse/Virginia Tech game. Ruthie took care of me. Set me up with my own TV set. I was the only Syracuse fan.

I had high hopes for Syracuse. We were only 4 point underdogs.

The first half was a disaster. For Syracuse. Took 10 minutes to get our first down. While Virginia Tech had already enjoyed 7. With two mines to go in the first half, Syracuse was down 14-3. Syracuse had the ball however. Looked like a Syracuse touchdown by half time. Not to be. Syracuse fumbled. Just like we had fumbled a few times against Pitt who slaughtered us in our last game.

That did it for me. I never leave a Syracuse game. No matter how bad we are getting beaten. For more than 60 years, I have been a diehard fan and remain till the bitter end.

Not yesterday. I said to myself, Screw it! I’m going home and left at halftime. I did not want to see Syracuse get humbled again.

I cannot get Syracuse sports on my TV. So when I got home, I went to bed and slept till almost 5. When I woke, I checked the final score of the game to see how badly Syracuse had been beaten. Was I wrong! Syracuse had won 38-31 in overtime!

Now I was the asshole.

Syracuse had a terrific second half as it turned out. Syracuse now 6-2 and bowl eligible.

Such was my saturday. Don’t know if it was exciting. Interesting, definitely.

Enjoy your day!

One of America’s greatest cowards and non-existent supporter of American war heroes and those who have fought to defend our country is Donald Trump. He turned on Liz Cheney again. Suggested she was a “war hawk” and should have guns “trained on her face.”

Trump’s words were based on the fact that she had never fought in a war yet could send other Americans to war.

I don’t know where Trump was coming from. When did he ever wear a military uniform? What war did he ever fight in? Remember, he avoided military service during the Vietnam War based on a “a claimed diagnosis of bone spurs.” An unproven one. Where is his medical report? As with his tax reports, never provided.

An example of the quality of the U.S. economy. The stock market is having its best year of any since 1936.

George F. Will is an asshole conservative Republican. The only way I can describe him.

He is 83 years old. Thinks as if he was 103. Makes the Biden of this year appear brilliant.

I have followed Will his entire career. He disappointed me yesterday, he disappoints me today.

His position re tuesday’s Presidential election is “voters face the worst Presidential choice in US. history.” Added, “There have been mediocrities and scoundrels in the 59 previous Presidential elections. But nothing like this.”

Knock Trump, praise Harris. For some reason, he cannot.

My advice to Will, retire now/immediately from the Washington Post. Most Americans do not pay attention to you today. They do not even know who you were or are.

If your stature is what you perceive, you would have stood for Harris in your recent writing instead of suggesting they both suck.

Respectfully, again I have not heard anyone mention your name in a political discussion or any other type in years.

Surprise! I thought that the percentage of people owning guns in the U.S. was huge. Not so. Only 32 percent of the population own guns. The problem creating a higher percentage in most people’s minds is that a large number of gun owners own more than one.

Fast food chain restaurants have been closing sites at a rapid rate. The most recent is Wendy’s plan to to close 140 restaurants by year end.

Management says the 140 sites are “dated.” Wendy’s advised however it would be reopening about the same number of new restaurants that it expects would be twice as profitable.

Ever wonder what the “thing” at the end of a shoelace is called? An “aglet.”

Live and learn. I’m always amazed! The largest ballet school in the world is in Cuba.  Would have thought the U.S., France or Russia.

Remained in again last night. My back again. Amazing. One thing after another. What a year this has been!

Back better this morning. M game plan for today is to vote later this morning. Then be at Brady’s Irish Pub by noon to watch the Syracuse/Virginia Tech game.

I close with joyous news. Chris and Don are back. Syracuse area residents and fans who visit Key West 2-3 times a year. 

I received an email from them yesterday that they have returned. They will be here for the entire month of November. Great! Good friends for years!

In recent years, we have been enjoying Thanksgiving dinner together. First thing they asked in the email, this year again? Of course!

Enjoy your day!

Wow! It is hitting the fan since Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally earlier this past week. He had many speakers. Most screwed up one way or another, including Donald. The worst however was the comedian no one ever heard of who referred to Puerto Rico as an “island of garbage.” If we were not aware, we learned. Never insult the island of Puerto Rico itself or its flag. Puerto Ricans are proud of their island, whether they still live on the island or reside in the U.S.

Puerto Ricans are considered part of the Latino group of voters. Most are Republicans and Trumpies. However not since the asshole comedian referred to their home island as garbage. Another adverse result is Trump so far has refused to apologize for the speaker’s misstatement. Typical Trump. Never apologizes. In fact, he considered the rally a love fest just as he continues to label January 6.

Puerto Ricans are pissed off big time! Many are openly advising they are changing who they will be voting for. They have moved from Trump to Harris.

The comedian’s faux pax and Trump’s failure to apologize for it could affect the election by throwing some of the close states to Harris. Pennsylvania has a huge Latino population. Puerto Ricans are on the march there. They even have decided to make Florida an issue. Would you believe! That is how mad they are.

So much material again today. I missed doing the blog one day and news is booming everywhere. I again will not be able to organize my material. It will be provided in the order it appears in my notes.

Trump’s MAGA followers are infuriated by a new Harris-Walz campaign ad voiced by actor Julie Roberts. The ad encourages women to vote for Harris, even where the husband is backing Trump. Her advice…..Don’t tell your husband you voted for Harris.

Sort of keep peace in the family. What the husband doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

Those opposed to Roberts’ position say such action by the wife is kin to an affair. Wow! Others claim it is nauseating. Some evangelical clergy remind the Bible says the husband is the head of the household and the wife shall do as he says and as he does.

Would you believe? These MAGAs and hard assed Republicans live in another time. Makes me wonder how happy these women really are living with such commanding men.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says Trump has promised him “control” of “public health issues.”

Lord, help us! The man is incompetent and inept. In reality, a quack. His father he is not.

Because of his natural limitations, he is a danger in any governmental position.

One example of his waywardness is misinformation he provided that contributed to a measles outbreak that killed 83 people. The man is a danger.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Derived from an 1866 piece of public advice: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”

Syracuse plays Virginia Tech tomorrow at the Dome in Syracuse. Syracuse 5-2, Virginia Tech 5-3. The game is at noon. Virginia Tech favored by 4 points.

Major announcement yesterday. The U.S. economy continues to be the best in the world. The result of Biden-Harris’ hard work the past 4 years. Contrary to what Trump and his followers spout, Trump left the country in terrible shape economically. His election to the Presidency again will without question result in economic disaster in less than one year. Especially his tariff program. A disaster!

Love all of you, my friends! Vote for Harris for your benefit and mine!

An Opinion writer in the Washington Post spelled out the result of the election correct: “I am absolutely convinced — you can take this to the bank — that it will be either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.”

Reread the Opinion piece again slowly if you failed to note its humor the first time.

Trump has “protected women” all his life. So he says. Even before he became a politician. Look at how he treated women. Grab ’em by their genitals! His claim that his most successful action as President was appointing three Supreme Court Justices who guaranteed the Dobbs decision.

Ladies, you don’t need him. And he does not need me to tell you. He is a degenerate and hater when it comes to the opposite sex. Forget not, actions speak louder than words.

Saw this statement on the internet yesterday: Say no to tyranny – Vote Harris!

The Supreme Court needs to be fixed. Too many Republican/strange decisions. The most recent this past week. A Virginia case that threw 1,600 voters off the ballot because of a “non-citizen” claim. An unproven one. Virginia said it was so and did it. The Supreme Court said it was ok without an actual investigation and roughly one week prior to the election.

We need a new Supreme Court. The present majority is “screwing” the America public too much.

Americans love avocados. Avocado in Spanish is Aguacate which comes from the Nahuatd word “ahuacatl,” which in turn means “testicles.”

So, tree testicles anyone?

Enjoy your day!

Happy Halloween!

Be careful driving tonight. Watch out for the kids.

I loved tricking and treating with my children when they were small. Got a second chance with Robert and Ally. Joined Lisa and Corey walking with them Halloween evenings.

Completed the Halloween walks each time by sitting with my children and then Robert and Ally and eating the candy they had collected. And for several days following.

I was a kid at heart! Still am!

There was no blog yesterday. Sorry. I am having a few “off” days and did not feel up to it.

Ergo, I have two days of things to share  today in one blog. Means today’s blog may be a bit long. Bear with me. The material is interesting. It also means I shall be sharing my thoughts in the order they appear in my notes. Organization lacking.

We start with tuesday afternoon. A first time visit with Dr. Schnapp. He is a neurologist. Dr. Norris referred me. My lower back suddenly killing me. Norris suspects I may have a disc problem.

Since it was my first visit with Schnapp, I did not get to see him. His physician assistant Julie handled me. Took info, checked me out, etc. I see Schnapp next wednesday. In between I have had an MRI and he and Norris are awaiting the results.

Julie was terrific. Knowledgeable. Put up with my detailed rendition of my problem. 

Then to The Grand for Happy Hour. Sat next to Chris. My company for the second week in a row. She works Security at the Airport. She has interesting stories to tell.

A couple were seated to my left at the bar. As they were leaving, the wife asked if I was Louis, Key West Lou. Love it when this happens!

They were Lisa and Greg Runion from Sylvania, Ohio. Sylvania near Toledo.

We had an interesting chat. They have been reading my blog for years. Both retired teachers.

They have a daughter Brynn. She works for Nationwide Insurance in Columbus. Loves the job. Nationwide is helping her get a Masters.

Brynn and Nationwide brought back a fond memory. When I was a young lawyer in the 1960’s, I was a Nationwide insured. Homeowners and auto. Nothing big. Nationwide at the time had a Policyholders Advisory Committee. Somehow I got elected up several ranks in the organization and ended up National Chairman of the organization for two years. Spent some time at Nationwide’s home office in Columbus. Got to know Nationwide’s President Murray D. Lincoln well. An outstanding individual. A class act. Influenced me. He died in 1966.

I suggested Lisa and Greg mention Lincoln to their daughter. See if she was aware of him. If not, she should become acquainted with his history. He was a true leader.

I hope to run into Lisa and Greg on their next Key West visit.

Matt was bartending. Nice guy. A gentleman.

A sudden hug and kiss. It was Jean Thornton. Husband Joe was with her. I had not seen Joe in months. They live in Birmingham. I spent 12 days in their home when I escaped Hurricane Irma. Great people!

Joe was leaving yesterday. Someone has to work. I sometime think Jean spends more time in Key West than Birmingham. Actually, the two are together often as they should be. The past few years they have become world travelers.

I ate early. I had not eaten since 6 am. A busy day. Meant I left The Grand early.

Tuesday night was Kamala Harris’ major speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. The same place from which Trump spoke before sending his people to the Capitol on January 6 to do damage, etc.

Harris was terrific. She’s got it! Well qualified to be President.

Yesterday was an MRI at the Key West Hospital. First time I have had an MRI since receiving the pacemaker. A big deal. Preparation wise and during the procedure. Because of the pacemaker, I had 6 additional nurses. I was the first MRI that morning with a pacemaker. Five of the 6 nurses involved were learning. You need a pacemaker observer when you have an MRI. Don’t ask me why. Confusing.

So I had the 5 learners plus Cathy. Cathy was their teacher. She knew everything. I was impressed with what she knew about me and my pacemaker. She even knew the first surgery at Mount Sinai had left a wire in my heart and I had to have another surgery to get it out of my heart.

The MRI went well. So I assume. I will know next week if I have a lumbar disc problem. The MRI was to determine if I did.

I felt under the weather yesterday. Telephoned Carola to tell her I would not be at Brady’s in the evening. She had planned on baking me Irish scones. I did not want them to be wasted.

Trump’s major speech at Madison Square Garden turned out to be a major screw up.  Someone on his program spoke poorly of Puerto Rico. A garbage dump or something. Going to cost Trump votes in the U.S. A ton of Puerto Ricans now live here on the mainland. They are insulted about the comment and Trump’s failure to apologize for it. Trump says the event was a “love fest.” In his mind only.

The Washington Post’s failure to make an editorial choice for President has thus far resulted in 250,000 cancellations. Bezos deserves it! May he take a gigantic financial loss.

Would you believe? Why is it not happening on the U.S.? Since 2007, all McDonalds’ fleet trucks in the U.K. have been fueled with cooking oil from their restaurants. In 2018, McDonalds successfully redid 80 percent of its waste cooking oil for use across its European fleet.

The Dodgers won the World Series. Four games to one. Sloppy baseball yesterday caused the Yankees to lose the game.

I have tons more material. Saving it for tomorrow.

I want to close however with Actress Lee Grant. She is 99 years old today. God bless her!

She starred in movies such as Shampoo, In the Heat of the Night, Airport ’77, and Valley of the Dolls.

She won an Oscar for her brilliant comic performance in Shampoo. Grant was blacklisted from 1952-1964. She won the Oscar after her blacklisting had ended.

The years of her blacklisting were times when we feared a nuclear war with Russia. Serious business back then. A daily fear. McCarthy was a fruitcake U.S. Senator. A weirdo much like Trump. A danger much like Trump.

McCarthy caused many in the movie industry to be blacklisted, lose their ability to work. Careers were destroyed. Some justifiably, some not so.

Grant was blacklisted. Not because she was a Communist. Her husband apparently had some involvement. She refused to testify about her knowledge of his doings. She herself was never involved. She was blacklisted because she would not testify against her husband.

When she was back to work, she also starred in the TV show Peyton Place.

When 50, she decided to direct also. She became a successful director as well as actress.

Enough for today.

Enjoy your day!