DEMOCRAT FORUM LAST NIGHT A WINNER

A time when Republicans are screwing up. In just about  everything. One being the Presidential debates. Terrible. A disgrace. The candidates in revolt.

Last night was a Democrat debate. Described as a forum. I can understand. All three candidates not on the stage at the same time. Each had his/her own time seated directly opposite moderator Rachel Maddow.

I learned more last night regarding Clinton’s and Sander’s positions and thoughts than I had before. The debate/forum a success from my perspective. Assuming of course that the purpose of these things is to make people aware of policy positions.

Maddow deserves credit for the success. She handled the entire event skillfully. No gotcha attempts. Previous moderators from debates by both sides could learn a lesson from Maddow.

Martin O’Malley for the first time got a chance to show his stuff. He is around 2 per cent in the polls. Made no difference. He was a candidate and got equal time. As a result, for the fist time people are aware of his positions and learned he is an intelligent personality.

Lunch with Jennifer yesterday at Roostica. We had business to discuss.

I ordered also a Sicilian deep dish pizza to go. My dinner last night. I stayed in to watch the Democrat forum.

Syracuse/Louisville at 12:30. I plan on watching. Hope I can get it on TV down here. So far every game has been available. Though none ever listed. I believe the game will be shown on CBS itself. Whatever, I look froward to watching.

Syracuse a 14 point underdog. Three key defensive players did not make the trip. Injuries. Not mentioned as an excuse. Merely for information purposes..

Syracuse is 3-5. Louisville 4-4. Just maybe Syracuse might win.

Howard Livingston tonight. At Casa Marina. He is entertaining the Parrot Heads. I believe the public is welcome.

Sick minds on the island. Nothing new. Still commenting negatively about Fantasy Fest. Specifically, this time the Zombie Bike Ride. A “drunken sexually charged, skin and leather affair…..madness.” As set forth in this morning’s Key West  Citizen’s Voice.

I have never participated in the Zombie Bike Ride. Just about everyone I know doses, however. Ingenious costumes. Bikes decorated. Faces skillfully disguised. Many families. Tons. Entire business offices.

I cannot believe drunken, sexual, etc. Most of the riders not the type who would do such things publically.

We live in a crazy world. I say it every week on my blog talk radio show. Another shooting. Marksville, Louisiana.

Six year old Jeremy Mardis buckled via a seat belt in the front passenger seat. His step father driving. Six year old Jeremy shot to death. His stepfather hospitalized with bullets lodged in his brain and a lung. The shots fired by police officers.

Two police officers arrested and charged with murder yesterday. The police chief on TV said the “…..most disturbing thing I’ve seen.” Meager details so far. Vague. I hope they come out today.

Today in the year 1917. The first free Russia government was overthrown. The White Bolsheviks headed by Alexander Kerensky were deposed by the Red Bolsheviks led by Lenin. Kerensky had been the first President of free Russia.

Alexander Kerensky taught me Russian history when I was in college. Exciting courses. Learning from a man who was there for the revolution and played a big part in it.

He had to escape Russia immediately when deposed. He escaped through European countries and then into South America. Eventually, he made his way to the United States.

Enjoy your day!

I FELL AGAIN

I fell again. Last night. At bocce.

A step involved again.

I had just made a great bocce shot. I was excited. I turned around swiftly and stepped up out of the court. A six inch rise. Moved too fast. Did not lift my right foot enough. Stubbed my right foot on the rise/step.

Little damage. A one inch in diameter scrape. Bit of bleeding. Washed it off and someone gave me a large band aid.

Why do I mention these falls?

This blog is, amongst other things, my Life in Key West. Falling has become a part of that life.

We won all three bocce games. Wowie! Next week we play the #1 team. The best of the best! They are miles ahead of every other team in the league. Including ours. Not a negative observation. A factual one. We will be up for the match, however.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. Impossible to fall on it. I am locked in from the waist down.

Then to 5 Guys for a cheeseburger. I have tried to avoid meat for a week. I had a sudden desire for beef. Enjoyed the cheeseburger!

Not many people in 5 Guys. Strange. Three when I entered at 12:30. Three more came in while I was there.

The Parrot Heads Convention this week. The Parrot Heads are holding their convention at Casa Marina. They were joined last night by Jimmy Buffett! The Parrot Heads have been Jimmy Buffett followers for 24 years.

Buffett announced he will be playing in Havana saturday night. Wonderful! An example the US/Cuba reconciliation is working.

I will be on the radio today. KONK News. 104.9. Sometime between noon and one o’clock. I will be interviewed concerning this week’s KONK Life column The Looting of Social Security.

Democrat debate tonight. Rachel Maddow the moderator. Her questions will be right on in comparison to what the Republican candidates have been subjected to.

I will be watching. Friday night home in Key West watching a political debate! Love it!

Power Boat Races start this weekend. Exciting and dangerous! US 1 will be crowded today with boats being towed in for the races.

Syracuse plays Louisville tomorrow. Louisville a two touchdown favorite. Does not bother me. I hope we win. Not important at this point in the season, however. Next year we will be much better. The following year in the mix. Syracuse is heavy with freshmen  and sophomore players. Most of whom are starting this season.

Ben Carson is starting to worry me. Joseph built the pyramids to store wheat? If so, where did all the jewelry and mummies come from that I have spent years viewing in various museums? Why does the Old Testament fail to mention Joseph’s feat? The answer simple. It did not happen as Carson portrays.

Carson wanted to or did hit his mother in the head and wanted to stab or did stab a friend in his early years. Tied in with the Joseph belief, I am beginning to question his state of mind to be President.

Enjoy your day!

 

NO COMPROMISE WITH LIFE

The crosswalks on Northern Boulevard are a disaster waiting to happen. Local officials not responsible. It was a State job. The State made the decisions.

Lights are needed at the crosswalks. The State is considering yellow lights. Key West leaders red lights. Louis, red lights.

It appears the State is pushing a compromise. You do not compromise with life. The need for the lights and the color of them is a life and death situation.

The Boulevard is a race track. Do the right thing!

Got a manicure yesterday at noon. Love Tammy!

Two ladies getting pedicures. Sharing a bottle of champagne. Flutes and all. The ladies knew how to live!

A fish sandwich at Hogfish last night. Fair sized crowd. Sat at an uncrowded bar and read the newspapers.

Super Boat Races start saturday. A whole week. End the following saturday. A major event!

This marks the 35th year the event has been held.

The big boats have started coming in. Long and sleek. Beauties. They will be parked everywhere.

Nothing like watching the races. The sound of the boats combined with the roar of the low flying helicopters exciting. Keeps you on edge.

“I’m Just Wild About Harry.” It is two days in a row I am writing about Harry Truman and the 1948 Presidential election. The song intro is not because I like Harry. It is what the crowd sang on November 5 when Truman returned to Washington after election.

Remember, Truman was supposed to lose. Not even a close election.

Reports indicate two-thirds of Washington turned out to welcome him. Described also as hundreds of thousands. They lined the streets the motorcade followed from Union Station to the White House.

The Washington Post predicted Dewey would win. As the parade passed by the Washington Post building, a large banner was visible on the building. “Welcome Home from the Crow Eaters.”

The National Catholic Reporter ran a featured article November 2. It had to do with pedophile priests. The article stated that in any area where a sex abuse situation occurred, people left the Church. Such resulted in a loss of cash flow. Not enough people putting money in the basket on sunday.

The numbers are interesting. The article says legal payments via settlement or otherwise to victims was $3 billion. I have read elsewhere, $4 billion. Whatever. Contrasted against the loss of Church collections, the claim is the Church has and is losing $2.3 billion per year.

I somewhat disagree with pedophilia being the reason many Catholics walked away. Many had left earlier. For me, it was birth control in the 1960s. My generation was unhappy with the Church’s position.

The decline in Church attendance obviously started long before the pedophilia discoveries. The Church was not paying attention.

After the recent Synod which closed last month, I fear the Church has failed to learn its lessons. Except for Pope Francis and a handful of bishops, the remaining bishops are not in accord with his changes to attract back Catholics who left.

This week’s KONK Life is on the streets. My column this week is The Looting of Social Security. One of the best I have written. Read it, if you have the chance.

The article was linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. keywestlou.com.

Bocce tonight. We could use three wins. I am a pig!

Enjoy your day!

 

ROSE TATTOO / TENNESSEE WILLIAMS / DUNCAN ST.

The time is this week 1954. The place Duncan Street in Key West. The filming of the movie The Rose Tattoo began.

A great movie. Loved it! Starred Burt Lancaster and Anna Mangani. Mangani won the Academy Award for her performance.

The movie was an adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play. Tennessee Williams lived on Duncan St. He wrote the play while living on Duncan St. The house where the movie was filmed was on Duncan Street. Two doors up from Tennessee Williams’ home. Both Williams and the Rose Tattoo houses still stand on Duncan.

Lisa lives on Duncan. Her home is 1 1/2 blocks from the Williams home.

Key West loves Harry Truman. Harry Truman loved Key West.

On November 2, 1948, Truman was elected President. He defeated New York Governor Tom Dewey. Truman was not favored to win. A big underdog. No one gave him a chance. Except Truman himself.

Congress at the time was Republican. They blocked him at every move. Some what like today’s Congress and Obama. Only worse. Truman campaigned against the worst Congress ever, as he put it.

Corporate America disliked Truman. Vehemently.

An example is what occurred while Truman was campaigning. Campaigning was done from the back platform of the last car on a train in those days. The train traveled all over the country.

Truman was short on funds. Again, he was not expected to win. Few were contributing to him. The train and crew were leased. The bill was overdue.

The train was stopped by the railroad somewhere in the middle of nowhere between two towns. Truman was told the bill had to be paid in full. If not, Truman and his entourage had to get off.

Truman threw in what he had in his pocket. His supporters did likewise. They had just enough to pay the bill. Truman proceeded on his way.

The distaste the railroad owners had for Truman obvious. Doing this to a President of the United States! Disrespectful!

Politics played the same all the time. Hard ball.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Love dong the show!

One of the topics clearly reflects government waste.

The Department of Defense built a gas station in Afghanistan. Nothing special. A run of the mill gas station. The contracted cost for construction $3 million. A lot for a gas station. Especially since a similar one had been built the previous year in Pakistan for $500,000.

The final cost of construction was $43 million. Wow! $3 million for the construction. $40 million for overhead.

The gas station built was a compressed natural gas automobile station. So built because of the great supply of natural gas in Afghanistan.

The only problem was the people had cars that were petroleum operated. They had no use for the new station. Making the necessary adjustments to change over to a natural gas operated vehicle was not financially feasible. The cost was more than the average Afghanistani made in a year.

The Defense Department had a task force in charge of spending with regard to the closed gas station. When the Department was asked why the increase, they said they did not know/ could not tell because the task force had closed down in March.

And they want to cut Social Security! Cut waste!

I would like to know who made out on this Afghanistan gas station.

Last week, I reported on my radio show that the Muslim immigrants in Germany were overloading the hospitals. One problem was they refused to be treated by female personnel. Doctor, nurse, or otherwise.

Yesterday, it was announced that Muslims presently in camps in Germany would not accept food from women.

Beggars can’t be choosers. They should be grateful they are receiving free medical and food.

European banks are beginning to hurt. Good! May their American counterparts do likewise.

European banks are cutting costs. A large Spanish bank with 2,300 branches     now cleans windows only six times a year instead of twelve. Another Spanish bank with many branches kills the electricity at 7 pm. Another bank requires staff to clean their desks every wednesday. Called Wet Wipe Wednesday. Office space is being reduced.

One hundred thousand banking jobs in the Eurounion have been cut since 2012.

My left chest which I injured in a fall last week started hurting big time again last night. I don’t know why. Kept me up all night. Not one moments sleep. A pain pill did not help. Feels better at the moment.

I am going to skip the treadmill this morning. Will keep a noon manicure appointment with Tammy, however.

Enjoy your day!

 

PRE-SEASON BASKETBALL POLL…..AN INSUILT

Yes, my blood does flow orange! I am furious this morning. The Associated Press pre-season poll came out. Nowhere is Syracuse listed. Not in the top 25 or at the bottom re those teams that received even one vote.

I am not going to dwell on the NCAA findings and judgment. Syracuse will survive and excel. This year’s team is as talented as prior teams. With or without Boeheim for the fist nine ACC games, Syracuse’s coaching staff is experienced and deep.

Screw the numbers, Syracuse will be in the mix at the end of the season.

Spent yesterday afternoon working on tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

Interesting topics. Highlight’s of my Looting of Social Security article, a tea party Congressman retiring after only five years because he wants more time spent with family even though Congress only works one week on and two off, religion and politics, Saudi Arabia afraid U.S. becoming anti Saudi Arabia, a Monsanto update, and more.

Join me at 9 o’clock my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Dinner with Don and Chris at Marquesa last night. Good people. Return to Key West several times a year. Don is presently spending a lot of time working in South Korea.

Fantasy Fest is over. It was obvious last night on Duval. Quiet like a cemetery.

Parrot Heads arrive wednesday. Convention time. Jimmy Buffett people. Strange as it may sound, Howard Livingston has been asked to entertain the group saturday evening at the Casa Marina.

Seaking of Howard, the front page of today’s Key West Citizen carries a photo of Howard. A detailed complimentary article. Tells Howard’s story yesterday and today. A terrific human being!

An interesting news bit in the Citizen, also. Keys Energy has a large abandoned building in Bahama Village. It has not been used for over 50 years. Keys Energy wants to give it to Key West. The facility was formerly a diesel generator plant.

Louis says, beware of Greeks bearing gifts. The building is an economic disaster waiting to hit.

Keys Energy admits there are some environmental problems. The some are gigantic. I have not seen the paperwork nor the facility. However, I spent my legal career as an environmental attorney. my work included facilities such as this one. the contamination has to be fantastic It will run down into the soil itself. Contaminated soil is one of the most expensive things to remove.

A point to be considered also is that the law generally requires the owner at the time of a cleanup to be responsible for the cost.

The building is no bargain.

The last play of the Miami/Duke game will not be forgotten. Ever. What bothers me is that post-game, the ACC suspended the referees for two games. The ACC determined post-game that the refs had not made calls it should have made during the play.

Wrong on the part of the ACC. The determination on the field is the last call. In all sports, collegiate and professional. Confusion the only guaranteed outcome of the ACC’s decision and what will follow.

Enjoy your day!

HOWARD AND CINDY LIVINGSTON

Howard Livingston is an outstanding entertainer! Leaves you smiling and happy. His wife Cindy a great lady. The perfect couple.

I knew Howard before he was Howard Livingston. Back when he wore three piece suits, had short cropped hair and always a clean shaven face. At the time, he was CEO and owner of a Chicago manufacturing plant. The plant made railroad engine diesel parts.

We met at Mangoes some 15 years ago. By accident. Howard and his then wife, me and my then wife. We bonded instantly and became close friends.

It was a cold January day. Sun shining. Winter in the Keys. Long pants, etc. I was down. Sort of depressed. Did not know why. Howard happened to call. He sensed it. He said…..Hey man, come on  up and you and I will go out on the boat. I said we’ll freeze. He said dress for it.

I did. Pajama bottoms covered by long pants. Shirt, sweat shirt and heavy up north type winter jacket. A hat and gloves.

It was cold out on the water. I froze my ass off in spite of the clothing.

Howard grounded the boat on Marvin Key. Howard handed me two plastic chairs. He carried a half gallon of Beefeaters and some glasses. He walked me to a line of trees. Within five minutes, both of us were stripped to the chest. The trees broke the cold wind. The sun reflected on us from the sand.

We sat for hours. Sipping. Chatting. Sitting quietly. Snoozing a bit.

Cell phones were not terrific back then. Reception always questionable. On Marvin Key, I would have expected no one could reach me. I received a call. Surprisingly.

The call was from my office in Utica. The purpose was to inform me that we had just settled a particular case for $2 million. Our fee $600,000 plus.

I felt better. Instantly. It was either a combination of the place and call. Or, the call itself.

Howard said it was time to eat. We walked back to the boat. Howard cooked tuna steaks and vegetables on a grill on the back of his boat. We sat on the plastic chairs in the water as we ate.

Howard knew how to live! He still does today. He loves being a musician, singer, and song writer. His new life. Better than the three button suit.

Why Howard and Cindy today? I ran into the two of them at Roostica last night. We rarely see each other these days. He works constantly. We chatted a while. He and Cindy wonderful people.

I spent most of yesterday completing my research and then writing this week’s KONK Life column. One of the best I have done. Involves Social Security and how we are being screwed by the government. The article is titled The Looting of Social Security. Read it if you can. It publishes wednesday. A guaranteed eye opener.

Enjoy your day!

AMERICAN PHAROAH CLASS ACT

American Pharoah  is American! All the way! A class act!

Winner of the Triple Crown. The first to do so in many years.

American Pharoah won the Breeders’ Cup yesterday. Following the race, it was announced that the great horse was being retired. He is off to a life of breeding in the bluegrass country of Kentucky.

I was disappointed when his owner did not retire him immediately following the Belmont, the last of the Triple Crown races. His owner said he wanted the world to see the great horse race. I thought he did it to make more money. He already had received a huge monetary reward. He sold American Pharoah’s breeding rights immediately following the Triple Crown for millions.

May American Pharoah have many remaining years and enjoy every moment of each.

Today is technically the last day of Fantasy Fest. There are a few final activities today. Minor in comparison to the Parade which was last night. Nothing compares with the Parade.

I stayed home. Did not see the Parade. However, the photos in today’s Key West Citizen indicate terrifically large and colorful floats. People in the streets cheering. Seventy thousand strong!

Some say this year’s Fantasy Fest was too sexual in nature. Too many bare breasts. Some bodies almost completely nude. Males and females. There are those crying out to tone things down.

I disagree. Fantasy Fest is what it is. If Key West wishes to go puritanical, then it should close down the event entirely. Something that would never happen.

The merchants make too much money from the event. Which, by the way, is the reason Fantasy Fest began some 25 odd years ago. October was a dead time and it was thought such an event would bring tourist business to Key West. Which it has big time.

Reasonableness should prevail. Fantasy Fest is an adult event. Meaning an event with sex thrown in. Not entirely, but sufficiently.

I am told that many of the bare breasted women the past few years are middle aged with sagging twin sisters. Why be critical of them! I say go for it ladies!

Most of the women are part of husband and wife couples from middle America. Straight laced back home. Hard assed, church going. Fifty one weeks a year. For the one week of Fantasy Fest, they let it hang loose. Go all out to enjoy a bit of debauchery.

Good for them!

My Syracuse took another hit yesterday. A beating! Florida State overpowered Syracuse 45-21.

Wait till next year!

Bocce rankings appear in today’s sport section of the Citizen. Our team is solidly in third place. Three weeks left in the season. Nine games. Going to be interesting.

I spent considerable time yesterday researching this week’s KONK Life column. There is more research to be done before I actually write the column later today.

The column probably involves the most research I have ever put into an article. Such does not mean the column will be long. It will be one of the shortest I have written. My plan is to lay the facts out. They speak for themselves.

The article involves the $18 trillion debt we hear so much about. Most do not know what the debt consists of. We hear social Security and other entitlements. I plan on simply breaking things down. The column a guaranteed eye opener.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

FANTASY FEST PARADE

Tonight is the big night as far as Fantasy Fest is concerned. The Parade! Fifty to seventy floats. Seventy thousand people. Duval jam packed with people yelling and screaming for beads.

Two observations.

I did the parade once on a float. Howard Livingston’s. I think it was the first time he had a float. The parade begins down Whitehead. Then a couple of blocks of Front Street. Followed by the turn onto Duval.

There is nothing to compare to the thrill involved as you hit Duval. Thousands of people. As far as the eye can see. Yelling and screaming. A high!

Seventy thousand people. No joke. No exaggeration. I have always wondered where they sleep? Not enough rooms in Key West. Actually, not enough rooms in all of the Keys.

Some sleep on the beach. If you rise early tomorrow morning, drive down along Smathers Beach. You will see.

I will not be there to watch the festivities. I live three islands up from Key West in Key Haven. I have to drive into Key West. Where to park? No where to be found. People, including me,  stick there cars anywhere. And then walk a great distance to the place from which they will watch the parade.

Twice my car has been towed. $200 plus to get it back in the middle of the night. In addition to which you have to find a friend to get out of bed and drive you to Stock Island where the car has been delivered.

Today is Halloween, also. Robert and Ally attend Montessori. Yesterday, the students were required to dress as a recent historical figure. Robert went as Walt Disney, Ally as Susan B. Anthony. Ally even carried a sign…..Let Women Vote.

Halloween night is another reason I will be staying home this year. A tradition has developed. Key West parents drive their children to Key Haven to trick or treat. Some come in the back of pick up trucks. Parking will be at a premium the first half mile into Key Haven.

The kids come to Key Haven to trick or treat because the goodies are better and the homes are waiting for them. Key West for some strange reason does not work that way. Most homes are darkened for the evening. I suspect because the residents are working or playing. Key Haven residents are waiting for the ghosts and goblins. Their homes are all lite. Many sit on their front lawns with tables of candy for the visitors.

This continues down Key Haven Road to Cypress. It ends about half way down Cypress. The streets are overflowing with young ones. I live at the very end of Cypress. They never get down to me.

My concern is driving home. I have done it at various hours. It is difficult to weave through the mass of children covering the streets. An accident waiting to happen some year. I do not want to be the one. Ergo, better I stay home.

Did my bit on KONK News radio yesterday. Interviewing me was Don Riggs who was talking with me from Phoenix. A great interview. Don a hell of a guy. Once lived and worked in Key West. Worked for KONK Life radio while here.

Syracuse/Florida State at noon. Syracuse 3-4. Florida State 6-1 and ranked 17th nationally. We are going to get killed! However there is always next year and the year after. Not wishful thinking. Many Syracuse players are freshmen, including our terrific quarterback Eric Dungey.

Don and Chris coming in Sunday night. After Fantasy Fest. They prefer the island quiet and to themselves.

Enjoy your day! Drive carefully! Watch out for the kids!

MASQUERADE MARCH

Fantasy Fest continues!

Two biggies today. The Masquerade March and the Bourbon Street Pub Tea Dance.

The Masquerade March has grown over the years. Initially, it was a bunch of locals and tourists dressed in costumes who walked from the cemetery to Duval. Now numbers in the thousands. A second route had to be added several years ago.

Both groups will leave from the cemetery. One takes the old route up Fleming. The other, the new way. People party in front of their homes and on porches. The marchers are cheered on.

I have never marched. However, I have enjoyed several great porch parties over the years.

Key West’s gay intersection is Duval and Petronia. Two popular gay bars are cross cornered from each other. 801 and the Bourbon St. Pub. A big event starting at 1 this afternoon at the intersection. The event is called the Bourbon Street Pub Tea Dance.

A scaffold is erected in the center of the intersection. Two levels plus the street. The two levels have music makers.

There is a guy in black leather with his butt exposed playing a guitar on top every year. Ladies climb the scaffolding to dance. People dance in the street. Where room can be found. The intersection is packed throughout the event.

Bocce last night. Missed the toga party for it.

We played Larry’s team. We were tied with them for third. I am happy to announce we won all three games! Everyone on our team played well. We had to if we were to beat the opposition.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill at Body Owners. Then grocery shopping at Publix. I enjoy grocery shopping. I meet old friends and make new ones.

An attractive woman and I kept running into each other. Finally, she jokingly said…..I’m stalking you. I responded…..Please do!

I will be on the radio for 15 minutes at 12:30. 104.9. KONK News. Guy deBoer will be interviewing me re this week’s KONK Life column Boudicca, Warrior Woman.

It was announced yesterday that China is changing its policy from one child per family to two. Some news persons said it was because China needed added workers for its developing manufacturing industry.

Not correct. I did a TV show on the topic four years ago and wrote about the issue one year ago.

Four years ago, China announced it was studying whether to go from one to two children per couple. It took till now for China to make the decision.

The reason four years ago was who was to take care of the elderly. In China, the young always had taken care of the old. By limiting the number of children, China had limited the number available to care for elderly parents.

Last year, China discussed another problem. Under the one child rule, more girls than boys had been born. A significant number. The boys are now young men. There were not enough ladies to go around for marriage or sex.

Single Chinese men are traveling to the Korean border to engage in sex with Korean prostitutes.

In addition, a new business was born. The men wanted wives. The prostitutes sold themselves for an entire year agreeing to live as a man’s wife.

Such did not solve the problem entirely. Still not enough ladies. Multiple partners were born. Two to four men contract with one prostitute who would be the common wife of all of them for one year.

Enjoy your day!

 

TOGA TOGA TOGA

This is the night! Perhaps the best of Fantasy Fest! Toga Party!

The place Sloppy Joe’s. Inside and out. The street packed.

Men and women wearing white togas. More women than men. Togas skimpy.

It is negotiation time. The key for the ladies is to get as many beads as possible. The men want to see and the women are willing to show. First, the breasts. Then a move downward, front and back. Each a separate transaction. The lower the body part exhibited, the more expensive. Breasts go for one ring of beads. The southern exhibits, two or more.

Ain’t nothing under the toga or covering the privates.

I suspect I enjoy Toga Party best for three reasons. First, I am a voyeur. What a bad boy am I! Second, I am a man. Men are visual. We enjoy looking at naked women. Third, I never got to a toga party while in college. Remember the movie Animal House? I went to a Catholic college and we did not do those things.

Years ago, I would not have missed the Toga Party. In recent years, they are not as important any more. Tonight, I have bocce. Bocce supersedes toga. An age thing, I suspect.

I watched the Republican debates last night. Each Republican debate is worse than the previous one. I don’t understand. There is much talent on the stage. The moderators are a major problem. Last night’s were the worst. The questions stupid, no respect for the candidates, not fair with follow ups.

Mike Huckabee got into something close to my heart. Social Security. He talked about the $3 trillion the government in effect stole from the Social Security Fund.

My day yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. The power went out while I was on the machine. About 10 minutes into my workout. Power failure common in the Keys. Some people left. Never know how long these things last. I waited it out. Locked into the treadmill. Power returned in fifteen minutes. I was glad I waited.

My next  chore was to get the flat fixed. The tire was sitting on my back seat. With a rim in it, the tire would not fit in the Volkswagen Beetle trunk.

Got to Sears at noon. Told it would take to 4 or 5 before car was done. I suspected it would take that long. I was like 88th in line!

I left the car. Walked over to Regal Movies. I figured I would have lunch and then go to the movies. That would kill the 4-5 hours.

No afternoon movie available at the theater.

Enjoyed a two hour lunch at Outback. Read the newspapers. Left at 2. How long could I sit there? I even ordered a dessert to kill time.

Then to T.J. Max and Sears. Looked over men’s clothes. Not much time killed. Looked at everything else, except ladies’ underwear.

It was now three o’clock. Where was I to go? I was at the Sears Shopping Center without a car. I opted to return to the tire facility. My car was still in the lot. Had not been touched yet. Asked the guy about when. He said many still ahead of you. About five o’clock.

Went into Sears’ waiting room. Air conditioning not working well. Slept off and on.

Finally, the car was finished at 5:30. They could not find a hole. Did not know why tire went flat. Cost, $24.

I am concerned it will go flat again. We shall see. The tire is only six months old.

I hurried home to watch the debates which began at 6. First thing I did was pour myself a gin. Then blended into the recliner chair to watch.

I was tired.

Never got to watch the Royals/Mets game. Mets down 2. Next two games in New York should be interesting. The Royals almost won the World Series last year. I think they are committed this year and will be difficult to deny.

This week’s KONK Life column Boudicca, Warrior Queen linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. keywestlou.com.

Syracuse plays Florida State saturday. Syracuse a 20.5 underdog at the moment.

Bocce tonight. Play Larry’s team. We are tied with his team in third place. Serious business tonight.

Enjoy your day! If you are in Key West, add to it. Visit Toga tonight at Sloppy Joe’s!