FEATURED HOST

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I am sort of land locked. No car yesterday. Ergo, confined to home. All day and night.

Not a bad day, however. I got to work on my Greece book. I have avoided moving forward on it for three weeks. No particular reason. I have read that the hardest thing for an “author” to do is sit down to write. I got lazy. The daily blog, the weekly KONK Life column, and my blog talk radio show eat up a lot of time and energy. I love doing all three and would not eliminate any one. I have to allocate my time better.

I have completed reviewing the first 16 days of the Greece trip. There are a total of 31 days. It is exciting! I am reliving the trip all over again. Day 16 was one of the Mykonos days. It was also the day I got hit by a car and thrown over a three foot stone wall. A hit and run. The bastard never stopped.

I sent Guy deBoer next week’s KONK Life column today. John Paul Jones Part 1. Part 2 will be published the following week. Hope you enjoy both parts! John Paul Jones was an interesting person.

Sloan stopped in late in the afternoon. We plugged away at a couple of things. I am not computer literate. I need a Sloan.

I have been doing Blog Talk Radio for two years. Love doing the show! It is a quick half hour of Louis expressing his thoughts on political and social issues. The half hour requires 10-12 hours weekly of preparation. Which I enjoy! I was a lawyer. Lawyers research.

Blog Talk Radio advised me this week that I have been elevated to Featured Host. The designation is noted on my blog talk radio page. Additionally, I will be listed picture and all as a Featured Host on Blog Talk’s home page. Do not be impressed. Blog Talk is a big operation and has many hosts. Featured Hosts number about one hundred.

Blog Talk indicated the reason for the designation being applied to the show was two fold. A growing audience and the quality of the subject matter presented.

I like it. Thank you Blog Talk Radio.

It has been seven months since The World Upside Down was published. Would you believe…..it is still selling! Worldwide. The book is available for purchase on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

One of my favorite Key West events each year is Hemingway Days. Next week! July 15-20. The best part from my perspective is the Hemingway Look A Like Contest. There will be 125 plus contestants. Most return each year. Hoping to win, but really to share in the fun of the event.

My car is supposed to be ready tomorrow. I hope so. There is a degree of loss of freedom in not be able to hop in your car and take off.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

KEY WEST & BICYCLES

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Bicycles on the road scare the hell out of me! Especially during tourist season. Each time I drive is a disaster in the making. Ant the funny part of it all is that those riding the bicycles are not even aware of the situation.

Front page in this morning’s Key West Citizen was an article concerning Key West getting a crash course in safety. Turns out the #1 small city in bicycle accidents is our beloved Key West.

Bicycle riding has become an integral part of the Key West vacation package. It must be retained. However, it needs fixing. It needs more than a special police program to assist in making riders aware of the road rules regarding bicycling. It requires the City fathers, the City Commission, to stand up and get involved more deeply than it has in the past. Thought must be given to revamping the scenario. Not to do so is to court disaster.

Note that I am not critical of Key Westers who utilize bicycles as their means of transportation. They are experienced and know how to ride safely.

Katharine! The great white pregnant female shark making her way into the Gulf of Mexico. I stopped at Schooner Wharf in the afternoon for a drink. Chatted with some old time fisherman who were standing at the back end of the bar. They all said the same thing. Each had thought that large fish such as sharks lived in one area as part of a group. The GPS tracker affixed to the dorsal fin told another story. Great whites travel great distances. They can cover a 100 miles in one day. Astonishing! The GPS tracker had radically changed their knowledge/view of  how great whites live and their traveling habits.

Old time crucifixions are on the rise in the Middle East. Renounce your Christian faith and accept Islamism…..or be crucified. This weekend it was first announced that the Sudanese women who was sentenced to death because she would not reject her Christian faith was to be released. Twenty four hours later it was reported not so. The government made the initial decision. Now the government has backed off and said it is up to the courts. In the meantime, it was also reported that the woman was required to give birth in jail while her legs were chained/shackled.

We think we can teach these people democracy? The crazies are in Washington, not the Middle East!

An article I wrote re the crucifixions appears in my COMMENTARY column published in today’s KONK Life E-Blast. Read it if you have the opportunity You will find it interesting.

Ally’s birthday party last night! Fun as anticipated. Worked out just as I had predicted. Ally was thrilled. Ran the whole show. Lights out, sing, Robert don’t get in the way! My Princess!

Gym time this morning at 11. I walked the past three days. Once on a tread mill and the other two times around my house. Twenty minutes each time. I am trying.

Enjoy your day!

MY MEMORIAL DAY

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Memorial Day this year was not as in past years. No cookout, no party. I was forgotten. Unloved. If there were any parties, no one invited me.

I decided last week that this body of mine needs work. It has to be tuned. Otherwise, I am going to be in trouble big time health wise. So yesterday I returned to the gym. The same one that caused my major rib problem back in December.

This time with a new trainer. His name is Albert. A young fellow. From the Dominican Republic. Married to a Conch. She is with child.

He had been admonished by my former trainer Dan to go easy with me. I also brought a note from my doctor. Dr. Lefferts said beware, Louis takes blood thinners and bruises easily. He also has brittle bones.

At 78, I felt like a little kid bringing a note to his teacher.

Albert worked me for an hour. Not as bad as my other first time when I popped the rib. I survived. My next appointment is tomorrow.

I spent the rest of the day working on tonight’s blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine o’clock. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. If you miss the show at 9, it is archived immediately following the show. The next day it is available on You Tube, also.

Tonight’s interesting topics include CEO salaries at an all time high, Putin on the move, the Euro Union ordering member nations to cook their books, Greece wanting to sell 110 of its best beaches to pay Germany, Germany suggesting Greece sell Acropolis, the Parthenon, Mykonos, Santorini, and other islands in 2o10 to pay Germany, General Motors slow in recalling over 2 million cars, and more.

Interesting material. A fast moving half hour show. Guaranteed, you will enjoy!

My gym workout was at 11. By 3 in the afternoon while working on tonight’s show, I was exhausted. It was the workout. It had caught up with me. I was also a bit sore here and there. Nothing bad. I went to bed. Stayed there except for a sandwich a little later. Slept well thereafter.

Enjoy your day!

GRANDSON ROBERT 10 YEARS OLD

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Robert was 10 years old yesterday. Happy birthday, Robert! Poppa loves you very much!

Robert’s birthday might not have been. He was born with cancer of the liver. Fortunately discovered at birth. He had two major surgeries at Miami Childrens Hospital within the first eight days of his life.

We thank God all went well.

There has been no Happy Birthday celebration as yet. Robert is in Disney World and some other such places for three days with his Montessori classmates. Wonderful!

Even for animals, mammals and fishes there has to be an almighty overlooking them. One who provides them with a sixth sense.

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon has a new patient. An injured green seas turtle swam into the boat basin of the Turtle Hospital yesterday. The turtle weighed 46 pounds. A fishing line was wrapped around the turtle. He had lost his left flipper. The other was cut to the bone. He also had swallowed some of the fishing line. Additionally and not related to the fish line, he had ten herpes type internal tumors.

The turtle is obviously in critical condition. The hospital will work hard to save him.

This was the second time a turtle showed up at the Turtle Hospital boat basin on its own for medical attention. The last time was 1986.

Bocce last night. We had to win all three games to make the playoffs. We won only two. I played in the one we lost. I had one of my better evenings shooting. However, I missed a basketball 3 pointer at the end. My last throw was an open shot a bit long. I came up short. Way short. A few throws later by the opposition and we were yesterday’s news. One game short of making the playoffs.

We were on the bubble re the playoffs going in. There is a consolation prize. We are eligible for the Big Pine Tournament. We play tomorrow morning at 11.

The Big Pine Tournament is comparable to the NIT in basketball. A hollow victory having been invited.

The Players Golf Tournament was last weekend. I played in a pool. I rarely gamble. Came in first. Won $340. Those afternoons I lie in bed watching pro golf paid off.

I shaved my beard last friday. No one noticed till wednesday evening. Emily finally did at the Chart Room.

Cool today. Overcast. Strong wind from the north. No tee shirt today.

Enjoy your day!

 

BOCCE…..WE FALTERED

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There is a line in Peter Pan…..Dreams do come true. I don’t know.

All week my bocce team has been hyped about playing last night. We had come back from nothing by winning 8 of the last 9 games. We could be heading for the playoffs. We needed to win 4 of the last 6 games of the season.

We played three of those games last night. Against a team that had lost 9 straight.

They done us in! We lost 2 of the 3 games. Which means we have to win all 3 next week.

I was surprised at last night’s result. We were geared up and ready to play. Confident. It was kill time. We got killed!

I spent all of the day yesterday writing next week’s column for KONK Life. It is titled Misuse of Little Ones. The abduction of the 300 girls in Nigeria, coupled with the crucifixions and beheadings, including children, in Nigeria and Syria, motivated the article.

Yesterday was the 69th anniversary of VE-Day. Victory in Europe. The was against Germany was over.

I was ten years old at the time. The event sticks in my mind as if it were yesterday.

The news first came over the radio. No TV in those days. People rejoiced. They stood on their porches banging spoons against pots and pans. They cried. They yelled words of joy to each other. The streets flooded with people. Everyone crying. Everyone kissing.

There have been several wars since. I can recall no such rejoicing when each ended.

Speaking of anniversaries, today is the second anniversary of my Father’s death. He left us on May 9, 2012. He would have been 100 years old today. He had a good life. The second half was better than the first. I loved him and miss him.

Enjoy your day!

I AM CONFUSED

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There has been a recent increase in the cost of gas. We are told it is the Russia/Ukraine confrontation which has caused it. I do not understand. We get very little, if any, gas from the pipelines running across Ukraine.

As usual, the oil companies are taking advantage of a crisis. The price of gas has been gone up everywhere, including the United States.

Louis’ confusion arises from a local situation.

I live outside Key West on an island referred to as Key Haven. A Shell station sits at the entrance at US 1. For two days, the cost of a gallon of regular gasoline has been $4.07. I noticed yesterday the cost at the Shell station at Kennedy and the Boulevard was $3.89. I was by the Shell on Geiger Key at lunch time. The cost $3.89. An $ .18 per gallon difference. The Boulevard Shell station is 5 miles from the Key Haven Shell. The Geiger Key one 7.5 miles.

Do you blame me for being confused? Rip off time. At least as regards the Key Haven Shell.

Haircut with Lori yesterday morning. It now takes longer to trim my beard that cut my hair.

Then visited with Lisa for a while.

I planned on writing next week’s KONK Life column in the afternoon. I stopped at Subway to grab a sandwich to take home. I needed to conserve time. The column would take most of the afternoon to complete.

Buy stock in Subway! I walked in at 12:15. The line was backed up almost to the door. Fifteen persons. No way was I going to wait. Besides being in a hurry, I hate lines.

I do not know what possessed me. However, I said the hell with it and headed up to Geiger Key. Several miles past my home. That is how I discovered that the Geiger Key Shell was selling gas $.18 a gallon cheaper.

I thoroughly enjoyed my fish sandwich lunch. Geiger Key is a relaxing place to eat.

Next week’s KONK Life column did not take as long as I thought. The title is Muslims Taking Over Sweden. I had researched the topic thoroughly prior to yesterday. I was able to complete the article in two hours.

I have not written a KONK Life column for several weeks. I took a few weeks off. Next week marks my return. With a new column title. The Key West Lou COMMENTARY. Over the years, I drifted away from a legal column to commenting on events in general. Ergo, the COMMENTARY.

Bocce last night. Horrible! Horrendous! I obviously played poorly as I expected. I had not played in five weeks. Overall however, we were not with it. Lost the first two games 16-2 and 16-1. I participated in the 16-1 defeat. The third game was close. However, we lost 16-13.

What has happened to us?

Someone asked in a Comment received this morning if bocce being played in Key West meant there was a robust Italian community. Quite frankly, I doubt that many Italians reside in the Key West area. The large number of people playing bocce come from all ethnic and economic backgrounds. The bocce courts are a United Nations unto themselves.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

RAVEN

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Raven has been one of Key West’s leading vocalists for many years. I have heard her sing on occasion. She appeared at the Wine Galley as Larry Smith’s guest often. I was never impressed with her.

Last night, I was. Why the change of heart, I do not know. I heard Raven last night and was very much taken with her. It was  pleasure to listen to her. Why last night and not before, I do not know.

I used to tell Larry Smith I did not enjoy her singing. He used to ask why, telling me she was one of the best on the island. Larry was right.

Early yesterday afternoon was at my heart doctor’s office. Dr. Mc Ivor. It was time for another echo heart test.

The balance of the afternoon was spent continuing research for next week’s KONK Life column. It has to do with the Muslim impact on Sweden in recent years. Interesting material.

Spent time chatting with Shawn at the Chart Room. Always good company.

Tom and Fran Dixon from the Buffalo area showed up. They arrived yesterday. Good friends. We talked away over a couple of drinks at the Chart Room. Syracuse basketball was one of the topics. Tom is a diehard fan, also.

We agreed to have dinner together saturday evening at Square One.

Today is what I would describe as a reflective day in history. Reflective for you and me. On this date in 1938, Germany officially annexed Austria. Shades of Russia and Crimea today.

Hitler’s next step after Austria was marching into Czechoslovakia. Will Putin follow suit and forcefully take eastern Ukraine?

Bocce tonight. I have not played in 4-5 weeks. I will get there if I have to crawl. I hope I remember how to throw the ball.

Enjoy your day!

 

ONE HUMAN FAMILY

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Today’s Key West Citizen editorial is out of line. Its author appears uniformed.

The subject is One human Family. The term being representative of Key West for many years. The words painting an accurate picture of Key West’s people.

I have been a part of Key West for more than a quarter century. The term has always meant to me a binding together of the heterosexual and gay communities. One loving community.

The editorial lumps every today malady into the term in an effort to portray Key West as no longer that one loving family. It applies One Human Family to bicyclists screwing up traffic, Duval bars making too much noise, and so forth. None of which in my opinion fall under the umbrella of One Human Family.

A unique morning. The wind is strong off the ocean. A bit cold, also. It carries with it a clean smell. The only way the experience can be described.

One of the wonders of Key West is that on any given day we can watch the sun rise and set over water. Very few in this world are blessed with the experience.

Yesterday was a wild one! From 10 to 2, I was running around. Six separate stops in my travels. Dealing with necessary things that somehow all got lumped into yesterday. The traffic problems caused by the boulevard construction did not help. I was exhausted when I returned home.

I enjoyed a light dinner at Roostica. Ten chicken wings covered in a lemon oil and broiled.

Last night was my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. I reviewed the weekly sins of the world. Post show comments indicate two the most popular.

One had to do with the dramatic rise in the cost of gasoline the past three weeks. Thirty seven cents a gallon! Yesterday alone, twelve cents. The  station near my home was $3.95 in the morning and $4.07 in the evening.

The other with Afghanistan’s opium trade. It was next to nothing when the U.S. went to war there 13 years ago. Today, it is a thriving $68 billion a year business. Thank you, Uncle Sam.

Watched the women’s NCAA final game last night. Another Connecticut  team the winner. The ladies are the Final Four Champions. Amazing! Connecticut! Both in men’s and women’s basketball!

Chamonix is in France. I have mentioned it in recent years. Chamonix is just over the border from northern Italy. A tiny village. An international ski resort. It sits in  a small valley half way up Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc is Europe’s highest peak.

I have visited several times. Only in the summer. Each time I enjoyed sitting at an outside cafe, drink in hand, enjoying the view. The gigantic mountain surrounding me. Awesome!

The earth moved yesterday in Chamonix. An earthquake. A 4.8. No damage or injuries fortunately.

I did a little home work regarding Chamonix and earthquakes. Turns out there have been tons going back to before Christ. Many in the last five years. All I can think of is that there is going to be big time devastation if a larger earthquake hits. Portions of Mont Blanc could come tumbling down on little Chamonix.

Monday afternoon Stephanie Kaple telephoned. To invite me to join her for dinner. How nice! She even gave me my choice of three evenings. We will be dining together friday night.

Enjoy your day!