Key West weather continues to be terrific. 80° by day, low 70s in the evening.

Tomorrow brings a cold front. Do not laugh when I tell you what the temperature will be. It will feel cold to those of us who live in the lower keys. The high tomorrow is projected at 71 with a low of 65. Long pants weather!

I spent yesterday morning sitting outside by the water under the umbrella. Research and writing time.

Early afternoon found me at the gym. I had a scheduled workout with Courtney Aman. Grueling! I left a bit beat up. Stopped by Don’s Place for a glass of water. Read the newspapers and chatted with Rob and Todd.

When I finish this blog, it will be to the gym once again. This time to box alone.

My evening started at the Chart Room. Mary bartending. Mary works the Chart Room one night a week. A steady group of people in  and out. All tourists. I knew no one.

I decided to eat at the Pier House. Dinner by candlelight while sitting by the water. Larry Smith playing in the background at the Wine Galley. Fantastic! Saw Alex and Pati.

A simple day. A pleasurable one.

Enjoy your today!

Twas the day after Christmas…..

Holidays are great! Especially Christmas. But there comes a time when enough is enough. This morning marks the return to normalcy.

Brunch at Lisa’s was at 9 yesterday morning. Gift opening time. Robert and Ally all excited.

Santa Claus brought Robert drums. Are they called bongo drums? Two small drums bound together. Robert is always banging out tunes on the kitchen table. This will be better.

Ally got a pogo stick. She was thrilled. Robert wants to use it. He keeps asking if she will share. She consistently said no.

I spent the afternoon outside by the water. Reading Yankee Jack’s new book. Was It Something I Sang? Fun. Interesting. Read it. The book is available on the Internet and Yankee is personally selling them at the Bull when he is playing.

I wanted some private time last night. Opted for the bar at Tavern ‘n Town for a couple of drinks and a light dinner. The bar was packed. All tourists. Half the dining room was full, also. I sat alone at the bar for a couple of hours, off and on watching pro basketball, and contemplating my navel. That last phrase is another way of saying I was deep in thought.

Today I have nothing scheduled, except a work out at the gym at 2. Each morning I wonder what the day will bring.

Enjoy your day!

Christmas Eve. Some good, some bad. Last night was good.

I arrived at  about 5. Robert and Ally ran out to greet me. They were all excited. Better word might be hyped. Santa Claus was coming!

It was me, the grandchildren, Lisa and Corey, Corey’s parents Karen and Curtis, and Betsy. We were picking at shrimp and other goodies prior to dinner. Christmas caroles playing in the background. .

At some point, Lisa got Robert and Ally to sing Christmas caroles. They enjoy doing it. As they were singing….. Santa Claus is coming to town, Santa himself came through the door!

A new Santa last night. My former Key West Santa Claus left town.. A disaster. I did not know how good the new one would be. He was terrific! He actually looked like Santa Claus. Big rosy red cheeks, great costume and terrific gift bag. The gift bag was lined with large bells which added to the moment. Best of all, Santa Claus had a Santa Claus personality.

As soon as Santa entered, Robert and Allie were quiet. Color drained from their faces. They were in awe.

Robert and Ally sat on Santa Claus’ lap and spoke with him. Santa insisted I sit on his lap, which I did . We took pictures. Lisa posted one on Facebook last night.

I have arranged for a Santa Claus for my children and  grandchildren in excess of  45 years. I have told the young ones in the past, and now Robert and Ally, that Santa Claus is my friend. That he and I speak on the telephone during the course of the year. They all believed in the past, as Robert and Ally do now, that such communication between Santa and me takes place.

Since last night was a new Santa, I spoke with him prior to the visit. I asked him to remind Robert and Ally we were friends. At some point Santa said, ” Poppa is my friend. We speak on the telephone all the time.”

Their eyes lit up! I was made!

Great dinner. Four fishes. Shrimp, clams and butter, stone crabs and anchovies in the antipasto. Lisa struggled to get the fourth fish. The meal was excellent as was the company. Good job Lisa!

I left as Robert and Ally were getting ready for bed. I doubted they would fall asleep soon. They were running at high intensity.

As I entered the door of my home, the telephone rang. Donna was calling from New York City to wish me a Merry Christmas. I wished her a happy Hanukkah. We talked about different things. Bernadette Peters will not be going with show to Los Angeles. She and Terri were disappointed, but Donna did not think it would affect the show.

I asked to speak with Terri so as to wish her a Merry Christmas. Donna said Terri was on the other phone talking with Liza Minnelli. Not uncommon. They have been close friends for years and have often performned together. Nevertheless, I am always impressed.

I received an earlier telephone call from Jenna who is visitng her parents in Indiana. Telephone calls also from Ahua in Bejing and Anne in Milan. Plus numerous emails from all over the world.

Thank you one and all!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I have to hustle. Lisa is having a Christmas Day brunch at nine in the morning where we will exchange gifts.

Enjoy your Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

My Italian tradition celebrates Christmas both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is the bigger of the two events.

Christmas Eve is the dinner of the seven fishes. Lisa has cut back a bit. She only does four. Seven or four, Lisa’s fish preparations are delicious!

It was Internet show time yesterday. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Another great show. Crazy things happening all over the world. Makes it easy to prepare a fast moving and interesting program.

The big topic of the day was my dissertation on Christmas. No question. No one commented on anything after the show except for my talk on Christmas.

My thought initially was to say a few words as to how Christmas became legalized in the United States as a holiday. My research ended up going much further. All the way back to Babylon of old testament times. I traced Christmas from 1000 years before the birth of Christ to present day. The research revealed some interesting things. I shared them with those who were watching the show. You would be amazed!

It was gym time yesterday afternoon with Courtney Aman, my trainer. He did not have me boxing. I was primarily lifting weights. As I was doing so, the thought came to me that I’m supposed to have a heart problem. If I had a heart condition, I would be dead by now! I am doing some big stuff!

I’ve been going to the gym to box every day. I thought this would be helpful. Courtney has seen me there. He told me yesterday to cut back on the boxing. Not to exercise every day. I will now be working out Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday only.

Finished my Christmas shopping. One gift. Then it was to the Dollar Store. I needed wrapping paper, bags, and those sort of things. The line was long. It took me forever to check out. People were friendly, however. I was talking to a couple of people in front of me and one in back of me as we slowly move through the line. Took about 30 minutes to get through.

It was Hogfish last night! The place was absolutely packed! The most people I have ever seen. Standing room only. No exaggeration. Many people are visiting Key West this Christmas.

I ran into Pati and Steve. They were together having a drink. We talked a bit. Then I grabbed a seat at the bar for dinner. Hogfish fish and chips..

Then home to an early bed. Slept late this morning. I am doing this blog and it’s close to 10 in the morning. My apologies. I was comfortable in bed and stayed there.

Enjoy your day! Get ready for Santa Claus!

Did you know the colonists did not celebrate Christmas at the time of the American Revolution? Did you know that Christmas was illegal in Boston for about 15 years in the late 1600s? Did you know the Christmas as we know it today was given to us by Washington Irving?

Many unknown and interesting aspects with regard to Christmas on The Key West Lou Legal Hour this morning. 10 AM my time. Available worldwide. http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/.

Busy day yesterday!

A 10 o’clock hair appointment with Lori. Then directly to the gym. Yes, I boxed again.

I spent the afternoon Christmas shopping. I am almost done. One more gift to get.

The high point of my shopping spree was what to buy for the grandkids. They already have everything. I recalled the toy store in Mallory Square on the second floor of one of the buildings. A good place to buy toys. There I went.

Confusion! So many toys, so many games. I was befuddled!

I finally zeroed in on a battery operated helicopter that could fly. It excited me! I telephoned Lisa to make sure it would be okay. She said Robert already has one. And so it went. Every time I would find something for Robert or Ally, they already had it.

Lisa finally zeroed me in on some huge educational toy. Lisa and her family are game players.

I did something extra. It was really for Louis. I saw small bags of marbles. I have not seen marbles in years. I knew Robert and Ally did not have marbles. I bought them each a bag of marbles. Different colors. My purpose is so I may teach them how to shoot marbles. I did as a child and I want them to have the same experience.

Syracuse basketball last night! I was anxious to see them play Tulane. I was at the Sports Page Bar. The Sports Page has the best sports TV reception in town. Especially for college basketball. But not for the Syracuse game last night. With all the stations and games available, it was not carrying Syracuse/Tulane.

I was disappointed.  I ended up staying and grabbing a bite to eat. Steve showed up. He was disappointed also. He left.
I see from this morning’s news that Syracuse won handily 82-61. No big deal. It was expected.

The Big East starts next week on December 28. Syracuse plays Seton Hall. Every one of those games will be televised! The Big East will test Syracuse’s mettle.

Met an interesting couple at the Sports Page. From Morehead, Kentucky. He was Eric. She I cannot recall. My apologies. Eric is the director of business development for a small telephone communications company. She a college student at Morehead State, soon to be a teacher.They have been at the new Ibis Bay for three days. First timers to Key West. Love it! Plan on returning. Eric was asking about employment opportunities.

I have to hustle. Shower, shave and all those sort of things to get ready for the Internet show. Again, please watch me at 10 this morning my time if you can.

Enjoy your day!

I feel like Little Jack Horner……What a good boy am I! I went to the gym again yesterday. Boxed. My upper arms are getting tired.

I played good neighbor yesterday. Picked a friend up at the airport.

Some things were blatantly noticeable. Twenty five years ago when I first started coming to Key West, there were 3 to 4 taxis for pickups at the airport. Yesterday, I counted 14. The receiving terminal was very busy. Extremely busy. The action and relatively new building reminded me of a big city airport like Tampa.

I do not like the Key West growth factor this evidences!

I worked on Fridays Internet show all afternoon on. Still have a bit more to do today. A good show in the making. Topics include some unknown things about Christmas, the Cuban embargo, Gingrich and judges, Iraqi woman released, Florida community advertising for nudists in Europe, a Washington update, Egypt and women, and more.

Join me at 10 AM my time. www.konkbroadcasting.com. Worldwide.

It was the Chart Room first last night. Emily bartending. When I arrived, there was no one else. Emily and I chatted a while. Then the place filled up. By that time I had had my fill of the Chart Room and left.

I ate at the outside bar at Kelly’s. Wings. The best wings in Key West! Big, tender, and juicy. Chatted with Chris the bartender.

Syracuse basketball tonight. Syracuse plays Tulane. Syracuse should win. I will be watching the game at the Sports Page Bar.

Someone commented yesterday why I was not using the new Big Ten Sports Bar to watch basketball. The reason is simple. The Big Ten Sports Bar is not open yet. It was scheduled to open last Saturday. However, the remodeling was not complete. The new start up date is this Saturday. If does open on Saturday, I will be there for the opening night party.

I have a conflict of interest developing. The Sports Page Bar and Patrick have been good to me the past three years. The service outstanding. John Lukas is the proprietor of the new Big Ten Sports Bar. John is a good friend, also. I will be splitting my time between the two bars watching Syracuse basketball.

Big day ahead. Haircut with Lori, boxing at the gym, buying grandkids Christmas presents, looking for Christmas presents for everyone else, and Syracuse basketball tonight.

Enjoy your day!

I have not done any Christmas shopping yet. I will start today and be finished  tomorrow. Usually I wait to the last minute. This year I am not.

That last comment was intended to bring a smile to your face.

My day yesterday started with an early morning visit to the dentist. I am still in the process. Probably another 4 to 6 months before my implants are complete. Initially, it was to take approximately 4 months. However after we ran into the jawbone problems, time automatically became extended. January 7 will be one year since I first began.

I did a big thing yesterday. After the dentist. I went to the gym! I did not have a scheduled appointment with a trainer. I worked all alone. Brought my boxing gloves with me. Boxed for a while. It is my intention to  box  every day. We shall see.

I started at the Chart Room last night. I just wanted one drink. I had a Syracuse basketball game to watch at the Sports Page Bar. It was just JJ and one customer. The customer turned out to be named Louis also.

Syracuse basketball is big this year! Syracuse won decisively last night on. Beat Bucknell. Syracuse is ranked # 1. Bucknell not ranked. The game went as it was supposed to.

I think Syracuse plays Tulane Thursday night.
My friend Steve showed up. It looks like we will be doing most of the Syracuse games together.

No golf this morning. I think I need another week. Strange. Here I was boxing yesterday, but I do not feel I can handle 18 holes golf. I don’t know.

I noticed that the leader of North Korea who recently died decided to play golf at some point in his life. The first time out, he had 11 holes in one. I need his score keeper!

Most of today will be spent preparing for Friday’s Internet show. One of the main topics will involve the legalization of Christmas as a holiday. You will be surprised! A sneak peek at what I will be sharing with you. Christmas was barred by law in the colonies before and during the Revolutionary war.

Another sneak peek. Christmas observance was considered pagan. Would you believe!

Enjoy your day!

 I am up early this morning. It is 5:30. I have a dental appointment at 8.

My two big events for yesterday were a visit to my internist doctor and a work out at the gym.

I woke with a swelling on the left side of my face. That is why visited the doctor. No problem. She said it appeared to be a blockage in my saliva duct. She prescribed I eat dill pickles and sour balls. The extreme taste of each would cause my body to create more saliva which in turn would push whatever was blocking the saliva duct out.

Dill pickles and sour balls are good if ingested separately and at separate times.. Taken together, a problem. Not like peanut butter and jelly or ham and eggs. A disruptive combination. I suffered a bit.

I still have some swelling this morning.

My gym workout was terrific. Courtney worked with me again. After lifting a few weights, we got into  boxing. This was the first time for the boxing. I have had boxing experience. I was excited.

Dengue fever has been a problem the last couple years. Prior to 2009, dengue fever had  not existed for many years. Then in 2009 after decades of being dengue free, it appeared in Key West. In 2011, there were 66 reported cases.

A detailed report concerning dengue fever appeared in yesterday’s Key West Citizen. The article was by Mark Whiteside. The article advised that 2011 had been dengue free.

There are several reasons for the absence of dengue fever in 2011. There had been a drought 2011. Mosquitoes need water to breed. New Town homes had significant spaces between them. Air conditioners seemed to be more in use.

The biggest reason for my perspective is the Mosquito Control Board that exists here. Absolutely outstanding! They Board advertises constantly to watch properties for pools of water. The Board sprays on a regular basis via helicopter. It also makes personal inspections of the outside of each home to see where water could gather and advising the homeowner to correct the problem.

A major victory! Everyone involved is to be complemented.

I have to move my butt now to get to the dentist timely.

Enjoy your day!

The Christmas Concert last night! At St. Paul’s Church on Duval.

Always terrific! The oldest church in South Florida. Packed to the rafters. Standing room only.

Christmas decorations everywhere. The cream of Key West entertainers singing and playing. The Church lights dimmed. The performance basically by candlelight.

Everyone was excellent. There is always a best of the best, however. There were two performances that were absolutely outstanding. I know the people involved very well. This may have influenced my judgment, but I believe not.

Larry Smith, Christine Cordone and Kathleen Peace performed an unusual number. They combined about 20 Christmas caroles and songs together. The ladies sang in rapid fashion two or three lines from each tune. Larry was on the piano. It had to be difficult for each persn to keep up with the other.

The other performance was by Maj Johnson. Her rendition of  O, Holy Night brought the warmth of Christmas directly to one’s heart.

Last night was the 28th Christmas Concert at St. Paul’s.. The Church is amazing. It’s sits right in the heart of Duval. All the noise of party goers outside. Yet the peace and solitude of God inside.

The present Church was constructed in 1920. Notice I said the present Church. Actually the Church was initially constructed in 1831. However, due to two hurricanes and a fire, the Church has been reconstructed several times.

Today is the last segment of my World War II remembrances. The subject is the G.I. bill.

The G.I. bill  became law one year before World War II ended. 1944. Its purpose was threefold. First, to provide unemployment compensation to returning veterans for one year. Second, to provide cheap low interest loans to returning veterans to buy or build homes. The final provision concerned education. It made it possible for returning veterans to attend college at the government’s expense.

The G.I. bill was a smart move. Especially the education provision. There never would have been enough jobs for the returning veterans. Truman wanted to avoid the pre-depression days that occurred following World War I where returning veterans were living in tents and selling apples on street corners.

Eisenhower continued the G.I. bill tradition when he took office in 1952. Made sure the G.I. bill stayed in place.Eisenhower had a concern  for returning Korean veterans and the possibility there would not be enough jobs for them. He decided that the highway system in the United  States needed work. There was no national highway system. It took forever to go from one part of the country to another. A proper highway system was required. A law was passed creating the establishment of a national interstate highway system. Thousands of jobs resulted immediately.

Sound familiar.

I remember the G.I. bill having done two things.

The home loans. Very important. All of a sudden, city limits were expanded, the suburbs created. Homes sprang up all over the place. New neighborhoods and communities were created. The houses were basically boxes. Nice, but they all looked the same. The key was more the pride of first time ownership rather than esthetics.

The most important part of G.I. bill was the education provision. Returning veterans could go to school and still receive support money. The government paid for everything. As with the housing provision, colleges sprang up all over the place. Abandoned churches, church cellars, abandoned warehouses, homes, were utilized for teaching. Hundreds of new colleges established.

I believe the G.I. bill educational provision was the beginning/conception of the middle class in the United States. Returning veterans obtained  bachelor degrees. Many went on to advanced degrees. Most of these individuals would never have attended college were it not for the G.I. bill. New doctors, lawyers ansd Indian chiefs were created. Within 10 to 15 years, they became a solidly established professional and business community. Were it not for the GI bill, most would never  have moved away from the ethnic ghettos and  mill jobs of their forebearers.

Enjoy your day!

It is Sunday morning. I slept late. Felt good.

I had a business meeting yesterday at 12:30. It took about an hour. Afterwards, I drove over to Lisa’s. No one was home. I sat around a while waiting for them to return. Read the Key West Citizen. They did not return. I went home.

Spent the afternoon watching various college basketball games. Love basketball!

My evening was pre-determined. Syracuse basketball!

The game was scheduled to begin at 6:30. I stopped at the Chart Room first. Sitting  at the end of the bar was Captain Peter. A good man. I enjoyed a drink with the Captain. JJ was bartending.

Capain Peter lives on a boat. A small sailboat. It is moored about 2 miles out in the ocean on the gulf side.  To get to his boat and back to shore, he has a dinghy. A small rubber craft with a motor.

The waves are a bit choppy this time of the year. The waves slap over the dinghy as Peter is traversing those 2 miles. Peter puts on his rain gear before he starts the trip.

His other problem is that when he is going back to his sailboat, it is dark. There are no lights out on the ocean. He has to estimate where the sailboat is. Sometimes he misses it and gets a touch of panic. He tells me that the return trip to Key West is easy. Even if it is dark. The lights of Key West guide him in..

Met an interesting couple at the bar. Dan and Helen. They are locals. I never met them before. They work together in a fish distribution business.

I hustled over to the Sports Page Bar just in time for the game.

Kristin bartending. Love her! Some day we may do a movie and dinner together. Patrick the owner was there. He came over to say hello. A nice guy.

Steve showed up! Steve is a Syracuse graduate who spent a lot of time last season watching Syracuse basketball with me at the Sports Page Bar. I ran into him at lunch he other day at Hogfish. Invited him to join me for Syracuse basketball again this year. I was pleased to see him last night. It is always nice to have some one to talk with as the game progresses.

Steve has a boat. We talked about taking a trip together to a Caribbean island. All of a sudden all my friends who have boats want me to take boat trips to exotic places.

I intend to do it. I just do not know when.

Ran into a hell of a couple from Chicago at the Sports Page Bar. They were just there to have a drink. They ended up watching a bit of the Syracuse game with me. They are Steve and Katie.

Steve is a CPA. I told him that the most important person in my practice/business was my CPA. I had the same one from 1974. I did not make a move without him. Bill Hatfield from Oneida, New York. The best of the best personally and professionally.

Katie works for Discovery Channel.

They have been married 1 1/2 years. Steve has visited Key West four times. This is Katie’s first trip. Unfortunately, they leaving tomorrow I think however a relationship was established. I am sure they are reading this blog this morning.  I hope to see them again when they return. They are the type who will return to Key West.

Almost forgot. Syracuse won by 16 points. 88-72.

I stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. One drink. Chatted with Kurt who was bartending. Don’s annual Christmas party is tonight at the bar at eight. Unfortunately, I will not be able make it. Two of my lady friends are taking me to the annual Christmas concert at St. Paul’s Church. The concert is a big deal. Going with the ladies is big deal. It will be the Cat Lady and Jenna, with me sitting in between.

I have one more story to tell about World War II. I am going to leave it to tomorrow morning. This blog is already too late and too long. Tomorrow morning, I am going to speak briefly about the G.I. bill. It was a boon to returning veterans and also a compelling factor in the development of the middle class. The middle class that no longer exists in this country.

Enjoy your Sunday!