I walked yesterday morning big time!

Up and down Duval, from the Atlantic to the Gulf and in between.

There are people in town. Tourists. More than I recollect at a similar time in the past few years. Has the economy improved? Are they spending money other than for their hotel/motel rooms? When things are tough, many visit Key West who do not do the restaurants and bars. They bring their own hard stuff. Buy beer from a store. Purchase pizzas or subs and eat them in their rooms.

I get the thought that ice cream has discovered Key West. In the past two years, at least 6 new ice cream shops have opened on Duval. We only had two for years. All appear busy!

As I competed my walk and was entering my car at Square One, I noted Bob Burton sitting in the SUV next to me. I opened the door and visited with him for a while.

Bob is 81. He was sitting there with the oxygen thing in his nose and the canteen/bag to which it was attached on the floor. I asked him, “Is this what I have to look forward to?” He laughed. Not so funny from my perspective. I am 76. Only 5 years separates us.

Bob and Jack Baron were a couple. For well over 50 years. Baron was an artist. Jack died about 7 years ago. I miss him. He was wise. He saw things others might not. I used to visit with Jack and Bob six days a week at Jack’s studio. An hour or two each morning. Others would stop in also. We talked about anything and everything. We solved the world’s problems.

Bob and Jack would be legally married today had Jack lived a bit longer. Nevertheless, Bob and Jack lived as a couple and were respected as such. I attended anniversary parties # 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52. All terrific. Generally a couple of hundred people mulling around having a good time.

I worked on Friday’s show yesterday. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 am. http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/. Join me. Another great show!

Topics of course will include Penn State, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich. I hope you will be listening to my take on Penn State/Paterno. It may be different from anything you have been subjected to thus far. Other topics will include blocking of graphic displays on cigarette packages, the $8 million artifact collection in the cellar of a building in bankrupt Harrisburg, the art owned by the city, a Chinese hospital screw up, a for real $1 million dollar mistake, the great basketball star Yao Ming, the economic crisis impacting Santa Claus, the Catholic Church changing things again, and more.

Tonight bocce! I will be there! It will take a train wreck to keep me away!

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday morning was spent researching. Sat outside at an umbrella covered round table and did my thing.

It consistently amazes me how much easier it is to research in the era of the internet. I recall back in college all the books to be searched in the library, notes and quotes on cards, etc. Tedious.

Lisa telephoned around two. Corey’s grandmother had died. A quick shower and I was at their home. Corey was home. I hugged him and told him I loved him. What else can be said at such a time.

Corey’s grandmother lived in Stuttburg, Germany. That is where she died. Ninety three. God bless her!

Corey took a two week trip to Europe a year ago. One week was spent in Stuttburg with his grandmother and family. Corey’s son Cameron was 15 at the time. His grandmother last saw him when he was 2. Corey took Cameron with him. It was good he did.

I stayed with Corey and the family till early evening. I call it sitting. An Italian shiva. Except no one brought baked goods.My tradition is we visit the family of the person who died and sit with them. Talk, sometimes serious, sometimes humorous. Say nothing. Do nothing. Mere presence provides comfort to the bereaved.

Lisa decided we would have dessert. Maybe to put a sparkle in things. Lisa does not put out the usual desserts. She is totally into good health for herself and her family. An apple, a piece of orange, a cut up banana. Last night she authorized me to buy some kind of baked good for dessert.

Robert came with me.

We ended up in the bakery section of Publix.

My intention was to purchase some baked goods located in the counter. Robert and I checked them out. Did not turn us on. We bothered the poor woman working there three times with questions. She helped me make it a big deal for Robert.

Then we circled the baked goods displayed on the aisle. It came down to Boston creme pie or a pumpkin pie. The Boston creme pie won out!

Robert and Ally had never eaten anything as bad or as good as Boston creme pie. They went crazy over it! Exclaiming, how good! The chocolate on top, the cake, and the vanilla pudding in the middle!

Lisa says I teach her children bad things. No. I am merely expanding their life experiences.

A grandfather thing.

I am a failed alumnus. Syracuse and Manhattan played Monday night. I graduated from both schools. I did not even know the game was on!

Last night Syracuse played Albany. Only on the internet for viewing. I could not get the game to come up on ESPN 3.

Syracuse won both games by the way.

Golf this morning. I am going to skip again this week. I have some things to do. There was a time nothing was more important than golf. What terrible thing is happening to me?

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

I am energized this morning.

Started yesterday with two doctor visits and one dentist visit. I scheduled them all together in a 3 hour span. I was sick of running to doctors almost every day. My new approach is…..let’s do it and get it over with!

I saw my internist Dr. Lefferts first. She was happy with me. I do not have to see her for 2 months. We have been seeing each other almost weekly for months.

Then my heart physician, Dr. McIvor. He was happy with me also. Blood pressure 110/78. Ankles no longer swollen. Nausea gone. I had been on a frequent visit regime with Dr. McIvor also. He said…..see me in 2 months!

Finally! My life is mine once again. Except for the dentist.

I visited my dentist Dr. Lindner last. He wanted to check my stitches. Stitches good. He will remove them thursday. Of course, it is almost impossible to eat . My gums are still swollen.

This implant thing is going to take another 4-5 months.

I spent the afternoon doing what I seem to enjoy most lately. Writing. I did my legal column for this week’s Konk Life. It will be published thursday. The column deals with new regulations that require graphic pics on cigarette packages which must exhibit the unhealthy results of smoking.

First stop last night the Chart Room. A good crowd. No one I knew. Tourists.

I met an interesting couple at the bar. Who also have interesting occupations. They make flavored feed for cows.

Peter and Pauline Naylor are from Manchester, England. The company they own is called Inroads International. They spend six months a year in Dubuque, Iowa and the other six in Manchester. They also have a condo in Fort Myers. They were visiting Key West for a couple of days.

I could not help but think that the flavored cow feed business must be good. Homes in Manchester, Dubuque and Fort Myers.

Nice people. They intend to return to Key West.

My next stop was the Wine Galley. Monday is jazz night. I was there early. Larry was playing the piano and singing. His charming wife Christine was singing, also.

There were only three tables occupied when I arrived. By the time I left, most were filled. It was a strange night. I knew someone at each table. A rarity.

I sat at the bar. Decided to have dinner there also. Pier House food is always good. It was a lobster bisque and a piece of snapper. I handled the soup easily. The fish was a problem, but I got through it.

Several young ladies had come in and sat next to me. Lovelies. Late 20s, early 30s. I got to talk with the one seated directly next to me. Susan Varriale. A New Jersey school teacher. She wants to move on and become an ultra sound technician. Much more money, she says.

Susan’s home town is Point Pleasant. Once I heard that name, I was off and running. When my children were young, my brother in law lived in some town near Point Pleasant. Point Pleasant being on the ocean. My family and I would visit my brother in law for two weeks every summer. He had a huge home. It was a free vacation. Most days we went to Point Pleasant.

You have not lived till you have visited a Jersey beach. They are the best in the world. Point Pleasant was one of those beaches. We had to pay to use the beach. We were given little clothe tags to wear to identify us. The sun was good. The kids were terrific. The hot dogs and hamburgers delicious.

I appreciate this blog is a bit longer than usual. But so many good things happened last night and this morning. Bear with me as I continue and share a few more items with you.

As I drove home, I noticed the moon. A 3/4 one. Big and bright.

The weather is such that air conditioning is no longer required. I slept with the glass sliding doors to my bedroom open. As I turned off the light and crawled into bed, what did I see? Not Santa Claus and eight shinny reindeer. The moon again! I thought God is good .

This morning had another goodie.

This must be dolphin week. I heard a splash. Turned around and looked out on to the water. There were two dolphins doing their thing. Leaping and diving, leaping and diving.

The dolphins are out and about generally in early morning.

I have seen dolphins off my deck for the 14 years I have owned this home. It occurred to me that the viewings go in spurts. A lot of dolphins for several months. Then none for a long period.

I concluded it must have to do with the time change. The dolphins are not aware of it. They have no clock to change. They are up at the same time. But I at a differnet time.

My conclusion may be wrong. That is how I see it, however.

Lastly, Gary and Tecia…..where are you? I know you are in Key West. I want to hook up with you for drinks and dinner..

Enjoy your day!

A photographer I am not! As revealed by the photos presented here the past several days.

Many have communicated with me as to the poor quality. Advice given. Everything from cleaning the camera lens to what to buy to perform the task correctly.

No more photos till I have been appropriately educated and purchased the correct equipment. Knowledge is the key here.

There will be one pic today. Not taken by me, however. It is a photo of a piece of art.

I wish to talk a bit about Tennessee Williams. World famous play write and author.

Tennessee Williams lived in Key West for many years.

Tennessee Williams’ home strangely is located in  the new town portion of Key West. On Duncan. It is presently owned by my friend Evan who lives there several months year.. The home has been restored. It is beautiful to behold.

Williams was a regular visitor to Key West from 1941 to his death in 1983. Until he purchased the home, he resided at the La Concha Hotel on Duval. Williams purchased the home in 1949. He listed Key West as his permanent address till his death in l989. The Duncan Street home was the only house Williams ever owned. He rented elsewhere.

The home is located at 1431Duncan street.

Williams had drinking and drug problems. He was always seeking stimulation. He needed the uniqueness of this island and other places “…to stimulate his writing.” He came Key West when “…he discovered….a startling new place.”

The Rose Tattoo was one of Williams top works. He wrote the play in l951. It won the award for best play of the year. A movie of the play was made in 1957. The movie starred Anna Magnani and Burt Lancaster.

Williams did not have to go far to perform his writing duties for the movie. The film version of The Rose Tattoo was made in the 1400 block of Duncan Street in Key West also. Williams’ house was on the northern corner. The Rose Tattoo house the south. The home is still standing. Overgrown by trees and shrubbery. Pratically invisible to the eye. A rental.

Two historical homes of a sort on the same block is a wow!

Anna Magnani received the Academy Award for Best Actress as a result of her performance in The Rose Tattoo.

Williams’ play was presented world wide after its Broadway and Hollywood successes. Dublin, Ireland was one of those places.

It was 1957. Things then were not as they are now. Society was repressed and reserved. Sex was dirty.

The play was shown. One of the scenes required a condom to fall out of a pocket. That’s all. The cast mimed the condom’s fall. The director and theater owner were arrested. The charge was they had made a “…lewd statement.”

The photo of the painting of Williams’ home posted here was done by the artist Ruben Concepcion. My Lisa has it for sale in her Key West Internet department store Via Key West. Take a look at it and other paintings which reflect Key West people, places and things. http://www.viakeywest.com/.

Enjoy your day!

I started in the morning with Tammy. A manicure. You cannot appreciate the old time immigrant drive till you meet her.

Then to Lori. Haircut time. Long overdue. She told me I had more hair than she could remember. It was the colonoscopy and dentist that contributed to the situation. I am bald once again and happy about it.

As a result of the dental work, I cannot chew. The blender is my best friend once again. The problem, I had no blender food. So it was off to Publix on the way home

Jenna and I dated lat night. Love her.

We started at the Chart Room. Sheila joined us. JJ bartendoing. A great time was had!

Then to Hot Tin Roof for dinner. I cannot chew. Too much pain. I had soup. Jenna ordered normally. I did change my drink, however. To a cosmopolitan. All because of Molly Ringwald. A story for another day.

John will soon be leaving the Hot Tin Roof. He has been an excellent manager.

In mid December, he is opening a sports bar at the old PT’s. Has to be a winner. John owned three before he came to Key West from Minnesota.

I dropped Jenna offf after dinner. Decided to stop at Don’s Place for a nighgt cap. Friend Kurt bartending.

I watched portions of Oregon/Stanford’s first half.

Boomer and Russ left for Herschel and Erica’s home. They were having a fight party. Some championship battle. I optd not to go.

It was time for home and bed.

Enjoy your Sunday!

The weather is changing. Ever so slowly. It does not change like up north. Where the trees turn and then one morning you awake and there is snow!

Key West does not have snow.

But the nights are now cool. Around 70 degrees. Cool here! We are accustomed to 80 degree weather by day and night. Blankets are required in the evenings now.

No humidity by day. Still 80 degrees. But you can feel the coolness drifting in from the ocean.

Pretty soon, perhaps in another 3-4 weeks, it will be long pants time.

I am still recovering from thursday’s dental work. Jaw swollen and sore yesterday. Prevented me from going out.

I see from Facebook that Cheryl and Roger enjoyed a good Key West evening. The Veterans’ Parade at 4. Then the Chart Room. Followed by Hogsfish.

I probably would have run into them at the Chart Room and ended up having dinner with them. They are snowbirds. Just returned from Kankakee, Illinois.

My game plan was to do the Veterans’ Parade with the grandkids. Key West has great parades. I enjoy watching them with Robert and Ally. They get all excited!

I spent the evening home in bed watching Syracuse get beat. Lost to South Florida 37-17. Syracuse is now 6-6. Too bad. The road to a better team and record is a long and arduous one.

These times alone at home are somethines a blessing. Peace and quiet does not exist enough for us. I spent most of my day being Amazon Kindle familiar. The New York Times and Chris Matthew’s book on Kennedy.

Jenna and I are supposed to go out this evening. Even if I cannot eat, I will go. I enjoy Jenna and am stir crazy. I need to get out!

Enjoy your day

A dentist visit yesterday. Still working on the implants. I thought it was going to be easy. A walk in the park.

Was I fooled!

Work started on placing the permanent implants. Two hours. Blood. Cut to the jaw bone. More cadaver bone required. Pain like before when the process began. No pain pills for three hours. Take my head!

Still screwed up this morning. It might have been better had I gone toothless.

Internet show this morning. 10 am. Key West Lou Legal hour. No way can I do it. There will be a rerun of a previous show. Just voice. no picture. You will see an open mike and me pontificating. Make believe it is that old form of entertainment called radio.

Think of it. Radio was the first of the communication/entertainment vehicles. And it is still with us!

I am disappointed I will not be doing the show. What with Penn State and Cain, it was going to be a humdinger! Especially the Penn State/Paterno portion. I still think Paternio is getting a bum rap. Perhaps next week I will be able to explain in detail why.

Both with Penn State and Cain, the whole stories are not yet out. Cain’s can get only worse. As to Penn State, the whole story will out. Inevitable. It will probably run to Board members, political figures and who knows who else. Then a proper judgment can be made.

Keep in mind that a District Attorney did investigate and determined there was no ground for indictment(s).

Penn State is going to come down to who knew what and when. Typical.

Enjoy your day! Mine so far is extremely uncomfortable.

I work from the kitchen counter. I have two desks upstairs, but find it more comfortable to work down here.

To my back are two large glass sliding doors. Forty feet beyond, the ocean.

Frequently a noise can be heard from the water. A splash. Unquestionably always a large fish.

As I was assembling my thoughts to begin writing this morning, I heard that noise. A large thump accompanied the splash. I rushed out onto the deck. There it was. A large dolphin. Leaping 4-5 feet in the air. The expanse of the jump about 10 feet. The dolphin leaped several times before my eyes.

A sight to behold!

With the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky, it was a God is in His heaven, all’s right with the world moment!

I am ok. Did the colonoscopy and endoscopy thing yesterday morning. Glad it is behind me. Behind? I was not trying to joke. The term is appropriate, however.

The drug to knock a person out stayed with me all day. I slept off and on. Watched a little TV. Ate. It had been 36 hours since I last had food.

Big weekend in Key West! The power boat races start today. The 31st Annual Key West World Championships. Start at 10 am this morning. Run through Sunday. The boats race every other day.

The boats are magnificient creatures to behold. Creatures is a proper term. They are long and sleek. Overpowering not only on water, but on land also. If you have the opportunity to stand beside one out of the water, you will understand.

The event brings tons of people to town. It will be a good weekend for Key West from a financial perspective. The owners and crews of these boats are well heeled. They bring their wives and girl friends. They know how to party.

No golf this morning. My medical instructions are to avoid all exercise for 7 days. Not that I have been doing that much of late. I will play bocce tomorrow night, however. I do not consider bocce exercise.

I am definitely going out tonight! I have a need to socialize and eat a good meal.

People are nice. All the emails! Concerned for my health, best wishes, etc. Thank you.

Interestingly, when I was a big shot lawyer and some what of an important person, I never received any where the notes of concern as I did yesterday.

I do pics now with the blog. Did two days and then nothing. No more photos because I have been confined to home preparing for yesterday and then doing yesterday. I promise you tomorrow will have pics. The only photos available for showing today would be the ones the doctor took of my esophogus and colon. Neither would interest you.

Enjoy your day!

I survived yesterday afternoon and evening. One step left in the preparation procedure and I will be on my way to the hospital. The worst is behind me.

I went out in the morning. Decided to get a manicure. A female doctor is doing my procedure. I want to look my best.

Tammy was terrific, as usual. Business was slow. She turned the usual half hour treatment into a full hour. I appreciated it. Dozed off at one point.

I spent my day reading and writing. The reading being done in the bathroom. The writing in the kitchen.

I am into a new and second book about Cheney. I hate to refer to him as a creep, but he was. Dangerous. Knew how to get what he wanted. Knew how to place his people at all levels of government. He was our shadow President.

The writing involved friday’s internet show. It is 95 per cent complete. Another interesting and thought provoking show.

Today is November 7. Also, election day. Thirty three years on ago on another Novemeber 7, also election day, my life took a dramatic change. Altered forever. Someday the event will be shared. In one of the books I am writing.

Lisa is taking me to the hospital and sitting with me. I remember when I used to take her to the hospital. The tides turn.

Enjoy your day!