Mary Jo Da Silva has left us. She passed on yesterday morning.

God is having His hands full with her! She will rearrange Heaven a bit and keep Him jumping!

Mary Jo and I met when we both were relatively new to Key West. I cannot recall where we met. But a bond developed between us.

As I think about it, a bond probably developed between Mary Jo and every one she met.

She loved to dance. La Te Da was one of her favorite places to hang out and dance. Especially at the Sunday tea dances.

Mary Jo was special. She was of Portugese extraction. And let you know it!

She fought cancer for 5 years. Never complained. She was supposed to have died 4 years ago. A “last” brthday party was thrown for her at La Te Da. The whole world was there to honor her…..and say good bye.

She fooled all of us.

A Key West icon has left the fold.

It finally rained properly yesterday. We needed it. The rain poured straight down for about one half hour. No wind, no side blowing rain, no monsoon type rain. Just an ordinary rain storm.

Emily petered out. Tourists were worried a week ago. The storm never even reached the shores of the United States. It did some damage to Haiti and brushed the Bahamas. Then it fell apart.

I dined at Outback last night. Alone at the bar.

Some wonder why I frequent Outback when there are so many good restaurants in Key West. For two reasons. The first has to do with my appearance. Sometimes I do not shave for a week at a time. Last night I had a five day beard. Although Key west is casual, I feel I would be insulting owners and guests if I joined them in such a scrungy state. The other reason is that Outback is near my home. A quick drive.

I enjoyed a rib eye last night. Medium rare. Delicious.

It is wonderful to be able to chew again!

Today looks to be busy.

The dentist first. I am close to being done with my jaw and teeth. Not quite yet, however. Then a haircut. Love visiting Lori! Plus other things to do.

Enjoy your day!

I was a good boy yesterday morning. I walked!

Home Depot. Where else.

Then to Walgreens. Needed a prescription filled. It is amazing how many pills you are required to take as you get older. These pharmaceutical companies are getting rich! Sadly. The bill to seniors is too much, regardless of insurance. I have just discovered the donut in my private drug policy. It is enough to drive one to drugs! Drinking is passe.

Then to Hasrpoon Harrys for Sunday brunch.

The place was packed. No room at the bar. I took a small table. Grabbed some Sunday newspapers before sitting down. I spent two hours picking at an omelette and reading.

I planned to go to the beach afterwards. I have a golfer’s tan. My body is white.

I keep a sand chair and beach towel in the trunk at all times. I am what is known as “beach ready.”

I decided on Higgs Beach. My luncheon Friday had turned me on to the place.

It was a wonder! Bikini’s everywhere! Age had no bearing!

I looked for a while. Then fell asleep for an hour.

That was enough beach for me.

The balance of the afternoon was spent at home watching golf on TV. Tiger did not distinguish himself. He was no different than before. His former caddy did, however. Steve Williams carried for Scott who won. Williams also had some unkind inferences regarding Woods when he was interviewed after the tournament. His ill feelings run deep.

Last night was Hogfish. The place was quiet. I sat at the bar, picked at a piece of snapper, and read the local weekly papers.

This morning is lovely. It will rain a bit off and on. Nothing to spoil the day. It is that time of the year.

Enjoy your day!

The Washington debacle of the past month has left us in a bad way. How bad remains to be seen. I fear the worst is yet come.

Our government is dysfunctional. More need not be said. The obvious speaks for itself. However, I would like to share quotes from three American figures of note regarding elected officials. Two of the speakers are for real, one fictional.

Harry Truman…..”My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politicain. And to the truth, there is hardly any difference.”

Will Rogers…..”The world is full of politicians, but very few statemen.”

Forrest Gump…..”Stupid is as stupid does.”

The major and only event of yesterday was a manicure. With Tammy, of course. Fortunately, I had an appointment. There were two groups of  happy giddy women getting manicures and pedicures for weddings later in the day. Standing room only for the waiting!

Lisa and Corey visited in the afternoon. Swam in the pool. We chatted. I continue to be impressed with Lisa’s progress in her new business. Social media marketing. She is at the cutting edge of where marketing is today. Smart businesses need her. There are few having her talent and knowledge in the media
marketing area.

My Father telephoned at one point from Utica. He wanted to know how I was and how bad the rains were. What rains, I asked. He said he was watching the news and the report was tropical storm Emily was bombarding Key West with heavy rains and wind.

The sun was shining, nary a cloud in the sky and the temperature 92 degrees.

This frequently happens. The national media often misrepresent/magnify weather conditions here in the keys. I recall a hurricane that had been threatening us. One of the national TV channels was parked on Duval near La Concha. The TV announcer looked down Duval toward the Gulf and announced that in 6 hours there would be 4-6 feet of water running down Duval towards his position. It never happened. It did not even rain.

I spent the other parts of my day and evening writing. It is amazing how in my old age I enjoy remembering and composing from my experiences.

Today is Sunday. Love Sundays! I have two minuites before Meet the Press.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Another great morning! God is good!

Yesterday started with my internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

It was wild! Not the content. The location and operation of the show itself. Murphy’s law. Everything that could screw up, did screw up.

KONK has moved its studios. Now at the end of Applerouth Lane. The Whitehead end. Yesterday was my first day in the new studio. It is in the moving in status. The set up still a work in progress.

I do not know if the air conditioning was working. The broadcasting studio itself was small. The window open and an over head fan going.

The view from the window was an accurate protrayal of Key West. A touch of Whitehead and the Courthouse. An appropriate setting for a legal talk show. In addition, people were waving as they walked by.

Wires hanging all over the place. Could be seen on screen. The machinery before me was set up a bit diffrently. You cannot see the machinery. I can. It is there for me. But my mind was not readily adapting to its new location.

I screwed up major time. Talked through the first three commercial breaks! A no no.

On top of it all, some people in certain locations could only see me, not hear me. Cindy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Rita in Calitzdorp, South Africa.

Bottom line…..the content was good, the presentation left something to be desired.

Post show comments suggest two topics stimulated viewers the most. I thought it would have been Washington. Or maybe China’s credit rating. Instead, it turned out to be Donna and Terri’s remarriage and free birth control for women.

Needless to say, I have a huge female following!

Lunch was at Salute with the friday discussion group. A multitude of sins were discussed. I am still new to the group. Interesting people. Interesting minds.

We sat outside at Salute’s. Next to the beach. I could see all the prettiy ladies walking about. I arrived at an interesting conclusion. Most of the women, regardless of age or body shape, were wearing bikinis. One piece bathing suits were not to be seen. Our table of men took note.

I stopped by Lisa’s for a while. She was working hard. Her new business, The Social Suite, which provides internet marketing and consulting services, is going well. She is busy busy!

The grandkids are away. Visiting with Corey’s parents in north Florida. I miss them. Lisa misses them more.

I was Tom and Karen Dixson’s guest for dinner last night at La Trattoria. It was one of the finest dinner experiences I have had in a long time. These are two wonderful people. It was a most enjoyable time.

Tom and Karen are from Buffalo. Tom is one of the owners of the Ocean Key House. I look forward to their next visit and spending time with them again.

Lest I forget, it was great seeing Becha. She has not been working my past few visits. Her hug and kiss always makes my day.

I have to move on. A manicure this morning with Tammy.

It’s a tough life!

Enjoy your day!

The world is crumbling around us. I fear for life as we knew it. It may be a long time before it returns, if ever.

A sad start to today’s blog. But negativism is all around us. It is how I feel at the moment.

Today is friday! Friday means the Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten this morning on the internet worldwide. http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/. Join me for some interesting observations.

The show starts with a little Will Rogers and Harry Truman. A lead into Washington today. Then the proposed deep water channel in Key West, Donna and Terri’s remarriage, New York gay marriage opponents, free birth control for women, and more.

I finalized today’s show yesterday. Then refined it with Jenna. My guru.

Donna emailed me. Terri and the Follies show are in a state of refinement. Twelve hours a day for the September 12 New York opening. Dress rehearsal previews begin in about two weeks.

I find it interesting that a show that has already had a one month success at the Kennedy Center in Washington requires more work. Terri told me once that is how show business is. No matter how good, you always work to make it better.

Borders is closing. We all know. Sad.

Borders became my library in Key West. I was almost a daily visitor. It was peaceful and calm. I enjoyed sitting in those little black chairs and reading.

I am one of those who contributed to Borders’ demise.

I rarely bought a book. I sat in Borders and read them for free. Every two or three months, I would purchase a book. One for me to take on a trip or some reading for the grandkids. Also, I occasionally needed a beach book. A book is easier to read at the beach than a newspaper.

I really put the nail in the coffin six months ago when I purchased an Amazon Kindle. That was the end of Borders for me.

Many years ago my Congressman up north said of our local airport: Use it or lose it. We lost it. The same with Borders. We failed to use it.

Catch my internet show at 10!

Enjoy your day!

The highlight of my day on a wednesday is playing golf. Not yesterday. It was Sam Durso. A friend from the past.

Sam found me via my Amazon Kindle legal blog. From there he was he was able to trace me back to this blog.

I have not seen Sam in more than 30 years. We are close in age. He is 74. We were lawyers together a long time ago in Utica.

Sam’s best friend at the time was Bob Lutz. Both fine trial lawyers. Both bachelors. Both married later in life than most. They enjoyed their bachelor years!

Sam and Bob owned a boat. Summers they kept it in Alexandria Bay. St. Lawrence River country. It was the party boat from Heaven!

We old married folk were never invited nor were we permitted on it.

Sam and Bob use to play on the boat on weekends. They would come into court on Monday mornings with huge grins on their faces. We all hated them!

Sam early on tired of the actual practise of law. He obtained an appointment as a federal Administrative Law Judge in the San Francisco area.

That was 30 plus years ago. And also the last time I saw Sam or had any communication with him. Until this week.

Sam is now living in San Diego. Five minutes from the beach. He refers to himself as a San Diego beach bum. Good for him! He was divorced many years ago. Has a Japanese girl friend with whom he lives. He says it is working well. He cooks, she does the dishes.

The girl friend is very lovely. He sent me her picture. 

It is good to be reacquainted!  Sam, lets not lose each other for another thirty years.

It is amazing how every few weeks this blog will reunite me with a person from my past. Generally, my distant past. I enjoy being hooked up again. I consider myself lucky that it is happening.

Now to golf.

It was good. I played with Kurt and Rob. Both of them are at least 40 strokes better than me. No way I can even compete with them. I would need at least 3 strokes a hole and that is just not in the cards! It was decided even I could not afford the beating I would receive at their hands. So Kurt and Rob played each other. I merely participated in one of the side betting games.

These guys battled toe to toe. Especially on the back nine. It all came down to the last hole for them. A par 5. Each hit three great first shots. They were in 3 where I would have been in 6. Rob won the hole. It was great golf to watch!

I did not come out badly. Lost $1 to each of them.

The humidity was heavy. Needed 2 extra clubs to accomodate for it. All three of us were sweating profusely. I went home and to bed immediately. It took me about three hours to reenergize. I did not even go out last night. Cooked a steak and watched TV.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour tomorrow morning. 10 am Florida time. On the internet at http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/. Watch and listen, if you can. The show is streamed world wide.

Some interesting topics. I will be kicking butt with regard to what has gone on in Washington this past week. Plus…..cell phones for the poor, banks barring customers from their day in court, China’s credit rating, buy only American, free birth control pills for women, North Carolina and sterilization, nudity to attract attention, and more.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

I am up early. Golf this morning. Dark outside.

As a weather forecaster, I stink! I predicted a big storm yesterday. It never happened here in Key Haven where I live. Within 20 minutes, the sun was out and the black clouds had passed.

I live three islands up from Key West. About 2.5 miles separates my little key from Key West. It apparently rained big time in Key West. I could see huge puddles all over the place when I was driving in town last night.

I share this bit of information with you because of the uniqeness of the weather in the keys. It is not uncommon for it to rain in  Key West proper and not the 1 or 2 islands to the immediae north. In fact, it is not uncommon for it to rain in one part of Key West and not another.

Emily has become the topic of conversation. Even among the tourists. A storm on the way? The tourists do not understand how the locals take it all in stride. Too many times, we have been warned to evacuate. Many do not. It has become old hat. Get out, bad weather on its way! And then nothing. The storm turns and goes elsewhere.

The only danger is that some day the forcasters are going to be correct and it will be too late to evacuate.

Emily is not an evacuation type storm. So to locals it is like water off a duck’s back. It is given no concern.

This morning’s projection has Emily skirting Florida and hitting the United States proper in the Carolinas. It is also projected that Emily will increase in speed by that time to a hurricane 1. Still no big deal.

All this Emily information can change dramatically. Hurricanes are fickle. They move as they want. Ergo, the problem is that certainty in prediction is never a certainty.

I had a perfect day yesterday. I sat at my kitchen table with the doors open to the water behind me and wrote. All day. The weather was just right to do so. I wore only shorts and did not utilize the air conditioning. By the time I had finished, I was soaking wet.

I had dinner last night with Steve and Helen Purciello. We met through this blog. Steve is a daily reader. They visit Key West two times a year. We had drinks together six months ago at the Chart Room. We did it again last night, plus dinner at La Trattoria.

Steve and Helen hail from Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Both are educators. Steve an administrator and Helen a teacher. They have a time share here in Key West.

Both of them had spectacular tans. They ride their bikes each day to Fort Zachrey beach and lay out. They do not rent a car while here. Walking and biking are their modes of transportation.

Steve was a history major in college as I was. We are both political junkies. Politics dominated our discussions. With what has gone on in Washington the past few weeks, we had much to talk about.

 I enjoyed Steve and Helen’s company. I look forward to their next visit in November.

My blood pressure is stabilizing. I am anxious to play golf this morning. I missed last week because of the blood pressure problem.

Enjoy your day!

Another lovely day! Perfect! Calm and peaceful. Little breeze. Scattered clouds.

But…..the first hurricane of the season that might be a problem is on its way.

Emily.

Emily is presently a tropical storm. Sometime today it will cross Puerto Rico. Then Emily’s projection is for the storm to take a sharp right and head north.

Emily has three projected paths. One to the west of Florida and up into the Gulf. One to the east of Florida and north up the Atlantic. The third directly over Florida and Key West.

Storms are fickle. You never know the precise direction till the last minute. And even then, the storm’s path can change quickly and dramatically.

It is anticipated Emily will reach the Florida keys Saturday morning. Winds are projected to be 70 mph. Still within he scope of a tropical storm. Not a hurricane.

There is another possibility. Emily may never reach us at all. It may peter out.

I have noted over my years in Key West, that the natives will start talking about the storm when it is still a few days out: Will it hit?…Oh, it’s nothing!…I never worry…Who cares…Are you leaving?…No, I’m staying…Where would I go?

The topic of conversation!

I wrote an interesting blog for Amazon Kikndle yesterday. Economy and The Law. Tried to show how a depressed economy affects the operation of the courts. Tax dollars support the courts. Interesting. San Francisco has recently announced it will close a portion of its Superior Courts on September 1. Budget problems. Going to lay of 200 staff and shut down 25 court rooms.

I stopped at Lisa’s later in the morning. Cameron was there.

I learned some new things regarding his Mongilian trip. He ate horse meat. Said it was good. Apparently a Mongolian staple. Cameron further said all the food was different and exciting to the taste.

Cameron makes mention on Facebook this morning that he is bored. The trip obviously turned him on. In one month, he experienced a whole new way of living. The other 16 years of his life are old hat. Mundane. Of course he is bored! It will not last, however.

I then stopped at Office Max. I needed some supplies. I have learned that this is one of the best times of the year to shop at Office Max. They have all kinds of sales for the kids returning to school. I try to take advantage of these sales. Like a ruler for 1 cent. Can’t beat that!

I was also looking over the printers. Need a new one. No terrific sales with the printers though. Obviously not a required item for school children.

I am getting tired of typing on the computer as I write. My fingers do not work as fast as my mind nor as accurately. I am looking into Dragon. I will speak and the Dragon program will print my words on the computer.

Any of you who have Dragon experience, write and let me know what you think, your experience, etc.

I then walked. Home Depot.

Then home to write a bit. Inside. Too hot outside.

Last night I headed over to Hogfish for dinner. Alone. Sat at the bar. Read some local papers. Chatted with the barmaid. A charming woman originally from England.

I am glad this Washington fiasco is finally being put to rest. A shame on our government. A shame on us for not having figured out how to correct the situation yet before they bury us. My suggestion. Vote them out! All of them! Invoke stringent term limits. One six year term for a Senator and 2 two year terms for a Representative. Then let them return home and work like the rest of us.

Enjoy your day!

Key West weather has been so good for seven months. I fear we are going to pay for it. Perhaps in the form of a hurricane in the near future.

I am like that character in Little Abner. The little guy who always walked around with a black cloud over his head. I fear for the worst all the time.

The Sunday talk shows were interesting. Dwelled on the debt ceiling problem. Glad it is close to coming to an end. I am sick of it.

I think every one in Washington is crazy. They do not get it. Do not understand what is important to the American people. Do not realize how foolish they look to the American public. My President fails to lead, the Democrats want to protect entitlements, the Republicans the rich. It appears to me the Republicans and newly elected Tea Party conservatives won. No increase in taxes for the rich!

Revolution is here. The last two national elections were revolutions. The 2012 election is going to be a big one!

I walked yesterday. Home Depot again. Just like going to Publix. I ran into a lot of people I know. From Home Depot staff to customers. All friends.

Made a stop at Walgreen’s. Another heart pill. I could open my own drug store!

Lisa and the family came over in the afternoon to swim.

Ally has been diving. Rather trying to. Yesterday was her first success. She did a series of perfect dives. We encouraged her by yelling how great she was doing. All of a sudden she reverted. Back to belly flops. Oh, well. She is getting there, however.

I was in the kitchen on the computer. All of a sudden I heard everyone screaming. I rushed outside.

There was a snake in the pool!

About two feet long. Thin. Curling around in the water.

Corey was the hero. He took a snorkeling fin and scooped it out.

I would have thrown the snake in the ocean. Corey instead threw it into the small brush around one of the palm trees on the deck. I was disturbed. You should have thrown it in the ocean and hopefully killed it. Corey said, no. Animals are not to be killed just because we fear them. Spoken like a true scientist.

Of course, I did not agree with him. Some day or night I am going to be sitting on the deck barefoot and that thing is going to slither over my feet. A real heart attack time!

Sunday dinner at Lisa’s.

Robert talking up a storm about his trip.

He went to Applebee’s! Not big in and of itself. But you have to understand that Key West does not have an Applebee’s. This was a big deal for Robert. He ordered mozzarella sticks. I don’t think he ever had them before.

I told Robert we had to visit Disney World. He could meet Mickey Mouse. Apparently Mickey Mouse is no big deal to the kids of today. Robert knew of him, but was not that familiar with him. I was shattered! Mickey Mouse was the friend of my youth. Some 70 years ago. Each time I have been to Disney World, I got excited seeing him. Robert reeled out about a dozen names of TV/movie fame youth heroes comparable to Mickey Mouse. He saw all of them at Universal Studios. The Mickey Mouses of today. I knew none of them.

Cameron was with us. He just returned from a month in Mongolia. What an experience! Especially for a 16 year old.

It would be impossible to relate in one blog all he did. So I will share his adventure with you as and when he describes an activity.

Yesterday, he told us that he helped paint a school, spent a day cleaning a Buddhist monastery. He described gers, a round tent Mongolians live in. It is easily collapsable. The people are nomadic and move about frequently.

Cameron herded animals of the family he was staying with. Sometimes on foot and sometimes on a horse. He had rarely rode a horse prior to this trip. He said it was no problem. The horses were trained to herd the animals. They knew what to do and where to go. He just rode.

He helped milk cows. He did not do the pulling and yanking. He had some other duty in the process which I could not understand.

He visited one of the Mongolian cities. He attended a Nomadic Olympics, which he described as cool. Daytime in the city was exciting and interesting. Night time another story. Dark and scarry. Pick pockets abounded. One of his group had his pocket picked.

So much of Cameron for today!

Enjoy your day!

A glorious Sunday morning!

Fantastic Key West weather. It has been like this since December. Lucky we are.

Yesterday I intended to walk Smathers Beach. I got there and parked the car. It was about 11 in the morning. Not many people around. As soon as I got out of the car, I understood why. HOT!

Too hot!

I got back into the car and drove over to Home Depot. In the past when it has been this hot, I walk inside Home Depot. It is air conditioned. Cool.

I walked twice around the store. Up and down each aisle. Usually I walk briskly. Yesterday I did not. My physical problems of the past week were still of concern to me. Just walked normally. Forty minutes.

Afterwards ran some errands and then home.

Lisa and the family showed up. They were returning from Miami. Robert’s week at the cancer survivors camp had concluded. They picked him up.

Robert was excited. He told me about everything. It just rolled out of him.

It seems the thing that thrilled him the most was Universal Studios. The rides. Apparently there is a roller coaster at Universal Studios. He rode it four times! You had to hear him describe how it went up slowly and then dropped down fast. There also was some ride that went so fast it pushed his lips back tight against his teeth and face.

The Harry Potter exhibit was next in order of importance.

Swimming with the dolphins was high on his list, also. They returned to the upper keys to do the dolphin thing. He described how he held onto the fins of two dolphins at one time and how swiftly they carried him over the water. He also kissed a dolphin.

I am looking forward to dinner tonight at Lisa’s. Cameron just returned from Mongolia. Robert from his trip. The dinner conversation will be interesting and illuminating.

My blood pressure yesterday was 121/71. Down from 156/117 seventy two hours earlier. Amazing!

I am a political junkie. What is going on in Washington is an eye opener. Are our elected representatives doing us any good? Government seems to be dysfunctional. Amounting almost to no governance.

It scares the hell out of me! And most of you also, I am sure!

My concerns are with our “leaders.” The term includes all of them. The President, Senators and House of Representative members.

The scenerio reminds me of Nero and Rome. You will recall that it is alleged Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Some historians believe that Nero started the fire for political reasons. He wanted to build a huge palatial complex in his honor. A significant number of senators were against it. So he burned Rome. Now there was no choice. Rome had to be rebuilt and Nero got his palatial complex.

Self interest. Just as in Washington today.

Nero considered himself to be smart. To be sure that he would not be blamed for the fire, Nero effectively threw blame on the Christians. He had them thrown to the dogs, crucified and burned. The burning was at night to illuminate Rome.

Our being fed to the dogs, crucifixions and burnings will be poverty. Pure and simple. Life as we knew it will gradually disappear till it is gone. There will be a small elite class of the rich and everyone else.

Concededly it will take time. But we are making progress. Sometimes I fear too swiftly.

Something must be done. Before it is too late. First and foremost, throw the bums out who presently claim to be serving our interests. Then term limits. And any other safeguards that can be arrived at.

My apologies for pontificating. However, this Washington situation is of increased concern to me.

Enjoy your Sunday!