What a gorgeous day!

Sun bright. Not one cloud in the sky. Just a touch of cool.

A typical comfortable Key West day in the making!

I am without a car. Returned my leased Audi tuesday. A week ago tuesday I took my Mercedes to a garage for some repair work. Was supposed to get it back last friday. Still waiting. Mechanic waiting also. For a part from up north.

Fortunately, my home is not a bad place to be isolated at.

I spent yesterday working on friday’s radio show. More to do yet. This week’s topics include the Supreme Court’s first visit of Obama’s new health plan, Oklahoma and Sharia law, the mother who allegedly burned her one month old daughter in a microwave getting a third trial, Hemingway’s six toed cats in court, furburger and blowjob in a New York City class room, a Kelly McGillis update, Oregon weird dumb laws and more.

Listen in at 10 tomorrow morning on KONK 1500 AM. Better yet, watch and listen on the internet at www.konkam.com.

Kurt was kind enough to join me last night and play chauffer, also.

The night started at Aqua. Bobby Nesbitt time! Also his birthday!

Aqua was jam packed. For Bobby, of course. Love was in the room. He is a Key West icon.

Then to the Yacht Club for a quiet dinner.

Nine on wednesday evenings has become Larry Smith time. His KONK radio variety show. A big crowd for the show last night at the Bottle Cap. Like four times more people than usual. Carmello had to set up folding chairs for the excess viewers.

Larry’s show improves each week. It is good. Gets better.

Spectacular as usual was co-host Jenna. The special vocalist was Deb Hudson. Good voice and good lyrics. She wrote them herself. Alex, Petra, the Improbables and everyone else contributed mightly.

Today is Veterans’ Day!

One thing I have learned over the years is that small town parades are the best. Key West is no exception. The parade starts at 4. On Duval. Lisa and Corey take the grandkids to all the parades. That means I go also. I will be there with them.

Later tonight bocce! I have not played in 3 weeks. I am anxious! One of the greatest pleasures I experience in Key West! The participants and the game are both terrific!

It is also Howard Livingston night! Howard’s television show Key West Time will be on channel 354 at 9 pm. Tune in! He is the best! Personally and professionally!

If you were by the tennis courts at Bayview yesterday afternoon at 4 you would have seen my grandson playing. Six year old Robert is taking tennis lessons! He’s thrilled!

A message. Marty, come back!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

I am up late. Sorry. I got hung up on an old Robin Hood movie. Errol Flynn and Olivia Dehaviland. Late 1930s. Terrific! Good defeats evil!

Yesterday was a one event day. I had to return my leased Audi to the dealer in Miami. A trip! Eight hours of driving without stops.

Kurt agreed to follow me up. He was my ride back to Key West.

The trip up was beautiful. As far as the eyes could see on either side, ocean! Blue! Sometimes green! Sun reflecting! An occasinal boat!

It is normally a 4 hour trup. My dealer was located in north Miami on Biscayne Boulevard.

It took us 5 hours.

We got lost. Stayed lost.

I was the navigator. I got us to about 4 miles from the dealership. I was on a super highway. Went right when I should have gone left. Twenty miles later, we were in Fort Lauderdale.

I reversed everything. To no avail. Finally, I got off the highway we were on. Located the sun. I wanted to go east. Put the sun behind me and drove forward. Ten minutes later I hit Biscayne Boulevard. Two blocks away was the dealership!

Sort of like navigatgion by the stars!

The return trip should have been easy. It was not. Kurt was driving. We were on a major highway in the heart of Miami. Suddenly it was decision time. Kurt says we should go right. I said no. Go left. Kurt went left. It was the wrong direction.

He should not have listened to me!

A normal 8 hour trip, 4 hours each way, took 10. Not bad under the circumstances.

On the return trip, we were hungry. We had not eaten since breakfast. We stopped at the Islamorada Fish Company. A terrifc place! I had been there before. Kurt had not. A lovely large deck restaurant sitting out on the water.

We arrived at sunset. The view was magnificent.

I had stone crabs. Lots of them. Delicious! Kurt does not like stone crabs. He had grouper.

We got home around 8. Both tired.

I thank Kurt for helping me. And not getting mad at my poor navigation talents!

Tonight is a big Key West evening!

It is Bobby Nesbitt’s birthday. He will be performing at Aqua from 5:30 to 7:30. The place should be packed. He has tons of friends who will be there to wish him well.

At 9 it is the Larry Smith variety show at the Bottle Cap. The KONK radio spectacular. Co-hosted by the lovely and talented Jenna Stauffer.

Then move over to La Te Da. Debra and Patrick are back! The dynmaic duo! Two lovely people who have entertained Key West for years.

I was supposed to play golf this morning. It is wednesday. Robin Hood took precedence. Are my priorities changing? I don’t think so. I just did not feel like getting out of bed.

Enjoy your day!

My Key West day yesterday was Dennis’ golf tournament.

Dennis has been manager of Michael’s Restaurant for years. He has decided to move on. He is leaving Key West. For where, I do not know. I don’t think he does either. He is just moving on.

His brother Emmett is bartender at Michael’s. He organized the torunamant. About 40 guys showed up to play.

It was a for real tournament. Free golf balls and tee shirts. Prizes.

A scramble. My teammates were Mick, Adam and Eddy. Nevet met any of them before. I was pleased to be on their team. Long ball hitters! Real long! All three!

We played well. I made my contributions on the short game.

We did not excell. Finished plus 1. We had 2 bogies and only 1 birdie. We were generally putting for birdies. But the putts were too long and did not drop. It was that kind of day.

I enjoyed playing with Mike, Adam and Eddy. Good people! Gentlemen! We had a good time.

Kurt was with us. He drove me. Kurt hurt his shoulder in an accident recently and cannot yet swing a club. He kept us amused.

Jill was with us off and on. Jill is Adam’s girl friend. She is also one of the outside bartenders at Don’s Place. Jill was the official photographer for the tournament.

On the 18th tee, Jill laid down. Exposed her navel. A golf ball was placed on it. Adam stood up and took aim with his driver. I thought…..I don’t believe it! He took a half swing back. Kurt took a picture. And that was it!

It was a great afternoon!

We finished around 5:30. Party time at Don’s Place was scheduled to begin at 6. A crowd of 300 was expected.

I went home to shower and change.

Never left the house. I was tired. I opted to stay in. It’s called old age!

I went to sleep with visions of Jill’s navel in my head! Another sign of old age!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning and welcome!

The start of a great day in Key West!

Still cold. 67 degrees. However the temperature is projected to rise to 75 this afternoon. The chill will be gone.

Yesterday morning started in typical Sunday fashion. Me in bed and Meet the Press and other Sunday talk shows on the TV.

In the early afternoon, I was off to Don’s Place. Pro football time.

The whole world gathers at Don’s Place on Sunday afternoons during football season. Don, Stephanie, Tino, Alex, Herschel, Nancy, Kurt, Emmett and more.

David was grilling. Chicken! Covered with barbecue sauce. Delicious!

Only one peron missing. Carole Ann. Where were you Carole Ann?

I brought my gym clothes with me to Don’s Place. The gym I have joined is immediately next door to Don’s Place on Truman.

After I fed myself a bit, enjoyed some football and enjoyed everyone’s company, I went next door to work out.

My second day in a row! What a good boy am I! Boxed a bit and did the tread mill a bit.

Then to Lisa’s.

I read the Sunday papers while Robert and Ally raised hell around me. I have learned to tune them out on occasion. While I was reading the newspapers was one of those times.

Then I layed out on the couch and took a nap. Good!

Dinner was great with Lisa and the family. Lisa cooks well. The grandkids are always entertaining. Robert tends to be serious. Ally has the devil in her. She reminds me so much of Lisa when Lisa was her age.

After dinner, I headed over to Publix. Cupboard bare again! Bought a few things. Very few. Did not even have a cart. I am beginning to think I enjoy shopping so much that I buy less than I need so I can return more often.

It was early to bed.

Big day today!

Dennis has been the manager at Michael’s Restaurant for years. He is leaving. Today is party time in Dennis’ honor.

There is a scramble golf tournament scheduled for 1 this afternoon. Then a party at Don’s Place at 6 tonight. There is a large group playing golf. Even more expected for the party. Like 300!

I am playing and partying! Should be a fun day!

My radio show of October 29 is available for viewing at www.tikilive.com/video/28233. If you have the time, take a peek.

Enjoy your day!

Daylight saving time!

It screws me up! I wish they would leave the time alone!

My whole life it has taken me time to adjust. A mental thing I am sure. But a problem nevertheless.

Even my cell phone is having problems. I have the most expensive AT&T cell phone. It cannot change time by itself. I have to do it! And I am not sure I know how.

My computer is smarter. The correct time is already showing.

If my computer can do it, why can’t my cell phone? My AT&T phone is really an Apple. I saw a comment on the internet this morning where someone at Apple said the problem was caused by a minor glitch. I did not pay for a glitch!

The cold wave is still here. Cold last night. Cold this morning. Though the sun is shining brightly! Presently 65 degrees. The high today is projected at 71. Tomorrow Key West returns to normal. The high will be 76 and higher the rest of the week.

A great development! I love modern technology!

Starting today I am able to attach a video of my friday radio show. If you are interested in viewing it, you merely have to hit on the site address I will be providing.

Today the show of a week ago is availabale. October 29. In a few days, this past friday’s show will be available.

Don’t ask me why the delay. I do not know. This is progress, however.

If you are interested in viewing The Key West Lou Legal Hour of October 29, go to www.tikilive.com/video/28233.

I finally did it! Yesterday! I went to the gym!

I boxed and did the tread mill. Not long. But long enough. I am out of shape. It has been a few years. But it is the first step in a journey.

After the gym, I headed over to Borders. Ally was sick and I wanted to get her a book. She is into reading big time. I selected a dog book. Bugle was the dog’s name. The cover said perfect for a 5 year old.

Ally was thrilled! I caught her in between upchucking. She sat Corey on the floor with her next to him and started reading.

Lisa was in bed. A bug was going throught the house. She was dying.

I said my hellos and good byes quickly and left. No sense in me getting sick also!

Last night was the Chart Room. Busy. Tourists. Parrotheads.

Parrotheads are good people! They represent conservative America. They also are different from last week’s visitors during Fantasy Fest. Good people, also. But a bit on the other side of the spectrum. Parrotheads cover their heads with strange hats. Fantasy Festers cover their bodies with nothing.

Sort of like different strokes for different folks!

I decided to eat at Hogfish. Drove out to downtown Stock Island.

A good crowd at Hogfish. I sat at the bar, talked to the locals around me. My dinner was excellent. I had stone crabs for an appetizer and hogfish for an entre. Ate both with my fingers.

What could be better!

Today is sunday! Love sundays!

Meet the Press this morning and Don’s Place this afternoon.

Enjoy your day!

The cold wave has arrived!

It is presently 65 degrees. The high today is projected at 68!

A 20 degree drop in two days!

Fear not however, the cold wave will leave us Monday and there will be a return to normalcy.

A good radio show yesterday! Love doing it!

The issue that received the most comment after the show involved the three Iowa Supreme Court Justices who were voted out of office for having ruled in favor of same sex marriage last year.

Iowa was upon me yesterday.

Cindy of Cindy and Tom from Cedar Rapids wrote. One of the judges voted out was the Chief Justice. A female. Cindy knew her personally. Grew up with her. Cindy’s sister was in the same grade as the Judge throughout school.

A small world. Proves one thing, however. On occasion, the center of the universe is Key West! Cindy and Tom spend time in the winter in Key West.

After the radio show yesterday, I was standing outside the studio on White Street talking with Larry Smith. A gentleman walked up and asked if I was Key West Lou. He wanted to say hello.

He identified himself as being from Iowa. He knew I would be finishing the radio show and stopped by hoping to meet me. He reads the blog every day!

We chatted a bit. Nice guy. Talked about the 3 judges. I mentioned Cindy and Tom to him. He wanted to know where to go for the best con leche in Key West. Larry and I pointed in unison to the next block. One of those holes in the wall behind a laundromat. The best Cuban coffee in Key West!

I am embarassed I cannot recall his name. My apologies. Hopefully before he leaves Key West, we will run into each other again.

KONK 1500 AM radio has a new name. Konk Broadcasting Network. We are growing! Soon KONK will be an FM station as well as an AM station!

I never made it to the gym yesterday. The road to hell is truly paved with good intentions. Instead I stayed home and read. Bad! I have to get into the gym habit. I must prepare for my stress test on the 16th.

I am getting old. I opted to stay in last night. A friday night! There was a reason. A good one. The Turner Classic Channel was showing Bridge on the River Kwai at 8. A 1957 classic. Terrific movie! Terrific background music!

I am toying with a trip to Italy. Sometime after my stress test on the 16th and Christmas. Just a thought. But it is gowing in me. It has been 25 years since I last visited Italy.

Lisa telephoned this morning. Ally was up sick all night. Ally got on the phone. In her typical fashion, she described her bad evening. She obviously sounded better this morning.

Love her!

Enjoy your day!

I am up early. There is a chill in the air. The cold front is coming in.

First one in a long time.

My radio show this morning. At 10. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Listen in on KONK 1500 AM radio. Watch and listen on the internet worldswide at www.konkam.com.

Should be a good show this morning! Interesting and stimulating topics! Like bullfighting! And judges bounced in Iowa for supporting gay marriage, marijuana failing to pass muster in California, some post election thoughts, weird dumb laws, criminals and a dumb lawsuit, a walk back in history with Reagan and the Berlin wall, and more.

My day started yesterday with another doctor visit. The third one this week.

I joined a gym yesterday. The one next to Don’s Place on Truman. Boxing and the tread mill. I plan on actually starting this afternoon.

It was manuicure time! Tammy at Lee Nails. They moved over the weekend. Still in the same plaza. Just a few doors down. Their landlord needed the space where they were for City offices.

What a beautiful place! Took my breath away when I walked in! Beyond Key West!

Beautiful earth and other tones. Great pics. The whole flavor is upscale. I wish Tammy and her husband good luck!

I spent the afternoon fine tuning today’s radio show. One hour of radio time generally takes 5-6 hours of preparation.

It was 5ish. I was getting ready for bocce. It started raining again. The afternoon had been dry. It was pouring. Don and David telephoned to say no bocce. The courts were flooded.

I decided to stay in and watch Howard Livingston’s new TV show Key West Time at 9.

I never got to watch the show. Howard’s new show is carried on channel 354. DirectTV. I do not get channel 354. I do not have DirectTV. I am a Comcast customer.

Strange how we become aware of simple things in the oddest way. It never connected before last night that I needed a different provider to watch Howard.

All is not lost, however! Starting today, Howard’s show is being carried on demand time. It can be seen at www.keywestime.com. I shall watch the show after my radio show.

It is getting cold! I am sitting at my kitchen counter writing this blog. The glass sliding doors facing the ocean are open behind me. I am chilled! The weather man says cold wave time through out the weekend. That means low to mid 70s by day. High 60s by night. Cool to us who live full time in the keys. Our blood has thinned. Warm to those in other parts of the country where the temperature at this time has dropped to as low as 20 degrees.

Please join in and listen to my radio show this morning.

Enjoy your day!

What a difference a day makes!

I played golf yesterday morning. Sun shining brightly. Warm. Raised a bit of a sweat. When I finished 18, my face was red from the sun.

Then yesterday afternoon, it started raining. Big time! And rained, rained, rained! Through out the night. Still raining this morning. Heavy!

So much rain that the street in front of my home is flooded. I may need a canoe to get out of here!

Great golf yesterday! I played well. Played with good guys! David, Larry, Yankee Jack and Tino. Tino is back from Chicago.

There were 3 winners. Three who tied with the most points. I was one of them. Ho ho! Split $12. Which means I pocketed $4. The amount is immaterial! I was thrilled! A win is a win!

Poor Tino was the big loser! He was welcomed back appropriately. Cost him around $14.

My putting is holding me back. When I could not hit, I putted well. Now that I am crushing the ball, I cannot putt. You figure!

My poor Mercedes is sick! I love the car! Bought it new in 1987. I have cared for it as one would a child since then.

It was driven down to Key West from New York about a month ago. After having been in storage for 5 years. Got to Key West with no trouble.

Then I drove it for a week in Key West. The air conditioning went. One of the back windows would not stay up. There was a noise when it was driven that sounded like a loose fan belt. And a few other little things.

I made arrangements to take it to a garage for servicing yesterday. I got in the car and turned the key. The battery was dead. Nothing.

Called the garage. A tow truck with a bed came over. The reason the car was dead was that the fan belt was wrapped around the fan. Oh, well! I hope my Mercedes will be back and well soon. The car has become a friend and item of pride over the years.

Last night I intended to do dine out and then head over to the Bottle Cap to catch the Larry Smith variety hour live. The heavy rains changed my mind. I stayed in. Cooked for myself. I am getting good at it. Then spent the evening preparing for friday’s radio show.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour this friday has some very interesting topics. Like bullfighting!

A province in Spain recently legislated to outlaw bullfighting. Spains highest court is preparing to hear argument on the constitutionality of the ban. The background to the issue is interesting. There is even a touch of Ernest Hemingway involved.

There will also be comment on the three Iowa Supreme Court Justices who were in effect recalled by the voters yesterday for having voted in favor of gay marriage last year. Conservative Iowans fought back on the issue.

Plus, Californians voted down legalizing marijuana for recreational use. A surprise!

Additionally, I will be touching on the New York City car bomber who was sentenced to life in prison, burqa banning in France and other European countries, Islam and two teenage girls executed by a firing squad in Somalia for allegedly spying, dumb criminals, and more.

Listen in. On the radio at KONK 1500 AM. Worldwide on the internet for both watching and listening at http://www.konkam.com/. All at 10 am on friday! Tomorrow!

Bocce tonight! Good luck! I doubt if the rain will cease and desist. Even if it does, I doubt the clay courts will be dry enough to play.

Tonight is a big night otherwise! A proud moment for the Florida keys! An even prouder moment for my friend Howard Livingston!

Howard’s new TV show debuts tonight on national television. Channel 354. DirectTV. At 9 pm.

Howard will be in 32 million homes tonight!

Good for you, Howard!

Watch the show everyone! Howard is the best!

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday was an ordinary day. Especially by Key West standards.

I basically did nothing but personal housekeeping chores.

My day started with a haircut. Always a pleasure to see Lori. We spoke of the grandkids. She does their hair. They were in last Saturday. Ally is becoming a problem. She is strong willed and of a single mind set. Much like her mother was. Ally does not want her hair cut. Only a trim. She has a tiny face. We are lucky to see it!

Following the haircut, I voted. There were only two of us to vote. Contrasted with two years ago when Obama was running and I had to wait 15 minutes. Even though Florida has early voting, I viewed the lack of voters as an indication of a light turnout. Good for who! Good for which party?

Then to the Coffee House. Sipped and read. Browsed through the New York Times. The place was packed. Surprised me. Fantasy Fest is over. Guess there are a lot of vacationers in town. A good time to be here. Great weather. Peaceful.

I had a heart doctor appointment in the afternoon. Thought it was a routine one. Ended up having some tests I had not anticipated. More scheduled for Novemebr 16th. I have to do a stress test, plus some other things.

I put the stress test off two weeks. I am not in shape. Even my walking has been sporadic. A doctor friend in Utica once told me you have to practice for a stress test. I will be signing up at a gym tomorrow and working out, amongst other things, on a tread mill for two weeks in preparation.

Love politics! So I stayed in last night to watch the results. Woke periodically during the night to keep up. We are back to split government. Good? Bad? Who knows anymore.

We are screwed up as a Nation.

There is a quote I have repeated on several radio shows recently. Jesus Christ said it. Matthew recorded it. Lincoln repeated it. Matthew 12:25. “…every city and house divided against itself will not stand.”

A house divided cannot stand!

We must come together!

The Parrotheads are starting to drift into town. By the weekend, there will be thousands here. Jimmy Buffett followers! Middle Americans! Wearing their crazy hats from whence the parrothead designation derives. Having a wonderful time!

The fall has been terrific so far weather wise. Especially since no hurricanes visited us! The temperature has consistently been in the high 80s to low 90s. A cold front is projected for the weekend. Our first one in a long while. The cold front was the talk of the town yesterdy. Locals excited. A bit of cool weather is always welcome.

The temperature will drop to the low 70s! Believe it or not, it will be cool/cold to those living in the keys. Perhaps long pants time.

I know this is a joke to those of you up north. Yesterday the temperature was 41 in upstate New York.

Golf this morning! I have a feeling I will play well. Plus the guys I play with are a joy. Good people all!

Enjoy your day!

A relatively quiet day yesterday.

Started with a doctor visit. My internest. Routine. Today I see my heart doctor. Routine also. The appointments just happened to fall close together.

I spent the better part of the day at home doing paperwork and catching up on bills. I hate paying bills!

Dinner was the hightlight of the evening. With Jenna.

The ages separate Jenna and me. She is 25. I am 75. But we have become best friends.

Jenna was a communications major. Television is her goal. She started out well after college. Was a sports broadcaster for a TV station somewhere. I have seen her videos. Terrific!

Then came the recession. It affects every part of American industry. Her TV station was forced to downsize. Jenna was let go.

She has been in Key West for several months. Staying with an aunt and uncle. Seeking a new sport broadcasting job somewhere. Resumes out all over the place.

In the meantime, Jenna has kept busy. She is producing some shows at Konk radio. She co-hosts the Larry Smith variety show wednesday evening at the Bottlecap. The show also airs ad ustreams over Konk radio. She cohosted Pretenders last week with Kathleen Peace. She has done some interviewing work for various businesses and organizations locally.

No grass growing under her feet!

Jenna is a talent waiting to be discovered!

We had dinner at the bar at La Trattoria. Kathy bartending. I had two charming women keeping me company!

This is not the first time Jenna and I have had dinner or lunch together. She is a cheap date. Eats like a bird. An appetizer or salad. Nothing more. And is as thin as a toothpick! I wish I had her will power!

After dnner, we walked Duval to Vinos. Clayton and Valerie’s new wine bar. A good crowd for a monday evening.

Che was there. Sitting out on the porch watching the street go by. I chatted with Che for a few minutes.

Jenna and I sat at the opposite end of the porch. Che called over and wanted to know why I wasn’t joining him. I said who wants you when I have her! Pointing to Jenna. Che laughed.

We idled the time away chatting about Jenna’s professional activities in Key West, her hopes for the future and that sort of thing.

Valerie showed up at one point. It was good to see her. She and Clayton are working had to make a go of Vinos. I think they will.

That was my yesterday. Nothing dramatic. A normal day with an interesting Jenna woven in.

I have to vote today. Forgot to do so.

Enjoy your today!