Odd day yesterday.

Started with Bonnie. The tropical storm that never was in Key West.

I spoke of Bonnie on the blog yesterday morning. Talked about what might be if it hit. Suggested it might not. The weather was too good at the time I was writing.

At 10 I was in the studio doing my radio show. From 10 to 11. Kept looking out the window onto the street. Sun shining brightly. People walking around as usual. No one appeared concerned.

I commented at least 3 times during the show that I thought this Bonnie thing was going to miss Key West.

Earlier before I left for the studio, I was watching NBC. Per their usual custom, they had flown a reporter down to cover the storm. The reporter was standing in rain gear at the end of South Street. At the Southernmost Point. Sun shining. Little to no breeze. Water calm. Talking about the impending storm.

Then NBC took us to Duval Street. A long shot of Duval. The commentary was to the effect that in just a few hours the storm would be beating up the street.

Been there before. Seen the national news broadcasts before. And recall nothing happening on most occasions.

Yesterday was to be one of those familiar days. Bonnie never came. Whaever occurred, was over Miami and to the north.

That is the way it goes. True, better safe than sorry. However genrally these storms miss us. Thank God! The media rouses the nation that calamity is about to befall the keys. All in error.

The scenerio never changes.

After the radio show, I headed over to Lucky Day Cafe for lunch. Cheesesteak cuban style.

Then to Borders to read.

I needed some tee shirts. Someone told me about a store on Kennedy Drive that sells tee shirts by the pound. You heard me correctly. By the pound!

Why not!

I went over. It is called Island Tee Shirts.

The tee shirts are over runs. I bought 3. One from Rumrunners. Another from the U.S.Navy and a third with just Key West on the pocket.

The material felt good. One had a label reading pre shrunk.

The 3 tee shirts cost me $18, including tax. Not bad. It was worth the money just for the experience. I picked my own shirts out of a bin and weighed them. That is different!

I was tired. So it was home to bed for my late aftenoon nap. Part of my life style and need in my senior years.

The Chart Room was interesting last night. Very few people. But those there were perfect for what transpired.

Susan bartending. Matt the Key West videographer. And a gentleman I had never met before. Kevin McCoy.

Kevin lives here in Key West. Retired as I am. Made his fortune owning a few Amco Transmission franchises. He has a home on White Street.

There was also a young lady. Mid 20s at the most. Lovely.

Her name was Rebecca Huval. She came with a camera. On a long stand. She was a reporter. Sent down here to Key West because of…..you guessed it! Bonnie! The storm that never was here.

Her editor had sent her down earlier in the day to do a story on drinking and hurricanes. Apparently there is a Monroe County law that permits the County to bar the sale of alcohol during a weather storm. She told us it had only been imposed once. During Georges in 1998.

She asked me what I thought. I told her initially I did not care. I did not drink. Then I went on to tell her it was a stupid law. My experience in Key West has shown that people are responsible during hurricane season. The primary concern is to protect person and property. Drinking had never been an issue in my experience. Matt and Kevin agreed with me.

Rebecca was hitting the bars in her search for information for her story. Her next stop was Sloppy Joe’s. Then she was going to Don’s Place. I set her up to speak with Kurt there. Don is out of town.

The interesting thing about Don’s Place is that it remains open during a hurricane. Not every one can afford to leave. Some stay to watch their property or pets. They need a place to congregate. It is Don’s Place. I thought she might pick up a story or two there.

Rebecca took our pictures. Wrote some of our comments down. Told us the story would probably run on monday. So read the Miami Herald on monday. Louis and the Chart Room gang are going to be mentioned.

Part of the conversation with Rebecca involved leaving the keys in the event of a hurricane. It brought to mind Bob Smith.

Bob is now dead. He was a Chart Room character for 30 years. His ashes lie in the Chart Room bar rail. Rebecca had already been made familiar with that part of Chart Room folklore before I arrived.

Bob wrote a book once about Key West. It is appropriately titled BOB. A copy sits behind the bar. I got it and went to the page where Bob talks about evacuating Key West in the event of a hurricane. The federal government orders the evacuation at some pont.

Bob noted the number of cars in Key West. He also did some sort of study on the number of gas stations and supply of available gasoline. His conclusion: There is no where enough gas to fill up all the vehicles that would be evacuating.

So much for government ordered evacuation! On top of which the government assumes that those who are left will drink themselves into oblivion!

BOB and the gasoline analysis will probably make up a part of Rececca’s story also.

I had dinner alone at the bar of a local restaurant. Two women were sitting next to me. Matronly. Middle aged. They were joking around with the bar maid. A young girl. They were telling her how attractive her butt was. I interjected. Asked if they would like a male evaluation. Bad move! They were lesbians. Tough ones. I thought the one next to me was going to hit me!

I lowered my head and said no more.

I was surprised that such would occur in Key West.

Never saw my company yesterday. Donna and Terri, my two lesbian friends (some do love me), were asleep when I left in the morning. They were out when I returned late in the afternoon and later when I returned for the night. They are show people. One in the aftrnoon is arousal time for them. Perfect company. I don’t have to worry about them or see them. Actually, sad. We will have to get on the same schedule for a day.

I am going to take the grandkids to the golf course this afternoon. Time for them to practice a bit on a real green.

Enjoy your day!

The morning is here. The anticipated tropical storm has not yet arrived.

It is called Bonnie.

It is the first storm of the season. Unusual to have either a tropical storm or hurricane this early in the season. Glad it is only a tropical storm.

I stepped outside. Not much unusual yet. A bit of a wind. The water is moving slightly faster than normal.

The event is not yet upon us!

It is coming though. Right over the Florida keys. Key West will be in the center of it.

Winds around 30-40 miles per hour. When it is actually upon us the winds can go to 50-60 miles an hour.

Not a big deal.

Wind and some rain. Actually, a lot of rain. The Key West streets will flood as usual. Key West is built at sea level. The sewer system cannot take a lot of rain at one time.

Tomorrow we will talk about Bonnie and how it was a lot of nothing.

There is one problem involving Bonnie, however. An economic one. The flood insurance program did not yet get renewed by Congress.They are screwing around with it. Ergo, any property damage caused by water will not be insurance covered.

Like extending unemployment benefits. Another government failure in a time of need.

The flood insurance issue will be one of the first topics I will be discussing on my rado show this morning. Listen in. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 am. KONK 1500 AM from Key Largo to Havana, Cuba, Elsewhere, watch and listen on the internet. www.ustream.com. Type KONK in the box and voila! I will be there!

Lunch yesterday was at the Lucky Day Cafe. Cuban toast with cheese and tomato and a diet Pepsi.

Then to the Coffee House. Quiet there. Read the New York papers.

Still early. I was in the mood to continue reading. To Borders! I am flirting with a book about a New York City law firm in the late 1800s. Not sure yet whether I am enjoying it enough to stay with it.

Donna and Terri were at the house when I returned home. We chatted a bit. Agreed to have dinner together.

Dinner was at La Trattoria. No Becha. Her night off. No problem. I had Donna and Terri.

We ate a little too much. Actually a whole too much. Sides of sausage and an antipasto besides main courses.

I had a good time. They had a good time. We laughed through out dinner. It was good to be dining with them again.

After dinner, Donna and Terri headed out on the town. I begged off. It was home to bed for me. It was already after 10.

I stopped at Lisa’s on the way home. Saw her light on.

Ally was still up. And keeping Lisa and Corey up. She did not want to sleep. Asked for water. Wanted her mother to sleep with her. Wanted to discuss golf with me. Anything to be up and walking around.

Love that Ally!

The wind seems to be picking up a bit. Could be my imagination. In any event, at some point today it is going to get very dark, blow and rain like hell!

Enjoy your day!

Slept late. It’s 9 o’clock. Very unusual for me.

Yesterday was full of interesting happenings.

Golf was a disaster in the morning. I reverted. Played bad.

Golfed with Yankee and Aaron. Aaron does not genrally play for money. I challanged Yankee. Told him I would play him even. No strokes.

Yankee said no way! I’ll kill you. He forced me to take 1 stroke a hole, except for the threes.

Thank God!

Here’s how bad I played. After my first two shots off the tee on hole #1, I had not yet reached the ladies tee!

This tale of woe is best told by our respective scores. I have been shooting around 105. Yankee around 100. Yesterday I shot 116. Yankee shot 93.

I had to have my worst day on the day Yankee had his best day in ages!

I lost $6.

Yankee is a gentleman. He took Aaron and me to lunch at Hogfish to celebrate his spectacular day on the course.

While we were having lunch, a bearded gentleman came over. To say hello to Yankee. It was Jeep.

Yankee introduced Jeep around.

Turns out Jeep is one of the performers at Mallory Square. One of the sunset gang. Has been performing there for years. A star in his own right!

Jeep plays a trombone and piano. He sings. He blows up and creates ballon figures for the kids.

You can recognize Jeep by the bowler hat he wears. A trademark.

Jeep had a partner in his act for years. Mo. A golden retriever. Mo unfortunately passed on. Jeep continues without Mo.

I needed a manicure. Over to see Tammy.

I was tired from golf. Stomach heavy from lunch. I actually started falling asleep as Tammy was massaging my hands.

I got home about 3. Donna and Terri were on their way out. Where are you going? To Hogfish. I just left. Terri has never been there.

I gave them directions. Hogfish in the heart of downtown Stock Island is not easy to find.

Marty is back! We agreed to meet at the Chart Room.

While sitting at the bar, Ernest Hemingway walked in. Look like him for real. He is one the Hemingway look a likes. You will recall this is Hemingway Look a Like Weekend at Sloppy Joe’s.

It was Hemingway and his wife. Actually Marvin and Sandy from Fort Pierce.

This is Marvin’s first entry into the contest. His wife insisted he try.

He just might win!

A nice couple. Warm.

Sandy told us about the marlin Marvin caught at Waikikee Beach last September. 1,245pounds! Big!

Marvin had a picture of him and the fish. The marlin was a monster. Several feet taller than Marvin. Huge!

All I could think off was The Old Man and the Sea.

Dinner was upstairs at Louie’s Backyard. Marty and I were in the mood for tapas and the view.

We both were surprised when we walked into Louie’s. Clayton and John were hosting. I did not know they were even working there. Two great guys. Well known in Key West and both well liked.

Clayton is in the process of opening a coffee house in the middle of busy Duval. A couple of doors from the French Croissant. He is remodeling. He had two bandaged fingers to prove it. Sliced them both while laying a new floor.

The place will be a winner when opened. Clayton and his wife Valerie are popular and well liked Key West figures. Additionally, the location is perfect. It is in the center of everything.

And I will be a customer! I love coffee houses and reading the newspapers. One thing Clayton must do, however. Provide the newspapers free to be read. I refuse to pay for a paper at a coffee house. A personal idiosyncrosy.

This Shirley Sherrod thing is all over TV. One day she is vilified. The next sanctified.

I thought she was a bit pompous this morning in expecting a telephone call from the President.

What will tomorrow bring reagrding her? This story is developing fast. There is a case called Pigford v. Vilsack that may play in here. Lets see what develops.

Tomorrow The Key West Lou Legal Hour. 10 am. KONK 1500 AM. On the internet to be seen and heard world wide at www.ustream.com. Bring up ustream and type in KONK. Voila! There I will be!

Great topics. Like Army suicides at an all time high, the federal government screwing around with flood insurance, deep water oil drilling off Cuba, gay marriage in Argentina, Holland v. Florida, an Australian Court refusing to extradite a Nazi war criminal back to Hungary, a Massachusetts lawsuit involving the sex act and an alleged fractured penis, the Gulf oil spill and more.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

It is sunny and humid. Very humid! True Key West summer weather.

I graduated from Manhattan College. Manhattan grads are known as Jaspers. After a Christian brother named Jasper who early taught at the College.

There is a blogger out there in cyber space by the name of Jasper fjohn68. No mistake. That is his e mail name. He is a Manhattan College graduate also.

He is a conservative at heart. Perhaps more. His writings suggest he is far to the right. Nothing wrong with that. I tend to be a bit to the left on occasion. Actually, most of the time.

Jasper John, as I shall call him, will comment on my blogs on those rare occasions when I take a political position or make a leftist comment. His written reaction to whatever I may have said is to knock me on my ass! He is not gentle in his retort!

I do not mind. At least he is reading me. And I love controversey involving an exchange of ideas.

I doubted Jasper John had a sense of humor. I viewed him as a bit of a stiff ass.

I was wrong.

Jasper John commented on yesterday’s blog. With a joke! A golf joke. And it was funny! Left me laughing!

Jasper John beware! We are becoming friends!

I walked Duval yesterday for exercise. Quiet. Really quiet. The off season.

I continue to be amazed at the number of new ice scream and gelato stores. There must be a lot of money in selling these items. They are located where the rents are $10,000 to $25,000 per month.

Spent some time at Borders. Read chapters from two books. One had to do with saving a marriage. Good time for me to read it! After the divorce!

Had to grocery shop. Company coming. Donna and Terri. A different selection of foods purchased when one has company.

Donna and Terri had already arrived by the time I got home. We sat in the kitchen and caught up for about two hours.

Then it was nap time for me.

Donna and Terri were off to a birthday dinner for Lynda Frechette. I was not invitedf. For shame whoever put it together!

I decided to stay in and work on friday’s radio show. Spent about 4 hours working away. Not done yet. But getting there. It will be good!

Topics will include American soldier suicides in the Afghanistan and Iraqi Wars, recently announced deep water drilling off the coast of Cuba, Argentina’s approval of same sex marriage, Washington weird dumb lawes, Australia’s denial of an extradition request by Hungary of a Nazi war criminal, the Holland v. Florida U.S. Supreme Court decision, the weird court lawsuit of the week involving Massachusetts, and more.

I was tired when I finished. So it was off to bed and sleep.

Golf this morning. It may only be Yankee Jack and me. The group slims down in the summer. People leave for the summer. Others take vacations. If just Yankee and me, I will play him straight up. No strokes. Time to test my new abilities on the golf course. Yankee generally gives me 18 strokes. I have to find out if I can play as well as I think I can.

Enjoy your day!

Big day today!

Donna and Terri arrive to spend some time with me. Key West awaits them! They are both lovable and loving. We are all anxious to hear about Terri’s pending Broadway plans. She just finished 3 months in the hit Chicago as Matron Mama Morton.

Lynda Frechette is back in town! For her birthday! Happy birthday Lynda!

Lynda is one of Key West’s most dynamic individuals.

Today is historically significant. However, from the sparsity of news concerning the event, it would appear America has forgotten.

There are important events to be remembered. Never to be forgotten.

One is man landing on the moon.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did just that 41 years ago today. July 20, 1969. Sometime after 10 in the evening upstate New York time. I remember.

I considered at the time and still do man’s landing on the moon the most colossal event of my life. Imagine. Two men getting in a space ship and flying 240,000 miles to the moon. Safely landing there. Then walking around on the moon’s surface. And finally being able to safely return to earth.

A WOW without comparison!

I wanted my four children to see and remember the event the rest of their lives. They were small at the time. I got them up out of their sleep and beds and brought them downstairs to our family room. I explained what was occurring on TV. Good luck! They soon fell asleep! I recall Lisa being the first to drop off. She was all of 6 at the time.

To this day, none of them recall Daddy waking them up or watching the event.

I tried.

Played golf yesterday. With Larry, Mark, Mike and Chuck.

I am still hitting the ball well. Pitching terrific, also. I am hitting some great shots from 130 yards and in. However I have yet to select the correct club. I am always a club too long or a club too short. This will remedy itself in due course. Then, watch out!

Lost $6. Not bad.

This blog appears here and on Facebook. I would like to expand its readership to Twitter. I am not computer literate. Lisa is doing it for me. I spent a couple of hours with her yesterday afternoon working on it. Hopefully by the end of today, Key West Lou will be available through Twitter also.

Lisa did accomplish one thing for me. I could never figure out how to put my picture on Facebook. Lisa hit a few keys and voila! There I was!

It is a generational thing. My lack of mechanical ability.

I ate in last night. I was exhausted from golf. It was a mistake.

While grocery shopping over the weekend, I bought a package of Oreos. First time in 30 years! I do not eat Oreos.

Last night I did! About 15 in one sitting! Good! Bad! I will never buy them again! I have a hard enough time controlling my weight as it is.

Today is the start of Hemingway Days here in Key West. It is an annual event. Hemingway look alikes invade Key West. A contest. One will be declared winner. A big deal!

A tough decision. Each looks just like Hemingway! White beard and all!

Enjoy your day!

Up early this morning!

Going to play golf with Larry Smith and the monday morning gang.

Sun just rising. From where I am sitting on the deck, I can see black clouds and pink covered clouds. We are into the rainy season. May rain today. No, will rain. However I hope it does not rain on me while I am playing golf.

Solares Hill is a terrific weekly that is published every Sunday. Yesterday’s Solares Hill had a quote by Ernest Hemingwway. “I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.”

Wish that was the case! I still carry my Catholic guilt around with me. Catholic grammar school, high school and college. Everything I experienced that made me feel good was bad. Subject matter for the confessional. Still the same on occasion. Our upbringings never leave us.

Love Hemingway! However…..his quote was a white wash for his occasional not so correct living.

There goes my Catholic upbringing again! And judgmental besides! A terrible thing!

I spent yesterday morning in bed enjoying the Sunday morning talk shows.

Lunched at Hogfish. For about 2 hours. Took my time. Read the Sunday papers.

A good crowd. Mostly locals. Many families. Enjoying an easy Sunday.

In between caught the finish of the British Open. This young guy who won is made for life! Good for him! Oh, the million dollars of endorsements he will sign this week! It is good to see success befall a person.

Dinner with Lisa and the family last night. Pizza and fajitas. A good meal!

Always fun to be with the grandchildren. They practiced putting on the living room carpet for about an hour after dinner. I am impressed by their control. They are developing well. This week I plan on taking them to the golf course to play 2 holes. They are more excited about riding in the cart than playing.

I came home to some house work. I have company arriving Tuesday. Donna and Terri. They are not sure how long they will be staying. I had a voice message saying”…we are staying forever!” Whatever! I do not mind. Love them both.

Just my luck! I have two terrific women staying with me. I am now single and eligible. And they are both lesbians! Recently legally joined in a same sex marriage in Milford, Connecticut.

Enjoy your day!

Sunday!

Layed in bed a while longer than usual. Good to do.

Took a walk along Smather’s Beach yesterday morning. A perfect breeze coming in off the ocean from the northeast.

A late lunch at Harpoon Harrys. Really late. I was the only one there. Stayed a while reading the local papers.

Then to the Coffeee House. I was looking forward to the New York Times. Too late. All newspapers gone, except for one copy of the New York Post. Better than nothing. We all need a far right infusion on occasion.

I ended up spending two hours at the Coffee House. Met a nice lady. Annie.

It was a day of two Annies for me. I had watched the musical Annie, better known as Orphan Annie, on the Turner channel earlier in the morning. Now I meet this very charming person.

Annie came over and asked if she could sit in the green wing back chair next to me. Of course.

She was not hustling me. She obviously had been there before and knew how comfortable the chairs were.

We started chatting and did so for the next two hours. Stimulating conversation.

Annie was reluctant to share her age with me. A female thing. I would peg her somewhere in her 50s.

Medium height. Very thin. Pale.

She is naturally thin. Told her I hated her. I had to watch everything I ate.

Fair skinned because she stays out of the sun. A common thing. Many women do.

She is a New Yorker. Lives in the Village. Works at Lincoln Center. Has worked there for many a year. Does all sorts of things. Plus occasionally a bit of acting.

We covered the world and its many ills and pleasures. She seemed to be taken with Miami Beach. Her present interest was the Mel Gibson problem . She asked what I thought. I said the Bible covers it. Judge not lest ye be judged.

She has spent the last several summers in Key West. Two months each time. July and August. Her brother owns a home just off White Street on Ash. She prefers the summers in Key West. Fewer people, cheap menus, etc. Plus she did not find the weather offensive. The constant cool breeze off the ocean made the heat tolerable.

Annie seemed to be quiet by nature. I had to draw her out into conversation. She enjoyed our give and take. I enjoyed her.

Perhaps we shall meet again at the Coffee House.

I left the Cofffee House and wanted to hook up with Lisa and the family. I telephoned Lisa. No answer on her cell. I went over to Higgs Beach on the chance they might be there. They were not.

As I turned into Key Haven on the way home, my cell rang. It was Lisa. They had just pased me in the opposite direction. I did not see them. They had been at my house swimming.

I spent the evening home. I had groceries which had been purchased the night before. Made myself a light dinner and went to bed. Watched old movies on TV. Fell asleep.

I was in a deep sleep. My cell phone rang. It was an effort to answer the phone. Forget answering it, I had trouble finding the phone in my groggy condition.

It was a friend from New York. She was drunk and depressed. Wanted to talk. Share her problems with me. At 2 in the morning! A good guy I am. But this was too much!

I listened for about 10 minutes. Just listened. Grunted occasionally so she knew I was there. Then told her I had heard enough. I needed my sleep. We would talk again in a year. It was a year ago we last talked. That is the time between her calls.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Yesterday was a weird one! One of those days where everything seemed a bit out of whack.

My radio show was scheduled for 10 in the morning. I pulled out of the garage at 9:30 for the 15 minute drive to the station. Car backed out strangely. I had a flat!

I telephoned Lisa at work in Key West. Need a ride! Ok! She rushed out to get me.

On the way into Key West there was a police car behind us all the way on US 1. Lisa decided to take Flagler when she hit Key West. The police car followed us. It was as if the Officer knew we wanted to speed.

I got to the radio station with 2 minutes to spare. Rushed in, put on the head phones and got ready.

Six minutes into the Key West Lou Legal Hour, station owner Guy deBoer came running in. You are not on the air! I forgot to press the button so everyone could hear me!

So I had to apologize and start all over. What the hell! I told everyone about my flat, rushing and what have you!

In spite of its tardy beginning, I believe yesterdy’s radio show was the best ever. The topics were fresh, today and hit home.

Comments afterward supported my thinking.

I talked first about the economy. Unquestionably a problem. I started with Thomas Paine’s “…These are the times that try men’s souls.” Talked about Wall Street vs. Main Street. Threw in advice my grandfather used to give me to the effect that “…when there are money problems, love and happiness go out the window.”

Some other topics found interesting included the dumb lawsuit of the week. It involved a woman in Brazil in 2005 who sued her lover for failing to give her an orgasm. The Judge properly threw the case out of court.

I talked about the death by stoning penalty imposed on a woman in Iran for having commmitted adultery and the burqa ban in France.

And more. Thanks for listening and watching.

After the show, Larry visited the studio. Larry, Guy, Jenna and I talked about the previous night’s variety show at Bottle Cap. It was a good discussion. We challanged ourselves, were critical of various aspects of the show and so forth. Good will come from the meeting. We go live for the first time on wednesday August 18 at 9 pm. Live from the Bottle Cap. And will continue each week at that time and place.

This week celebrates Mel Fisher Days.

Mel Fisher discovered the Atochia 25 years ago with all its gold and jewels. Changed his life and many other lives. We are talking hundreds of millions of dollars.

The 200 block of Duval was cordoned off. Games, drinks and eats. Lots of people. A stage at one end in front of Sloppy Joe’s. It was party time!

I got there around 7. I was to meet the family. Found them sitting on a curb across from Sloppy Joe’s. They had already been there an hour.

I decided to give Lisa and Corey a break. I took Robert and Ally and we walked the area. One in each hand.

It was fun to be with them! They found the sights exciting! It was discovery time for them.

There was a pirate. With a parrot on his shoulder. And a real peg leg. Robert knew he was not not for real. Ally thought he was. She was pulling back on my hand.

Then there was Uncle Sam on stilts. He stood about 8 feet tall. Both grandkids were impressed. They could not comprehend my explanation regarding the stilts. They were hidden under his pant legs.

The best was a show in front of the Bull. A woman sitting on top of a huge barrel of water. In her bathing suit, of course. The idea was to throw balls and hit a huge black button. That would cause the woman to fall into the water.

Robert and Ally understood the concept. We waited like forever. Really about 15 minutes. No one could hit the black button so we never saw the woman take a bath.

My friend Howard Livingston was performing on the street stage. We worked our way up front to watch him. What a talent! From Chicago industrialist to premier beachcomer entertainer!

I had it by that time. Gave the grandkids back to their parents and left.

I went over to the Chart Room. A disaster! It was closed! Sign on the door said closed for the evening.

I have never known the Chart Room to be closed! A first! Turned out whoever was to bartend had called in sick and no one could be found to help.

I felt like I had nothing to do. No friends. No place to be. What was I to do? Where was I to go?

I ended up at the Sports Page Bar having a sandwich and reading the newspapers.

Robert was bartending. A nice guy. About 50. We have become friends over the past several months. Robert now lives with Kurt in Key Haven. I live in Key Haven also.

I told Robert he looked thinner. He was. About 20 pounds. Said it happened since he moved in with Kurt. Robert rides his bike to work and back each day.

Big!

Key Haven is 2.5 miles outside of Key West. Then it is another 2.5 miles to the Sports Page Bar. That is 5 miles. Each way. Every day.

Maybe I should give up my car and start riding a bike!

On the way home I decided to stop into Publix. The cupboard was bare again. Really bare. I was down to one huge tomato and a loaf of whole wheat bread the past 3 days. My lunch each day was a tomato sandwich.

Love grocery shopping here in Key West! Never did it in my other life. Would not be seen dead in a super market!

Grocery shopping in the keys is a social thing. I see my friends. Make new friends.

I feel a need to pontificate a bit. I may offend some. Such is life. We all have our own opinions and should feel free to express them. We can still disagree and remain friends.

These wars we are in take too long and are too costly.

We should never have invaded Irag. Afghanistan is now our longest war. Ten years.

Lives and money are being wasted.

No one, including the United States, is ever going to tame Afghanistan. These are tribal peoples fighting from mountain caves. They bankrupted the Russians. Will do it to us also if we continue too long. We have already contiunued too long from my perspective.

We do not fight wars as we used to. My belief is that the people of a nation as well as their armies and leaders must suffer. If a people support a despot, then inflict death, injury and damage upon them also. This being careful not to injure the citizenry does not make sense to me. It is the people of a nation that put their leaders in office and/or support them. They should pay as well and also be placed in a frame of mind where they will seek the downfall of their despotic leaders.

That is how World War II was fought. Only after Truman gave a go to the atomic bomb and destroyed two cities and their populations, did the Japanese surrender. And my recollection of Germany at the end of the war reflected a totally destroyed nation and people.

Our enemies are not as thoughtful as us. Look what they did on 9/11. Three thousand dead!

I am all for getting Bin Laden. Do it covertly. What ever happened to a CIA type involvement that quietly goes into a country in the dead of night and kills an enemy?

Which brings me to a final point.

Yesterday’s USA Today had an article on Army suicides. Our Army. The U.S. Army.

Thirty two American soldiers committed suicide in the month of June. The highest number ever! And that made for a total of 65 for the year so far.

Our guys are killing themselves!

Probably because we keep sending them back to the fighting. Many are doing their 3rd and 4th tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

How much can they be expected to take?

I was surprised to read also that this is an ongoing problem. So much so that the Army has an Army Suicide Prevention Task Force headed up by a Colonel.

All food for thought.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

The rainy season is upon us. It has rained off and on the past few days. Looks like it is going to rain today. After a while the rain sets into a pattern,. It rains for 5 minutes every day at 1 in the afternoon.

Last night was a blast! Different! We did a test run of the new Larry Smith variety show. When the loose ends are tied together, it will be featured on KONK 1500 AM and ustreamed also.

The show will emenate from the Bottle Cap. A perfect setting.

When I arrived about an hour before the show, the place was in turmoil. Wires hanging all over the place. People moving things around on the stage. Turmoil! Organized, however.

By 9 everything was in place and the show began.

All in all, I thought it was pretty good. Needs more work. But that was the purpose of last night’s run through. To show us the weak spots.

A big cast. Larry, Jenna, Gigi, Alex, Dr. Covan, Clayton, Adare, Kathleen, Christine, Mary and I can’t recall who else. Probably left someone out. Oh yes, me!

The singing was terrific. Over the Rainbow, Drive me Daddy, Go Lassie Go and Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace had to be the hit of the evening!

I did some weird laws of Florida and discussed the history behind Amazing Grace.

The show is off and running!

Carmello runs a great venue. Bottle Cap. I will be stoppoing there occasionally from now on.

Jill Jarvis came up to me after the show. A lovely young lady. Asked if I were Key West Lou. Yes, I am.

Turns out Jill is a KONK 1500 groupie from Minneapolis. Listens to the show over the internet. Reads my blog daily and listens to the Legal Hour also.

Jill is at the tail end of a two week vacation. Plans on returning. Works at group homes for the mentally disabled back in Minneapolis.

Also met Pamela Newton. Charming. Interesting. A psychiatric nurse here in Key West. Pamela has a sense of humor. She did an impromtu skit with our psychologist friend, Dr. Fred Covan.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour this morning on radio! Listen in! At 10 am. KONK 1500 AM. Watch and listen worldwide at www.ustream.com. Bring up the site and type in KONK. and there I will be!

A great show this morning! Covers a multitude of world sins! One of the most interesting shows I will have done!

Rita from South Africa e mailed me this morning. Wished me good luck with today’s radio show. Thank you, Rita.

Mel Fisher Museum is celebrating the discovery of the Atochia 25 years ago. A big weekend!

Son in law Corey is Director of Archeology at Mel Fisher.

Tonight the streets around Sloppy Joe’s will be blocked off. There will be a street celebration. Howard Livingston will be peforming. My grandkids Robbert and Ally will be there. And daughter Lisa. And so will Poppa!

Come out and have fun with us!

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

It is around 8 in the morning. I am sitting on my deck over looking the water while doing the blog this morning.

God is good!

Radio show tomorrow morning. The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

I have been unavailable the past two weeks. My shows have been reruns. Tomorrow I am back live.

Listen in! Watch! A great show!

Going to discuss things like the failure of the bare breast confrontation in Key West, Illinois new law requiring testing of all rape kits, restrictions on the right to pray in the military, the delayed stoning of an Iranian woman, Dr. Mudd revisited, a decision by Great Britain providing asylum for gay people facing prosecution in their home countries, a federal court decision protecting free speech, the first Guantanamo detainee to face trial in a U.S. civilian court, a gay mariage litigation update, France’s burqa ban, legislation saving Wall Street while Main Street is dying, and more. The more of course includes the weird dumb laws of a particular state and the weird dumb lawsuit of the week.

Much on the plate! A lot to be discussed. A swift moving hard hitting program.

Listen in at KONK 1500 AM radio. Watch and listen on the internet world wide at http://www.ustream.com/. Just go to ustream and type in KONK.

Golf was terrific yesterday! I am killing the ball! Never have I hit it better. Even my pitch shots to the green. Putting still a problem. However it was better yesterday.

I played with Larry and Yankee Jack. I was the big winner. All of $2! Cost me $7 for drinks. I could care less.

We ran into a scramble tournament and were delayed. So we replayed 2 holes. Fritz joined us for those two holes. Fritz plays and sings evenings at the Ocean Key Pier at sunset. He is an excellent golfer. Shoots in the 70s.

The conversation centered on Evan. Evan is an eight grader here in Key West. He also is an extremely fine golfer. Probably has a professional future. But he is still young. About 13 years old.

He played with Fritz the other day. Evan bogeyed the first hole and ended up shooting a 67. That’s WOW golf!

Larry said he used to play with Evan a couple of years ago. Larry generally shoots in the 80s. Evan would give Larry a stroke a hole and beat him.

The Tiger Woods of tomorrow lives in Key West!

I stopped in the Chart Room last night. I was the only customer. Just me and Susan. Susan is the new bartender. She has been there about two months.

Susan is from South Carolina. A charming individual. She came down to Key West for 2 nights New Years Eve. Was so impressed with the island, she stayed two weeks. Then went home, closed down her life there and returned to Key West.

Welcome Susan! You are a pleasant addition to our island!

I dined alone last night. At the bar at Outback. It was quiet. Read the papers. Greg and Kristen working.

Greg is a good guy. We have become friends. He was also working lunches at the Shrimp Shack on Stock Island. He sadly advised me the Shrimp Shack has closed. Maybe for good. I thought perhaps just for the summer. Turns out the fresh fish store in front moved across the bay. The Shrimp Shack was not part of the retail store. Ergo, it had to close.

A good eating place down the tubes.

Lisa telephoned last night all excited. Her internet department store Via Key West http://www.viakeywest.com/ is having a big week. The two big sellers are the Key West bunt cake and books about Key West. And Yankee Jack CDs.

Go Lisa!

Enjoy your day!