Today is special.

It is my birthday.

74!

Wow!

Time moves on. Seems like just yesterday I was a kid.

The body ages a bit more each year. Have to watch out for it and take care of it.

The mind on the other hand seems to stay the same. I am still 35 in my head!

We celebrated the occasion last night with dinner at Lisa’s.

Lisa cooked a great meal. For me! Love her! My favorite foods. Fish, pasta and greens. And baked a cake, also. Chocolate with a white frosting. Another favorite!

Robert and Ally were all excited. They dressed for the occasion. Robert look like such a man in his sport shirt. Ally wore a dress. A lovely lady in the making!

They each hand painted cards for me. I hung them immediately on returning home on my kitchen wall. There was also a long sign on Lisa’s wall saying Happy Birthday Papa!

Lisa and Corey gave me one of those electronic picture frames. Age comes into play here. I do not know what it is called. But you load it with about 250 pics, plug it in and they play. One after the other. Lisa and Corey loaded it with photos of the grandkids and themselves. A great gift!

The candles were lit. Happy birthday was sung with Robert and Ally sitting on my lap. They helped me blow out the candles!

I enjoyed the evening. I enjoyed my Key West family. Thank you Lisa for loving me so much!

May I be here for 75 next year! And may all of you be with me, also!

Today is the real day. What will I do? We shall see!

Have a drink to me some time today! I will think of you all when I tip the first one tonight!

What a party!

Hospice throws a fund raising party on July 4th every year. The event is held on the grounds of the Casa Marina. The Casa is a hop, skip and jump from the White Street Pier where the fire works occur.

The beach at the Casa is a perfect spot from which to watch the fireworks!

I arrived about 7:30. First time I ever attended the event. I went especially to be with Corey, Lisa and the grandkids. Robert and Alley have been talking about the fire works for days.

Glad I did!

A big Fourth of July party! Hamburgs, hot dogs, salads, corn on the cob, ice cream, pop corn and I don’t know what else! All you wanted! A band playing. Friend Skipper leading the band!

People meandering around. Friends meeting. A lot of chatter.

And little kids running all over the place.

I finally found Corey and Lisa. No grandkids, however. Where are they, I asked. Lisa pointed to the far end of the beach. Robert and Ally had met friends and made new friends. They were running and playing. There were trampolines and slides for the kids.

I ate, talked, observed people and generally enjoyed myself.

We watched the fireworks sitting on one of those small pontoon sailboats on the beach. Just inches from the water.

The fire works were spectacular! Much better than I was accustomed to up north. Every one was oohing and ahing! Robert and Alley included!

The only drawback to the evening was the humidity. Hot! Thick! No breeze!

Hard to breath some times. My shirt was soaking wet. Sticking to me.

In the middle of the fire works, I had had it! I told Lisa I am going home and collapse on clean cool sheets in an air conditioned bed room!

I had to park my car a few blocks away from the Casa Marina. It was less warm as I walked. There was a slight breeze coming from the gulf side of the island. The Casa is located on the Atlantic side and the hotel iteself blocked the gulf breeze from the party people assembled on the beach.

People were standing on the streets watching the fireworks.

As I was stumbling along to my car, I heard a loud, “Hello Louis!”

It was Barbara Grob. A friend. Owner of the Key West Art Bar. She ran over to hug and give me a kiss. She was dressed magnificently. A blouse, long skirt and jewelry. Since she was watching the fire works from a vantage point where the gulf breeze hit her, she was appeared all fresh and crispy. As opposed to me who was still sweating and in a wet rumpled shirt.

I tried to push her away, saying I’m soaking wet. She didn’t care. Said so. And gave me a warm hug and kiss.

A nice lady!

I did make it home to my air conditioned room and cool bed. Which I immediately collapsed into! I wanted to watch the Boston Pops July 4 show. My cable service did not have it. So I ended up watching something from Washington, DC. Good, but no where as good as the Boston Pops!

I woke up feeeling heavy this morning! Like I had drunk a lot last night! The problem is I did not have even have one drink. Must be the humidity knocked the hell out of me and I am still feeling it even after a good night’s sleep.

It is Sunday. I am going to go buy the papers and find somewhere to sit for a while and enjoy some ham and eggs.

Why not!

Happy 4th of July!

America celebrates today! Cookouts, parades and the like! Very American!

Tonight there is a Hospice fund raiser at the Casa Marina. Apparently it is an annual event on this day. Hot dogs, hamburgers and then the fire works!

I have never attended. Lisa always goes and takes the grandkids. Tonight I am going to join them. Hopefully, Ally will hold my hand when the fire works go off so I won’t be scared! Ho ho!

Yesterday was a long one. Did paper work all day. I am in the midst of a project I have to finish.

In the evening, I was too tired to do much. So I just popped into the Chart Room for a couple of drinks. Talked at length with Captain Peter. A most interesting person! A world traveler. Adventurer a more apt description. Some interesting stories. Not appropriate yet for sharing, however. Perhaps another day.

So Sarah Palin no longer wants to be Governor of Alaska!

Good for Alaska. Bad for the rest of us. She will be in our faces big time between now and the
2012 election.

I was not impressed with her when she ran for Vice President. Did not think she was Presidential timber. I perceived her to be a less than competent individual who lucked out in becoming Governor and then lucked out even further when Mc Cain picked her. I view her as a fringe person.

Anyhow…..now she will be free to get rich! She is writing a book which is bound to be a best seller. Also she will be able to receive huge speaking fees. Plus whatever else! A TV or radio talk show?

Before any of you think I am anti female, pleae don’t. Far from it! However Palin is not a Hillary Clinton.

Sometimes I think we should go through a period when we only have leaders of the female gender. Men and women are wired differently! A term of women only might be just what the world needs to correct itself!

I’m off for an early morning swim. Enjoy your day!

Key West weather continues to be great! Sunshine all over the place!

The July 4th holiday weekend is upon us. The town is filling. I could feel it on Duval last night. Happy tourists all over the place.

This is a good time to visit the keys. Everything is cheap! Lodging and food reduced! It’s off season!

I had a quiet lunch yesterday at the Yacht Club and read the papers. Then to Borders to read a bit. Still working through Richard Wolfe’s Renegade about the Obama campaign.

Lisa stopped by after work with the grandkids. Robert and Ally are getting big. Each day one of them seems to grow a bit.

My evening started as usual at the Chart Room. A good place to start a Key West night.

There were quite a few people at the bar. I spent most of my time chatting with Captain Peter and Sean. We zeroed in on 2 topics. The local school board problems and the Catholic Church’s sex issues.

I have had this craving the past few days for chicken wings. The best place for them is Kelley’s. So I walked over to Kelley’s. That is when I could sense the growing holiday crowd on Duval.

Sat at the outside bar. Bob was there. He has been a Key Wester for years. It has been a while since we have been together. I enjoyed our conversation.

Chris came over, also. Chris bartends at Kelley’s. He was King of Fantasy Fest a couple of years ago. A real nice guy! He asked about Lisa and the grandkids. Chris and Lisa are good friednds.

Bob and Chris left to go over to Square One to see Patrick. Patrick bartends at Square One. A good guy also! And a good friend of Lisa’s!

Patrick’s partner of 20 years Les had a stroke last year. Patrick is doing a bang up job of caring for Les.

I have lived long enough to see physical tragedy strike many couples, whether straight or gay. A few times I have seen the wife not do the right thing. Either poor care or walk away. I have never seen that in the gay community.

Erica was bartending. Made the evening even better! A lovely late 20s creature!

Oh, and I did get my wings! Absolutely the best anywhere! Big, juicy and succulent!

When I was at Sloppy Joe’s a couple of nights ago, I noticed a sign sealed into the table top. It portrayed a Sloppy Joe’s Restaurant. The year was 1880. The place Habana, Cuba. Note the b and not the v. I write it as it was written!

It leads me to think the name Sloppy Joe’s originated with the Havana operation. Key West’s Sloppy Joe’s opened sometime in the 1920s or 1930s. Historical lore has it that Ernest Hemingway helped carry the furniture from the old Sloppy’s to its new location on Duval.

Animals get well taken care of in Key West. Very well!

A big sea turtle was found on the island sick on January 19. He/she got an infection from eating garbage. Some turtle group took the turtle in and cared for it.

They named the turtle Obama. In honor of President Obama who was to be inaugerated the day after the turtle was found.

Obama is being released back to the ocean tomorrow on the 4th of July. An appropriate day for a turtle with the name Obama! The event will take place at Higg’s Beach. It will be a big deal!

A British warship is docked in Key West. The HMS Iron Duke. It will be here for 4 months while deployed in the Caribbean.

Turns out certain of the crew members are rugby players. So a match has been arranged with the Key West Rugby Club. I did not even know Key West had a rugby team, let alone that anyone here knew how to play rugby! The game is at 6:30 tonight on Stock Island. I am going to try to make it. I have never seen a rugby match.

Wow, am I long winded this morning! Sorry!

However, there is one more item I want to comment on.

California! The State is so broke it started issuing IOUs yesterday instead of money/checks to pay some of its bills. A couple of hundred million dollars worth. To vendors. For tax refunds. A real wow!

I wish I could issue IOUs to pay my bills!

Enjoy the holiday!

Raining last night when I went out on the town.

Needed to wear my slicker.

First stop was the Chart Room. Just me, the bartender and a tourist. The rain must have kept every one else away.

The tourist once lived here in Key West. He now hails from Cortland, NY. Cortland is the home of the Cortland Glass Works!

Cortland is about 100 miles to the south west of Utica. I drove there about 40 years ago to attend a lawyers’ conference. It was at that time I got to visit the Cortland Glass Works.

What an experience! Truly interesting! I had never seen glass blown before. It takes talent!

If you ever have the opportunity to see glass blowing, do it! You will be impressed! The experience will stay with you forever!

Then I did something I have not done in over a year. I went to Sloppy Joe’s!

I generally avoid the toursit end of Key West. I don’t know what motivated me last night, but off I went. And I am glad I did!

I had a great time! The singers were raunchy! Knock the hell out of politicians! The crowd happy! Raising hell!

I ordered Sloppy Fries. French fries covered with ground beef, mozzerella and red sauce. A wow! And costs all of $7.50!

A good night! A different night!

It is going to be another great Key West day today! Probably heavy humidity wise. I can feel it already as I sit here looking out the window at the ocean and the lone palm tree. The breeze is blowing the hot air in through the open window.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

Another nice Key West day in the making! The view of the ocean from my window is spectacular! It gives me such pleasure every morning to look out the window at the water moving along and the lone palm tree swaying in the breeze.

Lisa just telephoned, as she does every morning. She wants to make sure I’m well and alive!

I spent yesterday in all day. Paper work.

Last night was quiet, also. I did the Chart Room. Chatted with great people. Marty, Sean, Sheila and Che. Then home to bed.

Today is Wednesday. Golf day. Except, I am not playing. Have to finish up the paper work that has been bogging me down the past few days.

You play golf in my place!

I was home doing paperwork yesterday afternoon when Lisa called. She had taken Robert and Ally to the doctor for their annual check ups. Poor Ally got 4 shots. She was still crying. Lisa said, “I’m on my way over!”

Ally was red eyed when she arrived. Lisa said she did not cry when the shots were given. She started when she got in the car.

My poor baby!

I soothed things over by giving her and Robert ice cream. Ice cream fixes everything!

Last night I chatted with Marty and Sean at the Chart Room. I don’t recall what we talked about, but I do remember I thought it was an intelligent conversation at the time. This getting old is a pain!

Marty and I had dinner at Marquesa. I do not like Marquesa. Marty does. So I occasionally go to appease him.

Last night Marty bought dinner. I am glad he did. It was not worth the money. We both had veal. Tough! We both complained.

I had a couple of olives in my gin. I ate the first without looking. The second I took a peek at. Fortunately! It had blue spots! Spoiled!

It will be a long time before I eat at Marquesa again! Regardless of who pays!

Have a good day!

A very pleasant Sunday yesterday!

Normally I do Sunday dinner with Lisa and the family. However, Kathleen Peace was singing at the Gardens around dinner time and I did not want to miss her. So I did lunch with Lisa instead.

The thrill never leaves! When I open that door and Robert and Ally shout Poppa!

Lunch was good. The grandkids talked my ears off. Then I sat and read the Sunday papers and watched a bit of golf on TV. Lisa and I talked father/daughter stuff.

Afterwards, I stopped at Borders. Still reading Wolfe’s Renegade about the Obama election. I am at the point of the New Hamphire primary campaign. Hillary thinks she is going to lose. Obama and his team are confident. So confident they fail to do things they should have. Clinton has just had her tearful episode.

Even though I know the ending of the New Hampshire primary, it is exciting to read!

Layed around the rest of the afternoon watching some great golf. Perry was sharp! Enjoyed some precision shots!

Then to the Gardens! I was excited! Absolutely love Kathleen Peace’s voice!

One problem, however. Kathleen was not there! Instead Raven Cooper was. Something had happened to Kathleen and Raven was filling in for her.

I had only heard Raven sing once before. She did nothing for me. However, last night I thought she was spectacular! So did every one else! What a great evening of music!

Kate Miano reigned over the gathering. Her Gardens is so spectaular! As was she last night! She looked terrific!

Chatted with some other lovely ladies and gentleman, as well. And Marty, too! He showed up.

It was close weatherwise last night. You had to have breeze. Otherwise the humidity was a killer!

So Marty and I decided to have dinner at Southernmost’s Beachside Cafe. We determined first that there was a strong breeze coming off the Atlantic. Beachside is located on the Atlantic.

And we were right! The breeze and weather were perfect! Also, the view! What a sight sitting out there on the open ocean!

We also got an added bonus! There was a small wedding on the beach with the reception on the beach also. A beautiful young bride and wedding party. A lovely white tent. A happy family occasion.

That was my Sunday. Not bad! Actually quite good!

Enjoy your day!

Sunday!

A day of rest! Read the papers! Lay around! Love it!

Yesterday it rained again. Off and on. When it rains in the keys, it is a minor monson for about 10 minutes. Comes in fast and leaves just as fast. But when it is coming down, watch out!

I had gone to Hogfish for lunch. I was sitting under the thastched roof. All of a sudden, the rain blew in. Fortunately the roof covered me sufficiently.

Just as I climbed into bed Friday night, I received a telephone call from Susan. I had not heard from her in several months. She told me that she and her husband Merle were at the Wine Galley talking with Larry Smith. We had apparently just missed each other. She said it was time to have dinner together again. So last night I was their guest at La Trattoria.

Nice people! Interesting people!

Merle is 70. Susan 60. Married 15 years. Second marriages for both.

Merle is an economist. He is an economic loss expert and testifies in lawsuits. Susan is a psychologist. She has her own practice.

They live in Stuart. Own a second home in Truman Annex. They love Key West!

We had a perfect evening! The conversation was far reaching, interesting and in many instances humorous. The food great! And my bartender friend Kathy was waiting tables last night and waited on us!

After dinner, it was still early. So I stopped at the Chart Room. No one there, except Michael the bartender. I had a diet coke and chatted with him for a while. Then home to bed.

Still dark outside. I am up early. The sun is not. The sun’s sleeping patterns are more consistent than mine!

Kathleen Peace is singing tonight at the Gardens. Kathleen is one of my favorite female singers in
Key West. An explosive voice! It will be a fantastic evening!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Good morning world!

A nice day in the making outside! We need it! Rained heavy again yesterday. A day of pure unadulterated sunshine required!

Started yesterday at Publix. The cupboard was bare! Needed necessities. Like bread, butter, yogurt and fruit.

Spent the rest of the day inside doing paperwork. And listening to the pouring rain!

The Chart Room was my first stop last night. A good time! Marty, Captain Peter, Che and Sheila.

Where to have dinner? The major decision of the day! We finally decided to stay right at the Pier House and eat at the bar in the Wine Galley. Larry Smith was playing.

So Marty and the Captain and I headed to the Wine Galley. We lost Che and Sheila on the way. Che had something cooking at home. Sheila was tired and wanted to sleep.

Larry was outstanding last night! A real talent! A great entertainer! He has a way of making every one feel happy.

Met some interesting people at the Wine Galley.

Rich and Mary Jim! Happy souls! Live off Boca chica. Not on Boca Chica! They live on a boat! Adventurous people!

John and Philippine were there also. They live on Cudjo Key. Not together. They are two souls who have come together late in life. They appear enamoured and happy. But have decided to conform to old ways and maintain separate residences.

Phillippine is an interesting name. Thought it was Italian. Close to Philomena. When I was young, my grandmother had several lady friends named Philomena. Not Italian, however. German. The old country names do stick!

Catain Peter left us right after dinner. He did not want to drink too much. He had to drive out to his boat.

The Captain lives on a sailboat about 2 miles off shore. He dingies in and back each day. He has a light and small motor.

It was already dark when he left. He was not concerned. He has been doing it for years.

Marty and I chatted for awhile. He had flown to Fort Myers and back on a private charter during the day. A friend had business there. Marty had no work. So Marty kept him company on the flight and shopped all day while his friend was working. What a life!

The weather looks terrific outside my window. I hope it stays this way all day. We have had enough rain the past few days.

Do something good for someone today! Come back and visit with me tomorrow!