TWO NOTEWORTHY EVENTS TONIGHT

Tuesday night always busy in Key West. Two events occur with regularity tuesday evenings. Aqua Idol and Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

Aqua Idol a fundraiser. This year’s beneficiary the Waterfront Playhouse.

Aqua Idol is Lynda Frechette’s baby. Conceived, organized and directed by her. A tough job to keep going. Requires a slew of good singers willing to perform weekly. Lynda obviously knows what she is doing. Aqua is standing room only every week.

I suggest you get to Aqua by 5:30 if you wish to sit. The seats fill quickly.

The other tuesday event is my podcast. My blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. In its third year, the show’s numbers increase weekly. To the point the show has advertisers. Like GEICO Insurance and Old Navy.

Tuesday Talk is a quick moving half hour of me pontificating on world events. Listeners may not always agree. They return weekly, however.

Join me tonight at 9 my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Last night was Aqua and the Green Parrot. Aqua for Dueling Bartenders. The Green Parrot for dinner. I assume the restaurant next door/attached is now part of the Green Parrot. Whatever, I had dinner there.

Catherine joined me for the evening.

Dueling Bartenders was especially sweet. My beloved Terri White the guest performer. Together with Tom Luna and Rick Dery, the singing was over the top.

I sat with Bear. Except for barking a few times when Terri was singing, he was exceptionally good. Sitting at our able were Catherine, George, Art, and Stacey. At the bar, Liz, David, and Sheila.

Tried Antonia’s and La Trattoria for dinner. No room at the inn. Season packing the restaurants. That is why I ended at the place next door to the Green Parrot. Enjoyed ribs and wings.

Cold again! Another northeaster burying Boston and the Cape. We feel the cold this far south. Never fails to work that way.

Last night 61 again. I still without heat. You could hang meat in my bedroom. The cold will continue today. The high 68. Tonight, 63.

A major announcement just came over TV. Secretary of State Tillerson gone. Trump let him go and replaced him with CIA Director Pompeo.

Tillerson was ineffective. Not a diplomat. An oil man. Not qualified for the position as many Trump Cabinet persons. Tillerson’s main qualification when appointed was that he was a close friend of Putin. He now joins the some dozen other key Trump appointees who have gone along the wayside.

One of Tillerson’s problems is he spoke too candidly for Trump. They were not always on the same page.

Pompeo has all kinds of credentials. Whether the man for job remains to be seen. Pompeo a West Point graduate, Harvard Law graduate and most recently Director of the CIA.

An observation. Perhaps improper. I am not sure. Trump avoids confrontation in certain instances. Like when firing a main support person. Both Comey and Tillerson were out of town when they got the ax. TV is reporting Tillerson first heard of his firing via Twitter.

What happened to our political leaders being Americans first and politicians second? It has been obvious from day one that the House Intelligence Committee in its review of the Trump/Russia/collusion issue has been pro Trump and anti truth. The Committee’s Republican majority concluded yesterday there was no evidence of collusion between Trump’s Presidential campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Recognizing however that Russia had interfered with the election.

Fortunately, the Mueller investigation remains ongoing. The truth will out.

Trump has appointed a Commission on School Safety. A typical move. He has a pattern of passing the buck rather than making the hard decisions. Commissions and Committees have always been a Washington way of avoiding decision making re sensitive issues.

Trump has appointed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as Chairman. Her intellectual level is on a par with Sarah Palin’s. DeVos was interviewed a few days ago on national television. Her responses to questions shocking. Evidenced a definite lack of mental acumen.

Woe the safety issue and woe the education of American children.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

A SLEEPING GIANT AWAKENED

The students at Parkland High School may be a sleeping giant awakened.

Several sources attribute a sleeping giant comment to Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto following Japan’s successful bombing of Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto led the Japanese forces in the attack.

Yamamoto is alleged to have said: “I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”

Parkland students are disturbed. Properly so. Disturbed at an age where fear is not a part of their composition. They are able to speak out and are speaking out…..Stop the useless slaughters! Protect students! Washington, do something! President Trump, do something! How much money did the President get from the NRA? And on and on.

Good for them! Their cries/words may finally be the impetus to get something done.

The students cannot be considered crass for asking how much Trump received from the NRA for his campaign. Money does influence. Money does talk.

The number is $21 million. The largest amount the NRA has ever contributed to a Presidential candidate.

Such may account for what appears to be Trump’s calculated silence re gun violence. Note he spoke of first responders on his Parkland visit and merely glossed over the shooting and gun control itself.

The last time a President addressed the NRA was 1983. Till Trump became President Trump. Trump spoke before the NRA and said, “You have a true friend and champion in the White House.”

We believe you Mr. President. You did not lie when you made that statement.

Violence begets violence. One crazy act another. Near home this time. Marathon.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department received a phone call yesterday morning that pictures of guns were being shown on Instagram together with a message threatening Marathon High School. Specifically, a band concert to be held that afternoon.

The Sheriff’s Department immediately went to work. Brought all federal ad state agencies together. The perpetrator was identified. Nineteen year old Marathon resident Duviel Gonzalez was arrested.

The arrest was made prior to the band concert. The concert went on a s scheduled at 3 pm, though under heavy security.

Every day a good day when living in Key West. Some even better. Yesterday was one of those days.

I watched the Syracuse/Miami game on TV. Syracuse having a difficult season. Needed an on the road win. Got it! Beat Miami 62-55.

Picked Catherine up before 4. A different Saturday late afternoon into evening began.

First Mary Ellen’s on Applerouth. A relatively new bar. Heard good things about its Happy Hour. Toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup the house specialty. Everyone had told me both to die for. They were right!

What no one told me however was that the tomato soup came with garlic bread. Wow! Delicious!

The sun still shining when we left Mary Ellen’s. What next? We walked two blocks to the Green Parrot.

I had not been to the Green Parrot in several years.

The place packed. Standing room only. A New Orleans group playing. People dancing. Stayed a while. Enjoyed a couple of drinks. Enjoyed each other’s company.

Where next as we left the Green parrot? I said, home. I’m tired.

It was dark.

We went to Catherine’s, sat on her terrace by candlelight and talked of many things.

After leaving Catherine’s and on the way home, I stopped at Donna and Terri’s to visit Bear. Donna and Terri live around the block from Catherine.

Bear fine. Biting. Learning to let Donna and Terri know when he has to pee. Goes to the door and whines. The other taking time.

Bear a friendly bundle of joy. A good addition to Donna and Terri’s life. Forgotten are Donna’s still fractured shoulder and Terri’s close encounter with cancer. Bear is everything!

A post Irma update. More than 5 months since the hurricane hit and renovations and rebuilding not close to completion. Not because people are slow. Because Irma beat the hell out of many parts of the Keys.

This past week the County started cleaning up the canals. Those of you who do not live in the Keys nor have never visited must understand that canals are like roads. Behind many homes. People swim and boat in them.

Not since Irma, however.

Pictures in yesterday’s edition of the Key West Citizen painted the picture vividly. Debris like you would not believe. Everything from homes to boats to appliances to shrubbery. So thick, it appears man could walk across them and the water.

A busy Sunday ahead. I have a luncheon scheduled. Then Kate Miano’s Gardens later in the afternoon.

Enjoy your Sunday!

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

When I climbed out of bed yesterday morning, I knew my day ahead. Do the blog, a little TV, Kate Miano’s Gardens and then a stone crab dinner at the Pier House.

What do they say…..The best laid plans of mice and men, etc.

I did the blog, watched a lot of TV, worked on tuesday’s podcast, and grocery shopped at Publix.

One of the movies Wuthering Heights. I consider Wuthering Heights a great love story intertwined with an abnormal tragedy.

Written by Emily Bronte in the 1840’s. Brought to the screen in 1939. Starred Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon.

Heathcliff’s “Cathy, Cathy, Cathy” heart wrenching and diabolical at the same time.

Then to Publix. Nothing like shopping at Publix on a sunday. Everyone there!

Another Fantasy Fest day has arrived. An observation and my recommendations as to what to do.

Nudity is prohibited. Every year. Never the less, nudity persists. Significantly. There are exceptions. Too complicated to spell out.

My admonishment simple. Women keep your nipples covered. Women and men, no genital exhibiting. Must be covered also. I think an exception here if the female genital is spray painted and the woman remains in what is described as the Fantasy Fest zone.

A luau. At the Southernmost. A Key West style pig roast. 6:30.

The Green Parrot is featuring a Beatles tribute. All You Need Is Love.

A Kinky Carnival at Kelley’s. Used to be the only BD/SM party during Fantasy Fest. Now there are several.

I recall attending my one and only 10 years ago with Donna and Terri. An experience.

They would not let me in. I was not appropriately dressed. At least I was dressed. Shorts and a tee shirt.

My attire became an issue. I wanted admission. Had always wanted to see this type show.

We compromised. I took off my tee shirt and placed it around my belt. I was allowed entrance bare chested.

How stupid, I thought. Turned out the gate keepers knew better than I.

The place was packed. In excess of a thousand persons. Standing room only.

As soon as I was in, women started approaching me and grabbing my nipples. Hard! Twisted them!

Not my cup of tea.

After several twists, I decided I would grab and twist their nipples before they got to mine. Worked! After twisting a few, I was no loner bothered.

Much to see. My eyes enjoyed. Saw things I had only previously heard of or read about. Left after 1 1/2 hours. Enough time to complete my BD/SM education.

We seem to be tip toeing to war. During Cold War days, the U.S. had B-52’s constantly in flight. Always several in the air. No time without. Each carried nuclear bombs. If a problem occurred with Russia, the B-52’s were prepared to immediately attack.

With the demise of the Soviet Union, the U.S. in 1991 decided such preparedness no longer required.

It has been announced the Air Force is preparing B-52’s for  24 hour alert status as during the Cold War.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

COW KEY BRIDGE RUN

Two marathons tomorrow.

One is the Seven Mile Bridge run. A 7 mile marathon.

The other is the second annual Cow Key Bridge Run. The Cow Key Bridge is the first a person crosses on US 1 after leaving Key West. The bridge is 300 feet long. For those who might not have the physical dexterity to make the seven mile run. It is also for persons of good humor. Those having a Key West mentality.

At the mid-point of the bridge (150 foot marker), there is a water station. The run starts at on the Marriott side of the bridge. Runs north til the end of the bridge. It is anticipated all participating will finish. In good time. Well under 5 minutes.

Pets with Humans lead off the race. Followed by the Walking Cow Stampede, the rest of the runners.

At the end of the race is located the Hurricane Hole. Runners will receive the first beer free.

Registration for the race is being held this afternoon at the Green Parrot. The race is a charity fundraiser. Tee shirts and # bibs will be available. Registration tomorrow morning at the race site also.

Record time is 25 seconds. Some are committed to beating it tomorrow.

Only in Key West!

My yesterday began with a physiotherapy session. Tough! However I can see where it should have benefit. I was exhausted once again afterwards.

I followed physio with a manicure at Tammy’s. I had difficulty staying awake as she did my nails.

Bocce last night. I knew it was going to be tough. We won 1 and lost 2. I played the first game. We were down 13-5. We came back. Not enough, however. Lost 16-13. The second game was a disaster. Lost 16-1. We won the third game 16-5.

The breeze across the bocce courts was terrific. Especially over the court we were on. Court #1. Two hundred feet off the Atlantic.

I received a surprise yesterday. A friend up north read of my love for casserta. Italian Easter cake. Lisa made a vanilla one for Easter which was delicious. The one I received was chocolate. It arrived packed in hot ice.

The casserta was my lunch. Not good for the diet!

Enjoy your day!