SLOWNESS OF SEPTEMBER

Posted on by

It is the same of every year. Key West dies for the month of September. Multi number of reasons. Excessive humidity/heat, people blew their vacation monies over the summer, parents tapped out buying clothes, etc. for children returning to school.

When I first began visiting Key West 30 years ago, it was said you could throw a bowling ball down Duval in September and hit no one. A bit better. Now, a few tourists. Not enough however to economically support local businesses.

It is the quiet time.

Actually, I enjoy it. Sidewalks empty to walk on. No bumping into people. Little traffic. Parking spots all over. No restaurant reservations required. Cheap prices. Just about everything half price.

Terri was singing last night. So I stopped into Blue Macaw. Bar and restaurant only half full. An example of this time of the year.

Earlier in the day, I enjoyed a manicure and pedicure with Tammy. Her place deserted. Only 3-4 customers while I was there.

Fortunately, Tammy and her husband Ricky have a booming business the other months of the year. I walked into their salon yesterday and was greeted with tons of new equipment. New pedicure set-ups, seats for workers, etc. Money spent. Place looked terrific.

I am regularly impressed with veteran recognition/appreciation in Key West. Tomorrow night an example. A POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony scheduled for 6 at the Veterans Memorial Garden in Bayview Park.

Many vets and their families will be in attendance. Most of the vets wearing their veteran caps. All serious. Proud to be there.

The crowd will be huge.

Key West has some of the finest chicken anywhere. Dion’s. The best!

A new chicken operation is coming to town. Popeye’s. I enjoy Popeye’s whenever I can get it. Strange. In Key West, I get my chicken at Dion’s. Outside Key West, Popeye’s. Now both available at one time. Wow!

The new Popeye’s will replace the Burger King on the Boulevard that was beat up by Irma. Renovations underway. Expected to open in 6-12 months.

The price of everything astronomical today. I can recall gasoline $.16 a gallon. A loaf of bread $.05. A good sized ice cream cone $.05. Double dip $.10. On and on. Salaries the same size. I recall working in a supermarket in high school for $.16 1/2 an hour.

There was a motel war in Key West in September 1955. Motels near South Street. One motel charging $2 per room double occupancy.

One of the motel owners called a meeting of his fellow motel owners. Lets stop this before we are all out of business.

Today, you can’t even park your car in Key West for $2 an hour!

The Kavanaugh/Ford situation a mess. I think the Senators are acting like asses. Be that as it may, both will probably be listened to monday. Listened the operative word. Ford will not be heard. The outcome a fait accompli.

The only thing that could change the outcome were if 1 or 2 other women came forth claiming sexual abuse by Kavanaugh.

I have written and spoken re Syria the past week. Russia and the U.S. are brushing up against each other. The world is divided in Syria. Russia and Iran on Assad’s side. Saudi Arabia and Israel on the U.S.’s.

Forces on each side building up. The U.S. and the Syrian rebels (al-Qaeda) the U.S. supporting engaged last week in live fire and ground assault drills. The message to Syria, Russia and Iran…..Don’t screw with us!

Came across an interesting piece of American history. There have been 2 occasions where the U.S. had 3 different Presidents served in the same year. Completed terms, deaths, elections contributing.

In 1841, it was Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, and John Tyler. In 1881, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Chester Arthur.

Syracuse/Connecticut saturday. Syracuse a 27 1/2 point favorite. Expected. Syracuse will be 4-0 following the victory.

It is the following week that is of concern. Syracuse plays mighty Clemson. Going to be interesting.

Have to hustle. A haircut with Lori later in the morning.

Enjoy your day!

CHIRPING BIRDS

Posted on by

I do not wish to mislead. I am not a bird watcher. I know next to nothing about birds. However, I know what I hear.

Birds chirping!

This is the time of the year. The spring. Migratory birds are returning. Traveling north. A long trip. Key West a rest area.

The past several mornings, bird singing everywhere. I open my deck doors and the crescendo hits. Lovely! Magnificent!

In another week or two, they will be gone. I enjoy while I can.

My only stop outside the house yesterday was the Cuban Coffee Queen for lunch. And newspaper reading, of course.

The rest of the day spent home fine tuning last night’s podcast. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

The show was primarily an expression of my fears and thoughts as to what is going on in the Trump Administration. Devin Nunes, the House Intelligence Committee, son in law Jared, and coal.

Another item of interest which also took time to explore was middle class white deaths. On the rise. Described as death from despair. Caused by lack of jobs, insufficient funds, and a lack of education.

Tippecanoe and Tyler too. John Tyler became President when William Harrison died. Tyler was Harrison’s Vice-President. Fifteen years later, he became a member of the Confederate Congress.

Tyler’s wife Letita died in 1842. Tyler was a widower President. Two years later, Tyler then 54 fell in love with 24 year old Julia Gardiner. A thirty year difference. They married. Tyler lacked not in virility. They had seven children.

My Facebook Key West Lou video today will concern infrastructure financing under Trump. He proposes privatization. Italy privatized. The video will explore my experiences and knowledge re how things have worked out in Italy.

Enjoy your day!

FRUSTRATING EVENING

Posted on by

Can’t win!

My blog talk radio show was scheduled for last night. For the third consecutive week, a screw up at Blog Talk’s end. Technical difficulties. My  show did not get out.

Pisses me off. Time spent preparing the program. Then nothing to do with it. Most material quickly aged. Cannot be used the following week.

Sloan working on the problem today. Hope if finally gets resolved.

My apologies to all who tried to listen and heard nothing.

One advantage gained last night was that I could watch Trump’s Address to Congress.

I was not impressed. More form than substance. He spoke in a subdued tone and read from a prepared script. Looked Presidential. Does not necessarily make him Presidential.

Substance was lacking. Barking up the wrong tree in many instances. A number of factual errors.

I am not going to waste my time or yours being specific. Whether pro or negative Trump, you picked up on them also.

The Key West City Commission has had its way once again. Yesterday groundbreaking for the Truman Waterfront Amphitheater took place. Completion expected by the end of September.

We shall see. More importantly, what will we see after completion? Will it be used with regularity? Will it cause all kinds of neighborhood problems?  Etc.

I am for an amphitheater. I believe the City Commission has jumped too fast. Much home work yet to be done.

My good friends from Iowa. Tom and Cindy. Two of the greatest people I have had the good fortune to meet in Key West.

Tom and Cindy live in Iowa. Travel frequently.

What follows was motivated by my President John Tyler story yesterday.

Tom e-mailed he and Cindy were visiting Virginia 20 years ago. Visiting Cindy’s sisters and old historical properties.

Went down a back road. The area referred to as Sherwood Forest. Lovely home before them. estate style. No sign signifying whose home.

Tom did not expect to meet Robin Hood. However, he was curious. Went up and looked through a window.

A man came out. What are you doing, who are you, etc.?

Turned out the occupant of the home was President John Tyler’s grandson. Tom says he is still alive today.

Tom is a history buff. All excited to meet Tyler’s grandson. John Tyler lived during George Washington’s time and here he was talking to his grandson.

Crazies pop up all the time. Through all time.

On this day in 1692, the Salem Witch Hunts began. Before a stop was put to the craziness, more than 150 men and women were accused of Satanic practices. Nineteen men and women were executed. Eighteen by hanging and one by crushing.

Nice neighbors!

Would you believe, even a baby was accused of being a witch.

Even worse, the State got involved. Two special courts were set up to hear the witch cases. For a while, every one believed Satan was about.

My evening fixed. Dinner and a movie with friends. The Academy Award winning movie.

Enjoy your day!

SIN PAPEL

Posted on by

Sin papel. Spanish for without paper. Toilet paper.

I found it strange four years ago when I read Venezuela was without toilet paper. The first crisis new President Nicolas Maduro faced.

I did not think such possible. Who runs out of toilet paper?Thought Maduro would rectify the problem in short order. He did not. Four years later and Venezuela is still without toilet paper. Food, also. The situation overall got worse.

Now, I discover Cuba is without toilet paper. Has been without toilet paper for very many years.

Americans are now visiting Cuba. Stories come back. One being the scarcity of toilet paper. For those in need, toilet paper is sold on the streets of Havana at $.25 a sheet.

One of Havana’s popular restaurants is La Guarida. A roof top restaurant. Frequented by Cubans and tourists.

The ladies room has a large watercolor. An attractive woman squatting over a toilet. Squatting as women do on strange toilets. Not sitting. Behind her hanging on the wall is a toilet paper roll hanger. The roll without paper.

The name of the watercolor: Sin Papel. Without paper.

President Trump addresses Congress tonight. At 8. My podcast Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou at 9. I am always competing with a Presidential address. At least, I will be able to hear Trump before I do my show. And assuredly, I will make a comment or two.

My topics either mundane or more informative than the President’s. Depends on what he says.

My topics tonight include black people off on a tangent re whites, Trump and Miller prone to lie, war on drugs, law and order, pot soon to be attacked on all fronts, a whole face implant, cost of Trump crack down on illegals, and more.

Join me at 9 my time. The show a fast moving, often revealing, half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Last night was a stop at the Pier House Beach Bar. John working the bar. A beautiful place. Setting sun, lovely water, boats streaming by.

Followed the Beach Bar with Smokin Tuna. A place I rarely visit. Don’t know why. Enjoyed great music and a fish sandwich at the bar.

I was home early. Before 9.

A big night tonight for the Waterfront Playhouse. A fundraiser. Lynda Frechette’s baby.

Aqua Idol at Aqua. Six thirty to 8. Duet evening. Contestants bring their own partner. Wonder who brings Terri White?

The place fills up. Wall to wall. Suggest you get there an hour early.

Only four weeks left in this contest to benefit the Waterfront Playhouse. Support the Waterfront and Lynda!

Ladies time, again. Always ladies time.

March is Women’s History Month. The U.S. so decreed it in 1987.

International Woman’s Day is March 8. The day has so been observed since 1911.

I learn. We learn.

Tippecanoe and Tyler Too. The Tyler portion reflected upon John Tyler. Tyler ultimately became the 10th President of the United States.

Tyler was 52 when his wife Letita died. Soon thereafter, he fell in love with Julia Gardiner. Julia 22 at the time. He said, marry me. She said, no. His age affecting her judgment.

Tyler persevered and two years later Tyler 54 married Julia 24. Julia 30 years younger.

It was a happy marriage. Reflected by the number of children born of the marriage. Seven.

Tyler was a good man!

My Go Live videos on Facebook doing well. Increased numbers every day. Excites me.

Take a look. You might enjoy. It is Louis live and speaking. Different subjects. A few minutes each time.

When you watch, I would appreciate if you would help me by hitting the SHARE button. I am trying to expand my exposure the Facebook way.

One of yesterday’s segments involved a recent report that it is expected marijuana related jobs will exceed new manufacturing jobs by 250,000 by 2020.

And Sessions is determined to stop the legality trend and return those States now legal to illegal!

Enjoy your day!