TONIGHT…..STUDIOS OF KEY WEST

Posted on by

Larry Smith is friend and foe. Foe formerly on the golf course and presently the bocce courts. Tonight, Larry has prepared what I am sure will be a great evening of music. He has assembled 24 of Key West’s finest entertainers for what what I can guarantee will be an outstanding show

Larry can be anal. Especially when he is working. The show is two hours. Two segments. One hour each. A 15 minute break in between. Larry assures me the 24 entertainers will comfortably fit into the two available hours.

I believe Larry. He has everything down to the minute. He has been working on this show for a month. Woe anyone who screws it up!

Join me tonight at Larry’s show. Eight o’clock at The Studios of Key West.

No bocce last night. It was a bye night. Time for those teams who had games cancelled to play them. We had none cancelled.

I substituted the Chart Room and Hogfish in the place of bocce.

David was sitting alone at the round table when I entered the Chart Room. I sat with David about two hours. I enjoy his company.

The previous day’s flooding entered into the conversation. The flooding was gone by evening. The worst was early afternoon when the tide was high. By evening it was low tide. The storm water system was able to handle the problem at that time.

We talked about Che. Che is the only Key Wester I know who is older than me. I believe he is 83. Che is one of the last two persons alive who has his name on the Chart Room bar where some of his ashes will be interned.

No one has been able to find Che for three weeks. No answer at his apartment door or on his telephone. His car gone. Strange. Turns out Che was in a Miami hospital recovering from pneumonia. He is now home

Che, stay home!

Ollie stopped in. Ollie has been a leader in the fight opposing genetically modified mosquitoes. The ones that were to be tested on my home island, Key Haven. He and his group has been successful in obtaining a delay of the vote scheduled for last week. No date was scheduled for the next vote. Good job, Ollie!

Hogfish for dinner. I sat at the end of the bar, enjoyed hogfish and read the newspapers. No one talked to me and I did not attempt to initiate conversation with anyone. I was content to sit and read.

I had physiotherapy in the morning. Wow! Still tires me out. Big time! I basically spend the hour standing on one or two feet in strange positions with my eyes closed. Hard to balance with the eyes closed. Grueling. The sweat runs off my forehead.

Enjoy your day!

IT RAINED!!!!!

Posted on by

It rained! Did it rain yesterday! Five inches of rain. Winds 45 mph.

After a manicure with Tammy, I decided to drive over to Don’s Place. Many of Don’s customers work in outdoor trades. It would be a no work day for them. They would be at Don’s. I sensed a fun afternoon ahead.

It was not to be. It was pouring. Don’s parking lot and every parking space for two blocks around were full. No way was I going to walk in the deluge coming down. I went home.

I stayed home the rest of the day and evening.

The rain was continuing and I knew the streets would be flooded. Some badly. I have an innate fear that someday my Volkswagen is going to float away on one of the flooded streets.

Key West has a relatively new storm sewer system. It gets rid of the flooded street water faster after the storm stops. During the storm however, it cannot handle the rain. It has to do with the fact that Key West is at sea level or just above.

I was correct about the street flooding. This morning’s Key West Citizen has pictures of it.

Alcohol and Key West. Key West is part of Monroe County. Monroe County extends the length of the Keys. The Citizen reported this morning a study done by the University of Washington. The study examined Florida’s 67 counties to determine which county had the highest level of local resident drinking. Note, local resident drinking. Monroe County won out. Or, perhaps lost.

The result does not surprise me. Down here it is the social thing to do.

George Washington was sworn in President this day in 1789. The first President of the new country. Technically speaking, he was not.

The thirteen colonies operated as the United States following the Revolution. The colonies were formally joined together in 1781 with the adoption of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles governed our country for eight years until the Constitution was adopted.

Under the Articles, the head of the government was the President. Formally known as the President of the United States in Congress Assembled. Congress elected the President at that time. Washington was the first President under the Constitution as we know it.

John Hanson of Maryland was the first President under the Articles. There were six more after him.

Copies of Letters by Washington show Washington referring to Hanson as President.

My KONK Life column Chimpanzees Are People Too was published this morning on my Key West Lou Facebook site. It is linked from KONK Life and available for reading.

Enjoy your day!

 

LARRY SMITH FRIDAY NIGHT

Posted on by

My good friend Larry Smith has a terrific show planned for friday evening. The location is The Studios of Key West. The time 8 o’clock. The event is a history of Larry’s music, vision and friends. More than 24 musical friends are appearing with him. A guaranteed good time! Hope to see you there!

Physiotherapy yesterday morning. It’s getting easier. Still leaves me dead tired after one hour.

Around 5 yesterday afternoon, it rained. Big time! Like a monsoon or tropical storm. A very strong wind from the northwest. My palm trees were blowing every which way. The rain coming in sideways and loudly crashing into my windows facing the water.

This morning is black. A wind, though not as strong as last night. Rain is predicted for a while this morning. It is predicted all night this evening starting at 8.

I had a good time last night doing my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

I touched briefly on Baltimore. The media had it covered. There was another police story I thought worth telling. Kinloch, St. Louis County, Missouri. Kinloch is five miles from Ferguson. Population 300.

A mature motherly appearing short black woman had won the election for Mayor with 76 percent of the vote. She had been certified by the County Board of Elections. She went to her office for the first time. The entrance to City Hall was blocked by 24 police officers.

With a population of 300, I cannot believe Kinloch has that many police officers. They had to have come from adjoining communities also. The Mayor never got in. The pictures on the internet and TV showed her standing alone in front of the 24 police officers. David and Goliath.

The police and some with them told the newly elected Mayor she was going to be impeached, fraud had been involved in her election, etc. Amazing! She got 50-60 votes in winning. Understandable with only 300 residents, including children. Fraud?

This happened last week. I have not been able to ascertain the final outcome. When I do, I will share it with you.

Baltimore last night was considerably quieter than the evening before. There were a few disturbances and arrests. No buildings burned down. Everyone on TV this morning is suggesting the worst is over.

I look at it another way. Last night could very well have been the calm before another storm. Those who rioted might have strategically withdrawn to asses the situation and plan their next moves.

I hope I am wrong.

Last night’s blog talk radio show was structured to close with the story of the Oregon bakery owners who last year refused to bake a wedding cake for a same sex marriage. I spent too much time regarding Baltimore and Kinloch and never got to it.

Worth telling, however.

What I intended to share was a determination by the State re the issue. Oregon forbids discrimination by private businesses. It is illegal for a private business to refuse service based on sexual orientation. The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries recently fined the couple $135,000. An expensive lesson!

I have to move. I have a manicure appointment this morning.

It is now raining. Just like last night.

Enjoy your day!

 

ERIKA BIDDLE

Posted on by

Some say Schooner Wharf is the center of the universe. I describe the Chart Rome as the cross road of the world. Publix qualifies also.

A simple super market store provides people the opportunity of greeting old friends and making new ones. Yesterday provided that experience for me.

I was pushing my cart along trying to think of what I forgot. A slight and attractive woman approached me…..I know you, you are Louis Petrone.

She spoke of reading my KONK Life column and how much she enjoyed it. I asked her name. Erica Biddle, she replied. I exclaimed…..I know of you! I had heard her name many times over the years and have been a quiet admirer of her work. I was honored to meet her and told her so.

Erika takes up causes that others might not. Unpopular ones included. This tiny woman carries the pain of others on her shoulders.

I was pleased to meet Erika. I am confident we shall meet again.

Today is tuesday. Which means tonight my blog talk radio show airs. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Join me for a fast half hour of thought provoking commentary.

Topics tonight include Baltimore, apes being people, the $135,000 fine imposed on the Oregon couple who refused to bake a wedding cake for a same sex marriage, another example of police insanity in the Kinloch community five miles from Ferguson, U.S. military spending off the wall, and more.

It was the Chart Room last night. Victor bartending.

Only one other customer when I arrived. Tim from Atlanta. He is here for a convention. Tim is affiliated with a company that makes chicken packaging equipment. All those chickens need packaging!

An interesting guy. More interesting, his work.

Tim left to be replaced with Brian and Carrie. Special people. We spent much time together chatting about everything.

Brian and Carrie are vacationing in Key West from Columbus, Ohio. In my early law career, I made many trips to Columbus. Home of Nationwide, I did some work for them at the time.

I considered Columbus in the late 1960s into the 1970s cosmopolitan. A small New York. Based on what Brain and Carrie told me, it has grown and is even more so today.

Brian is a financial planner. Carrie is the business planner for the Oncology Department of a Columbus hospital.

Both are well traveled. Carrie spent three weeks in Greece at one time. That got me started. We talked about Greece quite a while. They are considering a trip to Santorini in September. Santorini is one of my favorite places. The view from my cave apartment was like seeing the face of God. Breathtaking.

This is a first time Key West visit for Brian and Carrie. They seemed to be enjoying Key West. Hopefully, they will return.

They are staying at the Fairfield on the Boulevard. I asked how they were getting around. They rented a car. However, they soon recognized parking is a problem.

Brian and Carrie have been ubering. I was not aware ubering had come to Key West. Turns out there are three ubering vehicles. Similar to a cab/limousine service. You call the company and tell them where you are. In minutes, a ubering vehicle picks you up.

My friends Rick Boettger and Cynthia Edwards have a Letter to the Editor in this morning’s Key West Citizen. Re trees and replacement trees. Excellent! Read the letter.

Key West has a Tree Commission. Key West has a commission for everything. Too many. I believe the Tree commission is one of them. The Commission has hard and fast rules. Arbitrary in most instances. If the Commision says your tree comes down, it comes down.

Baltimore and Freddie Gray. Say what you will, Gray ended up with a crushed voice box and severed spine. Police brutality has to come into play.

I do not know how we get a handle on the police killings which have become rampant across the country. I do know that violence begets violence. That is why riots are taking place in Baltimore.

Big day in the U.S. Supreme Court. It finally hears the same sex marriage issue. Whether such is Constitutional. I predict a 5-4 or 6-3 vote in favor of same sex marriage. It will be six positive votes if Chief Justice Roberts votes in the yes column. He generally leaves the conservative side of the bench in landmark cases and votes with the liberal faction.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN EASY KEY WEST SUNDAY

Posted on by

Can’t raise hell every day! Some times it is good to just lie back and let the day pass slowly. I did yesterday.

Late morning my lying around was interrupted by Sloan. Our work took less than 1/2 hour. I was not in the mood.

I spent most of the afternoon sitting on the deck overlooking the water and in the shade of the tiki hut. Back and forth. My time was not wasted. I worked on this week’s KONK Life column. Great title. Chimpanzees Are People Too. Shades of corporations are people.

An interesting article. There are those who believe chimpanzees and other type apes have intellect and are able to care for themselves. Such being the case, they should be deemed persons and entitled to the Constitutional rights of life and liberty.

What next? Beginning of a planet of the apes? Intermarriage permissible? The issue raises many interesting questions.

My bottom line was the courts are crazy. Beware. The U.S. Supreme Court said corporations are people too.

I watched a bit of golf later in the afternoon. A Ladies PGA tournament. They are so good! It is amazing how far golf ability has come in the last 15 years. For men and women.

Wanted to go out for dinner. It was Tavern ‘n Town. Very quiet. A typical Sunday night off season. I sat at the bar a couple of hours reading the Sunday papers and enjoying some food and drink.

I was home in bed at 9:30.

Enjoy your day!

 

ANNUAL BED RACE

Posted on by

The Conch Republic Celebration continues. Yesterday was the bed race. Long name Conch Republic Red Ribbon Bed Race. The race is held on Duval. I watched from the curb.

The race has been described as…..The most fun you can have in bed with your clothes on!

Ten beds in the race yesterday. A slew of prizes for different things. Five or six. Just about everyone wins. Curry Mansion Inn received the Best Bed award. The eternal Edith Amsterdam riding in the bed. Edith a young 90 Key West icon.

Spent my day before and after the race researching this week’s KONK Life column. I have a bit more research and will be writing the column later today. The article will do with an item I mentioned earlier this week here. The issue as to whether chimpanzees are people. A take off from corporations are people. My intent is to show the lunacy of some court decisions.

Dinner at the bar at Hogfish. A quiet evening. I sat at the end of the bar and read newspapers.

Three weeks ago our bocce team was in second place. Today, fifth. How the mighty fall! There is still a ways to go. The top five teams make the playoffs. We are on the bubble now. I believe we will make it.

Harry Truman was and continues to be specially loved by Key West. He chose our island to spend 155 days during his Presidency as his vacation spot. His home away from home.

I have read many Truman biographies over the years. Without question, Truman loved his wife Bess deeply. Bess however was a strange woman. For some reason, she did not like living anywhere except in Independence. Truman spent many days alone in the White House.

On this day in history in 1933, Truman wrote a letter to Bess. Apparently Truman was somewhere up north and Bess and Margaret on vacation in the south.

I came across a copy of the handwritten letter on the internet. Following Dear Bess, Truman wrote…..I got a letter yesterday from you and it made the day livable and much brighter.

Love!

Food for thought. Though we are more than 500 days to the next Presidential election, I offer the following for consideration. The two major problems confronting us are the middle east wars and the economy. Rarely are candidates knowledgeable in both. Some in neither. Many times we place in office a person not equipped for the job.

This time around we should select our President from one who is best versed at either war or the economy. The decision should be made up front. Both areas are fraught with danger. At least our President will be will versed in one area and can learn on the job with the other as recent Presidents have done.

Enjoy your Sunday!

FRIDAY NIGHT IN KEY WEST

Posted on by

I finally felt good yesterday. Slept well the night before. Got over the tiredness feeling.

The weather has turned. Humidity has arrived. Three or four days ago. It will now be humid through the end of September. Not bad yet. The humidity will increase with August and September being the worst months. Those two months are like living in the snow belt up north in the coldest winter months. Just opposite.

Ran some errands in the afternoon. Stopped at Don’s Place to visit. Enjoyed a diet Pepsi and chatted with those drinking stronger brew.

Got all spiffed up for last night. Even shaved.

My first stop was Louie’s Backyard. I seem to have added it to my places to have a drink recently. A beautiful spot. Boring last night, however. Very few at the bar. One drink and I was on my way.

The Chart Room was next. A big friday night!

Emily bartending. Witty as usual.

Sheila and David there. I was happy to run into Sheila. It was the first time I had seen her since her brother died. After Sheila left, David and I sat at the round table and talked about all sort of foolish things.

I met Dan and Sarah. Locals, though we had never run into each other before. Dan an old friend of Sheila’s. They both drove Conch trains at one time. Dan now tends pools.

Sarah a charming person. She is a nurse in the emergency room at Lower Keys Hospital.

As I as standing at the corner of the bar waiting to pay my tab, I started chatting with the gent on the stool next to me. His name, Ken. A retired New York City police detective. Worked narcotics. He had a slew of pictures in his cell phone which he showed me with him and thousands of pounds of cocaine he had helped capture.

I would have enjoyed spending more time with Ken. Unfortunately, he leaves to return to New York today. Perhaps next year.

Took a quick look at the Great Sea Battle from the deck of the Pier House. It was winding down. The last of the toilet paper bombs unfurling.

I decided on wings at Kelley’s for dinner. The walk over was uneventful. The season is over. Though Duval was crowded, it was not anywhere near as crowded as in season. I could walk without getting knocked around.

I was shocked as I walked up Caroline. The Brazilian steak house Braza Lena was no more. In its place was a fishery. Appropriately named Keyviche Seafood Eatery. The place was crowded. More so than when it was Braza Lena.

When did Braza Lena close down? When did the new place open? Why the change?

I was unaware of the closing/opening when they occurred. Don’t know how I missed it. I read the Citizen every day and hear the talk on the street. Neither brought the matter to my attention.

I checked the change on the internet. Could come up with nothing definitive. I have a feeling the operation may have the same owners with a different menu.

Jimmy Weekly is a Conch through and through. A for real one as well as an individual that has always had at heart the best for Key West. Jimmy owns Fausto’s. World famous Key West grocery stores.

Jimmy has been a Key West Commission member and active over the years in community affairs. He is outspoken. I rarely agree with his views. However, he always believes he is correct and moves forward undauntedly with an idea.

Jimmy recently had a quadruple bi-pass. He is at home recovering. I wish him well.

A Key West generation is passing. The torch slowly moving into other hands.

The thought occurred to me when I saw a picture in this morning’s KONK E-Blast of Kate Miano at Peter Anderson’s grave site. Peter’s ashes were being entombed. Kate was dressed in her Conch Republic uniform. Peter had been Secretary General of the Conch Republic.

Home made backyard gun ranges are legal in Florida. Someone in Big Pine has one. He practices his shooting there.

An attempt was made to stop him. To no avail. The law was on his side.

Sounds sort of wacky to me to have a gun range in the backyard. But such is Florida law. A bill has been introduced in the Florida House of Representatives to place some limits/safeguards on backyard ranges. I doubt it will get anywhere. Florida political leadership is much like that of Texas. Tough guys, don’t tread on me types.

Enjoy your day!

 

GREAT SEA BATTLE TONIGHT

Posted on by

The Conch Republic Celebration continues. Tonight…..The Great Sea Battle. One of the best experiences Key West provides.

The battle will take place off the Ocean Key deck. Pirate ships, Coast Guard vessels, Conch bi-planes and Navy Jets participating.

Conch Air Force members will drop rolls of toilet paper as bombs from the bi-planes. You have not seen anything till you see the toilet paper unfurl as it falls.

Conch Republic pirate ships will shot at the Coast Guard vessels using hoses of sea water. The opposing ships will toss ammunition at each other. Wet Cuban bread, lettuce heads, ripe tomatoes, etc.

A fun time!

The event raises a point of interest. The pirate wenches are attired in bikinis. Bikinis by their very nature are skimpy and revealing. Even more so when wet. Will those certain puritanical Key Westers complain as they did with Fantasy Fest?

Physiotherapy yesterday. Tiring. As bad as when I tried to climb the volcano on Santorini.

I have had physio over the years for very ailments/fractures. None affected me energy wise. What I am presently doing does. Big time! I am wiped out after one hour.

I suspect learning to balance by standing on one foot contributes. First with my eyes open. Then closed. My feet on soft squishy plastic that makes it even more difficult.

It may very well be because I am not physically fit. I let my self go over the years.

Bocce last night. We won 2, lost 1. Should have won 3. The result still ok, however.

My friend Larry Smith. One off Key West’s finest musicians. An entertainer! Larry is performing next friday evening, May 1, at The Studios of Key West. The show’s marque  reads…..Larry Smith…..His Music-His Visions-His Friends.

Sort of a history of Larry’s musical exploits. A walk down memory lane.

More than two dozen performers will join him. Among them, Kathleen Peace, Peter Diamond, Skipper Kripitz, and Larry’s very talented wife Christine.

Reunion time, also! It has been several years since Jenna Stauffer and Larry have appeared together. Back when, they co-hosted an internet show. Jenna will be co-hosting the Studios event with Larry.

I plan on attending. You should also.

This week’s newspaper column Drought and Water Profiteering published wednesday in KONK Life. It appears archived as of yesterday on my Key West Lou Facebook page. Read it. An eye opener as to certain greedy groups who are and will be benefitting from water shortages. You should know who they are.

Enjoy your day!

KEY WEST SECEDES

Posted on by

Even in this day and age, secession is a part of our political diatribe. My recollection is Texas was the last state to threaten secession. Governor Perry so announced on one of his soap box days a couple of years ago.

Secession was on the mind of Key West this day in 1982. The U.S. Border Patrol had done its damage and was to be tolerated no more. A group of Key Westers visited the roadblock at Florida City and announced Key West would tolerate the situation no more.

Key West seceded. The Conch Republic was born.

I had an early morning visit with my dentist yesterday. My implants were implanted no more. The problem was as I thought. Two screw caps had worn down. They were replaced and voila!, it was as if nothing had occurred. Took all of five minutes.

I can remember dentist visits back in time. As far back as the late 1930s. Dentistry was brutal in those days. Dentists hurt! Each visit was with fear and trepidation.

As with Virginia Slims…..Dentistry, you have come a long way baby!

I rested most of yesterday. Monday and tuesday had left me tired.

It was back to Louie’s Backyard for drinks last night. The weather was perfect.

I was heading for a small table near the end of the bar. Someone had a huge black dog. He jumped at me. Suddenly. Scared the hell out of me. Fortunately, he was on a leash. Fully extended, the leashed dog and I were inches apart.

I did an immediate about face and headed for a table at the other end of the deck.

Then to Ibis for dinner. I was in the mood for stone crabs again. Ibis’ stone crabs were much better last night than they had been a couple of weeks ago. I enjoyed the meal.

Big day ahead! A haircut this morning, physiotherapy this afternoon, and bocce tonight. Amazing how in retirement the mundane becomes important.

Enjoy your day!

 

A BUSY MONDAY

Posted on by

I left for Miami at 7 yesterday morning and returned at 10:30 last night. A busy day. The Volkswagen was in need of a 10,000 mile check up.

After dropping the car of at DEEL Volkswagen on Bird Ave., I had four hours to kill. I was directed to Meeker Center, a 10 minute walk. Meeker is a first class lovely three story shopping mall. All the big stores. Like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Tiffany. Lovely restaurants here and there.

Meeker was an interesting experience.

Attire. I was dressed Key West style. Shorts, shirt and crocs. No one wore shorts. Forget crocs. I was a stranger in my own country. Men wore long pants, some jackets. The women all dressed neatly and attractively. The six inch heels blew me out. I discovered flats are also in this year for women.

I looked out of place.

I rarely get off the rock, as we say. As I walked through Nordstrom, it struck me I have purchased new clothes rarely the past 10 years. Not needed if you live in Key West. It is a new tee shirt or two and an occasional pair of shorts.

I was taken by the sport shirts, then shoes and finally sport jackets. The tee shirts started at $98. Sport shirts were in the $150 range. Beautiful shirts! Shoes! Wild! I can not even wear leather shoes in Key West. Yet I spent at least an hour looking at them. From $200 to $600.

I used to visit Tiffany frequently on business trips to New York City. Generally to look, not to buy. I got to do it again yesterday.

I was wearing a three day beard.

People fell all over me trying to take care of me. I suspect they thought I was a rich eccentric.

From the heights of affluence to reality. I stopped at a Walmart on the way home. Bought some tee shirts, sport shirts and shorts. All for much less than one sport shirt at Nordstrom would have cost.

Walmart will soon have a store on nearby Rockland Key. It will sell groceries also. I walked around the food section checking out prices. Walmart had everything. Prices very low. Key West’s Publix and Winn Dixie will not be able to compete. They will have to lower prices to do so.

On the way back to Key West, I stopped at the Islamorada Fish Company for stone crabs. Broke my diet. They were delicious! The best!

Everyone was dressed like me.

Monday’s E-Blast carried an article re the Waterfront brewery remodeling. The property is city owned. It is being remodeled for the two tenants who will be occupying. A brewery and restaurant.

My concern is with over costs/over runs. Everything Key West does construction wise, involves the taxpayers getting hit with additional costs for alleged unexpected problems. The brewery thus far has run into two. An additional cost of $64,000. Not much, but more.

Over costs seem to occur on every type construction Key West is involved in. Sometimes in the millions. I never ran into this situation in other areas. Key Wet calls them unexpected. I call them a series of screw ups by the city in not properly investigating and/or discovering the work initially.

Key West never seems to learn.

My blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Join me for a hard hitting half hour. I rip the scabs off!

Tonight’s topics will include more on the California water drought. More than merely running out of water. Who are the real culprits and the unaware pain that occurs.

Also, Florida climate change and Governor Scott, more on police quotas, Greece soon to leave the Eurounion, the euro falling against the dollar meaning cheap European vacations this summer, and a tiny country most have never heard of that is making a ton of money as the new place to wash dirty money.

The show can be found on the internet at www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!