NEW YEAR’S EVE WEDDINGS

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Happy New Year! Happiness, health and prosperity! May all be yours!

The wedding of the year! Don and Stephanie’s daughter Elizabeth married David. The evening outstanding.

The wedding was outside at 7 behind the Firemen’s Museum on Grinnell. One block from Don’s Place. The setting perfect. Massive green lawn covered with white chairs.

The wedding party beautiful! Including the guys! The bride looked especially good. I was impressed with the men’s tuxedos. Normally, rented and ill fitting. Rented last night. However perfect fitting and looked new.

Don wore a white jacket. Distinguished appearing. James Bond reincarnated.

I hate Don. He is so thin clothes fit him perfectly. I have not had such a body since college.

Stephanie elegant. The only way to describe her.

Elizabeth and David cried as they exchanged vows. Brought a tear to most eyes.

The mother is always the one with the responsibility to put a wedding together. School teacher Stephanie, I give you an A+. You pass with honors.

The reception. Stephanie’s A+ covers the reception, also. It is like Part 1 and Part 2 of an examination.

Don’s Place never looked better! Don’s Place could never look better! Shocking!

A huge white tent. Chandeliers. Large round tables with soft linens covering and beautiful flowers. Gold chairs.

A dance floor. Used all evening! Food, the best. Everything tasty.

People blended well. A family wedding with friends added. Family from all over the country. The women all decked out. The men sweating in suits and ties. Obviously not aware of Key West heat.

The wedding of the year!

The reception was to go on past midnight. Hats and other things necessary to welcome the New Year in available. I could not make midnight. I was home in bed sleeping at 10. Woke at 2 and wished myself a Happy New Year!

Everyone was getting married last night.

Sushie wed. Sushi of drag queen fame. Sushie, the photographer. Sushi who has been coming down in a red slipper from the second floor of the Bourbon St. Pub for years.

Last night, Sushi was attired in a lovely white wedding gown. Before making the trip down at midnight, Sushi married long term partner Jeff Kucin.

In front of the thousands waiting for Sushi’s midnight descent in the red slipper.

There are a couple of other things I would like to share. However, the wedding comments are too touching to be joined with anything else. I will add them to tomorrow’s blog.

Enjoy the long holiday weekend!

 

 

A FEW RUDE TOURISTS

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Some locals told me recently that the tourists were on the rude side this year. I mentioned it to you previously a couple of times.

Last night, I experienced it.

I was at Tavern ‘n Town for dinner. Seated at the bar. Did not want to fight the heavy traffic to get downtown. The bar was packed. However, two seats opened up. One on each side of me.

I was in the middle of my meal.

A gruff voice said, “Please move.”  Not nice at all. The “please” too harsh to be considered nice.

It was a couple. The woman doing the talking. Beautiful! Extremely so. Very overdressed for Key West.

The man looked like he just left the pool. Tee shirt, shorts, toes, hair a mess.

Had the lady waited a few seconds,  I would have seen them, I would have moved without being asked.

I moved. My dinner, silver wear, napkin, two drinks, bread, butter, and newspaper.

They sat. Three minutes later they were up and on their way out. The lady looked at me and said, “We are being ignored.” I asked where will you go. Downtown. Have a reservation? No.

My advice was you are better off staying here. Service a bit slow because the bar is crowded. The food excellent. The entertainment outstanding. If you go downtown, you have to fight the traffic. Find a parking place. They had their own car. Then wait 1-1.5 hours to get a table because you have no reservation.

They knew better. Walked away without a word.

Things were moving. A third seat opened. Three bar seats in a row. Unusual!

Three persons took them. One a lady around my age. With some trouble moving. Unsteady on her feet. The couple probably her daughter and daughter’s husband. In their late 50s, early 60s..

The older woman went to get on the stool next to me. She was having trouble. She was short. As she went up to sit, she started to fall. She fell into me and I grabbed he to stop her falling further. The women kept saying to me, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

The daughter had not seen the fall. She heard the I am sorry’s, however. What are you doing to my mother? I was still holding her. It was like I was abusing the woman.

I explained and the mother did. The daughter was still pissed. She moved her mother three seats away. The daughter sat next to me, the terror of Tavern ‘n Town.

I was glad my dinner was almost over.

Key West exceptionally crowded. Must say it again. Many Japanese tourists. Unusual. Driving next to impossible. People crossing streets without looking. Traffic lights mean nothing to pedestrians and bicyclists.

I had been at Body Owners late morning. Headed downtown afterwards. Had a haircut appointment with Lori. A normally 15 minute trip took 35 minutes. Then, 20 minutes to find a parking place.

I was not a happy camper.

Key West City fathers encourage more and more people to visit. However, they fail to consider how to handle the crowds. Especially, the parking aspect.

Lori and I discussed the crowd situation and her business this time of the year. Her tale always the same.

Business slow the week before a holiday. Tourists already had their hair dome before they came to visit. Her business picks up dramatically the week after. The locals have extra money because of the holiday. They come in in droves to get their hair done.

Syracuse lost to Pitt last night 72-61. The game closer than the score indicates. I thought Syracuse looked good. However, still needs that big man. Pitt controlled the boards 2-1. Scored 22 points on rebounds off the offensive board.

My New Year’s Eve predetermined. A daughter of Don and Stephanie marrying tonight. I am invited. I look forward to the wedding celebration.

This week’s KONK Life column Political Sexcapades linked this morning to my Key West Lou website. .keywestlou.com. An interesting article. Involves Trump and the Clintons.

Everything in moderation tonight. For me and for you.

Happy New Year!

 

ROBB AND JORDAN

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The Chart Room last night.

The bar was empty when I arrived. A good sized crowd by the time I left. Nothing however like the hordes on the streets and sidewalks. The biggest Christmas week crowd I have seen.

Victor and I chatted about dogs. Victor has two. I do not recall the breed. Showed me a picture. Lovely! About 20 pounds each. We talked about love, training and other dog things.

It started to get busy. A young couple sat next to me. After a while, the male part asked if I was Key West Lou.

Robb asked the question. Robb is 35. He was with his lady friend Jordan who is 27. Charming people. Presently from Jacksonville. Both school teachers. Robb, high school math. Jordan, pre-K.

Jordan has a distinguished background. While in college, she was an All-American lacrosse player. Impressive!

Robb has visited Key West several times. This a first time visit for Jordan.

Robb says he reads my blog daily. Jordan affirmed his statement. Robb spouted out things I write about. His recollection better than mine.

Robb had prepared a list of places to go. Based on blog comments. A compliment.

Yesterday, they had lunch at Hogfish. Last night, dinner was scheduled for the Hot Tin Roof following our visit. He was in the Chart Room with Jordan last night hoping to find me.

The visit a great one. I look forward to being with them again in the future.

Two Key Westers on the front page of the Key West Citizen this morning. One’s story a happy one. The other, sad.

Happy first.

Bobby Nesbitt the Familiar Face designee. More than 40 years in Key West. A Key West icon. An entertainer supreme. I love hearing Bobby sing!

Sad next.

Former Judge Tegan Slaton died. He had some medical problems in 2014 and resigned. One, he fell asleep during a trial.

I met the Judge only once. The bocce playoffs several months after his resignation. Our teams were playing each other. The Judge was a member of the #1 monday night team. They had won the playoffs several years in a row. I figured they were going to kill us. They did.

At some point, the Judge came over and asked if I was Key West Lou. I said yes. He thanked me for neither writing about him nor dumping on him when he was having his problems. The Judge a class act, I thought. I thanked him. I never dump on a person who is down.

May the Judge rest in peace. To me, a good guy who met some bumps in the road.

Key West is a dog community. Thursday, the 11th Annual Dachshunds Walk.

Meadowlark Lemon passed on. One of the great, if not greatest, Harlem Globetrotter players. I enjoyed watching him play several times in the 1950s and 1960s. Generally with my Dad, which added to the experience.

My blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Join me for a quick hard hitting half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include the brewing Trump/Clinton sex war, warmongering pays, numbers showing the economy not really in recovery, a cashless society around the corner, transgender rights moving faster than gay rights ever did, IRS by law to use bill collectors rather than IRS agents to collect defaults, a Kentucky mall fight involving 2,000, and more.

Enjoy your day!

DR. ZHIVAGO

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Sunday was a full day for me. A good one.

I got to watch Dr. Zhivago for the umpteenth time. Always exciting! Love Russian history! The film based on Boris Pasternak’s novel of the same name.

A Russian movie I enjoy even more is War and Peace. Based on Leo Tolstoy’s book.

I have only seen the movie two times. It does not get played on TV. I saw it in a movie theater when it first came out in 1956. A few years later on TV. Since, no more. I wish Turner or someone would start running it.

War and Peace’s music got to me. Even more than Dr. Zhivago’s. The theme song is a waltz. The mind dances through many of the scenes.

The book was torture to read. Eleven hundred plus pages. The last 25 percent more philosophy rather than historical novel.

I wrote this week’s KONK Life column. Political Sexcapades. An interesting title. An interesting story. Begins with the sexual lives of those who “persecuted” President Clinton re Monica Lewinsky. It ends with the admonition that most are sinners.

Trump has threatened Clinton to be careful if she is going to play the sexism card. I warn/predict a down and dirty campaign. Perhaps the dirtiest ever.

A scenario that should not be. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone type thing.

The column publishes wednesday.

Even got to watch the Syracuse/Texas Southern game. Syracuse won 80-67.

The honeymoon is over. Syracuse play will now be in the ACC. The ACC season starts wednesday night when Syracuse plays Pittsburgh.

A quick dinner at Roostica. Sunday night is spaghetti, meatballs and sausage as my grandmother and mother prepared.

Duval and its side streets are crowded. It is like high season. A big Key West New Year’s Eve ahead.

Key West Citizen’s Keys History notes that on this day during Eisenhower’s Presidency, Eisenhower arrived in Key West to recuperate from a heart problem.

Eisenhower was probably aware of how restful Truman found our island.

Enjoy your day!

WHERE IS CITIZEN’S VOICE?

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The  Key West Citizen has its pluses and minuses. As with everything. The outstanding feature of the newspaper is the Citizens’ Voice. A column on the left side of page 2. Readers write in and express their thinking re various issues. Pro and con. Simple and hard hitting.

The Citizens’ Voice is missing from this morning’s paper. Why? What happened? In its place is an Associated Press article on how to make a particular cocktail.

I cannot believe the Citizen is considering discontinuing Citizens’ Voice. It works. Needs no fixing. Not broke.

My friend Sheila Cullen is a staff member at the Citizen. Her job is to prepare Citizens’ Voice each day. She selects what should be printed from the many comments received. She takes her job seriously. As Sheila tells it, she tries to send both sides to print. Her aim is to be fair and balanced.

I tried to reach Sheila this morning to get the poop. I could not reach her. Ergo, I write this column  in the dark as to the reason why it is absent from today’s Citizen.

I researched this week’s KONK Life column yesterday afternoon. Research complete. I will be writing the column today between Meet The Press and the Syracuse basketball game and after the game.

The title: Political Sexcapades. The research off the wall. Politicians have difficulty keeping their pants and panties on.

The column zeroes in on Clinton’s impeachment. Not the impeachment itself. We all know about it. Rather the column concerns certain of those who tried to bring the President down and their secret sex lives. Sort of a people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. They all got their come uppings in due course. Proving that what goes around, comes around.

A great article! You will enjoy it.

Life returned to normal last night after the holiday. I took myself to Tavern ‘n Town. A good crowd. Locals and visitors.

Bobby Nesbitt entertaining.

Ran into Lynda and Bob Frechette. A popular and well liked Key West couple.

It is said that a successful man has a good woman behind him. The reverse true here. Bob is the man behind Lynda who helps her goals and dreams reality. We always hear about Lynda. Rarely, Bob. They are a team.

I am anti-Trump. Write accordingly. Mentioned yesterday that over the holiday I did not meet one person supporting him. Also that those supporting him are whiter, older, less educated, and more blue collar.

I received two strong comments. One from a Key West MBA who is voting for Trump. The other a strong / almost defiant comment that the writer supported Trump.

Good! I love it! This is what it is all about. Free expression, a two party system, etc. We are each other’s indispensable opposition. Think about it.

Syracuse basketball this afternoon. Playing Texas Southern. Syracuse a 17 point favorite. We shall see.

Sal Salerno is recognized as one of Key West’s artistic greats! Perhaps the greatest. A man of international acclaim. A several generation Key Wester. A true Conch.

Salerno died recently.

A Celebration of Life in his honor will take place tomorrow evening from 7-9. At the Gingerbread Square Gallery which Salerno and his husband Joe Birn owned.

I guarantee there will not be enough room in the Gallery and its Courtyard to hold the many who will be attending to pay tribute.

Enjoy your Sunday!

365 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS

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It is the day after Christmas. Normally would mean 364 days till next Christmas. Not this time. 2016 is a Leap Year. An extra day. February 29. Ergo, 365 days till Christmas.

This Christmas holiday seemed exceptionally quiet. Nothing wrong with quiet. If you have not felt the quietness yet, I suspect you will by the time the weekend is over. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, followed by the weekend. Four days makes for a long holiday.

Yesterday morning was open gift time. Robert and Ally were thrilled with every gift received. As it should be. Gift opening followed by a long leisurely breakfast prepared by Lisa. Excellent.

I was home by 10. My Christmas over.

The news has been speaking of how warm it continues to be up north. It is the same in Key West. I am still in shorts and a shirt. Have not had to wear even a sweat shirt.

The weather this past week averaged 81 degrees. Speaks for itself.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports that the average Key West temperature this year at 79.9 degrees. The hottest year ever. Consider at the same time that worldwide, temperatures have risen to new highs.

Global warming?

Harry Truman loved Key West. Key West loves Harry Truman. He visited Key West 11 times for a total of 175 days.

Truman died this date in 1972 at the age of 88.

The Presidential election has been less than normal. Thanks to Trump. The campaign has deviated from issues to personal attacks.

I fear that the campaign is going to erupt into one of the dirtiest ever. A down and dirty fight. Trump plays in the gutter. He brings the battle down to that level. Sexism is already a part of the campaign. I predict the campaign will become more revealing and personal.

People discuss the campaign. No, people discuss Trump.

Over the past few days, I have not found one person who is for him. Most emotionally against him. How then is he so far ahead in the polls? Could this be a year when the polls are not correct?

The Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson in a recent column indicated that the composition of the Republican Party has changed. It is now whiter, older, less educated, and more blue collar. Trump is leading them like a Pied Piper.

Enjoy your day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Merry Christmas!

Sorry to be late with the blog. My presence was required at Lisa’s at 7 am to open presents. Followed by a great breakfast.

Christmas Eve outstanding!

Santa Claus stopped in on his way to deliver gifts in China. So he said. We were the last stop. Robert and Ally do believe. Amazing! Everyone got to sit on Santa’s lap for gifts and pics. Santa brought a large bag containing gifts for each of us.

This was Santa’s fifth visit to Robert and Ally. I found him through Patrick Hayes. Pattycakes always knew the right person for a particular job. My home has been cared for by a Patrick referred landscaper, pool man, cleaning lady, etc. over the years.

Christmas Eve dinner. The best yet. Outstanding preparation by Lisa.. Several fishes. Not seven yet, however. Stuffed artichokes for the first time. It has been years since I have tasted one. Delicious! It was part of Christmas Eve dinner during my Utica years.

Robert and Ally enjoyed the whole evening. It is all for the kids! Robert and Ally are now big into tennis. Taking lessons, going to camps, etc. Santa had in his goody bag a new racquet for each of them. Top grade. Of course, Santa left other gifts when he returned in the middle of the night.

Because of the holiday, I will not be interviewed at 12:30 on KONK News. There is no show today.

Enjoy your Christmas Day!

 

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING!

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Christmas is my favorite holiday. Especially Christmas Eve.

Seven fishes, Santa Claus, twenty plus to dinner.

The meal outstanding. Baccala that took three weeks to prepare. Shrimp fried in egg batter. Smelts. All to die for. Prepared only at Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus always visited. Just before dinner. For my children and grandchildren. He visits in Key West also. Dinner tonight is at Lisa’s. Santa will be there. He will arrive just before dinner.

I think Robert and Ally are conning us. They are 11 and 10 respectively. Still believe in Santa Claus. I find it hard to believe. Most kids know the truth by their ages. Friends at school have had to tell them.

Lisa will have prepared a seven fish meal. The food excellent. However, she has yet to hit seven. I think the best has been five.

Jake will eat well tonight! We are generally told not to feed him. Everyone does.

I look beautiful! I have eight blood scabs on my head. All visible.

Yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. It was work for some reason. Staff all dressed in Christmas attire. Friend Dave working out.

Followed the treadmill with a manicure. Tammy. The place was busy. Very crowded. Women getting ready for the holiday. Coming in without appointments. You must do me! Come back in an hour! Tension.

I was the only male. I had an appointment.

Then did Christmas shopping! Could not get it done all in one day. Two more items to get. I know what. Will be easy later this morning.

I stayed home last night and wrapped gifts.

How life changes. I never wrapped gifts when married. I have to do it now. If not me, who?

I need a woman. You already are aware for sex and cooking. Wrapping Christmas presents has now been added to the list.

The Trump/Clinton battle is warming up.

Sex is on the table. Hillary says Trump is “angry and vulgar.” A “sexist.” That he has “a penchant for sexism.” Trump countered with a threat that if we are going to get into sex, Hillary should BE CAREFUL.

It is leaning towards the down and dirty. Trump has thrown the gauntlet. Will Hillary respond?

I do not like the way the discourse is going. Trump’s fault. No question. Sex is not what a Presidential campaign should be about.

This week’s KONK Life column An American Christmas was linked this morning to my Key West Lou website. Enjoy!

Enjoy your Christmas Eve also!

 

CHRISTMAS RADIO SHOW

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Part of my blog talk radio show last night was devoted to Christmas. A first time venture.

I enjoyed it. Hopefully the show was well received.

What I did was share some parts of this week’s KONK Life column An American Christmas. From the Puritans to George Washington to the Civil War. Threw in some pagan background. Particularly sources of Christmas things such as the Christmas tree, mistletoe, carols and gift giving.

The KONK Life Christmas column hits the stands tomorrow. It will be linked to my Key West Lou website thursday.

A dermatologist visit yesterday. My head looks like it has been through a meat grinder.

I spent time yesterday fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Did the show at 9. As indicated, part of the show was devoted to Christmas. I followed up the Christmas portion with a discussion of homeless children. Santa Claus will not be visiting most of them.

The greatest nation in the world has just less than three million homeless children. They live/sleep in abandoned cars, in woods, under card board boxes, under bridges, where ever. They go to school unbathe and without breakfast.

Does not speak well for our society. Does not speak well for our governmental leaders who bear the most responsibility.

Today is the anti-gravity treadmill and Christmas shopping. Tonight, probably out with Don.

Note I did not get to Christmas shop monday. Here it is two days before Christmas and there is nothing to put under the tree. Trust me, I will get it all done today. I have no choice.

Syracuse beat Montana State last night 82-60. Syracuse does not have a legitimate tall man. Neither does Montana State. Our tall man was taller than theirs, however. Helped big time.

I could not get the game on TV. It was not where I thought it would be and nowhere else.

I watched the game on the internet. Streaming. The small screen a bit uncomfortable. However, I at least got to watch the game.

On December 22, 1860, Florida officials met in Tallahassee to decide if Florida should secede and join the Confederacy. They did. Key West as a practical matter did not.

There were a number of reasons why Key West remained loyal to the Union. One was that most of the people living in Key West were transplanted New Englanders and Bahamians. Key Westers celebrated the day the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, for example.

Key West became important preventing supplies in reaching the Confederacy. Forty Union warships rested in Key West waters. They captured or sunk 200 Confederate vessels.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

KEY WEST BUSY AND QUIET

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I recently mentioned it felt like the season was upon Key West. Yesterday, I was driving into town for a doctor visit. US 1, the Boulevard and Truman were jam packed with vehicles. Traffic moving slowly. Especially on US 1 and Truman.

On the return trip, I decided to use Flagler to avoid the traffic. Surprisingly, Flagler was crowded. More so than when the Boulevard construction was ongoing.

Last night, it was the Chart Room and then Hot Tin Roof.

On the way in, I noticed many people on the streets in the downtown area. Not so in  the Chart Room or Hot Tin Roof. Quiet.

It appears the tourists are here. However, not spending money. A proper observation for me to make. Key West’s lives or dies on tourism business.

I have mentioned the spending situation a couple of times this year. Nothing has changed. The tourists are coming in large numbers. Paying a big dollar at the hotels. Less at the bars and restaurants. They are buying pizzas and beer to dine on in their expensive hotel rooms.

Lynda Frechette! One of Key west’s leading persons! Sweet. Lovable. Caring.

Front page this morning’s Key West Citizen carried a large photo of Lynda and another smaller one of her and friends. Lynda was featured as a “Familiar Face.” Another way of saying an important person. Which Lynda is.

Tonight, tonight…..My blog talk radio show! Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Join me at 9 my time for a fast moving thought provoking half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics tonight include Congress opening the floodgates to foreign investment in U.S. realty, gun buying dramatically on the rise in Germany, Venezuela rejects GMOs entirely, homeless children on the rise in U.S. and England, the black cloud over Jimmy Carter, the Miss Universe debacle, Trump’s use of schlong, and more.

Speaking of schlong, I am not Jewish My understanding however is that the word can be used in several ways. The most obvious as the name of a male’s personal part. It can also be used to describe a loser or someone capable of being beaten. Though I am anti-Trump, I suspect Trump was using the later description of the word.

Never the less, Trump should be more selective in his choice of words. His gutter approach is distasteful. I for one would not want him speaking as he is during the campaign were he elected President.

On last week’s blog talk radio show, I discussed the TPP and its affect on the American shrimp industry. Thailand is a major exporter of shrimp to the U.S. and else where world wide. Cheap to buy. The reason being Thailand uses slave and forced labor. They either pay these people nothing or pennies a day.

Our shrimp industry cannot compete.

Even before TPP takes effect, major U. S. companies have been purchasing Thai shrimp. Like Wal-Mart, Kroeger Wholesale Food, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden. Chicken of the Sea shrimp sold in Safeway and Albertson stores contain Thai shrimp.

TPP is a job loser for the U.S. Our leaders never learn from the past.

On this day in history in 1860, an election was held in Tallahassee to determine if Florida would join the Confederacy. It was so voted. However, Key West did not join the rest of Florida. Key West remained basically loyal to the Union. Fort Zachery Taylor was important to the Union’s cause. Key Wester’s celebrated the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Key West remaining loyal to the Union was caused in significant part by the nature of the people living in Key West. Most were transplanted New Englanders and Bahamians.

Syracuse basketball tonight. Against Montana State. Syracuse a 17 point favorite.

Enjoy your day!