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!

EVENING NOT AS PLANNED

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The best laid plans of mice and men…..

My evening was planned. Syracuse basketball. I rarely miss a game. Everything else is pushed to the side.

There were two other things that could have been on my plate last night.

The annual Pier House Christmas Show. Starring dear friends Larry Smith, Kathleen Peace, Skipper Kripitz and Christine Cordone. Syracuse basketball superseded them.

The other was dinner with Cheryl and Roger. Now living in Cape Coral, they are visiting Key West for two weeks. Cocktails instead. Syracuse basketball taking priority.

I had lunch yesterday at the Pier House Beach Bar. Lovely Jaynine bartending. I could hear singing coming from the outer deck by the old Wine Galley. Knew the voice. Kathleen Peace!

I walked back to say hello. Larry and Skipper rehearsing with Kathleen. Hugs, kisses and a few moments of chatting. Told Larry I would not be there in the evening. Syracuse basketball. He could not understand why I would pick basketball over the show.

Different strokes for different folks.

An observation. Larry, Kathleen, Skipper and Christine are Key West. I repeat, they are Key West. None more representative.

I met Cheryl and Roger at the Sq. 1  bar at 5. They knew I would be leaving at 6:30 to watch the Syracuse game. It was good to see them. It had been several months. A couple of drinks and appetizers. At exactly 6:30, I left for home.

I settled in my recliner and turned on the TV. The game had already started. The score 10-10. The next thing I knew it was the start of overtime. I had fallen asleep and missed the whole game!

Some days I can’t win for losing.

Syracuse lost to Wisconsin in overtime 66-58. The sports news this morning indicates Syracuse played poorly. One problem was the boards. Syracuse was out rebounded 51-25.

On to the next game.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I am into something new. Working on my heart rate. I go fast for 30 seconds and then to a slow walk for 2 minutes. Not jogging. Walking very fast. Reached the highest speeds yet that way. As long as it does not kill me, it is good for me.

Keys History this morning reported that on this day in 1900 a ship left Key West for New York. The ship carried 1,846,000 cigars which had been made in Key West. A lot of cigars! What an industry! Gone now from Key West.

My friend Anna lives in Navara, Italy. We have not communicated in months. Received an e-mail from her yesterday. It was in Italian. Strange. She always writes in English. There was a warning across the e-mail. Do not open. People will steal your money, etc.

I did not open. Forwarded it to Anna, however.

An hour later, I received a telephone call from Anna. She was sitting in the Novara police station. Someone got into her e-mail. One of her bank accounts was already 5,700 euros light. About $8,000 American money. She warned me not to open the e-mail sent me which I already knew.

She telephoned again later when she returned home. She was obviously upset. Anna is affluent. However, also conservative. Watches every penny.

She was in Chamonix last weekend. A small ski town over the Italian border in France. About an hour’s drive from her home. For the first time, she had to show ID before she was permitted to enter France.

It was reported this morning that Saudi Arabia has scheduled a mass execution of 50 persons. All political activists, except for a Palestinian poet. All to be beheaded at one time.

I wonder how it is going to be done. I reported a year ago that Saudi Arabia was publicly advertising for beheaders. More were needed. Understandable. Saudi Arabia big at beheading.

Is each person to be executed to have his/her own beheader? Or, will one do all 50? I am not trying to be funny. Based on the want ad last year, that many executions at one time could be a problem for Saudi Arabia.

I love Saudi Arabia! They gave us $4 a gallon gasoline, 17 of the 21 9/11 terrorists were Saudi Arabian citizens. The same Saudi Arabia that is supposedly our friend. Saudi Arabia also has refused to take any of the Syrian refugees in. Their own people. Muslims.

Enjoy your day!

 

GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

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Four score and seven years ago…..

Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address on this day in 1863. The speech less that 300 words took less than 4 minutes to give.

We all learned in school that Lincoln wrote the speech on a paper bag with a pencil while riding the train to Gettysburg. Some say the paper bag was really the back of an envelope.

Both incorrect.

Historians are generally agreed that Lincoln started writing his speech two weeks before he gave it. He worked on it daily.

The paper bag tale is similar to Betsy Ross having sewed the firs American flag.

Recollections of Gettysburg at the time Lincoln gave the address generally leave out the condition of the battlefield. Strewn with rotting horse carcasses.

I did my thing on the anti-gravity treadmill yesterday. Love it! Invigorates me. Each time I finish, I feel I have accomplished something.

AlterG wants pics of Jenny and me. Jenny wanted pics of me on the treadmill with her standing next to me. We did two. They went ou without me seeing them. Saw them last night. No way can they be used! I know I am big. However no where as big as the photos make me appear. Jenny does not know it yet, but we are redoing the picture taking this morning.

The pics will be part of AlterG’s national advertising. They will lose business if they print a pic of me with a huge gut!

Walgreens for prescriptions followed by lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. Ham and eggs. Harpoon Harry’s has the best eggs anywhere. Light. No where else have I enjoyed eggs as I do at Harpoon Harry’s.

Don’s Place last night. Chatted with Don, David, Keith , Toni and Larry Smith. Bocci the topic. Nothing else.

Tonight the last league night. We are presently in third place. Can end up in second. Though I doubt it. Could be fourth. No worse.

Whatever, we will be in the playoffs. The playoffs are saturday and sunday. A long weekend of bocce ahead.

Don, Larry and I then headed to La Te Da. We wanted to see the new inside bar. Wow! Beautiful. Different. The bar I knew for 25 years gone. A new and different one in its place. I can handle the change.

We ate at the outside bar. Tonto bartending once again. I have known Tonto for 20 years.

Two telephone polls down on College Road yesterday. Traffic screwed up all day. A truck hooked into the overhead wires and unknowingly continued driving.

One thing I do not understand is why the poles toppled. The one pictured in this morning’s Key West Citizen shows the top third of one poll hanging. The top third. The polls are concrete. Hurricane polls. I am surprised the one in the paper snapped.

I had a hair appointment with Lori later this morning. Cancelled it. The nickel sized growth the doctor cut off my head is still healing.

Read yesterday that the average cost of a gallon of gasoline is $2.15. We are at $2.49 in Key West. Just once in my life I would like to buy gasoline somewhere at the average price. It does exist. People who drive to Key West from the north country always talk about it. How cheap gas was during the trip.

An interesting article in the Wall St. Journal yesterday. The Koch brothers have a sort of Pac called Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce. Freedom Partners contributed $129 million last year in order to assure Republican control of the U.S. Senate.

The same group is presently raising $899 million for the run up to the 2016 Presidential and Congressional elections.

Is this the way to influence elections? I think not. Nor is it healthy for the country.

WordPress still screwed up. Sloan working on it. You are having trouble commenting. Please be patient.

Enjoy your day!

LA TE DA HAS NEW BAR

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Key West is blessed with several excellent publications. One is Conch Color.

I was browsing Conch Color when I came across a La Te Da advertisement. A picture of La Te Da’s new inside bar. Beautiful!

I have not done a late night at La Te Da in months. Some night this week, I will. I am anxious to see what Christopher has accomplished.

My visit may be sad. I enjoyed the old bar for many years. Many memories.

Spent a long time yesterday writing this week’s KONK Life column. Thought it was time for a change of pace. My writings have been on the serious side in recent weeks.

Decided on a sex topic. Wrote Sex Tales of Old. Stories involving Julius Caesar, Christopher Columbus, the early New England settlers, Ben Franklin, Pope Alexander VI, and Betsy Ross.

The column publishes wednesday.

Last night it was Kate Miano’s Gardens.

Kate present. She has not been recently. She was in France. Returned a few days ago. Still fighting jet lag.

Ran into Pati on the way in. We sat together and enjoyed Peter Diamond’s singing.

It was after six when I arrived. Dark. I could not see anyone. If I want to know who is there, I must arrive before the sun sets.

Stopped at Roostica on the way home. Sunday night dinner. Spaghetti with meatballs, sausage and pieces of pork. Covered in a thick red sauce.

Bobby calls it gravy. Some italians do. My people did not. In fact, I never heard sauce described as gravy till Bobby opened his Italian restaurant. I understand New Jersey Italians refer to sauce as gravy.

Bobby just returned from ten days in Rome.

Kate in France, Bobby in Rome. Key Westers know how to live!

Larry Smith entertains tonight at The Little Room Jazz Club. Larry Kripitz on the drums.

Read El Nino is going to cause south Florida aggravation this winter. The experts warn be ready for a wet and wild season. Happening because Pacific Ocean waters will be warmer than normal around the equator.

College student activity at Missouri U. and Kansas U. has resulted in much discussion. Concern, also.

Many have described the protestors as Fascists. For the manner in which they relate to those they oppose/do not agree with.

There was an interesting column in the Wall St. Journal this weekend. The writer discussed raising the voting age to 25. It is presently 21. His opinion was that students were not responsible to vote.

I disagree. I have disagreed also with the 21 voting age. My reason simple. If the under twenty ones can fight for their country such is sufficient reason to give 18 year olds the vote.

Kansas students have initiated a different approach. Instead of asking the school’s president to resign, they demanded that the top three officers in the Student Council resign. By friday. Their own people. Fellow students. If they fail to resign, they have been threatened with impeachment.

The crazies are getting younger and younger. I wonder how their grades are doing. The primary purpose of a university is education. Not displays of public wrath. Especially over bullshit issues.

This morning, I return to the anti-gravity treadmill. I missed all but one day last week. The machine was aggravating my ribs and left side. I still hurt. However, much less. I hope I experience no problems today. The treadmill has become a part of my every day life.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

I HURT

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Amazing! I go weeks without falling. Thought the problem had been corrected. Apparently not. One of the reasons I was falling is because I was not paying attention when using stairs. My falls were always either going up or down stairs.

The fall yesterday morning was going up stairs. I know why it happened. I was not paying attention! I was in a hurry and failed to look and lift my feet sufficiently.

Old age!

My rib cage on the left side hurts like hell. All night. Could not find a pain free position. Did not sleep one moment all night. I started this blog at 4:30 this morning. There was no sense in staying in bed any longer.

No bruising. Which surprises me. I am on blood thinners.

Fortunately, I see my doctor at 8:30 this morning to do blood work and get a flu shot. I will have her check me out. I believe I am ok.

Volkswagen recently owned up to cheating on their diesal vehicles big time. Bad Volkswagen! However, I must compliment Volkswagen in one regard. I have a 2010 Volkswagen Beetle convertible. Never checked out the spare tire till yesterday. A whole tire! A regular sized one!

This morning’s Key West Citizen in its History section states that on this day in 1994 B.O.’s Wagon was physically moved from Duval to its present location on the corner of Caroline and Williams Streets. Locally owned all these years. A great attraction. Does a big time business. A touch of old Key West.

The only body comfort for me yesterday was sitting straight up in my desk chair. My left arm and fingers hurt when hitting the  computer keys.

I spent the afternoon writing this week’s KONK Life column. Boudicca, Warrior Queen. A 60 AD story. Interesting. A woman leading the armies, as in Joan of Arc. Brutality big. Similar/comparable to or more than that being perpetrated in recent years by al Qaeda and ISIS. Also, gender discrimination.

I opted to write about Boudicca because of the similarity to today’s war brutality and the gender discrimination issue.

An observation. We seem to be having more crime than usual in the lower keys this year. Three recent murders come to mind.

Saturday night, a deputy sheriff was shot in the chest by a robbery suspect. A bullet proof vest saved his life.

The robbery suspect got away following a shoot out. He was discovered at a home on Von Phister sunday. He surrendered to the Key West police after a negotiation. The suspect had two bullet wounds from the shoot out the night before.

Larry Smith plays again! All over Key West. Monday nights at the Little Room Jazz Club. Music and people just like the Wine Galley. Larry is also playing monday through friday afternoons from 4 to 6 at Chicago.

Bocce standings came out yesterday. In spite of recent losses. we are tied for 3rd place with two other teams. All with records of 19-8. Larry Smith’s team is one of those tied with us for 3rd place. We play Larry’s team thursday evening. A blood match!

I am finishing this blog at 6:30. It takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours each morning to get out.

Enjoy your day!

 

I FORGOT

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I’ m losing it.

Yesterday was Larry Smith’s birthday. There was a party for Larry at The Little Jazz Room where he was playing. I planned on going. Never made it. I forgot.

Mea culpa, Larry. Happy birthday!

Instead bored and not certain what to do, I stopped at Schooner Wharf for a couple of drinks and then dinner at the bar at Pepe’s.

My day yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I have made a new friend. We both treadmill. His name is Dave.

Spent the afternoon working on tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Great topics!

Today is National No Bra Day. An interesting topic for discussion.

Key West had a crocodile visitor at Smathers Beach recently for a week. I thought the croc’s visit dangerous. Some did not. Came up with an interesting article re crocodiles. Safe! In some parts of the world, people actually swim with them.

The EPA spends $75 million a year on military weapons. Why?

Male Americans went crazy in 1953 when Playboy printed its first nude center fold. Soon, no more. Playboy will shortly be dropping nudes.

Detroit is dying/dead. A well known fact. Ford has built ten plants in China and recently announced it will build three more there. Like turning your back on someone who raised you.

The Catholic Church Synod of Bishops in confusion and chaos. Much like the Republican Party. The Pope has his hands full.

These are some of the topics. All interesting.

Join me at 9 my time tonight. A quick half hour. Guaranteed you will enjoy. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I enjoyed the sunrise this morning. I was up early and sat on the deck sipping a cup of tea. The sun came up behind me. Soon it shown on the MTV house across the way. The impact of the sun on the pastel yellow, pink and blue of the house magnificent. A joy to behold!

Enjoy your day!

 

TACO BELL

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A new Taco Bell recently opened in Key West. On North Roosevelt Boulevard. In the same building where one was closed down several years ago due to lack of business.

I am not a Taco Bell expert. Have only been in one my whole life.

The building has been updated. The windows are enlarged. They go from floor to ceiling.

Why the big deal about a new Taco Bell?

I drove by last night at 9:30 on my way home. The parking lot was full. The restaurant was full. I could see in through the large windows. Very few people standing. Most sitting. They appeared to be having a good time.

A couple of days ago at lunch time, I drove past the new Taco Bell. The cars lined up on the Boulevard waiting to get in the driveway were longer than any I have ever seen for McDonald’s.

I suspect the newness of the Taco Bell attracts customers. I believe there may be another reason. Cost!

Eating out is extremely expensive these days in Key West. Add in a few drinks and the bill shots up wildly. A new Taco Bell may be getting a big play because it is a cheap evening out. I could be wrong. It may only be the newness. Time will tell.

I worked on my blog talk radio show yesterday which is scheduled to air this evening at 9. Interesting topics. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include unwanted immigration a world wide problem, cucumber salmonella outbreak in the United States, only so much money available in Europe to help immigrants, an update on Yemen where violence is escalating, 1.5 million U.S. households living on $2 a day per person, Illinois not having the money to pay a $250,000 lottery winner, and more.

Turned out to be a Key West evening.

My destination last night was the Little Room Jazz Club on Duval to watch Larry Smith perform at 8. Wanted to make a dinner stop first. Tried Roostica. Closed, I assume because of the holiday. Several other restaurants also closed. I ended up at Tavern ‘n Town. Always a good place for dinner.

Tavern ‘n Town was like old home week.

Ran into Michael Schwartz first. Michael is a former owner of Square One. The flavor of his restaurant I doubt will ever return. Even though subsequent owners continue to use the name.

Then Jean Zimmerman. A woman I have loved for years. I rarely see Jean. She was having dinner with Michael. Jean was Michael’s hostess for years.

The bar was crowded. Found a seat. Next to me were friends from my Yacht Club days. The Toppino brothers and others. Good to see them.

Eventually, Lou and Rose sat next to me. Turns out they are members of the Yacht Club, also. I had not met them before. They must have become members after my time.

Chatted quite a while with Lou and Rose. They live in Key Haven as I do. Soon to be married 52 years. Good for them! Lou an occasional pilot in his other life. He may still be flying a bit.

Nice people. I would like to see them again.

I have known Larry Smith more than 15 years. He is one of Key West’s premier performers. A musician, he composes and sings.

I met Larry through Aaron. Fifteen years ago, he took me to La Te Da to meet his friend Larry. Aaron and his lady Karen were at the Little Room to enjoy Larry last night. Friendships last.

Writer Michael Dennis in attendance. He has authored a number of novels. We spoke briefly about writing. Michael in his other life was a professional gambler. He would travel to Vegas and other places to work. Today, a successful author.

Larry’s wife Christine Cordone present. She sang with Larry. An outstanding vocalist, she has become an artist of some prominence in her later years. Alec and his horn stopped by to say hello and then to play with Larry. Mary Deasy sang.

Last night brought me back to the days of the Wine Galley. It was Larry’s room for years. We all attended. It was good to see some of the Wine Galley group come together last night.

I did not get to watch the Ohio State/Virginia Tech game. Ohio State won. The school is anticipated to be #1 in the country this year. Ohio State beat Virginia Tech admirably 42-24.

What impressed me was that Ohio State averaged 10.2 yards per carry. Powerful football!

Friend David an Ohio State fan, booster, fanatic. Looks good for your team, David!

Enjoy your day!

 

MIDSUMMER’S EVE CELEBRATION

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Dancing and frivolity of old will exist once again tomorrow evening in Key West. At East Martello. Midsummer’s Night Dream & Spectacle. In its ninth year.

The show, though proper in every respect, is a throwback to pagan days when the beginning of summer was celebrated with  big time partying. Way before Shakespeare’s time.

The show is Michael Shield’s baby. The originator nine years ago, he has continued to produce the event every year. Co-producer is the Key West Art & Historical Society.

My dear friend Jenna Stauffer is the emcee. I can visualize her in days of old. Prancing around in her fairy wings, tip toeing through the tulips. Orchestration by Skipper Kripitz. Perhaps the most honorable man in Key West. Singers include Larry Smith and Kathleen Peace. I love Kathleen! I love her singing! The walls of the East Martello Fort will shake during her performance.

My day yesterday began with a noon walk along the Atlantic Ocean. In the heat of the day. Not the best time. However, I did it. Then to the Cuban Coffee Queen for Cuban cheese toast and Cuban coffee.

Steve Braddock is a care giving Key Wester. He is a Catholic priest. He is active in assisting the homeless. A Saint Francis.

He is pissed off. The Lower Keys Medical Center claims he owes a balance for a hospital stay. $1,975. The hospital has sued in Small Claims Court. Before suit and since, Braddock has asked for an itemized bill. No itemized bill has been forthcoming.

The good priest is aware from prior assistance to the homeless that hospitals have a tendency to overcharge. Dramatically. He is defending himself in court. I would not want to have him as an opponent under the circumstances.

We have genocide in the United States. I refer to it as American genocide. The killing of blacks by whites. It has been going on since the earliest days of our country. It has to stop. Will it ever? I do not know.

The last 48 hours have brought the story of nine blacks in a church bible class shot by a white 21 year old. The place, Charleston, South Carolina. The 21 year old, Dylan Storm Roof. The killings in cold blood.

During the shootings, he said…..I have to do it…..you rape our women and you’ve taken over our country, and you have to go.

Roof has a history evidencing a drug problem. His father gave him a gun for his 21st birthday.

Roof was obviously misinformed as to the black conduct he described during the shootings. Probably heard it at the dinner table from his father.

These shootings are what they are. Racial hatred expressed with a gun. It must end! Otherwise as I have been saying on my blog talk radio show, the battle will not be between police and blacks. It will be blacks against whites. A people will take abuse only so long. There is a new generation of blacks and they will not be as patient and forbearing as their forefathers.

Anna is in Camogli. She has a beach front apartment. Camogli is part of the Italian Riviera. Next door is Portofino. Home of the renown Silvio Berlusconi. His close friend Putin has built a home nearby.

Tomorrow night’s emcee Jenna Stauffer is my date tonight. We are going to dinner. Love Jenna!

Enjoy your day!

BEST OF THE BEST

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Larry Smith out did himself last night. The show he put together at The Studios of Key West his best yet. There were some 200 people in attendance. Many dancing in the aisles at the end of the show.

With 24 performers entertaining, it is hard to point out that one or the other was the best. They were all good! No, spectacular!

I noticed the crowd consisted primarily of seniors. I being one of them. Many of the faces familiar. We were people who have followed Larry and his music for 20 some odd years here in Key West.

I enjoyed myself.

Big sports today! The Kentucky Derby and the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight.

I have not followed the horses this year. Ergo, I know nothing of those running. The race is at 6:24 this evening. I shall be watching from the comfort of my home.

The fight is a major event! The battle has been described as the fight of the century and the super bowl of boxing. The gate is predicted to be more than $400 million. The fighters will each walk away with $100 million pay days.

The fight begins late. Very late for a guy who is generally in bed asleep before 10 most evenings. Fight time is between 11 and midnight. The actual time depending on the undercard.

My initial reaction was to ignore the fight and go to sleep. I ran into Don last night. He has bought the fight for TV. It will be aired at Don’s Place. No charge. I spell out the no charge thing since some places in Key West are charging $100. The Marriott Beachside being one.

My plan is to stay up late and watch the fight at Don’s. Hope I make it!

One observation. A lot of puff for the fight. Like it is the best of the best. I cannot agree.

I recall fights over my lifetime that were equal to if not better than tonight’s. The three Tony Zale/Rocky Graziano middleweight championship fights in the late 1940s. Several Joe Louis battles. Don’t forget Sugar Ray Robinson.

Fights after World war II and before the advent of television were on the radio. Same procedure for the producers as today. Except instead of pay TV, there was pay radio. Which was not available in homes.We used to go down to the lobby of the Stanley Theater in Utica to listen to the fights. The lobby was large and always packed. The Stanley never charged.

We had a boxing champion in the family. Sort of. My Uncle Frank’s brother Bushy Graham was bantamweight champion some time in the late 1920s or in the early 1930s. He also fought one or two times for the featherweight championship.

Boxing was big for Italians from 1920 forward as it provided them a chance for the better life. If they were successful, of course.

Enjoy your day!

TONIGHT…..STUDIOS OF KEY WEST

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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!