U.S. WAR READY?

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Poker Run 2015 is over. Most of the bikers left Key West yesterday afternoon. Roaring. In greater numbers than they came in. As many as 40 at a time.

Those who did not leave yesterday will leave this morning. The roar again.

A successful weekend. No trouble. The bikers not a problem. Bars had to do a big business.

I spent many hours yesterday writing this week’s KONK Life column. It publishes wednesday. The column took unusually long to write. Details. The title: U.S. War Ready? I strongly suggest you read it. Not necessarily for pleasure. For information you may not otherwise be aware.

Roostica for dinner. Spaghetti with meatballs, sausage, and pork. Just like my Grandmother made!

Olga waited on me. Obvious she is from another land. She has an accent. Business was slow. We had a chance to talk.

I was interested in where she came from and details of life there. Olga was born and raised in the old Soviet Union and then under whatever the name of her free country. I could not catch the name. It was not familiar.

Her homeland is far to the east in Russia. Near the Chinese border.

We talked of education. Interesting. Most stories similar to Flora’s. Some different.

Olga loves the USA!

The New York Times carries a shocking front page news release this morning. Afghan village commanders have sex slaves they keep handcuffed to their beds. Young boys. Apparently part of Afghan tradition. Called bacha bazi.

American soldiers could hear the boys screaming at night. They were told not to pay attention nor interfere. It was part of Afghan custom and to be tolerated.

What the hell are we doing over there? Their ways are thousands of years old. We will change nothing.

Pope Francis arrives tomorrow. He will speak at some point to a joint session of Congress. Some Republicans are complaining. and not with the respect the Catholic leader is entitled to.

The complaining Republicans think the Pope is too liberal. He believes in climate change, equality of pay, is opposed to gun manufacturers. All social problems. All within the purview with which he should have concern. All matters Republicans prefer to ignore.

They fail to mention the Pope is anti-abortion.

Greek elections a surprise. Tsipras reelected. His Syriza Party won handily. A sign the Greeks respected his efforts in spite of the fact that he failed regarding the Eurounion debt. I am confident Tsipras will take another shot at the problem in due course. Never say die!

Oh, my Syracuse! Three consecutive wins. The true test next saturday. Against ranked LSU. The Vegas line is LSU by 24.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

SATURDAY NIGHT AT DON’S PLACE

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I am late getting to the blog this morning. Sorry. Bed too comfortable.

Spent a couple of hours in the early evening at Don’s Place. With David, Keith and Joanie. Thought I would run into Don. Had not seen him in a week. He was home babysitting his two grandkids. Wife and daughters out somewhere.

Lisa would not let me babysit Robert and Ally early on. She said my attention factor was lacking. Finally, one night she allowed me to show my stuff.

Robert went to bed early to sleep. Ally could not sleep. She came into the living room and sat on the couch watching television. I was watching TV also. For a while.

When Lisa returned home, I was asleep in the chair. Ally wide awake watching television. Of course, Lisa ripped into me. See…..I told you so….etc. I meekly responded there was no problem. Ally was watching Robert and me!

My response was not appreciated. It was another year before I was permitted to babysit again.

Stopped at Outback on the way home for dinner. I have always liked Outback. Good food at fair value. Not last night. I had a filet with potato and veggies. The menu indicated a special. Shrimp could be added for $7.50. Unlimited in amount. Why not!

A rip off. The shrimp were fried in batter which is what I expected. However not one piece was larger than a quarter. Each one more batter than shrimp. For shame! I ate 2-3 pieces and left the rest.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. Next week, I go to four times a week. I have added thursday to my schedule.

I have another radio show! A small one. Very small.

KONK has one hour of news monday-friday at noon. KONK News with Guy deBoer. He has five different speakers, each allotted 10 minutes. I have been blessed with friday, 12:20-12:30. 104.9 The X in Key West.

Nothing fancy. I lead off with a brief synopsis of my KONK column for the week. Then spend 6-7 minutes on a topic of my choosing. Something I  believe needs to be said.

Yesterday, it had to do with poverty in the U.S. I was motivated by the cry to help those leaving Syria.

My thrust was lets take care of our own first. We are doing a lousy job at it. Then be generous with others.

We have 1.5 million households living on less than $2 a day per person, food stamp recipients have increased 16.5 million under Obama, and 2.5 million homeless children living in abandoned cars, cardboard boxes, the woods, etc. who go to school unbathe and without breakfast.

The U.S. already takes in 70,000 refugees a year. Obama has indicated he will take in an additional 10,000. That’s enough for the time being!

This is Poker Run Weekend in Key West. Ten thousand motorcycles in town. Party time, big time! They were roaring into Key West all day yesterday on U.S. 1. Sometimes as many as 20 in a group. Marlon Brando in the lead!

It is black leather attire tonight on Duval!

I live and learn. Eighty years old and still learning.

I thought sparkling wines and champagne were different. Turns out they are not. Both produced the same way. The difference is in name only. Champagne is produced in the Champagne region of France. Sparkling wines everywhere else.

The sparkling wine bubbly is cheaper in many instances and just as good. So I read.

Syracuse/Central Michigan today. Win #3 in the making for Syracuse? Syracuse a six point favorite.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

HEART OF KEY WEST

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There are many things that come to mind when thinking of Key West. One are chickens. They are part and parcel of Key West life.

The roosters chase the hens. Interestingly, the hens generally run from the roosters. However, the hens at some point do get caught. Otherwise Key West would have chickens no more.

Gestation is a mere 29 days. The chicken population replenishes itself easily. All over town, you can see mother hens walking along followed by a line of baby chicks. Sometimes the line is long. Other times, not too many chicks.

Nature interferes. Nature keeps the chicken population under control, though those who do not like the free roaming chickens may not believe it. Animals and cars are enemies of baby chicks. Vultures and hawks, also.

Years ago, I was sitting outside at the old Paradise Cafe enjoying Cuban toast and coffee. Mother hen and several chicks were walking down the sidewalk in front of me. Suddenly, I heard a loud swosh. I looked up. There was either a vulture or hawk on the way up with two baby chicks in its clutches.

Mother hen and the baby chicks had run each and every way when the swosh was heard. They reassembled. Mother hen in front and the baby chicks in a straight line behind her and continued on their way. The straight line two chicks less.

No one seemed concerned. Neither mother hen nor the remaining baby chicks.

The preceding is merely the prelude to today’s story re baby chicks.

We live a different life in Key West. Our value systems a bit different.

Over the weekend, two baby chicks fell into a water drain in the parking lot at the Southernmost Complex. Police were called. I assume two or more police cars showed up.

The police were able to extricate the two chicks. They were frightened, cold and wet. Loving hands took them to warm.

In those few minutes, the rescue of the baby chicks was the most important thing in Key West. Key West responded accordingly.

The baby chicks in the drain are comparable to the up north situation of the kitten in a tree who cannot get down. Firemen are called in that instance.

Wrote this week’s KONK Life column yesterday afternoon. Sent it off to the paper. The article is titled Gertrude Bell…..Desert Queen. The female Lawrence of Arabia. An interesting story.

Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying revolutionized sex so many years ago. The  “zipless fuck” came into being. Or was identified. Whatever, a great book. Has sold something like 20 million copies world wide.

Jong has written a new book. Fear of Dying. Addresses women in their senior years. Covers everything, including sex.

Jong lives in New York City. She did have a home also in Key West for years. Whether she still does, I could not ascertain. I never met the lady. Much to my sorrow. I did see her at various social gatherings. Never went up and engaged her in conversation, however.

Fear of Dying will be available for purchase beginning tomorrow.

I am meeting Tom and Fran for drinks at Tavern ‘n Town tonight. I look forward to it. Not merely the meeting. I never got out yesterday.

Today will be busy. The anti-gravity treadmill followed by a manicure. Research for tomorrow night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Then a fun evening with Tom and Fran.

Enjoy your day!

ANNIE DILLARD

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Literary giants seem to find their way to Key West for some portion of their lives. Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and John Hersey to name a few. The three have passed on.

There are famous authors having homes in Key West who have not yet gone to that other place. They write and play here.

One is Annie Dillard. In the company of Hemingway, Williams and Hersey. She and her husband spend summers in Cape Cod and winters in Key West. They have had a home in Key West since the late 1990s.

Dillard is considered a major voice in American literature. All her books have continued in print without interruption. Many have been translated into foreign languages. She is a Pulitzer Prize winner.

President Obama will be recognizing the work of certain artists, including writers, this week in Washington. One of those to be honored is Annie Dillard. She will receive the National Humanities Medal.

Congratulations, Annie Dillard! Thank you for being a part of Key West.

My yesterday began once again with the anti-gravity treadmill. I am in the process of scheduling an extra day a week. Going from three to four. I can handle it. Hopefully in a couple of months, I can do five mornings a week.

Roostica for lunch. Limoncello wings. Broiled, not fried. Delicious.

Poker Run begins monday the 14th. The big bikes will begin roaring in. More than 10,000 of them. Womenfest concludes sunday. As the dainties leave, the toughies come in. Not to say that women cannot be tough. Extremely so on occasion.

Key West has a Washington visitor today. Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy.

He will be here to inspect the Boca Chica Naval Air Base and port operations. Unfortunately, he is in and out. He will not be spending any time visiting our island.

Mabus is a person of distinction. His credentials impressive. He is the longest serving Secretary of the Navy since World War II.

Donald Trump appears to have a limited vocabulary. Everyone is stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Tells me nothing. Criticism is proper. Tell me and everyone else however what it is that makes others stupid.

This week’s KONK Life column hit the stands yesterday afternoon. You may want to read it. The story of Tennessee Williams and one of his loves.

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!

 

CANNOLI

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A sweet start to the morning. Cannoli.

Roostica has become my tuesday evening dining spot. Roostica basically around the corner. I do not like to travel far from home before my blog talk radio show.

I desired a sweet after dinner. Unusual for me. Amanda suggested cannoli. It has been years since I enjoyed cannoli. I decided to go for it!

Absolutely delicious! Shell crisp, filling a soft chocolate. Told Amanda that when I was a little boy, I used to help my mother make cannolis.

Pre-school. Three to 5 at the time. We lived third floor front. I mention the location of the family abode to assis in visualizing. Top floor. Boiling hot in the summer. Roof flat.

We were Italians. My mother born in Italy. My father here of Italian born parents. My mother cooked Italian. What had been brought over from the old country.

My mother made cannolis. I helped her. A big deal for me at the time!

I remember the dough making. I was permitted to roll some. Then the round sticks around which the dough was wrapped. Sort of like a hot dog. A bit shorter and thicker. Technical name for the round wood sticks dowel rods. Solid and cylindrical.

The rods were easy to pull out after the cooked dough had cooled and crisped.

Then came the filling. I was allowed to help filling the shells. Ricotta. Sweetened ricotta. Then to the ice box for cooling. Note, not refrigerator. The ice man came every two days with a large block of ice. When ready to be eaten, the cannolis were sprinkled with confectionery sugar.

Delicious to eat! Great taste!

Cannolis are not Italian by nature. Their ethnicity Arab. The Muslims controlled and administered Sicily from 831 AD to 1072 AD. They brought cannolis to Italy. The Italians took to the dessert and it spread the length of Italy.

The Arabs considered the cannoli a fertility symbol. Perhaps because the cannoli was first made/discovered in a harem in some Arab country.

Amanda is now six months pregnant. She excitedly showed me an ultrasound imaging picture of her son. He is growing. Amanda is growing. No question she is pregnant. Beaming also!

My blog talk radio show last night. My show controversial. Some comment afterwards. Especially those not agreeing with me.

One of the topics last night was Planned Parenthood. Recent videos have revealed that fully intact aborted babies were being sold. Along with fetus tissue and body parts. A fully intact aborted baby has to be 7-9 months.

I took the position on the show that Planned Parenthood was wrong, that the entire situation was SICK!

A loyal blog talk show listener is a mature woman living in Ithaca, NY. She follows me religiously. Reads also my blog and KONK Life columns. As you will read, she definitely disagreed with me.

I quote…..”I’ll tell you what’s sick–you and your ridiculous gullibility as to the Planned Parenthood fraudulent accusations. I’ve turned off konk radio–I can’t take it anymore.”

I have commented previously re Planned Parenthood and the selling of fetus cells and body parts. The reaction by women has been ten fold. A woman I know well in Key West stopped me on the street, looked me directly in the eye, and in an agitated firm tone said…..Stop picking on Planned Parenthood!

The situation was revealed some 2-3 months ago. Planned Parenthood says they have done nothing wrong in selling aborted parts or now the whole of aborted babies nor selling for a fee. The matter is now in the courts, before Congress and certain State legislative bodies.

This year’s Fantasy Fest parade and Halloween fall on the same evening. Certain City Commissioners wanted Halloween moved from October 31 to November 1 to accommodate the parade and purportedly protect the children. A vote was taken last night. It failed. Both will be held the same evening.

I do not see it as a problem. Most kids do not watch the parade. Trick or treating is done in neighborhoods and not on Duval.

I look forward to today. My screw off day after four consecutive days of research and writing.

Enjoy your day!

ERIKA…..YES OR NO

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In yesterday’s blog, I advised I was going to start getting ready for Erika. Buy some things needed when shut up in your home. Without electric power,.

I never did it.

Two hours after publishing the blog, TV reported  Erika would probably dissipate after Hispaniola. The mountains of Hispaniola would break up an already weak hurricane.

This morning, the weather channel says such probably is the case. However. the weakened Erika might gain power from warm air in the Caribbean and turn into a powerful hurricane aimed directly at Key West and Florida. Or, Erika might go left into the Gulf and avoid the Keys.

Whatever, I know we are going to get a lot of rain. Which is much needed.

Am I going to get ready? I don’t know, have not made up my mind.

Did the anti-gravity treadmill in the morning. I am steadily increasing the speed. Lots of sweat.

Rain is strange in the Keys. It did not rain all afternoon in Key Haven. When I went out last night, everything bone dry for 1.5 miles. When I reached the golf course on US 1, it was obvious it had rained. Big time! The golf course is again only 1.5 miles away. Rain storms amazing in the Keys!

Lunched at Roostica. I have been going frequently for lunch. Why, easy. Quality food at a cheap price. Plus, the air conditioning. It is too humid to eat outside.

Yesterday, it was fried eggplant with tomato, prosciutto and mozzarella. Covered in a red sauce. Outstanding! The eggplant similar to how my grandmother prepared it. Salad, besides. $9.95.

The Chart Room first last night. Wanted to check on Emily. She had been out of work two weeks with an eye problem. She is on the mend.

Then to Hot Tin Roof. Jenna to meet me.

We enjoyed a great meal and equally great conversation. Love the girl! Wish I was 50 years younger!

Trump. I am getting sick of Trump. Are you? He is blocking out the other candidates and issue discussion. The man is a mental case. A successful economic one.

What bothers me is the people who support him. Most everyone! Even those whose intelligence I respect. He has captured the minds of many Americans.

Thomas Friedman in a recent column described Trump as a Pied Piper. I agree. Most following him. To an inevitable destruction if the march continues.

Friedman says Trump leads by dividing and frightening. He has a point.

What really hits home is Friedman’s observation that Trump spews up a Joe McCarthy. Correct, again. I recall McCarthy and the eventual harm he caused till stopped.

There is a little town on the Italian Riviera between Camogli and Portofino called St. Margarita. Anna just telephoned me from the beach there. She said the Camogli beaches are crowded so she went to St. Margarita’s tiny and less congested cove to swim and sun bathe. A two euro train ride.

Enjoy your day!

DO BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN?

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Maureen Dowd’s column appeared on the editorial page of the Key West Citizen this morning. Concerned Donald Trump. The opening sentence…..Some blondes have all the fun.

Erika may be a for real hurricane. Not there yet. Some 1,500 miles from Key West. A tropical storm. Forty five miles per hour. Expected to reach hurricane force soon.

Key West is in the come of error. It is anticipated Erika will arrive over the Keys monday morning. Hurricane intensity.

On the other hand, it may not hit Key West. If it does not hit, it will mean heavy rains for a day.

We have been through this before. Many hurricane warnings. At the last moment, the hurricane moves in another direction. Time will tell.

I must be honest. For the first time this morning, I am getting a bit uncomfortable.

A preview of Erika this morning. Dark and very windy. A flash of lightning came through the window. I walked over and looked outside. Saw another flash. Long and jagged. Shot straight down. Moments later, pouring rain. Palm trees bending. White caps.

The thunder unusual. Ongoing. Intense. For over an hour.

In about two hours, the sun will be shining brightly. Typical Key West weather this time of the year.

After the anti-gravity treadmill yesterday, I stopped at Roostica for lunch. A gnocci special was featured. I ordered it.

Gnocci is macaroni made from potatoes.

What a meal! As good as Grandma made!

The gnoccis were tender. Soft. The sauce red with a body to it. A sausage sauce. Small pieces mixed in.

Bobby Mongelli knows his food. Roostica’s is genuine Italian.

The afternoon was laid back. I settled in a comfortable chair and read. I am into a book about today’s Washington and how we got to where we are. The book discusses the politics of extremism in Washington and its sources.

The tile It’s Even Worse Than It Looks. The authors Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein.

The perfect political junkie’s read. I am enjoying it.

Cocktail time was at Aqua. At the back bar. I was looking for Mark Watson. One of Key west’s most loved guys.

Mark is running for Fantasy Fest King. I stopped by to make my contribution to his race.

It was only Mark and me for a while. A camera man showed up. He was taking pictures for the Florida Keys channel 5 show. I am in the some of the shots.

Christine showed up. Never met her before. Mark introduced us. The three of us had an enjoyable conversation. The drinks were going down too easy. I went straight home afterwards.

This week’s KONK Life hit the stands yesterday. My column is titled the Legalization of Prostitution. At some point today, it will be linked to my Key West Lou website. I believe you will enjoy the article. Some interesting revelations.

Bocce tonight. If there is no further rain today and the sun comes out as I anticipate, the courts may be dry enough to play.

A big match this evening. My team Don’s Place is playing Not Don’s Place. A Larry Smith joke when he named his team a couple of years ago.

A money game.

Enjoy your day!

 

KEY WEST A RICH SMALL TOWN

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I did my good deed for the year during the night. Maybe for the next ten years.

I received a telephone call at 4 this morning. A friend was in trouble, needed help.  It was out of bed, into clothes, and into town.

As a result, I am dead tired. Probably will be all day.

Duval at 4 in  the morning is strange. Almost no one on the street. It was like everyone had disappeared. Only the buildings remained. Eerie.

Bloomberg Business did a survey to determine the 20 richest small towns in America. Key West one of them. Came in 13th.

I question the survey result. The survey was based on real estate values and median salaries. Real estate values have  been out of whack in Key West for years. Whether buying or renting.  The mean salary based on the survey was in the low $50,000 area. Not many making that much. There must be an unusual number of millionaires residing in Key West to raise the average to that level.

So much for the study.

Yesterday was the anti-gravity treadmill in the morning, lunch at Roostica and the Galleon’s Sunset Tiki Bar at cocktail time.

I thought I would run into Jean, Sheila and David at the bar. Generally their friday haunt. Found out Jean left town two days ago, and Sheila and David were no where to be found.

Someone put their arms around me from the back. It was Pati. We spent a couple of pleasant hours together.

JJ bartending. He previously worked the Chart Room. A great personality. He was thin. Obviously lost weight. Told me 20 pounds. How, I asked. He is building something outside. He is at it from 7 in the morning. The humidity a killer. A lot of sweating. The pounds just fell off.

I asked him for a job.

I was on my way home when I decided I was hungry. Stopped at Outback. Glad I did. Enjoyed great conversation with two guys sitting next to me at the bar.

Both in their thirties. One a government worker, the other out of work. Both extremely knowledgeable. We talked of our country, politicians, Trump, and life in general. The life we credit/blame on our political leaders.

Both would like to leave the U.S. and move to another country. One has property in Mexico on the Pacific coast.

We agreed as we left, it had been a good evening.

My KONK Life column Black Lives Matter / Play Tough is being correctly run in this morning’s E-Blast. You may want to read it.

Danny is fickle. First a nothing storm. Then a category 2 yesterday which turned out to be a category 3. We are told Danny will die after Puerto Rico. We shall see.

Market down 530 points friday. Monday will tell if the market was adjusting or we are at the start of another recession. China the culprit. All has to do with oil.

Trump announced 36 thousand for last night’s rally. He had to get a stadium to hold all the people. Turns out the stadium was only half full. Twenty thousand. Still a good number. In fact, an excellent one.

Will the Trump mania run its course and burn out?

Watched Jimmy Carter on TV yesterday announcing his medical problem. The man is a class act.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

DANNY

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It’s time again! Talk on the street last night….. Is a hurricane coming?

Danny is its name. It is presently nothing way out in the Atlantic. We will not know till next week if it will be a Florida keys problem. Probably not. But you never know! Wind is fickle.

Some thing screwy yesterday morning. My phone. I was on it from 7-11. Business. Made me late for my 11 o’clock appointment at Body Owners where the anti-gravity treadmill awaited.

Took my sweaty body over to Roostica for lunch afterwards. Bobby Mongelli moving around. An outstanding business person!

Another business person of note arrived for lunch. Joe Liszka. Joe and his partner Frank Romano started Key West Aloe around 1970. Became a gold mine. They sold about 15 years ago.

Frank is now gone.

I met Joe when I was going to WeBeFit. Joe is older than me. I admired what he was able to physically do. Better than me. While there, Joe invited me to a party at his home. An excellent host. He lives in Key Haven also.

Stopped at Don’s Place at 5. Stayed a couple of hours. Visited with Don, David, Nate, and Toni. Actually spent quite a while chatting with Toni. A charming lady. Good company.

I had a choice at that point. Go out to eat or go home and watch Donald Trump. I am ashamed to say I went home. I am a political junkie.

I am not a Trump supporter. His business success is admirable. Such in and of itself does not make a President.

Our country continues to be in difficulty. The 1/99 percent thing does not go away. Listening to Trump, I suspect his actions would be those favoring the 1 percent. This morning he said on Morning Joe that he was against raising the minimum wage. He believes it would make us less competitive against foreign manufacturers.

Strange. The guys at the top of the American companies continue to make millions of dollars annually for themselves. They have their 3-4 homes world wide and private jets. The wealth is not shared. Notice Trump has his jet and homes. Even a helicopter. Trump would have the 99 percent continue to suffer to keep the rich in their exorbitant toys.

This thing about no longer considering a child born in the U.S. of parents illegitimately here not citizens not right. Trump is crazy! It has always been and will ever continue to be that a person born in th U.S. is an American citizen.

Trump says the scholars tell him the law/Constitution in this regard can be changed. What scholars? If he wishes to pursue the issue legally, he will find lawyers to support him. If a fee is available, there is unquestionably a cause to be pursued.

Those Spanish galleons carrying all sorts of wealth that sunk off the Florida coast some 400 years ago present the opportunity for some today to strike gold. Literally!

It recently was disclosed that 4 crew men from the A/V Capitana discovered gold to the tune of $4.5 million three weeks ago somewhere off Florida’s east coast.

My column in this week’s KONK Life is Black Lives Matter / Play Tough. The article was linked this morning to my Key West Lou website. keywestlou.com.

Bocce tonight! The best!

Enjoy your day!