YOU WON’T BELIEVE…..PUBLIC URINALS

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The modern world moves in strange ways.

Paris and Berlin have a common problem. Men peeing in the streets. Big time! The ladies not at all.

Arrests, fines, etc. have not solved the problem.

Paris’ solution unusual. Public urinals on the streets. Strictly for men. Open and exposed. A bright red metal box 2′ x 3′ sitting on a pole. A large opening on one side. A man steps up to the box, pulls out his private, and excretes into the hole.

These boxes are on public streets. In full view of everyone. No privacy involved. Near popular tourist spots. One sits near Notre Dame Cathedral. Several along the Seine. One near a school.

Twenty two erected so far. All eco-friendly. No odor. Straw inside. The straw periodically removed and used for compost.

Again, not for the ladies. As to #2, a private commode still required.

Berlin liked the idea of what Paris was doing. The Germans came up with their own way, however. A study undertaken. Now complete. The study requires gender equality. Neutral toilets for public use.

Men peeing in the streets the problem again.

The Berlin plan requires the construction of small buildings to be used as public toilets. With an unusual twist.

Receptacles common for male peeing use hang on a wall. Some run from chest height to the floor. Others chest height to just above the knees. A man stands before the receptacle, pulls out his private and goes.

The smaller of the receptacles to be used in the new public facility. The bottom lip will extend out a bit more than normal.

Men and women alike will use the receptacle. The men in the usual fashion. Women standing in front of the receptacle, lifting their dresses or dropping their pants, followed by their panties. The women will pee standing up as the men do.

For the other type excretion, a commode required. Somewhere else. The new gender compliant facility only for peeing.

Would you believe?

The subject was the opening topic in my podcast Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night. More interesting than Donald Trump.

Another topic involved Omarosa Manigault Newman.

Hell hath no fury like as a woman scorned. A woman rejected in love can be angry and dangerous.

Omarosa and Trump together a long time. Fifteen years. Omarosa black. He a racist. Strange that whatever the relationship, it lasted that long.

She appears to have tapes. For everything. Trump is a womanizer and misogynist. My gut tells me they must have had sex. Embarrassing for the President if such is the case and reflected on a tape or two.

Yesterday, Omarosa dropped a bomb. Claimed Trump knew about the Hillary e-mails before they were even leaked by Wikileaks. Such would mean Trump was aware of their existence via a Russia connection.

Omarosa has appeared before Mueller. When asked if she had a tape re the e-mails, she said she could not respond.

I spent yesterday afternoon preparing for last night’s show. Cupboard bare again. I did not feel like going to Publix for food at lunch time. Ergo, drank 2 Dr. Atkins 15 gram protein shakes. One for breakfast, the other for lunch.

By dinner time, I was famished. Did not realize how much. Went to Roostica. Ordered the 3 meatball over polenta appetizer. Always cognizant of my diet.

I devoured the food with a speed that shocked me. I was ravenous. Still hungry. Ordered brushetta. Swiftly put that down.

Not a smart way to eat. Do not plan on doing it again.

Thought overall I would lose a pound. Instead, gained a pound.

Key West icon and legend David Wolkowsky requires mention. On this date in 1978, he bought the Kress Building on Duval for $210,000. Soon thereafter became Fast Buck Freddie’s.

David built a penthouse home for himself on the roof of the building. Absolutely magnificent! I have attended several parties there.

David still throws large parties on the roof. More intimate ones at his home in the Casa Marina Flagler area. David will be 99 years old on August 25. I will be attending a birthday party for him at his Flagler  Street home.

The Woodstock Festival opened this day in 1969. On Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, N.Y. Two hundred thousand were expected. Close to a half million showed up.

A raucous three day event. Will forever be known as the perfect example of America’s 1960’s youth counterculture.

Big name musical entertainers appeared. The likes of Airplane, Who, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, and Arlo Guthrie. Last but not least, Key West’s Larry Smith and Christine Cordone.

Those were the days….

In  a recent column in the Washington Post, George Will wrote an interesting statement. Short but to the point: “If you want peace, prepare for war.”

Enjoy your day!

 

SEX AND SENIORS

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A recent study indicated a large number of older Americans have active sex lives. The survey stated one half of those over 65 are enjoying a sexual relationship.

The bottom line…..Seniors want to have fun!

At 82, I can say the desire never goes away. The ability sometimes does. Makes no difference. Viagra helps. In many instances, physical intimacy alone is sufficient.

I find sex better in my old age. The quality. Tender.

I have one complaint. Courting at 82 is no different from what it was at 22. Can be a pain in the ass!

The Chart Room again last night. Love the place! Packed with tourists. Only locals were Steve and Cindy. My Key West historians. They have lived here since 1974.

I intended to have a sandwich at home. On the drive home, decided I needed more people connection. I headed for Hogfish.

Hard to believe! The place full! People waiting to be seated. I was lucky to grab a seat at the bar.

Never fails. I met three fishermen and spent a couple of hours chatting with them. Typical Key West fishermen of old. Weather beaten faces, a tooth or two missing, happy in their work and play.

I am paying this morning for last night.

Donna and Terri telephoned yesterday. They had just left Tampa. Terri spent a few days with the doctors. A scheduled follow up visit. She will have many as her life continues.

The cancer problem no problem. Hurray!

The eye problem resolved. Terri has been slowly going blind. Glaucoma. Had it even before the cancer. Seems to have gotten worse the past couple of months. Accelerated rapidly.

Turns out it was the daily chemo pill she was taking. Increased pressure in her eyes dramatically. The doctors changed her pill a few days ago. Her vision was already better when she talked with me yesterday.

Trump speaks today before the NRA convention. Fourth year in a row. Wonder what he will say?

Following the Parkland shooting, he seemed to have jumped the fence and was on the side of gun control. Recall the meeting in the White House of students, parents and teachers.

Then a week or two later, he seemed to have returned to the side of the gun people.

The man is amazing. One day he supports safety. The next, the Second Amendment. The extreme of each.

I recall last year’s NRA convention when Trump said, “You have a friend!”

I suspect the friend of the NRA will show up again today. The strongest man in the world cannot stand up to those who contribute to the killing of American children.

Father Pat Conroy. The Catholic priest fired last week by House Speaker Ryan. Father Conroy wrote a letter to Ryan rescinding his resignation. A forced one you will recall.

Good!

The hypocrisy of Washington is too much to take sometimes.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

I’VE RETIRED FROM THE FIELD OF HOMOSEXUALITY

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I have been coming to Key West for 30 years. Bought my home 20 years ago. In all that time, Key West has been One Happy Family.

Not so 10 years before I first came. The winter of 1979-80 was a time of flux. Straights versus gays. Violence commonplace. The gays generally on the losing end.

A bigoted man of God resided in Key West. A Baptist minister. His goal was to drive the deviates out of town. He bought an ad in the Key West Citizen. His position simple. He recommended 100 men with baseball bats walk down Duval Street and hit the “freaks” in the head.

The good minister claimed that was the way it was done in Key West in the days he loved and remembered.

One of Key West’s leading citizens at the time was Tennessee Williams. Thirty years a resident. Resided in a quaint bungalow on Duncan Street.

Williams had a gardener who cared for his grounds. The man was found in a pool of blood at his home. He had been killed by point blank shots to the head and neck.

The man was a friend. Williams took his death badly.

Six days after the gardener had been killed, William’s home was broken into. Vandalized, some minor thievery.

Williams was further disturbed. First time in 30 years anyone had invaded his home.

One month later, Williams and a house guest friend were coming out of the Monster. A gay disco off Duval. Late at night. Both men feeling no pain.

Williams and his friend were jumped by 4-5 guys. Williams struck and thrown to the ground. His glasses broken. His friend knocked down from a blow to the jaw.

The friend shouted they may have knives! Let’s get out of here! Williams refused. He stood his ground: “I am not in the habit of retreat.”

Some time thereafter, a group appeared in front of Williams home. They threw beer cans at the house. Shouted, “Come out, faggot.” Then threw fire crackers.

Williams and his friend were in the house. The fire crackers sounded like bullets. Williams and his friend thought they were under attack.

A little history.

Beginning in the mid 1960’s, Key West began becoming economically depressed. The Naval Base had significantly down sized, businesses were closing down. Many left.

It was then that the gays began arriving. They sensed Key West was a place for them. A place they could make home. They were like immigrants. Worked hard from day one to make Key West a better place.

With the gays came problems. Not just the disturbed minister. The gay improvements to the community caused real estate prices and taxes to go up. The gays were buying more and more property.

Some of the gays were not typical of non-gay Key West residents. For example, Williams’ gardener who was shot in the head several times was an eccentric. He would walk around Key West shouting, “I am a woman.”

Male prostitutes arrived on the scene. I find this fact amusing. If the new residents were gay, why did they need male prostitutes?

Drugs and crime accelerated. Assaults and battery common place. The gays were under siege.

Key West was Williams’ home. Had been for 30 years. He refused to leave. He also withdrew from sex at the time saying “I’ve retired from the field of homosexuality at present…..because of age, I have no desires.”

Williams understood why the gay community was being warred upon. Bad gays had followed the good gays to Key West. The bad ones were giving the good ones a bad name.

Key West soon became known as the Fire Island of Florida. Williams said the name did not fit. He viewed the bad gays and others as punks and predators.

Williams was possessed with foresight. He believed this anti-gay sentiment would pass. He firmly believed the violence would be gone by the next year. He was correct.

In the meantime, the Baptist minister kept ranting and raving. He threatened to bring Anita Bryant to Key West to assist in his anti-gay crusade.

The minister thought things would go one way or the other. He gave it 5 years. He took the position by the end of that time, there would be a revival of a “normal society” or the homosexuals would have taken over.

The good guys won.

During the winter of fire, Williams became exceptionally careful. He stopped walking or riding a bicycle down Duval late at night. He claimed he was “more frightened” in Key West “than I am in New York.”

Williams refused to leave Key West: “I have been here longer than they have and I’m not leaving.”

I never sensed the war like atmosphere when I arrived in Key West for the first time 10 years later. Gays owned businesses. Gays were in business with straights. No feeling of discrimination existed. Everyone loved everyone else. One Happy Family.

 

JIMMY V

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Syracuse plays Connecticut tonight at Madison Square Garden. As part of the Jimmy V Classic. Syracuse a 5 point underdog.

Jimmy V of course the renown Jimmy Valvano. Famed college basketball coach. Led North Carolina State in 1983 to victory in the NCAA Tournament.

Two interesting things about the Championship game.

North Carolina State was losing by several points with a couple of minutes to go. Valvano had his players start fouling. I was watching the game on TV. I thought he was crazy. It worked, however. North Carolina State won by 2 points.

North Carolina State the National Champion. Valvano went crazy. He was running all over the court looking for someone to hug. His team was hugging each other. Valvano had no one. And then he did. Hugged many times that evening.

In his mid 40’s, Valvano died from cancer.

He was loved by all. Loved to this day.

Ten days before his death, a banquet was held commemorating North Carolina’s 1983 NCAA victory. Ten years to the date.

Valvano spoke. Knowing death was near. Fighting death every day. His words remembered to this day. “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”

A few days later, Valvano spoke at another event. The ESPY Awards. The first such event. The recipient to receive the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award. Valvano was the recipient.

Valvano spoke again words remembered to this day. He admonished all to laugh, think and cry every day.

Words recalled from his address included…..”Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.”

The Jimmy V Classic tonight is part of the ongoing fundraising for cancer research. His fellow coaches lead in the fundraising to this day. Jim Boeheim one of them. $36 million so far.

I met Valvano one time. The year he won the NCAA Championship or a year later. In Rome, Italy.

I was in Rome with my wife and two of our daughters. It was night time. We were walking the Via Veneto. I was tired. The women wanted to continue strolling and taking in the sights.

I said I would be sitting at one of the outside cafes drinking espresso when they were done.

I approached the nearest cafe to rest my body. There was Jimmy Valvano sitting enjoying a coffee. I walked up and introduced myself. Syracuse fan, friend of Jim Boeheim.

He asked me to join him. I asked what he was doing sitting alone. He said he was tired and his wife wanted to continue taking in the sights. He told her she could find him at the table. We both had a good laugh when I told him my story.

We talked about basketball. The Championship was still fresh in his mind. Till his wife returned.

My one Jimmy Valvano meeting in of all places, Rome.

You never know.

Yesterday by day was not the best.

First a visit with my relatively new primary care physician. He ascribes my tiredness to old age. He said your 82 and expect to get out of a chair quickly. You’re not that young anymore.

I don’t buy it. In effect he was telling me I was an old man (which I am) and there is nothing that can be done to energize me. Left me thinking all I had left was to wait and die.

Then to pick up my new glasses. I was excited. New frames and all. I would be able to see much better.

An absolute disaster. A screw up somewhere. Both distances a blur. I have to return to my eye doctor to check the prescription out against the new glasses. Then return to the optician to get new lenses.

I have been wearing glasses since my 30’s. Never happened to me before.

Tom and Frances last night. Chart Room first and then dinner at Hot Tin Roof.

My Buffalo friends. Fran once again brought me three containers of sauce with meatballs and pork. Frozen solid. In her suitcase all the way from Buffalo. Also all kinds of Xmas chocolates.

Everything in the freezer! I am on a diet. The food and sweets will last.

My podcast tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. All type goodies to talk about. Join me at 9 my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I am impressed. I have had advertisers the past six months. Among others, GEICO Insurance and Old Navy.

Enjoy your day!

JORDAN AND ROBB…..WE MEET AGAIN

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Yesterday busy. Day and night. All good things.

The best last night at the Chart Room.

I was looking for some one. Thought I would run into the person at the Chart Room. Stopped in. Looked around quickly. Not there.

Left immediately.

Twenty feet later, I heard a voice. Lou. turned around and there stood an absolutely beautiful woman.

The words came tumbling out….. I’m Jordan. I’m with Robb. We met two years ago. We took pictures. Two hang in the Chart Room. Robb reads your blog every day. We are here tonight to see you.

How could I leave.

We went back into the Chart Room. Met Robb.

I was honest. I meet so many people. I did not recall them.

Jordan took me to a section of the chart Room and showed me their picture with me. On a ceiling beam. The other behind the bar was buried. We did not bother searching for it.

Great people! I stayed a while. Enjoyed a drink with them.

From Jacksonville. Robb, 36. Jordan, 29.

School teachers. Jordan an elementary phys ed teacher. Also coaches high school lacrosse. Robb teaches high school math and helps coach the football team.

We chatted about a multitude of items. I was impressed Robb was a math teacher. Told him I became a lawyer instead of a doctor because I could not handle math and science.

Enjoyed my time with Jordan and Robb. Definitely will remember them next time.

Terri White sang while cleaning up the outside area of my new home. Her idea. A home warming gift, she said. She loves working with shrubbery, flowers, etc.

We took time off for lunch.  Picked up Donna and headed for Hogfish.

Sounds like I was working with Terri. No. I avoid servile labor of any nature.

After a cheery lunch, Terri and I returned to the house. Terri had to finish the clean up.

Terri does more than sing. Besides being a talented landscaper, she knows how to fix everything.

A new desk chair arrived a couple of days ago. Still sitting in the middle of the living room. Box unopened. Terri returns today to put the chair together.

I also have a new shower head. She is going to install it in my shower.

A good friend. As is Donna.

Along the way, I did my Facebook live video. Key West Lou Live Video. Trump, the White House staff and campaign help get  free legal with regard to present problems. Money comes from donations to the Committee to Re-Elect funds.

Articles claim $6 million incurred so far. $1.5 million paid out. Including Donald Trump, Jr.’s $50,000 legal fee for the meeting.

Began my evening at Aqua and Dueling Bartenders. Tom Luna and Rick Dery. Heather guest vocalist. The best show in town! All for the cost of a few drinks.

It was a locals crowd. Mark Watson, Joseph Lyles, Matias, Jean Thornton, her sister Laura Hauk, Sheila, Mary, Larry Blackburn, and Jimmy Olson.

Liz came in. I have not seen her in a while. I assumed she had returned to her St. Petersburg home. Went over to greet her. Discovered she was in the Key West hospital for 5 weeks. Why, I do not know. It was difficult to hear with the noise. Told her I would call today.

I feel guilty I did not know.

Then to the Chart Room. Followed by Tavern ‘n Town for their late evening happy hour. Read the newspapers and enjoyed small pieces of beef in a tasty brown sauce over some sort of potato. Delicious.

Met Jack and Terri at the bar. From Pensacola. Joe Scarborough country. They know Joe.

Jack and Terri get to Key West every 2-3 years. Their four children grown.

Jack has been with UPS 31 years. A supervisor. Terri teaches sixth grade.

Good people. Good conversation.

Key West had a bank robbery a day or two ago. A 45 year old man walked into the Simonton bank building and left with some money. Details not reported as to how much, how robbery accomplished, etc.

The significant thing is the Key West police captured the bad guy in 20 minutes. The surveillance camera showed him clearly. They picked him up on Duval.

Prior to his arrest, he made some purchases on Duval and gave $50 bills as a tip. Not too bright.

“Sex is like money, only too much is enough.” John Updike.

Updike spent several years living in Key West. Wrote several novels using Key West as location.

Literary experts claim Updike was greatly influenced by Hemingway.

My podcast tonight at 9. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Join me for a fast moving interesting show. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics  include the folly of Trump’s words re Made in America Week, Buy American, and Hire American. Trump and his family do not do as he preaches.

Also, Sessions is working on banning abortions nationally, Russia demands return of their compounds without conditions, U.S. ally Saudi Arabia massacres its own people, Africans beginning to flood Europe in numbers greater that the Syrian immigration, and more.

Enjoy your day!