My poor Lisa is still sick.

I spent some time with her yesterday. This walking pneumonia continues to hang in there. She is still home from work. Saw her doctor yesterday. He tells her it takes time. She is closing in on her third week.

The pythons are back in the news!

Burmese pythons to be specific.

Two have recently been discovered in the lower keys. One more than 11 feet long. Key Largo is the entrance to the keys and is about a 100 miles north. In the past 2 years, 9 pythons have been captured.

The pythons are not native to the keys. Nor to Florida in general. So how do they get here? Simple. People buy them in pet stores and raise them as pets. After a while, the pythons get too large to handle. So their owners release them into a wooded area some where.

Florida's waterways are a convenient conduit for python traveling. For whatever reason, they seem to swim south. And some are ending up in the keys!

Florida's wooded areas are not a natural habitat for pythons. It is strange therefore that they are migrating to the keys and the keys' massive mangrove growths.

The State has commissioned a study to determine why they are here in the keys, what they eat, etc. in an effort to eventually dissuade the python movement.

The pythons are not yet a problem. So it is probably good the study is being done at this stage. The last thing I would want is to walk out to my pool and see a 10 foot python sunbathing!

The G20 Summit in Europe starts today. I am concerned. There is always a tendency for the little guy to beat up on the big guy when the big guy is down! We are down! Lets see how "our friends" treat us.

Memories are short. We have basically helped every one in this world! With the exception of the English who have never forgotten our assistance in World War II, most other countries are quick to take a jab at us when the opportunity presents itself.

Yesterday President Obama fired the General Motors CEO. Good for Obama! Enough pussyfooting around. With all this tax payer money being invested, Obama has every right to flex a muscle here and there. And the message he delivered yesterday is very clear. Shape up or ship out!

What bothers me is that we keep defecating on the auto industry. And the banks and AIG seem to be getting a free ride. Auto workers are forced to renegotiate contracts. An auto Ceo is fired. But with the banks, there is a different approach. A softer one. Not right! The bankers are the ones who got us into this trouble. Let heads role! Break contracts! What is good for the goose, is good for the gander!

Key West is a unique place! Many famous and outstanding people have retired here. One is Lou Harris. Harris was THE pollster for years. Especially back in the 1960s and 1970s.

Harris now lives in Key West. Has for years.

Last night he spoke at the public library. Interesting! He shared many views peppered with his experiences.

He speaks occasionally around the island. Catch him the next time he does. A very worthwhile experience.

I started my evening at 6 listening to Harris. Then to the Chart Room to meet Marty. We had earlier agreed to meet and have dinner together.

The Chart Room was crowded with locals. A good place to taste the flavor of Key West.

I told Marty I had to get a steak in, per my doctor's orders. To help my iron defieciency problem.

So we were off to Michael's. A place for steak! Perhaps the place for steak!

My meal was excellent. However when you have not eaten beef in ages, it sort of sits in your gut. I still have that heavy feeling this morning.

Oh, what we do in the name of health!

I wish my doctor would recommend a nice young lady for me!

Have a good day!

What a great sport's Sunday!

First, basketball! Love this March Madness!

Michigan State destroyed favored Louisville! A big time victory! Louisville came into the game ranked first in everything. They never were in the game. It seemed as if Louisville did not come to play. That is how it goes. A winning team cannot be up for every game. This observation takes nothing away from Michigan State who was clearly the better team yesterday.

Then came the North Carolina/Oklahoma game! North Carolina the better team and won big time going away!

Could things get better? They did!

Golf! Tiger Woods! Tiger won Arnold Palmer's Tournamnet. In dramatic fashion! With a 12 foot putt on the last hole! Vintage Tiger Woods!

I laid around the house all afternoon watching these great sport events. Could not stay in last night, however. It was time to get out!

So I showered and dressed and was out on the town!

My first stop was the Chart Room. Had a drink with friends.

Then I opted to go over to La Te Da. I was not that hungry. However I had a craving for Alice's sushi appetizer. I figured I would eat it at the outside bar.

It was not my time, however! La Te Da's Sunday Tea Party had just concluded and the bar was packed with partyers from the Tea Dance. Every one was drinking. No one eating. And no room at the bar, in any event. Not the place for my Sunday evening snack.

So I stayed not. I decided on La Trattoria, even though I had eaten there the night before. Kathy is the Sunday bartender and always good company.

I am glad I ended up at La Trattoria. Had a good time!

Kathy was her usual pleasant self. She is always attentive. Probably because we are almost neighbors from up north. Kathy comes from Albany and I Utica.

Some interesting people at the bar.

Debra and Dan. They had just arrived from the Boston area. They were staying at the Hyatt and planned to be in Key West for a week.

But that was not their original plan.

They had a week booked in St. Kitts. Paid $4,000 for the trip upfront. When they got to the airport in Boston, it was discovered that wife Debra's passport had expired 2 months earlier. So no trip to St. Kitts.

They decided to travel anyway. Their first plane was to Miami, so they flew to Miami. Stayed overnight. Rented a car and drove to Key West. They had never been here before.

I shared some tips with them as to where to dine, play, etc. Debra vigorously wrote everything down. Don still loves Debra. Not mad at her. Accepts without complaint that he just lost $4,000. A good husband! Or, maybe she is a terrific wife!

It was pushing 9 o'clock, so I sent them over to Larry Smith's Sunday showcase at the Pier House.

They left and were replaced by Michael and his wife from Concord, New Hampshire. They are finishing a 6 week stay here in a rented house in Old Town. We hit it off right away. Michael is an attorney in Concord and close to my age. We talked about law school days, the practice and things of that nature.

Nice people. I hope I run into them when they return next year.

That was my day. Not bad. Actually, very good.

Yesterday I commented on the high school girl I ran into at Borders that obviously had been drinking. And this was around 3 in the afternoon!

The feedback has been significant. Many telephone calls and e mails. Apparently this is a nationwide problem! Wow! And sad! Where have we failed in this regard as a society, as parents?

Gray outside. The sun is trying to come up. Another great Key West day anticipated. The weather has been fantastic. Low to mid 80s by day. Low 70s by night. And just a touch of humidity by day.

What better place to be!

It is Sunday again! A lazy, restful day! I love Sundays!

The weather has definitely turned! There is a touch of humidity by day. Enough to require air conditioning. However, the evenings are cool enough so you can get by with an open window.

My poor Lisa is still sick. Though she did seem a bit better yesterday. But not by much.

I went over for lunch and stayed a while. Robert had a tuna sandwich, Ally peanut butter and me a cheese sandwich. Then we had pretzils. Ally kept dunking her pretzels in peanut butter. What a combination! Then Ally sat on my lap and read to me. Following which Robert and I spent some time outside hitting golf balls. Plastic ones.

Basketball was terrific yesterday! Especially the Villanova/Pitt game which I finished watching while having dinner at the bar at La Trattoria. Love March Madness!

Then I went to the Keys Piano Bar for a drink. Chatted with Bill and June Hudson. We seem to frequent the same places!

After the Keys, I crossed the street to La Te Da. Debra and Michael were playing. Debra's singing is so delightful!

I took a seat at the bar and enjoyed! And had my second and final gin of the evening! What a good boy am I!

I chatted with the bartender Sassy for a while. We both agreed it had been a short tourist season.

La Te Da was crowded. But not crazy packed as it should be during the season. The sesason ends Easter Sunday or a week later. And Easter Sunday is only 2 weeks away!

La Trattoria was only a little more than half full while I was having dinner. And this is on a Saturday night!

Forget the Keys Piano Bar! Twelve people at the most!

All a sign of the times! The recession is having its impact on Key West. People are either not spending what they have or do not have it to spend!

I am anxious to see the figures after the season as to attendance in Key West this year. I would guess that we are down at least 20 per cent, if not more.

I had a disturbing experience a few days ago.

I was sitting in Borders reading a book. I came upon a quote which interested me. I wanted to copy it. I had neither pen nor paper.

There was a young girl sitting next to me. About 3 feet seperated our chairs.

It was obvious she was a student. She had her shoulder/book bag slumped on the floor. She looked at best 15-16 years old. A high schooler!

I asked if she had pen and paper. She quietly extricated both from the book bag and handed them to me. I did my copying. Then I turned handing the pen back to her and said, "Thank you." Turning towards me, she took the pen and said, "Your welcome."

If I were not sitting, her breath would have knocked me on my ass! Heavy with alcohol! This teenager had obviously had a few in mid afternoon!

It bothered me! As I am sure it disturbs you, also!

Is this the way it is with high schoolers in Key West? Is this the way it is with high schoolers all over the country?

A real problem, if it is!

A great day ahead! The Sunday papers, Meet the Press, more college basketball, Kate Miano's Gardens at 5, Larry Smith's Sunday Showcase at 9 and I don't know what else!

Enjoy your day! I am going to enjoy mine!

It's 4 am. I woke and could not fall back to sleep.

Not bad though. The weather is perfect. Windows and doors open. No air conditioning required.

Quiet. Very quiet. Soundless. Only the noise of the ocean running by.

OK!

Last night was a disaster! Maybe that is why I am having difficulty sleeping!

Syracuse lost! Badly! Oklahoma beat them 84-71. The ride is over for Syracuse!

Syracuse had a good season. Ended up around 15th in the country. Could have been better, though. They hit a losing streak near the end of the Big East season. Then came back big time in the Big East tournament. Winning in 6 overtimes will go down as a classic performance!

They played poorly last night. Never had it. If the two teams met again next week, the result could be directly opposite. But that is not how things go.

The good news is that basically the whole team returns next year!

Yesterday started quietly. Paper work in the morning. Then lunch at the Yacht Club.

Lisa telephoned. She craved oranges. So to Publix I went.

Lisa is still sick. It appears it will take a while to kick the walking pneumonia. I played the good father during the afternoon and stayed with her.

Stayed for dinner, also. We did Chinese take out. Robert and Ally love ribs. Devour them! What a mess they both were when they were done.

Then it was home to the Syracuse game. The result still bothers me. I could tell 3 minutes into the game that it was not going to be a good night!

Oh well, as the Brooklyn Dodgers of old were wont to say.....Wait till next year!

A full day yesterday!

Started with a bone density test and chest x ray at the Lower Keys Hospital.

The hospital has improved with its personality, cleanliness and timeliness over the years. It was a disaster several years ago when I had major surgery. I shall never forget. I went in for an emergency appendectomy. A 20 minute operation I was told. I came out 6 1/2 hours later minus 25 per cent of my colon. Which, as it turned out, I did not have to lose!

Things do seem better. But trust me, it will be a cold day in hell before I have surgery here again!

Anyhow, yesterday turned out to be a pleasant visit for some routine testing. And the best part of it was Heather! Heather is the radiologist who took care of me.

A nice young lady. Beaming, cheerful, professional. Most importantly, concerned. Twenty four and a single Mom. Very lovely. She has lived in Key West most of her life. Her parents came when her Dad was in the Navy. The family remained after his retirement. Dad was the upsatirs bartender at Turtle Kral for 14 years. More recently, he bartends at Cowboy Bill's.

I hope that when any of you need an x ray here in the keys, you are lucky enough to have Heather take care of you.

Afterwards I went over to the new Key West Steamplant to see the condos. Calling them condos is not precise. They are exquisite residences.

This is one of Ed Swift's developments. His wife Nancy had invited me over to take a tour.

You have to see it to believe it! That good! Words alone cannot fully describe the beauty and splendor Ed Swift has created!

First, you have to understand what was. An abandoned electric company. A derelict. Consumed with enviromental problems. A blight on the Key West community!

Swift had a vision. And he is in the process of completing that vision.

The residences are all large. 2,000 to 3,000 feet of actual indoor living space. Throw in the huge balconies and independent roof space/pool, overall living space is around 5,000 square feet.

The development concept is exciting! Most of the residences are 3 floors, including the private rooftop space each residence has. And your own private elevator! From the garge, to each floor of the residence and to the roof.

The roof top view is spectacular! Most have a clear sight of the harbor! The view actually took my breath away. I had never seen the splendor of the harbor from that height.

These residences obviously are not for everyone. On the pricey side. But there is a market for them and that market is being satisfied.

Thank you Ed Swift for the fine job you have done!

Ed Swift grew up here in Key West. He has prospered. But he does not forget. He gives back. He is one of the largest financial contributors to local charities. And generally a silent one at that. And then there is affordable housing. There is no greater supporter and proponent for affordable housing than Swift.

There are some in the keys who do not always speak well of Ed Swift. A minority, but they exist. And I think the reason why are the trains and trolley cars Swift operates. Yes, he owns those cute vehicles carrying tourists around town!

The problem is when you get stuck behind one, it is 3-4 blocks of slow driving.

Small inconveniences disturb people.

It used to bother me when I first came to Key West. I was always in a hurry. Over time however I have come to appreciate being stuck behind one of Swift's trains. The slow travel gives me a chance to appreciate the archecture of Old Town, look upon the faces of happy visiting families riding those trains and think a bit.

It all works out when you get in Key West time! And I am always now in Key West time!

Lisa is still sick at home recovering from walking prneumnonia. I bought lunch and brought it to her. She was not hungry. She did not eat. So I ate my lunch and her lunch! So much for the battle of the bulge yesterday!

Then to Borders to continue reading an interesting pre World War II book.

Followed by a nap. I had to rest up for bocci last night.

We finally played better last night. All of us. Jules, Bebe, Rob, Don, Brandon, Maria, Michelle, Cris and me. But we still lost all 3 games! Two were very close! All took forever to play! A real competition last night.

We all felt good afterwards. We are the cellar team! Last place! We played the 2nd place team. We did well! About time!

It was 10 and I was tired. I had consumed 2 gins while playing. So I skipped Don's Place and headed home to bed.

Enjoy!

Golf was fun yesterday!

We played a scramble game. There were eight of us. We split into 2 teams of four.

I played with Don, Tom and Bill. Don is long and an exceptional golfer. Shots high 70s and low 80s. Tom is in the high 80s. Bill low 90s, with an occasional score in the high 80s. And then me, around 115.

We moved along. Played par golf on the front side. Could not drop a 5 foot putt on any hole! The birdies eluded us!

Finally got a bird on 10. Excited all of us! Lost the bird effect a couple of holes later when we could not sink a 5 foot putt for a par.

Now we were pushing for birds!

In scramble, each person's drive must be used at least one time a side. On the back nine, Don and I had used our drives. Of course, we were using Don's drives as much as possible since they were genrally twice the distance of any one else.

So we ran into a problem. We came to the 17th tee and had yet to use a Bill or Tom drive. Which meant one of their drives would be used on 17 and the remaining player's drive used on 18. Regardless of the quality of the shot!

The 17th hole is the easiest par 4 on the course. On in 2 and 2 putt for a par. Could easily be a bird.

The drive from the tee has a huge wide farway. Water to the left. Houses to the right. The water rarely comes into play. The houses do.

Both Bill and Tom are excellent golfers. Generally straight and true off the tee.

Not yesterday on the 17th hole!

Bill went into the water on the left, which again is rarely in play!

No sweat. We still had Tom. No way he was going into the water!

Yesterday he did! Farther and deeper that Bill!

We ended up taking a double bogey 6 on the hole. Our dream of winning the scramble over!

We finished 2 over. The other team came in at even par.

But we had fun! And that is the important thing! Don, Tom and Bill are good guys to play with. It was a jocular round!

We sat around the porch of the club house drinking and chatting afterwards. Bocci was the issue of the day! It seems to be most days. A consuming issue for those of us who play.

We play tonight. We are having a bad season. We are in the cellar. Basically the same team that finished one game out of the play offs last season! Oh, how the mighty fall!

I understand there is to be a shake up tonight. In hopes of turning things, Jules and I are being seperated as partners. I will not be playing in the first match.

I am destroyed! Not really. We have to do something. It is not just Louis who is playing poorly. It is the whole team and we recognize it!

Last night I stopped at Aqua to hear Bobby Nesbitt sing. Bruce Moore showed up and so we we were treated to a duo performance. Great singing!

Afterwards I had a quiet dinner alone at the bar at Antonia's. I felt a carb need. So lasagna it was!

Golf tired me out yesterday. I was home in bed early. In fact, I fell asleep before 9 and slept like the dead till this mnorning. I was tired!

Just before I fell asleep, I flipped on Channel 79. 79 is a local Key West channel that plays old old black and white movies and serials.

There was a black and white on the screen. Very old. Probably an early talking movie. Late 1920s or very early 1930s.

So old I did not even recognize the stars! Had no idea who they were!

All of a sudden this youthful singer shows up in the film. For about 20 seconds. It was Bing Crosby! This had to be one of his very first film appearances. He was a nobody who had a few seconds on camera. In and out of the scene. And that was it for him!


Did Crosby look young! He appeared all of 17 to me! And thin! Never saw him so thin! And his own hair!

This morning I have a couple of tests to do at the hospital. This getting old is a pain! Always doctoring. Always fixing. Always tuning up. But it is better than the alternative!

And then bocci tonight!

I have no idea what will happen this afternoon. But that is the way it is supposed to be when you are retired!

Talk with you tomorrow.

Interesting day yesterday!

In the morning I received a call from a bill collector about a $443 x-ray bill from last year. I told her I had Medicare and back up insurance. My bills were covered one hundred cents on the dollar. Resubmit. No, she would not. She told me it was my responsibility to call Medicare, who had rejected the claim and straighten it out.

I dreaded calling Medicare. An almost impossible telephone system.

But I did.

After 3 hours, 6 different 800 numbers and 9 bodies, the problem was resolved. Medicare had screwed up. The bill would be paid.

What an ordeal! I feel sorry for the many people who have to go through this bureaucratic system on a frequent basis.

There is a positive side, however. If you hang in there and press all the correct buttons, your problem will receive attention. But oh soooooooo long!

Terri White! Former Broadway star extrodinaire! Now a Key West resident. Back on Broadway this week. She opens in a revival of Finian's Rainbow Saturday night.

Terri has a distinguished background. She was a Tony nominee for her performance in Barnum. Won an Obie for her work with Tommy Tune in another show. A singer and hoofer, she has brought pleasure and joy to many over the years.

You can see Terri in rehearsal for Saturday's opening! www.Broadway.com. Go to the second page and click REHEARSAL. Up comes a 3-4 minute video of Finian's Rainbow. And a minute into it, there is Terri singing Necessity and dancing!

My poor daughter Lisa is sick. She has been pale and under the weather for 2 weeks. She finally saw a doctor yesterday morning. Walking pneumonia. She was home yesterday. I spent a bit of time with her. Hope she spends a few more days home.

I had a business lunch scheduled with a charming young lady from the cruise line world. It was cancelled. To my disappointment.

So I lunched alone at the bar at the Yacht Club and read the newspapers. Relaxing. Pleasurable.

Then it was across the street to Borders. I am a freeloader when it comes to books. I sit in Borders and read book after book. I am presently into one about the 3 years immediately before World War II. Insightful!

My dinner appointment last night with lady #2 was kept as scheduled. Another business conference. But in a great setting.

We had dinner at La Te DA. Duck, of course. Terrific! Alice is cooking again!

Bobby Nesbitt and Bruce Moore have returned from their most recent gig on a cruise ship in the South Pacific. Tahiti, Bora Bora and New Zealand. They performed a Broadway tunes show last night upstairs at La Te Da. I caught the show.

These guys are great alone! Spectacular together! See one of their shows if you have the opportunity.

Tom Oosterhoudt publishes a local weekly newspaper. It is called Conch Color. A series of bright photographs showing every aspect of Key West life. It's a winner! One of the best local publications on the island.

The Truman White House has recently undergone major renovation. To restore it as it was when President Truman spent 175 days of his Presidency here in Key West and lived in the home now called the Truman White House.

The newly restored Truman White House will be dedicated I believe in May. Efforts are being made to have President Obama attend.

Oosterhoudt (I wish he had a shorter name) editorialized about Truman and the restoration in this weeks's edition of Conch Color. As you will recall, I am a big fan of President Truman. One of our best Presidents from my perspective! And someone that my path in life briefly crossed with three times, as detailed in an earlier blog.

In one papragraph, Oosterhoudt described some of Truman's succcesses. Some of which took place while he was here in Key West.

I could not do better than Oosterhoudt in describing those instances. So I am going to quote directly out of Osterhoudt's editorial.

"...Truman signed the United Nations charter in 1945. He ended World War II by dropping the atomic bomb the same year. In 1947 he created the "Truman Doctrine" and dedicated the Everglades National Park. He was the first to recognize the state of Israel in 1948, giving it international credence. That same year, he desegregated the military and Federal government in so many ways giving birth to the civil rights movement. In 1949, Truman created NATO. If his desk at the Little White House could talk, would it have some stories to tell! In 1951, at that very desk, Truman signed the order to fire Gen. Douglas MacArthur."

A wow!

This morning golf! I can't wait to humble myself again! Some day.....just once.....Lord, please give me a good round!

Good morning world!

I would like to say the sun is up, the sky blue. But it is too early! It is pitch black outside. However if the weather report is to be believed, it is going to be another glorious day in Key West!

Yesterday was quiet.

Lunch at Paradise Cafe. No chickens. Makes me wonder where they are. Propogating? Perhaps. They periodically seem to disappear for awhile. Then the mother hen reappears with ten little chickies following behind her.

Last night was dinner with Lisa and the grandkids. I missed Sunday dinner and had to make up. Otherwise, Lisa would be upset with me!

My grandchildren Robert and Ally have so much energy! Non stop in everything they do. Wow!

The news yesterday was big with Obama's toxic asset plan. I do not understand it. The fact that the market went up dramatically as a result of the anouncement, scares me a bit. Is this toxic asset plan another slight of hand investment strategy? I am a fairly intelligent person. Well educated. And to be frank, I do not understand the plan at all!

I have dealt with toxic torts my whole life. Asbestos, pcbs, hazardous substances of every nature. Nothing good ever comes from a toxic substance. And I fear nothing good will come from these toxic assets.

The very name bothers me. Toxic assets. How can anything toxic be an asset?

The bank and AIG bonus situations continue to bother me also. As everyone else!

Astronomical amounts, these bonuses! Many in the millions! And big millions, at that!

A new level of wealth was created. I read somewhere recently that the folks at AIG got so rich they were having their gums capped! Makes the point!

Too much! Too quickly! Apparently too easily!

Most Americans work hard all year for a salary. Either hourly or weekly. They bust their butts every day. Their only expectation is a small raise at the end of the year. That is the American way!

Now along come banks and insurance companies. Basic industries in this Nation. Two industries that are consumer driven and were initially established to serve public needs. The public that works for a set salary and the hope of a year end raise.

But the banks and insurance companies have a different way of rewarding their employees. Bonuses!

Examine from where and why the bonuses are paid. The bank and insurance employees get paid bonuses for making more money for their companies. Money made from screwing their customers or the public.

Think of it! How many times have you paid a point extra for a loan or when it came time to sign the papers, the mortgage was a bit higher than advertised. One example in the insurance industry is the claims person who squeezes the injured party and delays settlement so the innocent accident victim is forced to settle for less out of need and desperation. That claims person is paid a year end bonus based on how much he saved the company in a multitude of claims that year.

We all work for an employer. To whom we owe proper diligence. But these companies are set up to reward their employees by screwing the public who uses their services. Not right! It is a consumer/people be damned attitude! A basic morality issue.

Look where it has brought us! Bailouts and millions in bonuses to company leaders and employees who got us into this situation in the first place! Failure rewarded!

What a screwed up society! We have to correct these bad habits, and fast, or we will all be selling apples on street corners! The homeless shelters will not be large enough to accomodate the number of people clamoring to get in!

Sunday night at the Pier House I ran into Kurt. My golf buddy. He shoots 72 and I shoot 115. Kurt is a gentleman. He also can be a tough guy. Kurt is a night bartender at Don's Place. A big guy. Weighs in near 300 pounds.

Someone gave him some shit. Kurt says the guy was stalking him. There was a confrontation. Fists were thrown. Kurt, of course, won. However in the process, he lost. Broke his right thumb. Took seven weeks to heal. No golf. And a pain, otherwise.

Kurt was at Larry Smith's Sunday Showcase with his mother and brother. They are from Indiana. First time visitors. I chatted with them for awhile. Nice people.

I told Kurt's Mom that Lisa's husband was from Indiana also. And I told her what a great guy he is! She understood. As I described Corey to her, I expressed my thought that all folks from Indiana are solid good people with all kinds of values. Middle America, she proudly stated!

I could see as I talked with his Mom where Kurt got the kindness he exudes.

I just looked out the window. Still way early! Gray outside. However now I can see the ocean and a palm tree. A slight breeze pushing both. Pretty!

Lunch today with one woman. Dinner with another. A double header! Going to be a good day! Do not get excited, however. Business. Well, sort of!

Talk with you tomorrow!

A good Sunday yesterday!

Syracuse played Arizona State at noon. Syracuse won by about 11 points. It took Syracuse's best game to beat Arizona State. But beat Arizona State they did! And now Syracuse is on its way to the Sweet Sixteen!

There's nothing like March Madness!

I stopped at the Gardens last night around 6. The Sunday night event was on going. A couple of hundred people.

Good music and good company. A lovely setting.

I ran into June and Bill Hudson. They are back from Delaware. They told me they were off to the Wine Galley for dinner and Larry Smith. They asked if I wanted to join them. I was uncertain. Told them I wanted to make a couple of other stops and might see them.

I went over to La Te Da. My intention was to have a light snack at the outside bar. The place was too packed however. No room at the bar!

La Te Da is now on my hit list of places to eat. It has been a long time since I enjoyed La Te DA's cooking. The reason that it is so good is that Alice is back cooking. A culinary artist!

Intertestingly, Saturday I lunched at Paradise Cafe. Paradise Cafe is nothing special. A run down former gas station. Sells cheap cuban sandwiches and coffee. But the sandwiches are so good!

Who did I run into Saturday at Paradise Cafe! Alice, chef premier at La Te Da. A compliment to Paradise's cuban sandwiches!

I told Alice, "We both know the best places to eat." She laughed. Alice knew what I meant, however. Not only does she cook, she walks the dining room floor constantly chatting with her patrons, offering a cheery hello, asking if one is happy with the food, etc. So she knows I have been eating at La Te Da again. In fact, I told her I returned because she was cooking!

Dejected I could not eat at La Te Da, I walked across the street to the Keys Piano Bar. Only a handfull of people. However, I stayed awhile to enjoy the music.

It was still early so I went over to the Pier House's Wine Galley. And sure enough, there were Bill and June Hudson. They had not ordered yet, so I joined them for dinner.

Sunday is Larry Smith's Showcase. Last night he featured Peter Delaney. Peter is a native of Norwich, Connecticut, who now spends much time in the Key West area. I have heard Peter sing before. A great voice!

Kathleen Peace was part of the program, also. I love Kathleen's singing! Spectacular! Actually spectacular is not sufficient to describe the range and quality of her voice. She is one of the best, professionally and personally!

By the way, in all the running around last night, I only had 2 drinks. A good boy am I!

I read an article recently that an Ohio school had nearly 700 applications for one open janitorial job. A sad sign of the times!

It reminded me of my law school days.

It was 1959. My son John had just been born. Beside scholarship money and two part time jobs, I now needed a third job. Another mouth to feed!

Sears was advertising a part time evening janitorial position. Perfect for me! I applied! The personnel guy rejected me. He said I was over qualified. I would not be happy sweeping floors. I told him it did not matter what the work. I would do it and do it well. I would be timely. And happy!

My words fell on deaf ears. All he knew from his perspective was that I was over educated to clean toilets. He just did not understand! I needed the job!

Just as many others need a job or additional job today! With so few to go around.

A sad time for all of us! A sad time for America!

I read a lot. Always have 3 or 4 books going at the same time.


This reading is an interesting thing. During all the years I was practicing law, I had no time for recreational reading. I read legal papers, briefs and documents all day. So at night I had no desire to read. My eyes were tired. Or maybe it was an excuse. I don't know.


Now in retirement, I read like a thirsting man lost in the desert who just found a water hole!


I finished Tom Brokaw's Boom! Good book. A very good book.


Long. Almost another War and Peace. Over 600 pages.


It is about the 1960s. A turning point in the life of our country.


I lived through those years, so the book perhaps may have had a greater appeal to me.


Though I lived through it, I was not part of the radically distrurbing scene that occurred. I went to college and law school in the 1950s. I was an Eisenhower child. Everything was serene and OK! Apple pie and motherhood! The road to succes was to do as had been done. Follow the tried and true.


I believed. It was the American way.


I started practicing law at the beginning, in 1960. I thought all the demonstrators for the various causes were nuts trying to upset the apple cart of what was the tried and true way to live the American life.


I wore a suit, shirt and tie. Never let my hair grow long. Never got involved in the causes and issues of the day.


And were there causes and issues!


Vietnam, civil rights, women's rights, assasinations and everything else!


My mind said any war fought by my country was good. After all, we were a good people and we could only maintain the good fight. We were pure. Every one else, contaminated.


I found the demonstrations on and off campuses hard to fathom. These people had to be nuts. Students burning buildings on college campuses! All I could think of only a few years earlier when I was in college was who my next date was going to be! The protesters' values had to be misplaced!


I recall several peaceful marching demonstrations in Utica. All in protest of the Vietnam War. Some professionals and prominent businessmen walked in those parades. I thought two things. They were crazy and they had courage! I did not agree with them. That is why they were crazy, from my perspective. Courage because I questioned if I could so march if I had such a contrary and what I considered minority belief.


The battle for civil rights was astounding! And it was a battle!


I admired those blacks and their walks. I admired even more their Ghandi like approach. The courage it took to walk into those horses and clubs!


And the confrontations! Governor Wallace at the steps of a college trying to stop a black student from entering. A constitutional confrontation of the highest sort!


The killings in the south of whites and blacks alike trying to enforce voters' rights.


President Johnson, a Texan, signing into law the most sweeping recognition and enforcement of clvil rights! He said when he did it that his act was the end of the Democratic Party in the south. And it was!


Women's rights! Women went crazy in the 1960s!


It all started with the pill. Women became sexually liberated. Conception was no longer an issue. They screwed like men! I could not believe it! Women wanted to have sex! And as much as they could get!


With sexual freedom, came other liberating thoughts. Now women wanted to be like men in general. Freedom in the work place, equal pay for equal work and all that kind of stuff. Second class citizenship was out the window for them. They sat in front of the bus. In fact, they wanted to drive the bus!


And death! Assasinations of a magnitude unconceivable!


First, John Kennedy. My President! I could not believe any one would shot my President, the President. His brother, Robert Kennedy. I had the same feelings. And simultneously the question constantly in my mind. What was my country coming to?


Martin Luther King! What did he do to deserve his death? He was only trying to correct a basic wrong. Prejudice is a cancer. He was eradicating it. Peacefully, though disturbingly to many in the white establishment. Death was his mantle. He did reach the top of the mountain!


And so it was! Dynmaic, ever changing.


The belly of America regurgetated. The vomit spewed all over.


But we all felt better afterwards. Our Nation is a better place to live because of the the 1960s.


Until now, of course, and this economic crisis. But that is not for today.


I did baby sit last night. Fun! A joy!


The movie was.....you guessed it! The Wizard of Oz. I am beginning to hate it! But the grandkids love it! So watch it we did!


I made popcorn. Ally and I ate most of it. Robert did not seem hungry.


I colored and read books with Ally. Played with trucks and Ironman with Robert.


At some point, Ally came over and climbed up on my lap. She rested her head on my chest and fell asleep. How good!


Robert was determined to stay up with me. He faltered a little after his sister and fell asleep on the couch.


It rained while I was baby sitting. Big wind and heavy rain. Monsoon style! And it kept pouring for a couple of hours.


Lisa, Corey and step grandson Cameron had gone to a Montessori fundraiser at Southernmost. A reggae band. Bob Marley's former backup band.


Lisa and team came home around 11. Each drenching wet. Each more soaked than the other.


This was a beach concert. No covering. About 1,000 people. They whooped it up while getting wetted down!


I came home to my own disaster.


When I left around 6 to go to Lisa's, the sun was shinning. It was a nice day. I did not anticipate a rain storm. Nor, I suspect, did anyone else.


I left the sliding doors and windows open!


My bedroom got it! The wind from the Atlantic blew the water into the room about 5 feet. Carpets and throw rugs soaked soaked! My ottoman soaked. Some books nearby wet.


I cleaned up as best I could. Closed the sliding doors to prevent further rain coming in. I woke during the night after the rain stopped. Opened the sliding doors again. My concern was mold. That is how wet it all was!


This morning I am happy to report that everything is dry.


The sun is up. But I cannot see it. A bed of gray clouds is over the island. TV says scattered showers today. So I guess that is the kind of day it will be.


The wind is blowing. Actually, howling. And I can see whitecaps on the water.


Syracuse plays Arizona State at noon in Miami. Probably on national televison. Should be a good game.


Lest you forget, I love Sundays! God's day of rest! My day of rest!


The Sunday papers! Meet the Press! The added bonus today of the Syracuse basketball game! And tonight in Key West! Probably starting with music and drinks at the Gardens at 5!


Enjoy your day as I am mine!

A nice day yesterday. Quiet and healthy.

I had not been to the beach for awhile. The sun was shinning. So why not!

I threw a sand chair and beach towel in the trunk and away I went!

I opted for the federal beach. Thought there might be fewer college kids since you have to pay to get in. I was wrong. Not bad though.

I walked out to the gulf side by the rocks. Generally, a locals spot. Sits right next to the channel. You can watch the boats go in and out all day. Big cruise ships all the way down to small sail boats. A pretty sight!

The college visitors were mostly at the other end. Well behaved. They sleep all day on the beach to compensate for staying up all night in town.

I stayed a couple of hours. The sun felt good on my body. I tried the water. Still too cold for me.

Afterwards, I took a ride to Hogfish for lunch. Love the place! Very laid back. Thatched roof, open sides, sort of run down. Actually looks desperate. Shrimp boats and fishing boats all around tied up at docks.

Old Key West!

But not really. Just looks like it. Hogfish is actually not in Key West. It is on the next island up. Stock Island. And it is located on one of the most beat up streets in the area. Run down dilapidated trailers, a garbage dump of sorts and fishing businesses.

There is a sign on the road side nearby Hogfish that states: Welcome to Downtown Stock Island!

Everyone loves Hogfish! The food is good. Huge portions and cheap. Sort of clean. A locals paradise!

Last night I did Louis' Duval crawl!

I started at the Chart Room. Only Che there. Had one drink and left.

Then a brief stop at the Keys Piano Bar. A briefer one at La Te Da. I was not much in a chatting mood.

Ended up at La Trattoria at the bar for dinner. Watched a basketball game while eating. Love this March madness!

Then home to bed and more basketball!

A good day! A quiet day!

Tonight I babysit. Only the fourth time. My daughter Lisa is desperate. She could not find a babysitter. So I am the man!

Love it! Look forward to it!

I have already planned the evening. Popcorn, hot chocolate, movies and me!

The only problem is who will fall asleep first. Me or the grandkids?

And that is what Lisa worries about!

Another lovely day yesterday!

Key West is Paradise!

I had a late lunch at the Yacht Club.

It is interesting. No matter where I go, the AIG bonuses are THE topic of conversation. People are mad! What bothers me is that some people are justifying it because "contracts" were involved. Sort of sacrosanct. Like contracts cannot be broken.

The contract argument is bullshit! It reminds me of Hitler's PR man Goebbels who said, in effect, tell a lie long enough and people will start to believe it.

The contract argument from my perspective is Washington's way of excusing its ineptness.

When the contracts were entered into, business was good. Remember that this recession fell on us suddenly like a ton of bricks! Though long in the making, it was not apparent till only recently.

There is a basic contract tenet that if there is a mutual mistake of fact, a contract can be invalidated. It was assumed when the contracts were entered into that business would continue to be good. Turned out to be a fallacy. Business turned bad. So no money exists to pay the bonuses. The bonuses are expunged. Pure and simple.

The mutual mistake of fact is that business would continue to be good and monies there to pay the bonuses.

Forget there is bailout money. It is tax dollars. It is morally reprehensible to use tax dollars to pay bonuses.

The argument is put forth that the AIG employees will quit if denied the bonuses. Let them! With 500,000 to 600,000 additional unemployed each month and millions out of work, replacements are a dime a dozen. And good ones at that!

The other argument justifying payment of the bonuses is that some of the AIG employees have allegedly threatened to expose company secrets. What company secrets! In this highly sophisticated and technical age, major corporations spy on each other daily. They are better than the US government at it. There are no secrets!

Congress seems to be as screwed up as the banks and insurance companies. I used to have great respect for elected officials. It was long ago, however. Now they appear like a bunch of idiots. They argue. They criticize. They blame. But they do not think. Congress no longer is proactive. It is reactive.

This 90 per cent tax thing that passed yesterday is a disgrace!

On first blush, one would say get the bastreds! Taxing them will get most of our money back! It will also get us our pound of flesh! It is Madoff finally going to jail.

Good luck! The 90 per cent tax is a civil Guantanamo! Flagrantly unconstitutional! I predict without hesitation that the courts will throw it out!

And we do not want government deficating on any individual or group. What was done to AIG employees with the 90 per cent tax yesterday, could well happen to you or me tomorrow in another fashion. We do not want nor can we live in that type society.

Recover the bonuses the old fashioned way. Sue!

Hire lawyers, and good ones at that, and chase down the bonuses!

When this nation was started, our founding fathers thought long and hard about how government was to operate. At the time back in the late 1700s, this country was based on a farm economy. Most affluent persons were farmers.

The Nation was small. Operation of government did not take that long. Congress sat only a few weeks a year. It was not a full time job. Elected representatives left the farm to travel to Washington to do the Nation's business. After a couple of weeks, they returned home to work the farm the rest of the year.

Now it is a full time job.

One problem is that most elected officials keep getting reelected. Not a good situation! Congress becomes a life time job for many. Complacency sets in. Entitlement becomes a state of mind. A sort of royalty is created.

I have never been a fan of term limits. But I am coming to the conclusion that it is time to impose them on Congress. Two terms and go home! Just like the farmers of old and in compliance with the thinking of our founding fathers. I doubt it was ever intended that Congress become a full time job for a number of years!

Like all else, when every thing seems to be screwing up, a return to basics is required.

Enough of AIG and Washington.

Last night was bocci. The best of all evenings each week!

We continued our downward spiral. Lost all 3 games. Badly! 16-7, 16-2 and 16-5.

It is hard ot comprehend. Last year we were so good. This season, so bad!

And it is becoming mental. We know we are going to lose before we even start!

We have a terrific team. Captain David, Don, Michelle, Brandon, Maria, Jules, Rob , Bebe, Michael and me. All decent players. But last night, to a man/woman, we all stunk!

The interesting thing is that we are all happy! In spite of getting our asses whipped each week!
We joke and laugh. We hang around afterwards and happily chat. Down deep we all know we are having a bad season. Nothing we can do about it. It will pass. And a new season will arrive and we will be good again.

Hopefully!

I continue to keep my drinking down. I am fighting the triglyciride problem. Only one drink last night!

Maybe that's my problem!

Enjoy your Friday!

Golf was enjoyable yesterday.

I struck the ball well. Better than normal. And yet, I did not score.

Played with Yankee Jack, Tino, Aaron and Kurt. Yankee the big winner by far! He had a very good day. I lost a few dollars.

Bocci tonight. I hope I play better than in recent weeks.

I started last night at Aqua. It is my Wednesday pit stop. Bobby Nesbitt normally sings at Aqua on Wednesdays at cocktail time. Bobby was not there. Which I knew in advance. He is somewhere near Bora Bora singing on a cruise ship.

Randy Thompson was scheduled to fill in for Bobby last night.

I had never heard Randy sing before. He is reputed to be one of the top drag queens on the island.

A spectacular performance!

First, let me tell you that if I did not know he was a guy, I would not have known. What a great looking woman. Face, hair, body, the whole works! Absolutely beautiful!

Worry not, I am not switching!

And his voice! Pure feminine and sweet!

This guy is a star! Which he is considered in Key West. As I said earlier, one of the top drag queens. Do not wait as long as I did to catch his act! He is one of the best at what he does!

Then I walked over to Antonia's for dinner alone at the bar. I had not been to Antonia's for a couple of weeks. They had pissed me off.

It was good to be back. The food is exceptional, the service good and the staff friendly. It was like returning home after a long absence.

Golf tires me out. A reflection of my age. I generally play Wednesday mornings. Spend the afternoon in bed regaining my energy. And in the eveniing, I am still tired. So immediately following dinner at Antonia's, I returned home and to bed. Well before 9 o'clock!

AIG! Every one continues to have a hair up their ass! And properly so!

What bothers me this morning is that over the last 24 hours it appears some in government knew of the bonus situation during the bailout bill's approval process. This whole thing is hard to fathom! Incompetence, abuse and arrogance at every level! And it continues to be rewarded!

Enough for today. Soon the sun will rise and shine. I am obviously an early riser.

Enjoy your day!

I am up early this morning. It is 5 o'clock!

Dark outside. Very black. I can hear the water running by through the open window.

The weather is great! We are into Key West time!

I had a quiet lunch yesterday at Paradise Cafe. Ate outside. A cuban sandwich and cuban coffee. Read the papers. Peaceful.

Then I decided to take a long walk. It has been a while since I walked far. I have become lazy.

I walked the waterfront. All the people! It is obvious it is the season. Vacationers all over the place! All having a good time! Good for them and good for the local economy!

Yesterday was St. Patrick's day! So every one was Irish and every bar was an Irish bar! There were people all over wearing green tee shirts and in many instances green hats. Drinking, socializing and whooping it up.

I saw it all on my walk!

Last night I had an early business dinner. At La Trattoria. With a very charming young lady named Tamara. An interesting woman! Owns her own home on Sugarloaf Key, is a single mother of a 9 year old daughter, a Vasser graduate, has a nursing degree also, works in the medical field and on and on. Quite a person! Interesting also is that her bother is President of the Boston Federal Reserve.

Tamara's parents have to be two proud people!

This AIG thing is a gigantic pain! And another example of corporate America gone wild and knowing no bounds.

There is much I want to express regarding AIG. So much so that I am going to spread it over several days.

Let me start by saying I was privileged to represent AIG in upstate New York for years. There was not a finer insurance company. They were the best of the best!

From my perspective, they were that good for two reasons.

First, leadership. They had a CEO by the name of Greenberg. He ran a tight ship. He guided AIG to the pinnacle of success it once knew.

However he was forced to resign several years ago. Blame Eliot Spitzer!

Spitzer was Attorney General of New York. He wanted to be governor. He went after Wall Street. Not every one he pursued deserved to be. One of those victims was Greenberg. Spitizer went after him on some minute bullshit charges. Greenberg was forced out. However he defended himself with regard to every charge and was totally exonerated several years later.

However he was gone from AIG and AIG no longer had the wisdom of his careful guidance.

The new CEO is the one who screwed things up!

One of his major errors was to insure packages of sub prime loans. This had never been done before. But it presented a way to make a lot more money. Greed!

And the loans did not have to go into default. If it looked like they might or the underlying value of the property diminished, the insurance kicked in. What a deal!

Well folks, a large chunk of the bailout money has gone from AIG's coffers to pay the banks and other mortgage holders now holding these bad sub prime mortgages.

The banks always seem to come out on top! Rip off artists in three button suits! Frauds of respectability!

The second reason AIG was so good was that under Greenberg it operated as an insurance company. That simple! It insured those things normally insured like autos, homes, doctors, lawyers, dentists, etc. No fancy stuff like sub prime mortgages. And AIG staffed itself with fine insurance professionals to do its work. And I am sure with no fancy bonuses built into their employment contracts. Just a fair days pay for a fair days work! Like every one else!

Enough of AIG for today. More tomorrow.

Still dark outside. The sound of the ocean roaring by is refreshing.

I play golf this morning. How bad will I be? The eternal question!

Perhaps my mind set is wrong. I approach golf very negatively! I think I am going to play poorly and I do play poorly! The only problem is that when I think I am going to play well, I play poorly also!

Enjoy your day!

There is no question that the weather has changed. It has! It is warm every day now. In fact, I turned the air conditioning on for the first time this year last night!

Key West's cold time is generally mid Decemeber to mid February. This year it ran an extra month. Till mid March!

I am glad the cold is behind us!

Today is St. Patrick's Day! A venerable day!

Many people go crazy on St. Patrick's Day. Party time!

It never made sense to me. I have never participated as a mature adult. But must admit that I did as a young man. While in college!

I went to college in New York City. Manhattan College. A Catholic institution run by Christian Brothers.

New York City and St. Patrick's Day are synominous. A big parade and an even bigger party afterwards!

It was my sophmore year. I was in the Air Force ROTC. Ergo, I marched in the parade.

I enjoyed the march. It was a big deal! Exciting! I found the discipline of marching interesting. The point of the parade I enjoyed most was when we passed the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The Cardinal would be sitting there in all his fine regalia. We would do a sharp eyes right as we went by. A wow!

Then following the parade, it was party time! I think every college from several hundred miles around came to New York for a big time fun day!

The issue was where to party. A private party was considered best. That meant a hotel room.

The hotels did not want us. No college students/parties! Hotel staffs went out of their way to discourage college students. College students were up to the task, however.

We had planned our St. Patrick Day onslaught about 2 months in advance. With ingenuity, of course. Remember, we were tomorrow's leaders. So smart we were!

One of my friends had previously flunked out of Pennsylvania. Before you think ill of him, he did finally succeeed and became an outstanding doctor later in life. But at that phase of his existence, his father had reentered him in Manhattan to start anew.

While at the University of Pennsylvania, he had been a fraternity man. He contacted one of his fraternity brothers and the following scenerio was decided upon. The frat brother at Penn U wrote a letter to the Biltmore Hotel advising he would be in New York on business for one night, March 17th of course, and required a room. He got the room and a written reservation paper. Which he forwarded to my friend now at Manhattan.

My friend was not in the ROTC. So he was not in uniform. He dressed appropriately however. Suit, tie, dress coat and a homburg. A homburg for the unaware is a very formal man's hat.

He looked the part!

He came with a suitacase. The suitcase was a large one and loaded with booze. The bottles of liquor made it extremely heavy!

We were worried about the check in. We were watching from a corner of the lobby. He got away with it!

There was one moment of concern, however. When the bellboy bent down to pick up the suitcase! His eyes bulged and he stopped in mid air! The bag was heavy! Rupture heavy!

The bell boy looked up at my friend and suddenly smiled. He knew what was going on. And fortunately for us, he did not care! He lifted that bag and away they went.

I am sure he was given a big tip! Probably $5 at a time when $.25 a bag was the going rate.

At some point we all made it up to the room. It was difficult getting there. No one was going to let me on an elevator in my Air Force ROTC uniform. I opted for the stairs. There was a security guard. I said to myself, what the hell! I faked to the right and went left around him. He chased me up a couple of floors and then gave up. I was much younger than him!

The room was packed when I arrived. The party was on big time! Guys, girls and booze. What a wonderful combination!

The young ladies came from all over. Many colleges were represented.

None of us could handle the liquor. We were too inexperienced!

Space was a problem. Where to sort of be alone with the opposite sex. The outside window sill was in use. The closet, also. I was young and smart. I ended up with this cute little preppy thing. I directed her to the bathroom and its bathtub. I took one of the pillows from the bed with me. We snuggled in the tub, with the curtain drawn of course. The bathroom continued in full use, but we were oblvious to its visitors and they to us.

Lest any one misunderstand, sex was limited to necking in those day. With very little touching, if at all. It was the mid 1950s. The 1960s and all its freedoms had not yet arrived.

At some point, my lady friend and I fell asleep. All of a sudden we were awakened by some older man in a suit. An assistant manager! We were told to leave. The room was empty. Apparently the party became too noisy, was discovered and management broke it up! We were the last to be discovered.

My lady friend was drunk. Oblivious to the world! Could hardly stand!

I asked her where she was from. She said Marymount. Marymount was a Catholic girls' college in those days. Oh, those Catholics!

What to do with her? We were sort of bound at the hip. I could not just leave her.

I decided to take her back to Marymount. Ever the gentleman even then!

The train was required. I got her to the lower level of Grand Central. Note I am half carrying her. She was gone! I figured out which train to take. Got us to the gate! And luck befell both of us!

Her girl friends were there. Happy to have found her. They took her and took over.

That was my St. Patrick's day that year. However, there is more to the story.

A week later Marymount was having a dance. I decided to go. I wanted to meet the young lady again. After all, I was her saviour!

I saw her at the dance. I went up to her expecting a big hug and thank you. No way! She looked at me blindly! Did not even want to talk to me. I felt like an ass!

I explained the party, our time in the tub, my taking her to the train station, etc. She recalled none of it and thought I was nuts!

She turned her back and walked away.

That was the end of our relationship.

They say good deeds never go for naught. Here is one that did.

Such is life!

I gave up partying on St. Patrick's day. Bath tubs are too hard to sleep in!

Sundays are always good!

Lisa came over yesterday afternoon with Ally to swim. Robert stayed home with his father. A new thing. Robert is becoming manly. Does not want to be with the girls.

Ally is so much fun! We do hot chocolate when she comes over. A sweet thing for me in more ways than one!

Last night I had a light dinner with Marty at 915. First time I have eaten there. Tapas just not my thing. Food was good. Atmosphere could have been better. While I was sitting upstairs, I thought how much happier I would have been at Martin's next door.

Then to the Pier House's Wine Galley for the big night!

It was bigger and better than I had anticipated!

The place was jammed packed, inside and out. Not a seat to be had.

Larry Smith did his usual good job in putting together a top quality show. His musical talent is without peer. He organizes, directs, writes, performs. He does it all, including washing the windows! He is the whole package when it comes to music!

Kathleen Peace and Christine Cardone performed. What a duo! They sang Irish lyrics all night! Some I knew. Others I had never heard. All exciting to hear! There was occasionally audience participation. It was an outstanding St. Patrick's Day party!

It was also Kathleen Peace's birtrhday. The evening was intertwined with a celebration for her. Cake, candles and all! A lovely lady! A great talent! Happy birthday again, Kathleen!

Bob and Lynda Frascheete showed up during the performance with some professinal Irish performers.

First, there was a bag pipper. Kilt and all!

Then a singer.

Finally, two young ladies who danced what I would describe as the Irish jig. Terrific!

A good night was had by all! Key West friends and visitors joined together to celebrate a special occasion!

Sunday!

I slept late. So the blog is late. Sorry!

The big news of yesterday is the Syracuse/Louisville game for the Big East championship. Louisville won by 10 points.

It was as I had predicted. Syracuse ran out of steam in the second half. Not an excuse. Merely an observation and explanation. Too many overtimes and one game too many. This was the fifth game in five days for Syracuse.

The real killer was Louisville's full court press. No way could Syracuse hold up to it after the previous 4 games.

Congrats to Louisville. Congrats also to Syracuse who played outstanding basketball in the tournamnet. Syracuse's play will be recorded for the ages!

Now on to the NCAA tournamnet. I love March Madness!

Tonight is Kathleen Peace singing at the Wine Galley at the Pier House. Nine o'clock! Go! Listen to her! Enjoy! She is one of the finest!

Have a good day, my friends!

Syracuse! Syracuse! Syracuse!

They did it again last night! Won by 5 points in overtime! Six overtimes the night before. One overtime last night. Syracuse has to be exhausted!

Syracuse has won 4 games in four days. They actually have played 5 games. Add the 35 minutes of overtimes and you only come up 5 minutes short of a full game!

Tonight Syracuse plays Louisville for the Big East championship. Madison Square Garden in all its glory! A big game! A big night!

I think Syracuse will lose. They have to be dead tired. Their bodies and legs have to give out.

Louisville is coached by Rick Pitino. Pitino plays his bench. All 10 players. He keeps his players rotated and rested.

Boeheim only plays 7. The same 7 who have overdone the past two nights.

I believe Syracuse will start running out of gas early or in the middle of the second half. And then it will be over!

On the other hand......Syracuse's juices are flowing after these two recent wins! The adrenlin may be enough tonight to carry them to victory! We shall see!

Pitnio and Boeheim are the best of freinds. Pitino coached under Boeheim early in his career. One was best man for the other. Their families are tight. All good people.

My day went as planned yesterday.

I did nothing. It was Louis' day.

A quiet lunch at the Pier House. Sat on the deck outside the Wine Galley and watched the water, read my papers and listened to the music.

I ran into Kathleen Peace. Besides possessing one of the outstanding voices in Key West, she is Food and Beverage Director at the Pier House. A big job! Kathleen is being featured at Larry Smith's Sunday Showcase at the Pier House tomorrow night. Do yourself a real favor. Go hear Kathleen sing!

Last night started with a drink at the Keys Piano Bar. Only one. A diet Pepsi.

Then across the street to La Te Da. Chatted with some of the folks at the outside bar.

I met Don and Eileen. They are in Key West for a long weekend. Come down from somewhere around Sarasota. They visit Key West regularly. They are contemporaries of sort. Somewhere in their early 60s.

Nice people. We hit it off. Drinking and laughing. I had my first drink.

Don and Eileen like Irish Kevins. I do, also. However I rarely get there. So I agreed to join them at Irish Kevins for a drink.

The place was packed. Very! It is a spring break weekend. The college kids are here in droves!

We pushed our way to the bar and ordered drinks. Only my second of the night! I opted for a Patron Silver shot of tequila. With a slice of lime, of course!

While waiting for our drinks, a young man asked me, "Down for spring break?" He meant well, but was being a smart ass!

"Yes" I responded. "We are going to college late in life. Miami University. Don and I are Dekes."

He bought it! And he bought our round of drinks!

Having consumed my 2 drink limit, I said my good nights and was home in bed in time to catch a good portion of the Syracuse game.

A good evening!

No matter what happened yesterday, the best part was the Big East's Syracuse/Connecticut basketnball game.

I'm tired!


Connecticut has been in and out of 1st place all year in the national rankings. Syracuse finished 20th.


The game will be an historical classic!


It went into 6 overtimes. Six! And in the end Syracuse won by 10 points! My team!


Six overtimes is 30 minutes. A game is 40 minutes. These guys played almost a whole second game in the overtimes.


The game started just after 9 and ended around 1 in the morning.


These players have to be exhausted! Syracuse plays West Virginia today in the quarter finals. I doubt Syracuse will win. They have to run out of steam!


Mike Yutzy now lives in Las Vegas. He was texting me all night commentiung on the game.


It was bocci time last night!


My life is strange. I am beginning to think that I play better golf than bocci.


Yes, I played poorly again last night. This makes 3 weeks in a row that my bocci game has sucked. I know not why!


As you know, drinking in an integral part of the bocci sport. Don and David wanted me a bit under the weather last night. They are convinced I play better after a couple of drinks.


Don brings the booze for the team. Your choice! I drink Beefeaters and so there is always a bottle of Beafeaters. Someone made a mistake last night, however. There was only enough gin in the bottle for one drink. To compound the problem, I only had one small sip out of my drink. A female player from the other team accidently knocked my drink over.


This was just as the first match started. Don and David went crazy! I said worry not. It will be different to play totally sober!


They did not agrre. They did not care. Winning has become everything!

David hopped on his moped and drove back to the bar. He returned with a full bottle of Beefeaters. I was playing at the other end of the court. All of a sudden David was there! He handed me a glass of gin on the rocks. And said, drink!

It is called victory at any cost!

However I failed! I played poorly again!

I am glad I never practiced law like I play golf and more recently bocci. I would be a homeless person today!

It may not sound like I am still in my good health kick. But, I am! I ate well yesterday. Even bought spinach. Have not cooked it yet, though. That drink from David was my only drink last night. And I walked 3 miles!

My plan is to have a Louis day today. Do nothing. I have not had one in a while.

Do the same for yourself, if you can!

Good morning every one!

The weather has finally turned here in Key West. A month late. But better late than never!

82 yesterday. No humidity. Perfect!

Golf was great! Nothing spectacular! Played my usual game. Shot 115. Even missed 3 putts less than 2 feet. What a disgrace, but I had fun!

I rode with Yankee Jack. A trip!

We played with Phil and a new guy, Tim.

Yankee, Phil and Tim are all better golfers than me. Every one is! They gave me a stroke a hole, except on the 3s. Did not help much. I lost $10!

I spent the afternoon at home doing paper work.

Last night I went to Aqua to hear Bobby Nesbitt. He leaves this morning for Tahiti and Bora Bora. He and Bruce Moore. Remember that cruise they went on a couple of months ago. It was a gig. They sang in one of the small rooms. The same cruise line has invited them back to sing in the main room! No surprise! These guys are terrific, whether singing alone or together!

I then went down to the Keys Piano Bar. I made a mistake in yesterday's blog. Donna and Terri do not leave for New York till tomorrow.

This Terri is one fantastic singer! We were sitting at the bar quietly talking. The piano player was a for real piano player. He was into some heavy stuff.

All of a sudden he was playing West Side Story. Maria! Terri turned from me and joined in from her seat. You have to hear her sing Maria! Gave me goose bumps!

Then across the street to La Te Da for dinner. A light one.

I ate at the bar outside.

Tonto and Dawn were bartending.

Tonto is a female who has been bartending here in Key West for years. A charmer! She and her partner Mandy make a terrific couple. I like Mandy also. She's into money and mortgages. A knowledgable woman!

Last night was the first time I met Dawn. Another lovely person! Turns out Dawn has just returned to Key West after a 10 year hiatus. Dawn spent years working for the Rapisardi family. I bought my Key West home from the father Rapasardi. In fact, Mr. Rapisardi built the home I now live in. The son Sal is one of the finest businessmen I have ever met. An MIT graduate, he made his fortune in gay hotels, bars and restaurants in Key West. From engineering to a particular phase of hospitality lodging and entertainment. The man possesed the talent to recognize a needy and growing market!

The Rapasardis are long gone from Key West. Dawn told me Sal is now in West Palm Beach.

Dinner was terrific! The food at La Te Da sucked for a couple of years. But Alice is back! And she is cooking!

I had french onion soup and the tuna tartare appetizer. Both were outstanding, especially the tuna tartare. Tasty and just enough!

I am back into a good health kick! My annual physical was OK. However I had a few negatives. My triglycirides are up. Not bad, but up. A new problem. My iron is down. Also, a new problem. And my weight is a bit up. An old and continuing problem.

So time for healthy living again! The only problem is I thought I was living healthy.

Triglycirides up means too much sugar and alcohol. Since I am not into sweets or desserts, it has to be the gin. So I am cutting back to 2 drinks a day. Not easy in Key West.

The low iron score surprised me! I eat fish every day. It is fresh and good here in the keys. I have become a half assed vegetarian in the process. I have steak about 2 times a year.

The message from the doctor is eat at least one steak every 2 weeks. Also start eating spinach. So Popeye I shall become!

The weight isn't bad. Ten pounds in a year. It is always 10 pounds!

I used to walk briskly for exercise every day. I stopped a few months ago. I start again this morning.

There was no sense in staying out after dinner at La Te Da last night. I had already consumed my 2 gins. The first at Aqua and the second with dinner. I had a diet coke at the Keys, being the good boy that I am!

So it was home to bed and a good nights sleep. It also gave me the opportunity to watch Syracuse win its first game in the Big East tournamment in New York!

This morning Lori cuts my hair! Always an event! Ho, ho, ho!

Good morning!

Golf today! Can't wait!

I finally have a new cap. It only took 5 weeks to get it. I am glad the problem is resolved. Now I can chew on both sides of my mouth! What a difference!

I also had a 2 hour physical yesterday. It was good health day!

My doctor is Jackie Lefferts. A terrific internest!

Dinner was late last night. I was going to stay in. Then got bored. So out I was.

I walked into La Trattoria. It was my lucky night. There was only one seat at the bar. Next to Lee Ann.

Lee Ann and her husband are friends. They moved to Key West full time about 3 years ago from I do not recall where. Both are younger. Probably in their mid 40s.

Lee Ann is a knock out. An absolute beauty! Slim blond type.

Her husband commutes. All over the world during the week. Returns to their Key west home on weekends.

Lee Ann works as Financial Director at the Wellsley House here in Key West.

They have a lovely condo in Truman Annex. I have partied there. Charming hosts.

So what initially was going to be a boring evening, turned into a most pleasant one. Lee Ann and I chatted non stop.

Afterwards I hurried over to the Keys Piano Bar to say good bye to Donna and Terri. They leave for New York thursday. We will not be seeing each other tonight.

Still dark outside. This clock change thing still has me a little screwed up. By the time I tee off, the sun will be up. Hopefully!

I have to move my butt this morning. Dentist at 8 to finally get my new cap after waiting five weeks. Then to the doctor's at ten for my annual physical.

A health nurturung morning ahead!

I had lunch at Paradise Cafe yesterday. Paradise is a cheapie place. I usually have a cuban toast with melted cheese and tomato and a diet Pepsi for $4 and change.

Yesterday the place was packed! Inside and out! I have never seen so many people. There was no room for the chickens!

I believe the crowd at Paradise is another reflection of the economy. People are downsizing in their spending. An inexpensive lunch is one indication.

Marty called last night. Invited me to dinner. He wanted to buy.

We met at the Chart Room for a drink. Then had dinner at the Hot Tin Roof.

Hot Tin Roof is on the water side of the Ocean Key House. Ocean Key is a part of the Noble chain of resorts. One of the finest in the United States.

The view was spectacualr. We had the setting sun! An orange ball slipping over the horizon! The food good.

I have not eaten there in several months. Maitre de John was happy to see me. And I was happy to see him again.

I rarely go to Hot Tin Roof because it is touristy and noisy. I have become a local snob. The food however is outstanding!

Afterwards I stopped at the Keys Piano Bar for a nightcap.

Donna and Terri were at the bar. Terri had just finished singing for happy hour. We talked of their pending New York City trip. Terri bought me a drink.

And then I was on my way home.

It just occured to me that I did not spend a penny last night!

Morning Joe reports this morning that Citigroup paid $13 million in bonus money to its employees. The money came out of the $46 billion bailout money paid to Citigroup by the US Government. Our tax dollars.

Citigroup excused its actions by saying it had to keep its troops happy in this competitive society or they would move on to to other jobs.

What bullshit!

Unemployment is at an all time high. Unemployed qualified people are all over the place looking for work. A bonus is not required to keep a person working. People are happy to have jobs today! The work place is not a competitive place today!

What makes banks so omnipotent in their thinking? Wow are they entitled! Banks honestly believe they can do anything they want! And the public be damned!

I have to run! Dentist and doctor await!

Absolutely beautiful day yesterday weatherwise!

82 degrees with a cooling breeze.

I decided to lunch at the Pier House's Beach Bar. I bought some Sunday papers and seated myself at the end of the bar where I had a clear view of the beach activity. A wise move. The college invasion has started and there were a number of lovelies on the beach. I have gotten old! The 20 year olds looked awfully young!

I have recently been doing the Pier House on Sundays because a bunch of locals hang out there that day each week. They are fun and I enjoy their company. I do not go to view the young ladies, though it does not hurt to sneak a peek!

Afterwards I went over to the Coffee House on Duval. A cup of coffeee and the New York Times! Obviouisly spent quite a while there reading the Times.

I frequent the Coffee House often. So do many other Key West locals. A woman was there yesterday afternoon that I have seen at the Coffeee house many times over the years. Sometimes we exchange some idle chatter. Other times we do not talk at all.

Yesterday she opted to talk with me. She asked, "Do you know where I can get a job?" She then proceeded to tell me how she has worked on one of the diving/fun boats that go out every day for the last ten years. No more, though. Not enough business. The boat did not have enough customers to go out every day and she had been let go.

She said the other boats were experiencing the same problem and letting people go also.

She was decidedly afraid. She had lost her job a week ago and could not find anything. Typical of most, she led a hand to mouth existence. She needed her weekly pay check. She would take any type job. It was a matter of survival!

The recession is impacting Key West. My lady friend is just one example. I know many people in the hotel/lodging industry. They are all concerned about April. Bookings are dramatically down from previous years.

I see the streets full of tourists. But only on weekends! Which suggests shorter trips.

The Keys Piano Bar and La Te Da were full Friday night when I was out and about. But not packed so you could not move, as in previous times.

People are not spending money! Those that have any! They are confused and afraid. What is happening is new to all of us. I am 73 and have never seen anything like it. We need an injection of confidence. What it will take, is beyond me. When you see mainstays of American society, such as banks, the auto industry and insurance companies failing, it is going to take an awful lot to restore the necessary confidence.

Dinner last night was with Lisa and the family. I had not seen the grandkids in a week. Ally is growing! Only 3, she is almost as tall as her brother Robert who is 4. Lisa says Ally has been eating non stop lately. She is in a growth spur!

Dinner was fun. The grandkids talk non stop. Ally is into ketchup. She puts it on everything. Her lettuce. And the banana Lisa cut up for her. Ugh!

We sat outside for awhile after dinner and chatted. Then I was off to home. I went to bed too early and fell asleep. I woke during the night and have been up ever since.

I woke with a bang! And not the right one!

The board holding the spring and mattress at the head end of the bed collapsed! All of a sudden my head was down and my feet up!

The last time something like that happened to me was 30 years ago when I was having sex with my wife.

The middle of the night is no time to screw around with correcting the problem. I hauled myself off to one of the other bedrooms and tried to sleep. Could not. I was awake the rest of the night.

Today is going to be another beautiful day! Sun out. No clouds. Water moving ever so slowly.

Have a good Monday!

Good morning world!

The clocks have changed!

We were to move them ahead one hour during the night.

I hate this thing we do twice a year. I find back/ forward confusing. Never get it correct. I do not know how to change most of the clocks. A generational thing. And then my head and body have to adjust to the change which takes a bit of time!

I am 73 and although time changes, my reaction to the change never changes!

I was out and about last night. Key West was full of visitors. People crowded the streets. A lot of families.

Donna and I had dinner together. Terri had to work a double shift at the Keys. Five in the afternoon till four the next morning. Someone was sick.

We ate at the bar at La Trattoria.

Erin was bartending. Always good to see her!

Kathy was waiting tables. She generally bartends on the weekend. A very nice person! My buddy!

And then there is my all time favorite, Beecha. What a beauty! She is the hostess. Dresses magnificently! She was wearing a large black necklace last night, to go along with her long slinky black dress.

Donna and Beecha chatted about the necklace.

Donna makes necklaces for a living. Beautiful pieces.

Her matrerials generally consist of bamboo, jade, silver, brass and glass beads.

The bamboo is grown here in Key West. Donna takes 5 to 10 foot long sticks and dries them out on her back porch. The stalks are green and wet when first cut. When the drying process is complete, the stalks are black or brown. She then cuts them into the small sizes required for a piece and polishes them big time.

All the jade is imported from the Orient. Donna is well traveled and has secured her connections in the Far East for the jade.

Most of the silver she uses comes from some Indian tribe reservation out West.

The brass is from Ethiopia. For whatever reason, she says Ethiopian brass is the best and the only kind she will use.

The glass beads are from Africa.

Donna also keeps an eye out for old belt buckles and any little thing that she thinks can be cleaned up and incorporated into a neck piece.

She makes all this jewlery in her Old Town apartment. She has all kinds of machinery and equipment. To cut, polish, adjust, etc.

Impressed? I always am. Her pieces are absolutely magnificent! More and more women are wearing them in Key West.

She markets by wearing her jewelry. On more than one occasion, a woman has approached us in a restaurant to ask where Donna got the necklace she was wearing. Donna says I made it and my pieces are for sale. Many is the time I have seen a sale made on the spot! Donna takes off the necklace and turns it over to the interested inquirer!

Donna's necklaces are also on display at the Stone Soup Gallery on White Street. Once a month there is the Walk on White. The Walk is a good sales night for Donna. She is there. The walkers enjoy meeting the artist. Donna exudes charm. Her jewelry is high quality. Sales are made!

She is also on television promoting her wares. Channel 79 that I told you about a few days ago.

Channel 79 is a new promotion venue for Donna. She is terrific in the ad which takes several minutes to show. All of her sincerity and talent and whatever else is good in life comes out at you through the TV screen.

Donna and Terri will be leaving next week for New York where Terri starts rehearsal for Finian's Rainbow. They are flying up. However when they return, they will be driving a truck back from New York to Key West. Terri still has some of her things in storage in New York. So a Ryder or Budget truck it will be!

Donna says she has had truck driving experience. I don't know. I have a sense I 95 will never be the same after their return trip! Two independent women stopping for gas, making a pit stop, grabbing a bite to eat and putting up over night at some motel. They will both leave their mark on I 95!

It is Sunday! Love Sundays! The sun is up. Going to be a nice day.

Three things are certain on Sundays. The newspapers, Meet the Press and dinner with Lisa and the family. What happens in between I am not certain. But one thing is certain. It is always interesting!

Talk with you tomorrow.

I had a very pleasant Friday evening!

I ate in. Was undeceided whether to go out. Some days it is just too much work to get ready. Then said.....what the hell! So I shaved off a 4 day beard, showered and hit the road.

Bobby Nesbitt and Terri White were doing Happy Hour at the Keys Piano Bar. A 5 to 9 gig.

I got to the Keys around 8. A good crowd. And good music! I love listening to both singers separately. Together was an over the top situation!

I never tire of Bobby. I can't get enough of Terri. Each time I hear them, they are better than the last time! I guess you might say I enjoy their singing.

When they finished, I sat around for a while talking with Terri and friend Donna. And listened to a couple of newly imported Broadway singers.

Terri is an experienced performer. A lovely person inside and out. No spring chicken, however. She is in her early 60s. I must say she does not look it.

Terri has spent a life time on Broadway. She is one of those singers and dancers who does 6 shows a week, day after day, week after week and, when lucky, year after year!

Her talents have been duly recognized. A Tony nomination for Barnum. An Obie for her work with Tommy Tune in The Club.

Several months ago, Terri came to Key West to do a one week gig at the Keys Piano Bar. She stayed on for another week, fell in love with Key West and then with Donna. What a combination!

Terri decided it was time to slow down. Do the smell the roses a bit thing. She gave up the apartment in New York, put her furniture in storage and moved to Key West.

Broadway was behind her. Not forever as it turns out. Broadway is beckoning again. And Terri, who thought the Broadway part of her life ended, is returning to New York!

Finian's Rainbow is being revived. First opened in 1947 and then about 15 years later was made into a Hollywood movie starring Fred Astaire.

Many hit tunes came out of the show. If you are my age, you remember How Are Things in Glauca Mora. Or a song that Frank Sinatra later recorded, Old Devil Moon. And the famous Look to the Rainbow.

The theme of the show is bigotry. A daring intrusion into the issue back in 1947 when discrimination existed as an unspoken cancer. The story involves a white man who is unquestionably a bigot. Through the magic of theatre, he turns black. And the impact of bigatory befalls him personally!

A you don't know my problems till you walk in my shoes thing.

Terri is playing a sharecropper. She has one solo number. Necessity. Also sings with other performers and as part of the chorus through out.

The show is being developed/sponsored by Encore. Apparently a big deal!

Encore revives old shows for a short period. Generally, five days. It puts on the performance big time. A Broadway show!

If in the five day revival, the show is successful critic wise and at the box office, then Encore packages the show to backers, raises the money required for a long Broadway showing and every one is off and running. Such is one of the ways of bringing a new show to Broadway these days.

We all know of South Pacific's successful revival a year or two ago on Broadway. It is still running and continues to be a major hit. The South Pacific revival was an Encore presentation.

I wish Terri the same success. May she break a leg! May the show turn into a long time big hit run!

And if not, so what! Hard work, but still fun. A recognition of Terri's talent.

A good to be back thing!

Terri leaves for New York on March 13. Ten hour day rehearsals start on March 14. March 25 is the invited dress rehearsal. The show debuts on March 26 and runs through March 30.

Terri, have fun! We all love you!

I overheard some one commenting at lunch yesterday that the weather on the waterside back of his house was winter and in front summer.

And he was right!

I know I keep talking about the weather. However it is a major topic of conversation at this time in Key West. We are into March and it is still cold!

The water side of my home is 15 degrees colder than the front. The front is warmer because the house blocks the cold wind coming in from the ocean. I need long pants and a sweatshirt in back. And can lay out sunbathing in a tee shirt and shorts in front!

Played bocci last night. Cold cold!

I wore long pants, a shirt, a sweat shirt and a jacket. And I was still cold!

Some people were huddled under blankets in between shots.

The bocci courts are on the Atlantic and so the cold was blowing in!

We did not do well in bocci last night. Lost 2. Only won 1.

The first 2 games were close. We lost both. 16-15 and 16-13. We won the last game decisively.

It was a money match last night. The defeat hurt.

But, we had fun! We have a great team. In victory or defeat, we seem to be happy! We party!

Maybe that is our problem.

Afterwards it was to Don's Place for a couple of drinks and serious analysis of our bocci game. An important part of our lives here!

I have a friend up north. Pete Aceto.

Pete is a landscaper. Has taken care of my properties for years. Still does.

Pete is talented. Down here in Key West he would be described as a landscape architect.

He e mailed me a story. It is entitlerd Gennaro's Leather Shoes.

Gennaro is in this country for only 6 months. He walks to work 20 blocks every day. His walk takes him past a shoe store. Each day he stops and looks in the window. To admire the Boccelli leather shoes. He wants those shoes so much. It is all he can think about. After about 2 months he saves the price of the shoes, $300, and purchases them.

Every Friday night the Italian community holds a dance in the Church basement. Gennaro seizes this opportunity to wear his new Boccelli leather shoes for the first time.

He asks Sophia to dance and as they dance he asks her, "Sophia, do you wear red panties tonight?" Startled, Sophia replies, "Yes, Gennaro, I do wear red panties tonight. But how do you know?" Gennaro answers, "I see the reflection in my new $300 Boccelli leather shoes. How do you like them?"

Next he asks Rosa to dance. And after a few minutes he asks, "Rosa, do you wear white panties tonight?" Rosa answers, "Yes, Gennaro, I do. But how do you know that?" He replies, "I see the reflection in my new $300 Boccelli leather shoes. How do you like them?"

As the last song is being played, Gennaro asks Carmela to dance. Midway through the dance his face turns red. He states, "Carmella, be still my heart. Please, please tell me you wear no panties tonight. Please, please tell me if this is true!"

Carmella smiles coyly and answers, "Yes, Gennaro, I wear no panties tonight." Gennaro gasps. "Thank God.....I thought I had a crack in my $300 Boccelli leather shoes!"

I am sure you are wondering why I repeated this Gennaro tale to you. This is a family blog!

I am a product of a Catholic education. Grammar school, high school and college. I did high school and college in the 1950s.

Nuns taught me in high school and nuns were part of my college experience at dances at all girl colleges.

At each dance in high school and college, the nuns monitored/chaperoned.

Patent leather shoes were big time! The girls all wore them.

We were admonished by the nuns as we danced not to look down at the girls' shoes. The reflection off the shiny black gave the same view Gennaro experienced.

Look not! Sin not!

Even worse, if you danced too close, a nun came out, tapped you on the shoulder and said, "Leave room for the Holy Ghost!"

That's how it was!

Me thinks we have come a long way since the 1950s! Whether good or bad is another story!

Golf was wonderful! It was good to be out on the course again after a 3 week hiatus.

I played with Kurt, Larry, Harry and Aaron.

I rode with Kurt.

Kurt is without question the best golfer in the group. The last time I rode with him he shot 72. That's golf!

Kurt has recently returned to playing after a 7 week lay off. He got engaged in a brawl and broke his right thumb.

The lay off and the healing thumb affected his game a bit. He was OK long. But his short game was off. He shot an 81. What a tragedy! I would love to shot an 81!

Kurt is a first class gentleman. I am one of the world's worst golfers. Yet when I ride with Kurt, he never complains that I slow him down, we are always looking for my ball, I hack around the course, etc. He is always there helping me to find my ball, waiting patiently as I hit several shots to his one.

To put all this in proper perspective, while Kurt shot an 81 yesterday, I shot a 110.

Larry was the big winner. $39! I lost $11. Not bad for the way I played!

After golf, we tried something new. Instead of drinking and solving the world's problems on the porch of the Key West Golf Club, we went to the nearby VFW. Not bad. And cheaper drinks!

I was tired after golf. And the VFW. So it was home and a nap. I continued being tired even after the nap, so I stayed in last night. This getting old affects me at times!

I have discovered cable channel 79 here in Key West. It is a local channel and runs old movies. Very old movies. Like from the 1930s. Black and white like I used to see as a kid.

I remember going to the movies for 3 and 4 cents. We always went on Saturdays. Two flicks, a cartoon and a serial.

A serial was like an ongoing soap opera. 12-14 weeks of one short episode each week. Generally 10 minutes in length. Had a hero and a bad guy. At the end of each week's segment, the bad guy had the good guy in somed pecarious position. Death was certain! And then the next week, we would see how our hero was saved at the last moment from imminent death. Exciting! Picture a neighborhood theatre full of kids shouting and cheering as their hero survived yet another week.

Channel 79 is showing the serials! Yes, those same serials from the 1930s!

I have already seen Flash Gordon and Dick Tracy. Wow! Shades of my youth! Shades of some of your youths! Interesting fodder for the rest of you!

Tonight bocci!

I have not played in 3 weeks. I look forward to returning. My partner Jules should be back from New Orleans.

We are playing Yankee Jack's team. Should be a good match! And fun!

Kurt and I had an interesting conversation on the golf course yesterday.

Kurt has lived in Key West for years. He lives on the same island I do. Key Haven.

He said winter just won't go away. This is the coldest winter he remembers! And the wind off the ocean!

Just sharing. I did not want you to think I was the only one complaining about the cold.

Do something nice for some one today. God will love you for it and so will the person you befriended.