It's Sunday!

Love Sundays!

A do nothing day! The Good Book was correct when it said it should be a day of rest!

A busy day yesterday.

Did paperwork in the morning. Then lunch at the bar at the Yacht Club. Read the papers and chatted a bit.

I had a Truman deprivation. I had not been to Borders in a few days. So there I went and continued reading the book on Harry Truman's life. It is an opus! Like War and Peace! Over 1,100 pages long! I am still in Truman's high school days. Of that, all I can tell you was that he was a good student and in love with Bess Wallace, whom he subsequently married, from a distance. Even then young men were awkward in their pursuit of the ladies.

Stopped at Lisa's afterwards to see the grandkids. They have recovered from the walking pneumonia. Finally!

At 3, it was over to the bocci courts. The playoffs were starting. Larry Smith's team had made the playoffs. I went to lend my support.

I only had time to stay for the first game. Larry's team lost. The other team was very good. Pros. Their throwing was precise. I susupect they were a number 1 team in their evening slot. Larry's team was number 5 in the Thursday night games.

There were 2 more games to play. But I could not stay.

I had intended on going into town last night. When I got out of the shower, I could heard Howard Livingston singing on the TV. There he was on Channel 5! And I thought there was a runner on the bottom of the picture reading that Howard would be playing at Boondock's last night.

So I drove north 30 miles to Big Pine and Booondock's. Howard is a good friend! Love him dearly!

Howard was not playing! I screwed up. He is playing some Saturday in the future.

Oh, well!

It just so happens I like Boondocks. So I sat at the bar, had a few drinks and a snapper sandwich. And talked with people around me. One good thing about the keys is that every one is friendly. You are never alone!

I also watched part of the Cleveland/Orlando basketball game.

Then I headed home intending to watch the end of the game from my bed.

The weather was perfect last night. I put the top down on the convertible for the drive back. There was little traffic. The stars were out. And although I could not see the ocean, I could taste it.

I caught better than half of the second half of the game from my bed. With 4 minutes to go, Orlando was winning by 14 points. Then it happened again! I fell asleep!

Fortunately, I woke at 3 this morning for a bit and caught the last 2 minutes in a rerun on TV. Orlando won by 13.

Orlando's Dwight Howard looked fantastic! Scored 40 points. Cleveland's LeBron James did not have a good night. It was the same old story. He cannot do it alone! He needs team mates who can help him!

Today is special! We are celebrating Ally's 4th birthday!

Her birthday is really tomorrow. But the party is this afternoon. She knows she is getting 2 days to celebrate it! How smart she is so young! How glad I am she can enjoy a doubleheader!

Enjoy your Sunday!

A nice day in the making! Sun up. A cool breeze. Water moving slowly. Not a sound to be heard.

Every day is a nice day lately. The rainy season is starting. Not much yet. Generally in the evening. Soon it will rain a bit every day. About 10 minutes at 1 in the afternoon. Amazing!

The hurricane season is around the corner. Technically, the season begins June 1. It runs through November 1. 12-13 hurricanes are predicted. 3-4 anticipated to be bad. The predictions and projections are the same every year. Some years they are correct, or close to correct. Others, nothing happens. I like nothing!

We all remain concerned.

Last night began as usual with the Chart Room. Drank with Marty and Captain Peter. The last night with both for a while.

Marty is heading north today for two weeks. To Auburn, NY. His wife has an elderly aunt who is moving in with them. So they are are their way to get her and return her to Florida.

Nice of Marty and his wife. They are being good family. Sad for the aunt. She leaves her whole life behind.

Peter is heading to Mexico for a week. To visit his former wife. A good guy! To reach her he has to fly somewhere and then ride a bus for six hours. The heart once moved is never still!

Marty and I had dinner at the bar at Hot Tin Roof. Again, a good meal and a spectacular view!

Marty was tired and left soon after dinner. I stayed around and watched the basketball game on TV. Los Angeles won. Denver is eliminated. It had to be. Los Angeles has been there before. Denver had not. First time Denver had advanced that far in the play offs. It seems a team needs some experience and seasoning to make it. Carmello Anthony and Denver will be back next year. And probably win!

Bocci is still around! The play offs begin this afternoon.

My team did not make it. We were locked solidly in the cellar. Larry Smith's team did! And I will be there to cheer them on!

Stay healthy! Enjoy the day!

Yesterday was a lazy one for Louis.

I hung around the house all day. Actually, I laid in bed all day! A little TV, some reading and a lot of napping.

Last night started as usual at the Chart Room. I am beginning to feel like a regular. A distinction!

Had a couple of drinks. Chatted with Marty, Captain Peter, Che and Cindy.

Dinner was at Square One. A long time since I have been there. It was good to talk with owner Michael and batender Patrick again. The food was good. As usual! The crowd good, also. Especially for this time of the year.

Then home to bed to watch the basketball game. And again I fell asleep before it ended! One of these nights I am going to last to catch the last 2 minutes of a game. The best part!

I have been receiving comments to my blog lately from someone who calls himself Boss. Turns out to be Bob Marks. An old friend! One I am ashamed to say I have not seen in years.

Bob was an insurance adjuster in Syracuse, NY way back when I was a young lawyer. We became friends. There were several of us. All insurance adjusters, except for me. A wild bunch! Many the night I did not know how my car made the 50 mile trip back from Syracuse to Utica!

As the years moved on, Bob became increasingly successful in the insurance industry. My recollection is that he was with CNA. He ended up becoming a big time executive with them in San Francisco.

Along the way he met Helen. Helen also worked in the insurance industry. She ended up big time, also! She was in charge of all CNA's asbestos cases regionally or nationwide. A big job! There were millions of such cases.

Both married. Not each other. Both divorced. Both remarried. This time to each other.

They asked me to be their best man. An honor!

The event occurred some 25 odd years ago.

The wedding took place in Portland, Maine. Helen wanted to be married in the same church her parents had married in during World War II.

So to Portland I went! I had never been there before. Nor to Maine.

The wedding took place in the middle of the winter. Cold!

I had a cold when I left and drove to Maine. I arrived in Portland with the cold and left 24 hours later with pneumonia! Not really, but was it cold!

The cold sticks with me. I recall going to a shopping center for some pills to help my cold. This was during a fuel crisis. There was no heat in the shopping center. Neither in the mall areas nor in the stores. Everyone, including the workers, were bundled in heavy coats, hats, gloves and boots.

It was that cold!

The wedding service itself was lovely!

Picture a small Luthern church. Candlelight. Helen dressed in the same maroon suit her mother had worn when she married. Touching and beautiful. So much in love! And still in love a quarter of a century later!

Afterwards there was a dinner party at some old time reaturant. An historical site. For real. The structure housing the restaurant probably went back to the American Revolution.

And cold! The building consisted of only thin clapboards. No insulation. No double walling. No plaster board. Between me the the elements were only the thin clapboards. With spaces in between some of them! So the wind blew in!

A major storm was raging outside! And I with my bad bad cold was sitting at the head table with my back one foot from the clapboard wall!

I thought I would die that night!

The next morning I felt terrible! So sick! I should have returned to Utica as planned. But wise I was not in those days!

Instead I drove to Boston and hopped a plane to Martinique. I figured the sun would straighten me out!

It did!

I went to a Club Med! I spent my days laying on the warm beach watching the topless beauties all around me! If I died, it would not have mattered. I was already in Heaven!

Those were the days!

Bob and Helen, I am glad we are coming together again after all these years. May we enjoy many more together! And yes, I look forward to your Fall visit to Key West! Where no one is ever cold!

I should have watched the sinking of the Vandenberg yesterday! My golf game sucked!

I topped the ball on the front 9 and sliced it on the back nine!

My play on 18 reflected my game yesterday. 18 is a long par 5. After my first 2 hits, I still had not reached the ladies' tee! My next 2 shots were in the water. That was it! I packed up and went home!

The buzz on the street last night was that the Vandenberg sinking was both exciting and spectacular. Apparently all went well. Boom and the ship went down!

There were many vessels out there to view the occasion. Small and large alike. Sail and power. One person told me it reminded him of the Normandy invasion!

There was a slight delay. A group of turtles were in the area. The blasting/sinking had to wait till they were safely out of the area. Amounted to about a 15 minute delay.

Last night was fun. Donna and Terri took me out to dinner. I have not really spent much time with them in the past 3 weeks.

We had dinner at the Hot Tin Roof. Part of the Ocean Key complex on Mallory Square. A Noble hotel.

The food, service and view were spectacualr! Especially the view. The setting sun, the boats, the people! A wow!

I had a touching experience over the holiday weekend.

On Memorial Day, I was seated in Borders reading the Harry Truman book. A small group of about 6 people came in and over to the seating area where I was. Various ages. All women.

They appeared to be mentally and physically challenged. A nice way of saying handicapped. They were in the charge of a 35ish woman. Who was in total control of the group.

Some took seats around me.

Next to me sat an elderly appearing woman. Tiny and frail. No teeth. She just starred. I smiled. No reaction. Where ever she was, she was. And apparently content.

One of the group wanted to buy a book. She had $20. The book she selected was $27. I was very impressed how the person in charge explained the money difference to her and guided her in seeking out a book she could afford. But always calmly trying to make her understand why she could not have the more expensive book.

The charge woman was obviously a professional and very caring of those under her watch.

One of the women was very attractive. Beautiful! Young. 25-35 I would estimate. Dressed lovely. But then they all were.

This young lady required the use of a walker. Her body was partially malformed. One hand had crooked fingers, one arm sort of swung, a dragging leg. Possibly cerebral palsy.

She sat about 10 feet away from me. The charge person had given her a large book with pictures and words to enjoy. Her head was constantly down as she became engrossed in her reading.

All of a sudden, a young mother and her 5 or 6 year old daughter were between us. The mother was chastising the daughter for running around and misbehaving a bit. The mother then went on to review with her daughter the book the daughter had selected. Mother and daughter talked back and forth for 3-4 minutes. Then they left.

As they walked away, the lovely lady across from me lifted her head. Starring straight ahead, she recited the mother/daughter conversation which had just taken place word for word. I swear, it was that precise! All 3-4 minutes of it!

Then she lowered her head again and returned to her book reading.

She was probably autistic. Reminded me of Dustin Hoffman in that movie he made with Tom Cruise.

The things we see in life! The things I see in Key West!

But more importantly, the things some of us are compelled to experience in life! I hope God does hold each of us in the palm of His hand!

This is a day of consequence for Key West!

One which will be remembered in its history!

The town is excited!

The USS Hoyt S. Vandenberg is being sunk off Key West to create an artificial reef! One for marine life and divers alike to enjoy!

Tourism is the major industry of Key West. It is the only industry! The reef will be a major attraction.

There were Sink the Vandenberg parties all over Key West last night in celebration of the event. Pulic and private parties alike.

The Vandenberg is a proud ship. It is entering what might be described as its third life.

The ship was first commissioned in the midst of World War II. It was named the USS Harry Taylor. It carried soldiers and supplies first to the Pacific. Later across the Atlantic. It served best at the end of World War II when it returned soldiers home from Europe.

It was mothballed in 1958.

Then in 1961 the US Air Force needed a ship to spy on the Russians. It was Cold War time. The Taylor was taken out of mothballs. It was recommissioned and renamed the USS Hoyt S. Vandenberg. It spent much time in the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia watching over Russia's activities.

The ship was retired again in 1983.

Two names, two lives. It was time to rest in peace and enjoy that long rest in rusted splendor with all the other vessels that had protected us over the years.

But rest was not to be.

Ten years ago some locals decided that what Key West needed was a new and more vibrant reef. We have a natural one, but time and man have diminished its beauty and effectiveness. It was decided to buy a retired vessel and sink it!

The process had already been tried twice in 2 other places in the world. With success! Fish naturally gravitate to the site and a new reef is developed. A divers' heaven!

The vessel was found. The Vandenberg. Now 10 years and $8.6 million later, the day has arrived! The feeling of anticipation is similar to a long awaited childbirth.

Explosives have been set. Later this morning they will be exploded. Assuming all goes well, the ship will sink within minutes to the bottom of the sea.

A site has been selected 6.5 miles out. The depth is 140 feet.

Four 4 ton anchors will lock the Vandenberg into position.

The Vandenberg is 522 feet long and 100 feet tall. The top of the ship will rest 40 feet below the surface.

A big day in the making! No question. A major Key West day!

Now for an update on the grandchildren.

I thought they were getting better. They were not. Both now have been diagnosed with walking pneumonia.

Robert is making headway. Ally got worse. The medicines were not working for her.

This has to end soon. Their poor little bodies are taking a beating. Actually, they both look good. And are active. However both continue to run low grade fevers, cough and are tired off and on.

Lisa is staying home the rest of the week to make sure they get proper attention. I have been fired! No, not really. She is being the good mother and doing what must be done.

Today is Wednesday. Golf day!

I have a choice this morning. I can go out on a boat and watch the Vandenberg sink or play golf. Perhaps my head is not in the right place. Golf is my choice! I know that which I enjoy!

Have a good day!

For whatever reason, last night was an unusually good one!



I did nothing special. Started out as usual at the Chart Room. Sat and passed the time away with friends at the round table. Then to La Trattoria with Marty for dinner at the bar. Kathy bartending. A special personality. She recently had to put her dog/best friend of many years down. Sad.



Marty and I talked like two old farts. We were reminiscing of our early New York and Miami days. 1960-1970s. At one point Marty said we were beginning to sound like old men. I said no, not like. We are!



I was home early again to watch the second half of the basketball game. Again, I fell asleep! There is a pattern developing here.



George McGovern visited Key West this past week. He is the former US Senator from South Dakota and the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1972.



He was here to speak at a special event at the Little White House.



An interesting background. Bomber pilot in World War II. 35 missions. College professor. Senator. Presidential candidate. Icon.



He ran very poorly in 1972. Nixon defeated him soundly! I think McGovern only carried one state. He did not even carry his home state.



Interestingly, Nixon soon after came under scrutiny for Watergate and had to resign from office. As McGovern stated while here in Key West, had he, McGovern, been elected, the country would have been sparred the Nixon debacle.



I remember the Mc Govern/Nixon race in 1972. I did not think Mc Govern stood a chance. He was the nominee of the new Democratic Party. The one formed after the Humphrey loss to Nixon in 1968. Humprey, too, never stood a chance. He was nominated in Chicago. Protestors and demonstrators were jammed outside the convention hall. TV carried it all live. Even the brutality of the Chicago police. This was Vietnam time. Everything and everyone was on edge!



Following Humprey's loss, the Democratic Party developed new rules for how its Presidential candidate was to be picked. It opened the process. Widely I thought. McGovern was the first candidate under the new rules. He paid the price! The country was not yet ready for dramatic change. Or a Presidental candidate chosen by the masses rather than the political bosses.


McGovern was a step too soon.



It is interesting how Key West continuues to attract national figures. It is generally the Little White House and/or Harry Truman that bring them here.


Another nice day in the making. Enjoy!

Good morning! Enjoy the holiday!

I got up early this morning. It was still dark. I decided to take a brisk walk on the ocean at Smather's Beach.

The sun was just breaking over the horizon as I started the walk. Pretty. There was a cool breeze coming off the Atlantic. By the time I finished my walk, the sun was up and blazing. It was hot! I was soaking wet!

Then drove over to Paradise Cafe to read the papers and have cuban coffee and toast.

There is this elderly gentleman who runs every day on Roosevelt Boulevard. You can't miss him! He is always attired the same. Fire red shorts and a fire red hat. The hat is like those that priests wear at the Vatican. Round in the center with a long round brim. Actually, the guy looks weird!

He weighs no more than 120 pounds. Probably in excellebt health. The benefit of running.

This morning he was carrying an American flag as he ran. Not a small one. Rather large and attached to a wood pole.

He never missed a step.

Today he did not look out of the ordinary. He was an American! and proud of it!

I had a quiet day yesterday. Hung around the house till dinner time. Then celebrated Lisa and Corey's sixth wedding anniversary with the two of them and the grandkids. Lisa cooked.

Robert and Ally are on the mend. Corey is now sick with whatever they had. He looked and felt lousy. Lisa is probably next.

I was home early and to bed. I wanted to watch the basketball game.

Instead I got hooked on the PBS show celebrating Memorial Day. Spectacular! Tear jerking!

We have to see our veterans to fully appreciate the sacrifice they are making. The wounds some of them will carry for life speak to that sacrifice and the debt we owe!

I caught the second half of the game.

Lebaron James cannot do it all alone. He scored 41 points and that was not enough to win. Some one else has to step in and help or Cleveland will not be proceeding into the championship series.

Enjoy your cookouts! Enjoy your families and friends!

Our next holiday is all of five weeks off! July 4th!

The sun is starting to sneak in this morning. The tide is out. No breeze to speak of. Calm.

The beginning of another good day in Key West!

It was hot yesterday! Boiling! The kind of heat that made even walking a chore.

The island is packed with tourists for the Memorial Day weekend. The hotels are full. But the tourists are not spending money. The restaurants and bars were empty last night. I suspect that most of the holiday visitors drove down for the weekend and are families. They are here for beach, sun and some extra fun. And it is pizza in the room at night!

I spent four hours at Borders yesterday afternoon. I am engrossed in the Harry Tuman book. I am into his school days in Independence and the stirrings of his feelings for Bess Wallace. I will probably spend a few hours there today. The book has captured my interest.

Visited with the grandchildren. Robert appears on the mend. It is amazing what modern day medication can do in a short time. He is far from well yet. But decidedly on his way. Ally plays nurse to Robert. She is very serious about it. Not playing.

Love them both!

A big night last night!

Started as usual at the Chart Room. Marty, Captain Peter and Sean. And a few tourists who stopped in. Nothing big.

Then to Michael's for dinner with Marty.

Bart was there. Bart used to own Alice's with Alice. Now he sometimes helps out at Antonia's. Bart and Antonia owner Christopher are good friends.

I was sitting next to Bart. I had not seen him in a while. We had an interesting conversation. I vented a bit about my recent frustrations with Antonia's. I am sure Bart will convey them to Christopher.

Where to go next? The three of us, Marty, Bart and Louis, ended up at La Te Da. Debra and Patrick time! Love Debra's singing!

The crowd was not as it should have been. But those there were dancing up a storm!

One drink was enough for me. I headed home to catch the end of the Los Angeles/Denver basketball game. There was 8 minutes left when I climbed into bed. The end of the game is always the best. That is when everything happens!

I fell asleep before the game was over. Slept the night away with the lights on. Had to look on the internet this morning to see who won.

Today is a special day. Lisa and Corey's sixth wedding anniversary! Congratulations to them! It has been some 6 years!

Dinner tonight with Lisa and the family. I offered to babysit so Lisa and Corey could go out. But they said no. They just want a special family dinner at home. And so it shall be!

Enjoy your day!

Memorial Day Weekend!

Key West is packed! No room at the inn!

There was an excitement in the air last night. You could feel the holiday. People were happy and having fun.

Marty and I met for drinks at the Keys Piano Bar. It was the Keys because Bobby Nesbitt was playing at cocktail hour. He is the best!

Then we headed over to Louie's Backyard. Mine in name only! Wish I owned it!

We ate upstairs at the new tapas restaurant. Good! Cheap! What a view!

Grandson Robert has finally been properly diagnosed. He has been sick with an off and on fever and cough for just over a week. Plus always tired. He has pneumonia.

I feel bad for the little one. However, he is finally getting medicated. He got a shot and is on a heavy dose of antibiotics. So he will get better.

Prior to yesterday, the diagnosis was he had the bug/a virus and time would heal him. No meds required.

Makes you wonder!

I saw something awful yesterday! Terrible! Sick!

For the past two weeks, the papers have advised that some religious nut was coming to Key West this weekend to protest the gay life here. It's a free country. There seemed to be a community consensus to ignore the person.

I must have seen the beginning of this bigoted onslaught ysterday.

There were a number of protesters, for want of a better word, on the corner of the Boulevard and US 1. 12-15. They were carrying signs. "God hates fags!" "God hates Israel!" "Kill more soldiers!" And some other similar type ditties I cannot specifically recall.

They also had an American flag. A large one. When they crossed the street, one of the protestors dragged the flag along the ground like a beach towel.

These protestors were not adults. Not one of them. They were all children! Teenagers at best!
I would suspect between 10 and 16 years of age. Boys and girls alike. Clean cut. Happy and cheerful in all they were doing.

My judgment is that they were not Kest West residents. Probably from outside the area. Brought here for planned weekend demonstrations.

I am an attorney by profession. I respect the First Amendment right to free speech. Which includes flag desecration. But to use children to spread one's vile thoughts! A step too much! Over the line!

I hope this is the most publicity this group will get. I doubt it, however. This is only the tip of the iceburg. A well planned invasion is upon us.

A strange occurence yesterday.

I was lazy. Spent the day hanging around the house. Mostly in bed. That kind of day.

Marty called at dinner time. He is back in town. He wanted to go to dinner. Square One. I was not in the mood. Too elegant for me last night. Told him I thought I would go to Schooner's Wharf, have a couple of drinks and probably a fish sandwich at the bar.

We were on different wave lengths. So we agreed not to meet.

I stepped out of the shower at 7. My cell phone rang. It was Dan Manaher of Don's Place. "Where are you?" "Home," I replied. "When are you coming?" "Coming where?" "To the bocci party!"

I forgot! Last night was the bocci banquet at Don's Place for our special 4 team group. Our second annual such party!

We had talked about it for 3 weeks. All of us. Bocci is important! The banquet even more important!

Don and I had chatted about it several times. Jules, who was in charge of awards, and I talked about it many times, also. Michael was responsible for the menu. He and I discussed the party and menu more than once.

And I forgot!

Alzheimer's!

I was there in 15 minutes. Everyone was already partying. Most had already eaten. Food left, however.

I had a wonderful time!

My bocci friends are all good people!

There were several awards. Jules, Larry, Amanda, Chris and a couple of others received trophies. Well deserved! All happy to be recipients! And the rest of us happy to see them recognized!

Larry's team was the big winner. Yankee Jack wrote a special song for Larry to commerate the event. Yankee stood next to Larry with his arm around Larry and sang it to him. Amusing to observe. Big Yankee and tiny Larry. One squeeze of Yankee's arm and Larry would have been annihilated!

The words Yankee wrote fit the occasion. More importantly, they fit Larry!

Next year I am going to write the event on the back of my hand in indelible ink 3 weeks in advance of the bocci dinner. That way, I will be sure to remember! That is, if I have not already been confined for Alzheimer's!

Good morning world!

Nice day today. At least at its start.

Sun bright, few clouds, water crawling along.

The problem is the rainy season. It is upon us here in Key West. It rained off and on yesterday and last night. No big deal. But it was there. And is here.

Today will probably be the same. However at this point in the early morning, it could not be better weather wise!

Robert appears to have recovered. Lisa just called. No fever. Slept well. Ate breakfast. Good! He wants to go to school. A good sign also. I am awaiting another call as to the school decision. If he does not go, I will be hastening over to baby sit.

Last night was Bobby Nesbitt time at Aqua. A good locals crowd. To listen to great singing!

The locals at Bobby's Aqua performance are always the same. We are, in effect, groupies. Oh, well! Nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to Bobby! One of Key West's most spectacular performers!

Then to one of my favorite haunts for dinner. La Trattoria. I was in a carb frame of mind! Lasagna! I wish I could say it was calorie free!

I walked over to the Keys Piano Bar. Terri was scheduled to sing. No Terri! I asked Mark Watson, "Where is Terri?" "Home sick," he responded. "She threw out her back."

I was on the telephone calling her. Got Donna. Yes, Terri's back went out. Remember that Terri is a career dancer as well as singer. Her hoofing over the years has resulted in a lame back.

Donna was on her way to the drug store to get some hot/cold packs. Terri has to sing tonight. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday she is perforfming in a musical at the Red Barn Theater. The show must go on!

I am looking out my open widow here by the desk. I can see the ocean and the top of one palm tree. The sun shining on all. And I can also hear the sound of the water moving by.

What could be better!

God is good!

I am late with the blog today.

Normally I do it early in the morning. However the site would not come up this morning. It was down for some reason.

So I left to play golf. Today is Wednesday. Golf day. Lisa gave me the day off from babysitting. She stayed home to watch poor Robert who is still sick.

I am at Lisa's now. Robert is sleeping. Still has a temperature.

Golf went well. I played with Yankee Jack and Aaron. Yankee and I played a money game. I won $2! Better than losing!

I baby sat Robert yesterday. The fever keeps hanging in. Doctor says not to worry. I worry. Lisa worries. If it follows Ally's situation, the fever should break in the next day or two.

My first stop last night was the Chart Room. Sat at the round table with Captain Peter, Sean the reporter and a couple of other locals. Felt like I was at the round table at the Algonquin!

Rain was the main topic of conversation. It has been raining heavy the past two days. I was informed that the rainy season is upon us. About a week early. It normally starts with the hurricane season which is scheduled to begin June 1st.

I find the rainy season amusing. Just last week the newspaper informed us that we had to cut back on water usage. The drought in the keys was the worst since 1932. One of the restrictions was that lawns could only be watered one day a week and only for ten minutes. Now a week later and we are getting buried in rain! And it is anticipated to continue on a daily basis! Hopefully the drought problem will correct itself in short order.

I had an interesting experience at the bar at La Trattoria last night. Not very crowded. I was sitting alone in the corner having dinner. Erin was bartending.

At some point a woman and two men came in. They sat at the bar one seat away from me.

They were visitors. Tourists.

The woman appeared to be in her 50s. The men 40 to 50. The woman was bleached blonde. Attractive.

They were talking loudly and sharing with Erin.

They had just arrived in Key West yesterday. She had rented a home in Key Haven for the week. The two men were staying with her. Between last night and this morning, four more men would be arriving and all six men would be spending the week with her.

I say no more. The intimation was there. Erin was tongue tied.

I live in Key Haven. A family island. The professional and business people of Key West make their homes there.

We never had this before! At least not that I know of! Definately not an only in Key West thing!

I am going to sit with Robert a bit. He just woke up. Lisa is working from home.

Have a good day!

Up early!

Raining outside. Big time! Had to close the terrace doors as the carpet was getting wet.

The weather report indicates showers all week. Yesterday was not bad. No rain by day. Then a big 5 minute shower at dinner time while I was sitting in the Chart Room.

Robert was sick yesterday. It was baby sitting time again. I am getting good at this. And making macaroni and cheese for lunch!

Someone asked me yesterday if I made it from scratch or out of a box. I am a pro! I do it all myself! Robert was duly inpressed. Without goading or asking on my part, he commented that my macaroni and cheese was better than his mother's! A compliment! Of course, it has to be. I load it up with everything I can find!

Drinks at the Chart Room last night. With friend, Captain Peter. A wise man. I enjoy conversing with him.

Later, dinner at the outside bar at La Te Da. Met an interesting individual. Allen. Originally from Poland, he is into house rentals. I got an educatiuon.

People can't afford to buy. People can't afford to sell. Nor can they afford long term rentals like one month. So one week rentals have become the big thing. Most of the clientle are from Miami and points north in Floida. They hop in their cars and drive down for a week. A cheap vacation!

Allen told me his company gave up sales and long term rentals. They are devoting themselves exclusively to the weekly rental market. And their numbers are up significantly from previous years!

It is called adapting to the market.

Then across the street to the Keys Piano Bar. Terri was singing. Donna watching. A kiss from both. One drink. And home I was!

In between all this baby sitting, I continue to read a book on Harry Truman's life.

There is a saying.....like father, like son. True in Truman's case.

When Truman was President, his daughter Margaret was trying to forge a career as a professional singer. Semi classical and popular stuff. She was not that good. One critic really lambasted her in his column. A very unfavorable review.

Truman was highly irritatedf. He knocked the hell out of the critic who had knocked the hell out of his daughter. Said the critic deserved a punch in the nose and he would be happy to give him one!

Harry Truman grew up in Indedpendence, Missouri, as we all know. A typical family. Father, mother, sisters and Harry. His father's name was John. John was built like a modern day jockey. Short and thin. But a tough honest person in every respect. The in your face type.

And very protective of his lady folks. If any one spoke ill of his wife or daughters, John Truman was quick to confront them and physically knock them on their asses.

Thus did Harry Truman acquire his defensive nature as regards his daughter.

The things we learn at home. They are the best!

I suspect I have one last day to baby sit. Today. I promise one thing. No macaroni and cheese. I am getting sick of it!

Ho, ho, ho! Yogi bear!

We won the golf tournament yesterday!

My team shot a minus 8! Big!

To the victors, go the spoils. $348 a piece! Wow!

$150 each for coming in first. I bought back 10 per cent of my team that had been auctioned off the night before in the morning. Cost me $12. Returned $151. Then we each got $17 for something else. And finally David's girl friend Karen gave each of us $20. Karen had bought our team the night before for $125. We bought back 40 per cent of it before teeing off. So she had $72 invested in us. By our winning, she won! Almost $800!

Did I have fun? You bet! Did my team have fun? No question!

I played with 3 great guys. Two I had never met before tee time.

Our A player was Nate. All week I have been asking Don who this Nate is that he stuck me with. Now I know! One hell of a golfer!

Nate is the bartender at Bagatelle, a Duval Street restaurant. Prior to bartending, he took a shot at golf as a career. He has a couple of amateur titles of some significance. He also played in the Nationwide Tour. He told me everyone on the Nationwide tour has a handicap of between 1.4 and 1.8. Another wow! I can't get below 35.0!

What a long ball hitter! The longest I have ever played with. We were basically putting for a bird on every hole. His drives were spectacular. On one par 4, he drove 10 feet over the green!

So it was a drive, pitch and putt on most holes.

And Nate is a nice guy! First class!

Then there was Angus. I had never met Angus either. He is a bartender at Schooner's Wharf. Another terrific guy. And he could hit the ball long, also!

Finally, David! My friend for many years. Best friend to Don. We had never played golf together before. He had a new driver. It worked well. He hit some long ones.

In spite of Nate's unique ability, it was a team effort. There were times when he called the wind wrong and his ball never came back from over the houses. Even Tiger Woods screws up on occasion! We played ham and egg golf. We were each there to help at a certain time. It was perfect scramble golf!

I want to play with these same 3 guys next year in Don's tournament!

It did rain. Three times. Each time started as a light drizzle. Then turned into a heavy drizzle. Lasted a whole hole each time. We got wet. Then the sun came out and a hole later we were dry.

A hot day yesterday, in between the brief showers. Sweaty. My face got burned. A small sacrifice to pay for such a great day!

The party afterwards at Don's Place was fun also! Good food and good company! Tenderloins, baked potatoes and all the trimmings.

I cannot say it enough. Don is a great host and a great business man. He does good things! One was the golf tournamnet yesterday.

On the way home, I stopped at Lisa's. Robert is sick sick with whatever Ally had. I will be baby sitting Robert today. Ally is all better and heading back to school. I asked Robert what he wanted for lunch today. He said macaroni and cheese. Must be the All American kids' dish!

Have a good day! If you need me, you know where to find me!

Big day yesterday! Big day today!

Yesterday started quietly. I bought the newspaper and went over to Hogfish for lunch.

Owner Bobby is remodeling. Has been for a few months. Some new benches were evident yesterday.

All this fixing up is good. The place needed it. But time to stop! Any more remodeling and the place will lose its flavor! Beat up and dirty is good!

Robert's birthday party at dinner time. Five years old! He was born only yesterday. How big he has gotten. And healthy! He was born with cancer of the liver and had 2 major surgeries within the first 8 days of his life. He is extra special to us.

Lisa cooked a great dinner. Robert got tons of presents.

I sent him ballons. He mentioned during the week he wanted ballons. So, ballons he got!

He is into super type heroes. Batman, Spiderman and the like. His most recent hero is Bakgun. I do not know if I even spelled it correctly! Anyhow, I bought him an assortment of Bakgun toys. He was happy with all of them! And the ballons!

His other grandparents gave him some sort of Star Trek helmet. A real cool toy! Big! Changes Robert's voice when he talks. Talks to him. A wow!

We have a custom in the family that if there are other little kids in the house, they get a small present or two so they will not feel left out. I got Ally beads and a puzzle map of the United States.

Ally loves beads. She makes necklaces all day. The puzzle was of the 50 states. When I was baby sitting last week, I asked her if she knew the names of the states. She recited all 50 without hesitation. Three years old!

I ate too much. Much too much! Especially the chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Two helpings!

Then it was off to Don's Place. Don's Golf Tournamnet is today. There was a pre tournament party last night. Part of the event was a team auction.

There are 8 teams of 4 players signed up. A scramble. Any one could buy a team. Open bidding. A real auction. Whoever owns the winning team, gets all the money raised in the auction. About $1,500!

The auction was a riot! Almost non describable! People taking a piece of each other. Low bidding and then suddenly the sleeper opens up with a big bid. Every one loud and boistrous, of course!

I did not bid. Like buying a pig in a poke! I do not know most of the people playing. Don and Kurt made up the teams based on their knowledge of each player's abilities. Not very scientific!

Tino and Yankee Jack were big in the bidding. They each have all or a piece of several teams. One guy has a piece of 5 teams.

All very confusing!

We tee off today at noon.

My team consists of Nate, Dave, Angus and me.

I do not know Nate nor am I aware of his golfing abiliites. Dave I know. However, I have never played golf with him nor am I aware of how good he is. Angus--I have absolutely no idea who he is! And finally there is me! The worst golfer in the world! Now can you understand why I would not bid on my team or any other at the auction?

After the tournament, it is drinking and eating at Don's. A fun day ahead!

One negative. It is supposed to rain today. Most of the day. A 60 per cent chance of rain.

It has not rained in the day time for months here in Key West. Today it has to start!

The weather man is rarely correct here in the keys. I hope he is wrong today.

The sun is up. Gray outside. A heavy bank of clouds. Black clouds!

We shall see.

Whatever, this is going to be a fun day!

Good morning world!

Rained all night! Poured! Gray this morning. But, oh so comfortable. A cool breeze!

Some nut has been telephoning me a couple of times in the middle of the night the past 2 days. Like 2 in the morning! The phone rings and no one is there!

I am tired from it! Once awake, it is difficult for me to get back to sleep. My head is heavy this morning. I feel like I was up all night partying! When actually I was in bed asleep by 10 last night!

Babysitting Ally was only till noon yesterday. Then son in law Corey took over. Poor Ally still has a temperature. Lisa took her to the doctor's later in the afternoon. He said what he said last week. A virus, the flu. Gives her no medication. Says it will pass.

Lisa telephoned this morning. Robert now has it. Could be I will be doing double duty next week.

Next I will have it!

Dinner at the bar at La Trattoria last night. Every one was there. I had a good time!

Then I stopped in at La Te Da for a quick drink. Debra and Michael entertaining. I had not heard them for a while. Good people! Great entertainers!

The next stop was home and bed. But a good night's sleep was not mine to be for the reason set forth earlier. Some nut is aggravating me!

Don Manaher is one of the smartest business men I have met here in Key West. He is owner of Don's Place on Truman. A bar. Not a very elegant one! To even use the word elegant in the same sentence as Don's Place is to insult the establishment!

Don is having a golf tournament tomorrow. A scramble. Eight teams of 4. I am playing.

Tonight there is a pre tournamnet party at Don's Place. I will be going after dinner. Dinner is at Lisa's. We are celebrating Robert's 5th birthday!

Don's party will put everyone in proper condition to play tomorrow. They will all be hung over! Tee off is at noon. Then followed by a steak cook out at Don's Place.

Should be a fun event!

I am going back to bed. I need more sleep!

Enjoy your day!

Big day yesterday.

I started my day with an early morning visit to the doctor.

You will recall that 2 months ago I had my annual physical. My blood work came up with a couple of problems. High triglycirides and low iron.

Doctor said cut back on your drinking to correct the triglyciride problem. I did. By 2/3rds. It worked! My triglyciride count dropped over 200 points and well into the average level.

What a good boy am I!

She told me to eat spinach and an occasional steak to correct the iron problem. I have been eating spinach like Popeye! At least 1 small can a day! It worked. No iron problem.

What good living will do for you!

Then to Lisa's to baby sit Ally. She was still running a low grade fever.

I continued teaching her how to tell time. Does not seem to be working. I think she might be a bit too young to accept the concept. We played cards. She beat me each time! We played chess. She beat me!

I made macaroni and cheese again at her specific request. Her favorite dish! I sexed it up a bit by using 3 different cheeses. She did not know the difference. Tasted quite good! We both ate 2 plates full!

She only napped for 1 hour. She seemed better.

I took her temperatue occasinally at Lisa's direction. The low grade fever remained.
However, Ally seemed fine to me. We played all day. She was active all day. Never stopped!

I took her temperature several times at Lisa's direction. The fever was always there. But her body was cool and again she was active. Extremely active!

I telephoned Lisa and told her that the thermometer was broke. Ally had no fever as far as I was concerned. Buy a new thermometer on the way home to confirm my judgment.

Five minutes later Lisa telephoned again. She said I should take my temperature and then Ally's. If mine was normal and Ally's not, then Ally had a temperature! It was not the thermometer!

I took my temperature. Normal. Took Ally's. 100.7.

Mothers know everything!

Bocci last night. The last matches of the season.

I am glad the season is over. My whole team is. We sucked! The last place team!

We won 1 out of 3 games last night. All were close. But the result was no big deal!

Only 3 showed up on the other team to play. It takes 4 for a match. The game still goes on. What happens is the low numbered team loses 2 balls a round. That means we were rolling 8 balls to their 6 each time. We still lost! We could not beat a team with 2 broken legs and 1 broken arm!

Larry Smith's team had a one game play off later in the evening to determine the victor of our small 4 team tournamnet. Many stayed to watch the event. Everything on the line in one game! Larry's team won! They are to be congratulated!

I then stopped at Don's place for a drink. The bocci players were all there. A good time was had by all!

I wish it noted I consumed only 2 drinks all night. One at the bocci matches and 1 at Don's Place. I intnend to continue being good boy!

Lisa just called. Ally still has a fever and now is coughing and has a running nose. My services are required again today! Sorry for Ally, but good for me. I have enjoyed this whole experience with her this week!

Today is a special day. Robert's birthday! He is 5 years old! I just telephoned and congratualted him!

Time moves swiftly! I remember his birth. I helped deliver him. Lisa insisted. An experience! My generation never was admitted even on the same floor at the time my children were born.

Enjoy the day!

I never got to play golf yesterday. Lisa called. Ally still had a fever. So I baby sat again!

Ally was better than the day before. Though still running a low grade temperature. No long spans of sleeping for her. She kept me going! Ran me into the ground! From 9 to 4!

I was tired when I left. Like I had played 36 holes of golf! Which I never do!

Fun, though! Ally talked non stop. One topic after another.

Two items were big on our agenda.

I had taught her the day before to be able to tell her left foot from her right. Helped in getting the correct shoe on the correct foot. Prior to yesterday, Ally generally walked around with her toes turned out.

Yesterday we worked on telling time. Harder than the shoe bit!

She knew her numbers, 1-12. We worked on the big hand and little hand. The second hand kept screwing her up. I wish I could have ripped it out of the big wall clock!

We came close to understanding time telling, but not quite. Needs a bit more work.

Chess was the other big education item!

I do not know how to play chess. Tried once when I was in law school. Never returned to the game. It was too hard for me!

Ally, at 4, knows how to play chess. Thanks to Montessori pre school!

She set up the board. She identified each piece by name. Told me their names. Explained the moves to me. And we played. Actually, she did! I tried!

I hope Ally is better today and goes to school. Two days of baby sitting is enough. I am tired! Need a Louis day.

I have a 9:30 appointment with my doctor. I did blood work last week. Time to find out if 2 months of reduced drinking and increased spinach eating has corrected my triglyciride and iron problems.

In spite of being tired when I left Ally late yeaterday afternoon, it did not keep me in last night!

My first stop was Aqua. Bobby Nesbitt time! A good crowd.

I ran into Michael Fatica at the bar.

Michael and I have been friends for 2 years. We are on the same bocci team! We have suffered through this season together!

Michael used to own the Red Pepper Company. Not its exact name. He owned a spice company thats featured product was a red pepper spice. He used to drive around town in a car the shape of a large red pepper! Cool!

He lucked out and sold out a few years ago. Good for Michael!

Now boredom has overcome him. Something I understand. So he is in the process of opening a new business. The Key West Island Salt company. The specialty of the house will be bath salts.

Michael spent time in his kitchen and over the period of a year came up with a great smelling bath salt. He put together the salts, perfumes and whatever else. He had a sample jar with him last night. Oh, what a great smell! Made me want to take a bath! Something I have not done in 30 plus years! I am a shower guy!

And the presentation of his product is catching and beautiful! A simple transparent glass jar. With a dainty label identifying the Key West Island Salt Company.

The bath salts will be sold in all the best Key West venues. Watch for it and buy it! I have a sense Michael has another winner! From hot red pepper to cool white bath salt! Only in Key West!

Marty is back in town! We met for dinner at the bar at La Trattoria. A good conversation.

Fred Tillman was there with his wife for dinner. Fred owns Kelly's. The best wings in town!

I was home to bed early.

Lisa just telephoned. Ally still has a fever. So no school for her today. I am babby sitting again! After my 9:30 doctor's appointment!

Will I be able to draw unemployment after my baby sitting duties are no longer required?

Talk with you tomorrow!

Good morning!

It is getting a bit warmer each day. I have recently started using air conditioning by day. The past few evenings, I have been gertting up in the middle of the night to turn it on.

We are moving into summer in the keys!

Baby sat yesterday. Poor Ally! She had a fever all day.

Ally was a trooper. Not a problem. Could she ever be a problem?

The fever tired her. She layed on the couch 2 times on her own and each time took a 2 hour nap.

I made her lunch. The macaroni and cheese she wanted. She showed me where the pasta was, the pan and told me what I had to use out of the refrigerator. I must say, the final product tasted good. To me! She did not eat. Picked at her food. I had trouble getting fluids into her. Some water and a bit of ginger ale.

Her personality was good. A winner! We played cards. Crazy 8s. I beat her twice! She does not like losing. Then I taught her war. She beat me! Badly! She was happy! She rested in my lap. I read to her. She read to me.

The major accomplishment of the day turned out to be my teaching her how to put her shoes on the correct foot. We were having difficulty discerning left from right. She always had the wrong shoe on the wrong foot. She now knows! If she remembers nothing else about me, it will be that Poppa taught her how to know her right foot from her left when it came to shoes!

Ah, the important things in life!

This morning golf. Unless Lisa calls and says I am babysitting agasin.

I had a quiet evening last night. Went to Hogfish for a late dinner. Around 8. The place was empty. Maybe a half dozen people. The bartender told me it had been quiet all night. At one point I was the only one sitting at the bar.

I had a hogfish sandwich, some fries and only 1 gin. Read some local papers. What could be better!

Oh! I stopped at K Mart before heading out to Hogfish. Needed golf balls. They sell 48 of them for $21. A deal! Even better, they are colored. Green and yellow. It helps me to find my ball. Also, there never is an argument as to whose ball I am hitting. It shames me not to use cheap and colored balls!

Have a good day! I am going to try!

Duty calls! The telephone just rang! Ally is sick. Temerature 104. I am baby sitting.

Poor Ally. She was sick all last week with some sort of sore throat. Then she got better and Robert came down with it. Typical. Now Robert is better and she is sick again. Such is life!

Ally also telephoned me. Her favorite meal is macaroni and cheese. Good that the fever is not affecting her appetite. She wanted to know if I knew how to cook it. Frankly, I never have. But it sounds simple. I am sure I can handle it.

I was with the grandkids last night. Had dinner at Lisa's. Every one was fine at the time.

Afterwards, I stopped at the Chart Room. Had a couple of drinks with Captain Peter. Good man! Good company!

I spent the afternoon finishing reading Elizabeth Edwards' book Resilience. Read it! One of the best I have read in my lifetime!

John Edwards cheating is actually only a small part of her writing. The book basically deals with the many kicks in the ass we all take during our lifetimes. She had many. Her son's death at 16, her father's illness, cancer conquered, cancer's return, terminal cancer, her husband's infidelity and on and on.

Life is not the cheery straight path we all envision early in life. There are many crooks and turns. All unexpected.

I admired an analogy Edwards used. Life is like being on a sail boat. A strong wind comes and turns the boat. You cannot change the wind, but you can alter course. And so dealing with life's blows is to get up and move on, though in a different direction. Change is inevitable.

If one does not alter course, that person will be mired in the unhappiness of the disastrous event for the rest of his/her life.

Such is her message.

Elizabeth Edwards has been on TV much this past week discussing her book. She looks terrible! You can see the ravishes of the cancer in her face. Very obvious. And her hair. Straw.

Sad.

I get irritated at each of the TV news people. They all dwell on her husband's infidelity and tend to miss the main thrust of the book. But she is a strong determined woman! Her message gets out one way or another: Alter course!

Time to shower and run. Duty calls. No, love. Ally and I today!

Tomorrow I will probably have a fever!

Good morning world!

Slept late.

Sun up. Water calm. Slight breeze. Tide out. I can see rocks rarely seen sitting up in the water.

I stopped by Larry and Christine's for coffee yesterday morning. They have absolutely the best, and probably most expensive, coffee machine on the island!

In addition to school teaching and singing, Christine paints. Her easel and stuff were sitting out, so I took the time to really look at her work for the first time.

Outstanding! Bright watercolors of the Key West scene.

Such a talented woman!

Then over to the Yacht Club for Mother's Day brunch with Lisa and the family.

The company was good! What else could Lisa and her family be! The food equally good! I ate too much!

Robert had been sick for a few days. He still looked under the weather. Lisa said he was ok. The worse was behind him. It was ok for him to be out.

She was correct. Mothers know!

Robert had not eaten much for 2 days. Not yesterday at brunch. I got my money's worth out of him! He devoured everything in sight! He was hungry. Like he had not eaten in a few days! And when he was finally done, his familiar smile returned to his face. He was back!

I returned to Lisa's home to spend a bit of the day with them. Chatting with Corey is always good. An interesting, perceptive and caring man. There should be more Coreys in this world!

Robert is 4 and Ally 3. Both soon to have birthdays and will be 5 and 4 respectively. Both attend Montessori pre school. Robert learned chess there. He has since taught his sister Ally. Yesterday I watched the two of them set up the chess board and play a game. And they knew what they were doing! Amazing!

I spent the balance of the afternoon watching the Players golf tournamnet at home. I worry about Tiger Woods. He was in too many traps and missed too many putts. Will he ever really come back? Has the layoff because of his knee surgery taken the edge away for all time? It has to be mentally difficult for him.

Six became Gardens time. I went over to hear Skipper and others play. The crowd has thinned a bit with the season being over.

Kate Miano was her usual lovely self. I am happy for her. Her back is mended, her business successful.

I spent some time chatting with John Padget. I was formally introduced to him last week for the first time. An interesting man! A former Superintendent of Education for Monroe County, he is active also with local charities. He is deeply involved with the mentoring program here.

Padget is a transplanted New Yorker, as many of us are. Turns out he comes from Tully, New York. Tully is a Syracuse suburb. Only 50 miles from Utica. Unfortunately, Padget went to Cornell rather than Syracuse. But that can be forgiven!

Then over to the Keys Piano Bar for a quick drink. Mark Watson was bartending and singing. He is good! And a good guy, besides!

Dinner was at the bar at La Trattoria again. I am a creature of habit. As most of us are. When I find a place and people I like, I tend to return frequently. I enjoyed my snapper and the crowd around the bar.

Home to an early bed. Obviously turned out to be a long night's sleep. When the sun is up, I have overslept. As I did this morning!

Enjoy your day!

Today is Mother's Day.

A special day for a special person.

But most do not need one day to pay homage to that person who raised us from infancy to adulthood. And is still there to console and counsel us even in our adult years. Every day is or should be Mother's Day!

That assumes, of course, that a mother is still alive. Mine is not.

It has been 20 plus years since she left.

I think of her every day. She is constantly in my thoughts. I actually think of her more now that she is dead than when she was alive. Strange.

Mom was born in Foggia, Italy. She was the ninth born of nine children. The previous 8 were all boys. Her parents felt lucky. Finally, a girl! So they named her Fortunata, Italian for Fortune.

She came to the United States while still a baby. The family was poor. Typical of immigrant families of those days. Probably typical of immigrant families even today.

Her parents settled the family in New York City.

My Mother only went to the third grade. At the age of 8, she had to go to work. She worked in a shoe factory 14 hours a day. No child labor laws back then!

Later in life she went to night school and received her high school equivalency diploma. About the time I was in college. Education was important. She was very proud of her achievement in obtaining the diploma. She carried a silent shame because she had not previously completed her schooling.

She was a typical mother. Matriarch of the family. Giver of advice. Oracle of wisdom. Good cook. A kind hand. A loving heart.

She was the hero to all of her grandchildren. Most important!

My Mom was the typical appearing Italian grandmother of her day. Short and round. To say fat would be disrespectful. Jolly and happy. The light in the kitchen! Family life was in the kitchen in those days.

Diabetes became her problem. She did not watch her eating. It did her in.

I miss her.

I had a most compelling experience yesterday.

I started reading Elizabeth Edwards' book Resilience.

If you opt to read it, have a box of tissues nearby.

I only read the first 70 pages. It was too much! Very emotional! My eyes teared up on the very first page and continued that way for all 70! My vision was consistently blurred. Several times I had to stop to dab my eyes. One time the tears were running under my glasses and dropping down on my shirt!

A sensitive man I am! But not that sensitive! The book is absolutely the most compelling piece of literature I have ever read!

And the first 70 pages does not even dwell on her husband's indiscretion. That is yet to come, I assume. And the 70 pages only briefly hits upon her terminal illness.

It is autobiographical. It is Elizabeth Edwards' personal history. What a story! Well presented!

Edwards knows how to write. She places words to paper in such fashion to touch one's heart. Not contrived. It is just her speaking.

Nothing else I did yesterday compares to the experience I had reading those 70 pages.

I lunched at the Yacht Club and chatted with friends.

Last night I stopped at Lisa's to see the grandkids. Robert is sick with the same thing Ally had last week. Poor kid! He was laying on the couch with his head in Lisa's lap. Not moving. I suspect next weekend Lisa will be down with the same problem.

Afterwards I had dinner at the bar at La Trattoria. Kathy was working. Always good to talk with her. Beecha was hosting. An absolute pleasure! She came over to kiss me hello. She smelled good! I told her so!

Then to the Keys Piano Bar for a drink with Donna and to hear Terri sing. Stayed only a short time. Then home to bed.

At some point today I will return to Elizabeth Edwards' book. I am almost reluctant to do so. I found it draining yeaterday and suspect it wll affect me similarly today.

In the meantime, the weather is terrific here in Key West. High 80s to low 90s by day. Cool evenings. No air conditioning required by night. Leave the doors or windows open and the cool ocean breeze runs in. Together with the sound of the ocean. What more could one want?

Enjoy your day!

Blood work early yesterday morning.

To this day I cannot look when blood is drawn. Back when I was getting married, New York law required a blood test to make sure a person was venereal disease free. Forget I passed the test, I passed out as the blood was taken from my arm! And still recall and experience that eerie feeling everytime I need to have blood drawn to this day.

It shames me when 4 year old Robert and 3 year old Ally need to have their blood tested. They are not afraid. They look as it is being done and laugh!

I had an hour to kill before my haircut so I stopped at Camille's for breakfast. Pancakes! Buckwheat pancakes! I have not had them in years. Good!

My haircut with Lori was a treat. What more can I say! I sometime think I should pay her for the experience!

Last night Bocci!

I did not play, though I did attend. To cheer my team mates on!

You will recall that our team has so many players that it was divided into A and B teams. The As are purportedly the better players. In reality it has not worked out that way. I am an A player and the A ream played the past 2 weeks because the games were money games. And we lost both weeks!

Anyhow.....the B team played last night. Against the #1 team, the Donkeys. Jackasses they are not! They killed us big time all 3 games!

Our cry continues to be wait till next year!

I received very sad news this morning. Ronald Wakeel died.

Ron was a friend from Utica. We were not close. I knew him. We were always cordial to one another. He always had a smile on his face. He had that rare quality that made him everyone's friend. There were no acquaintances where Ron was concerned.

He was 69. Living in Boca Raton. Leaves his wife Linda, children and grandchildren. And many close friends, as well as friends such as myself.

Ron's father owned a men's clothing store. In East Utica, the Italian section of town. It was located on Elizabeth Street on the corner of Second or Third. Later on the store moved downtown near the Stanley Theatre.

Ron went into the family business with his father and took the business to higher success. Ron also was involved in other ventures such as night clubs, bars and restaurants. He and his brother once owned and operated the Ramada Inn in Utica for 15 years. Then they were able to sell the property to Utica College for a dormitory. A big hit!

Early in his business career, Ron was having difficulty with his bank. His attitude was simple. Screw the bank! He went bankrupt.

Ron felt he was being mistreated by the bank and did the extreme. That was Ron! Right was right and wrong wrong from his perspective. Simple black and white.

In any event, I always thought the bankruptcy was the best thing that happened to Ron. The saber was honed. His major business successes all occurred after the bankruptcy.

A good man. He will be missed.

And to all my friends, enjoy! We never know when!

Good golf yesterday!

I was the big winner! $10! However, our custom is that the winner buy drinks. The drinks cost me $17! I didn't care! My successes on the golf course are few and far between!

I played with Tom, Tino, Yankee and Michael. Good guys. We had a fun time.

My success was really centered around one hole. The 13th. A long par 3. I drove the green and dropped a 12 foot down hill birdie putt. The birdie was worth 4 exotics. Three for a triple greenie and 1 for the bird. Worth $16!

Ho, ho, ho!

Last night was opening night at the Waterfront Playhouse. The show was The Musical of Musicals. A spoof, a parody on some great Broadway shows by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Andrew Llyod Webber and Kander & Ebb.

It was a mix and match in many instances. Phantom of the Opera and Cabaret were combined at one time. Hilarious!

I was Donna's guest at the Waterfront opening. She has season tickets. I was second choice, however. Though I am not complaining. Her partner Terri was singing in a show a few blocks down Duval at the Red Barn theater. Terri's show there is in its second week.

The Waterdront Playhouse is and has been a tremendous success for many years. A non profit, it works hard to bring the best to Key West!

Bob Frechette is its President. He has a nice way of whipping supporters into increased levels of enthusiasm and giving. A leader!

Another reason for Waterfront's success is Danny Weathers. Danny is Artistic Director. The man has it all together!

This morning is blood letting time. I have an early morning appoinment to have blood drawn. My doctor is following up on my triglyciride and iron problems. I have been drinking much less and eating spinach till it is coming out of my ears. The blood results should be better. It will take a week to know.

After the doctor stop, a fun visit. A haircut! With the lovely Lori!

Key West is good!

It's a lovely day today.....



Yesterday's lunch was a unique experience! I ate at Shrimp Shack. The Shrimp Shack is that place I write about at the end of a road on Stock Island. It sits on dock where the shrimp boats are located.



Philly steak sandwiches have never been my thing. I probably have had 3 in my whole life. At the Shrimp Shack yesterday, I noticed a Philly fish sandwich. What the hell! I was in the mood for something diffrent!



What a treat! What taste! No steak. Fresh lobster and shrimp covered in melted cheese and cooked in a delicious sauce and onions. All heaped on a large soft sub for serving. A wow! Try it!



I had drinks last night with Captain Peter and Sean at the Chart Room. We solved some, not all, of the world's problems.



Then Peter and I decided to have dinner at the bar at the Wine Galley. What could better! Good company, good food and Larry Smith playing the piano!



TV news this morning reported that Dave Bing was elected Mayor of Detroit. Hip, hip, hooray!



Bing is a class act. I know of him from Syracuse University. He was a star basketball player. Played with Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim back then. Bing went on to be a professional star with the Detroit Pistons. He has already been elected to the Hall of Fame.



Success followed Bing even after his retirement from basketball. He became a successful businessman.



Now he has entered the political arena. Not for glory, I assume. Rather to help his down trodden home town! Good luck, Dave!



There is a buzz on the streets of Key West. It is about a documentary film which is opening Friday May 8th at the Tropic cinema.



The film is called In A Dream.



It is the story of Philadelphia artist Isaiah Zagar. Zagar's specialty was mosaics. He created from tiles. He is most well known for a 50,000 square foot mosaic in South Philadelphia which consisted of elaborate designs made from tiles and mirror pieces.



50,000 square feet is a big mosaic! It had to be. Zagar told a story in it. The tale of his relationship with his wife Julia. The story details how a family deals with mental illness in a loving and supportive way.



Inspiring!



The film is directed by Zagar's son, Jeremiah. For him, a personal tale. All the more reason to see In A Dream.



Golf this morning! Ho, ho! Hope I play as well as I played on the back nine last week when I shot a 47! We shall see!

This early morning view from my office window never ceases to amaze me! Each and every day it is a happening! The ocean and a solitary palm tree. Mangrove islands in the background.

Yesterday started out to be an easy one.

Coffee and the papers at the Coffee House. Lunch at Paradise Cafe. Then home.

Suddenly my day became physical! I decided to wash my car. I have not washed a car in years!

It took well over 2 hours! Hot, dirty, grueling work. The sweat was running off my body in streams.

85 degrees! Could not park the car in the shade. Hose only extended so far. The car filthy!

An experience! What motivated me, I know not. However, I assure you I have no intention of doing it again for years!

Last night was Donna and Terri time! I was their guest at dinner. Blue Heaven!

I have not eaten at Blue Heaven in about 5 years. It is off the beaten path. In Bahama Village. It is an outside open air restaurant. Sort of rustic. Very Carribean. Nothing fancy, yet fancy in itself. Baby chicks and an occasional dog walking around.

Atmospheric would best describe Blue Heaven.

The food was outstanding! Donna and I had the snapper. Terri a steak. The flavor is in the sauces. The sauces smother the food and bring out all sorts of exotic tastes.

I am beginning to sound like a food critic! Which I am not!

Terri is excited about her return to Broadway this fall. Good for her! No, great! She is an absolute talent! And deserves the good luck which has come her way.

Donna was her usual charming self. We talked about the new jewelry pieces Donna has done. Donna earns her way by custom making jewelry. Unique pieces! They stand out! Look great on men and women. Yes, she also has a male line! Remember, this is Key West.

And then home to bed and a good night's sleep. I was lucky to have stayed up as late as I did. My ass was still dragging from the car washing!

Have fun today!

What a glorious Key West morning!

Blue sky! Blue water! Sun reflecting off the palm trees!

God is in His Heaven, all is right with the world!

Yesterday went as anticipated, except I did even less than I normally do.

The morning went well. Read the Sunday papers. Watched Meet the Press. Then the grandkids showed up! My afternoon became their's!

Swimming and playing! More swimming and playing!

Finally they left! Good! I crawled into bed for a nap. Instead I got tied up in the golf tournamnet.

Good golf!

Tiger is still a bit rusty. Not quite back yet. Will he ever be totally back? An interesting question!

Zach Johnson turned out to be my hero and the hero of every hacking golfer in America!

Johnson was up by 2 on the back side when he arrived at a par 3 hole. No big deal. He would slide to victory.

His 170 yard drive went far to the right. Even hit a walk. So it bounced even further to the right.

But he had a shot. A tall palm tree was just off center to the right between him and the green. All he had to do was stay to the left of the tree. No big deal for him. Should not be a big deal for anyone, including me. However, it always would be for me! Guaranteed I would hit the tree! But not a pro like Johnson.

As it turned out, the gods were not with him. He hit the trunk of the palm tree. Shot the ball back sharply to the left and behind him.

Now Johnson was farther away. And to make things worse, he was immediately behind a couple of huge bushes. I would have hit the ball into the bushes. Golf is a mental game!

Johnson was a better man! He hit the ball up and away and it land about 12 feet from the hole on the green. A good shot!

He lay 3. Par was impossible. But he would salvage the hole with a bogey. And still retain the lead by 1.

It was not meant to be.

He 3 putted! Took a 6 on a par 3! He never recovered and was not in the running for the win after that.

Sad. I felt bad for him.

However, such is life!

He played like Louis! Bad for Johnson! On the other hand, good for all the Louis's out there who play like I do! Even the mighty screw up!

Dinner with Lisa and the family last night.

Lisa slow cooked ribs all day. Absolutely delicious! Robert loves ribs! He kept eating and eating!

I spent last night home. Couch potato time. Watched old movies on TV.

A quiet healtful Sunday.

America, the land of the underdog!

Yesterday's Kentucky Derby winner proves the point!

Mine That Bird (what a name!) was a 50-1 shot. That should be enough to prove my point. But it goes farther.

The horse was trained in New Mexico. By a gent named Bernie Woolley Jr. He was the guy on TV in jeans and a black cowboy hat. A far cry from the normally suited and necktied trainer.

He was also on crutches. He broke his leg 2 months ago in a motorcycle accident.

To get Mine That Bird from New Mexico to Kentucky for the race, Woolley hitched the horse up to the back of his pickup truck and drove the horse and himself to Kentucky. Broken leg and all!

Woolley is 45. He is a for real cowboy. His previous employment was as a rodeo bareback rider.

They make Hollywood movies out of a scenerio like this! They probably will!

Not only is Woolley and the horse's success an American success story, it has all kinds of shades of Key West attached to it. How many Key Westers might fit Woolley's description and background!

Yesterday was the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. The first race was in 1875. A horse named Aristides won. 10,000 fans watched. The purse was $2,850.

Mine That Bird ran before 153, 563 fans. The horse shared in a purse of $2 million.

How time changes things!

I watched the Derby yesterday at Don's Place. The best venue for the best of races!

Don's was packed.

The women all wore hats. Many of the hats took time and attention to prepare. Big, flowery, ruffled and the like! All magnificent to the eye!

And many of the ladies were also attired in dresses. As contrasted with the men who did not wear dresses! Sorry! It just came out that way! What I meant was that the men dressed as usual. Shorts and tee shirts.

It was a fun party! Don knows how to do it! Every one got a free drink. Every one was in a happy playful mood. The food was terrific! Dijon's fried chicken, 2 huge 6 foot tunnel sandwiches, salads, pastas and fruit. All free!

I had a good time! Enjoyed it all!

I left about 7. I had had it. The previous evening was still with me. So it was home to bed and a good night's sleep.

Did you ever wonder why Kentucky is where horses are generally bred and raised? It has to do with the grass. The grass is referred to as bluegrass. It contains higher amounts of calcium. The calcium it is claimed makes for superior racing horses.

TV just announced that Jack Kemp died. 73. Sad.

Kemp was a professional football player. A quarterback. Soon after retirement from football, he successfully ran for Congress from the Buffalo area. A cabinet member at one time. He unsuccessfully ran for Vice President against the Clinton-Gore team the second time Clinton ran.

He became a financial expert during his political years. He devised/supported a new tax plan that influenced President Reagan whom he served.

It was my privilege to have met him on 2 separate occasions. He was a good man and another American success story! From the fields of footabll to the highest offices of government!

It is Sunday! The best day of the week! The Sunday papers to read, Meet the Press to watch, a drink and some good company at the Gardens early tonight and then dinner with Lisa and the grandkids. Ribs tonight! She is slow cooking them all day.

You enjoy your Sunday, also!

I had a good day yesterday!

A Louis day!

Turned out I did not have to babysit. So I laid in bed till about 11. Then a quick shower and out I went.

Started with a manicure and pedicure. Always a relaxing experience. I have been a clean and attractive nail fanatic for 40 years. A guy can dress in suit and tie, wear shined shoes and shave. But if his nails are not done, he looks like a bum!

Then to Hogfish for a quiet late lunch. Read the local papers and enjoyed some hogfish.

Lisa telephoned later in the day. Ally was still sick. She took her to the doctor. Merely a sore throat. Nothing worse. Lisa wanted some popsicles and ice cream for her. Doctor ordered. So I went and bought them and delivered them to my sick baby.

Ally looked terrific. Was playing. Opened her mouth wide and stuck out her tongue so I could look at her throat. Cute! She is a joy!

My first stop last night was the Chart Room. Ran into many locals. Peter, Marty, Sean, Shiela, amongst others. Good people. Good conversation.

Marty and I had dinner at the bar at Michaels. It was steak night for me. On the rare occasions I now eat meat, I feel guilty. Like I am cheating. But the doctor said to do it and who am I to argue with my doctor.

Afterwards we went to the Keys Piano Bar. I am glad we did. The singing was spectacualr!

I love Terri White. Her voice give me goose bumps when she hits those high notes. Mark Watson was at his best. And the other singers were no slouches either last night. It was a fantastic musical evening!

Vera Schiff came in. Always the lady. She is known as the Aunty Mame of Key West. Why, I do not know. Yes, she does have great parties with tons of people invited. But she is always soft spoken and pleasant. Not Rosiland Russell at all!

Vera came to Key West many years ago from somewhere in Pennsylvania. A widow. She is one of the most welcome people in town. Generous and charming. Always concerned. Never fails to ask me how Lisa is doing.

Kate Miano was there, too. Without wheel chair or cane. I was happy to see the transition back to normalcy.

Kate had a serious back operation several months ago. Recovery has been slow. She looked good last night! Very good! Moved around well. Always smiling and laughing. Welcome back, Kate!

Kate owned a small guest house at one time. Then she graduated upward when she purchased the Gardens Hotel several years ago. One of the finest properties in Key West!

Kate instituted a Sunday evening event. Music in the gardens and cocktails. The whole world comes to the Gardens Sunday evenings for the event. 200-300! Amazing what she has accomplished!

Kate is reigning Queen of Fantasy Fest. That means she is presently Queen and will continue in that capacity till a new one is elected late in October for the next Fantasy Fest. Obviously a well respected and admired woman!

There was a gentleman dressed in drag at the bar. Remember, this is Key West! The clothes probably looked better off him than on him. Attractive he was not!

But he had it all! Heels, stockings, fluffy dress, blond wig and a big straw hat! He looked like something out of Easter Parade in the 1950s. Then I thought that that is how people dress for the Kentucky Derby. The Derby is tonight! If he was dressed for the Derby, he was appropriatewly attired.

Anyhow.....he/she apparently had to go to the bathroom. I was curious to see which door he would open. He was true to form! He used the ladies room!

Only in Key West!

I cheated on my drinking last night. Had 4! Bad!

The Kentucky Derby is at 6 tonight. 6:04 to be precise. I plan to be with friends partying at Don's Place. It will be fun!

Congratulations to Captain Larry Smith and his team! They beat us big time at bocci last night!

I stunk! Such is life!

The rest of my team mates were better. But not enough to overcome the precision and competency of Larry's team.

There is always next season!

I met a nice guy at bocci last night. Glen Gordon of Boulder, Colorado.

Glen is a 44 year old attorney visiting here in Key West with his wife and 2 children. Glen reads my blog every day. Good man! He knew we were playing a money game last night. So he came over to the bocci courts to meet and visit.

And he found me! Not easy since we have never met and there were about 125 people at the bocci courts last night.

Glen is a University of Michigan undergrad and University of Colorado Law School graduate. He is doing well in the practice. Otherwise he would not be looking to buy a home here in Key West. Yes, he is actively searching. Good for him! And good for Key West!

He is a fly fisherman. All the more reason to purchase a home here. The fly fishing is terrific!

Good luck Glen in your quest for a second home. Keep in touch. I enjoyed our meeting. I look forward to calling you neighbor.

I spent some time during the day yesterday continuing to read the Truman book.

Truman was a feisty President. No wonder! His ancestors settled in the tumultous areas of Missouri and were involved in the rough internal state wars in Missouri and Kansas pre Civil War. Hardy people! Took no guff from any one.

Nor did Truman. It was obviously in the blood line.

Think of his reaction to the news of North Korea invading South Korea, his firing of MacArthur, his campaign leading to his surprise victory in the 1948 Presidential election, his lambasting of a music critic who knocked his daughter and on and on.

And Truman was a part of Key West. Those 175 days he spent here during his Presidency.

And new friend Glen, Truman was a fly fisherman here in the keys. There are several photos of Truman in his undershirt flyfishing our Gulf waters. So Glen, buy an old time undershirt and wear it as you fly fish. Who knows, you may some day end up President! Our first from Colorado! Poor Hart would have made a great President, but foolishness thwarted his attempt. So we are still waiting for our first President from Colorado!

Lisa just called. Ally is sick. So my day is set. I will be babysitting Ally all day. Just what old retired grandfathers are for!