SANDY UPDATE

As Sandy heads for landfall in New Jersey and New York, its effects are still evident in Key West.

The weather was beautiful yesterday. No clouds. Sunny all day. Mid 80s. The one exception was the wind. It was cut in half to about 25 miles per hour from the previous day. Held steady all day. Blowing a bit less this morning.

I have two large flower pots, one on each side of the glass sliding doors leading to the deck. Filled with dirt. Rather than flowers, they have some green plant that is not affected by the salt the ocean throws at us daily. The pots are exceptionally heavy because of the dirt. I have never been able to lift them.

Yesterday, when the wind was cut in half, both pots were blown over. One broke. It had to be the wind. However, the wind was not as bad as the day before. I concluded the wind direction had changed. Not much. But enough to knock the pots over. A first! The pots have been sitting there for ten years.

I have lived long enough in Key West to have experienced a few hurricanes. I want to share some advise with my friends up north as to what to do.

1. If you know you are going to be in the path of a bad one, get out! Simply stated. It is too late when the storm hits.

2. If you remain, fill your bath tub with water. To flush the toilets. The sewers may not function. Nature does, however. The ability to flush is required.

3. Your power will go off. There will be no electric. Maybe no gas. It may be intermintent or for a few days. You must be prepared for any such eventuality.

4. Have at least 3 flashlights. Make sure they work. Even if they do, buy new batteries.

5. You need candles. There will be times you will live like Abraham Lincoln in his youth. That means matches or a lighter, also.

6. Drinking water. Buy a lot of bottled water.

7. Food. Remember, your power will be off. You do not know how long. Buy only foods that need not be cooked nor kept in the refrigerator. Your refrigerator will be useless to you also if power is off for an extended period. You need foods like crackers, cookies, peanut butter. Whatever requires no preparation. Purchase also canned foods that need not be heated. Like sardines. Make sure you have a can opener. Popeye you are not.

8. There is a small radio that operates on batteries. It is strictly for emergency purposes. It will provide weather reports, hurricane news, and updated survival advice. Nothing else. One can be bought at a Home Depot or similar store.

9. Stay in. Do not go out. You could end up in Missouri.

Last night was the big Fantasy Fest parade. I did not go. When you have seen as many as I have, you can skip a year or two occasionally.

I headed for the Chart Room early. Before 5. I wanted to get in and out. The streets would soon be blocked off. I stayed for a couple of drinks and fun conversation with Captain Peter, Sean and Katherine. Peter was going to skip the parade also. Sean and Katherine were dressed as Swiss yoddelers. They looked good! They were headed for a party at La Concha.

Many tourists in the Chart Room. In and out. All dressed in costumes. All having fun. It was another evening when the elctricity could be felt in the air.

When I drove out of the Pier House parking lot, Front Street was blocked at its intersection with Simonton. I was stuck for the parade. I would not be able to get out till at least midnight. Necessity is the mother of invention. I got out of the car, moved the barricade, drove through, then got out again and returned the barricade to its proper position. Fortunately, there were no police officers nearby.

I stopped at Don’s Place. Parade traffic no problem at Don’s. Many costumed people. Drinking and playing pool. Soon to leave to walk to the parade. The same electricity again.

I kissed and hugged Joanie. Danced a bit with her. Said hello to Jimmy. Greeted Boomer. Chatted a while with Kurt.

Then to Outback for dinner.

I was home in bed before 8:30. Watched two terrific football games. Alabama continues on its role to a national championship. Notre Dame looked fantastic. A great college football year.

Must hurry. Want to watch Meet the Press.

Enjoy your Sunday!

GEORGE McGOVERN DIES

America lost another great leader from yesteryear. George McGovern. A bomber pilot in World War II, a United States Senator from South Dakota, the Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate in 1972.

Nixon buried McGovern in the election. Nixon’s VP candidate was George Agnew. Both Nixon and Agnew resigned during their terms in office.

Watergate was still in its early stages of discovery. McGovern sensed the impropriety. He tried to make it part of his campaign. America was not ready at the time to believe it.

May he rest in peace.

A great Sunday morning! Sun bright. A stiff breeze. Water moving at a good clip. Scattered clouds.

In spite of the preceding, it will rain today. Guaranteed. This is Key West’s rainy season.

I walked Duval yersterday. Tons of tourists. The beginning of Fantasy Fest. A costume here and there. Mostly pirates.

Sloan came over at 4. We worked a couple of hours.

Dinner at Outback last night. Then the movies. Argo. A good movie. Tense. Kept me on the edge of my seat through out. Deals with Iran back in 1979. George Clooney one of the producers.

I sometimes wonder how readers react to the length of this blog. Yesterday was almost 1,000 words. Today a little more than 200. I write of my previous day’s experiences. If I did a lot, I have much to share. A quiet day with minimal activity results in a short blog. Yesterday was a quiet day.

Enjoy your Sunday!

SAILORS IN PORT HELP NON PROFITS

Yesterday was a pleasant Sunday. Nothing unusual. Quiet. As it should be.

Lisa and Corey came over late morning with the grandkids to swim. Robert and Ally are rapidly becoming more proficient. Fish is their middle name. They are in an advanced swim class at the present time two days a week. The classes are held at the local community college.

Hung around the house in the afternoon. Watched pro football and golf. Both exciting yesterday.

I desired a prime rib. The Atkins Diet. Went to Outback for it. Told the waitress bring me only the prime rib and au jus. Nothing else. Devoured the large cut. Perfect!

Ran into Keith and Jen at Outback. They had just returned from a weekend at the Casino in the Fort Lauderdale area. It was Keith’s 35th birthday.

They both expressed disappointment with the Casino. Not what they expected. Few gaming tables. Many slot machines.

After dinner, I walked over to Publix. I run out of food rapidly on the diet. And I buy only for the diet!

Watched the Emmys later from the comfort of my bed. I was disappointed. A relatively poor show. Staid. Boring. The lines appeared to be prepared. Perhaps they should be. However, it should not be obvious.

An interesting editorial in the Sunday edition of The Key West Citizen. About the Navy’s history with Key West. Goes way back and run deeps.

The editorial spelled out some non naval activities the war ships participated in while docked at Key West.

There were 14 war vessels from various nations in Key West for several days last week. Preparatory to a multi nation training exercise in the Caribbean.

Sailors from the ships volunteered many hours of service to Key West charities. The local non profits benefited from their painting, power cleaning, and other work activities.

Warriors. Young ones. Ready to help in more than one way.

Enjoy your day!

A LAZY YESTERDAY

Before getting into lazy, lets talk about this morning.

The Key West Lou Legal Hour airs at 10 this morning. My time. On the internet. One of the key topics involves Social Security purchasing 174,000 rounds of bullets. Hollow point bullets. Specifically……357 Sig 125 grain bonded jacketed hollow point pistol ammunition.

Join me. The show is interesting and challenging. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

Yesterday was one lazy day!

Did the blog early morning. Sometime before 8. Then worked all day non stop till 4 in the afternoon  on today’s internet show. I got lost in the material. So much. So interesting. So revealing.

I finally got out last night. Outback. Dinner at the bar. Prime rib and baked potato.

I had planned on stopping at Don’s Place afterwards to chat with Kurt who was scheduled to bartend. My stomach was full and I was uncomfortable. I went straight home.

I am heading for trouble. Eating bad and no exercise. Must get on a healthy kick again. Getting started is the hard part.

Watch my internet show this morning. Social Security purchasing all that deadly ammunition should tickle your curiosity as to the reason behind the purchase.

Enjoy your day!