HUMP DAY AND LOUIS

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People think that the older a person is the wiser they are. In most instances, yes. There are times however you surprise yourself and others with what you do/did not know.

I never heard the term hump day till I lived in Key West. Maybe I was the blind in this instance who could not see.

I noticed several yeas ago how many times hump day would appear in writings on wednesday. Recognizing Key West was a little of the wall, I assumed the term had to do with sex.

I wrote that everyone should enjoy the sex that hump day denoted.

Next day, I was buried with comments. Hump day had nothing to do with sex. It was a a term given to the middle of the work week. Half over.

I was disappointed. I would have preferred it had to do with sex.

My podcast last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Enjoyed commenting on matters that I thought required discussion/analysis.

First, money. The continued plight of the middle class and the inability of millennials to purchase a home because of a lack of funds.

Then, Trump. He ate up a lot of my show time. Required. The story grows with each passing day.

I covered Trump’s trip, the Russia investigation, Trump and Jared Kushner, and finally Trump, Kushner and Blackstone. The last item revealing.

One of the great poets of all time was born this date in 1819. Walt Whitman. His best known works “Leaves of Grass” and “O Captain, My Captain.”

I consider “O Captain, My Captain” his best work. Concerned Abraham Lincoln’s death. Set forth Whitman’s deep sorrow.

I was a history major. Especially loved the Civil war. Could not learn enough about it.

In an English literature course in my junior year, the professor spent much time analyzing “O Captain, My Captain.” I paid special attention and absorbed everything I could learn about the work.

Fortunately. The poem was a major question on the final examination.

Let me share a bit of this special work.

“O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done. The ship weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won. The port is near, the bells the people all exalting…..O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dark…..rise up and hear the bells; Rise for you the flag is flung – for you the bugle trills.”

Capitalizations, spelling and punctuation as set forth in the original of the poem as published.

Trump continues to screw up. News this morning reports Trump is using an unsecured cell phone to speak with world leaders. He was giving leaders he met on his recent trip the number and telling them to call him directly.

This by the man who severely criticized Hillary for using a private mail server.

Trump does not think. Actually, the problem is he does not know. And refuses to learn!

Enjoy your day!

 

MY HEART WAS SLEEPING

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My stress test was yesterday morning at 11:30. I gave up on the treadmill for the test years ago. Too much work. Went to the nuclear test. Easy. The last two have been dobutamine.

For the dobutamine test, I am lying down. Hooked up to everything. The dobutamine dripping into my arm.

The test took unusually long. The dobutamine is supposed to get my heart rate up to 120. Started at 60. Stayed at 60 a long time. I could sense a concern that it was not going up. They gave me a shot of something else. Still no progress.

I kept hearing from those working on me that my heart was still sleeping. Another way of saying I was not moving much off the 60.

A doctor was called in. Now, I was concerned! I could hear the discussion. Do we stop and have him return another time? Do not want to give him more of whatever?

My heart must have heard the discussion. It woke. Started moving.

Rest of test normal.

The after effect, a first. I was exhausted! Dead tired! Wow! Made it to home and bed. Slept for three hours. Felt better afterwards.

I will be informed of the test findings tomorrow.

The test was the result of my having chest pains two weeks ago and on the same day. I took nitroglycerin each time. The pain went away each time. Not a good sign. If pain disappears, means you are probably experiencing a heart problem.

I slept through the time I was supposed to be rewriting and refining the material for my blog talk radio show in the evening. I winged it. The show went the same as if I had spent that extra hour working the material over.

Enjoyed a light dinner at Roostica.

The Presidential primary races suck. Need issues and not personal clashes.

Our country has had similar campaign wars in years past. Today is nothing new. Except may be exaggerated more.

I spoke last night about the Presidential election of 1832. Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay. Hot! They ended up hating each other. Jackson won. Clay returned to the U.S. Senate.

The Senate was investigating some matter. They wanted documents in Jackson’s possession turned over to the Senate. Jackson refused.

Clay figured he had Jackson! He got the Senate to censure Jackson. The Senate did not have the power. Jackson  ignored the censure.

Jackson was a proud man. He took the censure attack personally. When Jackson left office, he said his only regret was he had not shot Clay.

Last summer, I met Frances Watson Clark at the Chart Room. We spent a long time chatting. She wanted to write a book about Key West. She wrote it and recently sent me a copy. Title: Images of Modern America – Key West.

The book is a series of photos taken over the years. Not in sequence. Each with a brief history beneath the photo. Her work in actuality a novel. Not merely a bunch of pictures. The wording below each photo a piece of Key West’s yesterday.

I recommend the book. sales@arcadiapublishing.com.

The book has the usual Acknowledgements section. Frances mentioned me in the Acknowledgements. A first for me. She wrote, “A chance encounter at the Chart Room granted me the fortune of meeting Joe Petrone, a columnist for KONK Life and blogger extraordinaire…..”

I know. She got my first name wrong. Nevertheless, I appreciate the mention.

Joe Liszka died in October. I wrote about him at the time. A Key West luminary.

At 5 o’clock today, a Celebration of Life will be held at Tennessee Williams. The theatre was needed because of the anticipated crowd. In addition to all his accomplishments, Joe Liszka was loved.

Today is hump day and screw off day. Hump day we know. Screw off is because today is my friday. I work through the weekend. The weekend being my busiest time. Wednesday, thursday and friday are mine. Nothing to do, except write this/my blog.

Screw off has already begun. I remained in bed till after 7.

Enjoy your day!

FELL ASLEEP

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My blog talk radio show was at 9 last night. It takes me five minutes before to connect with the radio station. The process is not permitted till 8:45.

It was 8 o’clock. I was watching primary returns. I fell asleep. Woke precisely at 9. Rushed to the computer. It took till 9:06 to connect.

This has happened before. I have to move my ass under pressure to connect.

Listeners last night were cheated of five minutes. Those archived will never know. I know and apologize. Promise to never fall asleep again.

The blog talk radio show went well. In spite of the lost five minutes. I hit hard on two issues. Female genital mutilation in England and Michigan’s Senate passing a bill last week making oral and anal sex illegal. Good for 15 years in jail!

The high number of mutilations in England is due to the high number of Muslim immigrants. Michigan’s soon to be law is the government invading the bedroom. Nine states already have such laws.

Today is wednesday. Wednesday is Hump Day. For me, Screw Off Day. No writing till the weekend.

The anti-gravity treadmill in the morning. Increasing my speed. I am impressed!

I misjudged my preparation for last night’s show. I thought I had things pretty well ready. About an hour’s work to complete.

I was wrong. Took me 3.5 hours. The reason being I found some items more interesting than that which I had prepared.

The New Hampshire results telling. I hate to admit it. It appears Trump will end up the Republican nominee. The Sanders/Clinton race still up in the air. Sanders victory impressive. Beat Hillary by 22 percentage points.

I suspect Hillary may be on her way down. Not because she is a bad woman. Her time has passed. She represents yesterday’s thinking. She has too many other problems on her plate.

Sanders an interesting candidate. He is of the Jewish faith. He would be the first Jew elected President should he win. Much like Obama’s victory as the first black.

We were all shocked by Flint, Michigan. It now comes out the lead problem has occurred in the past in other cities and in each the news of was kept from the public. Sebring, Ohio, Washington, D.C., Jackson, Mississippi, Durham and Greenville, North Carolina.

On this day in history in 1763, the French and Indian War ended. Recall, I made mention two weeks ago in KONK Life of the war as part of my Yankee Doodle Dandy article.

The Brits won  the French and Indian War. As a result, France lost most of its colonial empire. France did not forget. Many historians believe the French supported the colonists in the Revolutionary War for that reason.

Enjoy your day!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DON MANAHER

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Wednesday for me is as friday for most others. The end of the work week! Time to take a few days off.

Friday through tuesday are research, writing and radio days. Nine thirty tuesday night ends it for me. The time my blog talk radio show concludes.

Wednesday is a do nothing day. Love it! Some celebrate wednesday as hump day. For me, a screw off day.

Happy birthday Don Manaher! Finally, 40! Ho ho!

Big birthday party tonight at Don’s Place. Seven o’clock. Great entertainment. Larry, Christine, Kathleen, and Ray amongst others. Don’s children and grandchildren. Son in laws to be. And the best of the best, wife Stephanie.

A big time Christmas event this evening. The Lighted Bike Parade. Bikes thoughtfully decorated. Riders, also. Parade itself starts at 6:30 from Bayview Park. To Mallory Square and back to Bayview. Partying  at Bayview begins at 5. Santa Claus has promised to be there.

Spent yesterday researching further and fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. A multitude of sins covered. From Helen Sperling and the Holocaust to Pittsburgh police who refuse to be drug and alcohol tested.

An early dinner at Roostica. Love Bobby’s food! Last night sausage covered with peppers and onions in a red sauce. Five pieces. Plus, great bread. All for $10!

Hurried home to watch the Syracuse/Colgate basketball game. Syracuse supposed to win. Colgate nowhere the same class. Last night was Syracuse’s 50th consecutive victory over Colgate.

The score 78-57. Syracuse was supposed to win that big. The team looked better than their last game. Not there yet, however. Rebounding continues to be a problem. Each team had 32 rebounds.

It was Mike Hopkins’ first college victory. He is the acknowledged Boeheim successor. May he have a 1,000 victory career!

One of the most strenuous and exasperating days for me is when I have to renew my drug coverage and supplemental hospital plans. Comcast easier to communicate with.

Monday, I did the drug plan. AARP sponsored United Health Care Plan. Only took an hour this year. Only had to talk to four different people. Waiting between them forever.

I have to do the supplemental hospital renewal. Same company, a different phone number. Tried monday following the drug plan renewal. Hung on the line a good 15 minutes waiting for a body. Listened to suck music. Finally, a recorded voice told me it was better if I tried between 7 and 9 in the morning. I have yet to get to it.

Sea turtles a loved species in the Florida Keys. Everything is done to protect them. We even have a Turtle Hospital. The Turtle Hospital this past weekend hosted the Annual Sea Turtle Workshop. Over 120 attendees. From as far away as Italy.

Enjoy your day!

HAPPY HUMP DAY

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I have been visiting Key West for over 25 years. Bought a home 17 years ago. Been a Florida resident 9 years.

Never heard the term hump day till my Key West days. Thought it meant that wednesday were set aside in the Keys for sex. How nice, I thought. It was only a few years ago when I mentioned the sex thing in this blog that I was made aware it represents the middle day of the week.

I do not recall hump days in upstate New York. I live and learn.

A happy hump day one and all!

Key West weather continues to be outstanding. Warm/humid every day. One problem. Insufficient rain for this time of year. July brings summer weather. Rain every day. Not long in duration, however consistent. Every day. No rain every day this July. We could use it. Otherwise, a problem.

I spent some time yesterday morning shopping for baby clothes on Duval. A gift package. Hard to find quality baby clothes in Key West. Several stores. Basically, all selling the same. Guess I will be going to the internet.

Lunched at the Cuban Coffee House. Ran into Bobby. He’s been in Key West longer than me. I first met him 25 years ago when I was visiting. The last time I saw him was five years ago at the Casa Marina for July 4th fireworks.

It was good running into him. He was going to Peter Diamond’s for a haircut. Peter’s barber shop is next to the Cuban Coffee House.

Yesterday afternoon  was spent researching a bit further for last night’s blog talk radio show. Then fine tuning the material.

Reaction to the show was as I expected. Post show comments indicate a furor with the recent revelation that Planned Parenthood has been selling the cells of aborted fetuses and actual body parts of partial born aborted fetuses. My KONK Life column this week is devoted to the abomination.

This week Key West celebrates Hemingway Days. 125 plus Hemingway look alikes in town. Another city is celebrating a similar event, except for Santa Claus. Copenhagen this week is holding its annual World Santa Claus Congress. More than 125 Santa Claus’ in attendance. Their purpose to study Santa Claus problems. This year the issue is too many cookies. The kids leave Santa so many cookies that Santa is gaining weight.

Today’s Hemingway Days events include Meet the Papas at Sloppy Joe’s at 5:30. The Key West Marlin Tournament kicks off. $50,000 in cash prizes. Last night was meet the Hemingway look alikes at Sloppy Joe’s. Key West is into Hemingway days!

There is a company on the internet called Car Decal Geek. Love the name! The company makes vinyl decals and stickers for cars. They have a section depicting Key West. Terrific! It’s all there! Everything!

Car Decal Geek is a Michigan based company. A growing company. Take a look at their website for some great decals.

Enjoy your day!