Better late than never. Sorry.

I saw a wonder today.

The real estate market in Key West is as most in the United States. Down. Homes cheap. A huge number of foreclosures. Except for a school building, there is little if any new construction. Those contractors still in business appear to be living off repair work.

I live in a high rent district. Mostly walled homes. Most on water.

Two doors from me was a large two story home directly facing on the ocean. It was walled and heavily brushed. Never was able to see the building clearly.

It was there two days ago. Today, it is not. In less than two days, the building has been knocked down. I am assuming someone purchased the property at a good price and intends to rebuild. A wow! People did this 5 and 10 years ago and more. Not at all in recent years. No money!

Well someone is doing it now! And I am pleased. It is a good sign.

Yesterday was golf.

I played with Larry and Aaron. Aaron had a hangover. Big time. He was moaning and groaning before we even teed off. He played terrific golf!

Larry eeked by Aaron to be the big money winner. I was the big loser. $15.

The humidity is heavy this time of year. I was ok on the golf course. However when I arrived home, it hit me. I went to bed and took a nap.

Last night was big at the Chart Room.

Tom Dixon is in from Buffalo. Met his charming wife Fran for the first time. And she is charming. I am not saying it just to be nice.

It was Sheila’s get out of jail time. She has been confined to home for three weeks. Still recovering from a bad fracture to one of her legs. Took cadaver and a plate to fix the leg.

Everyone turned out to greet Sheila. Jean, David, Stephanie, Sean, Katherine, Myra and others. Emily bartending.

As I was driving home, I decided I was hungry. Stopped at Outbacks for a salad and steak. It was day one of my diet to lose 10 pounds. I did not drink yesterday nor have I had a drink today. A good boy am I!

But I am not getting to the gym!

This morning the dentist. A no pain visit. As you can see, I am into chewing once more. The steak last night. We did fittings  this morning. I am excited. I am into implants. The uppers look terrific. I was not pleased with the lowers. Too small. They are being redone.

For what implants cost, it’s alright to be fussy.

Tommorow The Key West Lou Legal Hour. www.konkbroadcasting.com. 10 in the morning. On the internet world wide.

Great show! Interesting! Topics include the nuts in Washington governing us, term limits, danger in bath salt, banks getting a free pass again, San Franciasco laying off forty per cent of its court work force and closing 25 court rooms, and more. Join me. I want to share my thoughts with you.

Hope you have enjoyed your day. Enjoy the evening ahead!

Other than personal happenings involving family, two things stand out in my life. Events that impressed me beyond expectation. One was man walking on the moon. The other the fall of the Berlin wall.

Today is the anniversary of one of those events. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon 42 years ago on July 20, 1969.

I was taken with the event.

It was 11 in the evening We lived on Gibson Road at the time.. My wife and I were in the family room watching history about to unfold. I said…..get the children up! I wanted them to see this memorable event.

The kids came downstairs sleepy eyed. They were 5 to 10 years of age. I had them watch. I explained the history and grandeur of the moment.

I think they could have cared less. I doubt they even remember the evening now, 40 plus years later.

I have always admired that Armstrong never sought glory or gain from the event. After his service ended, he quietly faded into a sort of personal obscurity. He became a college professor at the University of Cincinnati. He has avoided the spot light.

Lunched with Ann yesterday.

Ann is an old friend. Our relationship is getting older by the day. Not precise. Ann and I are getting older.

We knew each other back in Utica in the early 1960s. She was a reporter for the Utica papers. Then she left Utica. I never saw or heard from her again till we literally tripped over each other ten years ago at a charity event at East Martello. She and her husband were living in Big Pine.

Ann and I get together for lunch every 4 to 6 months. Yesterday was one of those days.

Ann is getting on in years. We all are. I had to explain to her six times over the telephone where the parking lot was and where the restaurant is. She knew. She just could not recall.

Anyhow, lunch was great! Ann recalls well the old days.

I had intended to lunch at Cuban Coffee Queen. The new cuban sandwich place I had been to the day before. It was threatening rain however, so I opted for across the street at Harpoon Harry’s.

I devoured a lunch I have not had in over two years. Pancakes. With butter and lots of warm syrup. I pigged out!

I have a built in antenna. I know when I am going a step too far. Yesterday was it. My weight is up. Need to drop ten pounds. I start today. Drinking out also till I lose the weight.

Never got to the gym yesterday. I am ashamed. Will not get there today either. Playing golf. That is exercise enough for me. To do the gym and golf in the same day would be pushing it. It would be cardiac arrest time.

I woke early. Five o’clock. I was expecting a call from Greece. It never came. The early wake up was a benefit in disguise, however.

You will recall last week that I shared with you how thrilled I was watching a movie of Sigmund Romberg’s life. One of his hit shows was The Student Prince. The 1953 movie version was on TV at 5 this morning. Kathryn Grayson and Gordon MacRae. A winner! Terrific musical! Gordon MacRae galloping over the desert dunes. Singing Romberg’s great songs.

A little known fact for my upstate New York friends. MacRae spent his grammar and high school years in Syracuse. A place firmly established in my life and near Utica.

I assume I will survive better this week at golf than last. I had to quit after 11 holes. I was dehydrated.

Enjoy your day!

Committed!

 I went to the gym yesterday and renewed my membership. I had let it lapse several months ago. Worked out on the tread mill a bit. I wanted to box. However, I could not get the gloves on. My hands were too sweaty from the humidity. I will work it out.

Afterwards, I walked next door to Don’s Place. Only for a glass of cold water. Had a couple. Rob bartending. Read the newspaper.

It is amazing the amount of business Don does all day. Professional drinkers.

I tried a new place for lunch. New for me. I do not recall the name. Not old age. Just not paying attention.

It is a shack. Litterally. About a block off the waterfront on the Gulf side. Near the public parking lot. A cuban sandwich place.

Michelle had told me about it. She works there delivering. It has been there for three years. I never knew. The place blends in with the building behind it.

I had a cuban toast. Excellent! I may go back today and try a cuban sandwich. There are benches located outside. I sat in the shade, ate and read a weekly local newspaper.

Stopped at Lisa’s following lunch. Chatted with her a bit. Cameron still in Mongolia. His last message was he was living with a Mongolian family. Cameron’s stories are going to be interesting when he returns.

Then a late afternoon nap. The humidity was heavy yeaterday. Nothing like a cool bedroom with cool sheets.

I was alone last night. As alone as anyone can be in Key West. No one is ever alone here.

I started at the Chart Room. Mary bartending. She is the monday bartender. Otherwise, she works at the out side bar. John, also. John from the Hot Tin Roof. Manager/host supreme. It was his night off.

I run into John frequently. We seem to enjoy the same haunts.

I was hungry. Where to eat? Outbacks. I am chewing again. Wonder of wonders! Wanted a steak. Sat at the bar and enjoyed.

Spotted Joe and his son at a table. Joe runs an auto repair shop on US 1. I took my Mercedes to him when it arrived. I went to Joe’s place because of a sign in his window: We Want Your Business.

I was not dissatisfied. Joe did good work and the price was reasonable.

It was Joe’s birthday and they were celebrating. He was 42 or 46. I laughed as I congratulated him. I was thinking and shared with him that I was 76 last week. I could see the disbelief in his eyes.

Tom Dixon from Buffalo is in town. Staying at Ocean Key. He is a Facebook friend and a loyal blog reader. We also met at the Gardens earlier this year. Tom frequents Key West with some regularity. We shall be hooking up some eveninng soon at the Chart Room.

Cheryl emailed me. The Chicago humidity is a killer. I suspect she and her husband Roger go north in the summer to avoid the Key West humidity. This summer there is no escape from the humidity anywhere in the country.

Cheryl and Roger both love Key West. Have become an integral part of the Key West scene in the past two years.

Apparently they miss Key West big time. Need a shot of it on occasion.

My blog seems to be that shot at the moment.

Cheryl wrote that Roger had started reading my blog, this blog, from day one. The day I wrote my first blog. She told me it was Novemebr 6, 2007. I did not even recall.

Cheryl started two days ago. She was in the 2008s and going strong!

Love it!

Time for a bit of breakfast and then off to the gym. A good boy am I!

Enjoy your day!

A typical Key West sunday for me yesterday. I did nothing! Except quiet mundane things.

I started the day staying bed watching the TV talk shows. I love them.

Had a late breakfast/early lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. An old time local’s place on the waterfront. Basically a diner in a store front.

Eggs, ham, home fries and toast can be filling. I followed up my dining with a walk along the waterfront. Not too many tourists, not too many locals. Maybe it was the heat.

Grocery shopping time. Cupboard really bare. Stopped at Publix. Whatever the reason, I enjoy grocery shopping. Never did it in my other life.

The price of groceries irks me. I do not know how people with less do it. Groceries have doubled in the last six months. Tie that together with $4 a gallon gasoline, how do families do it? A terrible situation. Truly one where the rich get richer and the poor poorer. If the situation does not get corrected, I see black clouds on the horizon.

I stopped at Walgreens. Had to pick up two new prescriptions. One  cost me $131!

I have a drug plan. It was good till recently. It is a new plan I purchased this past year. I have learned there is a “donut” in the middle of the plan. When the cost of my prescription drugs reached a certain dollar amount of spending by the company and me, the company pays a substantially lower amount. My co-pay inceases dramatically. I am in the donut till I spend roughly $4,500 out of my pocket. Then the plan I thought I bought kicks in again.

A rip off!

The prescription is for nitroglycerin spray. For my heart. I carry it with me at all times. The cost of the spray without insurance is $343. A rip off two ways. No drug in this country should cost that kind of money. The other rip off is the donut insurance situation.

I paid. I did not like it. But I like living.

I am just one of millions in this country that need nitroglycerin. I can see many going without because of cost. Wrong!

Sorry for pontificating. Sometimes things irritate me and I am compelled to express myself.

Supper time was calming. The grandchildren were back over to swim. Just watching them swim, run around and chat makes the world better.

I have a friend Rosanne. I have not seen her in 20 years. She lived in Utica. For several years, she used to run my parties. I was prone to throw parties for 100-200 people. That was then. She took care of everything.

She now lives I believe somewhere in North Carolina. We hooked up about six months ago on Facebook. We email every few days.

I mentioned a few days ago about smelling up the house while frying sausage. She wrote and reminded me of something I had forgotten.

Utica was an Italian community. When Roseanne and I were kids, many Italian families had an additional kitchen. In the cellar. Some were simple. Many elaborate. Better than the one upstairs. My parents did not have one. We were too poor.

The purpose of the cellar kitchen was for cooking foods that left an odor.

Thank you Rosanne for reminding me.

At the end of the blog on my disaster with cooking sausage, I mentioned I needed a woman. Wow, the responses! Unbelievable! Who could cook, who could sew, who could iron. Perhaps I should advertise for a wife.

Another example of my domesticity blues is what occurred about 10 days ago. I was ironing a shirt. I who did nothing but practise law in my other life. I put the iron down on my thumb. The blister just went away.

I have resolve today. I am going to rejoin the gym. Back to boxing and the tread mill.

Enjoy your day!

I have a new Facebook friend in the Orlando area. Her name is Joetta. She wrote me yesterday. Her opening words were “…..The sun is awake here.” How lovely! A phrase to be plagerized.

The sun is not awake this morning as yet in Key West. Why? Because I am up early. Pitch black outside.

In yesterday’s blog, I said it was going to rain. Although the weather was fantastic at the time. It did rain. At supper time. For about five minutes. Every little bit helps!

This morning it is raining as I write. Pouring big time. I am sitting at the kitchen counter. Sliding doors to my back. Open. Can hear and taste the morning shower outside.

We are desperate for rain. I am thrilled it is raining heavy at the moment.

I had another quiet day yesterday. Two in a row. Nothing wrong. Just never got out. These are the Mel Fisher Days in downtown Key West. The only event I made was the bikini contest thursday night.

Makes sense!

Actually, my mood dictates what I do. At this stage in life, I do what I want when I want. Nothing more, nothing less. Obligatory events exist no more for me.

So it was all day in for me once again yesterday.

I wrote all day. Sitting outside under the tiki hut. Sitting at a new umbrella table I located next to the pool. Sitting inside at the kitchen counter. The computer moves easily.

I am writing three books simultaneously. Don’t know if I ever will finish one. I enjoy writing, the proces. Best of all, I enjoy the revising, the framing of sentences, the selection of words. I am as anal with the writing as I was with my work as an attorney. Writing has become a new interest and excitement in the twilight of my years.

It was my intention to go out last night. I would have started as usual with the Chart Room and let my night develop from there. It was not to be. The grandkids showed up just as I was beginning to get ready for the evening.

The whole family. Lisa, Corey, Robert and Ally. To swim. Spent a couple of hours. It was fun. Especially Robert and Ally. Such joy! By the time they left, it was too late to go out. I hit the bed and fell asleep almost immediately. Probably the reason I am up this early.

A big weekend up north in Central New York from whence I came. Two major events.

Rome is 14 miles from my home town Utica. It is the site this weekend for the World Series of Bocce. One hundred twenty teams competing.

The event is 70 plus years old. Participants from the United States and Canada.

We should send our best team up there some summer to compete. It is hard for me to believe that any team can be better than Key West’s best!

Utica is the site this weekend for an Italian street festival. It was called for years the Feast of Saint Rosalie. The named has changed. It is now known as the St. Mary of Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Festival. Probably a result of internal politics. I recall feast sponsors and particiapnts always fighting over one thing or another.

The festival is on Jay Street. I lived on Jay Street. Had two feasts, as we called them back then, available to me. This one which was a couple blocks from my home. And the Feast of Saints Cosmo and Damien which was right in front of my house. A real big deal!

Food and bands. Today’s big food seller is pizza fritta. Fried dough rolled in sugar. Good! No, great! I always preferred mine without the sugar. The oily taste was more to my liking.

Today is Sunday. I have promised myself to get up and out early. Two days home is enough.

I have no idea what the day holds for me. Whatever, it will be good!

Enjoy your day!

A lovely Saturday morning in Key West!

Cloudwise, only a small smathering of tiny black ones.

The wind is blowing in from the south. That generally  means rain at some point during the day. We shall see.

Yesterday’s Key West Lou Legal Hour was one of my best. It is the subjecrt matter. Politics in Washington, screwed up Judges and a bit of La Nada. Comments reacting to the show were more detailed than normal. I believe it was because of the subect matter.

Tom from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, emailed me a detailed comment .I have known Tom and his wife Cindy for two years. We are at opposite ends of the spectrum politically. He a conservative, I a liberal. Tom’s email was all over the place. He covered many of the ills in our society. Turns out we agree on many items. More than we disagree on. The key point is we could agree on certain items. Something that our elected officials in Washington seem incapable of doing.

After the show, I had lunch with Lisa at her home. Then off to Lee Nails for a manicure with Tammy. Love Tammy!

I was tired for some reason. Even Tammy noticed. So it was home after my visit with her. And to bed.

Stepanie’s fashion show was on KONK at 3. Jean Thornton and another were guesting. Jean told me to be sure to watch. I tried. I could see but not get any voice. Stephanie and I spoke via telephone after the show. She asked if I enjoyed the comments they made about me. Apparently I was in good stead with them. Sadly, I did not because I could not get voice reception.

 I only hear the bad. Never the good. The story of my life.

I cooked dinner for myself. I am not very good at it. Domesticity is not one of my virtues.

I had low carb pasta and sausage. I try to eat low carb.

One of my problems in self cooking is getting everything to come out ready for eating at one time. It never works. I end up eating different portions of my meal at different times. Never together.

Last night I was successful! Pasta and sauage done at the same time!

One problem, however. I stunk up the house with the smell of the sausage. When I came downstairs this morning, the whole bottom of my house reeked of sausage oil.

I looked under the kitchen sink. Found an odor thing called Febreze. Sprayed the whole downstairs. Did the job! However, I could not breathe. Had to go outside for a half hour. I feared I would die from over consumption of the stuff.

I need a woman!

Enjoy your day!

An absolutely gorgeous morning! Typical Key West!

No breeze. None at all. Sun bright on the yellow/pink MTV house across the way. Ed Swift of trolley car fame’s home next door. The light green a muted lime. The palm trees mutli colored shades of green.

Ho ho! A good day in the making.

My day yesterday started with the dentist. Two hours in the chair. Not bad, though. No pain.

I have been at this seven months now. The end is in sight. Thank God! It has not been easy. Yesterday was a lot of machinery and fitting. It is amazing how far dentistry has come since I was a young kid.

I had to hurry home after the dentist. Jenna and I needed to fine tune today’s internet show. We spent an hour and were able to do it by phone. The wonders of the internet and modern communication!

Last night the bikini contest at Schooner’s Wharf. A benefit for the Mel Fisher youth diving program.

I went because of Stephanie Kaple. Otherwise known as the Island Shoe Girl. Stephanie was a contestant.

It had to be embarassing for the ladies to get up before 300 people, scantly clad and shake their behinds for the audience. Walking on a beach in a bikini and intentionally showing it off to a huge crowd cannot be the same.

After thier performances, the ladies were walking through the crowd with open bags seeking contributions.

How embarassing! If you will excuse the vernacular, it took balls to participate!

Stephanie looked good. I discovered for the first time she has two lovely tatoos on her lower back just above the butt line. Cool!

I could not handle the whole scene! Too many people. Too hot for me. Temperature wise that is. I was sweating. Everyone sweating. Too many people in a confined place.

I arrived just as Stephanie was getting on stage to do her thing. I watched. Then found Jean Thornton. Gave my check to her for Stehpanie. Gave her a kiss, also. I love Jean! Found Stephanie. A hug and kiss and good luck wishes.

I think Stephanie was embarassed. It was for agood cause, however.

I left. I could not handle the scene and heat. I probably spent all of ten minutes there.

Then to the Chart Room. Comfortable. Air conditioned.

Emily bartending. Myra enjoying a drink.

Both are independent opinionated women. No bullshit types. I enjoyed our conversation which covered a wide range of topics.

Sean and Katherine showed up. Love them both! We discussed their wedding plans. Sean and I spent quite a while discussing art. I was unawre he was into the art world. He reminded me of me when I was his age and starting to acquire pieces.

I only had one drink last night. None would have been better. The night before I had no drinks. I am trying to be better. My goal is to get back on the road to good health. I always do. But…..I always fall off!

In a couple of hours, The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Join me as I beat up some pompous elected figures. From our elected officials in Washington to the female Judge in Broward County who was taking pictures of a man urinating in the the men’s room in the courthouse.

Where has sensibility gone?

http://www.konkboadcasting.com/.

I just received a text from a friend Rita. She lives in South Africa. A loyal fan/friend. She wrote…..”Hope u r well? We will listen to yr show today. I am in Cape Town for a week visit. Rita. xx.”

Anna from Milan wrote yesterday that she was in the Greek Isles for the month living on a small boat. She had arranged to be on shore with her friends this morning to watch the show also.

It is amazing!

Enjoy your day!

It is 10:30 in the morning. Sorry to be late. My TV connection screwed up again.

I am at Lisa’s doing this blog.

Golf started well yesterday. The first six hokles I was right on. Playing well. Then I started to lose it. I became extremely tired. Lost my swing. Had difficult driving beyond the ladies’ tee.

I was exhausted!

At the end of the 11th hole, I called it quits. Had Kurt drive me in.

Kurt, Larry and Aaron were concerned. I was too tired to be concerned. However, I knew something was wrong.

By the time I got home, I had it firgured out. I was dehydrated! Big time! A couple of huge glasses of water and I was on my way to recovery.

I take a physician prescribed diuretic. A water pill. Not daily. Only when I think I need it. I had not taken one in two months before yesterday. My ankles were swollen the evening before. The sure sign of a fluid problem. So around 4 in the morning I woke and took a water pill. By 8, the water pill had done its job.

 I left to play golf. The humidity was heavy. I was sweating big time before I even teed off. Petra, the cart girl, was late. I was not consuming water early enough on the golf course. Dehydration set in. I did not realize the nature of the problem. I was stupid to take a water pill on the same morning I was to play golf in hot humid weather.

Never again!

I quit after 11 holes. Went home.

Three large glasses of water corrected the problem.

As a further caution, I spent the balance of the day and evening at home.

I had lamb chops for dinner. Four small ones. I have not had lamb chops in six months because of my jaw work. They were sooooo good! The ability to chew is not appreciated until one cannot.

Tonight is the annual Mel Fisher Bikini Contest. Its purpose is to raise money for childen’s dive programs.

The place to see the lovelies is Schooner’s Wharf  from 7-10 tonight.

I will be there. Not necessarily because I enjoy viewing the female body scantly clad, but because Stephanie Kaple is participating. I will be there in support of Stephanie.

Sheila and Jean having been working on Stephanie’s body and suit. Sort of trainers. The bikini is white. Stephanie has been starving herself for a couple of weeks in further preparation. The word from Coaches Sheila and Jean is that Stephanie is ready!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour tomorrow morning at 10. www.konkbroadcasting.com. A ton of issues/events to discuss.

One involves the crazies in Washington who forgot how to govern. The other our judges. Two weeks ago I commented how judges are people ansd screw up. I mentioned the two Pennsylvania Family Court judges who sent an abnormal number of children to a jail/detention center after their county privatized the detention centers. The judges were on the take. From the private company operating the detention center. A certain amount of money for each committment.

The two judges are now serving time themselves. And properly so.

Now comes Florida’s Broward County. A 47 year old female judge went into the public men’s room in the courthouse. A male was at the urinal relieving himself. She started taking pictures of him urinating. He yelled. She ran. Sheriff’s deputies later arrested her. The judge said they could not. It was a public place. However the judge bit the finger of one of the deputies while the discussion was taking place and the Sheriff’s deputies arrested her for biting the finger. But not for taking pictures in the men’s room of a guy doing his business.

I have a lot to say about the previous issue. Why? Because the judge may be correct that she committed no crime when taking the pictures. If so, beware my lady friends. You will be fair game for men entering what was previosly your private domain. The ladies rest room. And having pictures of you taken while you piddle.

I am off to the dentist.

Enjoy your day!

I was wrong about the helicopters yesterday. They were not part of a US Navy Seals training program. They were out spraying mosquitos.

The lower keys have a mosquito problem. It would be a bad one if not for the Mosquito Control Board. An elected group, its responsibilty is to eradicate and/or keep the mosquito population down. Besides spraying periodically by air, they have trucks driving around in the middle of the night spraying. In addition, surprise visits are permitted on one’s property by Board’s employees. They search for pools of water where mosquitos tend to breed. If any are discovered, the property dweller is required to correct the problem.

The Mosquito Control Board does an excellent job. Rarely would you know there are mosquitos in the lower keys.

A couple of years ago, I was at Boondocks up in big Pine on a Saturday evening for dinner. Boondocks is an open outside bar. You could cut the mosquito population with a knife! I did not know about the problem. Had I, I would not have gone. The locals in the area all had cans of mosquito spray. They were periodically spraying themselves while eating. Fortunately, they were kind enough to let me use their spray. The Mosquito Control Board did not operate that far north at the time.

This past year there was a news release from somewhere that Key West had a dengue fever problem. We had no problem. The news article was in error and corrected in due course. Dengue fever would definitely be a problem were it not for the Mosquito Control Board.

It was haircut time yesterday morning! Me and Lori. She’s a chaming person. I enjoy my haircuts with her. It is almost a social event.

I had an early afrternoon visit with my internest, Dr. Jackie Leffterts. You will recall from yesterday’s blog, I thought/knew she would be upset with me.

She was.

It has only been two months since my last visit. I let things slide. Drinking and smoking, weight up, blood pressure up. She read me out like a drill sargent. I have to see her again in two weeks. She expects results!

Kurt and I went out last night.

We started at the Chart Room. He knew everyone. It was like a bartenders’ convention.

Then to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner. Nate, not my Nate, a new bartender there. He and Kurt old friends. John the Manager was genuinely thrilled to see Kurt, also. They are likewise old friends. At one point when Kurt left to visit the men’s room, they both told me what a great guy Kurt was and has always been.

There were a couple of very lovely young ladies at the bar. Heather and Alison. Both from Pensecola. They were staying at the Ocean Key House for a couple of days. Both are critical care/ICU nurses.

They were waiting at the bar for deserts to take to their room. Kurt and I immediately told them about Better Than Sex. A desert only restaurant on Petronia Street. I suspect they will be going there tonight.

We finished the evening on the deck at my home. I have been doing some repair/ maintenance work that had been let go for a while. Kurt wanted to see it. We sat by the water and chatted a while. It was a calm evening. Not even the water was moving.

Golf this morning!

Enjoy your day!

I started the morning with a bang!

No, not that kind. Though I wish it was. It has been a long time!

As I opened the door to step out onto the deck to see how the morning was, a loud banging swoosh could be heard over head. It was a helicopter. Low flying. If I held up a broom handle, I could have touched it. Moving rapidly.

At first, I thought it might be from a Miami hospital on an emergency pick up at the Lower Keys Hospital. It was not. A second flew over. Both were zooming low all  over the place. Appreciate that in the keys, that means over water.

There is a US Naval Base a couple of miles up the road. Boca Chica. I suspect the helicopters might be involved with seal training. They periodically train in our waters. The helicopters drop them into the ocean.

I can place the noise in proper perspective. Twenty or thirty years ago, there was a movie called Apocalypse. Starred Martin Sheen, Robert Duval and Marlon Brando. Duval was the officer/leader of a helicopter squadron in or near Vietnam. He took his helicopters in over the ocean to attack an enemy village. Low and loud. At the same time he had hooked up to the planes glaring classical music which was played loudly as the attack commenced. It sounded like that in Key West this morning, except for the music.

Breakfast yesterday morning was at the Marriott’s Tavern ‘n Town. One of Lisa’s accounts in her business The Social Suite. She is a marketing guru. A social media expert.

Good breakfast. Nice atmosphere. The restaurant filled primarily with hotel guests. Lisa took me for a walk around the property afterwards. Magnificent! Especially the pool area. The whole complex has its own flavor. A welcome addition to Key West.

Last night was big! I thought I had a triple ahead of me as I left home. Turned out to be a quadruple evening.

My first stop was the Gardens and Kate and Ron’s Pre-Committment Ceremony. Kate owns the Gardens. She is a spectaular business woman, a charming personality and lovely to boot!

The Gardens was packed with their friends.

I finally found out what a pre-committment ceremony is. A couple wants to marry, but are not sure it would work out. So they live together a while. Then if it works, the option is theirs to marry. The young kids just live together. Those a little older pre-committ.

It was new to me. But makes sense.

Kate was dressed as a bride. A light long flowing white dress. Bare shoulders. A short white veil. Ron was wearing what I call a Key West tuxedo. A peacock and greenry emblazed on the front of a tuxedo white shirt. No jacket. Rarely a jacket. Much too hot for one.

I love Kate. She is one of the best. I wish her and Ron well.

Though there was tons of food at the party, I opted just to drink. Afterwards, I headed over to La Trattoria for dinner. Remember, I can chew now!

It has been about six months since I have been to La Trattoria. Becha was upon me instantly with a huge hug and kiss. Kathy leaned over the bar and gave me healthy smack. Both wanted to know…..where have you been…..is everything ok?

I ate lasagna. Not difficult to chew. A month ago, no way! You have no idea how important and satisfying the mere act of chewing is…..till you cannot chew.

Then to Don’s Place. He is leaving for a one month vacation at his summer home somewhere up north today. I think, Minnesota, maybe Wisconsin. I am not sure. Wanted to say good bye. He was not there. Kurt was. Shooting pool. With a young lovely. Kurt shoots pool as well as he plays golf. Terrific.

Such constitutes three things I experienced and enjoyed last night. The fourth I would not necessarily label as fun.

I turned the upstairs conditioner off about 4 yesterday afternoon. Did not need it. This is the same unit that I had to replace with a new compressor a few days ago to the tune of just under $2,000.

As I climbed in bed, I heard drip, drip, drip. You guessed it! Whatever that thing is in the closet that operates the upstairs unit, it was leaking. I opened the closet door and was greeted with running water along a pipe and soaked carpeting beneath. I hurriedly got a pan and a couple of towels. And uttered a nasty word.

Fortunately, I have some one who takes care of such problems. I gave him a call. Got him out of bed. He was here in 15 minutes. A pipe was blocked. He showed me the gook. Got everything working properly. He has to return this morning to finish the job.

A good evening in spite of the air conditioning screw up. It is comparable to a heating unit breaking down up north when the temperature is 10 degrees. Plus, I was fearful of the water leaking through the floor into the downstairs ceiling.

This morning is Lori time. A haircut. Then at 1 my doctor.The internest. Jackie Lefferts. I think I am going to be in trouble with her.

To my artsy friend in Miami…..where are you hiding?

Enjoy your day, one and all!