PART D AND DONUT

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The Boulevard construction in Key West changes, at least for me, where I go and how I get there and return.

I had three stops yesterday around lunch time. Publix, Office Max, and Walgreens. Because of the hour, I normally would have driven into town for lunch first at the Plantation Coffee House, Blossoms, or some other place.

But I did not want to fight the rerouted traffic and traffic itself. Ergo lunch had to be in new town rather than old town.

I decided on Goldman’s in the Winn Dixie Plaza. Directly across from Walgreens.

Goldman’s is a deli. I am usually there with Robert and Ally. This time alone. They are on vacation.

Ordered a cheeseburger. Fantastic!

After the errands were run, I wanted to go to Don’s Place. That meant taking on the construction, detours, etc. Turned out that for Don’s Place I would endure the negatives.

David was at the bar. Watching the PGA. I joined him. Further down the bar were Jimmy and Joanie. I had dinner with Jimmy and David the other evening. Joanie was in Colorado. She has returned. Looked rested from the trip. Gave her a hug and kiss.

My pink eye appears to be cured. I decided to stay in in the evening to make sure. I know. Sounds crazy. Ran errands in the afternoon and stopped at Don’s Place. Did not even think about my pink eye problem. In any event, it was a sandwich and TV last night.

Just my luck. A good portion of the PGA was rained out.

I woke early this morning. Around 5. Watched from the comfort of my bed Julius Ceasar. The black and white version. Marlon Brando as Marc Anthony. Love Brando’s Marc Anthony eulogy to Julius Ceasar…..I have come to bury Ceasar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones. So let it be with Ceasar.

As one ages, the number of prescription drugs taken increases. The drugs are costly. As a senior citizen, I buy them via Part D and a private insurer.

The cost is relatively cheap. Till you hit a certain point. That point is called the doughnut or donut. It is spelled both ways in the articles describing it.

The donut is a real hole! Other than the initial $350 drug cost, you pay 25 per cent of the cost of the drugs initially. Till you reach the donut. The donut begins at $2,800. It runs to $4,550. You pay 100 per cent of the drug cost while in the donut. After $4,550, the charge drops to 5 per cent.

The 100 per cent cost during the life of the donut is a killer!

One of the reasons is the cost of prescription drugs. I cannot believe they are so expensive. Sometimes I seriously believe the insurance and drug companies exaggerate the cost. This leaves more money in their pockets based on the increased cost the senior citizen pays.

Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act is supposed to help ease the burden. Not relieve it totally however for a while.

Recipients are to receive a $250 refund check from the insurance company this year. It was supposed to have been paid in June. I am still waiting for mine.

Over the next couple of years there will be deductions in the donut. The plan also provides for the total elimination of the donut by 2020. May I live that long!

This donut thing I am merely sharing. It came to mind yesterday. A prescription costing roughly $200 came up for reordering. I had to pay $200 during the donut.

I am now out of the donut. That $200 prescription yesterday cost me $10.

Imagine the burden on the senior citizen when in the donut. $200 is too much for most people. Remember there are other presecription drugs the seniors require. For some, it means skipping a few meals to pay for the drugs. Not the way in the USA.

Enjoy your day!

THE DIE IS CAST

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The die is cast.

Romney has selected Paul Ryan as his running mate. The decision sets up the most decisive run for the Presidency in my life time. One as important as the 1860 Presidential race which elected Lincoln.

The candidates and the parties are diametrically opoposed. The election result obviously depends on the will of the people.

The citizens of the United States could be deciding the direction of this country for the next twenty years. That is, if the Republicans are successful. If the Democrats win, it will merely move the battle forward to be waged again in four years.

Yesterday’s internet show a hit! Much reaction from viewers following the show.

The topic garnering the most response involved Ashley Moser’s triple tragedy. Ashley was in the Aurora movie theater when the shooting took place. Her 6 year old daughter Veronica was killed. Ashley was pregnant at the time. She was shot. She miscarried. Ashley’s wounds leave her paralyzed for life. The doctors are hopeful she will be able to use her arms.

I visited a bit with Lisa after the show. Love of my life!

Had lunch at Hogfish while reading the newspapers.

Spent the afternoon at home. Watched the PGA and wrote a bit. Tiger played well. He is tied for the lead. The course was a horror to play. I have never seen winds that bad during a golf tournament.

Key West is into its second week of a two year remodeling/renovation of North Roosevelt Boulevard. A pain in the ass! Traffic screwed up. Traffic moving very slowly. Detours not effective. Detoured roads plugged. Stop lights adjusted improperly.

I will adjust. So will everyone else in Key West. The repair is a good thing. Much needed. It just takes a bit of time for us natives to become accustomed to inconvenience.

My plan was to go downtown last night and hit a few spots. It was pouring when I was leaving. Big time. I changed my plans.

I drove from my garage to the Marriott Beachside. Parked in their garage. Never rained on Louis.

Tavern ‘n Town was boominmg. All tourists, except for me. I enjoyed a huge prime rib.

Billy and Cindy Schott. I sometimes am computer illiterate. I lost the pics you sent yesterday. Please resend to the same e mail address. Thank you.

Enjoy your day!

INTERNET SHOW THIS MORNING

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Friday again! Time for the Key West Lou Legal Hour.

Ten this morning my time. World wide. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

Join me. Interesting and challenging topics. Like a chastisement of the Presidential campaigns of both candidates, an insight into the Sikh Temple shooting, a shocking triple tragedy, FDR and polio, birthday of the electric chair, gay voters in the coming election, discrimination in a bakery, Boy Scouts and pedophilia, Catholic nuns at a cross road, the financial advantages of being a babysiter, a strange bigamy case, and more.

Did what I had to do yesterday morning. Haircut with Lori. She also trimmed my beard a bit. Banking. Finally was able to pickk up the prescription drops for my pink eye. The drops must be working. My eyes are significantly better this morning.

On the way home, I noticed work men gently removing the palm trees along Northern Roosevelt Boulevasrd. They were pushing hard at the trunk after having dug a bit around the base. Suddenly the roots would pop out. Much like a dentist pulling a tooth. Palm tree roots are surprisingly short. The palm trees are being saved somewhere in a holding pen till construction is complete. They will then be replanted.

Stayed in last night. Pink eyes made me uncomfortable. Addionally, I did not want to infect any one. Pink eye is very contagious.

For whatever reason, I had a good night’s sleep. The best in a long time. Feel energized.

Again, please join me this morning by watching my internet show. You will not be disappointed.

Enjoy your day!

DOCTOR DAY YESTERDAY

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I now have pink eye in both eyes

I cannot recall having had pink eye since I was in grammar school.

My prescription for appropriate eye drops not yet filled.

I am doing good! Said with tongue in cheek, of course.

Received a call yesterday afternoon at 2 from Walgreens. My prescribed drops are no longer produced/made. Company went out of business. What to do? We agreed Walgreens would call my doctor and work it out. A couple of hours later I heard from Walgreens and my doctor’s office. Publix has it. Go to Publix. The prescription has been called in.

It was dinner time. I was not eating. I was propped up in bed. Both eyes were running like faucets. A friend had stopped by with left over eye drops for pink eye. I started using them. Decided Publix could wait till this morning.

No Yacht Club dinner as planned last night. I was scheduled to have dinner with Sean and Katherine. I missed their wedding as I was in Europe at the time. Wanted to celebrate the event with them a bit. Last night was the time.

I would have cancelled on my own by late afternoon. Sean saved me the trouble. Sean is a loyal blog reader. He telephoned in the morning saying they would have to cancel. Sean wears contacts and cannot get near any one with pink eye.

I had a noon appointment with the heart doctor. When one thing goes wrong, everything goes wrong.

I am having a good morning. The blog was much longer. When I went to publish, I somehow lost more than half of it. So I am ending here. Note that I experienced a severe chest pain that required nitroglycerene to releive. Doctor ran some tests. Blood pressure 120/75. Stress and echo tests scheduled for next week. I am not concerned. Yet.

Enjoy your day!

CAPTAIN TONY AND MARVIN HAMLISCH IN THE SAME BREATH

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I was correct. I have pink eye. Dr. Lefferts confirmed it yesterday morning.

Prescribed drops. She had her office call the prescription into Walgreens to be ready for pick up at noon. I received a recorded message around 11 that it would not be timely ready and they would call to tell me when.

It was six in the evening. No call from Walgreens yet. My eye was no better. Perhaps worse. I drove to Walgreens to see if the prescription was ready. It was not. I was told the drops were rarely used and they did not stock it. The clerk told me he did not know when the prescription would be filled.

I got upset. My problem is today I told him.

I asked to speak to the pharmacist. He tried to be helpful. Said he would call around to other drug stores to see if they had it. I played that game once. A pain in the ass! And not successful.

In the end, the pharmacist screwed around on his computer a while and told me the prescription would be available tomorrow (today) at one.

Not the way to run a business! Especially one that makes Walgreens a ton of money daily.

I spent some time at the Chart Room last night chatting.

Michael bartends at Smokin’ Tuna. He recently turned 40. He was enjoying a bus man’s holiday at the Chart Room.

A few days ago Michael was watching the sunset somewhere at Mallory Square. He saw two people a distance out in the water. They were in the water waving their arms. Obviously in distress. Michael dove in and swam out to them.

It was good that he did.

One of the persons in the water had scrapped his thigh against something. It had to be a hard blow. He had ruprured his artery. Blood was flowing out rapidly.

Michael got the person to shore. He ripped a branch of a tree, took off his tee shirt and wrapped both tightly around the guy’s thigh. Soon the Coast Guard arrived and the injured person was helicoptered to Miami.

Michael does not know who the person was that he saved. The injured person does not know it was Michael. Perhaps they will learn of each other through this blog.

Michael…..A genuine hero!

JJ was bartending. Leslie at the bar aslo.

Captain Tony Days start today and run through Sunday.

Captain Tony can best be described as a son of Key West.

His biggest claim to fame was Catain Tony’s Bar on Greene Street. He ran it for almost 30 years. In addition to being a bar keep, Captain Tony was a charter boat captain, gun runner, gambler, politician and at one time Mayor of Key West. Along the way, he married four times and fathered thirteen children.

Captain Tony ran for Mayor four times before being elected. One of his unsuccessful campaigns was headed up by Jimmy Buffett. Buffet and Captain Tony were obviously close. Buffett wrote a song about Captain Tony. Last Mango in Paris. The opening lines of the song…..I went down to Captain Tony’s / To get out of the heat / Heard a voice call out to me / Son come have a seat.

The girls leave today. Donna and Terri are packed and ready to go. Their ultimate destination is Los Angeles. They are moving there permanently. They came to Key West to get their furniture out of storage. The next stop is New York to get their furniture out of the apartment there. Then onward to Los Angeles.

They rented a huge Budget truck. They are driving the furniture from Kest West to New York and then Los Angeles themselves. Their car hooked on the back.

Crazy! I wish them good luck. They will make it. I told them this morning to record the events of each day. The trip has the makings of a good book.

Marvin Hamlisch died yesterday. I feel the loss of a contemporary. The world, including me, enjoyed his music all our lives.

I was aware Terri knew and was a personal friend of Hamlisch. When I read the news of his death on the internet, I telephoned Donna. She and Terri were at Aqua. Terri was judging a singing contest.

Terri took the loss hard. She got up on the stage and sang one of his songs. What I Did For Love from Chorus Line. With tears running down her face.

May he rest in peace.

That was my yesterday.

Enjoy your today!

A SAD STORY…..THE WORST

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I spent all day Monday writing. From morning to early evening. Initially outside in the shade of the tiki hut. When the rains came in the afternoon, they were of the monsoon type. Blowing side ways. I moved inside. It was better anyhow. The air conditioning was a relief.

I spent a considerable amount of time working on Friday’s internet show. It is coming along. When I tired of it, I wrote ten pages of the book I am working on. Ten pages is a lot. I was in the right frame of mind and the material poured out.

One of the topics for Friday’s show involves an Ashley Moser. Ashley was in the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado last week. Her six year old daughter was killed. Ashley was shot. Ashley was pregnant at the time. She miscarried. She was advised this week that she will be paralyzed the rest of her life. The doctors are not sure whether she will be a paraplegic or quadraplegic. It depends on whether she will have the use of her arms.

They say God never gives any person more than what that person can handle. The statement does not apply in Ashley’s case. What mental strength this woman will require to go on.

I woke in the middle of the night with a red and sandy eye. I think I have pink eye. I have an appointment this morning to see Dr. Lefferts.

Enjoy your day!

YACHT CLUB BARBECUE

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The humidity envelops. Swallows a person. Thank God for air conditioning.

Yesterday was Sunday.

I started with an early morning breakfast at Pepe’s. Never ate breakfast there before. Dinner, yes.

Ham and eggs. Delicious. Especially the ham. A ham steak. About a quarter of an inch thick and huge.

It is claimed that Pepe’s is the oldest restaurant in Key West. Key West was the home port of pirates back around the 1700s. The story is that the pirates would meet at Pepe’s to plan their raids.

Then home to work with Sloan. There are too many pictures of my trip. Six hunded. Trying to narrow the number and organize them by location and event is a task. A tedious process. It is taking a lot of time. I want it correct, however.

Spent some time by the pool in the sun. Actually in the pool. The humidity was overbearing. I probably stayed out all of a half hour. I could not take it.

Lisa came over. To escape the humidity. To swim. She chatted a while in the shade of the tiki hut with Donna and Terri.

Last night was barbecuse night at the Yacht Club. Donna, Terri, and me.

We had a couple of drinks at the bar first. Kate Miano came in. Love her! She is the proprietor of the successful Gardens Hotel. Always has a hug and kiss for me. For every one actually. I like to think it is for me only.

Tosh was at the bar. At least two years since I had seen him. He has been away.

Tosh is short for Jon McIntosh. He is an artist of significant stature.

The barbecue was excellent. Especially the beef brisket.

I returned home after dinner. The girls went out. They were heading for the Monkey Bar first. Wherever they were, they must have had a great time. I woke when they came in at four this morning. Theatre people have strange hours.

Enjoy your day!

DATE NIGHT…..LISA AND ME

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A terrific Sunday morning! Sun, sky and water magnificent! A God is in His Heaven, all is right with the world morning.

Did a noon visit yesterday with Tammy at Lee Nail’s. Needed a manicure. The place bustling with customers. I was glad I had an appoinment. I think I am the only customer who is not asked to pick out a color upon arriving.

Afterwards visited with Lisa for a while.

Dinner last night was a big deal! A date was daughter Lisa. Just me and her. Tavern ‘N Town. A long slow meal. No pressures or distractions.

Lisa insisted on paying the bill. I let her. A thoughtful end to what had already been a very pleasant evening.

Bobby Nesbitt was performing at Tavern ‘N Town. An added pleasure.

I was home early. Before nine. I had no desire to drive into town. The construction is a pain in the butt.

Donna and Terri were sitting outside. We chatted a bit. They are in the process of moving to Los Angeles. They are in Key West to get their furniture out of storage. Then to New York City to empty their apartment out there. Finally the drive cross country to Los Angeles. They are driving the van themselves. One in the car and one in the van. Unless they decide to hook the car to the back of the van. Going to be a hell of a trip!

Once Donna and Terri are settled in in their new apartment in L.A., they have to hop a plane to Germany. Terri is performing two evenings with a German Symphony.

Sloan will be here at 10:30 this morning. I hope we will be able to conclude our work re the trip pictures.

Tonight is Donna and Terri night. They are my guests at the Yacht Club.

Enjoy your Sunday!

A NIGHT WITH DAVID AND JIMMY

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Good morning world! It is a lovely morning here in Key West. Sun bright. Sky blue. Water moving gently along.

Yesterday’s internet show appears to have been well received. I love doing the show and love even more knowing so many people watch it.

The topic generating the most response was the one concerning the black couple who had their Church’s door closed to them. The couple attended the First Baptist Church in Crystal Springs, Mississippi. Their wedding was scheduled for July 21. Arrangements made with the Pastor. Invitations sent out. The day before the wedding the Pastor tells them they cannot be married in the First Baptist Church. The predominately white congregation did not want a black couple married in the Church. If the Pastor did marry them, the congregation would fire him.

The Pastor lacked balls and did as directed by his congregation.

Would you believe it? In this day and age!

We are still fighting the Civil War 150 years later.

I enjoyed a lazy friday afernoon. Chatted a bit with Donna and Terri. Took a long nap.

Last night it was out on the town with David and Jimmy.

We met by prearrangement at Don’s Place.

Jimmy surprised me. Jimmy paints for a living. Houses and the like. He is always covered with paint. His face, hands and clothing. I had never seen him otherwise. Until last night. Jimmy cleaned up for our evening. I almost did not recognize him. Not a spot of paint anywhere.

We had a couple of drinks at Don’s Place. Michael was there. Long time since we had seen each other. He was a star on our bocce team until a couple of years ago when he stopped playing.

It was the Chart Room after Don’s Place.

A good crowd. Except for Emily and Sheila, all tourists. Sheila joined us. We had a good time.

At some point we left Sheila and the Chart Room. Took the short walk to the Wine Galley. We planned on having dinner there while enjoying Larry Smith.

We did.

Larry is an old friend to all of us. Amongst other things, he plays bocce in the thursday night league with the three of us.

The food was excellent. The company equally good.

Kathleen Peace was in the Wine Galley. She is one of the big bosses at the Pier House. I have not seen Kathleen in ages. She looked absolutely terrific. We exchanged a hug and kiss.

Then back to Don’s Place for a night cap. Kurt bartending.

At the other end of the bar was a couple I had never seen before. Kurt was chatting with them. He called me over.

They were Emanuela and Giampaolo from Rome, Italy. In Key West for a week’s vacation.

The two appeared to be in their late 20s and early 30s. Emanuuela was lovely. Extremely. She spoke English very well. Giampaolo was relatively quiet. I suspect his English was not good. I know the feeling having just returned from my two month trip to Europe. Sometimes you just have to sit quietly and smile because you do not understand what is being said.

Emanuela is a science teacher. Giampaolo an enviromental attorney. I felt bad he and I could not communicate better. My specialty in practice was enviromental law, also.

Emanuela and Giampaolo are staying at Banyan Bay. I hope they continue to enjoy Key West. I would like to run into them again before they leave.

I think I imbibed a bit too much last night. My temples are pounding this morning.

Enjoy your day!

A PARAPLEGIC WALKS AGAIN

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Key west humidity heavy. It makes me wish I was back in that valley half way up Mont Blanc in Italy four weeks ago. It snowed.

My day yesterday started with the dentist. No big deal. But a problem. Rectified in five minutes. When will I be finished? I thought I was last week.

Then to Lisa’s. We visted. God is good. I love her.

Lisa and I have a date scheduled for Saturday night. Her and me. My places. Should be fun.

Stopped at Publix. Needed a few things. Went to the old one. No one there. Aisles empty. Good. I whipped around. Very few familiar faces. I was in the new one last week. No one I knew there either. Did they fire the Publix employees and replace them with Albertson’s people?

My evening was the Chart Room. Loved it! Locals galore. Emily, Sheila, David, Katherine and Sean, amongst others. I fear I insulted Sheila some where along the way. Sheila love, I am sorry. Forgive me.

I mentioned the other day that the price of gasoline had dropped $.20 a gallon in a short time. What goes down rapidly, goes up equally fast. If not faster. The cost of a gallon of gasoline has gone up $.10 in the past two days.

What pigs these oil companies are!

Published a new Amazon Kindle article today: A Story Of Courage. The story of Clare Lumas. In her 20s. A paraplegic. She walks again! Robotic legs!

My internet show this mornoing. 10 am my time. World wide. www.konkbroadcasting. com.

Join me. You will love the topcs and how I deal with them.

Enjoy your day!