TURTLE SURVIVAL

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I wrote about the St. Croix turtle the other day. The one that was pregnant, very sick and airlifted from St. Croix to the Marathon Turtle Hospital. Mother is still alive, though continues to be in rough shape. Eggs continue to be induced. Then incubated on St. Croix beach sand. Within 24 hours of hatching, flown back to St. Croix to enter into the ocean. Home for life. However long that may be.

People in St. Croix and Marathon are busting their asses to save the approximate 100 eggs the mother turtle carries.

A humanitarian effort.

To what effect, however?

Maturity for a turtle is roughly ten years. Some a bit less. A few up to twenty years. Depends on the species.

Statistically only one in one thousand survives to adulthood. The eggs/baby turtles are eaten by ghost crabs while still in the sand. Birds, raccoons and dogs also while still beached. Once the baby turtle makes it to the water, all sorts of fish are waiting to gobble the turtle and its brothers and sisters. Turtles also die from garbage and tar balls which they mistake for food.

Why then all the work, fuss and expense if only one of the offspring in Marathon will be lucky to live to adulthood? Man’s basic nature to do good. Additionally, the attempt seems to have taken on a life of its own. Everyone gets involved. Everyone wants to help. The futility is lost. Save the turtle and her offspring is the cry!

I enjoy Sundays!

The morning talk shows were particularly interesting. Both Romney and Ryan are floundering. Unfortunately. The country needs a good debate on the issues. I doubt it will come in this campaign.

Romney blew me out when he stated that certain parts of Obamacare were good and he would keep them. After saying for months the first thing he was going to do if elected was repeal Obamacare. In its entirety!

I am starting a diet today. Needed diet food. Filled up at Publix. I also purchased a beard trimmer at the Publix drug facility. Tried it when I got home. Took me a while to figure out the best way to use it. Some trial and error. I clipped a bit too much off in one spot. It will grow back.

The final result looks ok. Much better than before. Less wild.

As I was pushing my grocery cart to the car, I heard the eternal cry! Poppa! There in a parked car was the family. Robert and Ally were yelling to garner my attention.

Spent a lot of time in the afternoon working on the trip pictures. We are close. I know. I have stated such many times recently. However, it is true. Specifically when, I cannot tell you. I keep working at it day after day. At some point, the project will be completed.

Enjoyed a lazy night. Stayed in. Ate some goodies I will not be enjoying for a while. Then to an early bed and TV.

I am proud to say I have already walked this morning. In the dark. Carried one of my recent Isaac purchased flashlights. Dark is dark outside. I did not want to get hit by a neighbor driving off to work. Nor did I wish some inhabitant of the mangroves to jump out at me.

Enjoy your day!

 

SATURDAY NIGHT AT DON’S PLACE

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A glorious Sunday morning. Typical Key West beauty. Bright sun, blue water, blue sky.

I slept late. Sorry. It is about ten.

I had a business luncheon yesterday. My associates suggested the airport restaurant. A strange place, I thought. Nevertheless, the meeting went well. The place was quiet. A large booth. Food outstanding. I will eat there occasionally from this point forward.

Though it is September, the airport was busy. It is amazing how the airport has grown in the last ten years! A massive new building and tons more people flying in and out.

One of the bosses in Security is a friend. Her name escapes me. Old age. Her parents at one time owned Paradise cafe. That is where I first met her. We have become hugging friends.

I got a hug and gave one in return. We talked a bit.

Spent the better part of the afternoon watching golf and college football at home.

Headed over to Don’s place at 5. Everyone there. Don, David, Erika, Herschel, Angus, Toni, Boomer, Stephanie, and more. Watched Syracuse get beat by Southern Cal decidedly. It was ok. Syracuse still building. I thought Syracuse looked good under the circumstances. They were up against the #2 team in the country.

I stayed about three hours. Enjoyed everyone’s company. I became hungry and had to move on.

Stopped at the Marriott Beachside on the way home. Enjoyed the prime rib dinner at the bar while reading the newspapers. Excellent prime rib. The place was empty. Only a handful of people. A refection of the month. September is always slow in Key West.

I have not yet decided how to spend my Sunday. Have not even thought about it. I will take it as it comes.

Enjoy your day!

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE CHART ROOM

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Yesterday’s internet show went well.

One topic received the most post show comment. It involved a Robert who wanted to become a Michelle. A convicted murderer who was spending the rest of his life in jail. He claimed he wanted to be a woman. He went to court to force the State of Massachusetts to pay for the sex change surgery. The court said Massachusetts had to pay. Taxpayer dollars to provide a convicted murderer with what the judge considered necessary medical care.

Society amuck!

I wrote a detailed article on the subject. It will run in next week’s KONK Life.

Lunched at Blossoms. The surroundings are a bit dismal. However, the food is outstanding! I enjoyed my favorite. Cuban cheese toast with tomato. Plus a large cup of Cuban coffee.

Visted with Lisa. She fell the day before. Sprained her ankle. She had it all taped up. Was hobbling around.

The Chart Room in the evening. It turned out to be my entire evening. Never made it to dinner.

Emily was not there. On a two week vacation. I missed her. Mary was bartending in her place. Always glad to see Mary.

I spent a few hours chatting with David, Peter and Che. We covered a multitude of issues. The word issues is appropriate. Everything discussed becomes a battle. We went from Jewish circumcision to cremation to literature to Greece to London to whatever else.

I learned a new word from David and Che. Reliquary. A receptacle for ashes.

There was a lovely young lady seated at the end of the bar. I briefly talked with her. She was Donna from Dearborn, Michigan. Here with her husband Rex who was not at the bar with her at the time. They are in Key West on a one week vacation. Staying at the Pier House.

By the time I left the Chart Room, it was too late for dinner. I drove directly home. Enjoyed a left over half of a roast beef sub from the day before.

Glad it is Saturday. For whatever reason, the week was tiring. I am going to rest and screw off this weekend. After Sloan leaves me this afternoon.

Enjoy your day!

 

MY INTERNET SHOW THIS MORNING

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Friday again. The days move swiftly. The weeks pile up.

This morning…..The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Watch on the internet. Ten this morning my time. World wide. www.konkbroadcasting.com.

I spent part of my yesterday fine tuning today’s show. Interesting topics. Some challenging. Like a comparison of the shortcomings of the Presidential candidates, Mc Nabb to be a sports announcer, Isaac and rats on Mississippi beaches, Isaac and a turtle story, the end of World War II, a Crusade battle, Orthodox Jewish circumcision and herpes, the woman with non stop orgasms, another example of a sick society, and more.

Hopefully you will have time to join me.

The other part of my day was spent working on trip photos. What a labor! Of love, of course. But when will it end? I took too many pictures.

Bocce last night. We won 2 of 3 games. It was a strange evening. We won the first game 16-0. Can’t do better than that! We were beat in the second game 16-2. You figure! We won the last game 16-7.

I hurried home after bocce. No Don’s Place for me. I wanted to watch Obama and Biden.

I enjoyed both of their speeches.

Evaluating the conventions, the trophy for form and substance has to go to the Democrats. Whether it will make any difference, remains to be seen.

The humidity was heavy yesterday. I can see from this morning that it will be heavy today, also. Knocks you on your ass if you stay out in it too long.

Enjoy your day!

A TURTLE STORY

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There is talk on the street. Local media is commenting. Key West’s daily newspaper the Key West Citizen reported the story in detail.

A pregnant turtle fighting for her life.  Turtle professionals fighting to save her and the more than 100 eggs she carries.

It is a story of love and compassion.

Isaac did its damage throughout the Caribbean. The U.S. Virgin Islands were hit. Isaac ran over St. Croix and its surrounding waters.

A beat up sick turtle was discovered on a St. Croix Beach. The turtle was pregnant. The St. Croix persons involved hoped the mother and eggs she was carrying could be saved. The pregnant turtle was airlifted to the Marathon Turtle Hospital here in the Florida keys.

The turtle was badly hurt. She had wide wounds on both shoulders. Thought to be from gaffing or shark bites. She was suffering from drowning. Her lungs partially filled with fluid.

The prognosis is not good. Obviously the hope is to save the mother and her eggs. If the mother cannot be saved, it is still hoped the eggs can be. The eggs then hatched. The baby turtles surviving.

So far the staff at Marathon Turtle Hospital have induced labor and the mother has released 15 eggs. It is hoped more will be able to be induced. If it is determined the mother cannot survive, a caesarean will be performed.

The released eggs are immediately placed in incubators. The incubators have sand in them from the St. Croix beach. This is so  as the eggs hatch, the baby turtles will feel they are in their natural habitat. It will help them to survive now and when they are returned to St. Croix.

Within 24 hours of the eggs hatching, the baby turtles will be flown back to St. Croix. They will be released in the sand and hopefully walk into the ocean and a full life. If the mother survives, she also will be returned to St. Croix.

Why so much time and effort for a pregnant turtle that will probably die anyhow? The reasons are two fold.

First, why not. Saving the mother and eggs is humanitarian. Some believe there is an obligation to help God’s lesser creatures. That is why we have a turtle hospital here in the keys.

The other reason is that hawksbill turtles are an endangered species. Ergo, there is a need to save as many of the eggs and subsequent babies as possible.

That is the story. I will keep you advised.

This turtle story is more important than anything else I could report today. More important than my beard trimming by Lori yesterday,  working on friday’s show and the trip photos, drinks at Don’s Place with Don, David and Herschel, dinner at Pepe’s, Clinton’s eloquent speech,Womanfest, and bocce tonight.

Enjoy your day!

 

MICHELLE OBAMA OUTSTANDING!

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I do not care whether Republican. Democrat or Libertarian, white, black, purple or green…..Michelle Obama’s presentation last night before the Democrat Convention was one of the finest speeches ever made. Put politics and other concerns aside. She did a hell of a job! You do not have to agree with her. You do not have to like her. You do not have to like her husband. But…..you cannot deny the quality of the presentation.

Being the political junkie that I am, I enjoyed the speakers last night. The Democrats came out fighting from the opening bell. Clinton should be fantastic tonight!

Yesterday was ordinary. A simple day. Ran some errands. Sat in the sun by the pool for an hour. Fell asleep in that hour. Continued working on the trip photographs. Getting closer to publishing some. Worked with Sloan.  Dinner at Outback at the bar. Me and the newspaper. Enjoyed the Democrat Convention from the comfort of my bed.

Today will probably be more exciting. Seeing Lori this morning. Need a haircut. More importantly, time to trim the beard. It is beginning to look unruly. Needs a trim every which way.

Enjoy your day!

OUT OF THE PRESCRIPTION DONUT!

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What a lovely morning!

The sun rose with a pink back drop. The hue continued onto my neighbors’ homes. Yellow and light green houses were altered muted colors this morning. Pretty.

I spent several hours yesterday working on the trip photos. Getting there.

Stopped at Walgreen. Had four prescriptions to pick up. I am out of the donut. What was costing me a $100 plus per prescription for a few months is now in the $2 to $10 range. This donut thing is a disgrace. I understand Obamacare helps with it. I am not sure how.

I enjoyed a late  fantastic lunch while enjoying a spectacular view. At the Southernmost on the Beach. Part of the Southernmost Complex. Open aired. Great food. The water a mere 50 feet away. People, beach chairs and umbrellas between you and the beach.

Then to Don’s Place. Stayed for only one drink. The company was good. However, I preferred watching the last few holes of the golf tournament from the comfort of my bed.

Don and David there. Watching the golf tournament. Todd bartending.

Don is sponsoring a bloody mary contest tonight. I am not sure whether it is who can make the best one, or who can consume the most. I may stop in to watch.

It was a good final round for the golf tournament. Tiger hung 2-3 strokes behind. He did not falter on the last day. McIlroy won by two strokes. Tiger was third, 2 behind.

Spent the rest of my Labor Day watching old movies on TV.

Tonight through Friday, the Democratic convention. I will be glued to the TV for most of it.

Enjoy your day!

Special note: It is raining. The pink must have foretold the rain.

 

SUNDAY

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I sometimes think I have too much on my plate.

Yesterday, I worked on the Epilogue to my trip. The photos. Still organizing and selecting. A real task when there are 600 pictures.

Work done, I decided to go to the beach. Read the Sunday papers and look at the lovely ladies.

I went to Higgs Beach. My intent was to sit in my sand chair a couple of hours. Then walk over to Salute’s for a fish sandwich.

It was not to be.

Higgs Beach stunk! In fact, most of the Atlantic side beaches smelled. Including Smathers.

Like dead fish.

It was Isaac getting the last laugh. Isaac had thrown seaweed and fish life onto the beach area and beyond. You could see where the water had come over the sea walls. The sidewalk and grass still had sun bleached brown sea weed splattered about. The water at Higgs Beach was also a disaster. Brown. Isaac had churned the bottom. The water not yet settled.

No Higgs Beach for me!

I drove to Fort Zachery Taylor Beach. Also on the Atlantic. But around the corner of the island. Fort Zach’s Beach was clean. I could see my toes in the water. There was no smell.

The beach was packed. Everyone out enjoying a lovely Sunday. Many probably transfixed from Higgs to Fort Zach.

Dinner last night with Lisa and the family. Robert and Ally a joy. As always.

Part of the meal consisted of corn on the cob. Robert had no trouble devouring his the normal way. He has teeth in front. Ally does not. Lisa had to scrape the corn off the husk for Ally. Ally put away two cobs of corn in that fashion.

Stopped at the Chart Room for a few drinks. Knew no one. All tourists.

Duval was also packed with tourists. In Key West enjoying a fun filled weekend. Merchants had to be happy. The visitors were.

Enjoy this last day of the Labor Day Weekend!

 

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN

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Lazy is becoming my middle name! This is the second day in a row I have stayed in bed late. 10:30. Watched Meet the Press and Chris Wallace. For whatever reason, I am treating this holiday weekend as a holiday.

The older one gets, the more that person believes he/she knows everything. It is the result of the aging process. You have been alive so long, that your experiences make you soooo smart.

And then something happens to prove the error of your thinking. Or maybe that exceptions are common place.

I spoke of my disappointment in not being able to see a blue moon in yesterday’s blog. I actually thought the moon was going to be blue colored for whatever reason.

I was wrong as to the meaning of blue moon. I received more emails, telephone calls and personal comment regarding my error than for anything else I have ever written. As a result, I have learned something new. Which is another way of admitting you are never too old to learn.

One of blue moon’s meanings is two full moons in one month. Not a frequent occurrence. Never in all of my 77 years did I know. Because it is such a rare occurrence, the phrase “…once in a blue moon” developed.

I did a little home work. I wanted to know more about blue moon.

The term has been bandied around some 400 years. It was associated in its earlier times with betrayal.

The significant date for our purposes is January 31, 1980. Relatively recently. There is an observatory at the University of Texas. The McDonald Observatory. Studies the stars, astronomy, space and the like. McDonald Observatory also sponsors a daily radio show. Star Date. The show is very popular. It broadcasts on more than 300 stations. In Star Date’s radio show of January 31, 1980, the term blue moon was used to describe the two full moons in one month phenomenon. Blue moon took off in popularity from that time forward.

For the record, the term had been mentioned off and on in the years immediately preceding 1980 referring to the two full moons in one month, but never achieved notoriety.

College football has returned! Syracuse played Northwestern yesterday. Syracuse lost by one point, 42-41. I caught the second half of the game. Syracuse was down 22 points. But came back! Northwestern was just one play better at the end.

I am not disappointed in the loss. Syracuse’s problem appears to be defense. This is still rebuilding time. I suspect we will have a winning season in spite of this loss.

Shopped yesterday. The cupboard was really bare!

Sloan stopped over in the early afternoon. We are still working on You Tube, amongst other things.

Later in the afternoon, I wrote my weekly column for KONK Life. It will be published next Thursday. The article is entitled Texas Judge Warns of Civil War.

There is a judge in Lubbock County, Texas, who believes that if Obama is reelected there will be a civil war. He claims Obama will turn the government of the United States over to the United Nations. Where this nut theory came from, I do not know. In any event, the judge claims the people will not put up with it. They will take up arms. It will be Concord and Lexington all over again. Obama will send in United Nations troops to put down the revolt. The civil war will then begin in earnest.

The Chart Room first last night. JJ bartending. Many drinkers. I knew none. All tourists. I stayed a while and left.

There is a new restaurant/bar on the waterfront. The Boathouse. It has been there less than a year. It is downstairs from the Commodore. The people who own the Commodore opened the Boathouse.

I tried the boathouse for the first time. Good! Great location. Open aired. Excellent food. Reasonable prices. I recommend it.

Enjoy your Labor Day Sunday!

 

VALYNNE BERNETICH

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It is Saturday morning of the Labor Day Weekend. I am mentally and physically into the holiday. I just got out of bed! Ten in the morning!

Yesterday started with my internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Fun! I enjoy sitting with the mike in front of me and sharing my views with the world.

There were many interesting topics yesterday. I was surprised at the one that received the most post show comment. It concerned Solly the hippopotamus.

Solly lived in South Africa.  He was four years old. He got involved in a dominance fight with other male elephants in his herd. He lost. He was cast out of the herd. The other elephants chased Solly away. He ended up falling into an eight foot deep pool at a hunting lodge.

Solly died after 3 days. The vet said from stress. First from losing the dominance battle and being thrown out of the herd. Then Solly’s inability to extricate himself from the pool. It was too much for Solly. His heart gave out.

There were many other tales seemingly more important. Solly obviously touched many hearts.

While I was reviewing my notes prior to the show, a couple entered the studio. I had never seen them before. I assumed they were there to see Guy de Boer, the owner. The woman said no. We are looking for you.

The lady’s name was Valynne Bernetich. His name Paul.

Valynne is a loyal reader of this blog. We communicate occasionally via Facebook. We had never met face to face.

I knew Valynne was in Key West for a few days. My evenings were not normal this past week, however. The Republican Convention kept me away from my usual haunts. I never got to meet Valynne.

She found me. Just before 10 in the morning at KONK Broadcast. She brought gifts. Two bottles of red wine. For which I thank Valynne once more.

Valynne and Paul were leaving later in the morning to return to Portland, Oregon. Soon to leave Portland. They will be resettling in San Antonio.

We talked very few minutes. My show was due to start.

I look forward to their next visit when we can spend more time together.

Lunched at the bar at Harpoon Harry’s. I had a craving for ham and eggs. Satisfied it while reading the newspapers.

Then it was up the street to the Plantation Coffee House.

Theo and Diane own and operate the Coffee House. They transplanted themselves from California to open the business here in Key West. Theo’s origins are interesting. He is originally from Holland. He has an unmistakable northwest European accent.

Dinner last night at Michael’s. Enjoyed the house specialty. A veal chop. My mouth waters even now recalling it.

Womenfest is around the corner. It is an annual international meeting of lesbians. Held in Key West. Womenfest starts Tuesday and runs through Sunday. The ladies take over the town. A few thousand of them.

Three had come in early to enjoy the holiday weekend prior to the convention. They were dining Michael’s bar, also. We chatted. Turns out they are good friends with Donna and Terri.

Stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. Kurt bartending. We talked about miscellaneous things.

Then home to bed. Almost forgot. I drove home with the top down. Wanted to see the blue moon. Saw the full moon. It was not blue. Why, I do not know.

Enjoy your day!