Will I ever get better? My new goal in life. Spent all of yesterday in bed. Expect to do the same today.

Gout continues big time in right leg. This morning woke to find it is beginning in left ankle again, as well as extreme left lower back pain.

I am taking 16 pills a day. I am confident they will kick in and remedy me. They have in the past. M last batch of pills is at 9 in the evening. I slept through 9. Woke at 1 am. Panicked. Took them then. An important batch of pills. One is to control the gout. Wish it would move its ass!

Yesterday was strange in two respects. One is I slept constantly. Did not even hear the phone when Lisa called. The other oddity is I could not stop eating. I was famished. I emptied the refrigerator. Lisa will have to replenish me this morning.

This is a Trumpie day.

Trump and the Courts, 

The Constitution provides for three separates divisions of government. All equal, Two are the Executive and Judiciary. Trump either does not understand or does not care. A major confrontation may be imminent. One I doubt Trump can win.

Trump did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize. I never expected him to. It was awarded to Maria Corina Machado. A Venezuelan democracy crusader. She is opposed to the Venezuelan government. She is an opposition leader in hiding fighting for democracy in her country.

Trump must be upset. He did everything to convince the powers to be he was the person to be awarded. Everyone except Trump knew he was not.

U.S. money is tight. Why then has Trump’s new foreign aid plan allocated $50 million for Greenland’s polar bears?

Another example of Trump spending that could have been avoided…..Argentina. Trump financially rescued Argentina by having his Administration take the rare step of directly buying Argentine pesos in global currency markets in a bid to relieve pressure on the national embattled President Javier Milei, an enthusiastic supporter of President Trump. Trump also essentially agreed to a U.S. $20 billion loan to Argentina.

Some U,S. economists consider both moves questionable. The buying of pesos frowned upon since they are considered to lose value. Re the exorbitant loan, Argentina has a long history of reneging on its government debt.

One economist said, “Lending money to Argentina is easy, getting repaid is what is hard.”

It appears the shutdown will also close the Smithsonians.

The storm hitting today will first strike Florida’s eastern shores’ Expected to damage shore properties. Key West may experience it.

Syracuse has an off weekend. They need it.

Enjoy your day!

Today Key West!

A soft easy blog. A few incidentals and me added too.

Me first.

Still not well. I wanted to dress and go out a bit today. Nothing big. It was not possible. The gout it my right foot prohibited it. The pain with each step unbelievable. 

I am taking 16 pills a day. Some to bring the swelling down. It will work in due course. Wish it would hurry.

Slept 9-4. Good! I was not sleeping at all.

Took a shower. First since last friday. Did I need it! Corey came over in case I fell.

I am eating big time. From not eating earlier in the week to devouring everything. I miss the hospital food. It was that good and I did not have to prepare it.

I see the Key West revolutionary spirit coming to the forefront. Good! Citizens are coloring certain things. The cross walks were removed. Such asses in Tallahassee. Some locals planted colored metal polls on the sidewalks away from the foot traffic and close to the street. Neither interfere nor involve street traffic.

For school children, this is Fie Prevention Week. Remember…..we all did it. Stood outside in front of a fire truck and one of our classmates made a prevention speech. I did it in the sixth grade. I was unaware I had been selected. Came to school in a white tee shirt and pants. The nun sent me home to dress better. I lived around the corner from the school.

My parents were working. I grabbed a suit coat that fit me well and returned. It was enough to make the nun happy.

I recall the last sentence of my speech to this day. Mine. “A match has a head, but no brain.” I was so proud of it!

On this day in 1934, Maria Gustens, Matron of Mercedes hospital for 22 years was made aware she had been awarded the Cora of the Order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, an honor given by the Cuban government for “outstanding service rendered to Cuba, etc.”

The last hospital where she served in now an apartment house on Virginia Street.

Some who resided there claim Gustens appeared to them. Some claim she touched them. I buy that she resides there and is in effect a ghost.

On this day in 1953, Mary Lee Grohas became the first woman to be elected President of the Key West Chamber of Commerce. Back in Utica, I was a Chamber member for many years. Never President. Whatever, I found time on the Chamber provided the opportunity to quietly solve many community problems. I am confident Grohas performed in a similar fashion.

On this day in 1997. former President George H. W. Bush was n the Keys for the annual Governor Bush bonefish tournament which was held further up the Keys.

Forget not Hugh’s View – the roof of Book & Books. Thursday evenings from 6 pm till sunset. Enjoy a drink and be in the middle of sunset!

Of the top 10 cities nationally with high grocery prices, 5 are Americans. San Francisco #2, New York City #4, Boston#5, Chicago #6, Los Angeles #7. 

Aristotle: “For the things we have to learn before we can do, we learn by doing.”

Sorry it took so long to do a relatively short blog. My mind and body are working that way.

Enjoy your day!

I began feeling down last week. Everything bothering me. Except, I I did not know. Dr. Norris, Lisa and Corey had to make me aware. And I fought them for a few days. Stupidly refused to go to the hospital. 

I was admitted friday night and released yesterday.

I honestly believe had I not been hospitalized, I would not be here today. I WAS SICK!

A brief run down of my symptoms. Gout. Big time. Whole leg. Both legs. My ankles a mess. Ankle bones sore. If touched, the pain was instantaneous and extreme. Exhaustion. Back pain. Hallucinations like you would not believe. I was talking like a nut. Had not slept in days.

For me the scariest was when I woke in the hospital one morning and had double vision which then moved to triple vision. The episode last 4 hours.

The overall concern was a stroke . A new blood clot in my system. It was also believed I had some sort of virus in my system.

I am still not perfect. I believe I was prematurely released. Both legs had corrected themselves, but two days ago my right ankle and leg to the knee blew up again. Big time with big pain. Also my temperature went up 30-40 points. Nevertheless the hospital determined I was better off at home for the remainder of my recovery rather than continued hospital confinement.

The symptoms remain the same today. Home care is on the the way.

Two observations. At 90, I am an expert in hospitalizations. The Key West Hospital has improved tremendously. The care unbelievable. On top of that another unbelievable, the food was outstanding! I have never eaten hospital food that good!

Also, Dr. Norris is the best of the best. An excellent caregiver!

I could have died. The suggestion in the air.

Enough.

Watched Pat Bondi yesterday. Our Attorney General. A liar, insulter, etc. We are not in good hands with her.

The Egyptian talks hopeful of leading to some sort of Israel/Hamas peace is not going to happen. Trump gets things going. Other nations enter into talks to accommodate his pushing. Then, nothing. In spite of the ongoing favorable, I believe another nothing is in the making.

Watched MSNBC from the hospital bed yesterday. A guest was an Israeli man who had been captured by Hamas initially and kept prisoner for 500 days before released. His wife and two daughters also. They died, however.

I cannot recall his name. He wrote a book titled Hostage which was released yesterday. His rendition of the facts concerning his capture, etc. sad. I cried.

Six former Surgeon Generals: “It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.”

Germans have begun to eat pudding with forks. It appears the trend is going global. Crossing the Atlantic.

Country singer Zach Bryan warns in a new song ICE will “bust down your door.”

Price tags on goods to be purchased not a forever thing. Originated in the 1870s. Prior thereto, haggling the way business was done.

This day in 1871, the Great Chicago Fire began. In a barn. Took buildings down for two days. Three hundred killed. Property damage $4 billion dollars in today money.

Increased U.S. flight delays every day because of government shut down.

“Cats” debuted on Broadway this day in 1982. I saw it. Andrew Lloyd Weber, musical composer of “Cats” said in an interview: “You’re the luckiest person in the world if you know what u really want to do…..and you’re the luckiest person in the world if you can make a living out of it.”

My friends, I am glad I am here and able to write this blog. There were a few times this week I questioned “next” in my life, if any thing.

Enjoy your day!

Achtung is the correct spelling of the German word meaning “attention” or “caution.” Similar to “watch out” or “beware” in English. Due to misspelling over many years, it is generally spelled “actung.”

I bring the word to your attention because of the meeting Trump and Hegseth had with Generals, Admirals and certain non-commissioned officers yesterday at Quantico. Gave me the feeling our Nation is continuing to move in the wrong direction.

Hegseth called for the meeting. Such required U.S. miliary hierarchy to travel from all over the world to attend. Hegseth also invited Trump. Leads me to suspect the meeting was Trump’s idea in the first place.

Hegseth and Trump both spoke.

The meeting a mockery of our military from my perspective. I suspect the purpose of the meeting was to change and exercise firmer control over the military. Trump began by touting his political agenda which we have all heard many times before. It was followed by an audience silence. Trumped laughed and told them it was ok to react, to applaud and if hey did not perhaps be out of a job. His comments best described “control ones.”

Overall, the summit was a politically charged one. Not really one a government and the military should be having. Reflected Hitler type meetings beginning in the 1930s.

Hegsmith began by spelling out the new standards that were being imposed onto the military hierarchy. Fat generals were no longer permitted. He spelled out physical standards for troops also. Soldiering was going to be tougher. No beardos and no war. Those who failed to meet them would be out. Including Generals and Admirals.

Then swiftly the ball was passed to Trump.

It only took few words for me to feel uncomfortable about our President. I began to think he was not properly dressed. His words this year have taken on what could be viewed as stronger, more dangerous and scarry. Perhaps he was not properly dressed for the occasion. I began today’s blog with “achtung.” To remind people of the historical Hitler. First a politician. Civilian clothing clad. Then moved into a sort of unform by wearing a beige shirt. And other uniform type items. His supporters followed suit. Finally in 1939, Hitler clad himself in a field gray military uniform. As did his followers. Purpose without question to spell out he was “Commander in Chief.”

Is this the direction Trump is moving?

The first 44 minutes of Trump’s speech were generally the same bullshit he has been spouting. Biden, antigen, media, tariffs, border, his restaurant visit, no Nobel prize. Then the blow of blows in his 44th minute: We should use “some of thee dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.” God forbid! Never! Not at all!

He also exclaimed the value of the battleships of yesterday. The B-2 bombers also. He mentioned how he thinks often of the World War II TV show “Veterans at Sea.”

We cannot win today’s wars with yesterday’s miliary equipment. If we could, we would still be using them.

Re Trump’s words, George Wills afterwards said: “America’s can do spirit needs liberation from can’t do regulation.”

Lawrence O’Donnell: “Trump on the verge of outright insanity in a deranged speech to military commanders.” Not a commander in chief, “a “Disaster in Chief.” He further described Trump  a “clown.”

Yesterday a busy one. Recently had my annual physical with Dr. Norris. I have residual symptoms from the recent abdominal bleed and previous falls. Spent yesterday scheduling new appointments. One for tomorrow, both at the same place. Two Cat scans. One of the brain, the other my right arm. A neurological exam on friday. I am sure there will be more down the road.

Last night, The Grand with Steve, Cindy and Matt. Enjoyed fried calamari.

Tonight the wednesday night lasgna special at Brady’s Irish Pub, plus the good company of Carolla.

You can tell I am Italian at heart by the food I eat.

Syracuse will be tested again satuday. Plays SMU at SMU at 4:30. Brady’s also has an excellent prime rib dinner saturday’s at 5. It will be a good evening, especially if Syracuse wins. I don’t know.

Enjoy your day!