Good morning!

I slept a little late. The sun is up. Overcast a bit. Very humid! Normally, early morning is sunny and cool. The humidity starts in late morning. Heavy already! Going to be a hot one!

A great father’s day yesterday! Thank you, Lisa!

We ended up celebrating the occasion at Lisa’s home. She cooked a super big breakfast.

My father’s day gifts were home made by Robert and Ally. They hand painted a plate and coffee mug.

They sell these paint sets for kids. Who then paint ceramic and glass pieces.

Ally did a blaze of colors on a white plate. And then signed her name Ally and 2009! Impressive!

Robert did the same with a coffee mug!

And these things are washable! I am amazed at the toys today! In fact, everything amazes me these days. If you live long enough, that is how it is. I sometimes wonder how things impact on my father who is 21 years older than me!

Then to the Coffee House on Duval to read the Sunday New York Times.

I spent the rest of the day in the cool air conditioned comfort of my home watching the U.S. Open. Who will win? Going to be an interesting day today!

Dinnertime I was out to the Gardens. Friend Skipper was playing the drums and music with his friends. Talked with many people. Had a good time!

I was hungry. So it was off to La Trattoria for dinner.

Kathy bartending. A charming person! Has become a friend.

For some unknown reason, the bar was packed. Unusual for a Sunday evening this time of the year.

I was fortunate to grab an empty seat next to a lovely lady. Lisa was her name. From Nashua, New Hampshire. Her last night in town. First time in Key West.

She loved Key West! Can’t wait to return!

She works two jobs. One is restaurant hosting. She liked La Trattoria. Her second time there this week.

I enjoyed dinner with her.

I have to do some house cleaning today. My office is in one of the bedrooms. The computer is on the desk. Papers every where! My filing system is to make piles of papers here and there. The floor, bed and chairs are all buried. Walking is difficult. You have to be carefull to step over at certain places.

Time to correct it! I have reached the point where I cannot stand the mess! And also, I am beginning to not be able to find things!

Talk with you tomorrow!

Happy Father’s Day!

We deserve the Day!

Soon Lisa and the grandkids will be calling to wish me a happy day! And I will soon be calling my father. 95 years old! I hope he is around when he is 100 so I can do the same at that time!

I am a golf freak! Totally hooked on the U.S. Open!

I stayed in all day yesterday watching the tournament. Too bad it is raining so bad. Screws up what otherwise should and would be an extreme game of skill. The weather does not help reveal the better player necessarily. A lot of luck becomes involved. That is not to say, however, that some golfers do not play better in the rain. And that is a skill in itself.

Some horses run better on a wet track. They are mudders. Some golfers seem to excell on a wet course. Don’t know what they are called. However, one of them is Mike Wier. And he is near the top of the board!

Tiger played well yesterday. However his putting is not yet what it was. And is probably the difference for him. Also, he was having difficulty yesterday staying in the fairway.
The second cut appears horrendous!

Lisa came over in the afternoon with the grandkids. I reluctantly took time off from the TV to swim with them. Fun!

Between the end of the second round and the start of the third, I got involved in an old movie. Grease. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Made in 1978.

Travolta was thin! Very thin! Newton-John lovely! The music fantastic!

Back in the 1975, some threee years prior to the making of Grease, I had the privilege of meeting Olivia Newton-John.

I had a condo at the Jockey Club in Miami at the time. The bar was a friendly group each night. Every one knew every one!

One evening someone said lets go to the Fontainbleu. Olivia Newton-John is singing there. I knew little about her. Knew she was a new singer. From Australia. Not sure if I had ever heard her sing.

Four of us decided to go and off we went!

Turns out one of the four knew her and apparently knew some one at the Fontainbleu. We walked right into the show room without paying. Were escorted to the best table in the house. And enjoyed a spectacular evening of singing by the lovely Olivia Newton-John!

Afterwards we were escorted back stage to her dressing room. I had the pleasure of meeting her. One of my friends obviously knew her well. She was gracious and charming. A bit reticient. A young lady on her way up!

An enjoyable experience.

And 3 years later she is co-starring with John Travolta in the biggest movie of the year! Grease!

She made it to the top! Good girl!

Lisa, Corey and the grandkids just called to wish me a happy father’s day! Love them!

We are doing breakfast together this morning to celebrate the occasion. At Camille’s. It will be fun!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Yesterday was a pleasant Friday!

Golf dominated! The U.S. Open! All day!

I watched from my bed in the morning. Then continued watching while having lunch at the Yacht Club. Back home for more golf all afternoon.

What could be better!

Last night I stopped for a drink at the Chart Room. It was quiet compared to the raucus party the night before. Captain Peter was there.

The Captain just returned from Mexico. Visited with his former wife for a few days. Some small town near Cancun. He took a plane, bus and cab to get there.

A lovely place, he says! Right on the ocean. Rents cheap. Like a $100 a month! Dinner for 2 at the best restaurant $15.

Time to move there!

Afterwards, I walked over to Hot Tin Roof for dinner at the bar. Met more friends. Had pleasant conversation, good food and a couple of drinks. And watched more U.S. Open golf on the bar TV.

And then home to bed early!

The weather is fantastic here in Key West! It rains a bit every day. A real down pour. Stops as suddenly as it begins. Lasts all of 10 minutes. That’s it!

I am looking out the window as I write. The water is still. Like a mirror. The palm tree moves not. It is a bit cloudy so everything is colored gray. Neither heat nor humidity yet. Perfect weather!

Maybe I will do the beach today with Lisa and the grandkids. It is either that or be glued to the TV set all day!

Enjoy!

Interesting day yesterday!

I was sitting out on the deck with everything running through my mind. Kind of contemplating my navel mood!

All of a sudden I saw a shark swim by! Not the same one. Smaller. About 4 feet long.

This is the second time in less than a week that I have seen a shark off my dock. Never before in 10 years! Scarry! I’m never going in that water again!

Corey, Lisa and the grandkids came by later on. Of course, I am all excited about the shark. Again, Corey said worry not! They are more afraid of you than you are of them! A philosophy I cannot buy!

Then Corey shared with me a most interesting experience.

Understand that my son in law is absolute modesty. Humble and not assuming might be a more pecise description.

He is the salt of the earth. Typical of the the mid west where he was born and raised. Corey reminds me of Jimmy Stewart. Tall and lanky. Kind and gentle. Rarely excited.

He told me of an experience he had had 2 days earlier.

Corey was at the Winn Dixie Shopping area. He had been to CVS. He saw a girl on a moped go down. He immediately went over to help. She was lying face down. She was groaning. He tried to calm her and told her that 911 had been called.

All of a sudden her body had tremors and went still.

He turned her over. Her eyes were wide open and staring straight ahead. Her face was an odd gray color.

He thought she was dying or had died. He immediately started CPR. Mouth to mouth recusitation. He had learned CPR when he was 16 and a life guard in Indiana. He is now 46. He has never tried CPR in the 30 years since learning it.

As Corey was doing the mouth to mouth, another man came over and did the chest pressing. Corey says they did 8-10 rounds of the procedure.

All of a sudden, the young lady jerked and started breathing. The police arrived with the EMT people and took her away.

Corey says it was an indescribable experience to have helped in bringing the girl back. He was in awe of the whole thing.

A lesson to all of us. We should be knowledgable in CPR.

I rarely do the tourist end of town. However, last night I decided it would be a good change of pace. I figured I would start with the Chart Room and then hit Sloppy Joe’s and Rick’s. My game plan was to eat at Sloppy Joe’s. What else? A sloppy joe! However, I never made it past the Chart Room.

The Chart Room was packed! It was a no room at the inn situation! People were standing outside either drinking or trying to get in.

I squeezed inside and found my round table friends. What’s up, I inquired. Turned out it was a fundraiser for Hospice. The group was honoring the birthday of General Geoff Chapman.

General Chapman? I had never heard of him.

Turns out he was a general with the Conch Republic. General of the Conch Republic Army to be precise!

Back in the early 1980s, drugs were a problem in the keys. They are no more. Anyhow, the U.S. Government, in its divine wisdom, decided to set up a road block somewhere north around Homestead/Key Largo. The purpose of the road block was to check out vehicles for drugs.

Nowhere else in the United States was such a road block being utilized in the war on drugs.

The people of Key West took the road block as an insult. Understandably so. Who wants their car stopped and searched. So a group of Key Westers banded together to protest the blockade and its attendant insult.

They called themselves the Conch Republic. They actually formed a nation. They even had an army. The General of the Army was Geoff Chapman, in whose name the party was being held last night.

The Conch Republic formally protested to the U.S. Government and requested the removal of the barricade. They also formally seceded from the Union.

All this occured in a 24 hour period.

The U.S. Government heard them. The barricade came down. The Conch Republic surrendered. And demanded reparations! Why not!

That was a long time ago. However, the Conch Republic has continued. It is an active organization. In fact, each year a water battle is reenacted in the Key West harbor involving the U.S.Coast Guard and boats from the Conch Republic. Shots in the form of water hoses from the Coast Guard boats and tomatos and eggs from the Conch boats are exchanged. Jets and helicopters from Boca Chica fly over. Old double winged bi planes of the Conch Republic fly over also, dropping bombs of unraveling rolls of toilet paper on the Coast Guard ships below.

A big time! A good time! A Key West time!

And last night I ate and drank in honor of General Geoff Chapman of the Conch Republic Army!

The General was not with us. Unforunately he succumbed to cancer several years ago. But his spirit lives on, as evidenced by the fun every one was having last night!

Thank God for the Genral! Thank God for the Conch Republic revolution! Thank God for the people of Key West! I sometime think the only sanity left in this world is here in Key West!

What a difference a day makes!

My diverticulitis problem appears behind me. However, the doctor had me on two heavy antibiotics for 10 days. Yesterday was day 8.

The antibiotics were beginning to take their toll. Seemed to be screwing up my life in every which way.

Yesterday I thought I was going to collapse on the golf course! So tired! So beat up!

I literally crawled to my car after finishing and hurried home to bed. No lunch. Just sleep.

When I awoke I telephoned my doctor. She said OK to stop the pills. It appeared they had done their job and were now adversely affecting me.

I stopped! Needed no encouragement!

Slept like a baby last night! First time in over a week! And feel great this morning! Like a new man!

Golf was obviously lousy. I could hardly swing the club on the back 9. It was stupid of me to continue playing, but I can be hard headed. I bulled my way through the round.

I felt better by dinner time. I stopped at Aqua to hear Bobby Nesbitt. Then to La Trattoria for a light dinner and some great conversation with friend Robert Spottswood.

The Iranian protests are dominating the news. Interesting! Who knows what will develop from the unrest.

It brings back to mind the Hungarian Revolution.

It was October 1956. Russia had occupied and dominated Hungary after World War II. One day a delegation of students went to a government building to protest something. They were shot upon by the Russian soldiers.

In short time, there was fighting on the streets. Guns, tanks, molotov cocktails and the like. The revolution lasted all of 2 1/2 weeks. Then the Russian Army crushed it! Might over right!

Many were killed. Two hundred thousand had to flee the country. Feared for their lives!

One of those who fled was Kolos.

Kolos was a native born Hungarian. A student at the time of the revolution.

He had become a student at Manhattan College when I met him. It was 1957 and January of my senior year at Manhattan.

Many of the students who fled were immedialy accepted into the United States as refugees. And sent off to college right away, to boot!

Kolos and about 15 of his friends were sent to Manhattan College.Three months after their revolution, they were students here in the United States.

They all spoke perfect English. We should be ashamed! How many of us speak Hungarian or any foreign language. The language factor made it easy for them to be absorbed into our college life.

Kolos and I became friends and talked frequently. I was curious how the revolution came to be, his part in it, etc.

Kolos said his people were always unhappy about foreign domination of his country. First, Hitler. Then, Stalin. But they quietly accepted it as a people.

His primary interests just before the revolution were girls, drinking and school in that order. Normal!

Then the student delegation got shot on. He and a bunch of friends left the bar they drinking in and drove to the scene. A bit of chaos was beginning. People were throwing things.

He and his buddies went and got tomatos and eggs. They returned to the scene and threw them at the soldiers. The soldiers shot back. Kolos and his friends took off!

However over the next few days, the tomatos and eggs were replaced by guns. Koslo and his friends were actively engaging the Russian Army. Things were OK till the Russians brought in the tanks. Then the insurgents were lost! Kolos and his friends were no match for the tanks.

What had started out as a lark, with no intent to cause a shooting revolution, turned into an all out war!

Kolos and his friends had to get out of Hungary. College students were being shot on sight.

He fled. So did 200,000 others.

And 3 months later we were sitting together in New York City having a beer and talking about his experiences!

Kolos’ Hungarian Revolution failed. Years later another quieter one succeeeded.

May the present Iranian foment bring a quicker result.

Enjoy your day!

I started the day yesterday with a bicycle ride. First time in a long time.

I rode around my island. Key Haven.

We are into summer time here. Have been for a long time. It has impacted the foliage. Every thing is massively overgrown. Everything needs not just a hair cut, but a crew cut!

Lunch at the Yacht Club. Read for a while afterwards at Borders. Then home to do some paper work.

I stayed in last night. Unusual. I was in the mood to do nothing.

This morning golf! I am anxious! May I play well! Hope springs eternal!

Matteo Petrera died.

I have not seen nor heard from Matteo in over 50 years.

We were in college together. Manhattan College. I was a resident student and Matteo a day hop.That means I had the money to live on campus. Only because of a scholarship. Matteo lived in New york City proper and took the subway or bus, or both, to school each day from his home.

We went through 4 years together. He was my partner in biology lab.

We were not close. I never recall our going out together on the weekend. But we talked every day.

He perceived me as a farm kid from somewhere in upstateNew York. I saw him as this street smart kid from New York City.

Matteo was physically large. Not fat. Tight. Like a full back.

He knew about everything. He was the expert. Girls, studies, the world. Nothing was beyond his knowledge and comprehension.

He taught me much. I used to hang on his every word. He was sort of a hero to me.

I have not seen Matteo since our college graduation in 1957.

Yesterday, I received the Manhattan College Alumni News. It noted the death of Matteo Petrera.

I felt sad. I went to the computer and googled Matteo. His obituary came up. Turns out Matteo touched many in his lifetime.

He became a high school teacher for 30 years on Long Island where he eventually lived. Taught history and was a guidance counselor. Was married for 46 years. Had several children who gave him several grandchildren.

He apparently was well liked by his students, who affectionately referred to him as Mr. P.

I love his Italian background!

His family came from Bari in Italy. They settled in Harlem, where he was raised. Harlem is where he got the street smarts of which I was so much in awe.

Matteo, God bless you! Keep an eye out for me when I arrive where you are! Perhaps you can give me the lay of the land, oops Heaven, so I can better find my way around!

Michael Eptien is back in town! Ran into him at La Trattoria last night.

Michael has been gone for 8 months. In South Carolina with family. He has decided Key West is home and where he belongs. And so, he has returned!

I first met Mike when he was a waiter at Square One. A nice guy! The best!

Mike had a good life here in Key West. He was a leader in the gay community, active in his church and was even elected Queen once.

He became a good friend of Lisa’s. Attended her wedding and knew the grandkids. He asked about them at length last night.

I am glad he has returned and wish him well.

Have a good day!

A quiet Sunday! A good Sunday!

Lisa and family came over in late morning to swim. My grandlids are fish. Why not! Their father Corey dives for a living! They will dive at some point, also!

Later, I did my usual thing at the Pier House. Brunch and read the papers.

Then home to watch golf. Brian Gay played well for 4 days!

Lisa’s for dinner! Big last night! She baked a key lime pie! Terrific!

Home again for the basketball game. Congrats to LA. Well deserved.

Orlando will be back again. It seems to take time in professional sports to win the big one! You have to be there and get beaten. Then return and win. A team has to learn how to win!

Big day today. My plate is full!

Have fun!

I feel better. I think!

I ate yesterday. Poached eggs. No problem.

Last night I decided to get out. Opted for the movies. Have not been in a long time.

Decided on Tom Hanks’ new film Angels and Demons. Good! Action packed! Fast moving!

A bit insulting to the Catholic Church. But then, what isn’t these days! I thought it brought forth the human nature of the Church. The Church seeks to do God’s will, God’s way. However, it is humans who seek to carry out God’s perceived directions. Men are fallible, not infallible as God might be. So they err. And as a result the Catholic Church has occasionally screwed up big time over the years!

I know and understand that of which I speak. I am a product of a Catholic education. Grammar school, high school and college. I also had the unpleasant responsibility of counseling someone who claimed to have been improperly approached by a priest.

Putting all that aside, again I recommend the movie! Good viewing! Exciting!

Angels and Demons has already had its run at the local big multi theater. Key West has a second movie house. The Tropic Cinema.

The Tropic is a relatively small facility. Has 3 tiny movie rooms. It is located on the side of the La Concha Hotel. Steps off Duval in the heart of the party area.

The Tropic Cinmea was conceived by several local Key Westers. They wanted a small theater that would show the better movies. Not always necessarily the popular ones. There are many films that are not big money makers, but classics nevertheless.

A fund drive of major proportions ensued. It was successful!! Considerable money was raised!

One of the major contributors, if not the major one, was Jean Carper. She donated $200,000 in her mother Nancy’s name. The largest of the 3 movie rooms is named after Nancy Carper.

Jean and I are friends. I have known her since buying my home in Key West.

Jean makes a living by writing books. Books having to do with foods and which ones to eat for better health. She has had several best sellers and made a fortune! She also writes a weekly column which is in the Parade insert of many newspapers.

She has a brother who lives in Saquoit, NY, a suburb of Utica. A small world!

I bought one of Nancy’s books once. It was a home remedy thing. Certain foods to cure certain illnesses, aches and pains.

One day I had a hell of a head cold. Nose running all the time. Could not stop sneezing. So I looked up head cold in Jean’s book. It said eat a clove of garlic every 2 hours.

My wife kept garlic bulbs in the house for cooking. I took one, seperated a clove from it and placed the clove in my mouth. Ughhh!

Try chewing a large chunk of garlic!

Chew I did however and got the garlic clove down. Within minutes, my nose was dry and I stopped sneezing! For real!

I kept eating a clove of garlic every 2 hours through out the day and into the evening. When my wife returned, she immediately told me the place stunk of garlic! Yes, I admitted. It was me. I chopped down the cherry tree! I explained the Jean inspired remedy, how it had worked, etc. She was not impressed. The odor/smell was apparently overwhelming.

We slept in separate bedrooms that night!

After the movie finished, I had to relieve myself. So I sought out the men’s room of the Tropic Cinema.

As I was standing over the urinal doing my thing, I noticed a small plaque on the wall at eye level before me. It read: This station for your relief provided by Roger Westerlund.

There was another urinal next to me. It had a similar plaque. I was curious whose donation paid for that one. So my head and eyes turned right. There was a guy using the urinal. Our eyes met. He was not taking nicely to my looking over as he was pissing. I could see pervert in his eyes! My head snapped back immediately!

Roger is a transplanted doctor from I don’t know where living in Key West. He is married to the lovely and charming Mary Ann. They have lived here for years. Were already here when I bought my home in Key West some 10 years ago. They are very generous and giving to the community. As evidenced by Roger’s contribution paid for plaque over the urinal!

I have been having a problem with my printer for several months. Could not figure it out. Son in law Corey was over during the day and I mentioned it to him. He took a look at it.

The printer was not hooked into the computer! What an idiot I am!

The days here in Key West have been magnificent! Sun all day! Increasing humidity each day! We are into the hurricane season as of June 1. Hope the year is an easy one hurricane wise! We have through November 30 to worry. And worry we do!

Today is Sunday! Enjoy your Sunday! Lay back! Read the Sunday papers! Whatever! As long as you do what you want and it makes you feel good!

I was siting on the dock having a cup of coffee yesterday morning. All of a sudden, a shark slid by. About 7-8 feet long.

I appreciate that water magnifies things. However, this denzien of the deep in reality would have had to be at least 5 feet long.

I rarely swim in the ocean off my home. Have always had an uncomfortable feeling. There are those who do not, however. Like son in law Corey and my grandkids.

Corey is an archeologist. He dives for a living. All over the world!

He is always jumping off the dock and having 5 year old Robert and 4 year old Ally follow him. He loves the ocean! And because of him, my grandchildren do also!

Corey visited with me in the afternoon. I told him about the shark. He was very noncholant. His comment was to the effect that fish live in the ocean. Made me feel like an asshole!

We talked about sharks and his experiences. He says sharks are as much afraid of humans as humans are of them. He has been in their company many times. They went about their business as he went about his. His only concern would be something like a tiger shark.

I know Corey. He and the grandkids will continue going in the ocean off my dock!

Ally’s birthday was a couple of weeks ago. Ally has some unusual interests for a 4 year old.

She is big into bugs. Picks up ants and spiders. Then runs into the house to show them to you!

She is also into things that grow naturally. Gardens and the like. She recently took a field trip with Montessori class mates to some botanical gardens. Thought it was terrific!

So one of the gifts I got her for her birthday was a pot and some tomato seeds. With her father’s assistance, she put dirt in the pot and seeds in the dirt. She diligently waters the pot every day.

Yesterday morning she was all excited when I visited. She took me by the hand and hurried me outside. Tomato leaves were breaking through the dirt! A wow! Even I was impressed!

She explained how she waters it every day. But she said, not if it rains. She told me too much water was not good. Smart!

I am feeling lousy again! Stomach! The diverticulitis problem. I got that bloated feeling yesterday afternoon with probably a low grade temperature. I was sweating a bit and had chills.

So off to bed! With me, any excuse to go to bed is a good one!

I stayed in bed the rest of the day and evening. Feel better this morning. Wish this problem would go away! I continue to take antibiotics which is supposed to kill it! Before it kills me!

My one happy moment last night was a telephone call from my court reporter friend Marty.

Marty is visiting in upstate New York. Someplace outside of Auburn. About 60 miles from Utica, my original home town.

He and his wife are on an errand of love. His wife’s 85 year old aunt needs some care and attention. So they are up there getting her and her belongings to return to live with them here in Florida.

Last night was Marty’s last night in the area. They return to Florida today.

He was having dinner in a General something hotel on Owasco Lake.

He wanted to know if I ever heard of Owasco Lake. Of course! I did my 8th grade class trip there! That blew Marty back a bit. He thought he had me!

Then he went on to rant how he now knew why I always wanted to eat in good reataurants in Key West. He apparently was not happy with the General something hotel. He thought he was back in Revolutionary days somehow.

I told Marty that is the way it is in upstate New York. And yes, you are in an area that looks and feels like 1776 times. The American Revolution was fought there!

Lets hope that today is a better one for me than yesterday! I am getting sick of being sick!