Good morning!

I am up early. Golf this morning. Dark outside.

As a weather forecaster, I stink! I predicted a big storm yesterday. It never happened here in Key Haven where I live. Within 20 minutes, the sun was out and the black clouds had passed.

I live three islands up from Key West. About 2.5 miles separates my little key from Key West. It apparently rained big time in Key West. I could see huge puddles all over the place when I was driving in town last night.

I share this bit of information with you because of the uniqeness of the weather in the keys. It is not uncommon for it to rain in  Key West proper and not the 1 or 2 islands to the immediae north. In fact, it is not uncommon for it to rain in one part of Key West and not another.

Emily has become the topic of conversation. Even among the tourists. A storm on the way? The tourists do not understand how the locals take it all in stride. Too many times, we have been warned to evacuate. Many do not. It has become old hat. Get out, bad weather on its way! And then nothing. The storm turns and goes elsewhere.

The only danger is that some day the forcasters are going to be correct and it will be too late to evacuate.

Emily is not an evacuation type storm. So to locals it is like water off a duck’s back. It is given no concern.

This morning’s projection has Emily skirting Florida and hitting the United States proper in the Carolinas. It is also projected that Emily will increase in speed by that time to a hurricane 1. Still no big deal.

All this Emily information can change dramatically. Hurricanes are fickle. They move as they want. Ergo, the problem is that certainty in prediction is never a certainty.

I had a perfect day yesterday. I sat at my kitchen table with the doors open to the water behind me and wrote. All day. The weather was just right to do so. I wore only shorts and did not utilize the air conditioning. By the time I had finished, I was soaking wet.

I had dinner last night with Steve and Helen Purciello. We met through this blog. Steve is a daily reader. They visit Key West two times a year. We had drinks together six months ago at the Chart Room. We did it again last night, plus dinner at La Trattoria.

Steve and Helen hail from Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Both are educators. Steve an administrator and Helen a teacher. They have a time share here in Key West.

Both of them had spectacular tans. They ride their bikes each day to Fort Zachrey beach and lay out. They do not rent a car while here. Walking and biking are their modes of transportation.

Steve was a history major in college as I was. We are both political junkies. Politics dominated our discussions. With what has gone on in Washington the past few weeks, we had much to talk about.

 I enjoyed Steve and Helen’s company. I look forward to their next visit in November.

My blood pressure is stabilizing. I am anxious to play golf this morning. I missed last week because of the blood pressure problem.

Enjoy your day!

Another lovely day! Perfect! Calm and peaceful. Little breeze. Scattered clouds.

But…..the first hurricane of the season that might be a problem is on its way.

Emily.

Emily is presently a tropical storm. Sometime today it will cross Puerto Rico. Then Emily’s projection is for the storm to take a sharp right and head north.

Emily has three projected paths. One to the west of Florida and up into the Gulf. One to the east of Florida and north up the Atlantic. The third directly over Florida and Key West.

Storms are fickle. You never know the precise direction till the last minute. And even then, the storm’s path can change quickly and dramatically.

It is anticipated Emily will reach the Florida keys Saturday morning. Winds are projected to be 70 mph. Still within he scope of a tropical storm. Not a hurricane.

There is another possibility. Emily may never reach us at all. It may peter out.

I have noted over my years in Key West, that the natives will start talking about the storm when it is still a few days out: Will it hit?…Oh, it’s nothing!…I never worry…Who cares…Are you leaving?…No, I’m staying…Where would I go?

The topic of conversation!

I wrote an interesting blog for Amazon Kikndle yesterday. Economy and The Law. Tried to show how a depressed economy affects the operation of the courts. Tax dollars support the courts. Interesting. San Francisco has recently announced it will close a portion of its Superior Courts on September 1. Budget problems. Going to lay of 200 staff and shut down 25 court rooms.

I stopped at Lisa’s later in the morning. Cameron was there.

I learned some new things regarding his Mongilian trip. He ate horse meat. Said it was good. Apparently a Mongolian staple. Cameron further said all the food was different and exciting to the taste.

Cameron makes mention on Facebook this morning that he is bored. The trip obviously turned him on. In one month, he experienced a whole new way of living. The other 16 years of his life are old hat. Mundane. Of course he is bored! It will not last, however.

I then stopped at Office Max. I needed some supplies. I have learned that this is one of the best times of the year to shop at Office Max. They have all kinds of sales for the kids returning to school. I try to take advantage of these sales. Like a ruler for 1 cent. Can’t beat that!

I was also looking over the printers. Need a new one. No terrific sales with the printers though. Obviously not a required item for school children.

I am getting tired of typing on the computer as I write. My fingers do not work as fast as my mind nor as accurately. I am looking into Dragon. I will speak and the Dragon program will print my words on the computer.

Any of you who have Dragon experience, write and let me know what you think, your experience, etc.

I then walked. Home Depot.

Then home to write a bit. Inside. Too hot outside.

Last night I headed over to Hogfish for dinner. Alone. Sat at the bar. Read some local papers. Chatted with the barmaid. A charming woman originally from England.

I am glad this Washington fiasco is finally being put to rest. A shame on our government. A shame on us for not having figured out how to correct the situation yet before they bury us. My suggestion. Vote them out! All of them! Invoke stringent term limits. One six year term for a Senator and 2 two year terms for a Representative. Then let them return home and work like the rest of us.

Enjoy your day!

Key West weather has been so good for seven months. I fear we are going to pay for it. Perhaps in the form of a hurricane in the near future.

I am like that character in Little Abner. The little guy who always walked around with a black cloud over his head. I fear for the worst all the time.

The Sunday talk shows were interesting. Dwelled on the debt ceiling problem. Glad it is close to coming to an end. I am sick of it.

I think every one in Washington is crazy. They do not get it. Do not understand what is important to the American people. Do not realize how foolish they look to the American public. My President fails to lead, the Democrats want to protect entitlements, the Republicans the rich. It appears to me the Republicans and newly elected Tea Party conservatives won. No increase in taxes for the rich!

Revolution is here. The last two national elections were revolutions. The 2012 election is going to be a big one!

I walked yesterday. Home Depot again. Just like going to Publix. I ran into a lot of people I know. From Home Depot staff to customers. All friends.

Made a stop at Walgreen’s. Another heart pill. I could open my own drug store!

Lisa and the family came over in the afternoon to swim.

Ally has been diving. Rather trying to. Yesterday was her first success. She did a series of perfect dives. We encouraged her by yelling how great she was doing. All of a sudden she reverted. Back to belly flops. Oh, well. She is getting there, however.

I was in the kitchen on the computer. All of a sudden I heard everyone screaming. I rushed outside.

There was a snake in the pool!

About two feet long. Thin. Curling around in the water.

Corey was the hero. He took a snorkeling fin and scooped it out.

I would have thrown the snake in the ocean. Corey instead threw it into the small brush around one of the palm trees on the deck. I was disturbed. You should have thrown it in the ocean and hopefully killed it. Corey said, no. Animals are not to be killed just because we fear them. Spoken like a true scientist.

Of course, I did not agree with him. Some day or night I am going to be sitting on the deck barefoot and that thing is going to slither over my feet. A real heart attack time!

Sunday dinner at Lisa’s.

Robert talking up a storm about his trip.

He went to Applebee’s! Not big in and of itself. But you have to understand that Key West does not have an Applebee’s. This was a big deal for Robert. He ordered mozzarella sticks. I don’t think he ever had them before.

I told Robert we had to visit Disney World. He could meet Mickey Mouse. Apparently Mickey Mouse is no big deal to the kids of today. Robert knew of him, but was not that familiar with him. I was shattered! Mickey Mouse was the friend of my youth. Some 70 years ago. Each time I have been to Disney World, I got excited seeing him. Robert reeled out about a dozen names of TV/movie fame youth heroes comparable to Mickey Mouse. He saw all of them at Universal Studios. The Mickey Mouses of today. I knew none of them.

Cameron was with us. He just returned from a month in Mongolia. What an experience! Especially for a 16 year old.

It would be impossible to relate in one blog all he did. So I will share his adventure with you as and when he describes an activity.

Yesterday, he told us that he helped paint a school, spent a day cleaning a Buddhist monastery. He described gers, a round tent Mongolians live in. It is easily collapsable. The people are nomadic and move about frequently.

Cameron herded animals of the family he was staying with. Sometimes on foot and sometimes on a horse. He had rarely rode a horse prior to this trip. He said it was no problem. The horses were trained to herd the animals. They knew what to do and where to go. He just rode.

He helped milk cows. He did not do the pulling and yanking. He had some other duty in the process which I could not understand.

He visited one of the Mongolian cities. He attended a Nomadic Olympics, which he described as cool. Daytime in the city was exciting and interesting. Night time another story. Dark and scarry. Pick pockets abounded. One of his group had his pocket picked.

So much of Cameron for today!

Enjoy your day!

A glorious Sunday morning!

Fantastic Key West weather. It has been like this since December. Lucky we are.

Yesterday I intended to walk Smathers Beach. I got there and parked the car. It was about 11 in the morning. Not many people around. As soon as I got out of the car, I understood why. HOT!

Too hot!

I got back into the car and drove over to Home Depot. In the past when it has been this hot, I walk inside Home Depot. It is air conditioned. Cool.

I walked twice around the store. Up and down each aisle. Usually I walk briskly. Yesterday I did not. My physical problems of the past week were still of concern to me. Just walked normally. Forty minutes.

Afterwards ran some errands and then home.

Lisa and the family showed up. They were returning from Miami. Robert’s week at the cancer survivors camp had concluded. They picked him up.

Robert was excited. He told me about everything. It just rolled out of him.

It seems the thing that thrilled him the most was Universal Studios. The rides. Apparently there is a roller coaster at Universal Studios. He rode it four times! You had to hear him describe how it went up slowly and then dropped down fast. There also was some ride that went so fast it pushed his lips back tight against his teeth and face.

The Harry Potter exhibit was next in order of importance.

Swimming with the dolphins was high on his list, also. They returned to the upper keys to do the dolphin thing. He described how he held onto the fins of two dolphins at one time and how swiftly they carried him over the water. He also kissed a dolphin.

I am looking forward to dinner tonight at Lisa’s. Cameron just returned from Mongolia. Robert from his trip. The dinner conversation will be interesting and illuminating.

My blood pressure yesterday was 121/71. Down from 156/117 seventy two hours earlier. Amazing!

I am a political junkie. What is going on in Washington is an eye opener. Are our elected representatives doing us any good? Government seems to be dysfunctional. Amounting almost to no governance.

It scares the hell out of me! And most of you also, I am sure!

My concerns are with our “leaders.” The term includes all of them. The President, Senators and House of Representative members.

The scenerio reminds me of Nero and Rome. You will recall that it is alleged Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Some historians believe that Nero started the fire for political reasons. He wanted to build a huge palatial complex in his honor. A significant number of senators were against it. So he burned Rome. Now there was no choice. Rome had to be rebuilt and Nero got his palatial complex.

Self interest. Just as in Washington today.

Nero considered himself to be smart. To be sure that he would not be blamed for the fire, Nero effectively threw blame on the Christians. He had them thrown to the dogs, crucified and burned. The burning was at night to illuminate Rome.

Our being fed to the dogs, crucifixions and burnings will be poverty. Pure and simple. Life as we knew it will gradually disappear till it is gone. There will be a small elite class of the rich and everyone else.

Concededly it will take time. But we are making progress. Sometimes I fear too swiftly.

Something must be done. Before it is too late. First and foremost, throw the bums out who presently claim to be serving our interests. Then term limits. And any other safeguards that can be arrived at.

My apologies for pontificating. However, this Washington situation is of increased concern to me.

Enjoy your Sunday!

This weather is fantastic! Another bright sunny day. A just right breeze coming in from the north.

Cameron returned from a one month stay in Mongolia. Lisa and the family met him at the airport yesterday. Lisa says he has become “worldly.” I can’t wait to talk with him. Probably tomorrow night.

Lisa, Corey and Ally are in Miami at the moment. Drove up yesterday after greeting Cameron. They are picking up Robert at 9 this morning. I am anxious to listen to his recitation of the past week.

I have much to look forward to this weekend.

Lisa telephoned me already this morning. Two times. Someone had sent her a pictuire of Robert swimming with a dolphin this week. She said they looked like they were kissing.

My yesterday started with lunch with the friday group. My new found friends. Though I knew some from before. Pleasant conversations. Nothing dramatic yesterday. It is a discussion group.

Cupboard bare again! Followed lunch with a trip to Publix. I spent just over $100! How do families do it? I am only feeding one. Myself.

Grocery bills are a perfect example of today’s economy. The producers can raise their prices to the supermarket. The supermarket raises its prices to the consumers. That’s us. Who do we raise prices to in order to compensate? No one. Are consumers receiving higher pay to help? No. Some do not even have jobs.

Not good. Families are having a bad time. Groceries plus $4 a gallon gas. Will it ever end? Will it ever return to more tolerable costs for consumable goods? Will the middle class ever return to being a middle class?

Later in the afternoon was the visit to my heart doctor.

I was supposed to do the stress test a couple of months ago. Kept rescheduling it because of my teeth. Finally got to it. And discovered my blood pressure was out of whack!

A little background is in order.

About 2.5 years ago, I was brutally tired all the time. I was shipped up to Miami for a heart catherization. I had an enlarged heart. They told me why. I did what I was instructed to do for 15 months to hopefully correct the situation. No drinking and no smoking.

Last September, I had a stress test to see what, if anything, had occurred with my enlarged heart. It was gone! Had shrunk back, though not to its original shape.

The enlarged heart problem was resolved. I was proud of myself.

The doctor said…..wait…..don’t get so excited…..you have a new problem. Terrific!

The bottom of my heart was not getting any blood. Note the word “any.” The artery feeding blood to the heart had crinkled and twisted. It had also shrunk. Terrific, again!

I was advised it would be diffocult to stent. Surgery difficult, also.

Wonderful!

My doctor thought he had a solution. There was a relatively new procedure. It involved this monstrous machine that I would have to lie on one hour a day for 35 consecutive days, excluding weekends. The bottom half of my body was encased in two inch wide air hoses. Tight. Every second or two, air would be forcefully shot into the hoses. My body would literally jump off the table a bit with each shot.

The purpose was to force blood into my heart. Hopefully collateral blood sources would develop and/or the screwed up twisted artery would straighten out.

I had to wait several months after the conclusion of the 35 days before taking a stress test and the pictures that go with it to see if success had been achieved. That was the purpose of the stress test thursday.

I am pleased to advise it worked! The twisted and shrunk artery had straightened out and blood was flowing properly into my heart. No longer was the bottom of my heart not receiving blood.

The wonders of modern science!

However, my blood pressure was up. Dramatically!

I am happy to report that in a mere two days, it is back to normal. The doctor merely doubled my blood pressure medication.

You do not have to tell me. I know. My renewed bad habits led to the hike in blood pressure. I am once again a good boy and resolve to stay that way. Hopefully. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Again, I never shared with you the 35 day machine exercise to open blood vessels carrying blood to my heart. This problem was discovered at the same time I was into the teeth thing. The doctor and dentist consulted. Decided one would not hurt the other. Or me. So I was undergoing terrible pain with my jaw and daily tiredness from the heart machine at one and the same time. I figured no one really wants to hear that much about someone’s medical problems. Additionally, it would be difficult to convey what I was experiencing each day. Pain from the jaw and getting beat up from the machine.

So where are we?

My heart is good. Good!

My dental procedures are within two months of ending. Good!

My self inflicted blood pressure problem is being dealt with. Good!

So I am going to go out tonight and tie a good one on, overeat and only bad foods, and smoke my brains out! No, only joking.

I do feel good. Pleased with myself. Want to remain that way. So it will be none of the above.

I am leaving you and heading for Smathers Beach. To take a walk!

Enjoy your day!

Another lovely Key West morning!

I am surprised. Last night the wind from the north was coming in at a swift pace. There was more wave size than normal. The MTV house across the way has a boat tied to the dock. It was moving up and down and rolling back and forth.

The wind has abated. Everything is calm outside.

After my stress test activity yesterday, I did nothing. Upon returning home, I immediately went to bed. My only activity was watching TV. I see the doctor this afternoon to review the pictures and receive instructions as to what to do.

This problem is of my own making. I fell again. Actually, I did not fall. I slipped into it over time. I take responsibility. I was not influenced by others. I am my own person.

I am lunching at noon with the same group I had lunch with last friday. About ten local business and public figures that get together weekly to discuss current events both nationally and locally. I enjoyed my first time last week and am sure this week will be equally enjoyabe.

Speaking of current events, we have become a dysfunctional society. Washington is an absolute disgrace. Something I need not tell you. The nuts are trying to take over.

Strikes a bit of fear into me.

I see the heart doctor at 3:30. I hope the problem is only blood pressure.

Cameron returns from Mongolia this morning. Robert from his week long trip tomorrow. It will be nice to have everyone back. I look forward to the stories to be told.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning! No, good afternoon! It is almost one o’clock in the afternoon.

I had to be at the hospital at 7:30 this morning for my stress test. It did not work out well. My blood pressure was 156/117. No stress test on the tread mill. Instead they lay me down and shot some nuclear stuff into me. The test was over in 30 seconds.

I was also given a super dooper pill to bring my blood pressure down.

I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon to see the doctor.

Drinking and smoking are gone again. More exercise needed. Probably walking. New prescriptions.

Such is life.

There is some humor in all this. I told the docrtor I had not been exercising, joined a gym to box and do the tread mill, and only made it to the gym one time. That was good, he said. Had I been on the tread mill, I could have had problems because of the blood pressure. Maybe a stroke.

Ergo, my laziness regarding the gym was a blessing in disguise.

My internet show will not be tommorow as scheduled. I still have about 2.5 hors work today to do alone and with Jenna in final preparation for the show. It is work under pressure. I am taking this week off. Last week’s show will be rerun. It was exceptionally good. If you wish to view it, the show will be available at 10 in the morning at http://www.konkbroadcasting.com/.

Enough for now. I am going to bed and put my head under the covers for the rest of the afternoon.

Enjoy your day!

Key West weather continues to be spectacular! The only negative is a little too much humidity by day.

The town is full of tourists. Amazing for this time of year. Hotels/motels full and restaurant/bar business booming.

I mentioned the Hemingway Look Alike contest the other day. I was in error regarding the number of Hemingway look a likes. I thought about 20. Actually there were 120.

My big excitement yesterday morning was a haircut with Lori. Always a pleasure.

My hair is different. It is now one step up from totally bald. It also is fifty percent cheaper to cut. Lori takes the clipper and goes zoom around my head and is done.

Last night was a pleasure. My friends Don and Chris are in for a week of rest and fun. From the Syracuse area, they visit several times a year. Key West is their favorite place. Obviously so. They are almost Chart Room regulars. They sit there for hours most evenings.

We met by prearrangement. Don was tired. He had just returned from China Friday or Saturday night. Flew to Key West Monday. He said the travel and time changes screw him up a bit. Chris was lovely. As always. She recently lost close to 20 pounds. It was obvious. I mentioned to her almost immediately she looked thinner. I don’t know why she dieted. She looked terrific with the 20 pounds on, also.

I know, thin is good!

They both work for the same company. In marketing and sales.

Don’s sales job is unique. He sells to the Chinese, rather than the Chinese selling to us. China has been his territory for long time. I enjoy listening to his background stories regarding China and its ways.

There should be more Dons. We need to sell to China more. Besides being our banker, the Chinese kill us with their cheaply manufactured goods with which they flood our American markets.

Chris is a world traveler for her company also. China on occasion. India more.

Today is golf day. No golf for me. I have a stress test scheduled for 7:30 tomorrow morning. Golf tires me out. I want to be totally rested for the test. At my age, I have a fear of failing when I take one.

Ally misses her brother Robert.

Enjoy your day!

My grandson Robert was born with cancer of the liver seven years ago.

A tragedy.

He had two major surgeries. One on the third day of his life and the other on the eighth. The cancerous tumor was larger than his liver itself.

He is well today and has been ever since the second surgery. He is a normal boy. Thank God.

The surgeries and recovery were at Miami Children’s Hospital. A fantastic place. He has had the same doctor attending him from day one. Dr. Athena Peskorou. Robert still sees her. His present schedule requires him to be examined by her two times a year till he is eighteen.

Six weeks ago, Dr. Peskorou telephoned Lisa. She and Miami Children’s Hospital wanted Robert to attend a one week camp for cancer surviors. There would be thirty four children. Ages 7 to 16. All saved by her and Miami Children’s Hospital. A sort of celebration of life. As Dr. Peskorou related to Lisa, we lose more than we save. We want to do some fun things with and for those who made it.

Robert is on this trip at this very moment. It is a saturday to saturday thing that started last saturday.

They will be moving around during the week. Some events scheduled for the thirty four include Cirque du Soleil, Orlando, the Blue Man Group, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, NBA City, a bayside cruise, an animal show, bowling, swimming with the dolphins and a campfire with singing and marshmellows.

Not bad! Though the ticket for admission initially included a deadly event.

I await Robert’s return. Besides missing him, I want to hear from his own lips what he experienced.

Lisa is a wreck. Robert has never been away from her.

Going to be a big week news wise. Cameron returns friday from his month long trip to Mongolia.

Enjoy your day!

Another beautiful Key West morning. The sun has awakened and everything is golden.

My Sunday was not as anticipated. I went no where. Stayed home all day.

I have a new table and umbrella right next to the pool. I sat there all day researching and writing. A dip in the pool every now and then to cool off. The only inconvenience was I had to change seats occasionally to avoid the direct impact of the sun.

Lisa, Corey and Ally came over for a while to swim. Robert was some where else. I continue to be impressed with Alley’s prowess in the water.

Recall Key West Lou tee shirts? I came in contact this past week with two people who purchased them. They had purchased the tee shirts more than a year ago.

One was Tom Dixon from Buffalo. He wears his to the pool at home and here in Key West. The other was from some woman in a small town in central New York who advised via email she bought a larger than needed one and wears it to bed.

Tee shirts are available on Lisa’s internet department store site. http://www.viakeywest.com/.

My home town of Utica, NY has a reputation for fine Italian food. A reputation well deserved! The Italian people came over in the early 1900s primarily. Their descendants grew. Italian restaurants were one of the results of the immigration and expanding families.

Some one commented recently that she was from my area originally also. She said she was half Italian and that the Italian food here left much to be desired.

Let me share Louis’ thoughts on the issue.

The woman is basically correct. The finest Italian restaurant in Key West is La Trattoria, which I frequnet often. There is another. Antonia’s, which I do not frequent at all for personal reasons. Occasionally, Harpoon Harrys will have a macaroni and meat ball item on its special menu. I will order it. Good!

That is it as to quality and semi-quality Italian food in Key West. Any other purported/claimed Italian restaurant is not worthy of mention.

The reason there is not better or more is simple. There is no demand for pasta dishes in Key West. The market for Italian food does not exist. The demand is for fish first and then steak. Vacationers apparently can get enough pasta back home.

I have an appointment this morning to visit my internest. The one that was all over me two weeks ago for doing all kinds of things inconsistent with a healthy life style.

I have been better. Hopefully, she will not berate me. I  am on a diet. Have lost five pounds. Have not had a drink. For diet purposes only. I intend to return after the diet is concluded. Have cut my smoking back considerably.

My two failures are the smoking and exercise. I rejoined the gym, but have only gone on one occasion.

Enjoy your day!