WHAT A MORNING…..

What a morning! When things go wrong, they screw up all the way!

It is now 12 noon. I am just starting the blog. Normally, I begin at 6 in the morning.

I had an 8 am doctor visit. Fasting blood work. Left the house at 7:45. Heavy going to work traffic. I was late. Got to doctor’s office 8:10.

Receptionist wanted to know why I was there. Blood work, I said. She said tomorrow.

She took pity on me and said sit down, I’ll work you in. Five minutes later, my blood was being drawn.

The doctor’s office is all of a 100 feet from the Cuban Coffee Queen. I stopped in for breakfast. Cuban cheese toast and coffee. Instead, I was served a regular huge portion of bread embodying 2 eggs and cheese. More food than I would eat in a day.

They said enjoy. I said what the hell and did!

Could not finish the sandwich. Too much.

Went to my car to go home to do this blog. Battery dead. I was beginning to suspect this was not my day.

Called AAA. Excellent repair man. Told me something was corroded and that was why the battery was not functioning. He did his thing and then charged the battery.

Everything in good order! One problem. My trip home delayed. The repair man told me I had to drive the car 45 minutes to charge the battery. More delay. I spent the 45 minutes driving up US 1 and back.

My podcast Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou tonight. Normally I prepare the show tuesday afternoon. I would have had to move my ass to get it done and done correctly if such was the case today.

For whatever reason, I prepared tonight’s show yesterday afternoon. Why, I do not know. First time. In any event, I will not be rushed when I finish this blog. God must have known the problems I was going to experience this morning so moved me to do today’s work yesterday.

Aqua’s Dueling Bartenders last night. Tom Luna and Rick Dery their usual great entertainers. Terri White guest performer. Now blind, you would never know it. Her performance outstanding!

Wife Donna with her, of course. Donna dressed in black. Looked fantastic. The black contrasted well with her white hair.

Sheila and her California designer friend Carol at the bar. Jean Thornton with them. Liz on the other side. Greeted Liz with a kiss. Enjoyed a couple of drinks with Jean.

Jean left and Mary showed up. I was a lucky man. All these lovely ladies to chat with.

In between, Catt Zinger and her sister Stephanie sat next to me. Tom Luna introduced me to Catt. What a history!

Catt and her husband now live in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Catt visiting Key West for 3 weeks. Lived here for several years. While in Key West, she bartended at Garden of Eden for 5 years. Also did some bartending time at Aqua where she got to know Tom Luna.

When Catt married 5 years ago, the service took place at the Garden of Eden. Eighty guests. A bus or train used to transport guests around as the couple did a pre-planned Duval crawl.

One stop was Aqua. Tom Luna bartending. A good friend. Catt said Tom went out of his way to make the stop a memorable one. The group spent 2 hours at Aqua. She is forever felt grateful to Tom for the fun time he provided.

Almost forgot sister Stephanie. Lovely, also. Not from Hawaii. Lives somewhere in Florida.

On the way home, I stopped at Dion’s on US 1 for Dion’s chicken. I have been in Key West for 30 years. Would you believe…..Never tried Dion’s chicken before. A popular item in Key West.

Took the chicken home and devoured. So good! Even better. Hard to describe how good. I will be enjoying it with some degree of regularity from now on.

Clayton and Valerie two of the most respected persons in Key West. Clayton left Australia many years ago and after time in a country or two ended up in Key West. I first met Clayton when he was bartending at Antonia’s. Valerie when she was bartending at Hot Tin Roof.

The couple has operated Vino’s on Duval for 8 years. Hard workers. They have 2 other Vino’s elsewhere in Florida.

The Fantasy Fest Parade resulted in a problem. With all the “perversity” going on, it is fodder for preachers who decry such “wrongdoing.”

A preacher ended up in front of Vino’s. Remained. Had a microphone electrically operated. Stood in front of Vino’s and would not leave. Told everyone in effect how bad they were.

The preacher was affecting Clayton’s business. People were not going into Vino’s. Those on the porch who had paid for a seat were being disturbed.

Clayton twice asked the preacher to please stop and move on. He refused to hear Clayton. Words were exchanged. Clayton was pushed by the preacher.

Retaliation is wonderful. Clayton cut the wire to the microphone.

The police arrived. The preacher was not arrested for battery. Clayton was arrested. For cutting the wire. The charge misdemeanor mischief.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum will be in Key West thursday morning. At 8:30. An early bird. On Higgs Beach, behind Salute’s.

Come hear Florida’s next Governor.

A local blog this morning. Join me tonight for my podcast show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou at 9. Material all non-local. I have much to say. Hear my pointed ranting and raving. Guaranteed you will enjoy. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

 

DEVIANT KEY WEST SEX

Getting to the blog late today. Sorry. The bed was comfortable when I woke. Spent extra time in  it. Then at 11 watched Syracuse play Ole Miss. It is a little after 1 pm that I start today’s blog.

Deviant sex everywhere. What could it be in Key West? Not much not been experienced here. Something new?

Sort of.

Jennifer Rahe Hickman from Mason, Ohio is 42 years old. She and her husband were lying around the Southernmost Beach Resort pool enjoying drinks. Decided to return to their room for sex.

Room got noisy. Crying could be heard. Loud enough for the police to be called.

The police found the husband sitting on the bed crying. His wife had bitten his left forearm. Jennifer was yelling that her husband was “using her.” And, that she was “going to f–king kill him.”

The husband was lucky she did not bite him somewhere else.

Jennifer was charged with misdemeanor battery.

The police report appears to have been written with tongue in cheek. The report read that Jennifer was from Meanville.

Syracuse lost to Ole Miss. The better team won. I am glad the season is over.

Love corn beef and cabbage. Only eat it on St. Patrick’s Day. Other times a Key West restaurant serves it, the meat is generally a few days old and tough.

Decided on Bogart’s. The oldest Irish restaurant in Key West. A first time visit.

Donna and Terri with me.

I called in the morning to be sure they would have corn beef and cabbage. Was assured they would. The cook had been in since 6 cooking.

I wanted to make a reservation. They did not take them. However I was assured if we got there by 6, there would be no problem. The crowd not expected till after 7.

Whoever I was talking with was wrong. Arrived at 6. Had to fight my way in.

Tables on Casablanca terrace next door. We lucked out. It was catch as catch can. We walked up to a table as a group was leaving.

We ordered corn beef and cabbage. Waiter came back. We just ran out.

Sometimes you can’t win for losing.

My lesbian wives and I had a good time in spite of the disappointment. We ate off the menu and drank.

This morning’s Key West Citizen in its History Section noted that on this date in 1909 someone living at a house on Virginia Street died of leprosy. The Fire Chief had the house and its contents put to the torch.

I googled to see what I could come up with re leprosy and Key West. The first item to appear on the googled page was Leprosy / Key West Lou.

I wrote about the subject in my 10/13/16 blog. I had forgotten.

At the time, Diana Millikan sent me an article on the issue. It formed the basis for my blog.

I do not recall the date of the article Diana sent. However they were not burning houses and contents any longer at the time.

Leprosy is the Biblical plague of all time. However as I wrote, became not a problem at some point in time.

A large number of leprosy afflicted had lived in Key West. At one time, as many as 100.

Leprosy not catchable one person to another. Not person to person contagious. All Key West leprosy cases were contacted outside the area.

Leprosy is spread by armadillos. For real. No armadillos ever found in the lower Keys.

Leprosy is treatable today. The drug Putome was discovered in 1942. The cure for leprosy.

Trump and Tillerson best temper their words lest we end up in a war involving North Korea and who knows who else. Provocative talk not helpful. Diplomatic conversation the key.

The State Department had its budget cut by 31 percent. Enough diplomats remain available to talk to prevent a shooting war?

Enjoy your day!

 

 

LEPROSY

There is good and bad to everything. Many times the bad is hidden/forgotten. Especially in the instance where the something bad has turned with the passage of time into a shining gem.

It is the story of leprosy and Key West. One I only learned this past week.

Diana Millikan is a snowbird. Interested in history. Digs every day into Key West’s background. She brought the leprosy part to my attention. I merely read what she provided.

There was a concern on her part that perhaps nothing should be written re the subject. A negative report. I initially agreed. Then decided that what was was. Let it all out.

The Biblical plague of all time is leprosy. Monroe County, and especially Key West, had a large number of leprosy victims residing here. It was another time, another century.

Once as many as 100. One of the largest numbers in the United States. None of the victims caught the dread disease here. It was brought from the outside into the Keys.

Leprosy is not contagious. One human to another. Don’t laugh. Leprosy is spread by armadillos. I do not recall armadillos inhabiting this area.

Today, leprosy is treatable. Persons affected are no longer isolated. Since 1942, a drug called Putome is available to cure leprosy.

The problem still exists. About ten cases a year in the United States. I do not know when the last case was reported in the Key West area. Note however that two Key West doctors list in their areas of expertise leprosy.

When leprosy was rampant, U.S. residents were shipped off to Carville, Louisiana. That is where they were isolated, lived. Five thousand patients over the years. The leprosy facility was closed by the government in 1999. No new business.

However, ten elderly residents remain. They never left. They have lived there their whole lives. They were born in Carville.

James Carville comes into play. James of Democratic political fame. His great grandfather was Postmaster of the Carville area for years. Carville, Louisiana is named after him.

I received sad information from Lynda Frechette this morning. Judy Wood is dead. The exuberant charming Tavern ‘n Town bartender. I will provide more information as received.

My intent last night was to hear Terri White sing at La Te Da at a Fantasy Fest King Fundraiser for Christopher. Then to The Little Room Jazz Club to attend Larry Smith’s birthday celebration.

Made neither. For some reason, I became extremely exhausted in the afternoon. The rest of the afternoon and evening were spent in bed.

Syracuse/Virginia Tech saturday. Virginia Tech a 17 point favorite.

I wish the football season would end!

Have to hustle. A haircut with Lori at noon. Then lunch at Jay’s new Cuzzy Bubbaz. It opened two days ago.

Enjoy your day!