A DOCTOR MORNING

My time in Paradise being infringed upon. Too many doctor visits. Guess it goes with the turf. Turf referring to the aging process.

I had a scheduled heart doctor appointment at 9 in the morning. Blood work and an echo test. To be followed up tuesday with a CAT scan.

Then immediately to my primary care physician. My sciatica came back late the night before. Pain! Though better yesterday morning. Not bad enough for a steroid shot. I am on 800 milligrams of Ibuprofen 3 xs a day. Works well. Pain has become almost non-existent.

I had an 11:30 hair appointment with Lori. Had an hour to kill. Skipped breakfast because of the blood work. Stopped at Cuban Coffee Queen for a Cuban cheese toast and Cuban coffee.

Distinguished myself at Cuban Coffee Queen. Knocked over my large coffee. Made a real mess. Table top and floor. The staff was nice about it. Moved me to another table and replenished my coffee free.

Then to some pleasant time with Lori. She just returned from a houseboat trip in Utah. A grand canyon type trip. Told me all about it.

I read somewhere that Backspace had become a writers hangout. I was anxious to meet some writers. I know only a few. There are many in Key West.

Backspace is the new restaurant that replaced Finnegan’s Wake.

A magnificent remodeling job! Does not look like Finnegan’s inside at all. Everything opened up. A large bar and restaurant. The restaurant opens to the outside in back for dining also.

I was not thrilled.

There was next to no one. I asked Ben the bartender if writers met there. He did not know what I was talking about. Menu prices staggering. Hot Tin Roof prices. I was in a constant battle with the little ants running around on the bar. One I had to pick out of my food. Received two bites on my right arm while there.

Too much staff for not enough customers. No one in authority to oversee things.

I did not want to spend $30 plus for an entre. My stomach wanted a bit more than one of the $15 appetizers. The cheapest entre was a cheeseburger, which I ordered. $15.

There is a locals discount.

The cheeseburger was outstanding! For real! Great taste!

Would I try it again? Yes. Probably order an appetizer. I think it is worthy of another try. The place only recently opened. I consider last night Backspace’s shakedown cruise.

Two escapees in upstate New York still on the loose. The female employee who apparently fell in love with one of them in trouble. Jail time trouble. People in the area concerned for their safety.

Some 3o odd years ago, then Governor Mario Cuomo wanted to help the upstate economy. He had jails built all over. Several in the Utica area. In a place called Marcy. A suburb of Utica.

Everyone was thrilled. Jobs! Good jobs! The thrill died when David Berkowitz was sent to the psychiatric center that was part of the complex. Berkowitz was a notorious serial killer. Also known as Son of Sam.

The locals were up in arms! Suppose he escapes? He should not be there. He is a danger to us.

The State transferred Berkowitz after two months.

Anna takes the train to Milan frequently. Especially now that the World’s Fair is there. The train ride to the Fair twenty minutes. Yesterday, an event occurred on the train that Anna takes. One that makes several round trips a day. Fortunately, Anna was not on the train.

A group of 4-6 black men became upset with the ticket inspector. One of them jumped up, took out a machete and chopped the guy’s arm off. Left it barely hanging. Then turned around and sliced the machete into another train employee’s head.

The men are on the loose. They have been described as Central Americans. No one is certain yet.

The train company said it would not operate any more trains unless the government provided soldiers for protection. It took less than 24 hours for Army soldiers to start riding the trains.

The ticket inspector’s arm was reattached during surgery. Both injured men on the critical list.

I take the same train when in Novara. I love going to Milan. A cosmopolitan city.

I recall a few years ago being on the train. Returning from Milan. There were eight black men sitting nearby. Dressed strangely. Sort of Arabic. We were the only ones in the car. They appeared intimidating.

Somehow we got into a conversation. I am easy going. Talk with everyone. Two of them could speak a bit of English.

They confided they were from North Africa and trying to get to Sweden. I sensed they were in Italy illegally. Happy that they finally had made it to northern Italy. In the next few days, they would be in Switzerland. Then Sweden.

Sweden was their destination because Sweden welcomed immigrants from Africa. Provided them with food and money to get them going. It has been that way in Sweden for six years.

Sweden’s social fiber is now broken. A good deed with bad results. Too many immigrants. Not enough jobs. Costly to maintain the immigrants.

Enjoy your day!

AMERICAN PHAROAH

Yesterday was a special day! D-Day and the Belmont.

People everywhere were thrilled with American Pharoah’s victory. I watched the race at Tavern ‘n Town. You could sense everyone was pulling for American Pharoah. There was a roar when he won.

Keith and I were at Tavern ‘n Town to watch the race and have dinner. We were seated at the bar with a large TV screen nearby. Mary Ann Westerlund appeared. I rarely see her and husband Roger these days. It was a hug and kiss. Kind words exchanged. We watched the race together.

Seated next to me for the race only was a gent from Big Pine. I did not catch his name. He had just returned from a one month trip to Russia.

Some ladies from Roostica were at a nearby table. A former waitress, Michelle and another lady. We talked a bit. It was good to seem them. The former waitress was my exclusive waitress for at least a year. A good waitress and good company.

I wrote this week’s KONK Life column yesterday. Got it out a day early. Don’t know where the energy came from.

The title is Portugal The Blueprint.

Portugal legalized drugs in 2001. All drugs. Even the real bad stuff like cocaine and heroin. Fourteen years later, the results are amazing. Drug problems significantly down in every area. Jails closing because there are not enough criminals to occupy them.

You will find the article interesting. Perhaps something the U.S. should consider. Read the column before you criticize my comment.

Sloan was with me later in the afternoon. My Skype was screwed up. No one could see or hear me. Took an hour to correct.

There is a little old lady who it seems has always worked at Publix. As a bagger. I am not offending her by the old description. She lives alone. Has taken care of herself the past 20 years. She immigrated from Poland 20 years ago.

We became friends over the years. Even though her English was poor and my Polish non existent.

Her name Helena. She retired from Publix recently. She earned a Publix pension. She is also eligible for Social Security. She has to wait two months for her first check. Then she is returning to Poland to spend the rest of her years. She has family there.

You may wonder why Helena came to the U.S. in the first place. Twenty years ago, she entered a Polish lottery. The winner would get a U.S. green card. she won.

God bless, Helena! I wish you well!

Anna is still visiting the Milan World’s Fair every day. Yesterday, the U.S. pavilion. She said the U.S. had one of the best looking pavilions from the outside. However, she thought the inside left something to be desired. Amusingly, she reported the pavilion contained a small Walgreens.

I wrote yesterday was of particular significance. The Belmont and D-Day. There was a third item I forgot. To wish Anne Larsen a happy birthday. Yesterday was her birthday.

Anne is an old friend from Ithaca, NY. We have been friends more than 25 years. We met face to face only once. However, she reads my blog daily, my KONK Life columns and listens to my blog talk radio show.

She has become one of those who is quick to criticize if I misspell, use poor grammar, am factually incorrect, etc. She has become my conscience! Sometimes her comments are overbearing. However, I know her heart is in the right place.

Happy birthday one day late, Anne!

Enjoy your Sunday!