REPUBLICAN DEBATES

Pleasure time for Louis last night. The Republican debates. Love politics!

The first debate was scheduled for 5. I had to prepare. Went to Publix and bought all kinds of bad soul satisfying foods. Had to do things in proper fashion. I figured I would be TV bound six hours.

The debates.

Two debates wrong. The first group came over as second class citizens. An insult to those willing to make a run for President. No audience. Moderators inept. Questions bland.

They say Carly Fiorina distinguished herself. The only one to come out of the second class citizen group.

I was not impressed with Florina. I have been watching her the past two weeks. Her TV interviews prior to last night have been terrific. Her attire and hair right on. She also repeated on each occasion two separate canned lines that hit home. One tough woman.

Last night, she pulled a Hillary Clinton. She was different from the person in the earlier interviews. Her hair done differently. Stiff. The easy going smart looking woman drab. Even her suit. Which neither fit the event nor her image. Some sort of bland pink thing. It was not the Carly Fiorina I had come to know.

Everyone this morning is singing her praises. Wow, could she hand it out! They were referring to the two canned responses I had been hearing prior to the debate. No one seems to have picked up that they were canned, not spontaneous.

The second debate, the main event, an altogether different story. Top shelf, first class. The place packed. The moderators tough.

I was impressed with most of the candidates in the second event. The Republicans are fielding a good team of possibilities for 2016. Two should be eliminated from my perspective. Donald Trump and Rand Paul.

I thought Trump had it till last night. He is a buffoon.

Rand Paul not ready for prime time.

The moderators were hard on Trump. Unfairly. He handled matters well, however.

Jeb Bush is being knocked this morning on TV. Why, I do not understand. I thought he gave an impressive performance.

It was after one by the time I got to sleep. I watched the followup shows.

Rick Boettger is a local writer. A journalist. He writes a column weekly for KONK Life as I do. Recently, we have become friends. Rick and Cynthia are good people.

Rick’s column in this week’s KONK Life his last. He told the world he was getting things in order. He has prostate cancer. Finality not imminent. Yet, on the way. Sad the only way to describe the column and Rick’s circumstances.

I was extremely tired yesterday. Unusually so. It may be steroid withdrawal. I had been on steroids for a week. Off, two days. I spoke with a doctor friend. He suggested steroid withdrawal.

This Iran deal mind boggling. I know as much as you. Which is not much. We have to rely on our political leaders and their judgment. I have mentally lined up with those supporting the deal.

I fear if we do not come down on the side of approving the agreement, war in the next five years or so could be inevitable. The scenario reminds me of the League of Nations which the U.S. Senate voted against following World War I.

Enjoy your day!

STEROIDS

My sciatica problem has been acting up. After a week of Ibuprofen not touching it, I went to see Dr. Jackie Lefferts. I had the problem in  a similar acute fashion three years ago. She gave me a steroid shot in the butt. Within hours, no pain. Then a followup regime for a week of steroid pills.

I got this year’s shot wednesday afternoon. Have been on the pills since. No pain once again. Even did the anti-gravity treadmill yesterday without pain.

My physical reaction to the steroids is interesting. Three years ago and this week, the same. I feel big. Huge. Not fat. Just a tower of strength. I feel like the Hulk! I could hit more home runs than Barry Bonds!

After the treadmill yesterday, I went to the Cuban Coffee House for lunch and to read the newspapers. Peter Diamond stopped by. We chatted about the Harry Truman column re his mother in law. He enjoyed the article.

Last night a big time! Dinner with Jenna at Latitudes. Both special. Latitudes will be joining my list of special places.

Again, the service was excellent, the food outstanding! The setting without comparison. We sat inside by the window in the comfort of air conditioning.

My waitress from last week Ivellisse stopped by to say hello. She and Jenna recognized each other. Several years ago Ivellisse had a store on Duval and Jenna would stop in.

Ivellisse introduced me to Latitudes’ General Manager Susan Crocker. A pro. She handled a couple of small problems I had as they occurred. With promptness and efficiency.

I had a terrific waiter. For shame, I never got his name.

I plan on trying lunch. I would like to do as at other places. Sit at the bar, research the newspapers and make notes for a next writing. The Latitudes feeling surrounding me would add another dimension.

Jenna and I had much business to discuss. Off and on over the years, she has helped. She was the producer of my TV show that ran three years. She has assisted in my approach to reaching more people.

Jenna is on a new kick. She wants me to video my blog each day instead of writing it. Same set up. However, you will click on the video and I will share with you whatever my thoughts are for the day. Same as in the written blog.

The procedure involves a bit more work at my end that just sitting down and hitting the keys each day. If you would, please let me know what you think about the video approach. I have not yet made up my mind.

There is a picture of Jenna as part of today’s blog. She is with Key West icon Mr. Chapman. He leaves today with his family to live with other family in Delaware. He lost his Key West home in a mortgage foreclosure. I understand as much as $60,000 was raised locally to help him. It was not enough. A band aid.

Diana Nyad swam from Cuba to Key West. She trained in Key West waters. Now comes Ben Hooper. He plans on swimming from Africa to Brazil. He is training in Key West waters.

Quite a trip! Two thousand miles. It will take 4 months. If successful, it will set a world record.

Hooper will not stay in the water all the time. Evenings will be on a boat.

He is training in Key West waters because of the shark problem he will face. He is training with several shark protection experts who will make the trip. There will also be a doctor and physiotherapist aboard.

I am impressed. I wish him well.

The James Bond movie Licence Revoked was partially shot in Key West in 1988. Licence is not misspelled. That is the way it was spelled in the title.

The Key West portion involves a meeting at the Hemingway House between Bond and M.

The word “shit” was spoken in the movie. Only the second time ever in a movie.

Got to hustle. Sloan due at 10:30. We have much to do. I have a new computer that she has to set up, etc.

Enjoy your day!