Key West Lou / I HAVE TEETH!

Big day yesterday! At 3 in the afternoon, I had teeth! All of them!

Took 9 months, but finally got there. My implant dentist was Dr. Mullins at Old Town Dental. The best! He did wonders.

For me, a major event. So long not being able to eat or bite. Lived on liquids. Lost 65 pounds. The only benefit from the disaster.

I had been dreaming what would be my first meal. A steak! A filet mignon! I had not eaten one or lamb chops in the 9 months. Bravado exceeded my dream, however. I went to The Grand and “chickened out.” No, I did not even order chicken. Went with conch fritters. Worked ok. Could not finish. Four pieces too much food. Amazing!

I am going to have to creep back into normal eating. Not sure why. However, that was my conclusion last night.

Lunch today a grilled cheese sandwich at Goldman’s. The best! I have not been able to eat bread. You can’t muck up bread enough with only your tongue and roof of the mouth to break the bread down sufficiently. I was choking, had to stop.

Sorry to bore you with my eating problems.  A big deal for me, however.

I felt like I had a mouth of teeth at The Garden. Thought it was impeding my talking. Chatted with Chris on one side of me and a hurricane escaper to Key West Kelly on the other. Both said I was speaking well. Hope they were not saying so to make me feel good.

Steve and Cindy were not there. They went to Orlando last week. Steve does his doctoring at the Vet’s Hospital up there. When they went to leave sunday, their car would not work.  Cause not certain. Garage “guessed” what it might be. $1,000 to fix with no guaranty of it working. In the meantime, Steve and Cindy rented a car.

Their car worked fine and they got home late last night.

Milton a strange duck.

Yesterday was beautiful in Key West. I learned last night today is the day we will have problems in Key West, if any. Winds and rain this morning so far.  Winds getting heavier. Around 50 mph.

I do not sense anything dramatic is going to occur.

Milton can’t make up his mind. Still over the water and goes back and forth between a Category 4 and Category 5. Still heading for Tampa area. Issue now is whether the north or south side of Tampa. The side determines the severity of the impact.

TV pictures of debris still remaining on roadsides due to Helene visible. Bad. Tall and huge. When Milton hits, each parcel, small or large will be a missile or bullet. Reason enough for people to get their asses out. Milton is going to be one of the worst hurricanes ever.

Impact later today or during the evening.

Florida Governor DeSantis continues to be an ass. He wouldn’t talk to Harris because “she had nothing to do with the hurricane.” He is happy now. Talking directly with Biden. What a pompous ass!

Florida under DeSantis has been a Trumpy/MAGA sort. He is no different than Trump. Both bad guys.

Helen reads this blog. She lives in northern Florida. She left a comment this morning. Words of wisdom: “For those of you attempting to evacuate the impending hurricane on I-75, in northern Florida, remember that the Congress persons in our district have steadfastly refused to vote for any FEMA funding.”

Bob Woodward is back with a new book…..WAR.

He always writes the truth. Nails Trump big in two instances.

The first is the information that Trump when President sent Putin COVID test kits for his personal use. This was at a time when we wee without any in the U.S. for our people. Even Putin knew Trump should not have done what he did. Told him to make sure no one would find out.

The other is Trump has spoken with Putin seven times since Trump has been out of office. Nothing wrong with that if rules are followed. The rules require Trump to first advise the U.S. government he was making the calls. Trump of course did not.

Germany and Greece were having political problems in 2012. The Greeks were hurting financially. They blamed Germany’s Prime Minister Angela Merkel for their austerity problems.

Twenty five thousand Greeks gathered on several occasions to protest in Athens. On the grounds surrounding the Parliament.

I was concluding a two month Greece stay at the time. My last few days were at the Gran Bretagne Hotel in Athens which was located directly across the street from the Parliament located protest.

No way was I going to not experience the demonstration. I spent two days in the midst of it. Walking around. No one bothered me. I did not understand what the speakers were shouting. Greek was Greek to me.

One recollection was the name of Angela Merkel. Each time a speaker shouted her name, the crowd in unison spit on the ground.

On this day in 1855, inventor Isaac Singer patented the sewing machine motor. The name Singer attached. Most are unaware he had a partner. Edward Clark.

The Clark family settled in Cooperstown, N.Y. Home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Some 40 mils from my home town Utica. Cooperstown is located on Otsego Lake. Beautiful country.

I was unaware of the Clark family nor their relationship to Singer. Soon found out. Needed a favor in Cooperstown. I was told the Clark family were the movers and controlled everything having to do with the community. It was a long time and difficult climb, but we finally got together and they were very cooperative in what I needed done.

In anticipation of the possibility that Milton might suddenly change course, Key West is hankering down. Schools and some government offices are closed today. Tomorrow will be decided after Milton passes us by today. Today’s garbage for example has been moved to tomorrow and thursday’s garbage to friday. I take the time to mention these miniscule Key West items since a number of people have stopped reading the Keys Citizen and only read me for the news.

Seattle’s Cathy Holka is a dear friend and frequent Key West visitor. I close with her story of a visit by Maria Gutsens. The ghost held her hand.

It is said Maria Gutsens still walks the rooms and hallways of the former Mercedes Hospital on Virginia Street. It is now an apartment house. Gutsens was the Matron of Mercedes Hospital for 23 years.

On this day in 1934, she received the Cross of the Order of Carla Manuel de Cespedes, an honor given by the Cuban government for “outstanding services rendered to Cuba and humanity.”

Many believe her “ghost” still resides at the former hospital on Virginia Street.  Periodically appearing, sometimes to help those sick.

My dear friend Cathy  lived in Key West for a time in the late 1980’s. She resided in the former hospital building. She claims she was under the weather one night, half asleep. Suddenly “someone” picked up her wrist as if to check her pulse. She saw “the figure” who then disappeared. Cathy claims she felt better thereafter.

I believe her and her story of meeting Maria.

Enjoy your day!

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