Key West Lou / POURING RAIN!!!!!

The past two days have rained big time. Yesterday the worst. Heavy rain all day. Thunder big time. No lightning, however.

The weather report was to expect another big rain day today. With lightning added. In fact, rain till next thursday.

So far, no rain today. Overcast. Ergo, cooler.

This summer is the first time in my 30 years in Key West I have enjoyed the rain and the cool it brings with it. The heat just got to be too much. I am disappointed the storm that was to strike today has not.

Some people are stupid. I would suggest employer in this regard. I had to go to the Key West Mount Sinai offices yesterday for an ultrasound re 3 blood clots I picked up during my heart surgeries. It was pouring as I left my house. No problem. I took my large umbrella and went to my car.

There were three men working on a neighbor’s house trimming the trees. Understand my new neighborhood is an old one. The palm trees and other trees are 2 plus stories high. Here are three guys covered in plastic cutting away with mobile saws while standing high on ladders. The shame of it all. Their employer should have sent them home for the day. There was no lightning. However it was pouring like hell and the thunder was roaring big time. You never know when a lightning bolt is going to strike. Those three workers could very well have been struck.

I went to the Mount Sinai offices. Only one other car in the parking lot. There was me and one other patient. I assume the weather. Everyone had called in and cancelled because of the weather.

I had gone the day before when I was originally scheduled. The ultrasound technician had not come in. No one had called me. I showed up for nothing. In a raging rainstorm also.

These blood clots have been of concern to me and the doctors involved in the surgery. I had the heart attack, was shipped to Mount Sinai in Miami and had 3 heart surgeries over a 5 1/2 week period. The blood clots were the result of the surgeries. Two in my left arm and one on my high right chest over my heart. Medicines could not be used to dissolve the blood clots because of the heart surgeries. They had to dry up and go away on their own.

Yesterday’s ultrasound was to determine if they had and were gone. The technician could not tell me. My appointment with the Miami doctor is in two weeks. The tech could see I was anxious fortunately. I knew she could not tell me of her findings. Without her specifically telling me anything, I was able to infer if a clot had been seen, the patient remains on the the table and a doctor called. I think I understood what she was saying. I left feeling better.

Life goes on in spite of the weather. Today a pretty good day. This morning I did physiotherapy, kept a scheduled manicure and pedicure, and shopped some groceries.

My blog is very late today because of the weather and what I have shared with you thus far.

It was one in the afternoon before I got started on the blog. My notes are voluminous. However I have already written 500 words and will be saving some of the material for tomorrow’s blog.

I want to talk about my friend Steve Thompson. Yesterday was the anniversary of the opening of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado in 1954.

Steve spent 2 years at the Academy in the 1960’s, but not as a student.

Turns out Steve was talented in blowing a horn. The “baritone bugle.” In his third year in high school, the Air Force came by to hear his high school band that had a reputation of sorts. The Air Force personnel were impressed with Steve’s blowing of the bugle. Steve tells me it sounded like a trombone.

Two years later after having graduated, he expected to be drafted. The Vietnam War was raging. Instead of a draft notice, he received a letter from the Air Force telling him to appear at such and such a place and time to discuss his playing with the Air Force Academy Band. In those days, Academy students did not comprise the band. It was made up of regular Air Force members.

Steve went to the meeting. He was told whoever heard him two years earlier was impressed with his playing and he was to be recruited. However not to go to Vietnam, to go to the Academy to play in the Academy band.

Steve met with his recruiter two days later and joined the Air Force. For the next two years, he played the baritone bugle in the band. They even gave him the rank of sergeant.

They really wanted him!

Steve’s twin brother Rich was drafted at relatively the same time. He did go to Vietnam, was wounded and also to this day has problems with Agent Orange. Rich runs a fishing business in Alaska. Halibut and salmon. I have met him. Great guy, great wife. Rich cooked salmon he brought with him from Alaska for dinner for me when he visited Steve a couple of years ago. He also reads this blog every day. Love you, Rich!

Today’s blog is already over 900 words. Long. I am going to end here. I have the material researched. However do not want to put you to sleep reading it. It will save for tomorrow.

Enjoy your day!

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