The White House and Pentagon keep pestering me with questions about the Strait of Hormuz. “What do you think we should do, Bob? What are our options?”
The reason I’m consulted is that, as far as I know, I’m one of the few weekly columnists on the west coast of Florida who has actually sailed through the Strait of Hormuz. Pretty impressive, don’t you think? I steamed through the Strait early in 1952 aboard a luxury liner disguised as a U.S. Navy destroyer. We had spent the previous six months lobbing five-inch explosive shells onto the Korean peninsula, as part of U.S. foreign policy to prevent the takeover of the entire world by Communism. As you know, we succeeded, although it took the lives of 37,000 Americans to do it.
On our way back to the USA my ship visited Hong Kong, Singapore, Ceylon and the Persian Gulf, via the Strait of Hormuz. As we passed through the Strait, I had a strange dream.
In it, a thick-waisted, white-haired, horny politician named Klute or Nute, something like that, was sworn in as president of the USA because of his willingness to go to war to keep the Strait under the control of right-thinking Christians and their allies. I’ve often wondered what the dream meant.
Years ago a friend told me a story from her days living in South America. The movie “Wayne’s World” had come out, and she went to see it. She spoke English, but it was interesting to read the Spanish subtitles.
For instance, early in the film, Wayne says: “Shyeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt!”
The Spanish subtitles read: “Yes, when judgment day comes.”
Needless to say, something was lost in translation.
Renaissance Speakers Club meeting CLEARWATER - The Renaissance Speakers Club meets on Fridays, 6:15 p.m., at 210 S. Fort Harrison Ave.
Learn public speaking and leadership skills that help when applying for work and advancement opportunities in one’s job.
Call Sharon at 542-2718.
Dunedin's Green Market DUNEDIN - Green Market is open Fridays through the end of April from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue in Dunedin. Vendors offer a wide variety of items including: produce, cheeses, plants and herbs, local honey, all natural pet treats, organic products, nuts, olive salad, pastries and orchids. Free entertainment and parking is available at the Dunedin Green Market. For information, contact the Market Manager, Richard Kendler, at 692-5353 or email GreenMarketManager@verizon.net.
VFW Post 2550 hosts a fish and shrimp fry DUNEDIN - The Dunedin-Palm Harbor VFW Post 2550 hosts a fish and shrimp fry every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at 360 Douglas Ave. The post sponsors bingo each Wednesday and Friday. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Bingo starts at noon. The public is invited.
Call 733-6107.
Paradise Bazaar PASS-A-GRILLE - Paradise Bazaar, Friday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., next to Paradise Grille on Pass-A-Grille Beach at Ninth Avenue and Gulf Way. For more information, email ParadiseBazaar@yahoo.com.
Griefshare Support Group ST. PETERSBURG - The Griefshare Support Group will meet Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 6 through March 30, at Cornerstone Community Church, 6745 38th Ave. N.
A professional DVD is shown each week. A discussion follows the screening. Vivian Killion, parish pastor, acts as the group’s facilitator.
Call 343-7747.
Friday Morning Market TREASURE ISLAND - The weekly Friday Morning Market is again under way and will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Treasure Island Community Center, 1 Park Place and 106th Avenue, through April 13.
The event features over 40 vendors, live music, food, jewelry, and arts and crafts.
Parking is free.
The Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce sponsors the market.
Morton Plant life coaching workshop CLEARWATER - Morton Plant Mease will present the Creating Your Blueprint for Success workshop Saturday, Feb. 11, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Morton Plant Hospital, Powell Cancer Center, first floor conference room, 303 Pinellas St., Clearwater.
Certified life and wellness coach Elizabeth Nelson, M.A., COL Wellness Coach, will offer a life coach assessment and will create a plan to prioritize life goals and implement results during 2012. The interactive workshop will focus on creating a blueprint that serves as a roadmap to identify potential challenges that conflict with personal, professional, or physical goals and ways to overcome and take action to successfully manage change. Participants will leave with a completed blueprint for successfully implementing change in at least one life area.
Cost is $20 a person. Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited and preregistration is required.
For information or preregistration, call 953-6877 or visit www.BayCareEvents.org.
St. Brendan’s Navigators yard sale CLEARWATER - The St. Brendan’s Navigators will host its sixth annual yard sale Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12, 8 a.m., at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, 245 Dory Passage.
The church will be accepting donations of tools, books, clothes, sports items, electronics, toys, artwork, and other items Feb. 8-10 in Mulligan Hall. To request pickup for large items, call Jim Corrigan at 596-1640 or Joe Quinn at 443-5812.
Valentine’s crafts and parties CLEARWATER - There will be two Valentine’s craft programs and parties on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Clearwater libraries for youth and teens. The events are as follows:
- Clearwater East Branch Library, 2251 Drew St., 2 to 3:30 p.m. There is a Valentine’s party for youth and teens, including Valentine’s crafts, card making and poetry.
- Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave., 2 to 3:30 p.m. Children and their families are invited to create Valentines, draw sidewalk chalk Valentines and enjoy special treats. School age children may register to make Valentine’s Day crafts with Miss Connie.
The events are free. To register, call 562-4970 or visit www.myclearwater.com/cpl.
Dunedin's Green Market DUNEDIN - Green Market is open Saturdays through the end of July from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue in Dunedin. Vendors offer a wide variety of items including: produce, cheeses, plants and herbs, local honey, all natural pet treats, organic products, nuts, olive salad, pastries and orchids. Free entertainment and parking is available at the Dunedin Green Market. For information, contact the Market Manager, Richard Kendler, at 692-5353 or email GreenMarketManager@verizon.net
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