Thursday, June 20, 2019

Last night I took my Zopiclona and went to bed at 11pm.  I quickly fell asleep and didn’t wake up until 6:15.  I got up for a quick trip to the bathroom and returned to bed.  I must have eventually fallen back asleep as I woke/got up at 7:30.

Teresa left at 8:15 for her gym class and I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show then left for the mall.

At Café Arangos I studied an article about the London System in an old American Chess Magazine while having a café con leche.  I also played a 10-minute game on Chess.com.  After I left I stopped in Auros and had the London System pages of the magazine printed.  7 pages in black & white cost me 1,050 pesos (about 30 cents).  They will be more convenient to carry than the entire magazine.

On my way back to the apt I ran into Jerry who said he was heading for his daily swim.

I started watching the US women’s soccer team vs Sweden.  They US was ahead 1-0 at the half.

We left the apt at 3pm and took a taxi to nueve eps.  The driver had to go out of his way because at first the only direction Teresa gave him was “parque Envigado”.

We arrived at 3:15, I paid 3,200 pesos ($1) and we waited 5 minutes downstairs then 5 minutes upstairs.  The doctor was a cute young lady that didn’t speak English.  Teresa explained the problem with my back and I had to exaggerate my pain a little so she will recommend me to see a specialist.  I also informed her that this has been a problem for me since the beginning of the year.  (Many doctors (GPs) here are young because after high school they go directly to medical school – they don’t have to first obtain a 4-year college degree.)  She took my weight (79 kilos) and my blood pressure (around 120/80).  I think that must be routine.  I paid another 3,200 pesos for an appointment (or appointment for an appointment, lol).

Since we were only a couple blocks from their apt we tried calling Darnelly and Chuck but no luck.

We walked a block away to the pharmacy where I got my shots last time but this time there was a cute young girl working there.  She led me to the back and asked me how I was and in English I told her I’ve been better.  She then started speaking English while she gave me an injection in my butt.  (I understand this injection was also necessary in order to get an appointment with a specialist.)  I asked Teresa the purpose and she said it was for pain.  I paid about 4,500 pesos for the injection.  Teresa informed me that I have to return on July 5^th for another one.

We took a taxi to the mall and MT soon joined us.

Terresa wanted to exchange her gym pants for a different size at ProChampions but I understood she has to return it to the Mayorca store where she bought it.

We went upstairs to Café Arangos where we had a snack and they chatted for awhile.  I played a couple games of chess but I forfeited one when I lost my internet connection.  Using Google Chrome I learned the US beat Sweden 2-0 but one of their best players was injured in the first half and didn’t return for the second half.

We walked to MT’s apartment where she showed me 3 letters she had received from Social Security: one was her 1099 for 2018, one was her 2019 benefits letter, and the other was a notice about Medicare.  I told her to keep just the benefits letter.

She said she had trouble with her cellphone so I played with it and removed some games and emptied her trash can and confirmed that it could send and receive calls.

Teresa and I walked back to the apt.

The temperature reached a high today of about 86 degrees which will probably be the norm until about October.

I finished reading Authur Hailey’s Airport in paperback.

Out on the balcony I could see a few stars which means no clouds so probably no rain tonight.

8,626 steps today.

Joke of the day

Desperate after three bad months of sales at Kentucky Fried Chicken, the famous Colonel called up the Pope and asks him for a favor.

"What can I do for you?" said the Pope.

The Colonel said, "Holy Father, I need you to change the daily prayer from, 'Give us this day our daily bread' to 'Give us this day our daily chicken'. If you do that, I swear I will donate $10 Million Dollars to the Vatican."

The Pope replied, "I am very sorry. That is the Lord's Prayer and it isn't something I can just change the words for." So the Colonel, disappointed, hung up.

After another month of bad sales, the Colonel panicked, and called again. "Listen, your Excellency. I really need your help. I'll donate $50 million dollars if you change the words of the daily prayer from 'Give us this day our daily bread' to 'Give us this day our daily chicken.'"

And the Pope responded, "It is very tempting, Colonel Sanders. The church could do a lot of good with that much money. It would help us to support many charities. But, again, I must decline. It is the Lord's Prayer, and I can't change the words." So the Colonel gave up again.

After two more months of terrible sales, the Colonel got desperate. "This is my final offer, your Excellency. If you change the words of the daily prayer from, 'Give us this day our daily bread' to 'Give us this day our daily chicken' I will donate $100 million to the Vatican."

The Pope replied, "Let me get back to you."

So the next day, the Pope called together all of his bishops and said, "I have some good news and I have some bad news. The good news is that KFC is going to donate $100 million to the Vatican."

The bishops rejoiced at the news.

Then one asked about the bad news.

The Pope replied:

"The bad news is that we lost the Wonder Bread account."