Saturday, January 30, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 5am, waking/getting up at 7:15.

One of my readers asked me to share my sleep routine in more detail so here it is: I sip on water throughout the day but I limit it in the evening to only for pills. I have my computer set automatically switch to night light mode at 8pm (until 5am) which reduces the blue light and also reminds me to start finishing up anything I’m doing on my computer and cellphone. At least 30 minutes after a light supper, not later than 8:30, I take my nightly medicine including my Joint Support tablets and Marigold flower capsule. I then start reading for an hour – lately catching up on my Reader’s Digest. No later than 9:30 I take my 1.5gm melatonin tablet. About 10:15 I take my Zopiclona sleeping pill and go to bed at 10:30. I’ve found when I stop playing chess and using the computer and cellphone 2 hours before bedtime my mind has time to relax.

I left the apt at 9:30 and walked to the mall where I recycled a plastic bottle, made an ATM withdrawal then had a café con leche in Todo Fresa. I left at 10:30 and walked over to H&M to buy the pair of black shorts I saw last time I was there. The guard surprised me when he asked to see my cedula. I asked him if we are using pico y cedula and he switched to English and said, “yes, 2, 4, 6, 8”. I showed him my cedula, a “7”, and he said, “go ahead”. I said, “then why did you ask?” and walked inside. I went up to the 2^nd floor where I found the shorts had been reorganized on another display and there were more of them. I bought the black pair I had intended to buy plus 2 other pairs in gray and khaki. (The khaki’s were 89,900 but all the others were 69,900.) I couldn’t enter Exito because of pico y cedula so I just returned to the apt via taxi.

I left the apt at noon and met Glenn and Bianca at their bus stop at 12:15. We got off at Parque Poblado and walked down to BrooklynRL. I had their pulled pork sandwich and 2 Arnold Palmers for about 47mil including tip and Glenn had their veggie burger. I’m going to have to try that some day – or their ribs. We both enjoyed our food very much. I’m going to have to bring Teresa here someday to try their salmon.

We shared a taxi back to Envigado and I was back in my apt by 3pm. Teresa called me from El Salado (the neighborhood, not the park) at 3:30 and told me she’s waiting for the sun to lessen before returning to the apt.

I watched an interesting documentary The Game Changers on Netflix.

Teresa returned at 6:15 and she didn’t feel like cooking so she asked me to order burgers from McDonald’s. Only problem is they no longer show up on my Rappi app so I ordered a whole fried chicken from Frisby. We’ll eat the legs and wings and Teresa will use the white with later meals, usually fajitas.

I tried on my new shorts and the black pair is the same as the navy blue pair with a strange “shoe string” tie inside which I cut out. The beige pair doesn’t have the “shoe string”, neither does the khaki pair but it’s too thick and heavy for me to wear in Colombia’s summer weather so I’ll by returning those.

I finished reading my October Reader’s Digest.

 

The US has 25,711,692 ð 25,957,463 ð 26,033,190 coronavirus cases with 430,900+ ð 436,400+ ð 437,800+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,067,575 ð 2,077,633 ð 2,086,806 cases with 52,913 ð 53,284 ð 53,650 deaths. Medellin has 179,913 ð 181,297 ð 181,964 cases, an increase of 668 from January 29^th to 30^th.  Envigado has a total of 16,463 cases, an increase of 40 from January 29^th to 30^th. Colombia, with their nightly curfews and pico y cedula, appears to finally be reducing their daily new infections.

 

Joke of the day

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

Friday, January 29, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once during the night, waking/getting up at 6:45.

Laura texted me that she’s dying from the cold there (7 degrees). I told her it will start warming up in a couple months.

I left the apt at 8am and walked my usual solo route. I ran into Teresa on her way to her gym class. I stopped at the small grocery store and bought 3 tomatoes and an onion for my burgers.

I forgot to mention that January 20^th was my 8^th anniversary here. I guess I forgot because there were so many other things going on.

I gave myself a quick trim (haircut) in back. Teresa returned at noon and made fun of the trim I gave myself. Seems I took off too much or went too high. Now I need to trim the rest of it so the difference doesn’t seem so radical.

Nobraskja texted me that they have a package to deliver and the cost is 66,500 pesos.

Forty five minutes into my chess lesson with Juan Castro we lost our connection. He texted me that a transformer blew and everyone there has lost their power.

I won my game against uche2000 increasing my rating 6 points to 1485. I was losing my game to Michael but he misstepped and I won another game increasing to 1486. He still hasn’t beaten me but he’s coming closer. I might be able to pass 1500 yet.

Esmeralda called and we might get together for dinner tonight, but first I have to wait for my package.

I had just finished giving myself a complete haircut when the portero called (5pm). I went downstairs and paid 66,500 to the Envios Market delivery guy. The package consisted of 2 new roll-up wide brim hats and a face and neck wrinkle remover device for Teresa. The cost of the Amazon order was covered by 2 gift cards my son gave me for my birthday and Christmas. For me, I received a 1099; only one more to go.

Esmeralda and Alejandro arrived about 6:15, they parked their car in a guest space, and we walked to Otra Parte. It was only 6:30 but there was a line that took us about 30 minutes to get through. I recommended the Mama Pastora and limonada de coco which Esmeralda ordered, Alejandro ordered something similar, Teresa ordered pasta and I ordered their chicken roll-up. Alejandro starts college on February 22^nd at the National University of Colombia. He wants to study Statistics. It took about an hour to order dessert, get the desserts, have a waiter bring us a check then come over and process my debit card. We finally left about 9:15 and returned to the apt.

 

The US has 25,400,153 ð 25,711,692 ð 25,957,463 coronavirus cases with 427,200+ ð 430,900+ ð 436,400+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,055,305 ð 2,067,575 ð 2,077,633 cases with 52,523 ð 52,913 ð 53,284 deaths. Medellin has 179,908 ð 179,913 ð 181,297 cases, an increase of 694 from January 28^th to 29^th.  Envigado has a total of 16,423 cases, an increase of 50 from January 28^th to 29^th.

 

Joke of the day

You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish.

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, waking at 5:15 and getting up at 5:30.

Since I’ve started my new sleep routine, 2 hours before going to bed, I’ve been sleeping much better.

Teresa left early to stand in line at eps and late morning she has an appointment in Poblado so I’m on my own for breakfast and lunch. (We have no milk so I can’t have breakfast here and having the wrong pico y cedula number I won’t be able to enter Exito today.)

I left the apt just after 8am and I ran into Jerry halfway to the mall. We were in front of the bus stop so we sat down and chatted for a bit. He recommended a book called Magdalena River of Dreams.

At the mall I had my usual complete breakfast at Habia Una Vez followed by coffee at Todo Fresa until the stores opened at 10am. Entering H&M I told the guard I needed to make an exchange which is probably why he didn’t staple my bag closed. I went upstairs to the men’s area and I searched through about a dozen pairs of shorts, most M or S. I found a pair in the same color as I was returning (navy blue) in size L and a black pair in size 36. I exchanged the former without any problem. If they fit, I’ll probably return and buy the latter pair.

Outside the mall I bought another package of 5 KN95 masks for 35mil. At the shoe repair shop and dropped off my Chicago Bears sandals for repair for 23mil, prepaid. I understand they will text me via Whatsapp when they are ready for pickup.

I took a taxi back to the apt. Teresa was just leaving for her 11am appointment as I returned at 10:45.

The shorts fit perfectly so I will be going back to H&M to buy the other pair in black. One of the features I like is the waistband is elastic, two features I don’t understand is the back pockets are sewn shut and there is a “shoelace” like tie on the inside to close the waistband (in addition to the zipper and button closures).

I left the apt at 1:15 and walked to Na Pizza where I had their meatball sandwich that I’ve been wanting to try for quite a while. It was actually 2 sandwiches with 3 meatballs in each. It was very tasty, very messy, very tasty, but inconvenient to eat.

On the way back to the apt I stopped at a small grocery store and bought milk, lettuce and hamburger buns.

I returned to the apt by 2:30 and Teresa returned about 30 minutes later.

I finally finished the last season (4) of The Last Kingdom. There might have been a new season released soon but who knows at what stage they are in re: production due to the pandemic.

My son in Chicago got vaccinated against Covid-19 yesterday, probably so early because he’s a high school teacher.

Teresa beat me in parcheesi 5 games to 2.

I had an Angus burger for supper, boy those things shrink when they’re cooked.

 

The US has 25,268,294 ð 25,400,153 ð 25,711,692 coronavirus cases with 423,100+ ð 427,200+ ð 430,900+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,041,352 ð 2,055,305 ð 2,067,575 cases with 52,128 ð ð 52,523 ð 52,913 deaths. Medellin has 179,334 ð 179,908 ð 179,913 cases, an increase of 701 from January 27^th to 28^th.  Envigado has a total of 16,377 cases, an increase of 61 from January 27^th to 28^th.

 

Joke of the day

The guys were all at a deer camp. No one wanted to room with George because he snored so badly. They decided it wasn't fair to make one of them stay with him the whole time, so they voted to take turns. The first guy roomed with George and comes to breakfast the next morning with his hair a mess and his eyes all bloodshot. They said, 'Man, what happened to you?’

He said, 'George snored so loudly, I just sat up and watched him all night.' 

The next night it was a different guy's turn. In the morning, same thing - hair all standing up, eyes all bloodshot. They said, 'Man, what happened to you? You look awful!' He said, 'Man, that George shakes the roof with his snoring. I watched him all night.'

The third night was Pete's turn. Pete was a big burly ex-Navy man, a man's man. The next morning he came to breakfast bright eyed and bushy tailed.' Good morning,' he said. 

They couldn't believe it! They said, 'Man, what happened?' 

He said, 'Well, we got ready for bed. I went and tucked George into bed, patted him on the butt, and kissed him good night. George sat up and watched me all night. I slept fine.'

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up twice during the night, finally waking at 5:30, catnapping until getting up at 6:45.

I met Marcos at his apt at 8:15 and we walked to Parque Envigado and back. Parva wasn’t open yet so we had coffee at Los Portenos. (The price here is 13mil compared to only 8 mil at Parva.) I recognized one of the Boston firemen I met some months ago and we chatted briefly. His father and 2 brothers all retired here. I was back at the apt by 9:30.

I tried to watch another episode of The Last Kingdom but I kept getting a Netflix error. My son suggested I reboot everything which I did and then it worked.

 

I beat sseltimil and uche2000 but lost to TheHonorable Knight with a net increase of 2 rating points to 1481.

We left the apt at 6pm and took a taxi through very heavy traffic to Pricesmart. As we approached our destination it sounded to me like the driver offered to wait for us. Teresa entered his phone number in her cellphone and handed it to me. I pushed 2 buttons to “add to contacts”. I handed it back and told her to enter his name. She turned off her phone and told me not to worry his name is “Jhon”. Yeah, that will work. LOL.

We picked up a number of our usual items including 2 boxes of almond milk for Teresa and a bag of Tostones chips for me. New for me I purchased a package of 8 soft Colgate toothbrushes, a 2200-gram bag of Toning granola and a package of 8 Angus beef hamburger patties. When we left she made a call then told me the taxi driver didn’t answer. I believe that. We waited in a short line for a taxi back to the apt returning by 7:30.

 

The US has 25,166,528 ð 25,268,294 ð 25,400,153 coronavirus cases with 420,200+ ð 423,100+ ð 427,200+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,027,746 ð 2,041,352 ð 2,055,305 cases with 51,747 ð 52,128 ð ð 52,523 deaths. Medellin has 178,728 ð 179,334 ð 179,908 cases, an increase of 574 from January 26^th to 27^th.  Envigado has a total of 16,315 cases, an increase of 65 from January 26^th to 27^th. New cases and deaths finally appear to be dipping. The curfew appears to be working, keep it up.

 

Joke of the day

A young lad went to a tailor shop in Scotland. He told the tailor, "I'd like ye to make me a kilt with this material here, and if ye don't mind, I'd like ye to make me a pair of matching underwear for it. I hear it gets a might drafty up dem tings."

A few days later, the tailor called the lad back to the shop. "Here's ye kilt, and here's ye matching underwear, and here's five yards of material left over. Take it home and keep it in case you want anything else made of it."

The lad rushed home and donned his kilt. He decided to run to his girlfriend's house to show off his new purchase. Unfortunately, in his excitement, he forgot to wear his underwear.

When his girlfriend answered the door, he pointed to his kilt and said, "Well, what'd ye think?"

"Ah, but dat's a fine looking kilt," she exclaimed.

"Aye, and if ye like it, y'ell really like what's underneath," he bragged as he lifted his kilt.

"Oh, but dat's a dandy," his girlfriend shouted admiringly.

Still not realizing that he didn't have his underwear on, he exclaimed quite proudly, "Aye, and if ye like it, I've got five more yards of it at home!"

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up twice during the night, finally waking up at 6:15/getting up at 6:30.

The morning news announced that Colombia’s Minister of Defense died of Covid-19.

I left the apt at 8am and walked to the mall. I was a little early so I recycled a couple plastic bottles upstairs. Back downstairs I took a seat at Habia Una Vez and Jose showed up about 10 minutes later. I had their complete breakfast with a large coffee for 11mil and Jose had coffee with a couple pastries.

About 9am we went upstairs to the food court.

I had the white pieces in the first game and I had a strong attack going but at the critical point I didn’t make the correct pawn capture and he eventually got his own attack going and I lost on time on the 47^th move.

For lunch I had a Burger King Whopper with fries and a Pepsi. Jose wasn’t hungry so he just made a trip to the ATM.

I had the black pieces in the second game and I made mistakes in the opening but held on until resigning on the 49^th move.

Jose left and I went down to Todo Fresa but all tables were taken so I went back up to the 2^nd floor where I had coffee at Santa Leña. At one point Brit walked by and said “hi”.

When I left I stopped at a nearby tienda naturista looking for L-Arginina but all they had was Vitamin C with L-Arginina. I returned to the apt by taxi.

In the evening I accidentally kicked the desk and my Chicago Bears sandals, bought at K-Mart years ago, broke. Teresa said right away, “throw them away” but I wonder if they can be fixed; seems they can fix anything here.

I resigned a game against uche2000, won games against Michael and Howex and my rating is now 1479.

 

The US has 25,166,528 ð 25,268,294 ð 25,400,153 coronavirus cases with 419,000+ ð 420,200+ ð 423,100+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,013,014 ð 2,027,746 ð 2,041,352 cases with 51,374 ð 51,747 ð 52,128 deaths. Medellin has 178,003 ð 178,728 ð 179,334 cases, an increase of 606 from January 25^th to 26^th.  Envigado has a total of 16,251 cases, an increase of 55 from January 25^th to 26^th.

Joke of the day

A mouse was sitting in a bar having a drink when a beautiful giraffe came in and sat down at the end of the bar.

The mouse looked over at her and ordered her a drink.

Soon he had moved down beside her and ordered her another drink.

After a third round, the bartender looked up and they were leaving the bar together.

The next day the mouse limped into the bar, barely crawled up on the barstool and sat there gasping for air. His whiskers were bent and broken, his tail was crooked and patches of hair were falling out.

The bartender took one look at this terrible state, lifted an eyebrow and said, "So, how did it go last night?"

The mouse said, "Man, that was the best lovemaking I ever had."

The bartender asked, "Then why do you look so bad?"

The mouse replied, "Hey, between the kissing and the lovemaking I must have run 10 miles!"

Monday, January 25, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, woke up several times but didn’t get up, finally waking up at 6:15 and getting up at 6:30.

I left the apt at 8am and stopped at Marcos’ apt but he wasn’t waiting outside as usual. I asked the portero and he called then told me he isn’t feeling well so I continued my usual walk. It’s obvious the high schools are open again. I stopped in a small tienda next to Asados Rogelio where I bought milk, sugar and Fab laundry detergent.

Teresa left about 10am for the beauty parlor. She said she would call me later and we’ll meet at DosSabores for lunch.

I won my game against sseltimil (1267) raising my rating 6 points to 1478.

Aargh, I blundered a piece against Howex so its just a matter of time before I have another loss.

I made arrangements to meet Jose tomorrow at the mall for chess. Even though its an even pico y cedula day I think they will allow us to enter the mall but not Exito.

Teresa called me at noon and asked me meet her at Asados Rogelio in 20 minutes. We had a nice typical Colombian lunch for 19mil each. We returned to the apt where I downloaded her latest test results then I had them printed at the copy center. I went to Parva where I had a café con leche until the sun started hitting me sitting at an outside table. I returned to the apt.

I beat Teresa in parcheesi 3 games to 1.

Michael resigned our game and I gained 1 point to 1485. I lost to Howex reducing my rating to 1476.

 

The US has 24,966,272 ð 25,166,528 ð 25,268,294 coronavirus cases with 415,600+ ð 419,000+ ð 420,200+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,002,969 ð 2,013,014 ð 2,027,746 cases with 50,982 ð 51,374 ð 51,747 deaths. Medellin has 177,074 ð 178,003 ð 178,728 cases, an increase of 725 from January 24^th to 25^th.  Envigado has a total of 16,196 cases, an increase of 77 from January 24^th to 25^th.

 

Joke of the day

An old man, a schoolboy, a lawyer, a doctor, and a community service worker are all on a plane with only four parachutes when the pilot of the plane has a stroke and passes away.

As the plane plummets its passengers to their death, the five members of the aircraft argue over who deserves to have the four bags containing the parachutes.

Social Worker: "I deserve to live because I protect vulnerable children and support families in need of assistance." The Social Worker grabs the nearest bag and jumps out of the aircraft.

Lawyer: "I deserve to live because I advocate for my clients through my sharp wit and massive knowledge." The lawyer grabs the second bag and jumps out of the aircraft.

Doctor: "I deserve to live because I help diagnose ill people with my specialized training." The doctor grabs the third bag and jumps out of the aircraft.

This leaves only the schoolboy and the old man in the plane with it descending toward the ground.

Old man: "Go ahead boy. Take the last parachute. You have many years ahead of you while I am just an old man who doesn't have as many years left."

Schoolboy: "Don't worry, we can both take a parachute. Look, there are still two left."

The old man’s just stares in shock. "Wha...what... but those three..."

Schoolboy: "Remember the lawyer with the sharp wit and the massive knowledge? He took my backpack."

Sunday, January 24, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 12:30, again at 2:30, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

Actually, about 5 minutes after I went to bed, I heard an ambulance approach in the distance and then came close but instead of hearing the siren die out again in the distance it suddenly stopped. I noticed Teresa looking out through the vertical blinds and she said someone has Covid. I don’t know how she could tell but I didn’t get up to check I just fell asleep.

Uche2000 resigned his game increasing my rating to 1482. He then challenged me to 2 games so I will be playing both the white pieces and black pieces against him. Like my current game against Michael I switched my opening with the white pieces from the London System to the English, Botvinnik attack.

I left the apt at 8am and met Glenn and Bianca at the bus stop. We got off at Parque Poblado and walked down the 6 blocks to Ganso & Castor. We had no problem getting a table. We shared an almond croissant with our coffee and later I had the acai berries with granola, fruit and Greek yogurt and he had fried eggs with a bagel. We left about 10:30 and checked out other cafes in the area (not many). We stopped at BrooklynRL and checked out their breakfast menu. I might try his steak and eggs but he doesn’t open until 10am.

We shared a taxi back to Envigado and they got out at Jumbo and I continued on to Viva Envigado. While having coffee at Todo Fresa Teresa called me and asked me to order chicken from Frisby. I checked my Rappi app and was surprised that Frisby wasn’t listed. I googled their hours and they should be open. I checked their website but didn’t see any deliver instructions. I called Teresa back and she suggested I order it from the food court upstairs. Good idea. I did and returned to the apt with it 10 minutes after I picked it up. (The whole chicken cost 37,500 pesos when usually I pay about 58,400 when I use Rappi; of course, the latter is usually with a family size cole slaw.)

I lost a game to Howex in 7 moves. Sigh! I won a couple other games and my rating is now 1472.

Teresa beat me in parcheesi 5 games to 2.

 

The US has 24,782,244 ð 24,966,272 ð 25,166,528 coronavirus cases with 412,000+ ð 415,600+ ð 419,000+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 1,987,418 ð 2,002,969 ð 2,013,014 cases with 50,586 ð 50,982 ð 51,374 deaths. Medellin has 176,012 ð 177,074 ð 178,003 cases, an increase of 929 from January 23^rd to 24^th. Envigado has a total of 16,118 cases, an increase of 80 from January 23^rd to 24^th.

 

Joke of the day

A priest was called away for an emergency. Not wanting to leave the confessional unattended, he called his rabbi friend from across the street and asked him to cover for him. The rabbi told him he wouldn't know what to say, but the priest told him to come on over and he'd stay with him for a little bit and show him what to do.

The rabbi comes over and he and the priest are in the confessional. After a few minutes a woman enters and says, "Father forgive me for I have sinned." The priest asks, "What did you do?". The woman says, "I committed adultery." Priest: "How many times?" Woman: "Three times." Priest: "Say two Hail Mary's, put $5 in the box and go and sin no more."

A few minutes later a man enters the confessional. He says, "Father forgive me for I have sinned." Priest: "What did you do?" Man: "I committed adultery." Priest, "How many times?" Man, "Three times." Priest, "Say two Hail Mary's put $5 in the box and go and sin no more."

The rabbi tells the priest that he thinks he's got it, so the priest leaves.

A few minutes later another woman enters and says, "Father forgive me for I have sinned." Rabbi, "What did you do?" Woman, "I committed adultery." Rabbi, "How many times?" Woman, "Once."

Rabbi: "Go do it two more times. We have a special this week, three for $5."