Sunday, June 27, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 11pm, fell asleep quickly, got up at 5:30, gave up getting back to sleep and got up at 6am.

I left the apt at 8am and met Glenn and Bianca at the Avenida Poblado bus stop at 8:15. We caught a taxi and got out on the other side of Calle 10. We walked 3 blocks downhill to Ganso & Castor where he had eggs benedict and I had the granola with Greek yogurt and fruit. We also shared an almond croissant. He told me about his experience renewing his Medicare and getting his prostate procedure including his blood clot. We left about 10:15 and took a taxi back to Envigado. Glenn and Bianca got out at the bus stop before Jumbo and Glenn slammed the door. The driver was offended and I said to him, “Los Gringos” and I thought he would die laughing. I continued on to Viva Envigado where I had a café con leche in Todo Fresa. Teresa called me at 12:30 and asked me to meet her outside at the taxi stand. We took a taxi to La Buena Mesa and got out at Chiclayo where we had a nice lunch. Afterward we went to the Pasteur pharmacy where I bought an 8-pack of adult diapers for 22mil. (The doctor said I might have some leakage after he removes my catheter next week. Teresa initially suggested we put a plastic sheet over the mattress but I recommended the disposable underpants.)

I ran into Chris Cojelas (sp?) at Barrio Sur on the way back to the apt.

A reader of my blog asked whether insurance is paying for my surgery. As I understand it my options are: use insurance which is very cheap ($5?) but with weeks or months of delays for tests and ultimately surgery OR go private, pay out of pocket for tests and surgery ($4500) and have it done relatively quickly. Obviously, I chose the latter.

Eschneiderag9 had the advantage in our latest game but he neglected to make a move within the 24-hour time limit so he lost on time increasing my rating to 1553.

Teresa suggested we go to a movie tonight. I checked and SantaFe wasn’t playing anything good but I found The Father (8.3) at Oviedo mall at 6:30. At 5:30 we decided we’d better get ready for tomorrow. I streamed the movie and then we watched Misery (7.8), one of Teresa’s favorites, for the umpteenth time.

 

Tomorrow we have to leave at 7am in order to be at CES Hospital by 8am for my 10am surgery. (I guess I’ll be catching up on any missed sleep after that.)

Well, after 8 ½ years I think I’m going to miss a day or two of postings to my blog. Hopefully, not more than that.

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 11,985 ð 11,867 ð 11,881 new cases and 311 ð 306  ð 307 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday Colombia has a total of 4,092,746 ð 4,126,340 ð 4,158,716 cases with 103,321 ð 104,014 ð 104,678 deaths.  Medellin has 345,129 ð 347,064 ð 349,001 cases, an increase of 1,937 cases from June 26^th to 27^th. Envigado has a total of 26,816 cases, an increase of 88 from June 26^th to 27^th.

 

T-shirt of the day

All you need is LOVE is all you need.

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30 and fell asleep quickly, got up once at 4:15, finally waking/getting up at 7am.

I left the apt at 9am and walked to the mall where I scanned some important documents to my USB drive then withdrew a little cash from an ATM. On the 2^nd floor I deposited the additional 411,696 pesos into Alcala’s account and texted them a photo of the invoice. I called Teresa and gave her the 5-minute warning. I quickly caught a taxi back to the apt and she came out a couple minutes later.

We got out at Arkadia mall where she shopped for gym clothes. I explained I didn’t have a lot of cash left in my checking account until my next cash infusion at the end of the month. She didn’t find anything (whew!), and we went across the street to Pricesmart. We picked up some groceries and she also found a package of 2 little electric mixer bottles she can take to the gym to mix her own protein shakes. 

While checking out, the muchacho charged my debit card after the first two items. “Wait, there’s more,” I cried. He ran up the rest of our groceries and we were soon in a taxi back to the apt.

At 1:15 a quick rainstorm came through but soon we were back to blue skies.

About 3:15 we decided to take a nap and a minute later a guy came around with his recorder played oldies including Money Can’t Buy Me Love, Johnny B. Good, I Did it My Way and Imagine.

Troyclough missed a threat and I checkmated him on the 16^th move increasing my rating to 1544.

We left the apt at 7:30 and took a taxi to Antica Pizza. There were a few raindrops on the way but it didn’t amount to anything. I had a slice of pizza and Teresa had 2 slices plus my Coke for 33mil. We were back at the apt by 9pm so Teresa could see the last half of Master Chef.

 

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 11,672 ð 11,985 ð 11,867 new cases and 314 ð 311 ð 306 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday Colombia has a total of 4,060,013 ð 4,092,746 ð 4,126,340 cases with 102,636 ð 103,321 ð 104,014 deaths.  Medellin has 343,153 ð 345,129 ð 347,064 cases, an increase of 1,934 cases from June 25^th to 26^th. Envigado has a total of 26,727 cases, an increase of 81 from June 25^th to 26^th.

 

T-shirt of the day

Better late than never.

Friday, June 25, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:45 and fell asleep quickly, got up once at 3am, finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

I left the apt at 7:30 in 68 degrees and walked to Parque Envigado. At Todo Drogas I found the eye drops Dr. Montoya prescribed, a bottle of Centrum Advance (in lieu of GNC’s Mega Men Prostate & Virility), and 2 packages of Zopiclona (Teresa occasionally mooches mine), for 95,200 pesos.

I had my usual breakfast at Carbon de Leña for 9,500 pesos, dropped off some leftover eyedrops for recycling at a pharmacy and walked to Viva Envigado. I arrived at Av Villas at 8:55 to find it doesn’t open until 9:30. Bancolombia opens at 9am and I got in a longish line. When they opened a few minutes later I quickly paid for the Caldas finca tax, my health insurance, Teresa’s gym fee, and my June chess lessons.

I waited 15-minutes in line for Av Villas to open where I paid for the apt rental.

Downstairs I had a café con leche in Todo Fresa until about 10:45. I bought a few things in Exito and returned to the apt by taxi.

The CSE hospital is in Prado not far from 61Prado Guest House where we’ve had some great lunches in the past.

We left the apt at noon for my 2pm appointment with the anesthesiologist.  Our taxi driver took the highway then cut through the bad neighborhood around Minorista. We drove right past the hotel so I knew we would be close to it. At the hospital Teresa asked security if they had a cafeteria and the guard directed us to a restaurant on the corner. As soon as Teresa stepped inside she decided for some reason she didn’t want to eat there. I led her a block away to the hotel where she had salmon and I had a beef wrap. It’s a shame they enlarged the hotel then the pandemic hit. We only saw one other couple at another table while we were there.

(Photo from main dining room looking towards the "kitchen".)

Teresa noted the sky was getting dark and we’d rather be in the clinic if it rains instead of this hotel so we left post haste. We were seated at the clinic by 1:30.

I received a text from Alcala confirming my July payment but they also mentioned something about an outstanding balance. Teresa called them then told me the rent went up.

Me: When? Teresa: January.

Me: Why did they wait 6 months to tell me? Teresa: no answer.

Anyway, tomorrow I have to put an additional 411,696 pesos in their account and starting October 30^th I have to increase the payments by 30,166 pesos.

We were finally called into a consultation room at 2:50. The doctor (intern?) asked a number of questions and didn’t like the fact I’ve been taking Omega 3 capsules. It sounded like we may have to reschedule my surgery for 2 weeks. He called my urologist who cleared me for the surgery. He had me weigh myself and I was 80 kilos same as before the pandemic. (They say muscle weighs more than fat so there.) I am scheduled for surgery at 10am and am supposed to arrive at the hospital by 8am. We went across the street to another office where I paid 8,000,000 pesos ($2120) for the surgical room, instruments, private room, etc.

We caught a taxi outside the hospital but the driver said he didn’t know how to get to El Tesoro mall. He dropped us off at the Prado metro station and after asking a couple other drivers we found one to take us to the mall. The driver said there were protests going on at Avenida Oriental (Avenida Poblado downtown) so he took the highway to Calle 10 and we went uphill from there.

At my urologist’s office I paid 8,000,000 pesos in cash for the doctors’ fee.

Teresa looked in Zara but I guess nothing changed from yesterday so we went to J&C Delicias for supper. She wondered if they had any good movies playing so we stopped in Cinemark. The only movie possible was Fast & Furious 273 (or some similar number) so we declined. I stuck around long enough for an attendant to assist me with downloading the correct app. At the taxi stand we could finally see we’d had some rain while we were inside. Again traffic was slow and we returned to the apt 45 minutes later.

I completed registration for the Cinemark app and it says, “No theatres are found near you”. (Well, one of piece of information they wanted was zipcode but they only allowed 5-digits and here they are 6 digits so…)

At 9pm the Desafio program ended and I heard opera playing by the porteria. At 9:15 I started hearing thunder and at 9:30 I noticed it was raining.

 

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 11,310 ð 11,672 ð 11,985 new cases and 304 ð 314 ð 311 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday Colombia has a total of 4,027,016 ð 4,060,013 ð 4,092,746 cases with 101,947 ð 102,636 ð 103,321 deaths.  Medellin has 341,100 ð 343,153 ð 345,129 cases, an increase of 2,053 cases from June 24^th to 25^th. Envigado has a total of 26,645 cases, an increase of 94 from June 24^th to 25^th. (The increases aren’t correct but I don’t feel like doing the math.)

 

T-shirt of the day

Buy less, choose wisely.

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30pm and fell asleep quickly. I woke up a couple times when I felt a cramp coming on but avoided it by stretching my leg in the correct manner. I woke/got up at 5:30. I might as well stay up as I have to go back to Cedimed early to ask for my blood/urine test results.

Glenn returned last night from the States and invited me to breakfast but I have too much going on right now.

I left the apt at 7am, took a bus to Calle 7 and quickly received my test results. I took a taxi to Viva Envigado and arrived at 8am. I wanted to print another cover page for my Dutch Defense binder and I found the same course as a book. On the internet I found and copied a photo to my USB drive and this time I had no problem with Auros printing it.

I went up to Celebrity Barber Shop but it was still closed; probably doesn’t open until 10am like the other stores. I went down to Todo Fresa and strangely it was dark with only one employee. The waitress welcomed me anyway and I took the only table near a light source. I had a croissant with a café con leche and killed a couple hours until 10am. I went up to the barber shop and got the same fancy haircut with Daniel for 65mil. Teresa called me and right away I returned to the apt by taxi.

We took a taxi to the restaurant next to Torre Intermedica where we had a nice lunch. Inside I waited an hour to see my ophthalmologist, Dr. Montoya. She had talked to the cornea specialist and informed me I have corneal dystrophy.

Corneal dystrophies are a group of rare genetic eye disorders. With corneal dystrophies, abnormal material builds up in the cornea (the clear, front window of the eye). Most corneal dystrophies affect both eyes. They progress slowly and run in families.

Now I know why my corneal specialist asked me about my ancestors. My mother’s side are from Ireland and Scotland and my father’s side Germany and The Netherlands. Dr. Montoya informed me The Netherlands has had a continuing problem with this eye disease. We’re going to try some drops that might clear the material or if that doesn’t work I can either live with it or there is a surgical procedure we can try. She said it is a Lasik procedure and costs 3,000,000 pesos but that’s for both eyes so it should be half that for only one eye. I have a prescription and a follow-up appointment for July – sheesh I can’t find the date and time. I know I put it in my cellphone but I must have forgotten to save it.

She said this disease usually presents itself in the 2^nd half of life so I guess it’s after 40 years of age.

We took a taxi to El Tesoro mall. I asked Teresa if Colombia won last night and she asked the driver who went into a 5-minute discourse, including hand waving, on how Colombia got robbed.

Teresa spent at least an hour in Zara while I sat outside on a comfortable sofa and I think I managed to sneak in a 5-minute nap. When I joined her inside, she returned some items and purchased others. She also introduced me to her friend Anna Lucia who lives near the mall. We invited her to join us and we had coffee and pastries at the Santa Leña café while they caught up on old times.

They had a children’s play area set up in the atrium of one wing of the mall:

 

We left about 5pm and traffic kept us from returning to the apt until 5:45.

Well, today finally my calves didn’t feel tight.

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 11,370 ð 11,310 ð 11,672 new cases and 308 ð 304 ð 314 new deaths. (New infections and deaths are now increasing.)

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday Colombia has a total of 3,997,021 ð 4,027,016 ð 4,060,013 cases with 101,302 ð 101,947 ð 102,636 deaths.  Medellin has 339,117 ð 341,100 ð 343,153 cases, an increase of 2,053 cases from June 23^rd to 24^th. Envigado has a total of 26,539 cases, an increase of 94 from June 23^rd to 24^th.

 

T-shirt of the day

Ralph’s Cigars, Taylor Street, Chicago.

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30pm, fell asleep quickly, but was awakened five times by cramps in my right calf. When I was younger and more limber I recall grabbing my toes and pulling them towards me to stop the cramp. This time I pulled off my sheet and stood up on the floor to flatten my foot. After that as soon as I had the first indication one was coming I managed to straighten my leg and perform whatever is the opposite of pointing your toes.

So what changed that brought this on? The only thing I can think of is the ciclovia trip I made the past 3 weeks. I realize now I can handle 8,000-10,000 steps every other day (M/W/F) but 20,000-22,000 on a single day (Sunday) is apparently too much for these old legs.

Teresa left at 9am for the gym and I understand we’re going to meet up later at Viva Envigado.

I left the apt at 10am. (When I return I’m going to download WinZip which should allow me to unzip the files that Cedimed sent me Monday night.) I had coffee in Todo Fresa until Teresa called me to meet her at Home Center. As we entered I asked her what she’s looking for and she told me she’s looking for a gift for the baby at the finca. (Hmm, maybe a set of drill bits?) She talked to an employee and we soon left and went to Exito where she priced a couple fancy playpens then decided she would do something else. We picked up a some groceries, including a few bananas, and returned to the apt by taxi.

I downloaded a 21-day test version of WinZip 25.0. The problem now is I can’t copy the .zip files out of the email and WinZip doesn’t allow me to point to the .zip files in the email so I’m screwed. I think I’ll have to go to Cedimed for them to give me a copy.

Colombia is playing Brazil at 8pm so no Desafio program tonight. Teresa mentioned seeing a movie so I’ll check it out this afternoon.

After lunch I walked to the mall where I bought 2 tickets to A Place of Silence 2 for 12,000 pesos. When choosing our seats two on the side were pointed out to me. I pointed to two nearer the middle and she told me they weren’t available. I understood the white seats on the screen are taken but there were lots of blue seats. Only after squinting did I see that there were tall blue seats and they are blocked and only the short blue seats are available.

I had coffee in Santa Leña before returning to the apt.

I warned Teresa if she wants anything from the concession stand we will need to leave at 6pm. She said “no” so we’re leaving at 7pm.

We left just after 7, there was no line to enter and we didn’t buy anything at the concession stand. We could have because the line was very short and it would have given us a good excuse to take off our masks during the movie. (We took them off anyway.) When we left the theater there was a long line at concessions. When we got outside to catch a taxi the street was wet so obviously we got some rain while we were inside and there was a 5-minute wait in line.

Today I clocked 10,221 steps.

 

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 11,243 ð 11,370 ð 11,310 new cases and 311 ð 308 ð 304 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday Colombia has a total of 3,968,405 ð 3,997,021 ð 4,027,016 cases with 100,582 ð 101,302 ð 101,947 deaths.  Medellin has 337,284 ð 339,117 ð 341,100 cases, an increase of 1,978 cases from June 22^nd to 23^rd. Envigado has a total of 26,445 cases, an increase of 92 from June 22^nd to 23^rd.

 

T-shirt of the day

I shoulda stayed in bed.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

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

I left the apt just before 8am and walked to the mall. I printed some chess notes then waited for Jose at Habia Una Vez. He arrived five minutes later and I had my usual breakfast and he ordered a ham and cheese omelet. He said it was the worst tasting omelet he’s ever had.

We went upstairs at 9am and started the first game where I had the White pieces. Toward the end of the game Juan Castro stopped by. I ended up losing a close game and then Juan showed me where I went wrong in the ending.

For lunch I had the chicken breast menu of the day from Tipico Antojo for 14,800 which was pretty good.

I had Black pieces in the second game and I got to play the Dutch defense and he made his usual Qb3 move which I’m still trying to find an answer to.

I lost, he left, and I went down to Santa Leña for coffee. I’ve been getting Whatsapp messages from Laura. She plans on visiting Chicago early July with a friend and she’s been questioning me about hotel locations.

Nobraskja from Envios Market texted me that they have a package for me. I asked for the amount and please deliver it after 5pm,

 

I left about 4pm, bought a few groceries in Exito and returned to the apt by taxi.

For supper we placed our usual order with Rappi and I went down to the porteria when their app said the delivery was on its way. I saw my Fed-Ex package sitting on their table. I got the message that they had arrived and I saw a Rappi driver across the street. He went to the other building’s porteria – not sure if he made another delivery there first or if he was lost but he soon walked across the street and gave me my order.

Back upstairs my package consisted of First in Chess and American Chess magazines and the other “body crème” that Teresa had ordered.

I lost my two games with Troyclough and Eschneiderag9 dropping my rating to 1537.

I tried sending myself cash using World Remit but they’ve redesigned their website again and I couldn’t figure out how to send USD but receive COP so I may have to use an ATM.

Today I clocked 5,867 steps.

No rain today!

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 11,138 ð 11,243 ð 11,370 new cases and 300 ð 311  ð 308 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday Colombia has a total of 3,945,166 ð 3,968,405 ð 3,997,021 cases with 99,934 ð 100,582 ð 101,302 deaths.  Medellin has 335,467 ð 337,284 ð 339,117 cases, an increase of 1,830 cases from June 21^st to 22^nd. Envigado has a total of 26,353 cases, an increase of 85 from June 21^st to 22^nd.

 

T-shirt of the day

Climbing Kilimanjaro.

Monday, June 21, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 11pm, fell asleep quickly, and woke/ got up at 5:15.

Since I have to provide a urine and blood sample today sometime between 6 and 10am I decided to just stay up.

I left the apt at 6:45 and soon caught an Envigado bus that was only about half full. I got off at Calle 7 and walked up the one block to the Cedimed office in the Clinica de Medellin building. I had no problem paying the 144,900 ($39) with my debit card, dropping off my urine sample and getting my blood drawn. They are supposed to email me the results by tomorrow. (I’ll tell Teresa it will be Wednesday so she doesn’t hound me every minute until then.)

I caught a Sabaneta bus back to Envigado. At Carbon de Leña they had chairs set up blocking the entrance so I walked 4 blocks to El Pastelito for calentado, scrambled eggs and a café con leche. (Btw, the coffee is much better at Carbon de Leña.) While eating my breakfast a pigeon was eyeing my food and was so bold as to fly onto my table several times. I had to keep shooing it away.

I went to Parva for coffee. While sitting outside I noticed blood seeping out from the little band-aid they put on my arm. The next time a muchacho came outside I showed him my arm and he brought out a proper band-aid.

Teresa returned at noon with the June rent for the finca.

She finally contacted the urologist’s secretary and I now know: 1) I pay the doctor and he takes care of paying the other doctors, 2) I pay him in cash which means I have to send myself more pesos, 3) I can pay the hospital with my debit card the day of my surgery, 4) I may need “adult diapers” after the doctor removes my catheter – some need them some don’t; some need them for a day others for several days.

Michael resigned our game increasing my rating to 1554. I only mention that because I’m losing my other two games and that might be my high rating for a while.

After lunch I had a nap for a little over an hour.

I beat Teresa in parcheesi today 3 games to 2.

I received an email from Cedimed with the first part of my test results. There were two zip files and I started the download for them just before we left.

About 7:15 we walked down to McDonald’s. Teresa was a little concerned that she would be late for her 8pm Desafio program but I assured her we’ve done this before in less than 45 minutes. They were pretty busy as I ordered a Cheddar Melt with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Last time I ordered it there was just meat, bun and, I think, a slice of cheese. Teresa ordered her usual chicken sandwich. When we brought our order to the table neither of our sandwiches had any cheese on it. As Teresa argued with a manager I noted that the photo shows cheese on my sandwich. In the end they redid our order and even offered to console us with a free McFlurry.

I love it when Teresa asks me questions like, “Do you have McDonald’s in the US?” I told her I lived in the small town where the first McDonald’s was built – Des Plaines, Illinois. Back in the 70s I walked past it twice every weekday on my way to the train station.

Well, with Teresa’s “one and done” attitude we’re probably done with McDonald’s.

 

It was 8:15 by the time we left, not waiting for our free dessert but at least she got to see the last half of her program.

My files still hadn’t downloaded so I cancelled them. Maybe I’m going to have to pick them up in person.

I gave up reading my latest paperback, Janet Evanovich’s Hot Six. It was even on the #1 New York Times Bestseller list but I couldn’t get into it.

Today I clocked 5,867 steps.

Just before I went to bed I whispered to Teresa “We got through a day without rain”. Just before hitting the bed I popped my head outside the window and saw that the road was wet. I stuck out my hand and felt raindrops. 😊 ☹

 

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 11,527 ð 11,138 ð 11,243 new cases and 300  ð 300 ð 311 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday Colombia has a total of 3,917,348 ð 3,945,166 ð 3,968,405 cases with 99,335 ð 99,934 ð 100,582 deaths.  Medellin has 333,470 ð 335,467 ð 337,284 cases, an increase of 1,817 cases from June 20^th to 21^st. Envigado has a total of 26,266 cases, an increase of 46 from June 20^th to 21^st.

 

T-shirt of the day

Girls support girls.