Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 11pm, got up once at 2am, finally waking/getting up by my alarm (I thought I had turned them off) at 6:30 and again at 7:30.

I got up, organized some things, had breakfast, showered and went back to bed until 10:45.

I left the apt about 1:30 and walked to Envios Market where I told Nobraskja my suitcase and FedEx adventures in Chicago. I paid 120mil to mail the car keys back to Jimmy and they should arrive by Friday.

Troyclough blundered a rook on the 22^nd move and resigned increasing my rating to 1599.

I had a latte in Los Porteños for an hour or so and we had a drizzle for about 20-30 minutes. I bought 2 bagels in Eduardo Madrid before returning to the apt.

I gave up on the series Fringe (8.4) and started watching the series The Americans (8.4).

 

America’s Decline into Idiocy

Monday, May 29, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 11pm, got up once at dawn, finally waking/getting up at 7am.

Today is Memorial Day in America!

I had a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats for breakfast.

I gifted Jimmy a small box of Cora Lee English toffee.

We left about 7:45 and drove separately to Jim’s townhouse in Rob Roy. I parked Annette’s card in his driveway and gifted Jim Starr a small box of Cora Lee English toffee.

Jimmy dropped me off at American Airlines at O’Hare airport. There was no line at check-in, one person ahead of me at the TSA checkpoint and I arrived at my gate 90 minutes before my 11:07am AA1150 flight.

I stopped in Dunkin Donuts and had my last apple fritter with a small coffee. This one was better as it had more apples inside. It was then I found the keys to Jimmy’s car in my jacket pocket. I inquired if there was some way I could UPS or FedEx them to him but learned I would have to leave the secure area.

I purposely waited until most the others had entered the Gate so I could put my laptop in any open space above.

I had a window seat near the back with no one in the aisle or middle seats. Or at least so I thought for about 5 minutes. Two teenage girls sat next to me. The stewardess gave me a package of cookies and I chose a Coke for a snack.

When we were waiting to deplane in Charlotte, I saw the grils take out red passports. With a better look I saw they were from Thailand. I heard a little English that sounded perfect.

I asked for my gate at the check-in desk and I had 33 minutes to reach it. I was at one end of a ‘V’ and my gate was at the other. I made a quick trip to the restroom and still reached my gate just in time.

This time I had an aisle seat and I got cookies and a Coke for another snack. When we arrived in Miami I had a little over an hour to reach my gate. I stopped at the same spot, The Marketplace, and bought another slice of pizza, this time olive. I took their Skytrain to save time and joined the crowd outside the gate. I finished my pizza while I recharged my cellphone for about 30 minutes.

We were about 20 minutes late boarding and again I had an aisle seat. The woman next to me was probably Colombian because she only spoke Spanish but no English.

This time I got a package of mini pretzels and a Ginger Ale. When we landed in Medellin it was about 20 minutes for the other rows (I was in the next to last row) to deplane. I made a quick trip to the restroom then got in a line of about 20 for immigration. There were 4 immigration officers so the line moved quickly. I handed him my passport and set my old passport and virtual visa next to it. He scanned my new passport then checked my virtual visa and waved me through. At baggage claim I saw a Colombian standing next to 7 bags and I pointed to mine, he handed it to me and said, “benvenido de Colombia”. Approaching the customs desk the officer just waived me through.

Outside the Arrivals area were about 10 people together with balloons and a welcome sign. I smiled and mimed it was for me but no. There were the usual myriad requests if I needed a taxi but I said, “no”. I texted Bryan that I was there but got no response. After about 15 minutes I texted I would only wait another 10 minutes before I took a taxi. Then it dawned on me I needed to connect to airport WiFi, then my messages got through and we agreed to meet outside Arrivals Gate 1. I understood he was in a long line and it was another 20 minutes before we connected. His car was fixed and we drove in a light drizzle to Envigado. He told me they’ve had rain everyday lately so maybe summer is over. The ride was 130mil.

Well, I left Colombia on a Colombian holiday and left the US on an American holiday.

 

America’s Decline into Idiocy

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 11pm, got up once at dawn, finally waking/getting up at 7am.

I showered, dressed and left the apt at 8am.

I stopped at the 7-11 and bought a Sunday Chicago Sun-Times for $3. Yikes!

I walked back to the apt building and continued 3 more blocks to Griddle24 where I practiced a little of my Spanish with a Mexican waitress. Today I had eggs over easy, hashbrowns, wheat toast, sausage links, and of course coffee. I broke a $100 bill to pay my bills so I would have some smaller bills and returned to the apt.

I read a Richard Roeper movie review for You Hurt my Feelings (3 ½ *) which sounds interesting.

Thinking about lunch I checked and Mr. Beef is closed on Sundays so I’ll be looking for a plan B.

I received the check-in email from American Airlines, noted the terminals, gates, and seat numbers but at the end it couldn’t check me in so I’ll have to go the AA agent in O’Hare.

“Please check in with an agent at the airport. We’re unable to check you in online.”

 

I don’t know if I have a cold but I do have some nasal congestion and occasional runny nose.

I left the apt about 1pm and walked 5 blocks to Egg Harbor where I had oatmeal and a coffee for $16.50 and gave the waiter $20 and told him to keep the change.

I saw these cars parked outside a carwash and my walk back to Jeannie's apt.

I think the first is a Lamborghini and the second is a Corvette.

I checkmated Michael Sito (Mr_Blamo) in 29 moves which earned me just 1 rating point.

While waiting on Jimmy to finish watching a Cubs game I’m working on today’s crossword puzzle.

I left Jeannie’s condo in River North at 4:30 and drove 21 minutes north to Jimmy’s condo in Lake View.

Jimmy helped me get my things up to his condo then he left to meet with friends. His plan is to leave here about 8am tomorrow, drive to Jim’s where we drop off his car, then drive to the airport where he’ll drop me off for my 11:07 flight. I’m just a little afraid the timing is a little tight.

I spent most of my time working on the Sunday crossword puzzle but at the end of the day I still had a lot remaining. (I came 2-3 letters short of solving Friday and Saturday’s puzzle.)

I texted Jose I wouldn’t be available for chess tomorrow.

I lazed on Jimmy’s coach a couple hours with 60 Minutes then Mangum P.I. on TV then went to bed at 10pm.

 

America’s Decline into Idiocy

 

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, took a few minutes to fall asleep, finally waking/getting up at 5:30.

I left Jeannie’s apt by 6:45 and walked 2 blocks to Griddle 24 where I had 2 eggs over easy with hash browns, pancakes and the endless cup of coffee for $7. Delish! I returned to Jeannie’s building but continued 3 more blocks to the 7-11 where I bought a Chicago Sun-Times for $2 (yikes, last I remember 10 years ago it was like 50 or 75 cents.

Back at Jeannie’s apt I called Capital One and activated my debit card. 😊 No more foreign transaction fees! Yay! Once I’m confident this works for me I’ll move my money out of Charles Schwab and close that account.

Now I’m going to read the newspaper until 9am when I’ll call Matt and confirm the date/time/address for our lunch get-together at Johnny’s.

I just received the following text from my brother: “I will be out of commission for a few days. I tripped in a parking last night, I broke my elbow am in a hospital in Santa Rosa, California awaiting surgery later today. And it’s very hard to text with just one hand at the moment so if you need something you can, WhatsApp Juanita.” Getting old can be a B*#ch.

I just went up one floor to the “gym” and did 5-minutes of arm and shoulder exercises with a 10# dumbbell. Better than nothing since I missed all last week and I’ll be missing this coming Monday.

I left at 11:15 and arrived at Johnny’s on Arlington Heights Rd at 12:15. Bart was there waiting for me. He did look familiar when I saw him. The first item on the restaurant’s menu was Italian Beef so I got that and a medium root beer. Bart got the same but with fries. Very tasty! We talked a lot about Colombia and his previous travel experiences which included San Andres Island, Panama, and Ecuador.

At 3:15 I googled Cora Lee Candies and saw that they close at 4pm on Saturdays. I said goodbye to Bart and arrived at Cora Lee 10 minutes before closing. They moved across the street from their prior location, a year ago according to the cashier. I bought 4 boxes of English toffee: 1 for us (me), one for Jimmy, one for Jeannie and one for Jim. They no longer have the red anise candies that I always took 1 of when I was there. She said she hasn’t seen it for a while so I guess they have supply issues. They did have the Black Jack gum I haven’t seen in years to I took one of them and the lady didn’t charge me for it (It turned out it tasted stale.)

I drove a little further down the road to Walgreens where I got a large bag of Russell Stover sugar free chocolates for Teresa for 14.99.

I drove all the way out to Deerfield Bakery in Buffalo Grove but they didn’t have a bear claw either ☹ so I bought a donut (cake) with coconut frosting and a medium coffee. That coffee was HOT!

They close at 5pm so I left at 4:30 and took Palatine Rd. to the Edens expressway. I missed the turn to enter the express lanes ☹ and it was slow going down the Kennedy but I still arrived at Jeannie’s apt by 6:15.

I arranged to meet Jimmy tomorrow afternoon and he’ll park his car (the VW I have) on the street for me. Then we’ll both drive out to Jim Starr’s house and Jimmy will drive me to the airport.

I left about 8:15 and walked a block and a half to Green Door Tavern. Interesting place. The "quiet" room I was in:

The other room I walked through on my way to the front door.

Instead of a burger I ordered a bowl of chili.

I stayed up until 11pm working on today’s crossword puzzle. I got within a few letters on both Fridays’ and Saturdays’.

 

America’s Decline into Idiocy

Friday, May 26, 2023

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

I packed all my stuff, traffic was slow and I didn’t meet Jeannie at her apt until 9:30.

Jeannie showed me around the neighborhood, we had breakfast at Egg Harbor Café a short walk away and I bought a Chicago Sun Times newspaper.

She showed me where everything was in the apt and I left about noon.

At the Secretary of State office, they told me to come back about 2:30 and they would see if they could get me in.

I drove a short distance away to Deerfield and had a chocolate (CAKE!) donut at Deerfield Bakery.

I didn’t like the looks of their Bear Claw because it contained a lot of chocolate. I read the newspaper and started working on the crossword puzzle. It was a lot harder than it was before (I’m really out of practice).

I called Bart and we’re meeting at Johnnie’s restaurant on Algonquin Rd in Rolling Meadows tomorrow at noon.

I left about an hour later and back at the SOS office they let me in, checked my ID (passport), took my photo and I had to do an eye test but it was easy because I was able to use both eyes instead of one at a time. I didn’t have to have a driving test (whoopee), I paid $5 and received a temporary license and within 15 days they’ll send my renewed license good for 4 years. (In the future because I’ll be over 80 years old, I believe I’ll have to renew every 2 years.)

I stopped at a Shell gas station and filled up the car for $45.72. I didn’t know how to open the door for the gas and when I asked an attendant inside he just pushed on the door and it popped open. ☹

I drove down to Niles and walked through Golf Mill shopping center. Sadly, most of the stores are closed and it’s a shell of what it used to be. I stopped in LensCrafters to have them look at the streak on my sunglasses but the lady said it’s a scratch not a stain. . I stopped in Ross, Dress for Less and bought a 6-pack of light white socks for $11.01.

The Best Buy that used to be on a nearby corner is now an auto dealership.

I drove to the house Annette and I had built in 1981 

and met Mike Szerlong and his wife working in the yard. They were very surprised to hear that Annette had passed as “she was just here”. He showed me around the back yard as it’s now fenced in. Nice guy! (Later I did a Zillow lookup and the estimate was $790,000.)

I was at the Greek restaurant Plateia in Niles before 5pm but Irina didn’t show up until 5:45. She explained she didn’t know anything about the driver’s license (she thought it was in the box that arrived that only contained my Capital One 360 debit card and I believe her).

I stopped at Goodis and had a Chicago style hotdog and a Pepsi for $7.22, the hotdog being a lot skinnier than I remember.

I left about 8pm and returned to Jeannie’s apt just before dark and my cellphone battery was almost dead.

I went to bed at 10pm.

 

Why My Kid is Crying

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 4am, finally waking/getting up at 6am.

My package arrived in Wheeling at 5:33am this morning. So far, so good.

I left my room about 7am and walked to a nearby Dunkin Donuts on Algonquin Rd just off Wilke Rd. That was a cold walk but saw this wildlife on the way:

AA GEESE PHOTOS

This Dunkin’ had 2 tables and 2 counters with lots of space for more which I guess isn’t needed as most of their business is probably takeout or drive through. I chatted with a man behind me for a minute when I heard him listening to something in Spanish. He’s from Mexico but the broadcaster he was watching is Colombiana.

I walked back to the hotel and took this video on the way:

AA GEESE VIDEO

I was just reading about renewing my driver’s license in person and I will need to pass a vision exam and a driving exam.

Hey, it’s 10:52 and I just got an email that my driver’s license was delivered at 10:41am. 😊

Just killing time until Jack and Arlene pick me up at noon.

The envelope with my Capital One 360 debit card and Teresa’s order arrived in Bogota and I paid the $18.63 charge.

Jack & Arlene picked me up at noon and took me to Jameson’s Steakhouse. I had the French onion soup and their ribs. I talked so much I didn’t get very far with the food and they took the rest to go. They gave me a gift bag that contained 2 bags of White Sox salted-in-the-shell peanuts and 2 different jars of Strawberry Preserves. 😊  They dropped me off at the hotel about 3pm, a little later than I planned.

I exchanged some things and soon left for Walgreen’s on Miner Street in Des Plaines. At the desk they looked for a FedEx envelope or box for me but found nothing. They suggested I try the Walgreens on Oakton and River. In the meantime I found FedEx had sent me the following delivery photo

That location couldn’t find my envelope or package either. While I was there I had them print the letter for Laura but they printed it on photo paper which was useless because I wouldn’t be able to sign itso that was at least 30 minutes wasted.

I finally located where the last stop was and it was FedEx in Wheeling. I googled it and headed to that address.

Interesting, I passed a Mexican pub named El Paisa Alegre #2 at 1 S. Wolf Rd in Prospect Heights.

When I got there I found one car in the parking lot and this locked door:

Well, that didn’t work. I headed back to the hotel. I stopped at Staples a block away and had Laura’s letter printed along with my AT&T screenshots. When I was checking out for some reason the cashier just wabved off my $1.69 purchase. I asked him if he could recommend a restaurant in the court and he said, “Tacos Jerez” next door. There I ordered this huge burrito:

AA BURRITO

I was only able to eat half of it.

Back at the hotel I stopped in the laundry room and tried to buy a Coke for $2.50. I put in a $5 bill and pushed the associated number and it said, “$52.50 in shopping cart” so I cancelled it and it returned my $5 all in quarters. ☹ I tried again with the same result. I stopped at the front desk and showed someone what happened and he had no clue what was going on. I took my quarters and returned to my room.

I found an email from Irina that “‼️FedEx package arrived today on your name. I guess they redirected it and it’s your driver’s license

Also, AT&T bill arrived on both of our names via regular mail.”

I told her I wanted to stop by right away. I drove there and picked up the package outside the door and the AT&T envelope she left in the mailbox. On my way back to the hotel I stopped on a side street and opened the box and found an envelope. I opened and found the Capital One 360 card and info but no driver’s license. I drove back to Irina’s place and rang the bell but no answer and the place was dark. ☹

The FedEx box was taped shut and had obviously been cut open. The label contained:

 

FROM: Victor Cardona, 7864 NW 62 st, Miami FL 33166

US

Original address:

Terry Lee Andresen

Terry Lee Andresen

378 Miner St, Des Plaines, IL US

DES PLAINES, IL 60016

8475165770

Corrected address:

Terry Andresen

607 Country Lane

Unit 607

Des Plaines, IL 60016

8476994404

 

Inside was the envelope. For the return address was a sticker with

Irina Andresen

607 Country Ln

Des Plaines, IL 60016-1240

Hand written addressed to:

Terry Andresen

Envios Market

7864 NW 62^nd St 33166

ENV 102-886

Miami, FL 33166

 

It was sent Certified Mail from Glenview, IL for $4.78.

I have no idea what’ going on but I’m going to accept Irina’s invite for coffee tomorrow at 5:30 to try to find out.

One clue: now that I look at it, the photo looks like the front of Irina’s screen door.

Another clue is this Voice Mail screenshot from my brother:

I was just rereading this post which reminded me that there were 2 envelopes from my brother, one with my Capital One 360 info and the other with my driver’s license. I think what happened is the Capital One got sent here and the driver’s license got sent on to Envigado.

I just texted Teresa and the package arrived but no envelope.

That means they 2 envelopes somehow got separated? Were they mailed separately?

 

Why My Kid is Crying

 

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, woke/got up at 5am, took my shower and dressed in clean clothes. It’s nice to be in fresh clothes.

I’m working on the computer while waiting for Jimmy to wake/get up.

We left at 9:15 and walked 3 blocks in a windy, cold 58 degrees to Breakfast House Café & Restaurant where Jim had a waffle with coffee and I had a waffle with 2 lattes for a total of $40, not including tip. Jim paid.

Monday and Tuesday here we had a high of about 80 degrees, now the forecast is for 66 degrees.

I finally heard from Envios Market that Gisela didn’t give me the complete FedEx tracking number. Now I can see, using the full number 772197363176, that it’s in transit to Christiana, TN with expected delivery to Des Plaines between 9:30am and 1pm tomorrow. That should work.

Jimmy drove us to Jim & Annette’s townhouse on the Rob Roy golf course. I spent a few minutes with Jim, Jeannie and Jacob. Jimmy showed me how to start the car, etc.

I drove to Extended Stay America, 2400 Golf Rd, Rolling Meadows and parked the car in the shade.

I walked to Shake Shack but it was further than I thought. About 2 miles later I entered Woodfield Mall at the entrance next to Penney’s. Walking inside I checked google maps and it wasn’t very helpful when it told me to go NW or towards Patriot Dr. Finally, I found on a directory map that it was out in the parking lot. I finally found it back on Golf Rd.; if I had continued walking another 100 yards instead of entering the mall I would have found it. I had a simple cheese burger with fries and a strawberry malt for $19.34.

I looked at PaceBus.com website and found a 606 bus would arrive at the Mall Drive entrance. I saw one go by as I was walking there and another arrived 10 minutes later. It was $2.25 and I got dropped off across from the entrance to the hotel.

Checking in I found I really messed up: My reservation was for September 27^th through 29^th. How did that happen? Anyway, she got me a room and I need to cancel the other reservation.

My driver’s license is in Chicago as of 1:37pm and is scheduled to be delivered “5/25/23 by end of day estimated between “9:30am and 1:30pm”. I asked Jack if he could possibly pick me up tomorrow for our lunch get-together.

I traded emails with my ex and she informed me AT&T added our names and address to our account. I logged in and screen printed 3 pages to include everything.

I cancelled the 5/27-5/29 booking for Extended Stay through Booking.com.

I found a Staples on Arlington Heights Rd just northwest of Golf. I’ll need to print the letter for Laura and the AT&T screen-prints.

 

Why My Kid is Crying

 

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, got up once at 2:30, but didn’t fall back asleep until about 3:30, finally getting up about 9 after Jim had finished his shower.

Since my suitcase had yet to arrive, I had to put my travel clothes back on.

He went to get a haircut and I walked 2 blocks away to a Dunkin Donuts. Surprise, there were no tables and chairs (and the owners/workers were obviously Indian). 2^nd surprise, I was able to buy a latte. I sat on a window ledge next to a long “table” to consume my apple fritter and latte. A black guy came in, called me “bro” and eventually asked if I could buy a brother a small coffee for $2.85. I gave him $5 and told him to treat himself to a medium coffee. He bought the small and pocketed the change.

When I was finished, I walked 2 blocks further to a Walgreens where I bought small bottles of Excedrin Migraine and Tums, a small package of band-aids and 2 Pilot G-2 gel pens (can’t believe I came without a pen).

I asked the cashier if there happened to be an Ace Hardware in the area and she pointed and said, “around the corner and about a block”. I walked there and bought a 4-pak of plastic corner guards for our bed.

Across the street I saw a place called Breakfast House Café & Restaurant that looked interesting.

I returned to the apt and Jim and I checked but my suitcase still hadn’t arrived. Jimmy loaned me a pair of navy-blue socks and a navy-blue tie. We left at noon and stopped at Nordstrom Rack near Old Orchard mall where I bought a pair of black pants, black belt, and a white shirt. At a couple stores down I bought a black pair of shoes at DSW (Discount Shoe Warehouse). Now finally dressed we continued on to the mortuary in Glenview.

I introduced myself again to Jim Starr again, Annette’s husband and gave him my condolences. I saw Annette’s brother Fritzie and sister Kia. We all said our final goodbyes and they closed the casket as the public wake started at 3pm.

There were 9 large flower displays, one from a former senator (DeLeo?) shaped like Illinois with a red cardinal on it.

Jim stood closest to the casket, then Jimmy, then Jeannie, Jacob and finally me. From 3pm on until a little after 8pm there was a nonstop line out the door. I saw people I hadn’t seen in 30 years or so. Everyone was older but their basic features were the same. Those that were closest to me I remembered their names: Dean and Gayle, Chris and Georgia, Roseann, Valerie, Sherry, Chris and his husband Mark.

We left about 8:30 and Jim drove us back to his condo. At my suggestion, Jim asked at the front desk and my suitcase had arrived. He went to meet some friends and I went down to the store where I bought a large bag of Fritos. I only ate a few of them while sending a few texts to Teresa and Laura.

I went to bed at 10pm.

 

Why My Kid is Crying

Monday, May 22, 2023

Last night I went to bed about 9pm, got up once at 1:15, Teresa was next to me and said something about me getting up, I told her I have an alarm set for 3am, couldn’t fall back asleep, got up at 2:20, and found this message from Bryan, the private driver who was supposed to take me to the airport:

A taxi had rearended him.

I took my shower, dressed, packed my laptop, kissed Teresa goodbye and headed down to the porteria at 3:30. I asked the portero for a taxi, he made a call and said, “5 minutes” but it seemed like the car arrived in 5 seconds. I had a nice conversation in my broken Spanish with the driver and I arrived at the airport by 4:15. I had my bag checked, went through TSA, then immigration with 2 hours left before my 7am flight. (I gave the immigration officer my passport and he asked me when was the last time I arrived in Medellin. I gave him my old passport and he found the date himself.) I had a latte at a small restaurant named Cumba House right next to my gate.

I had an aisle seat to Miami which, with my laptop under the next seat, at least allowed me to stretch on leg on occasion. When we arrived it was quite a long walk to the immigration checkpoint and then there was a Disneyland style que that took about 20 minutes to get through. No problem after I gave him my passport. I found my gate then with an hour before takeoff I backtracked my steps and had a slice of pizza from 305 Pizza. I would have had a Coke too but the bottles were so large I knew I wouldn’t finish it.

My seat number was 30B so I fully expected to have to sit in a middle seat ☹ but someone was already there so I just took the aisle seat and no one was the wiser.

We arrived in Chicago on time and it was a bit of a walk to baggage claim. After some time, I still didn’t have my bag and Jim texted me he was circling the parking area waiting to hear from me. I knew something must be wrong when I was the last person waiting for their bag. I went to the Baggage Service desk and Jimmy showed up while they were explaining that my bag was still in Miami. They took down Jim’s contact information and promised to bring it to our house when it arrives on the next flight in 2 hours or tomorrow morning.

Jim drove us not too far away to a mall with a T-Mobile office and I bought a new sim card and signed up for a 3.5Gb speed/data plan with Unlimited Talk/Text for a month for $28.02.

We decided to go for pizza and I googled my favorite pizza place and it’s now a Bulgarian restaurant. Another check of Google Maps and I couldn’t find my 2^nd place either. Jim suggested Barnaby’s with their corn crust pizza so we went there. Jim ordered a large half sausage half pepperoni pizza and I had a root beer and he a coke to go with it.

Around 9pm Jim checked a website and it appears it’s now in Chicago and should be delivered in the next 5 hours.

Jim’s condo is on the 24^th floor of a 30 floor building with a view of Wrigley Field, the Sears Tower and (although distant) the United Center.

He gave me a set of keys with an electronic fob and gave me a tour of the lobby area and exit doors.

I texted my old friends, Jack & Arlene, and started arrangements to meet Thursday for brunch at the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines.

I went with Jim to walk Murray around the block. Murray was just out of the puppy stage when I last saw him and he’s an older dog now. He sill performs when you point your finger at him and say “phew” he rolls on his side and plays dead. When you say, “okay” he gets up and expects a treat.

We checked FedEx tracking and my package doesn’t show up.

Jim watched the end of a NBA conference championship won by the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Lakers so I didn’t get to bed until about 10:30.

 

Why My Kid is Crying

 

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:45, I got up once at 3am, couldn’t fall back asleep, got up at 3:45, worked on the computer a little before returning to bed at 4:30, finally waking at 6:45 and getting up at 7:30am.

The ice maker stopped working and me about to leave the country. ☹

Teresa asked me if I want to go to Santafe de Antoquia today with her relatives. LOL. I told her when I return from breakfast I’ll be working on packing for my trip.

I arrived at Pergamino café just before 9am and they were already open. Glenn with Bianca arrived a few minutes later. He told me he had his proctoscopy and endoscopy yesterday for 800,000 pesos (all inclusive) and his next doctor’s appointment is in about 3 weeks. He suggested while I’m on a layover in Miami that I have an American sim card, with a plan, inserted in my phone. A couple of girls sitting in the next table chimed in with some suggestions. After some googling and texting my son, he’s going to pick me up at O’Hare and take me to Rosemont for a sim card at either AT&T or T-Mobile.

We shared a taxi back to Envigado. After we dropped off Glenn and Bianca at Jumbo, my taxi driver told me he was held up at 8am this morning in Bello. They took his cash, his wristwatch and his cellphone. ☹

I received a pre-boarding email from American Airlines and completed the online Check-Mig form. They sent me a receipt by email.

1:20pm there was a huge lightning strike nearby. Good thing all these buildings have lightning rods.

I got out the refrigerator manual and even though it’s in Spanish I figured out that if you hold the water dispenser button for more than 3 seconds it blocks all the water & ice dispensers. Got that fixed!

I still can’t find my package using Fed-Ex tracking.

Teresa texted me about 8pm and she’s still in Santafe de Antioquia.

Why My Kid is Crying

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:45, I think I got up only once during the night, finally waking at 5:30 and getting up at 6am.

The street is wet so we must have had some rain overnight.

I booked my flights with American and chose my seats but at the payment stage it said because I’m paying with a US credit card I need to book on their USA site so I had to start over again. I finally got it booked: Monday, May 22^nd to Monday, May 29^th for $1223.65.

I left the apt at 9am and walked to the $efecty office in the Servientrega store on Ave Las Vegas where I paid the Direct TV bill. The Maca café is now Zibá, a hair salon.

Across the street I had a 5-minute wait for an Envigado bus. After paying the 2,850-peso (60 cents) fare I took a seat in back near the door. At McDonald’s the bus got in the left lane to turn up the hill. I asked the driver if we weren’t going to Viva Envigado and asked to get off. A couple passengers nicely pointed in the direction of the mall. I knew where it was, I just didn’t know we weren’t going there. There was something on the windshield of the bus I didn’t notice.

Since I was already on the correct side of the street I walked to Metro Sur mall to the Gana kiosk to pay the Tigo/Une bill.. There was a sign by the window pass thru saying they were temporarily closed. I saw a girl inside with a drink eating an apple. I wasn’t going to wait for her to finish her break so I walked across the street to Viva Envigado. I made a small ATM withdrawal then forwarded my American Airline flight email to Auros for printing.

I stopped at the Exito Wow! desk to ask if I could pay my Tigo/Une bill there and she wrote down “Oprap de Bancolombia” on a piece of paper and said, “2^nd floor”.

I recycled a couple items then went up to the 2^nd floor and it was at the top of the escalator. There was no line but I understood from the cashier’s actions that she needed a bar code to scan.

I went downstairs to Urbania for a latte and answered a few outstanding texts. The wake is going to be Tuesday from 2-8pm and the memorial will probably be weeks later. I confirmed my son would pick me up at the airport on Monday and I would stay with him a couple nights before moving into a hotel. (That’s assuming I get my driver’s license back.) I’m still trying to get some paper from my ex with my name and previous address on it to renew my driver’s license. I set up a Monday morning pickup with Bryan for 4am. ☹ I also gave him the pickup info for when I return.

I googled Tigo/Une hoping I wouldn’t have to go to Parque Envigado to pay my bill. Google said there is a location at local 262 300’ from where I’m sitting. I paid my bill and walked around the 2^nd floor:

I saw that the Pergamino café is close to opening.

I snuck a quick peak inside.

This is what is currently set up in the atrium, a giant children’s slip n slide.

An interesting dune buggy (?) on display:

I finally found the small office down the metro wing. As I suspected, it was a place I couldn’t pay my bill but the young man surprised me by saying, “Western Union”, and pointed in that direction. I paid my bill in Western Union with no problem but now I wonder if I can pay other bills there.

It was almost 11:30 and I was hungry so I had the medium BBQ combo at Only Roastbeef.

I returned to the apt by taxi.

I got out my old suitcase from the garage storage unit and brought it upstairs.

I watched a couple more episodes of Fringe (8.4) until Teresa returned at 3:30.

It was about 9pm when I noticed it was raining but it had stopped by the time I went to bed at 9:45.

 

Why My Kid is Crying

Friday, May 19, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:45, got up twice during the night, finally waking at 6am and getting up at 6:30.

Breaking News: My 1^st wife, the mother of my son and daughter, passed away 5:39 this morning.

One complication for my going to the wake and or funeral, my Illinois driver’s license is on the way from Florida to Bogota. I just looked up how to get a replacement and I have to visit a Secretary of State office, provide proof of my signature, birth date, SSN, and residency, and pay the $5 duplicate license fee. Since my current license expires soon, I’m hoping I can just get a new one.

Envios Market isn’t scheduled to open until 9am but they were open when I arrived at 8:40am. I explained my problem to Nobraskja and we discussed my options. To make a long story short they caught my Driver’s License in Florida and I’m having it Fed-Ex’d to their office in a Walgreens in downtown Des Plaines. It sounds like it will cost me $60 or so but it’ll be worth it. Nobraskja told me Gisela says it won’t arrive until next Wednesday but that’s hard to believe because when I Fed-Ex something from here it arrives in Chicago in 2 business days. Plan B is I could go to the Secretary of State’s office in downtown Chicago and get a replacement license for $10.

My son offered his place for me to stay which is I appreciate. He also informed me his mother is going to be cremated. (I think her brother Bobby may have gotten the last cemetery plot the family owned.)

I’m probably going to take a COPA red eye and arrive about 10am Chicago time.

First, I have to stay here in the apt until I pay for the Fed-Ex and know it’s on its way.

Okay. I just made payment. I’ll track it and try to time my flight so it will be there the day I arrive, more or less.

I’m also waiting on the wake and funeral arrangements so I can include that in my timing.

I just got the tracking number for my driver’s license going from Miami to Des Plaines. I’ve tried the number several times but it hasn’t shown up yet. Maybe it has to reach the US first.

I finally left at 3pm and completed my workout in Smartfit on Ave Poblado. There were probably half the number of people that I normally see in the morning. I may have forgotten to mention that last Monday morning I saw the same RV in its usual parking space but when I returned an hour later it was gone. I haven’t seen it all this week.

I called COPA Airlines but after a long list of options, most for some type of preferred membership, the last 2 choices were not applicable. I wanted to see if they have either a bereavement discount, a senior discount, or my $257.75 credit or some combination.

I’m trying to book a flight but don’t want to spend an 8-hour layover in Miami, for example.

My Charles Schwab Travel Notice request for Wednesday, May 31^st to Tuesday, June 13^th has been approved.

We left the apt at 7:30 and went for patacones. Gloria’s across the street was busy and when we walked down the hill Office Burger had a crowd outside at 8:30pm.

When the driver took s thourgh La Buena Mesa there was a long line for burgers outside Animal Cocina and Tierra Querida.

 

Why My Kid is Crying

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:45, got up twice during the night, finally waking at 6am and getting up at 6:30.

I left the apt at 9am and on my way to La Buena Mesa I saw this not very shy rat outside Asados Rogelio.

I arrived at Parva with my laptop and spent the morning working on a specific chess variation that Troyclough has been using against me.

About 1pm I went to Tierra Querida for a burger but strangely found it closed. The restaurant next door called Animal Kitchen, that I didn’t even know served burgers, had a line waiting to get in.

I ended up having lunch at Asados Rogelio. Ordering without Teresa was the main challenge. I got my food alright:

But then I was brought a whole plate of French fries. I thought it was just going to be my choice of potato for my plate. 😊 That’s probably why the cost was an outrageous 35mil ($8). 😊

I returned to Parva and finished my chess opening and wrote a 2^nd version of the letter for Laura and sent it to her.

I received a text that my envelope from my brother arrived in Florida so I requested everything be forwarded on to me.

I got so warm in the afternoon that I switched my pants to shorts by unzipping the legs.

Teresa texted me she wanted me to pick up a small cake from Pepo’s I wrote back that she already asked me to pick up milk, salt, and sugar and I’ve only got 2 hands. She wrote back to just pick up the cake and I can get the other things tomorrow. I stopped at Pepo’s and bought a small Tres Leches cake for 10mil and returned to the apt.

I understand she had another massage from Kelly.

The new movie opening in Cine Colombia today is:

Disco de Oro aka Gold Record aka Spinning Gold (6.5)

 

Why My Kid is Crying