Sunday, September 29, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up twice during the night, finally waking/getting up at 7am, 30 minutes before my alarm would have gone off.

I met Glenn with Bianca at Olivenza at 9am for breakfast. Tomorrow he is having a root canal for 4,000,000 pesos; sounds like a lot to me. I told him about the IKEA sign and Jardin Nomada in Viva Envigado. Today I had an omelette with 2 lattes and Glenn had his usual cookie and coffee.

I left at 10:30 and found this claw toy machine just inside Carulla supermarket. 

First one I’ve seen in Medellin. My kids always liked to play it and we got pretty good at it. Walking back to the apt across from Otra Parte I noticed a bush with a sleeve of cardboard cups in it. 😊

I brought up my suitcase and her carryon from our garage storage area. I found my missing swimsuit in my suitcase.

Teresa left at 11am to visit her mother.

I got too much buffering on Fox Sports Chicago so I put NFL Game Pass aka DAZN on my laptop and my 4k Fire Stick. Interestingly, the latter broadcast seems to be about a minute ahead of the former.

I ate some peanuts and drank a small Coke and enjoyed watching the Bears defeat the LA Rams 24-18. 😊

After the game I was contemplating going out when it started raining.

Teresa called at 6:30 to go for pizza but I was in the middle of eating a bowl of cereal.

I watched another couple episodes of Blue Bloods then a CNN special on Oprah Winfrey.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

 

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 12:30, again at 4:30, couldn’t fall back asleep, got up at 5am and read until 5:30, went back to bed, finally waking/getting up at 7:30.

Happy Birthday bro!

Another cool morning.

At 9:15 I met Marcos outside Tostao but we moved down to Recatto, which I learned is open early but only on Saturdays.  He explained they didn’t make it to Marrakesh because Johana was turned away at the Spanish airport because she had a Venezuelan passport and they wouldn’t accept it. ☹ I paid him 120mil and he gave me a bag with 2 purses and 2 bars of nut candy for Teresa. He’s been having some hearing problems lately so he’ll probably be seeing an audio specialist. I brought him up to date with what’s happening locally. We walked to Viva Envigado where he went into Exito and I headed upstairs.

I made a 2,000,000-peso withdrawal then paid the apt rental in the bank. Thankfully there wasn’t a long line.

Outside Bancolombia there was no wait to use the consignacion machine where I paid for our gym membership and our health insurance. Downstairs in Urbania I had a latte and sent copies of receipts to Alcala and Natalia Holgun.

Teresa called and asked me to pick up 2 crema de leche, Alpina brand only in Exito. I did and returned to the apt by taxi.

I gave Teresa her gifts from Spain and she was very happy. 😊

Only 72 degrees at 2pm with a few raindrops. ☹ Teresa went for a nap and I followed her example and I slept from about 2:30 to 3:30.

I left and stopped at the Gana kiosk to pay the Direct TV bill. I didn’t understand what the lady was trying to tell me until I figured out I had to give her the exact amount as she couldn’t make change.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor while starting to go through my Silman’s Endgame Course for the 2^nd time.

Lots of people out enjoying the park, many eating gelato from Antonio’s across the street.

ONEIPAMETATO1453 resigned our game on the 54^th move increasing my rating to 1568. I made plans with Glenn to meet tomorrow for breakfast.

I left at 5pm and bought a half liter of coconut gelato at Antionio’s before returning to the apt. Teresa didn’t seem happy to see the gelato, I guess she only wants me to buy it when she tells me to.

I watched a couple more episodes of Blue Bloods in the evening.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

 

Friday, September 27, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

Teresa made breakfast of French toast with strawberries. 😊 She informed me I’ll be on my own for lunch as she has to take her mother to a 1:20pm doctor’s appointment.

She left at 8:15 for her gym class and I left at 8:30 for mine. I completed my usual workout in Smartfit then had a latte in Ganso y Castor. The restaurant had stenciled their name on the outside of the building:

I checked the tree and the peanut is gone. (Later I ordered more from Amazon plus special peanuts for squirrels that aren’t salted. And I made my Halloween order of 2 boxes of full size Baby Ruths for the trick or treaters.)

I read a recommendation for a Chinese restaurant in Laureles called Mama Panda so I think I’ll try it for lunch.

Workers across the way were putting up a side less tent:

When I left at 11am I saw they assembled another one nearby I hadn’t been able to see.

I left the apt at 12:45 and took a Didi to Mama Panda in Laureles. It turns out it’s in Mercado de Laureles which is just behind McDonald’s on Ave. Nutibara, a block from Parque Laureles #2. (A sign I saw on the expressway claimed 323 have died on this road this year.)

The owner Andrew introduced himself and explained that they are building a Jumbotron to go with their other large screen TVs. (That explained the hammering.)

The waitresses are cutely dressed like Chinese girls (or how they normally think they look).

The restaurant’s “story”:

I had the chicken breast with fried rice and a banana/strawberry smoothie:

Teresa called and asked me to meet them in an hour at Arkadia mall.

Towards the end of my meal a lightning storm came through and I had to move because drops were coming through the closed skylight.

By 2:30 the storm finally lessened and I ordered a Didi to take me to Arkadia mall.

I had a latte in Santa Leña while waiting for Teresa and MT to arrive, 30 minutes later.

We went up to the 4^th floor and got a table in Crepes & Waffles. They both ordered lunch and I ordered a Banana Split but was told they don’t have ice cream that late in the afternoon so I had nothing. ☹ I showed Teresa the email from the US embassy notifying us that we could change our appointment to an earlier time but she wasn’t interested in doing that, which is fine with me. My brother sent me a screenshot where RCN Radio claims IKEA will open on October 9^th.

We left at 4pm and took a taxi back to Envigado.

I’m nearing the end of my 1,000-page book so I purchased a couple more Kindle books on Amazon.

I watched the news for the rest of the evening.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once near midnight, again at 6am, finally waking/getting up at 7:15.

I was all ready to go to the mall but instead I crashed back in bed for a while.

For lunch Teresa made Italian chicken breast that she said her mother taught her to make and a salad with strawberries, pecans, lettuce and carrot strips. Delicious!

We agreed we’d go see the movie at 5:30 if it wasn’t raining.

I left at 1:45 and took a Didi to the mall. I got out at the stoplight so I could take this photo:

Inside the mall I checked out the new section which I see is called Jardin Nomada:

and they list the following restaurants:

It looks like there’s room for a few more but I don’t know where they would put it unless they rip out some of the garden.

Downstairs I had a latte in Urbania. Teresa called me several times to tell me it’s pouring. We waited a bit but it never let up. I left at 5pm and there was a long line for a taxi. I bought a couple things in Exito then sat in Cine Colombia for a while waiting for the rain to stop. I asked one of the security guards about IKEA and he believes they will open in November. I finally left just before 6pm and got in line:

Still long but not as bad as before. The wait was about 30 minutes for a taxi to return me to the apt.

Teresa assumed I had gone to see the movie and maybe I should have. ☹

Its been a year since we returned from our trip to Europe and I feel like my skin problem is almost over, having few lesions appearing few and far between.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, woke up just before 4am but decided to just lie there until I finally woke/got up at 7am.

I left the apt at 8:30 for Smartfit. Since I hadn’t been there in 12 days I went back to my -10# routine with 5 minutes on the treadmill. I went to Ganso y Castor and had a latte while watching workers go thru the first step (I think) in putting up this year’s Christmas decorations.

My brother texted me he already received the medicine I sent him. A small package from Envigado, Colombia to Cary, Illinois in 48 hours, amazing. I left at 11am and returned to the apt.

I’m having lunch on my own so where do I go? I chose Pizza Americana but Google says they don’t open until 4pm. I then checked Na Pizza but they don’t open until 3pm. I finally decided to return to 404 House Pizza in Manila, Poblado. I left at 1pm and took a Didi for 10,200 pesos. 

I had their individual (small) meatball pizza and took a seat near the entrance. Several people came by asking for cash and I gave one man with no hands (electrical accident) 5mil. The pizza with tip came to almost 50mil.

I walked over to Hija Mia Nomada and found that now you have to ask for a key to use the restroom. I had a latte there for about 45 minutes and bought a bag (supposedly a kilo) of fresh strawberries for 20mil, then returned to the apt by Didi for 11,100 pesos. (I tipped the driver 1,500 pesos because he had the air conditioning on.

When I arrived at our complex I was surprised the street was a little wet as they must have had a shower.

I watched the news the rest of the afternoon.

Teresa returned at 4:30 and I told her there’s a good movie playing called The Substance (8.0). They have a 5:30 showing so we’ll probably go then.

Marcos and Joanna are back and I’ll meet him for coffee Saturday morning.

It got quite cool in the evening with a light shower. I put a blanket over m sheet before I went to bed.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, woke up just before 6am but decided to just lie there until my 6:30am alarm went off. I finally got up at 6:22 and when I checked my phone the alarm was set to 7:30. ☹

I started my ride request at 7:25. Didi was suggesting 25mil so I switched to Uber and got a ride for 18mil. I arrived at Unicentro mall just after 8am. Jose had made a trip to the ATM first and he soon joined me. We had breakfast in Parmessano then moved to the food court.

I had the Black pieces in the first game and thought I had a good attack going but he ran an end around, I made one move too quickly and I resigned on the 29^th move.

I had the White pieces in the second game and I had a good game going until I blundered my queen and resigned on the 27^th move.

Since both games were rather short, it wasn’t even lunch hour yet. I took a Didi to Viva Envigado and went upstairs to Pergamino on the 3^rd floor. Next door they’ve opened a bookstore.

I turned around and OMG there is a whole new wing of restaurants that didn’t exist before, including Olivia and El Correo.

I walked through the area a bit then had lunch in Pergamino.

I had a latte downstairs in Urbania, left at 2:30 and stopped in Exito where I bought a large bottle of catsup.

I was in a taxi back to the apt when I noticed workers putting up the IKEA sign outside the mall. I couldn’t get my phone out quickly enough to take a photo though. I’m guessing it should be opening soon.

 In the evening I watched a couple more episodes of Blue Bloods on Stremio.

FUNNY SIGNS

Monday, September 23, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, finally waking/getting up by alarm at 7am.

Teresa is at her gym class and she’ll make my breakfast when she returns around 8am.

I booked us 4 nights in Hotel Mariscal Robledo in Santafe de Antioquia for October 3rd through 7^th to celebrate our birthdays. I ordered an upgraded double room so we’ll see how much nicer it is than before.

Teresa returned and told me how cold it is this morning so I think I’ll skip gym. She also informed me we’d be having lunch out today. Okay with me. She wants to have lunch in Crepes & Waffles in Santafe mall so I guess we’ll be going there later.

I left the apt at 9am and stopped in Envios Market where I sent some medication my brother requested for 185,000 pesos. (Not sure why it was less expensive than the envelope I sent to SS last week.)

I placed another peanut in the crook of the same tree then I had a latte in Ganso y Castor. Two men and a woman (owerns?) spent some time holding a stencil on the front of the restaurant.

I left at 11:15 and bought 2 bags of milk in Ara before returning to the apt. (I forgot about the mini market.)

We left at noon and took a Didi to Santafe mall, getting out at the lower entrance so I could make a withdrawal from Davivienda.

We had lunch in Crepes & Waffles. Teresa had the salad bar and a mango juice while I had solomito pimiento (pepper steak) and a limonada de coco. The bill came to almost 100mil.

Teresa did some shopping in Zara and found a pair of what I call “cockroach killer” shoes because they’re so pointed. (Great for trapping cockroaches in the corners.)

She did some more shopping while I had a latte in Valentina’s.

Their atrium is set up again for the entertainment of children.

I lost a game to ONEIPAMETATO1453, even though I played with 83.9% accuracy, dropping my rating to 1573.

I lost a game to Troyclough even though I played with an 82.1% accuracy, lowering my rating to 1563. ☹

Teresa finally joined me and had a latte with a pastry. i was still stuffed from lunch so I wasn’t able to help her.

We stopped in Medipiel where she priced something and got the usual response, (the sale ended yesterday).

We stopped in Dollar City where she picked up a few items for 12,000 pesos. I gave the cashier 20mil and he handed me 12,000 pesos and said, “next”. I checked the receipt as we walked out of the store then showed Teresa that he gave me 4,000 pesos too much. By then we were out of the store and I didn’t feel like going back. ☹

We returned to the apt by taxi (no wait).

I just watched the news for the rest of the evening.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 2:30, again at 6am, finally waking/getting up by alarm at 7am.

I met Glenn with Bianca at Olivenza for breakfast at 9am.

I watched some of the final round, Sweden vs Mongolia on Twitch.

I watched the Chicago Bears lose to the Indianapolis Colts 21-16.

I watched a few more episodes of Blue Bloods on Stremio. Buffering was so bad on other resolutions I could only see it at 320dpi.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 6:30, finally waking/getting up by alarm at 7:30.

Today is Dia de Amor y Amistad in Colombia.

It was 7:43 when I started ordering my ride. I still arrived 5 minutes early for my 9am appointment. I got my usual haircut for 45mil and tipped Daniel 5mil. I ordered another ride to return me to Calle la Buena Mesa. (I decided I didn’t need to stop at Todo Drogas for medications this month.)

I guess because today is a special day, Ganso y Castor had no tables available and neither did Los Portenos on the outside. I took a seat just inside and had my usual latte. I confirmed breakfast with Glenn tomorrow.  I left at 11am and returned to the apt.

After some consideration due to suspected crowding Teresa finally chose Mu to have lunch in.

Well, that was interesting…

At noon I ordered a Didi and our driver, Miguel, well… he was strange. He was dressed in warm clothing all covered except his head and neck. Oh, and most interesting he was wearing rubber gloves. And he had 3 small fans mounted on his dashboard to keep him cool.

What do you think?

He dropped us off where the restaurant wasn’t in sight, I thought I recalled we were just around the corner from El Correo. Teresa got excited (negatively) but I told her to calm down. We walked another 20 feet and we were at the entrance to the new MU location.

We shared a personal size order of ribs & fries plus 2 Cokes came to 94,600 pesos, including tip. I explaiened to Teresa that the reason they may have moved to a new smaller location is they do mainly takeouts and deliveries.

We returned to the apt by Didi.

I spent the remainder of the day mainly watching episodes of True Bloods on Stremio.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

Friday, September 20, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 12:30, again at 2:30, again at 5:30, finally waking/getting up at 6:15 when Teresa got up.

Teresa left at 8:15 and I at 8:30. On my way to the mall I confirmed that the new gas station is called Shell:

I found this new sign at the side entrance to the garage:

Another sign of getting closer to the opening of IKEA.

I stopped in Starbucks and bought a blueberry muffin for 9,500 pesos then took a seat in Urbania. I was partway through my muffin with a latte when Teresa showed up at 9am. Wow, that class ended quickly. She was hungry so she ordered a panbono waffle which she didn’t care for. She went to visit her mother with the understanding I would soon move to Perinto and wait there for them to call me for lunch.

Across the aisle large furniture store has closed (or maybe just moved?)

I stopped in Home Center

And it’s beginning to look a little like Christmas. I bought 2 D batteries and a 9 Volt for 66,800 pesos ($16).

I went across the street to Perinto where I had a latte. Teresa called at 12:15 and asked me to meet them at La Bahia. I arrived just as they were taking a table. We had their menu del dia for a total of 54mil. It started getting a little windy then it started raining and me with no umbrella. ☹ When we left it was still drizzling lightly as we went around the corner to Perinto for coffee. I got a little wet and then we took seats in what seemed like a wind tunnel. Not good for me just getting over a cold.

We left there about 2:30, walked MT to her apt complex and returned to our apt by Didi.

Never a dull (or quiet) moment here in Medellin:

I checked my medical inventory and I don’t see anything I need to buy tomorrow in Todo Drogas.

At Teresa’s suggestion we had supper in La Casita Parilla, ribs and a Coke for each of use.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 5:30, finally waking/getting up at 8am. Wow, I guess I needed that.

Feeling pretty normal (whatever that is) again today. I think I improved quickly because I started taking the cold medicine Dr. James Joseph recommended, Hidroxicina Clorhidrato, as soon as the symptoms started and I took it 3x a day instead of 2. I’ll continue taking for a few more days.

This morning Sweden is playing Bangladesh.

I’m going to try to get up-to-date on my blog postings. Done!

After breakfast Teresa worked a little on her newest project then went to bed to rest her eyes.

Teresa gave me a bag with 2 bottles in it and asked me to leave it with the portero for Alejandro to pick up later.

I left the apt at 10am, left the package with the portero  and first stopped at the Bancolombia kiosk to have MT’s endoscopy & proctoscopy lab results (photos) printed. I noticed next door the mini market has reopened looking much like before.

I hope they have milk so I don’t have to wait in line in Ara anymore. 😊

I stopped at the Gana kiosk where I paid 105,170 pesos for our Wi-Fi.

Entering the park, I found another tree where I left a salted-in-the-shell peanut. I took a seat in Ganso y Castor and it appeared today is modeling day. I missed the first girl and the third but caught this one:

At one point I had a beautiful unobstructed view of the Bastardo restaurant across the street.

I completed level 16 of Chess.com’s puzzles.

Using twitch, I watched another round of the 45^th chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary. Anna, her mother and father are all playing. Isn’t current technology amazing?

I left at 11:15 and returned to the apt. I asked the portero but Alejandro hadn’t picked up the bag yet.

I drew Troyclough in a game lowering my rating to 1584.

About 2pm I checked the weather apps but they weren’t very encouraging.

I took a 30-minute nap then left at 3:30 and walked down to Peccato café where I had a latte while reviewing my latest game.

I asked the café owner if Complex Las Vegas had public restrooms and was told at the end of the hall and downstairs. I left at 5pm and at Teresa’s request bought a package of Fab in Mercado Madrid on the way back to the apt. When I arrived, she informed me she wanted powder not liquid. It seems to me she’s switched back and forth several times.

Teresa informed me we’re out of eggs so I guess there will be oatmeal for breakfast tomorrow and then I’ll be making a trip to the mall.

Sweden ending up losing their match to Bangledesh 2 ½ to 1 ½ and Anna drew her game.

 

FUNNY SIGNS

Wednesday, September 17, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got p once at 3:30, finally waking/getting up at 6am.

Because I forgot to move the frozen bagels to the refrigerator I had blueberry pancake for breakfast.

At 7:30 I went back to bed for an hour.

Teresa left at 9:30 for her gym class in Mayorca. I looked outside and didn’t see any cars outside Ara. Perfect! I grabbed a plastic bag and 10mil and went next door where I saw 2 cars in the parking lot. ☹ I grabbed 2 bags of milk and after a short line I paid for it and returned to the apt.

I see Sweden is playing Paraguay today. (Sweden eventually won 3-1 but Anna lost her game)

I left the apt for Envios Market where I paid 235,000 pesos ($56) to have MT’s Proof of Life form Fed-Ex’d to Social Security. Victoria explained it will be expressed to Miami where it continues on via USPS.

I went to Ganso y Castor where I took a seat overlooking the park and went through my cellphone. I won an interesting game against ONEIPAMETATO1453, firstly because he didn’t resign until the 84^th move and secondly because I was up 5 pawns to none but we each had a queen and I had to find a way to keep him from forcing a draw by repetition.

I started with a latte but eventually ordered yogurt with fruit & Granola.

I left at 3:30 and returned to the apt.

Teressa returned at 6:30 and showed me her latest purse (above my toes, below the TV) that's now put together. Very pretty!

I told Teresa about how much I paid to send the letter to SS but MT didn’t need to repay me, consider it a benefit of having a gringo son-in-law. Teresa explained to me that her mother is tight with her money but she’ll make sure I’m paid back every peso. Okay.

I’m feeling much better today, I just need to improve my nourishment and get my strength back.

 

FUNNY

Tuesday, September 16, 2024

Today’s pretty much the same as yesterday. It’s surprising that as much as I sleep during the day I still have no problem sleeping at night.

 

FUNNY

Monday, September 15, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up – I don’t remember when. I spent the day in and out of bed, mostly in. but I don’t really sleep, just resting my tired eyes.

At one point a small dog maybe a block away barked nonstop for hours.

I have a little runny nose, feet feel cold but the rest of my body goes from being overheated to too cold but it’s not so bad I would call it a fever, just uncomfortable.

Not at all interested in eating. Teresa coaxes me to eat a little soup which is about all I can stand.

 

FUNNY