Friday, December 12, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, got up once at 3am, finally waking/getting up at 6am.

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

Teresa was already gone for her early morning gym class – yoga or pilates or something like that.

She returned at 8am and made breakfast. After, I went for a 45-minute nap but couldn’t fall asleep.

I left the apt at 9am and found Smartfit not as busy as usual. I completed my workout including 16 minutes on the treadmill with a high pulse rate of 125bpm.

I walked to Ganso y Castor in a light drizzle. The rain finally ended just before 11am and I made my escape back to the apt.

This weekend Jeannie & Jacob are attending a wedding in Costa Rica 😊 and Annie James is staying with JoAnn and her husband Danny.

I left the apt at 2pm and had a latte in Los Porteños. I noticed this nativity scene they set up in my absence.

I saw a man leave Milonga

with 5 cases of what looked like Obleas wafers. I guess that’s how they stay in business because I seldom see any customers there.

I left at 3:45 and stopped in Eduardo Madrid to buy a stollen. Unfortunately, it was the last one and when I picked it up it didn’t feel fresh. Looking in the display case, I saw a fruit cake but it was 340,000 pesos. Really? I left empty handed.

I stopped in Ara and bought green apples, tomatoes and a bag of milk before returning to the apt.

This is Teresa’s collection of bracelets she’s made.

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey.

Teresa had a massage from Kelly from 5:30 to 6:30.

I turned to IMTV but there was so much buffering I gave up.

Today I walked 5,445 steps. Not bad.

 

FUNNY

 

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, got up once during the night, again at 4am, couldn’t fall back asleep, got up at 4:30.

Teresa got up at 5am and made breakfast.

After breakfast I returned to bed and slept from 5:30 to 7:30.

When I got up, Teresa was gone to her gym class. I showered, dressed and left the apt just before 8am.

I walked to the mall where I recycled the pages from my old chess notebook. I bought a blueberry muffin in Starbucks and took it to Urbania and was a little surprised they were already open. They used to open at 9am – maybe this early opening is only for the Christmas season. I ordered my usual latte with a glass of ice water. I perused my cellphone and went over some chess notes I had brought with me.

I left just after 10am and went upstairs where I made a cash withdrawal. I looked to see what banking systems Davivienda supports

and unfortunately Discover Card isn’t on the list. I walked around the banking area and checked the other ATMs but all of them are the same. ☹ I wonder if my new Capital One card will even work in restaurants and stores here.

I stopped in Dollar City and bought a new notebook for for 6 mil to record my chess games with Jose.

I stopped in Exito – no more imported oranges but I’ll check in Carulla on Sunday. I bought 5 gala apples (a woman working in produce tried to speak a little English with me. She said the apples are crispy and from France) a package of Q-Tips and a 6-pack of Coke before returning to the apt by taxi.

I drew a game with the White pieces against Troyclough lowering my rating one point to 1523.

Teresa was listening to something one her cellphone when I heard music. I said to myself that sounds like New Orleans Jazz. She showed me the name and I googled it and found this:

I received an email that my Amazon package has arrived in Miami.

I didn’t go out in the afternoon but watched a couple more episodes of Downton Abbey. I’m nearing the end of season 5 and I thought that would be the end of the series but now I see there’s more episodes scheduled to begin early next year.

I watched the first half of The Chris Hayes Show then started my pre-sleep reading.

Today I walked 4,523 steps, not bad for it not being a gym day.

 

FUNNY

 

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, but was awakened at 3:30 by a tremblor that shook me awake. It lasted about 10 seconds followed by a couple shorter aftershocks. I didn’t sleep deeply after that, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

There were actually 2 tremblors in Colombia just a few minutes apart.

I left the apt at 8:15 and walked to Smartfit which I found as busy as usual. After starting on the Butterfly machine, I realized something wasn’t right. I checked the column and someone had left an extra 10# on it (like I used to do) but forgot to remove them. I removed them and it felt more normal. I completed my workout including another 16 minutes on the treadmill with a high pulse rate of 125.

I had a latte outside Ganso y Castor and once again the squirrel got the peanut without me noticing. I updated ChatGPT with my treadmill results and also inquired as to my leg stiffness after sitting for 2-3 hours yesterday. It assured me it was normal but gave me a few exercises I can do before getting up out of the chair. I received an email from Clinica de Campestre reminding me of my appointment tomorrow, which allowed me to cancel it.

There isn’t an option for, “I already talked to the doctor”, so I chose option 4.

I left at 10:15 and walked back to the apt.

I balanced October & November’s Capital One checking account statements against my own Excel spreadsheet.

I don’t know what happened to Microsoft File Explorer – today I have to access it by the Start button.

I left the apt at 12:15 and took a Didi to Mayorca mall for 10,700 pesos. I recycled all my old Tigo Une receipts. I asked a security guard where I could print some pages and he sent me down a level to what he called a “stationery store”. It wasn’t that but after a 5-minute wait I got my single page printed. I don’t know how much they charged because I just dumped the change in my palm and let the girl take the correct amount.

I took an elevator up to the 4^th floor where I found Teresa sitting at a picnic table outside Crepes & Waffles. She pointed out how busy the restaurants were so I just sat with her for a few minutes.

We noticed a new company, Cine Prox, has taken over the movie theater here. We’re officially in Sabaneta but I see it also has several locations in Medellin.

Teresa informed me that Jamaica’s Miss Universe contestant fell and is in serious condition. I googled it and her name is Gabrielle Henry and I saw a video of her falling “in a hole?” from onstage in Thailand and she is in the hospital with a brain bleed. ☹

We went to the other side of the floor and found a seat available in Parmessano. Teresa had a shrimp appetizer and I the chicken Cesar salad and we shared a bottle of water for 68,069 pesos ($17.75).

We returned to the apt by taxi.

I left the apt at 2:15 and walked the two blocks to Gardenia Café where I had a latte while reviewing some chess notes. Their “impossible to add more” coffee

Actually it’s a latte, but you know.

I received an email that my Amazon order has shipped and should arrive in Miami tomorrow.

I left at 4:30 and stopped in Ara (no line 😊) and bought a bottle of liquid laundry detergent for 4,450 pesos before returning to the apt.

I ordered Christmas presents for Jimmy & Jeannie, unfortunately they are going to arrive by the weekend. In the future I should probably wait until “10 days before Christmas”.

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey on Netflix then the first half of The Chris Hayes Show before reading some of my new book.

Today I walked 5,136 steps, that’s more like it but then again it was a gym day.

 

FUNNY

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 9:45. I quickly fell asleep, got up once at 3:45, finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

Teresa had already left for her gym class.

I saw all these small feathers on the balcony.

At 7:20 I started the process of ordering a Didi. Luckily one was only 2 minutes away but it cost me 28,302 pesos, a new high. When we got to the expressway it was like a parking lot with no cars moving. The driver asked if it was okay if we went a different way. I approved and he took a frontage road to the new bridge and up the hill to Ave Poblado. It was still slow going until just before the Gold Mile we turned off and went past the Aguacatala traffic circle to the highway which was now moving. I kept Jose up-to-date on my progress. He texted me that Santa Leña no longer serves breakfast, just drinks and pastries. I met him in Todo Fresa and I had the French toast but added a couple scrambled eggs.

I had the Black pieces in the first game and I got an attack but couldn’t finish it and he soon got the advantage and my flag fell after 46 moves but he would have checkmated me in the next couple moves anyway.

I had the White pieces in the second game and he got a strong attack against my king and I was just trying to survive. He made a good move on his 37^th move and he didn’t think I had a reply but I found a surprising move that would force his queen away from the attack but he blundered her on his next move and resigned.

It was now 2:30 but I quickly had a Didi take me to Viva Envigado for 18,600 pesos.

I see the mall now has a roller coaster in the children’s play area.

As I went up to the 3^rd floor I was thinking of trying a Home Burger but at the top of the escalator there was Best Burger. I had their Classic Burger, which came with fries, and a Coke for 42 mil.

I went down to Claro and got in a short line but when it was my turn was told my balance was still zero. ☹

It was too late for coffee so I took the back way into Exito and picked up a large carton of eggs. At checkout the girl opened the package which contained a small free can of kernel corn. She scanned it then I pointed to the sign on the big that said it was “gratis”. At least she did a good job of repackaging it.

Outside I was surprised to see it raining and a taxi line under the shelter. I managed to squeeze in under it until it was my turn about 20 minutes later. I returned to the apt by taxi. The portero said something to me in passing – maybe he was informing me it would have been okay to have the taxi enter the complex and drop me off in the garage.

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey.

Teresa pointed out a pigeon on the balcony railing that appeared to be sick. Maybe that was the source of the feathers I saw this morning?

For supper I finished the pasta leftovers from yesterday.

Teresa got a massage from Kelly from about 6:30 to 7:30.

I finished reading Karin Slaughter’s Blindsighted on my Kindle.

Today I walked 2,808 steps; about as expected for a OTB chess day.

 

FUNNY

Monday, December 8, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, got up once at 4:15 (still heard fireworks), finally waking/getting up at 6:45.

Today is another holiday, Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

I left the apt at 8:30 and found Smartfit not as busy as usual. I completed my workout including 16 minutes on the treadmill reaching a pulse rate of 121 bpm so maybe I’m improving. By the time I left, the gym was as busy as usual.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor while going through my cellphone.

I caught the squirrel on video taking the peanut.

And again when it returned to look for another

Anthony informed me there will be more fireworks tonight. I left at 10:30 and returned to the apt.

At noon we took a Didi to Arkadia mall for 12,500 pesos (probably so cheap because there wasn’t any heavy traffic).

Just inside the main entrance Teresa saw Olivia restaurant and decided we’ll eat there. Surprisingly, she ordered a plate of garlic bread as an appetizer (I think she thought it was just going to be a couple pieces – it was more like naan bread the size of a medium pizza).

 It was very good but when they brought our entrees, meatball pasta for her and pasta ragu for me both included 2 pieces of bread.

(Who is this woman and what have you done with my wife?) We shared a bottle of water and the check came to 115,378 pesos ($31), including the usual 10% tip.

I let Teresa work on her latest bracelet project while I went up to have something printed. I took the nearest elevator up to the 5^th floor but my end of the hall was separated from the end I needed by a Smartfit. I had to take the elevator down to the 4^th floor walk to the end of the hall and take the elevator from there up to the 5^th floor. Unfortunately, the copy center was closed, probably for the holiday.

I stopped in the restroom on my way back to the restaurant. Teresa stopped in Decathlon but I don’t know what she was looking for. We left the mall and walked across the street to Pricesmart where we bought 3 turkey breasts, a 3-pack of Sensodyne toothpaste, a large package of blueberries and some vegetables for 396,205 pesos ($105.50). At the top of the escalator a Pricesmart employee took our cart down the escalator and to the taxi area where one was waiting for us. We returned to the apt for 16,000 pesos.

I took a 30-minute nap and it rained a little while I was sleeping.

I finished season 4 of Downton Abbey, only 1 season to go.

Today I walked 5,765 steps; much better.

 

FUNNY

 

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, slept through the night, finally waking at 5:15, couldn’t fall back asleep and I got up at 6am.

Today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day!

I left the apt at 8:15 and walked to Sao Paulo Plaza and took a seat in Olivenza. Glenn arrived a few minutes later. He has given up coffee in the morning the last 4 days because it makes him nauseous. Today he tried the aromatica but wasn’t impressed. Glenn told me he went to Dr. Scholl’s in Medellin and got a medical pedicure for 100,000 pesos. He will see a nutritionist this week but isn’t optimistic because she doesn’t speak English. The apple pie he brought on Thanksgiving Day he bought from Modou Panaderia in Laureles

but so far I haven’t been successful at adding it to my Whatsapp contacts.

We said goodbye at 10:45 and I walked back to the apt, stopping at a corner grocery store to buy a bag of milk.

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey.

I ate my salted-in-the-shell peanuts and drank my last Coke while I watched the Bears lose to the Packers 28-21. ☹

Fireworks in the evening as this is the night they light candles.

Today I walked 3,613 steps.

 

FUNNY

 

Saturday, December 6, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, slept through the night, finally waking at 5:30, couldn’t fall back asleep and I got up at 6am.

I took a Didi for 7,700 pesos to Daniel’s barbershop for my 9am haircut. I checked google maps and it would be a 17-minute walk from our apt.

After my haircut I took a Didi for 8,100 pesos to Todo Drogas on Calle 37. I checked google maps and it would only be a 7-minute walk from Daniel’s shop. Maybe I’ll try that one of these days. I bought a few medications for 81,300 pesos ($22) and walked to Ganso y Castor where I had a latte. I left at 11am and returned to the apt.

At 12:15 we took a Didi to Mayorca mall. We had lunch in Olivia’s, fish soup and a bread plate for Teresa and lasagna for me. We shared a bottle of water and the check came to 127,506 pesos ($34).

We went down to Medipiel who was having a big sale and Teresa bought 691,150 pesos ($184) of beauty products.

We took a taxi to Gardenia Café where I had a latte. At one point I noticed it was raining outside but only a space about 5 yards wide. I don’t know if you can see it from this video but it’s raining straight ahead behind the pole but on the edges of the frame there’s no rain.

Teresa’s friend Rosemary arrived at 4pm. She was born in Colombia but lived the past 45 years in Rhode Island and speaks perfect English. We had a nice conversation. She had an avocado toast and Teresa an ice cream fruit cup and I picked up the check of 80,000 pesos.

On our way back to the apt Teresa ran into someone else she knew and they chatted about 10 minutes then we continued on to the apt.

Well, Annie James made a visit to see Santa Claus

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey.

Today I walked 4,247 steps.

 

FUNNY

 

 

Friday, December 5, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, slept through the night, finally waking at 5:15, couldn’t fall back asleep so I got up at 6am.

Teresa slept in this morning so she was here to make me breakfast. After, since I always let my stomach settle for an hour, I took a 40-minute nap.

I left the apt at 8:15 and walked in a few raindrops to Smartfit. I completed my workout including 16 minutes on the treadmill with a highest pulse rate of 127 bpm. (While on the treadmill I thought I saw something about FIFA doing the grouping for The World Cup.)

More raindrops as I walked to Ganso y Castor where I had a latte while going through my cellphone. Shoot, just realized I forgot to put on my step counter.

Dr. Ricardo Restrepo finally responded on Whatsapp: “Your ultrasound show (sic) two specific findings:

Gallstones (Cholelithiasis): You have small stones in your gallbladder. Crucially, these stones are very small and they are currently asymptomatic, meaning they are not causing you any pain, blockages, or inflammation. For now, they do not require surgery.

Kidney Stones (Nephrolithiasis): You also have some very small stones in your kidneys, which is called nephrolithiasis. Like the gallstones, these are minor findings. no surgery is required at this time.

I know you saw a few values highlighted on your blood test (the CBC) that were outside the "normal range." do not have any clinical significance.”

I asked about my stress test and he responded, “Your heart works very well.”

I asked him to cancel next week’s appointment and I’ll see him again in a year.

I left at 10:15 and returned to the apt.

Teresa wants to buy a couple new gym tops so after lunch we’ll be heading to Mayorca.

Well, it turned to cold – only 72 degrees at 1:30pm – we didn’t want to leave the (relative) warmth of the apt. At 3:30 I gave up trying to get Teresa to go with me so I put on my hiking pants and a t-shirt and walked to Gardenia café where I had a latte while looking over a new variation of the Dutch Defense.

I was losing a game to Troyclough but managed to turn it into a draw, dropping my rating to 1533.

The café is supposed to close at 5pm so I paid the check and walked to Antonio’s Gelato (no line) where I purchased a half kilo of coconut gelato and returned to the apt.

For supper Teresa made me a pancake with a scoop of coconut gelato on top.

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey then The Chris Hayes show.

Wanna move: I hope you did a practice visit before you move to Morelia on the 16^th. Best of luck to you and let me know how it goes.

 

FUNNY

 

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6am. The street is wet so we must have had a little rain overnight.

Today is my daughter’s 37^th birthday – Happy Birthday Jeannie!

Uh-oh. I received an email from Capital One, “Capital One is switching its debit card network, and a new card will be coming your way in the next few weeks. Your card will be widely accepted, like it is today. Keep an eye out for the Discover, PULSE® or Diners Club International® logos.” This new card uses the Discover network that some gringos here have complained about. ☹

I met Marcos outside Santa Teresa High School at 9am. We walked to Docs Medical Coworking where he waited outside and I went in to the reception desk. I handed over my test result hardcopies and got an appointment for next Thursday at 2pm with Dr. Ricardo Restrepo.

We walked back to Sao Paulo and took a table in Olivenza. I had a latte but he didn’t have anything because he’s had a stomach problem. His older brother Marshall is coming for a visit next week for a goodbye tour because he’s in bad shape and could die any minute. I told Marcos that’s quite a responsibility to put on you as to dealing with his body. He left at 10:15 as he wasn’t feeling very well. I left at 10:45 and checked in Carulla for the jabon de coco liquido that Teresa requested. Agotado. I walked back to our complex and checked in Tienda D1 and Ara and they didn’t have it either.

I won a game in 35 moves vs chesswiz98 increasing my rating to 1534.

I left the apt at 1:30 and stopped at the Gana kiosk to pay the Movistar bill but their internet was down. I continued on to Los Porteños where I ordered a latte with leche semidescremada. They brought it in a different cup (glass rather than metal) and she said it was a new presentation. It looked and was stronger than I liked – was that due my milk choice? I asked the waitress to bring me sugar (something I don’t normally do) which kind of defeats the purpose of not having whole milk. I was asked to move inside so they could clean the canopy covering the patio. I left at 4pm and stopped at the Gana kiosk but the lady wasn’t there. I stopped in Tienda D1 and bought a different brand of laundry soap and when I returned to the apt Teresa showed me the small photo of a coconut on the front.

Teresa and I finished the apple pie; I suggested we buy one just before Christmas and share half with MT and Wilson. I’ll ask Glenn about the ordering details.

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey before switching to The Chris Hayes Show.

This was a nice birthday present – Annie James has started getting vocal:

Today I recorded 6,185 steps – I hope my legs are getting used to more exercise. We’ll see if I can complete my 16 minutes on the treadmill tomorrow.

A downpour started about 9pm and was still going strong when I went to bed at 10pm.

 

FUNNY

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6am.

Teresa returned from the gym just after 8am and made my breakfast. I took a nap but couldn’t fall asleep finally leaving the apt for Smartfit a little after 9:30. The gym was about as busy as normal although for a few minutes it seemed to clear out. I completed 16 minutes on the treadmill briefly reaching 129 bpm at the end.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor finally heading back to the apt at 11am.

I left the apt at 1:30 and walked to Viva Envigado. I recycled a plastic pill bottle then made a withdrawal from Servibanca (all 100s). In Av Villas I paid December’s apt rental.

I stopped in Claro and paid Teresa’s cellphone bill but mine wasn’t ready yet. I know Teresa’s bill always comes first in the month but I didn’t get one for either of us in November. Strange!

I went down to Urbania and ordered a latte. I’m trying to figure out how to order them now with low-fat milk. I think “semidescremada” is 2% and “deslectado” is lactose free so I think I want to ask for the former.

About 2:40 I heard a loud peel of thunder so there’s probably a storm passing through at the moment.

I left at 3:30 and bought some oranges, vanilla extract and a bottle of vanilla extract in Exito before returning to the apt.

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey before switching to The Chris Hayes Show.

Today I recorded 5,640 steps – that’s more like it.

 

FUNNY

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up by alarm at 6:30.

At 7:20 I started the process of ordering my Didi ride to Unicentro. I arrived there 5 minutes before opening and Jose was waiting for me at the entrance.

We went up to Santa Leña and I had the same breakfast as last week, 1 piece of French toast (with slices of bananas & strawberries), 2 scrambled eggs, a latte and a bottle of water to go for 52,226 pesos.

We adjourned to the food court where I had the Black pieces in the first game. It was a back and forth battle but in the end after 76 moves I had 2 connected passed pawns one square away from queening but he forced a draw by repetition. ☹ That game took 3 hours. I hope the second game doesn’t take that long or I’ll be sleeping here.

What is it with guys who pee in the toilet standing up without raising the toilet seat? Huh?

I had the White pieces in the second game and on his 15^th move he moved his queen to the side of the board attacking two of my pawns. I only defended one because the other was what we call “a poisoned pawn”. He took it, I checked his king exposing his queen and he resigned on the next move. It was only 12:40 when we said goodbye.

I took a Didi to Viva Envigado for 19,600 pesos. I used my Capital One debit card to withdraw 2,000,000 pesos but my USAA credit card wouldn’t work in two different ATMs. (Capital One only allows 1 withdrawal a day.) Since I didn’t have enough cash to pay the apt rental, I just used a consignacion ATM to make the other payments. (I’ll have to return tomorrow afternoon to pay for the apt.) One thing I don’t like about these ATMs is if the amount you deposit isn’t exact they always refund at least 1,000 pesos in small change.

I went to Santa Leña for lunch but they didn’t have pancakes so I ended up with the same thing I had for breakfast. 

When I got the check I compared the prices to the other location and that’s when I discovered they didn’t charge me for the French toast. I tipped my waiter almost all the extra change I had which was about 2,000 pesos but I don’t think he had any idea why I did that.

The mall's Christmas atrium:

I stopped in Exito and bought a 12-pack of toilet paper and returned to the apt by taxi.

Teresa has been to El Hueco again buying tape for making bracelets. She raved about a new Italian American restaurant she found Puro Gusto in C.C. El Union at Carrera 49 Junin #52-27, local 204.

We had a rainstorm come through from about 3:30 to 5:30.

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey before switching to The Chris Hayes Show.

Today I registered 2,718 steps, about what you’d expect for a Tuesday.

 

FUNNY

Monday, December 1, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, got up several times during the night, last time being 4:30 when the rain had finally stopped, finally waking at 5am and getting up at 5:30.

Teresa made me breakfast before leaving for her 6am gym class. She called me from the porteria to share the news that workers had yet to arrive to fix our water problem.

I packed a gym bag and left the apt just after 7am. I found Smartfit less busy than usual. At 8am while on the treadmill (I completed 16 minutes at 6km/hr with a high pulse rate of 124 bpm) I noticed the gym was nearly empty. After my workout I went upstairs and took my shower, taking advantage of their running water. As I stepped from the shower floor to the locker floor I slipped and almost fell on my ass.

I dressed and walked to Ganso y Castor where I had a latte in a very quiet La Buena Mesa.

Teresa sent me a voice mail message we still don’t have running water. I guess we’ll be having lunch out today.

I filled my thermos with water in their restroom then returned to the apt. Walking through the porteria I think I heard that water should be back on after 1pm. Something about replacing a trap.

I found a December 28^th charge on my checking account for $8 to the NY Times. I chatted with USAA for a little over an hour. The rep responded “In order to protect you and USAA from further unauthorized charges, all cards associated with the selected transactions will be cancelled and new debit cards will be issued.” They said it should arrive by December 12^th. After it arrives, I’ll release everything in my locker.

I finished Section 23 – Destroying on ChessMood.

I lost a game to chesswiz98, lowering my rating to 1528.

At 1pm, running water came back on just as we were leaving the apt and walked the 2 blocks to restaurant Palogrande. Teresa had the menu of the day for 23,900 pesos and I had the solomito (steak)

for 84,000 pesos and a mango juice for 9,900 pesos. Teresa’s came with soup and mine with fries and a small salad and the total check came to 128,707 pesos ($34). In the future I’ll just eat the thin half and take the thicker half to go for supper later.

Teresa returned to the apt and I walked the 2 blocks to Gardenia where I had a latte while going through some chess notes. Teresa joined me later and soon her girlfriend Lucy joined us. About 3pm a strong wind came up and it got noticeably colder and we moved inside. About 4pm it started raining and soon was a downpour which I hoped it would lessen before their 5pm close. Lucy left at 4:30 and we made our exit 10 minutes later as the rain had lessened to a light drizzle.

I watched 2 episodes of Downton Abbey before starting my pre-sleep reading.

Today I registered 5,367 steps. That’s much better!

 

FUNNY

Sunday, November 30, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, got up once at 3:30am, finally waking at 6am and getting up at 6:30.

All the Didi drivers wanted more than 20,000 pesos just to take us to Estacion Exposiciones. I declined a number of their inflated requests but eventually resigned myself and paid 19,800 pesos at 10am. We picked up MT on the way and arrived at the station by 10:30. A small, full bus was just leaving for El Retiro. We only had another 15 wait for another and this one was larger and nearly empty. We took our usual seats in the back (more legroom).

As the bus crested a ridge and was coming down toward Indiana mall cars were bumper to bumper and we soon came to a complete stop. After not moving for five minutes the driver turned right and took an entrance to a strip mall which allowed him to get further down the hill before being stopped again in traffic. We sat there for fifteen minutes before traffic started moving again. I’m guessing there was a bad accident at the traffic circle in front of Indiana mall.

We arrived in El Retiro at 12:20, about 20 minutes later than usual. We walked straight up the four blocks to Lomo Fino and was surprised to see it with almost all tables available. We took out usual table in the side room and the ladies ordered salmon and I their solomito (steak). They had water and I also had a mango juice. After the ladies came back from a trip to the restroom I went to the men’s room which was already occupied. The total check came to 229,000 pesos ($61), including tip. The restaurant was full by the time we left and there was a short line outside.

The ladies went exploring while I went directly to a nearly empty Café El Retiro

where I ordered a latte and a cookie with blackberries. Wow, the Panthers beat the Rams leaving the Bears as the #1 seed for the playoffs. (Lots of tough games ahead though.)

The ladies returned about an hour later and Teresa ordered a cup of vanilla ice cream. I told her about how bad the cookies are (I took one bite and that was enough for me) and she complained to the waitress and they took it off our bill.

At 4:30 I paid the bill of only 20,800 pesos and we walked down to the bus station and while the ladies used the restroom the bus pulled out. Another one soon came and we got our usual seats in the back. The bus was full by the time we returned to Medellin. We got a taxi under the station and returned to Envigado and dropped MT off at her apt before continuing on to ours. It was just beginning to drizzle as we got out of the taxi.

Again we don’t have any running water! ☹

I watched the end of an NFL game while waiting to see 60 Minutes on Chicago’s CBS.

It was then time to start my pre-sleep routine with some reading.

It was still raining when I went to bed at 10pm. I heard intermittent fireworks as Colombians celebrate entering December.

Today I only registered 2,109 steps.

 

FUNNY

 

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10:15. I quickly fell asleep, got up once at 2:22am, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

Yesterday, using a Black Friday discount, I ordered a pair of Brooks running shoes for Jeannie for her upcoming birthday. Teresa liked the shoes so much she chose a pair for herself.

I left the apt at 9am and walked to Ganso y Castor where I had a latte while going over the stress test results with the assistance of ChatGPT. Everything looks normal, at least for my age, but I should reduce my cholesterol and want to work on strengthening my heart. I texted my Internista, Dr. Ricardo Restrepo, letting him know I have all my test results and asked if I should drop them off at Docs Medical Coworking under his name.

I left at 10:45 and returned to the apt.

Sometimes, like today, Teresa literally asks me not to leave her alone in the apt. So, I don’t go for coffee but neither do I get any steps in.

Highland Park tree lighting

At 6pm Teresa sent me next door to Ara to pick up ingredients for broccoli cheddar soup. Yum.

I ordered a box of Bisquick and a container of creatine capsules from Amazon. They will be part of the package I will release from Florida after Teresa’s shoes arrive.

At 7:30 a downpour started.

I finished reading Lee Child & Karin Slaughter’s short story Cleaning the Gold (Jack Reacher #24.6)

By the time I went to bed the rain had dissipated to just a little dripping.

Today I only registered 2,518 steps.

 

FUNNY

Friday, November 28, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm. I quickly fell asleep, slept through the night, finally waking at 4:15 and getting up at 6:30.

I skipped gym this morning because I’m not supposed to exercise 12 hours before my stress test.

I can’t believe I scheduled a stress test the same day as my Bears game – then again who would think they would be playing on a Friday?

I left the apt at 9am and had a latte in Ganso y Castor for about 90 minutes. On the way back to the apt I stopped in Ara and bought 4 apples, 3 bananas and a bag of semidescremada (2%) milk. For the first time the guard asked to see my receipt.

At noon I had an orange and a banana, at 12:30 I had an apple and at 1pm we took a Didi to SICOR for 20,000 pesos. We checked in at the desk at the entrance then took a seat in the waiting room. After 15 minutes we were called to the cashier where I paid 372,900 pesos for the stress test. We were taken in back to another waiting room and 10 minutes later we were taken in back. A technician put 10 electrodes on my chest and  explained a few things in her limited English. She took my blood pressure then I got on the treadmill. It started at an easy walking pace then 3 minutes later speeded up to a faster walking pace, then 3 minutes later I was running. I could see on the display my pulse rate went up to 148 highlighted in red and just before it was supposed to increase again I had had enough and stopped it.

The technician removed the electrodes and we took seats just outside in the waiting room. A few minutes later the cardiologist’s assistant came out with the test results, including a summary in English. 😊

We had a 20-minute wait for a Didi to take us to Santafe mall for 23,550 pesos.

Mikeal965 finally resigned our game on the 54^th move, increasing my rating to 1538.

We had a nice late lunch in Il Forno. The mall was very busy because it was Black Friday. Teresa even skipped checking out Zara because it was so crowded.

This is the atrium with Christmas tree and ice skating.

We went down to the basement and got in a long line for a taxi. Teresa wanted to take the bus but I figured lots of buses would be full and when we finally got on one I would have to stand through long heavy traffic back to the apt. The wait for a taxi ended up being an hour and ten minutes but the ride back to the apt was only 30 minutes and 18,000 pesos.

After changing clothes, I had trouble finding the Bears game on NFL Game Pass but found it just as I was ready to give up.

I had my salted-in-the-shell peanuts (tradition!) with a Coke while I watched the Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles (last year’s Super Bowl champions) 24-15. That was fun! The Bears are now 9-3 on the season and the NFL should be on alert that they aren’t a fluke.

This is my son & daughter with my granddaughter on Thanksgiving.

Today I only registered 2,472 steps.

 

FUNNY

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10:15. I quickly fell asleep, slept through the night, finally waking at 5:15 and getting up at 5:45.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Teresa finally woke/got up at 7am and made breakfast.

I left the apt at 9:15 and had a latte in Los Porteños. I chatted with ChatGPT about what to expect for my stress test tomorrow. I received a text message from SICOR with more information: 1) no exercise 12 hours before the test, 2) no caffeine 3 hours before the test, 3) Teresa has to accompany me, 4) wear comfortable clothing for exercise, 5) eat a light lunch (nuts, fruits, juices) before the appointment.

I left at 10:30, bought a small tiramisu cake at Pepo’s Cake for 17mil and returned to the apt.

At 11am, someone rang our bell and announced that water will be turned off until 1pm. ☹

The water came back on right at 1pm and Glenn and Bianca arrived with an apple pie at 1:15. I went down to the porteria to bring him up to our apt.

The Packers vs Lions game was on as we sat down in the living room but he paid no attention to it; not a football fan.

Teresa called us to lunch about 15 minutes later. We had turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans. I had a glass of milk and Glenn just had purified water in a container he brought with him. We waited a few minutes then had apple pie for dessert.

We chatted a while then he had to leave to run some errands. I went with him down to the garage and gave him directions to get to Ave Poblado.

We soon discovered the water was off again.

I watched a couple more episodes of Downton Abbey.

I resigned a game vs Troyclough, lowering my rating to 1535.

In the evening Teresa finally called a portero and asked about the water and it was soon on again.

Today I didn’t have the step counter on while in the house so I only registered about 2,000 steps.

 

FUNNY