Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, woke up at 5am, couldn’t fall back asleep so I got up 20 minutes later.

After working on the computer for half an hour I went back to bed. At 6am I heard the Ara truck arrive but I must have eventually fallen asleep as I was awakened by my 6:30am alarm. (That 20 minutes or so made a big difference in how I feel.)

Traffic must be bad this morning as Didi was recommending something like 23mil (one driver offered 35mil but I declined). I finally got a ride for 22,300 pesos and I arrived just after the doors opened. Upstairs I had to wait a couple minutes for Jose. Today he had the French toast while I ordered 3 scrambled eggs con hogao with Italian sausages (they are small) and a latte (and a bottle of water to go) for 49,822 ($12), tip included.

Jose had already informed me he has to leave at 2pm today.

On the way to the food court, right around the corner from Parmessano, I noticed a new café named Coffee Shop 😊. I like that name, I’ll check it out more closely next time.

I had the Black pieces in the first game and I screwed up my 8^th move and I struggled after that resigning on the 45^th move. It was now 11:30 so if the next game is as long as this one we will finish right at 2pm.

I had the White pieces in the second game and he made some time-wasting moves then on my 17^th move (he didn’t see my threat) and on my 18^th move threatened checkmate and the only way to prevent it was to sacrifice his queen for my knight. (I wonder if I would have found this move last week before I did all the tactic training lessons.) He gave up his queen for my knight but continued playing finally resigning on the 29^th move. It was only 1pm when we said our goodbyes.

I ordered a Didi to take me to Viva Envigado for 18,100 pesos and we encountered a few raindrops on the way.

I went up to the 3^rd floor and had my usual bowl of granola and yogurt with fresh fruit and a small latte for 39,115 ($9.50). Downstairs I had a large latte in Urbania.

Akash040976 lost our game on time – 3 days wasn’t enough for him to make a move? – increasing my rating to 1555.

Teresa called at 3:15 to inform me there was a downpour and I shouldn’t leave. I asked her to call me back when the rain stopped and 20 minutes later she did.

I stopped in Exito and bought a medium size (no large size available today) carton of eggs and two bags of milk and returned to the apt by taxi. (There are security guards at the Exito exit to show your receipt but I just wave it in the air and keep on walking. 😊 )

When I checked Google Flights, I found the lowest price I’ve seen yet so I booked it right away on my credit card. Round trip for 2 through Houston to Chicago June 15^th to July 15^th for $1,508.20 (including taxes and flight cancellation insurance). I hope I didn’t screw that up somehow!

Teresa informed me that MT wants to go with her tomorrow to a yoga class in Santafe mall tomorrowand I’ll meet them for lunch afterward.

 

EL ARROYO