Thursday, December 18, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10:30. I quickly fell asleep, slept through the night, finally waking at 6am and getting up at 7:15.

Whoever invented the leaf blower should be hung! It seems like it’s a never-ending noise here.

I asked Teresa what kind of fair she wanted to go to but she couldn’t tell me. I googled it but couldn’t find any event in Plaza Mayor since December 1^st. I asked how she found out about it and she talked to someone then showed me a screenshot. I checked that address against Plaza Mayor and they weren’t the same. I used google maps to check the location and I didn’t see any event building. That’s when I noticed the location was in Bogota. ☹

Plan B: Teresa decided to get her hair and nails done so I’ll probably be on my own for lunch.

I left at 9am and walked to the mall and took a table (#16, I found out later) in Urbania. I ordered a latte and their banana muffin which turned out to be nothing special, other than the presentation.

All of my packages and envelopes have arrived in Miami, I’m just waiting on my brother’s envelope to arrive and I’ll release everything from my locker.

In my chess notes, I found a different variation to use against Troyclough and occasionally Jose when I have the White pieces.

I started feeling some discomfort in my upper back which encouraged me to leave at 11am.

I walked back to the apt (looks like our apt to the mall is about 1,200 steps) and took an Advil and my back felt much better.

From Teresa’s plate of coins in the dining room, I put 3,400 pesos in each pocket at left at 10:30 and walked to Ave Poblado. It was less than 5 minutes to catch a bus to Poblado. I got off just the other side of calle 10, crossed Ave Poblado and walked west 3 blocks to Philly Steaks. It was a little busy as I took a table outside under their canopy.

I ordered their double smash burger with fries and a Coke.

I had them skip the sauce so I could add mustard. It was pretty good (still difficult to find quality ground beef in burgers here) but the fries were crispy and delicious. I don’t remember exactly how much it was but I got some change for my 50mil.

There was a light drizzle as I left and retraced my steps to Ave Poblado. There was no wait for an Envigado bus but it was small, only about 20 seats and I couldn’t really squeeze into a seat. I was planning on getting off at the Gardenia bus stop and maybe (it was about 4:15 and their website said they close at 5pm) stopping in at the café for a latte. At the corner past Sao Paulo Plaza the bus started to make a right turn but luckily traffic was heavy so it was stopped. I raced to the front and hit the buzzer and got off and walked the rest of the way back to the apt.

Teresa returned about 5:30 from getting her hair and nails done.

I watched another episode of Downton Abbey then at 8pm switched to the Michelle O’Bama interview on MS NOW.

According to my step counter I walked 6,984 steps today. That’s a lot, I hope it doesn’t impact my ability on the treadmill tomorrow.

 

FUNNY