Friday, February 27, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, woke up once at 4:30, had trouble falling back asleep. Teresa was getting to leave for her gym class so I went back to bed at 6:15. She woke me up when she returned and breakfast was ready.

After breakfast she handed me a note with 3 phone numbers, the name Maria Teresa at the top and Larry at the bottom. I understood she wanted me to call Larry because MT wants to know how his mother is doing. I couldn’t find the plus sign on the dialpad so I added his name and number to my contacts and called him. What an awkward call because he was at work in New Jersey and he didn’t speak Spanish and, I eventually found out MT was known as Blanca when she did elder care in the States. Eventually I learned his mother died two years ago, I thanked him and ended the call. He soon called back and I gave him Teresa’s number so his wife could call and they could talk in Spanish. Whew!

I left the apt at 9am for Smartfit and workers are now repairing the sidewalk on the backside outside our complex. The corner has been raised up by a large tree and the rest of the section is often underwater whenever it rains so hopefully they will raise it.

I found Smartfit less busy than usual but still had to adjust the order of my routine. I completed 19 minutes on the treadmill, the first 8 minutes at 5.5 kph, the final 11 minutes at 6kph. Every odd minute from the 3^rd to the 17^th I took my hands off the side supports for 45 seconds to practice my balance. I finished with a heart rate of about 128 bpm. Today I filled another section of my gym notebook so I’ll be creating a new section and increasing the weight on a couple machines next Monday.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor for an hour or so. I stopped in Ara and bought lettuce and cilantro before returning to the apt.

I won a game against Troyclough in 20 moves with the Black pieces, increasing my rating to 1539.

After lunch I had a 30-minute nap then vegged out on the recliner.

About 3:30 Teresa tells me she wants to go to some little store in Sabaneta that sells purses for 2,000-5,000 pesos that she can decorate. I asked for the address and she showed me Carrera 43C, but it didn’t have the cross street or a house number. I tried using Didi and Google Maps to find it by name but they couldn’t find it either. The website she showed me said it’s open but closes at 5pm. She searched some more and found it’s open every day except Sunday until 8pm. She finally found the entire address of Carrera 43C #67sur 25 and I finally found it on Google Maps but I refused to go today.

 

I watched the news (looks like we’re going to be bombing Iran) the rest of the evening then a little reading before going to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 3:30, had trouble falling back asleep but I must have as the next thing I knew it was 7am.

I left the apt at 8:30 and walked to the mall. Upstairs I got in line for a cashier in Av Villas. I wasn’t sure if it was one line or two so I asked the guy in front of me, “un fila o dos”, and he answered in English, “only one”. 😊 I paid for the apt and got my receipt.

I went down the hall to the consignacion ATMs but both I tried were out of order. 

I’m guessing it’s a system problem.

I went down to Urbania and had a latte and a glass of ice water. I sent a photo copy of my apt rental payment to Alcala. Teresa called and asked me to pick up apples (green and red), broccoli, and tomatoes.

Photos of Annie James on her first flight – to Los Angeles.

I tried the ATM outside Exito but it didn’t work either.

I stopped in Exito and found the above plus lemons (yellow like in the US). I bought one for 2,721 pesos (73 cents) that I’ll use for my tea.

I returned to the apt by taxi for 8,500 pesos.

I left at 2pm and walked to Gardenia where I had a latte while going through the endgame lessons again. Teresa was supposed to meet with Rosemary to look for jeans in the Outlet store then join me at the restaurant. We traded messages a couple times then Teresa, alone, finally joined me at 5pm. There was an aggressive chihuahua at the next table that I warned Teresa about so she wouldn’t get bit. She didn’t want anything from Gardenia, plus they were closing soon, so I paid my bill and we went down the street to Otra Parte. We each had the Mama Pastora (pasta in teriyaki sauce) and shared a Coke then a slice of apple pie ala mode for a total of about 134,000 pesos. Feeling very stuffed we waddled back to the apt.

I’m learning there are different types of magnesium: citrate, oxide, threonate, glycinate and the latter is the one I should be taking as a sleep aid so I’ll be looking for it this Saturday.

I watched the news the rest of the evening then a little reading before going to bed at 9:30.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, finally waking at 5:30 and getting up at 6:30.

I left the apt at 8:15 and found Smartfit busier than usual. I pretty much completed my workout in my preferred order and I finished my treadmill in 18 minutes at 126bpm, forgetting to add the extra minute.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor for about an hour. Laura texted me that her neighbor might be willing to rent me their car for a few days while in Boston. Maybe she meant loan not rent? Why should I pay for someone else’s car if I can borrow Laura’s?

I left at 10am and stopped in Eduardo Madrid to pick up my 16 English muffins. I noticed they replaced the bench between the display case and front window with a small table for two.

I left the apt at 2:15 and went to Los Porteños for a latte. Of course it started raining at 3:30 which lasted about an hour.

Certain_letter finally agreed to a draw but my rating didn’t change. I’m not going to play him again because he moves so slow.

At 5pm I moved to Eduardo Madrid and took the last table available.

I saw Marcos Kaseman come in, he’s head of the Angels of Medellin charity, and buy what looked like a pack of cinnamon rolls.

Teresa arrived at 5:30 and we shared a chicken sandwich and she had a latte. I only had a sip of it because I didn’t want the caffein in my system for bedtime.

We stopped in Ara on our way back to the apt for arepas.

I’m experiencing some challenges finding flights with the right timing at a reasonable cost.

 I watched the news and half of The Chris Hayes show before starting my reading for the night.

It rained most of the evening but stopped by the time I went to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, again at 5:15, finally getting up at 6:15.

Teresa had already left for her gym class.

My Didi driver, Juan, spoke good English having visited NY, NJ, and CN. At one point he asked me what they call a “roundabout” and I said to me it sounds British but where I come from it’s called a traffic circle. He graduated from the University of Antioquia and is a fitness instructor doing some driving on the side.

It’s obvious by all the signs that it’s now election season.

I arrived five minutes early and when the mall opened went up to Parmessano and took a table. I realized I forgot to bring the small bottle of maple syrup I had left in the refrigerator. ☹

I noticed a green parrot land on a tree across the street.

I had the French toast (pretty dry without the maple syrup) and a couple scrambled eggs, a latte and a bottle of water to go for 55mil. Jose got an egg casserole and his usual café doble which he paid for with a debit card. He told me his new debit card has arrived in Utah and his son will forward it on to my FL mail forwarding service.

We moved to the food court and with the Black pieces I got an attack against his queen, then his king but once again couldn’t finish and it ended as a draw.

In the second game I had the White pieces and I had pressure against his king but he sacrificed a rook and got a strong attack and I lost in the end.

It was only 1:15 as we finished and I ordered a Didi to take me to Viva Envigado; another Juan who spoke a little English. At one point we were behind this Ford Mach One.

Somebody here has money.

In the mall, I was going to have lunch at Sarku’s until I noticed their ceiling fans which would probably dry out my eyes so much it would be painful. I had my usual granola bowl with yogurt and fruits in Pergamino.

I stopped in the tienda naturist but this time they didn’t have the container of creatine I was looking for.

I went downstairs and had a latte in Urbania for about an hour.

Some new paintings my half-sister Cyd has done:

Chesswiz98 resigned our latest game increasing my rating to 1540. (I’m sure, and the computer agrees, this game was a dead draw.)

I had a draw by repetition, if I wanted it, in an endgame against Troyclough but blundered my queen and resigned, lowering my rating to 1533.

Exito still had imported oranges to I bought 4 of them and returned to the apt by taxi.

Teresa was out visiting her mother and didn’t return until 7:30.

I watched the news and read until going to bed at my usual 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

Monday, February 23, 2026

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

Teresa was still in bed so obviously she missed her 6am gym class.

Teresa got up at 7am, made breakfast and went back to bed, saying she didn’t sleep well.

I left the apt at 8:30 in a mist and found Smartfit not very busy. I completed my workout in my preferred order and walked 19 minutes on the treadmill for the first time – first 8 minutes at 5.5kmh and the remaining 11 minutes at 6kmh with a final heart rate of 127bpm.

No raindrops as I walked to Ganso y Castor and had a latte. I stopped across the walkway and bought a banana for tomorrow for 1mil.

Teresa called and asked me to pick up a couple things from Ara on my way back to the apt. I didn’t understand and asked her to send me a text message. She texted, “Pollo de biscocho y vinagre blanco”. I understood “White vinegar” but I didn’t recognize the chicken she asked for. When I entered Ara I showed the guard my banana so I wouldn’t be charged for it twice and noticed only one cashier and a long line at check out. I walked the aisles but didn’t see white vinegar. I looked in the refrigerated display cases but didn’t see any chicken with “biscocho” written on it and there was no one around to ask for help.

I left without anything and when I returned to the apt and informed Teresa, I learned she meant, “polvo” not “pollo”. ☹

After lunch I had a 30-minute nap.

I left the apt at 2pm (in a light drizzle) and stopped in Eduardo Madrid and ordered 16 English muffins for pickup tomorrow afternoon.

I was having a small latte

in Los Portenos when a woman came by looking for an Airbnb. She spoke a little English and I tried to tell her where I thought the Airbnbs were. At 3:30 it started raining, I left at 4;30 and stopped in Ara to purchase a couple things before returning to the apt.

I understand Boston is experiencing a blizzard and Laura sent me this photo of her car.

Teresa suggested pouring boiling water over it to defrost it. 😊  ☹

I watched the news then the first half of The Rachel Maddow show before switching to my reading and going to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up twice during the night, finally waking/getting up at 7am

I went next door to Ara just after 8am and bought laundry detergent and a bag of milk.

We left the apt at 11:30 in a Didi, picked up MT at her apt and continued on to Estacion Exposiciones for 15,800 pesos.

There was an El Retiro bus already there but it was too full. The ladies went across the street to Tienda D1 looking for snacks. I decided to be kind to my gut and bought a small bottle of Kumis to drink. Teresa got the same and MT got a small bottle of yogurt.

Back across the street it was a short wait for a larger bus. We got seats in the back as usual and arrived in El Retiro just after 1pm. Bus fare has gone up from 10,200 pesos per person to 12,000 pesos.

We walked up to Lomo Fino and, though there was no line, we got one of the last available tables. The ladies had the chicken breast and I their 320gr solomito (steak) which for the first time was cooked perfectly.

The check came to 169,000 pesos ($46) including tip.

We walked down to El Retiro Café (the ladies checked out a couple stores on the way) where we had coffee and eventually a slice of apple cake with walnuts. A little rain came through while we were inside but we didn’t notice at the time.

A new photo of Annie James:

At 4:30 I paid the check of 42,700 pesos and we walked down the hill to the bus stop and soon were on a bus back to Medellin.

We caught a taxi under the metro and returned to Envigado.

Marcos called while my phone was charging and an hour later I returned his call. He just wanted to notify me that my Fitbit arrived early.

I watched the first coupe episodes of 60 Minutes then started my reading pre-sleep routine going to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, got up once or twice during the night, finally waking at 4:30 and getting up at 5am. I went back to bed at 6am, fell back asleep and woke up at 8am.

I was ready to leave the apt just before 9am for Viva Envigado when Teresa informed me she wanted to go to Santfe mall for lunch.

I went to Otra Parte instead and had a latte while reviewing another chapter in my endgame book. I left at 11:30 and returned to the apt.

We left at 12:15 and took a Didi to Santafe mall for 12,000 pesos. We had a nice lunch in Crepes & Waffles (no line) for 73,050 pesos ($20).

We stopped in Dollar City and bought 30 garbage bags for 9,000 pesos.

Teresa went shopping while I went down to Antonio’s for a latte.

Teresa joined me later and had a granizado (like a cold coffee).

We left at 4:30, bought eggs in Jumbo, waited in a long line to pay then returned to the apt by taxi.

I watched The World Will Tremble (6.7) on Netflix then read my Kindle book and went to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

NOT FUNNY

 

Friday, February 20, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 3:15, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

The bedroom door was closed when I got up so I thought Teresa had left for the gym. She surprised me by still being home. I asked her, “no gym today?”. She replied, “today is Saturday”. I replied, “today is Friday”. 😊 She had a little trouble processing that.

I left the apt at 8am and found Smartfit busier than usual. (It seemed to clear out just before 9am, I’m assuming they are heading to work.)

I completed my workout including 18 minutes on the treadmill with 45-second intervals where I take my hands off the side supports. I finished with a pulse rate of 132 bpm.

I moved to Ganso y Castor where I had a latte for about an hour. I went across the plaza to a small store where I bought a banana for 1,000 pesos. My plan is to buy one every Monday after gym to eat Tuesday morning before I leave to play chess hoping the extra potassium will prevent my cramping.

Mekael965 resigned our game in 56 moves, increasing my rating to 1538. I don’t think I’ll play him again because he’s too slow, using the full 3 days for each move. His rating is only 1282 so I won’t be missing much.

I checked flights leaving Boston on Friday, May 15^th, returning on Sunday, May 17^th and I found this American Airlines one for $326:

·      4:32pm-6:49pm nonstop BOS-ORD

·      11:45am-3:18pm nonstop ORD-BOS

Laura says she will probably take the day off on Friday making it more certain I will be able to catch that flight.

I left the apt just before 1pm and stopped at the copy center but they were closed for lunch – 1-1:30pm.

I continued on to Los Porteños where I had a latte while starting my endgame studies again.

Wait, they’re back to the small cups again?

I got a draw by repitition against Troyclough, lowering my rating to 1537. Wait! They now show the change to the rating, (-1 for me and +2 for him) and I thought the change would be the same.

Teresa called at 3pm and asked me to meet her with her friend Nancy at Gardenia at 3:30. After waiting in line to have a chess note and my updated list of medications printed, I was there by 3:30 but they didn’t show until after 4:15. They had the fruit cup while I had a milkshake.

We said goodbye and left at 5:45 and returned to the apt.

Teresa was supposed to get a massage from Kelly because she was “in the area” but in the end I guess the skies were too threatening because she never arrived. We never got any rain, at least here.

I watched some news then read for about an hour before going to bed at 9:30.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up twice during the night, the second time at 3:30, couldn’t fall back asleep, got up at 4am and read until 5am, went back to bed, fell asleep finally waking/getting up at 6:45am.

Teresa was already gone for her gym class. She returned at 7:15 and made breakfast.

I lost a game to chesswiz98, lowering my rating to 1535.

I met Marcos with Hobo at Tostao at 9:30. Hobo apparently is now full grown and he is big. Marcos’ cousin Marshall still sleeps 20 hours a day and isn’t expected to live much longer, but hopefully until they get him back to Ohio on Saturday. Marcos will be visiting his grandsons in Arizona from this Saturday, February 21^st until March 13^th.

I left the apt at 3pm and stopped in Pasteur but they didn’t have zopiclona. (If I can’t get off of it in the next few months, I’m going to need a doctor’s prescription.) I continued on to Gardenia where I had a latte and shared with ChatGPT the medication, supplements and vitamins I’m taking. We had a long discussion and IT doesn’t like me taking the zopiclona and Difenhidramina (Benadryl) and in time we’re going to work on reducing/eliminating those. It also suggested I take my magnesium closer to bedtime so I’m going to move it from 4 hours before to 2 hours before. It also preferred I drink my afternoon coffee earlier but that might be difficult to accomplish.

Gardenia actually has a gardenia again:

I left at 5pm and returned to the apt.

I ordered a Fitbit to be delivered to Marcos next Tuesday and he will give it to me upon his return.

I’m thinking of possibly taking a flight from Boston to Chicago for my granddaughter’s baptism. It would entail Laura driving me to the airport after she finishes work on Friday, and Jimmy picking up from O’Hare so I can sleep on his couch. Then reversing the process on Sunday. It sounds like it will come down to their being a 7pm-ish flight from Boston to Chicago on Friday, May 15^th so that’s what I’ll check next.

 

I watched the news then a little reading before going to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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

Today is Ash Wednesday.

Teresa got up at 7:15 and made breakfast. I took an hour-long nap then left the apt at 9am for Smartfit. It wasn’t very busy and I was able to complete my workout in the usual order. When I was setting up the 2^nd machine on my list, the leg extension, Daniel was standing nearby. He shouted, “Terry”. I looked at him, he looked serious, and I shouted back, “Daniel”. He told me he wanted revenge, which I only understood because “revenge” in Spanish “revanche” was similar. I told him “buena suerte con este”. He told me he’s been practicing. I told him “any day or year”.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor for an hour. Teresa called just as I was leaving. (If she called any later I probably wouldn’t hear my cellphone ring or vibrate while walking on the street.) Sheinasked me to pick up 5 ripe tomatoes in Ara for today’s lunch. I said “yes” because now I keep some extra bills in my workout book.

In Ara it’s a good thing I’m tall because I had to reach far in the back of the box to find red ripe tomatoes. I waited in line about 5 minutes but when it was my turn the girl said something and nothing else happened. I looked at the screen and she had mistakenly entered carrots along with my tomatoes. We had to wait at least 5 minutes for “el jefe” to come and void the transaction. In the meantime, a line had formed to use that register.

Teresa left at 2:30 for her crafts class. I left at 3pm and dropped off plastic containers at Eduardo Madrid bakery, printed a chess page at the Bancolombia kiosk and took a seat outside Los Porteños. Well, they’re back to using their large coffee cups. Were the small cups just a holiday special?

At 3:45 it started raining and I moved inside but it stopped about half an hour later.

I left at 5pm and moved to Eduardo Madrid and Teresa joined me just past 5:30. We each had an almond croissant and a latte for 30,580 pesos.

I watched the news then a little reading before going to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

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

At 7:15 I started the process of ordering a Didi for 22,788 pesos. Traffic was bad but I still arrived at the mall by 7:45. I walked around it once to kill time then went up to Parmessano and Jose joined me 5 minutes later. I ordered the French toast but without their honey because today I brought my own bottle of maple syrup. The bottle is almost empty and I finished it there. I also had a couple scrambled eggs and a latte for 55,000 pesos.

We moved to the food court where I had the Black pieces in the first game. He quickly got an attack against me and I resigned on my 24^th move.

It was only 10:15 as we started the next game. I got a cramp in my left thigh but quickly massaged it out. ☹ Again, I made some bad decisions and resigned in the endgame on the 32^nd move.

It was only 1:45 when we said goodbye and I ordered a Didi to take me to Viva Envigado for 18,200 pesos. I had my usual granola with yogurt bowl in an unusually not full Pergamino. I went next door to a tienda naturista and inquired if they had the Creatine capsules I’m currently taking.

The lady told me they only have it in powder, not capsules, and it sells for 135,000 pesos ($37).

I withdrew 2,000,000 pesos (all 100s) from a Servibanca ATM then went down to Urbania for a latte.

This is a painting my half-sister completed recently:

I left at 3:30 and bought a few items in Exito (they still had imported oranges so I bought three) and returned to the apt by taxi.

I watched the documentary Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich (6.1) on Netflix, the last half of The Chris Hayes Show then a little reading before going to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Monday, February 16, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, got up once during the night, finally waking at 5:30 but not getting up until 6am when Teresa had already left for her gym class.

I understand today is Presidents Day in the US and also Annie James is 5 months old.

Yesterday I learned that Teresa was thinking about renting the finca, having Laura move in with her gf Cindy, and Teresa was going to move to Spain to live with a gf. Then I came along, and as they say, the rest is history.

Teresa didn’t return from her gym class until 7:45. She made breakfast and I returned to bed to take a nap for an hour.

I left the apt at 9:15 and found Smartfit not very busy. Today I added 10# to each of the weight machines so now I’m back to moving the same weight from before our vacation last month. I saw a trainer standing next to the new fancy scale machine so I went over to see if he would give me a demonstration but I learned you have to join a plan first. No thanks. I completed 18 minutes on the treadmill, today occasionally taking my hands off the side supports to work on my balance.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor and three bomberos (firemen) walked through the park and down to the new steakhouse.

A fire truck backed up and they unloaded a ladder

which they took around back probably checking everything is up to code.

I stopped in Eduardo Madrid looking for bagels but didn’t see any. If I understood correctly, they should have some later. (We ran out of muffins this morning.)

After lunch Teresa went for a nap.

I left the apt at 1:30 but when I arrived at Los Porteños I found I didn’t have my cellphone with me. ☹ I returned to the apt and got it and returned to the restaurant and had a latte in for a couple hours.

I messed up the opening with the Black pieces against chesswiz98 and wasn’t able to castle but I followed up with some good moves and he resigned on his 25^th move, increasing my rating to 1545.

I left at 4:30, stopped in Eduardo Madrid and bought a sleeve of 6 sesame seed bagels and a slice of carrot cake. I stopped in Ara and bought 2 pairs of reinforced kitchen gloves for Teresa before returning to the apt.

I watched the mini-series documentary Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (7.1) on Netflix, 

the first half of The Rachel Maddow Show then a little reading before going to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, slept through the night, finally waking at 5am but not getting up until Teresa got up at 6:30.

The plan for today was to go to El Retiro but Teresa and I had an argument and by the time it was “resolved” we had missed our window to leave.

We decided to have lunch in La Buena Mesa but it rained for a couple hours. Finally, it stopped raining and we left at 3:30 and had lunch in Asados Familia Garcia. Teresa had the sobrebarriga (flank steak) which she shared with me and I had a small sopa albondigas (meatball soup). We each had a Coke and I don’t remember the bill but it seemed high.

I talked to Teresa about maybe going to Chicago for Annie James’ baptism but decided it would be too expensive and too much trouble.

I tried to get her to go a block away to Los Porteños for lattes but she wasn’t interested so we just stopped in Ara for a few groceries on the way back to the apt.

I watched 60 Minutes, some news, then finished reading Lee Child’s Exit Strategy (Jack Reacher #30).

It was raining when I went to bed at 9:30.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, woke up at 5:30, finally getting up at 6:30.

Happy Valentine’s Day! (Later I read that the relics of Saint Valentine are stored in a Catholic church on a Greek island.)

My plan was to go to Viva Envigado this morning but Teresa wants to take her mom to El Tesoro and we’ll have lunch there.

I won a game against Troyclough in 19 moves, increasing my rating to 1535.

I collapsed on the recliner, eyes too tired to keep them open.

We left the apt at 1pm in a Didi, picked up MT at her apt and continued on to El Tesoro mall for 21,600 pesos.

We had lunch on the deck of J&C Delicias. While there we had a drizzle for about 30 minutes which cooled things down. I had my usual Penne Carmela and the total check was 179,841 pesos ($49).

We went up to Valentina’s where we had lattes and snacks. I wanted to talk to Teresa about Boston and Chicago but it was too noisy for the translator to work.

The ladies stopped in Zara then H&M where Teresa found 2 pretty blouses for 260,100 pesos ($71).

We stopped in Medipiel where I bought 2 bottles of my skin cream that were on sale for 96,400 pesos each and some expensive “serum” for Teresa for a total of 373,050 pesos ($102).

Chesswiz98 resigned our game on the 11^th move increasing my rating to 1540.

We stopped in Carulla and only bought a medium carton of eggs and pasta sauce but the line was slow.

Outside I ordered a Didi to return us to Envigado for 27,091 pesos. First time I’ve seen this: whenever we approached a speed bump a buzzer went off on the driver’s dashboard.

We got out at Ara where Teresa bought arepas and cheese.

Because of the work on the sidewalk, they have a pedestrian detour made of yellow tape. Teresa ducked under it but I walked around it. They put one of those cement blocks they use to make curbs as a step up to the actual curb. I remember thinking I certainly don’t need that half step but then stumbled on the block. To catch myself I had to drop the eggs. I wasn’t hurt, other than my ego, especially after Teresa made some comment comparing me to her mother. ☹

Back upstairs we only lost a couple eggs due to catching the toe of my shoes that I didn’t want to buy originally because I thought they were clunky.

I think my recent napping is due to insufficient sleep so tonight I took a whole zopiclona before going to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Friday, February 13, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up twice during the night, woke up at 5:30, finally getting up at 6am.

After breakfast I returned to bed for an hour and got a little more sleep.

The sidewalk outside Ara is almost finished:

I found Smartfit not as busy as usual but still had to change the order of my routine. Usually, the problem is women hogging the leg machines but today it was men on the upper body machines.  Once again I completed 18 minutes on the treadmill. Next week I add 10# to the machines to match what I was lifting before our trip to the DR.

I had a latte outside Ganso y Castor and caught the red squirrel taking the peanut. He climbed up to the next crook of the tree to eat it.

I stopped in Ara on the way back to the apt to buy tomatoes and lemons.

I lost a game to chesswiz98 in 24 moves, lowering my rating to 1529.

I watched The Decline then Untold: The Fall of Favre on Netflix.

Teresa got a massage from Kelly from 4pm to 5pm. We had a brief rain while she was here but it stopped by the time she left.

I bought the latest John Grisham book on Amazon, read some more of my Reacher book on my Kindle, and went to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

NOT SO FUNNY

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, woke up at 6:30, finally getting up at 7am.

Teresa returned from her gym class just after 7:30 and made breakfast.

Workers pouring cement for the new sidewalk:

I met Marcos at Tostao at 9:30. He informed me that Johana did not get a US Visitor Visa as Trump does not want Venezuelans, along with 19 other countries, in the US. Marshall still sleeps 20 hours a day, only getting up to eat. Marcos checked with a rabbi and he can be buried in a Jewish cemetery in Medellin for $3,000.

He left at 10:15, I soon after and stopped in Mercado Madrid to purchase a few groceries for lunch.

Annie James

After lunch we took an hour nap then I finished the series, Safe on Netflix.

My daughter notified me that Annie James’ baptism will be on Saturday, May 16^th at 11am with lunch to follow. We’re supposed to be in Boston around that time so maybe we can make a quick trip to Chicago. I’ll have to talk to Teresa about it and see how much more expensive it will be for 3 one-way flights: to Boston, to Chicago, to Medellin.

I watched The Queen of Chess (7.8) on Netflix, then the news, then my reading time before going to bed at 10pm.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

NOT FUNNY

 

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, woke up at 4:15, couldn’t fall back asleep, got up at 5am and read for an hour before returning to bed, finally waking/getting up at 7:15.

Work continues on the sidewalk outside Ara:

After breakfast I updated my blog and only had 30 minutes remaining for a nap. I left the apt just after 9am and found Smartfit not as busy as usual but still, I had to reorder my routine a couple times. Once, a guy on the leg extension machine left his damp sweaty towel on the bench. ☹

I completed my workout including 18 minutes on the treadmill.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor and discussed yesterday’s thigh cramps with ChatGPT. It appears my not salting my food may have caught up to me. To counteract that I’m going to put a little salt on my eggs on gym mornings.

I left just before 11am and found a 2,000-peso bill folded up outside Black Pepper; maybe it’s my lucky day.

I had a short nap after lunch.

At 2:30 I checked the temperature on the balcony and it was 86 degrees. It’s been a week since it last rained so maybe Teresa is right and we’re in the dry season. I put on my shorts and sleeveless t-shirt and left the apt. As I was walking up Calle 30 I heard thunder and noticed a dark cloud coming in. At Los Porteños I took a seat purposely not my usual seat on the end which is more pervious to rain. It wasn’t long before a downpour started and I moved inside. It only lasted about 30 minutes but now it was noticeably cooler.

I left at 5pm and found Teresa waiting for me in Eduardo Madrid bakery. She was hungry so we each had a pie de pollo (similar to a small chicken pot pie) and latte for 52,800 pesos. I showed her the flights to Boston for Sunday, May 3^rd and we narrowed it down to two. Now to check with Laura.

We returned to the apt and I watched another episode of Safe on Netflix before switching to the news.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY