Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm (still drizzling lightly), fell asleep quickly, got up once at 1:45 (no longer raining), finally waking/getting up by alarm at 6:30.

According to my Fitbit, I got in 6,452 steps yesterday and last night I slept for 7 hours and 32 minutes for a sleep score of 80.

I ordered a Didi to take me to Unicentro mall for 21,600 pesos. I arrived early enough to eat a banana and walk once around the mall.

I met Jose in Parmessano where I had 2 scrambled eggs con hogao, 4 small Italian sausages, sourdough bread with marmalade and a latte for 47,000 pesos.

I had the Black pieces in the first game and got up a pawn but mismanaged the endgame and it ended as a 66-move draw.

I had the White pieces in the second game and had him tied up on the queenside and I even had a pawn one square from queening but couldn’t find a way to proceed and it ended as a 49-move draw.

It was 2:15 when I ordered a Didi to take me to Viva Envigado for 17,800 pesos. Traffic was good for a change and I arrived in only 25 minutes.

I had the teriyaki chicken in Sarku’s but by the time I finished it was too late for coffee so I walked to Eduardo Madrid and bought 5 sesame seed bagels before returning to the apt.

The guy renting our parking spot stopped by and gave me 300mil for July-September.

I’ve been taking this Joint Support supplement

for years but recently saw this article about glucosamine

I didn’t stop taking it completely but limited it to M/W/F mornings. Within a few weeks I noticed a difference: I had to prep my leg joints before standing up because they felt so stiff. I went back to taking Joint Support every morning and they feel normal again.

Teresa came to me with a note that Laura is having a scattering ceremony for Vicky’s ashes tomorrow. I asked her we’re going to go up high in the mountains to Laura’s finca, scatter some ashes then return to our apt? Will that be before or after lunch? Teresa wanted to go there by bus until she found out it was to be at 10am; now she wants to go on a different day. Not sure how that’s going to work out.

I suggested to ChatGPT that I go back to taking a full sleeping pill each night. It reminded me of my cold and other off-schedule things and suggested I stick to the half tablet regimen a while longer and see if my sleep improves.

I watched some news then started my pre-sleep routine.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

Friday, July 3, 2026

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 6:30, finally getting up at 7:15.

According to my Fitbit, I got in 2,508 steps yesterday and last night I slept for 8 hours and 43 minutes for a sleep score of 74.

I left the apt just before 9am and found Smartfit a little busy. Both my usual first two machines were in use and I had to wait a few minutes for each of them to become available. Interestingly, the gym seemed to clear out quite a bit at 9:30. I completed my workout same as Wednesday.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor for about an hour before returning to the apt.

I had an hour nap after lunch.

Teresa was gone between 2:30 and 6:30, something about Vicky at Laura’s finca up in the mountains.

I watched a couple more episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale. I caught the end of Australia vs Egypt, won by the latter 4-2 on penalty kicks. I watched Argentina pull out a close one against Cabo Verde 3-2 then I watched Colombia pull out a close one to Ghana 1-0.

I went to bed at 11pm without the benefit of my usual pre-sleep reading.

 

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW!

 

FUNNY

 

Monday, June 29, 2026

Today is another holiday here – The Feast of Saints Peter & Paul.

According to my Fitbit, I got in 829 steps yesterday and last night I slept for 5 hours and 56 minutes for a sleep score of 64.

I was awakened by Teresa at 7am with the news Vicky died about midnight last night. ☹ She was only 68 years old. Teresa made breakfast then I ordered a Didi to take her to visit her mother.

No gym for me today and I cancelled my chess match for tomorrow with Jose.

I went back to bed at 10:30 and slept until 12:30.

I spent almost 2 hours chatting with Netflix about my payment problem. In the end I learned Teresa received a new Bancolombia debit card she needs to activate then I should be able to update Netflix’s payment information.

I was trying to take another nap when at 3:30 Teresa woke me and informed me we’re going to Laura’s (Vicky’s daughter) finca. I got up and dressed and Teresa gave me the address of Km 10, Lomo de Escobero, Santorini in Envigado but Didi couldn’t find that address. I explained we’ll need to take a taxi (I know it will be more expensive) where you can tell the driver where we want to go. We waited in the porteria for about 20 minutes while the portero called us a taxi. The driver took us 30 minutes high in the mountains (only got lost near the very end) for 66,000 pesos. I always dread how difficult it’s going to be to get a ride back.

Family were gathered inside and I recognized a lot of them and even knew a few names. Because of my cold I was wearing a facemask to protect them and myself. Children were playing in the area which helped to make it a little less solemn.  Just before 6pm everyone gathered in a back room and Juan connected his laptop to the TV. It seemed like a Zoom call but was called “Primeros Pasos de UCDM” (First Steps of ‘something’) with about a dozen others joined in.

The ‘others’ seemed to make some testimonials and at different points I recognized background music for “Stand by me” and “Amazing Grace” by bagpipes. We finished by about 6:45 then the gathering broke up but when I stepped outside, I learned Vicky’s favorite granddaughter Amelia had just learned the news and was in tears. (I often would see Vicky’s Facebook postings of Amelia in her early stages of learning ballet.)

Albero (sp?) gave us a ride back to Envigado with a young couple in the back and we stopped at McDonald’s where I bought burger combos to go for everyone for 174,700 pesos ($50).

I took my evening pills and started my pre-sleep reading.

 

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

 

Friday, October 17, 2025

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

I left the apt at 8:45 and completed my workout in Smartfit. Daniel was there and told me we can play chess again next Wednesday.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor but never saw a squirrel come to pick up the peanut, maybe because there were so many dogs around. I left at 10:45 and saw a squirrel in a small tree at the edge of the park. There was half a papaya in the tree and the squirrel was checking it out. I started taking out my cellphone to take a video but the woman from the corner store walked to me and told me the squirrel will eat the whole papaya. That scared the squirrel away so I just returned to the apt.

Teresa and I were having lunch when about 1:15 a downpour started which quickly lowered the temperature but it had all stopped by 2pm.

I left the apt at 3:15 and waited in a slow line to have a single chess note page printed. I had a latte in Los Portenos for 90 minutes before returning to the apt.

Teresa told me she talked to Johana and her test results for breast cancer were negative. 😊

With the help of ChatGPT, I set up a Powershell to have my Num Lock key default to OFF when I boot up my laptop.

My granddaughter at 1 month:

Teresa is going with Vicky tomorrow to Laura’s finca (something about “no meat”) and I’ll go next week. Sunday Teresa will spend the day with her mother because I have the noon Bears game.

I told Teresa I’m going to see One Battle After Another (8.3) at noon tomorrow in Vizcaya mall.

 

FUNNY

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Last night I took my Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, again when Teresa got up at 4:55am, finally getting up at 5:30.

I placed an Amazon order for a new set of earbuds for my 2^nd generation iPod shuffle and 2 packages of clasps for Teresa. Estimated delivery direct to our apt is Saturday, October 11^th.

Teresa wants me to go with her to see an apt in Sabaneta this afternoon.

I left the apt at 8:30 and walked to the mall. I recycled my old earbuds then went up to the banking area. I made two withdrawals from the Servibanca ATM, all 50s. I paid the apt rental in Av Villas then used Bancolombia’s consignacion ATM to pay for Smartfit, my health insurance and Netflix. (I forgot to pay for Medellin TV but I still have time for that.)

I went downstairs and traded emails with Laura. It’s looking like we’ll be going to Puerto Rico for the holidays.

I left at 10:45 and walked back to the apt.

So, Teresa wants to buy an apt with the finca money she has in a Bancolombia CD. We did the math and she has 60% needed for an hypothetical apt. She doesn’t want to pay the bank interest so she asked for my help. She wants me to give her 2 million pesos a month ($500) that she can save. I did the math and she would need to save for 5 years but by then the apt would most likely be at least 20% more expensive. It’s a moving target she will never be able to reach. ☹

Teresa asked me where we can get ice cream in the neighborhood. I couldn’t think of any place other than Antonio’s Gelato or find anyplace with Google.

Teresa has been saying for weeks there’s a new restaurant near Smartfit but I haven’t seen it. She finally came up with a name, Gardenia, and I found this on the internet.

From the address it sounds like it’s where the old Pizza Doble restaurant used to be on Avenida Poblado behind the bus stop. Maybe they have ice cream.

We left the apt at 2pm and walked to that location and there it was, Gardenia Brunch and Coffee.

It’s a big place, I just hope they get enough customers to support it.

We each ordered something from their large menu, a large fruit cup for Teresa and a waffle for me. My waffle was a little dry (you know gringos usually drown them in maple syrup) but I was saved by the marmelada they brought for Teresa but she didn’t want.

I noticed waitresses looking at something in the far corner outside so I went over to check it out and it’s a single Gardenia flower but they have 2 other plants.

The bench we took was all torn up and dusty, dirtying my shorts but I don’t think they are stained.

According to the internet they close at 5:30 but I asked a waitress and they are open until 7pm.

I paid the check of 42mil and we walked down the block to Otra Parte where Teresa got the schedule of their exercise classes.

I have this new photo of my granddaughter.

I finished reading Jake Tapper’s Original Sin and started reading the paperback my son gifted me for my upcoming birthday, Philipp Meyer’s The Son.

 

FUNNY

(if it wasn’t so true)

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Last night I took Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 3:45, finally waking/getting up with Teresa at 6:45.

Again, I’ve got a power problem, my battery is down to 82%. And I don’t have an internet connection. ☹

We left the apt just after 10am. Our Didi driver drove down to Ave Las Vegas expecting Ciclovia but the road was closed off - for a marathon? We had to take Ave Poblado which explained why the fare was 25,200 pesos where usually it would be closer to 10,000.

We were dropped off a block from Estacion Exposiciones just before 11am and waited 10 minutes for an El Retiro bus. We got seats in the back without any problem – I like the extra legroom back there.

I paid 18,000 pesos when we got off by a building called Industrial Habitat. We backtracked 100’ to the road entrance to Caballeros de la Virgin (Gentlemen of the Virgin?).

We waited for a busetta (sp?), a van, with a small group of others wanting to get to the church.

It was noon and after waiting 5 minutes Teresa suggested we walk as it’s only a 30-minute walk. I responded (mistakenly) with “whatever you want”. Now, I would be fine with a 30-minute walk on level ground but this was all uphill reminding me of the finca. I had to stop often to catch my breath and rest my legs while Teresa had no problem. Remember I’m almost 80-years old and Medellin is at 5,000 feet and we’re at an elevation higher than that, heading for an even higher elevation.

It took 45-minutes to arrive at the entrance

so it was now 12:45 and according to this sign, mass had already started.

As we headed to the restrooms, I saw they were at the point where they shake hands so I figured communion was about to start. When we returned from the restrooms we sat down in the shade next to the parking lot and had lunch – individual containers that Teresa packed of chicken, rice, with a little carrot – a typical lunch I see workers eating all the time in Colombia. We learned that the only food they sell there is bread and sodas. I understand there used to be a restaurant but it caused parking problems.

We took a van back down the hill and across the street was an Asia House that Teresa noticed. Interestingly, traffic stopped in both direction so it was easy to cross. The building contained clothing, furniture and accessories from India and Thailand. I guess she didn’t find it very interesting as she only checked it out for a few minutes. Next door she spotted this little café, Il Café Finno

and the owner had just brought out a fresh apple pie. We shared a slice and we each had a latte which was served differently with a cup of hot milk and a small pitcher of coffee on the side that you pour into the cup.

We arrived just in time because soon it was pouring outside.

Sorry I didn’t take a photo of the coffee and pie. Later, we had another slice with coffee. (A few others came in and sat down and they all had pie also.) The check came to 69,000 pesos and at 4:30 we went out to the street, still raining but not as heavily, and luckily our bus was just coming around the bend.

We got seats in the back with lost of legroom and when we arrived in Medellin it was raining harder as we returned to Envigado by taxi. We stopped in Ara where Teresa purchased some arepas and laundry detergent.

I modeled one of my new shirts for Teresa but she immediately replied, “no, that’s not going to work”. I’m guessing it’s because they are “slim fit” which would have worked fine 6 years ago before the pandemic and my two surgeries. ☹ We decided we’ll return them when we meet on Wednesday at their Mayorca store.

I watched some NFL football until 8:45 when I switched to my pre sleep routine.

 

FUNNY

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, fell asleep quickly, finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

After breakfast I went back to bed, fell asleep and got up at 8:15.

Teresa left at 8:45 for her gym class and I left at 9:30 for the mall. (We’re going to meet up for lunch in Crepes & Waffles in Santafe mall.)

I walked to the mall, recycled 3 plastic containers then went upstairs to Claro. The guy at the entrance gave me turn number T13 and they were serving T06. Forty-five minutes later I was called and I asked the clerk to register my new cellphone. She read the IMEI code off the box (I can’t read print that small since my vision correction surgery) and entered it into her computer; it took less than a minute. I showed her one of the Leidy Claro Hogar messages I receive daily and I think she fixed that too in little more than a minute.

My Capitol One card was denied at 3 of Davivienda’s ATMs

(I think maybe I’ve worn out the magnetic strip.) but my USAA card worked and I withdrew 3 million pesos.

I went downstairs and had a latte in Urbania. I left 45 minutes later and walked across the street to Metrosur and at the Gana kiosk paid 383,251 pesos for our DirecTV bill. I confirmed I could pay my Movistar bill there. Just as I finished, Jose Avendaño showed up. We chatted a bit and he said Superman is 10* and Jurassic Park only 5*. I told him I’d see him later and he asked me to text him.

I walked back to the apt while listening to music on my iPod.

I soon left again at 12:30 and took a Didi to Santafe mall. Teresa soon caught me in line at Crepes & Waffles. The line moved quickly and we were sat after a 5-minute wait. Teresa had the Mexican chicken and I a Cesar salad with chicken. We didn’t order drinks and the check came to 61,150 pesos ($15), including tip. (So much cheaper than the US.) I paid with my Capital One card because “tap and pay” still works.

This is what the atrium looks like

set up for Feria de las Flores. All the bright colors you see on the floor are fresh flowers.

We went down to Valentina’s where we had drinks and shared a slice of cheese cake. I wrote Teresa a note reminding her to call DirecTV to either have them repair the coaxial cable that Movistar cut or cancel our service.

We left at 3:30 and Teresa bought a few things in Medipiel and swiping my Capital One card didn’t work so I used my USAA debit card.

We returned to the apt by taxi.

I called Capital One (confirming my identity was a little challenging for reasons I won’t state here) and requested a new debit card and it should arrive in 3 business days. (In the meantime, my current Capital One debit card still works (for tap and pay)).

Teresa talked to Esmeralda about DirecTV then she told me we shouldn’t call DirecTV we should call Movistar to come and repair the cable they cut. I told her if she doesn’t want DirecTV then just cancel their service.

I received an email from the Illinois Tollway that my credit card has been declined. Not sure if that’s something I need to worry about since I believe I’ve paid all my tolls. (Strange wording though, “The credit card registered to your Pay By Plate service has been declined and needs to be updated. To avoid fees or violation, please update your credit card information on your account.” Maybe one of my attempts to cancel their service actually worked. And now I can’t even get to their website. Ah, probably because I’m in Colombia; I’ll try again later with my VPN.

I told Teresa when the baby bird’s eyes open they might imprint on us meaning they will think we are their parents and might be attracted to us in the future. She told me a couple stories that sounds like she’s been through this before at the finca.

Teresa shared with me her plans for tomorrow. Gym in the morning then she’s going to meet up with a lady she knew from Amaga that is having facial skin surgery and wants Teresa to be with her. They will have lunch then Teresa will be with her for her surgery. So I’ll be on my own for lunch tomorrow but in the afternoon we’ll meet up at Alcala to sign the new apt rental contract.

I put the ProFoot Super Sport arch supports, I bought at Ross for $5.99, in my moccasins. My feet in the moccasin feel a little tight but at least there’s no heel discomfort.

 

FUNNY

Sunday, March 30, 2025

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

Microsoft Hotmail still says, “You’re out of storage. You can’t send email and won’t be able to receive in 1 day.” But I did a test message and it arrived so maybe that’s just a misleading threat.

Teresa thought the weather in Jerico was about the same as Medellin but wasn’t sure. At her recommendation I wore my convertible hiking pants, a t-shirt with sleeves and brought my jacket.

At 9am Teresa was ready to go and gave me the go-ahead to order a car. The Didi app said something about a low signal and it seemed like it wanted to pick us up down on Ave Las Vegas. I cancelled that and switched to Uber which worked but the price went up from about 10,000 pesos to 18,872 pesos. At Terminal Sur we bought one way-tickets to Jerico for 83,000 pesos – quite a bit higher than our usual Sunday trips. The bus was scheduled to leave at 10am so we had time to buy bags of chips before we left.

It was a large bus and I observed areas I hadn’t seen in years as we headed south. I saw the “new bridge” before the finca, the “new tunnel”, and finally the road leading up to the finca.

I haven’t posted a photo of one of these in a while, it’s what they do to prevent landslides that would block the roads.

Approaching Jerico there were some low hanging clouds that we ended up climbing into which limited our distance view.

We arrived in Jerico at 12:45, so 2 hours and 45 minutes. I was surprised how chilly it was, but happy I was dressed for it. We quickly found a restaurant called Casa Arte and it did have lots of art in it. I thought this was an interesting painting…

Look at it carefully then scroll down to the bottom to get the complete picture.

We had their lunch of the day which wasn’t anything special and I hated their juice. It was only 44mil so that wasn’t too bad.

We walked around the town square, the same as all other pueblos with the church at one end, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and other stores. We finally settled on a small café called Cielo Tierra where we had pretty decent lattes with a slice of carrot cake to share.

Teresa checked out a few stores but there wasn’t much she found interesting.

Back at the bus station a bus was just pulling away but we bought tickets to the next bus (5pm) back to Medellin. It was only 4:15 and we were across the street from the church so we went in and Teresa got communion during mass. Mass ended about 4:45 and we walked back across the street and got on the next bus.

As we left Jardin there were a few beautiful views of the valley far below.

After a couple hours I was wondering what happened to the expressway as it seemed we were on back roads.

 

Traffic got heavy as we approached Medellin and just before the toll booth we stopped dead. We didn’t move again for 10 minutes, the only ones moving were the motorcycles who as usual move to the head of the pack. This was soon complicated by an ambulance that we had to move over for. It took 30 minutes to get through this funnel to the toll booth. The bus stopped multiple times to pick people up and drop people off. The good news is they dropped us off at the Envigado station where we could take a taxi back to the apt. the trip back from Jardin took 4 hours compared to the 2 ¾ hours to get there. (I think Teresa might be done for a while with exploring these little pueblos.)

I immediately went into my pre-sleep routine.

 

THE COMPLETE PICTURE

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

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

The fan worked great during the night, very quiet and just a little breeze to help break up the heat.

Teresa had an early (7am) gym class but she made me a quick breakfast first. She told me there’s some type of fair at Plaza Mayor that she wants to see that’s only 3 days ending tomorrow.

I lost a game to Troyclough lowering my rating to 1556.

I left the apt at 8am for Smartfit. While I was on the treadmill, I noticed a government PSA on TV that Colombians in estratos 1 & 2 can get a Colombian passport for free. (Not that they can afford to go anywhere.)  I was just about to start my last machine, the Shoulder Press, when Michael on the next machine asked if it really cost something like $50 to send a form to Canada? I assured him that was true and recommended he go next door to Envios Market and talk to Victoria. He also mentioned he’s looking for property between Medellin and El Retiro with a view of the former on which to build a house, like a finca.

I finished my workout and moved to Ganso y Castor where I had a latte and kept an eye on a tree to see if a squirrel would find the peanut I left there. Nope! I left at 10:30 and returned to the apt.

Troyclough resigned our latest game on the 16^th move increasing my rating to 1563.

I googled Plaza Mayor but I didn’t see any events for this week or weekend.

I texted one of my Airbnb options (Malgorzata in Rolling Meadows) and asked what is meant by the last entry on the itemized price list called “before taxes”?

During lunch Teresa informed me the US Embassy in Bogota is closed. Looks like we got her US Visitor’s Visa just in time.

Well, not another word from Teresa this afternoon about Plaza Mayor.

Teresa informed me Esmeralda may be coming over later to go for gelato. Only problem is we just had a bowl of gelato here. Maybe we’ll go for pizza even though we just had it a couple days ago.

Esmeralda arrived at 5:45, I ordered a Didi and we took the elevator down with 2 families with kids. I told Teresa, “dos mas minutos” (for our car to arrive) then I said, “two more minutes” and turned to a young girl and said, “entiendes?” and she nodded yes and the others in the elevator were proud if not astounded. I mentioned to Teresa that they are learning English in school. A young boy said, in English, that he’s going to go to school in Canada to learn English.

We met Esmeralda and took a Didi to Antica Pizza, Gloria was there, and we had a slice of pizza with drinks. We left at 7:15, stopped at the bakery down the street and bought a couple of pastries for our security guards. We quickly caught a taxi and at one point we were stopped at a red light and there was a golden lab sitting in the back seat of the car next to us. Our driver whistled and the dog turned his head towards us and I motioned like I was patting his head. Our driver informed us that he has six dogs and showed us a video where we could see 3 of them go up long stairs and then down a concrete slide. 😊 We returned to our complex and gifted the pastries to our guards.

 

EA

 

Friday, October 4, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 2am, waking/getting up at 6:15.

We left our room at 6:45 and walked around town a little, finding the restaurant Santorini (still closed) on Carrera 10. We returned to the hotel and had breakfast (included) by the pool. It appears there is only one other couple in the hotel. I guess it isn’t tourist season.

Well, we had some excitement. A large Iguana entered the area and took a swim in the pool. Finally, it came out and a worker captured it and I understand it will be taken to a finca to catch critters:

Another couple arrived so now there are 3 of us (couples).

We had lunch by the pool, both of us had Milanesa de pollo a la napolitana con queso derrerido y pure de papa.

Twice I swam 2 laps in the pool and now my face, neck and shoulders are a little red.

At 1:30 I couldn’t take the heat anymore and returned to the room and our air conditioning. I lied down in the bed and fell asleep for about 45 minutes.

I called Teresa to see if she still wanted to go for ice cream. Instead, she asked me to bring down a few of her things.

She continued to work on her latest purse project while I continued my book, at least until it got too dark.

Teresa thought she spotted another lizard

but after I took a close-up photo and zoomed in I could see it was just a branch.

At one point a branch fell on the floor only 3 feet from me. Not that it was heavy enough it could do damage, at most probably scratch me up a bit.

I had ribs for supper but they were lots of work to cut between the meat and the bone/cartilage.

We were just finishing supper when at 7:30 a downpour started and we returned to our room.

Well, at this rate I should be able to finish this 449-page book before we leave.

More info about Peter: One doctor says he should have a Pacemaker while another doctor says no. And something about he had a tick when he was younger. (Well, they do work in the woods.)

I’m now one third the way through my book so I should have no trouble finishing it before we leave.

T-SHIRT OF THE DAY

 I Need Vitamin Sea

Monday, June 10, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, was awakened at 5am by a bird chirping right outside my window. I got up and rapidly opened and closed my vertical blinds and that must have scared it away. I went back to bed, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

Today is another holiday, Dia de Sacrado Corazon.

I left the apt at 8am and completed my workout in Smartfit. This week I’m doing 10# less than my maximum and 7 minutes on the treadmill.

Los Porteños wasn’t too busy today so I took my usual outside seat and had a latte while going through my cellphone. Mr_Blamo (1134) challenged me to a (3 day per move) game. If I win that game that will put me over the 1600 barrier. I see Anna Cramling (2060) is playing in the Madrid Chess Festival.

Teresa called about 11:30 and said she will be returning tonight. She’s not mad at me she just took advantage of the fact I have breakfast with Glenn and her friend has a finca in Jardin and a car. She’ll be back tonight.

After watching the right Youtube video I figured out how to create black and white repertoires in ChessBase.

I watched Anna Cramling’s game on Chess.com against a 2265 rated player.

I left the apt at 1:30 and took a Didi to Sweet Georgia restaurant in Poblado. I dropped off the hardcover book I hadn’t read because I didn’t like it and I doubt I will try reading any more of their book offers. I had the Choose 3 which included 2 lattes for 45mil.

At 2:45 I took another Didi to Antonio’s Gelato and walked the half block to Parva where I had a café con leche while doing more chess puzzles.

I left at 4:30 and returned to the apt.

Teresa returned at 6:30.

I just watched the news and read my book the rest of the evening.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, got up once at 3:45, fell back asleep, finally waking/getting up at 6:30am.

Teresa already left for her 6:40am blood draw. If I understand correctly, they didn’t test for everything last time so she has to have another blood draw and doesn’t know what time she’ll return.

No hot water for my shower, (yesterday it took 3-4 tries to get the hot water to come on) guess it’s time to change the battery.

Teresa returned at 7:15 and made me breakfast.

I left the apt at 8:30 and walked to the mall. I recycled two plastic bottles, made an ATM withdrawal, paid the epm utility bill of 380,284 pesos ($98), and checked out the bagels in Al Alma. They only had one package and they were plain and didn’t look proper for halving. I went to Urbania and took a seat (only one other customer there at the time). Nadia came in with her significant other (boyfriend? Husband?) and they took a seat and had coffee.

I left at 11am, walked past Al Alma (the bagel situation didn’t look to have changed), and walked back towards the apt. I went up the road before calle 30 and just before Eduardo Madrid I saw a gate opening. An SUV came out and stopped in front of me and the driver said, “bonito, cierto?”. I was too tired to answer but I did nod my head in agreement. I think it’s a finca (probably the last so close to an urban area) and I have heard roosters crowing from inside.

I went into the bakery but they didn’t have any bagels for sale. I cut through the parking lot and returned to the apt.

Teresa informed me that Wilson is making arepas de chocolo so we might go there late in the afternoon for some.

I left the apt at 2:15 and walked to Eduardo Madrid. Still no sesame seed bagels. I ordered a latte and asked about sesame seed bagels and was told they don’t have any. I ordered 6 to be made for pick up on Monday. Teresa called and asked me to pick up coconut gelato. I left at 4pm, paid 8,200 pesos for my latte, and walked the two blocks to Antionio’s. I got in a line to pay then a line to pick up my half liter of coconut gelato. I walked back to the apt and Teresa attacked the gelato right away.

I changed the battery for the on-demand hot water heater but it still doesn’t work. ☹ There’s relighting instruction on the heater but they’re so faded I can’t read them.

I watched a couple more episodes of The Good Fight then I watched some MSNBC news coverage of the trial before going to bed.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

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

My eyes are much better this morning.

I sent a 30% deposit of $653 to Travel Zone for the cruise.

I completed my workout in Smartfit with no complications.

Teresa returned at noon. She confessed she was having coffee with her gf when she suddenly realized she needs to make lunch.

Teresa and I agreed we would check out the stores on my new list for a dress on Saturday.

I finished the movie Blackberry (7.6) on MTV.

Well, that didn’t last long. The Movistar installers arrived about 2:15 but Teresa soon scooted them out. I thought they were just going to rewire the living room for internet but they wanted to rewire the entire apt. That isn’t practical because we have heavy finca beds that would have to be moved (because there is limited space in there they would probably have to be broken down). ☹

Now we don’t have internet in the apt at all. I texted Paola and asked her to have the guys come back and fix whatever they changed.

Teresa then informed me that Paula said it would take 10-15 minutes and the installers said it would take all day.

A few minutes later our internet returned.

I watched the movie The Menu (7.2) on MTV.

My brother, an hour NW of Chicago, spent some time around 6:30pm in his basement because of a tornado warning.

For supper I ordered takeout from Chiclayo. The cost including delivery and tip was 91,600 pesos but I gave the muchacho 100mil because I don’t want to waste all my small bills.

 

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