Thursday, October 6th, 2016

So, today is my 71^st birthday.

We left the apt at 9am and got to Mall Laureles by 9:30.  I said hello to Lucas again and we stopped at La Biscuit where we had coffee and a pastry.  I understood we weren’t going to be stopping at the restaurant on the way to Santafe.

We arrived at the “resort” by 11:30.  Teresa was a little bummed out because it was overcast but I explained to her that she can still get tanned.  I swam in the pool a bit and laid on the chaise lounge a bit – at least a little longer after I dried off – I’m not much of a sun worshiper.  I finally got an internet connection and I played 4 10-minute games on chess.com, winning 3.

We had a nice lunch of pork in pineapple sauce with French fries for me, fish for the ladies, with soup, salad and fresh juice.  Everything was very tasty except the dessert which looked like a cupcake but was more like a tort.  Just after 3pm we heard thunder in the distance and the clouds got darker and about 4pm it started misting a little.  We moved our things and then had someone show us the rooms they have for rent.  Their basic rooms are small – very basic but their upper rooms are fancier with jacuzzis.

We left at 5:45 and stopped at the roadside diner where I had a café con leche with 2 freshly made almojabanas.  The driver dropped us right in front of the taxi stand in Exito Laureles.

On our way down Avenida 80 the driver asked Teresa something and then he pulled into a gas station.  He circled around the pumps but then it seemed he didn’t line up evenly with a pump.  All the ladies got out and I was thinking, “what, we have to change taxis because he has to fillup his car?”  They moved away from the car and I asked her if it’s so dangerous we have to stand away from the car?  Teresa said something about gas and I said gasoline?  She repeated gas and again I said gasoline?   She said gas and I finally got it, gas.  The attendant opened the hood and put the nozzle into a location just behind the radiator.  After they were finished we got back in the car and were on our way again.  We got back to the apt by 8:10pm and shortly after we lost our internet connection.

T-shirt of the day: Active sport life.

Wednesday, October 5th, 2016

Today is Teresa’s 59^th birthday!

I worked out from 10am to 11:30 without using the treadmill.

After lunch I left the apt about 1:20, waited 15 minutes for a bus and then started walking.  I bought a new 10-ride ticket for the metro and today it was near cattle car conditions.  I arrived at Dario’s store 10-15 minutes late.

We played 2 games and I lost them both.  :(

Back at the apt I realized I had very little cash (in large bills anyway) so I made a trip to the ATM.  Again my debit card didn’t work on either of 2 Bancolombia machines I tried.  I stood around a couple minutes longer and I didn’t notice anyone else getting cash either.  I stepped next door and once again had no trouble at Citibank.

Back at the apt Teresa soon returned after having her hair done (colored) at a local beauty shop.  She decided she wanted us to go to Wilson’s bar for dinner tonight.  We met her mother there and soon Laura also.  Everyone had either chicken or fish and a juice.  I paid the total bill of 88,000 pesos or about $30.

T-shirt of the day: Girl chic.

Tuesday, October 4th, 2016

I left the apt about 10am, walked to $efecty where I paid the epm and Direct TV bills for October.  On the way back I saw men putting up Christmas decorations in the street.

I stopped in Exito where Teresa asked me to pick up 2-3 packages of ground beef.  I didn’t see any so I asked a young lady there who checked and reported they didn’t have any.  I stopped at the butcher counter where I picked up 2.4 kilos put into 2 packages.

I called SS and asked about cancelling MT’s Medicare Part B and was told she has to send in the paperwork – either to the US Embassy in Bogota who will forward it on to SS or directly to SS.  :(

We left the apt with Mother Teresa before 2pm and arrived at the clinic near Estacion Floresta by 2:30.  They were both taken just before 3pm.  They finished by 4:30 and I paid 150,000 pesos for Teresa’s facial injections.

We walked about 8 blocks north to the barber shop where I got a haircut; I don’t think I’ll need another one for a couple months.

We were back at the apt by 6:20.

I watched the vice-presidential debate on my Slingbox.  In the last 15 minutes or so it froze on my a few times and I had to disconnect and reconnect.

T-shirt of the day: I have mixed drinks about feelings.

Monday, October 3rd, 2016

Btw, my I had no problem yesterday with my Slingbox connection.

My heel was still slightly sore so I decided to skip the treadmill today.  I might even skip it all week to be sure it’s completely healed before starting again.  And I’ll be careful about wearing those deck shoes again.

I received an email from the US Embassy acknowledging that everything can be taken care of without going to Bogota. Yay!

If I understand correctly, the people living in the rural areas of Colombia, those most affected by FARC, voted 55% to 45% for peace.  Those least affected, people living in the cities, voted “no”.  And, heavy rains from Hurricane Matthew, caused low turnout in the north.

Well, I put on my deck shoes (I know), and took a bus to MBE where I paid my rental for the rest of the year (October-December) of 130,500 (about $45).  I took a bus up to Starbucks where I bought a slice of carrot cake and a large vanilla latte, extra hot.  (Actually I ordered a small latte but the young lady held up a large cup and I said ok, so be careful of their bait & switch tactics.)  The only seats available was a small section in the sun so I walked with my coffee and cake on a nice ceramic dish next door to Krispy Kreme where the A/C is better and there were a lot less people (and thus more seats).  I ordered a couple donuts to go for the ladies.  I took my time (about 30 minutes) eating the cake, drinking my latte and reading my Nook book.

About 4pm I took a bus back to Envigado; this time I took an Envigado bus instead of my usual Sabaneta one because I wanted to go a few blocks further east to the pharmacy.  About 4-5 blocks short of my street it turned east and I tried to keep track of where I was by it’s turns but soon it was in the diagonal/transversal streets and I knew I was lost.  I got off and using my sense of direction walked about 8 blocks, finally finding the pharmacy and I bought my drugs for the month.

I was back at the apt by just before 5pm.  There is still a little soreness in my heel but at least it didn’t get any worse today.

Online I found the form that MT needs to cancel her Medicare Part B.  I plan to print it out soon but maybe we can call the US and she can do it over the phone.

I upgraded from the Gold Plan to the Platinum Plan on www.chess.com for an additional $2 a month.  We’ll see what additional benefits I get.

T-shirt of the day: Daddy’s lil monster.

Sunday, October 2nd, 2016

I didn’t sleep well last night; it seems it took me hours to fall asleep and I was awakened by fireworks and people talking outside (and below) our bedroom window.

Today is referendum day in Colombia.  Traffic was abnormally heavy outside from about noon to 4pm – I guess people going to and coming back from voting.

Laura left about 2pm to vote in Caldas.  Teresa would have to go to La Estrella so she decided not to vote.

My Chicago Bears beat the Detroit Lions 17-14 today.  Finally, someone worse than us that we can beat.  I’m getting down to the end of the bag of peanuts and they aren’t so fresh anymore – well I have had them open for 3 weeks now.

Teresa and I walked down to her mother’s apartment and walked with her to mass.  They had a different priest than usual and I was happy because mass only lasted 30-35 minutes tonight.

The latest news is that Colombia rejected the government’s agreement to make peace with the FARC.  The difference between Si and No was only 60,000 votes.

Wow, my Phillipino friend, Ruben, sent me an 18-move game I won back in 1975.  I think I’ll have to try that opening on my friend Dario next time he plays c5 as black.

T-shirt of the day: Future number 1 draft pick.

Saturday, October 1st, 2016

Laura and I left the apt at 9am and while there was a long line in the bank (Bancolombia) itself and the lobby for the ATMs, there was only one other man ahead of us for the special machine.  We had no difficulty paying my health insurance and apartment rent for the month.  We were finished in less than 5 minutes and I’m pretty confident I could do it myself alone next month.  Yay!  I’ll probably have Laura along one more time to watch me do it alone for the first time.

My heel is still sore although it’s a lot easier to walk on today.

Mother Teresa came over and with Teresa we took a taxi to Torre Intermedica on Calle 7.  We arrived at the dermatologist’s office at 10:40 for MT’s 11:40 appointment.  I asked why we were there so early and Teresa said it’s because we might be able to get in earlier. 

I walked across the street where I took out 400mil from a Servibanca ATM and once again it was all in small bills – 10s & 20s.  I walked to MBE to pay October’s rent but on the way I had the thought that the woman who takes care of payments won’t be there today.  Sure enough, there were 2 men and they told me I have to come back on Monday.

I’ve been seeing more banners and car stickers recommending to vote “no” for the Colombian agreement with FARC.  We’ll soon know as tomorrow is the referendum.

Back at the medical office the Teresa’s were still in the waiting room.  I went downstairs to Il Capuccino where I had a café con leche and read my Nook book.  They came down about 30 minutes later and said that MT has to come back on Monday for a blood draw.  I said I’ll come with her as I have to pay my MBE bill for October.  Teresa said she has to be here at 6am; I said “no, I don’t think I’ll be joining you”.  Lol.

We caught a taxi and were back at the apt by 12:30.

The Colombian Peso closed at 2,881 to the Dollar.

I received an email from Ruben that he has sent me 2 PC DVDs of chess software and a chess book.  He then proceeded to tell me the story of what happened to him and his family after the bombing of Pearl Harbor when he was 11.

The soreness in my heel went away in the afternoon.

T-shirt of the day: California. City of dreams.

(Hey, don’t blame the messenger!)

Friday, September 30th, 2016

Among this week’s new US movie releases I would like to see Deepwater Horizon (7.5) and Denial (4.9).  Locally, I sould like to see Deepwater Horizon but it’s only playing at El Tesoro at 6:50pm.

We arrived at the health club at noon.  I worked out on all the machines including 18 minutes at speed 6 on the treadmill.  We left at 1:40 and stopped at a butcher shop where Teresa picked up some chicken with which to make lunch.

Back at the apt as I unloaded all my stuff I realized I’d left my little exercise book (I think weights & measures is a good name for it) back at the gym.

After lunch I crashed on the bed for about 45 minutes but couldn’t fall asleep. 

I got my butt out of bed and headed back to the gym.  On the way my right heel started hurting and I was limping by the time I got to the gym.  (I was wearing my deck shoes with the thin soles.  I’m not sure if that was the cause or all the walking on the treadmill.)  At the gym the receptionist right away handed my my little green book.  I limped back to the apt and took a whole Excedrin tablet which helped a little.  I also changed into my flip flops.

I had picked up the latest Gente newspaper and they had more information about the new mall currently under construction here in Envigado.  All I understood was that the construction area encompasses 190,000 square meters and besides stores there will be offices, a 14 screen movie theater and parking for 3,050 cars and 1,003 motorcycles.

I checked the US embassy website and it appeared that the 3 things Mother Teresa needs to take care of can all be done without a trip to Bogota.  I emailed them to double check and their reply confirmed 2 of them but they didn’t mention the most important – getting her SS deposits into Bancolombia.  I emailed them back but it’s now after 5pm on a Friday and I’ll bet they are shut down for the weekend.

Mother Teresa came over to show me her SS card.  She had 3 cards: her NJ driver’s license, her Medicare card, and a health insurance card but no SS card.  At least the Medicare card had her SS number on it so I could confirm we’re using the right number.

My old Phillipino chess friend Ruben recommended I play the Benko Gambit as black.  I’ll check into that.

We had a rainstorm start about 10pm and we shut down the wifi and TV.

T-shirt of the day: Sore today, strong tomorrow.