Thursday, May 10, 2018

I got up twice during the night, woke up at 6:40am and finally gave up getting back to sleep and got up at 7:40am.

I received an email from Alex; they arrived at 61Prado at midnight last night.  Chuck and I will probably meet up with him tomorrow or Saturday.  He might even come to meet us in Envigado.

I watched the first hour of the Today show.

Laura left at 12:30.  I understand first she’s picking up the utility bill for the finca in Caldas and then she’s going to meet with her grandmother.

I left the apt about 3pm and checked the usual places but no Chuck.  I ended up at the bakery where I enjoyed a café con leche – at least until a bee did a kamikaze act into it.  Across the street there was a tent set up advertising a presidential candidate.  (The one I see the most is Duque so my money’s on him.)  About half a dozen police showed up on motorcycles and milled around the area.  I thought it might be security for the presidential candidate but they soon left.  A few minutes later what looked like a “mounted policeman” in smokey the bear hat and breeches suitable for horseback riding showed up.  He had a german shepherd with him and it was obvious they were sweeping the area.  For drugs?  For explosives?  No idea.  Finally Chuck showed up but told me he had to take Darnely to a restaurant for lunch.  It’s a seafood place so I didn’t go with them as I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand the smell.

I paid the 1,800 pesos for my coffee and returned to the apt.

About 5pm it started raining but it soon stopped.

Laura returned at 6pm, and reported that we have a 2pm Sunday reservation at Tagliata in El Poblado.  She then called MT and found that she’s going to Vicky’s on Sunday.  We decided that we would take her to Mu for ribs Saturday night and the 3 of us would go to Tagliata on Sunday.  But with both of those expenses and what I’m paying for the fence around the finca I won’t be able to afford to buy shoes, purse and blouse for her for Mother’s Day.

Teresa and I left the apt at 6:30 for some things she needed from Home Center for the finca.  First we each had a hotdog and soda at Doggers for 24,600 (about $9).  Then she wanted a bag of chips and that was another 3,500.  (We should have gotten one of the combos.)

She spent 10 minutes choosing a hammer – ball peen or claw?  Wood or metal?  Heavy or light?  I asked her what she’s going to be hitting and my app translated it to wheelbarrow.  Why are you going to be hitting a wheelbarrow I asked?  She showed me a wheelbarrow and I understood that something is loose on it.  (Oh yeah, hitting it will always fix it.)  Then she decided to get a new wheelbarrow and she spent about 30 minutes getting someone to help her.  It seemed like it could be purchased unassembled.  She decided to wait and see how much they cost in Caldas.  Then she asked me to return the hammer.  She picked up some bags of plastic and upstairs on the second level she picked out a plastic rake with a wood handle.  I confirmed that I could remove the screw holding it together and she could reassemble it at the finca.  She picked up a plastic drawer to hold her hobby work.

I noticed on my cellphone that it was raining and sure enough it was coming down pretty good outside.  I said not to worry as we’ll take a taxi.  Outside there were already people waiting for one so Teresa had the bright idea to go to Exito.  Holding up the umbrella for both of us as best I could we walked over to Exito where we caught a taxi right away.  We were back at the apt by 9pm.

I received an email from Alex and we’re going to meet in Parque Envigado around noon.  I forwarded it to Chuck and I hope he will be able to join us.

Teresa continues to watch the telenovela Si Hay Paraiso Sin Tetas, which translates to Yes, there is paradise without tits.  She thought it was going to end last Monday but it’s till going…on … and on…

T-shirt of the day: Dirt does a body good.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

I got up once during the night, woke up at 5:30am and got up at 6am.  Teresa soon left for the finca.  I understand she had to keep an eye on them to make sure they keep working and to be sure that the work is done correctly.

I walked over to Carbon de Leña and was surprised to see that at 7:30 it wasn’t open.  I sat across the street in the park for awhile expecting it to open any minute.  After about 10 minutes I recalled seeing Moriskos advertising breakfast but I found they weren’t open either.  I stopped at a nearby bakery for a small café con leche for 1,800 pesos. 

Just after 8am I stopped at Carbon de Leña and found it open.  I had calentado (beens and rice) with scrambled eggs and a better version of café con leche for 8,500 pesos.

Back at the apt I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and then left for the gym.  I completed most of my exercises in an hour and 45 minutes.  I added #15 to 3 of my exercises and 2 ½# to another exercise.  Did I mention that the little store just outside the gym has closed and there is no longer any products on their shelves.  That didn’t last long, what, a month or two?

Chuck arrived at 12:30 with 3 suitcases for Laura.  (He still has 5 suitcases in his apartment.)  I put them in Laura’s bedroom.

We walked down to Deli Hoy where we had a nice lunch for 13mil each.  I showed him the new Arame hotel.  Chuck talked to them and this time we got a quote of 150mil per night.   (Just yesterday it was 200mil.)  We were told that this is the ONLY hotel in Envigado.  (I thought there were a couple others on Envigado’s border with Medellin.)  We were shown one of their rooms and it was very nice including a safe.  (As usual there was a lack of electrical outlets; I only saw one next to the bed.)

We walked up the hill to the bookstore where I exchanged my paperback plus 2mil for another.

We stopped at Chuck’s apartment so he could drop off a few things.  We went to Bartolo’s where we each had a coconut lemonade.  From there we walked to the bakery for coffee and a snack.  About 5pm I headed back to the apt as I figured Teresa would soon be returning.

Teresa called and informed me that she was stuck in the rain in Caldas waiting for a bus.

She finally got back about 8pm.  The good news is that even though she has to return to the finca tomorrow it shouldn’t be for a long time.

Looking out the window at the park I can see on the farthest side (away from the library) of the fence they have 5 sheds set up.  There is one shed on the other, nearest, side.

I watched Season 1 Episode 2 of The Rain (6.1) on Netflix.

T-shirt of the day: Rydell High.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

I got up once during the night, woke up at 6am (it was raining outside) and got up at 7am.  There’s still a steady rain.

I left the apt at 8:45 with my small umbrella and a light jacket.  I stopped at the new hotel – Arame Hotel – and picked up a business card and inquired as to how much it costs for 2 people for 1 night and was told 200,000 pesos (about $72).  Alexa and Alba might stay there while they are visiting Envigado later this month and same for my new friend Will who will visit in July.

Arame Hotel; Calle 38 Sur #46-76; Envigado.  (574) 4806250; Cel: 318 585 4493; Reservas@hotelarame.com; www.HotelArame.com.

I arrived at the chess league office just before 10am.  Jose and I played one game with our usual time limit – 45 minutes with 20 seconds added for every move.  I lost on time but we kept playing the endgame and he blundered and resigned.

We had lunch again at El Chaparral.  I had my usual pepper steak with rice, baked potato, salad and slice of avocado.  It also included a fresh mango juice for 36mil plus 10% for tip (about $14).

Jose told me he scored 4 ½ points out of 7 in his last tournament – very good.  He said he would have gotten a senior prize but their definition of senior is only 55 years old which qualified a lot of others.

Back at the chess center we played another game – this time by more common tournament time limits – 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move.  I had the White pieces and I put lots of pressure on his king but I eventually blundered away my Queen.  Sigh!

We’ll probably meet again next Tuesday.

On the way back to Envigado I saw that they have a sign installed on the new mall – Viva; it’s kind of set back so it’s hard to see straight on.

At Envigado station Teresa called me and told me she forgot her keys so she’s waiting outside the apt.  I guess she got back in as she was inside when I arrived 25 minutes later.

I watched Season 1 Episode 1 of The Rain (6.1) on Netflix.

I finished reading David Baldacci’s paperback The Winner.

T-shirt of the day: It’s summer.  I’m single.  You need to know.

Monday, May 7, 2018

I got up twice during the night, woke up at 6am and gave up getting back to sleep and got up at 7:15.

It’s still very overcast as it rained most of the night. 

At the gym I did all but one of my exercises in an hour and 50 minutes.  I met a new English-speaking guy, Fernando, from Venezuela.  Most of the people I’ve met from there have spoken English.  His was near perfect.  The trainer, Jose, introduced him to me and made a joke that he’s gay.  I told him not worry as the only penis I’m interested in is mine.  Lol.

I met Chuck at Bartolos at 12:30.  We had coffee there while trying to figure out where to go for lunch.  He wanted to go to someplace “different”.  He has never been to Frisby but he had a cheaper fried chicken alternative.  I don’t know the name of the place but it was practically across the street from the park.  For 14,000 pesos (about $5) total we got 2 drinks and 4 pieces of chicken.  It was at least as tasty as Frisby although the chicken was room temperature rather than hot.  I learned that “muslo” means leg and all this time I thought it meant thigh.

From there we walked down to the bakery where I treated myself to a churro with my café con leche.

While sitting there we experienced a light rain.  At one point the sun was shining and looking out at the street we could see no rain on one side and a light rain on the other.  Weird!  You could literally walk back and forth in and out of the rain in the space of a mere 3 feet.

Chuck offered a free suitcase to Laura for her Au Pair trip.  Apparently, every time they return to Colombia they bring 2 suitcases each loaded with things like pots and pans.  And then they return with fewer suitcases.  He says he has 8 suitcases in his home now, most of them purchased at yard sales.

Chuck and Darnely return to the US on Sunday.  If all goes well with her citizenship case they could soon be back permanently.

Teresa came back at 7pm and said she has to go back to the finca tomorrow.

I spent most of the night studying a new chess book.

T-shirt of the day: I’m still killin’ it.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

I slept through the night finally waking at 5:45 and getting up at 6:30.  After breakfast we took a nap for about an hour.

At 12:15 it started raining.

The Colombian Peso closed for the week at 2,819 to the US Dollar.

I just watched TV and went through a chess book all day.

Teresa told me that for Mother’s Day she wants to return to the restaurant – Tagliata – where we had dinner the last night before my brother and his girlfriend left.  She doesn’t want to go on Sunday, as it will be too busy, not even Saturday, but Friday night.  I told her to call and make reservations.

It was raining again as we went to bed.

T-shirt of the day: Dear past.  Thanks for the lessons.

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Also known as Cinco de Mayo.

I only got up once during the night but woke up at 4am and couldn’t get back to sleep finally getting up at 6am.

After breakfast Teresa went for her 9:15 doctor’s appointment and I took a nap.

When Teresa returned she informed me she also has high cholesterol and will be taking the same medicine as I (but double the strength) and has a June appointment with the same nutritionist.

Chuck and Darnely arrived at 1pm.  Teresa finished up the sauce while I made garlic bread using pan de maiz.  I cut the slices about an inch thick, put a little butter on and then put the garlic spread on top of that.  About 10 minutes in the oven and they were slightly crispy.

We had a nice lunch of spaghetti ala Juanita (with meat sauce) and garlic bread.

Teresa and Darnely chatted at the kitchen table while Chuck and I chatted in the living room.  Chuck gave me 20mil to buy Condoritos on Fridays as they return to the States on May 13^th.  He also gave me an extra set of house keys for safe keeping.

He asked me what he could bring for me when they return and I said more root beer and 1 bag of salted-in-the-shell peanuts, please.  When they return it should definitely be football season.

Teresa begged me to go to the pharmacy to get her cholesterol medication so she could start taking it tonight.  I left the apt about 6pm and bought it for 20,500 pesos at Todo Drogas.  I noticed they are open on Saturday until 7:30 and they are even open on Sunday.

Back at the apt Teresa suggested picking up ribs from Mu but when it took a while for Laura to respond at MT’s apt she changed plans and we went to Bocados Bar for dinner.  It was only 73mil for grilled chicken breast for the 4 of us.

T-shirt of the day: Your best teacher is your last mistake.

Friday, May 4, 2018

I slept well only getting up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:30am.

It looks like it rained most of the night and now we have the Metro buses going down the hill with their squealing brakes.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and then left for the gym.  I was fortunate to pick up a Gente newspaper at the Gana store near the park.  Early each month I recycle my old water bottle and buy a new one from their machine for 2mil.  But today they didn’t have any water, only lemonade and it was 1mil more than I had with me.  Andres came over and told me that they have a new machine that gives free drinks for the next 7 days but as we were approaching other ladies informed us that it wasn’t working so I used the water fountain.  I completed my exercises at the gym in 2 hours. 

Among new US movie releases Overboard looks interesting, although I know it’s a remake and it only earned an IMDB rating of 3.5.  At least it isn’t another stupid (my opinion) Marvel superhero movie.

Bad Samaritan sounds interesting but it only got a rating of 6.0.

Locally, A Quiet Place is playing at 6:15 in El Tesoro.  I wouldn’t mind seeing it again if Laura is interested.  Avengers: Infinity Wars has taken over most of the showtimes here.

Teresa and I took an after lunch nap from 2:30 to 3:30.  I left the apt at 4:30 and had a couple things printed at the copy center.  I stopped at the bakery for a café con leche for 1,800 pesos.

Back at the apt I started going through one of my new chess books.

Laura left the apt at 7pm and picked up pizza for us at Antica Pizza.  Afterward she left to visit with friends.

T-shirt of the day: Still living with my parents.