Sunday, May 13, 2018

Happy Mothers’ Day!

About 4am I was awakened by a burning sensation on the side of my left forearm.  It only lasted for a second but it felt like acid moving through a vein.  I wonder if it’s a nerve problem connected with the occasional arthritis I feel in my left thumb.  Luckily, I don’t experience it too often.

I woke up at 6am, gave up getting back asleep and got up at 7am.

Laura left the apt and came back with flowers for her mother and grandmother.

At 12:45 it started raining.

By 1:30 we were all dressed to leave for our 2pm reservation.  At 1:45 Laura was still trying to get us a taxi or Uber car using the apps on my cellphone.  Teresa and I walked outside and we soon hailed a taxi.  We had the driver stop and pick up MT at her apartment.  We arrived at Tagliata Carne & Pasta (Carrera 43D #13-23) at 2:15.  It’s 2 blocks west of Parque Pablado and 5 blocks north.  The restaurant was full but our table was waiting for us and Wilson and Laura arrived about 15 minutes later.  Wilson ordered salmon, MT ordered some type of chicken, Teresa ordered chicken breast, Laura ordered pasta and I ordered the beef medallion & pasta combination that also included a small plate of cooked vegetables.  Everyone enjoyed their food and mine was delicious.  One of the best meals I’ve had in Medellin.  I might even be inspired to write a Trip Advisor review.

The total bill came to 225,500 (about $80) which I put on my debit card and Wilson gave me 80mil in cash.  When we were leaving (4:30) there were mostly empty tables.  That time would probably be the height of business in the US.  The cashier called Uber cars for us (ours was a pickup truck) and we were back at the apt by 5pm.

T-shirt of the day: Freedom is a free mind.

Saturday, May 12, 2018

I think I got up about 4 times during the night, waking at 6am and getting up at 6:45.

I received an email from Alex; a thief stole his cell phone out of his pocket when they were on the metro.  He also can’t find his watch and Alba can’t find hers.  Problems, problems, problems.  Anyway, they’ve decided to skip San Andres and spend a few days in Cartagena instead.

I left the apt at 9:30am and took a bus to Envios Market.  (I understood Teresa would be leaving for the finca shortly.) They gave me my May Chess Life magazine.  I talked to Nobraskja briefly and learned that the young girl I saw her with was Victoria’s daughter not hers.  I walked over to Cedimed on Calle 7 where I successfully withdrew all small bills from their ATM.  I walked to Starbucks where I had a white mocca latte and started reading my Chess Life magazine.  I called Laura and asked her if she wanted to meet me at Papa Johns for pizza for lunch.  (We haven’t been there since March.)  She gave me the same song and dance that Teresa gives me – too much fat.  She said she wasn’t in any hurry for lunch anyway but she did tell me that Teresa asked me to pick up lettuce Crespa and tomatoes at Exito.  I hung around Starbucks a bit longer than usual then walked up to Oviedo and finally caught a bus back to Envigado.

There were long lines in Exito but I got in the shortest and it took me 15 minutes to check out.  When I left there were a few raindrops coming down.

Back at the apt Laura asked me where we are going for lunch.  I suggested La Casita Parilla but surprisingly she suggested we order pizza from Chicagos.  (What, Chicagos’ pizza has less fat than Papa Johns?)  I agreed and she called them and they delivered it for 25mil about 40 minutes later.

I was watching a program on TV when it occurred to me that Teresa wanted me to get a haircut today.  I changed clothes and walked to the end of the street where I got a 30 minute haircut for 15mil.  I walked over to Bartolos on the chance that Chuck might be there.  I found Darnely having dinner and she told me Chuck was here earlier but went back to the apt.  I wished her a pleasant trip back to the States.  I walked over to the flower shop and was fortunate that, even though there was a short line, a woman was putting roses into a bucket of water.  I asked her how much and she said 2mil per rose.  I asked for 10, she put a bunch together in paper, and I gave her 20mil and I left.

Laura was leaving and I asked if she was going to Mu for dinner with us tonight.  She said that MT isn’t going to be with Vicky on Sunday so we are all going to Tagliata restaurant together.  Laura said she’s meeting friends outside Exito and then they’re going to decide where to go from there.

Teresa came back about 6pm and was thrilled to get the flowers.

The Colombian Peso closed for the week at 2,837 to the US Dollar.

I ordered 2 more bottles of Mega Men Prostate and Virility from GNC.  That should be sufficient for the remainder of the year.

I solved a few more puzzles on Chess Magnet School and was promoted to Captain.

Laura still hadn’t returned when I went to bed at 11pm.

T-shirt of the day: Just be my boy toy.

Friday, May 11, 2018

I got up twice during the night, then woke up at 6:40 and got up at 7:40. 

I received an email from Envios Market that I have a document waiting for pickup.

At the gym I did some of my exercises in an hour and 20 minutes.  I left early because I received a Whatsapp message from Alex that they were leaving 61Prado to meet me in the park.  I stopped at Comfama on my way home and picked up a Gente newspaper.  After my shower and dressed I was back in Parque Envigado just before noon.  Chuck soon arrived. 

A few minutes later Alex arrived with Alba.  She’s probably late 40 something and rather cute with the typical long dark hair.  We had a nice lunch at Bartolos – chicken for me and fish for the others.  It started raining about 12:30 and continued for about an hour.  We all walked over to the bakery where we had coffee and pastries.   Afterward we all went to Chuck’s apartment so they could see it.  Alex hopes to come back in July with Alba and Darwin and get an apartment in Envigado.  We all walked to the bus stop so Alex and Alba could take a bus to Poblado.

I stopped at Bancolombia to pay the finca city tax bill of 130mil.  It was 3:30, I had number S517 and they were serving S480 so I figured it would take a while.  Sitting there I regretted not bringing my Reader’s Digest instead of my Nook because you’re not supposed to use any mobile devices in the bank.  After a few minutes I got up and walked outside and sat on the steps and read a few chapters from my Nook book.  Just before 4pm I went inside and in a couple minutes my number was called.  I paid the bill, got my stamped receipt and left.

When I got back to the apt Teresa was taking a nap.  When she got up she informed me that she didn’t make it to the finca today because of an accident on the highway.  She said she’ll leave early tomorrow so as to be able to return early.

She gave me a small package that arrived that contained 5 free boxes of Isoklon sleeping pills.  I think this was for the 8 boxes with receipts that Laura contacted them about which means the 2 I just bought this month were not included.  So the 5 boxes I just received plus the 2 boxes I bought this month plus the few tablets I have remaining should last me almost 6 months.

MT came over about 6pm because she was bored alone in her apartment.

I received an email from Alex that someone stole his cell phone by Prado station.

Among new US movie releases there isn’t anything I want to see.  Locally, there isn’t anything I want to see.

About 7pm Teresa called La Casita Parilla and ordered 3 chicken shish kebabs.  MT ate a little of one of them and left the rest for Laura.

Btw, I made a 50mil bet with Chuck.  He says that after the midterm elections the Republican Party will keep their majority in both the House and the Senate.

I watched Season 1 Episode 3 of The Rain (6.1) on Netflix.

I just remembered.  Teresa talked to someone and apparently the new mall – Viva Envigado – should be open by August.  It’s supposed to be the largest mall in Colombia.

T-shirt of the day: The sass is real.

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.