Friday, June 22, 2018

From the wet streets it’s obvious we got a little rain overnight although I never heard anything.

I got 3-4 times during the night, finally woke up at 6:30 and got up at 7:15.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and went to the gym.  On the way I bought a Q’Hubo newspaper.  I did all of my exercises in an hour and 50 minutes.  Afterward I stopped at Comfama and picked up a free Gente newspaper.

For lunch Teresa made spaghetti ala Juanita and I wanted to include garlic bread but we didn’t have any bread.  She wanted me to go down the hill to the lower Exito for pan de maiz (literally bread of corn) but I wasn’t about to walk back up that hill.  I stopped first at a nearby copy center where I had a few pages copied.  Here it costs 100 pesos per page while the large copy center charges 200 pesos per page.  Hmmm!  I went to the closer upper Exito and of course they didn’t have the “corn bread” but I found some other type of bread shaped like small hotdog buns.  I used that instead and the garlic bread turned out fine.

Laura left with 450,000 pesos for her English interview with the au pair agency.

Teresa and I took a nap from 2:30 to 3:30.

It’s nearing the end of the month and money is getting tight with all the expenses for the finca and Laura’s au pair but we’ll make it.

Among new US movie releases: I’ve already seen Jurassic World (6.7) but Damsel (5.6) and The Catcher was a Spy (6.3) look interesting.  Locally, Every Day (6.2) is playing at 6pm at Oviedo.

When is my cold going to end?  It’s been 2 weeks now and it continues to linger.  Well, I certainly can’t blame it on air conditioning.

About 7pm Teresa and I walked down to MT’s apartment and she joined us on our walk to Home Center.  Teresa exchanged some small parts and picked up a few other things including a welcome mat for the finca.  We were going to go for pizza but she changed her mind and we picked up sandwiches at a deli outside Exito.  MT walked back to her apt and we carried our things up the hill.  As usual I was starting to sweat in my jeans and t-shirt by the time I got to the top.

I asked Laura about her English interview today.  She said it wasn’t easy but she thinks she did well.  She’ll find out for sure on Monday.  She still needs to get a certificate for the 1 semester she was in the university and then have it translated into English.

If your dictionary told the truth: Golf (n.) An excuse for old fat men to say they still play a sport.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Last night I got up once about 2:30, woke up at 6:30 and got up at 7am.

I left the apt at 7:45, picked up a free Adn newspaper and had breakfast at Carbon de Leña. 

When I returned to the apt Laura informed me that we no longer have wifi.  I watched the end of the Denmark vs Australia (1-1) soccer match, watched the first hour of the Today show and then retired for a nap.

At 10:15 there was a knock at the door.  (Due to my lack of Spanish I never answer the door or the buzzer from downstairs.)  It was a young lady with Dane on her hat representing the national census.  Julieta was here about 10 minutes asking various questions.  About me she wanted to know my name, my birthdate, how long I’ve been living in Medelin, and that Teresa and I are together as Union Libre.  (She informed us that everyone in the neighborhood is without wifi.)  I understand they do this every 10 years.  As she left she gave me a receipt and put a “censused” sticker on our outside door frame.

Laura and I had lunch at La Casita Parilla for 24mil.

She went to meet with friends and I added 20mil to my cell phone and then caught a bus to Vizcaya.  I arrived at the box office just as the movie – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was starting.  I added 50mil to my Cine Colombia card and bought an opening night 3D preferred seating ticket for 10,000 pesos.  I also bought a small popcorn and medium soda.  I believe I now have 17 total ticket purchases.

There were probably about 2-3 dozen people in the theater.  The movie was good with lots of action and may be a setup for a sequel.

I walked down the hill and quickly caught a Sabaneta bus.  I got a seat and it moved pretty well through the Gold Mile and I was back at the apt 40 minutes later.  While still on the bus I bought 2 small cookies and a 50 Bolivares (Venezuelan) note from a man on the bus for 2,000 pesos.  With the inflation they are experiencing it’s probably close to worthless.  (And you think the US has immigration problems.)

Back at the apt Laura showed me that for some reason my phone number has changed.  I can receive Whatsapp messages but any calls to me go to some voice mail.  I have no idea how that happened.

Teresa returned at 7pm and informed me that they’re getting close to finishing the required work on the finca but she’s tired so she’s taking tomorrow off.

If your dictionary told the truth: Cell phone (n.) A device used for looking less alone while in public places by yourself.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Last night I only got up once finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and left for the gym.  Today was a little more crowded than usual but I still completed all but one of my exercises in 90 minutes.

Laura and I left for lunch at 1pm.  I asked her if she would be interested in trying a Chinese restaurant and she agreed.  I took her to New Shop Lui on the corner of Calle 36 Sur and Carrera 42.  Laura ordered their shrimp, Chinese rice and spaghetti combo and I ordered chicken chop suey.  The waitress was a young Colombiana but the owner was obviously Chinese so I felt better about eating there.  I was a little surprised they didn’t offer any hot green tea like I used to get in the US.

After lunch Laura pointed out another Chinese restaurant, this one on Avenida Poblado even closer to our apt.  Laura returned to the apt and I took a bus to Mayorca mall.  At Totto I dropped off my fanny pack for repairs but I didn’t understand the cost but it can’t be much.  The salesgirl said they will call me (I gave them Teresa’s phone number) in about 2 weeks.

I took the escalators up 2 more floors to the Cinemas Procinal and was shocked to see, not only the usual Disneyland type lines, but an additional line about 100’ long.  I checked the scrolling marque and it showed movies for screens 1-3 and then 5-7, but what happened to 4?  I walked upstairs and saw theaters 1-4 so I’m really in the dark.  I don’t think Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom opens until tomorrow so I don’t know what the attraction is.  I had a café con leche at Deli but the A/C was so strong soon I felt chilled so I quickly finished my coffee and left.

I quickly caught a bus back to Envigado.  I stopped at Exito and picked up a few necessary items.

I watched episode 9 (season 2) of Westworld although I missed episode 8.

Teresa came back at 7:15.  She thinks she’ll only need a few more days to finish the work at the finca.  I understand John has been moving things in every day.

For dinner I had my leftover chicken chop suey.  Teresa tried it but preferred rice so later she had some of Laura’s leftovers.

Colombia’s next match is against Poland at 1pm on Sunday.  This is a must win for them.

If your dictionary told the truth: Best friends (n.) The people you can get mad at only for a short period of time because you have important stuff to tell them.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

I woke up once at 3:30, fell back asleep about 4am, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

At 7am Colombia’s match started against Japan in Saransk, Russia.  In the spirit of full disclosure, my 2^nd wife was born in Saransk, Mordovia, Russia.

Well, Colombia lost to Japan 2-1.  At the 2-minute mark a Colombia player touched the ball with his arm (called a hand ball) resulting in a penalty kick and his getting a red card.  Because of the former Japan went ahead 1-0 and because of the latter Colombia had to play the rest of the game with only 10 players.

Teresa and I walked down to Home Center where she had a long pole cut into 4 pieces.  I understand they are to support the roof over the gate entrance.  (I think the gate is going to be metal now as I understand it’s less expensive than wood.)

Teresa took the wood in a taxi to the finca and I walked back to the apt.

I went downtown and paid what should be the last couple bills for this month.

At 1:20 I left the apt, met Laura at Deli Hoy and we had lunch.  I invited her to join me to see Ocean’s 8 (5.8) at Vizcaya and surprisingly she agreed.  We walked a couple blocks where we soon were on a bus.  It was standing room only most of the way to Calle 10.  We caught another bus from there that took us a block from Vizcaya.

I bought 2 tickets for 3,000 pesos each.  Laura was surprised they were so cheap but I informed her that Tuesday and Wednesday tickets are half price.  I bought a medium popcorn to share and a medium soda for each of us for a total of 18,200 pesos leaving me with a Cine Colombia card balance of 14,200.  I believe I now have 16 total ticket purchases, past the halfway mark to 30.

There were about a dozen or so people in the theater.  The movie was good, unexpectedly funny although it wasn’t a comedy, and had some plot twists.

Afterward we walked down to Avenida Poblado where we soon caught a Sabaneta bus.  I tried to open the ceiling windows but they appeared to be broken.  Laura got the next to last seat and I got the last seat – next to a large woman who took up more than her share.  And she waited until we were halfway through the trip before opening her window even the slightest.  As often happens at this hour it took 30 minutes to go up the Gold Mile.

Back at the apt we found a slip of paper under our door that looks like it’s announcing that we will be asked to participate in their national census.

Teresa returned at 7:30 and right away ordered chicken breast to be delivered from La Casita Parilla for 10mil.

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

If your dictionary told the truth: Brain (n.) Something we all have but most do not use.

Monday, June 18, 2018

Last night Teresa was very tired so we went to bed at 10pm.  I woke up at 3am and found her snoring for about the next hour.  I think I finally fell back asleep around 6am, finally waking/getting up at 7:30.

Teresa sent me to the corner store to buy a few things like eggs, milk, arepas, etc.  Ten minutes after I returned she tells me we’re out of coffee.  Sigh!

I found a 3^rd no seeum bite on my right arm.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and left for the gym.  Charles was there but left soon after I arrived.  At one point Jason came over and asked for my help.  He showed me instructions in English as to how to use one of the exercise cycles.  I translated as best I could and then directed him to the translator app that I usually use.  I completed all but one of my exercises in a little less than 2 hours.  Because I had missed a week and am still suffering a bit from my cold I moved a lot of my exercises down a weight level.  I kept my leg curls at 65# but still am limiting the number of reps.

On the way back to the apt I saw that Belgium is ahead 2-0 over Peru.  When I got back to the apt I saw they had a 3-0 lead which turned out to be the final.

I forgot to mention Happy Fathers Day yesterday.  Until about mid morning yesterday I still thought it wasn’t until next Sunday.  Maybe it’s different here?  I’ll see if I can’t get the ladies to go with me to Mu next Friday or Saturday night.

In the back of the park behind the library workers have set up 5 “tarps” like canopies.  They don’t look like they would keep out the rain, maybe they are there to keep cement (that they have yet to pour) from drying too quickly.

I left the apt at 2pm and had a burger and mango juice at La Casita Parilla.  I was surprised they didn’t have the England vs Tunisia soccer game on TV. 

I walked to the end of the block where I caught a Metro bus to Majorca mall.  (This time I remembered to bring my Civica card.)  A guard directed me to the Totto store and I found a replacement for 70mil for my current fanny pack that is suffering from a broken zipper.  It’s a little larger than I would like but I needed a replacement soon.  I asked the saleslady if they repair fanny packs and she said they do.  I’ll return soon with my broken one and it should be fixed in a week or two.  Then I’ll probably switch back to my original one.

Outside the mall, instead of taking a taxi back like I usually do, I asked if there is a bus to Parque Envigado.  A man directed me to the 3^rd bus in (front of) line.  I was soon back at the park although the ride was very hurky jerky.  I printed out a few pages at the copy center where I found everything back in order.  There was a young girl there that looked like a spitting image of the owner.  I asked if her if that was her daughter and she said, “yes, why?”.  I told her they look alike and then, a little too slow, I said “maybe you’re sisters?” and she liked that and agreed.  I made what will probably be my last cash withdrawal for this month.  I stopped at Cotrafa to pay a couple bills and the line was all the way to the door so I decided to come back tomorrow.  I stopped at Exito and picked up a list of things that Teresa had given me and I was happy that I had the nice little bag they gave me at Totto as it came in handy carrying things.

I was back at the apt by 4:30.

Teresa came back at 7pm and told me she found another builder who will install the gate for less money. 

I reminded her that we’re supposed to go to Home Center tonight and she said she’s tired so we’ll go tomorrow morning after Colombia’s soccer match with Japan.

If your dictionary told the truth: Laziness (n.) Risking dropping everything you carry rather than walking twice.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Last night I got up once about 4 or 5am, woke up at 7am and got up at 7:45.

We left the apt at 10:15 and quickly caught a taxi to the entrance to the road to the finca for 18,000 pesos.  We walked up the 1,000 foot hill and down another 500 feet.  On the way I saw the supports for the gate that will be installed shortly.  It was further up the hill than I thought, close to Guillermo’s property.

John was there with a cute young lady I assumed to be his wife.  It turned out that she will be cleaning the finca 2-3 times a week after they move in officially on July 1^st.  She is from Venezuela as a lot of newcomers are. 

John walked me back up the hill and showed me locations where he plans on putting a barbed wire fence.  I understand he already has the materials in his current location.

A German Shepherd stopped by for awhile and he got lots of attention.  John told me a story about when his large dog (part mastiff) visited the finca.  Four other dogs barked at him from a distance and he barked back.  They came running up the trail towards him as he headed down to meet them.  They put on the brakes when they saw how large he was and quickly headed in the opposite direction.  John says he’s a sweetheart as long as no one touches John.

Teresa called several neighbors and they came and talked with John.  I think they told him how safe this area is.  It’s nice that he’s fluent in Spanish.

He says he’s going to make the upstairs loft into the master bedroom.

After awhile he got on his motorcycle, the girl got on the back, and he left.

Teresa made lunch and one of her workers stopped by.

We left about 3:15 as some dark clouds rolled in.  At the highway we watched about 6 buses drive past us without stopping.  Teresa said it would probably be difficult because today is election day.  It started raining so we started walking towards El Rancherito.  Then it got harder and even though we both had umbrellas the lower half of our calves were getting wet.  Finally she decided we would go to Caldas and we were soon on the bus.  The rain obviously was now hail but by the time we got to Caldas it was completely dry.

We quickly caught a bus back to Envigado.  On the taxi ride back to the apt the driver told us that Duque won and will be the next President of Colombia.  Back at the apt just before 5pm we found that Duque won over Petro with 54% to 42% of the vote.

There have been a few upsets in the World Cup already.  For example, today Mexico beat Germany 1-0.  In fact, there were reports of some minor seismic activity (jumping Mexicans) in Mexico City right at the time they scored the goal.

Just before going to bed I found 2 no seeum bites on my forearms.

If your dictionary told the truth: That’s nice (phr.) What you say when you’re talking on the phone and you zone out in the middle of the other person’s story.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

I got up once during the night, finally waking at 7am and getting up at 7:30.  Teresa had already left for the finca.

I received an email that I have a document waiting to be picked up at Envios Market.

I left the apt at 11am and quickly caught a bus downtown.  They took a detour (because of work on the Metro Plus) and I lost 8 minutes because of it.  I started rethinking my original plan of going to the ATM first and then on to Envios Market.  I have to get there for my document before they close at noon.  A man got on the bus selling what looked like 1,000 peso bills and cookies.  I didn’t even know they had 1,000 peso bills; it looked real with dark colors and the security stripe.  I ended up getting off the bus across from Envios Market and soon had my June issue of Chess Life magazine.  I walked to the nearby ATM and found that it was out of cash.  I took a bus to Oviedo and as I approached the ticket booth I saw a large crowd but soon realized they were just waiting to use the down escalator.  I added 40mil to my Cine Colombia account and bought a ticket to El Nuevo Camino for 6mil.  I think the total ticket count I have on my Cine Colombia card is now 14.  I got a seat on the end of the last aisle to facilitate my usual trip to the restroom.  There were no other seats sold at that point.  As I was leaving I heard a loud cheer.  Downstairs they had seats set up theater style and were showing the World Cup and Denmark just scored against Peru and were leading 1-0.

I walked over to Santafe mall and tried to make a withdrawal at Falabella’s ATM but once again it said it was having technical difficulties.  I stopped at a Totto store and checked out their fanny packs but didn’t see anything I liked.  (I did see some nice tech bags that I could have bought here instead of ordering from the US.)

Back at the theater I bought a small popcorn and medium soda for 13,200 pesos.  Inside I found only 4 other people – 2 sitting right in front of me and, strangely, an older couple that had chosen their seats right next to me.  (Two others came in during the movie.)  Soon the movie started but there was no sound.  After giving them a minute to fix the situation I went outside the theater and since I couldn’t remember the word for sound I pantomimed the problem.  In Spanish she said ‘the audio isn’t working.”  Now I know that “audio” is the same in Spanish as it is in English.  They stopped the projector and we waited 5 minutes for them to restart the film.  

What is ironic is that the English title for the movie is Please Stand By.  Lol.  I saw a trailer for the movie Every Day (6.2) which is coming soon.  It looked pretty interesting.  The movie was pretty good and I soon caught a bus back to Envigado.  I stopped at the copy center but just before closing (4pm?) they were busy moving things around.

Laura left about 7pm for Caldas.  She said she’s meeting with friends and then she’ll vote in Caldas.

The Colombian Peso closed for the week at 2,895 to the US Dollar.

A joint bid by the US, Canada and Mexico won the right to host the 2026 World Cup.  I wonder if the countries will still be speaking to each other by then.

Teresa came back at 7:45.  She called the guy working on putting up the showers and he said he can’t work tomorrow but he’ll be there Monday.  Teresa informs me of this then suddenly remembers that she already made lunch for him at the finca for tomorrow.  So now she wants me to go with her to the finca tomorrow just to have lunch and then we’ll return to the apt.  I, begrudingly, agree.

If your dictionary told the truth: Balanced diet (n.) One cheeseburger in each hand.