Friday, July 20, 2018

Last night I fell asleep quickly.  I have a vague feeling that I woke up about 4:30 but didn’t get up and quickly fell back asleep.  I finally woke up at 6:15 and got up at 6:45.

Well, today is Colombia’s Independence Day.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and left for the gym. 

After I had walked a few blocks I realized I forgot to bring 1,000 pesos to buy a Q’Hubo newspaper.  The usual newsboy wasn’t on his corner and the stand that sells newspapers was missing also so maybe there is no newspaper for the holiday.

Most of the stores across from Exito were closed but only about half on the next block leading to the park.

They had a street closed off for Ciclovia and there was an exercise class going on in the park outside Bartolos.

I completed all my exercises in an hour and 45 minutes.

After lunch I was sitting on the couch when I noticed a little blood on my lower forearm.  Then I noticed blood on the couch that I had obviously put there.  In the bathroom I was finally able to see more blood on my elbow that I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to see without the mirror.  I have no idea how I got cut but I rinsed it, put on some Neosporin and topped it with a bandaid.  Then after a quick Google search I got a small towel, dipped it in water and blotted out the stain.

I left the apt, took a bus to Oviedo where I added 50mil to my Cine Colombia balance and bought 3 tickets to the 7pm showtime. It cost a total of 46,500 pesos for 3 preferred seating tickets.

I was going to stop for a smoothie next door at McDonalds but I felt stuffed from lunch so I just stopped in Starbucks, mainly for their air conditioning, and read some news from my cellphone.

I walked outside and found a Sabaneta bus waiting for me.  I had my choice of seats but took one in the back next to the window.  The driver waited at least 5 minutes before pulling away from the curb.

I was back at the apt by 2:45 and the wet spot on the sofa was almost completely dry with the blood stain barely noticeable. 

At 3pm Teresa and Laura went to get their nails done.

I worked on analyzing the first of my chess games that I played yesterday with Jose.

Teresa came back at 5:30 and reported that, I guess for the first time, a man did their nails.  She was not happy about the job he did.  I guess they are still sexist here!

About 6:15 I called for an Uber car and it arrived in about 10 minutes.  It cost 8,200 pesos to take us to Oviedo mall.  First we stopped at Subway where Teresa bought a turkey sandwich that she smuggled into the theater in her purse.  Upstairs at the theater there was a line for tickets that luckily we were able to skip because there were huge lines for the concession counter.  We waited in line, bought 3 sodas, large and small popcorns and a hot dog for Laura for 44,600 pesos leaving me a balance of 17,600.

By the time we got to our seats the theater was packed and we had missed the first 5 minutes or so of the movie.

Despite a 6.1 IMDB rating I thought the movie Skyscraper was good and I was even able to get through it without a trip to the restroom.  (There were some action spots in the movie where I said “you’ve got to be kidding me”.  Like when Dwayne Johson cuts a thick elevator cable with one swing of an axe.)

After the movie we quickly caught a taxi back to the apt for another 8,200 pesos.

I believe I now have 20 total ticket purchases, 2/3 the way to my Platinum Cine card.

I’m wondering how the late movie snack will affect me tonight.  The salt from eating half a large tub of salted popcorn could give me a headache.  The liquid from the medium soda could get me up during the night and the caffeine it contained could prevent me from even falling asleep.

Just before we went to bed it started raining lightly.

Today’s Step Count was 10,165.

T-shirt of the day: Kiss cancer goodbye.

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Typical night.  I got up 2-3 times during the night, woke up at 6:30 and got up at 7.

I left the apt just before 9am in shorts and sleeveless t-shirt.

This time I didn’t bring my chess board and pieces as the chess league has boards embedded in the tables and Jose said he would bring his chess pieces and clock.

On the metro I briefly met a man from Switzerland who was visiting with his young daughter of about 8-9 years old.  They were on their way to visit Plaza Botero.

I arrived at the chess league just before 10am and Jose was waiting for me.  With his help I signed up for next month’s Flower Faire tournament for 76,000 pesos.  This will be a large tournament with hundreds of players.  Jose says they already have players enrolled from Spain and Cuba.  Jose gave me a large slice of carrot cake that his wife Maria made.  Yum!

I got the White pieces and won a long close game.  I had 2 connected passed pawns 2 squares away from queening while he got a mating attack against me. He probably should have won but he made one move a little too quickly and he ended up losing.

We walked over to Tropical restaurant for lunch.  I had the menu of the day and Jose had their mixed lasagna.  I ate most of my bean casserole but got the rest to go.

Back at the chess league I had the Black pieces and Jose won in the endgame.  Jose believed I could have gotten a draw but we both know I’m not strong in the endgame.

Today I practiced keeping score in Spanish instead of English.  What’s the difference?  In the following, the first column shows the English notation, then the piece in English, and then the Spanish notation (with explanation).

K = King = R for Rey

Q = Queen = D for Dama (lady)

R = Rook = T for Torre (tower)

B = Bishop = A for Alfil

N = Knight = C for caballo (horse)

P = Pawn = is just notated by the square it moves to.

Anyway, we both feel like we’re close to being in shape for next month’s tournament which is only 2 weeks away.

On the metro, at the Poblado station, I saw the same man from Switzerland that I had seen this morning.  We both waved as he passed my car in the Poblado station.  I got a seat next to a woman and I wish I could describe the “coat” she had on.  It was long sleeves, looked to be a tight knit and when she got up to leave it came down to her knees and she didn’t appear to be uncomfortably warm in it at all.

Back in Envigado all the tables were taken at Bartolos so I had a small coffee for 1,800 pesos at the small bakery.  I bought a kilo of strawberries from a man in the park for 10mil but from experience buying a kilo so often I’m pretty sure he shorted me on the weight.

I was back at the apt by 5pm.

Teresa returned at 7pm and said she has to return one more time, probably next Tuesday when I go to play chess with Jose.

For dinner I had leftovers – jumblaya from yesterday and the casserole from today’s lunch.  And I sneaked a little piece of carrot cake.

Teresa has been complaining that I overfill the water chamber in the fridge and it spills on the floor.  I got my flashlight and discovered it’s from the little catchbasin on the outside of the fridge.  It’s full so when the door swings open or closed some spills out on the floor.

I asked Teresa if she wanted to see Skyscraper (6.2) tomorrow starting at 7pm at Oviedo.  She said yes.  I said after lunch I would go and buy tickets so we know we will have seats when we arrive shortly before showtime.

Since tomorrow is Colombia’s Independence Day I asked the ladies if the gym is open tomorrow.  Teresa seems to think it will be closed and Laura thinks it will be open until 5pm so we’ll see.

Today’s Step Count was 10,220.

T-shirt of the day: I’m dumb or maybe just happy.

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Typical night.  I got up twice during the night, woke up about 5:30, got up at 6:30.

I sneaked in a little nap between 8:15 and 8:45.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and headed for the gym.  I did all of my exercises in an hour and 45 minutes.

For lunch Teresa decided to make Jumbalaya with the mix Chuck brought some months ago.  We needed some meat base so she sent Laura to Exito for sausage.  It turned out pretty good although a tad spicy.

I left the apt about 4:30 and walked over to Bartolos for a coffee.  There were no outside tables so I continued on to the nearest bakery.  I sat down at the only available table but after 10 minutes no one came to ask for my order so I got up and moved on to the next bakery.  Even there I had to wait 5 minutes to give my order.  I had a café con leche while checking the news on my cellphone.

I paid 1,600 or whatever it was for my coffee and walked over to the copy center where I had a few pages copied from my latest Chess Life magazine.

I was back at the apt just before 6pm.

Teresa said her mother called and she’s bored and wants to go to Home Center.  I told her I would skip it this time.

At 7pm Teresa asked me if I want to go for pizza.  (She asked me right after I ate a biscotti cookie with a glass of milk so her timing could have been better.)  I said fine as long as it’s a little later.

We left the apt just before 8pm, met MT down the hill and quickly caught a taxi to Antica Pizza for 6mil.  We each had a slice and got one to go for Laura.  The total bill including drinks came to about 58,500 pesos.  We had to wait 5 minutes or so to catch a taxi back for the minimum of 5,400 pesos.

Today’s Step Count was 8,894.

T-shirt of the day: I left my heart in (sic) my first date.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Last night I woke up once about 3am, fell back asleep quickly, woke/got up at 7:30.

I forgot to mention that we got a little rain last night from about 9:30 to 10:15.  I think this is the first rain we’ve had since before my son arrived on July 2^nd.

I put on shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt and headed out the door at 9am.  I realized I forgot to recharge my iPod so I left it behind.  I did take my umbrella and the change for the chess league secretary.  I walked down to the metro and on the west line in the San Diego station an American woman got on with her 2 daughters.  They are visiting from Arizona and are going on a tour today of Communa 13 with its outdoor escalators.

I arrived at the chess league right at 10am and Jose was waiting for me.  I asked him if the secretary was there and he reported that now they have a new one so I guess I get to keep my change.

I had the White piecies in the first game and almost immediately got pressure against his king and queen and he was in a cramped position.  He repelled a couple of my attacks until I finally repelled his desperate attack and he resigned. 

We walked over to Tropical in Obelisca mall where we had their menu of the day for 10,500 pesos.  The soup was delicious but there was nothing special about the meat today. 

Jose told me he has a 3:30 doctor’s appointment today so we just walked back to the chess league where we showed each other a chess puzzle.

Jose checked and the fee for the amateur section of the upcoming Flower Faire tournament is 76mil.

We walked together as far as the Stadium Station.  I think we might get together to play again on Thursday.

At the San Antonio station I noticed a couple gringos who appeared not to be sure of where they were or were going.  I asked if they needed help but they said no.

By then I wasn’t paying attention when the train came in so I didn’t know if it was a local (La Estrella) or an express (Naranja or Verde).  This is only important because Verde doesn’t stop at the Envigado station.  I jumped on anyway and finally figured out that if it stopped at all stations (which it did) then I knew I was on the local.

In Parque Envigado I stopped at Bartolos where I had a limonada de coco.  I noticed that a Bartolos wifi network was available so I asked the waitress for the password.  She got it right on the second try.  For the first time in I don’t remember when I got a strong internet signal.  There were a couple of gringos sitting at the next table but I thought they were German.  They were having the menu of the day and at one point a drifter came over and appeared to ask her if he could have her leftover frijoles.  Another man with a uniform stood nearby as I don’t think that sort of thing is condoned here.

Todays Step Count was 8,670.

T-shirt of the day: Less Monday.  More summer.

Monday, July 16, 2018

Well it was another typical night.  I fell asleep pretty quickly and woke up at 4:30.  It took me at least 90 minutes to fall back asleep finally waking/getting up at 8am.

Teresa told me that John doesn’t have water.  You already told me that like when, last Friday?  I understand she has someone that is going to fix it today and she doesn’t have to be there.

At the gym I completed all my exercises in an hour and 50 minutes.

While waiting for lunch I took a little nap from 12:30 to 1:15.

After lunch I left the apt at 2pm and got a seat in the back of a bus headed for Poblado.  Unfortunately by the time it crossed the Envigado/Medellin border all the seats were taken; there’s no heat like body heat.  I got off across the street from Envios Market where I picked up a little package for an extra 1,800 pesos plus my July Chess Life magazine.  I took a bus up to McDonald’s where I ordered an Oreo Cappucino Frappe for 7,900 pesos and asked the girl to bring it to me outside. 

The little package as expected was my step counter, unfortunately it came with a lanyard so I didn’t need to buy one separately and it even came with an extra battery.  I quickly put it together, hit the reset button and slid it over my wasteband.  27 minutes later my drink still hadn’t arrived so I gathered up my things and as soon as I stepped inside I saw the girl coming towards me with my order. 

Wow is it cold inside McDonald’s; no one’s going to linger long in there.

I skimmed through my Chess Life magazine and checked the news on my cellphone to see what the latest trouble our president is in.

I left about 4pm and watched at least 4 Envigado buses go by, with lots of empty seats, before finally catching a Sabaneta bus.  Hmmm!  Maybe I should rethink taking an Envigado bus and see how many extra blocks I have to walk; it might be worth it; especially if I’m trying to walk more.  I got the last seat in the back row and it was soon full - standing room only.

I stopped at the copy center and had a few pages copied from the September 2017 issue of Chess Life.

Back at the apt I checked my step counter and it still read 0.  I reset it again and then it seemed to start working.  Today is mainly a practice day; I’ll start recording my steps for real starting tomorrow.

We left the apt at 7pm, walked down the hill where we met MT and walked to Exito.  They continued on to Home Center and I stopped in Exito where I couldn’t find any Cheddar cheese so I picked up a package marked cheese for sandwiches.  I also picked up a head of lettuce that Teresa asked for.  In Home Center I found them upstairs in the plumbing aisle.  I don’t think Teresa found exactly what she was looking for because she wasn’t holding anything and MT only had a bottle of what looked like glass cleaner.  Back downstairs, now about 8pm, they had the longest lines I’ve ever seen there so MT put her bottle down and we walked out.  Teresa said she could buy what she needs in Caldas.

We stopped at MT’s apartment for awhile – very stuffy – why do old people always shut themselves up like that?  I hope I don’t become like that when I’m old.  LOL.

We left her apt at 8:30.

At least her elevator is now working, although it’s pretty slow.

Todays, partial day, Step Count was 5,881.

T-shirt of the day: Are we human?

Sunday, July 15, 2018

I woke up twice last night but still fell back asleep quickly, finally waking up at 7am.  Teresa asked me what time it was and I said “7am but I’m still going to rest a bit”.

At 7:45 the doorbell rang - it was Andres.  Eventually Laura went downstairs and talked to him at the entrance.  I quickly looked out and saw he had a couple photocopies that looked like a birth certificate or passport and was complaining about something.

Teresa told me she wants to have an electrician come in to disconnect the phone that is attached to the doorbell.  I told her I’m not changing my life for that idiot.  On the other hand I have to question Teresa’s decision for bringing him here.

Teresa told me now Andres doesn’t want to return to San Andres.  (Why, because he’s so happy here?  Bothering us?)  This is one reason why Teresa is so insistent on moving – so he won’t be able to find us.

In the World Cup final, finally some scoring: France 2-1 over Croatia at halftime.  France prevaled 4-2 to become the World Cup Champion.

What I learned from reading the local newspapers: a) there are 16 Encicla rental stations in Envigado with routes connecting it to Medellin, Sabaneta, and Itagui (they still don’t show up on their website map, though); b) the new Viva Envigado mall is 80% complete and should be finished in 2 months; c) the current administration will not be able to complete the Metro Plus in Poblado due to lack of resources.  Even the designs will not be finished as City Hall reassigned the resources to other projects in the city.

For lunch, Teresa made vegetable lasagna using leftover dough that she had frozen and I made garlic bread.

At 5pm Teresa announced she wanted to go somewhere.  First she came up with Zara at Santafe mall.  I informed her that she could look but not buy anything because we don’t have (much) money.  Then she got the idea to go to Pricesmart because we need some things.  I agreed and convinced Laura to join us for the first time.

At 5:30 I called for an Uber car.  I watched and for 5 minutes it said he was 4 minutes away but his car didn’t move.  Finally, the car turned around, turned around again, and again, finally moving and picking us up about 5:40.  He took us to Pricesmart for a little more than 9,000 pesos.

This was Laura’s first time there so Teresa showed her around while I picked up a few things I knew we wanted.  I replenished my container of garlic spread that is almost finished.  (At one point I got a free slice of pepperoni pizza from a server at one end of an aisle.)  I also picked up another container of Biscotti biscuits and package of English muffins.  The total bill came to almost $135.

We took a taxi back for 13,000 pesos and were back by 7:30.

Tomorrow after gym and lunch I hope to go to Envios Market and pick up my step counter.

T-shirt of the day: Cute as fuck.

Saturday, July 14, 2018

I slept pretty well but woke up at 4am.  I got up once more at 6am, finally waking/getting up at 7:30.

Teresa got an early morning call from John – they don’t have any water.  She believes the hose from the tank came loose so she recommends we have to add another tank as backup.   Later she said something about leaves getting into the tank and clogging the hose.  Ah, the joys of home ownership.

I left the apt about 9:30 and took a bus to Calle 7 where I withdrew some small bills.  I walked up to McDonald’s where I had a cold Frappe Mocha and sat outside reading my Nook.

I walked up to the Ovideo bus stop and had to wait about 10 minutes for a Sabaneta bus.  I got one of the last seats in the back.

Back in Envigado I picked up a few items from Exito and then had the Au Pair guide Your Steps to America printed out at the nearby copy center.

Back at the apartment I found an email that I have a package to pickup at Envios Market.  Drat!  They sent it about the same time I was in their neighborhood.

Monthly I have been receiving an email from Smartfit – something about finishing my registration.  Tonight Laura helped me complete an online application and now I just have to notify the girl at the front desk that I’ve finished it.

Well that didn’t work as planned!  Teresa suggested we order ribs from Mu so at 7pm Laura and I got dressed and called the restaurant to place our order.  Unfortunately we kept getting a “this number is temporarily out of order” message.  I checked online and it looked like they were open.  I had Laura check Facebook and she said she didn’t see any indication that they were closed.  By this time it was 7:15 so I called an Uber car to take us there and then we would order.  The driver spoke good English having driven cabs and trucks in New Jersey 20 years ago.  When we got there I saw a light on inside and 3 people standing outside.  Despite these visual clues the people standing outside said it was closed until September.

We walked the few blocks to Parque Lleras where we ordered food at J&C Delicias.  I don’t know why, as the restaurant wasn’t busy, but it took at least 45 minutes for them to prepare our order.  I was going to call an Uber car to take us back to the apt but I kept seeing empty taxis going by.  Of course by the time we walked outside there wasn’t a taxi in sight.  I just followed Laura who showed me the best place to catch a taxi and we arrived back at the apt at 8:40.

The Colombian Peso closed for the week at 2,857 to the US Dollar.

After dinner Laura was talking to someone on her cell phone that I soon learned was Andres.  Something about her showing him how to get to the airport Monday so he can return to San Andres.

T-shirt of the day: Greece.