Friday, August 24, 2018

Last night I went to bed at 11pm, fell asleep quickly but woke up at 4:15.  Figuring I wasn’t going to get back to sleep I got up at 5:15.

It was still raining lightly when I got up.

I finally got my appetite back.

Teresa woke/got up at 6:30.

We were out of milk so Teresa sent me to the corner store at 6:45 in a light mist.  They were closed.  I returned just after 7am and they were open.

I had my usual pre workout brekfast of scrambled eggs and a muffin with strawberry preserves.

I took a little nap from 8 to 8:45.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and then left for the gym.  On my way I noticed Une workers down the street, a couple blocks away, working on the wires.  At the gym I completed all my exercises in 2 hours; another good day with no problem with my hamstrings.  (It was nice to at least have an internet connection while at the gym.)  I figure if we don’t have wifi back by tomorrow either I’ll make a trip to Patricks Irish Sports Pub or take my laptop to some public wifi spot like McDonalds or Starbucks.  On the way back to the apartment I noticed Une workers were now working across the street from the apt so I have hope.

Teresa has back-to-back massage appointments at Stella Duran from 3-5pm so I’ll probably go with her and hang out at the hostel.

Teresa asked me to call for an Uber car forgetting that we don’t have wifi.

We left the apt at 2:30 and after walking a block north we caught a taxi to Stella Duran for 11mil.

While she went in for her massages I went to the nearby hostel called Casa Blanca.  They had wifi but their internet connection was so weak they might as well not had it.  Luckily I brought my paperback with me so I read that for most of 2 hours.

Teresa came out just before 5pm and we quickly caught a taxi back to the apt for 10mil.

I noticed a banner across the street advertising a number of races (2k, 4k) including a marathon on September 16^th.

Hopefully they would have the wifi fixed when we got back but unfortunately not!

At 6:50 Teresa asks me if I want to go for pizza.  Sure!  But we are going to wait until 8pm so her mother can join us.

And at 7:45 Teresa decides we’ll order from La Casita Parilla instead and go for pizza another day.

Because we have no wifi I’ve been flying through my paperback book.  I’ve decided when I’m shopping for paperback in the bookstore to concentrate on those that are identified as being #1 New York Times Bestseller.

Today’s Step Count was 7,832.

Joke of the day

Do you remember Andy Rooney from 60 Minutes?

Andy Rooney on answering machines.
Did you ever hear one of these corny positive messages on someone's answering machine? “Hi, it's a great day and I'm out enjoying it right now. I hope you are too. The thought for the day is: ‘Share the love.’ BEEP”
"Uh, yeah...this is the VD clinic calling....Speaking of being positive, your test results are back. Stop sharing the love."

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Last night I went to bed at 11pm, fell asleep quickly and only got up once about 5:30.  I fell back asleep and woke/got up at 8am.

Still no wifi.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and then Teresa and I both took a nap of a little over an hour.

I got up just before 11am feeling much better.  My eyes still feel a little tired though.

Teresa spent some time on the phone trying to get through to Une – probably the same result as in the US – “all our operators are busy with other callers; your call is important to us; calls are answered in the order they are taken” yada, yada, yada.  Finally she gave up and I think she called Laura and asked her to check with the Une office in Poblado.

I just realized that if we don’t have wifi I won’t be able to see my football game at noon on Saturday from my laptop.  Yikes!  That means I’ll have to make a trip to Patrick’s Irish Sports Pub and hopefully they will be able to put the game on there.

I had no appetite all day but I did eat a little.

I spent most of the day analyzing my games from the chess tournament.

We got a light rain just before 11pm.

Today’s Step Count was 5,211.  Even though I never left the apt I spent a lot of time walking between my computer and the dining room table (due to lack of space on my chess table).

Joke of the day

Two guys, one old, one young, are pushing their carts around Wal-Mart when they collide. The old guy says to the young guy, "Sorry about that. I'm looking for my wife, and I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

The young guy says, "That's OK, it's quite a coincidence, but I'm looking for my wife, too.... I can't find her and I'm getting a little desperate."

The old guy says, "Well, maybe I can help you find her....what does she look like?"

The young guy says, "Well, she is 27 years old, tall, blonde, blue eyes, is buxom...wearing no bra, long legs, and is wearing short shorts. What does your wife look like?”

To which the old guy replies, "Doesn't matter….Let's look for yours!”

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Last night I fell asleep quickly but woke up and it was obviously nowhere near dawn.  At one point I heard a car alarm go off and it didn’t stop for a couple minutes.  I finally looked at my watch and it said 1:15.  Sigh!

I would feel warm and take off the sheet and soon feel cold and put it back on.  Most of the night went like that and it was a long night.

Of course I skipped going to the gym today and didn’t even get to see the Today show.

I spent most of the day in and out of bed but only falling asleep twice for about an hour each.

Finally I got up at 4pm feeling much better.

I finished the first cycle of The Woodpecker Method.  That entailed solving, or attempting to solve, 222 chess puzzles classified as easy.  I worked on 20 puzzles a day for the last 11 days with a correct solution rate of about 75%.

I finished reading my Nook book Invisble by James Patterson.

I went to bed at 11pm and right away figured out the cause of my alternating warm/cool experience from the night before.  My bed sheet was doubled!  I undoubled it and quickly fell asleep.

Today’s Step Count was 916.  A new low, not surprising since all I did is hang around the apt all day.

Joke of the day

An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation.   As he was about to get the anesthesia, he asked to speak to his son.
"Yes, Dad, what is it?"
"Don't be nervous, son; do your best, and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me, your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife...

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Typical night, I woke up at 5:30 and got up at 7am.

When Laura got up about 7:30 I kiddingly asked her if she got a message from Trevor asking how she is this morning.  She pretended to give me a spanking but instead of saying “spank spank” they say “pow pow”.

I left the apt at 9:30, walked over to the bookstore where I exchanged paperbacks for 2mil, and then stopped at the bakery for a coffee.  I stopped at the health food store where I bought a container of Bi-Pro for 89mil.  It came with a free plastic drinking cup that contains 2 storage areas (like for protein powder) and and also serves as a shaker.  I stopped at the corner store where I bought 3 bags of milk and was back at the apt by 10:30.

Teresa had already left for 2 classes at the gym.

I received an email from Envios Market that I have a document waiting for pickup.  I’ll probably wait until Saturday.

As soon as Teresa returned she commandeered the drinking cup which was fine with me.

Teresa left the apt at 1:30.  She’s taking her mother to a clinic in Mayorca so I’m going to see Bad Samaritan in Unicentro beginning at 3:20.

I left the apt about 2pm, walked down to the metro and just missed a train.  It only took about 5 minutes for the next one to arrive.

After we left the Aguacatala station the car was cattle car full.  At 2:30 in the afternoon?  I was going to get off at the Exposiciones Station but I was afraid I might miss it so with some shoving I managed to get off a station earlier at Industriales.  I walked to the other side of the highway and got in one of the waiting taxis.

If I remember correctly the ride to Unicentro mall was about 7mil.

Thirty minutes before showtime I had my ticket (4,750 pesos) and was sitting in the theater lobby.  (I now have 30 total ticket purchases this year on my Cine Colombia card.)   I read some from my Nook until 10 minutes before showtime.  I bought a small popcorn and medium soda and entered the theater.  There were only 2 other people there – a couple just on the other side of the aisle from me.  They talked throughout the coming attractions and commercials and I had to shush them soon after the main attraction started.

I thought the movie – Bad Samaritan (6.3) – was very good, in fact Teresa might enjoy it.

Outside the mall I quickly caught a taxi back to the apt, although traffic was heavy as the driver chose to return via Avenida Poblado.

I was back by 5:30 but Teresa didn’t return for another 90 minutes.

Sometime in the evening we realized that we had lost our wifi.

I wasn’t feeling well, feeling bloated and a case of what I call the “blahs” most likely because I ate 2 (though small) tubs of salted popcorn with sodas on 2 consecutive days.  Not a good idea!

So, I have 2 choices: 1) drink lots of water until I throw up and soon I’ll feel better; I chose 2) do nothing and feel bad for a couple days.

Teresa was very tired and decided to go to bed early at 10:30.  I agreed which means I would need to start my melatonin an hour earlier but at 9:30 I was hugging the toilet and throwing up slightly.  I certainly needed more.  I went to bed at 10:15 feeling a little cold. 

Today’s Step Count was 6,739.

Joke of the day

A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid.
Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem.
The doctor told him there is a simple test the husband could perform to give them a better idea about her hearing loss.
“Here's what you do," said the doctor, "stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you.  If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response."
That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the den. He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens."
Then in a normal voice he asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?"
No response.
So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey, what's for dinner?"  Still no response.
Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?"  Again he gets no response.
So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again there is no response.
So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for dinner?"

She turns around and says, "Ralph, for the FIFTH time, its CHICKEN!"

NO INTERNET

Dear Readers,

I have been without internet in the apt for almost 3 weeks now.

My apologies for not posting about this problem sooner.

It took a week just to report the problem.  I could stop by an office and report the problem but i am sure I would not understand their answer.  Teresa called several times but you know...All our representatives are busy with other customers with the endless music.  Laura works full time every day but Monday and finally she contacted them.  Some Une guy came out and checked things in the apt and declared the problem was outside.  I have seen numerous times men working on the lines outside but who knows if it has anything to do with our problem.

Almost every day Laura calls Une and they say manana.

I think i have convinced Teresa that if the probem is not fixed by monday we will cancel our account with them and open one with Claro.


TO BE CONTINUED...

Monday, August 20, 2018

Today is another holiday.  This time it’s Asunción de María (Assumption of Mary).

Last night I slept pretty well despite getting up twice but I was awakened at 6:40 by the parrots squawking in the tree outside the apt so I got up.

Teresa left at 7am for the finca to check out the plants and things.  She’s going to try to come back in time so we can see the movie tonight.  It will probably be the 3D version starting at 7pm.

I had a little bit of a runny nose this morning so I hope I didn’t somehow catch Laura’s cold.

I left the apt at 8:05.  The streets and sidewalks are nearly deserted.  There was a ciclovia going on on the closed street leading to the park.  I had calentado and a café con leche at Carbon de Leña for the usual 8,500 pesos.  Passing back through the park there was an exercise class just getting organized.  I was back at the apt by 8:50 so I guess here to there and back with breakfast takes about 45 minutes.

I wached the first 20 minutes of the Today show and then left for the gym.  The exercise class in the park was now in progress.

I completed all my exercises in 2 hours.  For the 2^nd time my hamstrings felt like normal on the leg flex machine.  I’m pretty satisfied with the muscle I’ve put on in the last 2 years, now I need to work on my cardio.  I skipped 2 simple but time consuming exercises that I usually do and instead walked for 5 minutes at speed 5 on the treadmill.  I know I need to increase the speed and time in order to work my heart but I am limited by how much force my old joints can take.  At one point I saw a man walked past me wearing a Chicago t-shirt.

Back at the apt Laura finally came out of her bedroom about 12:30.

I understand Teresa won’t be returning until later so Laura called and ordered a full chicken plus salads and a Pepsi for me from Frisby for 56mil.  This way there will be some food for Teresa when she returns.

Laura shared with me a voice mail and messages from Trevor, one of the young men I met last week at Santafe mall.  He’s the one from SF that spoke English with me while the other 2 spoke English with Teresa.  He sounds like he’s infatuated with her; time will tell.

I took a nap from 2:30 to 3:45.

Teresa called at 5:45 to report that she’s still waiting to catch a bus from the finca back to Envigado.  If she catches a bus then I’ll go early to Oviedo to buy tickets and they will catch up with me later.

Teresa finally called just after 6pm.  She caught a taxi but traffic was heavy so things are still a little up in the air.  I changed clothes, walked down the hill and caught a taxi to Oviedo.  Thankfully, there was no line and there were lots of seats available.  I waited for Teresa to call to tell me whether to buy tickets or not.  Finally she called and I understood that it would only be me and Laura so I bought 2 preferred seating 3D tickets for 20mil each.  A little later I got a text message from Laura that she was coming in a taxi with Teresa.  Is Teresa just accompanying her or is she going to see the movie also?  They showed up just before 7pm and we managed to buy another seat right next to the other two.  (I now have 29 total ticket purchases this year on my Cine Colombia card.)  We bought popcorn and sodas and entered the theater just before the main feature began.

It was really cold inside.  Teresa brought a piece of Frisby chicken with her and at one point I warned her because I saw a Cine Colombia employee walking the aisles.

When another employee came by later I asked her why it was so cold inside.  Of course I didn’t understand her answer so I had her repeat it for Teresa who then explained to me that another room was full of people so they had to turn up the A/C for them.  Obviously they don’t have separate controls for each theater.

The movie was okay as they had to kill the Megaladon several times.  Interestingly I recognized the actor Robert Taylor who I remember from the TV series Longmire.

Outside Oviedo we quickly caught a taxi back to the apt for 8mil.

Wow, Trevor sent Laura a text message asking how her day was.

Today’s Step Count was 8,566.

Joke of the day

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

Thought for the Day

A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no reason for two people to have to remember the same thing!

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Pretty much what has become a typical night, although I went to bed a little late (11:45) because of the football game, got up once during the night and woke at 6:30 and got up at 7:30.

Laura was feeling better this morning and left for work at 8:30.  I think we’ll be able to see the movie tomorrow.

Teresa and I left the apt at 11am, met MT down the hill and quickly caught a taxi to Terminal del Sur (South bus terminal).

We bought tickets to Rio Negro (at least that’s where I thought we were going) for 7,500 pesos each.  (MT gave me 50mil to cover at least her bus ticket and lunch so that was unexpected but nice.)  There was about a 15 minute wait until the bus left.

We arrived in San Antionio (I found out a little later) in an hour and 45 minutes. 

It took longer than Teresa thought and also wasn’t what she was told it would be like from her friend.  I think she was very disappointed.  After walking around their park filled with booths a little we had a menu del dia at a small restaurant.  The chicken shish kebab we all had was delicious.

We walked down the street where we finally found a bakery.  We got the last table and I had 2 café con leches, and Teresa and MT had coffees.  I also had a pastry with guanabana (or something like that) inside.  There was a 30-something woman sitting at the next table off Teresa’s side.  On two different occasions she got up and left her purse sitting on a chair next to hers.  Later I learned that she asked Teresa to watch her things but as Teresa said she didn’t know us at all.  I told Teresa we could have had half of her money for her and half for me.  What about my mother she asked?  Let her find her own mark.  Lol.

Highlights of the trip: 1) a man walking a small pig, 2) a man creating pencil drawings with his feet as he had no arms, 3) a visit to the restroom where I saw a man using the urinal at the same time as he was brushing his teeth (now that’s multi-tasking).  I also noticed a booth selling waffles that was using a double-sided Cuisinart machine.  They had 4 of them so I guess there must have been quite a demand.

We were back at the bus stop by 5:45 for our 6pm return trip.  Luckily we bought tickets ahead of time as there was a long line.  Just after 6pm a bus arrived and people started to get on and it was obvious everyone wasn’t going to fit on this small bus.  One or two women behind me constantly called out to just let those on board who have tickets.  As far as I could see that’s what they did.  The last few people on had to stand.

The bus left when it looked like we would be the next ones on.

The next bus arrived at 7pm, we got seats and we were on our way.  I was sitting next to a woman with a young baby with Teresa and MT on the other side of the aisle.  This young woman also had a backpack at her feet that she struggled to get things out of since her hands were pretty full.  Finally she said something to me in Spanish and I asked Teresa for help.  The young woman got up and switched places with another friend.  This second young woman was even prettier than the first and she had a young baby also.  I never heard a peep out of either baby all the way back to Medellin.

We got off at San Diego mall and quickly caught a taxi back to the apt.

Teresa thought the trip was a waste of time but for me it’s interesting to see a new place – not that I would want to return.

The Colombian Peso closed for the week at 3,031 to the US Dollar.  It’s nice to see it over 3,000 again.

Today’s Step Count was 4,179.

Joke of the day

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

Children

A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.

A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.