Wednesday, February 13, 2019

We left the apt at 8:30 and stopped at Eduardo Madrid bakery for coffee.

We went to the local restaurant in Chucksmart for breakfast.

We ducked quickly into the church.

We stopped at Pagos Internationales to confirm that they are open until 5pm.

We took a bus back to the apt.

Airin sent herself money via Money Remit.

We stopped at La Casita Parilla for a drink.

In Pagos Internationales they refused to give Airin her cash because they had her name in their system as Airin Airin instead of Airin and her middle name.

We took a bus to Sabaneta and stopped at a bar for a drink.

While sitting there one young man walked up to another and slugged him in the chin.  The one that did the slugging walked away.  Our best guess is that he might have insulted his girlfriend.  A few minutes later a couple policemen talked to the slugged one and he became quite agitated.  Other policemen showed up and the guy got belligerent with the police.  One of the policement finally took him to the ground and handcuffed him.  A couple minutes later a paddywagon arrived and they took him away.

From there we took a taxi up in the hills of Sabaneta.  I’m not sure what it’s called but I remember Balcon de Los Lamitas.

We took a metro bus down to La Estrella station and took the metro to Envigado.

We found Herman and chatted with him.

In the mall I stopped at Suritodo and bought a swim suit and cap for 35mil ($12).  (We found that our pool requires everyone to wear a swim cap.)

Airin bought a box of fancy chocolates for her boyfriend back in the States.

I stopped in Dollar Store and found their baking sheet is 38.5cm x 26cm.  The problem is the current baking sheet in our oven is 37cm x 34cm.  So if the length would fit I would lose 8cm from the width.

We stopped in Sinko bar for a drink then picked up an order of chicken wings to share from Sport Wings.

In the evening we had dinner at a Spanish restaurant in La Buena Mesa.

Joke of the day

So, Johnny and his girl Sally are going to the prom this Saturday. But, before they can go, Johnny needs to make sure they have a perfect night.

So, Friday comes, and Johnny goes out to get his tuxedo. When he gets to the tux rental store, there's this ridiculously long line. But he needs the tux, so Johnny waits. And he waits, and waits until finally, he has his tux.

Next, he needs a limo. So he goes to the limousine rental shop and finds that there's an even longer line there. But he needs the limo, so he waits. And he waits, and waits, and waits, until finally, he has the limo ordered.

Johnny realizes he needs some new kicks, so he stops by a shoe store to get himself some nice shoes. When he goes to pay, he sees the longest line yet. But he needs the shoes, so he waits. And he waits, and waits, and waits, and waits, and waits, until finally, he's got his new shoes.

Saturday, Johnny's ready to pick up his girl. He drives over to her house, picks her up, and they head to the prom. At the dance, they're having a great time, dancing, playing at the casino, hanging out with friends. Soon, though, Sally gets thirsty, and asks Johnny for a drink. Being the good guy he is, Johnny obliges.

So Johnny walks over to the punch table, and what do you know... there's no punch line.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

I slept well only getting up once during the night.

It’s obvious we got a little rain overnight.

There is a notice in the elevator that we will be losing our gas sometime today between 8am and 5pm.

This morning I got the email that Teresa has been waiting for.  The nueve eps gynecologist, Dr. Maria Mercedez Gomez, reported that result of your cytology came and went normal, that is; that there were no signs of cancer cells or HPV (Human Papilloma Virus).

That’s very good news and I understand she will be tested again next year.

Jim and I had coffee at Bartolos.  Jim and Teresa had lunch at El Barco while I had lunch at a cafeteria in the food court across the street from Euro.

Bryan picked us up at the apt and on our way to the airport I thought I saw Dr. Rendon on his electric scooter.

We picked up Joan and her daughter Airin.  Back at the apt they put their suitcases in their rooms and we walked up to Otra Parte for a nice dinner.

We returned to the apt through La Buena Mesa but the Percimon, the yogurt store, was already closed.

Joke of the day

A married couple takes their son to the circus. After a while the father gets up to get some popcorn. While he is away the little boy notices something hanging down between the elephants legs.

"Mommy, what is that hanging down on the elephant?" he asks.

The embarrassed mother says "Oh, that's nothing honey," and is relieved when the father returns with the popcorn.

Not satisfied with the mother's answer the little boy waits until his mother leaves to use the bathroom and asks his father, "Dad, what is that hanging down between the elephant's legs?"

Dad answers, "That's the elephant's penis." 

The little boy says, "Well how come when I asked mom she said that it was nothing?"

Dad leans back and says "Son, I've spoiled that woman..."

Monday, February 11, 2019

Last night I slept well despite getting up twice during the night.  I woke/got up at 8am but everytime I coughed I got a shooting pain in my lower back.

We ate a few slices of fresh pineapple to tide us over until we can get to breakfast.

We left the apt just after 9am.

We took a bus to the park and first stopped at Bartolos for coffee.

At the currency exchange it took us about 25 minutes for both of us to get our cash via World Remit.

It was just after 11am when we finally got to Donelia restaurant in Chucksmart for a calentao and coffee breakfast for 13mil for two.

Background: When we were at the Superbowl party, Jerry told us about a beautiful house whose entrance is by the Envigado courthouse.

We were walking to the bakery for coffee when Jim stopped and peered into a hallway.  The owner invited us in for a look.  It’s an old house with a couple bedrooms filled with pictures.  There was a garden in the back with lots of hanging doodads.

We took a bus back to the apt.

We changed into shorts and walked a block away where we quickly caught a bus to the Ayura metro station.  We took the metro to the San Antonio station where we transferred to the west line.  We got off at the Sur Americana station and walked about 12 blocks south to Planetrica (Carrera 65D #34-41) which sells 100% buffalo milk and cheese.  Jim had a couple glasses of wine and a sandwich.

We found we were a block from Unicentro mall.  We walked about 6 blocks to Barrio Central Café at Circular 2 and Carrera 69-123.  I had a lemonade and a pulled pork sandwich.  While there, at a nearby table,we met a guy named Terry from Dallas, Texas.

Across the street we caught a taxi but it must have taken at least an hour to return to the apt due to very heavy traffic.  Maybe it had something to do with a bicycle race going on in Medellin.

About 7pm Jim left to have dinner at a Spanish tapas restaurant that he found in La Buena Mesa.  According to their website they close at 8pm.  When Jim returned he said that their website is wrong a it doesn’t close until 10pm.  That might be a reason they don’t do more business.

Joke of the day

Three Scots and three Irishmen are traveling by train to a conference. At the station, the three Irishmen each buy tickets and watch as the three Scots buy only a single ticket.

"How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" asks an Irishman. "Watch and you'll see," answers a Scot.

They all board the train. The Irishmen take their respective seats but all three Scots cram into a bathroom and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the bathroom door and says, "Ticket, please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on.  The Irishmen see this and agree it was quite a clever idea.

So after the conference, the Irishmen decide to copy the Scots on the return trip and save some money (being clever with money, and all that). When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the Scots don't buy a ticket at all.

"How are you going to travel without a ticket?" says one perplexed Irishman. “Watch and you'll see," answers a Scot.

When they board the train the three Irishmen cram into a bathroom and the three Scots cram into another nearby. The train departs. Shortly afterwards, one of the Scots leaves his bathroom and walks over to the bathroom where the Irishmen are hiding. He knocks on the door and says, "Ticket, please."

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Despite getting up twice during the night I woke/got up at 8:15.

Jim and I left the apt at 9:30 and walked up to Avenida Poblado where Ciclovia was in full swing.  We walked by a street sale selling t-shirts and Jim said “hey, there’s one for Northwestern”.  I said “where” and he pointed to it.  Even though it was in black (hot) I bought it for 6mil ($2).

We took a bus to the park and bought arepas with mozzarella cheese at Las Chachas.  We took them to Bartolos where we ate them with our coffee.  There was an exercise class in progress at the park.

We took a bus to Sabaneta and they had entertainment (singer with band) in progress in the park.

We walked over to a bar where we had another coffee.

There was an information booth and I picked up a great map of Medellin which included Envigado.  I also found some tour brochures which I took.

We walked a few blocks to Porci Carnes for lunch where we had smoked ribs for 14,500 each plus drinks.  Delicious!  At one point Bryan, Jim’s airport driver, called out his name as he was driving by.

We took a bus back to Envigado and got off just up the hill from our apt complex.  We stopped briefly in a restaurant called Solpi Jugos (celebrating their 125^th year) that had a good menu and that I plan to take Teresa to some day.

We were back at the apt by 2:30.  I tried to take a nap but couldn’t fall asleep so I was up by 3pm.

About 7pm we walked up to Tepito the Mexican restaurant where we easily got a table outside.  I had a chimichanga cochinita pibill (shredded beef) which was delicious.

Joke of the day

A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, "This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you."

The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, "Which do you want, son?" The boy takes the quarters and leaves.

"What did I tell you?" said the barber. "That kid never learns!"

Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store.

"Hey son, may I ask you a question?  Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?"

The boy licked his cone and replied, "Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over!"

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Today is my son’s 32^nd birthday.  Happy birthday Jim!

Last night I went to bed at 11:15 and didn’t wake up until 6:25, getting up at 7:15.

Jim and I walked to Eduardo Madrid bakery where we had coffee.  Unfortunately, they do not have wifi.  Sad.

We took a bus to Bartolos where we had another coffee.  We walked to Market Square which my brother has now dubbed Chuck’s mart or Chucksmart.  We each had calentao, scrambled eggs and coffee for only 7,000 pesos ($2.35).

We walked down to Herman’s orange juice stand where again we saw his niece, no Herman.  Jim asked her about the empty stands we see on the pedestrian bridge and she said they are for rent for 3,000,000 pesos a month.  (I only see one getting set up - to sell hotdogs.)  I bought 2 DVDs from a vendor for 2mil each – A Dogs Way Home and Bohemian Rhapsody.  I hope they work.

In the mall we went up to the 4^th floor to Mr. Kutz where Jim got a hot shave for 15mil and I got a haircut trim for 15mil.

We stopped at Gelateria Romero where he had a coconut gelato and I had pistachio for 5,500 each.

We walked through Dollar City where I bought 2 packages of toothpicks for 3,000 pesos and Jim bought 2 dog leashes that he’s going to hook together for exercising his knee.  (I also noticed they sell small baking sheets. Hmmm.)

We took a taxi back to the apt.

I took a nap from 1:30 to 2:15.

Esmeralda arrived at 3:45 and she drove us all to La Casita Parilla.  I gave them a bag of 4 oatmeal cookies and Jim assisted them in making toasted bread with balsamic vinegar and buffalo cheese.

The three of us walked to Mercado del Tranvia and basically sat around for a couple hours until we got an appetite.  Then Jim had pizza, Teresa and Esmeralda had Keba and I had ribs.

We walked back to the car and Esmeralda returned us to the apt by 9pm.

Joke of the day

Buddy and his wife Edna went to the state fair every year, and every year Buddy would say, "Edna, I'd like to ride in that helicopter."

Edna always replied, "I know Buddy, but that helicopter ride is fifty bucks, and fifty bucks is fifty bucks."

One year Buddy and Edna went to the fair, and Buddy said, "Edna, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance."

To this, Edna replied, "Buddy that helicopter ride is fifty bucks, and fifty bucks is fifty bucks."

The pilot overheard the couple and said, "Folks I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and don't say a word I won't charge you a penny! But if you say one word its fifty dollars."

Buddy and Edna agreed and up they went.

The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word.

When they landed, the pilot turned to Buddy and said, "By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!"

Buddy replied, "Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Edna fell out, but you know, fifty bucks is fifty bucks!"

Friday, February 8, 2019

I slept pretty well despite getting up twice during the night.

My lower back seems to be almost back to normal this morning.  

When I return to the gym I’ll be more careful with the situp and back machines.

Teresa made blueberry pancakes for breakfast and for Jim with bananas and strawberries on top.

Among new US movie releases I would like to see Cold Pursuit (6.9).  Locally, I would like to see A Dog’s Way Home (6.4), Second Act (6.0), Escape Room (6.4), and Papillon (7.1).

Locally, A Star is Born has returned and Bohemian Rhapsody is still here.

We all left the apt about 11:45 and took a taxi to Mayorista.  Jim explored the neighborhood while I helped Teresa with some things on our list.  I then went outside and had a café con leche for 3,100 pesos from Euro’s café.

Jim came back and reported that the store on the corner sells individual plastic “shells” that I could use to package cookies.

Teresa picked out mainly fruits and vegetables (no meat) and we were back at the apt by 1:30.

Jim and I left the apt at 3:30 and took a bus to Parque Envigado.  Unfortunately it started raining lightly while we were on the bus.  

We finally made it to the park and we grabbed a table outside Il Vizzto and ordered coffee.  After we finished and the rain had lessened I made a quick trip to Cotrafa where I paid the finca utility bill.  We walked to Mercado del Tranvia where we found a food court with 26 different restaurants.  One of them served gyros and baklava.  We checked out the place and then had a drink.  We walked down to the mall where I dropped off my Teva sandal for repair.  She said it could be ready in 20 minutes but I told her tomorrow is soon enough.  She said it would cost 12mil ($4) for the repair.  We took a taxi back to the apt and invited Teresa to go with us for a surprise dinner.  She was surprised and loved the food court.  Jim had pizza, I had a gyro and Teresa had a Ceba (sp?).

We took a taxi back to the apt.

Joke of the day

This story takes place in 1860. Back 150+ years ago, presidential candidates didn't have nearly the luxuries current candidates do. The didn't stay in five star hotels or travel by private jet - they stayed with normal families on their campaigns and in exchange for a place to stay, would do chores around the property before they headed to a new city.

In 1860 Abraham Lincoln actually stayed with my great great great grandma. She was a pretty bossy lady and gave Lincoln a long list of chores to do as soon as she met him.

Finally when he thought he was done, my grandma said, "Last chores, Abraham. For dinner we're having stew, corn on the cob, and apple pie. I'll work on the stew, but you're going to be on the front porch shucking corn and peeling apples until there's nothing left in front of you."

And with that she led him outside where there were two huge baskets filled to the brim with apples and corn.

Abraham started peeling and shucking. Periodically my grandma would check on him to see how much he had left to get an idea of when they'd eat. Little known fact about Abraham Lincoln, but he is very bad at shucking corn and peeling apples.

After checking on him for what felt like the tenth time, my grandma was real frustrated. She said, "Abraham, how can you be expected to lead a country if you can't even help with dinner!?"

And Abraham Lincoln replied, "Relax Mrs. Lee, I only have four cores and seven ears to go."

Thursday, February 7, 2019

This morning Jim and I had cheese arepas at Las Chachas in Envigado.  I paid the Une bill, bought 2 plastic envelopes and a bottle of nutritional L-Arginine.  We found Mercado del Tranvia, the new small restaurant plaza, next to the furthest Bancolombia but it was closed until noon.

We walked to La Casita Parilla for a drink and Jim talked to the owner about his trip to Monteria.  I got a call from Teresa asking if we were having lunch in the apt.  I told her to meet us at the restaurant and 15 minutes later she arrived by taxi.  We had a nice lunch but I thought the chicken breast was as delicious as usual.

Later in the afternoon we took a taxi to the LQ hotel on Las Palmas which is a main road from Medellin to the airport.  Jim and the ladies were planning on staying there the last 3 nights of their vacation.  The hotel wasn’t in a very good location (boring) so he’s going to try to cancel his reservation and get one for Dann Carlton Bilfort in Poblado where they were last year.

We took a taxi to Viva Envigado where we had drinks again at Sinko Bar.

We picked up Teresa at the apt and we went for pizza again at Antica Pizza.

Joke of the day

A woman awakes in the middle of the night to find her husband not in bed. She puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for him.

She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of hot cocoa in front of him. He appears to be deep in thought, just staring at the wall. She watches as he wipes away a tear from his eye.

"What's the matter dear?" she whispers as she steps into the room. "Why are you down here at this time of night!?"

The husband looks up from his drink, "It's the 20th anniversary of the day we met."

She can't believe he has remembered. She starts to tear up.

The husband continues solemnly, "Do you remember 20 years ago when we started dating? I was 18 and you were only 15."

Once again, the wife is touched to tears thinking that her husband is so caring and sensitive.

"Yes, I do," she replies.

The husband pauses... the words were not coming easily.

"Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car?"

"Yes, I remember," said the wife, lowering herself into a chair beside him.

The husband continued.

"Do you remember when he shoved the shotgun in my face and said, 'Either you marry my daughter or I will make sure you spend the next 20 years in prison?'"

"I remember that too," she replied softly...

He sighed as he wiped another tear away from his cheek and said, "I would have gotten out today."