Monday, May 6, 2019

Teresa and I agreed to leave the fan on all night so she won’t be getting up and turning it off.  Besides cooling it helps to mask other sounds like the car alarms and the Coke truck pulling up next door to Exito.

I got up once about 4am, fell back asleep quickly, finally waking/getting up at 7am.

Teresa made me a quick breakfast and then left for her gym class.

I read that as of January 14, 2020 Microsoft will no longer support Windows 7 so I may have my brother bring me a new computer next February when he comes for his annual visit.

Jerry messaged me with an invite for lunch today at a Thai restaurant.  That should be interesting.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and then left for the gym.  I completed all my exercises in an hour and 30 minutes.  Today I added 15# to 1 of my exercises, 5# to 7 others and increased my treadmill speed from 5.7 to 5.8.

I left the apt at 12:20 and met Jerry at the bakery at 12:30.  He bought 10 bagels to go and I bought 2 English muffins to go for 2,600 pesos (less than $1).  We walked about 6 blocks away to a Vietnamese restaurant he wanted to introduce me to but it was closed Mondays & Tuesdays.  We walked 4 blocks to Go Wings which we found open.  He ordered the Alitas Combo #1 that I usually have delivered and today I ordered the ½ slab of ribs which were very good and literally fell off the bone.  He picked up the tab but only with the agreement that I would pay for the Vietnamese restaurant when we go there.

He had to leave right away for EAFIT for his swim time so I was back at the apt by 1:45.

I think there are new renters in the apartment directly across the street.  They are very open and today it looks like they are running a beauty shop with women sitting out on the patio getting manicures and pedicures and their hair done.

Teresa came back at 4:45.

I watched Chapter 15 – Have fun.

I confirmed with Jose that we will be playing tomorrow at the chess league starting at 10am so he can help me enroll in next week’s chess tournament.

The “beauty salon” across the street finally “closed” at 8pm.

For dinner I just had an apple with peanut butter.  I’ve almost finished the bottle of Planters Peanut Butter that my son brought me last year.  I’ll probably find another at Pricesmart, Euro, or Exito.

5,898 steps today.

Joke of the day

The madam opened the brothel door to see a rather dignified, well-dressed good looking man in his late 40s or early 50s. 

"Can I help you?" she asked. 

"I want to see Natalie," the man replied. 

"Sir, Natalie is one of our most expensive ladies. Perhaps you would prefer someone else," said the madam. 

"No, I must see Natalie" was the man's reply. 

Just then, Natalie appeared and announced to the man that she charged $1,000 a visit. Without hesitation, the man pulled out ten one-hundred dollar bills and gave them to Natalie and they went upstairs. After an hour, the man calmly left. 

The next night the same man appeared again, demanding to see Natalie. Natalie explained that no one had ever come back two nights in a row-too expensive -- and there were no discounts. The price was still $1,000. Again the man pulled out the money, gave it to Natalie and they went upstairs. After an hour, he left. 

The following night the man was there again. Everyone was astounded that he had come for the third consecutive night, but he paid Natalie and they went upstairs. After their session, Natalie questioned the man. 

"No one has ever used me three nights in a row. Where are you from?" she asked. 

The man replied, "South Carolina." 

"Really?" she said. "I have family in South Carolina." 

"I know," the man said. "Your father died and I am your sister's attorney. She asked me to give you your $3,000 inheritance."

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Last night I went to bed as usual at 11pm.

I think I’ve figured out how to prevent at least my pre-bedtime back pain.  For my melatonin to kick in I lie on the sofa for about an hour reading but when I get up my back feels sore and weak.  I’ve discovered that if I sit up and read, with a pillow next to my lower back, for the last 10-15 minutes then I don’t have that back problem.

Anyway, when I went to bed last night I was surprised that Teresa had the fan in the bedroom on.  I quickly fell asleep but was awakened at 3:30am when Teresa turned off the fan and said “I turned off the fan”.  I certainly didn’t need that as it took me a while to get back to sleep.  Despite getting up once during the night I finally woke/got up just after 8am and Teresa was already gone.

I left the apt at 9:30 and today I didn’t take my cellphone or anything to read but I did take my new water bottle.  Between Santafe and Oviedo malls I noticed a man wearing a baseball cap with a “C” on it walking in the opposite direction.  By the time he passed me I saw that the inside was orange so it was probably a Chicago Bears hat.  I stopped in Oviedo at the book exchange.  They had a few books in English including a couple from Stephen King and Ken Follett.  Today they had the signout book there but again I couldn’t write down the book I took because there was no pen.  On the way back I looked for the man in the Bears hat but didn’t see him.  I did notice a small exercise class going on outside La Frontera mall but I think it was probably a one time thing.  I finished the water in my water bottle just as I arrived back at the apt at 11:30.

Teresa called me about 12:30 and told me she’s still at the finca but she will be leaving shortly.  Still I’m on my own for lunch.

I left the apt at 1:30 and walked up to Otra Parte.  I pretty much had my choice of tables so I took one outside next to their little fountain.  I had chicken with pasta and a Te Hatsu for 20,500 ($6.50).  I gave the waiter 25mil and told him to keep the change.  I took my time but was back at the apt by 2:30.

Teresa came back at 3pm and reported that the barbed wire fencing has been installed.

Did I mention that Chuck and Darnelly have returned to Medellin.  Chuck asked me to give him a few days to get organized before we get together.  They sold their house in New Orleans and are here permanently now.

I received a private message from someone from Expat Exchange with an interest in hearing more about Teresa’s finca.  I replied to his questions thus:

How many BR's? 4

Baths? 2

Sq. Meters? 181

Is it located on a paved road? No

Well/Septic I presume. Rain water tanks/don’t know.

Price in COP ? 300,000,000COP.

We took a nap from 3:30 to 4:40.

I watched Chapter 15 – Essential Endgames.

At 6:45 we called Go Wings and ordered chicken wings delivered for 34mil.

11,122 steps today.

Joke of the day

From Genesis: "And God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the earth."

Then He made the earth round... and He laughed and laughed and laughed!

Saturday, May 4, 2019

May the 4^th be with you!

I got up twice during the night, once at 4:45, again at 6:45, finally getting up at 7:30.

I left the apt at 9:15 and walked down the hill to Avenida Las Vegas where I soon caught a bus to Monterrey mall.  Outside the mall I picked up a free Adn newspaper.  I went upstairs and at the first shop I saw there was a young lady standing outside; I told her I was looking for a Logitech H390 USB Computer Headset.  She went inside and talked to a young man and he made a quick call and told me it would be 119,000 pesos - I had figured something around 100,000 so I agreed.  The young lady walked across the hall and soon came back with one.  The store didn’t take credit/debit cards but the guy wrapped it up and gave me a receipt with a 12 month warranty.  The young lady took me downstairs where I stopped at a Davivienda ATM and withdrew 320mil and gave her 120mil and told her to keep the change.

I walked outside and across the street where I took a Metro bus up to Parque Poblado.  It looked like they were setting up poles to hold tarps for the upcoming construction.

At Envios Market I paid 39mil for my May rental and picked up an envelope from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.  It showed I had no Medicare Part B claims processed from January 9^th to April 9^th, 2019 – duh!  (I cancelled my Medicare 6 years ago.)  Then it went on to show that Medicare denied my claim for payments I made for my elective eye surgery with the Kraff Eye Institute back in 2012.  And I have met my Part B deductible of $140 for 2012.  Lol.  I threw the junk mail away.

I took a bus to Starbucks where I ordered my usual drink.  Just ahead of me was a young lady, blond with very white skin and 6’ tall.  You don’t see that here everyday!

I read some and then walked down a block to Oviedo where I tried to withdraw 800mil from a Banco Caja Social ATM but it only allowed me to withdraw 400mil.

I had to wait 5-10 minutes for a bus back to Envigado.

I arrived at the apt at noon and Teresa had already left (probably about 11am) for the finca.

I left the apt at 1pm and walked up to Jack & Root for a burger.  Again there was a line out the door and around the corner.  I returned to the apt and picked up my little popcorn bucket.  At Cine Colombia in the mall I bought a preferred seating ticket to The House that Jack Built for 12,500.  I went up to Sarku’s where I had their chicken teriyaki with a glass of water for 18,500 pesos.  Back at the theater I entered the platinum area and sat at a back table.  I saw one of the ushers tell Natalia that I was there.  She came over and we chatted a bit about how busy they have been with the new Avengers movie.  I told her about my own problem with the lines in Vazcaya last Sunday.

Just before showtime I bought a small Coke and had my little bucket filled.  I easily found my seat in the back row.  The movie was very graphic and at a particular disgusting part about 90 minutes into the movie I had had enough and I left.

Back at the apt by 5pm Teresa was still out.

I watched The Big Short (7.8) on Netflix.

Teresa came back at 7:30 and reminded me we had leftover ribs from yesterday.  She said she didn’t get the water tank installed but at least it’s been purchased and delivered and she has to go back tomorrow morning because some neighbor is putting up fencing and JJ wants to make sure it is done correctly.

I found the following article in my May Reader’s Digest: “The prostate tends to grow over time, causing about a third of older men to experience weak urine flow, a frequent need to urinate at night, and other symptoms.  Until recently, these men had to live with the condition, treat it with medication, or have surgery.  But a relatively new option involves shrinking the prostate with a few quick blasts of hot steam administered via a tiny needle in a doctor’s office.  The outpatient procedure takes about 15 minutes and carries a low risk of lasting side effects.”

A quick google search found this:

A new five-minute steam treatment for an enlarged prostate has been hailed as a breakthrough by NHS surgeons following tests on British patients.

The simple procedure was found to shrink glands on average by 36 per cent - but while the result is similar to other treatments, it has far less severe side effects.

The process, conducted by surgeons at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on 150 men, involves injecting an enlarged prostate with jets of steam without the need for surgery.

Current procedures, while effective, can lead to loss of sexual function, bleeding and incontinence with patients kept in hospitals for days at a time.

It was reported that health watchdogs are ready to give it the green light for NHS use.

Two million men in Britain have been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate. However, half of all men over the age of 50, and 60 per cent of those over 60, are thought to have it, studies have suggested.

The steam treatment, called Rezum, involves having steam is injected at 1cm intervals, killing enough prostate tissue to shrink the enlarged gland.

Professor Hashim Ahmed, a consultant urological surgeon at Imperial, said other hospitals are poised to roll out the treatment as soon as they get the okay from health watchdog Nice.

"It frees up huge NHS resources because you need much less theatre time," he told the Daily Mail. "You are also opening up tens of thousands of days of bed occupation around the country."

8,468 steps today.

Joke of the day

Husband and wife had a tiff. Wife called up her mom and said, "He fought with me again, I am coming to live with you." 

Mom said, "No darling, he must pay for his mistake.  I am coming to live with you.

Friday, May 3, 2019

I slept well only getting up once at 5am, I couldn’t fall back asleep, so I finally got up at 7am.

Teresa left at 8am for her gym class.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and left the apt.  I walked down to Avenida Las Vegas where I was fortunate to buy a Q’Hubo for Chuck.  This should just about be the last time as I expect them to return soon.  At the gym I gave Marcos the April Reader’s Digest I had finished.  He told me he and his wife are going to Europe this month for 2 weeks.  After they come back he said he would invite us to their place for lunch.  I completed all my exercises in an hour and 20 minutes.  I picked up a Gente newspaper in the new lobby of the guard house.  It’s really shaping up.

I read that April 29^th to May 5^th burgers for the burger challenge are only 11mil.  I guess that, plus the holiday, brought so many people out last Wednesday.

Teresa called and asked me to meet her and MT for lunch at La Bahia.  I should take my shower right away and she’ll call when she gets there.

Among new US movie releases there isn’t anything I really want to see.  I am NOT a fan of Seth Rogan but maybe I would see Long Shot (6.9) or maybe The Intruder (5.6) or Clare (6.8).

Locally, I want to see The House that Jack Built (6.9) and I Still See You (5.7).

Teresa called me at 12:15.  I changed clothes and left the apt.  On the way I observed a police van pull over a motorcycle with 2 young men.  I saw them getting frisked and checking their papers.  At La Bahia Teresa and MT were finishing their soup.  We had a delicous, healthy lunch for 12,000 pesos ($4) each.

Lately, for weeks or months the temperature has been a high of around 79-81 degrees.  This week has been a bit warmer (more normal) with highs between 84 and 86.

We walked to the mall where Teresa and MT were going to window shop.  I know they weren’t going to buy anything because I didn’t have my debit card with me.  I had coffee at Habia Una Vez and read for about an hour.  I returned to the apt where I studied some of my chess openings.

Teresa came back at 5pm and suggested we have dinner at Mu.  Sure!

We left the apt at 6:45 and we quickly caught a taxi to Mu for 10,500 pesos.  We had their large order of ribs to share and we had 3 extra to take home for tomorrow.  The total with ribs, fries, drinks, and tip was 90,000 pesos ($30).  We quickly caught a taxi back to the apt.

There is a large Toyota SUV by our elevator that parks between a wall and another car with less than 2” on either side.  Tonight I saw him park it with ease.

Teresa is supposed to go to the finca tomorrow to have an additional water tank installed but she can’t reach the guy who is supposed to go with her.  If not, she’ll schedule it for another day.

7,135 steps today.

Joke of the day

A young man wanted to get his beautiful blonde wife something nice for their first wedding anniversary.  So he decided to buy her a cell phone.  He showed her the phone and explained to her all of its features. 

Meg was excited to receive the gift and simply adored her new phone.

The next day Meg went shopping.  Her phone rang and, to her astonishment, it was her husband on the other end. 

"Hi Meg," he said, "How do you like your new phone?"

Meg replied, "I just love it!  It's so small and your voice is clear as a bell, but there's one thing I don't understand though..."

"What's that, sweetie?" asked her husband.

"How did you know I was at Walmart?"

Thursday, May 2, 2019

I slept well only getting up once during the night at 5am finally waking/getting up at 7am.

Teresa had already left for her gym class.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and I headed out.  I took a bus to downtown Envigado where I got in a short line at Banco Caja Social.  The limit on their screen showed 700,000 but I tried 800,000 and was denied.  I tried 700,000 and was denied.  I finally started over and was able to withdraw 400,000 pesos.  I went to $efecty where I paid the Direct TV bill for May.

I walked down to the mall and crossing the street I ran into Jerry, the guy I met Superbowl Sunday.  He told me he found the Thai restaurant that he wanted to show me.  He wanted to go there next Tuesday but I told him not next Tuesday.  We left with the agreement that we would make contact via Whatsapp.

At Auros I asked for their fax number but they don’t have one.  Upstairs at Mr. Kutz I asked for Jose, the owner, and was told he would be back in an hour.  It was 10:30 so  I went downstairs to Habia Una Vez where I had a mango juice for 5,100 pesos and read news on my cellphone.  At 11:30 I went back up and Jose informed me that Leo doesn’t work there anymore – something about being late.  He suggested I get a haircut from a young lady named Sara.  I asked for my haircut a little shorter than before and I got a decent cut for 25mil.  All of a sudden others were talking about a tremblor but I didn't feel anything.  In the middle of the cut Teresa called and asked me to give the phone to Sara.  I did and afterwards I told Sara to give me the haircut I want not whatever my wife just told you.

Back at the apt Teresa seemed to be pleased with my haircut.

I watched all but the first 30 minutes of All the President’s Men (8.0) on Direct TV.

When MT arrived at 6:30 we took a taxi to Santafe mall.  In the traffic on the way we caught up with a young man rollerblading in the street.  He was moving pretty fast and soon passed us at the next traffic circle and – boom – he was out of sight.

At Santafe mall the ladies went into Zara while I waited outside.  Once again I couldn’t get an internet connection through their wifi so I read some from my Reader’s Digest.  Teresa came out to get me and I paid 229,800 ($71) for a blouse for Teresa and a mother’s day gift of a dress for MT.

We went upstairs where we had dinner at Crepes & Waffles.  MT had spinach soup, Teresa “green kiss” soup and broccoli cheese chicken and I had a bowl of onion soup and a caesar salad.  The ladies also had juices and the total came to 74,100 ($24).

They window shopped a little more just before closing and then we took a taxi back to the apt.

7,931 steps today.

Joke of the day

25% of the women in this country are on medication for mental illness.

That's scary.  It means 75% are running around untreated...

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Happy May Day!  Today it is a holiday here.

Last night I fell asleep quickly but woke up at 5:10 and couldn’t get back to sleep so I got up at 6:45.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and left for the gym.  Avenida Poblado was partially closed off for Ciclovia for the holiday.  I completed all my exercises in an hour and 20 minutes.  I asked Juan Carlos if they had a scale that I could use to weigh myself.  He reached behind the counter and pulled out a small digital scale.  He asked me to remove my shoes first which I did and I got on and the numbers bounced around a little and it settled on exactly 777 – jackpot!  That 77.7 kilos translates to 171#.

I received an email from Alejandro informing me of a hamburger challenge for best hamburger in Medellin.  I didn’t tell him I read about it on Facebook last week.

I walked back to the apt and they now have couches and a TV in the guardhouse.  Interestingly, even though the TV is still covered in cardboard it’s facing the guards not the couches.

After lunch Teresa and I took a little nap from 2-3 pm.

After, Teresa asked if we could go to Persimmon for ice cream then got the great idea that we would just share a Klondike bar.  I guess she finally decided she likes them.  It turned out to be the last one and now she wants to go to Pricesmart to buy more.  I doubt though that another box of 24 would fit in our freezer today.

I thought she wanted to go to Santafe mall today but again she used the excuse of too many people.

I suggested we have dinner at the Mexican restaurant.  We left the apt about 7:15 and were surprised to see a lot of people as we approached La Buena Mesa.  (After all it is a holiday.)  We saw a line for Jack & Roll down to the corner and around the other side.  There were shorter lines for the other 2 hamburger restaurants – Monsieur Burger and Sitting Buffalo.

We had our choice of tables at El Tepito.  Teresa had their chicken filet and I had chicken fajitas and we each had a glass of strawberry juice for a total of 70,950 ($23).

The lines were much shorter as we passed by at 8:45.

We stopped in Exito on our way back and picked up a bag of milk and a bunch of bananas.

6,007 steps today.

Joke of the day

WIFE:  "There is trouble with the car.  It has water in the carburetor."
HUSBAND:  "Water in the carburetor?  That's ridiculous "
WIFE:  "I tell you the car has water in the carburetor."
HUSBAND:  "You don't even know what a carburetor is.  I'll check it out. 
Where's the car?”
WIFE: "In the pool".

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

I got up twice during the night finally waking/getting up at 7am.

I left the apt at 8:50am and arrived at the mall at 9am.  Habia Una Vez soon opened and Jose arrived and we each had coffee.  We walked upstairs and we played one game and he won.  For lunch he had a sandwich from Q’Hubo and I had a Frisnack from Frisby.  

We played another game and I made a positional mistake early and soon lost.  In the last game I got an attack going but he held on and I lost in the endgame.  Three loses, wow!  He’s now got quite a winning streak against me.

I walked him to the taxi stand and then I walked up to Bancolombia where I took my number and sat down and read my Reader’s Digest.  It was a 30 minute wait and then I had little trouble paying for the apt, my health insurance, and the gym.  When I left I was approached by an old lady who said something about being an actress and needing a little favor from me.  I told her I don’t speak Spanish and continued on my way.  I have no idea what that was about.  I noticed some road construction going on in the street outside Las Chachas.  In Todo Drogas I picked up my medicines for the month.  I took a bus to Smartfit where I exited and walked back to the apt.

6,728 steps today.

Joke of the day

A wife asks her husband, "Could you please go shopping for me and buy one carton of milk and if they have avocados, get 6. 

A short time later the husband comes back with 6 cartons of milk.  The wife asks him, "Why did you buy 6 cartons of milk?" 

He replied, "They had avocados."