Saturday, February 6, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 3am, finally waking/getting up at 5:30.

After breakfast I went back to bed and slept from 8am to 9am.

Teresa told me if I go for coffee to have something with it because lunch will be late. She has an 11am exercise class followed by coffee with a friend so lunch will be later than usual.

I won in the endgame against Nejcik (1027) increasing my rating 1 point from 1486 to 1487.

I left the apt at 10:15 in a nice 76 degrees and walked to Parva where I had a café con leche and a pastel de guyaba. On my way back I asked what time they open on Sundays in AlfaMore; they said 9am. I returned to the apt at 11:45.

Teresa returned at 1:30.

I beat Teresa in parcheesi 3 games to 2.

I spent another 60-90 minutes working on the jigsaw puzzle and I finally got all the border pieces put together and a little of the inside. It’s supposed to be a 2-3 hour puzzle but I mistakenly threw away the picture of how its supposed to look when its completed. I can uset the box cover but its incomplete.

 

The US has 26,660,987 ð 26,768,299 ð 26,909,384 coronavirus cases with 453,900+ ð 457,100+ ð 460,800+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,135,412 ð 2,142,660 ð 2,151,207 cases with 55,131 ð 55,403 ð 55,693 deaths. Medellin has184,578  ð 184,075 ð 185,435 cases, an increase of 392 from February 5^th to 6^th. Envigado has a total of 16,694 cases, an increase of 30 from February 5^th to 6^th.

 

Joke of the day

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles U.C.L.A.  

Friday, February 5, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 3:30, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

I now have a new game going with someone named nejcik from Poland.

By 7am we lost our internet connection.

Marcos wasn’t feeling well so I went for my walk alone. Parva wasn’t open yet and neither was AlfaMore. I returned to the apt by 8:45 as Teresa was just leaving. I understand we’re going to meet at Santafe mall at 1pm for lunch.

Still no internet.

I just noticed that a lot of the premium Direct TV channels have disappeared so maybe they have successfully changed my plan from Platinum to Basic.

11am and the internet is finally back.

I started watching the first of 6 seasons of Vikings (8.5).

I left the apt at 12:40 and took a taxi to Santafe mall where I met Teresa outside Zara at 1pm. In the Nike Store she found a pair of shoes and a cap then we had our usual lunch upstairs at J&C Delicias. After, she picked up some face cream at Medipiel, we bought some groceries at Jumbo and returned to the apt just before 4pm.

Teresa beat me in parcheesi 2 games to 1.

She suggested we have ribs from Mu but they don’t deliver and neither of us wanted to dress and go there.

I spent about 45 minutes starting on the jigsaw puzzle.

 

The US has 26,533,428 ð 26,660,987 ð 26,768,299 coronavirus cases with 448,700+ ð 453,900+ ð 457,100+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,125,622 ð 2,135,412 ð 2,142,660 cases with 54,877 ð 55,131 ð 55,403 deaths. Medellin has 184,154 ð 184,578  ð 184,075 cases, an increase of 392 from February 4^th to 5^th. Envigado has a total of 16,652 cases, an increase of 30 from February 4^th to 5^th.

 

Joke of the day

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.  

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, forgot to take my sleeping pill early, took a little while to fall asleep, got up once at 3:30, finally waking/getting up at 7:15.

I checkmated sseltimil in the endgame gaining 4 points to 1486.

Teresa left at 9:30, I understand she will be meeting with a girlfriend, they are going to pick up some medication in Poblado then they will do some shopping at Santafe mall. She’s not sure if she will be back in time for lunch – she will call me.

I finished The Dig (7.2) then started watching Below Zero (6.2).

I left the apt at 10:15 and walked to the mall and had coffee at Todo Fresa. Teresa called me at 11:15 to inform me that she would be having lunch with her friend at La Casita Parilla.

I waited until 12:15 then went upstairs where I had an individual Italiana pizza from Papa Johns.

I returned to the apt by 1:30 and started a lesson with Juan Castro but his internet was so unstable we eventually gave up. He’s now in his new apartment in Sabaneta.

Teresa beat me in parcheesi so easily in 2 games that I gave up for the day.

I finished the movie Below Zero but it wasn’t very good.

We started watching Braven (5.9) but 30 minutes in we apparently lost our internet connection.

At 7:30 someone set off some fireworks that seemed to be very closeby. I went out on the balcony and someone across the street was setting them off and they went up straight but only about 6’ from the other building. Afterward a moving van next to it left so I guess that was their way of saying goodbye.

 

The US has 26,401,588 ð 26,533,428 ð 26,660,987 coronavirus cases with 444,900+ ð 448,700+ ð 453,900+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,114,597 ð 2,125,622 ð 2,135,412 cases with 54,576 ð 54,877 ð 55,131 deaths. Medellin has 183,638 ð 184,154 ð 184,578 cases, an increase of 427 from February 3^rd to 4^th. Envigado has a total of 16,622 cases, an increase of 27 from February 3^rd to 4^th.

Joke of the day

I know a guy who's addicted to drinking brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time. 

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up twice during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:45.

One of my readers asked, “What to you think a burger of the quality you make at home would cost eating out?? What do you think your cost making them is? I am just curious.....during this lockdown I get bored.” All I can tell you at this time is that a package of 8 Angus patties from Pricesmart cost me 78mil.

I left the apt in rain-threatening weather. I met Marcos at his porteria where I gifted him my September Readers Digest. We walked to Parque Envigado where he went inside Exito to pay his health insurance. He was very frustrated to find out they couldn’t find him in their system. He told me he’s been trying to pay for a few days now. We walked back to La Buena Mesa where we found Parva hadn’t yet opened so we went on to Los Portenos for coffee. I had been wondering what time the nextdoor AlfaMore café opens and I saw it wasn’t even open yet this morning. Behind us, last time we sat here, there was construction in a nearby ground floor apt and now I can see it’s set up like some type of medical office.

Marcos returned to his apt, I backtracked to Parva where I bought a pan sano then stopped at the small grocery store where I bought 3 bags of milk before returning to the apt.

At 9:30 Teresa left for a yoga class.

My brother sent me a screenshot of a round-trip ticket between Chicago and Medellin for $314.

Teresa talked to Laura and then reported to me. The only thing I understood was accident, car, total, and rock. I hope she didn’t total her car; that would have been a large rock. Later Teresa said $200 and showed me a photo Laura sent with a large welt on her thigh so she hit something.

I finished watching Groundhog Day (IMDB 8.0). I sort of watched Finding ‘Ohana which was more of a children’s movie and I started The Dig which is pretty good.

Nobraskja texted me that I have a package to be delivered for a charge of 98,300 pesos. I made arrangements then left 100mil in an envelope with the portero.

Today we tied in parcheesi 2 games to 2.

The portero called about 6:45 and Teresa said I need to go down and speak to the delivery man. It appears the only problem was he thought I also had a package to send.

My package included a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle, a new facemask, a bottle of Tums, and 3 notebooks for recording chess games. I also received my February Readers Digest and my Social Security benefit statement.

I lost 8 points when Michael accepted my offer of a draw.

The US has 26,261,703 ð 26,401,588 ð 26,533,428 coronavirus cases with 442,000+ ð 444,900+ ð 448,700+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,104,506 ð 2,114,597 ð 2,125,622 cases with 54,272 ð 54,576 ð 54,877 deaths. Medellin has 183,164 ð 183,638 ð 184,154 cases, an increase of 516 from February 2^nd to 3^rd. Envigado has a total of 16,595 cases, an increase of 32 from February 2^nd to 3^rd.

Joke of the day

This girl today said she recognized me from the Vegetarians Club, but I'd swear I've never met herbivore.  

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

It’s Groundhog Day! Unfortunately, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow so 6 more weeks of Winter.

Last night I was up late backing up my computer until 9pm, went to bed at 9:45, fell asleep quickly, got up once about 12:30, fell back asleep quickly, woke up at 4:15, couldn’t get back to sleep, got up at 5:15. I changed my computer’s night light to come back on at 6am instead of 5am. I set the One Touch alarm on my cellphone for 1 hour and went back to bed at 6am. It took me 15 minutes or so to fall asleep but at least I slept another 45 minutes or so.

I left the apt at 8am and as I approached the porteria the guard saw me and motioned to his facemask; I forgot mine. I turned around and retrieved it. I arrived at the Habia Una Vez by 8:20 and Jose was waiting for me. We each had the complete breakfast with a large coffee for 11mil.

At 9am we went up to the food court. To be succinct I lost both games to Jose. All that studying I do, and I still can’t beat him. For lunch I had a bowl of frijoles, a side of rice and a bottle of water from Tipico Antojo. We finished by 2:45 and he left and I went down to Todo Fresa but all the tables were taken. On my way to Santa Leña I walked by Cine Colombia and I noticed one of the gates was up halfway and I saw 3 employees standing there talking to each other. I had a café con leche for 6,490COP, including tip. When I left an hour later I checked Exito and they were checking cedulas so I couldn’t buy eggs so I just returned to the apt by taxi.

One of my readers asked, “Terry, do you still get discount coupons when you recycle your bottles and other stuff at the machine?” It does give discount coupons but I’ve never found any that I could use so I don’t take them anymore.

I started watching Groundhog Day, at least until it was time (7pm) for Teresa’s Colombian news.

 

The US has 26,216,627 ð 26,261,703 ð 26,401,588 coronavirus cases with 441,200+ ð 442,000+ ð 444,900+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,094,884 ð 2,104,506 ð 2,114,597 cases with 53,983 ð 54,272 ð 54,576 deaths. Medellin has 182,695 ð 183,164 ð 183,638 cases, an increase of 475 from February 1^st to 2^nd. Envigado has a total of 16,563 cases, an increase of 16 from February 1^st to 2^nd.

Joke of the day

Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes.

Monday, February 1, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up twice during the night, waking/getting up at 6:30.

Another month shot to hell, and so fast!

I left the apt at 9:30 and walked to Parque Envigado. (I leave this late because the tienda naturista doesn’t open until 10am.) I stopped at Todo Drogas where I purchased my monthly medicine for 88mil. At 9:55 my usual tienda naturista still wasn’t open but my backup across the street was. I purchased my supplements wondering what early they open. I should have asked. I walked down to Viva Envigado where I recycled a couple plastic bottles, returned a pair of shorts for a gift card in H&M then went up to Bancolombia. There was no line, yay, so I went inside and after a 10-minute wait I paid some bills and received the balance in cash. I walked 100’ to Av Villas bank and after the usual check-in by the guard went to a counter to pick up a deposit ticket for next month. I reached into a shelf and pulled one out then noticed a 50mil bill sitting right there on the counter. I couldn’t have dropped it myself since my cash is wrapped in a rubber band in my tech bag. Was it there all the time or was it “attached” to the deposit slip I just picked up? There were only 2 customers at the cashier windows so I waited a minute to see if one came over looking for it. After they left, I brought the guard over and with my poor Spanish and pantomiming made clear to him that I found the 50mil on the counter. He said he would hold on to it and I went and paid my January rent.

Downstairs I had coffee at Todo Fresa then returned to the apt by taxi.

I checkmated the Canadian sseltimil increasing my rating 4 points to 1490.

I couldn’t remember the ending to the Fargo series to I watched the last episode again.

For supper we each had one of the Pricesmart Angus beef burgers with mustard, onion, tomato, relish and lettuce. Delicious!

 

The US has 26,033,190 ð 26,216,627 ð 26,261,703 coronavirus cases with 437,800+ ð 441,200+ ð 442,000+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,086,806 ð 2,094,884 ð 2,104,506 cases with 53,650 ð 53,983 ð 54,272 deaths. Medellin has 181,964 ð 182,695 ð 183,164 cases, an increase of 569 from January 31^st to February 1^st.  Envigado has a total of 16,547 cases, an increase of 41 from January 31^st to February 1^st.

Joke of the day

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.  

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, slept throught the night, waking/getting up at 6am. That was a perfect night’s sleep, despite the fact I had a 250ml regular Coke with my fried chicken last night.

Teresa is trying to reach the renters at the finca and if she’s successful she’ll make a trip there today.

I left the apt at 8am and met Glenn and Bianca at the usual bus stop. (It didn’t seem like ciclovia was going on today.) We had our usual breakfast at Ganso y Castor then we shared a taxi back to Envigado. Ciclovia was going on on Avenida Las Vegas, I wonder why the change from Avenida Poblado. They got out at Jumbo and I continued on to Viva Envigado. I recycled a Coke bottle then had coffee at Todo Fresa and I returned to the apt via taxi.

I called Teresa about 1pm but there was no answer so I ordered ribs from Go Wings. The ribs were only so-so and I’m getting tired of their wet coleslaw so next time I’ll change up my order. Teresa soon returned and she had leftover chicken.

About 7pm for supper Teresa suggested we go for pizza. I questioned whether they would be open on a Sunday. We had the portero call for a taxi and after a 10-minute wait we were on our way. I noticed the Envigado’s beautiful Christmas decorations were not just still up but illuminated. There was a line at Antica Pizza so we had about a 20-minute wait for a table. In the meantime, a small boy was jumping around on the concrete stairs and he must have fallen as I suddenly heard a wail and his father swooped in and picked him up. They soon got some ice on the bump on his head from the restaurant. We had our usual pizza and drinks inside and were back at the apt by 9pm.

 

The US has 25,957,463 ð 26,033,190 ð 26,216,627 coronavirus cases with 436,400+ ð 437,800+ ð 441,200+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,077,633 ð 2,086,806 ð 2,094,884 cases with 53,284 ð 53,650 ð 53,983 deaths. Medellin has 181,297 ð 181,964 ð 182,695 cases, an increase of 631 from January 30^th to 31^st.  Envigado has a total of 16,505 cases, an increase of 43 from January 30^th to 31^st.  Colombia, with their nightly curfews and pico y cedula, appears to finally be reducing their daily new infections.

 

Joke of the day

I changed my iPod's name to Titanic.  It's syncing now.