Saturday, February 13, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 5am and woke/got up at 7:15.

Teresa told me she was talking to a poor Venezuelan mother who couldn’t afford to feed her child so she asked Teresa to take him. I didn’t like that idea and only after talking to Laura did I find out she was joking.

I found my checking account was out of balance this month until I found I wrote a refund as a withdrawal instead of a deposit.

Teresa left at 8:45 for the gym and later she will call me and we’ll meet at Eduardo Madrid where she will buy vegetables.

I left the apt at 9:45 and walked to Parva where I had coffee for a little over an hour. Teresa called me at 11:15 to meet her at Mercado Madrid. On my way, I passed a young man wearing a Chicago Bears 2006 NFC Championship cap. We picked up 340mil of groceries and returned to the apt.

Another nice weather day – only 78 degrees at 1pm.

I beat Teresa in parcheesi today 5 games to 2.

Nejcik resigned one of our games increasing my rating to 1487 but I’m afraid I’m losing the other 3 games I’m playing.

It started raining at 4pm. I don’t think it was heavy and it soon petered out to a light rain then just dripping.

 

The US has 27,388,566 ð 27,478,817 ð 27,576,155 coronavirus cases with 473,100+ ð 476,500+ ð 481,600+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,179,641 ð 2,185,169 ð 2,190,116 cases with 56,983 ð 57,196 ð 57,425 deaths. Medellin has 187,269 ð 187,578 ð 187,182 cases, an increase of 304 from February 12^th to 13^th. Envigado has a total of 16,934 cases, an increase of 30 from February 12^th to 13^th.

 

Joke of the day

A bicycle can't stand alone; it's just two tired.  

Friday, February 12, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:15, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 4:30am and woke/got up at 6:30.

I left at 8am and completed my usual walk. When I was walking across the street from Otra Parte I saw three Metro buses pass by and each one was empty.

Teresa left for the gym at 10am. Later she’s going to have lunch with some girlfriends at La Casita Parilla. She would invite me to join them but then I would be expected to pick up the check for everyone.

Uncharacteristically cool today – only 74 degrees at noon.

I left the apt at 12:30 and walked to the mall in blue jeans and t-shirt. I returned the shorts for a credit card that I understand is good for one year. I recycled a plastic bottle then had 2 orders of frijoles and rice and a bottle of water. Downstairs I had coffee at Todo Fresa. Teresa called me at 2:30 to inform me that she had returned to the apt. Forty-five minutes later I returned to the apt via taxi.

Nejcik resigned our game increasing my rating 2 points to 1481.

I told Teresa I was willing to pick up ribs from Mu tonight.

I called them at 6:15 and they now have delivery to Envigado. A large order is 79mil plus 12mil for delivery for a total of 91mil. Less expensive and less hastle than my having to go there by taxi and pick them up. Our order arrived 30 minutes after my phone call. I thought with traffic it would take longer but I forgot to account for the fact that motorcycles drive around most of the logjams. I was waiting for it in the porteria when it arrived. We pigged out on the ribs and fries with lots left over.

Sseltimil resigned our game and I increased my rating 4 points to 1485.

I took a photo of the completed jigsaw puzzle then put it back in the box.

 

The US has 27,264,344 ð 27,388,566 ð 27,478,817 coronavirus cases with 469,400+ ð 473,100+ ð 476,500+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,173,347 ð 2,179,641 ð 2,185,169 cases with 56,733 ð 56,983 ð 57,196 deaths. Medellin has 186,918 ð 187,269 ð 187,578 cases, an increase of 309 from February 11^th to 12^th. Envigado has a total of 16,904 cases, an increase of 37 from February 11^th to 12^th.

Joke of the day

Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off?  He's all right now.  

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, woke up at 5am and got up at 5:30.

After breakfast I went back to bed and slept from 7:30 to 8:30.

I left the apt at 9:30 and walked to the mall. I paid the Une and epm bills at Baloto but they didn’t have an amount due for Direct TV. (Maybe, because of my account change, I need to wait to receive a new bill.) In H&M I exchanged my shorts from a large to a medium. I recycled a couple plastic bottles upstairs then paid our cellphone bills at Claro. Downstairs I had a café con leche at Todo Fresa. About 11:15 it started getting a little crowded so I decided to give up my table and I left. I bought a couple bags of milk at Exito before returning to the apt by taxi. (I was surprised security didn’t ask to see my cedula entering Exito so I guess pico y cedula is over for now.)

Jose called me and told me he saw a chess tournament set up in Liga de Ajedrez. (Later I asked Juan about that and he said that all the participants firsst qualified by playing in an online tournament.)

Nejcik resigned our game and I increased my rating to 1479.

I had a 2-hour chess lesson with Juan Castro.

I don’t know what happened but Teresa never made it to mass today..

I finished the jigsaw puzzle this evening. So, it took me about a week – Friday to Thursday – working an average of an hour each evening. That makes a total of about 7 hours while the box claims it’s a 2-3 hour puzzle. Wow! Either I’m not good at puzzles or my decision skills have really diminished. I know there were times I swore there must be a piece missing, that I had tried every piece in one spot, but in the end they were all there. Amazing.

 

The US has 27,192,859 ð 27,264,344 ð 27,388,566 coronavirus cases with 466,600+ ð 469,400+ ð 473,100+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,166,904 ð 2,173,347 ð 2,179,641 cases with 56,507 ð 56,733 ð 56,983 deaths. Medellin has 186,525 ð 186,918 ð 187,269 cases, an increase of 356 from February 10^th to 11^th. Envigado has a total of 16,848 cases, an increase of 38 from February 10^th to 11^th.

 

Joke of the day

Police were summoned to a daycare center where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.  

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at midnight, again at 4:30, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

One of my blog readers sent me a joke but I’ve heard it phrased a little differently, “Do you know how to make a small fortune in the restaurant business? Start with a large fortune.”

Teresa’s going to the gym and having lunch with a friend so I’m on my own today.

I found an unexpected $59.88 charge to my checking account. I called the number associated with the transaction and learned it was for the Bears Report, a gift I gave my son 2 years ago. The first year was a discounted $27 and it was automatically renewed last year but he didn’t recall receiving it. He also changed apartments in the last year or so. I called them back and cancelled it.

I left the apt just after noon and it was a 25-minute walk to the park Glenn introduced me to before. He took me across the street to a café – Las Tres – where we had lunch. I had the meat lasagna and a mango juice and Glenn had a ham sandwich and a capuccino. Teresa called me and asked me to bring her a pastel de guayaba from Parva. Glenn took Bianca across the street to the park and I walked to Parva where I had a café con leche and bought the pastry Teresa requested.

Michael resigned our game and I gained 2 points to 1478.

Teresa told me her girlfriend with brain cancer died. Later she told me she’d be going to mass tomorrow afternoon in Caldas.

I received an email from Nobraskja at Envios Market that they have some documents to deliver. I put 32mil in an envelope and left it with the portero.

Rain started about 4pm and lasted about an hour.

I understand President Duque is going to legalize the Venezuelans in Colombia.

The portero brought me my mail: a Chess Life magazine, a New in Chess magazine and a 1099.

 

The US has 27,084,885 ð 27,192,859 ð 27,264,344 coronavirus cases with 463,900+ ð 466,600+ ð 469,400+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,161,462 ð 2,166,904 ð 2,173,347 cases with 56,290 ð 56,507 ð 56,733 deaths. Medellin has186,198 ð 186,525 ð 186,918 cases, an increase of 392 from February 9^th to 10^th. Envigado has a total of 16,810 cases, an increase of 23 from February 9^th to 10^th.

 

Joke of the day

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.  

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Today is my son’s birthday. Happy Birthday Jim!

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 5:30, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

The streets are wet so obviously we got a little rain overnight.

I left the apt just before 8am, walked to the mall, recycled a couple Coke bottles, then waited for Jose at Habia Una Vez. He showed up at 8:30 and I had the complete breakfast and he had coffee and a couple pastries. We went upstairs at 9am.

I had White in the first game and he was winning but in the endgame I forked his king and rook and we settled for a draw.

For lunch he had an ice cream cone and I had a bowl of frijoles, a side order of rice and a bottle of water.

I had Black in the second game and I blundered in the middlegame and he forked both my rooks with his knight. I resigned, he left and I went downstairs for coffee at Todo Fresa. When I left I returned to the apt by taxi just before 4pm.

Later, Teresa told me she wants to go to a restaurant in La Buena Mesa for a great sandwich her friend introduced her to. I told her we tried that once before but for some reason we didn’t eat there. She finally remembered the name – Los Porteños. I googled it and they close every night at 7pm and it’s 6:30 now so we’ll try some other day but earlier.

 

The US has 26,994,277 ð 27,084,885 ð 27,192,859 coronavirus cases with 462,600+ ð 463,900+ ð 466,600+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,157,216 ð 2,161,462 ð 2,166,904 cases with 55,993 ð 56,290 ð 56,507 deaths. Medellin has185,791 ð 186,198 ð 186,525 cases, an increase of 326 from February 8^th to 9^th. Envigado has a total of 16,787 cases, an increase of 35 from February 8^th to 9^th.

Joke of the day

A will is a dead giveaway.  

Monday, February 8, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 5:30, finally waking/getting up at 7:30.

I left the apt at 8:20 and met Marcos outside his apt complex. He said he had a medical lab near the park he had to visit for 5 minutes. We walked just short of Parque Envigado and he stopped in the same building where I sometimes picked up cash from World Remit. He talked to a receptionist and was told he needs to go to Monterrey mall for a Covid-19 test. (He leaves in March to visit his grandkids in Arizona.) He told me he heard that you can get a covid test in the airport and receive the results in 30 minutes but his flight leaves at 2am. I told him that could be his backup plan – go there the day before and get the test and he would know he’s prepared for the flight. When we left I noticed a tienda naturista that was open and it wasn’t even 9am. I think now I can start my 1^st of the month payment process earlier and not have to wait til 9:30 when the other store is open. We stopped for coffee at Parva and I was back at the apt by 9:30.

Teresa got off the phone with Esmeralda and told me she’s been thinking. (uh-oh!). Why don’t we open a small restaurant and make lots of money?

I blundered against a 1007 player and lost 17 points down to 1476. Sigh!

I beat Teresa in parcheesi 5 games to 2.

I spent another hour working on the jigsaw puzzle. I’d say I’m past the halfway point to completing it, now what’s left is the hard part, either all green trees or very dark green trees in shadow.

I finished reading the paperback Mr. Murder by Dean Koontz. I see per IMDB that there was a TV movie with that name so I’ll have to check it out.

 

The US has 26,909,384 ð 26,994,277 ð 27,084,885 coronavirus cases with 460,800+ ð 462,600+ ð 463,900+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,151,207 ð 2,157,216 ð 2,161,462 cases with 55,693 ð 55,993 ð 56,290 deaths. Medellin has185,435 ð 185,791 ð 186,198 cases, an increase of 402 from February 7^th to 8^th. Envigado has a total of 16,759 cases, an increase of 35 from February 7^th to 8^th.

 

Joke of the day

A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.  

Sunday, February 7, 2021

SuperBowl Sunday!

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 5am, couldn’t fall back asleep so I got up at 5:30.

I left the apt at 8am and met Glenn and Bianca at the bus stop at 8:15. We had our usual breakfast at Ganso & Castor. Glenn ordered eggs over a bagel and it also came with ham and bacon on the side, which he didn’t want. I told him next time he needs to say “solo”. We left about 10:30 and took a taxi back to Envigado, they got off at Jumbo and I went on to Viva Envigado. I recycled a plastic bottle, made an ATM withdrawal and checked my cellphone until 11am when H&M opened.  I found a replacement pair of shorts (actually a swimming suit) for wearing around the house and a pair of walking shorts. Teresa called me about 11:30 and told me to pick up chicken at Frisby on my way back. I did so at 12:30 and returned to the apt via taxi. The walking shorts are a little big and don’t have belt loops so I’m going to exchange them for size medium or a different pair.

I won my games against Michael and nejcik and gained 3 points to 1490. I’m “so close” to 1500.

I beat Teresa in parcheesi 2 games to 1.

I beat sseltimil increasing my rating to 1493.

Teresa told me she’s antsy to go on some sort of trip, she mentioned Guatape. Just because new infections are down slightly is no time to get lax.

I watched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Superbowl 31-9. Boring, but at least I got to see the commercials.

 

The US has 26,768,299 ð 26,909,384 ð 26,994,277 coronavirus cases with 457,100+ ð 460,800+ ð 462,600+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,142,660 ð 2,151,207 ð 2,157,216 cases with 55,403 ð 55,693 ð 55,993 deaths. Medellin has184,075 ð 185,435 ð 185,791 cases, an increase of 357 from February 6^th to 7^th. Envigado has a total of 16,724 cases, an increase of 30 from February 6^th to 7^th.

 

Joke of the day

I got some batteries that were given out free of charge.