Saturday, February 20, 2021

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

I look at my checking account balance almost every morning and today I found an unexpected credit of $153.49 identified as an “ATM Adjustment Credit”. That’s a new one for me; what could that be?

We left the apt at 9am for Teresa’s 10am appointment. I was convinced we were going to the clinic in Itagui but so I was surprised when the taxi took us to the clinic across from the stadium. I wasn’t allowed in (only the patient, I guess) so I went across the street to a Bunuelos where I had a café con leche and waited for her to return.

An hour later she returned and reported that all was good. From her prescriptions I understood she has mild osteoporosis and will be taking some special Calcium and Vitamin D tablets.

We took a taxi to Unicentro mall where she checked out a few stores. I took her up to the TV Noveldades store where they had a Sumo Slicer that she saw on television. They also had some sort of thing you crack an egg into and then cook. I asked that we delay any purchase until after lunch. At J&C Delicias she had salmon and I had a Cesar salad. She looked in a couple more stores then we returned to the apt by taxi. (Traffic was quite heavy; it’s almost getting impossible to get around in Envigado by car anymore.)

Teresa took a nap (I tried but was unsuccessful) and I went to Parva for coffee. I bought a postre de guayaba for her and returned to the apt.

I beat Teresa in parcheesi today 4 games to 3. She had a 3-game lead but I won the last 4. 😊

I used Rappi to order fried chicken from Frisby.

Another day we barely made it to 80 degrees.

One of my readers wrote, “Interesting, nothing of the foibles of the current president at all here.” Very interesting; maybe if Biden was required to use Twitter…Lol.

We had a little rain in the evening.

 

The US has 27,908,420 ð 27,974,538 ð 28,055,472 coronavirus cases with 491,500+ ð 494,000+ ð 496,300+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,212,525 ð 2,217,001 ð 2,222,018 cases with 58,334 ð 58,511 ð 58,685 deaths. Medellin has 189,525 ð 189,939 ð 190,475 cases, an increase of 536 from February 19^th to 20^th. Envigado has a total of 17,163 cases, an increase of 36 from February 19^th to 20^th.

Joke of the day

When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.  

Friday, February 19, 2021

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

I think it rained lightly throughout the night; one of the rare nights I added a light blanket to my usual sheet.

I left the apt just before 8am in 64-degree weather. Brrr! I skipped a couple of incline areas but completed my usual walking route in an hour. As I returned I ran into Teresa in the parking garage leaving for her gym class.

I left the apt at 9:45 and walked to Parva where I had a café con leche while reviewing some chess notes. The waiter brought me my coffee and a complimentary package of sugar cookies. I had one, they are pretty bland, not enough sugar and butter for a gringo’s taste. When I returned to the apt a little over an hour later I gave the remainder of the cookies to the portero.

Another cool day, only 72 degrees at 11:30am. I guess when it’s freezing in Texas it’s cold here.

Nejcik resigned our game increasing my rating to 1469.

Teresa returned at noon from her gym workout.

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

Teresa beat me in parcheesi today 4 games to 0.

Michael resigned our game and my rating is now 1471.

 

The US has 27,831,946 ð 27,908,420 ð 27,974,538 coronavirus cases with 489,100+ ð 491,500+ ð 494,000+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,207,701 ð 2,212,525 ð 2,217,001 cases with 58,134 ð 58,334 ð 58,511 deaths. Medellin has 189,204 ð 189,525 ð 189,939 cases, an increase of 409 from February 18^th to 19^th. Envigado has a total of 17,127 cases, an increase of 45 from February 18^th to 19^th.

Joke of the day

Did you hear about the crossed-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils?  

Thursday, February 18, 2021

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

We obviously had rain overnight and it’s still a little drippy.

I rescheduled my chess lesson to tomorrow so I can (try to) see the Mars rover landing this afternoon.

I earned a win against nejcik and a draw against Michael and my correspondence rating is now 1467.

At 7:30 Teresa found out her 9am class is actually an 8am class. She left just before 8am and took a taxi to her gym in Parque Envigado.

I found I could narrow the new strap on my sandal by squeezing it with my fingers so now it’s much more comfortable.

I was going to go to Parva for coffee but its such a cold morning I decided I would rather be somewhere inside so instead I walked to the mall.

I recycled a battery at Home Center and a plastic bottle upstairs near the food court. I was the first customer of the day at Todo Fresa where I had a café con leche while reading a magazine. When I left, I made an ATM withdrawal then stopped at the main floor atrium where they were accepting clothing donations. I gave a shirt to a Sabaneta used clothing center. Why did I donate it? It was flannel – strike 1; size small – strike 2; had been sitting in my closet for something like 3 years – strike 3. I doubt Teresa will ever notice it’s missing. I returned to the apt via taxi.

Chess.com had some intermittent server problems today.

I found that what I thought was a 2:15 Mars landing was actually the time when TV coverage begins. I took a nap from 2:30 to 3:30. I went to NASA TV and watched the coverage of the successful landing of Perseverance on the surface of Mars.

Very cool day today, I don’t think we came close to 80 degrees.

The rain started at 5pm, started as a downpour but soon leveled off to just a rainshower finally ending about an hour later.

I came from behind to beat Teresa in parcheesi today 4 games to 3.

Teresa told me there is an apartment available in the building across the street from Parva. I understand we can’t move from here until next November but at least we could look at it to see if it’s something we might be interested in in the future.

I finished reading Ruth Ware’s In a Dark, Dark Wood on my Nook.

 

Mitch McConnell: “There is no question former President Trump bears moral responsibility, his supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world’s largest megaphone. His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable, from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended.”

 

The US has 27,768,334 ð 27,831,946 ð 27,908,420 coronavirus cases with 486,700+ ð 489,100+ ð 491,500+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,202,598 ð 2,207,701 ð 2,212,525 cases with 57,949 ð 58,134 ð 58,334 deaths. Medellin has 188,906 ð 189,204 ð 189,525 cases, an increase of 325 from February 17^th to 18^th. Envigado has a total of 17,082 cases, an increase of 52 from February 17^th to 18^th.

Joke of the day

I didn't like my beard at first.  Then it grew on me.  

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Last night, at 8:30, I mistakenly took my sleeping pill instead of my melatonin. I managed to stay awake and read until 9:30 when I gave up and went to bed. I fell asleep quickly but got up at 4am. About 5am I gave up getting back to sleep. I got up and took another sleeping pill, read for about 20 minutes and went back to bed. I fell asleep quickly and woke/got up just before 7am.

I left the apt at 8am and met Marcos outside his apt at 8:15. The osteoarthritis in my back is acting up today but it gradually went away on our walk. We walked to Parque Poblado, had coffee at a different café, and walked to Mercado Madrid where he picked up some groceries and I bought the teriyaki sauce Teresa asked for and a couple bags of milk. Teresa was just leaving for her gym class as I returned to the apt.

Teresa called me at 12:45 from Mayorca to tell me she’s on her way back to the apt to make chicken fajitas for lunch.

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

Teresa told me she wanted to check out the sales in Arkadia. (I wanted to look for a specific pair of shorts in H&M there anyway.) We left the apt at 4:30 and took a taxi to the mall. Teresa did some shopping and we each found a light t-shirt in Felabella. The mall has a Cinemark theatre that is open, an 11-lane bowling alley, and soon will have a Starbucks. She said she wanted something different to eat tonight but we still ended up getting sandwiches from Subway. Before we left I made a quick trip into H&M but didn’t find the shorts I was looking for. We returned to the apt by taxi in a light rain.

 

The US has 27,704,082 ð 27,768,334 ð 27,831,946 coronavirus cases with 485,400+ ð 486,700+ ð 489,100+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,198,549 ð 2,202,598 ð 2,207,701 cases with 57,786 ð 57,949 ð 58,134 deaths. Medellin has 188,599 ð 188,906 ð 189,204 cases, an increase of 297 from February 16^th to 17^th. Envigado has a total of 17,030 cases, an increase of 28 from February 16^th to 17^th.

 

Joke of the day

Acupuncture is a jab well done.  That's the point of it.  

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

 Last night I went to bed at 10pm, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 1:15am, again at 5am, finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

I left the apt just before 8am and walked to the mall. First, I recycled a couple Coke bottles then went down to Habia Una Vez. I had a small coffee while waiting for Jose and he soon arrived. I remembered to ask him to ask Maria for the contact information for a (several) furniture store(s) in El Retiro. We’re looking to replace our bed, which is really just a frame supporting a mattress, with a real bed. I had the complete breakfast and Jose had coffee and a pastry. We went upstairs about 9am.

I had the Black pieces in the first game and I held him off for 41 moves before resigning.

For lunch he had a sandwich combo from Q’Bano and I had a bowl of frijoles, rice and a bottle of water.

In the 2^nd game I played a different line of the English opening (thanks Juan Castro) and I had pressure on him for most of the game. He made a comeback and we went into the endgame basically even. He made 2 inferior moves in a row and he resigned just before being checkmated on the 62^nd move.

He left and I went downstairs where I had a café con leche at Todo Fresa. I received a Whatsapp message from an unknown number and as soon as I blocked it I realized it was telling me that my sandals were repaired and ready for pickup. Oops! I’ll have to see if there’s some way to unblock a number if I don’t even remember what it is.

I accepted a draw against Michael, which I was losing earlier, reducing my rating to 1465.

After my coffee I made a visit to the shoe repair shop and she gave me my sandals without a receipt (I have no idea where I put it). The “strap” looked like new.

I looked for a specific salad dressing in Exito but a muchacho said they don’t have it. I returned to the apt via taxi.

Teresa requested fried chicken for supper so I made the usual order from Frisby using Rappi. When the app said he was on his way to our apt I walked down to the portero. I was surprised how long I waited until I realized it came from Viva Envigado instead of Villa Grande and it came by bicycle instead of motorcycle. Still, I tipped him the same – 5mil – in addition to the 4,900-peso delivery charge.

I tried on the sandal with the new strap and it’s wider than the original which irritates the area between my toes. I’ll have to “break them in” or in time maybe I will get a little callous between my toes.

Teresa told me it’s pouring outside. I went out on the balcony and reached my hand out and wasn’t sure if I felt a drop or two or not. I looked at Exito’s sign and thought I saw rain falling but not what I would call a downpour. Strange!

 

The US has 27,661,435 ð 27,704,082 ð 27,768,334 coronavirus cases with 484,600+ ð 485,400+ ð 486,700+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,195,039 ð 2,198,549 ð 2,202,598 cases with 57,605 ð 57,786 ð 57,949 deaths. Medellin has 188,271 ð 188,599 ð 188,906 cases, an increase of 306 from February 15^th to 16^th. Envigado has a total of 17,002 cases, an increase of 12 from February 15^th to 16^th.

 

Joke of the day

When she saw her first strands of gray hair she thought she'd dye.  

 

Monday, February 15, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:45, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 3am, again at 5am, woke up at 5:30 and got up at 6:15.

I met Marcos outside his apt at 9am. We walked to the used bookstore where I exchanged paperbacks and he bought his first book. We stopped at a local café where we each had a café con leche then made a trip to the paper store where I bought 5 more money envelopes and we returned to La Buena Mesa.

I was back at the apt by 10:15.

Another cool day, only 78 degrees at noon.

Per President Ivan Duque, “I want to announce to Colombia that this afternoon, from Belgium, will arrive in our country the first shipment of vaccines from Pfizer pharmaceutical with the first 50,000 doses. It’s the first dispatch of a block of 1,650,000 vaccines to arrive in the next 3 weeks and understand the first wave of vaccination against the virus.”

I watched more episodes of the series Vikings.

I beat Teresa in parcheesi 3 games to 2.

Teresa and I started watching News of the World (6.9) until it was time for her 7pm news.

 

The US has 27,576,155 ð 27,661,435 ð 27,704,082 coronavirus cases with 481,600+ ð 484,600+ ð 485,400+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,190,116 ð 2,195,039 ð 2,198,549 cases with 57,425 ð 57,605 ð 57,786 deaths. Medellin has 187,182 ð 188,271 ð 188,599 cases, an increase of 328 from February 14^th to 15^th. Envigado has a total of 16,990 cases, an increase of 27 from February 14^th to 15^th.

 

Joke of the day

He had a photographic memory but it was never fully developed.  

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Happy Valentine’s Day, for those of you in the States.

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 3am and woke/got up at 6:15.

I left the apt at 10 minutes to 9 and met Glenn outside Otra Parte at 9am. We walked the 3 blocks or so to AlfaMore in La Buena Mesa. They were still in the process of opening for the day but right away they put out a table and chairs for us. Glenn paid me the 25mil he owed me (he bet Mitch McConnell would acquit Trump and I took him up on that bet; Mitch “is who we thought he was”). We each had French toast (it came with honey instead of Maple syrup) but at least there was a little jelly of some type of berry. We each also had a couple coffees. I made a trip to the restroom and noted there was no toilet seat (they lose 2 review points for that) in the men’s room but I could see they have one in the women’s room (what’s up with that?). I mentioned to Glenn I wanted to make a trip back to Sweet Georgia café for an American breakfast (it’s in Laureles) and Glenn mentioned there was one in Poblado. I googled it and its only a block from Parque Poblado at Calle 9 #43B-115. Yay! We decided to go there next Sunday and if we don’t like it or they aren’t open we can always use Ganso y Castor as our backup. The bill came to 41mil each and he returned to his apt and I made a trip to the mall for our preferred brand of eggs before returning to the apt via taxi.

About 1pm the rain started and it lasted maybe a couple hours.

I lost my first game, ever, to Michael and my rating fell to 1470.

There’s been some talk on Expat Exchange about finding Johnsonville Sausage at Carulla’s in Medellin, so I asked Glenn to check the Carulla by his apt.

Nejcik resigned our game and my rating increased 2 points to 1472.

 

The US has 27,478,817 ð 27,576,155 ð 27,661,435 coronavirus cases with 476,500+ ð 481,600+ ð 484,600+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,185,169 ð 2,190,116 ð 2,195,039 cases with 57,196 ð 57,425 ð 57,605 deaths. Medellin has 187,578 ð 187,182 ð 188,271 cases, an increase of 385 from February 13^th to 14^th. Envigado has a total of 16,964 cases, an increase of 29 from February 13^th to 14^th.

 

Joke of the day

The guy who fell into an upholstery machine last week is now fully recovered.