Saturday, November 20, 2021

Recovery Day #148!

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 4:30, had difficulty falling asleep, got up at 5am. I returned to bed at 6am, finally fell asleep, and woke/got up at 7am.

In my game against Kapela82, as soon as I promoted my 6^th Queen, I checkmated him on the next move increasing my rating to 1583. (I’ve never had 6 Queens before in a game, I don’t even remember having 2.)

Well, Diego never showed up so I’ll be going to Cedimed Monday morning for the blood draw for my PSA test.

I left the apt at 2:30 and walked to Parva where I had a café con leche. At 3:20 it started raining, then became a downpour with a little hail mixed in.

It finally stopped and I left at 4:30 and bought 2 bags of milk on my way back to the apt.

Uh-oh. I think my iPod died. Even though the battery was recently charged I charged it again so we’ll see what happens.

I guess it was a good thing I returned when I did because about 5pm another downpour started.

The $2.46 charge is gone from my checking account, now hopefully my new debit card will be here in the next week.

(I updated my Wednesday post to add that my new pensionado visa is good for 3 years - although I can apply for the residency visa after one year if I wish.)

I tried ordering from Go Wings but the iFood app didn’t allow cash payment, only 2 Colombian credit/debit cards I’ve never heard of. I had Teresa call them and place the order. Hopefully, they will bring it to our door so I don’t have to go to the porteria in my pajamas. I can’t remember how I’ve ordered from them in the past, I certainly didn’t call them.

The World Chess Championship begins next Friday in Dubai between Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Ian Nepomniachtchi (try saying that one 3 times fast) of Russia.

Glenn has noticed that somehow workers at Otra Parte now when it’s about to rain as he see them moving tables into protected areas.

More rain in the evening.

Danny Krumholz (sp?), the owner of Na Pizza, has opened an ice cream shop in Manila at Cr. 43E #11A-15, called Sugar Mamas. It looks like it’s just across the street from Hija Mia, in the old Brooklyn RL location. They don’t open until 11am so it might be a while until we see it.

My brother sent me my high school graduation photo. (He likes to remind me how old I am.)

 

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 94,669 ð 93,196 ð 92,580 new cases and 1,158 ð 1,134 ð 1,115 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday, Colombia has a total of 2,121 ð 2,157 ð 2,590 new cases with 51 ð 50  ð 41 new deaths. Medellin has 285 ð 244 ð 285 new cases from November 19^th to 20^th. Envigado has 22 ð 13 ð 12 new cases from November 19^th to 20^th.

 

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Friday, November 19, 2021

Recovery Day #147!

Last night I went to bed at 10:45, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 2:15, fell back asleep, got up again at 4:30, had difficulty falling asleep, finally getting up at 6:15.

The news feed on my laptop is now in Spanish and I don’t know how to switch it back to English.

According to Medellin Guru taxi fares go up a little starting next month.

We left the apt at 10:15 and took a Didi car to El Tesoro mall for 10mil. It was a little more crowded than usual, more like a weekend afternoon. Everything is on discount because they aren’t charging the Colombian 19% tax today. After some time in Zara, and waiting in a very long line to pay, Teresa bought a blouse, jeans, a belt, and a jacket. She looked in a couple stores for dress boots.

We had lunch in Natto Bowls again. Teresa had a conversation with the manager and I understood I was correct – last time we were there I didn’t pay for our lunch. I don’t know why they don’t take your money at the time you order. My best guess is that they have table service but we usually order at their cashier.

I had their BBQ bowl of rice, BBQ pulled pork, coleslaw, avocdao and cilantro which was pretty good. I had already consumed the avocado slices when I took the photo below:

We met up with Vicky, without her dog. I think I heard that it was sick. They did some more shopping and Teresa found 2 pairs of the same boots, 1 pair I brown the other in black. In Adidas she found a gym top. We all had burgers in Chef Burger. 

I didn’t keep the receipt and was a little chagrined because we had to wait for Vicky to track down the receipt so she could get her mall points. Then we had to wait in a small line for her to register them.

Vicky offered us a ride to Oviedo mall but I declined thinking it would avoid the traffic on Avenida Poblado. Mistake!

On our way to the taxi stand I noticed a booth set up selling slices of Virginia baked ham.

We only wanted a taste but we watched the procedure and paid 16mil for a little pocket of ham slices.

We each ate a couple and took the rest with us. The taxi waiting area was packed and we took number 140 and they were serving number 60. A few minutes later someone gave up and gave us their number, 124, so that helped. Twenty minutes later we were in a taxi. Teresa gave the driver the rest of the ham slices which he appreciated. He told us of a new mall just built in Bello, supposedly the largest mall in Antioqua. Bello is just north of Medellin like Envigado is just south of Medellin. If we take a day trip there it might be a good idea to take the metro to the northern end of the line. Trying to cross Avenida Poblado we got caught in the intersection when the light changed and he made a left turn to clear the intersection. (Normally you cannot make a left turn there, you continue ahead where there is a u-turn, then you return to Ave. Poblado and make a right turn.) The trip back cost 13,500 pesos and e were back at the apt by 8:15.

I finished the eBook Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert.

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 88,140 ð 94,669 ð 93,196 new cases and 1,088 ð 1,158 ð 1,134 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday, Colombia has a total of 2,257 ð 2,121 ð 2,157 new cases with 47 ð 51 ð 50 new deaths. Medellin has 334 ð 285 ð 244 new cases from November 18^th to 19^th. Envigado has 4 ð 22 ð 13 new cases from November 18^th to 19^th.

 

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Thursday, November 18, 2021

Recovery Day #146!

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 3:45, fell back asleep, finally waking at 6:30 and getting up at 6:45.

I received a text message from Bob Sisler, who I haven’t heard from in a long time. He needs 3,500,000 pesos for his visa renewal and was asking if I know of any person or company that loans money with a 90-day payback. I recommended he use a credit card and I also informed him I just renewed my visa with Inter-Col and it cost less than 2,500,000 pesos.

I left the apt at 8:15 and walked to Parva where I had a café con leche and reviewed some chess notes. I left just before 9:30 and met Glenn at Los Porteños. We each ordered the same egg in croissant sandwich and we were both a little surprised it was a fried egg. It was delicious but a little messy to eat. Next time we’ll try to order it with scrambled eggs. At Glenn’s recommendation I texted a man named Diego who will come to my apt tomorrow morning and take a blood sample. (If Teresa complains about the cost I will inform her it’s 5mil cheaper than using Cedimed even with their discount card. I even arranged to meet him in the porteria so she won’t be inconvenienced.) With coffee the check came to a little less than 20mil each. Glenn left about 11am and I hung around a little longer. I bought 2 bags of milk before returning to the apt.

I accidentally erased all the songs from my iPod but quickly figured out how to sync them from my iTunes account.

Another close game but I’m up a pawn in the endgame vs Troyclough.

Even before the sun hit our thermometer this afternoon we reached 86 degrees. Maybe the rainy season is over. (Oops, sorry, I didn’t mean to jinx that.)

A new movie that just opened, Run Hide Fight (6.40), looks interesting but it’s only showtime in Viva Envigado is 9pm.

Tomorrow is the 2^nd Dia sin IVA (like no sales tax) so Teresa wants to go early to El Tesoro. I texted Diego and switched my blood draw to Saturday morning.

In my spare time I’ve been binge watching Seinfeld episodes.

 

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 85,861 ð 88,140 ð 94,669 new cases and 1,091 ð 1,088 ð 1,158 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday, Colombia has a total of 2,021 ð 2,257 ð 2,121 new cases with 32 ð 47 ð 51 new deaths. Medellin has 259 ð 334 ð 285 new cases from November 17^th to 18^th. Envigado has 19 ð 4 ð 22 new cases from November 17^th to 18^th.

 

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Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Recovery Day #145!

Last night I went to bed at 10:45, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 2:15, couldn’t fall back asleep, got up at 3:15, returned to bed at 4:15, took a while to fall back asleep, finally waking at 6:30 and getting up at 6:45.

I had to cancel my breakfast with Glenn this morning.

I left the apt at 8:15 and took a Didi car to Inter-Col. I was served immediately as there were no other customers. I showed Daniela the email I got from Immigration about my missed appointment yesterday morning. She explained the appointment was for emergency purposes only if my visa hadn’t been approved in time. She made and printed my appointment for my new cedula for next Wednesday at 10:30. She gave me all the papers I need and told me to just bring my passport, the papers and my debit card. (So that worry was basically a nothing burger.) She also told me my visa is good for 3 years but since I am only lacking 1 year I could renew it earlier.

I walked to Unicentro mall where I printed some chess notes at Auros. (I found out later the muchacho accidentally printed one of my files twice.) I called Teresa, told her everything was okay, and made plans to meet her at Pricesmart at 11am. I had coffee at Todo Fresa and the music today was an interesting collection of different styles.  I started checking out at 10:30, walked outside and got into a taxi that took me to Pricesmart. I got out at Arkadia mall and walked across the street to Pricesmart.

Teresa was waiting for me in the basement with a cart. We loaded up almost 900mil worth of groceries. For lunch we had spring salads with chicken strips in their deli. We checked out and after a 10-minute wait returned to the apt by taxi.

One of the things we bought was a Smithfield spiral ham. They had instructions on the back of a sticker but it only partially survived removal. I understood it should be consumed by the end of the year and once defrosted it should only be kept in the refrigerator for 5 days. Teresa cut it up and we wrapped most of it in saran wrap and put it in the freezer. A small portion went into the refrigerator, and she pan fried a couple pieces for each of us with a nice sauce.

Today President Duque extended Colombia’s Covid-19 emergency for 3 more months. (Glenn has been tracking new infections better than I and he had told me we bottomed out October 20^th but they’ve been going up ever since.)

Teresa called her doctor’s office and they want her to get her “bone” injection before she gets her 2^nd Pfizer vaccination.

I think we got close to 85 degrees today.

We had ham sandwiches for supper.

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 84,863 ð 85,861 ð 88,140 new cases and 1,129 ð 1,091 ð 1,088 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday, Colombia has a total of 2,321 ð 2,021 ð 2,257 new cases with 24 ð 32 ð 47 new deaths. Medellin has NOT REPORTED ð 259 ð 334 new cases from November 16^th to 17^th. Envigado has NOT REPORTED ð 19 ð 4 new cases from November 16^th to 17^th.

 

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Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Recovery Day #144!

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 2:15, again at 5am, didn’t fall back asleep until after 6:30, finally waking/getting up at 8am.

Teresa wants to go to a yoga class this morning, so I’ll be having cereal for breakfast.

The latest from Jerry’s wife, “It’s with a heavy heart I bring you the sad news of Jerry’s passing this evening. I do feel he was at peace once he and I had our time together today! Sadly, I didn’t get back to the hospital before he passed.”

I left the apt at 9:45 and walked to the mall. They are now playing Christmas music and the atrium looks Christmassy.

I was having coffee in Todo Fresa when Teresa called me from Mayorca. She asked me to stay put as she was on her way. We went across the street where we had lunch in La Bahia. I convinced Teresa to get her 2^nd Pfizer shot and she was ready to go right away but she didn’t have her cedula with her. MT came over and we returned to the mall. They did some shopping while I went up and had coffee in Santa Leña. I was reading my emails when I noticed one from Immigration sent yesterday morning and I missed it. They gave me an appointment for my new cedula for this morning at 10:45am. Yikes! Now what? I forwarded it to Inter-Col and told them I missed my appointment and I need a new one.

We had frozen yogurt in Percimon then they did a little more window shopping.

We took a taxi back to our respective apartments.

I’ve been trying to buy a pair of shoes for my daughter for her birthday, but the Nordstrom site shows they are only available in size 5. She says they are available in her size, and I need to clear my browser’s cache. I checked Youtube to find out that Ctrl+Shift+Delete in each browser performs that function. I did but I still only see size 5.

I’m trying to fill out this stupid form Immigration sent me:

https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/formularioRegistro.jsf

that I’m supposed to bring with me to my appointment. (One thing I noticed is they spell Illinois, “Ikkinois” ☹) I’m going to have to go to Inter-Col tomorrow morning for help in filling it out.

Well, TheGreekLad only has 8 days of vacation remaining so we should be continuing the game soon. Another opponent Kapela82 we’re on the 69^th move and I can checkmate in two moves so why doesn’t he resign already? I could first get 6 new Queens if I want to waste my time.

I just found out that another younger cousin Larry, that I wasn’t close to and seldom saw, passed away yesterday.

I finally figured out how to order the shoes for my daughter so at least that’s out of the way.

 

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 80,885 ð 84,863 ð 85,861 new cases and 1,132 ð 1,129 ð 1,091 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday, Colombia has a total of 2,610 ð 2,321 ð 2,021 new cases with 43 ð 24 ð 32 new deaths. Medellin has 267 ð NOT REPORTED ð 259 new cases from November 15^th to 16^th. Envigado has 18 ð NOT REPORTED ð 19 new cases from November 15^th to 16^th.

 

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Monday, November 15, 2021

Recovery Day #143!

Today is another holiday, Cartagena Independence Day.

Last night I went to bed at 10:45, fell asleep quickly, got up twice during the night, woke up at 6:45 and got up at 7am.

I left the apt at 10:15 and walked to Marcos apt. There were a few raindrops as I walked from the porteria to his building. Johanna brought me a cup of hot chocolate (I’m not crazy about chocolate) and a slice of chocolate cake. I had 2 sips of the hot chocolate and 2 bites of the cake. We talked for over an hour about our health experiences. He has compression socks he has to wear to prevent blood clots in his legs. When he feels like leaving the apt, we will meet for coffee at a nearby strip mall. There was a steady dripping when I left so I put up my umbrella. By the time I returned to the apt it was a steady drizzle.

About 12:30 a thunderstorm came through.

I had an hour nap after lunch.

I finished reviewing Teresa’s US tourist visa application. Now she needs to get a visa photo so I can upload it and submit the application.

I called Carlos and confirmed the van to and from the airport on November 30^th. It was funny to hear him say “yous guys” just like a New Yorker, although he worked on Rhode Island. Teresa thought 270mil was outrageous but a taxi from Envigado to the airport would be 85mil and 2 taxis returning would be 85+85mil so this van is only 15mil more.

We took a nice Didi car to Antica Pizza where we had our usual slices of pizza. We returned to the apt by a not so nice Didi car.

 

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 83,442 ð 80,885 ð 84,863 new cases and 1,128 ð 1,132 ð 1,129 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday, Colombia has a total of 2,513 ð 2,610 ð 2,321 new cases with 45 ð 43 ð 24 new deaths. Medellin has 253 ð 267 ð NOT REPORTED new cases from November 14^th to 15^th. Envigado has 10 ð 18 ð NOT REPORTED new cases from November 14^th to 15^th.

 

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Sunday, November 14, 2021

Recovery Day #142!

Last night I went to bed at 10:15, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 4:15 (that’s 6 hours, baby), couldn’t fall back asleep so I got up at 5am and started some work on the computer.

I left the apt at 8:15 and met Glenn with Bianca at the gas station. We took a taxi to El Poblado and walked down the hill to Hija Mia. The servers there now greet us  (or is it Bianca?) like we’re long time customers in Cheers. I had the Acai bowl and enjoyed it very much 

and Glenn had their banana waffle. When it was time to leave I called for a Didi car but they appeared to cancel because I messaged them that we have a dog. We walked down the hill to Calle 10A where we caught a taxi after a 5-minute wait. They got out at Jumbo and Teresa caught me just in time before we got to Viva Envigado. She wants to go to Arkadia mall so I redirected the driver to take me to our apt. I saw the 5 new bridges (ramps) that were completed last Tuesday. The nicest thing is that the construction traffic is gone and all the old lanes are now available.

I sent Laura a copy of my Tips for First Time Visitors to Medellin to give to Lenny. (Available to anyone who asks.)

Marcos texted me and I made tentative plans to meet him in his apt tomorrow morning.

Jerry update from his wife via my brother “Kidneys aren’t putting out any urine so they are going to start dialysis. He is on 3 of 4 meds for blood pressure and should he go on the last option more difficult decisions will have to be made. I am feeling better but still tired, probably because I’m afraid to fall asleep. I am going to go for a Covid test tomorrow praying it’s negative bc I have to have a negative test to be with Jerry. God is good and I know he’s wrapping his arms around Jerry right now. I continue to put my faith and trust in God.”

I pray God has his arms wrapped around her too.

Teresa and I left at noon and took a Didi car to Arkadia mall. Teresa did some shopping and exchanged jeans for a body suit in Falabella.

Chicago t-shirt in H&M window

Alejandro sent me a link to Une where apparently I can change my wifi password online.

Looking north toward the store area:

We had lunch in Crepes & Waffles and I had ground beef with cheese in a bread bowl. While there they closed the part of the ceiling that was open so there must be a little rain outside.

Sad Christmas tree

She did a little more shopping, we left at 3:15 and quickly caught a taxi outside back to the apt. It was 9mil for a Didi car there and 12,500 to return in a taxi.

More rain in the evening.

 

The New York Times’ 7-day average of new daily infections and deaths has the US with 79,234 ð 83,442 ð 80,885 new cases and 1,119 ð 1,128 ð 1,132 new deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of yesterday, Colombia has a total of 2,559 ð 2,513 ð 2,610 new cases with 41 ð 45 ð 43 new deaths. Medellin has 223 ð 253 ð 267 new cases from November 13^th to 14^th. Envigado has 13 ð 10 ð 18 new cases from November 13^th to 14^th.

 

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