Monday, March 20, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, got up twice during the night, finally waking/getting up at 7:15.

What I understood was we were going to take the metro to Terminal Norte and take a bus from there to Mary’s finca.

Teresa and I left the apt at 9:50 and took a Didi to the Ayurá metro station where we met Wilson, Marta, and MT. Before we even got to San Antonio station all of us had seats. When we passed Caribe station I wondered what was going on. I googled the metro station for Terminal del Norte and it is Caribe. Oh well, I guess they know what they’re doing.

We got off the metro at the end of the line, the Niquia station. We walked a short distance to a mall called Puerta del Norte. We hung around Exito for a few minutes then moved to a food court where we bought Frisby chicken to go. Outside, Wilson talked to a few taxi drivers and got one to take us to Vereda Portachuelo. I think the problem might have been that only 4 passengers are allowed in a taxi, 1 in front and 3 in back. Here’s how it ended up, left to right, Teresa, MT, Wilson and Martha. 

On the winding road up the side of a mountain I saw a horse in the process of lying down. (Don’t recall the last time I saw that.) The driver pulled off the road under the only shady spot, Teresa handed him her cellphone, he talked to someone then we continued on.

I saw a roadside stand called Empanadas de Olga. I thought Olga was a Russian name and I’ve been surprised when I see it here in Colombia.

At one point the road was narrow and as 2 cars slowly passed each other our driver turned down a side path. I thought it was to get out of the way of the passing cars but a gate opened and we continued down. A couple of large dogs “greeted us” and no one got out of the taxi until the owners came out.

Aunt Mary came out to greet us and calm the dogs down.

She has a very nice looking finca, it’s just so far from everything and with no wifi network that I could detect.

I laid down on a coach on the side of the house and this was my view:

Our taxi arrived at 4:30 to take us back to the metro station but first he stopped at a stand and I had a cup of Mazzamora and some Gelatina (sp?).

I don’t understand Colombian’s fascination with mazzamora, it’s just kernel corn in cold milk. The Gelatina appears to be an early stage of marshmallow, made like I remember seeing salt water taffy being made by hand.

We took the metro back to Ayurá station and took a taxi from there back to the apt.

I made arrangements with Jose to meet for chess tomorrow.

I checked the international airfare and it’s down almost $200 today. 😊

Today I got in 2,566 steps.

 

Regarding Adulthood

 

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:45, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 7am.

I took a Didi to Pergamino café where I met Glenn at 9am. He didn’t have any information regarding marriages in Colombia. Next, I’ll ask Jerry and Chris, hopefully one of them will have some information. Glenn (Bianca too) has gastritis so today he just nibbled on an almond croissant. Teresa called and she wants to go to Mayorca today to buy some face cream on sale in Meipiel so I guess we’ll be having lunch there. We left at 11:30 and shared a taxi back to Envigado.

I took a plastic exercise band and jerry rigged it to the door, sat on a chair and did a few simple stomach curls with no discomfort. Now I’m considering returning to the gym soon. 😊

I used Google Translate to translate the email I received Friday from Envios Market:

“As of Monday, March 20, our Locker service in the USA is transformed. The address in Miami remains the same, these are the changes:

1. Customer service will be through the company Innovation Corp and the new telephone number for any request and report is +57 317 515 65 48.

2. You will have access to the web system of the locker so that you can consolidate your purchases, report the value and track your shipment at all times.

3. Your shipments will travel from Miami to Bogotá and they will contact you via WhatsApp to confirm the value of the service.

4. Once the collection has been made, it is dispatched from Bogotá to your address with the transport company TCC or Envía.

5. The accounts authorized for the collection of the value of the Casillero service are:

• Bancolombia: Savings Account #23751658664 In the name of Innovation Corp SAS NIT 900.913.342-7

• Zelle and PayPal: ccardona@innovationcorpus.com

• Bank of America: Checking account #8981 0164 0063 In the name of Innovation Vica Corp Swift BOFAUS3N AVA #026009593

With these changes we want to provide you with better service and optimize delivery time.”

 

I’m not sure I understand how this impacts me, so I’ll be discussing this further with Nobraskja next time I see her.

Teresa and I left at 12:45 and took a Didi to pick up MT and take us to Mayorca. Teresa bought 4 items at Medipiel for 760,600 pesos ($156). We had lunch in Crepes & Waffles for 101,600 pesos ($21). MT, through Teresa, asked me when she’s going to get her Social Security payments again. I told her to be patient as it hasn’t even been a month. They shopped a little more then we quickly caught a taxi to Viva Envigado. While they window shopped I went to Urbania for a latte. One of the waitresses is learning English so we chatted for a few minutes. I saw a woman exit CasaIdeas with an ugly hairless cat. I googled Egyptian cats and it’s called, among other things, a Sphynx cat. The ladies returned a couple hours later and had small lattes while I had another large one. The total bill came to 40,260 pesos ($8.50). We left at 7pm and there was a long line for taxis. The street was wet so we must have had some rain while we were inside. We walked MT over to La Bahia (a block from her apt) and luckily caught a taxi back to our apt.

I understand tomorrow we’re going to visit cousin Mary at her finca in Bello. We’re going to take the metro to the north end of the line, Niqua (sp?), buy Frisby chicken then take a taxi to her finca. Then a few hours later we’ll reverse the process (minus the chicken).

 

Today I got in 4,108 steps.

 

Regarding Adulthood

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:45, slept through the night, got up once at 6:15, finally waking/getting up at 7:30.

We have some light raindrops this morning. The Weather Channel says, “possible thunderstorms after 1pm”.

Teresa has a massage appointment at 10am.

By 9:15 it turned into a steady drizzle.

Finally, by 10am the rain had stopped. Teresa told me I’m on my own for lunch because she’s getting a massage and right after she’s going to get her hair done.

I went to Parva and the rain started again just after I arrived but stopped by 11am.

I texted Glenn asking if he had a recommendation for lunch in Sao Paolo. He recommended Olivenza. I checked The Weather Channel and it predicted “thunderstorms likely to continue through 7pm” so I decided to stick closer to home. I went to Olivia and had just taken a seat and scanned the QR code for their menu when Teresa called and informed me she made lentil soup. I apologized to the waitress and returned to the apt.

I watched more episodes of The West Wing.

For supper I ordered chicken wings delivered from Rocket Wings and they arrived just before the rain started again.

Rain continued on and off all evening.

 

Today I got in 1,898 steps.

 

Regarding Adulthood

 

Friday, March 17, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all the Irish and those who love (or put up with) them. 😊

Somehow in my new game against Troyclough instead of castling I just moved my king one square towarda the rook. Not what I intended but I’ll hold on as long as I can.

I’m getting low on my Calendula capsules and PipingRock.com is out of stock so I ordered 4 bottles (enough for a year) from Amazon for $92. Estimated delivery date (in Florida) is March 24^th - 28^th.

Teresa left at 9am for her private gym class and I left at 9:30 for the mall. I ran into Jerry and his wife checking out with their groceries. We’re going to try to meet up next Monday. At Auros I tried to forward an email to their account to print but it didn’t seem to work. Next to me a lady was having what looked like lesion photos of a child so I figured she’s a doctor. I asked if she spoke English but I struck out. It was only when I was showing an employee my problem when I realize my error. Auros’ email address end in “.com.co” and when I pressed the button for “.com” it automatically added a space after and then errored out when I tried to add the “.co”. I got it to work and they printed out what was the receipt for my payment for the US Visitor Visa application. I picked up a Gente newspaper, made an ATM withdrawal and went to Urbania. A young lady was struggling to open the electrical cover using her PC power cord. I took out my portable scissors and opened them and she soon had it open.

While having a latte Teresa sent me a voice mail message via Whatsapp asking me to buy 2 ripe plantains in Exito. A few minutes later she called me to convey the same message. At noon she called me again to inform me she’s having lunch with her cousin Mary, one of the owners of El Rancherito, at Wilson’s bar.

About 1pm I went upstairs and had a burger, fries and Coke at Chef Burger for 32,100 pesos ($6.50). When I sat down at the counter there was a 500 peso coin sitting there but it was glued to the table. Just a conversation piece, I guess.

I went downstairs to Home Center where I bought a 9V battery backup for 25,600 pesos ($6) for my TENS 3000 unit.

I left about 2:30 and stopped in Exito where I bought a box of MPs, 2 ripe plantains and 2 almost ripe bananas. I returned to the apt by taxi.

I see that the movie 65 is playing in Vizcaya at 6:20pm.

When I returned to the apt Teresa was just starting her massage.

When she finished she informed me we’re invited to visit her cousin Mary’s finca in Bello next Monday, a holiday.

I left at 5:15 and took a Didi to Vizcaya, bought a preferred seat for 13,700 ($3) and still had a few minutes to kill. I bought their Combocito (their smallest popcorn, small soda and a Jet chocolate bar) for 14,900 ($3.50).

The movie, 65, was okay, nothing special, just your typical action move.

Afterward, I used my Didi app to call a car. I was a little concerned I would find it but I got lucky, we connected quickly and I was back at the apt by 8:30.

 

Today I got in 5,632 steps.

 

Regarding Adulthood

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:30. Teresa whispered to me that we’ll be having breakfast at home. (I guess that means she’s skipping her 7am class.)

My alarm went off at 7am but I no longer needed it.

I forgot to mention that the airfare went up $132 when I checked it last night.

New movie openings at Viva Envigado include:

To Love is to Mature

A Giant Adventure

I think they are probably Latino produced as they are in Spanish only.

Teresa left just before 9am and I left at 9:15. Finally a sunny day. I had a latte in Los Porteños while going through my phone and doing some chess puzzles. I saw separately 2 actual redheads (my opinion) with very light skin, not the dark red hair when a Colombiana dyes their hair. At one point when I was looking at Chicago Bears articles on my cellphone the Chicago Sun Times (local newspaper) asked for permission to access my location. I gave them permission, Lol.

I left at 11:30, bought tomatoes, onion, and 2 bags of milk at Ara before returning to the apt.

My cold seems to be much better today with some minor nasal congestion.

I’m up 2 pawns in the endgame against Troyclough. 😊

The massage girl, Kerry?, cancelled Teresa’s massage for today.

I ended up beating Troyclough in 28-moves, raising my rating to 1584 and lowering his to 1511. And the computer analysis commented that my play was “flawless”. 😊

About 3:45 I heard a loud “boom”. I wasn’t sure if it was thunder or a blown transformer. I texted Glenn, “did you hear that explosion”. He replied, “Just thunder. I was near Av Las Vegas when there was a bolt of lightning followed quickly by thunder. Bianca gave me a WTF look. I thought the skies were gonna open up but it cleared up a bit.”

At 5:15 the downpour started; so happy I didn’t go for coffee. Lately it seems only the morning are safe. I guess we’re back in the rainy season.

The rain finally stopped by 7pm.

I finished reading Ken Follett’s Code to Zero.

 

Today I got in 1,463 steps.

 

Regarding Adulthood

 

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, got up twice during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

I left the apt at just after 9am, stopped in the Las Vegas mall where I paid Direct TV at the $efecty store and met Marcos just before 9:30 outside his apt complex. We walked through Ayura metro station on our way to Mayorista. I noticed a balcony restaurant so we chose that spot for coffee. We walked through Euro but I didn’t find the Heinz BBQ sauce I’m looking for. Across the road we stopped in Badia where I bought 10 boxes of chamomile tea. (I should now be good for a few months.) Strangely, my USAA debit card didn’t work so Marcos paid the 109mil bill and I’ll pay him back next time I see him. We returned to Ayura station then he turned north for Jumbo and I headed south towards my apt. I noticed the Pevazgo bus starting to pull away from the curb so I quickly jumped on and fumbled for my Civica card to pay for it. I got off a block up from McDonald’s and walked the block back to our apt.

I confirmed my Chess Life address (USCF) is the same as my New in Chess address. It’s possible I recently added the 2^nd line address so I’ll wait a little longer to see if I receive a Chess Life magazine.

The skies are dark again with a chance of storms in the afternoon.

We had a light drizzle in the afternoon.

Teresa received a massage from 3 to 4pm.

I finished season 4 of The West Wing.

Today my cold symptom was just some minor nasal congestion. I have hopes it will come to a complete end shortly.

Tomorrow the plan is to meet Teresa at Los Porteños for breakfast at 8am.

 

Today I got in 4,425 steps.

 

Regarding Adulthood

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

 Last night I went to bed at 9:45, got up once at 2:45, waking/getting up at 7am.

Happy Pi Day! 3.14, get it?

Teresa left at 8:45 for gym class and I at 9am.

I had a large latte in Los Porteños for a couple hours then bought 2 bags of milk at the little market on my way back to the apt.

The last time I received an issue of Chess Life magazine (I have a lifetime subscription) was December 15, 2021. On February 3^rd, 2022 I changed my address with USCF from Florida to Colombia. That didn’t work so August 7, 2022 I changed it from Colorado to my new Florida address. Obviously, that didn’t work either. I’m going to talk to Nobraskja in Envios Market to see if I’m using the correct address for magazines.

Tomorrow I’ll meet Marcos at 9:30 and we’re going to walk to Mayorista where I will buy more boxes of Badia tea.

The Weather Channel predicted occasional showers in the afternoon. About 2pm we had a thunderstorm pass through but no rain.

I check the airfare every day but so far no change more than $20.

I watched more episodes of The West Wing.

I beat Troyclough again increasing my rating to 1578. 😊

Today I got in 1,376 steps.

 

Regarding Adulthood