Thursday, June 6, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 4am, again at 5:45, finally getting up at 6:15am.

Today is the 80^th anniversary of D-Day! Not many veterans left from that day. I watched some of the Normandy remembrances on CNN.

I checked out Cine Colombia’s new releases but didn’t see anything interesting.

We left the apt at 9am and walked to Tostao in the Vegas mall where Marcos and Johana were waiting for us. The ladies discussed Malaga, Spain. They are rethinking their move to Malaga because it is so far (time zones and travel) from the US. Marcos told me about their upcoming trip to Morocco August 21 to September 25 in Morocco. I gifted them a Ziploc bag of Bisquick mix that they’re going to try for pancakes.

On Facebook, The American, John Poulos, who killed his Colombian girlfriend and stuffed her in a suitcase was found guilty and sentenced to 42 years in a Colombian prison.

We left about 10:30 and stopped in Mercado Madrid for some veggies. I was going to buy eggs but the brand we prefer was in boxes of two so I told Teresa I’d buy a large carton in Exito in Viva Envigado this afternoon.

I watched the second half of the Bears 46-10 win over the Patriots in Superbowl XX on NFL Network.

I left the apt at 1pm and took a Didi to the mall. I bought a blueberry muffin in Starbucks and took it to Urbania. It was pretty crowded but I got one of the last tables where I had my muffin with a latte while completing a few more pages of chess puzzles. Teresa called and asked me to buy blueberries so I left at 4pm, stopped in Exito and bought a large carton of eggs and a small package of blueberries and returned to the apt by taxi.

Teresa informed me she has an 8:30 appointment tomorrow in Laureles to get an injection so I’ll be on my own for breakfast. That would be a great opportunity to have breakfast in Los Porteños but I think I’ll be a good boy and just have a bowl of cereal, do my workout at the gym then have coffee in Los Porteños after.

I’ve seen a bat flying around the past few nights. We’re on the 4^th floor but it flies mainly at the 2^nd floor level at tree height. Because of that Teresa wants me to close the balcony window before we go to bed.

ONEIPAMETATO1453 allowed me to trap his bishop so now I’m up a bishop to a pawn. In my game with Troyclough each of our armies is on our own side of the battlefield waiting for someone to make the first move.

Change of plans: Teresa is going to make breakfast here before she heads out to Laureles for her injection.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 1am, again at 5:15, finally waking/getting up by alarm at 6:45am.

I left the apt at 8:30 and walked to Smartfit. I was doing my light workout when I felt a poking in my lower right abdomen. I didn’t think poking would be a sign of appendicitis but I’d better google that later. I was a couple minutes into a treadmill exercise when I decided the poking was too much. An exercise later I realized that the poking was the tip(s) of the ends of the tie laces on my gym shorts. 😊 Catastrophe averted.

I walked to a nearly empty Los Porteños where I had a latte while going through my phone. ONEIPAMETATO1453 has returned to our game.

I left at 10:45 and returned to the apt.

I left again at 1:30 and stopped at the Bancolombia window where I had this week’s chess games printed. I had a latte in Eduardo Madrid bakery while completing a few more pages of my chess puzzles. Teresa called and asked me to buy a new pair of kitchen gloves in Ara. I left at 5pm and stopped in Ara (moderate line) where I purchases 2 pairs of kitchen gloves and half a dozen gala apples and returned to the apt.

We filled up a Ziploc bag with Bisquick to give to Marcos tomorrow.

I watched another episode of The Good Fight. I’m getting near the end.

What happened to my Monday post? I guess I forgot to post it. Well, if I do it again not only will I cost me time but I’ll lose the El Arroyo sign for that day as I’ve already removed it from my file. So, hopefully for the first time, I’ll have a couple days out of order. ☹

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Monday, June 3, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 2am, finally waking/getting up at 6:30am.

Today is another holiday, Corpus Christi.

Teresa informed me that I should return right after gym and we’ll go to Pricesmart.

My friend Jack from college emailed me that another friend, Leroy (his nickname) Brown passed away last week from cancer. ☹

As of this morning the guys playing chess on Chess.com are approaching 30 hours.

Teresa asked me to check in the gym if there’s a class for her this morning.

I left the apt at 8:30 and walked to Smartfit. I called Teresa from the front desk and had her talk to a trainer I’ve never seen before. I thought I heard her say there was a class but she hung up the phone when they were done with their conversation. I called Teresa back and she said she hadn’t decided if she’s going to the class but I should go for coffee after my workout.

 I completed my workout, skipping the treadmill, and did the other exercises with the weight reduced by about 20#. No problem with my neck/shoulder but I’m going to come back slowly with it.

I had a latte in a crowded Los Porteños due to the holiday and noticed this visit from the local red squirrel.

ONEIPAMETATO1453 resigned our game increasing my rating to 1586 and I may now have the advantage (2 passed pawns in the endgame) in my game against Troyclough.

I left about 10:30 and returned to the apt.

I basically just vegged out on the recliner the rest of the afternoon, napping and watching the news.

We left the apt at 5pm and took a Didi to the nearest Pricesmart. They still don’t have the turkey breast we like but we found 3 large (recyclable) bags of stuff. I bought a box of granola for me (us) but everything else was what was on Teresa’s list. We got in one of the long lines to pay (so much for Teresa’s theory that there wouldn’t be a lot of people here at this hour on this holiday). 😊

Just after we left the exit a taxi per curer? Took our car up 2 levels and right into a taxi. (It appeared the taxi driver tipped him what looked like 2mil.) The driver took us in a light drizzle that became heavier as we proceeded to our garage.  A large Toyota was in our unloading spot doing the same so we unloaded our 3 large, heavy bags and carried them to the elevator. It turned out they were our neighbors and we shared a ride up to the 4^th floor.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

 

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 5:15, finally waking/getting up by alarm at 6:30am.

I took an Uber to Unicentro arriving right at 8am. I met Jose in Parmessano. They had a Father’s Day special this month, French toast with scrambled eggs and bacon. We each ordered it with lattes. We thought the bacon and scrambled eggs would be separate but they were layered in with the French toast.

We moved to the food court where I heard an exercise class going on in the lower level:

I had the Black pieces in the first game and I was winning by the 45^th move but he made me play it out and I checkmated him on the 70^th move.

We had a downpour from about 1:30 to 2:15. I had the White pieces in the 2^nd game and I checkmated his king with my queen on the 41^st move.

Gisela texted me asking about my package. I told her it was a chess book with a cost of about 20Euros or $25. She said she would forward everything on to my address.

It was about 3pm when we finished and I ordered a Didi to return me to Viva Envigado. Traffic was heavy in a light rain and it took nearly an hour to get there taking mainly main streets instead of the expressway. I went up to a crowded Pergamino but found a seat and I ate a granola con yogur y acai with a small latte. Teresa called and asked me to pick up tomatoes and lemons (limes here) and milk. I left at 5pm and picked up tortillas, Mexican salsa, and the items Teresa requested and returned to the apt by taxi.

I think I’m winning vs Troyclough while ONEIPAMETATO1453 declared vacation on the 7^th move of our new game.

I was watching CNN when the TV displayed “another device connected” on the screen and some program in Spanish comes on and Terresa comes over and says this was the program she was watching on her cellphone. I don’t know if I did something to make that happen, or she did, or somehow it was done automatically. Anyway, she can watch it on her cellphone while I switched back to CNN.

Troyclough surprised me and resigned our game increasing my rating to 1590.

I watched another episode of The Good Fight.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Sunday, June 2, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 4:45am, finally waking/getting up at 7am.

At 8:30 I gave Teresa my metro card, said goodbye and walked to Sao Paulo Plaza. I stopped in Carulla, no lines, and bought a large pack of napkins. I found Glenn waiting for me in Olivenza. I asked, “Where’s Bianca?”. Glenn replied, “she’s in summer camp”. He explained he had his hernia surgery on Friday and he’s still feeling the pain. He also informed me he’s taken up chess, because he needs more mental stimulation than pinocle will give him. I explained a few chess technicalities and recommended he join Chess.com. I asked him for advice about making a will and he suggested LegalZoom.com. I had the American Breakfast this morning:

He left at 10:30 and I finished my coffee and left at 11am.

I walked back to the apt and Teresa was gone, already on her way to San Peregrino.

For lunch I had leftover ribs and fries and most of a Coke.

A couple guys are trying to break the Guinness world record for playing chess at 60 hours. I can see them on Chess.com.

About 5:15 we had a shower but it only lasted 10 minutes.

Teresa returned at 6:15 and reported the food containers worked well keeping her food hot/cold.

A light rain later in the evening.

I watched another episode of The Great Fight, part of 60 Minutes about the 2020 fake electors and a couple special programs on CNN about D-Day and Tornados.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 12:15am, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

I see my Social Security deposit, thanks Uncle Sam!

At 8:30 I ordered a Didi and arrived at Daniel’s barbershop at 8:45. (I have to remember it’s only 5 minutes away by car and I don’t have to order my ride so early.) I didn’t knock but Daniel noticed me 5 minutes later. He recently got married and showed me his beautiful wedding ring. I was done by 9:30 and took another Didi to Todo Drogas. Shortly before we arrived my driver says to me, “so friend, where are you from?” in good English. I told him “USA, Chicago”. He then asked if he needs to go around the corner to drop me off at the 37^th street side of the pharmacy and I told him whatever was easiest for him. I got out ½ block from the pharmacy where I purchased 6 items for 305,900 pesos ($79), then walked to Parva where I had a café con leche amongst their usual Saturday crowd.

I’ve gained the advantage (up a knight with an attack) against ONEIPAMETATO1453 in our latest game now I just have to hold on to the advantage and convert it to a win. I’m pretty even in my latest game with Troyclough but he’s made some passive moves that might allow me to gain the advantage.

Teresa called and asked me to buy a box of Monticello pasta in Ara on my way back to the apt. I told her I’m not sure they have name brands but I’ll check. I left at 11am and stopped in Ara and saw this line

I’m not getting in that line just for a box of pasta. I returned to the apt and showed Teresa the photo of the line. She just said she’ll make something else.

On Chess.com I watched Pia Cramling, Anna’s mother, playing another GM in the Norway Chess tournament. Isn’t technology great? Pia was trying to hold on to a draw.

It looks like my book arrived in Florida so I texted Gisela from Innovation Corp. to forward everything on. Didn’t get a response, maybe she doesn’t work weekends.

I finished my bag of prunes; took over a year. I’ve been eating one or two every day and drinking my chamomile tea most days and my digestive system is generally much improved.

I think I may be over my Nummular Eczema aka Nummular Dermatitis skin problem. 😊

I’m trying something different and only taking my calendula flower extract in the morning; we’ll see if I notice a difference.

For supper I ordered ribs from Mu that arrived withing 30-35 minutes so now I’ll have something to eat at home tomorrow when Teresa goes to mass in San Peregrino.

Back in April I read one of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books which I liked so much I decided to read the entire series in order. I just finished #2 but thought it was #1, because I purchased and downloaded both at the same time but started #2 instead of #1. Capice? So tonight, I’m starting the real first Jack Reacher novel in the series.

Before Teresa went to bed at 9pm she told me to close the living room window when I go to bed. I asked why and she said, “bats”. I went out on to the balcony and sure enough I could see a single bat flitting around. I closed the window before I went to bed at 10pm. (Glenn has mentioned he has a problem with bats flying inside his apt.) My bedroom window though, I left open the usual foot wide.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Friday, May 31, 2024

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

The Chicago Bears training camp will be featured on HBO’s show Hard Knocks this year starting late august.

I left the apt at 8:30 and stopped at the $efecty booth but if I understood the lady I can’t pay Direct TV here any longer; she suggested someplace in MetroSur mall. I joined Marcos in Tostao for coffee. He handed me 2 of the nut bars from Madrid that Teresa loves and I paid him $20 + 2euros. We spent most of the time discussing the fact that Trump has been found guilty on all 34 charges. I asked him for advice on setting up a will and he said he would give me contact information for his lawyer. He’s thinking seriously of moving to Malaga, Spain with his girlfriend. (Later I googled Malaga for weather and it gets cold there in the winter.) He left at 10am and I walked across the street and quickly caught an Envigado bus to Viva Envigado. I recycled a glass bottle then went to the ATM outside Exito. Unfortunately, it wasn’t working so I went upstairs in the main part of the mall. I withdrew 2 million pesos (a mix of 50s, 20s, and 10s) and went directly into the bank, luckily no line, and paid the rent for June. I went to Bancolombia and waited in a short line to pay for my health insurance and our gym membership. Downstairs I had a latte in Urbania while checking out my phone. Jerry came by and took a seat and we had a nice discussion about whether Trump gets prison time or not.

I left about 1pm, made another 2-million withdrawal, this time all 100s ☹ and walked across the street to another $efecty desk where I paid the Direct TV bill of 175,700 pesos ($45.50). I ordered a Didi to take me to Poblado. I got out at Hija Mia and walked across the street to Philly Steaks. As I stepped inside the tent, Chris Cajoleas said, “hi, Terry”. He was sitting across from another gringo and they were both smoking cigars. He recommended I take a table far away to avoid the cigar smoke but I took the next table (mistake) and ordered a smash burger, fries and a Coke.

Very tasty! The bill came to 52mil ($14) with tip.

I ordered another Didi which dropped me off at Pasteur pharmacy in La Buena Mesa. I walked to the other side of the block to Parva where I had a café con leche.

We had some rain on and off over 30 minutes but then it cleared.

I left about 3:30 and returned to the apt. Teresa returned about 4pm and I gifted her one of the two peanut bars; the other is hidden in my closet.

Teresa complained that something she put in the fridge had frozen (that’s happened to me) so I raised the temp from 6 degrees C to 7 degrees C (which is the maximum).

I finished reading Lee Child’s Die Trying on my Kindle.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS