Friday, December 6, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, slept through the night, finally waking/getting up at 5:30.

DAZN on my television still doesn’t work, in fact now it doesn’t allow me to enter. When I enter DAZN on my computer I get a “403 ERROR” so something’s going on.

I left the apt at 7:30 and found Smartfit a little busier than usual. I stopped at the Chess Press machine and the guy sitting there said, “uno mas”. I said, “solo necesito uno” then I switched to English and said, “where are you from?” and he said, “England”. I replied, “then why are we speaking Spanish?”. His name is Michael, he’s from England and he’s been in Envigado for a year. I completed my workout and was having a latte in Ganso y Castor when Micahel came by. We discussed his visa situation: he may need to leave December 25^th and come back on January 1^st when the clock for his visitor stamp would start anew. He’s currently  renting a room for $300 a month in an apt over the parking lot across the street from the entrance to the park.

He left and I was replacing peanuts in the tree when I encountered a squirrel sitting in front of me with a peanut in his mouth. I showed him another peanut I had but he just scurried off. I put the other peanut in the tree and returned to our apt.

I received the following message from our hotel in Bogota, “Good Morning, the changes of your reservation must be made directly through the Booking platform.”

I went to Booking.com and tried adding Dec. 11^th and was told, “Your new dates are not available. Try other dates if you’re flexible or contact the property.” So I sent an email reply back to the hotel. I think I’m going to have to book another hotel for the 11^th.

The instructions (after I translated them to English) from 2 ½ years ago say I need to bring Teresa’s DS-160 Confirmation Page to the Dec. 11^th appointment which I finally found at the bottom of my desk drawer. 😊

We left the apt at 2:45 and walked to Teresa’s pedicure appointment across the street from Otra Parte and a block down. She was complaining about how the sandals were cutting into her feet so I went to the pharmacy across from Smartfit to buy bandaids. I asked for “curas” and the girl had no idea what I was talking about. I checked my translator and she finally understood when I asked for “curitas”. 😊 I returned to the beauty shop and handed Teresa 2 Band-Aids. I went next door to a small café and had a café con leche. From the looks of their little coffee machine I didn’t trust them to make a decent latte.

I saw this article online connecting tinnitus (which I’ve had for years) with sleep.

Maybe that's why my eyes are so tired every day.

Teresa arrived about an hour and fifteen minutes later. She had a Coke Zero and a couple of pastries. It rained for about 10 minutes while we were there. We left about 5pm and returned to the apt.

I finished watching the old version of Midway then switched to the news.

 

JUST FUNNY

Thursday, December 5, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 5:45.

Teresa has to go to eps to pick up her medication then she’s going to Smartfit for her exercise class.

I left the apt at 8am and stopped at the Bancolombia kiosk (she appeared to just be opening) and printed the email about our embassy interview. I stopped in Eduardo Madrid and bought a sleeve of 5 sesame seed bagels. I had a latte in Los Portenos where I briefly met Samuel from The Netherlands who has been here a year studying Spanish. I replaced a missing peanut in one of the trees.  I left at 10:30 and bought a few things in Ara before returning to the apt.

I found the original email from 2 ½ years ago and I can’t believe I missed the fact that we have appointments on the 12^th and 13^th in Bogota. I forwarded the old email and the new one to Auros and I’ll have them printed later.

Marcos called again and talked to Teresa first then explained to me the only questions asked of Johana’s friend is why she wants to go to the US and what she’s going to do there.

I was at a disadvantage in my two games but now I believe I have a draw vs Troyclough and a win vs ONEIPAMETATO1453.

I got a draw vs Troyclough lowering my rating to 1593 then a win vs ONEIPAMETATO1453 increasing my rating to 1597. Both games were with the White pieces so now I can try my new defense with the Black pieces.

I left the apt at 2:30 and walked to the mall. I went up to Fotomilenio where I requested my favorite photo of my kids printed in color. I paid the 38,700 charge then went down to Auros where I had my email printed. Back upstairs I withdrew 2,000,000 pesos (all 100s) outside the Sudameris bank. I was correct that the ATM was a Servibanca and the charge was 22,500 pesos ($5) less than Davivienda’s 26,000 pesos.

I returned to Fotomilenio and was surprised to see I had ordered a photo attached to a frame. 😊 The girl put it in a paper bag and I went down to Urbania for coffee. I left at 4pm and outside found a long line for a taxi so I decided to walk back to the apt. There were a few raindrops and I had left my umbrella behind because I thought the rainy season was over. The rain didn’t really develop.

I understand now that we have to be in one place in Bogota at 2:45pm on the 11^th so Teresa can be fingerprinted then at the US Embassy at 7:15am on the 12^th for her interview. That means I have to add a day to our hotel reservation, change our flight, and out ride to the airport.

I started watching the 1976 version of Midway with lots of stars including Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, James Coburn, Hal Holbrook, Toshiro Mifune, Robert Mitchum, Cliff Roberston, and Robert Wagner. Those of you who are old like me will recognize those actors.

 

JUST FUNNY

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, don’t remember getting up during the night, finally waking/getting up at 5:30.

Today is my daughter’s 36^th birthday. Happy Birthday Jeannie!

After Teresa got up, I replaced the ice maker in the freezer but I couldn’t get the “Ice Maker On” light to come on. Uh-Oh. I’ll postpone trying again until later.

After breakfast I tried again and this time I was able to turn it on. It appears before I was pressing a button too long.

I just realized the “Teresa only flight change” isn’t for our Bogota trip, it’s for Punta Cana. We’ll have to check that when were at the airport to/from Bogota.

I left the apt at 8am and replaced the peanut in a tree on the way. Outside a small grocery store across from Smartfit I observed a woman cutting a banana into four pieces and putting them in the branch of a tree. I asked her if that was for the birds and she told me they are for the squirrels.

I completed my workout in Smartfit then went to Ganso y Castor where I had a latte. I briefly met Long from Boston as he was paying his check. I left at 10am and returned to the apt.

We’re starting to get ice but we’ll need the weight of more before it will come down the chute.

Marcos called me to inform me that a friend of Johana just had her US Embassy “interview” and it lasted 5 minutes. I asked him to find out what questions were asked.

I left the apt at 11:45 and took a Didi to Mayorca mall. I met Teresa in Crepes & Waffles where Teresa had the salad bar and I ordered a Thai beef salad. This is a view of the Christmas Tree from our restaurant seats in Mayorca.

The waitress returned in a few minutes to inform me that they didn’t have that so I ordered a chicken Cesar salad. The waitress returned in a few minutes to inform me that they didn’t have that so I ordered their chicken, broccoli and cheese crepe.

I told Teresa about Marcos’ call and information and suggested that the embassy know whether or not they will give you a tourist visa before you even arrive at the interview.

After lunch Teresa did some shopping but didn’t find anything.

We returned to Crepes & Waffles about 3pm and Teresa had their Suprema (same thing that was a favorite in Cartagena) and I had a banana split.

We left about 4pm and returned to the apt by taxi.

We finished watching Rebel Ridge and after Teresa commented that the movie was ridiculous.

 

JUST FUNNY

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 12:30, again at 5:15, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

I left the apt at 8am and walked to the mall. I bought a blueberry muffin in Starbucks (Per my blog notes, the last one I had was September) and ate it in Urbania with a latte.

I was a little surprised to see this in English on the back of their napkin.

I’m watching more Robert Ramirez Youtube videos on my cellphone. About 9:45 I had to leave to use the restroom so after that I went up to the banking area where I found Sudameris bank

in the back. I think their ATMs are Servibanca so I’ll try them soon to see if they allow 2,000,000-peso withdrawals.

They have sofas so I took a seat for a while. I left at 10:30, bought a large container of eggs in Exito and returned to the apt by taxi.

I completed another level of tactics on Chess.com; now I’m up to bronze level 6.

For the past few days I haven’t been able to get NFL football on DAZN to work which is the only reason I have it.

And I don’t see any way to contact them in their headquarters in The Netherlands. ☹

I left the apt at 2:15 and walked past San Marcos church to Mundo Huevo but they didn’t have the container of Badia turmeric that Teresa wanted. I returned to the park and was surprised to see no tables outside Los Portenos. I asked but all I understood was the tables were taken to some other venue. I went to Ganso y Castor and took an outside table. I’m considering a variation of my opening with White called the Trompowsky Attack. At 4:15 the waitress warned me they were going to be closing in a few minutes. Per Google there supposed to be open until 8pm on Tuesdays so something is going on. I returned to the apt and Teresa was getting a massage from Kelly.

I watched Midway (6.7) on Netflix. Teresa and I started watching Rebel Ridge (6.8) but we paused with about 30 minutes remaining.

I haven’t had any new skin lesions the past few days so I’m hoping I’m over that.

Just before going to bed I removed the ice maker from the freezer and put it in the utility sink for the ice to melt overnight.

 

JUST FUNNY

Monday, December 2, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, slept through the night, finally waking/getting up at 5:45. I had my University dream again, this time I was in my dorm room and I met one of my neighbors.

I left the apt at 7:45 and completed my workout in Smartfit. Today I added 5# to each machine for a new maximum and added 2 minutes to the treadmill. Happy to say I had no problem with my right knee or left shoulder.

I printed some pages of chess notes in the Bancolombia kiosk and had a latte in Ganso y Castor for about 90 minutes before returning to the apt.

I left the apt at 1:30 and walked to the mall. I went upstairs to the 3^rd floor to Fotomilenio where I requested to print 12 photos, two of which turned out to be the same. 😊 It took about an hour but only cost 48mil pesos ($11). I got in a long line at Auros where I printed our Bogota hotel reservation and another rendition of my chess notes. I had a latte in Urbania for about an hour before leaving. When I crossed Ave Las Vegas there four army soldiers with their semi-automatic weapons. I’m sure they weren’t following me but they sure were headed in the same direction. 😊

I returned to the apt by 4:30.

JakeJ52 timed out in our game increasing my rating to 1596. (I was hoping to practice my new defense.)

Kelly never showed up for Teresa’s massage. ☹ She said it was because of the rain, what rain?

For supper I had a leftover piece of Pecan pie. Delicious!

I can’t seem to get DAZN’s NFL Game Pass to work. ☹

 

JUST FUNNY

Sunday, December 1, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, was awakened at midnight when the fireworks and firecrackers started and didn’t stop for 30 minutes to an hour, got up once at 4:15am, finally waking/getting up at 7:15.

The Christmas illuminations and displays started at midnight last night.

I’m happy my insect bites don’t itch much, at least not yet.

We left the apt at 10:30 by Didi, picked up MT at her apt and continued on to Santafe mall. (The driver said I had requested Ovideo mall but we got that straightened out.) From there we took a colectiva (sp?) to the airport for 60mil. Inside we spoke to an Avianca agent who assured us that our flight time change applied to both of us. Outside we caught a bus to Rionegro that only cost 900 pesos. At the bus station it was just a 3-block walk to Candilejas restaurant arriving by 1pm. We each had a nice lunch, this is mine,

then had a few coffees after and shared a slice of cheesecake drizzled with mora (blackberry) sauce.

At 4pm the ladies went to mass while I hung out in the restaurant anticipating needing the restroom in the near term. They returned at 4:45, I made my trip to the restroom then paid the bill of 179,700 pesos ($41). We walked down to the bus station and soon were on a bus back to Medellin. It took half an hour in bumper-to-bumper traffic to leave the Rionegro area. We arrived at the Exposiciones station by 7pm and caught a taxi back to Envigado. We dropped off MT and continued to our apt arriving by 7:30.

I’m having trouble logging into my DAZN account which seems to be due to my VPN. I turned it off in my startup so we’ll see if that helps tomorrow.

 

JUST FUNNY

Saturday, November 30, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 12:15am, finally waking/getting up at 6:45.

Yesterday I showed Teresa the Avianca emails and I understand we’ll be going to the airport tomorrow to see what’s up. Then we’ll continue on to El Retiro for lunch and coffee.

Teresa explained that the husband of her friend has died from his pulmonary fibrosis so this afternoon we’ll be stopping by some sort of service.

I left the apt just after 8:30 and walked to the mall. I arrived at my bank 10 minutes before opening. I got in a short line outside Bancolombia to use one of their consignacion machines. I deposited cash into accounts to pay for our gym fees and my health insurance. I withdrew 2,000,000 pesos (all 100s) from a Davivienda ATM. Banco Av Villas was now open and I paid for our apt rent without waiting in line.

By 9:15 I was downstairs having a latte in Urbania. I left at 10:15 and walked back to the apt (walked because I wasn’t carrying anything heavy or delicate).

Yesterday I tried to log into my Capital One account but was rejected because I had my VPN set to another country (it was defaulting to Peru but I’ve since changed it to Colombia). Answering their email didn’t work so I called them with my MagicJack. The login asked for my case number and by the time I found it, it was asking for my account number. By the time I located that it had put me in line to speak to their fraud dept. After their lengthy identity check I explained everything was okay. For some reason she transferred me to customer service and after I explained everything again I got disconnected. ☹

Teresa informed me that the memorial service is over and we’ll just go directly to the restaurant.

We left the apt at 1pm and took a Didi to Donde Albeiro (Calle 36D Sur #9-250) for 29,300 pesos.

It’s a little over 30 minutes high up in the mountains and we passed several interesting restaurants on the way.

This is what the entrance looks like:

We took a seat and within 5 minutes I had 3 bites from no-see-ums. Next time I’ll wear long pants and a t-shirt with sleeves and put on insect repellant.

This is their menu:

Teresa had sancocho

And I had their ribs with a coke

With the plentiful sauce they were the best ribs I’ve had in Medellin. Teresa then ordered mazamorra and I had a café con leche. The total check came to 126,500 pesos ($29), including tip.

By the time we left I had 6-7 bites on my arms and torso. I ordered a Didi and kept raising the fare to finally 29,300 pesos before we had a ride. Our driver was Jose from the Dominican Republic and he and Teresa had a nice conversation about DR and Medellin.

I got out across from the Bancolombia kiosk so I could print a couple pages of my chess notes. I caught them just as they were closing.

In the evening the occasional firecrackers started.

 

JUST FUNNY