Friday, April 13, 2018

Last night I woke up briefly at 2am, quickly fell back asleep, woke up at 6am and got up at 6:45.  That was nice.

Now Teresa tells me that Andres will leave San Andres at 8am Sunday so he should arrive in Rionegro about 9 or 9:30.

On my way to the gym I ran into Ron who asked me what I did yesterday (played chess in Estadio), when I saw him last (2 days ago) and when I would probably return to the park (maybe tomorrow afternoon).

I did most of my exercises in 90 minutes at the gym.  I did my 6 month weigh-in and I’m at 78.6 kilos or 173 pounds, up 4 ½ pounds from 7 months ago.   The young lady also showed me a scale tucked into a corner of the entrance so in the future I can weigh myself.

On my way back to the apt I stopped at Consumo to pick up a Gente newspaper.

Yesterday I received an email from Smartfit.  Near as I can make out I owe 54,900 pesos.  I was expecting to have to pay that amount annually but I’m not sure if that meant every January or every year based on your enrollment date.  Also I don’t know if that is per person or maybe it’s a family fee.  I forwarded it to Laura but got no answer.  I showed it to Teresa this morning and when I returned from the gym she gives me a piece of paper that says I owe the sum of 54,900 + 198,800 + 54,900.  She also said something about January.  If I owed it in January why did they wait until April to tell me I forgot?  I understand Laura is first going to see how much money is in her account.  As usual I’m at a loss as to what’s going on.

Among new US movie releases there isn’t anything I want to see.

Locally, 12 Strong (6.8) is playing at 3:15 at Oviedo.  That’s not Teresa’s type of movie so I’ll probably be going to it alone.  Maybe today even.

My headphones are working again – go figure!

At 1:30, while having lunch, it started raining - hard.  As long as it stops by 2:30 I can still leave for the movie.  It didn’t stop until 2:50 – sigh!

About 5:30 Teresa went to visit with her mom but she soon returned and reported that her mother was tired so she was going to bed early.  Teresa asked if we could go for pizza so we went to Antica and had our usual thin- (very thin) crust pizza.  (Laura was out visiting with friends and hadn’t returned.)

Pun of the Day: Melania told Donald Trump “If the pee tape is real...urine a lot of trouble!”

Thursday, April 12, 2018

2 weeks and counting!

Last night I went to bed at 11pm as usual but didn’t fall asleep for at least 2 hours.  Still I felt pretty good when I got up at 7:30am.

I left the apt at 8:45, only had to wait 2 minutes for a bus and was at the barbershop on Calle 50 by 9:35.  I was done with my 18,000 peso haircut by 10:05 and I was at the chess league by 10:20.  Unfortunately I told Jose I wouldn’t be there until 11am which is when he showed up.  I started with the black pieces and he won.

We had the lunch of the day at the restaurant Tropical again in Obelisco mall for 12,500 pesos.  After lunch I paid 500 pesos to use the mall restroom and as I walked in I noticed a stall door ajar and a man sitting backwards on the toilet.  I finally figured out that he was repairing it.

Back at the chess league we played another game where I had the white pieces and I put considerable pressure on him and instead of accepting a draw I pressed my advantage and ended up losing.  Either he’s gotten stronger or I’ve gotten weaker.  We’ll probably get together again next Tuesday. 

Taking the bus up the hill in Envigado I saw stacks of those cement things they use to create curbs and also stacks of paving tiles in the park behind the library.

I picked up 2 bags of milk at the corner store on my way back to the apt.

T-shirt of the day: Listen I have something to tell you.

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Last night I woke up at 4:30 and couldn’t get back to sleep finally getting up at 7am.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and then left for the gym.  I completed most of my exercises in an hour and 45 minutes. 

Back at the apt Teresa and Laura were just leaving for the finca.

After my shower I met Chuck at Bartolos at 12:30.  We briefly met a gringo from Miami via Atlanta that was about 6’6” tall.  He has been retired in Envigado for the last year and a half.  Chuck and I ran into Willie on our way to Moriskos for lunch and he joined us.  We all had the menu of the day for 13,000 pesos.  Afterwards we each had their coffee and we all thought it was awful.

Willie left to watch some soccer match on his TV and Chuck and I went to a new bakery across the street from the chess room where we each had coffee and a pastry. 

I was going to call Rosetta Stone to fix the error message but my headphones haven’t worked since we watched the Netflix movie the other night.  I’m sure in the next few days they will fix themselves as usual.

Teresa and Laura returned to the apt soon after I did.

At 10:30 it started raining and continued for a few hours.

T-shirt of the day: Made in 1986.  All original parts.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

I slept well not waking up until 5:15.  I finally fell back asleep after 6:30 and woke/got up at 8am.

Teresa tells me Laura wants to go to the finca tomorrow instead of today so they can go to the gym this morning so I think we’re still on for the movie.

Teresa left for the gym about 9:45.

I watched the first hour and 15 minutes of the Today show.  I went to Exito where I bought a large 4kg bag of Fab laundry detergent so Teresa can start the laundry when she returns.

At 11:30 Laura left for Colombiano Americano to participate in their conversation club.  I told her if she doesn’t return before 4pm, when we’ll be leaving for the theater, she could meet us there.

Teresa returned at 11:45 and asked where Laura went.

I texted her and she said she was at a friend’s Alejandra’s house and she wouldn’t be going to the movie.

Men are working on the park behind the library with backhoes and steam rollers.

Teresa and I left the apt at 4pm, walked down the hill and soon caught a taxi to Vizcaya mall.  We arrived at the theater at 4:30.  There was only one other person in line for tickets.  Since it was half price Tuesday the general seating tickets were only 3,000 pesos (slightly more than $1).  Teresa bought a hot dog and medium soda and I had a few bites of the former.  Ten minutes before showtime I bought a small popcorn (maybe should have bought a medium) and medium soda for myself.  I still have a 20,000+ peso balance on my Cine Colombia card.

The movie was great although I and another man had to shush a couple youngsters who were talking in our row.  I’m sure Paramount studios will want to make some type of a sequel although in they end the humans figured out how to kill the creatures so that could complicate things for them.

We walked across the street and quickly caught a taxi back to Envigado.

Teresa went to visit with her mother and Laura soon came back and heated up some pasta while I made garlic bread.

I received an answer from Rosetta Stone as to the hours for their chat line - 9am to midnight.  Only they neglected to tell me the days of the week and what time zone they are referring to.

I think the total ticket count I have on my Cine Colombia card is now 9.

Teresa received a phone call and then told me that Andres is arriving early Saturday morning.

T-shirt of the day: You never know if you never try.

Monday, April 9, 2018

I slept pretty well only getting up once during the night finally waking/getting up at 7:30am.

Jose and Maria are coming over for lunch today so I skipped my gym workout today.  Instead I made an early trip to Exito for sugar and eggs.  While I was there I also picked up a couple more bags of Cine Pop microwave popcorn.  After dropping those things off at the apt I walked over to La Abuela Isabela to pick up a small cake but it was still closed.  On my way back to the apt I bought 3 bags of milk. 

I watched the first 45 minutes of the Today show then went back to the bakery where I bought a small tiramisu cake.

Jose and Maria arrived at 11:30.  Teresa and Maria chatted while Jose and I played 2 games of chess.  He won one and I won one.

Lunch was spaghetti with meat sauce (a la Juanita), salad and I made some delicious garlic bread.  Next time I’ll make it a little thinner (I made it slightly over an inch thick) and I think it will be even better.

Teresa and Maria went to work on their needle work and Jose and I played 2 more games, he winning both.  Sigh!

We had a little rain in the afternoon but it stopped before they left.  They left about 5:30 and we put things back in order.

We got more rain in the evening.

Since I’m not playing chess with Jose tomorrow I suggested to the ladies that we go see The Quiet Place at Vizcaya at 5pm.

Teresa told me she’s going to the finca tomorrow to see what’s going on but she should be back in time to see the movie.

T-shirt of the day: Strangers have the best candy.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

I slept well until 3:30am then had difficulty getting back to sleep.

Well, today is Orthodox Easter.  Christos anesti.

Teresa and I left the apt at 9:30.  Walking down the hill she noticed a yoga exhibition going on outside the library so we had to stop for her to check it out.  We soon continued on to Exito where she finally found a lace tablecloth and placemats.

We took a taxi to Euro in Mayorista where Teresa picked up lots of fruits and vegetables and ground beef for tomorrow’s lunch.

I saw my first drone (outside of a store) today.  A young neighbor boy was playing with one with his father.

The Colombian Peso closed for the week at 2,792 to the US Dollar.

I solved more puzzles in Chess Magnet School and was promoted to Marshall.

We watched Hush (6.6) on Netflix.  Afterwards I checked my blog and we watched the same movie almost exactly 2 years ago in the finca.  At the movies Cine Colombia advertises their own microwave popcorn called Cine Pop.  I tried a bag tonight for the first time.  It was as tasty as Act II and it seemed like it left fewer unpopped kernels.

T-shirt of the day: Stand up, I’m a princess.

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Despite getting up once during the night and again about 6:30am I slept until 8:45.

Looking down the hill at the park behind the library I can see that they now have the entire area fenced in, half of the inside area closed off and workers appear to be removing the surface of a rectangular area.  That area is tiered like they are making very wide steps into the park.

After breakfast I left the apt at 9:45, and quickly caught a bus to Poblado.  At Envios Market I picked up the simple can opener I ordered from the states.  I took a bus up to Krispy Kreme where I bought 3 original glazed donuts to go.  I stopped at Starbucks where I bought a small white mocca latte.  I took a bus back to Envigado and arrived just before noon.

Teresa informed me that Andres might be arriving as early as Tuesday.

I ordered a bottle of Incanto perfume from Amazon for Teresa.  I didn’t have to pay anything as I still had a balance from my son’s gift card.

While I was waiting for Laura to take her shower I went to the corner store and bought a 1.5 liter bottle of cold Coke and 2 bags of milk.

At 6:50 I called Mu and placed a takeout order for a large order of ribs.  Five minutes later Laura and I walked to the bottom of the hill and quickly caught a taxi.  It seemed as soon as we got to El Poblado it started raining.  We were at the restaurant 25 minutes after I placed the order.  I ran inside and the ribs were waiting for me.  It cost 72,000 pesos (almost $26).  The taxi waited for us and we were back 50 minutes after I placed the order for 18,000 pesos.  It was not raining in Envigado.

We each ate 2 ribs with fries and chips and there are still 2 ribs left over with fries for my lunch tomorrow.

T-shirt of the day: Don’t worry.  I’m an accountant.