Sunday, January 19, 2020

Last night I took half a Zopiclona with no Trazadone and went to bed at 10:45.  I got up once about 3:15, took another half Zopiclona and returned to bed finally waking/getting up at 7am.  The only difference I noted without the Trazadon is it seemed to take a few more minutes to fall asleep.

I left the apt just before 8am and walked to Avenida Poblado.  

While waiting for a bus I noticed the Smartfit receptionist outside the main entrance popping balloons.  I looked inside and didn’t see anyone working out.  She told me they have 2 customers this morning.  My bus arrived after a 10 minute wait.  Ten minutes later I got off at Calle 7 and walked up the hill and found Glenn and James sitting at an outside table at Ganso y Castor.  Today I tried something different with my café con leche, Greek yogurt with bananas, granola, and açai berries.  It was pretty good.  In the midst of our breakfast Glenn realized he left his keys in the back of the Uber they used.  (Uber is officially illegal here as of the end of January.)  James called the driver and after some conversational difficulties offered a 50mil reward if the driver would return them quickly.  (That’s probably close to a daily profit for a taxi driver here.)

They made arrangements to meet at Parque Poblado in 45 minutes so at 10:05 we paid the bill and started walking down Calle 7 to the park.  I pointed out the most logical place for a taxi to park and we sat down on the stairs to wait for him.  At 11:05 I told the guys I couldn’t stand the excitement any longer and I was going to walk down to the metro station and take the metro to Ayura station.  

Walking down the hill I got a better idea and after a 5 minute wait at Avenida Las Vegas I caught a Sabaneta bus.  I got off at the usual spot just before McDonald’s.  While approaching the stoplight to cross I noticed the bus turn and go up the hill right where I wanted to go.  What?  In the future I guess I’ll have to wait slightly longer to get off to see which way the bus is heading.

I was very happy I decided to wear shorts today although it looks like we might get some rain on Tuesday that will cool off the temperature for the next few days.

Outside the guardhouse I bought an avocado from a vendor for 4mil.  I asked for one that is ripe for today’s lunch and he asked me some question I didn’t understand, maybe a choice of 2 different types.

I was back at the apt by 11:30 and of course Teresa declared the avocado not ripe for today.  (Then you buy the avocados instead of asking me to buy them.)

With a break for lunch it took about an hour for me to unpack, setup the hardware and software for my new 4k FireTV Stick.  I couldn’t get the Alexa voice command to work and it looks like everything requires a subscription.

I took a nap from 2:15 to 3pm and when I got up Teresa was gone to visit with a friend in La Estrella.

Wow, the Tennessee Titans look like the team to beat in this year’s playoffs.  As soon as I wrote that, KC came roaring back.  I must have cursed the Titans.

With about 1 minute left in the first half, right in the middle of a play, Direct TV cut away to a commercial.  Idiots!  They returned with 11 seconds left in the half and then 10 seconds later they cut to another commercial.  Obviously we missed out on a KC touchdown.  The Chiefs won 35-24 over the Titans.

I texted Rob via Whatsapp about installing his apps for my Firestick and he informed me he’s going in for open heart surgery tomorrow.  Ouch.  I told him to get well and I’ll contact him again after my brother leaves on February 19^th.

Direct TV guide has the Packers 49ers game listed as the AFC championship.  LOL.  I REALLY don’t want to see the Packers in the Superbowl.  The halftime score was 49ers 27, Packers 0.  The final score was 49ers 37, Packers 20.

7,650 steps today.

Joke of the day

A mother-in-law arrives home from shopping to finds her son-in-law Pete in a steaming rage and hurriedly packing his suitcase.

"What happened Paddy?" she asks anxiously. 

"What happened?  I'll tell you what happened! I sent an email to my wife telling her I was coming home today from my fishing trip. I get home... and guess what I found??  Your daughter, my wife Jean, naked with Tim McDurmet in our marital bed! This is unforgivable, the end of our marriage. I'm done. I'm leaving forever!"

"Come now, calm down, calm down Paddy!" says his mother-in-law. "There is something very odd going on here.  Jean would never do such a thing! There must be a simple explanation. I’ll go speak to her immediately and find out what happened."

Moments later, the mother-in-law comes back with a big smile. "There now Pete, you see? I told you there must be a simple explanation!”

"Well, WHAT is it?" Fumed Pete.

"She never got your E-mail!"

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Last night I took half a Zopiclona with 2 Trazadone and went to bed at 10:45.  I got up once about 3am, took another half a Zopiclona and returned to bed finally waking up at 5:45 and getting up at 6:15.

Later, Teresa is taking the metro to Niqua, the north end of the line, and from there  a bus or taxi to Bello to meet with an old friend.  I asked her what time she’s leaving here and she said she’s waiting for her friend to call her with more details.

I left the apt at 8:45 and walked to downtown Envigado.  I looked in Claro for the English speaking young man but didn’t see him.  I made an ATM withdrawal then got on a bus to Poblado.  At Envios Market I picked up a package with 2 bottles of spray-on tan for Teresa, 6 glass straws with cleaner, a tube of Ben Gay and, finally, my 4k FireTV Stick; also my January Chess Life magazine and a piece of junk mail.

I took the bus back to Envigado and got off just before my Smartfit.  I went across the street to a small mall where I looked for the tienda naturista Juan told me about.  A woman noticed I looked lost and she helped me figure out I was on the wrong side of the street.  I crossed the street where I found the little store that I walk past 6 times week to and from the gym.  It sells bread, granola and stuff like that while I was expecting vitamins and nutritional supplements.

I walked to a pharmacy where I bought 20 more Trazadone then on to Parva where I had a café con leche while solving another set of chess puzzles.

I returned to the apt and Teresa was still there.  She said her friend is still in Bogota so I guess they won’t be meeting today after all.

I left the apt again at 12:15 and met Chuck outside Percimon.  He had his new puppy with him, a 2 month old Shitzu named Sofia.  He said right now she “shitzus” all over the house.

We decided to have lunch at Na Pizza.  He ordered 2 pizzas, one to go and I tried their meat lasagna which was quite good.  Rebecca was there and I told her a couple of jokes.  She showed us photos of her 8 month old baby boy.

About 1:15 he returned to his apt and I walked to the mall.  I bought 3 platinum preferred seats to Bombshell (6.8) for 22,800 pesos each.  Glenn and James really enjoyed the reclining seats and that the ushers bring your concession order to your seat.

We went downstairs for coffee and Glenn told me more about his plan to work towards a certificate so he can teach English to children online – probably China.  David and Lilliana stopped by and said hello.

They all left and I solved a few chess puzzles.

I went to Auros where I had some chess notes printed then I returned to the apt.

I watched a couple more episodes of You until Teresa switched to her Master Chef program.

11,635 steps today.

Joke of the day

Dad always bragged about the gunners on his ship.  Once during target practice, an unmanned drone flew past an antiaircraft cruiser.  The cruiser opened up, shells furiously flying all around the drone but not hitting it.  Then came Dad’s ship’s turn.  The gunners’ very first shot sent the drone into the water!

Forty years later, Dad met the man responsible, and he told him how impressed he had been.  “Yeah, I got in a lot of trouble for that,” the gunner said.  “Turns out we were supposed to shoot around it, not hit it.”

Friday, January 17, 2020

Last night I took half a Zopiclona with 2 Trazadone and went to bed at 10:45.  I got up once about 3am, took another half a Zopiclona and returned to bed finally waking/getting up at 7:20.

I decided to rest my wrist a little longer so I’m skipping gym today.

Among new US movie releases there isn’t anyting I want to see.  Locally, I would like to see Bombshell (6.8).

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show them left for the mall.

I stopped in Auros and made a copy of our blow dryer receipt, printed the Colombian holidays for 2020, printed a few chess notes and tried to print my January Envios Market receipt but I couldn’t remember my Yahoo password.  (My laptop usually remembers it for me.)

I went to Home Center where I picked up the repaired fan.

Their diagnostic report follows.

Causa: Mediante revision tecnica, se encuentra que el producto presenta fall en el motor ya que este se encuentra frenado debido a que presenta suciedad.

Solucion: Se realiza limpieza del motor y lubricacion del mismo se realizan pruebas y se deja el producto en normales condiciones de uso y funcionamento.

In English, google translated that to:

Cause: Through technical review, it is found that the product has a failure in the engine since it is braked because it has dirt.

Solution: The engine is cleaned and lubricated, tests are carried out and the product is left in normal conditions of use and operation.

I walked through Dollar City looking for a body scrub glove for Teresa but no luck.  I’ll try Exito some day soon.

I went to Todo Fresa where I had a café con leche while solving another set of chess puzzles.  While there I received an email from Juan Carlos suggesting that we have 2 lessons a week to make up for the 3 lessons I will miss while my brother is here.  I might miss even more if he’s in Moscow playing in a chess tournament there.

I returned to the apt at 12:30 and Teresa returned 5 minutes later.

I finished season 1 of You and started season 2.  Lots of surprises.

7,128 steps today.

Joke of the day

Scene: With a patient in my medical exam room.

Doctor: How old are your kids?

Patient: Forty-four and 39 from my wife who passed away, and from my second wife, 15 and 13.

Doctor: That’s quite a difference in age!

Patient: Well, the older ones didn’t give me any grandkids, so I made my own.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Last night I took half a Zopiclona with 2 Trazadone and went to bed at 10:45.  I got up once about 3:30, took another half a Zopiclona and returned to bed finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

We left the apt at 8:45 and took a taxi to one of the clinics on Calle 7 in Poblado, the same place where Teresa had her Colonoscopy.  I paid 270mil with my debit card and she went in for her Endoscopy.  I met her in the recovery room a little over 30 minutes later.  I question why they don’t do the Colonoscopy and Endoscopy at the same time so you don’t have to go through everything twice.

After Teresa was feeling a little less woozy we went to the next door cafeteria where she had a chicken salad sandwich and I had a cinnamon roll and café con leche.  We each got a salad to go for our lunch later and returned to the apt by taxi at 11:30.

The carpenter called and I understand the kitchen cabinet we special ordered should be delivered today at 3pm.  We will then give him the final payment of 500mil of the total of 1 million pesos.

We rested for an hour for Teresa and 30 minutes for me.

I received an email from Home Center that our fan is repaired and ready for pickup.  If I don’t get there tomorrow I’ll probably pick it up Saturday afternoon.

I left the apt at 1:50 and walked to Otra Parte where I found Juan Carlos waiting for me.  We went over my games against Jose, I solved a few puzzles in real time, and he answered a few of my questions about The London System.  I asked about him playing in the Moscow tournament and he said it would start about the 15^th of February and continue into early March and he should know by next Monday if he is going.  (Per Google “18 February (the date of arrival) to 29 February 2020 (the date of departure)”.)  He told me he will be moving to an apartment in Sabaneta.

After the lesson I walked to Parva where I had a café con leche while solving another set of 16 chess puzzles.

I returned to the apt about 6pm and the new kitchen cabinets had arrived.  Teresa was so happy to gain some more storage space.

I texted Juan and he gave me the name and address of the tienda naturista: Integral Market at Carrera 43A #28 Sur-21.  It must be just on the other side of Smartfit.

5,624 steps today.

Joke of the day

Recently a routine police patrol was parked outside a bar in the Outback. After last call, the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so apparently intoxicated that he could barely walk.  

The man stumbled around the parking lot for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing.  After what seemed an eternity, in which he tried his keys on five different vehicles, the man managed to find his car and fall into it.

He sat there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off. Finally, he started the car, switched the wipers on and off; it was a fine, dry summer night, flicked the blinkers on and off a couple of times, honked the horn and then switched on the lights.  

He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little, and then remained still for a few more minutes as some more of the other patrons' vehicles left.  At last, when his was the only car left in the parking lot, he pulled out and drove slowly down the road.

The police officer, having waited patiently all this time, now started up his patrol car, put on the flashing lights, and promptly pulled the man over and administered a breathalyzer test.  

To his amazement, the breathalyzer indicated no evidence that the man had consumed any alcohol at all!  Dumbfounded, the officer said, "I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the police station. This breathalyzer equipment must be broken."
"I doubt it," declared the man with pride. "Tonight I'm the designated decoy."

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Last night I took half a Zopiclona with 2 Trazadone and went to bed at 10:45.  I got up once about 2:30, took another half a Zopiclona, finally waking at 6:30 and getting up at 7am.

I need to buy a notebook for my Spanish lessons so I’m going to be moving up several of my activities for today.

I left the apt at 9:10 and walked to the gym.  While starting the seated row exercise I experienced pain in my right wrist; probably my arthritis acting up.  I skipped the rest of my arm & chest exercises and went directly to the treadmill.  I was back at the apt by 10:30.

I left just before noon and walked to the closest paper store, Seroja, where I bought a 3,300 peso notebook solely for my Spanish lessons.  I stopped at a copy center on my way back and printed a few chess notes.  At Otra Parte I had nice lunch of pasta with a coconut lemonade for 24 mil.  I arrived at Parva right at 1:30 when Juan and I agreed to meet.  After a 2 hour lesson my mind was wiped out.  Among additional things I learned Juan says we should take a bus to Tayrona Park to experience the beach and the river that runs into it.  Also he explained further where the nearby tienda naturista is.

Chuck arrived just as my class ended and we walked over to Aymara for coffee.  Teresa called and told me she found some things real cheap that she wanted.  I walked Chuck as far as my gym looking for the nature store that Juan keeps recommending.  Next time I’ll have Juan take me there.  I returned to the apt, dropped off some things, picked up a little cash and my debit card and walked to the mall.  I found Teresa with MT at Percimon and I had a small yogurt ice cream with blueberries and crushed peanuts. 

While in line I met a man from New Jersey who told me he’s 2 years away from retirement then he’s going to move to Medellin.

After I finished my yogurt we went to Home Center and bought a new hair blow dryer, a telescoping window squeegee and a plastic shelf to hang on the shower pipe in the guest bathroom to hold stuff.

We returned to the apt by 6:30.

I watched another episode of You on Netflix.

14,258 steps today.

Joke of the day

A man walked into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. 

As he sat down, the waitress came over and asked for their orders. 

The man said, "I'll have a hamburger, fries and a coke." Then he turned to the ostrich and asked, "What's yours?" 

"I'll have the same," said the ostrich.

A short time later the waitress returned with the order saying, "That will be $6.40 please." So the man reached into his pocket and pulled out the exact change for payment. 

The next day, the man and the ostrich came again and the man said, "I'll have a hamburger, fries and a coke." Then the ostrich said, "I'll have the same."

Once again the man reached into his pocket and paid with exact change.

This became a routine until late one evening, the two entered again.

"The usual?" asked the waitress. "No, it is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato, and salad," said the man. "Same for me," said the ostrich.

A short time later the waitress came with the order and said, "That will be $12.62." Once again the man pulled the exact change out of his pocket and placed it on the table. 

The waitress couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. 

"Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change out of your pocket every time?" 

"Well," said the man, "several years ago I was cleaning the attic and I found an old lamp. When I rubbed it a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there." 

"That's brilliant!" said the waitress. "Most people would wish for a million dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!"

"That's right. Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there," said the man. 

The waitress asked, "One other thing, sir, what's with the ostrich?" 

The man sighed, paused, and answered, "My second wish was for a tall chick with long legs who agrees with everything I say."

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Last night I took half a Zopiclona with 2 Trazadone and went to bed at 10:45.  I got up twice about 12:30 and 2:30, took another half a Zopiclona, finally waking at 5:45 and getting up at 6:15.

I left the apt just before 8am and walked to the mall.  I recycled 3 plastic bottles, printed some chess notes, a couple email receipts and Teresa’s calcium results.  I had my usual breakfast for 10mil at Habia Una Vez but today they didn’t have croissants so they gave me an arepa. Ugh!  Jose arrived just after 8:30 and I told him about my lesson with Juan Castro.  I mentioned that Juan thought there would be a tournament the January 24^th weekend.

After chatting a while over a cup of coffee we went to Home Center where I dropped off the broken fan and Jose helped me with the transaction.

We went upstairs to the food court where we had our choice of tables.

I had the Black pieces in the first game and I played the Dutch Defense.  I got an attack going similar to what I had just seen in one of my lessons and he resigned on the 36^th move.  My Stockfish computer analysis later only suggested one improvement for me.

After lunch I had the White pieces and I played my usual The London System.  He played some unusual moves but I got an attack going against his king and he lost an exchange once and gave me a piece and he finally resigned on the 37^th move.  That’s 5 wins in a row for me!  Wow, something is working!  This time Stockfish had 5 better moves that I missed.

He left and I paid the Une and utility bills at Exito.

I went into Todo Fresa where I had a café con leche and read some news on my cellphone.

I returned to the apt at 5pm, picking up milk at Exito on my way back.

Jose emailed me that the chess tournament is January 29^th to February 2^nd.  Bad timing!  Well, I guess I’ll just be that much stronger for the next tournament.  I hope!

Teresa left about 5pm to take her mother to Santa Fe mall.

I watched a couple more episodes of the Netflix series You.

Teresa returned at 9:15.

8,237 steps today.

Joke of the day

A married Irishman went into the confessional and said to his priest, 'I almost had an affair with another woman.' 

The priest said, 'What do you mean, almost?' 

The Irishman said, 'Well, we got undressed and rubbed together, but then I stopped.'

The priest said, 'Rubbing together is the same as putting it in. You're not to see that woman again. For your penance, say five Hail Mary's and put $50 in the poor box.'

The Irishman left the confessional, said his prayers, and then walked over to the poor box.

He paused for a moment and then started to leave.

The priest, who was watching, quickly ran over to him saying, 'I saw that. You didn't put any money in the poor box!'

The Irishman replied, 'Yeah, but I rubbed the $50 on the box, and according to you, that's the same as putting it in!'

Monday, January 13, 2020

Last night I took half a Zopiclona with 2 Trazadone and went to bed at 10:45.  I woke up at 12:45 and again at 2:45 when I took another half a Zopiclona.  I finally woke/got up at 7:15.

I left the apt at 9:20 and walked to the gym.  The manager had to come out and show me that I have to enter a userid AND a password to open the turnstile.  I completed all my exercises in an hour and 20 minutes.

I talked to Teresa about wanting an English-speaking general practitioner that I can go to then I made a first appointment for next Monday at noon.

About 4pm I left the apt and while waiting to cross the street by the Esso gas station I saw 2 beautiful Macaws fly overhead.

I had some chess notes printed at the copy center next to Aymara then went to Parva for coffee.  I solved another set of 16 chess puzzles and read some news on my cellphone.  I bought a campo loaf of bread and returned to the apt just before 6pm.

I watched some of the college national football championship.

8,317 steps today.

Joke of the day

Ben went on safari with his wife and mother-in-law.

One evening, while still deep in the jungle, the Mrs. awoke to find her mother gone.

Rushing to her husband, she insisted on them both trying to find her mother.

Ben picked up his rifle, took a swig of whiskey, and started to look for her. In a clearing not far from the camp, they came upon a chilling sight: the mother-in-law was backed up against a thick, impenetrable bush, and a large male lion stood facing her.

The wife said, "What are we going to do?"

"Nothing," said Ben, "The lion got himself into this mess, let him get himself out of it."