Sunday, March 21, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:15 (on a clear night), got up once at 1am, finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

I left the apt at 8am in 64 degrees and arrived at the Avenida Poblado bus stop at 8:15 but Glenn and Bianca were nowhere to be seen. I texted him and he was waiting for me at the Avenida Las Vegas bus stop; seems he read my text reminder from 2-3 days ago. They arrived 10 minutes later and we took a taxi to D’Andre Restaurant Café at Carrera 37 #10-15, right next to Pizza Hut. We got one of the outside tables and the restaurant got bonus points right away by bringing napkins, silverware, and ground pepper without our having to ask for it. They had a number of things on their menu I wanted to try but for today I had the huevos rancheros which, with 2 slices of sourdough toast, were pretty good. Glenn enjoyed his eggs benedict which he said were only slightly undercooked. Being in “gringolandia” we could see/hear gringos at a couple of nearby tables. Service was good and the total came to less than 30mil each. From there we walked the 3 blocks to Pergamino Café #2 where we split an almond croissant with our coffee. We walked about 10 blocks mostly downhill to Hija Mia at Calle 11A #43B-9. It was a small café with an interesting menu although when I googled it later they seem to have an obsession with peanut butter. We would probably have to get there early for an outside table.

We walked back to Calle 10A where we quickly caught a taxi back to Envigado. They got out at Jumbo and I continued on to McDonald’s. While in slow traffic Teresa called and asked me to pick up Frisby chicken for her so I continued on to Viva Envigado. At the corner where Herman sells OJ they were rerouting ciclovia from one side of the road to the other which was probably what slowed down traffic so much. I picked up chicken and returned to the apt via taxi.

I joined her for some of the chicken for lunch saving the ribs for later.

Teresa left about 2:30 to take her mother shopping. She called about 30 minutes later to tell me to wait (she hadn’t taken her keys) as she was returning because her mother didn’t feel well.

When she returned I was ready to leave for Parva for coffee but she begged me to stay to play parcheesi because she didn’t want to be alone and bored.

I beat her in parcheesi 6 games to 1.

It was just before 6:30 that I noticed it was raining, and after such a lovely, clear morning.

I finished reading Dean Koontz’ Phantoms on my Nook.

 

The US has 29,720,510 ð 29,782,853 ð 29,825,308 coronavirus cases with 539,900+ ð 541,000+ ð 541,700+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,324,426 ð 2,331,187 ð 2,337,150 cases with 61,771 ð 61,907  ð 62,028 deaths. Medellin has 200,350 ð 200,997  ð 201,888 cases, an increase of 691 from March 20^th to 21^st. Envigado has a total of 18,124 cases, an increase of 68 from March 20^th to 21^st.

Joke of the day

A husband and wife are playing a trivia game. “How did you know there are seven rays on the Statue of Liberty’s crown?” she asks. “Easy – the seven original colonies!”

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30 (it was still raining), got up once at 5am, finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

Yesterday Teresa called Don Carlos and if he cuts the garden today she will go to the finca tomorrow, if he cuts it on Monday (a holiday) she will go on Tuesday.

Teresa has an early morning blood draw at a lab near Parque Envigado so I’m going to the mall and try Santa Lena’s breakfast.

I left the apt at 8am and walked to the mall. I recycled a plastic bottle, checked what time the bank opens on Saturday (9am), then went to Santa Lena’s. It was 8:20, they had their entrance blocked with chairs so I waited until 8:35, they still hadn’t opened so I went down and had my usual breakfast at Habia Una Vez.

I had about a 20-minute wait at Bancolombia and I was questioning myself why I didn’t just use an ATM instead of World Remit. I got my cash then went bo Santa Lena’s for coffee. The young man from Texas soon came over and apologized, unnecessarily, for being abrupt with me yesterday. His name is Sky and he’s from Galveston, Texas.

I left at 11am, stopped in Exito where I found a bathrobe for 70mil and returned to the apt by taxi.

At noon it’s only 76 degrees.

I tried on the robe for Teresa and she recommended I upgrade from size medium to large.

I left the apt at 2:30 and walked to Parva where I had a café con leche there and a pastel de guayabe to go for Teresa.

I left about 4:45 and on my way back to the apt I noticed a new health food store next to the new medical office on the side street across from Los Portenos and AlfaMore.

Teresa beat me in parcheesi today 3 games to 2.

 

The US has 29,658,824 ð 29,720,510 ð 29,782,853 coronavirus cases with 538,100+ ð 539,900+ ð 541,000+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,319,293 ð 2,324,426 ð 2,331,187 cases with 61,636 ð 61,771 ð 61,907 deaths. Medellin has 199,780 ð 200,350 ð 200,997 cases, an increase of 648 from March to 19^th to 20^th. Envigado has a total of 18,057 cases, an increase of 73 from March to 19^th to 20^th.

Joke of the day

Spotting a candle in my dentist’s bathroom with the helpful inscription “CALMING”. I smiled cynically and thought, Oh sure. Later, as I nervously settled into the dental chair, I told my dentist that his candle wasn’t working. He replied, “That’s for us.”

Friday, March 19, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, got up at 4am, couldn’t fall back asleep, got up at 5am and read for awhile, went back to bed at 5:30, took awhile to fall back asleep, finally getting up at 8am.

Teresa has a 9am gym class followed by a doctor’s appointment in El Tesoro and I’m on my own for breakfast and lunch so I made arrangements to meet Glenn for lunch.

I left the apt at 9:15 and walked to the mall. I wasn’t very hungry so I just had an almond croissant with a café con leche in Santa Leña. I did check their menu for the first time and it appears they have calentado and a variety of egg dishes. I left at 11am and walked back to the apt.

At noon I changed into shorts and sleeveless t-shirt and left the apt in a comfortable 76 degrees. I met Glenn and Bianca at the bus stop opposite Jumbo. We walked north along Avenida Las Vegas looking for the burger place I thought I saw next to a Nissan dealership. At the corner where I thought it was was a Hyundai dealership. Another block was a Citroen & Suzuki dealership. A couple more blocks, almost to the Aguacatala bridge was the Nissan dealership with Medellin Burger Company next to it. It was about a 15-minute walk to the bus stop and another 15 minutes to the restaurant. We got one of the last tables - near the entrance. Their menu was mainly burgers but they also had St.Louis ribs and a Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich. We each ordered the American burger with rustic fries and I also had a regular Pepsi. Service was good, our burgers were cooked perfectly, and the Brioche buns were fresh and tasty. The music was all American, mostly oldies that I recognized. The bill came to about 22mil each. Not bad!

From there we walked to LasTres the cafe across from the dog park for coffee. Near the end of our visit an American couple with what appeared to be a Colombian tour guide/translator sat down at the table behind us. Glenn noticed on his Accuweather app that rain was expected at 3pm so we left. I could see dark clouds overhead as I returned to the apt but nothing came of it.

Teresa beat me in parcheesi today 4 games to 2.

I suggested to Teresa we order ribs from Mu. Using Whatsapp it went quicker than the last time we ordered 5 weeks ago. I was told to expect them to arrive in 35 minutes and darned if that wasn’t when they arrived. Good thing they came by moto because cars would have been backed up for quite some time. Teresa had 3 ribs and I had 1 rib with half the fries.

About 9:30 I noticed it was raining.

 

The US has 29,601,700 ð 29,658,824 ð 29,720,510 coronavirus cases with 537,000+ ð 538,100+ ð 539,900+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,314,154 ð 2,319,293 ð 2,324,426 cases with 61,498 ð 61,636 ð 61,771 deaths. Medellin has 199,257 ð 199,780 ð 200,350 cases, an increase of 576 from March to 18^th to 19^th. Envigado has a total of 17,984 cases, an increase of 53 from March to 18^th to 19^th.

Joke of the day

A customer at our coffee shop said, “Imagine a hot veggie smoothie.” I’m wondering how to break it to her that soup exists.

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, got up once at 3am, finally getting up at 6:15.

I left the apt at 9am and walked to the mall. There were only 2 people ahead of me at Auros but I guess they had big jobs as it was about a 20-minute wait for my turn. I had some pages printed and my SS benefit letter scanned to my memory drive.

I had a café con leche for an hour and a half in Todo Fresa.

I picked up a number of things in Exito and returned to the apt by taxi. Teresa returned about 12:30.

Just before 1:30 the rain started and it lasted a little over 30 minutes.

I had a 2-hour chess lesson with Juan Carlos from 2-4pm.

Teresa beat me in parcheesi today 4 games to 1.

More rain in the evening.

 

The US has 29,570,954 ð 29,601,700 ð 29,658,824 coronavirus cases with 536,400+ ð 537,000+ ð 538,100+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,309,600 ð 2,314,154 ð 2,319,293 cases with 61,368 ð 61,498 ð 61,636 deaths. Medellin has 198,792 ð 199,257 ð 199,780 cases, an increase of 523 from March to 17^th to 18^th. Envigado has a total of 17,931 cases, an increase of 41 from March to 17^th to 18^th.

Joke of the day

My three-year-old said she wanted to be an astronaut, and I said she had to study hard, go to college, learn a lot of science, and take a physical fitness test. She shrugged and said, “That’s just four things.”

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, got up once at 6:30, finally getting up at 7am.

At 8am it’s only 64 degrees with overcast skies. I’m debating whether to leave for my walk now or wait until it warms up a little more.

It appears Santa Marta, Colombia is suffering so much from Covid-19 that they have instituted an 8pm nightly curfew.

I left at 8:30 and it was still 64 degrees. I completed my usual route and stopped at a small market for a head of lettuce. I didn’t see any in the cooler so I asked the cashier “no hay lechuga?”. She didn’t seem to understand so I repeated it. “lechuga?”. She looked at me blankly. I said “no intiende?” or “no tiene?” She said, “no intiendo”. I said, “lechuga” again and she repeated back to me what I thought was the same thing “lechuga”. She then showed me the 2 types of lettuce and I selected the “lechuga crespa” that Teresa prefers. She rang it up then held up 2 fingers. I gave her 5 mil and held up 5 fingers. She gave me my change and I held up 3 fingers. Lol. Yesterday, I had a similar encounter with the waitress in Todo Fresa over a napkin. She didn’t seem to understand my pronunciation for “servietta”.

At 12:30 it’s still only 76 degrees.

I was texted by Dr. Rendon that we can come early for our 1pm appointment that I forgot entirely about. Sigh!

Teresa returned just after 1pm and explained there is some type of water emergency at the finca. She made several calls and I understand she will go there next Tuesday to address the problem.

Dr. Rendon rescheduled our appointments to next Wednesday.

By 2:30 we finally broke 80 degrees.

Teresa told me about an overnighter next month in Santa Elena (near Parque Arvi) that we’ve been invited to. It’s only 300mil and includes room, meals, and transportation. Teresa’s getting antsy for a trip so maybe we should go.

My Patrick’s Irish Sports Pub t-shirt must be in the wash so I put on another with some green in it.

I left at 3pm and walked to Parva where I ordered a pan sano to go and a large café con leche to have there. The first hint of rain started about 4pm with thunder and a few raindrops. About 4:30 it started coming down heavily. It slacked off about 4:45 and I was packing to leave when Teresa called. She wanted me to bring her a slice of cake. I saw whole cakes in their display case but I wasn’t aware they sold slices so I gave my phone to a salesgirl to talk to Teresa. The muchacha took a whole apple cake, cut off a slice and I brought the cake and bread back to the apt.

I beat Teresa in parcheesi today 5 games to 1 but she still claims she’s the champion.

 

The US has 29,516,589 ð 29,570,954 ð 29,601,700 coronavirus cases with 535,200+ ð 536,400+ ð 537,000+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,305,884 ð 2,309,600 ð 2,314,154 cases with 61,243 ð 61,368 ð 61,498 deaths. Medellin has 198,328 ð 198,792 ð 199,257 cases, an increase of 465 from March to 16^th to 17^th. Envigado has a total of 17,890 cases, an increase of 36 from March to 16^th to 17^th.

Joke of the day

We recently had dinner at my son and daughter-in-law’s home. She had prepared a beautiful pecan pie for dessert, but I do not eat refined sugar in an attempt to lessen inflammation from my rheumatoid arthritis. My young grandson generously set two pecans on my empty plate. “These are for you, Grandma,” he said. “Thank you, sweetheart, but these pecans are coated with sugar,” I replied.

“No, Grandma, there is no sugar on these. I licked it all off!”

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

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

Nejcik resigned our game increasing my rating 2 points to 1438.

I left the apt before 8am and walked to the mall. I printed a page at Auros, recycled a plastic bottle and stopped at an ATM. The initial screen looked strange, something about “giros” several times. Still, I put in my debit card but the screen didn’t change until some seconds later when I pushed the cancel button. The next screen looked like the normal welcome screen but I already had my debit card in the slot. When it didn’t change I pushed the cancel button and it took me to the next screen. After that all was normal and I got my cash.

Back downstairs Jose arrived about 5 minutes later. I had my usual complete breakfast and he had a sandwich and coffee.

Upstairs I had the white pieces in the first game and I resigned after the 38^th move.

For lunch I had the frijoles and rice and Jose made a trip to the ATM. I still felt hungry so I went to the McDonald’s ice cream kiosk but the worker was cleaning the parts to the ice cream dispenser. I went back a little later and had a McFlurry.

I had the black pieces in the second game and he resigned after the 44^th move.

I went downstairs where I had coffee in Todo Fresa.

In exito I finally found Heinz relish and I also picked up milk and hamburger buns. I ran into Martha, Wilson’s girlfriend, in the checkout line.

I took a taxi back to the apt.

I watched another couple episodes of The Crown.

 

The US has 29,460,905 ð 29,516,589 ð 29,570,954 coronavirus cases with 534,400+ ð 535,200+ ð 536,400+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,303,144 ð 2,305,884 ð 2,309,600 cases with 61,143 ð 61,243 ð 61,368 deaths. Medellin has 197,953 ð 198,328 ð 198,792 cases, an increase of 466 from March to 15^th to 16^th. Envigado has a total of 17,854 cases, an increase of 41 from March to 15^th to 16^th.

Joke of the day

Scene: Woman buying wine and cookies.

Cashier: Do you want your receipt?

Woman: Does this look like a transaction I want to remember?

Monday, March 15, 2021

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, got up once at 4am, finally waking/getting up at 7am.

As I was leaving for my walk Teresa asked me to pick up 2 pan de quesos at Aymará. At the end of my usual walk I placed the order at Aymará and was told there would be a 7-minute wait. I sat down at a nearby table and soon realized I was getting chilled after my sweaty walk. At the appointed time they were ready and I returned to the apt.

Teresa left at 10:30 for the beauty parlor. She has a 3:30 appointment with her oncologist in El Tesoro.

I took a nap from about 11am to noon.

Teresa called at 12:15 to tell me to have lunch out on my own as she will probably be rushing when she’s done at the beauty parlor.

I left at 12:15 and walked the 5 minutes to Asados Rogelio where I had chicken breast, rice, frijoles, a small salad and a mango juice for 19mil.

Teresa returned 5 minutes after me. We left for her 3:30 oncology appointment at 2:30 in a light rain and, despite heavy traffic on Avenida Poblado, arrived 20 minutes early. Dr. Ossa now has an office in the new Tower 2 medical building of El Tesoro. When she came out she reported that the doctor said everything looks fine. She did some shopping then we went upstairs to J&C Delicias (downstairs was too cold as it was open to the elements) where she had a proper lunch (salmon) and I had a delicious slice of carrot cake with a large café con leche. We stopped in an H&M looking for a bathrobe for me but all they had was a small choice for ladies. She did some more shopping then we got in a long line for a taxi. A few people gave up and gave Teresa their numbers so we got out after about a 30-minute wait. I think it was about an hour for there to Viva Envigado where she did a little more shopping before we returned by taxi to the apt.

We went to bed at 10am during a steady rain.

 

The US has 29,421,872 ð 29,460,905 ð 29,516,589 coronavirus cases with 533,700+ ð 534,400+ ð 535,200+ deaths.

Per Medellin Guru, as of this afternoon Colombia has a total of 2,299,082 ð 2,303,144 ð 2,305,884 cases with 61,046 ð 61,143 ð 61,243 deaths. Medellin has 197,470 ð 197,953 ð 198,328 cases, an increase of 375 from March to 14^th to 15^th. Envigado has a total of 17,813 cases, an increase of 35 from March to 14^th to 15^th.

Joke of the day

There’s going to be a point in my life when my son looks up to me and thinks, “Gee, my mom knows everything!” Then he’ll get to sixth-grade math class, and I’ll say, “Well, kid, this is where we part ways.