Saturday, January 13, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up twice during the night, finally getting up at 6:45am.

Teresa asked me something about speaking to someone from Une. I had no idea what she was talking about. She showed me a text on her phone from Tigo/Une addressed to me confirming an appointment from 7am to 10am today. I told her I have no idea what that’s about so she cancelled it.

I left the apt just after 8:30 and walked to the mall. I recycled a couple plastic bottles and printed Teresa’s creatine test results in Auros. At the Davivienda ATM I got the “Transaccion con problemas intente luego” error message again. I stopped at CaFam pharmacy but they only had one of my new medications, the Fexofenadine Hydrochloride (antihistamine to relieve my nighttime itching) for 112,200 pesos. I bought only 1 box (I may need 3) because I figured it will be cheaper in Todo Drogas.

I went upstairs and tried 3 more Davivienda ATMs with the same result. It was just after 9am and I was a little surprised to see Claro hadn’t opened yet. On my way to the restroom, I watched a Colombian girl in cowboy boots try to go up the escalator the wrong way; she didn’t get far. In Urbania no one was there but I took a seat anyway and workers started showing up 30 minutes later.

I saw an ad for Herman, my old orange juice friend, now working on Facebook as a handyman. I contacted him about my hot water problem and he might be able to get to me this afternoon.

At 11am Teresa called and asked me to pick up 2 plantains and a bunch of cilantro. I left an hour later and bought them in Exito along with 2 small bottles of Mexican salsa, returning to the apt by taxi.

Teresa wants to go out tonight so I think we’re going to La Pampa.

Herman called me and I had to explain to Teresa who he was (orange juice vendor friend) and why I wanted him to come (fix the D**N hot water heater). She promised me a guy from Progas would come and fix it so I cancelled Herman coming over.

I watched the Dallas Texans dismantle the Cleveland Browns 45-14. To obtain QB Deshaun Watson (who didn’t play tonight) the Browns gave the Texans: 1^st round picks in 2022, 2023, 2024, as well as a 2022 4^th round pick, a 2023 3^rd round pick, and a 2024 4^th round pick. No wonder the Texans got good so fast! Oh, and the Brownies signed DW to a fully guaranteed 5-year $230,000,000 contract. 😊

We left the apt just after 7 and our Didi driver was Natalia. Talking to her Teresa discovered she is/was a personal trainer in the Ave Poblado Smartfit gym. (Her profile does look a little familiar, I just thought she was our driver once before.)

I had their ribs (very good, ate 3 and have 2 for lunch tomorrow), their fries (also good) and a salad (nothing special, lettuce with grated carrots and a pickle slice on top).

Teresa had their salmon (very good), their mashed potatoes (nothing special) and their salad (the same as mine nothing special) for 223mil so I guess we won’t be coming back.

They had the Chiefs Dolphins game on with the former leading the latter 13-7 when we left.

We quickly caught a Didi back to the apt.

I finished reading Ann Rule’s Stranger Beside Me on my Kindle.

I started reading Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind when I realized I read this 3 years ago. 😊

 

CRAZY SIGNS

Friday, January 12, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, finally getting up at 7am.

At 10am we took a Didi to Clinica Las Vegas. We were required to wear facemasks and Teresa forgot hers and I couldn’t find mine so we bought 2 from a vendor outside for 3mil. In Dr. Uribe’s office we were the only ones waiting. After about 20 minutes an old lady was wheeled out in a wheelchair. Teresa went in first and I’m not sure what they discussed. When it was my turn I showed the doctor my lesions and told her what I’ve been doing and not doing to address the problem.

I finally have a diagnosis and name for my skin problem. It’s called Nummular Eczema aka Nummular Dermatitis.

She gave me prescription for stronger oral and topical medications and I need to use the Cetaphil  cream twice a day for the next 6 months because my skin is too dry.

The charge for both of our visits came to a total of 370mil.

I ordered another Didi to take us to Santafe mall where Teresa spent considerable time looking at fashions in the likes of Zara and Berushka (sp?). For lunch she had something from VineGreta (sp?) and I had a frischuleta from Frisby. She took what is hopefully her last chemo pill, she should find out at her doctor’s appointment on Monday.

After some more shopping, not finding anything, we had drinks in Starbucks and then returned to the apt by 3pm by taxi.

I watched a movie called How it Ends (5.1) on Netflix. Don’t waste your time.

I asked Teresa who is making the reservations for the one night in Santafe de Antioquia next weekend. She said we’re not going because they would expect the gringo (that’s me) to pay for everything for everyone. I’ve heard this reason (excuse?) before, who knows how accurate it is.

I won a close game against really_not_good (1389) with the black pieces, increasing my rating 3 points to 1593.

Some good news, the half pads I’ve been using, now I’m using some multiple days, the chief exception being when I go to the gym.

 

CRAZY SIGNS

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 1am, again at 6am couldn’t fall back asleep, finally getting up at 6:30.

Teresa has an 8am gym class in Viva Envigado.

After breakfast I laid down again for an hour but couldn’t fall asleep, getting up at 8:30.

Cine Colombia has some new movies (and one old one, Blackberry, that I saw last July on MTV) but nothing I’m interested in. Wonka? No, I don’t think so.

I was in Parva by 9:15 to meet Marcos. At 9:40 he hadn’t shown so I sent him a text asking if he was coming. He arrived by 10:15 and said he got distracted talking to Johanna’s sons. He recommended a book for me, Paddle to the Amazon by John Stockton but the only one I could find by that title is by Don Starkell.

He left by 11am and I left at 11:30 and returned to the apt. I received a text from Teresa that she’s going to have lunch with her mother at La Bahia at noon so I’m on my own for lunch. After, she’s going to her mother’s apartment.

I left at 1pm and took a seat on Jack & Roll’s patio. I ordered their Jack & Roll burger but without the sausage. It came with some type of white sauce under the top bun and bacon (not crispy and I didn’t realize it was included)

and it was very messy to eat, falling apart halfway through. Before I left, I noticed another man eating his burger with a knife and fork.

I went over to Los Porteños where I finished the tests for Part 4, Endgames for Class ‘C’ Players while having a latte.

Next door at Emilia’s restaurant a group were having lunch. I noticed one man, obviously a gringo, eating ribs. When they left I was going to ask him how they were but they went in the other direction.

The NFL announced that one of the Bears home games in 2024 will be played in London. Maybe there will be a trip to London in our future this year?

About 7pm I ordered a Didi, picked up Teresa at MT’s apt and we went on to Antica Pizza. Gloria was there and I guess they had a lot to talk about. After our pizza, we walked down the hill to the panaderia where I bought 2 chocolate croissants for the guard(s). I think the portero’s name is Sergio and he was very pleased to receive the nighttime snack.

 

CRAZY SIGNS

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 1am, finally waking/getting up at 6:45am, just as Teresa was leaving for eps.

I accepted Marcos invitation to meet for coffee at Parva tomorrow at 9:30.

I completed my workout in Smartfit from 8:30 to 9:30. I was sitting in Los Porteños when Teresa finally joined me at 10:30. Wow, she had something like a 3-hour wait at eps. We shared a meat filled empanada and she had a small latte. She left at 11:15 and I left just before noon.

After lunch, about 2:30, I left for Otra Parte for a latte. The patio is still closed and I’m guessing it will remain closed for another week.

In their café I was having a latte under a tent but I could tell that soon I would be in the sun.

I heard English at the table behind me. I met Ibin from Toronto and Gloria from Colombia. I left at 4pm and returned to the apt.

Laura informed me the $300 is in her account so it only took 2 days.

Teresaa and I finally finished Pablo Escobar: El Patrón del Mal which turned out to be 74 episodes not the 120 listed on IMDB.com.

 

CRAZY SIGNS

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 4am, finally waking/getting up at 7am. (I had a dream about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelse.) How weird is that?

Teresa had bought a bottle of apple cider vinegar which is supposed to be very good for one’s health. She gave me a spoonful of it – Ugh – in the future I think I’ll take it with water.

I left the apt just after 9am and walked to the mall. I recycled a pill bottle then printed our airline and apt confirmations as well as a list of 2024 Colombian holidays. In Exito I picked up some pesos my brother sent using World Remit.

Upstairs in the mall proper I made an ATM withdrawal of 2,000,000 pesos but the bills were all 100s. ugh.

Downstairs in Urbania I had a latte with my usual glass of ice water. Teresa called and asked me to pick up apples, carrots, and purple lettuce in Exito before returning to the apt.

I left about 11:30 and only found the apples in Exito but I easily returned to the apt by taxi.

I asked the portero if he had a package for me and he did.

It was our Christmas present from Jeannie & Jacob (wedding photos), the 2 free containers of Joint Support supplements, a year-end Earnings Statement from Northern Trust (one of my pensions), and a letter from US Chess stating that individual memberships rose 25% this year, for the first time breaking the 100,000 milestone.

I had a 30-minute nap after lunch while doing my TENS exercise.

I left at 3:30 and had a latte in Eduardo Madrid. I left at 5pm and stopped in a slow Ara on the way back to the apt to buy carrots and another bag of milk. 

If I understood correctly (and I very possibly am wrong), Kelley (Teresa’s diabetic masseuse) is pregnant with a guy from Buffalo, NY.

Teresa is going to eps early tomorrow and we discussed meeting at Los Porteños at 8am. In the end, since she can’t be sure she’ll be there at that time, we decided I would have cereal at home before going to the gym.

 

CRAZY SIGNS

Monday, January 8, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 11pm, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 7am.

Today is a holiday, Epiphany.

I completed my workout in Smartfit between 9am and 10am. Being a holiday I was a little surprised it was as busy as usual. Doing an exercise on the butterfly machine I can feel the bones in my (left) wrist rub together. ☹ The discomfort and weakness also bothers me a little on the chest press, arm curl and shoulder press exercises. I may need to see a doctor for something to relieve the arthritis in my left hand. I increased my treadmill speed to 5.5km/hour for the same 15 minutes. I was shocked (not pleasantly) to find they didn’t have hot water in the showers today. ☹

Laura booked a 2-bedroom apartment in the Playa Cartagena Apartments for February 22^nd to the 27^th for 2,313,007 pesos or $595. We should arrive by noon on the 22^nd and they will arrive early the next morning. So, I owe her 5/9 of 2,313,007 pesos or 1,285,000 pesos that I will probably pay back by paying for some of their meals.

I had a latte in Los Porteños until 11:30 when I returned to the apt.

Teresa just informed me we’re going to Hotel Mariscol in Santafe de Antioqua with the darker side of her family for an overnighter, January 20^th and 21^st. It’s nice they have a car and they invited us.

I had an hour nap after lunch.

I left about 2:30, Eduardo Madrid was closed for the holiday so I continued on to Parva. I was drinking a café con leche when I noticed a row of Poinsettias in the back that were all wilted. I touched the soil and it was dry. I pointed this out to the server who spoke English and he watered them right away.

Troyclough resigned our game on the 42^nd move increasing my rating by 5 points to 1585.

Laura texted she’d like me to transfer the $300 I owe her for the apt to her bank account. I think I did this once before from my USAA account so I’ll check my notes.

I left about 4:30 and found a lot of people hanging out in the park of La Buena Mesa enjoying the weather. The small grocery store closed but I got the last bag of milk in Ara before returning to the apt.

I see from my bank account that I transferred cash to Laura on July 7^th.

That was easy! I logged into my USAA account and transferred $300 into Laura’s account. It should be there in 3-5 days. An email USAA sent me says the money should be there in 2 days.

Teresa showed me a text exchange from Dec. 21^st where Dr. Uribe’s office changed our appointment from tomorrow to Friday, January 12^th at 10:30. Too late to change my meeting for chess with Jose for tomorrow and I’m going to miss my workout on Friday. ☹ I reminded her that if her office calls again to cancel/reschedule our appointments, just to cancel them.

 

CRAZY SIGNS

Sunday, January 7, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, was awakened at 5:45am by the backup alarm of a truck backing into Tienda D1, couldn’t fall back asleep, finally getting up at 6:30am.

Teresa informed she’ll be visiting her brother James whose colon cancer has returned so I guess I’ll be on my own for lunch.

I left the apt just after 8am and stopped in Smartfit for a weigh-in. The other results weren’t available but my weight is 81.4kg or 179.5 pounds. (Pretty much the same as my last reading.)

I continued on to Sao Paolo where I wanted to buy another container of Dermacortine in Cafam for my lesions. The lady quoted me a price of 146,550 pesos ($38) but I didn’t have that much cash on me and I forgot to bring my debit card. ☹ Another time.

Glenn with Bianca arrived in Olivenza about 5 minutes later. He helped explain a disparity in my currency exchange rate calculation for one of my recent ATM withdrawals.

I left about 11am and walked to Los Porteños where I had a large latte. (Thinking there was no hurry to return to the apt because Teresa was going to be out.)

Johsucks resigned our game on the 31^st move as he was about to lose his queen. I didn’t earn any rating points I guess because with his rating of 885 the disparity was too great.

There was a group at the next table, 2 Colombians from Bogota and 3 Americans from New York.

Teresa called me at noon and asked me to buy pears and apples in Ara on my way back to the apt. (I guess she’s making lunch today after all.)

I said goodbye to those at the next table and left but a waitress caught me down the street because I forgot to pay. That’s the 2^nd time that’s happened.

I stopped in Ara but they didn’t have pears but I bought half a dozen apples and a bag of milk.

Back at the apt Teresa explained when you visit a person in the hospital in Colombia you bring either fruit or flowers. She soon received a call from Daniela that she’s outside the porteria waiting for her so she hurried out.

Teresa forgot her cellphone, leaving it recharging in the guest bedroom.

At 1:30 I ordered a pizza from Na Pizza which is expected to arrive between 2:21 and 2:36pm. It arrived at 2pm and I tipped the delivery man 4mil.

I watched the Bears lost to the Packers 17-9. It’ll be interesting to see what the Bears do with the off season: especially with Justin Fields and the #1 draft pick.

I texted with Laura a lot looking at her suggestions for hotels and Airbnb’s in Cartagena.

I purchased the flights for Teresa and I for $490.

Teresa finally returned at 10:15 and I got to bed at 11pm.

 

CRAZY SIGNS