Thursday, December 12, 2024

Last night we went to bed at 10pm, I got up several times during the night, finally threw off my side of the duvet and just used the thick sheet under it, finally waking up at 6am and getting up at 7:30.

Today is Photo and Fingerprinting Day!

Another day filled with adventure.

Did I mention I don’t like duvets? I don’t need a 2 sheet and 1 blanket combo to keep me warm, usually a single sheet is enough. Did I mention I experienced my first duvet 35 years ago in Moscow? Well, that’s another story.

I can’t seem to get any internet connection this morning.

Teresa finally realized we’re only staying one night so we’ll be checking out at noon.

We had a nothing special buffet breakfast: cold coffee, cold French toast, lots of strange things I didn’t recognize but they did have fresh fruit, juices, rice and scrambled eggs.

The lady at the front desk spoke English and she printed some documents that Laura says Teresa needs to have with her. I asked if after we check out at noon, we could leave our bags for a few hours and she said no problem. It looks like we can take a Didi to the CAS (Applicant Service Center) and even though its close by, one-way streets and highways kind of get in the way.

We left at 10:30 to go for a little walk. I was in pants, undershirt, long-sleeve shirt, and jacket. I led the way in the direction of CSA, soon took off my jacket and after about 20 minutes we arrived at Connecta 26 which is like a campus with office buildings (I noticed Teleperformance which I think is the large telemarketing office in Vizcaya mall), stores and finally we found the line outside CSA. The note on the building indicated the form they required but everyone in line I noticed had a photo attached. ☹ I had Teresa double check with the man in charge and I understood all she needed is her passport and the application. It was now about 11:15 and we had to check out of our room by noon.  Teresa needed some skin cream so we stopped in a Farmatodo where she finally chose a small container. I also asked about Zopiclona because Teresa took some of mine last night but the pharmacist asked if I had a formulario (doctor’s order). I replied, “yes, in my apt in Medellin” so I didn’t get it. When we came out of the pharmacy if we had made an immediate right we would have retraced our steps back to the campus entrance but Teresa led me straight ahead. When we arrived at the other end of the campus we both realized we were lost. When we got back to the main road, still inside the campus, we saw two opposite entrances and didn’t know which one to take. We ended up choosing the wrong one and after walking a bit I insisted we take a taxi and let the driver figure out the way. We did and I gave him the name of our hotel. After a bit the driver was in the outer lanes and passed our hotel. I asked to drop us off there and we would walk back. He did and we soon found we were at the wrong Marriott, we needed the one by the airport. We had a hotel driver take us to the right one and it cost 40mil. It was now 12:30 so I apologized to the desk clerk and we quickly packed up and I returned the room card. We had lunch in their restaurant; Teresa had chicken and I ordered the beef ribs. 

Wrong move; when will I learn not to order beef in Colombia? After a few bites of the ribs I just finished the fries and vegetables. I made a last trip to the restroom, charged 329,890 pesos ($75) for our two meals and Teresa requested a hotel van to take us to CAS. Our driver was a tallish (5’7”), thin, 40ish woman dressed in a black suit with her hair in a ponytail, small earrings and aviator sunglasses. My thought was we’ve got a female FBI agent for our driver. 😊  Bogota, like Medellin, has lots of one-way streets and after numerous cloverleafs and other turns she dropped us off 100’ from the CAS office. We grabbed a table in Starbucks and while I was setting up my laptop Teresa talked to a man at a nearby table and he clarified the few things that Teresa needed for her appointment. Now I’m sitting in Starbucks listening to original Christmas carols like Gene Autry’s Here Comes Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman.

I kept her carry-on in a corner next to my backpack while working on my blog and she went to get in line.

Teresa returned by 3pm and said all was good. Step one is complete. I think it took about 20 minutes, most of that in line.

Teresa called Kelly for pickup and we went to the corner where she had dropped us off. I was watching for her van and when it was 100 yards away Teresa said, “there she is”. I asked how she could tell and she said she could see her ponytail. Wow, she’s got better long-distance vision than I do.

Kelly took us to the Wyndham Hotel for 46mil. She pointed out the US embassy across the street and the stoplight where we can cross. She also said something about a mall behind the hotel. We went up to the 2^nd floor lobby where I checked us in without any problem and paid for the 2 nights.

We put our bags in our room and Teresa looked out the window and asked why can’t she see the US flag? I pointed to it as she wasn’t looking high enough. 😊

We went back down to the 2^nd floor to their restaurant where she had fish and I had a bowl of minestrone soup and a limonada de coco for 129,800 pesos ($30). I paid for it with my Capital One card without a problem and I understand I have to pay for each meal separately instead of charging to our room and paying everything at the end like the Marriott.

We moved to more comfortable chairs in the lobby and looked at our phones when I should have been in our room working on this blog.

Well, the Wi-Fi here appears to be better than Marriott, which sucked, so I should be able to post something soon.

We were very tired but managed to stay up until 9pm. I set the alarm for 5:30am as we’re planning on leaving the hotel at 6:30 for her 7:15 interview.

 

JUST FUNNY

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, again at 4:15, finally falling back asleep and waking/getting up at 6:30.

I left the apt at 8:30 and stopped at the Bancolombia kiosk but it hadn’t opened yet. I sat on their stoop and she opened fifteen minutes later. I printed Laura’s green card and her letter of extension. I had a latte in Los Portenos, replaced a missing peanut and returned to the apt.

It's 7pm and we’re in the Courtyards of Marriott Bogota Airport. Now to recall our latest adventure.

At noon I noticed I had an email from Avianca that our flight had changed to a 3:58 departure. I notified Teresa that we can wait another hour or so before leaving and I texted Bryan that our flight had changed and to come at 1:30 instead of 12:30. He texted me a photo of our porteria and said he was already here but he would wait for us. I asked him to give us a few minutes. We were already packed so it was just a manner of finishing up a few things and we went down to his car. On the drive to the airport he explained he’s divorced and his wife got the truck (and some other “business”) so he’s starting over.

At the airport we had no bags to check and an Avianca rep helped us use the machine to get our boarding passes. She asked for my passport which was deep in Teresa’s carry-on. Luckily, I looked at the machine and saw, “documento de identificacion” and I took out my cedula and she accepted it. The time we’re supposed to be at the gate was 3:13 so we had some time to kill. We had a simple “menu of the day” lunch at a new restaurant as J&C Delicias appears to be permanently closed.

We still had some time but better to get through the TSA checkpoint first. We didn’t have to take off our shoes or our belts and once again they didn’t catch the portable scissors in my backpack nor my keys or change as I walked through what I thought was supposed to be a metal detector. As we were waiting in line to board I saw this young lady with her little dog.

About to go through the gate to get on the plane I noticed my boarding pass had a “no” under where it says “carry-on luggage” but no one said anything. I stowed my backpack and her carry-on in the bin right over us. Our flight took off on time and when we arrived in Bogota it seemed like we spent more time taxiing in Medellin than we spent in the air.

We were able to skip baggage claim and at the exit doors Teresa decided she wanted coffee. She asked a cleaning lady who recommended Juan Valdez or Oma. Right after that we noticed a Starbucks so we ordered lattes and took a nearby table next to another couple. I noticed his dog and I said, “Samoyed” and he said in English, “yes, it is”. I asked where they were from and he said Canada although their dark features told me they are most likely originally from India. I asked if the dog was able to ride in the cabin and he told me it was a Service Dog and then I saw the harness. I didn’t want to embarrass him and ask what service the dog provides.

I double checked our hotel info and a hotel bus is supposed to arrive every hour at gate 5 on level 2. We just passed gate 4 and we were right across from the escalator. At 5:45 we gathered up our stuff and headed up and outside. I had a jacket but Teresa’s was in her carry-on. I offered to open her suitcase but she elected to wait a few minutes. I checked the nearby buses but didn’t see one for Marriott. We waited until just after 6pm when Teresa suggested we take a taxi. We walked across the street and took the first available taxi. The driver crammed my backpack and Teresa’s carry-on in his trunk and as we were pulling away I saw the Marriott bus parked at the curb we had just left. The driver asked me for the address and it took a couple attempts to find it as he stopped at the curb and the traffic police sounded their siren. After a ride through heavy traffic and a payment of 26,900 pesos we arrived at the hotel and checked in to room 215. It was more expensive than I thought, 722,687 pesos ($220.50).

I had a problem connecting to their internet but after a call to the front desk they suggested another network and that worked, although it’s very slow.

We had supper in their large sprawled out restaurant. Teresa had some type of fish and I had their small pasta and we shared a bottle of water for 185,990 pesos ($43). I did notice beef ribs on their menu, something I haven’t had in a long time. I certainly wasn’t hungry enough tonight but maybe lunch tomorrow. Then again, they might be too chewy to enjoy.

I looked at google maps and I can see the airport, our hotel, and the CAS fingerprint site all relatively nearby. However, it’s hard to get a sense of distances.

We went to bed at 10pm.

 

JUST FUNNY

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up twice during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:15am.

Teresa left at 8am for her exercise class.

I left at 8:40 and ordered a Didi to take me to Daniel’s for a haircut. Because I usually go at a routine time every 4 weeks, Didi suggests where I want to go including his address. It didn’t today so I had to enter it manually. Now I know there are several routes to his place but this time it seemed to be further north and up in the mountains. I figured the driver was approaching the shop from uphill instead of the usual downhill. But when I expected him to turn right and head downhill instead he turned left and went uphill. I stopped him right there and told him we’re heading in the wrong direction. I called Daniel and it took a few minutes but we eventually got headed in the right direction and I arrived only 7 minutes late for my 9am appointment.

After my haircut Daniel gave me a present wrapped in Christmas paper. He said i was for being his best customer. He also gave me an Apice baseball cap which I really like and will come in handy in Punta Cana and our own upcoming warmer weather.

I took a Didi to Todo Drogas and was surprised to run into the man from our building who is renting our apt. He said something about paying for December and January and I told him we leave for Bogota tomorrow for 4 days. He said he would stop by this afternoon. I purchased my medication and supplements for the month for 303,200 pesos ($69).

I walked over to the copy center where I had our hotel confirmation printed and bought 2 money envelopes.

I walked to Ganso y Castor where I had a latte. I replaced the two missing peanuts and a few minutes later observed a red squirrel already enjoying one of them.

The dogs in the 2^nd photo let me know the squirrel was there.

I left at 11am and returned to the apt.

Teresa opened the gift and its some type of skin care for men I’ll never use so I asked her to regift it.

Whoever Teresa is talking to (Laura, lawyer, friends) she sure is putting demands on me. Now she wants a copy of my passport. I’ll be happy when this embassy trip is over.

Teresa wanted to go to Santafe mall to meet a friend. Okay with me I need to use the ATM for more bills smaller than 100s. I waited until 2pm and nothing came of her friend so she told me I could go to Viva. I left at 2:15 and walked to the mall. I recycled a plastic bottle, printed a copy of my passport page, and withdrew 2,000,000 pesos, a mix of 10s, 20s, 50s, and 100s. Perfect!

I was having a latte in Urbania when Teresa called and asked for the address of where we will be staying in the US. I don’t know but she was insisted on an address so I gave her my brother’s.

About 4pm I decided I’d better get back to the apt so I returned by taxi, no wait.

Teresa showed me what she wanted to wear for her embassy interview, blue jeans, white top and blue jacket. I said that looked good. She then comes out wearing a different jacket, a red one asking me which I liked better. (insert eye roll emoji here) I told her the red one because she’s now got all the colors of the American flag. 😊

Teresa complained her purse didn’t fit into the carryon. She wanted to bring a purse on the plane and another for the embassy. I told her to bring one, the one she wants for the interview, and carry it with her as her personal item. ☹

Laura sent us a copy of her green card and a letter addressing her extension which I’ll print tomorrow. I personally don’t think this is important. Like the US doesn’t know her status.

I watched the first couple episodes of the four-episode series Churchill at War on Netflix.

 

JUST FUNNY

Monday, December 9, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, woke up at 5:30, tried to fall back asleep, gave up when I heard a generator outside Ara at 6am.

I left the apt at 7:30 and completed my workout in Smartfit. Today wasn’t very crowded and I saw Michael.

I stopped at the copy center but it was only about 8:30 and hadn’t opened yet.

I had a latte in Ganso y Castor for about 90 minutes. I found another Bob Burford article on Facebook and later posted it to my blog. I replaced the missing peanuts in the trees. I took a photo of this talkative/noisy bird that is common here in Medellin, Colombia.

I left at 9:45 and printed a few pages of chess notes in the now opened Bancolombia kiosk on my way back to the apt.

I was sitting at my computer when I got a call from Inter-Col at 10:34, It wasn’t Angie and the woman didn’t speak English. Soon Teresa was standing behind me and took the phone. I only understood the words, “immigration” and “11:15”. Teresa hung up and was all in “we gotta hurry mode”. I asked her if this was for me or for her and she didn’t know. (I thought she was going to have a kitten (is this a Chicago expression?)). She called Laura for some reason and I called Inter-Col. The same woman answered and after getting a few questions answered I understood it was for my cedula, I have an 11:15 appointment at Immigration in Belen and I have to bring certain documents. I grabbed my passports (new and old) and debit cards and ordered a Didi. My ride arrived at 10:40 and by 11am dropped me off around the corner from the Immigration office. I stopped across the street and had 4 documents printed that Inter-Col sent me via Whatsapp. It was exactly 11:15 when I told the guard I had an appointment and he let me in without even looking at it. I took a seat and there was only one person ahead of me. I handed him my documents and my passport and he had me write my address, email address, phone number and blood type on one of my pages. I took a seat and waited for the next stage. A girl (25 maybe) after me seemed to be having some trouble. She took a seat next to me and I asked if she had problems. She said, “her medicine won’t arrive until September. Their website doesn’t work. Their email doesn’t work” except every other word was F*ck**g. She was a real ray of sunshine. At the next station the rep showed me my personal information and I verified its accuracy. I took a seat again for a couple minutes. He then called me up to pay the cedula fee of 267,000 pesos ($61). I handed him my Capital One debit card and the machine asked for my pin. I entered it and it said, “incorrect pin”. We tried again with the same result. I told him, “funciona en todo tiendas de Medellin”. Luckily, I had also brought my USAA debit card and that one works without needing a pin.

I took a seat again for a few minutes then he called me up, returned some papers and told me to return the 2^nd week of February with my cedula or passport to get my new cedula and I won’t need an appointment. Outside I called for a Didi to return me to the apt and I was back by 12:30. I didn’t even miss lunch. 😊

Teresa informed me that Kelly is coming around 3pm to give her a massage.

I left the apt at 1:15 and had a latte in Los Portenos. I left at 3pm and returned to the apt. Teresa was busy getting a massage from Kelly.

Using Booking.com I booked us one night in Courtyard by Marriott Bogota Airport for 591,400 pesos + 112,300 VAT (Value added Tax?) = 703,700 pesos ($159.46). It’s close to the airport, obviously, and appears to be walking distance from Teresa’s first appointment for photo and fingerprints.

 

JUST FUNNY

Bob Burford - Part VI

 SINATRA'S PLAYBOY INTERVIEW . . . 1963

Frank Sinatra's self-inflicted tough-guy-party-animal-Rat-Packer image was not only childish and tiresome, it belied the fact that he was well-read, thoughtful, and a committed free thinker. In this 1963 interview with Playboy magazine, Sinatra speaks frankly (sorry) about the hypocrisy and dangers of "the witch doctor in the middle"--his term for organized religion.

Playboy: All right, let's start with the most basic question there is: Are you a religious man? Do you believe in God?

Sinatra: Well, that'll do for openers. I think I can sum up my religious feelings in a couple of paragraphs. First: I believe in you and me. I'm like Albert Schweitzer and Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein in that I have a respect for life — in any form. I believe in nature, in the birds, the sea, the sky, in everything I can see or that there is real evidence for. If these things are what you mean by God, then I believe in God. But I don't believe in a personal God to whom I look for comfort or for a natural on the next roll of the dice. I'm not unmindful of man's seeming need for faith; I'm for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniel's. But to me religion is a deeply personal thing in which man and God go it alone together, without the witch doctor in the middle. The witch doctor tries to convince us that we have to ask God for help, to spell out to him what we need, even to bribe him with prayer or cash on the line. Well, I believe that God knows what each of us wants and needs. It's not necessary for us to make it to church on Sunday to reach Him. You can find Him anyplace. And if that sounds heretical, my source is pretty good: Matthew, Five to Seven, The Sermon on the Mount.

Playboy: You haven't found any answers for yourself in organized religion?

Sinatra: There are things about organized religion which I resent. Christ is revered as the Prince of Peace, but more blood has been shed in His name than any other figure in history. You show me one step forward in the name of religion and I'll show you a hundred retrogressions. Remember, they were men of God who destroyed the educational treasures at Alexandria, who perpetrated the Inquisition in Spain, who burned the witches at Salem. Over 25,000 organized religions flourish on this planet, but the followers of each think all the others are miserably misguided and probably evil as well. In India they worship white cows, monkeys and a dip in the Ganges. The Moslems accept slavery and prepare for Allah, who promises wine and revirginated women. And witch doctors aren't just in Africa. If you look in the L.A. papers of a Sunday morning, you'll see the local variety advertising their wares like suits with two pairs of pants.

Playboy: Hasn't religious faith just as often served as a civilizing influence?

Sinatra: Remember that leering, cursing lynch mob in Little Rock reviling a meek, innocent little 12-year-old Negro girl as she tried to enroll in public school? Weren't they — or most of them — devout churchgoers? I detest the two-faced who pretend liberality but are practiced bigots in their own mean little spheres. I didn't tell my daughter whom to marry, but I'd have broken her back if she had had big eyes for a bigot. As I see it, man is a product of his conditioning, and the social forces which mold his morality and conduct — including racial prejudice — are influenced more by material things like food and economic necessities than by the fear and awe and bigotry generated by the high priests of commercialized superstition. Now don't get me wrong. I'm for decency — period. I'm for anything and everything that bodes love and consideration for my fellow man. But when lip service to some mysterious deity permits bestiality on Wednesday and absolution on Sunday — cash me out.

Playboy: But aren't such spiritual hypocrites in a minority? Aren't most Americans fairly consistent in their conduct within the precepts of religious doctrine?

Sinatra: I've got no quarrel with men of decency at any level. But I can't believe that decency stems only from religion. And I can't help wondering how many public figures make avowals of religious faith to maintain an aura of respectability. Our civilization, such as it is, was shaped by religion, and the men who aspire to public office anyplace in the free world must make obeisance to God or risk immediate opprobrium. Our press accurately reflects the religious nature of our society, but you'll notice that it also carries the articles and advertisements of astrology and hokey Elmer Gantry revivalists. We in America pride ourselves on freedom of the press, but every day I see, and so do you, this kind of dishonesty and distortion not only in this area but in reporting — about guys like me, for instance, which is of minor importance except to me; but also in reporting world news. How can a free people make decisions without facts? If the press reports world news as they report about me, we're in trouble.

Playboy: Are you saying that . . .

Sinatra: No, wait, let me finish. Have you thought of the chance I'm taking by speaking out this way? Can you imagine the deluge of crank letters, curses, threats and obscenities I'll receive after these remarks gain general circulation? Worse, the boycott of my records, my films, maybe a picket line at my opening at the Sands. Why? Because I've dared to say that love and decency are not necessarily concomitants of religious fervor.

Playboy: If you think you're stepping over the line, offending your public or perhaps risking economic suicide, shall we cut this off now, erase the tape and start over along more antiseptic lines?

Sinatra: No, let's let it run. I've thought this way for years, ached to say these things. Whom have I harmed by what I've said? What moral defection have I suggested? No, I don't want to chicken out now. Come on, pal, the clock's running.

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 1am (I heard fireworks), finally waking/getting up at 6:30. Still the occasional fireworks.

Teresa and I left at 9:30 and took a Didi to La Matriarca in Poblado for breakfast. We enjoyed our calentao with a couple lattes each. At one point I made a trip to the restroom and found this cute “Christmas tree” in their atrium:

The check came to 144,711 pesos ($33) a little costly for a Colombian breakfast.

We left at 11am and took a Didi to San Diego mall. At the Texaco station we found a colectivo to take us to the airport for 23mil each. We went to the Avianca desk and asked the girl 1. To change our reservation from Thursday the 12^th to Wednesday the 11^th. That cost me another 744,711 peso ($172), a little more than my original purchase. 2. Is our Dominican Republic flight change apply to both of us? Yes. 3. Teresa asked about taking cosmetics on board the flight and I don’t think she got the answer she wanted. 4. Teresa asked about the form we had to fill out at the airport last time and the girl gave us a link to fill out within 48 hours of our flight.

Outside it was a 5-minute wait for the next bus to take us to San Diego mall for 15,500 pesos each.

Teresa did a little window shopping then we had lunch in Crepes & Waffles. She had a shrimp crepe and I had a waffle with arequipe sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Outside we caught an Uber back to our apt.

The response from my DAZN email, “Hello Terry,

I hope you are doing well. Thank you for contacting DAZN Customer Support.

Thank you for providing the email address and the card details. We truly appreciate your efforts for providing the information.

Upon checking your account under the email address terryandresen@yahoo.com, I could see that there is active NFL annual season pass. Please try to login with the following email address by resetting the password once. This should allow you to login into your account. Here is the link for resetting the password: https://dazn.com/account/reset-password/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJkYXRhIjp7InJlc2V0SWQiOiIzMjJmMGZiMS1mODQ1LTQyMjMtYjlhYy04YzdjYTY5Nzg5ZGQiLCJjcmVhdGVkQXQiOiIyMDI0LTEyLTA4VDE1OjExOjIwLjUzNVoifSwiZXhwIjoxNzMzNjc0MjgwLCJpYXQiOjE3MzM2NzA2ODB9.FURcZsRotfofRt17z13vYOBjyWAlMWZLwBiTmPveDvo

If you are still unable to login, please try to follow the below trouble shooting steps:

1)Please avoid using a VPN or browser add-ons.
2)Make sure to install the latest version of the DAZN app and try logging in again.
3)Try accessing on a different device, ensuring it is on the list of supported devices.
4)Alternatively, use a different web browser, and ensure you're not in incognito or private browsing mode.

If you're still experiencing issues, please contact us again with the name of the device you've tried to log in with, along with your current location. Additionally, provide screenshots of the issue on each device so we can assist you further.

Thank you for choosing the NFL game pass. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us again at any time. Have a nice day!

Kind Regards,Mohan
- DAZN Team.”

My DAZN problem seemed to start about the same time I purchased the NordVPN subscription.

I went to their app and I saw that, even though I removed it from my startup routine, it has been on 100% every day. I sent them an email asking how to turn it off.

Since I couldn’t get DAZN to work I used IPTV to watch the game on San Francisco’s Fox station. The Bears lost 38-13. ☹

I watched some of 60 Minutes.

About 9pm I heard some cheering from the building across the street. I googled Colombia soccer, Atletico Nacional and Medellin soccer but didn’t find anything obvious.

 

JUST FUNNY

Saturday, December 7, 2024

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

Today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. “December 7^th, 1941, a date that shall live in infamy”, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It’s also “noche de velas” the night when they light colorful candles inside and/or outside their homes.

We left the apt at 9am and took a Didi to Calle 52 #52-63 in Itagui for Teresa’s doctor’s appointment. I could see we were at the intersection of Calle 52 and Carrera 52 so we were in the approximate location and the driver even circled the block. We got out and walked to the end of the block where we found CC Itagui Plaza which obviously was a new mall as it was nearly empty. We found Nueva eps and Teresa checked in at the desk. It was about a 15-minute wait until her name was called and she soon returned with an appointment. I guess this was the appointment for an appointment.

Outside we walked a few blocks and stopped at a small (2 small tables with 4 small stools each) corner café where we had lattes. We left about 30 minutes later and walked a couple more blocks to a (unrecognizable) bus stop. After a 10-minute wait we got on a standing room only bus back to Envigado. We got off at Parque Envigado and I stopped at the paper store and bought a desk calendar for 12mil. We crossed the park and found MT waiting for us outside the church. We went around the corner to a store where Teresa bought hair dye. They went to the beauty shop and I went to Los Portenos where I had a latte.

I left about 11:30 and returned to the apt. Teresa called at 12:45 and asked me to meet her for lunch at El Pastelito which is a small but popular restaurant across from her beauty shop. I asked her to give me 20 minutes. I changed clothes, grabbed some cash and met her at the restaurant. We both had typical Colombian lunches for 28mil. She went across the street for her hair dye job and I walked to the park across from the church to a small bakery where I had a café con leche while waiting for her.

She arrived by 3:30 and had a cup of milk, pastel de guayaba that we shared and a tinto. I saw Michael cross Ave Poblado and pointed him out to Teresa. The bill came to 10,000 pesos.

We left about 4:45 and walked to the other side of the block to La Vaquita supermarket. It was quite busy especially in back in the meat counter. It took about half an hour for Teresa’s turn to come up. I saw a sign with cuts of meat and one included was “goulash” so I asked Teresa about it. She said to go look for macaroni and they had several different type of pasta but not macaroni so we bought fusilli. It was about 5:30 when we left and as we were approaching the church Teresa ducked into a chapel that had a few people already in it and she was there literally a minute before we continued on to the apt.

I found a beef goulash recipe on the internet and copied it to a word file, reorganized it, translated it to Spanish and put it on my USB drive. After all my efforts I’m pretty sure there’s something she’s not going to like about the recipe.

With the Black pieces I drew a game vs ONEIPAMETATO1453 lowering my rating 5 points to 1592. I didn’t really get to play my Czech Pirc defense because of his opening.

 

JUST FUNNY