Saturday, April 6, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 9:30, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 4:30, finally waking/getting up at 6:30am.

I received this message from Alicia Matthew on Facebook, “Hello, I know it’s a little weird talking to someone you don’t know, but your personality is adorable and you have a beautiful bright smile. Seeing you in the suggested friend option, I was drawn to your timeline and every message you post is fascinating and worth reading. I will be happy to be your friend and have a friendly conversation with you. I would love to add you so we can be friends, but it would be rude to do so. I hope you don’t mind sending me a friend request. Let’s be friends, best wishes.” Interesting that I’ve received this exact message from “her” before. 😊

At 8:30 I started the Didi request for 7,900 pesos and still arrived 12 minutes early for my 9am haircut appointment. His dog Malu greeted me at the door, I think we’re friends now. During my haircut Daniel announced he’s getting married Friday May 10^th and he’ll be closed from the 8^th to the 20^th. I congratulated him, checked my calendar and my next two haircuts should be on Saturday, May 4^th and June 1^st so his off days shouldn’t affect me.

I took a Didi to Viva Envigado for 9,000 pesos. I printed my airport transfer in Auros after waiting about 15 minutes in line. I withdrew 2,000,000 pesos from an ATM, then paid our cellphone bills in Claro. Downstairs in Urbania I had a latte while working on my cellphone. Oops, I see my Notes on our airport transfer said our flight arrives at 11:45PM instead of AM. ☹  I left at 11:30, bought a few things in Exito before returning to the apt by taxi.

I checked us in online with Avianca and they sent our boarding passes to my email address.

Teresa informed me Kelley was coming over about 2pm to give her a massage. I left at 1:30 and walked to Parva where I had a latte with a pastel de guayaba.

I received a call from an unknown number and reflexively deleted it. (I usually automatically delete numbers with no name in my contacts because it’s usually spam or Claro trying to sell me something.) Then I remembered my brother Jim was having lunch with my cousin David and my goddaughter Jenni. I quickly added the number to my Contacts list and called him back and talked to my cousin and my goddaughter. I know I haven’t been a very good godfather.

A waitress came over and gifted me a snack. I understood it was a combination of bread, cookie and chocolate chips.

I left at 4:15 and bought a large cup of coconut gelato in Antonio’s for Teresa before hurrying back to the apt.

I chatted with someone from Transfers Punta Cana and got my AM/PM mistake corrected. 😊

I’m missing a padlock so I’ll have to buy another one tomorrow in Decathlon and print our Avianca boarding passes in Auros.

The ice maker isn’t working, the chute must be blocked again. I’ll fix it when we return and I’ll probably have to do it in the future every couple months.

I finished reading The Terminal List by Jack Carr on my Kindle.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Friday, April 5, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, fell asleep quickly, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6am.

Teresa will be skipping gym today and heading for the beauty parlor. Depending on timing we may have lunch together at home or I might be on my own.

I completed my workout from 8:45 to 9:45. Today was relatively quiet compared to last Monday, with lots of machines available.

Now Teresa informs me she has a doctor’s appointment at 3:30 in Clinica Medellin then she wants to go to Santafe mall for a waffle with ice cream.

We left at 3:15 and took an Uber to Clinica Medellin for 12,730 pesos. Teresa went inside the office. While I was waiting in the main waiting room a mother and daughter approached and asked me something. I replied, “lo siento. No hablo mucho español.” Teresa called and informed me they were running late and I should go downstairs for coffee. I bought a café con leche in Il Capuccino for 5mil and took a seat.

Teresa came down 20 minutes later and bought a bowl of fresh fruit.

We left and, to beat traffic, we returned to the apt by taxi for 14,700 pesos.

I stopped in Ara and bought a bag of milk and a bag of salt before returning to the apt.

I found Teresa's Claro bill on her phone and sent it to myself so I can pay the bill tomorrow.

Teresa’s already packed for Monday and she helped me get started with my packing.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, fell asleep quickly, woke up at 5am, couldn’t fall back asleep, finally getting up at 5:45.

Btw, I occasionally receive FB (Facebook) friend requests from people I don’t know. If you’re one of my blog readers and want to follow my (boring) life on FB just send me a direct message either there or on my blog and I’ll befriend you.

The Weather Channel is predicting a high today of 76 degrees so I put on pants, shoes and socks, and a t-shirt.

I left the apt at 8:45 and had a café con leche in Parva. Marcos arrived about 9:15 and we talked politics, the NFL draft, exercise and apt rentals. He says he still walks on his treadmill for over an hour but he’s exhausted the rest of the day. I told him he’s abusing his body and he should cut back on that and give himself at least an off day between workouts. I think I finally convinced him. He left at 10am and I left at 11:30.

Teresa decided she wants to change the locks and called a locksmith (Locksmith chapas de puerta in my Contacts and Whatsapp) to make the change. The muchacho was here 5 minutes, changed the deadbolt and gave us 5 keys and the charge was only 140,000 pesos ($37). (I wonder how much this would cost in the US and how long would I have to wait to have it done?)

Teresa informed me her Medipiel package is in the porteria.

I booked an airport transfer to pick us up at the airport and take us to our hotel for $27.

Teresa asked me to bring her a package of cotton balls if I go out.

I left the apt at 2pm and walked to Los Porteños for a latte. It poured off and on while I was there. I had a couple visitors that didn’t mind getting close to me as long as I didn’t make any quick movements.

I read this article about people with green eyes:

Just one reason my eyes are so tired and why I wear sunglasses when I’m out.

Teresa called and asked me to bring her a pan de queso. There was a lull in the rain so I left about 3:30, bought the cotton in Pasteur and bought 2 palitos de queso in Parva. I found when I returned to the apt Teresa wanted pan not palito. ☹ I did bring up her Medipiel package from the porteria so there’s that.

I spent most of the evening switching between CNN, MSNBC News and The Football Network.

I went to bed at 10pm. The next few days I’m going to go to bed earlier each night and hopefully at 8pm Sunday night since we have to get up about 4am on Monday.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, fell asleep quickly, got up twice during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

I forgot to mention yesterday we had a short shower in the afternoon then more rain in the evening and it was still pouring when I went to bed at 10pm.

I completed my workout from 8:30 to 9:30. I inquired at the desk again if anyone had found my keys. I watched the manager go through the junk drawer where there were several sets but none were mine.

We left at 11:30 and took an Uber to Mayorca mall for 9,770 pesos. We checked out a number of outlet stores on the old side looking for a sleeveless t-shirt for me. The first few I rejected because they were polyester. I showed Teresa and the saleslady the tags on the t-shirt I was wearing but they couldn’t find what it was made from. In another store we found a t-shirt that was 100% cotton but I remember having one like that but Teresa never wanted me to wear it. It was just after that I was able to check my tags and my t-shirt was 100% polyester. 😊 We went downstairs and after waiting in a short line I paid the Direct TV bill at a Gana kiosk.

I couldn’t believe, as we were passing a Dunkin Donuts Teresa wanted a chantilly (butter cream) donut. I reminded her we were on our way to lunch. We stopped in Medipiel where Teresa picked out a couple things that were on sale but it seemed to take forever to check out. In the end, one of the two items is going to be delivered by Friday.

We had lunch in Crepes & Waffles. I had the chicken crepe with broccoli and cheese and Teresa had some type of chicken with a side of broccoli. We both had fresh juices and the total was 76,800 pesos.

After, we stopped in DD and shared the donut and I ordered a latte (ugh). The only thing it had going for it was it was HOT.

Downstairs we bought a few things in Exito before returning to the apt by taxi for 16mil.

Today I managed to pay for everything with cash.

Troyclough messed up the endgame and I won on the 52^nd move increasing my rating 5 points to 1558.

I watched more about the upcoming NFL draft on NFL Network on Medellin TV.

It was about 9pm when I noticed it was raining but it had stopped by the time I went to bed at 10pm.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, fell asleep quickly, got up once at 3:15, finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

My right heel was sore from all the walking I did the past 2 days so I took an Advil and it was soon feeling right again.

I took a Didi at 7:30 to Unicentro mall. My drivers spoke good English and we had an interesting conversation. At one point we were behind a truck with an extra license plate that read, “Los Angeles, California, The Golden State”. I arrived just as the mall doors were opening. Jose wanted to make an ATM withdrawal and I was going to do it after so I did it with him.

Parmessano didn’t have the right bread for French toast so I had an egg casserole again. Jose did also only he got his scrambled. I didn’t know you could do that. Next time! My check came to 35mil including a bottle of water to go.

In the food court I did something different and put my cellphone away and concentrated on the games.

I had the Black pieces and on the 19^th move I remember thinking I would have a great position of I could get his knight to move. All I had to do was attack it with a pawn and I would have a winning position. I don’t know why I didn’t see that. I ended up resigning on the 27^th move. ☹

With the White pieces I made a strange 11^th move with a threat he didn’t see. I sacrificed a knight but I thought he made a successful countermove. I looked one move further and saw I could win a piece. By the 17^th move I was up a bishop. At that point he thought he was lost but kept on playing and he eventually resigned on the 49^th move.

It was only 1:15 so I took a Didi to Viva Envigado. My driver had tattoos on both arms and hands including fingers. He had 2 rings in his nose and in his lip. He also had 2 studs in his nearest ear plus I don’t know what else hanging from it. He dropped me off at the entrance near Home Center. I had chicken teriyaki with a limonada de coco in Sarku’s for the first time in a long time

Which was 34,500 pesos including tip.

In Urbania their coffee machine was broken so I couldn’t have a latte so I ordered a tinto with cream and sugar which approximated a Café Americano.

I left about 3:30, bought a couple bags of milk in Exito before returning to the apt.

I watched some NFL Network on Medellin TV.

Teresa returned at 7;15 with chuzos from La Casita Parilla. 😊

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Monday, April 1, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, fell asleep quickly, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:30.

I see my SS deposit so all is good.

It’s now 5:30 in the afternoon and I’m going to try to recall this crazy day.

It was 8:30 when I packed my things in my tech bag for the gym. I remember trying to put the house keys in my pocket but this pair of gym shorts doesn’t have a pocket. Teresa asked me about checking something at the gym and calling her with the result. I reminded her I don’t take my cellphone to the gym. I left and at Smartfit my passcode didn’t work for the 3^rd time in a row. I stopped at the desk to ask what was wrong. She showed me her cellphone where she translated “medical survey”. I asked facetiously if she was a doctor and she showed me another translation “will send by email”. She then told me I could enter. As usual I put my tech bag and sunglasses in a locker and put on the padlock and finished my workout by 9:30. When I returned to the apt I found I had forgotten my keys, probably still on the dining room table.

I sat down on the stairs and waited for Teresa to return; she had mentioned something about going to Mayorca but surely she would shower first. Fifteen minutes later I saw the elevator come up to our floor but it was the neighbor across the hall. Funny, he didn’t seem to notice me sitting there. I watched a number of other trips by the elevator most to the 5^th to 8^th floors. After a good amount of time I decided I would be more comfortable on a sofa in the porteria. I noticed it was 11am as I took a seat and as each minute passed the more I was convinced Teresa was going to Mayorca. Just before noon I thought I remembered her phone number and asked Julio the portero if I could borrow his phone to call Teresa. He checked his contacts and dialed the number. He had it all the time and I could have called her much earlier. ☹

She told me she was in Viva Envigado and she would meet me in Santa Leña. I reminded her again I was in my gym clothes with no cellphone and no cash. I walked to the mall and took a seat in Santa Leña. She arrived a few minutes later and told me she was hungry. I wasn’t really hungry yet but we went across the street to La Bahia and it was packed. We had about a 10-minute wait for a table. I ordered my usual chicken breast and she the chicharron. She gave me 100mil to pay for it and it was 34mil for the two of us. We walked back to the apt and to say I was shocked my keys weren’t on the dining room table would be an understatement but I FINALLY was able to take a shower.

I left the apt and walked to the gym and inquired about my keys. They brought out multiple sets of keys from a drawer but none were mine. I told them I would check again when I return on Wednesday.

Across the street I caught a taxi that took me to the mall. I waited in a short line to withdraw 2 million pesos from an ATM. I paid for the apt quickly but had to wait in line for about 20 minutes to use the consignacion machine. I stopped in Auros and had some hotel confirmations printed. Outside I took a taxi to El Imperio de los Bolsos where I picked up my repaired suitcase. As I was leaving the lady came out and asked if I paid. I told her I paid when I dropped it off. I walked to Parva where I had a café con leche with my usual glass of ice water and for the first time was able to relax a little. I left about 5pm and returned to the apt pulling the suitcase behind me.

Teresa quizzed me pretty well but I still have no idea what happened to the keys. Since they’re not on the kitchen table I must have dropped them when I put or retrieved my tech bag from my locker without hearing or seeing anything. ☹

About 6:30 Teresa informs me she wants to go out to eat. She suggested Olivia’s but not the one here in La Buena Mesa, she wants to go to the one near where Laura stayed in Los Patios. I remembered it was in Manila close to Philly’s Cheesesteak and Ganso y Castor. Then she said it would take too long even though I had checked Waze and it was only 10 minutes. She then wanted Frisby but I was tired of that. She then suggested we go to McDonald’s which we did. She ordered 2 pieces of chicken and fries and a sugar free soda and I a Big Mac combo. (While waiting I counted 16 people working behind the counter, in the kitchen and car pickup area.) When our order was up she was a little upset because she didn’t get the muslo she wanted. She ate her chicken and then tasted my Big Mac and liked it. She asked me to order her a simple cheeseburger which I did for 9,900 pesos. She took one bite then literally tore it in half and gave me half to eat. (She’s been real careful now that she’s got her waist size down.) We left just before 8pm and returned to the apt.

I finally finished my first bottle of Exania, the medicine for my lesions. The stuff is so thick it’s difficult to get out. I’m now working on my 2^nd bottle.

And NO, that was not an April Fools joke.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, fell asleep quickly, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 6:15.

It’s Easter Sunday!

The pavement is wet so obviously we had some rain overnight although I never heard anything.

This morning my thumb feels normal. 😊 Whatever it was, I’m glad it was temporary.

I met Glenn at Olivenza at 9am. We discussed paying with a debit card here and I think I got screwed yesterday. If the “touch payment” option defaults to US dollars it’s to my advantage to always use cash.

I showed Glenn the screenshot that says in the last 3 years the number of Americans collecting SS overseas has increased from 413,000 to 760,000. He commented that people like us won’t be included in that count because SS doesn’t have a foreign address for us.

He's considering changing cardiologists because it’s so hard for him to get response from the one he has now.

He left about 10:45 and I left at 11am.

My iPod worked normally today 😊

Just before 1pm Teresa said she was hungry and asked me to order chicken from Frisby. I did and got an estimated delivery time of 2:15 to 2:30. At 2:15 they cancelled our order and she ended up having one of the leftover ribs.

At 1pm we had a downpour for about 15 minutes.

I watched The Truth vs Alex Jones (7.4) on Medellin TV: it’s hard to believe there are people in this world that are so despicable. ☹ I finished Arlington Road (7.2) then watched Out of Darkness (5.6).

Looking at airport transfers there are taxis that take, and prefer, US dollars and Euros over Dominican pesos. Taxis are for a fixed price but ask before you take one.

I asked google if there are restaurants IN the airport and their response was there are restaurants NEAR the airport so I guess the answer is no.

I guess Teresa got antsy cause she wanted to go somewhere for supper. I asked, “where”, and she came up with Olivia I gave her the phone number but no one answered. Then Otra Parte so I gave her the phone number and no answer.

The hotel Grand Bavaro Princess emailed me a form in Spanish to be filled out for each guest. I did it but it was a pain in the butt.

 

EL ARROYO SIGNS