Progress Report

July 30 - August 4, 2007 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #147

Contact phone numbers

Internet Phone:
New York: 315-279-6711
Toronto: 416-907-5758 // 416-461-2203

Costa Rica:
Cell: 506-305-3965
Land: 506-282-4142 Ext. 101

NOTE: the New York and Toronto numbers are "local calls" for people in the area codes; calls from outside the area code will be billed at the normal rate from the caller's area code to either the "315" or the "416" area code.

NOTE: WHEN I STARTED RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES, I STARTED WRITING A WEEKLY NEWS LETTER—DEETERMINED TO TELL ALL THE GOOD, BAD, AND THE UGLY. I KNEW SOME READERS WERE INTERESTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. OTHERS WERE INTERESTED IN HAVING INSIGHT TO THE LIFESTYLE OF TWO PEOPLE WHO HAD DECIDED TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX. FOR OTHERS, THE ADVENTURES OF LITA, THE PARROT AND THE CAT TOOK ON AN ENTERTAINMENT SAGA ALL ITS OWN.

RESIDENCIAS LOR JARDINES IS FINISHED. WE PERIODICALLY HAVE RESALES AND RENTAL AVAILABILTY. SOME READERS MAY BE INTERESTED IN THIS INFORMATION.

MORE AND MORE, THE CONTENT WILL BE DOMINATED BY EVENTS OF OUR NEW PROJECT, “EL DORADO” FOR SHORT. WHILE THE FUTURE IS ALWAYS UNCERTAIN, I AGAIN AIM TO TELL IT LIKE IT HAPPENS—THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY, AND THAT IS WHAT FOLLOWS:

The STORY: El Dorado: marketing Our Lives: the parrot takes a hike;

Pictures: View the pictures here.

CONSTRUCTION

Short work week: This week had two holidays. Consequently, not a lot got done.

Architect: The schedule of wanted accomplishments listed last week was described as "ambitious" and we did not complete it by any means. Tuesday we go back at it reviewing the designs on two multi unit buildings and their exteriors.

Quebrada: We are continuing and in fact we have decided to extend our original plan. An additional 70 sections of concrete culvert will be delivered this week. We still don't know the fate of our application of 3 mo. ago - typical.

Fence: the location has now been approved by the City.

Web site: I will be reviewing the text I've written and will send the edited version to Argentina where they will begin building the website. I have to give them a lot of content yet which I don't have but at least they can begin outlining the site and we can determine what info. we need and how it will be displayed.

Marketing: We continued to search for a solution: Option 1: to work out an agreement with a local RE company who would work with others and would become in effect, our marketing agent. Option 2: to hire our own person reporting to us and dedicated to marketing our project locally through RE agents, companies, website, local media, etc. Each option has benefits and potential problems. We'll be making our decision this week.

RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

For Sale / for Lease: nothing for sale and beginning Oct. 1, unit 121 is available for lease.

Texas Hold-em: it continues and in fact this week, was held two nights. One of the avid players bought a larger table and wanted to initiate it.

Satellite TV: DISH is on a rampage the last couple days-perhaps to do with it being "Shark Week" on Discovery. They changed the codes 4 times Friday, and so far on Saturday, twice.

OUR LIVES

Weather: mostly clear mornings with overcast afternoons and a short rain followed by clearing.

The parrot takes a hike: Monday evening, Lita got back after dark and when she tried to retrieve the parrot on the poll she uses, it became startled and flew off! We now have a major crisis... we finally found it at the bottom of the property perched on the top coconut palm frond... Lita's pole onto which the parrot climbs, wasn't long enough. After an hour of anguish, she gave up and agreed to retrieve it-hopefully-in the morning. She didn't sleep at all. At 5 am she was up and headed out with a pole. Still being too short, I got a longer pole, he spooked and flew but to a location where we could reach him. He was now ready to return. He needs to go for a wing clipping.

Pericos: the little parrots —Chico and Chica— continue to be great dessert entertainers. Lita brings them out at the end the meal so guests can play with the little guys. They become the focus of attention and hilarity for a while until the begin to fall asleep.

Wendy's has been open now for a week and it's swamped with customers. I still haven't been able to get near the place.

Lita continues to work hard at the gym —or at least she spends a lot of time there.

Brian, Lita, Hairless Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies —Chico and Chica.

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