Progress Report
Jun 13-19 , 2005 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #36
Contact phone numbers
Internet Phone:
New York 315-279-6711 // Toronto 416-907-5758
Costa Rica:
Cell 506-305-3965 // Land 506-282-0910
Pictures: 4 of unit 107.
CONSTRUCTION
Permit: SENTENA has asked for more information. We
are still trying to assess what it is they are
requesting but it seems to have to do with solid waste
management and rainwater management. They seem to
want a sworn statement that we will not commit 7
deadly sins against the environment -we just have to
figure out what the sins are that we are not going to
commit. The architect is working on it. We wait.
Roadways: curbs continued. We are about 65% done.
When completed, we will get quotes on three different
types of finishes -cement pavers, asphalt, and
patterned concrete. There are advantages and
disadvantages to each.
Unit 107: work continued. The installation of
roofing tiles has commenced, interior boarding and
taping are substantially finished. Windows should be
ordered this next week and the exterior started on
it's finish stucco coating. All the finishing
decisions have been made and many of the materials
secured or ordered.
OUR LIVES
The trip back was long -three connections- but
uneventful. We arrive to a floating boat with lights
on and once we found things we had left to pick up on
our return, we were fine.
It took a day to work out snags -the phone connection
had corroded badly so that had to be repaired; the
car battery was dead, license plate expired, insurance
expired, emissions test required, etc. Fortunately,
a friend lent me his car to get started.
It is certainly nice reconnecting with friends -marina friends and others-. They know about our
lives through my logs although they have not lived
our lives so only a cognitive knowledge, no
experiential basis to relate -hopefully, that will
come in the future. One of our friends just ran his
new boat onto a reef -10' off course in Georgian Bay
did it -boat and granite don't mix-granite wins every
time; his pride and his wallet are hurting but he and
the others are in great spirits.
ACTS OF KINDNESS: I have to comment on three
incidents I found wonderful and different: In
Cleveland, on two occasions my wife (blind) had to use
the washrooms -in each case, I was directing her as
best I could from the entrance when each of two women
offered to help guide her. Wow!!! was I impressed,
relieved, and thankful. Twice this happened. Thanks
to those women; thanks to Cleveland... The third
incident happened to 4 friends who lost their boat in
the middle of Georgian Bay -once on dry land, were
offered the keys to an SUV from someone they did not
know. This allowed them to return from nowhereville to
Toronto. How wonderful in each of the three cases.
Such things re-energize my faith.
The heat wave which enveloped Toronto before we
arrived has dissipated. We've needed a heater several
nights and sweatshirts during the day -the Canadian
"summer".
It's good to eat some Canadian steak and some other
favorites but none entice us to return. Even though
there are often line ups here for services, the
country is more efficient than CR. Efficiency,
however, comes with a high price tag. It's certainly
more expensive here ($7 for 35 min. of parking). I've
spent a substantial portion of my time researching /
renewing insurance policies -$3,000 for home
insurance- (not a big issue in CR), car license
renewal and pollution emissions test (same as in CR),
doctors and medication (so far, efficient and
accessible but the process isn't over yet) same as in
CR; disability insurance claim -one company claims not
to have a document ) reminds me of CR -so we play the
game. My internet connection system here is archaic
(slow dial up and unreliable connectivity but I'm at a
marina) -I love the high speed wireless system in CR.
Construction is rampant, detours and rough
streets -reminds me of CR.
Lita saw her son and grand daughter. That will happen
a few more times but it isn't enough to entice her;
she misses her parrot, the dog, the cat, her physical
fitness regime, yelling at the gardener that his
coffee is ready, her girlfriends in CR, etc. She
purchased a replacement karaoke machine and is
swearing at it now as she learns how to use it...
We'll be making plans this next week for our return.
We still have a list of things to attend to including
dealing with a big tax ticket -I expect it to be my
last big one in this country -out of control taxes
and costs have driven me to CR and the weather and
lifestyle there have pulled me at the same time.
Brian, Lita, lonely Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot.
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