Monkey Business

Today is a rainy day (and by rainy I mean torrential down pour not unlike the scene in Karate Kid II when Mr. Miagi saves his enemy from being trapped under that log and Daniel Son rescues the little girl from the watch tower), which is a relief.  We’ve been working tirelessly getting ready to open the beach club this week and it’s been extremely hot and sticky.  In fact, we’ve been working so hard that the other night Jameson and I went to bed at 8:45.  I haven’t done that since 2^nd grade.  It was awesome until Jameson woke up for the day at 2:30am. 

 So not to toot our horn too loudly, but I’m really impressed with what we’ve been able to accomplish given our lack of resources, time & manpower.   The other day as I was walking back from another drippy day working on the most beautiful beach in Panama (cue the violins), I saw 2 monkeys swinging in the canopy.  It looked like they were playing a slow motion game of tag.  One monkey would lazily swing from one tree to another and look back tauntingly to the second.  The second monkey would stare back trying to decide if it was too much work to go after his friend.  Then the first monkey would swing back and poke his friend until he got up and resumed the game.

 This little display of monkeys being monkeys was like a micro version of what it’s like working in a third world country: Nobody’s quite sure where they’re going or how to get there, there’s no such thing as a timeline, you have to “poke” at least 5 people to get what you need and when you get it, it’s broken and wont be fixed for a few days or weeks.  It’s frustrating, but it’s forcing us to be creative and do things the old fashion way – lots of patience, sweat and elbow grease.   I do, however, have to give a lot if not most of the credit to the 10 Panamanians who helped us for days, cutting down the jungle with machetes and bare hands and taking direction in broken Spanish from 2 gringos who are clearly out of their element.   So thanks guys, if you ever get on a computer and read this.

 We’ve named our little project Palma de Roca (Palm of the Rock for those of you who don’t habla espanol (which is speak Spanish for those of who don’t know anything)) after a little rock formation with a palm tree sprouting from it that marks the entrance to our place from the beach.   The whole thing is coming together and as soon as we get our liquor license (and Jameson and I take some bar tending lessons) we’ll be ready to go!

 We’re working hard, but don’t feel bad for us, we’re also having a lot of fun.  Last night, after a long day of snorkeling and spear fishing, Jameson and a guy named Dan put on a concert for some of the investors.  Is it just me or is Jameson the hottest guy on the planet?  I seem to remember that every time he picks up the guitar and gives a proper performance.  And in a few weeks they are sending us to do more “research” in the highlands of Panama where there’s a volcano and a huge zip line.  This is a once in a lifetime chance and we feel very blessed to be here having this experience. 

 I love and miss you all.  I heard the weather is starting to get a little crispy at home and the leaves are changing colors.  This is my favorite time of year and I’m sad to be missing it, but I hope you’re all enjoying it for me.  Stay safe and happy! 

One quick Jameson moment and then I have to go.  The other day Jameson was walking to the market in Bocas Town when an older man approached him.  This guy had skin like drying tar, black and wrinkly and eyes to match with filmy whites.  He was also missing a few teeth, which could have been the reason for the following misunderstanding, but I don’t think so.  He handed Jameson a live crab and said it was for him.  Jameson, assuming this gentleman had selected him to set this poor little crab free to scuttle along the sea floor with his crabby friends, bent down to the water and released it back into the wild.  When Jameson stood back up the old man looking very confused and a little shocked asked if there was something wrong with the crab.  Jameson realizing that this man was not wild life conservationist, but just a guy looking to make a buck started to apologize and told him he didn’t know how to cook crab.  The old man blurted out a high-pitched crackly laugh and said, “Agua caliente!”  (If you don’t know that one, ask a friend).