The day before yesterday in the morning I wrote a post about the happenings with the construction above my shop. This is how the shop looked as of that post. I wasn’t super happy about what was happening upstairs, but I was really trying to put on my big-girl pants and deal with it. At least my bougainvillea tree was masking most of the production above.
Then around 11 a.m. – this happened.
Rewind a few days. The bougainvillea was trellised and secured to some posts that were in the space above me. I saw them remove large portions of that and re-attach the tree to the side wall panel which was like paper from all the termites. I pointed out to the workers that this was not going hold, we had to re-secure it elsewhere, which we did. Well, apparently they decided once again to reattach it to that “paper” wall panel, which as I predicted, collapsed from the weight.
After blurting out a few less than pleasant words and “I told you” so comments, I realized I had to just let go and deal with whatever was going to happen. It was a blessing no one got hurt because literally 1 minute before this happened, a woman was browsing the table of goodies I had outside and she had just walked away. The tree is full of thorns that are nearly 2″ long. I don’t even want to imagine what could have happened.
Obviously this Pandora’s box wasn’t going to get any better before it got worse. I went and sat at the restaurant across from me, ordered a nice strong Coca-Cola on the rocks and just watched. It was like watching a Three Stooges episode. It just got worse and worse.
We had to chop a good amount of the tree because obviously there was nothing to tie it up to and with the tree gone, it was even more clear that the roof was barely hanging on. There was one little board (on the left) that was propping up everything. All other wooden beams were completely eaten by the termites.
Collectively, we all decided that the roof had definite potential to become a flying guillotine once the winds pick up here in a few weeks. That the best thing to do is just remove it — for everyone’s safety. 
So at the end of the day…..this what was left of my structure.
Morning vs. Afternoon
By the time they got the roof off, I had totally just exhaled the entire situation. It is what it is. Hopefully now with the roof off – this new tenant who was supposedly starting construction yesterday will look at the project and either think “Screw this! This is too much work!” or he’ll say “Better to wait until after the holidays to take this on.” Hmmmm….I actually wouldn’t mind taking the space over and raising my roof or maybe even making a second story?? A little loft space?
Who knows what’s going to happen with all this. At least as of this morning, the inside of my shop is put together, although they did make a new hole in my ceiling this morning. Hey people pay good money for skylights, I got it for free. (Gritting teeth!!)
This thing is this – and if you’ve ever spend any time in Costa Rica you will recognize the truth in this – Costa Rica is a beautiful country with many things to love about it. But, it’s completely jinxed with it comes to getting anything done be it pay a bill, get a part for your car, place an order for a product, or God forbid, try to get something built or fixed Anything that can go wrong, will and whenever you think the task might be completed — multiple that by a few months! Just bet on that from the beginning and you’ll have no disappointments or frustrations.
The upside?? Hmmmmmm…..how about this. A good friend of mine knowing I was having a less than calming day came by with dark, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate! Now that’s a good friend!!:)
Read the follow-up to this post here.
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