P-R-O-G-R-E-S-S

OK, all of you word geeks (I have never completed one crossword puzzle in my life, but I remember an Advanced Moment when my sister - a crossword pro - called me in a moment of panic and said, "You're an idiot, but what's a 6-letter word for the clue [opening word]." To which I said without pause, "Sesame" - prompting her not to talk to me for 6 months.) So, with that in mind, I wish to discuss a concept heretofore unknown to Mechapa.....Progress. I can use MicrosoftWord, so I thesaurused it (take it easy there, I am sure that I can use that as a verb) and came up with "the advance of human society: the general advance of human society and industry over time toward a state of greater civilation." Now, if you know me, you immediately realized that I am in a tizzy, an uncomfortable and tenuous state, a cold-sweat panic about the greater implications surrounding one particular thing that prompted my 10-second research into the word Progress....they're finishing the road to Potosi. Normally, I don't think that a road improvement would evoke this sort of reaction from anyone, but this is MECHAPA people! And, as if my worst karmic fears were being realized right before my eyes in the scariest and most efficient form EVER....I've had a couple of guests here who justify my fear of Progress (BTW, have you been watching Justified? It's a television show and they've mentioned Nicaragua 3 times that I'm aware of - fascinating...and it's not just that they've mentioned it in conjunction with a stick of dynamite and a bad guy and a coconut field, but just that they mention it. And the lead star is sort of hot. That too.)
It's not these are baaaaad peeps, but just a bubble off (Mike's old construction term, realizing its full potential in this sense). Just as disturbing is the fact that backpackers are showing up, too (mochilleros, as they are called here - which is sort of cute) in increasing numbers. It's not that I don't like Mochilleros, it's just that they smell sometimes and want to pay $6 a night and have a budget of $7 a day. That's just wrong. You're on vacation, in a foreign land, and you have a pocket-full of coins to support yourself?! Just wrong. Mike and I went on a one night vacation with a friend from New York last week and stayed in the Presidential Suite at a nice hotel down south. Total tab: the equivalent of 128.57 days for Mochilleros. That's the RIGHT way to do it. I don't remember much because 31 days budget was spent on triple vodka drinks, but I have pictures to prove I had fun.
So the road is being built and even though it stops 16 km from our entranceway (preserving my directions of "Go to the end of the road...and then keep going) I still had to hire a new employee for the "afternoon shift." Good Gawd! The Afternoon Shift! Isn't that called Siesta Time?
The big question? Is this road Progress, moving us toward greater civilization, or is it just interefering in a big way with my Sleepy Time? Do I really need greater civilization? What does that really mean, anyway?

You won't believe this, loyal readers, but 2 trucks just pulled up with 8 adults and 4 children (from Managua!) for 3 cabanas. I am here alone, so I am signing out! Progress.....bring it ON!!