2002 - Building an eco adventure lodge

Somewhere along the way we have moved into the second phase – building the lodge facilities. Jim and Jay install a toilet in one of the cabanas to improve living standards a bit. The guys build pathways, five more cabanas and begin the main building. Scott Harrison Viola is born on September 6, 2002. He comes home to live with his mom and his Aunt Renée. I conveniently get myself laid off so that I will be ready for the move to Panama. My severence date gets pushed back several times as other attorneys leave or go on maternity leave. Jim has lost almost 40 pounds on a four-bowl diet and constant construction activities. They eat out of camp bowls for each meal – one at breakfast, one at lunch and two at dinner. Jim and Jay sit around in the dark and debate or come up with ways to solve the world’s problems. As they are sitting outside using a light would attract bugs so they learn all kinds of new skills which may be completed in complete darkness. Eating without actually observing your food, advanced mathematic calculations in their heads, and how to make Spam Pad Thai among other things.