Last Days

Work It Girl
Group Shot at Peres House
My Entryway
Joanna and Steph at Daycare Center opening

Sorry for not updating the last two days. Last night, I was so tired that I fell asleep between 9 and 9:30pm. I didn't go out with anyone. Liz dropped me off after work, I showered, walked to get some sushi and then came back. My friends here were going out to the French Quarter to meet friends from their house. It was fine because I was too tired to do anything anyway. Friday nights are usually like that for me.

Thursday was a short day. We left a bit early from the site because we had a bash at Ray's Boom Boom Room. I love that name. Dinner of Jumbalaya, some Pasta dish with shrimp and Chicken wings was provided. It was so good yet now I'm okay if I don't have Lousiana fare for awhile. I definitely got my fill of it! The bash was fun because we got to see folks from our house, but others too. Afterward, Cheri and Chris (the sisters) had an appointment at the tattoo parlor down the street to memorialize their time here -- they both got the fleur de lis tattooed on them. We ended up hanging out there while they did it and then on the sidewalk in front for a long time after. One girl that is building on another house is a doctor and so is her husband. He's a surgeon and he was in town for this Congress of Surgeons thing. Anyway, we got talking and I asked him what his specialty was and it's Colo-Rectal. That led into a very interesting and funny discussion. At least the guy has a sense of humor about it! You really should if you're going to be poking your finger in people's rear ends for the rest of your career!

Yesterday was long and tiring. I think we women were all spent. Some people were getting on each other's nerves. Thankfully, I wasn't involved in any of it. The day started off in the master bathroom closet AGAIN. April and Liz were going to help, but April got frustrated due to not being able to persuade us to see her point of view. Then Liz left and I was left to do the finishing up with a newbie who had never done drywall before. So, I was able to be a drywall instructor! Yee ha.

At lunch, we all went over to a daycare center's grand opening. I have photos posted on Flickr. These kids were so adorable. They had uniforms at this place and they were really nice. The homeowners made us authentic New Orleans food and it was delicious. I tried a Muffaletta and it was alright. I even tried some hogshead cheese on cracker. It wasn't as awful as it sounds.

I was about in tears when I thought I would never finish the bathroom drywall, but I did! I was so thankful that I could feel some sort of accomplishment there - to see the fruit of my labor for real! I know the next team will do the next phase and the house will be well on its way to getting done. I think maybe just a couple more weeks! I am posting a photo of Melissa Peres and her son Logan so you can see who this work is benefitting. I got to speak to them for awhile yesterday and it was interesting to hear the story of how they evacuated. The whole family left together. At one point, 34 people were in one place. Can you imagine?

Melissa Peres and Logan

Anyway, this week has been so much fun and I have felt so empowered and useful. I can't wait to get back to Charlotte and start volunteering with Habitat on the weekends. I'm also mentally thinking of when I can come down to St. Bernard Parish next. Any takers????

Next t-shirt idea: "I love drywall"

Well, that certainly would be a better t-shirt slogan than "i love to screw". Ha! Sorry, I just had to type that. I'm usually G rated so forgive me.

Today started out with a 6:30am walk with Joanne to Starbucks for a latte. I had to 1. get caffeine and 2. get some exercise. I know my arms and shoulders are getting toned, but I needed to walk and get the heart pumping. It was fun getting to know her better. She's really funny. We walked and talked and admired the gorgeous homes of the Garden District here. So beautiful. It reminds me of Charleston, SC. Old money and old mansions.

So, today at the Peres house we got the entry way drywall completed. Tomorrow, Ginger and I will be finishing off the other closet in the master bath. Towards the end of the day, we started another ceiling. I hate doing ceilings. Physically, they are the most challenging due to the fact that your arms are extended above your head most of the time either measuring, holding up the drywall,or screwing (haha).

Today I worked with Carolyn and April. April had originally been scheduled to work with Habitat's Musician's Village, but they had so many volunteers and very little organization/supervision. So she left and came back to Peres house. The three of us worked pretty well together. I think April and I bonded over the fact that we like to do this stuff right -- not just so so, but really well.

Melissa Peres' sister brought us croissants with turkey and ham today for lunch. What a sweet gesture. She was really appreciative of what we are doing for her sister. This woman lives in the other FEMA trailer in front of her mom's house. She's in there with a husband and 2 little boys.

So, we had a good time working today (or at least I did). I find myself to be the silly one of the group. I like to make jokes or make people laugh. Big surprise to those of you who know me.

(OH, let me tell you that Ginger brings Coke Zero in a cooler and now she knows I love it and she's always offering it to me. I love her for this.)

Ginger again took me home and I got a hot shower at the Guest House finally. At first, I thought it wasn't going to happen because I got in when it was cool and then the water pressure just went kapoot. Nothing. Then all of a sudden it came back....and hot and with a vengeance. I stayed in for awhile just because I needed to savor it in case it wouldn't happen again soon.

Tonight, we're heading to the French Quarter for dinner, beignets and a little shopping. I am excited. I can't come here without seeing it.

Sorry for not calling some of you. I am usually so tired at the end of my days here...

Getting into the groove

So, today was a better day than yesterday. Today I worked with two other women all day -- Ginger and Carol. We really worked well together and got this one closet completely drywalled. The moment we walked in, we had a big task ahead. Two girls were at our house yesterday and seemed to really know what they were doing. Well, they didn't come back today and we had to fix some of their drywall mistakes. I know we're volunteers and our work is not professional grade by any means, but I try to remind myself that I want to do as good of a job as I would want to do on my own house. That means, I want to do it right. I don't want to cut corners. Even one of the women I was working with kept saying things like "the mud will cover it" or "that's what the tape is for."

I felt more confident today. I don't know if I mentioned this in yesterday's post, but I got separated from my group the first day. There are 4 other women who are staying at the same B&B and we kind of hang out when we're not working. Well, the first day I decided to get a ride to the office with Randolph. He's 60 and a former criminal prosecutor in Philly. He retired a couple of years ago and decided that he wanted to do more than just hit the gym every day of the week and travel to see family. So, he's here. Anyway, he's really nice and he always remembers my name. Okay, back to my sob story. I got there before my friends on Monday. So, I registered and got my assignment. Well, about 30 minutes later, my friends show up and they get assigned to another house. Problem: I don't have a ride. While I was waiting for orientation to begin, I walked over to Liz and we realized we were assigned to the same house. So, we rode together. I felt a little sad not being with the others. They came back last night talking about how much fun they had, how cute their site supervisor was and blah blah blah. Well, I was okay with my group, but I didn't have THAT much fun.

Today was different. I really enjoyed being at my house. I feel independent and okay with myself and my surroundings. The work was good today and I'm getting more comfortable with the drill :) and the keyhole saw and the shaver and sheetrock in general.

Ginger has brought me home two nights in a row. She's given me tours of parts of town both days. Yesterday we drove through the project and today she took me through the Garden District. She's a great tour guide and I feel like I've learned a lot on our drives home. She is very kind and has offered to do my laundry and let me take a hot shower. I've had one hot shower since I've arrived and the warm water took about ten minutes to arrive. Uggh. But I keep telling myself that I have a lot to be thankful for and that putting up with a cold shower...or three is not the worst thing in the world. God has blessed me with many many things and I can put up with a little discomfort.

Tonight, we talked to Dennis Hilton, the owner of this fine establishment, for awhile. What a nice man! He's got a housekeeper here who lost everything in the storm. She works and lives here. He is actively trying to help her find housing, but the rents have more than doubled and she doesn't make enough money to even get a Habitat House. An interesting thing that happened today was that I had to sit through a 2nd orientation because I had to wait for a ride. So, all the people who came just today had to get the same talk as I did yesterday, BUT some new information was given today. Zack was telling us that their next big project is to build some Senior apartments and rent them out for about the same rent as before the storm. So, when Dennis was telling us about Ruby tonight I was like "I know who you can talk to!!!" I don't think it was a coincidence at all that I heard that information. Sweet Ruby. She deserves to have a home. She is a kind lady who sits in the breakfast room just listening to all of us chatter on about our experiences of the previous day.

I am tired so I better wrap this up. Thanks to all of you who are reading this, praying for me and sending me e-mails, text messages, etc. I feel very loved and cared for. I miss you and can't wait to see and talk to you all soon.

This is it...

It's almost 9:30pm Saturday. I wanted to be in bed by 9pm so I guess I'm doing okay...
My alarm is set fo 4:15am. Isn't that disgusting? Uggh. I am really not looking forward to that. Then I have something else to look forward to -- 4 hours in the Atlanta airport! Yeee ha. :)

The next time I post, I'll either a) be in the airport wasting time or b) in my room in N.O.

I am getting a little anxious along with excited. I really want this to be a great trip and I just hope it all goes smoothly.

I have my work gloves, measuring tape, air masks, sturdy shoes, rain poncho, ballcap, and plenty of old tees to wear! I'm up to the task and I'm ready to get in there and get dirrrty. :)

Keep me in your thoughts (and if you pray) and prayers. Pray for safety, fun, friendships, good conversations and for opportunities to relate and listen to the people in St. Bernard Parish. I am so happy I get to be a part of these folks getting back into their homes.

Until tomorrow....