Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas!

I am so glad that I kept a journal throughout the trip because there is no way I would have remembered all of the experiences we had. New food and new people are just part of it. The culture and way of life is so different from what I am used to. It has been so much fun being able to talk to friends and family about New Orleans. It is amazing how much can be learned from just 6 days.

In those 6 days we can't say that we rebuilt a town, restored a community, or even put up a house. What we can say though, is that we helped. Hundreds of people, at Camp Hope alone, help do all of those things everyday. It has really been a blessing to be a part of something much bigger than just myself. New Orleans really does need all of the help out there.

-Lindsey

Home

The word of the day is home, because we are finally home and boy does it feel good to take hot showers and have clean laundry. But more than that, home brings the holidays and the great fortune that I have been blessed with. As I spend time with my family, over meals and presents, I can't help but think of those in New Orleans who have yet to be able to go HOME. In New Orleans we helped build homes, so that some people will be able to have something to call their own again, but I believe that we did more than that. We brought hope to those who saw us working on and in their beloved city and we also bring home with us awareness that we can share with others way here up north so that they too can know of the devastation and be moved to do something about it.
This trip was a wonderful experience for me, one that I can't wait to do again next year. To wrap up this blog and the experience of our trip in general, I just want to leave all of you readers with some awareness of the situation many in our Christian or even just humanly community are facing. I urge and challenge you all to act upon the feeling you experience to want to help, anything, no matter how small, will be something to those people. Be it your money, your time, or even just your prayers, these people need whatever you can share.
God Bless,
Tonya

Monday, December 24, 2007

All good things must come to an end. . .

I’ve been back home for about 24 hours now and for the most part, I’ve not been able to stop thinking about the wonderful city that now has a small part of my heart. I think about what we did while we were there, did twelve kids from Ohio who insulated a few houses, helped with roofing, and put up siding really make a difference on the whole? I think about what lies ahead for the city, will the culture and history of that city someday be back? I think about what is needed to bring the people back, will the new homes of the lower ninth ward be enough to bring the people back?

The answers to those questions can only be answered in time, but for now, for me, it is enough to hope that one day New Orleans will be remembered not for the destruction and pain that it still encompasses, but for the love, respect, and strength which fills the hearts of those who are there.

My time in New Orleans, as short as it was, was an amazing experience that I will never forget. It taught me a lot about faith in other people, faith in God, and faith in one’s self. The people that I met there, citizens of New Orleans, Americorps volunteers, and Habitat volunteers have all changed me and the way I view not only that city, but the world in one way or another. The experience, as trying and difficult and frustrating as it was for me at times, is something that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I can’t seem to find the right kinds of words to accurately say how amazing this trip was or how appreciative I am to have been able to experience it.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Fin

That's right folks: the trip is over. Most of us are home, taking warm showers, and wishing for a white Christmas at last.

I think Katie said it best when she said the end was bittersweet. Quite honestly, if it weren't for the holidays, I could spend weeks more working away. On the drive home I vowed to stay awake until we crossed the lake... my heart ached to see the city go.

Over the course of the trip I took the role of unofficial tour guide (a part that was sometimes fun and sometimes frustrating to play) and it only made me realize all the more that my heart is with New Orleans. It's hard in such a short time to not only give cursory details ("This is where we are...") but also try to express the social and political situation in New Orleans. I hope that somehow I gave some understanding to the others on the trip-- that they were touched by what they were doing. We weren't just working on Habitat houses; we were working in New Orleans. How the heck was I supposed to explain the history of the city, the demographics, the attitudes, the culture-- anything worthwhile-- in those brief car rides? As someone who likes to think she's got some way with words, it's hard for me to not be able to express just how I feel about Nawlins.

I miss it all... the sights... the sounds... the food (Po Boys, jambalaya, gumbo, seafood, oh my)... the feeling you get after a hard day's work... the accents... the people... the architecture (if only we could have done to the Garden District... or could have seen the French Quarter during the day!)...

I was already planning on heading back over Spring Break and now I'm counting down the days. Some people on the trip asked me why I didn't just move down there; at the time I laughed it off, but now I'm starting to realize that they were genuinely asking and a little part of me is ever so tempted. With graduation rushing my way this May, it's just about the best time in my life to do something like that. Who knows what the future holds?

With this I bid adieu to blogging and I'm going to help myself so some of my homemade attempts at Cafe Du Monde's coffee with chicory and beignets (aka square funnel cakes). The trip may be over, but I'll be darned if I couldn't bring a little New Orleans home with me!

--LeeAnne

Saturday, December 22, 2007

We're back!

Our (very exhausted) van full of people and sleeping bags and suitcases pulled into the Marbeck Center parking lot at 10:30 p.m. Saturday night safe and sound. A highlight of the trip for this driver was getting to play Cash Cab with the interior dimmer and dome lights. Too bad the group couldn't come up with the name of the current U.S. Secretary of Education - otherwise they would have arrived at their destination as winners!

More photos to come later - in the meanwhile there is a hot shower and a non-bunked bed waiting with my name on them. Good night to all!

Late Night Recap...

I think it is time to give a recap of what I have found/been up to the past couple of days. Unlike most of the rest of the group I have been laying shingles on a roof for the past several days. I got a good tan on Wednesday and then the past two days it has been kind of rainy or moist. We got an entire roof done in 3 days despite the weather and supply issues. One thing that has come out of this is that I have also met a different group of people than the others. While the rest of the group has developed a friendship with the Texans I have actually struck up a good friendship with a group of people from (go figure) Columbus, Ohio. At this time I'd like to take a minute to say Hello to Cynthia Fruth. Your son tells me you found out about this blog and are probably reading it. I have enjoyed spending several evenings with this group of people. Last night that even ended up resulting in a 2 hour discussion on our beliefs as it pertains to our Christian faiths. While this was an amazing experience, it kept me up till 1 a.m. when I had to be up at 6:30 a.m. I have been pretty tired today as a result but with a long van ride ahead in the morning I'm not too worried.

God Bless,
Phil

Friday, December 21, 2007

Bittersweet

Bittersweet is my word of the day. In the women's room this morning I announced that it was the last day at 6am in an upbeat tone. I feel like bittersweet was the emotion that fell onto everyone in the room. It is sad that we only have one more work day left. We will wonder if we made a difference? Yesterday's rain put a delay on many projects around the village, but still work was completed. No we weren't able to finish siding the one side of a house, but our group was able to complete three or four more rows...we are almost there! So yes, I believe we did make a difference. Although, I believe it is only a small difference compared to what needs to happen in the future. (If you are looking for a service trip in the next few years, please consider the gulf coast! There is so much deconstruction and construction that still needs to happen to bring people back to their homes.) It is exciting to know that we will be returning to Bluffton tomorrow. With Christmas right around the corner, I am ready to spend time with my family and friends. What a wonderful trip this has been!
I leave you now so I can go catch some breakfast before we pull the van out at 7am! :)
Katie

Thursday, December 20, 2007

The music will play again...

So it's pretty clear that we've been working in Musician's Village (or "Magician's Village" as Dan likes to call it) and the general consensus is that it is a good time (albeit painful and sometimes wet). At orientation Mike told us about the vision for the village... the free, public music center... the musicians in the streets... and he said something that really stuck: They just don't play music in the neighborhoods like they used to. We'd like to think that what little insulation we're putting in is one step closer to making that a reality once more.

We took a stroll around the greater 9th yesterday (we'd discuss the lower 9th, but people have pretty much covered that) and it was so quiet. Even now houses are abandoned and falling apart-- in total disrepair. It's sad and moving, but all the more motivation to bring the music back.

Last night we hit up the French Quarter... We were probably the only group that knew what we were doing because of LeeAnne (even then with a few detours!). We ate Po-Boys! Oh my goodness, were they gooooood. Not just good, deeeeeeeeeeelicious. Gotta love Nawlins' food! We also did a lot of shopping (Melisa spent half of her life on Christmas presents) and general sightseeing. It was really neat to see the quarter during the holidays. It's Christmas here, too!

It's unbelievable that it's already Thursday. Somehow the days seem so long AND fly by all at the same time. Sometimes it's hard to remember that what we're doing is worthwhile, but just a little thank-you sure puts things in perspective. Whether painting at camp or working on a new home, every bit of work benefits someone down the line that will work to bring the real New Orleans back.

This is obviously a little deeper than our last post, but shucks, all this service sure has that effect on some people. ;) Enjoy your last few days before Christmas... we'll be back soon!

--Melisa & LeeAnne

Backseat Dialogue #2

We are now professional insulation installers. We have had two wonderful days of stuffing insulation and caging it in with masses of attacking chicken wire. Throughout the two days there are a number of quality lessons we have learned.

#1- Fiber glass makes your shirt shiny
#2- The combination of fiber glass and sand up your nose makes your boogers glitter.
#3- Wear gloves while working if you don't want to look like a self-mutilator.
#4- Crawling/hanging out under houses is really a very enjoyable experience.
#5- Shannon is a rock magnet.
#6- Not even the underside of a house is dry during a rainstorm.
#7- The quickest way to get everyone out from under the house is to find a huge dead rat.

Last night we had the privilege of livin' it up in the French Quarter. We began the evening at a fabulous seafood restaurant where only 1 out of 5 people actually liked seafood. However, the restaurant - the Bubble Gum Shrimp Company - had totally sweet atmosphere. Forest Gump was playing on the TV's, there were quotes on the tables, ping pong paddle menus, and even a roulette wheel. (Which Taasha just happened to guess the winning number for.)

After dinner we explored Bourbon Street. The first store we went into was a Voodoo store (which were all over). While our curiosity pulled us in, most of us left just a bit creeped out. Also while traveling down Bourbon Street Teresa was approached by a drunk guy who insisted on giving her "dancing" lesson which she gratefully accepted and proceeded to go to a hotel room. (Just kidding about the whole accepting part. She walked a lot faster...)

To wrap the evening up we spent some quality time relaxing by a body of water... probably the Mississippi.

Also, after spending the entire evening in search of some quality ice cream, we finally found a Walgreens. This was comparable to heaven for us with its large variety of wonderfully tasty ice cream. We bought a couple pints to share and enjoyed the creamy goodness as we waited for Ma, Pa, and the rest of the clan to take us home.

Today we arrived back at camp very early! We got rained out. Ok- we didn't just get rained out, we got POURED out. We were wet... very wet, and our wonderful van drivers were no where to be found! So we stood outside the van, in the rain, for what seemed like forever and a day. While getting wet we got to talk with one of the residents of Musicians Villiage. He stood out in the rain with us for a while and said, "Well, if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em." We liked him. He was cool.

So here we are... sitting in our construction site (Camp Hope), wondering if we're doing anything tonight, and enjoying being above the floor instead of below it.

With sincere regards,
Teresa, Shannon, and Kelsey

What A Day....

Yesterday was a bunch of fun! We got to build in Musicians Village for Habitat for Humanity. The Village looks like it is going to be a really neat place to live once it is all completed. All of the houses have been painted different colors and many of them are very bright. When we got there we got our orientation. The man that led it was a true New Orlian. He had an obvious passion for the work he was doing. We got our assignments and we were off. The group that I was with had to staple mesh to the undersides of houses to keep the insulation from falling down. My knees are, needless to say, quite sore. After a hard day of work we were off to see the Lower 9th Ward. The destruction there was incredible. We got to see Brad Pitt's vision for the future of the Lower 9th, which seemed to us to be not worth it. The models for the houses were very modern and wierd looking, but I guess donated time and money cannot really be frowned too much upon. After cold showers and fresh clothes we were off to the French Quarter for some sight seeing. Getting to see the city was life was a good time. People watching was quite interesting. For dinner a few of us got Po-Boys and seafood gumbo. The best meal so far!

Today, after struggling out of bed, back to Musicians Village we went. This time we were going to get to put up trusses, oh wait, they decided that they already had enough help for that and so we were back to putting up mesh. This time we added installing insulation to our resume. The rain had started in the morning, but it was only a light sprinkle so work continued as usual. Then the rain really came down. After thunder was heard we were instructed to pack up and head out. So, we did just that. Lugging ladders and tools to the containers is normally an easy task, but when it is pouring down rain and everything is slick the task is much more difficult. All but 3 of our group headed out to the van to leave, but without a key. Eh, we can wait... so we waited. And waited. Finally a search party went back to the site to find a key and the rest of our group. I went ahead and found them and a key so we could now sit in a nice warm van.

Showers and a couple peanut butter sandwiches later we are all feeling a little better :)

-Lindsey

Stairs. . .

So today was our second day in the musician's village helping rebuild the wonderfully colored homes.

We went to the lower 9th ward yesterday afternoon after working and it was really moving to see steps that lead to nowhere, but then realize that those exact same stairs used to lead to someone's front porch, neighbors and family members were welcomed on those steps, children and grandchildren were brought home using those stairs. It's crazy. We could look to the side and see the levies that broke and flooded the area and could only imagine the area with water so high it covered our heads like 3-fold. People's lives were essentially washed away in no time at all. It's so easy these days to forget about the help that people still need here, we think, "Oh, it's been two and half years, I'm sure people are back up on their feet by now." But really, they're not. People are still living in FEMA trailers. People are just now moving back into the city. People are still trying get their lives back together, but it's hard.

I worked yesterday with a future H4H home-owner from the city. It was really interesting to sit down and talk with him about what he did before, during, and after the storm hit. His story is amazing and it gives me hope that one day, someday, while this area will never be the same, that the area could be better than ever, with a new spirit of resiliance and pride.

New blogs are coming from everyone else, so I'll stop here so you can read what they have to say.

Sending NOLA love,
Tasha

Wet..

Mark B Wet is the word of the day, just for you. The past two days sure have been crazy. Last night in the French Quarter was lots of fun, I am a little sad that now I have been to New Orleans twice in my life (last year's soul trip and this one of course) and I have still never seen the French Quarter in the day light. I hear that the buildings and architecture there is incredible, I wouldn't know though.

Today we worked at Muscian's Village again. It was a pretty productive day of putting in insulation underneath the house and securing it with "chicken wire". After two days of that (as well as my time spent doing the same thing after the flood in Ottawa) I am thinking I should take up the insulating profession, I sure know how to do it. It rained most of the day today which was fine since most of us were under a house and dry but after a while the rain got to be too much and the Habitat staff decided it was quitting time. Dan, Katie, and Phil (as well as the keys) were working inside houses securing some last minute things while the rest of us, unaware of their whereabouts, stood outside of the van in the pouring rain for at least 15 minutes. We were all completely miserable and complaining but after we got ahold of the keys and got in the van I sat there and realized that what we were going through was nothing. Standing outside in rain, even being soaked, was nothing compared to what the Katrina victims went through during the storm.

This trip has really helped to paint a new perspective on life for me as I see the massive devastation that is still present. Up in Ohio, I knew that things were bad down here but I had know idea what bad really was. It is unbelievable the way things still look down here and its making me wish I could stay here longer and do more.

Until later...
Tonya

Blessed

So I keep having these negative thoughts run through my head...
I'm so tired - My feet hurt - My neck is stiff - I hate cold showers
...but I just remind myself that I am so blessed. I am blessed to have the opportunity to spend a week in the Gulf working on hurricane relief. I am blessed to be physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy to be able to do the work that many wish they could do. I am thankful to God, my family, and friends for supporting me through this journey to assist others in need (especially during the holiday season).

Today is DAY #3 of work days...we will be headed out to the Musician's Village again in about a half hour (must keep this short so I can go eat some breakfast before the van pulls out). I am excited because I believe that I will be working with the same group of individuals (Dan, Erin, and Gail...the women are not a part of our Bluffton group) to put siding on a house. I can't wait to finish the one side that we started working on yesterday...I feel such a great sense of accomplishment when I stand back at the end of the day to see all the progress we have made on one family's home. I am excited to head off to the work site today!

Katie

Wednesday's photos for you!

Phil working on the roof in the Musican's village.
This is the Make it Right project in the Lower 9th Ward - Brad Pitt has been doing a lot of work on rebuilding this area and it's open for tours to see what the plans are.A lovely evening at the Riverwalk and French Quarter. Pictured: Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

1/2 Way

So we're 1/2 way through the trip--i.e. we've worked two days and have two more days of work to do (hence the title of this post).

I feel like I've been learning a lot more about what happened down here two years ago when Katrina hit. I really wish I could know more! I can actually remember when I heard about the hurricane... It was the first semester of my freshman year at Bluffton. I had no idea what was going on because I never saw news--I was totally in the "Bluffton bubble." I just remember passing by the bigscreen in Bob's one morning as I was getting breakfast and seeing CNN reports on the hurricane. I never realized what a huge deal this was. This was not just a hurricane, but one of the worst disasters ever experienced by this nation.

Today we were working out "in the field" for the first time. After we had finished our projects for the day (siding, insulation, + roofing),we drove around just a little bit in the area. Seeing all of the dilapidated houses, still abandoned, was...surreal. It was odd to be in this place, feeling almost like a tourist, looking around at the misery experienced by people with whom two years earlier I had no connection whatsoever. For not having any "connection," I was surprised at how moved I felt looking around at the houses (and empty lots where houses once stood--especially while going through the lower 9th ward). It is hard to imagine what this city once was, and hard to imagine what will become of these places. I find hope in the bright and fresh homes that we were working on today in the Habitat community. I pray it is bringing hope back to these people whose lives have been so dramatically impacted.

Well, we are all tired and should be resting for work tomorrow, so "wiederschreiben."

JM

Late Night Fun!

I'm sure everyone else is filling you in on a lot of information so I'll keep it short.

So after a long day of working at fixing a ceiling, sweeping floors, and finally painting my calves are sore. Despite this I am ready to go and excited for another day of fun and work. I had a little different night than almost everyone else in the group tonight. I split from the group and hung out with another group from Columbus that is down here. We worked with them a bit today and they were playing a board game that I had heard of at Bluffton, so I joined them and learned how to play. It ended up keeping me up late and so here I am blogging well after I should have been to bed. I look forward to another long exhausting day tomorrow.

Good Night and God Bless,
Phil Birkey

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Tuesday night updates

Miscellaneous other things/photos of interest:

Tomorrow we work at the Musician's Village. We're on the road by 7 a.m. (8 a.m. eastern).

Thursday night we'll visit the French Quarter and Jackson Square area during the evening.

Kelsey hanging a drop ceiling:

Three bloggers blogging...
Tuesday night Dutch Blitz fun in the dining hall:

Backseat Dialogue #1

It all began... with a lot of snow.

What do you do when you're snowed in? Play in it (the snow), bake cookies, play dutch blitz, and burn pancakes. (Kelsey: That still taste AWSOME.)

After all of these thrilling activities, the backseat buddies piled into Shaniqua (A friendly name for our van with a big butt), and OFF WE WENT on an even more thrilling drive to New Orleans.

Just like every seasoned road tripper, the backseat buddies never slept. Instead, we sang loud songs, taught Tree euchre, read children's books, and talked... a LOT.

Alabama was especially exciting.
Kelsey: "Look guys! It's Alabama. The COOLEST people are from Alabama! There are trees in Alabama!!! Let's take pictures!!!" (And she did take pictures of trees and meaningless roads.) In all reality, Alabama was not all that intriguing.

A backseat favorite was in Louisiana. A rickety bridge going across "some lake" was our only route to Camp Hope. From that backseat, this bridge was magically transformed into a stomach churning amusement park ride. The slightest bump threw us up for a padded head knock on the top of Shaniqua. Over and over and over again we bopped up and down. And yes, it is true, up to this point the rickety bridge was the highlight.

After getting slightly lost, we eventually made it to Camp Hope. First impressions are not always the best. Outlined with barbed wire fencing, gaured with two security gaurds (ok- so they were a 60 year old man and a middle aged woman...), people seeming to walk around aimlessly, and a soft dreary looking light, we feared our time would be spent in a prison. (Don't worry- it isn't. It's just a school. But that's close enough anyway.)

Thanks to the sly working or our "wheelchair" bound friend (Kelsey) the ladies got a room all to ourselves! (Very special treatment, which is slightly humorous because Kelsey no longer even uses crutches.)

Day Number 1:
The day began with us piling back into Shaniqua on our way to our assigned destination. We pulled out of the parking lot, excitement for the day building, headed down the driveway, and promptly pulled into a parking spot right in front of one of Camp Hope's side doors. Yes... we traveled a whole 20 ft. (or so...) We got out, went back into the building, and began a day full of wonderous labor.

Some of these enriching jobs included installing drop ceilings, drywalling, sanding drywalling, carrying cots, and painting... a LOT.

After this wonderful first day, we began adventure number two. The shower. Upon entering the shower room you are greeted with a nice big room, nice showers with seperate changing areas, and nice long tables to set your things on. Unfortunately, the appearance of the room sets you up in a decieving way for the experience that will soon take place. The actual shower... cold. Very very cold. Lip biting, done in three minutes, ice cold. Fortunately, we all survived and are better people because of it.

Now here we sit, writing you our lovely memoirs. We wait with eager anticipation the fun adventures to come.

With best regards,
The Backseat Buddies:
Kelsey, Shannon, and Teresa
Tired. That is the word of the day. Today was frustrating in the beginning, there was quite a bit of confusion as to where we were supposed to be and then after that, what we were supposed to be doing. It all worked out though. We spent the day working at camp hope, the school that has been turned into a housing unit for Habitat Volunteers. The cool thing is that eventually this school will be used a school again. I spent a while cutting "T Channel" and then Katie and I hung some tiles for a drop ceiling. That was all before lunch! After a nice lunch outside in the school yard, we spent the rest of the afternoon painting. I was part of a group who painted a coat and a half of an entire classroom as well as some of a cement block hallway. We need to have a "Family Meeting" soon to discuss the plans for the evening but it's looking like it's going to be a great night.

Feels Like Home to Me...

First off, kudos to any of you that recognize the song reference. It's a good'un.

It's so good to be back on the Gulf Coast... It just feels so right to be here, doing this work, meeting this people. I was incredibly touched when I first came here... I've never been in one place where every person I meet is made of such tough stuff. I have yet to meet an ungrateful resident-- or a person without a story to tell. I only have a small grasp of what Hurrican Katrina truly meant to these people, but every day I learn a little more. Secretly I'm glad for the opportunity to come here and do what little I can. So sanding and painting aren't always particularly fun? This is so much more than that.

Tomorrow we head to Musician's Village and I can't wait. I have so many memories from my first visit there and I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity to actually work on those homes and support the wonderful culture of Nawlins... I'm telling you, folks, this is a whole different world.

--LeeAnne

Tuesday!

We arrived in New Orleans last night and even though we were a little late, we were still warmly welcomed. After a night of sleep of that couldn't come fast enough, we woke up this morning at 6:30 (seriously, who does that on Christmas vacation?), got ready, ate breakfast, waited, given plans, given other plans, waited around a little more, and then finally got to do some work! This morning, I worked with Phil and these two women from California on putting up drop down ceilings and whatnot. It was really frustrating for me at first because Phil needed me to cut these wires and I just couldn't do it, the wire was too thick and the wire cutters were just too dull. I've never done this before, so I didn't know what was going on and when someone told me what to do, I couldn't do it. Later though, Phil let the two women from CA and me drill/screw all the borders up, and I was beyond excited to be able to actually do something. After that, we ate some wonderful packed lunches and watched some of the boys around play some knockout on the basketball court. It was just amazing to be able to sit at the table and wish that you had a pair of sunglasses on your face because it felt just about like the perfect day, not too hot, not too cold, a little bit of breeze, and wonderful company; who can complain about that? I took pictures of the beautiful day and sent them to my friend, it was wonderful. After lunch, we painted a large section of hallway and listened to some sa-weet music and a good time was had by all. I feel comfortable saying we're all having a good time. Hopefully tonight and tomorrow will be just as wonderful!! Merry Christmas from New Orleans!!

Tasha

First Day!

What a day! We ended up staying at the camp to do some work. After lots of sanding we got to do lots of painting! It was a good time though, being able to help out around our own "home". Tonight we should be able to get in some good sightseeing!

Lindsey

We're Here...

...and there are a heck of a lot more people around this place than we were expecting.

Camp Hope is a converted school building with room for about 500 volunteers. We were expecting to be here during a "down week" because of the holidays, and knew that there would only be one other group here from Syracuse University in New York. When we were walking around with Bruce yesterday, we learned that this week is an "UP week" - with more than 350 people staying here. Up on the second floor where most of the rooms are, the bunks look like this:
...only with people on the top bunks as well. When we were finished with our grand tour and orientation and the men got to their room upstairs, it looked like this:
...only with sleeping guys everywhere. In a wonderful gesture of sincere encouragement influenced in no way by sarcasm induced by a 14-hour van drive, Phil (at least, it sounded like Phil) passed me as I first entered the room looking for an unoccupied top bunk and whispered, "Yeah...good luck."

But I can declare victory for my part: I found a bed and managed to climb up with only my feet in the face of some poor creature in the bottom bunk who so kindly pretended to be asleep when my toes got caught in his hair. The agenda for the next hour before we get our construction assignment while meeting at the designated spot includes responding to a few emails here on the Wi-Fi (I believe it's pronounced "whiffy") internet in the building and grabbing breakfast downstairs.

Until later...

Monday, December 17, 2007

Hmmm...

Hmmm...

Whereas LeeAnne and Melisa have faced quite a predicament, I find myself in my own sort of situation now. You see, what happened is this: I had a video interview to complete and get in the mail before leaving for NOLA and I also had about 80 Christmas cards I wanted to get out in the mail. Well, long story short, I haven't gone to bed yet (it's just about 5 a.m. right now--Phil, who is staying in my room will soon be getting up), and only part of my plans have been carried out. I was able to finally (after much struggle) get my video interview completed and in an envelope to mail out. I also managed about 30 Christmas cards, which is really saying something because I had laundry and packing to do at the same time. (I hope this is making sense, though I have a feeling it's not really flowing like normal writing...probably something to do with my going to bed at 5 a.m. the last two nights as well...)


So, where am I? I'm still up, I am pretty excited for this trip, though I wonder how great it's going to be stuck in a van for 14 hours wanting to sleep yet surrounded by what I presume to be a really fun group of people. Hmmm... I definitely have not yet caught up on sleep from finals (and the previous) week, so it should be interesting to see how my body handles all of this. In addition, one more factor to consider is the fact that, well, I was given two plates of chocolate chip cookies for the trip on Saturday night (the night before we were supposed to leave), and then I was in my room most of today rather than in the van, surrounded by people with whom I could share... Put two and two together, and yes, I have eaten 1.5 plates of cookies. I'm not even sure how many this is, though I am fairly confident that it lies in the range of "dozen(s)." Unfortunately, Teresa had told me that she was baking, too, while stranded in Van Buren awaiting our departure, so I didn't feel guilty in the least about consuming all of the cookies I had been given. All of this adds up to what should be an interesting ride down to say the least. (Cranked up on sugar yet exhausted from major sleep deprivation--which side will prevail???)
(^ All that remains of the once grand, two full plates of cookies.)

And I feel compelled to share, quickly before I leave, that I have been slightly disappointed in this trip already. This is through no fault of anyone else's but "mother nature." Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit with my sister before leaving because of the weather, and she was going to refresh me on how to knit so that I could keep my hands occupied on our travels. This seems like it would've been an opportune time for knitting--but, alas, though I even bought a great new skein of seasonally red yarn, I will not have the opportunity to use it on this trip. Just a minor setback, but noteworthy in my book (or blog post) nonetheless.


NOLA here we come! :)
JM Stratford

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Laissez bon temps rouller!



We've been snowed-in here in Riley Court for a little while now (LeeAnne for two days, Melisa for one) and we could NOT be more ready for New Orleans' 70 degree weather!!!

So far we've uncovered an age-old predicament: the more time we spend with our luggage, the more we try to put in our luggage. Who lets women pack for themselves, anyway?! If we had it our way, we'd need two extra suitcases just for shoes! YOU JUST NEVER KNOW! As it is, we have the rainbow covered with Old Navy flip flops... Our toes haven't seen the light of day for far too long and they can't stand it any more!

We've also tackled another age-old predicament: What the heck do you do when there are no other people within a hundred yards? Okay, we might be exaggerating a bit, but there are certainly no people within reasonable walking distance. So what do we do? Well, unfortunately for us, there are no marathons of America's Next Top Model on today, so we had to Wii it up. Cooking Mama, here we come! We might not be able to really cook those entrees, but in the video gaming world, we make some pretty sweet cream puffs!



Another fortunate event of the day: Melisa's parents supplied us with rations from Arby's. Somehow we've lasted the night, but if we don't leave for NOLA in the morning, we may have to resort to eating the furniture. :)


We are SO EXCITED to be heading out in the morning! (Excited NOW that is... Tomorrow morning when the alarms go off at 5:30 or sooner? Well, that's a whole other story.) It's Melisa's first trip down to the Gulf Coast and she's excited to get a tour from the vet-- LeeAnne. All I (LeeAnne) really want is some cafe au lait and some beignets. Mmmm... I could sit and sip coffee all day! (Luckily, Melisa could do that, too, so hopefully we get some time to!)




Until next time.... Like sand through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives. ;)


Stay posted for more cheesiness from Melisa and LeeAnne. Outtie!

Snowed In (for now)

In about an hour from right now, we were scheduled to be stopping in Nashville for lunch. Instead, we're staring out our windows (still in Bluffton) looking at this:
Because of weather and travel concerns for everybody, our trip has been delayed by one day. We're now leaving at 6 a.m. on MONDAY morning as opposed to Sunday. It's kind of disappointing that we'll miss a day in New Orleans, but it's probably the best option. We could have delayed our departure just a few hours instead of waiting an extra day, but we couldn't have waited more than four hours or so because that would have meant us arriving in the city somewhere in the vicinity of 2 a.m. or later. For the sake of the drivers, this would not be ideal.

So we wait for the snowstorm to pass - it's scheduled to be out of the area by tonight and things should be traversable come Monday morning. In the meanwhile, that leaves us plenty of time to, well, sit around. Or make snow angels. Or snow angles. Can anyone say isoscoles?

Oh - one last thing: here's a photo of most of our group. It's from our final meeting on Thursday over lunch:
Bummer for the snow, but hooray for leaving (albeit on an adjusted schedule)!
-Dan

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Welcome!

Hey there.

Welcome to the first post on the SOUL blog. At some point I'll think of a more creative name for this, but until then I'm open to suggestions.

Keep an eye on this blog in the coming weeks, especially from December 16 - 22 - because this is going to be the internet home for thoughts, reflections, photos, and more from the SOUL service trip to New Orleans. Tonight is our first meeting, and I'll make sure to get a group photo to upload here so you can meet everybody who will be posting.

The idea is to try to integrate a couple of different things into this blog, including posts (obviously), photos, and an occasional podcast or two - assuming it works how I think it will.

Time to work on some materials for tonight's meeting, but in the meanwhile, take a look at some of the photos from last year's trip to Mobile, Alabama in the slideshow at the right.

-Dan