NOLA Habitat for Humanity, Weeks 5 & 6

Back in the saddle.  I apologize in advance for the hundreds of triplets of dozens of fifties of niners of words in this week’s update.  It’s kindof wordy, and short on pictures.  It’s been a busy couple of weeks.  I have visitors this weekend, and the Carnival parades are starting up tomorrow, so I can assure you, next week will have lots more pictures.  

With just a little over a week left here, we’re into the home stretch in New Orleans, and it has truly flown by.  Since this project is about over, we finally got our assignments for next round.  I don’t know how I keep weaseling my way into awesome projects, but the next two months should be pretty incredible.  We’re going to be camping and building trails at a national park. And not just any national park… Tell ‘em christracker:

Honestly, I don’t have a very good idea what to expect, but I do know that we’ll be working for ACE (Arizona Conservation….um… Empire? Enstitute maybe?).  I also know that we work nine days at a time- camping with no running water, possibly in the snow.  And we might see Robbie Knevel try to jump a motorcycle over us.  We’ll get four-day breaks, where we’ll stay in Flagstaff and try to shower off a week and a half worth of sweat and dirt.  I could not be more excited for the whole experience.  Sleeping in tents, pooping in the ground, arm wrestling buffalo, hunting grizzly bears for sport.  Ooh Wee! 

Also since last update, our team lost two members for underage drinking.  It sucks, but they acted dumb and got sent back to Denver.  As it happened, they were both of the other guys, leaving me as the only male left on our team. It has been kinda nice having my own room again, but I found myself watching “She’s the Man” with everybody last week (admitting that out loud hurts my head).  When our dryer broke this week, there were bras and other lady-clothes on the ceiling fan in our living room.  Dear Americorps, please send a friend who doesn’t have ovaries. Or at least send Amanda Bynes dressed like a boy (That’s a “She’s the Man” reference for those of you who still have your dignity).

Lagniappe:

Finally, a quick appeal on behalf of Americorps.  New budget cuts, proposed last week in the House of Representatives would cut all funding to Americorps, ending all the meaningful and necessary work that 85,000 people do all across the country.  Americorps helps non-profit organizations, regions hit by natural disasters, and the poorest communities around our country, and cutting such a great resource for those who need it most seems ass-backwards.  As a current employee, I find what Americorps does very important.  

If you agree, please flip off your Congressman.  If not, flip them off anyway.

Or, if you prefer to handle your problems like an adult, here's a petition (thanks!):
http://www.change.org/petitions/save-americorps