http://talesofasemi-practicaldreamer.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-place-new-blog-new-coat.html
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Pictures
So, you've all heard a bit about me and construction and such. Check out these pictures from Saturday,
October 23. Just so you know it was "Make A Difference Day" and AmeriCorps all over were
participating in service projects (at least that is what Jess, the Site Coordinator, told us).
So, this is a weird angle, but it is me on a ladder, totally dominating the stubborn screws that had to be sunk into the drywall. This is me and a fellow AmeriCorps member, Crawford. Crawford works at a school usually, but he was with all of the Notre Dame Mission Volunteer AmeriCorps (the construction kids and the school kids) We were preparing to install insulation, don't we look tough?
And action shot! Lol. Insulation superstars :) Technically, I am teaching Crawford the finer points of insulation installation.Sunday, October 24, 2010
List of Life Happenings
As I caught up on reading many of you wonderful peoples' blogs from the uber-comfy Community Coffeehouse chair, I realized that I have been lax and ignored my own blog for a bit. Never fear, an update is here.
Hmm. Much has happened in the time since I posted:
1. I have firmly established the concept of dinner is only complete if dessert is involved. Thank you Brothers.
2. I visited Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta and found a happy, happy place. I would LOVE to go to graduate school there.
3. There was a fabulous trip to Louisville for candidacy meetings; Fayette First UMC, you would be happy to know that the KY folk treated me super kindly and said to thank you for the loan of me.
4. I've met Mrs. Julia, who is fabulous and so very close to having her home back. She will be facing surgery soon and expressed appreciation for any prayers.
5. I volunteered for the Mid-City Neighborhood Association Porch Crawl, serving some of the best jambalaya I've ever eaten and chatting with the participants. Fabulous night. (Also, I was beside the coldstone creamery couple, who joyfully supplied me with yummy icecream in exchange for some spectacularly spicy jambalaya.
6. Work has become quite busy and full. There is lots of drywall, paint, and baseboard in my life.
Hmm. Much has happened in the time since I posted:
1. I have firmly established the concept of dinner is only complete if dessert is involved. Thank you Brothers.
2. I visited Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta and found a happy, happy place. I would LOVE to go to graduate school there.
3. There was a fabulous trip to Louisville for candidacy meetings; Fayette First UMC, you would be happy to know that the KY folk treated me super kindly and said to thank you for the loan of me.
4. I've met Mrs. Julia, who is fabulous and so very close to having her home back. She will be facing surgery soon and expressed appreciation for any prayers.
5. I volunteered for the Mid-City Neighborhood Association Porch Crawl, serving some of the best jambalaya I've ever eaten and chatting with the participants. Fabulous night. (Also, I was beside the coldstone creamery couple, who joyfully supplied me with yummy icecream in exchange for some spectacularly spicy jambalaya.
6. Work has become quite busy and full. There is lots of drywall, paint, and baseboard in my life.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Can I phone a friend?
So, today was definitely an adventure on site. Since last week, I have been working with another LTV (long term volunteer) named Jon. We were working in this wonderful old shotgun house for a woman whose great-grandaddy built the home. We had been extending the closet so that it would fit a washer and dryer. But today, the boss came on site and wanted us to work on the bathroom counter. We were just supposed to level it.
Well, of course, it was not that simple. It was not just a quick, shove some shims under the low-side and re-attach the countertop. The sink did not fit the cabinet. So we had to move the cabinet out from the wall. In fact, we had to move it so far out that the plumbing was behind the cabinet, rather than inside of it. Before we lifted the cabinet unit, we noticed some moisture on the hot water supply line. While lifting the cabinet, we heard a dripping sound start. By the time we had adjusted the cabinet, the drip sound had changed to a hiss.
As Jon noted, "This is not good. We have a problem." Water is now streaming from the hot water supply line. We run outside to find the main shut off valve. We can trace the lines to the kitchen sink, the tub, the front spigot, the back spigot, the other bathroom, but cannot find the main shut off valve. (Meanwhile, water is still streaming down. It's making a puddle underneath the house.)
Suddenly, I remember my good buddy from ASP 2010, Barry Stough. Like a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" contestant, I phone that friend. Quick pleasantries are exchanged and then I ask, hypothetically, if I were to want to shut off the water to the house, how would I do that. He directs me to the city shut off valve. A quick turn of an adjustable wrench and the flood stops. The day is saved, or at least a calamity is averted until the real plumbers get here.
Definitely, it added a bit of spice to a cabinetry job. Although, I might prefer bland jobs for a bit. Anyway, I thought I'd share my special work adventure. As brother John says, "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you weep alone." Besides, my ASP Admin team would be proud, the training scenario actually did happen, just on a different worksite, and thanks to them/Barry, we worked it out.
Well, of course, it was not that simple. It was not just a quick, shove some shims under the low-side and re-attach the countertop. The sink did not fit the cabinet. So we had to move the cabinet out from the wall. In fact, we had to move it so far out that the plumbing was behind the cabinet, rather than inside of it. Before we lifted the cabinet unit, we noticed some moisture on the hot water supply line. While lifting the cabinet, we heard a dripping sound start. By the time we had adjusted the cabinet, the drip sound had changed to a hiss.
As Jon noted, "This is not good. We have a problem." Water is now streaming from the hot water supply line. We run outside to find the main shut off valve. We can trace the lines to the kitchen sink, the tub, the front spigot, the back spigot, the other bathroom, but cannot find the main shut off valve. (Meanwhile, water is still streaming down. It's making a puddle underneath the house.)
Suddenly, I remember my good buddy from ASP 2010, Barry Stough. Like a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" contestant, I phone that friend. Quick pleasantries are exchanged and then I ask, hypothetically, if I were to want to shut off the water to the house, how would I do that. He directs me to the city shut off valve. A quick turn of an adjustable wrench and the flood stops. The day is saved, or at least a calamity is averted until the real plumbers get here.
Definitely, it added a bit of spice to a cabinetry job. Although, I might prefer bland jobs for a bit. Anyway, I thought I'd share my special work adventure. As brother John says, "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you weep alone." Besides, my ASP Admin team would be proud, the training scenario actually did happen, just on a different worksite, and thanks to them/Barry, we worked it out.
Friday, October 1, 2010
"Some" by Daniel Berrigan
Well, I just heard a very interesting speaker. She is a peace activist named Kathy Kelly. The event wasn't at all what I expected but I thought the following reading was kind of thought provoking. So, I'll share it:
Some stood up once, and sat down.
Some walked a mile, and walked away.
Some stood up twice, then sat down.
"It's too much," they cried.
Some walked two miles, then walked away.
"I've had it," they cried.
Some stood and stood and stood.
They were taken for fools,
they were taken for being taken in.
Some walked and walked and walked -
they walked the earth,
they walked the waters,
they walked the air.
"Why do you stand?" they were asked, and
"Why do you walk?"
"Because of the children," they said, and
"Because of the heart, and
Because of the bread.
Because the cause is
the heart's beat, and
the children born, and
the risen bread."
[Anyone up for a walk?] :)
Some stood up once, and sat down.
Some walked a mile, and walked away.
Some stood up twice, then sat down.
"It's too much," they cried.
Some walked two miles, then walked away.
"I've had it," they cried.
Some stood and stood and stood.
They were taken for fools,
they were taken for being taken in.
Some walked and walked and walked -
they walked the earth,
they walked the waters,
they walked the air.
"Why do you stand?" they were asked, and
"Why do you walk?"
"Because of the children," they said, and
"Because of the heart, and
Because of the bread.
Because the cause is
the heart's beat, and
the children born, and
the risen bread."
[Anyone up for a walk?] :)
Monday, September 27, 2010
Routine? Well, sort of
Hmm, I just realized that I have not updated in a little bit. I do apologize. It seems that there is always something happening in this city and I've enjoyed much of it :)
I also realized that I have not shared any photos. Here are a few pictures of the church/warehouse. Operation Helping Hands works out of an old Catholic church and school. They 'borrowed' it right after Katrina and have been there ever since.
That is the church/warehouse. Or at least an idea. It is a neat space. It definitely provides me with a constant reminder of the 'why' of the work (and a bit of the how, for those of you who know the chaotic-uncertainity that goes with the non-profit world).
I also realized that I have not shared any photos. Here are a few pictures of the church/warehouse. Operation Helping Hands works out of an old Catholic church and school. They 'borrowed' it right after Katrina and have been there ever since.
 |
| You can still see the stained glass window of the Christ, Lamb of God |
 |
| And over here, some Long Term Volunteers (LTVs) added a bit of art to the storage room. |
 |
| More storage, supplies, and encouraging art. Because, who couldn't use some encouragement. |
Yeah. My routine is a bit adjusted for early mornings and more consistent hours. For example, I have three alarms set: 1 = "it would be best if you got up now, Haley" 2 = "you need to get out of bed" and 3 = "GET UP!" All of these sound before the sun creeps over the horizon. Which explains the next bit of the routine, tea and/or coffee. The morning shot of caffeine to get me going. Usually, I start the water for tea and let the tea steep, while I dash off to morning prayers. By the time we're done with morning prayers, my tea is ready and we hustle out the door to pick up a co-worker and get to work. However, by Thursday or Friday, it's usually time to switch to coffee for a little more caffeine...
We get to OHH for morning meeting and load-up. Then off to our respective job sites until 4-4:30. Back to St. Raymonds, the name of the old church, for un-loading. Then we return home. Tired, dirty, and generally happy. Ready for the fabulous meal that will appear at 6. The Brothers happen to be excellent cooks.
Um, well friends. This is a fair chunk of my life. I promise more pictures and more actual stories will come. For now, I will leave you with the quote in the picture above, "Aspire not to have more, but to be more." Bishop Oscar Romero (yep, he's a liberation theologian).
Um, well friends. This is a fair chunk of my life. I promise more pictures and more actual stories will come. For now, I will leave you with the quote in the picture above, "Aspire not to have more, but to be more." Bishop Oscar Romero (yep, he's a liberation theologian).
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