Week Five, Day Two

Monday ...
We were told to be downstairs for breakfast early today - some kind of press conference or some such. We had breakfast and a few folks came around to each table to ask us how long we've been here for, the work we've done, etc. The good news is that Doug, from Week #4, was at our table so he handled things really well. He talked about specific challenges that he's had (building codes not existing, not being enforced, etc.) and we left around 8:20am.

I drove to PJs for my mocha (no, the Starbucks on Pass Road is NOT opened, and likely won't be until November) and then took the team to visit the Camille Memorial. Hurricane Camille visited this area in August, 1969, and the memorial was damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Happily, some folks have taken the time to repair the damage, and everything is in one piece again. Ling noticed that there were lots of folks listed on the memorial with the same last name ... meaning that possibly whole families were lost. Sadly, she's probably correct.

We visited with Mike G. for a few minutes, while he figured out our assignment for the day, and I was very pleased to learn that we'd be working on the interior of the Parker House. VERY cool.

The floors are really great looking, the walls look good, and the tile work in the bathroom is complete.

We spent the morning taping off windows and doors, and filling in seams between walls and floors (or trim), as we'll be painting them shortly.

It occurs to me that, in looking around, the Parkers will not be moving in this week as we'd originally hoped - but changes like this happen all the time, so it's not that shocking. It just means more time that Karen Parker and her children won't be home ... but at least when they finally are, things will be done correctly.

We have lunch at Volunteer Village, where I make sure to visit Richard C., my friend from the Beaverton Crew and Aisha, who is still running the kitchen inside the village.

Both are glad to see the company returning, and both were not too surprised to see that I was part of the team. After lunch, I take the team by the Dry Dock, which is exactly in the same shape as before. The very light breeze allowed for the "wind chime" effect of the beams as they hit one another. It's both beautiful and sad.

We continue our work in the afternoon, after another supply run is made, and by 4pm, we wrap up and head back to camp. We'll likely be working on the Parker home for the next several days, maybe even the week, which is fine by me.

Oh, the first injury of the week has occurred. I caught my fingernail in the track of a window, turning it a really nifty shade of purple. I'd like to say that I was demonstrating what NOT to do, but as ya' know, I'm klutzy so I'm just living up to my own reputation.

We're going to have dinner at camp tonight and lay low. The rain woke us all up around 2:30am last night, so we could do with a good nights' sleep. We'll hopefully start painting tomorrow, knowing that it'll be easier to be active in the coolness of the morning hours.

Week Five, Day One

Sunday ...
After schlepping my bag (heavy with a sleeping bag and an air mattress) through the airport, I feel a little too warm for this early in the day. After going through security, I sit at a cafe and realize that this may be the *coolest* I'll feel all week. At 10:10amCT, the temp in Biloxi, MS appears to be 89F, then add in humidity and the "feels like" temp is well over 100F.

We'll be a small group this week - me, Ling, and Bill - but we're CLEARLY determined. Early in the week, after Hurricane Flossie visited Hawaii and Hurricane Erin visited Texas, Tropical Storm (and later Hurricane) Dean approached from the Atlantic. I watched Dean carefully throughout the week, guessing on his path, strength, and time frame. I reminded my teammates that if they felt at all uncomfortable, even if it was Sunday morning while they were at the airport, to just tell me they changed their minds. Instead I heard "I'm packing my air mattress now" and "can't wait to get started". The three of us, as a team, have already shown great determination. We're small ... but we're mighty.

I started this trip by flying elsewhere as a gift to myself, and handed my April photos and journal to Jim (my mentor from Week 1), along with the July/August edition of "This Old House" Magazine and the Thursday, August 2nd New York Times Home & Garden Section - both of which covered the progress - and completion - of the Parker Family Home.

Over our lunch, I hear how Jim is enjoying his retirement ... hunting, spending weekends camping, working with local government on a massive volunteer faire expo in his home town next summer - and notice he probably had more free time in Biloxi. He says he'll scale back ... but don't we all say that?
I get a few "assignments" from Jim - homes to look in on for progress checks, people to visit - and I promise him that he, his wife Nancy, and I will have dinner late in 2007, when I'm on my way to my 6th volunteer week.

Thus far, I've been in charge of having our employees spend over 1,200 hours working in East Biloxi, MS. I look forward to showing Ling and Bill ... and reminding myself ... of all that has been accomplished, the families we've met, the parks and neighborhoods we've gotten to know, the friends we've shared with. I look forward to expanding that body of work and in visiting with old friends, and making new ones.

(Oh, while I was driving from LA to MS, I passed by this sign and took a photo to remind me to include it in my notes. I guess this explains why I feel so comfortable in the South ... apparently there's a whole "Irish Bayou" that I never even knew about, but I gotta wonder what THAT accent sounds like! A Cajun lilt??)

What do East Biloxi and New York have in common?

The Parker Family Home - and Architecture for Humanity - received coverage in the Home and Garden Section of the New York Times today.

Read all about it here.

"Speechless" doesn't BEGIN to describe it - I could fly there myself under my own power. But - I can wait 17 days ...

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

I knew that I'd be receiving a birthday gift package from Scott because he told me he'd sent one. I don't think he realized the depth of his gift … and, even though I'm good with words, I don't think I'll ever be able to tell him.

The gift included a copy of the July/August edition of This Old House magazine. On Page 21 is a photo of a mom with 6 kids in front of what looks to be a house that's still got some work to have done on it, which makes sense because that's exactly what it is. The article talks about the work that Architecture for Humanity is doing throughout the Gulf Coast region.

When I look at the picture they've used though, I see a photo of Karen Parker and her six AMAZING children, including Natalie, her second oldest daughter, in front of their new home (not a "house" – a "home"). I know that Natalie is really looking forward to having a room to share with just one sister, instead of two, in an actual HOME, instead of a FEMA trailer. I know this because I helped build that home, and because I met and worked with Natalie, Karen, and the rest of the Parker family.

The article is brief, concise and includes a quote from Kate Stohr, a friend of mine for two years now. We met when I approached her and her husband, Cameron, on behalf of the company I work for, asking if they could please find a project for a bunch of unskilled but eager volunteers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I vividly remember Cameron's response – "How many and when?" It was *so* totally different from what I'd heard up until that point – which was "we're not ready in New Orleans". After hearing that a couple of dozen times, I wanted to scream "but this was a big fricken' storm and I can walk across New Orleans in half a day. Isn't there anybody who wants help?"

I don't take "no" easily – and that's even more true when I know the person telling me "no" has no authority to represent more than three states worth of people. I was watching the TV after Katrina hit just like everyone else – you can't tell me that the government had a clue as to how to help, even 7 months afterwards. That I ignored so many "no"s until I was told "yes" is just the Irish in me. The difference is that, this time, I was right to continue to push for a "yes".

Someday I'll be calm enough to write Scott a proper thank you for the rest of the things in his package to me – a journal because he knows that each time I go to Biloxi, I write each day for the sake of my company and for the sake of my soul, and a story/cookbook from Matt and Ted Lee, the guys behind the Lee Brothers Boiled Peanuts Catalogue. I'll figure out something clever and charming to say and it will probably come easy to me. If I'm feeling especially talented, I may order something from the Lee catalogue to arrive with my thank you note to him.

But the magazine? It's been in my hands now for more than 4 hours, and I can't look at the Parkers without welling up – knowing that they're home.

How do you thank a friend for a $5.00 magazine that is actually a priceless gift?

Week Four, Day Six

Friday ...
We wake and four of the six of us pack up. I've become quite good at traveling light and being able to pack quickly (and in the dark, no less) thanks to these trips. Raymond, Lonnie, George, and Doug say their goodbyes and head off to continue working on siding and the day looks like a good one for the task. The camp cat, Lady Marmalade, stops by and says her goodbyes, too.

She's a stray that was rescued and adopted by the crew here. She's very friendly and very bold and seems to be at ease with the amount of energy and activity going on around her. She is NOT shy, and is aptly named.

Ella, Mark, Nate, and I hit the road at 8:10am and by 9:40am, we roll into Cafe Du Monde, where a parking spot right in front seems to be waiting just for us.


Along the way through the French Quarter, I point out The Court Of Two Sisters, Pat O'Briens, and Royal and Bourbon Streets. After Mark drops us all off at the airport, I hope he'll head back to Royal Street and maybe find the Hurricane Museum that Kevin and I visited during Week #2 '06.

Nate is the first out of the van. He'll be leaving for Europe ... tomorrow ... so our wishes for safe travels are for all the planes he'll be on in the next 24 hours. Ella hops out at the American gate and I look forward to seeing her in the office as we swap photos and references from this past week. I depart at the United gate and hand the keys over to Mark. I envy the day that I think he'll have, but I'm ready to go home to my family, my shower, and to meet by brand new Niece.

Soooooooooo ... waddya say we meet up again in August? I know this great little town that has lots of really cool things to do that'd keep ya' plenty busy all day long and has some pretty terrific food, too ... plus the Starbucks on Pass Road will probably be open by then. ;-)
************************************************************************************** My thanks to the company for agreeing to continue to stand behind this program for 2007. My gratitude to my division's sales team in the Americas, led by Tom, for their (and specifically *his*) unwavering support and encouragement.

A large round of applause as I introduce the first 2007 volunteers: Raymond "Hula Hoop" M., "Right On" Lonnie M., Ella "Peanut Butter" M., Mark "Broccoli" K., and Nate "Red Dog 2" H.

Enthusiastic gushes to my inner-circle of support, who provided me a lifeline to the goings-on outside of Biloxi, along with e-mails, jokes, and positive vibes throughout the week.

Take fun. Have care. Be good. - Jules

Week Four, Day Five

Thursday ...
We really hit our stride today as a group. We were back at the siding at the Parker Home, assisted by great weather, and finished up one side as far as needed (we don't know the trim detail for the roof line, so we stop a few boards shy of the top) and move around to the other side of the home and start again.














Ella spends most of the day working with Doug (our first Hands-On worker) and, before long, she becomes queen of the nail gun.



I'm significantly impressed by this because I still don't have the courage or confidence to use a power tool and Ella just dives right in like it's second nature to her. (Yes, I *did* use a power saw during Week #3 '06 ... for all of about 45 seconds when I realized how much serious trouble it could get me in.)










Nate and George (our second Hands-On worker) are the two quiet teammates in the group. They make very little noise and just get the job done, silently and effectively.

Nate earns the nickname of "Chocolate Man" for his perfect timing with chocolate treats in the afternoon, just as our energy starts to fade.


Mark and I work on finishing one side of the house,
and then take down the scaffolding with Ella's help. In the afternoon, we spend about an hour cleaning out the equipment storage pod and wind up finding a few items that we could have used earlier in the week but, better than that, we made the space a little neater and allow for more room. (This probably won't last long but we won't be here when it gets messed up again.)

Raymond and Lonnie are our cutters,

and they really do a great job of keeping up as we call out requests for board lengths. At every 6th board or so, the length tends to change ever so slightly so we can't just assume that a space is always going to need a board that measures 52 13/16ths (and yes, we get THAT precise). Just like Jackie Washington's home that Jim told me about in Week #2 '06, this home doesn't have walls or corners that are dead even or at perfect right angles, though it is a brand new structure. The nature of the soil, the materials, and the stability requirements for the framing don't equate to perfect walls or corners.

At 4:40pm, we decide we've done all we can on the outside (and we figure we'll leave the interior for another team).

We start to pack it in and take a team photo.
The eight of us treat ourselves to a stop at The Pub prior to heading back to camp and we decide to head to Ocean Springs for dinner. Happily, George and Doug will join us and we agree to meet after showers.

As I'm cleaning up, another volunteer shows up injured and bleeding. She was running outdoors in open-toed shoes and stubbed her toe badly. I help her clean out the wound, get some peroxide to sterilize what we can't flush out, and have her ice her foot to keep the swelling down. As I help her to a table with bandages and antiseptic ointment, she sighs heavily. "I can't remember when I was treated this well", she says. Her leader runs into me as I get ready to go and thanks me for my assistance. "These kids forget to take care of themselves because they're focused on everyone else", she sighs. "Even doing the obvious nicety pushes them right over the edge, after working so hard all day." I agree with her and thank her for helping me figure out why I'm embarrassed to accept a simple "thank you" for being here ... I consider it an obvious nicety.

The team meets up and we roll into The Shed BBQ shortly after 7:30pm for some seriously good eats. I show Ella the ceiling in the back where John made sure to document our Week #3 '06 visit and I add the first 2007 visit.

I suppose we've started a tasty tradition here.

We spend time over dinner getting to know our Hands-On folks better. George, 24,

will be wrapping up his shift here in June, at which time he'll then go to work on his Masters in Architecture.

Doug, 32,

will be here until November and then ... well, he's not sure what that "then" will be. He likes the friendships he's developed here and takes great pride in his work (as well he should).

We say goodnight back at camp, where some of us hop onto the available computers while others read. Even after the work we did today, we all seem pretty energized. It could be because the day we'll return to the comforts of our homes is rapidly approaching, or it could be the satisfaction that only really good potato salad can bring ... but I suspect it's because we *know* we did good work today - and quite a bit of it, too.

Tomorrow, Ella, Mark, Nate, and I will drive to New Orleans and go our separate ways but first, we'll have breakfast as a team at camp one last time.

Week Four, Day Four

Wednesday ...
Well, it wouldn't be Wednesday in Biloxi if it wasn't raining. It (apparently) started raining last night. I wouldn't know as I fell asleep at 10pm and didn't come-to until 6:15am when my alarm went off.

After a brief mocha run and breakfast at camp, we head over to Mike G.'s office. We obviously won't be working on the siding project but he'll find something else for us to do. The rain is nearly done by the time we're assigned to move the office space that houses Architecture For Humanity, as well as Biloxi City Councilman and Executive Director of the East Biloxi Coordination and Relief Center Bill Stallworth, and the rest of the East Bilxoi Resource Center.

I'm plenty happy with the idea of assisting on anything that helps Bill - he has done a tremendous amount of great work for the people of East Biloxi and he never hesitates to lend a hand, no matter what the task. In fact, after we realize that we have a trailer but no vehicle to tow it, Bill tosses another staffer the keys to his pickup truck. It's this kind of "doing what needs to be done" attitude that's allowed this area to make the kind of progress it has. Yes, there is lots more to be done, but there's also lots that HAS been accomplished. (Even the new offices they'll be moving into aren't totally done, but they're "done" enough.)

I'm reminded of those accomplishments when I stop into the village at lunch and run into Richard C. from the Beaverton crew. He happily gives me updates on all of the projects we worked on in 2006, just like Jim did last year. He also asked me how Bruce is doing (a 2006 Week #2 volunteer) and I let him know that I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Bruce sign up for our August or November '07 weeks.

During the afternoon, I also get to catch up with Curtis, my very first boss (Paula and I painted the interior of a home with he and Emily during Week #1 '06.) He tells me that he'll be heading home to Portland in June and wants to work in a construction crew. I have no doubt that he'll have his choice of job offers, considering his experiences here.

Unloading the trailer takes considerably less time than loading and we're all very happy to see that there are no flights of stairs to deal with at the new offices (unlike the two flights at the old location). I also notice that the new space seems familiar ...
and then it occurs to me: Patricia, John, and other members of the brick cleaning crew worked on this site on Week #3 '06. I remember John talking about the floor sealing process being pretty labor-intensive, so I should state that yes, the floor looks great. Nice work, you guys!

Tomorrow will be my last work day in Biloxi for the time being. It looks like it may rain tonight but I know that if it does, we'll find something to do.

********************

I'd like to end today's entry with a quiet round of "Happy Birthday". Today, shortly after 8amPT, my sister and brother-in-law welcomed their second daughter, Sophia Nicole, into the world. I've been told that everyone is happy and healthy.

What more could ya' ask for?