Winter Return to NOLA

We decided to return to NOLA for some mid-winter rebuilding, working from Monday, February 18th to Friday the 29th. George, a.k.a. "The Cook," will be with us again!

The cost of food will be $50 per week. This can be sent directly to JoEllen Parsons, Box 445, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846. Please do this by Jan. 15th to reserve your place.

Those going are asked to donate $100 to $200 each for building materials. This can be sent to the Katrina Rebuilding Fund of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, 21 Lyon Avenue, Menands, NY 12204.

Ideas for Next Rebuilding Trip

1. Take advantage of Jim Lemire's offer to do a presentation on the role of New Orleans in American history before we go.

2.Following up on the educational idea, we could offer one presentation each week in NOLA on various theme, like -- "The Music of NOLA" or "The Plight of NOLA's Poor" or "The Faith Communities' Responses to Katrina" or "The Future of NOLA," .....

3. We could ask Marcia and/or others to create a list of possible weekend activities -- Swamp Tour, musical venues, dancing, etc.

4. Plan a fund-raiser to have money to take with us for building supplies as well as to raise awareness of the need for on-going help for NOLA.

5. Create a sign-up sheet, like we use for devotions, for small jobs to help the team -- setting tables up, daily/weekly clean-up, .....

6. Identify churches at which a group traveling to or from NOLA could stay overnight and/or eat a meal; an "Underground Railroad" idea.

De-Briefing for NOLA Visit

Almost all the drivers and fliers have checked in -- everyone is now safely home.

We will be gathering on the last Friday of November -- the 30th -- at 7 PM at Debbie and Eric's to review our recent three weeks of work and to consider another two week project in February of 2008.

The February dates are from Sunday the 17th through the 1st of March. And the best news is that George Cheatle has again volunteered to be our Chef-in-residence!

Please let us know if you are coming to the Friday gathering. Thanks.

Stretching the Daylight

The ending of Daylight Savings Time has complicated our work schedule. We are awakened earlier than usual by the morning light, and our work days are cut short by the earlier darkness.
Putting our heads together, we think we have solved our problem: we are going to get up earlier, eating earlier, having our devotions earlier, and leaving for our work sites earlier.

Spirits are still high. The laughter and banter go on as you might imagine -- just a step or two away from being totally out of control. And did we mention the "Pitch" card game that Edd Von Seggern hosts in the evening? (He seems to make up the rules as they go along.)

George Cheatle, our cook, continues to feed us in extraordinary fashion, which goes a long way towards keeping us hard at work. He even arranged for muffulettas to be delivered to our work sites one day! The flavors and aromas emanating from the church kitchen are simply wonderful!

Our NYS-FITS+ is quite a singing group. On Sunday when we were introduced in worship we broke out in song, and later, when the church choir assembled, we added 8 persons to their number! The church's yahoo.com network talked about the "fabulous choir" for days.

Week Three Begins

All too soon our third week has arrived and the final push is underway. We hope to finish Royden and Lina's home on Roger Williams and come as close as possible to completing Yolanda's house on Mendez.

At Royden's and Lina's on Monday, we started to fill holes in the trim and clapboards outside and around the windows on the inside. The back porch was started. The squares of tile for counter top were glued in place and the backsplash tiles set. Work continued on the kitchen island which has refused to stay flat and square. Finally, some of the primer paint has gone on windows and casings.

At Yolanda's the final plumbing work was about finished, with Liz doing the work under the sink in the bathroom. The second bedroom is approaching completion. The kitchen cabinets were set in place and the appliances connected. Plumbing in both bathrooms is now completed and work on the thresholds is approaching completion. The glazing on the windows is about done, too.

Louisiana Swamp Fest

Our Saturday began in a sad fashion with the departure of three of our number. Kevin and Alan headed back to Pennsylvania and Marvin took off for Albany International. They will be missed.

Day off, well, almost. A few did some work at Lina and Royden's in the morning -- finishing our trim work on windows and doors, cementing the last of the counter top in place and sealing the tiles we installed yesterday.

Others went on a swamp tour in search of alligators, nutria rats and various flora and fauna, as well as information about what Katrina did to the ecological balance in the wetlands.

The afternoon found most of us at the Audubon Zoo to listen to the music of the Pine Leaf Boys and BeauSoleil among others. There were also various exhibits and events, and all the regular zoo animals and habitats. We found the parking lots filled to overflowing and crowds, like the one pictured above, all over the place!

Before the day ends, we will add six to our number. Louis Armstrong Airport is the destination for team replacements. And on Sunday two more will arrive. The week begins with us at our highest numbers, and we have plenty of work to do before week three comes to an end.

Second Friday

The start of our second Friday at Lina and Royden's house. Kevin and Roland prepare to trim windows on the west side of the house. They finished all four by lunch time and two more before the day was done.

On the inside the first tiles for the kitchen counter were set in place; the plumbing was completed in the main bathroom and the last of the taping and mudding was completed.

At Yolanda's -- more windows were painted (patching and filling nail holes, too) by Peggy, Marilyn, Rae Louise, Susan and Linda; one of the bathrooms had the tub surrounded added -- Peter and Ron tag-teamed this; more new glass was installed and glazed -- Peter did this; another threshold was "attacked" by Ted (the total of thresholds is 10!) ; Marvin and Edd finished the new floor in the hallway and hall closet.

The master bedroom is now virtually ready for occupancy by the homeowner, and she plans to move in over the weekend!

In the evening, the building teams from both houses, plus three members of an "advance team" from Falls Church, VA, along with Yolanda were fed Lebanese fare by Royden and Lina. Goodbyes were extended to Marvin, Keven, Alan, Susan and Jack who will be leaving this weekend.