Americorps Orientation: Taladega, Alabama

Boeing 767 (My First Ever!)

Airport Terminal 4am
High Tech Seats
First Light
Nascar
Humble Abode Trees!
Me & Christina
Cafeteria
Peddle Boating
Americorps Hoodies
Sunshine

Shocco Spring's Lake
Framing Frenzy

Sitting Fish

Cafeteria Row

Square Dance

Through Trees

Take Off!

Home & Halloween! Bay Bridge Lights

I'm back from a beautiful weekend in Alabama. We had an Americorps Conference there in Shocco Springs outside small town Taladega. I packed most of the night before leaving, and got little sleep before our 3am shuttle to the San Francisco airport. I definitely tried getting some sleep on the plane, but was too hard in the cramped and slippery leather seats. I can't imagine how awkward I must have looked to the other people as I tried curling myself up with my head flopped out into the middle row and the food trailer passing by.

After landing, we spent two hours on Hwy 402 into Taladega (sleeping was much easier in cushy bus seats.) The actual town of Taladega had a little gas station and waffle house, but I knew even in the middle of it we had reached civilization when we rolled on by the golden arches of McDonalds into Shocco Springs.

On first impression I wasn't quite sure what to make of Shocco Springs, other than it being a Christian retreat isolated in the middle of tall colorful trees. I quickly realized how underprepared I was packing for the trip once stepping outside from the bus in my chacco's. There's nothing like cool Alabama air! The Americorps hoodies they gave us for the conference came in handy.

For the fact of being in Shocco I really got the most of my time spent in Taladega. I met some extrordinary people, both wonderful and inspiring. It's been too long since I've bowled, and I can't say that I've ever sang a happy birthday up on the top some hill with trees and stars in the middle of the night before, even a dash of square dancing to throw in. After this experience it feels like a thousand warm butterfly wings filling the air I breath. So refreshing!

Pre-Alabama Pasta

with Feta!

Americorps Crew!

(Top Left to Bottom Right)

Alex, Emily, Josh

Ken, Luke, Joe, Erin,

Terrance, Robin, Mary

Family Dedication in Bayview

Saturday, October 25, 2008: Family Dedication

New Home Owners

Picting Picturers

Whole Habitat at Family Dedication

Saturday, October 25, 2008: Super Cutters

Cutting Machines!

Friday, October 24, 2008: Finger Tar

Morning Talk
Working the Ridge

The Other Guys, Andy's Crew

Riding the Ridge

Tar Crew!

Thursday, October 23, 2008: "Roof Awning" Day Project

Morning
Noon
Finish Time

Melted Icecream

Yum!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008: Knee-Cappers

Getting it Done

Intel

Tuesday, October 21, 2008: Tired Shoulders

Mud Scrape

It was an amazing week over all. Spent most of my time up on the roof's this week, except for a little mudding and taping. It was nice working with my crews with only the blue sky and tar black shingles beating the sun and heat back up into our faces. I know it's gross and I'm still working on getting the black from under my fingernails, but shampooing doesn't seem to be helping. Our regular volunteers did cook us up a wonderful lunch this Thursday of hot dogs and cookies. That was a real treat!

The most substantial part of my week however was being a part of the new families receiving their homes at the newly completed De Long developement in Bayview, Daly City. There isn't anyone who could look more proud than the families I saw today, as they came to shake my hand furiously in their excitement. My chest felt filled with cotton balls making it hard to breath. It was that wonderful.

Monday Mornings

Scamper from garage,

hamper full of laundry,

in cold morning light,

with the rooster next door.

Berkeley Fall

This is my favorite time. Everyone's got those things they absolutely find gratifying, rushing them right back to fond childhood memories. For some it's splashing puddles in the rain, or secretly blowing bubbles in their chocolate milk, but for me it's walking fast and scuffing up the leaves from Fall around me. Part of it is the sound shuffling through, but also the feel of cold dry wind that makes it a completely satisfying experience.

Welcome Americorp!

Saturday, October 18, 2008: Smooth Edges

Ladder Step Invention (No Nails Needed!)

Dusty Dry Mud

Friday, October 17, 2008: Siding

Joe with Shears

Hammering it Up

The Siders

After Work "Milagros" with Cisco

(Training Day 10) Thursday, October 16, 2008: I Love CPR & SFMOMA

Look, Listen, Feel

Counter Clockwise: (Dawn, Darrel, Luke, Jim)

SFMOMA at Last!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008: Bloody Knuckles

Through Felt

"Team Karen" by shirt default

Tuesday, October 14, 2008: Shingle Cut

This week I did a whole lot. First let me say welcome Joe, Luke and Darrel, our final Americorp to join us helping run volunteer groups. For the first couple days they learned the details of each skill by helping lead crews with us. It was a bit challenging, a balance between giving the volunteers the basics they needed in order to start their own work and making sure the Americorp got the full version to effectively manage their own crews later.

To the start the week I was with a group on the rooftops getting the shingles all ready for solar paneling installment for Friday. It was slow work, since we had to make cuts and go back to fill in some of missing patches of shingles before we could move forward. I'm so glad we finished since my thumbs are so sore from retracting my sticking tarred blade over again after every use. I've got a pretty patch of knuckle scabs too from handling the heavy sheets of shingles with rough sandpaper sides. I've got to be careful not to accidentally hammer them when I'm putting in nails or they start bleeding all over again.

Later in the week we had our training on CPR and First Aid. Ironically I just had a training on it just before I started work for Habitat. It was a nice refresher. We got off work early and the Americorp house decided to take a trip into the city to visit the SFMOMA. Joe and I decided to ride our bikes, despite the fact that it was a 30+ mile ride. El Camino was a bit rough and I feel rotten since I made plans to meet a friend there and we got lost somewhere in south San Francisco. Remind me never to use my cell phone navigation system. We finally did make it 45 minutes before SFMOMA closing time. Sometimes getting lost is important to findingyour way. It's something you can rely on completely. Having a perfect trip with no kinks, not so much.

In a week I head out to Alabamba for an Americorp conference with another 200 Americorp across the nation. I've never been, and I'm not quite sure what to expect. But I'm sure there will be lots of fun!