My Life On Site

TGIF

2005-09-30T19:06:00.000-05:00

I look 12.
I don't carry my ID with me to work because I'm kind of paranoid that it will get lifted out of the truck when I'm not looking and locking and unlocking the doors every time I need in is a pain.
I didn't get margaritas after work.

More good times on day two of Women Build! After long hours in the hot sun, the crew leaders, Boss John, and I hit up Chili's for some cool, margarita refreshment. The list above explains my misfortune. That'll teach me. I shouldn't be driving around without my ID, anyway. I've thought of this several times but now I'm finished driving the truck around (after tomorrow) so it doesn't really matter, does it? (For anyone who may be concerned, I always have it with me in the car and when I'm riding with others.)

The second day of a build like this generally appears to make little progress in comparison to the excitement of the first, but rest assured, we kept busy and productive from 7 am to 5 pm.

Underage misunderstanding,

Construction Kim

Hear Me Roar

2005-09-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

Today began Muncie Women Build 2005: A New Kind of Housework! It's fitting that my last weekend as a construction assistant is this project since 1) Women Build 2004 was my first Habitat experience and 2) I happen to be a woman.

I was nervous that this weekend was going to be a relatively boring one for me. I expected to do a lot of "supervising" which really just means I don't have an assigned job and I walk around the site checking on volunteers and deferring questions to Boss John. Thankfully, I had a job that filled my whole morning! Along with crew leader Julie, I cut OSB to cover the gable end trusses. Our job included using the circular saw, so I soon collected a nice layer of sawdust on my arms and face. We spent the rest of the day trying to protect our pieces from other volunteers who saw our artistry as mere scraps. I set our pile aside and twice I even covered it with an extra piece of Styrofoam marked "Do Not Move...or else!" Even still, people tried to steal our stash!

TOOL OF THE DAY: Threats

New Guy Mike is the latest AmeriCorps member. He'll be working with Boss John all year just like CoJo and I did. It's unfortunate timing that he began his term the week of Women Build and has been banished to the trailer to hand out tools and sort nails while we work. I gave him early warning about the truck quirks and he's already caught on to some of Boss John's quirks all by himself.

We raised walls, formed the porch beam, and nailed up blue board (Styrofoam insulation) by early evening. Some of the crew leaders stayed past the anticipated 4:00 to get us into better position for the morning volunteers. As far as I know, everything went smoothly. Approximately every five minutes, "John" was shouted from any given corner of the site as he was beckoned to answer one of a hundred questions of the day. All the women involved were eager to work and focused on their tasks. Day one was a success!

We can do it,
Construction Kim

Fashion and 2x4s

2005-09-24T20:03:00.000-05:00

TOOL OF THE YEAR: the construction purse
At the JCWP, we volunteers received several gifts. One of these was a tool bag--we have been inseparable ever since! It truly is my work purse. I take it with me everywhere. I load it with water bottles, gloves, a tape measure and utility knife and screwdriver, the Lowe's card, sanitizing hand wipes, pencil and a pad of paper, safety glasses, sunglasses, sunscreen, chapstick, and my personal as well as cell phones. It's much handier than sticking things in my pockets and letting my water bottles roll all over the truck seat. When I pack my lunch, I leave the house looking like I'm off to vacation!

En Vogue,
Construction Kim

Soccer Moms and Anger Management

2005-09-22T21:48:00.000-05:00

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "She's mad most of the time." --Boss John about me
One of the regulars was teasing me today and mentioned, "I don't wanna make her mad." Thus, BJ's response. Little does he know how right he is. Little does he know.

Wouldn't it be grand if I could arrange it that as you scroll over the words mad and angry in my posts that your screen and mouse would actually shake with the fury I feel as I type them? Video game controls vibrate, so this option must not be too far away in the hi-tech future.

It's the first day of fall and I feel like I'm fall-ing apart. I don't like feeling this way, so angry all the time, frustrated and grumpy and not in the mood to deal with people. I didn't even give the obligatory laugh at Boss John's jokes today--didn't even crack a smile. It generally fades after lunchtime, but 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM can be unbearable.

Another volunteer told me she was hoping I would have a "real job" by now. I told her I was insulted by that comment, while smiling of course in order to deliver, with delicacy, my true feelings. She went on to talk about my dance life and how she didn't want me to put aside what I was supposed to be doing. I told her that if I knew what I was supposed to be doing, I'd be doing it. I was not mad at the conversation--I realize it might seem that way just by reading this--but understood her concern for my dreams. Her husband used to be a dancer, so she knows a thing or two about the territory. It was all in the name of encouragement.

We had a fundraiser for Women Build at Fazoli's tonight and ironically enough, my assignment was to man the information table. A group of my friends came to dine and although I didn't get any time to really interact with them, I appreciate their support. Things got interesting when a bus load of soccer boys packed the place for some post-game refueling. By interesting, of course, I mean LOUD!

Too bad it wasn't the college team,
Construction Kim

On My Way Out

2005-09-21T22:47:00.000-05:00

I'm going to miss my friends at Lowe's...and the daily dose of self esteem. As I waited in line this morning, Gregory walked by and asked me, "Do the others get jealous of how pretty you are? That's why all the ladies won't work with you." At times like these, I wish I were more charming and quick-witted and better able to respond to silly questions. Afterward, I debated the reply options to such rhetorical observations.

Say nothing--just smile like I usually do at compliments with which I do not agree.
Degrade myself, making it clear that I do not appreciate myself or the kind gesture.
Sarcasm--unfortunately, I think of these answers too late.
"Thank you." It's almost too simple.

How the conversation plays now in my wish-I'd-said-that memory: "Do the others get jealous of how pretty you are?" "Only John, but we try to not to let it get in the way of the work." As it was, I tacked a few meaningless words on to option #1--maybe next time.

I've been very argumentative today...out loud. This is unusual for me--the expressing part of it, that is. My current life frustrations have been so overwhelming that I'm actually being vocal about them, usually at work. It's too bad that Boss John has to take the brunt of my bad attitude, but maybe I'll learn something from all this. He still doesn't trust me to know my limits and all I heard was a patronizing tone when he asked if I could handle lifting my end of the insulation blower--with help nonetheless! "I got it down by myself," I snapped. I could hardly believe I said it with such indignation! I remarked at my own surprise and the tension lifted slightly.

Watch my head spin,

Construction Kim

Plague

2005-09-20T11:54:00.000-05:00

The crickets have invaded! I hate insects that jump. Once, in high school, I was paralyzed by fear of a grasshopper who was guarding the dog food on our back step. I knew it could pounce at any minute and my poor dog just had to wait. (Don't go all PITA on me, it was only for a few minutes, though it felt like lifetime as I tried my darndest to shew the evil thing away.) On site, under boards (hiding out with dozens of pill bugs to boot), in the office supply closet--big, thick, black, nasty crickets all over the place. I can't stand them!

I've become the nag of the construction team. I guess of anybody, I've always been it, but I took it up a notch today in response to the deadline to finish our third house by Thursday. I'm always perturbed at Boss John's timing, but today I spoke out about it and vocalized other concerns about finishing touches that I'm afraid won't be finished soon enough. My construction knowledge is still lacking but I know a thing or two about organizing and I can't help but wonder why BJ scatters his resources so thin and sets priorities aside and busies himself with other, less-pressing projects when there is clearly more important work to be done NOW.*

First things first,
Construction Kim

*Disclaimer: I am probably wrong. I am full of pride. I am a control freak. This is only my side of the story. It all works out eventually. Did I mention I'm ready for a change?

Good Day Sunshine

2005-09-17T18:31:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it? I had a GOOD day at work today!

The reasons for this aren't quite clear because the circumstances had the possibility of pure chaos and distress. CoJo is done with his hours, so Boss John and I loaded up the truck at the shop this morning, were tardy to meet with our volunteers, reloaded extra materials from the big truck on site and proceeded to deliver said materials to three different locations. Thus, the beginning of the work day was a slight delayed, but we had two wonderful volunteer groups with excellent, knowledgeable leaders in each and everything went smoothly despite how hectic the day was and the fact that Boss John left early leaving me to close up shop all by myself.

The worst part of the day was the bee population. Why, of all 5'51/2" 100 some odd pounds of me must they insist on hovering around the face and ears? I had to eat lunch on the move--literally! Standing still with food on my plate was not working so I paced while I nibbled on homemade chicken 'n noodles. Boss John actually sucked a bee up his straw yesterday and got stung in the back of the throat--yikes! We'll have to remedy this before Women Build because that particular site is the worst.

Back to my good day: In the midst of all the morning chaos and rushing to get folks started on their work projects, I felt like I did a good job instructing my group. I set up six people painting and cleaning and organizing. I was thorough and brief and they did a great job.

Immediately after I got them started, it was off to Lowe's where I did a lot of waiting and met a new cashier. It made me realize how much I value the weekday crew and all my friends who know that Habitat is tax exempt and that I need help getting the truck loaded and I have more to order than is in my cart. I've made lots of friends this year. It's hard to believe I only have 10 days left as a construction assistant! A fabulous day like this almost makes me sad to go...almost!

Change is good,
Construction Kim

Built Ford Tough

2005-09-16T16:06:00.000-05:00

I had a little bit of trouble reversing the truck up a muddy hill this morning. Of course, it was in front of a volunteer group, too, so I was both frustrated and embarrassed. I wish people could know how difficult that truck is: the brakes are ridiculously sensitive, especially when it's cold or wet outside, and the accelerator is shy at first then makes up for lost time so there is little moderation when trying to inch in one direction or the other. And to make matters worse, Boss John's truck drives exactly opposite; I'm always afraid I won't be able to stop in time unless I push the brake pedal through the floor. There, now you know.

Boss John called me while I was at the office and asked me to bring out a drywall square. "Do you know what a drywall square is, or a T-square sometimes they call it?" he asked. "Yep." "Well it looks--you do?" "Yes," I assured him. The shock in his voice was insulting.

Our work load has picked up in these past couple of weeks and Boss John's stress is contagious. CoJo is finishing his hours and will soon be done on site, so that has meant more time just me and BJ who likes to process out loud whether or not I like to hear it. Okay, he's my supervisor and I'm supposed to be learning from all this, but honestly, if I can't do anything about the situation or if someone is complaining to me about someone else--who sometimes I agree with--and I can't do anything to fix it, stop griping to me and get to the source if it's all that important to you. I have enough stress in my own life; I don't need this work stuff.

I dropped my second load of the week--lumber that is--right in the middle of the road. Yesterday, I watched from my rearview mirror as some 14-footers slid off the side of the truck. I stopped, put on the hazards, and a good Samaritan hopped out of his truck (also full of lumber so we instantly had a bond of understanding) to help me reload and strap it all down. I don't like carrying boards over 12-feet long for this very reason. He was very helpful and I made the rest of my trip with no problems. Today, though I am very cautious when accelerating when I haul lumber, half of my stack dropped out onto the road just past an intersection--three feet back and I would have blocked traffic at the four-way. It was very curious to me that the entire stack plopped onto the road in a very neat pile, like I had stacked it there in the first place. These were 12-footers, so I guess you can never be too safe. A man and his brother/son on a motorcycle stopped to help me with this one then I pulled into a nearby parking lot to strap it down. Why didn't I do that in the first place--especially after yesterday's incident? That's a very good question.

And for one last story about the truck, when I hopped in at 1:40 this afternoon, the odometer read
66,666.66 miles. I did a double take, cringed, and drove eagerly to 66,666.67.

Slip Slidin' Away,
Construction Kim

I did it!

2005-09-14T14:27:00.000-05:00

I think I just completed the task I am most proud of accomplishing in my entire year working with Habitat: I fixed the shaky toilet. Now, I'm not a married woman and my father has always been prompt with my mother's "honey-do" list, but I've heard all the office ladies appealing to Boss John to complete unfinished projects in the office as of late with all these menial tasks that are left over from the office remodeling project.

The bathrooms are nearly finished, though one is currently out of order and finishing another house within the next two weeks has taken appropriate precedent. Unfortunately, the one toilet we are using has been wobbly for the past couple of weeks. I've noticed it. The other ladies have been reminding Boss John to fix it. It has remained wobbly. Five minutes ago, I decided to take charge and fix it myself. All I had to do was tighten a couple of screws and I knew where to find them because my Dad had to show me how to do it on the toilet in my last apartment. ALL DONE! Just like that. I'm waiting for someone to thank Boss John for finally doing it, so I can sheepishly smile as he confoundedly wonders how it really came to be...or takes the credit at which point I'll be more than willing to correct him! Oh, I'm searching for compliments, aren't I? Yes, yes I am.

Sittin' pretty,
Construction Kim

Work?

2005-09-08T08:23:00.000-05:00

Boss John and I are sitting in our office, back to back, typing away on our computers. I've been here for a half hour now and all I've done is check my e-mail and read xanga posts. I wonder if he thinks I'm doing something work-related. I don't think he is. Should I feel guilty? Naw--I've got plenty of that stored up for better use.

The neighbor at one of our houses asked for my phone number yesterday. I've decided never to dress up again for reasons such as this. I've attracted several would-be suitors while clad in my old T-shirts and my Dad's hand-me-down, way-too-big-for-me-but-great-for-moving-around-and-not-caring-at-work jeans, paint and dirt, filthy and sweaty.

I'm too sexy,
Construction Kim

Thumbs Up

2005-09-02T15:11:00.000-05:00

Today, I appreciate my thumbs. Long and opposable and perfect for hitching rides, pressing buttons, and non-flagrant hand signals. I'm noticing them today more than usual because I ripped off part of my left thumbnail while picking up a board yesterday. It didn't bleed much and it was not a major tear, but now I could snag it at any moment with any swift move and be in a heap of pain instantly! So I'm gingerly untying my shoes, washing my hands, moving things around on my desk. What I miss most is the ability to clean out the gunk that collects underneath the nails of my right hand. I have to go to the length of digging out my fingernail clippers and using that nifty cleaning attachment if I really want to look clean, which I do because it's Friday and I'm finishing the day with office work and there is one beautiful three-day weekend ahead of me. So, thumbs are great; thumbnails are efficient tools; I'm missing full usage of my digits; man, if this thing snags on something I'm gonna scream!

WORD OF THE DAY: Denarius
I've been doing this construction thing for nearly one year and finally today I learned what the "d" on 16d and 8d nails refers to: denarius. I always assumed it was a measurement abbreviation and wondered why we usually call them 16 penny or 8 penny instead. As I was flipping through a Women Build manual, I discovered the background of my query. In the age of the Roman empire, denarius was the cost of that specific nail per 100. We English folks changed it to penny--makes sense--and now the mystery is solved.

I bruised my hip flexor this afternoon. "How does one even hit that part of the leg on anything hard enough to leave a mark?" you ask. Allow me to enlighten you. CoJo and I were shoveling dirt out of the back of the truck. We were filling in the moat-type hole in the porch area of our latest build. The excavators dig an outline for the block layers to, well, lay blocks as foundation for the house and porch. I had one foot on land, the other on block, and we were filling in the gap between the two. I miscalculated the size of said gap so when I readjusted my footing, my leg slipped into the hole and my hip slammed onto the tail gate. It hurt, but I'm tough. (You know, instead of complaining about it there in front of CoJo, I'm whining on my blog.)

Boo Hoo,
Construction Kim

All Wrong

2005-08-31T22:31:00.000-05:00

With gas prices soaring, Boss John thought he would do us a favor and fill up the work truck this morning before they hiked up any more. I discovered this because I had a gas leak when I got to site. It was literally pouring out of the tank! There goes $6! Several friendly drivers knocked on their windows to inform me of the overflow as did one of the block-layers, cigarette in hand. I felt slightly embarrassed. For all they know, I was the one who got carried away--silly girl in that big truck, doesn't know how to handle it. That's also how I feel sometimes when Boss John sends me on a wild goose chase at the store having used a name that no one else knows for whatever supplies I'm supposed to find. The employees look at me like I'm crazy. There are worse things in the world than a blemished image.

I wore a white T-shirt today. I should have known better, but I suppose subconsciously I was hoping not to work too hard. That didn't pan out, but my shirt isn't too filthy, either.

I've become known as the food prude in the office. Most of the other staff eat out every day for lunch. I hate eating out, especially fast food. So, I pack my veggie burgers and salads and vegetables and I get harassed for it.

PET PEEVE OF THE DAY: getting made fun of for doing good things

I was busy typing a message to e-mail to our AmeriCorps coordinator when Coworker Joe walked into my office. My desk is right by the back door, so it's not like he barged in, but he stopped and stared over my shoulder as I was proofreading. "Send it!" he ordered. What business is it of his, anyway? And what happened to our improving camaraderie?

Why is everybody always pickin' on me,
Construction Kim

All By Myself

2005-08-24T14:06:00.000-05:00

I got to use my cement shaping skills once more! I was explaining the work to a friend and told him how the IMI guy pours it, but my job is to finesse it! Boss John was full of compliments on my work, but he was still very reluctant to let me finish the job on my own when he had to leave site for a meeting. I was up for the challenge but somewhere between insulted and understanding at his hesitancy. Of all the parts of these homes that I've had a hand in, this one will be visible for a long time. I wanted to do a good job and I had a blast working and waiting and timing it all morning (except for CoJo's demeaning attitude which, contrary to popular belief, does not make my job easier). I may have found my calling...

Broom, divide, edge,
Construction Kim

Music to my Ears

2005-08-22T20:10:00.000-05:00

TOOL OF THE DAY: the radio

The truck finally bit the dust, yesterday. She's been taking an average of three tries to actually get started lately, but *cough*sputter*click* she wasn't having any of it this time. So, she went into the shop and came out not only more agreeable to starting but also with radio and speedometer and odometer in full running condition! I've driven this green beast around for the past 11 months singing to myself with only the percussion of rolling lumber to accompany me, but now...I am overjoyed! I immediately programmed my favorite stations.

Button 1: 93.1 for when I'm feeling ghetto
Button 2: 97.1 "Hank FM, We play anything country."
Button 3: Z99.5 gotta love Smiley in the Morning
Button 4: 102.5 WMDH, more country
Button 5: 104.1 WLBC land, usually with Kim Morris, sometimes Steve Lyndell
Button 6: 105.7 to round out the easy listening, not my favorite, but I had an extra button

CoJo tempted fate today by standing directly behind the truck to direct me. Little does he know that one day I will have to break. (And since I'm loving the pun...) Someone should advice him to steer clear of me, just in case.

I discovered a new business--selling dirt. Did you know you can buy dirt? We drove to the pay booth, they weighed the truck before we loaded and I went bounding up and down mounds of dirt road to more mounds of dirt and big machines. It was the thing of little boys' dreams! Even I just wanted to hop out and play in the oversized sand box for awhile, but then I don't think most people who know me would be surprised by that. Dirt cheap is an accurate term, by the way. It cost us less than $5 for a ton of pit run!

And to round out another silly day o' work, CoJo and I emptied a load of cardboard/trash into the office dumpster. There was a lot to toss and I hopped in to crush it down to make room for more. I was slipping all over the place and very well could have hurt myself but there was a lot of giggling and I made it out unscathed.

Dumpster Diver,

Construction Kim

Again and Again and Again

2005-08-17T19:03:00.000-05:00

Boy am I grumpy!

Our work plans changed, again.

I woke up late and had to rush to work, again.

John was late, again.

I need a nap,
Construction Kim

Wastin' Away Again

2005-08-16T18:36:00.000-05:00

We had volunteers from 8-12 this morning then met back at the office to wait for our AmeriCorps coordinator to arrive and take us to lunch. Officially, she was there to go over exit papers and explain educational award details to us, but Cindy promises to feed us whenever we get together. She got on the road late, but free lunch was worth the wait especially since we decided to dine at Puerto Vallarta, a fine Mexican cuisine establishment very popular in Muncie. Now, I can't say for sure whose idea it was, but I'm certain that I was not the one to first mention the wonder that is PV margaritas. Of course, neither did I shun the idea of kicking back at 2 in the afternoon at a work meeting. Frozen strawberry bliss ensued.

Best meeting EVER,
Construction Kim

Surely, this is the result of too many fumes.

2005-08-15T20:51:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a dream.

It's a modest dream but powerful and miraculous in its culmination as any dream has ever been.

I dream that one day the children of the Lord who come to build houses with and for other children of the Lord will enjoy vast space in which to color this world, one wall at a time. Yes, in my dream the halls will no longer be cluttered by the iniquity of bare luaun; we will no longer feel the need to cram window sills into caged rooms in houses without air or heat; the putrid fumes of prime and paint will meet their match in a ventilated space free from overcrowding; and abundant space will exist for the cleansing of brushes, rollers, and in turn souls.

And when my dream is realized and I have moved on from this construction life, I will paint no more, paint no more, Thank God Almighty--I will paint no more.

Maybe one day,
Construction Kim

Conversations at Work

2005-08-09T19:46:00.000-05:00

My trip to Lowe's today included a couple of raise-your-eyebrow interactions. First, I was chatting with one of the service reps, proud of my budding small talk skills.

ME: "It figures, I always go down the wrong aisle!" I remarked as we both turned down the row that was full of people and carts and the forklift crew.
HIM: After pausing his gait and letting me go ahead, "But you look good going down the wrong
aisle."
ME: Silently to self behind an impulsive, nervous smile, "WHAT? Awkward!"

Later, as I was checking out, the manager walked toward me offering, "You need help getting that loaded? You wanna get loaded?" he smirked. "Gregory, I'm at work!" I replied in the necessary, goodie-goodie tone. "It's too hot for all this work," he said. "Ya just need to sit down with a cold beer..." He proceeded to correctly predict that I wasn't so much a beer person as a margarita girl. We have fun flirting like that when I walk in with my daily shopping list. He's older than my father, I'm sure, so it's not a threatening thing by any means. If anyone asks, I always prefer Lowe's because of the fraternizing--er, uh--I mean customer service!

Improving Home Improvement (and customer relations),
Construction Kim

$*@&

2005-08-06T19:32:00.000-05:00

I hit my head on a 2x6. I stopped on the way back to site to use the port-o-potty and was watching the ground as I walked back to the truck when --BONK! No one was around which means I was mad but not embarrassed and no one heard me cuss. I had to stop for few seconds, wait for the feeling to return to my legs and let drop the automatic tear that was jolted from my left eye. It was one of those hits square on top of my noggin that could have left a mark, but my hair covers it so no one will ever know if I don't tell them. But I sorta wanted someone to know, to sympathize, to hug and console me. It reminds me of all the emotional scars and bumps I hide and how I wish so deeply that people could see and treat those, too.

Maybe that hit did some damage, after all.

Deep as the ocean,
Construction Kim

Move That Bus

2005-08-01T20:27:00.000-05:00

We did it! We built a house in eight--make that seven days! Our work was finished yesterday afternoon and Betty started unpacking this evening! She had been working with us up until Wednesday when she was banished from the site, instructed not even to drive by her lot, until today. She came in via police escort to greet dozens of volunteers, friends, and family members who had come to help her celebrate the special day. We copied the format of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" complete with a charter bus being rolled away to reveal her new, complete home. She told us she doesn't know how she stayed up on her own two legs! One down, six to go.

Dreams do come true,
Construction Kim

The Early Shift

2005-07-29T19:25:00.000-05:00

I continue to enjoy good relations with Coworker Joe this week. It doesn't hurt that his grandpa has taken us out to breakfast twice. Now, all our call times have been early for this blitz, so getting out of bed even earlier for breakfast is a challenge, but omelets at Bob Evans and The Sunshine Cafe are well worth it. Let's face it, I'd be tired either way, so I might as well get free breakfast out of the deal!

It was another 12-hour work day that involved a lot of driving on my part. I went to Lowe's like usual, but I went to Lowe's in Anderson--unusual! It turns out the staff at that branch is equally as helpful and friendly as its Muncie counterpart. I did a lot of waiting because there were other customers who needed help loading. I drove the box truck down there, and I still think it's strange that I'm allowed to do that. It seems like I should need a special license or something, but apparently not. At least it has a working radio! I sped down the highway in that giant truck, all macho and construction-like until I realized I was singing along to "Let's Hear it for the Boy" at top speed and volume! My world is full of paradox.

Footloose,
Construction Kim

When I was your Age

2005-07-28T21:28:00.000-05:00

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"They had to bring a Baptist in to show the Methodists what to do!" --Lloyd
(Ha! Ha! Christian humor!)

My favorite retiree came by site today to work on his specialty--the side porch. It looks amazing, as usual. Here's another gem he dropped:

"At 85 I'm happy to be able to do all I want to do."

I love him!

Gotta love good ol' church humor,
Construction Kim

One Thing at a Time?

2005-07-27T17:25:00.000-05:00

The office housekeeper, James, called me Superwoman today because I was unloading the truck all by myself at the end of the day. Maybe he was more impressed that I was talking on the phone all the while.

They call me the MultiTasker,
Construction Kim

Miracle

2005-07-26T21:10:00.000-05:00

CoJo and I had a moment today! There I was stuck with the painting group, growing more and more irritated with every brush stroke when he comes storming in with another volunteer, undoubtedly to harass me. He made some comment like, "Having fun?" the answer to which he already knew. In an instant of sheer cooperative genius on my part, I decided to play along and instead of getting crabby, be the first one to the punchline. "Oh, the wonderful world of painting," I began tongue in cheek, "I know, poor me..." I trailed off with a shoulder nudge in his direction. To my surprise, he threw his arm around me for a side hug--our first and last--and I was not angry. Wow!

Why can't we be friends,
Construction Kim

And Away We Go

2005-07-23T19:18:00.000-05:00

Today marked the first day of Muncie Habitat's first ever blitz build. In just eight days, we plan to raise an entire house and next Sunday, our proud home owner, Betty, will be able to move in with her three daughters and two grandchildren.

CoJo's grandpa initiated this build to honor his and Maraby's 50th wedding anniversary. Together with their family and their church (College Avenue United Methodist), this project is finally underway after months of planning. More to come...

Mmm Mmm Good!

2005-07-14T13:14:00.000-05:00

My lunch today could have been photographed for SELF magazine: all-natural peanut butter and spreadable fruit on whole wheat bread (the sophisticated PB&J), baby carrots (no dip), plain yogurt mixed with fresh strawberries (in an attempt to cut back on the super-sugary but oh-so-good pre-blended variety).

A girl's got to eat,
Construction Kim

My Ears!

2005-07-12T17:41:00.000-05:00

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'm a virgin." --Volunteer Thinkbeforeyouspeak
The words in the early morning air haulted all activity and everyone lowered their heads to chuckle off the embarrassment. Perhaps more jarring was the follow-up Boss John offered--"We'll change that today." The volunteer forgot one key word in his statement--"construction virgin" would have saved me a blush!

Speaking of confessions, it's time I admit to my readers a very potent realization in my life--maybe not so new to those around me--I'm not a nice person. I'd rather do a task than sit down and chat. If my hands are busy, then I don't mind talking, but it's hard to sit still and converse otherwise. I realize that my job--especially when it's slow and I'm complaining--is MUCH better when I chew the fat with volunteers. Old habits are hard to change and keeping to myself seems so much easier. I'm getting better, though.

The seed and straw grass planting method we use on our houses in Muncie is a distant second to the sod technique from JCWP, but the bails of hay make me want to hop on a wagon, ride around the country side at dusk, and return home for s'mores by the campfire. We sprinkle grass seed over the dirt then top it with straw to hold down the seed and trap in moisture. I think there are more straw bits on my shirt and up my nose than on the ground! Spreading the seed makes me think of Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" when she feeds the chickens and sings "I want much more than this provincial life." I love that movie. (When did I stop writing about construction?)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "They church-goers."
One of our partner families offered this explanation about the good neighbors another partner family was expected to have. It made me think of the differences in white and black church life. That sounds watered down and stereotypical, but the experiences and the respect for Christian beliefs are totally different between the two communities. I don't have a well-balanced view, and I don't have any finishing thoughts about it, the comment just made me think...

How can I have s'more if I didn't have any in the first place,
Construction Kim

"Dumb-Dumb, Only Plugs Go Here!"

2005-07-11T19:16:00.000-05:00

I prefer afternoons.
I prefer volunteering over leading.

PET PEEVE OF THE DAY: paint where it ought not to be
Does it really make sense to paint over outlets and light switch covers? I spent 15 minutes scraping dried paint out of two outlets this morning. Louie the Lightning Bug would have a field day with me! Actually, the wiring is not hooked up so I was in no danger, but if I get my hands on whoever clogged the outlets...I can make no promises about their well-being.*

In my ongoing attitude toward painting, I've been forced to really dig into the depths of my soul and untangle the precise reasons why I loathe it so. When I'm doing trim, I hate the necessary precision; give me a hammer and let me swing. And I assume too much about the volunteers' common sense; painting is not hard at all but it is extremely easy to make the job more difficult than it really is.

The simple rules of painting I take for granted are as follows:

paint in strokes up and down or in an X pattern, one way, not sideways, is best
don't let the roller touch the floor because then you apply dirt to the wall with each stroke thereafter
don't paint over fixtures
don't paint door hinges
clean up any messes you make immediately before the paint dries
drips are not acceptable
pretend this is your home and paint accordingly
step back from your work from time to time to check for drips and missed spots
don't forget the corners
THOROUGHLY clean brushes and rollers to extend the use of these tools: rinse until water runs clear, shake out excess moisture, lay flat or hanging to dry

I paced around the site today with my handy pad of paper, jotting down these thoughts trying to look like I was doing something important when I was really just trying to cool off and keep busy. I'm still draggin', functioning on very little sleep. The rain has made the air a little cooler, and at least it's nice not to have to bother with sunscreen for a change.

I had a rough start to the day. I showed up at 7 and CoJo mosied in at 8. Boss John was busy measuring stuff so I loaded the truck all by myself. I don't mind unloading at the end of the day as much, but I would have loved an extra hour of sleep, too. Maybe I'll ask for some vacation time next week, though Boss John was kind enough to give me a day off last week while the boys were out and I was down in the dumps. The people I work with are understanding like that. We get worked like mules, but they understand that things pile up and sometimes we just need a break and they're flexible with our schedules.

I think we should blitz every house we build. It doesn't have to be as intense as the JCWP, maybe two weeks, a couple of dedicated, organized volunteer groups, a little more planning, a lot less down time, precise goals for each day--maybe that's all I really want--structure and to keep busy.

Color me exhausted,

Construction Kim

*No volunteers were harmed in the making of this blog.

May I Take Your Order, Please?

2005-07-09T20:08:00.000-05:00

GRRR...
I'm dealing with alpha male today who thinks he knows what he's doing and may very well BUT he's making a mess and joking with me about not making the cut while pulling things out of my hands. (I should also mention I'm in charge of painting, again, so temper the rest of my outrage accordingly.) I can understand a spill here or there, or everywhere for that matter--it happens. I can understand having an off day. I can understand wanting to live up to your years of experience, but DO NOT take things out of my hands unless they are burning my flesh or I've accepted your help or I'm clearly offering them to you. The same guy that knocked over not one but two buckets of paint this morning alone, yanked rags out of my hands as I was on my way to clean up another mess as if I was bringing his precious supplies directly to him, the head honcho, the number one, the most important. Maybe I should rethink a career so closely linked to...people.

And to add to my anger, enter Coworker Joe who stormed in just after the second paint spill of the day (from one man, mind you, the top dog, the--okay, I'll get over it) announcing "I'm taking the radio." Music was the only thing I had going for me this morning. "Good," was Top Dog's reply. Well, who am I to trump a volunteer? (It's sort of the same concept as "The customer is always right," which is ludicrous but Rule #1 in customer service, regardless.) I grumbled at CoJo for the order and told him I wouldn't mind if he had simply asked. And I would have kept it even if I didn't want it just to make my point except that you-know-who was anti-anything pleasant in my life at the time. To sum it up: no respect, no control, no music, no sanity.

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE "IDIOT" ACT OF THE DAY:
I stopped by Speedway on my way back from an errand to refuel. As I was filling my tank, some guy drove between pumps and tossed his lit cigarette butt out of the car window. It made my jaw drop and I did say "idiot" out loud. It also made me think of the gas scenes in "Romeo and Juliet" and "Zoolander," only the real-life version was much less entertaining.

What were they thinking,
Construction Kim

Bzzz...

2005-07-05T16:57:00.000-05:00

I've had two firsts this week. Last night, I rode a motorcycle for the first time. (I didn't like it. I couldn't relax. I wasn't in control. And I was riding with one of my girl friends; maybe it might have been worth it if I had been clutching tightly to a big strong man, but as it was I just held onto the back and wished for it to be over while praising myself for at least trying.) And today, Boss John let me use the chainsaw! The tree guys (I have no idea what to really call them) uprooted several large trees at our latest lot and one of them was massive so we chopped it up into smaller, more manageable pieces so we can eventually lug it off the property. We wore lab coats to cover our arms, gloves, and goggles because there was poison ivy all over the place. I've never had a run-in with poison ivy so I don't know if it would cause a bad reaction in me. I guess we'll see.

All the vibrating from the chainsaw made my arms tingle and it felt funny to set it down for a break. My arms still felt like they were shaking just like you still feel like you can glide after you take your roller skates off or jump high after you finish your turn on the trampoline. My hands were tired, too, not my arms so much but I must have had quite the death grip on that thing. I feel tough, and I'm covered in bits of tree bark. Do you suppose that has exfoliating properties?

Neither Texas nor Massacre,
Construction Kim

Back to the Grind

2005-06-30T17:44:00.000-05:00

I lost my work phone several weeks ago, so today I'm using Coworker Joe's since he's out of town. I'm not used to the ring, so I've become one of those people who lets their phone ring and ring and ring, unrecognized in my pocket.

WORD OF THE DAY: Shamper (dictionary.com doesn't even know this one, or I'm that far off
on the spelling)
The screw holes in a door hinge have one flat side and one indented. The latter "shamper" side allows the screw to sink deeper, thus it lays plumb (flat) with the hinge. See, I'm still learning things. I also have the phrase "Jelly's last jam" running through my head because we're hanging doors...on the door jams...it's been one of those days.

I feel like I'm coming down from a high after last week's events. The work here is different. The workers here are different. There will be no Ultimate Frisbee tonight. I am sad...and bored...and hot. It's one of those humid days that makes me want to reach up and wring out the air for a drink of water; if it's this sticky and miserable, there might as well be some kind of benefit to it all.

As part of my busy schedule, I thumbed through the Menards ad today. Why are there food ads in the lumber yard circular? And is the word "feel" really necessary on the carpet page's "Incredibly Soft Feel?" It's like the juice "drink" disclaimer. I don't get it.

Feelin' like a zombie,
Construction Kim

Oh What a Beautiful Mourning

2005-06-27T17:36:00.000-05:00

I got back to Muncie around 8:00 last night and between unpacking and sitting down to a marathon journaling session about my JCWP experience, I didn't climb into bed until 3:30 this morning! It was more of a plop than a climb, I suppose, due to the late hour and the fact that my mattress sits on the floor.

I'm mourning my JCWP crew. I miss Tobin's headband. I miss Liz's face in the trailer. I even miss Bryce's teasing! Getting back into the normal Habitat routine is definitely a step down compared to last week, but I had a good day at work for what it was (despite being zombie-like and sleepy at the wheel; I hate that feeling). I made two trips to Lowe's where the employees did all the work for me from finding materials to loading my cart to loading the truck. They make my job so easy, sometimes; don't tell Boss John!

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Do you work here?" --Lowe's customer, directed at me
It is often my home away from home during the work day. I got a good chuckle out of that one.

I managed to avoid painting, again, today, just like last week. It's a beautiful thing! Other than that, I helped staple insulation. There's nothing that feels quite like fiberglass particles against your delicate, sticky skin in a house with no airflow. Hey, it beats painting!

CoJo's birthday is today, and he was extra nice for the few minutes I was around him. He patiently showed me how to load the staple gun, let me use the hammer-stapler which is much preferable to the squeeze handle, and was abnormally calm and quiet. He should have birthdays more often!

The rat race returns,
Construction Kim

SATURDAY

2005-06-25T17:07:00.000-05:00

So here I am safe and sound and clean at my parents' house recording the facts and trying to express all that this week has meant to me. My heart is aching. I am busted up inside. I've never felt this longing, this emptiness over missing my friends so intensely. Early in the morning, Cindy drove Bethany and me to South Bend where my parents, bless their chauffeur hearts, were waiting to take us home. (Bethany's house is on the way for us.)

After dropping Bethany off, we stopped at McDonald's for breakfast. I wasn't exactly bursting with details because I was busy dealing internally with this peculiar separation anxiety. My dad reiterated my sentiment from last night, "I don't want to leave." I opened my mouth to share about the incredible time I had just being with the AmeriCorps crew when all of a sudden I found myself crying over hotcakes. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I had no idea I would become so attached to these wonderful people in this short amount of time. Liz was a great roommate; we laughed a lot, which encouraged me not to hold back on those parts of my personality and humor and dance that I might otherwise stifle. She is musical and intelligent and taught me new, fabulous words. Diane is honest. Joe Wood is a caring father figure, so gentle and patient. Sean has a contagious laugh is one of the most personable people I've ever met. Bethany is fearless and strong and outgoing. I was glad to spend time with Andrew outside of the work environment where I'm usually too grouchy to incite camaraderie and I knew he'd have a blast with the other guys. Bryce is quick-witted and good-natured; he's the class clown who fits in everywhere he goes. Tobin is intelligent and cosmopolitan (definition #3 on dictionary.com); I saw a goofy side of him this week--from the argyle socks to the silly kid camp songs--that made my heart happy.

Hard work has always been attractive to me and it was in each and every one of the volunteers who put sweat and smiles into building a home for Lou Ann and her daughter. A home where they can finally hang pictures on the walls. A home where they each have their privacy in separate bedrooms. A home where Lou can look out her kitchen window--seven inches off and all--and watch the happenings in her neighborhood. I'm broken up because our year of service ends in September/October. All three Bloomington members are staying for another year and I couldn't be more ecstatic, unless of course they all transferred up to Muncie! But the EC folks are moving on and I can't believe it took so long for me to appreciate them the way that I do now just to say goodbye in a few short months. I claim that I know the most amazing people in the world and I call them my friends, even my brothers and sisters. This week, I added to that list of people I never want to be away from. We bonded so quickly. It is a pure desire to spend more time with these men and women, listening to their stories, making new memories, working side by side and laughing until I cry. Of course, I didn't want it to end.

My clothes are in the wash. I'm in recovery. I can't wait to get my pictures developed and tap into the house 17 e-mail list. I find it hard to believe that I haven't been in contact with the HabiCorps family since the beginning, but there's a remedy for that now, I hope.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"And what happened then...?
Well...in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch's small heart
Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light" --Dr. Seuss
I feel like my heart has grown, at least for these people in this all-too-short time we spent together. I'm thankful even for my heartache because it means this task-oriented girl opened up and risked the comfort of solitude and seclusion to really connect to the precious lives around her. It was worth it, and it is only possible because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Great Lakes, Great Times,
Construction Kim

FRIDAY

2005-06-25T16:56:00.000-05:00

It was our last day on sight, and the site was a-buzz with finishing touches, pictures, downtime games, and tears. I volunteered for window cleaning duty at our morning meeting. I snuck away from the group to go buy a gift for House Leader John and when I came back, I traded that window job for more sod laying--talk about an upgrade! Instead of squeaky clean glass, I played in the dirt! I was elbow deep in filth, my knees were soggy and grass-stained, and I was filled with the glee of a child. We rolled out the rest of the sod. I cut pieces to fit the awkward shape toward the back of the house. I cut grass outlines around a bush and the garden and filled in spaces with smelly mulch. Dan (originally from Marion, IN, now a Florida resident, past JCWP friends of my Boss John) was adamant that I keep on task and that no one else stole my job from me; I thanked him for it later and he said he knows what it's like to have idle hands on the work site. I appreciated his care over me.

As I finished my job in true Pig Pen style, I realized that haven't been this happy since last Labor Day when a bunch of us spent the day at the lake swimming, throwing frisbee and football, and I cranked out a couple of 360's on the knee board! There was nothing distinctly special about the events of that day, and I still have trouble explaining it, but there was a pure joy in that freetime that I don't often experience. Today, I had that same feeling. It was the culmination of all the people and activity that surrounded me in those five amazing days. It was working and sweating and laughing and sharing meals with my friends all week long. It was asking Lou to wipe the dirt of my nose because I could see it out of the corner of my eye, but my wiping it with my DIRTY hands was not an option. It was gathering around Tobin as he sang camp song after camp song complete with silly camp song dance moves (not to mention the headband, aviators, and argyle socks).

Eric returned to site, today. He had duties to fulfill in the Habitat shop after lunch, but he couldn't resist hanging out with us for one more day! Who could blame him?!

Around 10:30, we all gathered in front of the house for THE picture of the week...the one with Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn! The photographers and helpers preceded his visit and bombarded us with orders for the photo moment: no more than three lines, smush in close like sardines, do not move your feet until the President has moved on to the next house! I was lucky to be in the center of the photo huddle when he arrived. As he talked to us, I could see right up his nose and I'm happy to have that memory of the day! He handed a Bible to Lou and asked us, "I know you have the loudest home owner, but was she the best?" Lou's reputation precedes her! They snapped the picture and the secret service men spared our lives. I repeat, no volunteers were harmed in the taking of this photo.

With that business out of the way, I tossed up my hair in pony tails and sported my new Habitat for Humanity headband. We passed out gifts to Lou and her daughter and to John for all the hard work he did in organizing not only the work in Michigan, but also the coordination to get us all here for the opportunity of a lifetime. After lunch, a few of us took a tour around the entire site to see how other groups had designed their landscapes and porches and gables. The house designs are all the same basic plan, but crews took liberty to punch up those little touches, so each home has a unique personality.

We all got our cameras out when Lou climbed the ladder and nailed in the final piece of siding on her house. Then we had the official dedication where House Leader John presented Lou with the keys to her new home and new beginning. It was touching, but I think the excitement and whirlwind or the week swept me up and I surprised myself by not even tearing up. I was touched by others' misty eyes, though, and I could hardly believe it was all ending.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "A blind girl with a saw is like a blind girl with a car!" --Ginny Owens
At the end of the closing ceremony, I was surprised to learn that Christian musician, Ginny Owens, had been in Benton Harbor lending a helping hand to house number 3. She is a fabulous singer/songwriter/pianist who just happens to be blind, though if you listen to her lyrics, you might say she sees more than most. It was a treat to hear her perform. The opening line from her first song was "You only live once, so you better think twice" and she closed with one of my favorite ballads, "If You Want Me To."

We drove back to the dorms early today so we'd actually have a chance to clean up before the closing ceremony that night. I barely said a word at supper. I was struck with sadness because people were starting to leave. Our group was disappearing before my eyes like Marty McFly singing "Earth Angel." All I could think of was how my momentous week was crashing to a hault and I just wanted to pack everyone into my suitcase and take them home with me. On top of all that, there was no ultimate frisbee tonight! What's a girl to do? In my stupor, I wandered around the halls back at Andrews trying to decide what to do for the evening. I threw the frisbee around for a few minutes with Ethan and Sean and debated whether or not to go to St. Joseph on the bus for an evening of walking around downtown. I felt like hanging out with the same crowd I had grown close to all week, but they were droppin' like flies, so it wasn't an option. Plus, Andrews University is Seventh Day Adventists campus and the Sabbath was about to begin; that translates into reverent quiet hours...I hopped on that bus. Sarah, one of our Willow Creek friends, was saving a seat for me. The bus was already leaving later than planned, but I thought I had a bit of time. I ran upstairs to grab my bag and invite Bethany. I waited for Bethany only to realize she had climbed on the bus before me and when the bus driver saw me walking out the door, I heard her holler to the back, "Is she wearing pigtails?" and I knew that was my cue to run. I felt a little silly, but at least I didn't miss my ride. Thanks, Sarah.

In St. Jo, we headed directly for the ice cream shop. I passed on dessert for the evening; while it is my favorite food, I knew I'd be loved with some of Mom's home cooking and probably a dinner or two out when I went home for the rest of the weekend so I decided to save my appetite. We almost watched Bethany get a tattoo, but the shop was closing; I don't think I could have handled that anyway. So instead, we strolled down to the beach. The group had split, boys and girls, and we ladies took a walk down the pier. Before that, though, we stopped for acrobatics at what I've decided to call "Cartwheel Field." All that open space--I couldn't pass it up. The pier walk was gorgeous. The waves splashed, the seagulls scattered, we girls giggled among other conversation. It was dark and I didn't even notice moonlight across the water, but a few sailboats lingered in the evening breeze and the lighthouse was its usual beacon self. Shannon, Sarah, Yoona, Bethany, and I sat on the edge and simply shared life. It was a delicate end to an exciting week.

Don't make me go,
Construction Kim

THURSDAY

2005-06-25T16:47:00.000-05:00

I began the day by crawling under the house and insulating the floor sill in the crawl space. Our crawls in Muncie are about three feet high; we use cement blocks and the ground is covered in pea gravel. In Michigan, they poured concrete and even hung drywall and there was a little more room to maneuver, just enough to make you think you had enough space but not enough to avoid hitting your head on vents and beams. Sean, Heidi, and I were down there and things got pretty steamy--you know, because of our long sleeves, air masks, and safety goggles. I wish I were internet savvy enough to post the picture of the three of us; you can't even see Sean's eyes because the face masks didn't seal very well and all our breath fogged up the glasses! I managed once again, today, to dodge paint duties; I could get used to this. I also made that last window frame with Jack's help. Again, I was empowered by the coveted cordless nail gun.

In the afternoon, sod arrived and we laid out the yard like we were tossing rugs on the kitchen floor. Each piece was about 3x1 and we set it on the ground like patchwork, being careful to mismatch seams. They came to us in rolls, much like carpet, but dirtier. It was crazy-easy and it transformed the look of the house in a matter of minutes ! Plus, I got dirty, and what girl doesn't love that? Frosting on the cake, I say.

WHIRLPOOL EMPLOYEE OF THE DAY: Eric
Unlike Mike, Eric was one of our one-day workers. It's too bad, because he fit right in with the group. That's what I love about being with these people; they're all so friendly that everyone feels welcome. I know I don't want to leave.

There was a bit more standing around today as we waited for people to water the lawn and watched the others hustle in and out of the house. We're winding down, and too many people inside is just a nuisance. Every so often, I would step into the house to see if there was anything I could help with but there just wasn't much to do. A man drove by in one of the support vehicles (a golf cart) with a gift of water balloons! I didn't throw or get hit, but I had a good time watching everyone gang up on Tobin. Which leads me to...

TOOL OF THE DAY: The Grill Lid
To defend himself from the onslaught, Tobin grabbed the lid off the neighbor's BBQ grill to use as his handy shield. If he weren't so good at all things athletic, I would have felt bad for him, but he held his own pretty well.

Jason and Ethan spent a lot of time installing cabinets today. We ran into a problem when they discovered that the kitchen window was set seven inches off from the plan! Needless to say, they had to make adjustments. I could tell they were frustrated, but I enjoyed watching the camaraderie between them as they worked through the challenge. Ethan, by the way, wore a pink Women Build construction hat all week. You gotta respect that.

While we were in the front yard, I glanced to my right to see an old man trip over a crack in the sidewalk. I chuckled softly but the men around him seemed to take special notice of the stumble. Yes, I just laughed at the President! He moseyed past our house and Eric shook his hand. I almost said nothing, didn't want to bother him, and realized what I was--or wasn't--doing. "Hi!" I said. "Hi, Sweetheart!" I shook his hand. When I retold this story later, someone asked if I was in fact a sweetheart. Who am I to argue with a former president? I didn't get a picture with him, but Mother would be proud.

Good touch, bad touch--I couldn't quite decide. Across the street from our site was the first aid tent and Monday, we caught word that there were free massages to be had in the tent next to that. I was timid the first few days but decided to go for it today. There were two ladies giving chair massgaes and another woman giving table massages. I've had a chair massage before, so I figured I'd try the other while it was free. Looking back, it would have been more beneficial to sit in the chair and let her work on my back and shoulders, but can you really go wrong with any kind of massage? It involved a lot of shaking and pressing; I was afraid I might topple off the table onto the floor. All limbs were covered and then we came to the moment I had been warned about--the butt massage. Some of the other volunteers were talking about it, and I was tempted to ask her to leave my backside alone, but I didn't want to be that girl, and besides, it's clearly professional and health-related...but still weird--especially considering there were other people waiting in line, watching me get my butt sqeezed by a stranger. Ah well, I'm none the worse for it. When she was finished, she told me my calves were tight and I should have a seat and use the massage stick on them for a while. I smiled--why on earth would my calves be tight, it's not like I've been running up and down the field for the past several nights or trudging through sand on the beach...

Back at the dorms, you guessed it--ultimate frisbee. I'm proud to say I lived up to my nickname once more. Bryce gave me some pointers before the game started, so my throwing improved. Seeing as how he was on the other team, he said he regretted that move; he may have been humoring me, but I'll take it. Defense AND offense--shoot, now I'm a force to be reckoned with...or not. Our Willow Creek friends joined us tonight. It's too bad their timing was so late in the week at so early a game. This was definitely the hottest match we've played, since we started around 6 in the evening with the sunbeams still glowing hot. Coworker Joe got hit in the head with the frisbee; he's even grumpier when he's injured! After the game, which by the way, no one ever claims the victory, I sat under a shade tree where Liz and Cindy and Joe Wood had been watching us play. Joe had his guitar, and though I haven't played mine in several weeks, I picked it up for a couple of country duets with Liz. It was out of tune and I had to pick with my fingernail, but I think we sounded great for a random serenade. Liz sings beautifully.

The plan for the rest of the night was a trip to Hacienda so we could watch the NBA Finals between Detroit and San Antonio. I was rooting for Detroit since 1) we were in Michigan, and 2) Sean was an outnumbered fan, and 3) let's be honest, I watched the TV that had trivia questions scrolling across it all night. I got ready in record time considering the guys headed to the showers right after frisbee while I hosted the sing along AND I even washed my hair AND I didn't delay the carpool. I'm not sure I got all the dirt off me, but then again, that feat may take weeks after this build! At the restaurant, I sat in the middle of the table. I seem to always get stuck in this spot. It's good to get a taste of each half's conversation personality, but on the other hand, I never really get hooked into either group. So, on one side of me was the goof-off table and on the other we had the philosophers. I heard discussion about large families and birth order, people wanting to travel to South America, schooling in Korea, recurring dreams, and the Amish. I also heard quotes from "Saving Silverman" and punchlines that made me happy that I didn't hear the rest of the joke.

Somewhere in the middle of all the gabbing, Bryce discovered that I'm ticklish. For those of you who don't know, it's extreme--one of those sensitivities that puts me on guard when people learn of my secret. Needless to say, he and Tobin tested that weakness and I am no longer safe in their presence. Joe Wood, who had hauled five of us on the way to the restaurant, took off early so the caravan back was packed. I had to sit on Heidi's lap the whole way back, but we managed to squeeze six people into Diane's car. When I got to my room for my latest bedtime of the week, I still had energy to spare. Liz was awake, so I chatted with her for a bit then realized I hadn't done a somersault in my dorm bed, yet. That was remedied soon enough; keep in mind, Liz (and others) has been encouraging my whims all week. Satisifed, I turned out the lights and fell fast asleep.

Let me call you sweetheart,
Construction Kim

WEDNESDAY

2005-06-25T16:41:00.000-05:00

Did I mention the cans of water? One way that Habitat raises money is by recycling aluminum cans. All week, we've been supplied with cans of fresh, oxygenized Habitat for Humanity drinking water. I don't even drink soda, but it is still odd to pull back a pop tab and not send bubbles up my nose. We run out every day, but the refreshment crew is on the ball and we're never in need for long. They must go through thousands a day.

In the morning, I shadowed Jack as he measured and cut lauan to cover the kitchen floor. I don't think I was much help, since I couldn't even carve through the thin wood with my blade and he had to finish what I started, but eventually I was put on staple duty and that was a blast. Unfortunately, I don't think I was very good at that, either, since Tobin and Mike had to follow me and tap down all the staples that weren't below the surface. When I started, Jack told me to staple every four or so inches along the seams and just a few along the rows between. House Leader John jumped in and told me to staple on every x. If you had seen how dense this x pattern was, you would have laughed along with me. These pieces covered the entire kitchen floor and he was telling me to hit every mark of these x's that were row and column four inches apart all the way across! He wasn't joking; while my crew leaders seemed to think it was overkill, the higher-ups requested that exact tactic. I can't tell you how many times I had to reload that staple gun! I got into a groove going up and down the x aisles and I heard one of the guys outside--observing from the open window--tell me to slow down so the air compressor could catch up with me. "Ha Ha" I laughed. "He's serious," said Jack. Mark that up as TWO misinterpreted jokes in ONE morning! That was part of the problem with the staples not going in all the way. Add to that the fact that I often kept stapling after my gun had run out, and it made for a tedious, yet enjoyable, morning job.

TOOL OF THE DAY: Knee pads
They're just little Styrofoam pieces with a Velcro strap, but man they've saved my kneecaps some serious damage. I'd have even more bruises if not for these little beauties. I encourage this purchase if you plan on any significant amount of construction work. They look silly on, but I'd look even sillier walking around with a limp and a grimace.

WHIRLPOOL EMPLOYEE OF THE DAY: Mike, finance department
I helped Mike install pre-made window frames after lunch. I got to use the cordless nail gun that we packed up from the Muncie warehouse; it is power in the palm of myr hand! No pesky pneumatic air hose to drag around the house, no dropping nails and hitting fingers with your everyday basic hammer. The safety makes a warming-up noise for one second then WHAP! your project is finished in a quick, tidy manner.

TOOL OF THE DAY: see above

Poor Tobin had to fill in the nail holes in those window frames; all he did today was clean up my messes! Mike had to leave a little early today, so Andrew and I finished installing frames. I had already put away the two troublesome frames because they didn't fit nicely and it was going to take some work to squeeze them in, so I figured we'd do it tomorrow. AA hopped on board, so I figured we'd look for the double window frame, instead. CoJo caught wind of what we were doing and that we couldn't find the frame, so he took it upon himself to dig out the two I had just put back on the truck, claiming that they were the right ones. No, we needed a bigger one and we were running out of time, so I put them back, again. It turns out we needed to make our own frame for the big living room window, and with the time we did have left, we decided to go ahead and finish the more complicated small ones. I re-unloaded those same two frames once more, AA chiseled away the problematic studs, and I called it a day.

FUZZY FEELING OF THE DAY: As we gathered to leave, Jack told me I must have been the hardest or busiest worker of the day, between the crazy lauan fiasco and framing windows. I don't agree, but it was nice of him to say that.

Mike, Tobin, and I sat with our home owner, Lou Ann, at lunch. She's a riot, and boy does she love to talk! She talked about her family and nosey neighbors and the day she got baptized in here mother's church. "I was growin' for nine months in my mama's belly--nine months. If you see me doin' somethin' wrong, you pray for me. Don't come at me like I'm gonna change immediately, you pray for me." Moral of the story: It takes time to grow. Amen.

That night, we enjoyed a beach party at Jean Klock Park. It was gorgeous and after changing into my suit and reapplying sunblock for the third time that day, I joined the gang for some beach volleyball. I didn't play very well, but I had fun. A group from Willow Creek church in Illinois, is working on a couple of houses this week. They were easily identifiable and labeled as the "orange shirt people" from day one; two of their guys joined us on the court. After three games, I decided it was time to eat. Would you believe I've never had pork ribs before? They were delicious. I liken them to corn-on-the-cob in that you simply have to succumb to the fact that you will get messy eating them and you might as well do it all at once. After that, and in part to rinse my sticky fingers, I jumped in the lake. It was too cold for my liking, but Yoona took no mercy and splashed my tip-toe-to-the-deep-end body. Needless to say, it wasn't long before I rejoined the volleyball players. By this time, I had warmed up a little (body and ability) and racked up several points for the team.

This whole time change thing continues to mess with my head. Our last game was abruptly cut off by last call for the bus ride back to Andrews. It was only 8:30, the sun was still high in the sky (it was merely half past 7 Indiana time), and we had plenty of game left in us. At least at the dorms, there was ice cream awaiting our arrival! It partially made up for the early dismissal. They were offering it to us as an apology for the cold water showers. Hey, whatever it takes to get ice cream and toppings!

After the night cap, a few of us weren't quite ready to turn in, so we gathered in the lobby for a card game. It's hard to be quiet when you're having so much fun, but it was past 10 pm and late sleepers miss the bus.

Surf and turf,
Construction Kim

TUESDAY

2005-06-25T16:36:00.000-05:00

"Paul's group, on the roof." Have there ever been sweeter words uttered in the English language? I was part of Paul's group, and yes, I was on the roof today! My prayers were answered and I loved every minute of it. Between the perfect weather and our good fortune to have shade trees on both sides of our house, I could have flown off that roof and landed safely. Since that was probably against Habitat safety rules, however, I let the feeling pass.

We had two groups nailing down shingles and as we reached the point of the roof, the numbers dwindled and I was one of the lucky ones who remained until the job was done. Of course, we ran into a few problems with uneven lines, but we cheated our way back to linear. At one point, Paul--crew leader--stepped down from the roof. I suggested we check our lines for eveness, and when I discovered we were off I felt confident in sharing my solution for fixing it. I don't know where this confidence came from; one roof and I'm an expert, right? But the others agreed with me and we got back on track (and later back off track), so I at least felt like a leader for that brief, shining moment. Maybe it was the thin air at such a high altitude that made me feel indestructible...or maybe I got sick of us all asking what to do and I just made a decision once and for all. We were racing the clock to finish ridge vent by noon--our personal goal--but we made it and ate lunch at ease and ahead of schedule. Setback? What setback?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It's not a competition; it's construction." --Bryce
Someone was distracted by this idea that our work must be fast and we must be the first ones finished and we must move at lightning speed no matter what the cost or how great the number of casualties. I'm not going to mention names, but if you've read long enough, you might have an idea...

There was much musical entertainment in the food tent. No, I'm not talking about the consequences of baked beans, but mini choirs and bands entertained the crowd for each morning and noon meal. They were a great compliment to breakfast as we finished waking up over scrambled eggs and French toast sticks. However, I felt bad for some of the afternoon groups since by that time we were all a-buzz with the excitement of the day and they were drowned out by all the volunteers trying to talk over them for lunch conversation. I couldn't find the regular crowd, so I ate with two new folks in the three seats we could find near each other. I was wearing my "Topeka" softball shirt and the lady next to me asked if it was Kansas, which is the usual response. "Indiana," I corrected. "Oh, I grew up there," she said. It turns out she went to high school with my dad--same class, even! Trippy! First my cousins, now this--I wonder who I'll run into next.

TOOL OF THE DAY: The Toolbelt
After we ate, I spent the rest of the day taking laps around the house, looking for nails and trash to pick up and offering a helping hand to whomever needed it as I passed. I felt very useful with my pouch of nails, my hammer, and my utility knife. I was never steadily employed but I was moving and occupied all day long.

Part of my day was spent on scaffolding, assisting with soffit. I realized that I really had no idea why we were doing what we were doing, so I asked Jack (House Leader John's son-in-law and crew leader extraordinaire) about the purpose of soffit and a few other materials. I've come to a place where I recognize names and can generally guess where these supplies go, but I don't always know exactly why they belong on a house. Jack was very good to explain these things to me and refresh my memory on some of the building terminology. Hey, am I... learning?

Later that night during another round of ultimate, I earned the nickname "Barricade Bobeck" because of my killer defensive skills--since I've been given that kind of nickname, I feel the freedom to exaggerate the reasons behind it. I like it! I still stink on offense, though I did have one good kick-off throw. I'm better at defense in most sports I play; I just don't know where to go, how to get open. Most of the time, I'm in the way or running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

Up on the Roof,
Construction Kim

MONDAY

2005-06-25T16:28:00.000-05:00

The first day of the Jimmy Carter Work Project 2005 began at 5:30 am for the crew at house 17. That meant waking up at 4:30, forcing my contacts into my eyes and climbing on the bus at 5:00. House Leader John explained and assigned tasks for the morning. I was turning purple in the brisk lake-effect morning air, so I was very thankful when Bethany let me borrow her sweatshirt. Soon enough, the sun came out and we found ourselves in T-shirt weather. In true Elkhart County pride, Tobin showed up on site in a dark, mullet wig held on by a nifty EC headband, aviator shades, a Carhart hoodie, argyle socks, and little, little shorts that made me blush for him! His alter ego was named Haus and he stuck around for a good portion of the morning before letting down his hair, so to speak. The rest of his coworkers were supposed to be dressed up, too, but they chickened out. Props to individuality!

The to-do list for the day included raising both exterior and interior walls, setting trusses, and roof decking. We hit a bump after the third wall was nailed in and had to undo the back and left walls entirely to make the adjustment. Isn't it too early in the game for drama? Much of my morning was spent literally holding up a wall while we waited for others to fix the problem. By lunch time, it was disheartening to walk past all the other houses and see that we were behind most of them.

Perhaps a bigger surprise for the day was the number of volunteers assigned to our house. House Leader John was expecting about 17 HabiCorps folks plus a handful of people he knew, including his daughter and son-in-law--a modest 22-member crew for the week. What he didn't know was that our house sponsor, Whirlpool, would be providing 15 extra helpers each day, about 10 regulars and 5 that swapped out daily. The actual number of bodies on site reached more than 40! This led to a slow morning for some of us. I was discouraged because there was so little to do and afraid that the rest of the week might be just as slow. I need to keep my hands busy. After lunch, things picked up a bit and I was involved in several jobs. I nailed up drip edge, searched the site for 2x4's and passed them up to Andrew on the roof for deadwood, hoisted plywood up to the gang on the roof, and applied ice and dam shield. That dam shield is sticky like fly paper and I lost some knuckle hair in the process, but at least the house is protected--from water and ice, not flies.

I met several Whirlpool employees from overseas. Anita is from Sweden and firmly refused to use the tape measure this week--metric system confusion, you see. My dad's side of the family is from Sweden, so I asked about my last name, if it's common. She said it sounded Swedish. We were actually Johnsons and changed for the sake of distinction; she said that and Johansen were definitely popular names, so I felt validated. Ines is from Brazil and she is so sweet. She volunteers at a women's organization that helps ladies get back on their feet from abusive situations or just offers help so women can thrive through education and special care.

Jimmy Carter stopped by our site today! John caught wind of his coming and I was poised and ready, camera in hand to capture a hand shake between colleagues! I didn't even realize that the trusses had gone up when I started passing up decking for the roof; I must have been busy, but it's still strange that I was that oblivious to such a crucial step in the building process. Way to go, crew! We are all required to wear our hardhats until the roof is fully enclosed, and Tobin was gracious enough to check the safety of mine by dropping nails from the roof onto my head. I'm leary of walking around on the wall tops and trusses, but I hope I get be on the roof tomorrow for shingling. I helped a friend reroof his house last fall, and I loved it. It was a long, cold process but such an accomplishment. I want to do it, again.

CONCEPT OF THE DAY: the portable pillow CoJo wasn't diggin' the 5:30 call time any more than the rest of us, so he had the genius idea that tomorrow he's going to bring a portable pillow--aren't they all? Regardless, I was relieved to hear that we don't have to be on site until 7:15 tomorrow!

While we are away for the evening, the "elf crew" will bustle into our house to work while we rest up for the night. As we left around 7 tonight, they were hauling drywall into the house for the professionals to come hang it. This way, we'll be ready to paint first thing in the morning after a coat of quick-drying mud. If we're lucky, maybe they'll leave us precision-woven shoes or little cookies, too!

Back at the dorms, I was sucked into a game of ultimate frisbee. No early alarm or day of construction can knock out the desire to end the day by running around in competition. I played ultimate once five years ago and hated it. Tonight that changed! I don't throw well, but I'm a decent catch. Bryce tackled me after I caught the last touchdown pass of the night, but I took him down with me. This is why adults need recess. I love to play. And this is an awesome group to spend the day with.

Safety first,
Construction Kim

SUNDAY

2005-06-25T14:17:00.000-05:00

When Cindy (HabiCorps program director) tossed out 11 am as the meeting time of the morning, I could have kissed her! I slept in a little after a night of interrupted sleep thanks to my roommate's snoring and talking---more amusing than annoying, thankfully--did some reading then packed up for the next temporary housing arrangement. We had a wonderful brunch at Bob Evan's amongst all the paternal glorification of Father's Day. We're staying at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI, all week. In the volunteer handbook we were notified that this Seventh Day Adventist school is a vegetarian environment, so if we brought meat we were not to cook it in the dorm rooms. Thank goodness I put all that beef back in the refrigerator and saved precious packing space in the suitcase.

At registration, we each received a tool bag, a JCWP hat and T-shirt and pin, a water bottle holder which consists of a rubber ring attached to a carabiner that can be then attached to a belt for convenient hydration transportation, a tape measure, another copy of the volunteer handbook, a pair of safety glasses, and a hard hat. I love free stuff.

Liz and I share a room and the rest of the AmeriCorps gang is nearby. I unpacked my clothes and toiletries into my half of the dresser. Normally, I would just live out of my suitcase, but it was nice to separate the work clothes from the play clothes and not have to worry about fishing around for socks in the middle of it all.

Opening ceremonies were held at Lake Michigan College, so we lined up for our first bus ride of the week. Between the dorms and buses, it's a blast from the past for those of us who are finished with school. Miss America, Deidre Downs, was our MC for the evening. President Carter, the Tri County high school choir, and several other representatives from Habitat, the community, and the sponsors joined her on stage to fuel the rally. We were told that 238 homes would be built this week in Benton Harbor and Detroit in conjunction with several other affiliates throughout the state as well as 6 homes across the border in Windsor, Canada. Besides letting us know how thrilled he was to meet Miss America, President Carter asked us to refrain from bombarding him with picture and autograph requests for the week. He said we were all here to work; I can respect that--and I better if I don't want to be on the bad side of some strong secret service men! Before supper, we were serenaded by up-and-coming musical talent, Tanisha Wilson who opened with "Everybody Needs a Home."

Bethany, Yoona, and I went for a stroll around campus when we got back. (Bethany is part of HabiCorps, Yoona is her roommate. Yoona is originally from Korea, but now she and her family live in California; she goes to college in Anaheim. She came to JCWP all by herself and she's hopping a plane to New York when she leaves here Saturday morning. She's brave! I need familiarity and people around me who know what they're doing.) The walk was peaceful and pretty, except for the stench around the rumored dairy processing plant. On our way back to the dorm, I noticed two familiar faces up ahead--well, more like one, kind of. They belonged to two of my twin cousins! I haven't seen them since before junior high; our grandparents remarried after they were widowed, so they're technically step-cousins. I was surprised to see them but relieved that they thought I was familiar, too, which made asking their names not so strange and random. What a small world!

Before turning in for the night, the three of us caught fireflies; Yoona had never seen them before! It was refreshing to watch her experience this childhood staple for the first time...and to catch a few, myself.

Hold on to your hard hats,
Construction Kim

SATURDAY

2005-06-25T12:46:00.000-05:00

Writing is the only thing I want to do right now. I just got home from the Jimmy Carter Work Project 2005 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and I am overwhelmed with emotion. I certainly did not have the time for daily updates while we were there, but I grabbed every last piece of scrap paper I could find to scribble down important events of each and every day to use as a cheat sheet for typing my memoirs now...

After a late night packing, I drove home to good ol' Topeka to spend a few hours with the folks and do laundry--free laundry--before meeting up with the AmeriCorps carpool in South Bend. Several HabiCorps members (Habitat/AmeriCorps) drove up on their own, but I hopped in a van with Bryce and Sean (Bloomington) and driver Joe Wood (Evansville area) and followed Cindy and Liz (Lafayette) up to Berrien Springs, MI, to begin the JCWP adventure.

Back at the office, when our program coordinator, Lindsey, asked if I was excited about this week's build, I told her I was looking forward to spending time with the HabiCorps group. We've met up several times for orientation and conferences, and I always have a blast with them. Otherwise, I lack enthusiasm for what's to come. I know this is a large-scale build and that more than 100 homes will be built this week in the state of Michigan, by people all over the world and from all walks of life. I know I might get to meet former President Jimmy Carter. I know we'll be racking up long hours in the hot sun and there will be little time for rest. I know I will use half a bottle of sunscreen and my filthy, dirty clothes will be the first thing I tackle when I get back home, again. But Boss John is our house leader and AA and CoJo will be there, so I feel like this is a Muncie transfer and the other volunteers on our house will get a taste of what our lives are like every other week of the summer. Sometimes I surprise myself at how oblivious I am to the big picture. This project has been in the making for years. Planning began even before JCWP 2004, and people have been digging footers and pouring crawl spaces, purchasing materials and setting in floor systems, pre-building walls and loading trailers to prepare for this one week, not to mention all the food and lodging and event coordination that has to be in order. I expect that by the end of the week, my mind might be better able to reflect on the impact of this event, but for now, I'm unimpressed.

TOOL OF THE DAY: me

We got to the hotel around 6:00, checked in, and waited for House Leader John (formerly and in the future "Boss John," but he's taking on a slightly different role this week) who wanted to hold a debriefing for his crew. In true John fashion, the meeting ran looong and with the time change--we lost an hour on the trip up--his famished crew was afraid they might be too late for supper. Applebee's was the pick of the night and we made it in plenty of time, thank goodness. If there's one thing I can say about these HabiCorps outings, it's that we are sure to be fed plenty and fed often. As one of my friends might put it, it makes me feel so "American."

It was late when we got back, but I felt like unwinding so I moseyed over to the hot tub with a magazine my roommate had brought. I wasn't there very long; it wasn't the ideal relaxation environment because of some rowdy kids who should have been out already according to pool rules, but it was warm and that was a good thing after the AC overkill in the restaurant.

After a shower and the traditional hotel bed somersault, I curled up for a full night's sleep, something I don't expect to happen for the next few days.

Beauty and Blitz,
Construction Kim

Hot and Cold

2005-06-12T15:46:00.000-05:00

Everything I'm paid to do makes me sweat.

Habitat
aerobics
show choir choreography

We survived a long, hot, humid week with volunteers. This group was on the ball and after that first day, they hopped to work immediately, picking up where they had left off the day before. There was a core of about six men who were on site Tuesday through Saturday and a few others came in and out throughout the week.

By 8 am every day, we were already drenched in sweat. THEN we started working! Thank goodness for sweatproof/waterproof sunscreen, because I would have no chance otherwise. I reapply at lunch time, though I could probably stand to do so more often. And since I'm sure you're dying to know, that farmer's tan is coming along nicely.

I must say, I was spoiled in that I made a lot of trips in the truck while CoJo and AA stayed out in the hot sun all week long. Hey, it's not my decision, I just follow orders. I even got to go to Lowe's two times in one day! Thursday afternoon, I was sent to buy roofing paper. I rolled down the aisle. I found my material. I couldn't remember how heavy it was, so I did the budge test--you know, wobble it around just a little while it's safely on the shelf before picking it up. No problem, I thought, but I was interrupted by a phone call. Meanwhile, one of my wonderful Lowe's friends noticed that I might need help. I told him I was fine, he asked me why I was going to do that on my own, I told him I was strong, he replied, "You can be strong or stupid-- don't get yourself hurt." Man! First of all, I'm not stupid. Second, I wish people would trust me to know my own limits. Third, I paused for a phone call, not because it was going to be a doozey of a job. Fourth, this man is one of those guys who you normally joke with but sometimes he's not in the mood or he's talking seriously and if you're not it's uncomfortable and I hate that inconsistency. Fifth, dimension (I'm out of other reasons, but I was on a roll). So, he dumped the paper onto my cart and made sure to send another guy to the truck to help me load up. I felt embarrassed...and then I unloaded it on site! It was pie compared to some of the other things I've lugged around the shop. I can be old-fashioned and appreciate when the men in my life do what they can to protect me, but I can also be stubborn and independent in trying to prove myself to the world. If anyone knows the secret to a life in balance, please let me know.

Other than that, I'm relearning how much better it is to keep on keepin' on. Taking breaks just makes it harder to get back up and start again. Now, drink breaks are different but sitting down between jobs is a bad idea, unless it's for lunch, another exception. And talk about tired driving--oh my! I'd just assume do all the errands early in the day before my muscles are tired and ready to completely shut down once I'm sitting in the AC.

I'm looking forward to having Sunday and Monday off. I've got quite the to-do list, but at least I'll have an entire day or two to do it with few interruptions, I hope.

Anything you can do,

Construction Kim

Sticks and Stones

2005-06-09T19:48:00.000-05:00

I've been running a lot of errands at work lately, so my time on site is limited, but I'm usually around just long enough to get mad at Coworker Joe. Today, I discovered a new tool and I thought it was pretty neat, and I reported my interest out loud. From up on the roof's edge, these are the nasty words I heard from CoJo:

"You've never seen that before? We should send you back to tool school...or fool school."

I wasn't talking to him. I wasn't talking about him. He wasn't a part of the conversation. I think it's rude to ignore people, but I said nothing in response. I wonder why he thinks he can be so mean to me. I feel like I correct him all the time or I have to constantly repeat to him that _____ frustrates me or he shouldn't _____ because it will confuse/offend the volunteers. I'm not lovey-dovey toward him, but I'm civil. That comment was completely unsolicited. He needs to learn a lesson from Thumper's mother: "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." I bite my tongue all day, every day, holding back the awful things I could spit at him because I'm trying to be compassionate and patient and tolerant, but this is too much. I don't want to lash out at him. I don't think it would improve my situation. I don't think shaming him would do any good. So, I'm at a loss. I've been calm with him. I've kept my distance when I wasn't sure whether I could maintain composure or not. I've joked. I've been blunt. And I've seen him be nice and helpful to me and others. I don't understand why he turns it on and off like that.

Mind your manners,

Construction Kim

H-O-T

2005-06-01T16:17:00.000-05:00

Knee sweat--not the kind that collects in the crevice between calf and hamstring when you sit outside too long in the summertime--my jeans were soggy on the kneecaps after work today. We installed decking (OSB) on our fourth house. I predict a sore back tomorrow from all that swinging. I worked on my ambidexterity as I hammered down hundreds of nails into that floor. (I don't think that count is an exaggeration.) I did pretty well for the most part. If you were to ask CoJo, he may tell you another story since he took it upon himself at one point to hover over me and my swinging hammer and tell me I was missing the nail. When I said, "Hey, it's my left hand," he ordered me to use my right. What's it to him? I got the job done. It must be awfully hard for him being so perfect and having to work with mere mortals all day long.

TOOL OF THE DAY: KNEE PADS
I bought a nifty little pair of foam knee pads that fit just over the patella and strap around the calf. They do nothing for joint pain--these old bones--but at least I won't have bruises...at least not as many as I could. They make crawling around those hard boards all day bearable enough to get the job done.

Well, I made it through the month of May. WHEW! My weekends are now slightly less busy, at least in the preparation I have to do for them. One of my goals to start off this month is to get more sleep. I'm having a heck of a time getting to bed at 10:00 which would give me a decent eight hours of rejuvenation. I just moved and all I want to do is finish unpacking and reorganize. Soon, I'll have internet access--a first for me in the home--and maybe I can be more consistent with my blogging. Or maybe I'll just look up ridiculous information like why Gremlins didn't multiply when they ate, despite the high water content of food.

The knee bone's connected to the shin bone,
Construction Kim

Everything's Comin' Up Roses

2005-05-26T19:35:00.000-05:00

I forgot to write about last Saturday's lawn care class at Minnetrista Cultural Center. Since I was blessed to have Thursday off and I live so close, I volunteered to be the Habitat representative at the class where our partner families learned about mowing, gardening, perennials, and the like. It was good for me, too, since I cannot claim a green thumb and I've been renting for so long I forget to think about taking care of outdoor property. I have my very first plant as a result of that morning! I've had flowers before, but this is a potted flower arrangement with soil and everything! Neither can I claim to have an artistic eye, so I tried for symmetry at first then decided I liked it better miss-matched. I planted...okay, I've already forgotten the names of all of them, but I do remember petunias because the rest of the description was "Disco Orange"--I couldn't pass that up.

As we were picking plants for our arrangements, I overheard one of the teachers tell someone that the little white flowers are very aromatic. I asked her, again, and put down my handful. I said, "I don't like the smell of flowers." I felt blasphemous in front of her and she was taken aback! Actually, I hate the smell of flowers. I've been to too many funerals; it has become a stench to me, and it's amazing that even the look of them isn't detestable in my eyes.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"I'm so mad my dad didn't buy me that Mercedes." --student
It's a hard life, isn't it?

I worked with two volunteers to level the final floor in the office today. I got so aggravated. Over and over, I said to myself, "I am not cut out for this." It was very discouraging. I can get so frustrated at any little thing, even if it's not painting. I "went to the bathroom" because my eyes were starting to well up with tears and I felt so stupid. I needed a breather. We were nearly done for the day though we had made little progress on the project, when Boss John decided to show me the "easy" way, the shortcut procedure, if you will. Say it with me: Why did he wait so long?! After I drove a volunteer back to the site, loaded up the truck, and emptied the truck, I jumped back into my work. I figured I'd work until I had to leave. I never meant for the guys to get involved, I just thought I would finish what I could of what I started. But, AmeriCorps Andrew and Coworker Joe helped and it was nearly done by the time I packed up to go teach at the Y. It was unfortunate that it took so long and that I had to drag them into it, but it needed to be done.

Tomorrow, we paint. I can hardly contain myself.

There's no crying in construction,
Construction Kim

On the flip side...

2005-05-25T08:33:00.000-05:00

THINGS I'M GOOD AT:

being 10 minutes late whether I jump out of bed right away or hit the snooze--twice
overlooking whatever it is I'm looking for
forgetting what I'm looking for
ending sentences in prepositions (and not caring today)
allowing CoJo to work my every nerve
walking in circles as I decide where I really need to go and what I really need to do
sleeping
staying up too late (which directly diminishes the effectiveness of #6)
hitting red lights--ALL of them
TOOOOOOOOOOO much to do

Long (but still busy) weekend here I come, Construction Kim

But I digress

2005-05-24T16:41:00.000-05:00

THINGS I DON'T LIKE:*

not sleeping enough
waking up early
going to bed early
packing my lunch everyday
people smacking their gum
not knowing what to do when I'm supposed to be in charge
people who think they know it all
people who make sure you know that they know it all (or so they think)
"acrosst"--it's not a word
shoes that hurt my feet
people that hurt my feelings
painting
disappointment
working
droopy eyelids
TOOOOOOOOOOOOO much to do
working six days a week

*This is not a comprehensive list, Construction Kim

Playin' Hookie

2005-05-20T08:25:00.000-05:00

Guess what I didn't do yesterday? WORK! I had some problems with my apartment late Wednesday night, so I decided to call Boss John first thing in the morning and ask for the day off. I didn't need the entire day off to fix the problem, but I am stretched way too thin these days and I decided that it was okay to ask for it all. I LOVED IT. I needed it. I got so much done. I washed dishes, patched my pants, bought groceries, did laundry, and cleaned my bathroom. My only responsibility was teaching my class at the Y, after which I rushed over to a friend's house to practice music for another friend's wedding tomorrow. This is the busiest my life has ever been. That's a bold statement, because I'm always busy, but this is ridiculous. It's not just working 50 hours a week here at Habitat, but add to that my aerobics classes, rehearsing to sing this weekend, rehearsing for a dance show next weekend, packing and living amongst boxes because I move on Memorial Day and had to get everything put away last Sunday because that was the only time I had to do it, weekend events that amount to more than the usual hangout times...I'll breathe a sigh of relief when June is here.

I should stay home more often--they got so much done yesterday. Lacey has returned to the front office. The tables are set up in the conference room. Food and dishes and the toaster and microwave are in the new kitchen. Memo boards are hanging in places that make us look official and organized. Since it rained yesterday, both groups cancelled and John, Joe, and Andrew along with the regulars did all that work.

Today is back to the grind and by 7:30, CoJo had already pissed me off. I walked away from the "Girls...She..." because I refuse to deal with it today. I stayed behind at the office. Boss John is sending me about six volunteers to tear out the old kitchen cabinets. Then we will transfer things out off Lindsey's office (temporarily mine) in preparation for leveling this floor one day before she returns from maternity leave. Then, of course, there will be painting. For lunch, we're going to head out to Lowe's. They are hosting a Commercial Customer Appreciation hog roast complete with pig and prizes, and since we're such good friends and it's free, we're going to make an appearance.

I'm wearing dance gear today. No, I left tutu at home, but because my boots have been hurting my toes, I stuffed lamb's wool in them like we dancers do for those crazy pointe shoes. It helps a little with the rubbing, but now the little piggies feel a bit crowded. I'll keep experimenting; I don't want to have to wear bandaids every day because it seems wasteful. And I got so darn excited about these boots...

I just wanna bang on my drums all day,
Construction Kim

A Recap

2005-05-18T16:53:00.000-05:00

Let's review:

We now have two bathrooms complete with two toilets, two doors, and two sinks (plus one marvelous basin for filling buckets and cleaning paint supplies). The men's room has two mirrors while the ladies' has none--interesting.
I still hate painting. My steel toes hate being covered in paint. Carpenter bees hate it when I paint, too. Paint does not come out of clothes. There is ALWAYS painting to be done. I hate painting.
I've been in a better mood at work these past couple of days as I supervised a dozen painting apprentices out in the sunshine. We painted last year's sheds. I can't quite understand why I'm not as grumpy--maybe because I know what I'm doing on this task, maybe because the time passes quickly, maybe because we're finally finishing jobs that are well overdue. I feel like a painting Nazi, though, because I repeat the same directions over and over again: step back every so often to check for drips, make sure you've coated it all enough so the wood doesn't show through, using an X-type stroke improves coverage, try not to drip on the grass...in one ear and out the other sometimes, but maybe someone's listening. Teenagers!
It's hard to believe I'm eight years older than some of these kids. I'm caught up on all the latest gossip, by the way.
AmeriCorps Andrew and I had one important task today: buy drinks! After the volunteers went home, we wandered over to the next build site where we met up with Boss John and Coworker Joe and the men who are digging our next two foundations. I think in an effort to bribe the extra workers into finishing today, John sent us to Rickers for giant-sized fountain drinks for everyone. It's a hard job, but someone's gotta do it.
I saved the day when I unclogged the new wash basin. I brought kids back here to clean paint supplies and move cement blocks. The chain broke off of the plug, and after suggesting they turn off the faucet, I was up to my elbows in cloudy paint water.

Everybody's workin' for the weekend, Construction Kim

Crack Kills

2005-05-16T14:10:00.000-05:00

I'm tired of seeing butt crack.

Pardon the candid introduction, and I know this is a construction-based blog, but let's talk about fashion for a bit, shall we? It cannot be comfortable to wear pants so tight or so big that one's underwear--or more--is always a maneuver away from public viewing. When the Pendleton boys were here, I lost count of the number of boxers I saw. They wore their khakis somewhere around their knees tempting the laws of gravity with every step. This week begins the high-school-palooza (Burris and Indiana Academy students are joining us for May-term for two weeks) and the problem is just the opposite. If I want to see a display of ladies' lingerie, I'll gladly stroll the aisles of Wal-Mart where they've deemed it appropriate to stick the women's underwear department on a convenient corner where little Johnny can learn early the difference between thong and brief, sport and wonder and I can walk by in various shades of red trying to direct my focus toward the adjacent shoe aisle. At work, I like secrets. Teenage girls have few when it comes to this issue. OH MY GOODNESS. Wear a belt. Buy pants that allow for movement. Anything, just protect the innocent, please!

[We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.]

CoJo is back today after a week long bike tour across Indiana to raise money for our affiliate and specifically for the house his grandfather's church is going to build this summer. He rode between 30 and 60 miles each day last week, starting on Sunday, and I was in Indy early Saturday morning to set up for the White River Celebration which was the culmination of that extended ride. I went to bed too late, woke up too early, left too late, found out I was early (they changed the original time helpers were supposed to arrive), stayed until the tent was empty once more, and drove on for an eventful evening of show choir concert fun. The a capella group, Tonic Sol-Fa, performed at the celebration. They're based out of Minneapolis and they've just recently been signed to a major label, so the name may not be familiar here, yet, but just you wait! They were phenomenal! It was refreshing to hear actual musicians instead of all this breathy, boy band, love sick song, canned, reality show junk that's being sent over the air waves in the name of "talent." Their harmonies were dead on, their rhythms tight, and they were funny. I listened to one of their CDs on the way home, but it just didn't do them justice. Perhaps my favorite part of their set was when they picked on my dad. If you know my father, then you know how he much he teases--the term "relentless" comes to mind. So, when the tenor called him out--asked his name, his hometown, proposed he start a conga line--I rejoiced with all the people who have ever fell victim to his harassment (all in good fun, of course). Later, another singer tried to get him out of his seat--that conga thing was never gonna happen--he gave up and decided to serenade my mom with "Blue Eyed Girl." I loved it! After the show, we helped them pack up. They were down to earth and personable which makes me like them even more. Keep an ear out for them.

Do Re ME,

Construction Kim

First Impressions

2005-05-10T16:17:00.000-05:00

AmeriCorps Andrew has arrived--that's what I've decided to call him since 1) he needs a nickname like everyone else in my stories and 2) he doesn't have a conveniently "J" name, so I needed some way to get my alliterative fill. I was reminded that I make dumb first impressions. That really is the best word for it, dumb. Not offensive, not overly shy, not bold, just awkward enough for whatever reason--you know, dumb. It bothers me because I think I come across as snotty so from there on out I feel like I've dug my hole and I need to prove myself otherwise. I guess, it's not a big deal. At least CoJo is out of the office this week so he won't be immediately introduced to my uptight self. I'm definitely in the minority now, not only in gender but in knowledge because AA has construction experience. Slowly but surely I'm sliding down the totem pole. Luckily, I have a good rapport at Lowe's since I'm guessing I'll be the dispensable one as far as site work is concerned.

I had yesterday off but it didn't help to refresh me; it was better than working, but I'm still frazzled. My May schedule--work and personal combined--is going to either kill me or make me stronger. I believe that's the end of my pity party. Everyone can go home now (after you've caught up on your reading, that is).

The plumber revisited this afternoon, so we're one step closer to having those bathrooms finished. Right now, we have a mens' restroom with a sink but no door and a womens'/handicap accessible restroom with no place to wash your hands. The pipes are all ready now, and Boss John and AmeriCorps Andrew were hooking up a wash basin when I left. Jake was working on that stubborn doorway, so maybe he can finish Thursday.

Anything's better than a port-a-potty,
Construction Kim

Well, Twiddle My Thumbs

2005-05-07T19:30:00.000-05:00

It is so nice to work with people who know what they're doing. We had a group of volunteers from a local church here to help us yesterday and today. A lot of the men are experienced carpenters so there was little need for instruction and they plowed through a day's work like it was nothing. Some of them were concerned about returning this morning--aching backs and hips--but they showed up as expected and did another knock-out job.

I, on the other hand, did very little. We had enough people to cover the tasks, so Friday I spent some time cleaning out the cab of the truck and emptying nail aprons into the proper nail buckets. (I need to remember to remind volunteers to empty those out at the end of the day. They had spilled all over the tool bins and it's just a pain for one person that could be remedied by the masses.) Saturday, I went shopping--yes, shopping--and not at Lowe's! Cintas is a uniform outlet here in town and they had a clearance so I was sent on my way after introductions. I bought a bunch of shop coats and several rugs. We were hoping for full-body aprons, too, but no such luck. It was hard not to stop at the rummage sales going on all over town; I didn't even have my money with me, but it's so hard to pass up a good bargain!

Because Friday went so smoothly, Boss John and I stayed late to finish the freshly-poured cement porch. He told me we save about $800 dollars by doing this detail work ourselves. I'm becoming an expert with the edger! This is the second one we've done and I like it. It involves a lot of waiting, repetition, and slow, steady work; for some reason, it isn't as painful for me as painting. We got a lot of compliments on it today.

TOOL OF THE DAY: Bull Float
It's a piece of metal shaped like a ceiling fan blade attached to a hollow metal pole handle. The whole contraption is very light, and it's used to make the wet cement surface smooth. You have to be careful to hold it at just the right angle so you glide over the top instead of dig into it. I think I handled it very well, so I might just be looking forward to a career in cement-laying. Ahh, the life of a dreamer.

Besides shopping, my morning was "supervisory," again. After lunch, however, we started putting up trusses. The same bunch of skilled workers stayed on the roof while the rest of us lifted those massive things. (Review: Trusses are the triangle part of the roof under the plywood under the shingles.) This was hard work, but it was like an interval workout because we'd all grab a section, walk it up to the roof, pass it off to the men on top, and wait until they were ready for another. Both today and yesterday were tiring despite such little activity on my part. I guess standing out in the sun all day long is enough to wear a girl out.

THING I SAW THAT I WISH I HADN'T SEEN: Snot Rockets

GROSS!

THING THAT I WISH OTHER PEOPLE HAD SEEN WITH ME: Dust Tornado

I was picking up tools and walking away from the truck when I saw a funnel swirling up from the street. The wind seemed to be still otherwise and I paused to watch, bewildered. Maybe this sort of thing happens all the time and it's nothing to get excited about, but it stopped me in my steps and for some reason I was reminded of The Prince of Egypt and the wind that plagued disobedient households. It was gone in a few seconds and I wondered if anyone else caught a glimpse of it. No, they were busy with hammers and nails as I stood in awe and silence at even this little touch of our Creator's nature.

I don't have to work on Monday,

Construction Kim

I'm a Survivor

2005-05-05T08:24:00.000-05:00

I spent more than six hours in a cramped Monte Carlo with Boss John and Coworker Joe yesterday. None of my buttons were left un-pushed. I experienced a sphere of Dante's infernal Hell. I live to tell about it.

We drove to Benton Harbor, Michigan, yesterday to take a gander at the Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP) site. This special build is the brain child of President Jimmy Carter; usually he hosts these week long blitz builds (we will finish 100+ homes in one week!) in other countries, but this year it's in Michigan and we get to go. By we, I mean Boss John is a house leader--he's been to a bunch of these things in Africa, Mexico, Georgia--so CoJo and I along with several other HabiCorps folks will be on his crew. This is no small potatoes; registration fills up at lightning speed, so we were watching the website for days to ensure our spots. The build is in June, but Boss John wanted us to get a taste of what goes on in the months prior to that week. People come from all over the world to help and prepare and make this project happen.

I woke up at 4:30. We drove (and got a little lost). We met the construction director and a crew leader friend of John's. I chatted with a girl named Patty who is part of AmeriCorps NCCC; their branch of service entails 10 months of traveling around the states doing all kinds of service jobs like community clean-up, after school help, tax tutoring, and Habitat work. They stay at each site for a few weeks and then move on. I think she was so quick to introduce herself because I was wearing my AmeriCorps sweatshirt; we have special "grays" (a sweatshirt and a T-shirt) that are considered official gear that AmeriCorps members are strictly advised to keep to themselves; non-members are NOT to wear them. Their entire crew was wearing their shirts and they all had matching pants, too. Wild!

For lunch, we ate at a shady looking place called the American Diner. Like everything American, this restaurant was a center of cultural awareness. Were I there today, I would have ordered a "tortia" in honor of Cinco de Mayo; you know "tortia," like a burrito! As it was, I considered the "Belgium waffle" and decided on good ol' Texas French toast. Though it looked dumpy, you can generally judge a restaurant by the cleanliness of the bathroom, so my trip to the lieu was reassuring and I ate in peace. It was golden, sugary goodness.

After our power lunch, the three of us got our hands dirty for a couple of hours stabilizing a support beam under a house. (When people show up for the blitz , the floor system is in place and they begin by raising pre-built walls. It couldn't happen in one week otherwise.) After that, we drove back home (and got a little more lost this time). If you were to imagine the main characters from Grumpier Old Men, delete all endearing qualities, eliminate the slapstick humor, and stick those two in a car with me, then you would have a good idea of what I experienced. Nagging. Sarcasm. Bringing up old fights. Screeching over the one country song I asked to listen to even though I had complete right as the driver to choose the station and I mercifully kept it on an agreeable frequency the rest of the trip. I told them I wanted to start charging each of them 25 cents every time they were nasty to each other. Fat chance, but they'd learn real quick how wasteful and ridiculous their behavior is...and I wouldn't be so stretched on my AmeriCorps budget.

I went home and had crunchy chips for supper. The rebellion (from my normally healthy eating habits--hey, they were Baked Doritos, the best chips EVER) and the chomping were good for my soul.

Can't we all just get along,
Construction Kim

Don't Be Alarmed

2005-05-03T08:32:00.000-05:00

I finally got that day off yesterday. It was marvelous. I slept in. I caught up on these posts. I deposited three checks at the bank. (Working 9-5 (ish) Monday through Saturday has not been conducive to banking hours. Thanks goodness my Habitat check is direct deposit or I'd be in trouble!) I reviewed my dance and then drove to a great rehearsal with my show choir kids. I read through health and fitness magazines at the library to find new ideas for class. I went to step aerobics taught by my wonderful friend, Tara; it was nice to take a class for a change. I talked to a couple of friends who ran in the Country Music Marathon in Nashville this weekend. I made soup. I watched a movie. I went to bed too late, knowing full well that I had to confront an early start the next day, perhaps erasing the benefits of the refreshing one I just spent--nah, I still got what I needed out of the "free" day.

I was at the office by 7:20 this morning. I was supposed to get here at 7:00, but we all know about my 15-minute battle; the extra five were tacked on because of a train. The office was vacant. Boss John's truck was missing. The kitchen sink was still full of paint supplies dripping dry from Saturday's work. It looked as though no one had worked yesterday. I started questioning myself: What day is it? It is Tuesday, right? Yeah, it's Tuesday. Where is everyone? Do we still have volunteers today? After about ten minutes and still no arrivals, I called Boss John. The Pendleton boys were supposed to come yesterday and today but their plans were nixed. I knew I should have called to double check time last night. I would have loved that extra hour or two of shut eye. So, we're in the office today and my face smells like (wasted) sunscreen.

God bless Lacey because she printed and folded the many thank you's I have to stuff into envelopes and send out today. Wousers, I'm tired. And wousers--does anyone besides Inspector Gadget really say that?

Why do kids get all the fun of mandatory nap time,
Construction Kim

A Horse of a Different Color

2005-04-30T16:21:00.000-05:00

I am SO over painting. I didn't pick up a brush until everyone else had left for the day. We had a slew of volunteers, so I took a handful of them back to the office where the morning crew primed and the afternoon folks painted the conference room a caramel shade and the reception room a sunny taupe. I hate all the precision necessary to cut in paint where the colored walls meet the white ceilings. (One of the women that helped today told me I sounded like a professional as I explained how to do the job carefully. I'm such a poser.) It looks pretty good, but a second coat is a must. It involved a lot of painting, cleaning the brushes and pans--primer done. Then paint, clean the brushes and pans--conference room done. And again paint, clean the brushes and pans--reception office nearly done. After the group left, I picked up a trim brush and overzealously assumed I could simply finish one window sill being careful to paint only the wood and not the window trim. Easy right? Tell that to the increased degrees of blood pressure pumping through my veins! Man, it is not my kind of work. I don't have the patience. I've got to find an easier way to do this because I have a feeling I'll be in charge of painting groups this summer. My delicacy leaves a lot to be desired, but considering CoJo is the alternative--well, this is for the best. Maybe the new guy will be an excellent painter. Have I mentioned him, yet? We will be welcoming at least one new AmeriCorps construction assistant into our state of affairs for the summer, maybe two. As early as next week, we could be seeing Andrew around the site. Even more than the paint expertise, I'm hoping he will offer some balance to the sanity seesaw that J, J, and I are riding. Not that I can boast sanity or stability, but it's all relative.

I've decided that once my stint with Habitat is finished, I will go into the drywall industry marketing the latest, greatest, drumroll please..........................................................................

Pre-Painted Drywall.

There are a few details to work out, but I can't be the only frustrated remodeler in the world. Where shall I invest my fortune and what color should my Mercedes be?

Easy Street here I come,

Construction Kim

I See That Chicken, But Where's Its Head?

2005-04-27T15:53:00.000-05:00

I'm juggling so many jobs/responsibilities/activities right now, it's ridiculous. I currently have four jobs; when I file for taxes next year, I will include a fifth gig that ended around January. There's Habitat, teaching aerobics at the hospital's employee gym, teaching strength training at the YMCA, and working with a show choir in another town. Habitat is the only full-time job, but the others are weekly events. With all this remodeling and volunteers coming on the weekends, we've been working Monday through Saturday to get things done. Show choir is on Mondays as is aerobics. I teach at the Y Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wednesday is fellowship team. Sunday is hardly a day off because of the hoopla at church and dining with friends afterward, not getting home until two in the afternoon and then coming home to clean my messy apartment and sort the upcoming week's agenda.

That leaves Friday and Saturday nights "free" but of course busy with good times and good friends. I need time for me, though. I don't like being alone on those weekend nights, but sometimes I succumb to sitting on my couch, all by my lonesome, watching movies to unwind because the solitude is downright blissful. I love living on my own, but I could easily drift into the hermit lifestyle--except for all those crazy to-do lists and, you know, employment! I need a day off! Eventually, Mondays will be whatever-I-want-to-do days, aside from the softball schedule which I don't mind. I just taught my last Monday night aerobics class for the summer. The show choir concert is at the end of May so my job there will be done in just a couple of weeks. The extra hours to accommodate the extra remodeling work will dissipate...I hope. Then I will breathe, but for now I'm overwhelmed. I prefer being busy to being bored, but right now I both love and loathe my jam-packed schedule.

Workin' Girl,
Construction Kim

Dry(wall) Humor

2005-04-26T14:54:00.000-05:00

Never play bloody knuckles with drywall--you will lose, like I have today. I've been cutting and trimming filler pieces for around the new offices. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it--HA HA--one of my first construction puns. (For the laymen out there, the term "hang drywall" is tossed around a lot in the business of building buildings.) Oh boy, my dorkness has spread to a new arena. HA HA--"spread" like drywall mud! Okay, that one was forced. I've been working long hours and many days. The conference and reception rooms are nearly ready for paint which means we're getting closer to finished product. Finally.

That's all she wrote,
Construction Kim

Kim in the Middle

2005-04-23T21:08:00.000-05:00

It rained all day so we sent home around twenty volunteers. That didn't mean a vacation for Boss John, CoJo, Tracey (one of our partner families), and me, though. I worked from 7:00 am to 8:15 pm today, Saturday. I didn't mind the long hours because we got a lot of work done in the office. What I did mind was the incessant sarcasm being slung between J and J

ALL DAY LONG!!!

It was like I was in the middle of the third in a series of popular movies, "Grumpiest Old Men." My first analogy was that of an old married couple bickering back and forth, but this was worse. I'm a habitual mediator by nature, always feeling the need to smooth other people's quarrels and make sure person number one understands that person number two was just kidding while mentioning to person number two that maybe person number one doesn't appreciate said humor. This is too big an undertaking for me and these guys. They're both grown-ups (when we look purely at numerical data), and I am NOT responsible for them no matter how much I feel like I should be. Boss John teases me that I'm in charge of Coworker Joe; some say humor is 90% truth.

TOOL OF THE DAY: Knee Pads

We leveled another floor in the office. Boy this place is crooked! I really liked the work and understood quickly what we were doing. It was a lot of the same thing over and over again in different spots on the floor and my knees would not have lasted without some sweet Styrofoam protection. When I got home and hopped in the shower, I noticed a giant bruise on my shoulder where I pushed against the drill to coerce...oh...about 100 screws into the new floor! It doesn't hurt, but it looks kinda cool. Maybe I'll wear shoulder pads next time...

Maybe not,

Construction Kim

The Boys are Back in Town

2005-04-22T17:20:00.000-05:00

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"I feel good about myself." --William

The Pendleton boys have accomplished a lot this week. On Tuesday, they raised all four exterior walls (made of much more than four parts, mind you) as well as all the interior ones. On Wednesday, they nailed in a lot of bracing. Thursday was rotten cold, but they kept busy putting up drywall nailers (2x4's that hang over the wall studs so the drywall has something to grip). Local weathermen called for rain today. I prayed for them to be wrong, because I didn't want to send these kids home. They've worked too hard. This is too important for them. Unfortunately, God had other plans; so, we modified ours. It was barely dripping in the morning, they started some work and I hopped in the truck for a donut run. Lucky for them, though their tastebuds may disagree, I filled the cart with granola bars, milk, and OJ which are nutritionally superior and saved me junk food guilt. By the time I got back, it was raining harder and they had nailed a tarp over the open ceiling and built a bench in between two walls underneath it. We decided the rain and cold weren't going to accommodate working outside, so we transferred over to the office. I've enjoyed this remodeling and I think that particular work may come in handy later on in my life, even moreso than the "bigger" construction since I don't imagine I'll ever build my own house from the ground up, but I may want to make some changes in it. For the same reason, extra knowledge and new experience, I was glad they got to come back and help us with those projects.

After the first day, it was easy to identify the guys who were really excited about working and the guys who were simply happy to be out of the facility but not too keen on too much hard work. This is true of any group of people--you hang around long enough and you'll see just who's serious and who's hanging out. Not to mention these are high school kids. I know of at least two from the former group that plan to work with a construction organization when they leave PNJCF in a few weeks. I hope that happens.

I've been wearing my new boots this week. Thanks to the mud I tromped through today--it was unavoidable all around the house--they look like old friends. The steel toe is something to get used to. I can feel a slight difference in flexibility, and the reinforcement reaches back just far enough to smush my baby toes. In general, I have little toes--not too long, not too short--but I'm pretty sure I've broken both of my pinky toes by smashing them into random pieces of furniture and doorways so they're a little rounder than the others. They don't like bumping up against my steel toes so much, but into my third day wearing them, they're not so vocal about it.

Perhaps I'm so moved about the impact this experience could have on the students helping us this week that my allegorical nerve has been pinched and overactive. Here are some of the life lessons I've developed from site work recently:

*Once you get into a habit--good or bad--it's hard to get out.*
I worked a lot with Styrofoam insulation Thursday. Aside from the fact that I couldn't hit a nail straight on for the life of me, I went about my work quietly and thoughtfully, trying not to be too aggravated. This gem popped into my mind when I was slicing out window outlines. (When we hang the insulation, we lay it right across all openings and cut them out later.) Using the utility knife, I cut away at the soft board. If you cut crooked or too wide or narrow, it's difficult to get out of that groove. Adjusting the line is not impossible, but it takes some patience and of course the realization that you're on your way to making a big mess. Thus is life. If you get into a bad groove, it's tough to work your way out of it. However, if you ease onto the straight path, your work is much easier. And as always, remember--don't run with sharp objects.

*Do not underestimate the necessity of a good support system.*
There we were (and by "we" I mean them because my role was supervisor-easy this week)raising walls and nailing in cross beams and putting trusses in place. We put the trusses (the triangle part of the roof made by 2x4's and a couple of brackets that you set plywood and then shingles on) on top of the walls on top of the floor on top of a cement foundation and tacked in a truck load of 16-foot boards propped up against smaller board nailed to the floor. These support boards hold the walls steady and level. The trusses also keep them standing straight. We will not remove the cross boards until the roof decking (plywood to cover the trusses and make a flat surface) is in place. All this is for safety. All this is to help the hollow house withstand the elements until conditions are sturdy. These walls cannot stand alone, not for long. These guys cannot do this work alone. They need each other. There must be teamwork, everyone doing his part--leading or supporting--until the construction is stable. People need each other. I cannot stand alone. I'll take all the support I can get until I've gained some footing and I can see that roof of protection over my head. And even then, I'll need help to hold me together. As for insulation, I've got enough but an extra hug every now and then couldn't hurt.

I did spend some time on the roof Thursday. Unfortunately, I was more uncomfortable than I expected. I tried to make light of my fear, and the other guys were reassuring telling me that they, too, were scared at first but you get used to it. I did get used to it, but I still didn't like it. I don't know if I'll be able to help put up trusses on future homes; for that part, there's even less to stand on! But I got up there and that's the first step.

TWO: The number of times people cussed in front of me today and apologized for it.
It's funny how these incidents make me feel somewhat like a lady, like the foul-mouthed offender was doing his best to protect me after the harsh slip. Guys don't apologize to each other, even if they don't normally use profanity. Girls don't bother with it, either. But a gentleman, I suppose, will do his best to regain respect from his gentle counterpart. I once had a guy say to me, "I'm sorry for dropping the F-bomb so much, but [place another,
less-offensive (?) expletive here]!"

Beautiful weather earlier in the week can only mean one thing: farmer's tan here I come. Actually, if you know me and my summer routine, you know it involves a lot of pre-planning to ensure that I do not get burned as a result of outdoor fun. Plus, I'm a big advocate to those around me. First of all, the cancer risk is not worth it. Second, when I'm fifty and you sunbathers are 50, you'll be dying for my fresh, taut skin instead of your leathery wrinkles. Third, I'm fair-skinned and though my freckles do add a few points to the cute potential factor, I don't really tan. And even if I did, I have to wear sleeves at work and my legs will never match my arms. It's all or noting, once again in my life. WEAR SUNSCREEN. It may not be the "cool" thing to do right now, but you'll thank me later. Even when it's not hot and humid, wear it because that sun is one strong star and it can get you even on bright, chilly days when you least expect it.

Safety first,
Construction Kim

High Hopes

2005-04-19T16:27:00.000-05:00

What is it about apples? They are sweet, delectable, vitamin-filled treats, perfect for a mid-day snack. I eat one about every other day (and still keep the doctor away, thank you very much) along with some protein to balance the possible sugar-induced high/low effect to help power me through the hours between lunch and supper which usually include my workout. So I had my apple & turkey snack about an hour ago and already my stomach is rumbling. This happens all the time with apples and my stomach, but they are so convenient for that time of day and so good and so good for you that I continue the habit. The hollow feeling will soon subside and not return until after my aerobics class when it will be welcomed by a hardy evening meal. This has nothing to do with construction.

[The lady across the lab table from me--I'm at the library--keeps smacking her lips together and making mouth noises like she's ready to feast. She doesn't even have gum or candy, just her mouth. If you know anything about me, you should know that mouth noises--besides talking, and even that sometimes--drive me CRAZY. Why do I always find these people? This, too, has nothing to do with construction, though I kinda wish I had a hammer in my hand right about now. Just kidding.]

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY (that really does relate to the building process):
Curing cement is crucial. What is "curing" in this scenario? Well, I'm not exactly sure, but it has something to do with settling and preventing cracks. When someone pours cement, that someone should always do something to seal in the moisture. Otherwise, the water evaporates leaving only brittle rock that falls apart and ruins a project. I listened in as Jake and Boss John swapped cement stories and shared their wisdom. This all came about because we poured and a front porch yesterday morning. CoJo and I smoothed it out with a homemade tool; I have no idea what its name was, but we used a sawing action to slide it across the pour and make it look nice and even. Then I was in charge of the edger; the purpose of that tool is not a mystery. Then Boss John, with another make-shift cement tool (an interesting array of 2x4's, nails, and more 2x4's), finished the job.

We've got a group of students from the Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility helping us this week. They did most of the hard labor today, and I chipped in to steady a wall from time to time. This is such a great opportunity for these kids. They're doing something worthwhile with their time. They're learning invaluable skills during their wall-building process and now even more on site. My prayer for these kids is that this experience is life-changing for them. That they love getting out to work so much that they strive to stay out of trouble. That they realize they are worth more in life than whatever got them to this place in the first place. They raised every last wall of the our first three-bedroom house today. Tomorrow--trusses. It's amazing to see how much we can do in so little time. We should be ready for drywall by the end of the week!

Change is coming,
Construction Kim

Paint Me Annoyed

2005-04-15T14:33:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine once joked about the American right to complain about ones job. Today, I'm tempted to play off that.

Boss John is not in the office, yet, so it was up to me to get the partner families started on their projects. That was fine and we got right to painting--it's never ending, I tell you.
[Complaint #1]
I can't stand painting. Maybe if I was simply revamping one room in my house, that would be tolerable. But we could paint here everyday--trim work, doors, walls, and more trim--and still be far from finished with the finishing. Plus, think of all the layers: two coats of color and that's to say nothing of priming. I merely assigned the job today and it got me worked up because it's such a tedious task. Don't splatter the trim or we have to re-paint that in which case we have to be careful not to drip on the wall...and the cycle continues.
[Complaint #2]
For the past several days, the phrase in my head has been "Too many cooks in the kitchen." Mostly, I'm referring to all the bodies standing around, working, painting, hanging, cutting, walking through, up on ladders, just all over the place. Today, the sentiment spread to "Too many cooks in the kitchen who think they know how to do the job better." That's why I'm not so great at being in charge. I don't handle myself well when other opinions are flooding in and everybody thinks they're right; I want it done my way because my way is fine and that way the volunteers only have one option and it's less confusing, not terribly complicated, and I don't feel stepped on or like I have to please everyone. I'm open for suggestions on how to improve...or am I? Let's blame it on painting-related behavioral problems.

If Construction Kim was a superhero, painting would be her kryptonite.

I'm taking Saturday off to participate in a Race for the Cure. It will be a good time with my friends and a necessary break before another busy work week; we're pulling Monday through Saturday next week.

Up...Down, Daniel Son,
Construction Kim

Office Space

2005-04-12T15:29:00.000-05:00

It's another drizzley day, so I'm keeping my hands occupied with office work. I've sent out a dozen e-mails, filled out my hour log, and next I'm moving on to folding thank you notes and stuffing envelopes. When I was put in charge of the thank you's for the summer, no one bothered to ask about my folding skills; I have none; I'm folding-challenged. Regardless, it is my duty for the day. (Heh, heh: "duty.") Once again, the rain is wreaking havoc on my mood, so working alone on menial, time-consuming tasks will be best for the day.

CoJo is invading my office, making whiney noises every time he stretches. *Sigh*

I went shopping for work boots yesterday. The HabiCorps (Habitat/AmeriCorps) budget allows some money for each of us to spend on safety gear. I used mine up on steel toe boots and knee pads, so my toes won't be smashed and my patellas won't hate me. I walked into Tractor Supply and first noticed the chirping. I followed my ears to an aisle of yellow fluff baby chickens--contained in troughs, of course--noisy as can be and too numerous to count. For a brief moment, I thought, "Oh. I want one for a pet." Then I remembered the adult version--uncute, smelly, boring, lunch. I moved quickly to the shoe aisle.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"He couldn't hit the floor with his hat." --Jake
Funny, huh? I've never heard this one before, though I've certainly felt it!

Ways to Convince your Boss that You're Actually Busy with Work-Related Tasks:

I started to type up this list and realized it's not something I want to flaunt. I'm so out of it today, be it the rain or whatever. I did very little "real" work at the office, unless you count this. In that case, I kept quite busy. Jake and Boss John, however, installed cabinets and countertops while Pat (another volunteer) smeared drywall compound on our new walls. I did some legitimate work--nothing compared to MC Hammer fame ("Too Legit")--and caught up on my staring into space needs.

Another Day, Another Dollar,
Construction Kim

It takes two?

2005-04-07T15:12:00.000-05:00

Where'd the pretty sun go? Maybe it skipped town with my good mood because I can't find either of them anywhere.

This morning passed slowly. I'm impatient. I like to get my orders. Get my supplies. Go. Do. But instead, I "assisted" which boiled down to waiting as someone else thought about what he needed to buy, affirming his decisions about plans I know nothing about, standing around, shopping and more waiting as he reconsidered...it just wasn't a two-person job. On top of that, I had to do math which has never been my strong point. I can do it, eventually, but it usually takes paper and pencil (if a calculator is not available, which it wasn't), time, double-checking, second-guessing, brain stuttering, and doubts about those simple math functions--e.g. subtraction, carrying the one--that are so familiar they become foreign, like when you say the word cucumber a bunch of times in a row. Try it.

So my trip to Lowe's was not quite as enjoyable as usual, though certainly bearable since my shopping companion was Lloyd. If it had been anyone else, I probably would have been frustrated with him, but like I said--the time was necessary, as were the measurements and even the mathematics, but I wasn't necessary in the equation. It's funny how different people placed in different situations make for totally different mood reactions.

It may be helpful to mention that it's raining in Muncie today, and that automatically limits work possibilities. The shopping trip took up most of our morning, and then I realized I left my lunch sitting on my counter top at home. It was just a salad, and I could have walked across the street to LoBill for something else, but I was hungry so it made me mad. I'm convinced that stomachs and brains buddy up to torture us sometimes. After deliberation, I drove back home and even there changed my mind and came back to the office with homemade chicken chili; I ate alone at my desk. It was probably for the best for all involved. Grumpiness does NOT love company.

Sounds of men at work have dissipated. That means I get to cut out of here in an hour.

Waiting on sunshine,
Construction Kim

Earning My Pay

2005-04-06T17:19:00.000-05:00

I just gulped down my 80th ounce of water for the day, and I'm probably not finished, yet! I needed every last drop, too, because I spent six hours outside insulating two crawl spaces--one in the morning with help from a partner family mom, one after lunch all by myself. This is one of the tasks I learned to do as we finished houses last November. When I did it before, I actually crawled underneath the house but it was much easier today since the floors are not down yet. MUCH easier. After I finished the second house, Coworker Joe and I smoothed out the gravel so the houses are both ready for floor systems this week. We stayed a little late to do that, so I debated whether or not to rush to the gym for cardio, but I decided against it. I was moving all day today and I'm worn out and going to the gym after all that...well, it's probably unnecessary and maybe even obsessive. So here I am, typing away...

Who ordered the perfect weather? When I find out, that person gets a gigantic hug from me because it is a great compliment to pretty much everything in my life. I didn't work outside at all yesterday. Actually, the only construction thing I did was hammer in about six drywall nails. I sat at my desk organizing piles, condensing all my notes-to-self from various sheets of scrap paper which were strewn here and there about my desk onto one, tidy sheet, checking mail but not too often, making calls, filling in time logs and general clean-up stuff like that that needed to be done for my sanity. I feel caught up now. I wasn't outside directly enjoying the warmth, but it brightened my day nonetheless.

TOOL OF THE DAY: FEET
I unloaded the shovel and rake after we insulated the first house, so when I returned for a second round, I had a bit of a problem scraping pea gravel away from the walls so I could set up the Styrofoam. It turns out, my feet work just as well. It was more time consuming and I got more rocks in my shoes that way, but it also gave my arms and back a break. The second house was also dryer so I didn't have to mess with mud. About half way through, CoJo drove by and dropped off a hoe which did wonders for the project.

I just took a bathroom break which required me to walk, which is in direct contrast to sitting in my computer chair which is in direct contrast to all that moving around I did today. Whew, I felt that one! I'm gonna sleep good tonight.

This is only the beginning,
Construction Kim

Walkin' on Sunshine

2005-04-05T15:20:00.000-05:00

My, it's been awhile since my last update. I was tossed back into the swing of things immediately after I got back from Florida and now I feel caught up enough to share about the past couple of weeks.

We have been busy, to say the least. The office is looking great. Last Thursday in particular we made a lot of progress. We went from a dusty room with a half-studded wall and only half of a new plywood floor to...drumroll, please...drywall project complete and a full, level floor in a space that finally looks like it's going to make a superior conference room. It's still dusty, though; I think that will be the case until the final carpeted stage.

Cabinets for the kitchenette (to be placed at one end of the conference room) were supposed to come in yesterday, but I wasn't here to know why they weren't delivered. That's right, I enjoyed a fabulous day off! Starting this week, I'll be working Tuesday through Saturday (unless otherwise noted) because Saturdays are big volunteer days in the summer. I like shifting my weekend to Sunday/Monday A LOT. (What I don't like is the shooting pain going through my wrist right now. Bummer.) My last semester of college, I had class-free Mondays and it was a wonderful thing. You'd think Tuesdays would become just like those dreaded Mondays in spirit, but not so. I felt like I had that extra day to catch up and prepare for my week. Now, even though I still have just two "weekend" days free, Monday off is preferable to Saturday for me. When I have Saturday off, I go to the gym in the morning (if I haven't stayed up too late with friends the night before enjoying good clean fun and humor), run some errands (trying to avoid Wal-mart weekend hell), and hang out at the house until I'm informed of or create my own Saturday night plans with the gang. Then Sunday is busy with church and since that's usually followed by lunch (not to mention the time it takes to agree on where to go for lunch), most of my afternoon is gone before I know it. Then I'm off to the Moody Film Series (one of my movie buff friends hosts an entertaining AND educational viewing each week) then back home around 10:00 to plan the week's activities and pack my bags for the next day when it all begins, again.

With Mondays off, I'm done with work, clean and ready to go by early evening for a Saturday night out on the town--or, as is often the case, in someone's living room. I don't miss much, though I'm sure I'll be left behind from a few weekend excursions this summer. Sunday remains the same. But here comes the beautiful part--instead of rushing around Sunday night to gather my wits and my clothes and my to-do lists in addition to getting to bed on time, I get to relax. I might plan. I might clean up the remnants of a hectic week, most likely in the form of tossing worn clothes in the hamper or back in the drawer (sorry, Mom) and throwing away empty envelopes from credit card companies just dying to get their hands on my Americorps living stipend. I might choreograph for show choir or aerobics. But none of it is done in haste and I have the luxury of staying up later than usual because I can wake up later than usual in the morning...or the afternoon if I so please because it is my day off. Sometimes, I watch another movie--how indulgent!

Having said all that, I had a great day yesterday. The weather was amazing and I was reminded of how spring and warmth just make everything better. I spent some time driving to show choir rehearsal (I'm teaching a new group new dances, but I don't mind that the day wasn't completely responsibility-free), and that is where my love of spring was refreshed. I rode with the windows down and the radio volume up to compensate for the rush of noisy wind swirling about in my Focus. I sang--loud. Last summer, I decided I wasn't going to care if my windows were rolled down or not, if I was at a stop light with cars stopped next to me with their windows down, or not, I was going to sing and I've declared that for life! Anyway, spring--music is more powerful--En Vogue has more attitude, "Free Your Mind"--the landscape is more beautiful, driving is more tolerable, I'm happier, and heck--maybe I'm more beautiful, too. It's all speculation, I suppose.

I don't think anything too terribly eventful has transpired recently. I did receive a letter from CoJo this morning apologizing for his behavior toward me--the coarse jokes, the bossing me around, etc. (This is in stark contrast to his "Idiots!" comment made to Boss John and me last week. Mind you I was holding heavy, dangerous objects in my hands at the time and more were well within reach. Note also that Coworker Joe is still alive. This, my friends, is what we call "self-control.") I HATE that my first response is to wonder if someone put him up to it, if Boss John suggested the white flag. Either way, I appreciate the gesture and I feel like maybe the next inappropriate, blood-boiling comment (if there are any more) might be more manageable now that I know he's truly aware. It's astonishing how a few simple sentences can change so much.

[P.S. I just overheard him speaking with a website customer service rep on the phone. He sounded so official, so business, so not what I'm used to hearing. Interesting.]

By God, I think I've cleaned my desk throughout the course of this day! Even the miracles are more apparent in the spring!

Who needs the beach when Muncie feels like this,
Construction Kim

WONDER WOMAN!!!

2005-03-24T14:28:00.000-05:00

Who saved the day? I saved the day!

I've been busy this morning with a trip to Lowe's, a mini meeting with the ED, receipt recording, and a few other odds and ends. I paused from the paper work to see what the guys are doing in our new, bare-to-the-studs room (the one Boss John and Coworker Joe demolished without me). Jake was measuring every 16 inches--the distance between studs--along the new beam they put up to take place of the old studs; this is a weight bearing wall. I didn't understand why they were measuring for new studs since we took that wall out to create one long conference room. I asked Bob what they were doing, and sure enough, they were fixin' to put up a new wall. WHOA! That's not the plan, is it? I wondered if I was in the dark about another change of plans. So, I trekked it back to John's office and asked what was up. The original plan was in tact, unlike the wall. I told him that the guys were confused and ready to replace the wall they just tore down, so he took care of the miscommunication. Crisis averted--thank you, thank you.

I was on time today, further proof that my super powers are running full throttle! Funny how I think I deserve some kind of reward for fulfilling those duties and expectations that I should have been meeting the entire time.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"Do you think that wall's a supporting wall?" --CoJo

God help us all,

Construction Kim

Back to the Grind

2005-03-23T03:13:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy few days back to work. They made a lot of progress in the office remodeling while I was gone, so there were big changes to see when I showed up--at 9:15--on Monday. I closed my eyes after shutting off my alarm...for 30 minutes! Now, how do I manage to get here at the same time with such a delay? I was on my way to being on time yesterday, but the blasted train stopped me! And today, I think I closed my eyes for a little too long, again. In any other employment atmosphere, I would be fired. As long as I get my act together for our long summer days, though, things should be fine. There's always tomorrow.

Aside from the stench, I had a good dump experience today--let me rephrase that: Coworker Joe and I unloaded trash at the city dump this afternoon. His truck had heavier items, mine had more. I wouldn't say I got used to the smell, but after the initial shock it wasn't horrendous. The fun part was tossing all this junk! The paint lids flew like frisbees. The boards soared like Happy Gilmore golf clubs. I even threw out a busted window and mocked superstition with every new break from the pile forming on top of it.

WORD OF THE DAY: WEBINAR
The ED had a seminar online; she's slightly less computer savvy than I am, so you can imagine her anxiety over the issue. Alas, all went well and I've got a new techie word to boot!

We broke ground Monday!!! On two lots, the footers are now poured. The excavators dug the outline of the houses and the concrete guys came to fill 'em up. We're on our way!

When I left work at 4 pm yesterday, I was concerned about the amount of work we have to do here in the office before we get really busy on the houses. When I got here (9:15), the next big step was done--another wall stripped to the studs! I come to find out Boss John and Coworker Joe were here until 3 am working on it! This bothers me for several reasons:

1) They are workaholics and I fear they have few other joys in life.
2) I work with crazy people.
3) I feel left out, like a second thought, like a lazy bum who sleeps soundly in her bed while everyone else is hard at work.

There's no way I would've stayed until 3 am, but I could've come in to help for a few hours, if anyone had bothered mentioning the plan to me. This latest stunt does nothing for my feeling of uselessness here.

Then CoJo's first words to me this morning were, "You're gonna follow me." Not, "Hey, we've got some trash to dump and I brought a trailer to fill up and sometime today John wants us to haul it over the dump." I told him he couldn't boss me around and then he explained himself.

*Sigh*
Construction Kim

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!

2005-03-19T14:05:00.000-05:00

Steppin Out 2005--My Florida Excursion

3-15-05, 0900

I got the window seat like I hoped for and on the way to it, I avoided sitting behind the lady who I watched fill her mouth with a wad of gum only to find myself stuck behind a couple of 30-something lushes who have mentioned alcohol and being/getting drunk at least a dozen times since I buckled into a portion of the plane that smells curiously like BO. "We're going to see our parents so we need as much alcohol as possible."

0905

People on airplanes should not say the words "fatality" or "crash" so close to take-off time; I wish the man behind me was aware of this faux pax.

I wish I had a "Caution: Uneven Surfaces" sign (like the ones on in the hall from terminal to airplane) in my house that way I would have an excuse for being so clumsy!

0910

I shouldn't have sat where I can see the wing--it's wiggin' me out. I have a calm sort of fear brewing in my chest. I'm scared, but I understand 1) that it's irrational and I take bigger risks every other day of my life without the help of Southwest, and 2) a big reaction will accomplish nothing. We're drifting higher and higher above the perfectly outlined squares of land that remind me of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood when he'd take a field trip out of the house and we'd see a birds'-eye-view of cardboard streets and matchbox cars. I decided looking over my shoulder is a less freaky view; I can't be uneasy about the wing if I can't see it. Now, we're cruising at 10,000 feet, according to the Captain.

I wonder which one of these clouds is #9.

This is so unnatural, this idea of flying metal birds rushing us across the open sky. Now, as I peer down, I can see land through the cumili, it's hazey and it's dreamy and the sun is reflecting off my favorite wing hurting my eyes and warming my belly.

Are we still on an incline?

How one earth--funny, on earth, I'm not really on earth right now, in it, okay--does the pilot know where to go?

1127

Official first Mickey Mouse ear sighting followed shortly thereafter by the first flower-wielding lover anxiously waiting to greet his girl post-flight. I am on land, again, and ready to relax.

Orlando Observation #1: I already hate pigeons.

Orlando Observation #2: Apparently and upon assumptions based on terminal

population--airport terminal, that is--I hit the below average mark when it comes to age in this city.

What a welcome! Tina picked me up at the airport and I got my first fabulous hug of the trip. As soon as I walked into their home, Elijah (5) and Adelyn (3 1/2) gave me big smiles and big hugs; I even got a hug from their friend, Spencer (4), who doesn't know me at all but decided to hop on the bandwagon! We spent the afternoon playing--in the house, on the swing set, in the front yard. The kids were tearing it up and Tina, Amy (Spencer's mom), and I had time for lawn chair conversation. I shed my hoodie and went sleeveless--I love warm!

Tina met with some women after supper, so she dropped me off at Borders for a couple of hours. I had the most delectable, warm, gooey oatmeal raisin cookie as I journaled about my first day out of town. I had hoped to fall in love with a journal in the store, so I could start a new experience in a new book, but I couldn't find just the right (I accidentally typed "write" the first time!) one, so it wasn't worth it to me. Fortunately, I packed a new one from home knowing that I was about to run out of pages in my current one. I had time to write and stare out the window and eavesdrop on the Jewish group beside me as the leader talked through doctrinal jargon. I wasn't listening intently, so I heard strange parts of the session about how to slaughter animals properly and why it's important and something about the Salem witch trials. The leader came across as one of those guys who knows a lot but gets so uptight about reporting the details that he hardly allows for jokes or small talk that help a group to bond in those types of meetings.

I got some time to stroll through the book aisles, too. I get overwhelmed in bookstores and libraries. I'm not much of a reader, so I wouldn't even know where to start if I was actually going to pick up a book. So many shelves. So many titles. I usually make my way over to the fitness/health genre to see if I can find new moves or tips for my aerobics classes. (I teach.) Shel Silverstein has a new one out; that's the kind of stuff I can get excited about!

3-16-05

I slept in this morning until 9:00, which was a fine time to start the day. I had opened my eyes several time prior to actually rolling out of bed, heard the kids playing or eating breakfast, and gone back to sleep again. I kept dreaming that I slept until noon or 1 o'clock and every time I really woke up I'd panic a little about sleeping away my vacation--not enough panic to pull me out of my slumber completely or even check the clock, though!

The weather website reported thunder storms today, thunder showers tomorrow and a partly cloudy, 70 degree Friday. We decided Friday was our best bet for the beach, though, knowing what I know now, today would have been better. The rain didn't come until late in the afternoon, so we spent some time downtown at Lake Eola. Craig took the kids to the playground while Tina and I walked around the lake. We had more great conversation about what's going on in our lives and what hope looks like and how hard things get sometimes. All the while, Ava (6 months) slept quietly in her stroller. Then we met up with the other three and I snapped some fun pictures at the park. Elijah, who was camera shy--or should I say no-picture adamant--the entire week, was more than happy to pose for a shot on the fireman's pole. Adelyn, never camera shy, gave me big cheesey smiles on the swings.

Later that night, after the kids were in bed, the grown-ups--yeah, I guess I qualify--sat on those wonderful couches and talked just like old times; it was like their Muncie living room had simply been transported to a new home surrounded by palm trees and extra humidity. Craig and Tina are the two friends who have been most crucial to promoting and encouraging and supporting change in my life. I met them my freshman year of college, and I've lost count of the trials they've walked through with me. They know so much and they still love me. When we sat down, I knew I was in for some deep uprooting of emotions I tend to ignore when no one's watching. They keep me on my toes. They tell me I'm strong enough to persevere. They speak truth into my life. I don't have the words to explain the impact they've had in my life.

3-17-05

The predictions were correct for Thursday; it rained all day. Tina and I packed up the kids and attempted to window shop at The Millenia Mall. Word is, when famous folks come to Orlando, this is the place to shop! Well, we're not famous, and we're not rich, so walking children through a store that sells $2000 sundresses was enough to make anyone's heart palpitate! There wasn't even a toy store in the entire mall; the closest thing was The discovery Channel Store and we spent the bulk of our time there. We decided it was too busy and not enough kid-friendly and didn't stay very long.

I grabbed a couple of hours of alone time at another bookstore, Barnes and Nobles this time. Purely for empirical study, I ordered another oatmeal raisin cookie at the cafe. Results: Borders wins by a 90% margin; remember, they warmed it up for me and it all but melted the instant it hit my tongue! More books, more journaling, more distraction, this time provided by a foreign couple--German maybe--who sat next to me and delighted me with their language as I ate and thought. On my way back to the house--I didn't get lost!--I grabbed some groceries for our beach trip and Cap'n Crunch because I'm on vacation and I love sugar and there are no unnecessary letters!

Orlando Observation #3: In an unfamiliar place in an unfamiliar car I drive unfamiliarly slow--but the other drivers should be used to this in Grandparent, USA, right?

3-18-05

I'm afraid our day at the beach was colder than a day at Minnetrista would have been. The breeze on the shore made it too chilly, so we kept our stay under an hour. We dug holes in the sand. I waded in the water and hopped little waves as I watched their parents rise high in the distance. The wind was cold but the water was warm across my toes. I like the feeling of the sand being sucked from under my feet after the tide washes over them. I took pictures of baby seagulls, but I know the still shots won't do justice to how cute they were and how fast their tiny little speedy legs moved as they hurried to beat the incoming waves.

From there (New Smyrna Beach), we drove to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the country. There we met up with Craig and Dan D. and Aaron who had romped around town the night before for guys' time. We strolled past some little touristy shops and ate supper at a pizza joint that should be famous for their amazing breadsticks and mouthwatering, chunky dipping sauce. Elijah's favorite part of the day was playing on the little train outside of the guys' hotel; it looked like maybe it used to be part of an amusement park ride and they glued the engine and caboose behind this sidewalk just for occasions like this when the adults need to pause to discuss plans.

We had a long drive ahead of us and it wasn't long before Elijah and Adelyn fell asleep. It gave us another opportunity to talk. Craig has a way of reading people and speaking to the heart of the matter, those underlying desires that cause people to act out or close up or go numb or cry. I don't know how long it took us to get home because the conversation continued even after the kids were tucked into their beds and we were back on those familiar couches.

Deep in thought from a long day and the traveling and the back-to-normal schedule ahead of me, I re-packed my suitcase and let my thoughts unwind before my body fell into bed that night.

3-19-05
The kid across the aisle said it perfectly, "Bye bye, Florida." I chose another dumb seat. Learning from my previous experience, I did not sit behind the wing, I sat next to it. So, now instead of being a fear factor, it is a nuisance. Where are all the little squares? Where are Mr. Rogers and Mr. McFeely? I have to look over a chunk of metal to even get a glance. The clouds are lower today and very scattered. Thank God for good friends who are well-traveled and airport savvy. The plan was to drop me off at the Southwest entry but there was a long, suspicious line outside, so after I hopped out of the van, Craig found a parking spot and accompanied me. It's fabulous how these sorts of things always work out. I was clueless. I probably would have walked through the wrong gate. I would have stayed in that line. Instead, Craig knew that I could have two carry-ons and did not have to check any luggage so went inside with my credit card to get my boarding pass and I was able to bypass the chilly wait. I didn't dawdle but I didn't rush, and I reached my terminal and boarded the plane with ease. It wasn't completely flawless, however. There were line creepers--you know the ones. Those folks who come into line after you but creep up beside you like maybe you'll forget who was first. To make matters worse, it was an old man and his cranky old wife. She said "damn" and yelled at him. BOO crabby grandmas!

Thank goodness the noise on the plane is so consuming because the girl next to me is sniffling and in any other close proximity , I could die because of it. As it is, I can't hear her so well, but I still might offer her a kleenex. "Ladies and gentlemen, good morning and welcome aboard Southwest airlines. We'd like you to note all emergency exits and lavatory locations at this time. Please, remain buckled in until further notice and feel free to use kerchief apparatus at any time during the flight to aid nose bleeds. Elevation is not the threat in these situations--annoyed neighbors are. Thank you and enjoy flying the freakin' friendly skies."

I'm not diggin' the canned water. Deja Blue sounds more like a wine cooler, anyway, or the name of a ritzy jazz club where they feature the finest martinis. Will someone please tell me what's up with the wafers? I want pretzels. I expected pretzels. I don't even like peanuts, but even that would be acceptable. Seriously, these vanilla wafer cookies are not it; besides, "cookies" should have chocolate or some other butter-laden fat morsel inside. BOO-HISS to that, too! Part of me wishes I had ordered a harder drink just so I could say I had my first screwdriver on an 8am flight! Ah, wish in one hand crap in the other...

We're hitting turbulence as we decent on good ol' Indianapolis and I love it. my belly is doing flip flops and I'm grinning from ear to ear as we soar through the middle of these great big, fluffy clouds. I'm a very tactile person. From fidgeting to touching artwork, my experience is not complete unless I can touch, getting a literal grip on the reality of my surroundings. What do you suppose clouds feel like? I honestly think they don't feel like much of anything--it's just air, though maybe a little damp; I have walked through fog before--nothing special. But if I let my imagination go, I hope they would slide across my skin like silk, warm me up like a fluffy towel fresh from the dryer. And I want them to smell like baking vanilla and sweet chocolate swirls. Right now, they're just bumpy, but I don't mind.

Which do I like more, writing or dancing? I'm amusing myself thoroughly as I get these thoughts on paper, so that's why the question popped in. It's a strange choice because I feel like dance is simply part of me. I love them both, but it's like asking me which is better: breathing or playing in the rain. One of them is necessary and I'm just gonna do it regardless. Dance is in me and bursts out of me just like breath. (I think I just avoided the answer!)

The hum in the cabin is so loud. If I were traveling with someone, I'd have to lean in real close to hear him/her speak. That's why I should fly somewhere for my honeymoon. I hear that sort of thing is just what newlyweds do best. But for now, I'm a bona fide member of the I Hate Being Single Club, better known to me as I Hate BS.

Home sweet home.

"It's the jet lag talking,"
Construction Kim

Mmm...Friday!

2005-03-11T18:20:00.000-05:00

Picture this: Military mud crawl meets Catherine Zeta-Jones "Entrapment" laser-dodging slither meets Construction Kim! That's definitely how I must have looked when I was scooting around on my hands and knees under someone's crawl space this morning. Those spaces are really small; I can't even sit on the gravel and straighten my back unless my head is between two floor beams, so you can imagine the maneuvering I had to apply simply to check out the supports and duck under some extra tubing stuff.

Boss John likes to tell stories. I feel bad because I don't always like to hear them. My mind wanders too easily, but I do my best to give "yeah...oh...mm-hmm" in appropriate intervals for encouragement and so he knows I haven't fallen asleep.

I walked across the street to LoBill's to buy paper towel after lunch (at Panera's on Boss John--yes!) and met a stocker--not to be confused with stalker--who talked like Gomer Pyle! It made me smile.

I discovered today that the turn signal click on the company truck speeds up when I step on the gas! It's a slow 1 a2 a3 a4...with the break on and a steady, quicker 1 & 2 &amp; 3 & 4 &...when I press on the gas to creep up to the four-way for my turn. This, too, made me smile.

I ate a lot of cookies today,
Construction Kim

STOP THE INSANITY!!!

2005-03-09T16:40:00.000-05:00

I attended the second part of an Excel workshop this afternoon at BMH. I was that kid who asked the simple questions, looked over at her neighbor's screen, and played on the internet while the teacher wasn't looking! I could not focus on what the instructor was telling us. From her terminal, she was able to take over our computers so we could see exactly what she was doing on our screen; then she'd "release" us to work through a section of the manual ourselves. As I typed through the examples, I thought of how I'd rather be reading my friends' xanga sites...so I did! I'd finish each section and maximize the xanga screen until she took over our computers, again. Or when she walked over to help one of us, I'd hide it! How sneaky. I was never that kid in high school, though in college classes I'd often do other homework during lectures that I knew were not pertinent to the exam. I got my attendance points, I heard important announcements and assignments, and I was efficient instead of bored. Come to think of it, that's disrespectful of my teachers--I was more or less ignoring them. I always feel an urgency to do something outside of the task at hand: What's next? What's going on tonight? What do I need to knock off my to-do list and when can I do that? I should write blog notes during this meeting. You get the picture.

Anyway, five of us in that classroom and I had to sit next to The Gum Chewer! Mouth noises--except for funny ones like Donald Duck impressions and water drop fake-outs and fun things like that--cause me physical pain; I hate them THAT much! Let me paint a picture for you; the following are elements that I imagine would exist in my personal Hell: First of all, someone would constantly be smacking in my ear--not smacking my ear but chewing like a cow with his/her mouth open wide right in my face. I would be forced to run all the time, naked, in frigid, windy weather. My fingers and toes would never quite go numb, just ache in blood-restricted cold. I would be forever taunted by a sneeze that refuses to come to fruition. My eyes would itch with no relief. People along my path would tickle me, sometimes tackle me to do so more thoroughly before I returned to the incessant jogging which, by the way, is done alone--no music, no training buddy, no goal, no end. Actually, there would be music--Britney Spears music: all Britney, all the time. I would smell the sweet sugars of chocolate brownies baking in a hot oven, but never taste their goodness or feel the warmth in my hollow belly. I would not be able to sing. And all this torture is in addition to eternal separation from God, the worst pain of all, the very definition of Hell.

I spent the two hours trying to make it look like I was playing with my left ear when in fact I was doing my best to block out the hideous cacophony. (I went to dictionary.com for that one; "noise" just didn't express my disdane.)

So, if you are a friend of mine--or anyone else's for that matter--I implore you to take note of this grandmother of all pet peeves in my life and please refrain from loud chewing in my presence. It wont even be funny if you tease me about it. I honestly feel restriction in my chest and tension in my jaws at even the thought of such cruelty. If your mother never taught you to chew with your mouth closed, please make up for lost time and finally understand that it is simply the right thing to do. Other things in my obnoxious noise category are clicky pens, whispering, and God or Jesus Christ uttered as profanitythey all make me cringe. Dont do them around me.

As you can tell, I got a lot out of the training session. Thank goodness Im in construction!

Make it stop,
Construction Kim

Ya Learn Somethin' New Every Day.

2005-03-08T14:28:00.000-05:00

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Remember this as you go through life: The thing that you're using was made by someone who you're probably as smart as." --Boss John

I get to hear gems of wisdom like this nearly every day. It's just not fair that I should hog the enlightenment. What he was getting at with this one was that when you [universal] need to fix or do something and you're not quite sure how to do it, you can most likely figure out some way to get the job done. It's interesting that he didn't value his own opinion so highly yesterday when I used the table saw to cut strips of drywall. That's what yesterday's post was about. After I'd been at the office for an hour or so, Boss John called and told me to cut some drywall scraps to fit at the bottom of the wall sheets that didn't quite reach the floor. I've never done this before or watched anyone else, but it seemed easy enough. And besides dealing with crooked flooring, it was. I measured, I marked, I cut, I placed.

When Boss John finally showed up and realized how I was getting the job done, he started cracking up--right to my face. I'm learning to be more assertive or at least less passive, so I didn't smile along this time. "You're using the saw? " he chuckled. "And you're laughing at me, " I reported dryly. Apparently, the tiny rock particles that make up gypsum board (aka "drywall") can cause trouble for gears, but a utility knife works wonders. That hand rasp thing I mentioned really does look like a cheese grater and it's used like a sander when the piece too big but not big enough to recut.

So, I finished the task at hand and went home for the day, still perturbed by his cackling. He apologized and I didn't get grumpy with him, but it sure plugged my ears to his helpful instruction for a bit of time thereafter. When someone laughs at me, I'm not motivated to listen to anything else coming out of his/her mouth. I'm not dwelling on it today and it didn't deter me any yesterday, but it's just not nice. Here's a helpful hint from yours truly: "Don't laugh at people. I makes them sad."

So much for experimenting,
Construction Kim

Drywall for Dummies

2005-03-07T11:09:00.000-05:00

DRYWALL FOR DUMMIES

When the Dust Gets in Your Eyes

Chapter 1: Drywall = Dust
Chapter 2: Tools of the Trade
Chapter 3: How to Deal with Your Boss
Chapter 4: What Not to Do
Chapter 5: Why We Hire Contractors for this Job

In her first effort as a construction expert, Construction Kim eloquently describes the do's and don't's of drywall design. Having once been inexperienced herself, she hopes to educate others with topics such as "Why power tools and drywall don't mix, How to keep your cool when the boss laughs at you, That cheese grater thing is called a "hand rasp," and Thank goodness we cover that with trim." This manual is ideal for the beginner carpentry student, however it is not an all-inclusive guide. Any injury or loss of employment directly related to the contents of this book are not the responsibility of the author. Reported side effects include scraped knuckles, white and dusted nose hair as well as eyelashes, spontaneous under-the-breath profanity, and busting a gut. Read ahead with caution and enjoy your adventures in drywall.

Oops!

2005-03-04T15:32:00.000-05:00

I'm going through Lowe's withdrawal. I haven't gone at all, today. I sure hope Greggory and Tim and Bill and that guy who drives the fork lift are doing well without me.

I've got the song "Lola" stuck in my head. I don't even know the lyrics or tune beyond
"Lola, L-O-L-A Lola," or who sings it, and I can't remember where I recently heard it. It can get obnoxious when that's all ya know; this happens to me a lot, but I'm pretty sure the habit--because you know I sing it out loud--bothers the people around me more than it bothers me, unless it's a Britney Spears song, and then it's a nightmare for all. Great, now I'm gonna have one of her songs in my head!

Well, it looks like John has come to terms with my feat of strength yesterday. He made a joke about it to a volunteer this morning, so I don't feel the tension anymore. I'm still pretty sure he'll steer me away from those sorts of tasks in the future, though. And I'm pretty sure his keeping me off task will be quite a task for him!

TOOL OF THE DAY: 6-WAY SCREWDRIVER
It's two sizes of Philip's and flat heads plus 2 other uses I haven't figured out, yet--all in one handle! If ever you need to stock up on tools for around the house, I suggest picking up one of these (at your local Lowe's store, preferrabley).

WORD OF THE DAY: PUTTY
We tore up the old kitchen linoleum to find a crack in the cement underneath. John showed me how to mix up the filler to take care of it and told me to mix it to putty consistency. I don't really have a reference point for that. First, I thought of silly putty, but I don't think that's ideal for the job. I know what toothpaste consistency is, and that one matches caulk. But putty?? It required a visual and then all was well. Had he said a little stiffer than cake batter, I would have understood. Interestingly, filling the crack (I'm fighting to refrain from the drug jokes here because drugs are bad and not funny at all...oh, but the punchlines are bountiful; it's a bad habit I'm trying to kick--not the drugs, because I don't do drugs, but joking about drugs...Up with hope Down with dope!) was much like spreading frosting on a cake. But I never sit on the floor to add the icing, and there's never and issue with mixing in dirt. And my cakes aren't usually rock hard in a matter of minutes and the kitchen didn't smell like chocolate; I didn't want to lick the spoon or cozy up next to the warm oven. So, maybe it's not so much like baking a cake after all.

Boss John hussled out of the office before lunch today. He left me with instructions to fill the cracked cement and tear down some wall paneling. Yippee--DEstruction work!

I really like Fridays. It seems like I get to work on my own a lot and the chances for cutting out early are high. Today is no exception since I'm on my way out the door as soon as I publish this.

I did it again,
Construction Kim

Call Me Arnold

2005-03-03T12:44:00.000-05:00

John scolded me today after I unloaded shingles from the back of the truck all by myself. I spent a couple of hours at Lowe's picking up lumber and ceiling tile and these shingles that have been discontinued and donated to us here at Habitat. The lumber and the other boxes were light and I thought John understood I was going to get started on the shingles, but when I walked into the office 15 minutes later announcing that "I earned my lunch," he was not pleased. I told him I was fine. He repeated his disapproval a few minutes later. "Don't do that, again. You shouldn't do things that could get you hurt." At this, I started to get mad. Again, I told him I was fine and I was careful to use my legs and arms and not hurt my back. Rich called me an iron horse (or something like that) and it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. If I had found it to be too much, I would've waited for help. I think it bugs me most because he didn't trust my judgment...and I would rather have had praise for a job well done. Point is, I did it and I could do it, again. Just for the record, that was 1080 pounds of shingles I transported (90 lb/pack), not including the second load I helped with.

Coworker Joe and I were in Bloomington Tuesday and Wednesday for an AmeriCorps retreat. It's still hard to believe southern Indiana can look so drastically different from the northern and even central parts of the state--all those hills and trees and snow to boot! I was afraid of getting stuck in traffic because all the radio dj's were reporting on the terrible road conditions and accidents Tuesday morning, plus I was hitting Indy just around 8:00am. Thankfully, the trip was smooth and fast. I didn't pass any accidents, and there were only a few miles of driving 30 mph before I hit 465. Sometimes, I hate driving and all the time I hate traffic, so this was an answered prayer.

I never quite know what to expect from these conferences. I usually get excited to see the other Habitat crews, but I don't look forward to sitting in on seminar after seminar. This time was different, though. I was still happy to see HabiCorps folks, and the sessions seemed to pass quickly and I liked all the topics. After supper the first night, we watched a video and had some shared reflection time. I was ready to call it a day and sit around playing cards with my friends, but people sure were anxious to comment. I was just begging for them to stop volunteering their opinions, but I guess the old adage, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," was awakened in me and so I raised my hand, too. I'm glad I did because I was highly affirmed in my speaking ability, which fails me more often than not. I put in my two cents and the crowd actually "ooh"ed at what I said! Maybe it's retribution for all those times I stumble over my own lips and flail my hands in an effort to shake out the actual words I want to use. Whatever it was, I liked it and I wish I could do it more often.

So, today feels like Monday because we were away and lucky Joe is basking in the Florida sun as I type. He'll get back the day before I take my turn--yep, I'm heading down to the sunny south and I can't wait. I get to see some dear friends who moved to Orlando two years ago. I'll finally get to see their home and how it matches up with the picture I've contrived in my head as I imagine the kids running around and Tina cooking supper and Craig on the computer. I'll be sure to keep my carpentry skills sharp while I'm away. Let's see, we'll build a pillow fort, I'll dig holes in the sand, and I'll survey the landscapes. That counts for hours, right?

Sunny side up,
Construction Kim

Upgrade

2005-02-25T13:31:00.000-05:00

I'm movin' up in the world--or at least the office. With all the reconstruction going on, my desk was no longer safe in the kitchen. I've been transferred into a shared space with Lindsey, our program coordinator. This means I'll have someone nearby to notice if all I'm doing is playing on the internet. However, that shouldn't be an issue since we're tearing the place apart now and I've got plenty to keep me busy!

I'm feeling much better, finally. I've been battling a rotten cold this week. I skipped work entirely on Wednesday. I thought I felt much better this morning, but once I was here I thought different. I've since decided that, yes, I do feel better; I was just a little grumpy. I hate waiting and I hate not being on time. We had a project to take care of this morning starting at 10:00. Well, we left at 10 and then Boss John stopped at the post office and we didn't get to our site until 10:30. All the while, I was sitting in the truck falling asleep--maybe I shouldn't complain about that, but it was annoying. I want to be my own boss one day. I'll work at my pace. I'll make my own schedule. I'll be the only one to blame for tardiness. I'll answer to me. I won't work Mondays. I don't know what I'll be doing, exactly, but those details will fall into place, I'm sure.

Once the boys get done removing a window in the office previously known as mine, I'll be sent on my way to Lowe's to buy lumber. I get to go shopping and I get to go by myself; this is a nice task for Friday.

Weekend--here I come,
Construction Kim

Monkey See Monkey Do

2005-02-24T15:23:00.000-05:00

There is nothing worse than a sneeze that just won't come to fruition.

Okay, there's A LOT worse than that, but this little annoyance is happening to me today. I've been sick with a cold all week. I didn't even work at all, yesterday--no use breathing on others and infecting them. Today, I'm feeling much better, but the look of my Rudolph nose would suggest otherwise.

The office is a-buzz with renovations! The plans were okayed and the remodeling has begun. This afternoon, we put up drywall and mixed cement to even out a gap in the floor. We also tore out some old, nasty cabinets and the stove. I'm excited to keep going. This place will look very nice when we're finished. There will be more space for staff plus a much-improved conference room. I'm a little nervous about the amount of work we have to do before build season kicks off in April.

Boss John is good at the "Do as I say, not as I do" style of teaching. I know not to cut toward myself with a utility knife or carry too many (sharp) tools at once, not to mention how dangerous it is to stand on a ladder that is not fully opened--all things I've watched him do. I hassle him, but he's a grown man and I can't take responsibility for his lackadaisical habits.

I worked with one of the partner family moms for most of the day. She is crazy-excited to get to work on her house. I don't blame her. Sure, this inside stuff is useful and necessary, but to grab a hammer and watch your own home go up from dirt to doorknobs must be magical. She is a hard worker, too, and loves to talk about her little boy. We had a good time.

ACHOO,
Construction Kim

All By Myself

2005-02-18T15:15:00.000-05:00

I'm working all by my lonesome in the warehouse today, sorting more nails. I'm getting really good at eyeballing the different sizes instead of having to place each nail beside the other piles to see which it matches. Once somebody tells me the names of each of them (roofing, board, finishing, 6d, 7d, 8d, 16d), I'll be an unstoppable force!

I'm getting some great radio-sing along time while I sift through the dirt and rust to dig out the nails. (I'm being very careful, Mom, but some of these buckets just scream of tetnus warning!) The red dirt I wipe off on my sweatshirt--gotta love work clothes--matches my hair; hmmm..."Her rusty locks blew in the breeze..." Nah! It sounds more locksmith than Goldilocks.

Back to the music: I had stories to pass the time yesterday and songs to keep me company today. Since singing is one of my favorite things to do--even more than dancing, I think--I'm having a blast. Like I mentioned, it's just me in the shop--me and Madonna, John Mayer, The Eagles, Kean, Dave Matthews, and Kim Morris of WLBC.

I didn't do so hot with being on time today--I woke up for the second time this week to find my clock flashing some random time in the night when the power must have tripped! It was 9:30, so I was super late today. I have a few sleep-ins to go before I catch up with Coworker Joe, though. That's not a contest I care to win.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"It's like getting a Roadhouse steak at White Castle prices."
Lasantville Carpet Outlet is having a sale this weekend.* There are a lot of commercials to put up with if you want to hear good music.

Do Re Mi,
Construction Kim

*Construction Kim accepts no financial reimbursement for the mention of this or any other business affiliate...only inkind donations. That being said, "Wal-Mart, Goodwill, Old Navy, Kellogg's, Ben and Jerry, Hershey."

Rich History

2005-02-17T14:47:00.000-05:00

Lately, I'm having a hard time making it to work by 9 o'clock. I get here easily by 9:10, and there are others in the office who wander in anytime between 9 and 9:30, but I want to be here at 9:00 and I keep leaving my house at 9:00 instead. I certainly don't use a lot of time to get ready, but I take too much time packing my lunch and reorganizing my desk (by desk, I mean the TV tray in front of my bed where I do all my journaling and weekly planning--by bed I mean the couch I've been sleeping on since June that is just now starting to hurt my back) and packing gym clothes for after work...how does that take so long? Plus, I never know if I need to warm up the car or not--somebody ordered April just last Tuesday and I didn't have to scrape my windows or anything! Only about five minutes of my morning routine are used for preparing my face and teeth for the outside world. I don't do the snooze thing, either. Maybe I'll start next week--always start "next week"--with the goal of being on time to work.

CORRECTION FROM YESTERDAY:
BANDSAW: BanDsaw, one word. So much for auditory education. This further confirms my preference for the written word.

It's Thursday and you know what that means: Lloyd and Rich! Oh, I'm loving this day. I've been sorting a paint bucket full of nails--I've got all sorts of 'em in there from 7d to roofing nails--and just soaking in all their stories. Jake talked about living in Greenland for a year while he was in the air force. Lloyd shared about his drunken general at "Pearl." It's fascinating and I don't mind the menial task.

They recruited a new volunteer; his name is Jim and he's a retired Ball State professor. He recently lost his wife and Lloyd called him up to sympathize and tell him he's got to keep busy, keep going; so now we'll be seeing him every week. It's funny to hear these guys talk about their days on campus. They throw out names like Emens, Pruis, and
Korsgard--people who have buildings named after them now! In fact, Rich happens to be Richard Burkhart, as in Burkhart Building!

I got to work today--late, of course--and realized not only had I forgotten my cell phone but also my shoes. I've been stomping around in my boots all day, which is no big deal I just feel a little silly. And I don't get many calls during the day, but I've quickly grown attached to having the cell by my side all the times. So, the stories are a nice cushion for a forgetful, dreary day.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"It's kinda fun. It's kinda stupid." --Rich
You have to imagine a grandpa-aged man talking about scraping tools until they're clean. It was cute.

Just five more minutes,
Construction Kim

Work?

2005-02-16T16:05:00.000-05:00

TOOL OF THE DAY: THE ENGRAVER
It's got the allure of a labeler and the power of nose hair trimmer. I used it to mark a few of the hand tools with a clear, neat "HABITAT" so they don't "get up and walk away," as Boss John would say.

The proportion of work done in the latter half of my day was ridiculously higher than the exertion of the first. I did the usual check my mail, browse a Habitat something-or-other online, check my mail again, be disappointed about no new messages, meander to the front office to see what people are up to, set myself up for another glance at my [empty] inbox...then things started rolling: staff meeting/lunch, look over floor plans, mosey into the shop, cut boards. If only my motivation would show up sooner.

I mentioned the sawdust issue the other day. Fresh cut, it smells so good but it wreaks havoc up the nose and down the windpipe and it's a pain to shake out of clothes and hair. I am proud of myself for wearing safety goggles today. I used not one, not two, but three differnt saws! I started cutting angles with the chop saw (also known as the miter saw, but doesn't "chop" sound so much cooler?) then moved onto the radial arm saw. I wish it had a safety guard like the others; it makes me a little nervous, but I'm sure I'll grow more and more comfortable with it. Finally, I split 2x4s with the table saw--that's an easy name to remember. Now, I'm also able to identify the ban saw, the sander (already knew that one), and the planer. I'd say I had a productive afternoon! No one lost any limbs or digits while we were working, but just let me go on record saying that Coworker Joe makes me nervous around power tools. It also seems like the blind leading the blind; Boss John is out of town until Monday and I have to trust that Joe knows what he's
doing--I'm not a naturally trusting person. I want to trust people, but I'm always a little suspicious.

Looking over my shoulder,
Construction Kim

Feelin' Clumsy

2005-02-15T15:21:00.000-05:00

I made friends with the copy machine, today. Actually, I pulled Lacey away from her work so she could help me make 163 copies (no exaggeration)--that's approximately 13 tree families in mourning right now. There's no reason why I should know all there is to know about our copy machine, but I felt like an idiot standing there watching someone else do my job for the day. I also felt inadequate when I had to ask how to set up a label document in Word. I need to stop putting pressure on myself to somehow intrinsically know how to do tasks or perform skills that are brand new to me. It would safe me a lot of stress.

While I was waiting for my copies, I was entranced by the sounds it was making: the rhythm was 1&2(3)a(4) for all you band geeks out there, and I was unconsciously tapping it out on my stomach and chest as I stood there. It reminded me of the time when Friend Bob and I orchestrated a series of foot stomps and hand claps while on our way out to eat one night last summer. We were driving down Tillotson; he started a beat and I added mine. This went on for quite some time; I was having fun, but it started to get awkward. All the while, I was expecting the other two in the car to either join in or yell at us to stop, but they didn't and our rhythms just fell apart, after an uncomfortable amount of time with no addtitional percussion. I think I was first to go. It was anti-climatic but creative genius, nonetheless.

...HELPLESS! That's what it is. The whole, don't-know-how-to-use-this-piece-of-equipment thing is about two parts "feelings of inadequacy" to 3 parts "I want to do this on my own." The mailing project I'm doing today--which, yes, has taken most of this day--isn't hard, but I can't complete it without asking soooo many questions. I think I've written about the question thing before, but I guess it still does bother me. I'd rather get my assignment and be left alone to go about my work, which is kind of what happened, but I'm the one gnawing at everybody else in the office like a needy, lost puppy. Well, A+ to me for identifying the root emotion.

How Strong Are You?*

2005-02-11T12:33:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy, busy week! After tomorrow, I will have taught five aerobics classes in six days! I usually teach two and take several others, but call me Ms. Suzie Substitute-I had a blast! As if an early morning strength training class wasn't enough, I spent the afternoon transporting about 50 2x4s and 2x6s from the veranda between our office to the last room in the warehouse. That's a lot of moving! It was just me on the job, so I had a good time racing to get inside before the door shut after each load. With my arms full, I'd give the knob a tug and race the closing door. I don't suggest running with long, heavy boards and no arms available to catch your fall, but it seemed like a fun game at the time.

I got to use a hammer to un-nail some of the boards. I practiced using my left hand, since one of my goals is to be ambidextrous with a hammer by the end of my service year. Can you believe that at the end of all this work, I still had dirt under my fingernails even though I was wearing gloves the whole time? And I can't tell you how many times I had to step inside to blow my nose--between the dust and the cold, it was running faster than I was.

Does anyone out there remember "Pippy Longstocking?" It was one of my after-school favorites growing up. I remember the part of the movie when she eats nails for breakfast--with milk--as if it was a bowl of cereal. When I was younger, I used to imitate her with my Cap'n Crunch. Every so often, you can find a couple of those little sugary rectangles stuck together end-to-end; they were perfect for pretend nails. Mmmm.

TOOL OF THE DAY: LEVERAGE
Perhaps it's more a byproduct of physics, but I used it to my advantage when I was removing those nails I wrote about earlier. (To remove Cap'n Crunch nails, I use a toothbrush.) I can have a terrible time yanking those little guys out, but all it takes is a little repositioning and mere cooperation with the laws that govern said leverage and VOILA!! (If you pronounce it "leeeverage" you will sound like Orlando Bloom in "Pirates of the Caribbean." Now that you sound like him, if you look him, please call me.) This reminds me of one of my first days on the build site. Joe and I had to put up a couple of nailer boards (boards that go in horizontally between wall studs so as to provide a good, solid place to attach things like towel bars and pictures once drywall is in place). We finished that part of the job and I pounded in a vertical board in another room--oops, nail in the wrong place, it didn't attach. So, I turned my hammer around and started tugging. I had nailed it in an arm's length over my head, so I certainly did not have desirable leverage to remove it. I pulled and jerked on that hammer with all my might, but it wouldn't budge. I tried and tried, and even hanging from the hammer did not work--my entire body weight supported by one stubborn nail and the handle I clutched! In the end and between astonished, amused laughter, I finally won by jumping up in the air and yanking down until my feet hit the floor again--extra leverage, extra strength. It took several jumps. It must have been sight to see!

*Too strong,
Construction Kim

My Guys

2005-02-10T14:43:00.000-05:00

Lloyd and Rich are my favorite volunteers. They are two of about six or seven regulars that show up every Tuesday and Thursday to help fill in construction time between bigger volunteer groups; most of them are older, retired members of the community. We could not do what we do in the time that we do without these folks. During the build season, Rich and Lloyd are in charge of porches. Since they have Lodge meetings of some sort on Tuesdays, they come Thursday mornings ready to work. Right now, since we're inside for the winter and not building any new houses until April, the volunteers are helping us organize the warehouse and the tool truck. Jake is the ring leader of this huge undertaking. Every time I walk into the shed, I smell fresh cut lumber and survey all the new tool-holding gadgets they've created. The place is looking great!

Back to Lloyd and Rich--They are welcoming and inquisitive and boy do I love their stories. These two were both professors at Ball State years ago. Today at lunch, they learned that I studied dance for my undergrad and that launched an account of the path of that department within the university. Once upon a time, the campus heads had a hard time deciding whether dance belonged with the school of music or of physical education. For awhile, ballet was in one college (music) and modern in another (PE)! All the while, theater was in lost in the abyss of the English department until the two eventually combined into fine arts.

They asked if I was ever involved with one of Yakov Eden's dance troupes. I told them had never even heard of the name they mentioned, and Rich nudged Lloyd to let him know that was some 28 years ago! We all got a good laugh at that, since most of use sitting at the table weren't even born at that time, let alone dancing! "I still think young," Lloyd said. These two remind me of the old heckler muppet guys who sit up in the balcony feeding off of each others jokes and stories--minus the heckling, of course!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"I lost [Ruth] three years ago, this week. I've learned to do most of the things she did...but you can't fix the hole in your heart." --Lloyd

I miss my grandparents,
Construction Kim

My Valentine

2005-02-09T15:51:00.000-05:00

Andrew Dan-Jumbo.

If you're a woman, and if you recognize that name, you are now staring off into space with a dreamy smile splashed across your face as you imagine a tall, dark, and handsome man rescuing you from all your home makeover and romantic crises.

Yes, it's true. I met my TV boyfriend this weekend! That means I have met 50% of my celebrity crushes--he looks just as good in person! My wonderful sister informed me that he would be attending the Indianapolis Home Show, so I hopped online to find the schedule of events. None of my girlfriends was available to travel with me, so I hopped on the highway and let MeatLoaf guide me to my destiny.

I am proud of the way I handled myself...for the most part. I didn't get nervous or over-smiley, but there was a strange occurrence when I first approached the autograph table. I told him we were in the same line of business and we chatted about Habitat. At my first words to him, I propped one elbow on the table and threw my purse along with the other shoulder and hip back and away from his direction, leaning into the small talk. Years of pent-up flirt energy leaked out in that moment and I had no control over it! It was not premeditated; it was a natural reaction. When I realized my posture, I calmly, slowly stood up like a normal human being and the conversation continued. I am still amazed and embarrassed.

He asked if I was from Indy and we talked briefly about the weather. As he moved around the table to get a picture with me, he commented on my shirt, how he's go one very similar to it. (I was wearing one of my 70's style Colorado T-shirts with the rings of color around the shoulders.) I heard his secret whispers of attraction in those comments about fashion and bitter winters, not to mention the way he said "Thank you"; he can't fool me.

I mentioned this encounter (sans vixen pose) at our next staff meeting, telling everyone that he is my construction inspiration. Boss John wasn't to thrilled about that, considering he is supposed to be my mentor. I wonder what he'll think of the framed picture on my desk???

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME:
I had a slapstick comedy moment this morning as I stretched at my desk. I forgot that the back of my chair moves from side to side and back and forth--for comfort reasons, I'm sure. But when you sit a fidgety girl like me in one of those, there's bound to be trouble. I reached my arms overhead and leaned back to reenergize and encourage better circulation and I nearly fell out of my seat when the chair back tilted to the left--think "hip hop hooray, ho" motion. I laughed real loud and Boss John thought I had a brush with death.

And finally, what blog would be complete without a Coworker Joe story? (I just discovered the option of calling him CoJo--not to his face, but in writing--so keep that in mind for future reference.) After walking into the office just in time for our 12:00 staff meeting, he shuffled into the kitchen (my office) ordering, "Let's go." I made no eye contact and continued putting away my lunch as a I responded in an even, controlled yet firm tone, "Don't boss me around, Joe, I'm gonna get mad." Out loud, I said it out loud! Boss John laughed and sort of warned him to watch out. "I'm gonna get in a lot of trouble at the women's build," CoJo retorted to him. "He should be banned from that site," I muttered to Lacey; I'm not joking. But hey--I spoke up! It wasn't much, but it's baby step away from complete passive-aggressive behavior.

Count to ten and breathe,
Construction Kim

It's raining, it's pouring...

2005-02-08T14:29:00.000-05:00

It's raining men.
I need Your rain.
When it rains it storms.
Rain on me.

It all began when my toilet started "raining" Sunday night. It didn't flood my place, but any overflow is too much. Mr. Rooter fixed it Monday morning and I followed with a thorough cleaning. I'm just happy I have linoleum flooring, unlike the apartment I lived in for the past three years before this place; thank goodness that one never overflowed! So, I braved the wet weather to buy a mop, and I drenched the bathroom and kitchen in generic pine-scented disinfectant. I figured while I was at it, I might as well clean the sink and toilet and shower, too. Consequently, I was able to scrub out a lot of the aggravation that had built up as I tip-toed around the water and all the junk I had to clear out of my storage space--thankfully I rescued every last box before the water flowed into the cornerof my storage space/closet at the end of the bathroom; I know, weird set-up.

Obviously, Monday's schedule was full and I didn't work Tuesday, either. I did, however, pop into Cingular and pick out a new cover for my work phone as well as another one for a coworker and stopped in at the office to drop it off and say hello. I know I'm not alone in this experience, so everyone out there can share in my discomfort when the salesman at Cingular hovered over me while I decided which cover to buy. He showed me my options and just stood there, so I did the obligatory talk-through-the-decision-out-loud, ask questions you don't really care about, intermittent "hmmm"s and attaching and detaching the clasps to my belt. Weird. I like my new case.

Give your local plumber a hug today,
Construction Kim

Pain does not exist in this dojo!

2005-02-04T15:16:00.000-05:00

I feel like DanielSon every time I have a paintbrush in my hand. I do switch from right to left to ensure equal strength in both ninja arms.

Yesterday Boss John got a wild look in his eye and asked, "Do ya wanna cut a hole in the wall?" So, we unloaded the wrath of the Sawzall on the drywall panel where my desk used to be and voila--new doorway. For now, it's more like a gaping rectangle, but after another coat of paint on the trim (provided by yours truly) she'll be purdy as a pickle (alliteration before clarity).

I heard a wonderful anecdote this afternoon, and I'd like to share it with you all:

One evening, an old Cherokee elder told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside every man and every woman. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves. One wolf is Evil--It is full of anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other wolf is Good--It is represents joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The younger man thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

John read this to me from an e-mail he received, so I asked if he'd forward it to me. He fired back, "No," and I asked him which wolf he thought he was feeding at that moment.

I'm not watching that paint dry, but I'm waiting nonetheless. For once, I don't feel guilty for typing away on this--I have to pass the time, you know. After one more coat, I'm out the door for the weekend.

Gotta love Ralph Macchio,
Construction Kim

Donuts and Do Nots

2005-02-02T15:35:00.000-05:00

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Computers is the easiest thing ever." Coworker Joe

Sadly, I missed another opportunity to encourage healthy habits in the office, or at the very least, discourage unhealthy habits. By the time we met for the staff meeting this afternoon, I had not worked up the courage to suggest the no-donut rule. Instead, I directed Boss John to Concannon's Bakery and carried out the goodies with my own two hands-- my two dirty, shameful, gluttonous hands. This was only my second visit to the confectionery castle and believe me, I was tempted, however I offered no say in the order and did not eat anything we bought. I am a quiet coward.

At our training last week, we had the opportunity to share with other Americorps students about our struggles and bounce solution options off each other. I was surprised to learn that Joe and I were both frustrated at the lack of communication, particularly when it comes to tasks that need taken care of and keeping us busy when we're in the office. I had assumed that he was keeping very busy working on the website for our affiliate, but I guess I've learned once again not to make assumptions. Anyway, now that we're back to work, he's taken it upon himself to make sure I keep busy.

"D'ya find something to do?"
"Here's something you can do."
"Maybe since so-and-so is out of the office they
can use you for this-and-that."

He's probably trying to help and I'm probably too sensitive, but this is not the first time I've heard his patronizing tone. He talks to me like I'm beneath him on the totem pole, when really, we're filling the same position. Okay, so he's got more experience than I do, but that doesn't mean I'm his secretary or here to fill whatever odd jobs are left behind in the office while he goes to hammer boards or lift heavy objects.

[In this case, I know I am not reading into things, the proof being this exact statement he made the other day: "What you need to understand is that you are John and I's secretary." All I could do was look away from him, take a deep breath, and continue my conversation with the person next to me. I didn't hear anything that person was saying, but neither did I lose my cool.]

My hope is that we begin remodeling the office within the next couple of weeks. We'll have plenty to do then. In the meantime, I will consider responses to the next inappropriate comment. There are a lot of different people in this world that think a lot of different things and react in a lot of different ways, and I just don't know what would be most effective in this situation.

I'm being forced to address my pride. I live in extremes, so I'm either no good or too good and I ride both waves here at work. This is entirely new territory for me, so I know nothing and my pride takes a hit for that. However, I hate it when people talk down to me and I just want to prove my competence. I have become very good at asking questions when I'm unsure about something, but that inadvertently reveals my ignorance. I end up asking the questions that I'm pretty sure other people need to know, too, but that makes me look like the dummy. I'm getting over it, though, since there's no better way for me to learn; like all of our fifth grade teachers said, "There are not stupid questions." Yeah, I didn't believe them back then, either.

At any rate, my work day is almost done, so soon I can go home where I know all the answers and can revel in my brilliance.

I'm just a girl,
Construction Kim

On the Prowl

2005-02-01T20:30:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's that time of year when I begin the hunt for a new apartment. It is such a frustrating process. Calls upon calls upon calls, mostly without answers. I don't usually hear back from the messages I leave. I search the local papers for listings, automatically eliminating the pricey apartments and listing the bad numbers so I don't try the same landlords more than once. I really like living by myself for now. I lived ina house with three other ladies for three years before I ventured out on my own after graduation. I love coming home to silence, not sharing the TV or refrigerator space, and dancing with wreckless abandon whenever I want (and I usually want).

All that to say, my limited construction knowledge came in handy as I visited a prospective address today. The apartment was under renovation, and the guy showing me the place pointed out the punch list hanging from one of the cabitnets--and I recognized the term! For you novices out there, a punch list is a to-do list someone writes up when the job is almost done, a last minute check sheet. I don't know why I didn't sign the lease right there and then, since the location was perfect: just a jaunt away from The Thirsty Turtle, my new favorite karaoke hotspot!

But alas, I did not fold to my excitement, and I've been looking at more ads tonight. I don't think "clean" should be a selling point in the real estate section; it should be expected, not a bonus.

I didn't work today, so I didn't learn anything constructive, if you will. My simple wish for tomorrow is that I show up at the office and there is no mouse poop on the kitchen counter. I know--DISGUSTING! My office is in the kitchen, so imagine my surprise when I heard a rustling yesterday and looked up from my computer screen to see our furry little friend...IN the saltine sleeve! Not eating through, not on, IN! I squealed and then laughed at myself, but I couldn't do anything more because there was a board meeting in the other room! They heard me and looked back to see my red face. And, of course, I was confined to my chair until it was out of sight; I broke out in a sweat! When Coworker Joe strolled through a few minutes later, I reported my finding. He had no qualms with picking up the cracker pack--mouse inside--and walking the both of them into that meeting to show everyone! I'm just happy he didn't bring it anywhere near me. I don't think I get girly very often, so I allow myself complete freedom to freak out in rodent-related situations.

EEEK,
Construction Kim

24 K

2005-01-31T14:36:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

That's right, I turn 24 today. For those of you wondering, all I want for my birthday is MeatLoaf and chocolate...oh wait, that's everyday...check!

I've officially decided that it's okay to never grow up. Yeah, yeah, I've got the bill thing and the real job and other responsibilities, but my need for play will never wane. For instance, I'm having a Poser Party this weekend--everyone dresses up in a fashion that is opposite of their normal attire. Last year it was a lip-synch showcase; the year before that was a dance-a-thon (for my Year of the Tutu--22, some say double deuce).

So, I will not resist my youth. I will bask in the glory of not taking every detail of life so seriously all the time. I will participate in Living Room Olympics. I will play fashion show dress up before bed time. I will wear pigtails. I will rejoice in my innocent naivete. I will giggle when boys say "fart."

A Round of Kool-Aid Mustaches on Me,
Construction Kim

Out of Stock

2005-01-28T17:35:00.000-05:00

If from the depths of Hell there sprung a reason that I had to purge my entire collection of music save for one CD, I could live happily for the rest of my life with only "The Very Best of MeatLoaf."

I am never not in the mood for MeatLoaf. Usually, I pop in a CD and shuffle to my favorites, quickly grow tired it, and switch to the next. Not Marvin, though (that's his real name)! I still shuffle the order, but I usually listen to all the songs when I'm on a long trip. The exception is "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" which I generally skip out of respect for myself. Interestingly enough, that's the most-requested song my friends want to hear when the album is in my player. Reluctantly, I humor them, but rest assure--I skip the baseball commentary. I feel dirty even typing about it.

Oh, what a week. It's Friday but it feels like Monday to me. I've been out of town for training, and I hurried back to Muncie for a half-day of work this afternoon after being out of the office all week; luckily I don't have a case of the Mondays. (I love that I have a such an educational friend group that I can quote movies I haven't even seen, nor want to see.)

I've been learning a lot about myself since I began this Habitat gig, and one of those realizations is my intolerance for meetings. Weekly staff meetings in the office are one thing, but sitting and listening to someone talk at me for two hours about information that could just as easily have been communicated in one neat, orderly announcement flyer is painful!

Besides wanting to tear my hair out, I find my mind wandering through all avenues in Dreamland. One such random thought: "If my name were Latoya, I'd have to wear bigger earrings." Wah wah!

Another, constructive thought is this: Here at Habitat, we have a program called Women Build in which, you guessed it, women build an entire home. This special project can be misrepresented in a number of ways. First of all, if you asked Coworker Joe, he'd probably make some derogatory comment about the capabilities of the female species. There is not enough internet capacity for me to express my reaction to that sort of attitude in this blog, so I will deal with it outside the confines of cyberspace(not to mention the subject gets me so heated that I can't keep up this feverish typing pace for long).

But even in regular reports, it has many names. Most often I hear, "Womens' Build." That's not bad. It suggests that the workers have taken ownership over the home-building process. They're taking their mission seriously, proud to be part of the solution to poverty housing in this world. Another version I've heard is "Woman Build" which sounds like a command from a drunken (or just plain stupid) man while he waits for his dinner in front of the TV. This is no good, regardless of what Coworker Joe might think. The actual name is "Women Build." It's a statement...in so many ways. To review: "Womens' Build" possessive, "Woman Build" inappropriate, "Women Build" yes!

TASK OF THE DAY: FINDING STUDS
I only wish the real life search was as easy as going to the store. Boss John returned with a truck load of supplies; I came back empty-handed. Sigh...

Would you like fries with that?

2005-01-21T13:23:00.000-05:00

Have I mentioned my fondness of painting? I returned to my old ways, today, priming a doorway in the office. We've got big plans for remodeling this winter. So far, we've put up new blinds, John put in a new window, we're working on that door for the ED's office, and we brainstormed new floorplans. It's like a warm-up for building entire houses this summer.

As for my first experience working in an office, my biggest complaint is all the stupid snacks. boxes of donuts, candy bars, Marsh bundt cakes...It's your birthday--let's eat. You're leaving for a new job--let's give you a proper good-bye with all the fixins. You're breathing--here, have cake. Plus, no one gives it a second thought to order out or go to a restaurant every day for lunch? Is this normal? I don't like eating out all the time; it doesn't agree with my healthly lifestyle goals. Does anyone out there have a suggestion for an office reform? I'm thinking I might promise to bring in more healthy, homemade treats every week, if people stop wasting their money on sugar sabotage for their fellow employees.

I walked across the street to buy supplies this afternoon. (At this point in the story I have chosen to protect the store's good name as well as the employee's, since he might have been having a bad day and I gain nothing from slander.) John sent me and said to get a box of 3/4 inch long, 1/4 inch diameter machine screws along with some nuts so we could put together some shelves. I strolled over and, being the humble, new construction worker I am, did not decline help. I wish I had just searched the aisles myself because my "helper" gave me a lecture when I told him what I needed. "10-24, 10-38--they don't come in fractional lengths, they're labeled 10-24, or 10-38..." Sure enough, when we found them on the shelf, they were labeled with "10-24 or 10-38..." (the thread length apparently) AND the measurement that John gave me when he sent me on my way. Why scold me if both numbers are included?

CUSTOMER SERVICE TIP OF THE DAY:
Don't make your customers feel stupid! It's not good for profit or shopper retention and it's just not nice!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Just remember, kids: Old age and treachery will overcome youth and intelligence every time." --Boss John
Aha, but now which combo do you think would prove more dangerous: old and intelligent or young and treacherous?

Thank you and come again,
Construction Kim

A Rose Among Thorns

2005-01-13T15:30:00.000-05:00

While looking through the warehouse, Boss John used a car engine analogy to explain circuit breaker electricity to me; I laughed on the inside.

Today, our adventure took us to Pendleton, IN, to visit the Juveline Correctional Facitlity where students in the shop class are building walls for five Habitat homes this year. It is a fascinating partnership, I think, when even the most negative circumstances can somehow be tranformed into good.

In other news, I live in a man's world, and boy was I feeling it today! First, John, Joe, and I attended a Public Safety Awareness meeting sponsored by IUPPS. We learned all about the importance of calling before digging to prevent injury--even death; I saw two other ladies there. Bonus: I won $1 for correctly answering, "Is natural gas heavier or lighter than air?"*

After the meeting and the field trip--at a boys' school--we went out to lunch with the shop teacher. (For all of you keeping score at home, that's a ratio of 3:1). The guys wouldn't believe my culinary knowledge when i tried to convince them that "crepes," when prounounced correctly, sounds like "tapes" not "creeps" and "blintzes" have nothing to do with football.

Then, back at the office where I finally had female comradery, Coworker Joe reverted to his usual chauvenism with a comment about girls and the kitchen. He'll think "girls and the kitchen" the next time I bring in a goodies and refuse to share with him!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Holey Moley says, "Don't dig blind." Really, it's a univeral piece of advice applicalbe to all people in all places at all times. Refute THAT if you will!

It's Rainin' Men,
Construction Kim

*Answer: lighter--Feel free to use this newfound knowledge to spur on an exhilarating dinner conversation.

Multi-Tasking is my Favorite

2004-12-21T19:28:00.000-05:00

I love to do many things at once. For instance, today I edited a letter, made address labels, framed photographs, and checked my e-mail all at once, bouncing from task to task and room to room, smile to smile. Some might think it to be hectic and counterproductive but I thrive in those moments! I actually find doing one thing at a time to be distracting, usually.

Yesterday, I took photos of the row of houses we completed for the 2003-2004 build season so we can deliver them along with thank you letters to some of our supporters. Of course, the day included lunch at Scotty's where I ordered my regular: Dan's Darn Good Chicken Wrap; it lived up to its name.

Darn Good Day,
Construction Kim

Bah! Humbug!

2004-12-20T16:22:00.000-05:00

I hate consumer America!* If I ever have children, I will not buy them toys. For one, Grandma and Grandpa will most likely want to spoil the little rascals, so I can reserve my own money for the essential of food and shelter. Furthermore, they grow out of the latest craze so quickly. The one plaything with stay power is a cardboard box.I do like the educational toys and those that encourage tactile/coordination development; leggos and Leap Frog will do. Beyond that, my kids will learn the old-fashioned way--TV and peer advice.

The above has little to do with construction, but it's my blog--I do what I want! (P.S. That's a direct shout-out to my buddies Ben and Matt O.)

Disgruntled Day,
Construction Kim

*Disclaimer: I LOVE America. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed. Come on, though--someone gets me on this stuff, right?

Get Yo' Party On

2004-12-16T18:14:00.000-05:00

Okay, so the twenty-somethings were outnumbered at this particular event, but we certainly enjoyed a nice carry-in dinner to celebrate the end of a build season and to thank our awesome, dependable volunteers.

I tried turnips for the first time. Hey! Don't turn up your nose; I, too, was shy to the table for this dish. As it turns out, Lloyd's recipe is famous around these parts and for good reason! Mmm...turnips!

TOOL OF THE DAY: POST HOLE DIGGER
After lunch and visiting, Coworker Joe and I conquered the task of hole digging and mailbox planting. Slamming the digger into the dirt over and over again (thank you Tim McGraw and Nelly) proved to be good therapy. Honorable mention goes to the auger I used; this one you lean over and twist in circles to burrow into the ground. It made me dizzy, and it made me giggle.

It looks like that digging will be my last work on the site or awhile. We don't build in the winter months, so my next tales will be full of rearranging the warehouse, cleaning tools, buying tools, pre-building, and probably some of my favorite: painting.

Clever sign-off,
Construction Kim

Can I Go Home, Now?

2004-12-10T20:49:00.000-05:00

After dedication, the job is done and we should be able to take the next day off or at least get out early, right? WRONG!

Work tested my patience today because it took too long to do the jobs we had to do, and I didn't clock out until 6:00 on an evening when I was hosting a party to begin at 6:30! I was so upset and I thought we might not get finished in time, which would have been severely disappointing. The whole ordeal began yesterday when we decided to put off insulating one of the attics until today. It seemed harmless enough. That's all we have to do, right? Come in, grab the goods at Lowe's, insulate, return the machine, and call it a day. Oh, but that's not how it all unraveled. Coworker Joe and I picked up the insulation around 10:00 but were unexpectedly called into the office. So, we unloaded and didn't return until around 2:00. Then we had to run back to Lowe's for an extra hose to the blower, so we didn't begin the process until about 3:00. Joe had done this before and he was worried we'd be there until 8 o'clock that night! I was beside myself! Boss John, on the other hand, estimated it to be a two/three hour job. Who do you trust?

By a miracle of God, we finished just after 5:00, so I was much later to the party-prep than I wanted to be, but my wonderful cohosts had everything under control. That wasn't even my concern, actually, I just hate being late and I wanted to be able to greet the guests and help set up. Regardless, we ladies enjoyed a nice evening together and I won't have to insulate another house until next year sometime--and at that time, we will adhere to a schedule.

Coworker Joe and I nearly killed each other during this fiasco. You see, one bag of insulation is harmless--lightweight, soft, conveniently packaged--but a shrink-wrapped, 10x4 foot skid is danger in cushiony form. I was scared even to transport it from the store to the site; I drove extra slow and took the turns with extra caution. My stress level was not helped by Joe who insisted on making
"ooo...ssssss...uuuuhhhh" noises the entire ride as he acted as watchman for the load. Once we reached the house, dumping the load became the next obstacle. Again, this stack was enormous! We tried rocking the whole pile off the truck, but it was too big. I grabbed a utility knife and started to knock off the first couple of rows. Meanwhile, Joe was on the ground beside the truck--or so I thought until I shoved off a couple of bags and heard him holler! Oops. He was just beside me a minute ago and then he was suddenly in harm's way. I apologized and tried not to laugh; I felt awful, but he was fine. He even attempted to catch the next few which I discouraged; the bags aren't super heavy, but catching them as they're launched from the sky is not a good idea.

After the first few rows were off and piled neatly next to the house, we tried the rock-and-knock trick, again. Joe climbed on the truck. I followed. Joe began to push the tower. I yelled--I was still behind the thing! I would have been flattened! Together, we successfully knocked it all to the ground. We escaped the day unscathed, a narrow miss at death, if you ask me.

TOOL OF THE DAY: THE MASK
Joe emptied the insulation into the attic while I fed the blower machine down below. It probably wasn't absolutely necessary for me to be wearing it since I was outside, but I put on a gas mask-looking thing just in case. I learned that if you talk with one of those things on your face, your voice is muted (kind of like a trumpet/mute combo, still audible but a very little sound). Needless to say, I took more liberty than usual to talk to myself.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Do not siphon [gasoline] by mouth."
I filled up both my car and the Habitat truck with gas today and this is what I read on a sticker at the pump. I laughed out loud, by myself, no mask.

One fabulous part of my day was seeing furniture set up in one of our houses. The furniture-moving guys walked through our insulation mess on the front porch, and by the time we were finished, we had the chance to see the family room decorated, ready to be a home. It was beautiful.
Comfy and Cozy,
Construction Kim

Dedication

2004-12-09T22:25:00.000-05:00

We put the finishing touches on two houses today, and this evening we officially handed over the keys to two families who will enjoy the holiday season in their new homes! One of the houses we dedicated tonight was the very first house I ever worked on as part of the Women Build project before I was hired on as Americorps. It was fascinating to see it all come full circle, though I have yet to witness the complete morphosis from dirt lot to home.

As usual, we spent the work day doing last-minute touch-ups and errands. Boss John and I took a trip to Lowe's early in the day. At the checkout counter I chatted with Twila--I suspect by the end of my year here, Twila and I will be quite familiar with each other. She complimented me on my eyebrows and asked whether I tweeze or wax and doted on their perfect shape (and her lack thereof) for longer than was comfortable, especially in front of my boss, who later confessed to me his jealousy over the fact that she said nothing about his shapely eyebrows. I felt awkward; first of all because it was a compliment and second of all because there I was wearing my paint-covered work clothes at the end of the lumber aisle ready to pile building supplies into a beast of a truck and she was talking about my facial features. It was a peculiar mix of the feminine and masculine worlds--one I better get used to as a "Lowe's Lady" for the next year, I suppose.

Back to the dedication: It's not usual that we dedicate two homes at once, but they were both finished and the same pastor spoke for each partner family; she is the mother of one of the women moving into her new home. It was great to see folks return to the sites they had worked on during the summer months to see the glorious outcome of their hard work. The houses were packed with kids--brothers, sisters, cousins--all running around, quick to test the durability of our craftsmanship. We enjoyed punch and cookies yet no spills, if you can believe it. No mud tracked in, either; I guess it was a day full of miracles.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"You are my friend." --Jabrielle, the daughter of a
proud new homeowner
As the six-year-old walked me back to her new room to tell me where her bed and other furniture would soon be, she told me this was the reason they had made lunch for us on volunteer days!

Trashy

2004-12-08T18:54:00.000-05:00

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"When you dig through the trash, always be sure to be very careful of what's in there." --Boss John
Note the use of "when" in this sentence. Not "if," but "When you dig through the trash..." John was looking for something he had tossed into a bucket of scraps and waste when he shared this gem with us. I maintained my composure and wondered who else gets to hear such gleaming advice at work. A life lesson learned and one I feel obliged to share: The next time you're tempted or find it unavoidable, BEWARE when digging through the trash.

Nothing too exciting happened today. We're so close to being done, but it seems like every time I think our to-do list is all checked off, we find a dozen other odd jobs to finish. The door knob installation has proven to be much more delicate a job than expected. Plus, I've got the dropsies and the sound of the screwdriver hitting the floor over and over and over again is not pleasant percussion. Regardless, these homes will be ready for dedication tomorrow, and I will retire to construction hibernation for the next few months.

Don't Let the Fumes Get to Ya

2004-12-06T18:22:00.000-05:00

I don't know exactly what I expected coming in at the end of a build season, but it didn't occur to me that I'd become so familiar with a paint brush so quickly. My first day on the job, I painted; the second day, I painted, and so on and so forth...Today, Coworker Joe and I painted about 50 little porch ballisters and several other 2x4s to put the finishing touches on one of the houses to be dedicated this Thursday. Primer. Wait. First coat. Wait. Second coat. Breathe a sigh of relief!

TOOL OF THE DAY: DUCT TAPE
It turns out protruding nails and my pants don't get along. With no needle and thread on hand (and the absence of know-how even if I did have a kit with me), I did the next best thing--duct it! Love it!

Santa loves Me!

2004-12-04T17:39:00.000-05:00

I arrived at the office in time to fill up the water JUG and meet the volunteers and my coworkers at the house by 7:45. Unfortunately, I am still learning my way around Muncie--you know, the part of town that isn't exclusively Ball State--and when I tried to bypass a train that had blocked the Broadway intersection, I somehow ended up back on Jackson and in tears of frustration before I called my boss for directions. It was embarrassing, but I finally showed up where I was supposed to be around 8:30. Luckily, the volunteers weren't scheduled to arrive until 9:00, so at least they had no idea of my cluelessness.

Ironically enough, I spent the rest of the day in the Habitat truck chauffeuring guys back and forth from site to office storage, loading and unloading washers and dryers and refrigerators and stoves. By 3:00, I had learned a few alternate routes to and from the site. When we dropped off appliances, it seemed pretty hectic in the houses, so I was happy to be out and about and away from the stress of too many people, two houses, and too few projects to tackle.

TOOL OF THE DAY: DOLLY
How on earth could we have moved those refrigerators around without it? Okay, I suppose some manpower could have done the job, but the dolly made it so much easier. I wonder why they call it a "dolly." Anyone with etymological info, feel free to pass that on to me.

The highlight of my day was on one of the trips when we saw Santa in a minivan at a four-way top. He seemed just as happy to see us as I was to see him; I smiled big and as we passed in the intersection, he leaned forward in his seat and gave us a hearty, two-hand wave! It's never too early to celebrate!

God bless us everyone,
Construction Kim

From my Head to my Toes

2004-11-30T16:11:00.000-05:00

Today, I learned that I look cute in a baseball cap--I also look 15, but cute, nonetheless.

TOOL OF THE DAY: COPING SAW
Ironically enough, I have trouble dealing with this tool. We have to use it when we put up base and door trim. It requires a delicate touch and guidance that I can't muster when I'd rather be using power tools or a hammer. At least it's not painting!

PEEVE OF THE DAY: COLD FEET
Cold feet--they're nearly incapacitating (which is funny since "cap" means "head").

The work is never done; sometimes I begin to panic a little when I can't think of anything to keep the volunteers or myself busy, but some task always pops up just in time. I honestly feel like I stand around a lot because there's so little to do and plenty of volunteers to do it and they get first dibs. Today, I swept up all the little carpet fuzzies that were left after installation last week. Our two families are moving in next week. No silly or thrilling stories today. (Maybe they aren't silly or thrilling on other days, either--why are you people reading this?)

I'm so vain,
Construction Kim

Media Frenzy

2004-11-19T13:59:00.000-05:00

In the past 24 hours, I have logged more hours perusing the internet and watching TV than in all the days of the rest of the week combined. I don't own a TV or a computer with internet access, so besides checking my e-mail every couple of days and Thursday night reality shows with the gang, I'm out of the loop. However, I'm in charge of manning the phones at the office while the big wigs are out of town, so I've had plenty of time to catch up.

I assume those of you reading this rant received an e-mail from me about my new blog. And since we know each other well enough to exchange e-mails, you probably already know this, but just in case some poor soul has been drawn into this spot otherwise, I will summarize my web-based purpose:

For the past month and a half, I have been serving as a part of Americorps at Greater Muncie, Indiana Habitat for Humanity as one of two construction assistants. I currently know very little about how to build a house or use most tools, however, I interview well and convinced the powers-that-be that I am a hard worker and a quick study. (I'm sure my years of dance training at Ball State furthered their confidence in my building skills...this is a joke, I will use it often, get used to it.)

So, I decided to take advantage of these two days in the office to begin sharing my experiences with the world. Several people have asked to be informed about my doings here at Habitat; I figured I might as well let out all the things that keep me occupied all day long, whether on or off site. (I thoroughly searched blogger.com before setting up my own personal journal. Among the links are a few grammar sites such as the Apostrophe Protection Society and some lady's
anal-retentive--her words, not mine--ravings about poor grammar on websites and e-mails. Because I am an English--the subject, not the ethnicity--nerd, I enjoyed every minute of those sites, but now I'm hyper-sensitive to all my possible errors. Please disregard them and read for content and entertainment only.)

Thus, the tales of Construction Kim have begun. Some supporting roles will be filled by Boss John and Coworker Joe; stories about them will be kept to minimum in order to protect the innocent--though, if you've ever met John, you know better.

Like I mentioned earlier, I'm in the office today. Besides the hum of Custodian James' vacuum, it's quiet and I don't have much to do. The phones rang like crazy yesterday morning, but so far today there's been only one, lone caller. I don't mind the quiet. I think I could go a day or two without talking at all, and that would be fine with me. I think a lot, talk a little. Maybe that's why this little project gets me so excited; it's a great outlet for me, and I like to write. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I wish I was enrolled in classes because I miss essays and short answers, but I'm happy I've found a way to fulfill that creative (I hope) need.

TOOL OF THE DAY: THE CUSHY, SPINNY OFFICE CHAIR
I wonder how long I could spin in circles before I got too dizzy to stand. I've taken several trial runs, and it rarely has a severe effect on my equilibrium. I don't know why that is, but I like it!

That's all for today. The countdown to my weekend is 5 hours, 1 minute. I hope to see many of you there.

Hard hats are for sissies,
Construction Kim