New Orleans / "Habitat for Humanity" work and fun

Howdy from "Hurricane Sam"!

This has been a fantastic trip and there's still one day to go! I'd like to share with you a bit about the people and experiences that have made this a rewarding and memorable time. I'd also like to thank Jeanine for her willingness to "pick up the slack" back in Minneapolis while I'm gone, and thank all the generous people who donated money to our trip, Habitat for Humanity, and the animal rescue / shelter here in New Orleans. You all helped make this possible!

The volunteers I'm staying and working with are a fantastic, giving, and funtastic bunch. Chris located a house to rent and the ten of us are sharing the house for a week. Thanks go out to the family who rented their house to us while they are traveling. It's a great N'rleans house and the Uptown area it's located in is ideal; with unique houses, friendly residents, delicious restaurants, and one very fun bar - The Mapleleaf.

Our Sunday in New Orleans allowed us to experience 2 of the many festivals this city has to offer - the Tomato and Cajun / Zydeco festivals. Janet picked up a box of Cajun tomatoes at the festival, they are delicious - must be the Cajun soil and gardeners! We got to experience heat, humidity, Abita beer, blues, jazz, and Zydeco bands!

The evening ended with great meal at "13" and a rockin band named Gradeaux at "DBA".

Monday saw us at the worksite bright, hot, and early. Our "crew" began work on a partially completed house along with about 30 other volunteers from around the country. Two coordinators, Eric and Terry, got all of us started on various jobs and then continued to answer our questions and work with us. It was amazing how patient the 2 fellows were / are with all of us; especially considering the heat, humidity, and inexperience of most volunteers. The help and encouragement has continued day after day all week. I should mention that Americorps volunteers also work at the sites and are equally as friendly, hardworking, and encouraging.

Tuesday was one of the more comfortable workdays, 93 degrees instead of Monday's 97 degrees and included a good breeze. We knocked off early to attend a ceremony which celebrated the wall raising of a couple's new house. The Habitat for Humanity director was there and the young couple's mothers. It was meaningful to see and hear the appreciation that was felt by the new home owners. The Musician's Village where we are working will provide about 70 homes for New Orleans musicians and their families. Kitty corner to the site of the wall raising sat Fats Dominoe's drummer, sitting on his porch. I talked with Paul, a resident of the French Quarter who was working on housing. He explained that the application for housing indeed required new residents to prove their work as an area musician. This city is jampacked with fantastic musicians everywhere one turns, there is truely a need to house them along with so many others who lost their homes in the flooding and storm.

The days have been filled with hard work, did I mention the heat and humidity, and the nights have been filled with music, music, music! I'm fortunate to be a part of this relief effort, thankyou so much!