The Build

I arrived in Gray Louisianna on October 16th. Making the 5 hour drive from Houston that day. A last minute spur of the moment change of plans and I got a (relatively) cheap flight home for the weekend.

Went for a hike in my favorite woods at Ramapo Reservation, had good dinner with the family, played games, went to church, had a nice fall bike ride...lovely weekend home.

Came back Monday early to start work. I arrived at lunch time to find the crew in full swing (literally), hammers going. I got set up with Gwen and Jan who were working on framing a wall. I learned about crowning the studs and getting the frame squared up. There were maybe 15 other people about doing all kinds of things.

Day 1 was a bit confusing to me, seemed to be inefficient and I wasn't quite sure how it all got done. But the flow came to me, you really just insert yourself where needed. Being flexible and asking how can I help will get you something to do from whoever looks busy. I had to just take a chill pill and realize it's okay if the house isn't built in a day, that it was just as important to have everyone involved and contributing than "efficiency."

This development was land bought by, I want to say Oprah's Miracle Network and the first 30 houses were paid for and completely stocked after Katrina. Best part, the street is named after Bon Jovi. Assuming he helped out on this too. They now have nearly 75 houses and it's the traditional Habitat model, familys have to show need, income (in a certain range) and put in "sweat" equity on either their house or other houses being built.

Well Day 1 I joined Mike another volunteer to experience some local Cajun music, it was a group of seniors jamming at the National Historical Site in Thibidoux. Had some decent pizza and beer after where we ran into the two Americorps volunteers Lee-Shin and Matt, and the Habitat site supervisor, Kai.

The next day Lowell took charge and wrote out instruction on how to put on the top plate and listed out the days activites which was helpful. So I learned out to put on a top plate which is the wood that holds all the frames of the walls together, ties them to the outside of the house.

Wednesday the house looked like this...

Mainly the group is retired folks who have done the RV Care-A-Vanner builds before. There is Linda, a single mom taking a break from Manhattan on a long deserved road trip, Mike the retired electrical engineer from West Virginia, Janet and Steve, Steve's sister Crystal and the other couples who are just inspiring and great.

Will give more next time, but need to get some rest. I can't keep up with these folks...hard work days...but it's a good tired. A really good tired. I'll take a picture in the morning of what the house looks like now 2 days later. It's amazing.

Cheers!
Kelly

The Battle

Well I'm still in Texas. Scheduled to leave tomorrow for Louisanna making my way towards New Orleans area by the 19th for some Habitat work I'm very excited for.


I didn't quite plan on being at Lockhart State Park for so long but a few delays...well really just one delay and it came from Monday night after doing some laundry. I discovered...somehow...fleas in the trailer. The next 2 days were spent engaged in chemical warfare against the little creatures. Loads of laundry later, a day trip to San Antonio to get my camera cleaned (fuzzy spots on all my pictures) and I was back in action.

I made my way across to Houston area and have been camped out at Brazos Bend State Park. I had dinner with some Linde folks on Friday, enjoying some margaritas and thoughts other than my own. Spent the weekend exploring the park, saw armadillos and went to the George Observatory at night to see the moons of Jupiter. Really. 4 of them.

There is apparently a 3000 year old hurricane on Saturn that is 3 times the size of Earth. Kind of puts it all in perspective. Granted the planet is a giant ball of liquid hydrogen. Makes me realize how absolutely unfriendly the universe is and how delicate our existence is at all.

The last few days been puttering around Houston area. Last night I went to see the journalist Robin Wright speak at the Junior League as part of the World Affairs Council of Houston. She has travelled and reported from the middle east for over 30 years and provided some unique insights and thoughts about the challenges in the region.

With the financial crisis in full bloom and the panic over it, it worries me a bit that the other issues get swept under the table. It's a big down, a correction, it will come back up. I say everyone unplug the TV, stop watching the news, and open up a book. I know there are people immediately impacted by this downturn in a really bad way. Like all things though it will come back, this is temporary. It may take awhile but it will. Maybe I'm just an optimist living in the woods right now but what other choice is there but to hope for the best?

I've been doing my part, at 900 Gallons of gas so far - I have certainly been putting my money back into the economy. :)

Hope everyone is well. Looking forward to getting my hands dirty next week for the Habitat work.

Cheers!
Kelly

The Catch

Click on the title to see the video of Peter catching the human projectile called Kelly...

https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/photos/photo35/66/0f/d0bc37a28d40.gif

For some reason that is not working try clicking on this link to see it...

Ready...HEP!!!

Practice Flight

Legs up...hands off...catch...if you clicked on the video above you will see the cell phone movie capture of Kelly's first flight. Going where no Visconti has gone before, circus school. Though if you know my family you might find it hard to believe. :)

I've got to say 29 has set the standard for birthdays, first the Grand Canyon and then trapeze lessons. Liz came for the weekend to Austin TX and had a birthday adventure planned for Saturday.
A few days ago I got, "Are you afraid of heights?" Hmmm...no, but I am not interested in bungee jumping or sky diving. The day before I got was "pack clothes for hiking, swimming, and sort of tight but not too tight...yoga like clothes." Hmmm....okay. Saturday morning 8 am we were off and as we were driving she asked for my insurance card to fill out the accident waiver. Hmmm...okay.

Well about an hour later we pulled up to this very nice spa called The Crossings in the suburbs of Austin and as we drove to the entrance I saw it...the trapeeze...we were going flying.

The company is called the Trapeze Experience and they travel around the country set up for a few months at different locations and offer the chance to try out your inner circus performer.

http://www.trapeze-experience.com/

Peter has been doing this for 20-25 years and he was great, as well as his staff. They were all very friendly and supportive. It was completely safe and I was only scared a few times. Like the first time I jumped off the platform hoping I would be able to hold onto the bar and follow the commands to do the knee hang. Well I did hold on and fumble through it and even if I hadn't there are safety lines and a bouncy net that was fun in itself.


It was great and thoroughly enjoyable and yes a little scary and thrilling all at the same time. The first time I went when I came down I was physically shaking from the adrenaline rush. Fantastic! There are few things in life that really get that feeling for you and this one is in a very safe environment. Anyone interested? They are up in the Hamptons over the summers...

It was a small class but the other ladies had all done it before and were working other tricks so it was great to see what else you could learn.


Liz's Catch! NICE! First time...

Liz kicked butt and could do the knee hang trick no problem by the second try, took me a few more but we were working up to doing a "catch" where Peter actually gripped the wrists and through the air you fly. I just missed the first time, we touched hands but didn't connect. But they gave me another go and he was there and off I went. Like the circus. Cool.


We spent the rest of the day reliving the experience and chilling in the spa, yoga class and then to the Clay Pit for dinner. Great Indian food - experienced the downtown Austin vibe, saw Lance Armstrong's bar called "Six" (six tour de france wins), Oilcan Henrys and made our way back to the state park I am camped out at.

I've got to say the State Parks have been the winners for places to stay. Without fail great facilities, actual nature setting and nice people. Minimal services like laundry and internet but in a place like Austin there is not shortage of those things.

The Austin experience has been great, this very oddly placed liberal center of this conservative state. I'll be here for a few days figuring out my next move. Come October 19th I'll be in New Orleans area doing some Habitat work...very excited for that...

Cheers and happy flying...
Kelly