Monday, August 9, 2010

I'm out of control.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

I'm sitting at Jenny Wiley state park. Phenominal weather we're having today. :-)

cheers.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

en medias res

I am left questioning a lot of things after what I've seen and experienced in the past month. I can't believe that it was a month ago that we were finding out whose staff we would be on for the summer - it seems like just last week, and at the same time I have formed some amazing friendships that I think might just last for a long time. I have met so many incredible people (and a few less than savory characters). I know my way around to all the work sites and have a pretty baller pair of green overalls that fit just right (even if they are super long) that I bought for $5. Today I felt the wind in my hair and had fun washing a 3/4 ton truck named Duchess with Joe.

Then I thought about the last time I showered.
Saturday.
Morning.

So I'm off to shower now, even though I don't want to - just for everyone else's sake. My day off starts around 4 pm and I have no clue what I'm doing. Someone please visit me soon. It'll be fun and I'll bathe. We won't go to the movies, but I might let you tag along in a sketchy looking van as we drive through 3 towns in 5 minutes or we could go fishing or shopping or to the city. Your call.

We could always go to the Dairy Bar, get a deep fried oreo sundae and play "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" on the jukebox.

If you can't visit at least send me a postcard. I am collecting them. And showing them off. I love mail.

cheers!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

2 second update

I'm still alive. We're working out the kinks this week. Bluegrass tonight. More later.

cheers!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

eventful day

Today was super busy. I'm too tired from driving a lot today to write more now, but I just wanted to say that mountain dogs are so cute. Except a guard dog that we met today - perhaps the most frightening thing I've encountered (other than coal trucks barreling down the mountain roads in my lane) since I've been here. Which says a lot about this area or about the German Shepherd - you decide.

Missing all of you. Send me mail and I'll send you something back!

cheers.

Hot breakfast

I'll just paste something I had typed earlier, since I don't have time to update now. Alrighty then. We are in Martin County, Kentucky! The group, consisting of Ruthie (Center Director), Bryan (Finance Coordinator), Mary, (Operations Coordinator), Joe (Supplies Coordinator) and myself (Volunteer Coordinator) arrived yesterday evening after an adventurous drive from Jonesville, VA.

On our trip here the group got separated and when we finally caught up with the first two vehicles, we expected them to start their engines and pull out to the highway. They didn't. One reason was because the engine for the van was already running and the other was because the keys were locked inside. After half an hour, Joe, Mary, and I managed to get into the van without breaking anything. That was an epic win.

We got here without much more delay and met with Murrel, the head janitor. I'll talk about the facility that we're staying at later. The rest of the evening was filled with moving in and eating dinner at a local diner (I love, love, love their juke box and its crappy selections).

Sunday we slept in and it was glorious. For the first time in a few weeks, I received a solid night's sleep. After we woke up, I took a cold shower (can't seem to get hot water to work in the women's showers) and we set up our office. After several unsuccessful attempts to reach contact people from the churches that will be at our center weeks one and two, we all jumped in the van and headed into town. Riding shotgun is a privilege that we are all starting to loath, since whoever takes shotgun has to get out and unlock the gate at the school's driveway for the vehicles to get through and then relock it after they have passed through.

We went to the closest laundromat (it's in a town named Inez, where the Martin County center was last year) and then realized that we were short several quarters. Who knew it would cost almost $2 per load? (Hint: not us) Mary and I walked to a nearby Dairy Drive-In and I was able to get two dollars in change there. Then, we headed to a gas station where we got a few more dollars in quarters and I got a few bottles of Ale8. We ended up having to send someone to pick Bryan up from a fast food place about a mile down the road, but they got more quarters there and we were able to do our laundry.


After that we got pizza for dinner and ate a deep fried oreo sundae. It was totes delish.


This is where my prewritten entry ends and the summing up begins:

Monday was filled with errands and visiting homes of people who have applied for ASP's assistance. We accomplished a lot and things are looking good, but Ruthie has a to do checklist entitled "Before Pool Party" that is pretty long. It's everything we have to get done before we can go to a pool party with other ASP staffs tomorrow. I think we can do it. Also, I really appreciate her task minding - it really helps to see our goals set out for me. With that in mind, I need to get back to work, since it is now a reasonable hour to call contact persons.


Much more later.... probably.


cheers.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Contact info

Here is the phone number for my center:
(606) 395-1199

and our mailing address is:
Appalachia Service Project
Martin County Center
General Delivery
Warfield, KY 41267

Please keep in mind that the phone number is our office phone, so business comes first and we won't always be around to answer it. Also, we don't have an answering machine yet, so if no one answers, try back later.

I would love to update more now, but we're about to have a meeting and then I have phone calls to make to groups.
More later.

cheers.