Hey everyone

Sorry we haven't posted since our return home. We did make it. I can't speak for Matt or Dave, but I have been busy seeing friends and family. As well as beginning the job search to come. We do still have more to say and it will come out, but for now we're reassimilating ourselves to non-disaster-relief-life. We'll talk to you soon.

T

More to come

So tonight is our last night here, and thanks to Kim Kolb's sister Michelle we have an unholy flight time of 7 am tomorrow. So we'll be leaving Jim's at 4:30 or so (awful). Although we will no longer be down here there still is a lot of information that we have to share, as well as pictures that we have on our disposable cameras that aren't on the digital.

It has to be said though, that this has really been an experience of a lifetime for all of us. We're so greatful that Jim and Ruth were able to put us up for so long, as well as for all the friendships we've made over the last two and a half weeks.

We'll miss you all:
Hans, Pat, Jim, Ruth, Scott, Billy, David, Shannon, Cherise, Doug, Eric, Roy, Marsha, Joe, Linda, Roger, Sharon, Sarah, Jon, Josh, Ryan, Dale, Walli, Jennifer, Jennifer, Jennifer, Kim, Christy, Walli, Becca, Jimmy, Greg, Kim and Joann (I think we've got everyone there...34 total people in and out of our lives in 18 days).

For now, it will be nice to get home, get away from Dave and Matt for even just a few hours, see family, friends and Kate, and maybe work in a few hours of solitude to reflect (something of which there has been none).

Christy, Jennifer and Walli

We've become very latent in our posts about our co-workers for which I must apologize. Christy, Jennifer and Walli have just left us today and we have yet to introduce them in the blog. Shameful, I know.

Christy and Jennifer are coworkers, and Walli is Christy's mother. Christy and Walli are members of the church but Jennifer, like me, is not. Christy and Jennifer are from Denver (and Christy has an important message to give to Doug, hopefully she won't forget), and Walli is from Strasburg, Ohio. They've been a very lighthearted group and worked hard by our sides these past few days. Walli took over the cooking duties from Jennifer and Walli who were here previously (from Fort Wayne). We're going to miss them in our last few days here, especially because we will be shorthanded for the weekend. Hopefully they'll have a comfortable trip home, and not forget us too quickly.

So pretty...

Yes.. we name our chainsaws.. and yes, I named one after myself.. and yes there is one named the monster.

RIP pants

I decided to retire my pair of green Carhartt's today. Do you think it was time?



EDIT: These are Dave's pants, and this is Dave's post, not mine.

How many college graduates does it take to cut down a tree?

So today was another tough day. We were short handed as the 7 from south bend left us this morning. The first job we hit was a debris removal job - these are always the worst. Often there is no one home (especially during early morning), so you don't really get any feedback. The things that you're removing are often still filled with sludge, or covered with mold. Not to mention that you're heaping all the possessions of a person or family in a large, foul smelling mountain in their front lawn, where it will smolder until its picked up by whomever. After that we called it lunch, and did some easier tree jobs in the afternoon. Tonight we'll be eating out for a change (I guess poor Ruth is tired of having a rowdy house full of laborers every evening).

There isn't alot of other new news, so perhaps I'll regale you with a story of how I was almost crushed by a tree last week. So I'm watching Dave cut a wedge in a large pine thats leaning up against this guys trailer at about a 60* angle. Part of it fell onto the owner's ladder which propped up the trunk. So, I suggest that, "hey, this tree is probably going to roll right towards all of us, maybe we should move." And Dave replies, "nah, we'll be fine."

Now for some reason, I don't know why, I decided to believe Dave. So he's cutting the wedge and Cherise (from the Chicago crew) is underneath trying to catch lizards, so we yell to her to move. And then I STILL stand there. The tree snaps, it starts moving towards me and my brain says, "run stupid." So, without thinking further I turn and run full speed into a large grill. The tree landed a foot or so from my feet. Moral of the story? There's probably a few good ones here, like, "always have an escape route to run while standing beneath falling trees." But I much prefer: "Don't ever listen to Dave Eger, when you're life is involved."

PS: We'll try and get some more photos up this evening.

Fresh Peeps

Here is the most recent crew, who all hail from the South Bend District. From left to right, its Dale, Josh, Jon, Sarah, Walinda (Wally), Ryan and Jennifer. They're all from Michigan, except Wally and Jennifer who are from Fort Wayne. Josh and Ryan and brothers, and Sarah is Dale's niece. Wally and Jennifer have taken over cooking duties from Shannon, Cherise, Linda and Marsha and have certainly kept the bar high with the meals they've provided so far. Dale has taken over Van driving duties and brings a great personality to the team. Jon, Ryan, Josh and Sarah round out the crew and are the general grunts like Dave, Matt and I, except Ryan has inherited chainsaw duties from Doug. They all work at a frenetic pace, which has picked us up who are at the edge of exhaustion. They have a fervent passion for helping those in need and have demonstrated great compassion. They're all fun, friendly people whom we look forward to getting to know better.

We also got to meet Jim's children tonight for the first time. They've just arrived from Jackson and are absolutely appalled at the mess we've made of there rooms (Dave, Matt and I in Jimmy's room, and Shannon and Cherise in Becca's room). We can't get a picture of them up tonight though because they're already in their PJs, but we'll have one soon. We also got to meet their hamsters, Hamtero (left) and Snowball (right).

Comings and Goings

Its been a very long day. Its been a very long week. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. A horse walks into the bar... (Thats a joke son)

We already miss our new friends who have left us today and yesterday but are happy to have met the new group and look forward bending them to our will!!! (Thats a joke son)

We've got a ton of new pictures for your viewing pleasure. And, after 9 days of working, we have tomorrow off (oh man).

Last evening Jim amazed me again with his patience for all of us. We are very lucky to have such a gracious host. (Dave made margaritas, yikes)

For now its bedtime, good night.