Workfest

March 19 Jackson County, KY It was a productive week at Workfest. It was good to see the familiar faces of employees and former volunteers of the Christian Appalachian Project, where I volunteered at 2006-2008, as well as meeting some new ones. Our project was to build a roof over a house trailer. My co-crew leaders were Jay, who has been coming to Workfest for many years, and Janean, a long-term volunteer in McCreary County. We had a group of seven college students as well as another volunteer and in four days had dug and set the 4x4 posts, built and erected 34 trusses, sheeted and tar papered one side of the roof, as well as some other misc. projects. It was a bit chilly and rainy the first part of the week, but on Thursday the sun came out, and yesterday the temp. reached 80 degrees; eat your heart out Minnesotans. On Friday night Janean and I, as well as some other volunteers went to the nearby town of Berea to take in some live Celtic music at a cafe there, and to attend the third Friday contra dance. Today I drove down to McCreary Co. and checked out the new volunteer house being built there, and got a little r&r before the next group of students arrive on Sunday.

77 Inches and Counting

February 27

Prior Lake, MN

It would figure the year year I chose to move to Minnesota has been the the second snowiest to date. And pretty cold too. I reckon if I can handle this weather I should do well in Alaska which, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise from all the melting snow, is where I'll be going next month. But first I shall return to the hills and hollers of southeastern Kentucky for a couple of weeks of Workfest; when college students and others from around the country descend upon Appalachia during spring break to repair homes for low-income families in the area.

Brrrr

January 21

Prior Lake, MN

Greetings everyone! It's -29 outside as I write this. I celebrated my birthday last night in low-key fashion, watching tv and indulging in a pumpkin pie I baked. This month I've moved from the confines of the city to a peaceful little farmhouse in the country. I've made a New Year's resolution to do some "Minnesota things", so earlier in the week I visited the Mall of America. I'm not much of a mall person but it wasn't too bad. A couple of weeks ago I toured the Schell Brewery in New Ulm, MN. At the end we got to sample a half dozen varieties of their products. My favorite was the Dark Lager. I also played basketball for the first time in about three years in a pickup game at a Catholic grade school. The old man still has the touch. I sunk a couple of cool 3s and assisted in a beautiful ally oop in which Fr. Adams completed by banking the shot off the glass. I did realize though that I could be in better shape. Luckily we had an odd number of players so there was one man sitting out, which I took advantage of on several occasions to catch my breath. I also think I pulled a hamstring. The game it was decided ended in a tie, (which was a fitting conclusion to a friendly game in a religious atmosphere.) If you're reading this Alex, I accept your challenge to a game of hoops; as long as it's half court... and we just play to 20... and you spot me 10 points. The cold winter has kept me indoors most of the time, but I would like to get out and try some ice fishing, or maybe some cross-country skiing. Keep warm everyone.

Merry Christmas

December 25

Burnsville. MN

I drove out to visit my nephew Bryan in Mitchell, SD, home of the famous "Corn Palace", for Christmas. We reminisced of times past, and he jogged my memory of events I'd forgotten. After watching a few movies together I returned to the snowiness known as Minnesota. To anyone who didn't have a white Christmas we have plenty of whiteness to share! Christ's Peace and Blessings to all.

FIRE !!!

Nov. 16

Burnsville, MN

I'm writing this post from yet a new address, not by choice but by necessity. Yesterday a fire leveled my barn loft home. All was lost except for my laptop, camera, and cell phone which I had along with me, as well as my sleeping bag and tent which normally reside in my car. The blaze started around 3:30 pm, shortly after I left for a 4 o'clock appointment. My barn mate John was also away. The owners Terri and Dan were home at the time, but were unable to contain the fire which seems to have started in the hay stored under the south side roof. The fire dept. was delayed in getting water to the site, which didn't help matters, and by the time I arrived back around 5:30 the inferno was lighting up the nighttime sky. The Red Cross put me up for the night in a Holiday Inn, and loaded a credit card for me with $22o for immediate needs, but today after purchasing a new power cord and charger for my laptop and phone, ceased to work. I also stopped at the bank, bought some clothes at a thrift store, picked up some supplies at Wal-Mart, and searched for a new residence, of which I found one, in the nearby city ironically named Burnsville. It's a nice house in town with a sweet older lady owner, and two male tenants, one my age and one in college. They were very nice and helpful. I had wanted to get out to the fire site today and see if by some miracle anything survived the intense flames (the animals were all safe by the way), but didn't have time. Tomorrow. I do still have some personal items and clothes stored back home at the farm and this might provide a good reason to go home for Thanksgiving.

I am reminded that we come into this world with nothing and we will leave this world with nothing save the deeds we have done...do good deeds my children.

Tow Trucks

October 13
Lakeville, MN

This past weekend took me back to my old home state of IN to attend the wedding of a dear friend and former McCreary House Volunteer housemate Ann. Ann was the mastermind behind many McCreary House (actually a trailer) counter-pranks. It's amazing how close four volunteers living in a two bedroom one bath trailer in rural KY can get, or the foolish pranks we would pull to entertain ourselves. Like the time David and I paneled over the girls bedroom door...I needed more wall space to hang some certificate I'd received, or the time I snuck a live rooster into the kitchen in hopes it would start crowing at the break of dawn and wake the girls, or the time we stole the rival Jackson Volunteer House flag and held it for ransom. But truly one of the classics was when the girls "wallpapered" our bedroom with black and white floral print wrapping paper. Ah the good ole days. At the wedding I was also reunited with my old roommate and work partner (and potential fire hazard) David a.k.a. UBS Man, as well as several other CAP friends...we missed you Callista. The wedding took place in a beautiful little country church near Roanoke. Ann's new husband Harley and his family have a tow truck business and the couple sped away from the church to the reception in a nicely decorated bright yellow wrecker. Little did I know how well I would become acquainted with tow trucks, for on the drive back my trusty Sentra gave up the ghost (temporarily) on I-90 just across the MN border. I called roadside assistance, which I'd wisely purchased this spring before the start of my meanderings, and soon a tow truck arrived and hauled me back to Wisconsin. After determining I had a faulty alternator I also had them replace my right front axle, which was also in need of replacement, and was back on the road again arriving home in time to warm some leftovers and retire to bed early after a lengthy trip.

Home Sweet Barn

October 1
Lakeville, MN

I've spent my first month in my barn loft apartment and am liking it well. The work exchange for rent is going well too. I am able to deposit my paycheck in the bank, what a novel idea to actually save money instead of spending it all. I have a neighbor John, who rents the apt. in the other side of the loft ( the west wing ). He's a pretty mellow dude. He just got back from spending the summer on a salmon fishing boat in Alaska. In a short while he'll be making a trip to the northwest coast to pick up his share of the catch; 1000 lbs. of frozen cleaned salmon. I wonder if he'll share some with his co-barn dweller...mmm grilled salmon fillets. We work together occasionally on the farm cleaning up, fixing fences, building cages, etc. The goal is to have the farm open to the public by next spring. Terri and Danny, the owners, have quite a variety of wildlife including wolves, cougars, bobcats, foxes, porcupines, badgers, skunks, raccoons, fisher, beaver, woodchucks, as well as some horses.

Work has been going well. I had 25 clients last week, the most so far. Word must be getting around of the awesome new therapist...although my hands are a bit fatigued. One of the other therapists was let go and the spa has yet to hire a new one, so I've been on call pretty much 7 days a week. I haven't had much time to pursue many other interests, but I have been thinking about getting back into music. I also share my room with some unwelcome guests, two mice just scurried across the floor as I write this, perhaps I should get a cat...or maybe a mountain lion would do the trick.

Here are some pictures of the place: including a sunrise from my east-facing window.