Tired and sore but ready for more!

So, after a very interesting dinner last night that was not unlike what I would imagine prison to be like.....picture sectioned plastic plates and chili with chunks of hamburger and a bean salad flavoured with peanut oil! Okay, that was hard for me to take because I love to cook and I love to eat. How did we get through it? We pictured the folks (see I'm talking southern now!) on the rooftops for four days straight and thought about how much they would have loved that meal.

Slept in our dorm like a baby again. Although I'm told some young women took my photo as I lay asleep with my Walmart eye mask on! I WILL get even ladies!

This morning we were awakened at 5:40, threw our work clothes on, lined up in the prison oops, I mean mess hall, packed our lunches, grabbed some grits (I must admit, I can't do grits!) and off we went on the bus.

The 20 minute bus ride took us into the upper ninth ward where there is a fair amount of destruction and it appears that the poverty was quite high even prior to Katrina. Musician's Village, where we worked today was very cheerful looking. All of the houses have been painted different colours. This particular Habitat project was started by the musicians, Harry Connick Jr and many others. The intention is to bring the musicians back to New Orleans by providing them with housing. From there, our group headed out to another neighbourhood a couple of miles up the road. We had to share a bus with some others and some of us hitched a ride in the back of the habitat pick up because our coach bus got stuck in some sand.

We spent the day reorganizing 4 large transport containers of materials. Siding, wood, trim, shingles, insulation, furnaces, 5 gallon paint pails, and on and on and on and on. Our crew of 30 worked all day and organized and reorganized. It was hard but rewarding labour. Many of us have some sunburns despite applying sunscreen. Some of the students painted, insulated and others shingled a roof.

I think we've earned our showers, let's just hope there's enough to go around (and hot water). We will be donning our Co-operators Insurance shirts tonight and taking a good corporate shot for this very generous insurance company. Those backpacks have been incredibly helpful. After the photo shoot, it's off to Bourbon Street.

Last night Bradd Pitt, tonight, who knows who we will see.

Well, there is a strong scent of hard working Habitat worker somewhere close by me so I must close now.

Beth