Just a moment to type.

In short, Im totally exhasuted, working very hard and having the time of my life.

I volunteer as much as I can each week, usually about 3 days a week, gutting homes around New Orleans (2 in Gentilly, 1 in Lakeview, 3 in Mid City and 2 in Broadmoor so far) and I do 1 or 2 shifts a week with a local landscaping company (3 seemed silly, Im here to volunteer, not prune hedges). And Im actually installing lawn sprinkler systems for them and not doing the garden maintenence stuff. (No, I didnt know I knew how to do that either, but its actualy pretty interesting, totally backbreaking digging holes and laying pipes all day in the beating sun, but interesting)

For each of these jobs, Im up at the crack of dawn and work my lil buns off till 4 or so. It feels good to be outside though. The tough part is riding my moms bicycle the 10 miles to get to work and the sights each morning by 6:45. The sweaty dusty rides home, ocassionally catching the evening rain, are interesting too. Needless to say, I sleep soundly through the night. (Understatement of the year. New Orleans locals are rolling there eyes right now thinking, Top Notch Detective Work, Jackass. Only Took You A Year To Figure That One Out.)

The volunteering work is emotionally draining too. I find that (IT) is getting in. I cry about every other day. Usually when Im not expecting it. There is a lot of pain and sadness in this city right now.

But, at the same time, I love it. The home owners are grateful and kind and the locals are blown away by how many of us there are here 24-7 working for free for people weve never met, probably never will again, and in a city most of these folks have never been to before. I mean, the idea of that blows ME away. I mean, I kinda know why Im doing it, but them? Its incredible really.

If Ive learned anything, its that there are A LOT of folks out there in America with REALLY BIG HEARTS. Its a beautiful thing. And these people are sowing their love, faith and generosity in to this city on a daily basis. Its really something else.

I feel honored to work with them.

The gig with Poppys night cooking classes have been cool too. I just do all the grunt work and pretend like I know what Im doing. It is an excellent way to finally learn how to make all the best Southern dishes. But, admittedly, it is a bit draining/difficult to leave some devistated home, clean up, slap on a smile and laugh for tourists after 10 hours of swinging a sledghammer.

But what the hell, I guess locals have been doing that for a year.

I have not done as much work around Brian and Ellies as I meant to so far. And by (not as much) I mean absolutely none. I HAVE made it to the hardware store twice to buy the stuff Im GOING to need! That does count for something, no?

OK, must sleep. A fist full of Advil first, then sleep.

Mmmm sleeeeeep