Saturday, January 26, 2008

It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish

Absolutely nothing has been going on here lately. NOTHING.

The thing about living in the middle of nowhere is, there is nothing to do. In southeastern Kentucky, if only one or two snowflakes hit the ground, sirens go off, school is canceled, all prepare for the apocalypse, and our vehicles are "grounded" so we must stay at home. When this happens we are forced to resort to do anything to keep ourselves busy in the house, in the middle of the forest, in the middle of nowhere.

Jesse and I went sledding down the dam wall up near camp. It is quite steep and there wasn't much snow. We decided to use our lasagna pans to sled down the dam wall. But, the dam wall is quite bumpy because it is man made. The plan was not well thought out or well executed and the lasagna pans were unforgiving. We were punished for our adventures, by the pans, but it was well worth it.

Kevin has been leading us in putting on a new roof on a house in Jackson county. Roofs are a particular challenge to me. Being a hobbit of small stature, I am not at all fond of heights. I belong on the ground or under it. Also, metal roofing is horrid during all times of the year, but when the temperature dips below 20 degrees and ice and snow coat the slick tin roof surface, metal roofing is even worse. Kevin, Jesse and I ripped off the 50 year old tin roof and put on a brand new fire engine red metal roof. After we ripped off the old roof, we discovered there was no sheeting under it, just old, rickety, rotting cross beams on the rafters. So, while trying to lift up the metal roofing onto the slick roof, all we had to balance on were the rotting cross rafters. It was quite the adventure. Kevin was scampering all around the roof, fearlessly and acrobatically while I was clutching on the top of the roof and trying not to fall in through the ceiling. Kevin said, "if you slip and start to slide off the roof, just slam the back of your hammer in the roof to catch yourself." We ended up finishing the job, safe and sound. And I managed to soil myself only 3 times, which is quite an improvement.

Cheers.

quote of the day:

Now reading: Literary Converts by Joesph Pearce
Now listening to: classical CD made for me in high school
Now wearing: sweat pants
Now eating: Aurelio's pizza, frozen, still good.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Colder than No Love

If Ross man the boss man, former crew leader and local hero turned local legend were here, he might say something to the extent that it is colder than no love. In a clear defiance of the cold, Ross the kid (my house mate and china plate) approached me last week and something resembling the following: "Yeah, we haven't done anything in a while...want to go jump in Flat Lick Falls?"
"Yeah, I'm in."
"Well you gotta be"
So later that week, Ross, Jennie, Jesse, and I all went to the falls down at Flat Lick. A freezing mist rose up about us as we balanced out on a log in the middle of that water. I kept trying to avoid the water like mad, waving my arms and leaning forward and backward, but then remembered that the reason we were there was to get into the water. Then I became very cold. We all jumped in, me last, and then madly scrambled back up to shore, got dressed and ran back to the van. It was ill advised, but I guess it was our best attempt to stare cold in the face and say, "Hey, whatever man."

Since it's too cold for rational thought, here comes some random observations.

-Do you ever notice how certain albums remind you of certain seasons or times in your life? For example, Death Cab for Cutie reminds me of winter 2006 at Fever. Cake's "Comfort Eagle" reminds me of Summers 2002-2006 Just Saying
-Do you ever notice how the best food/drink combination is far and away pizza and beer? You can make all the claims for French cheese and wine you want, but for me, it's Chicago pizza and maybe a Guinness.
-Sometimes, when I'm talking on the cell phone, I wonder if maybe in 20 years scientists will discover that cell phones really did give people cancer after all.
-This past week, a group of nurses from Scranton was working with CAP. Ross the kid and I asked this one young lady if she was a vegetarian. She said no. To which I replied, "Isn't ham great?!?!" This confused her. I also took the opportunity to ask most of them if they knew Dwight. Few knew what I was talking about.
-If I ever became a writer, I might have to buy a top hat, start smoking cigarettes, drink more tea, get more corduroys and rent a small apartment in a big city with paint chipping off the windows and a huge pile of dishes in the sink.
-Don't you think that you could enjoy Dave Matthews Band a bit more if his fans weren't quite so annoying?
-A couple weeks back, Ross and I were at mass and a man a couple pews ahead of us, wearing overalls and a turtle neck remarked to his son, "Son, I've been redneck since before you were born"
-This past weekend, we went to Lexington and tried some beers; 1. PBR, classic. 2. Rogue's (brewed in Oregon) Dead Guy ale, a bit bitter but tasty, Jesse did not like it. 3. BBC (Bluegrass Brewing Company) Nut Brown ale brewed in Louisville, excellent, a little chocolaty but delicious and thick.
-The mouse count is up to 9, we've moved to the high ground. I suggested we use a sticky trap and throw it into the woods as a threat to the other mice.

Cheers

Quote of the day from one of my favorite movies, Field of Dreams
Ray Kinsella: That's my corn out there, you're guests in my corn! No, wait. I did it all. I listened to the voices, I did what they told me, and not once did I ask what's in it for me.
Shoeless Joe Jackson: What are you saying, Ray?
Ray Kinsella: I'm saying? what's in it for me?
Shoeless Joe Jackson: Is that why you did this Ray? For you?

Monday, January 14, 2008

Searching for Father Beiting

The past two weeks have been trying ones to say the least. I know many of you readers out there think that volunteer life is all teepee building, caving, and general farting around. But at times it can be quite difficult and unforgiving. We are now in the thick of the sunless cold months known as January and February (aka the widow maker and the toe freezer) We are working diligently on a now 67 foot wheelchair ramp in the cold and blowing Appalachian air. Also, as a side note, steel toe boots are great and have saved me much pain, but in the winter they FREEZE your toes. We haven't seen the sun since late October, and I'm beginning to think that it has permanently gone on vacation, probably down to old Magnetic Island in Australia or some such place. I also think I officially have cabin fever. In the summer, there is always hiking to do and basketball to be played, but in the winter, you want to hibernate like the bears who are doing so not 100 yards from your own bedroom. Anyways.

These trying times reminded me of when I went searching for Father Beiting. Father Beiting is a great man. He is actually a Monsignor, and founded CAP about 50 years ago, bringing about 70,000 volunteers to Appalachia since he first came here himself. Oh yeah, he's on wikipedia too... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_W._Beiting . Father lives and has a parish out in the Sandy Valley region of Kentucky, not far from Johnson county which we visit often. I had been out to Johnson county twice before searching for Father Beiting, but he was out of town saying mass or doing mission work on both occasions. I greatly desired to meet the priest who had inspired tens of thousands of people to come to Appalachia.

Just before Christmas, I caught up with Father Beiging and was able to attend one of his masses and receive the Eucharist from him. His homily was so profound and inspiring. He started out talking about how this had been the worst Christmas season for him and how so many people needed help in the region, who he was stretching to provide for. Every time he would help one person, it seems, another would approach him needing food, presents, or money. I remember thinking to myself, "Oh No! 60 years and he's finally lost it, he's gone off the deep end, and in a homily!" But then he said, and I paraphrase, "During times like these, I always remind myself, 'don't you know that Christ endured times like these? Don't you know that he was born in a stable among animals? Don't you know the hardships he endured? He was betrayed by his closest friends, he endured an embarrassing, gruesome death. And what about his mother, the holiest woman to ever live. She had to give birth to her son in a manger." He reminded us of how, when hardships and sufferings arise, it is essential to unite our sufferings to those of Christ. To remember that he suffered, he humbled himself, he sacrificed everything and that we should try to do the same.

After mass, Father told us some stories about the early days of CAP and told us that maybe the greatest thing he ever did was bring volunteers to Kentucky. To bring those willing to serve to the people who are willing to be served. He thanked us and then said he had to be on his way because he was saying mass at the local prison. He's an inspiring man. In the early days of CAP, his first volunteers were his family. Also, there was such a staunch anti-Catholic sentiment in the area, he was at times physically confronted, not trusted, and even received threats. No one would sell him land, so he had to make friends and give them money to buy the land for him. And yet, he enacted powerful, lasting social change. He brought physical and spiritual nourishment to this region, and his presence and vision carry on.

So, that's what I try to remember when I think I have it hard.

Cheers.

Quote of the day:

Have I not walked without an upward look
Of caution under stars that very well
Might not have missed me when they shot and fell?
It was a risk I had to take—and took.
-Robert Frost

Thursday, January 10, 2008

I'm a Visitor Here Myself

Brian Bamberger is in my presence ladies and gentlemen. This week, Brian has gotten the distinct privilege of visiting the Jackson house and working on the Jackson/Owsley/Clay crew.

Due to CAP's apparent inability, for whatever reason, to hire us a crew leader, Kevin has come up from McCreary County to save us in our dire situation. Kevin has previously been leading Don and UBS man (David H.). We have always called his crew "Kevin Black's Black Blackness". But now, the Black Blackness has enveloped us. Our project this week has been to design a porch and ramp for two disabled persons. Kevin said something very profound today. He said, and I paraphrase, "Wheelchair ramps always have a special place in my heart, because, well, oftentimes you are freeing the individual from being held captive in their own home." Kevin then recounted a story in which he and his volunteers, many years ago, built an elderly man a wheelchair ramp. The man had not been outside of his house for some time because he had no stairs but just flimsy concrete blocks. After the ramp was done, the man rolled his chair up and down the ramp for hours they said. When the crew left, the man said he was going to spend all night on the new porch, and most likely, he did.

Anyways, for every foot you go out on a ramp, you can only go down one inch ( a 1/12 pitch). So, the door is 60 inches off the ground which means that the ramp must be 60 feet long....that means that we need to dig about 439472 post holes to support the decking of the ramp. On the first day on the job, Jesse and I were digging post holes and suddenly, the hole started to fill with water. "Oh....no...Snickels on the Pickles!!!" Jesse exclaimed. We had thought we hit the water line, so we frantically were digging around the water hole. As a feeling of panic set in, Kevin rushed to turn off the city water at the main line. As it turned out though, it was just a false alarm, and it was only rain water filling the hole. So, we filled the hole with concrete and let the Church roll on.

On the home front, we have had quite a mouse problem. Because we live in a national forest, we get all sorts of creepy crawlers in our house at every time of the year. In the warm months we get huge spiders and "waspers" and in the cold months we get mice. Recently Jesse and I have been hunting the mice with butter knives and work boots. The mice scurry across the floor and Jesse and I scream, quite girlishly and hurl our boots and butter knives at our little friends. So far, we have hit 0. But the traps have gotten 7. Anyways, after Brian's first night, he came out of his room looking quite terrified. Apparently, mice had crawled on him in his sleep and he claims (which I do not believe) that they went in his mouth. This caused Jesse and I to step up our front in the war on the mice. The battles rage on with mixed result. I fear we shall soon be over run.

Cheers.


Quote of the day, From Pope John Paul II's farewell address to America on Saturday, September 19, 1987

"America, your deepest identity and truest character as a nation is revealed in the position you take towards the human person. The ultimate test of your greatness in the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenceless ones.

The best traditions of your land presume respect for those who cannot defend themselves. If you want equal justice for all, and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America, defend life! All the great causes that are yours today will have meaning only to the extent that you guarantee the right to life and protect the human person:

- feeding the poor and welcoming refugees;
- reinforcing the social fabric of this nation;
- promoting the true advancement of women;
- securing the rights of minorities;
- pursuing disarmament, while guaranteeing legitimate defence; all this will succeed only if respect for life and its protection by the law is granted to every human being from conception until natural death.

Every human person - no matter how vulnerable or helpless, no matter how young or how old, no matter how healthy, handicapped or sick, no matter how useful or productive for society - is a being of inestimable worth created in the image and likeness of God. This is the dignity of America, the reason she exists, the condition for her survival-yes, the ultimate test of her greatness: to respect every human person, especially the weakest and most defenceless ones, those as yet unborn."


Thursday, January 3, 2008

So this is the new year, and I don't feel any different

"Everything that was broken in the house is still broken, we have 2 mice, and no crew leader. Fortunately though, that doesn't matter, because we are snowed in until further notice"

Welcome back to the commonwealth of Kentucky! I must first apologize for my extended absence, as I have been home to south Chicago and then in southern Illinois for various adventures. Highlights of the trip included seeing those I love most dearly in the wide world and getting to spend some time with them. I was also able to spend new year's eve in a tuxedo at an actual party, which was a new development.

My volunteer status did not hamper my ability to give this Christmas, which admittedly, I was quite worried about. In the summer, I set aside some money for Christmas, anticipating my money-less status. And, you know how people always say, "God will provide" and how most of the time it is the last thing you want to hear when you are at the end of your rope? Well, I am coming to believe that statement most wholeheartedly. Much of the volunteer life depends on trusting and loving God. You have to trust God to provide for you and indeed He does, most abundantly. In the words of St. Francis, "It is in giving that we receive." And I assure you, this season has proven that axiom ten fold.

However, I must admit, on my way back I was feeling a bit downtrodden. I did not entirely 'want' to go back, but knew that I still had things to do in the mountains. You see, dear reader, once you have a path in life that you are able to see in the distance, knowing it is your specific path, there is an urge in the human soul that desires to take the most direct route to your destination. As I was feeling a bit of despair in the matter, sitting on the southwest plane, I reached into my pocket to find the pocket watch I received for Christmas. Inscribed on the outside cover of the timepiece read, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." Just then, a soldier sat down next to me and we started chatting a bit. He said something to me that I thought quite profound, "You know, being home for Christmas was very strange, everything seemed much different than I remember, and I realized that there really is no going back. No one at home could really understand what it is that I'm doing, but that's ok. Anyways, I'm quite anxious to get back to base to continue that which I started." I felt much of the same really, feeling much like Frodo on the river banks hearing the words of Gandalf. There is much to be done, and now I set out to do it.

If anyone needs me I'll be hunting the mice with Jesse's pillow case and a butterfly net. After I catch my enemies, I feast on macaroni and cheese from the early 80's that I found in the pantry.

Cheers, and happy new years.


From "Literary Converts" by Joseph Pearce, which I'm reading now.

In 1906 Belloc stood for the Liberals at South Salford in the General Election...Belloc's Conservative opponents were quick to capitalize on their adversary's religion and nationality and adopted the campaign slogan: "Don't vote for a Frenchman and a Catholic." Belloc responded in characteristic fashion. At his first public meeting, he rose and addressed the packed audience:


Gentlemen, I am a Catholic. As far as possible, I go to Mass every day. This [taking a rosary out of his pocket] is a rosary. As far as possible, I kneel down and tell these beads every day. If you reject me on account of my religion, I shall thank God that He has spared me the indignity of being your representative.

There was a hush of astonishment, followed by a thunderclap of applause. He was elected.