If I had a hammer

So habitat has been fabulous. We are diligently working on 10 homes at one site, and 4 at another. Every day we are blessed with a 10 minute rain that cools everything off and allows everyone to take a much needed break. Yesterday we worked from 7am -7:30pm, but we finished the roof of a house that is getting electric work done today. It's our day off. David is here and currently visiting LSU. I went to Barnes and Noble to buy some politically savvy literature and opted for fiction instead. I'm going to be reading enough of that in the next 18 months. I'll take plenty of pictures of David's visit, for now, here is my impression of a California Raisin:

Jed wears sunglasses at night so he can so he can see

Here's fun pictures of Jed and PJ. I don't have any of Ashur though, :(

Plus-size girls

The blitz starts tomorrow. All five teams have been working our butts off all week in the crazy, Louisiana summer. Everything is set up for all 14 houses, and we are working from 7-7. Yesterday I spent all day drilling baseplates into concrete. Steph would try to stand on the boards while I drilled, but they would still move, so I took over, what I like to call "the plus-size girl's job (picture below). Steph also used Mentos to make her water bottle into a Nalgene, genuis. I'm completely exhausted. David is coming down on Monday and I really need the break.

When life hands you washers?

We are finally living in Baton Rouge! We are staying in a convent, without any nuns, at a catholic church in the city. Starting tomorrow, we will work through Wednesday on prep/blitz build. David is coming down on Monday. I can't wait to see him. With all the excitement in my life lately, I guess it's good that things are finally calming down. Here's a picture of my very attractive teammates before church, and the messy Kat-Steph-Chandle room, the result of no shelves and giant red backpacks. I dream of a world with drawers, luggage, bookshelves, and mattresses.

Click below

Cause: boredom, crazy washer

Effect: Fun, new ride

Schoooools OUT FOR SUMMER

So here is Ms. Kat with some exuberant members of our class. I'm sad to say goodbye to them. They really needed our help. Team 5 is moving to a convent today in Baton Rouge. Maybe I can start being vile and singing a lot while hiding from someone I've incriminated and we can film Sister Act III. I seriously doubt the convent has internet, so I don't know when I can post again.

Habitat starts preparation for the blitz build on Saturday. David is coming down to visit LSU, where he will attend school (for free w/ a 700 a month stipend), and see little (big?) ole me from the 29th-2nd. I'm so excited. We are moving from a 2 hour each way commute to a 10 minute each way commute. I get to see my Biance (boyfriend/fiance combo, you know it's funnier than fiance). David and I both got into graduate school with full scholarships. I get to move to a town I will always think of as home in 2 short months. I'm also going to be able to save the entire world with my new degree and possibly be nominated for a Nobel Prize. Things are looking up.

Booyacacha

May 17, 2006

Chandle Devor
2 DC Village Lane, SW
Washington, D.C. 20032

Dear Ms. Devor:

I am delighted to report that a seat has opened up in the Fall 2006 class of the Master of Public Service program at the Clinton School of Public Service. Your application was reconsidered and I am happy to offer you this opening if you are still interested in attending the program. In addition, I am pleased to offer you a $10,000 scholarship for the 2006-2007 year. This scholarship is sufficient to cover all tuition and fees for the first two semesters of the program. You are eligible to apply for additional scholarship support, although such funds are available on a needs-only basis.
Please sign and return the enclosed form to accept your place in the program. Should you decide to relinquish a seat in the class, or if we do not hear from you by May 26, 2006, your seat will be offered to another applicant.
Congratulations, Chandle! I have all confidence that this will be one of the pinnacle experiences of your life. Please feel free to contact me or Melissa Hawkins if you have questions about school activities, additional financial aid, housing, or other issues.

Best wishes for the coming year,




Thomas A. Bruce
Associate Dean



This does present a little problem though. I'm supposed to be getting married. David told me to go for it, but it'll be hard. David got into LSU's sculpture program for the Spring. Everything is paid for in both cases, which is amazing. I guess we are pretty much pros at this. I can't imagine doing it any other way, so long distance it is.

Scariest movie EVER

So the apocalypse is really coming. I know I've been saying that awhile and I'm always talking about the Kyoto protocol, and everyone just laughs. "oh that crazy Chandle, she thinks global warming is going to kill us all" Well according to the new documentary "An inconvenient Truth" it is. It's not going to be so much Day-After-Tomorrow-scary as Waterworld-scary, and I know how most of you feel about Kevin Costner at all, more or less with a balding mullet and gills.

If you want to see the trailer click here

Yesterday was the last day of the Boys and Girls Club. I'll miss the kindergarteners. We are still working at our respective schools until Thursday. Friday we move up to Baton Rouge to start work for the habitat Blitz build. AmeriCorps is winding down; in two months I'll be headed home. I can't wait to see all of you. David is potentially heading to your neck of the woods in June, and then heading to mine. Horray!

You might be a redneck....

Isn't this picture fabulous. Adorable Jed with pawn shop guns. Love it! My mom called yesterday, and said that the wireless internet wasn't working so well. My parents have the mega-router out in another building, so it works for the house and the shop. Well my dad decided that the tree was in the way, so he shot the top out with a shotgun. In Arkansas, we trim our trees with guns.
My team went to a wonderful cookout on Wednesday, courtesy of House 1. We also found out that we will have housing for habitat on May 20th, possibly in a hotel. ( sung to the tune of "lean with it rock with it") Running water, Cable TV, Swimming pool, weight room. Okay, so I've picked up some stuff from the kids.

On the bayou

My parents came down this weekend, and we had a blast. We went on a swamp tour, ate out a lot and hung out in the hotel room. It was way better than a tent! I even got to go wedding dress shopping with Tina and mom as critics. I've never tried on a wedding dress before, and to be honest, it makes you feel gorgeous. Remember that episode of friends where they just wear the wedding dresses around for fun. It really is that fun. So, if you're ever in need of a pick-me-up ladies, you know where the stores are.

Quarter Century Club

I had a great birthday, thanks to my fabulous team. Here are a couple of pictures with the party hat Tina got me. Here are a couple of pictures from my imaginary party too.