We hosted two great groups of volunteers this week. One was from central Pa. and the other was from Maryland, My Maryland. One of the volunteers, Pete, knew the brother of Gene Talbot, a guy I went to St. Bernards Catholic school in Riverdale, Md. for the first 8 years of school. We were taught by Holy Cross nuns. I told Pete one of the nun stories that related to Gene Talbot. When we were in the 5th grade, Gene was already over 200 lbs. He was a B-i-g guy for his age. Our teacher was named Sister Kolumkill. She was from Yonkers, NY. While she was roaming the aisles, she had a habit of using one of those spring-loaded hand exercisers. One day, when Gene was challenging her authority (or something) she had him stand up and she asked for his hand and she put the grip on him. In a short time, she had this 200 lb guy down on his knees begging for mercy. She was tough. I,m pretty sure that Gene behaved in her class after that incident. Good old Riverdale. I never really felt like the Salemme family fit in there though. Lot,s of my school friends were "Greasers"- black leather and slicked hair- Later in the 60's the hippies came along and that seemed a better fit for a while- for seven years or so at least until I seen the light. So anyway- these groups helped push Camilla's home a little closer to'the finish line. Pete was steady painting. Inside and out. Worked for Duron for 30 years (Beltsville Md based paint company) We started installing the bamboo flooring (over the new concrete slab) and the first day was quite discouraging for both volunteers abd myself. To stick bmboo to concrete requires an adhesive that is not water based and has to be poly-somethingorother. In other words, stick and nasty and gets all over everthing, tools, hands, on top of the bamboo and will not come off. Like I said, nasty stuff. That was Tuesday. Monday, both groups worked together on Appy Jones house (#6) and then we broke into groups and worked on both. So Tuesday was the messy glue fiasco, Tuesday night, Peter gets his revelation- Liquid Nails subfloor adhesive in the big caulking tubes so that we can apply the glue to the back of the pieces instead of schmearing it all over the floor. Jim from Pa. was particularilly happy for'this change. So by Friday morning, the three bedrooms and closets are complete and Josh (Md) announces that they are fired up and the hallway and living room will be completed by noon. And Lo, it came to pass. Setting goals and announcing to the universe your intentions is key, idn't it? Jerry set a buch of interior doors as the flooring was done in an area and also set the pesky metal frame for the safe room. Chelsea and Brit fro Americorps set the kitchen/dining ceramic tile to be ready for the kitchen cabs which are being made out of state and arrive this Tuesday. The masons finished the brick front steps. Monday, it's all hands on deck on Hoese #5. Stay tuned. Peter