Two great groups with us this week. The folks from 'A Simple Church' near Shreveport, La are boomerangers- they worked with us on Markedia's house this past June 11-15. Ms. Brenda, Scott and Bill were all here in June and they brought some new friends with them from their church. Jeff and Rose, Anne and Andie and Carolyn. I was hoping to see Amanda and her husband, too, but maybe next time. They camped out at Y's Acres and I enjoyed a nice cookout with them there on Wednesday nite.   The other group is from Lumberton, NC and they are blueshirts (from Presbyterian Disaster) and they stayed at 1st Pres. here in town.     Both groups worked together on Monday to finish blacking in Sonya Moore's house on 7th St. east. I sneaked off to do some layout of walls on the blank deck of Colvin's home next next door on the same street so that when all came to work there on Tuesday morning, we would be ready for them. Felt a little bad for Brandon who was overseeing the balance of the group on Monday. Stephen was off and Joey and Nancy were away at a training session in Taladega with 400 other Americorps members. So on Tuesday, up go the walls, the saferoom walls, the trusses, and so on, throughout the rest of the week such that on Friday something new and different happened. Friday morning, I predicted 2:15 for the last piece of black felt to be installed on the roof (blacked-in; safe from the elements) and it turned out to be 3:00. Brandon gathered us all up in front of the house andsent us home early. First time for that to happen in the year that I've been here. I didn't know what to do with myself, so I went to get a haircut.
      Shell of a house in a week . Pretty good. With volunteers. That are pretty good.
The Lumberton group invited me out to dinner to a nice place called Cypress Inn- right on the river here. First time eating there. Gigantic steak- almost couldn't finish it.   But g-o-o-o-d!
      Thoughts and prayers to all in the path of Sandy. That's all for this week.   Peace. Out. Peter