In addition to new homes for people who were affected by the April 2011 tornado, Habitat Tuscaloosa also has established a re-hab arm know as NRI (Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative). At he site of our last 5-day blitz build, our staff canvassed the neighbors in the west end of town and asked how we could help with necessary repairs to their homes. This past week, we began work on two of the projects, working with a plethora (not sure if that word applies or not but anyway, a bunch of. . .) Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity brothers from the Univ. of Alabama. One home, for Ms. Audrey and her two twin 10 year olds, boy and a girl, we took off and replaced the complete exterior of the home- siding, windows and new shingled roof. The second, although I haven't met the owners, the woman is confined to a wheelchair and their entrance to the home is up four steps. The woman is a bit portly, and they say her husband looks like a stringbean, and until now, if they wanted to go out of the house, he would have to physically pick her up and out of the wheelchair, put her on the stoop, pick her back up and then into the house. Weve done a number of handicap ramps since Ive been here, mostly though in anticipation of future needs of the homeowners. None before where the need was so immediate. They say that she hasn't been out of the house for over a year!
     Couple of exciting events coming up in the next few weeks-   First, we finished BillTaylors home and it will be dedicated this Friday at noon . Final walkthru is Monday. Over the weekend, I took his fancy whirlpool tub for a test- drive. I hadn't up to this point and we don't need no surprises, thank you. It is a walk in, close the door and sit down tub.   Its got jets of water and jets of air, a light and the jets of water also reverse so that the tub drains super quickly too. Moved out the tool container and portapotty, so you know were done when those trucks pull away.
      SWe received two more couples over the weekend that are staying at our RV Camp. One from Canada (Brunswick) and the other are from Vermont. Izzy and Kathy just re-upped for two more weeks and Rob and Debra have become permanent volunteers out there. Nice to have neighbors.
     Also, coming next week is the reunion tour of Larry and Cheryl Winger's Kairos Carpenters from Lafayette, Indiana and Lori and Terry from Zeigles Church in Pennysylvania (Ray Teal too??) Both groups are great friends and have been working with us multiple times both here in T-Town and on the coast. The week they arrive (my birthday Nov. 18, ahem) we will do yet another blitz build where we build the whole house in 5 days. There are probably 30 volunteers among the 2 groups, so weve got plenty of help, and may spread out to finish up some more sock the blocks.
     Looking forward to R and R going up north to my sister Mary's home for the annual gathering of the clan at Thanksgiving. All 5 boys have said they'll make it this year along with a couple of steady girlfriends. Can't wait!!
      That's all for now- Roll Tide, as they say down here (LS Who?)