The architecture in Louisville is beautiful. Saw a few hotels that had fancy plaster moldings in the grand lobbies. The old train station on Broadway is almost identical to the Old Post Office building in Washington, DC.
     The six homes that we re-habbed this past week were all located within a few blocks of each other in a neighborhood called the Shawnee . Large brick and wood frame homes that looked like in their day was the ritzy neighborhood to live in, but with time and decay, many of the homes original splendor has faded and/or covered up with vinyl siding. the homes were all vacant and had been foreclosed upon and were donated to the local Fuller Center for this event.
     The best part of builds like this is seeing all the old friends from previous builds throughout the years gathering together.
     I had originally signed up to stay at volunteer lodging during the build. However, at the prebuild week, I stayed at the Hotel Louisville. Very interesting place. It is basically a fully operational hotel, but also is a job training center for recovering addicts and homeless folks. The hotel trains them and also there are two floors of the 14 storie hotel that are lodging for the staff. They gave the host of the event a break on the rooms and it was only $25 a night for a room with two double beds. It did have a TV, but there was a shortage of remotes . I decided for that rate to continue the week staying at the hotel instead of sleeping on a cot in a church basement. Few of those who did stay at the church reprted that the breakfast was much better, although the hotel had some pretty good pancakes made to order.
     I was co-house leader along with Glen Maxwell. Glen will be 80 years old this year. I told him to take it easy. His son Steve was on our crew also. Leda from Pennsyvania was there as were Bob Abel and Crystal Manoske, both of whom I had met in Peru last year. Bob brought a group from his church in Maryland. Barry from Baltimore was a great help and was on his first (but we hope not last) trip.
     The homeowners were Kim and Corey Harrison. They have 7 kids, 5 of whom will be living in the home we restored. We installed lots of sheet vinyl in the two bathrooms and kitchen and dining room. Totally put back the upstairs bath with new tile and drywall.   All new kitchen cabinets.
      This build went much smoother that last years build in Atlantic City, NJ . Of the six homes, 5 were substantially completed and the sixth's homeowner had dropped out at the last minute anyway, so there was no real rush to complete it, although it did come quite a way. It had about 6 capable house leaders assigned to it, including Orie Lehman and his brother, Amish both, who don't know how to stop until the job is done. They hung and finished all the drywall in the house that Larry Winger and I and a few others worked on on the prebuild week to get it ready for them.
     Tim Dubois and Charlie did a great job getting everything worked out in advance.
     At the closing dinner, the location of next years MFLB was announced. It will be held in Americus, Georgia. A number of years back, Millard declared victory over sub-standard housing in Sumter County, but David Snell, head of the fuller Center said the problem is that it comes creeping back, therefore, the build will be there.
     I've invited the first lady of affordable housing, Linda Fuller, to attend Habitat Tuscaloosa's Women's Build on May 3rd and it seems like she will . Linda lived part of her life in T-Town.
Last week also invited Bettye Burn and Dianne James from Lexington, KY. They are both crackerjack builders in their own right and would contribute greatly to the success of the build.
    I also broke with tradition on this build. Usually, I head right back, not taking time for safaris or sight seeing in my hurry to get back to work. this time, however, there was an event call Thunder over Louisville. Blue Angels air show and Fireworks. Beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon, Brought the blanket, relaxed on the grassy lawn with fellow volunteers. Saw the fireworks that was billed as the worlds largest display. Not sure if it was or not, but it was 35 minutes of grand finales strung together. Definetely worth the break in tradition.
      Got back in time for one of Stephen Scott's byebye parties. he's leaving us to go to Colorado on Monday.
      that's all for now.   Happy Easter to all!   Love, Peter