FB: Empire 8

[AUPepBand]

PeP--King Al looks pretty bleak on the PePCam. It's going to be great for you to get  out of Dodge. You are coming down during arguably the nicest time of year. Try not to smash your thumb and respect the circular saws.

Pep is happy to be prohibited from touching any power tools. West Volusia Habitat has some outstanding volunteers of the retired kind who handle the cutting but are not allowed on the roof. As for me, I'd rather handle the puttering-type tasks of bracing the gables, setting the hurricane straps, etc. and let our students enjoy the lofty work on the roof.

This will be Pep's fifth consecutive Spring Break in Florida with eight houses constructed in the past four years. Unfortunately, this year's Blitz Build will involve only one house from slab up; a second house already well underway will get our attention for siding and roofing in order to keep our crew busy.

Pep gives our students a 6:15 a.m. wake-up serenade that previous Habitatters have suggested should be recorded and produced in CD format for their perpetual listening enjoyment. Pep Jr. suggests they were kidding. 

Folllowing a full day of labor and a 6 p.m. dinner at a local retirement community or church, Pep takes the students out on the town for a variety of evening activities including a pool party, mini golf, bowling, open mic coffeehouse; Friday afternoon is spent at New Smyrna Beach with beach football, basketball, Ultimate, possibly surfing, followed by dinner at Olive Garden or Cancun Lagoon.

Probably about half of the group of 30 will be first-timers. By March 11, we'll all be family.

[Sir Spiedie]

Sounds like a plan to me.
Spiedie notes that the first time he drove from NJ to Miami he spent the night in Rocky Mount, NC.
Spiedies philosophy has over the years evolved into one of travelling with at least one person who could share the driving and  going straight through. But i can see how this would be problematic with 30 kids.

of course get ready for:

"Pedro says: Weather Report is Hot Today--Chili Tamale!"

http://www.pedroland.com/

[AUPepBand]

One year prior to my involvement, about 25 students took three Alfred University vans and, with several drivers, were able to travel straight through. However, a blowout on the interstate caused some distress and administrators vowed they would not send AU vans to Florida again.

Pep's first trip was in the rust bucket of an AU bus (a 1990 model, I believe) with only 14 students. I was asked to go at the last minute or they'd cancel the trip as my predecessor couldn't accompany them. All went pretty well until the return trip. After refueling in in Cornelius, NC (just north of Charlotte) while getting back on the interstate, in a steady rain, our bus driver noticed he had no oil pressure. Back to the gas station...put oil in it all of which proceeded to pour out onto the ground. We're not going anywhere.

Islamic student, after having had Christian devotions on the work site each day, comes to me and says, "God's not taking care of us." I told him I didn't know what God was doing but I did know that whatever it was, it would turn out to be for our good.

Pep went in and started calling diesel mechanics as if he's going to get someone on a Saturday afternoon. Yeah, right. Meanwhile, a car pulls up, seeing the "Alfred University" on our bus and a gentleman tells us he's from Friendship (25 miles from Alfred) and, seeing our troubles, offered a meal at their restaurant, Big Al's Grubberia, should we be stranded.

After no luck getting a mechanic (best I could do was next day), I went back in to see about finding a place for our group to stay and, holding the phone book, the phone rings. Clerk answers and says to me, "It's for you." On the other end is a mechanic who had gotten my message and said he'd be there in 10-15 minutes. When he arrived, the rain stopped....he identified the problem, said he had the parts and would go get them and have us fixed up. I asked him how long he thought it would take....he said probably an hour-and-a-half with all the running around.

Pep went back in, called Big Al's Grubberia, got directions and the 15 of us walked the quarter of a mile to Big Al's where they treated us to pizza, wings and soda. Earlier, a few of the guys had hoped to be able to see the Duke-NC basketball game. Big Al's had TVs everywhere and we watched the second half of the Duke-NC game while we enjoyed our pizza and wings. Meanwhile, a local resident, hearing of our dilemma, offered his house to our group for the night. I told him thanks but I thought we'd be back on the road soon.

About ten minutes after finishing dinner, seeing that it's now pouring outside, Pep calls the convenience store to see how the bus is coming...after being disconnected, I look out the restaurant windows to see the AU bus pulling up. We all boarded and were on our way up the 10-mile climb into the mountains of Virginia, realizing that had we not discovered the lack of oil pressure, we'd have fried the engine. As a result of the breakdown, we all had been fed, had enjoyed a great basketball game on TV and were very content. Oh, the bill for the mechanic? $52.00. No, the mechanic's name was not Goober. 

[Sir Spiedie]

Pedro sez:     Eeeets Better to Beeee Lucky  Than Goood, Ameeego."

[Tags]

A little D3 love...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jm-fortytimes030107&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[Sir Spiedie]

Spring football is in the air. Spiedie had the pleasure of observing the Shane Hackney Spring Tune Up for long snappers this past Sat in Orlando. Present were both high school and collegiate long snappers, sharpening their skills and getting ready for spring ball. It was rather a cloudy and windy day but the rain held off.

ChessDoc-- I believe the long snapper from St. Aquinas was at the camp.

[JQV]

I am not sure when the d3 spring season begins.  Anyone out there know?

[BobNapoleone]

I am not sure when the d3 spring season begins.  Anyone out there know?

After today in upstate NY...it may be a few weeks out..too many icicles on the still "uncut" grass at Butterfield.......

[BobNapoleone]

Sounds like a plan to me.
Spiedie notes that the first time he drove from NJ to Miami he spent the night in Rocky Mount, NC.
Spiedies philosophy has over the years evolved into one of travelling with at least one person who could share the driving and  going straight through. But i can see how this would be problematic with 30 kids.

of course get ready for:

"Pedro says: Weather Report is Hot Today--Chili Tamale!"

http://www.pedroland.com/

I make it a practice to take a deep breath in VA.....and DON"T stop until Florida....."gas up and get gone."

Charlotte can be alright......., Atlanta....maybe....but otherwise....nope......don't stop!

[labart96]

AUPep -

The LL and E8 look forward to a full report from Spring Break DeLand of the Mad Hatters.

Happy housebuilding!

[Simba]

Lyco back to 10 game schedule opening up with Ithaca at home on Sept 1st!....

http://williamsport-pa.com/index.php?post_category=Lycoming%20Football

[superman57]

hey all superman is making a bracket challenge this is going to be E8 vs. LL to determine who is best once and for all...please use get notify the board as the team you represent...and for the guys who represent non e8 or LL teams join anyways and we'll have a league as other


http://llvse8.mayhem.sportsline.com/e

[superman57]

ok so everyone who is in the cbs page can stay in that one but also join this one it is easier and we all read ESPN every day


http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=46116

[Sir Spiedie]

Pep ought to be getting back pretty soon from his Florida soiree.

[AUPepBand]

Pep returned to Home Sweet Home at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday night after a fabulously fun and constructive trip to DeLand of The Hatters. Some of the 30 students actually "won" Stetson t-shirts at the work site. (The West Volusia affiliate of Habitat solicits donations of hats and tees to give to our students).

While time does not permit at present a full report, there will be one forthcoming. Suffice it to say, a great assemblage of fine young people built a house from concrete slab up as far as they could go....it's now ready for the plumbers and electricians and drywallers to do their thing. When we departed at noon Friday, the house had vinyl siding, doors, windows, soffits, roof all completed; in addition, interior walls were built, blocking for drywall installed, cross-bracing and blocking completed and bathrooms insulated.

Have some interesting stories to share....to come later.