L2 - Day 4

It surely was “hump day!” Most everyone was moving a bit slower this morning. What helped immensely was that it was a beautiful day today. Bright sun. Temperature in the low 60s. Mike Parry even broke out his work shorts.

Team 1 headed out to finish off the dreaded plaster ceiling. Their stick-to-it-ness has been a blessing to watch. If Bobby and Rover ever so get to return home, they can rest assured that their new ceiling’s prep work was done with love.

Team 2 headed off for a new part of the city for us. Further east in a predominantly African-American neighborhood. There were two houses just a few doors apart – 5042 and 5135 Louisa Street. 5135 needed a hot water heater removed, windows and doors secured and, guess what – nails removed. The demo in the 5042 had been started but in a haphazard, sloppy way. The easy parts had been done, but the hard stuff left. But before long walls were coming down and floors up.

Both teams trekked to BK for lunch together. We got back to the sites just in time for Charles and Lauren to deliver the supplies needed to secure the windows and doors and Team 1 got to work on 5135. Most of the windows had decorative security gates on them as did the front and back doors. The problem was that the locking mechanisms were old, rusted, and non-functioning. The owner, Patricia, had been cited by the city for the problem so it was imperative for us to find some way to get those doors secured. The next step after being cited is a $2500 fine. He didn’t ride in on a white horse, but he might as well have. He – is John Bittner who with a few tools and a can of WD40 had each and every door lock working again by the end of the day.

The other yeomen’s job of the day was performed by Bill Ward, Harold Gantert, Bob Runde and John Spearman. The tile floors in 5042 were adhered to the concrete slab. In a perfect world, you would be able to use what looks like a large scraper on a broom handle to get under the tiles and pop them off. This was no perfect world. The only way that these tiles were coming up was by pounding them to smithereens with a small sledge hammer. It was exhausting work. In the morning, Bill and Harry worked like possessed men. Bob pulled the afternoon shift and David finally made Harry hand over (under protest) to John.

Late in the afternoon, David Martinez was seen showing off – posing with a half sheet of plywood on his shoulder. Some think it was to impress his wife Jamie.

We learned a lesson about how hard it can be down here in the Big Easy this afternoon. We asked Susan, the Work Site Coordinator, about the terrible workmanship of the demo work at 5042. She said the family had paid to have it done. It was like getting kicked in the stomach to hear how the worst of human nature is never absent. What a blessing to be able to maybe give back a bit hope to the owner – who happens to be a single mom with two teenage daughters.

Our day came to a delicious conclusion as we feasted on Bobby Anderson’s rendition of Thai Chicken. It was fantastic!!!!

Unfortunately Claudia came down with some kind of bug and has headed off to Baton Rogue with her cousin for some TLC and a read bed in a heated room. Keep her in your prayers. We will miss them both.

Tomorrow is half a day’s work and then a trip to the French Quarter for some sightseeing and dinner.

But YOU still have to pray the whole day!