do you understand what the martyr stood for? and other sundry quotes from gentleman with far more passion that myself

The updates are spaced out.

Things are actually happening.

I’m wrapping up my Americorps service in the next couple of weeks. I’m also starting my new job as Technology Manager at PANNA on Monday. Pretty stoked. Working part time, for a fairly sizely chunk of change per hour. Who knew that things could go right after things going so wrong?

The Camp Glenwood thugs left work today. Camp Glenwood is a part of San Mateo County’s juvenile detention program, and the kids who get sent there have to apply, write an essay, etc. Then they have to do the same to come work at Habitat for 6 weeks. I can’t explain how amazing it’s been to work with a group of guys who have done some pretty terrible things, and see them change and turn it around in front of your eyes. One of them, Calin, is coming back pretty regularly and I’m keeping my eye on him. He’s an awesome kid. Just made some bad mistakes.

Beyond just doing good work, they’ve kept us all happy on site. They’ve pushed the houses to the point where we got our first final inspection cleared! That means one of the houses is D O N E in the eyes of the city. Fucking a. That’s amazing. I’m bursting with joy.

And I’m sad, because it’s all ending, the new kids are coming in, and all that.

Whatever. I built seven fucking houses for seven families. I made bonds with some troubled kids who need help. I bonded with some great people. I built seven fucking houses.