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[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Got back from Lake Arrowhead this morning. Not sure what I can say as
far as the house is concerned because I signed a Confidentiality
Agreement with the release, so I'll stick with the kinds of things that
have been reported already.  There were literally thousands of people
there...security was tight...they shut off the volunteer lists on
Saturday.  Kate and I had signed up for both Sunday and Wednesday.  We
wanted to be there for the "Move that bus" reveal, but alas, you must
have to have some pull for that-know people in high places or be a
sponsor or something.  This project seemed to have a LOT of chiefs
involved, people like bankers, corporate sponsors/executives and other
prominent citizens.  Us low life regular folks were ushered to the
menial tasks like removing trash and food prep for the big wig dudes.
The house is a 3 story monster house..burnt umber/red, very
"environmental" looking, has a Japanese feel to it, not really pagoda
like but pagoda like. If you owned this house, you would have calves,
thighs, and buns of steel.. can you spell STAIRS.
Day 1,Sunday, I was, for the most part, stuck in the clubhouse,
preparing coffee, giving directions, pushing for donations etc. and
later, at the house, cleaned up construction trash..threw trash into
rolloff etc. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but mold remediation
specialists were working in there so no one else could. On Day 2,
Wednesday(this morning), after driving an hour over there, I was
 turned away at the Lake Arrowhead security gate,,,no additional
volunteers needed, they said.  All in all, I'm very disappointed.  The
only bright spot, and really, the only thing I can say of interest is
that bald headed British dudes named Ed are hot! Skinny dudes named
Ty are not.  I heard that Ty only shows up on the first and last day,
although I cannot verify that.  It's disappointing, too, because Ty is
about as local as you get.  He's from the county I grew up in, the
county just south of the build site and went to college where my
daughter will be going, the same county as the build site.  Celebrity
has gone to his head, I guess, or maybe he was off visiting relatives, I
dunno. I didn't see him or the other dude, Michael...only Ed when he
came in to the clubhouse on Sunday, and Paul from a distance at the site.
I am still deciding on whether this was worth my time.  I think not.  I
did not even get a t-shirt out of the deal, and I don't feel that I
contributed to the project in a meaningful way. :(
Lake Arrowhead has a lot more development now than even 5 years ago when
I was there.  It seems a lot of executives have moved into the community
and the houses reflect that.  I know the family story is a tough one,
but something is not sitting well with me on all of this....there is
just a bit too much luxury and status associated with building a house
there...the property owners association is powerful, too.  Personally, I
would rather see EMHE work in less affluent areas like the Gulf coast
where so many are still dealing with Katrina after effects, but hey,
whatever makes good TV.  I suppose that to get what I was looking for
out of the project, I need to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or
something.  It just wasn't what I expected.

Bev

--
Bevanron of EarthNSky Farm   Sleep well tonight, for somewhere in the
ocean's depths, MY son is protecting YOUR freedom.