So, I got the details on the Ameri-Mansion in Boulder... it is two stories with two sets of staircases, 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a massive kitchen. There is also a ton of land which includes 2 hiking paths that but up to our land. I can't wait to be surrounded by beautiful scenery everywhere I look. It will be really odd having so much space to ourselves considering our last two spike housing situations.
Since the last time I posted I have learned how to mud (well sort of) I was only taught how to cover screw holes. Which I did a whole two story house of and WOW were there a lot of screw holes. Other than that it has been more painting and trim work for the most part... along with some applying tar to random spots on a leaking roof. I am really ready for something new and can't wait for what's to come in Boulder. I successfully have only added three t-shirts to my wardrobe which is a major improvement compared to the 15 plus between CTI and first round.
We went to the Museum of the Gulf in Port Arthur last weekend which was pretty cool... they really focused on Janice Joplin since she is from there. After the museum we went to Larry's which has been raved about to us from the different home owners about the buffet. Not many of us we're thinking about doing the buffet since it was a little over our budgets but then we looked at the spread and our minds were easily changed. The main reason I did it was to try to many different sea foods that I figure I won't have the chance to try back in the good ol Midwest. I had a BBQ crab, lots of shrimp in different forms, frogs legs and catfish along with many other delish things. Sunday a group of us went to pick up Paul from Houston since he went home for a week for a funeral. We met him at his aunt and uncles beautiful house and they fed us before heading to a mall. We were planning on doing some site seeing but used our time to run errands in a different part of TX.
This weekend the team headed to do some ISP hours at the food bank in Beaumont which we have worked at twice before. We packed 1.200 boxes of food for families in need which I really enjoyed. For lunch we went to this REALLY good pizza and pasta place, as you can see my love for food has not subsided, but it still doesn't compare to Frankies. If anyone back home feels the need to send me a piece in the mail it would be greatly appreciated. That or some Turkey jerky from McDonald's meats (teryaki)!! hehe Today was a perfect day of relaxing. We all sat outside and enjoyed the 60ish degree day with a cloudless sky... I even moved my air mattress out for a good days rest :-)
This week there are 70 volunteers so that should be interesting. Tomorrow morning is the only day they will all be here for breakfast since some of them are staying a the Malloy Center which is where they house big groups. The two people on my team that have to cook tomorrow have some fun ahead of them. Then the week is filled with final packing... which I already did for the most part... cleaning of our room and the vehicles and working Monday through a half day on Wednesday. I am getting really anxious to head to Denver but am loving the weather down here. Welp, time for bed for me...
Love,
Nicole
p.s. only four more sleeps on this air mattress!!! :-)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
"Orange" you going to buy me a puppy?
Most of the team ready to celebrate Kelly's 21st
The gang in Galveston for birthday weekend
The beautiful view of the parade and ocean from our hotel balcony in Galveston
Paul and I on the Ferry into Galveston when we went as a team
Paul and I on the ferry
Water Three in Galveston
The Seawall that was built after the hurricane of 1900
The good ol van on the ferry
Where the water reached during hurricane Ike in GalvestonBoulder Bound Next Round
The rest of last week was very uneventful (well honestly I don't remember what I did so I am just going with nothing too cool). This weekend was very VERY relaxing and lazy, just what I needed. Sunday we played some four square in the parking lot on a beautiful sunny, warm day which was such a great start to the week. Monday we had off due the President's Day which was a plus for sure... got to sleep in a little, go on a walk and do some volunteering at a school supply place which was awesome. Tuesday three of us went to Roland's house to put up sheet rock which was challenging at first but we finally got used to it just in time to switch houses which was kind of a bummer.
Yesterday was a very important day... we found out our shuffle round teams and where we are headed next round. My first pick was Boulder and I GOT IT!!! I am so unbelievably excited for the project, the city and my wonderful team. There are five people from my team I am on now on my shuffle round team which is crazy along with three people from CTI (our training) that I am really good friends with. It it so wonderful and I couldn't be more thankful for how lucky I am. Boulder is such an amazing city and we are living in the "Amer-Mansion" which supposedly has three kitchens and more rooms that you can count... oOOOEeEeee I am pumped.
I can't believe we already leave here two weeks from tomorrow for Denver. We have three travel days and then arrive in Denver Saturday night, March 6th. Transition week is that Saturday until the next Monday, March 15th which I am pretty sure is when we head to Boulder. It is going to be such a beautiful time of the year in Colorado too. Speaking of times of the year... I think my "Clock thing" is very off. I keep thinking it's summer and I am in MN but then I talk to my mom back home and she says they just got some new snow and it's zero. Kind of sad I am missing a whole winter/snowmobiling season in good ol Minnesota but I guess I have a lot more to come.
Today is a day that the church has a dinner, meetings and such which means that we can't shower or make dinner. But the real problem is that there are little kids running around screaming and playing basketball right now as I type until wayy past my bedtime (which I like to go to bed by 9:30 or 10) :-) I talked to my dad on a Wednesday previously and he was like "What is all that noise?" and it was the little kids making all the racket.
I think this Friday there is talk of going line dancing which will be a lot of fun... but my good friend on the team Paul has gone home until Saturday due to family things so he will be missing out on it. On Saturday Paul needs to get picked up from the airport in Houston around dinner time so we are thinking we are going to drive the two hours in the morning to Houston and hangout there all day until we get him which will be really fun.
Between today and the last time I wrote I have hung a window, learned how to hang drywall, learned how to "cope" trim, and did a good amount of painting. I really enjoy painting and how relaxing it is. I am hoping to go to bed very shortly which will be before the kids in the gym even leave but I am very tired and my back has been bothering me so I figure it's for the best... plus I LOVE sleeping :-) I am going to try to add some pictures so I better get going.
Love lots,
Nicole
Yesterday was a very important day... we found out our shuffle round teams and where we are headed next round. My first pick was Boulder and I GOT IT!!! I am so unbelievably excited for the project, the city and my wonderful team. There are five people from my team I am on now on my shuffle round team which is crazy along with three people from CTI (our training) that I am really good friends with. It it so wonderful and I couldn't be more thankful for how lucky I am. Boulder is such an amazing city and we are living in the "Amer-Mansion" which supposedly has three kitchens and more rooms that you can count... oOOOEeEeee I am pumped.
I can't believe we already leave here two weeks from tomorrow for Denver. We have three travel days and then arrive in Denver Saturday night, March 6th. Transition week is that Saturday until the next Monday, March 15th which I am pretty sure is when we head to Boulder. It is going to be such a beautiful time of the year in Colorado too. Speaking of times of the year... I think my "Clock thing" is very off. I keep thinking it's summer and I am in MN but then I talk to my mom back home and she says they just got some new snow and it's zero. Kind of sad I am missing a whole winter/snowmobiling season in good ol Minnesota but I guess I have a lot more to come.
Today is a day that the church has a dinner, meetings and such which means that we can't shower or make dinner. But the real problem is that there are little kids running around screaming and playing basketball right now as I type until wayy past my bedtime (which I like to go to bed by 9:30 or 10) :-) I talked to my dad on a Wednesday previously and he was like "What is all that noise?" and it was the little kids making all the racket.
I think this Friday there is talk of going line dancing which will be a lot of fun... but my good friend on the team Paul has gone home until Saturday due to family things so he will be missing out on it. On Saturday Paul needs to get picked up from the airport in Houston around dinner time so we are thinking we are going to drive the two hours in the morning to Houston and hangout there all day until we get him which will be really fun.
Between today and the last time I wrote I have hung a window, learned how to hang drywall, learned how to "cope" trim, and did a good amount of painting. I really enjoy painting and how relaxing it is. I am hoping to go to bed very shortly which will be before the kids in the gym even leave but I am very tired and my back has been bothering me so I figure it's for the best... plus I LOVE sleeping :-) I am going to try to add some pictures so I better get going.
Love lots,
Nicole
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Tuesday TUESday TUESDAY
So, it's Tuesday... a group of us laid some tie flooring. It was the sap together kind which was VERY interesting... until we got the hang of it. We had to make it as tight as possible to make it seamless. We then helped the pastor here at the church we live in move, dinner and played some 4 on 4 basketball with the interns and a couple people on my team. Got kind of intense... I don't think guys are used to us girls being actually pretty good at sports (SUCKERS :-)). Monday the whole team was back at digging the 85 foot ditch, although there was one big problem, it had rained a ton and the ditch was still filled with 8 inches of water so they made us bucket the water out. It didn't take long to do that but the water kept seeping in and the mud was a lot harder to dig up. We almost got the ditch the right length Monday... just in time for it to down pour all last night... woohoo I'm sure we will be back to bucketing tomorrow. We are hoping we will be able to finish the flooring we started tomorrow but I guess we will have to wait and see.
Galveston this past weekend was a blast. It turned out to be the cities Mardi Gras celebration which included a lot of people and 3 different parades on Saturday. Our hotel was right on the ocean and the road that the parades were on which was perfect (I kind of thought of the ocean as Lake Superior or a large lake which was really funny). It was so beautiful out which made for the perfect Saturday away on our little mini "vacation". The weekend went by very fast but it was a wonderful success. We got back Sunday evening just in time to meet the rest of the team at a bar to watch the Super Bowl... me in my Vikings of course :-)
This weekend most of the team is headed to New Orleans for Mardi Gras but I look forward to having a very laid back weekend here in Orange. I have yet to be here relaxing at the church for a whole weekend so it will be wonderful. Especially not having to spend money or drive 5 hours back on Sunday. Tomorrow (along with all Wednesdays) we are unable to make dinner here so we are heading into town for dinner and a little shopping after PT of course...
Time for bed and what will hopefully be a good nights sleep!!
Pictures to come...
Love and Miss everyone from home lots
Nicole Marie Burg
Galveston this past weekend was a blast. It turned out to be the cities Mardi Gras celebration which included a lot of people and 3 different parades on Saturday. Our hotel was right on the ocean and the road that the parades were on which was perfect (I kind of thought of the ocean as Lake Superior or a large lake which was really funny). It was so beautiful out which made for the perfect Saturday away on our little mini "vacation". The weekend went by very fast but it was a wonderful success. We got back Sunday evening just in time to meet the rest of the team at a bar to watch the Super Bowl... me in my Vikings of course :-)
This weekend most of the team is headed to New Orleans for Mardi Gras but I look forward to having a very laid back weekend here in Orange. I have yet to be here relaxing at the church for a whole weekend so it will be wonderful. Especially not having to spend money or drive 5 hours back on Sunday. Tomorrow (along with all Wednesdays) we are unable to make dinner here so we are heading into town for dinner and a little shopping after PT of course...
Time for bed and what will hopefully be a good nights sleep!!
Pictures to come...
Love and Miss everyone from home lots
Nicole Marie Burg
Thursday, February 4, 2010
moreeeeeeeeeeeee
Paul and I being silly at the ball. 
So excited that I got to see Megan and Catie (their team is in New Orleans)
Abe, Ashley and I breaking for lunch
Paul really enjoys my company :-) while painting
Paul, myself, Kelly, Michelle and Ashley after our day of walking around New Orleans
Paul and I
Michelle, Kelly and I supporting the Vikes at Chili's against the CowboysBUsy BUsy BUsy
This last week and a half have bee very very busy. Last week was full of work, then PT, dinner and sleep. A group of four of us did a whole lot of painting of door and baseboard. Along with taking down and reassembling the doors. This week a large group of 8 (Mon-Wed) have been digging a 85 foot long, two and a half feet wide, about 2 feet deep trench for a large drainage pipe that will connect to the house. WOW is it a nice looking hole... not done yet but it has been raining all night and day so we weren't there today. Even though it has been a lot of hard work we have kept pretty entertained with random topics of conversation. Pretty interesting to say the least. Today Jess and I stayed here at the church and did a revamp of the shed and large trailer full of rusty nails and tools. It was pretty wonderful because on our lunch I was able to take a nap in my bed, which was very dreamy.
This week is "Birthday Week" for our team. There was three birthdays and two half birthdays throughout this week. I took charge and collected money for some presents and decorations, along with a cupcake cake. I love giving people just what they would want and was able to get the three birthday people wonderful gifts from the team. Tuesday was Kelly's 21st birthday so we made that extra special with waking her up with balloons falling on her and presents in bed. Today is Ben's 22nd birthday and Saturday is Ashley's 24th. Last night we went out to dinner at the Orange Seafood and Steakhouse as a team, we had cupcakes and they opened presents. It was a great success!! Tomorrow six of us are headed to Galveston, Texas to hang out for the weekend and meet up with Kelly's brother who is driving down from Kansas to help Kell celebrate her 21st. It should be a blast; I think I am most excited for sleeping in an actual bed and having a TV at my fingertips. We're not sure if we will hang around there for the Superbowl or head back here (I am SOOO jealous of my brother Davers and Sarah who get to go to Miami and the Superbowl!!! SO not fair!).
Last weekend we went to Galveston as a team and saw a LOT of damage still from Ike. We saw the Seawall that was built after a terrible hurricane in 1900 which was pretty interesting. Sunday a few of us headed to Lake Charles, LA to do some service hours at a soup kitchen which was a lot of fun. Then Paul and I headed to the mall for some birthday present shopping. I am having the time of my life and catch myself realizing that I am actually here right now doing this. It is such a wonderful opportunity and I can't wait to encourage others for join this amazing program. I know I will be friends with a lot of these friends forever and I am so excited about how amazing each and every one of them are. I try to take it day by day but the time is flying by and it's hard to think that in only 7 short months I won't be living with these people anymore.
Well, the next round of projects is "Shuffle Round" which means that we will be ranking the projects and put on random teams according to our interest. I can't imagine going through all of this without this team so it should be quite the experience. We think we will be finding out the different projects and even where we are going and our teams within the next couple of weeks... I get kind of nervous thinking about it but try not to think about it. None of us can believe we have called this gym stage home for already 4 weeks (half way done).
The rest of the team will be back soon and it is Jess and my day for breakfast and dinner so we have to go put it in the oven (tater tot hot dish)!! Made by a volunteer lady who has been cooking and baking for us all week which we are very thankful for. So excited tomorrow is Friday!!
Love,
Nicole
This week is "Birthday Week" for our team. There was three birthdays and two half birthdays throughout this week. I took charge and collected money for some presents and decorations, along with a cupcake cake. I love giving people just what they would want and was able to get the three birthday people wonderful gifts from the team. Tuesday was Kelly's 21st birthday so we made that extra special with waking her up with balloons falling on her and presents in bed. Today is Ben's 22nd birthday and Saturday is Ashley's 24th. Last night we went out to dinner at the Orange Seafood and Steakhouse as a team, we had cupcakes and they opened presents. It was a great success!! Tomorrow six of us are headed to Galveston, Texas to hang out for the weekend and meet up with Kelly's brother who is driving down from Kansas to help Kell celebrate her 21st. It should be a blast; I think I am most excited for sleeping in an actual bed and having a TV at my fingertips. We're not sure if we will hang around there for the Superbowl or head back here (I am SOOO jealous of my brother Davers and Sarah who get to go to Miami and the Superbowl!!! SO not fair!).
Last weekend we went to Galveston as a team and saw a LOT of damage still from Ike. We saw the Seawall that was built after a terrible hurricane in 1900 which was pretty interesting. Sunday a few of us headed to Lake Charles, LA to do some service hours at a soup kitchen which was a lot of fun. Then Paul and I headed to the mall for some birthday present shopping. I am having the time of my life and catch myself realizing that I am actually here right now doing this. It is such a wonderful opportunity and I can't wait to encourage others for join this amazing program. I know I will be friends with a lot of these friends forever and I am so excited about how amazing each and every one of them are. I try to take it day by day but the time is flying by and it's hard to think that in only 7 short months I won't be living with these people anymore.
Well, the next round of projects is "Shuffle Round" which means that we will be ranking the projects and put on random teams according to our interest. I can't imagine going through all of this without this team so it should be quite the experience. We think we will be finding out the different projects and even where we are going and our teams within the next couple of weeks... I get kind of nervous thinking about it but try not to think about it. None of us can believe we have called this gym stage home for already 4 weeks (half way done).
The rest of the team will be back soon and it is Jess and my day for breakfast and dinner so we have to go put it in the oven (tater tot hot dish)!! Made by a volunteer lady who has been cooking and baking for us all week which we are very thankful for. So excited tomorrow is Friday!!
Love,
Nicole
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