I woke up at 5 this morning and went over to a widows house at 6 to help reshingle a roof. 9 other guys showed up to help and we went at it.
3 years ago, I had to help my dad reshingle our roof and it was just him, myself and one other person who did it. I didn't enjoy it much because it took 2 weeks. I complained every step of the way and whined that I wasn't getting paid enough.
Before I left (I had to get ready for work) we were half way done, and that means taking the shingles off and putting new ones back on. Now, I agree that the roof she has is slightly smaller and that there were more people there helping, but it was still a lot of work.
My muscles are aching, my back is screaming, I'm totally exhausted and I have to go to work in one hour and work for 8 hours.
But for some reason, I can't help but smile that we got it accomplished and that it was for someone who needed it. I don't care that I didn't get paid, or that I was working hard. I suppose thats something thats changed about me in 3 years, and I also suppose that thats what service is meant to be: putting forth all you have and just being happy that you have the oppurtunity to help someone.
Just thought I'd share my thoughts on that.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Community servace is wonderful. I worked on a Habitat for Humanity house near my school for a day and even though it was frezing and the work was hard I felt like I had done something good and that made all the hardship worth it.
Posted by * (Member # 4842) on :
Hehehe, there's just something about community service that keeps me doing it. Being part of something bigger than myself, maybe. I dunno. It's totally addictive Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
maybe this is what you're looking for
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Good for you! I loved working with a local roofing company. The boss always said that if you survive the first 2 weeks, you can live through everything.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
T...that's great!
Now, I will have to point out that professional roofing companies can do the entire job in one day, often in as few as 8 hours total.
Of course, you really want to have a moderately warm day and you want to have a bunch of guys to help. 9 amateurs seems like a good number though.
You done good!
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Ahem, Bob - it's NOT just a guy thing . . .
Posted by Dead_Horse (Member # 3027) on :
Service: Doing something for free that they couldn't PAY you to do.
I'm glad you were able to do that. Some people who don't have any widows around have to go to the gym and pay to work out that hard. Keep that good feeling!
rain
Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :
Service is awesome. I was in a club in college called the Intercollegiate knights. You started out as a page and if you do 20 hours of service you become a knight. I'm sad that I lost my knight pin. I still have my knight shirt....it's worn out though. What's worse is that club was cut a year after I graduated.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Shan. Roofing is man's work, even if women are doing it.
IT's just that way. Roofing! Roofin'. We're puttin' on a new roof. It's very masculine. It's like you are taking care of shelter, you know.
<climbs out of hole he just dug>
"I was using "guys" in the generic sense like most Northerners would. Like "would you guys like to go out for pizza?" as said to a mixed group of males and females.
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
My brother calls them roofians and says they all drink. Professional roofers, I mean. But he says if he were a roofer he'd drink too. I mean a roofian. Anyway. That's cool, Nathan. Stop by here when you're in the neighborhood and I have tons of stuff you can do around this place. Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Ahhh - the sexism of it all. *Hands Bob a tear-off shovel and grins invitingly.*
Anyway, T - it is hard work, you do hurt and it's a good hurt, isn't it? I'll bet you always remember this lady's face as you and your crew arrived and set to work. Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Am I the only one who noticed that this thread is eight months old?
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
To be honest, I hadn't noticed. Probably wouldn't have, either.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
We depend on you for that sort of detail, Jon Boy. Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I figure if I find it on page one, it's probably there for a reason, so I don't look at the dates. Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Ya, I was a bit curious who realized the date of this thread. ::shrug::
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
celia likely did, seeing as she's the one who bumped it.
What do you think of her suggestion, T?
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
yes, exactly, i'm still trying to find an answer to the question you asked on saxon's forum.
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Actually, I've been thinking, (thinking being the keyword there) of volenteering in some children related way, like reading at a library or something. Just my stupid schedule is having some difficulty with allowing me to do that.
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
that sounds like a fabulous idea. can you force aol to fit your schedule? how about if you really play up the whole volunteering angle, and why don't they want children to be happy Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
That sounds like a good idea, T. Now you just need to find something that appeals AND fits your schedule -- the hard part, I know.
Good luck!
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
saxon75's site is down, and I can't even find out what T might have meant! But maybe someone can tell me what a tear-off shovel is...
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
aren't you requium? didn't you post on that thread?
for someone so much smarter than me, you really are an idiot.
Posted by Toretha (Member # 2233) on :
I've been wanting to do a volunteer program with children for a while-but I'm vehicle-less and all the ones I could find require me to go places too far away for me to bike
And they won't let me give blood Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Well, did you make sure the milk jugs were clean before you tried to give it to them?
Posted by Toretha (Member # 2233) on :
no...?
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
quote:aren't you requium? didn't you post on that thread?
for someone so much smarter than me, you really are an idiot.
First, it's requiem, and yes that is the handle I use on sakeriver.com. Second, you equate memory with intelligence when intelligent people know there's more to it. And lastly, you resort to name calling, and not even witty name calling at that. Please put more thought into your people bashing so I can at least be entertained while reading your posts.
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
right. i had forgotten that i posted for the sole purpose of entertaining you.
please accept my deepest heartfelt apologies for failing to live up to your expectations.
or bite my shiny leather ass, you pompous sack of excrement.
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
See? Look how much better your last post was! The shiny, leather ass gave me a nice visual of someone old and well-worn, like a good pair of boots, or a nice saddle. The pompous bag of excrement is great because pompous (while still calling me arrogant) sounds very close to "pump" which makes me think of a HUGE bag "pumped" full of excrement.
You've come a long way from "idiot." Was Jon Boy helping you out with this one?
[ February 15, 2004, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: JonnyNotSoBravo ]
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
*stays out of this*
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
*but behind the scenes, Jon Boy secretly sends celia a new list of insults for the week*
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
quote: JonnyNotSoBravo: I'm starting a flame war with celia on Hatrack! Can you make sure she knows I'm not being serious with it so if she's really upset I can stop?
um, yeah, i'm really that stupid. and that easily offended.
(and i'm pretty sure *i* started it, idiot)
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
I had to make sure the "evilness" wasn't all smoke and mirrors...although, the shiny leather ass bit was a good hint that you have a thick hide.
And stop using words like "stupid" and "idiot." I feel like I'm being clubbed over the head with a two-ton heavy blunt thingy.
On another point, Nathan loses points for not being subtle about finding out you weren't really pissed about this. Or he knew already and was just trying to hatch an evil plan with you. Stop corrupting the innocent, celia!
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
you just gave me an order? and included a really awful pun?
that was stupid of you.
tell you what, when you're ready to play with the big boys (annie, don't say anything about my rack), feel free to call again. at the moment, you aren't worth the effort.
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
Yeah, but you bothered to reply to my last post which indicates that it was worth the effort. And if your use of words like "stupid" actually takes effort for you, I am very, very sorry. Perhaps I should wait until your vocabulary has increased so using such big words doesn't tax your strength.
Maybe Nathan can volunteer and help you out with that. This is a thread about service, after all.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Hey, I heard that Lord of the, whaddyacallit, Wings? is a good book. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Is it worth my time?
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
JNSB - a "tear-off" shovel is an implement of destruction. It works really well when combined with balance, leverage, muscle and cursing to remove the old shingles, or torch-down from roofs. Tile comes off by hand and I don't do shakes - try remembering where the slats are (scary)-
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I still have my knight shirt....it's worn out though. What's worse is that club was cut a year after I graduated.
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