This is slightly when my journey distances itself from the main intern work-crew. Week 6 was spent mostly on resting and self-care. I got my brace on Tuesday, and felt very fortunate that that is all I need for healing, and I quickly figure out how I most safely make it up the few steps up and down the CR campus. With my limited energy and more sedimentary situation, I was excited to find the Make a Difference Fund through WabiSabi. I am excited to announce that Lena and I, along with fellow Moab friends, are applying for up to $750 to install a community food forest along the Mill Creek bike path. It is a fun opportunity, and why not? I have also spent time reading, doing art, enjoying restful fun like playing Magic, reading, and watching shows. I am also planning our house gardening day, hoping for a fun workparty permaculture-style with brunch, projects, and fun. I quickly worked up my endurance and strength throughout the day, making the stroll to the park even which opened me up to letter-writing, which I have not done in a long while. I could do laundry, make bulk foods for the cook crew and generally, do the dishes and clean the home, and even pick flowers from the garden. It has been a challenge to not feel like too much of a tax on the group or my partner, but I am finding ways to satisfy and relieve that worry. Everyone has been so incredibly helpful too, with an abundance of understanding and assistance I feel wholly grateful for. I am also grateful for when I get to leave the house, including visiting the Moab Library :) My family has been really kind too, and I'm grateful to have gotten a care package including supplements to help my bones heal and stuff to keep this brace from smelling too awful! Come my second week, I started working again on Wednesday. It was a full day, starting on site where I organized the tool trailers and repaired some damaged tools, then went to office to get a rundown on my task to attract more internship applications, and then back on site by noon for the whole afternoon. I even built two tool stands for a trailer to hold our shovels, brooms, rakes, and so forth and improve our storage and floor space. It was very satisfying, but the last two hours my leg/ankle started hurting and it was hard for me to be comfortable on site. I was also completely exhausted after work to the point of being grumpy (yes, me feeling grumpy! Woah.). The next day I was on site for half the day, continuing trailer organization and tool repair, and then spent the afternoon posting the add on places like Handshake and permies.com. It felt good and motivating to do some publicity and good work for a full day without overexerting myself. Friday, I got to play with design! I just drew out the internal walls and calculated the "take-off" for how much wood the framing for the walls would take, and I calculated the approximate distances all of the corners and doors were, all for the twin homes. They have gotten so much of the roofing done on these houses, and we poured the shear walls and bathroom floors on Friday! It sounds like come next week, I will start the process on getting to mix plasters on site for the homeowners as well as additional office work while Claire is out of town. I am glad I am in a more tolerable work-routine with a diversity of tasks, even though I miss being strong and physically productive on the worksite. Over the weekend, there was delicious foods, so many wonderful times with my partner, Lena, and just generally good times with the family/home. Our room got cleaned and vacuumed, too, and it is almost cool enough to consider the option of sleeping inside again. Sunday, Lena and I got to go to La Sals, and it felt so incredible and necessary for me to get that fresh air and cool, organic time. I even did a small hike where Lena lead me to an incredible rock cliff overlooking a forested mountain crevice and all the way out towards Moab. Grounding, powerful, breath. Then we laid between a meadow and aspen forest overlooking canyons and cliffs all the way out to Moab and further as the afternoon sun and clouds danced in the sky. Reading, cuddling, meditating, eating, napping, and feeling really blessed. Driving down during the sunset was incredibly beautiful... I have also been researching what is available when it comes to Emergency Response, due to these past hurricanes. I have had a huge interest in getting involved in making an organization or way where I/we can come to a damage place and provide tools and help for those there to building new homes through natural and affordable means as well as growing food and incorporating community building and water management. There are several certification options and online trainings, and I am considering if it will help me to take some of these courses or certifications in order to inch towards this goal. It does not feel efficient, nor effective, and there seems to be very little when it comes to my overlying passion on this topic, so I am unsure how to move forward with this goal. Bit by bit.
The end of the weekend had me worrying about my family in Florida with Hurricane Irma, and I am greatly relieved that everyone is safe and well!
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Gary Michael ForesmanWritings about my projects, adventures, questions, & more. Categories
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