Silver Falls

Well, it took us long enough but today we finally went to Silver Falls State Park.

But, of course like everything Blue 2 does, there's a back story.

This morning happened to be gorgeous. The sun was shining, it was low 50s and everyone seemed to be in high spirits. In fact we were in such high spirits that during breakfast Christie joked that we should take the day off and enjoy the sunshine.

Flash forward about one hour into the work day and our site supervisor Jeff comes around to talk to Colleen and I about the general happenings of the day, and just has he was about to leave he says "Gee, it's such a nice day you outta take today off and go to the falls a work on Saturday."

Ding, ding, ding!!!

Without a beat I immediately told Nelson that Jeff suggested we take the day off and the rest is history.

Silver Falls is gorgeous. Beyond belief. And while I'd like to expound upon the experience, I'll take the minimalist approach and say this, Oregon is an outdoors state, and it's very clear why.

Don't believe me? Check out the shots from my blackberry!

Oregon Garden = Great Spike

Just when I'm starting to get used to my Oregonian life, we're packing up and leaving.

Well, not literally, but in a two weeks.

I've got to say I never thought I'd get so attached to a place so quickly, but the Garden is just so lovable. Every day I thank God for the beauty that is the green lusciousness that surrounds us. Sure, it's raining every day, and sure, it's always cold, but it's some how beautiful.

But it's not only the Garden that I'm going to miss, it's also our site supervisor. Jeff is truly an remarkable guy. Funny, knowledgeable, and eager to teach and learn. Not only does he teach us so much about the garden but he's also knowledgeable about Oregon and the surrounding area. He could certainly have a job as a travel guide if horticulture doesn't work out.

Lastly, I'm going to miss the luxury that is the Oregon Garden Resort. No, it's not like we're getting free massages or comp rooms. We do however frequent the lounge for a nice glass of wine (those of us who are able), great blues music, and of course, the hot tube. Nothing soothes better after a long day of manual labor and physical training that wine and relaxing in hot water.

Over all, the Garden is a great project and I'm not looking forward to leaving on January 29th.

AmeriFunk

It's only Tuesday but this week has already been a struggle.

We're all moving at a glacial pace, looking for every opportunity to NOT pull blackberries and virtually passing out after PT after work. Call it an AmeriFunk. Nevertheless it's happening. And it's happening at an ironic time. We're are finally coming together as a team, bickering like old friends not strangers, cracking jokes, laughing, comforting, consoling, and generally being a family. Or we're all bonding over are hatred for blackberries.

What ever it is, I can see why we were told that this would be an excellent first round project. Despite the weather and the only now monotonous work, it's really been nice being surrounded by just our team. It's given us the chance to really get to know each other and come together as a team. Even though I have blackberry thorns stuck in my fingers slightly permanently, I wouldn't trade this round for the world. The bond that we've built is going to be the back bone of a great 10 months.

I just hope we all feel the same way.

525,600 Minutes

Tonight after dinner my team watched RENT.

I couldn't help but think about the end of AmeriCorps throughout the whole movie. Where will this year take us? It's already brought most of us farther than we've ever been from home, doing things we never thought we'd do. But what else is next?

I also couldn't help finding similarities in many of the songs, especially "Today 4 U." That's what AmeriCorps is all about. Today for you, tomorrow for me.

While the song isn't actually about service, that principle is.

Yes, this blog is a stretch, but I couldn't think of anything else to talk about today...

Blackberries

It's suddenly occurred to me that I haven't informed the blogging masses about the current phase of our work here at the Oregon Garden.

We have moved out of the Wetlands and are now working in the Oak Grove removing invasive species. The species in question happens to by Himalayan Blackberry. This plant is the definition of an invasive species. Brought here sometime ago by humans who presumably wanted to consume the blackberries, this plant is not running rampant all along the Pacific Northwest. Not only is it non-native but it grows almost virally. The invasion of the plant is so bad that it takes years to remove the plant entirely. No one team of 10 NCCC members can ever get all of the plant out. It roots, re-roots and resurrects.

And did I mention the thorns?

That's right, this isn't your average weed, it's got vicious thorns that have scratched corneas, punctured body parts left scratches on all of our bodies. The plant is so vicious that we have actually contemplated pooling out stipends together to buy a few goats (the only known animal that actually eats this plant).

Just how vicious you might ask? Vicious enough to use machetes and take down corps members.

But, it's not all bad work. In fact, despite the pain and monotony, I am finding that I enjoy working in the Oak Grove just as much. Unlike the Wetlands, working in the Oak Grove, the team is working in the same spot, so we get lively conversations and banter going on. Anna also got a sweet iPod speaker system that provides some righteous tunes. And perhaps one of the greatest things about Blackberry is we can really see the progress we are making. What used to be an entire hillside covered in blackberry is now only 1/3 after only 3 days of working.

How's that for getting things done?

If I Had a Million Dollars

Today Nelson (my team leader) and I went on what started out as a simple forgotten items grocery run that turned in to shopping for the entire week.

Two realizations happened this afternoon The first being, it's infinitely easier to shop for 10 people when only 2 people go to the grocery store, and the second being, I really enjoy AmeriCorps.

I became cognizant of the latter after our side trip to Rite Aid. Rite Aid is currently doing their version of McDonald's Monopoly game with the game of LIFE. The cashier there asked me if I wanted to play, I declined and was then promptly told by Nelson that we, as a team, are playing and I did in fact need to get the game pieces being offered. Once back in the car Nelson asked if I one any instant wining prizes. I said "what like, $1,000,000? If so, good by AmeriCorps."

I then thought about what I said, and added "it would be a real test of character to see if I would stay with NCCC if I won." And as soon as I said that, I thought even more and realized, yes, I would stay with NCCC.

Don't worry, this isn't my way of saying I did in fact win $1,000,000 (that's not even the grand prize). But it is my way of saying that I am truly happy where I'm at right now and this is exactly what I want to feel for the rest of my life. I want to be so content with where I am, what I'm doing and who I'm with, that money really is not an object.

My mom always said, do what you love.

And for the first time, I actually know I am.

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*YES, I know I've already slacked on the Resolution. No more!