uggh.. odd laughter...

Shari,

Your email has been received.  Until Contractor can confirm that we are unable to locate a suitable replacement, we do not consider worst case scenarios.  In the event that we determine that no suitable material is available, we will revisit options at that time.  Until then, we ask for your continued patience.  Please do not take unilateral action before Contractor is able to make a final determination as to the availability of materials.  Contractor’s service is covered by a warranty, and your issue will not be forgotten or ignored.

rw

help... I am cooked with the issue of my floor... but I did get a response- however unsatisfying it is.

that's the "uggh"

here's the laughter...

a friend's mom passed away and we paid a shiva call... someone here started a rumor and another came to check it out...the rumor- the resident, not her mom, had passed away... the visitor came to the door and looked fear stricken, asked if the resident was okay... I replied ,yes that she was ok... the visitor had an odd look on her face and pursued the strange line of questioning and then the resident appeared from behind the wall, the visitor got ashen white and finally explained that she had heard the resident herself had passed...so the rumors of here death were greatly exaggerated.....

there is so much going on...

Thank you for the huge vote of confidence Friends of Freeport executive board... I hope I live up to it!

Happy Labor Day weekend all...

connecting my past (junior high and high school) with my current (friends of freeport)

I know that I often talk about the amazing group Friends of Freeport, and how my involvement has enriched and incredibly changed my life.  Well, this weekend there will be a reconnect for me.  I grew up in Baldwin and was actively involved in the music life while attending all levels of my schooling there.  I connected there with a woman, Madeline Cesare (now Esposito)- those of you involved in friends of Freeport will recognize the last name- it is the same as Frank- who has been and will continue to receive the warmth and work of friends- she was a warm and wonderful person.  I reconnected with her via Facebook- not exactly sure when, but lately we have been in contact often.  She currently resides in  North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  Her dad's home was ravaged by Sandy, and he, being a proud man was want to ask for help... thank goodness someone was able to ask for him and the connection to Friends of Freeport began.
I am sooo looking forward to meeting Maddies dad, and helping him to reclaim his home- both inside- with sheet rock (if I am needed for that job) and outside in yard clean up and beautification.
Tonight, as I sit here on my computer I am watching an amazing thing happen- 15 members of Friends of Freeport have invaded Frank's home to begin the process of sheet rocking the ceilings so that on Saturday when the fuller crew can be there the walls will be ready for insulation and sheet rock. I have been communicating with Maddie throughout the evening and also with Friends of Freeport... it is strange to have two disparate parts of my life bridge themselves back together...

tears- as I am sure any one who knows me- are falling as I type this entry- I am proud of my involvement and of my family in Friends of Freeport for their selflessness!

the good, the bad, and the ugly... lol

It has been a while since I posted anything, so today is the day.

The good:  I have been active and involved in Friends of Freeport- even going so far as to go out for drinks on Friday evening with a small group of hearty partiers.  They were unsure if I would return or join in with them again after the evening- I want to assure them that I had a wonderful time and will join them again, I promise- it has been a very long time since I laughed and felt the way I did on friday evening (and not just from the beer!)  Thank you to Steve, Corey, Gail , Laura and Jeff for welcoming me!

The bad:  The remains an enigma and I can't seem to get real straight answers from S P.  I spoke to the flooring provider and feel like he gives the real answers so I will continue to be in contact with him, and push harder to get my floor repaired or replace it before labor day- this is just ridiculous and it is very hard to deal with bullying tactics, and people who are outright untruthful!

The ugly:  well, that would be, hmmmm... I am not sure, but it sounded good as a title for the blog, so I used it.

I am, as I have repeatedly stated via this writing, greatfult o have found the Friends of Freeport- it is an amazing group of individuals.  I feel accepted and often feel as though I have a new and varied family as a result of my connections through this group.
Saturday nights pool party/barbeque/fest was just another example of the beauty of this group...
Laughter, competition and warmth surround me when I join with this amazing group of friends.  I am thrilled to find myself in the company of like minded energetic people!

Another Saturday, another skill under my belt- well maybe not quite yet, but getting there, lol

Yesterday was an awesome day... hard work, hard laughter and hard party with friends- of freeport and otherwise...

I woke early and joined the Friends of Freeport to bring another family home.  This week would be different for me as I was not going to be outside in the garden pulling, weeding and planting.  I was going to be a student and learn how to put up sheet rock. I was glad it was a garage and not a living room.  First we needed to insulate the garage and then we could begin our task of sheet rocking the walls.  Insulation done, check.. class begins- there are four of us, paired up to work together and put the sheet rock up on the back wall of the garage- it had two electrical outlets, so we would learn how to measure and cut so we could place the sheet rock over the outlet.  Jeff was extremely patient, as were the others on the crew who have been sheet rocking homes since the start of Friends of Freeport jobs.  I found out that I can laugh at myself over ANYTHING-- thank you Patty for that...My hands are steady for cutting with a box cutter, breaking the boards is a bit tougher. Using the power tools necessary took a bit of adjustment- for example who knew that reverse would not let the screw go into the wood beams- probably everyone but me!

We had an amazing lunch donated by a Freeporter who owns the Minel=ola Diner- amazing sandwiches, salads, fries and fun! Thank you !

Back to work to finish the bathroom area in the garage.  Lots of practice measuring and cutting- lovely aroma in the area as the pipe for the toilet remained open- toilet not place in the garage as yet...

Then over to Jeremy's for some more laughter- my hearing has gotten worse and I misheard multiple statements and laughed heartily at what my mind had heard- NOT anything near what was actually said!

Back home, a visit to my aunt to help regulate her air conditioning, and then a rest and a shower before heading back over to the mile for the parade-

friends of Freeport there, selling shirts and laughing together- what a great group...a few Anchorage residents also there, saw them.  Ray and I enjoyed the parade, the friendship and laughter and it was time to retire after a long but wonderful day!

ya gotta laugh... or you will...

So, the floor saga continues...
I found out that the floor I purchased was discontinued, and contacted the manufacturer to see if I could get a box of boards anywhere, the manufacturer said that there was none left... Scott at All county Floors- one of the nice people I have dealt with during this difficult rebuilding process- did not give up, though I had...he had some "extra" time and was looking around the internet and found a place with a pallet of the flooring that I need.  He arranged to have some shipped and thought he could do it in a little less costly manner, via UPS... the packages arrived yesterday and they were inspected- there were two boxes of flooring sent. The boxes were badly damaged upon arrival and I just spoke to Scott who confirmed what Judy had said- there were not likely even five usable boards within the two boxes... Who can believe the stuff that is happening.  He is going to reorder and have them shipped, maybe next week???

I am laughing now, two weeks ago I think I would have been crying with this news.. what a difference.

Friends of Freeport

Debbie Becker asked me to write a little bit about how I came to be part of Friends of Freeport...

My history with the Village of Freeport is lifelong.  I grew up in Baldwin, but my aunt- my mother's sister has lived in Freeport for my entire life- she lived at 572 South Bayview Avenue, and we spent many happy hours in that house as well as my childhood home in Baldwin. I went to a community nursery school that was in the basement of the apartment buildings on Buffalo Avenue. I learned to swim at Casino pool, which was located on casino Avenue between Westside and Roosevelt.  I have lifelong friends who are from Freeport.

My mother is an original owner at the Anchorage of Freeport- moving in in July of 1985 when the complex did not even have paved roadways.  My first solo apartment away from college was on Brooklyn Avneue. Freeport is in my blood and I love it here.

I am proud to say that I am fro Freeport- prouder now that I am watching this village rise like a phoenix following Superstorm Sandy's destructive wrath.

I got involved with Friends of Freeport on a lark- I saw a post on Facebook indicating that a group was selling magnets to raise funds to assist fellow residents to return home.  At the time I was a refuge, living with my mother in law in her home in Bayside.  I sent a response asking where I could purchase my magnets and found out that I could get them at Atlantic Hardware, so on my next trip home-which was still at a time that every ride caused tears and incredible sadness- I stopped into Atlantic Hardware and purchased a set.  I returned to my mother in law's home and turned on the computer and posted that I was thrilled to have my magnets, jokingly adding that I had no refrigerator to put them on... I pressed send and seconds (literally) later I got a response from a man I had never met (our own Rich Cantwell)  asked me if he could help me in any way to get a fridge!  I replied to him that I was displaced and that my place was nowhere near ready to even contemplate a fridge.  I joined the Friends facebook page.  Several posts followed- one asking for people who might be available to help walk the village and seek out individuals who were in need of rip and rebuild assistance- I met Rich and Christina Parkman in a warehouse along with Ismael Berrios... I felt an immediate connection.  The next post I responded to came from Justine Smith- she was looking for anyone who was "crafty" that might be able to help make things to put in "Welcome Home" baskets- I began crocheting, and over the course of the next month or so brought about 50 pot holders to Justine.

When I returned home I attended the Friends of Freeport fundraiser at the Patio, and then began showing up on Saturdays to help plant, and on weekdays when I could to help paint.  The group of individuals I have met have become a HUGE and wonderful supportive addition to my family.  I feel connected, needed and wanted.  My skills have increased- I have learned to paint WELL, have learned how to tape, and spackle- sand, and respackle.. I have conquered fear of heights- painting on a scaffolding in a home with ten foot ceilings, and recently have had the opportunity to climb a ladder taller than I have ever climbed, just to say I did it!

This group is WONDERFUL and life-affirming.  I believe I have made a group of friends for a reason and for way more than for a season- I hope that these connections will continue for a long, long time!