a new way to celebrate chris columbus

despite my best intentions to get the word out nice and early, i really dropped the ball and now it's almost time for the “100 High Meadow Lane Let’s Get This House Done Before it REALLY Gets Cold and Joe Gets Too Old To Work On it Anymore” work party. i told julie and aaron that i could handle the responsibility of notification and then only managed to get letters in the mail to folks this morning. that should give people about 5 days to make their travel plans. perfect. another responsibility well-handled by Sarah.

the following is a slightly paraphrased excerpt from the letter, just to encourage possible additional participation in the work party. anyone reading this blog is invited (except greg- i don't trust him with power tools).

Next weekend, Columbus Day, the troops will be gathering in Montpelier, Vermont to help build Aaron and Julie’s house. If you’re willing and able to join us, you might get to participate in such tasks as:

• Fetching tools for Joe
• Taping and mudding drywall
• Shooting the shit with Mr. Dannes, who will likely pretend to be working only when my dad is watching him
• Staying out of the way
• Installing plumbing
• Babysitting
• Fetching beers for Joe and Aaron
• Picking up tools that Joe has dropped
• Helping to make this house into a home (a play on your sentimental side)
  

The details are as follows: The work party will officially convene on Friday morning, October 6. It will continue until the end of the day on Columbus Day, Monday, October 9. Show up whenever, stay as long as you want, work, play, eat, drink, be merry. Julie and Aaron will be providing food and drinks for the work crew, as well as showers for the stinky folks. They’re hoping that you’ll bring some basic tools- hammers, putty knives, chain saws (on second though, just in case greg does show up, please leave the chainsaws at home)- and camping/sleeping supplies. There will be room for sleeping at the new house and the rented house, both inside and outside but mostly not involving a bed. There are also some nice bed and breakfasts and hotels (for the highbrow crowd) or motels (for the crowd that is lowbrow yet not lowbrow or nimble enough to sleep on the floor). There will also be a good time to be had at the Montpelier Contra Dance on Friday night if you're down with the hippy crowd.

I hope that at least one person who reads this to will be able to help (I’m thinking that the Wirsings are my best shot since they live so close by), otherwise, I will never be trusted again. To quote from my brother, Tom, “I guess in this family, I got the sense of direction, Julie has the sense of organization… Well, I’m not really sure what sense Sarah has.” As much as I hate to admit it, I might be proving him right. We’ll know for sure when I fail to actually find the house because I don’t know east from west and end up in Detroit, and also arrive on the wrong weekend because I didn’t write it in my calendar correctly, and then none of you show up. Please help me- ATTEND THIS WORK PARTY.

Send me or Julie an email if you’ll be able to help and want to be fed and housed. Julie and Aaron can also provide you with directions to their house- lord knows I can't!