So This is My Job...

Since joining CREC (Coconino Rural Environment Corps) in July, I've kept mum about what life out on the job is like up til now, but here are some journal entries while out on projects...just so everyone has some idea of what it's like :)

August 5, 2009

I'm with a crew of 8 people, and only one of them is a girl, named Laura Miller, from Florida. She's almost my height and is no-nonsense, for which I am eternally grateful (when she tells the guys to cut it out they usually cut it out, whatever "it" happens to be atm) but also apprehensive (will she cut me down to size as well??). She's really pretty- slim and darker-skinned with long brown hair and unusual blue eyes, which are harder to see behind her glasses--she hates wearing contacts on spike--she laughs with her head tilted back (often) and has favorite voice impersonations of other members of our crew, specifically John Murphy and Brian, but also Gabe.
Bill is another crew member from Maryland--he's got unusual eyes as well (blueish-maybe green sometimes) and thick reddish-brown hair which he lets grow out to almost reach his shoulders (his mom has been begging him to cut his hair, but personally I think it looks good on him) and occasionally has a beard-ish (he shaves too often to let it get too wild). He's about my height, wears glasses, and out-muscles me by miles. He's intelligent and pretty laid-back, and has a fantastic no-holds-barred smile. Also likes to take on an Arabian-ish accent and sing a song called "Roller Skate Date" on random occasions.

Gabe is the crew leader, and has had piercings all over his face, but now only has them in his ears. 22 years old, he's definitely got the good looks--dark blonde with intense blue eyes, about my height as well, and if you can visualize it, was one of those former punk-rock kids in school. Also has a beard (most CREC-ers do...guys that is). Loves presidential trivia and could discuss politics, baseball, and guns for hours if you let him. I got to hear about Political Action Committees during one of his stints, as he earnestly took me through the way our credit records are basically public fodder. You get the idea. He's a natural leader and isn't afraid to boss us around (usually pretty fairly), and isn't afraid to let you know he's full of himself. But the fact that he admits it makes him more affable in a way. He's from Michigan and yes, loves ice fishing. Brrrr.

Joe ("Papa Joe") is the assistant crew leader from New Mexico--having been a wrestler in high school and college, he's intimidating when you first meet him, until he smiles and his eyes crinkle, letting you know he's just a big teddy bear. He loves hugs and calls me Annie, and tries not to wear sleeves if he can help it. The most noticable thing about his face is his goatee, which is easily 6-8 inches long, contrasting sharply with his shaved head. I love it when he talks about food, because he pronounces things like "quesadillas" the way they were supposed to be pronounced. A big, hearty guy.

Brian is the blondest mountain man you will ever see---he hails from Montana and lives for cold weather and all sorts of tough, outdoors-y type things, like rock climbing. He sang tenor in his choir group and principally eats stir fry on spike. Very environmentally conscious, he will call you out on recycling like no other. He sings musicals in the mornings, which makes it hard sometimes to not punch him, but how can you punch a kid who just wants world peace and sunshine? At 20 years old he's the second-youngest, a fact that bugs him.

Chris is our Georgian, and you can tell it from his down-home drawl. He's probably the second-biggest guy on the crew after Joe, and it's no wonder because that guy can cook. He has wavy brown hair and mutton chops, and likes to check out any good-looking female that happens to wander into his path. He always has his down vest on, and he and Bill are roomates.

Finally, John Murphy, the youngest. Also from Florida (but recently having lived in AZ for awhile), he has blonde hair and a goofy personality. Laura teases him for loving sardines the way he does, and he will be the first to light up during a break. Likes to tell stories, but you wonder half the time if they really happened. Very earnest and always ready witha high-five...or to make up a song for you.

All of the guys fart relentlessly. And they're not shy about it.

Day One-Kaibab Nat'l. Forest
The spitting begins!

Day Three (of 8-day spike) 8-7-09

Tired. So tired. My legs and back remind me every time I've gotten up to chisel at another rock or dig another hole with the polaski. Don't get me wrong--I enjoy being out here and the work is fine and there's a strong breeze keeping us cool--it's just like my body is quitting on me and just wants to sleep! I need to wake up.
I'm working with Papa Joe on water guards--rocks that you see in the middle of trails that keep water draining off. He's aimiable and has been patient with me while I figure this rock-building out. I'm actually trying to listen to him while writing-he's talking about his college wrestling days...think I'm gonna nap now since it's lunchtime...

"Skiing seems...needlessly scary and cold. I don't think I belong there."
"You know, my family has problems with their health...they eat too many potato chips." -Laura

Day 6-Bill Williams Trail

General talk degenerates to ice cream flavors, and Gabe tells us at lunch what he and his friends used to do with his cousin's Barbies. Poor things. The road swung upwards quickly--it's steep and cool up here with more foliage (which means more bee-like bugs! Eeeee!!!) More farting from the guys; was told I must do 2 things to stay with the crew--1) blow snot rockets, and 2) eat Spam. Don't think I can manage #2...accomplished #1 today (when no one was around, just in case something went terribly terribly wrong) so we'll see.
Also, the trees are huge here!
And I keep smelling something dead-ish and I'm afraid that it's me...I've been rationing clothes so I just might make it to civilization smelling almost ok, but note to self: BRING MORE SOCKS! I can already smell my feet and my shoes are still on. 3 pairs=not enough for 8 days. Ew, this really hairy bee-fly is staring me down right now on my hard hat. If he dive-bombs me it's over. Alright we've gotta get back to work so later!
*I've seen woodpeckers and earthworms and 2 tarantula hawks and heard owls while we've been here!

John's song to me:
"Anne oh Anne if I were your man,
I'd cook you Spam for the rest of our lives!
Anne oh Anne if I were your man,
I'd buy you a fan so you could dry your hands."

what a man. what a song. whooey.

Day 7
I forgot my toothpaste so I've had to bum from other people all week. Yum!
My hair is gonna be in dreds after this I know it! I can feel it happening already. We started sawing (well Joe was, John and I were his lookouts) and John tried to convince me that putting cigarette butts in your ears would be a good replacement for earpro. Ew! First Spam, and now this. (I'm secretly worried that now that the guys know my serious aversion to that alternative to meat, they're gonna wait for an opportunity and then pin me down and force me to eat it. My sistem is constantly on high alert now.)
Lunch-the guys are talking-Kevin (project partner) is with us--haha he might be here another hour, the man loves to talk. Bless him. People here are interested in futures in forestry-that's cool but I can't picture this being my whole life. I keep telling myself not to freak out about what I'm doing 6 months from now, what future move to make, but sometimes it feels like a roller coaster when you're cresting the top and about to take the plunge-you can't help but think about the descent.
Also, I wonder if flies can control their flight or if it's like having a rocket strapped to your backside? They land on the freshly cut stumps of the trees felled and sort of hang out there, I guess eating the sap.

Day 8, 7am

Whoops--ate my breakfast for today yesterday by mistake. Vanilla-covered raisins this morning, mmm! :)
-Getting faster at packing the tent and things
-Kate and mom and dad are at the apt. now!!! I see them in like 10 hrs, yay!
-I feel like I'm trapped in a musical. Ugh. Thanks Brian.

Parahsant Nat'l Monument, saw spike

Day 5, 9:34 p.m.

Just crawled into my tent after a day with a capitol "D". Everything's a little damp on the inside--I suspect the wind helped a lot in this. Also, the tent smells strongly of old socks, possibly from the ones I just took off. Yum. Checked my feet-the blister/callus spots on my big toes are harder but still hurt and are itchy. I keep kicking myself for forgetting my off-work lounge sandals, and keep thinking about that guy on CREC who wears his boots 24/7 and complained to me about his athlete's foot. Aghhhhhh! I'll just keep taking my boots off at every opportunity and pray. At least I have a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a frying pan this spike! And I can hear someone snoring now, haha.
Well-this morning Laura complained about finding a hair on her nalgene and blamed Bill at stretch circle (she always blames Bill). Argument ensued. Bill said he wasn't afraid to pluck one out and compare, but Laura had lost the evidence (because ew, who wouldn't?) and fight concluded. Bill had a sugar rush (he thinks) from the off-brand cinnamon crunch cereal he ate this morning, and consequently had a sugar crash this afternoon.
Other highlights were
-a hummingbird buzzed my ear and landed a short ways away on a branch--2nd one this week to be so close! Also jackrabbit sightings and a tarantula.
-broke John Murphy's saw when I ripped the pullchord off while attempting to start it. That's the 2nd saw in the last 3 days. Don't know my own strength!
-The sky broke loose around 2pm and we all almost got struck by lightning-Gabe finally called a break and we huddled under a ree for like half an hour with water dripping off our hardhats and raingear onto our pants, talking about tv shows and other important things. When we went back to work (soaked) it wasn't long before more lightning, so we cached and tooled up early and headed down to camp, my gimpy self in back with Joe who faithfully guarded me from possible mtn. lion attacks. Sloshed through over a mile of mud and we were covered. Saw some neat tracks though!
-am learning the cutthroat game of Risk tonight-Gabe, Bill, and Brian are my worthy opponents (in the cabin adjacent to our campsite). Things haven't gotten too ugly...yet. Stay tuned...**

**I ended up winning victoriously despite all the trash I talked, because Gabe and Bill were feuding over Europe or something.

--Starting My Saw--
One tug (ohhh, no...)
2 tugs (Please God, please give me sudden super strength and know-how)
3 tugs (gah my hand! It burns! It burns! Stupid chainsaw what's the point anyway?)
4 tugs (I hate you, chainsaw. I'd rather eat onions right now than deal with you. I'm so mad I could spit.)
5 tugs (It's hopeless...I'm done. God, you must not want me to chop down your creation after all. Divine punishment, that's what this is. Or the evidence of my huge lack of strong arm muscles...)
6 tugs--What? It worked??

--Sharpening My Chainsaw Chain--
Sharpening my chain
On a porch in the rain
Oh what a pain
Might go insane
Sharpening my chain, again.