helping out

i found out on friday that a bunch of folks i work with were going to be doing this 'buff and scrub' program with DC schools. the idea is that companies and individuals donate time and materials to make DC's schools all nice and clean and all that jazz so when the kids come back its nice for them.

im really glad that i was free, because for some reason i tend to get left off of lists that people send around the office, and i could make it. i ended up sort of helping to lead the effort. early on i was weeding the playground with some others and sort of telling them where to do it and then later i was paint foreman, trying to make unmotivated adults and unfocussed kids paint a few benches and stuff outside. in between there was a little landscaping and after lunch i was spotter as we added a couple of missing letters to the sign. i am happy that i helped and that i could help. i want to do more of these type things.

it was nice for two reasons. it felt good to help out the school and ultimately the kids, and it been a long time since ive been outside working and stuff, and it was a nice change from talking about work on the phone and through email. i like getting dirty once in a while.

afterward i went to a bar with a couple of other folks who stayed late and had a few beers, which turned out to be a lot of fun. then i went to ikea and bought a couch to take the place of my roommate who left last week. now i just need to get a tv, but thats going to cost more than the couch, tables, dining table and chairs i bought this weekend. i feel like such a consumer, but so nice to have that stuff, rather than having to improvise.