Stand by Me

H-well now,

This is a post-spike entry, as our crew journal was in the hands of one of the defectors mentioned in the above haiku. [Andy quit/ Brittany quit/ Mike R quit] It was a pretty eventful spike. Let’s see if I can sum it up…

It started up with an exciting reuinion like cru-sion. (fused crew- fusion) between the wind and water crews. The honeymoon was over after Mike notified us he was leaving shortly after arriving. That marshed everyone’s mallows and put a heavy mood on the rest of the spike.

However, our little H20 crew remained strong, stepped up our game, and with the support of wind crew, hauled some ass on some mountain bike trails.

Notes of accomplishments include: Kat & Kim, stump demo experts. Chance, the stake master, and Ryan, wildlife wrangler and couger-tamer.

Wind & h20 crews were also fortunate in that we got to meet a group of AmeriCorps members from St. Louis, MO. These folks felled a lot of trees for our trail, had some decent moves on saws, and showed us ways to improve upon our AmeriCorps wardrobes by doing things like strapping giant knives to your leg.

Our sponsor invited the 25 or so St. Louis kids and both MCC crews to her house for an amazing BBQ. She fed us an elk she shot, which was delicious, and everything else on the spread was fantastic. Plus it was sweet to hang out with a big batch of strangers to make uncomfortable, but they were actually very cool and fun to meet. Ryan had an opportunity to model Jocelyn’s “shaps” from her elk kill and impressed everyone.

The First Lady of Montana, Nancy Schweitzer, paid us a visit and swung a Pulaski with us. Jono came up also, and talked with us and showed Mrs. Schweitzer around. Some of us got on the news, I looked pretty hot. But no really, my heart swelled with pride to see Ryan and Chance representing the MCC with their hard work and skill. [see the video: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=10993110 ]

Also, in an all too Stand by Me moment we had a search party sent out to find one of our sponsors’ part-time employees. We had to spread out and search the disc golf course, walk along the railroad tracks looking for a (potentially) dead body, and prepare ourselves for the pie-eating contest at the post-search-party-party.

I’m out like the gout-

Bre