Thanks Fuzzy Cuzzy (Cousin)

I'd like to thank my fuzzy cuzzy (her words, not mine) Elissa for her donation. Elissa is a very sweet and caring individual who always looks for the best in people. While the bike trip does not go thru Scottsdale, I will be thinking of her while biking thru the 110 degree Arizona weather.

Trip to DC

I spent the last couple of days at a conference in Washington DC, and while not directly related to the bike trip, it was a good time and I am going to share some of the fun stories. First off, I want to recognize the generosity of Mandy Friedenberg, from Detroit, who made a donation to Bike and Build on the spot in appreciation of my St. Patrick’s Day outfit (see picture below).

The conference was a good precursor to the first couple of days of Bike and Build, where people from across the country will come together and spend time together and share ideas. I was able to put the advice to use from Tynisa Henry (see Feb 17, 2008 post). After cleaning my plate at dinner, I was still hungry, but resisted taking the chicken from the ladies from Cincy sitting next to me. Luckily for me, by buddy Mike overslept and came down to dinner late. He was able to get a meal, and not wanting him to eat alone (because I care), I too got another meal to eat.

Some individuals were not as friendly, which was a shame. Sat down at an empty table and was told that they were reserving the table for other members of their constituency. Mike and I still sat down. One of the ladies looked at us and said “I don’t want to sit here” but still sat down. To subtly protest, we finished the meal, and then got up and moved to another table, where we sat down and ate another meal! However, being the gentleman that I am, I waved goodbye as I left.

The "other" Shapiro on Bike and Build

If you have made a donation and I have not thanked you for it, it is not because I am ungrateful (that is definitely not the case). There is actually another Shapiro (Rebecca) who is a leader on the Southern US trip. She also is a wolverine (University of Michigan) and rowed there as well (small world). It is possible that your donation was credited to her account instead of mine. Please let me know so that I can have it corrected. As if one Shapiro isn't more than enough, there are two of us...

Take that Mother Nature

Despite the 16 inches of snow and level 2 snow emergency, I still went to the gym this morning to get my workout in. The spinning class was cancelled (obviously) as there were only 3 people in the gym, but I did the workout anyways. On the plus side, I got to choose the music I listened to. Also got a workout wihle driving back home from Costco, helping several cars that were stuck in the snow. Its storms like today that I wish I had a plow on my truck. While we will experience lots of different weather conditions on the bike trip, I don't think a blizzard will be one of them (at least not in Arizona in July).

Thank you Wendy!

Thank you my cousin Wendy for her generous donation. I do not see her often, as she lives in NYC and I live in Columbus (and Detroit on many weekends), but did have the good fortune of seeing her in Chicago recently at our cousin Resa's bat mitzvah (Mazel Tov Resa, again). If anyone lives in Philadelphia and is in need for a nanny, contact Wendy at http://www.nannyagency.com/ and she will hook you up.

Confirmed!

I have verbally confirmed all of the build days that I am responsible for:

Asheville NC - Mountain Housing - Thanks David, & Asheville Habitat - Thanks Missy!

Maryville TN - Blount County Habitat - Thanks Tony and Crystal!

Colorado Springs CO - Pikes Peak Habitat - Thanks Paul!

Durango CO - Durango Habitat - Thanks Michaela!

We are looking forward to help build houses.

Won't you be my neighbor? - Mr Rogers

Thank you to my (parents') neighbors, the Lebovics for their donation. They have been our neighbor for several years, and are great neighbors to have, especially with all of the landscaping supplies that we have (thousands of flowers). Right before they moved in, I was their daughters' camp counselor at the JCC (small world). While we have more cars on our driveway then them, they have a new car every month, since he works for GM (or as my mom says: Because the ashtray is dirty-and he doesn't even smoke!)