But wait, didn't I say Sautee in the title? Yup. My summer started with a week of staff training in Gainesville, GA, followed by a week with the Sautee camp crew. And it was a great two weeks, lack of sleep aside (not like I have gotten caught up on it here!). At training week, we had first aid training, roller skating (where I fractured my pinky pretty badly), and many a late night worship jam session. In fact, I even have learned a worship song in Swahili! It was good times.
We learned about building roofs, shingling, decking, building stairs and wheelchair ramps for decks, and lots of other stuff. The food was way better than I would have ever expected. I don't think there was a single meal that wasn't beyond my expectations...kudos to Scott! Yeah, staff training week was practically like a week where us as camp counselors and such got to be campers. It was very good.
Then I left Gainesville for Sautee, GA to help set up the camp there. This camp is also where the office for TEAMeffort is temporarily being located during the summer camp season. Yeah, I got to help move that, too. That's what happens when your camp doesn't operate for the first week. But it was cool. I had a great time hanging out with the Sautee staff and some of the others as they slowly trickled out to their various camps, as well as the office crew.
Turned out to be an extra blessing to be so close to home that first week. My guitar decided to start having problems with buzzing frets and strings not ringing out, etc. So I was able to take it to my friend Ryan's dad, who is an excellent luthier. He got the frets leveled out, smoothed out the bridge, and even repaired some fretboard cracks for free. Also turned me onto some nice new strings, DR black coated strings. They sound great I think.
While working at the Outpost (the Sautee campground's name), I spent several trips to the White county dump...while it smelled like someone sliced open a Tauntaun, it was fun letting the guy there get all the junk off our trailers with his backho. If it wasn't for the smell, that'd be a fun job. But it is for the smell, so I would hate it.
But aside from that, the renovations at the Outpost are amazing. I've stayed there three times before, and they have done some great improvements to it. Especially the River House, where they also revamped the backside of it to create the office.It was great making new friends, both at training week and while stationed in Sautee. I miss them, and hope they are having an excellent summer. Mine is pretty good, I must say. More to come...but for now, I must rest. Buenas noches!
