Pensacola Team

The largest team of the summer, or ever to stay on the mountain, came from Pensacola, Florida.  Of all the teams to have the massive amount of people, this team was the best.  Their spirit, attitude and personalities made the consistent 3 meals a day for 38 people (because staff and interns increase the numbers) enjoyable and easy.  Don't read this incorrectly, I'm beat.  We worked hard during their stay at Refugio and even harder in preparation of their arrival.  A group this large requires 26 beds.  Meaning in one day:

• 26 sets of sheets put on 26 beds, accompanied with: a large towel, hand towel, wash cloth, pillow and blanket.  
• Four mattresses placed in a weight room for teenage boys, an extra mattress in the bunk room and one in the corner room suite. 
• A complete overhaul of one room (the day before they arrived) including paint, all furniture, thorough cleaning of windows, frames, bathroom, porch, etc... and then set up for a guest.
• Scavenging for lighters (thanks GOP boys for using them up!) to go in each room 
• 3 rooms needed to be cleaned and made guest appropriate due to the fact the previous group left the same day the Penn group arrived.

I wish I would have photo copied the to-do list I made.  It was insane!  But a huge shout out goes to J.Wax for getting the hairball out of the drain.  Y'all know I'm pretty tough with an iron stomach due to 10 cups of black coffee a day, but a hairball full of someone elses hair will shut me down like the gulfs current fishing industry. 
Then, the food shopping for such a large group of people.  Again, the Ticos look at me with thoughts of, "where does this girl put all this food?"  Remember there isn't a Walmart, we do not have a frig and some days the store has the item and some days it doesn't.  You will be happy to read each meal resulted in full bellies, happy people and at least an hour of dirty dishes to wash, dry and put away only to repeat the cycle a few hours later.
Now most regular people may think this is crazy, but not me.  I love this kind of work.  I love the hectic, chaotic, craziness accompanied with this task.   My body functions better the busier it is!  I feel more energized and alive on days I work as hard as my daddy.  Minus the fact of losing J.Wax to the states, this past week was the hardest and funnest week in Costa so far!
All to conclude, the Pensacola team was AMAZING!  The dentist (aka Mr. Kirkpatrick's Twin), Mintons, Floyds, Shells, Strange, Carrie and the others will be missed.  So, as you can imagine I need a break.  Bring on the 9 days of not having a team! Hello Vacation in Costa Rica!  Only to be greeted with one more team and a return to the states.  So how long do you think I'll chill on a vacation?  Not long.  Re-read what's about this paragraph... I like to stay busy.  The team left yesterday and I have managed to shovel massive amounts of dirt out of the road this morning but, I am able to come to town and blog more!