Hannah Montana and The Planter

I'm overdue for a blog that makes you laugh.  And, laughter happens a lot around here.  On Nail Day this Monday, we had Hannah Montana entertainment and a spontaneous poetry jam.  One of the women, C, was a big fan of 80s and early 90s television - including Hannah Montana.  On Monday, C. recruited one of the student interns (a show choir kid) and a fellow late-80s/early 90s girl from the staff.  They performed a spontaneous dance routine right in the middle of Nail Day.  Cheering. LOTS of laughter.  No one could BELIEVE they all 3 knew this Hannah Montana dance routine and could remember it!

AFter the mini show choir number, C recited poetry.  More laughter.  And, some truly good poetry....I'll try to get some to post on this blog.  She's one talented poet!

Nail Day was altogether a sweet, smiling time.  Everyone loved the homemade chocolate chip cookies and coffee. M. came - and is speaking to me again!  Great day!

Newest Tenderloin adventure:  the city is trying a new eco-experiment....The Planter...also called the urinator by some of the more humor-driven YWAM staff.  And, the experiment is going on right in front of the YWAM base.  For the next month, people in the neighborhood can use this structure for #1 (as they say).  The "input" is filtered and the liquid used to water large, barrel-grown fern-like plants.  The whole structure is a cluster of shoulder-high boxes. One with a sink and water filter. The second with the actual urinal et al. and the third holds the plants. 
Strange but true. This is simultaneously REALLY creepy for women walking by  (I don't care if you can only see the person from the shoulders up, they're still going to the bathroom for heaven's sake!)AND and extremely creative, eco-friendly attempt to provide safe access to toilets for homeless people in the city.

So, if this works, the Planter will create its own mini-green space.  And, at the risk of sounding like NIMBY, I'd be happy to see the experiment moved somewhere other than our front door!

Learning more every day about the practical challenges of life for people who don't have homes.  Bed bugs in the shelters, random police round-ups (one guy has slept in the same place for 2 years and suddenly the police are rousting him out in the middle of the night....why?  who knows...he sure doesn't).

So, tomorrow I get to teach on healthy relationships to the guys in 360 - a group of men who commit to a 1 year program of discipleship and personal growth. They are wonderful, kind, insightful men.  I'm happy to be out on loan to 360 for Wednesday and thursday mornings this week. And, to be able to teach for the first time in a long, long time.  Sweet!