Part Deux

"It's not goodbye, it's see you later." 

We've all moved out of the house on Josephine.  It's sad.  But it's good.  We're on to the next chapter of the house and our individual lives.  And that's the beauty of what we've tried (and I believe have succeeded in) to do here... create a family that continues to love and support one another no matter what or where and doesn't end inside four walls or the ten hearts it began with.  It invites others to join and grows and grows and grows.  The things learned in that house carry on to the next relationship, and the next house, and to the next neighbor, and to the next adventure.  This experiment is really only worth it if we have built something sustainable... something that affects us for our lifetimes.  And I think it will.  It will continue to be hard and a learning process, but we're still committed to our goal (summed up so well above in the heading).   

We've had visions of, you know, ten years down the road, having a huge family reunion where everyone who was in the house and their families, communities, whatever come to enjoy each other some more... obviously that'd be dope and obviously no one knows if this thing will continue, but that's just kind of what we hope "the house" becomes... A huge extended family where each member is supported and does its best to support.  I know for a fact that the members of the Josephine house will be having reunions (planning is already in the works - house boat on lake tahoe anyone?) 

So yeah, I guess I never told you guy(s) (who knows if anyone reads this anymore), but the house deux is not staying - has not stayed - in the house at Josephine.  We found a house only a couple blocks from the Josephine house.  Staying was an option, but we just felt moving was the best thing for the deux.  It was a really difficult, emotional decision.  There is so much history (both good and painfully good) there we wanted to hold on to.  But we needed to let that go and move forward.  So our new address is 3217 Gaylord St. Denver, CO 80205.  It is literally two blocks west, and two houses north of the Josephine St.  1 - it isn't absolutely deteriorating (we're pretty sure the other house is going to collapse within two weeks of moving out).  2 - it allows the deux to start fresh and create the "house" anew in a way that truly resembles its current residents (while still attempting to stay intimately connected to the hearts of the original residents).  3 - its cheaper and is the right amount of house for seven members rather than the previous nine.   

So come by.  The house is a mess as we are trying to sort through the chaos of moving, but come by anyway.  The house continues and we want you to be a part of it.

Also, we have a seventh member... Andy Holdeman. He's got a beard. He plays basketball. He once cut his hair to look like Hulk Hogan (See below - he didn't want me to put this up... but that's the beauty of this blog being under my control). We're all really excited about his addition.  He tried to tell us for weeks he was only 85% in, but we were quite confident he would be living with us despite his uneasiness.  He runs his own shirt design company which is legit.  He's not that into House (the tv show) but I'm working on that.  Instead, Andy is an avid Dr. Who fan... I don't get it.  

So the house deux is set... starring Anna-Face, Fu!, Robby Cella (aka the Serious Coyote), Mary Did You Know?, Kelley Berschwood, A-Train, and Charles Gunning the Third. (Side note, Robby's nickname here comes from this amazing CD we found in the storage room of the new house.  One of its tracks is called the Serious Coyote and that just seemed to fit Bob - he doesn't like it.  Anyway, it's the weirdest thing you've ever heard.  In the song "Ida Lee" - the name of the singer's spaceship - one lyric says something like "Oh Ida Lee, you go so fast you have to be a Jedi to see you pass".  When you visit, ask for a listen.) 

  

PS - I know I told you guys you'd be hearing from other people in the house and perhaps some peop's who've been around a lot but I guess I'm not the only one who struggles to commit to writing on this thing so that prob won't happen.  I'll try to keep pushing it though because I think it'd be valuable.  (I dont know why this is underlined and not white.)

Look how the turn tables have...

What to say... what to say?

First, the house is still a go for another year. Right now, Brittney, Kelley, Chaz, Mary, Robby Cella and Anna Koclanes will be carrying the torch. Next year's peop's are getting together to kind of crank out our ideas for next year and trying to get to know each other.

Here are a few things to know about Robby and Anna: Anna is Katrina's older sister. Robby went to college with Chaz and they've been friends since high school or earlier... a long time. Anna has spent the last two years working as a teacher in Baton Rouge for Teach for America. Robby has a beard right now and looks ubber-manly (sexy). I'm excited to live with another Koclanes because they are the weirdest family I've ever met. And Bob is someone I know I will learn a lot from. More on them will be coming.

SHIT. (I just wanted to do that... I've been at work all day and just feel this anxious need to make a lot of commotion).

In the coming weeks, you will be hearing from the other members of the house. Each of them (especially jeff) will be blogging about something they want to say about the last year. You will also be hearing from the new members as well as some people who have been intimately involved in what we've done. I'm really excited about this because it will really put a unique picture of the house you guys haven't seen since only I've blogged.

There's only 20 days left of the current house :( It's been a truly amazing year.

Randoms:
Speakeasy Tiger had a CD Release show last night. Their new album, The Public, is now out. They've worked really hard on it the last year and it is seriously a great album. And look at their tour schedule because their shows are incredible. This pic is from their show at the Denver Pride Fest. I frickin love these people... the house really would not have been the same without them here so much. Brittney was told she has a very nice yoga practice... expect to see her teaching yoga at your studio sometime in the next year. Katie and Jeff are all set to be married in the next month. We tried on the "Halo" tux's the other day and you should show up to see the boys if nothing else... I mean other than the bride of course. Kat face and Al face are also getting set up for their wedding. Katrina has faced the most ridiculous crap in trying to get a venue, but they've finally got it all figured out. Mary still makes us laugh. It's crazy hot in this house... summer kind of blows like that though. If I was going to say there is one thing that is my sworn enemy, it's heat. I got a job at Costco... it's good for me right now, but it really makes me want to pursue my dreams as much as I can. Apparently I have a dance move that Brittney thinks is crazy good... yet I have no idea how I did it or what exactly I did... it's the phantom dance move. Jeff got a hair cut. It's short and he looks more grown up. Katie can't seem to keep her hands off (don't tell her I told you). We had a low-key Fourth of July get-t0-gether. Jeff b-b-qed and some peop's came over. Brittney tricked the girls with a fake poo next to their toilet. It was a glutten-free chocolate bar... they got pretty freaked out. Katrina decided not to apply to med school next year. This weekend the house is going to a cabin in the mountains... We're so excited for it and we're hoping it becomes a yearly reunion with us and the newer us's.

I got a new, OLD truck. It's my dream car. It's a 1976 Ford F-150 in incredible condition. I've got the truck and the dog, now I just need a job at a ranch and I'm set. I really want to get out of the city... but not for another year I guess.

Dedicated to the Strong Cucumbers

So many things have happened in the almost TWO months since I've written on this thing.  In no particular order, here we go...

First, these are my boys right here... my dogs.  

These guys battled through another tough season and regardless of the record, I think we came out on top.  I wish I was this awesome when I was five.

Julie (aka Hoolie) is a relatively new friend of ours - who hasn't been over in a while :( - and she has just been awesome to have around.  She is a youth ministry leader for St. James Pres and had to figure out a service opportunity for her kids for a day.  Well, we were pretty surprised and excited when she decided our

 backyard would be it.  We still hadn't finished our patio and had millions of bricks we ne

eded out of our garage.  They were amazing.  I left in the morning for a Cucumber game and by the time I got back, they were finished.  It was like seeing/feeling the other side of the service projects I had been involved in... when you're doing the work, you don't really understand how much you're truly helping... but when it's being done for you, it is simply incredible how much work gets done that would have taken us weeks or months to complete.  

A week or so later, we "hired" out a couple people from The Annex ministry in Boulder to

 finish up the yard.  Every year, the Annex sends 20 or so college students on two month long mission trips around the world on a program called Messenger and a bunch of people volunteer to help raise their support.  So the money we spent went towards those 20 or so people leaving this summer for the Philippines or Kenya or Swaziland or Greece I think (Katie, Chaz and I went on Messenger to Hungary, Swaziland and Austria respectively).  So anyway, Becka Phillipson and Jacob Oliver came and worked with Jeff and some others to fine tune the back yard. 

Thank you for all your help guys.  Our yard and patio is a big part of this house and what we want to do.  It wouldn't have happened without you.  And neither would this:

With our next door neighbors, the house and our next door neighbors put on a Memorial Day party on Monday.  We handed out flyers and invited pretty much everyone and anyone.  It was... phenomenal.  I don't know how many people came, but it was a lot.  We were worried because of the rain, but that didn't seem to stop anyone.  We had neighbors and friends and family and neighbors and friends and family and friends and family and neighbors came.  We had food and music and dancing (really just me and Britt had a dance party, everyone else was a little shy) and threw the baseball and played with Kiley and it was so sick.  If you were there, you know.  If you weren't, make sure you come next time/get invited cause you are anyway.  Everyone came and everyone was instantly family.  People from the band were hanging out with people from Brittney's work.  My mentee's family was meeting my family.  Neighbors finally know each other's names and know they have friends down the street.  It was family.  I can't explain it differently.  For someone who missed out on that for most of his life, it was so awesome to see.  I can't think of a better day I've had here.  Thanks to those who came.  Love.  So awesome.   

Every week we have a meeting host who picks an activity or whatever for us to do.  In the last few weeks, we've had yoga in the park (Brittney has found her calling), competed in video games (Pete won... barely), went to a Speakeasy Tiger event, and last week we gave each other nick names:

Peter - Petre (A Land Before Time) (2nd place was Twinkle Fingers)

Katrina - Wiglet (2nd place was Katarunga - yoga reference - but Jeff really really liked "Kat Box")

Lindsey - Phil (Mary started with "Fulfill", but it then became just Phil... you can thank the boys for that one) (2nd place was maybe "Chefoodador" - Katie gave everyone dinosaur names)

Chaz - The P.P. (a very close second place was "Slippy")

Kelley - Fuckles (a combination between funny and chuckles... 2nd place was Buckcrackalacka)

Jeff - Fuzzy Limone (Jeff's were hard because he was the last one and we were all really tired but I named him Hyperbolic Chamber because he uses a lot of hyperboles... I still think it's the best)

Katie - El Bronto (because she likes brontosaurouses... she came up with this one herself) (2nd place was Pickles)

Brittney Fu - Lordshiod (when she types "Josephine" into her phone, Lordshiod comes up instead so... yeah)

Mary - 'Boot (2nd place was Maryboo... we have this joke that Mary should go to Caribou - where she works - and pitch the slogan "Caribou, we care aboooot everyone" so thats where the boot and boo comes from)

Miscellaneous stuff:

Kiley had a skin biopsy done on her rash... Three vets and CSU don't know what it is and so it is now being shipped to Purdue to be looked at by the Gregory House of veterinarians.  I graduated.  Britt cut two strings from a shirt thing and then tied them together and wore them on her head and she really looked hippie-like... I guess you had to be there.  Speakeasy Tiger looks to be on the road of stardom.  They are playing at Red Rocks Ampitheatre at some point this summer.  We went to one of their shows last weekend at an outdoor venue and danced in the rain... it was sweet.  They are sweet.  You are sweet.  Hmmm... I need something salty... BRB (be right back).  At dinner the other night, I remarked to Chaz, "Do you suppose there will be a dishes fairy who comes tonight and cleans all our dishes for us?"  He responded, "Yeah, in a pink thong and pink boa."  He was right... It was awesome.  The Cucumbers are done with another season.  I'm pretty sure we only won one game, but trust me, we are winners.  They are the coolest people on this earth.  Go to my album on facebook to see pictures of them.  

the house '09 - '10 report:  Brittney is in.  Chaz is in.  I am in.  AND (collective gasp) we have two new members!  Robby Cella and Emi Reeves will be living with us, whether that may be, attempting to live as a family and create real community for each other and others.  Robbie is a handsome, strong, smart, good-looking, striking, and gorgeous man that plays Halo.  So I'm pumped.  I don't know Emy very well, but word on the street is she straight up dope.  And if I've learned anything this year, everyone is dope.  So Emy, I'm excited to see just how dope you are.  Dope.  So we have five.  We'd like five more... we need to tell our landlord if we're staying in this house or not on July 1st.  

It's been awhile

This is like one of those awkward encounters with a person you dated awhile back and haven't seen since you just sort of stopped calling/returning phone calls and you're caught off guard and say "Geesh, it's been awhile".

Yeah, it's not like that for me either. HI!!! I'm sorry I haven't written in awhile... life is just busy as you know.

So what's been going on?

First, I'll let you know about the Event to Name Subsequent Events After (the dinner/community discussion/game night thing). 20-ish people came over and it was a lot of fun. We talked about things we've learned in the house and heard what other people were looking for in community and beginning to build and it was encouraging, but I think it was just fun and filling to be in the middle of real community with everyone there.

Many of you mentioned how you don't think it's right for you in your current situations with school etc, but I would encourage you to pursue this boldly (whether that looks like a house of ten or twenty or five people). If you want it and have an opportunity, go for it (for inspiration, watch Stranger Than Fiction). I knew I would have to commute to Boulder for school for my senior year and it was hard, but worth it. Don't let school or distance or other circumstances stop you... because they will be there the year after this one and the year after that one.

I think a lot of it comes down to humility, honestly. We read books like Irresistable Revolution and want to be what is represented in that book... people capable of giving everything in themselves for others needing nothing in return. None of us want to be the served. It almost seems blasphemous to say we do. And yet, that is what we all need... all of us (see John 13:6-9). We are incomplete. We need.

My point of saying that is in hopes that you'll not let the perception that you're not in a place where you can give as much as you'd like to keep you from intentional community. Let others care for you so you can grow, so you can serve others better. You will give in ways you can't see. It's never going to be the convenient time to do something like this, but it might be the right time.

As I told some or all of you that night, I've experienced nothing more challenging and beautiful than this family. It has changed my life. It has helped bring major healing. I thank God and my roommates for who they have been for me.

So what else is new? (My grandfather - and father for that matter... I hope it skips a generation... OH NO I JUST SAID IT!!! - always says this on the phone when he's not sure what else to talk about).

We committed Mouse Genocide. We finally got tired of our infestation and Jeff and Pete did the dirty work to catch over 20 mice. I think we had 11 the first night. Lindsey is seriously reconsidering staying in the house next year. She says she's just has more to do here (fight malnutrition!). This has made everyone moving out reconsider since they know they won't get better meals anywhere else. The house got a donated grill, which is awesome. Kiley still has a rash. I've gone to two vets and nobody seems to know what's up. SO, if you're a vet(ernarian), and are cheap (or free?) and willing to take a look, please comment down below and I'll be in touch. The boys watched the movie Stardust and fell in love with Claire Danes. We have new neighbors! They have been over a few times for various things. They actually are trying to do the same thing we are in building relationships in the neighborhood... so we're excited to be able to work together on that - we're going to try and have a labor day shindig together I think. Britt and I did Tai Chi (sp?) in the kitchen last night. Al-face (Kat-face's fiance) is here visiting for the weekend. We are out of printer ink. Pete's band, Settle Down Your Speech Big Orange Cat (Speakeasy Tiger), is in the studio recording their first full length album. Pete, Chaz and I talked about how women like male dogs and men like female dogs. Speaking of dogs, Kiley decided she no longer is going to poop, drool, shed, make messes, bark, or fart (yeah, in Pete's dreams). Chaz still has a beard... which is amazing... He's also an ass. The living room has been completely rearranged by Jeff and Pete. Oh and Pete moved Arlene (his piano) into the house. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned that before. This is Lindsey's favorite week of the year because of the Conference on World Affairs on CU's campus. So she's been in Boulder all week taking advantage of all the ideas/thoughts being thrown around up there. Those are just a few of the tantalizing things going on around here. Stop by to experience these and many many more!!

Oh, one more thing (katrina, chaz and I were hanging out singing this the other night and I think it really makes a great point):

I would walk five hundred miles just to the man who walked five hundred miles and i would walk five hundred more just to be the man who walk one thousand miles and if you would walk five hundred miles then i wouldn't have to walk so far just to be the man who walked one thousand miles for you

¡Attention!

We have changed the date to our shindig.  It will be on Friday April 3rd.  Same time (except only in the past of what would have been the future shindig that would have existed, but will now be earlier but still in our present future that we will be in soon).  Same place (as far as earth coordinates go, but not in our solar system, galaxy, or universe(s?)).  Hopefully this will only help you come, not hinder you.  But it's like I always say, sometimes the cat just has to be put in the bag you know?  

Don't be square, be there. (I always say this too ever since... well you know that saying "be there or be square"?  It was actually a Hustla Original, but was stolen from me on the playground at Belleview Elementary by Phil McPhFilips.  I'm sorry, I don't usually get this emotional... it's just hard to talk about).  

An Event to Name Subsequent Events After

People of the blog... 

First, I apologize for my lack of updating lately.  There is absolutely no excuse for my lack of commitment and effort.  I humbly apologize and ask only that you continue to hang on my every word and to check back every day as religiously as you all have.

Second, I will not be updating you tonight very much.

Third, I will soon.

Fourth, I have something else to talk about.

Fifth, I will now talk about it... Coming up on the second Friday of April, we're going to be having a shindig.  The purpose is to talk about community.  Last year, maybe thirty people got together to discuss the importance of community, what genuine community looks like and how it can be grown.  And to just hang out with you and play some games.  So yeah, we are doing that again and you are invited.

So the schedule is first and foremost to feed us all.  Then we're thinking about some games, including the famous flollyball (which I have never played but people say it's pretty unbelievable).  And then to hang out and explore the concept of community.  

Details:

Friday April 10th

6:30 (dinner is served) - we'd never put a cap on something this fun

At the house (3205 Josephine St.  Denver, CO 80205)

Questions: kelbirsch@hotmail.com

There is only one way to eat an elephant

Tonight, Katrina introduced us all to a documentary called Nobelity.  I can think of no movie that has presented the power of our actions and opportunity for change so effectively.  My heart is still racing, still filled with a new passion... PLEASE SEE THIS FILM.  Here is the trailer... while the trailer is good, it doesn't do the film justice, you'll just have to trust me.  

A lot of you probably watched the Oscars last night and have made new promises to yourselves to go see the award-winning movies you didn't see.  Please, go rent/buy this movie.  It is available at Blockbuster and on Netflix (just checked to make sure).   

Regardless if you look at Jesus as God or a man or whatever, I have never, ever, heard someone (Desmond Tutu at the end of the film) communicate his gospel so simply and eloquently.  

** this film is not religiously affiliated at all, that was just my (Kelley's) reaction to Tutu's interview in the movie.

People, I wish I had some way of effectively relaying the urgency I feel that you see this movie.  Just see it.  It, in many ways, communicates the goal of this house.

House Update:

We're all starting to look pretty seriously about what we will each be doing next year.  A lot is changing, but there is very serious talk about continuing the house for at least another year with a few new roomies as some will move on. 

Katrina is moving to Madison, Wisconsin to be with her then new hubby Alan.  Jeff and Katie will be living somewhere in Denver (hopefully near by the house if it continues on) to also start married life.   Lindsey is weighing her options still, thinking this may be the time of her life to go on an adventure.  But she may be moving with Caitlin (part of the tripod - mentioned in a previous blog with the story of three girls) to Madison to live by Katrina.  Each of them will still be very connected with everything we do here (Lindsey will be asked to come visit and cook many times I'm sure) and hopefully will visit often.   

Tonight was the first time we've brought this up as a group, so we will be taking the next couple weeks to process everything, but I will keep you updated.

Come visit... get a good meal... have a few laughs... maybe see me in a thong... no promises.