dirt and destruction

outside my apartment building used to be a nice grassy area with plants and bushes. it was nice. kids would play there, dogs would run around, i would sit and read. now on monday, a group of laborers came in and are systematically removing the sod from around my building.

one of the biggest surprises as they began digging was what was underneath the dirt. all the landscaping at my school is set on giant concrete trays. i thought that the earth was there, and they paved paths between the buildings. instead, the concrete was there, and they added the earth later.

reminds me a piece that michel gondry that is in his director's work. buy it (it's definitely, definitely worth it) and check out the book that comes with it. you'll see what i mean.

but i digress--the work these laborers do is immense. with hand shovels and baskets, they are systematically ripping out all the grass near where i live. they get there around 8 in the morning, break for an hour or two at lunch and leave by 6. in this time about 12 of them in three days are almost done with the lawn. i am amazed...and a little sick.