From the Scene: February 14, 2008

The first thing I noticed, as I pulled through the gate was the new location of the Porta-Johns. No longer standing in mute guard against the chain link fence, they now stood flush, if you will, against the new front of the building. The reason for the move turned out to be, ironically enough, the installation of the main sewer pipe, which now runs through the middle of the parking lot to the street where it joins the Greater Atlanta Sewer System. The word “greater” refers not to a geographic area, but to the fact that it is much improved; the city having invested umpteen billion dollars in upgrades.

Outside, the metal skin is being installed on the Learning Center while inside, snowy insulation is being blown onto the ceiling. Bundles of R-19 batten insulation are stacked like cord wood awaiting the completion of the outside walls. The downstairs has been transformed from a vast open space to a veritable rabbit warren of rooms, passages and closets…water and othe. Upstairs the same transformation is in progress as the first of the sheetrock is being applied. Out in what was the front of the building, the hole that was, then wasn’t, is again. With the elusive irregularity of a Florida sinkhole, the underground retention pond has opened again and is now waiting for a few tons of pea gravel to be followed by an enormous quantity of…get this…Engineer Soil. Though I may have left off an “ed,” the name is essentially correct and the best explanation I was given was that it was “special” dirt. Further details are available from ASHRAE engineers. Eventually, the resulting, visible pond will only be about one foot deep…one at the old front and two on the Tullie Circle side.

As I was leaving, I reminded the work force that today was, in fact Valentine’s Day and urged them all to swing by their favorite super market for a bouquet of flowers, a box of candy or at least a card. To a man, they thanked me for the reminder. And women call us insensitive.