3 in 30 - 2002.03.16 Saturday
For an update on the doings of construction, deconstruction, new facades, and general changes, I thought I might offer this update on the house that was torn down and replaced by this new structure.
Our neighbors, Minoru-san, moved and their house was torn down to be replaced by this apartment building. Where once stood a single family home, now stand a four-unit apartment. The units must be incredibly small. They are probably no more than an entry-way, a single room with a small kitchen unit to one side and a bathroom/toilet area. Here you see the ground-level and upper-level unit on one side.
We thought our house was small. Then we think of all the brand new huge structures being built along the Colorado Front Range, it staggers our minds. On one hand, people live in very small spaces while others squander huge amounts of real estate.
In a long ago tune, Bob Dylan sang "it's not a house—it's a home" and then "Don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road."
We have mentioned the current economic state of affairs in both Japan and in the United States. All the new construction we see always surprises us, though people and companies with money saved up find it economical to build at a time when otherwise the economy is not so good.
Remodeling, cleaning, repainting and repairing sometimes makes more sense. We constantly get little flyers in our mailbox suggesting businesses willing to do remodeling, cleaning, painting and other value enhancing treatments. Since we don't own our house here, these flyers seem to find their way to waste basket.
Other people must be of the same mind as we, because there are several buildings in the neighborhood that are being cleaned and repainted. This small apartment building has some scaffolding and screening tarps around it while they are putting on a fresh coat of paint.
Just so that you know, I am not the only one who must wait for the trains to pass while going to work in the morning. These people are waiting where I often wait. They happen to be waiting on a Saturday mid afternoon rather on a weekday morning.
I've taken several pictures at this corner. Where the woman in the pink coat is standing, I took a picture of some trees and bushes two weeks ago. I have an update on the magnolia tree with the flowers in full bloom.
I has been a warm winter and the weather prognosticators have told us that the cherry blossom season is reaching Tokyo two weeks earlier than usual. It is a sure sign of global warming. Japan is still committed to trying to reach some of the goals of the Kyoto Protocol to reduce CO2 emissions. I would certainly be more proud of my country if they were to make that attempt also.