Groundbreaking has finally gotten under way at the palatial Four Wheeler offices this, and the long-delayed renovation of our 18-story high-rise has now kicked into high gear as a demolition crew moved in today to start applying a new landscaping to our lush grounds. Of course, considering that we're moving to new offices in less than six weeks, we won't be around to see the finished product here, but we can marvel at the speed and efficiency of modern-day demolition technology all the same. Still, we'll miss our outdoor employee lounge/smoking section/picnic spot, but atleast we have some spanking brand-new digs in El Segundo to look forward to---most likely located directly beneath the jumbo-jet take-off pattern at LAX. We can hardly wait to get moved in.
First, a team of master landscape architects moves in to apply a meticulous redesign to our outdoor garden.
Brush-clearing is high on today's agenda, as the ancient Petersen old-growth forest is converted into mulch via a handy woodchipper.
Today's Wheeler in Tha Hood is a mighty Bobcat S220 skid-steer loader. The rig's turbodiesel motor is only good for 75 hp, but for digging, filling, grading, or just plain smashing stuff up, this 'Cat has got some pretty tough claws.
Woodsman, spare that . . . oh, never mind. Timberrrrrrrrrr!
Meanwhile, interior mods continue apace. Once known affectionately as "The Fishbowl," our luxurious first-floor conference center is closed for repairs.
Where once a mighty forest stood, now sits an ugly clear cut. Heck, they didn't even cut a good lumber road that we could go four-wheeling on!
The Bobcat applies the final coup de grace to our former picnic spot/smoking section.
The bloody aftermath: Ah, the transient nature of life in L.A. But we love the sounds (and smell) of jackhammers in the morning anyway.