Day 6 - 188 -- Deconstruction

It was an early start to the day. Two workmen arrived before 8 AM and commenced demolition of the back porch. I went for groceries and it was down when I returned an hour later. The remains lie in the backyard in a deconstructed mass, waiting for the trailer that will take them away tomorrow -- after dropping off new wood for the replacement. Some of you may ask, "Didn't you just go through this last summer?" Indeed, I did. This year it will be the back porch since the front porch was completed last year. I worry that the noise will be disruptive -- taking apart any semblance of peace inside the house. Time will tell.

I headed to the office for part of the day, where I worked on a writing project. The task involved was reviewing the analysis of combined data from three studies. The methods used for this qualitative process involve deconstructing the data by breaking it apart into smaller chunks of information -- exploding the data as it were. This data expansion process is the opposite of that found with quantitative methods where statistics are used to collapse the data into fewer parts. Now once the deconstruction has occurred in qualitative methods, those smaller groups of related ideas are grouped together into categories and then again into larger themes. That is what I was reviewing and reorganizing today. This process is not unlike learning any new skill or information. First an old skill or idea must be recognized and looked at carefully. Then the new skill or idea is examined and worked into or replaces the former -- unlearn and relearn.

On the theme of deconstruction followed by reconstruction, one song might fit the beginning of that process. It certainly fit what happened in my back yard today. <smile> Enjoy!

Demolition Man - Sting