The task instructions struck me as conditions for a Dérive, so I set out in the middle of the day to see what I might see -- taking care to avoid any schoolyards or businesses I might come across.

(Little did I realize that that I was about to enter the domain of giant killer robots!)

It was pretty easy to avoid work -- I just had to keep an eye out for commercial strips, which generally have big flashy signs and lots of traffic.  Schools on the other hand were much more troublesome.

They kept sneaking     up on me.

Not to mention people started giving me funny looks whenever I stopped to take pictures...

Furthermore, it seemed that all the cross streets were named after universities!




So I gave a rouse for the college on the hill and kept going straight.  My route took me through a swath of residential neighborhoods.


The architecture was pretty interesting.  Lots of neat flat-roofed pueblo-style houses.

"Hippies use back door"

The yards were neat too.  Instead of grass, they're rocks.  It's called "xeriscaping".

And where there are plants, there's also wildlife:



But what's this?

A warning?  A threat?  How did those shoes get so high, and what happened to the person who was wearing them?


As I pondered this, a school loomed up suddenly, and I was forced to divert onto this dirt alleyway.


Where someone seemed to be tanning leather?  On the laundry line?


I encountered this bizarre shrine nearby.


Obviously this collection of talismans was meant to ward off some sort of evil threat that terrorized the community.


But they were on their guard!


And yet, there were no children in sight.  Perhaps they were in school?


Or perhaps something... more ominous had taken them off the streets?

"Crime Scene Clean-Up"???
I've seen enough movies to know when I've stumbled upon a cover-up operation in progress.
I hurried on my way before I was spotted.  There was a strong chemical reek in the air.


Narrowly avoiding work, I slipped between the Adoption Counseling Center and the Planned Parenthood clinic.  They were literally across the road from each other.  And yes, there was a protest in progress.


Then I spotted this garbage truck.  A perfect example of "not going to work" -- the workers (i.e. garbage men) come to you!


Or... do they? 
What the heck is that!!?!
That's not a garbage man...


That's not even a man!


But it looks angry.


Or maybe hungry?


And there's more of them around the corner!
They're having some sort of... meeting?  Maybe I can sneak up closer to see what they're up to.



The following is an artist's reconstruction of what I encountered next: