Signs

It's the Victoria Day long weekend in Canada - nothing quite says 'Start of the summer season' like celebrating dead Queens! And if it's the May long weekend, that means the weather will be crappy; the tall foreheads at Environment Canada won't need to consult charts and algorithms to come up with this weekend's forecast - nope - just call for rain and be done with it.

As long as I can remember, May long weekend has always iffy in terms of getting weather suitable for opening the cottage or camping or having friends over to sit around and share good times in the backyard with a few cold beverages.  So, if you own a camper trailer, leave it parked, don't bother opening the pop-up one to air it out - you're wasting your time - you know as well as I, you're just going to be setting it up and taking it down in the rain. You can thank me later.

Now, it should be pointed out that history has never been a stumbling block for weather forecasters, so I don't think anyone believed the early week call for sunny and warm temps.  Unless you count our neighbours who pulled the camper out and opened it up with the help of their young boys, just in case.  That should have been a sign. Though honestly I can't blame them.  They knew enough to wait and check the mid week weather before finalizing their plans.  But if it turned out to indeed be nice, they would be ready.

Speaking of camping, my neighbours hedging their bets reminds me of Harold Camping's lunatic ramblings about the End of The World happening Saturday at 6pm give or take a time zone or two.  He and his followers honestly believed the Bible had foretold the end of days, with pinpoint accuracy no less, which reminds me of George Bush the 2nd and his 'Mission Accomplished' back in 2003.  It's all fine and dandy to be proud of your accomplishments and to be confident and secure in your knowledge, but what if you're wrong? I'm not suggesting you don't take a stand or pick a side - I'm merely offering a bit of wisdom that could well serve leaders of nations and fringe religious groups (are those really different?)  Choose your words carefully.  And if need be, prepare to eat them with grace and dignity if you've over stepped your bounds. And for the sake of everyone involved, don't hang up a sign!

Camping isn't new to this - he first predicted the End of the World would happen in 1994, September 6 to be exact. You'd think after getting that one wrong he would have been a bit more careful; that maybe once the sun rose of September 7, 1994, he would have taken it as a sign that predicting the future wasn't his forte.  Apparently not.  I don't want to know how many people listen to his radio program and willingly hand over their savings to support his cause - or which lobby groups he's tied into - all I know is someone paid more than a few dollars for all those billboard signs around the world proclaiming the end last week.

We finally got the long awaited call from the City Planning Department on Thursday afternoon, telling us that our Bylaw Variance Application had been approved for Posting, and that we had to pick up the Notice Posters Friday and have them up and on display before Friday Midnight.   I picked up the laminated goldenrod signs Friday morning and by Friday evening had them mounted on some sturdy plywood and wood bracing and staked into the front yard, making sure we followed the list of posting rules and regulations to the letter - the signs had to be on our property, no more than 3 feet behind the property line, facing the street, etc  They are to remain posted continuously for 14 days.

We didn't realize it when they called, or even when we applied, that if we got called to pick up the Notice Posters, it meant The City had Approved our application, and we would be allowed to build as planned, pending a hearing to hear any appeals. Hence the 14 day posting period - 2 weeks is enough time for our neighbours to review and read the Notice signs and file an appeal if they do not approve of our plans to build forward into the required front yard another 8 feet.

If you read the fine print on the above sign, you'll see, as we did, that the only people able to appeal the City's decision are the applicants (us) and the owners of properties directly adjacent to the subject property (our neighbours - who have already signed our application in favour of the project) so unless they've had a change of mind, the 14 day posting period is a mere formality.

Friday morning as I was leafing through the stack of business cards on my desk, I stumbled across one for a construction company I used on a few commercial jobs in years past for concrete retaining walls and grade beam work. Thinking about the reality of us finally starting the garage addition now, I called the GM and asked if he'd be willing to price our project - he said they don't normally do residential jobs, but since we've worked together before, he'd be happy to look at the drawings and shoot me a number.

Finding that card when I needed to get a price for the concrete work?  I'm considering it a sign.

Hope

There isn't a breath of wind this morning, as I sit here in the backyard gazebo, the Sunday sun risen but not yet fully awake, much like myself, and if you care to listen you'll hear the many voices, songs and callings of insects, frogs, birds and Spring.

Mother Nature never works in silence; even in the stillness her legions of progress are busy moving forward, bringing constant change all around us. This morning the frogs and crickets seem to be leading the chorus; though a quiet mind can hear at least a dozen different birds, and the red squirrels are moving now too, back and forth along the highway in the treetops. Each one of them calling to another, working together as they build nests for the natural consequence of Spring.

Fitting then, that in this season and such surroundings, we celebrate Mothers everywhere; those that brought us into this world and raised us as best they could amongst the change and chaos that is Life. Some are born naturals, destined to have children and blessed with the talents and knowledge and energy to do whatever it takes to guide her charges forward; others seem more saddled with the task, slighted somehow by Nature, given the ability but not necessarily all the tools with which to perform; others start out fine enough, but life and circumstance change along the way, and success seems bleak at best.

It's never easy, not for any Mother, the care and concern never go away, if anything they grow stronger and more raw the older the children get, one's ability to protect her offspring lessened with time, but the urge, perhaps need, never diminished. The bonds are tested early and often, strained and repaired again and again, but constant on so many levels. As the children grow and change, they stay the same too, and the overwhelming emotion of Motherhood, Hope, is constant throughout as well, an eternal beacon on those darkest nights, a welcome refuge when needed most.

The songbirds are still singing, though there is now a rumble of manmade sounds off in the distance, the slow awakening underway. The cat repositions on the towel that covers the sun-soaked chair cushion he chose earlier, and gives me a quizical glance, but satisfied I'm no threat to his comfort, he turns over with a stretch and closes his eyes, resuming his morning nap.

We haven't been called yet to pick up the yellow Notice signs for our Variance application, but our next door neighbour stopped by yesterday to alert us that she had seen a blue vehicle parked on the Bay Friday, and watched a man get out and traverse our lot, taking photographs and jotting notes first from her driveway, then from the other side, checking angles and sightlines, no doubt. A concerned mother herself, she approached, confiding to us that her intent was to get a licence plate number of he unmarked car, but also chancing to speak with the stranger.

He briefly introduced himself and his purpose, and admitted that at first he was not keen on the idea as proposed, but once he saw the plans he was impressed with the quality and level of detail provided, and thought he owed it to the process to investigate more closely. He was happy to have spoken with her, confirming that she and her husband who would be most affected by the design, which would be visible from their front window and borders their drive, had signed the application in agreement with our proposal, and mentioned that he thought it would likely be approved.

It's too early to start ordering material and booking the trades - the formal process is far from over. But like Mothers everywhere, it gives us hope that our efforts haven't been in vain.

Variance

I brought in the big guns to my meeting with the City Zoning By-Law officer today.

I figured there was no reason to sit back and begin this process quietly, that I may as well start with a flourish and build up from there, taking no prisoners, and leaving no bridges unburned behind me.  This might be war, so let's show 'em what I've got, keeping a few things hidden up my sleeves for later when the time is right, but set the stage early.

Yup, that's right, I brought Karen with me!

I figured it was time she learn what it is that I deal with on a daily basis with the City, and why it can take months to get a permit issued even when the job seems simple and straight forward.  We arrived a few minutes late to our 9 am meeting thanks to my impatient driving in morning rush hour traffic (anyone remember the car pee pee dance? Yeah, that was me a little thing morning...) and then the City parking lot that is reserved for people visiting the Planning and Property Department was filled, and some yahoo figured his precious truck needed two spaces rather than one like everyone else, so we had to park in the metered lot further away... grumble, grumble, grumble...  This patience stuff is hard.  Give me time.

I used my contractor status, such as it is, to use the separate entrance to the waiting area, and introduced Karen to some of the staff that I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the years as I have waited for permit intake meetings etc, and as we sat she commented how "office-like" this area was compared to the more mall-like building we had just passed through.  The low height t-bar ceilings and standard fabric covered office cubicle partitions and fluorescent lighting which was my reality back when I toiled for the City all those years ago are still in use here, and Karen noted the piles of plans and paperwork on counters and desktops, and I think she was beginning to understand the office environment much better.

Our Zoning Officer was late to meet us - he was on a call with another homeowner looking to build on a unique-shaped lot and was discussing the options and issues said homeowner would likely face in his attempt to construct a second dwelling on his large sabre-toothed-shaped lot.

I have had the pleasure of working with this particular City employee for the past 5 or 6 years - he had been my regular permit intake technician (fancy title for the person who I meet with and to whom I provide the information regarding our commercial construction permit applications) but had sought a promotion or change in employment scope, and was now located further away from the public areas, in a corner of the maze of cubicles that is this City office workspace.  Having a familiar and friendly face to deal with on this matter is a bonus for us, and hopefully will allow the entire process to proceed smoothly.

He had to get another chair for Karen - he has 2 in his cubicle for guests - but the second one was buried beneath plans and drawings and files bulging beyond their elastic banded file folders.  We exchanged pleasantries, and I introduced K and we visited as he began to assemble our application from the documents we had brought along.  We enquired how long we might expect the Variance process to take and he said in our case - asking the requirement of a 25' front yard to be relaxed to 17' for the new garage and entryway - shouldn't encounter too many issues.



But then he stopped, apologized, and corrected himself, and confided in a lower tone as he leaned forward towards us across his desk, that he had shown our application to the Planner, whose cubicle is right behind his, and Mr Planner had said, "I'm not sure I like it."  Gee, that kind of attitude reminds me of someone I spoke to last year about this...

You guessed it, Mr Planner is the lovely individual I spoke with last spring about our plans and who gave the impression of someone with entirely more power than his education or personality should allow.

Great.

We finished with the application, and were informed that it will likely take 10 business days until we're called to pick up the bright yellow signage that must be posted conspicuously on our property that advises any and all who care to read it, that we are asking for a variance from the by-law and for what reason etc. and that the yellow signage must be posted for 14 days, and then it may take another 2 weeks until a decision has been reached.  We wrote a cheque for a little over $400, thanked our zoning officer for his help and guidance, and were led back through the maze and out into the main mall hallway.

So, we've done what we can do, now we wait for the call.

At some point I'm sure we'll be dealing with Mr Planner.  This should be fun...

Lazy Sundays

It's another quiet Sunday morning, and I'm enjoying a perfect cup of coffee. Well, perfect except for the missing cream - we ran out the other morning and it never made the grocery list - not that it would have mattered - no one has been grocery shopping since earlier in the week, what with the early morning (or late night, depending on your place of residence) Royal wedding festivities of Friday, and the subsequent laziness and afternoon napping they brought even though it was a gorgeous 76 degrees out on the deck in the afternoon sun; and then Mother Nature let us have it yesterday with a gloomy, grey, rain filled day that overnight has morphed into a Winter Wonderland. Talk about change.

We got off fairly easy though - mostly rain in that storm, not like those to the west and north of us - reports from home have drifts higher than the trash barrel in the back yard, and cancelled funerals and postponed graduations, to go with the odd abandoned car on Main Street.

Main Street Dauphin, MB May 1, 2011

Looking out this morning we're content to stay inside and watch old movies and take it easy.

I can go for that today.  I need a do-over for yesterday.  A migraine kept me sidelined for most of my Birthday, seeking refuge in the darkness and quiet of the bedroom.  The weather outside helped with that, and made it less of an inconvenience to not be feeling well enough to be outside being productive.  I'm sure the changing weather played a role in my misfortune yesterday - I'm still feeling a bit fragile - and I'm sure the doctor's take on stress affecting it as well isn't too far off either.    Your body will have it in for you if you don't listen to it more closely.

We know that of course, but most of us are too busy 'being productive' to pay attention.  Deadlines and urgent matters get our attention first and foremost, the necessary and the needed aspects of our lives get shoved deeper down the list; further to the bottom of the pile, until something gives and we're forced to change.

The call from the Zoning Officer got placed in a much higher priority than perhaps it should have, and it sent me on a quest to deal with his Variance Application as quickly as I could hoping to limit the length of the delay to starting construction on the project.  I composed my Letter of Intent to the City along with  printing off a new set of plans for the application, and then we spent a nice bit of Thursday evening going door-to-door and speaking with our neighbours and explaining what we were planning and what the City was requiring us to do and why, and asking for their support in the matter.  Everyone we spoke with was happy to sign our application in favour of our renovation - and it was great to visit with the people you see everyday but don't speak with nearly enough.  Remind me to change that.

But couple that flurry of late Thursday activity with a less than stellar sleep thanks to a Royal Wedding watching Spouse (who made fresh cinnamon buns for the occasion just like she and her mom did 30 years earlier on the occasion of Charles and Di's union) and a first-thing-Friday-morning trip down to the Land Titles office to have a title search done for the Variance application, in case you were fortunate enough to be able to schedule an appointment with your Zoning Officer for later in the day... and you've probably got a recipe for something to give.

So something did.  And I paid the price, and today I'm not going to worry about it.  I'm going to finish writing and enjoying this coffee, and maybe enjoy a Lazy Sunday Afternoon watching those old movies and letting Mother Nature do what she needs out there.  Change is good for us, as much as we fight against it, and the sooner we learn to accept it, and go with it, the better all things will be for all of us.

Scootch over, and quit hogging the blankie, let's let this one ride and see what tomorrow brings.