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.
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