Yesterday, Hubby and I spent a good portion of the day getting chores for the new salon done. One of those chores took us to City Hall for ''Tenant Improvement Permits". With all the forms in hand I dutifully sat at my desk when we got home and proceeded to fill them out....5 hours later...I photocopied everything, and put it by the company cheque book to take back to the City Hall.
Today after work I gather up all that paperwork from last night and set off to get my permit in the system. It started off with signatures from the landlord and then on to city hall. Once at the hall, I took my number and sat down for the long wait. Finally my number was called and off I went to proudly give her all my hard work - after all I am 'just' a dog groomer and they had made me be an architect, designer, plumber, general contractor and lawyer!
I think that they look for people who are happy to do it the right way, you know the type that trust that if they soldier along it will all work itself out - because it soon was to feel like I was going to be the 'next victim' of a government worker!
I was first told that my drawings were not double lined - and I'm thinking to myself, it is so on graph paper! No wait, double lined? HUH? You need me to draw another line around my existing lines? Okay, can I borrow your ruler? No, I have to redo everything? Are you sure I just can't borrow your ruler, or maybe that book edge? Go to another building and have a form approved while you check if the double lines are going to be an issue? Okay! I'll be back!
*at the next building* Hello! I need this form approved to get my permit! Can you help me?
"Sure, Mrs. Grenkow, take a seat while I run this through the computer."
"Thank you Sharon".
Several minutes go by...
"No." says Sharon
"Huh?" I blink.
"No. You can't have approval it's the wrong zoning"
sniff, sniff~ "What do you mean?" sniff, sniff.
"You will have to find another place, you can not have a dog grooming facility in that neighbourhood, it's zoned Industrial."
"But, but, but...we are currently 2 doors down and have been there for 8+ years with a business license from you guys for every year!"
This is where Michele, see's the $5000.00 I've already spent flying away, and literally loses it. I sank into the chair (I hadn't remembered standing up) and silently started sobbing.
Well I guess government workers do have hearts because Sharon started saying "Please don't cry, please!? We'll make this work, there has to be something."
She told me to leave it with her and that she would call me, I walked outside onto the stairs sat down and balled like a baby. I finally decided that crying was not going to get this done and walked over to the other lady who told me I didn't have to worry about the double line issue...oh how silly that seemed now! I started to head back to my truck in utter defeat when my cell phone rang...
*Sniff* "Hello?" *sniff*
"Michele?"
"Yes."
"It's Sharon, I got you your permit you can pick it up any time, no charge."
"Thank you Sharon, I'll come back right now." *sniff*
Well it seems that the government can't take your $200.00 every year for 8+ years and not make some exceptions every now and then. So I am now the first "Dog Groomer" code for Surrey, as all other dog groomers actually go under "Hair Stylist/Barber".
I need a drink!
