Lunch at the Diner

As in days of old
juicy hamburgers and fries,
sitting in a booth

~ carliewired

It's been a day of jobs and errands. Some frustrations and some accomplishments. 

N was working on de-constructing a porch on a building we have at the business this morning. He's been up on the roof peeling off shingles. He's taken out the partitions, removed windows, stacked 2 x 4s...he's had the area cordoned off with red tape and the access blocked with a vehicle to prevent anyone wandering in to the work site. Mid morning a man arrives to tell him he needs a permit from the city to remove this porch from the building. He wanders in from the street. He does not wear a uniform or offer any credentials. He is warned that he is in a construction area without a hardhat. He ducks under the red tape and puts himself squarely in the danger zone despite warnings to the contrary. He is asked for his credentials which he quickly shows and puts away. N is told he must go to city hall to get a permit to continue this job. Being the pleasant, cooperative fellow he goes to the web site, downloads the paperwork and brings them to me to sign as 'owner'. When he arrives at the city desk, he questions the reason for needing a permit and why this man has arrived on the site in complete disregard for our concerns for safety. The nice lady behind the counter goes away to talk to the person in question. She returns to tell N to take pictures of the completed job and submit them to city hall when he's done. She does not take his form or his money. He does not get a permit. As he leaves that department he sees a couple of developers waiting around in the hallway.  He comes back to the office shaking his head in disbelief. My comment was "This is why people take their business elsewhere." If my business was portable, I'd be looking at that option too. There was half a day wasted for nothing. 

Lunch at the diner was most enjoyable. Good burgers and fries. Just like the old days!