One of the things that frustrates me at weddings is when the bride wants to do the bridal march with the stutter step, as in take one step...pause...take a step...pause...take a step...pause...take a step...pause (you're frustrated now, too, are you not--and you knew what was coming next, just like in the stutter-step march; you know another step is coming but HEY, COME ON, GET ON DOWN THE AISLE!).

This week we have seen "The Building March" complete with, "Wow, they're moving forward...why are they not doing anything...wow, they're moving forward...." Following the excitement of a cement mixer in the Commons area we had a pause. Part of the plans call for a new sewer line to be installed, which means digging a trench, compacting the soil that was disturbed, laying the line, testing the line, getting the line inspected by the City Inspector, covering the line, compacting the soil over the line, and then get out of the way of the concrete workers.

This week the concrete workers got as far as they can go until the plumbers get finished with their part. They had their line in place last week and waited on the inspector. The inspector didn't pass their work--the soil under the line had not been compacted enough. So, they removed the line, compacted the soil more, relaid the line, and waited for the inspector, who came Tuesday. The line passed. Also discovered in the process is the need for a new water line. (The line laid about 32 years ago has deteriorated much more than it should have and we were headed for trouble.) The inspector informed the plumbers that they could lay the water line in the same trench as the sewer line. So, back to Parkhill, Smith and Cooper to get engineer approval. That was Wednesday, the ...pause...day in our building march.  Today, Thursday, they're back working quickly to make up for the ...pause...day.

When you look at our construction zone and don't observe anything being done, please know that we will have some pauses. Wednesday's pause was actually a dollar saving one as the engineers approved using the same trench. (Ahhh, the pause that refreshes--the bank account.) So today we're enjoying the ...take a step...part of the march.