Seska, what a PITA. How can you follow policies you don't know about? I know you already know, but document document document. Keep a journal of all your requests and what you find out when and how. Does the university have an ombudsman or mediation department?

The Fresh Makers are off getting a house tour and it is blissfully quiet. Ahhh... We did lose one yesterday, he left town. He was my biggest PITA, so I feel sad and a little relieved. Nothing I could do, though.

Quick-healing~ma for your mother in law, bt. That beautiful boy of yours surely deserves as many adoring fans as he can get.

Seska, ugh, what a misery to deal with. And what smonster said; obsessive documentation is your friend.

Quick and easeful healing~ma to bt's mother in law, and the swiftest possible return to her little Emperor and his parents.

Spidra, that piemaker is a thing of utter beauty.

The pink link didn't work for me?

“I think parents need to beat the crap out of their kids … I think the whole spanking and how it’s all gotten P.C. is just for the birds. … [My father] put me through a wall. It’s the only reason I’m still here. It’s the only reason I’m still alive."

Hmm. Plei, I looked up the permit, and am still confused/concerned. Apparently they need my consent because it'll be all up in my space--but I'm anxious to hear if they actually think they need to USE my space or if it's just that since the possibility exists (the property runs up to about a foot of the line, so fixing the basement could erode stuff). They also want to add something to the second floor--but that's in front.

meara, don't agree to anything unless it is in writing, including every contingency you can think of, and if they're talking about erosion, they can damn well pay for the civil engineer of your choice to come out and tell you whether or not s/he thinks their plan is a good one.

signed, lawyer, daughter of a civil engineer, sister of a civil engineer, niece of a civil engineer (HI SOX), etc...

I'm worst-case-scenario-girl remembering the time a building in my neighborhood did some (unpermitted) basement construction, partially collapsed, and damaged the building next door. Both of them ended up having to be torn down.

Well, yeah. Thanks sparky--since architect lady was being so evasive I'm suspicious. And since I just planted blueberry bushes there, and they'd have to trump through my garden if they want to use the alley...yeah. And the inspection report says neighboring structures don't have basements. Which is false.

Awww, I'm sorry billytea. You're going to ruin the whole tradition of in-law jokes, though, if you keep this up.

Heh. I tend to think they took care of that themselves. Thanks everyone. Their visas are good for a while, so they'll still come out once her arm has healed, but it still sucks.

Well, I went and complained as soon as it happened, and they claim there are procedures that I haven't followed (I'd argue that they haven't communicated them to me, but there you go) with regards to making contact with a departmental fire rep and organising an evacuation plan.

The fuck? It's YOUR responsibility to make an evacuation plan? Like hell.