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So last night I get back from downstate visit to friend's house. He lives in a nice neighborhood where there is off-street parking. Big snow comes, it is cleared by plows by Sunday afternoon. Anywho, get back to my lovely city around 10 pm, park in normal-looking spot. 20 minutes later, hear rumbling of machinery, look out window to see my hoopty being towed away by The Mercenaries of Satan, otherwise known at Tony's Towing. FUCK! There was a stupid snow emergency, but stupid me saw that the side of the street I was parked on was ALREADY PLOWED and didn't think that an emergency was in effect. My city doesn't post nice helpful temporary signs telling its lovely citizens this; the only way is to call department of general services and just ask them. So I get my sister to drive me to the police station to release my poor whip. Dawned on me my bag with all my ID was IN THE CAR. They ask my sis if she has ID on her; maybe they could release car to her. In her haste, she forgot her wallet. She rifles around in pockets for a moment; pocket-size copy of the US Constitution falls out (she is a law student). I think this is a bad omen. Cop says return with real ID (HA!). Have to get sis to drive me 10 miles to the tow yard, deal with the surly smug asshole to get into my car; then to ATM to deplete funds to pay The Man. WHAT'S THIS??!! My bank now has installed brand new DIEBOLD ATM'S! not only this, they are "temporarily unavailable due to maintenance". WTF? Scream colorful phrases and flash choice fingers at Diebold ATM cameras. Have to drive to different bank to get cash; pay $2.50 in fees. Back to police station. Lots of angry people in there. Lots of cops behind the glass makin' some serious money tonight. Found out I had a parking ticket that I never got; lots of area kids think it's "fun" to take them off your windshield. It was more than 30 days overdue. Pay $55 for that. Pay $55 for snow emergency ticket. Notice cop is holding huge autographed Hillary Duff poster and T-shirt. Make remark to cop "got a lot of Hillary Duff fans on the force?" Remark is thankfully taken as amusing. "Nope, I've got a daughter and I'm responsible for bringing home to goods" he says. Heh. Spend a moment musing how law enforcement agents could use their power to obtain Hillary Duff paraphenalia. Don't want to really think about that much longer. Go to towyard, pay $85 to Smug Mercenary to get car released. Drive back to home, spend an HOUR trolling for parking. End up literally a mile and a half from apartment. Decide to go to sis's apartment and give her some beer to thank her for driving me around. She's not there; she's still trolling for parking. Wait a half-hour in the cold. She comes home and we fall asleep. It is 3:00 am. Wake up for stupid grad student meeting on campus at 7:00 am. Come home and pay bills. Insurance notification in mail letting me know that now I am 25 I am no longer eligible for health converage. Don't have enough money for rent. Sheeeeit. Call up parents. Get big lecture, but promise of rent assistance. Bleh, spent the rest of the day filling out applications and drinking rest of beer. Brings us up to present. I wish I could ride my bike in this weather.
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