Strange Weekend

What a strange weekend I've had. I'd love to say it was full of lessons, but if it is, I haven't yet worked out what they are.

As I write this, I am laying in my backyard graffitiing into my ancient Palm device, because I am locked out of my home. My dogs are here to keep me company, but it almost seems a fitting end to a bizarre and somewhat fretful weekend.

Friday was normal enough. I came home to find Kris napping, and after some brief deliberation, we abandoned our only mildly baked going out plans in exchange for grilling out and watching a new Stargate SG-1 episode. I ran to the store for buns and a few other niceties with Cassie in tow. I was very hungry by the time I returned and went into the house quickly, bleeping my old Corolla over a shoulder.

I was pretty bushed from stress at work, yet I slept fitfully. I stayed under the covers later into the morning than I probably should have, as I had to prepare for both yoga class and a nature walk/herb class before I left the house. However, it wasn't my slowness in getting ready that made me late -- it was the surprise in my driveway.

I bleeped the car to open it up and was greeted with a piercing screech. The alarm? But why? Then I saw...the driver's side door was not closed properly. The contents of the map compartment were strewn everywhere and the car was even more of a mess than usual. It was pretty clear my car had been broken into, and it didn't appear to be a forced entry. At first glance, it seemed the only items missing were a broken MP3 player and my sweaty gross running headphones. I was certainly angry, but it seemed like neighborhood kids pranking, so I went on to yoga class.,

On the way there, I discovered three folded five dollar bills in the ashtray. I don't believe I put them there. Either my thief was lazy and missed them, or he put them there. Weird. Then I realized my magnetic rocks were missing, and one other thing -- the valet key.

Aw hell! Now this miscreant had ongoing access to my vehicle, so long as I can't park in the garage. I had to file a police report, just in case they took the car next time.

So, I called the police info number and learned that since I had moved the car already, my choices were to file a report by phone on Monday, or I could go to the station to do it over the weekend. My intent was to go to the station, so I ran a quick check list of things I might get ticketed for: Kris replaced that headlight, brake lights and signals are all good, tags are...shitshitshitshitSHIT! Tags are expired.

I figured since I had almost two hours before the nature walk class, I could probably find a BMV office and take care of it straight away, but there were two things I didn't count on: 1) getting lost 2) arriving at the office location where I took my driving test (eons ago) to discover the office long gone. Eventually, I gave up and went to my friends' house to rendez vous for the class.

It was about an hour into the class that we heard a knock at the door. Sarah (one of the homeowners) went to answer it and came back to say, "It's a cop. Um...Foxy...."

So I went to the door to take my lumps. I was a bit taken aback that I was about to get cited for my plates on the same day I remembered and the same day I had been broken into, but that was nothing compared to what came next.

(to be continued....)

Posted by foxydot at June 17, 2007 10:05 PM