CollisionWorks

And no thanks to the police of the 9th Precinct, who wouldn't let me file a police report these three weeks, as I didn't have proper documentation (by their standards) for the car (which is actually my mother's, and in her name, in another state, which I can see causing problems, but not to this extent). I was treated myself like I was trying to put something over on them, like I was a suspect myself, every time I went in to them. Well, fuck 'em.

It was actually fairly simple, finding Petey. I had been checking online every day to see if the car had been ticketed, figuring that if it wasn't stripped, chopped, or in another state, it would be ditched somewhere, and would wind up being towed or ticketed (as there had been a slow leak in the left rear tire, I figured this was an even more likely possibility). Well yup, that happened, and the ticket showed up on the online system yesterday. The ticket said that, at the time it was given (the very day AFTER it was stolen), it was in Bed-Stuy, near the corner of Ralph and Jefferson Avenues. So, I decided to go out and see if it was still there.

It was. With a flat tire, yes. I had hoped to just jump in and drive it away (flat and all), but as I walked by it, I tried to open the door with the remote control, and it didn't work, meaning the battery was dead or gone. So I turned around and walked to the 81st Precinct, a few blocks away.

The desk man there was much nicer, and listened to the whole story patiently. He said that as I'd never actually filed a report, either I could go to the 9th again and tell them what was up, or, since the car wasn't actually "stolen" as far as the police were concerned, just call AAA and have them tow it where I wanted. He suggested the latter as easier all around, and I agreed, called AAA, and set it up.

Now he also made it clear (and it pretty well was already) that this was NOT an especially safe corner for a big, dorky, 41-year-old whiteboy to be hanging around, an I shouldn't go back to my car until the truck was there. So I waited for the call that it was nearby, and returned. "Nearby," however, turned out to be a very relative concept, as I wound up waiting about 15 minutes for the truck. During that exact time, the sun set, and what had seemed merely slightly foolhardy now seemed downright idiotic. I had passed a gentleman involved in some kind of dispute with someone else regarding a transaction of money and marijuana (in rather more colloquial terms, of course). He wound up focusing on me from across the street, and stated that I should come join him, as I needed to talk to him. I cheerfully replied that I had to stay where I was, and didn't see the need in joining him to talk behind the large 30-yard garbage bin where he indicated. This was repeated for a while, until he gave up and simply glared at me, as the truck showed up.

To make a long story short (too late), Petey went on the flatbed, flatbed went to my usual garage, where, despite being closed, a mechanic I knew, Karl, was working. He brought the car in, we looked to see what was wrong (flat tire, side door forced open, battery damaged beyond repair), and he told me he'd give me a call when it was ready.

And just three hours ago, I got the call from the garage that all was good, and I could come and get the car.

Now, here's the STUPID thing. The way it was PROBABLY stolen -- I'm not sure -- is that I PROBABLY left a spare key, that I had forgotten even existed, in either the glovebox or under the passenger seat. Oh, duh. So they probably just broke in to steal stuff, found the key, and decided it would be easier to loot in another neighborhood. I don't remember for sure if I had another key, but I kinda think I did, and there's no indication that they did anything to drive it away other than turn a key.

(So if you might be doing the same thing, think about it, check, and get that key out of your car if you left one there)

Fortunately, there was nothing in the car to lead them back to it, and there's a Club on it now. I did indeed lose my suit, my camera, and Berit's jigsaw, but everything else was there, so I'm feeling fairly lucky at this point.

In any case, it was a REAL pleasure to dive Petey to The Brick again today. As if celebrating, the iPod (which I put on my driving "Big Blue Plymouth" playlist) came up with a GREAT 9 songs to enjoy while back on the road with my vehicle -- yes, I chose the first, but the rest came up nicely randomly:

1. "Roadrunner (Thrice)" -- Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers -- 7" single b-side
2. "Strange" -- R.E.M. -- Document
3. "Southern Girls" -- Cheap Trick -- In Color
4. "Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime) -- The Flirts -- New Wave Hits of the 80s Volume 11
5. "MacLeans Toothpaste promo" -- Peter & Gordon -- Psychedelic Promos and Radio Spots volume 3
6. "Daydream Believer" -- Lord Sitar -- Ultra-Lounge: On the Rocks
7. "Mystery Roach" -- Frank Zappa & The Mothers -- 200 Motels
8. "Making Plans for Nigel" -- XTC -- Drums and Wires
9. "The Prisoner" -- The Clash -- Super Black Market Clash

I am also amused now that, due to some weird cock-up that's occurred recently in the iPod, I'm now getting completely wrong album cover illustrations to accompany some of these tunes, so that when I see Cheap Trick's "Southern Girls" listed, for example, it's next to the not-exactly-right cover for Nino Rota's soundtrack to Zeffarelli's Romeo and Juliet, and next to the XTC track is the cover to The Carl Stalling Project. When this started happening, I was annoyed, but now I'm enjoying the incongruities that occur.

Ah well, back to work at The Brick . . . today and tonight, I'm lighting Craven Monkey. Much work to do . . .