Vehicular musical chairs over the weekend
I currently have custody of both of the company trucks. One (the white one) is not worth the company's time and money to repair, but is generally in good shape. It will be disposed of as soon as the company can get a duplicate title, because no one can find the title. The other (the green one) is fine, but needs some minor repairs; notably the heater blower does not. So both of the trucks were sitting for a few months.
A few weeks ago, they both turned up with "THIS VEHICLE IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS AN ABANDONED VEHICLE" stickers. The sticker basically said "this has to move in the next two weeks or we're towing it away." So the green one was driven to the repair shop, and the white one was driven around the corner.
Last Friday (10 days ago), the alternator on my 1987 MR2 died. I drove it on the battery to my neighborhood mechanic, Smitty. A few hours and $250 later, it was repaired. But then this Friday, the alternator died again. So I drove it one the battery to Smitty again. He said he'd make it right, but it would be a few hours. But I didn't have a few hours. So I drive it home, started the 1985 MR2, left it running to give the battery some juice, drove the 87 to the currency exchange where I bought a new plate sticker for the 85, drove the 87 to Smitty and walked home.
When I got home, I noticed that the white truck was gone. But I didn't have any way or time to deal with that. So I ignored the problem, got in the 85, and got on with my day and my derby weekend (which by the way involved driving a Very Large Truck).
6:30am Monday morning, I called the city:
"Hi, I just got back from a weekend away and noticed that my company truck is gone. do you know anything about that?"
"Yes, we towed it; it was abandoned."
"Oh no it wasn't! The sticker was put on it on Wesley near Lake Street, and it was towed from Lake Street."
"Oh. Well in any case you have to speak to the towing coordinator, and he won't be in for an hour. Here's his number..."
Long story short, the towing manager said "oh yeah, the one we towed in error. I'll call the lot and tell them to release it to you at no charge."
So then I waked over to Smitty (1/2 mile) and got the 87. Drove it home. Then walked to the towyard (2 miles) and drove the truck back (technically illegal since it has expired plates and no insurance).
All in all, a lot of driving and walking back and forth in many more vehicles than I usually deal with in such a short time.
(originally posted to on dreamwidth. I'd like to keep all my comments in one place, so please comment there by creating an openID cross-site login.)
A few weeks ago, they both turned up with "THIS VEHICLE IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS AN ABANDONED VEHICLE" stickers. The sticker basically said "this has to move in the next two weeks or we're towing it away." So the green one was driven to the repair shop, and the white one was driven around the corner.
Last Friday (10 days ago), the alternator on my 1987 MR2 died. I drove it on the battery to my neighborhood mechanic, Smitty. A few hours and $250 later, it was repaired. But then this Friday, the alternator died again. So I drove it one the battery to Smitty again. He said he'd make it right, but it would be a few hours. But I didn't have a few hours. So I drive it home, started the 1985 MR2, left it running to give the battery some juice, drove the 87 to the currency exchange where I bought a new plate sticker for the 85, drove the 87 to Smitty and walked home.
When I got home, I noticed that the white truck was gone. But I didn't have any way or time to deal with that. So I ignored the problem, got in the 85, and got on with my day and my derby weekend (which by the way involved driving a Very Large Truck).
6:30am Monday morning, I called the city:
"Hi, I just got back from a weekend away and noticed that my company truck is gone. do you know anything about that?"
"Yes, we towed it; it was abandoned."
"Oh no it wasn't! The sticker was put on it on Wesley near Lake Street, and it was towed from Lake Street."
"Oh. Well in any case you have to speak to the towing coordinator, and he won't be in for an hour. Here's his number..."
Long story short, the towing manager said "oh yeah, the one we towed in error. I'll call the lot and tell them to release it to you at no charge."
So then I waked over to Smitty (1/2 mile) and got the 87. Drove it home. Then walked to the towyard (2 miles) and drove the truck back (technically illegal since it has expired plates and no insurance).
All in all, a lot of driving and walking back and forth in many more vehicles than I usually deal with in such a short time.
(originally posted to on dreamwidth. I'd like to keep all my comments in one place, so please comment there by creating an openID cross-site login.)