1. No parking
Our choir was supposed to go to Pitt St. Methodist Church for a rehearsal with their choir one Saturday morning. It's located downtown, and we couldn't find anywhere to park. We drove around the block a few times (actually 3 blocks when you factor in the one-way streets) and finally found a place on Pitt St, only to discover that
a) we didn't have any change for the parking meter and b) the parking meter takes credit cards but not debit cards ... and we didn't have the credit card with us. The parking warden stopped and talked to us and recommended a few other locations. So we got back in the car and drove arond the blocks a few more times. Finally on our 4th time around, we accidentally ended up in a turn-only lane which forced us on the motorway headed south. So we gave up and went home. So much for choir practice. 2. Getting Lost
Our choir was supposed to sing for a church member at her nursing home because she was turning 106(!). Curt and I arrived at the nursing home, which is a campus of 10 buildings and we didn't know where the singing was supposed to be.
All the doors were locked and there was no office or infomation desk in sight. We didn't see anyone from choir. We didn't hear any singing. They must have been there somewhere, but we couldn't find them. After a while, we gave up and left. (Do I sense a pattern here?)The regular choir practice was going to take place back at the church about 45 minutes later, and we had some time to kill, so we headed to the electronics store ... which was closed. Another wasted trip. (Uh oh. There's definitely a pattern happening.)
So we gave up and headed back to choir practice. We were the first ones there (everyone else was still at the nursing home having tea and cookies) and we debated whether to confess that we'd been there or to just act like we never intended to go there in the first place. I ended up confessing and getting loads of symathy, especially since it was the second time we'd missed an event recently.
3. Getting towed
Normally, I have to be at work every morning at 7:30 so it's easy to find a place to park on the street out by the school's front gate. I've never had to search for parking options on any other streets because I'm the first one to arrive every day. Well, one day I offered to work from 12 to 7 because the usual librarian was unavailable. When I arrived at school just before noon, there were no parking places to be seen. Eventually I saw someone pulling out of a spot along the side of the school where there were 20 other cars. So I parked there and went to work.
At 7:00, I came out and my car was GONE! (as were all the other 20 cars) Had my car been stolen? I found the school security guard and we figured out that it must have been towed. Apparently the space along the side of the school was a bus zone between 2-4. Oops.
The next problem was to find out which towing company had my car. While the security guy searched for that bit of information, I went back in the library and called Curt to come and get me. All I can say is it's a good thing we have 2 cars. I felt like crying. I was so frustrated for doing something dumb and expensive and it had been a long day. Besides, why didn't the school just call me to move my car? They have the license plates of both our cars on record just for this reason. (At least with this reasoning, I could act like it wasn't entirely my fault.)
Anyway, Curt came to get me and I finally got home about 8:00. The next morning, he took me to work, one of the other librarians (bless her heart) drove me to the tow yard, and I retrieved my car. It cost me $112 NZ = $72 US : (
In spite of these recent snafus, we still feel like we're pretty lucky - and very happy - to be living here. Let's face it, we DO have cool jobs and we DO have a nice house. Most of all, we live on a tropical island in the South Pacific!! ... Even though I probably shouldn't brag about it. Sorry.
Megan
3 comments:
Only $72 US?!?! When I had to pay to get a boot off a car I had illegally parked it cost me $195!!! But I know how you feel when you do something dumb and expensive. That's $195 I could still have if I had not been such a dumbass. :)
Much less expensive than getting towed in the US! See, you can still gloat.
Bruce :-)
Blogs are supposed to be about bragging or at least thinking your goings on are important enough to put them in print. So it was fun to read the down side. I'm sorry you're missing so many choir practices, cars, etc. I think getting a towed car back here would be twice as much if that makes you feel any better.
Mom
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