This morning a bit after 9, I stumbled out of bed, having gotten about 5 hours of sleep for each of the past two nights. I'm collecting my stuff to go to work, and then I think “hey, that's an awfully loud noise out there …”
I look out the window and there's the street cleaner. Shit. I quickly put on my keys and grab my shoes. (Hah, I actually just typed that. I think I'm going to leave it that way.) I go out to the street and my car is still there, with that side of the street otherwise totally empty. I hop in my car, put up my hand (meaning “just a second”) to the street cleaner guy (but I don't think he sees me), and drive over to a side street. I park there and come back to the house to get the rest of my stuff. I wanted to thank them for not towing my car, which they almost certainly could have, but that didn't seem to be a possible transaction with him way up high and all the noise, and by the time I come out again they've moved on to the next block, so I just go to my car and drive away.
I guess I owe the City of Pittsburgh one. What kind of favors can one do for a city as an organic whole, anyway?
Actually, what I should do is set up a cron job to email me so I remember to move my car next time …