zippojeans

I thought I had lost Stella forever.

Walking out to my car on Richmond on Friday morning after staying at Jesse's, I unlocked it and sat down in the front seat, but I noticed something: I could still hear cars driving by as if my windows were open. I looked into the back seats (which had been put down so I could keep my bike in my car) and saw nothing but shattered glass. No bike. They had taken my beloved Stella out of my back window after smashing it.

"STELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I screamed. Just kidding, but I wanted to say it, Streetcar Named Desire style.

I got out of my car, looked at it, saw the big stick that had been used to smash the window, and tried not to cry. I was in shock for a few moments, just standing around letting it sink in, then I called 411 to get the Buffalo Police, and reported everything. They said they would send someone to make a report.

I walked back to Jesse's (I had parked pretty far away) and told him what happened, and that's when I started crying. I then called my sister and then my dad, very upset of course, and explained everything. My dad was amazing about everything. He called the insurance company right away to see if we had glass coverage (we didn't) and I waited for the cops to come. (More on my dad being awesome later, I'm trying to keep it chronological.)

They showed up and took the report and told me, "Well if we see any crackheads riding around on your bike we'll give you a call." I knew I'd never get her back. Jesse did most of the work of cleaning the glass up and everything; I was too distraught to be of much help.

My dad then called to tell me about the insurance and not bothering to make a claim, but he told me he'd help me out on the price of fixing the rear window, and that he'd buy me a new bike as a very early Christmas present. It was kind of like going out to get a new puppy just hours after your faithful dog has died in a tragic accident. I didn't really want a new bike right away, but I accepted the offer for a future date.

After my car was cleaned up I tearfully drove home, trying not to let it get to me so much. No amount of crying would bring Stella back or fix my car. I bore whoever stole it no ill will, but I did want it and the money it would cost to fix the window back.

My dad drove over to talk to me, and I offered to take him out to breakfast, where he gave me a check for all of the $250 it would cost to fix my window and the details of the appointment he'd made for a glass place to drive over to my house and fix it.

He asked me how it felt to be the victim of crime. I told him that it sucked but there was nothing I could do and no amount of being mad would change things. I'd learned my lesson about being too credulous (a GRE word I had studied that morning, it means too trusting and gullible)  and not to leave my bike in my car. I also told him that it was nice to know there are plenty of people who care about me-- him in particular-- and are willing to help me out when I need it. Lessons learned.

Jesse came over that afternoon with no less than three bottles of wine, and we cooked a delicious dinner of stuffed banana peppers, and other delicious things. Saturday morning rolled around and we did a couple hours of studying and watching Saturday morning cartoons and waited for the guy to show up and fix my window. After my window was fixed we decided to head over to Delaware Park with our books to study under my favorite weeping willow.

On our way there (actually to Jesse's to drop some stuff off first) I decided to call Rick's, the place I bought my bike from that sells used bikes, and tell them my bike was stolen on the off-chance that someone came in to sell them my bike. After asking me a few questions about what my bike looked like, they guy told me that he thought he had it and to come over to check!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The entire ride down Main St with Jesse I couldn't contain myself. I was so excited and trying not to get my hopes up about whether or not it was mine. Sure enough, it was! I really was a happy camper.

The guy did something rather shady: he told me that he had paid the guy $20 for the bike and made me give him the money. I told him that was shady because it was stolen property, but since it was $20 or never see my bike again I gave him the money and he gave me the receipt with the guy's name and address on it who brought it in!

I'm still a little angry about the fact that I had to pay $20, especially because it seems like the guy may make a lot of money off of reselling stolen bikes in this manner. Oh well, the cops can figure that out if they want to. I also lost my bike lock, which was on it and had been cut off most likely. I think I should look into a metal lock.

After riding my bike back and being happy as a clam, I called the officer back who wrote my report, and gave him the information I had. They filed a supplemental report and will be in touch with me in a couple days if they can get the guy. My dad says if they let it slide he will call them in a few days and use his "cop fraternity" prestige to keep them on it.

So instead of driving to Delaware Park, we got to ride, and what a beautiful ride it was! A perfect day, with my bike back that I thought I would never see again. We spent a couple hours there under the willow studying for our respective GREs (he is taking the General Test, I'm taking it and the English Subject Test) and relaxing, making for a very productive studying weekend.

We biked back to his place and then to the marina, where we got some ice cream in extremely windy conditions and watched the boats. Extremely windy conditions are difficult ones in which to eat ice cream, but we managed without getting too sticky.

I'm home now, really tired from such a good ride and extremely content. I love being alive and everyone who has been so good to me.

~I'll put up pictures soon of our bikes reunited and some other pictures.

Me at the McCain protests I helped organize!!! Here's me on Channel 4, explaining that McCain was using Buffalo as an ATM:

And again on 7:

That really was loads of fun! McCain is a lot older than he looks on TV. He is old. It was a really great protest-- about 150-200 people turned out, and it got good news coverage. The other angle was covered well too, unfortunately, it seems better than ours. You can find the rest of the story told by channel four at www.wivb.com, www.wbfo.org is where you can find a bit of an interview they did with me on the radio.

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