Truck Towed due to Street Cleaning

OK, I can read signs just fine. The sign said "Street Cleaning - Second Wednesday of Every Month". What's today? The second Tuesday of the month. Apparently, I'm supposed to magically know that the second Tuesday of every month is when they clean the "odd side" of the street (the side everyone normally parks on); the second Wednesday is for the "even" side of the street.

I knew something was wrong when I noticed no cars parked on side of the street where I usually park. Sure enough, my truck was gone. I called the Cambridge City Clerk, who transferred me to the non-emergency police department, who then told me to call B&B Towing. When I called they explained that it will be $75 cash -- a truck ripped the phone line off their building a few days ago and they're still waiting to get their phones working before they can take credit cards. I jotted down their address and proceeded to Google Maps. The place was 3.2 miles from my apartment -- a bit further than I was willing to walk (I had to get to work). I knew I should have brought my bike to Cambridge this week instead of leaving it in Lowell!

I called a cab. Ten minutes later he arrived. He didn't seem to know the area very well for a cab driver. After fifteen minutes I arrived at 50 Mooney ST; an industrial area with big trucks, backhoes, and lots of dust flying around. The fare was $12.75 -- there were no credit cards accepted and I only had $11 cash on me. I told the cabby I needed to stop at an ATM, but he insisted on just taking the $11 and dropping me off. After he left, I realized I needed to go to the ATM anyway -- to get money to pay the towing company! I walked in the direction I thought I would find an ATM -- 1/2 a mile later I came across a Bank of America branch. I took out $100 cash and walked back to 50 Mooney ST.

After paying the towing company, I got in my truck -- ah! Whats that on my window? Oh, a ticket: $20 fine for parking on the street during street cleaning. This whole event cost me 1.5 hours and $106. How lovely. Tomorrow is the second Wednesday of the month. Everyone seems to have parked where they normally park on the street. I left my truck in my office parking lot and walked 1/2 a mile to my apartment. I'm not taking any chances. I set up a reoccurring event on my Blackberry to remind me each month before the street cleaning days.