You've got to be kidding

Bad news yesterday. Some one broke into my car.

Bad news for the thief.

He broke into a Geo Metro. Hatchback!

He (let's just assume for the ease of writing with hatred) must have been desperate. The reason I say that is, it was a professional job. He removed the passenger side lock from the door. Literally, removed it. Now, there is just a gaping, jagged hole in the door. So, he had some good tools. A pro. Except, he targeted a Geo Metro. In a neighborhood where, though a bit run down, a couple of blocks away would have yeilded him much more.

Also, this had to have been risky. My car was parked under my balconey, with a light on it. He would have had to move fast, as there are people going to and fro at all hours in my part of town.

What did he get? About $7 in change, and 20 CD cases. Ten of those cases had the CDs in them. That is the greatest loss, as they are some of my most favorite (Two of my Wilco's, and THREE of my PIXIES!!!), but I had taken the player and the slip case inside with me. So, all told, this "professional" made off with about $30.

Here's the rub. Because of the body damage to the door, I may need to pay about $700 to fix it. That is one crappy ratio.

I remember in Chicago, someone broke my passenger window to make off with about $3 in change and it cost me $50. 3/50 is much better than 30/700, it is, in fact, a difference of 1/16.6 to 1/23.3. It's tough losing those CDs, but that 6.7 difference in the ratio is what really burns. (Geek)

Now is where it gets even worse. For any of you optimists out there who say, "But a Geo is a fine car, with great gas mileage at an affordable price", you don't have to live through this:

Every time I tell this story to friends, when I start out by saying someone broke into my car, they ALL make a face and say, "What? Why? You drive a Metro!"

Like I don't have a car that is good enough to steal from. How could that driver possibly have anything we would want to posess, he gets affordable gas mileage!

It is one thing to kid yourself that you aren't in that bad of a car, but when the reality comes springing back at you from the faces of your loved ones, it is humiliation realized.

It is giving me a Rush of Blood to the Head, causing The Bends, as I ponder All That You Can't Leave Behind. Damn it! Those were stolen too!