I left the lights on. I should have called Mercedes Roadside Assistance -- mistake #2. I called Allstate instead. Then sent out some Russian dude who left the jump box hooked up for about 90 seconds. I should have caught this... mistake #3. On the way home, the radio starts cutting out. The gauges started acting crazy and then all the electronics were dead. I get home and try to restart the car -- NOTHING. I mean NOTHING. I had to hook it up to a battery charger just so I could put the windows back up!

My alternator is about 18 mons old. And its toast now.

The only good part about today is the homebrew that I'm drinking as I type.