It ain't easy being green

Although I'm a conservative and registered Republican, I'm not unsympathetic to the plight of ecological sensitivities. I always feel a tinge of guilt when eating spotted owl on the half shell and it kind of tugs at my heart when I have to dig out the dolphin bits out of my tuna salad of dubious origin. Still a guy has got to eat and being at the top of the food chain and having an opposing thumb has its privileges. But my menu habits notwithstanding, occasionally I'll keep the SUV garaged to spend some time pedaling my bicycle therefore saving gas and seeing how the other side lives. Today I rode the bike to work to show my solidarity with the wretches as part of Bike To Work Day, BTWD. Less than a mile into my ride it began raining. With every passing mile, the rain was more intense. I'm sure my experience was nothing any Seattlite would find untypical but this Californian, as used to experiencing the untypical as any Californian can be, was not pleased with this brand of untypical. Not pleased at all. The precipitation did not let up, of course, until I actually got to work and that was, of course, too late and 20 miles later.

It was the first time my bike, a very nice Klein Quantum road model with the shade-shifting "purple haze" paint finish, had ever experienced rain in earnest. That means it was the very first time its saddle, a very nice Selle Italia Flite model with titanium rails, got soaking wet. Being it has a dyed black leather cover, I experienced some personal dye transfer in my nether region. It was startling, as one might imagine, when I noticed the stain in the locker room mirror after my shower. It's a new look for me. But I've heard, "once you've had black you won't go back" so I'm curiously wondering what the future will hold.

But for now I'm wondering more if my jersey and shorts will dry out before I have to put it all back on for the ride home.