In Other News...

Now that I've documented all of our adventures in California, it's time to update my tens of readers on what has happened since then. We're going in no particular order, because it's my blog and that's how I feel like doing it. So, let's start with this little slice of whimsey:



I took a picture of this... erm... we'll say "motorbike" on my phone while I was parked in front of my favorite coffee shop here in town. I was all chicken and took it through the car window (unintentionally including part of my finger) because I didn't want anyone to be like, "Hey! Don't take pictures of my awesome 'motorbike'!"

But the reason I took the picture was because this... thing, this very, very... interesting... thing, totally represents what is awesome about the town I live in.

Here, we are resourceful, tough, and creative. We're quirky but we have a great sense of irony. Most of all we own our quirks. Yep, I doubt you'll find another town in the west with a population more proud of their quirks. So I thought I'd take a moment to point out all of the features of this... I'm still going with "motorbike"... and demonstrate why this should probably be the official city vehicle.

First off, let's address the resourceful part. The three towers of plastic drawers bungeed to the back are a fantastic addition. They're like several miniature trunks in which the rider can keep wrenches, bolts, keys, a spare pair of socks and possibly even important documents folded up really, really small.

Now how about tough? You'll notice there's a yellow poncho on top of the drawers. That's right. This driver scoffs at the rain. Would minor Autumn monsoons stop this guy? Not a chance! Frankly, I would be completely unsurprised to see this thing driving around town in the dead of winter.

Let's move on to creative, shall we? Need I even point out the faux (I assume) lambswool seat? At this elevation the sun really bakes vinyl imitation leather, so it makes sense to upgrade to a more comfortable seat post haste.

Quirky. Yeah. I don't think that one even needs an explanation. Plus, I can't pick just one quirky element.

We have a sense of irony. I don't think you can make it out in the photo, but the name of this particular vehicle, written in very fast looking font, is The Sherpa. Of course it is. Because this thing was obviously purposed specifically to transport ones possessions through perilous mountain passes to dizzying elevations. What else could it possibly be meant to do?

Finally, let's talk about owning your quirks. If you want to communicate loud and clear that you're proud of your quirky... I'm gonna stick with "motorbike"... how would you do that? I submit to you that bright gold rims are definitely the way to go. They add the bling to an otherwise ordinary army green and chrome, lambswool clad, plastic bureau and poncho outfitted high altitude transportation vehicle. They say, "No, I'm not driving The Sherpa because it's all I can afford. I deserve a vehicle as unique as my journey! I am the author of my own epic adventure! I am the Captain of my 'motorbike'!"

It is exactly that spirit that permeates the community in which I live. Whether we express our unique point of view through our commitment to maintaining floor-length dreadlocks, our insistence that hula hooping is both exercise and the highest form of visual art, our crusade to educate society about the psychological benefits of macrame or our desire to do something really crazy like wear a collared shirt to work, we are all, in our own way, the Captain of our "motorbike".

And we wouldn't have it any other way.