8. Recyling

I was just trying to be my recycling best, saving wire hangers to untwist and turn into garden stakes. So a bunch of these hangers are in the back of the volvo station wagon. I'm real late and drive to the bus stop with my bike pushed inside, parking a few blocks away. I pull the bike out; it's dark; I start riding, it takes more effort than usual but I press on to the bus stop. Bike on bus, then off; light enough to see now: a bunch of wire hangers entangle the back wheel and chain. The derailor is bent, maybe beyond repair--I'm distraught. I go to Costco, buy a new bike--I'm happy, it has disk brakes. Maybe this winter I can make one usable bike out of the two broken bikes now cluttering my garage.

7. Paper or plastic?

The headlines screamed, "Mayor in Jeopardy," referring to the two-term mayor's third place standing as the early results came in. But I was more interested in the result of the challenge to the city's plan to place a 20 cent tax on all disposable shopping bags. The plastics industry put 1.4 million into ads against it and had its way. Supporters found a positive spin, saying the issue had at least raised awareness.

"Paper or plastic, sir?"

"Neither, thanks; I'll just stuff things in my backpack."