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| Editors: |
| Thanasi
(The GREEK) |
| Katherine
(atomicalex) |
| Jamie
(JazzMat) |
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| Writers: |
| Katherine
(atomicalex) |
| Rob
(rpaller) |
| Carl
(ckatkinson) |
| Ralf
(rtenke) |
| Kevin
(Sullie) |
| Chris
(TheJezter) |
| Tyler
(teknubic) |
| Tony
(cerev1) |
| Thanasi
(The GREEK) |
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The Dry Season
by atomicalex
December 06, 2004 |
It never
happened down in Savannah. Well, maybe for a couple of
weeks in January, but that doesn’t count. It did
happen in Philly, but not like up here in Michigan. I
was surprised when it started so early this year. It
just seems wrong that I will have to endure an entire
six months of it, maybe even more.
I supposed it would be appropriate to make the pun and
say I am shocked that it started at the end of
September this year. I distinctly remember that it
didn’t start until close to November last year. So
why an extra month this year? WHY?!?
If you haven’t guessed yet, I got shocked the other
day. September 30th. I think it was my first
snowflake, too. I got out of the car, forgetting to
grab the B pillar as I swung my legs over the cushion
to get out. As I touched the door to shut it, snap!
The crackle was audible in the cool fall air. I
withdrew my hand in pain and disgust, pain from the
discharge, and disgust with myself for forgetting that
early lesson of velour: always, always, ground
yourself.
The onset of the dry season means two things. The
first is that one must be ever vigilant about
grounding. The second is that there will be no more
washes in the summer sun, no more warm days for
wrenching outside, no more short shorts or suntanned
left arms. Snow will come, and with it winter tires
and ugly wheels. Salt will precipitate on bodywork and
leave behind crusty stains. Beatermobiles will be out
as summer cars are stored.
The whole velour thing is interesting. I bought velour
because I didn’t want cold leather in the winter.
Heated or not, leather seats are cold before they are
warm. I didn’t want hot, sticky leather in the
summer, either. Velour is a good breathing material,
it’s warm and soft year-round without ever being
burning hot. It holds up well to wear and generally is
easy to keep clean. I like my grey velour. I like it
so much, I tried to convince Steven he needed it in
the new Golf. He got black velour. Traitor!
The only failing of velour is the dry season. For some
reason, it is worse in the Passat than any other car I
have ever driven. It is absolutely horrible. It could
be an alternate energy source if harnessed properly.
The new hybrid Passat - wiggle your butt and power
your car. Forget psychotherapy, you can do shock
therapy at home. What a concept. The opportunities are
endless!
Last year I accidentally hit on a solution to the dry
season problem. For some reason or another (I think I
was cross-country skiing and soaking wet), I put a
cotton towel on my seat before I sat down on it. It
stayed there for some time – a couple of weeks.
After a while, I noticed that I was no longer getting
shocked – B pillar grab or not. I’ll try it out
again this year. I have to go shopping for a nice grey
towel – I want to look more coordinated this year.
The old white one with the green stripe is just not,
well, Passat worthy. And it certainly doesn't match my
boot.
So now I’m a bit concerned. Do you think alcantara
has the same problem?
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