It snowed yesterday! I always like the first snow of the season. By March, I’m not as impressed with it, but for now, the winter wonderland is nice. Time to dig the winter coat out of the closet. My brother found that coat for me at a thrift store about five years ago. It’s a black Eddie Bauer coat, Gore Tex with down filling. It’s the warmest coat I’ve ever had. J and I have snowboarded in -20 degree weather (not too crowed on the slopes that day…), and with that coat I was just as warm as if I had been sitting in my living room. My feet were numb, but my body was toasty. And I am not a naturally warm person. J and I battle weekly over the thermostat, because I am usually cold. Maybe I should just wear my coat indoors?
Anyway, I love that coat. I wear it to snowboard and take the dog for walks in the winter. I wear it on cold days to go get the mail. It’s waterproof, so even the wettest snow just brushes right off. It’s not, however, a trendy, stylish coat. If you see me on the slopes this winter, I’ll look like a black marshmallow with a helmet. The coat is big and puffy (extra padding when I land on my back off a jump), without any colored panels that are so popular these days for skiing or riding. Could I go buy a new $200 ski jacket and look really cool on the mountain? Perhaps, but what would be the point? It definitely wouldn’t be any warmer or more comfortable, which is why I need the coat in the first place. I’m not particularly concerned with how I look on the mountain (or when I’m walking my dog in the snow for that matter). I’m having a blast, enjoying the snow, and staying warm. I think I’ll put the $200 in my IRA instead.
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