Keeping Warm

When the day outside looks like this:


...and yet you're stupid enough to be planning to spend 4 hours outside sitting still on a metal bench watching a football game, you need some tips. As a clarification, I mean spitting rain, 38 degrees, no sun with some wind tossed in kind of day.

First, you want to make sure that you have the proper undergarments. I recommend two (yes, two) pairs of silk long underwear, especially for the bottom. If you can't find the second top, a single silk long underwear top will do. The fat cat is optional.


Next, you'll want to make sure you have your ski socks on. The thermal kind. And go ahead, bring an extra pair of regular socks to put on top of them. To keep your long underwear from pulling up, go ahead and tuck the long underwear into your freakishly large ski socks.


Now you're ready to add your jeans. I recommend putting on a pair that's almost a size too big so that you can have air trapped in your jeans that will stay warm and insulated versus having cold wind blow more directly on your skin if the jeans are tights (since you have two pair of silk long underwear on already).


You'll want to add both a long sleeve t-shirt and a sweatshirt for your top, preferrably in appropriate school colors.


Since you know you'll be wearing a hat, don't bother doing anything to your hair after showering other than brushing it briefly. It will get mesed up anyway, so why lose sleep time primping? Your last step at home is to add the proper accessories. You'll notice the purple nails, as well as the earrings and necklace. These are critical to staying warm. Really, they are.


I feel like I shouldn't have to say this, but I'll go over the basics anyway. Wear a fleece. They're warm and they tend to repel water. Bring a fleece blanket to cover you and your legs, as well. A poncho is helpful but not necessary. Seatbacks are definitely necessary, as metal benches conduct the cold a little too well for my tastes. Plastic covered foam, however, keeps you a bit warmer. Gloves are also a big help, as are those cool hand warmers. Just make sure you let the hand warmers get a little air as they can't do their chemical reactions without sufficient air.

Lastly, bring along carpet squares. Why? Try putting your feet on frozen concrete for four hours. Mid hour two, you won't be able to feel your feet anymore. And trust me, not being able to feel your feet makes walking back to your car just a touch difficult. Instead, rest your feet on carpet squares. The carpet squares keep your feet off the concrete and create a great buffer.


Oh, did I forget to mention the matching purple shoes? So sorry!

Lastly, a little chemical addition to hot chocolate sipped periodically throughout the four hours may help some people. Personally, I wouldn't know, as it's illegal to bring alcohol into a college game. I've just heard about it....

Good luck keeping warm. Brrrr! Wish me luck on the 22nd! It's the last game of the season and at 2:30, which means we get to deal with dark as well as cold by the end of the game.