Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/447518
Acoupleofmonthsago I traveled to Colorado on business, booked into a nice hotel and settled in to get ready for a meeting the follow- ing morn- ing. I woke to snow and temps in the low 30s F. There I was in open-toed shoes and a light sweater trying to break through some kind of frozen ma- terial on the car's wind- shield, which looked a lot like ice and snow. Normally, I would have chalked it up to poor plan- ning and forgotten about it. But this was different. As I stood there in the snow, chipping away at the windshield feeling more foolish than cold, I kinda' panicked. In just a few months, my husband and I, our business and all that we own — will be moving to Colorado! All I could think was how do people who live in cold climates manage to do that without majorly in- terrupting their lives and messing with their minds? Friends have assured me it's not difficult, provided you "have the right clothes and you know how to layer." Sounds easy enough if you now what that means. But I don't. So I asked readers who congregate at the DPL Facebook page. Within minutes, ex- pert information based on real-life experience began pouring in. Here's what I learned. Layer Up Proper winter dressing means three layers: wick- ing, insulating and pro- tecting. Wicking is the layer worn next to your skin, usually consisting of long underwear. This means the fibers will wick (move) moisture away from your skin and pass it through the fabric so it will evap- orate. This keeps you warm, dry and comfort- able. Readers are divided on the details of this wick- ing layer. The majority of my advisors recommend silk thermal underwear and say that's the secret of happy people in win- ter weather. Others are equally passionate about the brand Cuddle Duds be- cause they fit so well and these items are so warm and comfy. Insulating is the middle layer, and includes sweat- ers, sweatshirts, vests and pullovers. The purpose of this layer is to keep heat in and cold out, which happens when air gets trapped between the fi- bers. Popular insulation materials include fleece, a synthetic material that works well to insulate be- cause it dries quickly, and wool, which naturally wicks away moisture. Protection is the exte- rior layer, like a jacket and pants or a coat that serves as protection against the elements of winter. The protection layer should re- pel water from snow, sleet or rain. It should also block the wind while al- lowing perspiration to evaporate. Most genuine winter shells and pants are made waterproof and breathable to some extent by using tightly woven fab- rics that have a coating or laminate. This keeps mois- ture on the outside but al- lows perspiration to es- cape, keeping you dry and comfortable. Accessorize Headwear is essential because most of the body's heat escapes from an un- covered head. I'm pretty excited that I'll have a very real need to knit more hats, headbands and bean- ies. Socks. Oh, my. My read- ers who responded to my cries for help really do know their socks and have totally convinced me that we'll each need a pair of SmartWool socks. I was skeptical. I mean really, aren't socks just socks? A bit of research convinced me that my readers are pretty smart. About wool. SmartWool socks are made from a perfect blend of merino wool, nylon and elastane, engineered to be ideal for cold weather, ad- dressing all of the prob- lems regular socks and winter can produce (too hot, too cold, too tight, too bulk, too stinky). There's no doubt that preparing for our first winter is going to require an investment of time and money. There's always a tradeoff, and we are get- ting prepared well in ad- vance. Thank you so much to everyone who weighed in with such excellent and specific information. You can still find that post and comments at Facebook. com/DebtProofLiving. And while you're there, click on that "Like" button to join in the fun. Wouldyouliketosend a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@eve- rydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheap- skate, P.O. Box 2099, Cy- press, CA 90630. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE Winter comfort depends on the right clothes Mary Hunt Thankyou! PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. The Ride On Race Series has upped the ante in Te- hama County and will have four cycling races here this year. The first of the four races, being called the Te- hama Series, will begin at noon Sunday at Mill Creek Park in Los Molinos. The Ride On Race Se- ries started in 2010 and holds races in Siskiyou, Shasta and Tehama coun- ties. This year the series had four-race series in Sis- kiyou and Shasta counties and will be racing four dif- ferent Sundays in Tehama County. Points are awarded for each race of the 12 races a rider participates in and the rider with the most points will be crowned the overall winner. The four-race series gives a chance to those riders who can't travel to all the races and, like the overall series, the riders are scored on the races they participate in and the win- ner will be the racer with the most points after the four races. There are three class to compete in, the 30 min- ute C-Class, 45 minute B- Class and the 60 minute A-Class and both men and women are acknowledged. Organizers also offer a free one lap race to kids 12 and younger. Riders must compete in three of the four races to be considered for the series champion award. The races are loosely based on the sport of cy- clocross, which has been around for more than 100 years. Back in its begin- ning professional road rid- ers, the kind that partici- pate in races like the Tour de France, would challenge each other to point to point races during the winter months. The first to arrive upon the spot would be the winner, even if that racer went off the road and took short cuts along the way, sometimes carrying the bike through creeks, up steep hills or over fences. Today riders race on a pre determined course with barriers and obsta- cles to negotiate, often dismounting to accom- plish this. It is a spectator friendly form of bike racing with laps being completed in 5 to 10 minutes. Each race costs $20 to enter and a helmet is re- quired. Riders younger than 18 years of age must have a guardian sign the release form. The Ride On Race Series is a family fun event. More information can be found on the Ride On Race Series Facebook page. RaceserieskicksoffSundayinLosMolinos COURTESYPHOTO The Ride On Race Series kicks off Sunday at Mill Creek Park in Los Molinos with the first of four races this season. Pacific Gas and Elec- tric Company announced a partnership this week with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to plant a new tree in the wildfire-stricken Los Pa- dres National Forest on behalf of every customer who enrolls in paperless billing over the next sev- eral weeks, through Feb. 26. Customers can enroll at www.pge.com/ebills. "PG&E customers can choose to say goodbye to their paper bills forever and help the environment in the process," said Se- nior Vice President Lau- rie Giammona, PG&E's chief customer officer. "Pa- perless billing is the most convenient way for PG&E customers to receive their monthly statements. It's fast, secure and easy. Customers receive email alerts to let them know their statement is ready to view and they can make payments any time they want through our secure website. We're making this easy and an environmental win for everyone." Jonathan Birdsong, di- rector of the Western Part- nership Office for NFWF said, "The trees we plant through this effort will re- forest approximately 2,800 acres of the 19,000 acres that were burned in re- cent forest fires. Restoring these lands will help re- place the loss of this habi- tat for many important and threatened species, provide natural filters for clean wa- ter and provide benefits for nearby California commu- nities." Everynewtree matters The Los Padres Na- tional Forest and its trees provide habitats for some 468 species of fish and wildlife. One large tree can provide a day's sup- ply of oxygen for four peo- ple. In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a car driven 26,000 miles. Trees are es- sential natural filter sys- tems, capturing run-off, protecting water supply, and purifying water for wildlife and downstream users. "This emerging partner- ship greatly enhances our ability to undertake im- portant restoration proj- ects in areas impacted by past wildfires," said Los Padres Forest Supervisor Robert Baird. "This effort is about how every Califor- nian can play a part in im- proving public lands." PG&E will be planting a variety of native Cali- fornia trees, including the Ponderosa Pine, Jeffrey Pine, Incense Cedar and Sugar Pine. The Los Pa- dres National Forest in- cludes most of the moun- tainous land along the Cal- ifornia coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending in- land. To learn more about pa- perless billing, go to www. pge.com/ebills. ENVIRONMENT Trees planted for customers who go paperless CYCLOCROSS FARMBUILDINGS•ARENAS BULK STORAGE WAREHOUSES • OFFICES SELF STORAGE RV STORAGE AIRCRAFT HANGARS PROCESSING FACILITIES COMPLETE CONCRETE AND BUILDING SERVICE License #812173 #30SevilleCt. 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