Today’s installment of “Ask The Slice”

Just heard from a friend. He had a question.

“Paul,

“I have a winter coat question not everyone would understand. But I think you will.

“It is 12 degrees right now. Do I break out my giant Eddie Bauer down coat? It’s very warm, certainly, but if I go all the way to that coat, I won’t have any reserve left. This coat is my nuclear option (my nuclear winter option?).

“Will I be screwed if I wear it at 12 degrees, and it subsequently drops to zero or 12 below? Is that like a gymnastics judge awarding a perfect 10, only to discover the next Romanian kid bounces even higher?

“This kind of over-thinking is why, nine winters out of 10, I never wear my Eddie Bauer coat even once. That, and the fact it makes me look like an upright sleeping bag, toddling down Riverside.”

It’s a good question. I used to be a big believer in always having a heavier coat in reserve…just in case.

Lately, though, I have been willing to haul out the Big Bertha parka early in the season, purely in the name of comfort. That’s what I did today.

But what would you tell my friend?