Welcome to the thirty-seventh post of the Great Writing Challenge of 2012.
Five days a week for six months, I will be given a topic to write about. The stipulation: it must be 250 words (or more), and positive in tone.
If you would like to suggest topics for me to write about, please email me at TheRebeccaProject [at] gmail [dot] com.

Umbrellas. I can’t stand them and I categorize people who use as impractical and weak. If there is one thing you will never see, it’s me with an umbrella.
There, I said it! 

It’s both a little ridiculous and a little unfair, but hear me out.

I am a girl who has always been a little more practical than the next, and this was only encouraged when I lived in Ireland. And if there’s one thing you should know about the Emerald Isle, is that the locals know how to deal with crappy weather. Umbrellas cannot help you in Ireland. The cyclone-level winds that blow in off the Atlantic teaches foolish tourists who dare to open one pretty fast.

And umbrellas are a pain. They’re a hassle to carry around, they take up too much valuable real estate on crowded, rainy streets and they’re beyond dangerous. I am the perfect height to have my eyeballs poked out and have the scratches on my glasses to prove it. So I wear my all-weather rain proof jacket. 

Seeing as though inclement weather is returning to the Bay Area, it’s the perfect time to share with you my survival tips for staying dry and actively valuing the sight of your fellow men and women:

1. Check the weather forecast. I never used to care about what the day had in store for me, but now I check the weather app on my iPhone as soon as I get up. It helps me dress accordingly, a must for those of us who rely on public transport.
2. Invest in a good raincoat. I have a goretex jacket I bought over six ago from Kathmandu, and it’s still serving me well. Make a commitment to preparing yourself for any kind of weather from rain to snow.
3. Keep a small raincoat or poncho handy. I keep a lightweight one in my handbag, It squishes down into a little pouch – much smaller than a regular umbrella.
4. For people who wear glasses: fear not! The secret: add a hat to the ensemble! It keeps your glasses dry, and keeps the droplets away from your face. If you wear the SF Giant hat, you’ll get bonus points.
5. Ladies, have a practical handbag, backpack or satchel. If you can’t get it wet, then you shouldn’t be wearing it. Same applies to shoes, clothing.

   Should you wear a rain jacket instead of using an umbrella, you will get kudos from world travellers like me when we see you on the street. Just like this:

[Source]

Join the school of practicality. Say no to umbrellas!