I recently had an issue trying to buy a winter coat.
My nice washable wool coat had been washed way too many times due to the amount of pet hair in the house, and it sort of fell apart about two weeks ago. I figured that I'd be able to run into a store, snatch a winter coat off their sale rack and get something warm for $35. Hell, it may be March, but we just had a blizzard, so it's not like we don't still have a need for winter wear in Ohio.

It turns out that not only are the stores only stocking shorts and tank tops now (even though we won't be ready for those until late June/early July), but that most of them totally did away with coats around Valentine's Day. I had to go online to buy a coat.

It's not like I was totally coat-less. I had my color guard coat, and I layered it with hooded sweatshirts and scarves. It was a look that was not professional, and I was getting slack at work for it. I would expect that in a state where it doesn't really snow until January and doesn't stop until April, that we would keep coats in the stores at least until March. Also, we don't get hot weather until the end of June, and that doesn't stop until October. In October it immediately drops to freezing (although we won't have snow until January) and the whole fashion thing is all messed up.

I've learned my lesson. I can't wear a black wool coat while I live in this house with these animals. I can hang it up and lint brush it every day, but something large and reddish brown is going to launch himself at my crotch or lean on me, and fluffy orange and calico things are going to hurl their small bodies at my shoulders and I am still going to stagger around covered in pet dander.

I suppose it's nothing compared to the amount I shed. I imagine that when the pets groom themselves they're forever pulling off long strands of witchy hair and thinking "how the hell did I not notice THIS?"

Bring it on, Ohio. Now I am properly suited up and pet hair proofed.