Water -- Friend or Foe?

Recently many of my walks to and from work have involved rain.  Luckily, it has mostly been small showers that quickly disappear -- often I would even classify it as a light mist.  Sometimes I am not quite as lucky and arrive at my destination soaked -- I prefer to get soaked on the way home because it is much easier to jump into warm, dry clothes.  I can then dry my hair (if necessary) and heat up some water for a cup of tea as is traditional, or go with my personal alternative -- hot chocolate.  Then it is time to boil more water to fill up the hot water bottle.  As soon as my hot water bottle is ready I run it up the stairs and stick it in my bed under the covers so my bed will be nice and toasty when it is my bedtime.  There have been a few days when the hot water bottle has not made it up to the bed right away -- it stays downstairs with me to warm me up immediately. 

This morning's walk to work did not involve rain or hot water bottles, but it did involve water. It rained most of the evening yesterday and through the night.  The evidence was clearly visible in the puddles of water lining the streets and sidewalks.  I reached one of the numerous intersections on my way to work and saw that the crosswalk light just changed from green (walk freely and safely) to black/nothing (the equivalent of a yellow light -- don't start now).  I decided I should just hurry and cross.  This plan was going well until I was two steps from the curb on the other side and lost my shoe.  It took me a step to realize I had lost it.  Unfortunately, the step took me right into a puddle of water.  I went ahead and jumped onto the curb to wait for the car to pass.  I did not want to get sprayed by the passing car as it drove through the puddle (this has happened before -- by a bus).  After the car had passed, I grabbed my shoe.  I arrived at work shortly after with a wet sock, a squeaky shoe and a cold foot.