Happy Accident

I have heard that many of our society’s great “inventions” were discovered accidentally.  For example, corn flakes, now a staple breakfast cereal in many North American households, came about by accident.  (For more on that story, check out this page.)  

This morning, I had such a happy accident.

My insulated lunch bag, which I had hitherto used to keep my freshly cooked 

oatmeal hot during the longish bike ride to work, had gone missing.  So, I wrapped my lidded corning ware container in a plastic bag, and tucked it amongst my work clothes, hoping that the insulating effect of the clothes, surrounded by my bike pannier, would keep the oatmeal temperate enough to still be enjoyed as a warm breakfast upon my arrival at school.

I got to school, grabbed the loot out of my pannier, and headed to the washroom to freshen up and change into my work clothes before gobbling down my by-now-probably-cooled-off oatmeal.  But a pleasant surprise awaited me when I unwrapped my package:  Not only was my breakfast still on the hotter side of warm, but my shirt, which had been insulating said breakfast, was now also nice and toasty, a welcome sensation against my skin, given the chilly air I had just ridden 50 minutes through outside!

I put on my warn shirt and ate my warm oatmeal – a comforting start to a long work day! 

I think I will go with the shirt-wrapping method by choice for my breakfast on bike-to-work mornings each week from now on.