Hardy souls keep cool in the winter

Mom always said, "Wear a hat," and we know the rest. "The body loses lots of heat through an uncovered head."

But, what about bare legs when temperatures fall below zero, with wind chills sending them into polar range?

In September, workers at Trader Joe's in Arlington Heights took on a weather challenge. While it still was relatively balmy, they vowed to wear shorts as far into the winter as they could. To seal the deal, they all threw $5 into a pot -- winner take all.

It was dubbed the "Do You Hate Pants?" contest by worker Pat Chin as a team-spirit builder. Even those who had forsaken their shorts and weren't officially competing tossed in $5.

"We made it even more enticing when we promised the winner an iPod Shuffle," said first mate Noah Davidson (Trader Joe's work groups are led by captains, assisted by first mates, and all have crews).

Always eager to have fun on the job, 20 employees kept their cargo shorts on through the end of summer and into the fall.

Now, some have managed to hang in, even as record low temperatures cause their customers to pull down-filled jackets and coats closer to their bodies.

Four remain: Kyle Klein and Mark Landow of Arlington Heights; Adam Schufeldt of Wheeling; and Tristan Jackson of Schaumburg.

A former Vermont resident, Jackson has no intention of letting the weather get the best of him.

"The colder it gets, the more it energizes me," he said, a veiled warning to his competitors. "I have more motivation to stay in.

"The worst part is bringing in loads from the back. It gets a little chilly, but I'm staying on to the bitter end. It makes it a lot of fun at work."

Though the competitors still are at it, ignoring the blasts of frigid air that hit them every time the automatic doors slide open -- or when they must round up carts in the parking lot -- they've made one concession to Mom.

Some are still wearing their hats.