As I entered the picnic shelter outside Jackson Town Hall I quickly realized I was out of place.

On Saturday afternoon, I was worried about time, not dress, as I rushed from a meeting in St. Paul to take pictures at the Shakopee Lions Ice Golf Tournament, with plans to leave as soon as possible to fit in a scheduled apple strudel-making session with Grandma before heading back to St. Paul to a different Lions Club charity benefit and then on to Minneapolis for a bachelorette party.

Having gone dancing in downtown Mpls. Fridayevening, crashing for the night at a friend's place instead of returning home, I returned to Shakopee dressed in a grey corduroy skirt, black tights, dress boots and a wool coat.

As soon as I entered the shelter, where Polaris jackets, Carhartt wear and camoflouge gear abounded and a former city councilor gave me a quizzical look, I realized my mistake.   

I have always silently laughted at TV reporters who show up for informal events dressed in suits and high heels.

Embarrased, I seriously toyed with turning right back around. But packed in my car were just more skirts for my evening events. And there was no time to go home and change.

Having already been spotted and not wanting to let the club down with no photos in Thursday's paper, I endeared interesting glances and comments (some from half-drunken old men).  I had looked forward to golfing a few rounds myself, but my poorly chosen attire quashed this prospect. I took photos as quickly as possible and got out of there.

Not wanting to be seen as some out-of-touch journalist, I now feel the need to explain (and defend) myself.

I do know how to dress for winter and I am just as much a small-town person as those who spent Saturday drinking and golfing on a frozen pond in Jackson Township.

As evidence, I will note that there is a snowmobile parked in my garage and a fish house (with bunks and a bathroom) in my back yard (when not on Lake Waconia).  

[Disclaimer: OK, OK, the snowmobile and ice house belong to my brother and father and I rarely, {{cough}} if ever, use them. But they still qualify me as a country girl, don't they?]