Chicago's 7th Snowiest December...EVER, people.

I will agree with Allison, Chicago is absolutely stunning right now... but it has been quite the adjustment to this weather. After being "that girl in her high heels" a couple weeks ago during out first snow flurry, Santa brought me an early Christmas present... BOOTS. Thank goodness they came early because according to WGN, (the Chicago local news) we are experiencing one of the snowiest Decembers in 124 years. You may think it is pretty, but it is not so pretty when you have to wait for public transportation to take you to and from work.



I think I should write a little book of tips for those who are new to the city. First, don't stand inside the bus stop. It seems like a safe zone, but oh no. Yesterday morning I was standing inside the bus stop waiting for my transfer bus on Michigan Ave when this nice black Ranger Rover came speeding by, hitting a puddle of slush, and spraying me and another innocent bystander. Now I stand behind the bus stop.



Puddles. I don't think I have ever seen bigger puddles here. Of course the biggest puddle in Chicago happens to be located at the bus stop in front of our apartment. When the bus drops you off on the way home, you have to wait on a small curb side until the bus passes and the light signals "walk." If the light is red, you have to wait for cars to pass by. Big puddle + cars speeding by = no good. Thankfully the first time I experienced this I was next to a nice lady who held her umbrella out in front of her to block the splash. Second lesson: use your umbrella as a shield.



Falling ice. On Wednesday I was walking along with my new friend/co-worker Sheila to grab some lunch when all of a sudden we were caught in the line of fire. The buildings in the area put out signs that read "watch for falling ice." Yeah, yeah... falling ice. What, is an icicle going to pierce my skull? I didn't think so... until... Sheila and I were gossiping and minding our own business when a HUGE 80 pound chunk of ice came falling down off the 40-story skyscraper landing at our feet. If we were one second faster it would have landed directly on our heads, most likely KILLING us - ok maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration. But STILL. OMG. I think Chicago should make covered sidewalks with heaters. I mean, come on. This is dangerous, so they want people losing lives from falling ice? Third lesson: start designing my own line of designer hard hats.



The commute home on the bus. During the snow storm on Tuesday evening I hopped on my first bus after waiting in the freezing cold for 30 minutes. Let me tell you, it was a battle to get a spot on the bus, standing or sitting. I shoved my way through and was lucky enough to get a spot on the bus. With my ipod in, hat on, scarf tightly snug around my neck, gloves and huge jacket, I was sweaty. I managed to get an arm up to take my hat off, that helped. We only live about three miles away from the downtown loop. It normally takes about 30 minutes to get home on a good day. This time it took two hours to get home. I guess the city is trying to save money and cut back on the amount of city workers. Thus less people to plow the snow and cause major delays on everyone's commute home. To top it off, I had to spend those two hours leaning against my new homeless friend who decided to scream obscenities across the bus the ENTIRE time. No matter if you have your ipod on and do not give them attention, they still seem to harass you. Fourth lesson: when it snows, bundle up and walk home. It might be a little more painful but it might be worth it.



Here is what is in store for this evening:



"Chicago's 7th snowiest December in 124 years is about to get even snowier. The second major winter storm in a week -- this one wetter and stronger -- hits with thunder Thursday night and Friday morning. Its track will dictate how the cocktail of precipitation it produces is distributed across the area. Current indications point toward major snow and sleet accumulations roughly north of Interstate Highway 80 with serious icing -- capable of snapping power lines and downing branches -- being a problem late Thursday night in the south. Computer models and various snowfall forecast techniques suggest the storm's 12 to 14 hours of steady precipitation will reach the city between 8 p.m. and midnight. Estimates of the storm's water equivalent precipitation range from 0.86 inches to 1.75 inches -- three to six times the moisture generated by Tuesday's system. That could translate to 6 to 14 inches of snow over parts of the metro area -- especially north -- into Wisconsin. The presence of t-storms may lead to bursts of heavy precipitation."



I am walking home, we will see how this one goes.

Tis the season

The city has been transformed. Every store front is adorned with Christmas trees, holiday lights, boughs of holly and humongous ornaments. Every bar, restaurant, movie theater, condo building and tree along the street is covered in holiday cheer. I've never seen anything like it.

In each planter along Michigan Avenue sits a perfect glass ball next to a whimsical tree covered in white lights. I'm sure that if this set up was in Seattle, a bum would quite possible electrocute himself by urinating on the extension cords and would try to sell the blown glass ball on a nearby corner. Also in these planters are white boards on stands with a "Happy Holidays and Happy New Year" scribbled in cursive black dry erase marker. EXTRAORDINARY that nobody should come by and change it to "F*$% all you commercial sinners!" or something offensive followed by a "JESUS LIVES" to really stress the true meaning of Christmas. Day by day I pass the planters and they remain the same. The glass balls are unremoved. The Christmas trees are lightly dusted with snow and sparkling white lights. The dry erase cursive still reads a pleasant and cheerful message. How can this be?

I have seen movies of New York City sidewalks where it looks like a moving river of people packed in so tightly it stresses me out. Michigan Avenue aka "The Magnificent Mile" is no different. Women in their fur coats and hats shuffle along the sidewalks carrying their Saks and Neimans bags, bumping into everyone as though they have a special right to take up more space. RED BAGS are everywhere as the enormous American Girl doll store is next to the Macy's - both big red bags. Then you pass the teenagers that are no doubt still shopping for themselves as they schlep their yellow Forever 21 bags alongside their friends.

Chicago is lovely - flipping freezing - but lovely. The spirit, the pride, the gorgeous snow and the perfect fur coats have made this a truly magical holiday season.

The sniffle crime

Waterproof Ugg boots, wool socks, double-up mittens and the biggest coat you can find - all essentials for a Chicago winter. The snow has graced us with it's presence - and like like an old tattoo of your astrological sign that you got when you were 18 and will regret for the rest of your life - I think this winter is here to stay... until March anyway.

There have been flurries. There have been flakes. But, nothing has stuck around until last night. I woke up to find a white Lake Shore Drive and a fuzzy view of the lake as the snow continued to dust the sky. I decided to brave the wintry conditions and venture out to run a few errands. I put on my long underwear, jeans, 2 shirts, a sweater, scarf, wool socks, rain boots, hat, jacket, a pair of gloves and walked to the bus stop prepared to wait. The snow was falling sideways and I swear I saw some coming from the ground up... making sure to hit whatever bare piece of skin I had left exposed. I watched people scraping their windshields with devices that I did not know existed... an extendable window shovels with rubber grips ready to rid your car of the dreaded ice.

I made it downtown on the bus (very slowly) and made a few stops, splashing in puddles and crunching in the compacted snow. Everyone was bundled up and then it occurred to me that Jen wore heels to work today. Heels. In the snow. She emailed me about this catastrophic error and told me that she almost fell with every step. She'll be taking a cab home this evening.

Upon my errand completion, I was back to the bus. Jen left me a bag of clothes that she needed delivered to a nearby tailor shop... The bus dropped me 3 blocks away and I decided to hoof it in the snow to the shop - except that I was on the wrong street and completely missed the shop and found myself in front of our apartment. Hmmm. Freezing, irritated, trying to be a good friend and confused about why I am walking around in the snow, I backtracked 5 blocks and found the shop. The Asian man behind the counter helped me with the things and I tried to show him what needed to be done... however, snot was pouring out of my pink nose and as I was trying to sniffle it back in, he walked away from me. At first I thought he was going to be polite and grab me a tissue. Instead, he went back to his lint roller and continued what he was doing. "Excuse me..." I said, rosy-cheeked and still sniffling. "When you ready, you let me know" he barked back. At what point did standing at the counter with the clothes in front of me get confusing for him? "I AM ready" I informed him. "Ohhh... you just stand there sniffle and I not know what you need." Really. Really? I was shocked. He made fun of me for having a runny nose? I should have just walked out, but couldn't fathom the idea of looking for another tailor shop in the weather. Maybe he would have preferred the "let-the-snot-run-down-my-lip-into-my-mouth" look. Always cute...

I showed him the ripped seams and missing buttons, took my slip, and left. I don't know if it felt warmer out because I was boiling mad, or if there had been a temperature increase to a whopping 28 degrees, but the sideways snow had stopped. It was quiet and beautiful. I looked around and saw the huge brownstone mansions with chandeliers and grand pianos occupying their bay windows. Every wrought-iron fence lined with garland and red bows... the snow was the final touch to this winter wonderland.

I walked the 4 blocks home and took deep breaths of the cold air - which did make me cough. I hear that by February we are going to curse at the snow every day, so I might as well enjoy it for the first week or so. Or, until I fall down in it - which I'm sure will happen in no time.

All I have to do now is remember my pack of tissues! And gloves... and scarf... and boots... and...