Lots of Snow Today

1.22.2005

Today, I've gotten the most snow since I've been here in Chicago. It was pretty crazy. The alley way is completely filled with snow, people don't even want to drive back there to pick me up like they normally do. I pretty much had to climb out the snow pile. This picture was taken from Preston car, on our way to Andy's place. Why we still decided to go outside and drive in this weather? I'm not so sure. But it was pretty crazy. This picture doesn't even do it justice. I've never seen anything like this before. And when I got dropped off tonight, Lamont had to let me borrow his shovel so I can get back inside. It was my very first shoveling experience. I didn't have gloves on. Michael tried to help, but I thought I had to learn at some point...I think he and Lamont laughed at my "unsystematic" way of shoveling.

The garage door is pretty much buried, which means I'm walking to church tomorrow.

I'm learning so much about the snow here. There are things that I would have never ever thought of...Something as simple as parallel parking, for example. How you pretty much have to find a space that you can get in and out of. And, if you leave your car there for a couple of hours, you pretty much have to shovel to get your car out. Oh, and most people carry a shovel in their cars for occasions such as this.

There is a misconception however, about the way Dallas people are afraid of driving when it snows. Well, first of all, it rarely just snow. It's usually snow/freezing rain/sleet. And since we don't have salt trucks, or snow plows, a film of ice quickly covers the roads. THAT is when no one knows how to drive, and the whole city shuts down. But fortunately for Dallas, this only happens for a day, or 2, at most.

Also 1.22.2005

also 1.22.2005

Here's another picture I took today. Look at how the fire hydrant is covered more than 1/2 way up by the snow accumulation.

I don't know, I understand how all of this is all very inconvenient, but at the same time, I was kinda excited to see the snow just pour down. I guess new things are always exciting.

The shock factor has definitley diminished. Meaning, I'm no longer surprised when I get up in the morning, and I see that I have to trek through the most treacherous snow-covered alley way to get to my train stop. All that still does not warrant a snow day in this city's eyes. I have yet to have a snow day here.

Driving in the snow is not something that I'm looking forward to. I'm really contemplating not driving for the next 3 months or so. I mean, I don't even own a shovel, so I don't know what to do when the snow piles up so high that my car can't even get out...or worse, when the garage door won't even open. I am really kinda stressed about that. Not really about not being able to get to places, but is my car going to die b/c it hasn't been driven for a long time???

We're supposed to get a TON of snow again this weekend. Of course, why does it have to be on a weekend and not a weekday?? I need a snow day!!!!!!!

What? I have to go to work in this?

Back from the MUCH needed Christmas/New Year holiday, and we're hit w/ a gigantic snow storm, Storm of the Century, so I was told. We're expected to get 10 inches of snow by tonight.

I was a little freaked out when I opened my door (back door) and there was snow on my steps, and I'm still expected to make my trek to the train and get to work today. Something didn't jive in my head about that. I also have to admit, the slush on the ground is rather disgusting. I can see why people dread the snow here. I just need to add a word here about my Ugg boots. They've been awesome. I sprayed them w/ this water repellent stuff, and my feet stayed dry as I was sloshing around in the (dirty) snow today.

So then, after I got off work I came home to a major power outage. I tried to flip my switch to turn the hallway light on and it didn't. It finally dawned on me that I have no electricity, since all the street lamps were out on my walk home. I mean, after battling the wind in my face and snow flying directly into my eyes, nose and mouth, I just wanted to come home to some heat. No such luck today. To top it all off, this was the first time that I was going to host the smallgroup; they were all coming over to watch the season premier of Alias. Thank God for my new Treo! I was able to use the backlight to walk up the stairs, change my clothes and light some candles. Also, I looked up Comed (which I had to ask Al & Norm what my electric company was) to report this power outage. It was only on my side of the street though. I could see across 26th street, and those people have light. I was very tempted to go and watch Alias from the restaurant across the street. Long story short. After 4 phone calls to the power company and 1+ hour of Alias, I finally got power back. But it's so freezing cold now because the heater is making for lost time.


Picture taken on January 5th, 2005, roughly 6:30pm. I have yet to discover the power outage when I snapped this picture w/ my jazzy new Treo

I pretty much hate Chicago right now. I missed 3/4 of the 2-hour Alias premier b/c of the stupid power thingy. It's freezing cold! And, the lack of weather stripping on my back door is allowing all this snow to come in, so, my "back foyer" is totally wet and dirty that I had to sacrifice one of my nice green towels to cover up the gap. SUCKY!!!!

All I gotta say is, I'd better get a snow day tomorrow.