It all started that fateful afternoon on the first day of February. I left at 3pm to some flurries, and by this time (after 6pm) was getting walloped by blasting, drifting snow from the lake. I probably should have used more common sense and stayed on the freeway, but it was so packed and its usually so much faster. I was not one of the unfortunate ones who got to stay on Lake Shore Drive overnight. I got behind the SUV shown below. He went rogue status and just went around all the cars that had given up and parked along the road. I made it out just before they shut down the road. Over 1000 people were stuck all night. Stinks to be them. I was hungry and had to go pee. I would not have done well if I had to stay out there.
Talking and texting is illegal, but I haven't read anything about taking pics.
During the night, we saw thunder and lightning, there were supposedly 25 foot waves on Lake Michigan, and most of our neighborhood was without power all night (not us, but we have radiator heat, so it wouldn't have mattered). It was supposedly the 3rd worst storm in Chicago History. We woke up the next morning to 20+ inches of snow.
The Streets were covered, you could barely see cars, and
Cars were abandoned in the middle of streets and intersections.
I love these pictures. The cars just look like speed bumps. It was so bad, both Kevykins and I got 2 snow days. That is 2 paid work days without working. Can't beat that!
Its a good thing we were robbed once, they could have easily just walked up to our back windows there. EEK!
I wanted to go down to the lake to check it out, but I didn't have the energy to forge through all that snow to get to it and Kevin didn't want to go.
The streets were too much for the plows to get to. After 2 days, and no plows, the residents started shoveling the roads. Cars were trying to make it through side streets, and people were spending hours trying to dig out their cars. Since it can be so laborious and time consuming, Chicago has a code (not like the new TV show). Its tradition. It is not illegal (not technically legal either). If you dig your car out, you get dibs. Dibs are an understanding. If you're street like me, you get it. You respect it. Someone marks their spot. Its theirs. The more clever you are, the better. I saw some good ones, but didn't get pics. I saw some baby baskets, cat scratching posts, dinner tables and chairs, and the classic bucket and stick.
The common chair and stick. Don't try to park there, or you're 'finna' get shot. (or just get your tires slashed.). Don't break code.
