Approximately one foot (or twelve inches, because it sounds better), was dumped on the Chicagoland area last night and through this morning. Maybe it is because I lived in Kansas City, where every possible drop of snow was the BIGGEST SNOW STORM OF THE YEAR, but I never really believe the weather forecast when it is so extreme. So when this was predicted on Wednesday and Thursday, I was skeptical. Well, I was wrong.
Listening to 780 as I got ready, the majority of the morning broadcast was the many, many school closings in the area. Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy urged listeners to take public transportation if it was an option, as the highway travel times were well over an hour; up to two or three in some places. The smartest thing I did all day was listen to them.
Side note: When I visited Chesterton last week, Paige let me try on her new The North Face boots she got for Christmas. They were cozy and warm and light so I had to have some. My old boots were leaky and very heavy they hurt my feet when I wore them. They were the best investment I made. I’ve already got my cost per wear down to $7!
So I put on my fancy new boots and planned to trudge the three blocks to the Metra station. In Chicago, the building owner/merchant/management is responsible for shoveling the sidewalk in front of their space. As I walked outside, it appeared the owners/merchants/managers on my block seemed to be sleeping in. The bus was pulling up right in front of me, so I hopped on.
I really like the Metra. It’s luxurious compared to the L, mostly because it doesn’t smell like urine and you can usually get a seat. I arrived to work only a few minutes later than usual but was 45 minutes to an hour before everyone else. Oh, and I should say that I was feeling really strange last night. I told my friend I felt like I had a fever because my head was cloudy so before I went to bed I decided to see if I was right. Oh yeah, I was. And I’m the girl who rarely gets fevers. I am convinced it has something to do with my nasty fall (currently applying “moist heat”), but I can’t find anyone who agrees with me. I don’t think the fever broke until early this afternoon.
When I got to work, I had an email from my boss saying we should work from home. Doh!
Another side note: I have been developing an integrated communications plan for one of my clients with my creative lead partner. This has been a big process where we locked ourselves in the same room for two straight weeks. I look forward to actually sitting at my desk again on Monday. The plan was due to the client yesterday by “early afternoon” and was delivered by “mid afternoon”. Today we had a conference call to present the plan to them, which lasted three full hours plus some.
I am so glad this week is over!
At the end of the call, the client said, “This was very fun to read and really some great work. We really appreciate all your efforts.” Seriously. It doesn’t get better.
So now I am at home, relaxing with my moist heat. (Monica, that one was for you.)
Complete, but yet kinda related, subject change: Dr. Phil tackles the tough issues. Earlier this week he met head-on one of the biggest issues plaguing this nation this year - baggy pants. Apparently there is a “Pull up your pants” coalition, with one goal. You guessed it, to get people to pull up their pants. They have a song! See:
If you stand up straight, bet your pants fall.
Might as well walk around with your pants off.
Pull ‘em up, pull ‘em up, pull ‘em up.
Be a real man. Stand up.
Is that your underwear, man? Pull your pants up.