It's a frigid, Arctic-like day in Streeterville, -4 degrees at the Mini. Usually the temperature at the Mini varies with location. There is usually a 2-5 degree variance between home in Streeterville and work, in Back of the Yards. Today it was -4 degrees everywhere. There was a brief flirtation with -5 degrees on 51st Street, but it went back to -4 by the time I arrived in the parking lot, so if you're waiting for a bus on 51st Street, I'm really sorry, though only marginally more so than if you're waiting for a bus anywhere else in Chicago at -4.
Not to obsess, but today is an anomaly. The National Weather Service tells us that this is the coldest day we've experienced in 10 years. My students, who are all 15-16years old haven't seen such a day since they were in Kindergarten or 1st grade. This is one of those frigid days that occur with bright sunlight in a cloudless sky. It's too cold for clouds. The air molecules are huddling together in the cold so closely that all the moisture has been squeezed out. It's all on the ground in piles of white.
When I looked at Lake Michigan this morning, the lake was not completely frozen over because it has been very windy and the movement of the lake keeps it from freezing over. The difference in temperature between the slushy water and the frigid air was producing wispy little clouds of moisture blowing over the surface of the lake.
On the Dan Ryan Expressway wisps of dry snow were blowing across the road. Cars that appear to burn clean on a warm day had trails of smoke coming from their tailpipes. The moisture in some exhausts was dripping from the pipes. As I drove past houses, each and every one of them with heating systems working overtime, the smoke curled and blew from chimneys on every rooftop.
From my corner position on the 3rd floor of the school I looked out across the Back of the Yards neighborhood. I could hear the radiators popping loudly, keeping the classroom warm for all the kids who braved the cold to come to school and take Semester Exams. I could see the Sears Tower, Aon Center, and assorted tall buildings downtown in the distance. The smoke from the industrial smokestack in the near distance tried to obscure the top of the Sears Tower, white puffy animals blowing across the pale blue sky, never quite hiding the towers on top of the tallest building in North America.
From the window, the brightness of the sunlight glinting on the piles of snow gives one the urge to reach for sunglasses. It's an Arctic beauty out there today boys and girls. All white and blue and wisps of smoke. People bundled to the bundlest. Snuggle up warm and enjoy your fireplace if you have one, and dream of tropical climes. Stay indoors if you can. Or, like natives of Minnesota, make friends with winter and "Buck up ya." Oh and make sure to get out that "Hat With Flaps." (See the earlier entry related to that.)Feel free to put on attire that makes you look like the Michelin Man, or Ralphie's poor little brother in A Christmas Story. You know the one who, bundled in his snow suit, fell over and was unable to get up, repeatedly. Merry Cold Snap.
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