tobermory's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stormy weather Jeebus. The rain, it did not stop. I left work at about 4:45pm and got home a bit before 8. That�s some commute. Everything was going fine-ish (one traffic light out) until I hit Chicago�s lovely North Shore area where it looked like the aftermath of Armageddon (not my photos but some I found on flickr). Because of Lake Michigan the Chicagoland area is pretty insulated against tornado strength gusts � they tend to hit more outlaying areas towards the farming communities and peter out before blowing into town � but there must have been a micro-burst because it was pretty devastated in the areas I drove through. I saw big huge mature trees fallen onto houses, fences, and cars; blocking driveways, sidewalks and roads. Power was out everywhere including the traffic lights, and standing water of 12-18� was not uncommon. Sheesh. It took me probably two thirds of my commute home to go a measly 3-4 miles because half the streets were blocked off and I continued having to reroute (thank you Ms. GPS lady). Let�s not even mention the asshole cowboy drivers who thought that German engineering meant that they could go 45 mph through 18� of water (um, no � your car will stall and become yet another obstacle for me to cautiously drive around but at least you provided entertainment as you had to gingerly get out of your car in your undoubtedly expensive suit and designer loafers into a small lake to get help). It was really bizarre when I finally crossed one road and it went from Coastal Florida in hurricane season to la-di-da, yes, it rained a bit more than usual but that�s all. At home I never lost power and the worst thing that happened was that a lawn chair blew over. Boo-hoo. I understand that other parts of Chicago were not so lucky. I was listening to XM satellite radio�s traffic reports on the way home and they were going out of their tiny little minds with excitement at all the mayhem. In addition to the Code: Red traffic reports, they mentioned all of the following in Chicago: fire due to lightning hitting a lamp post, gas main break, partial warehouse collapse with injuries, roofing material blown onto Lake Shore Drive, the main highway, 94, was closed due to standing water, and much, much more. The rain is supposed to continue on and off today through tomorrow and by then I believe that I really will be covered in a fine film of green lichen and there will be toadstools sprouting from between my toes. When the rain stops on Sunday I�m sure the plague of grasshoppers is next on the list of unnatural phenomena. Sure sign that this is the apocalypse: On my way home from the gym there was a squirrel in the middle of the road completely obsessed with doing something squirrelly so I slowed down. He was eating a rat. When berry and nut eaters turn into scavenging zombie carnivores you know the end is near. Breakfast: Crispix. 1:36 p.m. - 2007-08-24 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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