Winter is here - my first winter storm

December 1, 2007 9pm Chicago; December 2, 11am Manila

A winter storm warning has been up since last night (expected to hit Illinois between 1-2pm today) but it did not stop me from going downtown even for a few hours. :)

Knowing that it would be freezing today (and expecting snow) I really bundled up today - layers and layers of shirts, pants, socks, etc (i looked like a snowman). Nothing can keep me away form what i planned on doing - buy the books atchie ordered before it gets really cold. hehehe. Siguro bored lang talaga ako from being in the hotel that i need to go out into the city. Either that or matigas lang talaga ang ulo ko. :)

What i planned to do was just to get the books in borders and do a little window shopping in Macy's or in the shops in state st. and michigan ave. Hey, I have been here for 2 months (and will be leaving in 3 weeks) but still have not done any pasalubong shopping. Bad noh?

When i arrived at the union station around 11am, the weather was cooperating with me. Although it was cold, at least the wind was not blowing nor was it snowing. But i was not taking my chances. Although i loved walking around the city (medyo alam ko na how to go from point A to B), it was too cold to walk so i decided to take the free trolley and just go down at the Macy's stop. This way, I would be keeping myself warm and since Borders is just a block off Macy's, I would be killing two birds with one stone - get some frango chocolates for ma and pa and atchie's books. :) Plus a little side shopping for me.

I first went to borders for the books and spent considerable time browsing. :) Chi, was able to get the two books - the grand tour and mislaid magician- and they were the last copies in the store. :)Yahoo for me! At least that errand was successful. One pasalubong down, a few more to go. After that i went down the road to have my lunch before going to Macy's, Old Navy and other stores.

It was then (siguro mga 1230pm) that the wind picked up and snow was coming down like crazy. Syempre, unang pumasok sa isip ko - will the trolley service still be running kahit sa ganitong weather? Hehehe, Yan at syempre first snow storm ko, hey i want to be outside (kahit super sandali) to experience it. bwahahah. baliw noh? sayang nga wala akong picture today - nakakahiyang kumuha ng picture.

Anyways, seeing how quicky the weather changed (plus sinabi nila na in the late afternoon it would be snow and freezing rain) i decided to just take the trolley back to the union station at kahit maaga ako dun, ok lang. I would rather wait there than be stuck somewhere else.

So instead of doing some additional pasalubong shopping and also getting something for myself, i just picked up 2 boxes of frango chocolates (kung may time next week, balik n lang for a box or two), then headed straight to the trolley stop.

It must have been my lucky day since di naman ako nag hintay ng matagal for the trolley. Ok lang kahit i have to take the long route to the Union station kc i had time to spare. At buti na lang na yun ang naging decision ko. Had i waited for 30 minutes to an hour to take the trolley, i would have faced icy rain rather than snow. And i would rather have snow than rain kc mas nababasa ka sa ulan.

Good thing too that the train was on time and when i got to hinsdale nandun na ang hotel shuttle. It really was too cold to walk and to have gimmick. bwhahaha. Matigas lang talaga ulo ko - that i really had to go downtown today. As if! Kung nandito si mama or si papa I am sure na pagagalitan ako ng mga yun. :)

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The temperature says 33 degrees (zero in Celsius)but feels like 23 degrees due to windchill factor. The ponds near and around the hotel are frozen, i think there is ice outside my window and the wind is howling outside.

Buti na lang at nandito ako sa aking warm bed sa hotel with a cup of hot choco and a pack of chocolate chip cookies. Yun nga lang miss ko ang arroz caldo. huhuhuh parang masarap mag arroz caldo! Wala namang ganun dito sa menu nila. Di lang arroz caldo ang gusto ko, gusto ko rin ng chicken bbq at ng steak. bwahahah. Ganito ba talaga pag nilalamig? Parang ang daming gustong kainin? Tapos yung ibang gusto ko wala sa hotel menu, yung meron naman, sobrang mahal, ano ba to! I miss my comfort foods!