Notes on Chicago in Winter (Part Three)

December 23rd, 2008Blog0 comments

No Pain, No Gain: One thing that blew me away was that, despite the close to freezing temperatures, there were still people out there running.

They were wearing light thermals and hats. This despite the fact that the rain had frozen on the sidewalks, creating a layer of ice hidden by the newly fallen snow.

They are hardcore. I don’t know whether I am inspired by them or disturbed by them. Probably both, like how I feel towards championship eaters and people who build replicas of Mos Eisley out of Lego.

My current favorite spot to work: Borders on Michigan Avenue. It overlooks the Water Tower, and there’s always a free table.

A pigeon had somehow found its way into the store and was hanging out in the cafe section. He looked very happy to be warm — as happy as a pigeon could look. It’s hard to smile without teeth.

It was nice to have a December with snow in it. Snow is great when you get to enjoy it and then leave. Four months of it is probably a lot less enjoyable.

I was able to get a flight back out to California between storms — in fact the weather did me a favor and delayed my original connecting flight, so I had to be switched over to a direct flight.

I really like Chicago. If it weren’t for obligations here in LA I could see myself living there. I’d eat Italian Beefs every day (I don’t know if “Beefs” is the correct plural, but “Beefs” sounds like such a great word that I’m using it anyway), I’d become a Cubs fan, and I’d run even when it’s snowing.

But LA has its charms too. And our hot dogs come wrapped in bacon, which is a technological advantage over all other hot dogs, everywhere.