Deja Vu

Four years ago today we were having fun watching snow fall and build until the kids were chest deep.   They are taller now, but we are again watching the snow fall and the wind blow.  As the afternoon wears on we'll be seeing more and more blizzard conditions.

The kids have more mixed feelings, and the weather has made for a somewhat crazy day.  I agreed to let Hummingbird sleepover at a friend's house last night before we knew this was coming.  At a quarter to ten, I considered going to pick her up.  I was lazy, though, and thought I would let her skip church and pick her up in the afternoon "after streets and san had a chance to clear the roads."  That didn't happen.  At 4AM our weather radio woke me up to tell me we were under blizzard warning through tonight, and that the weather would get worse as the day wore on.

By 7:10 buses were running 25 minutes apart, and it was clear I would need to drive DH to the train for work.  I decided to pick up Hummingbird then because I was already part of the way to her.  So, when I got to her 20 minutes after dropping DH off, I realized I left my house keys in another coat pocket!  So, I had to drive downtown to get DH's.  I discovered that the weather was bad enough that streets and san was already falling behind.  Our usually pristine major thorough fares were not pristine.  The interstate was also not great.  We made it home safely, though, with only a wee bit of sliding around.  A friend texted to ask me to cover the candle desk at church, and our Sunday school director texted to say she was afraid she wouldn't make it out of her alley.  So, when we got home at 8:45, I still had to get ready, but I had no time.  That meant no shower!  I brushed my hair and pulled it back with a headband, brushed my teeth, got dressed, and we headed out.  I felt I should warn everyone and stand back a bit, but apparently I don't smell too bad after one day.  That's a relief.

The kids moaned as we walked to church in the driving snow, but I was not going to pull my car out again.  We did cut through the tunnel in a hospital parking lot and then cut through the hospital. That helped some, but when we arrived our snow boots had not worked fully and we all had to shake snow out.  Probably the saddest part of the day was having to postpone a pre-release party for Catherine's Pascha, a new book by Charlotte Riggle.  Very few kids showed up to church and many people left quickly at the end.  We'll get to do the party as part of our Lenten Retreat, though, and it will fit in well.  Bumble Bee can't wait; she has been reading the book since it arrived.

Despite the difficulties presented by the weather, Bumble Bee is completely enjoying herself.  She has been jumping on the snow, throwing snow balls, planning a snowman, and hoping for the day off tomorrow.  They just had to make up a day for the missed school days early last month.  I guess if they get out tomorrow, we'll lose President's day in a couple of weeks, or add yet another day at the end of the year.  I want year-round school.  Sleeping in through more of the winter would be a welcome trade for a few weeks less in the summer!  Plus, not only would it prevent a scramble for "emergency" childcare, but it would prevent some of the "summer learning slide" we hear so much about these days.  For a place like Chicago, it's really the way to go!

Oh well, that's my rambling rant.  Time to make hot chocolate and put on a good, winter movie.

Best Pizza Place in Chicago

Tucked away in Lincoln Square is the best pizza place in Chicago.  Spacca Napoli (located at 1769 W. Sunnyside) serves up authentic Neapolitan pizza.  The owner Jonathan Goldsmith and his staff are on the ball, super friendly, and ensure that you will have a great meal and a great time.

As you walk in the door, you can't help but notice the custom-built brick oven.  The kitchen is right there for you to see.  My daughters love watching the guys make the pizzas.  Once the pizzas hit the oven they are ready in 60 seconds!

We have eaten here often because there is a great selection of both vegan pizzas and meat-lovers' pizzas.  Yesterday a friend invited us to lunch, and we headed over to Spacca Napoli.  It had been awhile since our last visit, but Spero, our waiter, remembered us.  He was super friendly answering questions about the Italian liquori and wines on the drink menu.  Our friend is a consummate wine connoisseur with fabulous taste and extensive knowledge, but there were many wines on the list of which he had never heard.

After our pizzas arrived, and the girls had eaten a slice each, they were ready to go watch the pizza-making.  As they watched, Jonathan told them that at a less crowded time they could go into the kitchen and make their own pizza.  They had done this once before when we visited on a quiet December afternoon about a year ago.  Hummingbird excitedly told me the news, to which I replied, "Well, maybe we'll get to come back soon on a quieter day."   She agreed and ran back to watch some more.  We ordered dessert, and while the adults ate slowly and talked, the girls gobbled theirs down and ran back to watch the kitchen.  Henry and Pablo soon invited them in and helped them each make her own pizza.  While we were still finishing the last bites of dessert, Jamie walked over with two pizzas and two girls following proudly, excited to show off their work.  Bumble Bee made a prosciutto pizza, and Hummingbird's was Italian sausage.  I think I've found their first summer jobs for them...

All of the pizzas were delicious, and we came home with plenty for lunch and an after dinner snack.  So, if you're looking for great pizza (in Chicago) with a kid-friendly atmosphere where adults are also sure to enjoy themselves, then Spacca Napoli is waiting for you!

Happy Independence Day

It is impossible to skip Independence Day in Chicago.  Even if you avoid the crowds at the firework display on the Lakefront, you can't avoid the fireworks all around.  The sheer multitude makes you feel as if you've traveled back in time and are sitting with Francis Scott Key listening to a battle in 1814.  I know this is what the girls think is happening.  For years Yaya was terrified of this day.  She thought for sure we would die.  Her fear is still present, but she's gotten somewhat braver...

Indeed, the fireworks begin in the early afternoon.  By 3:00 you begin to hear them seemingly in the distance.  Pop! Boom! Pop!  You can't see them, of course, so it seems like a battle in the distance.  As the evening wears on, the frequency of the Pop! Boom! Boom! Whirrr! increases, but you still can't see anything.  The battle is nearing, but it's not here yet.  Then, the sun sets, the sky turns black, and you can feel the earth shake with fireworks.  The noise comes from every direction -- Pop! Boom! Boom! Whirrr! Boom! Pop!  And for minutes at a time it is continuous.  While a group on one corner sets up for the next round, another group a few blocks away is going full force.  Now you can see the displays, too.  They are indeed impressive and can be seen in every direction, but it is still quite frightening for my children.  They can look for a second, enjoying the color, but quickly fear of the noise takes over, and they seek refuge under the covers of their beds.

"...the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting through air..."  You can experience it all -- unharmed -- in Chicago on the 4th of July.

Honey and a Good Cause

I suffer from extreme seasonal allergies, which can last from March well into November and are unhelped by allergy medications.  I'm also too chicken to give myself immunotherapy shots.  So, when I recently heard a story on the news about eating local honey to build up immunity and ease allergy suffering, I thought it sounded great!  I decided it would not be any more expensive than buying medicine, and it wouldn't have the possible side effects of drugs, so it was worth the shot.

My next step would be to find some local honey.  The news mentioned the Chicago Honey Co-op, so I started with their website.  Their honey is reasonably priced, and they'll ship it anywhere.  However, they won't let you drop by and pick some up if you live in the area.  For me, that wasn't a good deal.  So, I kept looking, and I found Sweet Beginning's Beeline Honey.  Two things persuaded me to try their honey.  Its price is comparable to the other, and in addition to shipping anywhere, they don't mind local pick up.  Plus, Sweet Beginnings is part of the North Lawndale Employment Network, which offers transitional jobs to formerly incarcerated individuals and others with significant barriers to employment.  They have an impressive impact on the community.  Their website boasts that the "recidivism rate for former Sweet Beginnings employees is below 4%, compared to the national average of 65%..."

When I went to pick up my honey, I decided to take the surface streets through the city because it was in the morning, and I didn't want to take the interstate and risk the traffic.  Now the North Lawndale neighborhood is not a place you'd want to get stuck.  The potholes are large and abundant, and there are numerous people lingering around the streets.  I'm not easily scared by rough neigborhoods, but as I drove westward and passed a block with 3 police SUVs and a bunch of people standing around, I thought This isn't a good sign.  I decided to take the interstate home when I was finished as well as the next time I pick up honey. 

When I walked into the Sweet Beginnings building, it was not what I expected to find.  What I did find was hopeful, though.  There were a handful of people in the open entry room.  A couple were on computers, a few were waiting in chairs.  It looked like a small scale employment agency, but I didn't see any honey.  A lady making photo copies near the door looked over as I entered, so I spoke to her, "I emailed about picking up honey today."  "Oh, yes, come this way."  I followed her into the next room that was bustling with activity.  One man was filling a box, a few people were busy on a computer, two others were doing something I couldn't really see.  The lady said, "This is our bee team.  They take care of all the honey and sales."  So, I repeated what I had told her, and they instantly knew who I was.  One lady when downstairs to retrieve the two jars of honey I had requested while a man grabbed a chair from the other side of the room and offered me a place to sit with Bumble.  Bumble took my money, and when the lady returned with my honey, she paid.  Then, everyone in the room said goodbye as we left.

I felt good about a purchase that I hope will help me, but I know is helping others.  If you like honey (or honey infused body care products), this is a company worth supporting.

The Aftermath

Okay, so my title is a little tongue in cheek, and I lied about the previous post being the last blizzard post.  These have been an easy few days, and we haven't had any trouble.  We were smart enough to stay off of Lakeshore Drive and not try to take our cars down unplowed streets; so, we've been having a grand ole time.  Last night I took a walk to the alley for a few more photographs.  The end of the alley was largely cleared by someone, but the snow drifts on the uncleared area were nearly to the top of the garbage and recycling cans.  Our garage (the cream colored one by the light pole) looks downright buried.  When I opened the garage door this morning, it was much less impressive... I really thought it would be a significantly higher drift than it is.  Oh well!

As I returned to our apartment one last time for the evening, I paused to notice the landing of our downstairs neighbors.  We were in and out many times yesterday, and each time I noticed their boots sitting on the landing unmoved.  There were also wonderful food smells wafting under their door.  They apparently spent a cozy day in, enjoying some good food and conversation (I could hear them talking, too).

 That brings us to today.  CPS got a second snow day, but Daddy went to work, and my part-time ward came to me today.  So, Yaya is the only one with another vacation day.  This is the last, though.  The principle just emailed that CPS announced school will be open tomorrow.  Skinner North, located in the heart of the former Cabrini Green, is as yet unplowed and sitting amidst 3 foot snow drifts.  School bus service won't be running until Monday, so it looks like I have to dig my car out before morning.  Before I would let the girls out to play today, I made them work.  Their room was a mess, so they had to clean before playing.  Just before lunch we went out to the backyard.  Last night Daddy shoveled a path up to the garage, but the rest of the yard was untouched.  We fixed that!

Conquering the snow wall

Everyone needs a large chunk of snow.

"Don't come any closer, Bumble.  I'm sinking."

It's tough to climb a snow mountain when you're small.

"Here, Mama, for you."

The girls were willing to climb on the part that had been shoveled up. However, they were less sure about going over it at first. I really wanted Yaya to make a snow angel for me, but she refused for fear of sinking and being stuck forever. So, I had to make the first angel, and then both of them were eager to follow!  Yaya managed to make a small angel next to mine (the photo is from the second floor balcony), but Bumble couldn't do more than climb through it.  When they finished, I had to climb in and lift both of them out and back to solid ground.

 

 One last photo comparison:

Our messy, but still pretty deep fire hydrant

A pristine hydrant at the end of our block

Final Blizzard Post

9:30 AM

 The first pictures here will be from 9:30 AM this morning.  Shortly after declaring she no longer likes snow, Yaya decided she did indeed want to go outside.  So, we bundled up and headed out to play in the heavily falling snow.  We couldn't build a snowman because there was really no space to do it -- not to mention that after many years of trying, I've never managed to roll snow into a ball bigger than my fist.

Our hydrant being shoveled

The girls made many a snowball to throw at each other and me.  Bumble was chasing me down in the picture on the left, and Yaya was gathering her ammo to do the same.  I climbed over mounds of snow to take the street view below.  In fact, while taking the picture I was actually straddling one mound because I got stuck!   By the time we decided to go back inside the girls looked like snowmen.

After coming inside at about 10:00, we called Mat. Joanna to check up on her and learned that morning liturgy had not been canceled -- no one let us know that...  So, after wavering as to whether we should venture out for the end of church, we decided to go.  Since we would be missing most of liturgy, I tried to get the girls out of the house quickly and left my camera at home.  We did make it for the last 10 minutes of church -- how very Orthodox of us!  That made for a grand total of 6 attendees!

 We stopped to have a bite to eat at the corner coffee shop, which is open, before heading home.  I put Bumble down for a nap and settled everyone in before heading out again to get what I think are some pretty cool pictures, including a warning of why you shouldn't drive the day after a blizzard.  Chicago is a city that just won't give up.  It's a city of walkers, so even if they can't get their car out, people are still out and about.  And if you can walk to a major street, you can even catch a bus!  The buses and trains are running!

This is also a very friendly city. As I was walking around taking pictures, many passersby said hello.  One man even stopped me to ask if I had seen the van... "No, what van?"  "There's a burnt out van on the corner a block south of here.  It got stuck in the intersection and while revving the engine to get out of the snow. It caught fire."  Someone in the crowd, whom I think lives on the corner, said that the two passengers did get out safely and were even able to save the tools in the back.  The area reeks of burnt rubber, but the fire department was able to do its job and put it out rather quickly.  Fortunately, there is a fire house only a few blocks away.  I probably even hear the sirens this morning.

Finally, a couple of pictures of Holy Trinity Cathedral...

Preparing for the Chicago Ground Hog's Day Blizzard

My husband and I are Southerners, but we've been living in the North (both the Northeast and the Midwest) for over a decade now.  We've seen a fair bit of snow, and since having kids, I've pushed all sorts of strollers through it.  We even have snow shoes that we take out to Northerly Island to tromp around in the snow for fun.  Despite all our snow experience, however, neither of us has yet encountered a blizzard.

Assuming we don't lose power because of ice, which seems unlikely to happen here, we're pretty well set.  I've already gotten all the groceries I would need for a week (that's my Friday and Saturday task anyway).  Today I'll be driving DH to work so he won't have to try to bike home in deep snow.  While I'm out, I'll get a few extra groceries that we might like to have just in case -- if the shelves aren't bare.  Our only worry is whether our 100+ year old roof will hold two feet of snow.  It has a few leaky spots in severe rain that are a little worrisome.  Say some prayers for us on that one...

In addition to being Ground Hog's Day tomorrow (which we think will be the namesake for this storm) it is also the Feast of the Presentation or Meeting of the Lord in the Temple (and Bumble's baptismal day).  Fortunately, we live only a few blocks from the church (as do the priest and choir director).  So, while most of the parish will probably miss the services, I've got my plan for making it.  Later today I'm going to fashion a sled out of the girls' old baby tub and one of their many jump ropes.  Then, I can strap on my snow shoes, put them in the "sled," and pull them to church.  It will be easier if CPS decides not to close the schools tomorrow because Yaya is heavy!

As we wait for the snow to roll in we'll be following Tom Skilling like so many others across the nation, and I have plans to take pictures and document this storm as it goes.  So, check back later for more news...