First epic blizzard storm of 2011 lives up to the hype!

Sure was a big one last night! ... I was able to document some of this event on my YouTube channel filming video bits 1,2 and 3 out on my apartment's balcony. The conditions didn't seem to be as worse where we are in Aurora, IL (as many residents preferred to stay indoors when the blizzard ushered it's way through from the late afternoon to the late evening hours). However, it's a different story in Downtown Chicago. They had it bad. Several cars had to be abandoned on the famous Lake Shore Drive. Pieces of Wrigley Field's roof went down. Pedestrians were swept by 50+ mph winds. There was even a thunder and lightning show included. Feels like something out of movie, huh - say, uh - 'The Day After Tomorrow.' But it wasn't nothing of catastrophic proportions, thank goodness. Lives were spared (except for one that was lost at the Lake Michigan area). We all woke up to seeing more than a foot of snow outdoors. There were adults shoveling the snow away and the kids are enjoying their moments having snowball fights or making snow angels. And of course, the cleaning crew taking care of the roadways. I'm happy to know most of my friends and co-workers were safe from harm's way. It was good to see them document their photo & video highlights respectively on Facebook. It will take a while for everything to get back to normal ... Do I sense an early Spring happening as we rely on the prediction of a 125 yr old Groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil? Here's hoping he's right on the money. I really want Old Man Winter outta here and enjoy Chicago for what it is!