Warming Up

Chicago is fighting its way to enter spring. The last 2 days have felt more than warm - I even turned on the air conditioning in the car - even though the mercury reached only 77F (25C). It's almost overwhelming seeing blue skies again, and watching the grass green up overnight. Strip malls (shopping centres) are now selling selling shorts and bikinis, and the mood of people you meet has climbed following the temperature trend - the weather really does affect people's moods. But the warm spell was only brief - last night a fierce storm arrived, prompting another tornado warning, and plunging temperatures again today to around 40F (4C). Running to the car last night in the storm saw me drenched through to the bone as strong rain pummelled Schaumburg.

Unfortunately we'll see precious few moments of spring 2005 here - we're heading home on Monday morning. It will mean 3 winters in a row - although suggesting that Adelaide has winters is nonsense once you've experienced the same here in Illinois. Our belongings have been all packed up by the movers, and our suitcases are standing by for the trip home. S has had multiple farewell events with her new girlfriends, and I've been out to lunch with work colleagues several times. Right now we're in the calm before the storm - the 3 flights that will take us home.

| 01 Apr 2005 | #