A NEWBIES GUIDE: 5 STEPS TO SURVIVE A CHICAGO WINTER
My first winter in Chicago has been...Brutal. Lips are chapped, face doesn't move from the wind-botox, house is filled with salt and dried snow, and dogs are refusing to go outside to use the bathroom. I won't even begin to give the details of that nightmare...
9 straight days of snow. That hasn't happened since 1902...So NO, I'm not being a whiny, unfamiliar, Georgia girl.
1. DIBS.
Wait, what? Yes, DIBS. DO NOT. I REPEAT DO NOT take anyone's spot in the street if they have misc. items in their 'reserved' place. You will make enemies with your neighbors and that's the last thing you want when you're buildings are 6 inches away from each other.
Newbie: Have yourself misc. items such as chairs, baskets, broken shovels (we will get to this later), bright objects in your car. Place them in dug out spot (IF and ONLY IF you did the hard work). Come back later, and it's all yours.
2. BUY A HARDCORE SHOVEL BEFORE WINTER SEASON HITS YOU IN THE FACE
If you're from the South and new to Chicago, don't be naive. As soon as you roll into town, buy a shovel. If you think the shovel is too much or it's a little obnoxious, it's probably the right size. The bigger, the better.
I made the mistake of borrowing from my neighbor and the boyfriend broke it shoveling snow. Went to every store imaginable and no shovels to be found. Meanwhile, the snow kept falling. Don't be that neighbor.
3. BUY ANOTHER SHOVEL.
No, I didn't make a typo. Go do it, NOW. While you're at it. Buy another. Sometimes you're shovel friend doesn't last long,..
When your shovel hoarding begins you will have a couple of extras in the back of your car, you never know who will show up to help you or the other way around. It's the neighborhoodly, Chicago way. Always help your neighbor!
PS: If you DO keep your shovels in your car, keep it locked at ALL TIMES. Those things are HOT commodities!
4. LAYERS
2 Socks
2 gloves
2 jackets (1 all the way to the floor)
1 hat
1 scarf
1 hood
winter boots
7 pairs of underwear
2 pants
2 shirts
You're welcome.
PS: Don't forget about your fur-child. Its RUFF out there!
5. WALK PARANOID
Every step you take, be prepared to fall face first on the ice. I know from experience, I fell down 2 flights of our metal, fire escape stairs. Make sure to wear thick boots or shoes with reliable soles. You need to know that every step.....could be your last.
The truth: You will survive (check). You WILL embarrass yourself whether that's from falling down a flight of stairs (check), or getting your SUV stuck in snow in your back alley (check). You will find out who you're true neighbors are (Check..Thanks Elena & Jennifer).
--And you will love Chicago even more than you did before.
