have I mentioned already how much I hate winter in Chicago?...

Did I just complain about warm winds and thunderstorms last week?... Well, it seems I shouldn't have, because as of today the winter is back with a vengeance. It is -10C/16F outside right now, and with the wind chill it feels like -20C. I couldn't open my car door when I left work tonight - it was frozen rigid. And OF COURSE I didn't have a car lock de-icer - not with me, anyway. My coworker Mike, who - praise God and all the saints - was still in the office at the time, didn't have one either; but he drove me to the nearest gas station, so I could get one, and then back to our office parking lot. I owe him a drink. I don't even want to think what I would have done if there wasn't anyone around to help me out (we have flexible hours, and there are days when everyone else leaves before me). *shudders*

Anyway... I still had to stop for gas and do some grocery shopping on the way home, so by the time I lugged all my shopping bags to the door against the freezing wind trying to rip the skin off my face, it was past 8 p.m. Now, after a late dinner and two cups of hot raspberry tea, I feel like I have barely defrosted enough to be able to use my brain again - and it's time to go to bed.:|

Oh, and btw, it's supposed to get colder over the weekend. *seriously contemplates moving to California, or possibly Egypt*