Rant: Spring in Chicago

[Molly]

Don't come up here in July and make your decision, take a peek here in January and then again in April and then decide if it's for you.

Hubby and I were up there for a Cards game in June. JUNE. I was wearing a tank top; our seats were not in the bleachers. I was freezing.....IN JUNE!!!

[Michael]

Chicago is what is messed up about Illinois. It's a political cesspool, sucking in tax money from hundreds of miles away to fund the dysfunction. Splitting this into two states would be fine by the majority of people outside the sucking vortex of the black hole called Chicago.

Michael at least enjoys what the city has to offer. There is very little Chicago has to offer that I appreciate or care for. Major league sports - but even there I don't like the teams except the Bulls and the stadiums are a pain in the ass to get to.

All of this is true. I appreciate the rest of Illinois supporting my lifestyle.

[stlouie_lipp]

Chicago is what is messed up about Illinois. It's a political cesspool, sucking in tax money from hundreds of miles away to fund the dysfunction. Splitting this into two states would be fine by the majority of people outside the sucking vortex of the black hole called Chicago.

Michael at least enjoys what the city has to offer. There is very little Chicago has to offer that I appreciate or care for. Major league sports - but even there I don't like the teams except the Bulls and the stadiums are a pain in the ass to get to.

All of this is true. I appreciate the rest of Illinois supporting my lifestyle.

Suck it.

[mikechamp]

Here are the forecasts for Chicago/St. Louis, which is pretty typical for this time of year:

Tues: 38/62
Wed: 42/70
Thu: 41/74
Fri: 48/61
Sat: 46/55
Sun: 49/59
Mon: 51/57

This is one of the big reasons why we moved south 3 years ago. Plus, and people don't really believe this until they've lived in Chicago and then in St. Louis, but there is much less sunshine in Chicago. It's a really cloudy place.

Chicago is what is messed up about Illinois. It's a political cesspool, sucking in tax money from hundreds of miles away to fund the dysfunction. Splitting this into two states would be fine by the majority of people outside the sucking vortex of the black hole called Chicago.

I had someone tell me, almost verbatim, this exact same thing 3 weeks ago. But I know I wasn't you, jim.

[jim]

Don't come up here in July and make your decision, take a peek here in January and then again in April and then decide if it's for you.

Hubby and I were up there for a Cards game in June. JUNE. I was wearing a tank top; our seats were not in the bleachers. I was freezing.....IN JUNE!!!

Ah yes, the sites of a Cardinal/Cub game at the friendly confines. The rooftops, the vendors, the contrasting red and blue on the field, and the multitude of Cardinal fans in the stands freezing their asses off because they failed to consider the effects of the lake.

We've all been there Molly, but usually we only make the mistake once. Bet next time you bring a coat with you, no matter when the game is. The first time I went to a Cub/Cards game I was living near O"Hare and it was like 80 degrees and sunny, by the time I got to the park it was 55 and foggy. Yes, I froze. It was miserable.

The lake not only cools things down, but as mentioned above it cuts down on the sunshine. It really messes with the weather.

[Radbird]

One of our first dates was a Cards game at Wrigley in April. We sat in upper deck down right field line. Made it through 4 long, cold innings. Watched the rest of the game at one of the bars across the street.

[Molly]

Don't come up here in July and make your decision, take a peek here in January and then again in April and then decide if it's for you.

Hubby and I were up there for a Cards game in June. JUNE. I was wearing a tank top; our seats were not in the bleachers. I was freezing.....IN JUNE!!!

Ah yes, the sites of a Cardinal/Cub game at the friendly confines. The rooftops, the vendors, the contrasting red and blue on the field, and the multitude of Cardinal fans in the stands freezing their asses off because they failed to consider the effects of the lake.

We've all been there Molly, but usually we only make the mistake once. Bet next time you bring a coat with you, no matter when the game is. The first time I went to a Cub/Cards game I was living near O"Hare and it was like 80 degrees and sunny, by the time I got to the park it was 55 and foggy. Yes, I froze. It was miserable.

The lake not only cools things down, but as mentioned above it cuts down on the sunshine. It really messes with the weather.

It was the last year we ever sat in the stands. Nothing but the bleachers from then on.

[pioneer98]

Chicago is what is messed up about Illinois. It's a political cesspool, sucking in tax money from hundreds of miles away to fund the dysfunction. Splitting this into two states would be fine by the majority of people outside the sucking vortex of the black hole called Chicago.

I tend to agree with that to some extent...But it's not taxes again because Chicago also pays the most taxes of anyplace in the state. But what works economically and politically in Chicago is vastly different from what will work in Peoria or Moline.

What I see here in QC is the state of Illinois does more "top down" development projects than Iowa. For example, they are building a big new Western Illinois University campus in Moline. This is great for the area because QC is one of the largest metros without a public D1 campus (we have some small private colleges). Illinois is also building an Amtrak extension to QC which will connect with a line to Chicago. These things are good for the area and especially with the campus you could argue it is sorely needed and an investment in the future. I'm just not sure they can afford these things at the moment. Also, which politician's district gets to land these big public projects is probably an interesting process.

[jim]

I don't know if it's the weather or what, but I have never seen so many sick people in my life as I have the last two months.

I don't pay that much attention to politics, but it really seems messed up to me in Chicago. The parking meters deal sounds like someone should get arrested - probably Daly. And how about the women who drove the train up the escalators at O'Hare? First time she fell asleep in her 3 month career as a train operator? NO! Well ... it depends on what the meaning of the word "sleep" is. According to the CTA, she wasn't asleep a couple of months ago when she blew threw a scheduled stop - merely had her eyes closed. Seriously, that's what the transit authority said - she merely "closed her eyes for a moment". She would have hit whatever was in front of her that night too - she just happened to not have anything in front of her when she "closed her eyes for a moment" that time.

What?

For those that aren't familiar, here is a pic:



This is Chicago - the city that works. That is the silliest most unfitting expression I have ever heard of. It's a disaster, the entire city is just a disaster.

[jim]

Why you shouldn't open your baseball season in Chicago until May:

Rain, mainly after 8pm. Low around 35. East northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. High near 43. East northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night A chance of rain and thunderstorms, then rain and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Low around 40. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 8am, then a chance of rain. High near 48. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night A chance of rain, possibly mixing with snow after 8pm, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

MLB usually schedules an off day after opening day in case there are weather issues, and all of those folks that bought opening day tickets will still get an opening day the next day. Looks like the game 2 folks might get the actual opening day. Fortunately for the Cubs there are no flags to raise, it's just a made up event. Otherwise some ticket holders would be upset.