windy weather weekend

As mentioned previously, Tom and Kristy are getting married in Chicago this weekend, and I'm taking some vacation time from work to explore on Friday.

Accordingly, the weather forecast has gotten progressively worse as the day draws closer, to the point that I wouldn't be surprised if Cleveland experienced category 5 hurricanes in nature's attempt to delay my flight home for Easter dinner. The last forecast I saw showed a high of 74 today, 44 tomorrow, and 34 on Thursday. I kid you not; a 30-degree drop in one day. Not to mention snow flurries literally all weekend.

AccuWeather claims Chicago should fare slightly better as far as precipitation is concerned, although weather.com is now calling for a few flurries as well. Regardless, it will actually "feel" like 23 degrees, with an overnight "feel" of 2. That will make the six-block walk from the L to the hotel quite brisk. And I'm refusing to take cabs.

(Aside: Isn't it strange how people thank God for nice weather, but when the ball game is rained out, "God can't control the weather"? I mean, this wedding isn't ordained or sanctioned by God, so the point is moot, but still, I always thought it was an odd paradox.)

But, I will have enough to worry about with finding metro stations and buildings and Buckingham Fountains, that the only way to suffer this weather will be to remain open-minded and flexible. I'm getting the 5-day CTA pass that will allow me unlimited rides on the L and bus system, and I'm just going to play it by ear. That's assuming they don't freeze and fall off somewhere in the vicinity of the Oriental Theatre.

Possible stops include the Field Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Science and Industry (large model train display), Grant Park (as seen in the Married With Children intro), Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, Wacker Avenue, Michigan Avenue/the Magnificent Mile, and Navy Pier. I already have tickets to see Wicked on Friday night as well. Were the weather nicer I'd be contented to just walk around and discreetly take pictures of buildings and architecture whilst trying to avoid looking like a tourist. I may do that anyway. I will also have a good swath of time on Saturday before the wedding, which is early evening.

I may not make it to everything, but that's fine. I'm not going to let the weather get me down. I will undoubtedly return with many pictures, as I did last year with New York City.