10 essentials on Snowpocalypse 2011

How I coped with the third-worst blizzard in all of Chicago history:

1. Watch the fury of Mother Nature out your window.
2. Sweep up snow blown inside your house with a dustpan, and carve ice tunnels outside!
3. Make a big pot of something warm.
4. Watch a scary movie, like The Ring.
5. Drink ice-cold beer, like from your Microbrew of the Month Club stash.
6. Learn a new word, like "thundersnow."
7. Snuggle up on the couch with The Fella in a poncho.
8. "Work" from home. 
9. Run with your dog through 5 feet high snow drifts.
10. Make snow monsters.

Scenes from Snowpocalypse 2011:

{ this is what my face looks like after being battered down by raw,
whipping winds on my commute home as the storm began }

{ 35mph winds––just the start! }

{ our very own Ice Hotel; window gazing; trees }

{ vegetable soup }

{ garden unit patio set }

{ 5 feet drifts }

{ frosty doorway }

{ snow bunny FurFur }

{ FurFur's pal, Xander }

{ The Fella making a Snow Monster }

{ this picture makes me look like a Christmas tree topper! }