Aug. 24th, 2007 11:30 am
Diary of a storm
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muckefuck[from memory, so all times are approximate]
15:00 Head up to second-floor lounge for a look outside; watch rain for a bit.
15:10 See lights flicker, head downstairs. Lights fail, emergencies come on (but not in my dept., which would be pitch black if not for windows). Join milling co-workers to await news.
15:15 Loudspeakers announce tornado warning, urge us to take cover "in the basement or in interior hallways". Convince a co-worker to join me in Project Room, which is a hundred feet from the windows and divided from the main space by a heavy metal screen.
15:17 Ordered to leave Project Room, move deeper into building. Lead two co-workers into backlog area.
15:20 Scare up a chair and trade disaster stories with co-workers.
15:45 Begin to wonder if we can hear any announcements this far into cellar. Co-worker heads out to check, returns to inform us that (a) it's hot and stuffy by the elevators where everyone is standing about and (b) tornado warning is in effect until at least 4 p.m.
16:00 Tornado warning lifted. We march slowly upstairs. Still no power.
16:20 After killing time chatting with co-workers, told building is closing. Change into shorts and hit the head.
16:30 Pouring rain again outside. Hang around near entrance waiting for a lull.
16:40 Fuck it, only water.
16:45 Nearly get taken out at first intersection by assholes who don't know that dead stoplights get treated as stop signs. Consider calling police to direct traffic, realise they have bigger fish to fry.
16:50 Arrive at train station only moderately damp.
17:10 Wonder if train is ever going to show up.
17:15 Hop on southbound train, mistaking it for Express when only a shuttle. (Signs say "Linden".)
17:20 Driver finally reveals nature of train; exit at Main.
17:40 After watching four trains pass northbound, finally board Express. Driver apologises for delay, but explains that "no trains were coming northbound".
17:45 Strike up conversation with lady next to me whose building also lost power. Learn of tornadoes in Bolingbrook; hear rumours of ripped-off roof blocking LSD.
17:50 Call![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
monshu. Learn that his bus was rerouted to avoid Marine Drive, presumably because of fallen trees.
17:55 Strike up conversation with couple unfamiliar with el. Learn that they defected from the Metra after forty minutes of delay. Apparently, debris blocking departures from Olgilvie and Union Station, knock-off effects preventing arrivals.
18:00 Pass Graceland Cemetery, see lots of fallen limbs, tree collapsed onto townhouse. Wonder if I should call off rendezvous with buddy, realise his number is not in cell phone, only on dead computer at work.
18:05 Arrive at Belmont. Proceed through drizzle to bookstore.
18:10 Arrive and begin browsing.
18:15 Buddy arrives. Tell him that clerks have warned of more severe weather to come.
18:25 Rain resumes; clerks show us radar of ridiculously red line of storms just about upon us.
18:30 Put up umbrellas and head out. After brief debate, head into Pick Me Up Café, which is leaking.
19:45 After unspectacular dinner, realise that to hit any more stores, must dash.
19:55 With bookstores closed, decide to head to Reckless Records. Detour around backed-up sewers on Belmont.
20:15 Arrive at Reckless and begin shopping.
20:40 Leave and walk buddy back to his home.
21:45 Leave buddy's house to catch bus.
22:00 Bus arrives.
22:25 Arrive home to find power on, no leakage from windows.
01:05 Awakened by quite possibly loudest thunderclap I have ever heard in my life.
04:25 Awakened again by renewed thundering.
06:25 Wake up, sluggishly begin morning routine.
07:40 Stroll through park to survey damage, find little beyond overturned trash bins.
08:40 Arrive at Foster Street station. Co-worker informs me that building closed due to lack of power; try calling our respective offices to confirm, but receive no answer.
08:45 Head out for some breakfast, ultimately end up at Whole Foods.
09:30 Still haven't heard from supervisor. Decide to head tomonshu's for Internet, nap.
10:15 Arrive chezmonshu. Confirm building's closure online.
15:00 Head up to second-floor lounge for a look outside; watch rain for a bit.
15:10 See lights flicker, head downstairs. Lights fail, emergencies come on (but not in my dept., which would be pitch black if not for windows). Join milling co-workers to await news.
15:15 Loudspeakers announce tornado warning, urge us to take cover "in the basement or in interior hallways". Convince a co-worker to join me in Project Room, which is a hundred feet from the windows and divided from the main space by a heavy metal screen.
15:17 Ordered to leave Project Room, move deeper into building. Lead two co-workers into backlog area.
15:20 Scare up a chair and trade disaster stories with co-workers.
15:45 Begin to wonder if we can hear any announcements this far into cellar. Co-worker heads out to check, returns to inform us that (a) it's hot and stuffy by the elevators where everyone is standing about and (b) tornado warning is in effect until at least 4 p.m.
16:00 Tornado warning lifted. We march slowly upstairs. Still no power.
16:20 After killing time chatting with co-workers, told building is closing. Change into shorts and hit the head.
16:30 Pouring rain again outside. Hang around near entrance waiting for a lull.
16:40 Fuck it, only water.
16:45 Nearly get taken out at first intersection by assholes who don't know that dead stoplights get treated as stop signs. Consider calling police to direct traffic, realise they have bigger fish to fry.
16:50 Arrive at train station only moderately damp.
17:10 Wonder if train is ever going to show up.
17:15 Hop on southbound train, mistaking it for Express when only a shuttle. (Signs say "Linden".)
17:20 Driver finally reveals nature of train; exit at Main.
17:40 After watching four trains pass northbound, finally board Express. Driver apologises for delay, but explains that "no trains were coming northbound".
17:45 Strike up conversation with lady next to me whose building also lost power. Learn of tornadoes in Bolingbrook; hear rumours of ripped-off roof blocking LSD.
17:50 Call
monshu. Learn that his bus was rerouted to avoid Marine Drive, presumably because of fallen trees.17:55 Strike up conversation with couple unfamiliar with el. Learn that they defected from the Metra after forty minutes of delay. Apparently, debris blocking departures from Olgilvie and Union Station, knock-off effects preventing arrivals.
18:00 Pass Graceland Cemetery, see lots of fallen limbs, tree collapsed onto townhouse. Wonder if I should call off rendezvous with buddy, realise his number is not in cell phone, only on dead computer at work.
18:05 Arrive at Belmont. Proceed through drizzle to bookstore.
18:10 Arrive and begin browsing.
18:15 Buddy arrives. Tell him that clerks have warned of more severe weather to come.
18:25 Rain resumes; clerks show us radar of ridiculously red line of storms just about upon us.
18:30 Put up umbrellas and head out. After brief debate, head into Pick Me Up Café, which is leaking.
19:45 After unspectacular dinner, realise that to hit any more stores, must dash.
19:55 With bookstores closed, decide to head to Reckless Records. Detour around backed-up sewers on Belmont.
20:15 Arrive at Reckless and begin shopping.
20:40 Leave and walk buddy back to his home.
21:45 Leave buddy's house to catch bus.
22:00 Bus arrives.
22:25 Arrive home to find power on, no leakage from windows.
01:05 Awakened by quite possibly loudest thunderclap I have ever heard in my life.
04:25 Awakened again by renewed thundering.
06:25 Wake up, sluggishly begin morning routine.
07:40 Stroll through park to survey damage, find little beyond overturned trash bins.
08:40 Arrive at Foster Street station. Co-worker informs me that building closed due to lack of power; try calling our respective offices to confirm, but receive no answer.
08:45 Head out for some breakfast, ultimately end up at Whole Foods.
09:30 Still haven't heard from supervisor. Decide to head to
monshu's for Internet, nap.10:15 Arrive chez
monshu. Confirm building's closure online.