Cold snap!

North Ave., Chicago (see the boathouse in the background) with a partly frozen Lake Michigan taken several years ago. The I&M canal was skateable at about the same time the photo was taken.

Winter has indeed arrived to the Midwest.  If you have an ice or snow report, drop me a line.  The canal area didn't get that much snow, and the forecasts are for cold weather towards the Christmas holiday period.  In other news, California's Greg Long edged overtook Kelly Slater to win yesterday's big wave surfing competition in Hawaii (see my last post).  Slater had a recurring role on the syndicated television series, Baywatch, which, say what you will about its cultural and dramatic merits, it was a huge success internationally and this eased the US' trade deficit and helped with the country's balance of payments.  (ps for those of you in the freezing cold aftermath of the storm--watch the clip, think warm weather!) 

Late afternoon skyscraper shadows reflect on an icy Lake Michigan.