Intrepid Lutherans

We are having floods in Chicago. Schools have cancelled classes and activities, cars are falling into sinkholes, rivers are breaching their banks, and sump pumps are working overtime. But did that stop our middle grade choir from keeping their scheduled date to sing at Concordia University-Chicago this morning? No, it did not. These are Southsiders, after all. They are made of tougher stuff. And they have a leader who allows very little to come between him and the liturgy. (Of course, that meant his accompanist had to make the trip, too.)

It goes without saying that the children sang beautifully, receiving many accolades from students and professors alike. The drive to and from CUC was uneventful, if a bit longer than usual. Many thanks to everyone whose support made this day possible!

A Couple of Links

For fun:

Is It a Church or a Prison? (HT: The Anchoress)

For real:

Suffering in Flyover Country; Does Anyone Care?

Iced In

This is bordering on ridiculous.

Here's the view from inside.

Click here to see what this room looked like back in the summer and less than one month ago.

It's only anecdotal, I know. But my personal experience leads me to think that the Chicken Littles starting to scream global cooling might actually have something.

For My Fellow Illinoisians (and a Few Others)

You know you are a true Illinoisian when . . .

Your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March.

You see nothing odd about wearing shorts and a parka at the same time.

Vacation means going north or south on I-55 for the weekend.

You measure distance in hours.

You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.

It is not unusual to switch from heat to AC and back again in the same day.

You drive 65 mph through a raging blizzard without flinching.

You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings).

You carry jumper cables in your car and know how to use them.

You design your child's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

The year has 5 seasons, and they are 1) almost winter, 2) winter, 3) still winter, 4) road construction & 5) hot.

Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to a blue spruce.

"Down south" means Missouri.

Brats are something you eat.

You have more miles on your snowblower than on your car.

0 degrees is defined as "a little chilly."

You know the difference between corn and soybeans at a glance.

You do not consider Chicago to be a part of Illinois.

A "hill" is any landmass higher than 20 feet above sea level.

(Hat tip to my mom, who forwarded this list to me.)