first snow storm

actually the forecaster called it a mixed winter storm, which I gathered means that we will have all sorts of freezing precipitation. For now, its a blizzard, okay, maybe I don't know what that word really means, but it is snowing a ton out there right now. I check the weather religiously and there is a warning that the freezing rain that is supposedly coming tonight might cut off our electricity (you would think Chicago would have precautions to prevent this), so I went out today to get batteries for my flashlight. It was flurrying when I was in the store, but 5 minutes later, when I came back out, the entire ground was covered and the snow was coming down and sideways, and, I swear, up. I got home and took a few pictures from my windows. Here you go: