driving to Memphis through horrible storms in Illinois

 This was the day of many weathers.  We saw a ton of snow falling as we were getting ready at home and this turned to sleet on the way to Grand Rapids.  We then hit rain with slush on the road by the time that we got off the highway in Holland.  We were going to exit anyway, but then saw the stopped trucks in 

 front of us because of some accident and were glad that we weren’t sitting in the traffic.  We were able to get on south of Holland and the road was clear there.  We got to more rain in Chicago, but not bed.  Once we got on I-57, (and I took over driving) we hit the densest fog that I have ever seen.  Not only 

was it dense from it being 50 degrees with snow all around, it was very white because the sun was still shining.  I had to put on my sunglasses in order to see a dim outline of the car in front of us that was only 5 car lengths ahead.  We both just knew that there was going to be a 500 car pile up at some point and we didn’t want to be in it.  Every time we could see brake lights, I

 would brake too just in case.  The emergency broadcast system activated on the radio, but it was only to cancel an amber alert that had been issued.  We figured it was the weather and a crash that had activated it.  This was 100 miles of dense fog that I drove through with white knuckles.

 Made it through the fog because the gale force winds started to arrive.  We stopped in Effingham and the wind was outrageous and pushing you across the parking lot, but it was warm.  It was 67 degrees by now and the sun was out, but we noticed the wall of clouds that was coming to block 

  it out.  We decided to get out butts south as quick as possible and a few miles down the road the emergency broadcast system activated again for a tornado on the ground on crossing I-57 at Effingham.  Damn, I forgot how exciting it was to live in Tornado Alley!!!  We hit horrible thunderstorms and John got to drive through this part with water coming down in sheets with visibility as bad as in the fog.  But he had the added problem of rain coming off trucks, signs blowing into the road and debris fields off the trees.  We did get a view of the sunset through sheets of rain, I don’t think that the shot that I included is out of focus, it’s just the rain blurring the sun.  Also, there were parts in Illinois where there were new rivers and lakes along the side of the road from snow melt and flooding.  I particularly liked the no 

 parking sign in the middle of lake on the side of the road.  Back through the old stomping grounds and on to Mistee and Emily’s house safely where we got to meet their demon kitty as soon as we left the car.  This kitten is adorable and comes up to you meowing and greeting you and then will bit and scratch you if you try to touch her.  The most bizarre thing, I think that the kitten is possessed.  

No, I’m serious people.  There is a demon in a small tortoise haired cat in Southern Illinois.  We got to catch up and played some cards before retiring for the night. Two emergency broadcast system alerts that weren't tests in one day, that's a record people. I’m including some pictures of the problem with taking an art history course because I am now hyper-aware of columns and other things that we pass.  Enjoy the ionic and Corinthian columns that I found in Memphis.  Love, jo