Stuck

Chicago. Bob has been stuck out here since 7 pm, Rafael since 9 pm. No one got on the radios and told these CTA bus drivers to stay away from Sheridan Road. Then just after midnight, a couple more buses, two cars and a cab joined them, stranded in the street. When the cab driver ran out of gas, he climbed aboard the nearest bus and waited. Some people simply abandoned their cars and walked.
I couldn't sleep last night: the wind was rocking my building and giving me vertigo nightmares. So when my alarm went off this morning around 6 am, I pressed my face against the window to see what the traffic was up to. At first, I thought they had sent buses of city workers to clear the streets of snow. Then I took a closer look at the skewed tire tracks and the 4-foot snow bank against the bus on the corner.

Like ship captains, the drivers simply could not abandon their vehicles. It was alright for the men because they can pee anywhere, one driver said.  But when the supervisor came through around 3:30 am, they put the last couple of female passengers in his car and took them home.  It's after 8 am now and the tractors, snow-blowers and giant shovels are out here-and-there clearing driveways; as if anyone was going to get out of here.

Some are even trying.

Other than a bit bored, the CTA drivers are in good spirits. I brought around hot tea and scrounged together some PBJ and salami sandwiches for the mired, and there was another lady bringing coffee. But the drivers understand there are a lot of them stranded throughout the city, including private vehicles, and there's no saying when the rescue teams are swooping in.

msnbc.msn.com reports on windows breaking.