As a Midwesterner, add me to the impressed with @Divamamacita’s snow preparedness. She may have actually been more prepared than I. I got to Chicago and realized I left my boots at home…
@crc500, Chipotle turned out to be only a few blocks away, basically on the same road as the Palmer House. However, after realizing that our “smart” phones were giving us conflicting, circuitous directions, I asked someone from the hotel. Unfortunately, it turns out that the worker didn’t actually know where Chipotle was, so, by the time we figured it out, and then found it, we had walked a mile! By that time, we were on a determined mission to eat there. What a trek through the storm. My husband missed out on our glorious adventure because he was busy having a scrumptious dinner at Catch 35 with clients.
@DaddyDoRite, maybe we passed each other on our way to or from Palmer House and Chipotle! After all, not many others were walking around. We especially liked the signs everywhere about ice falling from buildings. (Chicago has its act together. Those signs were in place almost 24 hours before the storm hit!) On our walk back, we heard a loud cracking sound, and, sure enough, a sheet of snow and ice crashed down to the street from high up on a building!
We met many people who hadn’t owned winter jackets before Unifieds, but we also met people from Alaska! It was great meeting a lot of nice people (as long as discussion veered away from specifics about each other’s and each other kids’ auditions, talents and backgrounds, etc.–we only ran into that once or twice, though, and we quickly ended the conversation).
And, yes, Secret of Thieves, @crc500–I swear it helped! I learned about it through people on CC early in D’s junior year. Clary Sage and/or Lavender oil helped with sleep, especially nights before auditions, as did the constantly running humidifier.
Has anyone used the personal humidifiers? They fit on the top of a water bottle. We didn’t have need of one this year, but it seems like it would be a packing-light-travel-freindly option.
@Mtmom2015 my S did and loved it. He left it for one trip and was very unhappy about it. He also used the steam method for mid day perk-ups during Chicago Unified’s.
We used them during audition season last year - I bought D a similar capacity humidifier for college - was not enough - after returning from Christmas Break she suffered 3 bloody noses in as many days… Thank goodness for Amazon Prime that let me get a full sized humidifier to her pronto. No bloody noses since the humidifier upgrade.
D used the personal on-a-water-bottle variety for auditions and has a humidifier in her dorm room now…it helps her a lot!
We used a smallish humidifier that was easy to travel with and a personal steamer (not the water bottle kind) just in case… She used the former constantly and the latter occasionally, when she felt a bit dry.
My D also uses and loves Singer Spray!
Definite yes to personal humidifiers!
OMG…no mail again today.
My S uses my purmist personal humidifier. Best thing ever! The thing I like the best about it is that it has a drying cycle so when you are finished using it and cut it off it runs for a short period of time and self drys so you never have to worry about mold.
Opened the mailbox. . . BIG envelope. . .more general info from the school that already turned her down for BFA. 
sorry @MTmamabear
Well. There was mail.
No from Rockford.
sorry
Oh no, @ KaMaMom! I am so sorry. I am kind of scared of the mailman now. Hang in there!
I am just a worrywart! But it came in handy for Chicago, Cleveland and Winchester – all of which had a lot of snow when we were there!!!
Eh.
She doesn’t know yet.
I can see it through the envelope.
On the flip side, at the exact same time the Rockford no came, I got an email from Nebraska Wesleyan inviting her to audition.
So off to Lincoln Nebraska we go next week!
Hang in there, @KaMaMom!
Sorry @KaMaMom !
@KaMaMom Sorry! Fingers crossed for happy news soon for everyone waiting!!!