Just head towards the lake

Yesterday, my meeting with the old guy was in an area that I'm not at all familiar with.  Of course, I had a map with me and knew that all I needed to do was head East on X Street and I'd be there in five minutes.  However, once I got off the L, I couldn't get my bearings or even find any street signs.  So, I went to the nearest CTA person and asked them for directions.

When I asked which way East was, I got the typical response, "East is always towards the lake."  Is it just me, or is this the least helpful way of giving directions ever?  You might as well just tell me the sun always sets in the West and let me be on my way.

I know the lake is always to the East.  I'm not retarded.  What I don't know, is where the lake is, in relation to my current location.

How could I possibly know where the lake is?  I'm surrounded by buildings and can't see a single landmark which would indicate the direction of the lake.  Am I supposed to have some magical "Lake Michigan Sense" which, at all times, alerts me to the location of Lake Michigan?

Maybe people who grew up here have that sense.  I, however, I didn't grow up here; nor am I a fucking homing pigeon.   Give me an actual direction.

Winter

I love it when it snows. 

Chicago generally sucks in the winter.  98% of the time, I live in a gray/black hellhole, covered in dirt, slush, and salt.  However, during a snowstorm, everything is white and looks the way winter is supposed to look.  People haven't had a chance to put down unnecessary amounts of salt.  Cars haven't turned the snow black.  Everything hasn't turned to slush and standing pools of water.  All of that is probably going to happen within the next day; but, however briefly, things actually look nice.

On a side note, whoever wrote that song about Christmas time in the city (Silver Bells?) must never have been in a city during the winter.  If they had, that song would have turned out very differently.