Chicago Earthquake?

Rare, Large Earthquake Hits Midwest
Our bedroom is decorated with an eclectic mix of 30s Art deco mahogany, and modern furniture. In the sea of coco browns, gold and olive resides an artificial palm tree; its trunk comprised of PVC pipe, toped with leaves of cheep bright colored fabric. Twelve years ago, when it was purchased with a room full of baby furniture, it was cute, in a mobile-over-the-bed sort of way. Today it can only be defined as an eyesore. My son's room has long since been redecorated according to his desire not to be embarrassed when his fiends come over. The reason we inherited, and can not get rid of this "Tree" is because of what sits on top of it; our pet BLUE-CROWNED CONURE. Tucked inside the fabric fronds, is where he sleeps each night, flying him-self up there upon getting tired.

It was in him special spot on his tree where he was at 4:37 this morning till he suddenly woke me by squawking and franticly flying around the darkened, obstacle filled room. Terrified that he will crash into the armoire or vanity, I jumped out of bed and turned on the light so he could see his way. Once the room was bathed in light, he landed still visibly, and quite uncharacteristically upset. The last time this occurred was more than six months earlier, five minutes before a storm arrived.

It took more than an hour of my wife and I holding him, before he calmed down to go back to sleep. Without any explanation for his terror, I assumed that he must have had a nightmare, and said as much to my wife and son, who agreed, even though neither of us were sure that birds dreamt.

At a few minutes after 7:00 that mourning, I flipped open my laptop to read about an earthquake that occurred but a few hours prior.


WEST SALEM, Ill. (April 18) -- Residents across the Midwest were awakened Friday by a 5.2 magnitude earthquake that rattled skyscrapers in Chicago's Loop and homes in Cincinnati but appeared to cause no major injuries or damage.The quake just before 4:37 a.m. was centered six miles from West Salem, Ill., and 45 miles from Evansville, Ind. It was felt in such distant cities as Milwaukee, Des Moines, Iowa, and Atlanta, nearly 400 miles to the southeast.
So much for the nightmare theory!