Yeah, I'm still alive, been on the road A LOT the past few weeks, had to make time this week with the recent headlines.
As to the smell, a firefighter I know from Skokie says they usually get this scenario every spring. Contrary to the gas company's denial, when the thaw line begins working back to the surface this time of the year it causes minor shifting in the pipes and sometimes loosens the seams between segments. The winds were light most of Sunday morning from the SE. So whatever was seeping up from the ground wasn't being diffused. I even noticed the odor here on the NW side of the city and the CFD was answering numerous calls for gas leaks also.
Good to know, thanks. And welcome back!
Smelled it here too in Roselle