So I'm moving to Illinois....AND it's my 700th post!!!

[x-g.o.p.er]

And leaving sunny Florida. WOO HOO!!! We'll be close to family, it will be my last PCS before I retire from the military, and we're gonna buy a WAY cool house. I can't wait to get back to cold weather!! I am soooooo psyched. October can't get here soon enough.

I thought that for my 700th post I'd try to be serious and reflect on my time here at DU, but to hell with that. I went with something totally frivolous and vain. I'll go back to the GD forum when it calms down a bit. People there have been a bit testy lately.

[lovedems]

1. Northern Illinois, central Illinois or southern Illinois?

I am a central Illinoisian myself and will take this time to welcome you (back?) to our solidly blue state!
And congrats, you are now a member of the 700 club!

[x-g.o.p.er]

7. Suburban St. Louis....

Belleville area

[lovedems]

9. If you ever make it to the Springfield area,

be sure to let me know!

I haven't met a fellow DUer yet!

I have family in Waterloo and Dupo, small towns outside of St. Louis.

[ProfessorGAC]

22. I Was Just In Springfield Yesterday

Had a breakfast and golf outing with state legislators on the Banking and Finance Committees. I'm on the BoD of a sizeable community chartered CU and we do this once a year to keep them remembering us instead of just doing the bidding of the commerical banks.

Then, i drove back, went to the airport, and flew to Houston.
The Professor

[GOPisEvil]

10. I have family in Belleville!!!

My dad's hometown is East St. Louis. I have relatives scattered all over that part of IL. It's a nice part of the world.

Lovely Scott AFB - I spent time in the hospital there as a child. :D

[Solon]

14. Not bad there, been down there several times. n/t

[Red State Rebel]

21. Nice area - I'm just across the river a bit...

Welcome back to 4 seasons!

[Robbien]

2. Welcome to our state

Your vote is definitely needed more in Florida, but our state is a good place to be a DUer.

[LTR]

3. Welcome to the 700 Club!

Pat and company send their best wishes.

[testing123]

4. I live in Long Grove

Welcome!

[Skittles]

12. hey testing

my mum and three brothers live in Vernon Hills and another brother lives in Mundelein.

[testing123]

18. That's not far from me

Do you know where Route 22 & Route 83 are at? I am right off of Coffin Rd.

Will they be going to the Strawberry Fest this weekend?

http://www.longgroveonline.com/strawberry.html

[Skittles]

25. I know where that is

small world, huh? Haven't spoken to them lately though. I will have to check out L & E's; that looks like my kind of place. Hey, I went to Libertyville High School. What a freaking snoot-fest.

[testing123]

26. Do they still have the Apple Orchard up near Rt. 176?

I know where Libertyville High School is what year did you graduate?

My cousins use to live in Libertyville on Milwaukee Rd. next to the house where the kid murdered his family at back in the 1970's. They had a big white farmhouse and my uncle use to have a farm stand off of the road in the summertime.

Small world isn't it?

[testing123]

20. If you are ever in Long Grove go to Lucy & Ethels

http://www.longgroveonline.com/merch-pages/lucye/lucye.html

A drag queen owns it and it's the best retro shop that I have ever been in.

[Flaxbee]

5. where in IL? You already have the house picked out?

...just asking, my aunt has a gorgeous old Victorian in Freeport for sale...

[x-g.o.p.er]

8. Arrgghhh!!

We LOVE Victorian homes, but Freeport is too far away.

[gumby]

6. Illinois

It's a really beautiful state. The middle flat farm land is... well, flat (hence "flatlanders"). The Mississippi river makes the entire western border of the state. Gorgeous landscape and a haven for the newly recovered American Eagles. Southern Il is really nice too if you like tropical weather. They don't call it Little Egypt for nothing.

Have fun! Hope you like it.

[Skittles]

11. I am a native Illinoisan

YES INDEED!

[XNASA]

13. I moved back to IL from the oppressive heat 3 years ago.

Don't regret it one bit. I too, love the cold. And honestly, there are more pleasant days per year here in Illinois than on the Gulf Coast when you break it down.

And it's great to recapture that "It's Summer" feeling again.

Right now, our flower garden is in full bloom, the veggie garden is coming on strong and it's been just gorgeous the last few days.

[Gothmog]

15. Congratulations

Welcome to 700 club

[LynneSin]

16. Make sure you register to vote in Illinois!!

http://www.obamaforillinois.com/

In fact you can sign up to help get this guy elected!!!

[testing123]

19. We need every vote that we can get

Good Idea LynneSin!

[scarlet_owl]

17. Welcome to Illinois!

From your (kind of) neigbor in Urbana!

[davsand]

23. My in-laws are in Fairview Hts. very near Scott!

We go down to see them fairly often. Once you get settled in, I'd love to meet up with you some weekend!

BTW, my SIL is there in that area and she's always organizing political work down there. Let me know and I'll get you two in touch. From what I've gathered, the St Claire County Dems are kind of tough to get involved in--maybe she can help you out a bit if you want to do any campaign work...

Welcome to Illinois!!!!!


Laura

[LincolnMcGrath]

24. The City Of Townsville is in ILLINOIS!

Welcome back and welcome to the 700 club. I lasted just under 2 years in Central Florida, too many crackers down there for me. lol