You Know You're From Illinois When: (Chicago, Champaign: to live, groceries, move to)

[Aethernet]

We used to call 16 inch softball "Beerball". While at NIU, we played against the "Townies" in DeKalb.

You stand in the outfield holding a can of suds instead of a mitt. If a ball is hit your way, a 16 inch softball moves so slow you've got plenty of time to set your beer down to catch it. Maybe wave to your girlfriend or call your buddy to pass the time... Catch it bare handed, toss the ball to first base, then pick up your beer & wait for the next fly.

When your can is empty, wave your hand in the air and loudly yell "Beer here!!" The game is interrupted while someone runs out to hand you a beer from the cooler.

Like Gardner34, I was appalled to learn 12 inch was considered "softball" everywhere else but here.

I suppose "22 minutes out to Dempster" is kinda meaningless if you don't know whether 22 minutes is good or bad. Or where Dempster is, for that matter. Let's not even bring up "The Junction" thing...

I've lived here a long time...like the weather report, I don't even notice it unless they say something like "Five car pile up on the Stevenson".

Or during a bad snow..."2 hours & 37 minutes out to 53"....while you are sitting on the outbound Eisenhower with a fully loaded snow plow two cars in front, just as stuck in traffic as you are.

[Aethernet]

Since both those stores have been here forever and are the only major grocery chain around since losing A&P 30 years ago....

Jewel & Dominick's have become like the Cubs / Sox thing of shopping. I shop at Jewels (always pronounce the 's'..) because there is one four blocks from me. It's old, as small as a large gas station, and always packed...but it's THERE, been there since the dawn of time...and it's a Jewels..

If somebody tells me they picked up something at Dominick's....blank stare...I never go there!! In fact, that's the enemy, why would I? I know they exist, but I shop at Jewels....always have...Dominick's is far too modern & the aisles are too wide & there's always parking...

[Steve-o]

Dominicks rocks, I wish there were more of them actually. That and Meijer.

[j33]

They opened a Dominick's 3 blocks from my house, , I'd rather walk 3 blocks to the grocery store than 8 blocks to the other grocery store (the Jewel), so there you have it. I shop at Dominick's now. I have no loyalties to either one (although I grew up shopping at Jewel as a kid).

[deegers]

My faves:
-You measure distance in minutes.
-Your school classes were canceled because of the cold.
-You end your sentences with an unnecessary proposition. For example: "Where's my coat at?" or If you go to town I wanna go with."
-You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
-Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
-You actually understand these jokes and probably will send them to a lot of your friends.


These are so true and are some of my favorites. I still get made fun of from outsiders because I still say " you want to go with?"

My boyfriend from Cali whom loves to point out how coool Cali is with his fish tacos that Chicagoans don't know about, I'd like to ask him if he knows how to play 12 inch softball ...

I have also had to explain to people while living in Vegas that I understand time not distance better.

[j33]

What Chicagoans don't know about fish tacos, I've been eating them for a few years now. They've had them for a long time at places like El Barco.

[Katiana]

In Champaign, it is said:

When it doesn't look flat any more, you've lived there too long!

TOO TRUE!

[deegers]

Originally Posted by j33

What Chicagoans don't know about fish tacos, I've been eating them for a few years now. They've had them for a long time at places like El Barco.

Well, that's encouraging. I'll be SURE to let him know of this.

[samoyedgirl]

I am from Fulton County and do not live in Illinois now---but every Illinoisan has it deep in their bones----this is so true!!

[katmoney]

Oh man I recently moved to Denver where the Dominicks is called Safeway. But of course I still call it Dominicks and I get weird stares from everybody! Jewel'S is Albertson's here!