Humor Bloggers Virtual Road Trip
Some of the bloggers over at humorbloggers.com decided to go on a “virtual road trip,” this summer and now it’s my turn to talk about my adopted hometown. Okay, I’m about to reveal where I live, so for those that don’t already know this info, please don’t hunt me down and stalk me like some crazy psycho. Okay, great!
Welcome to Bloomington-Normal, the “Twin Cities” of Illinois! Let me take you through the life of the average townie. First, you’ll come to B-N to go to college. If your parents are wealthy, you’ll attend Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington. If your parents are middle-class, you’ll attend the far more affordable, yet not quite as nice Illinois State University in Normal. (Author’s note- I did NOT attend Illinois Wesleyan).
Once you are settled into your studies, you’ll definitely want to blow off some steam by grabbing drinks at a pub downtown. Be careful! The cops are always waiting to give someone a DUI, like they did a few months ago to actor Sam Shepard. Why in the hell he was here and drinking at Fat Jack’s in downtown Bloomington I have no idea, but it happened and we were featured on TMZ!
While you’re at the bar, make sure to eat the nuts because they are made right here in B-N, too! Yes, we are home to the famous Beer Nuts factory!! Actually, you may not want to eat the nuts at the bar because studies show they are covered in urine and fecal matter. Yuck.
Okay, so you can’t spend all your time in B-N eating nuts and drinking. At some point, the college students graduate and need real jobs. How convenient that we are the corporate headquarters to not one, but TWO, major insurance companies!!! State Farm Insurance and Country Insurance are the main employers of EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO LIVES HERE. Three out of four townies works at one of these places. I’m not making this statistic up. I, however, am NOT one of these folks and I’m pretty proud of that fact.
So, you’ve spent a long day selling insurance and need a bite to eat. You’re in luck! B-N has the highest ratio of restaurants per square mile of any city in the U.S. I’m not making that up, either.
After dinner, if it’s summertime, you’ll definitely want to check out The Illinois Shakespeare Festival that we host every year from June to August. Okay, I have to admit, I’ve lived here for ten years, I was a theater major, I lived just blocks from the theater and I’ve NEVER been to Skake’s Fest. EVERY summer I plan to go and it never works out. This year I AM going!
So that’s pretty much Bloomington-Normal in a nutshell. It’s a VERY nice place to live and I‘m happy to call it my adopted home…now go check into a hotel ‘cause I only have a two bedroom apartment and can’t put everyone up for the night.
Oh, and be sure to check out “Confessions of A Reforming Geek” for the next leg of our road trip! And, of coarse, go to humorbloggers.com for the best humor blogs in one convenient location. 
“Go, You Redbirds” and thanks for the tour!
So which exactly do you live in? Bloomington or Normal (from which I can’t imagine you are)? I need to know where exactly I can stalk you.
Oh, and thanks to you, I will never eat beer nuts again. Of course, I prefer “girlie” mixed drinks anyway so usually don’t have to worry about it.
I’ve never been to Illinois. It sounds like a nice place to visit in the summer. Thanks for the tour and I’ll admit to having SF insurance!
Nonamedufus- How do you know the school slogan?! And I’ve only ever been to one ISU sporting event and it was after I was already out of school
Unfinished Rambler- I’ve lived in both, but now I’m in Bloomington. The two towns just blend together…if you cross the street, then your in Normal (and I know, what a weird name for a town!)
Reforming Geek- Way to support State Farm! Yes, visit IL in the summer b/c the winters suck…fall is very pretty though and my all-time fave time of year.
Every year we have “Shakespeare in the Park” in Toronto. For five years I lived right next to High Park where it’s held. Think I ever went?
Nice place. I wouldn’t mind visiting in person some day.
I have to add one additional highlight. Avanti’s gondola sandwich. I don’t know any ISU grad who drives down I-55 (what used to be the Mother Road) without taking the exit at Bloomington to get a gondola.
Frank- This summer I SWEAR I am going!
Mydailylist- Oh my God, how could I have failed to mention Avanti’s?! They just opend a second location in town that is much closer to my place than the one in Normal. Except I kind of burned out on Avanti’s when I was an ISU student b/c I ate it ALL the time.
That’s a nice house you live in (in the picture). Nice of you to host the Shakespearean Festival there every year too! Thanks for the tour…
You LIVE down there? I went to ISU for two years and a kick ass foam party at a frat house at IW.