Hello from Alabama! I’m a disabled queer person with trans kids looking to move to a blue state. I’ve been looking at houses in Illinois specifically as I have a very high opinion of Illinois as a state and of y’all’s Governor, J.B. Pritzker.

I’ve been looking and houses for sale in the Decatur area seem to fit in my budget - although honestly outside of Chicago, housing in general seems inexpensive compared to other blue states.

I want to ask locals, though - do you think my family and I would feel safe in a city like Decatur? Or are there other cities/towns I should be looking at?

My main concerns are whether I will be accepted as a lesbian, and also where there is a sizeable healthcare industry as I have a lot of health issues. I’m not concerned with how large and “happening” the city’s nightlife is or anything like that as I’m an old fuddy duddy - you’ll find me at the library lol.

Anyway thank you for reading and if you have the time and energy to respond please do! Thanks!

Pretty

Recommendations for tattoo artist in C-U. Fairly basic lettering tat.

https://www.idaillinois.org/

We have digital archives available to look into some of the past history in Illinois also just a reminder there are digital archives for local museums too

This is a far fetched, but does anyone know of a restaurant in Central Illinois that’s literally in the middle of nowhere?

A few years ago, on a trip to Chicago from MO, we stopped in this place off the highway in a rural area. I remember eating a gyro there (I think it was a gyro) and it was phenomenal. It looked like it was in a white shed or trailer and it was stoner themed like had aliens and dirty humor. The employees said it was award winning and had been featured in magazines or something like that but I can’t for the life of me remember where this is. I’m headed home from Chicago but was wondering if anyone knew where this place was.

Heyoo. is anyone in here a history buff? if so do you have any monographs on central illinois during the 19th century?

Or, even, a favorite historian who specializes in illinois history? (has done work on central illinois)

it’s for my senior paper, so the requirements for it being a legit, university published, monograph is important.

Thanks in advance !

This gal has been unable to be placed and has run out of time at the rescue. Will travel to any central Illinois location if you have space for her.

Author & Podcast Host Margaret Killjoy is Coming to Bloomington this Saturday!

We're so excited to welcome author Margaret Killjoy to the shop for a meet & greet and book signing on Saturday, October 19th!

Margaret will be stopping at Bobzbay Books while touring in support of her latest release, The Sapling Cage, described as "a tale of earth magic, power struggle, and self-invention in an own-voices story of trans witchcraft."

We'll have copies of The Sapling Cage (out September 24th!) available to be signed, as well as a handful of each book on her backlist. If you're a fan of fantasy, speculative fiction, folk horror, dystopian sci-fi, and/or political fiction with anarchist principles, you won't want to miss this event!

All books will be available for purchase at the event while supplies last, but quantities are limited so pre-orders are highly encouraged! Reserve your book(s) here: https://bobzbay.square.site/mk

About the Author: Margaret Killjoy (she/they) is a transfeminine author, musician, and podcaster. Some of her other books include The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion, A Country of Ghosts, We Won’t Be Here Tomorrow, and Escape from Incel Island. She is the host of the radical history podcast Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff and the individual and community preparedness podcast Live Like the World is Dying. She is the principal songwriter for the atmospheric black metal band Feminazgûl. She lives in West Virginia.

About The Sapling Cage: "Lorel has always dreamed of becoming a witch: learning magic, fighting monsters, and exploring the world beyond the small town where she and her mother run the stables. Even though a strange plague is killing the trees in the Kingdom of Cekon and witches are being blamed for it, Lorel wants nothing more than to join them. There’s only one problem: all witches are women, and she was born a boy.

When the coven comes to claim her best friend, Lorel disguises herself in a dress and joins in her friend’s place, leaving home and her old self behind. She soon discovers the dark powers threatening the kingdom: a magical blight scars the land, and the power-mad Duchess Helte is crushing everything between her and the crown. In spite of these dangers, Lorel makes friends and begins learning magic from the powerful witches in her coven. However, she fears that her new friends and mentors will find out her secret and kick her out of the coven, or worse."

To see what else is going on at Bobzbay Books, please visit: https://bobzbay.square.site/events

Are you an author interested in hosting a book signing at Bobzbay Books? Please visit: https://bobzbay.square.site/author-inquiries

Looking for bridal shops in the Bloomington-Normal area, but would be willing to drive 1-1.5 hours from there. Looking for a shop that has options under $1,000. If you could give any personal experiences that’d be great!

As I drove through several small towns this afternoon, and even past a couple of larger ones, I was struck by the question, what do people do for a living? How do you make your money? Most of the farmland is owned by corporations, though some people make their money from farming as most running farms are owned by families. But I have to believe there is a wide range of occupations among central Illinois Redditors. Care to share yours? I'll start by saying I work in a remote job as a project manager.

I found the view to be stunning.

Has anyone used a non official daycare person to watch your young child for all day care before? Like hiring another mom with children to watch your child for a full day on a consecutive bases?

Or has any mom watched another baby/toddler along with your own child/children on a consecutive bases? If so, did your rates look closer to a daycare rate or a babysitter rate?

I have the opportunity to watch a baby for 8 hours/day 3 days/week for several months alongside my own two toddlers and I’m not sure how much to charge. I’m finding the rates per hour for daycare (like $4-$6 an hour) are much different than a babysitter rate ($15-$20 an hour). I have my guesses but I’m curious why this is. I want my rate to be financially beneficial to my family if we take on this commitment but also reasonable for the other family.

Thanks in advance!

Hey! So some of the places we looked at in Charleston, IL were sketchy! Thank you to who has reached out! We have changed directions (kinda) and staying at Effingham tomorrow night and Saturday night—some asking why we chose “Charleston as a date weekend” but our son has a competition Saturday afternoon at EIU. But hubby and I are staying there for the weekend for break away. But we booked a hotel in Effingham and will arrive around 630p and check in and want to go get dinner and drinks and maybe dance or something! 🙃🙃 We just wanna cut loose—I’m sure any parent out there understands that life is strenuous and I just lost my dad 2 weeks ago and I had been his caregiver for 4 years—he got worse after my mom died due to Pancreatic cancer in 2022 and he died of liver and kidney failure. At the end I had to enforce his DNR and I watched his life leave his body and scream because his mind was gone pretty much. So I really need a weekend of fun. I need to let the stress leave my body and just relax. Thanks in advance! 💜🙏🏽 -xx

Getting into woodworking and I want to upgrade my wood selection from what you can find at Menards and the other big box stores.

On November 5th, Illinois will vote not just for President, but for Congress, and for state and local offices. Register and vote so you'll have a say in what kind of country America will be!

##Register to vote

In Illinois, you must register by October 20th if you wish to register in advance. You can register here: https://ova.elections.il.gov/

If you miss this deadline, you can also register in person at select locations during early voting, or at your polling place on Election Day.

##Voting in person

Illinois offers early voting from September 26th-November 4th. Find your early voting location here

If you prefer, you can vote at your polling place on Election Day, November 5th.

##Voting by mail

Any voter in Illinois may choose to vote by mail. Apply for a mail ballot here.

Ballots must be postmarked by November 5th and received by November 19th, so mail your ballot back promptly. You can also return your ballot in person to your County Auditor's office, or a dropbox in your county. If you return your mail ballot in person, you must do so by November 5th.

If you mail your ballot, your County Auditor's office may provide a way to track it online.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Hi! My husband and I are going to Charleston/Mattoon, IL Friday - Sunday. We have not been away in months—we are looking for dance clubs, bars, hotels, etc to look into for a fun—sex—dancing—letting loose and just having a blast. Any recommendations? We are mid 30s couple. Thank you!

Are there any Uber or Lyft drivers in Decatur anymore? I got a ride a few months ago but now it's never available

Don't push it off any longer. Get the work that needs done out the way. ..

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FOR SPRINGFILED , TAYLORVILLE, AND ALL IN-BETWEEN AND SUROUNDING COUNTYS. DONT WAIT ANY LONGER.

Affordable Handyman Services

Looking for help around the house? I offer a wide range of services at affordable prices, including:

Tree trimming and removal

Clean out of sheds, barns, and garages

Landscaping and lawn care

Plumbing repairs

Painting projects

General home maintenance

I’m willing to work with your budget and schedule. I prefer weekend jobs, but if it's urgent, I’m available on weekdays as well.

For reliable service, please email me at: handyman1985work@gmail.com

Let’s get your home or property in shape without breaking the bank!

EMAIL ME AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU ASAP

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Hey there,

I made a video about the unsolved mystery of the Mad Gasser of Mattoon. This topic is interesting to me as it's believed to be a mass hysteria event egged on by the press.

Do you any of you guys have any theories about the Mad Gasser?

Does Springfield il have a carpool?