I really hate to perpetuate stereotypes, but...
Yanked from rhoda_rants: Type in "You know you live in [home state] when..." at Google and bold all that apply.
You know if someone is from southern, middle or northern Illinois as soon as they open their mouth.
When you say "the city" - you mean Chicago. This drove my father nuts every time my mom and I referred to Chicago as "The City"
You think ethanol makes your truck "run a lot better."
You know what's knee-high by the Fourth of July.
You know what "cow tipping" and "snipe hunting" is. I get half credit 'cause I know cow tipping
You don't pronounce the "S" in Illinois like the rest of the world. People actually pronounce the "S"?
You know more than one person with a septic tank.
You have no problem spelling or pronouncing "Des Plaines" I hope I can pronounce it right, since the river runs right by my house
You think Chicago is a completely different state from Illinois. All of Cook County is a different state from the rest of Illinois
You know the answer to the question, "Is this Heaven?"
You learned your pickup will run without a muffler
When asked how your trip was to any foreign, exotic place, you say, "It was different." Hand to God, I said this when I came back from Atlanta to my dad
People from other states love to hear you say "Illinois" and other words with "Os" in them.
You drink "pop." Typically I say "Coke", but never "soda"
You say "Wanna go with?" when you mean "Do you want to come with me?"
You know what Kennedy, Dan Ryan, Eisenhower, Edens, and Bishop Ford have in common and curse one of them daily.
You know the difference between Richard J. Daley and Richard M. Daley. They're our Kennedys.
You say Chicawgo and not Chicaago. Again, people really say it with a hard "A"?
You think going to a Bears game in single digit temperatures with a wind off the lake (and freezing rain) is fun. (I know these people, but I say hell no to sitting in freezing temperatures)
You expect corruption in local politics. This goes without saying
You've been caught speeding in Wisconsin because you had Illinois plates. I never have, but I know the Wisconsin police pull over drivers just because they're from Illinois. (To be fair, we do the same to them.)
You know why they call it "the Windy City." IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE WIND COMING OFF OF THE GODDAMN LAKE!!!!
You understand the Democratic machine and don't fight against it. My father use to fight the machine all the time, bless his heart.
You know a good gyros joint.
You know when the last time the Cubs won a pennant.
You know exactly how many cars are "legally" allowed to turn left after the light turns red. "Legally" it's three--four if there isn't a cop around
You don't know which ethnic "fest" to choose on any given Summer weekend.
The "Living Room" is called the "front room"
You measure distance in minutes (especially "from the city"). And you swear everything is pretty much 15 minutes away. Everything is 15 minutes away, otherwise it's not worth going to
You refer to anything South of I-80 as "Southern Illinois"
You refer to Lake Michigan as "The Lake"
"The Super Bowl" refers to one specific game in a series of 35 played in January of 1986
You have two favorite football teams: The Bears, and anyone who beats the Packers. Again, this goes without saying
You know what goes on a Chicago Style Hot Dog Word of advice, never, ever put ketchup on your hot in Chicago. They have laws against that.
You know what Chicago Style Pizza REALLY is
You understand what "lake-effect" means
You know the difference between Amtrak and Metra, and know which station they end up at. Amtrak goes all over the state/country, Metra goes into the city, and they both end up at Union Station. The more you know...
You can distinguish between the following area codes: 847,630,773,708, 312, & 815
You don't flinch when you pay the fifth toll of your 45-minute car ride on the highway Slightly exaggerated, it's more like three tolls in the span of 45 minutes
You know the significance of State and Madison. Chicago really is the easiest city to navigate--unlike you, Atlanta!
You know if someone is from southern, middle or northern Illinois as soon as they open their mouth.
When you say "the city" - you mean Chicago. This drove my father nuts every time my mom and I referred to Chicago as "The City"
You think ethanol makes your truck "run a lot better."
You know what's knee-high by the Fourth of July.
You know what "cow tipping" and "snipe hunting" is. I get half credit 'cause I know cow tipping
You don't pronounce the "S" in Illinois like the rest of the world. People actually pronounce the "S"?
You know more than one person with a septic tank.
You have no problem spelling or pronouncing "Des Plaines" I hope I can pronounce it right, since the river runs right by my house
You think Chicago is a completely different state from Illinois. All of Cook County is a different state from the rest of Illinois
You know the answer to the question, "Is this Heaven?"
You learned your pickup will run without a muffler
When asked how your trip was to any foreign, exotic place, you say, "It was different." Hand to God, I said this when I came back from Atlanta to my dad
People from other states love to hear you say "Illinois" and other words with "Os" in them.
You drink "pop." Typically I say "Coke", but never "soda"
You say "Wanna go with?" when you mean "Do you want to come with me?"
You know what Kennedy, Dan Ryan, Eisenhower, Edens, and Bishop Ford have in common and curse one of them daily.
You know the difference between Richard J. Daley and Richard M. Daley. They're our Kennedys.
You say Chicawgo and not Chicaago. Again, people really say it with a hard "A"?
You think going to a Bears game in single digit temperatures with a wind off the lake (and freezing rain) is fun. (I know these people, but I say hell no to sitting in freezing temperatures)
You expect corruption in local politics. This goes without saying
You've been caught speeding in Wisconsin because you had Illinois plates. I never have, but I know the Wisconsin police pull over drivers just because they're from Illinois. (To be fair, we do the same to them.)
You know why they call it "the Windy City." IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE WIND COMING OFF OF THE GODDAMN LAKE!!!!
You understand the Democratic machine and don't fight against it. My father use to fight the machine all the time, bless his heart.
You know a good gyros joint.
You know when the last time the Cubs won a pennant.
You know exactly how many cars are "legally" allowed to turn left after the light turns red. "Legally" it's three--four if there isn't a cop around
You don't know which ethnic "fest" to choose on any given Summer weekend.
The "Living Room" is called the "front room"
You measure distance in minutes (especially "from the city"). And you swear everything is pretty much 15 minutes away. Everything is 15 minutes away, otherwise it's not worth going to
You refer to anything South of I-80 as "Southern Illinois"
You refer to Lake Michigan as "The Lake"
"The Super Bowl" refers to one specific game in a series of 35 played in January of 1986
You have two favorite football teams: The Bears, and anyone who beats the Packers. Again, this goes without saying
You know what goes on a Chicago Style Hot Dog Word of advice, never, ever put ketchup on your hot in Chicago. They have laws against that.
You know what Chicago Style Pizza REALLY is
You understand what "lake-effect" means
You know the difference between Amtrak and Metra, and know which station they end up at. Amtrak goes all over the state/country, Metra goes into the city, and they both end up at Union Station. The more you know...
You can distinguish between the following area codes: 847,630,773,708, 312, & 815
You don't flinch when you pay the fifth toll of your 45-minute car ride on the highway Slightly exaggerated, it's more like three tolls in the span of 45 minutes
You know the significance of State and Madison. Chicago really is the easiest city to navigate--unlike you, Atlanta!