Illinois Get together 2003

[stellar]

Who's in? So far it seems that the Champaign area would suit everyone best. I checked the map for everyones location and for most of the people interested it would be the mid-way point. I feel its fair to give everyone equal driving distance, as much as possible.

HOWEVER, its still open for discussion so if you feel other wise feel free to speak up.

So... first order of bussiness:

Who's in?
Where do we get together?
When?
AND what would everyone like to do for fun when we get together?

Can't wait!

[attorneymom]

Just wanted to say I hope you have a great time!!!!

[stellar]

Thankyou! You're so sweet

[stellar]

Heres a link to some Champaign recreaction information. Champaign visitors

[stellar]

Heres some approx. driving times for those interested:

Chicago area to Champaign- 139 miles/2hrs

Louisville Kentucky border area to Champaign- 241 miles/4hrs

Jamestown Ohio to Champaign- 267 miles/4hrs

Corydon Indiana to Champaign- 262 miles/4hrs

Rockford area or Northern Illinois to Champaign- 200 miles/3hrs

[losealot]

Champaign sounds fine to me. I'm looking at the recreation site now..... I can't wait. As for when for me I could do any weekend in May except the 10th. ALso i could do first weekend in june. I am up for doing anything while we are there. i love the outdoors, theaters, nightclubs, and anything else! lol

[stellar]

It still an open discussion but I'm thinking maybe the first weekend of May? Just an Idea

Lose- I'm with you, up for anything. I saw they have a botanical garden, COOL! I like everything too though.

[stellar]

I found what we can do while in Champaign/Urbana, check it out:

Event Name: Duck Race
From 05-03-2003 to 05-03-2003
Event Fees: No Fees Listed

Event Location:
Address: Broadway Avenue & Park Street
Urbana , 61801
Description: The annual Great C-U Duck Race. Buy your rubber duck and watch it race thousands of others at Crystal Lake Park. Proceeds from the duck race benefit the Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club. Outstanding prizes to the duck race winners. Carnival atmosphere.

Contact Phone: 217-367-1544
Contact E-Mail:

LOL

[lassie]

Hi girls! Champaign sounds good to me. Also, the 1st weekend in May sounds good. Duck raceing huh, wonder how many kids we will have to knock out of the way?? I am excited and up for anything even if it involves a DUCK!!

[stellar]

I promise I won't drag anyone to the rubber ducky race, LOL

A few others have expessed a lot of interest and want to be kept posted. so I guess lets get to planning and then share the plan.

My husband even suggested driving to champaign to pick a hotel in person. I worry about picking one online, don't want to end up in a boring area.

[losealot]

okay are we going to meet on a friday night and stay until sun. morning?? If so, i can't first weekend because my daughter has her very first dance recital (she's 3) May 2nd and i am going to be helping and i will probably be way tired that night to drive. I could meet up with you sat. morning i suppose if we have it that weekend.

I'd really lilke to be in on the whole weekend but if the first weekend works for everyone else then i'm in. I am really excited. can't wait. if we got a suite then we could maybe have 3 - 4 per room and that would be 6 - 8 people per suite. maybe we would only have to get two suites or 4 rooms. then we could get nice hotel and split the cost!

[stellar]

Lose- I was thinking we could all leave our homes early Saturday and have all day and night then return home the following day whenever, morning, afternoon, evening.

Looks like we are doing the planning so far. I wish the others would get here! where ya all at?

[stellar]

New idea for sanity's sake. Lets give the thread till Friday to see who joins. Come friday who ever is here will be in on the planning and everyone else will be notified of the plan and can decide if they're in or not. If it ends up just being a small handful of us that will still be fun.

[stacygirlvo]

Hey guys! Champaign would be fine (good lord would i have to go to my college alma mater for a visit too!? yikes! - EIU..hour or so from Champaign! don't think i'm ready for that!)

You guys go ahead and plan whenever/whatever - my plan was to maybe be in illinois in may sometime - but that's not definite...so you guys book it & if i'm in town I'LL BE THERE!!

[Justice4all]

I'm up for it. Not familiar with that area, so I guess whatever you guys want to do is fine with me...I'm not into strip clubs/bars. Will go dancing, drinking etc.

[stellar]

strip clubs? Not my kind of place either. However I will go dancing for a drink or whatever like Justice said!

[losealot]

oh my you won't see me in any strip clubs. Although i am not a heavy drinker i enjoy my share of strawberry daiquri's and such. i am up for dancing and drinking and such as you all said but wowwee no nakedness. my hubby would be like "hey now i am going if you are going there!!" lol I told him i am going to meet my phriends in champaign for a weekend outing. he was like "whatever". I think he thinks i'm joking! well he'll see when i get in the car and say see ya sunday!! hehe I can't wait!!! I am so excited. Hey stellar, is there any comedy clubs there that you know of. THat would be a great place to go. I hope more of you guys respond! WHere are you all?!

[stellar]

OK, this is more work than I thought! I have many questions.

1. Whats the budget for hotels? How many will share a room? I have found several options and need imput. I guess just put what you are willing to pay for yourself and if you'll share.

2. Is the first Saturday of May exceptable?

3. What time will we meet up?

I was thinking of going in on suites at a nice hotel thats in the middle of everything.

[lassie]

Hey gals, wish I was more help with the planning. I do not know alot about champaign, but I do know I am up for anything. What ever we do I am sure it will be fun!! All I need to know is I have somewhere to go yoooohhooooo!!!! I`m willing to share expenses and anyone going through Effingham, maybe ride together. Haven`t heard from Heartland, she`s close, so maybe we can ride together, I will drive, not a prob. So plan away and just tell me the day!!!!

[JoRae]

Rae,
Thanks for posting the driving distances and how far away all the cities are...It helped me alot to make up my mind as if I wanted to come or not, and I havta say...... I"M IN! ! !
If the get together is the first weekend in May , then I won't be there until saturday morning tho. My mom has chemo treatment that friday but I could leave early sat morning and be there by noon.
It's close enuff to me that I could make the drive that morning and then leave late sunday afternoon. I'd be home soon enough to tuck in the littles ones that night.
Keep me posted on what city will be be meeting at but sounds like you have a good and fair thing going about Champaigne. Sounds like a blast no matter what we do. And I'm up for splitting the cost of a room and having roomies.....I don't snore, at least I don't think !
If I do, just smack me on the head.....

[Daniegurl]

Hey girls,
Champaign is fine with me...I'm there at least 1 weekend a month anyway visiting friends at U of I...
Stacy, haven't talked to you in a while!! You disappeared for a while and so did I...How you been doin?? I'll go with you to Eastern hehehe to see your pics in the theater building (are they still there?)

I don't know what there is to do in Champaign cause I spend most of my time there on the campus...but I'm sure there's stuff to do. I'm excited!!

If anyone wants to drive with me, I'm more than willing to take my car down there...

-Danie

P.S. I am UNDERAGE!!! Am I still invited?? I can hang out with some of my friends down there if you guys decide to go to the bars and such...I don't want to cramp anyones style!

[losealot]

daniegirl - can't you get into bars and such at age 19 in champaign? i know you could as of two years ago. Anyways i will definitely share rooms. I don't have cooties (I don't think) hehe just kidding. I am willing to pay like 50 - 70 dollars for my share. or more if we have higher rate room. I agree i would like to have a nice hotel!! wouldn't it be cool if we could have a room that has hot tub in it?! anyways, i'm up for anything. stellar i will help in any way i'm just not that good at planning. pm if you wanna talk. it's nice out today so i'm heading outdoors! bye

[Justice4all]

I can share a room too. Not to keen on playing footsie though.

Stellar,
The first week of May sounds good.

[Keew]

I'm checking on airfare.

If that duck race is on, I'm so there!!

[stellar]

KEEW! LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

You're too funny!

[stellar]

Ok, most recent idea... most hotels don't have check-in till 3 pm, gotta clean the rooms I guess (jk, I like a clean room)

Most of the time you can get into room a little sooner. I was thinking since we're all driving we could meet up in Champaign at lunch time on Saturday at a restaurant, get to know eachother over lunch then check-in to our hotel and go from there. Of course anyone is welcome to arrive whenever they like.

Atleast its a start!

I will share too, no cooties, no snoring etc...

Im working on it, gomma go pick up some information this weekends and talk to friends that have been to Champaign a lot.

I'm SO EXCITED!

[JoRae]

I'm gettin excited, I missed Nashville so I'm so ready for this one.... Watch out, I have all this built up energy in me, who knows what will happen.... (just leave me where I lay)

Ok, so who all is in on the planning?? and who is on the list so far..... Can't wait til meet everyone...
And Stellar, that sounds like a good ideal, everyone meet up Satuday for lunch, check in to hotel and then take it from there..... Gosh, I love ya already.... (Love the name toooo)

[stacygirlvo]

don't forget when you're picking places to hang...it's a drunken college town!! (at least it was 10 years ago!)

[stellar]

STACY!!! I could use your knowledge! HELP! Whats a nice hotel close to stuff? I've found some online that look promising but I'm not sure if you can trust whats online, know what I mean?

Come on! It hasn't changed that much. It hasn't been very long.

ok, so far I think I'm doing the planning but if anyone else would care to help, Please do! Anyone want to help me look through hotels? Just go to expedia or orbitz or type in Champaign illinois hotels and search. I figure the whole point is to meet there and hang out so having strict plans about what to do while there (places to go etc...) isn't that important. We'll figure it out, its adventurous!

[stellar]

JoRae- Watch out for me! I haven't left home for a whole night without kids in almost 3 years!

[Daniegurl]

Haha, yes, it's a drunken college town, and yes you can get into some bars at 19...I just figured you guys wouldn't be going to those bars since all college students hang out there. I guess we'll see what happens...

-Danie

[losealot]

oh to be a drunken college gal again! Nah, I'll take my small town and two beautiful girls anyday. BUT I also haven't been away from my girls except one night ever!!! It'll be hard but i think i will enjoy it knowing daddy is getting to do mommy one night!! wait i just read that again, that sounds naughty!!

Meeting up for lunch sounds good. Stellar i will start looking at hotels also. I don't want you to think i'm dropping this all on you. Well, okay, I am! Just kidding. I have been scouring champaign recreation page to see what kinda stuff they have to offer. Hey, I'm just excited about going out to eat and not having to stop to cut up food, take girls to potty, dig out the baby wipes to wipe faces, and tell them to be quiet! If i start cutting up you alls food just slap me!! I am sooooo excited!!!
Darla

[JoRae]

Ok, I talked to hubby last night and he gave me permission to join you all (yea, right, like I really asked him if I could come, NOT)

Anyhow, I want to join you all really bad but I'm not sure so sure if I can handle driving 6 hours just to stay over night. If it was a two or three day thing then it would be worth it. There's just no way that I can leave on friday, I take my mom to chemo that friday. Hubby and I looked at the atlas and figured for me to go it would take me about 6 hrs to get there. Not so much much worried about the milage, just the driving time to get there. I don't want to get there and have to turn around and come right abck home with out time with you all.

I'm not giving up yet tho, I'm still in untill the fat lady sings....and I'm not about to start singing yet!

[Justice4all]

Jo Rae,
Maybe you can find someone to share the driving with?
Hope you come.

[stellar]

Hi! I'm really into this.

I would be willing to meet earlier if anyone wants to like Saturday morning for breakfast, hang out (theres outlet malls, LOL) then meet up with the others at lunch etc... I can stay till Sunday evening too if anyone wants to.

JoRae, I re-checked the maps and according to them your driving time is around 4 hours. Maybe I'm missing something?
I checked Corydon Indiana to Champaign. Is that correct? Let me know, I really thought I made the driving times as equal as possible.

Now I am wondering if people are uncomfortable with being in a college town. If so there may be a town close by Champaign that would be a milder enviornment.

We have a month to sort through it so I'm not worried if some things are still a little up in the air.

Losealot- I don't mind getting the planning going. I'm sure we'll figure it all out, have a good time and end up doing it again in the future. I'm like you, being home with little ones and all... we could all meet up in the middle of a field somewhere and I'd be happy just cause I wasn't lugging around a diaper bag and tending to children. Not that I don't love them but mommy needs a little time once in a while and mommies who get breaks are happier mommies!