Peoria, Quincy, St. Louis

I am SO pooped.

I began my day in Peoria. For those of you who enjoy "The Office," Peoria is to Chicago what Scranton is to New York.

So, after visiting the Scranton office of Dunder-Mifflin, I drove for two and half hours along a two-lane road to Quincy. There was lots of farm equipment along the way, most of which was in the middle of the road driving very slowly. And some sheep. While passing by the sheep I said, "mmmmm. Mint sauce!"

The little road between Peoria and Quincy was chocked full of quaint, charming little towns. I just had to stop for lunch in one little hamlet along the way at a place called the "Dairy Dip." How could you NOT eat at the Dairy Dip in a town of 200 people? Really.

There were lots of Autumn colors along the way.

Here is a tree.

The little town of Astoria was particularly charming

And here is the little bank in the little town of Astoria.

Doncha just love it?

Then I had a two-hour meeting in Quincy which is on the Illinois/Missouri border. I glanced at the Mississipi River. Then drove to St. Louis. Which is a long way.

I’m beat.

Tomorrow morning, I have a two hour meeting in East St. Louis, then drive to Mt. Vernon in Southern Illinois for another two hour meeting in the afternoon.

Night-night.

On the Road Again. . .

On Sunday, I have to head out to visit six locations across the State of Illinois where my staff members are located.

Oh! What fun!

I’ll get to see such exciting and breathtaking locales like Peoria, Quincy, East St. Louis, Mt. Vernon, Mattoon, and Rockford. (see map)

Ya gotta watch out for Peoria, though.
I hear Peoria will just eat you up and spit you out.

At least Illinois isn’t a huge state. Like Texas. I can’t imagine having to visit six locations spread out across Texas.

Oh, and while I’m on this trip, I’ll get to stay in luxurious hotels along the way. I hear that Super 8 has a wide variety of vending machines from which one can obtain tasty snack food items.

And just think of the many little-bitty soaps I’ll get to collect along the way! I won’t have to buy bar soap for a month after this trip.

(I hate buying bar soap. Have you ever noticed that it’s impossible to locate no matter where you shop?)

My generous meal stipend will allow me to dine like a king next week. While traversing the soybean and corn fields of Illinois, I’ll search out exquisite dining establishments like Denny’s and IHOP. Just imagine how many Grand Slam breakfasts forty dollars a day will buy!

I’ll have my nifty wireless laptop with me (generously supplied by my employer) so that I can keep you, dear puppies, updated all along the way. I’ll bet you’ll all be anxiously hopping onto my site ten times a day just to see what adventures will be relayed. (No doubt, my site is on all of your "favorites")

Oh, I can’t wait to get started!