The morning news... and the end of an era

[Uncle Gump]

As usual... I wake up start the coffee and click on the news. I pour a cup... turn my attention to the news to see a mug shot of a middle aged lady arrested for murdering both of her parents. I say to myself... that's Debra. I have waited on her once or twice a week at my pizza shop for the past few years. Always friendly... smiles... polite. I guess this proves that you never know. People just snap...

Not that things are better any place else... but I'm ready to get out of Cook County... and Illinois altogether. My evacuation plan is in two phases. Phase 1... is selling my pizza shop. As luck would have it.... I have an agreed upon offer for the pizza shop and the potential buyer will be there today at 1:00 pm and we will see if we can close the deal. Phase 2... I fix up the house... get it on the market and start looking for property in northern Michigan.

It's all bittersweet really... We've put a lot into the business and have tripled sales and built a great reputation. However the business model can't survive with the minimum wage increases imposed... the taxes... and just the ever increasing price of doing retail business in Cook county. The housing market in our neighborhood appears to be on fire right now... They've built about 20 new homes and more underway in our subdivision.... and the completed ones are all occupied. The time is right to get mine on the market.

 

[Curious Hound]

I hope it all works out for you. If going further north doesn’t happen, come on down here to the sunny south.

 

[Ranger850]

Sorry to hear about your customer's parents. That's tragic. I hope all works out well for you.

 

[adsm08]

I would not describe the chance to leave Crook County as "bittersweet" so much as "YIPPEEEE!!!".

I mean really, the place is so bad that the rest of the state has floated the notion of forcing them to go be their own state.

 

[Uncle Gump]

The Northern Michigan thing will happen... it's a childhood dream. Michigan is HOME for me. However I'm not counting chickens just yet.

I've been in the south during summer... I just don't know how ya'll survive it. I haven't ruled out being a snowbird and heading south during a portion of Michigan's winter.

The reason it's bittersweet... For as much hard work we've poured into the place... I've had a lot of fun doing it. Also the fact that just in the last year and a half... it's making decent money. Then there is the people... employees and customers alike... except for Debra and the lady that called the cops on me a couple weeks ago.

Crook County... and now the new Gov... He has had a field day or two lately. This entire state is corrupt beyond belief.

Right now is the time... the iron is hot and needs to be struck. Just a shame it will cost 10's of thousands to close it all and leave.

 

[OldMan2]

It's sad to give your up business. I did that in '94. However, things work out for the best if your heart is in it. Good luck.
If you are considering moving south, I live in Georgia. We have temps in the 90-100 with high humidity. Florida is even more humid.
We have mosquitoes, gnats, love bugs, snakes and gators.....and they love people. Parts of Georgia are the allergy capital of the country.
What more can I offer. We are pro-life, pro-gun. Come on down.

 

[8thTon]

Sorry to hear that things have not worked out, but you have a dream and a plan, and it looks like the timing is right.

Things are changing fast in this world now, and the best preparation anyone can make is to stay alert and be able to adapt fast. Those who are mentally unprepared and spend too much time in denial and shock when change comes miss opportunities.

 

[91stranger]

That's a bummer. People definitely have two sides to them and we don't always see that crazy side. We call it the "phone voice" because of people in the office/shop are talking all nasty and hateful and as soon as the phone rings they pick up and talk all nice and sweet. Phone voice lol.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Might give Michigan a hard look too, I am not sure they are a whole lot better than Illinois.

 

[pjtoledo]

If you do move to 'da Yoo Pee try to set up a small pizza shop. I'll be sure to stop by, provided you also sell pasties.

 

[pjtoledo]

Might give Michigan a hard look too, I am not sure they are a whole lot better than Illinois.

once you're out of the southeast part it's a great state, the upper peninsula is a land of it's own.
you have to cross a really big bridge to get there.

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[alwaysFlOoReD]

Aren't pasties those things that female dancers can get swinging in delicious circles?

 

[pjtoledo]

Aren't pasties those things that female dancers can get swinging in delicious circles?

not in the Yoo Pee:

Pasty - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[RangerFabWorks]

Aren't pasties those things that female dancers can get swinging in delicious circles?

No no no floored. Pasties are the things that cover the part of the fun bags to make them “appropriate” for the general public. I say we outlaw them!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

once you're out of the southeast part it's a great state, the upper peninsula is a land of it's own.
you have to cross a really big bridge to get there.

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Yeah but it is still hobbled by whatever the southern part cooks up for laws. See also Colorado and California.