Great Idea LS.

I'm BobL, recently turned 50 but feel much younger. I was born and raised in the NYC burbs. Moved to the Chicago burbs after my Soph year in HS. Spent a lot of time working in the poorer areas of both NYC and Chicago while in HS.
Spent my first 3 years of college at NIU before transferring and earning my BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
I have worked in consulting engineering since graduating, designing building systems.
I'm divorced with 2 kids, 18 and 17, maintained 50% custody, and have had no greater joy than being a dad.

I am a democrat (though I did vote for Bush 1 and would have voted for McCain had he been the GOP nominee in 2000). I do believe we should maintain a balanced budget(do not support a balanced budget amendment) I have a liberal definition of "general welfare" and a strong belief in personal responsibility( I do not believe they are mutually exclusive as some might). I was raised Lutheran though I am now agnostic. I believe that any religious extremism is a cancer on our society. My kids were raised Lutheran but also encouraged explore other religions and beliefs and challenge conventional religious ideologies.

I question everything, research a ton and then begin formulate my opinions. I encourage my kids to do as well(including questioning me and my opinions).

I have had NIU football season tickets since 1987, and my love for NIU Football is the one thing in which I have indoctrinated my kids.