Thanks for the warm welcome I live in Monroe right outside of Charlotte, my wife is from Joliet Ill. love the people up there as well, I have always said if you go to a sporting event in Ill. and do not know anyone by the time you walk across the parking lot you will be well fed and have a pretty good buzz on from all the beers people give you lol. I look forward to learning some new tricks with my Big easy as well I use it to cook Thanksgiving turkey and for Christmas prime rib and do the occasional chicken here and there and have done ribs and meatloaf in it.