Illinoisians and letters from home

In this case even location cannot explain it, NorthAmerican: the author grew up in Chicago and lives in Chicago!

But this is no criticism of course. The fact that it doesn't sound familiar to you only helps to prove that it isn't a commonly used expression.

I have been thinking about this since yesterday, and I think it was just a phrase created by the author. It reminds me of something being "not something to write home about" although the meaning is different.

But, I am happy to annouce that I searched online for the phrase, and I seemed to win a point in the Yahoowhacking game! Here is one result with that expression in it...and it's from 1885.

I may be wrong here, but I was under the impression that someone from Illinios was an Illini. North American...can you shed some light on this?

Wow, congratulations, Diana. Definitively not a common expression then. Even more so, because in that link it isn't used in the same way: "We who are here do not want you to forget the Seminary and its interests, and is not a letter from home one of the surest ways to keep your hearts warm towards it?"

Thanks for helping, Diana.

Ah, I missed that the usage was different--there is chaos going on around me in my office and I tried to focus but totally missed the usage. And I should have said "I seem" instead of "seemed."

#12 -- I believe that Illini are students and alumni of the University of Illinois.

Rockrug (#12): Some Illinoisans are also Illini. VinnyD has it right: Illini are the students and alumni of the U. of I., and I am among their number. The football team is usually referred to as "the Fighting Illini."

Some Hoosiers and Michiganders, and Kuwaitis for that matter, are Illini also.

Ah, but this Ohioan is a Buckeye!