Fellow flashlight fondlers, I bid you hello.

As one of modest skills, knowledge and collection, I'm here to expand all. So it's now time to begin basking in the associated glory that is the BLF.

Or if you prefer, hello there. I'm stuck out in corn country in NW Illinois, after a close to seven year stretch in the mountains of California. I actually moved back to my home state to be closer to my family and reduce living costs. So far so good. I've gained a basic working knowledge of the flashlight realm, but really just enough to get me into trouble. They fascinate me for some reason, though I think a few of you on this forum can relate.

Now while I don't mind paying for quality if it's warranted, I like to squeeze a penny hard enough to make Lincoln scream. Thusly I found this board. So now if you please, contribute to my wife's annoyance at my stack of flashlights and hopefully I can contribute in some sort of meaningful way.

Welcome to BLF Gorbag, you've come to the right place!

I spent a little time in the Champaign/Urbana area a while back, Chanute AFB to be exact.

Hello and welcome to BLF, Gorbag! What part of NW IL are you in? I'm in the Fox Valley/Tri-Cities area. Quite a few of us from these parts on BLF.

Welcome to BLF Gorbag I'm also in Illinois, I'm just west of O'Hare airport.

Welcome to the club, Gorbag.

In which part of California did you live? I ask because I'm in the San Joaquin Valley, not too far from the Sierra Nevada.

Welcome to BLF!

I grew up north of Chicago in the Evanston/Wilmette area.

Lived for a bit in Aurora near the Fox river.

Whilst in California, I was near the Sonora pass off of Highway 108 in the Stanislaus National Forest. Actually in a little town off the highway, but my backyard was literally the forest.

Now I'm north of the Rock River near(ish) to Polo, between Sterling and Oregon.

Now that we've established the fact that this area of the country likes flashlights and gadgets and things, I think we need to open a store worthy of our attentions and within our price range. I'm really tired of WalMart's offerings.

Flashaholics don't shop at Wallyworld..... thats like a drunk drinking Sterno to catch a buzz.

Gentlemen, we must work on this man, get him some links quickly before he starts buying 3 packs at Harbor Freight !!! Zoiks Scoobie !!

Ooops, forgot ...... Welcome !!!!!!

My collection is focused right now on iTP and JetBeam models, so please don't hurt me. I just wish I could "handle the goods" before I purchased them.

Welcome Gorbag.

We should have a Lake Michigan get-together. You can fondle away....

We could stand out at the edge of Montrose Harbor and see how many boats we can blind.

Aloha and welcome to BLF Gorbag!

Welcome to Blf Gorbag!

Welcome to BLF. I live on the north east side of that cornfield in southern Wisconsin.

Hi Gorbag, good to have you with us.

Hi Gorbag. Welcome to BLF!

You'll love being here. Your wallet (and/or wife) might not. ;)

Howdy, Gorbag! Welcome to the gang, you'll fit right in with the rest of us flashlight fondlers. Lucky for you you are surrounded by some of the coolest guys here. Take ChicagoX up on his offer and meet up with the others in your neck of the woods for some group fondling....flashlight fondling, that is.

Hello and welcome!

Give us some pics of your collection. :)

Welcome, and hide your credit card and Paypal account!! Cool