Friday, June 01, 2007

NJ and Me, Perfect Together

I am glad you all approve of the brownies as a welcome to the neighborhood gesture. They are a much loved baked good. Who asked if there would be nuts in the brownies? How dare you, of course there will be nuts, but not too many.

This "welcoming to the neighborhood" part is new to me. Although we were always friendly with our neighbors growing up, people kept to themselves. I think it is great that there is more of a community here in southern New Jersey, it is almost like living in a different state. Especially because they worship at the alter of cheese steaks and call sprinkles "jimmies" WTH?

New Jersey is strange. We are a rough and diverse state. We have great restaurants, beaches, mountains, great down towns, many farms, lakes and are close to various major cities. We also have the highest property taxes, guidos, the highest crime city in the US, and many toll roads.
BUT, you push us to a corner and we will defend our state with everything we have. NJ is the little brother of the US. We can make fun of it and complain about it but if you do? Well, watch out.

I can tell a NJ driver from a NY driver or a driver from Kentucky. Oh and if you are from anywhere outside the NJ/NY/PA/CT area, I advise you to just stay in the right lane of any major highway and sit tight. Don't go to NY either, if you think NJ has aggresive drivers, you will be in for a rude awakening.

We do not take slow driving, keeping a blinker on for 76 miles or not keeping up with traffic lightly. We will beep at you, yell key word in your direction or maybe show you a finger or two. I have seen many an out of state driver shell shocked. You know what they say though, if you can't keep up stay the fuck out.

NJ has it faults. We know it, we complain and bicker and threaten to leave. No matter how much of a pain in the butt it is to me, it is still home.

13 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:58 AM

    My aunt lived in Maplewood up until last week, actually (she moved down here to be closer to family). It was a really nice mix of adorably small town and yet it was SO CLOSE to scary ghetto on some ends. I'll miss it!

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  2. Anonymous11:17 AM

    We take it pretty slow around here... until it comes to driving. i believe that if my truck CAN go 120mph, it SHOULD. Other than that, Texas is a nice slow pace!

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  3. Ugh. I'm not a fan of nuts in the brownies. Now, if they were chocolate chips instead of nuts...yummy.

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  4. I have lived in NJ my whole life and I personally love it. I embrace the tankers that surround my town! If you look through them you can see the NYC skyline.

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  5. You forgot "big hair, gum smacking, babes." I almost miss the Garden State...almost. :)

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  6. i don't like nuts in my brownies. I do like your comment though about NY drivers. Sounds like NY and NJ drivers are the same way. I hate driving somewhere with hubby in the winner time. He gets so mad but only the famlily in the car can hear what he is saying. drives me batty!!

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  7. You people who don't like nuts in your brownies, are nuts!

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  8. Anonymous4:50 PM

    Jersey is cool with me. My husband is from Brooklyn, though. Don't even get him started.

    And brownies aren't worth eating unless there are nuts in them.
    Everybody knows that!

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  9. Anonymous5:37 PM

    I love the "jimmies" comment! I'm from RI, my husband is from Pittsburgh... when I first called them "jimmies" he had NO freakin clue what I was talking about! To be a fly on the wall for that conversation - hilarious! Love your blog - I love NJ... we lived in NYC for 6 years and spent many a times in NJ, mostly southern in the summer!
    - Audrey
    Pinks & Blues Girls
    www.pinksandblues.com

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  10. I'M BAAAAACK! with biiiig news! (dun dun duuuunnnn...)

    I brought my NYC driving skills to little Rhody, and I still scare the hell out of some people when they ride with me LOL! Thank goodness my hubby is from The City, too or else I would have scared him away!
    And my brownies...extra nuts PLEEEZE!

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  11. Anonymous7:34 PM

    AMEN! I love Jersey! It gets such a bad rap! And I agree about the driving - CT driver here. Everyone else, get out of my way!

    xoxo

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  12. I grew up in New Jersey, and I will defend it to the DEATH! I am a northern NJ girl, though--north and south Jersey are SO different!

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  13. I'm in NY and love Jersey (especially LBI), but I still hate those damm jughandles!!

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