You know you're from Jersey, if....

Having been born, grown up and now raising a family of my own (and blogging about it) in New Jersey (what, you too...SHUT up!) I've pretty much heard it all.  Still.  You may be surprised to learn, however, just how difficult it can be, listening to jokes about why we're called "The Garden State" because, it's too hard to fit "Oil and Petro-Chemical Refinery State" on a license plate, etc...

[rolls eyes]

So, New Jersey has a lot of chemical companies; I get that.  Hell, I used to work with a couple of them - way before children - forgive me, but the assumption that moving here would be less than desirable, by anyone who refuses to take a look-see beyond the Turnpike tolls, you know, upsets me.

Or, in more Jersey-type terms...it friggin' frosts my ass, people!

I guess that's why I couldn't wait to get back from Camp Baby (sponsored and totally paid for by Johnson &Johnson...a New Jersey-based company...btw) and show my blogging friend, Dana (she's the pretty one on the right and a mommy blogger totally from Wisconsin...dont'cha know) just what in the hell...erm...I mean...how nice it is to actually live (and breath) here, in Jersey!

Dana was in New York City and had the chance to meet up with the women at BlogHer Business.

[waves]

So, I arranged to pick Dana up at the train station and you won't believe the first thing that came out of her mouth!

"Wow, I am SO GLAD to be here!"

Surprised?

Me, too.  I mean, NYC mom bloggers are way cool and she probably could have gotten a chance to hang out with Katie Couric, oh...and...did you know that she blogs, too!?!?

"Are we going to the boardwalk, now!?!?"

Earlier in the week, I mentioned to Dana that the kids and I were planning a special surprise for the afternoon.

"Ah...CRAP...you guessed it!"

The weather was pretty cruddy (it rains a lot here, in Jersey) and I wasn't sure that anything would even be open (especially, in April) but, we both quickly agreed that we would, you know, make it work!

"Could I have a qwar-der?"

Apparently, the arcade NEVER closes and (according to Dana) my kids and I really do have the cutest little accents.

"Okay, but first, Mommy needs a friggin' cup of caw-fee!"

[snicker]

No, I really don't tawk...I mean...I guess, to other people, growing up in Jersey AND speaking Hungarian, I must sound really funny.

"O-shore."

Heh.

"Guess what, guys... can you believe that Dana's never been to the beach, before?"

I have to say, Thing One (she's 14) and Thing Two (she's 12) had a lot of fun helping Dana pick shells to take home to her 3-year-old son, Dawson.

The Boy (he's 9) showed her that chasing sea gulls - especially, since they usually steal ALL your food - was really, you know, okay.

[Note:  I'd show you, but I broke my camera and I'm hoping that Dana uploads her pictures to Flickr, like, real soon.  You can read her re-cap, here!]

Then, Mini-me (she's 6) proved that she IS the youngest claw machine champion...EVUH!

"That's so nice of you to win the...um...cute-looking bug, for Dawnson!"

She did, too (sort of) since, she didn't think I was actually going to make her give her prize away.

"Smile for Dana, damnit!"

The skies were getting darker, so we headed back to the car and I made sure to take the back roads home - since, it was still rush hour on the Parkway - and drove Dana through some of the prettiest farmland in the county and passed by one of our favorite farm markets, in Colts Neck, home to Bruce Springsteen...or, at least...one of his houses...I think.

"They make the best apple cider donuts!"

Yep, the kids were getting hungry...again.

"When are we going home?"

And tired.

"Soon, but not before we drive by my boyfriend's house!"

Over the Red Bank bridge and across the Navesink River to Bon Jovi's town, we went.

"Which one is it?"

Um.

"That one!"

I think.

"It's getting dark and it's sort of hard to tell."

Still, it didn't matter, we drove through some of the prettiest (and biggest) homes in Central New Jersey - south of the Driscoll Bridge, anyway - and Dana seemed to be a little, I dunno, amazed that we even live here.

"Actually, we bought our house back in 1993 and now can't afford to, you know, move!"

Besides, it's really, really small.

"I hope you don't mind sleeping on the couch?"

She didn't, or the fact that Doofus-dog took up the majority of whatever visible surface space left in This Full House of killer dust bunnies and miss-matched socks.

"Rudy kept my feet warm, too!"

Overall, it was a great day and I was very proud to be able to show off the "better parts" of my home state.  Except, when we had to watch some very impatient people yell at the drive-thru attendant at McDonalds'.

"Ooooh...Mommy...they said the "F" word!"

I know.

So did I (and Dana) many times, when driving her to Laguardia Airport and getting totally lost in Queens, NY - but, that's a whole 'nother blog post - still, I think Dana (a.k.a., the cheese head) had a pretty nice time staying with us, here in Jersey, too.

"Hugging you back!  Have a safe trip!"

Then again - I also happen to believe that hairy armpits are perfectly fine, too - thankyouvermuch!

[Cross-posted to New Jersey Moms Blog]

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Other News:  Remembering Virginia Tech

Fresh Kids:   Be Safe

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Comments

[dana]

I had the BEST time in Jersey. I'm still trying to upload the 357 photos I took to flickr. But I'll zing you a note once they're up!

Thanks a ton for letting me hang with you and the fam. You all are so damn awesome. Loves you all so much!

[Tammy]

Makes me want to visit your home town...if for no other reason than to stalk Bon Jovi! I've done a lot of traveling but never to New Jersey...Sounds like fun!

[Liz]

Dana's got a great re-cap of here trip and visit with us, here:

http://thedanafiles.com/2008/04/07/from-nyc-to-jersey-a-photo-tour/

[Jamie]

That is SO cool that you all got to hang out! You know my oldest girl LOVES LOVES her some Bon Jovi. (Jon to be precise.) Hmmm mommy thinks he's pretty good looking, too.

p.s. you do have a great accent...thank you for not making fun of mine! ;)

[JayMonster]

We really need to get you a position in the Corzine administration. It would solve all of New Jersey's image issues.