New Jersey my home
may be cooler than you think
best Italian food
Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi
Jon Stewart, Kevin Smith, oh my
Sinatra ain’t bad
no one can drive well
but there’s a train to the shore
and lots to New York
best pizza, delis
NYC over-priced
other pizza sucks
extreme weather here
never a “so dull” moment
no terror, either
people are so blunt
not all have a bad accent
except at the mawwwwll
Much as I complain about Stuck-Up, in many ways I am glad to be back in Jersey. And I’ve always been glad to be from Jersey (hence, you know, the internet name - which seemed a lot cuter when I lived in Kansas City). We have Bruce Springsteen, the Sopranos and a magazine called, “Weird, N.J.”. We really do have the best pizza. We have the shore. We have Atlantic City (I hear it’s interesting. I’ve never actually been there.). We have a small ski mountain. We have more malls than museums - but we’re one train ride away from the best museums in the world. People expect you to be rude and LOVE you when you’re not. And there’s so MUCH to make fun of - I really do love my home state.
26 responses so far ↓
Marci // February 22, 2008 at 11:10 am
Amen to that, sister! Having moved to NJ a year ago, I truly enjoy being a part of this state! I am having so much fun exploring and getting to know the different areas (Jersey Shore was an especially nice bright spot).
feener // February 22, 2008 at 11:14 am
honestly, i grew up in NY, and we always made fun of NJ. However, the area I live in NJ is down right gorgeous. I hate that people judge without seeing such wonderful parts of it. I beg someone to spend a week in Spring Lake, or LBI and not fall in love just a little.
Kathryn // February 22, 2008 at 11:16 am
Sounds great to me!
Fab haiku!
melbs1969 // February 22, 2008 at 11:22 am
so…when can i come visit? michigan only boasts madonna…kid rock, eminem and some others that aren’t as important as BON JOVI!!
i was in atlantic city, once. i liked it.
michigan is very boring…i think.
so…i’m packing my bags. hope you don’t mind!
xo
Secret Agent Mama // February 22, 2008 at 12:10 pm
HA! I love this ‘ku….being a North Easterner and awwwwll!
jerseygirl89 // February 22, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Marci - It is a pretty good place to live, after all.
Feener - I LOVE Spring Lake. I would move there in a second if I could. It may be better that our secret beauty is well-hidden - God knows we don’t need any more people here!
Kathryn - Thanks!
Melbs1969- Much as I liked Madonna and Emimen, there really is no comparison. Come visit any time - you’ll baby-sit, right?
Secret Agent Mama - Thanks! I’ve realized that I lot of Northeasterners secretly like NJ.
Leslie // February 22, 2008 at 12:45 pm
You can’t go wrong with the birthplace of Bon Jovi. Great haiku!
cegrundler // February 22, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Hey there, Jersey Girl!
JERSEY GIRLS UNITE! Exit 172 (yup, the absolute last one heading north) here. Love the site. I’m a life-long native, die-hard Kevin Smith fan, and damned proud of it. You’re so right, feener. There’s so much beauty in this state, but people judge the whole based on that strip they see outside Newark Airport, and just figure the whole state’s nothing but oil refineries and shipping terminals… which have their own strange beauty, in my opinion. But hike the Palisades along the Hudson, or sail out to Sandy Hook… words can’t capture that beauty.
Keep spreading the good word! Jersey rocks!
anglophilefootballfanatic // February 22, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I’m biased, so don’t mind me. But, I got stuck on the turnpike going from DC to Boston on Labor Day Weekend for like six hours. HELL. So, other than you guy have people pump your gas for you (Why don’t we get that?? It’s our freaking Texas gas anyway!), I’m not a Jersey fan…but like I said…bias.
Mama DB // February 22, 2008 at 3:30 pm
My roommate in college was from Hoboken. This made me miss her.
Great ‘ku!
Jill // February 22, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Don’t get me started! You KNOW I’m a huge New Jersey fan. Feener and I are neighbors and live in an area that is one of Jersey’s best kept secrets. It’s sooo pretty here! We have it all, the beach, close to NYC, and Philadephia, horse country, awesome schools! I’m getting my real estate license in the fall, and this area will be such an EASY sell!
jerseygirl89 // February 22, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Leslie - For reals, girl.
Cegrundler - You’re from my neck of the woods, then. Thanks for visiting! Glad you liked it.
AFF - Never, ever drive on the turnpike. Ever. Next time, just stop at the shore. I’ve lived in Boston too and the shore is way more fun in the summer.
Mama DB - Hoboken is a GREAT town! She must have been awesome.
Jill - I think I want to move where you and feener are. How far to NYC?
jenni // February 22, 2008 at 7:53 pm
There’s a slight possibility my husband may get transferred to Jersey. Truthfully, I’ve been dreading it. You just gave me hope!
cegrundler // February 22, 2008 at 8:05 pm
jenni,
Jersey gets a bad rep in the media, but trust us, there’s a lot to be said for this place. If you move out this way, let us know where you wind up, and we’ll point you in the right direction for the best parks, food, and fun!
jerseygirl89 // February 22, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Jenni - NJ really is much better than it sounds on Saturday Night Live, I promise.
cegrundler - excellent point about the media - and nice way to show how nice we can be.
my minivan is faster than yours // February 22, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I always think of all states over yonder on the east coast as one in the same. You can see I not only lack culture and geographic relevance, but also live WAY on the other side of that ol’ Mississippi River
Sandy (Momisodes) // February 22, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I actually like Jersey. My brother lives there, and we love visiting
I like it for many of the reasons you mentioned above….plus full service gas is a plus during winter 
heathersway // February 22, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I have never been there but you have convinced me. “Eat slice of pizza in NJ” is now on my list of things to do.
HRH // February 22, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I have never been, but sounds like a serious road trip opportunity.
canadianflake // February 22, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I haven’t worked up the courage to enter the realm of haiku friday…but I did write some haiku on one of the blogs I read…
Someday, maybe I won’t be so chicken..lol
LifeAsIKnowIt // February 22, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Oh, I miss a good slice of pizza and real bagels! And, of course, my Bruce.
Crunchy Domestic Goddess // February 22, 2008 at 11:37 pm
wonderful ‘ku. love kevin smith.
Mindi // February 23, 2008 at 9:03 am
Mornin’ chickie!
I lived in New Jersey (West Deptford) until I was 6 and we moved to the western suburbs of Philly. My father has a house in Cape May and we are there every summer and love it. Jersey has a lot of nice features (like Sandy said - not having to pump your own gas is a definite plus).
jerseygirl89 // February 23, 2008 at 10:18 am
My Minivan - Oh no, we have just as much state pride as people from big states - you’ll have to come see for yourself!
Sandy - The gas thing is great, but only in bad weather. After living in the mid-west for so long, it drives me crazy when I have to wait for the attendant!
Heathersway - Make sure it’s from a whole in the wall place staffed by Italians. It’ll be worth it.
HRH - It’s totally worth it.
candianflake - I was afraid at first too and now I’m all about it - you can do it!
Life - Dang, I forgot to mention real bagels.
Crunchy - Thanks. I heart Kevin.
Mindi - I haven’t been to Cape May in forever. Must go there this summer!
LunaNik // February 23, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I have always been a proud Jersey girl.
At the moment I live very close to Newark Airport and blocks away from 1 & 9 so I’m not loving this area that much.
But, where I grew up…lovely.
There’s so much to do here. Two major cities close by, the shore, skiing, parks, Atlantic City, etc. There’s nothing better than living in an area that offers so much in terms of entertainment, culture, sites, food, and amusement.
I may complain about wanting to move, but where ever I go, NJ will always be home.
You know what they say:
You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl
Great post!
silken // February 24, 2008 at 8:53 am
I’ve tagged you in a new meme if you want to join in: I’ve posted my six word memoir here: http://silken-didyouknow.blogspot.com/2008/02/did-you-know-i-could-sum-up-my-life-in.html
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