Saturday, April 29, 2006

From Jersey? Heck yes, I am!!!

New Jersey is a peninsula.

Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.

New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.

New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.

New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.

New Jersey has the highest cost of living.

New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."

New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Parts Club (no, not Spam): Taylor Ham or Pork Roll.

Home to the less mysterious but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.

North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.

New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.

The Great Falls in Paterson, on the Passaic River, is the second highest waterfall on the East Coast of the US.

New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns -- some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.

New Jersey has more stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.

New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.

Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.

You haven't lived until you have eaten New Jersey sweet Corn.

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?)

Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! In 1642, the first brewery in America, opened in Hoboken.

New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.

New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.

George Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.

The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory.

We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.

The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.

The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.

The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.

New Jersey is home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.

The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City.

And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world,

Not to mention salt water taffy...

New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.

The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.

New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. (Union, NJ!!!)

New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.

The Pulaski SkyWay, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.

NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).

The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889 (Rutgers College played Princeton).

The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ, (but they're all gone now!).

New Jersey is home to both of "NEW YORK'S" pro football teams!

The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ.

The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.

All New Jersey natives: Moe Septee, Al Attermann, Howard Attermann, Sal Martorano, Jack Nicholson, Robert Attermann, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Steve Rosenbaum, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Sam Rosenfarb, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Ruth Septee, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Lt. Aaron Attermann, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Lauren Sasha Attermann, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, Elisa Septee Lunzer, Neal Attermann, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm.Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia and, of course, Francis Albert Sinatra and "Uncle Floyd" Vivino, Kelly Ripa.



You know you're from Jersey when . . .

You don't think of fruit when people mention "The Oranges."

You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags. (been there)

A good, quick breakfast is a hard roll with butter.

You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.

You've eaten at a diner, when you were stoned or drunk, at 3 A.M. (yep)

You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery.

At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and you know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from.

You know what a "jug handle" is. (LOL)

You know that WaWa is a convenience store.

You know that the state isn't all farmland.

You know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey--there's the shore--and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore." And when you are there, you're not "at the shore"; you are "down the shore."

You know how to properly negotiate a circle.

You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving.

You know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (try . . . Mexico . . . York . . . Hampshire-- doesn't work, does it?).

You know that a "White Castle" is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich.

You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege.

You don't think "What exit?" is very funny.

You know that people from the 609 area code are "a little different." Yes they are! (my folks live there.... and I grew up in 609 ... explain anything?!)

You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton--that's for out-of-staters.

The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or local bar.

You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.

You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.

Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony.

You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits.

You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall.

You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, and people from Central Jersey go to Belmar, and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood. It can be no other way.

You weren't raised in New Jersey--you were raised in either North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey. (South for me)

You don't consider Newark or Camden to actually be part of the state.

You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's and Orbach's.

You also remember Palisades Amusement Park and Olympic Park.

You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries.

You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.

And finally . . .

You've NEVER, EVER pumped your own gas. (At least til I came to SC)...

Monday, April 24, 2006

Last day

Last day of the madness....er... let the madness begin. Unless we decide to pull out and get "as far as we can" tonight, tomorrow begins our long trek home.

Phariseeism

I thought in light of recent posts (and experiences) y'all might enjoy reading this post.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

6 kids....

Yep, my sister-in-law has 6 of 'em.... and they're ALL outside running around like banshees.... so it's quiet enough in here for my to hit Xanga & still hear myself think.

We've hit Maine, Massachusetts, and New York..... and I'm being hailed to go on a power walk... with a 6 year old in tow. THIS should be interesting!!! ;-)

Gotta go........................... walking.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Heather's Dad...

Got an update (or just more info) from Heather yesterday (Friday)...

"The doctors have told us that it is a malignant mass (glioblastoma malignant form - grade 4). They say it is the worst kind of brain tumor you can get. They implanted chemo wafers in the brain during surgery. They can do intense chemo and radiation, but they say the tumor will come back and come back with even more of a vengeance than this one. They also said that with all the treatments he has 2 years, without any treatment he has 6 months. This has greatly affected his memory and thinking process, he can't tell us what he is thinking, or what he wants any more - keeps saying one thing but meaning something entirely different -- nothing that he says makes much sense any more. He is not "there". We will start the treatments and see what happens. We don't want him to suffer."

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Update

Update on my friend Heather's dad.... apparently he had surgery this morning (well, Tuesday morning)...

Dad's surgery was roughly 4 and 1/2 hours. He will spend the evening in the recovery room and probably be moved to ICU tomorrow.
The doctors did talk to us and they told us that they feel they got 95% of the tumor - however it is malignant. They have planted Chemo. wafers in the brain, and as he recovers they will then decide what to do next.
We did get to see him for a short time while he was in recovery, he doesn't seem good, as an added problem in addition to all his heart problems he also has sleep apnea and will stop breathing every so often - which is showing up on the many machines. It is to the point I don't know how to pray anymore - I just don't want Dad to suffer.
Heather

Please keep heather & her folks (George & Phyllis) in your prayers. They know & love the Lord, so they have comfort in Him.... but still... we're human....

We're off.... like a turd of hurdles!

Leaving in the wee hours of tomorrow morning to retreive the Ford Explorer. Yeah!!

Friday, April 7, 2006

To pack.... or just to throw it all out??

Heh. Can you tell I'm tired of packing??

Have been on-line for like 2 hours straight IM-ing & catching up on Xanga.... still haven't eaten supper.

Kid is sleeping as of 7pm. Guess those shots at the Dr's today wore him out (or maybe it was only having one 1/2 hour nap all day long?!).

Hubby is out at a preliminary "we're thinking of re-working the church constitution" meeting. Dum-de-dum-dum..... (sounds of doom & destruction are sure to follow).

Late breaking news (isn't IM great?!)... just found out my old college roomie's dad's brain tumor (stagnant/stable in size since they first found it while installing a pace-maker in '03) has doubled in size since his last CT scan in October '05. Please pray. My old roomie still lives at home (part of the curse of working for a small Christian school... starvation wages)... so she's very involved in the health-care stuff for her Dad. Fortunately her mom is also there & competent.... but it's a very unexpected trial right now.

Welp, I'm starving. Off to eat. :-D