It's looking to be about 6-8 inches of snow out there right now. I'm so ready for this cold weather to leave! I'm looking at a possible spring fling, but the details aren't hammered out yet. Here's hoping I'm heading to Florida, instead of sitting in cold NJ weather sooner than later!
Snow to me = 3 dogs with wet paws, and in a week or so....3 dogs with muddy paws as it melts.
My new LBI video! I redid it due to a small problem with the other one, so here's the new version. :)
If you love crafts, you'll find a huge assortment of goods at the Garden State Exhibit Center from March 13-15th.
The Somerset, NJ event will be featuring a wide range of items and prices. With pottery, jewelry, photography, home accessories and more, this is a craft show you won't want to miss.
Top quality is what comes to mind...in fact, some of the crafters have had their show in museums, as well as having sold work to celebrities.
The event is called the "Sugarloaf Crafts Festival" and will be live March 13-15 at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, NJ.
A big inflatable rat...that's the debate in New Jersey. A labor union is using it to make a point, and the town it was in was crying it's doesn't fall under "freedom of speech". Guess what, the supreme court said it does.
What caught my eye about this little story, was about a year ago, we were driving down Route 31, and saw a huge inflatable rat in Flemington (Hunterdon County). It certainly gets your attention...and last night, while clicking through to read my mail, here was that same damn rat staring back at me!
Pretty soon, we'll have giant inflatable rat sightings, with websites dedicated to where the rat shows up next! LOL
The Enable Walk ‘n’ Roll Charity Walk will take place on February 8th. No need to be concerned with the chilly weather, as this event takes place indoors. Did you know you can even bring your child, and walk with a stroller too? There is no commitment to how long you’ll walk…it’s just a good time event, which helps promote a great cause.
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is struggling. This year, there's been an increase as high as 30 percent in a need for food. WIth the economy, and people losing jobs, more and more people are turning to the food bank. The problem is, the foodbank is facing a shortage. The winter time is especially rough, because between people needing food, people are struggling to pay for their rising heating costs. The Community FoodBankof New Jersey needs help.
Over 100 New Jersey bloggers are working to bring awareness to this shortage of food. Let's make a difference, and help support the foodbank. This is a state wide crisis, so that means the foodbanks in your counties need your help.
Did you know New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen is also helping in the fight against hunger by lending his voice to the cause. It's a statewide issue, and we need to come together to help our own.
Imagine the foodbank having to ration food, or turn people away because there's not enough food to go around. It's a grim and scary thought.
If you're able to help the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, please reach out and help. Even if you can't give money or food, spread the awareness, and reblog about this, reaching out to others who may be able to help. Food is a basic need, and if the shelves go bare at the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, that means there will be people in New Jersey going hungry, and that's just not okay. The foodbank needs the public to step up and help them keep food on their shelves.
If you can help: www.njfoodbank.org or 908-355-FOOD (3663)
The Community Foodbank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) distributes food and grocery items, helping charities in need. Did you know that since their incorporation in they've distributed 300 million pounds of food and groceries. Please help them in their time of need, so they can continue helping those in need. They are a distributor of food, so what that means is they accept large quantity donations. Smaller donations should be brought to your local shelter or food pantry. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey also accepts monetary donations, which they use to buy very large food purhcases. If you have any questions, you can contact them at 908-355-FOOD (3663).
This year in New Jersey, more than 250,000 new people will be be asking for help. With this increased demand, comes more need for increased donations, but unfortunately, since so many families are struggling right now, donations are actually on the decline. That means not enough food to go around. Empty shelves don't feed people.
"At the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), requests for food have gone up 30 percent, but donations are down by 25 percent." - CFBNJ
The Community Foodbank of New Jersey is the state's key distributor of food to local banks. What happens when there's not enough food to go around? People go hungry...right here in New Jersey.
Please reach out and help: www.njfoodbank.org or 908-355-FOOD (3663)
Here's how you can help:
You can either make a monetary donation. To do that, you can go to their website at www.njfoodbank.org.
If you have food that you can donate, please bring it to your local food shelter...you can even organize a food drive through work, maybe your church or another organization you belong to. (http://www.sefan.org) -for locations
"Check Out Hunger" are coupons you can get at the grocery store. When you're paying for your groceries, include a donation to the food bank. You can usually find these right near the register.
Here are a few statistics on hunger:
* The number of families coming to churches and food banks trying to get help to feed their families has increased approximately 20 percent. - National Anti-Hunger Organizations, 2008 Blueprint to End Hunger
* One out of every five New Jersey families does not earn enough to afford the basic necessities – housing, food and child care – although 85 percent of these households have at least one family member who is working. – Poverty Research Institute, June 2008
Please take a moment to watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXH_aBJKcE4
What can you do to make a difference?
Below is a list of the New Jersey blogs participating in the attempt to make a difference and bring awareness.
Participating Bloggers for “We Can’t Let This Bank Fail” campaign
4) Simply Sable
5) John and Lisa are eating in South Jersey
7) Chefdruck
10) Cook Appeal
11) Crotchety Old Man Yells at Cars
12) Mommy Vents
13) This Full House
14) Paper Bridges
18) Fits and Giggles
19) House Hubbies Home Cooking
22) Tommyeats.com
23) Off the broiler
25) IamNotaChef.com
26) SimplyBeer.com
27) HistoryGeek.com
29) Momlogic New Jersey
33) Best of Roxy
34) Citizen Mom.net
35) Lynetteradio.com
36) Jersey Beat
37) Pop Vulture Phil
38) JerseySmarts.com
39) LongBeachIslandSummers.com
42) Somerset08873
44) KateSpot.com
46) JCRigister.com
47) New Jersey Real Estate Report
50) Man of Infirmity
51) Another Delco Guy in South Jersey
52) SweetNicks.com
53) Average Noone
56) The Center of New Jersey Life
58) Morristown, Chatham, Summit, and Madison NJ Real Estate
59) Midtown Direct Real Estate News
61) BlowUpRadio.com
62) LazlosDen.com
65) Banannie
67) Matawan Advocate
69) The Joy of Toast
70) Route 55
72) SaveJersey
73) Stompbox
74) Joe the Blogger
76) Stacey Snacks
80) Triple Venti
84) Cape Cuisine
87) Figmentations
88) MiddletownMike
91) Mack’s Journey Through Life
93) Tiger Hawk
94)Politics Patrol, The Bob Ingle Blog
95) The Food Chain
96) Henson’s Hell
97) Cranbury Conservative
98) Baristanet
99) New Jersey: Politics Unusual
100) Jersey Shore Blog
101) Plainfield Today
October 13th, the Great Mom Swap
Girls, set the date on your calendars. You'll want to participate in this one! What you'll do is create a profile after signing up in the forum at Mrs Mo's New Jersians. That link will take you right to the forum. After you sign up, you'll be able list items or services that you'll be swapping. You even can list what you're looking for. This is a great chance to swap baby items, clothing, even business services! If you know somebody that would find this "Great Mom Swap" helpful, be sure to pass the information along.
I've gone to LBI and Wildwood most of my life. This year was the first year I was introduced to Sea Isle City. My brother-in-law's parents bought a condo in Sea Isle this year. My sister, niece, mother and myself went down for four days, and stayed at the condo. Oh my gosh, not only was it gorgeous, it was right on the bay and had beautiful sunset views.
The area itself has stayed nice and offers lots of condos and houses. As I walked to the beach, I was looking at the homes, and thinking about how much I'd love to own one. It's just out of my budget right now. I saw this one condo that just made my belly ache, as I walked past. I was like, that's the one that I'd want! Of course, it wasn't for sale, so that would be a problem!
One of the things I liked about Sea Isle City over my beloved LBI is that the water is shallow for awhile, like down in Wildwood. That means the waves are out just a little farther. I could put my beach chair right in the water, and I really enjoyed that. The water is a little choppier at the edge in LBI because the beach is steeper right near the water's edge, due to loss of sand. They're working on replenishing that.
If you're looking to buy a home in the Sea Isle City area, you should check out Sea Isle Shore Homes. Gerri Rescigno can help you with all your shore home needs. She has a not only a website, but keeps a current blog full of useful information.
I also really liked the residential feel of Sea Isle. It wasn't covered in franchises, but had a few small businesses dotted about. Their was a nice section of restaurants together, a few local essential shops like an Acme, CVS, liquor store and stuff, but it felt totally residential, which is important to me. I prefer these beach towns over the very commercial feel of beaches like Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, where you feel like you're on a highway with stores.
Speaking of cars...was last weekend New Jersey Car Shows weekend?
Seriously, they were all over the place last weekend. Even our little diner near us had nearly 100-200 cars on their major cruiser night last week. Then I drove down a little farther, and there was another car show.
Usually when it’s cruiser night, you’ll see 20 or so cars, but this was massive. Then I went over to pick up my son, and in Coopersburg, PA there was a massive Mustang show! I think there was one in Doylestown too. Maybe it’s not just New Jersey Car Shows weekend, maybe it’s across the states.
Is this a big yahoo weekend before summer is over? Not sure, but I kept passing them all over the place!
The last New Jersey car show we went to was a Corvette show down in Long Beach Island back in June.
We’ve been looking at used cars in New Jersey, and we’ve found a few that might fit the bill. We’ve got a Jeep rolling up to 100,000 miles soon, and we may be replacing that (luckily it's just a weekend and errands car, as we have two others).
We keep talking about it, but we’re holding out a little longer. One plan is keeping the Jeep, and getting another car, since we won’t get much on the trade. With all the driving we do, we need to scope out those used cars. New Jersey, in the area I live in- you have to have a car to get places. The public transportation isn’t that great, since we’re in the suburbs. In the city, the New Jersey transit is better I think. We do have train stations, but if you don’t want to go into the city, they aren’t taking you to the grocery store, ya know?
The thing is, the Jeep is the dog car, so we’re looking at another station wagon or SUV for things like errands and the dogs. We found a nice deal on an Explorer, but hubby wants to hang in there just a little longer. I laughed and said, just until the Explorer is bought by someone else! SUV pricing is way down, so if we’re going to get another one, we should buy it sooner than later. Once gas prices start to drop, people won’t be so panicky, and SUV prices will go up again. We have a car for commuting, and I have my own truck, so it’s not an urgent thing. Oh well, I guess we’ll keep looking at the used cars. New Jersey gas prices are dropping, but I don’t think my honey is biting quite yet.
There's actually some great incentive pricing right now with Employee pricing back on new cars, and some excellent rebates and low financing. We're looking towards used, but some of those new ones are calling our name.
When it comes to resorts in Wildwood, NJ, there’s a new place going up right next to Pier 6600 Motel in the Crest. It’s called The Grand at Diamond Beach. It looks fantastic, and should be gorgeous when it’s done. They’re in the middle of construction. I can’t wait to see the final result next summer.
I probably won’t get back down to Wildwood any more in 2008, but there will be plenty of time in 2009. If you’re looking for resorts in Wildwood, NJ be sure to check this new one out.
I was thinking of doing a New Jersey Yellow Pages kind of directory. I’m not sure if I’m up to the task, but I thought it might be neat to build a massive online directory.
I put a book together called a Fun Finder, and that was pretty time consuming.
What do you think of an “All Things Jersey” kind of directory? I’ve got a couple of NJ sites I’m all ready working with; one for Wildwood, another for Long Beach Island.
Do you think the full state would be too big of a project? We’ll see if I'm up to it once school starts. I picked a domain, and pointed it elsewhere for now, but the idea is floating around in my head.
Nah, not the New Jersey Devils hockey team, I'm talking about the famous spooky tail of the "New Jersey Devil”….or the "Jersey Devil".
I remember hearing the story, and when I’d drive through the pine barrens at night, sometimes I’d be thinking… “What if it is true?” Of course, I’m only thinking that because it’s pitch black, and it feels like the pine barrens go on forever. I know it’s silly, but my mind starts playing tricks on me. I have way too visual of a mind!
What do you think of the Jersey Devil? I know, I know…..superstition, but was there ever a time when you went “maybe”. I just don't do spooky stuff well. I'm a big ole chicken.
The New Jersey Devils are a hot team; Jersey folks just love them. I’m not a huge hockey fan, but did have the chance to see the New Jersey Devils take on the Philadelphia Flyers about a year ago. It was a lot of fun, since there were plenty of Philadelphia fans there, as well as a loud Devils crowd.
Growing up in Bucks County, we cheered on all the Philadelphia teams. I still cheer on the Eagles, but my hubby has us rooting for the Yankees when it comes to b-ball. I won't even mention his Jets team. (Boo!)
We don’t do basketball or hockey at my house.
With pro football back in action, make sure your tv is ready to go. If you need any cable stuff such as Cat5e Keystone jack equipment, or other stuff like HDMI switches, speakers, or even USB products or wall mounts, check out FireFold.com for good prices, fast shipping, and a 30 day money back guarantee.
Here was my view from my balcony. I pulled the picture off my camera, so I could get it up here. I love looking out at the ocean! The guy who played music was almost under my balcony, so we just opened the sliding glass door and listened to music as we chilled after a day in the sun.
This is one place I'd happily return to. (Pier 6600 Motel, Wildwood Crest)
You can read more about the Drifting Sands motel in Long Beach Island here.
We stayed at the Drifting Sands Motel this past week in Long Beach Island. This was my first time staying at this particular hotel/motel. I generally stay in one or two others, but they were fully booked. We liked that the room was large and clean, but were a bit disappointed with what they called a "partial ocean view". I'll be honest, I had to get on my toes, and lean to the left, and I saw about 1-2 inches of ocean. Maybe some of the closer rooms had a better view. I had a great view of the sand dune. It's okay though, I enjoyed sitting on the balcony regardless and enjoying a light breeze. They supplied the deck area with two chairs.
What I liked a lot was the parking was assigned, which means you can actually find a spot, and it's not in the most inconvenient possible. I liked their outdoor shower so you could clean off extra sand before going up to your room. I also liked the location of sort. While it's on the busy circle, it is half way to both ends, which makes driving to either side of the island easy.
What we missed? We missed that there wasn't a pool. We love a pool at the beach. While we swim in the ocean, we also like to swim in the pool. If you have small children, and the waves are rough, the pool is a nice option to have. Usually every time we go down, we swim in both the ocean and the pool each day.
Would I stay at this motel again? Yes, I liked it well enough, but we're partial to another because we've been going to it for so long.
1. Long Beach Island
2. Six Flags "Great Adventure"
3. The Old Red Mill in Clinton, New Jersey and the great Ducky Race
4. Wildwood boardwalk
5. Charming Hopewell Boro (Main Street USA)
6. Atlantic City Casinos
7. Liberty Village in Flemington
8. Old West BBQ in Annandale (fall off the bone Babyback Ribs)
9. Trenton Makes Bridge
10. Rutgers and a renewed football team (my husband went to Rutgers)
11. NJ State Theater
12. Adventure Aquarium
13. Lots of great malls, including my favorite Quaker Bridge Mall
14. Diners, lots and lots of diners with great food!
15. Old Barney: Barnegat Light's Lighthouse
16. Cape May, New Jersey (Charming Victorian town)
17. Easy Access Roads: 95, 195, 295, NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway
18. Ocean City, New Jersey
19. NJ 101.5 "Not New York, Not Philadelphia" (I miss Craig Carton with Rossi at the 2pm slot)
20. Jenkinson's at Point Pleasant
21. Morey's Pier in Wildwood, can you say rollercoaster?
22. Grounds for Sculpture (gorgeous grounds, great for walking during spring and fall)
23. Princeton University
24. Lakota Wolf Preserve, Columbia, New Jersey
25. Scenic Route 29, River Road
26. Long Valley, New Jersey
27. Farm Produce Stands, and our own sweet yellow corn
28. Pennington, New Jersey
29. Hunterdon County
30. Location, location, location: close to NY City, Philly and Washington, DC
31. The Showplace, Beach Haven, New Jersey
32. Trenton Thunder
33. Somerset Patriots
34. Blueberries, and pick your own orchards
35. Small State, Big Personality
36. Hoboken, park your car and take the path train to New York City
37. Crabbing on the bay
38. Bon Jovi
39. Lambertville Station
40. New Jersey Devils
41. Columbus Farmer's Market
42. Popcorn Park Zoo
43. Uncle Will's Pancake House
44. Bruce Springsteen
45. Frenchtown
46. Every other Jersey Shore location not listed! There's something for everyone
47. Campbell's Soup
48. Joe Pesci
49. NJ.com
50. "At least we drive better than New Yorkers"...so we aren't at the bottom!
There's a piece of me saying I should head to the Jersey shore today and do some picture taking. The other part of me says I don't feel like driving there and back today. I may wait for April or a warmer day, so I can enjoy a drive with the windows down. On the other hand, a Tuesday in March is pretty quiet, so I'd be able to snap those pics undisturbed.
Decisions, decisions...helpful now, yes....driving a total of 4 hours today (2 hours each way)...no.
If I go, I need to decide soon, so I can get out of here all ready...maybe my stalling tactics are telling me something. Another day will work just as easily.
Good news for New Jersey readers! When you have a New Jersey blog, I guess it makes sense to cover some NJ news, eh? LOL
Anyway, the NJ Senate is pushing forward a plan to give people paid leave for family leave. When you have a baby, or if a family member is ill, you can take off up to 12 weeks currently, but it's on your own dime. It means you're not paid.
New Jersey is looking to become the third state to offer paid leave in these circumstances. California and Washington, DC are the other two areas that offer paid leave.
If you're looking for more info, you can read the details here.
We headed down to LBI yesterday for a ride, lunch and a leisurely afternoon. I took this yesterday, along with some others. While it was quiet, winter is not as dead as it used to be. Yesterday there seemed to be a lot of activity at the real estate offices. I guess people are looking for summer rentals, and buying homes. There were tons of open house signs all over.
We stopped and had lunch at Buckalews, then made the ride back. I love driving to the shore when it's not mobbed with people. Open roads, the sun shining and good music on the radio, made for a great day.
New Jersey was tired of having no say in the elections. By the time our elections rolled around, things had been decided. New Jersey has changed to be a part of Super Tuesday. Let's see what rolls around and what the final outcome will be tonight.
New Jersians said..."We want a say in who will be our next presidential candidates."
Do you?
I'm really frustrated that Corzine wants to raise the tolls 800%. He's screwing New Jersey folks who have to travel that on a regular basis, let alone everyone who uses it. Yes, you read that right, if you aren't from NJ, our Gov wants to raise our tolls 800%. Worse yet, he wants to lock that bad boy in place so nobody can change it legally.
NJ 101.5 is looking to give New Jersey folks a chance to be heard. They are holding a rally on the steps of the Trenton State House. If you'd like to be a part of it, it will be on February 8th at 12 noon. Jim Gearhart and Jersey Guys Ray Rossi and Casey Bartholomew will be there. You can read more about this by clicking on the link above.
Here's the fun part, is the Gov making cuts in legistlation? Are they looking at changing things there? Yeah, okay, that's me laughing...because that would be the smart way to look at things. Let's see, does a small state need an OBSCENE number of school districts? Yup, not even going there...
Anyway, if you'd like your voice to be heard, check out their "When Pigs Fly" rally. Corzine was quoted:
"Pigs will fly over the Statehouse before there's a realistic level of spending cuts that can fix this mess."
Last night on "Drive-ins, Diners and Dives" on the Food Network, Guy traveled around New Jersey visiting diners in the state. Usually he covers 3 or 4 places in a show that are scattered around the area. Last night, being that NJ is the Diner State, he focused on New Jersey alone.
He visited different areas like Cliffton, Heightstown, Hackettstown and others. The first place they
visited though caught my attention, and that was my very favorite NJ town, LBI. If you've been reading my New Jersey category of my blog, you'll see I have pictures galore of LBI!
The diner he visited was Mustache Bills, which is less than a mile from Old Barney, the lighthouse at Barnegat Light. Mustache Bills is a NJ diner that is open on weekends from 6 to 3 I believe. The reason I know this, is 90% of the time I drive by it, it's closed! I started to question if it was open, but then saw the odd hours. We went down one time to see, and sure enough, it was not only open, it was hopping busy!
It was awesome to see our New Jersey represented on the show! Another great place to grab some chow in LBI if you're looking for great breakfast food is Uncle Will's Pancake House. It's one of my favorites, and probably the reason there's a line always waiting to get in during the summer!
The Giants are headed to the Super Bowl. Being an Eagles fan, you'd think I'd have wanted the Packers to win last night. Let me be honest, I was glad the Giants pulled it off. I'll tell you why, before you start jumping on me.
I think it's a good boost for local businesses. If people are excited about the game, they're likely going to support the local small businesses to prep for the game, or to watch it at small taverns and bars.
New Jersey folk are quick to bitch, and with Corzine's stupid "rape us at the tolls" plan going on, we have reason to. Now we have reason to cheer about something good, instead of something bad.
Let me just point out that both the New York Giants and the New York Jets play football in NEW JERSEY, yet neither team carries our name. Just saying....
So congratulations to the Giants on their win, and here's hoping it boost local business with the excitement and party planning.
If you're looking for a great little cafe in Central Jersey, I have a jewel to share with you. There's a little cafe at the top of the hill near the High Bridge train station called Cafe Hola! It has great baked goods, smoothies, milkshakes, along with sandwiches, fruit cups, soups and more.
It's adorable inside, and offers fresh food. You'll always find fresh baked goods like muffins, turnovers and cookies on the counter. In the fridge case you'll find pies, cakes and other goodies to choose from.
My son is sold on the banana shake, and I'm fond of one of their smoothies. If you choose one of the fruit smoothies, you can even get home made yogurt added in.
Check out Cafe Hola! next time you're in Hgh Bridge.
If you like to play games old school style, then you'll want to check out Richie Knucklez on Rt 12 in Flemington, NJ. This arcade and pinball store sells machines to the public.
There's something special going on there on Friday nights though call Flashback Fridays, and you're not going to want to miss this! From 6pm to 10pm, they open up the showroom so you can play the games. You simply pay a $10 charge, and you get unlimited play on old time favorites like Pacman, Donkey Kong, Centipede and more. There are also pinball machines there to play.
I'm a pinball girl myself, while my son is more into the arcade machines. We went in tonight, and had a blast. I'm loving the Dracula pinball machine! It's a nice family friendly place, and there were ample machines so that there was always something to play. It was a comfortable crowd, and you could see some people had favorite machines!
If you get a high score on one of the machines, they'll add your name to their board. My son was aiming for 1st on a game, but only made it to 2nd! He wants to go back and keep trying! As for me, when we go back, I'll be playing the pinball...you can count on it! For more information, you can check them out at RichieKnucklez.com.
"New Jersey has became the first US state to legislatively abolish the death penalty since the US Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976." Source
I'm not one for politics, so I don't have a lot to say about this "outside of my home".
I did want to share this information, since it's a big thing going on in New Jersey right now.
Currently 37 states have the death penalty. You can see the list here.
With less than a month to go, people will be scrambing to find fireworks displays. Won't you be the cat's meow, if you know where they are?
Here's a small assortment of ideas for you, so you can catch fireworks in New Jersey this New Year's Eve.
Ocean City is having a "First Night" Celebration. Details 609-525-9300
Here's a cruise that will give you front row seats. (Weehawken)
Visit Battleship New Jersey and either watch fireworks, or have an encampment!
Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront will let you enjoy the fireworks over the Delaware, across from Philadelphia.
I hate the cold. No really, I mean I hate it. I've got a few errands that I could get done today, since I don't have a reason not to, and I'm putting it off, because I hate being out in the cold. I know, it's not even "that bad" yet. I just hate it that much.
I wanted to pick up one or two things, and I'd love to get a pedicure, but the thought of the 3 minutes from the time I get in my car, to the time the temperature becomes normal to me, is miserable. Isn't that silly. I can work out with a trainer, be sore and sweaty for an hour, but 3 minutes in the cold has me putting it off like it's a flu.
I'd let my car warm up, but that's a big No-No in NJ now! Imagine, a ticket for "warming up your car for more than 3 minutes"...
Man, I hate the cold. Guess, I have to "get over it" and just accept it's going to be cold for a few more months. Once I finally accept that fact, I function a little better.
We went back to Tiff's for dinner last night. Tiff's is up on Rt 31 in Clinton Township. It's become a regular place we visit. I've got to say, the food we've had there is excellent. It's enough that it's been pulling us a bit from one of our other regular restaurants we visit. If you haven't tried Tiff's yet, I'd give it a go.
We have a handful of regular restaurants we visit, and we eat out pretty regularly. We aren't really choosey, but we'd like a comfortable seat, good food and nice service. One place we used to visit frequently, we've skipped the last few months. It seemed their service really started to nosedive, and you could be sitting there for ages waiting for your food. If you were lucky, they'd come back to check on you. We'll head back at some point and see if things changed, but each and every time a customer is there, they are forming opinions.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New Jersey? Where is it located, and what is it called?
This is "The Plantation" in LBI. I haven't eaten here yet. It always seems to draw a good crowd, so that's a good sign. We just have so many restaurants we all ready enjoy, we don't usually have enough days in the week.
I was here years ago when it was the Owl Tree.
Have any reviews on it? If we hear good things, maybe we'll add it to our agenda next time we are down that way.
Did I ever show you this? This is a church in Long Beach Island that has solar panels on the side of their roof. Isn't that cool? Good for them! It's one of those things I've passed for years, and never thought to snap the picture until my husband mentioned it!
At 2 o'clock this afternoon, it was looking increasingly dark. It started to look almost like night time! Then the rain came! I opened the sliding glass door in the sun room and snapped this picture. It was dark out, but not quite this dark. The camera makes it look a little darker.
I've never been here before. I've never been in Ron Jon, and I've never been to a lot of the clothing stores on Long Beach Island. When you're a plus size shopper, a lot of times you aren't included in the merchandise a store sells, and you can only buy so many purses and shoes. I don't know if they carry plus size clothing, and they might, but I don't want to be embarrassed walking in only to find that my size isn't carried.
I said to my husband as we were leaving the island in late September, I'll have all new shopping experiences next year when I get all this weight off of me! Imagine that, going to the island for the last 20 years as a plus size person. Sure I was not plus sized when I was a kid, but for 20 years, I've avoided many of these stores for fear of not "fitting" and standing out like a sore thumb.
Next year, I'm looking forward to going into a bunch of "new to me" stores.
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New stores and condos starting at $399,000...is that all? :\
This went up early this year, and so far I only saw some sign of life in one unit upstairs. The top is residential, the bottom stores. You can find this on the main drag in LBI. I'm curious to see what fills the little shops.
Here's Old Barney at Barnegat Light...
...and here's Dairy Queen next to it. That's the part we visit, hence my trainer! The Kelly's sig is on top, but look just a little lower and you'll recognize the DQ symbol! LOL
This is a back, and do you see the big sideways triangles? They are your lats, and mine are killing me! My trainer worked me hard the other day, and I'm feeling it like crazy. Advil isn't helping, I'm trying to stretch, but it's hard for me to get a good stretch on those muscles! Anyway, I'm sitting here looking at a card I picked up when I got a massage down the shore. That's what I need now, a great massage!
When I was down LBI, I tried a new place called the "Island Wellness Center" and my therapist was Greg Porzio. He was great, and I got a really nice massage there. He works part-time in LBI, and part time in Lavalette. Make sure you ask for him if you're looking for a good massage. The "Island Wellness Center" is in the Spray Beach area of LBI at 26th St & LB Blvd. I'd definitely return.
Anyway, here I am at home, worked out on Thursday and two days later, I'm feeling it. It's funny, because she says that when I'm in better shape, I won't get that ache so strong, and I'll miss it. Miss it???? hahahahahah, that's funny
I'm working on it, but it's going to be a year long journey. I have a lot to lose, and a lot of body that's been neglected for one or twenty too many years. ;)
Have you been to Daddy O's yet? We haven't gone here yet. It stands where Wida's used to be. Wida's was around for years and years, but the wear and tear were showing. Daddy O's is what took it's place. The redo looks fabulous.
We actually ate at Tuckers, Buckalews, Kubel's Too, and The Marlin this time, so we didn't have another night on our agenda. Maybe we'll try it out next year.
If you've been there recently, what were your thoughts on it?
Here's another one of the small businesses in Long Beach Island. Go by in the height of season, and it's mobbed. It's tiny inside, with maybe 3 booths, and a counter to order finger food or ice cream. They used to have a pink car outside they adveritsed on...I think it was a little Escort Wagon. Anyway, it's another piece of the island that is there every time we visit.
I've only grabbed something here once a year ago, so I'm not familiar with most of their offerings, but I always loving seeing it as we drive by.
I go to Panzones for pizza. We had a great "dog" at Dom's last year too, which is right down the road.
It's no Caesars Palace, but it holds its own charm!
Here's a little place that rents bikes down the shore. I snapped it as we were driving by. It's funny, because down the shore, you always see bike rental places. I started to think about the last time I was on a bike. At the trainer, I go use a stationary bike, but I havne't ridden an actual bicycle in years! I'll bet it's been almost 20 years.
One of the things I did notice was how much more active we were this year, compared to years that have passed. I think I'm going to make sure I stop here next year and ride a bike! When we were young, we used to rent bikes and go riding on the boardwalk in Wildwood with my parents. It was a fun activity, and yet for some reason, not something I thought to do!
Do you remember when LBI was blue collar homes? Little Cape Cods and simple two story duplexes? Hmmm, somethings different...I wonder what it could be?
Now they knock the older homes down to build these. This is why I won't be able to retire down the shore. It's too much money. This is what dots the island now. House, after house, after house...and I ask my husband..."What are people doing to be able to afford this as a VACATION home?"
Anyway, I love that it's staying nice, and it's not run down...but here's one piece of that. This is what the typical beach house looks like today in Long Beach Island. Right now it's about 50/50 of the older homes, and these newer homes.
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On Saturday they were open, on Sunday they were closed with a sign that said Last Week, Thx. A lot of places were closing up for the season, and will reopen once again come spring. This little ice cream place in Peahala Park, which is in the middle of LBI holds fond memories for me.
I grew up taking family vacations in Beach Haven, right down the road from the Acme. It was 95th Street, and Skipper Dipper sits on 94th or 93rd. I can't rememeber exactly how many streets over it was. I can remember when it opened though.
I've been going to LBI and learned to walk down there. That puts me visiting this great island for 40 years now! I was a kid, and across the street from there, next to the movie theater, there was a little miniature golf place, where the water tower stands now. I know, because we used to walk down and play golf and maybe see a movie at night. Then a magical thing happened one year, and the ice cream place opened. We had another fun place to walk to at night. I'm sure the pharmacist was happy to know that. Where the Acme stands, there used to be a little drugstore attached to it, and phone booths at the section of concrete between the two. Do you remember the pharmacy? We used to walk down and get comic books and candy bars as children. We walked down to that pharmacy every day, if not more than that. The little post office closed too, but the hotel across from the Acme is still there. It has new owners, and they took the pool out, but mostly things stay similar.
Every time I pass the Skipper Dipper, it brings me back to my childhood. It reminds me of a time when kids could walk and get an ice cream cone without parents panicking their kids were outside for a few minutes without being watched like a hawk. It reminds me of a different feeling of safe, and it reminds me of many summer nights growing up and visiting Long Beach Island. I'm glad it's still there.
We noticed a new hopping hot spot for dinner and lunch. It's called the Blue Water Cafe, and even off season, they were still seeing quite a few people.
We actually didn't eat here this year, but it's on my list to try next year. We have some favorite places we always like to frequent. It looks adorable though, and it has a nice outdoor seating area.
Have you tried out the Blue Water Cafe yet? Any thoughts on it? Cute, cute place...
There was so much construction activity going on down the shore. It's like that in May and September. Right before the season, and right after the big season, people start doing upgrades, changes, painting homes, adding decks and the like. There were Ingersoll Rand air tools being used, pavers being laid, and loads of framing projects as they redecked homes and created massive homes on smaller lots. They just build them taller these days. People end up buying older homes for the lot, knocking them down and starting from scratch. The days of the blue collar homes are gone at LBI. My dreams of retiring there are now squooshed unless I hit the lottery. I just can't afford a cool million dollars for a beach home. Even the townhomes and condos are priced so high.
It's okay, I can still visit! Let's hope the hotel rates stay reasonable! Some get higher than others at peak season, but you can usually still find a pretty decent deal if you look.
If you're free November 16th, there's going to be a comedy night at Hunteron Hills Playhouse. The money goes to the YMCA to help their financial assistance program.
You can get mroe information by calling 908-236-7879 and asking for Nancy Tompkins. This is the 16th annual Comedy Night, which will be featuring three comedians.
We went to "Tiff's" last night in Clinton Township. We haven't been there yet, because each time we went by that way, it was mobbed. Things are getting to a more normal pace now, and we were curious to see the changes.
My first impression looking at the decor with stone and wood, was that they had done a great remodel. It looks great. It's comfortable and stylish. Love the new look. Two thumbs up!
The service was attentive, the smiles seemed a little big at times, more so than natural, but it's okay, I understand it's about service. I've put my time in waitressing and bartending in the past.
The food on the otherhand was fabulous. I expected to enjoy it, but I was impressed! I had a pasta dish, and my husband had a meat entree. Both of us left going, "Wow, that was great".
If you haven't stopped by Tiff's yet, it's well worth the visit. Prices are affordable, and the food was de-lish. We'll definitely be returning in the future.
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I remember the first time I saw a blimp around here, and it was a pretty cool thing to see. It's not something you see everyday....unless you live in my area! Between Horizon and Met Life's Snoopy blimp, we see them every nice weekend! I went most of my life without seeing blimps, and now on a clear day....you can sometimes see TWO!
This is how my picture should look when I get my new driver's license. That's me. I don't claim to be anything other than what I am....just me.
What will happen when I get my driver's license picture taken this week? I'll be freakishly different, it won't look like me, my eyes will be red, my hair will be sticking up, and my face will look about 300 pounds heavier.
Wouldn't you think after all these years, they could manage to take pictures that don't scare everyone when they see them. Hey, I know what I look like, and I don't look like my last driver's license picture. Luckily, it hides away in my wallet. I haven't been pulled over in ages, but imagine the horror of the officer...."Woman, what happened to you in this picture?"
Yeah, I know...just write me the ticket and give me my license back. :\
Actually, FYI....I haven't gotten a ticket in more than 20 years. Of course, now that I've opened my mouth....ya, you know what happens.
We go to a lot of shows and concerts. I don't know about you, but live music is a lot of fun to go see, as are Broadway shows. We are at a nice location between New York City and Philadelphia to have plenty of options. I love that we have lots of major sporting teams around us as well. We're always able to grab tickets to a ballgame as well. I was thinking about picking up some NJ Devil tickets this year. We had fun last time we went to a Devils game.
If I go, I'm going to check out tickets at PremiumSeatsUSA.com, because last time, we got nosebleed seats, and I'm fine with that for seeing, but those steps were really steep at the top of the stadium! It was killer climbing all the way to the top. I got tickets last minute and we were the 2nd to the last row! I won't be doing that again. Next time I'll pay for great seats. It will be worth it!
I don't care if you are a Devils fan, want Dallas Cowboy tickets or Miami Heat tickets, when it comes to going to a sporting event, you don't want to pass out by the time you get to the top of the stadium!
I'm not sure if I mentioned the deli counter wait when we were down the shore or not. When we went to LBI in June, it was about 3 people thick at the deli counter the day we went grocery shopping. It was like happy hour for cheese or something! Anyway, a cool service I read about after I got back home, and a pamphlet I'm saving for next year is all about grocery delivery!
ShoreGrocer.com offers grocery delivery on Long Beach Island. You can place your order on their site, and then JP Grocers brings them to your beach rental the day you arrive. One less chore to do, and one less thing the kids will be complaining about.
I think it's an excellent idea. I was just cleaning my desk, and the little pamphlet got buried. I had wanted to write about it earlier, but it slipped my mind, then when I saw it again, I knew I had to mention this!
A great big thumbs up for this handy service, from an LBI vacationer! I can't wait to use it next year.
I was working on a Squidoo lens about womens golf clubs last week. Anyway, my husband was reading our litle local paper and saw an article about custom golf carts and pulled it out for me. I thought it was cool because it's right here in Hunderton County.
Jersey Carts, owned by Greg Merrigan has reconditioned golf cards. He has a showroom in Flemington on Route 31 in Speedway Plaza. Now I know why I keep seeing golf carts when I drive by there! I think Speedway Plaza is across from KFC. If you're looking for a custom golf car, check it out. I'm not sure if he has a website yet, but the number for more information or directions is at 908-806-6400. (Jersey Carts) EDIT: Just found the website! Jersey Carts
Good luck on your business from a fellow Hunterdon County resident.
Last year when we went to Wildwood, one of the things we noticed was a lot of the hotels were turning into Condo Hotels. It seems to be the trend down there, as well as a lot of other places. It's weird, you can still book it like a hotel, but the rooms are individually owned. I think it was the El Coronado that was like that last year. This year's hotel was more of a traditional hotel.
Have you noticed that trend in the areas you vacation? I know that down Long Beach Island, our regular place to visit, they haven't switched to condo hotels yet at our regular places.
Since I just got back from Wildwood last week, I thought I'd update you on the going-ons for the rest of the month, in case you were thinking of heading down.
This week there's a toy, sports card, and comic book show at the convention center. It's going to be running all weekend. There's a boardwalk craft show, south of the convention center.
There's a triathalon going on August 25 in North Wildwood.
August 26th offers a block party and festival at Fox Park.
We stayed at the Nassau Inn on Sweetbriar. I loved that it was walking distance to the boardwalk, but was still beyond the boardwalk. I didn't want to be right in the middle of it, so being at a quieter end suits me well. It was about 12 blocks to the boardwalk, andyou can see the big concrete sidewalk perfect for bikes and walking! It was well used while we were there. These shots were taken from our hotel balcony.
I guess I didn't stay steady as this next one processed! I love the result though...
My son is a big Weird Al Ynakovic fan. Coincidentally, my husband was on Ticketmaster looking for other things, and came across this. It turns out he was going to be in Wildwood, the same day we got there. He was over at the Wildwoods Convention Center. I couldn't pass it up, since I knew my son would love it.
I wasn't sure what to expect, since I'm not a big fan. I have to admit, it was fun, entertaining, and made for a great family vent. It was a neat show, with lots of costume changes, video clips and the sort. Nicely done Weird Al! We had a blast.
A Taste of Clinton was today. It was a Chamber of Commerce sponsored event I think. Then there was the Seafood Fest which benefits the Anderson House. You could also find the Oxford Music Festival in Oxford, NJ today. Lots of fun, food and music going on....and we went to NONE of them!
They all got great weather, but we ended up going for a nice drive with the windows down, stopped for lunch at one of our favorite places, and hit the grocery store. We're going to take the dogs out for a drive later. They love going for drives on occassion, big dog more than little dog. We got a new calming pill from a pet meds place, to see if it helps him. He wants to enjoy it, but sometimes gets nervous. Once he relaxes he's better. At least he doesn't get sick in the car anymore! Regardless of all that, he's always excited to jump in the back of the truck for a ride! Big dog on the other hand LOVES car rides, and just luxuriates in them. She's slap happy, her tongue hanging out, her tail wagging and she's going back and forth, side to side between the windows to take in all the sites and sounds!
I'm heading to the shore for a couple of days. We're going to enjoy the sun, the sand, the boardwalk, the pool, the ocean and whatever else comes our way. See you when I get back!
I've been speaking about the Jersey shore a lot today; LBI and Wildwood. I thought I'd put some info up about something a lot of people may not think of. We think of vacations as fun and sometimes we forget basic rules of safety. Here are some important facts about riptides...
If the water looks choppy, be careful and watch the current of the water
If the water seems like it's got weird wave patters, going in different directions, and "looks" different, wait for it to pass.
If you get caught in a rip tide, you need to swim to the side to get away from it. Don't try to swim with it front or back, go to the side. Go across the water flow.
ALSO: Swim where there's a lifeguard for extra safey, and don't swim while intoxicated, it's just not safe.
Wildwood is trying to hold onto it's past Doo-Wop era, and has slowly been rebuilding itself. Small hotels are turning into condos, and older buildings are being redone. Colorful retro hotels are getting shined up and families continue to return year after year, due to lots of family fun for all ages. Whether it's the water park at Splash Zone, Morey's Pier or the Doo Wop look of Rio Grande and the some of the hotels...there's always something to do at Wildwood. Here are some of the sites of Wildwood...
Whether it's a retro convenience store...
The tram car which goes the length of the boardwalk...the recording of "Watch the Tram Car please!"....
The convention center that greets you at one end of the boardwalk...
Or the feel of the Doo-Wop hotels....
One thing is for certain...the kids will want to play all the games on the boardwalk, you'll all have a great time, and there's always time for ice cream at Cool Scoops, with their car shaped boothes and tables!
If you're looking for something different to do down the shore, think about taking a sunset bay cruise. There are all different companies at most beach resort area that you can turn to. Check them out, and look into private or group tours. When I was down at Long Beach Island in June, I learned about Catch Neutral Cruises. Their website is at LIBBoatTours.com.
I didn't actually take a cruise with them, but I'm saving their flyer for when we do a long weekend, maybe in early September. Imagine how lovely it would be, just myself and my husband, taking a sunset cruise. Their rates are reasonable too. A Private cruise costs under $200 for two hours! You can also do sunset cruises at $25 a person here.
Last year, we did a dolphin tour in Wildwood, and my son and I got a kick out of it. Find something different to do while you're at the beach. Shake it up, and find a new way to enjoy a place you've visited over and over again!
This is what's above the waterfall at Clinton. It looks like glass, and I love the reflection of the trees in it. As I said in a previous post, it's rare we walk the street on a nice sunny day, my husband prefers it in the rain! LOL I grabbed these pictures while I could.
I never used to take my camera with me when I did these things, but now that I blog, I take more pictures than I used to. Are you the same? Do you find blogging has you taking more pictures?
One of two farm stands...This one is is between Califon and Long Valley, the other is up in Oldwick. Mmm, fresh corn, cantaloupe and other good stuff! Do you have a favorite farm stand?
The other place I like to get corn is on Rt 31 across from Sweet Valley Farms. They pull up a small dump truck full of corn, tip it up and sell fruit and corn at a small roadside table and stand. We've been getting it there for years as well...good stuff.
Sometimes in summer, if we've had a late lunch, we'll just have some corn on the cob for dinner!
This little alcove sets off a bit, and offers another little area off the main area in Clinton. It one block down farther than the bridge I just posted, and before the post office. It's the little charming areas like this, that make this special. All the times I've been there, I never thought to take pictures before to share them....go figure!
Yes, there are actually hanging plants and baskets on the little bridge in Clinton. It's a town that takes pride in being a lovely little Main Street worth visiting. The shock value for me was to visit it on a sunny day, because you see for some reason, my husband always has the bright idea to go when it's raining. He's a romantic at heart, what can I say. Me, I'm thinking boy my hair is going to look funky after walking in the rain...Anyway, I wanted to share a little more. I took a couple of pictures that day, so I could post them here. It's such a lovely little area.
I was playing a little progressive slots, a little video poker, and a little old fashion slots. I was digging the Hot Shot, and sat on these for awhile at the casino. One of the things that we do, since I don't go very often, maybe 2 or 3 times a year, is I stay up really late. Normally, I'm in bed by around 11pm, but down Atlantic City, I was eating dinner at 10pm, and stayed up until after 4am. I love how the casino floor gets really quiet.
Hmmm, maybe I should deserted! Quiet wasn't quite right at around 3am when a man went flying by screaming at somebody he was going to mess him up. A little action found it's way to the floor, and then within 5 minutes, the few people who were still up went back to what they were doing.
I generally wake up between 7 to 8am, but yesterday slept in until 12 noon. I had a great time, relaxed and found myself eating breakfast at 2pm! I was happily back no schedule last night though, and things are back to normal. I won some, I lost some, and did the same a few more times, win/lose, win/lose/win. :)
Today is the 17th Great American Ducky Race, and this piece takes place in Clinton, NJ. We've been buying ducks each year, and a neat little trivia tid bit, is my second date with my husband we happened to stumble upon the race. It was the race day, and we were game!
It's all about raising money and awareness for cancer. The money goes to the American Cancer Society. Each duck costs $5.00 and they are all release beyond the waterfall. It's fun to watch all the ducks coming over the water and splashing! There are prizes for the first 5 placers, and the last duck to cross the finish line on the other side of the bridge. (I'm standing on the bridge taking the picture)
Our ducks are numbered in the 700's, so you get the idea, there is a sea of yellow rubber ducks going over the little waterfall! It's great fun to see, while helping a great cause.
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I took this picture one day, it's part of a Main Street and this is town hall. See, New Jersey offers all different sized towns like most states, some are big, and some are small like this one. I thought it made a nice picture. Driving across the country, visiting different people along the way, you find the same things in different sizes and places. There's always a McDonald's or familiar hotel at the end of the highway exit ramp, and there's always at least one strip that offers the shopping and car dealers. It's the in between stuff that makes it charming.
$70 is what it would cost me for a day at Hurricane Harbor for two people. That doesn't include a locker, food or other extras. It does include a full day of fun on a lazy river, whoosing down giant water slides, a wave pool and other splash zones.
Sometimes I want to detach the price of a day at the park, but how can you? How has it gotten to be that to take two people to an amusement park, it costs close to $100. Actually, if I opted for Great Adventure the amusement park, it will cost me $100.
They'll toss in the safari most times, but the parking will cost you another $10. How is parking not free. It's not like people are going to come in and park and walk the few miles to go somewhere else. It's that they CAN charge you to park, so they do. Think about it, everywhere it charging you to park these days...easy money, eh?
I will say that there are a lot of promos going on right now, buy 1 get 1 free with a Coke can Monday through Friday, or get $20 off with a special McDonald's cup. At least their throwing me a bone, eh? I'd like to head on over to Six Flags this week, but I'm still debating it. We just got back from the shore. Though I may do the late night, out of the sun deal at 1/2 price. Maybe I can work out something after all. Either way, I should have bought the season pass, then I'd be done with it...thinking about the money part.
I wrote this while at the shore last week and just transferred it over...(I was writing on my small Jordana, and loved having it with me!) I didn't bring my laptop so I wouldn't get hooked into being on the computer.
Down at LBI, we are enjoying time along iwth my sister and her family who is at another home about 15 minutes from here. She's staying in the Harvey Cedars area, we're down closer to the Spray Beach and Beach Haven Gardens area. We drove down to their area on Sunday and sat on the beach with them. They were sprawled out on blankets and chairs in a group of 7, normally 4, but enjoying some time with friends who have come along for a day or two.
My son, hubby and I took on the cold ocean and played in the waves for over an hour. My son stayed in a second hour! It was cold to get in, but once you were in, we had fun jumping the waves and playing.
We cooked up some BBQ chicken for dinner. Oh, that reminds me, the BBQ place (rack shack or something of that nature) changed owners and is now the Mason Jar. We'll keep them in mind for the future.
Next we headed off to Fantasy Island, the arcade (we did it 2x this week) for some playtime. A sweet treat and a nice long drive topped off our night. We drove down to Barnegat and right near the light house is a Dairy Queen. We grabbed some blizzards and back we went to the other side of the island. It was one of those nights perfect for driving with the windows down.
I was writing this Monday morning (last week), and my husband had just left for a walk, when 10 minutes later it started to rain! We ended up having good weather for the most part, though the first half of Monday was a little soggy. The sky cleared later that day, and we went to see the movie Evan Almighty.
Lastly, we met my sister and her family for dinner Monday night for a tasty dinner at Spray Beach Hotel's restaurant. We dined on steak, seafood, pasta and salad. Excellent meal, really enjoyed the fresh mozzerella with the Brusietta (spelling?).
I'm standing in the doorway of the sliding glass door, this is what you see when you look out. I spent a lot of time on this deck. The bottom picture is looking to the left. Do you notice the empty space before the house? They just cleared out a lot, and will probably build a new home there. They cleared out everything, including any trees or plants to make space to build. 
Many of the beach houses hear are duplexes as in first floor/second floor rentals. I'd love to own here, but the prices just keep going up. A small one bedroom condo starts in the mid $300,000's, and that's just not in my budget this week! (Pictures from Long Beach Island, New Jersey....LBI/NJ)
4 Bedrooms/1 Bathroom
We got to the shore (LBI/Long Beach Island) last Saturday afternoon, and after unloading the cars we sat around for a little bit cooling off. We then went and examined our new residence for the week. A quick trip to the market and to pick up dinner and we were set to settle in for the evening. The weather was perfect for sitting on the deck, so we ate dinner out there.
We rented a beach house on a corner, about a half block's distance to the shore. We were the third house from the beach. It was a great corner for people watching, and it was fun watching people bike, job and walk by. We watched teenaged maled pride as a group of boys celebrated around their cars...which proved amusing to these adults. Simple a mellow relaxing evening, enjoying the night air.
I finished the evening with a little bit of reading and my day was complete. If only the bed was a wee bit larger, and a little more comfortable! When you are tired enough, I guess it doesn't matter!
A little dark, but here's the big ole double bed we squooshed up on. All overweight me, and 6'2" hubby! I'm used to a California King at home, so this felt a little small! We still had a great time.
We had a full day today. We went up to the P-burg Mall and got my husband some new Dockers for work. We walked around the mall for some exercise, then hopped in the car and headed to lunch. We ended up stopping for pizza, then took the back way towards our home town. Next we headed up to our favorite farm stand and picked up some corn. It's a little early in the season still, but we're going to try it. After a nice drive with the windows down, it was time for the grocery store where we stocked up on a few more things. Today was in the 70's and gorgeous with low humidity. Why can't all days be so great? I love the fresh air blowing with the windows down. It was a nice Sunday afternoon...
This is where I was all last week. I was happily sitting on a deck with my feet up, looking out at the gorgeous blue water at the Jersey shore. The sand was soft and each night we took a walk on the beach, letting the water lap at our toes and ankles.
As I was driving home on the Garden State Parkway Saturday, I had a thought, the parkway is like the ocean, you can't tame the beast, so you just catch a wave and ride it the best you're able! hahaha
I'm looking at a little bear on my desk and it's reminding me of Fantasy Island. Fantasy Island reminds me of the old television show, when I think of just the name, but these days Fantasy Island is an arcade and entertainment area for kids in Long Beach Island, NJ.
My son loves going there, and gets caught up in winning tickets for prizes. This year he had over 25,000 tickets when it was time to turn them in. He picked out a few things for himself, then he wanted me to pick out something, and he chose something for his grandmother too. I have a few little stone critters on my desk. Last year he got me a stone bear that sits on my desk, and this year I got a second one from the same line. I smile when I see those bears, because there's been a change. It used to be about only him, but now he's at the age where he thinks about others. I personally enjoy watching him choose things he wants, but that he thinks of other people and wants to do something for them is a rewarding thing to see your child do.
I'm excited to tell you I've sold 99 skin care books so far, and I'm waiting on that 100th book to sell! It's my book aimed at skin care students, to help them through esthetician school. Anyway, when I was in school, we had a lot of representatives from different companies come in, and none was more charismatic or had more information that one particular rep named David. He was a Shira rep, and while I don't know if he's still with the company, he turned me on to their Chamomile Azulene day cream. When I went to the Philly skin care show I ended up getting more. I was just thinking, October will be bringing the Philadelphia Skin Care show again to the convention center, and hopefully I'll get the chance to visit the Shira booth once again.
Shira was one of the many brands we used while in esthetician school, and I got to try many of their products. I really like their Omega 3 line as well as their Vitality Oxygen Line. Oh, now that I think of it, I also have some of their Omega 3 Firming Serum which helps create a flawless surface for make-up application. I love the feel of this product.
Did you know skin care professionals can take Shira classes in New Jersey? Whether you're looking to learn more, or help your skin with wrinkle reduction, check out ShiraUSA.com today. If you're interested in registering for their classes, they hold them every other Monday and you can register at their website. These clases are for salon and spa owners and estehticians. I was lucky enough to have some first hand demos from one of their reps while in school. It was a great experience, and I really enjoyed learning about the Shira line.
This post was brought to you by ShiraUSA.com, but coincidentally, I'm a licensed NJ skin care specialist, and have had great experiences with Shira products and their reps. I'll certainly be stopping by their booth at the Philadelphia convention if they are there this year!
It's okay to be jealous. You'll be at work, I'll be sitting on the beach. Go ahead, get it out of your system....I'll be back soon enough, and then it will be your turn to vacation. But as it stands, it's my turn, and I'm heading out tomorrow morning. Enjoy the week, miss me a little, and I'll see you when I get back. Heading to the beach, and I'm so ready to dig my toes in the sand and play in the ocean!
I'll see you next week! Beach time in New Jersey :)
I head to the beach tomorrow, and I'll be kicking back in the sand, splashing in the water, dodging some waves, and having some fun with my family. We're taking a week to have some fun in the sun, laughter and good times. I may or may not check in tonight or tomorrow before leaving, but I wanted to explain the gap in posting next week!
We were driving by a small carnival, and my husband remembered they were going to have a small firework display....tonight. We decided to pull over in a nearby parking lot because they would probably start sometime soon. We turned the engine off and sat quietly talking while we waited. We had about 15 minutes to wait. After 15 minutes came and went and no fireworks were there, he remembered..."Oh darn, it's tomorrow night". We went on our way home, and within 2 minutes we hear them...fireworks! We quick did a turn around, went back to our original location and watched some fireworks. :) You're never too old to enjoy them. Each and everytime I see them, they bring a smile to my face. The big display will be on Saturday night, but we'll be down the shore, so we'll miss that display. July 4th isn't too far behind, so we'll get to see them again soon enough!
These are from the Long Valley area (NJ) where we were driving yesterday. I'll be traveling this week, so I'll leave you with these pictures. If I'm able to get on and write, I will. Otherwise, I'll see you next weekend. I should be traveling from Monday to Friday of this week. Here's the side shot of the same barn. I didn't realize how long it was at first, because I saw the side view first.
A quiet post office on an early Saturday afternoon.
A new firehouse in Oldwick...with so much growth, it became necessary. They did a nice job though, it's beautiful with the stone front.
That's all you see now, stand alone drugstores. Remember when they were either in malls, or next to the grocery store? Now they get their own building. This is the new one in Califon, having a grand opening.
A tree farm...it just goes on and on in rows and rows of trees.
Passing the Tewksburry Inn...All the times we've passed it, I've never eaten there.
This is on a back road in Central Jersey, Hunterdon County. I thought it would make a nice picture to share. I took a bunch of pictures today while we were out for a drive. We went up through Long Valley, Califon, Bedminster, Oldwick and more. It was a gorgeous day for a drive. I'm going to put a few pictures up behind this....
I’m hoping my farm stand is open now. I’d like to go up there this weekend and pick up some fresh cantaloupe. Last time we went up that way, they still weren’t open. They also have orchards where you can pick some of your own fruit. I think they have peaches and apples. For some reason I want to say cherries too, but I can’t remember if they do. Last year we got this one giant cantaloupe we called the Monster Cantaloupe! In the beginning of the season all the good ones are there…you can always tell when the end of the season is coming, because they slowly start to change. I’ve waited all winter, I’m excited to have fresh cantaloupe from the farm again!
I was listening to the radio on the drive home today, and Nuttin But Stringz was on Jersey 101.5 with Craig Carton. They were doing a blend of a hip violin sound. They are playing over at the War Memorial tonight. What surprised me more than anything was hearing how much they’d make playing subway station. They’d set up, start playing, and they could do $300 a day. Around the holidays, they said they made $1500 one day! Maybe people at the subway station aren’t needing those dollars as much as you think they do!
I put $30 in my gas tank tonight and it didn’t fill it! I knew I should have put in $35! I wanted to keep the $5 though, in case I needed it later. Today, I drove an hour to my sister’s and was looking at gas pricing. Lowest price I saw was $2.91, which is where I filled up; highest price $3.07.
Gas prices, $2.97 for regular in my part of New Jersey today.
I love this section of highway. I love how smooth and round the wall is as you drive by it. It's a simple pleasure, but I just like it. This used to be a single lane road, and it was finally widened, and was desperately needed!
Speed limit is 55 on this highway. Our other highways around here are 65. When I first moved over from Pennsylvania, I always forgot, and I'd be going a little over 55, and cars would be flying past me! I'd be like, "Doh!, I forgot it's 65".... It was a gorgeous sunshine filled day!
We went to the Jersey shore yesterday and stayed over....gorgeous day, lot of fun. We decided to go to the pool from about 4 to 6pm. I had just gotten out, and told my son he'd have to get out in a few minutes. He decided he needed to play a little longer. Look Mom, watch me sit under the water....What, I really have to get out for dinner? Okay.
On the news yesterday they showed how packed the beach was! The roads were crazy and full with people all headed to the shore for the Memorial Day Weekend. We decided we're just going to do a day trip to the boardwalk today. Hopefully traffic won't be too bad on the parkway, because by now, most people should be there.
I love the shore off season becase it's quiet and empty. On season, it's fun because everything is open and it's warm. They both have benefits to enjoy, either way, I love the shore. We don't generally stay down Seaside for overnighters, to me it's a day trip place. If I want to stay overnight, I head to Long Beach Island. I like the family feel and the non-commercial aspect. There's no fast food, no boardwalk and it's a lovely place.
If we're going for a longer trip, lots of boardwalk time, we take in Wildwood. We'll probably hit Wildwood later in the summer.
Where do you go for day trips? What boardwalk is your favorite? Do you get out of the way when the Tram is coming inWildwood? Do you prefer the arcades and crane games or the spinning wheels and games of chance like SkeeBall?
What is your favorite boardwalk food? Ooh, I like the sausage sandwiches at the Big Lemon. If you're a Seaside person, you know what I mean when I say the Big Lemon. For those of you not in the know....there's this one food stand in the middle of the boardwalk, they have this big plastic lemon that spins...and when you tell someone you'll meet them at the "Big Lemon", they automatically know!
Have a great Memorial Weekend, and don't forget to set a moment aside to say thanks who have given of themselves to serve our nation.
Little dog enjoys the weather.
Blue Skies Ahead
Lush greenery spreads proudly...
Corzine has taped a public service announcement about how his injuries may have been made less if he'd buckled up like he should have. It's a 30 second spot. You can click the link to see the ad.
He ends it like this:
"I have to live with my mistake. You don't." Corzine says while on crutches.
<blockquote>Antonella Barba says if she had to do it over again, she would not audition for "American Idol."
"I would never choose to go through it again or tell anyone to," Barba said in her first in-depth interview since being voted off the show in March. "But I don't regret it. It's a TV show. I was a TV contestant getting TV-criticized."</blockquote>
In an article on NJ.com, Idol's Antonella Barba dishes about her experience. She's using her 15 minutes of fame to do some fund raisers and singing at some schools. She isn't interested in discussing the photos that came out. Unemployed and dropping out of college, she's spending a lot of time hanging with her good friend and hitting the beach. The search for fame continues, as they play in a studio and look for other future options. Barba has moved on and learned who her friends are, and says she came out stronger. This article was printed in the Star Ledger.
I sit here watching the sky get dark, as a storm rolls in. Daytime turns to night at 3pm. Warnings roll across the television screen. In fifteen minutes, it will have passed, and the impending doom of the sky will pass the darkness onto another town, instead of mine.
I type these thoughts on my palmtop, because it's enough of a threat to have me turning off my desktop. A laptop would come in handy now, but I have my Jordana, and it's enough to allow me to express myself. Here she comes....(I transferred this over after the storm passed)
"Lt. Col. James Garcia, a spokesman for the New Jersey Air National Guard, said it was believed a flare dropped from one its F-16s may have started the blaze."
Quoted from the Star Ledger on NJ.com
After a lengthy article, almost the very last sentence, here it is. Funny how it didn't make it to the top of the story...just the very end of a long one. Things happen, but geez. I support our armed services and troops, while in training or overseas, but maybe a little caution would have gone a long way this time.
Darren over at Problogger.net has called out for another writing project called "Top 5". We can choose any topic, and I thought I'd tell you a few recent controversies going on in New Jersey. So without further ado, here are the Top 5 Latest New Jersey Controversies.
1. Governor Corzine gets in accident that sends him to the hospital with multiple injuries. It was discovered the vehicle was speeding at over 90 miles per hour and he wasn't wearing his seat belt which is the NJ law.
2. McGreevey (previous Governor who stepped down after coming out as being a "Gay American" and amid other controversy) gets a job at Kane University teaching "ETHICS". (It's all about needing enough years to get that pension!)
3. McGreevey (this boy gets around) now has decided to become an Episcopalian Priest.
4. Head of the union for the state police threatens NJ 101.5 radio hosts by holding up their personal names and home addresses for everyone to see, and threatens to do it again and add in other members of NJ 101.5 staff after radio hosts spoke of upcoming aggressive tactics for ticketing for the month of May.
5. SurvivingNJ.com moves up a notch in the PR world. It has the entire state talking! ;)
Let's talk Tri-State area for a minute, because when I moved from PA to NJ the Tri-State area changed for me! I always thought of the Tri-State area as either Pennsylvania, New Jersey and either New York or Delaware. I moved to New Jersey, and the Tri-State area is considered New Jersey, New York and Connecticut! It was odd to me, that suddenly Connecticut was part of the mix. It is, so I'm just going with the flow.
If you're looking for a lawyer in the Tri-State area, you'll want to connect with Simmons Jannace & Stagg, because they are THE firm to turn to in this area. Large corporations put their trust in them for their unique perspective and their ability to think outside of the box. If companies like Bank of America, Chase and Kmart can trust them, then you know that you as the individual can as well! They are a law firm that has been in business for a long time, and shows companies like Chase and JP Morgan the best legal advice they have to offer. I know if I'm going to choose someone to represent me, I'm going with a well known company that others trust!
On Route 95, on the way to pick up my sister. Here comes my exit! I'm almost there. Next we head down to Beach Haven, Long Beach Island.
Here we are, this time we stayed at The SeaShell Motel. I like the SeaShell, Engleside and Spray Beach the best, because they are beach front!
Up the stairs to our Ocean Front room!
It's still quiet down here because it's April and off season! Coincidentally, we had gorgeous sunny days with temperatures at 83 on Monday and 78 on Tuesday! Lots of prep for the season going on down at LBI right now.
There's the money shot! One of my favorite views in the world. I love to sit on the beach and watch the ocean. I'm up in my room, on the deck, taking this shot. You just walk over the dune, and then the white sandy beach is ready for your toes!
We had a blast, and enjoyed our trip. Dinner at Buckalews, and breakfast at the little Bayside Diner. We shopped at a few of the places that were open, sat out on the beach and laughed a lot together, sharing memories, stories and fun! :) I have a great sister...and we had a great time.
People get images in their mind of places, so I wanted to show you my New Jersey. I was driving down to pick up my sister so we could head to the shore, and thought....hmmm...I wonder if people think New Jersey is one big city or beach? This is a stretch of Route 31 that I drive on a regular basis....this is the New Jersey in my area (Hunterdon County).
I'm about to stop for gas, which is about $2.67 right now.
Lots of trees and suburbia in my part of New Jersey. We have to be careful and on the lookout for deer. We have so many around here. I often find them in and around my development.
The Governer is off the ventilater and breathing on his own at this point. Good news to hear. There was controversy surrounding the accident where they were reported to have been speeding, and the Governor was not wearing his seat belt.
Govenor Corzine was involved in a multi-vehicle crash last night, which resulted in him getting injured. He has broken ribs and a broken leg. He is currently in critical condition, though his injuries are not life threatening. He will have a lot of rehabilitation after healing. He went through 2 hours of surgery.
State Senate President Richard Codey, who stepped in after the McGreevey incident, has stepped in once again, this time for Govenor Corzine until further notice. He's back again in a familiar position, working as the Govenor.
Last night after dinner, we went out for a ride. We ended up over in Alexandria Township, and saw some gorgeous new developments. Of course the homes were over a million dollars each, and we noticed it seems like nobody builds a rancher anymore. Companies don't make developments with small or normal size houses, and if they build somewhat normal homes, they are on postage stamp sized properties.
Where are the homes for the new families? Is the only alternative a townhome, or a entirely too large home that nobody can afford? I guess people were affording them, because they all were sold, but who lives there? What are they doing for a living. One of the homes, with it's four car garage, looked like a courthouse it was so large! It could have passed for a small hospital. Seriously, what do you do with a home that size?
The radio talk show host apologized Friday for referring to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos.
I hate Don Imus, and comments like this are a perfect example. He just talks out of his ass (excuse the language). My husband listens to his show sometimes, and just the guys voice makes me cringe. I'm glad he apologized, but just the fact that words like this would even spill from his mouth are a perfect reason I avoid this man's show with a vengeance.
Residents in parts of Somerset and Hunterdon counties are being told to stay in their homes as police search for an armed man they believe was involved in the shooting death of an FBI agent this morning.
The agent was killed across the street from the PNC Bank on Route 22 in Readington, law enforcement officials said. At least two suspects are in custody, though one man armed with a rifle remains at large.--------------------------------
Breaking news in NJ...there was a bank robbery today and one of the guys is still at large. He apparently killed an FBI agent as well...considered armed and dangerous and on the prowl. It took place in the WhiteHouse area, so please use caution with strangers. I'm thinking the PNC bank isn't far from the King's grocery store, just up a little ways. That's about 15 minutes from here. I think it's between Kings and Wal-Mart.
UPDATE: THIS Story is RECENT!!!! IT was posted at 6:30 PM TODAY
This community and business directory, called OurMonmouth.com, is specifically for Monnouth County, New Jersey residents, and that means you! They are looking to build and hand edit a directory that makes it the top spot to check for all your business and community needs.
Navigation is easy, as categories are broken down into sensible topics on the left hand side. They offer an A-Z listing of restaurants, along with categories such as Personal Care, Professional Services, Automotive, Education, Kids Entertainment and so much more.
If you're looking for each topic to be broken down into something more specific, that's not a problem. Head to the center of the page, where the sitemap lists each category and all the subcategories under it. If you're interested in Community topics, that is again subdivided into multiple different listings such as family srevices, religion and spirituality, social services and more. Interested in Education, you can check out the individual subdivived topics of adult education, child care, computer education, driving schools, private schools and more.
They don't miss a beat, and are working to be the first place you look, when it comes to Monmouth County information. If you are a business and would like to advertise, they offer both small ad spaces and full sized banners, with all their pricing available on their advertising page.
Would you like to know a little bit more about Monmouth County? Check out the Monmouth County History section, and learn more.
Support your community and local small businesses, because when you do, you make New Jersey stronger!
Under the tax relief plan, households earning up to $100,000 would get a 20 percent cut, up to $150,000 would get a 15 percent cut and up to $250,000 would get a 10 percent cut. The cut would average $1,051 per household.About 1.9 million of the state's 2 million households would get help, while renters would also get increased relief.
;Quoted from PhillyBurbs
New Jersey property taxes run about twice the national average, and Gov. Corzine is signing into a law a property tax relief program. It will offer about a 20% deduction to home owners.
I got an email from the New Jersey Devils, and they said that tickets go on sale tomorrow morning at 11am for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. So if that's your thing, then you'll want to make sure you log on or grab a phone and get tickets quickly! Ticket strips are only available through the NJ Devils. You can check out their site at NewJerseyDevils.com or call 1-800-NJ-DEVIL for ticket strips. Single game tickets can be found at their site also, or through Ticketmaster or the Continental Arena.
Good luck getting tickets!
Wynonna Judd, who I saw perform in Atlantic City last, had sad news to report on her site. She's getting a divorce. Her husband has been arrested on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor. I don't care to go into the details, you can read about it here.
I've seen Wynonna Judd perform on 4 separate occassions. First on the Judd's farewell tour, and then three times in New Jersey. We saw her at the Tropicana Casino, The New Jersey State Theater, and lastly at Harrah's. She puts on an incredible show, and is a very spiritual woman. I wish the best for her and her family as they go through this embarrassing and painful ordeal.
If you're a Wynonna Judd fan, she also has a book that I listened to, and tells of her internal and external struggles. It's an excellent book.
A member of the zoning board, who is also a computer teacher at a city elementary school, is among the nine Hudson County residents arrested yesterday in connection with an Internet sports betting ring. James Monaco, Jr., 30, who teaches at the Calabro Primary School on Jefferson Street Monaco was charged with racketeering, promoting gambling, conspiracy to commit financial facilitation of criminal activity and conspiracy. He could face a prison term of up to 10 years.Quoted from NJ.com Hey! Way to set an example for those elementary kids who look up to you. :\ Okay, fair is fair, what you do outside of your business life is your own business, unless it's say...Illegal!
It almost felt like I was back in Florida today with the incredible weather in New Jersey. Shame we don't have palm trees around here! We have maples, oaks, pine trees and others, but no palm trees. New Jersey or Florida, I was loving the sunshine!
...need to replace 11,000 street signs because time and the weather have made them unreadable.The work will cost about $6 million..
Quoted from PhillyBurbs
Wow, $6 million dollars for street signs. I'm guessing they didn't do comparison shopping! That's a little over $90 per sign. They last approximately 7 years.
Today was a day of police cars and ambulances running hot in Hunterdon County! Each time we went out today, we saw multiple units with lights flashing enroute to problems. :\ Hope everyone is okay!
We headed over to an arcade today that I'd passed before and we thought we'd give it a go. Turns out they only sell arcade games to homes...that was funny! Oh well, we'll try something else tomorrow.
There's another attempt to curb motorists from multitasking on New Jersey highways...sponsoring legislation that would fine those who drive while texting $250...it's dangerous to take your eyes off the road...Arizona, Connecticut and Washington also are considering ways to block the latest electronic distraction.
Quoted from PhillyBurbs
That cracks me up! Texting is so much more dangerous than talking while driving! In NJ you have to be hand's free, or you may be fined. Of course, I see tons of drivers still talking, while holding their handset. It's annoying and dangerous! Texting of all things isn't an issue yet? That's crazy, because if you're texting, you have to not only look at the screen, but have hands off the wheel while texting! I'm surprised this didn't fall under the same law that made holding your phone and talking, while driving in NJ an offense. Go figure...
The Star Ledger is warning Hunterdon County residents to be careful about rabies. There are more reported cases coming out. It's expected to be a year with a lot of cases, so make sure you seek out treatment if you're exposed, get your pets vaccinated and be prepared just in case. They mention Hunterdon County's mix of rural and suburban environments make for a good breeding ground.
If your pet or you get bitten, contact Animal Control right away.
;A Camden police officer and his wife were indicted Thursday on charges that they had roles in the robbery of a drug dealer...Michael Anthony Hearne gave a loaded handgun to another man to use in a robbery of the dealer back on Nov. 7...After that, Paw said, Hearne, 42, and his wife, Annie Hearne, 36, agreed to launder $75,000 in proceeds from the robbery through their bank accounts. Additionally, Paw said, the Woodbury couple laundered some $7,600 from a previous robbery through their accounts.
Quoted from NJ.com
Nice...another person in NJ goes dirty. It's such a corrupt state it's scary. My first thought though, was at least it was a drug dealer and not someone innocent, but regardless of who it was, it shows the colors of this cop, and it's not looking pretty. What an embarrassment, yet another official gets busted.
I just got an offer in the mail for the 25th anniversary games with the NJ Devils. If you're interested, the tickets are available online only for this deal, and the code to use is "NJ DEVS".
Here's the scoop:
You can get $90 tickets for $72 bucks, $70 tickets for $58 bucks, and $52 tickets for $42 dollars.
Tickets are available for April 1st, 3rd and 8th
The April 8th game against the NY Islanders is fan appreciation day
It states there are no refunds or exchanges.
If you want in on this deal which will save you some dollars, remember the code is "NJ DEVS".
I came across an organization that does horse rescue in New Jersey. If you're into horses, want to help, donate or otherwise, contact Mylestone Equine Rescue. Their website is at www.mylestone.org, their number is 908-995-9300. It's a private, nonprofit NJ organization. They provide a sanctuary for horses who have been subjected to neglect or cruelty. They also offer a sanctuary for horses who are disabled. If you're a horse lover, check them out and see how you can help.
They are at www.mylestone.org
We were driving down the Garden State Parkway today, and I noticed they were taking down half of the Barnegat toll booth area. They're now updated it like others, where they charge double going one way, and nothing going the other.
As as EZ-Pass user, the other update I've been noticing this past year is that they are opening up lanes with cameras so EZ-Pass drivers can keep going, rather than stopping at a toll, slowing down, waiting for a gated arm to lift and continuing on. By having a straight drive through area, with a speed limit of 45-55, it's a huge change when you have a lot of tolls to go through...which we know in New Jersey there are a lot!
It keeps the traffic moving with a better flow, and the double toll in one direction is definitely an improvement on the ride. We headed from the section up off of 287 down to Long Beach Island today, so we took in a large section of it, and we noticed a nice flow of traffic, rather than backups like you used to see. Kudos for the big steps they're taking to improve the ride...now if we could cut back on the number of tolls!
Three New Jersey divers, two from Westfield and one from Chatham, died yesterday while exploring a sunken ship off the Key Largo shore.
Quoted from NJ.com
Three men were exploring a Naval ship that sunk six years ago. The experienced divers ran out of air, while lost in the ship they were exploring. Sad news...I wanted to send thoughts and prayers to their families.
Under the plan, released sex offenders caught using the Internet would face up to 18 months in jail and fines of up to $10,000. Sex offenders caught using the Internet to solicit a child would face a mandatory five years in jail, rather than the three years they face under current law.Previously Governor Codey, now Senate President Richard Codey is looking to make a difference when it comes to sex offenders. Increasing the madatory time a sex offender faces when trying to get a child's attention is a good step in the right direction. Limiting internet use is another, though I'm wondering how one would be monitored. People can access internet via their phones, libraries, internet cafes as well as from their home. I'm not sure how tightly something like this could be policed. They article, which is quoted above from NJ.com speaks about dating sites being required to tell people if background checks were done on the people on their site. I think this alone would end up being a problem. Many people aren't going to want a background check done, just to meet someone. There is not a federal law at this time, but a few states have all ready started this type of thing, such as Nevada and Florida. New Jersey may be the next in line.
Believing he was doing God's will, a Texas man early yesterday picked up a rock and fatally beat a 75-year-old former Soviet dissident and prison camp survivor who had stopped by a New Jersey Turnpike service area for refreshments, State Police said.Quoted from NJ.com Oh please, God told you to beat someone? I'm really getting tired of hearing that kind of excuse...I did something wrong, because I was told to inside my head. Didn't you grow up like everyone else, knowing the difference between right and wrong? And yet, here you are a grown man, and you beat a poor elderly guy? This is the kind of story that makes me sick. I don't care if this man has mental issues or not. He beat a man to death. End of story. Did God tell him to run from the cops for an hour too? I am SO glad they caught this guy...and I hope they throw the book at him.
unexploded ammunition from long-ago wars recently surfaced in Ocean County. Old ammunition from World War II shut down a section of beach replenishment work on Long Beach Island Monday , the same day that an unexploded cannonball a man found elsewhere in the county, and took home, caused an evacuation requiring a bomb squad.
Quoted from PhillyBurbs
An interesting find closed down a section of the beach in Long Beach Island. Bomb fuses were found, while a man was metal detecting, and then more were found. The section of Long Beach Island was in Surf City. The fuses would only activate if struck. They will be scouring the beaches and expect things to be safe by the summertime. Let's hope so, I'll be there in LBI this June!
he has demanded the financial records of 20 volunteer fire departments to determine how their money is raised and spent. The subpoenas, delivered Monday, were motivated by allegations that seven members of the Grandview Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 in Fairview used contributions to fund a four-day trip to Cancun, Mexico, in January.
Quoted from PhillyBurbs.com Reading something like this makes my stomach churn. I hope the records come back to show that they are mistaken and the funds weren't used incorrectly. This will be an interesting story to follow. They are doing a cross section of departments in this New Jersey area to see how funds are being used. Let's hope the books add up. We have enough corruption in New Jersey all ready, I'd hate to see volunteer departments taking advantage of a situation like this.
It's warming up here a little bit in New Jersey. It's still cold, but the edge is out of the air. Yesterday I could go out with just a sweatshirt. That was a great treat. Going to Florida in February spoiled me and made me ache for the spring weather.
I want to walk in the park, around downtown, the beach and other places. I love being outside feeling the fresh air, especially after being cooped up inside most of the winter. Do you have a favorite place to walk. My beach (Long Beach Island) is my favorite, but I do love this trail near us. It's just for bikes and walkers.
every month New Jersey dutifully deducts $20 from his Army pay...even though he's stationed in Germany for the next two years. New Jersey is among at least 24 states that tax soldiers with overseas assignments....Federal law allows soldiers to exclude any income they earn while serving in a designated combat zone, or income they earn while hospitalized as a result of serving in a combat zone.
What's wrong with this picture? I didn't realize this was happening, and I'm sorry, but I don't think it's right for them to be taxing soldiers who are overseas fighting for us. Federal law protects soldiers, but state laws don't? Come on New Jersey, we can do better than that. Leave our men and women at war alone, and stop taking money out of their checks.
Q: What about making health insurance more affordable?
A: About 1 of every 8 New Jerseyans lack health insurance. This year's budget does not include money to remedy that, though the governor has said it's important.
It's important....just not important enough? In an article on PhillyBurbs there's a nice breakdown of what the changes will mean for you and me. I think the positive on this is that with a cut in property taxes (for now) will give some people relief, the idea of raising a minimum tax break level for families who make $20,000 and under may be raised to those making $38,000 and under. As for health insurance...stay tuned, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Corzine focused more on the future.He warned that the state's long-term financial outlook remained dire - and that the only real fix could be selling or leasing assets such as the lottery or New Jersey Turnpike.
The state needs to "change course" to undo years of financial mismanagement and tackle a debt load that almost equals the size of the proposed budget, Corzine said
There's a revelation...not. In a story about the state budget, things are looking grim for the future.
By privatizing something that is a state assett, it may be a gain temporarily, but in the end, you'll have lost another assett.
As for the tax credit program, it's looking to give property owners a 20% cut. If you don't live in NJ, you'll be floored at what we're paying for property tax. You need another career to keep up with it, it's disgusting. We are the land of high state tax and high property tax. On a good note, since 2001, this is the first time they won't increase taxes, but oh yeah, they just increased it last year on sales tax taking us from6 to 7%.
New Jersey only spans about 75 miles wide and 150 feet long, but there's so much crammed into the Garden State that it's hard to think it's a small place. One of my friends who lives in a state that takes up a big chunk of acreage sees New Jersey as a blip or dot on the map! It's funny, because we were talking about how far away something was, and she figured by the size of the state, it couldn't be that far!
Sometimes in the midst of rush-hour, I think..."it can't be that far" but my drive time is doubled!
We're small, but there's a lot of fun to be had in New Jersey, and way too many people here! We're a small crowded state...but hey, it's home!
My NJ Book
I wanted to point out a New Jersey book I put together. I have it on my sidebar if you look over there. I'm a mom who is always trying to think of new things to do, and decided to put a list together of everything from orchards to arcades, and beaches to wineries. If you're looking for things to do in New Jersey, check out the New Jersey Fun Finder. If you're looking for things like bowling, camping and golf, it's covered! Are you looking for Gardens, Theater or Zoos? Yup, it's in there! Check it out today!
With the law in place, New Jersey is becoming one of just five states to offer all the legal benefits of marriage to gay partners. The state, though, stopped short of calling the institutions marriage. Civil unions emerged in New Jersey out of four years of litigation and a whirlwind few weeks of political dealmaking late last year.After much ado, it would appear that NJ has moved forward on this situation, and civil unions may now take place. The problem that many are screaming about is not being able to call it marriage. On the other hand, civil unions can be dissolved a lot easier than a marriage can be divorced, though a divorce can now be completed in 6 months in NJ, rather than the previous 18 month waiting period.
When Sen. Ellen Karcher proposed a ban on trans fats at restaurants in the Garden State last fall, she received so many threatening phone calls that state police closed her office and escorted her staff out the door.A talk radio station had urged listeners to call Karcher's office and complain, she said.
"It was so out of proportion," she said. "We're talking about replacing cooking oil to try to make New Jersey healthier and save some money" on long-term health costs.
How do you feel about this idea? I don't think it's some horrible thing, but do I feel the government should step in here? No, I think this should be the business owner's decisions. Many manufacturer's as well as restaurants such as Wendy's have all ready taken the step to remove trans fats. Is this a government issue? I don't think so.
This has been compared to the state-wide ban of cigarette smoking in restaurants. The difference is you can choose what you want on a menu. When somebody is sitting next to you smoking, you can't choose to turn your lungs off.
...and the snow falls. This is our cherry tree in our front yard. Snow has been falling for about 4 hours here, though the road is still black, the grass and trees have a nice coating. I had to drive for 2+ hours in the snow from Hunterdon to Bucks County and back tonight. Driving wasn't too bad, but of course there wasn't much traffic either!
In a story on NJ.com an off duty officer was charge with DWI.
A Jersey City police officer was charged with driving while intoxicated after an accident on the Pulaski Skyway last night that left a woman and her 2-year-old son in critical condition, officials said
Shame to see something like this...seriously, shouldn't he know better? He's been an officer since 1996, but has only been with Jersey City since 2005. You'll want to read the article, the link is above, because there's all sorts of information coming to light. A previous accident at a tavern, etc. What do you think of this topic?
The porcupine is the first in my series of “Untamed Tuesday” posts, due to my new logo critter, made over at BlueBison.net
The porcupine is considered a rodent. He carries quills on his back, and is a slow moving animal. The porcupine uses his quills in an attack. This animal eats vegetation. Porcupines can be found mostly in North America, and will be found mainly in forested areas, though has been seen in deserts. It’s weight can range from 10 to 40 pounds, and has a lifespan of approximately 5 years.
For more information on the porcupine, you can go to DesertUSA.com
Here’s one way that you can help out:
WoodlandsWildlife.org helps by educating people, and rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in the New Jersey area. They are always in need of volunteers, donations and help.
Can you remember where this is on Long Beach Island? This one is a little trickier, if you don't take that little back road over by Viking Village! Ooohh, I just gave it away! This is a little boat rental place on the Barnegat Light side of the island. Coming from the lighthouse (Old Barney) right about Mustache Bill's Diner, you hang a right and follow that backroad around a bit, and pretty soon, you'll meet up with this blue baby!
I hope you've enjoyed the LBI pictures I've posted over the last 2 weeks. I may have one or two, but I need to sort through them! I've enjoyed sharing these shots, and really enjoyed taking them. It's not a crisp picture, as I lost quality on shrinking it down!
This is one home. This is the other type of housing that is taking over Long Beach Island. I can't say it isn't gorgeous, because it is, it's that the island has changed from a blue-collar island to a white-collar island, and that's not a bad thing for the island. The difficult part is knowing that it's getting more out of reach for the average person. Either way, I wanted to show both sides of LBI...and I love every piece of this island.
Can you place this on Long Beach Island? This is all the way down the end of the island in Holgate. Long Beach Island is a little of this and a little of that. These days it seems as if people buy $500,000 homes to tear them down and build mini-mansions. It's the property that is so valuable, so to see this little gem of the past still here is a nice thing.
Are you a New Jersey blogger? Do you know about NJWeblogs.com? It is a webring of New Jersey bloggers just like yourself. You can head over there and see a page capture of the latest update to mulitple blogs. The cached picture you'll see of mine is from my other Surivving NJ blog, but the writing is from here. I made a switch over from blogger, and while I'm still writing on both, I'm aiming to make the transition fully to this blog at some point soon enough.
Do you recognize tihs little house? This is the at Bay Village in the boat ramp area on the bay side. It's all closed up for the winter, but it will be open in a few months and the parking lot will be jammed full of people! I loved taking these pictures. I have so many of the ocean and sunsets, I decided it was time for a little more flavor!
Can you place this? This is a restaurant in Beach Haven that sits on a corner of the main drag. The Beach House is a BYOB restaurant. We were driving along and I yelled out, "Pull over, pull over". My husband said where? I made him go around the block and go back, because all of the sudden, I wanted a shot of the sign. :) It's one of those things you pass all the time, but on this particular day, it caught my attention.
If you would like to see a list of restaurants in LBI, I found a great site that offers numbers and addresses. Here is another list.
Do you see the bench? That's where I want to be sitting, with my toes in the sand. I looked at this picture and the calmness of the ocean in this shot soothes me. It's an instant transformation seeing the beach. This isn't a beach of palm trees and exotic locales, this is simply my favorite beach in New Jersey and I love this place. (photo of LBI/taken by me, Dec 31, 2006)
Steel Pier, the storied amusement and entertainment icon on the New Jersey shore, is getting a one-year reprieve from the wrecking ball. Slated for demolition to make way for a luxury development project, the pier will be allowed to remain open this year, its operator said;
In a story on NJ.com, Atlantic City's Steel Pier will stand yet another year. Don't get too attached though, it's coming down for a project. This is one of those pieces of Atlantic City that has stood for such a long time, it will be a shame to watch it go. While it doesn't hold the charm it once did, the fact that it's still there is special. When you think back on some of these places, and realize due to progress things get torn down and bigger thing go up, you realize it will only be in pictures and memories that this old gem will be remembered. At least you have one more year to check it out.
What amazes me about New Jersey properties is the vast amount of variety available. The price ranges go from lower income upwards to millions. New Jersey is so many different things, so many different neighborhoods and so many different styles. Look at the farmland that is slowly disappearing, but you can still find. Blueberries, beaches, mansions and more....what will you find in New Jersey.
These were taken close to the Barnegat Light side of the island. Think back along where Viking Village is. I wanted to get the sky coming through them. I asked my husband to pull over so I can snap the picture and he stopped smack in front of a tree. I laughed, because he didn't know what I wanted to take a picture of. I had to ask him to pull further up! Do you recognize this tall grass? There is a long strip of it along the backside of the island on the bay side.
We bit the bullet and rented a beach house in June. I'm turning into "travel lady" lately! I'll have had four full-blown vacations this year (june-06 to June-07)! I'm not sure quite how it happened, but I'm not crying about it! Woohoo....
Heading to the beach in June...see you there!
Here's another shot from Bay Village. I've been going to Copper Kettle Fudge since I was a little girl. My favorite is Peanut Butter and this stuff just melts in your mouth. The prices have changed over the years and the small 1/4 box is now up to $8. I think when I was a kid it was somewhere around $4. It tastes just as good, and it's worth the extra few dollars! Heaven, I tell you, heaven!
I hope you're enjoying the LBI images. I decided to take pictures of places and things you always see, but don't usually snap pictures of. It was Dec. 31 and it was pretty empty, though a few due to the New Year's Eve celebration upcoming that evening.
For non NJ-er's, LBI=Long Beach Island...a beachy island community that spans about 20+ miles on the coast. This has been my favorite place to hit the beach...since I've been going for close to 40 years. In fact, this year I turn 40 and it will be a solid 40 years I've been going. I learned to walk down here. :) It's been that long.
This got a little distorted when I made it smaller to fit on here....but you get the idea! Okay, do you recognize this? It's on Long Beach Island....sure, everyone knows where the Barnegat Lighthouse is, but what's on the other end of the island? This is!
This is the far end of the island...you can park your car and get out and walk around. It's right past Holgate...what's neat is how the land curves here a bit, and then parts of the island are closed off...as it comes to an end. Have you seen this side of the island?
This is Buckalew's in Beach Haven. This has been a family favorite since I was a little girl, but it's changed a lot over the years. I've been going to LBI for close to 40 years, and when I was a little girl, my dad would bring us here and we'd get Pizza or Meatball Sandwiches. Back in the day, the booths were red vinyl and tears were fixed with duct tape! The bar was a long oval with red vinyl circle stools. Glass blocks were the only way light seemed to come in on the far right side, and the entrance was the font door.
These days, it's had a big overhaul and the inside still offers the warmth of a corner neighborhood bar, but also the elegence for a nice dinner out with your husband. It's a casual and friendly place, and offers a great meal. I had a to die for Cheesesteak yesterday!
Anyway, as we were milling around on the island, I decided I would snap some pictures that were a little different. Instead of the typcial ocean and beach shots, I took some other views of LBI...shots that may be overlooked, but I could appreciate them just the same. I'll be posting them during the week. If you're an LBI fan, maybe you'll be able to place a few of the shots...maybe not! ;)
Happy New Year's Day! We hit the shore yesterday and spent the afternoon down there. This is a shot of the Blue Marlin Restaurant. I wanted to toss this picture up because of the sign! I have it on another blog as well...but regardless, I was down LBI on New Year's Eve Day, and this marks it for me.
I hope you had a safe and happy New Year's Eve and enjoyed your day today as well.
This previous summer we did a 4 day trip to Wildwood. We didn't used to go there, but we decided to try it again and we really enjoyed the boardwalk and the rebuild it's going through. A lot of the hotels are turning to condos, houses are being built up and it's been cleaned up a lot. This next summer will be the third year I'll be going down as an adult. We used to go yearly to LBI and then Wildwood when I was a child.
On going down as an adult, I've been exploring different hotel options, and found the last two we stayed at online. We chose the Ala Moana one year and the El Coronado on the beach in 2006. While we stayed at the El Coronado and had a nice time, inside it seemed a little worn. These are units that are owned now and rented out individually. This year, we drove by the strip and wrote down names of hotels to check out online. We came up with 2 or three on our list for next year to sort through. The Shalimar got a total redo so that's on the list, but I think the Bal Harbour is going to win out. Do you have a favorite place in Wildwood? Aqua Beach looks like it's been redone too. The Reges Ocean front doesn't look so bad either. Pan American always makes it to my list, but their prices seem higher.
...."Although Taco Bell initially blamed the green onions for the E. coli, health officials later concluded the shredded lettuce was most likely the culprit." (full story can be found here)
I saw this story on NJ.com and it's funny the timing of it. We stopped at the EB Games in Flemington yesterday and a Taco Bell sits in front of that shopping center. My son asked if we could stop there, and I said no. I'll wait awhile and make sure I don't hear any other problems or outbreaks of E.Coli! He may be willing to trust them faster than I am, but it just makes me squeamish. Don't get me wrong, I understand it could happen anywhere, but for now, I'm not ready to dive in quite yet!
Did you ever notice the link on the side of the book cover? That's my book. :) I've written three books and one of them is right there on the sidebar for you to check out. The New Jersey Fun Finder is a great book for you and your family, or you and a date. It offers options like orchards, wineries, beaches, arcades, museums, and more. If you haven't taken a moment to check the book out, you can also follow this link to learn more. Go on, you know you want to!
I found it kind of interesting that I got a piece of mail today asking me to subscribe to Philadelphia Magazine. I live in New Jersey. I used to live in Bucks County and well, would have been a better target for Philadelphia Magazine, but did I mention I live in New Jersey? Hmmm...
Are they trying to spread to a bigger base, grow their subscription base, or do they not realize they printed my state out on my envelope...ummm, New Jersey.
I don't want your Philadelphia Magazine, and I don't want a New Yorker Magazine...I'm in New Jersey. I don't get ads from New Jersey Life or Weird NJ, I got ads in the mail from other states!
I grew up going to LBI every year as a child, and even learned to walk at the beach house. I always thought I'd retire to LBI. After all it's like a second home to me, having been going for close to 40 years. It's that place that says serenity to me; a second home.
LBI (Long Beach Island) used to be a blue collar neighborhood, but now it's a white collar playground with million dollar homes slowly over taking the smaller cape cods and such. I'm glad it's kept up so nicely, but on the other hand, the prices are forcing families out. That makes me sad. Retiring there isn't such an option now, because I'm not going to have a cool million to shell out on a home!
I was sorting through rentals online and realized even the rentals in season are asking for $2,000 and $3,000! Crazy how things have escalated. We now go off season to save some money or do long weekends at hotels, but it seems sad that families who grew up going here are being priced out.
For that many clams, I'm stretching my wings and going other places...we did Florida and Disney this year and we may be straying a bit more...
Under pressure from New Jersey's highest court to offer marriage or its equivalent to gay couples, the Legislature voted Thursday to make New Jersey the third state to allow civil unions.
In an article at Yahoo, full story here, NJ has made a final decision. Civil Unions are not all the same rights as Marriags. With civial uniions, there are adoption and inheritence rights, but some are not offered as in marriage. They are advocating for marriage rights, but are taking the step towards acknowledgement with Civil Unions.
One thing that isn't often highlighted is the fact that Civil Unions can be dissolved much easier and are quicker than divorce. While divorces used to take 18 months in NJ, there is a push to dissolve a marriage via divorce in 6 months. In Civil Unions people walk out with which they came in with and are dissolved much quicker.
My own personal opinion and views are irrelevent either way, and I don't intend to place them here.
*This article has been moved from my Surviving NJ blogger blog to here. (own domain) This article was written in June 2006 and is still relevent. It can also be located with some of my other articles over at Associated Content. *Thanks for your patience as I transfer some work.
I’m was thinking about the cars I’ve driven over the years….Camaro, Jeep, Blazer, Dakota Sport 4x4, Nissan 200SX. (Remember when they were called Datsuns?!)
I came across this web release thing that said California now ranked as number one in car theft. They had SIX different cities on that list!
I was curious to see how my home state of New Jersey ranked and fully expected to see at least New York in that list as well. I was blown away…all ten of the top cities ranked were out west, with a few of them being out in Washington, Arizona and Nevada.
I guess our little metro areas of NY, Philly and Jersey aren’t looking so bad right now.
I was feeling all proud and bloated, but then remembered that our insurance is pretty damn high! I’m not sure what it is out in California, but I know in NJ it’s crazy. We even had companies that were leaving our state…quick flee from NJ!
What was really cool was Geico came into NJ as other companies were leaving us. Some people were stuck when their insurance companies gave them almost no notice to switch their carriers. Geico actually let you get a cheap car insurance quote. In a time when a lot of New Jersey folk were freaking out, here comes a company to let us know we weren’t all that bad. I love that little lizard, man that was sheer brilliance. Maybe this big company coming in will show other insurance companies it isn’t so bad over here in NJ.
From June/06: Moving some posts from my hosted blog to my own domain...
NJ is looking to start random steroid testing on high school athletes and sport students who qualify for championships and also those who just particpate in sports through out the school year. They are hoping to set a standard and keep the drugs out of this avenue. NJ is the first state to enact this. There was a pilot program for illegal drug testing in New Mexico before, but not anything testing athletes with steroids. In a 2005 NHFS study, they said that more than a million students have tried steroids before....a million students.
These are kids we're talking about. Kids are as focused about the harmful effects they can have on their body...as many teenagers are still in the mind set of "bad stuff won't happen to me." What's the cost of being able to play at the "next level".
They are working steroid preventitive information into the popular DARE program as well. They start the kids pretty early on this information.
The e-coli outbreak in New Jersey is spreading quickly. What started out as 11 cases this weekend has all ready doubled to the 20's. More cases may come to light as people come forward. It would appear that fingers are being pointed to a Taco Bell in S. Plainfield, along with two other Taco Bells. A very large percent of the people coming down with the outbreak ate at a Taco Bell this weekend.
One particular Taco Bell in question has voluntarily closed their doors today until more information is found. Two employees of Taco Bell were also reporting issues.
Technorati tags: e-coli, / new+jersey, / nj, / taco+bell
Here it is...my new book! It's finally out there and ready for you! "New Jersey Fun Finder" is all about finding fun things to do in NJ rain or shine! It lists everything from gardens, to wineries, to theatres, to orchards! You can check out the full page of information about it here.
If you are interested in purchasing a copy or downloading a copy, you can do that at LULU. Follow this link to order this book!