CH rising?

[CarlD]

Yes, it's been Short Hills Mall since we moved up here 14 years ago. Despite having grown up nearby, when we moved back up from Virginia, it was like moving to a new country--completely different. We moved back up here for my wife's career and to be halfway between our ageing parents.

Anybody who thinks things move slower Down South never stood in line at a Home Depot or Staples up here! And, until recently, the DMV was the WORST in the nation--every transaction (License renewal, registration renewal) took 1 hour on a good day. So if you had to renew your license, the registration for 2 cars, and (in my case) 1 motorcycle, that was 4 transactions, 4 hours. No joke, it was THAT bad--and corrupt to boot--it was faster to get a license by bribing someone inside to make you one...a whole bunch of people went to jail for that.

Amazingly, the efforts to fix it and clean it up have worked. I renewed a car the other day at the local MV office and was in and out in 10 minutes, despite the place being full.

Actually, the REAL reason NJ has a bad rep is that it's to the west of NYC, and there's a river between them. So New Yorkers only ventured across with trepidation (Until I was 12 I think I went to NJ maybe 3 times). Between the swamps and the decaying Hudson River towns (all of which are having a HUGE renaissance), NJ became the punchline of a lot of hip, NY comedians' jokes. "You from Jersey? What exit?" These days, Tony Soprano doesn't help! (tho the Tick-Tock Diner is a VERY real place). And, no, Jimmy Hoffa isn't really buried under the West goal post at Giant Stadium--at least we think he isn't....

Plus there is our VERY interesting version of politics here. Still, it is one little dynamo of a state, and having grown up and gone to college in Upstate New York, I find NJ far preferable.

But there are STILL some things here you just couldn't make up! Like they put the sign for an exit on the FAR side of the exit so that when you finally SEE it, you've missed it! And this is the only state without self-serve gas--an attendant (who tops your tank, spill gas down the fender, and keeps your change without permission) is considered "safer" somehow.
We probably have more diners per capita than any other state, too. And here's a little secret: Good NJ pizza is just as good as good NY pizza--sometimes better!

[Poconos]

I can't resist throwing my 2 cents at NJ. Lived across the river from Northeast Philly most of my life and finally left for the sticks of Northeast PA 10 years ago after working here for 5 years before that. Real Estate taxes less that half, auto insurance the same and I have the right to protect myself and have a lot more property. I'm glad to hear the DMV has gotten its act together...but here I do business online. I used to dread the lines at the state inspection stations too. And Carl, you left out one comment...about the gas station attendant pumping gas with a smoke in his mouth. Unless it has changed I think Oregon or some state out there was the other one that didn't allow pumping your own. PA isn't perfect but I sure like it better here and could kick myself for not leaving the 'Garden State' sooner.
The vent felt good.
Al

[CarlD]

Don't see so many anymore smoking and pumping gas--guess that proves Darwin was right!!!

(can you say KA-BOOM!!!??)

[waterbear]

And here's a little secret: Good NJ pizza is just as good as good NY pizza--sometimes better!

TreeTop Tavern Pizza. It was the best in the world. Wonder if it's still there?