New Jersey in a 1000 Words or Less

I'm back. Visiting your roots, your childhood and your parents' childhoods, refreshes the soul.

Since this was a research trip for me (and it worked--it answered a lot of questions about my current WIP and got some ideas germinating for two more), I took pictures. Tons of pictures (if a picture is worth a 1000 words, how many words does that make--and, more importantly, Misfits, does that count toward my daily word count?).

Here are a few (I'll try to keep it down):

Since I told you about Eastern State Penitentiary: here's what would greet you at the entrance, although from pics I saw of the original, he was added later.

Philadelphia City Hall: you can't really see much of the tower on the right side, but on the top stands William Penn (guess what: Pennsylvania was not named after him but after his father 'cause a good Quaker would never name anything after himself).

Elfreth Alley: oldest houses in the States still lived in. The road is teeny tiny.

A building on Haddon Ave in Collingswood, one of the two towns in NJ where I grew up.

The church I grew up in.

You know I had to put a pic of the shore. My mom and I stayed in Ocean City for two days. These morning clouds worked their way inland giving us Irving Berlin blue skies and the perfect temperature in the afternoon.

Christ Church cemetery (partially dedicated to Angie): where Ben Franklin and four other signers of the good ole Declaration that started it all are buried (as well as some other interesting folk)

Why We Should Move to NJ

I’m still in Jersey and am putting a PowerPoint presentation together to convince my hubby that we should move to NJ. So here we go. (Man, do I love this place.)

Hoagies (warning—there will be a lot of food on this list; my mom and I planned our trip more around food than even family): don’t even think about calling them subs.
Philly cheesesteaks
Panzzerottis (told there’d be food): not anything close to calzones, fyi
Trees—this includes the different types, the number of them, and the beautiful colors in the fall. We’re here right at the beginning of the change. Almost overnight. Of course, my family laughs at our oohs and ahhs over such meager colors. We ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Wait ’til mid-October.
History—you go into Philly and it’s first this and first that. First, first, first. First capital, first printing press, first president of the U.S., first prison in the States (first penitentiary in the world—the thing looks like a castle, which is on purpose, of course, to scare the new immigrants who would’ve associated the castle with a harsh authoritative hand; inspired by Quakers, the designers wanted to create a place once inside that would inspire penitence and a changed life). You can’t walk two steps without being immersed into history like the signing of the Declaration and Campbell's soup and Ben Franklin (who apparently did everything except invent Campbell's soup). And the architecture--some European, some colonial, some modern. When I get back, I’ll take the time to put some pics up. Then there’s my personal history and my family history. It’s all here.
Location, location, location—hop on a train and 10 min. later you’re in Philadelphia. Two hours from NYC, three from DC. An hour from the shore (a great shore at that) and three from the mountains (think skiing, Chris).
The tomatoes and corn and blueberries and peaches and apples. NJ is called the Garden State for a reason. You can’t get veggies bursting with flavor like this in Texas.
Italian country—I love my Italian food. You can’t get Italian food like this in Dallas. (Interestingly enough, I used to think I’d miss Mexican food if—no, when—I move back home, but with Mexican migrant workers now putting down roots, Mexican—true Mexican, which I prefer to Tex-Mex—restaurants pop up everywhere, along with every type of Asian and Middle Eastern.)
Four seasons. They have all of them up here.
The artsy section of Philly with galleries and shops and all that fun stuff.
And I haven't even been to the shore yet--we go tomorrow.

Added to the list after posting but before visiting the shore:
Water ice--similar to snow cones only if you consider a fine snow powder the same as ice cubes.
Variety in the style of houses--so many types as opposed to the DFW 2 types.
Cheaper gas. Seriously.
Cheaper tolls. (And don't even try and bring up that housing is oh-so-much-more expensive in Jersey. Dallas is almost caught up in prices. I checked. Love you, dear.)
Barber shops with the real twisting barber shop red and white thingies.
Traditional small shops--I only saw one Wal-Mart.
Wawa's coffee. So good. Jam-packed in the mornings. If you say it's like 7-11, I'll punch you in the nose. Very few Starbucks here.

I'm sure I'll think of more.

Things I love but can’t put on my husband’s list:

Watching the Eagles game with other Eagles fans. Hard to come by in Dallas.
Actually, that’s it. If he would listen to me, I think he would find that he would love NJ (ahem).

Yay x 3

1. I'm going to Jersey! My mom and I decided to go the last week of September to visit relatives. We'll see the ocean (YAY!--although by that time, it will be much too cold to swim or don bathing suit even, though I will most likely venture a toe in until I can't feel it any longer) and eat. I'm already planning our menu. Hoagies, cheesesteaks, Italian water ice (pronounce wooter ice), panzarottis, more hoagies, Kohr Brother's frozen custard. Oh, my, the things we'll eat. Oh, and the family we'll see. Of course.
2. The braised short ribs on my second try were the delectable comestibles I imagined them to be. Moral: try and try again. Scrape the pot and try one more time. Bang kitchen accessories around and pre-heat the oven one more time. Oh, and a word to the wise (although if they're so wise, why do they need my word?) - don't steam artichokes. Much better to boil them.
3. Um. In my excitement, I forgot. But in the absense of yay number 3, I'll let you know what's coming up tomorrow (or maybe later today): my speaking information. I do speaking for retreats (women's, college, singles) and special events. Tomorrow I'll have more information for those of you who are interested while I'm waiting for my website to get done (which is harder than it looks - that HTML!).

My Non-Vacation

It looks like we're not going to be able to go on vacation this year. We've been holding out hope that we'd be able to find some last minute deal, the kind at a crazy low price if you can be on the plane in an hour. But those deals are not to be found, and we don't have the money for regular prices. It's part and parcel to (1) living where we do, where you don't have anywhere fun to go with a couple hour drive (in Jersey, we lived an hour from the Shore and three hours from the mountains) and (2) being in ministry (Chris) and having an odd assortment of jobs (me), none of which pay well at all.

I know. I shouldn't complain. After all, I was able to spend time in Chicago this year. And I have an incredible husband who isn't making me quit the fun stuff (writing, speaking, and teaching music) to find a "real" job and make us some money. But I'm not sure if I can survive a whole year without a glimpse of my beloved ocean (Robin, I'm counting on you for some sympathy here). I think it's only happened once or twice in my life, and one of those times it was because I had spent the summer in Czech Republic teaching English, so that made up for it.

So, pardon me. I need to go mourn now.

P.S. Chris took that picture last year at Sanibel Island, where he took me as a surprise for our first anniversary.

That Toddling Town

Chicago, Chicago, my hometown.

Okay, so it's not, but it should be. Next to Philly and Prague and Barcelona, my favorite city with brown papered packages tied up with string. I saw the greatest fireworks of my life off the Navy Pier that lit up the sky like high noon shootout. I ate pizza with more cheese than Monty Python. And hot dogs with a salad on top (it's healthy, you know). I lunched in Chinatown and Greektown, where they speak Chinese and Greek respectively (and respectably). I got dizzy looking up at the Sear's Tower. I marched (more like ran) on Michigan street with thousands of others trying to catch our train after the aforementioned fireworks. I chatted and chatted and chatted some more with my best friend. I sang Broadway tunes on the Metra for an hour and a half, half-entertaining, half-scaring the other patrons.

And speaking of Broadway...

I saw Wicked! And loved it (Jennifer, this bud's for you...)

Musically, I have to admit it wasn't exactly innovative or all that creative. It stuck to the standard Broadway sound as defined by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

That being said, I can't help but lovin' my musical. The creative part was the book, and that was ubercreative. I cried, yes, and I laughed heartily out loud. I loved the development of Elphaba's character and the change in Glinda's. It was very postmodern in its look at a story from a different perspective. I loved the examination of wickedness: some people are born wicked, others have wicked thrust upon them. And the digging into motivations with truth being found in unlikely places and veiled by seemingly good sources. So much to dig into, but alas, I haven't the time. Just know that I recommend it, and that I'm going to go back and read Gregory Maguire's other books, such as The Ugly Stepsister and Son of a Witch.




And I can't forget the Art Institute where I got to see one of my favorite paintings, Chagall's White Crucifixion as well as other greats. Unfortunately, the area with Rembrandt was closed. (Too bad, because my teeth could use the whitening.)


I lost the blues in Chicago. That toddling town.

Writing, Writing, Writing

So here I am in Indiana after taking planes, trains, and automobiles yesterday. And yes, when the train passed through Gary, Indiana, I did sing, not caring that the guy next to me got up and changed seats. Here I am with some of the Misfits, and there has been food, laughter, and drink. And more food. Mich makes a mean pico de guac. We've been relaxed. So has my stomach. Relaxed right over my jeans.
But I'm getting some writing done. They gave me a shove on a short story I needed, and after I recovered from the cold, algae-filled pond water (when they push, they really push), I ticked the keyboard.
And Phil's been in the kitchen with Dinah cooking (which I'm thankful for both because he's a good cook and because when he cooks, the kitchen warms up, and my, but it's chilly up here).
Tomorrow I go into Chicago for the rest of the week. Heck, maybe I'll even post pictures. But don't get your hopes up.

Straight on toward morning

This past weekend, the fairy dust took me to East Texas, where I taught a women's retreat. You know, at first, I wasn't too excited about the topic, the Bride of Christ, but in preparation, I discovered all the love, hope, and unity, not just between the Church (the bride) and Christ, but between members of the Church, and it moved and inspired me. God worked this weekend, as He loves to do when we open up our hearts. For those of you who were praying, thank you.
This Friday, the fairy dust will take me to Chicago and Indiana, first to spend the weekend with fellow Misfits, Michelle, Jen, and Jenny, writing and laughing and then laughing some more, then to spend time with my bestest friend in the world (yes, my BFF), who moved to Chicago back in August. We'll see Wicked, watch fireworks on the Navy Pier, drink lots of coffee, eats lots of toffee, go to the Art Institute, stay up way too late, drink more coffee, and chat until we lose our voices. All in all, good times, good times.
So don't expect much from the blogging Heather. She'll be too hyped on coffee! But I will let you in on this secret: the Misfits are starting a group blog, and we launch next week. If it's half as fun as the people themselves, you're in for a riot (not the L.A. type). More on that later.