Friday in New Jersey

Good news. Middle Daughter just tested negative for Covid. Negative's the good one. She doesn't seem too thrilled about it. Huh? 

Good morning from the Garden State, Stroocks Books commune. We know most will laugh, 'Heh, Garden State.' Everyone thinks New Jersey is 4 lane state highways and strip malls, but here:

See, it's mostly green. Heck we had another bear attack. These are on the increase as wine mom's sloshed on indignation and chardonnay pressured the state to call off the annual bear hunt. Thanks, ladies. I have to periodically chase off the neighborhood fox. Every once in a while one can hear him grab a goose from the neighborhood flock.

Slowly, we turn against our adopted home state of New Jersey. There are a lot of things here that are just plain retarded. Here's one of them: 'Dozens of New Jersey gas stations plan to offer discounted fuel on Friday in the latest push to convince state leaders to allow for self-service.' You read that right. It's illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey. 

Not being a native, we've always brought an outsider's perspective. Back during our professorial days, we explained to the young ladies in our class that 'Jersey Girl' is not a compliment. Also, being known as 'The Sopranos State' is not a good thing. We shake our head more in sadness than anger. 

Of course, almost everyone in our neighborhood is not a native of New Jersey. 

We think Mrs. Stroock, if it were up to her, would move to Delaware, her home state. We got there 30 years ago this autumn. We'll say maybe. Though there's not much left for us there. Most of the family friends are old or gone.  Our own Wesley College was absorbed by Del State. We suppose northern Delaware would be nice (it's Northeast Corridor). We could make it work, with a condo in Rehoboth to boot. Rehoboth is nice. Family friendly but with a night life. Great beach and boardwalk.  Hmmmm....

We'll close with a classic, ESPN's Bon Jovi ad. He's better than Springsteen. We get every reference in here, from Thomas Edison, to Rutgers, to Christie Whitman: