Life In The Weeds

Fly Eagles Fly

Not those Eagles...everyone should know by now that I'm a Jets fan!

A couple of weeks ago, over President's Day weekend, we had some friends in town from Maryland. With a house full of kids, and some mildly hungover parents, we decided to take everyone over to Rosedale Park for some sledding action.  It was a good opportunity to "represent" Jersey sledding...as there had been a little smack talk comparing sledding hills amongst the kids.

As the adults watched and chatted from the bottom of the hill, one of us turned an noticed a large hawk (at least that's what we immediately thought) drop out of a tree and begin to take flight.  Once the bird opened it's wings and soared a bit, two of us, in unison said, "is that a Bald Eagle?"

Sure enough, it was...a Bald-friggin-Eagle!  We watched it fly above us for less than a minute and then, it was out of sight...you could see adults and children at the top of the sled hill pointing as it flew overhead.

Fast forward to yesterdays NY Post article.  Sure enough, Bald Eagles are among us!

I like the idea of the country thinking of New Jersey as the home of our National icon, rather than home of the cast of the Jersey Shore!

mj

Missing in Haiti

As it turns out, the earthquake in Haiti has reached our own little town of Hopewell Township.

A 22-year-old student, Christine Gianacaci,  who graduated from the Lewis School of Princeton and resides in Hopewell, NJ has been missing ever since the 7.0 earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti.

Christine was just starting a Journey of Hope-Haiti humanitarian effort with 12 other students...she was staying in the Hotel Montana when the quake hit.  Rescue teams are hard at work trying to clear the rubble, not only at this particular hotel, but throughout Port-au-Prince.  Are there survivors living within the rubble?  After 8 days?  Hard to imagine if you had survived...and were trapped...how would you deal with each minute, hour, day of survival?  What a terrible circumstance!

It makes you wonder...why?  Is there a higher purpose?  Do things really happen for a reason?  I'm sure Christine's parents are asking the same questions.

Keep praying!

mj

Buy your Christmas Tree HERE

If it's not to late, I found a great place to buy your Christmas tree this year.  I have passed by this place for several years and we finally checked it out.  It will now become OUR place to get a tree!

It is located on Princeton Pike in Lawrenceville.  It is a residence...and the family is really nice.  The owner is a Lawrenceville Policeman and each year he take vacation to run a Christmas tree "farm"...turns out, his parents owned a Christmas tree farm when he was a kid...so, it's in his blood.

He carries lots and lots of trees...both Douglas and Frasier firs...we bought an 8' Frasier Fir (our first) for $50.

I do not know the exact address...but here is a picture of where it is located...it's the farm, right "underneath" 3902 on the map.

mj

There Once was a Lady...

...who stood on the corner of 31st and 7th and sold newspapers!

Let me tell you, I would never, ever buy a newspaper from anyone else in all of NYC.  I have been buying the New York Post from her for 6 years...and there are probably thousands who have been supporting her much longer than me.  She is now standing on a milk crate to make her presence a bit more know...all 5'5 of her (on the crate!)

Her voice is unmistakable - "Newjork Post and the Dailey News" is stated, like a jingle.  I'm sure most, like me, sing her little jingle all the way into the bowels of Pennsylvania Station. Always greeted with a smile and the same welcome, "jhes, meester...hello, meester...thank jhew meester."

For the last year or so, her daughter has joined her side.  Nothing better than a family business!

Look for them next time you need a paper while you are in NYC!

mj

NJ Bullet Train

As you know, I am a commuter into NYC.

When I tell people I live out in Princeton, they are surprised and always ask, "we'll how long is the train ride?"  My typical response is to explain that I am lucky because "my" train is an express and it only makes one stop - Newark - before pulling into Pennsylvania Station...so, the train ride is only around 55 minutes.

That's about the most I think about the actual train ride, until recently!

Just a couple of days ago, as the conductor was punching tickets, a gentleman realized that he was on the wrong train.  He asked if the train would be stopping at New Brunswick.  The conductor's response was, "no, we'll be passing through New Brunswick at 120 MPH." 

I had to ask if we really clocked at that hight of a speed!  When I asked if he was exaggerating he, very proudly, as if he owned the entire railroad system, responded with a resounding YES!

It makes sense, based on the miles traveled and time elapsed...but I really never thought we were going THAT fast.  120 mph is hauling'!  Especially in a Double Decker NJ Transit model.

So, next time you head into NYC with the kids, make sure to them just how fast the train is going...in fact, tell them they are riding on the NJ Bullet Train!

mj

Welcome to Mayberry!

Yesterday was family day!  And, after Halloween costume shopping and before Pumpkin picking at Terhune Orchards, we managed to head into Pennington for a good 'ol fashion Chili and Guacamole cook-off at the Pennington Fire Department social hall.

We were a little reluctant, but we got the green light from "Irish", my co-blogger in crime, who confirmed that the Chili was flowing, so we set our sites to attend.

I am glad we did!

The scene was great...lots of familiar faces and a country band (with a slide guitar, mandolin and banjo!) to keep the atmosphere vibrant, along with lots of Chili and Guac!

ChiliJilli's, Mr.B's Blazin Chili, To Hot to Handle, Spice GIrls and many others were serving samples in hopes of a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place finish!

We stayed longer than expected while the kids created their own dance floor...

Pennington is a sleepy little town, but yesterday was definitely a Mayberry moment!

mj

Honey Lake - 1967

For all the Elm Ridge Park residents, on both sides of Honey Lake, here is a OLD photo that I tracked down.  The lake was built in 1963...then drained and deepened in 1965...this shot is from 1967.

mj

Oh, Deer!

When I moved into the area 6 years ago, I distinctly remember driving through our neighborhood, slowing down to a crawl, opening the window and pointing out to the kids all the deer..."look kids, aren't they beautiful."  What a load of crap!!

Now, given the opportunity, I would run them over, shoot them, poison them...whatever!  The deer in the Pennington area are out of control.  Not only are the deer an absolute disaster to ANY landscape investment you may make to your home, but they put drivers at risk of a major accident every day!  I have hit TWO deer in as many years...

Can't the Township do something about culling the population?  Can it get any worse? 

If it were up to me I would let a few Lions loose in the area!  We could have them microchipped so we could track and monitor each of them...I don't think residents would be at risk because there would be plenty of deer to feed on...

Okay, maybe that's a little aggressive, but it takes a couple of bad idea to get to the right one!!

mj

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

My youngest daughter turned 7 this past week...it's mind numbing to think this to be true, but I digress!  In any case, we bought her a very scrumptious ice cream cake from Carvel.  Man, this cake was good!  Pretty basic...Chocolate and Vanilla ice cream, some chocolate crunchies and yummy icing on top.  It sparked a ice cream discussion at the table and got me thinking about who and where can you get the best ice cream...

Lot's and lots of choices...

Jan's Ice Cream - Pennington:    traditional hard ice cream in many flavors, locally owned, fantastically overpriced!

Viva Gelato - Pennington:    Gelato is not ice cream, so forget these guys!

Cream King - Pennington:    Soft Ice Cream, locally owned, kinda gross location (loud) and a bit run down, reasonably priced

Rita's - Pennington:    again, not ice cream, but a BIG fan favorite of a lot of people - I like it.

Cold Stone - W.Windsor:    I love this place...not so close, but love the combos...they mix it "fresh on the cold stone - wildy overpriced

Thomas Sweet Ice Cream - Princeton:    Never been!

Boro Bean - Hopewell:    this is a coffee place, now serving ice cream?  Whatever!

Carvel - Pennington:    I grew up eating Carvel - just introduced one of my girls to soft vanilla with chocolate sprinkles - she LOVED it....moderately overpriced...but dam good!

Baskin Robbins - Lawrenceville:    It's been awhile since I've been to one...world class chocolate is the best flavor ever!

Dairy Queen (DQ):    I went to one on vacation...went with a Blizzard...holy mackerel!!

There certainly can not be one clear winner...try 'em all and see for yourself!!  (I'm sure I missed a few!)

mj

Flyers on my car

The economy is tough and it is not easy for small local businesses to market. Recently, I found a black & white flyer for a local restaurant in Pennington, NJ called Barone's Tuscany Grill placed under my windshield wiper when I came out of the food store. Barone's is a middle-tier Italian eatery. 

Here's what the flyer said to me. We're desperate.

I was interested in trying the restaurant but once they used this very low-end marketing technique to reach me I lost all interest. The marketing message must always properly reflect the brand image or it risks alienating existing and potential customers.

O.D.O.o.O.D.B.