The things about Jersey you *do" like (Edison, Passaic: public schools, living)

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

It's all relative. I've lived most of my life in northwest Bergen County. It's south of me. Monmouth is north enough to have a heavy NYC commuter base.

I was talking to a guy in the AC area once who told me he'd been to north Jersey once...when I asked where, he said "Forked River".

Margate and Longport are both beautiful.

It is all relative. I've mentioned this before: I once worked with someone who lived in Franklinville, which is in Salem County. This was his view of New Jersey:

[tommyc_37]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

I found out I had to leave Jersey to really appreciate it -
Real bagels, pizza and delis
Real neighborhoods - not many HOAs
Real people - funny characters, people in NJ REALLY are friendlier - easy to approach
Close to beach, mountains, AND city
Taylor ham and cheese, those giant hotdogs with potatos in a pocket
The Pinebarrens
Big hair, loud clothes and bling - much more fun than the boring rest of the country

I often hear of the "big hair" on NJ women ... where does one see this? I haven't seen any women with big hair since the 80's/early 90's...and even then, I don't think this was unique to NJ women. Am I missing something re: big hair? LOL.

[BergenCountyJohnny]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

Explain exactly what route you take to get to New York City from Monmouth County in 15 miles.

I do it all the time, from my brother's in Hazlet to my friend's house in Staten Island. Door-to-door it's about 20 miles because my friend lives in the northern part of Staten Island.

But if you GoogleMap Cliffwood Beach (Monmouth County) to Tottenville (Staten Island, NY City) it's 11-12 miles.

Marlboro, deep in Monmouth County, to Times Square in Manhattan, is only about 45 miles. Monmouth County is in the NYC metro area. It is North Jersey, as is what we call "Central Jersey".

[tommyc_37]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

Explain exactly what route you take to get to New York City from Monmouth County in 15 miles.

NYC is more than just Manhattan. Staten Island is a part of NYC too That's a hint...

[BergenCountyJohnny]

Originally Posted by tommyc_37

I often hear of the "big hair" on NJ women ... where does one see this? I haven't seen any women with big hair since the 80's/early 90's...and even then, I don't think this was unique to NJ women. Am I missing something re: big hair? LOL.

You're right, I always hear this still, too. And you're right that it is from the 80's. Nowadays the look in NJ is the current style, straight/straightened hair, which is not big or teased at all.

The other part of the nation known for "big hair" for women was Texas and the south - it was a different kind of big hair but still just as big or bigger than NJ 'big hair'.

Ultimately, I think people just harp on the big hair thing because they just want to mock NJ and can't think of anything else.

[diva360]

Not much big hair in Texas any more either. There are some women, usually middle-aged, who still have big hair, but that is because they haven't changed their hairstyle in thirty years. I saw one such woman in the Home Depot in Vauxhall/Union the other day.

[BergenCountyJohnny]

Originally Posted by diva360

Not much big hair in Texas any more either. There are some women, usually middle-aged, who still have big hair, but that is because they haven't changed their hairstyle in thirty years. I saw one such woman in the Home Depot in Vauxhall/Union the other day.

Most of the women at the Baptist mega-church I attended in a Dallas suburb had the Texas style big hair. I think it's much more common in Texas than in NJ that they haven't changed their hairstyles since the 80's. I even saw lots of middle-aged women down there with those horrible 80's-style perms. Not to mention mullets on men still exist down there...or, "down thar", lol.

[diva360]

BCJ, the operative phrase in your post is "in a Dallas suburb." I never hung around much there--pretty much talking about Austin and San Antonio and environs. You're right about the mullets. I think there's a subset of people who just go with (and go with and go with) whatever look was working for them when they were seniors in high school. It's kind of like they're in this weird time warp, and the rest of us just move on.

[BergenCountyJohnny]

Originally Posted by diva360

BCJ, the operative phrase in your post is "in a Dallas suburb." I never hung around much there--pretty much talking about Austin and San Antonio and environs. You're right about the mullets. I think there's a subset of people who just go with (and go with and go with) whatever look was working for them when they were seniors in high school. It's kind of like they're in this weird time warp, and the rest of us just move on.

Yeah, it's not so much Austin or San Antonio, although I did see my fair share of the big hair in the Austin - Round Rock area, as well. Austin is very different from most of Texas, but the scenario I described in the Dallas suburb was replayed many times in the Killeen, Waco, and Houston areas as well.

I think it's typical of the South in general.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by tommyc_37

NYC is more than just Manhattan. Staten Island is a part of NYC too That's a hint...

Ahem, I'm not an idiot. I've been commuting to Manhattan for 30 years (from Bergen/Passaic Counties) and I probably know more NYC history and geography than 99% of the people on here. But I still dispute the 15 miles, so there. Besides, nobody will ever get excited when you tell them they can be on the other side of the OBX in 15 minutes unless they're in a getaway car.

I am moving to Monmouth County next week. I like it there.