Born in the USA: or what exit you from?

Yeah, that second part is vintage SNL. That's what it's like here in north Jersey. The towns seem to fall into two categories -- really old ones that look like something outta central New York only less shabby, and really nondescript ones that look like my home town. The villagy ones have small down town areas where the streets might as well be paved with dollar bills. It's interesting.

I went to a party yesterday. Nice, fun Jersey folks full of Jersey pride, a concept that must've taken hold while I was living in the West. When I left NJ it was still a place you were supposed to be ashamed of, an exit. But now I get a sense that people don't mind being from NJ and it's kinda cool. I guess if you're willing to pay the taxes and drive alongside your fellow New Jerseyians you're entitled to some pride.

The poet James Hoch is from New Jersey and he says that he thinks being from here gives one a sense of entitlement. Maybe it's because he's ten years younger than me; maybe he's from another part of NJ, the one with Princeton. All I know is that to me NJ is still an underdog. After moving from here to Ptown and then to central New York, I think maybe it's my destiny to live in underdog towns. You know, places that people aren't exactly ashamed to be from, but that have some problems. And for all of its splendor, Clinton NY is still in the rust belt.

My friend Pri works in an upscale salon in Tenafly, NJ. She told me that with the economy going south rich people are spending less on trips and house remodels and more on, well, hair I guess. Interesting.

It's funny, I think. Sometimes humans have to defy adversity in such human ways -- spending where and when we can. And I'm doing it too in my own small way. Today I'm going to look for a new cd player, and I won't know where to start because I'll have about forty thousand places to shop. I'm not used to that, so I'm sure I'll wind up going to Target a) because I can find it and not get lost in a maze of Jersey towns that all look alike (see above), and b) because it's next to the B&W bakery, where the best crumb cake in the world is made.

What are you doing to keep the economy going? I almost convinced myself to buy a Ford Focus to replace blue boy, who, I think, really wants to be retired soon. If not retired, at least he wants new struts and shocks and I don't think I'm into that kind of commitment.

Anybody have any car advice for me? So far I've looked at Kias and Hyundais and now my brother-in-law is tempting me with Nissans. Whatever the car it must:
get the best gas mileage possible
not be a complete death trap
not be a cliche (no college teacher Volvo, no Saab, no Outback thank you)

Having thought about the Kia Rio a little further, I think there might be a reason for all those airbags.

Wherever you are, I hope you're having the best holiday ever. Let's get some car advice coming, kay?