it's easy to dislike new jersey.  pop culture practically begs you to.  and i can only speak from the perspective of someone who learned to drive in a different state, but i would argue that most people who have braved new jersey roads would agree with me.  

i've noticed that just mentioning this new home of mine has served as my excuse for all the things that go wrong lately.  late for work? new jersey transit.  killed my plants? it was the dirty jersey air.  forgot my umbrella? fucking new jersey.

as much as i relish my self-appropriated cynicism toward pretty much everything, i do, deep down, prefer to see the beauty in things.  and so, the one thing i was grateful to learn today:  if you squint, just right, while walking down the tree-lined hudson in the morning sunlight, it feels a bit like paris, walking along the seine after a morning cafe au lait.  romantic, manicured just so, an easy path leading you wherever you choose to go.