It's October!

Here in the Garden State (it's not all about counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike), there are certain signs that it is autumn, that we have turned the corner from summer, that winter is on the horizon. Just a few days ago, temperatures were in the low 80s. This morning it dipped to the mid 30s. Air conditioning or heat in the house? Polartec sweaters?

Wherever you drive, a pumpkin stand is not too far away. While the number of farms has shrunk, the ones that remain generally are a short drive away. This past Saturday, while the skies were a mixture of sun and clouds, the color orange was everywhere to be seen.

Stores that have been stocking Halloween merchandise since the summer are starting to discount and advertise at a faster pace - but if you wait 3 1/2 weeks, prices will probably be 50-75% off. The sun is noticeably lower in the sky, especial;y during morning and afternoon rush hours. The glare can be overpowering at times. Mix in frost on the really chilly mornings, and it's a good idea to defrost your windshield. 


Other signs that it is October? The Yankees are in the playoffs again. Of course, they are a New York team, but just try to drive across the George Washington Bridge on game days. But wait - Rutgers is now undefeated in college football and ranked in the top 20 in several polls! 


As a native New Yorker, but now a long-time resident of New Jersey, I have an affinity for both states. New Jersey is nice enough to share its two professional football teams with New York. (See map below - that's the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) in the lower right side.) Some of the most spectacular views of the New York skyline are from the New Jersey side - anywhere along the Hudson River or the Palisades, or from Eagle Rock Reservation a few miles away in West Orange, the views are particularly amazing! And let's not forget that the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are closer to New Jersey than to New York.

Unless we get another crazy snowstorm like last October, this is a terrific time of year to be in the northeastern United States. So whether you were Born to rRun to New Jersey, or are more in a New York State of Mind, or both, enjoy the changing seasons and the changing scenery!

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