“The way I see it, living in New Jersey is a challenge, what with the toxic waste and the eighteen wheelers and the armed schizophrenics."Connie Rosolli”

“I’m from New Jersey. I was born in toxic sludge.”

“Wait." Clary was suddenly nervous. "The melted metal-it could be, like, toxic or something."Maia snorted. "I'm from New Jersey. I born in toxic sludge.”

“From the look on your face, I'd say you know him."I nodded. "Sold him a cannoli when I was in high school."Connie grunted. "Honey, half of all the women in New Jersey have sold him their cannoli”

“I think you'll make a great Congressman, Sam Porter. The people of New York couldn't ask for anything better.New Jersey."What do you mean, New Jersey?"I live in Jersey. That's my home state."But what about people of New York? Don't we deserve honest representatives, too?" It was one thing when he was going to be her Congressman, but he was going to be someone else's Congressman, not hers?New York has good representatives."But not as good as you, Sam. We deserve the best."Move to Jersey.”

“But family life sometimes had a vortex, like weather. It could be like a tornado in a quiet zigzag: get close enough and you might see within it a spinning eighteen-wheeler and a woman.”