Friday Thoughts

Just a few random thoughts and notes heading into the weekend:

For quite a few of you life has or will be returning to normal as your children return to college after a long holiday break. My son heads back to Penn State today for his final semester and while we will miss him dearly we won’t miss him coming home at bizarre hours and deciding to raid the kitchen. Actually the next time he comes home we would hope it’s to gather his belongings in preparation for his first job.

Ironically I was out last night (drinking diet soda) with five of my longtime friends from our days at Ocean County College. Even though it was some thirty years ago our conversations always center on the same things we don’t want our children to do today. Sort of a “do as I say, not as I did” kind of thing.

The Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce will hold a special luncheon next Wednesday (January 16th) at Woodlake Country Club to present Pinnacle Leaderships Awards to OceanFirst Bank Senior Vice-President Nina Anuario and the Toms River Township Police Department, represented by Chief Mike Mastronardy. Both were past recipients of the Chamber’s Distinguished Citizen and Organization of the Year Awards and continue to contribute to the betterment of the community. For ticket information you can call the chamber office at (732) 349-0220.

It’s a bit disappointing that retiring Congressman Jim Saxton is backing Medford Mayor Chris Myers to replace him in Washington because it’s about time for Ocean County to have representation in the 3rd congressional district. Myers will be challenged by Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly in the June 3rd Republican primary and there could be quite a battle between the two.

I’m glad the Giants and Cowboys game is this weekend because I’m really tired of hearing about Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson. Here’s hoping the Giants pull off the upset and we don’t have to hear about the couple again until they announce they are no longer together, which is inevitable. Unfortunately I think Dallas will beat “Big Blue” for the third time this season.