New Jersey … the Garden State … the place I call “home.” Unfortunately, many out-of-towners (maybe a large portion of this blog’s readership) are slightly misguided about my stomping grounds thanks to the media. Over the past few years, entertainment channels like E!, Bravo and MTV have peppered the airwaves with reality television programs that paint an unflattering picture of N.J. residents. (Think “Jerseylicious,” “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” and the now-defunct “Jersey Shore.”) Case in point: On a recent trip to Arizona, I grabbed some dinner at a local burger joint. I can’t remember the specifics, but during a brief conversation with the cashier, my residency was revealed. His response: “Are you like those Jersey Shore people?” Although my first instinct was to yell back: “Do I look like a cast member? Do you see the radioactive-looking tan and hair that reaches the sky?” Instead, I politely smiled and said, “No.”