Thursday, February 25, 2010

Andrew Koenig

I know, I know...I hate jumping on the band-wagon of posting about celebrities that have passed away, but I do feel as though I have a right to do so when it comes to Andrew Koenig.

Granted, I didn't know him, so it's still pretty creepy {and ridiculous}, but I have loved Andrew Koenig since he was on Growing Pains as Richard "Boner" Stabone.

I can recite the entire link in the nickname chain that Mike Seaver goes through before deeming him "Boner"...and I cry everytime I watch the episode where he goes away to the army. {The screen flashes "Goodbye Boner, We'll Miss You"...tears, everytime.} When Hillary {a girl in my old small group} talked to Kirk Cameron on the phone, I asked her to ask him if Boner left the show on bad terms or if he just wanted to move on...I was always very curious about that.

In college, I made a shirt that said "I Love Andrew Koenig" and most people just thought it was my boyfriend's name {It became awkward and annoying to explain--especially having to say "He played Boner on Growing Pains" to complete strangers...so I stopped wearing it}.

But I've always held-out hope that I would see Andrew Koenig as a minor character on some new TV show...or even in a cell phone commercial like the actor who played Eric in "The Boy Who Could Fly"

According to a few webpages I've read today, this will never be possible.
So, goodbye, Boner. We'll miss you.

Monday, February 22, 2010

A Blanket Statement

I'm sitting on my couch, watching this video of my friends giving blankets to the street boys of Kitale, Kenya. I watched this video when it was posted in July, but watching it again today, I'm tearing-up {again}.


I really love moments like this...not specifically giving blankets to street children {though, it does rank pretty high on my list}, but moments when so little is given, but it means so much.

I think I struggle living in Orange County because my "little" doesn't often feel like it means very much. Not just mine, specifically...but when those little gifts are mixed-in with the rest of our fast-paced, buy-what-we-want, never-a-moment-of-silence lives, we miss them. I miss them. I miss when they are given to me...and I certainly miss being able to give them out.

I know that "the greatest poverty is loneliness"...and I know that loneliness captures the life of a wealthy Newport teenager whose parents are filling their hearts with possessions instead of affection just as much as it does for these homeless, blanket-less Kenyans.

Sometimes I need to watch the tangible life-change of a now warm child on a cold night because I don't always get to see the emotional life-change of a child who was dying to be heard and cared for.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Things Your Mother Should Have Taught You: Lesson 3

You need to replace your toothbrush at least every three months...
OR
when the bristles become bent or broken
OR
after you have been sick

Also:
You should clean your toothbrush frequently...

You might choose to:
soak it in Listerine for 30 seconds
OR
soak it in boiling water for a minute or two
OR
put it on the top rack of the dishwasher {which actually makes me gag to think about...I would never use that toothbrush again...but, if you feel comfortable putting your toothbrush in with pieces of old food and then putting it back in your mouth, be my guest.}

Things Your Mother Should Have Taught You: Lesson 2

When you cook a meal, wipe-up any spills, spatters or spots right away.

It is significantly easier to clean fresh spills than day-old {or, heaven forbid, week-old} stains.

And, it's simple common courtesy.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Things Your Mother Should Have Taught You: Lesson 1

I love to clean...call me crazy.

I love to come home from work and wash dishes, do a load of laundry, maybe even wipe down the stove-top...I visit the Maguire's every-other day and while I'm there I empty and re-load the dishwasher {for fun}.

I am borderline obsessive-compulsive...I know.

In case you don't feel the same about cleaning, I thought I would start a series of posts titled Things Your Mother Should Have Taught You.

Here's lesson 1:
Empty the lint trap in your dryer after every load. {If you are not a fan of linty hands, grab the lint with the used dryer sheet from the completed load.} This actually helps with the efficiency of your dryer. {The cleaner the lint trap, the less it has to work at making heat to drying your clothes. Incidentally, the less it has to work, the less energy you use...and the "greener" your laundry pursuits become!}

Little did you know that you were helping the Earth with each wash of your trousers...

This may seem simple to some people...but believe me, there are more than a few who did not know this.

More to come.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Hoping For a Nice Night Sleep In A Drainpipe

I was looking at the links that have brought people to my blog...and I noticed one was GoGlamping.net.
I clicked on the link to check it out and found my name at the top of their Blogs list.
Evidently it is a list of blogs that have mentioned this Glamping website, in hopes of convincing other campsites to advertise through their site.

What are the odds this might get me closer to a stay in these Austrian drainpipes?
Seriously...I would love to stay there.
Someday.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

I Hear Music...Over My Rainbow

I shopped around on iTunes a bit last night...
purchased a few albums that were recommended by friends.

Vampire Weekend

Phoenix
Then, I thought I'd check out the Brothers At Sea album
"This is A Redemption Melody"

It's really good.

You can download it for FREE here.
I also purchased a few from The Scripts
And one the new John Mayer album...

Needless to say, I had great {ac}company on the drives today.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Wake Up in the Morning Feelin Like P. Diddy

I've been singing "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha all day...not the entire thing, just the same eight lines over and over {and over and over}.

I really enjoy this version {Landon, Emily and Bo} maybe even more than the original.



I've watched it a few times already...it reminds me of the Alanis Morissette version of "My Humps"...which I definitely sang for days after hearing it.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Party of Four

I spent the evening with my friends Chris and Matt...my goodness I like them.
We talked about Kenya for most of the night, which I loved {but poor Emily did not}.

Another great part of the night: I crossed something off of my 30 Things to Do Before I'm 30 List.

I made our entire dinner from scratch...

Manicotti {thanks Mama for the recipe} and apple pie {thanks Google Search Results for the recipe}.

I had a brief oven-mishap, but sorted it out and everything was delicious.

I think I could try this cooking-thing more often.