Sunday, September 30, 2007

NKOTB




That's right, I am blogging about the New Kids on the Block. It has been well over a decade since I heard their music and yet, I still know the words. I mean, any girl that was born around the 1980's knows "Hanging Tough," "I'll be Loving you Forever," and my personal favorite "Please Don't go Girl." And yes, I know they have terribly corny lyrics and somewhat nasaly voices... but I loved them when I was a kid. No, adored them. We had all of their cassettes, we bought the Teeny Bopper magazines just to cut out their pictures. And we all had a favorite we were certain would fall madly in love with us if only we'd meet...

I know it's sad.

New Kids on the Block (later NKOTB) was a
boy band that enjoyed enormous success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Assembled in Boston in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr, the members consisted of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood. The group went on to sell over 70 million albums worldwide, generated hundreds of millions of dollars in concert revenues, and paved the way for acts like Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC.

KNOTB were at the top of their game and lasted in the music industry for several years. They were not a one hit wonder group. Then all of a sudden they were gone, unpopular. If you listened to their music all of a sudden you were a "nerd" or "geek." The industry blaims this on a shift to grunge and gangsta rap becoming more popular, but that claim leaves me suspicious.

I have always wondered what happened to truly cause their downfall. I heard rumors of homosexuality but am unsure of truth of that claim. It does make you wonder how a boy band could inspire cartoons, sheet sets, dolls, and millions of adoring fan and then be gone as quickly as they came.

Guess that's just the business.


Watch "Step by Step" here:

Friday, September 28, 2007

New Hair Color




I have recently changed my hair color... again! What can I say? I like change. My mom wanted to see it so here you go Momma!!


Monday, September 24, 2007

Family


Jessica and Janessa



My beautiful sister Georgia



Dad, Mom, Brent, and I



Brent's parents Butch and Sue

Sheri, Ashley, and Matt



Cutie Ashley


Now that I am engaged to Brent, I am finally looking at his family as my own. All of them have embraced me. The last time I held Ashley her mother Sheri handed her to me saying, "Go see Auntie Lydia." I loved it. I am grateful to have a family close by when mine are so far away. With Georgia in South Korea and mom and dad 20 hours away in Virginia, it brings me great comfort to know I won't be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas alone ever again.

I remember the holidays of 2005 I worked a ton of voluntary overtime because I was depressed to be away from my parents. It was the first time in my life to not have big breakfasts, coffee, and laughs with my folks as they opened their presents from me... there is always a silly one tossed in there! Then came last year, I spent both holidays with the Johnsons since I couldn't make it home.

And yes, "home" will always be Virginia or wherever my parents are. I miss them dearly. Many times I wish I were with them but I know my life is here in Minnesota now. Brent will never relocate and I am fine with that. I love being in the thick of it all. Being in a suberb of a big city has many perks.

There are Farmer's Markets, State Fairs, IKEA, three grocery stores within 5 minutes of the apartment, pizza delivery, and simple things like a McDonalds close enough that your take out is still hot when you get home. And let's not forget the famous Mall of America. In Virginia, everything had to be planned. There was no, "Let's go rent a movie" because it was going to take over an hour to get it. Living in the city definitely has it's perks.

Am I saying that I hated country living? Absolutely not. I loved sitting on the front porch and hearing the river gently flowing across the street. I loved helping my parents mow the lawn and the simple evenings we spent watching TV and talking. I miss the shared looks over hot tea with my mother and the walks around the property looking at various plants with my dad. I miss the mountains.

But let me tell you this, I have never been happier in my life. I am certain as long as Brent is a part of it I will remain happy. The man completes me and if this is his home then it is mine as well. I have two homes and two families. And I feel blessed.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Nature Calls

On a night like this I love to listen
to all of nature's callings;
the wind beating against the trees
and forcing leaves to the ground___
the whistling sound the wind makes
cascading through the meadows
or even the crisp chilly breeze
flowing against my body
as I walk into the river
my toes are cold, but I don't feel the numbness
my hair is wet, but I don't want to notice
I need to feel the night
I need to stand alone
on the river bed
feeling the cool water wrap around by body
like a towel
making me feel all chilly inside
the way it should be
the fish start to nibble at my toes
I laugh out loud
thinking how crazy I am
but when I try exiting the river
I realize I can't
the water has taken hold of me
forever


I wrote the above poem in 1996 when I was still attending Middle School. My mom has always feared that I would drown because I had a few close calls in my childhood. I am sure this poem did not bring her comfort. My thoughts always leaned toward boys and darker issues such as death and rage. I have never understood that phase of my life. On the outside, I was bubbly and bright. On the inside, I wrote of despair. Good thing I grew out of that!

Monday, September 17, 2007

Cool Puter...



I bought myself a new Gateway Laptop. That's right boys and girls, my very own laptop. Now Brent and I can both be in the office on our respective computers. I have been wanting to write but since Brent is frequently using his computer and let's face it - I can't just WRITE BY HAND - I got myself a laptop. It solves my problem of wanting computer time on Brent's computer. And he's got our machines "networked" to the same wireless Internet and our printer. It's hot. I guarantee I will be blogging more and may start down the essay path of my college years once again. I want to publish something before I die. (Good thing I am only 26 and should expect a long life!)

Saturday, September 08, 2007

My Dad referenced Super Mario Brothers!




So my dad recently had a cataract removed from his right eye. He was completely alert through the procedure and said the cataract looked like a Super Mario Brothers fish that tries to eat you! My dad probably hasn't seen one of those fish in a decade but it was hilarious to me that he used that to describe the mass that was removed from his eye. He also said that the last moment that it clung to his eye he saw the spectrum of a rainbow...

I wonder now if drugs were involved in this procedure... LOL.

In the Air Tonight




I remember sitting in front of my mother with my mouth hanging open as she said, "I can take music or leave it." I had just remarked how the song I was currently obsessed with moved me, and she responded with that! Music has always been a huge part of my life and where I find pleasure so hearing made me feel like I had nothing in common with my mother. (Also remember that we often feel like way in our teenage years!)


My next memory in this story is driving down country roads while listening to a Phil Collins hits album. "In the Air Tonight" started playing and my mom was instantly a little more quiet and attentive to the music. As the drums blared out the crescendo her hands beat the steering wheel along with the rhythm. She then replayed the song.

I knew in that moment that she could not simply take music, or leave it. And I will always be grateful to Phil Collins for proving her wrong.

Click here for the music video: