The Simpsons have become an American Institution.  They’ve been on TV longer than an entire generation of school students have been alive (think about that for a minute!)  Phrases like “D’oh” have seeped into general conversation.  And we all know the famous hometown of the Simpsons, Springfield.

But for a time, you had a chance to live like the Simpsons.

In fact, you had a chance to live in a perfect replication of their house.  Pepsi teamed up with The Simpsons and KB Homes to create a contest back in 1998 to win The Simpsons home.  This wasn’t just a house that looked like the Simpsons home.  It was a house that was constructed right down to the smallest details, including crooked pictures.

Usually at Neat Features we look at some aspect of a house – something you can even add to your own home.  But this time I want to just marvel at creativity, innovation, or marketing genius.  Who knows.

All I can say though, is I am amazed by the detail in this house.  Although as much as I’ve liked the Simpsons over the years, I’m not sure I’d want to actually live like the Simpsons. 

(images from the great Simpsons site: The Simpsons Folder)

I’ve talked about this home before, in “Living in a Fairy Tale”, but I find myself coming back to it.  Perhaps it’s because it’s been incredibly hot outside and I like the nice cool, shade look of the guest house.  Or maybe it’s because I’ve been in a terrible creative slump and find the idea of working in a secluded wooded area inspiring and restful.  But whatever the reason, I find myself drawn to this guest house.

If you’ve been reading Neat Features for any length of time, you know that besides DIY projects I love office spaces.  My secret desire (which isn’t very secret because I keep writing about it) is to own a house with a separate guest home to work.  I would have the best of both worlds – the ability to write from home, but also the psychological separation of work and home.

Plus, seriously, how can you look at that guest house and not want to write the next Great American Novel? 

If you were living here, what would you use this guest house for?

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I’m a reasonably educated guy.  I have multiple degrees in psychology.  I’ve had a successful career.  I don’t believe in magic or fairies.  I don’t think there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  All of this holds true until I am confronted by one thing: the magic eraser.

I have no idea how this thing works.  Maybe it’s some kind of scientific process involving black holes and space time continuums.  Maybe Merlin made the first one for King Arthur.  Who knows!

Why am I talking about the Magic Eraser on Neat Features?  Because I’ve been in the midst of a month long move and this week has been dedicated to cleaning my old apartment (isn’t it ironic that when you leave an apartment it’s probably cleaner than when you lived in it?)

A lot of the cleaning involved the normal wear and tear on doors, floors and walls.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to clean all of that.  Especially when I realized my cleaning supplies consisted of my toothbrush, a bottle of soap scum remover and a few paper towels.  And I planned on using my toothbrush later. 

That’s when I saw I had bought a box of magic erasers years ago and never used them.  I reached into the box with a shrug, thinking, “what can it hurt?”  Within seconds no matter what the dirt or grime it was gone!  It even worked on the old stove burners that I had long ago given up on cleaning.  I mean if I had only known, I wouldn’t have spent hours soaking them in chemicals, water, and soap!

I am not easily impressed.  Especially when it comes to cleaning products.  But I am blown away by how well magic erasers work.

I don’t know how you do it Mr. Magic Eraser, but in my book you are a true Neat Feature!