That just about sums up my afternoon. Went for a walk along the harbour after work (desperately needed to wind down after boss' worsening mood) and got to see a lot of things. Among them, a huge French vessel filled with silly-looking sailors (well, their hats looked really silly, anyway), and the royal vessel Norge. The latter just lay there in the shadows and we didn't actually know that it was Norge until we spotted its name.

We then went up to the Fortress and had a look at the view of Oslo Harbour (which was great today; lots of sunbeams reflecting off the water) from next to the cannons. As we went past the City Hall we spotted a few vans from the production company of that soap opera I was talking about last week, so we sat down (as you do) and watched the filming. The scene must have been the shortest in soap history (and that says a lot! Although most soap opera scenes of course end with a prolonged zoom-in on one of the actors) - but it took them quite some time to get it right. We were basically sitting there just to have a look at how they were going about shooting a film, all the while cracking jokes about the two actors (let's just say we're not fans of the series and leave it at that), laughing our heads off.

So they were the celebs of the day, and my theory still stands - it's not possible to take a walk in downtown Oslo without bumping into a celebrity.

Current track: Sivert Høyem - Song for Cornelis

Labels: personal, TV

1. I'm too nice.
2. When I don't feel so nice, I try to seem nice.
3. If I can't bother to make an effort to seem nice, I generally can't be bothered to do much else either.

When I see a show I seldom hate it outright. There's always something I like about it and I would rather emphasise that than criticise everything that was so bad that a toddler could have done it better. Also, if one of the actors has outdone the rest of the cast by a mile, I still feel that I should talk about how good the others were as well, because I sort of feel sorry for them. "They couldn't help it if the play was written that way / If their parts had gotten more time on stage from the play's directions / etc."

Then again, I don't really want to become a professional critic. I'd rather be the one receiving the criticism. :-)

Current track: Nada.

Labels: personal, theatre

Lords of the Realm III wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. But then again I may not have spent enough time fiddling with it yet. It was just so...dull. Don't know if I'll go back.

However, the real reason for this small update is that Sid Meier's Pirates! is coming back to the world of games, and this time in fully-fledged 3D! Woo-hoo! Read GameSpy's preview here and start polishing that wooden leg of yours, because we'll be sailing in a few months time! Well...by the end of the year, anyway.

Current track: Nothing.

Labels: gaming

I agree with this film critic in that Geoffrey Rush seems to be doing his well-known Javert routine when appearing in Ned Kelly. But what a wonderful reprise, especially since Rush's Javert is so...uhmm...brilliant.

This is just typical Hollywood: At last, the region 1 release of Brides of Christ is here, but look at the front cover of that one - it says "Brenda Fricker, Naomi Watts and Russell Crowe". You twats! Russell "I'm so aware of my incredible sexiness that I sometimes make people gag" Crowe is only appearing in one of the six episodes! The protagonists are played by Josephine Byrnes, Lisa Hensley, Sandy Gore, Brenda Fricker, Naomi Watts, Kym Wilson and Pat Bishop. And no, Mr. Crowe is not dressed as a ship's commander at any point during that episode, nor is he dressed as a gladiator. I know they're doing this to sell more copies, I'm not stupid, it's just very, very annoying that they do that at all. It's like the rest of us, who know a few more actors by name than just the top-billed Hollywood ones, don't count. Well, get this: You wouldn't have sold half the copies you're selling without any really good actors and their devoted fans. We may appear to be just a few, but there's a whole army of us out there and we've got money.

/rant

Yay! Speaking of supporting actors that could very well be given a chance at the helm of a film at any time soon, please, Chris Cooper is being honoured at the San Francisco Film Festival next month, alongside Milos Forman. The only question is; did this come as a result of Cooper's recent awards, or did they actually manage to conjure up this great idea by themselves?

Snippet from The Australian - "In fact, so cramped are the facilities at the theatre in inner-city Belvoir Street that David Wenham and Richard Roxburgh have been forced to use toothbrushes to rehearse a sword fight from Hamlet" - about the Australian Company B theatre.

Current track: Nothing

Labels: film, geoffrey rush, Javert, theatre, TV

I know this is going to sound VERY strange coming from me, but damn, it seems like I'll have to go to London again this year after all. I wasn't going to, I was going to save up for my much-needed travel plans for next year, but now it has been confirmed that Philip Quast will be performing in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the National starting in late June. In Hugh Grant's words: Bugger, bugger, bugger! I know I will hate myself for missing such a rare chance to see him live, but this thing costs money, damnit! And I wasn't going to have a holiday for a while longer, either. It shall have to be a short trip, just the minimum stay - two nights, two performances, stock up on Polo mints and then fly back home. Perhaps I'll bring a pen this time, for the fuller stage door experience. ;-)

Well, I've been putting off doing the dishes for much too long now. See ya!

Hmm... Philip Quast in a toga...

Current track: ABBA - I do, I do, I do, I do, I do

Labels: musicals, philip quast, theatre

One very nice thing about living in the far north is that your house is free of bugs for six months a year. Well, unless you're a really filthy person, but then you're probably so used to it anyway that you don't notice. And of course if you've got a basement you've also got those arachnoid buggers that just haven't heard of that wonderful little word, "hiatus". But apart from those, there's not a fly, not a bee, not a single wasp in sight for six whole months! Yay! It's like being in heaven for a person like me, who goes "eww" at every encounter with an insect or spider. I've got a problem with a quite clingy bumblebee. It's been here two years in a row and will probably be back this summer. It just hates it when I'm sitting on my balcony, minding my own business, reading a book and bathing my legs in the sun whilst enjoying a cool popsicle. So it keeps buzzing around for hours, really annoying me. Sometimes it hides in the curtains so that when I've gone inside for the night, and I'm sitting in my chair, eating and watching the news, it suddenly comes out of there and decides to taste my food. Scares the crap out of me every time. I've also discovered that wasps just hate the colour yellow. I've completely given up wearing my only yellow tee-shirt during summer. It takes about one minute from I step out the door till there's a wasp buzzing around me when I'm wearing that thing. And I really, really hate wasps. When I was little I hated flies. I was really afraid of them. I refused to go into my room if there was a fly on my window-sill. Especially a live one. ;-) When I grew up I was told that the wasps wouldn't hurt you if you just kept still. I didn't listen to them at first, but one day I decided to take their advice. Some time later I was sitting quietly, watching a wasp sitting on my leg, doing its usual waspy thing, and suddenly it stung me and flew away. It happened so fast and unexpectedly that my immediate reaction was to kick my leg up in the air and wave it about a bit while half-shouting a very firm "Ouch!", but this caused my slipper to shoot off my foot and land behind the telly, taking a flower-pot with it. My foot hurt really bad and I was going to the fun-fair with some friends later that evening; that was a very painful walk, I can tell you! Since then I've been really scared of wasps. Could someone please tell me a reason for their existence? I mean, bees help pollinating the flowers and making honey, but what do wasps do? Any use at all, that can redeem their vicious actions against mammals? I know, I know, there's not much use for humans either, we're probably the most useless species of them all, but put that aside for a moment and help me find a way to excuse these buzzing critters, because I really want to "think happy thoughts" when I see them.

The flower-pot didn't break, by the way. And I had a couple of donuts on my way home from the fun-fair so that made me forget the pain for a bit.

Current track: Trying to find one, actually.

Labels: animals, personal, science

Aah. So, what do you want to read? Talk about reading; I was supposed to be reading some books this week, but most of the week is gone and all I've done is coughing and shivering and sitting by this blasted machine. I'm in need of some serious slapping-about. I should have been writing something. I even bought a notepad and a pen the other night as I was waiting for the Tube, but it's for outdoor use only, so I haven't used it yet. Haven't even bothered to go downstairs and check the post today. Bob only knows what I've been doing. Watching some Black Books and My Family episodes, I guess. Oh, and a documentary on the National Geographic Channel. And, embarrassingly enough, this whole week I've been listening to the most popular soap opera in this country. Well, the only one, actually. :-) Listening, because I couldn't care less about the plot. I heard that one of the guys from La Cage is an irregular on the show, and he has popped up this week, so I sort of got stuck with watching a few episodes. When I first saw him on stage I thought "hmm, a young Alan Rickman," so naturally I liked him instantly. *grins* And about Mr. Rickman - I finally saw one of the trailers for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban today and it started out very well with Professor Snape striding into the classroom; always a winner, that one. The film looks as if it'll be a winner, too. I'm really looking forward to it, and the premiére has apparently been pushed forward to June 11 here (June 4 in the UK, previews during the last part of May), so this summer will be spent in the air-conditioned cinemas across town. Wa-hey the lads! (Ever watch Bottom?) Oh, and then the fourth episode of Seks som oss aired just an hour ago; it just keeps getting better. I read in the paper today that they're planning on filming another season. "Some" of the actors have agreed and will return. Betcha Dennis Storhøi isn't one of them. Bet his character does something in the last episode that will prevent him from ever returning to the show. Bastards. *always the optimist* I also meant to buy tickets for La Cage again this week, but I sort of haven't done that yet. What have I been doing, anyway? I told everyone this was what would happen when I had a week off with no plans. Oh well, at least I've been able to relax for a bit. Before going back to a job I really, really dislike at the moment. This wasn't what I was supposed to do, I keep telling myself, but to no avail. I wish I had that sign Dustin Hoffman and Bill Murray have got in Tootsie: That huge sign with lightbulbs all around its edge, that says "WORK". That's what I need. Now, where would I put it?

I guess I should just retreat immediately and go watch Signs. Which is rather crap, by the way, but there's this one scene I'd like to see again and I'm willing to give the film a second chance.

Current track: ABBA - The Name of the Game

Labels: Alan Rickman, comedy, dennis storhøi, film, illness, literature, personal, tube, TV, writing

At least it was tonight. Wow! They played music from several films, among them were 2001: A Space Odyssey (listening to Atmospheres by György Ligeti was very special, while seeing how they make all the different sounds in that rather experimental piece of music), Apocalypse Now!, Schindler's List (I cried) and Ran (directed by Kurosawa). Let's just say that when an 80-piece philharmonic orchestra starts off a concert with Luke Skywalker's theme from Star Wars you must hate music really bad if you don't get a bit mellow. I got goosebumps and tears in my eyes on three different occasions. And the host for the evening, everyone's heartthrob Kåre Conradi, was fun to listen to and when he forgot his lines and messed up his cards and asked us to "talk among ourselves", he got a huge laugh and became an even bigger heartthrob to all of us. ;-) The conductor was Susanna Mälkki; I am the first to admit I don't know much about who's who among the orchestras of the world, but according to the websites I've visited recently she's pretty good. I was amazed no matter what. AND I didn't cough more than a couple of times, between songs! Yay me! Mind you, I was eating pills to help my sore throat like they were the only ones left in the world and my life depended on it, so that could have something to do with it.

Current track: Kosheen - All in My Head

Labels: concert, illness, music

I feel as if there are a few things I should mention about my previous post, regarding that list of comedy favourites. These are just comedy shows. I have other favourites as well, like stand-ups and presenters. And I haven't even mentioned any of my Norwegian and Swedish favourites. In order to give you an even fuller picture; I'm afraid there can be only one King of Stand-up, and that is Eddie Izzard! He is definitely one of the reasons for my vastly prolonged life (I'm sure) and I wish he'd stop by Oslo but I know he won't because he'd rather go somewhere nice and warm and we're not a member of the European Union so he probably thinks we're a bunch of twats. Then I have to mention three other favourites of mine - Paul O'Grady, Graham Norton and Julian Clary - and please no sniggering and drawing of conclusions here; they're too bloody funny for their own good and I may have to slap them silly if I ever meet them. Also, look out for the two stand-ups Greg Proops and Jimmy "No, I think you're fattest" Carr. Happy belly-laughing! I'm off to Barbados play Lords of the Realm III. So there.

Current track: Nothing.

Labels: comedy, gaming, julian clary

Sometimes it feels as if I'm the only one out there who's a fan of certain people. Like Simon Shepherd. Hands up those who like him. No, hands up those who've heard of him, apparently. And what about David Bamber? No? Ever seen Privates on Parade? Chalk? Buddha of Suburbia? No bells ringing? How about Pride and Prejudice, then? Or Daniel Deronda? Is there anyone out there who's a fan of Terence Stamp, then? Any non-French who's heard of Daniel Auteuil? Have I been watching too much telly??? :-)

I've spent many hours making my comedy favourite lists today. It's quite amazing that, although I must have seen about 50/50 of American and British shows, I've got three times as many British favourites as American ones. AND that includes one Canadian show. ;-) (How could I possibly ignore The Kids in the Hall?) Note that my list, which is situated as a permanent list at the bottom of the right hand menu, features only shows that I consider to be my definite favourites - even though I apparently have been watching way too much telly through the years, these are the shows that I come back to, that I think of at opportune and inopportune times, that I quote constantly. So...if you love any of those shows, even a few of them, we may have more in common than you think.

Current track: The Beatles - I'm Down

Labels: comedy, daniel auteuil, david bamber, film, simon shepherd, TV

I'm just lousy at being sick. If you've seen that episode of The Young Ones, "Sick", where Neil the hippie has a cold and keeps sneezing inside a pillow case; well, that's how I feel. I've been sneezing all day, and I usually don't when I've got a cold. Also, I've had a fever for two days now so I keep shivering and sweating alternately. Very annoying. Is this bad karma? Did I do something wrong so that my one-week holiday is going to be spent indoors, preferably in bed? Hmph.

I did not, however, fall into that trap, so I've stayed awake all day and evening. I was just watching The Net for the third time. WHY did I see it a third time? I don't know, blame the fever or something. I mean, it's got some thrilling action but the plot is utterly unbelievable. Remember when I started laughing about Alan Rickman's character asking for an NEC computer in The January Man? Well, this is mainly the same thing. It's like they didn't think ahead when writing the script. They didn't consider the possibility of a much wider knowledge of computers among the film's viewers a couple of years later. By pressing Escape you unleash a virus into a (very poorly guarded) mainframe computer??? Get real! Well, at least they earn some credit with me for introducing the terms IP address, Trojan horse and IRL in a mainstream film in the mid-nineties. Good on ya!

My head feels like a giant cottom ball. I've got greatly reduced hearing in one ear. I hate that.

Oh, and I got to watch Ring 2 tonight. Scary, but not as scary as its predecessor. Looking forward to watching Ring 0 now.

Current track: Nothing, due to reduced hearing. Duh.

Labels: Alan Rickman, comedy, film, illness, technology, TV

I have no idea how this slipped past me. I guess it has to be because I have to avoid any animal cruelty issues because I get physically ill from just hearing about them. Seriously. Anyway, the so-called artist Nathalia Edenmont is getting her photos of animals that she has killed "for art" shown in galleries around the world. I have never had much to say about modern art (paintings, photos, sculptures etc., not written material or music and the likes), but now I like it even less. Stop giving them all those grants until they start making something that benefits more than just a couple of deranged art critics, I say! The rest of us don't like it, you morons.

Here's a link to a fuller description of the case, and here's a link to PETA UK's focus on the case. Warning! By clicking the second link you will be brought straight to the photos in question and if you're "squeamish" about animal cruelty, like me, you'd do well to just stay away from that site, I'm afraid.

Current track: Culture Club - Karma Chameleon

Labels: animals, art, current affairs

Since I couldn't quite get that Restricted tune out of my mind, I decided to share it with you all. Go to Nectarine and download the song (you may have to right-click or use GetRight), then make sure you either have WinAmp 5+ or have downloaded this nifty little plugin for your current WinAmp program. Then you're all set for listening to all those old modules and songs. You lucky, lucky bastard. ;-)

I'm off to play X2: The Threat.

Current track: Dr. Awesome - 12th Warrior

Labels: computers, gaming, music

Yeah, whatever. :-)

I was cleaning up my bookmark list which must be about four years old by now, and I found some links to sites for members of the demo scene. Now, I have to admit that I was a really crap coder (programmer). Really crap. But this was long before the Internet was a known term outside of Boston, and I could only rely on teenaged boys to be willing to teach me some programming. This was not an easy task, as most boys thought it was kind of embarrassing if their friends knew they were hanging out with a girl. *rolls her eyes* So I learnt only a bit of coding from scratch, the rest I had to figure out for myself. Let's just say my group, which consisted of me and a boy (previous boyfriend, didn't work out, so we stayed friends for years afterwards instead *s*), never made a huge impact on the "scene". Not even the slightest raising of eyebrows. He was a more than capable graphics artist, but I was crap at everything else, so it didn't really work out. Anyway, I kept on making (bad) music for many years, I still dabble with the old Trackers from time to time, and just a few minutes ago I found myself rummaging around a great site for previous and current "hits" of the scene. I would really like to recommend Nectarine for anyone even remotely interested in what I'm going on about. I was as happy as can be when I finally found one of my favourites from back then, "Restricted" by Mr. Man. Turns out he's Norwegian, pretty cool. I remember a few years ago that I discovered that my favourite scene musician, 4-Mat (anyone who's been part of the demo scene knows about him), was about my own age, and I used to think he was God when it came to making so-called chip-music. I still call it music, even though most people think it sounds ridiculous. I'm looking for the tune, not necessarily the instruments. Just like I can play computer games from the early 80s as long as the gameplay is good. Who needs anything than ASCII anyway? ;-)

May I just salute BBCPrime for showing lots of episodes of The Office? Three episodes back to back is a great idea! The only problem is that they're much too embarrassing to watch.

I feel I should also mention that I went to see Monster the other night and it made me go through at least four different kinds of emotion: Embarrassment, happiness, sadness and anger. Not bad for one film. And Charlize Theron must have had a blast when applying that make-up for hours every morning. Not. Unfortunately they showed a preview of The Passion of the Christ before the film and I didn't quite know where to go afterwards. The preview alone made me decide that I don't want to see that one. I don't really feel like seeing up close how they put spikes through someone's palms. But please, go ahead and watch it for all I care, I just don't have the stomach for that.

I'd rather listen to some of the many albums I've bought lately. I don't think I bought this many CDs all last year! I just felt like some renewal of my CD collection. OK, so I bought lots of CDs last year too, but not from the store, mostly through eBay and online stores. (Lots of obscure musical CDs back then.) Anyway, there was a sale in a store downtown so I found a few albums that I wanted. And some films. And then I went back the next day and bought some more. Shame on me. But at least I can't complain that I haven't got anything to listen to next week when I take a pre-Easter and much needed holiday (I'm about to strangle my boss the second he enters the office, so I guess it's about time.)

Current track: Mr. Man - Restricted (I miss my old Amiga)

Labels: comedy, computers, film, music, online shopping, technology, TV

The new look is here! Now, if I could just get a grip I could fire up one of my new games and just relax...

Current track: Valencia - Gaia (it just gets better and better)

Labels: personal

Woo-hoo! I just got the DVD in the post. Can hardly wait! (Have to listen to the radio first, some drama I've been looking forward to.)

Bought all the original Ring films yesterday. Started watching the first film but was too scared to finish it. The sound effects were too frightening, so even though I recognise much of the story so far from the American version, I was even more scared than when I watched that one. Silly sod. I also bought Aliens vs Predator, presumably one of the scariest computer games ever, so I've got lots of chills and thrills to look forward to. Actually, I should probably wait till Easter, which is the best time of year for any fans of crime stories. :-)

I will probably change the look of this blog later this weekend. The changes are already underway, I just need to agree with myself on the new layout.

Current track: Drama on radio.

Labels: film, gaming

Read this and weep. With glee, perhaps. :-)

Have a fab-u-lous day!

Current track: Silence.

Labels: humour

...that remaking Lars von Trier's absolutely brilliant Riget (The Kingdom) is a very, very bad idea??? Especially because Stephen King is involved. I love lots of his stories...until the wrap-up/punchline/moral point of that very story is reached. For some reason he manages to make a perfect thriller very silly by the time the credits roll across the screen and I'm left with a sensation of having been fooled. It is a great example. I just love that film, but the ending sucks big time. So what will he do to ruin the brilliant Danish series Riget? I shiver just thinking about it. *gasps*

Current track: I've got some ABBA-tune on my mind.

Labels: film, TV

Listen to BBC Radio 3's dramatisation of Ibsen's The Pretenders next Sunday.

Also, have I mentioned Peter Serafinowicz yet? He's a more-than-capable British comedian and if you pay as close attention to British telly as I do (for a foreigner, anyway), you may have seen him in Spaced, Look Around You, Hardware or How Do You Want Me? or even as Terry Wogan in a Red Nose Day special last year. He provided the voice for Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace back in 1999 and that should give you an idea of how deep his voice is. He even did some work on Hippies, another one of those Britcoms I just love. In fact, I think I shall have to list my favourite sitcoms (both US and UK) at some point. Very soon.

For now, I'll just go watch Dirty Dancing. It's one of the films I've seen the most, and it's not even that good. My mum used to be a fan of Patrick Swayze's and I just sort of tagged along. Love the soundtrack, though. I remember having my own dance routine to the song "Yes" back in '87/'88. Must have been an interesting view.

Current track: Nothing.

Labels: comedy, film, peter serafinowicz, radio, theatre, TV

I am speechless. Another series featuring those two children? What is this world coming to?

Current track: Total silence.

Labels: TV

A possible tenth planet in our solar system has been discovered.

In other news, I'm planning on going to see no less than three plays at the National Theatre this spring. I know that I'm a bit of a latecomer to two of those, but I bet they've got a few good seats available anyway. *trying to be an optimist here* The three are Jeppe of the Hill by Ludvig Holberg, a classic that I have not seen in years (I'd also like to see The Political Tinker again), Beaumarchais' The Marriage of Figaro, which seems to be a very good production indeed, and last, but not least, The Theatre Maker by the Austrian Thomas Bernhard.

Also, I may have a week off from work starting next Monday. Yay!

Current track: Sort Sol - Holler High (It's still a brilliant tune)

Labels: science, theatre

Where else?



(Click on photo to read the story)

Current track: Nothing.

Labels: technology

...I should just maintain my Dutch instead. (See previous post.)

Had a bit of a discussion on ambidexterity at work today (the boss was absolutely horrid and we just needed to stay away from him and do something else.) It's a fascinating subject, at least for me who's ambidextrous. I believe I was left-handed when I was a child but forced to write with my right hand (I'm sure my parents wouldn't have done that today...of course, I am 26 now so I would be rather miffed if they did) and so I have developed a very strange and seemingly illogical way of choosing the hand with which to perform tasks. What an interesting sentence. Anyway. The funniest bit being, naturally, that I always shuffle a deck of cards with my right hand but deal with my left. It's near impossible to do the opposite or choose just one of the two. I have to open bottles and jars with my left hand even though my right hand is the strongest and there's no way I can slice bread with my left hand. I wear my watch on my right wrist but usually write with that hand, unless I'm tired, so using a quill would be out of the question. Then again, using quills is funnily enough rather unpopular nowadays. Hmm...

Current track: The entire Requiem for a Dream soundtrack

Labels: linguistics, personal, science

Perhaps I should learn Icelandic? It's the nicest-sounding language I know. Le sigh.

Current track: Stop asking me that!

Labels: linguistics, personal

This is what I am:



What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com



What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Current track: Still nothing. I'm not afraid anymore, though.

Labels: tests

I noticed the Greek embassy had the European Union flag as well as its own when I went past there the other day. The funniest thing, however, was that the American embassy, or "The Fortress", as I like to call it, must be the only building in the whole of Norway with air condition. Looks like we've got a small part of NYC in our town. :-)

Current track: Nothing, I'm afraid.

Labels: personal

When I first saw this, I didn't like it very much. I think it was the fact that Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes were in it. However, I'm warming up to them. Now, of course, I love the film, not only because it's very good, but because there are so many actors in it that I admire. I have to mention Tom Wilkinson in particular. Mostly because he's a fantastic actor, but also because he's been overlooked for so long. Much like Jim Broadbent, really. Among those not having been overlooked that are appearing in Shakespeare in Love, there's Colin Firth (you should see him in Relative Values and Hope Springs), Rupert Everett (not credited, though), Simon Callow ("everyone" remembers him from Four Weddings and a Funeral), Dame Judi Dench and of course Geoffrey Rush (who's got a strangely accurate way of telling which roles are great - even if the film is mediocre he's always stunning - and no, I thought this about him before my casual interest in him developed into full-blown fandom). And last, but not least, followers of Britcom would do well to notice Imelda Staunton, Simon Day, Mark Williams, Steve O'Donnell and Martin Clunes appearing in this film.

For some reason I've got this framed, signed photo from the film that I don't quite know where to put. It's currently sitting on the floor in front of one of my bookcases, silly thing.

Current track: The score from Shakespeare in Love

Labels: colin firth, film, geoffrey rush, tom wilkinson

I find myself thinking "I wonder what they're doing on stage at Oslo Nye Teater right now." The silly thing is, I think I've pinpointed the right scene. Somebody arrest me and put me away till July. :-)

Have you seen Ned Kelly? I bought it last year because Geoffrey Rush was in it (for about half a minute, I might add.) The film turned out to be quite all right, especially if you're into beards (which I'm not, not particularly anyway, although some people look good with a goatee. Ahem.)

Current track: Morcheeba - Sao Paolo

Labels: film, geoffrey rush, musicals, theatre

A few hours ago, I went merrily into the kitchen to get a glass of orange juice, when I saw this outside my window:
Please tell me if I'm being childish if I think that's not fair. We were just getting rid of the bloody ice, but no, the snow couldn't wait until it was all gone, could it? So now it's even more slippery than ever! Bastid.

Current track: The sizzling sound of my dinner in the frying pan.

Labels: personal

I don't know why Citizen Smith made me want to do my dishes, but I guess watching the same episode twice could have something to do with it. :-) I'm trying to remove the mountain of old newspapers I've got lying around, but I don't know where to put it all. There is only so much space in the recycling container out front. *gasps*

How about throwing things the moment I don't need them anymore? Jeez...

Still looking forward to My Family tonight.

Current track: Berlin - Take My Breath Away

Labels: comedy, personal, TV

Wednesday: Went to a concert at the Concert Hall, featuring Tommy Körberg, Lisa Stokke, Mia Gundersen and Jørn Hoel singing The Beatles and ABBA. Brilliant! Tommy apparently was in a very good mood (let's just say it's quite obvious that he loves music), and Lisa was as beaming as ever. Mia looked like she was having lots of fun as well (even forgot to start singing at one point because she was concentrating on listening to the huge orchestra behind her), but Jørn I hardly saw at all (due to a man sitting in front of me). Anyway, that's the third concert featuring Tommy Körberg that I've been to this year, and I just admire him more and more. His voice gives me goosebumps. Really. Wow.

Thursday: My fourth visit to Oslo Nye Teater in order to see La Cage aux Folles. One of the dancers was missing from most of the routines. Anders Hatlo did not mix up his lines. I got some toast on me, but no saliva. ;-) Anyway, I actually couldn't watch the I am what I am bit at the end of act I this time around. Too emotional. It's chilling how much that scene gets to me. I actually managed to bruise my hand during the curtain calls because of all the applauding (I felt I had to applaud even harder than usual because people apparently didn't want to give them a standing ovation (we eventually did).) All in all, just one word sums up the evening: Wow.

Today: Went for a walk downtown again, after work. Visited the Vigeland Park for the first time. *embarrassed* Very cold out, but I survived. Obviously.

Tomorrow: Looking forward to My Family being back on telly. Will be warming up with Citizen Smith. Would like to go for a walk downtown, but I'm running out of places to go, and somehow it seems as if I just have to end up by the stage door of Oslo Nye Teater. *raises eyebrows*

Current track: Denis Leary - Asshole

Labels: anders hatlo, comedy, concert, music, musicals, theatre, TV

These are two things that annoy me:

The fact that they can't tell us the name of any dead or injured people in an accident happening in a place where I've got friends and family around the victim's stated age.

Prisoners being let out on "weekend leave". Please tell me this is a Norwegian thing only, because time and time again dangerous criminals (including murderers) have run away when on that kind of leave. What kind of an insane rule is that anyway? What's the point of putting them in prison if they're being let out regularly after just a small portion of their sentence has been served? Or at all??? There's something seriously wrong with our legal system; seems like it's protecting the convicted and not the victims. Shame on you.

Current track: I'm thinking of putting Metallica's Frantic on, just to emphasise my current mood.

Labels: current affairs

Spotted one celeb today, during an extended walk in downtown Oslo. Very frustrating that my theory on how extremely easy it is to see any celebrities in this city was close to being wrecked, but minutes before I ended the walk I passed one of the actors from (yep, you guessed it...) La Cage. Bought another ticket, by the way. I am now officially hooked on that musical.

On my walk around unknown parts of Oslo I noticed this street which had three or four erotica shops and two Bible outlets. LOL! And to those middle-aged men trying not to look conspicuous as they're hiding behind a slim lamppost - just get a grip. We all know what you're there for, just get into that shop and buy whatever it is you want and get on with your life. Puh-leeze!

I've started watching, or rather listening to the commercials on telly again. I used to know them by heart, about eight years ago, but then I started zapping during the commercial breaks. Now that I've been made aware of the increasing number of well-known actors doing voice-overs for commercials, I've started a sort of a competition with myself. Pointless, really, as I won't get the correct answers unless I approach the actors in question, but it's fun for now. Keeps me seated for hours on end. :-)

Have a day! Any day!

Current track: Zip, nada, zilch.

Labels: anders hatlo, musicals, theatre, TV

Sounds like a nice title for my autobiography. :-) For whenever I feel it's time to revisit my memories. Anyway.

Looks like I'll buy a few tickets for The Musical (for there can be only one...) tomorrow after work. No, I haven't gone completely insane. This is just a reaction to my exceedingly dull life. I read in an interview with a couple of actors that "[the audience] don't know how much they mean to us," and I'm thinking "well, you have no idea how much you mean to the audience." Because, let's face it, a play without actors would be very strange. ;-) Also, going to the theatre means the world to me, and I'd say the actors are pretty much a huge part of that. Now, how to tell them that without making 1) them think I'm a crazy fanatic who'd do anything to drag them with me into the bedroom, and/or 2) their egos inflate significantly? How to communicate that I'm a fan because of their stage presence and talent and not because they're sexy? Many people react to this kind of adulation with a feeling of paranoia and just want to keep the distance to their fans. Personally, I've already had my own stalker for a couple of years and it's not a good feeling. How does an actor distinguish between a mad stalker and an inspired admirer?

I don't know why I ask. I don't know the answer anyway.

This week's most thrifty: German man wants state-paid sex.

Current track: Valencia - Gaia (wow!!!)

Labels: humour, personal, theatre

Door to Door was great. I cried, but then again I am very emotional, so I don't need much for any tears to appear. While watching the film, I recorded some songs to an MD for walking to the office tomorrow. I need music to light up my life! Especially since it's Monday, which means a whole new week at work. I don't usually despise Mondays, it's just that the boss has turned into an obnoxious bastard lately and we all feel like quitting. Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts.

Let's see, what should I have done this weekend? For starters, watch The Importance of Being Earnest - the Norwegian stage version from last year. Then I was supposed to watch Freaky Friday, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (very important to use the whole name) and In Love and War. I was also supposed to read and do the dishes, although not at the same time. Still, even though I haven't done any of this, I've had a fabulous weekend. Now, if only that bloody ice could possibly disappear from our sight, I could start going for walks again...

Hooray for the season premiére of My Family next Saturday. Party on! ;-)

Current track: Scissor Sisters - Comfortably Numb

Labels: comedy, film, music, personal, TV

I'm just too easy to please. I've had a great birthday, doing more or less nothing. I've done half of my dishes (it's a huge project, doing the dishes; I need at least one intermission), I had two phone calls from family and I may have some presents waiting for me in my postbox. Watched Riding in Cars with Boys for the third time. The only embarrassing thing happening today was the pilot episode of Coupling US. I mean, for Bob's sake, the original, British, BBC version is one of my favourite TV series, but nooo, that's not good enough for the Americans, is it? They have to make their own, more boring version. I know, I know, they've got the same writer and some of the same producers, but the actors didn't work out very well. Or at all. Now, about the American remake of The Office...

More highlights of the day: Anders Hatlo and Johannes Joner appeared on a quiz show, and then, very surprisingly and completely unannounced, Dennis Storhøi in a short interview about the new series. Woo-hoo and wa-hey the lads!!!

I'm off to watch Door to Door. Bill Macy and Helen Mirren and lots of awards mean this film is great. See ya!

Current track: Girls Aloud - Jump (For My Love)

Labels: anders hatlo, comedy, dennis storhøi, film, personal, TV

The Norwegian Eurosong finals are underway and I find myself routing for Arlene Wilkes just because she's a (brilliant) dancer in La Cage aux Folles, silly girl that I am. OK, so it's a good song. She deserves a couple of points for running straight from the theatre down to the Eurosong venue.

And speaking of that musical...ahem... The drama series Seks som oss (Six Like Us) premiéred last Thursday and I thought it was very good (yes, all right, so Dennis Storhøi is in it but still...) That mentioned, I can talk about other things. :-)

I've spent most of the day playing Backpacker 3; it's a travel/trivia game which teaches me quite a lot. I've also discovered that I know a lot about computer-related acronyms, environmental issues and art (!!) - guess I'm ready for Jeopardy! now.

Ok, latest news - Arlene did not win, but ended up a the first runner-up. Well done! I'm off to watch Dead Ringers. Yay BBC!

Current track: Nothing

Labels: comedy, dennis storhøi, gaming, music, musicals, theatre, TV

Another wonderful evening in the theatre. Three times in eight days that I've seen that musical and it just keeps getting better. I'm ready to just leap up there and take part in the grand finale but alas, I think they would frown at me for doing so. Nevertheless, I am confident that I'll return to see it at least once more, and soon I shall have to commend the actors and dancers for making such a great show. I just have to work up the courage to wait by the stage door, because I would be waiting there all alone while they're filing past me, hurrying to get back home or to the pub or whatever.

Me, I'm hurrying to get to bed; I'm knackered after a long and boring day at work and was ready to go to bed the minute I got home from the office, but I "had to" go to the theatre (there are no negative feelings towards going to the theatre, mind, except perhaps for once last year when I went to this really crap musical and for the first time in my life left the venue during the intermission). I need sleep. I need to get my act together, that's what I need to do, but not right now. Perhaps I'll read for a bit before turning off the lights; I bought a new book yesterday (yep, just what I needed - yet another book to start reading) - I am very embarrassed to admit that I have hardly read any of the classics of literature - for some reason I've mostly got away with just watching the play or film based on the book. So I felt that I've got much catching-up to do and bought Knut Hamsun's Growth of the Soil from 1917. I was actually going to buy Johan Borgen's Lillelord/Little Lord because I loved it when we read it in school, but the bookstore didn't have that one. Stupid gits. ;-)

Current track: Nothing

Labels: literature, musicals, theatre

I have dubbed it The LotR Awards. 11 out of bloody 11, that's astounding!

I'm going to take a shower and get ready for work. Looking forward to going to bed already, but I'll have to wait eleven hours for that. :-(

Current track: Waiting for the news

Labels: award shows, film

Ten out of ten to LotR!!! Just one more to go, Peter, and that's for Best Film of the year. There's little doubt that that award goes to The Return of the King. This is amazing. Congratulations!

Current track: None

Labels: award shows, film

OK, so no award to the Swedish Evil; I guess we'll have to look to Renée Zellweger for this year's Scandinavian contribution (she's part Norwegian). Eight out of eight for LotR, there will be at least two more.

Current track: Nothing

Labels: award shows, film

Oh, my. Seven out of seven for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King...so far!!! What a winner! And Billy Crystal keeps up with his Kiwi jokes. :-)

Btw, I can hardly wait to see A Mighty Wind.

Current track: Mitch and Mike - A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow (still introducing the nominated songs)

Labels: award shows, film

Congrats to Harvie Krumpet (go Geoffrey!) for best animated short film!

About the five-second delay in the US; what's with the censorship? What happened to the freedom of speech and all that? Apparently we get to see the show five seconds before the Americans do, so a couple of thumbs up for that. ;-)

Also a couple of thumbs up for Billy Crystal apologising to Dame Julie Andrews before "wrecking" My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music.

Current track: Annie Lennox - Into the West (they're presenting the nominated songs)

Labels: award shows, film, geoffrey rush, humour