I can't believe I've spent more than five hours playing games on PopCap tonight - I even sat down to play during the commercial breaks. I'm definitely logging off now. Neighbour's high and/or drunk again, so his TV is on really loud and he doesn't give a flying f if anyone knocks on his door. Did I tell you I really, really hate this place?

Current track: Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground

Labels: gaming, personal

Quite fascinatingly enough, if you google for "Fast Show" "poisonous monkey" this blog is one of the only two results. 'Ow queer!

Current track: A strange mixture of "Jag tror, jag tror på sommaren" and "La meg være ung"; two oldies (not goodies)

Labels: comedy, time wasting

The film wasn't too bad, actually; quite predictable but sweet and very funny during the first half. As Andy Serkis entered the screen a couple of guys at the back started laughing, no doubt one of them had just whispered "My precious..." (Sorry, Andy, that line will stay with you for a long while.) We were about twenty people there, not bad for a matinée on a nice summer day. Anyway, the latter half of the film was a bit more predictable (although it had its laughs as well) and it was a typical Hollywood film, but I quite liked it. (Mr. Serkis was really funny and kind of saved the second half for me.)

Wanted to sit down for a cup of coffee but never seemed to find a spot that suited me (I'm so high maintenance, you see. Not.) After a walk down the main shopping street, looking at the people and enjoying the sun, I went back home instead. So now I'm sitting here waiting for my pizza to arrive. I see it's still in the oven. Got to love the 'Net.

Current track: Feeder - Come Back Around

Labels: film

That's a fictive character. Could be just about any teenaged girl out there, though. I've read the last two books (out of five) in the series this week (read them in one day, just didn't post about it until now) and they're such great fun. I read parts of the last book at the police station and probably got some funny glances because I was laughing out loud. I just couldn't help it. Anyway, I'd recommend the books - the reviewers at Amazon say it so much better than me what these books are all about, so pop by there and buy the first book if you feel like it.

I'm off to the cinema in a minute. Don't know what I was thinking, but I bought a ticket to 13 Going on 30 yesterday. It'd better be good, but I doubt it.

Current track: The radio.

Labels: film, literature, online shopping

Went downtown to meet a couple of friends and watch the Pride Parade. The parade lasted for about nine minutes, as expected, but their route was a long one so it took them about 40-45 minutes to get back to the square from which they started, by which time we had already consumed a couple of pints (well, I didn't have anything to drink.) Some time later they finally started the show; Pride Week has lasted for...yes, you guessed it - a week - and they always end it by having a sort of an award show. This year there were four awards handed out, but the most important one went to Wenche Foss, our national diva, she's the BEST and she was given the award for most gay-friendly or whatever. I remember reading an article about her a few weeks ago where she stated "a person who doesn't like homosexuals can't be a friend of mine" - and I absolutely adore that statement. This lady is 86 years old and doesn't seem to age (even though she herself says she does.) She is more liberal than a lot of people belonging to the generation below hers. I'm very impressed. So naturally she got a huge applause and was probably the most popular choice in years. Didn't spot any old mistakes friends, well, perhaps a couple of them, but they didn't see me, so all's well that ends well. Yes, even though I made some very good friends during that period of my life, I made quite a few mistakes that I'd just like to forget, sorry to say. Anyway, next year Oslo will be hosting EuroPride, which usually is a big celebration when being hosted anywhere else in Europe but I'll be very surprised if more than 20,000 people turn up for the festivities (they're hoping 60,000.) Would be nice if I were wrong.

In other news, a friend of a friend of mine just sold her newest play to a theatre for an interesting sum of money. Must try and get a grip and actually get a degree and finally become what I've (obviously) always wanted to be: An author; any kind, really, all kinds of writing appeal to me, but of course nowadays I'd like to be a playwright. This probably will may change, though. :-)

Morten Rudå apparently sang one of the songs featured in La Cage at the opening show of Pride Week; how I wish I had been there! This past week has gone past incredibly slowly; feels like it's been a month since I last saw La Cage but that means I've also had a lot of time to ponder upon life's little mysteries. For instance, I've come to the conclusion that considering how much Rudå had changed his Albin (the character; it's not a euphemism) from the Tuesday performance to the Saturday one, it would have been great for it to run for another month, at least. Of course, that probably would have ruined me at last and I couldn't possibly afford going to Victoria Sound of Musvik during the new season. *winks*

Current track: Gloria Gaynor - I Am What I Am

Labels: award shows, musicals, personal, theatre, writing

I'm...flabbergasted. The New Mexico city of Hot Springs changed its name to Truth or Consequences after the much-loved TV show in 1950. The Americans never cease to amaze me.

Current track: Some James Brown tune

Labels: humour

I'm sad to say "I told you so" in this case. Three years ago a Norwegian TV channel started a reality show called "The Farm", in which ordinary people from both urban and rural areas around the country live together on a farm without any electricity or running water and they have to raise and kill animals "the old-fashioned way" in order to get anything to eat. The producers have made sure there's a vet supervising all of the butchering, but I was appalled when I first heard of the show and I'm appalled still. Especially now, as Arts France, the animal suppliers for the French version of the show, Celebrity Farm, has sued the Endemol production company for negligence of and cruelty against their animals. Some of them died because of this.

Seriously: If people want to humiliate themselves and/or friends by entering some reality show, then I don't care, but bringing innocent creatures into the game makes it all go sour. About time we made a reality show in which all the previous reality show producers are put in a house for 365 days, with no electricity and running water and only cold pizza to eat and ordinary coke to drink. They will be given only humiliating tasks (and only once a month, so that the rest of the time they'll be bored out of their minds and will start rowing and snogging at every opportunity) and there will be cameras following them everywhere, especially in the showers and on the toilet. One by one they'll be voted off...but only into the garden, where they'll have to stay in a sleeping bag for a week before being let back into the house. There will be no winner and therefore no prize, but they'll all be famous for about 15 minutes and will never work in showbiz again (quite frankly, I don't think they'd like to, either.)

Or how about just going all the way...Dead Famous by Ben Elton.

Current track: Cinerama - Careless

Labels: animals, current affairs, humour, literature, TV

It's Pride Week and the big Pride Parade will take place tomorrow. I thought of going, meet up with old friends etc., but then I'm actually taking the weather into consideration - am I growing old extremely fast? Then again, the whole parade lasts for about nine minutes and probably isn't worth it anyway. It usually isn't. It's just embarrassing, considering how big it could have been. I'm never going to forget the parade on the first day of the Gay Games in the Netherlands back in 1998; great music, fantastic costumes, wonderful atmosphere. Our Pride Parade is just...boring, really, at least compared to that one.

I've spent the day categorising my music. I should probably get back to work. I though I'd enjoy the holiday, and I have, it's just that staying at home feels wrong when I could be working. That's why I didn't take the two weeks off that my doctor ordered after I broke my elbow back in January. My boss has actually noticed that; he commended me the other week; I was in such shock (I think we all were) that I completely forgot to tell you. Make no mistake, though, he's still a twat and I'm not going to work for him more than another year (that I promise!) I need a serious change or some of my friends will admit me to some mental hospital and not just joke about it.

Current track: Kamaya Painters - Far from Over (Wavestate Mix)

Labels: holiday, lists, music, personal

I read in the newspaper Aftenposten today, in a casual sidenote, that due to the building of a new opera house, they are digging down to about 16 metres below sea level down by the Oslo harbour, and "so far they've found several old quays, a couple of anchors from the 1840s, a rudder from the late 19th century and a ship dating back to 1760." My thoughts go to the extra material on the Kate & Leopold DVD (I think it was), when one of the producers was ecstatic because "NYC has got really old buildings, some of them are a hundred years old!" Ah, well. Perhaps I'm a bit too nonchalant about it. After all, I come from a city that was founded in the year 871, situated in Vestfold county. Here's a tourist video, btw.

Current track: My harddrive.

Labels: history, Norway

I don't know why, but somehow I'm having trouble picturing Alan Rickman dancing to that song. Just a thought. And a photo.



Current track: Outkast - Hey Ya

Labels: Alan Rickman, humour, music

I have currently exactly 600 films on the Excel list of my film collection, which I don't actually consider a real collection, as it's more of a bunch of films that I personally appreciate, I don't just buy them because they're a must-have. However, I know there are a few films I haven't catalogued yet, must be about 25-40 in all. In other words, the collection is growing larger (and by the minute, I'd say - I just popped by Play to find a photo and two minutes later I'd ordered four films (well, they're Sir Alec Guinness classics that I don't have already.) Shame on me.

Actually, "personally appreciate" is a bit of a lie. I like most of the films, but some of them I bought because of some actor appearing in them and they turned out to be utter crap. So I guess from that aspect it's more of a collection; like I have to have all the films in which old so-and-so has appeared. Some of the films I've regretted (but still aren't as bad as Safe, directed by Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore - it has become the film I put every other film up against; we managed to sit through all of Safe but we were so bored it felt like it lasted for about four and a half hours, and I'm not exaggerating. It truly is pure boredom) are:

Alice - I generally hate Woody Allen films, but William Hurt (AKA The Actor of Which I Own the Most Films) was in it. Haven't managed to watch the whole film yet, and I got it eight or nine years ago.

American Buffalo - I like David Mamet and love Dustin Hoffman but this film was pointless.

The Beach - Not sure why I've got this. Because of Robert Carlyle, perhaps?

Caligula - Now this I bought merely because of Malcolm McDowell and because it's a cult film. Haven't watched all of it yet. Probably never will.

Cleopatra (the American TV version) - Bought it just because of Philip Quast (he's not appearing in that many films); have watched about 1/3 of it, but it's so Hollywood I can barely look at the cover without feeling a bit under the weather.

Eyes Wide Shut - I am really, really sorry, but even though I'm a huge fan of Stanley Kubrick, I thought this film gave me absolutely nothing. It was part of a Kubrick collection, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it.

The Fall - Another Philip Quast film. He's in four scenes. They're brilliant. The rest of the film is boring me to tears.

Fire, Ice & Dynamite - It's got a hilarious Simon Shepherd in it. The rest is very embarrassing.

Here on Earth - I have no idea why I've got this.

Little Noises - I think Crispin Glover is playing well in this, but I bought it because of Rik Mayall. Otherwise it's a pointless film.

Scorpion Spring - Because of Alfred Molina. He's cool, the film is...uhmm...have I used "boring" too much yet?

Current track: Erasure - Run to the Sun (Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Mix)

Labels: alec guinness, alfred molina, dustin hoffman, film, lists, online shopping, philip quast, rik mayall, simon shepherd, william hurt

Right, so the only copy of the magnificent Mysteriet Myrna Vep among my circle of friends has gone missing. This is a bit of a crisis, because old saggy-arsed NRK TV takes about ten years to make a request come through, by which time even the American embassy has moved house and I will be dead from impatience. I'm probably the only one asking them to repeat the incredible show, even though it had a huge cult following back in 1996 when they did a sold-out run at the Centralteatret (yes, part of Oslo Nye, let's not go there.) As far as I know, they even sold backstage tickets back then. So I'm devastated (although not very surprised) that the nearly worn-out copy has gone AWOL, and so I'm putting out a general request: If anyone's got a copy, I will personally pay heaps of money for it, make a few DVD copies and even be willing to go to gaol for it; because it'd be worth it. And, let's face it, Norwegian prisons are a laugh, really.

However, all is not lost. Due to exceptionally low media coverage and the fact that I have no contacts within the business whatsoever, I did not know about this until a couple of weeks ago, but they're going to put up an all-new "musical" at the very same theatre starring the very same actors (Anders Hatlo and Johannes Joner), partly written by them and partly by the terrific Are Kalvø (I listen to him on the radio every week) and directed by the very same director (Bjørn Sæter - lots of strange letters there) and there's absolutely no way I'll be able to stay away from there. It's called Sound of Musvik and will be a continuance to the story about the Von Trapp family (I used to hate The Sound of Music, because I hated musicals in general; why no one sent me to a shrink I do not know; I love it now and have also become an avid follower of all sorts of musical productions these past two years (damn Les Misérables and Philip Quast, that's where my interest in theatre in general started, and I don't really mean "damn", naturally).) I digress.

For some reason I have this sneaking suspicion, though, that my interest in theatre actually began with Mysteriet Myrna Vep (yes, that would be "Irma Vep" in English...) back in December 1997 when they showed it on telly, and was reawakened in 2000 when I went to see The Rocky Horror Show at the same theatre. I don't know why the interest was dormant for so long, but it's gone haywire now, as if to make up for so much lost time. *shrugs*

Is there a point to all this? Ermm...right, yes, something about booking tickets before they're all sold out.

Current track: Erasure - I Love Saturday (JX Mix)

Labels: anders hatlo, comedy, music, philip quast, radio, theatre, TV

- I'm going to lick the canvas now.
- Excuse me, "lick the canvas"?
- Yes, it's my new expression. I'm going to coin it.
- What does it mean?
- I don't know, but it's going to be the new cool thing to say, and people won't dare to ask me what it means, they'll just go *wink, wink, nudge, nudge* and ooh-err'ing when I use it because they don't want to admit to not knowing what it means.
- You know, you must be bored out of your mind these days.
- Oh, you bet. So I'm going to lick the canvas now.
- Ooh-err!

Current track: Just some birds chirping outside.

Labels: humour, personal, time wasting

Every night I have to stop myself from saying "good night, sleep tight" (only in Norwegian) to the empty cage I for some reason still have got in the bathroom. The other night I discovered that's not too strange, actually. I got a hamster (dear old - now late - Ronny Edgar Tarzan) back in 19.. because I was missing my dogs and I needed a pet. I wasn't allowed to keep any pets in my pad but I sneaked the hamster (with cage) into my room anyway (very easily, because...well, no one cared, really.) I had him for more than two years, I think he was 2 1/2 when he died of a stroke. A couple of friends of mine, living upstairs from me at the time, just happened to have got quite an extension to their gerbil family and offered me the two adult males because of that. Since I was unsure about what would happen to them if I didn't, I just couldn't possibly say no, so I got them a few days after R.A.T. died. Of course I gave them outrageous names. A few weeks later I was given two other gerbils, as they couldn't give away all of the little creatures, and after another naming ceremony, this time in the kitchen (thus names like "Bosch" and "Swiss Miss" popped up in their intricate names), they were put in a cage next to the others, so as to get used to each other. Turned out, about a week later, that I wouldn't have had to bother with that, as they instantly took a liking to each other the minute I let them meet.

Anyway, I'm one of those that love animals dearly and would like to save them all by adopting them, but then they die of old age and I'm devastated, so it's kind of hard to keep any pets at all, really. I still miss some of my neighbours' dogs from when I was a child, that's how deep it goes. The papers are full of sad stories these days, because of the purely evil people (let's face it, there can't be any good in them at all) that just leave their pets and go on holiday. Or what about those that adopt a cat for the holiday and then leave them there when going home. Let's bring out the Comfy Chair, I say. However, I must stress that even though I have not researched this thoroughly, I doubt that the theory that someone put out earlier this week (sorry, I didn't get the name, I was only reading the headlines) probably is a bit exaggerated; that 80% of the dog owners are unfit to have pets. I have seen many a dog molester, unfortunately, but I also know so many people who love dogs and treat them well, so I find that very hard to believe. I'm all for the idea of getting a dog owner's license, though, with a proper test and everything. Apart from the fact that that would lead to a massive killing of puppies, I'm afraid. Just look at how easily people kill unwanted/unplanned kittens. At least they could issue real certificates for kennel owners, because many of them are completely unfit to have anything to do with any living creature, in my opinion.

Am I rambling again?

There was a point to the story I started up there; oh yes, "I guess it's an old habit, saying 'good night' to the cage."

I was actually logging on to tell you I've had this annoying song on my mind all day. I'm not joking. It's the same song over and over, and just one part of the song, even. I think I may have been cursed. (I knew I shouldn't have said "MacBeth"! *winks*) I'm sort of hoping going to bed will help.

Current track: It's that bloody song. Over and over and over.

Labels: animals, personal

Relax, I'm talking about the US embassy here in Oslo. They've finally realised that 1) they're much better off, security-wise, at the new spot, and 2) they're much better off, popularity-wise, in most other spots. So they're moving house. In about six years' time. By which time we've been living with their barricades in the middle of the city for nearly ten years. Did I mention their current unpopularity in Oslo? Grr. Now, about that Israeli embassy...

Current track: The news.

Labels: current affairs, Norway

Crazy old bat upstairs has made her alarm go off. The security alarm. She refuses to open the door, silly sod. Until the security people come, after more than half an hour (which is VERY alarming, pun intended), and start threatening her about forcing the door open. She must be deaf by now.

Some lady in a watch shop downtown talked about me today: "...and give it to the woman over there." I was thinking "woman? Where?" I've just not got used to the fact that some people, especially children and those in posh watch shops, call me a woman, not a girl. Oh, well. Guess the anti-wrinkle daycream doesn't work. *winks*

I was fixing my watch, that's why I was there. I've been without a working watch for two years now, and most people, including myself, don't understand how I can manage without. So finally I went to the shop and bought a black leather strap (not an original brand strap, because I don't like wearing the metal kind) and got them to change batteries. And voilà! I know what time it is wherever I go, without having to rely on my mobile or the VCR. I am free at last!

On the tube back home two teenage girls were talking about what courses they're going to take next year (school's out as of today), of which one was "older history". Clearly they're going to the same kind of sixth form as I did. Older history is a subject covering "everything" up to 1850. Newer history is covered the following year. Anyway, one of the girls said, apparently being serious, "not a damn thing happened before 1850 anyway!" I couldn't help but laugh. Being teenagers, they didn't even notice as they were too busy in their own little world. Which reminds me. You know when "grown-ups" (i.e. those who've been through hell and back, AKA "their teens") complain about teenagers and how incredibly annoying they are and "at least we behaved when I was a teenager." Bull. I'm sorry to say this, but it seems like we all forget all the bad times when we grow up (like, wasn't summer always sunny when you were a child?) I bet if you speak to your parents/uncles/friends from when you were a teenager yourself, you'd be told that you weren't as sensible and well-behaved as you'd like to believe. I know I wasn't. I think I wasn't as bad as the teens of today (puh-leeze, we're talking ten years ago), but I'm wrong. I threw lots of tantrums. I called my parents names. I was awfully self-absorbed, as were all of my friends. We like to think we made more sense than today's teens, that we were actually discussing "deeper issues", but most of them weren't as deep as we'd like them to have been. Also, I distinctly remember talking about these things privately, not on the bus or in class, meaning there's a strong possibility that the brats youngsters you hear chatting about clothes, parties and the opposite sex (yes, most gay teenagers are too scared to come out, it's a confusing enough time as it is, and so they too discuss the opposite sex) actually are able to discuss more serious matters. Remember that you're the uncoolest of the uncool and there's no way you could possibly understand what they're going through. You disagree with me, don't you? Well, if you've been there, done that, don't you think that means you've actually gone through the exact same thing? I know I have, so I desperately try to shrug it off when a bunch of them enter the train and start shouting and laughing and pretending they own the place and think that the rest of us are useless adults who don't know anything because we're so lame. I find watching documentaries about teenagers help understanding them. And understanding me, when I was at that age. I just wish they'd listen to us when we tell them "don't do that. You will regret it, believe me." But hey, most of us found out by ourselves and got through it all right, didn't we? The funny thing is, you'll go through this all your life, or at least until you're so old there are hardly anyone left that's older than you and who can say "I remember when I was your age; if I knew then what I know now..."

When I got off the train, we were about twenty people there, but this girl approached me (Bob knows why) and begged me to buy her a pack of fags. I said I was sorry, even though I wasn't, but I just couldn't help her. I was actually thinking I would be helping her more if I didn't buy her the smokes, but I was carrying a bag which obviously contained a couple of bottles of booze and so I thought I shouldn't give her a lecture after all. *smiles* It was just one more of those "I wish you'd actually listen to me" moments. I know she'll regret having even started smoking in a few years' time, but saying "I told you so" doesn't help at all. Reading The Runaway Jury made me realise Grisham has a very good point: No one starts smoking when they're grown-up. The whole peer pressure thing is very scary. Personally, I was even more stupid, because there was no one pressuring me into smoking, I was just bored and wanted to try something else, so I started smoking all on my own; none of my friends smoked regularly and I was the only one who after a while smoked out of parties. Silly git. In about eight and a half years my lungs and general health will be at the same point they would have been if I'd never lit that first cigarette. It actually takes ten years. Everyone tells us it's dangerous to smoke, yet since we apparently start during our teens, we think we're invincible and that cancer is something that happens to old people, other people. Good thing there's no law against sheer stupidity; about one third of this country would be in prison because of that, in addition to those stupid enough to already be imprisoned, of course. *gnashes her teeth*

Current track: Erasure - Voulez-vous (Brain Stem Death Test Mix)

Labels: history, humour, literature, personal, tube

I always love a surprise like this. Denmark and Sweden each scoring two goals means the Italians are on their way back home from Portugal without even getting to the quarter finals; this is amazing! Italy is such a great football nation, but I've never liked their divas prancing about out there on the field, so I'm not unhappy at all. Prediction: Italy will be angry about this for years. They will think the Scandinavians agreed on the result before the game started, completely ignoring the fact that they themselves are to blame for this. Italians will end up fighting Scandinavian supporters in Portugal.

Tough luck. Grow up. Get a life.

Current track: Listening to the game.

Labels: sport

Not very surprisingly Marc Dutroux, AKA Another Devil Incarnate, was sentenced to life imprisonment in Arlon, Belgium earlier today. "Life" in Belgium means 30 years (but hey, it's longer than here, where it means 21 years, out in 16, possibly sooner due to good behaviour. It's ridiculous, really.) He also got another 10 years of probation after that. Means he'll be a free man by the time he's in his mid-eighties. However, I have a feeling he may not live that long.

Our Minister of Education, Kristin Clemet, has dropped her loony-act for a moment and actually made a sensible move today. She has suggested (meaning it probably won't pass as a bill, but it was a nice thought) that those wanting to become teachers will have to get at least a C in both Norwegian and Maths from high school/sixth form college before even being considered for admission into teacher's college. Good thing, too, since our school system is a disgrace. For some wicked reason it's been built upon "survival of the least-fittest" for decades, and we're all crap at maths, for instance. It's always been about helping ONLY those who struggle with learning (which doesn't show, really, with all those claiming to be dyslexic nowadays; seems there's suddenly been an explosion of them), the rest of us have been left to our own devices and I for one remember being bored beyond belief all through school, not having any real challenges until University, by which time I was far behind when it came to learning methods etc. But alas, since it actually means sense to suggest something like what Clemet's done now, it'll probably just disappear down the drain sometime in the near future. Tut tut.

Current track: Madness - Nightboat to Cairo

Labels: current affairs, Norway

The immensely popular Indian TV series Mahabharat is finally released on DVD - 16 discs and 70 hours of Indian myths and really spaced special effects are there for your viewing pleasure. Run and buy it now! I know I won't.

Current track: Bel Canto - Shimmering Warm and Bright? (It's in my head.)

Labels: humour, online shopping, TV

(Ten points to those who know from which film I've taken that quote.)

I feel bad. I've bought my first pair of Levi's ever. Then I bought another pair of Nike shoes. Have I become obsessed by brands all of a sudden, I ask myself, and the reply I get is this: "They actually DO last a lot longer." So I guess it's ok after all.

I wish the drivers of the tube trains would stop giving us vital information in the middle of a tunnel - people hardly understand what they're saying when the trains have stopped, let alone when they're in motion! I fart in their general direction.

Ooh, that reminds me. I've got this mental list of expressions (most of them derived from Monty Python) that I use frequently. I fart in their/your general direction is one of those. Others include I can't believe it's not butter! Tastes just like a dead crab! and Ya-dee-bucket-y, ram-dim-dooh, ni-ni-ni, aroo! and Now don't do it again! (one of the Roman soldiers said that in Life of Brian) and He has a wife, you know. Do you know what she's called? Incontinentia. Incontinentia Buttocks. and Well, aren't we a little teapot. (from In & Out) and Look at my hand! (also from In & Out) and Start again! (followed by an impersonation of a clown waving his hand - from an obscure episode of Flying Circus) and Oh, darn. (Tim Allen says that at one point in Galaxy Quest) and Play nicely! (Jason Isaacs in the second Harry Potter film) and lots of others.

I was considering asking for the huge sign for La Cage as I went past the theatre earlier today, but then I got a grip and realised it would have looked really silly (and big) hanging from my balcony, AND the board probably wouldn't approve of my putting it there anyway. Bugger.

Current track: Listening to Le Placard on telly. Can't say I understand much of it.

Labels: comedy, film, jason isaacs, Monty Python, musicals, theatre, tube

An era that lasted for five months. *laughs* That was the last time I went to see La Cage aux Folles; I have seen more than 10% of the performances and I doubt that I will be this obsessed with any show again in the near future.

No one (really) messed up today, so that was a bit of an anti-climax, but at the same time Morten Rudå seemed to have become much more at ease since Tuesday (which I am pretty sure was his first time as Albin this time around, as Dennis Storhøi played that part last Saturday (not that I was there last Saturday)), and everyone looked like they were having fun. Anders Hatlo spilled some tea on me, so I suppose I should be happy with that. *winks*

We never got around to eating anything, though, so I am quite hungry by now and I've hardly got any food in the house. I feel like pizza, but I haven't got enough cash. Yes, this is as interesting as my post-La Cage-life will be. From now on I shall only write about what I didn't have for dinner. That'll teach you. *smiles*

Current track: A strange mix of several showtunes

Labels: anders hatlo, dennis storhøi, humour, musicals, personal, theatre

I could of course mention that some idiot threw an item (a lighter?) at David Bowie last night, twenty minutes into the concert in the Frogner Park (which tourists call the Vigeland Park.) Luckily this apparently ignited (!) him instead of making him leave the stage, and people had another two brilliant hours of listening to this king of pop.

Naturally, I wasn't there. I became a David Bowie fan last year, so a bit of a latecomer, but I'd love to see him on stage some time in the future. However, I like his earlier, pre-80's work only, with a few exceptions. Just like I am an avid fan of The Beatles, but I mostly like their later work, starting with the Rubber Soul album (which is my favourite, actually, as opposed to Revolver, which seems to be everyone else's favourite.)

Current track: Maroon 5 - This Love (on the radio)

Labels: concert, music

Literally. Hee-hee. (Early morning humour can be great or daft)

I was going to write about ice cream, but as I've spent the good half of an hour looking for and not finding a certain very important word that I know very well in Norwegian but not at all in English, I've scrapped the idea and will mention that Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall instead. Have a nice Saturday!

Current track: The radio (Reiseradioen)

Labels: humour, time wasting

This whole day at work has been...blech. We did close to nothing up until lunchtime. After lunch we did absolutely nothing. Except solving crossword puzzles, imagining our near-infamous "what if"-scenarios (like, "what would you have done if your partner suddenly decided to quit their job, become a nude photographer and build a studio in your basement?" - although lately they've become very dull and even more bizarre than usual.) Then, to top it off, the boss came back to argue about our wages (again) and we left for our holiday an hour later, extremely mad at him.

When I got back home there were six musical CDs waiting for me (the ones I ordered from Amazon a few weeks ago) - well, I had to pick them up at the post office, so I walked there. In the rain. But I needed a medium-long walk. Even in the rain.

Tomorrow's the last performance of La Cage aux Folles and thank Bob for that. They're going out with a bang (hopefully); Morten Rudå will be playing Albin quite brilliantly and we're hoping for Anders Hatlo to forget his lines because he's perfect at adlibbing and we're sitting in our front row seats and waiting to be entertained in the most fabulous way. I will be flirting with all the dancers. And I'll vow not to return to that theatre for at least a couple of months. Which is quite a feat considering this past half-year. Nationaltheatret will be seeing more of me soon, though. *winks*

Why do I have a feeling this summer will be exceedingly dull (for me, that is)?

God bedring, Dennis Storhøi!

Current track: Trying to decide which of the CDs to put on

Labels: anders hatlo, dennis storhøi, musicals, online shopping, personal, theatre

The Beeb reported a few days ago that being bilingual helps preventing you from developing senile dementia. This works best if you're bilingual from early childhood, but education helps as well, as does dancing, reading, playing musical instruments, solving crosswords and other puzzles.

I want a piano.

Current track: Mr. Man - Restricted

Labels: linguistics, science

Marc Dutroux has been found guilty of kidnapping, torturing, raping and murdering several young girls, and for administrating a group of paedophiles. About time. Let's just hope they'll keep him locked up this time. He's been leading a horrible life for 15 years. The way he'd been torturing them, the way they died, it's beyond belief. Read more about it in Dutch through the Gazet van Antwerpen or in English through The Beeb now.

Current track: Headrillaz - Everything Good is Bad

Labels: current affairs

After three weeks I quarreled persuaded my server provider to change my user account, so the graphics should be back by now. My (other) website is back up (even though there's nothing there) and everything is good.

Went to see the third HP film last night - it was fabulous, even though I was a bit stomped at the apparent rearranging of the school grounds. And of course too little Professor Snape, but that was to be expected, I guess. Emma Thompson was hilarious. I suggest you go read Cleo's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 15 Minutes fanfic the minute you've seen the film, because it makes it even better.

Current track: Nothing.

Labels: Alan Rickman, computers, film

Forgotten 91-year-old dies - this happened in a town in my old county. They struck her off their list even though she's been dependent on four daily care visits since 2001. Someone should definitely lose their job and be prosecuted for negligence over this. Preferably someone who's actually in charge, and not just a scapegoat.

Charges against Mullah Krekar dropped - now with a very unflattering picture. Since dropping the charges means it may become easier to deport him back to Iraq, I'm all for it. Of course, he's going to sue the State for keeping him in custody and for "wrongful accusations". Wrongful my arse. And today he was convicted of terrorism in Jordan. Of course, Jordan is known for using torture against prisoners and "witnesses", so...

And apparently Oslo isn't as expensive as it used to be - it's "just" no. 15 on the list, as opposed to no. 13 last year. This is not good enough; let's make it even more expensive to live here. FYI, Tokyo came on top, followed by London and Moscow. Great.

In more personal news, I finally got the Listen up! CD today from Dress Circle, featuring music by Jason Carr, sung by such fabulous singers as Maria Friedman, Liza Pulman, Michael Ball and Philip Quast.

AND I'm going to see the third Harry Potter film in a few hours' time. Woo-hoo!

Current track: Philip Quast - Totally Different Species (from "Learned Ladies")

Labels: current affairs, film, music, Norway, philip quast

There's ABSOLUTELY no reason for my putting that title on this post, except that it's a FABULOUS one.

Today's performance was a completely new one, as the whole thing started with The Dreaded Announcement For Any Long-Distance Traveller: "Morten Rudå will be playing Albin and Hans Marius Hoff Mittet will be playing Jacob due to sudden illness." Luckily, I'm not a long-distance traveller, and I've been kind of toying with the idea of seeing Rudå and Mittet doing other parts, except for the fact that that of course would mean that either of the two gentlemen Hatlo and Storhøi had to be ill. Turned out Rudå was as good as I had expected, even better, and that we all had a jolly good time. Get well soon, Dennis, hope to see you again this week, and if not then take care and have a nice summer!

This is, however, the Dreaded Announcement for me whenever I go to see a play abroad. I usually go just to see that particular play, and usually just to see that particular actor (whomever that is.) Most of those plays turn out to be very good anyway and I often notice other brilliant actors during the performance. It's still not quite the same without that particular actor appearing in the play as announced. Not when you've paid through the nose to get there. Of course, that's a rather selfish thought. A perfectly natural thought, but a selfish one nonetheless. Touch wood, it hasn't happened to me yet. I'm still very nervous every time I go to London to see a play. Other people would worry about the flight or something. I worry about a play. *laughs*

Current track: My neighbour's telly. If anyone has a spare flat to sell, please contact me.

Labels: anders hatlo, dennis storhøi, musicals, theatre

That's it. I'm not an original. The tests they took today, to see if I could become a blood donor, showed that I'm pretty normal. Of course, in this matter that's a good thing. ;-) I've got a bruise from where she inserted the syringe, but who cares. Maybe they'll want me after all. I didn't tell them I probably shouldn't see the other blood donors, though, as I may faint. *laughs* The hospital area was like a town of its own, I was quite amazed. It was like my first day at uni; it was so huge I decided to just follow the rest. Unfortunately that didn't help much, since they were all newbies and hadn't read the map either.

Oh, and I was given a rose. Apparently today was the international blood donor day. As I was waiting for the bus, a girl about my age, with a dog and eating an ice cream, came up to me and said "so you've got a rose." What I should have said was "no, that's a car," but instead I just smiled and after a long and awkward pause we started talking about her dog. I'm sure she was just in a very good mood because of the weather and all that, I'm just not used to complete strangers walking up to me and starting to talk; I generally think they may have a lost a few marbles. So I apologise to whomever she was; you just caught me at an inopportune moment, that's all. Try again in a few months. :-)

By the way, did you know that during one operation they use blood from up to 200 people? I guess that's why they've been going on and on about wanting new blood donors.

Current track: Boogie Pimps - Somebody to Love

Labels: humour, personal

I've spent many hours watching superheroes today. It started with (a borrowed) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen which was by all means not the worst film I've ever seen, but it's not going to be among my favourites. It helped that Richard Roxburgh was in it. Unfortunately so was Sean Connery which sort of drags is back down, sorry to say. I then put on X-Men, followed by X-Men 2 (naturally.) They're both good films and I find myself shouting Wolverine! quite a lot during those films, even though I'm not particularly fond of neither him nor Hugh Jackman. I guess it's his coolness that gets to me. :-) At the same time, my favourite must be Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler - I think Alan Cumming is acting very well in X2. I finished the superhero evening by watching Spider-Man, which I think is fun and action-packed and I like the CGI a lot. Looking forward to the sequel which should arrive soon, especially since Alfred Molina is in it (albeit as a rather disguised person.)

But first, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on Wednesday. Go Snape! [cue evil laugh]

Current track: Aled Jones - Walking in the Air

Labels: alfred molina, film, richard roxburgh

Old prune, more like. This is what I get in one of my inboxes: How would you like to have PERMANANT (sic) penis growth? First of all: Eww! Second: I don't think that's biologically possible. And third: If, and only if, this actually worked (on a man, that is) - would it never stop growing? I mean, John Holmes allegedly had problems with the loss of blood to vital organs every time he got aroused, so how about these poor people?

At least they'll have some fun for a while before dying. Apparently.

Current track: Nada.

Labels: humour

...isn't my thing, really. Basically because I'm extremely lousy at noticing the lyrics to any song. The music, however, I save and restore whenever possible (I'm always whistling or playing the air synth). This is not a good sign for any hopeful actor. So I'll just scrap that right now. I've got photographic memory (which doesn't exist, according to this article) but it only extends to memorising tons of film quotes (boy, have I got my mind filled with those), important dates (for instance, in music history or even in history in general), the names of supporting actors, that sort of thing and not text. I know just one poem by heart, and it consists of only four words. :-) I'm basically crap at memorising large chunks of text. However, I'm quite confident in my ability to ad lib. *laughs* It's one of the few things that I do well - making people laugh. I'm sure I've got a talent in there somewhere, I'd just like to know what it is and how to use it. *shrugs*

Current track: Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out (oh, the memories...)

Labels: personal

That sort of sums up my day, really. The question is: Am I a spider or a dust bunny? Either way, I'm sure they'll reject me as a blood donor on Monday because of high blood pressure. I probably shouldn't blame anyone else, but I have this sneaking suspicion that my boss has something to do with it. Turns out that the bastard's been paying me too little three years in a row and he now claims there has been no mistake. There has. Believe me. You owe me money, you twat. For some reason he has to have a row about everything. I don't think a workplace should be like ours. I'm tired of having to rationalise every little thing I do, like asking for a new pack of paper clips ("Why do you need those? Can't you just remove the paper clips from all the old reports?") It's amazing that he's still alive, really. You know what? I'd rather be booed off stage than working for him; at least that way I'd get some feedback for what I do.

Speaking of being booed off stage...no, they received a standing ovation tonight as well. I'm confident they wouldn't be booed off stage even if only half of the cast turned up for work, then started calling each other names while on stage, having a bit of a fight, losing track of the script never to return. OK, perhaps then. My sadistic self would be applauding, though. *grins*

So today we had a heated discussion with the boss about our pay. What he's legally bound do pay us and all that. Meaning there's no way anyone can squirm their way out of that one. Well, unless they're my boss, of course. I don't know what's wrong with him, but he seems very paranoid. I tried to explain to him last year that he wasn't being very rational about things. He thought it preposterous that I was there just for the money. Well, I wasn't. In the beginning. By last year that was the only thing left. One year later...it's becoming worse every day. Seriously. I'm hardly capable of hating anyone, but if I were I'd send them to work with this man. The most interesting thing about him is that he thinks he's very kind and fair. I...I...I have no words to describe him. So I won't.

My biggest concern, though, is that while the ever so brilliant La Cage inspires me tremendously, my boss destroys that inspiration every day. Today I was so tired when I got back from work I would have gone to bed if I hadn't had tickets for the show. The only thing I write these days is this blog and that's just not like me. I've got heaps of stories in my head but I can't seem to sit down and write any of them down. I bought a new notebook and a pen for bringing with me everywhere I go, three months ago. So far I've written a list of my Norwegian dream cast for Noises Off, and that was two months ago. It's supposed to be filled with ideas, notes, observations. The other day (yesterday? Wow, it feels so much longer ago) I was sitting in an outdoor café just watching people for two hours and didn't make any notes. I can't blame the boss for all of that, but he surely has something to do with it.

He keeps calling us stupid. What kind of a man says that to his employees? (Btw, I've taken a few official IQ tests. I'm smarter than Forrest Gump. *smiles*)

Of course, another way of getting some inspiration would be to actually read something, other than the newspaper. Let's face it, the newspaper only brings you stories that will eventually destroy anyone who's slightly more sensitive than a shoehorn. I got the new book in the Georgia Nicolson series last week and I still haven't read the previous book. Shame on me. I know that once I open the book I'll read all of it in one sitting, but I have obviously persuaded myself into thinking I haven't got the time. For instance, if the sixth Harry Potter book was released all of a sudden tomorrow morning, I wouldn't buy it, just because I wouldn't find the time to read it. Considering how much time I spent on the last book (I think just two days, but I did nothing but sleep and read during those two days), that would be just about right, actually.

Since I've been tired for many hours already (La Cage woke me up, though, and if it hadn't, the two gentlemen sitting next to me would have, with their belly-laughs. Thank Bob I knew the lines, 'cause they were laughing through half of them. I'm glad they liked it, though. I'm deranged enough to feel proud about the show, you see. This is not unique. I do that with most plays, films and music that I like.), I should probably get to bed. Unfortunately, I'm listening to some really great music and then there's an episode of Whoopi I'd like to see first, so the bed will stay cold for another hour or so.

Oh, and Dennis*, the next time we take the tube together, stop fiddling with your mobile if you want to know how inspiring you've been these last few months. *laughs* (* I'm not a believer in being on first name basis with anyone I don't know, it's just that in this setting (i.e. telling him off) it would seem ridiculous to use his full name. Nor am I a believer in disturbing anyone when they're clearly busy doing something else. I hate it when people do that to me. (Emergencies include Alan Rickman on a street in NYC, naturally.)) (* For anyone knowing me personally, no, I'm not talking about my (parents') dog, who just happens to be called Dennis.)

Current track: DJ Mendez - Fiesta (House Party)

Labels: Alan Rickman, dennis storhøi, literature, music, musicals, name-dropping, personal, theatre, TV, writing

...and what on earth have I been doing, I wonder? Hmm...well, most of last weekend was spent doing mostly nothing, then this week was more of the nothing-doing and today I've been doing...nothing.

Seriously, though, last weekend was spent doing the usual stuff on Saturday (listening to Jonathan Ross on BBC Radio 2, listening to whatever drama they're playing on NRK P1, then turn to NRK P2 in order to listen to this week's satirical round-up of the news (BBC's Dead Ringers and Have I Got News for You spring to mind) while washing up (and missing half of what they're saying, so I always record it just in case), then a couple of hours off, meaning I read and/or play computer games (this weekend it was Neverwinter Nights again, until I suddenly got tired of killing Fire Giants and loaded Rise of Nations instead), then there's Friday's edition of Top of the Pops on BBC Prime before turning to the news and whatever programmes they've got on NRK again. I really don't need anything but BBC and NRK (which is our state-owned channel, it is VERY MUCH like the BBC in every possible way, except that...uhmm...it's in Norwegian, of course. I just knew you wanted to know that.)

No, I don't go out partying all night. Been there, done that. I know quite a few of my old schoolmates won't believe me when I say that, and I don't really care. All that matters is that boozing and stumbling about (I think they like to call it "dancing", but there's usually not much rhythm present) doesn't interest me anymore. During one semester at Uni I used all of my savings and student loan on partying and I'll be paying for that for another fifteen years, so I'm not quite sure if it was worth it. Oh well. Anyway, all of the pubs and clubs I used to go to are gone, all but one. Went past there last night after ANOTHER bout at the theatre (I'll get back to that) and was reminded why I don't want to go back to that place.

I remember watching five films on Sunday, sort of took off completely there. Among them Orange County, which was surprisingly funny (AND John Lithgow, another one of my favourites, was in it) - I spent most of the film comparing young Colin Hanks to his dad and came to the conclusion that they look alike and share many other characteristics as well. Gestures, for instance, even his voice sounded a bit like Tom's from time to time.

I don't remember what I was doing on Monday. Working? Probably. Watching a lot of telly, I think. The wraps-up of all the series before summer and all that. The finals of Nr. 19, based on the Aussie Channel 9/Nine Network The Block. Brilliant.

Last night? My seventh visit to see La Cage. The saga does not end there. I bought another two tickets today, to get an even TEN. I've spent NOK 3,600 (£300) on that show and may be admitted to a mental hospital at any time. Seriously, I know how much it has meant to me these last five months to have somewhere to go in order to just get away from my extremely crappy life, so if people think I'm weird then so be it. At least I've had great fun and Bob only knows what I'll do now. GET A HOBBY, PERHAPS? ;-) Anyway, last night I brought someone with me, someone who hadn't seen the show before, and she said she liked it a lot too. I apologise, but since I've got this very twisted and sadistic sense of humour (*winks*) I just had to applaud when one of them completely lost track of the script. I had no idea most of the audience would applaud as well, they usually don't pay any attention to me.

So that was my week, how was yours? Next week I'll go to the hospital for a check-up to see if I can become a blood donor. About bloody time (heehee), because I promised myself to become one 12 years ago. Coming to think of it, that was round about the time I decided I should not be a member of the church* any longer; haven't got around to that one either. Ahem. (* Basically most Norwegians automatically become members of the State Church at birth because a) their parents can't be bothered to baptise them anywhere else, or b) their family really IS a Christian one (which is highly unlikely, apparently, according to all the newest surveys - Norwegians are the least religious people in Europe.))

Of course there's the Harry Potter film I'll go and see next week, in addition to another two visits to the theatre (definitely my last two, as it ends next Saturday - hey, it's my way of saying "thanks" and "this was a great show" and "I really think the city council should give the theatres more money" and "please pay our actors more money as well because this is getting ridiculous" and "I really need a holiday" *winks again*.) Oh, and I'll start my holiday in two weeks' time. My boss asked me if I really needed that week off, since I'm not going anywhere (his idea of a holiday is going abroad and stressing even more than usual, mine is to get away from work) - as he said that I thought "well, that clinches it, I'm DEFINITELY going on holiday." We spent another day at work today seriously thinking of quitting. I can't even begin to try and make you understand how the boss is. You wouldn't believe me anyway. David Brent (from The Office) is my dream boss compared to the one I've got. Really. *getting slightly frustrated*

The grass IS greener on the other side.

Current track: Escobar - Someone New

Labels: comedy, film, gaming, holiday, humour, john lithgow, Norway, party, radio, theatre, TV

One of my webspace providers has temporarily (???) lost control of their servers, so I'm afraid the title graphics and the link to what's playing on WTFQ? Radio have gone AWOL. I've also lost touch with a few of my e-mail addies, but thanks to some thrifty (temporary???) solutions I've bypassed that problem for the time being. Any e-mail sent to me in the last few days, however, has been lost.

Current track: Whatever they're playing on The Osbournes on MTV.

Labels: computers, wtfq

I've had quite a few hits from people searching for the strangest things. (That sentence wouldn't have made any sense ten years ago, btw.) If only they would learn to make use of the apostrophes around whole terms. *rolls her eyes* I just don't think all of them are looking for this particular blog, and I'd hate to be yet another dead end in their endless search for [insert whatever you want here].

I feel like going shoe-shopping. I just know that by tomorrow I won't feel this way at all. Not that it matters; I've got other plans, i.e. having a nice cup of cappuccino in the sun after work, in my newest favourite outdoor pub. (It'll stay that way for another two weeks, after that I'll be losing interest.) Norway's new smoking ban started today (or should I say "yesterday", since it's past midnight) and the smokers are furious. My prediction is they'll keep shouting like that for a few months, then calm down for a bit (realising the rest of us have stopped listening to their whining), then go back to shouting once winter appears on our doorstep; by next summer we'll all be used to it. I'm a "reformed smoker", I think the PC term is, meaning I understand very well how frustrating it must be to be thrown into the street just to have a cigarette when you're supposed to be out having fun. Still, I'm for the ban, as it makes it so much easier for those 70% of us who aren't smoking to go out and have some fun as well, without having to worry about second-hand smoke and all that that brings. Think of the waiters and bartenders. As per usual, people are thinking about themselves first and foremost, nagging about how incredibly unfair it is that they'll have to stay outdoors to smoke. Well, I have news for you; there are a lot of really unfair things happening in this world, and your complaint ends up far behind most of those. You might as well get used to the new ban, as it's most likely staying for the rest of our lives.

Current track: I've had this strange song in my head all afternoon.

Labels: computers, current affairs, personal, technology