Splenda

So many things have been going on inside of me lately. And in that, a process of actually totally and utterly coming to terms with who I am, and also what I am. Now, that might sound weird, but it isn’t. Not to me. It’s been heaven. It’s been spiritual and touching. It is just all good. I have cried many tears of release, tears of joy, tears of realisation, tears of epiphanies etc. I have understood dreams I had as a child, and found out what they meant, and actually just how significant they were. Already then, trying to tell me that I should never shift away from that spiritual side of myself, but I did. I swayed a thousand miles from it, but it was always a part of me nevertheless. I was scared of being judged. Yes, I was. Frightened because I know not of one person close to me, except my beloved mother, who actually believes in the same stuff I do. Some might believe in parts of it all, but not the whole shebang. I can’t believe just how alternative and occult I actually am. (And just to clarify; I am not a Satanist or something!) I believe in God, but I believe in many other things too. There are many things unexplainable “in” this world really. I don’t feel all ready to tell all about it yet. But I just wanted to share that I’ve been going through a lot lately. I have found the true spiritual me, and it makes me feel incredibly balanced. And I like balance, because it isn’t borderline, like over the top happy or really dark, if you know what I mean. I am at ease, and I think that is a really good place to be when I think about the surgery I am going to go through, plus also the change in eating I have to embark on after that. Seriously; liquid eating for 3 whole weeks, and then 3 weeks of mashed food afterwards. *lol* Actually, I have lost 10 kilos in the last two months or so. I am still losing, and I am proud over it.

I love TV-programmes about interior, and exterior, designs. To see all the beauty a house, a flat, a barn, a castle can convey, via the meticulous work of those building it, is just fantastic. One of the shows is “Grand designs”. I have watched numerous shows of it. I also like the presenter; Kevin McCloud. I think he is really good, and in addition, and this is a bonus; he is hot. I feel quite smitten by him really. He has that special glimpse in his eyes. And let's not forget; he is born in the 50s. Gosh, it seems all the “good ones” are born in the 50s, in my opinion that is. But also the year 1960 stand out. For instance Bono is born that year.  Here's Kevin. Yummy. I am glad a single woman has something drool-worthy to look at. What would life be without it!?

Since I last wrote my dear friend of 32 years, Eva and hubby had a baby; Ernst. He was born on October 14^th and is just beautiful! It is this boy I am going to be a godparent to. So proud and honoured by that! They live a good drive from here, but I hope I will see them and little Ernst very soon. Can't wait! 

History studying is hard, but also nice. I have passed all tests and papers so far, and so let us hope it continues that way! Also worth mentioning is the fact that I started on what I am hoping will develop into a book, a novel. It is harsh reality, tough, tragic, about a 16 year old girl and her promiscuous ways looking for something unknown and safe. Living a picture perfect life during the day, and then not so much at night...

I hope you are all doing well

Love Monsoon

Fast times at Vig****** Ungdomsskule/Junior High

Growing up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s was good. It was really good actually. I am forever grateful I was born when I was born, and that I am not a teen now. *chills* My home place was such a safe haven. We were SO sheltered from “all things evil”. I remember when I was 16... We were leaving “Junior High” and in that the same class we had been in for nine years. We were naïve, so gullible, clean, pure and good. I would just DIE if I heard about anyone who had had sex at that stage. To us they were like the cheapest things ever. *lol* Even those who smoked or drank alcohol were considered losers and bordering on criminals, for most of us. In my class, I think actually no one did these things. I must admit this though; our particular class was known for its quite angelic kids, and teachers “fought” to be able to teach us. Those were the days. Now, of course there were “rebels” here too, but they were not in my class, and there weren't many of them.

I must share a couple of incidents for sure. When I was in 8th grade (14-15 years) my friend Karin and I were playing ping pong in a recess, and our teacher Harald. He was the typical pietistic and stupid-kind type. Then as we were playing, a student from 7th grade walked past us and said to the teacher; “God, it is certainly flipping hot today eh Harald, it would have been fine with a cold cock in your ass”. Yeah, that is definitely the thing to say. Did that ever gobsmack the teacher! Poor guy! Karin and I just smiled awkwardly and carried on playing, all whilst I had a tiny giggle building up inside. Heck I might have been pure, but I was still me. And I never shun sway from some garbage humour. ;-) We had a similar incident the year before. During the long break we were allowed to play tapes on the speaker system that went out to all the rooms at school. One day a boy from 8th grade put on a tape that had some very questionable lyrics, SO not suited for school. These were the lyrics we all heard throughout; “I want cock, screamed Marie the old hooker, I want cock in that old pussy of mine. Now this song was in fact from an album called “under the elastics on knickers”, and had other songs like ”Wank me wearing white gloves”, “Fuck-Polka”, and the cute “Come fuck with me”. All in Norwegian of course, and if I might add; the titles make more sense, in the way that is possible, in Norwegian. Yeah, so I guess we weren’t all growing halos, or was that just the repressed sexuality talking back then?! We will never know.

So yes, the pupils at our Junior High School had their fast times too. I must admit that even I had my moments of “teacher bashing”. *feeling mortified* Names shall not be mentioned, except he stank of urine, sweat, general body odour and foul mouth stank too. He had yellow pimples the size of grapes all over his face (NOT exaggerating the size...) We literally ran if he came close to us. Once I actually held the door to prevent him from coming out. He was so little, thin and puny that I was of course much stronger than him. (I’ve always had an in-built strength, and used to be able to win over all the boys in the class in arm wrestling) Poor guy. One of my friends in my class couldn't get herself to open her lunch when he was still in the room, in fear of her food becoming poisoned from his heinous smells. His teeth appeared as one long yellow lane with no definition or end between the teeth. I guess that whole concept of dental hygiene had somehow failed him. Failed were also his relationships with soap and deodorant. Plus if you stood beside him and looked into his ears all you could see for miles were layer upon layer of ear wax. Was he perhaps saving it for a rainy day? Who the heck knows. I am just telling you; sweet cookie he reeked. Even his car spoke tragedy. Picture a tiny low rectangular/oddly shaped car, a la Mr Bean's, that looked like it was built of tin foil and wood, and then painted with the most gruesome brown colour ever imagined. It wasn't blank as cars are when they have varnish, no it looked all dry like a black board. It squeaked if you touched it.

And to top it off he had bad hearing and used hearing aid. How wrong was it to place him amongst 13 year old children, with raging hormones and no concern for tomorrows!? He probably had a hard time. Though, two years later, as we were finished Junior High, and were on our way into the big world of “high school”, he and I made up. I said I was sorry for my behaviour and we hugged it out. I am glad we did. He had cleaned himself up too at this stage, and didn't stink no more. I also want to stress that the description of him is not exaggerated. Even my mum almost fainted when she met him at parent-teacher meeting.

So, this was a trip down memory lane. I have worked as a mad hatter on yet another history paper today. All day. So now I am wrecked and going to bed. Well, actually it is the day after, as it is past midnight... So long.

Love

TV

When I was born there was one TV channel in Norway; Nrk, and the next one didn't arrive until I was 18. And by that I mean the next non-cable/satellite channel. And unless you lived, mostly in or around Oslo, Nrk was your only source of TV until 1992. Except my housing estate; my dad and another Radio Amateur were sick of having just the one channel, and being gadget maniacs the two of them, they saw to it that our housing estate got satellite TV in 1986. What a revolution that was. I got to see Nino Firetto and some cute Scottish John-guy on Super Channel's music programmes. I adored them, and they were exotic no end! It was certainly a new world for me. I was a devout music lover from an early age, but had up until then only really heard music. Once a week there was namely this countdown radio show with all the great hits, called “Ti i skuddet”. Which translates basically into “ten top hits”... In the late 80s and early 90s cable and such were more normal. This all brought a ton of TV-series from USA and also Britain. I used to watch “Full house”, “Step by step” for instance. But I know a few friends who also LOVED “Press gang”. I just looked up some of the kids to see what they looked like as grown-ups. Since I had cable my room would be "full" of girls on Tuesday nights to watch "Beverly Hills 90210". We loved that too. They were around the same age as us too, so...

I've often wondered what happened to some of the actors, becaus some of them you just never saw again. I am now going to update myself, and you, on the child cast of Step by step and then Full House. I start with Step... But first I want to say sorry for the bad set up and alignment of the pictures. Blogger sucks at this at the moment...

Staci Keanan (born 1975) played Dana Foster. After the show ended she stopped acting for many years, but then started again.

Brandon Call (born 1976) played J.T (John Thomas) stopped acting altogether. Now works at a gas station that his family owns. He was shot in both arms but recovered fully. According to rumours he is married and has two daughters.

Angela Watson (born 1975) played Karen Foster, stopped acting, but had a small part in Junior Pilot in 2005. She started a non-profit organization CAST (Child Actors Supporting Themselves) to help out other child actors whose parents had squandered their earnings, as Watson's own parents did. So I guess this is what she works with now.

Christopher Castile (born 1980) played Mark Foster. He stopped acting after the show closed. He now teaches political science at Biola University in California. I can’t find any recent pictures, but according to one of his students he looks the same, only older than last time we saw him.

Christine Lakin (born 1979) played Al (Alicia) Lambert has continued to act all through. She had bits on shows like "7th Heaven" and "3rd Rock from the Sun". She is looking good though; not so much Tomboy there now. She is actually (real life) best friends with Nicholle Tom, the eldest girl from “The Nanny”.

Josh Byrn (born 1984) played Brandon Lambert. He stopped acting. I found this picture of him now.

Sasha Mitchell (born 1967) played Cody Lambert. He has done some acting since, for instance on E.R. I remember we heard that he was a wife abuser, but apparantly those rumours weren't entirely true. According to IMDB.com, his arrests for spousal abuse stemmed from trying to protect his kids from their mother's abuse. He says that his wife was addicted to drugs throughout their marriage and that she abused the children physically, which caused him to intervene. He also claims that his wife then sold the spousal abuse stories to various tabloids. Today, Sasha has full custody of his four children, and his ex-wife is only allowed five supervised

visits with the children every year.

Jason Marsden played Rich Halke. He has continued in the business both as actor and director.

Emily Mae Young(born 1990) played Lilly. She appeared in two films after the show, but then nothing... Couldn't find a lot of info about her.

Then unto the kids of “Full House”.

Candace Cameron (Bure) played the eldest girl, D.J. (Donna Jo) Tanner. She married a NHL player back Valeri Bure in 1996, with whom she has three children. She is now a devout Christian of evangelical faith and endorses online Christian home-schooling academies. She has continued to act some.

In the part of Michelle Tanner we find the unknown Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. I remember I thought for a long time that the girl playing Michelle bared the name Mary Kate Ashley... hehe... They are filthy rich and have built “an empire” working around their names. Well done. Who wouldn't work and milk it for what it's worth!?

Jodie Sweetin (born 1982) played Stephanie Tanner. She has continued acting, but has also sadly had trouble with drugs. She has struggled with addictions, such as with Crystal meth. She is currently sober, yay for her. I am happy she managed to get help and such.

Andrea Barber (born 1976) played DJ's friend Kimberly 'Kimmy' Louise Gibbler. She stopped acting after Full House and is now graduated in English Major and is married and has two children.

So yes, that were some of the ones I/we watched, all grown up. I must say, many of them look really well. And i never actually knew just how near many of them were to my own age.

Off to do history paper! All is well otherwise.

Monsoon :-)