1980's flashback

She who knows me too well, sent me this viral email about growing up in the 1980's and early 90's. While reminiscing about snap bracelets, spokey dokeys and Bon Jovi may have been a humorous trip down memory lane, it did spark the thought of what would be my "crispy in the 80's" list.

1. Backmasking - it really is hard to beat Queen, "another one bites the dust" ... "it's fun to smoke marijuana" I lost too many hours in my life being dragged along to these type of meetings. Rah!! Very Crispy.

2. Tammy Faye Baker. Enough said.

3. Prosperity Gospel

4. Teen Ranch - (christian camp)

5. Youth Group

6. ET was satantic ... but so was everything else that annoyed my mother ... like WHAM!

7. Television evangelists

8. Stryper - big hair, makeup and Lycra ... and a television debate with Rev. Fred Nile ... priceless.

9. Vengeance ... the christian extreme metal band who's most noted song had lyrics resembling ... "I want my head chopped off ... Salvation."

10. Demon behind every tree theology makes it easy to blame the devil for every lapse of personal judgement.

My list really isn't as fun as my girlfriend's

I don't know who the originating author of this 80's viral email... if you know let me know so I can give credit.

You Know You Grew Up In The 80's if:
1. You used to buy cassette singles… and still have some stashed somewhere…
2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton
3. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.
4. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
5. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls (or your sister did).
6. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom
7. Two words: Hammer Pants
8. You watched "Fraggle Rock".
9. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and spokey-dokies or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect
10. You watched "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)
11. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
12. You (your sister, cousins) wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
13. You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen..and still know the turtles names.
14. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
16. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
17. L.A. Gear....need I say more?
18. You remember reading Tales of a fourth grade nothing and all the other Judy Blume books.
19. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"
20. You wanted to be a Goonie.
21. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)
22. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
23. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
24. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
25. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
26. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
27. Barbie and the Rockers was your favourite band.
28. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.
29. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
30. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
31. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
32. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
33. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
34. You have ever played with a Skip-It or Elastix
35. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
36. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
37. Don't worry, be happy
38. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
39. You wore socks scrunched down
40. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
41. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.
42. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"
43. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and & My Little Pony Tales
44. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
45. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
46. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"
47. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.
48. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
49. You just sang those words to yourself.
50. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
51. Homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)
52. You remember when mullets were cool!
53. You had a mullet!
54. You still sing "We are the World"
55. You tight rolled your jeans.
56. You owned a bannana clip.
57. You used to (and probably still do)
say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"
58. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
59. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!
PASS THIS ON TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS WHO GREW UP IN THE 80s or Early 90s!!!
ROCK ON!!!

Tech Support

I had a frustrating day today. I was trying to solve a database related problem. I trawled through the manuals and couldn't find what I was after ...so I get on the phone to the tech support. I ask a simple question, to which the response was "That is a very good question!" "Hmmm, let me see ... yes ... no ... in fact definitely no. You can't do that with our system." I looked down to the day calendar that I had written the support phone number on. I read the quote for the day and couldn't help but laugh.

"Do not rely completely on any other human being, however dear. We meet all life's greatest tests alone." Agnes MacPhail.

Shine

Ok, so I have been filing all my sad music for another time and place. There is only so much Amy Winehouse a girl can bear before life is unbearable ... and she is the one with the drugs!

When I was culling ... I found this old time fav. I believe that Mr Big had an amazing hit with this song "shine" written by Richie Kotzen. It feels good to me right now.

Depression

Some of you know that I have been battling depression for a long time now. And of all the monkeys to kick this one truely sucks. People who care about you are waiting for you to just "snap out of it" and the pressure to put on a happy face and deny what is really going on is unbearable. I have seen therapists, taken anti-depressants, read a million books ...

I had a coffee with a friend, he gave me a book ... Set Yourself Free by Shirley Smith. I know I could have thought, here we go with another book, but my meeting with my friend was so real, so honest ... I knew that he is being changed by whatever it is he is doing, and for the better.

In the meantime, so over the constant sadness and misery I started really looking at my diet. I am now making sure I get all my fruit and veges each day and taking my vitamins etc. which are easily overlooked when you live alone.

I have started to feel better.

So I started reading that book. I have just begun but I know that there is life there. I often talk a good game when inside I am desperately unhappy. I'll let you know how I progess.

My Girl

I am in Sydney. I am spending the day with my daughter. If you ask her how old she is she will say ... "I am six, but very soon to be seven." She is talking so much and I am amazed at the vocab. Her movement control in her dancing is outstanding and she has spent most of the day jumping rope ... I can't help but wonder how so much could change in such a short time. For anyone who is the non-custodial parent I am sure you get it. You are just the other person, not in your child's eyes but in your own.

She is bright, brave and beautiful.

I feel lucky that I had the opportunity to carry her in my womb for nine months.

Girl, you are a rockstar. Don't doubt it.

The Dreams You Dare To Live

I have been asked many questions in the past week. Many of those questions resulted in the simple answer of "if you don't ask, you don't get."

If we live our lives determined to avoid pain, heartache and disappointment ... we risk losing the greatest attainment of all ... a life well lived.

"You're only as big as the dreams you dare to live." anonymous.

Some people spend all their life saying if only ... i could have ... i should have ... but then there is you and me. The ones that dare to jump into the fire. The ones that stand up for one more round with the taste of blood in the mouth. The ones that don't quit, don't betray, and in that resilience find the only reward there is ... a life well lived.

Leave some room for yourself

In being alone we leave enough room for ourselves ... to think, to create, to just be and breathe.