A week in Oregon

I went to Oregon to visit with my Mom and friends for the week. I took the Amtrak train in the early morning from Mt Shasta, California to Eugene, Oregon. The colors of Autumn were bold and provided a beautiful journey (even if it was over 7 hours long!)

Being home has never been easy for me, so it wasn't a surprise there was drama and tension while over my brother and between my Mom and I. Whilst in Oregon I seem to inspire others around me to make bad decisions that fuel the stress levels; it happens year after year. But it was important for me to see my Mom and try my best to get along with her. We had a good week together with only one argument which happened on my last night. But I left on good terms.

Two of my girlfriends drove me back to Mt. Shasta on Friday and stayed with me for the weekend. It was great to spend time with them in a different environment outside Oregon.
I will be leaving for LA on the 8th of November. The two day road trip along the Pacific Ocean will be a real highlight for my journey. This weekend is Halloween and there will be a Wild West party at Roxy's Vets Club. I will be dressing as an all American cowgirl in honor of YANK- red white and blue! Until then I plan to do another wood cutting run for more $$$ whilst desperately trying to find work in California or New York. My funds have depleted and the reality has set in that going back to London for the Holidays is looking unrealistic. I need to make money before I decide to return to England or settle somewhere in the USA. Its looking like my initial three months in America could be longer...
Music I am Currently Listening to: (Old School) Kernkraft 400 'Zombie Nation' - makes me think of Southend on Sea, Essex.

Roxy the Lumberjack

When times are tough open your mind for ways to make money! My girlfriend and I decided to drive miles into the mountains to her fathers cabin on 40 acres to cut seasoned (fallen) oak wood to sell back in town for money. We took three guys, two trucks and a couple chains saws and before you know it I made over $300 back in town. I sold the wood to my uncle and my grandmother for the cold winter ahead. The kindness this group showed me in my time of need was unlike anything I have experienced in a very long while.

Mt Shasta had a three days storm - it was wet, cold and cloudy but on the fourth day the clouds lifted and this is what was unveiled....
This town never ceases to blow my mind in its beauty. Once a naked mountain is now covered in snow and my blue sky is back! I took my aunts cockier spaniels for a walk today and I walked by a family of deer (in the daylight) who looked right at me and didn't move -they just starred at me with their incredible dark glass-like eyes. A really amazing moment in time. I truly love it here, but it is too small of a town for me to settle in. Enjoying it for now to say the least.

Off Sunday via Amtrak to Oregon to see my Mom - then back to Shasta to leave for LA on the 8th by car for the ride down the Pacific Coast Highway!!!!

Music I am Currently Listening to: Four Tet 'Unspoken'

Fun in October

I been having some fun here in Shasta over the last weekend. October has been host to the run up to Halloween (my outfit is ready) and the German festivities for Oktoberfest (which I also dressed up for.) My time here is drawing to a close. I am about to head to Oregon to visit with my Mom. I will return to Northern California in time for Halloween then leave for Southern California where the journey continues.Money has been an issue since I arrived, but I have a plan! My friends father here in Mt Shasta has 40 acres of land full of oak trees. Me and a bunch of friends are going out to this property to cut wood and sell back in town to local residents. Oak is the slowest burning wood for fireplaces therefore sells a the highest price compared to other wood types. Its a big business and can help me raise some money for my journey. We are gathering strong boys to saw the trees down and the we will load, stack and split (on the woodcutter) the other end. This is a far cry from the media world back in London; but when times are tough... its time to get creative!

At the moment there is heavy rain and wind in Northern California - the worse since 1962. Its unbearable outside; a far cry from the blue sky and sunshine at the weekend. It's long over water for the state of California as lake levels are at an all time low. It also prevents yearly forest fires.

Nothing is really going to plan - maybe that is part of the plan?

I am currently in Mt Shasta longer than I anticipated. I also am not staying at my aunts in her guest house as it became too much for her with me there (even though I was never there.) It was nothing I did but she became overwhelmed and anxious with the 'upheaval' and change by having me there. So I decided to leave and stay at my best friends house to appease her. "Don't hate me" she said... "I am just cant keep up with the pace and I am used to being alone."

I am trying my hardest to get a month or so of work under my belt as I want to make some money for my trip to Oregon, LA and New York. I think the LA and Oregon run will have to be be pushed back as I will stay put and follow up leads for potential work here in Shasta.
I went to Ashland, Oregon last weekend to see 'Don Quixote' as part of the Shakespeare Festival at their outdoor theater. It was a brilliant play with fantastic reclaimed made props. Ashland is a very liberal, hippie, organic eating, yoga loving town with a muti-million dollar modern take on The Globe Theatre. It was great for me to get out of Mt Shasta and immersed in some culture. Before the play we went to a mind blowing fire/dance show - the photos don't even do these guys justice!
Last night I watched the film 'Sicko' by Michael Moore. Although it came out a couple years ago, its still a very present issue in American - US health care. I could not help but get 'the fear' over the US government and the control private health care and pharmaceutical companies have over America and the sick. During the film sequence shot in London portraying the FREE National Health care service, I sat there and couldn't help but think I am insane trying to carve a job with benefits here in America. Why doesn't US get it - but countries like Great Britain, France and Cuba does?

Music I am currently listing to: Ah Ha 'Take on Me' (someone has taken over my iPod)

Learning how to relax and enjoy it!

I 'm having a hard time not working. I am staying in a town with less than 4,000 people so work is thin on the ground here. What I really want is cash-in-hand work that will give me the freedom to visit my Dad in NY and my best friend in LA over the next couple months. As my funds are dwindling I grow worried about money and my future. I try and remind myself that this journey is a break from my life in London with a view to a possible future in America. Whilst I want to relax and enjoy the adventure, I am not used to not working and not having a routine. So the resume (CV) is being updated and I am hitting the town in search of work first thing next week. I am not fussy about what, I just need to use my brain and earn some money!

Monday I had the fly shot, kindly bought for me by my aunt as I have no health care ($30.) That should protect me from possible bugs as the weather has grown cold ready for the winter ahead. My dodgy eye has not healed and I was becoming more concerned by the day. I went to the local eye doctor in town and decided to bite the bullet and pay $55 for the consultation to get a proper diagnosis. The doctor smiled and said I had a blocked oil gland in my eye lid and there was nothing to worry about. He advised me of some medicine to buy and said hot compresses will do the trick until the gland .... (wait for it).... bursts. (Gross.) When I went to pay for the visit he said, "As you are used to socialized medicine over in England I am going to treat you the same way. There is no charge." He was a very nice man and took pity on my situation and I thank him for it!I have always found it hard to live in the moment and not in the future. One of the reasons I am here is to really think about what makes me 'truly happy' so it's natural for me to be worried about my future, money and what country I want to live in. After speaking to a dear friend back in London this evening I feel much better. She encouraged me to enjoy myself and not beat myself up. So that's what I am going to do - starting with being productive to make money to fund the fun!Music I am currently listening to: None. I am watching the American version of 'What not to Wear' on TV