ANOTHER EXAMPLE

I am going to kick off the new theme of YANK by raving about graphic designer Elliott Grubb - the talent behind ANOTHER EXAMPLE - lucky for me, he is my cousin. Not a Yank, El is a British born lad who has worked for the likes of Diesel, 55 DSL, Nike, Levis, Mc Faul and more. He can currently be found working 9-5 in Shoreditch and designing freelance every weekend from his Brighton abode. He has no life... but that is the sacrifice one must make to be the ultimate uber in their field. Elliott has recently been doing some fantastic work for Nike and turning some of his amazing illustrations into silk screen prints.
New website coming soon!Contact Elliott here: hello@anotherexample.net

Back to the UK!

So after three months in America I have recently returned to the UK. I decided that missing a best friends wedding and the holidays with my family were things I could not miss. Although financially I am taking a risk, I am happy to be back and will do my best to find work to fund the next chapter... whatever that may be.

The last few weeks in Shasta had its highs and lows. My family in the USA has never been normal to say the least; however I am fortunate that friends ensured that I great trip.

My last adventure was a mini road trip to Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. South Lake Tahoe boarders with Nevada - one side is a California Ski town and the other side is Nevada full of casinos. I stayed the night on the Nevada side with a friend and had a great night of gambling. Meanwhile it was snowing outside and before you know it there was a foot of snow! I had never seen that much snow since I was a little girl, it was stunning.

Now back in the UK everything feels the same and there was no culture shock to be had. I feel in my heart that that England is home but I don't think that my time in the USA is over. Over the holidays and the new year I will be putting the necessary steps in play to decide my future.

California - will it be North or South

I have spent the last two weeks in Southern California enjoying the warm November weather and all the perks that goes with their climate: warm days, endless blue sky and having the ocean views. Everyday I woke up I felt thankful to see the sun - which really does make such a difference to your well being.

After spending a couple days in Santa Monica I left for Long Beach to stay with my best friend from the UK. I was fortunate enough to get a weeks freelance work for the fashion label she works for in Orange County. I was hired to help with the creation of the brands pop up store next to their head office. It was a manic week working hard with creatives from New York and LA hired externally to create the new store.

During the week my inner 'prejudice' against the rich and trendy was really tested. I was already working in a well known wealthy area. It testing at times to work and socialize with elite people my age that have it all. (Or think they do) It made me think harder about my own values and places I could and could not live in California. Which is precisely the point of this journey I am on!

I have made this conclusion thus far. I love this state, it's like it's own country with various climates and endless examples of natural beauty. From mountains to the ocean I want to explore this state in all its glory. I have a feeling I am being pulled to the North of this state....

Pacific Coast Road Trip

I finally completed the road trip from Northern California to Los Angeles and it was life changing. Once we came over the Golden Gate bridge and caught Highway 1 to the ocean coastline I knew instantly that I wanted to live in California. I truly feel I belong in vast open spaces and under big skies. I never knew that the coast line of California could be so breath taking. The Big Sur (a 90 miles stretch of rugged ocean coastline) was a fantastic example of God's handy work. Every corner provided a different breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and mountain terrain. I never felt so free and happy to see this untouched incredible space shared with my best friend.

Before I left Mt Shasta I met an amazing guy - typical that I was there for almost two months and only met him the week before I left. He is been real breath of fresh air within this journey and we have remained in touch with an open mind about seeing each other again in these uncertain times. I believe meeting him, like this adventure, has happened for a reason...

I am now in Santa Monica leaving for Long Beach to stay with my British girlfriend with a view to finding work and saving for the next chapter. I believe I know in my heart that I want to live in California and that I am not ready to return to England. I hope to gather the funds to see my family over the Christmas period but have to remain practical about the finical implication of that trip and returning back to the USA.

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

Road Trip! I Love San Francisco!

I was invited to take a road trip to San Francisco to see the Giants Baseball game with some friends on Sunday. It was a 4 hour drive - but worth it! Once we arrived I was elated to see the big city and urban life of San Fran. Blue sky and bright sunshine made the day a perfect day out. The Giants stadium sits right on the marina next to the ocean which made for photogenic snaps.
I made the mistake of liking the rival t shirt and logo better than the Giants merchandise. I wanted to buy the t shirt above but it was over priced. After all, I was with Giants fans in the hometown of the team. Behind my back the girls bought me the Chicago Cubs shirt I had my eye on. The condition was that I had to wear it then and there amongst the thousands of Giants fans. I was lucky I didn't get much shit from other fans, only odd looks.
I went the baseball game with two couples from Mt Shasta, both of whom are approaching being together for two years. One couple is still loved up and all over each other as if they just met. The other couple bickered and a distant tension was felt throughout the afternoon. It was interesting being the single person amongst the two couples experiencing opposite emotions. It reminded me of the hard work it can take to be in a relationship whilst how fantastic it can be to be in love and physically inseparable.