I heard that NOFX reckons they called it America.

WOW. It’s been 9 months since I got back from America. I got a proper job in May after coming home and have been saving a little money each month. I’ve sold art, and I’ve done some things I regret. 

Next adventure is going to be: Europe

Amsterdam, I’m coming for ya, then I’m coming home, putting on some gigs, then going again to france, Hopefully on to spain and wherever the plane takes me for the cheapest I guess!

All in aim for AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND/ FIJI - my homeland and my dream destinations.

Exciting.

 

Middle of the night on a monday :) I really need to sort this blog out i keep just doing stuff then forgetting about it then trying to remember it and now this isn’t readable, really. The only thing that I can think that I have done is eaten ALOT of chinese food this week.

I basically did ART, tidying and all sorts of practical stuff, been having a whole lot of fun making cookies like there’s no tomorrow. 

In serious prep for the cookie party we had this gone sunday. No joke, we have a million cookies in the house, this is basically an 8th of what there was! Everything went down a storm, my aunt is queen baker everyone is in love with her and the cookies, total honer to be her sous chef ;) 

I love my baby cousin claire she is awesome. Emmas should be in this too but she was doing homework. hahaha.

Basically had quite the hectic week, been trying to get involved with a few organisations to help out the homeless, or any other charitable stuff I can do. It’s actually made me feel a lot better about myself, put my problems into perspective, even though I know I’m allowed to be sad about issues of my own to an extent I’ve thrown myself into helping others worse off using art and things that I love to do. 

http://yourboobiesarefine.tumblr.com/post/14174970198/here-is-a-contribution-from-the-lovely-talented Did this for Lisa who is awesome :) I love this cause I hope we see lots more stuff like this I love it! Thinking of starting a zine or something to raise awareness and promote equality, I’d love to do that.

Something happened this week too, one of my ladies phoned me up on tuesday I think mightve been monday saying she’d put some art up online and a douche had ripped her apart, she was crying and I couldn’t believe it. Please think twice before you completely slate something that comes from the heart, as vunerable as art, and remember that you actually have no right to judge it. 

Skints - On a Mission (Katy B cover)

This blew UP this week, and well deserved, I adore the skints and this is beautiful.

These are some of my gingerbread for the homeless/oldpeople/children;

Decorating like there was no tomorrow. 

Tonight was fun, had the neighbours over for pizza, which is always a laugh. Justin and Jameson told me I can hang out with them whenever and kept telling me to get in his van. It started to scare me, but they seem like lots of fun. I always like meeting art enthusiasts and musicians and I got one of each so that was cool :)

Mischief Brew - Gimme Coffee or Death

Mischief Brew are my favourite and they liked my picture which was class. Also got on the radio again from NY to Guildford too much fun. I can now play and sing three ramshackle glory songs with piano ;) OOO and I did some lyric art for Harri

This blog is such shambles I’m gonna have to go through everything and sort it out so that it’s actually readable as a ‘blog’ I think it’s turning into a ‘notes about my trip’ instead of telling a story about how the culture is different

I’m workin on it hahaha. 

AHHH I haven’t updated this in like a week, I think it’s going to have to become a weekly thing because I’ve been busy. The only thing that reminded me of it was this

BECAUSE ITS SO TRUE. ahahah she’s so angry. 

I love travelling and flying on airplanes, it’s like, one of my favorites but the bitches at the airports are just like this. 

Been doing a whole lot of lyric art because I enjoy it and it’s what I’m going to decorate my room with. hahah. I’ve sent some of it out to people in colleges and other artist to get reviews and I’m gonna post some online soon because I’m so happy with them! Like honestly, I sent them to get some constructive crit and help but I got nice things back so that’s nice. woo :)

Sent some to a guy and he’s asked me to put together a book eeeeeep

Donno if you can tell that I love pat the bunny hahahahah

Johnny Hobo & The Freight Trains - Only two of my best friends are actual people

I’ve been to art galleries, a trippy lookin’ Cinema to see “The Help”, had chinese food, babysitted for my cousins a whole loads, played quirkle, danced to grime, hung out with friends, drunk rum, danced to hip hop, done art, read books under trees, hung out at coffee shops, drunk too much coffee, bought more art stuff, done photography, decorated the house, looked at the christmas tree, planned my trip to New Jersey/ NYC, discovered new music, danced to ska, made friends with artists, watched the skints on skype, chilled with ruby listening to reggae, talked to my friends, organised everything online. 

LOTS A STUFF.

I’m really really 50/50 with the whole going home thing, but I’ve got 4 weeks left and I’m loving it :) 

Exit Through The Gift Shop (2010) 

I would recommend this documentary :) it’s sick if you’re into stuff like street art and rebellion because it shows the commercial side and the non commercial aspects of art. ooo and I would recommend the film “The Help” it’s basically like, about racism in Jackson, if you’ve read the book you’ll know. It’s pretty emotional though, the oversized guy devouring popcorn in front of us was balling his eyes out. He was quite dramatic though. It’s pretty funny too. 

Just started doing some more art for other bands, this is a cute new band from Alton www.facebook.com/MostAgreeable they’re not quite up and running as they say but I’m looking forward to hearing some of their covers :) and hopefully their own stuff soon!

AND NOW I’M GONNA GO MAKE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE ;)

First Dec. I think this is day 40. I could be wrong. 1.20AM USA 6.20AM UK

I AM G PLZ TEK ME SERIOUS

The days have been pretty uninventful and I didn’t think anyone would want to read more about me sitting around on the laptop doing artwork that no one will get to see and drinking copius amounts of coffee in a desperate bid to stay awake. I have been so exausted over this week that I needed a few days to relax, and that’s what I’ve had. with the occasional trip out and babysitting my cousins I can truely say that by this morning - I was ok again.

Chunkymark. this is fucking hilarious. Best thing is, its so funny, but he makes some sort of sense in most of his vids.

Over these past days I’ve been skyping a whole lot, a four hour one with Asher and Jordan was great, Catherine, the gig tonight, my mum and a couple of other people. I didnt get to see robin for two weeks, he’s on call bc he’s in the navy. :( but I get to see him when he gets to florida. 

:)

Rum Rebellion - Drunken Sailor

TONIGHT has been, amazing! SO much fun with my aunt, Debbie and Jessica, what was meant to be a glass of wine at marios turned into a feast and rum at bar. which I’m fine with. Yes I got away with being 21, I don’t know how, got hit on by an arrogant dick’ed who got put in his place by fearless Debbie. We discussed anal bleaching, freegans and justin bieber in peru and it was generally the biggest laugh i’ve had in ages, too good. I wish that I could stay here actually, I’m just getting to know everyone and I forgot to take pictures so hopefully we’ll do it again. Me and my aunt took a detour on the way to the bar for an hour to look at all the open house stuff on art walk. it was good all the cool mix media stuff and glass. There were some right pompus art freaks there which i HATE but it was good all the same. It was packed where we were but we managed to consume so much food before we even got a table hahha. 

I like rum

I’ve missed rum

So, I can’t be bothered to update this more because I’d like to enjoy having rum in ma belly :) night x

Muse - Time is running out

Time for bed :)

Day 38/39 1.00AM USA 

Ramshackle Glory - From Here To Utopia

Missed out a few days due to feeling ill or just not remembered what I did! 

Yesterday I basically sat in my pjs appreciating folk punk and played ramshackle glory covers on the piano because singing and music is good for the soul. When youre bashing out chords on the piano singing ramshackle glory in america you should always close the window though. Some man defiantly clapped everytime i finished playing. What a sweetie. I went outside looking like a leopard and a parrot had kicked my face in to take a picture of the fairy lights and got caught. Scared that boy. Look how pretty our house looks thoughh.

In my quest to find all the folkpunk bands I ever listened to and listen to them again and see if I still am in love with them, I found out that I am. Especially Andrew Jackson Jihad, Flogging Molly, Ramshackle Glory, Dropkick Murphys, Johnny Hobo and the fright trains, Chris Burrows, Great Cynics, Gaslight Anthem, Against me, This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, Wingnut Dishwashers Union, Ghost Mice, Gogol Bordello, Captain Chaos, Patrik Fitzgerald, Anorexic Olsen Twin, The Riot Before, Mischief Brew, Spoonboy, The Tossers, Chuck Ragan, Tom Gabel, Jaacko and Jay, Sydney City Trash, Even Robot Us, Sam Russo, Ash Victim, Toby Foster, Pipes and pints, Harrison Wilde, Paddy and the Rats, One Night Stand In South Dakota, Taxpayers, Mutiny, Crywank, Sloppy Folk , All These Wasted Nuts, Frank Turner, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, Rum Rebellion, No Target Audience, Filthy Thieving Bastards, Mallory, Shane MacGowan, Evan Greer, Tom Frampton, Chapter Eleven, Pedels on Pirate Ships . 

I’ll probably try marry them. 

Made a load of these:

Today was good, got up at quarter to 8 and left at 8 for the start of the installation competition. Its christmas themed. Its not hard, basically have to make the health complex look fucking beautiful. It already does, got til fridayy to be judged. Me, my Uncle, Jen Stephanie and ohfucki’veforgottenhernameventhoughshessolovely made everything look bloody pretty and we should win I reckon ;) hahah

Then I was at work with my Uncle and he’s a public defender so we did a load of exciting stuff like look for witnesses and talk to security. well he did. i drew this:

Theeen we went to the art store and got loaads of art stuff which was fun :)

My cousin was on the tv so we watched her be part of the pirate toy fund.

Forgot to eat dinner but we had like, the biggest pizza of my life for lunch so I’m not hungry. 

I’ve done a lot but nothing that I can be bothered to type out beautifully so I might just leave this one and improve on it later :) 

I really need to bulk up that part of my portfolio. Im gonna apply woo.

Day 37 8.45PM USA 1.45AM UK 

Anorexic Olsen Twin - I Guess This Is What Brains Look Like 

This morning I woke up and literally felt like crying. It’s not often that I let having cfs/m.e get to me but this morning I just couldn’t even move, my body felt exausted and the worst thing? i’d actually slept a lot. I felt sick and headachey and sorry for myself but I pushed through it because I count my blessings. Popped a load of pills slapped a smile on and went and ate an apple.

Gecko - I got time

The day got progressively better, went to another art fair which was pretty cool, a lot smaller that most that I’ve been to but there was loads of cool pottery and wooden toys and paintings. There were loads of childrens book illustrations which was really cool to look at, especially the massive pop up books of Alice In Wonderland. So cool. Met a girl called Elanor James who did some beautiful paintings. Got her card ;) I have a ridiculous amount of business cards now. I’m designing my own. It was in a really big private school, there was a pond in the reception area. 

with golden koi in.

that’s posh.

Did a lot of art yesterday, some for Jordan because while listening to his music I get really inspired. I love the way that music and art can go hand in hand and I’m hoping to work with some other artists too. 

You Change - Ash Victim (facebook.com/ashvictim)

Stared at this for so so long haha, he seemed keen on it though so I’m not too worried. Asked like 4 or 5 peoples opinions and they seemed to like it but I can never tell whether people are just being nice and when it’s to represent someone ELSE well, it’s just kinda important to me. I’m getting more confident with it though. Looking forward to doing a lot more posters and flyers. Exciting.

So my cousin threw a strop this afternoon, like a full on hysterical crying shame and flew out of control so we havent done that much this afternoon, 

Shakira Vs Danzig - Hips don’t lie

There has been a lot of mexican/spanish/latino music happening in our house today.

Me and my uncle are gonna make these tho:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake

and I;m gonna make masses of paper snowflakes so we win the decor competition at his work hopefully!! haha. Should be a lot of fun :)

Day 35 9.45PM USA 2.45AM UK

Against me - Sink, Florida, Sink (Acoustic)

BLACK FRIDAY

Today started early, half 4am, got up and got dressed, smudged make up over my face as I do and me and my aunt got in the car, herbal water in hand, handbags empty apart from money and coupons. So many coupons! Got to eastview at around 5am and as we expected the carpark was almost full, everyone obviously got to JCPenny really early for the 12am opening sales. We started in Lord & Taylor. I love it in there even though it’s mostly desginer but my Aunt loves it so we looked at the shoes and the jewellery and everything. Most stuff was 50% off, and coz we were early enough we got the $20 card which was amazing. 

Just put my coat on to listen to this. P.Diddy - Badboy4lyf

I got a pimpin coat. It deserves a paragraph of its own because its amazing. I put it on and it was like a HUG. a fat massive hug and I am in love with it.

Got a coffee (of course) then an ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE COFFEE THING.

Mostly because of the name and the fact that shopping that early actually makes me dehydrated as well as mental haha. Got some new tights, loads of presents for everyone back in the UK and watched the sun rise by the fountain while being on the telly ha, and looking at the boys outside Abercrombie… they werent half bad to look at mm. I was also half on the news by accident because I was walking past this looking confused and excited.

Circa Survive - Living Together

So after a mental morning of shopping and having a laugh with my aunt we came home at 10am, ate some breakfast, I watched eastenders on youtube and had a nap, woke up at 1ish, ate a ketchup sandwich and we went out the door to go and see the Nutcracker Ballet. Got all dolled up and everything… even if I’d only just awoken ha. 

DJ Opaix - Sugar Plum Fairy Remix (The Nutcracker)

Nutcracker was siick, I like ballets they’re pretty good. I loved the theatre, it was beautiful. Keen artist I am, I liked the decor. Excuse the shitty picture, You’re not allowed cameras in so I was like AHHHH quick then I regretted it. But look at how good our seats are! 

Then we trekked to Macaroni Grill (where you can draw all over the tablecloths?)

Me and my cousins then went and hung out in Bed Bath & Beyond with our dresses and heels on. It was hilarious. This picture sums it up:

Looooong day, so good though. So much love :)

The mash of music in this post is awful. 

SLEEP

and they were two days that I’d quite like to remember!

Day 33 + Day 34 (Thanksgiving)

SO, I forgot about this a) because I was too busy looking after my cousins

and

b) because I was too busy eating food

Sharks - It all Relates

Wednesday was mental, had tea parties and played a princess game on the wii that I can only describe as amazing. We built a rocket out of snap things and played tanks and operation. For our picnic tea party we had apple cider and what was meant to be mac and cheese but the cheese incident happened and it ended up as pasta with pasta sauce. The cheese looked like something someone threw up. Or a cat threw up. No one was eating THAT for a nice picnic that’s for sure. We ate candy and watched the rescuers movie. After my aunt and uncle came home we watched crap on youtube and we listened to adele. 

Claire sang adele at me until she went to bed, we read some book about a creepy elf stealing eggs. Then I watched thanksgiving fest on TV :)

Then in the morning, Claire was singing adele.

On the way to Canandaigua adele was on the radio.

Then we went to Gary and Nancys, she put on adele.

We went to the buffet and in the room we were in, guess who was playing? adele!

Fucking rolling in the deep. 

Flogging Molly - Drunken Lullabies 

Thanksgiving was so nice :) I have a lot of things to be thankful for so it was cool to celebrate that by eating as much as I could. ;) I’ve had an interesting year, one of those ones that I’m gonna class as a ‘life changing’ one.

Rancid - Fall Back Down

A terrible start, feeling my lowest and my highest, turning 18, being ill, boys, coffee, rum, pubs, friends, london, MUSIC. some of the best gigs. I’m really lucky! The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect day by the lake. 

We spent the day with Gary, Nancy, Nancys girls and their children, Bevin, Ric, Connor, Donovan, Mckenzie and obv my aunt Shauna, Uncle Paul, Emma and Claire. Which is some of the most distant fam I have but doesn’t mean we’re not close :) I love family times, my cousins are two of my favourite girls in the whole world.

I wish I could remember these days in detail hahahah

Day 32 1.30AM USA 6.30AM UK

The Wombats - Moving to New York

Weird how relevant this song is! 

I definitely drank too much coffee today, I overloaded my coffee machine with vanilla filters and drank three, and that was before I’d even ventured out. Couldn’t stop dancing or buzzing around the place, what was annoying for me: I couldn’t find my shoes to go out in. So I spent around 2 hours listening to various songs that probably shouldn’t be danced to in the way I danced to them, but it happened anyway, and thinking about where my shoes were. They were under the bed. Yes I did go out like this:

I don’t whether it’s because I’m hilarious or what, but when I put this outfit together it did make perfect sense to me. Sunglasses because it was really sunny (and they make me cool obviously…) and hat and scarf because it was freezing. Only when I got home and took this photo did I realise how truly good I looked. That’s not even sarcasm.

;)

Went to Pittsford Plaza today, saw Chrissy vaguely in Barnes & Noble, then went to Michaels, got my sketchbook and pens (thank god) and went to the finger lakes coffee cafe thing place. I love the guy that works in there he’s so cheery and amazing at multi tasking. He used to be a barman. He got me my cinnamon coffee… of which I forgot was cinnamon and PUT cinnamon in it so it was actually disgusting but I drank it anyway. Got the shakes. Ate a cookie. Went on the wifi, wrote a bit of my story - I haven’t done that for ages but I thought I may as well. It’s my back up. If I find myself in the gutter I’ll send it off to publishers and try and get it published and make a name for myself. Haha.

Because I knew it would only get colder I went home, via wegmans ofcourse. Nearly got run over like twice but didn’t. Listening to acoustic Streetlight Manifesto on the way because it doesn’t use as much battery as music with more instruments ha

Streetlight Manifesto - Dear Sergio (Acoustic - AP show)

Barely got home when everyone else piled in the door and we made our way BACK to the Plaza hahah. It was raining something shitty so I was glad to be in the car and warm. Didn’t wear the right shoes for wet weather either so as soon as we stepped into the colour-me-blind place (where you paint ceramic stuff? yea?) my feet felt like they were drowning. Fittingly I decided to paint a mermaid onto a plate, the people who run it came over and were all impressed which was nice of them. Really cool ladies actually I’m gonna go back to finish it so hopefully I’ll get to speak to them again. 

My cousin did a reindeer ornament thing, she gave it a tattoo of my face on its arse. The thought that counts. It was special. 

Ate out at the Plaza, it was goood, I had a greek style wrap. I like greek. Came home, played Battlefield 2 Mortal Combat on iPad, watched Walking Dead and now I’m in bed :)

Probably won’t sleep because of my unhealthy addiction to caffeine that has resurfaced worse than ever. Addictive personality :(

Wish I was addicted to something useful like, cleaning and tidying or fruit or something. 

Oh life. 

Day 31 10.30PM USA 3.30AM UK

Michael Franti & Spearhead - Say Hey

Not so brilliant day but then Cousin-dancing, Veggie-Sausage, Talking to Catherine and Mark, Asher-filled evening complete with the Hassan face, which can only be a good thing.

Started off, like this:

With around 5 cups of coffee, a pencil in my hand and waffles in my stomach. Sat down at my art table, looked at the blue sky out the window and thought about how perfect the light looked, stared at my sketchbook and… well… nothing. Was listening to Damian Marley + Nas so I got this:

Out of it. But it’s not exactly great and I’m struggling with the fact that my black pens have ALL run out. Going to trip to the art store tomorrow and stock up on new materials - should help me get a little more inspired too. I’m so disappointed, I thought I would have amazing ideas after seeing so much talent yesterday - I guess not. Seriously small problems that just built up, like my back fucking killing me, and not being able to wear earrings in one of my piercings because it’s ripped thanks to a bitch attempting to rip them out THEN reopening the wound myself with some badboy hoops and an earphone :(

I did draw fruit pastilles though because of the serious lack of them here.

I remember living off these for at least 3 weeks. Mmmm. 

So yes, I’m pissed off that I can’t do my art properly because all my black fineliners have run out. Tomorrow calls for a trip to Michaels and a trip to Wegmans. Which calls for lots of walking but I don’t mind too much about that. 

Nas + Damian Marley - As We Enter

Got all worked up and angry because some wanker is being a tosser to my best friend, and I’m here and can’t do anything about it. Asher reassured me that moral support will more than help so Bannoffee - I am here for you 100% and more. Also I know she’s more than capable of handling herself and I’m sure that when we get back and have fireworks we can aim one in his general direction. People who belittle others are just dick’eds and I hate it when people feel the need to do that. Ugh. 

So I was kinda upset about that and some other stuff too so I was SO glad to be able to talk to my friends of whom I absolutely love and then Skype Asher - I’m guaranteed a cheer up when I speak to him :) 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Walrus-of-Love/122385234457702

He is so wise too, helped me out A LOT :) with his wise words and I know that my friendship with him is one that I will hold on to for as long as I can, it’s BRILLIANT. Also… perfected the ‘Hassan’s face’

Hahaha :)

OutKast - Hey Ya

All the songs in this post are ones that I have danced to today to make myself feel better :)

I love my cousins to dance with too - They’re excellent. 

I am aware this post is more personal than about America…

here

have a superman give you an america flag

Day 30 8.45PM USA 1.45AM UK

Oh life.

Mike TV - Favourite Foe

If you were up at the ridiculous hour of it must have been around 7am this morning, you shouldve been listening to Sunday Boast on Kane FM because it was cracking me up, bless you Jhon and Paul.. Tweeted about it because it was 2am here and well, I thought I was going to get fun listening to drift off to sleep with but it just kept making me laugh. And I can’t laugh and sleep at the same time. 

So I woke up at half 8 this morning bright and early, showered, at waffles and then checked my emails to see if I had gotten a reply from David Occhino. I hadn’t but I have ages yet so I’m not too bothered. This morning was great, just laughed my way through pictures of a spoon as me as snow white and listened to Johnny Hobo, we left around 12ish went to an art exhibition, there was a percussion guy there doing alsorts so went to watch him. He was awesome, his instruments were insane, from all over the world, mostly Asia, and he did a lot of audience interaction and fun stuff as well as making these gongs and wooden blocks sound so beautiful. Really Cool.

The Exhibition was ‘Extreme Materials’ http://mag.rochester.edu/exhibitions/extreme-materials-2/ it was sick.

a lot of awesome artists had created pieces that looked amazing and were made out of either cool or fucking weird things. The one out of pencils or spoons were amazing, condoms and menstrual blood - not so much. Theres something kinda magical about a spiral walk through made out of orange soap blocks though. Definitely.

The second place we went was the art fair, such cool stuff there. An amazing artist by the name of Melissa Buckley had a few things there, she does mixed media pieces and uses buttons a whole lot. Met a man named Alex Flansburg who created abstract clocks which looked really cool, he was nice. Said they took him 2hours to 20 hours which I thought was very honest of him to say so. Wouldve bought one if I needed a clock. I don’t. 

Went to dinner at this place: Zebbs Sport bar and grill

Baring in mind it was a diner, a proper american one, in america, fancy that? I loved it! Marylin Monroe, James Dean, John Travolta, Johnny Cash on the walls, old sports memorabilia, arcade stuff, those little booth things, checkered floors and NEON LIGHTS. It was pretty cool.

Ignore the man, I don’t know who that is.

So tired now. Like, unbelievably so, shame my cousins aren’t. Ugh. I am reppin my polar bear jumper - for those who don’t understand I put this massive jumper on with a polar bear on the front when I’m tired because it’s sooo comfy. 

Hope I get to talk to Emily tomorrow I miss her and I’m starting to feel a little weird and wavering with the whole happy streak right now. probablyjustcozimtired.

Day 28 1AM USA 6AM UK

Hot Water Music - Radio (Alkaline Trio Cover)

I feel ill from all the good food I ate today, I don’t think I’ve eaten that much since I got here so eating snacks today and a proper big lunch and dinner have made me feel interesting. Today’s been good, I love retail therapy and meeting new people over three of the best things, art, chocolate and music. 

Took a picture of my new art station, it’s so useful and I’m looking forward to not having to clear off my bed before I sleep of art stuff and magazines and newspapers and waking up and finding pen all over my arms where i’ve slept on them. Spent the morning listening to Hot water music and Wingnut Dishwasher’s Union. I love Pat ‘the bunny’. His lyrics are genius. And Yes that is a poster of Frank Turner ~don’t judge me~

Wingnut Dishwasher’s Union - My idea of fun

My mum is hilarious look at what skype captured this is my favourite picture ever. Basically watched my uncle put up all the pretty fairy lights around the house and ate my very own made pizza after this.

SO went to the ‘Mall’ today. Got ambushed by a girl in ICING who definitely made me spend money when I didn’t mean to because she was so fucking scary. The woman behind me just goes ‘well, SHES had too much coffee’. 

However - I did buy lots and got some sunglasses because all of mine are broken, shopped lots because it was the first real time when I could look in clothes shops. I tried everything on that I couldn’t afford because it’s funny, and this girl did it with me in Forever 21 which was hilarious. I look great in fur coats so pimpin, I have yet to find the perfect one though. Chatted with the guy in Hot Topic because he’s awesome and then got chatted UP by the guy in some surfery/skate clothes shop, he was fit but I was definitely scared by how forward he was. I left quickly. Might go back to look at him though because I’m a girl. 

Went to an art social today, only a few of us there but me Kat and Becky just chatted for fucking ages and drank coffee and listened to music and ate lots of chocolate. They liked my art so I liked them, and Becky’s photos were AWESOME. Hopefully meeting up with them again at the studio soon.

After that we went to Jazz Club and had dinner. I had two appetizers and dessert but no main. Don’t ask why. But it was all awesome, I have a lot of it in boxes in the fridge now because everything is HUGE here. Including me if I keep eating hahah. Was so nice to spend time with my Uncle and Aunt and listen to jazz:) Loving the girls behind us who were completely smashed, and the waiter who I laughed with because they were, and how he had to carry fuckloads of glasses up some stairs. He was sweet.

Johnny Cash - Hurt

♥

Day 27 10PM USA 3PM UK

Today has been almost wonderful. Simplest of things make me happy. Doesn’t mean I’m simple though so don’t be judging me because I’m easily pleased. Because I’m not in a lot of ways. This morning I was awoken by a song that always makes me smile,one of my mums favourites. 

UB40 - One in Ten

Really need someone to sort out my hair, I started doing it like this in the middle of this year, and I should probably just cut the other side because it looks MASSIVE now. im not going to tho :p

Started playing Plants vs Zombies again and that game is the game of gods. I love it too much, so addictive. I was glad for my aunt coming and getting me and giving me a ride to the cafe. THATS RIGHT I GOT A RIDE. not a lift. I’m american now. :(

Had coffee. So much of my new art stuff is caffine inspired because I have gone back to relying on it to help me function which is so bad but I don’t care. No doctor in another country woo. 

For a brief while I talked to my Mumma on Skype, which was awesome, got updated on how Phil is doing. Apparently loads of people were around him in wait to see if when they turned the respiratory machine off his lung could cope, being the joker he is he pretended to choke when they turned it off and then was like ‘JUST KIDDING, felt bad because you were all expecting something and I didn’t wanna disappoint’ hahahah, he’s hilarious. I’m sad I can’t be there to visit him, but I know he’ll be fine. The car, however, is an apparent wreck. 

HAHAHAHAHAAHA MY FACE

We went to wegmans. Of all the places to get inspired, I got inspired IN WEGMANS. which is the biggest supermarket ever with all the choice in the world. Those pieces will take me a little longer than illustrations do but I can focus on it fo sho. This weekend is an arty weekend, ‘Mall’ tomorrow, Art supplies, Get my art table in my room, art social in the evening (with chocolate fountain mmmm), art fair sunday with craft market and art exhibition and reception. ART ART ART

idk - Everybody dance now 

Got home, cooked Claire our lasagna THEN drew disney characters from the little mermaid after dancing with her to all the songs on just dance kids and who let the dogs out and selena gomez (not justin beiber thanklawd because he is ‘stupid and sounds like a girl’ her words not mine), putting hip hop on really loud and letting her ‘rap’ AND rapping WITH her, shouting EVERYBODY DANCE NOW and doing the robot, making her hot chocolate with loaaads of marshmallows having a glow in the dark lightsaber fight wearing glow in the dark lipstick IN the dark letting her kill me multiple times AND letting her watch two movies. all in her pajamas. im sorry but …best night ever hahahah I actually adore that kid. Both my cousins are awesome, Emma came home with a medal and trophy from her awards banquet, couldn’t be more proud. 

I also look forward to seeing me as a wooden spoon dressed as snow white at this party… sounds like i was put in a lot of boobs. Oh dear me. my friends are priceless. 

I miss them. 

I LOVE EVERYTHING

Day 26 1.30AM UK 5.30AM USA

Smokey Bastard - Yuppie Dracula

This morning I did a little tattoo designing for some people which was like revisiting an old friend, I really liked it. Spent the day talking to people and organizing my room, I want to turn it into a sort of studio, going to try and move the art table to up here. I want to print out my illustrations and put them into my massive sketchbook to be able to show people at the places I’m planning on going to. I might be going to an art social. so arty. and almost sophisticated. mostly arty. There’s going to be a chocolate fountain. There are a fair few art galleries and such this weekend. So cultured. 

After seeing Asher post about Mr. Egypt Egypt it was only right that I post this song

Shaggy - Mr Boombastic

So funny, cracks me up something.

The best thing happened to me in Wegmans today, apart from meeting a guy in the pretsel isle and having a pretsel fight, someone asked me about my tattoo. After looking completely confused at him he just went, on your foot! the bird! so pretty, who did it? I’m sorry but THIS:

Is not a real tattoo. hahhaha it was awkward because I tried to decide whether or not to lie to avoid further embarrassment. I ended up going ‘thanks, I did it myself’ and just left it at that and ran away. Outside Wegmans there were two guys stringing fairy lights around the trees, it was almost dark so there was something kinda magic about the fact that they’d only just finished and asked if I wanted to see them on before they had to leave. I said yes. It was pretty. 

It snowed tonight. This is outside my window at the moment. Something magical about snow but especially here in America. Not so much in England. It becomes all cold and rubbishy unlike out here where it just makes everywhere look pretty. 

Gym Class Heroes ft Estelle - Guilty as Charged

I’m just coming to bed after eating peanut butter sandwiches and watching Gym Class Heroes on the Tonight show. Jimmy Fallon is hilarious too. 

Watching the film Vicky Cristina Barcelona at the moment.

Sleeeeps soon. 

Day 25 — USA — UK

Yesterday started off hectically. Got a phone call and my cousin had been near tears because she didnt have any money to go to the book fair with her friends. So as the super-cousin I was, I literally FLEW into action and ran up to the school, gave her $20 of my money. I have limited funds for this next month but I wasn’t havin any of her bein sad so I guess thats me not buying anything this week as I made a budget thingy ~

Giving up stuff for a dot to dot book? yes I apparently am.

Feist - Mushaboom

So I was then awake and literally shaking with the fact that I needed some caffine, made myself some coffee (the last one in the box :() and drank it while listening to Pixies and Jaya and Ramshackle Glory and Bad Religion (Acoustic covers…). 

Bad Religion - Dearly Beloved (Acoustic)

I emailed a few companies who do stuff like graphic design, especially David Occhino who lived here in Rochester. He does stuff like programmes, font for stuff like Harry Potter and Indiana Jones; www.davidocchino.com. He replied :D and so I’m excited for him to act as another pillar in my art-journey. 

I then cracked out the Kano vs Chase and Status, Skints and Wiz Khalifa and Cee Lo and DMX (nothing like 90s hip hop) and danced around the kitchen a little bit. Alright, a lot. While dancing I danced to the fridge and made myself ketchup pitta breads (I don’t eat bread so essentially I call these sandwiches) and went to go back to talking to my best friend. On the way because I was sort of dancing/running/sliding back to my room I had a bit of a shock when I bumped into the wall. It was horrible. It also hurt. But it was probably the funniest thing that happened yesterday. People who know have ever watched me in my house or slept in my bed and watched me all day knows that I do trip over around about 3 times a day. While being here, I have only tripped up about 5 times. I think that is a good sign.

Did a load of drawing, I’m going to move the work station up here, make my room into a studio because it sort of creeps me out going down the basement when no one’s around and facing the wall haha. THAT REMINDS ME I LEFT MY WASHING IN THE DRYER—

— back. Everything is SO DRY haha. 

Tyler the Creator - Yonkers

While talking to my best friend, and I saw Jamie post it up on facebook, I remembered about Epic Rap Battles of History which crack me up so to make me laugh I watched Albert Einstein vs Stephen Hawking. Then Mark linked me up to watch (500) days of Summer

(500) days of summer - Trailer

SUCH a good film. I love Zooey Dechanel. And that-guy-who-was-in-inception-forgotten-his-name. I want to write a full review but I can’t be bothered. Imdb describes it as “An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn’t believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her.” I think it’s a journey of discovery for sure. I LOVE it because it’s not your typical rom com, it’s dramatic and funny and sad, but it’s sort of life. Bit more realistic to what actually could happen. It made me think a whole lot, that’s all. 

Felt kinda up and down today relating to the whole mood thing.

This film totally threw me.

I went to sleep.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, thats him

Day 24 2AM USA 7AM UK 

Forgot all about this today, so this will be short (I say that now ha) and sweet because I’m in bed all warm and it’s very likely that I might be able to sleep in a minute.

Ramshackle Glory - The Heart Is A Muscle The Size Of Your Fist

Talking to old friends today, the best thing about being here is the amount of time I have to do all those things that I want to do but never have the time back home. Like just chat to people who I have a lot of care for, draw a million and one things, think about life and plan things out. I’ve had a nice day today, even if I didn’t leave the house due to me still feeling like a recluse. 

Skype today was amazing, got to see the Jaya the Cat set in Newcastle, got a dedication and listened to the whole thing. Saw Daltons dancing and got to talk to Catherine lots so that was good. I’m missing out, but I’m also so included and missing out for this amazing chance to live here. I love it here I really do. 

On Skype to my mum I was telling her about how I keep waking up feeling this overwhelming sense of being completely fed up and exhausted but she didn’t really get it and started suggesting things for me to do. Which is not what I was saying at all, I meant that there are a thousand things for me to do but I don’t feel the enthusiasm to do it. She came back at me with ‘Boring people get bored’ which was unhelpful. I love her very much but sometimes she does not give me the answers of which I’d like to hear. Snapped out of my mood today when a random woman came to the door and I let her in to the garage and she took a load of cookies. I told my mum i hoped she wasn’t stealing them she said ‘i bet it was the cookie monster in disguise’. Sometimes she says the things I like to hear. 

Been thinking about what to draw and how I can relate it to my time here. I decided to do Candy Vs Sweets today:

I’m going to try and find subtle differences and draw them in an illustration type way. I think I’m finally finding a style that I find comfortable and exciting to draw. 

Professor Green - Where Is My Mind (Pixies cover)

We had chinese for dinner. It was SO good. I love Chinese food. 

I have also decided to create little stop motions for peoples birthdays seeing as I’m not going to be there. this is one of masses of photos I had to take:

I also tried to do a self portrait, it;s so hard. I really hate doing them because it never looks like me and well, I try and fit in my personality and it never comes through as much as I’d like.  I like this as an illustration though;

I think I shall fall asleep to Jaya tonight, for the pure fact that I got a whole lot of love off them today.

Day 23 5.30PM USA 10.30PM UK

Today is kind of a sad day. I don’t feel great and I’ve done a whole lot of art that doesn’t mean a great deal to me, I’ve held back due to the fact that I’m posting a lot more online now. Yes, I love doing it, and some of them have hidden meanings so to speak, just in the characters and how they speak to me. But also I found myself drawing Jack Sparrow for the sake of it. I think you can tell that my whole heart wasn’t in it. My mum told me to draw him though, so how could i not? Going to try and open up a little more into my illustrations like my Mentor told me too, and not just focus on the composition which she was so enthusiastic about. 

Laura Stevenson and the Cans - Master of Art

It’s not so much been a sad day in that anything has in particular happened, only in the fact that it has been a grey day. Completely dark and dingey, every time I look out the window it’s either cloudy or raining. I can hear the rain at the moment, it’s banging on the ceiling window in the kitchen. Being home alone, it’s pretty creepy. HA. 

This song makes me happy though: And it kinda feels sunny if I turn the light on in my room and dance around abit.

Great Cynics - Twenty Five (this song reminds me of so many of my best friends)

It’s really cold actually. I’m going to put a jumper on…. Took a picture out my window on the way back. LOOK HOW GREY IT IS. 

I also got myself some gingerbread poptarts. I dont know why I eat these they make me feel so sick but they taste so good. These ones look so creepy though: LOOK AT THE ONE ON THE TOP. If that doesn’t scream child molestation in a horror film I don’t know what does.

I feel ill now. 

I don’t know if I put on here but I’m going as Snow White to Tit’s and Rachels party, obviously I’m not ACTUALLY going to be there because well.. I’m here, but wooden spoons have their uses and best friends also have their skills. 

Oh Rum how I miss you. Lol my mum informed me that she was going to look in my room because she was convinced that I had a glass in their that I’d left from the morning I got my plane. I remember taking it downstairs. She disagrees so I let her go into my room but it meant I had to tell her about the rum bottles that are probably everywhere. And some have rum in them. For when I get back. Partying so hard when I get back and making sure I see EVERYONE before I get a proper job. February is London time and I couldn’t be more excited.

I’m not wishing my time here away though, it’s so good to be able to have a little more independence and to travel and soak up a completely different culture. You wouldn’t have thought there was too much difference between England and America but there’s a lot of things I’m still getting used to. 

Especially the sense of humour, the way that English people have such dry and in my opinion hilarious senses of humour where as they frown upon euphemisms and innuendos. Well a place that has a shop called ‘Jiffylube’ and brands such as ‘Spanx’ for clothing, I’m pretty sure ignorance is bliss. I’m sure they’re not stupid, but sarcasm isn’t a major thing over here either.

Pretty sure that there’s a storm going on outside, I’m waiting on my fam to come home, should be any minute now.

It’s fucking creepy being alone inside right now. 

Ew. 

Day 22 7.15PM USA 12.15AM UK

LOL this morning;

That could be the best photo of me ever taken. I don’t know what is happening with my lips and i have no make up on but it is FRESH out the shower. Love my turban. You should. Going to regret putting that on the internet one day. Did my make up while skyping my mum in the camera ha, she didn’t mind. 

I have a lot of love for my mum she’s actually hilarious i couldnt wish for a better friend or mum :) #sop

Had a really lazy sunday today was so knackered after yesterdays antics because I’d been up so long that I slept until like 10 this morning and as a result I felt so crappy UNTIL I ate my chocolate thing for breakfast like a crazy chocolate fiend. I wish I had an xbox here so I could play Skyrim because my laptop wont run it effectively enough for my liking. And Steam wouldnt open today which was stupid. I love steam with all my heart though so I can’t complain. It’s where Terraria and Plants V Zombies and Peggle lives so what’s to hate.

ALTHOUGH, I am kicking ass at angry birds on google chrome right now you have no idea.

Played lots of games today, monopoly being one of them. I won. AND I didn’t cheat. Proud ;) I was the banker as well and normally, I’d rob the bank then go to jail but I didn’t, stuck with it and WON. WOOOO.

Dane Cook on Monopoly …This is funny. 

So yea, just been regenerating basically, wasting my life on indie games and listening to Star Fucking Hipsters. Ha! Tomorrow is for an adventure and hopefully meeting some new people. And getting a starbucks. I drink too much coffee. I now have $100 to spend so i’m happyy as a happy thing.

Didn’t even do any drawing today, just havent been in the mood, I might do some in a minute, I’m full because I just ate dinner and who can have emotions when they’re full of dinner? Not me. And no emotions means no drawing I’m afraid ;)

Star Fucking Hipsters - Ana Ng

Always choose this song because it has my name in it ;) I have so much time for SFH they’re so sick. Stza seems like a dick but I can’t help but like him for his music. From The Dumpster To The Grave is pretty good. “They seamlessly blend several different genres and sub-genres together on a single album — or even on one song. They did just that on their first two records — “Until We’re Dead” and “Never Rest in Peace” — and they pushed the trend even further on volume 3, “From the Dumpster to the Grave.” So true. 

WOO

HA love me

oh AND I talked to my bestie today which is my favourite thing to do.

life’s goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood

Day 21 10.45PM USA 3.45AM UK

HA skype was amazing today. Many different faces. Mostly Catherine. Oh Asher and Harrison for a little bit, and Alan at the gig. Some of Robin up north (UK) and Robin in the south (USA). Then randoms from the gig. Too much fun. 

This picture cracks me up :) I missed their faces so that was nice. Even if they ARE mean to me ;p had to make my cousin leave the room because they were swearing. Oh life.

Beans on Toast - Don’t believe the bullshit

Also, I watched cupcake wars which makes me miss my gurls. So emailed most of them today too.

Ate out at macoroni grill which is amazing because they give you crayons and you draw all over the tablecloth make it look cool. So I naturally set to work on my masterpiece. HA. Then the waitress got all american and what I would take as patronising and she was like ‘ooo thats prety, here i’ll clear some room so you can do MORE art!’ i was like …excus me cud u fuk of i am not 5 im tryin to express myself here over sum nice dinner. NOT IMPRESSED.

AND THEN;

Oliver the musical.

I can’t explain.

Amazing.

They were all trying to do London accents as well and failing miserably, one guy was just Australian. It was pretty funny tho. I’m pretty sure my new accent is like that though so now I know how much of a dick’ed I sound. whheww. Carlin and J were awesome though so it was worth going to just to see them.

Fandangle - Oliver Twist

Highlight for me: When Bill Sykes starts beating up Nancy, it was really like dramatic moment and Claire just goes ‘its alright, hes actually hitting the FLOOR!’ hahhahahah everyone just looked at us like … o. Me and her danced through the second act to piss off the girl next to me who literally was kicking me because she was uncomfortable, which wouldve been fine if she didnt laugh like HAHAHAHAHAHA in all the silences when nothing was funny. She was weird. We didn’t like her. Claire kept pulling this face whenever someone looked over. It was interesting to say the least. 

Nutcracker at the end of the month. 

That is going to be brilliant.

I’m drinking cinnamon hotchocolate. I’m knackered. I’m in bed. I’m a lot of things.

I’m not racist. 

Night x

Day 21 (3 weeks!) 10am USA 3pm UK

Morning! I fell asleep at like 2 because I was watching Adele on various chat shows because her laugh cracks me up and Billy Bailey because he’s amazing with my uncle. It was a mistake because I’m not kidding, I have already had a morning nap today. Adele and Bill Bailey are great, but not THAT great. Woke up at half 6am, made my face look vaguely like myself by throwing cold water at myself (ha) and proceeded to skype ‘work’. But mostly Catherine because it was exciting, she showed me the ‘Disco/Chill out/Merch room’ it’s amazing. There’s a disco ball in there so really, it should ALWAYS be a disco room. ALWAYS. This was how I felt at half 6am this morning

But I was excited to see my friends, I still am! I’ll go back online soon, it’s just, I’m not hardcore enough to stay awake but I wanted to catch everyone before the gig started and they were all too busy to look at my face. And YES I’m committed to my job, and what. It’s one of the best jobs ever. Got to hear soundchecks and abit of stus set and about 10 minutes of Harrisons this morning before someone I didn’t know sat on the door and I took the oppertunity of breakfast and a nap.

I would like you all to know that I searched for a youtube audio of a Chapter Eleven song but this is what it came up with, if you haven’t seen the R.Kelly musical you are missin out

R.Kelly - Trapped In The Closet - Chapter 11

The whole thing is incredible, if you want to watch it all don’t watch this clip because it won’t have it’s full effect ha

I had pop tarts this morning. For those that don’t know what pop tarts are they’re like pastry sugary things that you have for breakfast. I shouldn’t be allowed them. Did a sort of pop tart competition because there were cinnamon ones and cherry ones. you get 2 in a pack so i had to cook 4. Cinnamon won because the cherry ones tasted like shit. I didn’t want to waste them seeing as I cooked all of them like a dick’ed so I ate all of them. I feel sick now. I feel like I may die. hahahahhahaidiot

Rhys just sent me this

its cute. its also a porcupine for those who can’t tell coz i wouldn’t have known if Rhys hadn’t said. I wish I’d just eaten an apple instead of pop tarts.

My cousin just showed me a picture of my face in a book and she’s made me into a pirate.

She knows me so well.

SOMETHING RIDICULOUS HAPPENED TO MY ACCENT and I only realised when talking to Robin last night that I sound so stupid. It doesn’t help that he’s american so I couldn’t even try and catch some of a southern london gal or anything vaguely normal as an accent back. Since talking to Catherine and Alan this morning it has gone back-ish but I’m trying to avoid talking because I am very aware that I sound VERY english with lots of weird american accent things too. 

Foo Fighters - The Pretender

I am so tired. Today is going to be good though, I’m online a lot of the day but this evening I’m going to a musicial. Which will be either hilarious or… hilarious.

Gonna go help my cousin make a birthday card for someone now

Artyart

Day 20 3.00PM USA 8.00PM UK 

Scatman John - Scatman

This is me trying to take a picture of my glow in the dark lipstick but it didn’t show up on the cam so then I just tried to make myself look as G as possible in my skinties pajamas. I succeeded. 

That was this last night which is why I have earphones in, I was watching Phineas and Ferb which is this genius cartoon. If you haven’t seen it you should go watch it. If you have… gold stars.

DMX - Ya’ll Gon make me loose my mind

We did science experiments this morning, like chemistry I mean, made stuff blow up and fizz and turn things different colours. Made crystals too. Genius. We’re going to get mentos and ‘soda’ and make it go craaaazy. Emma was at a gymnastics thing so I stayed home and created a story book with my cousin Claire about a mermaid that shrinks in enchanted waters then turtles help her get out. It could be the best story I’ve ever heard. I might do some art later on, trying to get my drawing skills up to it so that when I go for a class I won’t be all out of practise and wake up that day and be shit at drawing. Could happen. I have had nightmares where my hands fall off. 

Finished my lunch and now I’m looking after my cousins because it’s a bank holiday, I’m assuming that’s because of remembrance day and everything. We’re watching some thing called Good Luck Charlie. Well, they are, I’m catching up on the Buzzcocks and I literally can’t stop laughing. 

HAHAHA HE MUST BE AN ALIEN OR SUTIN ;) Dynamo is great, I’m trying to find a clip of him doing the polo thing where it’s not going to give my cousins nightmares tho ha.

Can’t believe I’ve been here twenty days already, doesn’t seem like that long at all. I’ve done so much though and seen a whole lot but I haven’t even started doing half the stuff I want to. Feelin’ kinda homesick today, I’m not missing the places but I’m still definitely missing the people. Especially my mum, just skyping her, we’re hilarious.

It’s 11/11/11 today. I made a wish American time 11.11. I won’t tell anyone otherwise it won’t come true.. right. I think wishes probably come true in some sense or another. Kinda good that not all of them do because a lot of people make pretty horrible wishes. Oh magical things. Still got my unicorn tattoos on lol, this one is loosing it’s glitter now though, might be time for a new one ;)

Cee Lo Green - Fuck You (I have to listen to the Forget You version now though. straightedge)

Despite the homesickness I am feeling good :D Going to a musical tomorrow so that will be interesting. I’ve seen a load of musicals already, stuff like Billy Elliot and Lion King but never Oliver. Hopefully they’ll play a lot on the dark side of the story because like a freak that’s the stuff that I think is most effective. So excited to do the door and see all my friendies on Skype tomorrow, have to get up at like 6am though, LONG.

Missing Rum and being a pirate.

I’m gonna finish here because my cousins are now having a fight. 

HA

Day 19 8.30PM USA 1.30AM UK

Hollie Cook ft Horseman (With Marcia Richards) - Body Beat. Such a tune!

Had a really cool morning complete with two shot coffee, reggae tunes and Prodigy to wake me up. It was kinda cold today but I decided to go for a walk anyway. Started off walking down Warren ended up on Monroe and at Twelve Corners. I had a toffee apple muffin. I’m sorry but I think God makes toffee apple muffins. I’m going to stop saying muffin now. 

Prodigy - Omen

Because I am SO unpredictable I ended up in Starbucks with a Mo(ooooo)cha. Actually it might have been a Cappucinno but I’m one of those people who just drinks coffee and doesn’t care what it tastes like anymore. Mmmm caffine. Plus, after caffine tabs this morning I was buzzing, it was pretty amazing. Meant I walked over 6 miles today though. And I met a nice person called Stephanie who works for the R.I.T (where I did that portfolio thing) and she was cool, she was waiting for some guy so that she could quiz him on why he wanted to go to college. FuN. I also met up with Tom (who I met in the record shop) it’s so sad coz it’s getting shut down/moved and it’s like the only place that sells vinyl around here so a lot of people are fond of it. When in Starbucks I draw and edit a whole lot. 

If you don’t know… this is Dawn Penn :) I’ve seen her live now (at One Love Festival :D) and this what she sounds like: 

Dawn Penn - You don’t love me (No No No) 

Brackets MAY be the other way round, can’t remember. 

ANYWAY, I was doing art and I remembered that I told Campos I’d draw him a something because he was the first to ‘like’ my arty facebook page (facebook.com/anaserachambers) So I ended up a sort of ‘Frankenstein meets James Campos’ thing. I don’t know why but every time I draw someone I know it ends up all creepy. Like when I drew Harri. Something wrong with me HA

:)

URRRRM so yea, it was pretty dark by the time I walked back at around 6ish. The sky looked so epic, like there was just this bright orange strip across bassically all grey. It really is beautiful here. Shame my shakey hands can’t use the night setting on my camera ;)

You get the idea. Hung out with my cousin for a little while, just drawing and listening to her music and even some of mine (the stuff that doesnt have swearing in it) She likes the song ‘Skyscraper’ by Demi someone. I hate it. It makes no sense. She loves it, she tried to explain it to me. It’s crap. HAHA. So now she’s going to bed I’m listening to RATM.

Rage Against The Machine - Bombtrack

I also did an illustration of the family pet fish, Ruby, coz she looks sad all the time. I have become emotionally attached to the purpley red little thing, I actually think it’s a male fish but I donno, he’s pretty all the same. Also he comes out when I play any sort of reggae music so I love him. He is my company if I’m home alone, gonna be sad when I fly back without him. HA.

Life in America is so chilled.

Excited for tomorrow.

Day 18 9.00PM USA 2.00AM UK

I.M.F - Resolution 242

Today I got up super early, something like 7am, it’s a good time to be awake and up though because it means I had the whole day ahead of me. Decided to take a walk because it’s been the sunniest day so far, and it’s been hot-shirt-weather. Took a trip to wegmans, on the way to wegmans I ate an apple. It was so good, I have rekindled my love of apples and apple things. I love apples. I aimed to get more shampoo, didn’t happen because I saw this:

got distracted and decided it was a better waste of money. I have SOME shampoo left. I’ll have to go back tomorrow. I like turtles. :) 

I’d almost exhausted my time at pittsford plaza, by chatting to a woman in Michaels (the arts shop), buying more tattoos… i have an addiction now… I will forever be sticking these things on me. I’m cool..

I also got glow in the dark lipstick dontjudgemecozitsfuckingcoolokitglows, when my Uncle phoned me and asked me if I wanted to go to eastview and get his new iPhone 4S, enable my phone to text and have a change of scenery. Went to the phone shop and picked it up but it took like an hour and a half to get it sorted, talked to the guy Eric he was really friendly and told me about a friend he has who lives in Texas who does art. We went to lunch where they were playing christmas songs. Now I’m no scrooge but it’s not christmas yet. That annoyed me. We went into a card shop which had cards about margaritas and mothers but I didn’t get anything, would much rather make a card for my mum’s birthday than give her one that says ‘mom’. THEN WE WENT TO THE APPLE STORE. It shouldn’t excite me so much, but it does.

Apple products we have in this house:

3 iPhones (one 3GS, one 4 and one 4S) an iPad, Massive Mac computer, wireless keyboard, wireless scroller mouse, iPod touch, iPod Classic, 2 iPod nanos.

And I can pretty much use all of them. I really want an iPad 2 now, it has a cam on it and everything. Looking at Macbook airs too because it would awesome to have, even though I am emotionally attached to this Advent Modena Blue (I name it Juanita). I love it 100% but the hinge is broken and I’ve worn it out and I carry it everywhere so it’s pretty battered ha, also it is definitely not light to carry. Especially with all my graphics stuff in with it. 

This describes my skype session. I got pissed off.

No ones fault, I just did. Had to listen to copious amounts of Offshore to get me in a happier mood again. Offshore are amazing and so summery, which was perfect for today.

Steer the way - Offshore

And I just ate ice cream. All good.

Day 17 5.00PM USA 10.00PM UK

Random Hand - Anger Management

I was awoken surprisingly early by Random Hand, my earphones wire strangling me (dangerous, again) and one stroppy cousin throwing one of her incredible stompy-strops. For what I would say, no reason. As soon as I came out of my room she stopped and I definitely let her know she’d woken me up by tickling her ha. THAT SHOWED HER. She is funny, but so rude to her parents, have no idea where she gets the idea that she’s boss from, it’s mental. Anyway, it was kinda good that I was up early because it meant that I showered and was up by the time my Aunt picked me up for shoppppppinnnnggg. I really like looking round places even if I’m skint because it gives me lots of ideas. 

After going to the car place to get a key programmed (and taking all the complimentary water/apples/raspberry chocolate coffee) we walked to this shoe shop. You know, I’m a size 6 shoe in the UK, size 8 here. Makes me feel like I have big feet :p So many nice shoes too. Saw the most amount of amazing jackets in this upmarket boutique-charity-shop type thing. If you know me, you know I love faux fur because it makes me feel G, and well, this shop had ALL the different kinds. So good. I didn’t buy any :( I have around $45 at them moment without changing my GBP into USD. I need to do that but all the banks are STUPID here. And they don’t have post offices like we do, which is a silly idea, everyone needs a post office.

Me lookin’ fly. LOL.

We met my Uncle and ate at Mamasans which is awesome, I had spicy vegetable noodles which was so tasty you have no idea. He went back to work and we started on Pitsford plaza, looking at shoes first, clothes, went to T.J.Maxx, (I know, it’s T.K.Maxx… I don’t know why they feel the need to change everything :p) Bed, Bath and Beyond, got loads of new stuff for around the house. They have all the most amazing ideas for products but you don’t exactly NEED it. Like, these things you put on top of cans to make it into a bottle. Why. Just buy a bottle. Good idea though. After that we went into Michaels which is this massive craft shop, and looked at all their stuff. They had a sale on sketchbooks so I got this badboy:

60 pages of A3 magic.

Definitely had to resist the tattoos. I don’t know why I get so attracted to them, they were Ed Hardy too haha. We left, went to a cafe, got a mochacchinnoooo and we left and now we’re home. I love coffee. So much coffee.

Just waiting for my aunt to get home from voting/uncle from work/cousins from Geshia.

Looking at coats to make me pimpin and seeing how much money I can get out of the GBP I have. Made me wanna buy things now. Like clothes. 

And definitely Shoes.

Girly day in the USA 2k11 xoxo

Oh, and me and the girls are making stuff out of pipe cleaners and tin foil

DO YOU LUV MI GLASS3S XO

Going to do some drawing now in my new MASSIVE SKETCHBOOK :D

Day 16 5.10PM USA 10.10 UK

So, another day, another hideous amazing unicorn tattoo:

Today hasn’t been very productive, I wont lie to you, I sat in bed for most of the morning eating cinnamon toast and listening to John Frusciante, Chris Burrows and Holly Cook. Holly Cook and Marcia are on Jools Holland tomorrow that’s exciting and everyone in the UK (or anywhere else that it is shown) should watch it. I’m getting my mum to and then I’ll try and get some sort of proxy to watch iPlayer. Apparently I can do that now. I wouldn’t know.

John Frusciante - Omission 

What a beautiful album. As Ashton said, the Chili’s just aren’t the same without him.

LOL i wish i could take serious pictures I just can’t seem to anymore. So after what can only be described as a lazy morning, I got up and walked myself to the JCC because they’ve got wifi, it’s not too much of a walk and I needed to pick up my key. Got my photo taken for no apparent reason but now I can go to all the classes I want to. Which is awesome. 

I had Jamaican coffee which is actually amazing. I like coffee. You know what else is amazing? That it’s called Jamacian me Crazy. And a blueberry muffin. That wasn’t so amazing and I couldn’t finish it because they put so much sugar in stuff here. Megan who was working today was amazing too because I basically just chatted to her and she’s the one who offered me the Jamaican coffee ;)

In the process of making a spider attack Toronto Skyline; not finished not near but you get the picture: 

I will finish it soon but first, I have dinner.

and I’m having POTATO.

Day 15. 7PM USA 12AM UK. Clocks did something weird but we’re back to 5 hours difference.

Today has been tiring and productive. Was SO nervous about the national portfolio day because some of the mentors/professors/uni reps are brutal, only saw one girl being made cry but I’m still so glad that wasn’t me. Got some good feedback, the first guy I saw was alright, graphic design at R.I.T (where the actual thing was…a private college which is actually amazing) said that I wouldn’t have to resubmit  my portfolio if I was to apply because what I showed them today would be good enough to get me in :D and the woman at Detroit College of Creative Studies said that some of my art would definitely get me at least half scholarship if not full in graphic design and illustration :D Such a confidence boost gonna do lots of drawing and stuff now because they told me to improve on my drawing from observation and i’ll have a perfect applicable portfolio. which was nice. 

Look at all the paper they wasted on leaflets i probably won’t read tho:

Had to get up super early to register for that thing, even though the clocks went so I’ve been superly tired today but things picked up when I MADE MY OWN PIZZA. For lunch. With PEPPER on it. and it was good. hahahah. Went out in the afternoon to meet this cutie:

and deliver all the girl scout cookies because for some american reason my cousins are girl scouts. 

There were some amazing photo opportunities, decaying pumpkins, autumn lights and the trees were looking amazing. It looked so good this late afternoon, I love how peaceful and rural it is here. Missing the buzz of the city but you get that when you go to the middle of city/toronto/nyc. 

Today has been really nice. and now I look like this after having a shower and completely cleaning my hair (using damage control and all that. my hair is too long need it cutting) and in my skinties pjs (yup.. one sleeve rolled up one down apparently thats how i roll now)

Got lots to do tomorrow, getting ready for art classes, woo. 

Gonna get it undercut so I don’t have so much hair ha. 

Day 14. 2 weeks. 8.35PM USA. 9.35PM UK.

Felt so ill this morning, what is that about. Couldn’t believe how bleugh I felt, so naturally, I phoned my mum because I wanted a virtual hug and a quick update on life. Felt a little better after putting make up on and speaking to her so I decided to get up and do something productive.

Ash Victim - We are all compost in training (Ramshackle Glory Cover)

So I finished off Jordan’s A3 picture and I’ll try and get that in the post next week with all my postcards. I’m sending him the original so it has no colour but I’m in the process of playing around with editing it.

Gonna do a few more for different people I think, if you want one for fun give me a message. If you want one for serious www.facebook.com/AnaSeraChambers and enquire. Chances are at this stage I’m going to stop charging for stuff and just manage to get stuff out there. This piece i call ‘PLEASE SHUT UP’ hahaha

My cousin threw the most impressive strop today, got so annoying though ha, I plugged my earphones in and listened to everything from broken nose to from the cradle to the grave to maroon 5 to chase and status to get away from the whining. Nearly put me off kids I’m not even joking if I didn’t love her so much and if I didn’t find it fucking hilarious I would actually have ran away. It was ridiculous but it was impressive.

Remember, Remember, The fifth of November don’t mean shit to America. We’re apparently still celebrating Halloween. After eating in like a mexican… subway called Moes (yup, i wish it was the bar out of the simpsons) we went to some spooky woods and someone had set up candle milk bottles making a path to two different huts with sweets and stuff in. Then walked further to a fire and music and hot chocolate. So all good there.

Chase and Status ft Kano - Against all odds.

Dancing away to this badboy too.

Did a few researchy things today, nothing other than drawing from mind and looking up ‘college’ courses. I’m think I might to a major in illustration if all goes well at Portfolio day tomorrow. I’m kinda nervous because I know that some people aren’t exactly nice when they’re criticing art work and art is VERY subjective and all about opinion so I’m not going to take the un constructive stuff seriously. Apparently one of the mentors makes people cry. Not me ;) So that’s tomorrow, gotta get up and be there for 9, ugh. Haha. Such a good oppertunity though, I’m excited.

So tired. 

Gonna watch some comedy and go to sleep probably. 

I’m so wild.

Day 13 12AM USA 4AM UK 

Today has been pretty awesome. I’ve really got to stop getting lost on my explorations though. Went for a walk in the sun which was awesome and the day was so beautiful. I really love days like today, wherever I am in the world, because it lifted my mood as soon as I got up. Win.

Walked to Starbucks (none other than) even though I meant to walk to the bakery for some lunch. I ended up chatting with this woman in there who worked there but was on a break or something. She said she liked my earrings. I love her. While I was there I had an iced coffee with no milk, apparently it’s good for you though so that was alright.

and I drew the Skints flyer (on paper first) then uploaded it and used the graphics tablet and photoshop to create what quite frankly is a masterpiece. LOL, i joke, but I like the birds on the top :D and The Skints and ClayPigeon and Big Red Ass are awesome. I hope you’re all going to that gig. You should. 

After I came out of Starbucks I went in search for food. Which makes me sound like a scavenger animal. I thought I’d find some traffic lights because you’re not allowed to jaywalk so I kept going and walked around a mile? until I found some, crossed the road and found that I was at the Plaza. It was 3, and I needed to be home for half 3 (i’m about an hour away from home) and I was hungry AND I was pretty much standing in the middle of a carpark. So I ran across the carpark (I didn’t run I walked, slowly, so as not to die) and went to Wegmans Supermarket Food stall and got myself a veggie wrap and some lays (the crisps. i didn’t just get laid in wegmans) and power walked the 2 miles home. Oh stopped once because these guys offered me a lift and although fit they didn’t look like they were entirely sane so I passed.

Took me only 40 minutes tho :) and so I got to do the door at the Lounge Bar As Gods gig via Skype. Got to see Lizzie, Josh, Dave, Dom, Dave, Joe and Mark fleetingly but most of all I got to see Catherine when she wasn’t working and Em and Alan which was too much fun. 

Then I skyped my mum, then we had pizza for dinner and watched Gnomeo and Juliet with my fam. 

That is what you would call a good film and dinner experience.

I have now got my own facebook arty page which I was avoiding making because it makes me feel egotistical but now it’s out there and there’s no going back, so check it out if you want: http://www.facebook.com/AnaSeraChambers

added photos to my flickr too: http://www.flickr.com/anasera

Going to do some more american type things tomorrow, so excited.

I love it here.

I prefer London tho.

I am coming back.

Day 12 9.33PM USA 1.33AM UK

Greenday quote for the title… that’s pretty much how sad today was. So I’m not all that enthusiastic about today, I’m not feeling too great so I stayed at home. Mostly watching the Graham Norton show because that’s what they have on BBC america here.. all the time… and doing stuff like the washing/clearing up/food prep/microwaving stuff. Which is always fun. I used a dryer for the first time ever. I skyped my mum a lot too which has made me sad because I miss her and she gave us some bad news about a family friend which has made me worry a little. Was on skype with her because she didn’t know how to watch Emmerdale online. That’s right, EMMERDALE. and she basically watched me peel and chop parsnips and carrots. Which I’m sure was better than emmerdale because everything is. I miss neighbours.

Tried and failed to cut my hair, lol, was trying to trim in but I couldn’t be arsed to walk across the hall to go to the mirror so I was trying to do it in the webcam. Gave up. It’s still long as ever. I want to be like a mix race version of Rapunzel without the crazy step mum and living in a tower. 

GOT SADDER COZ I MISS MY BANNOFFEE TOO.

Did some drawing and did some stuff on the graphics tablet, more coming sssoooon when I’m happy with them. I’m not sure about the face on her, but it’s all about improving I guess. It’s all good. I’m still really enjoying art, just trying to define a style is really hard for me for some reason.

Oh and my cousin threw a massive strop this afternoon too, which brought the vibe of the house down during dinner which wasn’t great. It has not been very happy-go-american today. Tomorrow will bring me good things, I’m checkin’ out the centre for classes I can do to meet people and have a laugh.

I might do yoga.

for a laugh.

I probably wont.

but I might do other art class or go to the gym or something ridiculous. 

POSITIVITY

Day 11 (Didn’t write it yesterday.. cannot specify a time)

Yesterday was pretty strange,

Went sort of mental in the morning, talking to Emily online and sticking fake tattoos to myself was a highlight.

I am hilarious. These are hideous. 

Lots of walking. I walked 2 miles to the bank, which refused to change my £50 into dollars unless I got an account with them. I hate that guy. I then went into Barnes and Noble (bookshop) because I was exhasted over throwing a strop AT the guy in the bank because he kept saying ‘do you have euros’ NO I DONT and it was the closest shop just across the road. I forgot that it takes about half an hour to get across an american road because they’re so wide so I definitely nearly got run over. Sat down in the cafe and switched on my laptop to see if I could find a shortcut to get home. I couldn’t. A woman was staring at me for ages, that was cute. Bought a ridiculously expensive blueberry drink because I THOUGHT it was cheaper than coffee (it wasn’t)

“This better be better than drugs. I just drank the whole thing and if I don’t feel happy within 5 minutes I’m gonna ask for my money back.”

It lied to me. But it did give me a little boost and I walked like 2 miles back again. Good exercise I suppose. By this time I was tired and dying a little inside and poor because I had no money. Which sucks, when you have no money in a country you don’t live in. My uncle gave me some though which was awesome as I needed $24 for the gig. A load of stuff happened and basically, I didn;t get to see the whole of the gig. BUT the venue looked cool and taking back sunday are awesome. 

Left early and went to an independent cinema to see a film… ‘Dream House’. It has Daniel Craig in it. Directors use every opportunity they can (even when unnecessary) to get Daniel Craig topless. Yep, the crazy man has muscles, well done to him. Stupid. I would maybe reccomend the film, it was pretty good, it was jumpy at the beginning but then it was all psychological and weird at the end. I liked it, but I’m not sure how much it really made sense. 

FUN FACT ABOUT WHERE I’M LIVING: everyone ‘hollas’ at everyone else here. don’t holla at me unless ya from the GHETTO. 

Other stuff happened. 

lol.

Day 10. 9.30PM USA 1.30AM UK

Today has been as eventful as any other day exploring the city, went to the neighbourhood of the arts today which was pretty cool, they have the uni and the photography museum, the comic book store and the vinyl shop there so it was pretty entertaining. My aunt dropped me there so I didn’t have to get the bus, woo, and we had vegetarian sushi. I won’t lie, the guy who works in there is fiiine, and the food is pretty good, eating with chopsticks is my new favourite. I didn’t take the CANON camera or my laptop and my English phone ran out of battery but I still had the samsung and I just read a proper map instead of using google maps, meant I had to keep going into coffee shops and sitting down (and drinking coffee.. or iced tea) which I won’t complain about. 

So I went to this museum place that holds art exhibitions, its the guy who made kodaks place or something. There was an exhibition on called ‘Unseen Eyes’ which consisted of finding faces in everyday objects and faceless people and photos that were so well edited and composed. Here’s some, I don’t think I was meant to take photos but how was I to remember it ;)

I found a face after I came out too:

After I’d been to this photography exhibition in a museum house place, I sat and drank coffee and I’d bought a few postcards to send out to like, 4 people so I wrote them. Well, most of them. Went in a load of boutique shops and arty type places, the comic book store because I love all the illustrations they have in frames up in the shop.

My favourite place was the record shop, the guys were so friendly and we talked for ages about sonic youth, the misfits and Public image ltd which was awesome. One of them I WILL marry. Two hot guys in one day make me happy.

Oh and my second favourite was this gift shop on park avenue which had loads of dream catchers and incense (you know the kind of place)… got myself some semi permanent tattoos of glittery unicorns yes i did. 

Today was my uncles birthday too, so after we all gave him presents and stuff we went to the Cheesecake factory which is one of the best places in the world. Cheesecake is amazing.

Look at my 6 year old cousin eating a ‘hersheys chocolate bar cheesecake’ (brownie, chocolate cake, chocolate cheesecake and chocolate chips) It’s almost as big as her head. We took half home in a box :p

I did lots today and I can’t remember all of it.

WOO.

I don’t know how to explain this. I love turtles. 

Day 9. 9.00PM USA. 1.00AM UK

This is my new favourite (still with a U, fuck you spellcheck america) thing. My coffee machine. It’s so simple and wonderful and gives me coffee and I love it with all my heart. It’s not right how much I use this thing, I don’t care, I love it and I can’t function without coffee now, literally cannot do anything or concentrate on anything, can’t be a good thing but it tastes so good. So many different flavours.

If I hadn’t had coffee today I don’t think I wouldve been able to give my 6 year old heavy cousin a piggy back ride all the way home from school either, she stepped in loads of mud so she had no shoes and there was NO way I was being responsible for glass/stones in the foot. I couldn’t feel my arms for like two hours after. I went to the party and they were shaking, even now they ache. I love her though, silly one. Look how freakin’ cute she is though: 

My other cousin, however, dressed like this:

Oh Happy Halloween ;) Just got back from the black’s party, it started kinda early, ended kinda early, I guess it’s because of children and school and people and work, there was a tractor though. Almost made up for the cold. My dressing up was pretty poor… non existent to be honest, I WAS an owl though. Quite clearly. I didn’t take any photos of myself (I know, what a shock) but I have a couple of photos of my cousins who looked kinda scary. Being greeted by the bleeding skeleton this morning was interesting (I nearly had a heart attack). I had loads of ‘candy’, but sweets are better in the UK for definite. I’m going to do a comparison when I can be bothered. Went trick or treating with my little cousins which was so funny. Everyone’s so generous over here, and superly into halloween, the decorations were pretty epic everywhere.

Today was mostly sorting out my online art stuff, nearly finished, I’m making a facebook page so hopefully you will all ‘like’ it and make me look half decent ;) I also made a flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anasera/sets/

So that will have a load more stuff up on it in time, it’s a little more organised than my DeviantART (http://anaasera.deviantart.com/). I drew some stuff and I’m trying to pick a piece that can go in Jack’s new zine he’s making, which is awesome. So excited for that. Busy busy busy. 

OKAY GOING TO LOOK AT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD NOW :)

Day 8, part 2. 11.21PM USA 3.21AM UK

Today has been good, even if my feet feel like I’ve had them in a freezer for days. It’s been a weird day because

• I live in america now so everything is weird and different
• I ate alcohol in a trifle
• I had ‘girly chats’ with Shannen and Nancy (least girl chat person, they think i’m a “fashionista”, Shannen wants to go to the ‘mall’ with me)
• I had vegan food at my cyndi’s house coz everyone else had pork. I’m not a vegan.
• I went to a championship american football game 
• I watched my 8 year old cousin do cheerleading
• I drank hot chocolate out of a polystyrene cup and it only cost me a dollar.

It’s been a lot of fun today, wish I could’ve talked to my mum though.

Ridiculously excited at the prospect of going to a gig, I feel like I need the atmosphere and it’s an opportunity to meet people who I’ll most probably get on with which is always a bonus.

Tomorrow is HALLOWEEEEN, which I wouldn’t normally do anything but get completely wasted at a party for (i think its definitely a commercial holiday so that’s all its good for… like valentines day), I can’t wait to go to this party and not get drunk and hang out with the Blacks. How fitting a name. The Blacks Halloween party. And send my grim reaper (with her fake blood pump) and my little devil cousins out to get me sweets and ‘candy’. Also, the photo opportunities will be really cool I hope, lots of good decor and costumes. And me as an owl, how hilarious is that thought.

So good here.

Day 8 it’s been a whole week, 11AM USA 3PM UK

Something ridiculous happened with the clocks in the UK and not with the ones in the USA so the time thing is throwing me about once again. No need for that. I am looking super smart today… ahem… because i’m going for lunch at the relatives (the not quite fam but fam enough to call the kids my cousins) then onto the championship ‘football’ game to watch my cousin be a cheerleader with the other girls who are, and i’m not scared by much, scary. SO yep, i’m wearing a rather nice YUMI jacket which is like, my favoUrite… with a U, fuck you spell check america. I don’t even need to look smart I just didn’t have any other jackets that were suitable.

I really need to stop pulling that face in front of cameras… it’s just second nature now, camera goes on tongue comes out (whey). Talking of photos I really need to find the lead to the CANON camera I now use because the pictures are 10000000x better than my samsung or of course, the webcam. But I love the webcam. What an invention. 

Nom. I had pancakes today, that’s what you’re supposed to eat in america for breakfast, right? So I only had a few and didn’t eat like one million because I’m not much of a breakfast person but I still accepted the whole experience. And it was goood. Now, as I ate my pancakes I thought about the chickens again (because of the eggs), the ones from yesterday because well, frankly they be givin me nightmares. Especially the purple one that escaped.

Fuckin’ weird. That’s all I have for today, it’s only 11am. 

Day 7. 4.30PM USA 9.30PM UK

So basically, as you can tell from the photos, today has been all about the halloween stuff which has been awesome for my art project because it means I got to take loads of photos of some pretty creepy things, I have a photo of a weird ghost hanging in someones doorway and loads of skeletons and lights through pumpkins.

We went so early in the morning and have been out ever since, just shopping for costumes and picking out pumpkins to carve. We went on the halloween hayride thingy (me and my cousins) and there was so much stuff like skeletons and bats and spiders all through this super creepy woods, it was so worth it. The only super weird thing that creeped me out more than any of the other stuff was that there were CHICKENS dyed all baby easter colours. Why would you do that. Seriously. It was so freaky. And the purple one had escaped.

My 8 year old cousin looks terrifying in her costume, she’s like a grim reaper or something. In her words she’s ‘gonna scare the pants out of everybody’ including me. In my sleep. My 5 year old cousin is a devil in a skirt, she looks pretty even though she keeps biting her own tail and it’s so fitting as she’s the naughtiest most sarcastic devil ever, ha. I’m going trick or treating with them. I might dress up as an owl. How sexy is that. 

Scary lookin’ furry owl.