Best road trips around America.

Just got through booking my next holiday to America and could not be more excited. Having travelled around America for the last 20 years my mum and I are very excited about our holiday this summer. We decided on flying in to New York but driving straight out from Newark to Cape Cod to stay for almost a week and then driving up to Boston and staying mainly to be able to get the ferry up to Salem (very excited about this; just purchased The Crucible on DVD from Amazon as I love to watch film and read books about the places I'm visiting). Then we will be driving to the Berkshires for a restful week of music and museums, and finally back to New York to fly home. Writing out like this the two weeks just don't seem like enough to do all the things I want to see and do. We spent ages deciding where we would go because in the last couple of year we really have had the best holidays road tripping across different states that we were a little stuck on what would be the best thing: we decided against New Orleans as I'm not 21 till next year and I don't want to miss out on be able to party with my mum.

I was the one who then suggested Massachusetts because I was reading The Prince of Thieves at the time after seeing The Town directed and starring Ben Affleck and falling in love with the Boston accent (I strongly recommending both the film and the book if you want to explore the characters in greater depth). And I'm really looking forward to the whale watching in Cape Cod and the art galleries all over Massachusetts.

All this got me thinking about some of the really great holidays and road trips like last year we drove across Tennessee starting in Memphis and ending up on the coast of South Carolina or the year before when we drove from San Francisco down Big Sur to LA and then further on down to San Diego; just to think of the best and most recent but I also remember trips across Virginia and Washington D.C and LA to Palm Springs to Las Vegas and then to Phoenix- the trip that made me fall in love unconditionally with Las Vegas.

Big Sur is definitely one of my favorite holidays in the US; in only two weeks we saw so much of the beautiful Californian coast line. In San Francisco we hit all of the traditional tourist spots- Alcatraz and the SFMOMA- which were really amazing and interesting. But the shops were also one of the best parts.

- 1st Matrix moment of the holiday; we stayed in the Palace Hotel in San Francisco and then less than two weeks later we were watching a film in our timeshare in San Diego called The Game starring Michael Douglas where he jumps off the roof and falls through a glass rooftop. The same hotel rooftop as the Palace Hotel. This isn't the first time we've been stuck in the Matrix.

Although we had planned to drive down the highway to Monterey but accidentally took the coastal road- although longer it was truly amazing- and we were in Monterey in time to have lunch and go the the aquarium (I also nabbed a great pair of red ray-ban wayfarers).

I think the real reason I remember this holiday so well is because it was were I fell in love with Ender. I began reading Enders Game (my dad and my brothers favorite book) during my A Level Art exam because I really hated what I had chosen to do for my final piece and I just wanted something to distract me from that. But soon enough I couldn't put the book down- after two days I was on to Speaker For The Dead and Xenocide but the speed I read these took my by surprise and I was left without the last in the saga between Monterey and Carmel but luckily we pulled off at this tiny town just inland and found a Borders and a nice restaurant. The holiday was saved because I was able to get Children of the Mind and the 4 books in the Shadow saga. I read these 8 books in just about a month and I don't think they will ever stop being my favorite books of all time.

The inn in Carmel was one in a long line along the coast all very much the same, we laughed as we walked past couple after couple sitting on their porches sipping their glasses of red wine that they had probably picked up on a visit to a local vineyard like the pretentious characters in the film Sideways.

One of the places I really recommend is Hearst Castle; not just for fans of architecture and history but fans of 20's and 30's films and celebrities as it holds a rich history of glamour parties and debauchery. The tour was amazing and informative; the tour was well worth the money and we didn't even get to see everything in the massive, gorgeous castle and grounds. As a huge film fan is was interested to learn that the pool scene from Spartacus was filmed around the outside pool of the castle and it's has been the only film that has been film on the grounds.

We stayed in Santa Barbara for only a night having arrived quite late but we did have time to check out the Victoria's Secret sale and walk along the harbor.

In LA we did the usual tourist thing of taking a tour of the celebrity homes in The Holmbe Hills and Beverly Hills. "Why his he got red flower reefs on his gates?" a woman in the van asked.

The tour guide replied, "because everyday is Christmas day for Michael Jackson, ma'am". My mum noted to me that because of all the problems he had throughout his life and his money problems; he should have done a James Dean or Marilyn Monroe. Four days later, while shopping in Banana Republic in San Diego we heard from the shop assistant that Michael Jackson had died.

This wasn't the first time a celebrity has died under questionable circumstances while we were on holiday in the US; in '97 while in Texas the news of Diana's death reach us during the day both most people in England were still asleep- but the tremor and shock of her and Dodi's passing was felt even in Texas. Then when staying in Dallas in 1999 John Jr's plane went down over the ocean; this was particularly upsetting shocking to us as only a couple of days later we were going to the museum in the Book Depository where we signed the book of condolence. But Michael Jackson's passing felt more shocking because of mums comment as we sat outside his gates- on the news I noticed that the red reefs had been taken down and white reefs put in there place.

Despite Michael Jackson's passing this holiday will always remain one of my fondest memories. And I am really excited for the summer just thinking of all the great places I'm going to get to see in Boston.

- Posted using BlogPress from Demosthenes's iPhone

Location:Train back to Brentwood

Dogs should have dentures...

Every time I see this advert it makes me really happy. Thinking about it makes me smile.

I guess that fact is not amazingly interesting to everyone but I know that even if you pretend not to find it funny because your 'super cool' you are really laughing inside.

I hope at least one person sees this and laughs. :)

Just Because It Has To Be Said

While writing my last post; a review of the film How Do You Know I sat at my computer catching up on the episode of Southland that I missed last week and the episode from last night, and never have I been so caught off guard by a television show. I've been watching Southland since the second series was released in America and after catching up on the first series it soon became one of my favourite shows on TV; because unlike other cop dramas that have been made with the same basic formula of really focusing on the crimes and the criminals Southland reveals the effects of being a cop in LA and how that effects different individuals. Each character is developed and different meaning the audience really gets a chance to see who this person is. Sadly the show was greatly overlooked in England and was almost lost in America when it was cancelled at the beginning of series one, but thankfully it was saved and is now half way through the third series.

However the last few minutes of last weeks episode where absolutely horrific; the writers lead you down a trail of false hope to only tear that away from you when you least suspect. When one of the Mexicans suddenly hit Nate (Kevin Alejandro) form behind with a metal pipe I actually felt physically sick knowing that of course he was dead but also that this character who had so much personal story to tell was leaving one of my favourite shows. Kudos to Shawn Hatosy for some excellent acting as he tried desperately to fight off the men stamping on Nate and pull his lifeless body towards the car, I felt just as desperate as he was and shouted at the screen for more to police to arrive but also knowing it wouldn't save Nate.

Then as I watch this weeks episode I hoped for some reference to Nate or some appearance for Shawn but there were only a few reference's to the funeral making my feel more desperate. However I realised that this is what this show is about; real-life. If a police officer dies the world doesn't stop turning, people don't go in to mourning and can't go to work; there are still criminals and rapists (as this episode pointed out) and people have to go on with their lives. But I'm not saying that I'm okay not seeing how Shawn in dealing with his partners death, if there is not a larger storyline next week I am going to be very pissed off!

Seriously if you get the chance watch this show... it really shouldn't be missed.

How Do You Know

Okay so just got home from going to the cinema to see a film that despite what the critics tell me I should be feeling I was excited to see it considering the fact that its a film from writer/director James L. Brooks and As Good As It Gets is one of my all time favourite films. I went to the cinema with an open mind because I choose to never listen to a critic until I've seen the film myself because their not always correct despite what they think. I had high hopes; the cast is an all star line up of distinguished actors; Jack Nicholson is a multi-Oscar winning great actor and Reese Witherspoon won an Oscar for her role as June Carter in Walk The Line and the trailers made it seem like a funny but slightly depressing story that would obviously end happy for the characters the audience is supposed to root for.

However the film never seemed to take off, the acting was slightly muted and slow and the story line was not thought-out. every time it seemed we would finally get the point the characters couldn't get their lines out.

I have liked Paul Rudd as an actor since Friends when he married Phoebe and its safe to say Rudd was the redeeming part of the film, as well as I good supporting cast of actors including Kathryn Hahn (who was in Anchorman, Stepbrothers among others). His back story was centred around his getting investigating for criminal feud; the point of this was not explained till the end of the film but when it was talked about during the film it was as if the characters didn't know their lines or for some reason couldn't get them out. And even though the point of this story line was eventually explained at the end but we really should have got there faster.

Owen Wilson didn't really have much character development but despite obviously not being the guy your routing for in the love/relationship triangle but there was nothing terrible wrong with him, it seemed that Reese was the problem in the relationship as the stereotypical whinny girlfriend that just wanted to change her man. I would really love to see Owen Wilson try something different other than the loveable fool who mentally never left high-school. From all reports Wilson has had some problems with depression, maybe he doesn't want to do something more serious because he likes the 'silly' roles he chooses (Marley and Me seems to be the only role were he's taken on more emotional acting). I would like to see him take on a role that's more daring and different from what he's done before.

There's not much to say about Reese Witherspoon's role in the film only that she was there to tie together the love triangle. It seemed like she was there physically and but not mentally and to me she was also the villain in the triangle because she knew Rudd was falling for her but still lead him on by going to his apartment. As I said earlier it seemed she wanted Wilson because he was rich and handsome but also wanted to change him for her own sake.

Last but not least Jack Nicholson; I cant really explain what was going on with him. He was like a confused old man trying to say something but he couldn't remember what it was he was trying to say. I have loved Jack Nicholson for many years: all my life probably, and then to see him like this is a little sad because it just reminds me that he's getting older and wont be gracing our screens forever.

If you want to pay money to see this film in the cinema... do; that's your choice but if you'd rather watch an excellent film and come away happier, stay home and watch AS GOOD AS IT GETS. There aren't many films where the main character can be so awful and brutally mean but remain loved by everyone (my favourite aspect of the film is the vicious insults Nicholson comes out with without actually using offensive language (swearing)).

So this is my first post...

Not really sure if anybody will read this but nobody was ever heard when they first started talking, I guess its just important to start talking and hope you say something somebody cares about and wants to hear what you have to say.

So I'm creating this blog and I really wish these websites were easier because I really hate technology and if I couldn't shop online I probably wouldn't use the internet and if I didn't have to have a mobile I wouldn't have one; one of the worst things people do is take put their phone when your talking to them at a bar or over a meal because do you not understand that manners have to be adapted from not talking with food in your mouth (something horrible that people didnt like 40 years ago) to not using your phone at the table. Really people its not hard! But I digress I feel I should start this blog because after my degree I would like a job in the media industry so should probably get some practice doing completely inane things like 'blogging' and 'tweeting'; as if there are aren't enough saddos in the world that feel their point of view matters when it really doesn't.

I do enjoy writing but if I had the choice between this and writing in a book I would choose the book but alas books are becoming obsolete in this ever growing and changing world of technology. Lets just say I got the message loud and clear when my dad made me watch The Terminator back in 1995 because I wanted to watch Judgement Day and I wasn't allowed to watch the second without having watched the first. It seems fitting that my first film reference is a reference to a film where technology destroys man because we allowed it to become all knowing and more powerful. But really that's just my point of view and that's what this wonderful technology is for... people to dribble on about unimportant matters.

I called my blog THE WORLD FROM BRENTWOOD because I feel that a lot of poeple have this pre-conceived notion of Brentwood in Essex because of what they either believe or want to believe is true and thats okay in a small way because their are those that live up to this idea and enjoy the stereotype but sometimes its like I'm shipwrecked on a tiny island trying to shout for help to a plane passing over head; knowing no one will hear me but still hoping and praying that I will escape this place where I don't fit in. However not fitting in has helped to shape me (how contrived, REALLY?), it was more like I don't really like the people around my so I created this introvert little world in which I can look out and laugh at all the people I feel are wrong in some way.

One thing you'll learn if you stick with this blog and keep reading is that I'm actually a narcissistic, quite self-centred , impatient, really insecure and VERY crazy (and also dyslexic so if you see a spelling mistake don't feel you have to point it out... I already know I'm thick). But that doesn't mean I'm wrong about most (probably ALL) of the things I say.

And know to leave you with something so incredibly pointless to everyone that isn't me... my new lamp arrived to day; its shaped like a French Bulldog and its sitting next to my green metallic Gnome on my bedside table. It just fits so perfectly with everything else in my room; I LOVE IT...