~Kagemusha22

Well my last exam is tommorrow (an English Synoptic paper, where we compare 3 texts), after taking 7 (essay-laden) exams for the last 3 weeks and I'm just looking forward to being pressure-free, along with dreading the job-searching that'll follow.

As for other things. My dog had to be put down last Monday, which now feels whenever walking outside, as I always expect to see him. But all in al it was best he was put down, as he was suffering badly from old age. (he went blind, heart problems left him out of breath all the time, along with various other troubles)

Yesterday I finished my A2 Art course, by doing a 15 hour exam. We're given 6 hours for two days, and I have extra time in exams, which I needed this time as there was so much to put in my final piece. I can't really explain how it looks like (too tired), but It was done in watercolours, on a A3 piece of paper. (the smallest final piece in the room, with everyone else painting on boards and canvases the size of a small tank) Though I do hope to upload it ontohere, when I get a chance to take decent picture. ( I do have some currently, but it's out of line as I was in rush)

Now I have an extra 4 and a half hours in the week to revise form my History and English exams, which're next Month...<sigh>

(Plus I have a Driving Test in early June)

Tagged by , for 8 interesting things about myself.

1) I couldn't speak fluently till the age of 5, and spent alot of my time in Primary school in special needs, due to crap concentration.

2) It's a slight form of Autism. Though I'm doing okay, now from time to time I'll just completely lose concentration.

3) I'm an Agnostic. I don't believe in God, but don't disbelief in her/him either. As there's no final defining argument for either.

4) I'm a feminist (or whatever Feminist's supposedly call men who support female libertaion), and hate to see any patriarchy displayed within either a person's behaviour or within a culture.

5) Along with disliking any prejudice, that be; Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, and Xenophobia (fear of another culture). Thus making me a supporter of "Polictal Correctness", though mind that name was made mostly by Conservatives, to build a 'straw-man' argument against Social progress.

6) I'm an elitist in ways. If I get into a form of entertainment I always ignore the populist forms and go just for those with critical acclaim.

7) My parents are divorced.

8) I hate most of the drawings I make. As they're not what I want to be able to do.

....Christ I sound depressing.

Anyway, about a month ago I went to New york for my 18th Birthday, with my mum. Arriving in JFK airport on the 25th (a Monday), and taking about an hour just to get to our hotel in downtown Manhatten, which was located just a few streets from the Empire State. So we walked to the Empire State on the first day, and went through to the observation deck, before paying abit extra to get to the top of tower.

The next day (Tuesday) we went to Liberty Island. Which wasn't that amazing, mixed with the fact that in New York it's fucking freezing, we didn't bother staying on the island, and decided to get back on the boat to Manhatten. Then we mostly used the Tour buses taking us round the Manhatten area, till we got Times Square at about 6-ish (though nearly midnight for us). So went into "The View" restaurant at the top of this hotel. (forgotten the name of the hotel) Where it revolved around, so you got 360 view of the Manhatten skyline, along with surrounding areas. After that we just decided to go back to the hotel, (we were knackered) so we got a Taxi. The Taxi driver was this Nigerian lad, who'd come to the US to make a living (as he'd struggled to find any living within Nigeria, even if it meant leaving Friends and family), and told us his plans of taking a holiday in Britain during the Summer.

By the way did anyone know that London has more crime, than New York does? (I didn't)

We eventually did all the 'Gray Line', doing the Uptown tour/Harlem the next day, where we had a pretty good conversation with the Tour guide. (I'm really in need of editting this, lol....the conversation was mostly about music and how shit "Friends" was...)

We also had a few failed attempts at having a day of shopping, though I did manage to come across an electronics store, getting a cheap(er than in Britain) Digital Camera and all the shit that has to go with it.

One of the greatest part of trip, was just the range of characters you can meet there. Whilst in the snobby, pretentious restaurants you have to deal with annoying Business people chatting about the Stock Market and how great their BlackBerries are, along with some people on the other side who had a part in the Music Industry, talking about music like it was a commodity. Though as you as you get out of places like that, and into more down-to-earth areas, you meet people who have a sincerity and are lively characters. On the last night we these two editors, who'd taken work in films and Tv who'd decided to have a night-out in a petite restaurant. We got talking to them, after my mum had cracked jokes over the extremely loud near us, and we got talking. One was a gay bloke called Michael, who had a range of stories from gangs in LA, growing up in Boston, Morrissey fans, to Italian gaybashers. Claire his friend was an editor, who'd had some involvement with a recent Simon Pegg film, didn't say much instead just listening to Michael's stories.

Along with that, there was a great sense of welcoming atmosphere, that cities like London don't have. Which surprised us alot, and just made you feel at ease. Anyway seriously if you haven't been, it's truly worthwhile checking it out. The only regret was I never got to go into any bars and see performances by bands, and tribute's artists and poets, along with other things.

Saw a few days ago one of best, most beautiful films I've ever seen. When I went to see Control (the biopic on Ian Curtis, of Joy Division), I thought it was just going to be another run-of-the-mill biopic of Rock star, despite all the critical hype, but when I saw it just blew me away. The film is extremely subtle, but all the emotions are get through to you, and only the most hard-hearted won't be affected by the tragically short-life of Ian Curtis. What's great about the film is that it treats Ian as just a normal guy rather than just another rock star cliche, whose desperate to escape his dull uninspiring surroundings. (something I very much relate to being stuck in shitty Market Town, stuck inbetween Wales and England) Whilst struggling over the mistakes he's made in his life, like his early marriage. (he was married by 17, something I don't relate to, but can understand why that's a shitter)

Anyway the link below goes to a trailor of the film, seriously it's worth checking out.

[link]

Bit late saying it, but hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas. Personally it was a pretty normal, traditional affair (eat too much, get slightly drunk, fall asleep, followed by an evening of Christmas specials, including Doctor Who; which was a bit disappointing), with an array of very "useful" presents, mostly being clothes, a bag, box of pencils and sketch books, hair straightener (what?), etc. Followed by visiting family friends, and going back home to have Christmas dinner. All in all, abit of a dull day, but to be honest I've never enjoyed Christmas Day, my excitement when I was kid was based on the myth of Father Christmas, and my own selfish want for presents.

Though with all this seasons excesses don't you just feel abit guilty, and slightly empty, when the 75% of the world are living in poor conditions, with little money to supplement their life...

Other than that, hope everyone reading this rather pointless blog a happy New Year.