Twas the Night Before Christmas...

How did Christmas come upon us again? It seems like it was summer only yesterday, and now the snow is falling outside again (or still) and instead of being in Halifax like I have been for the past two years with Ryan's family, I was lucky enough to make it home to BC for Christmas with my family. I think it's my first one home in about 5 years? Something like that. Luckily, we have decided that Christmas is going to be pretty chill this year. No mass quantities of presents, just a good old fashioned choose-one-name-gift-exchange. And since I was on the ball, I had Dad's gift finished before I left for Canmore at the beginning of November, so this year was free of Christmas stress. Of course being in Canmore makes life easier too. You don't have to deal with the masses of crazies that Christmas brings in Toronto. The crazy drunks I usually have to serve at work. The roads packed with people who shouldn't drive in the summer let alone the winter snows.... It was a pretty relaxing winter in Canmore, we have yet to go skating on the pond because of the -40 windchill, but it's supposed to clear up this week, so I'm pretty sure we'll be making up for lost time.

So now my parents' house is full of relatives. My aunt and two cousins from Rocky Mtn House, my aunt from Australia, my grandma will come over tonight, and my sister and her boyfriend arrive tomorrow afternoon. And I am hiding downstairs, cooling down after my run and watching the snow fall peacefully outside. I think it's time to go for a walk. And maybe play some Christmas music on my Dad's guitar... 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

The Waiting Game

Being at an airport is not new to me. I've been doing it since I was 2 weeks old on my first flight to New Zealand. Since then I have flown all over the place, sometimes waiting at the airport, sometimes going straight on the plane, sometimes being called over the PA to come to the gate. Every once in a while my bags get misplaced, an engine or another part of the plane needs to be looked at so the plane is re-routed or turned around so they can fix it. And more often than not flights get delayed. Such as right now. I am currently sitting in the Calgary airport waiting for my 910pm flight (which is now 1030pm) so I can go home to BC for Christmas. I had to come early because two other people I live with were flying out earlier, so I've been at the airport since 430. Them's the breaks I guess. I'm not sure if it's because I have been doing this for so long, but it always amazes me how people's attitudes and behaviour really "shine" when something goes wrong at the airport. We had to wait in line to check in for almost an hour, and had at least 4 people try to cut in the line. There was a guy in front of us freaking out because the WestJet Customer Service Agent had the nerve to actually talk to someone checking in instead of simply getting her in and out. As if she should have been a robot. Now I am the absolute first person to complain about something going wrong (like when Enterprise called us an hour before we were going to get our rental car on Wednesday to say that they had no car) or how Canada Post has issues during the holiday season when they can't deliver mail on time. But when there is a blizzard on the other side of the country and your flight gets delayed, is it really in anyone's best interest to scream at someone who is only trying to be helpful?

I guess because I am a people watcher (and the airport has free wifi) I can handle the wait well. I could probably write a few songs if I wanted to. I have a book, my ipod, my computer, some snacks.... I'm set. So why is no one else prepared? 

All I can say is that if our plane crashes in Hawaii like in Lost, I might have to kill some of my cast mates if they are anything like the jerks that are in the Calgary airport today. 

That's a promise, Freckles.

postnote:

9 hours in the Calgary airport, 1 tall nonfat latte, 1 hour on the tarmac, last bag off the carousel, getting home at 3am BC time = priceless.

Transportation

Only after having lived in Toronto for 4 years can I say with certainty that I am spoiled for transportation. I don't own a car, or even a bike, but I never have issues getting where I need to go. Yes, sometimes the subways are late or busy or stuck, and yes sometimes there isn't a streetcar waiting for me when I need it... but the joy of a big city is that you can always walk. Everything I need is within walking distance. It's fantastic. 

Cue arrival to Canmore. Let's be honest, small west coast towns (well small Canadian towns) are meant to be driven. They are designed and built with the driver in mind, not the pedestrian. In fact, the pedestrian usually ends up being an afterthought. Canmore does not have a bus system (although they do sport some lovely bike lanes) so walking is kind of a necessary evil. Not that I'm complaining. I like walking (most of the time) when I am not laden with groceries, or have frigid cold wind whipping in my face. It takes between 15 and 25 minutes to walk from our house to the theatre/downtown area which is actually pretty decent considering it takes me about an hour to walk from my apartment to work in Toronto. Enter the best invention ever. The six dollar cab ride. That's right, it costs a measly $6 to go anywhere in Canmore. The part of Canmore that doesn't take 30 minutes to drive to that is. The $6 cab has saved my life many times so far.  And probably made me a bit lazy, but hey, I walk down the hill!! And I dance for a living!

When I was walking downtown today I had to wait for a train to go through the intersection. It was a long train and there were quite a few cars that had to stop and wait. It was strangely peaceful. While the train was blasting its way through, the drivers had no choice but to wait, we all had to patiently allow that brief moment of time to be ours. Not time's, or whatever appointment or task you were off to accomplish.

 I stood there just watching the train roll by.... and took my moment. 

Free Time

It's amazing that for the last two years while I've been working myself crazy trying to pay off loans, all I've wanted was some spare moments to catch my breath, read, hang out with Ryan, see my friends, cook, and play guitar, and now that I am out here in Canmore and have four (yep count em - 4) days off a week I can't find anything to do. Granted, I am not in my normal surroundings, I don't have my guitar, books, or boyfriend here with me, but you would think it would be easy to find projects. Not so much. Kelly and I went to join the gym this morning, and that filled up about an hour or so, and now we're back at the house watching the food network. On the plus side, I'm living my dream. I'm in a fun and energetic show that is challenging me on many levels. I'm in beautiful Canmore AB, the mountains are gorgeous. I have fantastic castmates and an amazing house to live in. But I don't have Ryan. So until the snow starts pouring in (if it does) I will have to wander and explore. It is really beautiful here. It's incredible to be at the gym running on the treadmill and look out the window at snow-capped mountains. Amazing. 

The show is fantastic. Suds is a lot more work than I thought it would be. We get our asses kicked every night. Lots of choreography and lots of singing. It's the best workout a girl could ask for. I swear by the end of the show I am barely hangin' on!! I know it's only going to get better and better though. We have until the end of December in Canmore and then January to April in Niagara Falls. Although I miss Ryan and Toronto, this has been a great experience. And definitely something I had to do. The best is that Mum, Dad, Aunty Janet, Uncle Brian, Aunty Diane, Margo, Richard, Gwen & Aimee Finnson, Carine, Tom & Patti Baird, Dena, John, Bree, and Miranda are ALL coming out from BC to see the show this weekend!! Yeah that's right, I have a posse :)

I am looking forward to Christmas (I get to go home to BC!) and we are decorating the house here and hopefully baking up a storm. Kelly and I are going to try to find somewhere to volunteer our time until then...

Living the actor's life is a tough one. Good thing Randolph prepared me to be tired and overworked!!!