Sunday, November 30, 2008

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. 

Monday, November 24, 2008

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!!!