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T.O. or bust.
Many years ago, back in 1983, three girls were born in the area surrounding the city of Toronto, Ontario. Many years past and the three girls found themselves living at the tip of Lake Ontario, but they all felt the pull of the motherland. It's the city they grew up in the shadow of and you can't shake something like that off that easily
Now the three have split paths. The first married off and decided to live in the heart of the downtown. The second decided to explore the United States and returned with a boyfriend. The third roams the wastes of northern Ontario and prefers to travel alone. This is the story of the third.
So I got to go to Toronto today. I only got three hours of sleep beforehand: an hour before work and two hours after. At 7:30 am we rolled out, dropped Katie at summer school and left. I was tired and hungry, so I was bouncing off the walls of the van.
Now, for those who have never been to Toronto, you should know that it's not smart to drive into the downtown if you can avoid it. Heck, my friends in Toronto simply don't own cars. There's not point when you have the TTC. Toronto Transit pwns you. For the most part. Parking can be a little hard to come by at the outmost Subway stations. Why bother with the effort of dumping your car on the outskirts? Because you DON'T want to try and find a parking spot downtown. ;-)
Mom and I parked by the Royal York station on the Bloor subway line. It was about 9 at this point and the subway was empty. We took the line down to the Bloor-Younge stop and paid my uncle a visit.
My family is poorish, but my relatives aren't. My uncle is a trader and works at 2 Bloor street. When I walk into the building, I automatically feel very out of place. This will pose a problem next summer, as my uncle as offered me a job there as a trader's assistant. But, hey - the office gives me a good line of sight to Lisa's apartment. Depending on where she's working next summer, this will be interesting. :-D
Uncle Derek came out with us and we took a cab over to a goverment building where we had to file some paperwork related to dad's death. I hate government paperwork. That wasted two hours of my life and no matter how hard I try, I'm never going to get those hours back. I spent most of the time rereading an entertainment section of today's Toronto Sun several times. Figures that I'd find a piece of the Sun instead of something else. My kingdom for a copy of The Globe and Mail!
After that misadventure, I got to hail a cab (!!) and we went over to dad's old office building. The cabbie was really cool and listened to CBC Radio Two as we drove over. Classical music really suits the core of Toronto.
Going back to dad's office was tough. They had packed most of his toys and personal stuff, but it still hurt a lot. The last time I was there, mom, dad, Katie and I were all together. Mom filled out some more paperwork and I just ranted to one of dad's old co-workers about how the school can't give me a scholarship. GPA of 4.0 and a sudden family death and they still can't find money for me.
Then it was lunch and we took the streetcar up from King to the Bathurst Subway station. I haven't been on a streetcar in ages and forgot what it was like. Riding a streetcar is not like a bus, nor is it like a train. It is like riding a boat. The Bathurst station is kittycorner to Honest Ed's, which is like South of the Border on acid.
(Note: As much as I hate Real People fiction, I can't help but think that Ed Mirvish would be an awesome person to role play or base a role playing character on. A total showman that is in love with the media and himself who will do anything to get attention, but also with strong connections to local charities, although he's not exactly modest about it.)
The Bathurst subway took us back to Royal York and we left for home. It hurts me to leave Toronto, but I do miss Thunder Bay too. I'm not fond of Hamilton, even though I've lived here since 1989 and there's a good chance my family never will either.
One day I'll move to Toronto, but that day is at least two years away.
Now the three have split paths. The first married off and decided to live in the heart of the downtown. The second decided to explore the United States and returned with a boyfriend. The third roams the wastes of northern Ontario and prefers to travel alone. This is the story of the third.
So I got to go to Toronto today. I only got three hours of sleep beforehand: an hour before work and two hours after. At 7:30 am we rolled out, dropped Katie at summer school and left. I was tired and hungry, so I was bouncing off the walls of the van.
Now, for those who have never been to Toronto, you should know that it's not smart to drive into the downtown if you can avoid it. Heck, my friends in Toronto simply don't own cars. There's not point when you have the TTC. Toronto Transit pwns you. For the most part. Parking can be a little hard to come by at the outmost Subway stations. Why bother with the effort of dumping your car on the outskirts? Because you DON'T want to try and find a parking spot downtown. ;-)
Mom and I parked by the Royal York station on the Bloor subway line. It was about 9 at this point and the subway was empty. We took the line down to the Bloor-Younge stop and paid my uncle a visit.
My family is poorish, but my relatives aren't. My uncle is a trader and works at 2 Bloor street. When I walk into the building, I automatically feel very out of place. This will pose a problem next summer, as my uncle as offered me a job there as a trader's assistant. But, hey - the office gives me a good line of sight to Lisa's apartment. Depending on where she's working next summer, this will be interesting. :-D
Uncle Derek came out with us and we took a cab over to a goverment building where we had to file some paperwork related to dad's death. I hate government paperwork. That wasted two hours of my life and no matter how hard I try, I'm never going to get those hours back. I spent most of the time rereading an entertainment section of today's Toronto Sun several times. Figures that I'd find a piece of the Sun instead of something else. My kingdom for a copy of The Globe and Mail!
After that misadventure, I got to hail a cab (!!) and we went over to dad's old office building. The cabbie was really cool and listened to CBC Radio Two as we drove over. Classical music really suits the core of Toronto.
Going back to dad's office was tough. They had packed most of his toys and personal stuff, but it still hurt a lot. The last time I was there, mom, dad, Katie and I were all together. Mom filled out some more paperwork and I just ranted to one of dad's old co-workers about how the school can't give me a scholarship. GPA of 4.0 and a sudden family death and they still can't find money for me.
Then it was lunch and we took the streetcar up from King to the Bathurst Subway station. I haven't been on a streetcar in ages and forgot what it was like. Riding a streetcar is not like a bus, nor is it like a train. It is like riding a boat. The Bathurst station is kittycorner to Honest Ed's, which is like South of the Border on acid.
(Note: As much as I hate Real People fiction, I can't help but think that Ed Mirvish would be an awesome person to role play or base a role playing character on. A total showman that is in love with the media and himself who will do anything to get attention, but also with strong connections to local charities, although he's not exactly modest about it.)
The Bathurst subway took us back to Royal York and we left for home. It hurts me to leave Toronto, but I do miss Thunder Bay too. I'm not fond of Hamilton, even though I've lived here since 1989 and there's a good chance my family never will either.
One day I'll move to Toronto, but that day is at least two years away.