I am absolutely exhausted...

[Canadian Socialist]

I hate having to take public transit, especially in this "culture of the car" city. I live in the SW quadrant of the city and work in the NE. When I had a car, it was, at most, a 30 minute drive - on a bad day. Now, by bus/train/bus, it takes me from 1.5 - 3 FUCKING hours to get home. Add to that the freezing cold weather, 20 extra lbs. of clothes (to try to keep warm) and by the time I get home, all I want to do is collapse. Hold me.

[I Have A Dream]

1. I don't blame you! Consider yourself "held".

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. You're home!

:hug:

[Canadian Socialist]

5. Thank you Nelly,

I haven't been in the best of health lately. I have bronchitis and the cold air really aggravates it. It feels like I have a sea in my lungs, and I can't get a good breath. Having to hike up and down stairs, wait for ages in the cold, is really taking a toll on me. And, now, I'm just feeling sorry for myself.

[Radio_Lady]

7. CS, I hope you're NOT a smoker. That does a number on lungs, as you know.

[Canadian Socialist]

9. Wait! Are you telling me that smoking is bad for you?

Where the hell have I been?:sarcasm:
Okay, that wasn't very nice. I know that smoking is bad for the health; if I could quit, I would. Unfortunately, after 35 years and very weak will power, I can't do it... at least not now. However, the good news is, it is almost impossible to find any place to smoke nowadays, except in your own home. So, my smoking has gone from over a pack a day to maybe 10 (at most). I know smoking is bad for my health. I need the nicotine...

[Radio_Lady]

11. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to add to your woes. It's just that bronchitis

is different from early emphysemia, which is what smokers usually get after decades of use.

Well, I'm addicted to food and sex -- I need the food, and want the sex! :sarcasm:

I wish you a short winter and a sunny spring and summer! Anyway, Canada looked beautiful in the new movie "Brokeback Mountain" -- although there was a little bit of snow.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, hearty holiday season,

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[Canadian Socialist]

15. No worries, Radio Lady

Brokeback Mountain was filmed here (in Calgary). I actually ran into (literally!) Jake G. and Heath L. on 17 Ave. S.W. (17th Ave. S.W. is the "cool" area of town... aka the "Red Mile" because of the Stanley cup playoffs last year). They were going into a bar, and I was going to the bus stop. I wasn't paying attention (okay, I was reading as I was walking... bad habit) and ran into the boys. They were very polite; it took me a few minutes to kinda recognise them. They were, in real life, very beautiful. sigh.

[Radio_Lady]

17. Just checked filming locations in IMDB... saw the movie today!

Filming Locations for
Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada

La Mesilla, New Mexico, USA

Both "boys" were great in the movie! See it if you can!

[u4ic]

3. Zoiks, CS!

Here ya go:





and a



Is it as cold there as it is up here? (-22 at last check)

[Canadian Socialist]

4. It's not so much the cold, it's the wind

okay, I'm lying... it's the cold. I have to wait for my first bus on a flat prairie street, just south of the airport. And they are ALWAYS late. Not 5 minutes; oh no, 15 - 45 MINUTES late. No matter how much I complain to Calgary Transit, no joy on the improvement of service. Then, after 3 buses have passed by (because they're too full) and I finally get to the LRT station, I have to struggle up 2 flights of stairs (outside). There is no accommodation for those of us who aren't exactly handicapped, (that is I can walk, but stairs just kill my knees); then I have to wait for at least 10 minutes on a windswept train platform for a train; now, I'm downtown... I have waited over 1 HOUR for a bus that I could get on... because they are full. I am sick of this. Literally.

[Radio_Lady]

6. It's been in the 20s and 30s here in our "moderate climate" in western

Oregon -- with windchill factor driving it to even lower numbers.

We're expecting freezing rain on Monday and Tuesday. I'm sorry you have to work and I send you a big hug. I used to travel the New York City busses and subways years ago. I love cold weather, but this is too much.

Let's see -- what about visions of your own little island near Puerto Rico? Get away from it all...

[u4ic]

8. So much for the "Alberta Advantage"

sounds like way too many can't afford a car.

Public transportation sucks in this province...can you believe there is no LRT service to the world's largest shopping mall? :wtf: It's almost an hour bus ride from downtown. Guess they figured all those tourists would rather spend money on cabs - now there's one way to stimulate the economy :eyes:

[Canadian Socialist]

10. My brother & SIL are in Edmonton

they're moving to Victoria this Christmas. They hate the fact that to get anywhere in Edmonton, you need a car. They lived (before Edmonton) in Ottawa, and before that, East Lansing (Michigan). All they needed there was bikes or transit passes. They had to buy a car when they moved to Edmonton. These two cities (in Alberta) have basically made it near impossible to get around the city, in a timely manner, by transit. A lot of jobs that I wanted, and could have had, were inaccessible by transit. On another note, I lived in Winnipeg for over 20 years. You can get ANYWHERE in the 'peg by bus. You can catch transit from the airport to downtown (for regular transit fare), every 10 minutes from the Winnipeg Airport. Can't do that in Calgary; I don't know about Edmonton.

[u4ic]

12. We have shuttle buses

to the airport (which is located in Nisku - way, way out of the city) but it's something like $7 each way. Every ten minutes? Ha! I think it's every hour here, and every half during peak hours.

I hope their move goes well...I am envious. I'd love to get out of here, both because of the politics, and the cold.

[Radio_Lady]

13. What's the story on transportation in British Columbia, particularly

in Victoria? We were there in August and had a wonderful time. A couple of years ago, we went there for the Christmas to New Year's week. They seemed to have a lot of busses. I understand many Canadian retirees go to BC because of the warmer (but rainy) weather.

[u4ic]

14. I was referring to Edmonton

and the crappy system we have here. :hi:

[Canadian Socialist]

16. I hope the move goes well for them

as well. They are both starting new jobs... brother for the BC government (forestry, I think; in Victoria) and SIL is going to be teaching at a college (in Vancouver! yikes. but only 3 days a week). And they have a one year old. This is going to be an "interesting" new year for them. They moved here (Alberta) because they are a "team"... a double threat so to speak. Him - Forestry Economics. Her - Agricultural Economics. Both post-Docs. They are an amazing couple. So smart, and so sympatico. We (meaning my family) are WASP... Her family is Hindu. And yet, so much in common. The synchronicity is amazing. My dad and her dad are the same ages; and they were both in India during the revolution - on different sides. But now, the sides are together.