Eve of the New Creation
I'm in Vancouver now and it's as great as it always is. I don't know why.. most people complain about the city. They say it's dirty, dangerous, too noisy, too busy, too something. And I'm pretty sure that there's a good chance that someone living in a big city would get bored of it after a while, and long for the calmness of a smaller city or town. But for me.. this is home. It's where I come alive. It isn't just Vancouver - it happened in London too. London and Vancouver are the two cities I've stayed in for more than a day, so they're my only reference points. Oh, and Toronto, which also felt very good.. but I don't feel I "know" it as I "know" Vancouver. And I put it in quotes like that because it's not like I know Vancouver well at all. I'm learning all the time where things are. But it feels good here.
My room is great! I'm staying at the YWCA Hotel. It's the kind of hotel that has shared washrooms down the hall, so that makes it cheaper. But it also has kitchens for use and TV lounges and even my single room is big! I mean, when I stayed in a discount hotel in London, it was small. Fun, but small. As soon as you walked in the door, you had enough room to close the door, turn to the left and put your suitcase on the bed. To the left, bed, to the right, wall. Down a bit into the room was a sink and the window, and an armoire.
But this one here, at the YWCA, it's great! There's a coat closet when you first walk in, and the hall way is larger than the door. Attached to the coat closet is shelves, with a mini fridge underneath. Enter the room and it's a spacious area, with plenty of room to walk around the bed, and even a little desk to write at. Night stand with alarm clock, sink area with mirror and a large window. And I'm on the 11th floor, so I can see out a bit more than those on lower floors could. I'm facing into the city, though surrounded by somewhat tall buildings so the view is limited. It's very pretty at night though.. all those twinkly buildings. And 11th floor! That's gotta be a sign. The number 11 is kind of a lucky number to me, ever since I learned the theory that when you see 11 it's your guides trying to get your attention. Ever since then, every time I see an 11 I smile.
As soon as I checked in I noticed that Black Eyed Peas were playing at Richard's on Richards tonight, so I decided to go down there to see if there were any tickets left. Unfortunately there weren't, so I headed to the Tinseltown theater to catch a movie. Got there just in time to see "The United States of Leland", which is an indie movie I read about in magazines and so I decided to check it out. It was an interesting movie.. different. And I do believe the main character was an Indigo, though the writer(s) may not have intended that. I don't think that Indigos are just infiltrating the world by being born, I think it's also known in the Universal Mind and therefore being written about. Many Indigos are very troubled in this world, much more so than a typical teenage trouble. I mean, I went to high school, I know what the majority of people around me were like. Nothing like what we tend to see in the media - the troubled teens nowadays are different. Yeah, Leland was most definitely different.
I'm going to spend a lot of time at the public library tomorrow, but I'm also going to head over to Granville to catch another indie movie, "Dogville" with Nicole Kidman. I read a full article on that one and it's very unique - the entire thing is filmed on a sound stage with the walls marked by chalk.
Speaking of movies - I was walking past CBS Radio's big headquarters and there were three semi's parked against the side of the road with traffic cones all around them. One of them had the Paramount logo on it!! I walked around the block and peeked over the bushes, but didn't spy anyone recognizable. There was a catering truck though, and some girls dressed up like they were going to a club, hanging out chatting. Wish I knew what was filming!
It feels so good to be here. So free. It's not even because I'm off work. If my job was here, I wouldn't care if I had to go to work tomorrow. It's not work that bothers me. What's so free here is I can go wherever I want, whenever I want. Bored of TV? I could go catch a movie without having to rely on someone else. Of course, I'd prefer to go with friends, but the point is I could go alone if I so chose. Bored of watching things? I could go shopping/browsing in a zillion different, 100% more lively places than I have at my disposal at home. And parks! My god... I know my hometown is good on the nature, but Stanley Park is so great. Plus the ocean.. the beaches. It wouldn't have to be a special occasion, I could just go to the beach and smell the sweet ocean air anytime I wanted. And the library! As dorky as it sounds.. my town's library has very little, even though it's quite pretty. But the Vancouver library is the hub of all libraries in the Lower Mainland!! It has anything and everything one could ever want! Or at least, it ought to from it's size. lol. And let's not even get into the number of clubs and organizations that meet in Vancouver. From singles/social clubs to interest groups and more. I've searched and searched and there's no groups that interest me in my town. My only hope there would perhaps be some groups at the local college - if they allowed in non-students.
So what's a girl to do? I have a great job with benefits. I can't just quit it. I won't - and I don't feel I should yet. But how do I get to live where I'm alive? Where I'm free and inspired? I'm so inspired here. I just want to write and write... and film! I've had that camera running laps today! It hasn't gotten this much use since I bought it! I can just see movies come alive here - that's what happens in Vancouver. That's why we're Hollywood North.
I can't afford to go to VFS full time. I don't understand how that works. The courses are all really expensive - at least $20,000 or more.. and they say you won't have time to hold a part time job on the side.. so how on earth does anyone live in Vancouver for a year with no income and $20,000 in debt??? Insanity.
Or what if I could live in Vancouver and still work at EV? I don't know how that'd even be possible, though. I don't think I could afford to live out here AND have a car (besides the fact that I still don't have a license). Of course, I couldn't live in this part of Vancouver. Too expensive. Maybe PoCo.. it's a midway point. Or Burnaby. Translink connects it all, so I would only use my car for going to work. I know others who work at EV live out this way.. of course, they're supervisors and managers and probably make more money than I do... ah well. I wonder what the rent's like out here. I mean, in the more affordable areas. I wonder how little I'd need per month to live on. I wonder how much it really would cost to have a car, per month. Could actually be doable, but must have license to drive. *g*
I'm going to check email then go to bed. Busy day tomorrow!