So I had the pleasure of riding the TTC the other day, as I like many Torontonians, am sick to death with the copious amounts of traffic and construction happening everywhere you go.

Personally, after having two car accidents in the past few years, I am a nervous fucking wreck in the city and my anxiety shoots through the roof.  Fuck PTSD – the nerves are real.

Don’t smoke cannabis and drive is enforced

Well, would it be preferred I am clutching the wheel, nervously changing lanes and slamming on the brakes often? Not saying I smoke up and drive…. I am just “saying”(what would be worst….)

Anyhow, I uber a LOT.

It is the best way to get downtown from my hood.

• I can work while they drive
• They boost my ego with ratings for the amateur stand up I do
• I don’t have to muck about with 30$ for 15 minutes parking rates

This is likely pretentious though because I live on a main artery of the Toronto core and can feasibly take Toronto Transit anywhere for less money and the same above satisfactions. Okay, maybe no ratings but a helluva a lot more people to talk to and be entertained by or vice versa – entertain.

So I am trying a thing lately. 

I am opting to take public transit over the next month anywhere I may have to go within the GTA. Today I started out on one end of the Bloor Line (the giant East to West commuter access way) and rode to my end of the world.

Can I use the word “fun” to describe this journey – cause it was!!

Honestly, I think the packed cars are even better (even though I am sure they were running the heat vs. AC- but I refused to let this bother me). At one stage, I was crammed between a Summer Camp of Vietnamese children,  A white elderly lady knitting and 3 burly construction dudes who had clearly just blazed because I got secondary high wafting their fresh aroma.

Talk about awesome! I like to chat with people (shocking I know) and also interject myself in passerby conversations if I am within earshot – so this was a nice group to work with. By the end of my travels, it was just myself and the Operator.  A very professional, middle-aged black male.  I asked as many questions as a curious 5-year-old may about all things TTC and he obligingly gave answers.

This my friends was a great first experience and after then walking home  vs. a bus – I realized three things:

1. I CAN smoke and commute (loophole)
2. I can exercise after said transiting
3. People in transit are great topics to blog about and – get to know.

All in all – I think I will save myself and others some cussing and money with this Summertime “Test” and perhaps, a shitload of tickets and general “Amie” infractions.