I am all shook up – literally!
Today has been quite the opposite of ordinary! It has been EXTRA unordinary!
Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?
This whole week I have been nervous about going into work with the crazy security warnings surrounding the G20 summit and the protests that come along with it. My office is not inside the security fencing that has been set up in the downtown core surrounding the building where the G20 meetings will take place. However, my office tower is in between this fenced in area and Queen’s Park which is very often where a lot of the protests start. So our area was considered “high risk.” As my sisters remind me frequently, I worry! On a daily basis I worry about lots of more abstract and philosophical stuff like, “What will I do for my next job?” or “What do I want my life be like in 10 years and how can I put plans into place to make this happen?” Well, this week I have been worrying about far more basic things like “Will I get out of the city alive everyday?” 
You may laugh and think I am over exaggerating, which I very likely am. But with all the media hype around the G20 and the constant and overwhelming presence of police officers dressed in their riot gear lining the downtown streets, it’s not hard to get a little freaked out! Most offices, including mine, were instructed to dress down to work all this week as there was a fear that people dressed in business attire would be targeted by protesters. We were also instructed on lockdown procedure and told all doors to the building would be locked and require our passcards for entry. All of this I can handle. No big deal! 
Well, this morning when I went to get on the subway for my 10 minute subway ride to work, we were told the subway was closed. I immediately got freaked out and started thinking the worst. I then made the 25 minute hike to work through the fortress that has become the downtown core.
Fort Toronto
As it turns out, the subway was shut down due to a suspicious package that was found at one of the subway stations that they thought was a bomb. Turns out it was not and everything was fine.
Between 9am and 1:41pm the day went on as normal and nothing too exciting happened. However, at 1:41pm a 5.0 magnitude earthquake hit Toronto and many surrounding areas, including some US states. All shook up! Scary! All the buildings in the area were evacuated while we figured out what exactly had happened. From what I can tell now, there haven’t been any reported injuries from the earthquake which is awesome!
As if the reaction from the earthquake wasn’t enough to deal with, during this time there was a major G20 protest working it’s way down the street to the intersection where my office building. The block was packed with police preparing for the swarm of protesters. I didn’t stick around to see the results of the showdown between the protesters and police. As soon as we were allowed back in the building I ran up and grabbed my stuff and got on the first train out of the city. I have had just about enough of Toronto for the day!
Lining up to block the protesters
Lined up outside the American Consulate. If you look closely you can see the snipers on the roof.
Protecting the court house
I did get a few evil stares from police officers when they saw me taking pictures of the drama unfolding. However, I saw several other people taking photos so I figured I could get away with it too. 
Did you feel the earthquake? Have you had to deal with any of the G20 chaos? Are you a worrier?Please tell me I’m not the only worry wart out there.
I plan on spending the rest of the night studying for my exam on Saturday. Hope you had a great day! 
Words of Wisdom from Mastin Kipp of The Daily Love:
Don’t be perfect
Be you
Don’t be what you think they want you to be
Be what you know you are
Don’t look outside yourself for anything
It’s all within
