The Calmly Frightening Cab Driver

Two nights ago I rode with the least aggressive cabbie I have EVER seen. I noticed right away that he wasn't trying to run everyone over like all the other times I've ridden in a cab in NYC.

But every time we would come to a stop, I would see the light turn green and he wouldn't budge. Now, it was 2am so there weren't always people right behind us. But soon enough, someone would pull up and LAAAAAY on the horn.

It happened at almost every light. (And there's a lot of lights between Penn Station and the UN) And the thing was... he wasn't looking down or around the car. From my angle in the back seat it looked like he was looking straight forward, which made it all the more confusing.

Do I say something? Or clear my throat? I mean... ummm... green light, go. Anyone?

Especially someone who drives for a living?

So about 6 blocks from Ma's apartment... I could see his reflection in the rear view mirror. Again... green light... nothing... HOOOOONK... and he goes.

HE WAS CLOSING HIS EYES AND TAKING A NAP AT EVERY LIGHT!

How's that for safety!? Made me feel REALLY good. But at this point we were so close, and I knew we only had 1 more light to go through, so I bit my tongue... agonized over "do I tip him horribly because he's falling asleep at stop lights? Or do I tip him really well because Good Lord I feel sorry for the guy. That is one sleepy dude." (That was pretty much my exact internal monologue) So I split the difference, tipped him average, and RAN.

Not sure I'll ever again experience such a calmly frightening cab ride!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.

~natalie

Roger Williams University

Look at what was in our hotel room when we got here tonight!!! I shall call him... Franz. The Elephant. Why? Cause it just feels like the thing to do. HE HAS GOOGLY EYES!!! LOOK AT HIM!!!!




Franz was only the icing on the cake. Actually... he was the flower icing on top of the main icing. Tonight's show went so well. We played at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. You could really tell they had promoted it a ton. Not only were there lots of students there - they were really interacting with us and giving us great energy.

The lights were all run by students (they had a VERY impressive lighting rig) and they were REALLY into the fog. There were times where I couldn't see the crowd because of the fog. IT WAS AWESOME. There was one time that I looked back at James and he looked like he was just smoking from awesomeness. It was like he had just emerged from a cloud of smoke... as if they were introducing him in a movie and he was about to melt your face with the best drum playing you've EVER heard. :) It was pretty hardcore. :)

The show was complete with lots of "cell phone lighters" swaying in the way back on the bleachers to people knocking chairs over in he front because they were dancing so hard! Yeah. It was a good time.

So I found my downloader doo-hicky in the back of the Suburban today!!! YAY!!!! Many pictures have been uploaded on facebook and myspace today thanks to well... possessing the technology to do so.

So now I can get back to my normal way of doing things and show you come pics!

These are my dancing girls!!! I made a comment early in the show that they must be on a dance team together... ummm and they are! It was great cause one of them would start doing a move and then the rest would join in. Their dancing was getting everyone pumped up! Actually, on "Even Alaska" that whole side of the crowd was jumping up and down to the music.... which definitely made me feel like one of the "cool kids".


These guys were great. I had just gotten done cleaning off the stage, and I could only find 2 set lists. These guys came up to us and said "Hey, we found these on stage and wanted to know if you could sign them" So see?! I'm not crazy! Plus, that is way better than just reusing them for tomorrow night. I like it when people want us to sign set lists. I spend so much time writing them all out - it is cool when they get appreciated like that! :)


If I were to take a WILD guess.... probably the youngest fans of the evening!!! Meagan and Michaela


JILL!!!! Jill and I were keeping in touch ALL day, just getting details ironed out for the show. I feel like we are best friends after all that phoning and texting! She took SUCH good care of us. AND she's wearing a Peace, Love, CEN (Campus Entertainment Network) t-shirt. ROCK ON.


Boston HERE WE COME!!!

Peace, Love, Fiddle
~natalie