Jun. 29, 2001
Harrisonburg, VA

Driving. Lots and lots of driving. Which I actually like because it's the only time I get to really listen to music. Just sit and listen to it. I love that. And since my car only has a tape player, road trips allow me to get re-aquainted with some of the old stuff I don't pull out so much anymore. I'm driving into the mountains, and as soon as I drive into Virginia it gets really beautiful, and I actually get all patriotic about it for a minute because I love my home state. It's one of those cloudy days with sunbeams piercing through all dramatically, and I'm driving in and out of rain storms.

I have a new favorite town name. Fancy Gap, Virginia. Isn't that great? I can just imagine the first settlers of Fancy Gap walking for days over the mountains. Upon stopping to rest, the leader says, "My, isn't this a fancy little gap in the mountains?" The people agree. The leader says, "Let us build our town here, and let the name of this town be called Fancy Gap, and let us prosper here." The people cheer. Thus Fancy Gap, Virginia is founded.

When I get to Harrisonburg, it looks just like I remember it, and I flash back to all the times I visited my sister here when she was at JMU. Harrisonburg is a goofy mix of college students and crazy, artsy people. The downtown is your typical deal with all one-way streets and dead-ends, so I have to drive around the block several times before I find a place to park that's anywhere the near the coffeehouse. I'm playing at The Artful Dodger, which I've heard is a really cool place. And it is indeed a cool place. They have Red Bull energy drink! Man, forget caffeine. Red Bull is insanely good. It not only gives you energy like caffeine; it puts you in a really good mood, too. I don't know what's in it, and I don't want to know. It's just really good stuff.

Anyway, I have a good show tonight. I feel like the audience is having fun, and I know I am. I meet some JMU students who are studying for exams and eating s'mores; they are all very cute. They announce during the first set that they're saving me a s'more to eat during the break. I am touched by their generosity. I also meet a guy named Nathan who plays upright bass.

Gail shows up towards the end of the show, and I'm relieved to find out after the show that it's her because I'm supposed to stay at her house tonight. Lee told me she was really sweet, and she is. She takes me next door to Calhoun's to get a drink, and by now I'm starving 'cause I never did eat dinner, so I get a bunch of appetizers, as is my wont. It seems like Calhoun's is actually closed, but Gail knows all the bartenders. We go by Luigi's, which is also closed, but Jeff (the manager and Gail's boyfriend) is there, so we go in to hang out with him for a while. Then we go back to Jeff and Gail's house, which is the quirkiest little old house I've just about ever seen. It's absolutely adorable. And I love their dog. I park on the street, and Gail tells me to park in the driveway, but my car won't start, so I just leave it where it is. Sometimes it does that when I've been starting it a lot, so it doesn't seem ominous at the time...