12:03 pm

Who was I kidding? There’s no way I was going to sleep. We’re in New Haven now; about half an hour from where my grandmother lives, actually. There are lots of people getting off here. I’ve dug into my stash of granola I had tucked into my laptop bag, and have studiously been ignoring my blackberry. I actually call it my “crackberry” because the damned thing is so addictive!

I’ve got lots of people who I offered to call during the show tonight; I want to share this experience with my friends, even if they can’t be here with me! Some of them are local, so we’ll go together to see them in the Boston area (or Giants’ Stadium if the Jovi machine doesn’t come to Boston). Other friends are not so much local. Through our shared love of this band, I’ve made friends in New York, Michigan, Illinois, Arkansas, California, the UK, all over the place. I can’t say this enough – bonding over this band is instant and gratifying.

I think this is where we switch engines from electric to diesel or something – we’ve been here for a while, and I remember that when I took the train to DC several years ago, we had to stop to switch engines. Of course, things may have advanced since then, but since there are still issues with switches freezing in the winter (and as far as I can tell, as long as there have been railroad track switches in Massachusetts, there has been snow and freezing temperatures) I’m not taking any bets on that.

“These Open Arms” (bonus track from HAND) is on the iPod now. I love this song. I still have no seatmate, so I’m happily dancing and swaying in my chair and not bothering anyone. We’ve been in New Haven for 15 minutes now, and are finally starting up again. I’m up to Lost Highway on the iPod. Sigh. Only a few more station stops and a matter of mere hours until the show now!!! (hey, hey!)