Aka Balaka!

The train ride to Hartford was uneventful. It was a short trip, and we went over some bridges and things, too quickly to take any pictures of. We arrived in Hartford, and as we were walking out the entrance to Union Station (... why is like every train station in America named Union Station?), I said, "Okay, now we just have to find our hotel." We walked through the door and we had our answer. It was right across the street. I didn't even get to do my famous walking around the block in the opposite direction to find my hotel thing. We were checked in in less than 10 minutes. I guess it was probably around 4:30. I had used my Priority Club points to book the room, which is probably the reason I got such a fabulous room. It actually had a view. A view! I have never stayed in a room with a view, ever. Well, I did one time because my parents paid for it, but that didn't even count because they took the room that had the view and I slept on a rollaway couch in the next room. I always have a brick wall, or something fabulous like train tracks. I'm a budget traveler, so I refuse to pay for nonsense like that, but actually being able to see something when I looked out the window was fun. Yeah, Hartford, Connecticut is maybe not the most exciting city there is. I was there last summer and was not impressed, mostly because there were exactly ZERO people downtown, not including me and my friends. But, on this day, to me and Trinity, it was the most exciting place on earth. Our room overlooked Bushnell Park, which is the 'Central Park' of Hartford, and it was perfectly adjacent to the Capitol Building. We just stayed there and watched a Phineas & Ferb marathon on Disney Channel and looked out the fabulous window.

The show started at 7:30, but relatively speaking we left the hotel the equivalent of about ten hours early at like 6:00. I wanted to make sure we had enough time to get there, since my tickets were at will call and I didn't really know exactly where I was going. Also, there was nothing else to do besides that. The first cross street we came to was at High and Allyn. One of my good friends is named Allyn, and I spent a good ten minutes running in and out of the middle of the street trying to take a picture of the signs that said "High Allyn" with my phone to text to her. Sadly, it was a lost cause. The sun was reflecting off the signs and, while my phone's camera does take really awesome high quality pictures, the zoom feature wasn't helping me out much. We trekked on, and when I could see the theater ahead of me, I knew we would be way too early, so we sidetracked to Dunkin Donuts (because it was the only thing we could find that was quick). We ate our donuts and drank a Mountain Dew (I don't normally drink Mountain Dew, but I was starting to get a headache and needed some caffeine, as I was afraid I would ruin the evening, and therefore the entire summer, if I let it progress to a migraine), then went to the theater, and we were still too early. I'm pretty sure the doors were still locked at this point. We waited outside and took a few pictures. Although I absolutely admit I can be a complete and total nerd, I didn't want to look like a totally geeky fangirl or something and be the first one inside, so we waited until another group went in. Only then did I go in and start behaving like a totally geeky fangirl. I'm really not, though, I swear. I only truly love two celebrities besides The Umbilical Brothers, and one of them is a fictional character (Indiana Jones) and one of them is dead (Jimi Hendrix). So, you know, my obsession is sincere...this is the point I am trying to make.

They let us out of the waiting area into the lobby and announced that the guys would be coming out into the lobby to sign autographs after the show. OMG! I was going to meet the Umbilical Brothers. I contemplated obsessing over what to say to them without looking stupid, but then, I realized, I will likely make a fool out of myself no matter what, there was no use in in wasting the moment worrying about it beforehand. The show was amazing. If you have not seen them in action, I cannot explain to you how flawless their performances are. If you have seen them in action, I still cannot explain to you how flawless their performances are, but I feel better knowing that you already know. When they first came out and did some 'pre-show banter,' Shane said that Hartford was a great town, except that sometimes it feels like 'I Am Legend'. My thoughts exactly. I've never been to a more desolate major city than Hartford.

Afterwards, we took the only cash we had and bought the Don't Explain DVD,so we could get it autographed. There weren't even that many people who hung out to say hi to them, and those that did left immediately thereafter. It was pretty exciting. I got to meet my idols! And honestly, I don't even think I made too much of an ass out of myself. At least if I did I blacked that part out. We had nice conversations with each of them, we shook their hands and left, with our dignity intact. As soon as we were clear of the door, we both jumped up and down like dorks, and then ran away practically skipping. Trinity said nothing but "oh my god oh my god oh my god" for like the next half hour. Alas, there was no one to text about my exciting moment, since none of my friends know who they are.

All in all, Cambridge-Boston-Springfield-Hartford-Thwak! easily made for the best day of summer 2009!