I got up around 1 pm, changed into shorts. Yep, shorts in Boston in November. It was almost 70 degrees, and made sleeping a little uncomfortable. I had to crack the windows. I had $120 to my name, with approximately $100 having to go towards gas, which left me $20 for food (for 11 days) after spending $8 on a map of Boston. It's a cool popout map, though, and I needed one after driving around lost in the city the day before. I also lost my google map directions to Somerville, and had no atlas. I was hoping to make some money that night, because eating beyond that day would have been nice.
Even with a map, I couldn't find Somerville Ave because there was no street sign. Still, I got there 4 hours early after someone told me to take a left at the windmill looking thing. There was a Papa John's right down the street, of course. I can't get away from it.
I got to Harvard Squared @ 3:15 pm, and finally found a parking spot at 3:54 pm. I waited until 4 pm, so I could feed the meter until 6 pm, and then get free parking afterwards. I've definitely gotten parking tickets in Oxford at 5:56 pm when my meter ran out at 5:55. I didn't want to repeat that in Boston.
Lunch time! I had lunch at Crazy Dough's because there was a sign that said it was the "#1 pizza in America." It was voted the best pizza in 2004 at the International Pizza Expo in Vegas. It was great! It's in the Garage in Harvard Square.
I randomly sat down with a group of 5 women at Au Bon Pain in Harvard Square (where Matt Damon had lunch with Minnie Driver in Good Will Hunting, and he "when it came to things like that, I could always just play." I love Good Will Hunting; it's easily my favorite movie of all time if you take away sagas). They ranged in age from probably 29-32, and their conversation intrigued me. They had the same concerns as the college students I know, the people I work with, and my friends/acquaintances who are in their 40s and 50s. I never gave them my name, legal or stage, but they didn't mind me being there. They involved me in their conversation, and gave me farewell wishes that I enjoy my time in Cambridge. Everything about the trip so far, had reminded me that it's good that I'm chasing my dreams. I also know that if they don't come to fruition, I'll be as ok as everyone else is. Life is about being happy, and making others around you happy. I don't know what the future holds, and I'm glad. I will give everything I have to my dreams, and be happy if I live my dream. I can also be happy walking away if my best isn't good enough to make music my career. I'll never have to say "What if..."
As for the show, Cassandra Kubinski was UNBELIEVABLE! Her voice is amazing, and she's a very talented pianist. Beyond that, she's a wonderful, honest, social, caring person. Everyone gravitated towards her, and I hope she comes to Ohio soon because I want her to perform for all of you. Feel free to take a break from reading this, and check her out at CKubinski.com or myspace.com/cassandrakubinski, or add her to your facebook friends at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=510949784. She's done recording her full length debut album, "Holding the Sun," and I'll be buying it the first day I can.
The crowd was quite small, and consisted of myself, Cassandra, Boston Lonely, the booking agent, the soundguy, the bartender, the door guy, and about 5 fans, for a total of maybe 15-20 people. It happens. I still had a lot of fun performing because 6 of them were highly attentive. I made $0 and sold no CDs. Life of a rock star! :)
More state changing, I crossed into New Hampshire at 1:16 am, and crossed into VT at 2:50 am.
My friend, Jared, recommended that I pull off at the rest area in Sharon, VT. There was a rest area 8 miles south of Sharon, but I thought that was the wrong one. Instead, I was the wrong one. I ended up at a rest area 25 miles north of Sharon. I never found any food after leaving Somerville, so I got some sun chips and Famous Amos cookies from the rest area vending machines. Those, plus a Wild Cherry Pepsi, equals a well balance, healthy 650 calorie meal.
The rest area was closed, so I had to use the restroom and brush my teeth outside. Thank goodness for that gallon of watter I bought for the trip.
194 miles driven for the day.
Bed time was 3:47 am
Onto Day 8