Carlos and Studabaker needed to be up early on the 28th to get to MSG for a Phish concert. Seasoned veterans that they were, there would be no fucking around.

We hit the road at who knows what time and started heading towards New York. Studabaker was useless due to the splitting headache and Carlos has no sense of direction whatsoever. Off we went... We stopped somewhere in CT (fuckin flatlanders) to get a sandwich and it ended up taking an HOUR. With time running low, We needed a train station fast!

There were signs for the train... There were signs for the Bronx... Ignoring the signs for the Bronx we pulled into a grocery store, in the Bronx, right next to a train stop. They parked their white, 1988 Oldsmobile P.O.S., with Vermont plates, in a spot that to each side had giant "PARKING FOR 20 MINUTES ONLY, VIOLATORS WILL BE TOWED" signs. Fuck it... gotta get to MSG.

Once inside the station, we sought directions to MSG. Bulging black-eye and all... Studabaker gets directions.... from some idiot. This person obviously did not know that MSG is right above Penn Station (well neither did we). So we took the directions and ended up walking about six blocks to get to the Garden. We run... grab tickets... run to our seats **CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP**... Stash opener... this is gonna be a good'n.

The show proceeds... the show ends... (you know how the middle goes!) Now... we must get back on a train and find the car.

THREE hours later it's 3:30am and after getting sent in the wrong direction..... TWICE.... we FOUND THE FUCKIN CAR!!! The only problem... was that the chain link fence, that had the barbed-wire on top... now had a chain link gate which had closed the entrance to the parking lot. So.... our shitty old car is stuck in a cage... in the Bronx... we're white, we're haggard, and Studabaker still has the worst black-eye of all time.

After separating, walking a block in different directions, and then meeting back up scared shitless, we decided to take our chances with the barbed wire. We made it... back in the car, sound asleep until about 6:45am when the store owner came knocking on our window with a look full of terror and sorrow on his face. After explaining that we were OK and thanking him for his caged hospitality, we hit the road back to Vermont.

We missed the Dec 29th show because we couldn't get the energy, or the car back (it was borrowed), and Phish busted the first DVD SKY encore in like 8 years...

Now they're on their way back to MSG and all I want for Christmas is a little redemption... I don't care if I have to go through the whole ordeal all over again... hell the circumstances could be twice as bad and I'd still go for it.

All I know......

Is that I wanna be there....

When the lights go down.

- Carlos