Dream Theater: Leader of the Band

Somehow, I'd become the lead singer for a band.

Only I didn't know any of their songs. We'd never practiced together. The truth was, I hadn't even heard of the band. And yet, here I was, their front man, and we were due to appear at a large music festival in a short while. 

What came as an even bigger surprise was how calm and supportive everybody was about the situation. None of the other band members or the people backstage were freaking out, even though freaking out would have been a perfectly understandable reaction.

Maybe that's why I wasn't freaking out, either. Sure, the circumstances were less than ideal, and there was a chance things might get awkward out there underneath the lights. But everyone seemed to share the opinion that once we got started, I'd catch on pretty quickly. As the band played, the lyrics and music would come to me. The audience would just to have understand. 

The lead guitarist said, "In a way, it's really their problem."

"Just make sure I have a set list," I said, as if a list of the songs we were going to play would help me in any way.

But everyone just looked around and shrugged. Apparently nobody had one of those, either.

Dream Theater: Where Did I Put My Backpack?

It was a Friday night after work, and I'd just lost my backpack at Macy's on State Street. Strangely enough, I lost it in the part of the store that sold bags and backpacks.

I'd already left the store when I realized what I'd done. I went back to Macy's lost and found desk. They didn't have my backpack, but they did give me a pink envelope from the president of the company, containing two necklaces. Great. Now I'd have to get that back to its rightful  owner in addition to tracking down my bag.

I returned to Macy's luggage department and dug around through the merchandise looking for my own backpack. And there it was, sitting on the floor. I was so relieved. I grabbed it and left the store, totally forgetting about the necklaces in the envelope.

It was Friday night. I had my backpack again. The whole weekend was still ahead of me. I went to the nearest El station, and once I got there I set down my backpack just for a second. And then it was gone. Again.

I looked everywhere for it, I asked everyone if they'd seen it. I approached a group of people, and Justin Bieber was hanging out with them. When I told them what had happened he acted like it was funny.

Then I asked Taylor Swift, who also happened to be nearby. She was sweet and understanding and offered to help me look for it. Though she did remind me, I wasn't the first person in the world to ever lose their purse.