Forbes Top 10 Impoverished Cities

Yesterday we played in Albany, GA. Forbes published an article of the 10 most impoverished cities in America. And Albany was on the list. I heard people talking about it at our show at Darton, and then when I turned the TV on in the hotel, they were reporting on it.

Apparently they had a bunch of plants close down around the same time. So the unemployment rate is ridiculously high there. We've played in 3 of the 4 southern cities on the list -Albany, Ga; Macon, GA and Rocky Mount, NC. They found the data from using a 2008 census, which shows the poverty levels based on yearly income. Plus, they factored in per capita incomes for a region, the number of food stamp recipients, and the percentage of people under 65 receiving public healthcare.

You would have never known it, though to be in the town. It was a beautiful place. And we actually stayed in an award winning Quatlity Inn that was so cute and quaint. People joked with us about making sure our vehicle was locked up... and actually when we were heading back from Cracker Barrel, I saw 6 police cars racing in a line to somewhere.... which wasn't very comforting. But it really seems like a wonderful place, so hopefully the people of Albany can get back on their feet soon. I just found it interesting and thought I would share.

You can read the Forbes article here.

~natalie

I Broke A String

I broke a string tonight in the last show!!! WOOO HOO!

I'm normally not that cool. Miguel breaks strings all the time. But I hardly ever do. And the funny thing is, Amanda - who has come to see us at Whiskey River a bunch up in Macon, came to the first show on Wed night. She asked me if she could have the next string I broke on stage. I told her I hardly ever break one. It's only happened a few times in my whole life. And then TONIGHT. She came back to tonight's show. Lo and behold, guess who broke a string!?!?! SO yeah, she got to keep it!


And these wonderful people, I met on the ferry coming off of Put-In-Bay. I blogged about their awesome doggies - they have a standard, toy, and miniature poodle. I told them at the time that we would be at the fair, and they came!!! It was so cool to see them. It didn't register who they were at first. I felt so bad, becaue I had other people talking to me, and I was a little scattered, but as soon as I realized who they were, I got SO excited!


Alright folks. I think I am gonna go have a drink with Barney Fife. Cause how many times in your life do you get to say you've done that??

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Beds In EVERY Room :)

Why is it that people always take the batteries out of the remote controls for the tv at band houses? EVERY TIME!!! The band house at Whiskey River... here... ok. Well, that's only 2 but it's every time! We always spend a long time wondering why no on can work the remote and then realize that... umm.... there's no batteries in it.

Also, there's always 1 or 2 remotes that don't go to anything. :) But that makes me feel at home... so that's all good in my book.

They've painted the band house down here and it looks so nice! It's quite bachelor pad-y. THANK GOODNESS they didn't get rid of the cheetah carpet in the den. It just wouldn't be right without it ;)


And the finished off garage-turned-bedroom with the hanging Red-Dog Pool table light. Hootie has always claimed that room for himself.


But I think my all-time favorite is the laundry room bedroom :)


Somehow, no one ever ends up sleeping in there? What's up with that? :)

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this... but I AM SO EXCITED TO BE IN PCB! Beaches, here I come!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~nat