Nascar, Baseball, and Stovall

It's Official. Miguel is REALLY Important

WHEW.

We are always prepared for it to be difficult to enter the military bases. For obvious reasons there should be LOTS of protocol involved when civilians are allowed on base.

Since we are supposed to be here, we've never had any issues with getting on. But today well... not so easy.
For some reason, the computer system would not allow them to enter Miguel's information. He's a permanent resident, not QUITE a citizen, but he has a social security number, license, and green card.... (has been here for 4 years AND is married to a beautiful corn-fed Nebraska girl) But he lost his wallet in PCB and is still waiting on his replacement green card, so he didn't have it as extra proof today. But he had his license and in Tennessee, you can' get a license without a green card...

After a couple of hours of speaking to one person and then the next, showing all the proof he had, yada, yada...

The Commanding Officer of Pax River Navy Base gave Miguel special permission to be on base today. So Miguel is WAY more special than the rest of us here!!! :)


The Barracks Bash at their BRAND NEW Liberty Center was awesome. They had planned to do a big outdoor concert, but they decided early in the day to move it indoors because there was a 50% chance of rain. And as we've learned before.... better safe than sorry!! Their new facility is great though. It was funny because the best place for the stage was where they normally show movies. So there were what I will call half-walls up to act as dividers for this part of the room. If I were taller, it would have helped. But unless you were standing in front, you could only see me from the neck up! And I noticed that when Miguel was soloing, I am sure you couldn't see his guitar... which is just funny to think about! But it mattered not to ANYONE in the room. They were full of free hamburgers and hot dogs, and were singing along!

Not sure what it is lately about these soldiers all being drawn to the ladies pink tee... but I hope this continues to happen!


Charlene is 6 months pregnant and had me sign this poster for little James to be born in 3 months!


It's a "Michael from Tennessee" sandwich!


And another TN boy who grew up in Lawrence County right down the road from me! He's even worked Mule Day before :)


TOM!!! He took care of us all day!


I kind wish I was looking at whatever he's looking at... because it looks like a lot of fun:




Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~nat

HOORAH

The hotel we are staying in smells really musty. MMmmmmmm.

We are right outside our destination for this weekend - we alternate bases in MD, VA, MD, & VA!

Before we start playing again tomorrow, I better post some of my favorite pics from this last weekend! And I can't wait to get Mamma's pics from the audience perspective!

Halsey. Best model EVER for the pink tees. HOO RAH!

He was also responsible for much of the dancing, beach ball throwing and hand clapping during the show. He was the main instigator - I need him on the road with me to be my Hype-man. My very own Flava Flav :)

Don't worry - I would only sign the t-shirts! No defacing of government property!!!


There were over 200 soldiers rocking out at the front of the stage by the end of the show. It was incredible.


Postcard!


More of America's Finest.







Sunday was amazing, too. In true Gulfport Mississippi form - it was a big ole shrimp boil - complete with a watermelon eating contest. I wanted to get in on the fun... but the contest was RIGHT before show time. I don't think that would have been good for anyone involved.

Grace had to escort our butts around the whole time. We went to ihop after the show, and she even came BACK from her house to drive us back to our hotel on base. Thank goodness. The base was HUGE and we definitely would have gotten lost.


Here's some of the Seabees I met!

I love the expression of the guy on the right:







FRONT ROW!


Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Stevenson University and Monmouth University

Ahhh. Days off are great. We have been going non-stop for so long, that today has seemed well... way too easy! We slept in, ate at an awesome diner in New Jersey, ran some errands, drove 3 1/2 hours to Reading PA, checked in, and went to dinner and to the Wolverine movie. I have been looking forward to that movie for so long - it was really good. Had to hide my eyes a bit :) But that's pretty normal.

I am SO glad that I have a chance to catch up on the last 2 shows. It feels really weird to be behind!


Saturday was awesome because we woke up in PA, played a show in Maryland, and slept in New Jersey :)

We played at Stevenson University in Maryland. And yet again, they had to move the event indoors. The rain has really put a damper on the Spring Festivals this year. But it never stops the shows! We don't care where we rock out - indoors or out. It's always a good time.

It wasn't raining when we got there, though. That always helps with unloading :) They had a HUGE inflatable obstacle course and then they had something I have never seen before - an inflatable boxing ring!!! The "gloves" you wore - they were GINORMOUS!!! I was bummed I didn't get to put them on and get a picture. But we usually don't have a lot of time to participate in the activities between set up and show time.

They also had a station where you could "build your own stuffed animal" - kind of like "Build a Bear" only with rhino's, mustangs, all kinds of interesting things.

One of the Dean's of students and her daughter came to the show. That always makes me feel cool!


My merch girl!!! She was such a big help!


And the girls who worked tirelessly for us and the entire event!
Carrie and Abbe


Sunday we played at Monmouth University.

I have passed by Monmouth so may times!!! My friend and co-writer, Gordon, lives in Long Branch. We pass by Monmouth to get to his house :) Well... when we go to get Quiznos, that is. So I was really looking forward to this one because I felt like I had been there before.

But alas, the rain caused Monmouth to have to go to the indoors as well. They had inflatables upstairs in the student center - TONS of different stations, and then the stage with all the bands was in the cafeteria area where all the free food was. Free food is a GREAT way to get students to the show! They had Pulled Pork BBQ, deep fried oreos, home-made lemonade... well... I could go on an on about the food. But on to the show!

Gordon and Jess, his girlfriend came to the show. It was the first time Gordon has seen the band play live! It was so great to see him and Jess, and I was REALLY excited they came to the show.

Stealing Jane and the Josh Cramoy Band also played at the show. They were SOOO good. I knew some of the guys in Stealing Jane, and Josh Cramoy and I are booked by the same agent. I was asked numerous times if the trombone player from Stealing Jane was Miguel... they had the same hair :)

The students at Monmouth were unbelievably helpful with loading and unloading our equipment.

And these girls - the twins - were a huge reason that we were brought to Monmouth!


My front row girls singing along the whole show:


So were these girls!


And Ari, my agent, showed up RIGHT after we finished the show. He and his wife Stacy came by. I feel like I have so much family up here in Long Branch - between my agent and Gordon. :) It's awesome.

Tomorrow we play in Reading, PA. We're already here, so that automatically makes tomorrow seem like a breeze!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie