The Great Nashville Flood of 2010

Today was one for the record books.

Nashville is completely under water. I've never seen anything like this before. The stories from friends and family don't seem real. James and I are so lucky where we live. We have had power and haven't had problems with flooding. But nearly everyone I know has had damage of some kind. Including our band.

This is just a few blocks from our condo


Downtown Nashville


This dude caught a fish on Edmunson Pike!




We were supposed to leave today to head to Ohio. But our band physically can't get to us. Squad cars are blocking the roads, because there's so much water over them. We keep hoping the water will recede enough for everyone to get out... we're waiting...

But I feel silly talking about THAT being our biggest complaint.


I have a friend who was picked up by a boat from the second story of her flooded house where she was trapped... She was dropped off at Kroger, and made way to a friend's. This was after she and her mother watched her car, her mother's car, and her sister's car all be swept away by the water. She and her mother are just 2 of the 600 who have been rescued from their homes so far this weekend. And 36,000 people are currently without power.

My brother has a friend who stood waist deep in water and watched his house burn to the ground because the fire trucks couldn't get to the hydrants... they were all under water. The irony of that is too much.

Thank goodness we haven't tried to leave yet because all 3 of the major interstates around Nashville have been shut down for most of the day - including the one we needed to get to Ohio. Check out this crazy video of a mobile classroom that was caught on tape floating down I-24 earlier today:

Here's the link for you facebookers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHuMn1AVRDg&feature=player_embedded#!

And here's the vid for the blog readers.



That video was just down the road from where our guitar player lives that can't get out of his house!!! We're just thankful he is ok.

Our prayers are with everyone who have lost their homes and been forced to evacuate to shelters. Currently over 400 people are in shelters. But as always, the churches and people around town have come together and been providing amazing support to everyone.

We're still working on it, but it's not looking like we're gonna make it to our show in Ohio tomorrow. We NEVER take canceling a show lightly, but I am sure they will understand.

It feels like I am watching news stories of other people, and then I look out my window and see that it is HERE. Thank you for all the kind words of support on facebook and twitter. Thank goodness the rain has finally STOPPED. Here's hoping the water recedes sooner than later so people can begin putting their lives back together.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Sleep Remoting, S Polytech State University, and CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE!

I hope Miguel doesn't mind me posting this pic :)
David posted it on his blog with the following caption...
Miguel illustrating his dedication to his van DVD remote obligations:


Miguel has always been the best at operating the DVD player. He'll fall asleep, and wake up JUST to fast forward through the theme songs at the beginnings of episodes. :)


Today we got a do-over!!!! We played at South Polytech State University in Marietta, Georgia. We were supposed to play there last August... We were all set up and ready to take the stage. They had a HUGE production with major lights and staging, and multiple bands... and THEN the thunder and lightening came and washed away any chance of a show. :(

But they brought us back at the END of the year today (they only have two weeks of school left!) to play. And we ACTUALLY got to play!!! I was waiting backstage after David's set for him to introduce me... I looked down and saw a 4-leaf clover! Just like Mamma always does. She has a talent for looking down and finding them without even trying.

The luck wasn't for the show, though. I know that much. :) My wireless mic went out a bunch during the first song. I couldn't tell if it was my monitors or my mic at first. But I figured it was my mic when Panther pushed his mic stand up to the front of the stage for me, and bent it down to my height! He was ON TOP OF IT! :) Turns out the mic had interference... which is something we hadn't had to deal with yet. But we got it worked out after the show. During the show... I used Panther's mic and he and David had to go all "Springsteen" for the rest of the show and share David's mic for all their background vocals. :)

The students took us to the Marietta Diner after the show. I have been dreaming about this Diner since last August. Justin and Miguel walked to it last year at 4 in the morning and raved about how awesome it was. (Plus it was on the Food Network as one of the top 10 Diners in the country.) We tried to go the next day, but it was so packed we couldn't park our trailer!!!
OH. But tonight? The students took us and it was amazing. I got my favorite - eggplant parm. And then. Oh then.

CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE!!!!

I fell in love with Chocolate Chip Cheesecake in Boston at Mike's Pastries in the North End. But no one has it. Seriously. No one. Not even the Cheesecake Factory. They have every kind imaginable! But not chocolate chip. But tonight? HEAVEN.


The whole crew!!! BAND on one side of the table + S. Polytech CAB on the other = BEST TABLE IN THE DINER!


So glad today worked out with NO RAIN!!!!

Our awesome new Chinese friends!


Ian!


Thanks for the great pics, Ian!




I'm starting to get a tan on my face and arms from all this gorgeous sunshine! I love it!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Sunset Cannon Shoot

Yesterday a band called "Stainless Steel" opened for us - a steel drum and a singer/guitar player. :) That was a first!

Today we played the afternoon beach party at Schooners. I kept looking to my left - where I could see the ocean. It starting POURING rain during the second set... but the bet part? It was pouring if we looked to our right and when we looked to our left, it wasn't raining at ALL!

We finished our last set 2 hours tonight before we normally even start playing at Spinnaker... which is so funny. I can't believe we are already done. :)

We met some other Nashvillians tonight:


Schooners is known as the last "local" beach club. Every night at sunset, they shoot off a cannon to celebrate. EVERY night ;)




Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie