ldyjocelyn

CG, I'm sorry I can't help you with Waldo (that sounds really smutty, doesn't it?). Our two cats were brought up on Science Diet dry food (the vet says it's much better for their teeth for them to eat dry). We used to give them wet food on the weekends as a treat, but it got too costly. I hope you make the decision, though, that is best for you and Waldo. (And aren't kitties adorable? I love my furballs.) Clayzorback, sorry about your sucky day yesterday. Plumbing problems are a drain (probably didn't make you laugh there, did I?). I'm staying away from the boards most of the day, until about 7:30 or so CDT this evening. However, I'm thrilled for all those attending, and can't wait to hear the reports! jmh is calling me this evening once the gala is over.....

WORD on all counts. Terrible day for me at work, I'm ready to just fall into bed. Or else drink. Yeah, that would work. And for your other paragraph -- Amen. All I've got time for. I've been reading all day, and I've just gotta say that everyone here rocks.

Oh for fuckity fuck fuck's sake. Can you say "entitlement?" Can you say "royal bitch?" :angry22: :angry22: :angry22: Gayle did a fantastic job. I'm with you KAndre, I'll help you hurt someone.

Want a cigarette? You should know....NEVER diss the Clay podcasts. [/semi-rip off of Dirty Dancing] I love ATDW. These podcasts just add a bit more of a different flavoring for me -- adding salt to the chocolate to enhance the chocolate flavor, for example. JMO.

OMG, yes. I love hearing him tell these stories. I cannot stop smiling right now. Love him -- "just got kissed for the first time at 26." Heh. Clay funny. Since HYCA is my favorite on the album (today, at least), I love hearing him talk about this, and the work that went into making that version. BW is another favorite, and again, listening him talk about getting chills at the end with the poem, gave ME chills. His description of EIH cracks me up, because I'm one of those "females" that LOVES that song too, and think it is simply beautiful. I'm happier than a kitten chasing a cow right now. (It's that farm analogy that couchie started. :F_05BL17blowkiss: )

I've listened to 4 of the 5 (will get to number 5 after my other boyfriend, Jon Stewart). OMG. These are fan freakin' tastic. I love hearing him talk about how these songs came about, and how the originals got selected. His purpose in life? Yep -- agreed Ansa. Be back later to EEEEEEEEEEEE! more!

That was my first thought as well. But, whatever it might be, I'm sure I'll just be madly, passionately all over it. As for the discussion at hand today, I'll just interject here that I'm like Claygasm in that I don't have kids, and feel that it's not for me to really say much of anything. However, I have a SIL who teaches children with autism, and I know the fights she has to face. Also, my best friend is a special ed teacher, and she did her Master's thesis on inclusion. I guess I feel as many have said -- it's really an individual thing, but it's unfortunate that there seems to be neither the time or resources to do individual work with students to assess their needs in so many instances. And yes, most of my giving to the BAF is simply because of Clay's name attached to it. I'll freely admit that. But why do I do that, because of his name? IMO, I'm not doing it because I want Clay's attention; it's more because I want the foundation to be successful. But I also know that the "attention" thing is the reason why at least a few do it. *shrug*

Helloooooooooooooooo.... Anybody hoooooooooooooooooome?

Would you have rather they cast Randolph Mantooth? [/Emergency! connection] *g* I can agree to this...and yet, somehow, in the back of my mind, I think it will all tie together in the end, especially knowing that the show is going on for maybe 2 years more at most (isn't that what I read somewhere?). It's a fascinating show, for exactly that reason -- things not mentioned in 2 years will suddenly pop up again to nag at you. I read something yesterday (I think it was in the new TV Guide) that said "Jack's father is the glue for the entire show." The more I thought about it -- heh. It's kinda true. He seems to have popped up in almost everyone's backstories, somehow. Heh.

I'm starting this thread because Clayzorback said so. :F_05BL17blowkiss: Seriously, I've been needing a place to talk about the show, and finally, am just breaking down to do so with this thread. The only problem is that I NEVER get to see the show in real time -- my husband and I both have jobs on Wednesday evenings, so the DVR comes in handy. We've usually watched it by the weekend, though. I think I'm one of the few that is still liking this show. I know, it gets convoluted like crazy, which makes it frustrating more often than not. But yet...I can't stop watching. I have favorite characters -- Hurley is chief among them. I love that man -- he's so funny. I also love Sun, Jin, and Sayid (the latter mostly because of the eye-candy). And, people always stone me for this, but I do like Jack. I think he's a tormented soul, but he's shown himself to be a leader IMO, and he's pulled some pretty good stunts this season. I also still like Locke too, even though he should be nowhere near a computer or explosives. *g* Charlie and Claire are just "meh" characters to me. And the "seer" guy (I can't think of his name), he's cool, but I need to know more about him still. Hated characters? I cannot STAND both Kate and Sawyer. Again, I know the second one is not a popular opinion...but I find him smug, arrogant, and an asshole. Kate, she's just icky. Anyone else....

Well damn, my decoder ring is malfunctioning today. *throws ring against wall* *dunks it in Cheez Doodle crumbs* Ah, much better. Claygasm, you are so right -- I can see Clive Davis' evil fingerprints all over these orchestrations. So, are the boards raising bail money for Clay's left-behind pooch? And of course, forcing people to donate? *g*

From the blog that Claygasm brought over, a symphony spokesman says: I don't know why, but this quote struck me as really, really cool. It also struck me as -- heck, Clay must like this music *coughATDWcough* to be spending the big bucks for orchestrations. *g* As far as the rest of her post...ITA with her...no one should be forced or coerced into making a donation to something. Sure, I'd love to see the BAF get high numbers, and make it to number one even, because I think it would please Clay. But I don't NEED for this to happen, and I think Clay would be just as happy with number two, or number 5, or number 5230. *g* Also -- think back to his banter at the end of the JNaT2006 shows. While he did plug both the BAF and UNICEF because they are dearly important to him, he also stated several times that people should follow their hearts with their charitable giving (and their tax write-offs.) He knows that people are pulled in many directions with their financial resources, and that people have choices to make. But, I truly think he wants people to GIVE, no matter where. If it helps the world, it's good giving. JMO.

CG, please don't feel badly about bringing that post over at all. I understand the spoiler-ho thing too, even though I'm really not one. I have been for other things though, so it makes sense. You did NOTHING wrong.

But -- you could find a friend or two or nine and get a table. But I understand too...

Personally, we all know the orchestra will know the set list before the concert. They would have to. What I think this means is "STOP CALLING AND EMAILING US!!! EVEN IF WE DO KNOW, WE CAN'T TELL YOU!!!" But that will go in one eye and out the other, or else it's too subtle, even by Clay standards. I've heard now that people are thrilled that he's doing Invisible -- because it rocks out. Well of course he's gonna do Invisible, it's his "signature song," IMO. I think people are gonna have to know every detail of this show before it even happens, and I think Ansa's reasoning is exactly why: There's got to be some reassurance that Clay is actually going to be that rock star, even if it's just for one song. I'm a kid that did search high and low for my Christmas presents during the month of December. But for some reason, with Clay -- I have no desire to know much ahead of time. I think it's because I'm pretty positive that whatever he does, I'll enjoy it. Period. End of sentence. End of paragraph. End of post.

You know.... In a way, I like hearing about things like what he's going to be doing ahead of time. There sometimes is a bit of "mental preparedness" when going into a Clay Aiken show that just needs to be done. IMO, it's just so that when you're blinded by the pretty and wowed by the voice, you'll remember thinking about this stuff before the show. *g* But at the same time.... I'm getting more than a bit freaked by fans emailing and emailing and calling and emailing some more, just to get details and information on these shows. I liken this to fans who took to emailing and talking to the CD distributors after ATDW was released (which bugged the snot out of me). Can't we, as a fandom, just go into the show and ENJOY what is given to us? Or does it have to be analyzed like there is no tomorrow, and judgements made about the show, even before walking into the theater? Besides -- the shows are just over 3 months away! There's plenty of time for publicity to come out that will tell more of the story. Sorry -- I'm venting here, but the impatience of this fandom really makes me see red sometimes. (And yes, I was one who with MOAM, MCWL AND ATDW, waited until actually getting a copy in my hand before making pronouncements....and most people call me weird for that.) Carry on.

Big push for Aiken tickets

Big push for Aiken tickets As much as I don't always like to give the fandom too much power....it's nice to know that there is still some fans who want to see the man and are willing to flood ticket offices like this. *g*

Via playbiller: Heh. And we could add to it from the emoticon she posted with it:

I just finished watching the episode on the DVR. As much as Mirna and Schmirna annoy me, they are funny too, and they are proving to be decent racers. I totally love Danny and Oswald -- so much fun. I'm gonna miss Teri and Ian, even if I thought it was their time to go. Eric is a first class prick. I'm very glad Uchenna and Joyce are still in this thing, and was really surprised that their 3rd place held up. The BQ's must have gotten lost....again. As for Mirna and Schmirna leaving when Guidos were arriving -- I'm betting on it. This is the most I've ever seen a group spread out, except for the Guidos again, during their first race. I'm wondering if they were having flashbacks.

Now that my heart is back in the proper place after this morning's ticket buying frenzy (can I just say that I want to marry KAndre?), and I've got some time after actually doing some real "work" in my office, I'm gonna go back and quote some of my favorite things from the past 24 hours or so... This? Bloody brilliant! Thank you so very much Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for both the pretty picture and rcknrllmom's great montage! :F_05BL17blowkiss: No, I don't think your memory is faulty at all. Sure, Clay's in the business to earn money, and it seems like he does a pretty darn good job of it too. But I really believe that much more important to HIM is him sharing his talent with his fans. AND -- he's gonna share with them what he likes, with maybe some stretching on his part. You know, "pick a lane and stay in it, but don't be afraid to swerve a little." I also think he knows that there is no pleasing each and every fan he has...so what to do? Do stuff that pleases HIM. Very simple, really -- IMO. I know keepingfaith was writing about the OFC here. (I salute those of you who try to keep the sanity and rationality to that place. You're braver people than I am...) But, I've discovered that this also holds true at many of the other fanboards as well. It's like atinal talked about a few days ago -- the "drug" high only lasts a few hours at most, and then things settle back into quagmire. If I could chuck my job today and do something different, I'd study this fandom as an academic persuit (I know, not good when I'm also PART of the fandom, but work with me, OK?) and try to figure out why exactly this phenomenon happens. Clay makes me happy, and I'm usually smiling for a few days after a good appearance, or even just a decent article. So why is it different for others? jenna, this entire post was magnificent. Bravo. The one thing I'd add to it is that people will bitch/moan/complain like crazy before their show. Then they go -- and have the time of their lives. But then something very interesting happens, IMO -- they seem to forget the glow and immediately go back into their routine of bitching/moaning/complaining. Again, WHY? I think it is like playbiller said with the JNT2005 -- Clay's really not cool enough for them. These are supposed to be "hip, with-it" women, and yet they believe the media's representation of Clay as being "not cool" and deride CLAY for that. Honestly -- I don't care about "cool," I just really, really, really like Clay. The question really becomes -- who is to blame? The people who state the things over and over, or the people who believe it? As a librarian, one of the things I teach is information literacy -- thinking critically about sources before using something for a paper, for example. My biggest headache is Wikipedia. It LOOKS like an entirely credible source, and so students use it all the time (and unfortunately, many teachers let them get by with it). But -- since anyone can edit any article in it -- it's a LOUSY source, and teaching students to think about what they read there before using it is a skill they need to learn. I think of the same thing in the fandom. What's a credible "source" about Clay? Well, to me it's Clay. Yes, there are editorial licenses all around with interviews with him...but I feel better about trusting a newspaper source more than a fan source. *shrug* If you find out the answers, let me know. I like rocking Clay. I like ballad Clay. I like Clay, period. So yeah, I'm easy. EEEEEEEEEEEE! Love it! Hugs to the Pala ticket buyers today. OK, now I've got to do more work again. *g*

If you want to see the "other side of the coin," see the documentary "Shut Up and Sing." Toward the end of the movie, the manager of the Dixie Chicks (who also happens to be Clay's manager *g*) was with the Ticketmaster people, watching the orders try to go through. I thought it very funny, having been on the side of fighting TM trying to get tickets. *crosses fingers for Claygasm and muski*

View from Row G, seat 110, according to the Jones Hall website: So that should give everyone a pretty good idea of what their seats will be like.... EEEEEEEE! 00lsee!!!!!!!!!! :F_05BL17blowkiss: Can't wait to meet you! And I love that I'll be getting to see all the eHP, Invisible, and so many others! Oh, and that Clay guy too. :Tour3:

BWAH! But I was thinking that Clay will get that orchestra PUMPED during "Invisible." Wonderful posts overnight. I'll try to post more later when I have time, and my adrenaline has gone back down after the ticket thing for Houston this morning.

No more of :Tour4: for me (until the Dallas tickets go on sale....)! For KAndre and Scarlett: :TourExcite: :TourExcite: :TourExcite: