Totally

Claygasm No, a cherry popsicle doesn't sound like you. Not that you're not very, very nice, but you're not sickly sweet. Having spent a little time with you, I can vouch for just a very nice person without a hint of the "sickly sweet, it's almost annoying" in you. Muski Well, if the results of today's games mean that you have a better chance of getting down to the southern Cal concerts then I'm glad they only won one. Is that bad?

Yes, I was going to say, come out to California. It's the easiest way to see a few concerts in a row and you've still got a few weeks to figure out the logistics.

Oh my memory is just getting worse and worse. It must be perimenopause! Muski, did we meet out there when I took Lara to see that school? I think we did! And Lara went back to the hotel while we waited at the buses! I think you might have gone to every single one of the IT and NAT concerts I did, lol! Lara moaned and groaned about going to that concert, but then pushed me out of the way when Clay started making his way down the aisle singing Kyrie! LOL! Kids. Cindilu2 I had the exact same feeling at my one and only AI2 concert when Clay came up thru the floor in that jersey before singing Invisible. We were sitting in the Nosebleed section in Anaheim. It was the last concert, and my husband had bought tickets for all 6 of us plus my mother - thus the horrible seats. So I was looking thru my binoculars the whole time. I hadn't yet clued into the internet community. I was computer challenged. So I didn't have a clue what to expect....hadn't even heard Invisible yet! I thought the show was over when the lights went off, so when Clay came up thru the floor crouched down with a mike in his hands, I screamed too! And then when he started singing and tugging at his shirt, I thought I was Going. To. Die. Was that the Clay I had seen and known on AI, tugging at his shirt all sexy like? Oh. Mah. Goodness. I left there a very happy woman, and desperately wanting to see more. Even so, it took me until November to find the Clay websites. Oh, and I love Just You too.

Love the concert stories! I went to 12 concerts in 2004! And then have only been to 4 since then. 2 JBTs and 2 JNT 2005s, and I didn't get to go to any JNT2006s. So I'm really looking forward to seeing him again, although I did get to see him at the Kimmel mini-concert. I wish I remembered as many details of my concerts as so many of you do, but they have started to blend together for me. I was also at the Toronto JBT! Had a good friend up there, who has since left the fandom (makes me so sad), but I flew up there to go with her. I had the BEST seats at that concert that I have EVER had. Smack dab in the center, second row of the regular seating - there was pit seating there, but I wouldn't have wanted to sit in the pit cause the stage was SO high. Being there for the premiere of Tears Run Dry was an amazing experience. I loved that song from the moment I heard it. I thought it would be a hit, and must admit that I was disappointed it didn't make it onto the album. Maybe he will record it someday, but in any case, we will always have heard him perform it. I loved the IT concerts and the NAT concerts, but it's the Charlotte NAT that sticks out most in my mind. Muski and I didn't have great seats, but it didn't matter. We passed my binoculars back and forth and swooned at how absolutely f@cking gorgeous he was that night. GAWD, he was hot! And hot to trot too. I've never seen him so funny. We waited for hours out by the buses afterwards for very little, but he did walk by the fences and touch our fingers if I remember correctly. My very first concert was in North Carolina - the IT near Greensboro, but I don't think it was Greensboro. I think it started with a W. Anyway. One of my now 21 year old twin daughters had been accepted into a college in Greensboro and had been offered a scholarship. It was early March and he wasn't getting to California until late March or early April. I suddenly decided that she just HAD to see this school (that I pretty much knew she probably wouldn't go to) and told my husband that I thought I needed to take her there (on the weekend that Clay was going to be nearby in concert). My husband laughed, said fine but not to EVEN pretend that my motivations were anything but what he knew they were. She didn't go to that college, but the concert was awesome! The most important question is - Do they have free wireless internet in this motel?

I'm getting really jealous of those of you going to the first concerts in Texas. I'll be sightseeing in DC at the time. I hope my husband doesn't get too annoyed when I want to read in here about the first concerts and download Clack and stuff. I'm going to be on vacation for the first two weeks of the tour. The pics you all have been posting are gorgeous. He's so damn sexy.

I've got the room, with all of these kids gone! Not sure how my two dogs would feel about the four legged addition though.

Hey Claygasm. Sorry I missed your post before. This thread moves so fast that while I'm composing a post, SO many other people post! Yes, I know that you appreciate "we, the outspoken", lol. And I totally agree that it's the way people articulate their opinions that make such a difference. Of course, it's much more difficult to do that well in written form than when speaking in person or even over the phone. Not being able to use tone of voice or facial expressions to soften words or make it clear that you don't mean to offend, accuse, or judge, but are just trying to express your feelings about something is very difficult. And even when you try hard, those reading are likely to infuse their own emotionally colored perspective into what you're trying to say. Couch Tomato I understand the frustration you're expressing here, and maybe I didn't express myself very well up above. I don't even have anything in particular I'm dying to discuss. I agree there are a lot of silly things being worried about and discussed ad nauseum, if what I hear is being harped on elsewhere is real. Maybe I'm just sensitive to there being a "positive police" in the fandom because last year on RHT, we went from being a very open board where anything could be discussed to being a place where there were all sorts of taboo subjects, and that really bothered me. I have a bit of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, lol. I don't have enough experience here to know all the subjects that have been discussed, but I have seen many posts since I've been here putting down the discussions on other boards - I assume with very good reasons. But having read the responses to my post, I have a much better understanding of where those feelings are coming from. The way people have responded to my post makes me feel very good about the ability to have great discussions on this board. One thing I've always believed about Clay is that he does what he wants to do and rarely does anything he doesn't want to do. I don't think in any way he's been a puppet. Now maybe he did have to bow a bit to Clive's concept for ATDW, but it was also clear that Clay was very proud of that CD and felt that he had a lot to do with the song selection and production of each song. As for tours, I believe Clay has a great deal of control over what he does on and with them. I believe him when he says he love singing with symphonies. As for we fans having a tendency to mold everything to make it fit into what we believe about Clay, some of us/them certainly do that to a greater extent than others, but I think it's something we all have a tendency to do in life with everything. We see things a certain way and like to make the world (whatever part of the world we're looking at) fit into that perspective. It's no different with Clay. It seems to me that people on this board try harder than most not to do that with Clay and try to not make assumptions for which there aren't facts to back them up. But we all see things thru our very colored lenses. BTW, I'm really impressed with the metamorphasis of this board and what you've done with it (with the help of some friends. I can't wait to meet you all when you come down for the Southern Cal concerts! Muski What's TFN?, and which tour is this one from? Must watch it. I have a whole afternoon and evening off from the family tomorrow while my boys go see a Red Sox game in San Diego and I'm thinking it's time for a little Clack party (alone I suppose). It's been a while since I/we've seen Clay's exhibitionism on display. Makes me terribly sad.

First, sorry for getting the quote wrong, Cindilu and Claygasm. And thank you for everyone's supportive responses. I TOTALLY understand being tired of people wallowing angst and worries, even if sometimes I can understand some of the angst and worries. I allow myself some time to think about and discuss concerns with friends (which I prefer to dissecting stuff to death on message boards), but in the end I choose to believe that Clay will be around for me to enjoy in some way or another for a very long time. I've had lots of experience with my young adult children (more than I ever thought I would) and learned that you can angst and worry all you want and even make yourself sick over it, but in the end they are going to do what they want to do, and all you can do is sit back and love them and have faith that they will be okay. Even though I don't think of Clay as one of my children, I try to have the same attitude about him. Cindilu I understand. Someone else said that it is when people post their opinions as if they are absolutely RIGHT that it bugs them most. I completely agree. That is what bugs me most too, about almost every subject. There is a big difference between stating an opinion and stating your opinion as fact...unless it is a fact. I don't frequent alot of different boards, so maybe I haven't developed the level of frustration that many of you have. I don't go to any of the big boards - CV, CB or CH, so maybe I'm not as aware of what's going on out there, and not as tired of the same old conversations. When I hear them brought up here as topics being discussed on other boards, I think, "Really? That's what people are saying?" ldyJocelynI feel sorry for those that can't appreciate all the many different facets of Clay and his performing style. Those that are solely focused on his rockin/pop side are likely to be disappointed this summer, I imagine. However, I was at the Kimmel 5 song concert, and all but Invisible was from ATDW, and I remember that feeling like a very upbeat concert. He sang Sorry, WISYS, Without You, Invisible, and ?????- I can't remember now. It was a fantastic mini-concert. ETA - {{{{{Couchie}}}}}

Claygasm: Seems to me we've seen quite a range of music from Clay over the last four years. If someone asked me what Clay had been telling me since he came off of AI, or what I'd learn to expect from him, I'd say "that he loves to sing, can sing almost anything, and to expect the unexpected from him because he refuses to stay inside any box that anyone else wants to put him in." Some of my favorite songs he's sung have been in concert - Rosanna, Kyrie, Where The Streets Have No Name, Chain of Fools, WDC, Alone. We heard lots of "rockin" Clay during the IT, NAT, and the JBT. He hasn't done a pop concert tour since then. Since then, we've had two Christmas tours, ATDW, and AIW. No doubt he loves ballads, but I think he also loves to rock out. To me, he's always looked like he's having the most fun when he's getting down and jumping around up on stage. I will always enjoy watching him perfom upbeat songs - Invisible, Perfect Day, Back for More, the 50s Medley, and anything else where he moves around, pumps his arms and jumps around. He looks so happy and like he's having fun. That's something I've missed alot these past couple of years. I imagine that is what some others have missed as well and why some have been concerned about a summer concert with a symphony. I have no concern about this summer's concert because I have faith in Clay. He knows what we want and has always delivered before. I know he will again, and I'm really excited. I love both MOAM and ATDW, listen to both still all of the time. His voice makes me happy. But I understand the desire people have for him to sing more upbeat music. On another note, I enjoy all sorts of discussion about Clay, his career and the decisions surrounding his career. I understand the desire to keep this board upbeat and positive and not sink down into a constantly negative thinking pattern as some places have become. But IMO, this board would be boring if people felt intimidated or discouraged from discussing things or expressing opinions because it fell outside of the accepted "Clay is so hawt!", or "I'm SO excited about the tour!" box. Just sayin. I think you can be a fan, love Clay enormously, and still worry sometimes, or have concerns about things. I know some people are very happy to just have a place to look at his gorgeous face and body and talk about the concerts. I've got a more analytical mind, and really enjoy talking about everything. But everytime I read a post talking about how stupid it is that people are talking about this over at another board, or thinking this or concerned about that, I think, "Well, guess I better not say anything about that, lol." ETA: Muski, I'm so sorry about your water heater mess. What a total drag. Sounds like you guys need to hole up in a cheap motel room for a few days. Yuck. Did you get my PM?

Couchie So glad to hear that your mom is doing better and that the tests were normal. Hugs. Has anybody here heard that Brett, as in Clay's brother, is expecting a baby? His friends are congratulating him on his MySpace. I don't know how to put up links to it, sorry. Maybe somebody else can. Apparently, Faye is going to be a grandmother, and Clay an uncle. Wonder if he's going to be getting married before the baby arrives? ETA - Now I'm hearing that it may have been a joke. I don't know why a bunch of his friends would have done that but okay. Maybe he's not going to be a Dad afterall.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY COUCH TOMATO AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANSAMCW!!!!!!!!!!! LOL, I think there are a lot of closet fanfic readers, Couchie At the time there was some lack of certainty as to whether or not Angela was married (she wasn't), but some thought she was and thought it was terrible to be writing fanfic about her and Clay. I also believed there were others that didn't like the idea of Angela and Clay together for less noble reasons (for instance they liked the idea of Clay and Amber together better) and it spurred me on to write the fanfic all the more. If you remember, I brought the racial issue into the fanfic. You just got me all hot and bothered, Bottlecap. Does anybody else tend to picture Clay wearing his pj bottoms without any boxers, or am I the only naughty one here? Muski?

Long day with my whole family over. I feel very lucky to have been blessed with a very loving, even if not perfect Dad. But even more blessed to have married a wonderful man who has been the most wonderful father to our children that I ever could have hoped for. Couchie Thanks so much for explaining how you all do multiple quotes and just delete everything but what you want to quote. I had tried that once and thought, "There must be an easier way, and I just don't know the trick." But now I know that you all just put a lot of work into your posts. I love the Clangela. My first fanfic was all about the Clangela during the 2003 tours. At the time I found WDC fascinating to watch because Clay was so..... surprisingly different? naughty? nasty? playful? Again it was chameleon Clay telling us that we couldn't put him in a box, and that he was full of surprises. That is one thing I love about him, even though I have recently complained about not always liking the surprises, lol. Yes, Muski, your kids have an awesome dad. As for Clay's name for the tour, I agree that he was trying to reassure his fans that it wouldn't be boring, and he was also smutting a bit, cause he knows us so well.

laughn Thanks for the quoting info. I should have been more specific, cause I know how to quote a whole post. It's quoting just part of someone's post that I don't know how to do. I always just copy and paste and stick it between

Someone needs to show me how to do quotes properly. After almost four years on fansites, you'd think I would have learned by now. Anyway, I used to like Justin Timberlake - my husband even took me to a N'Sync Concert way back when, and then I bought his first solo album. But he is SO boring compared to Clay, and his voice doesn't even begin to compare. I dropped him like a hot potato the moment I saw Clay....okay maybe not THE moment. But by The Wildcard Show, Clay had me. I was HIS. And yes, Clay's choices are part of who he is. I never know what to expect with him. He's constantly changing, and is as much a chameleon in his personality as in his looks for me. It's part of what makes him fascinating. There's silly Clay, serious Clay, articulate and intelligent Clay, 14 year old acting Clay, sexy Clay, singing Clay, in charge commanding Clay, compassionate Clay, teacher Clay, hyper Clay and so many other Clays. My favorite is the smiling, twinkling eyes Clay that KeepingFaith fell in love with on AI5. laughn What kind of museum do you work at? ldyjocelyn Loved your name story!

A lot of very wise, true and interesting things being said this morning. Clayzedover Loved your post. I so love Clay's multifacetedness, and hope that it helps garner him some respect as time goes on. ldyjocelyn Hug back at ya! And sorry I got your name wrong. Thanks for pointing it out, because I think I would have continued to see it as starting with an "I". KeepingFaith You can't blame her for loving the Waldo video, lol! I've got a few of those in my favorites collection myself. MDYK was one of my favorite Christmas performances until Clay started singing My Grown Up Christmas List. Have you seen his GMA Dec 2005 performance of that song? GAH! There was some fan video of that that I loved as well. If I had to pick a group of Clack that was my favorite, it would be all of the GMA performances, from the beginning. I loved the very first fall of 2003 GMA performaces and I loved the summer GMA performances and this past fall's GMA performances was my favorite look EVAH! Not that we were talking about favorite Clack, but I got excited about the topic once I got going.

I am talking about the casual TV viewer who might be seeing him for the first time, or who remembers him from AI2....or my mother, lol. The "haters", whoever they are, aren't going to like him no matter what, so I don't waste time worrying about them. As for what makes me cringe and why, it's just that I want for others to see in him what I have always seen in him - a sexy, intelligent, attractive, witty, and talented man. When he sings, the talented comes thru loud and clear, but he hasn't been singing recently. So when he does something like come out on a horse dressed like a leprachaun on Kimmel, I kind of cringe. Sorry, I just do. That was one appearance I couldn't bring myself to save and watch over and over. And occasionally he sticks his foot in his mouth and says something that I really wish he hadn't said, but Clay's going to be Clay and sometimes he doesn't have much of a filter. So things make me cringe that might not make others cringe. But that's just my personality. I embarrass easily. Up until this calendar year though, I think Regis and Kelly was the first time I really cringed or hurt for him during an appearance because he tried so hard and it didn't work. Thanks Muski for explaining how I am feeling better than I was doing. And congrats on going to Jazzercise. Idyjocelyn I can't wait for that next book! But I too would love to hear all of those other people's perspectives.

KeepingFaith Your positive outlook and optimism is wonderful. I wish I saw things like you do, and hope that after the concerts this summer I will feel better about things. I guess I think if Clay's career had been being carefully nurtured and plotted, he would be in a different place in the industry. I think he's been doing the best with what he's had to work with, and/or making some decisions that haven't been the best (but perhaps have been what he wanted) for his image or for selling albums. But then, that's JMO. I remember back during that first year or two how very bright things looked for Clay. During the IT with Kelly, it was SO clear that most of those packed venues were filled with Clay fans. The applause for him was deafening, and his stage presence was so much more electrifying than hers. It's still somewhat puzzling to me that Kelly has been so much more successful than Clay has. I think Breakaway was a very, very good album with a few really awesome songs. I am still disappointed for Clay that he didn't have a similar sophmore album with some upbeat and catchy songs that would have sold well to a broader audience. His career needed that. ATDW was not part of a well planned out, carefully plotted career, even though I listen to it all of the time and enjoy many songs on it. But what bums me out the most is that when people (other than his fans) talk about Clay, it's not about the music and it's not about his humanitarian work either. He's become a joke in the pop culture world. He was the butt of jokes from the very beginning, but it seems to have gotten even worse. I just wonder if it's possible for him to turn that around to the point where he could become a respected entertainer. His fans are part of the problem. The focus on his sexuality is (a big) part of the problem. And HE is part of the problem. He is capable of being calmly witty and intelligent on talk show, but recently I don't think he's been showing his best side. Again, just my very subjective opinion, but one that I know is shared by many other fans. I tend to watch him thinking about what non-fans would think if they were watching him, and recently I've been cringing (whereas before this calendar year, I never had that reaction). I will always love him, buy his albums, go to his concerts, and want the best for him. But I am far from convinced that he has anyone wise advising him. I also have no clue who "Team Clay" is supposed to be. Mary? Jerome? Clive? Jaymes? I'm hopeful that David Foster is trying to help him out, but then I don't even know if DF is the right person to be guiding his career. I hope you all are right and he keeps selling concert tickets, cause that is where he really shines, and that his next CD goes at least platinum. My only real interest in what he does is how it affects his career because I want him around for a long time because I adore him.

I spend all of my time trying to catch up here. That's why you'all aren't hearing from me. But it's nice that's there's so much "chatting" going on here. I agree with some of what's being said here, but not with all of it, which is also nice. Makes it interesting. I have a long take-home exam due this evening that I really should be working on - really HAVE to get working on now. Then I will be done with school for the summer. Hopefully then, I will be able to post more. Hugs. Especially to Muski who sounds like she could use some today.

Laughn I've always LOVED your Jennifer and Clay skits. So glad you're going to be posting them here, cause I don't have access to CV. Love the above pic. His look was SO hot last September. I miss the rings. I was so hoping he was going to replace them after auctioning them off at the Gala. I loved the rings. I'm still hoping. Muski What did you see an endodontist for? And what IS an endodontist?

yeah, I thought that too.... Me three! I thought Clay did a great job spreading some salve over his troubled fandom while subtley slapping down some people who'd been jumping all over the mods at the OFCMB without doing anything other than confirming that he'd lost his passport, had been in Paris, and was still working at RCA and with Clive (and saying something nice about Clive). In addition, he gave us some info about the tour and added in some cute stories about his time in Paris. Does anyone have any idea what he was doing in Paris? I'd love to know what famous female movie star he was hobnobbing with as well. And Hi to Muski and Claygasm and thanks for the Welcome back from Couch Tomato! Sorry I've been gone for a while. I've been overwhelmed with graduate classes and planning my daughter's wedding. I've been feeling a need to reconnect though, and have been enjoying catching up here. Hugs to everyone!

KeepingFaith It is so wonderful to read about someone who fell in love with Clay on the AI5 finale night. He did have twinkling eyes and a ten billion dollar smile that night. I will never forget that smile. I'm so happy to hear that there are still people discovering Clay. It's too bad you went to the OFC first, although understandable. As a whole, the Clay fandom had a tough year last year, but the AI finale was a bright shining moment. Clayzor I too was "called out" at that "xxx" place for being a "bad" fan last year. Guess I was too vocal in saying that I would love Clay no matter what his orientation and that I really didn't care, when I was supposed to be expressing how certain I was that he was straight. Shame on me. I'm also saddened that Clay was exposed to the pathetic and sad behavior of so many of his fans. I think he finally had had enough. What I want to know is what he means by "serious consequences"? I mean, if Clay is going be doling out discipline personally, I just want to know where to get in line.

My point is not that Clay doesn't have valid or important points to make, nor that he shouldn't make them, but that it would be nice if he developed a bit more tact in how he communicates them because he is hurting himself. A lot of people who read or hear what he said are only going to hear that he criticized AI's very successful efforts to raise money for starving and dying children in Africa and are going wonder what the hell his problem is. The media will only pick up on that too - "Clay Aiken criticizes Idol Gives Back" They won't listen to his message. Whether he has an ax to grind or not, it will look to others like he does. And Idol did a very smart thing in bringing Ellen onto the show. She is so well liked right now that it made their effort look more legit and more warm and fuzzy. The reason I think he is angry with AI is that in previous years, no matter how he has felt about any of the people associated with AI, he seems to have been careful about what he has said publicly about AI - you know, not burning any bridges. He now seems to given up on that. First he says he has stopped watching it, not because he is too busy, but because he doesn't want that chain around his neck. Then when Sanjaya is voted off, he says he is really disappointed, that he would have liked Sanjaya to win (WTF?) and he can't figure out a reason to watch it anymore (as if there is no talent left on the show without Sanjaya). I thought that was a weird thing to say - first of all, he's said he's not watching it, and why would anyone have thought Sanjaya had the talent to win (especially Clay who knows vocal talent) and why would he put down the other contestants like that on national TV? It just seems like he's angry and running at the mouth to be negative about AI. But that's just my opinion. As for "rotting insides".....I don't know of anyone who thought it was a good idea for him to insinuate in TV Guide that he felt that the population of LA were shallow and so much less than the people of Raleigh. I assume he meant the people he'd encountered in the entertainment industry and not everyone living in the LA area. At least I hope that's what he meant. It was an example of Clay not articulating himself well and offending a lot of people. We can think he's great for speaking his mind and not caring what anybody thinks. His intelligence and values are two of the qualities that make him very sexy to me. All I'm saying is that I wish he would learn to speak his mind with a bit more tact, and more thought about the affect his words might have not only on other people's feelings, but also on his reputation. I care about his reputation alot. I care about whether he is liked within the industry and among the public.

Just caught up after having been absent for a few days due to 19 year old son being home briefly for a visit at the same time that I've been plagued with some migraines. Have checked in a bit here and there, but haven't posted. I was most interested in the discussion about the interview on Monday Clay did about Afghanistan and IGB. I was surprised that no one here expressed the feelings and concern I had immediately upon reading it, which was "Oh dear, Here he goes again....expressing himself in such a way that he's going to be seen as arrogant and full of himself instead of articulating his opinion in a way that might not piss off a bunch of people." I was reminded of other interviews, like the "rotting souls in LA" interview. I agreed with much of what Clay said, but wish he had said it in a different way - one that didn't dismiss as "totally remiss" or "doing no service" the efforts of IGB which raised $70 million which will clearly help save lives, feed children, give vaccinations, and who knows what else. I didn't love IGB's approach either and completely understand what Clay is saying, but to be honest I think Clay's motives are not pure, and I may get jumped on here, but Clay has been making negative statements about AI all season long - statements that make no sense at all. It seems he has an ax to grind. He is hurting his own image here by looking petty and critical. When you criticize people who are trying to do good, it only makes you look bad, no matter how much sense you are making. Let's just hope this doesn't get a lot of press.

It is Mary. I'm very sure. ETA - Just saw you proved that, IdyJocelyn. I too know Clay's "people" too well for my own good, LOL.

Claygasm Having spent time with you, I most certainly don't think you're an insensitive bitch. I did, however, find the picture and heading of Clay with Tori to be both a little funny and a typical Clay slam. It's the kind of thing we see and hear all of the time - kind of like racial slurs and gay jokes that people get desensitized to because they become culturally acceptable (I think Clay slams are now both culturally expected and acceptable). I think it was unnecessary and unwelcoming of this Mike guy, even if it was an attempt at humor. It was humor at Clay's expense. No doubt some of Clay's fans can be overly sensitive about that stuff and defensive, but perhaps with good reason. He and we have endured a lot of crap over the years. I just wish the fans would do what Clay does and smile and ignore it, because their reactions don't do anyone, including Clay, any good. Just my two cents.