Maddy

I received my pins (Robin shield) in the mail today and loved them! Kudos to those involved in the design and mailing. I wish I could wear them to NYC. The closest I'll get is making a Spam sandwich here in Texas. So thank you verrah much to everyone who shares their experiences with us. It means a lot. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

:F_05BL17blowkiss: Ditto! So happy they have a lot of participants! WOOT!

Mornin'! I decided not to buy a Spamalot playbill because it didn't seem as though Clay was going to get much attention in it, until I saw CarolinaClay's blog where she described headshots, bios...Now I've got one ordered. Likewise the FCA pins...I've ordered a couple. I also hadn't realized that some monies go to BAF. Very cool! It's obvious from Caro's blog how much work she puts into preparing it! It's like a whole 'nother job for her. Couch Tomato, is it really your birthday? If so, have a good one!

Would someone please point me in the right direction for this Crooner CD? I must have missed this somehow? Is it internet order only? Thanks http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?...46391&BAB=E

Heh! I must need intervention then. I bought 4. One to play, one to keep sealed for my CA collection, and two to give as gifts.

Wow that gave me goosebumps..what a prestigious list to be part of. Word! Wow...it almost looks like one of those "which one of these does not belong" things. But I'm happy to see that other people, too, think he belongs. [/fangirly pride] They all belong in that they are men with terrific voices that don't require ProTooling. Elvis (The King). Bing Crosby of White Christmas fame -- Clay sang with him on Nickelodeon and we loved it!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/Iris...pg?t=1189467508 Cover art on Crooner's Christmas CD. I'm listening to Clay sing WAYDNY. He is one of the greats on this CD. I'm so proud he's included.

Caro, I went to bed very late, then got up very early. Couldn't sleep. And that almost never happens. Love those blends!!! :F_05BL17blowkiss: Yummy! As soon as the Crooner CD arrives I'll let y'all know if they use a good photo of Clay and what they say on the liner notes. Re the discussion last night, I'm trying to stay calm and cool about things, because that's what Clay said to do in his blog; and during the major attack from the swamp creatures last year I worried myself sick. Literally. I didn't want them to derail his career. He's strong, has a strong faith, and we'll be here for him, so I believe he'll be fine. (Doesn't mean I don't still get angry sometimes though.) ETA: So they will cover AI2 on Idol Rewind. Maybe more footage of Clay.

Couch Tomato, I'll find the link for you. Stand by. Try this: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?...46391&BAB=E

It's after midnight here and I just finished watching a DVD of the Sterling Heights concert....Clay in super low riding jeans. ...so I'm fanning myself with a CA church fan... But wanted to ask if anyone here ordered the Crooners Christmas cd from CD Universe. I received an email from them tonight informing me that my order was being shipped! It was a little surprising because they had sent a couple of previous emails saying the cd was still on back order. If they couldn't find any by Oct 5, the order would be cancelled by them. I'm not going to get too excited until I have the cd in hand. There's another Crooners Christmas, from a prior year I guess, that is Clayless and includes female singers such as Rosemary Clooney. If this is the new one with Clay----I'll be happy to get it! :me0: He's in with the big boys there. I think it's an honor he's included! Did any of you order it? Just wondering. merrieeee, I'm a little late, but hope your birthday was wonderful!

Couchie, thanks for your terrific recap! You were schmoopie and your recollections made me schmoopie too. :F_05BL17blowkiss: When we watch the show in November I'll have to wave my CA church fan! That show will be so much fun to watch! Clay fans do make the best audience! I'm glad you got to be there! Someone said when they put up Clay's junior high school photos he was yelling "Take it down!" Sure wish we could see a mullet photo! Thanks for that little nugget of info...something we'd never heard before.

She is a sweetheart. There was divine providence at play too. Ordinarily a guy who is first cello would have been there, but he wanted to go to another event that was scheduled that night, so my relative was assigned the Clay concert. She said she's glad now because she really enjoyed it. And Somebody Up There must like me. David Graves...well, likeable? :F_05BL17blowkiss: Try...well, loveable.

My blog about a relative who accompanied Clay at Syracuse: I’ve never met Clay, but lately fortune has smiled on me in Syracuse, New York. A relative of mine is a member of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra who played for Clay on July 18th. She was aware that I’m a v.v. enthusiastic Clay fan, and went out of her way to do me a favor. Here were her original comments in an email, with more to follow in a letter: (all with her permission) We had an afternoon rehearsal with him, and he was very nice to work with. He had two women singing with him (Angela and Quiana), and they were really good. They did some solo numbers. The audience really liked him, and they screamed a lot. As you can well imagine, our regular audiences don’t do much screaming. There were sound shields up (the drummer completely encased in Plexiglas), but it was still really loud, mainly because of the audience. Clay’s group was quite adamant about not having people backstage, so I asked our stage manager to ask about an autograph. He spoke with Angela, and she arranged it. From letter: Clay Aiken was very nice to work with. I think he’s better looking in person than on this picture - and he’s good looking in that one! He has a nice voice, a really easy, pleasant delivery, and great rapport with the audience. He brought his own conductor, who had done most of the arrangements, his drummer, and the two vocalists (who were excellent). The conductor was also the pianist and conducted from the piano. The winds (one oboe, one flute, one alto sax doubling flute, and one tenor sax) didn’t have a lot to play. I had a few solos in the first couple of songs. The rest of the orchestration was brass (2 horns, 2 trumpets, and 2 trombones), a lot of interesting percussion, more keyboards, and strings. I spoke with Angela, who said that she has been touring with the group for about four years. They have a great ensemble. Clay was very complimentary to the orchestra. He told the audience that he likes the sound and Feel of playing with a big, full orchestral sound. I asked Angela to tell Clay that you are his most Ardent fan in Texas. Hee! Clay signed the back of the above Syr Symphony Card--- (my name) Use your voice, Clay Aiken and the date. His handwriting, which we've seen so much was exciting to see (especially my name!eeeee!) I have his autograph in his book which we ordered from Dover Press, but it wasn't personalized. Now I finally had a personal autograph. It was so nice of Clay to do that, considering all the hundreds of things he has to do to prepare for a show. I’m grateful to him, Angela, the stage manager, and my dear sweet relative! She didn't know very much about Clay before that concert. Now she has a high opinion of him.

I’ve never met Clay, but lately fortune has smiled on me in Syracuse, New York. A relative of mine is a member of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra who played for Clay on July 18th. She was aware that I’m a v.v. enthusiastic Clay fan, and went out of her way to do me a favor. Here were her original comments in an email, with more to follow in a letter: (all with her permission) We had an afternoon rehearsal with him, and he was very nice to work with. He had two women singing with him (Angela and Quiana), and they were really good. They did some solo numbers. The audience really liked him, and they screamed a lot. As you can well imagine, our regular audiences don’t do much screaming. There were sound shields up (the drummer completely encased in Plexiglas), but it was still really loud, mainly because of the audience. Clay’s group was quite adamant about not having people backstage, so I asked our stage manager to ask about an autograph. He spoke with Angela, and she arranged it. From letter: Clay Aiken was very nice to work with. I think he’s better looking in person than on this picture - and he’s good looking in that one! He has a nice voice, a really easy, pleasant delivery, and great rapport with the audience. He brought his own conductor, who had done most of the arrangements, his drummer, and the two vocalists (who were excellent). The conductor was also the pianist and conducted from the piano. The winds (one oboe, one flute, one alto sax doubling flute, and one tenor sax) didn’t have a lot to play. I had a few solos in the first couple of songs. The rest of the orchestration was brass (2 horns, 2 trumpets, and 2 trombones), a lot of interesting percussion, more keyboards, and strings. I spoke with Angela, who said that she has been touring with the group for about four years. They have a great ensemble. Clay was very complimentary to the orchestra. He told the audience that he likes the sound and Feel of playing with a big, full orchestral sound. I asked Angela to tell Clay that you are his most Ardent fan in Texas. ========================================================== Hee! Clay signed the back of the above Syr Symphony Card--- (my name) Use your voice, Clay Aiken and the date. His handwriting, which we've seen so much was exciting to see (especially my name!eeeee!) I have his autograph in his book which we ordered from Dover Press, but it wasn't personalized. Now I finally had a personal autograph. It was so nice of Clay to do that, considering all the hundreds of things he has to do to prepare for a show. I’m grateful to him, Angela, the stage manager, and my dear sweet relative! She didn't know very much about Clay before that concert. Now she has a high opinion of him. =============================================================== Someone please tell me how to post a pic here from Photobucket. I have a braincloud and forget. Thanx! It worked that time.

Just found out recently that a relative of mine performed (Syracuse Symphony Orchestra) with Clay at his concert in Syracuse! I wrote her impressions in my blog at the OFC. Is there a particular place here where I can post that?