FromClaygary

YES!! I am IN the right place!!! Thought I was the only one on the face of the planet that hatesssssss that Harry Potter crap! Feeling very left out, though....as in my little 400-person town in the mountains we didn't have TV until I was about 16 (no reception in them thar hills), and no movie theatre. By the time I moved to the big city as an adult, I couldn't afford to go to movies. So I've seen NONE of these musicals you're talking about except SOM. We did have Danny Kaye on '78's, though, Cindy! I love Danny Kaye and Clay has always strongly reminded me of him; not physically so much, but the voice and the sense of humor, the love for kids, the UNICEF connection. It's almost eery. Apparently I have some musical-rentin' to do....problem is, Clay and I have the same attention span for movies. I guess Spamalot will be quite an eye-opener for me!

I'm going to wait for a few suggestion before I change anything, liney (my hand is sore!!) But, it's only gonna say Sir Clobin if somebody else makes one. (Sorry, I hatesss strongly dislike the 'Clanguage'.) Cindy, they're awesome! My first choice would be Cc..as long as it's as you have it, no "doing" and no "Sir Clobin" for me.

In the middle of the flap flap (not something I'm going to lose sleep over), just wanted to say THANKS to all those who responded to my DivX plea. I was able to download the codec and burn the DVD's today just fine. Thanks for the info!! Those are awesome clear videos!!

I hope so too! I think it would be HUGE for Faye to be able to see Clay as a highly-functioning, responsible adult, who is esteemed for his sense of purpose and service as well as his talent. I also think it would do Brett a world of good to see this Clay. Funny about families~my sisters (2) and I are each 13 yrs apart from one another. I'm the baby. I barely knew my oldest sister as she was an adult with a child when I first "knew" her; we had nothing in common. My older sister was my "parent" at times, when she was home and my Mom was in hospital for years. Strange relationships. My sons are 13 MONTHS apart (the older two) and then 9 yrs younger (the youngest), and they are all great pals. Now, they're old enough for the things they did as kids that I didn't know about (luckily) to come up when we're together. Now, it's quite entertaining, as noone died. Then, not so much. :lmaosmiley-1:

Scarlett, thanks so much for the basic step-by-step! That helps this non-techie a lot! I will give it a try today. I agree. When we were in Minneapolis, a friend of mine came to say Hi to Faye, and in the conversation mentioned that Faye must be so proud of the way she brought Clay up, to have him turn out so well (VERY loosely paraphrased from what I recall). Faye said "I did the best I could"; her tone was defensive and it really made me sad.

I DID...but after "reporting" it for the 963rd time a week or so ago, I got a message back that it's a known problem with XP/Vista, and there's now a fix. If you go to microsoft.com and search Internet Explorer crashes or some such, I'm sure you'll find it near the top. I haven't had a problem since I downloaded the fix from them. And yes, I think you're right re the update.

Just had to add a UNICEF update! Now up to 70% $70,427 :04: :00000442: Keep those cards and letters coming!!

I'm really enjoying all these conversations today, nodding along...had to add my two bits worth to this one. I completely agree, jmh123; I also think that what contributes to Clay's feeling that he is "country" (not musically, but "ethnically" if you will) is the fact that he did, and I think still does, spend a great deal of time at his Granny/Papa's farm, which definitely is country. Influences from his Mom would also contribute to that~he was brought up in a "country" environment, because that's where Faye's comfort level was. Means nothing in respect to his intelligence, which is undeniable. Got y'all beat though........town of 400 up to age 18, 40 minutes away from the "big city" of about 25,000. My elementary school had three rooms for six grades. There were about 60 of us all told in the school. When I went "into town" for jr. high and high school, my graduating class was about 60 people. Never considered myself to be stupid. Did consider myself for many years to be "superior" to those dumb city folks that couldn't even tell the difference between skunk and porcupine tracks, and where to pick the best asparagus. And city folks walk funny. I probably still walk like a country girl. ...and, BTW, now live very near one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, and love it!

Thanks everyone, SO much for the DivX info....I'm going to try DL'ing the K-Lite codec and see if that works. I knew much earlier that someone, somewhere had mentioned a good codec pack and I believe that's it. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Ohhh!! LOVE that!

I have Nero pre-installed on my laptop that I use for burning. It has a button that will allow you to go online to the company website and download patches and whatnot, and I think I can also pay for updates. Does Sonic have a similar feature? Thanks bottlecap, no luck; there is a link and I can search DivX on it, but it doesn't link the DivX information with any of their products in any way I can understand (which isn't saying much). I'll go google...and then probably give it up.

So far, so good...nothing happening up here. But if it gets ugly, you can always do a sleepover....as long as you dont' mind dust It's been a while since I've been home!!

I'd love to create DVD using Scarlett's wonderful xvid .avi files as they are great quality...but I'm using Sonic My DVD and the message I'm getting is "The software that's used to decode the media is not available on this system. Installing the correct decoders for the files you are working with may help to correct the problem" Help? Anyone know what I need? TIA!!

Update on the UNICEF fund for Mexico 65% = $64,630 Donate now

Morning!! I'm SO glad we have Boxing Day....I can't imagine having to go to work the day after Christmas festivities. Does anything actually get accomplished if you work that day?? luckiest1 what a great Christmas gift! Did you know it was happening or was it a surprise? Couchie, so glad to see the good news about your Mom! I had thought (a bit, hee....) about going out to do some Boxing Day bargain hunting (I need another TV badly) but we are fogged in; I can't even see across the street. So I'm staying home. Twisted my own arm, talked myself right into it. A whole DAY to work on pictures, play with some art stuff I bought in Buffalo before the concerts, talk to y'all......whee!! :lmaosmiley-1: I know NOthing, nada, bupkes...about Spamalot. Likely won't have time to get and see the movie. But I plan on enjoying the hell out of it anyway if I get to go...and I vote for cindilu2's review suggestion! My glasses are firmly in place as well.

bottlecap, is that a real billboard? or a PS? Very cool.

Just wanted to add another few words of thanks....to the person (HAD to be a woman) who invented Hershey's Cherry Cordial Kisses. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Wasn't that something??? And they say Canada is cold! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE![/ Sorry I’m so late checking in; I typed a long-winded post last night that I was back in Buffalo and what-all happened, and the hotel wireless failed just as I posted it. Grrr… I was too exhausted to redo it. Suffice to say that 100 mph winds + O’Hare at Christmas = Good time…NOT!! At least I got my luggage! Wish I had known he was there too…not to look for him, but just to know. Y’know? A few acknowledgements and thank you’s will tell the story of my Christmas: Thanks to Marilyn, for lovely company at brunch in Williamsport and moral support while driving alone in a complete whiteout to Erie. It was good to know you were there. Thanks to Karen, Cheri and Sammie, my Raleigh peeps, for always being there…literally. I missed you so much. I’m so glad you came. Chelsea, it was great to meet and be fangirly with you! Thanks to Farouche for being a pleasant seat-mate. Thanks to Doris for the upgrade to my seat in Erie…you were so kind to let me join your friends! Thanks to angelty’s housekeeper and housekeeper’s daughter, for just making my night with their joy in our Clay. Thanks to luckiest1 and cindilu2 and claymatron for keeping track of me in the Erie blizzard of 2007…regardless of the fact it completely spoiled your Erie adventure! It helped a LOT to know you cared. Thanks and hugs to memyb, always an intrepid fellow Clay adventurer and enabler. It was such fun! Thanks to prairiegirl and prairieguy (hubbie Glen) for the tickets, the laughs and the companionship. It’s always a special treat when I know you are going to be there too! Thanks to Jerome for the kindness…it is always appreciated! You are a special guy. Thanks to Lena for the laughs and the gift, which was much appreciated later in FREEZING Chicago! Little did you know it would save my butt…or at least, my hands! Sorry to hear about the Minneapolis airport staff's unfortunate day ...hope you got home OK!! Thanks to Carol and Debbie of MinnesotaClayfans for all your hard work on the fun parties and get-togethers. What a good time we had! Thanks to pinklady for your kindness….you made my night! Thanks to all the FCA’ers I met and re-met in Minneapolis and your hugs…it was SO good to see you all again. Next year in New York! Be there!! Thanks to momof3boys and family for their hospitality, and for allowing me to be a part of their family Chrismas, and WFI in Mokena…I had such a good time in Chicago area! Thanks to aikim and emsamp for wrapping with me and enabling my tollbooth habit! You saved my life! Thanks to Neelie and Dennis (neelieMr) who made our day completely by stopping by to visit at our WFI location! Thanks a second time to luckiest1, cindilu2, crimsonice, lisa, couchtomato, and ldyjocelyn for a fun after-show at Uno’s. Couchie, do you have ketchup for your dinner tonight? It was so good to meet you, couchie and ldyj! NO thanks to the bitchinthebox who refused to speak to me…(I did get a refund). And as always….special thanks to Clay…who is the reason for it all. Love you!!

I'm at the Hilton! Sorry to miss the posse get-together! We're off to the MOA in about half an hour via limo (hee...); that should entertain the natives. Hope to see some of you later today........

Catch up post.... No M&G for me either...not that I ever thought there would be. But you're right, cindilu2, the blanket email did give me a moment. Zena, hope you have a great birthday....and see you in Minneapolis! Wear your sword! I'm flying off in the AM as well. May see some of you at MSP; anyone else taking the shuttle? Has anyone heard yet if Angie is in Cleveland? I feel so bad for her. Loved the interview...he's been asked enough, I know, but I really hope he DOES do "Learning to Shut Up, the Sequel" eventually. I met a lovely lady last night in Erie, and her approx 12 yr old daughter. Neither are on the boards; she does housework for the "exalted leader" of the Meadville Clayfans, and Shirley has Clayverted her, or rather Clay did it himself, as usual. She and her daughter were pushed over the edge into giddy love by LTS. She's thrilled to have this man as an example for her daughter, and they were both thrilled to be at their first concert, just blown away. She specifically mentioned how much better he sounded in person than on the CDs, and loved his obvious concern for Angie. I really enjoyed meeting and chatting with her and her daughter. Hee....now she wants to buy a computer....little does she know!!

Well, sure sounds like someone dropped the ball. I truly hope that the "winners" are duly notified and offered a 2nd chance at another venue of their choice. Hee, yeah, I just want more chances to win for Merrillville. Oh, I'm glad to know about the M&G....in a way....because I was having a small, personal and non-verbal paranoia attack, thinking perhaps he was not going to do them after the Morristown thing. Whew! I think I can go back off the meds now. .....BUT, I just KNOW that was MY M&G and luckiest's and we'll NEVER, EVER have a chance again because he thinks we hate him and don't wanna be there!!! Yah, OK, I'll take the meds......but crap, that would be just my luck. You know I'm kidding, right??

Cripes, trying to catch up to this runaway train!! What the heck are y'all doing posting that many pages??! Erie this morning is snowing lightly, but from my hotel room vantage point it looks as though the roads have been cleared and everything should be (relatively) copascetic. I think I can even see something yellow peeking through the snow clouds! Scarlett I WISH I had seen your post yesterday before I left Williamsport! I would have LOVED to have had your company coming to Erie...you have no idea! I hatesssssss driving alone in that kind of weather, and having you along for the ride would have been especially fun. My drive up the I79 sucked donkey balls, but what the heck, I arrived safe and only spent 1.5 hours driving around downtown Erie looking for the preparty I was supposed to be at an hour before. Moral of the story: NEVER ask directions of locals. They don't know the names of streets, and "turn where the hospital used to be" doesn't work too well for me it seems. insert big eyeball roll here Course, it didn't help that the snow was stuck to most street signs so that you couldn't tell what the street name was anyway. In compensation, I'm sure, Doris from Meadville Claymates gifted me with an extra ticket which put me in Row 2 centre, which was awesome!! I LOVED that he left Angie's microphone on stage last night; some I heard thought that she must have left very suddenly and they "hadn't had time to remove it". I think it was the "empty chair at the table", left there deliberately. He was very emotional at the end of the concert when he said how much they missed her. Tullio is very barnlike, but I'm so glad I made it! Would not have missed it for the world. I think, rather than being disappointed in the turnout, they were blown away by how MANY people were there, given the conditions. Scarlett, I didn't even see you there! Hope to catch up with you in Minneapolis for sure! I didn't see your note until last night after the concert. Off to Buffalo! For those of you who have been keeping track of me..... :F_05BL17blowkiss: You have NO idea how much that means....NO idea. THANKS.

Well, last night was awesome!! I'm sorry I didn't get to see Scarlett, but I did (briefly) meet chacha and chachadotter before I lost them when I stopped to grab my Raleigh peeps. They wouldn't let us in to the Bullfrog....nothing personal I'm sure. I was sitting next to Farouche and I see that there are already some beautiful pictures taken from "my" viewpoint...squeeeeeeeeee!!! He looked absolutely beautiful last night, and my first view of the concert was incredibly emotional and waaaaaaaay too short! I'm looking out the hotel window so far this morning and thinking "hmmmmm"...dunno whether getting out of Dodge is going to happen today or not...and I just looked at my hotel for tonight in Erie and I see that it is 2 DAYS cancellation policy!! WTH is up with that??!! So I pay for tonight use it or not I guess. Luckiest1, I'm thinking about you three....how's it looking up there? Canfly172 and Topaz68 are here as well, so if I can find them again, we may choo-choo train it on to Erie.

Here safely and easily...no problem with the roads at all...and SO glad I came! Tomorrow is another day I can hear Clay practising in the venue under my window....eeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Saw this and just had to respond....SO true!! Me too!...and as a consequence, have been hung and pilloried practically every time I post at another unmentioned board whose mod team were a part of, or friends with, the celebrity spewers. The only difference, I guess, is that none of them would ever have condescended to call me a friend...so nothing lost!