rohdy

Love the increase in activity with the new members showing up and/or returning. So, my cheap thrill for the week was strolling through Kroger only to be stopped by someone's rendition of Kyrie, which immediately threw me back to his first solo tour. The sound of the music, his voice,the screaming and yelling in the Joe Louis Arena, when he walked out singing that song hit me like a wave! We were in the first tier above the floor and the effect was incredible. Something I will never forget and now it seems ANY version of Kyrie throws me back to that night. *sigh* Such an exciting time.

That would be Caleb Johnson, from Asheville, Season 13 winner.

Exciting day here in Flint, MI with our visit from Pres. Obama!! We didn't attend any of the official functions, but did manage to get caught up in some of the traffic!! I don't care if the Pres. is Democrat or Republican...it's just so exciting to have one come and visit!! If only it wasn't because of the lead in the water..... I wish he could have seen Flint in it's heyday, we were really something, back before the auto industry moved out.

Hi All! I've been on the road for the past two weeks (helping one of the kids move back to Michigan, from Oregon) and I just want to thank everyone for always having all the latest and greatest, up to date info, all in one place!! You do an amazing job and I am forever grateful. Thanks you!

Such a long time lurker at The Clackhouse, like everyone else I'm going to miss it and all who posted there.

Well, if kd lang is taking over from Fanty, how about Clay taking over from Dule? Would love to have him sing with kd!

Ahhh, we cut the cord this summer as well. Our Fox channel tends to be shaky, so I just watch it a week later, for free, on Hulu.com. If I wanted to join, I could watch it the evening it airs w/no commercials. We have gotten Amazon Prime and have watched a lot of free 'stuff' through there, keeps us entertained.

First picture, from the two above. Love. That man has thee most expressive face and eyebrows!! Love that most seem to be in the 'calm' car over here, it can get stressful reading elsewhere!! Thank you.

gbfan....your biking season should be starting pretty soon, shouldn't it? That is, if our snow ever goes away...... Akim, congrats on hubby's retirement. It's different, I will say that.

Shorty! Great pics......thanks for sharing them here!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHORTY! It's good to see you here....

Hammond, for me.

Woo-hoo....first vote!! And I have to go with #1. Favorite performance of Solitaire. I remember the camera panning around the backside of him and thinking, 'Man, would I love to run my fingers through that!' His hair was so perfect..... And I loved the whole black turtleneck and suit outfit. It was a good night. That being said, #2 is also one of my favorite pics of him.

Bang Clay......oh my!

Claytonic...thank you for that! What a giggle! I am so amazed at how .....human...Simon is on this show! Dang if he isn't almost likeable!

Thanks to all for the good thoughts & prayers about my mom's situation. We saw the oncologist this morning and while the PET scan did show a small mass in her chest, the good news is that he reiterated that it is SMALL, it is NOT in her lungs (which we were concerned about because she originally did have spots in the lungs that were not expected to disappear with the chemo, but blessedly did), and it is the ONLY spot that showed up. He is going to continue monitoring her closely, starting her on a new medication, and blood work each month for the next 3 months. He told us not to worry & enjoy the holidays - this is only a minor detour. I plan to take that advice. Clay content? He's beautiful, he sings like no one else & I can't wait to see Sir Robin again in 17 days!!! Annabear...that is such good news!! Now sit back and enjoy the holidays and Clay Aiken. Not necessarily in that order!!

Ahhhh..... student loans. We live for student loans! Well, kinda. Hubby went to school when he was 30, we had a house payment and three kids, the youngest two being 1 and 2. So we got money from his GI Bill, student loans, a grant here and there and I ran a small day care out of the house. (Oh...and thank you Uncle Sam for your wonderful WIC program! We could eat!) He graduated in 3 1/2 years, with $10,000 in loans. They were paid off, just as it was time to start to pay off our oldest child's student loans (local college). Middle child, bless his heart received a full ride, based on academics (though he did drop out, fall of his senior year). The youngest has a few student loans we are picking at. However. When she expressed an interest in going to med school, we encouraged her to go, said we would help, but the loans were hers. She graduated June of '07, $200,000 in debt, happy as a bug in a rug. Once she completes her study for her speciality, she will make $300-500,000 a year. The kids never expected us to pay their student loans, we had told them many times that no one helped dad, but as life progressed and we were able to do it.....we did. Good luck Muski! And everyone else with college age children....it is a challenge. A worthwhile challenge!

I don't honestly remember and I never noticed it when I watched the Larry King interview, but is it possible that one is from the final competition night and the other was from the finale? That is exactly right!! Shirt is from final competition, leather jacket is from the Finals show. You win a prize!! *digs to bottom of Cracker Jacks box* I hope a whale tatoo is okay? And Couchie....Air Tran is all I have flown for the past 4 or 5 years....we love our Air Tran flights. Last week I flew from Flint to Atlanta, $89 each way and you could up grade to first/business class for $49 when you did your pre-boarding.

I so wish I didn't have to work tonight. Recording the debate will not be the same, but it is what I will have to settle for. *sigh* I did find this article....it's at The Christian Science Monitor and is written by a guy who has debated her in the past. WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DEBATE SARAH PALIN

Me, too, rohdy...and I also wonder about those friends from his college and YMCA years who, early on during AI, were posting on message boards and who talked about Clay's relationships with girls and adamantly declared that Clay was NOT gay...I wonder if they knew then and were just trying to 'defend' him (since he was now under public scrutiny) or if they really didn't know because Clay hadn't come out in his private life yet. I'm bettin' Clay was still fighting with himself back then. I often get the feeling that a lot of the people around him (family) and even the church he was raised in, viewed everything in black and white. Making it very hard to cross that line and come to terms with what life has handed him. As for his family and church.......children of all ages, have a way of teaching things you never wanted to know, hopefully they are learning tolerance. And hopefully Clay is learning we love him, just the way he is.

Adding my two cents here. Clay's coming out has lifted the weight of the world off of my shoulders, as far as my fan girliness. Friends and family loved pulling the "But he's gay" crap out of the hat and I would scowl and say, "Who cares?" But I think they always thought...."Oh, she cares!" Now they will see.....I REALLY DON'T CARE! I've always thought he was amzingly cute and hawt and oh my *fan's self* ish, but due to age, I always felt the motherly protectiveness as well. I no longer have to defend myself or his right to be who ever he wants to be. Thank you Clay for setting us both free! Now back to the squeeing and eeeeeeing over father and son! They look so sweet together. And could we have a tour next....pleeeeease. (Oh, and I love the loyalty his friends have shown over the years. He chooses his friends well.)

I seriously think you all should take over the West Side YMCA. My eldest stayed there last summer/fall, $75 a night, private room with a bath and a view of Central Park out her window. She said the cafeteria downstairs was good enough and resonable. The Y was clean and safe. It is several blocks from the Shubert. West Side Y West Side Y- a few reviews

Happy Birthday Annabear!!! Hope your day is as special as you are! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Yay! And there's Countdown Kim.....the eternal optimist! I love seeing your red posts!

Dang.....it looks like Collingwood is a good 4 hours or more from me.....if it were closer I would have loved to talk hubby into going! If I read Leo's info right, he placed 1st at the Collingwood festival back in '98! Dang! And I much prefer his early Elvis to the older Elvis. South Padre is gorgeous!!! What category is Dolly currently at? Last I read, she was a 2. Stay safe Texas.