liney23

My favorite from that second batch is that last one. I've also got a weird fondness for the kangaroo shirt!

From the first batch -- I'm a fan of that green sweater, still to this day. He looks incredibly snuggly to me in that one!

ldyj... I'm with you. I will also say that the transparent sweater over the purple flowered shirt is FUGLY to the max. LOL He is indeed sometimes sartorially challenged and I love him anyway. LOL

shortyjill... I'm very glad to hear that the funeral was protester free.

On top of all the repair stuff I'm having done on the house, last night the garbage disposal quit working. Urrgh! A 7' by 12' storage space is $108/month. Another Urrgh! Sigh! I will live thru this, I will live thru this... of course, it might be in a coma, but what the hey! LOL

Several of my non-Spamalot memories focus on Central Park: fending off the pedicab dudes in Columbus Circle, and hiking past the Sheep Meadow (which I've seen in what seems like hundreds of tv shows and movies) and Tavern on the Green to get to Strawberry Fields. Listening to all the different languages being spoken by the people sitting on the benches around that circle. Passing a crew of firemen taking a break, enjoying the sun, with their boots lined up on the ground in front of them. A singer / rapper outside a subway stop stating he wasn't going to perform until the crowd got bigger. Worrying that YSRN was going to get hit by a truck on Fifth Avenue while she was trying to get pictures of a bus with Clay's face on the side. Walking around the Pond, eating a bag of cinnamon almonds. And then deciding it maybe was a mistake to think I could walk all those blocks back to the hotel without getting a blister. Good times, indeed.

bottle... I loved this description of your trip. Thank you for sharing it.

shortyjil... I hope the funeral goes without incident. Those people are nuts and publicity hounds. I'd like to be there when they meet their maker, when it is made clear how unloving their actions were. Geesh!

I did nothing but pack this weekend and am about 2/3rds done with the movers coming next Monday. Ack! I could manage if it wasn't for having to get the house ready for me to move into on top of the packing to move. The cleaners are coming one more time tomorrow and the carpet is coming on Thursday. I am buying a gate to at least keep the dogs out of the living room and have had an idea of how to keep the cat problem to a minimum. Cross your fingers for me. I still have to find a storage space and figure out how to tell the movers what goes where. This is just so much fun... NOT! Oh, well... I'll survive and should be pretty settled by Christmas. Maybe I'll even put up the tree... maybe!

I've been a Spammy state of mind recently for some reason. Even if Clay's not on Broadway, I neeeeeeed to get back to NYC - hopefully in 2011.

bottle... this is one of the bestest stage door pics I have seen. Geesh, he has a gorgeous profile!

And, thanks for the Spamalot pictures. Brought back memories, that's for sure. That was a very good year!!!

shortyjill... I'm very sorry you lost even a distant friend. Since Clay showed us the children and women of Afganistan and their quest to learn, I have supported that country becoming a safe place to live and grow for all, but just wish it wasn't so costly in terms of lives.

It's basketball season so my two team obsession is back. I'm still trying to see what other concert I can attend next year but the schedule just isn't working for me. Not too many grouped shows.

Can you imagine Clay taking 9 years between albums LOL. Unthinkable!

Has anyone ever been through a systems change at work. It's absolutely killing me. What I used to be able to do in 30 minutes it's taking me 2 hours. It's only been a week but damn hopefully I'll get the hang of this FAST.

Hope everybody had a good weekend!

Cute cake!!

Couchie... I went from Microsoft XP to 2007 in June and still haven't figured out how to do some of the stuff I used to do without even thinking about it. Soooo frustrating, since this was supposed to be an improvement... right! Pssssffft!

Hey, everyone... Loved the smile wave and the wave that knocked them out... BWAH!!!

Got the house cleaned... took the poor couple 7 hours of work and they didn't do the windows... hehe. Got a painter coming on Monday, when he's done, got the carpet guy coming. Any of you cat/dog people know how to get animals to quit doing their business in a certain part of the living room? I would like to give 4 of the 8 cats to a shelter, but I think my daughter would kill me and bury the body in cat litter. We'll see how they adjust after I move in and they get used to the new furniture arrangement, etc.

Found a moving company that will pack for me whatever I don't have done by moving day... the 22nd. That takes a big load off my mind. I will survive this month... I will... I hope. LOL

We turned off our light at 6:30...we had approximately 250 kids and they were still coming. Our area gets targeted every Hallowe'en...it's a safe haven for ghosts and goblins!

calurker... we had one of those streets when they kids were growing up. I always bought 10 lbs of the candy you buy by the pound and always had to turn off the lights when it ran out. It was fun, but exhausting!

Fear... that Banker kid sounds like a cool kid.

I have clearners coming tomorrow and a handyman/painter lined up for after that. Now I have to find a moving company. Packed 15 boxes of books this weekend, only one more needed, then I have to pack the two bookcases that have tapes and notes from the classes I've taken over the last 20 years.

I may need a stay in a convalesant hospital when this is over... LOL

Fear... I'm so sorry about the problems Mr.Fear is having. So many people think joint replacement solves all problems, but it doesn't always. My DD had a hip replacement 16 years ago and it never took the way some people much older's did. She still lives on Tylenol and has to be very careful what she does. I hope they find a solution soon. In the meantime, braces do sound like the best solution for now.

Couchie... what kind of laptop are you going to get? I'm thinking of getting a rebuilt Dell, as they are so much cheaper than new.

I have pumpkin pies to make today, as tomorrow is my middle DD's birthday and every year since she was 3 yrs old, I have made her pumpkin's pies for her b'day. I have the cutest picture of her at 3 looking at her pie with Happy Birthday written in whipped cream. I no longer do that part... LOL

I have to start packing now... I am giving the apartment landlord 30 days notice Monday and want to schedule the move for the 20th. OMG, I'm scaring myself. Sigh! Any volunteers to help???? LOL Just send vibes to make everyday have 30 hours in it instead of 24 and I might make it.

cindi... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Thanks to whoever posted their experience with a new virus that says your hard drive is full and needs defragged. It happened to my work computer today and as soon as I saw the defragger screen I called IT and they are working on it. What a bear! The IT guy said he had printed out the fix and it is 15 pages long. UGH!!! So, I will repeat... if you get a pop-up from the bottom of your screen that says you have a problem with your hard drive, don't touch it... get thyself to a malware and run it or take it to a computer expert and get it wiped from your computer. Nasty!!!

aikim... CONGRATS!!! on your A. Now to remember all of it until the final... that was always my problem. LOL

I was talking on the phone with a person from Ohio and he said there had been a lot of tornadoes in Illinois last night. I vividly remember having a tornado whirl through our town when I was in high school. It blew in the windows in my classroom and I got some glass cuts on my face. We were then all herded down to the basement. I was scared of high winds for YEARS afterward.

Out here in sunny Southern California, we have high winds called Santa Anas. They can get up to 60-70 mph in our area and I get real nervous still. Earthquakes happen quickly and get your adrenalin going until they are over, but high winds go for hours and are actually more nerve wracking. IMO

I watched the Dutch auction from the Gala last night. That was fun and it worked real good. I'll bet that happens every year now. If they had set it up so that the online fandom could have joined, it probably would have been even more.

Fear... I would work from home on Monday... lol Good luck dodging!

cindi... thanks for the BSN montage. Fantastic work, woman! I can't play .avi on my computer so I did not download, but will watch on YouTube muchly!

I LOVED the BMUB from the Gala. Best I have ever heard him sing it and I do love that song!

bottle... REALLY, really nice pictures!!! I always do a double ummmmmm ummmmmm when I see one of Perma's pictures. That woman can shoot!!!

Glad to share the pics - even if they aren't great, it's nice to have them. Hopefully by Feb/Mar I'll actually have figured out the camera, lol.

I don't know if anybody else is interested in this, but for what it's worth, this is an mp3 of Both Sides Now without the tiny crack towards the end. I did it as much as an experiment to see if I could as anything else. It's such a stunning performance. The audio is taken from canfly's video.

Fear, I think Jerry also mentioned the #1 in inclusion stat during his speech at the Gala as well. Very, very cool! I so hope that they can sustain and grown NIP. Things like the Champions of Change awards really bring home how important their work is in a very real way.

I haven't read around a lot so forgive me if this is a repetitious 'factoid' from the recaps, but one of my favorite things was Tyler's little aside about being a 'huge Clay fan' (which met with thunderous applause). It was so freakin' sweet! And not for nuthin', both guys who mentioned being Clay fans (one of the Darius Goes West fellows as well) also received the only standing O's of the night (until BSN). *g*

cindi... thanks so much for that mp3 without the crack in his voice. I wince everytime I hear it. I know I shouldn't as 99.9% of the song is breathtakingly beautiful, but that messes with my mood for a few seconds every time, so thanks for doing that.

Glad to share the pics - even if they aren't great, it's nice to have them. Hopefully by Feb/Mar I'll actually have figured out the camera, lol.

I don't know if anybody else is interested in this, but for what it's worth, this is an mp3 of Both Sides Now without the tiny crack towards the end. I did it as much as an experiment to see if I could as anything else. It's such a stunning performance. The audio is taken from canfly's video.

Fear, I think Jerry also mentioned the #1 in inclusion stat during his speech at the Gala as well. Very, very cool! I so hope that they can sustain and grown NIP. Things like the Champions of Change awards really bring home how important their work is in a very real way.

I haven't read around a lot so forgive me if this is a repetitious 'factoid' from the recaps, but one of my favorite things was Tyler's little aside about being a 'huge Clay fan' (which met with thunderous applause). It was so freakin' sweet! And not for nuthin', both guys who mentioned being Clay fans (one of the Darius Goes West fellows as well) also received the only standing O's of the night (until BSN). *g*

Thank you so much for the recaps and the BSN mp3, cindilu2! (How did you "doctor" that tiny crack?) Also, I appreciate your comment in the Carolina blog's Gala entry. Today I added lovethatguy's moving reflections on the song as the mother of a special needs son.

Thnx to all your for sharing your photos, videos, recaps from Chicago and Raleigh!

Have a great week, FCA!

Caro

Caro... I LOVED that letter from the mom of the camper. It really reflects why the NIP is such a worthy cause. Clay is such an extraordinary man in so many ways!

With 4 guests on tonight, it doesn't sound like Clay will get much time, but it sure is worth speaking out about. I was bullied as a child, once at age 6 by a teacher that really impacted the rest of my life. It is the only way the kids/people doing the bullying can feel "better than" or powerful in any way. It's just deplorable that so many children's lives are made so miserable by these sad, weak bulliers.

Hi guys,

Aron is a wonderful speaker for inclusion. He outlined some of the things that he teaches camp counselors for Let's Play. He said that they are the number one charity promoting inclusion in the country. They do the training and followup for two years after which the camp is on it's on. I believe he said this year 35 camps are phasing out and they want to start training at 42 more camps.( I hope I have the #s right). We all got up and did one of the exercises they use in training. I think many of us came away enthused and planning ways to raise money for the N.I.P.

Fear... what do you mean "35 camps are phasing out"? Does that mean they aren't having them anymore or that they don't need NIP's training anymore?

Gala pics were a disaster - I really need to learn how to use this camera

This was such a neat thing- Clay said it was his favorite thing they've auction in all these years (Mike Bubel's art work)

I just love the rapport between Clay and Jerome

Album here

cindi... thank you soooo much for the pics of Mike Bubel's artwork. Pretty dang good, I'd say.

It sure has been a clackful few days and I know it's not over yet. Ain't that great!

The cellcerter reported in very briefly at the end and said some of the video-takers got shut down. Hopefully, they didn't get everybody so we can get Clack of the whole show.

===================================================

If anyone is reading this all at once and is getting annoyed by all those views of my avi because of the consecutive posts - Sorry! Nobody else was jumping in with updates in real time. :clay:

Looking forward to the recaps tomorrow, unless all the concert-goers are piling onto a plane with Clay to make the trip back to Raleigh for the gala. Safe travels, y'all!!

I've been waiting all day to come home so I could save this one.

bottle... I'm so glad you got your tongue picture... LOL And, may I say, I never get tired of seeing your avie, so post away!

aikim... thanks for those lyrics. They certainly are touching.

luckiest... congrats on winning a couple of items... I think! LOL

That "support a kid for $250" auction was a fabulous idea. Even I could do that... in fact, I just might in honor of a new song!

I liked this one by dc4clay. Totally leading man material!

00lsee... May I say I totally agree with you. GAH!!!

Saw a bit of the live show last night. Couldn't see worth a darn, but his voice was sublime. Double GAH!!!

My kind of town...Chicago is!

I am leaving nice fall weather (mid 80's, just like it's supposed to be) to freeze my ass off in Chicago. Mid 60's? Mid 50's?!??! I'm gonna die. Die dead. So I expect Clay to warm me right up. I'm thinking about bring dollars to stuff in his pants for requests...

KAndre... I grew up in Illinois and fall is my favorite season. I love have to put on a heavy sweater and walking in the dry colored leaves. I HATE summer and the humidity, so fall is great. Winter=snow, spring=rain, summer=hot and humid... fall = gorgeous!!! Just me. Have a blast and wink at Clay for me!

I am praying that there is no shortage of clack for this concert. Clay might even ask not to video since it is the first of the PBS follow-up concerts and why would people spend the money if they can see it on youtube??? Crossing fingers!!!

Total is 37. That is not enough to get me on any list is it?

gloch... depends on the list! BWAH!

I love the Tyra picture!

I am not able to go to Chicago. Work. Does anyone live near there that would like to have my ticket just for shipping costs????

This Sen. DeMint is a big nutcase.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) attempted to convince pastors that economic issues are moral issues at the Greater Freedom Rally at a church in Spartanburg, South Carolina yesterday, imploring them to help conservatives retake Congress in November.

In addition to reiterating anti-choice talking points on abortion and backing "traditional marriage," according to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, the senator went further and said if someone is openly homosexual, they shouldn't be teaching in the classroom and he holds the same position on an unmarried woman who's sleeping with her boyfriend -- she shouldn't be in the classroom."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/02/demint-gays-unmarried-pregnant-women-teachers_n_748131.html

I'm shocked that such as this caliber of human being serves in the United States Senate. What kind of police squad does he want empower to enforce his particularly sick brand of immorality on the world?

On a lighter note, spent time listening to music today -- on the radio -- don't know what I'd do without Pacifica radio. Saturday is music during the day and it is some of the best and most eclectic, always enjoyable and entertaining, and rarely anything I've ever heard before. Anyway, one of the songs I heard today was a kind of folk/bluegrass tune that was a toe-tapper and the lyrics went something like this:

What the world needs now

Is another folk singer

Like I need a hole in my head

What the world needs now

Is another Frank Sinatra

So that I can get you into bed

To be honest, I don't think the world needs another Frank Sinatra. The world never needs another anybody, in my opinion, because there's one enough of everybody, but it may be in dire need of a sexy, romantic singer with a beautiful voice and a hot delivery. I think I know just the man .....

And for something completely different, I bought the biggest, most delicious, perfect in every way, honey crisp apples today. $1.49 a lb. and worth every penny. I'm eating one now -- with peanut butter smeared all over the slices and they are downright decadent.

keeping... HAPPY BIRTHDAY yesterday!!! :bdayparty2:

These pics made my b'day verra verra special... I'm still fanning myself here! LOL I love the card, too!

2004: IT Tour (4); JNT #1 (2)

2005: JBT (1) JNT the Play (2)

2006: Jimmy Kimmel & ATDW CD Signing (1)

2007: Capital One Holiday on Ice (1)

2008: SRHP Tour (4)

2009: OMWH Kimmel

2010: Timeless Tour (2)

I saw one other Kimmel: the "he hit me with his cane" one

That's 18 total

I think.

Thanks for the Happy Birthdays!!! I'm working like a fiend today, but had a nice b'day weekend. Well, back to it!

bottle... sawry yous sick!!! But, thanks for the purdy!!!

aikim... check your pm's, please! I tried to send you a message.

Ack...I worked all weekend and I don't want to be here now, but we have stuff due this week and I have to do it, so.... Ok, end of pity party... I'm very glad to have a job I enjoy... when I don't have to do it 85 hr/week. LOL

Hee! keepingfaith totally missed my little joke. Bwahaha.

...and they have bathrooms, too.

00lsee... is that an inside joke, cause I missed it, too... LOL

Starbucks. The only thing I ordered in there I had to give up when I became a diabetic - the caramel apple cider with whipped cream LOL. Oh the memories.

So somebody changed the radio station at work from easy listening oldies that has a combination of pop and r&B stuff to classic rock. It drove me freaking crazy although it's at a very low buzz. We can listen to our ipods at work but mine has bit the dust! sigh. That moves to the top of the list cuz not being about to listen to Clay or at the very least people who sing songs that Clay also sings I might not survive.

When is the Chicago concert... I hope you all have a good time and I know you will. If there was no concerts next year I'd be a bit sad I guess but there's much to look forward to!

Couchie...I have an unused MP3 player if you want it (still in package)

I still don't get what he's so bugged about Touch.

He has sung far more suggestive songs than that on stage as well as suggestive dancing and kissing Casey.Hmmm... So what the heck is it other than the production of the recording? Which wouldn't have anything to do with a live performance. Especially since he would just have it arranged differently anyway.

He said he hasn't sung that song since he recorded it and doesn't intend to. I no longer think it has anything to do with the song being suggestive. When he commented about the production of it, made me wonder if he didn't like the producer. Isn't this one he went to London to record? Anyway, it almost felt personal, like it was about more than the song. As if he didn't want people associated with it, whether songwriters, producer, arranger, whoever, to get anything more from it. That was my instinctive take -- that cutting this song out was a big FU to somebody.

keeping... I've always felt he had some negative association with that song, but it's not like him to hold a grudge, so who the heck knows.

I'm glad you survived that bite!!! Maybe a sneaky spider???

Thanks for the pics and the recap of that interview. I'm going to have to buy it when it become available, so keep us posted, please!

As a carb watcher, deep dish doesn't do it for me, either. A thin veggie is more to my liking.

Also, why would anyone have thought Clay was in a Starbucks when he doesn't drink coffee?

I don't drink coffee either, shorty. I LOVE their iced chai tea latte and get it too often!

I watched the Windsor Revival ending again last night and died laughing. Go to 7:30 on Scarlett's video if you don't want to watch the whole thing. Ruben did pretty well ad-libbing on that and of course Clay's quick wit was front and center and his laughing at what happened just makes you join in. My fave after any Footloose!

kareneh... those Hampton Beach pics are great. Thanks!

aikim... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Will everyone please send vibes that the next meeting for this BIG proposal my company is bidding on (they said the week of the 11th) is either Mon, Oct 11 or Tues, Oct 12, cause if it is the 13th or 14th, I won't be able to go to Chicago and Perma found a great hotel only half a mile from the venue. I wanna gooooooooooo!!!! Thanks!

Did y'all hear about the gay and lesbian marches in London today protesting the Pope's visit? I try to steer clear of religious entanglements and discussions, but I have to say that I truly love Sir Ian Kellen. He's simply wonderful.

keeping... I's agree widya, woman. Gandalf is the bestest!

I took the plunge and am coming to Chicago. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

luckiest... did you get a ticket? I may have to try to sell mine.

keeping... I agree that he doesn't have to be in a relationship with that guy on the walk with him at all. Devin may or may not still be in the picture. We'll know when he shows us. I just love how happy and confident he is now and whatever is causing that, I want more of it for him... period!

If Elton ever heard Clay sing DLTSGDOM, he'd jump at the chance... at least in my dreams he would. LOL

To turn it around and hear Elton John say, Ladies & Gentlemen, Mr. Clay Aiken ... that would be the best! I think Clay has been saving that song for something. In my opinion it is his ultimate signature song -- the one that made me fall for him on Idol, and again on the Idol 5 Finale, when he branded me for life.

He branded me for life. THREAD TITLE?????

And I'm back. 4 days without a computer! But at least when they fixed it I got my sound back. I had a sound card -- just no drivers LOL.

Anything up in Clay world? I have to catch up. I realize now why I was able to keep up all those years - it's because I could read the boards at work. I can no longer do that and it sucks.

Thanks Lotus for the SF concert info.

Heard about Fanny weeks ago. As long as she has that voice she will have a career. She's not a politician or a reverend; she's a singer. And rock n roll is full of people who do stupid things and the convergence of that with reality tv is now par for the course. To me her biggest crime, if true, is going out with a married video store clerk. At least risk your dignity for somebody you don't have to support. But if Angelina can survive taking America's sweetheart's husband and becoming even more popular methinks Fantasia will survive this. This also falls under my how does this affect me celebrity rule on one hand an on the other - I don't believe anything I hear as part of those celebrity tabloidy radio minutes. It's where they breathlessly told me all about it every morning when I was carpooling with my sister. One reason to be grateful I'm back on public transit.

Couchie... welcome back! Missed your dulcet tones around here! I agree with you about Angelina. She stole Jennifer Anniston's hubbie and is now very popular! Franny got a great reveiw on her latest album in People, so, yes, she'll be fine if this woman doesn't get all her money in court... LOL Dumb, dumb, dumb to get involved with a married man in a state where one can get sued for it and all sentiment will be with the wife.

ldyj... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

aikim... so cool you get to see grandbaby inside and outside his mommy! LOL

Caro... Kai is so cute mowing the lawn. Little kids love to imitate adults... then some of them grow up and try to imitate kids. LOL

keeping... this is just sooooo ulta-kewl!!! Congrats to your sis!

Ok, still watching Timeless when possible. Biloxi jeans were every bit as N.I.C.E. as the Reno ones. Just sayin'

It would be fab if Clay and Elton got together. If Elton ever heard Clay sing DLTSGDOM, he'd jump at the chance... at least in my dreams he would. LOL

{{{{Kareneh}}}} Your dog has been your companion thru so many moves and I'm really sorry he's sick. Sending healing vibes his way>>>

You’ll have to pry the Diet Dr, Pepper out of my cold dead hands. I could never give it up without suffering serious withdrawal symptoms.

I think my favorite look from the Timeless Tour was black suit after losing the tie - he looked very sharp. The top part of the jeans was good, but I wasn’t overly fond of the long dragging hems because they just looked a bit sloppy to me. Sorry, kf!

bottle... different stokes... I love the sloppy bottoms of his jeans. Don't know why, just do. I think the relaxed look makes it seem like he's someone I could talk to, while the gorgeous suited look (which I also do love)makes him seem a bit more remote...maybe?