annabear

While I was sitting in traffic on my way to vote last night, they were talking on the radio about the contestants supposedly singing Beatles songs --- is that next week??? I was more than a little surprised when the first performance was a rather bad version of a Wham! song.... I didn't watch, but listened for the rest of the show. Meh.

Sorry about no pay for sick days, but glad you're feeling at least a little better, aikim.

We recieved our appointments this morning to go over our "compensation & incentive" worksheets next week. IOW, I'll find out exactly how much of a raise I'll hopefully be getting this year and how big (hopefully not, but likely small) my bonus will be. Wish me luck!!!

Annabear just home from work and not feeling much better, aches and chills to go along with the sore throat and stuffy nose. I think a sick today tomorrow might be in order.

Yes, definitely take a sick day tomorrow! Lots of rest, clack, hot tea, clack, soup, clack - you get the idea... :thbighug-1:

I hear ya on the coughing, muski. I'm thinking my co-workers are probably looking at me like that guy in the Japanese restaurant on the Halls commercials - thank goodness we're in eyewear and not ginsu knives!

Love the banner. Love the eyes. Love the freckles. Love the eyelashes. Love the guy.

Annabear, do you want a bigger copy of that emoticon sign. I used the wrong size when I saved it originally.

Geesh, Play! Don't make me not believe my own thinking quite so soon!

Is it bad that several people came immediately to my mind when seeing that sign on the far right? :27:

Keepingfaith, I remember what you remember regarding Simon's idiotic 'explanation' for Clay's success with TITN/BOTW. Talk about needing to buy a clue!

I not only graduated from the Clay Aiken School of Financial Management with honors, but I also recruited my very financially prudent bookkeeper mom! Or more like I dragged her on a roadtrip and then she subscribed of her own free will. My aunt (her sister) does not approve. We fart in her general direction and head off on another adventure!

I am trying very hard not to put any of the upcoming Spam trip on credit cards. We'll see what happens. I could wind up having to print out my favorite new emoticon: :blinkies_14:

From toni2marie's recap that 00lsee so kindly brought over:

Saturday night

Holy Crap! Front row seats are unbelievably close to the stage! Seeing Clay that close is lethal! I could see every little detail on everyone’s costumes. The Lady of the Lake is so beautiful and funny!

There was no way I could keep my eyes on Clay from the front row. I tried but it seemed like at times he would look right at me!

I am wondering if I will survive my first show.

Three pieces of Clack, huh? Oh goodie! Now I have something to work on at work besides, well, work....

You could sub all chicken stock in place of the wine. Maybe add a little cherry preserves, or up the honey just a bit to even out the sweet, fruitiness that the wine adds to the recipe. I had it again last night & it was even better left over!

Here's some info on Marsala wine - Marsala Wine Wiki

In cooking

Marsala wine is frequently used in cooking, and is especially prevalent in Italian restaurants in the United States. A typical Marsala sauce, for example, involves reducing the wine almost to a syrup with onions or shallots, then adding mushrooms and herbs. One of the most popular Marsala recipe is Chicken Marsala, in which flour-coated pounded chicken breast halves are braised in a mixture of Marsala, butter, olive oil, mushrooms, and spices.[8] Marsala is also used in some risotto recipes, and is used to produce rich Italian desserts such as zabaglione and shortcake.[9]

Sorry that link didn't work for the Canadian package seekers. As has alrady been noted, yeah, our tracking number is where your unfortunately useless DHL link is. Clique is nothing if not consistent.

Welcome back, rohdy! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Hope you feel better, aikim. I'm still trying to recover myself. Yesterday we hit 73 degrees. This morning it's 31. I think I've got whiplash. I also think I need some coffee.

Kind of OT question for any Canadians...have any of you received your tracking email from Clique to say your fanclub package has been sent...and had the number work?

Not meaning to exclude my 'Merican friends, but it's a customs kind of a thing, y'know? :thbighug-1:

I got my number, but it didn't work. Didn't surprise me.

Have you tried this link? UPS Mail Innovations

Thank you again, marilyon!

Does anyone know who's going to be replacing Chris Seibert when he leaves in a few weeks? I've read so many times about how good he is and how he & Clay play so well off of each other. I hate that he won't be there in April!

WHAT??!!!! I want to be saddled with it! Please! It's a LONG time til April, y'all. Have pity. Maybe it's boring to YOU, but I bet I'd like it! C'mon, spill!!!

Um...but no pressure.

heh

*Sends skybar a hug: :thbighug-1: *

Ooooooooh, Marilyon - thank you! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Haven't we had the discussion about the tortoise & the hare? He's looking awfully tortoise-like in that green hoody! He's so CUTE! And he looks so cuddly, too!

ETA: And since we're being community and earth minded, today....does anybody else use goodsearch.com for their home page? I do both here at work and at home and on my laptop. Whatever you use---IE or Safari or Mozilla or whatever---you can set your homepage to be www.goodsearch.com. Every browse from there gives money to your chosen charity! I've identified the Bubel Aiken Foundation, of course, but you can pick from among hundreds of others and even enter your own...

It's pretty cool.

www.goodsearch.com

So far, according to their reports that you can access, BAF has raised $7,616.89 in the last two years---just from people using the internet...

I do! :PickMe-1: Both at work & at home.

ETA: I'm dying here.... went back on Zyrtec this weekend and it's making me sooooo sleepy! I don't know how I'm going to make it to 6:00. :856:

YAY rck!

That's gonna be quite a trip, Ansa! Safe travels to you & yours.

Glad Aunt Hilda had a good send off, Cotton. Sorry about your van.

I've just been skimming other places and picking up little useful tidbits here & there like hotel/air/shuttle discounts for NYC! As long as Clay is singing, dancing and speaking in his Geiko gecco inspired British accent all is well.

Oh, and I like the new emotis! Especially this one -> :blinkies_14: Hee!!

And this one -> :blinkies_114: for this weekend!!!

I've been reading up on the anit-inflamatory properties of foods (thanks, YSRN!) and saw that cherries & berries are among the best fruits. I also have a bottle of good Marsala wine that I need to be using up, so I made this tonight for dinner. Served it with brown rice & oven roasted aparagus - yum!

Grilled Chicken with Cherries

serves 4

1/2 c. Marsala wine

1/2 c. chicken stock (I used reduced sodium)

1 c. fresh cherries, pitted (I used frozen, thawed on the counter top for 15-20 minutes)

1 sm. shallot, finely chopped

2 tsp. balsamic vinegar

2 tsp. honey

2 Tbs. butter (I used 1 Tbs. lt. butter w/canola oil + 1 Tbs. olive oil)

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs (usually use breasts, this time used thighs)

salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder to taste

Add butter/oil and shallot to small saucepan over med. to med. high heat; saute until soft, about 2 minutes. Add wine, stock, cherries, vinegar and honey and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer until cherries soften, about 7-8 minutes.

While sauce is simmering, season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic & onion powder and grill until done. I used a heavy, non-stick grill pan. You could also bake the chicken if you prefer.

To serve, spoon a little glaze onto the plate, place chicken in middle and then top with more glaze and a few cherries.

Safe travels, KarenEh!

Whoa - look at those sideburns!

Is it selfish to hope all the screamers and fakers and flashers and whatnot will be all burned out and out of money before I get to NYC on April?

I will fervently join you in this hope! Thanks for bringing over that blog entry from James Beaman - interesting stuff!

I see Couchie was feeling reflective today - I love it! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I really have to say that for me, it's the whole package (no smut intended!). His voice, his smile, his faith, his personality, his humor, his heart.... He's just got IT. In spades.

I don't think I voted until finale night & I did manage to get through a time or two. I got teased pretty good at the end because I was a very reluctant watcher to AI. Didn't watch the first season and had no desire to watch the second season, but did so on WC night with the intention of that being my only time so that we could do the "water cooler" talk at work the next day. I wasn't even really watching - I was in my kitchen cleaning or doing dishes or something equally as thrilling when I heard Clay. I was intrigued and for whatever reason, felt drawn to follow his progress. I liked Ruben well enough and remember reasoning that Clay was so good he'd probably get a record deal, too. I ignored the AI tour (and now kick myself looking back to see that there were 3 or 4 shows within easy driving distance) and wanted to ignore MOAM when it came out. I told myself it was silly to be a fan. As with most things, I have no self control when it comes to Clay and I left work early to stop at Best Buy, then drove around for much longer than the 10 minutes it should have taken me to get home. Then came my first concert, before which I could never have imagined going to mulitple shows of the same person, let alone the same tour!

As for other fandoms, ummm, let's see.... I had a huuuuuuuuuge crush on Ricky Schroder and my mom actually let me join his fan club - I think I still have my "Ricker" button somewhere - hee! Of course, I was only 7 or 8 at the time so I didn't do much following around, but we did have a family friend who was on the production staff of Silver Spoons, Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes over the years and she was able to get us into an SS taping one time!

Has anyone ever flown air trans. I can get my "going" ticket for 150 - pretty good deal. Thanks annabear for bringing that over!

I flew on Air Trans from Georgia to Florida, I believe. It seemed fine. It was on time and didn't lose our luggage, so that's a miracle in itself.

What more could you ask? Hee!

You're welcome, Couchie - hope it works out for you.

I'm thinking I flew on Air Tran the last time I went out to California, which was several years ago, and had absolutely no problems.

This link was posted over at CV by cindydoe:

Air Tran Leap Day Specials

Thought I'd bring it over here for those who are still working on their Spam travel plans. Only good thru 11:59 PM tonight 2/29/08.

This link was posted over at CV by cindydoe:

Air Tran Leap Day Specials - Good only through 11:59 PM tonight, 2/29/08

Thought I'd bring it over here for those who are still working on their Spam travel plans. I think I'm going to use it to purchase my tix to NYC this evening - EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! :7:

00lsee waltzes in with flowers in her hair, strewing rose petals from a beribboned basket. Forest creatures cavort at her feet while birds chirp happily...lalalalala...la...la la! She can't help but sing along as she dances and twirls in her gossamer gown...until a foot comes from nowhere, catching her in the ankles. She trips, basket flying. Tumbling head over heels down a steep embankment, she lands, butt-first, in a frigid pond.

Apparently, not everyone in Clayland is a morning person.

heh

Can't help it, y'all! I feel happy...Clay Aiken is CUTE!!!! And that just makes me want to....SING!!!!

*no shovels, please*

Click at your own risk.

Hmmmm.... was the foot wearing a Killer Bunny slipper with great big, pointy teeth by any chance? If so, I *might* be a leetle sorry....

I'm still dealing with the crud, but am back at work this morning wondering why I'm back at work this morning. Can we just skip March and get right into April, then May?? Huh?! Can we please?!?!

I would say "Have a great weekend!" to Claytonic, but I think that's a given!

Glad to hear Clay seems to be feeling better tonight. Thanks for the report, Caro!

Great recap, ducky!

The WRAL videos are now in the vaults in .flv form. GBB tried to convert them to wmvs, but the video and audio got out of sync. The VLC media player can likely play them if you don't have a specific flv player.

I was able to play them with RealPlayer.

Wow, FANTASTIC interview!!! I used the volume button to raise the volume, but I'm also listening with really good earbuds, so that helps a lot, too. It sounds perfectly clear in my earbuds!

Yes - good earbuds helped a lot. Not so much for hearing Lynda, but Clay came through loud & clear!

I think I resemble this emoticon an awful lot this evening even though I've come down with the dreaded crud going around. I have no more time off until April, but my boss sent me home today and I'm not sure I'll be up to going in tomorrow. I think this means some late nights & possibly weekends of work in my near future. But for now I'll just go watch that interview again....

I just keep listening to/watching that whole 16:03 minute interview over & over with a permanent grin on my face..... he's so animated and excited and involved and in charge.... GAH!!

Oh yeah - and CUTE!!!

I'm so sorry about your Aunt Hilda's passing, Cotton.