Ansamcw

ADMIN POST:

We have a "no discussion of politics" policy in this board. In the current events section we will allow discussions on current events that have some political implications if the discussion can remain non-partisan. We will let this topic stand but we will keep a close eye on it so that it does not degenerate into a political debate. So I hope we can be respectful of each others opinions.

Carry on....

okay...where do you mean in your controls? I don;t know if we can have a message there. Frankly we really tried to turn the siggies off...but I don't think I did it right. 

could you clarify what you mean because we would like to see if we can adapt your suggestion.

I didn't say anything about putting them in "your controls". What I suggested was in your "Rules" and where you are informing people to not use signatures, that you add a note about not using tags. And you may also want to make a special note about not including smilies from other boards as well.

I can check with someone on another board and ask them how they disabled the signatures from showing up. Users could fill it all in, but they wouldn't be posted.

Thanks for your clarification. we will appreciate any tips and suggestions. And to tell you the truth...I didn;t know that little gif animation is called a tag...I thought it was just another emoticon...I will add that to the rules. Thanks again

okay...where do you mean in your controls? I don;t know if we can have a message there. Frankly we really tried to turn the siggies off...but I don't think I did it right.

could you clarify what you mean because we would like to see if we can adapt your suggestion.

THe reason why we ask people not to put siggies is so that we can make this forum as work friendly as possible. When there are huge graphic files and lots of emoticon in a post it is very obvious that the page is not work related so people cannot read during work. The other problem with huge graphic siggies is that is makes the pages slower to load specially for people with dial up.

I do think your tag is cute but is very obvious too...so we would prefer not to have it.

thanks for your cooperation

Does Craigslist help you pick a career too? One more year in school and I have no idea what I want to do for a living.

Gosh...that would be cool if we can find a website that does that? So are you in HS or College...cos the truth is...sometimes it takes several career changes before someone can figure out what they really want to do. I started out being very sure that I wanted to be a psychologist. Then in graduate school I started getting disillusioned with it...quit before I can defend my thesis. Then worked in Market research...got disillusioned too...now I work as a substitute teacher and trying to start a career in webdesign...

the only job I felt most comfortable with is being a mom...so that is what I am mostly..

Most people from CH probably know me as Samtaycai...I haven't been posting there because the pin gallery was keeping me busy and now the FCA forum so I am constantly pages behind...but I usually would have my own take (usually long and wordy too so the scroll button is your friend) of any issue in Clayland...I like to analyze and theorize on the why's and how of Clay's career. I also like to get insights on the man himself... after all the recent article, interviews and blogs I have made several observations...or theories as to what is going on with our favorite guy....

CD...I bet he has been working on a CD for quite some time..but I think he was having a difficult time finding the songs that would truly define what he would consider the Clay sound. I bet that Clive and him were having some conflicts as to the direction of the CD. I believe all the reports that he has recorded songs as early as last year...I believe he was in the studio before now...but its possible they just ended up not using anything they already have because it just wasn;t right for Clay. When Clive bowed out of the project...the next challenge was finding the right EP that could help Clay find that particular sound that woudl define. him. He needed an EP that could think outside the box, because CLay is not your usual pop star. I do believe he is very happy with his current EP, based on what he has said on interviews and the article. I think they are finally finding songs that Clay is happy with, that is why he is finally talking about his CD. I like the fact that this EP was willing to find songs and composers from different genre...I think this will be a great collaboration, as long as Clay is happy with the choice then we will finally hear the Clay sound. As to the fear that he was going CCM or Country...the TV guide article answers that...he is going to continue with the soft rock sound. My take on this is a less edgy Rob thomas sound.

re-positioning...I think Team Clay is finally ready to target the 20 to 40 market and the male audience. In order to do that they have to make Clay a bit more edgy. But how do they do that without totally changing his image and making him what he isn't. I think edgy does not have to mean you're a bad boy...I think edgy simply means you have to be real...you have to be more than a one dimensional charcter...you have to be willing to show you are human and can make mistakes. I think that is what the TV guide article and the cable guide cover is all about.

The cable cover shows two sides of Clay...the goofy guy that people was first introduced to...and the slightly dangerous, more mature, sexy guy that is not afraid to finally let that side of him out. The TV guide article portrayed Clay as a more introspective, jaded, conflicted person with some substance. That is why they had the emphasis on his search for a place to belong, an emphasis on his agoraphobia...his search for a relationship...it is easier for people to relate to him when they know he is not a "perfect guy".

Let Clay be Clay...I think a lot of fans sometimes worry that if Clay shows the public his less than stellar characteristics that the public will rejects him and we will lose him. I think some fans are still stuck on the AI mentality that people have to like you to survive, to vote for you. But in reality, the only thing that the public has to like is his music. For example I don't have any clue as to what kind of person Rob thomas is...I don't know if he is married or what his faith is but I still buy his records. I don't have to like him as a person to like his music. I think for the genral public that is the way they choose their CDs. So if Clay is pissy in an article...it may just make him real but I doubt it will cost him record sales...will he lose fans over it...its possible but he will also gain others...so no real worries.

Let Clay Fans be Clay Fans...One thing this pin craze has emphasized to me is how varied, how unique each group of Clay fans are. We will get all kinds of reaction to things that Clay will do. There will be people that will get hurt by things he said, and there will be others who will just shrug and think...so what else is new. All our reactions are as real as Clay's reaction to us...our opinions on his opinions are as valid as his. So I have decided not to get upset by people's reactions anymore. They are what they are..We have no control on what other fans feel in the same way we have not control over what Clay feels and do.

Someone mentioned they called tv guide and that this is by subscription only. That you couldnt even call them and order it.  WAH!!  I think some non clay fans are going to run to Ebay and get some big $$$ out of it!

I read that the cable guide version is available from you local cable companies...but I heard its only one for every customer....

If anyone finds it in a store could you please let others know...this will be ebay gold I think. :o

WHoa...Invisible that is ,,,gaahhhahhhah...

that is just too intense for me...the most useless wallpaper cos I wouldn;t be able to do anything if that was on...

Thanks

I would suggest that if people do find this cover in the stands...that they buy as many as they can get...we can coordinate some match up so you will not be left with copies you don;t really need but the demand for this cover will be very high...so please...just grab those babies...and let us know where we can send paypal...lots of people specailly Canadians are ready to buy....

EEEEEEE will this be like the Rolling stone all over again...people Harassing vendors left and right...heee

Yup...they surely are going for an older market this time...

that picture does not look innocent and sweet...but quite intense and a bit dangerous...

I like this grown up clay...

Final part of Nicegurrrrl's Clay encounter...

Part Trois

Again, I'll start by answering questions. Details about what he looked like: You saw the shirt and jeans. No, he was NOT wearing flip-flops, lol. Exactly what WAS on his feet I couldn't tell you, but I do know it wasn't flip-flops because I would have remembered seeing his toes *g*. He was clean-shaven (other than a few spots he missed, lol) and his hair was really really nice– A reddish brown with subtle highlights. I was glad to see it was growing out from the cut we saw in Uganda. I am all about the mini-mullet. He was gorgeous. I could see freckles. He has the most beautiful eyes, so sparkly and alive. He does smell nice, very clean. He seemed so happy and relaxed, and I loved how sweet he was to Rachelle. He is such a genuinely nice person.

I asked Rachelle for some more of her impressions. She again said she was surprised at how tall he was, but well-proportioned and definitely NOT a rail. She said that she really liked his freckles, and he had really nice broad shoulders. She also said he gives the best hugs.

Someone asked about what Clay and Rachelle were bantering back and forth about regarding the song. They were both trying to get the other to decide what to sing. Clay would say, You choose the song! And Rachelle said, no you choose! Then Clay said, Well you're the one that's gonna sing it! And Rachelle said, You're going to sing it too! Then Susan suggested Amazing Grace and said that she had sung on the way over. I'm not sure if she meant she sang that, or if she just sang. When I suggested Invisible, as that made sense to me that it was Clay's first single off his CD, they both agreed.

After they sang, we talked a bit more. I thanked him for coming, and said it was really special for us to have him deliver his book and CD. A gentleman, as always, he said, "Oh, no, thank YOU. This was fun for me too!"

They then had Clay move to the sidewalk and they taped an interview with him. During that time we talked to the UPS and Amazon VIPs, and learned a bit more about how the process of doing these promotions worked. That's when we learned that we had been chosen on the 7th. We also learned that Susan was from Van Nuys, and she was chosen because she had a good safety record (to which I said, well, that's a good thing!) and it was a way of recognizing her years of good service. Apparently it was a special experience for Susan too! She told us that this was the neatest thing that had happened to her. I would like to hear her story; I'm sure it would be great!

After they had taped Clay's part, he gave us another hug and got ready to leave. As he was standing by the limo, I suddenly got an idea. I asked him if he would mind waiting just a second. He graciously said, "Of course". I had Rachelle run into the house and grab my package from the Clackhouse that I'd received just a few days before. I took out the red Clackhouse pin with his full-length silhouette and handed it to him. He smiled and said, "Oh, I've seen these". (does nothing get by this man?) I said, "This one is yours. You are now an official member of the Clackhouse". He looked the pin over for a moment, then suddenly looked up, and with his eyes all wide said, very snarky, "They took away mah key!" He said it in the same voice he had said on Kimmel, "He hit me with his cane!", very snarky and very accented. I laughed a little at how he said it, and said, "What???" He said, "Mah password to the vault doesn't work anymore! They took away mah key!". I said, "Ah, you probably missed when Eva posted that we needed to re-sign up for our keys". He said, "I don't know, but they took away mah key!" He was being so funny, he was just cracking everyone up with his facial expression and tone of voice, like he couldn't believe that the CH would dare take away his key! I said I'd make sure he got his key back, lol. He said, "Well, GOOD!" The whole thing was such a hoot!

Clay then gave us his beautiful smile, said "It was very nice to see you", then got in the limo with Mary and Nick, and the limo pulled away.

The production company then interviewed us for another five to ten minutes. We talked about our impressions of the experience and of Clay, and they asked questions about the home for abused and abandoned children that the book was to go to. After this interview, they slowly packed up their gear and left.

Today I got another package from UPS, with the book and audio CD. Clay didn't deliver it this time.

If anyone wants one of the shingles on my house that Clay leaned against, check Ebay *g*

Part two from Nicegurrrrl of the Clackhouse:

Part Deux

I'll try to answer some questions I've read. First, I did invite them in (and the house was clean, dangit!) but the production people chose to do the whole thing outdoors. The camera man said the other videos had turned out too dark when they were filmed inside, and he wanted this one to turn out well.

Apparently this whole thing had been in the works since the day after I placed the order. Amazon chose us as the lucky recipients, and then our information and the initial plans were sent to Clay's people. After getting approval and coordinating the details with Clay and his people, they arranged the time and date. I'm not sure how I got so lucky! But I am so thankful.

There were tons of people here! There were four VIPs from UPS, four VIPs from Amazon, plus the shoot director, and Susan the UPS driver, who was a sweetie, then Nick and Mary; no Jerome. There was also a videographer, his assistant, and a photographer. I mentioned how upset I was that I didn't take any pictures, and the photographer laughed and said, "Well, I got a ‘few'!" They did promise I would get the pics she took. There was a limo parked across the street, and the driver stood outside watching the whole thing too.

During one of the breaks in filming, Clay, Rachelle and I were chatting, and he asked Rachelle if she was still in school. She said, no, actually she just graduated from college. As you can tell from the video, she is very petite, so people often mistake her for a young teen. Heee! I could see him mentally do a double-take as he said, "Oh, really!". He asked Rachelle if she had read his book, and then said, "Oh, of course you have!", which of course was true, but that was him being all cute again, lol.

Rachelle told him that she liked his shirt, and he said, (as Rachelle reminded me afterwards, while smoothing his long, supple fingers over his chest and stomach-eeep!), "Thank you! I've had this shirt a while!" Of course we recognized the shirt, although we are not like some of you who know every single time he has worn it *cough*. I just smiled and said, Oh, yes, its very nice (and truly, it does look really great in person!) I was so close to him that I could count all the threads in the embroidery, not that I would stare that hard. *g*

After some of the filming had been done, the crew went into a huddle and discussed what other things to do. They called Clay over and talked to him, and Rachelle and I wandered to the driveway. Nick and Mary came over and we all shook hands, and they chatted with us for a bit. Nick was very cute and nice. Mary is lovely, and very genuine and sweet. Both Rachelle and I commented later on how nice they both were.

Nick asked if we were going to any tours, and I said, yes, even though they were back east! Nick also asked if we were having fun, and I said yes! I said, this is like an early birthday present for Rachelle. Nick asked when her birthday was, and she said August. He then asked how old she was, and she told him she'll be 21. She had to laugh at Nick's expression, since he was obviously surprised. He asked where she went to school, and as she had told Clay, she said she already graduated. She is a radiographic technologist (x-ray technician) and got notification that she passed her state boards last week. (In fact, yesterday she got a job! Talk about a lucky week!) Nick said that he had never broken any bones, and Rachelle said, well, I can take an x-ray if you get pneumonia too! He said, Really? She said sure! She said that the lungs look cloudy if there is pneumonia, and I told them that there is an infiltrate in the lungs that causes that appearance on xray. So Mary asked if I was a nurse, and I said, yes, I was, and that I am an office manager for a physician's office. ETA: I am networked to my office computer, so I usually work out of my home. The office is less than five minutes away, so I do dress nicely at home in case I am called in for any reason.

We chatted a while longer while Clay and the others were still in a huddle, but honestly, I can't remember all that was said. And although it isn't really any of my business, I have to admit that it made me very happy to see that Clay has such wonderful friends who obviously care about him a great deal.

The production team then un-huddled, and they called us over and asked if my daughter would sing with Clay, and she gave me this look like, OMG I can't believe they would ask me to do this! I have no idea why they wanted her to, but one of the production people asked me if she could sing. She has been in performance groups and sung on children's CDs, so I knew she'd do fine. She and Clay went snarking back and forth about what they should sing, then I suggested Invisible. They walked back up to the porch, and when the camera crew was ready, they started to sing; I thought it was really cute. His shirt tug was a hoot! He gave the cutest smirk after he did that. The little devil SO KNOWS! When they got to the end of the chorus, they both paused, waiting for the other to sing, "Wait, I already am!". Teacher!Clay! said, "Sing the last line!" Rachelle said, "No, you sing it!" they went back and forth a few times, lol, and then Very!Deep!Voice!Clay! sang "Wait, I already am!" while giving her his patented eye-debacle. After we picked ourselves off the ground (whew, that was so very hot!) Rachelle said, "See! It's a good thing you sang that! I couldn't have hit those notes!" he snarked back "that's okay, I can't either!" Funny, funny man! We all just cracked up.

Still more to come....

Here is the first hand account of Nicegurrrrl, the lucky Clayfan that got the special UPS delivery from Amazon. Quoted from the Clackhouse.

Well, it was a beautiful day in MY neighborhood! UPS CLAY did a SPECIAL DELIVERY at my house!

I'm still a bit rattled and my daughter has a perma-grin. What an exciting experience! It's probably a good thing that my SPECIAL UPS MAN wasn't wearing the brown UPS shorts or my daughter and I would have spontaneously combusted. What can I say, but he was sweet, charming, witty, and to quote my daughter, more handsome than a man should be!

So where do I start? First off, I had ordered Clay's book and audio book on CD for a home for abused and neglected children here in my town. I loved Clay's book so much, and after reading an article about the home, I thought it would be a great book for the children there to have. I had heard rumors about the Amazon promotion, but didn't read anything on the Amazon site about Clay making any deliveries, so I figured it was just another unfounded rumor.

My daughter just graduated from college and we have been spending quite a bit of time together this summer, so since it's a lazy Monday, lunch out with a little shopping thrown in sounded like a good way to chase away a minor case of blahs. The phone rings incessantly and a bunch of small job details have to be handled, so I get a late start getting myself ready to go out. Around 2:30, as we were getting ready to leave, I hear the UPS truck arrive. It's later than usual, with the normal delivery time being closer to noon. The doorbell rings, and I put the dogs away so they stop barking. I walk to the door, and answer it.

There on my doorstep is a very cute UPS lady, and she asks if I ordered a package from Amazon recently. I said yes, and stared into some of the biggest cameras I have ever seen! She went on to say that Amazon was celebrating their tenth Anniversary with some special deliveries, and didn't I order a book and CD of Clay Aiken's book, Learning to Sing? I said yes I did, and she said, delivering your book is none other than Clay Aiken! Clay comes walking around the corner with the cutest grin, and my eyes about pop out of my head! I honestly can't tell you what I said or did next, I think I said something along the line of Oh my Gosh, I can't believe this! He handed me the package, and I got a big old Clay hug! The man has the nicest hugs!

About that time my daughter comes to the door and says, what's going on? I think I just moved aside and said, look! (LOL, some of the details are kind of sketchy!) She saw Clay and was so excited! He handed her the box, then she said, "can I have a hug?" He said, "Absolutely!" And gave her the nicest hug. (later she said to me, Gosh, he is soooooo tall! LOL). Now, I'll be telling this out of sequence, because the exact way everything happened is kind of a blur! He said, of course, you have already read the book, right? And I said, yes, and I have the audio CD in my car and listen to it a lot! Then he said, it's the best book ever written, right? And I laughed and said, yes, the best book ever written!

Then the production people were busy for a bit, so I leaned over to him and said, the boards are all excited about the press release today! And he said, what press release? So I briefly told him what it said about the tour, and he said, oh, yes! What are they saying? So I very briefly said how happy people were to hear a little about the tour and the artists whose songs he was covering. Then I said that we were looking forward to the tour, even though it wasn't in California *g*. He asked if we were going, and even though we are going to the last five concerts, I could only think of Boston, so that's where I told him we were going, lol. Then the production people starting filming again, and they opened the box and Clay signed the CDs and book for Rachelle. He signed a personal message to her, which was so sweet. I don't think she has put the book down yet, lol. Then they took pictures with Clay, my daughter and I, and Clay had his arms surrounding us. He was so sweet!

After the pics, the production people were figuring out what they wanted us to do next, so we chatted a while about his trip in the UPS truck– he said his door wasn't closed and it was kind of scary! (Then he said, in his snarky voice, but HER door was shut (referring to the UPS lady). I said, Clay, you said on the tour that you were getting to be a daredevil, so the door being opened scared you? He snarked, I only had a seatbelt on! I said everyone was going to be disappointed he wasn't wearing the little brown shorts,lol. He just laughed at that.

While the production people were conversing, I saw my neighbor taking the whole thing in. Clay caught my glance and said that when he was walking toward my house, all the production people were in place and my neighbor was at his mailbox looking at all the commotion. When he got to where my neighbor was standing, he told him that we had won the Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes, lol. My daughter said, "some people would rather win this!" He snarked, "I think I would rather win the million bucks!" I cracked up at that and said, "Now Clay, money can't buy you love!" He laughed at that.

Then we posed for more pics, and they had us talk about Clay's book. So I told him that I had read it and thought it was inspirational, and the book and CD were actually going to the home for abused and neglected children in my city because I thought it would be a great inspiration to them. He seemed pleased at this, so I'm glad that made him happy. Fortunately Amazon gave us another book and CD to give to the children's home, because I don't think I could pry the signed ones out of Rachelle's hands!

More to come.....

Clay was on the radio this morning - someone at Clayboard caught it:

Clay Interviewed on Cleveland Radio This AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surprised this hasn't been posted! Here's the situation, I don't listen to the radio since they never seem to play Clay, but my good friend was commuting to work this am and was scanning the radio and came across Q104 interviewing Clay. She was so excited (and no she doesn't have a cell phone) and she just now got a hold of me.(I was gone all morning).

Here's the summary of the interview:

They asked him what he was up to....He told them he had been out the country for UNICEF.

The mentioned him now as a sex symbol/International star. He downplayed the sex symbol thing.

Asked him if he keeps in touch with past Idol...He said he talked to Ruben few weeks ago/still good friends, talks to KLO

and talks frequently to Kelly, there good friends.

They asked him if he has a home base since he no longer lives with KLO and he said he bought a home in LA and lives close to KLO's new home. His mother decorated the home, if it was up to him he'd have clothes on the floor. Was excited when last year agency gave gift certificate to Loew's and he's excited to go there and shop.

Talked about JBT he said he doesn't have a fave song, but that the 80's is probably his fave decade, really likes the 70's now, he said he had no trouble finding songs from that decade and the 90's least favorite. Hope to do songs from his new CD which he said might be out in the next 5 years then he laughed. She said he sounded a little wistful when he said it!

He also talked about being a roll model and he doesn't read negative comments in articles if he can avoid it because some things are said that are not true!

She said he sounded upbeat and happy. She also said he said Ohio crowds are energetic and he enjoys playing in Ohio!

If she remembers anything else she'll let me know.

Also, I think this is a summary of the Pittsburgh interview from 1pm today (from CH via CV):

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee there he is

talking about the emails and phone calls they got - said "oh really"

talking about the jukebox tour - favorite decade. Tough to pick...said he likes the 80's, likes the Motowns...

talking about the looks of 70's and can't believe people looked like that....but said that it was the easiest decade to pick songs from.

Thought 90's would be the easiest...but after listening to it, he said...what were we thinking...mmmbop and Villi Manilli [sic] and that was the one he had the toughest song choices. ed. note -- not sure if he actually said "Villi Manilli", but considering that scorpionlady45 had a "duh" emoticon after the name, I suspect he might have.

Now talking about asking them to bring the cell phones to the concerts...talking about Boomberang and sending messages before and during the shows. And in some places, being able to text messages on screens.

Talking about GMA and TV Guide cover coming up.

He mentioned going to Indonesia and Uganda for Unicef

Okay the interview is over and she didn't ask anything about CD just that he is working on it.

He sounded really good...really upbeat and laughing a lot

They are playing Invisible now.

Another recap of the same from someone at the Clayboard via CH:

End of song. DJ talking. He's on!!!!

He's ok. She seems overwhelmed with emails. Mentioned the Bolt Babes.

Hard to pick his favorite decade. Favorite stuff is from 80s

Won't say his particular song favorite. Loves Motown section too. 60s

Grew up on 90s, looked down on 70s. Now easy to find songs from 70s. Hard to find which one to do. Doesn't like 90s now.

Milli Vanilli -- "Umm bop"

Fads change quickly.

Talked about text messages and cell phones at concert. Trying something out. Might hate himself later for doing this.

Text a number to send messages backstage and during the show. Some venues with screens for messages during the show. Might need an edit. Interactive element. He can text message back!!!!!!!!!

Favorite part is to meet people. Try to have people up on stage. Not sure if there will be someone on stage this show.

GMA now. TV Guide cover. Took a few months off at the beginning of this year. Actually was "quite bored" "Nothing's too busy for me at this point"

Playing INVISIBLE 

EEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Thanks for bringing that over Shelley...I didn;t get my Harry Potter in the mail...but I will take radio Clack to make up for it.

I am really getting so excited about things now...I really love the concept of this tour...love the fact that he enjoyed the 80's decade more...cos that is my decade...but I doubt he would be choosing any tears for Fears or Depeche mode...I'm hoping for some sting and Journeyand EEEEEEE for a lot of motown...love motown.

I agree...the 90's was not so inspiring...too much boyband and britney...

If anyone knows where we can get the audio verions of these interviews let us know so we can put up on FCA...

eta: you can download pittsburgh interview from FCA scroll down to radio interview then right click and save please.

ShelleyC, on the sent thing, apparently you have to check the "save a copy to sent folder" box at the bottom of the screen...Ansa, is there a way to default this to "on"?

K...I will check...

eta: sorry didn;t find any option for that...will kep a look out for it though...

I got an email from the ladies that are organizing a ticket donation fundraiser for the Boston Concert...here is her update:

We are working with the Crossroads Family Shelter in

East Boston & have received several tix, but are still in need of quite

a few more. We'd like to give some to a local battered women's home as

well. So I want to encourage anyone who has extra seats for the August

28 show who either can't sell them or can afford it to please consider

mailing them to:

HomeFair

c/o Pamela Like

150 Leyden St.

Boston, MA 02128

Please include your screen name & home board, your actual name & mailing

address & whether or not you'll be at the show. You'll get an immediate

email confirmation of your gift & then after the concert, the recipients

of your ticket(s) will mail you a thank you note, hopefully with a bit

of detail about their experience. I'll also make sure that Clay gets a

card with a list of everyone who contributed to this worthy cause.

Thanks again!

Claysvoice

I got an email from the ladies that are organizing a ticket donation fundraiser for the Boston Concert...here is her update:

We are working with the Crossroads Family Shelter in

East Boston & have received several tix, but are still in need of quite

a few more. We'd like to give some to a local battered women's home as

well. So I want to encourage anyone who has extra seats for the August

28 show who either can't sell them or can afford it to please consider

mailing them to:

HomeFair

c/o Pamela Like

150 Leyden St.

Boston, MA 02128

Please include your screen name & home board, your actual name & mailing

address & whether or not you'll be at the show. You'll get an immediate

email confirmation of your gift & then after the concert, the recipients

of your ticket(s) will mail you a thank you note, hopefully with a bit

of detail about their experience. I'll also make sure that Clay gets a

card with a list of everyone who contributed to this worthy cause.

Thanks again!

Claysvoice

Thanks for that link bottlecap...it does look like he has two covers....EEEEEEEEEEE!

I like the one with the mike...he looks so dreamy!!!

FOr more gorgeous pix..check out the TV guide photo shoot screencaps here

eta:  The teaser for the TV Guide article is up on the website here.

It looks like he does have two covers....EEEEEEEEE

Just saw another tech glitch... it appears that guests can post without being registered... I saw an unregistered post in the Pin thread... anyway, that should be turned off so only registered users can post...

When people with no permission try to post it goes to a moderator que...one of the moderators would have to approve it. I actually approved that one because I didn;t know if we will open pin trading to guests...

but now Angela decided only in pin creator...so no we won;t be allowing them in the future.

Tsathy, I ordered my pins, like a proper minion.

I am hoping that something upbeat happens this week.  Maybe the radio interview will difuse some of the angst some are feeling.

<snip>

I hope so too...at first I was a little puzzled and disturbed by the strength of the reaction. I was very happy with the article itself because I felt like he was being real and truly intersting in the piece, it wasn't fluff for sure.

I think for some fans its like they have been missing him, and have been anticipating seeing him, but then they wonder if he would feel the same about them. I guess some people may be feeling that Clay is not eager to interact with the fans again. Personally I didn't read that from the article. I think he may have had some struggles that he had to overcome the last few months with his career and his trips for UNICEF and he may still be feeling the scars.

I think once the Concert is here he will start his love affair with the audience once again...he and we will be envigorated and re-charged ...can't wait for the 28th!!!

((((Clay and Clay fans))))

Thanks so much for all your advice. Cincy and hotmom I don't know if she would respond to charts...at times I don't know how much she comprehends or how much is just stubborness in her part. Right now my problem is, when she is involved in an activity, it is difficult get her out of it...she also does not like getting changed...she hides from me when she poops and at times it is a huge struggle to change her.

The problem is she never pees on the potty. She actually stops herslf from peeing or pooping when she is on. She likes to sit there, she loves the attention because we do games or she has so many people around her. But then she pretends she peed...she would even make faces like she poops then takes the toilet paper wipes herself then gets off...then she pees in the floor.

I never did it with charts though and never did the scheduled trips to the potty. I think I will try that...but do I still use the pull ups or go with panties?

I think developmentally she is delayed by about two years so i would say she is really just turning three now...so hopefully she would be more mature now and would be more willing to do the schduled potty breaks...

Hotmom your boys sound fascinating and it sounds like you are very close to your children. I don't blame you for sometimes turning around and punishing them by taking toys away. At times you have to figure out what will work with your kids and I do believe that there is a place for tough love when other strategies does not work.

I know I had to do the same for Caitlin. As much as we all love her and want to do

everything for her I know we have to give limits to her. The other days she refused to change and we were having one of those huge struggles where she was hitting me because she wanted to get away and run around in her diaper. I could've let it go but I knew I couldn't always let her win. So I put her in the naughty room, which was the computer room. She was so angry with me...she wouldn't look at me whenever I opened the door, she would scream. Finally I just left her clothes and diaper in the room with her and left her alone. Next time I checked her she was struggling to put on her clothes herself, she changed her diaper and was trying to put on her pants...of course she snarled back at me again so I left...after a bit I went back in and she was dressed, it was all backwards but she got them all on. When she saw me she came running to me and gave me the biggest hug. She was so proud of herself, she went and looked for her sisters and showed them her clothes. So what started as a disaster turned out to be quite a triumph for her. It certainly is never dull around Cait.

Wow Kandre, you actually gave 100 songs..cool

when I first heard 100 songs...I thought...shoot what about the set list game...

well this means the chances of getting things right is bigger...

but I still can;t put my list together...I know I will go through my Ipod and choose my top 100 favorite songs...off to make the list!

DON'T forget his own songs....

Cincy that is very similar to my experience with Cai...She is still non verbal...although she is starting to say words and tries to converse it is difficult to understand her. But what is so marvelous is to see how she compensates for her verabl difficulties. SHe may not understand the spoken word but she truly understands the context of what's happening around her...she communicates very clearly with us through body language and some words.

the biggest challenge I have with her right now is potty training...I tried it before and it didn;t work...now I am just not looking forward to trying it again...I will have to bite the bullet soon...she will be going to full day Kindergarten this fall.

Does anybody have any tips on how to potty train a nonverbal and very stubborn child?