Scarlett

Wanna 16 year old? I can ship him COD. Aww, poor Clay, playing with his new iTouch, blogging when he's sick. Probably left it up there for 30 seconds and someone caught it. :clay: Will he/she sometimes let me win on the video games? an iTouch? Ooooh, this is too easy!.... "He was playing with his iTouch and it went off?" {{{{{ FCA Moms -- all we can do is love them; they will be who they want to be}}}}} {{{anyone feeling under the weather}}} :thbighug-1:

Lucky, I'm sorry about the lateness but my favorite is the Knoxville ATD because of the changeups and clarity of his singing. The audio file itself isn't very clean since there's some background noise -- you might recall the noisy guy behind us. It's still my first pick although if I had the choice and some extra time on my hands, I'd go into some editor and clean up the background noise a bit. Also, the Orlando ATD is special because Sean and Jesse and Clay and Quiana switched.

Kids: some wacky ideas that may have helped, though like Thankful4Clay says, it's a toss-up; who knows how they'll turn out? - tidiness and sleeping late are non-issues (DD's a morning person, DS is the opposite) - pick what you want to eat from what's available and you only have to finish what you took (the little kid who stuck to chicken fingers and french fries for over a year figured out that it was really boring; nowadays, he's the one who cooks lamb and asparagus) - setting fire to the couch makes mom upset for 2 hours; with honesty and trust issues, she'll be on your back for weeks and will occasionally bring it up months later - everybody goes to at least 1 activity that someone else loves (my daughter adores POTO and dear god I really *hated* the show but I got everyone good seats anyway because she picked that as her choice; my son likes baseball and football, DD not so much but she brings something to keep herself amused; there's no explicit rule stating "no whining" but people generally know that if they whine, others will deliberately pick the same activity again just to torture the whiners - everyone goes to support others when they're competing in something - after a certain age (i think 10), kids got to decide what they were ready to read, watch and surf as long as it didn't affect the way they spoke and treated others; this only helped because they ended up watching everything at home so everyone could all watch together (it's risky, wouldn't recommend it if you're too busy to pay attention to what they're doing) - mom doesn't really care what they wear (unless it's something she can borrow); hair changes and may occasionally get washed; sometimes boys take longer to do hair than girls - forgetting that you have a History project due on Monday until 6:30 pm on Sunday evening is really stupid but if everyone keeps calm and yelling is kept down to a minium, and it may turn out that someone can turn out an award-winning diorama of the Seneca Falls convention in under 5 hours. (can I borrow some kids, even for a while?)

Yay Couchie!!! Hawtt banner, merrieeee!!! Or not. Since I just always figured I got lucky. Me, too! I would not win any mother of the year awards, but my kids are great. I figure I'll find out what a horrible mother I was in about ten years. My kids will tell me everything that I did wrong. Um, I was going to post this.... then thought better of it... but figured what the, my kids are who they are... <v.smlvoice> mine too. and they had dinner ready everyday by the time I got home. I miss them. </vsv>

LOL! Don't give KAndre ideas -- she already threatened to re-splice the "No please" audio over some skin clips and upload them to an Asian porn site. Thank you! Perfect song and what a CD! I got carried away listening to all the familiar "guy" tunes sung by a strong woman's voice. I had a favorite version of "Anthem" but when she launched into it right after "I Am What I Am" it was rivetting and I had to listen to it all. By coincidence, my iPod already had an a few mp3's from Linda, including a counterpoint to "I Am What I Am" , "No One Knows Who I Am" from the 1994 J&H recording. I know Clay used the 1990 version for his "Pieces of Gold" performance of "This Is The Moment" & I hope to hear that one sometime. Meanwhile, I prefer the 1994 to the Broadway Cast CD. jazzgirl, ROTFL for your funky ideas / irreverence -- after I make it big in the porn industry I'll be sure to remember to thank you at all the award shows! Our thoughts and prayers are with you, {{{liney23 and son}}}, {{{SD evacuees}}}, {{{everyone in SoCal}}} and {all the animals in the Escondido wildlife park} Thanks for continuing to bring the pretty when we need it, keepingfaith!

{{{{{SoCal people (and oh, alright even the pond scum who think Clay's going downhill)}}}} {{{{{ldyjocelyn and hubby and MIL}}}}} Thanks to all who shared stories and hugs today. MUAH! (Toots, no no you didn't say Bluebell ice cream. Aaaargh! I have some in the fridge that I've successfully avoided for a week..... noooooo!)

Thanks v. much for the hugs! They really meant a lot to me. (and I apologize in advance for the following rant, scroll pls) My problem was that I spent most of the week on audio calls with completely new people from all over and (as many of you can confirm) the trouble is that I sound like a high school kid on the phone. Not even just a high school kid, a freshman. Or a middle schooler. Even the yarn people I order stuff from keep trying to double-check to make sure I'm not some little girl using her mom's credit card. So this entire week apart from the pile of research, background work, drafting & editing presentations and the ridiculous hours to find common time with both Singapore and Budapest (eep!), it seemed like everywhere I turned I faced a wall of disbelief. People spent most of our meeting times just trying to find out if I really knew what I was supposed to know, if I was who I claimed to be and whether or not I was really going to provide value to their precious projects. And while I may be the happiest little frog in the world when I'm hopping about on a lily pod outside, being pinned down under bright lights is really the most annoying thing in the world. Yes, I accept that I should show some patience because I'm sort of breaking ground here; a lot of people still don't expect to meet techie people from the Philippines. At least nowadays, when I walk into a room people usually don't pause to wonder if I'm there to clean it or make a presentation but this week it felt like the last 12 years of solid work got chucked out the window. I guess people do live for the moment after all. (btw, this doesn't bode well for the career model that I and the rest of FCA picture for that guy up there) I should've known it would be a difficult week when the most open person I dealt with was some creep from LA who said "I don't think you've got what I need but since Clay Aiken's going downhill anyway, I'll take a chance." (Background: he was expecting a guy and so my contact forewarned him that not only was I a girl, but I was a big Clay Aiken fan too). This happened on the day before the Spamalot news broke -- I didn't care to check back to see what he thinks now. /endrant (gasps for breath) Whew! Sorry. I know that was off-topic. I really need a new job! ps. I still have a ton of work and am seriously about to toss Sedaka; will decide by Wednesday morning. If anyone's interested in my ticket PM me before then. Thx! pps. Luvya, FCA!

Just butting in quickly to apologize for posting-and-running-and-disappearing a few days back. RL over the last 2 days were my absolute worst in years. Been reading in snatches here and there but couldn't stay long enough to post. So, I'm gong to interrupt the huggable dog pictures and stories (I grew up with lots of big dogs around the house and would love to have a collie or golden retriever someday; I'm completely envious of Kareneh's new pad and can imagine how much her v. smart friend and companion will love romping around the yard) to say a few thanks and replies to those I left hanging... zena, thank you very much for your kind words and for bringing up the nice memories of the Knoxville busline (keepingfaith, that was my first "touch" so I know exactly what you mean) luckiest1, I can only repeat my thanks and add -- you make us look good!!! Thanks for all the hours of watching and compiling the prettiness! lilyshine, I'd love to meet you in April (or any other time he tours your lovely area). Solo had to tear me away from there after the concert. I wish Clay could have a summer weekend series over there so we could enjoy the sights by day and even better sights by night. jmh123, sadly they don't allow pictures at the Shanghai exhibit. I'll see what I can do. Toots, yes that's where we found some excellent icewine... Come join us next time! (See, not everything I eat is icky) You all must have been enjoying it for sometime now, but I have to say that I love the 5th grader promo and can't wait to see the other two. I really needed a bit of joy recently and that snippet was like the icewine of clack -- all the concentrated gooey goodness, like bottled sunshine! ETA: ETAA: Eeeeek! Lifts feet off from the floor and peers down nervously to check if bottlecap left any spiders lying around below me.

I just want to thank goldarngirl and luckiest1 for all the wonderful work they do. There's so much happiness and excitement in the fandom right now, but happiness can be stressful too. I'm stepping back a bit to just relax and reconnect. Despite what the umpteen thousand pieces of hype today will tell you, the best Clay Aiken experience is to just sit still and listen. Goldarngirl & luckiest1, thanks so much for sharing your talents with the fandom. (thank you to the cute guy too!) BTW....if the competition for Saturday night show tix drives prices too high, here's another way to enjoy a Clay Aiken NY weekend: Some of us are thinking of watching a show on a Friday then driving to the FingerLakes region on Saturday and heading back to catch another show on Sunday night. I loved the Summer tour for introducing us to Canandaigua and the areas around it. It's also where I met a lot of FCA'ers for the first time. Wish we had more time to enjoy it before heading to other summer shows. It'll be great to be able to do all that with friends at the end of April.

I must have a twisted mind because all I could think of upon hearing that he's been off that thing for about a month is.... so, what happened a month ago? My current choices: 1. Reunion Tourgate -- wow, they must really be titanium if he stopped in the midst of that; the fan reaction alone would have been enough to drive me to every vice known to man 2. The Clyra lunch -- I've never been a big fan of the Clyra (yes, I realize I am alone here. what. ) but if she was the reason/inspiration for this, I'm going to pray for their lifelong happiness every single night 3. His reunion was coming up, there was someone from the past he wanted to see and he was hoping to drop 10 pounds -- welcome to my world! whoever it was, I hope she thought "the weight looked good on him." Anything else happen? {{{{anyone not going to see Spamalot}}}} It really gets me when I hear of people profiteering from Clay's fans at the same time the nicest ones are giving up tours and shows. Personally, I'd still rather see him on tour because that guarantees 10 songs from him + lots of banter + group medleys. This is novel and exciting so people are flocking to it but I look forward to the next CD tour -- I guess I prefer it when he's in complete control. LOL! *looks down in amazement.... and then naughtily upends a pot of ethnic goo.*

Don't know how matinees will work out (could be that he does them all) but traditionally those are the ones that are missed when other matters are urgent.

Muski, YSRN, we're only allowed to re-post stuff from the public page of the OFC. Since people pay extra for access to the blogs, audio & video downloads, pictures, chat room, etc. those shouldn't be copied out to another board or site, except for "fair use" (eg. comment & criticism, parody, etc). lilyshine, Just MHO, the halfprice outlets would probably be great for a weekday show, not a weekend one while Clay is there. If you have some vacation days available it would be a great strategy. I'd be concerned only if you're hoping for a great view during a weekend show. If you really love the show itself, it doesn't matter where in the theatre you are -- it holds about 1500. However, if the reason you'll be seeing it twice is to see someone -- weekdays may be the way to go. So proud of OCB (not so happy for our checkbooks) but.... in a span of about 5 hours today (from noon to mid-afternoon) the scope of the Premium seats changed. Seats that were available for $120 at noon were suddenly $250. Solo called me at noon and we bought our Jan 18th weekend tickets then (well, I insisted), planning to chat later in the evening about other dates. At that time, I was still able to get front row side for the evening of the 19th at standard prices. Tonight, the tickets for the rows toward the front that are normally not considered "good" Broadway seats were disappearing fast, and they were already marked as "Premium". Not that I'm blaming anyone; it's supply-and-demand. I saw the show just this April & I had a "good Broadway seat". Next time, I'm not going over there to look at the sets, despite Tim Hatley's Tony nomination for them. (Anyway I'm more partial to the work of John Napier, who supposedly worked on the original Splash Mountain interiors in Disney World). jmh123, I only started using this as a siggy today -- the current siggy appears on all posts, even past ones. I'm so glad you like it. ETA: YSRN, should be asleep too! I've been so tired these past few days. But at least my typing fingers are still ok -- some nights my copy-and-paste attempts just go berserk.

Yikes, I just realized that I was posting exclusive content -- should I edit? would it fly if I claim that I was writing a review? I promise not to post any more. However, y'all who are interested might want to get to know (*coughPMcough*) my good friend PerusingOne. She's amazing (in a good sense)!!! *wink* OTOH, can I spell Karen Eh? as "Kareneh" from now on? Thanks, zena!

... well at least you didn't immediately think of bribery. *hangs head*

He answered Karen Eh?'s question -- "said'" her name! (varied questions -- what did he eat at the fair? will he grow his hair out for Spamalot or wear a wig? Any interesting gifts lately? ) * waves to goldarngirl! * Hee - he was asked if he was going to wear tights. Answered, "i'll wear what the show producers give me.." ---- Quick, let's start a fund for bribing the producer!!!

Just in case there are OFC members who haven't seen/heard this, you might want to go check out the OFC chatroom. (KAndre and PerusingOne are in there and from their chat-certs it sounds like fun) ETA: I will so go with you one day, jmh123!!! (BTW, do you want a museum-cert sometime? I want to go back to the Shanghai exhibit one Saturday -- you pick one except in early Nov)

Awwwwwwwww! *shamefacedly changes siggy....* Yay aikim!!!!! Woohoo!!!!

LOL, Gibby!!! :laught31: :clap: (jmh -- I'll let her know, though. Wish you could come. I'ld love to do the NYC museums with you)

Yep, I certainly expect that someone will manage to get audio of the whole show. Video will be harder but I have no doubt that someone will pull it off, too, at least once. I've seen a full video of Lea Salonga in Miss Saigon -- but it was taken towards the middle of the run (because there was less attention I guess; not by me, honest!) ETA: jmh, yes very. Did you need the answers to your building/sculpture q's right away? I'm in chat with Karen Eh?

Planning for spring? (1st weekend's a given).... join the eHP in AIM chat right now -- (PM me for an invite or IM me with my OFC id)... MUAH! Sorry, do I need content? Clay in tights!!! Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! ETA: Congratulations, Gibby!!! :medium-smiley-075:

It probably went over their heads. In Shrek, the gingerbread boy tells his torturer, "Eat me!" Very young kids would simply think "Eat - gingerbread boy" --> makes sense. I thought it was hilarious the way he said, "This is a military establishment. We have a don't ask, don't tell policy" at West Point last year. (In the context of not telling people who attended a Clay Aiken concert)

Need to reposted this on a new page... Thanks for the link, FromClaygary! Awwwwwwwwwww, isn't he just adorable! Loving all the "new" pictures. He always looks great with kids. No time to ship. I'll just sit here, staring... Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!< unicorns, puppies, bunnies, rainbows! > *waves madly at Permaswooned!* :nature-smiley-014: :nature-smiley-013: :laola0:

Clay needs to learn that horizontal stripes flatter only the skinniest. They may work for socks, but not for tops. Horizontal stripes must have worked for him all these years so he probably was just going with the familiar. He wasn't performing; he was in the audience, a member of the paying public. He could gone in a ratty old tank top with lots of holes and we needn't have cared.................. Hang on, yes we would've cared!!! I'd like to see him imitate Ruben sometime... ps. I think it was payback for all those times he made Quiana and Angela wear white! LOL!

Awww, so nice to see new pictures again -- and I can't stop looking at that forearm. Thanks to all who provide!!! btw, this was just posted:

Happy birthday, laughn!!! Luckiest1 & family, FromClaygary, glad you had a great time! Pssst, can we keep this to ourselves? We don't want the cute guy on the banner to hear about it because in his case, down ski coats that only come to the waist or hip would be preferable. Hats can be easy and quick to make. If there's an iGallop party someplace *coughKAndre'scough* (eg. so the other eHP members can have a go), hats could get knitted/crocheted at the same time. Some patterns for the oughts zeroes: Warm Cap with Brim - free pattern (crochet) New York Hat - free pattern (knit) Hip Hats and Cool Caps - on Amazon (crochet) Hip Knit Hats - on Amazon (knit)