champion124

I was going to suggest that we compile these little "poems" into a book for a BAF fundraiser, but I was afraid I'd go to hell.

I think Aron might go for it!

CHAT REMINDER

TOMORROW 9 PM ET

eeek I even made a date myself which I now have to cancel....lordie

Thanks you for the reminder, my life has be crazy for a week. I have been going through an entire house remodel...well, okay we had one bedroom and a kitchen to live in for two days. I really want to try to make the chat.

Kim, I missed your anniversary..hope it was a great day for you both. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Yes, I (we) have spent copious amounts of money and time on CD's and concert tickets, fan-club memberships and sundry swag. And you know what we are entitled to in return? CD's and concert tickets and a membership to the fan club (and sundry swag). That's the quid pro quo. Not a say in his career decisions. Most certainly not a say in his personal life.

Can't say it better than that!!!!!!!!

WORD.

Yes, yes, yes. I buy Clay's CD's because I want them. Can't wait to get my hot little hands on them. I join the fan club because I want to be an Official Member of the Clay Aiken Fan club, and I rush to any and every concert and appearance I possibly can, because seeing him makes me happy. When he isn't thrilling me with the voice, he makes me laugh and he is never, ever, ever boring!

I don't do this whole fan thing for Clay. I do it for me...I am having a ball, I don't want it to stop. I am not buying a piece of Clay! He fascinates me. I love watching him forge a career in his own distinctive way. If he hands over his career, his decisions, to a committee of internet fans, then I'm not seeing Clay, I'm seeing them.

I know most of our local fans are still buying CD's, attending concerts and fan functions and always will.... they just won't come anywhere near the message boards. They are fans of Clay Aiken--but not message boards. I stay happy I think because I have very little time for the internet, I go to many boards, I enjoy the good and run from the crazies. I have friends from every board and so far...it working for me.

I need more time to savor all the great posts here...I'm babysitting my grandson today. He's 23 months old and keeps me running. And he eats grits!!

I am sure that Marcel would make you some nice watermelon foam [/end of top Cchef joke]

yes I am sure he would lol

I'm a Top Chef junkie..is that why I can never lose any weight?

xxx4clay I am so glad you are here and I was very happy to see your post, even though I knew it would be edited...I got edited today too...big surprise...for daring to say that maybe a little common sense is in order when these situations arise...apparently that was being judgemental.

(if you ever have another lapse of judgement and go back, check your PM's.)

:F_05BL17blowkiss:

Kim

I did a little wearin' of the green yesterday. ..but that's okay I'm Irish.

XXX, nice post. I usually just back out of the boards and shake my head a little, it's just the internet. I learned a lot from my 17 year old son taking my by the shoulders once and telling me "It's the internet Mom, if you're going to play there you better always remember, it ain't the real world!"

Grits with lots of butter and salt, Yummm........ I've picked many blackberries for Mamaw's cobbler, when out with my sisters. It was then I learned that if you stick them in the pockets of those really pretty yellow shorts Mom made so the three of you would look cute at the family picnic, she's going to be madder than hell. I like liver and corn bread, not necessarily together. But the cornbread has to be made in a cast iron skillet that has a whole stick of butter melted in it before the batter is poured in. And Pot Likkor.....don't get me started on how good that is...

Self examination is good. What would I do differently. I'll think about that but I frankly just tried to keep an open mind. I came up with pros and cons and just waited for the truth to come out. But the ones to really tell us how we did here are the ones who absolutely hated the idea. I know some feelings were hurt. I also saw people trying to assure others that it wasn't the liking or not liking but the OTT reaction. I know I saw it coming as soon as I saw the first report. But still, Puddins, and merriee, and Jenna and aikim and even others who absolutely didn't like this idea -- you're the ones to help us fix anything we need to fix for next time.

Well I was vilified on the Clayboard for suggesting that some folks might owe Clay an apology.

I am certainly not speaking to those who merely expressed concern, or even dislike for the idea of this tour. I'm speaking to those who used words like 'loser' and 'career suicide' and 'opportunist' and 'fool', both about Clay and his friends. Especially when these things were flung at him before he ever uttered (or typed) a single word about the subject. If anybody really believes that these words aren't hurtful and mean - that these actions don't bear apologizing for... well I'll just say I hope you never consider yourself my fan.

AMEN!

And will anything be learned from yesterday? I hope something positive can come from everyone examining how they behaved. I needed to express my opinion here, I am glad I did. I simply had no where else to speak freely. I reacted to the madness taking place on some bigger boards, I tried to see it with humor as I do with most situations. I post on many boards...and I'm the same person everywhere. I don't know how else to be.

I will think very carefully about if I should have done it differently, but I don't know that others will. I hope it won't be like so many other situations where some make excuses, rationlize their own behavior and paint everyone who behaved differently as 'bad fans". I hope it will be different, but I don't expect it to be. Does that make any sense?

Lots of great posts today. I quoted some a lot, but the list grew too long. I don't think I'm even going to venture anywhere else tonight. Prewarned and all that is a good thing. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Now, let's see, I think I wanna post some pics................ BRB.

Oh yeah, more pictures. :F_05BL17blowkiss: I am really enjoying all the great photos tonight. Thanks to all. That man is a tonic, for sure!

I suppose it would be too much to hope some of the people who have been ranting and raving about how Clay doesn't care about his fans, his career, etc. and how they are giving up on him are choking to death on the crow feathers that are lodged in their throats.

I would have been thrilled with the reunion concert. However, I will be thrillled with whatever he does instead.

It's his career. He gets to choose.

Clay thrills me.

Bottom line.

Yep, yep..and now they loves him. :F_05BL17blowkiss: Until he does something they don't approve of (or a rumor surfaces that seems to say he might ) then away we go. I hope they saved the "his career is in the shitter" posts, that way they can copy and paste and save time for the next drama fest.

Tickets for the Omaha concert went on sale Monday morning for subscription members...I haven't heard anything about a pre-sale yet.

Is it safe to love Clay again?....Yipee.....

This was hysterical...

It's war, I tell you!

I'm not swabbing any decks!

Edited to hug Divayenta

Ladies: I have an announcement....

The shit has literally HIT the proverbial fan!!!! And the fans go wild!!!

Ok, this is so ridiculous, I'm sitting here with tears running down my face from laughing so hard. What is WRONG with this picture?

Times they are a changing'...but change is good, change is healthy.

Just found this...:whatutterclaptrap: I love it!

this sense of freaking entitlement I JUST DONT GET....

Sorry for postwhoring, but I had to WORD this.

It's too bad that Clay's fans (at least a good percentage of them) can't be as gracious as Clay is.

I am laughing my fool head off here!

Titanium anyone?

Oh He's Evil all right! Don't you just love it?

Oh I do...even more after that blog. He fascinates me and is never, ever, ever boring!

ETA: come to Omaha..everyone. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I hope he blogs soon so the speculation could stop. Then, if it's a "go" - those who feel like throwing up can do so, Those who will have to walk away rather than idolize someone who would do such a thing can walk, and those who think it's one tour out of nine and one that could be really fun and garner a lot of positive press, can sit back and enjoy the whole thing.

I hope I'm able to get some of the great seat tickets that surely those who would have gotten them but won't attend won't be needing! Clay up close. Yummo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Hey you guys, I want one of those seats...Pleaseeeeeeeee.....

It must be a long drive for some of you - so how far are you traveling to get there?

I dunno about Bookwhore or jumpingjacks but I'll be doing the covered wagon thing.

Well, be careful when ya hit town...we still ain't got those cowboys to tie their horses up when they're in the saloons, wetting those whistles. :medium-smiley-070:

I like the OFC...like you Kim, I think it has improved a lot. I really enjoy many of the posters there. It was great fun talking with all the new fans who were seeing Clay for the first time this summer. There are so many people there just finding Clay..I love sharing their excitement and enthusiasm. It is just a message board and there will be things I don't enjoy about it. If it isn't fun I leave. I pretty much do that on all the boards I visit, and I visit many. I personally don't feel the need for a homeboard and really enjoy having friends from all over. I love doing my TBAF thing on CV...it's a great board full of neat people. Most of the boards are, I think.

I don't think any of the people posting on the message boards are harming Clay's career--after all it's only the internet. We are such a small percentage of Clay's fans and most people will never hear about all the drama. They will just buy a Cd and attend a concert and never even check out a message board. And some people just like to grouse about things on the internet. It is just a fun activity for them, but does it matter anywhere else? I don't ever go to the store or the dentist office and have somebody say "Hey , did you see what crap Claysyummymummyforever2me has been saying." (and I swear if that is an actual screenname I will apologize and eat my hat) I enjoy being an internet fan and intend to stay one---but I also enjoy my time with non-internet fans. It's a totally different experience, and I enjoy the different perspective.

I'll rejoin the OFC, I won a M&G during the JBT and that was way cool, I love Clay's blogs, whatever he wants to chat about and I'm happy with what my $30 gets me. I'm a happy camper and when I'm not..I'll just wander off. I have friends who left the internet fandom...not Clay. They just aren't fans of the message boards. When this isn't fun anymore...I'll join them. Until then, this is a hoot!

I've read a bunch of the thread and was amazed at all the familiar faces - so good to see everyone - I wondered where you had all gone!

Hey, canuck.

I'm easy....I will take Clay any way he wants to give it to me!

I've always known this about you!

Me too! :xmas07a:

Thanks for the Welcomes.... :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I too just stay away if the subject isn't something I enjoy...I really feel if I'm not having fun somewhere, I need to get myself somewhere else. I know that scroll can be my friend--but when I'm scrolling for pages or even hours at a time...I tend to find another place to go and have some fun. I don't have a lot of time on the net anyway and am never going to have a huge post number. It is just more my nature to read and laugh along and enjoy all you funny and creative people. (Yep, I do mean all you amazing montage makers. )

Carolina Clay.. :big hug:

JennaZ...it's wonderful to hear from you again! I've missed you. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I've gone into serious lurker mode on the boards, for a variety of reasons, but mostly because it stopped being fun for me. For me it's about joy and fun and has been from the start. I don't get the angst and the worry BUT that's me. That is who I am in RL.

EEEEE! Did someone say champion was here? :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Right back at ya, jamar and rcknrllmom:F_05BL17blowkiss: and all the wonderful members here. I have been lurking and enjoying my time here so much. I just bolded what I could have written myself, I am lazy like that.

I'm such a happy camper...so excited for :Tour3: . I love this incredible hobby of mine...and I'm getting to know my way around the board and look forward to getting to know everyone better.