muskifest

Heh...I thought both Scott and Constantine were/are creepy.... I'd actually enjoy Idol, I think, if they'd just get rid of the judges. Or maybe have Simon and one other...someone who can actually...you know...SING. and PERFORM on a STAGE....As bonkers as I think Paula usually is, I have to say that I often appreciate that SHE appreciates what it takes for someone to be on a stage and perform. (Never mind that she can't really sing, but she CAN dance and she's had real experience as an entertainer in 'the biz')...I honestly don't see Kara or Randy's relevance. (And I used to think Randy was the only one who wasn't a caricature--there was Simon on one end of the spectrum and Pauler on the other...but now, he's pretty much jumped the shark, too! ) Whatever....I will say that I think there are quite of few of the remaining people in this year's group who have TALENT! So it's pretty entertaining. Of course, again...they could streamline and up the interest factor were they to just CUT OUT most of the judges' camera and mic time!

(gulp) :pickme: I'll take the zipper area, please....especially from any pants where the package has rubbed the denim/fabric over time to cause fading/worn patches...

Oh I forgot to say....Clay's AI3 Solitaire appearance and performance is one of my all-time favorites, for so many reasons. He was just all kinds of wonderful---from the way he was dressed, to his hair, to the way he walked out so confidently and in charge to that microphone so far away from the three bozos, from the way he touched and fondled Ms Microphone, to the way he eyefucked us all, from the swirling camera work to the glory notes.... GAH...he was incredible. I was SOOOO proud of him... ETA: Ok...just had to watch that again... and I'd forgotten about that killer smile at the end of the song. Kill me now, why doncha', Mr. Hawtness?

Greetings from the Land of Rotting Souls! Just kidding, of course...I'm in Los Angeles...actually got to Burbank early this morning and so spent some time at a Burbank shopping mall...the Borders book store is closing so all their book prices were slashed...I scored a couple of hard backs from the discount rack and a few paperbacks...it was really sad to see this happen. And the stores in the mall were like ghost towns! Yes, I'm sure the fact that it's Wednesday midday has something to do with the lack of people, but...with the store closing...it all seemed very eerie. By the way...I'm beginning to think that either I am a very weird chick or there must be lots of chicks just like me because I can never find the Bali bra I like in my size. There was a whole freaking rack full of them at Macy's and the style I like could be found in three colors in every size that was smaller or larger than mine, but not one FREAKING bra that was exactly my size! Damnit! I'm going to have to start ordering them online, I guess. I'm in a fancy-dancy bi-level suite at our conference hotel...it's lovely and all, but actually the two levels are a pain the butt, for the most part. Bathroom's nice, though. Clay in Atlanta...heh. Speaking of famous travelers, President Obama is going to be here in LA and in fact, he will be visiting one of our network schools! This will be the second of our schools that he's visited---he and Michelle went to a school in Wash., DC, and said something like "This is the way all of our children should be educated."...we have a picture and the quote on our website's home page... Cool!

VERY cool that it was the woman's SON who 'turned her on' to Clay! Hey, Claygasm! Good to see you again! I just finished that Girls Like Us book...it was really addictive. Now...I might just have to start rereading the Outlander series in time for the new installment this fall! Hubby and I watched AI tonight and I gotta say that this group sounded purdy danged good tonight to us...I know which one I'd eliminate, but I ain't tellin'... Boarding the jet plane in the morning for LA---got a meeting to manage for a few days but then! My buddy totallyinluv is gonna come over to my hotel suite Sat. night for a Clayfest! Lots of talking and :bier: and over that Clay Aiken guy... And yes, all you hussies...we're sleeping together, too!

Couchie! That's great! When I get back from LA, shall we celebrate with a mojito at the new La Pinata that's within walking distance of Casa Muski?

Mark this date in your calendars, ladies! jmh SMUTTED! I definitely want to know the make, color, model and license tag number of Clay's new ride! Think he'd donate his old one to me? Don't know if it's just the picture quality or any fiddling with the pic, but his jaws look sorta chipmunk-like to me---kinda swollen. Maybe I'm just projecting since I know he's recently had a TMJ "procedure", heh. But he does like his cheeks are full of something... (that one's for you, treenuts... )

Yep, Neil Young and Graham Nash... Re: "You're So Vain"...according to this author's research, this did have Beatty as the poster child, but actually was Carly's way of addressing an entire subculture of men in Hollywood, which included Nicholson....evidently, there was a kind of 'boy's club' in Hollywood that saw passing off women among the club members as a cute little way of male bonding. Carly (and presumably many other women) had 'been with' both men and in fact, the line "You gave away the things you loved, and one of them was me" speaks to this very thing---that she had been merely a conquest to Warren and his fellow playboy buddy Jack. Many have thought that song referred to Mick Jagger. Although Carly and Mick did know each other and spent some time together, he seemed to be more of a 'hovering' presence than someone she got really involved with. There was one mention, though, that at one time Bianca Jagger contacted James Taylor to claim that Carly and Mick were having an affair. Meanwhile, of course, James Taylor is spending nine years of his life addicted to heroin and coke and god knows what else...amazing times. And such fun reading!

treenuts...I recommend you check your library for this book before buying (unless you just prefer to have your own copy) My library had it and it's a HUGE book (including the extensive bibliography, discography and ivery helpful and long index, it's 584 pages (not small paperback pages, either!). The inside flap says it's $27.95 US...and I'm reading it for free!

keepingfaith, I have to tell you that I've been thinking about you a lot lately because I'm reading an amazing book called Girls Like Us--about Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon. It's not so much that I think you're a big fan of them and/or their music...although I'm sure you grew up with the songs as much as I did...but because of all the information in here about the growth of the women's 'movement' and the various personalities in the music scene in those decades. My god, the INCESTUOUS family of music! And of course, during the whole 'sexual awakening' era for women and birth control and Woodstock and the Laurel Canyon inhabitants that pretty much covered the bulk of the influential musicians of a certain time and... It's a fascinating book! I can't put it down and have just been floored by some of the discoveries in the pages--intertwining lives of Joni Mitchell, Carole Kin, Carly Simon, Warren Beatty, James Taylor, David Crosby, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Jim Morrison, Grace Slick, Jack Nickelson, Jackson Brown, Kris Kristofferson, Neil Sedaka, Curtis Mayfield, Cat Stevens, It never ends! A cornucopia of personalities and talent and musical genius and drug addiction and sexual indiscretion and OMG! It's truly fascinating... I heartily recommend it to anyone of 'our' generation...and anybody else! I've told my 17-year-old that I hope she reads it sometime as, not only does it tell the story of the music of my life, but also is candid about the changes in the world's expectations and views of women in their own lives. Author is Sheila Weller.

OMG! I had my first REAL Clay dream last night/this morning! I mean...I got to scratch his tummy and feel the hair...and I got to....omg....omg....after all these years, I actually got to..... Oh crap...gotta go!

What does this MEAN, liney? "travel to the right'....?

Oh, yes! It's one of my favorite people's birthday! Woot! I can put colorful emoties and whatnot all over my post (observe, dear canfly...) To GIBBY! My NYC double date for Sir Robin! My 'Quick! can you talk now?' phone buddy. My "OMG, what do YOU think about the latest "NEWS"?" idea-bouncer-offer! My gorgeous buddy-that-made-me-OOOO-envious-when-I-first -saw-her-because she's-hot-and-blonde Clay friend! HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY, BABE! You've never looked better! :kiss: And because I KNOW what she wants... And so, Gibby dear....from Clay and me to you!

BWAH! FromClaygary...I'd already copied this part of clazy's quote: with the intention of saying, 'Oh, is that what we're calling it now?' But you beat me to it! TGIF! fo sho!

I BEG your pardon?!?!?!? :27: I'm SURE I have NO idea to whom you are referring...

Ah, but you see, clayzycoffin....this is where one's smutty fertile imagination comes to the rescue... Just ask my kids---I can make ANYTHING 'Clay-related'..... BWAH!, cha cha! This takes me back to my college days...I shared a house with four other women for the summer between junior and senior year. We were all taking summer courses and working as waitresses, etc. Well! I think Playgirl must've just been born because we'd get the issue and then plaster our refrigerator door with the pics! We thought we were SOOOOOO cool!

Okay, who plays Doctor Manhattan! Hey! I was planning on seeing this movie in iMax, anyway...now it's a definite plan!

Hi, y'all! I wanted to pop in when I have something POSITIVE to say for once instead of moaning and groaning "Poor Me!".. Never mind that my mom lost her brand new prescription glasses a mere one week after getting them....again. I'd even gotten those things to attach so she can keep them around her neck. She said she didn't like those things so took them off. Of course, somebody stole her glasses---she didn't lose them. Anyway...a couple of nights ago my hubby and I were attentively listening to our younger daughter, Carrie, who's entering high school in the fall. She was all excited about selecting her classes---regular English or XP? (XP) Advanced Algebra II or regular? (advanced) Drama II, which requires an audition or Drama I, which doesn't (Drama II), Biology or Chemistry? (Biology)..etc. It was fun...then my cell phone rang and I just KNEW it was going to be Mom. Yep...and her very sad voice said, "Could you come over here for a few minutes? I've got something I want to tell you." I knew what it was, but I just said, "Sure"...on the way over there (a very short drive) I felt myself getting all pissed off and resentful and martyr-like..when I parked the car, I just sat there, though. I closed my eyes and 'prepped' myself for going inside. I told myself that my mom was not TRYING to make me angry. She wasn't feeling the things she was feeling as a way to make ME unhappy or guilty or anything. That basically she didn't have any control over her thoughts, lack of them or her feelings. That she was doing the best she could. When I got inside she was waiting at the front desk. As soon as she saw me she started crying and saying, "I wish I was dead...why am I still living? There's no point. I wish I could just disappear. I hate this place. I hate it. etc." Truthfully, my first silent reaction was an unexpressed eyeroll and a rant...but what I actually did was just stand there and listen to her. I told her that I'm sure that at times it did seem wrong that she couldn't do things she used to do,e tc., but evidently somebody else with more clout (God) had a different idea about when she should go. She was totally despondent and unwilling (or unable) to even talk about it...Truthfully, all I wanted to do was say something really shitty (that anger thing again)..and go back home to be a parent to my daughter instead of my mother. But I sucked it up this time, folks, and instead said, "C'mon, Mom...let's go to your room and watch Jeopardy." Now of course I knew we wouldn't do that---she'd never be able to follow it. But we got up there and just talked about this and that (things that I'd already told her every time I visit her)...and then I pulled out a big fat envelope of old pictures and we went through them together. She couldn't identify half the people in them (She didn't even know who my stepfather was!)...but she laughed and DID remember some faces... Anyway, I was there an hour or so...and when I left, she said, "Thank you. I was just so lonely." An hour. Sure, I'd already spent time with her just the day before---giving her a shower and washing her hair, etc.....but she'd already forgotten that. So I'm feeling better about how I handled things this time. Can't guarantee I'll be as good the next time...but anyway.... Hope everyone is finding a way to handle their own challenges...

clazycoffin...I gotta say how much fun it is to hear you 'reporting in' after seeing some primo Clack for the first time....ain't it, gals? He's given us soooooo many entertaining, one-of-a-kind pieces of fun! Can't wait to get some more of him... heh

Oooh! OOOOOH! :pickme: I know what that means (this is for the benefit of all you acronym-baffled Clay fans! --"If You Know What I Mean And I Think You Do"--said, of course with a And yes, merrieee....as I'm sure you already suspected, I certainly do KWYM!

OMG! "Careless Whisper" was one of the most popular karaoke songs in Japan when I was living there---1984-88. I swear, no matter which karaoke bar I went to, somebody got up and sang that thing at least two or three times! ....interesting effect when the lyrics are being sung in English with heavy Japanese accents! Sigh...Clay looks fantastic in those pics. Hopefully, he was waiting for his ride to Manhattan....winkwink, nudgenudge.....and

BWAH! cool article... and this? Let's project, shall we? George Martin Clay Aiken may end up having to post his daily workouts appointment calendar, down to calories burned meetings with potential record label executives, weights lifted songs written with co-writer Reed Kelly, pulse rates before and after. With video, Clack to prove it. It has probably been suggested to him already. By many entitled fans.

My library usually has had the books, but I HAD to buy each one for my own personal collection! I have one or two hardbacks, but most are the 'trade paperback' versions...I put covers on them when I read them because they're too precious to tear up! And yes for those red-haired men! Gah....and gah...I'm getting ready to start my Girls Like Us book---the one about Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon, but as soon as I'm done, I think I'll start with Outlander and go through them all again so I'm primed even more for An Echo in the Bone later this year (Or....maybe, considering the size of each of the books, I'll read the 'companion' book for the first couple to refresh my memory and then just read the last two ACTUAL books? Yikes! I'm getting myself stressed! Will I be able to finish them all in time? Will I feel like I'm shortchanging myself if I only read the companion summaries of some? Leave it to me to make a pleasure become stressful!

omg, FromClaygary....I absolutely am in awe of Gabaldon! You know, don't you, that the next book in the series is supposed to be published this fall? I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to reread all the books again so that I'm refreshed and whatnot on all the storylines by the time it comes out. I LOVE her writing and the characters and the art of her books...all the research she's done to make it all so amazingly real and engaging. Sigh. I *heart* Jamie and lust after him, too. Re: smut. I like smut. Clay smut is fun 'coss it's purely imagination and I like using my imagination. So smut is fun. And in real life it's REALLY fun. And I also love romance. Some of the most sexually stimulating scenes in movies are nothing more than well-acted smoldering glances, you know? Online I love playing around with words---being smutty by being clever and silly with the English language and giving other people giggles at "that Muski! Say 'x' and she'll smut about it!"... Besides, Clay has some physical features that just BEG to be smutted about.... yes, he does. I still have my "Mikaela" book---was going to donate to our library, but after reading some of your posts, maybe I'll donate it to my kids' elementary school (where I used to volunteer) instead, huh? I'm in the "not worrying, just miss him" car. I'm more intrigued and curious than worried, anyway, when it comes to his next career move.