Kareneh

I'm baaaaaaaaaack!! Man, it felt good to sleep in my own bed last night, and pet my dog this morning. YAY! I spent all day unpacking, petting, and trying to figure out where I left off in tour planning. Have I done everything I'm supposed to have done? Good question. I'll keep working on it. keepingfaith asked about the attire at the Linda Ronstadt concert in Jones Hall a few weeks ago. People wore everything you can think of.....some were dressed up, some were dressed waaaaaaaaaaay down, most were dressed somewhere in between. I saw plenty of jeans and capris, a fair representation of sundresses, and even some shorts. I think I wore a pair of capris and a blouse....my favourite turquoise encrusted (plucked that there expression right out of mah Vogue magazine) sandals. I'll probably wear something similar to Clay's concerts.....and as an added bonus, when I was going through the piled up mail, I came across a Macy's mailer which which featured my turquoise encrusted sandals in white at 40% off. You may see me in white pearl encrusted sandals instead...if I dare buy a tenth pair of sandals this year. Oh, they were so pretty!! I love footwear. Ergo.... I think it's possibly a subliminal thing....particularly the 'angle of the foot'....you know, since the foot is often used as a metaphor. :happy-male-133: FTTR..... FTTL...... I would very much like to see the uncropped version of this pic. I have money. I can pay you. Name your price. What size sandals do you wear? I got a little busy while I was away and even though I was able to keep up reading, I wasn't able to post much of anything. I have to say though the discussions over the past week have been great and I would have loved to get my oar in but it just didn't happen. I did click on all of the meet and greets I'm eligible for (can you say hand speed record in front of the children?) and got a 10 out of 11 confirmed via email. I thought that was a pretty good percentage. I can't imagine what meeting Clay would ever be like....other than having a total internal meltdown, forgetting my name, etc. When I try to decide what I'd get him to sign all I can think of is to have him sign his name as Payee on one of my blank checks. A kind of symbolic thing, eh? I suppose having one of those in my hand willl help me out if I really don't remember my name.....or where I live. Before I go back to the nametags that I was supposed to do while I was gone....but didn't....this is the first pic in my photobucket account. YUM!! Speaking of fingers.....there's a lot can be said about a strategically placed thumb, as well.

:04: :laola0: :00000430: :00000430: :09: :poze: :fest33: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANSA!!

:00003653: Couch Tomato! Couldn't let the day end without wishing the lovely and tres cool Couchie a great birthday! I hope you had an excellent day. I've been keeping up with y'all....mostly reading late at night....but honestly too tired to post anything by the time I caught up my eyelids were closing. There have been some excellent posts the past few days. Tonight, you've been cracking me up. :lmaosmiley-1: We fly out of Halifax tomorrow afternoon and will get back to Houston tomorrow night.....I'll be dreaming of my own bed when I put my head down tonight, for certain. ansamcw, you lived here for 8 years? Neat! Welcome, miramichi gal, I guess we have ourselves a little coterie of Maritimers here now. That'll make me feel right back home when I'm back in Texas. Of course, it's been colder than a witch's you know what the whole time we've been here.....I am so looking forward to that warm sun again. I just wish I wasn't saying goodbye to my kids until August, though. Tonight I took them to Sobey's handed them each a grocery cart and said go fill it. John and I wandered around the store and then met them at the checkout. I think they thought it was Christmas. Funny how they're priorities change once they're on their own. Night everybody! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Me, too. I saw some clack once on a HD flat screen TV and was all over those suckers in Costco the following weekend. I am kicking myself now for buying that SONY 13 years ago. It isn't showing any signs of giving up the ghost anytime soon. My favorite color is red muski, why did I know that? Hee! ldyjocelyn, I think Clayo sounds like a blast...but you're right it would be a lot of work to make enough cards for a party.

In a few weeks I'm going to be celebrating (quietly with just ourselves) my 25th anniversary. At one time we had thought it would be a hoot to scoot off to Vegas and do something crazy like renew our vows in the Graceland wedding chapel....then Frisco and Houston etc etc etc came up. All of a sudden Vegas got to be way too hot a place to go in July and I sort of thought early November would be nice. Funny coincidence, no? I REALLY did have the idea to go to Vegas in early November before the ink dried on the skating show contract. How do you all feel about being bridesmaids? Won't John be tharilled! Clay Aiken and figure skating all in one show. I can sense his enthusiasm as I type this.....well, if he wasn't passed out from the suds of a very long wing night at the other end of this sofa, I'm SURE I could sense it! Ya know.....I think right after a marathon happy hour might be the best time to break the news. Let me go wake him up. How does this sound for an opener? You wanna be on TV on Christmas Day? Hmmmm.....do you still want to take me to Vegas for our anniversary? Ummmmm.......would you rather go to Vegas for our anniversary or buy me a very large piece of shiny bling in July? While in Vegas I shall pay a visit to David Copperfield and have him create the illusion that I haven't left home to go JNT hopping in December......that might be important. That second Kevin Hees photo and description of how it came about a la muski have made my evening most extremely pleasant......most extremely...Whew! Welcome Aspiegirl! Goodnight my lovelies! Seriously, think about the bridesmaid thing. I'll have us all garters made with a picture of Clay in the center of the little bow part. You'll be able to slip him up along your thigh and no one will ever be the wiser. Well.....don't go see David Copperfield right after the ceremony.....just in case he happens to ask what Clay Aiken is doing there under your skirt. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Hee! I actually wrote this last night: I have internet!! For the next week I'm at my sister's. I got her son's wireless network up and running again and I've got a dandy desk here in our room and I'm all set. Whew! It feels so good to have a connection. I'm no longer seeing the bugs on the walls and I'm sure the tremor in my hands will be gone by tonight. Then I got waylaid. I really haven't got much to add other than a chorus of EEEEEEEEEEEE's over the latest blog. I am so proud of that man! The tour news has me very excited and intrigued and I'm not even going to bother trying to figure out what he meant by "memory lane" and such. The intrigue is like the sweetest anticipation. Clay gives the best foreplay, hands down or anywhere else he wants to put them. No more time. Lunch with Mom. Have a great one everybody!

Couchie, I'm roosting in the same darn seat in Starbucks I occupied yesterday. We drove up the coast this afternoon for a while (in the bright red Mustang GT we rented for a laugh) and got back in enough time before dinner to sneak in an hour or so here. I haven't read anywhere else but here since I've left home, this is enough to read in the short spurts of time I'm getting but I'm happy to say I'm caught up!! I'm with keepingfaith and in tour mode right now. That's where my head is and will likely be for the next couple of months. It's a very nice place to be. Did someone mention covers? I'll send him a memo to remind him that we don't need really need them. They only end up on the floor anyway. Ah, but if he insists I'll just put it down to the fact that someone likes to show off how well he can build a tent on the bed.....will he EVER grow up? *Sigh* Muchos gratias for the photos today. I must say, those ones from the Megan Mullally Show show a pair of jeans full of promise. Can you tell I did a little skimming? I hope I've hit on a few important points. The rest will have to wait until tomorrow. We're migrating to my sister's for the next week....well.....maybe it will only be a few days. They have wireless internet there but the sound of me typing on the keyboard interferes with my brother-in-law's enjoyment of the Ultimate Fighting Challenge. I got a special manicure just for him. I wonder if some Dr. Scholl's cornpads would help soften the blows to the laptop? The End.....did you know that logging off until the very next day actually hurts. But here I go... ***Waves to all the new folks***

Holy Smokes! I'm parked in the neighbourhood Starbucks and have caught up reading till 11:00 pm last night. I can't read anymore right now and still have time to say the one thing I have to say for now. keepingfaith, I loved your post last night.....great pespective and well stated. Bravo! I've been here with my son and husband for a few hours now and I think the son is running out of patience....so....I'm going to have to run very soon. BUT.....the OFC message board closed....WOW! What a mess. Vacation is fun. Eventhough this ain't Paris, we were met by a bank of TV cameras and reporters when we arrived. It seems the Mounties had arrested a man they'd been trying to get for the past 12 years and were escorting him back to Canada, from India....on our flight. Who knew? I am glad I got heads up calls from alliesmom and Nelle to tell me about the great blogging we got last night. That has to be my favourite ever! Better get my butt outta this chair and into the car. I'm going to try to catch up and read the rest of this thread tomorrow. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Holy Crap! I'm away for a couple of days and it looks like everyone's gone and taken a keyboarding class while I was away. You've all done some mad typing. I was hoping to catch up and then add some of my own thoughts to the interesting ones y'all have written here but it isn't happening. I have two main thoughts in my head right now. The first one is a single syllable.....guh!!!! Thank you for the precious tonight. Those are some mighty fine photos. YUM! The other is sleep...I'm at a hotel in beautiful downtown Newark. Our flight out of Dallas this afternoon was cancelled when they realized that they couldn't fix the electrical problem on our plane without a part that happened to be back in Houston. So after an hour or so sitting at the gate, and getting rebooked, we made it this far but missed our connection to Halifax. Got a flight in the morning but they wouldn't give us our luggage.....I insisted they give us one of those little "sorry you're stranded packs" but geez Louise....they only gave the comp vouchers to those who asked for them. Off to bed in my clothes. Night all. :F_05BL17blowkiss: **Waves to all the newbies**

I would love to see that show! Hopefully it will play somewhere near me one day and I'll get the chance. Okay, I think I like the hair much better now. A) Because he probably was in bed most of the day up till that point, and then he likely had a nap in the car on the way over because he was tired, and It appears it could be a second cousin or a nephew of JBT hair which was cuter than a puppy. How's that for a stupid analogy or whatever the correct grammatical term for that is ......I forget. **How did that little yellow face get there?** Last night I pulled a pair of front row pit tickets for the Stevie Nicks/Chris Isaak concert we're going to tonight. I tossed them back and will sit on the lawn with the original tickets. I've been pulling great seats for that show for the last couple of days and everytime I dangle them in front of may husband he poo poos the idea of spending $280 bucks for two more tickets. It's REALLY is expensive when you're not just buying for yourself, isn't it? Thanks God, the Frisco tickets were only $30 some bucks. He can go to that one. Think of me on the grass tonight, chillin' under the moon and having a few cold beers, okay? I'll be thinking of the irony of pulling the motherload when I didn't really want it. I have a friend in Toronto who's going to the museum opening, she's bringing her camera and if Clay appears she'll post the pics she takes. I am totally enjoying the Foster connection and getting warm fuzzies for Clay being in Canada this week. I think he would like it there very much. If only they were on a cross country trek and hitting Halifax next week. Chat last night was a lot of fun. I can't make it tonight because of the concert but next time I'll do my darndest to be there. I thought the format and timing were great and I liked that quickness. I'm one who over thinks a lot on the more "serious" topics and so I rarely ever post during those discussions. It's too much work. Having to read, think quick and peck out my comments before the end of the segment forced me to get 'er done and hit submit.

Well, darn it! My husband is home from the gym and we're going out to eat. This was fun and I'm glad to have gotten some time in the chat. Quick one on musical direction. Anything but going south suits me fine. What Clay's is....I think he is stilll exloring and he'll get there one day. Right now he's testing himself, taking the challenges and coming out pretty well. Broken Wings and Lover All Alone show he has great potential. Excites the hell out of me to think what he might do someday. I do think he's going to move into his creative element on his own schedule and as he's comfortable doing so. I don't see any sudden lane changes but Lord, it must be amazing to have a tremendous talent like his. I can only imagine what it feels like to see the possibilities open up before him.

What is their relationship? I really don't think Clive Davis gives Clay Aiken that much thought on a daily basis. Which means that I don't think he's made it his mission to teach the young whelp a lesson or ruin his career. As far as the lost album goes, I'd surmise that Clive didn't like what was presented to him after waiting a long time to get it. Assuming (and it's a big assumption) that Clay and Jaymes took their time selecting what they felt to be the right material. Who knows maybe they never found it and when push came to shove and the clock ticked past the time for release, Clive said enough already...do this. Hence the covers mandate. It makes sense that RCA would want to capitalize on whatever buzz Clay had left from Idol and MOAM to make the most money. To wait a long time between the two albums could have seemed like a big risk to RCA and Clive decided he wasn't waiting any longer and exercised his authority under the contract. Then he moved on to his next project that afternoon. Business is business afterall. I don't know who is doing Clay's PR now but it sure seems much better than last year. I couldn't tell you if that's a function of the publicist or the circumstances. Don't know too much about Roger other than he isn't very tall.

Ooops! I was doing something else and you're probably onto another topic by now. ATDW promotion or lack thereof......I think RCA went for as much free promtion as they could get thinking that this one wasn't going to do all that well despite the fan base. Gerbil wheel of no promo - what should they expect but I think they pay people big bucks to figure out the likely return on advertising dollars spent.The AI5 hype was missed and three years out of the Idol hoopla is a long time. I think the gnat thing last year was a huge distraction. It HAD to be. And isn't that all they wanted to talk about for many of the promo appearances. I find the fact that Clay seemingly stopped promoting it himself a little telling. I'm not saying he doesn't like the album or it isn't him. I have no way of knowing that but it's like he's moved on with everything and his focus is forward now. Could be that he realized ATDW wasn't going too far without better backng from it's label and so he let it go, too. I agree with ansamcw that the next CD is part of the bigger picture, too.

"I'm with the American Sex Department." Really? BWAH! No way! OMG! It really does sound like that doesn't it? Dang, I tried to look up americansex.gov and got nothing. I used .gov, too! I want to apply for a postion. Not fussy which one but when we get those new membership designations, I want to go back to being an intern. I wonder if he's on a commitee or if he's just a member a member-at-large?

I sure hope Jamie finds that bowl soon. She doesn't do so well without a template. Oh well.....another day, another chuckle in Clayland. Maybe he gets a kick out of reading about who he HAD to have been in bed with moments before his appearance.....I know I do. Clayzorback, does your new camera have image stabilization? That helps a lot with camera shake. Another thing that I do pretty much all the time is to use the viewfinder and not the LCD screen on the back. Holding the camera to your face with you arms tucked tightly into your sides, and pressing the shutter as you hold your breath for a second is the best way I know of to reduce the chance of blurred shots. Inside Jones Hall there are some screens that they use to advertise upcoming appearances and the like. They also posted a camera and video policy up there from time to time that read, "No Flash Photography, Audio or Video Recording" which is slightly different from what I was told when I bought my tickets and is posted on their website which says no cameras. It gives me hope, at least. I didn't see very much in the way of ushers along the sides, th first one started on either side of about Row M, just under the start of the mezzanine overhang. There are only narrow aisles along the sides of the hall and doors every few rows along for access. I don't know how this will relate to Clay's concert but last night the symphony played an opening set of about 30 to 40 minutes. During this time there was a moat where the pit would be, the width of a grand piano. I know this because there was a grand piano in it. During the break the grand piano was raised up and then the moat was covered over to be used for Linda's part of the show. She had her own band and backups with her. She had a sound panel set up against the wall on stage left and there were a few of those low speaker boxes set up in the front corners and in the center of the stage...one layer high. Pretty much what we have seen in Clay's concerts before. When the pit was filled in, the front row was CLOSE! VERY CLOSE! My seats are in the center of the 4th row and they are going to be amazing! We were in Row S center last night and those were excellent. The sound in there was wonderful and so full. I can't wait to hear Clay in this place! Like I mentioned last night there was lots of advertising and his face was all over these tables where they had information set out for people to take. Oh and one other important thing. There is a bar set up immediately to your right as you walk through the door. If you use the furthest most door on the right to go in......you'll be about two steps away from your favourite libation. ETA: Okay, I rewtched the CTV video from last night and the body hugging shirt and jeans have made me forget everything from the neck up for the time being. (Even the hair looked a wee bit better this morning...I said "wee"). I wonder if we will get jukebox tour hair this summer. That was a great look on him and one of the more consistent ones. ACK! I don't care! In less than one week it will be less than one month! :Tour3:

WOW! I think I'm going to need a new ball and socket joint for my neck any day now. Spikes? Never in a million years would I have guessed. My money's on the Fantasy shirt, too, luckiest1. Vancouver, eh? That summons all kinds of possibilities to mind....some of them even album related and that gives me some warm fuzzies. Linda Ronstadt was great tonight. She opened her set with several selections from the Great American Song Book and for the last half she sang some of her hits like Blue Bayou, Desperado, Poor Poor Pitiful Me...etc. This was my first time in Jones Hall and I was tres impressed. I'll write more impressions in the morning....but I'll just say, now, that I'm even more excited for Clay's concert than ever. Oh! And they are advertising his show....on the flat screens in the lobby and on the screens inside the hall. He's on the cover of their coming events for the summer (only performer pictured) and they used the photo artquest was trying to track down today. They even had a large free standing poster just inside the lobby entrance. (If I get up the nerve I might call them tomorrow and ask if I can have it when they're done with it.) You couldn't miss boyfriend in Jones Hall tonight. I overheard a few people behind my seat discussing that Clay Aiken was coming and a some folks in the lobby were commenting on his appearance as well. They all sounded interested and I thought that was very very cool. I have to get my butt to bed, but the reason I came by was to drop something off. I was digging through some photo files today and found some I had never posted for various reasons....usually because I thought they sucked. But in that pile of rejects I found the odd one that, despite not being perfect, still had some redeeming value. This one in particular, though a little soft in the focus, I thought was worth saving.

Hey! Where is the handstand clack? How did I miss this? 300 dpi? I take that to mean daydreams per inch? Which reminds me I have work to do on some pix this afternoon. Ooops! Tonight is my date with Linda Ronstadt in Jones Hall. Yipee! I'm going to try really hard to look at her while she's singing and not at the back of the head of the person in Row D Seat 1 all night. That, I think, is daydream #178.

Hey, I don't think vegetarian necessarily means a more active sex life. Consider the couch potato. Of course, Clay is probably a couch potato. I take back what I said and will most definitely consider the couch potato.

We have an engineer with an MBA who holds a senior management position with a major corporation in our family....top of her class and all that jazz. In her case it happened about ten years ago. Evolution went out the window and in walked faith healing and coming soon to a theatre near you.....spontaneous regeneration. Needless to say we have had some extremely interesting discussions around the campfires at the cottage. At this point we're all just happy it's dark when these topics come up because it isn't always easy to keep a straight face. Seriously! Of course I am a woman who believes there is a God (in some way, shape or form) because of a fountain pen....it really is the little things, ya know. cha cha, thanks for the link.....good idea! I'll check it out. That reminds me, too, that Verizon has something and we get our cell phones through them and my husbands company. Maybe since he'll need to be connected for work while we're away that would be the way to go. The catch would be if there are international fees or roaming to Canada....of course I guess that would depend on the plan. ivy, I agree about the angst and the 1,000 posts that rehash the same thing over and over again. I like this place so much because the people here pretty much want to enjoy their fandom and find ways to do that. Like me...going back to my personal JBT fest. cha cha, I'll file a report later. Heh! I do have a question about the board, though. If I turn "Guided Mode On" and "Check Post Length" will my posting experience be enhanced in any way?

Well, there's the fine print, dang! I guess I'd have to bow out of this one, too, if that's the kind of religion they practice. Oh well...at least I won't be a pillar of salt afterall ....heh! that spike in my salinity wouldn't have my blood pressure any good, so all is well. There should be some lively discussions ensuing over this one in the coming weeks. Maybe I'm glad I'll be half out of the loop for awhile. I have no way of knowing how much input Clay has into what venues he plays. It makes sense that halls and theatres who rent out advertise in industry pubclications or on websites designed for that purpose. I figure it's just a matter of marrying the date, the size and the geography and Clay gets a list in the end and updates along the way. Who knows? I don't see one church venue as a trend but I see there will be those who will crucify him for appearing there. Is it safe to go peeking into the OFC? {{{{Claygasm & family}}}} What muski? No french? I see 00lsee!! **waves** :F_05BL17blowkiss: ansamcw, I'd like to make a case for zucchinis, as well.

I checked the driving time in my Rand McNally. I'll be able to make Witchita in 10 hours (give or take). Since I was planning on being in Kalamazoo on the 30th, I guess I see a road trip in my future. Fancy that! Somehow I see Clay subltly (at the very least) snarking on the fact that it is a church. It should be a great venue for sight and sound, and provide a wonderful backdrop for the Christmas music. It would be nice if God doesn't get upset about sharing the worship that night....shouldn't be a problem considering it's a Monday.....but I'd hate for the mics to suddenly switch off or something. Come to think of it, I might not have a road trip after all....I'll likely be a pillar of salt by the second song. So much for puddles of goo.... I wonder if there'll be a church member presale? muski, I think you're craving a salad.

I've been gone. But now I'm back. Boot Licker......Shoe Tyer....Sole Sistah? Which theme did you mean? Surely, you weren't interested in persuing elongated member? Well! I nevah! Fans self quickly and lowers lashes......better to watch the nose growing because she did How many more in the same vein? OY! This is hard work and I'm basically lazy. Sock Monkey?

Am I too late to offer up Boot Licker? Are you being all serious and what not? Elongated member doesn't fit the theme.....let me think.....

Yep! I'm sure Ronald Reagan was one. keepingfaith! Yowza on that You Tube.... That was sublime. I think I shall skip over the rest of Clio and right on to Columbus during this, my JBT revisited week. I don't think I've seen ANY of the clack from that show yet. I always try to save some for later and then I forget where I was and what I was doing and well.....you know how it is, right? One week from tomorrow I'm getting on a plane for Nova Scotia where I'm going to be faced with spotty internet service and my palms are already sweaty. I have this feeling that there is a weight on my chest.....I think it's my unconnected laptop I'm experiencing. I can get it three places. My mother's.....unless the person with the unsecured wireless network has moved out of her building. My brother and sister-in-laws house, who I believe now have a wirless network because they have four kids....count 'em four. But then they have some kind of "religious meetings" each week and when that's going on, they want me out of the house. (One of my kids ratted me out as a Lecherous Broad once.) There's my sister's place. Her son had a wireless network set up at one time...not sure about now....but my sister and her husband don't even do call waiting, voice mail, or cell phones. Just because they're stubborn. I doubt rehooking up the wireless is a priority with them. I hope it's not rude of me to bring my own router, eh? My mother-in-law has been asking me for ages how come we never stay with them when we come home and I've always fumbled around for some excuse, but this time I fessed up......"Well, we really need internet service." You know because John has to check his email, right? Well.....he does. I need to get over this. I can do it. I know I can. I can drop into Starbucks, if I have to, for a little while each day. I can have a good time at home while not pissing of any family members or offending any unusual religious groups. Funny shit, though. Last summer I was staying at my sister's and late one night the only two people still up were my brother-in-law and yours truly. He was watching Ulitmate Fighting Challenge in the livingroom and I was having an IM conversation on my laptop in the diningroom. He asked me to stop typing and go to bed because the clicking of the keys was bothering him. I said..."Huh?" Then...."Sure." and I went to bed, where I buried my face in my pillow, hard, so no one would hear me laughing. It was so frickin' funny! He's watching Ulitmate Fighting Challenge and the sound of laptop keys is annoying. I think I must have done something else that day to piss him off....because I too can be a little shit when I want to be. And sometimes they just dangle the ammunition....what's a girl to do? Bottom line is...I'm trying to take my internet as I find it or 'not' when I'm there. I think it's actually a good thing to get away from cyberspace everyonce in a while.....isn't it?

Well, there was no ballgame at Minute Maid tonight so I ended up back at Walmart again. This time I got printer ink, bagels, and lots of Sterlite shoe boxes. Lots! I'm still deeply buried in my JBT vids but am going to have to call it a night soon. On the topic of worry....can't say I ever fretted all that much over anything Clay. I'd say the biggest concern I ever had was how 2006 would play out but since that was out of my control....a lot of that stuff got boring pretty damn quick. My getting 'freaked' over concerts, music, et. al. various and sundry items of interest (that I also have no control over).....mostly involves the expression WTF? There's normally an eyeroll and a head shake thrown in there, too. I wouldn't say that Clay chosing to record or perform music in a style that I don't particularly care for worries me. I may not like it, but there are plenty of people who will. So, if he doesn't give me what's number one on my list then I don't worry. Maybe I'll get it next time, maybe I won't....but really....being open to the possibilites, his possibilities, is what makes this whole adventure so enjoyable. Well, lunch with the eHP is fun, too. So is being laid back. Or on top for that matter.