#37: Whenever he's ready, I'm ready for whatever he's ready for.

[Claygasm]

CG... I think it's a little premature to say OMWH has tanked. How bout, swiftly sunk...

OK, swiftly sunk works for me!

I don't think Clay worked his ass off by working overtime to get this cd out just to let it die.

I don't think it was his intention for it to die! But some things are beyond his control. There is a part of me that is convinced there is a Plan B where this CD is concerned, but there is a part of me that thinks TC was surprised how poorly it did and now has to rethink things. As far as touring, sure, he could tour to the same 3000 2000 people but they have to figure if it will be economically feasible. A lot of things may go into that. Clay may have to accept a much lower fee. They may have to decided what the tickets would cost to make money and if, in these hard economic time, people could afford to come. Clay is very much aware his fans have a tendency to attend multiples and so they would probably have to factor in how the high fuel costs would impact on their ability to do so. Airfares have gone through the roof, gas prices have gone through the roof. That could have a huge effect on the ability of fans to attend multiples, and effect overall attendance figures. In general, most people are feeling the crunch of our failing economy. I am sure this would impact concert ticket sales for anyone, but perhaps for no one more than someone who so heavily depends on fans attending multiple concerts. There are so many things that I imagine go into the decision of whether to tour. If the album were a huge hit, the single getting lots of radio play, his fanbase growing by leaps and bounds, it would be no brainer. But that isn't the case.

And the impact of the baby rumor, IIT, depends on the situation. If he is pretty much just the sperm donor and while having a role in the kid's life but isn't going to be a full time father - as has been reported - then I doubt plans for a fall tour would be scrapped for that reason. He would still have time after the kid is born before setting out on the road. Not to mention, if the rumor that Jerome was referring to a fall tour is true (which is questionable, but this is all speculation anyway), it was said at a time when Jaymes would have already been pregnant - IIT.

If there is no fall tour then I would bet it is because of either the poorer than anticipated album sales or - and frankly I prefer this scenario - he is otherwise involved in some great new project like a movie or something.

Frankly I hope Clay and TC are re-evaluating his career and their approach to it - at least as far as his recording career is concerned. Obviously something is wrong when more people know about the baby thing than that he has a new album out (based only on my experience and the fact the baby news was reported everywhere, was in every magazine, reported on every entertainment TV show and even made the mainstream local news shows and OMWH didn't, which logically would mean more people heard about the baby news than the album. But I could be wrong....).

I mean the least TMZ and the others could have done is added something like this: "Clay Aiken impregnated his 50-year old executive producer of his latest album, OMWH, which was released May 6th and is in stores now" and shown a picture of the cover and have the song playing in the background! Think of how many people would have heard about it then!

Oh, any by the way, D all the way!!! My favorite Clay look ever!

[KAndre]

Oh you people!

mine was: "Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam! Or not." (Today is a good day to die! Or not.)

I think I also said I wanted chocolate.

I tend to learn important phrases.

Yeah, I'm one of those who would fuckin' LOVE for Clay to play a small jazz joint - Woo baby!

And I think we'll take our Chinese discussion to e-mail before we get a little note or whatever the admins do here when we're waaaaayyyy off topic.

go get a sandwich? :lmaosmiley-1:

At least the admins would do SOMETHING - I don't think us mods would notice us being OT (I think being on topic is such a fluid thing, don't you?)

[Couch Tomato]

At least the admins would do SOMETHING - I don't think us mods would notice us being OT (I think being on topic is such a fluid thing, don't you?)

I did send you a handbook...you know you could read it or something . Didn't you get it?

I'm sure that was LadyJ's job. since she's gone for the weekend

Bottle that IS a beautiful shoe and one I could never wear in a million years. My toes are crying just thinking about it. I don't think I have even put on a regular high heeled show in about 15 years. I think it's the man's plot to keep us down myself

[bottlecap]

Eh, I rarely see anything worth scuffing a stiletto over...

<= I mean really, would you want to risk getting blood on such a gorgeous piece of art?

[jmh123]

I've been watching one tennis match all day long. WOW!!

I wanted to go to the David Foster Gala because it was going to be the first appearance after a long drought, our longest to date actually. The last I'd seen of him was his trademark salute at the end of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" in Clearwater.

Good reminder. That's 9 months people. I don't think the current "drought" compares at all--the man's just taking a vacation and making a trip for UNICEF, like he said he was going to.

Jaycee... I used to believe worrying was showing my love, but have since really come to believe that worrying is wasted energy. I now visualize him on a stage with screaming, clapping fans appreciating him everytime I start to worry. It sure switches my energy to the positive in a hurry.

That's a great idea! Back when I used to worry, I put a note on my refrigerator saying, "Worry is a misuse of the imagination." Your idea is a much better use of the imagination.

C, F, G, I, J, K, L, M, P – those are my favorite. <g>

You are worse than I am! LOL.

Justme: I'ts obvious that this album is under performing his past efforts - we've already discussed the many reasons why including a change in the industry. I don't even care to get into that at the moment but I haven't given up on it either but for me the success of it based on its artistic merit. It's a fabulous album and one that I feel certain will find an audience over time.

I agree completely. If it is an excellent album, which I think it is, he has succeeded.

And I think we'll take our Chinese discussion to e-mail before we get a little note or whatever the admins do here when we're waaaaayyyy off topic.

go get a sandwich? :lmaosmiley-1:

BWAH! So true.

Hey, if it's just going to be us 3000 or so people, maybe we should all just rent a bunch of buses and follow him around. I'm in.

I'm in too!!!

Y'all do know that in Hong Kong they speak mostly Cantonese, right? Or English.

Bottle that IS a beautiful shoe and one I could never wear in a million years. My toes are crying just thinking about it. I don't think I have even put on a regular high heeled show in about 15 years. I think it's the man's plot to keep us down myself

Gotcha beat--it's been 40 years for me. I have such pretty feet. If only the rest of me looked half so good.

[Scarlett]

Y'all do know that in Hong Kong they speak mostly Cantonese, right? Or English.

It's mostly for when we take the train to Guangzhou. KAndre is learning Cantonese, I volunteered for the Mandarin part since I'm still dreaming of that Google Shanghai office.

(oh, did I just create a 'sandwich' situation? Pretty soon the people on the weight thread will be blaming me)

[annabear]

This reminds me of a Clay dream I had toward the end of his Spam run in which he said he didn't know what would be next, and that he might finally have time to study meteorology, something he always wanted to do.

well we did see him do the weather that time...not too bad

OMG!!! They've been doing these odd commercials on one of our local stations for a few weeks now where they're trying to build hype about some new mystery weather man coming "soon" to that station... :o :lmaosmiley-1:

As for Clay touring to the same 3000 people, or 2000 people, or even 1000 people dot dot dot it's fine with me as long as I'm one of them. Was it KAndre who painted the picture of Clay playing a small club? I'm so there.

Oh YES!

[PermaSwooned]

I don't speak Klingon OR Chinese. I'm thinking I might need to learn some conversational Japanese. My DIL FINALLY arrived from Japan a week ago a mere 14 months after they got married, but her English has not improved much in the interim. Other than hello, good-bye, how are you, and thank you, I know the word for delicious. That's about it. That's not taking us too far. I hesitate to learn more, though. She doesn't need to speak English when my son's around because he's fluent in Japanese, and I think that's part of the problem.

She plans to take ESL classes, but first she needs transportation, which in our area means a car. First she needs to get her permanent driver's license. She passed the written test on Friday, since she was given a test in Japanese. She still needs to take the driving test, though. She's also allowed to ask for a Japanese examiner. This is one reason she would like to stay in this area!!

I'm SO far behind. Life's been a whirlwind the last week!! Loved the picture quiz. I can't separate the hair from the actual picture, though, so that influences my choices. I pick F, G, K & L. Especially L. Have I mentioned 9 or 10 times that Clay was unbelievably gorgeous at the NY CD signing? I have? Well, it's still true. GAH!!!

I have my Tivo set for Clay time today. We get the show 3 times...5, 8 & 11. You just can't have too much Clay Aiken!!

It was indeed one year ago today that many of us saw Clay in Houston. It was wonderful to see and hear him, of course, and to see him onstage with Angela and Quiana again was such a treat. I think he really missed them on the 2006 NaCT. The Jumbotron photographer was in love with Clay. Some of the best shots EVAH!!! Plus, there was the added bonus of being with so many Clay friends. Clay is smiling at me from the magnetic picture frame I won at the CH pre-party hosted by our very own eHP as I type this. Good times.

I loved my seat at that show. I was a couple of rows from the front dead center. There was no aisle in front of the first row and no center aisle, so they could not get to me or my camera. Heh. Unlike Tulsa where they nabbed me in the first 5 seconds. Sigh.

It is a sign that I had a bad year and poor health last year that out of the hundreds of pics I took in Houston I have edited.....8. Including one today. That's just so wrong. I'll try to do better.

I do have a few from Clay's exchange with Scarlett about how she was trying to shoot video from so far down in the seat she was practically underneath it. I'm not sure he fully appreciated the view he was giving us while talking to her, but Scarlett, all of us are very grateful.

I've never posted this one, and for sure it's not going to be to everyone's taste. I loved the intense look on his face, but his eyes were so shadowed I couldn't bring them out in color. I love the stubble, and look at those eyelashes!!!

I think some of bottlecap's Clay fans may have been untying at this very moment:

RIVET!!!

For all profile lovers:

Sometimes Clay is just the sex, YKWIM??

I think seeing pictures like this is when Clay decided he needed a spray tan. The lighting in Houston was really harsh and he was verra, verra pale.

And this, of course, is when he was inviting me to run away with him...I was just in too much of a fog to realize it. Darn!!!

Geez! He was yummy in Houston. I need to edit more pics!!!

Topic: venue size

In 2005 a group of us went to see Josh Gracin at the Crazy Horse in Orange County. I'm not sure how many it holds...300 maybe??? Anyhoo, we were so close to the stage, which was lower than we usually see with Clay. He came out into the audience. It was great. We spent considerable time dreaming and drooling over Clay appearing in intimate venues like that. Many other artists do it. I can't imagine that Clay couldn't as well, and I would SO be there.

irishbookgal at CV suggested the possibility that he might do a couple of limited engagements in a couple of locations so that people concentrated on just a couple of venues. That would cut travel costs for HIM considerably, and would actually help some of us travelers as well. He knows it worked for Spamalot. Remember him saying at one point that they might change-up the touring idea and just stay in one spot and let the fans come to him?? It was before ATDW I think. Anyone remember that? Whatever works. I'm dying to hear him sing these songs live and will go to some lengths for that privelege.

[muskifest]

I mean the least TMZ and the others could have done is added something like this: "Clay Aiken impregnated his 50-year old executive producer of his latest album, OMWH, which was released May 6th and is in stores now" and shown a picture of the cover and have the song playing in the background! Think of how many people would have heard about it then!

BWAH! Now THIS is funny!

Hi, gang...back home after a shameful showing this morning by the team...embarrassing. Since Sunday is 'single elimination', one loss and we were history...so we got home early. Que sera, sera...(how DO you insert those marks specific to other languages?)

keepingfaith When you talked about how your mother reacted to your pregnancy news---as though it was a decision to bring HER added emotional baggage, I thought of how similar that reaction is to what I've experienced with my mom. Anything always presents to her as "How does this affect MY life? What about ME?!?!?" I remember when I decided to go to Japan to teach and I called her to tell her. I tried to present it as this great opportunity, etc., but there was only a silence and then she said in a forlorn voice, "Are you TRYING to get as far away from me as you can?" I try to keep this memory fresh in my mind as I go about my own parenting steps....

Long time ago I removed the blog Google alerts and last week I removed all Google alerts. Although I'd marked that I only wanted "news" alerts, the line between 'news' and 'bullshit tabloid/blog, etc' has become so blurred that even if I clicked on what I thought was a legit source, I'd be met with someone's idea of humor at Clay's expense. So although I can't change what they write, I can change whether or not I read it! (Serenity Prayer at work, y'all )

As for the lovely OMWH cd...I'm still holding out hope for that 'second wave' of promotion that I think I remember Clay saying something about. I've decided that he was hurrying to get the cd out May 6 because he knew of the elaborate preparations he would have to make for his Somalia trip---both for going and after coming back (malaria drugs, etc.). Then he wanted time to chill on the porch. THen maybe do another wave of promotion. Yep, that's what I'm thinking. Since I don't know shit about the baby stuff, I'm not gonna even go there until/if he or Jaymes invites me into the discussion with a statement.

There's something about some of those David Foster Gala Clay pics that remind me of pics of movie stars from the 40's or maybe the 60's...I, too, think he'll be on the big screen eventually...and by the time he is? Maybe they'll have something even better than IMAX!

[jmh123]

Y'all do know that in Hong Kong they speak mostly Cantonese, right? Or English.

It's mostly for when we take the train to Guangzhou. I was in Hong Kong almost every third summer as a child since the flight to Hong Kong from Manila was shorter (45 mins) than the flight to my grandparents' hometown (1hr 15 min). KAndre is learning Cantonese, I volunteered for the Mandarin part since I'm still dreaming of that Google Shanghai office.

(oh, did I just create a 'sandwich' situation? Pretty soon the people on the weight thread will be blaming me)

Ah ha--finally she tells me this. KAndre is a brave woman, but if she can speak Klingon, anything is possible. I had a Cantonese boyfriend for 5 years and listened to him chat with his friends every week, at the same time I was learning Mandarin, but I never could get a word of it. I think it is one of the most beautiful languages in the world--like singing. 8 tones!! True, I'm not the world's best linguist. I lived in Japan for two years and came away a specialist at speaking and understanding English with a Japanese accent.

Muski, before I left for Japan my mother started taking Prozac, after having a panic attack so bad we thought she was having a stroke. She made herself physically ill over the idea of my going so far away from home, and I was nearly 50 years old for Pete's sake.

Perma, I could give you English with a Japanese accent lessons if you like? Your pictures are gorgeous!!

[annabear]

For all profile lovers:

GAH. Thank you, Perma dear. :thbighug-1: Good luck to your DIL!

Sometimes Clay is just the sex, YKWIM??

I know it goes against our lurking at work thing, but THREAD TITLE?!

[bottlecap]

Geez! He was yummy in Houston. I need to edit more pics!!!

Sometimes words just won't do, and so I resort to emoticons....

[Couch Tomato]

wow Perma..those pictures are gorgeous. I especially like the profile one.

OK well my all alone time is over. They're back. So off to my sister's for a bit.

Languages are tough for me to pick up. I almost didn't graduate from college because of that Spanish 3 course I needed to complete. And after all those years of Spanish from high school and college..I still can only say a few things. Now, I can listen to people speaking spanish and pick up enough of it to know what they are talking about.

[annabear]

Geez! He was yummy in Houston. I need to edit more pics!!!

Sometimes words just won't do, and so I resort to emoticons....

And this is the emoticon that those eggs should be waving.... :thsign27:

[treenuts]

Thanks for the yummies, Perma!

There's something about some of those David Foster Gala Clay pics that remind me of pics of movie stars from the 40's or maybe the 60's...

I believe Clay was born in the era. Well, I'm actually glad he was born when he was but....hell, you know what I mean. He is of a "time gone by" to say he might have been more appreciated by the masses if he had come into his own back in the 40's or 50's. Just my mind wandering.

I, too, think he'll be on the big screen eventually...and by the time he is? Maybe they'll have something even better than IMAX!

Oooh, like TMAX?

T for Tactile

[keepingfaith]

Yes, one year ago tonight we were wrapping things up at Birraporetti's and making our way across the street to Jones Hall for this incredibly photogenic man:

[keepingfaith]

He is of a "time gone by" to say he might have been more appreciated by the masses if he had come into his own back in the 40's or 50's. Just my mind wandering.

I know what you mean, and yet, he's really a product of the new millennium. If he'd had his break on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour on radio, for instance, how would anyone have known about those come hither eyes, and shell-pink lips, and how his hands caress a mike stand, besides he'd be an old man now with his glory in the past, and I like him young and hot, right NOW.

More Clay in Houston (I like the sound of that, he should come back and pose for us verra verra soon):

[Scarlett]

Perma, I could give you English with a Japanese accent lessons if you like?

I want to sit in on the Japanese lessons too!!!

Yes, one year ago tonight we were wrapping things up at Birraporetti's and making our way across the street to Jones Hall for this incredibly photogenic man:

One year ago I was driving through torrential rain from my office down a freeway that already had 3 major exits that blocked off due to flooding. I could barely see the car in front of me as bucketfuls of kept pouring down all 'round. Why oh why did I go to work to save 1 more vacation day?!! But then I finally got to Birra's, popped into the ladies room to change, arrived at the fun, fun, fun party in the middle of dinner and then oh, what a show!!!

Permaswooned and keepingfaith, thanks for the gorgeous pictures of happy times! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

[keepingfaith]

So you thought I was done?

and the most viewed rivet in history:

So many great memories from that night .... Sugar Daddy! .... I'll always remember that scorching hot look on his face after he sang ... "Oh I can't forget this morning ... and your face as you were leaving ... but I guess that's just the way the song goes." GAH for that adamant look in his eyes when he said that.

ETA: And YAY for indoor concerts in Houston in July.

[goldarngirl]

Yes, one year ago tonight we were wrapping things up at Birraporetti's and making our way across the street to Jones Hall for this incredibly photogenic man:

One year ago I was driving through torrential rain from my office down a freeway that already had 3 major exits that blocked off due to flooding. I could barely see the car in front of me as bucketfuls of kept pouring down all 'round. Why oh why did I go to work to save 1 more vacation day?!! But then I finally got to Birra's, popped into the ladies room to change, arrived at the fun, fun, fun party in the middle of dinner and then oh, what a show!!!

Permaswooned and keepingfaith, thanks for the gorgeous pictures of happy times! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

We are very glad for all the cappers that hindered some of their enjoyment of the evening for our future pleasure. Thank you so much.

[luckiest1]

When ATDW came out and sold 205,000 in the first week, or whatever it was, people said it "tanked" and it was "dead in the water" and all sorts of things. Many, many people insisted that Clay would not tour on it, and if he toured, it would be all original stuff, the stuff that he apparently "wanted" to put on the album but wasn't allowed to, because of big bad Clive. So what did he do? Tour ATDW complete with an orchestra. So I think it's just a wee bit premature to say that OMWH has "tanked", and that he will not tour on it, when he's already stated that he, indeed, does plan to tour on it, he just isn't sure when. I never expected a fall tour to materialize; I've been predicting a spring OMWH tour for quite some time now. I think that there is still a good possibility that he may surprise us with a Christmas tour this year....after all, he has mentioned time and time again how much he loves doing them, and how he can't imagine a year without one. However, if he has something up his sleeve that none of us know about yet, that would interfere with a Christmas tour, then maybe he will surprise us with that instead. Regardless, I'm not in the least bit worried about him. He'll be back, we just need to have a bit of patience. He's kicking back, like he said he would. He's doing Unicef and probably BAF stuff. This is not a drought. Not even close.

Oooh, kf, thanks for posting that shot with the feet!

Is it time for CNN yet? My daughter and I just got back from taking the pug puppy to Sun Fest in the park. That was an interesting experience. Heh, she isn't all that great at heeling. I take her for walks on her least at least two or three times a day, but there are not usually a million people on the path, some with dogs of their own, a bands pounding out different rhythms. Poor little thing didn't know which way to turn, and everyone wanting to pet her.....LOL. Live and learn. But I did come away with a cool Unlearn t-shirt.

[Chardonnay]

Haven't been here in forever, in fact I'm not sure if I'm even doing this right. But I couldn't resist giving a shout out to the Houston rivet. I was smack dab center and I've still got the bruise to prove it...

[Gibby]

See, jmh - you ain't shallow enough.

30 seconds - top four:

D, I, F & G - in that order. Would do him. Wouldn't even get out my caliper.

BWAH!!

I voted for I - he was gorgeous on Tyra! H, F and K are delicious, too!

Most of my expendable dollars have been taken up for medical costs this year....and, to top it all off, I broke a tooth Friday night! Aaaarrrrghhhhhhh!!!! I can not BELIEVE all this stuff happening to my body this year! There goes another $1000..... and probably another day off from work.

Anywhooo.....off to work shortly....off to do laundry now.....

I'm so sorry about your tooth and your other medical problems, Claygary! It's so difficult when you barely recover from one thing, only to have to deal with another. *HUGS*

And my laundry is calling, too, but I'm here reading instead! Heeee.

I will feel a lot better once we have heard something from him but I have no idea when that will be. I have said before that I am a worrier, I just am and can't seem to help it. If something is important to me, then the idea of losing it is always there. I feel, and it is just my feeling, I know nothing at all, that this whole baby business has been harder on Clay then the things that have happened before and not because of the Tabloids but because of the fan reaction. I am sure that Clay read over at OFC in the first few days after the word was put out and what he read can't have made him feel good. What do you say to these fans that instead of supporting you are saying that they realize that they never knew you... you aren't the person they thought you were... their fandom will never be the same. I know that everyone didn't feel that way but I will tell you that the one time that I went over there and read for about 30 min. that was the feeling that came across. It sure wasn't that we were behind him whatever the truth was. So, you have that on top of poor CD sales and the state of th e economy and he must have been left wondering if he had a fall tour, who would be coming. Would there be any point in planning one? It looks like he decided... NO.

In the beginning, after AI, Clay always spoke of his career like it was only temporary but after awhile that seemed to stop and you had the feeling he had accepted that this is what he does and would continue to do, as long as there was an interest. Lately I have heard him say once again that this is like summer camp and that he will do it as long as it is enjoyable. He seems to have lost the feeling of permanence. That was before all of this stuff happened.

I really wonder what he is thinking now especially if there is an announcement about the baby that won't be popular with the fans. Or, what would happen if there wasn't an announcement. What if Jaymes has the baby and that was just it, nothing was said other then she had a baby. Does she even have to list a fathers name on the birth certificate?

Like I said, I worry and I do tend to look for the worst case scenario. I guess that is because if we can get through the worst then everything will be ok.

Go ahead and tell me I am crazy because I really hope that I am.

I have just read through this but i am going to post it anyway.

I'm glad you posted your thoughts, Jaycee! I agree with you and other FCAers that there are many fans who find Clay's silence about the rumors to be intolerable, and some may have left because they think the rumors are true. But Clay has made a policy of not addressing the tabloids, so why would he start now? I don't expect to hear from him about it anytime soon.

In the meantime, I agree that many fans are just out living their lives. Sometimes I'm too busy to read or comment, too. I think that many people will come back once Clay makes another appearance.

I'm lucky that I don't tend to be be a worrier. If something is bothering me, I usually recite the Serenity Prayer to myself. And since I really can't change anything about Clay's career, I don't worry about it. But I know that some people simply aren't able to control their worry and anxiety, no matter how much they try. Being a Clay fan must be difficult for someone who tends to worry. (((((Jaycee)))))

[PermaSwooned]

suereu just posted a montage on Somalia on YouTube in preparation for the CNN special.

Couldn't they make this part of the show? It takes less than 5 minutes!!

It is not claycentric, but does include the photo of Clay from Somalia towards the end.

Damn. She does excellent work.

[Gibby]

The montage about Somalia is very well-done! Thanks for sharing it, Perma.

And thanks for your GORGEOUS pics! My right-click and save fingers are tired, after all of the gorgeousness posted by you and kf!