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

[lilyshine]

... <snip>

Or on a more cheerful note - we can talk about our dream venue where clay has yet to appear - maybe a city we want to visit. Isn't some group here planning a trip to Asia? heh heh

My livingroom,

or maybe another, more intimate venue in the house.

[ldyjocelyn]

From getclayaiken.com:

Broadway Cares / Easter Bonnet Competition Signed Poster

You can see the signed poster here, and Clay's signature is on the chest above the butterfly.

Dream venue for Clay? It's not close to me at all, but I'd love it if Clay could play Red Rocks in Colorado (hey Gibby!). From what I've seen of televised concerts (The Moody Blues, for example -- hey keepingfaith!0, the acoustics there are fantastic, and the setting is gorgeous!

[Couch Tomato]

... <snip>

Or on a more cheerful note - we can talk about our dream venue where clay has yet to appear - maybe a city we want to visit. Isn't some group here planning a trip to Asia? heh heh

My livingroom,

or maybe another, more intimate venue in the house.

looks askance at lilyshine....

and then

Somehow I think she's not all alone on that one..

Oh I'd love that poster LdyJ ...

[Bella19]

My dream venue for Clay in Toronto, which many of us have discussed at local fan lunches, has to be Massey Hall - it has perfect acoustics. You can hear every single word sung or spoken on stage right to the last row in the theatre.

http://www.masseyhall.com/home.cfm

[treenuts]

EEEEEEEEEE new banner! *licks monitor*

I'm not a huge fan of the blond but this picture intrigues me (euphemism for makes me horny)

Hmmmm....other boards huh? Well I have only been on one other fan board for any length of time and it was NOTHING like any of Clay's. It was a Johnny D. board and there was always some kind of controversy surrounding him but it was somewhat expected. It was accepted as part of his "bad boy" image at the time.

I find that Clay's perhaps mystique (whether unwanted or unwarranted, I don't know) is at the core of it. But he is so multifaceted that he is going to attract a much more diverse fan base than most. His appeal is complicated. He attracts some very strong emotions and that can be polarizing. So IMO it has much to do with HIM. The man. And although I think it is both the agony and the ecstacy of the celebrity board world I couldn't let go if I wanted too.

He is the best book I've ever read! (tm somebody else).

[FearofH2O]

From irisheyes at CV:

New UNICEF blog

I don't understand why anyone would say something nasty on a fan board about this guy. I guess I'm always shmoopy. I don't always like the internet.

I forget to mention the only different place I traveled for Clay was Las Vegas. Due to playbiller's mishap I spent a day there on my own and had a really good time. Of course it was more fun when Playbiller and the other FCA people got there. It was especially nice of luckiest and her daughter to take me around with them another day. I loved the ice skating and singing combination. One of my favorite Clay shows. I thought he sang great and never understood the critiquing of every note Clay sang. He was real, he didn't lip synch and he never asked for a do over. It was fantastic.

[ldyjocelyn]

[liney23]

One city that I've never been to but really had a favorable impression was Minneapolis. I admit though that I didn't get a full picture of the entire area. And although this is in no way the reason I'm saying this, there were more good looking men there than I've ever seen anywhere. I don't even think I've noticed something like that before. Every where I looked there was a fine looking man LOL.

DD has been in Minneapolis for extended stays twice since she's been touring. She loves it, too, though she didn't say anything about the good looking men. She said they have the best audiences, plus everyone is so nice to them that the weather isn't a problem.

Speaking of which, Spotlightlover and I were there for last year's CITH tour. We decided to scope out the Mall of America, which required traveling some miles from downtown. Since we're both Californians with no real experience with winter temps, we called the guy at the front desk for advice. "Oh, it's balmy," he said. "Define balmy," I said, suspiciously. "Where are you from?" he replied. "California." "Well, in that case, it's 28 degrees and freezing."

artquest... my old boss and her husband moved to Minneapolis from Huntington Beach and loved it. And, they weren't expecting to. They said that the winters are sooo long that indoor stuff is very appreciated and enjoyed and intellectual pursuits are quite accepted by all. Lots of book clubs, poetry clubs, theatrical clubs, etc.

Clay's has been my only fan experience. Even that took awhile. I found Claytonaiken.com from google right away after AI2, but only visited the home page for months before something made me click on Forum and I found the whole of message boards. I had sooo much to catch up on!

Cotton... here you go... all in one great jpg.

Neck shot, anyone... Course, for me, it is the profile and the scruff and the hair and... The neck is just along for the ride...

[treenuts]

I know this will sound weird but I have always been partial to, prefer his left profile!

Of course that's only once I'm able to break away from the gravitational pull of his.....

and look up.

[Couch Tomato]

if you've written me at couchtomato@findingclayaiken.com and I never responded..sorry..I always seem to forget about that box and it's been about 3 months. Started going through it but had to leave for work. One thing I'm glad I wasn't around to get was People Magazine writer wanting me to respond to I I U.

That little boy to the right of Clay in the UNICEF picture is just adorable. He has the same look in his eye my nephew gets when he's excited and can't shut up and wants to entertain the rest of the class...something his teacher likes to tell us on every report card LOL. Clay's looking kinda cute himself.

Fear, I love LIVE Clay. I don't walk in expecting perfection. He's one of the best live singers I've ever seen. It's all aout the rush and adrenaline and just being there for me. I'll listen to the DVD if I just want Clay to hit every note.

[annabear]

From irisheyes at CV:

New UNICEF blog

Thank you!

Thank you! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

My Photobucket is limited here at work, but these beauties from Kareneh show off a bit of his nibble-worthy neck...

[duckyvee]

What a great picture! What a guy.

------

Dream venue for Clay to perform? World Cafe Live in Philadelphia - upstairs. It seats 100, 200 if people are standing. When I was there recently, seeing a small band and having dinner, I couldn't help but imagine Clay there. It would be totally fabulous. And..... the room can be booked on occasion for a private party. Can you imagine? Just Clay and 99 of your favorite Clay fan friends?

[ivy]

Point of discussion - Are Clay boards more critical of Clay than other fan boards -

I had forgotten but I used to read some message board about Star Trek. I never joined it People were nice and respectful. There was one troll whom everyone began to ignore and he left suddenly. From knowing people in real life, the percentage of people I know who are decent is very high. Before I became involved with this fandom, I would have guessed that a only a very small percentage of people would be so cruel as I have seen on the boards. I don't see people as just being critical, I see a lot of meanness. Sometimes, I think when reading a post that I am happy that I don't know that person in RL. To say the least, it has been an eye opening experience. I love that in the last year or so, some good message boards like this one have been started so I can keep up with what Clay is doing and participate on a more even keel. So thanks to Couchie, K'Andre, Ansamcw and others.

FromClaygary - Sorry, I have not traveled to Maine.

Web insults close Michael's site

Singer George Michael has shut down his website messageboard because so-called fans had been using it to log disparaging comments about him. ... snip ...

"Those of you that want to carry on the media's work will have to do it somewhere else."

I totally agree with him, by the way. People of course are free to be nastily negative, but they can do that somewhere else. Free speech has nothing to do with it. Free speech only applies for one's own website. Of course, I am one who sees no point in much negativity, as a conversational sort of direction or whatever, it is draining and I avoid it in real life.

Agreed.

So it has happened before to other artists - but is it constructive or destructive?

My guess is that it is destructive. I used to read KCE but left because of the negativity about Clay. Because I didn't follow her career any longer, I never knew when she was on TV, gradually lost interest, and over time ended up transferring the negativity of her fans to her. I knew what was happening but it did not change my feelings. I made sure not to emulate her fans and kept myself more neutral, but it cost her a fan. I realize this is a little different example but I think it applies. I think that when people are overly critical and constantly critical, that it can't help but impact their feelings. Other fans reading that crap, gradually without realizing it become infected. It is like a virus that spreads.

OK, now back to my happy place.

[Iseeme]

Howdy do - back from a round of golf. It really is a stupid game but I do love it.

This made me laugh out loud

PFM or poo flinging monkeys

Yes - I know some of them. We know some of them.

Another popstar board that was closed was Bon Jovi's. Jon's mother ran it and closed it because of the criticism and negativity. I don't know if she ever opened it again or not.

I think some of Clay's fans on various boards are pretty bad when it comes to criticizing his every little move, word, hair, clothes, choice of songs, etc. etc. I always felt it came from some weird sense of ownership that because "they" voted for him they had the right to be critical. I've even read posts where the comments were made to that effect. An over-aggrandized sense of entitlement! A perfect example of that going on right now - elsewhere - is the grassroots movement to get Ashes played as a single. I think it's perfectly okay to say you love the song, say you wish it had been released as a single, etc. etc. but to organize an effort to basically undermine the decisions Clay and his team have made about which single to release is just not acceptable IMO. I only peek at one other board occasionally (looking for pretty pictures) so I have no clue about the other boards.

OH YES - whoever said Red Rocks would be a wonderful place to see Clay "live!" I totally agree!

Cities I've been to because of Clay: Worcester, Mass., Kansas City, Hutchinson, Kansas, Las Vegas, those Indian casinos in SoCal last summer......Used to go to NY on business so that wasn't new - but it was a heck of alot more fun going to Spamalot than to a conference room....

Couchie - somehow I missed that pre-party for JNT06.....we took BART from the East Bay and got off right in front of the theater.

[aikim]

Hi all!

Haven't really traveled much to see Clay; the farthest points being Indianapolis and Grand Rapids...I have seen him the most at the Holiday Star Theater in Merrillville, so I guess that would be the one...hoping we have another date this Christmas!

Haven't been to other fan boards; I have never been star struck as it were and Clay is the only celebrity I really follow.

Correction...I have been to Stephen King's Message Board, but not very much as every post has to go through a mod before it is posted which kind of puts a damper on real conversation.

Kim

[playbiller]

now for some other not interesting beanie board talk

The company was owned by a tall thin handsome man who had dreamed of becoming an actor in his youth, but sort of ended up in the toy business afer a short attempt. b He was in his early fortiackes, had not married but was living with a woman and her preteen daughter - yet the rumors swirrled about him in the business gossip pages were that he was gay. I suppose dressing almost always in a black turtle neck and black trousers made him look a bit theatrical, but I thought it was so odd that business articles woudl be interested in his sexuality despite the fact that he seemed involved and intgroduced this woman as his girlfriend at various events. They never did get married and broke up while I still followed the story on the boards, of course this was only discussed at the fan boards that were not major boards amd more obssessed with collecting and providing information to help collecting. Now, I think there is only one board.

I think I will have to scout out a picture of his handsome appearance and his chiseled facial features. Let me tell you, I read fan girly after fan girly recounts of meeting him at toy fairs, BWAH!

And we did have one conversation on the company board about labor practices in factories (carefully worded to avoid banning) and about a month later an article came out of his touring factories to insure safe working conditions, so someone keeps an eye on these official boards.

eh, here is a picture from a long time ago.

[wandacleo]

I'm back.

Eleven frigging days without the computer!

I was SURE there would be all kinds of interesting news about Clay that i was missing out on.

I was wrong--although I was heartened to see the man still likes BBQ.

[treenuts]

Not a bad looking man, play, but those feet look way too small

Welcome back, wandacleo.

[Couch Tomato]

I'm back.

Eleven frigging days without the computer!

You are just a glutton for punishment aren't you Wasn't it around 6 days the last time..that wasn't enough for you?

[FromClaygary]

My SIL and BIL live in Maine.

Wanna go see them?

Sure! I'll go anywhere!!

I was in Maine last summer. Flew into Portland and visited a long-time friend in a small neighboring town. My recommendation is Kennebunkport. (this is a 'virtual tourist' site) It's a charming little town, and we ate Lobster Rolls (don't miss them!) at Allison's Restaurant. It's sort of a cold lobster salad sandwich - yummy!! We saw the Bush "compound" - it's rather impressive. Didn't really go to the beach, but I am sure the beaches there are lovely! Some of the coast is pretty rocky tho!

If you go take lots of pictures!!! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Totally cool cha cha, thanks! Kennebunkport is now added to my list. I'm a photography HOUND when I travel...love to take pix, and will definitely be taking lots there! I love the ocean as well and am looking forward to what is supposed to be a beautiful coast, and the lighthouses.

My dream venue for Clay in Toronto, which many of us have discussed at local fan lunches, has to be Massey Hall - it has perfect acoustics. You can hear every single word sung or spoken on stage right to the last row in the theatre.

http://www.masseyhall.com/home.cfm

Me too! I would LOVE to see him there.

Dream venue for Clay to perform? World Cafe Live in Philadelphia - upstairs. It seats 100, 200 if people are standing. When I was there recently, seeing a small band and having dinner, I couldn't help but imagine Clay there. It would be totally fabulous. And..... the room can be booked on occasion for a private party. Can you imagine? Just Clay and 99 of your favorite Clay fan friends?

....and you know....we keep saying, we really could probably do it....it would only be about $1000 apiece.....????

I enjoyed the latest blog (thanks for bringing over the link)...such an intelligent man! When we had dispatches from Nairobi earlier I wondered if he had gone to Kenya as well.

Thanks everyone as well, for the fun info about places you've seen/want to see Clay....I think my favorite so far is Chautauqua....really cool....or, as Couchie said, Minneapolis was great too.

But I would LOVE him to take me to Santa Fe, which is a city I've always wanted to visit.

[cha cha trusty]

eh, here is a picture from a long time ago.

He is cute, but his feet are so small . . . . . . . . . . . :lmaosmiley-1:

[Iseeme]

Neck

And cuddly light blue sweatshirt.....

[treenuts]

Did I hear someone say "neck" -

(sorry, but you need to double click before you lick)

slurp gurgle

[playbiller]

Arghhh - Hold me FCA,I just opened a letter from my town and my prperty taxes have gone up $250 a 1/4!!!!! Crap.

[HeidiHo]

Maybe it's time to repeat my plea for information about Maine? I'm planning a trip there the last week in August....any must-sees from anyone who is there, or has visited?

My SIL and BIL live in Maine.

Wanna go see them?

Hee. Other than Cotton’s SIL and BIL, there’s always Mt. Desert Island at sunrise. I believe it’s the first place in the continental US to see the sunrise. It’s been many, many years since I’ve been to Maine, but what we did was drive up the coast on US 1 and just stop at all the cool little places along the way. Lobster from pots along the road (although who knows if they still do that). There’s the town that is the home base for L.L. Bean (Freeport?) which also has a lot of cool shops. We actually started just north of Boston Mass and drove all the way up – very beautiful. I know we went inland as well, but it’s just been too long.

I’ve been to 42 states, and I think Maine was near the top of the list.

Favorite city that has nothing to do with Clay is New Orleans pre Katrina. The first time I went to New Orleans was because my Jamaica cruise took off from there... we went a few days early and stayed a couple days after but it wasn't enough. The next year I went back for a real vacation. We were planning to do a family trip there.

We’ve had the New Orleans discussion before, haven’t we? My brother lived there forever and I’ve been a million times and I feel like it is my home away from home. LOVE New Orleans, but have not been back since Katrina. I’m afraid I would cry. A lot. My brother moved back to Ohio – was planning to anyway and Katrina hurried him along. It took him two years to get all his shit in order that Katrina messed up. Very stressful.

I don’t think I’ve been anywhere to see Clay that I hadn’t already been to. I have several “favorite places” though – can’t narrow it too much. I guess number one would be New Orleans – for old world-ness. There is no other town like it. I love NYC. I love Santa Monica/Malibu. I love Seattle. I love Vancouver. I love Boston. I love San Francisco. I love Asheville, North Carolina – actually, I hadn’t been to that particular town prior to Clay. So I take my previous comment back.