#61: Eight years of freakishly fun tours...and yes, he's still the one!

[luckiest1]

I check in every day, but there's not much going on in Clayland right now. I just don't do the boards when discussions turn to speculation about Clay's private life, or rehashing old gossip or Clay's career choices. I prefer to discuss our wealth of clack in down times! goldarngirl and I are getting to work on the San Francisco TnT for our next video montage series. And of course, there is the audio project that ldy mentioned.

In other news, the World Figure Skating Championships, which were originally slated to take place this past week in Toyko, have been changed to Russia. They will commence on April 24th, so I'm looking forward to that. I also have tickets to go and see Stars On Ice on May 1st. And today, I am going to my first wedding in 20 years. Some of you may remember my daughter's Clay-loving friend Lisa (aka disneykid or LisaAdelina on some of the older clack). She's been on quite a few of our Clay trips, especially the North Carolina ones. She is marrying Shawn, a guy who I also happen to work with, and my daughter is in the wedding party. luckiestdaugher will be wearing a black sleeveless dress that shows off all her tatoos. It feels weird, a whole new generation is growing up and get married. This is the first of 3 weddings this year for my daughter's friends. I am also invited to one in September, for two of her lesbian friends. One side is wearing tuxes and the other side is wearing dresses. Somehow, my daughter got stuck on the dress wearing side again. She does the dresses quite well, but the heels are a bit tricky.

[FearofH2O]

Needless to say, I'm kind of glad that Clay is taking a break. As much as I miss him, I'm also thankful that I don't have him competing with my time when I really should be working! Besides, I have all kinds of faith that he'll be around for us a long time to come. I'm not one who needs the constant reassurance, and also just don't need to know where he is all the time. Just my $0.02, of course.

Another idea -- the admins and mods have been bouncing around some ideas to keep "us" busy. Ideas include a "watching party," a trivia contest, and another photo contest. Anyone have any ideas?

The photo contest, watching party or listening party, all good.

I hope you catch a break at work, ldyj.

Hubby will be fine..plenty of projects around the house to keep him busy..he likes doing that stuff..I am lucky to have a handy man..saves money. Good thing I am working though..I think it would be worse if we were both around the house together..love him..but sometimes too much togetherness...

Kim

Congratulations to Mark. I bet he'll love working at home. A part time job is nice too for the extra spending money!

I check in every day, but there's not much going on in Clayland right now. I just don't do the boards when discussions turn to speculation about Clay's private life, or rehashing old gossip or Clay's career choices. I prefer to discuss our wealth of clack in down times! goldarngirl and I are getting to work on the San Francisco TnT for our next video montage series. And of course, there is the audio project that ldy mentioned.

Wahoo! Looking forward to that. I haven't had much time to download, but hopefully will after April 18.In other news, the World Figure Skating Championships, which were originally slated to take place this past week in Toyko, have been changed to Russia. They will commence on April 24th, so I'm looking forward to that.

Thanks for the info luckiest,I haven't been paying attention. I hope crimson does well with the heels. I've been gradually throwing mine out.

[keepingfaith]

I'm here! It's just that real life (in my case) work is super busy. It's budget time and it's also program plan time, meaning many statistics are needed to be compiled. This, plus we've been one staff member short since the end of September last year. This is the person who should have been compiling stats for us; instead, we can't find a qualified candidate that we like! So, I'm struggling to compile the stats.

Needless to say, I'm kind of glad that Clay is taking a break. As much as I miss him, I'm also thankful that I don't have him competing with my time when I really should be working! Besides, I have all kinds of faith that he'll be around for us a long time to come. I'm not one who needs the constant reassurance, and also just don't need to know where he is all the time. Just my $0.02, of course.

For those that need something to do, though -- there ARE some projects that need to be completed here. For example, several of us volunteered to find "the best of the Timeless Tour audio files." Most of us promptly then forgot...except for Fear, bless her heart. Here is the thread for the recommendations. Here is a listing of who volunteered, although I'm not sure if it is the most current list:

FWW/TITN

Suspicious Minds - FearOfH20

Bring it on Home to Me (Ruben) - luckiest1

60s Medley - couchie

Natural Woman (Casey)

Still the One - luckiest1

Marvin Gaye Medley (Ruben)

70s Medley - keepingfaith

Mandy - ldyjocelyn

Superstar (Ruben)

I'm Every Woman (Quiana)

Baby, Stay With Me Tonight? (Ruben) - goldarngirl

LackofRhythmitis Banter (Ruben)

When I See You Smile

80s Medley - cindilu2

Everything I Do, I Do For You (Ruben)

90s Medley - vivs

I've Had the Time of my Life

So, let's get cracking! And then, of course, we need to work on the TnT tour!

Another idea -- the admins and mods have been bouncing around some ideas to keep "us" busy. Ideas include a "watching party," a trivia contest, and another photo contest. Anyone have any ideas?

aikim, congrats to your husband. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to retirement. I know some people got BUSIER with retirement, while others were truly at a loss with what to do with themselves during the day.

Now, off to the article thread -- I'm behind there!

Just posted mine.

[aikim]

Just did a crap load of shredding..been piling up for a while and finally decided to tackle it...I can see the top of my dresser now!

Luckiest1 I understand about the boards..old convos are not my thing either.

Looking forward to whatever Clay has up his sleeve!

Kim

[gbmifan]

Aikim My husband was forced to retire two years ago and I jokely gave him 4 rules to follow. 1. When I get up in the morning to do ask me what I am doing that day. 2. I want no comment when I say I am going out to lunch with the girls. 3. When I go shopping he is not to ask what is in the bags when I get home. 4. Lastley he is not to ask me every day at 12 noon whats for lunch. He pretty much sticks to them I alsways laugh when I am home at lunch time and he comes into the kitchen and starts his own lunch. He trains well. He to is a handy man and we never get outside help. He worked on projects but did go back to school and in two weeks finishes his second masters degree. I am working full time hours but not considered full time so have no benifits. The company he worked for turned the pension over to the goverment so our pension was dropped by 60% and our health insurance taken away. I never thought I ould be working so much this late in life.

[shortyjill]

For those that need something to do, though -- there ARE some projects that need to be completed here. For example, several of us volunteered to find "the best of the Timeless Tour audio files." Most of us promptly then forgot...except for Fear, bless her heart. Here is the thread for the recommendations. Here is a listing of who volunteered, although I'm not sure if it is the most current list:

<snip>

I have looooots (too much) free time on my hands. Suppose I should help out some.

Another idea -- the admins and mods have been bouncing around some ideas to keep "us" busy. Ideas include a "watching party," a trivia contest, and another photo contest. Anyone have any ideas?

Ooo any of those would be fun!!

aikim congrats to your hubby!

luckiest we have a wedding this summer too. Need to lose a few to find a dress or at least some sort of outfit I'll feel good enough to wear.

gbmifan I'd consider yourself pretty lucky to have a guy like him!

[aikim]

Aikim My husband was forced to retire two years ago and I jokely gave him 4 rules to follow. 1. When I get up in the morning to do ask me what I am doing that day. 2. I want no comment when I say I am going out to lunch with the girls. 3. When I go shopping he is not to ask what is in the bags when I get home. 4. Lastley he is not to ask me every day at 12 noon whats for lunch. He pretty much sticks to them I alsways laugh when I am home at lunch time and he comes into the kitchen and starts his own lunch. He trains well. He do is a handy man and we never get outside help. He worked on projects but did go back to school and in two weeks finishes his second masters degree. I am working full time hours but not considered full time so have no benifits. The company he worked for turned the pension over to the goverment so our pension was dropped by 60% and our health insurance taken away. I never thought I ould be working so much this late in life.

Well then, I am ahead of the game..he always makes his own lunch; he doesn't mind when I go out with the girls or go shopping..actually, I can't remember him ever asking what I bought.

We are lucky...he has his things to do and I have mine. I am working full-time...only problem is that now I have to be quiet in the morning when I get ready for work..no flipping on the bathroom light and doing my thing because he will be sleeping. Definitely a whole new world opening up.

Talked to Emily..Austin weighs 12 pounds now and she said he is trying to laugh..cannot wait to see him again.

Kim

[gbmifan]

I am lucky. My hubby gets up with me at 5am and makes coffee for me while I am getting dressed then we watch the dvr of Leno while I am eating before I take off for work. My schedule varies every week. Nurses work three 12 hour shifts a week. When we are busy I may work more. Because he was going to school he just stayed up and worked on his projects. Then there were the days he went skiing. I think he had 400 hours of ski patrol time to my 300 hours.

[rohdy]

gbfan....your biking season should be starting pretty soon, shouldn't it? That is, if our snow ever goes away......

Akim, congrats on hubby's retirement. It's different, I will say that.

[gbmifan]

rohdy my official bike season starts the first week in May. We are scheduled for weekend rides from then on and I am going on three bike tours this summer. Before that though I am going to Colorado skiing in mid April. My son lives in Vail and I have not seen him for a year. We are staying in Brekenridge since the cost in Vail was really high. We will probably go there one day and ski.

[treenuts]

From Canuck at CV -

New tweet:

johnbarba: Ben Feldman is way too excited to have Clay Aiken guest star on his Lifetime show. Do you have something to tell us, Ben...?

10 minutes ago via ÜberSocial · Reply · View Tweet

I read that Ben Feldman stars in a show called "Drop Dead Diva" on Lifetime.

Cool!

[aikim]

Maybe something to look forward to:

QUOTE

johnbarba: Ben Feldman is way too excited to have Clay Aiken guest star on his Lifetime show. Do you have something to tell us, Ben...?

10 minutes ago via ÜberSocial · Reply · View Tweet

ETA: The show is "Drop Dead Diva" and the new season starts in June.

Kim

[shortyjill]

Okay I thought I knew what Drop Dead Diva was about but the description I read is so confusing..... she comes back to life as someone else who died?? And how would Clay fit into this show?

[aikim]

Okay I thought I knew what Drop Dead Diva was about but the description I read is so confusing..... she comes back to life as someone else who died?? And how would Clay fit into this show?

Don't have a clue..never have seen the show..but apparently there are musical interludes in the show and it is very popular..so good for Clay if he is going to be on.

Kim

[ldyjocelyn]

From the wikipedia article (normally hate wiki, but for shows, it's pretty good), it looks as if a LOT of people guest star on that show.

shortyjill, yes, the "diva" comes back to life as a recently deceased, overweight lawyer. I've never seen the show, but it does sound like a good show.

EEEEEEE for a possible TV appearance!

[shortyjill]

I'm going through FWW/TITN for the "best of" set (hope it's alright to take it without formally claiming) and came across this from Scarlett's Lancaster video. It's so darn cute I can't pass up posting it! This version is also in the contender's list, but have quite a ways yet to go before deciding.

[keepingfaith]

Tweeter saw Clay at Catch Me If You Can tonight. He's still in NYC, which I think is GREAT news.

[treenuts]

Bringing over the new tweets posted at other boards. As kf said, he's still in NYC

M2MEee Music2MyEars

Eeeeeeee!! Flying home on a Clay Aiken high! Oh the show was fun too! #catchmeifyoucan The end! #squee

@Carolinewanbe no running back to his seat!! I didn't feel right taking a pic and I was in shock he looked so freaking cute!!

about 1 hour ago via Twitter for Android in reply to Carolinewanbe

@Carolinewanbe hair natural and fluffy blue fleece jacket running from intetmission with that long stride! No companion that I saw Clay!

hee I do believe these are fans. At least M2MEee most likely is. Eeeeeee + squee + hair report? Oh Yea, that most definitly = FAN

[luckiest1]

Nice to see some new tweets....ok ok so cindilu2 and I were covertly reading the boards last night during some of the speeches at the wedding. disneykid had a very Disney wedding....the centrepieces at the reception were different on each table, and if you could figure out which Disney movie they represented, you had to stand up and shout it out and if you were right, the bride and groom would kiss. I liked this much more than the 'ding ding ding' with the glasses thing that they used to do. And I think the coolest thing was the way the bridal party entered the reception. They stole it from Glee....they used the music Marry Me and they all danced in, they bride and groom wearing Mickey Mouse ears. It caught us completely by surprise but I managed to figure out how to get video on my camera just in time for luckiestdaughter and her partner to enter, and I also got the bride and groom. Haven't watched it back yet but I hope it worked.

Oh, one more thing that we thought was awesome.....the groom chose "Because You Loved Me" as his first dance with his mom, and he used the Clay Aiken version! We tried to contain ourselve but the bride gave us the thumbs up and we gave it back to her and EEEEEEEEEEE'd a quietly as we could. It was the groom's choice, not the bride's.....but he's a cool guy, he came to the TnT show in Windsor and he was the one Clay was referring to, if you watch the clack, when he asked who in the audience couldn't dance, and then said "this girl is holding up her boyfriend's hand".

[aikim]

Yay for Clay still being in NYC! Now those are the kind of tweets I like..all the pertinent information, hair, clothes, whether he is alone or not. Now all we need is a pic.

Happy Birthday to all celebrating!

Everyone have a great day!

Kim

[justclay12]

I kind of like having a break from the touring but unlike ldyj, I need my weekly (preferably) Clay fixes. News, sightings, etc. I even like the boyfriend talk and career track discussions as long as they are not judgmental. That I hate because we don't know the entire situation and I don't think it's fair to make judge someone else's decisions. Not that I'm that fond of people doing a lot of judging anytime, but we all do it to an extent.

I've actually been busy with real life stuff too, which is good because when I'm not, I do absolutely nothing. I'm studying to take my Praxis test for special ed because I need any edge I can get for getting a teaching job in the fall. I'm going in with the expectation that I won't get a job this fall so I won't be disappointed if I don't get in. And I'll keep subbing until I do. At least I'm getting more jobs.

I'm actually trying to evaluate clack from TnT now. Very slowly though. But I did set up a document where I'm inputting the clack we have for each show, what they include, and how good the audio and video is. Some of it is really good but I wish I could do what luckiest and goldarngirl do, and take clips from different clack because some are really good but it's all close-up, or it will have some shakiness or heads in the way in places. I'm sure I could learn, but not motivated enough yet to learn.

[00lsee]

Okay I thought I knew what Drop Dead Diva was about but the description I read is so confusing..... she comes back to life as someone else who died?? And how would Clay fit into this show?

Don't have a clue..never have seen the show..but apparently there are musical interludes in the show and it is very popular..so good for Clay if he is going to be on.

Kim

Okay, I watched and liked this show (didn't know it was coming back on!) The story is: Character One: Deb Dobkins: a perky, thin, blonde model/actress who is dating Character Two: Grayson Kent: a handsome law school graduate who is interviewing for a job at a law firm on the very day that Character Three: Jane Bingum (a plump, smart, but plain and not terribly exciting person) is shot in an incident at the law office where a gunman was coming after Jane's boss (Character Four: J. Parker, law partner and womanizer).

At virtually the same moment, Deb dies in a ridiculous car accident. She goes to the Pearly Gates where she argues that she can't be dead...she sees a sign on her intake adviser's desk (Character Five: Fred) that says something like 'under no circumstances press this button'...so of course she presses the button.

Deb's soul is sent to the first available female body on earth, which happens to be Jane's (who is succumbing to injuries, although as Deb, she has no lingering effects from this, something rather glossed over). They also kind of gloss over what Jane might have thought about this, although we do meet her family because, after all, 'Jane' is still alive. We also meet Deb's grieving family, who does not know she is still 'alive'.

As 'Jane', Deb runs to her best friend's house (Character Six: Stacy Barrett ) a fellow model and actress wannabe, ditzy, but clever and good-hearted. At first she does not believe Jane is Deb, but once she accepts this, she invites her to move in and they become roommates. Fred gets banished to earth for his mistake in allowing Deb to push that button and he ends up as her guardian angel on earth, getting a job as a mail clerk at the law firm. Meanwhile, Deb's boyfriend (who we learn was about to propose!) has gotten the new job he wanted at the law firm where Jane (and now Fred) work.

As 'Jane', Deb is still in love with her boyfriend (and why wouldn't she be) but because she is NOT Deb to anyone but Stacy and Fred, she must interact with Grayson as Jane. Deb is still Deb and livens up Jane's previously dull life in many ways. As Deb/Jane, for example, Jane dresses better and wears make-up and flirts, something she never did before) In other ways, as Jane, Deb is much smarter and has knowledge she didn't have before (because Jane did, after all, study law). Jane could also sing very well and does so from time to time on the show, during musical dreams or karaoke at her favorite bar that she frequents with her friends. Deb's soul is in Jane's body, so she gets to have Jane's smarts, but not her memories - she doesn't recognize people she knew before as Jane, for example, something people dismiss as being caused by the gunshot incident). As Jane, Deb experiences prejudices she never had to deal with when she was a glamorous thin woman. They don't dwell on that excessively, though, and Deb/Jane doesn't put up with size discrimination. Deb learning to accept her now curvy body is a part of the storyline.

Grayson starts to move on, dating other women, although he still misses Deb. He dates Kim Kaswell, Jane's law firm rival, who is also dating the womanizing boss (who is actually quite likable at times) . Later, he is considering marrying another woman, Vanessa Hemmings. This causes a lot of pain for Deb/Jane. However, Deb also begins to date other men, (one of them, Tony Nicastro) as Jane.

Meanwhile! When he first comes to earth, Fred falls in love with Stacy and at one point in the series, he kisses her. Unfortunately, this breaks some heavenly rule and he vanishes from the show for a while. Only Jane seems to notice. If I recall correctly, it is as if he never existed. Later, he returns, as a mortal, and Stacy doesn't remember him from before. In fact, if I remember correctly, NOBODY remembers him from before. Not sure about this. Through his cleverness, he quickly wins a job as Kim Kaswell's assistant. (Bwah! I typed Kim CALDWELL) LOL

Rosie O'Donnell is a judge that Jane was friends with before she 'died', so they are still friends and the judge is also a mentor.

Paula Abdul is a fantasy judge who appears in Jane's musical courtroom dreams.

Margaret Cho is very funny as Jane's assistant, Teri.

Fred is played by Ben Feldman and he is adorable. As to where Clay would fit in, he would most likely be a law firm client.

Keep in mind all these complications happen over the course of two seasons, during which Deb/Jane very cleverly solves law cases and interacts with clients and friends/relatives from both her former lives. At the end of season two, Grayson is about to propose to Vanessa at a restaurant when Jane comes in. Yes, everyone knows he was rushing into this new relationship on the rebound! Something (I don't remember what) causes him to follow Jane out of the restaurant...At which point, he is hit by a car. As he is lying on the pavement, he looks up into Jane's face and says 'Deb?'. I was very annoyed at this whole sequence because they lead you to believe Grayson is actually going to die. So who knows what will happen. Likely, he WON'T die and won't remember 'seeing' Deb at all.

Anyway, that's probably about as clear as mud. The concept worked and was pretty fun and at times very touching. The characters have some depth to them and the story lines are interesting.

So, if the rumor is true, I think Clay would enjoy himself on this show. As I wrote all this, I got excited about seeing these characters again, as mad as I was at the way the series ended before. I liked it.

P.S. I had completely forgotten there was more than one season of this show (went back and corrected my post). These must have been short seasons! I think it was a summer filler show or something? Anyway, glad to hear it is coming back.

Or save yourself some reading and go to the official website. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'd love for Clay to have a song featured on television. That alone has launched many a career. It would surely give his profile a boost.

[shortyjill]

00Isee thanks for the great explanation. I wondered if maybe he could fit in as a client, it's really the only thing that would make sense.

[Couch Tomato]

Yay for Because he Loved me. I made my one and only montage using that song and as I listened to it over and over and over and over again as I was making it and I really came to love it. It's a perfect first dance song.

Hopefully Clay is not just on vacation in NYC. Not that I need an excuse to head east but I'd love to catch Clay in a show while there. I'm going to hold on to that wish.

00lsee that show sounds complicated. But if it's Clay singing on TV I'm good.

I really want to do some sort of trivia but I'm so scared to even try to come up with the questions. Everyone is soooooooo knowledgeable about Clay. But I'll put my brain to work on it.

Friday was probably one of my worst days ever. Just a series of events that started when I woke up in the morning. I woke up to a family emergency to deal with (nobody sick). So I call in to work that I'm gonna be late and take care of this business in the morning. In the midst of doing that I lost my ATM card. Then after I finish that up and am walking to BART I fall, not once but two blocks later I fall again. splat. Did I mention it was pouring don rain. Then I get on BART, get off at my station, start walking towards the job and my glasses just fell off my face with the handle laying in the street. Sigh. I'm still recuperating from those falls. I hurt my knee, a knuckle which caused pain in my mouse finger LOL. And then of course I'm achey all over. I stayed in all weekend, afraid I would get hit by lightening!

Although one crazy thing has happened this weekend. KANDRE of all people is winning the freakin' march madness pool. I bet she doesn't even know what a basketball is.

[treenuts]

(((Couchie)))

Here's a little Rx for lifting your spirits -