In Honor of the Sixth Anniversary of "Take"...

It's funny, because FOR YEARS I was really confused.

The broadcast and re-broadcasts and montages and videos of the first time he opened his mouth in Atlanta always began like this:

Simon: So what are you going to sing?

Clay: Singin' "Always and Forever"

Simon: Ok..

And THEN when he opened his mouth to sing... out came "TAKE time to show me, Yoooou really care...yada yada"

So yeah... I never really GOT that.

It's all in the editing folks! And what I'd call a major "glitch" in some very important lines of communication...

But Hosaa's Reconstruction of it finally set the record straight.



When I first began making montages, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. So when I go back and watch this second effort of mine I am always pretty much shocked and surprised. Because I think it has to be (hands down) the favorite one I've ever made... or at least my second favorite. I think I was just so completely and hopelessly IN LOVE, yet at the same time realizing the complete futility of those feelings. Remember those days? Crazy.

And even though those feelings have splintered off in many different directions over the past few years they have always circled back (and thankfully on a much more realistic level.) But This One...for me... well, it just keeps continuing to remind of why I came in the first place... why I keep coming back... and why I'm still here.

SO, in honor of this sixth anniversary of "Always"... heh



I just love him, that is all. And will probably continue to do so, well, for a good, long time. Or as long as he'll have me. *g*

**Note: Though posted on the 27th, the actual anniversary date is the 28th.

Enough Water for Children...and well, for everyone.

This is something I admittedly have rarely had cause to think about.

That there could be people in this world who seriously lack for the most essential and fundamental of needs. Like water.

And I was so touched by this blog from The Clays News Network that I'm gonna try to do something about it too! Please go back and click on that link! I don't want to reinvent the wheel here and there is SO much good information there. So much thirst. Yet so much we can do.

So what can I do?

For starts... I can ask my local restaraunt to participate in the cause. Would you donate $1 for that "freebie" glass of tap water so casually placed at your table if you thought you could save a life? I probably would.

But here's my biggest beef...

I pay something like $20 a month for the mere privledge of just having the service. Versus the $2 a month that I actually consume. So I wonder if they would consider taking $1 of my service charge and contributing it to a very worthy cause which could help attack a serious definciency which exists in so many countries on our planet. I guess ya never know until you ask. Hmmm. I feel a correspondence coming on...

And if you missed the first link, here's yet another one. The TAP Project.

I would never have even known about this effort if it hadn't been for this guy.

Thoughts... Outside the Box.

So yes... I realize this may be controversial.

The pictures themselves?.. No. Hopefully the fans, my co-workers, my neighbors, my 12th grade anatomy teacher, my mail carrier, the world and my grandmother have all managed to move way beyond that by now. But just in the fact that they're being posted pretty much ALL over the Internet...

So didn't want to seem behind the times... ya know?

And besides they make me really happy... and make me want to SING!.. and also grin like an idiot.

Especially this one...



And you KNOW they must have both fully realized what the outcome of all this would be going in.

To the box I mean...

So, though perhaps, shame on us for peeking... I'm still just so very happy for them!

No tags for now.

It's Montage Time!... 2008

Ok.. well, so that didn't rhyme. But it will next year!

I have to admit that I've stopped collecting them obsessively. Life just get's so busy. But here are a couple of last year's offerings that I simply don't want to forget... though I still have a lot more of them on my hard drive!

August Rhapsody ... by Aspiegirl

On My Way Here ... by dreamlarge

There You Are ... by LovesClaysVoice

A 2008 Year In Review ... by dreamlarge

Something About Us - An Obama Love Story ... by Maplestik

Scheduled to be presented at one of the upcoming Inaugural Balls!

Need more? 2006 and 2007

Technorati tags:
Clay Aiken, Montages, 2008 Review, Music

Whitney's MS Walk... 2009

I am really looking forward, once again, to participating in the annual walk for MS. This will be my daughter's 4th year walking and her 3rd year as a Team Captain for this great cause. She is so amazing! And what's funny is... I am quite certain that even if she didn't have to deal with the disease herself... she'd be right out there in front leading a team for somebody she knew who DID. Because well, that's just her.

Last year, Whitney's team received recognition at the Idaho Falls, Idaho Chapter event for not only exceeding their goal but for having the hightest total contributions. This year, we hope to do the same OR MORE in Boise! Especially since this year it falls on her birthday!

But unfortunately "the walk" isn't just an afternoon event...

Here are a couple of pictures of Whit just a couple of months before she was diagnosed. (She's the one with the joyful appendages.. *g*)







I'm sure that anyone who's ever received news that either they or their child has a debilitating disease will completely understand. It's a difficult bit of news to take in..

But really, she is doing great! And sometimes I even forget that she has it. I mean, she's got the most perfect little family and pretty much a perfect life. And she's still dancing! So everythings good! And normal!



Then, every so often... I remember the REASON that everything is so perfect and normal... and what it is she has to go through in order to keep it that way. But I'm sure she thinks about it all the time.



So anyway... I pray for the day when she, along with countless others, will finally be able to be free from their "normal" routine. The National MS Society is working really, really hard to do... just that.

Thank you so much to family and friends who have already donated to this year's Walk. Your love and support is MOST appreciated!

MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn't.

And please... Even if not for this... just walk for something. Because well, walking is just really, really good for you!




Technorati tags:
Multiple Sclerosis, MS Walks

Enjoy Your Time Away! Clay.

We'll be right here.

Waiting.

..with open arms.

And lest we ever forget what we're waiting FOR... Here will always be a little reminder (or at least until YouTube takes it down...)

Technorati tags:
Clay Aiken, These Open Arms

Break Time...

If Clay Aiken can take one then so can I.

Except not.

There's still a house to clean, studies to attend to, a job to keep, socks to darn... and miles to mow before I sleep.

But I found a little something to help make the chores a little lighter.

I think it's mindblowing that someone(s)was able to take these random (yet remarkable) songs and string them together in a way to create such a fairly seamless plotline. I applaud the collaboration!

Anyway, one thing I know for sure is... I wanna be Meryl Streep when I grow up... or at least in my next lifetime.

Whichever comes first...


Technorati tags:
Mama Mia, Movie, Soundtrack, ABBA, Clay Aiken

A 2009 Prediction...

On May 4th 2008 Clay brought down the roof on Part 1 of his Spamalot journey.

Here's a picture of him on the roof...

Six?

And on January 4th 2009 he bid us farewell from Part 2 like this.

Five?

So what do these dates and numbers signify? Apparently they mean something to him!

Parker Foster Aiken was born at 8:08 a.m. on August 8th 2008.



So I guess the question here is... do I need to have these baby booties finished by September 9th 2009 by 9:09... or what?

Just kidding! Sort of...

We'll miss you Clay and hope to see you again soon! But please do whatever it is that makes you the happiest in the meanwhile. You so totally deserve this alone time!...

I just love this interview given by Clay about his Spamalot experience.

Once again... not tagging. Even though the above was, of course, meant for entertainment purposes only...

A New Year's Wish...

So...

Here are my very meaningful and heartfelt hopes for Clay in the coming year...

May you immensly enjoy this sweet and precious time of diapers and bottles and wonderous firsts... These moments last for such a very short while.

But THEN... as "soon" as you can... couldja maybe just lose the diapers and join us on the road again? *g*

Please?



Ok, so that was teetering on the edge of classlessness, I know. But nonetheless, it just seemed apropos somehow... and was merely a labor of love.

And besides, it made me smile a bit...

Hope it made you smile a bit too.



No Technorati tags on this one... no sireee.

Some wonderful Year-In-Review Blogs:

Clay Aiken Ruminations

Truth Rules

Clayspots

...