FRIDAY, JULY 6 – JEANIE IS OFF TO SPRINGFIELD AND ON TO TULSA
Here’s my picture album of our trip to Tulsa to our first Clay Concert of Summer 2007.




you can click on any picture to enlarge it.




As you MAY have heard, I am a BIG fan of Mr. Clay Aiken and my friend Nan and I decided to fulfill our teen-aged fantasies and become groupies. And since we’re big girls now and can afford to do whatever we want without asking anyone’s permission, we had a blast.




I drove to Springfield on Friday night and we took off Saturday morning for the three plus hour drive to Tulsa, OK. We arrived at the Crown Plaza Hotel by lunchtime and signed in with the 300 other lucky preregistered dinner/preconcert party guests. Then met up with the other SW MO ShowMe Clay Fan Club members attending the affair.



i'm talking as usual in this one.
here's the rest of the fan club.






I’ve met some wonderful new friends from Springfield and as you can see, we are a varied group. Mainly we enjoy music in addition to participating in fund raising activities for the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to help include kids with disabilities in summer camps….oh and we do appreciate a certain young singerman…….






The biggest hassle of the trip was the long wait in line with several hundred other fans to get our rooms at the hotel. Seems they just didn’t have them ready for us at three as promised…..but we finally got in our rooms and changed for the party.






As you can see the Tulsa fan club put in a lot of work for their guests. The food buffets were marvelous. The decorations were fantastic and they auctioned and raffled literally hundreds of items with all profits going to the Bubel/Aiken Foundation.

Then we were off to the concert at the historic Brady Theater. Well,,,,let me tell you this about Oklahoma. Their definition of historic is not the same as Missouri. Think the beautifully restored Midland and Fox…velvet and gold inlay. In OK, historic just means OLD. Think concrete and frayed carpeting.(This 2500 seating theater is one of the smaller venues this summer. Over 12,000 fans enjoyed his show in Columbus, OH last week and our next concert in Cary, NC is a 7000 capacity outdoor amphitheater. His fans fill every seat.)

The acoustics at the Brady were excellent though, and that’s all we cared about. Our Clay was in fine voice and his fans were as enthusiastic as ever as you can hear from this music captured by one of the many technically talented fans that were there. (and NO that wasn't me hooting when he started singing...i don't think)

My pictures of the concert reflect my quite limited photography skills. Uncounted photos and videos of the concert are shared on line by other generous claymates so those are what i'm showing you here.



he almost always tours with his two backup singers, Quiana and Angela




in the background, you can see some of the symphony orchestra



Most of us met for breakfast the next morning. Here’s Nan and I…I’m showing off my new 2007 concert shirt.





This trip was just our practice run for our REALLY BIG TOUR TRIP in august. We are flying to Raleigh, NC, for a concert in nearby Cary, renting a car to drive to Asheville, NC the next night, driving to Knoxville, TN the next night and flying home the next. Maybe we’re crazy…..but it’s the most fun I’ve had in years, kiddos…….

HEY, GF'S,
HERE'S HOW CLAYFANS
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY

THE FIRST TOUR OF CLAY AIKEN'S SUMMER TOUR STARTS TONIGHT IN DALLAS.
MY NBFF (new best friends forever - sorry old best friends) AND I WILL BE ON OUR WAY TO TULSA FOR JULY 7 CONCERT. CAN YOU SAY "ROAD TRIP"?







I WILL BE HERE

When the hush is loud and heavy
When the heat begins to rise
When a knife could cut the tension
When exultation fills our eyes

When house lights start to flicker
When our hearts begin to rage
When the air's alive and crackling
And Clay Aiken stalks the stage

(Though the wait had seemed forever
And we’d bitched beyond belief
He had wanted to be perfect
All we wanted was relief)

But Clay Aiken’s back in concert
Claymates arrived en masse
Yes, our fervor is amazing
And we’ve proven we’ve got class

He’s finally here before us
The spell he spins is cast
The angst has been forgotten
It’s opening night at last

The crowd is on its feet now
The screaming has begun
United in euphoria
Our voices rise as one

He shines with arms outstretching
Eyes twinkling with delight
When he bites that swollen lower lip -
I’ll pass out at the sight

Just my luck to miss the opening
And no one will notice me
Lying here semiconscious
Awash in ecstasy
geni 2006


TOUR DATES

AN EVENING WITH CLAY AIKEN
07/04/07 Dallas, TX, US Pizza Hut Park
07/06/07 Houston, TX, US Jones Hall
07/07/07 Tulsa, OK, US Brady Theater
07/17/07 Philadelphia, PA, US Mann Center for the Performing Arts
07/18/07 Syracuse, NY, US Mulroy Civic Center at Oncenter
07/19/07 Canandaigua, NY, US Constellation Performing Arts Center
07/20/07 Chautauqua, NY, US Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
07/21/07 Columbus, OH, US Chemical Abstract Service Buy Tickets
07/23/07 Sterling Heights, MI, US Freedom Hill Amphitheater
07/25/07 Gilford, NH, US Meadowbrook Farm
07/28/07 Newark, NJ, US New Jersey Performing Arts Center
08/02/07 San Diego, CA, US Embarcadero Marina Park South
08/03/07 Pala, CA, US Pala Casino Starlight
08/04/07 Los Angeles, CA, US Greek Theatre
08/05/07 Indio, CA, US Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
08/10/07 Cary, NC, US Koka Booth Amphitheater
08/11/07 Asheville, NC, US Biltmore Estate
08/12/07 Knoxville, TN, US Tennessee Theater
08/15/07 Atlanta, GA, US Chastain Park Amphitheater
08/16/07 Fort Myers, FL, US Barbara B Mann Center
08/17/07 Tampa, FL, US Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
08/18/07 West Palm Beach, FL, US Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
08/19/07 Orlando, FL, US Hard Rock Live

Here is some information about BAF, the charity supported by our fan club.

" As a Foundation we have an
effective inclusive summer camp program entitled
"Let's All Play." Our Friend Mikayla, written and
illustrated by the 3rd grade class in Lower Nazareth
Elementary, has been well received. The Federal and
State Farm grants have generated excellent initial
work for a K-12 inclusive curriculum and work with
Johns Hopkins University has highlighted interesting
potential for helping to bridge the educational gap
that exists for many students with special needs and
their peers. All in all, great progress, but still
much to do. I feel most importantly we have to
challenge ourselves as to how we can touch the lives
of more kids!"

The SW Missouri Show Me Clay Fan Club had our June meeting at Jaiken’s home and what a sweet time it was. You can see the pool in the background from the deck where we ate.






She prepared a birthday surprise for one member. Guess who that is popping out of the cake?? Unfortunately, he wasn’t there, he’s rehearsing, ya’know, for that summer concert tour complete with orchestra. We'll all be in Tulsa for a concert on July 7. Yeah!!!! Road trip!!!!
…….




Here’s the famous redhead herself, my good friend, H2, and the lovely natural blonde geni having a little fun, as usual….well, I’m talking as usual and she’s lookin way too young.




Our president keeps things percolating for BAF. The club donated eight OUR FRIEND MIKALA books to area libraries,






Now we are in the planning stages of a Scrapping for Inclusion tour de force next fall to raise fund for BAF. I can’t believe so few women (we have a very small club) can do so much. Get your friends together. You to can make a difference.






Remember “it’s better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness” or “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” or “not dead yet”……whatever your mantra might be…..




Clay Aiken in concert. Of course, making a difference is Clay's mantra. Just ask that guy who didn’t give up and drove from Charlotte and Atlanta to try out for American Idol again after he had been turned down the first time.

It’s just me, geni

MY FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE




This is my daddy opening a Christmas gift I bought him. After he retired he took over the cooking and his specialty was vegetable soup….don’t ask me why…..oh, he took over the cooking because my mother wasn’t any better a cook than I am.

My father died over fifteen years ago and I can still hear his laughter, see his smile. He was the man by which I judged all other men – and very few even came close. He was not a wealthy man, not an imposing looking man, not an important man in the eyes of the world. But he was the world to the women in his life, and his daughter adored him. I am his legacy. All that I am, he shaped. All my values were his, as are his personality, his assets and his faults, even his interests are still mine.

When he died, suddenly of a heart attack, I handled his funeral, and wrote his eulogy. This is my testament to him. I believe a man should be eulogized by one who knew him well – someone who loved him – and I loved him most of all. His passing from this earth should be noted by more than a short paragraph of facts in the middle of a newspaper obituary column.

My dad was a man of character. He was a man of strong moral fiber. You knew where he stood and where you stood with him. He always spoke his mind, regardless of who might be hurt, including himself. This was an asset or a fault – I always admired it in him but Mother always said he could think whatever he wanted, he didn’t have to say it out loud.

I always felt a little sorry for my father – always surrounded by women – his mother and two sisters as a boy – his wife and daughter as a man. And hard women, too. The women in his life, either born or married, were and are rock-hard, all of them – including me, his only child. Undoubtedly, we alll helped shape his character. He was always a gentleman among women, but he had to be tough to survive. Maybe that’s why he learned the fine art of argument.

My, how that man loved to argue! His friends were also men who loved to argue. I have listened to him spend a whole evening in loud disagreement (not a debate, no one ever changed his mind). I’d wonder how they could remain friends after that. But, you know, he never downgraded another man behind his back after those arguments. He respected a man’s right to his opinion and respected any man or woman who had the guts to voice those opinions. I finally decided that arguing was a source of entertainment to both of them.

He was not a joiner. The only memberships he ever held were his church and his union. He remained a union man long after his retirement. Of course, this was a fine topic for arguments, as was politics – a Democrat to the end. He even admitted he was a “yellow dog Democrat” – with pride, I might add.

He didn’t argue about religion. His faith was a fact and not arguable. He was a true believer in saving grace. I walked by their bedroom every night on my way to get ready for bed, and I would see him on his knees every night. I never heard a word. He was not a demonstrative man, even in private. It was between him and his God.

He had no hobbies, unless you count swinging. Many an evening he and I would spend swinging on the patio or deck, talking, sometimes arguing, gazing up at the stars. We were very curious about those stars. We were avid science fiction fans and had all kinds of speculations about distant galaxies. Or sometimes we were quiet, just swinging back and forth, lost in their beauty and mystery.

What more can you say about a man than to say you were proud of him. His wife was proud to sit beside him every Sunday in that same church pew. His daughter was proud to have him walk her down the aisle. His grandchildren were proud to have their friends also call him grandpa.

I was also proud to print Shakespeare’s soliloquy from Romeo and Juliette in his funeral program. It could have been written for him. Who knows, maybe it was.

“When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars
And he shall make the face of heaven so fine
That all the Earth shall be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun…”

And now you know why I love stars.





Kansas City - Daddy hadn't been back from WWII too long when this was taken.





I was always holding Daddy's hand when i had the chance....and i seem to be edging away from Mother......hmmmmmmmm





We look so serious here. Of course, without my glasses, i always looked like i was a little worried about something.





It’s just me, geni

Ebb Tide by The Righteous Brothers is certainly not as familiar as two of their other hits from the ’60s. For some strange reason (yeah, right) I bet everyone here is quite familiar with ‘Unchained Melody” and surely everyone’s favorite Tom Cruise movie, Top Gun, rings a bell with even younger members, and the unforgettable song from it, “You’ve Got That Lovin’ Feelin” was by The Righteous Brothers. Still sends chills up and down my spine, anyway.

In case you’re wondering where I’m going with this…..or where it came from…..Clay’s late night blog, so full of information contained this referenceBut, when I got to my room, I was so excited by the cool view…. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, is located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. Both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean, viewed from a Mexican balcony are breathtaking. Here’s another view.





I’ve been to both coasts of Mexico.






The color of the water at Playa del Carmen can hardly be described.
And I was especially entranced by the sound of the tide at night.




So I wrote a poem about it…..how did you guess…………

The waves thunder into the shore each night
The exotic Caribbean blue has solomned
Sitting alone on the beach, it’s mesmerizing
They roar in, then recede
They roar in, then recede
They roar in, then recede
Endlessly

The majesty of their force is primeval
Since before time began
Leveling all before them
Absconding with what had been
They never end
They never will
They are mindless

Are the waves louder, more forceful at night?
Or does the silence of the stars still the soul
And it can listen with the heart?
Is it the gentle warmth of the Latin night
And the softness of the embracing sand
That revives this poignant yearning?

Do they have, do they need a purpose?
Is mindless, ceaseless motion enough?
But life is always seeking meaning
In the stars or in the surf.
Even when there is none.

The tide will return
I never will.
geni 2007


Here are the words to Ebb Tide.

“First the tide rushes in, plants a kiss on the shore
Then rolls out to sea and the sea is very still once more
So I ll rush to your side, like the oncoming tide
With one burning thought, will your arms open wide?

At last, we’re face to face,
and as we kiss, through an embrace
I can tell, I can feel, you are love, you are real, really mine
In the rain, in the dark, in the sun

Like the tide at its ebb,
I’m at peace
in the web
of your arms.
Ebb tide.

ahhhhhhhhhh, it’s just me, sentimental geni

JUST FOR DOG LOVERS

The music is "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables - no reason except it is one of my very favorite songs and from the first Broadway play Lara took me to see in NYC.




Mr. Bruce, he's waiting for me somewhere, i know.




I got this email from a friend yesterday. you may have already read it...i know these things circle the globe quite speedily, but i just love it.

and as i've said before
"if dogs don't go to heaven, then i want to go where they go."

EMAIL
Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. She dictated and I wrote:

Dear God,
Will you please take special care of our dog, Abbey? She died yesterday and is in heaven. We miss her very much. We are happy that you let us have her as our dog even though she got sick. I hope that you will play with her. She liked to play with balls and swim before she got sick. I am sending some pictures of her so that when you see her in heaven you will know she is our special dog. But I really do miss her

Love,Meredith Claire
P S: Mommy wrote the words after Meredith told them to her.
We put that in an envelope with two pictures of Abbey, and addressed it to God in Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith stuck some stamps on the front (because, as she said, it may take lots of stamps to get a letter all the way to heaven) and that afternoon I let her drop it into the letter box at the post office. For a few days, she would ask if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch. Curious, I went to look at it. It had a gold star card on the front and said "To Meredith" in an unfamiliar hand.

Meredith took it in and opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers,
"When a Pet Dies" Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God, in its opened envelope (which was marked Return to Sender: Insufficient address) On the opposite page, one of the pictures of Abbey was taped under the words "For Meredith" We turned to the back cover, and there was the other picture of Abbey, and this handwritten note on pink paper:
Dear Meredith,
I know that you will be happy to know that Abbey arrived safely and soundly in Heaven! Having the pictures you sent to me was such a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
You know, Meredith, she isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me--just like she stays in your heart--young and running and playing. Abbey loved being your dog, you know.
Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets!-- so I can't keep your beautiful letter. I am sending it to you with the pictures so that you will have this book to keep and remember Abbey.
One of my angels is taking care of this for me. I hope the little book helps. Thank you for the beautiful letter. Thank your mother for sending it. What a wonderful mother you have! I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am in heaven but wherever there is love, I am there also.

Love,
God and the special angel who wrote this after God told her the words."

As a parent and a pet lover, this is one of the kindest things that I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is some very kind soul working in the dead letter office. Just wanted to share this act of compassion
_____________________
THERE ARE WONDERFUL CARING PEOPLE IN EVERY LINE OF WORK.

you may want to go read another blog now, cause, wouldn't you know it, i wrote a poem about Mr. Bruce.

THE TALENTED MR. BRUCE


He could bound straight up,
Four feet in the air, ten times in succession.
He could croon along with any song,
A canine Caruso.

He could demolish a pillow
In ten minutes flat.
He knew a bed, not the floor,
Was for sleeping.

He could see ghosts
From the hallway door.

He’d rather mouth a hand than be petted.
I never left a room that he didn’t follow,
Nuzzling my fingers.

He’d crawl up my lap, stare in my eyes,
To beg a bite of food,
Or just steal it right off the plate,
Then run like hell.

He’d race through the house
With a toy in his mouth
To entice us to romp.

One soft, pale hair is sometimes seen still
And moves me to tears.
He filled my dreary days with life and joy.

He died as he lived,
Running full out.
geni 2000

CAN THERE BE SUCH A THING AS TOOOOOOO MUCH?

Well, of course NOT when it comes to our Idol or our family or our pets. (hhmmmmm?? Is that the right order?) Surely not when it comes to buying clayconcert tickets, or protecting your kids, or pampering your pets??

Oh well, actually the answer to that question is YES. Especially regarding PETS - sorry I didn’t make that clear in the beginning.




CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO OF OUR DOG FREEDA

DOG SCOUTS

1. “These dog scouts wear scarves, earn badges, do community service, go to summer camps, and learn new skills” Here are some of the badges that can be earned by your dog in dog scouts. (This is from an article in my local newspaper. honest, I didn’t make this up – even I’m not that big a liar)






I especially liked the badges in “therapy” and “back packing”. Do you think the dogs are in therapy, or giving therapy to other dogs? Oh, wait, maybe they’re those dogs that visit senior citizens in nursing homes. I wonder what in the world the one with the musical notes on it is for? Tommy howls a bit. Think that would qualify? Does the dog have to perform before the scout pack (pun intended) or can you just take a recording of the canine virtuoso? Do they play instruments? Wonder if dancing is included?



THIS IS MY MUSICALLY TALENTED SHIZ TSU SUSI

BTW, the dog scout motto is “ Let us learn new things that we may become more helpful.” Wonder if the dogs bark out the motto? Wonder if they have to stand on their hind legs and raise one paw?

These pet pamperers need to get a job or volunteer for a charity or even clean out their closets. And I just have to share this tidbit from my days as “supermom”. When my dd was a brownie I used to staple her badges to her sash. Give me a break! I worked eight plus hours a day, got her to the brownie meeting, in brownie outfit including beanie and sash. Surely you didn’t expect me to sew too. It was a wee bit embarrassing when one of her badges fell off and the smirking scout leader announced that they had found a badge on the floor…..with a staple attached. My innocent dd went and retrieved it while I acted like I was the competent mother of one of the other brownies. My poor dd didn’t know that all mommies didn’t staple badges and superglue hems.



DD is on the right and btw that's why you're listening to Lara's Theme

Well back to the theme of this blog. PET PAMPERING

If your dog barks excessively, the Dog Shrink recommends a Citronella Collar for about $80.(YES, I said dog shrink. This advice comes directly from her magazine column) “Barking will activate the microphone on the collar which discharges a harmless citronella spritz. One problem is that a “genius” dog may learn to turn his head and bark until the spritzer empties and then continues to bark to his/her heart’s content.

The DOG TREAD MILL sounds interesting. Guess that's for owners who are never home or too lazy to ever walk their own dog. Wonder why they got a dog in the first place?

Clothing for dogs is a really big seller now. Paris Hilton has her own line of pet clothes. (I swear on my Clay Aiken Official Fan Club Membership Card that I’m not making this up.)





Here’s some cute doggies in their designer dresses.










THIS ONE MUST BE FOR THAT GENIUS DOG THAT LOVES TO BARK.

Well, MY cocker spaniel, Tommy, just wouldn’t have a thing to do with any of these. He is a boy after all. And he’s so good looking anyway – what does he need clothes for?





It’s just me, geni

p.s. Just in case you didn't know who the aforementioned IDOL was. Here he is with his dog.

(click on the picture to enlarge it)

Something strange happened to me last night. I enjoyed a sports event. I went to my five year old grandson’s T-ball game. I should tell you up front that I am not a sports fan of any kind – not baseball, football, basketball, not hockey, soccer, (boys or girls - live or TV) not lacrosse, not tennis nor golf not Nascar, not even Superbowl, World Series, or the Final Eight or Four or whatever.

I’m not interested in anything where I have to sit for long periods of time and watch somebody else doing spectacular feats that I could never do (or be allowed to try to do when I was the age to do them) not to mention the fact that I ‘m not supposed to talk at any of these things and, in fact, am told to quit talking ….which is very rude of them I think.

Dancing with the Stars is as sporty as I care to watch….love those sparkly, low cut outfits, and the shoes are just amazing….but I digress
We grandmothers have duties which we have to fulfill, and I strive to show an interest in any and everything concerning my first grandson. (Barney was a real trial and TeleBabies were an insult to even toddler intelligence and
and let’s just forget the Wiggles, please.) Wait, still digressing, I see.

My grandson’s T-ball game was the subject here. In case you are unfamiliar with T ball – the ball is placed on top of this pipe thingy for the little ones to hit. No frustrating pitching and swinging at air. I laughed out lout the first time, one of the players whopped the pipe itself and sent it flying. From the dirty looks I got, I assumed that was not proper T-ball bleacher etiquette so restrained myself the next several times it happened.





All these three foot boys and girls were being taught the basics, I could tell. The coaches were very positive and patient. My heart went out to the little girl who was just sitting on second base staring into the outfield (she was a runner, btw, not the second baseplayer.) Coach ran out and picked up her helmet (which somehow was quite a distance away) and put it back on her and explained to her that she needed to watch the batter so she could run to third back when they hit the ball. The behind the plate coach was helping the batters with proper stance and bat holding. I loved the kid who had batting gloves on. I gathered he was the head coach’s.

Most of the five year olds, including mine, were more interested in the dirt on the field than the play. Well, after all, baseball is sooooo slooow at the best of times, and T-ball is not a competition. No score is kept. They play for an hour and quit. Everyone gets to swing as many times as it takes to knock that stubborn orb from its throne, ….and not one was put out in this game. (don’t know if that is usual or not) Of course, these kids are too young to have their tender feelings bruised by failure…however, are they in for a rude awakening next year!!!!!

The parents were on good behavior at this early stage in their sports attendance. I’ll quit attending when the yelling and arguing starts and certain more talented kids get to play all the time and others get spinters in their little behinds from the benches. But I already noticed one highly active little guy fighting over the ball to the encouragement of some adults.

I’d say most of the kids were there for the novelty and maybe the uniforms. Standard procedure was to drag the bat through the dirt on the way to the plate. Kicking the dirt occupied most of the fielders attention (it was a windy day). My grandson (always one to investigate anything) was picking it up and letting it funnel through his fist. Not sure if he was testing soil consistency or wind direction and/or windspeed.

Not too sure how enthusiastic First Grandson is about the sport to tell the truth. The only thing he told me initially was that when it was over he got fruit rollups and a Hawaiian punch pouch drink. Well, after all, I’ve toiled for less reward myself.

it’s just me, geni

Hi friends,

Here is the email i received yesterday from UNICEF. Thanks to those of you who joined me in donating to this. Ann is right.( don't forget to read the comments to my last blog.)This is probably the only way we are going to defeat the Taliban and convince Middle Easterners that the United States is a caring nation.

"
Dear Jean,

Last week UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken set a goal of raising $100,000 in ten days to help kids in Afghanistan.There are still two and a half days left, but we've already exceeded the goal and I wanted to thank you on behalf of UNICEF for your extraordinary response. Together, we've raised over $160,000!

Please click here to watch Clay's video thank-you on UNICEF USA's Fieldnotes blog.UNICEF is putting your donations to work to save children and brighten their futures. Again, on behalf of the many young lives you've touched, thank you for your generosity.

Sincerely,

Christine Squires, Vice President

U.S. Fund for UNICEF"

Clay Aiken fans are the greatest (if i do say so myself)

In addition to his UNICEF work, you may have heard of this web site that Kevin Bacon started to fund money to chairitable foundations:

"Six Degrees update; Kevin Bacon's Six Degrees challenge ended on March 31st and The Bubel/Aiken Foundation was officially declared a top six finisher and therefore eligible for the matching $10,000 award. TBAF finished in second place with nearly $45,000 in donations from over 2000 individuals."

Life is good.....even in the face of tragedy.....we all go on.

it's just me, geni


“....I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."

CLAY'S AFGHANISTAN APPEAL - $100,000 IN 10 DAYS





"We can do this. I've just returned from Afghanistan. The children there need our help today. Let's give UNICEF our support." - Clay Aiken

(this is a copy of Clay's letter of April 12)
Hello Friend,

I've been visiting UNICEF field locations in Afghanistan for the past week. Today, I'm writing to tell you what I've seen and ask for your help.

On my trip, I met Fwazia (we’re in the picture above). She is 11 years old. Fwazia attends a unique school where boys and girls from grades 1-9 share classes and study in the open. The school is in urgent need of funding to buy tents and materials to build a new school. This will give more children the opportunity to go to school.

Let's aim high and work together to raise $100,000 in 10 days to support UNICEF's work in Afghanistan. Join me in standing with UNICEF to support the kids of Afghanistan.

Give online with confidence. If you contribute $50 or more by April 22nd, UNICEF will e-mail you my exclusive field report, in a PDF file format, with some of my own photos from the trip that won't appear anywhere else. As my personal thanks to those of you who are able to donate $1,000 or more, we'll mail an autographed copy of my report.

The children in Afghanistan need help now. Please join me in making a donation today

Sincerely,

Clay Aiken,UNICEF Ambassador




P.S. I'm so inspired by the change we can make together. Please pass this message on to your friends and family asking them to support UNICEF's work.

note from geni. Can you believe Clayfans had already donated $40,000 in one day and by April 14 $90,000 had been donated. Here is a link to the UNICEF site if you care to donate yourself. Or just read more about the project when you click below.
UNICEF page.

my life now

i've almost reached nirvana
i remained cool at the the DMV
they said i needed receipts
i wistfully said, i see

i guess i'm finally mellowing
aging like fine old wine
i didn't rant and scream today
i'm learning about time

there's so much we're allotted
there's this and then we're through
i want to laugh and sing my life
before i say adieu.
geni 2007

I've lived a middlin’ amount of time on this Earth and still don’t know jacksh..t about life. Those lists of ”THINGS I’VE LEARNED” are real nice, but usually not real practical and certainly not applicable to everyone. I don’t know who writes those lists (I think they’re usually too embarrassed to sign their name) but I can’t for the life of me figure out why they would recommend some of this. I bet they don’t follow it themselves.

Here’s some advice from others that I’ve gleaned from my “FILES OF USELESS THINGS I’VE SAVED AND WILL NEVER READ AGAIN OR IF I DO READ THEM WILL NEVER FIND A USE FOR THEM”

Smile at everyone you meet. (you could attract undesirables that way, y’know)
Do a good deed once a day. (not advisable – then people come to expect it from you and are ungrateful)
Save your money. (nahhhhh….no fun)
Forgive your enemies. (why? They’re your enemies….they’re not nice people)
Eat a healthy diet and exercise. (yeah, like that’s gonna happen……)
Don’t worry about small things.(no wait, those are the only problems you have the slightest chance of solving.)
Live on a budget. (What’s a budget anyway?)


I’m quite sure I can do better than those people who make those lists. Well, if not better, at least my list is not so hard to do and it’s my list and I can put anything I want on it.

GENI’S THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO DO LIST (maybe)




CLICK ON THE PIC TO ENLARGE
Pet every dog you meet (be sure it’s wagging its tail before you do that, though)
You can try to pet a cat but that’s usually not successful, considering how stuck up cats can be.
Laugh at least once a day.




If the sun is shining, be sure and turn your face to it.
If it is snowing, see if you can catch a snowflake on your tongue.
If it is night, be sure and look at the stars for awhile.
Sing every chance you get and always very loudly.
If you can’t sing, hum.
Don't just smell the flowers, pick all those suckers you can.




Cuss if you want to. Scatologicals are not against the Ten Commandments, y’know.
Eat the things you like to eat, especially if it’s chocolate.
Never give a cheap gift and tip generously. (honest, you often get better gifts in return.)
Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom when you’re away from home.
Go to every Clay Aiken concert you can possibly afford and find transportation to.




Call or email a friend or two just to say hi.
Don’t drink enough to get drunk (it embarrasses your friends)
Don’t take any crap from anyone.


GENI’S THINGS I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE LIST
(These are the only things I know for certain.)

1. Life is short.
2. Life is good.
3. Do the best you can with what you’ve got to work with.

That’s it folks, works for me.

it’s just me, geni


“I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”

please leave a comment and tell me what you have learned about life in your years on this planet.