Hi, everyone!

Well, I'm back home in Boondockville all deflowered by Clay Aiken.*g

I'm absolutely no good at concert recaps but I'll give it a try anyway.

First of all, I rode down to the Cities in an honest to God Claymobile. TriciaW and patty2sink had their car all decorated for the MNClayFans party which they helped with and worked so very hard on. They are good friends with Gus and Meesh from that fan group and spent some quality time with them. I just want to thank both of them for a wonderful trip both down and back from the Cities. TriciaW even let me check in here at CV a few times on her laptop. Big, fat smooches to them both.

Meeting champion, lindspe, rcknrllmom, Clayla, christel, and lindylo was one of the highlights of my concert experience. What a great bunch of gals they all are! We ate, watched a little Clack, talked about Clay, and even waited by the buses which I never thought in a million years I would do. But, hey, when you're 12 you stand out in a Minnesota winter waiting for a glimpse of our boyfriend. We, of course, stood back at a distance and were not part of the "rush to Clay" group. He looked all fresh and shiny and adorable. Sure wish the crowd would have behaved itself.

At the venue, I met thankful4clay whom I have been wanting to meet for age, claybaby, and two great gals from the CB and the Broads. lindylo gave me a ticket for...get this... 3rd row, so you might say I saw Clay up close and personal. I tried using my binoculars once but decided I'd better not if I wanted to survive.

The concert itself was all I expected it to be. I enjoyed the vignettes and the message they conveyed, thought the acting was fine, loved the dancing, Clay was in wonderful voice, and I laughed, giggled, was touched, and even got a bit into the Christmas spirit, although I'm a Scrooge.

The second half was excellent. The segment in the church was beautiful, Clay's voice filled the theatre, and I loved every song. The last two songs of the JNT were my favorites. I would have walked to the Cities to hear DSIAFCD and GN, I think. Absolutely stunning is all I can say about them since I'm not good at describing what his voice does to me. I am so struck by the seemingly effortlessly way he sings. He has such a wonderful gift. We are so damn lucky, you guys. So lucky!

I don't know what else to say, really. To me there were four parts to Clay's JNT: the vignettes with their message, the "church part" with Clay singing the traditional Christmas songs, DSIAFCD which shows one side of Clay's personality, and GN where he bares his heart and soul to us. During GN, I almost felt as if I were intruding.

The crowd was much bigger than I expected for a Monday night the week of Thanksgiving and contained many men, families, and young women. Champion thought it was much more subdued than KC, but, of course, that was a special night. I thought the reception by the audience was enthusiastic but have nothing else to judge it by. Oh, and I enjoyed William Joseph very much.

I know there has been angst about this or that concerning this concert, but I thought it was lovely. I really want to thank Clay for giving us the JNT. Right now, I'm feeling no letdown at all and I really don't expect to. I am just so very thankful to have seen him in person from the 3rd row singing these beautiful songs to MEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

I took some pictures with my DD#2's digital camera and was so afraid that I didn't have the flash turned off that I have about 56 pictures of my black pants leg which I took to test my camera flash. Anybody want one?