Oh my lord...
What? HE knows me!

It's time to come clean about something.
Oh you better take that back!
He looked me in the eye and called me a TRAMP!

I'm talking about money, moola, clams, dinero...
You see, I'm about to write the check for my AI2 concert
aka
"The night I was christened ClaysTramp" experience...

It ain't purty either...
Not like this...

Staggering is more like it...
possibly sobering...
unpack your adjectives...

There are those among us who spend inordinate amounts of money on
jewelry, clothes or furniture...
I LOVE those people... I am just not one of them.

I may wear pants from the eighties
or have only 5 pieces of jewelry to my name
or lack the posh furnishings of other Gen X'ers
but dammitt if it has Clay Aiken's
face, name or shoe size attached to it...
It is DESTINED to be mine.

Begin at the Beginning

I had no intention of attending this concert... but I did!

That's how I got these great pics...

I had no intention of paying broker prices... but I did!
I thought for sure that there was no way I'd enjoy any of it, except Clay...
but I did!
Well, I was POSITIVE he wouldn't acknowledge me ... but he did!

STOP IT!

Assessing the Damage

So just how much did this little adventure set me back?

2 Achin4Aiken T-shirts ... overnighted.
I had to have them in time for the finals and one was for my friend.

1 Durham Bulls Jersey ... portion of proceeds to charity...
Oh like that makes it perfectly fine to spend that amount of money
on a freakin' shirt!

2 CD singles one was a gift...

1 DVD Set ... thank GOD for TONY!

3 Copies of RS magazine
1 at newstand price
2 from BAMM (overnighted)
Hey.. I was desperate! What's worse, I've never even opened them...
They are still in the cardboard envelope they were delivered in...
I was so happy to get that magazine!

1 pair of red shoes ...
No, not diesel's ... I'm sorry, shoes are like tires to me - I hate to
spend money on them - I'd be happy to have one pair that fit well and
never wear out... I envy people who love shoes... of course I say
this while in possession of the most pairs I've ever owned at one time in my life!

2 Fourth Row Broker priced tickets...

1 Hotel Room for 2 nights... This could have been a nice inexpensive experience...
but it wasn't... turned into "hey as long as we're out of town let's turn it
into a treat..."
And it was! We stayed in the EO Inn in Orlando...
Indulged in massages, manicures,facials...
all to prepare for the concert event of the season!
It's all Clay Aiken's fault... there, that feels better!

1 Truck
My job as cook at the Double O Wild BEVR Ranch
required a "chuck wagon" so I opted for a "chuck truck"...
I know.
It's a pretend ranch... but if I can associate the purchase with Clay,
then it makes the bitter taste of the payment much sweeter...
Of course we took "chuck" to Orlando...
What if Clay got hungry?
I might need to make out with the donuts... wait a minute... no, that's what I meant!

Supplies to make 1 audition replica bear, 1 LBFCA tshirt with names to throw on stage and 1 pair of purple panties and enough supplies to make 3 kick-ass signs.

1 Clay Aiken pin

1 Clay Aiken concert T-shirt
I would have bought a program too ... but exercised great self-control!

Parking Fee

Not to mention this beauty...

Donation to MDA ...
(partly because the boy sang and Jerry was so dang di ding nice to him... and partly because I'm just nice that way...)

Not to mention his album in October... Vegas in November to meet my BROAD peeps and then there's the solo tour...

I know, I know, I said I was going to come clean about how much I've spent ...
Let's put it this way... I've got almost a year left on my diaryland Clay Aiken
inspired fansite... I have 2 words ... or possibly 1 hyphenated word - I don't know...
(Katynka... HELP!)
Anyway... here it is...

Never ending...

I think you get the picture.

CT is THANKFUL FOR ALL OF HER BLESSINGS...

Thanks to Mr. CT for taking these pic's... without him I would have none...