Day 2 - August 18 - CLAY DAY! Part 2 Okay .... have to back up just a sec ....
We took a group pic. Imagine getting 17 people in one pic.
Lauren and Audra were AWOL, because Audra said they were lost. They made it before the concert though.
I went in the gate, got seperated from Alli when I stopped to buy a tour shirt, program and keychain. Then I made my way to our seats. Kris (claysjoy) and Alli were there talking and Kris asked me to find Krista (Fantasy) at the bathrooms. I made my way back there and never found her. I came back and saw Shaikey and Marsha in their grandstand seats and waved. Then I sat down and Alli and Krista left. I had to hold our spots, so when Woody came over and asked if I wanted to find Pat (Pat4Clay) I couldn't leave. My cameras and film were out and I was getting ready for the concert. Clandy came over and said Alli switched her seats so she could get better pictures.
Finally, the concert was about to begin. I tried to get my phone ready to call Dove, but
ACK! no signal. S'von and the gang came out and asked for a quarter and my heart began to race. I was ready for a big time Claying!
When Clay finally came out, the screams were loud and well deserved. The first half of the concert flew by and Clay was sounding great! Clandy and I took picture after picture. Clay came down in the audience to pick the man for Car Wash and I saw the top of his hat. Clandy barely got to see it. The 6 year old girl in front of me kept standing on her chair. Not to be confused with the lady 3 rows ahead of us who had her arm in a brace. Her way of dancing included blocking my view. I felt like really breaking her arm, but I refrained from that temptation and focused on Clay.
Intermission came way too soon. Clandy and I deleted blurry pictures and I called Dove as I finally got a signal. We talked for a few minutes and then I hung up as Car Wash started. Clay was incredibly snarky and wonderful that night. Of course I loved every minute of it! Then came the time when he asked what we did Wednesday. I looked at Clandy and kept my mouth shut. Most people mentioned computers, traveling, etc. Then he called on a girl in a green shirt who said she went to his hotel. I laughed and said, "That's what Audra, Lauren and I did" to Clandy. I laughed and the rest of the concert went by quickly. I loved the audience particpation in "Back For More" and "Invisible". Streamers went everywhere at the end of the concert and Clandy and I decorated ourselves. I gave one streamer to Alli. I found our the girl in the green shirt that Clay talked to was Lauren! She was talking about her, me and Audra.
I met Melissa and Jaime out front and we made our way to the car. We arrived at TGI Friday's after everyone else was already there, but Jaime was tired and decided to not stay. Melissa and I sat with Lauren, Audra and their mother. We all talked and laughed. We took pictures and everyone ordered. Audra could tell you I took 15 minutes deciding all I wanted was french fries and a huge glass of ice tea. (Okay ..... 4 glasses of ice tea. It was hot and muggy at the fair and I was thirsty!)
We got our lovely framed Clay pics and JBT CDs.
Then we had the drawing for the prizes. I won a small JBT bag and then a JBT transfer in Alli's trivia game.
Audra, Lauren, their mother, Melissa and I left earlier than most of the bunch so they could take us back to the hotel. Dev and her friend left at the same time. I loved meeting Thea and getting the big hug. I hugged everyone else goodbye and we headed to the hotel. It was storming around the city (thank goodness it held off for the concert!).
At the hotel, Audra and I said our goodbyes. It was hard, because we didn't get to spend much time together. There will be more times to come soon I'm sure.
Melissa and I headed up to the suites and hung out with the rest of the KC Clay Fans and our friends. We looked at pics, discussed the concert and laughed until 2 a.m. I told them our ticket fiasco story and Janelle from Raleigh was so sweet and wanted to make sure it wasn't one of her bunch who did that to us. It wasn't but I do know where the lady who did that to us was from. We made our way to our room and went to bed since we would have to travel home the next day. We had to be extra quiet. Jaime was sleeping, because she was headed up to Interlochen early the next morning by herself. (She had a front row seat!) Melissa and I kept whispering and laughing about the concert.
Day 3 to come .....