Dear Madagascar,

Dear Madagascar,
I thought it only fair to let you know that there is somebody that is the same size as you. Not a country, but a single person. There is probably more than one now that I think about it, but this one lady is who I'm having an issue with getting over. She rides a scooter, which isn't surprising. Attempting to walk would probably break the brittle leg bones that are hidden beneath the many layers of blubber. I'm not writing this to be mean, I'm really not. I just thought you would like to hear of this so you can be warned.
Today, she was lurking in the smallest aisle of Wal-Mart, the one that contains the paper clips and other miscellaneous office products. She took up the whole aisle, leaving me with no choice but to climb the shelves in order to get around her. the other exit was blocked by two ravenous shoppers who had a rabid disposition about them. I figured I would take my chances with the one I had mentally dubbed "Scooter Lady". At first it was going to be "Mastadon" but there is already someone I know with that nickname. Sad, I know. But I'm not a mean person, let me stress this. I am merely... honest.
I was standing behind Scooter Lady, who was browsing at the small selection of paper clips, mumbling to herself in words I couldn't easily understand. I made a few small attempts to say
"Excuse me," as I awkwardly stepped on the metal displays/aisle separaters. She turned and saw my attempts, and grinned a grin that usually belongs to someone who just got a puppy.
"LOOK AT THESE PAPER CLIPS!" she said with an unmistakable southern drawl. "THEY'S METALLIC COLORS RIGHT THERE!"
Ah, yes. Metallic paper clips. A gold mine for those who tend to be easily entertained. And I mean very, very easily entertained. Maybe a kid with ADD/ADHD? Shiiiiiiiny.
"Um, well, yes. They're pretty," was all I could say as I squeezed myself by her, trying not to knock over the metal shelves I was climbing upon like an imbicile. I finally made it to open air that made my clausterphobia go away like flies on superglue.
"I could really use these paperclips," Scooter Lady continued, paying no mind to my previous efforts.
"Well then you go ahead and get those paperclips," I said as I slowly inched away from her, and rounded the corner to the next aisle before she could finish her next sentance. Perhaps it was rude of me to leave while she was talking, but I had a mission to complete. Finding birthday cards in that mess of a store is almost impossible. However, before you get disappointed, she did find me once again. At the cash register, one I picked because it was the one furthest away from the register that the Wal-Mart stalker was tending to, I saw she was leaving. She noticed me and made sure to hold up her new box of metallic paperclips and gesture towards them, making sure I knew that she succeeded in getting what she was so excited about. I nodded slightly and smiled, paid for my Uncle's birthday card, and left without another look back at the place that holds many evils that most don't dare to embark upon. But my uncle was worth it. You know you're loved when someone braves a Wal-Mart for you.
So my dear Madagascar, may you be warned. Stay away from Wal-Marts when possible, and always steer clear of anyone that seems unnaturally fascinated by metallic paperclips. It only ends in pain.
Being a small, underprivelidged African nation with the last of the lemurs, I wish you only the best. (I once had a toy lemur named George that was very near and dear to my heart.) I only wish that I may one day write to you again under much happier circumstances than this.
Hoping your are well,
Shae McClain

Oh for the love of Pete. Wait. Who is Pete?

Hi, my name is Shae.
I like music. I like bluegrass music. I like to play and sing music. I like to play and sing bluegrass music.
The sentances you just read pretty much summarize what I would like my life to involve. I thank any of you who are reading this and have supported me in my music, because it truely is one of the most important things in my life. I like using the talent that I believe God has blessed me with for a reason, and sharing the joy of it with everyone who will listen. The stage feels like home to me, moreso than the house I live in. When I'm up there with the lights, standing with my friends and an audience who really appreciates the music, the feeling is absolutely undescribable. Hearing the two and three part harmonies and counting the bass line and moving the bow across my fiddle at just the right moment... it's just like heaven on earth. I love the little old men who tell me I sing like an angel and I love the people who refuse to leave after a show until they hear me sing just one more time, and I love my friends and bandmates who kept me going, even when I was just beginning and felt like putting down my fiddle and giving up so many times.
My Pap has always encouraged and supported me when it comes to my music. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have ever joined LC Blue and made this realization if it wasn't for him. And since he's probably reading this, then just know that I appreciate everything you and Grandma have done for me and I love you both very much.
And Dad and Karen, thank you for my magic fiddle. I really do practice and I really do love it and I always will.
I don't ever appreciate people enough. None of us do. I am one of the most blessed, spoiled, loved, and just plain lucky kids on God's green earth. I don't have a million dollars or a mansion in Beverly Hills, but I have a family that any kid would kill for, and that much I'm thankful for every day. If I could spend the rest of my life making a living singing and playing music, then it would be nothing short of a dream come true. Though I'm probably doomed to spend the rest of my life baking cakes in someone else's shop until I was 80 and can finally afford my own, but I guess that wouldn't be so bad. I like to bake.
Aaron is in Nashville this weekend, doing more meet and greets only with the most famous bluegrassers ever. I'm sitting here all proud of the fact that I was invited to have lunch with Hershel Sizemore and Bobby Osbourne last summer (oh, and Bobby's son, whose name I cannot remember but he kept giving me weird looks) and Aaron all out of the blue says oh I'm off to Nashville again this weekend blahblahblah meeting EARL SCRUGGS again blahblahblah and I just put on an of course you are kind of face and turned back to the piano.
I want his bluegrass experience/connections, and I want them now.
):
But all in due time, right?
I just keep telling myself that.
Hopefully this bluegrass job with Richie and Eileen works out. Hopefully Mom lightens up and lets me take it. She says maybe not cause she wants me to have a five days a week steady paycheck (in foodservice or telemarketing or some other hell hole I will want to quit in three days or less) so that I have the experience before getting shoved out into the world. All understandable, and I'd like to be able to pay for my own gas for my car, but if I had to choose between a job in a bluegrass band or a job at Burger King, which one am I going to choose? Hopefully Mom lets me choose. I really want to be in this band. I have 60+ years to enjoy the droning of a normal job thats going to keep me occupied every day of the week and will have me counting down the days till retirement. Let me enjoy the flexibility of my teen years while I can. I mean, it IS a job, right? Geesh. Am I just being a stupid teenager? I hope not, because I actually put thought into this. I'm not trying to be lazy and avoid a job, I had friends picking up applications to a local Resort for me so I could apply to spend my evenings and nights taking orders from a public who tends to be rude to the wait staff, from what I've seen anyway. But when opportunity knocks.....
Well, keep your fingers crossed for me. I feel like this is what I'm supposed to be doing, at least for now.
Until something interesting happens,
Toodaloo.
♥Shae.

I think I'll return your butterfly collection now.

Okay, I'll admit, I've been seriously slacking when it comes to keeping this blog updated with the crazy antics that go on in every day life. Well, my every day life anyway. I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to the craziness, but for the moment I really am enjoying it. I've been taking lots of pictures lately. My camera was definitely a well worth it investment on my part, and I have no regrets when it comes to buying it. The opportunities have been nothing short of extraordinary between our winter vacation to Florida and my news project on adopting animals. The simplest things can have the most to say in a picture, and whereas most are worth a thousand words, some are worth even more. A lot of times there are emotions that cannot be expressed with words. Does that stop people from trying? No, but the verbal descriptions always fall somewhat short of the real thing. If someone says "Florida was undoubtedly the most gorgeous place yesterday, it is so green and lush and the golden sunshine never seems to end," then hey, thats a pretty good description. But until you see the picture or experience that sunshine, all you have to work with are the words on the page. I hate posed pictures. I don't like taking pictures of people when they're smiling, because they are never really *smiling*. They are curving their mouths in a fashion that shows their teeth in an attempt to convey a happy feeling. But it never quite reaches their eyes, which are usually dull and lifeless and convey the feeling of "click the danged button so I can go hit the snack bar". If nobody knows I'm taking pictures specifically of them, I can catch them when they're laughing and really happy, or daydreaming and thoughtful and they're faces are full of meaning and expectations and thought. That is when the pictures say the most. When they have LIFE.

www.flickr.com/whoalove

Now lets catch you up as to whats been going on.

Firstly, Europe. I finally got my passport stuff submitted and I'M FREAKIN' EXCITED.

Sorry bout the "freakin" there, Karen. But I am.

Secondly, McDonalds sweet tea. I love it and my mom just brought me some. Oh, the love.

Thirdly, school. As for my first attempt at the ACT test, I missed requirements for promise scholarship because I got a 17 in the math section. But with a 24 overall, a 30 in english, and 25's and a 28 in every other subcategory, you'd think I'd still get it. But noooooo. I have to take it again. Stay tuned on that one. On the upside, I should have a 4.0 GPA on my second nine weeks. (: Woot woot. For the first time since my Gifted classes ended, I feel smart.

Fourthly, music. It's just plain amazing. My bluegrassers are coming along nicely thanks to Aaron and Ms. Jamison and me. It's helpful times like these when I don't really care if Aaron calls me "Little Fiddle Picker". We are actually working out really pretty harmonies on quite a few songs for our next concert. Whenever that may be.....

And the side band is doing good too. It's alternative rock though so not exactly on the same page with my bluegrassers.

Fifthly, art. It just keeps getting better. I've painted a few ceiling tiles for my school and now my friend Keith wants me to help him paint a shower curtain for his dorm room... hahha.(: This should be interesting.

Last but definitely not least, SAVE THE AMINALS! No, I'm not dyslexic. I just like saying aminals more than animals. Brings out the little kid in me, you know. My friend Brooke and I are doing a news story on animal adoption for our mass communications class. Look at this face! How can you resist?

Most of the animal shelter photos are up on the Flickr link I already posted above. Please, think about the animals.♥

Well I'm outta here now, I have a big cleaning ordeal to overcome and then hopefully I'm off to watch a bunch of small children run around with a basketball.

Please

Have a good day.

Till another time,

Me.