December 17, 2002:

I posted this elsewhere, but it bears repeating here as well. It has come to my attention that alot of folks think that the fan club is bidding at this auction. Just a slight correction: the fan club is not behind this fan effort to bid at the auction. This is a purely 100% GRASSROOTS EFFORT, which makes it extra special! Just a buncha PatsyLovers sitting around navel gazing and saying, "Wait just a dadgum minute! We're not gonna sit around navel gazing anymore!!!" It was Hilda's dream for a Patsy museum to become a reality, and we can't think of any better way to honor her than to see, AT THE VERY LEAST, the items that she made for her own daughter put into a Patsy museum.

People are also wondering if the Nashville stars have been contacted and asked for help. I can say that 99% of the top folks in Nashville who knew Patsy have been contacted via a letter-writing campaign we put together, headed by Vanessa and Theresa. The silence from Nashville is deafening, but perhaps someone will come through in the end, from that part of the world. At this point, what they decide to do is up to them ~ I frankly do not care, because we fans now have the money to participate in this auction and do everything we can to bring something home for Patsy and for Hilda!!! The folks who didn't care enough about Patsy to participate are going to be left behind in our dust, thank you very much.

That's why I had to laugh at this article in an online sports magazine which stated, "Having five top-notch players on the market has made [Montreal Expos GM Omar] Minaya the most popular person in Nashville since Patsy Cline." Sometimes I think Patsy's popularity in Nashville is a mile wide and an inch deep. Everyone speaks highly of her, but no one seems willing to roll up their sleeves and go to work when she really needs them. I would love to be proven wrong on this, I honestly would.

December 13, 2002:

Update re: the PBS documentary, from producer Tracey Jewell. She said that the documentary is at this moment being distributed through APT, which will make it a January teleconference offer, with distribution in March or April. So calling local stations now won't help, because they won't know about it yet. An early February call makes more sense. Then once it is distributed, the station determines the air dates, as long as it's within the rights period. The rights deal is that stations may have up to 4 airings in a 2-year period that begins from the distributor's determined release date. That date hasn't been determined yet, because the program is still pending review by APT, which is really a formality. They just make sure WVPT isn't sending them something inappropriate, that the subject is acceptable, quality is up to par, etc. Then once they determine the release date, which will probably be March, stations may schedule the program for up to 4 times in the next 2 years at their discretion. So to recap:  APT is actually packaging the show right now for stations to review in January, but the air release won't be until probably March. That's where the confusion came in. Hope that clears things up. So let's fire up the phone calls in early February!!

I wanted to take a minute and thank Theresa Shalaby and Bill Cox and the Patsifans who are donating time and/or money to this auction effort. Without these efforts, Patsy's memory would be circling the drain. There would never be a museum, or any items to put into it. People would just sit around and gaze at their navels and play Patsy's records and call each other "Hoss," and I guess that's fine, but I want more! I want a real legacy/monument/tribute to the best damnedest singer who ever walked on the face of the earth! So sue me!!

I am still amazed that it's really happening: the fans of Patsy Cline are coming together to do everything we can to bring something home for Patsy from this auction! I mean, just think about that for a minute! If that simple fact doesn't blow your hat in the creek, I don't know what will. All the odds are against us, but we're overcoming the odds, folks! We're this close to doing it for Patsy!

(Link to fan fund formerly provided here no longer available.)
There are still 6 days left for you to donate to the auction fund ~ PayPal makes it quick 'n easy!

Patsy, your fans have not forgotten you, darlin!

December 10, 2002:

First of all, I'm so impressed with the sacrifices I see being made for Patsy this month! Obviously it is a terrible time to try to raise funds, right here at the holidays, in a rotten economy, but y'all are doing your damndest, it is so moving.

I saw an article in today's Detroit Free Press regarding the difficulties that all charities are having to endure right now. The local Goodfellows fund increased its annual goal from $1.6M in 2001 to $1.75M this year, yet as of yesterday, this fine organization has only raised $197,880. Now, obviously, the charities that deal with those who are less fortunate should, and must, take precedence when things are tight; I'm just hoping y'all can find it in yourselves to give just a little something to Patsy in addition to helping folks who are up against hard times (not instead of). It's a bad time in our economy ~ a nearby shelter here is turning away 25 people a day, even with the snow and single-digit temps.

This auction could not have hit at a worse time, and I'm sure that's true for all of us. But our choice is to either include Patsy in our meager financial plans, or not. For me, "not" is not a choice! It just means cutting back in some other areas. It can be done, and in fact, we are doing it, so many of us! I'm impressed with the amount we've raised so far, but let's keep going! I don't want to be greedy, but the more funds we raise for this effort, the more we can bring home to the museum for Patsy. And we have hefty auction fees to pay on top of whatever we pay for a particular item. Then there are the costs to ship the goods.... I'm sorry that so much revolves around money, but that's the way the world works!

Let's face it, you took the time and trouble to type the words "Patsy Cline" into a search engine and find this website. If Patsy has moved you enough to seek her out on the web, then surely she has moved you enough to toss a monetary token into what really has become her "tip box." If Patsy sang for you on a street corner, wouldn't you toss a little something into her tin cup?

Or here's another angle that might persuade some of you folks that still need convincing. How will it sit with you when some Patsy wannabe snatches up one of Patsy's costumes at this auction and wears it onstage? Try to imagine her parading around, honking out "Crazy," in the belief that owning and wearing, say, the dress that Patsy wore at Carnegie Hall somehow gives her legitimacy. "I am the real reincarnation of Patsy because I am wearing her dress." It personally gives me the creeps, and don't be so naïve as to think that there are no gals out there who would do this in a heartbeat. That visual right there is enough to make me cough up some bucks just to keep one thing out of such a person's hands.

(And as a personal side note, may I add that it is amazing how many "tribute" singers clomp around in white boots and white hats on stages across America, making money off of Patsy's name, but have yet to contribute a penny to this fund. "Tribute" indeed! It only validates the mocking taunts I've made about the "tribute" singers at this website all along. I double-dog dare a single one of you "tribute" singers to pony up the box office receipts for just one of your performances and give it to Patsy's museum. Prove that you really care about Patsy Cline and are not out just making money off her name. Prove me wrong! If this paragraph angers you, tell me to "stuff a sock in it" by sending money to Patsy's museum!)

When we pool our collective love for Patsy, it just helps buoy up her spirit, helps to strengthen her legacy. I don't think we are as effective in prolonging her memory if we do it apart in separate rooms. I honestly think that the Internet has really helped Patsy in so many ways because the togetherness is key, and at no time has this been more true than right now!

This spring I'll be moving the site to a new host again. My current host has gotten so slow, it takes forever to load a page at this site anymore, and I apologize. It seems to be getting worse. Hang in there with me and we'll find something speedy again. I don't pay all this money for broadband, just to have my website take years off my life as I watch it load!

December 7, 2002:

Sorry I got sidelined this week folks, had to make a side trip to the hospital. Everything's ok now, I'm just behind on the site and on emails. Don't worry, I'm getting up to speed with this auction, things are going well. Patsifans are incredible!!!

Now hike on over to the annual Christmas section for some fun!

From the mouth of the 3-year-old:

Like most toddlers, Sidekick wanted reassurance that he will always be taken care of. I said, don't worry, if Mommy and Daddy aren't around, Nanny and Pappy can take care of you, or Grandmother, or Grandad, or your aunts and uncles. Then he said, "And Patsy could take care of me, too."

You know what? Patsy takes care of all of us, darlin, in one way or another!

December 3, 2002:

It's time to wipe away our tears and start lighting some fires, folks. I've cried until I can't cry anymore. Now I'm mad. I'm energized! Time for the phoenix to rise from the ashes. Patsified! is open for business, damn it. Patsy's fresh start into the next century starts now, it starts with us, her fans! If we close shop now, the terrorists win.

My friends, there are sooooooo many Patsy projects going on, all sorts of amazing things are coming together behind the scenes, it's keeping me incredibly busy. The hens are laying eggs faster than I can gather em up! But it's all good and it's all for Patsy, that's what's important. I've been so moved by the inspiring stuff in my mailbox. And I'm tremendously moved by some of the sacrifices I see being made for the auction effort. Apart, we are nothing, but together, we are EVERYTHING for Patsy!

Now I have one more thing I need to ask fans to do. The WVPT video documentary, "Patsy Cline: The Lady Behind the Legend," is being made available to all PBS stations in the United States this month! That doesn't mean that all of them will necessarily show it, however. What we need to do is to start a letter-writing campaign. Write to the Programming Director of your local PBS station now (when they're planning their future schedules) and express your interest in seeing this program. Point out that the 40th anniversary of Patsy's death is coming up in March and would be an opportune time for them to show this documentary. There are two local PBS stations in my area, and you can bet that they'll both be hearing from me! Let's hop to it!

As far as website work, I'm hammering out this year's Christmas section, should launch it tomorrow. Sit tight, don't unwrap the candy canes yet. In the meantime, I've put together a new section called Showcase. It contains the items being auctioned, in addition to some other interesting artifacts from Patsy's life. Hope y'all enjoy it!

Love from your favorite Drama Queen,

Lisa

November 30, 2002:

No one can say I don't allow opposing viewpoints at my site... here's one for your entertainment:

Has the word "DRAMA QUEEN" come to be added on to the last part of your name yet? I have been coming to "your" site for a while now....."your site"......I phrase this in this manner due to the fact that the site seems to be more of a place for you to spew, vent, judge, and criticize many and most! Words that do not come to mind concerning you are respect, kindness, & concern! You sit upon your "throne" (site) and send forth your views and judgments on all. Your negativity is something that must stem from either a horrible childhood or simply and more likely just an ugly person! Better known as (bitch)! Now you have shut down your site and demanded that all send money to the Patsy fund. "What have you done lately for Patsy"? Get a life................................ Patsy fans have supported her for over 40 years now. A support than can be proven in the millions of records sold yearly! Rather than sending out this message to those who do and have supported Patsy all these years why don't you ride your high horse to the record company executives who make the millions from Patsy! Why don't you use some of the vial mouth of yours towards Patsy's family that has placed here personal items for bid because of greed!

I support Patsy 100%, 100% of the time. I have a 30 year collection of Patsy items. Everything from sighed photo's, all EP's, all albums, all 45's, all Dj 45's & albums, all 78's, posters, mag. ads., signed sleeves, signed albums, VERY personal items form the crash sight, never viewed photo's (unlike the ones you have stolen from "snagging"), and much much more! So fans do support Patsy. True fans fallow Patsy's example of kindness, and giving, and sharing. One day I will give all of this to the Patsy museum. I will be privately bidding on many of the Pasty items in December and I will walk away with several at least. What I wont do is share any part of this collection with the likes of you! You who would build a site to glorify your name and "your" views of the Patsy fans!

Go and look at other Patsy sites, there is kindness and sharing out there. There are sites that have one goal and that is to bring Patsy to more people and to remember Patsy for Patsy. Have you ever gone to Nashville and visited with Charlie or Julie? Did you ever go and meet Hilda? Have you ever been to Patsy's grave? Have you ever been to the crash site? Have you ever walked the streets of Winchester? Have you ever gone to the yearly get together in Winchester? Have you given money to the fund? Have you supported Patsy for over 30 years???????????????????????????????????????????? I have done all this and much much more, for Patsy! I am a Patsy fan! And you and your site offend me, and more importantly it would surly offend Patsy! Oh so often your rant and rave in offense of other who do anything to "copy" "sound like" or "compare" to Patsy.... and yet you, yourself do it often! One example is of how when you right click on anything on you site "access denied Hoss" Hoss a term often used by Patsy! Judge least you be judged come to mind! I have wasted enough time on a trivial person as you. Look in the mirror......you won't like it.......and neither do many of us "true" Patsy fans!
Signed,
Dr. H.D.E.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! You make a great first impression. Can I call you "Doctor?"

"Doctor," let me know the URL for your website that you spend money and time on... I'd be intrigued to see it. It's pretty obvious to my regular visitors that I'm not doing enough for Patsy, so I welcome your example of "respect, kindness and concern." I have alot to learn from you, I can tell.

First of all, I do not seek, nor do I require, your approval, or anyone else's. Yes, it is basically "my site" because I spend about $20/month to maintain the site (and I haven't worked since last March). That's why I appreciate it so much when folks have pitched in with funds to help pay the bills. I spent over $200 in Patsy-related phone bills in the last two weeks alone.

It really is great to have a place in cyberspace to vent and spew and judge, as you put it. I adore the First Amendment, always have. I have to disagree that the site is used to glorify my name, as my name isn't Patsy.

You say you've been coming to the site for awhile even though you despise it, so I'm not sure what that says about your childhood or about your need to "get a life."

If you've been paying attention, you'd know that I have issued a clarion call to the record executives for years, but to no avail. MCA doesn't seem to have quite the interest in Patsy that the fans have, which is why I believe her legacy is in the hands of her fans. It's great that the fans buy her CDs, but this auction of her clothing is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Apart, few fans can afford to purchase a single item, but together, we are raising funds to do so, and that is an exciting thing.

If you've been paying attention, I have said some pretty horrible things about the family members who are selling these items. All it really does is hurt the innocent family members, and that's not really fair.

If you've been paying attention, I post photos from my own collection as well as from other folks' collections, and if I snag something at ebay to display here at the site, I do it with the stipulation that I'm happy to credit the photos anytime someone asks me to, and I have done exactly that. I've also said that anyone who owns a photo and wants me to remove said photo from my site, I'll be happy to do so. No one has ever asked me to remove a photo. Therefore, since I make no money from the site, can you delineate exactly what the crime is which I'm committing by sharing beautiful photos of Patsy Cline with fans who love to see her? It takes time and care to scan, size and post a photo at a website. I only do it because I want to share, that's all.

If you win every single item at the auction, more power to you, since you say you plan to give it all to Patsy's museum! I am not asking to possess a single one of these items in my home, so I am not sure what you mean by "not sharing any part of this collection with the likes of you." I want the museum to have everything that's out there!

I have never been to Winchester or to Nashville, as that involves some traveling, which is difficult because I have a toddler to look after. Plus it costs money, and as I've said, I've been out of work for most of the year. But on behalf of myself and others who have never been to these places, and on behalf of those who will never be able to go to these places, I have to say that one does not need to go to these places in order to be devoted to Patsy Cline. Patsy is in a person's heart, not in a geographical location. I even know some folks who adore Patsy intensely and don't own a single memento! So PatsyLove has nothing to do with "stuff," either. Frankly, I find it a waste of time to get into pissing contests with anybody about who has what/who knows what/who loves Patsy more, etc. I've already forgotten more than you'll ever know about Patsy Cline, so I really don't care about your Patsy collection.

It's true that this is, after all, just a website. But it is a website that I've spent almost 5 years of my life and thousands of hours on, thousands of dollars on, and I've made some fantastic friends. Yes, I am mouthy, and when I see an injustice against Patsy, I don't hold back about it. Sometimes I get it wrong, but I am not ever trying to order anyone around.

I have a readership on a weekly basis in the thousands, and there are alot of people who enjoy what I write about Patsy. I'm not going to apologize for that, and it angers me when people try to make me feel bad for achieving a small measure of success in fighting the good fight for Patsy Cline. If you think I'm trying to get rich by fighting for Patsy Cline, you're sadly mistaken! If you wanna fight for someone who's been dead for 40 years, I can guarantee you that you're going to lose money (but gain your soul).

My part of the bargain is not being an asshole about the success of this site. Your part of the bargain is to join the fight instead of wasting your energy attacking me. We have a common goal, don't we? I'm tired of people who bash me for my strong opinions and accuse me of "telling people what to do," just because of my high-profile status. You'd never believe what I have to tolerate in my inbox sometimes. I am not sorry for helping to spearhead a grassroots effort to take Patsy into the new century. It is my hope that we can all step back and remember that this effort involves all of us, there are no stars, and it's more important that we stand together than to attack each other over how to go about achieving the goal.

So... thanks for straightening me out.

P.S. "Doctor," whatever you're smoking, can I buy $50 worth? We can't get that kind of quality in Michigan.

November 29, 2002:

Here's an irresistible deal for one of y'all. Listen closely.

How would you like to have your very own copy of a Patsy documentary that is not sold commercially? This video documentary is "Patsy Cline: The Lady Behind the Legend" which was created at WVPT in Virginia earlier in 2002. THIS IS THE DIRECTOR'S CUT. It will become available to PBS stations nationwide next month, but that is no guarantee that your local station will show it, and even if they do, they won't be showing the director's cut, which includes an extra 20 minutes not seen on television! To obtain a copy like this, you'd have to join WVPT at a cost of $75. The documentary includes interviews with just about anyone and everyone who knew Patsy, lots of interesting insight, great new photos of Patsy, too (I should know, because I helped with the photos, which is why I have an extra copy of this video)! This copy has never been viewed, brand-new, mint condition in a professional, hard-shell case. THIS IS NOT A PIRATED COPY.

Now, here's the deal.

I'm trying to raise funds to bid at the upcoming auction of Patsy's costumes in Beverly Hills. Things are going well, but we can never have too many funds for this effort; every penny counts! So I'm willing to sacrifice a little from my personal collection. The first person who emails me and is prepared to send a tax-deductible check for $100 to Winchester immediately, will receive a Patsified! goody box containing the following items:

You'll also get that $100 as a tax deductible donation for 2002 at tax time next April, plus you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped in this important, once-in-a-lifetime grassroots effort to help the museum purchase something very valuable for Patsy's future museum!

So I'm willing to put a little out there, if one of you is willing to do the same. The first person to email me at (old email address) and tell me that you can get your tax-deductible check for $100 on its way to Winchester first thing tomorrow will be sent this terrific package the moment that check clears. If my gal in Winchester doesn't receive your check pretty damn quick, the deal is null and void, and I'll then try to swing a deal with the second person to email me. And I will keep doing this until I get a done deal, folks!

(Link to fan fund formerly provided here no longer available.)

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