L&L Brigade Newsletter April 4, 1999

Brigaders!

Are you having a good Holiday weekend? I hope you are all on a nice chocolate high right about now. I thought about starting this week's newsletter with a little April Fools joke, but I think we all got enough of that last Thursday. How many of you saw the gag posted around the Internet saying JJ had decided to sign a new three year contract after all? You must admit, it was written very convincingly. Too bad it couldn't be true.

GOING AWAY GIFT FOR JJ: I continue to refuse to call this a good-bye gift because that implies he will never come back. I'm keeping the faith that L&L will still ride off into the sunset and spend the rest of their lives together. However, since JJ is going away, for now, to tackle some new challenges, we want to send him something to let him know our support goes with him and we are grateful for all he has already done on GH. The officers and I have been talking about something that is more about HIM, and less about the show. You've got to admit he must have closets full of GH memorabilia and letters from fans. I was thinking about an engraving he could hang on the wall or put on a desk - something small, simple and "keepable." I would like to suggest this as the inscription:

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Php. 3:13-14

Thank you for all you have given us.
Our love and support go with you into the future.
The L&L Brigade

I have to confess this is one of my favorite verses. My mom gave it to me when I went away to school. It's not really about "forgetting" the past, but keeping your eye on the bigger goals of life. Anyway, that verse just won't leave my mind when I think about JJ and I think I can see him really appreciating it. He's got to feel, on one level, like he is letting people down by leaving. I just want him to know he's not getting a guilt trip from us. Right? I want this to be something that everyone is comfortable with, though. If there are any of you who have a real problem with this, PLEASE let me know. I don't want to offend or push anyone. If I don't get any negative reactions in the next few days, though, I'm going to assume I have all of your blessings. I am willing to get this made and deliver it to the set like I did with the wreaths. I think we should get right on it, though, so he can receive it before his last taping day. I've done some research, and it should cost us about $50. There is no need for anyone to be burdened to contribute a lot. I've already asked a lot from you guys this year. Did you know, though, that we now have 150 members!!! If only 1/3 of you would simply stick a dollar or two in an envelope and mail it to the Brigade PO Box, we would be covered. I think it would be special if as many of us as possible were a part of this gift. So, I really would rather see a lot of small donations than large ones from just a few, but I'll leave that up to all of you.

REMEMBERING BECKY: Along with our good wishes to JJ, we want to make sure Becky knows we aren't going anywhere and won't be forgetting her. I still have a bunch of things that were left over from the wreaths, included several one-eared "Boris" bears. You guys sent so many I couldn't use them all J. So, I will put together something cute to give her along with a card expressing our support. I'm not sure exactly what it will be, but a long trip to the craft store should take care of that. I'll take it to the studio at the same time I deliver JJ's gift, hopefully by the last week in April.

BROWNIES FOR TYLER: There was an email on the JJ-aholics mailing list that several Brigaders forwarded to me. One of their members got to meet JJ at a DEOTO party, and you won't believe what he said! I know a lot of you have seen this already, but I will post it here for those who haven't, (I did email the original author of this, btw):

~~"My sister did the advertising for DEOTO and she took me to one of the parties when it premiered. He was great. Totally sexier in person, if that's possible. He was quite generous with his time. We talked about the movie a little, about Michelle cutting his scenes. Couldn't get too much out of him at that time about him leaving. He just said that it would be late spring and that longtime GH fans would be intrigued by one of the possibilities. So, of course, I think it's Faison! I told him how often I come online to read stuff and how often he is mentioned. He asked if I was an L&L Brigader. I said no, but that I knew many of them. He said that he gets more gifts from them...and that Tony and Tyler call him "little stud" because he gets more fan things than anyone at the studio. He said that Tyler is always stealing his food that people send in! Anyway, that's about it. Definitely a night I will never forget."~~

LOL! One of the first thing he asked is whether she was a Brigader! I think we are giving him quite a reputation around the studio. I thought the part about Tyler eating all the treats we send him was pretty funny too. So, we decided to send Tyler a basket of brownies of his very own! I hope that all of you agree with this decision. There wasn't a lot of time to wait for everyone's reactions because we wanted to make sure Jonathan would also be at the Studio when they were delivered. Thanks to Capt. LL1998 for taking care of this for us. The brownies weren't too expensive, but if anyone would like to help her out you can send a contribution He should get his basket of brownies Monday or Tuesday with this note:

Tyler,

We've heard a rumor that you like to "help" Jonathan and Becky eat the treats we've sent them, so we thought we'd send you some of your very own. Don't worry, you won't go hungry after Jonathan is gone.

Enjoy!
The L&L Brigade

RAINN FUNDRAISER: There is still time to place orders for an L&L mouse pad. As you all know, they will be royal blue with the phrase "Liz and Lucky...Everything about you is the best, the best there is". They are $10 a piece and approximately $4 going to RAINN. The donation will be a birthday gift from the Brigade to JJ and Becky for their birthdays on May 11 and 12th. If we are going to be able to get them made, though, we will still need a lot more orders by the 15th. However, if you feel you can't pay the whole $10 for the mouse pad but still want to contribute, any donation would be very appreciated. Please email Cpt. LL1998 if you would like to order a mouse pad or make a donation. All orders and money must be received by April 15th. This could be the last chance for the Brigade to do a project like this in JJ's name, so if you want to do your part ...now is the time. Also, those of you who have ordered a mouse pad but haven't sent your money, the deadline is approaching so please send your money ASAP. Thanks!

EMMY NEWS: Thanks to Pvt. Lidia for passing on this email from ABCTim regarding the upcoming Daytime Emmys in NYC:

~~"I've been told that (tickets) will go on sale sometime after April 20. You might want to check the Ticket Master website at www.ticketmaster.com (or call 212-307-3171) around that time. They sold tickets last year and I think they will be doing so again. It's also a good idea to call Madison Square Garden directly.--Tim"~~

Madison Square Garden's url is www.thegarden.com It would helped me out a lot if those of you who are still seriously planning to attend would send me an email, even if you've sent me one before. I'm trying to get a finalized list to help all you lucky people going. Thanks!

QUESTIONS FOR JJ: The featured guest for this week's Soaps In Depth "Ask the Stars" forum is our own JJ! You can send in questions for him now through next Thursday, April 8th. Some of them will even appear in the magazine, so you might want to mention you are part of the L&L Brigade. Go to http://go.compuserve.com/SoapsInDepth OR: http://forumsa.compuserve.com/gvforums/default.asp?SRV=SoapsInDepth You can also email questions to HollywoodHotline@compuserve.com, but be sure to specify they are questions for JJ as part of the forum. Thanks to Pvt. Mel for getting all this information for us.

GOD'S CANDY REVIEW: As I mentioned before, "God's Candy," JJ's new CD with his band, Scarlet Road, will be available from Soundtracks and Amazon on April 30. I listed the track titles for you below. Those of you who saw the concert at SSW3, live or on video, will recognize some of the new songs he sang there. Also, check out the album description. Very interesting :)

Track Listings

1. Shannon's Dance
• 2. If I
• 3. Bubble Town
• 4. Kelly Lane
• 5. Trip If You Have To
• 6. Only When The Rain Slips In
• 7. Away
• 8. Crane's Roost
• 9. Empty Aisles
• 10. High School In Disguise
• 11. Denied
• 12. Coffee and Tea
• 13. Show and Tell
• 14. The Angels Grin
• 15. Wounded Guide
• 16. God Candy