Carolina Clay

Hello, FCA!

What a wonderful read the last few pages have been! Thank you for catching me up.

I've been off the boards/my computer since 11 a.m. when I hopped into the shower to get ready for my afternoon academy music lessons. With no warning, my left knee or ankle gave way, and I fell. Long story short, my ankle was so sprained that I could barely use it for pushing up. For an hour and a half, I tried several different positions to get up. Finally I was able to get on my knees and pull myself up to the side of the tub. I thought I was going to be in that tub forever.

I called my sister for a ride, made a doctor's appointment, and canceled my lessons. My ankle is bound, and I have been through several sessions of frozen corn on the knee and the ankle, both of which are swollen and all shades of blue/purple.

My den looks like a retirement home with a walker (from a broken leg 15 years ago), my mother's cane, and a wheel chair my BIL brought over from his church. I have only used one at a time.

Thnx again for the great catch-up from the Linda Eder site, as well as your "Unchained Melody" critiques. I'll try to get back in the groove tomorrow.

Have a great evening, all!

Caro

Here is Scarlett's story about working the pledge phones in Chicago Saturday night. She sent it to Perma and me via email and asked that we post it here, among other boards. It's also now on her FB wall:

I know but I wasn't online very much last week because there was a ton of things I had to finish before the weekend. I worked overnight on Wednesday and until 3 am on Friday just to make it...so I ended up seeing him after having slept only on the plane and that's not a good thing because everything just melds into mushy goodness.

I will say though, that he was everything we remember and more -- witty, charming, funny, sometimes forgetful (like he had to ask Nancy beside me what the bonus songs were and Nancy paused so I ended up naming them after which he immediately turned and started talking about them onscreen -- Nancy and I were aghast because what if we'd given him the wrong titles!!!) but that's Clay for you and there he was just like always, simply oozing charisma and scrumptious goodness everywhere he turned.

Normally, I'm one of those who can keep their heads when all about them are losing theirs but then he started talking to Michelle on my other side about being 'local' and although my brain kept saying to me, go tell him you're local too, just not here in Chicago, i couldn't get it out in time. Thank goodness I was off-screen for most of the night although the corner of my laptop seemed to have pretty good air time. I'm going to attempt a real recap later but if you'd care to post this on NNHB or CH/CV it can travel.

I added Pink's pix to the Carolina blog. Thnx to all who have visited.

Aspiegirl has a new montage, but it got blocked at YouTube; so she's investigating Yahoo. :bananajive:

Have a great day, all!

Caro

I had a time with the new Carolina On My Mind blog, but it is loaded with recaps. Hope you enjoy!

Since some of you are quoted -- some asked, some not -- you may want to locate your part. I grouped several together and hope I credited all. Aikim was nice enough to let me use parts of her recap. Wanda, I never did ask you for permission about "the cave," but I figured you wouldn't mind. I just read your piggy bank post here and may have to augment your segment.

As always, thank you for your visits and comments. Apparently this is a "hot topic" because I notice on the "live feed" that people are SEARCHING for "Clay Aiken Special on PBS." Kewl!

I notice in Pink's post that I may need to clarify the phone number/extension/hours for the Chicago concert. Pink, kudos to you and thnx for all your hard work! :clap:

Have a great evening, all! I am off to locate a wine bottle ...

Caro

I woke up at 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep, so I got up and worked on the Chicago T&T LIVE blog: Carolina On My Mind. Hope y'all enjoy. Many thnx for your visits and comments.

Sally retweeted me, so the info is at least in the Clay Aiken column (all of mine go into "All Friends" no matter what I do!), and the post is working its way down the Facebook page. There is much excitement for this concert tonight even among those of us who can't see it!

Looking forward to your reports, aikim!

Y'all continue to write wonderful reviews of the songs. Is anyone putting them in a special place? I am so behind. :clay:

to justclay12!

Have an awesome day, all!

Caro

Gerwhisp capped the Access Hollywood Promo, and here is the Sendspace download. It's on my local Fox station at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

As usual, Clay talks very fast. I rewound several times and finally had to ask someone what he said at the end. It's something to the effect that he didn't think Rush Limbaugh would make Elton John homophobic.

This is a screen cap of Clay's when he says it:

Have a great weekend!

Caro

I don't think I've ever changed a running blog so many times as I have the current Carolina entry. It started when I added a link to the CanadaAM video (with screen cap by gerwhisp) and continued with the #1 Idol Runner Up to an 11th NJU story, which is most cute account about a class of second graders!

Then came Billboard's Chart Beat column with the Feat of Clay article and MORE. Besides celebrating Clay's Feat, we can also support the CD by logging in/registering at Billboard Charts, listening to a clip of CTMEOoY, clicking on the heart, and leaving a comment.

It's a good thing I only had one student today. Thnx for your visits to the blog, which help stir the buzz.

Have a great evening, all!

Caro

I never post new blogs at night, but seems as if I've been working on this one all day with a zillion interruptions. After I uploaded Clay Aiken CD Charts in Top 10 and made the obligatory pass through Facebook and Twitter, I checked to see if Google caught the entry.

Don't know why I spent time on the lead, jamar1700, because the part that Google picked up was your NJU story!

jamar1700: When I purchased my second CD at Target today (the one that will stay unopened), the cashier smiled and said, "Clay Aiken - now that's when American Idol was gooooood. I like him. He's such a nice man." ...

Also featured are the Billboard press release, promos (including the CNN video), several posts about NJU response, and Fountaindawg's new DVD graphic.

Thank you for your visits and comments!

Siriusly Sinatra

Playing Favorites with Clay Aiken

Mon 6/14 6:00 pm ET

We first heard Clay as an American Idol contestant. Since then, he’s become a star in his own right and his new CD is filled with the music we love so much at Siriusly Sinatra. Clay stops by to play us some of his new recordings along with performances by our stars that he loves. (1 hr)

Rebroadcast: Thurs 6/17 9:00 am ET; Sat 6/19 3:00 pm ET

Now I KNOW I can listen to this one (have that particular station programmed in my car), and as I've been listening to this album, I've thought that it would fit perfectly on the Sinatra station. I guess I'll be home late Monday night!

Idyj, I just may have to add this to the blog's calendar.

Have a great rest of the week, all!

Caro

Wow, what a great read! I forgot about the listening party, and I'm back teaching lessons today. Hope to join in ... SOON!

Thank you for the visits to the Carolina blog. This morning I added a brief segment about my grandson. In case you've already been by (and many thnx to those who come!), here it is:

Sly Kai Emails Grandma

Grandson Kai, who will be 3 in September, sent me an email Monday night; but he didn't type a thing. Everyone else was otherwise occupied, so he REPLIED to his sister's Jacquie Lawson birthday card.

I thought it was strange that there was no message, so I dialed the phone number to see what was up. Sure enough, his mother was feeding Lia and didn't even know he was on the computer!

Kai knows how to log into the sites of his favorite kiddie shows. Now to get him to press some keys when he "writes" to Grandma, LOL!

Have a great day, all!

Caro

Wonderful "biggie," cindilu2! :clap:

I'm working on a calendar to add to the new Carolina On My Mind blog, and you can bet that's going in.

What do you guys know about the Canada AM appearance? Is there a link?

Thnx to all who drop by the blog, which literally jumped onto Google before I could finish typing the headline. I have pinged the correct link several times, but the "invalid" one is still on the search engine's Page 1. Wouldn't you know they were super efficient today?!?!?!

Caro

The most heartwarming, heart-wrenching, insightful, and articulately spoken interview we've ever had -- but then that's Clay Aiken.

If you are writing a journal at the new clayaiken.com site would like to read about codes that work on the blog side, this post is for you.

I just put all the blog codes that work -- and talked about a couple of others (color, blockquote) that would be nice to have -- in the HTM/BBCode Testing Thread set up by Justin for us. Because the HTML is not turned off, you have to QUOTE the post to see the codes.

You are welcome to add more and to ask questions. I bugged Ground(ctrl) so much that they finally set this thread up. I posted the link on Facebook -- and on my CA page -- right after the radio interview.

Thnx for the "warm" sympathy. I have called another A/C company that will come tomorrow. I think I can manage. It's amazing how fast cold bottled water becomes warm.

Caro

Carolina On My Mind

OMG, while I was uploading the partial Carolina On My Mind blog to clayaiken.com, my CD was sitting in my mailbox. That'll teach me what's important, LOL!

Of course, ever since I tore into that baybee, the temps in my already hot house have risen even higher!!!

I'm off to watch the video for the first time ...

Caro

Has anybody seen Caro? Do we need to call 911??

When I was checking out her blog this morning I clicked on the Amazon link to see the video clip (from the deluxe edition) they have on his page now and I noticed something I hadn't before. The part with Suspicious Minds when he sings 'caught in a trap' they show him posing for one of the photos on the golf course... at the sand trap. Heheh.

I'm still here, but it is HOT!!! I have two stents and this morning decided to spend the extra money for a weekend A/C fix only to learn the company doesn't do this. I think the man on call just didn't want to come out in the heat.

I walked out to my car to bring in some groceries from the previous trip (sometimes I leave cans, heavy stuff, etc., to carry in a little at a time); and, BEDANG if there isn't a breeze outside in this current 88-degree heat. Years ago I added double pane windows and good insulation, so whatever temp I have (82 when I last checked the thermostat) is staying with me. The box fan is not as much relief as it was yesterday.

LOL, I now have a call into another company.

Thnx for checking out the blog. I'm glad I was able to tell y'all something (i.e., the video at Amazon) that you didn't already know.

Have a wonderful day! :clay:

Caro

OMG, while I was uploading the partial Carolina On My Mind blog to clayaiken.com, my CD was sitting in my mailbox. That'll teach me what's important, LOL!

Of course, ever since I tore into that baybee, the temps in my already hot house have risen even higher!!!

I'm off to watch the video for the first time ...

Caro

The new Carolina On My Mind blog went "live" with a HOT recap of the Saturday CBS "goings on."

Hot because my A/C is OUT until Tuesday. I am camped out in front of a box fan hoping to survive the 90-degree predictions. Meanwhile, I hope you come enjoy the blog, which features videos/links from this morning, screencaps by Dancermom2, a new wallpaper by Fountaindawg, Rainlover's NJU story following the show, among other "stuff, links, etc.

Hope you enjoy. Many thnx for your comments, hits, tweets, reposts at Facebook, etc. :thbighug-1:

I fell asleep and came back in to see all the activity. After a fast check of the first 15 comment pages following the blog, I had to quit. As a fan, I am embarrassed by the number of "well-meaning" fans, whose names I recall from past unpleasantness, and who abide and perpetuate, somehow, to inform Clay about promotion and distribution.

I was hoping people would, by this time, be disabused of the notion that it's a good thing to sell CD's at your concerts. It's just not done. Maybe if you play the American Legion Hall or the Community Center and you press the CDs yourself it's the thing to do, but if it's between a professional venue and a record label product, it won't happen. Merchandise is sold, but not CD's.

And the many comments that Clay needs to get Decca to load up shipments of Tried & True to the diminishing record aisle(s) at Walmart is bizarre, as if the stores themselves have nothing to do with ordering the merchandise they sell. Free-standing record stores are all but extinct. If you want hard copies the options are among the severely limited sections dedicated to CDs in book stores, electronics stores, and discount general merchandise stores, period. And they are diminishing for a very good reason - people don't buy hard copies of records anymore; they download. The CD aisle now exists for the ever-dwindling numbers who are not online, and it's best-sellers only.

I've bought quite a few copies of T&T this week. I had several delivered directly to family and friends from Amazon and, fortunately, everything I ordered was delivered successfully this week. I've downloaded from two sites, and gifted from iTunes. The majority of sales these days are online downloads. While there are people who aren't online, the record business is not catering to them anymore. They are looking to the future, and that is people online. I can download directly from iTunes on my iPod. Everything Tried & True has to offer, including all bonus material, can be downloaded from iTunes or delivered from Amazon. There were no "store" exclusives this time, so I haven't even been into a Walmart or Target looking for T&T. I didn't need them for this CD. And, when I have been in those stores recently, I don't see shoppers in the CD section.

The people who don't understand the lack of promotion obviously haven't paid attention to David Novik. He's made no secret of Decca's marketing strategy. Decca markets to adults, and the strategy in a nutshell is, TOUR, TOUR, TOUR, in that order. I guess that's why Clay is going on the road with Ruben this summer, before planning the solo T&T tour to follow. And the PBS Special is not, in my opinion, a vehicle exclusively to sell CDs. It's a hook to put people in the seats for tours. Watching a live concert on PBS entices people to buy tickets to that show when it comes to their area. The Celtic Women and Thunder, etc., are selling out arenas now, and all because of PBS specials. It's the modern synergy, and radio isn't even in this picture. Things have changed and continue to evolve, but the fanagers are still clinging to obsolete paradigms. The lecturing of Clay as to how he should promote this CD is just sad, and embarrassing.

keepingfaith, I must have quoted this last night because I so agree. I have read on other boards that some of the terrible remarks have been removed from the fan club site.

^^^I had to look it up - Chelsea Handler is in LA. Must be West Coast week!

Let me start the chant: KIMMEL! KIMMEL! KIMMEL!

I'm right there with you! However, after the "idjut" Detroit radio DJ's, I believe Clay can handle anything.

Love the doctor story/blog!

Will be back in a bit (can't stay away from the fan too long, LOL!) and finish catching up! Have a great weekend, all!

Caro

I take that back about the Conclayve. I checked the comments, and they are fine. I read that somewhere that needs a Fact Checker. *g*

LOL, and if you blinked your eye, you missed the E! News! blurb.

Caro

Get on E! News RIGHT NOW -- Clay's CD will be talked about!

A tweet earlier:

@clayaiken: E! News is including #TriedAndTrue in their New Music Scene segment tonight! Tune in to E! at 7pm & 11:30pm - check your local listings!

Caro

Is this going on on other boards?

I understand the comments at the Conclayve are horrible -- and what's worse -- they out on the Internet! This will be the headline for hater blogs tomorrow.

All Clay has been doing this week is non-stop promotion of the CD. He should be able to do the same on his own board.

Caro

Well it didn't take long...the knives are out!

Knives?... More like hatchets and right in the middle of Clay's back...no matter what he does it will never be enough for some fans (and I use the term loosely)...makes me so very ashamed sometimes.

Big hug for Clay...can't wait to see him on tour and tomorrow morning on TV.

Kim

Hatchet is right, aikim. YIKES, I really don't understand why these people are still in the fan club.

Y'all have fun at the Toronto CD Release Party!

Have a great weekend, all!

Caro

I never knew what a multi-tasker I have become! I have become so good at texting, copying, posting and watching Clay Aiken videos all while answering boring Junior Golf questions on the phone. (oh and playing with my iPad) Good job the boss is out of town.

I think I have finally lost it as I am considering buying a new iPad so I can get 3G as well as wi-fi! Trouble is mine is only 3 weeks old. See I could get Clay Aiken tidbits all the time then! Ok go ahead and talk me down off the ledge!

Psst: anyone want a slightly used iPad?

LOL, next thing you know we will be seeing you in am iPad video with Clay, merrieeee!

Caro

Sorry I'm so late getting over here, but there's so much going on. Not to mention a bit of real life, too! What's next? Bring it on, Clay!

The Clay Nation aside, everybody everywhere seems to be talking, texting, and tweeting about Clay Aiken's signature performance of "Unchained Melody" on 'The View' Wednesday.

The new Carolina On My Mind blog features ABC video of Clay singing UM, NJU reactions to his performance, screen caps (dancermom2, gerwhisp, Cotton), links to other videos from "The View," a small player with the Fox Atlanta promo from this morning.

Thank you for your visits and comments. We are up against some nasty stuff today on Google; plus I always like to hear from you. Your comments do help, so many thnx! :clay:

Sigh. Clay still rocks my world.

HEEEE -- DITTO!!!

<-------- New avatar

Just sayin'

Yeah, call me, baybee!Idyj

The Clack gods are smiling.

AMEN ... and let's have a little prayer meeting -- or a clack dance -- that they continue to do so.

http://www.fox40.com/news/fox40_live/

Another interview. Basically the same stuff but we found out he likes Blue Cheese dressing, Target better than WM, Dogs over cats, favourite singer...himself ha ha no Ruben, Chinese over Mexican food and New York over LA.

Favourite subject: social studies

mac or pc: mac

fav. salad dressing: bluecheese

walmart or target: target

born where: raleigh

mexican or chinese: chinese

favourite season: fall

LA or NY: NY

Do you facebook: I do

cat or dog: dog

first job: bagger at win dixie

favourite sport to watch: college basketball

favourite band or singer: can i say myself? ha ha I'll say ruben studdard

What every CA fan needs to know!!!

Looking forward to all that's around the corner. Have a great weekend, all!

Caro

Good Afternoon, FCA!

What a great day in Clay Land -- a fantastic new CD that features Clay's incredible voice and promo appearances already underway!

The new Carolina On My Mind blog centers around the activities of June 1, including fan reactions from three boards (including this one), graphics by Fountaindawg and SueReu, a video of Clay's GMA performance/interview, and reviews from this past weekend. Hope you enjoy!

Many thnx to those who were quoted for being able to make "exquisite" sense in the wee hours. As always, thank you your support of the Internet Clay blogs with comments, hits, FB posts, tweets, retweets, links, etc.

I used to PM people before quoting them, but no one ever turned me down. I can delete if anyone asks. I finally had to stop taking notes and post the blog, so I missed a lot of great comments. Hopefully, the overall picture was conveyed.

I may have to add BigApple's photo of the chart. I saved that early this morning.

Have an awesome week, all. It certainly has started off with a bang!

Caro

Happy Remembrance Day!

Thnx for all the links and your review, Cagney. That ZERO days on the countdown tickers looks mighty good. We're almost there!

The Carolina Memorial Day blog went up yesterday on Blogspot and the new OFC. As always, thank you for your visits and comments.

Have a great day, all!

Caro

So much is happening in Clay Land every which way you turn! Love the Popeater interview!

Years ago, I interviewed Pvt. John M. Steele, the paratrooper who landed on a church steeple during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in World War II. For Memorial Day, the Carolina On My Mind blog salutes John Steele and America's military heroes.

Also included is Clay's Capitol 4th performance of "God Bless the USA." Hope you drop by and enjoy!

Have a very special Memorial Day Weekend, all!

Caro

I still can't get into the website, but I wrote a short 'n sweet blog about it and provided the support info, as well as a link to an article that explains why some of us may have to wait up to 72 hours.

This snort 'n sweet blog had not registered on Google last time I checked, so your visits/comments/tweets will be most appreciated: New Clay Aiken Website Rolls Out.

I also included the latest promo video for T&T. If the "caboose" means 72 hours, I wonder which will come first -- the CD or the website?!?!?!?

Caro... My old work computer completely freezes when I try to get the new OFC. I haven't had a chance to try at home yet. Crossing fingers. We get the CD on Tues, so if I have to wait to hear the airplane takeoff, I'll survive. I think... LOL

Me, too, liney. Writing about it helped a little.

Have a great evening, all!

Caro

At least, I hope it will be ... eventually. This morning my new Clay Aiken website woes continue. Either I am redirected and the page won't load or I login with the URL and the page won't load. The story is the same whether I'm on IE or Mozilla.

Meanwhile ...

belatedly to clayzy and on time to 00lsee and jumpingjacks!

Have a great day, all! I hope to join you ... SOON!

Caro

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! UM is fabulous! Finally, my airplane note!

Can't wait to hear the take-off! Guess I'm still propagating ...

Caro