sheiladownunder

Love your stories Play and Cotton

It was nice of Roger and his sister to take such good care of you. I also loved how your husband just wrapped you in a big ole hug when he found you. He was probably worried sick. If he gets good stories like these, it will probably work out well. I think I'll just hop on the boat with laughn.

Bring it Aiken! And if it turns out to be a total cheese boat I'm ready to sail with ya'!

I love this!!!!

And Toots, wanted to tell you what a great idea that you give to charity at Christmas. I thought about doing this and then chickened out because of the response I got when I mentioned it, but I like the idea. I think I spend way too much money at Christmas. I know why I do, I'm trying to make up for not being able to give my kids a good Christmas when they were little because we were so poor.

{{{{wandacleo}}}} my deepest sympathies to you and your family. I find it touching that she expressed her love for you at the end.

Yet he had to know many were offended by YWT and he continued to do it anyway, so I am not sure Clay always means what he says.

I never understood why people were offended. What difference did it make? I always felt he sang if for himself and it was important for him. I loved that song and downloaded it after every show and like I said I'm not religious at all. He was just so passionate while singing it.

:14: Rohdy, thanks for getting this project in place, it's going to be very successful.

I've been surprised at some reactions to the "faith renewed" because I thought it meant in family, friends, mankind, peace on earth-goodwill towards men. the spirit of Christmas type thing. I also don't particularly believe in the judeo-christian concept of God either but I don't find Clay to be preachy or intolerant. Quite the contrary really. I find him one of the few Christians that actually walks the walk and is open and accepting of others.

I'm not that crazy about the stories at the concerts either though. We'll have to see how it turns out. If it's boring, I hope he chucks the idea instead of forging on with it.

hmmmm....I could write him a story....

:thdom2: :17f71c4d:

Oh - it's that classic and timeless Christmas tale of pursuit, seduction, bondage and hot monkey sex. Didn't Burl Ives narrate a TV version of that story back in the day? And wasn't it sponsored by the Gillette company with the flying razors and whatnot?

And wasn't it in claymation as well?

I was able to get into the OFC and read Clay's newest blog, then went over to the media section to check out the new pictures. Was able to download the 1st one, then when I tried to go back to get the rest it kicked me out. Now when I try to sign in, it shows that I'm in, but no matter what I try to click on, it brings me back to another sign-in page. Any ideas about what I need to do to get back in?

I couldn't get in today and changed from Mozilla to Internet Explorer and then was able to, although someone said they were on Mozilla and didn't have any trouble, so I don't know. It let me log in as well but I couldn't go to the messageboard or blogs or anything.

Couchie, I realize there are some Clay fans who dislike Fantasia for various reasons having to do with him, but for me I started out liking her and disliking her intensely at the end. Her personality that I thought was large and funny at first, grated on me by the end of the show. Had nothing to do with Clay.

I did, however, look at the clips of her performance on Broadway and saw her on the Tony awards and she was phenomenal, with a minor yeah, yeah, yeah at the end. Her interview also showed a different person than the one we saw on AI, she was humble and more mature and her castmates had nothing but good things to say about her, so my opinion of her has changed. And that did have to do with Clay as I would never have checked her out if he hadn't blogged about it.

I started out a Ruben fan, never noticed Clay much. I mainly voted for Ruben and Kim first night. I remember telling someone at work that the skinny kid from Texas had a good voice and that I had thrown some votes his way. When he came back for wildcard I was blown away by DLTSGDOM. I was nervous for him the next week and my OMG OMG OMG what was that move? moment was that night when he did the burning in your heart motion at his heart. I was so confused--he was so skinny and young, I didn't understand it myself.

I wasn't on the boards then. I actually thought the night they brought a fan up out of the audience and she answered all those questions about him that it was a set-up. I had a feeling he wasn't going to win about 2 weeks before the end, it just became obvious who they were rooting for. I was sad after his loss as I thought I wouldn't see him again. The fandom drove his rise. I'm glad I found Bolt as wild as it was, it was a lifeline for me and led me to other boards. I loved the fandom back then.

Is the video that he showed at the gala vaulted anywhere? I don't remember ever seeing this.

*terribly shallow moment which I proudly own*

Gucci? Did we ever identify those brown pants mentioned in the Linda L shopping clip on YouTube?

Well the first thing that popped in my mind were the brown pants on disco night.

Being that Luther Vandross was my absolute favorite artist before Clay, and the only artist I have seen multiple times in concert (well MJ before he went totally bananas), and that I probably have 80% of every Luther album ever made I thought the similarities were only surface but so are most of the comparisons. Luther had a warmth to his voice that is unmatched IMO with any of these up and coming R&B singers. Luther had a strong

A Luther Vandross fan here, I can attest that while there may be similarities in the tone, Ruben could only wish to be the singer that Luther was. Not to say that Ruben doesn't have talent but he's a long ways from being the talent that Luther was with his dulcet tones and smoothness of his transition. He was a master.

I do believe there was talk about him being a guest judge, but I seem to recall he was sick with his diabetes before he had the stroke, so it was always iffy. His father died of diabetes at a young age as well.

That was so cool to see him before they knew what would happen to him.

I've never seen this one where he and Linda went shopping.

"The dashing (Christopher) Enns did deliver with a resonant voice and natural acting ability that bely his 22 years of age. Playing the pigskin-toting varsity champ with goofy sincerity, the faculty of music voice major generated excitement every time he came onstage. His desperate aria "I can't believe this is over" was a joyful highlight."

If you're interested, the link to entire review is here.

Great review, Zena. Will there be Chrack?

ETA - They play Ruben's Superstar in the store where I have my parttime job and while it is slow and should have been speeded up some, I've always thought this was a great rendition and a good song fit for Ruben. I just never pictured Clay singing this song but OMG he sounds so awesome--his voice is beautiful on this.

Bwah -- Randy--Is this a concert?

I'm toast. Superstar is amazing. I miss the sideburns

And as for Simon-he saw his talent, saw his uniqueness, saw the fans he drew. Something happened between DLTSGDOM and ICHM and I think Simon heard from some media and radio types and as it would be uncool to champion Clay--Simon, the trail blazer that he is *cough--not* pulled his support. I also think Simon saw Clay as a threat to the show, if he soared to the stratosphere, they found their superstar and the show would be over.

It's all good, I don't dwell, and it's supplied Clay with second place and I didn't win jokes for years.

Love the banner, merrieeee--it's.so.CUTE!!!

Welcome back, ldyjocelyn.

I want one of each C and D.

Does anyone know anything about the Kite Runner release? It was supposed to be released early November and now IMDB shows only limited release in the US in mid-December. This was a movie I was looking forward to.

Put me down for one whatever you choose. I like D.

Making a donation for Clay's birthday is a great idea. I've already made my donation for AYSTAFG. Didn't realize you guys had a beta chapter. I will credit my donations under your name from now on.

I just got around to watching AYSTAFG. He is so freakin adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went from the bed to the couch today, my feet are swollen from standing on them for 4-1/2 hours last night at a triple header concert last night put on by one of radio stations here. Following this band has given me a new look at how hard people have to work to have a career in music and it gave me a new appreciation for the phenomenal opportunities afforded Clay thanks to being on the wicked AI and being with the nasty old RCA. I will never love either entity, but have a new found appreciation for them.

Anyway, no one deserves success more than Blue October (the main attraction I went to see), they are a hard working band, touring constantly, doing radio gigs, ballrooms, beach concerts. Even the music critics scratch their head as to why this band hasn't gone farther but most cite they don't fit in a genre, they are too ecclectic and according to the critics that is just a no no. I also found it interesting that they are from Houston as keepingfaith's posts about the music scene were an eye opener for me. I didn't realize Houston was a place where musicianship was so strongly nurtured.

I guess my point in bringing them up is I was most appreciative of Clay's success after seeing how hard these guys have to work. They finally got a radio hit last album (their 5th) and went platinum, but they still can't play concert halls.

Ah, yes. Smutting at EAYOR. Fun times, indeed.

I got a huge laugh out of the boobgate picture. I went over to a few of the boards where the picture was being dissected, pixel by pixel, just to see what was going on.

One of the photos put together proving they weren't his hands was animated and someone at RHT used that for an avatar, too, it was quite . Kind of mean to make fun of all their hard work, but it was funny!!

Hee ...I knew other people would get the story straight...

I think its very difficult for some fans to look at Clay as a strong, savvy, sophisticated, smart and independent person. Some fans simply like their view of Clay as the naive new comer that needs guidance and mentoring. It gives their constant meddling justification. So they will constantly see all kinds of enemies and plots against their hero...they will need the ever constant villain...RCA to fight for Clay. They will constantly lament at how evil and mean the media is to him even when, relatively speaking...he does get a mix of bad and good press the way it happens for any celebrity.

I don't think these fans realize how insulting they can be to Clay. I actually think Clay himself did a stellar job in the Sedaka tribute...but just like some of you, I did feel there was some discord between Clay and David's orchestration. I felt like Clay was trying to give it a more subtle treatment yet David was going for bombastic. I also remember how David pushed Clay to do that UM note over and over during his gala even if it could really be bad for his chords. I didn;t think he had Clay's best interest in that situation.

If Clay and David do work together in the future...I'm sure its because it was the right project...just like LAA.

I really am looking forward to the reveal of his current producer...I am very very optimistic about whats coming down the line.

WORD to your entire post. Clay is a victim and they are his saviors. He sends them sekrit coded messages in his blogs because he is controlled by the evil doers and they and only they can decipher his messages because, after all, they are his only "true" fans.

I would be long gone from this fandom if I couldn't come here and see there are still some fans who have common sense and logic and are able to go back to the basics of having fun and enjoying this fandom. Thanks to all of you who contribute to keeping this board a sane place to be.

Cindylu2

Add me to the list that loves that David Foster has been a good friend to Clay and would love some song collaboration, but don't want him to guide his career. Josh Groban and Michael Buble have successful careers but are limited in their material.

Give me ecclectic Clay who's doesn't need to follow someone else's path. In the wise words of Ralph Waldo Emerson - Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

I'm admitting to feeling crappy about the contest, about the tour schedule, and about my job, that won't allow me to fly off to a Christmas concert, for which I could submit my funny story if I could go, but I can't, so Clay's blog broke my heart because I can't hit "Send" although I'm dying to. I'm seriously spoiled from my first six concerts this summer. Sometimes this addiction sucks.

I know that he will choose your story if you submit it. I can see him having a big belly laugh over it. Just do it!!!

Fascinating stuff keepingfaith!

Yes, it is, how sad for Roky - I liked their sound. I lived in Australia in the late 60s/early 70s so missed a lot of music here.

She then said something like "I can sort of understand why THEY didn't want him to win, he looked kinda weird," and then another lady also picking out fruit said -- "yeah, but we all look kinda weird."

I'd love to see the look on her face as she watches him go from weird to wow