claytonic

A mother's unconditional love and support at its best.

Weird and hilarious but I can believe this really happened, despite the date, because it was on the net BEFORE April 1! ! (I had to look up "Hooters Restaurant")

Couldn't agree more, Clay has become extremely media savvy and carries himself in a way that commands respect generally except from those who never did and never will get it. Strange thing to me about Clay is that on the one hand, Clay is completely different to the 'boy' he was on AI in 2003, but on the other hand, he hasn't changed at all. It's a contradiction, I know, but I don't know how else to put it except perhaps that the essence of who he is, is constant. One thing I've been meaning to say is that when I watched the full series of AI#2 long after everyone else, not for one moment did I even think of Clay as being gay during the series. He just seemed like a regular young man who - to me - looked and seemed young for his 24 years.

I've been mostly AFK and while I've had a few attempts at getting caught up, I've decided there is no way I can! I've mainly been keeping up to date via the daily emails from CANN. I realize everyone has seen Clay's intro for Tyra etc etc but wonder if everyone has seen this YouTube clip in full ...it is relatively long (14 Minutes) but worth it every minute and the quality is good. What a fabulous intro, my goodness the man has so many feathers in his cap! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2OdLszvM_0 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Clay Aiken Introduces Tyra Banks; Accepts Excellence in Media Award I've been meaning to address what I said previously (seems like weeks ago now) about believing that if Clay doesn't appear on Idol, it would mean that he wasn't invited. What I meant was that 'all things being equal', i.e. barring personal emergencies (including family of course), I can't see any other reason for Clay not being on Idol if he was invited. Sorry I should have made that clearer. annabear, sorry to hear about mamabear's cat. But that's a long life.... and what a lucky cat to have been with the bear family for all that time. ETA: Well silly me... first I post and then I scroll up and see that Liney23 and Merryclay (maybe others too) have already posted that YouTube link I was so taken with. I totally agree with this. Once someone has entered my heart, they look permanently beautiful to me. I may prefer a different hair color at times but that's just the "frills", and for the most part, frills don't matter. Another example is my dog... in summer, she gets a crew cut... and some people think I should let her have a more fashionable snip etc but the crew cut is for her comfort because she doesn't like the heat. However, while she may look cuter with a more fashionable look, to me she always looks perfect in every way, every day.

That is exactly what happened with Hallelujah. It was the winner's single for X Factor 2008, and it went to #1 on the UK Singles charts. Jeff Buckley's version raced up from #30 to #2, even though he'd been dead for more than 11 years. Also, Leonard Cohen's version entered the charts at #36 ... all this movement simply because Hallelujah got massive exposure at the XF finals.

Yes, it was the "not a blog" when so many were wondering why he hadn't been on either AI or DWTS. In the case of AI, TC supposedly asked, but in Clay's words, "the producers decided to move on to other people." Which means they tried last year. And, at the same time, last season's AI had a good piece on him being in Spamalot. So I don't necessarily think that AI hates him either. The thing is...I just don't know about his business deals. Not my job, really. That's the thing ... I have never had the impression that AI 'hated' Clay, and while Clay may not necessarily credit Idol at every interview and while he has not "watched Idol religiously" since 2003, he has, however, periodically acknowledged Idol for his break/start in the business. But I feel sure he also knows that it's a two-way street, and his success story is Idol's success story too. It would make no sense for either of them to alienate the other in any way, certainly not in such an incestuous business where they all know each other and all bump into each other at all the same events. I have always felt that Clay was extremely humble, even at the dizziest height of his popularity and success, and that it's some of his fans who think he is 'above' Idol. His business plan isn't my responsibility either but we're just having a discussion over whether or not we can/should expect to see him on Idol. It's just part and parcel of being a fan, at the end of the day what we think isn't going to change anything but speculating isn't going to hurt Clay and the angst is "almost" compulsory, n'est-ce pas? TV Programs: I loved Fawlty Towers , Murphy Brown, Mary Tyler Moore ... gosh too many to pick from. If I had to cite ONE TV program, it would be Roots. It was (for me) the original TV series at a time when there was no VCR. I would have friends come over after work and we all watched it together. There was no way we would go out on the night Roots was being screened, it was a ritual for as long as the series was on.

Not always. Examples--Kimberley Locke and Bo Bice. Neither had albums that had just been released. Kimberley was trying to ignite a new single, and she'd gotten decent radio play before, but nada. Both of them sold a few hundred albums as a result of their appearances. I think this works best for established stars with hot material at the moment. Having said all that, I still agree with you that Clay would go on the show if asked. ETA: Ruben got the "going home" song last year, the one they play at the end of every results show, and an appearance to sing it, and it tanked. While I'd concede that Clay is not as "big" as Beyonce, I wouldn't compare him with Kimberly and Bo Bice. Neither of them are in his ball-park in terms of success. I agree--just addressing your generalization that "every time an artist appears...." Well, I think it would be fair to say "generally" that if a popular artist appears on a show like Idol, it would generate sales to their product. It may not result in huge sales in the current economic climate, but it would definitely generate sales because there are many people who watch and enjoy Idol and buy the music when they KNOW about it but they don't follow the artist around like we do. I have talked to several of those people who tell me they love Clay but they obviously have a life, unlike the rest of us

You see, I don't see a new album or single promotion as THE reason to be on Idol. Clay is the ultimate product, and an appearance on Idol would be primarily to promote Clay Aiken. If Clay does not appear on Idol this year, it would mean they did not invite him. There is no way he'd refuse something so valuable, I'd bet my bottom dollar on that.

Not always. Examples--Kimberley Locke and Bo Bice. Neither had albums that had just been released. Kimberley was trying to ignite a new single, and she'd gotten decent radio play before, but nada. Both of them sold a few hundred albums as a result of their appearances. I think this works best for established stars with hot material at the moment. Having said all that, I still agree with you that Clay would go on the show if asked. ETA: Ruben got the "going home" song last year, the one they play at the end of every results show, and an appearance to sing it, and it tanked. While I'd concede that Clay is not as "big" as Beyonce, I wouldn't compare him with Kimberly and Bo Bice. Neither of them are in his ball-park in terms of success. Whenever Idol talks about their stars, Clay is always mentioned, along with Jennifer Hudson, Kelly, Carrie, Chris D. I NEVER hear about Kim Locke or Bo Bice. Or even Ruben or OTHER winners. Clay has a great album that wasn't really marketed. It still has a chance to pick up some sales although it isn't easy in the current economic climate. Plus the music industry in general has been feeling the pinch for a few years, so even an appearance on Idol won't necessarily mean a huge boost but it will push things along and because of an audience that includes industry people, there are all kinds of possibilities that may arise out of such an exposure, I am thinking TV.... ETA: The Xfactor in the UK has had 5 seasons. They have only produced one star, Leona Lewis, although they are very optimistic about the 2008 winner. Their 2007 winner has just been dropped by the record company.

All I drink except for morning coffee and evening tea is water with lemon or lime juice squeezed into it. But I did read that you should have hot drinks with your meals to prevent plaque buildup. But then again I also read that too much water leads to kidney problems. I just don't know what is good to drink. I am vowing to go back to counting calories this week. I let the stress of too much to do get to me and eat anything and everything. Our last day for preparing taxes at the library is April 9. With the deadline approaching I am feeling a little less stressed. Now it's all family and friend's returns that I must do at home. Most of the junk food is gone as well as almost all food. I'll be careful shopping his time. I've heard the same about not drinking cold liquid with meals and also about too much water being a risk. I intend to get some info on that and will let you know what I find. I think 2 liters of water per day is the standard recommendation. I don't drink enough water although I have it with meals. I know some people who don't drink water AT ALL! All their liquid is soda pop or wine or coffee, etc.

When Beyonce performed on X Factor last year, it was to promote her European tour, her new album and new single "If I were a boy", which she performed. She also performed Listen as a duet with one of the finalists. She wasn't promoting Listen, it was her "old" single from "Dreamgirls, it was chosen by the contestant. Listen was at #60 on the charts when Beyonce appeared on XFactor. One week after appearing on XFactor, Listen shot up to #8. Mentors who have appeared on Idol or Xfactor have benefited from a boost in sales to their old albums. All I am saying is that IF they invite him, I would eat my hat if he said 'no thanks', especially when he tried to get on last year and couldn't. Exposure on Idol is pure gold.

Well I'm certainly not implying that Clay isn't smart. We just don't know. I think Clay knows what is right for him at this time. I don't think it's always one way or the other. Clay has made plenty of comments in the past about moving on from Idol and he has nothing to promote right now. Jamar, I honestly wasn't implying that you were implying that Clay isn't smart. I believe that whatever Clay feels about Idol, he also knows that an appearance on such a high rating show is a massive showcase for any artist. He told us that they tried very hard to get an appearance on Idol last year, but it just wasn't possible. OMWH still needs to sell even though it is no longer a new release. Every time an artist appears on a show like Idol or Xfactor, their single/album shoots right up the charts. This is true even of artists like Beyonce and Mariah, that is why they jump at the opportunity to appear these shows, despite being established and hugely successful artists themselves.

Jamar, I honestly think Clay is too smart as a businessman to turn down an appearance on Idol. I, for one, became a fan not from watching AI#2 but from watching his guest appearance on AI#3, and i feel there were many more who discovered him that way.

Quite honestly, I am amazed they got Jennifer Hudson .. I mean, she doesn't need the exposure because the media glare has been constant because the Oscar, the Grammy and even (sadly) the family tragedy. I wonder if they asked her "very nicely" since she is surely the most celebrated Idol. I feel sure they would have thought about Clay, he may not have won a Grammy but he's had a remarkable career resulting from the exposure he got from Idol in 2003, so they'd surely want to "brag" about him too. At least that's what I think.

Just got an email from a friend about this: WOW, is all I can say.... JHud plus Stevie Wonder and SMOKEY ROBINSON all in the one week!!! Not to forget Ruben and Joss, but heck I just love JHUD and Stevie Wonder and most especially Smokey Robinson, one of the original pillars of Motown...such a superb talent! Looks like the American Idol people are going all out to regain the audience they once had. PS Sorry if this has already been posted, I haven't caught up but wanted to post this exciting line-up! ETA: I've reduced the font size, it wasn't meant to be that large but I had trouble with reducing it then I got distracted with another email....sorry about that but I am always excited about Smokey. Much has been made about Elizabeth Taylor's eyes but Smokey's are way more remarkable.

luckiest1, I've made marmalade using your recipe, but I got somewhat creative and added lime, lemon, pineapple (very little) and fresh ginger. It tastes yummy, the only imperfection is that it is not thick enough but I had decided that it wouldn't matter as I could also use it for a hot drink. (I used to buy a ginger cordial, and there was a variety that also had lime with ginger. Rather than drink it as a cold drink, I'd add boiling water and have it as a hot drink in winter.) Anyway, thanks for the inspiration. If you have any ideas about how to make it thicker next time, let me know. But otherwise I am really happy with it because the ingredients would read 100% fruit (orange, lemon, lime, pineapple), fresh ginger, sugar. TIP: For those who don't know, if you have a teaspoon of lemon juice at the start of your meal, it improves absorption of nutrients. (That's from my doctor who practices nutritional medicine) Right now, I am trying to find a simple recipe for lime/lemon pickle. Every recipe I have seen on the net so far is too complicated and lists ingredients I have barely heard of.

"A hard man is good to find". Mae West

Thanks for the timely tip about freezing avocado. I bought a large quantity today since I need a butter substitute because my doctor told me my cholesterol is too high. Funny how some people think that only overweight people have a problem with cholesterol. I am not overweight but even when I was UNDERweight, I still had a higher than acceptable level and it also surprises others. Speaking of overweight, my dog is due for her annual needles shortly and I just know the vet is going to frown about the fact that my dog hasn't lost weight! She isn't too bad but when lying down, you can see she needs to lose some weight. It's my fault because I just can't resist giving her a little bit of what I eat, over and above her normal meals. Her food is 100% raw bones + minced chicken, vegetables and oatmeal, i.e. 100% home cooked, no commercial food at all as I just don't trust the dog food industry. A friend of mine was buying the most expensive dog food thinking expensive = the best but gosh, it costs more than the best salmon you can buy, and I still don't trust it! OH and speaking of avocado and dog food, did you know avocado is toxic to dogs? I had no idea until about 3 years ago.

Well, Liney and Muski and anyone else who looked at that pic of the 16 year old X Factor finalist, apparently the explanation is that the bulge was an Irish flag that he had "stored" down his pants so that he could whip it out for his final song. Sounds like an Irish joke to me, but hilarious! Nope you are not the only one. Photoshop is scary.. no longer can a picture tell a thousand words because no longer can we readily know if it ever was a real picture...

Haha I find that funny as well, but that happens a lot, even on YouTube... if a video is outstandingly good (or bad), I am entertained by reading the comments. and always find it interesting that someone who hates an certain artist so much that they will devote several minutes of their life to watch the video and then spend time and effort posing about how much they hate the artist. ETA: I don't understand the card collection thing, I never have. They seem like such a lot of money for pics of people you don't know! Maybe I am missing the point because I don't watch sport except for the blue ribbon events at the Olympics. What I am wondering is.... will there be a Trivial Pursuit AI Edition. That would be fun for the Idol addicts. EATA: OMG Wardrobe malfunction? Check out the pic http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/73510...o-much-on-tour/

Well...now I think I have seen everything... I was at the supermarket scouring the jars of conserves ... thinking I could get a small jar of a fruit conserve since the only spreads I have for toast are Vegemite, peanut butter and honey.... And lo and behold, a saw a jar filled with completely white contents and the label said "Marshmallow spread". Marshmallow on toast? Marshmallow sandwich? I walked away and thought... I think I try making that marmalade luckiest1 posted about... I love the fact that it has only 3 ingredients and doesn't have any numbers in brackets to figure out.

FromClaygary, thank you for posting that, I loved it! (Love those gorgeous pics of him as an adorable little boy) Muskifest I thought (and hoped) the media was exaggerating the seriousness. What a terrible loss to the dramatic arts. claygasm, hey there, great to see your avatar again!! I love it!! A while ago, I sent it off to someone it reminded me of and he loved it too, as I knew he would! ETA: I just tried to upload some pics to my Photobucket account and I keep getting this error message: Does anyone know what this means? I have tried numerous times, plus tried a different browser. Keep getting the same error message. I've been using Photobucket for a few years and never had this problem or any problem at all.

This is from the CANN site, which I absolutely love! I didn't realize that St Patrick's Day was of special significance to ME.... because that is the day in 2004 that I saw and heard Clay Aiken sing for the very first time, and I was blown away to hear him sing one of my old and all-time favorites, Neil Sedaka's Solitaire. From now on, I will have reason to celebrate St Pat's day, how strange that I have associated the color green with Clay for quite a while now and it is also my favorite color! ETA: Although I first discovered Clay on 17th March 2004, I was busy with other matters and did not actively get involved in ClayNation, which I wasn't aware of. It was a while later when I came across more and more of his videos that I started searching for a forum but I read LTS long before that, as I was completely surprised that my library had a copy...surprised because the book shops didn't have it although they said they could order it for me...Clay wasn't really a big name here. (Kelly Clarkson was/is well-known here, she performed Ms Independent at the first Aussie Idol. Most people I know, know Clay too but largely because I rave about him! I have asked for his CD at record shops and they don't know who he is, and that was when OMWH was released) http://www.claynewsnetwork.com/2009/03/16/...ings-solitaire/

I've said that I rarely watch current movies but I did watch Slumdog Millionaire. Some seem to think it is a true story but it's a fictional story adapted from the book "Q & A" by Vikas Swarup. I haven't read the book but I believe it is miles better than the movie, but then the book always is. I have wondered how the little kids in the movie would adjust to life back home in the slums. Here is a story about one of the little boys in Slumdog, looks like his father tried to get some glory by showing off his son but the boy was sick of all the attention. I feel more sorry for the father than the son, simply because the father doesn't know any better, that's the sad part. http://www.babble.com.au/2009/03/02/slumdo...aten-by-father/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzqzs1rzV8...feature=related John Denver, signing to The Lord's Prayer. When I was watching this, I could see Clay doing this at a live gig. Actually, I wish there was a universal sign-language, so that people who travel to a completely different country can have the critical basics in communication. I was totally amazed to discover there is no universal sign language, and in fact my friend who told me this (herself a deaf sign language teacher) seemed adamant that it was best the way it is. Does not make sense to me.