#18: He has always had the VOICE! But, boy has he ever learned to use his instrument!

[Cotton]

Kim!

24 days!

And I finally booked the flight for DH and me yesterday!!!

(Love the countdown)

[Clayzorback]

Awww - they put Starship's We Built This City on Rock and Roll as #1 worse song. When I went to see them a couple of weeks ago at the state fair, you wouldn't have guessed it was #1 worse song by the fist pumping, singing every note crowd-they loved it.

I love the little hip swivel when Tyra said Clay Aiken. No doubt about it, she's fallen under the Aiken spell.

No doubt about it. I loved it when she said she is going to be a name dropper. Gave him such credibility as a star.

It cmsu that he offered to buy her lunch, which is cheaper, and she paid for dinner, which is more expensive. You know it's always been speculated that Clay is a cheapskate.

Anyway just popping in to say thank you to everyone who has posted or PM'ed me with well wishes for my husband. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I try to pop in and read and catch up, but can't post and play right now. Maybe when things settle down.

zena, I an sorry to hear about your friend. I know how you must feel. Good luck to her.

[Gibby]

Hugs for Clayzorback and Zena -

Wow! Only 24 days until the skating show?? I'm excited!

But I'm a little concerned about how I'm going to get through the next three weeks. My job-share partner will be traveling in Europe, so I'm going to be working a lot. And I have two big concerts and two days of contest to play for. I'll also be playing for a student who is recording for college auditions, and of course the piano parts are tough. Yikes! I'm gonna be BUSY. I'll be so ready to get away to Vegas!!

I'm looking forward to AIR today!

[aikim]

Kim!

24 days!

And I finally booked the flight for DH and me yesterday!!!

(Love the countdown)

The numbers sure are looking pretty aren't they. Glad you got your flight booked...can't wait to hear all about it from those of you going.

Zena So sorry about your friend.

Kim

[playbiller]

I sincerely doubt that Clay is cheap - he was rumored to pay generously to his crew, expecting the best work in exchange. OK, I admit to e-mailing with someone in the band - it was just a quick comment of information, I didn't expect a long e-mail back or that we would start e-mailing for a while, discussing political things. I stopped when he was working for Clay again - seemed icky to me and I didn't want to be an interferring fan. Anyway, one of his passing comments were that it was financially rewarding to work for Clay, above the normal.

I consider him thrifty - practical I guess this is a hot button word for me because people have accused me of being cheap. It actually made me wonder about these people - One reason I have been accused of being cheap was because I Negotiated the price of my car instead of accepting the price initially quoted by the sales man (duh?), Another time, I used a coupon for a meal with a woman friend of mine (again, duh??) and because I do look for warehouse clearouts when shopping - I live near enough to warehouses and when they clear stuff out, I buy them for future gifts or future needs or e-bay, I have a whole future gifts area in my house. Yes, I do use my 5 dollar leather Louis Vitton overnight suitcase or my 100 dollar superduper speakers. Unfortunately, I discovered the countertop warehouse too late, I had ordered mine already.

I do think Clay is thrifty, buying a built but not used set for the NAT, not using a professional fund raiser for the BAF (frequently very expensive, no matter how much they bring in! - see head of United fund scandals, not to mention many other charities where the percentage spent vs brought in is less), using a trust to handle his money. He certainly knows where to spend his money - the best entertainment lawyer, etc.

[rohdy]

Zena....So sorry to hear about your friend. Wishing her health and happiness on her road to recovery.

And if she even suspects her onocologist is slacking or lacking....tell her to move on. Quickly! If she gets even a hint of a suggestion from any of her Drs to use someone else...tell her to persue it. Dr's can't/won't/don't come out and say someone is not the best person for the job...but they do drop hints. Tell her to be very alert.

Playbiller...

I sincerely doubt that Clay is cheap - he was rumored to pay generously to his crew, expecting the best work in exchange.

Thank you. I see nothing wrong with Clay being practical and I sure don't consider him to be cheap. He just puts his money where it matters.

Rohdy

[merryclay]

I think Clay is smart----

[jmh123]

Anyway just popping in to say thank you to everyone who has posted or PM'ed me with well wishes for my husband. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I try to pop in and read and catch up, but can't post and play right now. Maybe when things settle down.

zena, I an sorry to hear about your friend. I know how you must feel. Good luck to her.

Clayzor, I guess I'm just not paying good attention--I didn't know your husband needed well wishes, but you've got 'em, and then some. Huge hugs to you both!!

And to zena, what a hard thing for your friend and for you.

[Bookwhore]

I want to know what Clay said in the spamalot thread but have no interest in reading it. So I'll go download the Tyra clip instead.

Awww, it's worth the look, really. If you search back (I'm being lazy) I did provide a direct link to the post, so you won't have to weed through any of the CRAZY speculations. :lmaosmiley-1:

Have a good day, everyone!

I meant to say, luckiest how much I appreciated your providing the direct link. I really wanted to read his post, but not badly enough to wade through the OFC for it. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I consider him thrifty - practical I guess this is a hot button word for me because people have accused me of being cheap. It actually made me wonder about these people - One reason I have been accused of being cheap was because I Negotiated the price of my car instead of accepting the price initially quoted by the sales man (duh?), Another time, I used a coupon for a meal with a woman friend of mine (again, duh??) and because I do look for warehouse clearouts when shopping - I live near enough to warehouses and when they clear stuff out, I buy them for future gifts or future needs or e-bay, I have a whole future gifts area in my house. Yes, I do use my 5 dollar leather Louis Vitton overnight suitcase or my 100 dollar superduper speakers. Unfortunately, I discovered the countertop warehouse too late, I had ordered mine already.

This pretty much describes my shopping style, too. To me it's not being cheap, it's using good sense. Coupons, clearance racks and negotiation are a way of life around here. We don't scam anyone though. Now my DH, he's cheap. My dad was cheap. There used to be a family joke that the copper wire was invented by my dad and my husband fighting over a penny. I'm glad to know that Clay pays his crew a fair & reasonable amount.

I love the Cluben, too. I wonder how many people will go to Ruben's concert just for a glimpse of Clay? I know I would go if I could, but I admit my eyes would be wandering around looking for Clay the whole time, rather than watching Ruben on stage. Wouldn't it be fantastic if by chance he had Clay come up and sing a duet with him? And someone got Clack? I know, I'm daydreaming.

[aikim]

I don't know, do you really think Clay would show up and possibly steal attention away from Ruben...I just can't see Clay going there knowing that fans would be showing up to see him and not Ruben, but then I can see him wanting to support his friend. I am not a fan of Ruben and even if there was a possiblity of seeing Clay, I wouldn't go...just seems like using Ruben to get to Clay.

Kim

[KAndre]

I think Clay is smart and cheap and thrifty and cute! Me, I will occasionally do the humpty dance of joy because I got something for $3 at the garage sale when it was labeled $4...and will occasionally just fling money at Clay and my cat and my stomach and my bling. It's all good.

{{{zena and friend and Clayzorback & hubby}}}

Scarlett really does put the evil in eHP...somebody please tell me that the average December temperature in Minnesota/Nebraska/Illinois is like 70 degrees...

KF is right - I do like Ob-La-Di and I think Blander is trés stupido...The Sound of Silence? The SOUND OF SILENCE!?!??!?! according to these people is one of the worst songs either...however they list the Britbot's Hit Me Baby One More Time as #9 on the the best in the last 25 years...ooooookay. Uh huh. Riiiiiiiight. Who let these guys out of their mother's basement?

[playbiller]

I think he might show up and stand in the audience, like he did when Kim appeared there in the same venue.

Need to add taht I am sorry that there is much sadness in life, I never really know what to say. So a lot of times I say nothing, although I do feel for people.

Information

From http://www.worldwidealbums.net/

Clay Aiken A Thousand Different Ways World wide sales - at least 601000 but not more than 646075

For comparison Rod Stewart Still The Same...Great American Rock Classics 1973000 2120975

Paul Simon Surprise 660000 709500

Neil Young Living With War 643000 691225

Kenny Chesney Live Those Songs Again 571000 613825

Ruben Studdard The Return 280000 301000

Kelly Clarkson My December 1193000 1282475

[keepingfaith]

I love the little hip swivel when Tyra said Clay Aiken. No doubt about it, she's fallen under the Aiken spell.

I thought the same when she said she was going to be a name dropper and was all prissy and fangirly about it. She has a case of Aiken Fever all right.

Oh-Bla-Di-Oh-Bla-Da was never one of my favorite Beatles songs, but the "reviewer" totally missed the entire idea of it -- maybe you had to be there.

They picked O-Bla-Di? Well that tells me how much credibility they have then. Pfffffft.

Beatles song I'd like to hear Clay sing .......... Hey, Bulldog ......... hands down.

Really? That's not one I'd ever considered. I tend towards some of George's songs, with Something at the top of my list, I think. But since he's apparently said he's not a Beatles' fan, I doubt it'll ever happen

See, if Clay ever covers the Beatles, I don't want it to be something covered a thousand times already -- and especially not an iconic song like Something. The only two versions I like are the original, and the Clapton/McCartney/Starr version at Concert for George (which made me cry like a baby when I first saw it.)

But Bulldog has always been a hot song, with a contagious beat and guitar riff and lyrics Clay could sell -- a contemporary version of Hey Bulldog would be hot.

You caaaaaan talk to me

You can talk to meeeee-eee-eee

If you're lonely you can talk to me

Great Lennon song!

I'm not so sure Clay said he didn't like the Beatles -- I interpreted what he said as he wasn't a fan but more because he just wasn't that familiar with their music. My 28 year old son wasn't either until I made him listen a couple of years ago and now he has about 40 Beatles songs on his iPod -- his favorites of the moment being Gently Weep and I Want You (She's So Heavy).

It cmsu that he offered to buy her lunch, which is cheaper, and she paid for dinner, which is more expensive. You know it's always been speculated that Clay is a cheapskate.

Anyway just popping in to say thank you to everyone who has posted or PM'ed me with well wishes for my husband. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I try to pop in and read and catch up, but can't post and play right now. Maybe when things settle down.

Clayzor .... :thbighug-1:

I've suspected that Clay may be tight with a dollar, and that's not a bad thing. Any kid in his 20's who had to struggle financially and then becomes an overnight multi-millionaire and who doesn't go out and buy a Porsche or a BMW or some kind of expensive jazzy sports car, but instead buys a Volvo and a Grand Cherokee -- that's not an extravagant person there. And a celebrity who doesn't mind being seen in the same clothes over and over --- that's another clue. But, to me that's a positive attribute. I think Tyra just wants everybody to know that Clay Aiken bought her danged lunch at Jean Georges and that when Clay said "I'll pay" she was all for it -- in the girliest way.

[liney23]

Today, one of my closest friends got her post-surgery pathology report from the lumpectomy she had had done three weeks ago to remove what the specialist called a tiny scrap of cancer in her right breast. The news was not good. In the next several weeks she will be undergoing a radical mastectomy along with removal of most of the lymph nodes on the right side. Since there is strong indication of metastisis to the liver as well, aggressive chemo will start almost immediatly after the surgery. She is fifty and one of those very alive people who live every moment.

For me, crisis strips life down to its bare essentials pretty quickly. Love. Laughter. Faith. Family. Friends. And sometimes, no often, music to keep the darkness at bay.

I hope you don't mind me sharing.....

{{{{{zena and friend... and clazorback and hubby}}}}

One of my best friends has been fighting colon cancer for several years. It is much less, but still there. We're hoping the new drug/chemo will triumph this time. It really gets to you sometimes. What I've learned from his fight, is that it's best not to take anything for granted, esp. your health and your friends.

Cancer cells are fighting for survival and they are VERY good at it. The trick is to fight harder than them and to win. Sounds like your friend has a head start since she is a very live in the moment person already.

:F_05BL17blowkiss:

As for Clay being cheap... don't see evidence of that. He's just not a spendthrift. Gotta remember that all expenses come out of his pocket on tour, so why wouldn't he save on sets, etc. He's smart not to be thrifty with his people, tho. The man is just plain smart!!!

With Tyra, he probably would have paid for dinner if they had gone out to dinner, but lunch may have been all they could manage between their schedules, sooooo. She likes him, that's for sure. Sigh!!!

playbiller, I think you are right. He will probably stand in the audience like with Kim. He is realistic and if ticket sales are bad for Ruben and his being in the audience will bring more people, then that's what he'll do. Ruben is used to Clay getting the lion's share of attention when they are together... LOL

[Bookwhore]

With Tyra, he probably would have paid for dinner if they had gone out to dinner, but lunch may have been all they could manage between their schedules, sooooo. She likes him, that's for sure. Sigh!!!

I was just assuming it was a matter of who invited whom. If Tyra invited him to dinner then it would be logical for her to pay. If he invited her to lunch, then it would follow that he would pay. Obviously I don't know shit about who invited who, but this sounds like a reasonable scenario to me.

I would love, absolutely love to see them arm in arm on a red carpet someday.

[Couch Tomato]

Awww - they put Starship's We Built This City on Rock and Roll as #1 worse song. When I went to see them a couple of weeks ago at the state fair, you wouldn't have guessed it was #1 worse song by the fist pumping, singing every note crowd-they loved it.

I love the little hip swivel when Tyra said Clay Aiken. No doubt about it, she's fallen under the Aiken spell.

yeah Sheiladownunder (hmmm that sound so formal..heee - I'll have to think of something ) that is all kinds of wrong because sometimes "rock n roll, rock n roll, rock n roll" just gets into my head for no reason and goes on forever and ever and ever. Truly not the mark of a lousy song. Anyway this list was out a couple years ago... is it the same list and does it come out every year because by the time I die I guess Invisible will have worked itself off the list!!

Now off to see the hip swivel... hmmm and it's not Clay's hip swivel. HA!! I've never watched Tyra before, just knew her name and made all sorts of assumptions. And I still don't watch her show..heee..but I just love her. I know he charmed the sosck, or whatever off her. (there's your cue Muski).

KIMMEL tonight: Jimmy had Anne Heche on and they were talking about her fans. Jimmy called them "HecheMates - you know like ClayMates? Have you heard of Clay Mates?" She said No. He said "they are a fierce group of fans who follow Clay Aiken around. don't cross him, or they'll kill you." **paraphrasing here, it was something similar!!** Anne said hers were nice. Jimmy said, "Oh, they're nice! Just don't cross him or...."

That's funny

Today, one of my closest friends got her post-surgery pathology report from the lumpectomy she had had done three weeks ago to remove what the specialist called a tiny scrap of cancer in her right breast. The news was not good. In the next several weeks she will be undergoing a radical mastectomy along with removal of most of the lymph nodes on the right side. Since there is strong indication of metastisis to the liver as well, aggressive chemo will start almost immediatly after the surgery. She is fifty and one of those very alive people who live every moment.

I'm very sorry about your friend.

[Scarlett]

{{{{zena}}}} {{{{Clayzorback & hubby}}}

It cmsu that he offered to buy her lunch, which is cheaper, and she paid for dinner, which is more expensive. You know it's always been speculated that Clay is a cheapskate.

I think Clay is smart----

Actually Clay is being very smart (& sneaky) because this gives him the opportunity to say -- "Since lunch is 1/4 the price of dinner, it really isn't fair. We should go to lunch 3 more times and I'll pay." So they have 2 more lunches. Then on the last one, he'll say "But I can't make lunch, let's have dinner." So the whole thing gets imbalanced again and he'll get on her to pay for another dinner and so on and so forth... :cryingwlaughter: :cryingwlaughter:

Scarlett really does put the evil in eHP...somebody please tell me that the average December temperature in Minnesota/Nebraska/Illinois is like 70 degrees...

Anytime you want to go yarn-shopping just let me know. You already have my Ponchos and Wraps pattern book. Alpaca is very warm because it's hollow and traps the warm air inside. So is cashmere & it's extra soft -- you can make a very thin, form-fitting sweater from cashmere that's hotter than Clay Aiken.

Colorways are patterns of colors used to make hand-dyed yarn -- eg. the self-striping yarn that can be used to make those socks he always wears. I've been making some based on his appearances, eg. I have a Raleigh NAT, Unicef 07, Fantasy (from AI3), SCC, AAF, etc.

I've been meaning to ask....have you gifted Clay with any "striped socks" from your colorways based on his pix? What a unique gift that would be!!

I haven't though I've been learning to make socks and I know I have enough yarn for it (my stash is getting to be quite embarassing. *puts hand over Solo's mouth*). I just have no idea how to make one that'll fit. How long should the leg & cuff of a size 13 sock be anyway?

OK, I can't believe that all you people calling me an evil enabler are the same ones deserting me on Sedaka. Is this really going to be my first Clay trip to NY all by myself? I don't think I'll be able to sweet-talk Continental into letting me fly home on standby 36 hours before my real flight. What am I supposed to do? Go back to all our pilgrimage places by myself??? eg. JNT06 route: Central Park (for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade '03), CBS, the Unicef snowflake corner (and I do have a picture of merrieeee under the snowflake, hee!), NBC, GMA, Bryant Park, Beacon??? And will dumpser-diving behind that swanky restaurant where they had the Clyra be a required stop now? Just want you to know that if I get mugged and killed, I'm coming back to haunt/discombobulate your keyboard & cable modem at ticket-buying time!!! On the bright side, this means I get to write my own recap and no one can refute it. Heh, heh! I can even pre-write my recap right now.....

Scarlett's Scandalous Sedaka Sojourn:

The cute guy stole the show but graciously stepped back to make sure Neil remained the center of attention. It was a glorious gathering of old friends that seemed to go on forever. I left the venue smugly thinking of how much the ehP would regret not being there. As I was walking to my subway stop on Central Park, who should I run into but ol' green eyes himself? And it turned out that he was headed to the same hotel as I was. Fancy that! People always whispered that he stays at the Marriot on Times Square but it turns out that the chea-er-cost-optimizing guy actually prefers Jersey City. So he walks me to the subway and we take the same one to Penn Station where we would catch our train to the hotel. Suddenly, NYC is enveloped in a massive blackout. I could only imagine all the chaos that ensued above us. However, in our little subway car all by ourselves, life was good as my Mary Poppins bag provided enough food, water and entertainment to sustain us for hours. And I had only enough yarn to knit one small afghan for us. It barely kept us both covered but we stayed warm...

Ooh, I'm starting to enjoy this! Yes, a solo Sedaka trip doesn't seem so bad after all!

[wandacleo]

I don't think that someone who builds a whunking huge mansion and stays in first class hotels is basically cheap.

Now, thrifty might account for one touring bus!!

I'M cheap, however. I admit it.

Hair on AYSTAFG--it kind of looks like the bangs were combed into the wrong place, so some look short. I find it kind of appealing.

(I'm so easy.)

[Claygasm]

{{{{zena and friend}}}} I do KNOW what you're feeling. I had a close friend die of cancer 2 years ago and now my father is battling pancreatic cancer. All you can do is try and stay postive and be there to love and support. It sounds like your friend has a good attitude and that's half the battle. And yes, she must be a VERY pro-active patient. These days it is as important as any treatment.

{{{{Clayzor}}}} I too must have missed something. I had wondered why you hadn't bee around much lately. Hope things get better for your husband and you very soon.

KAndre - don't worry about how cold it will be in Minnesota/Nebraska/Illinois in December. Worry about hours and hours or driving on snow covered roads! No little red Miatas for you, my friend!!

I love the little hip swivel when Tyra said Clay Aiken. No doubt about it, she's fallen under the Aiken spell.

I thought the same when she said she was going to be a name dropper and was all prissy and fangirly about it. She has a case of Aiken Fever all right.

Oh-Bla-Di-Oh-Bla-Da was never one of my favorite Beatles songs, but the "reviewer" totally missed the entire idea of it -- maybe you had to be there.

They picked O-Bla-Di? Well that tells me how much credibility they have then. Pfffffft.

Beatles song I'd like to hear Clay sing .......... Hey, Bulldog ......... hands down.

Really? That's not one I'd ever considered. I tend towards some of George's songs, with Something at the top of my list, I think. But since he's apparently said he's not a Beatles' fan, I doubt it'll ever happen

See, if Clay ever covers the Beatles, I don't want it to be something covered a thousand times already -- and especially not an iconic song like Something. The only two versions I like are the original, and the Clapton/McCartney/Starr version at Concert for George (which made me cry like a baby when I first saw it.)

Me too!!!!! I cried too. Just couldn't help it. I never want anyone to cover "Something" unless they knew him really, really well or are related to him. George is SACRED!!!!!!!

Did you know a whole lot of George is now available on iTunes??????

As for the Ruben concert - I bet he will be there. He was at Kelly's concert in Raleigh - in the audience with Ruben. Hardly discreet when you're with Ruben! He was at Kim's at the NC Fair. He'll be there. I just hope his fans who show up will give Ruben the respect he deserves!

[Couch Tomato]

Playbiller and Bookwhore... hmmm sounds like I need to take money tips from both of you. But Play even I know you don't happily take the sticker price on a car.

I hope Clay goes to the concert. I'm sure he can find a way to enjoy the show, either backstage or in a special section. Clay fans will stare but I'm not worried that Clay fans will take over the joint to the point where it distracts the big man on stage. And I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see how Clay fans handle not having from row seats.

Which reminds me of sitting mere feet away from Clay at the KLO show. Yeah I stole a glance or two but hell I was enjoying the show so much to stay focused on Clay. I'm sure I wasn't the only one

Clayzor I know you are a private person but a few hugs can't hurt. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

And keepingfaith takes the prize..I think she's the first to notice that I uploaded new emoticons last night....

:clay:

[jmh123]

My local concert buddy asked me if I wanted to go to see Ruben. I'm still trying to decide. Fair traffic is a bitch! I felt pretty guilty sitting at Kim Locke's show watching Clay. (Couchie, once I realized he was right in front of me, I was like KLo who. Sorry.) On the other hand, to have a chance to see him.....and if he were to get up and sing with Ruben and I could've been there.....

OT, sorta. Yesterday a comment at TwoP reminded me of an old friend who used to play and sing for her friends when we were kids, and her name popped into my head so I googled her. How wonderful to see she's had a successful career as an indie musician! She even has a "new" album (2006) and look, she's in Clay's back seat: Mockingbird. I found her website -- SallySpring.com and there was a link for a mailing list, so I e-mailed to be added and got an e-mail back from her this morning! I'm not sure she really remembers me, but she pretended to anyway.

On the way to and from my mom's yesterday I was listening to a couple of albums on my iPod by the Horse Flies. I became a fan of theirs when they played at a folk festival up north a long time ago. Several years ago I got on their mailing list and realized I'd forgotten to send them a new e-mail address--so I e-mailed last night and got a note from Judy Hyman this morning as well. She's such an amazing fiddler and composes scores for films and documentaries, as well as playing with the Horse Flies and other groups: judyhyman.com. The Horse Flies music isn't for everyone--I guess you'd call it folk with an edge--but I love it: The Horse Flies. For years, before net commerce was the norm, I tried to find one of their albums after I heard them perform, and finally found one in a remainder bin in a record shop in Kobe, Japan!!

So, to bring it back to Clay, maybe this is why I don't worry about him. I'm a fan of some other long-lasting indie artists too, like Aztec Two-Step, Zen for Primates, and Christine Lavin. These folks have been around for decades, performing and sellling albums, even before the internet made keeping up with them easy. They're not superstars, but they're survivors. It's not that I imagine Clay becoming this kind of performer or songwriter, but I believe he can easily find a way to sustain a career doing the things he enjoys doing.

And to the music snobs out there we're always hearing from who love to diss Clay for not writing his songs--these folks and thousands like them are the real singer (or fiddler)-songwriters, not the pop superstars who pretend they write. I can't respect the opinion of those critics who are so stupid that they honestly believe Avril or Ashlee really write anything, and I can't respect the opinions of people who are able to be swayed by media hype. And this is one of the reasons I respect Clay, for refusing to pretend to be anything other than who he is, even when he might be able to become a huge superstar if only he'd allow them to "shape" his image the way I'm sure they want to.

[Couch Tomato]

Actually Clay is being very smart (& sneaky) because this gives him the opportunity to say -- "Since lunch is 1/4 the price of dinner, it really isn't fair. We should go to lunch 3 more times and I'll pay." So they have 2 more lunches. Then on the last one, he'll say "But I can't make lunch, let's have dinner." So the whole thing gets imbalanced again and he'll get on her to pay for another dinner and so on and so forth...

Be careful Scarlett, I'm starting to get a real good idea of how your mind works...

KAndre - don't worry about how cold it will be in Minnesota/Nebraska/Illinois in December. Worry about hours and hours or driving on snow covered roads! No little red Miatas for you, my friend!!

Bwah!!

And if she even suspects her onocologist is slacking or lacking....tell her to move on. Quickly! If she gets even a hint of a suggestion from any of her Drs to use someone else...tell her to persue it. Dr's can't/won't/don't come out and say someone is not the best person for the job...but they do drop hints. Tell her to be very alert.

Good advice Rhody. Two years ago my nephew was having seizures and the only thing the doctors did was medicate him. The 6 year old kid was practical comatose..slurring his words, not being ablt to play. But yet they continued ot just put their fact in doctors hoping he'd "outgrow" these seizures. Finally at his wits end and the doctor next bit of advice was to get him a helmet, my brother got a second opinion. The first thing the new doctor did was strip him from all that medication and start over. Now he takes a moderate amount and hasn't thad a seizure for a year. I took this kid to the park when I was in San Diego and he was able to play like all the other kids.

Claygasmm :F_05BL17blowkiss:

To everyone dealing with illness...please remember to also take care of yourselves. You are also going through an emotional draining and difficult time. If you have the added component of being a caregiver please remember that you must also continue to take time for yourself!!

[luckiest1]

I never want anyone to cover "Something" unless they knew him really, really well or are related to him. George is SACRED!!!!!!!

I love George. I loved the Concert For George. There has never been another artist who I wanted to hear sing George's songs (or any of the Beatles' catalogue, if I'm being honest). But Clay's voice just makes me want to hear him sing everything that has already been sung by anyone else.....if that makes any sense. Even icons like the Beatles and Elvis. In fact, I surprised myself by liking all of his covers on the JBT!

Which reminds me of sitting mere feet away from Clay at the KLO show. Yeah I stole a glance or two but hell I was enjoying the show so much to stay focused on Clay. I'm sure I wasn't the only one

Sorry, but I can't join you on this! LOL. I watched Clay the whole evening. As much as I like Kim (present tense, I still don't dislike her regardless of the latest brou-ha-ha) she couldn't take my attention from the guy in the burberry hat sitting about 20 feet away from me (if that) behind the barricades. ETA: jmh123, it sounds like we had a similar experience!

I think he'll show up at Ruben's show in some capacity this weekend. I hope he has fun and that fans do not bother him. I think it's great that he's so loyal to his friends and wants to try and help Ruben's ticket sales.

[aikim]

Clay was in the Spamalot thread again this morning (he's gone now)...obviously, we are keeping him very entertained.

Kim

[liney23]

It's not that I imagine Clay becoming this kind of performer or songwriter, but I believe he can easily find a way to sustain a career doing the things he enjoys doing.

And to the music snobs out there we're always hearing from who love to diss Clay for not writing his songs--these folks and thousands like them are the real singer (or fiddler)-songwriters, not the pop superstars who pretend they write. I can't respect the opinion of those critics who are so stupid that they honestly believe Avril or Ashlee really write anything, and I can't respect the opinions of people who are able to be swayed by media hype. And this is one of the reasons I respect Clay, for refusing to pretend to be anything other than who he is, even when he might be able to become a huge superstar if only he'd allow them to "shape" his image the way I'm sure they want to.

jmh... I soooo agree with you!

I feel that Clay has chosen the attitude that people are either going to like him or not as he is and he's just going to be himself. How other people react to him is not his problem, but theirs. That is a wonderful attitude, IMO and makes him very genuine, which I believe people sense about him and brings a lot of that respect that is slowly but surely on the rise.