Clay Aiken: Through the Eyes of a Child

By RockysMom:

Any other Moody Blues fans here?

I was looking through my pictures of Clay recently (yeah,I know...a tough job but someone has to do it, right?) and I had to stop and spend a few moments with one of my favorites...




...and I found I had these lyrics of John Lodge's running through my head:

With the eyes of a child you must come out and see
That your world's spinning round and through life you will be
A small part of a hope of a love that exists
In the eyes of a child you will see.

Now, there are tons of wonderful pictures of Clay to drool over - I mean to look at. But the pictures of him with children always hit me in a special place.

Singing with Brianna in Raleigh.









Cradling Quiana's tiny son in those beautiful hands of his.









Backstage with the choirs from the first Joyful Noise tour.









The picture above from a UNICEF event.

But none are more special, more meaningful, more powerful, more poignant than those of Clay with the special children that mean so much to him.

Pictures of Clay singing to Mikayla in front of her classmates. Staring at sleeping children in Uganda. Dancing and singing and laughing with children struggling to re-build their lives after a devastating tsunami in Banda Aceh.


And of course the photos of him with Mike Bubel....whose mother Diane we all have so much to thank for.


But that's how WE see Clay Aiken....the caring, compassionate, dedicated man who sets time out of his busy schedule to make sure these children's voices are heard. While his contemporaries are partying from nightclub to exclusive nightclub.... Clay is testifying before Congress for additional funds for the ravished areas of Indonesia. Instead of spending small fortunes on "bling" and imported champagne, Clay is making sure he manages to get from a television appearance in California to his meeting of a Presidential committee he's been appointed to. And he makes that meeting, even through bad weather that stopped many members who had much shorter distances to travel. The same man who is, apparently, scheduling his long-awaited summer pop tour around his next trip for UNICEF.

And who, at the end of March is hosting a special benefit performance in his hometown for his very own successful and highly regarded Bubel/Aiken Foundation for the inclusion of special needs children into mainstream programs.

We see all that when we look at this man named Clay Aiken....all that and more. We see the loveable dork that shaved his leg and got a "tattoo" of Jimmy Kimmel for laughs. We see our Hot Rock Star God tossing his long mane while rocking out with his band. We see someone that has persevered and maintained his dignity and integrity while being the target of scurrilous tabloid lies. We see a man with a razor-sharp wit and impeccable comedic timing teasing his die-hard fans about their foibles and fantasies. We see the man who has the voice of a generation....who sings like "nobody else on this planet" (thank you, Shelly)

That's what WE see when we look at Clay Aiken. But looking through the eyes of a child....all those children in the photos above and many, many more whose pictures we haven't seen....what do THEY see when THEY look at this beautiful, wonderful man named Clay Aiken?

I think they see....caring....and hope....and most of all I think-no, make that-I know....they see love.

Thank you Clay, for being the man you are and showing so many of us how to be ...." a small part of a hope of a love that exists in the eyes of a child "


Related Tags: Clay Aiken, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, UNICEF, Moody Blues, Jimmy Kimmel

The Wearing 'o the Green...Clay Aiken style

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.


When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.





For your smile is a part
Of the love in your heart,
And it makes even sunshine more bright.
Like the linnet's sweet song,
Crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter and light.
For the springtime of life
Is the sweetest of all
There is ne'er a real care or regret;
And while springtime is ours
Throughout all of youth's hours,
Let us smile each chance we get.



When your sweet lilting laughter's
Like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while
And all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.


Clay Aiken has an uncanny ability to bring a smile to one's eyes, a joy to one's heart, and a lilt to one's step. He has the ability to make us laugh out loud, to embrace life, to feel the joy in simply being.





He is curious.







He is sexy.












He stops to sign autographs.










And he sings like nobody else on the planet.





Now how'd THAT get in here?



Mucho thanks to all who bring the Clack. You are much appreciated.



Related Tags: Clay Aiken, When Irish Eyes are Smiling, Wango Tango

The Shaming of America, aka pig-slop Politics

These ramblings are solely the opinion of the writer.

I usually don't write political blogs, I leave that to the writers who really know their subjects but I am so pissed off right now that I have to have my say.

Ann Coulter, that wonderfully ignorant, hate-filled bitch spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington DC. The remark that so pissed me off is this:

"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word "faggot," so I — so kind of an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards."

Listen to her hate-filled speech. Watch the expression on her face afterwards. She is The Ugly American.






The conference was attended by 2008 Republican presidential candidates: former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, and former California congressman Duncan Hunter. Vice President Dick Cheney also was there.

What is not clear is who was in attendance when Coulter made her hateful remarks. Why? Because after doing a Google search for more information, I can't find one major news organization that even mentions her disgusting slur in relation to who was there. However, it is reported that after she made that remark, those conservative attendees applauded her.

That's my first WTF moment. WTF were these people thinking? WTF is going on in America where hurtful slurs upon a good man's name are applauded? WTF is it about when the major news organizations don't even report that fact that by not speaking out, these so-called Presidential contenders tacitly agree with her remarks.

I did a Google of The New York Times and The Washington Post. I consider myself a pretty savvy computer person, certainly better than the majority and I spent time putting in keywords to search and.....nothing. These two newspapers are two of the most respected in the world so why didn't they cover this? CNN? Zip. zilch, nada.

The Republican candidates are all back-pedaling now. After the fact, after the outrage, to cover their political asses. Assholes.

I'm going to post my "Wall of Shame"

Ann Coulter:

Previously, Coulter has put “even money” on Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) “[c]oming out of the closet,” said Bill Clinton shows “some level of latent homosexuality,” and called Vice President Al Gore a “total fag.”
She is, perhaps, the ugliest American I've ever heard. I'm ashamed that she's calls herself American and I'm not ready to make nice. Fucker.

Mitt Romney: flip-flopper extraodinaire

"Kevin Madden, a spokesman for Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, said: “It was an offensive remark. Governor Romney believes all people should be treated with dignity and respect...."
First he was pro-choice, now he's anti-choice, first he wants equal rights for all, now he's anti-gay. Make up your fucking mind. Back-pedal much? Idiot.


Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani






Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee







Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO)






Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS)







Former Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA)







And of course, Vice President Dick Cheney who doesn't even want equal rights for his own daughter. I get down on my knees every night and thank whomever that he's not my father. I would be embarrassed to have to claim kinship to him. And if this little rant is going to put me on a list, well, list away.


And because this is usually a blog about Clay Aiken, let's talk about his charity work:

I was going to make a list, but Berkeleylovesourclay blogged it last September at the ConClayve.

Here are the highlights

President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Community Alternatives Program for Persons with Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities
Bubel/Aiken Foundation
National Ambassador to UNICEF
Ambassador for Ronald McDonald House Charities

I urge everyone to re-read Berk's blog about an admirable man with admirable qualities. Maybe this will cleanse your mind of the pig-slop that passes for politics these days.



Related Tags: Ann Coulter, Dick Cheney, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Tom Tancredo, Sen. Sam Brownback, Duncan Hunter, The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, Conservative Political Action Conference, John Edwards, Clay Aiken, President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Community Alternatives Program for Persons with Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities, Bubel/Aiken Foundation, UNICEF, Ronald McDonald House Charities