First of all what an experience. I had never driven in LA and that in of itself was quite nerve racking. Clayshines and I flew first to SD and rented a car there but since we were going to the Pala and the Greek concerts too, we dropped off the rental in LA to fly home.

After the Pala concert we stayed up way to late. I think we finally went to bed at 3am after having a PJ party with some Clay fans. Got up at 8am and boy did I have a nervous stomach just thinking about driving in LA. Thank goodness I had someone to follow. I have to admit I was ready to kiss the Sheraton hotel floor when I got there. But I did survive driving in LA, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Got checked into our room and then meet up with some more fans. Had some appetizers before heading over to the Greek. My friend CaliClayFan1 and her friend, picked us up at the Sheraton…I did not want to drive. I think it took us 30 minutes just to go 7miles. Thank you Kim for driving.

As we made our way into the grounds after they checked our tickets. We kept running to people we knew. Kim, Lisa, Maggie and I were standing around when I heard someone say Walla. What was funny is there were yelling Vickie and I didn’t hear them but when they said Walla I did. As we were standing in line to get food the 2 ladies behind us were saying how excited there were to get tickets to see this show. We started talking to them…they didn’t have computers so they were shocked when we told them that Clay had just performed in SD and at Pala and that he would be in Indio. They had no clue. They also asked who was opening for Clay…We said, “NO ONE OPENS FOR CLAY”. It was so cute. We told them they were in for a quite a treat and they were so excited. Just wish we could have found them afterwards to see what they thought.

We made our way to our seats to eat before the show started. We had good seats Middle section A, row J, seats 115 and 116. Pretty much dead center. Before the show started two older couples came and sat down by us. I started talking to them and they are never seen Clay in concert. More NJU. I told them they were in for treat. I did tell the gentleman that I would try not to yell to loud. He said yell away. He did tell me afterwards that my yelling did not bother him at all. They just loved the show. They kept saying what an amazing voice. What an entertainer he was and how funny. I told them about his albums, I think one of the ladies had one of his albums. They said they were going to look for the rest of them. I told them about his humanitarian stuff, his foundation and his presidential appt. and about his book. They were just amazed.

Clay was amazing. I loved every bit of it and I did not want it to be over with. It was our last concert. We weren’t going to make it to Indio. DARN!

I love Clay’s sense of humor, I love how he interacts with the audience, with Angela and Quiana. He just commands the stage. I love how the show is just a little different, he either changes how he sings a song, how he tells a story, how he teases the girls or how they tease him. I don’t even care anymore that he says he can’t dance. By just watching him you know he can. His timing is perfect. I really believe a lot of his put downs are just part of his comedy act.

I’m not sure I can even pick a favorite song. He just blows me away whenever he opens his mouth to sing. One time I will think its LAA, next its MOAM, or WY. SSTBTHW or maybe it will be EIH. Mostly it just depends what my mood is. I think sometimes I could just sit and listen to him talk all day. I know I could listen to him sing all day. The crowd was great. I love when he swatted Angela’s bottom and said, “Sorry Dad”. Those two on that song crack me up. Clay is such a tease and the girls tease him right back.

I loved in the TV medley how Quiana hates singing, “Songs that make a hit parade. And Clay just keeps making her sing it over and over again. She hates singing that part. She says, “I just like the song not singing that part. Then she starts to leave and Clay says she will be back, we all need a break. I need some of that alchol and I don’t even drink.

Again he is amazing on TOA…Quiana blew us away with her version of WTLGD. One of my favorite parts is when Clay goes to sit by Angela while Quiana sings. Love when he says to her, “I just want to sit by you, that’s because awe we are so cute, her family is here…and then he says, “Surprise”. And then, Look Who’s Coming to Dinner….The laughter is awesome…I love Clays laughter. Of course Clay throws his shoe at Quiana when she is done singing along with Angela. Quiana give Angela her shoe back but then pretends to auction off Clay’s shoe. So funny…..

Just when you think he can’t sing his songs any better he just blows you away. MOAM and WY were incredible. The audience was on their feet and Clay tries to get them to sit down….SSTBTHW was beautiful again. Such a pretty song. RHW…again how he can hold those notes so long just boggles my mind. After MOAM someone shouts out I love you Clay and he says, Thank you, I love you too and then someone else says it and he goes each one of you individually. After WY he again says we sing….Slowwwwwwwwwwww…… slow songs. Someone gave him a water bottle with the BAF logo on it and he says, “You know we have this trademarked you know you can’t really print it on your own. Oh its approved.

Loved the banner before singing TWYMMF. How he is talking about slowwwww….songs. Talking about the lady who wrote the letter to Quiana. He didn’t care, was going to eat what he wanted. Krispy Crèmes, Macaroni and cheese and slow songs. Got a really a little bit worried because you know singing a bunch of slow songs that can get boring. I took a nap that song was so slow and I know some of these men out in the audience, oh my God I knew it was going to be a long show with these love songs, please don’t worry your wife will be very happy when you get home. Lots and lots of laughter….. See you thought it was funny and I’m gonna get in trouble later for that. Quiana says your momma. You are witnessing it for yourself tonight. Clay says, “She is probably laughing more than anybody else. You thought it was funny wasn’t it momma. You were laughing weren’t you. See. Clay says, “I got my dirty mouth from my momma. He cracks me up. Lots of laughter that night. Then TWYMMF…was great. Loved how he came into the audience. Was in the middle so couldn’t see that part very well. He sure got the crowd on their feet. Loved it.

The Classic’s are right on again…he is so funny and he makes this all work. The stick about not being cool is so funny. He tries to be so serious but he is so funny. Off the hook, off the chain, off the meat rack. Clay says, “Off the what“. In order to be cool you have to sing fast songs, yeah you do. I found that out. If you turn the radio on right now today, all the cool people are on the radio. You have to sing fast songs. You hear all the cool people but you don’t hear me. He so knows how to play to the audience and draws us in. I don’t see how anyone can not see how great Clay is. He is unbelievable. I love when he swatted Angela’s bottom and said, “Don’t kill me Dad.“ They are so good together. Party all night was great…he so knows. He brought the house down. He is officially cool. The crowd loved it.. You just have to sing songs about butts. I’m cool now. I’m so moved I have to take a break. Then Angela sings LISTEN. Another great job.

He talks about Jaymes making him write the words to the music David wrote for him. In five minutes to write it but it took Clay 5 minutes and 7 months to write the lyrics. What a beautiful job he did. This song just blows me away even though its sad. He is amazing on this song. Clay please keep writing.

I think its wonderful how Clay thanks the symphony. Encourages people to support their local arts in their community. And we all know he closes the show with BYLM…the glow sticks were so pretty. It just made it so special and I loved how Clay thanked us. I also love how he says, “I’m Clay Aiken and good night.” The crowd went wild. We did stay for the buses and that was fun. Clay touched both hands, but it he went by so fast and it was dark. It was nice to watch him walk up the hill. We all said thank you has he walked by. Cali and Liza had to leave so we bummed a ride back with Dbronco’s. Thank you so much Dee.

It was over to soon. We flew back to Portland on Sunday and drove home on Monday. That was an adventure in itself. We got direction from the hotel to LAX. The directions were great but there was a detour that the hotel didn’t know about. Freaked me out but we did stop and ask for help and they got us back on track.

We got stuck at LAX for 2 extra hours almost missed our connecting flight in San Jose to Portland. Had to run to make it, we made it but our luggage didn’t. It arrived later that evening. They delivered it at 11:30 that night at my son’s house.