I had figured either you were too busy to post entries (perhaps being selected to oversee the legal issues in the financial bailout?) or were busy running for Congress (and had forgotten to mention it in your blog) or perhaps had been kidnapped by space aliens.

I need to go through especially school notes that I don’t need anymore. I never used them after the classes I took (or even during the classes I took) , so why do I keep keeping them.

They do have Rhythmic Gymnastics, but it’s this coming week, starting on the 21st.

Wait…you liked Starship Troopers?

You, girl, are a “real” singer. I checked out the Choral Arts Society and Cathedral Coral Society sites, and I’m totally impressed. Our local church choir is the most I could ever handle! I’d never have passed the CCS audition!

Singing in the Cathedral must be glorious. Our parish church growing up (a small mostly Irish Catholic community, just outside of Boston) was a Basilica and that was magnificent compared to “regular” parish churches - but nothing compared to the Washington Cathedral or St. Patrick’s. Anyway, you must have had to pinch yourself when you found out it was “A Capitol Fourth” that you had signed up for! What a rush!
And the French Horn - a great instrument! We only had one in our school band, and my best friend since first grade, Eileen Kiley, played it!
I have to run. I’m still doing laundry and it’s after 11:00! I’ll check in later in the week. I have to find out (and it may be here, and I just haven’t come across it yet) where the title “elbow glitter” came from! You are a very interesting person! Have a great Wednesday! (It’s going to be too hot to run!)

Kris

We’ll hang around and chat, if you want us to! Most people want nothing to do with us, after they get a taste of the craziness, that unfortunately follows us around!

The trolls follow whenever they learn that something positive has been written about Taylor. They know that his fans will visit the site to say thank you to the author, and they arrive en masse with the degrading nasty remarks - which we’ve been programmed to try to ignore.

It’s just about impossible, though, to overlook the slanderous lies and nasty comments they write about this genuinely decent guy.

Some of these people are so miserable that it’s easier to just leave whatever blog or article that’s being “infected” before they ruin the person’s site - hoping that the author realizes what’s going on, and doesn’t believe the vitriol that they spew.

These fan wars have been going on since TH won Idol in 2006. Why - people ask? The trolls insist that Taylor’s fans (the soul patrollers who used to post on the American Idol message boards during Season 5) were less than kind, when their favorite contestant (who they think should have beaten Taylor) was eliminated from the show, and that this misery they spread is meant more to hurt his fans, than it is to hurt Taylor. They say the Soul Patrol rubbed salt in the wounds at that time (two years ago!) and that this is payback! I wasn’t on those boards, so I can only repeat what’s been said. (Supposedly, it was a two-way verbal war that got personal and a vendetta against the Soul Patrol and Taylor Hicks was launched.)

As ludicrous as this sounds, this is the reason behind the craziness, and the negative targeting of any positive reference to Taylor. Revenge is in full force. Any form of media - newspaper columns or articles, magazines, entertainment shows, radio shows, blogs, comments left at Amazon or any other distributor of Taylor’s music or his book. Anyplace at all, where Taylor’s name is mentioned - even when he’s participating in an event (auction, golf tournament, etc.) for any of the many charities he supports - the disparaging comments show up. He may be singing the National Anthem at a sporting event or be the half-time entertainment at a football game - as soon as it’s promoted, they try to find a way to make it a negative.

And it is so-o difficult to not step in and and call them out on the lies - but this has gone on so long and has gotten even more out of control (the more positive things that are being written about TH - or the more recognition he’s being given - the more determined they are to bring him down) that trying to stop them doesn’t even seem worth the effort any more.

Of course, Taylor seems to take all this in stride (however much he’s aware of?) He surrounds himself with long-time friends and family, when he tours, because he says they keep him grounded. He never speaks ill of anyone and always has a smile on his face. He never refuses an autograph and he works tirelessly for his charities. He’s got a terrific work ethic and the people who work with him (like his band or the bus driver or the body guard) only have wonderful things to say about his personality and his generosity.

So, it’s a shame, that when someone like yourself, who didn’t know him at all, notices something about him, mentions it in a personal blog - gets innundated with comments that need to be moderated.

Welcome to the Taylor Hicks’ fan world. It’s hard “work” to be in the Soul Patrol! But it’s so worth it! All it takes is one live performance or one meet and greet, or one report of Taylor spending time with a handicapped child, or going back and re-reading one of the blogs or posts written by people who had just about given up on life, for one reason or another, and who decided to give it one more try - because they heard Taylor sing “A Change Is Gonna Come.”

There’s always something to look forward to when you’re following Taylor on his journey. The different music and musicians that we’ve been exposed to because of Taylor is mind-boggling. Real friendships have been forged, and people meet and travel together to his shows and events. They share voluminous amounts of pictures and video. So many of us have actually become computer literate, because of the efforts of on-line “teachers.” People have been positively touched in so many ways because of Taylor.

So, Megan, I know a few of us will gladly come and visit occasionally, and you don’t even have to mention his name! LOL!

By the way, how did you get to sing in the choir at the Capitol Fourth? Can you share your background in music? You’re also a runner! When do you find the time? What is your favorite type of music and who is your favorite artist? These are things we’d love to know about you.

Will check in over the next couple of days.

Kris