Carmen Rasmusen Mentions Clay In Her Book

Clay's fellow American Idol 2 finalist, Carmen Rasmusen, mentions him several times in her new book, "Staying In Tune". The CV's lvclaycdparty reports:

I just bought Carmen's new book, Staying in Tune, for my daughter. I know that there are varied opinions about Carmen, now and before, but let's all enjoy these Clay mentions in her book. Many places in her book she talks about her quest to keep her standards of modesty, abstaining from alcohol, and standing up for what she believed in. In the Introduction, she told about how the stylist for the People magazine shoot wanted to dress her like Britney Spears, with a white miniskirt & a pink halter top. She declined, saying that she couldn't wear that and came up with an alternate shirt she found in the wardrobe room and wore her own jeans. Then followed this excerpt:

Two weeks later, fellow contestant Clay Aiken came up to me to show me the latest issue of People. "It looks like someone sure liked you, Miss Centerfold," he said with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
"Look, you've got the only two-page spread!"
I took the magazine from him to see what he was talking about. I slowly began to flip through the pages. Each American Idol finalist looked so beautiful. Everyone had a photo spread across a full page, along with a little blurb about their likes and dislikes off to one side.
Everyone, that is, except me. Clay was right. My picture was the only one spread across two pages. pgs. xv-xvi

Interestingly enough she mentioned that when she got called back for the Wildcard show, they had to sing in front of Nigel Lythgoe & Simon to determine who would be going through to actually compete on the Wildcard show. Even then, some were sent home who had come to compete to be able to perform on the Wildcard show. The next Clay mention was after they had been notified who would be on the Wildcard show. She said:
Clay Aiken and Kimberley Caldwell were two of my favorites. They were always laughing and joking together, and were very nice to me.
One day as we were waiting around in the red room, I decided to finish up the journal entry I had started in "class." Clay saw me writing something and said, "What's that?" Before I could say anything, he leaped over and snatched the paper away from me.
"No! Give it back!" I yelled.
"Oh, come on," he said. "Who cares? It's not like I'm going to show anyone. I just want to see what you're writing."
I was so embarrassed, but he was actually complimentary about how descriptive I was in my writing. I think that's when Clay and I first became friends." pg. 61

Next Clay mention is a short one, after her name had been announced as Simon's pick for the Top 12:
I threw my hands over my mouth and stood up. Clay immediately grabbed me and wrapped me in a huge hug, laughing and whooping for joy, right along with me. pg. 66

Next mention was after they went to perform at the Academy for Performing Arts and Sciences. They rode in a limo and on the way to the Italian restaurant where they were going to eat:
… some of the contestants decided to 'celebrate' right then and there with some alcohol from the limo's mini bar. Pretty soon everyone except Clay Aiken and I were drinking….
"Hey, Carmen!" Corey Clark yelled from the back of the limo. "Could you pass us some?"
I looked to see what he was talking about, and I saw that I was conveniently sitting by several bottles of alcohol….
"Hey, Carmen." I looked up to see Corey still staring at me. "I saw how you were eyeing that bottle when you passed it to me. It looked like you wanted to try some."
Now I had a choice to make. I could refuse to drink, or I could try some-just a sip- to see what it was like….
(after some commentary about her thoughts and some religious quotes, she then goes on with her story)
I took a deep breath, but before I could open my mouth, Clay piped up from the back seat, "No, Carmen's a Mormon. She wouldn't touch that stuff with a ten-foot pole!"
Immediately, Corey stopped pressuring me. I was so grateful to Clay for sticking up for me, even though I had never planned on taking that first drink. He respected my values. Clay was a true friend. pgs. 71-73

A one line mention after singing on Motown night: I ran backstage and Clay was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, and he gave me a huge hug. pg. 75

During the AI2 season: Before every performance, we would stand in a circle backstage, hold hands, and pray. Sometimes it would be me who offered it, sometimes it would be Clay or Kim or Ruben. pg. 79.