Ireland -- a dream of mine

Continuing with the discussion of my interests, Ireland is near the top of that list. My father's side of the family came from Eniskillin Ireland. One "black Irish" lad married a Cherokee woman. That pairing produced my paternal grandmother. I've always wanted to visit Ireland, to stand on a rocky cliff and feel stiff winds blowing in off the sea. Photos from friends in the UK, and Michael Corrigan's visits to Ireland are the closest I will ever get to visiting the Emerald Isle.

Corrigan recently visited Ireland, the home of his ancestors. Knowing my love of Ireland and the sea, he graciously sent me this picture. It sparked my imagination and almost jump-started my lagging desire to write. He's standing on an ancient stone fort, Dun Aonghasa on the Isle of Inis Mor in the Aran Islands. I can only imagine the view from this watch fort, built before the birth of Christ. If these time-worn stones could talk, imagine the stories they would tell us!! Think of the sturdy Celts who lived and fought there, and how the sea must have looked in every season.

I'm hoping many stories develop as a result of Michael Corrigan's visit to his ancestral home. He has that special way with words Irish writers seem to have. Perhaps he will spin a tale of Inis Mor, ancient stone forts, and the sturdy Celts who fought against a steady onslaught of invaders. Or maybe he will write about the sea winds and storms that have shaped the coasts of Ireland. I'll hope for that, to see Ireland vicariously through his prose.

Everything you ever wanted to know.....

I've had some emails about my blog recently that need answering, questions about me, my interests, people and writers I'd like to meet. One person does not like my new blog template because it does not have the current weather where I live icon and the hit counter. When I switched from the original template, those two things did not make the transition. I can't explain why. Maybe some day I'll figure it out. I was disappointed too.

MY INTERESTS

I enjoy taking photographs of the natural world around me. I do NOT enjoy the great outdoors in any season but winter because bugs and insects of all kinds freak me out. Boston Legal, the original CSI in Las Vegas, and Dancing With the Stars are my favorite TV shows. Family gatherings are my favorite activity, and I enjoy having lunch with friends. Old time rock and roll is my favorite kind of music, but I will listen to country CDs if they are by Willie Nelson or Brooks and Dunne.

PEOPLE AND WRITERS I'D LIKE TO MEET

I'm not very star struck. I'd love to meet friends I correspond with in the UK. None of my favorite writers are famous. I'd enjoy meeting Eric Burton, author of $oft Money, because his book is one that didn't get lost in my reviewing shuffle. Ditto Michael Corrigan, author of Confessions of a Shanty Irishman; The Irish Connection; and Byron. Ditto again Elizabeth Lucas-Taylor, whose book Unfinished Business was one of the sexiest, savviest ones I've read in that particular genre. I'd like to meet the editor and publisher of two of my books, Carol Adler of Dandelion Books. I'd like to meet Nashville poet and musician, Klyd Watkins, because his spoken poetry to music CDs are addicting. I have a huge list of poets and writers on my list of favorites. Maybe I'll write about them another day, give them a brief turn in the spotlight.

Until then, I've answered the email questions. If you want to know anything else, just ask.