Well, well, well...

I don't even know where to start, that was the most fun I think I have had in a really long time. The work was all worth it and the First Annual Oklahoma Celtic Heritage and Music Festival was fantastic. The entertainment was top-notch, both onstage and behind the scenes.

We met some fabulous folks from all over the place. Shay Clarke from Illinois was one of the vendors we met while there. He sells exquisite gold and sterling silver Celtic jewelry some with gemstones www.blarneyhome.com . He also writes for the Midwest Irish Focus and the Irish American News. As if that weren't enough he also broadcasts a radio show, Blarney on the Air, that is available locally in the Chicagoland area and worldwide on the web at www.wdcb.com on Monday nights from 7-9pm. As a matter of fact, when Russ and I settled I last night, we decided to take a listen...it's a great thing that we did as Shay just went on about the festival and about Boru's Ghost. He played Weille Waille and The Pawn off of Rites Of Passage. That was so COOL! Thanks so much to Shay. He says that in the following weeks he will play some of the other bands that were there at the fest like Celtic Cheer and Larkin. So everybody tune in and call in and let him know you are there!

We also got to hang out with some great musicians! I especially enjoyed meeting the fiddler from Arkansas, Bill Thurman and his buddy with the bodhran (sorry, two days out and I can't remember names so well) I would love for them to get a stage show for next year! They were absolutely qualified. You can visit Bill's webpage at http://www.billthurmanmusic.com/. We played until we couldn't stand any longer and then we sat down and played some more.

I myself especially enjoyed the impromptu sessions that just popped up wherever two or more musicians might congregate. This happened on an off both days. My favorite was the kitchen sessions and also the hallway session at the hotel. Marilee's stage sessions were also cool, giving everyone a chance to be on stage and be a star. Those little guys playing the fiddle and singing up there just made me weep like a baby.

Speaking of kids---wow there are some talented Celtic Kids out there! All those dancers and young musicians give me hope that the next generation will keep the fire burning.

We also met Sam with the House of Celts and enjoyed talking with him. Russ even convinced him to bring himself and his guitar to the hotel for a little after festival jamming...very cool.

We had such a good time meeting and hanging out with everyone,I can't wait to see you all again, I miss you already. Oh and thanks so much to Roger and Carol Graham, without whom none of this would have happened...we love you guys!

I would love to mention it all but it would take me hours and I'm still pretty worn out from all that work! Maybe I'll post some more later-A www.okcelticfest.com

Hey there!

Now I know it seems as if I have been really neglectful of this blog (that's because I really have been), but I have been super busy with the Oklahoma Celtic Heritage Association and the upcoming festival. We are gonna' party are Celtic butts off this weekend in Stillwater, OK at the First Annual Oklahoma Celtic Heritage and Music Festival. You really should check it out if you can make it! The website is www.okcelticfest.com

I am so excited to see all our hard work come to fruition and I know it is going to turn out great. Sometimes bragging back and forth between two cities can lead to wonderful things! I have found a new role model for how to do things in Carol Graham. She has really devoted herself to this festival, full force. I have also met some wonderful new friends, and reinforced some old friendships in the process. That makes it all worth while for me, no matter what the end result. Come out and join us this weekend...it will be rewarding. See ya'-A

Hey all,

It's been a really long time since I posted anything here...oops, sorry.

I have been super busy building the website for OCHA, and now that it is done I should have some spare time to work on personal pursuits. It should be up sometime before the end of the year.

John's blog thingy read February but I know he wrote that recently. Justin Green passed away November 3, 2006. He was a really sweet guy and had a wife, young daughter and a baby on the way. He was only 29 years old and died of natural causes in his sleep. This sad occasion has made me glad when I wake up every morning and I have been hugging my kids a little harder and making sure the people I love know it.

At rehearsal last week we decided to make up a Boru's Ghost drinking game. It all started out as a joke but I think we (Leah, John's fiance and I) are going to write up the rules and bring it along next time we play at a pub. Here are just a few of the rules....

Take a drink every time:

1. Boru's Ghost plays in E minor

2.  Boru's Ghost changes times signature mid song

3. John changes instruments mid song

4. Audra tries to hit one of the guys with her whistle

5. Boru's Ghost plays a song with morbid lyrics, theme, etc.

6. Boru's Ghost changes key mid song

7. Russell gives "the dad look"  to anyone,  but especially his band mates

Anyway, you get the idea. Anyone who played for a whole set would probably be feeling pretty good by the end of it. We thought people who didn't drink could just keep score.  We were going to try and have that ready for Dan McGuinness this weekend, but now we will have to wait on that show until January.  The pub is not quite ready to open their doors yet, I think it will be another week or two.  Maybe we'll have the game together for The Tipp in Dallas next weekend. We'll see..

Okay, well that's all I can ramble on about now because  Little T is hanging on my left arm making it really hard to type.  See ya'-Audra

I woke up this morning feeling as if I should be doing something again. So I got up and did a few chores and now with little more than a week before our next couple of shows, I have decided to update my blog and then I will finish the website update.

Of course before I can do that I must clean up the picture depository mess that my Big T has made by dumping all our digital photos into one spot...at least she downloaded them before deleting them.

Oh by the way, things are looking really good for the Oklahoma Celtic Heritage Association. They have been getting quite a bit of good press from what I understand.  I have been working some on a website for them and as soon as we get more details, I'll be able to fill in some more of it. At this point, I think they are steadily working towards a festival in Oklahoma for June 2007. The Scottish and Irish groups in OK are doing a great job working together for progress on this project. Way to go!

I think I will check on some things, clean up some messes, and then come back to this later.-A