SunMoonStarJewel

Luciano Pavarotti
1935-2007










Please click the link to experience Luciano Pavarotti singing his signature aria → Nessun Dorma

  GRACE O'MALLEY  Ireland's Pirate QueenShe was married twice, divorced once, took a lover when she wanted, and gave birth to one of her sons on the deck of her own ship. She was Grace O'Malley, the sixteenth-century Irish woman who provoked awe, anger, admiration, and fear in the English men who, by persuasion and by the sword, came to conquer the land of her birth.Born in 1530, the daughter of an Irish chieftain, she inherited her father's taste for the seafaring life and eventually took command of his fleet of galleys and their hard-bitten, all-male crews. For fifty years she traded the clan's produce in Ireland, Scotland, and Spain, skillfully practiced the time-honored craft of piracy and plundering, and led rebellions against the invading English.On land and sea she was a fearless leader, a political pragmatist, a ruthless mercenary, and a shrewd negotiator - as shown in her fabled meeting with her rival and protector, Queen Elizabeth. And yet, as thrilling and fascinating as her life story is, what happened to her after her life is equally instructive.She was literally "disappeared" from the pages of history, ignored by the official chroniclers and omitted from the great books of Irish and English history. Obviously, a woman who challenged the might of England and the traditional power of men - a woman who did not let religious, social, or political convention get in her way - could not be tolerated. But Grace O'Malley could not be erased from the hearts of her countrymen and countrywomen. Granuaile (her Gaelic name) became a beloved figure in Irish folklore, the subject of countless stories, songs, and poems.I just completed reading the biography Ireland's Pirate Queen: The True Story of Grace O'Malley and I highly recommend the book.

Artist - Jen OteyMountain MamaRebornConnection

Artist - Steve A. RobertsThe Lady Of The WoodsMermaids of AcqualainiaThe Enchanters

HEMHailing from Brooklyn, New York, indie folk band Hemhas been described as "country-politan". You can heara subtle country twang, the storytelling simplicity ofgreat folk music, and a touch of Tin Pan Alley sophistication. Their songs conjure up vivid, often pastoral settingsand restless, lonesome characters. All of this imagery is channeled by Sally Ellyson's beautiful, rich vocals.You may have heard Hem's music on two popularLiberty Mutual Insurance commercials.To experience Hem, please click their MySpace linkand listen to four full-length songs.Hem's MySpace Site

create your own visited states mapStates I've visited are in RED - Must plan a trip to visit some more - I love traveling! :-)