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THE BLOG--HISTORY

"Blue Oasis" began in 2005 in its Blogger format (now an archive) and became possibly the first Alaska Blog on Progressive Politics. At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis was honored to represent Alaska as the state blog.

Transition--Community Blog

In September 2008, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis moved to a Soapblox Community Blog format. Readers can become full participants by registering on the blog to comment and write "diaries." Diary titles appear on the right sidebar for folks to read and provide comments. Blog editors may choose to move some of these diaries to the front page.

While this Community was formed specifically with Alaska in mind, all "friends of Alaska" are welcome as members!

**Note about registering** Scroll down the right side until you find the link to register. Then, just follow the instructions!

**Note about comments** To comment on a story, click on the heading and then look for the "comment bar" at the bottom (it's light grey, I can't seem to change it). I believe the font color NOW permits you to see the "post comment" text.

YOUR BLOGMISTRESS

My name is Linda Kellen Biegel and I am a former 15-year Federal employee. Thirteen of those years were spent working for the US Army Corps of Engineers. I am also semi-retired from the Alaska music scene (singer, sound tech, stage manager, logistics).

When the blog was chosen to represent Alaska in the DNCC State Blogger Pool at the Denver Convention, I attended with the help of Alaska Real blogmistress, Writing Raven and my daughter Morrigan. On August 29th, one day after Barack Obama's inspiring speech at Invesco Field , my life took another turn as it did for all Alaska bloggers when Gov. Sarah Palin was chosen to be John McCain's VP running mate. Since then, I've either assisted or have been interviewed by media from the UK, Italy, Australia and Germany as well as national media outlets such as Wall Street Journal, NY Times, ABC Good Morning America's Kate Snow, National Journal, Dallas Morning News, LA Times, and NPR.

Presently, I work as a freelance writer, PR, event coordinator, community organizer, wife to computer programmer Josh and mother to 11-year-old Morrigan. Our family especially enjoys our summers in Alaska where we get to subsistence set-net fish Sockeye salmon as well as halibut fish/whalewatch in the family's homemade aluminum boat, "The Neverdone" (when it's working). We reside in Anchorage, Alaska.

Origin of "Celtic Diva"

I've used "Celtic Diva" as a screen name since the early 1990's on Web TV.

"Celtic"

"Folks have asked about my Celtic heritage, especially in light of my name. What they don't realize is that I'm adopted. I was born Valerie Morehead of the Clan Muirhead. I was adopted at three-months-old by the Kellens. I always "knew" I was Celt even before really knew. I was drawn to all things Scottish, especially music. That's why my parents eventually told me at age 16."

"Diva"

"Linda is well-known in Alaska & beyond as the prominent progressive political blogger Celtic Diva of Celtic Diva?s Blue Oasis. But back in the day, the early 1990s, I knew her as Linda Kellen, a member of the local folk/rock band Sky is Blu, which amongst other things performed in at least a couple or so of the annual women?s show Celebration of Change, in which I also performed. And if you don?t already know, let me tell you: Linda is one fine damn singer."

I went on after the break-up of "Sky is Blu" to perform with various Alaska musicians and work with national folks like Bo Diddly, Coco Montoya, Debbie Davies, Taj Mahal, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bad Company, Creedence Clearwater, Carny Wilson, etc...

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Scottish Highland Games 2009

by: Celtic Diva

Sun Jun 28, 2009 at 13:14:33 PM AKDT




Folks have asked about my Celtic heritage, especially in light of my name.  What they don't realize is that I'm adopted.  I was born Valerie Morehead of the Clan Muirhead. I was adopted at three-months-old by the Kellens. I always "knew" I was Celt even before really knew.  I was drawn to all things Scottish, especially music.  That's why my parents eventually told me at age 16.

For that reason, going to the Scottish Highland Games every year is a necessity...it's truly a family affair for us!  

--Josh enjoys the strength games (I do to, but seeing guys throw a rock over and over again gets wearing.)  There's also the famous "caber toss"...a "caber" is basically a telephone pole of different sizes.  

--There's the Tea Tent, where they serve different varieties of British Isle teas on china cups and saucers along with normal tea fare--scones, biscuits, shortbread, etc...I always end up running into people I haven't seen in years there.

--There's the Highland Dancing (which we missed this year).

--I also love the booths, which are frequently a good way to catch some of the vendors you may have missed at the Three Baron's Renaissance Faire.

Of course, the best part of all is the music!


Now THAT'S a drumline...I love girl drummers!


The Gathering of the Clans


The piper in the center with the beautiful head of white hair piped at my wedding!

Besides the pipers, they brought over a wonderful Scottish folk band called the "Old Blind Dogs."  Listening to them fed my soul.


Competitor tossing the 115 lb "challenge stone."  The earlier competition involved tossing increasingly larger stones with one hand for distance.  At the end of the competition, those who were not faint-of-heart tried this hard-core variety.


The only purchase I made...I had a hard time trying to decide which witch hat to pick!  I finally chose one with green leaves all over it.  I have plans for Halloween!


This place also made corsets...for god's sake why?


We had rain we could live with...it would spit rain for a short time then stop.  This kept up the whole time I was there.


A gentleman stands watch while one of my best friends ever, Paula (the straw hat inside the stocks), shows my daughter what would happen to her if she didn't behave herself!


Paula in her new gardening hat, who has been my friend for fifteen years.  She's my daughter's Godmother, which she earned by sitting there sewing through most of my three-day labor.  Yesterday, she also acted as "sentry" towards the screaming kids who kept running by at one point while I was on the phone with the Mike Method radio show.  I was on for 1/2 hour talking about the week's events and it was the most serene I've ever felt on the radio with the band playing traditional Celtic tunes in the background.


I KNEW God was a Scot!

Celtic Diva :: Scottish Highland Games 2009
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I must be crazy... (0.00 / 0)
...but in a GOOD way, because I just love bagpipe music.  I even have a couple CDs of bagpipe music in my collection.  Half of my paternal heritage is Scottish.

(I have a couple of CDs of Japanese Bon Odori music, too, which is another acquired taste :) )

...and I am a huge fan of Maire Brennan's style.  Do you have any other suggestions for Celtic singers to listen to, Linda?



P.S. I had to look twice at that picture... (0.00 / 0)
...of your friend Paula in the stocks before I realized that the picture wasn't mis-captioned!  

I was thinking, "surely Linda doesn't call the guy in the beard 'Paula'!!"



[ Parent ]
I had to give it a second look-see, as well... (0.00 / 0)
Linda, I was listening to you on the radio and when I heard the kidlets, I wished I was there.  It sounded like fun yesterday and your photos today prove it.

[ Parent ]
Heh...I fixed it now! (0.00 / 0)
Hopefully, everyone realizes that Paula is NOT the one with the beard!


Celtic Diva


[ Parent ]
Seeing the tartans motivated me to do a little research (0.00 / 0)
I've been meaning to do a Google search on my patriarchal (maiden) family name, to satisfy my own curiosity, and finally got around to it yesterday.

My younger brother is our official family historian, now that we 4 siblings are the oldest generation in the family -- he's come up with some interesting data about others sharing the family name from across the USA, including one guy in prison for murder...  :P

Anyway, I found out that we are distantly related to the Montgomery clan, and our family name goes back to the 1600s -- morphed into several different pronounciations and spellings, of course, but all with the same root.

At least I did something productive sitting at the 'puter all day (while I'm trying to get over a cold!)...



[ Parent ]
First thank you KayJay I thought I was going thick, I didn't catch it (0.00 / 0)
I thought Linda had mislabeled it, lol.  I have a Aunt that is Scottish my Uncle met her while in service.  Loved to her her talk.  I love the music too, crazy for bagpipes they are simply fascinating to me.  There is a song called the Scotsman song, have you heard it Linda?  It is too cute the radio station here plays it every Friday.  I will include a link to the song, you will be able to hear it and see the lyrics.  javascript:popup%20('scotsman.cfm') hopes this works. If not here is the page it is called The Scotsman song.  

I see my husband's clan (0.00 / 0)
(Barra) MacNeil was represented. We have a Highland games where I live every year in August. I love bagpipes, but only outdoors. Unfortunately, they are all too often played indoors in Canada.  

What fun! (0.00 / 0)
I love the pics.  Don't understand a thing you are saying since I'm Irish (part).  Just kidding - loved it all!  Good pictures, and what a lovely summer day for the participants and spectators.  



Beautiful! (0.00 / 0)
Linda, the pics are just beautiful!  I'm glad you got to go, and that you obviously had a good time!

It was great, hearing you on Mike Method.  Gotta love having the live stream available!  :)






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