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| About |
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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| Proud Member of These Organizations: |
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| Archive Search by Topic (Prior to September 9th) |
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For the Alaska Community and beyond...
A bee on Dragon Tongue Stonecrop in my rock garden
August 2010
(Scroll down to find posts.)
(Please register to participate in diaries and comments! We'd love for you to join our Community!)
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Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 20:30:34 PM AKST
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Vietnam Veterans of America, Wasilla Chapter--picture by Ann Bailey
I had planned to go to the Veterans Day event organized by Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans Aviation Outreach at the Veterans Wall of Honor in Wasilla today. I was very much looking forward to seeing the organizer, my friend Maurice "Mo" Bailey and getting pictures of the very beautiful monument with the proud men and women in uniform standing all around.
Unfortunately, the flashing "CHECK ENGINE" light when I took my daughter to pre-Algebra at 7:00 am this morning completely altered my plans for the day. We finally had it fixed by noon, but it was too late to go.
I especially wanted to get to see them both because I am so excited for Mo! As a result of many phone calls and the great deal of respect Senator Lisa Murkowski has for him, Mo and Ann have tickets to see President Obama tomorrow!
Mo and Senator Lisa Murkowski
For those of you who don't know who Mo is, here's a little bio I wrote on him:
Maurice "Mo" Bailey was in the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division Aviation Company, Flight Engineer Crew Chief during the Vietnam War. Afterwards, he went to flight school in Alaska in 1968 thanks to the GI Bill where he earned his commercial pilot's license...to his knowledge, the first African American in the State of Alaska to have done so. In the last 41 years, Mo has become one of the most respected members of both the veterans' and aviation communities.
In 2003, Mo started up Veterans Aviation Outreach (VAO), a non profit organization made up of committed pilots who are also combat Veterans. Their goal, according to their website:
"Our express purpose is to locate, inform and assist veterans residing in rural and remote Alaska and to help them in obtaining health care and other earned benefits to which they are entitled. Many of these veterans have no knowledge of these different programs, or how to go about applying for them.
Maurice (Mo) Bailey is a certified Chapter Service Officer, along with being one of the pilots and the President of VAO, Inc. He has successfully assisted some of these veterans in filing claims for compensation for disabilities and or service connected injuries. Some of these Veterans are now receiving a monthly compensation as a direct result of our efforts. We do this, because it is the right thing to do."
Mo is now in another battle--with Leukemia--and yet he can't seem to stop helping other veterans and their families. Even yesterday, he was helping the wife of a disabled vet with improvements to her house. Many times, this assistance comes directly out of Mo's pocket.
The latest today is that there is a possibility Mo and Ann may get on the "rope line" and may get the chance to shake President Obama's hand! Since I will be in "the pit" with the other sweaty press I hope I can get a picture of the moment! No one deserves it more.
I talk about Mo on Veterans Day because he's a good friend and a veteran of a war that shaped my childhood and my life...Vietnam. I also talk about Mo because his illness makes his sacrifice even more real...many cancers, especially Leukemia, can be traced back to the exposure to "Agent Orange." The connection is so strong with some cancers, the VA assumes that's what caused it when it comes to coverage.
Veterans continue to give their lives for their country many years after their wars are over.
I have other friends I am extremely proud of:
My daughter's godmother, Paula, is a veteran and one of the toughest women I know. She is a part of history...one of the last members of the Women's Army Corps (WAC). The Women's Army Corps Veterans embrace all women soldiers and their credo puts a lump in my throat:
I am an American soldier. Since the earliest years of our Nation, I have taken part in its defense.
I marched with General Washington and the Continental Army, suffering with them the cold, harsh conditions of war. Sometimes, disguised as a man, I shouldered a rifle and fought the enemy.
During the War of 1812 and in the War with Mexico, I cared for the wounded. I was on the battlefields of the Civil War, serving the North or the South. Whatever my task - soldier, spy, courier nurse or doctor, I performed my duties with courage and devotion.
Early in the Twentieth Century, our Nation recognized the caliber of my service by founding the Army Nurse Corps.
When the First World War came, I was one of the women who manned switchboards, drove ambulances and performed many essential tasks on the home front or with General Pershing's forces in France.
I gained the status of soldier in May 1942, when the Army formed the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. That summer I stood tall with the other volunteers on the parade ground at Fort Des Moines as we acknowledged our Date with Destiny and Debt to Democracy.
Within a year I was no longer an Auxiliary. I was now a member of the Women's Army Corps, joining women known for their strong sense of duty and their esprit. We served the Army with pride, whenever our skills were needed - at home and abroad, in peace and in war, from Europe to Japan, Korea to South Vietnam.
In 1978, the Women's Army Corps passed into history. We became a truly integral part of the Army. Today, I honor all the women who came before us, who gave us our heritage and who made possible the opportunities we now have. The spirit of these women and the spirit of the Women's Army Corps will always live in our hearts.
Now I am one with the women who served in countless peacekeeping missions around the world, from Grenada to Panama, Desert Storm to Somalia and Bosnia. I am one with the long line of women who suffered wounds and died on the battlefield, endured separation and uncertainty, were prisoners of war and survived to return to serve again.
I am, indeed, an American Soldier: Proud of my profession, ready to perform any duty assigned to me and to answer the call when my country needs me.
This has been a very strange week. I've been involved in multiple issues that have interfered with blog posting and have been preparing for the arrival of President Obama tomorrow...and of course, tomorrow is going to be a crazy day. I want to honor the sacrifices of my friends...of their friends...of every veteran up to those soldiers just back from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thank you...all of you. |
| Celtic Diva :: A Veterans Day salute to my friends and to all those who served! |
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