I don't remember the exact date when I first encountered something that would transport me on a New Journey, but I do remember it was a friday evening, sometime in March of 2005. I was doing the usual channel surfing when I heard something, a tune that was familar, so I back channeled to find it. The song I heard was Orinoco Flow (sometimes called Sail Away) by Enya, which at the time I thought was Enya. As I had never seen her perform before, I wanted to watch. Well it wasn't Enya, but 3 lovely women singing the song. They were not familar to me, but I kept listening as they were doing a FANTASTIC job on the song. I was captivated. I should mention that this was on a local PBS station, so of course I realized it was one of their Pledge Drive shows, so at the Pledge break I was informed that the group, of which there are 5 women (Lisa, Chloe, Mairead, Meav and Orlagh), was called Celtic Woman, and they were from Ireland. So I would flip channels during the Beg-a-thon, then go back when the Girls (as I have come to call them) were back on. I was particulary captivated by two of the Girls, Lisa and Chloe. Something about both of them just drew me in, especially Lisa. She has such a warm smile, she seems to really project a special presence that just seems to envelop and draw you in. With Chloe, it was her eyes. She just has the most beautiful eyes. I didn't know till much later that at the time they taped the show, she was only 15yrs old. She just carried herself so well, that she seemed much more mature. Later on, as I got to know Chloe...well, at times..she showed her teenager side :D. It would take me three airings that weekend before I would see the whole show.
About 3 months later I found both the DVD and CD of the show (I didn't want to pledge $$ for either) at Barnes and Noble. I have been hooked on their music ever since. Then one evening, I was at a company Christmas party, and had reserved a room at the hotel so I would have to worry about driving home, when I retired to my room around 8:30. I was relaxing in bed, once more channel surfing, when I come across this image of a castle, all lit up, and a small person coming down a ramp, when I realized...she looked very familar. It was Mairead!!...It was a new CW show!! I was literally pumping my fists in the air!! Once more I was taken in on how talented these women were. Their individual voices were beautiful, and then when combined in either duets/trios or all 4 with Mairead on the fiddle...just pure heaven.
I had missed what I later found to be their first Columbus appearance (Oct 2006), just about a week before they were to come to Columbus, I heard about it and it was too late to find a Good seat. So when I again watched another replay of ANJ (A New Journey), I found out they were coming BACK to Columbus in April of 2007. At the time I had no desire to Pledge $$$$ for tickets thru PBS, so I waited till Jan 27 when the tickets would go on sale to the public. At 10am I ordered my ticket thru Ticketmaster and that was the happiest day!. Shortly after that, I was looking for an online CW group to join, and found Celtic Woman Forum.
I never dreamed that by joining this group, I would have some of the best opportunites to see the Girls. Not only did I get to see them in my first show, on April 5th 2007, which was just a emotional show for me, but since then have seen them quite a few times, and even having the opportunity to go to Ireland to see them tape their highly anticipated A Celtic Christmas DVD. I had never even been out of the U.S before. I will save that story for another time. But I also had a chance to go to cities I had never been too, and as a travel nut, it was awesome! I mean, for instance, the Bridgeport CT show, I had to fly to Long Island, then took a ferry to Bridgeport, then the next day I took a train to Philidelphia for another show the following night. That was just too awesome!. Spending 4 days in San Francisco was another great trip. Never been there, and just using the cable cars, or street cars for getting around, again was great! Plus all the seafood ;D.
The best part of it all is not only meeting quite a few friends along the way from the forum, I mean nothing is more fun than going to a CW show with others, as a group and just having a blast. I think the Girls enjoy it too ;). But never, did I think back in March 2005, that I would someday have the opportunity to meet Most of the Girls. Since my first show, I have met Meav, Chloe, Mairead, Orlagh and Lynn. And hopefully, Finally, after 2yrs, I will be meeting Lisa in 2009. I also hope to meet the newest full time member, Alex.
As a note here, The Girls are fantastic, they are very humble, not stand offish, but most of all they make you feel like a friend, not a fan. I have never thought of them as celebrities, and after meeting and talking to them a few times, I have come to know THEM as friends. When I see them at a show, and I am in the first few rows, where they can see me, and I get a smile out of them, knowing its me being there that made that smile come out, just really makes me feel that maybe, just maybe, I am here on this good earth for a reason, even if it's just a familar face in the audience.
I look forward to the New Tour this Spring, and the return of Lisa, after her year off for maturnity leave, then being a Mom to a new baby girl, plus her two sons. Orlagh will be missed, as she is taking some much deserved time off to be with her family and her much loved gardening, plus maybe a new solo CD :D. We welcome Alex, and will be fun to see her AND Lisa in the same show. Can't wait to hear the new songs, see the new dresses, see Chloe smile and giggle, Mairead fly around the stage as usual, and Lynn hopelly singing some new songs of her own.
It's almost here, Celtic Woman Season... :D :D :D
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Bleary Sat Evening
It's been a yucky day all day. Woke at 7am, to head one of my favorite places, Panera Bread. Well it was nothing but a sheet of ice. So I sat in the car for about 15 mins while it heated up. I am still a little miffed at PB for getting rid of my favorite bagel, the French Toast Bagel. I do like the Gingerbread one, but know that will not be around all year. But at least they still have the Hazelnut coffee, which is the best. I brought my laptop, since PB has free Wi-fi, and I still have dial up at home. I mainly brought it so I could look for Hatchlings faster :D. What can I say. Since about a month ago when I finally started using my Facebook (though I had had the account for almost a year and half). I love Scavenger Hunt, and Hatchings is really addicting. Also it nice to send and recieve things like Plants, Fish, Coffee, Sweets etc to friends. I have 4 catagories of friends. CW (Celtic Woman), Xena, Vegas (friends I met thru a Vegas website: http://www.whatbrianthinksaboutlasvegas.com/ ), and now my Hatchling friends. Anyways back to this morning...(now you know why I call this my RANDOMNESS :D ). Spent about 2hrs there, the headed to the bank to deposit this weeks Vending money (another post some day), then too the library to again use the free Wi-fi. Stopped afterwards to get some Orange Chicken at Panda Express, then home. Had a mini NCIS marathon with my 1st Season DVD set I purchased last weekend. Now just chilling watching tv, blogging, and Facebooking. Also checking in from time to time on the Celtic Woman Forum, but I have to keep away from most of the posting so I don't get spoilers for the up and coming NEW Tour Show Isle of Hope, starting Feb 11th. Thats about it, thinking of what to snack on here in a bit.
Blog again soon I hope
Mel
Blog again soon I hope
Mel
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