August was the month of music and Ireland. There wasn't enough month to cover either one of these. I learned that both are just too big and fascinating.
For books I read: George Washington and the Irish; Amy Grant's Mosaic; and Janis. Janis as in Janis Joplin of course.
In podcast I listened to: Dumbarton's Drums; Cooperstuff; Nationalism and Ireland; Daigel Bites with Chrissy Metz; Nebraska and Irish Emmigrants; and Irish Radicals. The Nebraska podcast was the view of the Nebraska life through the eyes of an Irishman. Hilarious!
For videos: Walls of Wonder; JS Bach; Amy Winehouse; Celtic Music and Drums; Northern Ireland; and Musical Gumbo and New Orleans.
Activities were Celtic drums meditations and listening to all kinds of music. I found Ulali (an American Indian group) and Janis both amazing and could listen to them forever.
What I learned is that commercialism both exposes people to new things but also tends to ruin music eventually. It ruins the musicians too. I was going to learn an instrument, but the amount of data and actions to go about were too much. I will got to a festival or concert soon. I hope. Ireland is just amazing. I am so glad to be Irish. I haven't found the other cultures I have learned about as fascinating to explore. I was disappointed to find that when I was trying new Irish foods, I looked into Irish restaurants only to discover that anything labeled "Irish" tended to just be a bar. I know that with any stereotype the rumor tends to be based in reality. I hope there's more to this story than stereotype.
Anyway, I will continue this research next year, it will go on the "to be continued" list.
