These are a few of my favorite things....

I realized today that I spend a lot of time looking for inspiration for my stories.

I am also one of the most opinionated people I know. ;)

As such I decided I would create a spot online where I can share my musings, collect some of the things which spark my imagination and generally just say whatever I feel like. It's my blog, after all, and if you don't like it... well then, why are you here? :)

Let's see...

Favorite Music is an easy one; I'm a huge U2 fan. I had the incredible opportunity to see them in concert five times on their most recent 'vertigo' tour. I've also been fortunate enough to meet all of the band members except for the drummer, Larry Mullen Jr. I hope to change that, though, someday.

Their music covers so many topics and styles and genres - it transcends any sort of definition or pigeon-holing. You can't explain their music in one word, or even one sentence. That is precisely why I adore them so very much.

I have a deep interest in every type of music; I love Johnny Cash and Miles Davis, U2 and George Winston, Harry Connick Jr and Andrea Bocelli. I'm particularly interested in Celtic traditional music at the moment, as well, and have discovered rock-style groups with heavy Celtic folk influences, such as the Pogues and Flogging Molly. If you peek into my CD player you're fairly likely to find the work of an Irish band.

One thing I look for in music, as in just about anything in life, is that it sparks my imagination. The things which do this most vividly are my favorite things; and the products of my imagination I think of as my Emerald Sparks.