Travel | mermaidcamp

Navigating Health Care

May 15, 2016 — 2 Comments

rose is a rose

In order to navigate the tricky changing tides of health insurance coverage today we need experts. Since I switched to Medicare this year I went shopping last year for referrals for a good agent. I found Karyn Damschen of Retirement Navigators who helped direct me to the plan that works best for me. I am extremely pleased with my coverage and my care at iora primary care. Karyn is such a star Medicare expert that I carry her cards with me to pass out when I meet anyone who needs a health care insurance agent. Who, in my opinion, needs a health insurance agent? Absolutely everyone who has a choice in the matter. If coverage by your employer is set, you probably would not benefit from a consultation with an agent. All others need to be advised by those professionals who spend their time keeping current with regulations and changes in the market. The market becomes more complex all the time. The result for consumers is an unsettlingly confusing set of offers from which to choose. After the coverage is in place we cross our fingers and hope anything that happens to us will be covered by our policy. To make the best of this frequently changing situation I feel really great that I have Karyn representing my best interests and keeping me informed about all my options.

Recently I received the news that my primary care physician is leaving the brand new practice. First my personal paraclete (health coach) from iora called to explain the change and transition. The next day I got a call from the fabulous Karyn at Retirement Navigators who was busy calling all her clients who were effected by this situation. She was ready and willing to change providers within the limits of my Medicare policy, or do anything I might want, in light of the new circumstances. This was evidence to me that the front line of my health care system, my agent and my paraclete, are the best. They spend all the time needed to match my needs with the best available medical care. They have specialties and expertise in the insurance system that the doctor does not, and should not, be bothered to learn. Although I liked my first doctor, I love the new system iroa is pioneering here in Tucson. The team approach has worked very well for me so far, and I expect that it will continue to evolve with a different doctor. I am pleased with the choice I made to use iroa. I have no wish to change because I like it now and think it will only improve with time.

Do you have a health insurance agent, gentle reader? It is worth the time to find one to represent you. They can read the map and keep you on the road to the best health care available to meet your needs.

rose is a rose

Ann Day and the Drunk Driver

May 9, 2016 — 2 Comments

Don’t Drink and Drive

After a long career in public service Ann Day had retired from the Board of Supervisors in Pima County. The 77-year-old was driving alone on Saturday morning when a drunk driver crossed a raised median and slammed head on into her vehicle. The car behind could not stop in time, and crashed into the back of her car. She was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after the accident. This tragic death took place at 7:40 am. We don’t know if the driver woke up and started drinking or was still drunk from Friday night. He has been charged with manslaughter for this senseless death.

Ann and her older sister Sandra Day O’Connor grew up on a cattle ranch founded by her paternal grandfather in 1880 near the New Mexico border. Henry Clay Day was a homesteader on his ranch when Geronimo was still roaming that land. The family history is Arizona history, with an emphasis on education. Henry Clay Day served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Graham County, setting an example that Ann and her esteemed sister would follow. Ann served 10 years in the state senate and 12 years on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. She was a Republican who was known for her independent streak. She was well-respected by colleagues and constituents, many of whom are expressing their grief about this tragedy.

She was killed near the shopping center where Gabby Giffords was shot. My own parents were shoppers at that center. They might have been at the Safeway had the shootings happened a few years earlier. My mom and dad took the transport to that center, operated by assisted living facility where they rented an apartment. My dad loved to drive the Safeway carts inside the store because it was the only driving he was allowed to do at that point. Jarred Laughlin could have gunned down my parents had timing been different. That is exactly the thought I have when I drive past that center.

The irony of public servants loosing life to loose canons of various kinds is not lost on me. Ann Day was not targeted for her political service like Gabby. She was randomly selected to die as the result of one of our society’s ugliest problems, drunk driving. Jarrad Barnes, 24 years old, is charged for taking the life of a woman he did not know. Since her family and her history are prominent we can only hope this will bring much-needed attention and solutions to the drunk driving epidemic in America. We can’t take away everyone’s cars, so we need to change public behavior. This common habit has touched too many families in this country. We need to solve this serious problem.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Didactic Dog Poetry

April 21, 2016 — 1 Comment

Evo’s limo

While I am riding with Officer Rumsley
I indulge in didactic poetry
I bust a rhyme teaching folks to prevent crime
Then I send it to my partner psychically

Evo rules

NaPoWriMo2016

April is National Poetry Writing Month aka #NaPoWriMo. For me it is a tribute to my highly esteemed ancestor, Anne Bradstreet, a Pilgrim poet. I wonder what Mistress Bradstreet would have done with twitter.

Echo from the Basement

April 18, 2016 — 1 Comment

the ‘Burgh in fall

basement, childhood home

The player piano gave everyone an entertaining head start on talent and poise

Peddling the notes through the coded chads any pianist could master the score

Paper teleprompter on the rolls fed the lyrics to the sing along crowd that enjoys

Cocktails, 50’s style appetizers on toothpicks, formally dressed couples took the floor

Party people full of stories, laughing hard at my father’s jokes while my mother annoys

The intellectual, conversational, suburban, name dropping group always trying to score

Her lack of guile and singular style in party planning and in life, showed her taste

NaPoWriMo2016

Find new poetry to enjoy this month at #NaPoWriMo. Contribute to the 30 days of writing your own to find the poet in you.

Pickle Meditation

April 16, 2016 — 2 Comments

dill pickles

Cucumbers enter the world with special qualties of crunch and quench
Yearning to find the dill, the garlic, and the fancy spices that make them sing
Zesty ballads of pickled adventure, hot, acidic, wild, delivering the punch
Choruses of colorful relishes add new dimentions to dishes on the table
Focus on fine results, packing spears with pickling ingedients full of zing
Salty to the perfect degree, seasoned on purpose, dry chile in each jar
Time spent alone blending harmony of flavors makes pickles the star of lunch

NaPoWriMo2016

Savor the work of poets from around the world this April. Submit your own poem or find new poets at #NaPoWriMo.

Dust and Dusk

April 4, 2016 — 1 Comment

dusk

sunset

Withering on the vine the dusty fruit of the season lingers
Waiting to be picked by hungry fingers
Color brightens and signals
The end of the cycle
of life

Painting crimson orange pink blue velvet purple sky
Sunset melts the day, seals the night
Pastels over brilliant hues
Unique curtain closure
daily

NaPoWriMo2016

Please enjoy the writing of poets around the world this April at NaPoWriMo. Submit your own work or find new poetry you love to read.

April is for Poets #NaPoWriMo

March 31, 2016 — 4 Comments

April in Tucson

During the month of April, starting with a bang on April Fool’s Day, I join fellow writers around the world writing poetry. The exercise of creating 30 poems in 30 days is inspirational, difficult, and self challenging. I think I would benefit greatly from writing a poem each day of the year, but I have at least made it my practice for April. Tomorrow I will begin, and true to form, I have nothing started.

On this, my third year as a participant submitting poems, I know I will meet new poets with styles and messages that call to me. The wide diversity is a big appeal, which has made me think about going farther afield with my subject matter than I have in the past. I have a desire to work up to writing an epic (story) about some figure in history. I like comedy in poetry, but have found it extremely hard to master. I read Dorothy Parker and Ogden Nash to keep my comedy poet muse fed. Dr Seuss shows us that simple words and concepts can go viral for all ages, forever:

I encourage all the gentle readers to throw your hat in the ring to create poetry this year for #NaPoWriMo. Reading and writing in this disciplined, yet mind expanding way, is an intellectual exercise to savor and share. Find the other poets boarding the train for the month long ride here. All aboard! It might be pretty corny on this train, but you can count on a really good time with words. All kinds are welcome.

Natural Grocers Grand Opening in Tucson

March 23, 2016 — 1 Comment

bulk grains

healthy desserts

specialty foods

wide variety of items

tasty probiotics

body care section

marketing and management

essential oils

ready to eat

organic produce

sauce of the gods

I arrived home after gym and shopping today and received a call from my favorite neighbor, Heidi. She advised me to check my mail for a coupon for a new store opening close to home. I was really not in need of groceries but she convinced me to visit the grand opening of Natural Grocers at Broadway and Country Club in Tucson. She was right that this is a very happy event to celebrate. This store is a treasure trove of shopping wonder for me. They carry all kinds of exotic and wonderful local health foods, very well priced. There are items available in bulk for those who can utilize a giant bag of oats or other grains. The produce is organic. The body care and vitamin section rivals Whole Foods for selection and beats them on price!!! We are so lucky to have this new asset in our ‘hood.

I cruised the store and tasted the various special offerings being sampled. I found many new products, of which I was unaware, now available right down the street. I am highly attached to grocery shopping at all price points and levels. I go grocery shopping when I travel just to have some fun and inform myself about the local market situation. It is how I bond with a community other than my own, through groceries. I am thrilled to see all the fun discount programs offered by Natural Grocers, as well as noting that the base pricing is very customer friendly. The staff was overcome with joy to receive the new shoppers. I have never been so well greeted and treated in a grocery store. Methinks they have training in the 5 and 10 rule….showing eye contact and acknowlegement to anyone within 10 feet, and speaking with uplifting gusto to any customer who is within 5 feet of the staff. They were giddy with welcome, happy greetings for me. What’s not to like? I will shop here for sure. Today I was crammed packed in my home fridge but found some great items to put in the pantry, very well priced. I am a huge fan already, and look forward to the fun events they have planned for education and enrichment.

Big Skye Bakers Mesquite Pastry

March 15, 2016 — 2 Comments

In Tucson we have an abundance of mesquite trees. The beans, which are the fruit of the tree, develop at the end of summer. In many neighborhoods they fall all over the ground and go unused. In recent years the practice of milling the mesquite beans to make flour has become popular. The taste of baked goods and tortillas made with this flour is exquisite. I am a huge fan of the taste and texture. Although there are plenty of native beans here, some local companies still import mesquite flour from South America. I am not sure why this gets my goat, but the imported flour just bothers me. I have a tree in my front yard and some very large ones in my garden lot that I have not tried to harvest, but maybe this will be the year that I do it for the first time. I am inspired by the way these tasty treats are created from beans in walking distance from the bakery.

The pie I bought from Big Skye was amazing. The pecans are a perfect companion to the mesquite flour crust. I plan to try more varieties, but have been dreaming of the flavor of that pecan pie I purchased. This bakery is a super asset to the community. They sell on Sundays at the Rillito Farmers’ Market, where I will go to get more pie this week. My mouth is already watering at the idea of it.

Bodie of Big Skye

pies

cherry pie with mesquite crust

Sonoran Light by Bruce Munro

March 11, 2016 — 4 Comments

Last weekend I drove to Tempe to enjoy the light art show at the Desert Botanical Garden. Bruce Munro installed this impressive exhibit which has been a popular temporary addition to the gardens. Sonoran Light is incredible, immersive, and impossible to capture on a camera. I have made an attempt above, but I highly recommend that the gentle readers see it in person. The Field of Light is the most expansive of the installations. It has vast sections of the gardens covered with light strings on the ground that change color and illuminate a large hill seen from a distance. There was a concert last Friday which was sold out, but still audible in the Field of Light, adding to the night’s special quality.

: painting show

: painting show

: Chihouy at the entrance

I arrived early in the day and took advantage of the day pass for just $5 added to the evening ticket price. For a total of $30 I had hours of botanical fun in both day and night lighting. There are many details not visible at night that I loved seeing during my day trip. I took an Uber to the evening show, and was so happy I did. The parking lot becomes super jammed for the event, and I was tired from my hours of walking during the day. I happily waited by the entrance for my Uber driver while others drove themselves home.