mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Dealing with Dread
May 4, 2015
— 7 Comments
On the Office Floor
Fear has many aspects. Reasonable fear keeps us safe and alert to danger around us. We must learn to strike a balance between risking too much and avoiding life to stay safe. Frightening situations call on the adrenal glands to kick in the fuel needed to either fight or flight. If we tax those little glands too much with our lifestyle choices they can become depleted and add to an over all loss of well being. Some people face danger in their professions, but the rest of us can generally avoid it. Strong healthy bodies with well nourished nervous systems can endure some stress and fear without harm. In reasonable doses we can handle scary aspects of existence.
Dread is quite another matter. I am under a dark cloud of dread now because my darling dog is having end of life issues. She is 12 years old, so this is not a big surprise. Her kidneys are failing in slow motion. She has been to her vet for antibiotics frequently in the last 6 months because she has a recurring infection in her urinary tract. She has been able to recover from these bouts, but not come back to the same level of health. She has less ability to find comfort and move with ease. She no longer jumps up on our bed, and has difficulty jumping into my car. The thrill of riding has been replaced by a fear of getting into the back seat. Since she can’t tell us in words about her level of pain I am wondering.
We cared for my mother at the end of her life. That was a tough time in terms of patience and understanding. It was similar in that we knew she was at the end of her life, but had no idea how long the end might take. Now that Artemisia the magical huntress will soon go to join her grandma I remember how difficult it was to wait and wonder when death would come. Dread is not depression, and it is not regular fear. It is a test. For an unknown time it is necessary to walk the tightrope between sorrow and acceptance. The inability to control or stop events in progress is a hard pill to swallow. It is bittersweet. This lovely dog has brought much joy to the world which will remain with us after she leaves.
Truth by Mother Goose
April 28, 2015
— 7 Comments
field of sunflowers
Early years fill with nursery rhymes, stories designed to teach
Suspended between fictional characters dialog is made to preach
Current popular opinion, political outrage hidden between the lines
The villain and the hero match wits whilst the wicked witch opines
These morality plays change very little with the passage of time
Forces of good conquer evil and the story is set to rhyme
When you meet a character who comes straight from Mother Goose
You have discovered archetypal imagery that will help you to deduce
If you are the victim or the hero, the popular victor or the slimy creep
We all have parts to play, ego hiding under shadowy cover of sleep
field of sunflowers
NaPoWriMo 2015
The poetry train has almost arrived at the destination…May. Hop aboard for a poetic ride here.
Electing Apathy
April 26, 2015
— 4 Comments
Thorny issues
The candidates align on left and right with eager well lit faces
Chirping sound bites with sincere well tested spinning phrases
They will sprawl all over the airwaves, call your home and send mail
Proclaiming vague tattered arguments that strike everyone as stale
We will resume campaigns for presidential power through bribery
Lavish spending on election shenanigans supports the corrupt dynasty
To protect yourself from Republicans and Democrats you must be firm
Political parties spend like sailors spreading untruths to make you squirm
As they trot out their make up and their speeches, reject the fallacious
Look at the images they are projecting and recognize the mendacious
After the spending and insincere rhetoric we elect the same jerks
As if nobody has been paying attention to the way this all works
NaPoWriMo 2015
Enjoy poetry this month here. Take time to read and write some poems in April.
Window Dressing
April 15, 2015
— 1 Comment
wrinkled
Gazing out through the window made of magical reflection
Scenes play out vividly structured for the ego’s protection
We find we are exactly the picture of perfection and gravity
When our memory edits all stories to obstruct our incapacity
Our flawless composure, wisdom, grace, incomparable wit
Are features of our self image, where the hubris never quits
You may be the only one who knows the truth in the end
Courage sees behind the tales, between the lines, my friend
NaPoWriMo 2015
Every day in April poets are contributing verbal blessings here. Ride the poetry train for fun and creative stimulation. There is something for everyone in this group.
Passages
April 13, 2015
— 8 Comments
hollyhock
Passages connect the present to the past, fantasy to reality
Art makes waves in every moment, cascading past boundaries
Did your wishes come true then vanish without sustaining life?
Do you know on what level you made agreements with strife?
Your essence continues to slowly distill itself into a concentrate
Unoriginal thoughts of little value bubble up, then evaporate
Did you think your ride would always be smooth until the end?
Do you possess the stamina to make solemn truth your friend?
hollyhock
Increase your enjoyment of life, art, and creativity by riding the poetry train this April here.
NaPoWriMo 2015
Three Kinds of Truth
April 10, 2015
— 5 Comments
iris only looks up
There are three separate kinds of truth in the world:
Empirical has backing of indisputable evidence, proven fact
Cultural is believed by everyone in our group without question
Rhetorical is instilled through language, debated into being
iris only looks up
These tributaries of veracity flow from different mountains:
Facts fall vertically from the highest peaks of observed reality
Tribal beliefs are instilled from birth with social hill climbing
The waterfall of rhetoric is loud and impressively massive
iris only looks up
Politicians are dealers in rhetoric designed to sway opinions
Cultures have blind spots that obscure parts of the total picture
Empirical truth is obvious, amplifying proof, ignoring prejudice
The well of pure truth will quench your thirst only if you draw from it
NaPoWriMo 2015
Ride the poetry train with some very creative and witty folk here during the month of April.
April Fool Romance
March 31, 2015
— 2 Comments
Jurgen and Ardell
Born to be together, nobody would ever guess
How destiny had formed their souls into a perfect fit
He is concerned with systems, mathematics, digital hacks
She is an intuitive healer, in possession of everything he lacks
They found themselves in Big Sur, a classic hippie venue
Aires attraction brought them in sync, and the magnetism continues
Sharing a birthday on April first these lovers celebrate diversity
Cherishing home grown romance, more abundant with each anniversary
These fools know the secret in taking risks is usually on the surface
Be the lover you were born to be by ignoring what makes others nervous
Happy birthday to my favorite foolish couple!
NaPoWriMo 2015
Please enjoy the poetry party this month by clicking here. Read, write, recite…be corny, gentle readers. There is no such thing as too corny.
Let’s Hear it for The Beats
March 29, 2015
— 6 Comments
Steve Allen and Jack Kerouac
When I read Jack Kerouac’s On The Road the voice in my head insisted on reciting it in an American drawl with a jazz rhythm and haunted tone. Quite why this occurred is a mystery to me but I admit that it certainly added to the enjoyment of the book. Yet on hearing the author himself read the extract above I was blown away. So what made the work of The Beat Generation and Jack Kerouac in particular so enthralling?
For me it’s the depth; the scary extremes; the delving into and compassion for human experience that underpins their expressions. A fascination with the era of the early sixties further fuels my current obsession with The Beats, all of which are brilliantly portrayed in the regularly repeated documentary on Sky Arts 1 which charts the life and work of Jack Kerouac and includes interviews with a number of his contemporaries…
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Family Day at the Poetry Center
March 29, 2015
— 1 Comment
Yesterday I visited the U of A Poetry Center to find inspiration for my month of writing poems. Much to my surprise I arrived in middle of a special event. Family Day is held once a month in the winter months. Graduate students lead activities designed to stimulate interest in different age groups. I was given a name tag and asked what age group I wished to attend. Since 60 and over was represented by the docents I hung out with them for a few minutes asking questions. The groups were gathered with leaders coaxing them to collaborate. The toddlers were drumming and drawing on the floor. The teens were making up ironic statements about dental hygiene (which were very funny). The middle school group was on the patio writing odes. I took a place at the end of the table where I could hear them, but would not disturb them.
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- writing odes
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- reading odes
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- bamboo shade
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- my poets’ corner
I listened to them praise mother and father, bamboo and bugs. The work was brilliant and astute. I spoke to the leaders after the session. They are graduate students studying creative writing. They said that the activities here leave them completely uplifted and amazed every time they do it. The kids blow their minds, just as they had mine. I did some drawing and free writing while half-tuned into my fellow poets on the rock. That was what I had come to do, so I spent 15 minutes on the task. The snacks were being served and the band was playing in the courtyard, so I hustled on out to see what else was happening.
hula hoop and band
Chalk was provided and words had been applied to the concrete. Hula hoops and a live band made the festive atmosphere complete. The kids clearly loved Family Day. The parents were pleased too. A beautiful work of art was made on the spot by graduate students in art education. Poems written by the kids that day were written on the background. It was a resounding success. I realized that I had come at the perfect time after all because the kids have the pure innocent free wheeling creativity I want to generate next month.
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- prompts for odes
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- draw and write
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- ode
There were two typewriters set up for people to try, and they were popular. The catering consisted of perfectly ripe fruit and muffins, perfect child fare. I enjoyed the ripe pineapple, strawberries, and honeydew melon. I felt like I had attended one of the best children’s parties ever. The band even included a saw player, and what could be better than that?
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- chalk on concrete
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- chalk on concrete
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- chalk on concrete
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- play area
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- mural
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- typewriter
#WeekendCoffeeShare at Cafe Coronet in Tucson
March 28, 2015
— 9 Comments
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- vintage bar
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- Cafe Coronet
This is a perfect weekend to be in my home town of Tucson, so you are all invited to use your transporter cloaks to join me for coffee downtown Tucson at Cafe Coronet. I have recently been told how delicious the food is, so I decided to try it. The small bistro on Fourth Avenue has more space on the patio than inside the restored space. Today the U of A basketball team is playing in the NCAA finals, so the street fashion was distinctly Wildcat as students and others geared up for the game party. The Coronet patio is the perfect vantage point from which to take in the scene without being crowded. Pull up a chair and order a beverage of your choice. They pride themselves on the coffee as well as the cocktails. Today I sampled the Orange Blossom Special with Luksusowa vodka, Cointreau, Creme de Cacao, and a couple of shots of espresso.
Orange Blossom Special
The menu offers plenty of choices. I ordered the “Bunnies”, a selection of three different salads, chosen from a list of four. They combined to create a brunch just to my liking.
bunnies salad trio
If we were having coffee (and maybe a bite to eat) I would tell you that I have taken a big leap. I have committed to writing 30 poems in 30 days as part of the #NaPoWriMo program in April. I do publish my poetry, but I have not done so here, on my grown up WordPress blog. On one hand I am inspired to do it and feel it will be a super challenge from which I will grow. Another part of me is wondering why I did not just register my tumblr for the event, as I have in past years. It is symbolic in a way I don’t yet understand. Wish me luck, my coffee friends. I will continue to write a weekend coffee post (not necessarily in verse) to stay in touch with you. I enjoy our visits and don’t want to lose track of any members of the group.
#Weekendcoffeeshare
It is starting to heat up fast in Arizona, which is not a personal problem for me because I love the heat. My senior dog with kidney problems will need extra care and more frequent trips in and out of the house. She is holding out well even though we know she has more limits all the time. I am considering a radical change in schedule to leave me more time with her. If I go to the gym when I wake up in the morning instead of the middle of the day, which is my habit, my dog will be outside in the coolest part of the day. It may also be a good way to switch things up to be poetic every day. Perhaps by moving first and writing after vigorous exercise I will come up with a new approach. I listen to poetry while I work out very often, so it could be a source of inspiration. Have you ever turned your schedule upside down for results? How is your daily grind going thee days? Do you have anything new planned? Thanks for visiting my city this week. Fly over town and check out all the flowering trees and wild flowers that are blooming right now. These flashy colors appear and fade very quickly while we return to summer temperatures. There is horse racing at the Rillito Downs today, so take a turn up First Avenue to watch the excitement before you take the trip back to your home. You will see some true cowboy culture at the racetrack. The entire city is fixated on the basketball team, so if you will excuse me, I need to go Bear Down!!!
Cafe Coronet
