mermaidcamp

mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

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Postindustrial Chic

May 11, 2013 — 3 Comments

NYLO Hotel in Warwick captures history and postindustrial charm by using a repurposed factory as a new kind of guest accommodation.  It is popular with local business groups for meetings and conferences.  I was happy to be near many of my dead ancestors.  The use of the location right next to the Pawtuxet River adjacent to Historic Pontiac Mills makes the setting perfect for all kinds of travelers. It is near the airport, but is not an average airport style place.  The big windows give fantastic light, and the open floor plan is convenient and free of clutter.  I loved the high ceilings and treetop view from my room.  I will stay here again when I visit Rhode Island.  It is like no other hotel.

Magic Word

May 10, 2013

Carl Jung carved a Latin inscription above the door of his house in Kusnacht, Switzerland: “VOCATUS ATQUE NON VOCATUS DEUS ADERIT.” This means: “Called or not called, the god will be there.” To actively call and later, be still and know is the heart of meditation. The call can be music, nature, yoga, chant, movement, or poetry.  The goal is emptiness gained through insight. This free time beyond the word, beyond the concept, and beyond imagination is free time with no boundaries of space and time. The ultimate reality is unlike the one in which our ego goes and does and consumes all the time. It has infinite qualities, at which words merely take a stab at defining. Words and chants are used to create liturgy and forms of reverence. Group voice has a magical quality that lifts spirit and satisfies the soul. Words and sounds resonate as well as drive the memory deeper, creating more meaningful images of past and dream life as a collage.

Rarely do direct and useful insights arrive like lightning bolts.  I notice that visual cues stimulate my contemplation, but often a single word has great and continued meaning.  Last week I heard the sound of a name I have often read, Hecate.  I noticed that my mental pronunciation had been incorrect.  Perhaps for this reason the name and her meaning came back to me a few times over the weekend.  As we learned discernment between soul and spirit, her name was mentioned as the night goddess of magic.  Her meaning is all about soul, in the living and the dead.  She stands at the crossroads and is a guide to the underworld. At the end of our group’s time together we got to gaze into Tom’s obsidian mirror to stimulate our intuitions.  The small shiny mirror was passed around from student to student as we said our goodbyes to each other.  I moved about with my reflective image,  finally settling on a shot of the ceiling , which was covered with acoustic tile.   I gazed for a few moments and again Hecate came faintly into my mental focus.  Days later I remembered the image of that cross of the intersecting ceiling tiles.  This time the metaphor of my question as a crossroads, and Hecate is the ruler of the place was clearer.

All decisions are not life or death.  I take from this contemplation on my own soul and spirit the idea that life is finite, but the soul is not.  Hecate is a symbol of darkness, death, and magic.  Called or uncalled, she will be there at the crossroads.

Be Passionate and Determined

May 8, 2013 — 5 Comments

Ninth on the Zappos list of core values is a description of attitude. To be passionate and determined to please customers buying products is one thing, but this means passion to deliver happiness to all concerned.  I just read that the average American employee spends 24% of the time they are paid at work cruising the internet for personal reasons.  The sapping of energy and time that this represents also creates, I think, a big deficit in the happiness quotient. Both individual workers cheating the company out of work, and the ultimate customer experience for the client is cheapened when the employees are feeling cheated themselves.  Sticking to core values that uplift, support and reward the staff has to result in higher fun factors all around.

When I invented Floatli training systems I thought I wanted to teach people how to use them.  I have changed my mind.  Now I want to provide this naturally entertaining and useful aquatic equipment to everyone and let them do whatever they care to do.  I have abandoned the idea of teaching teachers, party because it would mean finding passionate and determined instructors to certify.  I want to present it like a hula hoop or a water gun, something any and everyone can use in the way they like.  The arm floatation units provide security for those as yet uncomfortable in deep water, and the full arm and leg combination is a challenging workout if used as such.  I am passionate and determined to convince Zappos to adopt Floatli as the official company sport.  That is how I picture everyone having the maximum amount of fun. Zappos markets better than anyone, and the product itself provides happiness to those who buy it.  I am determined to get an audition to demonstrate why Floatli and Zappos are an excellent match.  It soon will be hot and nothing will feel better than a romp in cool water.

Good Thrift Hunting

May 7, 2013

I am technically on restriction from all thrift stores since I do not need or want anything.  On holiday I do fall off the wagon from time to time, thinking I need a souvenir of the place. Yesterday I discovered a palace of super fly thrift in East Greenwich, RI, where I went to check on my ancestors.  On Main Street, right next to the Town Hall, is  Worth Repeating Consignment Boutique.  I knew right away I had to do it.  I had in mind to find something for my neighbor Heidi to give a a gift, but she has very specific fashion needs.  I asked Arlette Cornwall, the shop curator and owner if she had any chicken specific gear.  It turned out that, tragically, she had just sold a fabulous purse featuring a Rhode Island Red…it would have been the bomb for Heids, because she is so into her chickens.  We also checked out a very cool turban hat that Heidi might have worn, but it was very small and I have no idea about my neighbor’s head size.  Having exhausted the gift search I knew from the feel of the place that I had to succumb to the call of the vintage.  I have only bought one thrift item in the entire two weeks I have been on the Rhode Island rode.  I did score a fun lightweight silk skirt and then hightailed it before I went any deeper. If you are not on restriction from thrift shopping I highly recommend a visit to Worth Repeating.  If you are, well the, like me, you probably need to cheat once in a while in a very worthwhile, and perhaps historical setting.  Arlette is there to make your shopping fun complete.  She knows her stuff and prices things in a very attractive way.  I left town without the graveyard visit to my dead peeps, so I can almost feel myself being drawn back for another visit.  Arlette is a siren..be careful…she can read your mind.

Bourdain Defines Boorish

May 6, 2013 — 6 Comments

Last week I was very excited to have tickets to attend a stage show in Providence called Good and Evil. This two man show stars Anthony Bourdain and another chef, Eric Rippert. Although I had no idea what to expect I thought it would be funny and entertaining. I even convinced a friend to go with me based on my expectations.  The theater itself was completely amazing, and the music played before the show created a great warm up.  I was super pleased to be there in the Providence Performing Arts Center ready to be entertained.

What ensued was anything but entertaining.  These tragic egos insulted each other in turn, and then turned the vitriol on all other celebrity chefs.  It was name dropping in the most useless way, only to insult and criticize.  Bourdain went off insulting vegetarians saying that if you travel to a foreign place being vegetarian is offensive to all natives who do eat meat.  Sorry, Tony, I was living in Venezuela in 1963, flying into Amazonian fishing camps where there were no people except remote native dwellers when you were in diapers.  As an adult I have gone to third world places that you would never attempt without a TV crew and big budget.  Speaking the language or attempting to communicate and be part of the scene is the important link.  I have always been treated really well in the third world, and have never sensed any resentment from locals when I eat no meat.  The Cubans were particularly happy not to have to procure meat for the outrageous dinner they made for me. The view you have created for yourself is false, creepy, and shows your imperialistic roots. Boorish is not endearing to anyone.

Tony, Tony, Tony, your tone is inappropriate, but the subject matter is tasteless.  Without the trappings of the CNN crew and budget your personality is bitter and very tiny.  I may be able to watch you travel and eat now, but I will never be able to respect you.  Name drop and insult people in private.  We, the public ( and former fans) do not need to know just how tragically toxic your liver actually is.  Spew that toxic bile all over somebody in private if you must.  It does not belong in a classy theater.

Living Soul

May 6, 2013

book signing

book signing

Kripalu is a yoga school and retreat center in western MA that is leading the way in yoga instruction in the US. With a long background, checkered, then revised, they had the head start on yoga when it hit the competitive mainstream of American fitness.  I have several friends who are certified by Kripalu in yoga, and they are all very well versed in the whole system and philosophy.  I enjoy yoga practice, but have been out of the habit of taking classes for years.  I like my yoga room at home for the freedom and variety that I practice.

My reason for spending a weekend at Kripalu was to be in a workshop taught by an author I really admire.  Thomas Moore instructed a group of about 40 students the difference between soul and spirit.  This seems like a small technical issue, but it is much more basic.  We had about 8 hours of class with him, and a special evening was offered to all Kripalu guests with his wife and daughter.  The Kundalini yoga session with live band chanting was a perfect counterbalance for the intellectual work we were doing.  They are quite a stunning family, described by Thomas as a kind of monastic group.  Each is a monk in a certain personal way.  The ladies are Sikhs with turbans and sheepskin mats, the distinctive look of the Yogi Bhajan followers. They teach Kundalini yoga.  Tom is an expert in the world of religion who has his own way of practicing reverence.  They radiate the power of individualization.  If nothing else (and there is plenty) they teach the value of following the individual call to a specific path without regard for anything else.

The alchemy of thought, dreams, poetry, and the ritual of Kundalini yoga were all thrown into the still and worked.  The distilled result is wisdom, the kind that sinks in and becomes useful over a long period of time. The time and space expanded to allow a remarkable level of teaching to take place.  An artful, and soulful lesson was delivered as if they were translating directly the language of  the sky.  We now have a lifetime to absorb our new insights.  Although in the last few years I have walked out of a couple of workshops I paid for and attended because I felt the teaching was unethical and possibly harmful, this one made up for all of that.  I notice that the presence matters more than the material to me.

Gurus in Person

May 2, 2013 — 6 Comments

We can become fans of writers, teachers, artists and performers by watching and reading their work. Sometimes the personality is not even important if the subject being covered is of great interest. Teachers can impart wisdom from both a positive and a shadow style lesson. Sometimes they teach us what we want to avoid. This week I have the priviledge of seeing back to back two people I like because of the work they do.  Tonight I will see Anthony Bourdain on stage with another chef, Eric Rippert.  Tomorrow I will go to Kripalu to attend a weekend workshop with Thomas Moore.

These teacher/gurus influence me in completely different ways.  Bourdain travels and eats on TV.  Thomas Moore is my favorite author and modern philosopher.  They both inspire new thoughts and ideas for me while exposing me to unknown worlds.  They are both very knowledgeable and are recognized by peers as experts in their fields.  They both tweet, but with completely different styles.  Tonight I will sit in the audience for a show that is repeated on a tour of  other cities.  I am not sure if any interaction will take place, but it has to be minimal because of the ratio of audience members to talent.  For the weekend I will study, meditate and absorb the vibe of Thomas Moore in an intimate setting.  They will be distinct and probably incomparable experiences.  I will let you know, gentle reader.

Urban Delight

May 2, 2013 — 5 Comments

Providence, RI is a wonderful city to visit for many reasons. The steeple situation makes it very easy to navigate around the town.  The landmark hills are conveniently located on each side of the river. Downtown is mixed old and new buildings, but College Hill houses Brown University and RISD campuses. The preservation of history is important on both Federal Hill and College Hill, so the architecture is in fine shape.  The trees that are blooming now enhance the beauty of both neighborhoods.  Since I am a fan of both the building shapes and the trees I am very pleased to be here while the blooming is showing off the colorful past of the people who planted them.

Private Museum Tour

May 1, 2013 — 1 Comment

I came to Rhode Island to visit the land of my ancestors.  Today we set out for Newport, where some of mine are buried, but we did not make it.  I wanted to explore Jamestown, a small island between the mainland and Newport.  I knew that Caleb Carr, my ancestor and the first governor of Rhode Island, was buried there with his family.  My friend Deborah from Boston was my companion on this day trip.  We drove through downtown Jamestown and followed the main road north just looking at scenery. We passed  Carr Rd, and I felt a true excitement which I noted to Deborah.  We had entered a designated historic district with beautiful stone walls and working farms.  I was entranced as I am everywhere in New England right now with the flowering trees and the architecture.  When we headed back toward the Newport bridge I turned onto Carr Rd and drove toward the ocean.  On my left I saw Carr homestead circa 1690, and I had a giant chill/thrill/goose bump kind of an experience.  I found a place to make a U turn to take a look.  The narrow road had no real place to park, but the lady in the yard next door saw me and beckoned me to park in her drive.  I felt lucky, but I had no idea how extravagant the jackpot was going to be.

I told her I had come because Caleb Carr is my ancestor.  She welcomed me and said she is a Carr also.  Then she blew my mind completely by asking if I wanted to see the inside of the house.  She and a group of the family still keeps the house in tact by taking care of it, then renting it in the summer months by the week.  The rent paid by these shareholders when they bring their families to visit pays state taxes and upkeep expenses.  It has never left the care and ownership of the family.  She graciously toured us through the house which was THE peak experience of all my museum/travel/adventure life up to this point.  I had an extreme love for all the rooms, and the trees in the yard which were brought from Japan.  I was guided to be there when by botany loving cousin, however many times removed, was outside gardening.  Although the farm had initially been a working dairy farm, at some time two lovely evergreens were imported from Japan to grace the front yard.  I wondered how much plant love we both might have inherited from the Carrs.  She said the land had all been cleared for pasture, but now the 10 acres that remain are wooded.  It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  We stopped around the corner to see the family graves.  It was all much more than I expected.  Jamestown is a very special place for me.

Party in Cape Cod

April 26, 2013 — 2 Comments

Four friends who have never met in person gathered yesterday in Falmouth, MA to meet, eat, party and fully enjoy each other. Our host, Chico, lives right next to the beach and is a really excellent chef. He prepared a seafood extravaganza that lasted all afternoon. Deborah Elizabeth lives in Boston.  Christine lives in Australia. I live in Tucson. We planned this for months since Christine was in this hemisphere for a visit. The meal included bay scallops raw and scampi style, raw oysters, salad, bread and spicy dipping sauce, mussels, clams…and then…. we all had to take a break. We walked along the shore to do some digesting for an hour or so…and then there was lobster and NY cheesecake. The entire meal lasted, including the walk, about 6 hours. It was luxury that few ever experience.
Since Christine was basically on a drive by, she stayed in the hotel with me last night and we set out for breakfast and one last photo shoot and shopping trip in Falmouth village. We both love blooming trees, so there was much to shoot. One dip of her feet in the Atlantic, and she had to drive to Newark to return her car for a flight back tomorrow. I have rarely packed so much in to a 24 hour time frame. It was memorable. We found a perfect day, a perfect place, and a perfect meal to share with each other. Our extreme compliments to the chef and host for the best day.