mermaidcamp

mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

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Lady Gilberta Godiva le Becket

November 8, 2013 9 Comments

St George Cross

St George Cross

My 23rd great grandmother was the sister of Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.  She is the ancestor of Margaret Tyndale, whose husband was burned at the stake for reading the bible in English.  Although they spend several generations as the official bottlers to the royal Brits (a much more entertaining and lucrative employment), they revert to religion like salmon swimming upstream.    They go on crusades and get crazy over the crown and religion.  My own great grandfather Taylor was a preacher and a Confederate soldier.  You might say it is in the blood.

Lady Gilberta Godiva le Becket (1100 – 1186)
my 23rd great grandmother
Hervey Butler (Boteler) (1130 – 1190)
son of Lady Gilberta Godiva le Becket
Theobald I FitzWalter, 1st Chief Butler of Eng & Ire, de Butler (Boteler) (1170 – 1206)
son of Hervey Butler (Boteler)
Theobald II le Boteler (1200 – 1230)
son of Theobald I FitzWalter, 1st Chief Butler of Eng & Ire, de Butler (Boteler)
Lady Maud Matilda DeVerdun Countess DeBoteler Countess Arundel (1225 – 1283)
daughter of Theobald II le Boteler
Matilda Tideshall FitzAlan Baroness Corbet De Arundel (1244 – 1309)
daughter of Lady Maud Matilda DeVerdun Countess DeBoteler Countess Arundel
Sir Thomas Corbet of Moreton, Knight of The Bath Corbet (1281 – 1310)
son of Matilda Tideshall FitzAlan Baroness Corbet De Arundel
Knight Sir Robert XII Corbet, Lord of Moreton Corbet (1304 – 1375)
son of Sir Thomas Corbet of Moreton, Knight of The Bath Corbet
Sir Roger XIII (Lord of Morton) Corbet (1330 – 1396)
son of Knight Sir Robert XII Corbet, Lord of Moreton Corbet
Robert Corbet (1383 – 1440)
son of Sir Roger XIII (Lord of Morton) Corbet
Blanche Corbet (1423 – 1458)
daughter of Robert Corbet
Humphrey Coningsby (1458 – 1535)
son of Blanche Corbet
Amphyllis Coningsby (1478 – 1533)
daughter of Humphrey Coningsby
Margaret Tyndale (1510 – 1555)
daughter of Amphyllis Coningsby
Thomas Taylor (1548 – 1588)
son of Margaret Tyndale
Thomas Taylor (1574 – 1618)
son of Thomas Taylor
James Taylor (1608 – 1698)
son of Thomas Taylor
John Taylor (1685 – 1776)
son of James Taylor
John Taylor (1727 – 1787)
son of John Taylor
John Taylor (1747 – 1781)
son of John Taylor
John Nimrod Taylor (1770 – 1816)
son of John Taylor
John Samuel Taylor (1798 – 1873)
son of John Nimrod Taylor
William Ellison Taylor (1839 – 1918)
son of John Samuel Taylor
George Harvey Taylor (1884 – 1941)
son of William Ellison Taylor
Ruby Lee Taylor (1922 – 2008)
daughter of George Harvey Taylor
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee Taylor

Mercado San Augustin in Tucson

November 7, 2013 3 Comments

I was told that Tucson’s Iron Chef had left Lodge on the Desert to be the chef at a new brasserie opening west of downtown Tucson at the Mercado San Augustin. The space will be renovated before opening, but I decided it was time for me to investigate what is happening at the end of the trolley line.  For years Tucson has poured tax dollars into urban renewal known as Rio Nuevo to update and improve downtown.  This often stalled project is finally showing some signs of progress.  Next year we will have a short, but very cute tram that will run through the University, downtown, and end on the west side of the freeway exactly at Mercado San Augustin.  There is building like crazy at the end of the trolley line; Residential condo lofts are being erected.  The area is showing obvious signs of growth.  The Mercado is part of that development.  New and highly desirable businesses are springing up along what will be the route of the trolley. I am encouraged by what I found at the last stop.

Mercado San Augustin is modeled very much on the open markets of Mexico.  In fact, on Thursday afternoons there is a farmers market held in the courtyard.  The small stands and store fronts offer unique food choices along with clothing, art, and jewelry.  There is a communal kitchen available for rent to producers of food products who need  reasonably priced access to a professional facility in order to  create small batches cost effectively.  I sampled two kinds of cake at the Dolce Pastello Cake stand.  Both the caramel and the chocolate were rich, delicious, and reminded me of Mexico.  In fact, the whole open mercado with snow cones, coffee specialties, and a cake stand reminded me of Mexico when I was a kid and visited open markets with my parents.  I used to be crazy about the markets in Guadalajara and Mazatlán in the 1960’s.  So in a certain way my trip west of the freeway was a flashback.  You might also say that I have seen some good news for the future of business development of downtown by using a sense of history and place.

I talked with María Elena about Day of the Dead, which was just last week.  The altar is still up at La Estrella Bakery where she works. There are still sugar skulls in the case for sale.  We talked about how the holiday is celebrated and why it is a chance to teach children that death is not something to fear.  Business is good at the bakery for this holiday because pan de muertos is featured on home altars, and sugar skulls are not found in the regular bakeries around town.  La Estrella has wrapped up a very busy Day of the Dead season, but customers stream in for hot tamales, baked goods, and basic grocery items from around the neighborhood.

I Endorse Deborah Ardell Hill

November 6, 2013 1 Comment

I have known Ardell Hill for about 20 years now. We met while working at Canyon Ranch in Tucson.  She was a massage therapist and I was a fitness instructor there.  We  were both active in the 1980’s in public access TV production downtown.  Over the years we have travelled together to many destinations and had some unforgettable experiences.  I admire the way she stays busy educating herself in all the different touch modalities, and now in thermography.  I helped her cut out tiny laminated pancreas and liver pictures to velcro onto the foot chart in class.  I was the lucky model for many a class in LaStone therapy and Stoned Soul, Ardell’s signature reflexology class that includes hot and cold stones on the feet, hands, and ears.  I have enjoyed many hours on the table as the lucky client of her massage practice.  When I visited Oakland recently I was the model for a LaStone class she was giving in her home.  It is fun to be the model because although there is talking during your treatment, you get to learn something about the system along the way as well.

Ardell is knowledgeable as well as intuitively trained to do exquisite bodywork.  If you have a chance to work with her to improve your level of wellness i recommend that you take it.  She has many levels and layers of talent, but all of it leads to a greater understanding of wellness.  She is just about my favorite body worker in the universe.

Cops and Rodders Car Show

November 6, 2013 2 Comments

trucks

trucks

classic

classic

classic

classic

VW camper

VW camper

Woody

Woody

Woody

Woody

T Bird

T Bird

T Bird

T Bird

T Bird

T Bird

TPD Bomb Squad

TPD Bomb Squad

bomb squad gear

bomb squad gear

bomb robot

bomb robot

bomb dude

bomb dude

TPD SWAT

TPD SWAT

trucks

trucks

cop-o copter

cop-o copter

cop truck

cop truck

Ford

Ford

Ford

Ford

the dude

the dude

baterior

baterior

batmobile

batmobile

Bat guy

Bat guy

Karmann Ghia

Karmann Ghia

Karmann Ghia

Karmann Ghia

electric Karmann Ghia

electric Karmann Ghia

electric

electric

cute

cute

hot rod

hot rod

vintage

vintage

racer

racer

Pontiac

Pontiac

fun

fun

kids enjoy

kids enjoy

fire engine

fire engine

fire engine

fire engine

fire engine

fire engine

pick up

pick up

VW club

VW club

classy

classy

logo

logo

The Tucson Police Foundation produces a great car show at Reid Park every year. This year was no exception. The Cops and Rodders show provided entertainment and a fabulous social setting for meeting enthusiasts who share a love for vehicles.  I enjoy seeing all the variety and the extreme care that has gone into restoring and decorating the vehicles. I sometimes go to the Volkswagon show, but this one is my favorite because they have everything from old panel trucks and fire engines, to low riders.  The paint jobs impress, and the creativity amuses.  If you live in Arizona you might like to attend next year.  It is always free to the public.  The Police Foundation raises money through raffles and entry fees.  It is almost always perfect sunny weather here in November, so the paint jobs shine and glow.  To me it is like an art gallery, curated by the individual car clubs.  I love it.

Vegrandis, Lucky Rake Gala

November 5, 2013 3 Comments

We went to the second Vegrandis this weekend at The Mini Time Machine Museum.  Our first Vegrandis experience was a blast, commemorating the Arizona Centennial.  Both my partner and I enjoy looking at all the miniatures in the museum, but there is an added layer of fun at the special fund raising event.  Musicians are stationed throughout the museum; Bars, and food tables offer guests the chance to try delicious preparations while taking in the exhibits.  The theme this time was Lucky Rake Festival, or Day of the Rooster.   In Japanese culture this celebration symbolizes prosperity in the year to come with special food booths and paper lanterns for the occasion. In Japan it lasts for 13 days, but we fit it all into one evening.  The museum staff and caterers did a superb job of producing a seamless and sumptuous party.

The entrance was beautifully decorated with rakes, lanterns, and a bar introducing the signature cocktail created for the event, the Lucky Rake.  It was a tasty mix of Oriental Apple vodka, ginger ale, & cranberry. I  spent my 2 drink tickets ordering two more of those because it was just perfect.  Odaiko Sonora Taiko Drummers welcomed the guests as we entered the building, and the tone was set for a lovely evening.

entrance

entrance

Taiko drummers

Taiko drummers

All of the food was tasty and innovative from spring rolls to desserts.  Bob enjoyed all the porky bites, but I got full on my two cocktails and the vegetarian fare.  Six caterers participated, each with a twist on the Lucky Rake theme. I really enjoy the idea of exploring the museum without knowing what treats will be next in store.  I don’t read the program until I get home. Somehow the acoustics work well so the musicians fill one space and do not interfere with each other.

rake decore

rake decore

spring rolls

spring rolls

slaw and cucumber roll

slaw and cucumber roll

musicians

musicians

auction room

auction room

The games were set up for gambling, inviting guests to spend tickets.  The funds raised during the evening go toward supporting a field trip or school outreach classroom experience for very second grader in Pima County.  I dare say there are many of those kids who have never been to a museum, and this one would capture their attention and imagination.  Although I support the mission I am not into the games, and was up way past my bed time, so we said good night to the party goers before we became pumpkins.  This is our favorite local museum (accent on the local, since it is about 3 miles from home), and our favorite way to party.  We love the opportunity to enjoy ourselves and support a cause t the same time.  This gala was exactly our style.  I am not able to show you pictures of the special Japanese collection on display until December because these special pieces are on loan and photos were not permitted.  I can tell you they are amazing and exquisite.

Sir Thomas Corbet, Order of the Bath

November 4, 2013 6 Comments

Order of the Bath

Order of the Bath

My 17th great grandfather, Sir Thomas Corbet, was a knight. His father was a sheriff in Shropshire, a job that would be passed down through the family.  His roots could be traced to Normandy before the Doomesday survey, but I have not yet followed my branches back to that date.  Shropshire was near Wales, where they had quite a bit of trouble with the Welch who did some nasty castle destruction.

01. Hugo Le Corbet, Cevalier of Pays de Caux, Normandy, flourished from 1040 and 1076, and was dead before the Domesday survey of 1086.
02. Roger Fitz Corbet, Domesday Baron of Cause, formerly Alretone, Shropshire, England, as it was called in Domesday, was born about 1050 to 1056, and died about 1134 as Pagan Fitz John, sheriff and governor of Shropshire, having succeeded Richard de Belmeis, held Cause in 1134, and would not have dared to take it during Roger’s lifetime; the castle was destroyed by the Welsh attacking Pagan Fitz John. It had been one of the strongholds along the Welsh border between the rivers Dee and Wye. He married the heiress of Talsey.
03. William Corbet, second Baron of Caus, lived in Wattlesborough as the Castle of Cause was destroyed by the Welsh attack on Pagan Fitz John.
04. Simon Corbet, of Pontesburie, close to the Welsh frontier, and probably died before his father, William.
05. Thomas Corbet, called the Pilgrim.
06. Sir Richard Corbet, of Wattlesborough flourished in 1217 and 1222. May be the same person as #7, Richard Corbet below.
07. Sir Richard Corbet of Wattlesborough died before 1255. He married probably by 1196 to Joanna Toret, coheir of Bartholomew Toret of Moreton Toret, Salop, who flourished in 1196-1229 and also had lands in Yorkshire.
08. Sir Richard Corbet, son of Richard, knight of Wattesborough, flourished 1225-1248, and was Lord of Morton at the Inquest of Bradfort Hundred taken in 1255. He married Petronilla, lady of Edge Baldenham and Booley, who was living in 1272, made a grant to Buildwas Abbey in 1223, succeeded his grandfather Bartholomew Toret, and was Jusiciar of Shropshire.
09. Sir Robert Corbet, son of Richard and Petronilla was born abt 1234 in Morton Corbet, Shropshire, England. He married 2nd, Mathilda De Arundel in about 1280. He was of full age in 1255, and apparently served as the Sheriff of Shropshire (1288-1289). He died in 1300 and was buried in the chapal at Alberbury which he had built.
10. Thomas Corbet, son of Robert and Matilda was born abt 1281. He married Amice, possibly Hussey, daughter of Ralph Hussey. Thomas died in 1310 at age 29.
11. Sir Robert Corbet, son of Thomas and Amice was born on Decmeber 25, 1304. He married Elizabeth Le Strange, daughter of Fulk le Strange and Eleanor Giffard before March 1323. He was noted as lord of the Vill of Moreton Corbet in 1316, but had not been granted knighthood by 1326. He purchased Shawbury from Giles de Erdington, which property was conveyed to Thomas Gery, vicar of Morton, and Thomas de Lee of Southbache. He went to some lengths to pass his lands to Roger Corbet’s heirs. Robert died on Decmeber 3, 1375.
12. Sir Thomas Corbet, son of Robert and and Elizabeth died about 1359. He married Elizabeth (Amice).
13. Sir Roger Corbet, son of Thomas and Elizabeth was born abt 1330 in Moreton Corbet. He married Margaret De Erdington, daughter of Giles De Erdington abt 1363. He died abt. 1394.
14. Sir Robert Corbet, son of Roger and Margaret was born on December 8, 1383. He married Margaret abt 1400 whose last name is not known. As his parents were both dead when he was eleven, his wardship and marriage were granted by King Richard II to Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, who was obliged at the beginning of the reign of Henry IV to hand over the wardship to John Burley I of Broncroft. Robert proved his age in 1405. He served as Justice of Shropshire from March 14, 1410 to February 1416, and served the county in Parliament in 1413 and 1419. In May 1413 he and Richard Lacon (who held office on the Fitz Alan estates) joined David Holbache and Urian St. Pierre (both of whom represented Shrewsbury) in acting sureties for a Matthew ap Maredudd. In 1413 problems with tax collections were blamed on the dislike of Robert Corbet and Richard Lacon for their nominees as tax collectors. As a result indictments were brought agains Robert and Roger Corbet, Richard Lacon, John Burley II and other esquires of the Earl of Arundel. In 1415 Robert and Roger Corbet served in King Henry V’s first expedition to France. Robert was Sheriff of Shropshire in from November 23, 1419 until he died.
15. Sir Roger Corbet, son of Robert and Margaret was born about 1415. He married Elizabeth Hopton in 1450, the daughter of Thomas Hopton and Eleanor Lucy. Roger died on June 8, 1467.
16. Sir Richard Corbet, son of Roger and Elizabeth was born in 1451 in Moreton Corbet. He married Elizabeth Devereux before 1478. Elizabeth is the daughter of Sir Walter Devereux and Agnes Ferrers. Richard died on Decmeber 6, 1493.
17. Sir Robert Corbet, son of Richard and Elizabeth was born in 1477. Robert married Elizabeth Vernon, daughter of Sir Henry Vernon and Anne Talbot. He died on April 11, 1513 and was buried in Moreton Corbet. His wife Elizabeth survived him by fifty years and was called the “old Lady Corbet of Shawbury.”
18. Dorothy Corbet, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth was born abt. 1511. She married Sir Richard Mainwaring of Ightfield.

is my 17th great grandfather
son of Sir Thomas Corbet of Moreton, Knight of The Bath Corbet
son of Knight Sir Robert XII Corbet, Lord of Moreton Corbet
son of Sir Roger XIII (Lord of Morton) Corbet
daughter of Robert Corbet
son of Blanche Corbet
daughter of Humphrey Coningsby
daughter of Amphyllis Coningsby
son of Margaret Tyndale
son of Thomas Taylor
son of Thomas Taylor
son of James Taylor
son of John Taylor
son of John Taylor
son of John Taylor
son of John Nimrod Taylor
son of John Samuel Taylor
son of William Ellison Taylor
daughter of George Harvey Taylor
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee Taylor

The Power of Written Words

November 3, 2013 8 Comments

My father read Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn aloud to me when I was very young. There were other books that followed, but he really loved those two stories, and made them come alive while reading them.  He liked to sing and recite poetry.  We sang at parities all the time.  Since we had a player piano, talent was no barrier to musical contribution.  I pumped happily away for hours singing with the piano rolls.  I still know the words to most of those songs, or could with some prompting, remember the lyrics. I wrote songs myself as a teen, but do not remember them at all, which is funny.  I do remember The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W Service, which my father knew by heart.  As an Okie in Pennsylvania I know he identified heavily with Sam McGee because he frequently and randomly said “Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it’s the first time I’ve been warm.”

My dad was a funny troubadour of sorts who did not know that his 8th great grandmother was Mistress Bradstreet, Pilgrim poet.  He did often say,” You’re a poet, your feet show it, they’re Longfellows.”  Now that I have discovered the Bradstreet connection I am revising the rhyme:

Keep the beat,

Think on your feet,

You’re a Bradstreet.

Since I found Mistress Bradstreet at the Poetry Center I am wondering about my own relationship to words and poetry.  Do I have any poetic DNA that I need to develop?  Curious, I attended the inauguration of Arizona’s new poet laureate, Alberto, Tito, Rios of Nogales, AZ.  He addressed the crowd, read some poems, then answered some questions from the audience.  He is a professor so he found it easy to teach the group.  His style includes plenty of comedy, which holds the attention.  An audience question was, “What is the difference between writing poetry and writing prose?”  His answer was perfect and memorable.  He said, ” Each line in a poem should be able to stand by itself.  If one of my poems shattered and all the lines were left alone, each should be strong enough to get a good job in another poem.”   I love that. I also love the Poetry Center which is very near my home.  I don’t really think the lines in my poem above could find work elsewhere, but if I work on it, perhaps the spirit of Mistress Bradstreet will guide me to achieve better outcomes.

The other fine advice Mr Rios gave, which he illustrated with a story from his youth, was that you observe events and happenings in your life that will die without a story if you do not tell them.  His attitude is that all of us have the potential to use words in a poetic way, and the experience enhances our own lives when we do it.  We also liberate objects and events that want their stories to be told.  This magical reality view of the objects comes naturally from his bilingual and bicultural background.  In Spanish reflexive verbs make the world a highly animated place in which things take action.  I believe Tito Rios is the perfect artistic and cultural representative who could have been chosen as our official poet.  I am pleased to have been in the special inaugural audience.

Tucson’s Market on the Move

November 2, 2013 2 Comments

The port of Nogales, AZ is the main entry point for Mexican produce to enter the United States. There are tons of fruits and vegetables traded daily at the peak of the season. Each winter the wholesale warehouses hum with activity.  The nature of the wholesale produce business requires that losses must be accepted when the goods can’t be sold or moved quickly.  The 3000 Club in Santa Cruz County has created a wonderful program to stem waste at the border, and provide fresh healthy foods in neighborhoods that need more access to fruits and vegetables.  They partner with churches and other facilities that have large parking lots in Tucson.  The volunteer crews load semi trucks full of produce that is at peak ripe condition and send them to the parking lots where anyone can buy 60 pounds of produce for $10.  This Market on the Move is saving people money, but what I like best is the distribution of fresh foods to those who might not otherwise buy  or try it.

I enjoy the challenge of filling my box (Since there are only two of us at home, I do not overfill it.) with the selections of the week, then making tasty dishes with them.  This week I went too late to score any tomatoes, which are always popular.  Tiny watermelons were limited to two each.  They look precious, and are fun to have in November.  Zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, and golden bell peppers were the featured crops on special.  I decided to juice the cucumbers, roast or grill the peppers, and make soup with the squash.  The Market on the Move is like the show Chopped on Food Network, in which you prepare dishes from what you find in the basket.  I try to recruit some help from my neighbors as soon as I get home.  My friend Mindy has just returned from Philadelphia where her son in law is a fancy chef.  She passed along a roasted bell pepper soup recipe while I convinced her to take some home.  The chef makes his soup with roasted peppers, a tiny bit of stock and cream cheese.  Mindy and I decided that this was very fine, but we are going to use mascarpone since we have no allegiance to Philadelphia.  If you have some good ideas that relate to bell peppers or squash I am very interested right now.  If you live in a city that offers this sport, the ingredient challenge, I urge you to try it.  For $10 you have little to loose.

Samhain/All Saints

October 31, 2013 1 Comment

The Celtic holiday Samhain is still celebrated by some on October 31. The city of Dublin is embracing the ancient holiday in new ways.  Poetry is a way to create connection with the future and also with the past.  Some poems and songs survive from anonymous authors, while ancient Greeks are preserved in drama, ode and epic.  Translation is a tricky thing, especially when translating Pagan rituals to Catholic practices.  My ancestors, the O’Byrnes, came from County Meathe where Samhain was and is celebrated.  I hope someday to visit Dublin to see these Irish in action with their ancient tradition.

Since I am in Tucson, with a strong and popular All Souls’ Day party I plan to add poetry this year by attending the reading on Friday night at the U of A Poetry Center by our new poet laureate.  He is from the border, our own very specific and special place. This border has been directly responsible for plenty of death, and plenty of opportunity.  In a spiritual sense our border has never been real, but artificial, setting a trap, catching little prey.  It makes crime irresistible to the desperate. It works to incentivize illegal behavior. If the dead are visiting this week they will have no trouble crossing the border, even though they may have died trying.  I look forward to the experience.

Under the Influence

October 30, 2013 4 Comments

This holiday season I have decided to create a diet plan. Each year we splurge eating outside of our normal diet to enjoy some seasonal goodies both at home and out and about. I think it is silly to deny yourself all relatively unhealthy foods since it creates a special power around the food. You can taste almost anything, then put it down and walk away without harming yourself.  Moderation in all things may seem stingy in comparison to  the commercial holiday cheer with merchandise at the base of it all.  Gifting or not gifting is easy at our house. We like experiences better than items so very few presents are given unless they are special yard sale finds.  We love art, but filled our home already, so we have to go to galleries and museums to see anything new.  Our tradition involves making treats and attending special events.  This season I am mindfully setting a budget, not so much in dollars, but in calories, alcohol, and fat.

If I allow myself to be mindless at the supermarket I end up with a lot of unhealthy treat ingredients that will become cookies, etc.  I have become a creative bartender and now have a vast array of interesting liquor with which to mix cocktails.  The idea of the taste profile of the cocktail is to enhance your snacks or meal.  I enjoy creating new cocktails from recipes and sometimes by experiment.  Since I enjoy taking risks in the kitchen, my bar tending is a natural extension of that exploratory spirit.  I am carried away with using seasonal ingredients and the fruit from my garden in cocktail recipes.  I could not work at a bar since I know few classic drinks, but in terms of kinky creations I get better all the time. Therein lies the problem.  These tasty spirits take over the situation and decide that moderation is out the window for the night.  One good taste leads to another.  Last winter I did allow the spirit of alcohol to leave the barn door open for the spirit of sugar and other inferior foods to enter my body in mass quantities.  My general health suffered from this overdose, and required reform of my diet in order to recover.

This winter as the nights grow longer and the wood stove glows I am starting a written log of what I eat and drink.  This is not for publication, but for my own information.  I will not allow sneaky spirits, holiday or otherwise, make me fat this winter.  They have no power over me.  I never drank hard alcohol until a couple of years ago when I bought some cheap bourbon to pour on my dad’s grave on All Soul’s Day.  My parents both loved to cocktail way too much, which was responsible for many of their health problems.  I have chosen to have a different relationship with alcoholic spirits.  Cheers! Happy Holidays! Think before you drink!!!