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mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

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El Chilito, Austin

July 21, 2014 — 2 Comments

My landlady leaves a book of recommendations in the Airstream for her visitors which I have found to be helpful. There are way too many choices for Mexican food and I only want the best. Her statement about El Chilito is that they have the best breakfast tacos in town.  I have been here for 5 days and have not had a single tortilla, so I followed her advice and drove to Manor Rd for some tacos.  The menu is extensive, with plenty of options for vegetarians.  I had a migas taco and a bean, cheese and egg taco which were both full of flavor and very satisfying.  The style is double tortilla (you can order it with flour, but I always prefer corn) soft taco.  The only seating is outdoors, but the foil wrapper keeps the food hot for a while if you want to take it with you.  They also have a large selection of aguas frescas and other drinks.  They even serve mimosas.  Funky, original, and perfect…El Chilito is the real deal.  If you visit this fine city and are hungry for Mexican food check this place.  Prices are low, just like their overhead.  I plan to return.  I don’t need to try all the other breakfast tacos.  I think my landlady is right.

7 Highly Effective Habits of Eagles

July 21, 2014 — 2 Comments

Very impressive

pgcpsmess's avatarPRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PARENTS, MARYLAND BLOG

bald-eagle-wallpapers-flighthighly-effective-habits-of-eagles

Eagles. For centuries, these seemingly larger-than-life birds have fascinated and inspired us with brilliant leadership characteristics. When eagles come to mind, people commonly imagine some enormous hunter soaring above wide-open spaces on outsized wings. Indeed, eagles are among the world’s largest birds of prey. We venerate them as living symbols of power, freedom, and transcendence. In some religions, high-soaring eagles are believed to touch the face of God. Legend holds that Mexico’s Aztecs so revered the birds that they built Tenochtitlan, their capital, at the spot where an eagle perched on a cactus.

Man for many years have taken Eagles as a symbol of beauty, bravery, courage, honour, pride, determination and grace. What makes this bird so important and symbolic to humanity is its characteristics. Seven important characteristics of eagle has been closely associated to leadership and is widely researched and the facts accepted globally.

  1. Eagles Flock Together. When…

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German Free School in Austin

July 19, 2014 — 3 Comments

Many Germans were settlers in Texas. I noticed in the Oakwood Cemetery lots of headstones noting birthplaces in Germany or Prussia, and some were inscribed in the German language.  As I was walking downtown Austin on a Saturday I passed a sign for the German Free School.  I was curious to see kids at play in the courtyard.  I asked a lady next to the gate if there was a museum in the building.  She was very friendly but on duty with the kids who come on the weekends to learn German.  She directed me to another adult upstairs who took me on a quick tour while the kids were still on play break.  It is small, but very well preserved.  When there are no other events taking place they rent it out for weddings and parties.  It would be a very elegant place for any affair.  The library is full of books in German or about Germany, and a wonderful collection of antiques gives the full impression of German artistic flair.  Ornate carved furniture, that must be priceless, fills the main room.  The courtyard is also very well designed with nice statuary.  I want to show the gentle readers what I saw on my lucky personal tour of this historic landmark.  Achtung Baby!

Hulu on the Road

July 18, 2014 — 4 Comments

I have a mixed relationship with Hulu Plus. I do have an account, but I have a life that precludes spending much time watching TV. What works for me is to watch it for a month, binge on my favorite exclusive Hulu shows, and then freeze the account for the maximum amount of time, which I think is 3 months. I would not know it had returned if not for the PayPal notice telling me I have paid my dues. My Hulu month started last week, so I caught up on some Moone Boy and East Los High episodes for starters.

Now I am on holiday without a TV, and am perfectly fine with that. I did not travel to watch TV in another city. Since Hulu is my only option I have discovered there is more to the Hulu menu than I knew. Last night I watched a black and white movie in Danish with subtitles that was a heavy period piece about witch burning in the 1600’s and religion. The story is based on an event that really happened in Norway.  The cinematography was haunting and spooky, although primitive because of the age of the film. They wore amazingly great costumes in the film, everyone looking sort of like Martin Luther (the hat part, anyhow).  The movie was shot in 1943 (very interesting time in Europe) and is called Day of Wrath.  It opened my eyes to the vast collections accessible through Hulu.  I am going to purposely search the menu to find other interesting productions to watch as part of my holiday entertainment.  Maybe Hulu and I can have a much better relationship.  They have also added an option to allow you to play trivia before the show to avoid commercial interruption.  This is the most important upgrade to me because Hulu plays the exact same commercials on all the shows in a geographic area. I quickly tire of seeing the same ad 20 times a night.  At least by moving to another location I am seeing different ads this month.  Do you use Hulu, and if so, are there any tips about getting the best experience you can share with me?  Thanks, gentle readers.

Food Truck Infatuation, The Juice Well

July 17, 2014 — 5 Comments

One of the ways I enjoy travel is by trying all kinds of gastronomy. In Austin the food truck craze is very advanced. There are more trucks than I could have imagined, most with permanent locations. I found a barbecue place close to home yesterday and was tempted by the cheese jalapeño grits they serve as a side. When I stopped to try the grits, the Juice Well was open next door. Now I have a problem.  I have fallen so deeply in love with the food at the Juice Well that it will be hard to move on and try anything else.  This vegetarian juice and smoothie bar goes to great lengths to prepare natural, homemade sandwiches and entrées that compliment the liquid delights.  I was thrilled with my Merlin’s Magic juice blend that was spiked with garlic and lemon juice.  The sandwich I ordered, the Kraftwork, may honestly be the best sandwich I have ever tasted.  I am hooked.  They make their own sauerkraut with red cabbage which is to die for. Pickled green onions and other veggies are all made in house.  The result on the sandwich is fantastic, beating the hell out of the dill pickle relish we normally find between bread.  I do want to try other trucks but I need to go back to the Juice Well to taste more of the dazzling creative specialties they are making right around the corner.  To complicate matters I found a Colombian restaurant near here that had a super long waiting list for lunch. The Colombians serve arepas, and even if they are not exactly Venezuelan style, I love me some arepas.  I have to find a time when Casa Colombia is not overflowing with customers.  I was really thinking TexMex, but there is more exciting food to eat around here that we don’t have in Tucson.  I have my work cut out for me as gourmet taster.

I Love Dead People

July 17, 2014 — 4 Comments

Oakwood Cemetery

Oakwood Cemetery

My own fascination with dead people is neither religious nor political. I study my own ancestry to get a broader understanding of history and how I came into being. When I travel I love nothing better than to check out  cemeteries to meet the locals and see what they have been doing. I am lucky right now to be situated between two very old and very large grave yards.  All of these people have died in Austin, Texas over the span of hundreds of years.  I notice what similar features the plots and monuments have in common, and then notice what makes each grave distinct.  The designs and the grand expenditures tell one part of the tale, but if you let yourself imagine what their lives were like and how they made the journey here history becomes a real human story.  Some might think graves are macabre, but to me they are clues to the ongoing conditions of cultural change.  The dead at Oakwood express themselves in a few ways:

The handshake:

The private yard:

The Texan:

I learned that some of the important people in history in Oakwood have QR codes on the grave to give you the entire story of their lives.  I did not have my phone with me today, so I will go back and try this super smart way to get more out of a grave yard visit.  The grounds are lovely and well maintained.  I count this one as a top destination for those of us who love graves, topped only by all the people who fell off the Matterhorn who are buried in Zermatt (still the best I have seen), and the one in Salzburg at the monastery.  Y’all come and discover these dead Texans for yourselves.  They are cute and friendly.

Travel Time

July 16, 2014 — 2 Comments

luggage

luggage

Time may be finite, but I notice that it can expand and contract based on circumstances. When I am home I always have some day to day chores waiting for me. Being busy is not my style, but I do cross items off the to do list in a regular fashion. Planning is big for me, but it often leads to changing plans.  I drive very little by choice, so on line shopping is a big friend of mine when I am not supporting local businesses.  My routine includes time with friends, my dog, and my neighbors as well as tending the garden and running the house. I find excitement in studying my ancestors, history, culture and the arts.  I rarely need to go anywhere to stimulate my imagination and creativity.   I had a long career as a travel agent, so I am very able to make choices and plans that suit my fancy in terms of a destination.  I like to spend my holiday time involved in activities I either can’t do at home, or just don’t do at home.  Some of my favorite vacation features are:

  • Natural bodies of water..of any kind, with a strong preference for hot springs
  • Sporty, creative community
  • City life..I like nature just fine, but I don’t want to stay in it
  • Shopping of an unusual, artistic nature
  • Music
  • Museums, art, science, anything
  • Historical societies
  • Graveyards
  • Interesting cuisine and agriculture

My budget for both time and money is set free during holiday times.  I look for new ways to spend both that I have never done.  I do a lot of research before i visit a place.  I usually have a long list of possible places I want to go, and then let the weather be the deciding factor.  I need some rainy day plans as well as some perfect day plans.  My main goal in traveling is to flow into  a new schedule, a new culture, and a new rhythm based on what I discover.  I usually do some reconnaissance on foot to see what the neighborhood has to offer before I set out in a car.  I study maps and read reviews to help me decide what to investigate.  It is a perfect combination of very well informed and not obligated to anything.  I am looking forward to doing this for the next to weeks in Austin, Texas, live music capitol of the US.  I hope my gentle readers will enjoy the trip as you come along for the ride.

 

Karl I Von Baden

July 15, 2014 — 1 Comment

Karl I

Karl I

 

My 15th great-grandfather was Margrave of Baden Baden, like his father before him.  His son and my 14th great- grandfather followed him in this position.  He married very well.

Karl I Von Baden (1424 – 1475)
is my 15th great grandfather
Christof I VanBaden (1453 – 1527)
son of Karl I Von Baden
Beatrix Zahringen (1492 – 1535)
daughter of Christof I VanBaden
Sabine Grafin VonSimmern (1528 – 1578)
daughter of Beatrix Zahringen
Marie L Egmond (1564 – 1584)
daughter of Sabine Grafin VonSimmern
Richard Sears (1590 – 1676)
son of Marie L Egmond
Silas Sears (1638 – 1697)
son of Richard Sears
Silas Sears (1661 – 1732)
son of Silas Sears
Sarah Sears (1697 – 1785)
daughter of Silas Sears
Sarah Hamblin (1721 – 1814)
daughter of Sarah Sears
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Sarah Hamblin
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse

Charles I of Baden (d. 24 February 1475, Pforzheim) was a Margrave of Baden-Baden in 1454-1475.
Charles was the elder son of Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden and his wife Catherine of Lorraine. In 1462 he began the Baden-Palatinate war with Elector Frederick I of the Rhine. This war was finished in the same year with Charle’s defeat.

Family and children
On 1 July 1447 he married Katharina of Austria (1423 – 11 September 1493), daughter of Archduke Ernest the Iron. They had six children:
Katharina (15 January 1449 – before 8 May 1484), married on 19 May 1464 to Count George III of Werdenberg-Sargans
Zimburg (15 May 1450 – 5 July 1501), married on 19 December 1468 to Count Engelbert II of Nassau-Dillenburg
Margareta (1452 – 1495), Abbess in Lichtenthal
Christopher I, Margrave of Baden-Baden (13 November 1453 – 19 April 1527)
Albert, Margrave of Baden-Hachberg (1456 – 1488)
Frederick (9 July 1458 – 24 September 1517), Bishop of Utrecht

Calamondin

July 14, 2014 — 6 Comments

calamondin

calamondin

calamondin

calamondin

calamondin

calamondin

calamondin

calamondin

One of the generous citrus trees in my garden is the calamondin. It bears fruit for many months which are useful and tasty.   It is odd to have such a large crop in the middle of summer, but we had a very unusual winter in Arizona.  The tree is loaded with ripe and green fruit in the middle of July, so we can expect to have fresh fruit until September.  The tree comes from Asia where it is popular in Indonesian and other cuisines.  It has medicinal as well as culinary applications.  My next door neighbor is from Viet Nam.  She told me they dry the peels in salt, which is later used as a remedy for sore throat.  Other known medicinal uses include as a cure for constipation.  Be advised about this one.  We prepared a drink with water, honey and calamondin juice for my mom to drink on a car trip.  She enjoyed it so much that she polished off a quart, which gave her a bad case of the runs.  Moderation is important when you try the juice.  I have made infused vodka just by soaking the fruits in it, which turns out very well also.

I have started making bitters.  I have mad a batch of peach and one of apricot, both made from our own trees.  The taste is interesting, whether you cook with it, drink it as a flavoring in fizzy water, or use it in cocktails.  I am experimenting with new combinations, using a book to guide me about the proportions.  Next I will whip up a batch of calamondin bitters, for which I am slightly altering the recipe the book gives for lime bitters.  I think this will be a delicious way to make use of calamondin’s tart and unique taste.  A little bit of bitters imparts big flavor to food and drinks.  I adore the taste of limes, but the crop failed in Mexico this year and prices are sky high.  Calamondin makes a pretty substitute.  They can often be found in Asian markets if they don’t grow near your home.  You can make simple syrups, bitters, or just juice the fruit fresh in cocktails. Here are some cocktail ideas to get your creativity started:

Chi Nei Tsang, Ancient Healing Art

July 13, 2014 — 3 Comments

I am lucky to have found, right in my neighborhood, a Chi Nei Tsang practitioner of great talent and ability. Her name is Desiree Maultsby and her practice is at Rooted Massage Therapy in Tucson.  I  wanted to address inflammation in my organs that was discovered at my thermography session.  Obviously my lifestyle and diet are under my own control and can be improved.  To help me better understand and improve the chi flow in my internal organs I wanted to use Chi Nei Tsang because I know it is effective.

Taoist practices are simple, yet complicated.  There is order, but there is a great deal of mystery as well.  Chi, universal energy, moves through the body and around it.  The way we direct chi, and allow it to flow will determine the state of our health and our mood.  The most basic way to think about chi in the abdomen is to bring to mind the proverbial knot in the stomach.  Stress, improper habits and diet, and other factors can constrict and block the flow of energy and circulation in the internal organs.  Deep breathing is the best way to relieve these constrictions and restore good function to all the organs.  With the help of a practitioner a chi nei tsang session can bring dramatic and instant results in healing congestion in the abdomen.  There are simple practices of self massage and breathing techniques that can be done between sessions to greatly enhance the results.  This is, for practical purposes, a meditation technique.  Your awareness will grow from this practice, of both the power of your breath, and the importance of freeing up energy in the organs.

Physical issues that bring pain to the abdomen may very well be related to trauma held in the gut.  Breathing techniques and sound vibrations have healing effects on the specific organs.  Your practitioner will guide you by giving you meditative instruction as well as reminders about breath.  By working very closely together in this way deep psychic wounds you don’t even know you have can be healed.   The treatment is not at all like a Swedish massage, which I really like for the pleasurable feeling at the time.  This is a full on transformational pursuit.  If you want to chat or stay on the surface, then chi nei tsang is not for you.  You remain clothed and the treatment takes place on a mat on the floor, to make the best use of gravity.  I am very impressed with the progress my body has made in just three sessions with Desiree.  I recommend her work to anyone interested in making profound changes.  She provides plenty of supplemental information for those who want to do their homework.