mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I attended the anual chili cook off to support our local firefighters union. Each station designs a booth and makes a chili dish. The chili is judged by a panel, and the booth design is judged by popular Facebook vote. The annual event is a really fun way to meet locals and enjoy time downtown. The creativity of the booth design and the costumes always amuse. This year the Drexel Heights Station outdid themselves with a Duck Dynasty theme. I took my calendar with me and was able to find four of the guys to give me autographs on their pictures. They serve beer and play live music, but it differs from other community events in that the firefighters union uses all the proceeds to adopt families in need to help them. We don’t have the opportunity to see our firefighters all together at the same time very often. Seeing them enjoy themselves so much and serve the community too is a blast. We love our firefighters in Tucson. They keep us safe and represent the spirit of the town in a friendly and creative way. I bought a tee shirt for Bob which he will like a lot, and an apron for myself, to remind me not to burn down the house.
This is much more appealing than writing a novel.
There’s a lot of buzz each November around NaNoWriMo — you may notice some of your favorite blogs dedicating themselves to churning out 50,000 words this month.
If 50,000 words seem like 49,000 too many or you’re more interested in blogging than writing a book, NaBloPoMo — National Blog Posting Month — might be your speed: a challenge to post once every day for the entire month of November. No theme, no word count, no rules; just you, your blog, and 30 new posts.
NaBloPoMo started in 2006 in response to NaNoWriMo; not every blogger has the time or inclination to write a book, but the idea of a challenge that forces participants to stretch themselves, grow as bloggers, and be part of a supportive community is undeniably appealing. As founder Eden Kennedy, the power blogger behind fussy.org, put it:
If there’s one thing creative people…
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My 21st grandmother married two husbands, the second of which (not my grandfather), was Robin Hood:
Maud le Vavasour, Baroness Butler
Following the death of Theobald in early February 1206, Maud returned to England into the custody of her father, who, having bought the right of marrying her at the price of 1200 marks and two palfrys, gave her in marriage, on 1 October 1207, to Fulk FitzWarin.[3] Fulk was the son of Fulk FitzWarin and Hawise de Dinan, who subsequent to a violent quarrel with King John of England, sought refuge in the woods and became an outlaw. Maud accompanied him. The legendary figures of Robin Hood and Maid Marian are said to be based on Fulk and Maud.
By FitzWarin, Maud had a son and a daughter:
DeathMaud le Vavasour died sometime before 1226. She had numerous descendants including the Earls of Ormond, the Earls of Arundel, Anne Boleyn, Mary Boleynand Elizabeth I.In fiction
Maud is the main protagonist in Elizabeth Chadwick’s The White Castle, which relates in highly fictional form, her life and adventures as the wife of Fulk FitzWarin.
References
Maud le Vavasour (1187 – 1282)
is my 21st great grandmother
Theobald II le Boteler (1200 – 1230)
son of Maud le Vavasour
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