mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys
Environmental Design
September 11, 2012
- largest chocolate fountain
conservatory
- conservatory of light and decorative planting
fantasy giant bee
- flower lady bugs
- flute playing nymph
- acrobatic arts
- water fountain
- glass ceiling flowers
When you travel what kind of design changes do you like to make? I usually enjoy design that is neat and modern, uncluttered and sleek. This is just not the way to design a gambling casino, as I have discovered. When I see the world’s largest chocolate fountain I am not at all attracted to it. It is obvious that many people like it a lot. There is a place for public art, and since casinos have a lot of the public’s cash to use, it is fitting that they create adult fantasy environments. If flowing chocolate and giant bees are your thing, you will totally love the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Vitriol
September 9, 2012
Vitriol
I am studying the alchemist archtype in my life. I have used the word vitriol, but have not associated it with alchemy until I found it in my reading yesterday. I purchased a beautiful book, Signs & Symbols by Beryl Dhanjal. In this excellent art and prose work I discovered that vitriol is an acronym, just like OMG. It stands for Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem,” “Visit the interior of the earth and rectifying (purifying) you will find the hidden stone.” The motto originated in L’Azoth des Philosophes by the 15th Century alchemist Basilius Valentinus. Both Alchemists and Freemasons use this motto.
In chemistry ancient science referred to sulfuric acid is vitriol. I have a strong memory of the alchemist in chief in my life, my father, teaching me to make hydrogen bombs. I was probably about 8. We dissolved magnesium metal bits in hydrochloric acid, but vinegar works, or any acid, I think. The combination makes hydrogen gas that when ignited, explodes. At school in the 1950s we had air raid drills about hydrogen bombs. At home I got to make them. Both my dad and I liked the little ones we made in test tubes, so we went big one day. He put the acid and the metal in a gallon jar, which was somehow closed and directed into a plastic tube about 30 ft. long. My dad had no experience in the hurt locker, just in fracking and blowing up oil reservoirs underground. My mother watched from the upstairs window horrified as my dad lit the end of the hose, which I think was supposed to blow a can in the air. The tube with the gas in it flamed across my dad’s beloved lawn and the glass bottle blew to smithereens. I was thrilled, but my father was significantly freaked out. I think we went on a hiatus from explosion chemistry for a while after that. I am pretty sure that is when I had to build the crystal radio. I remember not being nearly as pleased with that radio as I had been with our explosive past. It is good to have an alchemist for a father. They combine things that other fathers do not.
Synesthesia
September 6, 2012
The merging of the senses is a process and a practice. To create an artist or inventor can call on all the senses and blend the associations into new meaning. You may be synesthetic in certain parts of you life, such as personal fashion or cuisine. I make an attempt to both try new experiences and blend all the sensory information into art. My artistic sense was inspired long ago by my design teacher, Max Gottschalk, who began the semester with a lecture about designing your life. I also hung out with Max later in his life and had the pleasure of doing some major synesthesia with him when he was 92 and pretty far out there. At that time he used to refer to “sonic water” when we were in the water. I questioned him thoroughly about this sonic water, but he provided little detail. I still wonder about that.
I went to Las Vegas to tour Zappos headquarters recently. My goals were entirely fulfilled on the tour. In order to get there I flew to Vegas, stayed at a big casino hotel, and coincidentally went to a fashion show. I flew home after a little more than 24 hours, but the tightly scheduled events, including the Mormons on the plane ride back, have all become one big circus in my mind. Without intending to do so, I created the circumstances that are perfect for synesthetic problem solving. I left with a design in my head for a very important event I had been planning for ages. The juxtaposition of over the top Bellagio surroundings, Zappo’s over the top customer service, and clothing designer Joey Galon’s over the top evening gowns have all merged in my creative process to outline the best little mermaid bat mitzvah after party ever attempted.
I am on a mission to create for my 13 year old friend Mollie a party that expresses her own creativity and that of a few of her close friends. With the date is closing in, and I had no real plan to pull this whole idea into shape. I have given her a sewing machine, a 20 minute sewing lesson, and some prom dresses. Thanks to the various senses that merged the Las Vegas experience for me, we now know what we are going to do!!! Mollie will assemble the girls and fit them into the dresses they like best. She will cut off the bottom of the dress and we will retrofit them all to be mermaid dresses. Some individual craft work on the bottom of each dress will make each an individual and unique piece of art. I always like to put lessons inside a fun project because that inspires me. I believe I can deliver sewing and fashion design lessons from the upcycle perspective to some unsuspecting young ladies.
office of the most successful capitalists on earth
- glass flowers
Food Coop Flashback
August 26, 2012
— 1 Comment
About 40 years ago a legendary hippie named Steve Gold was instrumental in starting food coops in Tucson, and later on Mt Lemmon (a mountain neighbor to Tucson). I was a founding member of both. The coop on Mt Lemmon flourished and died after a few seasons, but was good while it lasted. The Food Conspiracy is still alive today, although in an altered form. I am a member of that coop, which operates as a well stocked health food store downtown. I shop there when I am down there, but have been avoiding the place while they build our streetcar line. Eternal construction is jamming the area. Eventually I will be a happy shopper directly connected to this fun transportation option, but all of us have had to deal with a favorite part of our city being “revitalized” through massive construction.
In the first months of the Food Conspiracy, about 1970, we met in an alley with baby scales and weighed out wheat berries and the like which we purchased as a group. Steve pulled up in a pick up truck, and we did our distribution behind the store that is on 4th Avenue today on the bed of the truck. We didn’t even have a table. We became popular enough to rent the building for storage, later opening as a store. We all had to work from the beginning, but after the store opened, non members were allowed to shop, and years passed, the IRS eventually intervened to make the “coop” part a big taxation problem. I am happy the business has survived and serves the population interested in organic health food.
As a consumer I have a nearly obsessive desire to spend my money as close to my home as possible. “Keep the money in the ‘hood” is my motto. This practice flows from a conscious desire to support the people who own businesses near me. I want my immediate area to thrive and stay vibrant. I think I inherited this from the Swiss. I have spent lots of time with them and admire the way they make provincialism a good thing. I drive very little, loving to find everything I need and want without spending time in my car. I have become very proficient at internet shopping, which is a blast to me. Delivery suits me perfectly. Imagine my thrill when I learned that a food coop was making deliveries very close to home. Yesterday was my first day as a member of Bountiful Baskets Coop.
It is run as a true coop, with the help of the internet. Now it is easy to track orders and account for everything. My first impression is excellent. I paid extra to upgrade to an organic surprise produce box, and bought a couple of extras. In the extra category the bread and the fajita packages were of excellent freshness and quality, and the 20 pound box of tomatoes arrived at a perfect ripeness. I do like everything in my produce box, and think the freshness is pretty good. I normally do not buy iceberg lettuce, but this is a chance for me to knock off P F Chang. The coop sends out an instructional e mail about shopping, making sure you use all your produce, and shifting your family diet to a more plant based selection. The emphasis in the educational materials is on saving money, therefore it stresses new shopping habits and mindful planning. I could not be more thrilled to have this new food option. I like everything about it. The surprise is even fun for a person who is crazy about reading recipes. The best part is that I prepay, show up and instantly leave with my boxes and bags, organized and perfect. The meeting spot is in a parking lot of a school, not so unlike our back alley, but so much more high tech. I simply bring my confirmation number from the e mail I receive as a receipt, and off I go with my food. I am in the mood for fall now as I roast my veggies and fill the house with aromas of fresh vegetables. If you live in the area in which they operate I highly recommend this organization. The value is outstanding. It is easy to evaluate and feel good if you regularly shop for food in grocery stores. The value pendulum has swung back in my direction, and I could not be more pleased. This is the most pleasant of flashbacks…..a food conspiracy indeed, about 2 miles from my house.
fruit
Fajita mix
produce haul
Pineal Gland
August 24, 2012
— 1 Comment
The significance of the pineal gland and the connection it has to the third eye, or sixth chakra, has been observed for centuries. There are specific meditation practices designed to awaken or activate the gland.
I have been aware, but not very well informed about the meaning of this tiny pinecone shaped gland seated inside the brian. I discovered the Ayurvedic practice known as Shirodhara which is a pleasure to receive and has profound and lasting effects. I really just love it because of the sensuality of the whole experience, but I did feel particularly balanced for a while after my first treatment. I have found a therapist who practices near my home so I have an appointment for a head anointing soon. Since this will take place close to home, I plan to leave the oil on my long hair for 24 hours to make it healthy and happy. After trying a plethora of bodywork and therapies I am now very attracted to balancing my pineal and pituitary glands, and balancing this with lymphatic drainage from time to time. I am still a hedonist, and appreciate the fine feelings created by a mindful bodyworker in a massage. I am now more enthusiastic, however, to learn more about the alchemy possible through ancient medical practices.
Zappo’s Tour
August 20, 2012
I recently learned about the Zappo’s tour of the headquarters in Henderson, NV. Free tours can be booked, and for a fee of $49.00 a question and answer session with the staff can be added. I have always liked doing business with Zappo’s, but hearing about what it is like to work there has made me intensely curious to see what they do. I met a woman who had worked as an assistant to Tony Hseih, the founder of the company. She went on a tour across the country with him promoting the company. Her description made it sound like the best job anyone could ever have.
I was not aware that Amazon had bought Zappo’s, but they retain a special company culture. The new leader in customer service operates with the ideal of happy, fulfilled employees. I think this is a brilliant approach. I sense that employees deliver resentful or unsuitable service to customers when they feel resentful of the treatment they receive at work. By making employee happiness a priority, the company learns more about happiness in general, and naturally projects a welcoming demeanor. The connection between the staff and the customer is highlighted.
I have watched a few videos produced by various visitors in the past, which helped me make the decision to go myself. I am not sure what I expect, but I expect to have those expectations exceeded, whatever they turn out to be. I will file a full report of my investigation of the Zappo’s culture and systems. I look forward to the adventure in learning.
Iatrophobia
August 15, 2012
Dr Robert Fulford, DO, my primary care physician for years
I am openly afraid of doctors. I avoid contact with them, except in social settings, where I am fine with them. I know they don’t want to practice medicine during social times, and I certainly don’t want to talk about the way they practice. I go to the dermatologist, the dentist, and the optometrist. I have no issues with those office visits. I am fond of teeth cleaning, and go 4 times a year. If I wonder about a symptom in my own body, however, a medical doctor would be the very last person I would ask. I have relied on my friend who is a chiropractor to diagnose, treat, and advise me for the last 20 years or so, since Dr Fulford retired. Now Dr. Sue, my chiropractor friend, is leaving to go to work for the VA in Las Vegas.
While dog walking with my neighbor a couple of days ago we discussed the state of medicine and how things have changed so drastically. I told her I was fine with Dr. Sue leaving because she has introduced me to a very cool MD who practices emergency medicine and acupuncture near my home. I walked home and promptly created a mini medical emergency by chopping off the tip of my index finger while cutting a watermelon. Dr. Eric was already on my mind, having been so recently mentioned as medical savior, so I called him. I found some Neosporin and bandages, did some first aid, then finished making melon juice. Things looked bad to me initially, but when I learned Dr Eric was not going to be in his office for another week I had little pain and the bleeding had been stopped. I said thanks for calling and told him I would come in next week if I have gangrene. I have met him and taken a young friend to his office for acupuncture in the past. I had a very good impression of the way he approaches health. I am satisfied that he will take care of me at the same time I am totally freaked out at the idea of strange doctors in a hospital. The good news is that my finger is healing well without even an aspirin needed.
Maybe there are people with unreasonable fear of doctors, but I like to think of my own as a practical one. After having Dr. Fulford as my primary physician, then Dr. Sue, I believe I have learned enough to distinguish dangerous docs from the ones who do no harm. I feel lucky not only to be healthy, but also to have had the best care in the past. I hope to need as little as possible in the future.
Palomar Hotel San Diego
August 11, 2012
I stayed last Sunday night at the Palomar Hotel downtown San Diego. My stay was scheduled as a birthday celebration for my friend Beth, who lives in Encinitas. After a visit to the farmers’ market we needed a restaurant because this was not the market we had imagined. Fresh citrus juice was a treat, but unlike the many other area markets, this one had few fresh food, or prepared food stands. I would call it more of a craft fair with a little bit of food. Fortunately the area is full of restaurants, so we found one that met our lunch needs, then sent the birthday woman ahead to the Se Spa at the hotel to report for her Thai pedicure. The three kids and I followed at a leisurely pace, and found the room was ready for check in when we reached the hotel. Up we went to the 16th floor to delight in the amazing suite with a balcony from which we could see the pool party deck. I really adore the post modern style of the Palomar as it combines with the historical and modern buildings surrounding it. The suite suited me perfectly. A large kitchen, a wet bar, and a dining room adjoin the spacious bedroom and walk in closet space. We all loved the balcony, with a cozy sitting area and an interesting view. Sleek, modern boutique style evokes something entirely different from home, which is precisely what I want from a hotel.
Post pedicure we went to the pool deck to enjoy some afternoon DJ action, a hip lounge area, and snack service from the Saltbox restaurant. The pool is shallow, very nicely heated, and includes underwater speakers playing the same tunes you hear on the deck. One reason I am such a big fan of the Kimpton Hotel chain is the other guests one finds enjoying the ambience. In each of the 4 Kimptons I have visited I found locals like to hang out at the bars and restaurants. Even in trendy Aspen, CO, the Sky bar is popular apre ski with Aspenites. The Palomar is the first one in which I saw no visiting dogs. The dog guests have been at the happy hours socializing over wine in the other 3 Kimptons I have visited. A friendly and casual atmosphere is created that attracts different age groups and foreign tourists, mostly European. At the pool we were joined by some local friends who stayed for a couple of drinks, then said good bye. As festive days go this one was a complete success. The pedicure was a happy time with lovely results for the birthday toes. The pool deck was the perfect place to receive guests and relax.
After packing in the pool party we moved right downstairs to the Saltbox restaurant for a quick, delicious dinner with the kids. I needed a cappuccino to be able to make it to the next round of activities. In the spacious suite, with the exciting city lights around us, I had one more job to complete. Thanks to the big dining table the sewing lesson was easy to do. We cut out a skirt, threaded the machine, I demonstrated gathering, and whipped up a skirt to be finished at home by the students. Sending the Beth and her family home in their pajamas after a full day of celebration I was tired and content. When I reached the 16th floor again on my own, I was treated to a fireworks display above the buildings, out over the water. For me, it was the perfect ending to the perfect day.
kids like the balcony
Pool deck at Palomar
Archetypes in the Ancestors
July 30, 2012
— 2 Comments
Santo Bassano My 12th great grandfather Birth 1440 in Bassano, , Del, Italy Death 1492 in Venice, Venezia, Veneto, Italy
If anyone had asked me 10 years ago to go on a trip to investigate my ancestors I am not sure what my response might have been. I had a typed document composed by my maternal great grandmother with information about my heritage, but had never given much thought to investigating genealogy. My mother died and the stock market crashed, all in short order in early 2008. My inheritance suddenly became a freaky nightmare. As I pondered what in the world these people had left me and why I saw an ad from ancestry.com gifting me with two weeks of free play on the site. Surely this would offer more insight into the nature of my true inheritance, and be a lot more fun than watching the market crash and burn. Indeed it has been.
I have been a strong enthusiast from the first moment I saw those historical documents on line. My membership makes me extremely happy, and gives me insight. Now that I am more proficient with the tools on the site, and now that I am back to the middle ages there is nothing I can imagine more fascinating than knowing about my ancestors. I went straight from gin rummy to ancestry without even playing pac man, so other “computer games” have never appealed to me. Now, however, I am on a quest to know more..and there will always be more. I can also look at my tree now from an overview to see “trends”. Both sides have patterns of repeating occupations. My mother has a whole lot of preachers, and my dad has a long line of teachers. Both, naturally, have a few unsolved mystery peeps and scalawags. My most desired “prize” in the game is portraiture. When you see the image of your ancestor, or even the handwriting, or the gravestone, or the place they were born something within engages with the past like never before. Once you have more knowledge of where you family was and what they did during history your bond to history deepens. It is possible to view your antecedents as part of an epic saga that results in your birth. They are the real players that took the stage to express themselves and create new generations in the world.
The archetypes in my dreams are played by my ancestors, dressed up in their period costuming. When there are written records it is easier to piece together details and locations. When there is a picture, however, I find that they virtually come to life in my imagination (memory?). The only thing we know for sure is that without them we could not exist. We must also assume some human error and downright mendacity exists in the records. Still, more accuracy and data is available all the time. I recently joined a DNA study in its infancy/beta stage. Unlike the traveler I was 10 years ago, my next giant thrill is going to be a trip to Jamestown and Williamsburg. I visited often as a child and always loved it. Now I know both sides of my family are buried all over the place, having played roles in the first settlement on the James River. In the old days I used to research markets and restaurants before a visit. This time it is all about the history, the dead peeps, the reenactment and my connection to it.
William Carpenter My 9th great grandfather Birth 23 May 1605 in Somerset, England Death 7 Feb 1659 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States
Elizabeth Plantagenet My 16th great grandmother Birth 1364 in Leicester, Leicestershire, , England Death 24 Nov 1425 in Burford, Shropshire, , England
Archetypes in Dreams
July 29, 2012
I am studying a modern version of Carl Jung’s archetypes for a glimpse into the intuitive world. I have always thought that every person has intuitive gifts of various kinds that could be considered talents. My teacher is Caroline Myss, who works as a medical intuitive. I am fascinated by the subject matter as well as the teaching style of Ms Myss. I assumed that in CMED…the on line and in person institute, we would learn protocol to teach us to interpret the archetype wheels of others as a skill. While this is all true it has been revealed that her belief is that everyone has an equal ability to sharpen intuition and heal others. The difference is practice, study, and a steady, perpetual, spiritual aspiration.
I have needed to change my routine to make this study a priority and a dedicated practice. There is a need to do a lot of written work to make the natures of your own archetypes known to you. I have just started my dream journal, which must be right next to the bed with the mini book light and pen attached so I can write with as little fuss as possible when I awaken. I managed a few words today, but know I will improve. I have studied my own dreams with a dream journal before. A long time ago I even practiced lucid dreaming. These skills drop away like a foreign language not spoken. I know how well one can improve both memory and details of the dream world by intending to do it, and staying steady with a practice.
I have in the past done written explorations and interview exercises with everything from dead professors to my own body parts. I once took an extensive course in “Inner Child” that required the child respond to questions by writing with the non dominant hand. I was very surprised at the accuracy of the answers, if not the handwriting, of my various inner children. Now my task is to recognize the 12 dominant archetypes active in my life, place them in a timeline in my life, then interview them to know more about them. In an effort to disobey the homework assignments I quickly skimmed the materials and did no assignments as I read and listened to the work the teachers have put into the class. I have gone as for as I can as a rebel. Written assignments are the heart of the work, therefore the teacher in my 11th house has to step up now to create an atmosphere of discipline. This is clearly not a matter to leave to my rebel, hedonist, detective, alchemist, shape shifter, or magical child. I am starting to notice this is like strength and flexibility for the soul. Core strength, range of motion, and balance in the mental, emotional, and spiritual realms are skills that can be developed through practice. Even in our dreams we can work toward greater understanding and integration.
mermaidcamp 