mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Hidden Motives
September 23, 2025
Some teach you that you have enemies
That people who don’t know you
Are working to sabotage all your dreams.
Isn’t it much more likely that
You are the source of all your conflicts?
The Gilded Age, by Mark Twain
September 22, 2025
The phrase gilded age came from the title of a humorous novel written by America’s undisputed king of wit. It was written with fellow author Charles Dudley Warner to satirize the state of affairs after the Civil War.
We are listening to the audio book, produced as a radio play, using different voices for the characters. The book comes alive as the actors portray well defined parts in a well told tale of high comedy in a historic setting. The descriptions of daily lives are vivid enough to make the listener part of the action. The dialog defines each player to the T.
I’m writing this before finishing the book (Twain and Warner wrote in the forward that they expected to have the book reviewed without being read). It is a perfect book for our times. The writing reminds us that history repeats itself with regularly. I highly recommend reading it now, for insight and lots of laughs.
Uncharted
September 22, 2025
Choppy seas and deep tremors disrupt
Our calm steady outlook
Internally boiling
Rising to the surface
Tsunami warning
Ingress
September 21, 2025
Tides turn every day, following the moon
The forces that surge ahead
Eventually, predictably reverse course
Every wave is different
Many not suitable for riders
Chalk Art and Community
September 21, 2025
The sidewalk chalk art festivals that take place across the country are an example of inclusion and community engagement that appeals to all ages. Kids love to express themselves in public leaving their own statements for everyone to enjoy. Some people have developed their talents in this genre to epic proportions. The art we took in at the Forrest Grove, Oregon chalk art festival reflected the creativity of this small town. Live music completed the scene. This is the kind of cultural expression we enjoy and seek out. You can see all the creative offerings for a few more days as they fade into history. These artists understand the temporal nature of art.
Kite Festival Fun
September 18, 2025
People and dogs enjoy the kite festival in Long Beach, Washington each year. The event is well organized and highly creative. Worth a visit.
Align With Elegance
September 18, 2025
Timeless truth survives collective madness
Refined good taste abandons consumption
Stripping away the needless layers of greed
Leaving behind vain glories of excess
To reveal graceful details once overlooked
Kimpton Vintage Portland
September 17, 2025
The oldest hotel in Portland, Oregon is known now as Kimpton Vintage. When it opened in 1894 it was called the Imperial Hotel. Its history includes expansion and contraction through changes in ownership. I particularly enjoy the architecture of that period, which was built when the city was riding high. I have stayed in other Kimpton properties, which I admire for the reform and restoration of historic structures. Kimpton Vintage Portland is a shining example of artful design that creates an atmosphere of elegance and hospitality.
We had a wonderful visit in an elegant corner room before a long train journey. The front desk agent, Ben, convinced us to return at the end of our trip. We asked him what was happening on the 9th floor on the balconies. He told us about the jacuzzi suites available, then booked one for us.
This was a perfect grand finale to our trip. The hotel has a daily complimentary wine happy hour with excellent local wines. The convivial lobby event gives guests a cozy way to meet each other. We met a fellow guest who had borrowed the free bike the hotel offers to ride across the bridge to survey the city.
Too many superb options exist for dining within walking distance of the hotel. We only had time to visit a couple old favorites on our stay.
I love staying downtown Portland to experience history in a modern context. I have now found the perfect place to enjoy that. It’s a short walk to the waterfront, my fave place to stroll. Public transportation is super convenient and efficient. Cosmopolitan living at its finest is available for visitors to the Rose City. Dogs are welcome.
Debt Ceiling
September 16, 2025
When we look up we see the gaudy chandelier
The tacky merchandise for sale
Reminiscent of eve of the French Revolution
If you cast your gaze downward
It’s clear that this foundation built on debt
Is a total illusion
Rendered Powerless
September 15, 2025
When time takes over the game
Ideas created for the sake of image
Postures assumed for looks
Turn out to be useless
In the face of tumultuous change
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