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Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Patience and Gratitude
February 18, 2016
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“Take full account of the excellencies which you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not.” Marcus Aurelius
This quote from ancient Rome is a good reminder for all of us. I recently had a small surgery done on my shoulder for skin cancer. I dropped my car at the shop at the same time for some quirk that caused it to not be “ready” for emissions testing. I expected to be personally out of action for a couple of days so the missing car would be no inconvenience to me during that time. Indeed the wound on my shoulder healed quickly and stopped hurting after two days. The car spent the entire week at the shop. I had to use it over the weekend, so I picked it up on Friday afternoon. I paid a $400 bill for the analysis, but the car was not cured of the unready state. I was to do the drive cycle again and bring it in on Monday (the deadline from the state to register the car) to test the readiness. It failed!!!! I sat at the mechanic’s office for 2 hours while the test was done only to learn that I had to try that drive cycle one more time to heal the problem.
Modern cars have electronic brains that record all the data about their lives. My car had simply lost it’s mind. We had replaced the oil cover with a non factory part, and that was all it took for this car to go totally psychotic on me. The mechanic discovered the issue and replaced the cap but before the car will resume normal function it must be taken through a “drive cycle”. This tedious and very specific way of driving at certain intervals using specific speeds jump starts the thinking mind of the car. I had never heard of this thing before and felt very put out that I had to pay that big bill and still do this drive cycle several times without success. Fortunately for me, when I drove up the freeway to Pinal County on Monday and returned to the emissions testing station the car finally passed the test without incident.
This entire experience pointed out to me how delicate my little patience system is. I lost it entirely when the car cost so much to repair and was not really repaired. Loosing my cool at the mechanic’s office on Monday I had to focus on my breathing and tell myself that my issue did not compare to most tragedies occurring at the same time. Driving up and down the freeway for the fifth time I reminded myself that many people would be very happy to trade places with me and my situation. There I was feeling very put upon because I had to repeat this tedious process to comply with regulations and register my car. Alone with my crazy thoughts I came to the conclusion that my irritation sensors were way to sensitive to bothersome problems. I reminded myself that:
- I own a big fancy car that almost always serves me very well
- I have a life of leisure and fun with very few interruptions
- I own my home and have never been in debt for a minute of my life
- I share my home with a loving, honest partner with a good sense of humor
- I now have Medicare and a fabulous primary care doctor near home
- I am not a Syrian refugee or a homeless American military veteran
- I have a strong healthy body able to easily recover from my surgery
This list could go on forever. I possess so many excellencies that I would hanker after if I had them not. Even Marcus Aurelius was not, in certain ways, as well off as I am now. He may have been a Roman Emperor, but he didn’t have a car. I hope this experience has reset the sensors of my car’s brian as well as my own. Life may not always be a bowl of cherries, but we must be patient and appreciative of the advantages we are given.
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- Marcus Aurelius
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- Marcus Aurelius
What Law and Order? #BlackPanthersPBS
February 17, 2016
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I am a revolutionary. I am in flashback mode during this political season. When I watched the PBS documentary about the Black Panther Party my mind was blown thinking about the similar tactics employed by our government today. Police are still outside the law, are still involved in brutality rather than community protection. In my neighborhood the police force protects criminals and refuses to respond to those who want to stop crime. I think it is scary that abuse of power continues to be our greatest obstacle to peace and prosperity. In 1968 J Edgar Hoover had absolute power to invade privacy and snuff Americans at will. Today the FBI is asking Apple to give them a back door to everyone’s iPhones. Today we have drones out killing people for our “freedom and democracy”. Have we ever had freedom and democracy for all our citizens? I think not.
I was involved, but not old enough to vote, in the 1968 election that sent Tricky Dick Nixon to the White House. I was in the audience at the University of Texas at Austin to listen to Eugene McCarthy, and later to Hubert Humphrey, during my freshman year on campus. I decided to register to vote as a Libertarian as soon as I was 21. The Democrats were more to my liking but both parties struck me as corrupt anachronisms dedicated to keeping war and prejudice alive around the globe. I was not alone in this belief. I am still not the only person who sees our system as dangerously off course.
We all feel that things have gotten out of hand, and we all want a better future for our country. I know that is true, even though the campaign rhetoric has become vile and toxic. With the new twist of a Supreme nomination stakes are high and emotions are higher. If we the people allow super pacs and nasty grudges to continue to drive our political outcomes we will all continue to feel let down by our government. This election, very much like the election of 1968, will have profound consequences on our image around the world as well as our own economy. No matter how you feel (Bern or no Bern) it is time to register to vote and exercise your right to elect officials you trust. History is being made very rapidly. Get out the vote, gentle readers. Do it now before all the hippies drop dead from exhaustion.
Gasherbrum
February 16, 2016
— 1 Comment
This is a word to add to your vocabulary. Use Gasherbrum in a sentence as soon as possible in order to remember the meaning.
Imagine yourself climbing one of the highest mountains in the world, a steep jag of rock in a corner of the Karakoram, pinched between Pakistan and China. You are hanging on a rope, swinging against a rock face, a mile above the glacier below but not so far from the glacier to your side. A chunk breaks off the glacier hanging just over there… it resounds: “Gasherbrum!” You swing on the rope, thrash for room, bump on the rock and gash your bum.
Heck, why settle for one of the highest mountains in the world? Take seven of them. Or anyway seven peaks in one massif. That’s the Gasherbrum. One might be forgiven for thinking it’s Gascherbrunn, which would seem properly Germanically alpine, but these peaks are nowhere near Switzerland or Austria. And their name is from Balti, a language that is a form of Ladakhi, which is in…
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Captain Cook and Vitamin C
February 15, 2016
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Captain James Cook
The famous British naval captain James Cook lived from 1728-1779. He was in command of the HMS Endeavor sailing in 1768 to Tahiti to investigate the Venus transit and explore. On board he stocked 7,860 pounds of sauerkraut for the voyage. He devised a system to keep the crew healthy that promoted new practices on board ship for the British Navy. The crew was required to exercise on deck in the fresh air daily, and wash themselves and their property. In addition to the hygiene regulations Captain Cook fed the entire crew sauerkraut and lime juice regularly. Those serving in The Royal Navy are still known today by the nickname Limeys because of the Cook cure for scurvy. He stopped at any port where he could purchase fruits and vegetables to include in the crew’s diet. Since his voyages were much longer than any that had been attempted he brought sauerkraut to fill the long gaps without fresh produce. At first the sailors were refusing to eat the kraut, so he used an old trick. He served the sauerkraut only to officers until the sailors saw it as a desirable addition to the diet. The ship’s medical doctor used cabbage as a poultice on wounds to avoid gangrene. Cabbage truly saved the day.
Although the discovery and isolation of vitamin C as a nutrient was not made until 1932 sea captains had been experimenting with dietary changes to avoid the dreaded problem of scurvy at sea for many years. Cabbage contains vitamin C but the fermentation process releases extra C, creating a true superfood. Sauerkraut made long voyages at sea possible without risking the lives of the crew and passengers. This regimen changed the world and man’s ability to explore it. Today there is a renewed interest in raw fermented foods. The health benefits of eating probiotic foods are becoming more widely known. There are many people interested in reviving this valuable art of food preservation. In the 1700’s sauerkraut made the world smaller. Today the same fermented cabbage has the potential to make the world much healthier.
Cook’s Voyages
Tucson Hop Shop for Beer Week Festivities
February 12, 2016
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Arizona Beer Week is being celebrated all over town with tastings, pairings, and special events. Next weekend is the big craft beer crawl downtown, but beer gardens all over town are gearing up for special toasts and tastes all week. Tucson Hop Shop is our very local beer garden (.7 of a mile from home) with a family friendly atmosphere. Food trucks are scheduled to cater for the patrons on the weekend. Picnics of any kind are permitted as well. Weather is expected to be perfect for a bike ride and a flight. My partner Bob is a big beer fan with a wide range of interests in beer styles. I am much more particular. I like porters, stouts, and some copper ale if it is not very hoppy. What I like about beer week is the fun we have meeting other happy beer drinkers in a community setting. We look forward to a festive time this week that includes new flavors and new friends in Tucson. Cheers!!! Enjoy in moderation and use a designated driver for best results.
Tucson Hop Shop
Why Bernie vs Hillary Matters More Than People Think
February 12, 2016
— 2 Comments
Income inequality is the issue that is driving our destiny. Pay attention to the details.
Lately the internet has become full of arguments about the merits and demerits of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Over the past couple weeks, I’ve been discussing and pondering all the various views about this, and I’m increasingly of the opinion that most of the people engaging in this debate don’t really understand what is at stake in the democratic primary. This is in part because many Americans don’t really understand the history of American left wing politics and don’t think about policy issues in a holistic, structural way. So in this post, I want to really dig into what the difference is between Bernie and Hillary and why that difference is extremely important.
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Jonathan Aaron Taylor, 3rd Great-Grandfather
February 11, 2016
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revolutionary pension
My third great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary War. On his pension his rank is listed as Dragoon, which is a name for cavalry soldier. After the war all of the cavalry units were disbanded. His wife Joanna received $50 twice a year from 1836-1850 to compensate for his service. He married at the age of 26 and died in South Carolina at the age of 60.
Jonathan Aaron Taylor (1760 – 1820)
3rd great-grandfather
John Samuel Taylor (1798 – 1873)
son of Jonathan Aaron 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
Jonathan Taylor enlisted in service in Cumberland County, Virginia. He was discharged at Cambridge in South Carolina on June 9, 1781. He was wounded at the Battle of Herrington, N. J., and also was in the Battles of Brandywine and Monmouth in New Jersey. He served under Col. Bailee and Col. William Washington.
revolutionary pension
Biblical Hospitality in Sonoita, Arizona
February 9, 2016
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I took a trip last week with my Swiss visitors to discover nature and culture in southern Arizona. I shopped extensively for the right location to make our headquarters for exploration. I was rewarded for my effort by spending two nights at the Hetrick’s Cozy Wine Country Retreat in Sonoita. It is situated on 16 acres of land with spectacular views in all directions. As with all air bnb listings, the hosts provided everything we needed. They have three cute dogs that have the run of the house, which made me very happy. The dogs are friendly and playful. The large fire David built for us in the evening was a focal point for conversation and some local wine sipping. Our hosts retreated to their offices and gave us the living room for our conversation. The Hetricks provide exactly the amount of privacy the guests desire. They are available for guidance and local knowledge, but allow the guests to use the kitchen, dining room, and beautiful patios of the home to their hearts’ content. We arrived on the two coldest days of the year, so we did not enjoy any patio time. We were very pleased to see the roaring fire in the living room to welcome us.
The Hetricks are involved in a Christian congregation and have a unique viewpoint on hosting. They practice biblical hospitality. They are both proud of this philosophy which honors every guest as a special gift. The home is filled with very tasteful Christian art, including a wall of crosses collected from around the world. There is no attempt to convert or even to discuss religion, but when I brought up the subject they explained their special mission within the hospitality industry. The attitude is palpable. We felt like part of the home, if not related to the family. The labyrinth was the last place we went before we drove home to Tucson. The site is incredibly scenic and moving. To walk the pattern into the middle and back out is symbolic of inner and outer life. The meaning is always personal and takes some contemplation. For me the sunny morning labyrinth meditation was a strong message of spiritual intention. Our trip had been blessed by the practice of biblical hospitality. If you are in Arizona looking for a very good deal on some biblical hospitality do check out Cozy Wine Country Retreat. It is a special place.
fireplace
zorro
Wild West Hospitality in Arizona
February 5, 2016
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I am lucky to have visitors from Switzerland who are interested in Arizona culture and art. I am also interested, but not inclined to get out on the road on my own to seek more than I have right at home. In order to show my friends part of our state and share a couple of days sight seeing with them I booked an air bnb accommodation for us in Sonoita, AZ. It was a perfect central location to explore Santa Cruz and Cochise County. These sky islands are unique habitats that are completely different from Europe. The vast expansive views and the snow on the mountains (it was snowing in Sonoita and Patagonia when we arrived) made this area very attractive for movie makers involved with cowboy flicks. The movie Oklahoma was shot down there in the picturesque grasslands south of Tucson. The Swiss ladies loved the landscape, the little towns and the people. To complete the western experience we drove to Tombstone to see the courthouse museum, the restored part of town, and the specialty shopping only the town too tough to die has to offer.
My friend invited me to go to the comedy gun fight show, something I am sure I would not do on my own. It turned out to be very entertaining and well produced. I enjoyed it and give props to the actors that play the gun slinging characters. They do an excellent job of making it look spontaneous while keeping it safe for everyone. One of the actors is a real Arizona Ranger, which I think is very cool. All of them need a good sense of humor as well as much skill with firearms to do this show. The audience easily gets involved with the action which is slapstick. If you are visiting Tombstone this show will add to your enjoyment of the town. If you still want more gun fights they also do the gunfight at the OK Corral reenactment several times daily. Both are done well, but we already know how the OK Corral ends. The actors walk around town to promote the shows, so if you skip the performances you still get a glimpse of the fine costuming. Everyone is extra friendly because tourism is the only reason Tombstone is so tough. People from all over the world have a good time hanging out there. For an authentic welcome and some very hospitable local color, check out the town too tough to die.
gun fight
gun fight
gallows
Community Spirit, Beer and Yoga
February 1, 2016
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yoga class
art studio
art studio
stout
yoga class
yoga class
yoga class
yoga DJ
yoga DJ
yoga class
I was lucky to find a perfect celebration for my birthday this year. I just discovered my local beer garden, Tucson Hop Shop. I am not a big beer drinker but am enthusiastic about supporting local business and local craft products, including beer. This classy yet casual spot is perfect for our neighborhood, located in the Metal Arts Village, a space for metal artists’ studios. The Hop Shop has developed a following and has instigated new events that bring the community together for fun. My big birthday gift this year (besides Medicare) is a visit from two Swiss ladies on vacation. I have been enjoying showing them around town because they are really open to culture and ready to party. The SyncHOPation event not only happened on my birthday but was walking distance from home.
SyncHOPation
Spiritual Gangster is a team that teaches yoga classes around the city in pop up locations. I have never seen yoga with a DJ before, and now I am a complete fan of the idea. I have taught and taken plenty of yoga classes, with and without music. To have a creative DJ work the class is another level of wonderment. The other aspect of the pop up that can be very popular is beer. The participants in the class at the Hop Shop were presented with a pint of beer when they turned in their class tickets. The $5 fee for both yoga and beer is a screaming deal.
My visitors and I had a fine time meeting people, drinking beer and dancing. The art studios were open, the parking lot was blocked off for the event, and the crowd was in a very good mood. Pizza and popcorn food trucks were serving delicious snacks. We enjoyed both with our beverages. My friend Steffi took the yoga class while Pia and I watched from a table on the patio. We toured the studios, did some dancing to the DJ, then walked home. There could not have been a better way to celebrate. If you like beer I highly recommend a visit to the Tucson Hop Shop. It is the perfect place for a party.
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