mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Dealing with Dread
May 4, 2015
— 7 Comments
On the Office Floor
Fear has many aspects. Reasonable fear keeps us safe and alert to danger around us. We must learn to strike a balance between risking too much and avoiding life to stay safe. Frightening situations call on the adrenal glands to kick in the fuel needed to either fight or flight. If we tax those little glands too much with our lifestyle choices they can become depleted and add to an over all loss of well being. Some people face danger in their professions, but the rest of us can generally avoid it. Strong healthy bodies with well nourished nervous systems can endure some stress and fear without harm. In reasonable doses we can handle scary aspects of existence.
Dread is quite another matter. I am under a dark cloud of dread now because my darling dog is having end of life issues. She is 12 years old, so this is not a big surprise. Her kidneys are failing in slow motion. She has been to her vet for antibiotics frequently in the last 6 months because she has a recurring infection in her urinary tract. She has been able to recover from these bouts, but not come back to the same level of health. She has less ability to find comfort and move with ease. She no longer jumps up on our bed, and has difficulty jumping into my car. The thrill of riding has been replaced by a fear of getting into the back seat. Since she can’t tell us in words about her level of pain I am wondering.
We cared for my mother at the end of her life. That was a tough time in terms of patience and understanding. It was similar in that we knew she was at the end of her life, but had no idea how long the end might take. Now that Artemisia the magical huntress will soon go to join her grandma I remember how difficult it was to wait and wonder when death would come. Dread is not depression, and it is not regular fear. It is a test. For an unknown time it is necessary to walk the tightrope between sorrow and acceptance. The inability to control or stop events in progress is a hard pill to swallow. It is bittersweet. This lovely dog has brought much joy to the world which will remain with us after she leaves.
Summer Spa
May 3, 2015
— 7 Comments
hibiscus
There are beautiful facilities with amazingly talented staff members designed to deliver health and fitness retreats. Destination spas, hot spring thermal spas, or spas within hotels provide environments conducive to relaxation for time spent away from home. Time spent breaking undesirable habits or simply reducing stress for a happier healthier outlook is valuable. It is wonderful to find both time and funds to concentrate on body and mind. The test of healthy resolve occurs when we are once again in our normal day to day setting. This summer I plan to stay home in Tucson. Rather than lament these circumstances I have decided to create summer spa, the staycation that cures what ails you. The trick to good health is balance and reasonable discipline. I can’t spare the time to leave home, but I can arrange my schedule to make daily, weekly and monthly health goals part of my routine.
- Calculate- Using the Fitbit program I will log food, water, sleep and exercise
- Donate- Fill a large bag of unwanted items to give to charity monthly
- Juice Bar- Monday-Thursday make and drink fresh juice and avoid alcohol
- Body Work- Shiatsu, acupuncture, or lymphatic drainage at least once a week
- Fitness Shuffle-Attempt a new class or active experience twice a month
- At the gym-Daily aerobic activity derived from equipment use or swimming laps
First and foremost my plan for better health will include daily time for art. Poetry writing and creating visual art satisfy a need I have to express myself. I notice that when I am absorbed in thinking about art or music I live in an elevated state. Artfulness gives me great pleasure. I am at my best when I reserve time to appreciate the work of others and be inspired to create something myself. I include cooking in the list of my creative hobbies. It works well for me to shift my attention to new healthy ways to prepare food. The pleasure involved in mixing flavors and savoring the finished meal is essential to my well being. I can add a colorful and delightful juice bar rather than consider giving up alcohol. In the end it is only the sustainable habits that will make a difference. Too much repression or strict diet can make the mind recoil from the entire business. It is best to have a plan, build your foundation, and be a little flexible to account for real life.
What kind of summer are you going to have, gentle reader? Do you include health as a goal when making your plans?
reflection in my pool
Ancestry Fans on Facebook
May 1, 2015
— 9 Comments
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- handshake grave marker
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- Abner Morse grave
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- handshake grave marker
During the exciting and educational April #NaPoWriMo I managed to kick out 30 poems in 30 days. I will follow the poets I met because they make my days richer with only short bursts of time invested. I can read a poem for a minute or two and ponder it forever. I love the community that develops around the special poetry writing month and plan to keep my connection to it. I have learned that the process of writing poems is therapeutic . While engaged in poetic efforts I happened to digitally meet new people who are as interesting to me as the poets. Much to my surprise, my niche geek group, family history freaks, is alive and meeting regularly to share data and support.
This new group found me, or I found it on Facebook. New England Family Genealogy and History is a special interest group for those of us who study these subjects. I am delighted to find people as obsessed with history as I am. Some of them still carry the Mayflower pilgrim family names. There have been wonderful pictures and stories posted in which I have identified members as having common ancestors. This is a full time party of like minded genealogy freaks I can join on line any time. Be still my heart! People who have much more direct information and verification are there to help anyone with inquiries. The first ancestor I found I had in common with other members was my famous poet, Ann Dudley Bradstreet, who may be my favorite ancestor of all. In a few weeks I have met others with whom I share different progenitors. A recent discussion revealed that others share perhaps Native ancestry. Like me, few can definitively prove a connection to a tribe.
Some of the active participants are professional genealogists or family archivists of large collections. Plenty are DAR and Mayflower Society members. Many live in New England now and are connected to local societies for the preservation of everything under the sun. I enjoy learning about some of the old buildings that have stayed in family hands for hundreds of years. I feel a tinge of jealousy when they go off to Providence to a genealogy convention for the weekend. Then I remember that to live in New England one must endure snow and other unpleasantries. I may return to Cape Cod and Rhode Island on a history hunt one day. For now I am very pleased to be in touch with history fans who share interest, passion, and loads of information about New England and the people who have lived there. I can digitally visit every day. You can too if New England History is an interest of yours.
Poet Hollow
April 30, 2015
— 1 Comment
orchid
Woods dripping with Spanish moss and voodoo shrines
Down the hill from the oracle cave the hermit still declines
To give you the secret magic word you use to save the day
Find the sorcerer’s manuscripts then interpret what they say
Squandered youth, wild stormy stories, hidden truth of night
Dreams bring colorful vibrant myths, strong psychic insight
The realm inhabited by poetry and poets, invisible to some
Portrays life more intensely, gives clues to why we have come
flora
NaPoWriMo 2015
It has been a real privilege to inhabit the place of the poets this April. Thanks to all who contributed and read.
Positively Charged
April 29, 2015
— 5 Comments
leap
Ancestral chieftain ritually bound to honor natural forces
Protect the seasons, the directions, the winds over the seas
Passing that mastery to students of physical magical realms
Thunderous laughter is carried and amplified on the breeze
Followed by flashing bolts of lightening, blinding light overwhelms
NaPoWriMo 2015
Read, write, recite poetry this April. Meet new poets to enjoy here.
Truth by Mother Goose
April 28, 2015
— 7 Comments
field of sunflowers
Early years fill with nursery rhymes, stories designed to teach
Suspended between fictional characters dialog is made to preach
Current popular opinion, political outrage hidden between the lines
The villain and the hero match wits whilst the wicked witch opines
These morality plays change very little with the passage of time
Forces of good conquer evil and the story is set to rhyme
When you meet a character who comes straight from Mother Goose
You have discovered archetypal imagery that will help you to deduce
If you are the victim or the hero, the popular victor or the slimy creep
We all have parts to play, ego hiding under shadowy cover of sleep
field of sunflowers
NaPoWriMo 2015
The poetry train has almost arrived at the destination…May. Hop aboard for a poetic ride here.
Oil Field Orphans
April 27, 2015
— 5 Comments
Ruby and Her SistersThe Taylor sisters of Humble, Texas met tragedy early in life
Their mother died in childbirth leaving ten children in grief and strife
Their father rode a black horse around the oil field reading gauges
Recording the data from each well in production for very low wages
When their father killed himself at home he was discovered by his son
Who was only 5 years old. The deed could never be undone.
They had no preparation or reserves for this sudden change
Suicide had swept away home and security, memories forever stained
NaPoWriMo 2015
Poetry is the sport of the month in April. Please indulge yourself in all kinds of poetry here.
Electing Apathy
April 26, 2015
— 4 Comments
Thorny issues
The candidates align on left and right with eager well lit faces
Chirping sound bites with sincere well tested spinning phrases
They will sprawl all over the airwaves, call your home and send mail
Proclaiming vague tattered arguments that strike everyone as stale
We will resume campaigns for presidential power through bribery
Lavish spending on election shenanigans supports the corrupt dynasty
To protect yourself from Republicans and Democrats you must be firm
Political parties spend like sailors spreading untruths to make you squirm
As they trot out their make up and their speeches, reject the fallacious
Look at the images they are projecting and recognize the mendacious
After the spending and insincere rhetoric we elect the same jerks
As if nobody has been paying attention to the way this all works
NaPoWriMo 2015
Enjoy poetry this month here. Take time to read and write some poems in April.
Thistles for Dinner
April 25, 2015
— 3 Comments
globe artichoke
I ate my first artichoke in New Orleans in the French Quarter
I was a teenager on the town at Antoine’s, an establishment so fine
It arrived looking exotic, next to a giant bowl of melted butter
I was instructed in the art of thistle consumption, then treated to a sip of wine
I don’t remember the rest of the menu or what else we ate for supper
I decided to adopt flower tasting as a permanent feature of my lifestyle design
globe artichoke
My parents didn’t bother with the labor intensive green gourmet delight
I liked the way it revealed itself, required each leaf to be a separate bite
I have a vivid memory of the atmosphere and the formal setting we had
It was fun to discover a dish I loved to eat, with the bonus that it irritated my dad
globe artichoke
NaPoWriMo 2015
Poetry of all kinds can be found to read and enjoy during the month of April. Ride the poetry train here.
Spylight
April 24, 2015
— 3 Comments
skeleton
Windows of stained glass, gothic arches reaching down from heaven
Contain secret hiding places from which to see the world in procession
Between clouds and stars light years have passed uncounted, forgotten
Pathways of comets, trails of meteors falling to earth, and fools misbegotten
Bright illumination shines through the veils, the curtain, and the hidden door
While multitudes enrolled in rival schools of thought collapse into war
Youth, athletic performance, strength have become the peak obsession,
Playing games is a metaphor when competition is the prize possession
NaPoWriMo 2015
Poets and poetry are celebrated during the month of April here. Enjoy reading writing and reciting!!!
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