mermaidcamp

mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys

Talking About Race

August 10, 2013 — 2 Comments

My tribal sister Rayshay has attended a training offered by the Justice department to teach individuals how to have a conversation about race.  I admire her courage and conviction in stepping up to the plate on this issue.  She lives in Philly, and I live near the Mexican border in Tucson, so we have different perceptions of where we are today.  I am also older, and lived in Texas in 1967-70, when civil rights were a really big deal, not in a good way.  I would not take up this subject on my own.  This is the first time I have responded to a prompt, but I think this discussion is important, so I hope some of my readers will decide to write a piece this week also.

In response to Rayshay’s next question: Where are we now?  Where I live the strong elements of denial and us vs them mentality are damaging our quality of life.  Racism is unfortunately integrated into politics and business.  If you think national politics looks magnetized to the extreme, just take a walk on the wild side down here at the Mexican border of Arizona.

Here in Tucson racism is very likely to be emotionally bound to the border and immigration.  The race/language/culture issues we have are about being Mexican and or Native American in a land once exclusively owned by your ancestors.  Arizona became a state in 1912, so very different from Pennsylvania, one of the 13 colonies.  The border itself is an unnatural place to stop anything or anyone.  A long stretch of the Arizona border is on tribal land, which is a sovereign nation belonging to the people who were undoubtably here first, the Tohono O’odam.  Arizona was part of Mexico; some land ownership in Arizona is documented by Spanish land grant.  Rich mines belonged to the Apache tribes, and there were resources to create a thriving economy. Now we suffer from a water shortage that is unsustainable.  Golf, cows, and general waste of our water has left the southwest in a pickle…literally. The salty groundwater leaves minerals in the ground that eventually make plant growth impossible.  It is late in the game to decide who took what from whom; the resource of water has been depleted for everyone.

Politics in Arizona are tied to race, language, and Mexico.  The school district in Tucson has been ordered to stop teaching a curriculum in ethnic studies.  This complex and emotional issue brought out the worst in everyone.  Some of the books from the program were apparently banned from all the libraries after the closure.  There is bitterness on both sides of this issue.  If public education becomes a reason to bicker, all students loose. Where we are in Arizona is nowhere near the place we need to be for a thriving and honest economy that serves the best interest of society.

Oil and Vinegar

August 9, 2013 — 10 Comments

The classic oil and vinegar combination, used for salad and other dishes, has taken on new epic proportions in Tucson.  Alfonso Gourmet Oil and Balsamics offers a wide variety of super high quality olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  I have used them for over a year and have virtually stopped buying any dressing in a bottle.  I have found additional ways to use both the oils and vinegars,seasoning roasted veggies and even love the vinegars on ice cream and in cocktails.  My list of favorites expands every time I go back to the store.

Tom Alfonso, the gracious owner, recently completed a course followed by a certification exam to become a professional olive oil taster.  He said it was intense, with three days of learning and savoring.  He just found out that he did pass the exam and is now a certified olive oil professional.  I am very pleased he and his wife decided to carry these extraordinary products right next to my bank drive through window, very near my home. It is a fun extravagance that improves our meals every day.  The bottles last for a very long time since  a very small amount produces big flavor results.

The recycle punch card bonus system reminds you to bring the bottle back..then you try a few new items, check out the sales, leaving with a whole new culinary profile with which to play.  Today my new item is a grassy, very green, high note olive oil from Australia.  It is both delicious and unlike any other oil I have tasted.  It is not flavored, but I have recently received a lovely gift of special Australian herbs in a combo box from a friend down under.  This will be an exciting paring with greens, tomatoes and avocado. Freshness spikes the flavor in the olive oil that reduces the need for other seasonings.  I will sauté with it as well as dressing salads.

The ginger blackberry balsamic I refilled today is an ingredient in a cocktail I love to make and drink, the Gas Streak.  The example calls for ginger rice wine vinegar, which I am sure is nice, but the blackberry adds punch and the balsamic is fabulous with the burned sugar taste.  Enjoy!

Benefits of the Garden Arch

August 1, 2013 — 4 Comments

My visit with Michael Ray yesterday was fun and informative. Here he tells us about the benefits of the Nursetree Garden Arch:

I am impressed with his continual learning and improvement of his invention.  I have been through the prototype process with Floatli and know it is both fun and frustrating.  You can only learn through experiment.  I believe Michael has created a wonderful tool desert gardeners will be needing more and more.  A dozen years ago I bought 5 acres in Oracle, AZ with a gushing well, thinking I would grow food. When I sold the property last year the well was almost depleted for household use.  In a way I was lucky I did not plant a big orchard and then loose the water for it.  Today I garden in the city with an eye toward conservation of every kind.  The garden arch is an innovative way to save water and grow food.

Extreme Gardening

July 31, 2013 — 7 Comments

Michael Ray and I met at a small business group that meets at Tucson’s Ward 3 office once a month for a convo.  When I saw the pictures of his invention I wanted one.  After learning more in subsequent meetings, I asked to interview him about his gardening transformer, the Nursetree Arch.  He developed this water catching temperature controlling environment for desert gardeners who have climate challenges.  I love the way he can adapt his new prototype to the situation and economic needs of the particular client.

The fully decked out robotic arch in which Michael is growing papaya as well as brussels sprouts in Tucson on August fist is fancy indeed.  He is recording data to help him refine his work.  His outdoor garden benefits from his arch used as seedling starter in the winter.

Monsoon Color

July 28, 2013 — 6 Comments

The desert when it rains is a magical place full of excitement and drama. All of a sudden the sky opens; great thunder and roaring winds announce monsoon season. Color explodes while plants express gratitude for the long cool drink.  We enjoy the vibrant blooming while it lasts, and pray for more rain.

Mentally Ill Cops

July 18, 2013 — 1 Comment

In Tucson our cops represent themselves very badly. A cop in training went to a gas station wearing a bullet proof vest waving his duty weapon at the clerk. He was looking intoxicated, which he has a right to be..in private…but not in public with the vest and weapon we supplied for this loose cannon.  The TPD asks the public to excuse this little incident and forget another recent cop drunk driving to work event.  Our tax dollars are being spent wisely we are assured.  I don’t know anyone who trusts the TPD in my neighborhood.  I do not like the way they spend my tax dollars.

If the general public has so much mental illness we need to assume that some of the cop population suffers from similar problems.   If we look at evidence we notice that our police in Tucson behave badly. I am not at all pleased to have armed this punk who used his duty weapon to show his alignment with reality. Guns do not kill people…drunk punks dressed in vests certainly might.

Farm to Table Dinner at Zona 78

July 15, 2013

Last night we attended our first farm to table dinner in Tucson. Zona 78 prepared a fresh and exotic menu featuring produce from Sleeping Frog Farms in the San Pedro valley.  Four courses featuring produce were presented, along with a delicious berry cocktail or a glass of wine.  All of our expectations were exceeded, from service, presentation, variety, to innovation.  If you have not tired Zona 78 or Sleeping Frog Farms produce, I highly recommend that you do.  We hope the farm to table dinners will become a regular feature because it is an extraordinary way to dine and expand horizons.  We met cool people and discovered new cuisine, which is exactly our style.

We were pleased and happy to taste and enjoy such creative innovative cuisine.

Culinary Weekend in Tucson

July 7, 2013

This was our first time to attend the Iron Chef Tucson competition that is held at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. We took our dog and spent the night to make a little staycation out of the event. It was  fun, surprisingly popular, and full of variety.  The competition was won for the third year in a row by Ryan Clark.  The trade show and competition brought out all kinds of people interested in cooking and dining.  A good time was had by all, especially the dog, who enjoys hanging out in hotels.

The trade show part of the even included samples, sips, and demos of many kinds of equipment, from knives to fancy stoves.  There were vendors selling Nambe, candy, coffee, and even personal training.  The most interesting thing I learned at the event is that our local food bank operates a culinary school that not only recycles food that would be wasted, but trains low income students to work in the food industry.  This program has allowed the food bank to expand the prepared meals program in the community while training new students.  I am so excited to hear about this.  It has been in existence for 2 years, and this is the first time I have heard of it.  I will follow up with a visit to the school, which is enrolling a new class next week.

One of my favorite vendors who installed a wood burning stove in my home is Val Romero.  He owns Arizona Grill and Hearth.  His company is an excellent source for all things grill, stove, and outdoor kitchen.  My stove is the best upgrade I ever made to my living conditions, and the project was done with the utmost professionalism, and at a good price.  He is a positive person with aloha in his attitude and fair dealing in his spirit.  You will have a good time if you do business with Val.

Tapas Fusion in Tucson

June 15, 2013 — 2 Comments

We are happy to have a tapas restaurant in our neighborhood.  Tapas Fusion is our new favorite place to go for food and cocktail adventure.  We had brunch there last Sunday with good results, so we returned yesterday for happy hour.  Firey Friday features flambé drink specials.  I tried one, and then had a pisco sour, both new to me.

It was a blast. The crew, including the friendly owner Mary Bellin, make you feel welcome.  The happy hour pricing and the all you can eat tapas menu has something for everyone.  I am vegetarian, and Bob is not, so we each ordered small dishes until we were full.  The cuisine has many layers of flavor, with creative garnishes and fresh sauces making each dish pop.  The flavorful variety gives your tastebuds a lot of intrigue for the size of the plates and the total of the bill.  We are huge fans, and will return to try more of the menu.  Mary has a generous frequent diner offer, and she doubles the points on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. For summer the restaurant will be closed on Mondays. She offers the all you can eat tapas menu every day, and it includes a lot of choices.  Additional menu items are available a la carte.  So far, we liked everything we ordered…a lot!!

Cancer and the Lymphatic System

June 15, 2013 — 3 Comments

People who undergo cancer treatments or surgery often suffer from permanent damage to the lymphatic system. There is a process they can use, combined with movement, to restore the flow of lymph by sending it through new pathways. Justine Robbins has many years of experience working with cancer patients as a lymphatic drainage therapist. She wishes more people had more knowledge, especially those who have cancer and lymphoma. It is very common to overlook this gentle treatment while the patient suffers great pain from swelling. Justine explains why this simple technique can provide relief and healing for many who do not know it exists.  Supportive Care for Healing at the U of A Cancer Center offers this treatment at a very reasonable price.