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mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

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Lymph and Your Health

June 14, 2013 — 2 Comments

I go regularly to Justine Robbins for lymph drainage treatments. I look at it as boosting my immune system. This little known activity in the body is essential for good health. Understanding how the lymph nodes are connected and what they do might illustrate why this treatment can make a big difference in overall your wellbeing and resiliency. In Europe it is more common to find this kind of therapy because there is generally more knowledge available on the benefits. I am so lucky and happy to have access to supportive care for healing and Justine.

Chiltepin, Mother of All Chiles

June 3, 2013 — 4 Comments

Here in the Sonoran Desert the precious chile tepin grows wild.  It has a distinctive flashy flavor that is desired by many on both sides of the border.  It is said to be the mother of all cultivated chiles.  I have recently replanted some in my garden after loosing some old ones in frosts.  They can live for many years when protected in the winter.  This promotional video from Sonora has chosen to use South American Inca pipe flute music, which has nothing to do with Sonora…but the chile is an emblem of life in desert conditions.  Our natural chile forrest south of town in Tucson is still the largest in the US.

All Souls Tradition in Tucson

June 1, 2013 — 3 Comments


The All Souls Procession each year in Tucson is a community event that takes mass coordination and will now cost more.  Our new trolley system will complicate the planning and add to the expense.  The volunteer organizers work all year to make it better all the time.  In November another new and amazing, creative expression of this tradition will take place downtown.

Steve Miller, Gangster of Love, Ace Contractor

May 31, 2013

The windows in my house leaked badly although the contractor, Tucson Window and Door,  reinstalled them 3 times.  Faulty workmanship is not covered by insurance, and if more than 5 years pass there is no recourse at the registrar of contractors.  I had a big problem that would only become worse if I requested a 4th reinstallation.  I met Steve Miller in my neighborhood while I was walking my dog.  I talked to him in his own front yard about how nice his home looked, and then I saw his truck with his contractor’s license on the side.  I explained my problem and asked him to bid the repair job.

I am extremely pleased with his work because in the process I became aware of other basic problems I needed to correct.  Now my condo walls are actually anchored to my foundation!!!  I am the only one in my neighborhood with a second floor that is no longer blowing in the wind.The stucco job looks excellent, and the way they solved the window problem was brilliant.  I am ready for a rainy season this year with no leaks at all. If you need a construction expert in Tucson who is professional, punctual, and polite, call Steve at SHM Construction.  He is creative and smart about building and materials. His talented sidekick Geraldo does fine work and is lots of fun to have around the house.  I have done many construction projects, and have never worked with such an amiable crew.

Iron Chef Competition Heats Up in Tucson

May 27, 2013

I had the pleasure of spending some time yesterday with Tucson’s Iron Chef, Ryan Clark. His kitchen at Lodge on the Desert pumps out cuisine that is much adored by my highly evolved and somehow still carnivorous partner Bob and me. We are farmers in our own tiny right and both enjoy dining, although we eat at home or carry out from home 98% of the time.  We go to Lodge on the Desert for our special occasion and holiday meals, when we feel particularly festive.

Recently we attended a Slow Food tasting set up for 250 guests to try local wine beer and food.  It was fun for us and did expose us to new places we have tried since the event.  Now Chef Clark is preparing to host twice as many tasters to Lodge on the Desert this Thursday as part of the Iron Chef competition for this year.  The challengers will bring samples and vie for the chance to try to take the title from Chef Clark in July.  The chef with the most votes from the public will be the challenger, so there is a lot at stake.  Stella Artois is the sponsor, so the blonde Belgian beer will flow freely.  The challengers are not too shabby, and chef Ryan exceeds all expectations as a host in my experience.  This $5 tasting will be a happy hour of outstanding opportunities for those who want to find out what is happening in the kitchens of Tucson chefs.

Bird Houses

May 24, 2013 — 4 Comments

Have you ever thought about all the different ways birds design?  What do birds look for in a piece of real estate?  There must be a very wide variety of tastes.  For an exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Garden artists have designed bird spaces from all kinds of materials.  They are for sale.  Birds have so many choices from rustic to modern.  I love all of them, so it is good that I am not a bird.

Gloria and the Virgin of Guadalupe

May 23, 2013 — 2 Comments

I met Gloria on the flight from Chicago to Tucson recently.  I enjoyed her company and invited her to call me.  She is visiting her son who works at the U of A during the week.  She told me she was Catholic and that as a child she walked to mass by herself.  She is now fed up with Vatican politics, and wants the Latin liturgy to return.  I took her yesterday to see Ted DeGrazia’s chapel to the Virgin of Guadalupe.  She had never seen milagros on altars before.  Since I would not be caught dead or alive without some milagros on me, I gave her a tiny jet key from Venezuela to unlock her future. I have more at home, and she had no offering with her.  I explained that our Virgin is pre Christian and that is all right.  She is both Catholic and pre Christian, and we see no conflict with that. She had a good time with this altar and milagro business.  She also enjoyed the art gallery. I always love to go up there, and am happy I had the chance to share it with someone who really found new meaning in an old practice through an ancient design left behind by a great artist.

Slow Food

April 19, 2013 — 3 Comments

Last night was the first food and wine tasting presented by Slow Food in Tucson. I would call it a complete success.

We attended with our friend Sara, who enjoys a tasty bite as much as we do. We arrived early, and set out with a really outstanding Bloody Mary served by Pasco kitchen and lounge. Their urban farm cuisine is totally amazing. We plan to go to brunch there this weekend for more. We tasted our way through the most innovative dishes and drinks put together in one place by the Slow Food people. The live band and the lively crowd of foodists made this a party to treasure in the tastebuds of the mind. I started out to be very precise and document all the flavors and happy moments, and then happiness took over. We ran into old friends and I abandoned the picture taking to just have fun. I am not, gentle reader, a real reporter. I am an enthusiastic and opinionated blogger who loves to taste. I had more wine than beer, but am still of the opinion that the beer is better in Arizona than the wine. The beverages were all worth trying and complimented the food nicely. I came away liking a beer from Dragoon Brewery as my fave new discovery. It is Stronghold Session Ale, with a dark and festive flavor.

The chefs all made amazing bites, and were willing to serve me the plate without meat when it was easy. Chef Ryan Clark, the host chef of the event, served green posole, vegetarian, with the option to add pork. I loved him for that, and think the posole should go on his menu because it is epic. Doug Levy from Feast made mesquite biscuit mini sandwiches that drove me and the whole crowd wild. Everyone was talking about those. He did not mind that we were all snatching more than one. The radishes with mozzarella foam butter from Zona 78 were incredible, as was the grilled radicchio. They brought their farmers with them which was very cute. Acacia served me a plate minus the meat which was fabulous. There was no bad food at all. From my own taste perspective I gave Nancy Taylor, a woman who wrote a book and supports Slow Food with it the best dish award. She served prickly pear. Nopales, prickly pear cactus pads, are delicious, lower the blood sugar of those who eat them, and are virtually free to anyone who wants to go pick cactus. I adore nopales, and have a never ending search for the best recipe featuring them on earth. At the moment Ms Taylor is in first place with her tepary been, chiltepin salad. I will knock this off in my kitchen very soon. The contest will continue, however. Don’t hesitate to contact me, gentle readers, if you have a recipe for nopal. I am open to learning them all.

We discussed our discoveries on the way home in the car. Bob, Sara and all have all discovered new restaurants we want to visit, and been reminded that we are surrounded by talented, caring, creative chefs. This is all very good news.

What Harm Could a Little Charity Scam Do?

April 15, 2013 — 3 Comments

I have lived in my condo for 11 years in central Tucson.  My location next door to a full time charity scam in operation for many years has  ruined quality of life, safety, and property value while  giving the neighbors a dim view of law enforcement. I can think of few crimes ethically and morally lower than taking advantage of the public’s ignorance and sympathy to make a living by claiming falsely to be doing charity.  I have learned that most of the public does not write off tax deductible donations, and therefore may be completely unaware of the laws governing charity and donations.  Sandra Day O’Connor has her work cut out for her in her attempt to teach Americans how government works.

Ignorance is not all bliss for the folks supporting charity scamming over real non profits.   Giving an unreported income to a scam hurts legitimate charities by diverting donations, money and volunteer time to private, criminal (unreported) purposes.  These days when the Food Bank and Salvation Army are scraping to get by, it is especially insulting to compete with community resources by scamming for donations that are never reported.  The laws are in place to protect the public, but there is not much sophistication about the law.  The IRS grants non-profit status to those who prove they are serving the community.  Once the status of 501C3 non profit corporation is obtained strict accounting must be submitted to the IRS to keep the status.  Deciding that you are entitled to collect donations from the public without following any laws that legal charities have to follow is a lot like stealing resources from the victims you claim to help.  If you cash in on sympathy for the homeless without really helping the homeless find shelter or improve their lives your crimes are deeply immoral.  Shelters that are there all the time for them need the donations that are diverted by scammers who decide they are above the law. One of the typical ways scammers approach the public is to donate for holidays.  This one is no different, collecting donations full time to supposedly help someone eat outside in a park on a holiday.  If you give support to anyone, please check to know that your “charity”  reports donations to the IRS and has some oversight.

In Tucson it is easy to live above the law.  We have the 20th worst run city in America, according to some Wall Street Journal poll.  I think the listing was overly flattering to Tucson.  You can openly beg for donations, collect them in a residential condo, then solicit help from the public to prepare food in a residential kitchen to be served outdoors in a park to homeless people. You can break the revenue laws of the US and Arizona, the health code of Pima County, the zoning laws of the city of  Tucson for as many years as you like.  Your neighbors can report your crime to the cops, the city councilwoman, the mayor, the city manger and the IRS.  No response or help will come from the vast numbers of folks who are paid to enforce the law.  They do not see any problem with breaking all these laws to run a charity scam in a residential condo.  Law enforcement is the least of their concern.

Poetry and Plants

April 7, 2013 — 9 Comments

New this year at the Tucson Botanical Gardens is a collaboration with the U of A Poetry Center, bringing poetry to the gardens.  I attended the class next to the iris garden yesterday and was surprised at the depth and education they packed into the experience.  We learned about the Poetry Center’s history and the very good luck we have to live in a city with a center such as this. We learned about the botanical gardens and the history and meaning of the iris plant.  An enthusiastic docent from the Tucson Botanical Gardens opened the readings with a poem of her own about iris and the field of everyday glory we can find in nature.  We then read together a selection of poems, all in some way referring to the iris.  Our favorite reader was dressed like an iris and has a British accent that enhanced her interpretation.  It was an exceptional experience on all levels for me.  I enjoyed the crowd, and had time after the class to get some technical growing advise from the lady who represented the Iris Society.  Poetry and gardens do go together very well.  Next month the group will meet by the cactus garden….a thorny subject.  I am encouraged to use my poetic voice more often, and listen for stunning stories to tell.