It's been a few months since I've blogged, and so much has happened! I do have to apologize for the lack of writing on my part. Between my personal life, and Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake things have gotten crazy. I plan on updating further in the future, however, this site is going to go through some changes in the coming weeks.
As opposed to using this as my personal blog, we are going to start using this site as our actual webpage for Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake. I will be moderating it and writing as usual, but you will find more information on our bookings, events, offers, specials, and of course my sister company "Oh My Shells". Keep your fins crossed and eyes peeled. New fin-tastic things are on the horizon for Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Not like the other mers...
I have to say, it always makes me incredibly happy to hear from fans and to get feedback on what I do. I had a special experience I wanted to blog about separately that happened at the Dragon Fyre Faire. While shopping in the rain (really, the best time for mermaids to shop) I was browsing in a booth and the lovely woman who ran the booth (you know who you are!) stopped to talk to me for a little while. She had mentioned that her daughter had met me at the Utah Renaissance Faire and fell in love with mermaids. I knew she had met me specifically as she recounted that her daughter told her that if she dreamed and believed and wished very hard when she grew up that she could be a mermaid too! (This is something I often tell kids when I give them a mermaid treasure.) It was so wonderful to hear from this mom that her little girl kept wishing and assuring her that she would be a mermaid when she grows up. She also told me that she was thrilled that her daughter had someone to look up to that wasn't your typical celebrity or model type. That moment really validated what I do. I get lots of great feedback, but it meant a lot to me to hear that others can look to me for inspiration because I'm not like the other girls. And I pride myself on that. Part of the reason that I'm doing the MerPalooza pageant is because I want to show that you can compete with girls that are models and that no matter who you are, what you look like, or what your dress size is that you too can be beautiful and perfect and achieve your dreams!
So here's a promise. If I win the MerPalooza pageant either as Mrs. MerPalooza (or whatever the division title will be) or if I win the International Mermaid Queen title (wouldn't that be a dream come true!) I promise to use that title and status to remind everyone to believe in themselves and reach for their dreams. And to make as many appearances, blog posts, picture updates, etc to promote that idea. Along with that I will also continue my volunteer and charity work, something that I feel is very important because I think that every child should experience magic. I also promise to continue blogging and promoting positive self-image and reminding everyone that no shape or size determines your dreams!
So here's a promise. If I win the MerPalooza pageant either as Mrs. MerPalooza (or whatever the division title will be) or if I win the International Mermaid Queen title (wouldn't that be a dream come true!) I promise to use that title and status to remind everyone to believe in themselves and reach for their dreams. And to make as many appearances, blog posts, picture updates, etc to promote that idea. Along with that I will also continue my volunteer and charity work, something that I feel is very important because I think that every child should experience magic. I also promise to continue blogging and promoting positive self-image and reminding everyone that no shape or size determines your dreams!
Dragon Fyre Faire
I am finally unpacked and my apartment is put back together after a phenomenal weekend at the Dragon Fyre Faire in Soda Springs. I came back with some beautiful souvenirs, including an even darker tan and a couple of sunburns and plenty of stories to share!
First off I want to thank everyone for having us there! It was such a wonderful weekend! Thanks to all the organizers and individuals that provided us with motel lodgings when our tent leaked, knights in shining armor to lift and carry us, wonderful food, help in and out of our tails (mine specifically), keeping us hydrated, and of course camaraderie we wouldn't trade for the world! I truly felt like everyone was family, and I cannot wait for the faire next year.
The Fourth of July parade was amazing. I was actually surprised at how many people lined the streets! Soda Springs is a fairly small town, but the place was packed with people. It always makes my day to hear people shout, "A mermaid! Oh my gosh! Do you see the mermaids? Look! Real mermaids!" There was so much excitement and energy from the crowd that we nearly forgot about how hot and sore we were! Our poor tails were dying by the end (and by tails, I really mean toes) and we were sweating but it was so worth it! And what a blast to ride on the float....especially the ride after the parade to the faire site! We were all talking about how it was a little scary to hold on for dear life as we rode the mile or so on the float to the site. I think poor King Henry was a little pale afterward! After that ride, I went back to the city park to sit out on the grass, entertain some darling kids, and watch the ACL (Armored Combat League) battle it out. In fact, one darling little girl brought me over some pink beads as a present. She bashfully gave me the necklace and said, "I want you to have it!" It was so sweet. The kids could hardly believe their eyes at the sight of a real mermaid. I was asked lots of questions about where I came from and why I was there. The rest of the day was spent setting up, and then we had a soft opening in the afternoon. I think that the most relaxing part of the day was (finally!) being thrown into the cold pool. We had access to city or well water that was delightfully cold! We also found out that there were lots of gophers....and we're lucky none of them tried to use the hole that was in the middle of our pool. They would have been in for an awful surprise! That evening we were given some beautiful ribbon circlets by a little girl whose family was camped next to us. She also came by the next day to make oceans in a bottle with us, and even helped us out by bringing water bottles and shoes to the pool's edge. That night we watched some of the most beautiful fireworks, and it was the perfect end to the day.
Friday started out perfectly. Sun shining, pool filled, a light breeze. It was also the first day that we did our stage shows. I told the story of how I came to land, and what kind of mermaid I am. (I will post it at a later date.) Followed by some singing. First of all, thank heavens I got my voice back to sing! I'm not 100% yet, but I was able to perform, and that's all that matters! The delightful knights lifted me to the stage and I sang and told stories with Nikki. The second performance of the day was a little set up with the pirates! The scallywags kidnapped me from my cool lagoon, put me on the stage, and forced me to sing and tell stories at swordpoint! Of course, many mermaid curses were said! (Son of a Fish!, You blubbering barnacle!, etc.) It went well with the audiences, although one of our darling little fans (her name was Allison) thought it was a little too real. Her mother told us she was so worried when I was captured, and was crying and saying thinks like, "Ouch Fishie! No Fishie! Give Fishie back!" After everything was said and done, I had to assure her I was okay. Later that afternoon a large thunderstorm rolled in. And our poor tent simply couldn't handle the rain and was leaking at the seams. Luckily the faire owners were kind and put us up for the night. It was probably one of the heaviest rainfalls I've been in (with the exception of Florida). Just being out in the rain for a few minutes drenched me!
Saturday was much of the same, shows and patrons and excitement. The best part of the day was transforming Tangl into a mermaid and then doing our story show with her in the evening. She made a delightful mer! Although, on stage we had to keep her from singing Barnacle Bill and telling some of her less-than-family-friendly fish stories! That day cute little Allison ran to me (and away from her parents!) yelling: "Fishie! Fishie!" Apparently that day I was the draw for her to take a bath and put her shoes on. Her parents just said, "You have to be clean to see the mermaids!" and "You need to put on your pretty dress and shoes to go see the mermaids!"
I think I will finish the blog with lots of pictures, as pictures are worth at least a thousand words (so there's at least 8,000 words here)!
First off I want to thank everyone for having us there! It was such a wonderful weekend! Thanks to all the organizers and individuals that provided us with motel lodgings when our tent leaked, knights in shining armor to lift and carry us, wonderful food, help in and out of our tails (mine specifically), keeping us hydrated, and of course camaraderie we wouldn't trade for the world! I truly felt like everyone was family, and I cannot wait for the faire next year.
The Fourth of July parade was amazing. I was actually surprised at how many people lined the streets! Soda Springs is a fairly small town, but the place was packed with people. It always makes my day to hear people shout, "A mermaid! Oh my gosh! Do you see the mermaids? Look! Real mermaids!" There was so much excitement and energy from the crowd that we nearly forgot about how hot and sore we were! Our poor tails were dying by the end (and by tails, I really mean toes) and we were sweating but it was so worth it! And what a blast to ride on the float....especially the ride after the parade to the faire site! We were all talking about how it was a little scary to hold on for dear life as we rode the mile or so on the float to the site. I think poor King Henry was a little pale afterward! After that ride, I went back to the city park to sit out on the grass, entertain some darling kids, and watch the ACL (Armored Combat League) battle it out. In fact, one darling little girl brought me over some pink beads as a present. She bashfully gave me the necklace and said, "I want you to have it!" It was so sweet. The kids could hardly believe their eyes at the sight of a real mermaid. I was asked lots of questions about where I came from and why I was there. The rest of the day was spent setting up, and then we had a soft opening in the afternoon. I think that the most relaxing part of the day was (finally!) being thrown into the cold pool. We had access to city or well water that was delightfully cold! We also found out that there were lots of gophers....and we're lucky none of them tried to use the hole that was in the middle of our pool. They would have been in for an awful surprise! That evening we were given some beautiful ribbon circlets by a little girl whose family was camped next to us. She also came by the next day to make oceans in a bottle with us, and even helped us out by bringing water bottles and shoes to the pool's edge. That night we watched some of the most beautiful fireworks, and it was the perfect end to the day.
Friday started out perfectly. Sun shining, pool filled, a light breeze. It was also the first day that we did our stage shows. I told the story of how I came to land, and what kind of mermaid I am. (I will post it at a later date.) Followed by some singing. First of all, thank heavens I got my voice back to sing! I'm not 100% yet, but I was able to perform, and that's all that matters! The delightful knights lifted me to the stage and I sang and told stories with Nikki. The second performance of the day was a little set up with the pirates! The scallywags kidnapped me from my cool lagoon, put me on the stage, and forced me to sing and tell stories at swordpoint! Of course, many mermaid curses were said! (Son of a Fish!, You blubbering barnacle!, etc.) It went well with the audiences, although one of our darling little fans (her name was Allison) thought it was a little too real. Her mother told us she was so worried when I was captured, and was crying and saying thinks like, "Ouch Fishie! No Fishie! Give Fishie back!" After everything was said and done, I had to assure her I was okay. Later that afternoon a large thunderstorm rolled in. And our poor tent simply couldn't handle the rain and was leaking at the seams. Luckily the faire owners were kind and put us up for the night. It was probably one of the heaviest rainfalls I've been in (with the exception of Florida). Just being out in the rain for a few minutes drenched me!
Saturday was much of the same, shows and patrons and excitement. The best part of the day was transforming Tangl into a mermaid and then doing our story show with her in the evening. She made a delightful mer! Although, on stage we had to keep her from singing Barnacle Bill and telling some of her less-than-family-friendly fish stories! That day cute little Allison ran to me (and away from her parents!) yelling: "Fishie! Fishie!" Apparently that day I was the draw for her to take a bath and put her shoes on. Her parents just said, "You have to be clean to see the mermaids!" and "You need to put on your pretty dress and shoes to go see the mermaids!"
I think I will finish the blog with lots of pictures, as pictures are worth at least a thousand words (so there's at least 8,000 words here)!
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| Me (and my pet seahorse) lounging in the pool. |
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| Our table of wares. |
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| The mermaid grotto. You can see the pool to the right. |
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| Tangl, Nikki, and myself in the pool. |
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| Nikki, and if you look closely you can see the pirate ship (and the storm!) |
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| SeaQueen Janelle, busy crafting as usual! |
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| This isn't my best facial expression, but here's us telling fish tales on the stage. |
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| Seahorse kisses! |
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Ocean Blessings
I woke up at about 2 this morning shaking uncontrollably. I felt weak and extremely hungry. Usually when this happens I take out my glucometer, test my blood sugars, and proceed to go pump my body with sugar before going back to bed. If you didn't know already, I'm a type 1 diabetic. Type 1 diabetes is the "juvenile" form. It's an autoimmune disease where my body no longer produces insulin, so I have to inject myself with insulin upwards of 4 times a day. I don't usually talk about it, mostly because it doesn't fit so well with my mermaid image (seriously, what kind of mermaid pulls a needle from her shells and sticks it in her arm?!), but I feel like it's important to blog about it today. Being diagnosed with diabetes changed my life, for the better and for the worse. Coming so close to death reminds you of how short your life is, and truly forces you to live it to the fullest. Without my diagnosis, I probably wouldn't have followed my dreams to becoming a real mermaid. But, I digress........So this morning I wake up shaking uncontrollably. When I looked at the number on my glucometer I had to double check, blink, and test again. My sugars had dropped to a mere 38. Now for those of you that are unfamiliar with how blood sugars work here's a little blood sugar 101 for you. A normal person ranges from 70-120 (ish). High blood sugars are upwards of 120 for normal people, although mine have gotten as high as 700. Low blood sugars are anything below 70 (70 is a normal fasting blood sugar). You can go into a coma if it goes below 40 (and sometimes, you won't wake up). So you can imagine my panic as the meter read 38. I'm lucky I woke up. Last night I came within minutes from slipping into a hypoglycemic coma.
So, why am I telling you this? I'm telling you this because I feel that it's necessary to tell the over 2,000 of you that have been reading this just how blessed I am. I feel it's more important than updating about any event or swimming session or mermaid experience. Too often I have taken these amazing gifts for granted. So here I am, publicly expressing my gratitude for everything in my life. It's a long list, and I know I won't get to everything, but here's a start (and in no order, really).
I have to be the luckiest mermaid in the world. I have a beautiful apartment, filled to the brim with mermaid treasures, mostly from an adoring husband who spoils me. I also have the best family in the world. Including a wonderfully supportive sister, Janelle who is responsible for pushing me to achieve my goals as an artist, and helping me with all my costuming/pictures/business/accessories etc. I'm also so lucky to have a wonderful and supportive network of friends, especially friends that I consider family (you know who you are!). I have been blessed with good health (aside from the above mentioned, of course) and energy. I'm one of the few lucky girls to not just live my dream as a mermaid, but be able to own a beautiful silicone tail, with all the trimmings. I've been blessed to be as talented as I am. I don't mean to sound pompous, but I truly feel it's a blessing that I'm able to perform and swim in my prosthetic it's a talent that not all have or could do, and I am so lucky to be able to have the physical and mental capacity to do it.
I'm also so blessed to have been given so many opportunities to perform and be able to share magic with others. I honestly cannot believe how many opportunities I have been given in the last year. In the past few months I have had some kind of mermaid event, performance, booking, photoshoot, etc. every weekend. While it has been crazy to prepare for that, I've also had the most wonderful experiences of my life. I'm also extremely grateful to have found a regular client and friend. I'm teaching my newest client and good friend, Gary, how to swim as a merman, and we've had so many great adventures and he has been so helpful in sharing my business and helping provide extra opportunities to perform. I was also blessed with my pagan friends helping me so much by allowing me to perform at their various festivals and booths. Crone's Hollow's Fairy Festival was a wonderful and fun opportunity for me, and Daniel Cureton of the Salt Lake Pagan Society allowed me to share their space (and parade space) at the Utah Pride Festival. On top of that I have been invited to perform at a few renaissance faires, one of which is in a little over a week. The Dragon Fyre Faire located in Soda Springs Idaho (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dragon-Fyre-Faire/531264566918146?fref=ts) has invited me to participate in their festivities, parade, and evening shows. They are treating us like mermaid royalty, providing us people to lift and carry us, food, booth space, and so much more. And there's another blessing in and of itself. I feel so blessed to have people willing to help me out when I perform. It's difficult having bound legs, and it's amazing how willing people are (and complete strangers too) to just lend you a fin.
I wanted to leave you with some pictures from the Crone's Hollow Fairy Festival since I haven't sooner.
So, why am I telling you this? I'm telling you this because I feel that it's necessary to tell the over 2,000 of you that have been reading this just how blessed I am. I feel it's more important than updating about any event or swimming session or mermaid experience. Too often I have taken these amazing gifts for granted. So here I am, publicly expressing my gratitude for everything in my life. It's a long list, and I know I won't get to everything, but here's a start (and in no order, really).
I have to be the luckiest mermaid in the world. I have a beautiful apartment, filled to the brim with mermaid treasures, mostly from an adoring husband who spoils me. I also have the best family in the world. Including a wonderfully supportive sister, Janelle who is responsible for pushing me to achieve my goals as an artist, and helping me with all my costuming/pictures/business/accessories etc. I'm also so lucky to have a wonderful and supportive network of friends, especially friends that I consider family (you know who you are!). I have been blessed with good health (aside from the above mentioned, of course) and energy. I'm one of the few lucky girls to not just live my dream as a mermaid, but be able to own a beautiful silicone tail, with all the trimmings. I've been blessed to be as talented as I am. I don't mean to sound pompous, but I truly feel it's a blessing that I'm able to perform and swim in my prosthetic it's a talent that not all have or could do, and I am so lucky to be able to have the physical and mental capacity to do it.
I'm also so blessed to have been given so many opportunities to perform and be able to share magic with others. I honestly cannot believe how many opportunities I have been given in the last year. In the past few months I have had some kind of mermaid event, performance, booking, photoshoot, etc. every weekend. While it has been crazy to prepare for that, I've also had the most wonderful experiences of my life. I'm also extremely grateful to have found a regular client and friend. I'm teaching my newest client and good friend, Gary, how to swim as a merman, and we've had so many great adventures and he has been so helpful in sharing my business and helping provide extra opportunities to perform. I was also blessed with my pagan friends helping me so much by allowing me to perform at their various festivals and booths. Crone's Hollow's Fairy Festival was a wonderful and fun opportunity for me, and Daniel Cureton of the Salt Lake Pagan Society allowed me to share their space (and parade space) at the Utah Pride Festival. On top of that I have been invited to perform at a few renaissance faires, one of which is in a little over a week. The Dragon Fyre Faire located in Soda Springs Idaho (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dragon-Fyre-Faire/531264566918146?fref=ts) has invited me to participate in their festivities, parade, and evening shows. They are treating us like mermaid royalty, providing us people to lift and carry us, food, booth space, and so much more. And there's another blessing in and of itself. I feel so blessed to have people willing to help me out when I perform. It's difficult having bound legs, and it's amazing how willing people are (and complete strangers too) to just lend you a fin.
I wanted to leave you with some pictures from the Crone's Hollow Fairy Festival since I haven't sooner.
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| Happy Splashes! |
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| Janelle and Dottie at our booth. |
Monday, June 10, 2013
Mermaids for Equal Rights!
Let me start this post by saying that it's rated PG-13. Now that I've made that disclaimer, I can move on to what I actually wanted to write about.....
I had a FABULOUS weekend! I spent most of it participating at the Utah Pride Festival. In my tail of course! I was actually asked by a very good friend to work and perform at his booth and then march in the parade with them. And it was an AMAZING experience! I met so many wonderful and amazing people from all walks of life. Lately I've been listening to a Lupe Fiasco song that fits how I feel about the entire situation. It's called "Words I Never Said". The entire song is about standing up for what you believe in and making a difference by speaking out. I've been spending a lot of time being so "kid friendly" that I haven't been participating in these types of events for fear that it would harm my client base. Now I can honestly say that I don't give a damn. It's important for everyone to know that first off I am a Pagan mermaid, democrat, free-thinker, and I believe in equality FOR EVERYONE. I don't care if you are straight or gay, male or female, fat or thin, Christian or Pagan or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish or whatever you find faith in....the list goes on and on......we ALL deserve happiness and equality. Period. If you feel like you deserve happiness and freedom, then you should also know that ANYONE AND EVERYONE deserves the same rights you have. So here's me on my little soapbox. This is what I believe in. Every mermaid has a cause. A lot are into supporting the ocean and the environment, which is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but be warned that this mermaid's focus is on equality and people. I am here to prove that your dreams are achievable no matter who you are or what you look like and that no one can take that from you. I also want to show support for all walks of life. Your life is yours to live, and only you know how to live it best. No matter who you are, never forget that. And remember that what's right for you, isn't necessarily right for someone else and vice versa. You will most likely start seeing me at various festivals, protests, etc (in my tail, usually) promoting not only the business aspect of what I do, but also proving that magic is real and that everyone deserves the same rights that I have, and that everyone can achieve their dreams.
Which reminds me.....you'll probably start seeing Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake and the rest of my mermaid endeavors start to transform a little bit. We're a small business, so the first couple of years is always growth and change, and it's time for us to start changing a bit. While we will always maintain a kid friendly image when it comes to private parties and functions, you will also start seeing us branch out into the adult world a little bit more. We will start offering services for adults (mermaid transformations, products, parties, fortune telling, etc.), and start participating in more causes, whether they be kid friendly (like some of the festivals we have attended) or aimed more toward an adult audience (like the Utah Pride Festival). We may even change our name or start up a new page, to be determined. Same mermaids different packaging. I want this business to encompass more than just birthday parties for kids. We are so much more talented than just performing at the occasional party, and we have had a lot of successes with some of our other endeavors as well.
Speaking of talents, I wanted to write a little about what I actually DID at the Pride Festival. One of the many talents that I have as a mermaid is that, simply put, I'm psychic. I've been that way all my life. A couple of years ago, I actually did tarot and energy readings on a regular basis to support my income and help out a few friends that owned metaphysical and pagan shops around the valley. So I spent all Saturday evening doing mystic mermaid readings. It's always nice to have feedback, especially when multiple people are coming back to you with friends, exclaiming that you "blew their mind". What was better, was being able to actually help people with some serious problems that they have had. I'm not allowed to talk about what I read (it's an oath I took to maintain privacy) here, but I can tell you that so many people desperately needed help. And I realized why I originally started doing readings so many years ago! I feel that I am so very blessed in my life, and I do so love sharing my blessings with others.
So now I would like to do some of that sharing with all of you fabulous readers! If you're reading this and want a *free* online or telephone reading here's what you need to do:
1. Make sure you've *Liked* Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake
2. Send me an email (mermaidleiloni@gmail.com) with your name, age, question, and a few details about the nature of your question. Also include your preferred method of contact. Telephone readings will be limited to 10 minutes.
3. Follow this blog and comment below letting me know you've sent your email!
4. Please note that I'll be giving away Mystic Mermaid Readings to the first 10 people to comment!
So this particular post is getting a bit long, and quite frankly, my fins are a little tired after standing on that soapbox! But I felt after this event that it's important for me to share not only my beliefs and what I will stand up for, but some of my talents as well. I can't wait to hear from some of you!
I had a FABULOUS weekend! I spent most of it participating at the Utah Pride Festival. In my tail of course! I was actually asked by a very good friend to work and perform at his booth and then march in the parade with them. And it was an AMAZING experience! I met so many wonderful and amazing people from all walks of life. Lately I've been listening to a Lupe Fiasco song that fits how I feel about the entire situation. It's called "Words I Never Said". The entire song is about standing up for what you believe in and making a difference by speaking out. I've been spending a lot of time being so "kid friendly" that I haven't been participating in these types of events for fear that it would harm my client base. Now I can honestly say that I don't give a damn. It's important for everyone to know that first off I am a Pagan mermaid, democrat, free-thinker, and I believe in equality FOR EVERYONE. I don't care if you are straight or gay, male or female, fat or thin, Christian or Pagan or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish or whatever you find faith in....the list goes on and on......we ALL deserve happiness and equality. Period. If you feel like you deserve happiness and freedom, then you should also know that ANYONE AND EVERYONE deserves the same rights you have. So here's me on my little soapbox. This is what I believe in. Every mermaid has a cause. A lot are into supporting the ocean and the environment, which is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but be warned that this mermaid's focus is on equality and people. I am here to prove that your dreams are achievable no matter who you are or what you look like and that no one can take that from you. I also want to show support for all walks of life. Your life is yours to live, and only you know how to live it best. No matter who you are, never forget that. And remember that what's right for you, isn't necessarily right for someone else and vice versa. You will most likely start seeing me at various festivals, protests, etc (in my tail, usually) promoting not only the business aspect of what I do, but also proving that magic is real and that everyone deserves the same rights that I have, and that everyone can achieve their dreams.
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| Here's the mermaid with the Salt Lake Pagan Society! Thanks to Baron Daniel Cureton for the invite and for letting me march (er, wheel) with them in the parade! |
Which reminds me.....you'll probably start seeing Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake and the rest of my mermaid endeavors start to transform a little bit. We're a small business, so the first couple of years is always growth and change, and it's time for us to start changing a bit. While we will always maintain a kid friendly image when it comes to private parties and functions, you will also start seeing us branch out into the adult world a little bit more. We will start offering services for adults (mermaid transformations, products, parties, fortune telling, etc.), and start participating in more causes, whether they be kid friendly (like some of the festivals we have attended) or aimed more toward an adult audience (like the Utah Pride Festival). We may even change our name or start up a new page, to be determined. Same mermaids different packaging. I want this business to encompass more than just birthday parties for kids. We are so much more talented than just performing at the occasional party, and we have had a lot of successes with some of our other endeavors as well.
Speaking of talents, I wanted to write a little about what I actually DID at the Pride Festival. One of the many talents that I have as a mermaid is that, simply put, I'm psychic. I've been that way all my life. A couple of years ago, I actually did tarot and energy readings on a regular basis to support my income and help out a few friends that owned metaphysical and pagan shops around the valley. So I spent all Saturday evening doing mystic mermaid readings. It's always nice to have feedback, especially when multiple people are coming back to you with friends, exclaiming that you "blew their mind". What was better, was being able to actually help people with some serious problems that they have had. I'm not allowed to talk about what I read (it's an oath I took to maintain privacy) here, but I can tell you that so many people desperately needed help. And I realized why I originally started doing readings so many years ago! I feel that I am so very blessed in my life, and I do so love sharing my blessings with others.
So now I would like to do some of that sharing with all of you fabulous readers! If you're reading this and want a *free* online or telephone reading here's what you need to do:
1. Make sure you've *Liked* Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake
2. Send me an email (mermaidleiloni@gmail.com) with your name, age, question, and a few details about the nature of your question. Also include your preferred method of contact. Telephone readings will be limited to 10 minutes.
3. Follow this blog and comment below letting me know you've sent your email!
4. Please note that I'll be giving away Mystic Mermaid Readings to the first 10 people to comment!
So this particular post is getting a bit long, and quite frankly, my fins are a little tired after standing on that soapbox! But I felt after this event that it's important for me to share not only my beliefs and what I will stand up for, but some of my talents as well. I can't wait to hear from some of you!
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Ariel Lied, Flippin' Your Fins WILL Get You Far
That's right. Straight from the mermaid's mouth. Ariel was a lyin' fish. (Get it? Lyin' Fish...Lion Fish?! Okay, I'm fired for my puns.) BUT I can honestly promise you that if you flip your fins (or whatever it is you do) and keep trying you can and WILL be successful. No sea witch or legs required. How do I know this? Because I'm living proof. Which leads me into explaining to all of you wonderful viewers (by the way, we have reached over 1,800 page views thanks to YOU wonderful people) why I've been MIA for the past few weeks. But before I start rambling on about my adventures, I want to open the comments section to you folks. I would LOVE it if you posted a comment and let me know what dreams you have, your stories, where you have been, and what you have accomplished. And of course, any questions that you might have for me.
On to my stories......
Let me start with the adventure that I had at the Utah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire. It was an exhausting few weeks to be absolutely honest. Very rewarding, but very exhausting. Being a part of the Faire was delightful, especially being able to work with the other entertainers, mermaids, vendors, and owners of the Faire. They treated us wonderfully, providing a very large and very deep and very cold pool for us to swim in. Being a North Pacific mermaid, I quite enjoyed the freezing waters....although my more tropical counterparts had troubles maintaining their warmth. Spending time with the little ones, and watching their eyes light up as I swam and played made my day. There is nothing I like more than a little one marveling at my tail. I think the best part was feeling like a true mermaid, and being seen as a true mermaid, not just a performer. I should correct myself, I ALWAYS feel like a mermaid, but it helps so much to have everyone else see me as my true self. And that's how I felt, I felt like I was in my true form. No joke, I seriously have problems walking and tend to have sea-legs. (Remember how Ariel walked right after she transformed....all the stumbling...? Yup, that was me!)
My favorite experience was giving a mermaid kiss to a special little girl. Let me start by saying that due to safety issues, the kids actually watched us from a top a hill at quite a distance and patrons were only allowed to approach the pool if they were accompanied by someone from the Faire or there was an adult present. So this beautiful little girl watched me in amazement from the top of the hill. And while I couldn't hear the entire conversation, Janelle filled me in. Apparently she desperately wanted a mermaid kiss. So her wonderful grandmother paid Janelle and she took this little girl by the hand and led her down the hill and to the pool. The look in her eyes was priceless! She was a little bit shy at first, but her eyes were filled with a sense of magic that I had never seen before. She was glowing with excitement. How special it was for her to be taken by the hand by a walking sea maiden, to the tank full of mermaids! I pulled myself up to the edge to reach her. She was blushing and grinning from ear to ear. Janelle put beautiful red lipstick on my lips and I planted a kiss on each cheek. She was thrilled. It was a magical experience for me, I can't imagine the magic that she experienced, being kissed by a real mermaid. Janelle then walked her back to her family and gave her a special sea shell to remember it by. Sometimes I think we all need to be reminded that magic IS real, and that was one of those experiences.
Did I miss something? Do you have a question? Please feel free to comment below!
On to my stories......
Let me start with the adventure that I had at the Utah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire. It was an exhausting few weeks to be absolutely honest. Very rewarding, but very exhausting. Being a part of the Faire was delightful, especially being able to work with the other entertainers, mermaids, vendors, and owners of the Faire. They treated us wonderfully, providing a very large and very deep and very cold pool for us to swim in. Being a North Pacific mermaid, I quite enjoyed the freezing waters....although my more tropical counterparts had troubles maintaining their warmth. Spending time with the little ones, and watching their eyes light up as I swam and played made my day. There is nothing I like more than a little one marveling at my tail. I think the best part was feeling like a true mermaid, and being seen as a true mermaid, not just a performer. I should correct myself, I ALWAYS feel like a mermaid, but it helps so much to have everyone else see me as my true self. And that's how I felt, I felt like I was in my true form. No joke, I seriously have problems walking and tend to have sea-legs. (Remember how Ariel walked right after she transformed....all the stumbling...? Yup, that was me!)
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| Mermaid Nikki and myself in the tank. |
My favorite experience was giving a mermaid kiss to a special little girl. Let me start by saying that due to safety issues, the kids actually watched us from a top a hill at quite a distance and patrons were only allowed to approach the pool if they were accompanied by someone from the Faire or there was an adult present. So this beautiful little girl watched me in amazement from the top of the hill. And while I couldn't hear the entire conversation, Janelle filled me in. Apparently she desperately wanted a mermaid kiss. So her wonderful grandmother paid Janelle and she took this little girl by the hand and led her down the hill and to the pool. The look in her eyes was priceless! She was a little bit shy at first, but her eyes were filled with a sense of magic that I had never seen before. She was glowing with excitement. How special it was for her to be taken by the hand by a walking sea maiden, to the tank full of mermaids! I pulled myself up to the edge to reach her. She was blushing and grinning from ear to ear. Janelle put beautiful red lipstick on my lips and I planted a kiss on each cheek. She was thrilled. It was a magical experience for me, I can't imagine the magic that she experienced, being kissed by a real mermaid. Janelle then walked her back to her family and gave her a special sea shell to remember it by. Sometimes I think we all need to be reminded that magic IS real, and that was one of those experiences.
Did I miss something? Do you have a question? Please feel free to comment below!
Monday, April 15, 2013
Home Is Where You Dry Your Fins....
I just spent the most fabulous week at "home" in San Diego. I had to return back to the ocean for a few days to take care of some business. Mostly working on my tan and enjoying the sunshine and visiting family. It was lovely to spend so much time on the beach in my truest form. And this time, unlike swimming at Laguna (see my older posts), I was not forcibly returned home via rip tides. Instead, I basked in the sand while the waves washed up over my tail watching the sun set over the horizon with my handsome sailor....and talking to the mystified locals. I honestly thought that people would be mermaid-jaded there....I was honestly wrong. Some people couldn't believe their eyes. One evening two ladies waved and gave me excited....and slightly nervous stares. They were jumping and pointing, and I could hear them say, "Is she real?!" My mom was there helping with pictures and she had to explain (several times) that I'm a trained performer, and that the tail is made from silicone. The women would exclaim, "No.....there's no way....she looks too real. She MUST be real, there's no other explanation." It made my day to hear that! On a second evening I made friends with two lovely ladies, one of which was a photographer. They kept exclaiming, "A mermaid!" and were so excited to see me and take pictures. The lovely Laura Shafer (she really is gorgeous!) took this:
I was also able to meet Mermaid Shelly and visit Mermaid Shelly's Grotto in Oceanside. I actually got there on the day that they were doing their ribbon cutting ceremony and it was so fabulous to be able to meet the beautiful Mermaid Angela and Sora Dancing Mermaid. Her shop was darling, and I fell in love with her tails. I fully intend on purchasing one of her sequin ones very soon! I walked out of the shop with a beautiful black sparkling fishnet scarf, hand carved mermaid (she kinda matches me, all purple and black!) ornament from The Coppertail Whale, and a gorgeous octopus hair comb. These girls were delightful to spend the afternoon with, and I hope to see them again someday soon. Here's a picture of us all together!
The remainder of the time Hubby and I spend on Coronado Island and at the beach. I'm a little sunburned, and my poor tail needs some repairs from the beach, but it was such a fabulous trip. I do apologize for the quality of the photos (they were just shot on a regular digital camera), but Hubs got some great ones of me playing at the beach!
I wanted to leave you briefly with something that I keep learning, and that this trip only encouraged....you truly can live your dreams. Nothing can stop you if you dream and wish hard enough. If you had told me as a little girl that I would be doing this when I grew up, I don't know if I would have believed you at first. But after so much hard work and dedication, sweat and tears, and after overcoming some of my insecurities I have truly become a mermaid. The reactions of the people I met while at the beach, and the new friends I made only proved that the sky is not the limit, you can soar so much farther!
I was also able to meet Mermaid Shelly and visit Mermaid Shelly's Grotto in Oceanside. I actually got there on the day that they were doing their ribbon cutting ceremony and it was so fabulous to be able to meet the beautiful Mermaid Angela and Sora Dancing Mermaid. Her shop was darling, and I fell in love with her tails. I fully intend on purchasing one of her sequin ones very soon! I walked out of the shop with a beautiful black sparkling fishnet scarf, hand carved mermaid (she kinda matches me, all purple and black!) ornament from The Coppertail Whale, and a gorgeous octopus hair comb. These girls were delightful to spend the afternoon with, and I hope to see them again someday soon. Here's a picture of us all together!
The remainder of the time Hubby and I spend on Coronado Island and at the beach. I'm a little sunburned, and my poor tail needs some repairs from the beach, but it was such a fabulous trip. I do apologize for the quality of the photos (they were just shot on a regular digital camera), but Hubs got some great ones of me playing at the beach!
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| Um.....the water is cold! |
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| Oh, hello there! |
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| Just the tail. We have lovingly named her "The Beast" |
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| Hello wave! Fancy seeing you here! |
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| I see you! |
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| Just dipping my fins in. |
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| Sun, smiles, and sand! |
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| At the top of the hill.... |
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| Whee! Made it to the water! |
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| WHAT are those? |
I wanted to leave you briefly with something that I keep learning, and that this trip only encouraged....you truly can live your dreams. Nothing can stop you if you dream and wish hard enough. If you had told me as a little girl that I would be doing this when I grew up, I don't know if I would have believed you at first. But after so much hard work and dedication, sweat and tears, and after overcoming some of my insecurities I have truly become a mermaid. The reactions of the people I met while at the beach, and the new friends I made only proved that the sky is not the limit, you can soar so much farther!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
What do you do with a silly mermaid?
Where to begin?! Things have been so crazy the past few weeks. I have been a busy busy mermaid! As we have updated on Facebook, we are officially working with the fabulous Fairmont Aquatic Center on some upcoming projects, and I will even be attending their Easter Egg Dive this weekend. I'm really looking forward to diving for treasures, meeting new kids, and making a splash! I even did some special shopping for the event, and went and purchased a new type of goggle. Swedish goggles have no rubber around the lenses to seal them in, they just seal directly to your eye. So they are almost invisible, stay off my makeup, are super comfortable...oh and did I mention that they also give me regular vision underwater? Yup, I can see as clearly under the water in the goggles as I can see above water without. They are amazing. For all you mermaids out there, these are a great option to protect your eyes, and they are almost invisible! AND since you put them together yourself, you can decorate them. I plan on beading the nose piece and decorating the rubber straps so they look prettier. I was really excited when I tested them yesterday.
I really wanted to blog about my experience with the photoshoot a couple of weeks ago too. It was the most fun I've had out of the water in a long time. Our photographer Hannah Call and her team was absolutely amazing! I felt so glamorous at the shoot, and I'm sure Dottie and Nikki did too. We shot at the Gateway Mall, and being naughty mermaids got into their fountains. And yes, took pictures right next to the "No Wading or Climbing" sign. The water in the fountains was ice cold! But felt fabulous on our tails, silicone can get so hot out of the water! We also propped ourselves up on concrete balls to shoot in front of a beautiful building, and on a park bench. My poor tail was soooooo dirty after! My tub was practically black after washing the poor thing. Here's the fabulous thing about my silicone Mermaid Creations LLC tail......I won't lie, photoshoots on dry land can beat a tail up, and while we do our best to protect it, we're still hopping and scooting on rocks and on benches. No damage was done to the tail. Zip. It still looks brand-spanking new. Dottie's tail took some damage sadly though. Jesse, if you are reading this, you're probably cringing right now, BUT you have more proof that those things are virtually indestructible! We haven't gotten updated photos yet, there were so many taken that I'm sure it will take our photographers awhile to sort through them all. But as soon as I get some, I will share!
The weekend before was wonderful too as we got to attend a birthday party at the Murray Aquatic Center. The little birthday girl was thrilled to have real mermaids show up at her party! We blew bubbles, played games, and sang mermaid songs. I even rewrote "What do you do with a drunken sailor?" to "What do you do with a silly mermaid?" I was thrilled that not only the kids were singing along and clapping but the adults were too! It's always wonderful to have an entire room dancing and clapping while you sing. She was a gorgeous little girl and so polite! As were all her wonderful friends!
The next few weeks will be busy busy busy too! This mermaid is off to San Diego for spring break to go back "home" for a few days. Hopefully the call of the ocean doesn't entice me to stay for too long!
I really wanted to blog about my experience with the photoshoot a couple of weeks ago too. It was the most fun I've had out of the water in a long time. Our photographer Hannah Call and her team was absolutely amazing! I felt so glamorous at the shoot, and I'm sure Dottie and Nikki did too. We shot at the Gateway Mall, and being naughty mermaids got into their fountains. And yes, took pictures right next to the "No Wading or Climbing" sign. The water in the fountains was ice cold! But felt fabulous on our tails, silicone can get so hot out of the water! We also propped ourselves up on concrete balls to shoot in front of a beautiful building, and on a park bench. My poor tail was soooooo dirty after! My tub was practically black after washing the poor thing. Here's the fabulous thing about my silicone Mermaid Creations LLC tail......I won't lie, photoshoots on dry land can beat a tail up, and while we do our best to protect it, we're still hopping and scooting on rocks and on benches. No damage was done to the tail. Zip. It still looks brand-spanking new. Dottie's tail took some damage sadly though. Jesse, if you are reading this, you're probably cringing right now, BUT you have more proof that those things are virtually indestructible! We haven't gotten updated photos yet, there were so many taken that I'm sure it will take our photographers awhile to sort through them all. But as soon as I get some, I will share!
The weekend before was wonderful too as we got to attend a birthday party at the Murray Aquatic Center. The little birthday girl was thrilled to have real mermaids show up at her party! We blew bubbles, played games, and sang mermaid songs. I even rewrote "What do you do with a drunken sailor?" to "What do you do with a silly mermaid?" I was thrilled that not only the kids were singing along and clapping but the adults were too! It's always wonderful to have an entire room dancing and clapping while you sing. She was a gorgeous little girl and so polite! As were all her wonderful friends!
The next few weeks will be busy busy busy too! This mermaid is off to San Diego for spring break to go back "home" for a few days. Hopefully the call of the ocean doesn't entice me to stay for too long!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Big Mermaid, Big Dreams
I wanted to put up a quick post here to share my Indegogo campaign with all those that view my blog. I have decided to swim out of my shell just a little bit more into some very foreign waters! With some coaxing from friends and family (especially Janelle) I have decided to participate in this years MerPalooza mermaid pageant. BUT I need your help! Please visit my campaign on Indegogo, share, and donate! Even a few dollars will make a huge difference for me, and show to the world that you support being body positive! I am going to prove to the world that your shape and size DOES NOT determine your dreams! Whether you're a size 16 (like me) or a size 6 or anything larger or smaller you too are gorgeous, talented, and amazing! Oh, and did I mention that for donating you get perks? Anything over $10 gets a particular handmade mermaid item from me. AND I can take custom orders when you do. So it's a win-win, Donate and get some fabulous mermaid gear. Transform me into a MerPalooza pageant princess and I will help transform YOU into a mermaid! It's that simple!
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/transform-this-big-mermaid-into-a-big-beauty-queen/x/2435863?c=home
Also, I have lots of fin-tastic updates that I will post this weekend. You can check out some of our adventures on Facebook, but I will update with all the silly details here soon!
Thanks to everyone for reading and for supporting! Wouldn't be here without ya!
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/transform-this-big-mermaid-into-a-big-beauty-queen/x/2435863?c=home
Also, I have lots of fin-tastic updates that I will post this weekend. You can check out some of our adventures on Facebook, but I will update with all the silly details here soon!
Thanks to everyone for reading and for supporting! Wouldn't be here without ya!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Mermaid Swimming
I had an interesting hiccup come up with a booking I'm doing next week. I found out that the recreation center that we had booked to do a child's birthday party recently banned the use of mermaid tails. What I found was interesting that this happened in landlocked Utah! Which probably means there was an accident at that particular pool. Needless to say, we will still be there, but are having to jump several hoops to get special permission to swim.
This leads me into a blog about the importance of practice in a mermaid tail. Even with over 300 hours of training under my fin, and very regular training habits, I still occasionally have problems. Lets be honest, you're tying your legs together, and jumping into 9 feet of water (or deeper at some pools). There are bound to be problems sometimes. Even in shallow water, accidents can happen. I can't tell you how many times I've "missed" and bonked my head. Luckily, with all of my training (and the fact that I NEVER swim alone) I have plenty to rely on in a fishy situation. So here's what I recommend for those that would like to start mermaid swimming.
1. NEVER EVER swim alone. Always bring a friend, another mermaid, a mertender, or someone to swim with you. If you are going to be alone, make sure the facility you are using has lifeguards and plenty of people around to help you if you get in a bind. This will ensure your safety, the safety of others (your friend could make sure there isn't anyone near your fin when you dive, so no one gets hit!), and make it possible for other mermaids to use the pool if we are all swimming responsibly.
2. I highly suggest you practice with a lightweight fin first. Even better, practice your dolphin kick (or make sure you are a strong swimmer) without a fin. Then use a fabric tail, and move up to neoprene, silicone, latex, etc. The heavier the tail the harder it is to learn to swim. Even though a tail is water neutral (it doesn't sink or float) it still has weight that you are pulling. Plus, the professional grade tails (silicone especially) will suction your legs together and it's a much different feeling in silicone than fabric.
3. Did I mention practice? Practice practice practice! Practice does make perfect. The better skilled you are in your fin, the more comfortable the "pool authorities" will be with you being at their facility.
4. Know your limits! And seriously follow them. This applies to breath holding, diving, currents, etc. There is always room for improvement, but don't get yourself in trouble.
5. Be careful with children (and adults!) in the pool. If you have a large fluke (like me) make sure you have room to dive and swim safely without knocking someone out with your tail. Better yet, have a friend or mertender spot you. I have been smacked with a tail (and I have smacked friends with my tail too on accident) while swimming with some of my girls. It's not a pleasant feeling. Although it's not a huge deal because we're friends, another pool patron might have a problem with it.
6. I also recommend being careful with children. Not just while swimming, but while talking and working with them too. Some kids may have autism, learning disabilities, or even just fears that make them uncomfortable with you. You don't want to cause a problem or scene, so just be careful. Generally speaking, I try not to interact with children beyond waving (or beckoning them to come visit you) until they approach me, or their parents or guardians approach me. I am also very careful with letting children ride on my back (I make sure their parents are okay with it, and they feel safe putting their head underwater, OR I'm in very shallow water), or sit in my lap without the parents close by (or without their permission). You never know what allergies a child has (especially with latex), what insecurities they have, or what their history is like. I work for a center for autism as a teacher now, and this is some of the training I was given to ensure the safety of the kids. This applies to photography too. Make sure the parents are okay with you posting and taking pictures with their kids. Generally speaking, unless I'm doing a party and the parents have posted pictures, I will not even post pictures of the kids to avoid problems. Release forms are great for this. Privacy is a huge issue with some people these days, and its better safe than sorry!
Phew! Okay, I think that about covers what I do. It may seem restrictive, but it really isn't all that bad. And because of these guidelines that I have put in place for myself (and for the other mermaids that work under me) we don't usually have any problems with parents, recreation centers, or anyone else for that matter. And now I will swim off my soap box!
This leads me into a blog about the importance of practice in a mermaid tail. Even with over 300 hours of training under my fin, and very regular training habits, I still occasionally have problems. Lets be honest, you're tying your legs together, and jumping into 9 feet of water (or deeper at some pools). There are bound to be problems sometimes. Even in shallow water, accidents can happen. I can't tell you how many times I've "missed" and bonked my head. Luckily, with all of my training (and the fact that I NEVER swim alone) I have plenty to rely on in a fishy situation. So here's what I recommend for those that would like to start mermaid swimming.
1. NEVER EVER swim alone. Always bring a friend, another mermaid, a mertender, or someone to swim with you. If you are going to be alone, make sure the facility you are using has lifeguards and plenty of people around to help you if you get in a bind. This will ensure your safety, the safety of others (your friend could make sure there isn't anyone near your fin when you dive, so no one gets hit!), and make it possible for other mermaids to use the pool if we are all swimming responsibly.
2. I highly suggest you practice with a lightweight fin first. Even better, practice your dolphin kick (or make sure you are a strong swimmer) without a fin. Then use a fabric tail, and move up to neoprene, silicone, latex, etc. The heavier the tail the harder it is to learn to swim. Even though a tail is water neutral (it doesn't sink or float) it still has weight that you are pulling. Plus, the professional grade tails (silicone especially) will suction your legs together and it's a much different feeling in silicone than fabric.
3. Did I mention practice? Practice practice practice! Practice does make perfect. The better skilled you are in your fin, the more comfortable the "pool authorities" will be with you being at their facility.
4. Know your limits! And seriously follow them. This applies to breath holding, diving, currents, etc. There is always room for improvement, but don't get yourself in trouble.
5. Be careful with children (and adults!) in the pool. If you have a large fluke (like me) make sure you have room to dive and swim safely without knocking someone out with your tail. Better yet, have a friend or mertender spot you. I have been smacked with a tail (and I have smacked friends with my tail too on accident) while swimming with some of my girls. It's not a pleasant feeling. Although it's not a huge deal because we're friends, another pool patron might have a problem with it.
6. I also recommend being careful with children. Not just while swimming, but while talking and working with them too. Some kids may have autism, learning disabilities, or even just fears that make them uncomfortable with you. You don't want to cause a problem or scene, so just be careful. Generally speaking, I try not to interact with children beyond waving (or beckoning them to come visit you) until they approach me, or their parents or guardians approach me. I am also very careful with letting children ride on my back (I make sure their parents are okay with it, and they feel safe putting their head underwater, OR I'm in very shallow water), or sit in my lap without the parents close by (or without their permission). You never know what allergies a child has (especially with latex), what insecurities they have, or what their history is like. I work for a center for autism as a teacher now, and this is some of the training I was given to ensure the safety of the kids. This applies to photography too. Make sure the parents are okay with you posting and taking pictures with their kids. Generally speaking, unless I'm doing a party and the parents have posted pictures, I will not even post pictures of the kids to avoid problems. Release forms are great for this. Privacy is a huge issue with some people these days, and its better safe than sorry!
Phew! Okay, I think that about covers what I do. It may seem restrictive, but it really isn't all that bad. And because of these guidelines that I have put in place for myself (and for the other mermaids that work under me) we don't usually have any problems with parents, recreation centers, or anyone else for that matter. And now I will swim off my soap box!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Mermaid Pink Eye
Yes, that's about as gross as it sounds. This mermaid got pink eye from one of the pools here. Sadly, poor Mermaid Nikki is having some eye problems too, although her's isn't pink eye, just irritated. So I may not go to that pool a second time. I intend on writing an email to their people because I know it was from the pool. I didn't have any other outside contact that day with it. So voila! This MerQueen looks less fishy, and a little more sick-y. (Okay, that was a terrible rhyme, I know. Perhaps pink eye messes with your brain too?)
But that leads me into a brief little anecdote. And for other mermaids that read this, please feel free to use this story as your own. I do wear goggles and a nose clip while practicing. Sometimes I wear ear plugs, but not often as I find them extremely uncomfortable. Since I swim for 6+ hours a week (3x a week, 2 hours each time usually) I have found it necessary to protect my eyes every time I swim. I also have to wear contact lenses. I'm practically blind without them. The only time I go goggle-less is if I'm doing some parties, or a major event. Otherwise, I figure it's better safe than sorry. (Oh, and I went mostly goggle-less yesterday, and look at the present I got!) Anyway, I digress. So kids often ask me, "If you're a real mermaid, why do you wear goggles?" And I have found a story that works well for explaining why. I tell kids that it's important that I wear goggles because mermaids have special eyes, and in order to see in the ocean, we have a special film over our eyes that allows us to see clearly. Since the swimming pools here have chlorine in them, I wear goggles to protect that film, because the chemical eats it away. And that's how you can tell a real mermaid, from a girl in a costume. (I usually ask the kids if they can open their eyes underwater in the pool and if its okay, and usually they say yes.) A real mermaid will either swim with her eyes closed in a pool, or wear goggles to protect her special eyes. A girl in costume, doesn't have to. And this story has worked with every kid I have come in contact with. At other events where I'm goggle-less, I obviously don't tell them this story. And of course if there is a second encounter with the same child and I'm goggle-less there is always the magic excuse.
I wanted to blog about this to remind people that wearing goggles in public pools is not just so you can see, but it's also a safety issue. Occasionally going without is okay, however your eyes aren't worth the risk. Especially in germ-filled public pools. You only have one set of eyes and I believe that they aren't worth risking.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Lost at Sea
Yikes! You will have to forgive me for neglecting my blog for the past couple of weeks. There has been a tsunami of activity in my life! I happen to be quite the bubble brain, so updating my blog while things have been happening has escaped me. So now I have the tsunami aftermath to write about. I warn you, this blog will be long and filled with wonderful stories and pictures!
I suppose I should start with our snowy photo-shoot. We chose a serendipitous day to shoot simply because it happened to start snowing that day. I don't usually check the weather, so I didn't notice that it was going to storm that day. Needless to say it started snowing pretty heavily by the time all four of us were at the location and it was time to shoot. How did four mermaids get to the location in the snow? My lovely (non-mermaid) sister let us borrow her van, and change at her home. We brought my wheelchair...er....mermaid mobile, and each took our turn getting in and out of the house/van/gazebo. We changed, wriggled our way to the door, wheeled ourselves to the van, got in, and snuggled in our blankets. We actually took the seats out of her van to accommodate our flukes more comfortably.
What can I say? The girls and I are quite the fishy characters when we get together. You can't tell, but lovely Janelle is sitting in the front seat, her fluke and tentacles aren't as wide as the rest of ours. But we rode, like sardines, piled in the back of a van to our location. Then, our lovely sailors helped us hop out, load into the mermaid mobile, and wheeled us (quite unhappily as it was cold and slick) to the gazebo to shoot. It probably took us close to a half hour to load everyone, so I'm glad my tail is silicone so that I was nice and warm. But it was still freezing outside. And don't worry, the coat isn't real fur. We sat on sledding inter-tubes to help with mobility. The ground was slick, and we wanted less damage done to our tails so they helped a lot. We had hoped to actually be able to sled, but the visibility was low so it was too dangerous. It's still snowing so hopefully we will be able to soon.
We also got some amazing shots in my mermaid themed bedroom. I know I've mentioned before, but my bedroom is floor to ceiling mermaids and ocean themed things. It's a marvelous place to sleep. We took the pictures on my bed, so you can see the wall behind is littered with mermaid-related stuff. I'll take pictures soon of the entire place so you can get a better image. But I digress.....
You can't tell from the image. But on the far left in the picture, I have a little shelf that is filled with my stuffed ocean friends (I have a ray, Dory, a starfish, an octopus, several seals, an otter, and the dog (you remember, the one with the keys to the jail) from Pirates of the Caribbean. I love stuffed friends. And the middle image is the beautiful Mermaid Dottie, her Squirt, and her lovely pirate husband. It was actually really nice to finally have several images of SeaQueen Janelle and myself in our tails, together. We didn't have enough of those, mostly because she usually plays photographer. Isn't her angelfish tail amazing? In the water it looks like tentacles floating. She very much resembles a jellyfish. And the tiaras we are wearing were made by her, and she does take custom orders. You might not be able to see them closely, but she also made me a matching necklace and earrings.
The following week we landed another birthday party for a wonderful little mermaid at the Herriman Rec Center. She was such a darling little girl! The entire party was Ariel themed (and almost every gift she got was Ariel!). We spent the first hour in the party room entertaining the guests and giving them trinkets. Mermaid Nikki and myself were introduced to a strange substance called "pizza". We proceeded to eat a slice and put the sauce on our nose until Janelle (who was mer-tending) made us stop. We had decided that we would be bubble-brained mermaids and she was our caretaker (since we tend to get into trouble). We ate cupcakes that looked like the ocean, and were filled with marshmallows (yum!)...and of course, thought we could use the bright colored frosting as makeup....until Janelle intervened (it would clog our pores!). I was thrilled because my voice was back enough to sing. Although I've been able to talk clearly, I've had some trouble singing after I had laryngitis in December and January. But it's coming back now. After the "dry" portion of the party we scooted our way into the shallows of the pool (beached mermaid!) to swim with the kids. We took them for mermaid rides....and I even gave a mermaid ride to a couple of the adults and the hostess! I have a strong fluke, and I can actually carry quite a bit of weight while swimming. (Who knew?!) It was such a delightful party, and everyone was thrilled to have us (and we were thrilled to make so many new friends!). Even the lifeguards were snapping pictures! You will notice in the pictures that we don't share the pictures of our guests for privacy reasons. Both Janelle and myself are trained artists and have worked extensively with children (I work in a center for autism), so there are a lot of problems that can happen if we release those pictures. For anyone inquiring for parties, we do provide privacy release forms so we can post, take and share pictures. Just make sure to ask us for them!
Mermaid Dottie and I spent some time at a local indoor wave pool out in Layton last weekend. It actually felt like going home! I could finally swim with the waves and ride them to the "beach"! It was wonderful! We're hoping to make regular visits there! For anyone interested in doing parties, they have very reasonable rates and do allow mermaids! On that same note, I'm going to post here (and elsewhere) that we are running out of available dates through the month of June for bookings (most especially on weekends). If you would like to book us for anything during that time, please do so early! Slots are filling fast!
I want to leave you with one last darling story. I met a delightful little girl at the pool a couple of weeks ago. Now, on my tail I've tied a little fishnet around my ankles for decoration (and to hide my ankles a little). This little girl noticed the tangled net, and with dismay in her eyes started tugging on it. She looked up at me and asked, "What happened?!" And I told her the same story I tell everyone, I was swimming too close to a fisherman's boat and I tried to steal some fish from his net for dinner, but I got caught in the process! Luckily I had a sharp shell on me and was able to cut most of it off, except for this piece. The little girl looked at me, with a tear in her eye and exclaimed, "You poor thing!! Can we get it off? I can help you!" I told her that it was okay and I liked it now and thought it was pretty (which she agreed).
I'll update soon again with more adventures. My tail is taking a rest this week (okay, I'm taking it out on Friday, but I'm otherwise leaving it dry) until I get the silicone I need to do the repairs. I have a few small holes and it needs to be taken in a bit (I've lost some weight from swimming as much as I do). I'm sure that the repair process will be a blog in itself! And of course, there are always more adventures as we are booked for festivals, birthday parties, and more in the coming months!
Lots of love and fishy-kisses to you all!
I suppose I should start with our snowy photo-shoot. We chose a serendipitous day to shoot simply because it happened to start snowing that day. I don't usually check the weather, so I didn't notice that it was going to storm that day. Needless to say it started snowing pretty heavily by the time all four of us were at the location and it was time to shoot. How did four mermaids get to the location in the snow? My lovely (non-mermaid) sister let us borrow her van, and change at her home. We brought my wheelchair...er....mermaid mobile, and each took our turn getting in and out of the house/van/gazebo. We changed, wriggled our way to the door, wheeled ourselves to the van, got in, and snuggled in our blankets. We actually took the seats out of her van to accommodate our flukes more comfortably.
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| Mermaid Sardines! |
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| Um.....where are we going? |
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| Miss Mermaid Nikki |
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| Mmmmm! Mermaid for dinner! |
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| But baby it's cold outside! |
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| Trouble? Us? No! |
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| What a darling family! |
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| The "Queens" |
You can't tell from the image. But on the far left in the picture, I have a little shelf that is filled with my stuffed ocean friends (I have a ray, Dory, a starfish, an octopus, several seals, an otter, and the dog (you remember, the one with the keys to the jail) from Pirates of the Caribbean. I love stuffed friends. And the middle image is the beautiful Mermaid Dottie, her Squirt, and her lovely pirate husband. It was actually really nice to finally have several images of SeaQueen Janelle and myself in our tails, together. We didn't have enough of those, mostly because she usually plays photographer. Isn't her angelfish tail amazing? In the water it looks like tentacles floating. She very much resembles a jellyfish. And the tiaras we are wearing were made by her, and she does take custom orders. You might not be able to see them closely, but she also made me a matching necklace and earrings.
The following week we landed another birthday party for a wonderful little mermaid at the Herriman Rec Center. She was such a darling little girl! The entire party was Ariel themed (and almost every gift she got was Ariel!). We spent the first hour in the party room entertaining the guests and giving them trinkets. Mermaid Nikki and myself were introduced to a strange substance called "pizza". We proceeded to eat a slice and put the sauce on our nose until Janelle (who was mer-tending) made us stop. We had decided that we would be bubble-brained mermaids and she was our caretaker (since we tend to get into trouble). We ate cupcakes that looked like the ocean, and were filled with marshmallows (yum!)...and of course, thought we could use the bright colored frosting as makeup....until Janelle intervened (it would clog our pores!). I was thrilled because my voice was back enough to sing. Although I've been able to talk clearly, I've had some trouble singing after I had laryngitis in December and January. But it's coming back now. After the "dry" portion of the party we scooted our way into the shallows of the pool (beached mermaid!) to swim with the kids. We took them for mermaid rides....and I even gave a mermaid ride to a couple of the adults and the hostess! I have a strong fluke, and I can actually carry quite a bit of weight while swimming. (Who knew?!) It was such a delightful party, and everyone was thrilled to have us (and we were thrilled to make so many new friends!). Even the lifeguards were snapping pictures! You will notice in the pictures that we don't share the pictures of our guests for privacy reasons. Both Janelle and myself are trained artists and have worked extensively with children (I work in a center for autism), so there are a lot of problems that can happen if we release those pictures. For anyone inquiring for parties, we do provide privacy release forms so we can post, take and share pictures. Just make sure to ask us for them!
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| I'm waiting for one of those people with legs to let me in the door! |
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| Beached Mermaids! |
 | |||||||
| Just sittin'....well layin' pretty! |
I want to leave you with one last darling story. I met a delightful little girl at the pool a couple of weeks ago. Now, on my tail I've tied a little fishnet around my ankles for decoration (and to hide my ankles a little). This little girl noticed the tangled net, and with dismay in her eyes started tugging on it. She looked up at me and asked, "What happened?!" And I told her the same story I tell everyone, I was swimming too close to a fisherman's boat and I tried to steal some fish from his net for dinner, but I got caught in the process! Luckily I had a sharp shell on me and was able to cut most of it off, except for this piece. The little girl looked at me, with a tear in her eye and exclaimed, "You poor thing!! Can we get it off? I can help you!" I told her that it was okay and I liked it now and thought it was pretty (which she agreed).
I'll update soon again with more adventures. My tail is taking a rest this week (okay, I'm taking it out on Friday, but I'm otherwise leaving it dry) until I get the silicone I need to do the repairs. I have a few small holes and it needs to be taken in a bit (I've lost some weight from swimming as much as I do). I'm sure that the repair process will be a blog in itself! And of course, there are always more adventures as we are booked for festivals, birthday parties, and more in the coming months!
Lots of love and fishy-kisses to you all!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Adventures with Merman Jr.
Hello my fishies!
It's been about a week since I've blogged. But this past week has been one of the biggest adventures in my life! I spent the last weekend with Gary Antol Jr. (Merman Jr.). He's one of the owners of Merpalooza and a close friend. It was wonderful to be able to show him around the city and swim for hours on end with him. I can't give you details on the plans of Merpalooza. But I can say that we spent lots of time talking about it and there are big plans in the works! I can also say that I've been asked to help and be a part of it this year (and hopefully for years to come). And I'm dying for things to get rolling and for August to be here.
We spent all day Friday swimming. My legs hurt so bad by Saturday morning! We literally spent like 8 hours in his hotel pool, talking, swimming, catching video and pictures (hopefully we'll have some to upload very soon). I also got to get a close look at his Mermaid Creations LLC tail. It's amazing. His dorsal fin is a work of art. I don't know how he swims with that weight though! The tail actually would change color in the light. It was very similar to my tail in that manner, only much more dramatic. We also had a surprise encounter with a large birthday party that came in. It was a lot of fun to swim with those kids. I learned so much about my tail in the process too. First, a Finis Competitor monofin isn't necessarily better than a Finis Foil. Gary beat me in all our races. I can say that Mermaid Creations' tails are extremely agile, despite the fiberglass fin. I'm able to do hairpin turns, twists, and everything else in that tail. I also gained quite a bit of strength over the past few swims as well. I'm now able to lift my tail (even water logged) above my head, without help. That did lead to a problem on Friday night. I thought I would lift my tail over the railing to slide down the stairs........but I slipped on the wet concrete, lost my balance, and fell head-first into the pool. Hitting my left hip on each stair as I went down. Luckily I just bruised myself badly, and didn't cause any permanent damage (or hit my head). Okay, I lied. Permanent damage was done to my ego.
Saturday was a whirlwind of touring the city. We saw Temple Square and City Creek, and had a great time at the Disney Store (I stocked up on Villians gear, and an Ursula doll!). And then back to the pool for more swimming. Both evenings of swimming we spent with Dottie and Janelle as well. There was a pool full of mermaids! I was also able to try on Dottie's tail (and she tried on mine). Since there has been so much snow here, the pool has been freezing! We spent so much time racing and talking and playing. Having multiple mermaids makes swimming so much more fun. Poor Janelle though, was freezing! We ended the night with hot cocoa and pizza.
Sunday was a lot of fun since we spent the afternoon at a go-kart racing place. Gary treated (he's so sweet), and then lapped me like 3 times there. It was a little terrifying to speed through hairpin turns at 30+ MPH. Mermaids are not made for speeding! We had a blast. Here's a picture of us (with legs!) all geared up for the races! (You can't tell, but I'm actually smiling in the photo!)
Now you can say you've seen a mermaid in a go-kart. (Well, sorta...)
Monday evening was especially fun. I treated him to Training Table (he thought I was crazy, but looooved their burgers and cheese fries!). And then we spent a few hours at the rec center where I do my swimming. He kept raving about how awesome that facility is (and it really is a great facility). We took some underwater video too that I hope to get up soon! At the rec center we met so many darling kids that just loved meeting us. One little girl kept coming over to the deep end to say hi. We even gave mermaid (and merman!) rides in the shallow ends. The kids thought that was great, and they loved swimming with us in the lazy river and being splashed with our tails. The best part of Monday was getting to talk to THE Thom Shouse on the telephone with Gary. Gary is actually related to him (he's his uncle). What was fabulous is that Thom asked me to friend him on Facebook even. It was a dream come true to be able to talk to him, the father and king of mermaids! I hope to meet him at Merpalooza this year.
The weekend went by in a flash it was so much fun. We made so many future plans, and have so many exciting things in the works! I can't wait to share more, but I've been sworn to secrecy for the time being. A lot of what is going on with Merpalooza is under wraps until it gets closer to the actual date. So these fishy-lips are sealed!
It's been about a week since I've blogged. But this past week has been one of the biggest adventures in my life! I spent the last weekend with Gary Antol Jr. (Merman Jr.). He's one of the owners of Merpalooza and a close friend. It was wonderful to be able to show him around the city and swim for hours on end with him. I can't give you details on the plans of Merpalooza. But I can say that we spent lots of time talking about it and there are big plans in the works! I can also say that I've been asked to help and be a part of it this year (and hopefully for years to come). And I'm dying for things to get rolling and for August to be here.
We spent all day Friday swimming. My legs hurt so bad by Saturday morning! We literally spent like 8 hours in his hotel pool, talking, swimming, catching video and pictures (hopefully we'll have some to upload very soon). I also got to get a close look at his Mermaid Creations LLC tail. It's amazing. His dorsal fin is a work of art. I don't know how he swims with that weight though! The tail actually would change color in the light. It was very similar to my tail in that manner, only much more dramatic. We also had a surprise encounter with a large birthday party that came in. It was a lot of fun to swim with those kids. I learned so much about my tail in the process too. First, a Finis Competitor monofin isn't necessarily better than a Finis Foil. Gary beat me in all our races. I can say that Mermaid Creations' tails are extremely agile, despite the fiberglass fin. I'm able to do hairpin turns, twists, and everything else in that tail. I also gained quite a bit of strength over the past few swims as well. I'm now able to lift my tail (even water logged) above my head, without help. That did lead to a problem on Friday night. I thought I would lift my tail over the railing to slide down the stairs........but I slipped on the wet concrete, lost my balance, and fell head-first into the pool. Hitting my left hip on each stair as I went down. Luckily I just bruised myself badly, and didn't cause any permanent damage (or hit my head). Okay, I lied. Permanent damage was done to my ego.
Saturday was a whirlwind of touring the city. We saw Temple Square and City Creek, and had a great time at the Disney Store (I stocked up on Villians gear, and an Ursula doll!). And then back to the pool for more swimming. Both evenings of swimming we spent with Dottie and Janelle as well. There was a pool full of mermaids! I was also able to try on Dottie's tail (and she tried on mine). Since there has been so much snow here, the pool has been freezing! We spent so much time racing and talking and playing. Having multiple mermaids makes swimming so much more fun. Poor Janelle though, was freezing! We ended the night with hot cocoa and pizza.
Sunday was a lot of fun since we spent the afternoon at a go-kart racing place. Gary treated (he's so sweet), and then lapped me like 3 times there. It was a little terrifying to speed through hairpin turns at 30+ MPH. Mermaids are not made for speeding! We had a blast. Here's a picture of us (with legs!) all geared up for the races! (You can't tell, but I'm actually smiling in the photo!)
Now you can say you've seen a mermaid in a go-kart. (Well, sorta...)
Monday evening was especially fun. I treated him to Training Table (he thought I was crazy, but looooved their burgers and cheese fries!). And then we spent a few hours at the rec center where I do my swimming. He kept raving about how awesome that facility is (and it really is a great facility). We took some underwater video too that I hope to get up soon! At the rec center we met so many darling kids that just loved meeting us. One little girl kept coming over to the deep end to say hi. We even gave mermaid (and merman!) rides in the shallow ends. The kids thought that was great, and they loved swimming with us in the lazy river and being splashed with our tails. The best part of Monday was getting to talk to THE Thom Shouse on the telephone with Gary. Gary is actually related to him (he's his uncle). What was fabulous is that Thom asked me to friend him on Facebook even. It was a dream come true to be able to talk to him, the father and king of mermaids! I hope to meet him at Merpalooza this year.
The weekend went by in a flash it was so much fun. We made so many future plans, and have so many exciting things in the works! I can't wait to share more, but I've been sworn to secrecy for the time being. A lot of what is going on with Merpalooza is under wraps until it gets closer to the actual date. So these fishy-lips are sealed!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Performing Arts
As many of you may know, I have my Bachelor's degree in Art. Like any artist, my art form has changed over the years. I went from focusing my art into painting and drawing, pottery, and mixed media arts. Mainly two-dimensional to moving into performing art, which is what I do now. I still draw and do pottery, but it isn't my main focus anymore. To be honest, if you had told me I would move into performing art two years ago when I was starting my senior semester in college, I would have thought you were crazy. But here I am.
The problem that I have always felt about performing arts is the fact that so often they have to have a point, or be ridiculously outlandish or unique, or had to be defended by photography and essays. And it's the problem that I still have, and the reason that I've decided to write this. I'm not always a performing artist. A lot of times I'm more of an actress or an entertainer. But regardless, I always try to keep more of the performance part to my art. And yes, I still document. (You're reading this right? I've just documented it then!) There are photographs, blogs, posts, and stories that I've written. I have personal essays (no, they aren't ready to be shared yet) waiting to leave the pages of my journal. And like all performance artists I'm misunderstood. I get categorized as an entertainer, as someone whose hobby is excessive, a dreamer, an actress. And to some degree, I am all of the above. But what I do is more. It's more because being a mermaid is my life. I don't act like a mermaid. I don't entertain like a mermaid. I AM A MERMAID. Secondly, I have a message to my work. I do what I do for a reason. I don't just don a tail and swim because it's fun. It's so much more to me than that. And finally, there is pain and sacrifice to my work. One of the ways that I have always felt that art is different is because there is some kind of sacrifice (monetarily, emotionally, physically, intellectually, time-wise). It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's necessary. Take for example the person that knits a simple scarf. That's not necessarily art. And knitting is an action, not art (just like painting is the action, not necessarily art). However, the girl that knits a gorgeous sweater that takes hours and has an intricate pattern or design...that's art. Or making a blanket. Simply sewing a blanket together isn't art. But quilting would be art. Sewing can repair pants, or can create a gorgeous costume or dress. The difference is the sacrifice. The time, the effort, the emotions, the cost. And that's where what I do becomes performance art as opposed to just entertaining.
First of all, being a mermaid is my life. I think mermaid, sleep mermaid, dream mermaid, act mermaid.....It actually consumes the greater part of my life. And it goes beyond the pool. Everyday I'm working on something to advance my skills as a mermaid. I work on my mission statement, goals, image. And sometimes, like lots of artist, I stare at my bathroom ceiling and try to remember some long forgotten past-life. I choose mermaid-inspired things when I go shopping (like opting for Goldfish crackers instead of Ritz or choosing the blue makeup bag because it reminds me of the ocean). I have even tried to develop my own personality to be more mermaid like. Sure, some of my tendencies are natural...but most I had to teach myself. I wasn't always confident, outspoken, or comfortable with myself. And every mermaid that I've seen has those qualities. I had to spend so much time re-training myself to be that way. Even my house is full of mermaids. In fact, my entire bedroom has mermaid and ocean themed things from floor to ceiling. (At some point in time, I will take and post pictures.) I chose that room to transform since I spend most of my time here.
Second, I have a message. Personally I am trying to remind EVERYONE that you can truly be what you dream. It doesn't matter what size you are, what you look like, what people say (or think), or what society says is right. According to some, I might be too fat to be a mermaid. But that's their business, not mine. I can say that I have been just as successful as many "thin" mermaids in the community, so I have achieved that goal. I want to remind people that magic still exists. That the world is still full of wonder, dreams, and all of those things we believed in when we were 5. They still exist, we just chose not to see them anymore. Dreams are real. Your imagination is real. Magic is real. And I'm living proof.
Finally, there is sacrifice that goes into my work. Money, time, and effort only scratch the surface. As many of you know, I'm a type 1 diabetic. Although my doctor wouldn't agree, I can honestly tell you that MANY times I have gone without eating or without testing my blood sugars in the name of my art. Why? Because I don't want to take time away from my art in order to do so (oh yeah, and going to the bathroom is extremely hard in a silicone tail!). And then there's the sacrifice of comfort. If you think being in a silicone tail for hours is comfortable without being able to walk or go to the bathroom....think again. It's hot, usually sweaty, my toes get all pruney, I have permanent scars on the tops of my feet from where the monofin rubs since I'm always bruising them. And to perform it requires a great deal of physical strength. The tail is 35 pounds. But even before I had silicone, binding your legs is restrictive and makes things more difficult. When you add the weight to the equation, it has taken a lot of time to adjust to wearing it. Often when I perform (especially at dry events) I'm often in some pain. And that's okay. Because its all part of the sacrifice I make for my art form. Without the pain, I wouldn't be a real mermaid. In the Hans Christian Anderson story, Ariel feels like she is stepping on knives, and it's the same to transform from a woman to a mermaid. Except for I'm swimming (or hopping or crawling) with weights and pins and needles. No pain, no gain. And without it, I don't think this would truly be art.
So I'm not here necessarily to make everyone smile and to make all the children happy. I'm here to share a message. I'm here to perform, but I'm also here to push the envelope. I'm here to remind people that beauty is more than skin deep and that dreams are possible. When someone encounters me, I don't just want them to see a girl in a costume, I want them to see a real mermaid. And that's what I strive for every day. Because that's what I am on the inside. A mermaid.
The problem that I have always felt about performing arts is the fact that so often they have to have a point, or be ridiculously outlandish or unique, or had to be defended by photography and essays. And it's the problem that I still have, and the reason that I've decided to write this. I'm not always a performing artist. A lot of times I'm more of an actress or an entertainer. But regardless, I always try to keep more of the performance part to my art. And yes, I still document. (You're reading this right? I've just documented it then!) There are photographs, blogs, posts, and stories that I've written. I have personal essays (no, they aren't ready to be shared yet) waiting to leave the pages of my journal. And like all performance artists I'm misunderstood. I get categorized as an entertainer, as someone whose hobby is excessive, a dreamer, an actress. And to some degree, I am all of the above. But what I do is more. It's more because being a mermaid is my life. I don't act like a mermaid. I don't entertain like a mermaid. I AM A MERMAID. Secondly, I have a message to my work. I do what I do for a reason. I don't just don a tail and swim because it's fun. It's so much more to me than that. And finally, there is pain and sacrifice to my work. One of the ways that I have always felt that art is different is because there is some kind of sacrifice (monetarily, emotionally, physically, intellectually, time-wise). It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's necessary. Take for example the person that knits a simple scarf. That's not necessarily art. And knitting is an action, not art (just like painting is the action, not necessarily art). However, the girl that knits a gorgeous sweater that takes hours and has an intricate pattern or design...that's art. Or making a blanket. Simply sewing a blanket together isn't art. But quilting would be art. Sewing can repair pants, or can create a gorgeous costume or dress. The difference is the sacrifice. The time, the effort, the emotions, the cost. And that's where what I do becomes performance art as opposed to just entertaining.
First of all, being a mermaid is my life. I think mermaid, sleep mermaid, dream mermaid, act mermaid.....It actually consumes the greater part of my life. And it goes beyond the pool. Everyday I'm working on something to advance my skills as a mermaid. I work on my mission statement, goals, image. And sometimes, like lots of artist, I stare at my bathroom ceiling and try to remember some long forgotten past-life. I choose mermaid-inspired things when I go shopping (like opting for Goldfish crackers instead of Ritz or choosing the blue makeup bag because it reminds me of the ocean). I have even tried to develop my own personality to be more mermaid like. Sure, some of my tendencies are natural...but most I had to teach myself. I wasn't always confident, outspoken, or comfortable with myself. And every mermaid that I've seen has those qualities. I had to spend so much time re-training myself to be that way. Even my house is full of mermaids. In fact, my entire bedroom has mermaid and ocean themed things from floor to ceiling. (At some point in time, I will take and post pictures.) I chose that room to transform since I spend most of my time here.
Second, I have a message. Personally I am trying to remind EVERYONE that you can truly be what you dream. It doesn't matter what size you are, what you look like, what people say (or think), or what society says is right. According to some, I might be too fat to be a mermaid. But that's their business, not mine. I can say that I have been just as successful as many "thin" mermaids in the community, so I have achieved that goal. I want to remind people that magic still exists. That the world is still full of wonder, dreams, and all of those things we believed in when we were 5. They still exist, we just chose not to see them anymore. Dreams are real. Your imagination is real. Magic is real. And I'm living proof.
Finally, there is sacrifice that goes into my work. Money, time, and effort only scratch the surface. As many of you know, I'm a type 1 diabetic. Although my doctor wouldn't agree, I can honestly tell you that MANY times I have gone without eating or without testing my blood sugars in the name of my art. Why? Because I don't want to take time away from my art in order to do so (oh yeah, and going to the bathroom is extremely hard in a silicone tail!). And then there's the sacrifice of comfort. If you think being in a silicone tail for hours is comfortable without being able to walk or go to the bathroom....think again. It's hot, usually sweaty, my toes get all pruney, I have permanent scars on the tops of my feet from where the monofin rubs since I'm always bruising them. And to perform it requires a great deal of physical strength. The tail is 35 pounds. But even before I had silicone, binding your legs is restrictive and makes things more difficult. When you add the weight to the equation, it has taken a lot of time to adjust to wearing it. Often when I perform (especially at dry events) I'm often in some pain. And that's okay. Because its all part of the sacrifice I make for my art form. Without the pain, I wouldn't be a real mermaid. In the Hans Christian Anderson story, Ariel feels like she is stepping on knives, and it's the same to transform from a woman to a mermaid. Except for I'm swimming (or hopping or crawling) with weights and pins and needles. No pain, no gain. And without it, I don't think this would truly be art.
So I'm not here necessarily to make everyone smile and to make all the children happy. I'm here to share a message. I'm here to perform, but I'm also here to push the envelope. I'm here to remind people that beauty is more than skin deep and that dreams are possible. When someone encounters me, I don't just want them to see a girl in a costume, I want them to see a real mermaid. And that's what I strive for every day. Because that's what I am on the inside. A mermaid.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Mermaids! Fairies! and Princesses! Oh My!
Birthday parties are one of my favorite events to perform at. Because the number of guests is limited, I get to spend individual time with each child (or adult!) and get to know them. Usually I'm comfortably sitting on a couch or chair, inside a temperature controlled location, and I get a piece of birthday cake. The kids love watching me eat cake, and no, it's not because I'm a fat mermaid. I always say that I've never had cake before, since we don't have it in the ocean. So usually I make a small scene of excited faces and exclaiming that the texture is like eating a sponge. And sometimes I poke at the ice cream or frosting, and put a dot on my nose.
This most recent party that I did I actually went with my mother. I didn't have a regular mertender as my husband has been with his mom in the hospital this week. My mom dressed up as a darling Fairy Queen. Complete with glitter hair, brilliantly designed wings, and plenty of pixie dust. Her costume was designed years ago for a Halloween party, and the seamstress did her wings brilliantly. They are able to fold and compress when she sits, giving them the appearance of being real, because they move with her. The unfortunate part of this party is I've been having some bronchial problems related to allergies this week (and probably residual from being sick last week)....and I have laryngitis. I was able to push my voice at the party to talk to the kids, but I wasn't able to be quite as outlandish as I normally am, and I couldn't sing. And now, sitting at my desk with a mug of tea, my voice is almost completely gone. I need to dye my hair red (and I guess lose like 100 pounds, since I'm shaped nothing like her) and be Ariel, because a bronchial-sea-witch has stolen my voice. To quote Ursula, "No more talking, singing, zip."
But it was still a delightful party. Let me start with the funniest parts of the party.The home that I was entertaining at was a split level. Which means that I had to dress on one level, greet guests on another, and sing happy birthday on the third level. Stair climbing and mermaids are not exactly a perfect fit, but I did have my workout for the day! You can imagine this mermaid, scooting around in a computer chair, hopping across the carpet, army crawling and bum scooting up the stairs....you get the image. I think my mom might have had a heart attack. It was delightful to meet and interact with all the darling little princesses that arrived at the party. They took such good care of my tail (spraying it with water) and even explained to me the intricacies of a fork (which is not for use in your hair apparently). And I was reprimanded by the birthday girl for wanting to eat her fish. It just looked so delicious sitting up there on the shelf. She would furrow her brow, slap my fluke, and say "Bad Mermaid! You can't eat the fish!"
I'll leave you with a couple of pictures from the party before I go back to searching for my lost voice!
This most recent party that I did I actually went with my mother. I didn't have a regular mertender as my husband has been with his mom in the hospital this week. My mom dressed up as a darling Fairy Queen. Complete with glitter hair, brilliantly designed wings, and plenty of pixie dust. Her costume was designed years ago for a Halloween party, and the seamstress did her wings brilliantly. They are able to fold and compress when she sits, giving them the appearance of being real, because they move with her. The unfortunate part of this party is I've been having some bronchial problems related to allergies this week (and probably residual from being sick last week)....and I have laryngitis. I was able to push my voice at the party to talk to the kids, but I wasn't able to be quite as outlandish as I normally am, and I couldn't sing. And now, sitting at my desk with a mug of tea, my voice is almost completely gone. I need to dye my hair red (and I guess lose like 100 pounds, since I'm shaped nothing like her) and be Ariel, because a bronchial-sea-witch has stolen my voice. To quote Ursula, "No more talking, singing, zip."
But it was still a delightful party. Let me start with the funniest parts of the party.The home that I was entertaining at was a split level. Which means that I had to dress on one level, greet guests on another, and sing happy birthday on the third level. Stair climbing and mermaids are not exactly a perfect fit, but I did have my workout for the day! You can imagine this mermaid, scooting around in a computer chair, hopping across the carpet, army crawling and bum scooting up the stairs....you get the image. I think my mom might have had a heart attack. It was delightful to meet and interact with all the darling little princesses that arrived at the party. They took such good care of my tail (spraying it with water) and even explained to me the intricacies of a fork (which is not for use in your hair apparently). And I was reprimanded by the birthday girl for wanting to eat her fish. It just looked so delicious sitting up there on the shelf. She would furrow her brow, slap my fluke, and say "Bad Mermaid! You can't eat the fish!"
I'll leave you with a couple of pictures from the party before I go back to searching for my lost voice!
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