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.



Happy Splashes! 

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.

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!)

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!