Welcome to "Marrakesh, California" (Working title)

Ok...here would be some of the employees greeting you upon your arrival and subsequent transport to the ranch. (thanks to berberevents for the borrowed photo) :) I think this would be an important part of your experience to help you shift your mindset to "relaxing resort/spa and camel ranch" mode.

My Resort/Spa/ working Camel Dairy will have alot of this

and a good deal of this...

and we'll all drink our camel's milk and tea out of these glasses,

in beautiful suites which look like this

and I think it could be pretty amazing. :)

Who's with me?

More on the Camel Front.....for those who need an edumacation....

I suppose someone else had an idea that didn't know 2X4 so it didn't get crapped on....

This from the San Diego Tribune....ok..someone else had a similar idea....I love it.
There might be alot to learn from them and they don't appear to be using the Camel's milk at this time. hmmm.....

DROMEDARY DATES
Arabian camels are home on the range at Ramona ranch
May 15, 2005
Underneath the canopy of a sprawling oak tree on the grounds of his Ramona ranch, Gil Riegler is talking about his camels.
Camels in Ramona?
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Yes, 14 of them, to be exact.
Riegler, along with his wife, Nancy, own the Oasis Camel Dairy, about eight miles east of downtown Ramona. And since they bought the ranch 11/2 years ago, they have been operating what is believed to be the first and only camel dairy in the United States.
The Rieglers' camels, however, aren't farmed for milk that's for human consumption. The milk is used to make soap, which the Rieglers sell for $4 for a 2-ounce bar and $7 for a 4-ounce bar. They come in six scented varieties, including lavender, orange blossom and the camel-appropriate gold, frankincense and myrrh.
To make camel milk fit for human consumption, Riegler says, "we need about $100,000." That's what he estimates it would cost to set up a state-of-the-art pasteurization plant.
They're not quite there yet, but the business is growing. There are plans to open a gift shop next year on the 34-acre property.
For now, though, the Rieglers are focused on their camels and the nearly 50 other animals they have on the property. They offer one-hour public tours, which include up-close camel encounters.
Their camels – classified as dromedaries because of their one hump – are used to the attention. They have been featured on the cable network Animal Planet, and the birth of one – Gulliver – was chronicled on the show "That's My Baby."
The Rieglers often are on the road with some of their camels, taking them to corporate events and fairs. During the Christmas season, the Rieglers – and their camels – are busy with camel requests for nativity scenes throughout the region.
On this particular Saturday, though, the camels are quite content traipsing through the ranch's lush fields. A few of them, however, see the visitors and make their way closer to the fence, craning their necks for a look.
Part of the Rieglers' mission is to educate the public about camels and dispel some of the myths surrounding the animals. Camels are gentle and sensitive animals – so gentle and sensitive that the Rieglers have used camels in therapeutic programs for the physically challenged.
"Camels are intelligent and smart," says Gil Riegler, wearing a brown jacket emblazoned with the words "Got Camel Milk?"
"They're perfect."
– MICHAEL JAMES ROCHA
OASIS CAMEL DAIRY

I'm going to visit them next time I'm in San Diego.

Getting Closer to Camel's Milk Cheese

Ok...I found the Mauritian dairy that produces the Camel Dairy Products (among other) and the issue seems to be one of logistics and government regulations. Not alot of proper refrigeration facilities at Nouakchott airport, in Mauritius. The milk has a shelf life of 8-10 days if kept refrigerated. So you'd lose a few days to travel in the import process. Basically, I guess you'd drink it right off the plane or something.

The cheese, however, seems to hold up well. The milk doesn't respond like cow's milk does to churning, and typical cheesemaking technique so they've added a curdling agent to turn it into cheese and apparently they've been quite successful. I also found an article or two mentioning how it's coming to NYC in March/ April 08. But, so far, I haven't found anything. Now I HAVE to try it.

Let me know what you find. Thanks.

Camel's Milk Cheese

You would think in NYC we have everything.

I had an interesting conversation with one of the doormen from a property I manage. He is from Morocco and was waxing poetic about Camel's milk, and how every week he goes to Key Food and asks if they have it. I am sure they look at him like he's crazy. He'd like to know where to find it, and while he was describing camel's milk I was sort of grossed out. He mentioned they make CHEESE out of it and now he's got my full attention. Now I need to find some, and I can't seem to locate any in NYC.

For all of you who think you are soooo smart, yes, I've already googled Camel's Milk and Camel Cheese, etc. Apparently this stuff is high in protein, low in lactose and cholesterol and quite good for you. People who can't tolerate cow's milk would be able to "enjoy" a nice tall glass of camel's milk. Again, Camel Cheese...nice. Camel's milk...I don't know,....but ok..I'd try it if I had the chance.

I am now familiar with two Camel Cheese names: Caravane (supposed to be THE Camel's Milk Cheese to have) and Camelbert...hahah, get it? Camelbert? hahahah.....

It's made by Mauritians. Of COURSE I know what a Mauritian is. They're from Mauritius..EVERYONE knows that.... Some of my best friends are Mauritian. Jeez. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritius )

Anyhoo...I'd like to know where to find some. In NYC or online. I don't know how well it travels, so that might be the issue.

I Saw A Bear.

There I was, minding my own business in the backyard. I was sitting on the back steps reading, when suddenly a large black shape emerged from the woods. A black bear, ambled across the lawn, paying me no mind whatsoever, even though I was about 30 feet away. He had to know I was there, he just appeared unconcerned. (The photo is not the actual bear I saw, but representative of the bear.)

I stayed frozen in my spot, not knowing what the "bear protocol" is..."Do they eat people? Will they attack? What should I do??? Should I go get my camera? He doesn't look spooked but will he attack me if I move?"...all rushed through my head, but for the most part, I couldn't get over how frigging COOL it was to see a bear in the yard.

We've had the house for 4 years and I've seen deer (and I never get over how cute they are) and I've seen a myriad of birds, decked out in wonderful colors and patterns of each species' aviary outerwear, raccons, and other small wildlife and birds of prey. We have, during the last year, noticed more frequent and prominent "bear doodies" on the lawn. Frequently, they are full of berries and what appear to be bug shells, and they are huge. But we have never seen the bear. (Dood-er, as it were.) I have declined to post a photo of the poops, although, I'm not sure why. I can always talk about poop, but maybe others don't enjoy it as much.

There was no time to grab a camera or move and the whole thing lasted about 2 or 3 minutes, which gave me a good opportunity to watch him as he poked around the log pile in the back, and then was subsequently spooked by a passing car. He ran through our front yard and then back to the other side of the house and into the woods.

Al was up the road, helping a neighbor mow his future apple orchard (yay, free apples), and I ran for what seems like the first time in 20 years, to tell them in case they could come check out the bear, but that bear was long gone.....

It was amazing. That bear didn't make a sound, even while running. I don't think it's a good idea to encourage bears, but I really hope I see him again.

Ohhhh...vacation photos.

We just got back from a week in San Diego. What a blast. I am secretly brainwashing my husband in his sleep, to consider moving back there.

It was awesome. We took about a million vacation photos. Naturally, I look obese and he looks like a burnt tourist. I have documented our trip, using the best photojournalistic techniques available, and hope you are as thrilled with them as we were with our journey.

I promise to make a big fuss over your boring vacation photos if you send me a link. ("here we are next to this thing, and here we are next to That thing...." hahaha)

My camera, shortly before the battery died also managed a couple of video clips, my favorite being in Old Town. The mariachis that were performing there, did a fabulous rendition of Santana's, Black Magic Woman (one of Al's signature showstoppers) and they utilized a violin, who claimed to be playing a Stradivarius. ("copia, copia"...) He painted it himself. :)

** (The video I tried to upload failed.) So here is my photo album. I am still working on captions, etc...but I wanted to share the photos while you're still interested in where we were last week. :)

San Diego 080808

You can make a difference

http://orphansofethiopia.org/

My friends, the Manger-Weils, are talented artists/photographers (http://theuncommonimage.com/) who have over the last few years, raised the money necessary to build an orphanage in Ethiopia. They have gone back and forth visiting the efforts of their labor of love, spent time with the children and the people who are valiantly running the orphanage. Their teenage daughter donated all the money received at her Bat Mitzvah three years ago, to this cause, and has been to visit the orphanage twice and her resulting documentary won entrance into the Teen Short Film category of theprestigious Woodstock film festival. They go back periodically and video the children in the orphanage and provide updates. :) Cool, huh?

I wanted to share what they've done with you, because so often you donate money or sponsor a child or contribute in some way to a cause and you want to know that your money made a difference. Well, I'm proud to say I know people, who helped make something HUGE happen and all contributions go directly to this project, not to some random administration fees under the umbrella of some larger religious organization or something. You may not have the means to sponsor a child, or maybe you do. But I wanted to share what they've done, because 1) I don't know what it may inspire, and 2) if you'd like to help, your contribution is a REAL gesture, not just an anonymous 'drop in the ocean'. You actually impact someone else's life directly.

If you're interested in what they've done, you can check out the website http://orphansofethiopia.org , or contact them through http://theuncommonimage.com/ and talk to them about this wonderful gift they've given and how to get involved on any level. :)

Thanks for reading.

Would you or wouldn't you? continued...

I already decided I would give my boss CPR and mouth to mouth, if required.

I put this same question to my boss. I think if he needed me to give him mouth to mouth or CPR, this would put me in a unique position. Not that I'd ever wish him harm, he's great, but well...I just wanted him to know, he could count on me. But since he'd be getting the breath of life from me, I wanted to know, if I was, say, choking on a piece of Godiva chocolate in the office or something...could I count on him to do the right thing? He said immediately, "Of course."...

which I then had to quantify with the condition that it had to be of medical necessity or something, not just for fun or whatever....he laughed and shook his head (oh as if I'M crazy or something...) I'm just getting organized, is all. Preparing for "whatever". I need to know who's in my corner.

I have earmarked John, the Zen Chinese project manager, in my office as someone who would get the breath of life from me. He's nice, vegetarian (no hocking up a cigarette pack sized piece of steak or anything) and is generally worth saving.

Mario, the new guy, sure, no problem. Nice guy, friendly, helpful, and a very tidy eater, so I'd get no unpleasant surprises there either.

Annie, of course, she's fun, totally necessary and would totally deserve CPR from me, although I'd worry about squashing her. She's tiny. ("Gee,Thanks for reviving me, and the broken ribs..")

Mr. G, my 70 something year old broker, definitely. He takes very good care of himself and is always threatening to commit suicide (kind of ironic, no?) I told him not to do it in the office and to lay down plastic if he really insists on taking his own life, as it's very inconsiderate to kill oneself and leave that kind of mess for others. He agreed.. I'd make sure I revived him, JUST so I could remind him. :)

Alan, the schnorrer, NO WAY. I'm writing "DNR" on his door. Alan would not lift a finger to help anyone, therefore no Breath of Life from me. I suggest he choke or faint on the first floor, because I won't even shove him down the stairs, much less attempt to save him. For what? Does this make me a bad person? I tell you what...I would call 9-1-1. I would get things out of the way so it would be easier for someone else to revive him. Probably John the Zen Chinese project manager would do it. He's nicer than I am. He's the one who got to tell Alan when he was walking around covered in his own excrement. (No lie. The guy managed to crap himself, all over the outside of his pants and on his back and belt. It looked like he'd been assaulted by a chocolate cupcake.)

Incidentally, speaking of all things excremental (always. It always comes back to poop.), Annie and I were lamenting the person who keeps leaving little shredded pieces of torn toilet paper in the bathroom for other people to pick up. I explained that when I sit down, I cleanly tear the paper, so I don't end up littering the floor with tissue scraps. She explained that BEFORE she sits down, she TEARS OFF WITH TWO HANDS, EXACTLY THE AMOUNT SHE'S GOING TO NEED!

How efficient! How organized. She has totally changed the way I use the facilities and now I think about her "system" everytime I'm in there. Nice to always know how much you're going to need. I'm not always so accurate...hahhaa. I know TMI.

Would you or wouldn't you?

While I edit all the photos from our San Diego trip to make myself look thin...ponder the question that went around the office today?

Would you give your boss CPR, Mouth-to Mouth recuscitation? What about the other people in your office?

Discuss.