As I mentioned in my last post, the Orbis Terrarum Challenge was my first reading challenge, and to my own astonishment I completed it – just in the nick of time! It was with great excitement and trepidation that I picked out books, authors, and countries. My decision to use South America as a jumping off point proved to be one of the best reading related choices of my life. I’m so excited about Latin American literature! I’ve hit most of the South American countries, and now I am eager to explore Central America and the Caribbean.

For now though, I am finished – 10 books by 10 authors from 10 countries across 10 months. My completed reading list varies slightly from my original list, due to availability mostly. I liked almost every book I read. Here’s the list, with links to my reviews:

1. March
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa – Peru

2. April
Hopscotch by Julio Cortazar – Argentina

3. May (Original choice: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – Columbia)
Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – Columbia

4. June (Original choice: The Shipyard by Juan Carlos Onetti – Uruguay)
The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano – Uruguay

5. July
Iphigenia: The Diary of a Young Lady Who Wrote Because She Was Bored by Teresa De La Parra – Venezuela

6. August
The Villagers by Jorge Icaza – Ecuador

7. September
The Palace of the Peacock by Wilson Harris – Guyana

8. October (Original choice: The Two Deaths of Quincas Wateryell by Jorge Amado – Brazil)
Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands by Jorge Amado – Brazil

9. November
The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano – Chile

10. December
I The Supreme by Augusto Roa Bastos – Paraguay

Hurray!! Many thanks once again to Bethany for hosting the challenge, and to everyone who commented here and gave me so much support. Hopefully there will be many more reading challenges in my future!

Here’s another kit suggestion for Animal Party – this time in the spring colorway.

The pattern is Hopscotch, from Bits ‘n Pieces.

The pattern includes directions from 3 sizes from crib to lap, as well as directions to make a matching pillowcase. The crib size uses a bundle of fat quarters, plus 2 textured fabrics - the pattern suggests Minkee, but I’ve paired it with soft 21-wale cotton corduroy from Robert Kaufman.

Blue Jay

Orange

The corduroy also makes a wonderful backing. You can find the kit on sale here. Save 20% on all Animal Party fabrics and kits until January 1st.

I have a really hard time coming up with Thanksgiving-themed poses. SO, for no specific or apparent reason, the November group gift is hopscotch poses, complete with chalk hopscotch drawing!

Come by the main shop and click the SOM kiosk to join!!

Also, something to look forward to: Nov 21 is the 1 year anniversary of Pulling Strings!! Look for more info later this week about the celebration!!

available in 24 colors – this awesome chalkboard paint is so fresh!

my favorite is definitely bakery green <chartreuse>

     My husband and I believe in the power of the sun to solve much of the world’s energy needs.  So why did we do an about-face from living with what we think will be the future of alternative energy, to hooking up to the coal-fired grid?  Believe me, it wasn’t a decision we took lightly.

     We have batteries that store energy for use when the sun doesn’t shine.  In Ohio, the sun doesn’t shine in December, January, or February. Batteries are essential. Batteries are the crux of the solar power system for this part of the country. Batteries are also the problem-actually, a few problems:

• Efficiency
• Costs
• Environmental consequences

      The two of us were not big power users, having adopted conservation methods a few years ago. We have a 1,200-watt array, eight 75-watt and four 150-watt panels, on our south upper deck.  In our “power house” attached to the cabin, an Outback system with both a charge controller and an inverter is our workhorse, and a Tri-metric meter in the kitchen monitors the system. We had a set of 10 DEKA gel cell batteries, each of them 12 volt, 225 amp hours, parallel wired for 24 volts, equaling 1125 AH.

     Our original system was a lot smaller. Like a lot of folks who have installed their own systems, we made a few mistakes in the beginning, under sizing the system with just the original eight 75-watt panels and allowing our first gel cell batteries to be subjected to freezing temperatures.  That pretty well killed those batteries in two years, so we chalked it up to inexperience and four years ago we bought our second set, paying about $3,000 for them.

      We purchased gel cell batteries again because we did not want to have the possible fumes and the constant maintenance of the lead acid type. The batteries had a five to seven year life, according to the specs put out by the manufacturer.  Despite our care in trying to prolong their life, our batteries started failing earlier than expected.

      We were disappointed in getting only four years from these batteries. The disposable component of the system was not going to be as cost-efficient as we had hoped. We checked into what a new set of similar batteries was and found out the ten batteries would now cost us $6,000! The price of lead had driven up the price of all batteries, yet they hadn’t gotten any more efficient.  If we only got another four years out of the next set, what would we pay then?  We had already sunk $15,000 into our system, and Ohio had no rebate program like California and some other states to help defray the cost.

      We had to do some serious soul-searching. After weighing all the pros and cons, we knew we needed to join the grid. We both felt disappointed that we would have to abandon something about which we felt so strongly. With great misgivings, but with no real choice, we called the power company and joined up. 

          However, when the sun shines the solar equipment is still our main power source. Our usage of grid electric is seldom above 150 kw/month, and that’s due to switching our frig from a small propane to a roomy, energy-efficient electric model. One day we may grid-tie our system and sell back to the power company (which at this point would entail buying another separate piece of equipment from Outback).

      We really hope to see battery manufacturers develop longer lasting but still affordable batteries-batteries for solar use, automotive use, and small electronics. Research is promising, not only in lithium-ion types, but other types as well.  Read this article from treehugger on zinc-air batteries that could hold 300% more energy.

      But, as I said earlier, the third problem is environmental consequences. Next Filet Friday, join me for a look at the possible pollution effects of the “age of the battery” we are entering.

      I’m headed to Pittsburgh tomorrow for an SCBWI-WPa conference. Some of the presenters are author Bruce Colville, agent Michael Sterns of Upstart Crown Literary Agency, Steven Meltzer of Dutton Children’s Books, and editor Marilyn Edwards of Hopscotch. On Trolling Tuesday, I’ll fill you in on all the action!

Hopscotch has a starter gift for those of you who are new to second Life. Don’t you love all the great stuff the top designers in world give you guys and girls? It’s enough to make me want to be a noob again.

You can find this great set on the second floor in Hopscotch, it’s right in the center– just follow the bouncing red arrow. If you’re older than 30 days, you can still get this great set in a rainbow of beautiful colours.. but it’s gonna cost you a few L$.

• Hopscotch:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cape%20Victoria/17/115/511

Its a game , i used to play in my childhood. Want to know the name – BITTI PARI .

USE -

Hopscotching across dozens of news channels

ALTERNATE -

If you will drink too much scotch and listen hip-Hop music, you are going to hopscotch around every corner.

Check this out!

a few friends filmed this, thought you would like it!

Its called Hopscotch in central london and you can check out Dans Blog here: http://www.danpapeiscreative.co.uk/

fun.

if the video doesnt work, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GU_D2Fqxyg

tom
xo

Κουτσό όπως λογικά όλοι γνωρίζουμε είναι ένα παιχνίδι κατά το οποίο ο παίκτης έχει να ολοκληρώσει μία διαδρομή πηδώντας μόνο με το ένα πόδι! Το κουτσό λέγεται ότι υπάρχει από τη Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία για εξάσκηση των ποδιών των μαχόμενων. Το πώς μεταλλάχτηκε σε παιχνίδι δεν το γνωρίζω. Σίγουρα πάντως ήταν ένα από τα αγαπημένο μου παιχνίδια! Πώς το θυμήθηκα; Χθες βρέθηκα στην πόλη μου όπου είδα ένα κοριτσάκι να παίζει μόνο του κουτσό. Αυτό που μου έκανε εντύπωση είναι ότι το έπαιζε σε πέτρινη πλακόστρωση! Πήγαινε από πέτρα σε πέτρα,διαφορετικού μεγέθους και σχήματος!

Νομίζω ότι ήταν η πρώτη φορά που νοστάλγησα τις κλασικές μας πλάκες πεζοδρομίου! Ναι,αυτές τις ασχημες λέω! Για κάποιο περίεργο τρόπο το κουτσό το έχω συνδέσει μόνο με αυτές. Αυτό που κατάλαβα όμως ψάχνοντας στο διαδίκτυο είναι πως πιθανώς είμαι η μοναδική. Απλούστατα στις υπόλοιπες χώρες δεν υπάρχουν αυτές οι πλάκες και τα παιδιά παίζουν πάντα ζωγραφίζοντας στο δρόμο!

Τυπικό σχέδιο κουτσό (για όλους τους υπόλοιπους!)

Το άλλο που παρατήρησα είναι ότι η δική μου παρέα έπαιζε μόνο μέχρι τον αριθμό 8! 1,2,3 μόνα τους, 4+5 μαζί, 6 μόνο του, 7+8 μαζί! Η φαντασία μας σταματούσε εκεί! Κι όμως από όσο κατάλαβα στις περισσότερες χώρες πιο διαδεδομένο είναι μέχρι τουλάχιστον το 9! Εμείς γιατί δεν ενημερωθήκαμε;;;

Τα παιδιά ζούνε σε έναν κόσμο που θεωρούν μοναδικό. Τα όριά του είναι συγκεκριμένα και πέρα από αυτά δεν υπάρχει τίποτα. Ποτέ δε μας απασχόλησε το να προσθέσουμε νούμερα στο κουτσό, γιατί μας αρκούσε όπως ήταν. Ποτέ δε μας απασχόλησε να το σχεδιάσουμε στο δρόμο, γιατί είχαμε τις πλάκες μας. Ήμασταν κ εμείς βολεμένοι!

]]> http://ahanbesol.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/maybe/ Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:25:42 +0000 Sarah http://ahanbesol.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/maybe/ http://lkthayer.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/ticker-tape-charade/ Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:40:36 +0000 lkthayer http://lkthayer.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/ticker-tape-charade/

Photo by VC Ferry

the no vacancy sign
on the motel
flashes it’s neon

smile

I walk to the corner
on cobblestone

hopscotch
bricks with depression

inlay

counting my steps
and feeling out of

sync
with my ebb and flow
and the low life I’m

leading

leading me downstairs
to the bar stool
the ones that swivel
and turn in or turn

away
or can turn you

around

and I hear
“Tell It Like It Is”
on the juke box

and I want to but I can’t
cause that’s how I set

it up

like a game
of pool, chalk the stick
and miss the shot
dime a dance girl
one trick pony
phonies

approaching you

how could you? how could

I let you
lead

Mr. song and dance

man?
with all your

ticker tape charade
and tap shoe parade
tapping into the
meat of my

matter

my cancer
was

easier

to beat

L. K. Thayer

All Rights Reserved

© 2009

*post atualizado durante toda a semana.

Debandada no elenco de ‘Law & Order: CI’

Segundo fontes do seriado, é de se esperar que os atores Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe e Eric Bogosia deixem a produção da franquia ao longo da nona temporada.

Julianne Nicholson deixou o programa na temporada passada, com isso, a esperança de Dick Wolf caem nos ombros de Jeff Goldblum, que entrou para o elenco fixo na última temporada, ao lado da atriz Saffron Burrows.

Atriz de Gossip Girl ganha medida cautelar contra ex-marido

Kelly Rutherford, a Lily do seriado ‘Gossip Girl’, exibido pela CW, obeteve esta semana uma medida cautelar contra o ex-marido Daniel Giersch, segundo a revista People.

A atriz procurou a justiça depois que Giersch começou a seguir a atriz, sua mãe e a babá de seus filhos, além de seguidas ameaças.

O ex-casal briga pela disputa dos filhos desde 2008.

Qualidade ou propaganda?

O NYT publicou uma matéria interessante em seu site indagando sobre a qualidade da programação da TV norte-americana: teria ela melhorado ou a propaganda e o famigerado buzz é que anda fortes? Clique aqui para ler.

ABC prepara nova série policial

Depois de estrear ‘The Forgotten’, de Jerry Bruckheimer, ABC já prepara ‘Hopscotch’, cop show do produtor para a próxima temporada. O piloto está sendo escrito por Chris Levinson.

Os detalhes até aqui são poucos, mas parece se tratar de uma série de investigações de homicídios durante diversos dias não-consecutivos.

Detalhe curioso: Chris Levinson, o roteirista, é filho de Richard Levinson, produtor famoso por ter estabelecido o gênero na TV norte-americana com shows como ‘Columbo’ e ‘Murder, She Wrote’.

Gossip Girl da vida real

A CW encomendou a produção de um piloto de reality show sobre uma gossip girl da vida real. A emissora explorará a vida de jovem e rica Tinsley Mortimer, socialite de Manhattan. Mortimer é apontada pelos jornalistas de celebridades – e pela Nylon – como a “next big thing”.

A jovem também participou da season premiere da segunda temporada de ‘Gossip Girl’ e foi juri do programa ‘Fashion Show’, que vai ao ar no canal a cabo Bravo, nos EUA.

A demanda para este novo reality é de oito episódios de meia hora. A produção executiva é de Andrew Gassman e Mike Aho.

ABC estreia ‘FlashForward’

A ABC leva ao ar hoje a series premiere de ‘FlashForward’, piloto mais guardado da fall season norte-americana.

O NYT escreveu uma crítica do piloto que é destaque na Home de Arts da versão online do jornal. Clique aqui para ler. Quanto a minha opinião sobre o piloto, foi publicada na Revista Paradoxo. E, claro, aqui no blog.

Jennifer Morrison, a Cameron, está saindo de ‘House’

A Entertainment Weekly deu agora pouco com exclusividade: a atriz Jennifer Morrison, que por cinco temporadas interpretou Cameron em ‘House’, está se despedindo do seriado.

O que foi dito é que a atriz não teria pedido desligamento ou sido demitida. Esta seria uma decisão criativa da produção. Considerando que Jesse Spencer continua na série no papel de Chase, já da pra ter uma idéia do que vai acontecer, né?

Stephen Root vai participar de ‘24 Horas’

O ator Stephen Root vai participar de dois episódios do oitavo dia mais difícil da vida de Jack Bauer. Root fará o papel de Ben Prady, oficial do Departamento de Correção. O ator já foi visto este ano no drama ‘True Blood’, da HBO.

Oito cenas que não queremos ver

O TV Guide fez uma lista divertida das oito cenas de sexo que NÃO queremos ver na TV. Confira aqui.

Quer saber tudo que vai acontecer na sua série favorita?

Spoilers de ‘CSI’, ‘True Blood’, ‘The Office’, ‘Fringe’, ‘Dexter’, ‘Bones’, ‘Heroes’, ‘Heroes’, ‘Mad Men’, ‘Smalville’ e muito mais, aqui.

Retornos e estreias na TV

Para quem ainda não viu ‘FlashForward’, um dos pilotos mais antecipados da fall season, vale a pena deletar o pre-air e baixar o piloto em HD, que vai ao ar hoje nos EUA. Outras séries que voltam hoje: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘CSI’ e ‘The Mentalist’.

Simon Cowell e Fox querem versão americana de ‘X Factor’

A Fox está prestes a fechar um contrato milionário com Simon Cowell, que além de juri do ‘American Idol’, é criador do show de talentos britânico ‘X Factor’.

Já faz tempo que o jurado demonstra vontade de trazer sua cria inglesa para a tv norte-americana, mas seu contrato com ‘American Idol’ sempre o impediu.

Mas agora parece que o desejo é mútuo e as primeiras conversas já aconteceram. A idéia da Fox é ter uma versão US de ‘American Idol’ para a temporada 2011-2012 e assim, segurar Cowell como jurado de Idol até a mesma época.

Em movimento ousado, CW encomenda temporadas completas

A CW parece determinada a ganhar a confiança de seus fãs (tem alguém ai?). Na noite de ontem, em atitude surpreendente, a emissora encomendou novos episódios ao drama ‘One Tree Hill’ e as novatas ‘Vampire Diaries’ e ‘Melrose Place’.

O canal aberto havia encomendado apenas 13 episódios do drama veterano, mas agora com o anúncio, a temporada completa está confirmada. Quanto a Diaries, a aposta é grande, já que o novo drama teen-vampiresco teve a premiere mais assistida da história da CW.

Já Melrose, até aqui foi só decepção. Mas os executivos parecem estar com paciência, assim como tiveram a mesma paciência com a turma de ‘90210′. E desde que Heather Locklear confirmou sua volta a Melrose, o futuro parece menos tenebroso – será?

NBC compra ‘The Mountain’

A NBC foi até o Canadá atrás de novidades. A emissora acaba de adquirar ‘The Mountain’, co-produção canadense sobre uma mulher que se muda com sua família para as montanhas, onde herdou uma cabana de seu suposto falecido avô.

As filmagens começam no mês de outubro em Montreal e Doug Barr, que escreveu o piloto, também acumulará a função de diretor e produtor executivo, ao lado de Joel Rice e Jeff Grant.

O piloto possui duas horas de duração e tem o formato de telefilme. Ele serve como cartão de visitas para um eventual sinal verde da emissora para produzir um seriado.

FX prepara série animada para 2010

A FX está prestes a se aventurar nas animações. O canal a cabo norte-americano fechou parceria com a empresa Shine Intl. para produzir uma animação com previsão de estréia para 2010.

‘Archer’, título do projeto, será um thriller animado sobre espiões. No elenco estão Jon Benjamin, na voz do espião-mestre Sterling Archer, Jessica Walter, Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell e Judy Greer.

JJ Abrams prepara nova comédia para Fox

A Bad Robot, produtora de JJ Abrams (criador de ‘Alias’ e ‘Lost’) fechou um contrato com a Fox para escrever uma nova comédia para o canal. Mike Markowitz foi chamado para roteirizar a idéia.

O show ainda não tem título e detalhes sobre a trama estão sendo mantidos em segredo por Abrams, que produzirá a comédia. O que se sabe até aqui é que o programa é descrito como uma “comédia médica”. Algo na linha de Scrubs, talvez?

Lembrando que não é a primeira vez que a Bad Robot se aventura nas comédias. Em 2006-2007, a produtora de JJ produziu ‘What About Brian’.

Betty White como ela mesma em ‘30 Rock’

Betty White aparecerá como ela mesmo em ‘30 Rock’. Famosa por ser uma das Golden Girls, White gravará sua participação na semana que vem.  Segundo Tina Fey, agora o seriado corre atrás de Meryl Streep, Paul McCartney, Robert Pattinson e Justin Timberlake.

Spin-offs memoráveis

O TV Guide fez uma lista super bacana com os 12 spin-offs mais memoráveis da TV norte-americana. Clique aqui para conferir. Na lista, nomes muito importante na história dos seriados como ‘Rhoda’, ‘Frasier’ e ‘The Jeffersons’.

Novidades no elenco de ‘Damages’

Campbell Scott e Martin Short entram para o elenco fixo de ‘Damages’. Enquanto isso, a produção anunciou outros dois nomes de peso que farão participações na terceira temporada. São eles: Keith Carradine e Lily Tomlin. As filmagens do novo ano iniciam hoje, 23 de setembro.

Spielberg prepara série para Showtime

O diretor e produtor Steven Spielberg prepara nova série para o canal a cabo norte-americano Sowtime. O show deverá narrar os bastidores de uma produção musical da Broadway. O bacana aqui é que o seriado acompanhará a pré-produção, produção e pós-produção da peça. E após isso, a peça sai da telinha e entra em cartaz de verdade.

Lost

A ABC liberou nesta terça-feira, 22/09, o título do quarto episódio da sexta temporada de ‘Lost’: ‘The Substitute’. Lembrando que os outros três primeiros já tinham vazado: ‘LA X’ (S06E01 e S06E02) e ‘What Kate Does’ (S06E03, lembrando que o nome do S02E09 é ‘What Kate Did’).

Geralmente, os quartos episódios das temporadas de ‘Lost’, são focados em… Locke. Agora, volte pro nome do episódio. Faz sentido, não?

Heather Locklear está de volta a Melrose Place

Heather Locklear, a eterna Amanda Woodward, vai voltar para o remake de ‘Melrose Place’. No começo do ano, a atriz descartou reprisar o papel que a lançou ao estrelado, mas parece que Locklear mudou de idéia.

O anúncio foi feito esta semana pela The CW e a primeira participação da atriz no programa deve acontecer no dia 17 de novembro. Detalhes de sua volta não foram divulgados – há especulações de que ela seria relacionada a Ella -, mas sabe-se que ela voltará a morar no prédio em que habitou na versão original do seriado.

CBS encomenda novos pilotos

A CBS está produzindo dois novos dramas. Um do roteirista Peter Tolan (‘Rescue Me’) e outro de Ed Redlich (‘Without a Trace’). Os dois são produções da Sony Pictures TV e possuem grandes multas caso seus pilotos não sejam produzidos. O projeto – sem título – de Tolan é sobre um professor excêntrico que desvenda crimes. O piloto está sendo escrito em quatro mãos, as outras duas são de Michael Wimer.

Já ‘The Remember’, de Redlich, é focado em uma detetive de Nova York que tem a habilidade de lembrar absolutamente tudo que passa por sua vida. Sarah Timberman e Carl Beverly são os outros dois nomes atrelados ao piloto.

25 séries que fracassaram

A Entertainment Weekly fez uma matéria SUPER bacana com as 25 séries mais hypadas da história que deram errado. Todos os anos diversas produções atingem o status de hit antes mesmo de sua estréia, e o que se vê depois é um fracasso de crítica e audiência que gera um cancelamento muitas vezes prematuro.

Entre alguns nomes, estão ‘The Fugitive’ (95-96), ‘Watching Ellie’ (2002-2003), ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ (2008), ‘The Lone Gunmen’ (2001), ‘Karen Sisco’ (2003-2004), ‘Smith’ (2006), e talvez o principal de toda a história da TV: ‘Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip’ (2006-2007). Confirma a lista completa aqui: http://is.gd/3zaRq

The Good Wife

Hoje tem series premiere de ‘The Good Wife’, novo drama da CBS e uma das minhas apostas pra fall season. A série é estrelada por Chris Noth (o Mr Big de ‘Sex and The City’) e Julianna Margulies. Noth faz o papel de um político protagonista de uma sex tape que vaza para a mídia. Margulies faz o papel de sua esposa. A série foi destaque na home do NYT: http://is.gd/3za05

Glee

A série ‘Glee’ mal estreou e já recebeu uma temporada completa da Fox. A emissora norte-americana encomendou outros 9 episódios, além dos 13 planejados inicialmente. Portanto, a demanda total é de 22 episódios. ‘Glee’ é uma criação de Ryan Murphy, que já nos trouxe ‘Nip/Tuck’.

Obama

Presença de Obama ontem no Letterman deu ao talk show sua maior audiência em quatro anos, audiência 195% maior que a de Conan O’Brien.

We are back in Toronto. Feels good to be home. Spent the entire last week of summer sick with colds. Small price to pay for great health and a great summer in Barbados. Today is Labour Day. Tomorrow is back to school. Talking of labour, still feels like yesterday. Now, each of my three kids will be in three separate schools. How did that happen? All I know is that the adjustment might be a little awkward at first. Like this picture. Makes sense but seems upside down for some strange reason.

Having spent an entire summer with my kids every single day I should be elated. Or should I? They have been my little friends. My little foes. But mostly, my little heartbeats for the summer. I have so enjoyed my time with them. All the things they experienced, many for the first time in Barbados. Sailing on the ocean. Witnessing baby turtles make their way to the sea. A mother turtle laying eggs. Snorkeling on a ship wreck. Diving. Reconnecting with cousins they had forgotten. And the list goes on… All good. Great actually.

Liz です！My first video on drawing~ Please check it out~

note: now what am I going to do with all this chalk? … mmmmm!

double note: please hopscotch responsibly.

http://humor-blogs.com/

I know this is the second Animal Crossing post out of the 3 posts so far, but I just wanted to keep up to date with the Nintendo deliveries for City Folk because, well, they’re awesome.  But I promise this blog isn’t going to be overloaded with AC.  Anyway…

The hopscotch floor celebrates the school year starting again.  It’s a carpet for your home, with one hopscotch drawing right in the middle.  Personally, I think it would have been really cool if you could actually play hopscotch, invite all your friends to your town and have a hopscotch party. But you know, I’m just a Nintendo consumer; why should they care what I think? </sarcasm>

The hopscotch floor is available between August 15th – 29th.

The next delivery supposedly celebrates the anniversary of the original Animal Crossing release.  I wonder what it will be?

I cannot resist playing hopscotch whenever a life-sized board presents itself. Heck, even if a board just the right size to use my fingers as legs would be irresistible; I would immediately skip my digits through the pattern with glee. This urge holds steadfast whether I am snail’s pacing it through side streets or bounding down the boardwalk. And as I loped through the hopscotch board I came upon during Sunday’s long run through the Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach’s pier, I remembered something that I think a lot of runners forget:

You don’t always have to take running so seriously. It is just a run.

At times, I have been known to be a whimsical runner. I have leaped like a gazelle over speed-bumps, calling “I’m a gaz-ull!” and I have cheered on other recreational runners who jog by me. I will halt my gait to examine or even collect some interesting piece of rubbish on the sidewalk or in the sand. Yesterday, I ran spied a yellow submarine toy perched on top of a mailbox, obviously not meant to be there. It looked so out of place and yet so comfortbale, I did not dare to distrub it.

There is a lot to see out there on your run. People to peer at, architecture to admire, cars dressed up like chickens to laugh at, squirrels to scare the bejesus out of you because you weren’t expecting them. Once in awhile, it is okay to have a little more fun during your workout. Or even twice in awhile. Breaking up the monotony cannot be hazardous to your well-being; it can only enhance it.

Throw your arms out and pretend to be a pteradactyl as you run down a hill. Sing out loud to your favorite song when it shuffles through your iPod. Run in zig-zags down a sidewalk. Wear your favorite pair of socks, even if they are knee highs with ravens on them. Jog past a garage sale even if it is out of your way. Enjoy yourself.

With my desire to hopscotch rampant, I wondered out loud to Ken what would happen if someone painted a board on the bottom of the pool. How would I play?

“Weightbelts,” he answered. And by gum, that does seem to be the best method.

For the supreme enjoyment of fun and adult recreation, we have transformed, merged and infused the neighborhood’s playground with a unit of intensive care. Play at your own risk. Insurance is not necessary. It’s not even possible. What were you thinking? Were you born yesterday? If not, you may continue.

Who says we don’t play games anymore?

.

We peek behind closed doors, and boo the referees.

We hide from ourselves, and seek our true identity.

We still play dress-up, but only for the sake of conventions,

weddings and funerals.

Our moods are the only things that swing regularly.

We teeter-totter between inflation and flat broke.

From liberal to conservative, we see-saw back and forth.

We let our problems slide, whilst we skate on thin ice.

The merry-go-round can still be found,

only now it’s in your local department of Health and Human Services.

It’s only a hop, skip and jump to bankruptcy.

Tag is now akin to passing the buck.

We play hopscotch between the bills and bounce checks.

Leap frog is now called the turtle trot and flop.

We spin the bottle to see who has to kiss ass this week.

Ping-pong is but a sound heard under the car’s hood.

Billiards is a billion brain cells misfiring under pressure.

We play the cards we’re dealt, and damn the dealer under our breath.

We’ll always build castles in the sand,

and forever we’ll play war in order to make peace,

as sloppily as children making mud pies.

.

The 24-hour playground is now “OPEN FOR BUSINESS”

Recess has been lengthened due to the recession.

Pay-per-view is optional and highly recommended.

Master Card and Visa accepted.