Day 2551: I accept requests!

OH! : junk mail collage

Want music?

 

Click here for Nadia Kossinskaja, Oblivion.

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

A re-post from Day758 in 2014: (because Carrol said I could)

I am accepting requests for blog topics?

Roy Center, Instructor at Costa Mesa Dojo wrote ... 

"why don't you do a blog about the history of Jr. Marathon?"

So I will try ...

Where is the Jr. Marathon?

Costa Mesa Dojo

When?

28 years ago, my fourth year as Instructor for Costa Mesa Dojo

I looked out at the 10 acre park adjacent to our dojo ...

and I suddenly got this wild idea, use the field!

Balearic Park, Costa Mesa

Several adults had come early to help with kids class, 

so I had built-in helpers, cohorts ... "coaches"!

I tore up scraps of colored construction paper and ...
gave one color to each coach, with a skill 
that they would ask kids to perform, at their belt level.

Coaches donated their time so the event could happen.

They were scattered at different locations within the 10 acres.

Coaches were asked to note students with good manners.

It was voluntary to participate, no charges.

Juniors class members, all ages, in gi's, were eligible.

 

How?

 

Juniors were to run (walk when needed) to each coach,

perform the skill required, get a colored paper scrap

and bring back, initialed, to be tallied.  

Then on to the next coach, do a different skill, and bring back a different color which was added to their individual stack.

If they went to two or more coaches in a row,

their scraps were torn up and they had to start over.

That didn't happen!

Restroom & water stops were allowed, 

but the interior dojo was off limits until done with all stations.

Why?

 I gave students their directions and told them they were ...

 going to work really hard for dumb prizes!

I told them anyone would work hard for a tv or a trip to Hawaii ...

but only special, strong, dedicated kids would work hard for ...

"dumb prizes"!

At that time I didn't know what the dumb prizes would be.

As I remember, I scrounged my cupboard and found just enough ...

"dumb prizes"!

The dumb prizes were spread out on the dojo floor.

First student done would get first choice of all the ...

"dumb prizes"!

Second got second choice and so on, with enough ...

"dumb prizes" for all.

Result?

By the end of this first Jr. Marathon each competitor ...

had accumulated a stack of colored scraps, which were stapled together and given back to the competitor.

A sorry-looking little stack of worthless paper, right?

But, the next year a Mom told me that she had ...

come across it in her son's room, wanting to throw it out as trash.

Her son rescued it as if it were gold, saying ... 

"No, Mom, do you know how hard I worked for that?"

And so we knew we had something special!

Changes?

As the number of competitors grew, we had to get organized.

The first year had 21 competitors, now some years have 50+!

By the second year, we had added "suika" afterwards...  

( suika = watermelon in Japanese) for all competitors and coaches! 

Grandpa and Grandma Nomura (and now their grandchildren) 

were our kind benefactors, every year, to this day!

A sticker system, grids and tallies were implemented.
And better dumb prizes evolved.

Roy Center

Competitors are now allowed to wear tennis shoes, if they choose.

In later years we added  #'s for the competitor's back.

pinned on the back of each competitor's gi

And some years, Demura Sensei made tsuru , 
(Japanese cranes for good luck) for all students and coaches.

all hand made by Demura Sensei

Same?

The marathon has improved, but stays basically the same. 

I helped yesterday, as one of 20 coaches ...
33 competitors + helpers, at the ...

 28th Annual Costa Mesa Dojo Jr. Marathon.  

There was a big parent turn-out and I saw my first easy-up tent!

Warning?:

 Jr. Marathon seems to fall on the hottest August class day.

But we're tough!

Special Thank You to Instructor Roy Center 

for continuing this event and making improvements.
It's a nice August tradition.

A smile for Sunday ...

Day 2316: When is the last time you were on a swing?

Uncle Jerry, Aunt Martha, Grandma, Aunt Geneva, photo by Uncle Les, California, 1940 digitized

Want music?

 

Click here for Schubert, Fantasy in F minor.

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

Yesterday I showed you Grandma's Park, 

just one block west from my front door.

Today, just eight blocks east is Pioneer Road Park.

Smaller than Grandma's but a  lovely little park at the top 

          of the hill, rustic with covered wagons, paths and more ...

 


        a western theme ...

 

An older gentleman (probably my age) 
does his timed laps within the paths in this park.

He smiled as he passed me on the swing. The first one is mine. 

When is the last time you were on a swing?

Above left is the kids water-park, with water shooting 
from the ground when the City attendant is present.

A popular spot during warm weather.

A volleyball net is up and ready, and well used.

Another of Tustin's great parks.

A smile for Wednesday ...

Day 2315: Grandma's Park.

McStar: junk mail collage, digital.

Want music?

 

Click here for Erik Satie, Gnossienne 1

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

I can't do art tonight. I need to work on information 

for my upcoming appointment with a lawyer to 

finally get a will and all my ducks in a row.

 

So, today is another reprise from 

Blog # 521, Sunday December 29, 2013 

and Carole said I could!

It's about Grandma's Park.

view from the adjacent elementary school field, approaching the park

It's a short walk down to my park. That's right, my park!

Oh the City had it posted as Cedar Grove Park ...

 

home to a beautiful grove of magnificent Cedars.

But, those of us in the know, know the park's real name

  is actually ... Grandma's Park!

So named by my three grandson's,

when they were tiny & visited often.

They liked Grandma's Park. 

A lot of people still do.

In case you don't get to see cedars ...

here's a close-up ...

can you almost smell it?

I am going to take you on a walking tour.

If I have to walk, you're coming along.

It's a hidden treasure, so this is just between you and me.

This field is usually filled with LaCrosse and more.

Tustin places a high priority on schools and parks ...

well used, but rarely crowded. This park offers ...

Nature trail

Basketball (2-1/2 courts)

Restrooms

Playground equipment

On-site parking

Regional trail access

2 Grass volleyball courts

A wonderful space, hidden in busy Orange County.

The large stand of tall cedars have

a path and scattered picnic tables ...

gorgeous! 

And, if you are willing to do a back-bend ...

you can look straight up to the tree tops!

After googling I found there are many types of cedar tree.

I believe these are Deodar Cedar.

An excellent evergreen with graceful pendulous branches.

Pyramidal form when young, wide-spreading

and flat topped in old age, often reaching 70' in height.

There are many other trees, and a eucalyptus stand.

 

My grandsons, now Grandhunks, drive by ...

and I've heard them say "I love Grandma's Park."

74 degrees, Blue skies, Santa Ana, CA

A smile for Tuesday ...