The world has been captivated by the beautiful game for the last two weeks.  I have written before about how this tournament unifies the world.  Even the most isolated country in the world, North Korea has a participating team.  Clearly this is a country that marches to the beat of their own drummer due to their isolationist political policies.  As I have been watching the tournament I am fascinated to see how the North Korean team conducts itself.  At first I was a little puzzled by the reports that the team is communicating with their home country with an invisible cell phone.  http://abcnews.go.com/International/world-cup-2010-north-korean-coach-talks-kim/story?id=10931655

Ok I have to admit, that's a little strange.  Then I saw this video.

That peaked my interest a little bit.  Then I watched this episode of National Geographic Explorer.  It's forty five minutes, but very interesting and worth the time.  

The point of these links is to show that North Korea is country that is completely different than anywhere else in the world.  Despite all of these differences, North Korea share the common love of soccer and completion as the rest of the world.  In fact, their last game was broad casted live, something unheard of in their Marxist political system.  I present this as undeniable proof of the unifying power of this tournament and the beautiful game. 

I am now a firm believer in the legend of The Ditch Witch.

It has been said that years ago, when the great mansions dotted The Kennedy Park landscape, a witch-hermit took up residence near what is now the town reservoir. She was a revered healer of broken bones and practiced the art of divination through the use of birds and meditative techniques.

The legend holds that she was a hermit by choice and not because of physical defect. In fact, she is rumored to have possessed an exotic beauty. Many well heeled gentleman who resided in the local summer cottages were seen passing in and out of her hovel door.

Then the change occurred.

It seems that one of the gentleman tried to spirit her away.

She resisted.

He came back with friends and somehow a fire sparked in the witch's cottage.

The witch, the gentleman and two of his friends perished. The third friend was burned badly but survived, scarred for life.

The spirit of the Ditch Witch now roams the far end of the park. She reaches out and grabs ankles as they run past, causing them to trip and fall. She also afflicts inattentive mountain bikers by pushing their front wheels into badly balanced positions. Horses just get spooked…..

She nailed me again this morning on a trail run. (She seems to like me…)

There wasn't a single object to trip over anywhere on the trail. I wasn't running fast. (Of course, I never run fast… I wouldn't even call it running…. more like waddling…) I wasn't tired.

But I WAS flat on face with a bruised shoulder and a knee gash that would make Hannibal proud.

I believe.

We just received permission to roll out our campaign…

Let me present….. (drum roll, please)

The Teva Illum!

Check out the GLOW FROM BELOW!!!!

A little Dawn Patrol… with shameless product placement!

These things rock!

Check out who else wears these flips!

Come on by and try a pair on!

We'll have more info for you soon!
 

It is a beautiful day and the weather is beginning to look like summer again.  Let's hope that the sun stays out.  On a summer day like today my whole spirit becomes uplifted.  The woodland animals fill the air with music.  My body is nurtured by the sun the same way a blue robin's egg is warmed by the feeling of their mothers body heat.  Sometimes it's even nice to do nothing and just enjoy the crystal blue skies and feathery clouds passing over your head.  For me, the summer is the best time of year.

I feel so nice today that I wanted to share a poem that my Father read to me as a child.  It always makes me laugh.  I feel the same rhythm in this poem that I do from the sounds of summer.  I hope that you also laugh and can feel the unique pulse of these words.  Sometimes nonsense can be illuminating, or at least to me. 

Jabberwocky by Lewis Carrol

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

coming soon!

Remember a week ago when we hinted at The Shop having access to a shoe that is being carried by only 37 dealers in America?

Remember how people were guessing at the make and model?

The shoes have arrived!

Here's a hint!

(BTW, the credit card was used up…. for all you creative types out there!)

Thanks to Daneille,Teva and Sadie at Moe's for the pic!