Things to do on lazy, hazy, crazy days

Tomorrow is the first day of August. Summers are a whirlwind, at

least in our house, but August is different.

The thing I love most about August is that we have more

unstructured time to hang out. The thing I like least about August is

that we have more unstructured time to hang out. By the time we hit

the last week and the anticipation of school begins to build, the

natives in my house get restless. I get restless.

Years ago, I made a list for Annie titled “18 Fun Things to Do

When You Don’t Know What to Do.” I presented the page -- which I

printed on cardstock to make it seem more official -- and she has

kept it on her desk ever since. Four years is an impressive lifespan

on a teenager’s desk. So if you tire of the “we-don’t-know-what-

to-dos” that inevitably sneak into their vocabulary by the end of

August, use this as ammunition:

1. Make a picnic, ride your bike to the Harbor Department beach,

and catch crabs.

2. Walk to the high school football stadium and run some stairs.

3. Call seven people and have a poker party. Make coupons for the

winner like cooking a special dinner, or burning a personal CD.

4. Plan a Monopoly marathon. Have friends bring their spinoff

monopolies and have a game night. For dinner, serve “Oriental” egg

rolls, “Marvin Garden” mushu and “Park Place” pizza.

5. Make someone’s birthday a big deal. Bake a cake, make a card,

and plan a lunch.

6. Work on a scrapbook.

7. Get a big poster board and some candy to glue on and make a

giant greeting (you’re a Lifesaver, or don’t be a Butterfinger at

practice today)

8. Check out the fountains at Fashion Island and get a favorite

snack.

9. Plan a movie night complete with popcorn and candy.

10. Get the girls together and get a pedicure.

11. Buy a flat of flowers at the nursery and plant some of the

“castaway” pots that inevitably get stacked up in the side yard.

12. Bake cookies, put some in cellophane bags and give them away

as goodie bags -- no reason needed.

13. Plan a free-throw contest at the neighborhood school. Walk to

lunch afterward.

14. Take a walk around the Back Bay and visit the Nature Center.

15. Get some takeout and go to the Corona del Mar tide pools.

16. Go to the driving range at the public golf course and hit some

balls.

17. Choose a theme: Italian, French, Japanese, and cook a dinner.

18. Get your tennis racquet out and go to the courts by the park.

The list may look a little girlie, but consider the recipient. I

think that most items can be tweaked for the guys. And guys can get

pedicures ... .

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs

Thursdays.