October 7, 2010
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The Daily News
1 I’m never sure where I’m gonna go with the DN when I begin, which is what makes it’s nature what we in the business refer to as “tabula rasa”.
2 It means, “blank tablet”. Or “Chicklets are underrated.” Or “Is there a better cocktail than Demerol and root beer?
3 At this time, I would advise planting tongue firmly in cheek.
4 I think I must begin this DN with a coincidence that happened yesterday. Actually, several happened, but to be honest, I really can’t remember the first two.
5 But October tends to be a busy time for my incessant battle with coincidences, and what they possibly mean, which is usually interesting if they are a.) in October, and b.) during amazingly stressful times, or during significant moments in my life.
6 The first two were so insignificant that I can’t really lay them down here. I know that one had to do with some sentence I uttered early yesterday, and that some student said later in the day.
7 I looked up, but when you have a bajillion coincidences happening in your life, you sort of let it roll.
8 The second one includes an amusing story that happened at the volleyball game the other night.
9 One of our administrators was totally exhausted, and almost ready to drop, since cutbacks have dumped every single issue into the lives of school administrators.
10 Having been there, I totally understand a lot of what they have to do. Quite often they have to give up their entire lives for the school, and quite often, it’s never enough.
11 Anyway, arguably the best administrator at our school, Chantal Chatman, was relaxing at the volleyball game. She works harder than all of us put together, so on that alone, I give her major props.
12 So she and my friend Wendy Jordan were talking along, and she eventually told me that her daughter was studying abroad in Amsterdam.
13 She was absolutely stunned that Amesterdam was SO liberated and loose that they have legalized pot, liquor being served anywhere, any time, AND that it has naked wimminz SWINGING on SWINGS out of windows!
15 Now I have never been to Amesterdam, but that image struck me, as well it may have struck you.
16 I wanted a little clarification.
17 So I asked her to clarify “swing”. Did it mean that they were literally naked, and swininging on swings, like REAL swings, like on swing sets?
18 Her answer: “YES!” She looked like someone had captured our village.
19 My reply?
20 “Whoa. Talk about studying a broad!”
21
22 Haha, ya gotta love it. I did. ; )
23 All three of us had a hearty laugh over that one, and the evening moved on.
24 Yesterday during break, a buncha kids came and went, and when everything settled down, I went to give the room a once over.
25 Among the paper clips, spit balls, rubber bands, and broken pencils was an empty can of Dr. Pepper.
26 It had a picture of a woman swinging on a swing, almost the EXACT same image that Chantal had described, only clothed patriotically. It looked exactly like this ad:
27 And it was a COINCIDENCE!
28 Not a strange coincidence, like finding an Uno card back stage, and then turning it over knowing ahead of time that it is a nine. It was actually like frivolous punctuation to a hearty laugh in the gym. Still, there it is.
29 Moving on, Part the First: I wish I had more to share, but two nights in a row I have been down at the school past 9 p.m.
30 But I would be bereft in my duties if I didn’t give a nod of the cap to U.C. Berkeley’s Wind Ensemble for coming all the way down to our Theatre last night and knocking us all out with their performance.
31 Not to be out-performed, out own Evergreen Valley Wind Ensemble followed their amazing piece with three amazing pieces of their own.
32 And in the end, BOTH of these incredible musical groups merged on OUR stage and jammed a wonderful piece. I wish I had the program at my fingertips; it was a sort of Barnum and Bailey circus piece.
33 U.C. Berkeley and Evergreen Valley High School combined in a once-in-a lifetime jam, and the place went crazy. Standing ovation, and an incredible night for this Old Brown Shoe. So inspirational for both schools!
34 Too bad I got home pretty late, because I really think I could have given all of y’all a blow-by-blow. The reality is that two of our ex-students played, and addressed the audience about how you could go to college and STILL give yourself wonderful things like music.
35 I found myself standing instantly as BOTH bands finished spot on. It was an awesome moment in Evergreen’s history.
36 It might have been an awesome moment in Cal’s history as well.
37 The common denominator was incredible musicians, at any age, loving and playing their hearts out.
38 It was one of those special things, and on our end, the students who weren’t in the Wind Ensemble saw nothing but heroes. The music gods smiled down.
39 And to me, the biggest hero last night was our own maestro, Steve Barnhill.
40 Great night, and GREAT to be back in the lighting booth!
41 I think that’s it for today.
42 Have a wonderful Thursday, and GO GIANTS! BEAT ATL!!!
43 Peace, y’all!
~H~
