April 7, 2011

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  The Daily News
  
  

  1   I'm blown away by last night's American Idol.
  
  2   I refuse to go into all the details because the entire evening blew me away.
  
  3   There was only one chap who grated on my nerves, yet the judges loved him anyway.
  
  4   I won't go there because I was already reeling from the Giants' victory over San Diego, and somewhere in there I had to relax and have a bit of lemonade.
  
  5    So forgive my journalistic integrity, but after the game I was already spent.
  
  6    But this year's Idol is truly worth the investment of time.
  
  7    As for me, I'm glad I'm just a hack, because the only obligation I have as a reporter is to report that Idol seems to be happening and that it is a party, and if you're not on board, then you need to get your ears checked.
  
  8   Wonderful music, and wonderful show, despite all. It's been known to get on my nerves in the past, but last night just seemed great. I was in a pretty Zen state after a long week of testing and minor stressing of grades.
  
  9  Let's just leave it at that. Fun night, relaxing times finally.
  
  10   Moving on, Part the First: So yesterday I again rolled through the backroads and again down to see if my homeless dude was at his usual corner, and...
  
  11   Dude had the day off.
  
  12   He must have been exhausted.
  
  13   I totally related.
  
  14   Well, I decided to go home and try to enjoy the Giants. It hadn't been easy, let me tellya.
  
  15   I loved everything, from Lincecum's striking out of thirteen Padres to Huff's goofiness on the bases.
  
  16   And Brian Wilson's dubious return, which to me must have been a jolt to the system of the defending World Series' champs. He left with a look in his eyes like a guy wincing from a back tweak. It was a brief sec, but if you've ever had back trouble, then you might have caught it. The team, of course, would deny it.
  
  22   His return may have been a guy who was a bit too anxious to get back to it.
  
  23   I've done that. Pulled muscles, back tweaks, things like that, and you get a little overly anxious to get back into the game. Sometimes you wind up making matters worse.
  
  24   If the Giants taught all of us anything last year, it is the importance of having patience at the plate.
  
  25   It works in so many ways. Patience. Maybe because Wilson is a pitcher, he feels he doesn't need to learn that lesson. He knows how to have patience at the mound, but the lesson about waiting for your pitch might be lost on him.
  
  26   I adopted patience at the plate as a sort of mantra this year.
  
  27   Earlier this year I began eating a lot healthier, and realized that I could cut what I eat in half and still feel fine, and not starved.
  
  28   That's a different sort of plate, but it works anyway.
  
  29   Patience.
  
  30   Not always easy. I have a kid in my class who can't wait to get to the next thing. If my lesson falls a couple of minutes short, I tell my class that they could "discuss today's lesson quietly among yourselves."
  
  31   This guy hears that and immediately grabs his backpack, unzips it, throws all his books in, puts on his baseball cap, and jumps over to the door.
  
  32   The rest of the students simply chat, enjoy each other, slowly get their books together and get to the door about a minute later, where this lad is pacing back and forth, like a lion at feeding time. It's hilarious, because it isn't just before the period is over.
  
  33   He'll clear his desk before a test in one second. The reason it is hilarious is because we all have those moments of eagerness, but this guy takes it to the next level.
  
  34   I try to teach him patience, but it just rolls off his head.
  
  35    Good kid though. Just doesn't get that sort of suave game that others just sort of "get". He doesn't always exhibit "the social skeelz" to well.
  
  36    They really ought to teach cool to kids. You know, how to attain a little game. Some kids just can't figure it out.
  
  37    Some adults can't either.
  
  38    A lot of it is pausing before doing things. Some things are just socially awkward, and kids growing up learn most of those lessons reasonably early. Being graceful, having manners, being polite, listening, things like that.
  
  39   Not all kids pick up on the clues, and nobody is ever going to tell them.
  
  40   Patience at the plate, dude. Don't go to Hometown Buffet, stack your plate way up high, knock people over for a table, and then pummel your food with a full-force winds and a pitchfork.
  
  41    Let everyone else go, and then wander over, grab a few things, and sit down next to the guy who is doing that. Get your second plate when that guy is on his fourth.
  
  42    Ah, life's little lessons.
  
  43    Well, it's running late, so I believe I'll grab my hat and gracefully climb in the T000000NDRA. There are lots of minds out there that still need lots of guidance and learning.
  
  44   So I am one of them. These students still have a lot to teach me.
  
  45   You have a good one.
  
  46    Patience at the plate.
  
  47    Peace.
  
  

  ~H~
  
  
  
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