countdown to madness and thoughts on Larry Delgado

Two seemingly unconnected thoughts, eh? Well, first things first. Today, at 5 pm, SFR's summer block party begins but, as of now, 9:30 am, the madness already has commenced and my hopes for a productive day are not high. So it goes. But if you haven't already planned to attend, plan to. It should be fun. Sun, music, food, a parking lot, firedancers, tattoo artists—and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Now, on another note. Yesterday, after work, I went to Nedra Matteucchi (wrong spelling, I'm sure) gallery garden party. Very very posh: open vodka bars, varying food stations (bellinis, noodle boxes), a beautiful and lush green garden, statues, well-dressed sophisticated people (present company excluded, of course). Among the guests was Mayor Larry Delgado, an elusive politician if ever there was one. Since getting the mayor to return a call requires something we've yet to discover, I sidled up to the mayor and asked the question everyone asks him these days: "Are you running for re-election." Vodka bars not withstanding, the mayor had no further information for me on this topic and claimed he hasn't even thought about it yet. Weirdly enough, I kind of believed him (that might be the vodka bar to blame). So I asked him the second top question out there, which is: Why is the grass on the Plaza still roped off? This is really getting on my nerves. It's so green and soft looking, it's summer, and there's all those freaking ropes everywhere. Community Days: The Plaza was packed and everyone had to stand around on the sidewalk. Lame! Anyway, Larry says they are "just trying to give the grass a chance" because it will die once people start walking on it (this is what happens to grass).
While the mayor was talking about the grass, I started thinking, as I have many times over the last... EIGHT YEARS? (Jeez, is that right) about how pleasant he always is. It's kind of remarkable, really. I don't think I've ever seen an elected official who never gets ruffled. He takes swipe after swipe, people get mad, make cutting remarks etc., and he just goes on smiling and acting genteel and pleasant. Most politicians, after one go through with the media, are forever defensive and pissed off. Not Larry. I can't quite figure it out, but in my sodden state I decided that perhaps the mayor just has reached some kind of Zen-like state of complete detachment where nothing bothers him. There's something to be said, I suppose, for benign neglect. On the other hand, there is a sort of "Being There" quality to him, as well.
OK, I better take advantage of the few moments of calm and silence before the dunking booth arrives. See you tonight!