Zen and the Art of Speedskating

My wife jessica is starting to ramp up the job search process, she came home yesterday with some interview worthy clothes. She looked so smashing I got out the digital camera. None of the pictures I took were as interesting as this one, where the animals came over and were checking her out. I would make some comment on how she cleans up nice, but she usually looks sharp.

Late yesterday we went to see jon stewart of the Daily show last night at Cornell,we went with some friends, one who runs the weather blog cirrus. In person jon stewart is as funny and earnest as he seems from TV. But of course, without the modicum of network propriety in the way, he was far raunchier.

One thing that really struck me when I was there, and we were only 50 feet from the stage, is that we are so used to seeing him on TV, that it was more familiar to watch him on this big TV monitors, instead of looking at his live face, right in front of us. He is a comedian with an amazing facial ability, easily equal to Jim Carey. The Jon on the monitor is the one we know, not the one standing in front of us. Its also easy to forget, since we see him in fake newscaster role on TV, that this fellow is really a professional COMEDIAN, by his professional training. I had engaged in this willful fantasy that he was something else. A journalist or writer who just happens to be funny. But this guy could work saturday night live, or in living color, as a cast member, easy. That is his gift. and wow, what a gift. In person, his talent is absolutely huge.

At the end of the show, there was a breif Q&A, and the final question was an audience member who just wanted to give him a hug. Hug was given. That moment symbolizes how many people feel about him, a sunny beam of laughter in some dark times.

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