365 til 30: When you’re feeling blue, just trust in Black.

So in the last blog I posted, I really came clean about my current life.  I recently became out of work, I’m struggling to really focus on getting all of the things I set out to do by age 30 completed, I’m working on my next step in life, and I finished writing a book (which may seem awesome to some, but is simultaneously terrifying).

I didn’t make any recreational plans for the weekend so I could focus on my goals, and save a little cash.  But my roommate surprised me one evening (actually the person he was supposed to go with bailed) and asked me if I wanted to go see Lewis Black Live, on Saturday.  I nearly jumped out of my seat,

“Lewis Black?”  I shrieked, “He’s one of my favorites, why didn’t you ask me first?” 

“Because you usually work on Saturday nights.”  He responded.

Oh, yea, I got fired.

I immediately said yes and remembered that seeing one of my favorite comedians, not just anyone at a comedy club, but a famous one that I love, is on my 365 til 30 list.  Yes! 

Then Saturday rolled around.  It was gloomy and cold, and I spent the day in bed watching reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and entering publishers information into an Excel database (yes that actually does serve a purpose for me).  I was feeling depressed and the last thing I wanted to do was leave the comfort of bed or Angel (David Boreanaz’s character on Buffy) to go anywhere. 

My roommate came home and I asked him if he really wanted to go, trying to hint that I didn’t, which he picked up on immediately and said, “We’re going!”  So I begrudgingly got dressed and went to the show.  Man, I’m glad I did.

I had first heard of Lewis Black back when I was in college and he made regular appearances on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  His “correspondence” if you can call it that, was in one-minute increments and consistently left me in tears from laughing so hard.  The stand up show I attended last night, was an hour and a half of full on Lewis Black.

He talked about Cell Phones, Facebook, Getting Old, Airport Security, and of course Politics.  All subjects not surprising for a comedian, but I challenge anyone to present them in the way that he does.  

I haven’t laughed that hard for that long, in as long as I can remember.  When we were leaving, my mood had been completely transformed and I smiled the entire way home.

I thought back to my old psychology classes that taught that laughter was a natural painkiller.  I’ll tell you something; I felt no pain, no worry, no negativity, just pure unbridled joy after that performance. 

Some of his comedy may be considered off color, but to me its perfect and I thank Lewis Black for just being Lewis Black.  I also thank my roommate, for not letting me be a baby, and making me go see one of my favorite comedians of all time AND allowing me to check something off of my things to do before 30. 

Ya know, the cold, gray rain doesn’t even bother me today.  I guess I just have Lewis Black hangover!

Check out a short clip of the hilarity I was privileged enough to witness last night.