Roll Over Beethoven

You have no idea how many times I've heard the question of when is it too soon to tell a joke in my short comedy career. This question has been asked by minds more comedic and vastly more genius than mine for decades. Along with that question is always the debate if everything is fair when it comes to comedy. The guys at South Park seem to think so and have stuck by their guns in their decision.

But what about your own personal life? When is it too soon to joke about aspects that affect your life and those around you? It may seem that I'm talking about the news of the recently deceased Steve Jobs, but I'm really aiming at the bad news that we encounter on a daily basis that hits home.

I don't have an answer. I honestly don't think I ever will. To be honest, no one will ever have that answer. It's such a "personal conviction" type of deal that everyone should follow. What one person deems ok will inevitably be challenged by another individual, and that's ok. It's what makes the comedy world go round. Hell, it's what makes life easier to bear.

Not to mention, I'm guilty of cracking jokes at my Grandmother's funeral a few years ago.

RIP Grandma!

Slap 'Em With Kindness

Picture the scene: WOMAN talking on her phone barks order at a coffee shop worker. In between each customized order, she barks orders at her phone. There's a lot of "no"s involved. Uncertain, the coffee shop worker stops and erases the transaction. They start all over again and we find out the person on the other end of the phone is her husband. I let out a loud "ha" and continue to sip my drink.

Somewhere in the last two decades, the human connection was lost. The art of appreciating one another went right down the toilet. I don't mean to say that everyone has lost  their good sense, but that things aren't the same as they used to be.

Earlier this morning, a couple from out of town were out wandering around the Lower East Side. They stood at the corner where I was waiting for a friend, with their map out, and completely lost. They kept to themselves and searched for the street signs and how it corresponded with what they held in their hands. After thirty seconds of feeling bad for them, I offered my help. I pointed to our location on their map and wished them a good day as they left. Turning to my friend, I simply said "breaking that stereotype." He laughed because we know that as New Yorkers, we're not thought of as nice people. New Yorkers are tough, but it doesn't mean that we can't be kind.

So, I've created a personal challenge. I'll do my best to be kinder. Don't get me wrong. This doesn't mean I'll a be pushover. I'm not that woman's husband. I'll simply try my best to be a gentleman and stand against the current.

"I Want To Go To There."

This past weekend, I celebrated the marriage of my two friends. Unlike other weddings I had been to, they had two ceremonies taking place on two different days. The bride is of West Indian decent so they had a traditional Hindu ceremony. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I could go into detail about the wedding and the countless colors they used to celebrate this union, but this post isn't about that. It's not about the Christian ceremony they had two days later.

I simply want to marvel at the beauty there is within humanity on this Earth. How completely different we can be, yet there is something spectacular about each of us and I don't just mean the women. Seeing how her family came together and celebrated this marriage showed me a world I had never experienced before. It lit in me a desire to see the rest of the world and tap into my inner Anthony Bourdain. I'll even gladly accept the pay he receives.

This is a short entry and I just wanted to share a saying with you. Life is too short to be lived in one place on one continent. I hope to get around soon.