We begin this week’s tumble post with a note to our readers: I have only been listening to the show for about a year now – since I moved from Denton down to San Antonio. It was one first podcasts I downloaded, because I had exhausted my iTunes library and didn’t much enjoy curating my own Pandora stations. I am not a big fan of listening to music that I don’t particularly like, and streaming KTCK meant I had to deal with loads of commercials.

Podcasts seemed like the answer. They are and were.

So tonight (Thursday) This American Life did another live show. I can’t say I was particularly excited, but I can’t pretend I wasn’t at least looking forward to it.

I figured Mike Birbiglia and David Sedaris would make the $20 ticket worth it.

It was … okay. It was like listening to the podcast with the added hurdle of watching Ira Glass move around awkwardly (and have trouble pronouncing “Ls” !?!?.)

The special visual-only stuff was cool. I don’t feel ripped off. I say that without having seen David Sedaris do his portion while wearing a clown mask. That is because the rain killed the satellite feed here in San Antonio, (and in Austin apparently).

Sedaris

The good news? Well we got four tickets to any movie as recompense, so it all works out.

I coudn’t help but notice that I don’t seem to fit the bill for TAL listeners, judging by the other 30 people that showed at Regal Cielo Vista on the far west side of San Antonio, I am missing a pair of glasses and fuzzy hair.

I left the theater only slightly disappointed and headed for a Taco Cabana, “TCs” as my co-workers call it. I sacrificed my own live podcast for this? Yes. I don’t mind too much, either – especially as I eat my chicken street taco and listen to “Singin’ in the Rain” with my wife by my side.

What a glorious feelin’. I’m happy again, yo.

This was originally published here