Every Friday night M and I have our Date Night. We go into the city and do a bookshop crawl (our version of the pub crawl), eat junkfood (or proper food) and just generally spend time together. Those who of you who know us In Real Life might be wondering why we need to spend even more time together, given that we do lots of stuff together – live together (are married!), play games together, and even work for the same organisation. Date Night is just one of those rituals we have had together for a number of years now. We usually don’t have anything to do for the evening, other than indulge in things we enjoy and just enjoy each other’s company. Date Night is special!
Anyway. Last night’s Date was memorable in that we spoke to Dr Karl! We went to Dymocks to buy me Empires of the Word by Nicholas Oster, and when we went to pay for it ($75!1), Dr Karl was sitting there signing a stack of books, Dis Information and other Wikkid Myths: More Great Myths In Science. This is his new book, just out, I gather. For people unfamiliar with who I’m talking about, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (Dr Karl for short), appears on radio and tv talking about science. This sounds awfully dry and dull, but Dr Karl is anything but. I guess you could call him a science populariser. He has a great show on Triple J every Thursday morning where people call in and ask all sorts of questions. Dr Karl often knows the answer to the most bizarre things, and gives the answers in a really engaging way, which is what makes him so good to listen to. I never get to listen because I’m at work, but I think I might subscribe to the podcast version of the show.
Anyway, M noticed first that it was Dr Karl. I didn’t recognise him at first, because my Celebrity Spotting Radar is underused (last time it worked was when I spotted Michael Stipe eating in the Universal Bar! That was years ago now). As soon as M pointed Dr Karl out to me I started frantically thinking of a question I could ask him. Of course, I couldn’t think of a thing to ask, but decided I had to at least talk to the Great Man, so I blurted out, “I can’t think of a thing to ask you!” The brief conversation we had:
CW: I can’ t think of a thing to ask you!
Dr K: Go on, you must have something you want to know.
CW: Nope, I can’t think of a thing…
Dr K: Oh well then I must sit at your feet and learn from you seeing as you know everything! [was he being sarcastic??]
At this point I laughed and told him I’m a librarian. (Or was it M who told him this?)
Dr K: Ahh, you’re one of the gatekeepers to knowledge in the 21st century!
CW: [Laughing again – Gee I must have come across like a simpering fan git] Ooh you’re making it sound a lot more exalted than it really is! [I’m not kidding, I said “exalted”! *Smacks forehead*]
M: [At the same time, in response to Dr K’s positive view of librarians] Isn’t that the role of Google??
CW to M: You’re sleeping on the couch tonight! [Jokingly of course, I was on a roll by now!]
At this point the Dymocks person finished processing my purchase, so we said goodbye to Dr K and left.
Thinking about this interchange still makes me giggle. If I could ask him a question now, I’d ask how he knows so much. What does he do to keep learning new stuff??
1Got a nice refund from the Tax Office and had to blow some of it on something. Not very frivolous though, is it??
3 Comments
Oh dear, that was quite funny. You’re right, the guy is charmingly engaging. I used to miss listening to his show in the early days of London. Although now that i am back, i never have the opportunity to listen anyway… *sighs*
Cool – heh, always love to hear about celebrity encounters because I live vicariously through them. 🙂
Cherry, all Carl’s shows are podcast now as well. No excuse to miss them 🙂