I don't think I've ever seen any of his stand up but I've read a few of these blog posts of his and I enjoy them. They're entertaining and I get some insight in to the world of standup comedy that otherwise I would be oblivious to. If you've not seen his Star Wars Fillibuster, it's pretty remarkable. Check it out.
Feelin' Kinda Patton is the name of the album he recorded at the 40 watt. It was on HEAVY rotation with my brother and I back in A2. Chrissy used to get pissed at me for saying "GAAAAYYYY" - a direct rip from that album. Needless to say, I recommend it. The beginning starts with a fast shoot from the hip style comedy, but he finishes with some of the most brilliant long winded characterization/situation type comedy that's been released in the last few decades. "Robert Evans", "Tom Carvel", and "Oil paintings" are Patton at his absolute best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkN226PToig
The first time I popped that CD into my car was a few days after I broke up with my fiancee. I was driving home when the Robert Evans bit came on. I was laughing so hard that I couldn't see. This is a bad thing on route 128 (the major orbital expressway around Boston). That album got me through one of the hardest years of my life since college ended. If I ever meet Patton Oswalt again, I really should have a nice gift ready for him. He's definitely on my Jackson List. Jackson List: people I'd hand a $20 bill (president Andrew Jackson's bill) if I ever met them on the street. I wouldn't even say much else: "you're Blah Blah? Your X really spoke to me. Here, have a nicer dinner. You're more than worth it." When I was poorer, I'd give those people snacks. Now I can give them straight cash and not waste their creative time.
I think a hand shake and a thank you might go over better than handing someone $20. Just a thought. I know what you mean about an artists work helping you through something. I dated a girl for 5 years and when we broke up, I was all discombobulated. That's when I discovered Wilco and really dove in to their music. Songs like Via Chicago with it's lyrics I dreamed about killing you again last night and it felt alright to me really stood out. Also, I should mention that the you in that lyric never seemed like it was someone else but rather "me". Anyways, art has a great capacity to either divert our attention away from our current suffering or to give it a voice when we can't. I think I will have to check out that Patton Oswalt CD now.