January 15th, 2003

Do you ever have a day when you just want to crawl into a hole and not come out for at least a week? Today was one of those days. Nothing bad by no means but just no matter what I tried to do or any good intentions I had to get someplace early failed miserably. It’s almost like the traffic gremlin was out to get me today. This morning I had to be down in Marietta (a suburb of Atlanta) by 8:30. I gave myself an hour to get there from Canton. For no apparent reason at all traffic was backed up for over 20 miles, and ended up getting to my meeting 20 minutes late. Thank god the people I was meeting with got held up in the traffic also.

Then this evening I was to go see William for my usual Wednesday night visits, I gave myself plenty of time to get over to his house by leaving at 4pm but that damm Traffic Troll hit again. This time it took me almost 2 1/2 hours to get what would normally take only an hour. Again the weather wasn’t bad; it was just that the traffic here in Atlanta sucks. (We did finally make it to Chucky Cheese at 6:30). I always thought the 520 in Seattle or the 405 in LA was bad but I’m really starting to think the traffic here in Atlanta is worse. It has made some decisions a lot easier though for me. I’m definitely going to be narrowing my apartment search down to Druid Hills, Decatur or North East Atlanta. To bad though, so far my favorite apartment was in Sandy Springs / East Marietta, guess the search will continue.

I’m so tired right now that I’m not even going to bug you about there only being three more days till my birthday. All the good wishes have started rolling in, but only a small amount of people have been good enough to donate to the PS2 for 36 fund. There is still time to do your part, and say “Gee I made Mike a happy guy”. Act now before it’s too late.

Not much more to touch on tonight. A few people have asked me if I was happy with Joseph Lieberman announcing his bid to run for president. I’m assuming they asked me that with him and myself being Jewish. I turned around and told them in all truth that I don’t think America is ready yet for a Jewish President. I think we will see an African American, Asian American or Female President before we see a Jewish President. But you never know we just had a horn dog in office, and now have a clown. You just don’t ever know. If it comes down to him on the final ballot I would vote for him compared to Bush. Hell I would vote Fred T. Muggs before I would vote for Bush in 04. (OK, maybe not. I would do a write in vote for a shrub in that case).

Well I’m falling asleep at the keyboard. Hope your doing well, and don’t forget to take a peek at our new archives here at Fabersplace.com

Peace

Mike

P.S. I forgot to mention some really great new was released today that the n ew Harry Potter book "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" will be released on June 21st. Here's the full story.

January 14th, 2003

Hey all, it's just going to be a quick update tonight. I have added a What's New Archive currently going all the way back to 1999. Probably the archives will eventually go back to 1998 when I first started Faber's place.com. I know when I restarted the website back up last year that I wouldn't be putting pictures of Angela on the site, but I now realize that one has to accept the past to move forward. So I didn't want to surprise anyone when they see Angela back on the site. I did keep the old format of the pages to show how much the site has evolved over the years. Let me know what you think of the new addition. Also these pages will be the eventually be a lead in to the new About William page, mostly dealing with Cystic Hygromas, and what we had to go through to deal with his birth defect, and how others have coped with it, and eventually beat it (Coming soon to a Faber's Place near you). You can access the archives here or at the bottom of this page.

Just a little reminder that there are only four more days to help bring the joy of a PS2 to a very needy individual who slaves away night after night bringing you joy and entertainment. For what it would cost you to buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks you can bring many hours of senseless joy to a very deserving person. Won't you please help!

Hope your all doing well and staying warm

Talk to you soon

Peace

Mike

January 13, 2003

Today the Georgia state Supreme Court disavowed a law that had been in the books since the late 19th Century. You’re probably going, gee Mike it must have been a very important law to make it to the highest court in the state. Yes it was an extremely important law. One that should have been thrown out on it’s ear at least a 100 years ago. To be official since 1833, it has been a crime in Georgia for unmarried people to engage in sex. Even in the privacy of your own bedroom you could have been arrested for fornication in this wonderful state that I now reside. Yes it makes the thought of being with your partner a little more exciting, the thought that I was breaking the law. Geeze what an antiquated law were we looking at. To read the full story click here. It’s quite interesting what brought this case finally to a head (no pun intended).

Did a little more hunting today for a new place to live, and still nothing. I know I fill see the place and then boom go “OH MY GOD THAT’S IT! My Dream place”. It’s been right in front of my nose the whole time”. Of course I’ll let you know if I find something. Any suggestions would be helpful though, too.

I got to see William for a bit tonight, which is always a treat. We didn’t do anything special, just played for a bit then went to Toys R Us, it’s almost sensory overload for any adult (but still not as bad as Chucky Cheese), seeing so many toys in one place (ok I still love touching everything in there as much as William dose).

I’m hoping that everyone is doing well, and enjoying this fine year called 2003

Peace

Mike

P.S. Just remember a certain day is coming up in less then five days now. This day only comes along once a year, wouldn’t you like to make it a very special day all of us at Fabersplace? * HELP! PLEASE DO SOMETHING, HE’S DRIVING US NUTS WITH ALL WHINING ABOUT THAT STUPID PS2
-– THANKS THE STAFF OF FABER’S PLACE.COM

January 12, 2003

Well I am pretty much in apartment hunting hell right now, (and trust me when I say it sucks, I am not joking). This weekend was one of those weekends were all your plans change and you just looking at the sky and go "WHY ME". So instead of just sitting around like a total lump I decided to do something productive and start finding a permanent place to live. Roy and Ivy have very wonderful and gracious for me to stay with them for the past two months but it’s now time to start making some permanent roots here in Atlanta. (Also it doesn’t help that it’s 45 minutes into the city to do anything worth a lick of salt in this one horse town). So for the past two days I have been trying to find something that isn’t cookie cutter or too old. My requirements aren’t that too stringent. I just have to decide do I want funky or do I want responsible and safe for William. I want to have a two-bedroom place so that the little guy can have his own room. Which of course he will help design and set up (within reason of course), to make him more comfortable with my place. Its just mind numbing trying to find so many apartments and see if they fit the mold that you want. I know the people are just doing there jobs also, but man some these agents you just want to wipe the smiles off their faces when you tell them what you really think about the apartment. Oh well I’ll fill you in when it gets down to the last three choices and put the floor plans on the site.

Well as we see it now only six more days to my birthday and the pledges towards getting Mike a PS2 have been quite slow (ok dead is a better term for it). But come January 18th don’t you want to see a smile come across the face of this soon to be 36 year olds face. Many people have been enquiring about this fine cause, and wouldn’t you like to be part of this fine purpose. Don’t hesitate before it’s too late.

In the world around us a shocking news story came out of Illinois yesterday, remind me the next road trip I take to bypass that state.

Hope you had a great weekend

Peace

Mike

P.S. Here’s a great short essay I found on the web. Read at the bottom it to see who wrote it, you will be pleasantly surprised.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back,but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less.

We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.

A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. -- George Carlin 2002 (Yes, that George Carlin).

January 6, 2003

Wow, I’m still getting used to seeing that 03 at the end of the date. My bank is probably already pissed at me for continuing to put 02 on all the current checks I have been writing out. This happens every year, at least I’m not in school and the teacher calling out in front of the class and going “ Mr. Faber still thinks it’s last year still, would everyone please tell him what year it is now.” Ok so maybe it did traumatize me a little bit, but as they say, what doesn’t kill you, leaves you lots of material for your web site.

Today was one of those days when you just sit and watch it fly by from under your nose. I did get a lot of small projects done but alas still have so much more ahead of me. It was kind of funny I got an e-mail from a recruiter asking me if I was interested to do a six-month independent contract as a web developer for Microsoft. Alas I had to greatly say no to the position since it was in Seattle and the commute would totally kill my car. I was planning on taking a peek at the new reality series on Fox “Joe Millionaire” but couldn’t bring myself to stoop that low. I don’t want to see a pack of women sucking up to this guy just because they think he’s loaded. I can go out to any bar in Buckhead and see the same thing. I’m not really that much of a TV watcher anymore. I haven’t really watched much TV at all since coming to Atlanta. Heck I didn’t see how the Soprano’s ended. (Don’t tell me, I’m hoping to get the DVD’s when they come out next summer).

Well that’s about it from my little desk here at Roy and Ivy’s, tomorrow my Uncle Ed will be coming in for a visit, so it will be good to see him. (It’s been almost a year since I have seen him). Hope your doing well and I’ll talk to you soon.

Oh yeah one funny thing, I got this e-mail today from a William Faber (which was odd enough) he wrote me to tell me he liked the web site and that he has a uncle Michael Faber in Michigan. Well chalking it up to the weirdness that is my life. But it was very cool nerveless. That's two new Michael Faber's in two days, that's a new record. I might start a Michael Faber page on the site with names and pictures and contact (e-mail probably) of all the different Michael’s. What do you think?

Peace

Mike

Oh yeah only 12 more days to my birthday (bet you thought I forgot). Let’s see some of those donations start rolling in for my PS2.

Wonderings

Here are some things to make you go hmmm or at least make you wonder:

1. Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"
2. Who was the first one who thought that the white thing that came from a hen's butt looked edible?
3. Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp which no decent human being would eat?
4. Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
5. If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
6. Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?
7. If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?
8. Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't point to their crotch when they ask where the bathroom is?
9. Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?
10. Why does goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!
11. What do you call male ballerinas?
12. If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
13. If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?
14. If a man is talking in the forest, and no woman is there to hear him, is he still wrong?
15. Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window.
16. Why is it that when someone tells you that there are over a billion stars in the universe, you believe them, but if they tell you there is wet paint somewhere, you have to touch it to make sure?

January 5th 2003,

Well hello everyone, I hope to see the new year treating you well and hopefully all of your New Years resolutions haven’t been broken already. Things around here have been jumping right from the get go; I have had a few really good meetings concerning Kalico Productions, (new people maybe coming aboard, new possible clients, and maybe even new studio space, more on all of that as it comes more apparent in who, why and where, sorry to sound cryptic, but so is life sometimes). Also have had a couple of good leads from the full time job market world also. (Things do seem to be picking up, that way also after the first of the year, but I don’t want to curse myself quite yet). Will let you know either way what happens.

This weekend I took a great road trip to Jekyll Island; it’s located about 30 miles north of the Florida Border with Georgia. It’s a very secluded island and not very built up. About 100 years ago it was used as the summer resort for wealthy North Easterners like the Rockefeller’s and the Morgan’s. They build small cottages there to get away from the hustle and bustle. Ok when I saw small cottage I only mean like eight bedrooms, and only 10,000 sq. feet. It was their version of roughing it. The island now is mostly used for resort and historic preservation. But is so quite and peaceful, helps a person gather his or her thoughts and just be at one with the world. I snapped a few pictures of some of the sites on the island. I could definitely see a return trip in my future (it was only about 4 hours from Atlanta). Also the island is only about an hour away from Cheryl and Danny.

On the way back we stopped and explored Savannah. The city of Savannah is quite beautiful with unique architecture and fun little shops. To see a movie that fully represents the cities feel, watch “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997). While our wandering we came along a funky little café called Clary’s Café. We decided to grab some lunch their. While sitting at the table we noticed that on the menu it said about the name of the restaurant "Michael Faber’s Clary’s Café"I thought my eyes had gone bonkers. We thought it was some kind of goof or that I was pulling a joke on everyone. But the owner is actually another Michael Faber. This time he’s in his 50’s originally from Chicago. It was just too cool. If even in Savannah, GA stop by at either of his two locations I do recommend it, the food was great and the Matzo ball soup was to die for.

Well I’m pretty wiped from the weekend. I hope your all doing well. And remember only 13 more shopping days till my birthday, and that PS2 is still calling me. Remember every little penny helps. ;-)

Talk to you tomorrow; hope you enjoy the new pictures

Peace

Mike

P.S. My friend Anne sent this parody of the Attack of the Clones movie poster, way too funny. Enjoy.

To View The What's New Archives dating back to 1999 click here.

Are you another Michael Faber? Drop me a line to say hi and you will be entered in our database and I'll come up with some fun way on the site to celebrate all that is Michael Faber. As of today I have met 8 other Michael Faber's through my site. Come join the rest of us.