April 27th

Well over the weekend I got another sign of Americana at it finest. Judy had gotten a bad case of spring fever, and decided to clear out a lot of extra stuff from her houses. So of course the best way to get rid of it, we decided to have a yard sale.

So we spent Friday night pricing all the items for the next day’s sale. It was actually quite fun getting ready, and the anticipation of people showing up and buying all the chockies that had been cluttering up for many years at Judy’s house.

Saturday morning came, and we set up everything in her carport and driveway for the anticipated crowds. Well we waited and waited and only a smattering of people showed up. We even had put up signs around the neighborhood and on Judy’s car in the street, but still the people didn’t come.

It was interesting though what the people who did come decided to purchase or pass up. A lot of the stuff that we thought that they would snap up wasn’t even touched, it so tough trying to even predict what people want. Most of the people were nice enough, but I think my favorite person who came by was our very first customer of the day. If was this little old lady who showed up to the house about 7:15 AM, Judy and I were just starting to set up stuff for the sale. The lady looked around at what we had, and picked up a few items and then asked me if we would negotiate on the price since she didn’t have much money. Of course I just wanted to get rid of this stuff for Judy, and a happy customer is a customer who spends a lot of money. After finally deciding on a price, she opens her fanny pack and low and behold had a nice thick wad of cash in there.

Oh well who am I to question?

After eight hours we decided that since we didn’t have enough customers for the day, so we will probably try to do the yard sale all over again in three or four weeks. (Yes I know, but hey it’s a good way to spend a day outside, and we can work on our tan, well I can, Judy I think is forever pale).

Ok on a side note here’s something a little interesting, today the American run Iraqi government released the new free Iraqi flag. I’m attaching a image of it to the side here, Is it me or dose it look a little too much like a certain other middle eastern country which the US has very tight tight ties to, and is not to popular in that region? Any guesses of which flag I’m speaking about? One hint Hava Nigelia…. If you can't figure it out, drop me a line.

(Once you guess correctly, you will sit there and think, “Gee I wonder why we are in so much trouble in Iraq”)

Ok that’s it from this side of my mind

Peace

Mike

April 22nd

Man where is the time flying to? I’m sitting here thinking about something to write about for the website and realize that time is just passing me by faster then I can even begin to think about. It just feels like it was yesterday when I was telling everyone that I was going to be moving to be giving up Seattle to move to Atlanta to stay close to William. Now it’s a year and a half later and it’s just like now starting to hit me that it’s been eighteen months now since I left the Pacific Northwest for the land of peaches and cream.

It just feels like it was yesterday when I was hanging with David, Val, Nick, Janna and Gena getting ready to play trivia on Monday nights. Talking about philosophy, and the ways of the world over Japanese food in Wallingford with Jim. Talking my daily walks around Green Lake (rain or shine) with Ann. Some times when you have memories they always seem better then they actually were. You always remember the good things in life and they just make you sit back and smile. I’m glad to have those experiences and had them build on everything I have experienced since. Eventually I’ll go back to see everyone, it’s just really weird it’s been so long. I’m also though looking forward to sharing these experiences and share the new memories with both William and Judy. Just the thought of showing them both the Flying Fish at Pikes Place Market or the view from Space Needle would merit the trip. Oh yeah and showing Judy what real mountains look like would be worth it.

It’s strange how much time has passed by already, the move out here has been totally worth it and the strength that has been build between farther and son can never be replaced. Sometimes I might feel unsatisfied or restless with life and then think about him and boom everything comes right into perspective. I just sometimes have to listen to my own advice and look at the world and go Hakuna Matata (it mean’s no worries, shame on you if you don’t know that one already).

Anyway sorry to be rambling tonight, Think it’s better then dwelling on the government, terrorists, the economy, or how bad the Mariners are doing this season already.

Hope your doing well; I’m about to make it last call and slide into bed…

Peace Always

Mike

April 19th

Sometimes I just totally want to scream, today was one of those days when I had all these great intentions to work on a few projects around the house and then sit down and continue on the design and development of the new Kalico Productions web site. Of course I had no problems with the smaller projects around the house that I have been neglecting a bit over the past few weeks, the one good thing about being around the house most of the day, you actually have more chances to get creative with your surroundings, and not make up excuses of being to tired from being in the office all day.

Well after feeling very good about working around the apartment I started working on the icons for the new website, I ended up working on them for about two to three hours strait, and was starting to feel really good about what I had come up with. But then disaster hit, I guess too many people in the apartment complex had their A/C turned on (to save themselves from the warmer weather and tree pollen) and we got hit with a series of power surges which made the computer crash and everything I had worked on previously was wiped out completely. Nothing like two hours work gone in a split second. Oy, the joy of the electronic media. Oh well I’ll try it again tomorrow; already have a few new ideas to change from what I worked on today. Once the site is viewable I’ll have a link on the site.

Ok enough of bitching about the computer for the night, now onto some fun stuff. I have a confession to make to everyone, I Michael Faber am an addict. (Before you get your panties into a wad keep on reading), well as I was saying, I Michael Faber am an Addict. My addiction of choice (well not really a choice) is EBay, Yes; I have finally come out of the closet and am admitting that I love EBay, it’s so incredible you can literally get anything you can imagine, or as I like to refer to it, a giant garage sale on my computer. Who would of thought I could of found a Pinky and the Brain salt and peppershaker anywhere else? Yeah there’s some junk on there, but man it’s so much fun rooting through it to find that diamond in the rough. Judy and I get so much into it that we have started to contemplate selling on EBay, and making it into a second income for us. Hey why not, we can sell chachkes as well as the next guy, and it’s still kind of fun. Any suggestions for what we should sell would be welcome by all.

One last thing before I go, was reading online today that the White house was thinking about lifting the restrictions that only travelers with tickets were allowed through security at airports throughout the country. Before September 11th 2001 your family or friends were able to meet you at the gate as you were coming off the airplane or to see you off. Since then restrictions were put in place that made it that you had to meet anyone outside of security in a huge crowd of all of the other travelers. One of my favorite things when I used to travel was coming off the jetway and seeing a familiar smiling face waiting to greet you (or being really annoyed at people stopping right in the middle of everyone to greet their loved one’s, hey I’m selfish what can I say). It was just a little more personalized back then, and made it more exciting to fly, I hope we can regain a little bit of that magic, I think society needs it.

Ok that’s it for tonight, hope you had a good weekend

Peace

Mike

Here's a little song from Weird Al to go with today subject matter..

EBAY (to the tune of "I want it that way" by the Backstreet Boys")

"Yeah

A used ... pink bathrobe
A rare ... mint snowglobe
A Smurf ... TV tray
I bought on eBay

My house ... is filled with this crap
Shows up in bubble wrap
Most every day
What I bought on eBay

Tell me why (I need another pet rock)
Tell me why (I got that Alf alarm clock)
Tell me why (I bid on Shatner's old toupee)
They had it on eBay

I'll buy ... your knick-knack
Just check ... my feedback
"A++!" they all say
They love me on eBay

Gonna buy (a slightly-damaged golf bag)
Gonna buy (some Beanie Babies, new with tag)
(From some guy) I've never met in Norway
Found him on eBay

I am the type who is liable to snipe you
With two seconds left to go, whoa
Got Paypal or Visa, what ever'll please
As long as I've got the dough

I'll buy ... your tchotchkes
Sell me ... your watch, please
I'll buy (I'll buy, I'll buy, I'll buy ...)
I'm highest bidder now

(Junk keeps arriving in the mail)
(From that worldwide garage sale) (Dukes Of Hazard ashtray)
(Hey! A Dukes Of Hazard ashtray)
Oh yeah ... (I bought it on eBay)

Wanna buy (a PacMan Fever lunchbox)
Wanna buy (a case on vintage tube socks)
Wanna buy (a Kleenex used by Dr. Dre, Dr. Dre)
(Found it on eBay)

Wanna buy (that Farrah Fawcet poster)
(Pez dispensers and a toaster)
(Don't know why ... the kind of stuff you'd throw away)
(I'll buy on eBay)

What I bought on eBay-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-"

April 15th

Well today is that day many people have come to fear across the US, no not night when the final episode of the Apprentice is shown, I’m of course talking Tax Deadline day. So many people sweat out their taxes to the last minute; gather receipts, trying to figure any last minute deductions. I had actually played with the idea of going down to the post office and seeing how many people are rushing in at last minute to get their return postmarked by midnight. (God I need a life).

Over the past few days I have been fortunate enough to get to spend some extra time with my favorite person in the whole wide world, why that of course would be William. Getting to spend so much time with him over consecutive days makes me wonder sometimes what I am missing out on. But it also shows me how close the two of us have come over the past year of so. It’s so comfortable for us be together, and makes me realize that every time I doubt myself in my motives in life, he is the reason for being, and my existence in this reality.

Here’s a few new pictures of William and Judy’s Niece Hana taken a few weeks ago at Chuck E. Cheese, enjoy..

Ok my eyes are starting to creep close... I’ll talk to you soon Peace Mike

P.S. OK, here's today Blond Joke sent by Judy...

A blonde hurries into the emergency room late one night with the tip of
her index finger shot off.

" How did this happen?" the emergency room doctor asked her.

" Well, I was trying to commit suicide," the blonde replied.

" What?" sputtered the doctor. "You tried to commit suicide by shooting
your finger off?"

" No, Silly!" the blonde said. "First I put the gun to my chest, and I
thought: I just paid $6,000.00 for these breast implants, I'm not
shooting myself in the chest."

" So then?" asked the doctor.

" Then I put the gun in my mouth, and I thought: I just paid $3000.00 to
get my teeth straightened, I'm not shooting myself in the mouth."

" So then?"

" Then I put the gun to my ear, and I thought: This is going to make a
loud noise. So I put my finger in the other ear before I pulled the
trigger."

April 12th

Ok I have been unemployed now for a little over a week and a half now and boy I’m already going nuts. I’m trying to keep somewhat structured so I don’t go completely nuts. I usually spend the morning searching for jobs on various websites and newsgroups, and of course goofing around a little bit catching up the news from overnight (hey I do have to keep up on the comings and goings in the world to use for sources for my updates).

It was great having Danny here last week as a bit of a distraction, but today was the first day really that I was home alone, and boy did it hit me hard. I had planned today on starting to work on the new design for the website of Kalico Productions, but every time I tried to sit down and actually start working on the site, I found myself distracted or just not really interested in working on this project yet. In some ways it was just maddening because in my mind I wanted to work, but it was just not in my heart. I ended up instead reading for a bit (currently the Two Towers), cleaning the apartment, playing PS2 and listening in to the new Air America radio network. The one good thing is I have been starting to get the urge to start drawing again, so that's one plus.

I don’t really remember how I made it through this last time. I guess any suggestions that anyone could come up with to help me keep focused during this period in my life would really be appreciated. Send me any ideas here.

Thanks for listening as always

Peace

Mike

P.S. Our condolences go out to "Weird Al" Yankovic and his family on the loss of his parents' last week apparent victims of carbon monoxide poisoning. No one should loose either his or her parents that way. From all of us at Fabersplace our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Here's what Al posted on his website...

On April 9, my mom and dad, Nick and Mary Yankovic, passed away in their home in Fallbrook, California. It was the result of a terrible accident that morning they had started a fire in the fireplace with the flue closed, and were asphyxiated by carbon monoxide poisoning. Suzanne called me that afternoon on the bus to give me the news, so that I would hear about it before the wire services picked it up.

Needless to say, I feel pretty much the way you would expect me to feel shocked and devastated beyond words. I loved my parents so much, and this all still seems like a horrible nightmare that I can't
wake up from.

I want to thank my family, friends and fans for the incredible outpouring of love and support that they've shown me. It's wonderful to know that there are so many people around the world who truly loved my parents, and also nice to know that I am not alone in my grief.. I take some small measure of comfort in knowing that they died peacefully, and that they never had to suffer through the pain and loneliness of living without each other. I'm also grateful that they both lived long enough to see me happily married to Suzanne, and particularly happy that they got to meet our beautiful baby daughter Nina. She filled their lives with so much joy this last year. Nina may be too young to remember playing with her grandparents when she gets older, but don't worry, we'll have some great videotape to show her.

Many people have wondered what's going to happen with the tour. I briefly considered canceling some shows, but I ultimately decided that it would be better for me personally to continue working. Plus, I've heard from so many people over the years that my music has cheered them up in times of tragedy well, I thought maybe my music would help me too.

So far, it has. Going up on stage in front of thousands of supportive fans is a cathartic and somewhat therapeutic experience for me right now. I don't know if I can say that the concerts really take my mind off of the tragedy, but at least they give me a break from sobbing all the time.

Anyway, I have decided not to cancel any shows the tour will continue as planned. However, I have decided to put a moratorium on all interviews and meet-and-greets for the time being. I just feel like I need some time alone right now.

The funeral will be a very small, intimate service with only the immediate family attending, so please, I ask that you respect our privacy. Just knowing that your thoughts are with us at this time is more than enough, but if you care to contribute anything, in lieu of flowers, Suzanne and I suggest a donation to the Natural Resources Defense Council in my parents' name.

One thing I would like to ask everybody to do, though∑ please, go out and get carbon monoxide detectors for yourself and your loved ones. If my parents had had one in their home, there's a very good chance that they would still be with us today.
In fairness to the memory of my mother, I should point out some errors that appeared in the press. Although she was starting to have a problem with short-term memory loss (she was taking medication for it), my mother was never diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

As long as I'm pointing out errors that the press has made, it was my Aunt Dot who found my parents when she was bringing them lunch that day, as she routinely did (and not a group of relatives concerned that they hadn't heard from them in a while the family was close and caring and saw each other several times a day). Also, my aunts and uncles all live in separate houses (not together, as some articles implied), and for what it's worth, I am not represented by the William Morris Agency either.

I don't know how much else I can say about my parents that I haven't already said in interviews over the years. Although I always found it a little uncomfortable, my dad talked a lot about death. He mentioned a few times that he was planning to go on a diet so that his casket would be easier to carry.

I guess that's where I got my sick sense of humor from. And he was always talking about how much he was looking forward to seeing his old army buddies again (in the next life). I sure hope they're having a great reunion right now.

As unthinkable as this tragedy is to me, I just know that my mom and dad were very much at peace with the world and with their lives. And I guess I can take a small amount of comfort in that too.

Thank you all again for your overwhelming kindness and support. It means more to me than you can ever know.

Love,

Al

To view the actual site go to Weird Al.com (the site has been very busy so it might be very slow).

April 11th

A lot of noise has been going on lately about “Selling Out”. What exactly is selling out exactly, and what am I referring to? The other day I was listening to NPR about they had a whole talk show talking about did Bob Dylan sell out when he did a TV commercial for Victoria’s Secret. A lot of callers were torn about it, many felt that he came across as a dirty old man not per say a “sell out”, while others thought he’s going against everything he stood for in the 60’s.

This of course got me thinking, what makes a “sell out”? Overall I pretty much think that any artist that actually gets to the point of getting their medium out to the general public for money becomes a “sell out”. Yes, sharing their “art” with others is what most artists want, but once they sell their first works they officially “sell out”.

I love it when I hear someone say “I used to like XYZ band before they sold out”. I would usually think hmmmmm, maybe it should be that they became more commercial and less original. If you ask most unknown or start up bands, why are they are performing, they usually come back and say “for the record contract, and the chicks” (unless it’s a female band and they say for the guys).

Of course selling out is not completely not a bad thing, it dose get your ‘art’ out to the masses, and if you stay true to what you believe in and people dig it that’s a plus. When you have to actually change your work to appease corporate society that’s what I consider a real ‘sell out’, almost like losing one’s soul.

Now do I think Dylan sold out, no not at this point in his career, technically he has been a sell out since he released his fist album. Do I think he’s a corporate sell out now since he did the Victoria Secret ad? No, I don’t so since they remained true to his music, and didn’t change it to fit the commercial, I think if they would of changed the song to “Knockers on Heavens Door” that would have been a little different.

Over the past week, I have been hosting my nephew Dan who was on spring break. I showed him a lot of what Atlanta has to offer, lots of cool CD shops, Little 5 points (the funky section of Atlanta) then on Thursday we spent the day at Six Flags Over Georgia and had a blast. Here’s an image of us on Superman Ultimate Flight Roller Coaster. I’m the one with the big smile on his face…

Tomorrow’s update will be with the three movie reviews I have been meaning to write over the past few weeks (Hellboy, The Ladykillers & Hidalgo)

Talk to you soon, and so glad to be eating bread again (I know I broke Passover when Danny showed up).

Peace

Mike

April 5th

Ok, is anyone as screwed up over the time change as I am, yeah it’s cool having a few more hours of daylight, but man the waking up part is going to take a bit getting used to. I usually consider myself a night owl, usually staying up late working on projects, playing PS2 or just catching up on my reading.

Last night I found myself totally wired and just letting the clock pass me by. Before I knew it was after 2am and found myself still wide awake. Oh geeze I thought, it’s early still yeah it was really only 1am so I kept on reading till almost 3:30 in the morning, before starting to feel tired. Then when I finally get to bed I still couldn’t sleep right away, man am I a creature of habit sometime.

This morning getting up was almost a nightmare. My alarm was set for 8:30 (i.e. 7:30) but didn’t really get motivated to be moving until the phone rang at 9:30 from a telemarketer trying to sell Kalico Productions term insurance. Then for the rest of morning I felt totally behind. Even now it feels like a chore to concentrate. It will probably take me a day or two more to get back on track. So I’ll just deal with it (think of it as traveling and going to another time zone).

Now onto my next trauma for the next few day the holiday most Jews have a love / hate relationship with Passover.. but that story will be for tomorrows update.

Hope your body clock is adjusting well and you can enjoy the march towards summer

Peace

Mike

Here's a funny joke I got sent to me..

Two Nuns

There were two nuns...

One of them was known as Sister Mathematical (SM),
and the other one was known as Sister Logical (SL).

It is getting dark and they are still far away from the convent.

SM: Have you noticed that a man has been following us for the past thirty-eight and a half minutes? I wonder what he wants.

SL: It's logical. He wants to rape us.

SM: Oh, no! At this rate he will reach us in 15 minutes at the most! What can we do?

SL: The only logical thing to do of course is to walk faster.

SM: It's not working.

SL: Of course it's not working. The man did the only logical thing. He started to walk faster, too.

SM: So, what shall we do? At this rate he will reach us in one minute.

SL: The only logical thing we can do is split. You go that way and I'll go this way. He cannot follow us both.

So the man decided to follow Sister Logical.

Sister Mathematical arrives at the convent and is worried about what has happened to Sister Logical.

Then Sister Logical arrives.

SM: Sister Logical! Thank God you are here!
Tell me what happened!

SL: The only logical thing happened.
The man couldn't follow us both,so he followed me

SM: Yes, yes! But what happened then?

SL: The only logical thing happened. I started to run as fast as I could and he started to run as fast as he could.

SM: And?

SL: The only logical thing happened. He reached me.

SM: Oh, dear! What did you do?

SL: The only logical thing to do.
I lifted my dress up.

SM: Oh, Sister! What did the man do?

SL: The only logical thing to do.
He pulled down his pants.

SM: Oh, no! What happened then?

SL: Isn't it logical, Sister?
A nun with her dress up can run faster than man with his pants down.

And for those of you who thought it would be dirty, say two Hail Marys!