World of Weird Al Yankovic

!0 years ago this week, Party All Night by Jeff Foxworthy, directed by Al, was number 1 on CMT's Top 20 countdown.

I have a question, and I thought you guys would be my best answer.

I bought this birthday card at Target a couple weeks ago that I was going to send to CPFoA when Al's birthday gets closer. It has two pictures on the front, split, one on the top, one on the bottom. On the top, it's a picture of people entering heaven and an angel saying "Welcome to heaven, here's your harp" and handing out harps to people in line. On the bottom, there's a picture of people entering hell, and a devil saying "Welcome to hell, here's your accordion" and handing out accordions to everone, and one guy walking away with an accordion strapped to him like "huh?" On the inside it says "Welcome to middle age. Here's your blues harp." I was going to write "To the most heavenly accordion player I know!" in it, add "almost" in between "to" and "middle" because he's not 50 yet, and then maybe cross out harp and put "accordion". I'm just asking whether or not you guys think Al would like the card and if I should send it to him.

If it's the Far Side card, he may get that one every year.

True. Yeah, it does look like the Far Side drawing style, so I may or may not send it to him. But who knows...

If he does get it every year, you'll be part of the tradition.

Cool! Then I most definitely might.

Ok, I'm going to post a pic of someone using this machine to better illustrate what I'm about to say:



This machine helps work the abs and lower back. The object is to pull back on the handles, keeping your arms straight, until your back is resting on the backrest. The folks at Curves have decided to add a pause during the use of it, where you're supposed to say "One Mississippi, two Mississippi" once you've moved back all the way. Then, you move forward, then quickly pull back, and pause again, and say that again. You do that for however many reps it takes until 30 seconds are up. Anyway, my point in posting this in here is, I prefer to say 'One "Weird Al' Yankovic, two "Weird Al" Yankovic'. *in my head, of course*

OH MY GOD!

Today was Karaoke Night at my school! (Only about 15 kids, counting me, were there!) I wore my Weird Al shirt, which I had a debate about my Queen shirt or Weird Al shirt....Weird Al shirt won! Yay! Anyway, we were allowed to be out of dress code, THANK GOD!

Anyway, I worked up the courage to sing a song....I searched. NO AL! BOO ON THEM! I ended up signing Radio Ga Ga. I sucked, but OH WELL! I think Karaoke Night is about sucking!

I ended up talking to a parent and a fellow classmate in my Business class, and then she saw my shirt and said that her half-sister was dating a guy who was related to Al! She said that she had a picture of them (And probably still does) of them at the prom together, and then she said she asked her step-dad who that was and why his last name was so weird, and then he said he was a nephew to Weird Al!

Then, I said, that Weird Al had no brothers or sisters, but it may of been a cousin.

The parent said the picture was from 1996, and stuff like that, and she would get further information for me! She said that it was in Tampa or Vero Beach. I think she said it was Tampa when her half-sister and this guy went to the prom!

Wow! What do you think of it?!? Although, it may be false, I just had to spit it out!

This is a copy of a letter I sent to Al about my experience during Katrina and how his music helped me through it. I jsut wanted to share it with you guys.



Dear Al:

My name is Karen P. I live(d) in New Orleans, although I grew up in Southern California and I’ve been a fan of yours since your first Dr. Demento airplay.

Throughout my life, humor has been what got me through some very rough and stressful times, and your work has been especially helpful in bringing me laughter when it was most needed. Never had it been needed more than last month when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans (coincidently, one year to the day from when I saw you perform at the House of Blues).

I had not intended to stay behind when I realized that a category 5 hurricane was heading straight for us . Unfortunately, I am unable to drive due to a visual impairment and, because of phone problems, I was not able to reach anyone with whom I could have gotten a ride. Gut instinct told me NOT to go to the Superdome. I did end up getting a room at the Hilton, which was within walking distance of my house. While at the Hilton, I was fortunate to have been in a room that remained intact through the storm. Afterwards, I returned to my house, happy to see that there was only minimal damage to the roof and no flooding on my street. By this time, no outside traffic was being allowed into the city, and so there was no way anyone I knew could come and pick me up. While I did have enough food and water to last me well over a week, I had no electricity, the heat was miserable, and there was a very scary element running around outside my door (My house is just a few blocks from the Wal Mart that was cleaned out by looters, and I could hear fighting and gunfire every day and night). After nearly a week, the National Guard came and rescued me. I am now safe and staying with friends in Baton Rouge for the time being.

The reason I am telling you my story is that because, in a way, you made my situation a little easier to get through. I had a little battery powered radio and CD player with me, both while I was at the Hilton and back at my house. While I spent most of the time tuned in to the news, once in a while I just needed to hear something different so I would play a CD. When I did, it was usually one of yours because I just needed something that would make me laugh and forget the chaos for a little while. Believe me, Al, it helped. For that, I thank you.

I sincerely hope that, when we rebuild New Orleans, you will come here and perform again. The soul of this city may be jazz, but the breath is laughter.

With deepest thanks,



Karen P.

PS The one song of yours that I kept coming back to for some reason;
“Why Does This Always Happen To Me?”