11/20/98 - We're out in New England right now, it's fun. I'm not shaving, so my face is all scruffy lumberjack. It fits the climate. The shows are fun, my exhaustion is giving way to a new sort of goofy delirium, and consequently I'm finding new things in our songs and shows. Mostly I've just been just dancing more than jumping around. I can't dance very well, but that makes it sort of fun. The people coming out to shows are so great, it's nice seeing our friends close-up and not surrounded by people that don't get it. I'm not sure I could show anyone on a spreadsheet that this tour was a good idea, but that just goes to show you can't trust a spreadsheet or a formula for important things. This tour has been about less tangible things; sharing secrets, breaking patterns, saying hello. And it has been wonderful for that.
That said, getting home will be nice. After this last handful of shows, we're taking a break and sort of regenerating, thinking about things. The spring, in full metaphor, will bring new life. Not sure of the shape or color yet, but I definitely feel pregnant.
One big change will be the way we communicate with all of you. Essentially, it will change from the direct e-mail system to a more web-based thing. We'll still send regular updates, but they'll be more like invitations to go and check out this or that new fact/fiction that's been put up on the site, so you can choose whatever info you want, as opposed to having it forced into your e- box. Basically, we'll designate a place that we can all go to and ask questions and have them answered, and schedule times to go and chat for fun, and all sorts of stuff. I love the relationships I've developed writing back and forth, and I just want to make it a bit more of a community thing. So whether it's a question about lyrics, or a great story you have to share about meeting us in whatever city, or that you cried listening to the songs, or that you want to tell me off for some goofy thing I did, or you want to know about where you can get T-shirts, or an idea you have for the way we're communicating, or what your opinion is on the latest ridiculous scandal, or that you think Johnny is extra-sexy, or whatever, we'll all talk to each other. And you can answer each other's questions, and we'll always be stopping by to answer too. There will be places that we'll post any extra-curricular stuff, like voting ideas, reviews of music, writing you submit, all that. In general, we're going to make sure there's at least ONE place that we all know to meet, just a cool Far home to visit. It will be fun, and keep it personal, and let it expand.
Meanwhile, this address WON'T be happening anymore. We'll visit the existing message boards for the time being, until we get the real deal in place. So basically, keep a watch on your favorite sites for further info.
Oh yea, the music. The next couple of months will bring neat stuff there too. We're reissuing some old stuff that people are always asking for. It's coming out on Vagrant Records, it's gonna be called 'Growing Up In Sacramento'. We're trying to finish it up right now. There's also gonna be that Pixies comp I talked about before. For Sacto folks, there's a local benefit CD that we recorded 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' (you know, the huge 80's thing) for, with a bunch of local musicians helping out.
Like I said, we're overwhelmed with the closeness that we've developed with you and everyone we meet out here, and we'll never take it for granted, and we'll always look for ways to light that up. So see you soon, talk to you soon, have a great holiday season. - Love~Jonah/Far
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