I’ve been trying to get a photo of Boy Z’s (we call him Fang now) broken tooth for ages, but it’s hard enough to get the front of him in the viewfinder these days, nevermind his teeth. But I strapped him down yesterday and got the photo that he’ll be talking about in therapy in twenty years or so.

Won’t matter though, because I won’t be around. In fact, this could very well be my last post ever. I seem to have contracted some sort of Antipodean Death Plague and it’s all I can do to tap out these words with weak shaking fingers. It’s been nice knowing you all and I’m grateful now that I did the post about my funeral music when I did – prescient indeed.

For my last post, I’ve got another interview for you all. Unfortunately, it’s just an interview of me. I don’t usually do memes, but I saw this interview meme on People In The Sun and I’m a sucker for a bit of self-importance. So, I asked for some questions from my buddy in Baltimore and what follows is our ‘conversation’:

PIS: You gonna have another baby or what?

AFM: Why on earth would I want to do something like that? You have one, when’s the last time you made it out the door to work with a clean shirt? When is the last time you spent a Sunday afternoon reading a good book? When is the last time you spent a whole day without talking baby talk at least once. Double my misery? Are you shitting me?

PIS: If you had one day to have your hair back, what style would it be?

AFM: I’ve kind of come to terms with my hair loss, I’m not going to obsess about it or join up with the Rogaine, hair replacement and toupee crowds. But that’s not the question. If I had it back… I never wore a mohawk, I think I’d go with that for a little while – just to establish my punk rock credibility.

PIS: How come you’re not a nerd? Or are you? Or are you just one of them inter-lectuals?

AFM: I don’t know the answer to this question. I was definitely a nerd in high school. I don’t know what a nerd is anymore. Isn’t it a good thing these days? Does it make me a nerd to not know what a nerd is? Probably.

OK, I’ve googled “What is a nerd?” Here’s what Wikipedia, the arbiter of everything, has to say:

Nerd is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age inappropriate rather than engaging in more social or popular activities. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers, or will tend to associate with like-minded people.

Well, that sounds a fair bit like me. So…

PIS: When was the last time you were violent?

AFM: What the hell are you talking about, fucker? Do you want to step outside?

Seriously, though, I’m a pacifist. The last time I was in a fight I was probably 13 or so. I suspect that I would have lost. I’m also a bit of a wuss and, apparently, a nerd.

PIS: What do you feel guilty about?

AFM:  I don’t really do guilt, I think that it’s kind of an unnatural emotion thrust upon us by four thousand years of Judeo-Christian badgering. I have a few regrets. Actually – with apologies to Paul Anka -  regrets, I’ve had a few. But then again, too few too mention. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption.

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Now this interview meme reminded me of something that Neil at Citizen of the Month started last year. He called it the Great Interview Experiment and it basically involved a lot of bloggers interviewing each other. I got totally sucked into it and not only did I meet a couple of bloggers who I still read today, but it inspired me to keep doing interviews – mostly of musicians and scientists -  something that still fills space on A Free Man today.

Well, with apologies to Neil, I would like to revive the Great Interview Experiment. Call it Interview 2009. I’d love it if you guys would participate. It’s a great way to meet new bloggers, learn a bit more about some of your favorites, to get some attention for your site and to feel, even for a moment, like a celebrity.

Here’s how it’s going to work. Leave a comment telling me that you want to play along. I’ll interview the first person to comment.. That person will post their interview on their site and then interview the second person who comments. That person will post their interview, and in turn, interview the third. The only way that it works is if everyone holds up their end of the bargain. If you have no intention of doing an interview yourself, then don’t bother commenting. I’ll post links to all the interviews and sort of moderate things. If it takes off, I’ll set up a separate page on my site with links to all the interviews. If it doesn’t take off, well, my self-esteem will take a hit. But I’ll probably be dead anyway, so what does it matter. Remember – The Pogues.

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Sid Vicious’ version of “My Way” can be found on “Sid Vicious Selected Favorites” available from Sid Vicious - Sid Vicious Selected Favorites.

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