I just found someone saying placing this:
override_utf8_locale yes
in the conkyrc file should get rid of the A. Thread here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=760527&page=2 comment 19. Apparently I should have an option in my config file for override_utf8_locale with either a yes, or no, but I am unable to find that in my file.
Edit: ok I figured it out, and again thanks to you Pinguy. This line needed to be added to the .conkyrc:
# Force UTF8? note that UTF8 support required XFT
override_utf8_locale yes
Found it via a post by Pinguy (post 13003) here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=281865&page=1301 For one reason or another this seems to have been omitted from the current PinguyOS conky. Adding it again fixed the weird character issue.