Walls & Windows Exhibit

Last night was the opening for Todd Wozniak, Israel Davis and Nate Tonning at the Avenue of the Arts' Tributary Art Gallery.

This collection of ceramic sculpture & pottery was a breath of fresh air on the gallery scene that has of late become rather stuffy. While the guitarist played requests from the attendees, the art was clearly center stage as patrons would gather around the works in conversation.

Israel Davis' work was very whimsical in its fun presentation. While I will not try to unlock the mystery of his works here, I do believe it is important to see this show.

Tributary Gallery is headed by the Bouck brothers who along with other up start galleries on the newly named Avenue of the Arts are changing the art landscape of this town one show at a time.

For those who miss the early 90's energy of the Reptile House and the loft art openings from artist Nate Neering, this new group of galleries has revived that energy on this street.

Tributary Art Gallery
40 S. Division
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: (616)458-4124 (Call for Hours)

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Next Stop, Bethlehem (An Original Christmas Story)

Feel The Burn

Sometimes a picture says it all and after a long holiday of bottomless beverages, sugar laden treats and meals that spill into other meals, it is time to return to a healthy path and get back on track.

So good bye to the holidays and hello to the new year's resolutions.

Stay strong!

This is just wrong, wrong, wrong

I am pretty open minded about most things concerning religion but the sight of this new producct got me scanning CNN, FOX and the MSNBC to see if Jesus had returned and was at this very moment attacking the Kabbalah Center.

For those who missed the Bible story while smoking cigarettes in the church parking lot, Jesus walked into chruch one day and got so mad when he discoverd that the religious leaders had turned the lobby into a Wal+Mart of religious trinkets and potions.

Needless to say he went Rambo on them as he turned up tables and sent products flying across the room.

Kabbalah Water just smells funny and it ain't because of the tap they use to bottle this stuff. It was crazy enough that Target was selling red string Kabbalah bracklets last year but I can hardly imagine what comes next. I seriously doubt that I will be shocked.

So without any further comment I offer up this new product that even I have a hard time swallowing.

See The Actual Ad Here: Kabbalah Water

LOL Holiday Gifts

Christmas can be a season of big let downs and rarely does a gift come along that prompts such uncontrollable laughter, but Jon Stewart's America desk calendar did just that.

So thank you, Michael, for giving so many good gifts this year....but most of all a good chuckle.

(Click on the image above to see why this calendar had me in stiches.)

" Oh My God, I RUINED CHRISTMAS!!! "

I tend to do a lot of favors. I do these good deeds to tip the balance back to good. I feel no matter how small that these favors are worth the effort...even if the effort is laughable.

This year and like every year my good friend Dave coordinates the drawing of names for a gift exchange with his family members. And like last year I assisted in notifying the lucky family member who they were buying a gift for this Christmas. This year it was to be conducted via email with me pulling out of a large envelope each of the member's name.

My next step was just to copy to the individual emails Dave's approved text, "FAMILY MEMBER NAME will be buying for NAME DRAWN FROM ENVELOPE." Dave made every thing so perfect that even I could not screw it up.

I was near the end of this long list of relatives when a funny thought hit me, What Would Dave Do if all the gifts under the tree were addressed to him?

I hastily sent off a note to Mark his brother in law and soon the holiday prank was hatched. When I saw Dave's mother a few weeks later I explained to her how this would all work. I was not sure if she would go for it but judging by the email I received in my mailbox today, it worked like a charm.

So Merry Christmas, Dave. Thanks for having a generous humorous spirit this year.

- Tommy

Mr. Labotz's WWDD's 12/26/2005 Email:

Tom,

my family implemented what I'm told was your plan to convince me that the gift exchange had gotten completely bollixed up...... and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I immediately pictured you in your office, trying to put together the gift exchange emails while simultaneously talking on the phone, burning a CD, listening to the radio, and sorting through your paperwork. It was easy for me to imagine that things somehow went awry. When it looked like I was on the verge of spiralling into an "Oh my God, I've ruined Christmas!" type of depression, they let me in on the "joke".

Ho........... Ho............ Ho.................

At first I was hard pressed to appreciate the humorous aspects of the situation; my family did not suffer the same problem. Quite the contrary, as a matter of fact.

Kudos for coming up with a great idea; even I can laugh about it now.

Dave
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Next Stop, Bethlehem (Original Holiday Story)

All My Best To You.

Also, New Christmas Story HERE