Poolside

Over the weekend I found time to relax by the pool at the Parker. While the drinks may have been a bit out of my daily league ($25. for two drinks + tip), the ability to kick back and just read the afternoon away was right up my alley.

Currently I am reading Dry by Augusten Burroughs and am finding it not as funny as Running With Scissors. But it is still a good read.

I did find it a bit odd that I would have a drink in hand while reading a book about a gay man in rehab for of all things...alcoholism.

But at 30 bucks a round I have a better chance of being a candidate for financial couseling than AA. I do find as I get older the desire to be sober is stronger than ever before. Not from the standpoint that any abuse is happening but rather I want to be fully alive, fully aware of my life as it is happening.

I am getting older. But maybe not wiser.

This is such a strange period of my life but for now the sun is warm, the water cool and the magic of literature is dancing in my head. So since I am on vacation, I will let my mind wander to simpler pleasures.

So if you get to Palm Springs, a sleep over at the Parker is just what the doctor ordered.

LA Wonder

In every city it seems that I have a small tradition to perform surrounding local cuisine that I MUST do while in town. In New York it is a nice slice of deli pizza, in London a small little pub called the French House and in Glen Arbor it is the Lakers Shakes stand for a cheap malted milk.

When in LA it is clearly a stop for an In-N-Out Burger. One bite and you will know what I mean. I think the real secret is the layering of the ingredients.

So if in LA, one must stop by and partake in the goodness.

Enjoy!

On The Road Again...

After being up for nearly 23 hours on Friday, we hit the road out of LA today for Michael's show.

So along the way of life sometimes you meet some very old friends. Well, not actually our friends but a friend of a friend. (Bronty knew Mother Earth.)

Greetings from Palm Springs!

Spotted: Birthday Bad Habits

Not to worry, he is not a smoker. (He is just playing at the Pickwick with some friends on his big day.)

Happy Birthday Michael!

Just Outside My Home Office Window....

No words are needed today.

Music Video = Art

This is a very nice video with great visuals to match the lyrics.

Lucky Mutt Ketchup

Today is the 40th birthday party for my good friend Susan. Over the years she has hinted that all she wanted for her birthday was a batch of my homemade ketchup.

After harvesting the tomatoes from garden, I made three different versions of the tasty condiment to give her as a gift.

Lucky Mutt Ketchup was created in honor of my dog Madison who used to love to be in the yard while I gardened.

The three kethcup varieties I created include:

Red Ball Ready - a basic roasted tomato.
Post-40 Rescue - a very spicy chipotle flavored.
Smokey Spaniard - a spanish smoked variety.

I hope she will enjoy them as much as I did creating them.

Cheers!

Artist In Residence Show

This week was the opening for the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center's Artist In Residence show by Michael Pfleghaar. This is one of the largest exhibition of his work and should not be missed since may of these works represent the very best of his latest works.

Click here for directions to the Arts Center.
Click here to view Michael Pfleghaar's website and additional photos from the show.
























(Photos - from top - Partial View of Exhibit; Michael and Pflehaar.com designer Gwen of Plenty Creative; Charlie McGrath of Structure Interactive shows off his original Pleghaar T-shirt design; Meg of Forest Hills Arts Center, Michael, and arts agent Brenda of Art Endeavors.)

Last Days of Summer

I understand that the official last day of summer happens later in September, but in Michigan Labor Day is viewed by most as the end of the sunny season.

Pictured below are a few pleasures of these last days.

Enjoy. Savor. Exhale.

Or if sticking around in town.....

...go see Little Miss Sunshine.

With the 2006 summer film schedule clogged with so much vein blocking, steroid juiced celluloid junk, this film is just what is needed to restore one's faith in the power of American cinema.

This small film is big on laughs. So much so that even after the film, I found myself just busting out in laughter as images from the film popped into my head.

While this may not be a sweeping visual film on the level of Lawrence of Arabia, it is a film that spans the landscape of the human heart.

And like my friend Melissa said in an email, "At one point I (and everyone else in the theater) was laughing so hard – stomach pain hard. I guess anything that makes that happen is worth spending $8 on."

SEE THIS FILM!

Trailer: Little Miss Sunshine

Weekend Getaway Destination: La Becasse

As we head into the last weekend of summer, please consider a trip to La Becasse in Glen Arbor, Michigan.

This French restaurant located on a charming winding road on the south-east portion of Big Glen Lake is owned by my friends Chef Guillaume Hazael-Massieux and wife Brooke. Chef Guillaume of Paris was raised in the French West Indies and spent a few years in Western Michigan before purchasing this 18 year old gem of the north.

The food is wonderful and the French countryside atmosphere is very charming. I had the Duck Breast with a vanilla reduction and Michael had the Pork Chop grilled to perfection and served with a genrous portion of whipped potatoes.



After dinner, Guillaume and Brooke invited us to sit in their garden space right outside the restaurant kitchen's window. It was a great space to watch the staff prepare the food. It was also a great place to enjoy a bottle of jim Clendenon's Au Bon Climat's Pinot Noir. It was a perfect ending to a beautiful night of food, friends and clear night filled with endless stars overhead.













Chef Guillaume is a big fan of farmers markets and visits many of the local farms to secure the freshest ingredients to stock in his kitchen.

If you cannot make it this weekend, be sure to make a trip North in the fall. Yes, there will be Leaf Peepers by the busload in this part of Michigan, but getting a table in the midst of such autumn beauty should not be a problem and well worth the effort.



La Becasse, intersection of M-616 and 675, at the south-east end of Glen Lake, actually in Burdickville; (231) 334-3944.

Click here for a Google Map of La Becasse





Hunk Chef Guillaume - LOL

Big Harvest

Today was the day I decided to wander into the garden and make a big harvest of the ripe tomatoes. I had no idea how many I would have until I found myself nearly 30 minutes later with every possible container filled with the wonder of summer.

Over the past few weeks I have been harvesting a handful here and there but tonight it was the mother of all harvests.

I must say, this has been the biggest year I have had with my tomatoes.

Enjoy the photo, I am heading to bed...after I make a big bowl of red sauce.

A side note: It feels good to be back on line after a break.

Thanks to all who sent notes, flowers and emails.

It has been a rough few weeks but the thoughtfulness of so many has made these past few weeks a bit sweeter.

Warm thanks,

-Tommy

( blank )

MADISON

September 15, 1992 - August 3, 2006

Vous voir plus tard iChat!

In the coming days, my dear friends Brett and Marianne will be departing to their new home in France with their daughter Raven, the "yet to be titled" unborn child, and two very sweet dogs, Bean and Tofu.

Needless to say, I am bummed.

Years ago, we would laugh in our living room and toast our proclamations that we would be able to hang out at a moments notice because seeking a babysitter would never be an issue for either couple.

Well, I think it is clear how this played out in the coming months.

But now that our circle of friends has turned into Kids R Us marketing dream come true, we have grown accustomed to this new stage of our lives as well. (We love our friend's kids equally but I just wished Ella and Lola would smile a bit more for me. These twins are two tough cookies.)

The parting is a bit sweeter since we will be able to see each other after they depart next week thanks to a piece of software on every new Mac.

iChat will allow us to communicate via videoconference with our ex-pat friends.

So I will not say good bye to my buds, but rather sign off by saying, "Vous voir plus tard iChat " (see you later on iChat!)

The future, ahhhhh, can be a beautiful place to live.

Weekend Discussion Point: Permission Video

Ok, so it is getting too hot to do much in the day except enjoy the lazy days of summer.

If one finds some free time to wander about the internet, might I suggest clicking on the photo to the left and viewing a short piece sent to me via Google Video. (It is on You Tube.com as well)

I have to say the beauty of visual language is sometimes they take us to places we had no idea where we would land.

This piece made me step back and look at this issue in a whole new light.

So click, view, discuss (repeat)

MOVIE LINK: Permission on Google
OR
The Visit The Media That Matters Film Festival for this and other short films.

"Thanks Mary for sharing this clip."

Introducing.... Murphy Maxwell O'Rourke

The other day I got an email from a friend with an attachment I found compeling.

I think the issue of urban sprawl is an important talking point as gas climbs to record heights matching our environments rising temps.

But rather than focus on this issue, today I want to introduce, Murphy Maxwell O'Rourke, a MSU student, who will be looking for work soon after he graduates in May 2007. (Hell, he could do freelance work now if called to do so.)

If one should want to see more of his work, contact him at orourk26@msu.edu.

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW)

Tommy's Flick Pick: An Inconvenient Truth

from the fourth Book of Nightmares by Galway Kinnell

Dear stranger,

extant in memory by the blue Juniata,
these letters
across space, I guess,
will be all we know of one another.

So little of what one is threads itself through the eye
of empty space.

Nevermind.
The self is the least of it.
Let our scars fall in love.



(This just felt like the thing to post today. No words or images from me today)

Greetings from Chicago's Gay Games

Yesterday was the closing ceremonies for the Gay Games in Chicago. The company I work with did the staging and since this event only takes place every four years (and in different countries), I felt I should visit.

While I was having a bit of a bad day due to some not so great news 15 minutes to showtime, I did find that once the event began, my mood ligtened considerably.

I found the experience amazing as we watched 10,000 athletes march onto Wrigley Field and into the stands. The processional took almost a half hour.

The event also included cowboys dancing, comedians, The L Word cast and even Cyndi Lauper stopped by to show her true colors.

So I will shut up now and get in the shower. Enjoy photos from the road.

Cheers!


p.s. I loved that we could hang in the dugout with our pass.


Shopping Alert: The red "Wrestle Me" T-Shirt on Michael is available. See www.pfleghaar.com/sketchblog for details.

Dick Wants To Dick Cool Cities

In case you missed the story last month, Dick DeVos (R), if elected will cut the Cool Cities program in Michigan.

As an artist who has been following this project in Grand Rapids, the results promised are starting to appear. These positive first steps is part of the recovery beginning to happen in Michigan.

Dick Devos is terribly misguided to cut a program that is such a very small line item in the budget. And just like his flip flopping on the flag issue, I do not doubt he will try and retract his statement when the numbers begin to appear that this progrma is working.

He must feel the Arts are an easy target just like Gays and Women's reproduction rights.

But should DeVos buy ...er ...be elected governor in November, the Cool Cities funding and future projects that benefit our cities will all go away. (see Free Press Story here)

DeVos' camp has fired the first shot in what could become Michigan's next cultural war.

It is time for all artists and arts lovers to rally in their communities, Dick needs to be stopped at the polls this November.

Dick DeVos Before He Dicks The Arts in Michigan!

REGISTER TO VOTE IN MICHIGAN: CLICK HERE

"You Gotta Love Willie!"

While on an art field trip in 1981, I remember my travel mate Earl (last name forgotten) saying over "a smuggled in the hotel room" drink, "You gotta love Willie!"

I had heard of Willie Nelson's music, I had never heard such gushing over a singer before.

It was almost like he was saying that come what may, you must stand by this man.

Later in life, as I would listen to his music and watch his life, I would grow to understand the simple truth of this statement.

Two weeks ago I had the chance to see Willie Nelson live at the Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.

While I have always enjoyed his music, I have never been able to catch him live.

The setting for this show is an intimate outdoor theatre with plenty of grass.

Speaking of grass.... Willie, famous for his smokin' down on his bio diesel tour bus, was spot on as he ran through a marathon set list. His ability to hold the audience points to the showmanship that has made him an American Icon.

From a far I have admired his life.

As he has stood up to farmers, environmental issues, gays and world peace, the man has woven himself into the very fabric of what it means to be an American.

My only negative comment from the concert was that the one song I most hoped he would play, "Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth" was performed with his son's opening band.

The pace was hurried as he plowed through the three-minute tune. At this pace, the audio board also exhibited some problems keeping up with Willie as his lyrics became twisted or dropped completely. (Audio issues were fixed once Willie took the stage for his own set.)

Some of the key lines from this song include the beautifully articulated, "So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you. Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do?"

When this song was release, folks booed him because it was while we were in the first stages of the Iraq war. And while it never was officially released, it still made huge waves as folks burned his records in protest.

Recently, he stood with Gay people as he released two great tune from Brokeback Mountain and then release a special funny song on the iTunes site, Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other).

Responding harshly to the cowboy song a writer posted a comment on Nelson's site that "they were now going to burn all of their Willie Nelson CD's."

A staffer simply replied, "You went out and bought more of Willie's music after burning your entire Nelson collection in protest over the Whatever Happened To Pace on Earth song? We thought you did not have any thing left to burn."

(See, progressives can be funny.)

So for those who have not heard his hard to find "Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth," I am reprinting the lyrics below and then adding a link to a site with a piano version of the tune.

If one is also smart, they will discover how to get this track to their iPod.

In the end, folks like Willie Nelson give me great hope that when one lends their voice to the dialogue, we will shine a light of truth on the wrong being committed in this world.

It might be very Anne Frank of me to say this Hallmark style comment but we can make a difference. Willie, along with so many other voices, has subtly impacted my own world.

Here's the to the hero inside each of us!


Photo Credit: Holly - "Thanks for the great pics!"
LINK: Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth MP3
Lyrics: What Ever Happened to Peace On Earth
by Willie Nelson

There's so many things going on in the world
Babies dying
Mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth

We believe everything that they tell us
They're gonna' kill us
So we gotta' kill them first
But I remember a commandment
Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier's life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth


So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you
Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do

(Repeat Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

Now you probably won't hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there's a time, and if you're ever so inclined
You can always hear it from me
How much is one picker's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

But don't confuse caring for weakness
You can't put that label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets you free

(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

In Focus: An Inconvenient Truth

After sending off my August On The Town articles, I jettisoned off to Studio 28 to see An Inconvenient Truth. I have not been to film in some time and after weighing the options, I felt this was the one to see.

Turns out it was the right choice since it was eye-opening. Given how terrible I was doing last week combined with my no news fast and fragile emotional state, the film is one filled with a slivers of hope and humanity. I really do believe all the hype now.

A lot of documentaries can render one to a state of paralysis. This film was edited in a way to allow the viewer to digest each science portion only giving enough data for one to chew on for a moment before returning to the hard data.

While other filmmakers have tried to employ this technique, I think it works beautifully here.

In a funny aside, my father and I was talking today and he brought up that he takes 17 pills a day. As we talked about the film and he began to cast doubt since Al Gore was a part of it, I simply said, "Let me see if I get this straight. You trust scientist when they tell you to take 17 pills but scientisst who tell you to cut your environmentally damaging lifestyle you ignore?"

Until this moment I never saw the argument this way. It is fun sometimes to have a hard line right wing father.

Most times he ends our calls with a bit of laugh as he says, "You are my lovable liberal son."

For a hard liner, he can be pretty cool. And I am sure he imagines right after our calls I race out to hug a tree.

And just like I told my father to do, this film should be required viewing for every American.

Visit: ClimateCrisis.net

Spotlight: Amy Sedaris

Over the years I have enjoyed watching Amy Sedaris in various acting roles.

She is probably best known for her character Jerri Blank, a boozer, a user and a two time loser, who returns to high school at the age of 47. The TV show Strangers With Candy ran for three seasons on Comedy Central before being made into a feature film.

I do not want to be guilty of saying it is must see entertainment, but for anyone who remembers the silly drama of the afterschool special, this is just the ticket.

Be sure to also visit one of the best waste of time spots on the 'net, YouTube.com for further viewing of Amy Sedaris. Stand outs include her David Letterman interview from 2005, her PETA anti-fur video with Todd Oldham and the funny tumbling episode on The Colbert Report.

Its summer, so have fun and talk with food in your mouth!

One of My Hardest Assignments

Today I delivered an eulogy for a 26 year old boy who committed suicide. Since I had taken this kid, along with his aunt ot NYC for his senior grad gift, the family asked me to say a few words.

As I spoke with family members I learned how happy he was on that trip and how he always asked how I was doing.

He suffered silently from suicide and took the family off guard.

After delivering it I had a group of elderly ladies while eating white bread and ham sandwiches ask me if I did eulogies for a living. (Of course their miracle ear filtered out my intro where I said, "I have never done this before and do not know where to begin.")

I smiled and nodded a polite thank you. When pressed furthe, I then spoke again from the heart, "no, I would short out my keyboard from all the crying."

Scott was a very loving person and will be missed so deeply by those who met him along the way. I count myself lucky to have made the journey to NYC with him over 8 years ago. His family has always made me feel at home.

As i prepared to leave, the grandfather said, "You know we consider you family."

Not missing a beat I replied, "This isn't about me having to send you cards nad gifts now thorughout the year?"

We both laughed. The real test of family is if you can find laughter through your tears.

I need to rest now. I may publish a few comments here but doubt I will post the entire eulogy.

-Tommy

The Joy of Friends (and Lake Michigan)

"Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together"
- Woodrow Wilson

I love our gatherings at Lake Michigan. This event used to take place every week a few summers ago but life got in the way.

Now as friend's families begin to grow and the warmth of the summer sun is high, we again begin to gather weekly to enjoy the time we have to share with each other.

I love these moments.

(...and the water temp was perfect for swimming as the sun dropped below the horizon.)

I Am ( like ) A Greek God

Ok, I took one of those silly online tests and found out what Greek god I am most like.

While I do not usually get involved with these type of web projects, I was feeling a bit silly after the long holiday weekend.

And given my results, it was only a matter of time that I would take one of these. Destiny?

Enjoy and be sure to post your results if you are so tempted.

Which Greek God Are You?

Happy 4th of July!

Greetings from the Hollyhock Lane Parade - Michigan's longest running 4th of July Parade.

I used to live on Calvin Street years ago and always looked forward to this slice of Americana each year as it would pass right outside my window.

Now I return each year to be view this beautiful parade where neighbors and politicians walk down the road in celebration of this great American tradition.

But I am curious why Governor Granholm's marchers were not handing out any stickers. Every other candidate's team that marched today stickered the entire parade route.

It is not my intention to light fireworks during the day, but what is going on with her campaign? Anyone?

Cheers!
Tommy

Design Muscle's First Project

Today my good friend Jacqui and I became tired of waiting for progressive phrases to emerge through the current system.

So we formed Design Muscle to fill the void.

In the coming months look for other ideas and flights of fancy as we gear up for the 2006 political season.

Our first offering is a bumper sticker campaign to promote the fact that Governor Jennifer Granholm has done much to ensure a clean environment for Michigan.

Anyone who spends time in Michigan knows how important our enviroment is to this region and the sports minded folks throughout the seasons.

We encourage people to purchase these bumper stickers and place them on automobiles all across this state. (T-shirts avialable, too...but they will not fit your car.)

It is time to frame the debate by taking back the language we rightfully own!




Cafe Press Link : Design Number One
Cafe Press Link : Design Number Two