Snowed In This Weekend?

Stranger Than Fiction is on DVD and it is one of the most beautiful films I have seen in a while. Will, Emma, Maggie and Dustin are all wonderfully created characters.

I am sorry I missed this one in the theatre...but I was spared a tear stained face in public as the credits rolled on my TV.

Rent This DVD.

Oscars, Lesbians and DeVos

I found this news item in the Grand Rapids Press on Monday after the Oscars.


Enjoy.

Just Outside My Window

This is what I see out my window almost everyday.

I just wanted to share how amazing Winter can be in Michigan.

Photo Credit: Downy Woodpecker and a Red-Bellied Woodpecker at feeder, 2007

That Sinking Feeling.

For some reason I have been missing my dog Madison a lot this week. (It was a rough week.)

I decided to share a few favorite photos of my old girl. She could melt my bad days away.

I miss her so much.

Pfleghaar Posts My 2000 Documentary

Michael has informed me that he has posted the 2000 documentary I directed about the creation of his large oil on canvas artwork, "Living Large"

Please enjoy and drop a note here if you enjoyed it. I guess due to You Tube guidelines he had to post it in two parts so be sure to catch the whole doc.

I am very proud of it.

Part One


Part Two


For info on Michael's art, visit:
www.pfleghaar.com

Thank You to the Unknown Sender

Ok, someone who reads this blog has been having fun over the past few months and I decided this is the best place to thank them.

When I was in the hospital a fun card arrived saying, "We almost got you" This was delivered by a cartoonish character of Geroge W dressed in a grim reaper outfit.

Since that time the cards keep coming and I still find myself puzzled over who to thank.

So today I offer up my sincere thanks to the one who is making me laugh during this time of pain and healing.

I am adding a photo of the recent card. Note that the typing of my name is the same for all the envelopes and so I am not able to track it by handwriting.

He or She is a clever person indeed....and Thank You.

Tommy

So Long '06

I can pretty much go out on a limb and say no one is happier than I to kick 2006 to the curb.

Over the new few weeks I hope to start to contribute a bit more to my blog.

Until then, Hello 07.

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad Holiday Season

It is Christmas time again.

And how nice it is to see the rematch battle of Christmas v. Happy Holidays has been determined by Wal-Mart.

But before the madness of 4 AM big box store specials, the endless muzak of the Jessica Simpson Cali Home for the Holidays CD or even the annual race for an overpriced manger side Jerusalem hotel room takes hold, just take a deep breath and relax.

It will all be over in 25 days.

It Just Happened...

Hello.

I woke up and realized I just got a year older today. How did it sneak up on me so fast?

I count myself very lucky to have so many close friends in my life. This support has been inspiring during these last few months.

The best gift I have recieved are the friendships that live on through the years.

A New Day (Post Election Morning)

Our voices have been raised and the time to lead has arrived.


Step up.


Be a part of the change.


This moment we rise to shine in our communities and the world.


We have a lot of work to do but Americans have proven we are up for the challenges of doing what is great.


Step into your community so that the great work can begin.


No act is too small.

Vote Today | Go Jennifer

Hello.

Just a quick note to remind one to be sure to vote today.

As I recover here at home, I will spend the day resting and probably watching political movies on the tele.

If you have a favorite film, please post it here.


(Photo: Tommy with Governor Granholm at September 2006 event)

Resting at Home

Hello all.

Nurse P here letting you know Tommy is still recovering at home from his accident. Thank God for Comcast On Demand movies and Netflix. It is a nice way for him to pass the time here at home.

Many thanks to those who have reached out to him during this time.

(He even discovered one of his favorite campy films of all time on TV the other day. Look closely in the photo.)

Tigers Away Game Rain Delay

( big yawn )

Hello.

I am still recovering at home. And during this period of rest, it has been nice to be able to have a front row couch seat to see the games.

I appreciate all the notes on my blog and am truly touched by everyone's generosity during this time of healing. You are all amazing.

So during the away game rain delay, everyone can get some rest as we get ready to root, root, root for the home team. (Peanuts and Cracker Jack optional)

Go Tigers!

Short history of the song Take Me Out to the Ball Game from Wikipedia

"The words were written in 1908 by Jack Norworth, who while riding a subway train, was inspired by a sign that said "Baseball Today — Polo Grounds". The words were set to music by Albert Von Tilzer, although neither had ever seen a baseball game. (Norworth and Von Tilzer finally saw their first Major League Baseball games 32 and 20 years later, respectively.) The song was first sung by Norworth's wife Nora Bayes and popularized by various vaudeville acts."

The Homecoming Weekend

I want to thank all who have written, phoned, or emailed over the past two weeks. Your kind words of encouragement and acts of kindness truly have moved me.

For those GPS enquiring minds, I am finally back home and it is very true, "there's no place like home"

I have a long way to go to reach normal.

When trying to reach me, please allow me some space to respond since I am focused on dealing with my pain at this time. I do promise to respond to my email as soon as possible.

But today please know I am thankful for your support.

( good night )

zzzzzzzzzzzzz


Photo Credit: Apple

I cannot sleep.....

What I am missing at home....

Michael sent me a few images of what I am missing at home. Enjoy.

- Tommy

All Things Considered "Mary"

I cannot sleep this morning so I snapped a pic from my new rehab hospital, Mary Free Bed. Over the past week I have been in terrible pain as I try to sleep.

And while I am sure I will fnd much to laugh about down the road, right now, there are few broken pelvis jokes to laugh and chuckle about today - "So I am tossing in my bed tossing and arrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhh! " (One gets the picture.)

But while on my "Breezy" Wheelchair ride to my rehab class, I stumbled on this historical item and thought I would share it here on the blog.

History of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
"Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital originated in 1891 when a small group of Grand Rapids women recognized the need for medical care for patients of limited financial means in our community. They embarked on a fund-raising campaign to secure the use of a free bed in one of the local hospitals. The group solicited financial support from the Grand Rapids community, asking for contributions from everyone named Mary, as well as from those having friends or relatives with the name.

They soon raised enough money to endow a free bed, which subsequently became known as the Mary Free Bed. "

The nurse just popped in to say I should turn out the light. I might as well since I have to retype everything four times due to my inability to write under these circumstances.

Thanks again for all the nice comments and cards. It really keeps my spirit light.

BLOG INTERACTIVE: a "Mary Chain - anything and all things Mary"

1. Mary by Scissors Sisters

Peak-A-Boo Hoo Hoo

Me: Alive and Kicking / My Car: The Jury Is Still Out

I must be brief since I am in terrible pain.

As I was leaving work last friday, I was involved in a head-on collision.

So I am down for the count.

I am posting a few pics of my Honda Element.

Still Cool - The Full Editorial

In the October 2006 On The Town Artistic Expression column, my full editorial was honestly scarificed to the limited space avialable. (It happens when the subject runs high on my word count.)

So in the interest of not being silent on this issue, I will reprint my updated editorial here for those who wondered how I really feel about Dick DeVos'ill advised plan to cut the Cool Cities program in Michigan.

These are my words and thus my opinion as an columnist who has spent the last two years covering this program. The interview with the Governor can be found on Page 22 of On The Town.

Still Cool
by Tommy Allen

Just a little over two years ago I was granted the opportunity to sit down with Governor Granholm as she unveiled her Cool Cities project. This visionary project recognizes that a community that embraces and values the youthful creative spirit can be translated into real dollars for a community. Two years later, the project is working.

On the eve of her re-election bid, her opponent, Dick DeVos has said in a Detroit Free Press article that the Cool Cities project would be cut if he were elected. (6/8/2006)

In the eyes of one who has written about this program and the positive impact it is making on Grand Rapids, this would be a terrible shortsighted mistake. For one to sacrifice this program to partisan grandstanding is dead wrong.

This tactic is nothing new for those in the arts as we are forever sacrificed as not being valued come election season. Programs, arts education and even cultural grants, all become causalities during an election year.

When those in the arts raise their voice, they are told to sit down or have the opinions discounted as not being grounded in reality.

So as I spoken with many voices within this community, many on the street express concern that the arts and the creative cool we bring to this region is in real danger.

But losing the much-desired under 40 demographic is not the only “brain drain” casualty. It has been reported that for the emerging medical mile to be a success, it will need a strong creative environment to attract the medically “creative” professionals to Grand Rapids.

For those who think that this program should be measured in dollars and not human capital, I point them to the On The Town August 2006 piece where we reported that in 2006-2007 over 10 new development projects totally $178,000,000 in investment would commence around the Division Avenue Cool Cities project.

Grand Rapids has come a long way over the 25 years I have been in this town. To single out Cool Cities as a frivolous program is just a misguided out of touch statement by a politician equally out of touch and looking to capitalize shamelessly by preying upon the arts.

The artist (and those who love art), understand the arts are tremendous force in this community. The Cool Cities program has brought many exciting changes and deeply enriched the fabric of our community.