IN THE ISSUE
Mr. Mysterio’s Hoboscopes
The
Vendor Writing
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Since The Contributor started in 2007, more than 3,200 different vendors have purchased $2.3 million worth of The Contributor and sold over six million copies, generating over $15 million in income for themselves.
In 2019, our C.O.V.E.R. Program (Creating Opportunity for Vendor Employment, Engagement, and Resources) was the natural expansion of our mission of removing obstacles to housing. We now offer full case management, assistance with housing and rental expenses, addiction recovery, health insurance, food benefits, and SSI/SSDI assistance. We see the one-stop-shop team approach radically transforming a vendor's image of self and their place in community.
Contributors
Contributor Vendors Katie and Matt Tie the Knot
Matt and Katie met at a bus stop in Erie, Penn. on Dec. 18, 2017. They say they had an instant connection and four days later they began dating. In 2020, they traveled to Nashville to visit Matt’s son. In Nashville, they got stuck, so they decided to try making a home here.
For the first three months the pair was able to stay in a hotel, but eventually they bounced around between campsites, a group living situation and an abandoned house.
In July 2022, they found The Contributor. After selling for a while, they were able to get part time jobs at Panera Bread and also got
BY CAROLINE LINDNER
into housing. Then, Katie began experiencing some health issues that made working at Panera impossible. The two decided to try selling the paper again now that they had a little more stability. You can find them selling The Contributor most days at 5th Ave. and Spring St. from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Matt and Katie said they love talking to customers and said the key to success is being consistent. Sometimes they have people come by who tell them to “get a job” and they are proud to explain that this is their job.
They said they like selling The Contributor because it’s more than a handout. They have
been refining their business and even created Contributor “uniforms” to wear while they sell. They said they are trying to grow and evolve to better their situation.
The most recent evolution was when Matt proposed. They decided quickly that they wanted to have a Contributor wedding.
“The Contributor is family,” Katie said.
Katie and Matt were married after a Contributor breakfast on Nov. 5. Katie wore a black veil with gold sparkles and the men wore black Contributor shirts while the women wore yellow.
Rev. Zach Sasser, the pastor of the Down-
town Presbyterian Church, where The Contributor offices are located, officiated the ceremony. Contributor staff members brought flowers, made a red velvet cake and made sure to snap photos.
When asked if they had relationship advice for others they said it was important to communicate and be involved in each other’s lives.
“You can get through hard times by devoting time and respecting each other,” Katie said.
In the future, the couple said they would love to buy land and a couple of trailers to live in. They dream about having a garden, some goats, and living a self-sustainable life.
A Little Ambition
Written by Chris Scott Fieselman, Vendor #0015
Take on that second job at night. Get out of momma’s double-wide. A whole lot of change from one decision. Get yourself A Little Ambition. Remember what you’re working for. Cause, you deserve a whole lot more, Then a one room shack, with a real small kitchen. Get yourself A Little Ambition.
Get yourself A Little Ambition.
Don’t just sit around the house a wishing for, All those things that your life’s been missing. Get yourself A Little Ambition. Get yourself A Little Ambition.
You say that you’d rather be out there fishing. Well, catch that dream, catch that vision and, Get yourself A Little Ambition.
Now, friends may try to steer you wrong. It’s too much work. Takes too long. But don’t believe them.
Don’t you listen and, Get yourself A Little Ambition. Talk is cheap, I know you’ve heard. Action speaks louder than words. Make your hopes and dreams your mission, And get yourself A Little Ambition.
Get yourself A Little Ambition.
Don’t just sit around the house a wishing for, All those things that your life’s been missing. Get yourself A Little Ambition. Get yourself A Little Ambition.
You say that you’d rather be out there fishing. Well, catch that dream, catch that vision and, Get yourself A Little Ambition.
Now, remember this when you’ve been Blessed, To remember God with Thankfulness. For all he’s done and all he’s given, When you get yourself A Little Ambition.
Get yourself A Little Ambition.
Don’t just sit around the house a wishing for, All those things that your life’s been missing. Get yourself A Little Ambition. Get yourself A Little Ambition. You say that you’d rather be out there fishing. Well, catch that dream, catch that vision and, Get yourself A Little Ambition. Get yourself. Go on and get yourself, Get yourself, A Little Ambition. Get yourself, Get-get-get yourself, Get yourself, A Little Ambition-on-on.
Out of the Box and Over the Line
Written by Chris Scott Fieselman, Vendor #0015
That lottery ticket you hope will win’s like, Waiting for a ship that never comes in. There’s no free ride to happiness, And you’re never going to find, Over-night Success.
You can make a wish upon a star, But then call it quits, When it gets too hard. If you really want to make, Your Dreams Come True.
Here’s what you’ve got to do.
Step Out of the Box and Over the Line. Don’t wait for the knock, Get out there and find it.
No one to follow, then lead the way.
Tomorrow all depends on what happens today.
So, load up the wagons and hoist the sail. No looking back, when you’re blazing the trail.
Cut the locks of the ties that bind.
Step Out of the Box and Over the Line.
Now, they may say your way is crazy. Tell you that you’re wrong.
New and improved that begins with you,
May take a little while to catch on.
The someone’s doing something, A brand-new way,
Are the ones who make the world, A better place.
Like a fish that’s swimming against the tide. Do something different that no one’s tried.
Step Out of the Box and Over the Line. Don’t wait for the knock, Get out there and find it.
No one to follow, then lead the way.
Tomorrow all depends on what happens today.
So, load up the wagons and hoist the sail.
No looking back, when you’re blazing the trail.
Cut the locks of the ties that bind.
Step Out of the Box and Over the Line.
One man can make a difference.
Though, it’s not the way it seems. Sometimes it all begins with, “I Have a Dream.”
Step Out of the Box and Over the Line. Don’t wait for the knock, Get out there and find it.
No one to follow, then lead the way.
Tomorrow all depends on what happens today.
So, load up the wagons and hoist the sail.
No looking back, when you’re blazing the trail.
Cut the locks of the ties that bind.
Step Out of the Box and Over the Line.
THEME: THANKSGIVING
ACROSS
1. Fresh Prince: “____ ya later!”
6. Say “no”
9. “Nana” author …mile ____
13. Capital of Vietnam
14. The home of the brave, acr.
15. Increase rpms (2 words)
16. Like yesteryear
17. Rejuvenating spot
18. Like a solder at attention
19. *Pumpkin pie or pecan pie, e.g.
21. *Plymouth ____
23. Seek damages
24. Light on one’s feet
25. Like The Beatles
28. Certain blast’s origins
30. *What tom said
35. Iranian money
37. Precedes GPT
39. Water nymph
40. Wisconsin’s western neighbor
41. One tenth
43. Mountain, in Germany
44. The Statue of Liberty island
46. Cat sound
47. Instinctive motive
48. 1970s dance clubs
50. Do like buffaloes
52. Distress acronym
53. Opposite of genuine
55. Bow or bolo
57. *Moisturizing kitchen tool
60. *Turkey prepared certain way
64. Bottom line
65. Pub offering
67. Alley cat, e.g.
68. Extreme suffering
69. International help, e.g.
70. Bullwinkle J. ____
71. Fitness facilities
72. July-August sign of
Zodiac
73. More so than #12 Down
DOWN
1. Not barefoot
2. Gender checkbox
3. Peters out
4. Loamy deposit
5. Form a queue (2 words)
6. Head and shoulders sculpture
7. Venomous snake
8. Civil rights organization, acr.
9. Whole number between -1 and 1
10. *Biscuit baker
11. *She took away the football from Charlie Brown
12. Mentally quick, e.g.
15. Put trust in (2 words)
20. Respond
22. Website address ending 24. Eminence
25. *Deep-____, turkey prepared certain way
26. White condiment
27. Sheds tears 29. *Mayflower
31. Hindi courtesy title
32. Coffin holders
33. One of Florida Keys
34. Ruler sides, e.g.
36. Not of the cloth
38. Through, to a poet
42. Muse of love poetry
45. “Killing Me ____ with His Song”
49. Fraternity letters
51. Unwholesome atmosphere
54. Cattle enclosure in African village
56. Bar, legally
57. Unidentified aircraft
58. Niels Bohr’s study object
59. Without, ‡ Paris
60. Overhaul
61. *Turkey ____, 5K run
62. “At ____!” military command
63. Indigo user
64. “You’re it” game
66. Rest in state
Music Valley Archive Keeps OG Nashville Memories Alive Community Conscious Gift Guide 2025
If you’ve walked through East Nashville or sat down for coffee in a local cafe anytime in the past couple of years, you’ve likely noticed a passerby wearing a cool t-shirt — one with a retro feel, a niche Nashville reference and an undeniable vibe. That’s a tee from Music Valley Archive, the brainchild of lifelong Nashvillian and designer Hannah Pahl and her business-minded brother-in-law Tom Gilbert. Their designs are instantly recognizable and infinitely complimentable, with odes to the weird and wonderful Nashville locals love. From the West End Chili’s and the world’s most famous Parthenon, to the defunct Starwood Amphitheatre and the infamous Bell Witch, Music Valley Archive’s designs capture the spirit of an ever-changing city and the people who have stuck around to see it grow.
Tired of corporate jobs in and around the music business, Gilbert and Pahl took inspiration from other cities’ beloved local brands with national recognition — think I Heart New York — and wanted to create the same kind of iconic trademark merchandise for their Music City home. This was the start of Music Valley Archive, a way to combine the “Old Nashville” with the new, full of music, southern sass and homegrown charm.
“I think that we saw this opportunity to make something that helps people connect to, like, that real Nashville, whenever you want to call that, that old school thing,” says Gilbert.
Pahl adds, “There’s a lot of great communities here that we want to make something cool for.”
But Music Valley Archive doesn’t just represent Nashville, they give back to it. They’ve collaborated with a variety of organizations and causes around town, using their T-shirts to call attention and support issues in the community. The “Legalize Drag Brunch” tee donates five percent of its profits to the American Civil Liberties
BY HANNAH CRON
Union (adding up to over $3,000 to date), while the “Stand By Your Station” design donates 100 percent of profits to the preservation of local National Public Radio affiliate WNXP following the Trump administration’s defunding of public media. Through these projects and beyond, MVA seeks to keep doing what they can to protect and celebrate the city they are so proud to call home.
MVA also seeks to subvert what’s become the Nashville stereotype in recent years — a city that only makes radio-ready country pop and opens bars for drunk bachelorettes. They recognize the best parts of the city’s growth and evolution, while also harkening back to the vintage Music City that runs deep in their DNA. That’s what MVA does best, connect the Nashville of today to the one that’s alive in the memories of so many. They describe the everyday interactions with locals encountering MVA’s designs as one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
“Just to see someone light up and be like, “Oh, my gosh, I got married, like, on the General Jackson or whatever, just to be like, I didn’t know you two minutes ago and now we’re connecting, we’re thinking about like, oh, my grandmother used to take me to Opry land or whatever. It’s really special,” says Pahl.
OTHER GOOD GUYS TO BUY FROM
Bongo Java x The Tennessee Innocence Project’s “Grounds for Innocence” coffee https://www.bongojava.com/pages/groundsfor-innocence-a-coffee-collaboration-for-justice
The Innocence Project’s mission to bring justice in cases of wrongful conviction joins forces with one of Nashville’s caffeine staples, Bongo Java, on the Grounds for Innocence coffee blend. The medium roast contains notes of chocolate, orange and honey, with bags available
in a variety of sizes and in whole beans or preground coffee. Fifteen percent of the proceeds from each bag support the Tennessee Innocence Project’s efforts to compile evidence to free those who have been wrongfully convicted.
Daybreak Arts Art Pieces https://daybreakarts.org/shop-by-category
Daybreak Arts is a nonprofit art collective that gives those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity a platform for artistic creativity. They provide supplies, space and education to artists from a variety of backgrounds and allow them the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in galleries and sold for commission. There’s something in their gallery for every budget, from holiday greeting cards starting at $5 to original paintings, sculptures, collages and more.
High Garden Tea’s Friends of Shelby Parks and Appalachian Relief Blends https://highgardentea.com/products/ trail-magic?variant=44426115809333
High Garden Tea may not have a Nashville storefront anymore, but they are still an active and thriving part of the community. The local-favorite tea company has two unique herbal blends that benefit charitable causes. The Trail Magic variety is designed to both nourish and comfort with flavors of basil, stinging nettle, and elderberry. Trail Magic was created in 2024 in the wake of the devastating flooding in Appalachia in September 2024, with 100 percent of its profits supporting a rotating cast of Appalachian charities. To support an even more local cause, High Garden’s minty Shelby Bottoms Blend, made from herbs natural to the park’s environment, can be purchased in the park’s visitor center with proceeds benefitting Friends of Shelby Bottoms mission to preserve Nashville’s natural beauty.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Christie Cookie Tins https://www.christiecookies.com/category/for-acause-tins
Nashville’s own Christie Cookies are a nationwide favorite for corporate gifts and personal enjoyment alike. They offer a line of their famously delicious cookies in holiday-themed tins designed by pediatric patients of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the hospital.
Faircloth (formerly Nashville Blanket Project) Blankets
https://www.getfaircloth.com/
As the cold winter creeps into Middle Tennessee, there’s nothing better than curling up at night to watch the Snowbird report with a cozy blanket. Everyone deserves the warmth and comfort of their own blanket, and that’s the mission behind Faircloth, formerly known as the Nashville Blanket Project. Each gorgeously woven patterned blanket is built to last for years to come, making a great investment piece for anyone who loves quality textiles. Better yet, for each blanket purchased, one will be donated to a local nonprofit serving unhoused communities, because Nashville’s southern hospitality should extend to every resident.
Thistle Farms Various Goods https://thistlefarms.org/
Thistle Farms has a simple mission: to “challenge systems that commoditize, criminalize, and exploit women.” They do this by sheltering, counseling and employing women who have survived trafficking, exploitation and addiction, giving them an outlet to breathe and to heal. The products they sell in their storefront and online are made by these survivors, from their signature Love Heals candles and body care products to holiday decor, stocking stuffers and more.
PHOTO BY DIANA ZADLO
Angie Lawless is a local entrepreneur, an author, a communicator, and a lawyer by training. She was recognized as a Business Journal Women of the Year 2024.
After obtaining her law degree from Vanderbilt University, Lawless became an attorney at Bass, Berry & Sims, where she started getting involved in real estate. In real estate, she found her passion, and she moved on to co-found Wagon Wheel Title and Escrow, LLC, a real estate closing and escrow company, as well as Lockeland Insurance Advisors, LLC, which is a full-service insurance agency.
Together with her business partners Brandon Miller and Steve Morris, Lawless co-authored a book in 2022, titled Climbing the Charts: The Ascent of Nashville.
“The interviews that we engaged in when writing the book and talking to the people who have helped make the city what it is today were so fun and interesting — and just historic,” Lawless said. “I think when that was over, it became this voice in our lives.”
To fill that void and continue connecting with Nashville and Nashvillians, Lawless and Miller started a Podcast, also called Climbing the Charts.
“We are sitting down with people and just [learning] through that,” she said of the Podcast. “I think it’s part history and part curiosity.”
With your real estate background, what do you think about affordable housing?
Affordable means to me that people who are out there and who are making our city go, who are contributing to our city through their talents and their skills, that they are able to obtain a reasonable place to live that’s not prohibitively far from their employment.
People should be able to have a good job and a home where they can live, all within a reasonable proximity to Nashville. And so we have to have housing that is available at many different levels, not just at $700,000 and above. So for me, that’s what affordability means.
And when we get down to it, that probably even includes having housing vouchers to help people who do not have housing and need a little bit of a leg up. It also includes having enough housing for those who are not housed until they can work their way out of those situations.
It’s a complete spectrum of housing. To me, it’s not about defining it in any sort of way. People are always going to be at various places in their life. We’re going to rise up, and we’re going to fall down. It may not be as nice of a home when we fall down but [we ought] to be able to have a place where we can get out of the elements and be able to find comfort to start again.
You are currently serving on the Homelessness Planning Council. Why did you decide to serve on the HPC?
It is about serving where the city thought I could be upheld. When I was asked to serve, it was a time in my life when I had a bit of extra time to give, and I felt a real desire to
Q&A with Angie Lawless
BY JUDITH TACKETT
give back in Nashville. When the Homelessness Planning Council was mentioned, it made so much sense for me because it was extending that affordable housing spectrum further. It’s a way of making sure that when we talk about Nashville and how it’s growing and how great things are, that we’re also remembering that there are a lot of people who need to be included and not forgotten.
It’s about looking at housing from a viewpoint of where is it working and where is it not working? And the Homelessness Planning Council definitely gives me a front row seat to some of both — some public-private partnerships where it does seem to work and some where it just isn’t working.
Talking about affordable housing development and homelessness solutions across the city, what is going well and where do you see opportunities for improvement, especially as we are facing potential federal funding cuts?
Where we’re getting a lot better as a city, from what I’ve seen, is collecting data. We continue to improve that data. Nashville is a city where we have a lot of people who really care and are passionate about homelessness as well. So, I think the data, and then also a lot of members of the Continuum of Care who really passionately care, who give their time and give people a hand when they really need it. I love that about our city.
I think where we could do better when we look at the federal stuff, every time we have an administration change, the overarching view of homelessness changes, which then sends every-
body scurrying to figure out what guidelines we are supposed to follow to get federal money to help our folks who are hurting, whether that is Housing First or whether we look at addressing particular issues before people are able to be housed. I believe in Housing First, but I also think switching back and forth really takes a lot away from being able to have one system and using it for a while.
This year, we’re spending a lot of time being diverted away from what we know because we’re just unsure what’s coming down the pipeline. So, we’re having to anticipate possibly different paths and different avenues. That’s a real frustration.
I also think that we have seemingly a lot of different silos within this community where everybody has an opinion and a way that they want to do things. But we’ve got to find a way for the city, the providers, the developers, the community to get everybody rowing in the same direction, so that we can actually make a big dent and spend more time focusing on the actual issue and less time on who’s right or who’s wrong.
People are dying in the moments that we’re trying to figure out who gets to win that day.
Where do you see opportunities that you would like to see expand?
Maybe there is a public-private partnership that seems like it’s wonderful and should work. But we haven’t provided enough wraparound care, or the wraparound care has not been assessed. I’m not sure whether we don’t know what we’re up against, and how much is needed, or if we are not able to adapt to
it, or if we’re just not providing enough. It is not [sufficient] to just move individuals who maybe have been in an encampment for years and then move them into a home and expect that that’s enough. There are a lot of other wraparound services that have to come in and have to help.
If we have a private individual who is leasing their property or helping in a situation, we have to protect that interest so that we get good word of mouth and we get them to want to help other developers and landlords to be involved and to coordinate with us. We also have to make sure that we do not just leave it to the landlord’s property management. We have to have very intensive mental health and other wraparound services there, depending on the vulnerability of the individual.
I think everybody’s heart is in the right place, and I don’t have all the answers, and I respect the people who are really trying to make it work. But it seems like some things could be anticipated or planned more now. And then when we come to the point of needing it, we’ve figured out how to — we’ve got this team, we’re ready to go, and we know what it’s going to take.
Is there anything else you’d like to share? What makes life great for me is connection. That’s what I’m looking for — whether I’m making a friend or whether that’s talking to you or doing a podcast. It’s about these small moments of connection.
What I would like to see, at minimum, is find a way to help with the overall perception of homelessness. I don’t want to take away this thought of, “Oh, my gosh, I don’t want to look at this part of society.” I don’t want this [community] where people can walk by and not even notice that there is a human being sitting down. I want us all to really try to understand, because I don’t think we can paint a broad brush and just say, “Everyone has mental health issues or this person can’t be helped,” because I think that’s not true. There are great success stories out there. There are a lot of people who do not have at least major mental health issues. And so, I just would like to see every member in the community to get involved and reach out and just try to understand a little more. Whether that’s taking a tour of your neighborhood, hearing some stories or coming to talk to one of the providers.
How do you want to leverage your influence in our community?
It’s about trying to understand each other’s perspectives. I would love to try to get some of the different factions in this community to slow down enough and have actual conversations, to connect with each other to understand that there are limitations maybe on one side, or that there are some misunderstandings or whatever it is. And then the same with the other side. And try to get at least a little bit more of a streamlined approach in terms of how we’re addressing this issue.
HOBOSCOPES
SCORPIO
Whoah! Great vibes in here, Scorpio. Wait a second is this regular jazz or (gasp!) Holiday Jazz? I knew it! You tricked me into enjoying the playful piano and bass stylings of holiday jazz! It’s just so warm and pleasant, Scorpio, but I feel I must…resist. Ah! I can’t fight anymore! I’m actually having a pretty great time. Go ahead, Scorpio. Turn up the volume and pass me a cup of whatever nog you’re nogging on. Let’s groove to that hi-hat and practice un-cynically enjoying these easy pleasures as they waft our way.
SAGITTARIUS
As I’m stumbling into the airport, dropping my glasses and patting-down my pockets for my ID, I get a buzz from my phone that says my flight’s been delayed by 15 minutes. And once again my disorganized, scrambling lifestyle is rewarded with a breath of relief. Maybe now I’ve got time to swing by the newsstand for a lemonade and some very expensive almonds. Sometimes we plan badly and things work out anyway. That’s great, Sagittarius! But don’t let it stop you from planning better next time. Sometimes the fates are rooting for you. But you can root for you all the time.
CAPRICORN
The holidays are about family, Capricorn. Of course, so is Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 genre-defining horror-thriller Psycho. Sure, Norman Bates has an unconventional family, Capricorn, but who doesn’t? I mean, I’ve got a nephew who’s older than me and an aunt I’m not related to at all. And then, well, some people have creepy hotels to run and mothers who can’t be pleased no matter how hard you try. What I’m trying to say, Capricorn, is that the perfect family might be a myth. Spend your holidays with people who make you feel safe and have locks on the bathroom doors.
AQUARIUS
Whenever there’s a meteor shower I always think I’m gonna stay up late, drive south of town until the sky clears up, park on a dirt road, lay on the hood of my car and wait for the light-show. But usually I just fall asleep watching Dancing With The Stars . I mean, it’s cold out there and there’s wild animals on those dirt roads. But I do worry sometimes, Aquarius, that we aren’t getting enough wonder in our lives. If you can’t stay awake for the meteor shower, maybe spend some extra time staring at the clouds tomorrow. Or wondering at the average former TV star’s ability to samba.
PISCES
I was relieved when my flight was delayed 15 minutes. I stopped rushing and even got in the boarding line with time to spare. But now they’ve announced we aren’t taking off for another hour. Apparently, there’s a mechanic stuck in an overhead bin or something? Honestly, I stopped listening after the part about the hour. Anyway, Pisces, this is just your reminder that even when expectations feel reasonable, they’re only expectations. Whichever direction your disappointments hit from today, remember that this is a reality you can live with. It must be, because you’re here and this is reality. At least you’re not stuck in an overhead bin.
ARIES
And here we are at the crossroads. You could go forward. It is, after all, the direction you’re already going. You could go right or left. Both solid options. I’m not really sure where either road goes, but apparently somebody’s been down that way before. Or you could go back the way you came. Nobody would see that coming, Aries, especially the folks you passed on your way here. As an amateur astrologer, I try not to give advice that’s overly specific (how’m I doing?) all I know from The Stars, Aries, is that it’s important for you to notice where you are right now. And it’s important to acknowledge all the options.
TAURUS
My neighbor Bill is out there on the ladder with a hammer and a very long string of tangled lights. He’s got the big multicolored glass ones you can’t really find anymore and he keeps plugging it in and swearing to himself and the whole block as a few bulbs light up but not the rest. I see what’s happening here. He’s got one bulb out and it’s keeping the whole strand from lighting up. At that point, Taurus, all you can do is go one bulb at a time until you find the culprit. It might take a long time, but I think it’s worth it. You’ll find the thing that’s getting in the way of your natural brilliance.
GEMINI
My flight got delayed again and now it looks like I might miss my connection in Cleveland. Which would mean I couldn’t get to my parents house till tomorrow night. But if I swap flights now, I could change planes in Louisville and be home before 10 p.m. But if I miss the transfer, I’ll have to rent a car and probably wouldn’t arrive till Thursday. There are too many possibilities right now, Gemini. And I can’t say whether this is the time for you to jump or the time to stand still, but I would like to point out that every hour that passes there are fewer options on the table.
CANCER
You don’t have to wait, Cancer. And you haven’t missed your chance. Everybody tells you it only happens once and you have to do it right and make it special. But I’m telling you now, you can have Thanksgiving for any meal on any day. Green bean casserole for breakfast on a Monday? Go for it. Cranberry sauce with stuffing and gravy smashed into a roll to eat in the car on the way to the gym? Totally appropriate. The only rule, is that you have to express some gratitude in that moment. So thank the pumpkin for its delicious pie, and gobble it down for elevensies. You are in control.
LEO
When I was a kid I used to worry that my whole life was just an experiment by aliens. My family and friends were just six-eyed green blobs disguised as earth people running experiments on me to see how I would respond. I’m mostly over that now, Leo, but it does point to a question I still can’t get past. How much do we really know anybody else? How much does it matter? As long as we keep trying to be known and sincerely listening to what comes back, does it matter what’s in that black-box brain of the other? That’s the work this week, Leo. Tell the world who you really are and try to assume the world is doing the same.
VIRGO
Well, Virgo, my flight got cancelled. They said they can get me on another one tomorrow, but at this point I think I might just call it. I’ve got the next three days off and I think I’m gonna stay home and finally reorganize my orb-cabinet. What might we accomplish, Virgo, if we let go of the plans that aren’t working and instead used our time for what we actually want? For instance, could you abandon your plans for tonight and come pick me up at the airport?
LIBRA
Who got the wishbone this year, Libra? Because I think I figured out how to beat the system. If I recall, the rules of wishbone are you grab one side, you make a wish, you both pull and whoever gets the big half gets their wish. But what if we both wished for the same thing, Libra? If we can figure out the thing we both need we could use the power of this mystical bird-clavical to bring about a mutually-assured victory! And what if we used that same strategy when deciding what to do with our time and non-bone resources? Just a thought.
Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a trained turkey baster, or a certified lightbulb changer. Want more? Visit mrmysterio.com Or just give him a call at 707-VHS-TAN1.
The Zine: The Contributor’s Latest Project
Many local residents in the Nashville area are familiar with The Contributor, but have you heard about our latest creative endeavor? It’s called a zine.
I describe it as a cross between a comic book and a magazine. It was recently named Nashville’s Best Nonprofit Art Project by the Nashville Scene! It has been successful, I think, because it is something new and different.
I have had the privilege of helping to create five zines so far, and I’ve been fortunate enough to team up with some amazing artists!
The first one is called Champion. It has also been referred to as the Beauty and the Beast zine. It features my Haiku and Tanka poetry, and the amazing artwork of a fellow Contributor vendor Wendell J. He continued the Japanese theme both in his artwork and in his lettering in the title as well as the ending.
The second zine I helped to create is Cattle Stampede. It is a true story from my childhood
BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
that happened at my grandparents house in Ashland City, Tenn., on the Chatham/Dickson county line. The back page even features a photo of my Pop and Grandma’s house. Looking at it now, I can’t believe I thought we were rich. I guess we were in all that mattered. This zine was brought to life by another talented artist, Benji Anderson. This one has often viewed as a coloring book by many young children.
The third zine I created was yet another true story in my life. It is appropriately titled, Driving Disasters. I guarantee after reading this one there will be NO DOUBT in your mind as to why I don’t drive, and if I may add: the world is a safer place because I don’t drive! Benji Anderson drew a vintage ‘69 Camaro on the front cover, which incidentally became my dream car because it was to be a gift from my future father-in-law until he realized I don’t drive. In fact, I’ve never driven a car — safely anyway — but I’ve ALWAYS had a thing for muscle cars.
Joke of the Issue
SUBMITTED BY HOWARD P., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
A Pastor went to the dentist for some new false teeth. The first Sunday after getting his teeth, he preached for only eight minutes. The second Sunday he preached for only 10 minutes. But the following Sunday he preached nonstop for nearly three hours until the congregation realized he couldn’t quit, and finally helped him sit down. Concerned for his health they asked him, “Are you OK? What happened?”
The pastor explained, “Well, the first Sunday with my new teeth, my gums were so sore that I couldn’t preach longer than eight minutes. The second Sunday I felt that I could go a little longer to ten minutes. But today I mistakenly put my wife’s teeth in and discovered I just couldn’t shut up!”
The Sky Wakes Up
SHAWNA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
Before the world begins to spin, The light comes gently creeping in. A whisper bright, a breath so wide, The sun returns, the dark subsides.
It stretches gold across the land. Like hope extended in a hand. The morning hums with quiet cheer, The day begins, the path is clear.
Each sunrise brings a second chance, A softer step, a brighter dance. It tells us all, in hush and glow, There’s still so much we’ve yet to know.
So lift your face, the sky is near, The light was always waiting here. And every dawn reminds your soul, You’ve made it back. You’re strong, you’re whole.
This zine has been especially popular to people in my area with muscle cars, especially Camaros.
The follow-up to that zine came about after I convinced another vendor, Keith, to write about the feral cats he takes care of every day. After listening to the stories he would tell on a regular basis for some time, I convinced him to write a story about it. It was SO detailed it ended up being a three part series in the paper! I told him they were SO good, you’ve gotta make a zine! He told me, “I wrote the stories for you, if you liked it so much YOU do the zine.” So I did! This one was illustrated by someone I’ve come to think of as “The Zine Master” or “The Zine King,” Paul Collins.
The last zine I’ve done to date came about after participating in a writing exercise in our poetry class. It’s entitled Wishing Well and it deals with something we all need: clean, clear drinking water. It also contains a map, and has a few unexpected gems hidden within the story. This
zine was illustrated beautifully by Phillip Willis. The goal when the project started was to create 12 new zines for vendors to sell. What are the results so far? Vendors and their collaborators are have produced 37 Issues of Unzine Nashville that cover a wide range of topics that are as different as the vendors themselves. Why not find a vendor near you and check them out? If your vendor doesn’t have any on hand, keep searching until you find someone who does, it’ll be worth the trip, and as an extra added bonus you’ll make a new friend! Or better yet, you could go to our exhibit at 223 4th Ave. N better known as The Arcade upstairs in room #56. It runs from Nov. 8 - Dec.13. There you’ll find ALL of the zines we have to offer as well as other original artwork, posters, poetry and even miniature art pieces that are truly unique one-of-a-kind. But don’t take my word for it, as much of it is hard to describe, you have to see it for yourself!
Art Crawl at The Arcade: Join Us This Month!
Milling people, excited curious customers, a history of the Contributor newspaper, gorgeous posters, original art. We had a full space all night long on Nov. 8th! People were coming and going, purchasing gorgeous art and intrigued by our zines.
Everyone forgot to eat dinner! Stagger Press, Will, Jeffery, Norma B, Wendell, Maurice (bucketman), freepressGma, Melissa Willis, Benji and many others came to celebrate each other and share in the bounty of creativity. Many events are planned in
BY FREEPRESS GMA., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
Gallery Events Schedule:
Artist showcase with Melissa and Philip: Thursday, Nov. 20, 6 - 8 p.m.
Zines 4 Kids: Sunday, Nov. 30, 2 - 4 p.m.
Art Crawl: Saturday, Dec. 13, 5 - 9 p.m.
Check out @UnzineNashville for additional gallery hours!
Gallery #56 upstairs at The Arcade during November and December.
Jesus Provision Ministries
When I first came to Nashville, I was homeless and I was walking around Nashville looking for something to eat on the Lord’s day (Sunday). I stumbled across this ministry called Jesus Provision Ministries (JPM). They were feeding the homeless, and I was drawn in to the feeding. I met first a wonderful God-fearing man named Patrick and we became friends. And the Pastor is a wonderful and truly God-fearing and very blessed and his wife is also a wonderful god-fearing lady. God bless. Thank you to all the other members and the volunteers. Every Sunday like clockwork, God willing, they serve the homeless every Sunday. I give this ministry 1,000 percent because you feel God’s presence and the love they bring to the service and to the feeding. God Bless
BY WILLIAM H, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
the whole JPM. I think they would love for you to check them out. I’m putting their information with this article (www.jesusprovisions.org). I
will be there every Sunday, God willing. Thank you and God bless. And God bless JPM ministries for doing God’s work and will.
