Inland Empire

Yesterday was Filmakker David Lynch's Birthday. With all the Social Media posts that naturally happened this post about Inland Empire caught my wandering eye. It stopped and made me reminisce about this piece of darkness and how much it really did get under my skin.

Whilst like most individuals Mullholland Drive is my favorite Lynch film, Inland Empire is a close second and the one that truly made my skin crawl (sorry Blue Velvet &Eraserhead)

There's a hoplessness within it, and a heartlessness that just, well, I don't know is hard to explain to anyone who hasn't seen it and even those who have can't quite put it into words. It does stick with you and frankly hasn't left since I saw the film when it first came out in 2006.

Laura Dern gives a virtuoso performance at the center of it all. I remember when David Lynch himself sat outside of Tower Records on the Sunset Strip with a banner and a cow (yes, a cow) touting Dern for a Best Actress Oscar Nomination.

So happy belated Birthday to Mr. David Lynch and in honor of it I'm going to rewatch Inland Empire again, it's time...

Inland Empire on Rotten Tomatoes -

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inland_empire  

Happy Birthday To Me!

It's My Birthday!
Michael Shinafelt

It's my 58th trip around the sun as they say. Many people do not have the gift of getting older. 

I have been given that gift today December 18th 2023.

Cheers! To the journey, I am truly a lucky guy.

Happy Birthday To Me!!! 

Follow me on my journey here -

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

 https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

The Big 80!

Mike Clifford

Today I'd like to give a Happy 80th Birthday shout out to friend and singer of many hit songs including, but not limited to "Close To Cathy" Mike Clifford!

Here he is pictured above at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA with a classic Kaiser Darrin sports car. "Yes" Mike loves cars and had one of his Birthday celebrations at the museum this past Friday.

He's also still making music, so let's all wish Mike a Happy 80th shall we? We shall!

Keep up with Mike at the links below and check out his latest video A Time For Love after the jump!

 Mike on the WWW -

https://www.facebook.com/MikeCliffordsWonderfulWorld/

https://www.reverbnation.com/mikeclifford6

Hump Day & Chill

Cheers!
Madonna

Well Minions how could we not Hump Day & Chill to the Queen of Pop, Madonna's 65th Birthday today? I ask you, OK fine don't answer.

"Yes" Madonna turns 65 years young today. It seems like just yesterday I saw her on a video screen for the first time (and not like a virgin) at the 18 and older club Skoochies in Seattle, WA.

Madonna has had so much influence in music and pop culture that I don't even know where to begin and end.

Thus let's just give a Hump Day & Chill toast to the best selling female recording artist of all time!

Madonna on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna   

Today's Your Birthday!

HBD!
Mariska Hargitay

OK, while I rarely do a celebrity Birthday post, today I felt compelled to do so because today is none other than Commanding Officer Olivia Benson of Law & Order: SVU's Birthday!

In basic terms Happy Birthday Mariska Hargitay!!! Law & Order: SVU is in it's 24th season and .happens to be my favorite show on TV, well, ever actually. So how could I not wish Mariska a HBD? I simply had to.

Doesn't the Birthday grrrrrl look great holding her People's Choice Award for the Drama Star of 2022? A testament to her and the shows enduring popularity. 

Born January 23rd in Santa Monica, CA to the legendary Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay, Mariska is 59 today.

BTW looking forward to this week's episode of SVU, well because it looks like Benson & Stabler finally seal the deal...

Mariska on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/therealmariskahargitay/?hl=en

The Spirit of 76

Today I choose to remember David Bowie on what would have been his 76th Birthday. Yeah, I know I rarely if ever do this, but there are very few people who have had this much influence over my life.

He was my very first concert that I went and saw without my parents. I have also been lucky enough to have met him. He came into the legendary Tower Records on the Sunset Strip when I worked there back in the day. He was everything you'd imagine he'd be, truly an amazing, humble being.

As I look back on my life, I know part of who I am today is because of Mr. Bowie. 

"There's a Starman waiting in the sky, He'd like to come and meet us, But he thinks he'd blow our minds" 

Keep on shining Starman, consider my mind blown.

David Bowie on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie  

Hump Day & Chill

The Many Faces Of Maggie
Maggie Smith

When I woke up this ayem Dame Maggie Smith was trending on Twitter. So Naturally I thought: OMG! Not Maggie Smith!!! Rest easy Minions, Dame Maggie is trending because she is 88 years young today.

Thus we are going to Hump Day & Chill by basking in the glory of all that is Ms. Smith...

While she has had a long and illustrious career, Maggie, as she has been be referred to, is best known for her role as Violet Crawley on Downton Abbey and professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies.

There's something about Maggie that adds that extra something, something when she graces the big or small screen. Always great and always memorable.

So get to it peeps, it's time to Hump Day & Chill to Dame Maggie and here amazing and varied acting career via IMDb! Click it!

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001749/   

Happy Birthday To Me!

Michael Shinafelt

Today's my Birthday. Fall in line accordingly... 

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

Celebrating A Legend, Judy Garland

Judy Garland

Today is the 100th Birthday of the legendary Judy Garland. I took these photos commemorating it at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery post yoga class there. "Yes" they have yoga classes there and Tyler Cassity owner and founder of the cemetery puts us yogis through our paces every Tuesday. The day I attended and took these photos.

Cheers to you Judy Garland thanks for the magic and the memories! 💕

Paying My Respect

Judy on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Garland

Hump Day & Chill

Candle In The Wind
Marilyn Monroe

Today is Marilyn Monroe's Birthday! Thus I propose we Hump Day & Chill to an image from my favorite film she was in The Misfits with Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift.

Here's the 411 on it:

"While filing for a divorce, beautiful ex-stripper Roslyn Taber (Marilyn Monroe) ends up meeting aging cowboy-turned-gambler Gay Langland (Clark Gable) and former World War II aviator Guido Racanelli (Eli Wallach). The two men instantly become infatuated with Roslyn and, on a whim, the three decide to move into Guido's half-finished desert home together. When grizzled ex-rodeo rider Perce Howland (Montgomery Clift) arrives, the unlikely foursome strike up a business capturing wild horses." 

Happy Birthday Marilyn!

Marilyn on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe  

Happy Birthday To Me...

Oh God! It's My Birthday! 

Today is my Birthday, well Happy Birthday to me! Not in a Melissa Sue Anderson sort of way either (although that could be interesting!) -

Usually every year I have something profound to say,  or some hot take on something that I newly discovered about myself.

Not so much this year. We are still coming to terms as to what the new normal will be for all of us. How this world will function when the dust has settled. 

Thus my Birthday Wish is for us all is to have our health, piece of mind and something that truly makes every one of us smile when we are down.

Wishes do some true and thus I decree that this is what you and I shall all have in 2022. 

So be it, indeed!

Join me on the WWW, won't you?

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

Celebrating David Bowie

Let's Dance!
David Bowie

Today would have been David Bowie's 74th Birthday. With 27 albums and 145 million copies sold worldwide David Bowie continues to inspire generation after generation. Thus I thought we would mark the legacy of this legend today. Not to mention that he is one of my favorite artists.

I thought what could I add to this day and I can say plenty, but will keep it to personal experiences. "Yes" I have a couple, wait for it...

David Bowie was my first concert I went to, it was for the Let's Dance Tour and The Tubes opened for him at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, WA. Wow! What a show that was, seeing a master of his art take the stage and command it like he did is something I will always remember. I would go on to see him two other times in concert, one of them was a co-tour with Nine Inch Nails. This is one of the things I am thankful for in my lifetime, that I have bared witness to him, live.

The next was even more personal, "Yes" I've met David Bowie. It was in a time before there were smart phones, so no visual evidence. I wished there was, as given my encounter with him I'm sure he would have graciously consented to photos. 

I was working at Tower Records Sunset in Los Angeles. He came in one day and I remember all of us that worked there were awe struck. Honestly he's the only personal I have ever freaked out about (in a good way) seeing and meeting them. 

He was so gracious and down to earth. No ego or attitude, very kind and so humble. So humble that when one of the clerks said: "Mr. Bowie it's such honor to meet you" He said: "Oh please, I'm not that big of a deal" - truly an amazing spirit and a class act.

David Bowie on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie    

Happy Birthday 2 Me!

Guess What Today Is???
Michael Shinafelt

Today is my Birthday and it's also one week until Christmas, Woot! Every year I do a post to celebrate it, usually containing some reflection about where I've been and how far I have come.

Well, not so much this year. This year has been a challenge for us all. My take from it is we as a collective whole are more resourceful and stronger than we initially thought ourselves to be. 

Thus on my Birthday I am grateful for each and every one of us, we are still in tough times, but remember tough times don't last, tough people do!

Our 2021 is looking brighter, wiser and full steam ahead with a lot of perseverance and hard work there is nothing that can stop us. We are all in this together, and, yes we can!

Celebrate today with me here:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

Pride/BLM

Dwayne Wade, Zaya Wade & Gabrielle Union

As everyone knows by now Pride Festivals & Festivities are cancelled this year, this being stated with all of the necessary Black Lives Matter protests going on around the world today in Los Angeles the two will join forces.

In lieu of Pride there is a BLM march scheduled to take place at 11 am starting at Hollywood and Highland (the location of the first Gay Pride in Los Angeles) and ending in West Hollywood, the current home to Pride in LA.

While I am not planning on marching because of the current pandemic, I would if there wasn't one. I am wishing all of those who are well and please be safe. 

Also Happy 13th Birthday to Zaya Wade, daughter of NBA Superstar Dwayne Wade and Actress Gabrielle Union. Her actual DOB is May 29th whose parents threw her a party this past Friday that combined the themes of medieval and pride.

In case you didn't know Zaya is transgender and proud stepmom Gabrielle had this to say to her on her special day:

"You are such an inspiration and motivation to get my butt up everyday and fight," she wrote. "When I'm weary, frustrated, full of rage, I see your face and your joy and you living your best life and I want that for all of us. I love you sooooo much kid!! Enjoy this day and everyday knowing you are loved, protected, respected, admired and celebrated."

Whatever you choose to do today, make it a celebration

Zaya on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/zayawade/?hl=en

I Love A Parade!

Today's Your Birthday?
Bella Thorne & Ruby Rose

Even though there will be no Gay Pride Parades come June there will be plenty of  other parades in the form of drive by Birthday Celebrations. 

"Yes" It's the pandemic thing to do, keep your Social Distance and such. Check out Bella Thorne and Ruby Rose partaking in a drive by celebration.

For who I do not know, they are keeping it on the DL, down low in the age of Covid 19. Someone needs to write a novel with that title and subject matter, Hmmmmmm...

Anyway if you happen to have a Birthday today, be like Bella and Ruby keep it real, and DL.

It's Monday, correct???

Bella on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/bellathorne/?hl=en

Ruby on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/rubyrose/?hl=en

Film Buff Friday: Sixteen Candles

They don't make em' like this anymore... 

In his debut film as writer-director, John Hughes immediately cemented himself as the king of teen cinema with Sixteen Candles, and in the process also introduced one of the most iconic faces of '80s Americana: Molly Ringwald. For high schooler Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald), her 16th birthday might be the worst day of her life. Her entire family has forgotten about it due to her older sister's impending wedding; her biggest crush, high school hunk Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) has discovered an embarrassing "sex quiz" filled out by Sam in which she details how she is saving herself for him; and to make matters worse, she is hounded by a relentless nerd (Anthony Michael Hall) who won't take no for an answer. But Sam's sweet sixteen isn't over yet, and before the end of the night, all her birthday wishes could still come true... Taking the rude and crude humor of the teen sex comedies that came before it and placing it within the intimately portrayed perspective of a girl's mid-teenage-life crisis, Sixteen Candles is a bombshell of 80s pop culture that continues to be debated and beloved over three decades after its release.

Bonus Materials

• New restoration by Arrow Films from a 4K scan of the original negative
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentation of the Theatrical Version of the film (92 mins), plus Blu-ray™ premiere Extended Version (94 mins), featuring the additional “cafeteria” scene newly remastered in high definition
• Original lossless mono audio, plus 5.1 DTS-HD MA surround option
• Original English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Alternate “home video” soundtrack prepared for VHS and laserdisc releases
• Option to watch additional scene from the Extended Version separately
• Casting ‘Sixteen Candles’, an all-new audio interview with casting director Jackie Burch
• When Gedde Met Deborah, a newly filmed conversation between actors Gedde Watanabe and Deborah Pollack
• Rudy the Bohunk, a newly filmed interview with supporting actor John Kapelos
• The In-Between, a newly filmed interview with camera operator Gary Kibbe
• The New Wave Nerd, a newly filmed interview with filmmaker Adam Rifkin, who shadowed John Hughes while working as an extra on set
• Music for Geeks, a newly filmed interview with composer Ira Newborn
• A Very Eighties Fairytale, an all-new video essay written and narrated by writer Soraya Roberts, looking at the film from a contemporary feminist perspective
• Celebrating Sixteen Candles, an archive documentary featuring interviews with cast, crew and admirers, including stars Anthony Michael Hall, Paul Dooley, Justin Henry, Haviland Morris and Gedde Watanabe
• Theatrical trailers, TV spots and radio spots
• Image galleries
• BD-ROM: PDF of the original shooting script
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Nikki Baughan and Bryan Reesman

Order Here:

https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/AV282

Sunday, March 8th 2020

Cheers To Sunday, March 8, 2020
Kris Jenner

You  may be scratching your collective heads as to why I would simply title a post after the day, date and year it is. Well because Sunday, March 8th 2020 is an oddly event filled day, Usually you get one big to do going on, today in my world there are four, count em', four!!!

Let's start with the obvious, Daylight Savings Time. Remember to "Spring Forward" peeps. The second obvious on is it's International Women's Day. The third is obvious to those living in Los Angeles and participating in the Los Angeles City Marathon. Last but not least, on this event filled day, it's my Mom's Birthday to top it all off...Phew!

Which brings as to why I am using an image of Kris Jenner to cover it all. Whilst on Twitter this quote by her came through my feed via E!News:  "If somebody says no, you’re asking the wrong person."

This quote hit me where it counts, say what you want about Kris Jenner, but seriously this is amazing in it's simplicity and it's true.

I thought to myself, "This applies to the plethora of activity seizing the day" Now get out there and grab life by the _________ give it a name, it, like the day is yours minions...own it!

Kris on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/krisjenner/?hl=en

Hump Day & Chill

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Tunesday Tuesday!

Rocking 65!
Dale Bozzio

Yesterday was Missing Persons front woman Dale Bozzio's 65th Birthday! Wow! I remember getting in tune (pun intended) with the band my freshman year in college via a well rounded, musically, guy in my dorm.

In fact he and I had tickets to see them in concert, but alas, the show got cancelled 😢 No worries I did see Ms. Bozzio perform with a version of Missing Persons (version meaning, not the original line up) on a double bill with E.G. Daily a few years back at the Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip.

Thus in honor of my Missing Persons fandom and Ms. Bozzio's Birthday I am bequeathing you with a song that is quite timely at present by them "Destination Unknown." 

"Life is so strange when you don't know, How can you tell where you're going to, You can't be sure of any situation, Something could change and then you won't know"

Get the picture? Hit the video after the jump!

Missing Persons on Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_Persons_(band) 

Hump Day & Chill - Happy Birthday To Me!

54 Pick-Up
Michael Shinafelt

Happy Birthday To Me! "Yes" it's today, thus I thought I would celebrate by reminding myself of who I am and where I've been. When I think about it, it's quite a journey. Cheers to me turning 54 the best is yet to come!

Weight Loss is a very personal journey. It is one that has to be done for the correct reasons or it is not going to work, I repeat not going to work. Take it from one who said they were going to do it several times before they actually did. I am 5' 7 and said I was going to lose it when I was 180 lbs. I then said I was going to do it when I was 190 lbs. Then I reached 200 - yep I said I was going to do it again then too. Well guess what I didn't do it until I reached 213! By then I fit into none of my old clothes (well that happened at 180 to be fair) and only bought things that work with my expanding waist line i.e. large shirts, drawstring pants etc...

Sometimes you have to lay your pimp hand down! Yep, this is when I finally decided to drop the weight and drop it noooow! It's about wanting to feel good about yourself. It's about claiming who you are. It's about, as Janet Jackson so directly put it Control. "Yes" weight loss is about taking control of who you are and being in a positive mind space. Life is a journey we are not going to be who we are one hundred percent of it. This being stated, once we allow ourselves to access who we are on an honest and real level then we can do anything! 

Who are we to judge ourselves? The first step to happiness is to accept who you are and deal with it. Life is not about perfection it's about acceptance. Does this mean you have to like everything? Hell to the Fucking  No! It means deal with it and find out what works for you. That is exactly what I did.

Being authentic is the best gift you can give yourself. Start there, make your weight loss journey about your happiness. It's not about pleasing anyone else. I can tell you I found a wonderful guy with a six pack when I was 213 lbs. He liked me for me, because despite the fact that I was overweight, I still had some self esteem. Of course he loved the fact that I lost it. But it was because I wanted to. Doing it for yourself is the key to victory. 

I decided to take this journey when I was 51. Thus proving you are never too old and you are never too late. Honestly I was tired of looking like a balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade. 

Thus one day I got out of my bedded stupor (I suffered from clinical depression for three years prior, was treated and learned how to manage my life through therapy and anti-depressants which I have not been on for over four years now) and said: You've got this Mother F#cker! I wanted my outside to match my inside. I wanted to like what I saw in the mirror. 

And so the journey began...I started with the best diet I knew: fruits, veggies & meat. Although you should eat lots of meat, protein anytime of day is acceptable. You should try to do your fruit aka sugar that is acceptable in the ayem and veggies round the clock. Sound boring? It truly isn't, it's all a matter of reprogramming your way of thinking. 

OK, I will admit it isn't easy. When I started for every 5 pounds I lost, I gained three back for a long time. The key is I did not give up. That would have been an easy thing to do. Get discouraged and throw in the towel. I owed this to who I am, not who I wanted to be. I am this person who wants this from themselves, not what anyone wants from me. It's about who you are and what you want. “Yes” I have emphasized this before. But it is the key element to what I am stating.

As I continued on this journey I kept moving adding in more exercise to what I had been doing. FYI weight loss is an 80/20 proposition - 80 percent what you consume 20 percent exercise. Exercise is to keep you and your mind healthy and focused. It's also there to take the weight you have lost and make it look fab! One of the unexpected benefits of me dumping the weight is doing my weekly routine of: Spinning, Abs, Weights & Yoga I have achieved definition in my stomach for the first time ever at 53 years old. Imagine that?! 

What that you ask? Do I still drink alcohol? The answer is "Yes" but in moderation. Honestly at this point two glasses of wine gets me tipsy. That's what Uber is for. (call a driver, don't drive drunk!) Do I  have cheat meals, you are damned right I do. Most of the week I eat clean, but there is that one day a week I eat, not like a pig. But I will eat something not on my diet and in moderation. I have a thing for pizza, burgers, Mexican food and my ultimate favorite snack is brie and crackers.

OK, now I'm hungry for some In-N-Out Burger, but I had pizza yesterday so it's off limits until next weekend. The one trick to adhering to healthy eating habits is to reprogram your way of relating to food. Don't think of it as depriving yourself, because you aren't dieting you are eating cleaner and more efficiently. I view my changed eating habits as being good to myself. Also reminding myself of all the hard work it took me to get there and not wanting that effort have been a waste of time. I remind myself of how great I now look naked too. Hey, that's a big one!

Speaking of big ones, certain other things appear to have gotten bigger when I lost the weight. Another unexpected, but welcome change to my body. If I can do it, you can too. Trust me you've got this!

Continue my journey with me at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt