What Bonnie Raitt Says...

TEAM BONNIE!!!

Bonnie on IG -

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

Give Yourself The Present

One of the things I am striving for with all that is happening to me and around me is to be present.

Hey, it's not as easy as it sounds. I have to keep pinching myself that right here right now is what I wished for (I don't use the word pray, it's an exclusive term.) 

Life is amazing in it's simplicity if you allow yourself to breathe...

Breathe and give yourself the gift of being present, It takes work, but it's worth it!

Get present with me here -

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

Hump Day & Chill

Feed Me!

Nothing says Hump Day & Chill like a shirtless hunk being fed grapes, so it is written and so it shall be, at least for today.

Life has been pretty stagnant of late, the world seems to have stopped. but we can still smell the roses.

When I saw this image I felt transported and calm. It fed a few fantasies of mine as well. OK, they really aren't fantasies, more like memories. Fluff up your pillow and dream about that one.

This is a perfect oasis for me and gives me all sorts of feels. You know what feels are, correct? Like tranquil, relaxed, groovy get the picture???

So I'm kicking my Hump Day & Chill off with this image in mind. It's giving me life at present and I hope you all get something from it as well.

In the immortal words of Audrey II "Feed Me!"

Hump Day on Wikipedia 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humpday  

"Whisky, Woman & Me"

Country Music Stand-out Vonn Kiss Releases Latest Single "Whiskey, Woman & Me"

Country music singer/songwriter Vonn Kiss keeps the fire lit with a new heartwarming, traditional country tune. “Whiskey, Woman & Me” premiered by Country Sway, resonates with those who may be experiencing hardship and pain, providing a lyrical shelter for the brokenhearted in search of comfort. Vonn writes through personal experience in hopes to illustrate the idea that suffering can sneak up on you and shoot when least expected but songs like “Whiskey, Woman & Me” help heal the wound. The new single is available now on all streaming platforms.

“Life can be a broken body, a broken soul, and sometimes both. You search for the answers as to why and it often takes the deeper realization of someone else's pain to give you strength and know that you are not alone; though different, it is pain nonetheless,” shares Vonn.

This American country staple artist relentlessly continues to craft country classics that resonate with those who hold their hearts on their sleeve. Vonn’s genuine grit, determination and passion reflect a strong desire to deliver songs that leave a lasting impact. “Whiskey, Woman & Me” provides the listener with lyrics that parallel a pill that; though hard to swallow, is just what the doctor ordered. As Vonn Kiss releases one stellar single after another, fans will not want to miss what this rising star has in store for the coming months.

You can stream Vonn Kiss’s new single “Whiskey, Woman & Me” directly on Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. This single along with others are to be dropped in the coming months contributing to a highly anticipated fall album release.

Visit his website and socials linked below to keep up with future announcements and releases.
 

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Repulsion

Born To Hand Jive
Catherine Deneuve
Repulsion 

While on Facebook yesterday an app came through to plug in your birth year to find out what was the big horror movie at that time. So for the thrill and chill of it, I did just that. Well guess what came up from the great beyond? Roman Polanski's Repulsion starring Catherine Deneuve, oh alright, the year was 1965.

Here is the synopsis:

"A sex-repulsed woman who disapproves of her sister's boyfriend sinks into depression and has horrific visions of rape and violence."

While I did not see it the year it was out, duh, I did happen to view it in my twenties, not knowing it was the big fright fest of the year of my birth. I knew that being born a snake was cool, now it has been solidified.

It is time for another viewing of this classic, with me being older and wiser. While I liked it when I first saw it, I believe this is a film, like so many, that gets better with life experience.

Besides who can resist the eternal beauty of Deneuve and the Directing mastery of Polanski?

Yeah, I thought not...only four more days until Halloween!

Repulsion on IMDb -
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059646/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

Monday Motivation

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Tim Curry aka Dr. Frank N. Furter

"Don't Dream It, Be It. Don't Dream It, Be It..." - The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Today's Monday Motivation comes in the form of dreams. Without dreams life would be a tedious affair. Dreams of what you want from life, or they can just be a flat out fantasy to get you through an otherwise mundane day.

Dreams are essential to our well being. Without them we would be nothing, and vice versa. The Rocky Horror Picture Show's number "Don't Dream It, Be It" has always been a go to source of inspiration. If you seriously have to ask why then you truly do not get the RHPS. 

Push the boundaries of your life and the expectations placed upon you and others and never look back with any regrets. Anything someone else can do you can do as well as long as you believe in your power of you.

This Monday December 10, 2018 be it damn it, don't merely dream it....

Oh, and a gentle reminder, 15 more days until Christmas in case you give a F#ck. How many F#cks do I give about that? Current tally 0 - I'm to busy being it, not dreaming it...

So let's get this Monday started - go out and be your own Sweet Transvestite!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show on IMDB -
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073629/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Film Buff Friday - "Bloodlines"

I was made aware of Vincent via Margaret Cho, fascinating stuff...

"A morbid, fascinating, and remarkably inspiring new documentary about one of the most acclaimed artists of our time." - Metal Injection

Award winning Filmmaker / Author John Borowski's (H.H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer) fifith feature documentary film, Bloodlines: The Art and Life of Vincent Castiglia, will be released in North America on November 13th. The film focuses on artist Castiglia's painful life of abuse, addiction, and recovery while also exploring the reasons why the world renowned artist paints exclusively in human blood.

Vincent Castiglia paints surreal images exclusively in human blood. He began doing so as form of self-healing following a troubled childhood and painful existence. From darkness, however, came light, and Castiglia's story is one of inspiration and hope, providing proof that art can heal and serve to inspire others.

 

Margaret Cho, who commissioned Vincent to paint her portrait in her blood, is interviewed in the film as well as celebrities Gregg Allman, Damien Echols, Kerry King and Gary Holt of the heavy metal band Slayer, record executive Michael Alago, and numerous others including filming in the studio and museum of legendary artist H.R. Giger, who designed the iconic creature for the Alien movies.

After a successful Kickstarter fundraising campaign, production of the film spanned from 2014 to 2018, filming on location in the United States: New York City, Los Angeles, Louisiana, Chicago, Oregon, and internationally: Singapore and Switzerland.

Official Film Website: https://bloodlinesdocumentary.com/

Pre-order at MVDshop.com 

Be Bold, Be Brave

Hello 2018
Michael Shinafelt

As I sit here on the first full day of 2018 in Los Angeles, CA I am wondering what wisdom one can impart this New Year's Day? 

The quote I used for today's byline: "Be Bold, Be Brave" is how I live my life everyday no matter what. It's my mantra, and passing it on to you was what I thought I could do today. 

This is something everyone has in them and that they should strive for, nothing is worse than a life half lived due to fear. Take it from someone who has been there and done that. Change is possible if you want it bad enough. Life is one of those things that you get back what you put into it.

On that note I hope all of you had a happy & safe New Year's Eve and this post finds you in the most festive of moods. 

What did I do? Well I can't disclose that completely but let's just say it involved a visit from my favorite witch and...

Happy 2018 Minions!

Keep up with me this, and every year at:

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

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Happy Birthday To Me!

Baby It's Cold Outside
Michael Shinafelt

Since today is my 51st Birthday I thought: "why should I celebrate anything but myself?" Especially since the past four years have been the most challenging of my life and I have survived them. Which has made me stronger, it has also brought me to the best place I have ever been in my entire life. 

Yes, it is a day for me to celebrate indeed. I am someone who has went through a clinical depression and came out the other end of it. It took a lot of work, therapy and self examination. There were a lot of times I never thought my life would ever be good again. 

Let me say to those of you out there who may be in the same situation. Never give up! It may seem bleak, but if you hang in there and give it time, care and mostly be kind to yourself, it will get better. Sure there are things I still want that I don't have, but I know I will get them. Why? Because when you overcome it you will have the power to achieve anything! 

It's 44 degrees at 5:03 ayem here in Los Angels, CA on December 18th 2016, the day of my 51st Birthday. I am thankful for my Family, Friends and most of all my amazing Life! 

My wish for my Birthday is for all of you to have one of the best days of the rest of your lives.

Happy Birthday Everyone!

Follow me at:
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/

KALA is TIME

Trevor Hall's latest, KALA is out now! KALA means TIME in Sanskrit as you can hear Trevor delineate time and it's essence on each track on the album.

KALA is currently #2 on iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart. Perfect!

Here is a message from the artist himself: 

Dear Villagers

I am extremely excited and very happy to announce that my new album entitled “KALA” is officially released to the masses! I am so grateful to everyone who worked so hard on making this release possible. KALA is a very important album for me and the journey in making it has had a profound and humbling impact on my life. I hope you enjoy it! Go get it! Go share it! Play it loudly EVERYWHERE :)

You heard the man get yourself a copy and take a journey with Trevor, it will be great, trust me!

Enjoy the space and time of KALA at:

ITunes:

Standard - www.smarturl.it/TrevorHallKALA

Deluxe - www.smarturl.it/TrevorHallKALAdeluxe

Amazon:

LP - http://smarturl.it/TrevorHallKALAamznLP

CD - http://smarturl.it/TrevorHallKALAamznCD

Digital Deluxe - http://smarturl.it/TrevorHallKALAamzmpD

Digital Standard - http://smarturl.it/TrevorHallKALAamzmp3

Limited Edition KALA Bundles:

http://smarturl.it/TrevorHallKALAstore

Hey Madonna: Pablo Picasso Was Never Called...

Look, It's a Picasso!
No Bitch It's Madonna!

"Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole" - Burning Sensation

Recently I was reading that Madonna compared herself to Pablo Picasso. Of course the first thing that popped into my head was the song Pablo Picasso by Burning Sensation. It was featured in the cult 1984 film Repo Man starring Emilio Estevez. It's one of my favorite movies of that decade.

While Pablo Picasso most likely was never called an asshole, I am sure Madonna has been called one. So why the comparison?

As her Madgesty put it:  "I like to compare myself to other kinds of artists like Picasso. He kept painting and painting until the day he died. Why? Because I guess he felt inspired to do so. Life inspired him, so he had to keep expressing himself, and that's how I feel."

Now the comparison makes sense!

"Express Yourself" with Madonna on Instgram: 
https://instagram.com/madonna/

Troubadour: Dudley Saunders

Troubadour: Dudley Saunders

Here is the 8th video from In These Boxes, from my favorite troubadour Mr. Dudley Saunders "Love in Crystal." Let's hear what the master has to say about this...

"Two men are set to be remembered, if only in part: they grow up the way their families like, they come to New York, start careers. But they can’t be anything but what they were expected to be. They can’t imagine something different. They want to, they feel so empty and trapped, and life feels so literal.

And then one night when the feeling is particularly bad, they both take a drug and it brings them to life. Together.

They give up everything to feel this way.

Later, when the Ukrainian super is clearing out the apartment, he sees this tie and thinks one of them must have had a job, once."

Hit the video below...

Go Team Dudley at: 

https://www.facebook.com/DudleySaundersMusic

https://twitter.com/dudleysaunders
tp://www.reverbnation.com/dudleysaunders

Kim Richards Out

Get Well Kim

Kim Richards is no longer a regular on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 

She may make a cameo or two, but...while I could be snide about this I choose not to. Leave that to people who have no lives.

This actually makes me sad. I grew up with Kim, she was in one of my favorite films of all time Escape to Witch Mountain.

Let's not berate her for her transgressions. How about sending out some love in hope she gets her life back together.

Kim on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001668/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1

A "Stalker" Romance

Maggie Q & Dylan McDermott

Sometimes life and art bleed together and it's hard to tell the difference, apparently such is the case with Dylan McDermott and Maggie Q who co-star on the new hit series Stalker on CBS.

Neither of them have confirmed it, but the stalkerazzi have caught them with their all seeing lenses out and about together looking thisclose.

Hey they have great chemistry on the show so this really should not surprise those who have seen it.

I have met Mr. McDermott he attended a play I was in once because one of my co-stars was his waiter at a restaurant where he was a regular. What a cool guy he is and if you think he looks good on TV you ought to see him in person.

Fact: Stalking cases have gone up 400 percent since the Internet boom, only two more days until Halloween!

"Stalk" Dylan & Maggie at: http://www.cbs.com/shows/stalker/

Be Fearless: Joan Rivers

I enjoy life when things are happening. I don't care if it's good things or bad things. That means you're alive. Things are happening - Joan Rivers


This is and will always be my favorite Joan Rivers quote as I believe it best exemplifies who she was and really captures her spirit and zest for living.

Joan was a comedian who mattered. Not only did she pave the way for females in comedy today, she was flat out ballsy.

She wasn't afraid to call out anyone or anything, including herself.

If something can be learned from her death it is to bend it like Joan: live, love, laugh, cry and above all be fearless.

R.I.P. Dear Lady, you will be missed

Always remember: http://joanrivers.com/

My Bump, My Lovely Baby Bump: Christina Aguilera

She's Pregnant & Proud! Christina Aguilera

Look! She has a baby bump, she's pregnant and proud of it, check it out, don't be shy.

Christina Aguilera flaunts her pregnancy in V Magazine, and why not? I remember when Demi Moore did it on the cover of Vanity Fair and what a buzz it caused.

I also remember being in an elevator with studio executives at the now defunct Orion Pictures, performing my first industry job in the mail room, and them making fun of her.

Typical money men, not one ounce of artistic expression or creativity in them. 

What I felt was a beautiful and bold move at the time is now the norm for female artists.

There is something amazing about a lovely portrait of a pregnant woman. 

Thank you Ms. Aguilera for this stunning image that never gets boring. It reminds everyone of the wonder & miracle of life.

Get With Christina at: http://www.christinaaguilera.com/us/home

"Holiday" Celebrate, It's Christmas Day !

Warning: This Is Not The Virgin Mary

"If we took a holiday, Took some time to celebrate

Just one day out of life

It would be, it would be so nice"

In the wake of the group with the retro 80's sound Capital Cities recent performance of the Madonna classic on The Queen Latifah Show I thought I would wish everyone a Merry Christmas with a fond memory of my youth, Madonna's "Holiday" hey she never specified which one, or what kind, so it works in a universal sense.

When I was an impressionable 17 year old man I will never forget my first foray to Skoochie's (R.I.P.) a 16 and older club in Seattle, WA and seeing this woman with rubber bracelets and rosaries for days hanging off her bare midriff, it was really cool and an eye opener to the sheltered life I had been leading.

Since Christmas is a time of fond memories, and the 80's version of Madonna is one for me. Let's take a Holiday and celebrate, below...

Merry Christmas Everyone!

    "Holiday" Time

Celebrate The Season at: http://www.madonna.com/