Michael's Musings

Motley Crue
l-r Shauna Waters, Me, Lindley Waters & Kelly Waters

Since this will be my thoughts and impressions going into Christmas I thought to myself that I may try to curtail any cynicism I may be possessed by at present by posting an image of me and my three angels aka my nieces from Christmas two years ago in my home state of Washington. 

Like that will ever happen, yep get ready because here I come!!!

When I was a kid I used to think the red light flashing on a nearby radio tower was Rudolph's nose, yes really.

Parents teach their kids not to lie, yet they perpetuate the myth of Santa Claus. How many children has that fucked up?!

A virgin birth, yeah right.

What did I do for my Birthday? So glad you asked. I had a wonderful lunch with my friend Mike Clifford and an even better dessert later, not Mike...Yes, Daddy has a secret.

Lunch Time!
Me & Mike Clifford

Pentatonix has a new Christmas album out. It's what they do best.

Riot On Sunset by my buddy James Durbin is another album I highly recommend.

Taking myself to see La La Land today, in case you are interested.

My niece Shauna Waters pictured above is getting married in Cabo in June, and to think I knew her when she...

Kelly Waters, my other niece pictured is an accomplished make-up artist, so proud of her.

Now let's talk about my niece Lindley Waters, also pictured above. She now calls Berlin her home base. I want to come visit you my spirit animal! Let's go hang gliding grrrrrrrrrrrl! 

Elf on a Shelf is so tired ass, I move we shift our attention to the Whore in a Drawer. Doesn't that sound a lot more merry???

Due to the PC movement Christmas can no longer be referred to as "White" 

Tis' the season for back door crack whores

I love Lady Gaga's song A-Yo, did you know it's about smoking pot?!

My gift to you is me on Social Media. You can keep tabs on me at the following WWW addresses. Merry Christmas! 

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/  

Holiday Cheer With James Durbin

Ho, Ho, Ho!
James, Heidi, Hunter & Kinzee Durbin w/Santa Claus

Hey Durbinators, it's Christmas Time! Do you ever sit and wonder what your "Idol" James Durbin does this time of year? Well I know the answer to that...

Of course you do! Here to tell you what the Durbin family does for December 25th is, well who else other than James himself!!!

MS: What is your family Christmas tradition?

JD: The last few years we’ve gone and chopped down our own tree as a family.

There’s a great tree farm in the Santa Cruz mountains called Crest Ranch Tree Farm that we’ve made a tradition of going to. We also ride the Holiday Lights Train as guests of Santa Claus, so it’s extra special.

MS: Do you or Heidi play Santa Claus?

JD: We could never “play” the big man in red..(wink,nudge).

We do enjoy the extra element of surprise at Christmas time.

MS: Can you tell us what you got for Heidi?

JD: I can’t tell you lol. Though I can say, we’ve been getting into minimalism lately and have agreed to get each other one thing that we really really want. Something that will serve us well and bring us joy. Ya know, not just a bunch of crap hahaha.

MS: If you could give a gift to all those Durbinators out there what would it be?

JD: The gift I can give is just more honest music. I’ve got a new project I’m recording in Vegas this January that I believe will make my rock n rollers extremely happy. More details to come :)

MS: What does James Durbin want for Christmas most of all? 

JD: This year I just want to stay home, open presents, watch movies and not have to put on pants.

PS If you haven't gotten your copy of James' current album Riot On Sunset that would make an awesome Christmas gift. Take it from Santa Michael, it's his best to date! Ho, Ho, Ho!

"Riot" on iTunes: 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/riot-on-sunset/id1132264028

James on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/DurbinRock/
https://twitter.com/DurbinRock
https://www.instagram.com/durbinrock/    

All I Want For Christmas...

No Fluorescent Lighting!
Mariah Carey

Right off the bat let me make this declaration that I have never been, nor will I ever be a fan of Mariah Carey. That being stated, who doesn't think of her song All I Want For Christmas this time of year?! Of course you do!

James Corden brilliantly paid homage to it in a recent edition of his too cool Carpool Karaoke series. Where it looked like Mariah's right breast was ready to cause a huge wardrobe malfunction the entire time.

Which brings us to the curious fact that I am watching her eight part series Mariah's World on E! It's the proverbial train wreck you can't tear your eyes away from. 

Also, since I have never really cared about or followed Ms. Carey's career, there are a few interesting revelations here and there. My personal gem was how former husband Tommy Mottola basically kept her under lock and key when they were married making her write music all the time and because of that she never really toured. Yeah, I never noticed, but apparently she didn't tour until recent years.

Then there is the usual diva biz, like only being photographed in fluorescent light with her sunglasses on. If I have to explain the reason behind that to you...I didn't think so.

Only five more days until Christmas, check out Mariah, James and a whole bunch of other big names sing All I Want For Christmas below!

Remember it's Mariah's World you just live in it at:
www.eonline.com/shows/mariahs_world

On Mondays We Wear Paisley

Yee Haw!!! It's time to get your Paisley on!

Life Amplified World Tour: Live at WVU is the new live concert DVD and CD from multi-platinum country superstar, Brad Paisley. Paisley returned to his roots by going home to West Virginia for a special outdoor concert at West Virginia University. Straight off the wildly successful "Life Amplified World Tour," the show was shot with 20 cameras in front of a hometown crowd of over 15,000 people. Paisley played an electrifying 2 hour show that included many of his 23 number one singles, such as "Mud on the Tires," "Then," and a surprise rendition of "I'm Still A Guy," featuring Chris Young.  The show also includes a very special version of the John Denver song "Take Me Home, Country Roads," which has become an anthem for WVU.

 

The concert will air on PBS on Friday, January 27, 9:00 - 10:00pm EST and is titled Brad Paisley - Landmarks Live In Concert: A Great Performances Special. Paisley takes his unique skills as singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer back to his home state as well as to viewers everywhere.

 

The concert special was produced by award-winning director Daniel E Catullo III (Rush, Rage Against The Machine, Dave Matthews Band).

"I am so pleased to be partnering with Brad on the WVU show," said Catullo III, who is also the CEO of City Drive Films. "Being an alumnus of WVU this show is very special for me. To be able to bring WVU to the world stage is something I am proud to do and I couldn't think of a better artist to do it with than Brad, who has similar feelings of WVU, having grown up not too far from the campus. It has been a dream of mine to go back to WVU and put on a huge show, free for the students."

Songs included in the show are: Crushin' It, American Saturday Night, Water, Online, Perfect Storm, Letter to Me, This is Country Music, I'm Still a Guy (featuring Chris Young), She's Everything, Ticks, Country Nation, Old Alabama, Then, Beat This Summer, I'm Gonna Miss Her, River Bank, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Southern Comfort Zone, Mud on the Tires, and Alcohol.

Both the DVD and the CD/DVD can be ordered at the MVD Shop or on Amazon   

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/

It's Santa Mickey!

Not A Creature Was Stirring, Except For Mickey Mouse!
Ryan Reynolds, Mickey Mouse & Blake Lively

Santa made me post this. Blame it on the spirit of Christmas taking possession of me, but I just had to post this way too cute photo of Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively striking a pose with Santa Mickey in front of the castle at Disneyland. 

Apparently the twosome were there celebrating their daughter James' second Birthday. Happy, Happy James! 

What made me cross over to the saccharine side? If you have ever been to Disneyland at Christmas time you would understand just how much more magical it is this time of year. It can turn any Scrooge into a Tiny Tim. I was there last year in December and had a truly enchanted day. 

The theme park's halls are decked with the most festive of decor and the happy factor is off the hook!

Speaking of which, Happy Saturday to and to all a good one!

PS Although I had a blast, I must say I am a bit grouchy that I did not get a photo with Santa Mickey too...Bah Humbug!

Disneyland on the WWW:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/  

Film Buff Friday: Cinema Paradiso

Remember when "Cinema Paradiso was the go to hot Foreign Language film?

I do...well film buffs it's making it's way back to video as a Barnes and Noble exclusive this March, the 7th to be exact.

Cinema Paradiso

(Separate DVD and BD SKUs)

A  CELEBRATION OF YOUTH, FRIENDSHIP, AND THE EVERLASTING MAGIC OF THE MOVIES

A winner of awards across the world including Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, five BAFTA Awards including Best Actor, Original Screenplay and Score, the Grand Prize of the Jury at the Cannes Film Festival and many more.

Giuseppe Tornatore's loving homage to the cinema tells the story of Salvatore, a successful film director, returning home for the funeral of Alfredo, his old friend who was the projectionist at the local cinema throughout his childhood. Soon memories of his first love affair with the beautiful Elena and all the high and lows that shaped his life come flooding back, as Salvatore reconnects with the community he left 30 years earlier.

Presented in both the original award-winning cut and the expanded Director's Cut incorporating more of Salvatore's backstory, newly restored from original negative materials.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS 

• Restored from the original camera negative and presented in two versions - the 124 minute Cannes Festival theatrical version and the 174 minute Director's Cut
• Uncompressed original stereo 2.0 Audio and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio options
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio commentary with director Giuseppe Tornatore and Italian cinema expert critic Millicent Marcus
• A Dream of Sicily - A 52-minute documentary profile of Giuseppe Tornatore featuring interviews with director and extracts from his early home movies as well as interviews with director Francesco Rosi and painter Peppino Ducato, set to music by the legendary Ennio Morricone
• A Bear and a Mouse in Paradise - A 27-minute documentary on the genesis of Cinema Paradiso, the characters of Toto and Alfredo, featuring interviews with the actors who play them, Philippe Noiret and Salvatore Cascio as well as Tornatore
• The Kissing Sequence - Giuseppe Tornatore discusses the origins of the kissing scenes with full clips identifying each scene
• Original Director's Cut Theatrical Trailer and 25th Anniversary Re-Release Trailer

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet by Pasquale Iannone illustrated with archive stills, behind-the-scenes images and posters

Barnes and Noble at:

www.barnesandnoble.com/