Donatella/Penelope/Donatella/Penelope

Wigging Out
Penelope Cruz

In what I find oddly interesting casting news, Penelope Cruz will be portraying Donatella Versace in the upcoming season of American Crime Story. As you may recall I posted some delicious images of Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan recently.

While I view the casting of Criss, say that one three times fast, a no brainer, I find Cruz as Donatella a curious thing. While I have nothing against Penelope Cruz the choice of her for the role is odd to say the least.

Seriously? What gives here??? I'm sure she will be fine, I just don't get it. It seems the only thing she and Donatella have in common is an accent. Not to mention Cruz is way more attractive than the woman she is portraying. 

Perhaps it will all become clear when I see the finished show. Until then file this under things that make you go hmmm...

Cruz on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/penelopecruzoficial/?hl=en

Not Mellow In Yellow

Not Mellow Yellow
Katy Perry

Do you know how to Wango Tango? Well Katy Perry obviously does, bear witness to her shaking her bon bon's in yellow at Wango Tango. This is how you do it kids, let it all out!

Other than the fact that yellow becomes her, Katy is like a human unicorn, magical, whimsical, fun!

I am a fan of her personae more then her music, because her personae, even when she is singing a song with a serious theme, Chained To The Rhythm, which I actually like, always has a sense of playfulness to it.

Thus Katy is the perfect way to kick of Monday with a bang! Some Monday Motivation if you will.

Be your own unicorn this week and bend it like Katy.

Katy on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/katyperry/?hl=en   

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day
Michael Shinafelt

Happy Mother's Day! Yep, this is the day we celebrate all you Mother's out there, you've earned it!

This is going to be a short column, because I am a short man. I would simply like express my gratitude to my Mother Jan Landburg-Shinafelt. 

No matter how many tough times there have been, and there have been many, Mom I have always been able to count on you to be there. 

I custom made the image above and posted it on her Facebook wall exclusively for her. Oh, and I have also included my favorite pic of her and myself in this blog and posted it on Facebook and Twitter in celebration of the big "M."

My Favorite Mother

Ain't Social Media grand? Also this will be the first and last time you will ever hear me use the term "ain't" in my writing. I know it is now recognized by Webster's as an actual word, but it wasn't when I was a kid growing up.

In fact my Mother used to say, when I uttered it: "Ain't, ain't fell in the paint" - I rest my case.

Wishing all the Mother's out there a happy, happy, joy, joy!!!

I Ain't Your Mama, but you can follow me here:

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

https://twitter.com/mshinafelt?lang=en  

Saturday Swoon - Zac Efron

California Dreamin'
Zac Efron

With the big screen go at Baywatch opening May 25th there has been a whole lotta Zac Efron going down. So to speak, but one can dream can't one? 

See Zac on a billboard, See Zac on a talk show, See Zac running down the beach half naked showing off his abs, run Zac, run! 

While I am 100% sure I will not being viewing the actual movie I sure don't mind seeing those Efron abs and those baby blues saturating my retinas everywhere I gaze. Heck don't you think they should have just made a movie about Zac's impossibly sculpted abs and dubbed it Ab Watch? Think about it, but not too hard.

Thus I leave you with this fantastical image of a man/boy named Zac and his killer abs for some Saturday delight. Who says Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth?

Zac on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/zacefron/?hl=en

Just Because...Drew Barrymore

Desperately Seeking Drew
Drew Barrymore

Behold a photo of Drew Barrymore out-n-about in New York City this past week. Seeing Drew these days is much like a Big Foot or Loch Ness Monster sighting, very rare. She has kept a low public profile in recent years, and been a more behind the scenes person than an in front of the camera one.

Seeing this image made me feel nostalgic for when Drew was everywhere, doing the Charlie's Angels movies and all those Rom-Coms. Not to mention appearing in and producing one of my fave films Donnie Darko. Now I didn't see any of her Rom-Coms with the exception of The Wedding Singer, which was actually good, but since I am not really a fan of the genre...

I've met Drew a handful of times in various situations which ranged from her shopping at Tower Records Sunset to an after party for Courtney Love and Hole post their Palladium concert. Each time she was such warm & welcoming a total sweetheart.

Here's hoping to see Drew raise her public profile again, the world needs all the positive energy it can get!

Drew on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drewbarrymore/?hl=en  

Michael's Musings

The Real Man Behind The Curtain
Michael Shinafelt
Photo: Jay Jorgensen

This has been a week. What kind of a week has it been Michael? The kind where you need to ignore the little orange man behind the curtain. I'm in touch with reality, he isn't. 

If you need to ask who that is, you really shouldn't be here, or really anywhere else for that matter. 

Figure it out. It's time to move on, let's have some fun...that is all. Good times ahead!!!!

Smells Like Nixon Spirit, Only 10 Time Worse!

I'm too sexy to be thirsty

Grab a bag of cucumbers & bananas and carry on

Black Man in Hollywood this past week standing over Vera Miles Star ranting: I see you Vera Miles you're a Ni**er! Perhaps in another life.

Helpful Hint - Never drink Tejava Tea with a smoothie the acidic combo made me hurl

Ida Lickhammer made a triumphant return to my Instagram page this week

The boat belonged to a kooky old witch - the more you know

Finally went back to yoga yesterday, hate it, but love what it does for me

Fashion Police was on at the same time as Pretty Little Liars this past week. Which one did I watch???

l-r Marla Graves, Erik Rimmer, E.G. Daily & Moi

A shout out to E.G. Daily and her family. Be well my friend. If you watch TMZ you know why...

Bitch, why are you trying to hug me? We are not cool like that!

I am thinking of writing a children's book

Remember this Sunday werd to your Mother

Time to bid adieu, follow me, because your Mama says at:

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

https://twitter.com/mshinafelt?lang=en  

Charity Begins At Dolly

She's A Giver
Dolly Parton

When in doubt, bend it like Dolly! 

The Dollywood Foundation administered the final distribution from the My People Fund on Thursday with recipients noticing an extra surprise when they received the check.

Thanks to fundraising efforts, Dollywood Foundation officials were able to provide a $5,000 check to each family as they work to recover from the Smoky Mountain wildfires which occurred last November. Beginning last December, the My People Fund provided $1,000 each month to Sevier County families whose primary residences were completely destroyed due to the fires.

In total, recipients received $10,000 as a hand-up to help start their rebuilding efforts following the fire. The fund, which was established by Dolly Parton, The Dollywood Company, Parton’s dinner theaters and The Dollywood Foundation, was supported by contributions from across the country, as well as donations made through the Smoky Mountains Rise telethon which took place in early December.

“The My People Fund has been a great success,” said Parton. “I want to thank my team, the Dollywood Foundation, my friends in the music business and the thousands of people from all over the country who opened both their pocketbooks and their hearts to help us.

“Over the last five months, we’ve given nearly 900 families $5,000 to help them recover. Yesterday, we had our last distribution and I went over to The LeConte Center to say thanks to all the volunteers and to help give out a few checks myself. We matched what they’ve received already with another $5,000 check. I know $10,000 can’t solve everything, but I do hope the money will help them to dream again.”

In addition to providing initial monetary support to displaced families through the monthly check distribution, the remaining funds from theMy People Fund will continue to help the people of Sevier County. At least $3 million will be contributed to the Mountain Tough Recovery Team which will serve the continuing needs of residents during the critical rebuilding period ahead. This program will begin helping families on June 1.

“We’re still receiving money, so we aren’t finished yet,” Parton added. “Recovery will take some time, so a new organization—called Mountain Tough—has been created to help our people get back on their feet for the next three years. We’re giving at least $3 million to help this new organization begin the next chapter of our journey.”

Mountain Tough assists individuals and families recovering from the wildfires by providing resources for the unmet needs of low-income families and individuals in Gatlinburg and the surrounding Sevier County area. The team seeks to restore the quality of life and provide for the long-term needs of those affected.

“Mountain Tough will help pick up where the My People Fund left off,” Dollywood Foundation President David Dotson said. “They will be staffed with case managers who will work to identify the immediate needs of residents and our funds will be used to address those needs. For example, it may help with transportation so someone can continue to be employed, or it may help with medicine for conditions caused by the fire. The case managers will coordinate with county agencies to ensure needed assistance is not duplicated and achieves its maximum impact.”

Anyone who wants to help the Mountain Tough Recovery Team with their efforts should visit www.mountaintough.org for information on how to donate, how to volunteer and much more. The website is the official source for all information regarding the recovery effort.
 

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