Michael's Musings

Santa Bear
Michael Shinafelt

"Santa Bear-by, an auto space convertible too, light blue, I'll wait up for you, dear" - Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt 

This is my last column before Christmas, ya know Last Christmas (nudge, wink) Ho, ho, ho Santa Bear is here! Thus my minor alteration of the Holiday Classic Santa Baby originally sung by the unsinkable Eartha Kitt.

So? What would you like Santa Bear to stuff your stocking with? I think I know the answer to that...

Gimme, gimme, gimme an ass burger after midnight 

Monday was my Birthday and it was fun!

I also celebrated Tuesday too, you can't keep a good Bear down!

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is back and brought the gift that keeps on giving, Erika Jayne

Every moment is fleeting, every moment is incredible

Rose McGowan v Meryl Streep - who would have ever thunk it?!

How about those Golden Globe Nominations???

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...
Mike Clifford

Mike Clifford's video for "The Christmas Song" has gotten over 500 views. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and hit it minions at this link! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2v214rx7AE

Santa Bear wishes our country's nightmare would end. He hates bad dreams...

When I am down, I simply want to stick my face in some caviar

Zac Efron, king of surprise mustaches 

Do you know the way to San Jose? 

I don't have to buy it, I already own it

Peace on earth, goodwill towards your fellow human beings. Decency doesn't cost a thing, please give.

If you have been naughty, and I know you have, get with me at:

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

Yanomamos Comes Alive!!!

They're Aliiiiiiiiive!!!

Husker Du's Grant Hart returns to drums with the reunion of Yanomamos

"Comes Alive!" hits record stores 29 years after their first release, 

"Quizas" (pronounced, Kiss-Ass) in 1988 on New Alliance record

Yanomamos is performance artist Miss Jane Mansfield on bass, Timothy G. Piotrowski on guitar and vocals, with Grant Hart on drums. The three became a tribe adopting their name from the indigenous people of the tropical rain forest in Southern Venezuela and Northern Brazil that were known to be wild, untameable and a force to be reckoned with. 

Grant shared a quality with Marcel Duchamp of pursuing an endless quest in pushing the boundaries of creativity. The jammed out psychedelic improvisations of Yanomamos rhythms, riff damage, peaks and valleys galore lace perfectly together with his innovative and masterfully delivered drum tracks. 

Tim and Jane's early 80's band Duck Kicking Vulture caught the attention of Grant. In 1987 he offered the band 12 hours of recording time and 12 hours to mix. The deal was made just before Husker Du's break up, then everything fell apart.

Yanomamos came together spontaneously in the summer of 1988 when Grant invited them to Creation studio where he was working on Intolerance. The session was recorded on a boom box and released as Quizas. This was the first post-Husker Du project to hit vinyl from any of its members. At that time the band played a handful of shows, including their infamous "Fire Show" in First Avenue's main room. You can watch a promo clip from the show at www.yanomamos.com

The groups second "Fire Show", also in the main room was a 2011 benefit for Hart after a fire destroyed his South Saint Paul family home. Yanomamos returned to the studio in 2015 recording side one of Comes Alive! as an EP that was never released. In 2017 after Hart's diagnosis with cancer, Yanomamos returned to the studio to turn the EP into an LP. It was one of his favorites projects. The test pressings arrived on the night of his passing. 

Order the album  HERE.  

Meow! The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Housewives Gone Wild!
l - r
Camille Grammer, Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump, Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave, Lisa Rinna, Erika Girardi & Dorit Kemsley

It's time to sharpen those claws and crack open the Rose' The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills returns to Bravo tonight at 9 pm!

While Season Seven was a definite improvement over Season Six and the endless Lyme Disease and Munchausen blabber, raise a glass that Season Eight will finally get the Housewives groove back that earlier episodes of the show had. 

Yet who am I kidding. Even if this Season turns out to be somewhat lacking I will relish every second of it! Especially since this go round features the return of Camille Grammer, who was quite the conduit for drama when she was on the show before and I expect nothing less from her this time.

So tune in tonight minions and this time the drama isn't saved just for your Mama!

RHOBH on the WWW at: 

www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills 

It's My Birthday & I'll...

Birthday Selfie
Michael Shinafelt

It's my Birthday & I'll say what I want to. What did you think I was going to say cry??? Then you obviously don't know me too well. 

So I guess I need to be all reflective and stuff, correct? Of course I do! Today I turn the ripe age of 52, and I am proud of it. Why you may ask? Because the wind is high, it blows my mind, that's why! "Yes" I threw in that lyric reference to F#ck with you youngsters out there.

In all seriousness it's because I'm feeling myself. Translation - I know who I am and what I want, and I'm coming for you 2018, so bend over and take it!

The image above I took this morning, right before I got on the computer to write this post. Why am I in the shower with a glam face filter you might ask? Because I have lost 24 lbs and counting minions, not to mention my body is really tight. 

While my face has a filter, my body does not. I have gone from 213 lbs to 189 lbs and I expect to lose more and get even more ripped thanks to my new love boxing. I punched a bag and I liked it!

Along with boxing I spin 3 -4 times a week, go to yoga once a week and watch what I eat. This is no small accomplishment when one reaches a certain age. 

Thus today I am celebrating my 52 year old body. I am in some of the best shape I have ever been and guess what? Yep, I'm feeling myself today, and everyday.That is always a reason to celebrate!

Keep up with me I'm bad ass at:

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

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

Bite Me!

Team Gingerbread Man
Gigi Hadid

While I am not sure there is really any other meaning to this photo than model Gigi Hadid chomping down for a nibble on a gingerbread man. In my mind this photo is sending a strong message to the FCC: Bite Me! 

Yeah, I have an active imagination that way...now that the elephant my house has been acknowledged I have a hunch Ms. Hadid would have no qualms about the use of her image to deliver this particular message.

I bet at first glance you thought "Oh boy here we go, another innocuous Super Model posting."

So keep those visions of sugar plums dancing in your heads minions, but also be mindful that those visions could easily be restricted internet access wise very soon. 

From Myself, Gigi and the Gingerbread Man - Dear FCC, all we want for Christmas is for you to bite me motherf#ckers!

Mic Drop!

Gigi on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gigihadid/?hl=en  

Silver Bells?

Not!
Photo:
Michael Shinafelt

Mark your calendars the date has been set for Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's wedding, May 19, 2018, "yes" the nuptials will be televised.

The betrothed will tie the knot at St. George's Chapel @ Windsor Castle, say that three times fast. Funny a few scant weeks ago I snapped a shot in the supermarket of the tabloid headline above and sent it to my Royal Fan Girl Shani Bayne. 

She doesn't believe the headline and frankly neither do I. These two don't seem like the irresponsible type. For sure they will have children, but they are getting married for one reason and one reason only - love. Baby being on board has nada to do with it. Trust me, I'm not a tabloid.

Now to the important part are the wedding bells that will ring at St. George's Chapel silver? One can dream...!

Prince Harry on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Harry 

Holiday Cheer With Katy Perry

Santa Baby
Katy Perry & Friends

Did you think I would let the Christmas season saunter by without a visit from whimsical songstress Katy Perry? If you did, you thought wrong!

Here is Katy being hew own Santa Claus and engaging in her personal brand of Holiday cheer by paying a visit to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston in Georgia.

In all honesty if I had to choose someone to be my faux Santa I'd pick Katy. She is the Queen of fun and would for sure put a smile on the face of the most stringent Grinch. Nobody does cotton candy dreams and Unicorn races better than Perry, so her having a crack at reindeer games is a perfect fit.

Also I love seeing people, yes not just celebrities, taking time out to make children in need of some Holiday cheer smile. Even though I have never wanted kids, I still like them, and bringing them joy is a priceless gift.

Ho, ho, ho...and all that jazz, TGIF! 

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