Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Hump Day & Chill

It's Turkey Time!
Robert Downey Jr.

It's time to choke that turkey in honor of Thanksgiving, translation: Let's Hump Day & Chill this Wednesday before we give thanks.

This TG edition of HD&C is brought to you by Robert Downey Jr. in Jodie Foster's Home For The Holidays (say that three times fast!) It's about, what else, a family gathering for Thanksgiving. Are you sensing a theme for today? Ha! of course you are...

With a commentary from Tye Briggs via his Favorite Hunks & Other Things blog about his lust for Downey Jr. in this particular film.

Unlike Tye I have lusted for RDJ in other movies, no not Iron Man, actually I have never seen one of the Iron Man films, mostly his independent work does it for me.

Thus I leave you with Robert Downey Jr. as your official Thanksgiving Hump Day & Chill. Don't forget the sauce with your turkey, gobble! gobble!

Hit the link below -

https://favoritehunks.blogspot.com/2015/11/robert-downey-jr-in-home-for-holidays.html

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

A Christmas "Serenad3"

The Serenad3,

Americas

Newest and Most Talented Trio, to

Release Debut Album,

Christmas Serenade on November 24th


The Serenad3 (pronounced The Serenade) is the magnificent new trio who will be releasing their premiere album, Christmas Serenade, just in time for the holidays. So many favorites are on their album, including Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night, Carol of the Bells and many more cherished tunes.

 

Accompanied on some of the tracks includes music impresario David Foster, the incomparable Gloria Estefan, pop star Pia Toscano and the amazing a cappella group Voctave.

 

The three multi-talented members of The Serenad3, Fernando Varela, Craig Irvin and Devin Eatmon, each have an incredible body of work, along with wide-ranging interests and hobbies.

 

The Serenad3


The story behind Fernando Varela begins and ends with a voice. A voice tells the tale of a breathtaking tenor whose spirit and determination has defied the odds. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Fernando moved to Florida at the age of eight, and while he always loved music it was not until he was seventeen that he discovered the impressive talent he had within him. Fernando trained with some of opera’s renowned classical icons and tours worldwide with Grammy Award-Winning producer David Foster. Fernando can also be seen featured on David Foster’s recently released all-new PBS Special. He has also performed amongst some legendary superstars including Lionel Richie, Sarah Brightman, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Jewel, The Beach Boys, Steven Tyler, and Josh Groban. He’s been married for 12 years to a beautiful soprano, Susan Williams, and is the father to two boys: Jarron and Zeke.  In addition to being Is an avid golfer, Fernando coaches Zeke’s travel ball baseball team where they’ve enjoyed several major tournament wins.  Being fortunate to have been raised within a large close-knit family, Fernando always puts family first. When he isn't touring worldwide, he drives carpool, loves every minute of coaching baseball, and with the little time left over, tries to work on his golf game.

 

Craig Irvin brings a vibrant sound and commitment to every performance. Opera News has hailed his “rich, resonant baritone” while Opera Wire says that “watching a performer like Craig Irvin up close only adds to the thrill of hearing him sing”. Craig has performed with many of the best opera companies in the country, including Chicago Lyric, LA Opera, Minnesota Opera, Philadelphia Opera, and Atlanta Opera. Craig’s performance schedule usually keeps him on the road at least six months of the year, so Craig and his wife Joelle have decided to live surrounded by family when he is home.  Craig and Joelle raise their three children, a ten-year-old son and their seven-year-old twins (a boy and a girl!), surrounded by their family in Waukee, Iowa, where Craig grew up.  They even decided to buy a house a block away from Craig’s parents.  They joke that they’re living a musical version of “Everybody Loves Raymond”.

 

Devin Eatmon is a tenor from Ocala, Florida. His performance history includes being a Resident Artist of the Central Florida Lyric Opera during 2013-2015, a Studio Artist at Opera in the Ozarks, (summer 2015), and summers at Aspen Music Festival (2018-2019). With a bachelor's and a master’s degree in voice performance from Florida State University, Devin studied under the tutelage of former San Francisco Opera starting bass-baritone, David Okerlund. In light of more recent events, Devin had accepted a contract offer to be a member of the Apprentice Singer Program at The Santa Fe Opera, 2020 (Season canceled due to Covid-19). Currently, Devin lives in Denver performing as an artist-in-residence for Opera Colorado’s 2020-2021 season.  Devin has a wide range of interests, first and foremost is spending time with his friends, along with a great ribeye steak (medium-rare, please), drawing, and fishing but singing on stage is his favorite. Interestingly, Devin has such a versatile range of talents that he almost didn’t take the path to become a singer. Before he discovered his passion for singing, he was pursuing a career in golf as a junior tour player. What he loves about golf is the personal connection it has with both his father and his sister. They all enjoy playing and it’s become one of their favorite bonding activities. For that reason, golf will always have a very special place in his heart. 

 

The new Christmas album, Christmas Serenade, will be released on November 24, 2020, and will be available on all of your favorite music outlets including Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, and many more.

Monday, November 23, 2020

Monday Motivation

Who Is That Masked Man?!
Michael Shinafelt

"Now is the winter of our discontent" - Richard III by William Shakespeare 

We are now on a lockdown, here in Los Angeles and pretty much everywhere else in the US, again. 

Not being a scientist, or anything remotely resembling that I am going to keep this week's Monday Motivation simple and to the point.

"Keep Calm And Wear A Mask"

If this virus hadn't been politicized by a sociopath and we were given actual leadership instead this most likely would not be happening again at present.

However since it is....MASK THE F#CK UP!!!

Thank You, Michael has left the building....

COVID information at:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html  

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Battle of the Network Stars

Wonder Woman Won!
Lynda Carter

With all the chaos in the world, today has gotten me feeling nostalgic for a simpler time...Thus I bring to you a memory from my youth Battle of the Network Stars.

The show ran on ABC from 1976 - 1988, it aired biannually and pitted celebrities from the big three networks against one another in track and field type of games.

Lynda Carter aka Wonder Woman pictured above was on a team with Farrah Fawcett, Penny Marshall & Ron Howard. 

Their team won the inaugural games, and Carter won the swimming relay as well.

Seriously though, did you expect a team with Wonder Woman and one of Charlie's Angels to lose? I thought not!

Battle of the Network Stars on Wikipedia -

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

Saturday, November 21, 2020

The Main Event

Happy Birthday Mrs. Claus
Kurt Russell & Goldie Hawn

Bear Witness to Goldie Hawn celebrating her 75th Birthday with partner Kurt Russell at an event for their Netflix movie The Christmas Chronicles 2 in Los Angeles. In which Kurt reprises his role as Santa Claus and Goldie hitches a ride in his sleigh as Mrs. Claus.

Some might refer to this as the Main Event of the evening, however I think the real Main Event here is their 30 plus year relationship.

Although never married the couple are still going strong and you can actually see it in the way they look at each other, the spark is still there after all this time...amazing!

What is the secret to their longevity? If I had to wager a bet (other than the obvious attraction they have for one another) based on the way they light up with a great big smile when in each other's company, I would venture to say they make each other laugh and tend not to take things too seriously.

Yep, I believe that's the ticket. Trust me I know something about it from personal experience.

Love these two!

The Christmas Chronicles 2 on IMDb -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11057644/   

Friday, November 20, 2020

Delta Rae



Celebrated Americana Ensemble

DELTA RAE "Coming Home To Carolina"
Deluxe Blu-ray + DVD + CD Set
Friday, November 20, 2020


Earthy, familial alt-pop outfit Delta Rae skillfully juggle gospel-tinged country-rock, sensual blue-eyed soul, and harmony-laden Americana, resulting in an infectious, radio-ready sound. Formed in 2009 as a four-piece around the talents of siblings Ian, Eric, and Brittany Hölljes, along with Elizabeth Hopkins, the North Carolina-based band expanded to a sextet the following year with the additions of Mike McKee and Grant Emerson. 
 
In 2011 the group inked a deal with Sire/Warner Bros. after a particularly impressive in-office audition for Seymour Stein, who was blown away by Hopkins and the Hölljes siblings' powerful voices. The resulting Carry the Fire, their major-label debut, arrived in 2012. Carry the Fire reached 11 on the U.S. Heatseekers chart and 13 on the folk chart. Delta Rae released their second album, After It All, in the spring of 2015. Following a relocation to Nashville, the band signed with Big Machine in 2017 and issued a pair of EPs - A Long and Happy Life and The Blackbird Sessions - in quick succession. The front part of 2019 saw a spate of new singles, though in July of that year, Delta Rae announced their departure from Big Machine following a massive company buyout. Choosing to go independent, they quickly launched a massively successful crowd-funding campaign for their next release, a two-part double album called The Light & the Dark. The first volume, The Light, appeared in March 2020.
 
This electrifying concert film, Coming Home To Carolina was filmed with fourteen 4K Ultra Hi Def Cameras, before hometown fans in Raleigh, North Carolina, during their final shows one week before Christmas, from their highly successful 2019 sold out “Take Me There” Tour, that features some of the band's biggest hits including “Take Me There”, “Down By The River”, “Dance In The Graveyard” interspersed with scenic performances scenes at Raleigh River. Interview segments at the band's home where they recorded most of their first album of songs, ending in a bonfire jam at the Local Watering Hole.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Michael's Musings

Mood
Michael Shinafelt

Today is National Stick Out Your Tongue Day! OK, it isn't the actual day falls on July 19th, but who cares about facts anymore, right??? Seriously, ruminate on that, but not too much. Since we are currently being abused by the biggest liar in history, sticking out my tongue is the tamest way I can express my mood.

What's that? Why are there reindeer in the BG? Why not? It's too early for Christmas too, bah humbug! Moving On...

This week I received an E-mail with the subject line: Are you ignoring Stacey Abrams? I felt like I was in Fatal Attraction.

New Law & Order: SVU tonight! These days it's the little things...

It's Alligator mating season, the more you know

Whore In A Drawer is 2020's Elf On A Shelf

Last Friday I was doing laundry and flipping stations to see what was on. IFC had a Friday The 13th marathon going. Me to self: "Why is this on? Halloween is over." Me right after: "Oh, yeah."

Just tucking in my shirt

Violent metaphors are my thing

Harry Styles looks "So Fetch" in a dress, just sayin'

Woman Crush of the Week - My friend music artist Ariel Beesley, why? Because she is a big human rights activist, especially Women's. Bear Witness to the awesome photo above shot by Alanna Durkee. Follow Ariel on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arielbees/?hl=en

Wished you were here, love tacos & you

Michael Shinafelt has been marked safe from Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"

Oh wow I was just looking at you and suddenly, boom!

Unmask the Serpent, discuss

Currently I am on Nutrisystem to drop those Pandemic Pounds, I'll let you know how it goes

Lose it with me at:

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

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt