Michael's Musings

Back Off!
Michael Shinafelt

"I'm the trouble starter, punkin' instigator, I'm the fear addicted, a danger illustrated

I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter" - Firestarter, Prodigy 

Honestly I can't tell why this old Prodigy song is going through my mind this ayem, but since it is I am going with it. That's why this is a musings column, none of it has to be cohesive, it only has to spring fourth from my mind randomly. On that note, let's get more random shall we? We shall...

I don't know about you, but I feel a sense of calm today I haven't felt for 4 years

Biggest surprise at yesterday's Inauguration performance wise? Jennifer Lopez - WOW!

Light as a feather, stiff as a varnished eel

It's so bad. His eyes are lifted to high...wrong plastic surgery happens.

When I hide something, it stays hid

Relationships are horny 

FYI I almost blocked you

To those of you offering to cover me in bubble wrap, please consider I would suffocate 

Woman Crush of the Week - The first female Vice President ever Kamala Harris 

These thongs were made for walking, don't question me

Do you know the way to San Jose? Asking for a friend

Pick yourself up and remember who you are

What I said isn't deep enough for this many questions 

Fresh as a _______ the blank is yours to fill in 

Leave nothing open for interpretation with me here:

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

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

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Save The Date

RSVP tomorrow is the Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden and the first female Vice President ever Kamala Harris. 

"Yes" I will be watching given the Historical context of it, Ms. Harris being the first Veep and all. While we are entering a new era in this country, I for one am moving forward with hope and caution. 

Let's face it, it's going to be a bit before COVID is truly under control given the negligence of the former administration. Also there's been a lot of damage done that will also take time to fix.

2021 will be a year of healing, not "your year" or anyone else's for that matter. It will be the year things move forward and make the next three years more viable for all.

So cheers to Biden/Harris I will be watching this historic event along with the rest of you. 

PS In case you didn't know Lady Gaga is singing the National Anthem...

Mic Drop!

For more 411 click on the link below -

https://washington.org/DC-guide-to/inauguration-day-frequently-asked-questions-washington-dc  

Monday Motivation

Coming Into Monday Like...
Halle Berry

Well I am now officially back on a diet routine as of yesterday. Meaning eating healthier and taking care of myself, it's time to shed those Pandemic pounds. So let's skateboard into the week with Halle Berry.

Halle is all you need for some health and fitness Monday Motivation. Seriously Minions I follow Ms. Berry on Instagram and have never seen her look better, in fact I think she is currently the best she has ever been. Guess what? Halle is 54 years young! I am merely one year older than she.

She truly is inspiring and very active. Honestly seeing her Instagram posts are all I need to motivate me this week and beyond.

Your mission today is to find something, or someone who inspires you to be the best version of yourself. No matter what that means to you.

Keep on keeping and bend it like Halle!

Halle on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/halleberry/

Reunion: SVU

Social Media has been all a buzz and a Twitter this week with the news that Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) & Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) are reuniting on Law & Order: SVU, soon.

That's correct Minions no firm date has been set, all we die hard fans (like me) of the show know is that the Dream Team will be having a reunion SVU style in the near future. 

Meanwhile here are the photos that Mariska & Christopher both posted on their Instagram pages to tease us all and keep us company until then.

Don't ever say I'm not a giver...!!!

 Mariska on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/therealmariskahargitay/

Christopher on IG -

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

"Dance With Me"

J.R. Price and Tom Goss Are Wretchedly in Love in “Dance with Me” 

New Single and Lyric Music Video from J.R. Price’s Daydream album

J.R. Price and Tom Goss team up on “Dance with Me”, an impassioned love song about the incredible power dance has to bring a couple together before the world breaks them apart.  “The song chronicles that moment when a couple is fighting, and it doesn’t even make sense for them to stay together a second longer, but with a simple dance, they realize they can’t part because the attachment is too powerful,” explains J.R. Price.  The song is the fourth release from his upcoming Daydream album and he says it was heavily influenced by Meghan Trainor’s duets with Charlie Puth and John Legend. “All it takes is holding each other close, the sparks fly and suddenly the problems disappear,” he continues, adding: “If only love was actually that easy.”

JRP admits he’s had a hard time connecting with Cupid’s arrow in his life.   “Growing up poor, with no friends and a family who didn’t love me enough, left me feeling unworthy of love,” Price reflects.  “I was gay, overweight, and never felt like I was the prettiest…”

He explores many of his early challenges in “Daydream”, his new album that he refers to as pages from his younger self’s diary.  “All of the songs are windows into very personal experiences but I don’t tell them in a sad way.  The album is mostly fun Top 40 ear candy that expresses how, even at my lowest points, I managed to hold on to the hope that this day would come when I can finally chase my dreams on my own terms.”

J.R. Price
Photo:
Lily Dyer

Tom Goss appearing on his album is one dream fulfilled.  “Tom Goss is on my album!” he exclaims.  “If people only knew what Tom Goss being on my album would have meant to my younger self. When Tom’s song “Bears” came out, it changed me forever.  Here was this video depicting plus sized guys through a sexy lens; wearing swimsuits, exuding power.  That video made me realize that I also could be a sex object.  I could be someone’s fantasy without having to lose weight.  There are guys out there that love my curves.” 

He was introduced to Tom Goss through his producer, Freddy Freeman, a fellow independent artist in the gay community, best known for his song, “I’m Here, I’m Queer, & I’m Country!”.  JRP presented “Dance with Me” to Goss through email and was shocked when the singer replied, agreeing to record the duet.  “He put his heart and soul into the song,” JRP continues.   “He cared about details and depth in ways I was not expecting.  ‘Dance with Me’ mattered to him. He elevated the song beyond what I even heard in my head.”

JRP’s hope is that “Dance with Me” and all of the songs on the Daydream album help to inspire the next generation.  “I love the fans who reach out to me from all over the world and tell me that because of my videos, they felt comfortable wearing a swimsuit at a party. I am learning that all of the pain I have been through on this earth is meant for something... that it is helping others get through their own difficult moments.”

J.R. Price experienced a rough childhood. His father was a workaholic who was never home and when he was, was emotionally unavailable.  His mother was mentally, physically, and emotionally abusive.  He had two older sisters:  one, a drug addict, and another that became extremely judgmental and distant after his coming out as gay.

Neglected and dejected, food became J.R.’s one comfort in life, but as he grew larger, he also grew suicidal.   It led to anorexia, binge eating and body dysmorphia.

Last year, he was diagnosed with hyper diabetes.  Doctors warned him that he was killing himself. After being hospitalized for a week, he says he finally woke up to the true meaning of body positivity.   “I found peace with my body.  I have good days and bad days but mostly I realize that it’s not about shape or size, it’s about owning your body how it is and really embracing it.  Nothing is more attractive or valuable than confidence in oneself.” 

Through exercise and dieting, he has lost the weight and has, he declares, “beat the betes.”  In fact, he’s the healthiest he’s ever been.   “And the happiest because I’m putting my focus on my music.  My hope is that the album becomes a little escape from this crazy world and provides big inspiration to daydream!” 

J.R. Price’s “Dance with Me (featuring Tom Goss)” is being distributed independently and is available on Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/dance-with-me-single/1546275928?at=1000lM6c&uo=4&app=itunes), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/track/6hmrT5CLozJGOf46wYc7Qi) and all digital platforms. 

Follow J.R. Price on Instagram @ joshuarandalprice and Facebook @ JRPricePop.  For more information, visit jrprice.org 

Film Buff Friday: Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot is one of my favorite movies of all time. So much so that I in fact have the poster above in my home.

Today I am posting a link that my friend Jay Jacobson wrote about this comedy masterpiece (IMHO) which is one of the many films featured on his site Jay's Classic Movie Blog.

In addition to Some Like It Hot you will find other classics such as Rebel Without A Cause and Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca, which are two of my personal faves, plus many more.

Jay not only breaks the movies down he gives you behind the scenes history of the stars and facts of what went into making the film and things that happened during the making of it.

So if you like it classic & hot, click on the link below...🌟

https://www.jaysclassicmovieblog.com/post/32-some-like-it-hot-1959?cid=4d56c486-73a6-4289-a1a5-ea22f2a1dcbf