Hump Day & Chill

With the world being what it is, one must take the time to be mindful and not get too overwhelmed.

See this turtle they have the right idea. When I saw it basking in the sun at the bottom of the lake that the Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Memorial adorns at Hollywood Forever Cemetery pre-yoga yesterday I couldn't help but being drawn in to the tranquility of it's being.

This is an awesome reminder that we all need to Hump Day & Chill Minions!!!

Let's bend it like this dope turtle today and be mindful that we all need to do something for ourselves and our well being.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to join my turtle friend at the bottom of the lake for a bit.

Hump Day & Chill!

Turtle on Wikipedia -

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

The 30th Anniversary Of "Showgirls"

Myself & Elizabeth Berkley

This past Saturday I was lucky enough to be a VIP attendee at the 30th Anniversary Screening Of "Showgirls" put on by Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. 

OMG! It was amazing! Elizabeth Berkley who played the fierce Nomi Malone showed up and introduced the film honoring Gay Pride Month! And then I got a photo with her afterward. 

"Showgirls' came out when I was in my thirties and still exploring my identity as a Gay Man. The character of Nomi Malone is someone many gay men, including myself identify with strongly. My inner gay child was dancing with joy during this special evening. 

All the photos with the exception of the one taken of Ms. Berkley and Myself were shot by my friend and guest for the to do Bob Drapeau...Leave your inhibitions at the door, the show is about to begin! 

You Don't Nomi
Elizabeth Berkley 

Show Guys
Me & Bob

Thrust It!

Hollywood Forever on the WWW -

https://hollywoodforever.com/                                         

Monday Motivation

"Why Fit In When You Were Born To Stand Out" - Dr. Seuss 

This quote by the one and only Dr. Seuss is a nice companion piece to today's Monday Motivation quote straight outta Christina Hendricks of Mad Men fame.

Her quote very much is in the spirit of Pride Month as well.

Most of of us don't fit in, nor do we want to. Find your own unique way to stand out Minions.

Take this piece of Monday Motivation go fourth and slay!

Christina on IG -

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

"The Air That I Breathe"

Photo by: Albert Sanchez - Design by: John Stapleton

Belinda Carlisle, beloved solo artist, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and voice of the Go-Go’s, returns to her roots with the release of a new studio album Once Upon a Time in California, slated for release on  29 August 2025 by the Demon Music label. 

Featuring ten new studio tracks including the lead single, “The Air That I Breathe” HERE were recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Gabe Lopez, who worked with Belinda on her 2017 studio album Wilder Shores. Belinda shares - “This song has always been one of my very favorites growing up.  I love the lyrics and the complicated melody.  This was on the list I originally made of songs that I wanted to sing if I ever did a cover album. During the pandemic I started performing karaoke style on my Instagram every Saturday and called it “Saturday Serenades.” This one got such a good response that I thought 'This definitely should be a contender for the album'. I'm so happy with the way it turned out and I absolutely love the video as it sort of harkens back to my early solo albums and videos.”  Once Upon a Time in California will be available on CD, vinyl and digital formats and available for pre-order HERE

Following the success of Belinda’s 2023 EP Kismet, Once Upon a Time in California sees Belinda  Carlisle take a deeply personal journey through the golden sounds of her youth with this ten-track collection. Steeped in the spirit of her Californian upbringing, the album is a heartfelt tribute to the vintage pop culture that shaped her musical identity. What sets this album apart is that it’s a celebration of Californian culture that stretches its canvas beyond the familiar evocation of the Laurel Canyon sound. It’s a carefully curated and beautifully realized salute to Belinda’s personal education in pop music, and the magical sounds that arrived in her life from near and far, on the radio and on cherished 45s.  

 

With the assured and distinctive vocal delivery of someone who herself has become one of the Golden State’s greatest exports  - initially as frontwoman for the Go-Go’s, who enjoyed Top 10 hits with  Our Lips Are Sealed, Vacation and We Got The Beat  and as a solo performer with a multitude of hits including Mad About You, Heaven Is A Place on Earth, Circle In the Sand and I Get Weak amongst others,  Belinda Carlisle completes this sentimental journey back to her youth with timeless style. 

 

Once Upon a Time in California opens with a stirring remake of the Burt Bacharach & Hal David gem written for Dionne Warwick, Anyone Who Had A Heart.  Belinda then pays her respects to such timeless artists as the Carpenters (Superstar), Gordon Lightfoot (If You Could Read My Mind)  and Jim Croce (Time In A Bottle) and to songs for the ages including The Air That I Breathe (The Hollies),  Everybody’s Talking  (Harry Nilsson) and Reflections Of My Life (Marmalade).  The result is an entirely different kind of Californian dreaming for a new generation. Although this marks the first time all ten tracks have been available on one album, three of them – Superstar, If You Could Read My Mind and Get Together have been available on previous Belinda Carlisle collections.

 

Commenting on the album Belinda says, “I was born and raised in California at a time when music was an important part of Californian culture.  I lived and breathed music, it was my great escape - a refuge of fantasy and imagination.  Every day after school and when it was summer vacation, I would listen and sing along to the music on the radio for the entire day.  Always fantasizing about being a singer myself, one day.This collection of songs is the best representation of what I loved back then that I could think of - listening to it brings back so many memories of a time and a California that doesn't really exist anymore.  That’s not meant to sound like a bad thing, it's just different - there was an innocence and energy back then that was unique and magical. Things I doubt will ever be felt in quite the same way again. Here's to the California of my dreams.”

With Once Upon a Time in California, Belinda Carlisle invites fans old and new to join her on a journey through the melodies that defined a generation.

FOLLOW BELINDA CARLISLE

 

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

Don't Rain On My Parade

 

"Here is a strange and bitter crop" Strange Fruit, Billie Holliday

"Oh I'm weary all of the time" Stormy Weather, Etta James

"You say you want a Revolution" Revolution, The Beatles

Weather Forecast For Washington DC Today Here -

https://globalmeteo.com/weather/washington/jun-14/  

It's Friday The 13th!!!

Me & My Buddy Jason

It's Friday The 13th!!! Here I am hanging out with Jason on the rooftop of The Montalban Theater in Hollywood for a screening of the original 1980 slasher movie.

While Jason merely makes a cameo in that one at the end, he is so associated with the Friday The 13th series I guess they figured they'd trot him out for the show. 

Ki-Ki-Ki...Ma-Ma-Ma...

TGIF!

Friday The 13th on IMDb -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080761/    

Michael's Musings

"Gimme, Gimme, Gimme A Man After Midnight"
Michael Shinafelt

"Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight, Won't somebody help me chase these shadows away?

Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight, Take me through the darkness to the break of the day" ABBA, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)

Indeed! Keep on keeping...Happy Pride Month!

Resist and Dance! That's all...

Billionaires are parasites, the more you know!

Eat of this Crunchwrap Supreme, for it is m body. Drink of this Baja Blast, for it is my blood - Taco Bell

And I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And it's rider's name was Death, discuss 

Exercise your right to protest, and face 2,000 National Guard Troops. Attack the Capitol and get a full pardon. Make it make sense.

Went to the Bears in Space event at Akbar for the first time ever this past Pride Weekend in Hollywood, good times!

Finally saw They All Laughed with the late Dorothy Stratten, So sad her life was cut tragically short and she didn't get the opportunity to do more movies, she was wonderful in it.

I wanted to marry my dreams. So I cheated with fear and broke up with doubt

Woman Crush of the Week - Bisexual Icon, Civil Rights Activist and Pioneer in the Entertainment Business Josephine Baker. A quite remarkable woman, Google her you'll see. 

Jonathan Groff giving Keanu Reeves an eyeful while performing Mack The Knife on The Tony Awards, now that's entertainment!!!

Rachel Zoe joining Season 15 of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, so fetch

So*Do*My neighbors, friends & idols, think about it, not too much

I'm wished I had gotten the chance to see Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. her performance on the Tony's was a knockout!

Speaking of knocking things out, time to get back to work on my secret project, TTFN

I won't give away my secrets, but you can keep up with me here - 

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

https://bsky.app/profile/michaelshinafelt.bsky.social

https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelshinafelt