The Day Job

I used to go on about my day job...

And then the flavor of this blog changed.  Of course since then, so has the name of the business... and very shortly our location too! We've had allot of exciting press this past month because of our designing of the living room at the 2013 Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse. The room was photographed for The Journal-Sentinel, The Business Journal, and M Magazine. Kerry was interviewed by Kathy Mykleby for a special segment on Channel 12's 10 'O Clock News and as a Showhouse Design Committee member, he made a special guest appearance on Channel 4's The Morning Blend! You can watch it HERE.

But the most exciting bit by far was being able to spend an hour of airtime with my girl Cassandra, on Real Milwaukee! On one of his last "local business visits" before departing the show, Tony Clark came and turned Residence on it's ear. You can watch 3 of the 5 segments below. They're short and sweet!

Miracle Makers

For those of you who didn't know it, Cassandra McShepard began her career in broadcast media on the radio, and in the very beginning, it was co-hosting a show with motivational dynamo  Silver Rae Fox. Fast forward a decade. For a few months now (On the first Monday of every month) Cassandra has been guesting on Silver Rae's blog-talk radio show FOXOLOGY. Their discussions are always uplifting. enlightening, and very empowering. Why haven't I shared one here, with YOU?! I don't know, but here you go. It's bound to leave you "feeling good from your head to your shoes...". Perfect Sunday listening. It's a starr- ah, with an extra rr-ah.

Listen to internet radio with FOXOLOGY with Silver Rae Fox on BlogTalkRadio

Hometown Pride

Attention Beezers!

Film producer Jack Turner and other local filmmakers are capturing the best of Milwaukee on film. They need your help. Show them the Milwaukee you love through a video, photo or written work.

Come on Milwaukee, it's time to shine on!

For more info, visit  http://www.dearmke.com/

Here's a  GORGEOUS preview....

Boo Boo, Bacon, & Babs

Whether it's Amy Winehouse's iconic up-do pinned up with pills, or a tasty Kevin Bacon sculpted entirely from, you guessed it- San Francisco artist Jason Mecier's imaginative mosaic portraits are a 3 dimensional, visual feast! Working with a myriad of household items from plastic dolls and makeup to yarn and beans, Jason  brilliantly illustrates how one man's junk becomes another man's masterpiece.

"Aint nothing wrong with being a little gay. Everybody's a little gay."- Honey Boo Boo
For a glimpse into Mecier's fascinating process watch this clip...

For more information  on this incredibly talented artist visit jasonmecier.com.
Commissions welcome, posters available. I think I need a Streisand....
Thanks for pollinating, Sande Faulkwell!

Every December Sky

A Killer Christmas Special....

Sometimes, things have to marinate for awhile. It was more than 2 years ago that I first suggested a holiday special to Cassandra. Then several months ago while we were going over ideas for the upcoming season of her YouTube channel Cassandra McShepard Television, she brought it up. "Maybe this is the year we do the Christmas special." That was all the encouragement I needed.

My initial concept was to pair her with a little jazz combo for the musical sequences. Maybe we would film them at a local nightclub. Then my dear friend Scott Luedtke had a genius idea. His husband Brian directs The Ozaukee Chorus. Maybe Cassandra could be a special guest in their annual Christmas concert at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center...and perhaps we could film their performances for inclusion in the special! Brilliant.

I knew that this needed to be a 3 camera shoot, and the prospect of trying to film during a live performance combined with a mid-December deadline, seemed daunting. Brian suggested that we could film in early December if we did it on a rehearsal evening at St. Joseph's in Grafton...another great idea! Killer Bee Cherrie Hanson and Andy "Rogue Lens' Conkle jumped on board the train, and I had qualified bodies to deftly man cameras 2 and 3.

David Todd came to the rescue with the amazing Jason Ruck of RuckMedia, who supplied professional cameras and  finally at last- professional editing equipment! Jason and I spent 10 hours in the editing room at his office. There wasn't anything I wanted, anything I suggested- that Jason couldn't do. Frame by frame.... "How about camera 2 here, dissolving into camera 3? Sorry, I like the camera 1 angle better here, can we do it over?" Every time his answer was "No problem." Call me a dork, but one of my favorite parts of the finished product is the way the end credits turned out! In all honesty, I'm as proud of this special as I am anything else I've ever collaborated on...if not most proud.

So without further adieu (tomorrow's Christmas Eve!), I present...



BEHIND THE SCENES!

The talented Rick Swearingen of Mortensen Photography took some amazing pictures during the filming of the musical sequences at St Joseph's. Here's a 1 minute montage set against The Ozaukee Chorus singing "Caroling, Caroling". What an awesome group of individuals to work with- enjoy!

One From The Patch

You know, I used to make videos for the blog...oh to have time on my hands!

Until we meet again through the magic of digital video, here's an old pumpkin from my patch. After re-watching this 2 years later, I find I'm still scared of the same things... Wishing everybody a fun and safe Halloween!

The Privileged...

 VOTE!

Card Carrying Member

As the season of hibernation grows near, I'm vowing to get reacquainted with my inner reader...A visit to my dear old friend The Library feels like a good way to break the ice.

COVERGIRL: Cassandra McShepard

If you're a newbee here, you may not know that I represent renaissance woman (and force of nature) Cassandra McShepard. If you've been buzzing around this hive for awhile, then you're fully aware of all the exciting things that have happened (and that are happening!) on our exciting journey together...

Yesterday the very talented Rick Swearingen of Mortensen Photography, photographed her at my house for the November cover of Wisconsin Woman Magazine...I couldn't help but want to share a few these gorgeous shots with you here!

HOW MYA SAVED JACOB

Originally posted on July 20th, 2010

I was on an airplane making my way to California when I read this touching story about an extraordinary relationship...here's an excerpt:

Mya senses something wrong. Sitting in the back of the SUV as they barrel down a back road, she detects a change in the air. Jacob is driving, on their way to camp in the Grand Canyon. Though Mya met Jacob only a month ago, she knows him better in some ways than he knows himself. With his ‘yes ma’am’ Southern twang and lanky, broad-shouldered, 6-foot-3-inch frame, he can seem like a big, easygoing guy. But there are times, urgent times, when Jacob needs Mya.
 

Outside the window, the desert hills that stretch as far as the eye can see might as well be in the Middle East. A car comes up behind their SUV-the first car they have seen for many miles-and it passes them, kicking up a whirlwind of dust. Mya doesn’t even look to see Jacob’s shoulders tighten. She leaps into the front seat just before Jacob slams on the brakes. They skid to a stop, and in an instant Mya is on top of Jacob, licking his convulsing body so hard she almost seems to smother him.
 

In reality, this highly trained black Labrador accomplishes just the opposite. Her care leads him out of his dark terror and back to the dusty road...

For the whole( tearjerking )  story, visit Spirit Magazine :
How Mya Saved Jacob

Please...RELEASE ME!

Barbraphiles rejoice!
On October 9th Barbra Streisand will RELEASE ME...

From the press release:

"Barbra Streisand's private music vault holds all the master tapes she's recorded for five decades. Now, she's sharing 11 previously unreleased songs, spanning a cross-section of her career from 1963 to the present.

In an unparalleled career, Streisand has released more than 60 albums. Many of the sessions for these albums yielded extra recordings, which weren't included on the albums they were intended for. They've all been stored in her vault until now. Over the past year, Barbra has painstakingly gone through the recordings to come up with this collection, Release Me.

Highlights include: "Didn't We" written by Jimmy Webb - recorded in 1970 for an unreleased album project titled The Singer; the standard "Willow Weep For Me" - an unreleased track recorded in 1967 for Simply Streisand, arranged by Ray Ellis noted for his legendary work with Billie Holiday; A striking version of Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going Rain Today," with Barbra on vocals and Newman on piano - from the 1971 Stoney End sessions; an unreleased studio version of "With One More Look At You" from A Star Is Born; Two tracks from the unreleased sequel to the acclaimed The Broadway Album, titled Back To Broadway - "Home" (from The Wiz) and "How Are Things In Glocca Morra? / Heather On The Hill" (from Finian s Rainbow / Brigadoon).

Reflecting on the album, Streisand noted, "The thing I'm happiest about is that I still have great affection for all these songs. They appealed to me at the time...and still do. Listening now, I actually think to myself, 'The girl wasn't half bad. "

With the exception of two songs where the original masters couldn't be located, all the tracks on Release Me were transferred from first generation master tapes. Every attention was paid to preserving the sonic perspective of the sessions as they were originally recorded and mixed."

The hardcore fans (including myself, of course) had been hoping for a larger collection, for we know what the archives hold! In fact there's a whole lot of kvetching going on about the brevity of an 11 track disc when we heard through 'sources' it was going to be a 3 disc set. I instead will bite my tongue and delight when it arrives. Besides you never know, we may see other volumes appear over time....

Here's a delicious glimpse for your ears...an unreleased recording from the Stoney End sessions (with Randy Newman on piano), which marked the beginning of my favorite "era of Barbra's voice". Enjoy!

Barbra Streisand "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today" from Columbia Records on Vimeo.

Barbra Streisand's Release Me: I Think It's Going To Rain Today from Columbia Records on Vimeo.
By the way, don't you absolutely love the paintings below and above? They're by the British artist Maxwell. Be sure to check out the rest of his stunning work which can be ordered directly through his hip and sassy website- just click on Barbra to visit!

MAXWELL

Blogger on Break

I'm telling you, between personal and professional obligations, August and September are going to be madness. Sympathies aren't required though; it won't all be tribulous (new word, like it?) and taxing! For amongst the hard work there are exciting new creative endeavors, and a much needed restorative journey to the healing waters of Waupaca.

Disclosures out of the way, I want you to know that this hive will continue to buzz without me! I have several guest contributors lined up, and of course the usual milieu of musical treats and pollinated feel good thoughts from friends and fellow bloggers. Why should the honey stop flowing just because I don't have time to write? I'm bored with me anyway.

When I return I'll shall be galvanized with new goodies to share with you, including a new video series on interior design that I've been meaning to get around to filming for sometime now. Exciting stuff indeed. Enjoy the rest of your Summer kids, I'll see you on the other side.

Until then bee good and keep on pollinating!

Michael

Sage & Sass!

Well it's about time!

Season 5 of Cassandra McShepard Television begins filming this coming week. I'm excited to share with you that in addition to ALL NEW This Is What I Know So Far segments, there will be a couple of exciting (and entertaining) new features as well!

Stuck somewhere? Could you use a little advice that's both sage and sass?

Cassandra is now accepting your LIFE inquires at cmcshepard@yahoo.com. Drop her a line and who knows, she may respond... with a little video just for you!

The Summer Knows

Summer in Wisconsin is synonymous with Summerfest...

When the Winters are long, cold, and dark, folks tend to maximize their warm weather days by frolicking at any number of the exciting and expertly executed festivals that take place on Milwaukee's gorgeous lakefront.

Celebrating it's 45th year, SUMMERFEST will host 700 bands on 11 stages over 11 days. Can you imagine we have this amazing event right here in our very own backyard? I've said it often and I'll say it again. The natives have no idea how fortunate they are. Just ask the boy from California.

I haven't been myself in many years, (I know, I know- for shame!) but I'll be going with a gaggle of good friends this Sunday to see Robyn on The Miller Stage. I know you're jealous. I don't condone it, but I understand it.

Cassandra and the rest of the Real Milwaukee crew did their first-ever remote broadcast LIVE from the festival grounds on Wednesday. It was fun to see them outside of the studio, and Casandra shared her favorite Summerfest memory about her day as a Dreamsicle, and the dashed hopes of ever becoming Tito's bride...

MILWAUKEE~ A great place, on a great lake!

Constant Crows

Matt Alber is a singer songwriter gifted beyond measure, and a true sweetheart. I've had the chance to meet him in person a few times now, and whenever I do I'm at a loss for much to say except "Thank you for singing my heart." I suppose that's because I too possess 'a high propensity for making poetry out of every shooting star...'

He always says "I wanna be a Killer Bee!", and I always say "Matt you are a Killer Bee." Then I go find a polite corner and dissolve into a puddle.

Back when I featured a review of his first full length album "Hide Nothing", this blog was barely a week old. The disc had just come out and I was thoroughly enchanted by it. Since then I've moved twice, Cassandra's become a television star, and Matt's now living on an island off the Pacific Northwest Coast- high on love and the release of his latest collection of lullabies for grown folks. SHAME on me for taking so long to give his gorgeous sophomore release "Constant Crows" a proper plug!

Rather than review it, I will simply encourage you to visit his website. There you can preview the whole, glorious thing in it's entirety- and then purchase it of course!

http://www.mattalber.com/

Thank YOU, Phillip Spooner

This blog has never been, and never will be a forum for politics.

At the same time, this isn't a gay blog. And it it won't ever be that either. My homosexuality is but a mere component in the totality of me. However this blogmaster happens to be gay, and June is Gay Pride Month...and my LGBT brothers and sisters are in crisis mode once again.

Politics, especially in this current climate, are ego driven and divisive. There are thousands upon thousands (literally) of blogs out there where you can find content to get righteous about (either way your pendulum swings)- but it won't be here! I really don't have the spiritual constitution for the rhetoric anymore. I do my homework and I vote my conscience. If it's a debate you want you'll have to engage someone who needs to be in a superior position.

It doesn't really matter what your religious or political views are when it comes to equal rights. There's supposed to be separation of church and state in this country. If your reasons for continuing to fight my rights are religion-based, that fact alone should settle the debate. And yet sadly it doesn't.

I have many straight friends (and a few gay ones too) who vote differently than I do. Of all the people you know, I might just be the coolest with that.  However the politicians they cast their votes for are often the same ones with voting records and agendas that are clearly in conflict with equal rights. Note that I said EQUAL, not gay rights. I would like you to consider that if these politicians are doing what they can to make sure my rights are usurped or diminished (and believe me, they are)-  yours could be next. 

It could happen to you...

Do your homework, vote your conscience.
It's 2012 for crying out loud.



For more information and to see what you can do...
www.hrc.org

Where Are They Now?

 Whatever became of The Killer Bees?

Good question!

We got 6 new additions this past week to our Facebook Fan Page.
Welcome aboard  Phillip, Mauricio, Brian, Garrett, Marion and Greg!

I'm ever astounded at this internet marvel, and always so curious to know who you all are and how you stumbled upon us! According to the Facebook stats, you live in 18 countries around the world. I don't recall seeing Nigeria or Turkey before, but I do now- HELLO to you! Help yourself to the honey.

Hard to believe, but it's been over a year now since Cassandra and I filmed her last season of This Is What I Know So Far. Of course there's been allot going on between there and here, and you know my girl keeps busy co-hosting her ever-popular morning television talkshow,  REAL MILWAUKEE!

As well, it's been a year now since Stacey and I filmed the last edition of Stacey's Hot Dish. The back to back editing of those last 7 episodes nearly did us both in.

Cherrie's been busy promoting her amazing Bubbles, Ink. ...

Though we've been away we have not strayed far, nor have we forsaken thee!

Our technology for creating seemed to go sideways all at once, preventing filming of anything for quite some time. I'm still not thrilled with the new editing software (or the replacement camera for that matter), but I'm finally back in business and happy to announce that as soon as Cassandra and I can coordinate some time, fresh vignettes of her uplifting vlog will premier on Cassandra McShepard Television. Stacey and I had a chance to chat recently about the 2nd (Official) Season of Stacey's Hot Dish , and he's got some great ideas (and recipes) in store for you too. I'll give you a clue- more out of the kitchen and ON LOCATION!

And me?

Well, I contribute when I can.

There's so, so much more that I'd like to do with my little slice of cyberspace.

The time involved in finding the positive stories I  used to feature here, in conducting the Q&A's- in making all of it happen, is what usually leads me to default into writing about my own life experiences. I appreciate that some of you glean entertainment value from them, but quite frankly I spend enough time with me- and would much rather be sharing other people's stories and experiences.

I mean, that's what this was always supposed to be about.

I hope to return to that model this Summer.

If I'm absent for periods, don't send out a search party.

Hopefully I'll be filming and editing with Cassandra and Stacey, or blowing fresh bubbles for Cherrie. I also intend to steal a few rays while the sun is high in the sky, and regroup...and hopefully bring you a little more of what you knew before. I'd like that, I think you will too.

In the meantime Bee good Beezers, and remember to KEEP ON POLLINATING!
Michael

I WANT To Be Alone?

The Spinsterlicious Life

Always one to provide us with a fresh and thought provoking perspective on The Single Life, Cherrie Hanson's review of this eye-opening new book by Elanore Wells is as intriguing as the book's title.

 Check it out at CHERRIE BOMB!

WORDS

How are you using yours...?

And Now A Word From Our Sponsers...

 

Oh sweet JOY! I need a vacation, and I'm finally getting one. For you loyal visitors, the dream vacation I was supposed to take in November had to be rescheduled due to a passport that mysteriously went awry in the eleventh hour. So without further adieu, I'm finally off! I no doubt shall return with tales of wonderment and good fortune to share. Until then, bee good and keep on pollinating!

For the record, I won't be missing the sound of ringing phones....