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

Mr. Nice Guy's Diet Plan

Ever heard the term "You are what you eat."? I'm about to put a whole different spin on it...Ponder this, will you? A steady diet of anything negative will give your soul indigestion. Burp.

We all know that eating junk or overly processed foods is bad for us, right? But what's your daily media intake? Do you watch much news? Reality TV? Obsessed with social media? Do you find yourself increasingly judgmental of others, or less agreeable with people who don't think like you, or have the same convictions and opinions? Well listen up FREE THINKER! I'm going to propose that there's a direct dietary link between the unrest and unease you may be experiencing , and the way you're doing your time.

Media can be a tasty but caloric nightmare of negativity, and is best consumed in moderation. Not unlike a trip to the grocery store, you've got to read the labels first before consuming. Television is the worst. They took perfectly wholesome ingredients and replaced them with toxic fillers! On Facebook the other day, someone said "We need more Mayberry, less Jersey Shore." I couldn't agree more. I understand that as a gay man it's some sort of prerequisite, but I don't watch The Real Housewives Of Anywhere. People treating eachother poorly has no entertainment value for me. Are you feeling fat? On most media menus you'll find a never ending selection of people who've been altered or airbrushed to an inch of their existence, guaranteed to make you feel unattractive. But wait! If you order within the next 15 minutes you'll receive that special dumaflatchey guaranteed to slim you down to that size you've been told to dream of-  in just 10 days at no extra charge! Delivery is extra.

Don't get me started on talk radio either. Most of that programming is a pessimistic potluck as well. Ouch. That wasn't very nice of me, now was it? Where are my manners? The truth? If I start listening and watching, I buy into all of it too- even though I know better! So I simply turn it off. Perhaps a media diet is just what we all need.

When I do have a little free time I turn on PBS or the OWN for some positive programming, or one of the movie channels for a good flick (commercial free, of course). On weekday mornings I always try to watch Cassandra on Real Milwaukee because I genuinely enjoy the show and  I get to beam with pride because my girl is on the tube y'all! But I kid you not the minute the show wraps, the TV goes off. By the time that one hour is finished, I've been inundated with a hundred mud slinging political ads. From both camps.We haven't even gone into the full swing of the upcoming Presidential race yet! Who's slanted spin do you want to have for breakfast? I prefer cereal with yogurt, thank you.

I don't  see that this never-ending, overblown blame-game is successfully changing anyone's mind about the issues anyway. The truth is that everyone's ego is so hungry to have the "correct position"  that this contentious climate is only polarizing and dividing us more. There are those who are born with the constitution to become activists and (hopefully) effect change in the world. That's not my calling. This in no way absolves me from my societal responsibility to educate myself on important issues, and look after myself and my loved ones by voting my conscience, but that's where my obligation ends. What's for dinner?

The trouble with me and diets is that I'm a snacker. Unfortunately, my favorite between-meal snack food (I mean time waster)- Facebook, is turning into a real calorie cruncher...

Personally, I use Facebook for what I believe it was intended for; to keep up with folks and loved ones, and vice versa. I post status updates about what's going on in my life, pictures of my excursions, my friends and family, the fabulous things I cook for dinner parties, design projects, a little Bee and business networking, etc. I do share the occasional music video, or thought provoking bit of whatever- but I keep it positive. If I wanted to be barraged with a never ending stream of political advertisements and sentiments, I'd turn on my television! Oy. This whole Chick-fil-A thing has truly pushed it over the edge for me. From both sides of the issue, mind you...and I'm sure I don't have to explain to you which side my bun is buttered on either. It's to the point that I'm either going to have to "hide" half of my friends (on BOTH teams) or simply give it up all together. Which I'm not quite ready to do because I neeeed my nookie! So be warned: Effective immediately my Facebook feed is a strict no politics zone. It ain't personal, you're just jamming up my chi.

Since I need no convincing that the law of attraction brings more to you of what you fix your thoughts and spend your feelings on, I can't afford to be embroiled in the nastiness of the world. I believe we can make a difference in the vibration of THE PLANET by simply focusing our attention (and intentions) on what is positive, rather than what's wrong or not working. In order to do that though, we may have to toughen up and make some serious dietary changes. Your personal trainer?
 Mr. Nice Guy.

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love."  - Lao Tzu

Musical Treat Of The Week

Real love is free.
Britain certainly has talent...

Clear Motives

Everything in due time....

Those of you who've been buzzing around here for more than a minute may remember that awhile back I was squawking about a new blog that I was planning to do. I decided that I wanted to take this blog in a slightly different direction (which I did), and launch a new blog that was to be about interior design only. The site was secured 2 years ago, but the blog never materialized....

At the end of August my design partners and I will be closing down our retail boutique for a short spell to regroup and re-brand. I've decided that when we re-open, I will finally bring forth the blog that never was- INTERIOR MOTIVES. Part of my hesitation heretofore has been the simple reality that there's only so much of me to go around! However, I think this could be a marvelous way to pollinate the shop and give my designer blood a much needed transfusion.

What can you expect from this new endeavor?

For starters, I'll be publishing articles on design and design trends by other industry professionals and writers as well. Again darlings, I am but one man! The new blog will have a very interactive relationship with the shop. Our new name by the way, will be RESIDENCE. We've been listening to your requests, and so we'll finally have an online store where you can view and purchase the lovely wares we sell. The most exciting part for me will be producing a new advice-style video series that will feature moi and a few of my other design buddies! You can expect sound and sane direction and ideas from us that "keep it real". Look for INTERIOR MOTIVES  to arrive on the scene in late September/early October...

Speaking of color and design.

Have you noticed how even though the country has been gripped by the worst drought in years, everything seems to be turning green? From Kelley to Gumby, these vibrant shades (Tints and tones too!) haven't seen the light of day in decades. Actually, I first spied it on a ladies trench coat in London this past April. As I sat in that charming East Dulwich eatery enjoying the perfect cafe au lait, I thought to myself  "Wouldn't it be great to see those now unusual hues make a roaring comeback?" Now they're everywhere, and if you ask me just in the nick of time. How absolutely refreshing and delicious.

"Quote, Unquote" #13: Old School Liz

We all have different ways of coping with the indelicacies that life serves up. This piece of  counsel from the woman who married 8 times may seem a bit antiquated... and yet somedays there's no better solution!

Go on, Liz. 

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!

Heart of The Matter

Barbra Streisand is a Killer Bee. Like I needed to tell you that.

Love her politics or not, it's impossible to argue with the passion, time and money she pours into her various charities. Recently, she's focused her attention on Women's Cardiovascular Health. Her efforts to raise both awareness and money for research are making a difference. Please take a couple of minutes out to watch this thought provoking 'PSA' she conceived and narrated. Killer Bees are born to pollinate, to inspire...

You can learn more about The Barbra Streisand Heart Center at Cedars Sinai  here.

When Shit Breaks

Over the last few weeks, a couple of prized possessions met with unfortunate and untimely fates. First, enough sweet potato salad to feed a small army slipped right out of my hands, crashing onto the kitchen floor, shattering my mother's yellow Pyrex mixing bowl. Yes, that Pyrex bowl... 

Then as I was delicately hand washing (as always) my favorite artisan coffee mug, part of the fluted rim snapped off right between my fingers. 10 years ago, either of theses incidents could have turned into long suffering events. I'm so grateful to now understand that these are indeed incidents and not events.

I was recently remembering one afternoon when I was maybe 4 or 5 years old. I was at my babysitter Ida's house and I'd just enjoyed a juicy tangerine off of the tree in her backyard. In her kitchen sink I washed the sticky from my tiny hands, but before they were completely dry she handed me a glass of water and it slipped right through my little fingers and broke. Mini Me melted down.

I was so upset. You see in my Mother's house, this would have been a Category 1 Catastrophe; viewed as a precarious mess that needed to be cleaned up, not to mention having to replace the glass. Ida, who was clearly taken aback by my instant trauma over something so minor, tried to assure me that it was an accident, and "only a glass". I wasn't at all convinced. I needed another tangerine.

Shit breaks everyday. Cars, toys, shoelaces, dishes, rules-  not to mention relationships and hearts. Breakage of any kind is rarely convenient, so how does one manage to overcome life's little (and not so little) travesties? While there are exceptions of course, I try (I said try!) to remember this basic rule of thumb: Just about anything that breaks can be replaced or mended.

When I was a kid I thought my Mother was the bravest woman in the world. I now realize that in many areas of her life she operated from a place of fear. In this particular reference, she feared that if something broke or got ruined there would be no money to replace it. Fear and worry are synonymous, and if you're always worried then you have no peace. I don't think my mother ever knew peace. I'm choosing something different for myself. We were hardly impoverished, but that was an impoverished mentality. I choose to live in abundance, and that's a spiritual position. If something breaks there's no need to sweat it, I'm covered. You can't buy insurance for that!

Don't have the spiritual constitution to subscribe to that kind of thinking? I suppose they still make Super Glue! Listen. When they pack you up and send you on your way, you won't be able take your stuff with you anyway. Didn't work out so well for the Egyptians, did it?

In the event of emotional breakage, I can almost guarantee you that wherever you're busted, it will heal itself- as long as you don't insist on clinging to the jagged edges. Trust me, I know this from experience! Mucho. I find that the ever resilient heart is unique that way. Pyrex bowls and coffee mugs, not so much.

When I was 16 and my friend Carol was in beauty college, she gave me a perm. It was the 80's, what can I say. Anyway, I used to have what's known as a 'widow's peak' hairline. Think Eddie Munster. When you perm a widow's peak, you have to part it down the middle and roll the hair on 2 rods at opposing angles. She rolled it all on one rod, straight across- and the hairs literally broke off at the root. Of course the hair grew back with time. And then it eventually fell out anyway, but I can't very well blame that on Carol, now can I?

Addendum: I thought I'd add that this evening as I was writing this piece, my cell phone fell in the toilet and died a most unspectacular death. True story.

2nd Addendum: So last night I post on Facebook the tragedy met by my phone. There was a unanimous call for a plan to raise the dead by immersing the phone and all it's parts in dry rice. Yes, as in the grain. I did it, and left it overnight...the dead has arisen! She's 'tickyer' than ever, but by golly she's working.

"Quote, Unquote" # 12: Time Machine

"Time is too slow for those who wait,
too swift for those who fear,
too long for those who grieve,
too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love,
time is eternity" ~ Henry Van Dyke

Musical Treat of The Week

Oh, that man!

The R&R Report: MERC HAUS!

Remember when you were a kid, and that unmistakable dread would overcome you on Sunday evening if you hadn't done the homework that was due on Monday morning? Well I feel like a big, lousy slouch for letting the whole R&R Report thing slip away from regular importance. I may skip school tomorrow.

For the first couple of years at KBMTMDH , the R&R Report features were something I was rather passionate about. I suppose the problem is that Michael is passionate about too many things...Focus honey, focus!

Back to your regularly scheduled R&R Report.

Singer -Songwriter and Honorary Killer Bee Ron Morris and his husband of 10 years The Lovely Mr. Ken Jones Jr., have fashioned for themselves and their patrons the kind of retail experience that I adore and admire so. There are days when I walk into my own shop and think to myself  "I wanna blow this pop stand and go work for Ron and Ken in Easton!" If you're a regular at Milwaukee Design Collection, then you should know that I borrowed (OK, stole) the whole "Suddenly Special" idea from these guys. With kind permission from Ron, of course. And if  Mercantile Home and the fine folks of Easton, PA sound familiar to you my dear bleaders, it's because they've been mentioned here before...

There are those who work for others and those who work for themselves, and this is the natural order of things. When I was a kid growing up, I always knew I'd work for myself. It's how I'm wired. Have you ever had an entrepreneurial dream? I guess this particular R&R Report is so special because the Mercantile Home Story is one that truly inspires. Be sure to read it for yourselves...and BEE inspired!

I bow to those who dare to turn their dreams into reality and forge a living in doing so. And also, anyone who knows their way around a sewing machine! I can't even thread a needle. The uber-talented artisans behind everything you can see (and buy) at Mercantile Home are Killer Bees indeed. Be sure to visit their website - they ship those foxy, ingenious wares anywhere! Someone special just might be getting a Merc Haus Pet from me for Christmas... What? It's only 6 months away!

Since a picture tells a story far better than I, I will leave you with the  following clip (It's a portrait, really.) from the shop's fantastically entertaining video diary. You can spy all of the other episodes on their VIMEO page. I'm simultaneously writing my Dear Karen letter.

Remember Beezers,  keep on pollinating!

The Painter

Once the paint hits the canvas there's no turning back.
And I'm totally cool with that.

I was recently joking with a friend about my "process".

I always have a color palette in mind, and typically some notion about the subject matter and or movement/style. However before I begin any piece, I surrender. To the moment, to the energy. Don't get me wrong. I do have a say in the finished product, but I truly let each piece evolve...become it's own entity.

It kind of goes down like this. I'm really excited by the first few applications of paint...it's a total rush and I already know it's gonna be good. Then something goes down...not like I think it should be, and I'm devastated. I hate it. I try to fix it and I make it worse. Now it's ruined! Calm down Dramatica. Because without fail, just when I think it's all been lost, I'm directed to make another move which turns the whole hot mess around. I love it again. The piece always let me know when it's finished. I sign it on the back and it goes out into the world. 

I recently finished a commissioned piece that I truly struggled with.

Even as I was installing this one, I wasn't at all sure that I liked it. When the client saw it he flipped out. Absolutely loved it. I realized in that moment that I hadn't painted this one for me...it had come through me for him. It's not always about you, Michael!

Over the years I've given away as many pieces as I've sold. My most favorite piece now resides is England, a birthday gift. If I had the luxury of time and more importantly unlimited resources, I would paint all the time....and I would give them all away. Honest! Yes, it's thrilling to sell one-  but it's even more gratifying to surprise someone with a piece they've had their eye on. To see my paintings installed and living with people humbles me in a way I honestly don't have words to articulate.

When I started painting 6 years ago, I was moved to do so by the suggestion of my nocturnal dreams. It had never even occurred to me that there was that kind of an artist dwelling inside of me. I am so grateful for this and all gifts...and that I listened...and set him free.

Happy Client!    "After My Own Heart"  18x54 Acrylic on Canvas 2012

"Concentric Chaos'"  36x104 Acryllic on Canvas 2012

"Square Biz"   48x48 Acrylic on Canvas 2012

"Seasons on The River"   18x96 Acrylic on Canvas 2011

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!

Musical Treat Of The Week

Can't. Get Enough. Robyn.

Dance, If You Want To...

Hey Mr. DJ!

I'm not a very good dancer.
Oh, I can get out there and shake my groove thang, but please don't ask me to waltz. My brother is the dancer. I'm all left feet.

Cherrie has insisted it's because I have a mental blockage. I think I'm uncoordinated, so therefore I am. She may be correct, or at the very least onto something game changing...

Dreamer, risk taker, all around fearless dude. I've been told by some that's how people see me. The reality is most of time I'm nothing but a big fat coward. You see it only looks like I'm dancing. I'm really just shaking my ass. Opportunities to try something new, to grow myself, pass me by every day. It's true.

I've been feeling a desire, more of a knowing really, for quite awhile that it's time for me to step into a new pair of shoes. Here's the bunion. There's something that's standing between what it is I KNOW, and actually getting it done- and it's me. It's my insecurities. I'm afraid to really dance. I can blame the DJ all I want; wallflowers have terrific excuses for spending their lives off the floor.

When you put yourself upon a stage, you open yourself up for criticism. For failure, for embarrassment, for your flaws to be exposed. Why you might as well be naked up there! Here's the thing though. I don't believe this new adventure will require a spotlight on me per se, but it's going to require me to embrace a new maturity. To drive a dream this big requires a responsible person behind the wheel. I think for me to finally grow into the person I'm supposed to be, I may have to finally grow up.

I have suspected for some time now this couldn't be avoided.

Prince once lyricised (New word, like it?) "You can dance if you want to. All the critics love you, in New York." If we (and by we I really mean me) were to adopt and apply this philosophy, then New York is the world, and it wouldn't matter if we were singing and dancing while spinning on our heads playing the ukelele, right? Why would you walk through life when you can dance instead? You could get hit by a bus tomorrow for crying out loud! Cliche? I guarantee you someone, somewhere is gonna get hit by a bus today. And die. Cassandra always says "If you woke up this morning, there's still time." I'm inclined to believe her. I'd rather do this thing while I still  have the use of my feet, thank you.

My new shoes will give me better posture...and shall be made for dancing.

Whatcha doin' on your butt?