Welcome to the lair of Brer Michael, the most eclectic soul you will ever meet. I live in NYC, continuing to be amazed I am making a living doing what I love, writing. I say a daily prayer that it continues for the next, oh, 100 years. Then, I'll figure out a new career path. I am always trying to brainstorm new ideas...keeps me focused.
When I say I am eclectic, I am not joking in the least. My tastes are unique and diverse, but absolutely my own. In a world where pop culture forces its trends on the suspecting masses, I stand firm in liking what I like because it's mine, not because it's hip.
Work ethic and creativity impresses me. Most of my closest friends are creative people for that very reason because, work ethic and brilliance should be revered and cultivated, not silenced and shot down with sarcasm. Snobbiness and self-centered people do not impress me in the least and are one of the few things that will bring out my darker side. I have no room for drama in my corner of the world and will silence it immediately.
I love to travel and I am blessed that my writing career gives me that opportunity to not just go to wonderful places but meet and make wonderful friends all over the country. I have a list of places I am still raring to visit, with New Orleans hopefully the next stop on my roaring world tour. In the past, I've been to California, Seattle, Georgia, Chicago, Florida, DC, Detroit, Vegas, and all over the Northeast, among other places. I love checking out the local culture and history and when possible, some of the urban haunted legends. I'm also a theme park junkie and I'm anxiously awaiting the next visit to Florida or California to hit some parks.
The more I explore the United States though, I realize how truly blessed I am to have been born and raised and still live here in NYC. While no other city truly compares to my home, I like to see how "the other side lives". It reminds me how I should appreciate the blessing of where I was born and raised.....if you are from NYC, you know what I mean.
Being in NYC, I have been going to theatre since I was the ripe old age of 3. I worked for a number of years in offices that represented talent before a roundabout series of events great and small, good and bad, that led me to my own creative exploits.
I'm also a HUGE music fan. I don't care if you stick me in the last row of Madison Square Garden or in the darkest, most beer-soaked corner of the dirtiest dive bar in Alphabet City, as long as the music is fun and live. You'll see a lot of musical acts that you are likely not familiar with listed in my friends. Check them out, you'll be surprised with how great they are. The greatest musical artists you'll ever find are the ones that are unsigned, performing like they need to do so to be alive, to be heard, to be whole, not collecting a royalty. Those are the musicians I want to support and I hope you will too.
In the last year, I've focused much harder on my own physical well being and health. If you know where to look, you'll find me at 6 AM in the gym most days, doing cardio upon cardio. I am down 45 lbs. in the last 6 months, with another 25 to go. If you are one of those people who say it's not for you or it won't work for you, that's bullshit. Stop being lazy. I am standing, living proof that if you work your ass off, it can work.
I am hardly an athlete (no kidding, I hear my friends saying somewhere), yet work ethic has helped me better myself. I feel better, I have more clarity and patience (except for aforementioned snobs) and it's help me have a much well rounded day. Go for 30 minutes a day for 2 weeks and find out for yourself. None of us are getting any younger. Don't put off anything you can to better yourself for even one day. Life is too short. Trust me.
Anyway, poke around, read some of my long-winded blogs and feel free to say hello, whether we've met or not. If you are outside my social circle, I'm curious how you came across my profile and what made you stop by, so let me know. Feel free to enjoy them and introduce yourself.Michael
