Vacuum cleaners: How can you not like them? They're even spelled in a sexy way. Two "u"'s! Why? Who cares? It's just boss that it has two u's in the name: one for you and one for me.

I'll tell you what, I like them even more once I got a cat. Aside from waking me up at 6am in the morning for no good reason (playing with my face)—her second favorite thing to do is litter my floor, furniture, curtains, ceiling (not sure how that works), couch, studio desk, with her hair.

Yes, I brush her. It doesn't help.

I am as excited about this vacuum cleaner, as I was about receiving Optimus Prime for Christmas from my parents when I was seven years old. It's even red like Optimums Prime. Can't you see the resemblance? It's uncanny (use you imagination; the picture is in black and white, people).

For what Optimus Prime lacks in suck, this vacuum cleaner makes up for. It's a Dirt Devil. It's got Reach, and not just by manufacturer name. It could play pro ball, but doesn't want to because it's an inanimate object—that is unless I'm pushing it around, ridding my floor of the bane of my existence: cat hair. It reaches under my couch (sort of).

It has attachments.

It has wheels, just like Optimus. It's fucking cool. That's what I'm trying to say.

Okay, yeah I know. I'm officially old. I am excited about a vacuum cleaner. More to the point, I'm excited that my socks are not riddled with feline reminders of her hard work and effort spreading herself about the house. It's a full-time job for my cat.

My other option was to shave my cat, but that would be ridiculous... or would it?

Stay tuned.

- Mike

What is happiness?

It's a complicated question if you think about it. We've all thought about it at one time or another.

Ironically, the times we think the least on it, are probably when we're the happiest? But then again, I don't know—the older I get, the more I realize I don't know anything. I'm just throwing spaghetti at the wall like everyone else around me.

However, I have caught myself expecting way too much, too often.

Simple things. Like, if I buy expensive things such as Air Conditioners, Sub Woofers, Guitar Pedals—can they not break? It ridiculous to think that they won't. Of course they are going to break, and they are going to do it when I am hurting for money and can not afford to replace them.

It almost becomes a mental focus exercise regarding what to pay more attention to: the things that make one sad, or the things that make one happy. The seemingly level-headed person will immediately say something full of wisdom like, "focus on the positives rather than focus on the negatives." I say, most likely, that the person who says that cries alone in their bedroom, or in their car, from time to time too.

No. Maybe I need to lower my expectations.

I released a new single called GONE on June 12th. I have sold two copies of it digitally. It's two more than I was expecting to sell. The song has been streamed on Spotify 15 times. That is 15 more times than what I was expecting.

This is a start. I'll keep you posted. Or, then again, maybe I won't, so that it isn't on the forefront of my mind.

Whatever the case may be, I am making and releasing more stuff. I'm 39 years old and I have no plans to stop making music or to stop trying to find people that like what I make. You can count on that.

I'm happiest when I'm working hard, regardless of my expectations—and I am so grateful and thankful for my good health and to have you. Deeply and truly. Now, off to promote for a show tonight. Take care.

Happiness and Vacuum Cleaners

Lowering My Expectations