My Whole Expanse I Cannot See…

I formulate infinity stored deep inside of me…

About the Author

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Michael Phillips is a writer from Tampa, FL. The written word, to him, is like fine art, like liquor, beautiful and intoxicating. He’ll tell you writing’s possibly the only thing he does well, which is probably true. Due to the magic of bad genetics he doesn’t walk, nor does he breathe without the assistance of machines. One could also argue that he’s simply astonishingly lazy. Michael also doesn’t speak due to a little breathing tube in his throat, thus Johnny Depp once played his voice on an Emmy award winning episode of Showtime’s This American Life.

Michael writes something akin to a live memoir at lithiumcreations.com, as well as short fiction. At night, he’s a disco goddess.

21 comments

21 Comments so far

  1. […] Michael Phillips is one resilient mother fucker!!  He recently featured on an excellent, and Emmy Awarding episode, of Showtime’s This American Life {here}.  Michael has a wicked-rude degenerative disease that steals precious pieces of his life, one at a time, like a malicious pimp.  But every time life kicks Michael in the nuts {by stealing his ability to walk, move freely, breath without assistance, eat, talk, type}, he sticks a shiv back in its eye, becoming one more part CYBORG!! […]

  2. Monica January 23rd, 2013 3:02 am

    First!

    Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Seriously though, this is the first time I’ve done the “first” thing ever.

  3. Laurie August 1st, 2013 5:21 pm

    My friend Tucker Stilley (AHOB) who has ALS just turned me onto your site and your writing! I love the turtle story. it is so done. I shared it.

  4. twina October 4th, 2013 9:54 pm

    Hi,
    I seen your posting with tattoo artist Jessica. Your tattoo
    Is awesome. Im glad you have a blogg to share your story.
    My mother had ALS and I was by her side through it all.
    I hope that we can be frinds.
    Your new friend,
    Twina Mincks

  5. Briana White November 15th, 2013 12:53 pm

    Hey!

    I saw your show on This American Life and started following your blog ever since. I think you’re really awesome in what you do, and I would be deeply honored if you would take some time to reply to me, maybe email??
    I think that your writing is fantastic, and, as a young writer myself, I love to see how your style works and how close it is to mine.
    I hope you have a fantastic day.
    Sincerly,
    Briana White

  6. Roselle December 27th, 2013 6:35 pm

    You’ve inspired me. Thank you.

  7. Debbie July 23rd, 2014 1:29 pm

    Have you ever thought about getting a dog or cat ? Animals are so intuitive and give unconditional love. ..like you.

  8. Randy man September 15th, 2014 1:22 am

    Yeah. Why don’t you get an animal.? You want a Boykin Spaniel?

  9. val reintzell May 2nd, 2015 4:20 pm

    hi,
    I AM VAL HERE WITH MY HUSBAND DAVE AND ONE OF OUR TWO CATS JUST ADOPTED CALLEDGIGANTOR I THINK (his previous owner did have a different personality than mine. ANYWAY I TOO AM STUCK IN A TRECHOSTOMY WITH A COLL AROUND MY NECK AND TWOMACHINES THAT HELP ME BREATHE DAILY. I WAS A SMOKER I SMOKED TO KEEP MY MIND OFF MY FIBERMYRALSIA PAIN NOW I JUST HAVE THE PAIN AND THE PROBLEMS. ON THE GOOD FRONT I HAVE A MAN WHO I LOVE AND LOVES ME AND TWO CATS! WE LOST ONE FRIEND RECIENTLY AND WE ARE YET TO BE OVER IT, BUT WITH ME BEING SICK {A LOT OF WHICH I DO NOT REMEMBER} THE NEW CAT HELPS A BIT. I DO WISH HE WAS MORE NEEDY OF ME BUT THIS IS BEST, THANK GOD I HAVE DAVID MY HUSBAND BUT EVEN HE THE SAVIOR NEEDSSAVING ONCE IN A WHILE. I THINKIT OS HIS TURN. HE WAS SELLING CANS OF FOOD TO SEE ME IN THE HOSPITOL.
    SONDO YOU WANT TWO NEW FRIENDS? I AM 56 AND SO IS DAVE WE ARE BOTH NON SMOKE RS AND NON DRINERS.I am going to go now I hope we write again’

  10. John "JJ" Juniet May 5th, 2015 5:51 pm

    Hello, Michael. This is an old, long, lost friend. It has been forever since I saw you, and even longer since we’ve spoken. I searched off and on for you to no avail, and then suddenly the skies opened and I found a few links to you. I would love to get back in contact with you again. Hope that you are as well as you can be, and to maybe hear from you sometime.

  11. Bill Herbig July 7th, 2015 3:03 am

    Michael just watched American Life. Very interesting. How are you doing? I’m Retired from back surgery, but nothing compared to your problems. God bless you. Are you still with your girlfriend?

  12. Tim Bach November 30th, 2015 6:27 pm

    Hey Mike, you inspire me to the fullest. Keep it Up

  13. Matt Pecson December 25th, 2015 7:46 pm

    Hi Mike…
    Matt, artist from Sarasota, if you ever want to colloborate, drop me a line.

  14. John Sears January 6th, 2016 4:17 pm

    Dear Mike,
    I hope this note finds you and Sarah (or Sara) well. I am late to the game, as I just saw your This American Life episode on my Showtime On-Demand. I found it to be encouraging and inspiring, as many do I am sure. But, I also found it to be so great for all its “notmalcy”. By that I mean your ability to strive and achieve what I believe you called the “things wanted for any son”. I found your ability to actualize your life on your terms to be a beautiful thing. You are in my prayers, and I wish you well.
    Truly,
    John

  15. Hank Photo March 1st, 2016 4:02 pm

    Thank you. Thank you for sharing your life with me. I just watched an on-demand Showtime and saw your TAL episode. I’m a 49 year old single father of two healthy boys ages 9 and 17. Two years ago I decided to pursue my passion for photography as my profession. I have yet to obtain a paying gig. I moved us from Las Vegas to Fort Worth last year…a terrible decision…we just moved to Phoenix last week. I’m broke, no job, no prospects and a disabled girlfriend still back in the Dallas area I have to go get….and after seeing you, I decided that I was losing sight of the blessings I have….I have far too long concentrated on my own infirmities, my own limitations instead of my potential….I KNOW your existence is not meant to make my already blessed existence better, but your existence did just that anyway, and maybe I can pay it forward ….i Have to.

  16. Sara April 19th, 2016 7:06 pm

    Like most who’ve left a comment here before me, I saw your story on This American Life and felt compelled to look you up. I promise I’m not here to tell you how inspiring you are, or how you’ve made me realize what an ungrateful asshole I’ve been in my life up until this point. I won’t even suggest you get a puppy. Or a kitten. Or a hamster. Shock! Horror!

    I mostly wanted to say hi and admit that I spent an inordinate amount of time lurking around your blog yesterday. Though… if you monitor your blog’s traffic at all, you probably saw some creeper from Oregon logging a disturbing number of page loads within an afternoon. That was me! I’ve really enjoyed reading your writing, so thank you for putting it out there for bored office workers to read while on the clock and in search of a little humanity. I get anxious, lonely and sad, too, and while I wish I had some advice for you on how to move past these places, I don’t. But I can relate to these feelings, and sometimes having someone to share the dark place with can help lift the burden a bit. If you ever want to talk, just send me an email.

    You don’t deserve to be lonely.

  17. Deidre November 8th, 2016 5:27 pm

    Dear Lazy Disco Goddess,

    You apparently have a hilarious sense of humour too. I saw your story on TAA. It’s true that you’re really very inspiring, and from so many different angles. I’m looking forward to reading your blog and short fiction if it’s on your site.

  18. Carleen Mcguffey November 28th, 2016 2:50 pm

    I appreciate your creativity, resilience, and willingness to share.

  19. Betty Moore May 29th, 2017 4:12 pm

    Dear Mike,
    I just tripped over This American Life because I bought an Amazon Firestick, and am allowed to watch Amazon television now.I watched your story this morning. It astounded me.
    I am a 66 year old woman, the product of an Air Force family. Because of that “pick up and move” mentality I grew up with, I became an adult with a driving need to pick up and move every two or three years. I’ve never had an enduring love relationship, and even my strongest friendships are Facebook based, as I left that friend behind a move, or two, or three, or four moves ago.I wondered, as I watched your story, whether I would go quietly insane if my body were holding me hostage, if I were trapped in a vessel that would not allow me go to the next place.
    But this post isn’t about that. It’s about your writing. I find it crisp and engaging. The pieces I have read so far have pulled me right in and placed me where you, the author, are. You give me that feeling I had when I read my very first words by Plath, or Vonnegut, King, or Morrison. My life has been long and I have known the thrill of discovering a new (to me) author several times. In you, I have found another one. Thank you.

  20. Joel June 24th, 2017 8:54 pm

    Wow, I just saw you and your mom on MSNBC and was blown away by you both. You may have been robbed of things which many take for granted, but are far richer than most in your accomplishments, resiliancy and focus on what you have rather than what you have lost. You both inspire me. Your speaches were incredibly eloquent. I plan on viewing your “This American Life” segment and following your writing. Don’t lose sleep because good will win out.

  21. Harry Barfoot June 26th, 2017 8:01 am

    Mike, I wanted to just send you a note and let you know to keep up the good fight! Both you and your mom are inspirational every day! I promise that next time I get down to the Tampa area, I’ll stop by the house again and plan a short visit. Keep the faith!

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