THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Starting and finishing

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I’ve started way too many posts and not finished them. Well some of them may be better off unfinished but out of the 300-400 drafts I have I should go ahead and finish a few of them. Then again the freshness of a blank page is always a clean start and more attractive. Sort of like the grass is greener on the other side sort of thing.

Photo by Mike Hartley

I’ve got a dozen carvings started and photo projects galore to complete. Life, health, and the job that pays the bills so often interfere with the progress of these efforts. But today is the last night for the main job and I’m already excited. Usually, I start the music going on Thursday morning but I launched a day early. It’s funny how such a simple thing as listening to a few favorite songs while doing a post or email brightens up the day and tone.

I get so busy somedays and so focused that listening to music doesn’t make it to the top 5. And you know what, I regret that. I didn’t realize that by commuting to work, I used to listen to a lot more music. So I’m restoring the balance and sitting here with the shoulders rocking back and forth. I’m a pretty good typist even with motions. Like Billy Powell on the keyboards.

So I’m going to go dance around the house to the beat for a few more minutes before responsibilities take over again.

Rock On. Photo by Mike Hartley

Arlington National Cemetery is a beautiful place filled with wonderous headstones, landscaping, rolling hills, and historic memorials. But none of those things touch the quality of the men and women under it all. This is one of the projects I’m working on now. I’ve been photographing there for years now. Not every time I go to visit but some days. I hope to get some prints made from those shoots to sort through for the best so far by the end of the weekend.

I want my children to get what I get from visiting my parents who are no longer with us when it’s my time. I get a sense of calm after a visit that things are OK. That I’ll try to make them proud as if they were here and stopping boy tomorrow. I get the feeling they are just as happy that I stopped by to talk as they were when they were here. I just don’t get the kiss and hug when I leave.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • When I run across and old musical favorite that I haven’t heard in a while it just feels so good to hear it again.
  • Some things just aren’t that important. Sorting them out from the ones that are, is very important.
  • I saw a post by someone I grew up with. He said patriotic Americans watch Fox News. Which kind of implied to me that if I didn’t I wasn’t. Funny the guards at the gate don’t ask if I watch Fox when I enter Arlington National Cemetery
  • I’m feeling better about using each day better.
  • The less people I talk to, the less disagreements I have.

Author: Mike Hartley

With a lifetime and a half in the Newspaper industry I'm preparing for my retirement career as an Artist, Writer, Photographer and Video content provider. I'm a proud father of two wonderful children and I'm still married to the first girl I fell in love with and probably only one that would have me.

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