THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Fun and Reorg

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I’m on a roll this day with inspirational music in the background. The Beatles music is timeless as I sit and listen to the Blue album 67-70. It was 1966 when my dad died in front of me at 9 years old. I was already wise beyond my years at that point because the previous few years were turmoil, despite some great efforts of my mom to shield us from things.

Health challenges and addiction are not something a toddler knows what to do with. Around 6-7 years old you realize there is a lot more activity at night in your house than in others. You know what the police look and sound like and see their cars from your bedroom window.

I remember escaping into music when alone after he passed. Headphones on. A lot of the music I was into fueled an anger that was inside me. The Who, the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, The Doors, Jimi. But listening to The Beatles always brought a calm or positive feeling. It was easy to lay back on the bed and relax and think.

Drum set in the window of Bill’s Music in Catonsville. Photo by Mike Hartley

As I was listening to it I was reminded of The Beatles music playing in my high school art classes every day. The teacher Mr. Perrine was a lover of their tunes. Again it was the calm in the middle of the storm as I was developing my own problems. That was another place where I could relax, express what little creativity I have in this body, and feel at peace with things. A place where I had only myself to impress.

The fact that music draws so many memories and feelings out is special to me. Don’t get me wrong, I like living in the present but sometimes its nice to reflect and feel something you felt many decades ago. Days that I don’t incorporate music just aren’t as good.


Holiday week here in the states

Anticipation of a good week ahead. A lot of people call it a holiday weekend. Well none for this guy, I’ll be working till 7 am that Thanksgiving morning. Yes, I’ll have a family dinner later but I’ll be whipped from working all night.


Reorg time

No not at the job that pays the bills. Not yet at least. This could be when a new VP is hired to replace the one who recently departed to Google. No, the reorg is at home trying to figure out how to best use limited space with all the things I have going on. It’s also to finally make some decisions on old family items.

Of course, a reorg would imply I was organized in the first place. That is very debatable but I’ll take the side that that was some organization in the chaos. I’ll also consent that a lot more is needed.

Reorg of physical photo storage – Display, gift, trash. Reuse of old frames which we have a ton of. But the first thing is to sort that mess out.

Reorg of Carving projects – Consolidate to my office. They were scattered around my workroom and various cabinet tops. Organize all my bits for the Dremel tool and clean the workbench surface.

Old Cameras are Displayed – instead of taking space in boxes, I thought it might be a good display. This was a rushed setup. I’ll get something nice later.

Some of my family’s history of cameras ironically shot with my old iPhone 5. Photo by Mike Hartley

Technology – Old CDs – I must have had a few hundred of them. And them being old OS disks for IBM Solaris, RH, Netbackup, and many more which were 1-2 decades old. They are now shooting targets.

The Office – It’s been some while since I’ve changed the layout. So nothing drastic in here except for purging a bit. Well purging a lot.

Home family mementos – It’s time to move on from things in boxes and let someone else enjoy them. Most of this stuff is from my birth family home. Taking a few boxes to the appraisers next week and going from there.


Random Thoughts of the Day

  • I’m a pack rat. Not a hoarder, there is a difference.
  • I love how the dogwood tree in front of our family room window breaks up the light of the sun setting in the west. Well, at least when the leaves are out.
  • Sure I have creative differences. But the nice thing is that me myself and I always seem to work them out.
  • I actually feel sorry for the person that takes my job when I retire. It’s not the work, it’s the nights and weekends, and holidays that are missed.
  • A very fun video to watch of our local police department in action today. Bet it was their best call of the day.

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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