THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley


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Sometimes

Each spring one of my favorite trees in the neighborhood is one across the street and down a little from my home. I get to admire its change throughout the seasons and it is beautiful. Sometimes I get off track when I’m mowing my front in the spring and fall looking at it.

I just couldn’t live in a city, of course, this county is starting to feel like one. Photo by Mike Hartley

Sometimes you do your best and move on. Sometimes your flight is delayed and you don’t move on.

Sometimes it’s rewarding to do a full day of physical work. Sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night and say I shouldn’t have done that.

Sometimes your perception of love is far different from someone else’s. Sometimes you’re lucky and find something to fill that void.

Sometimes you learn things about the past that you didn’t know before. Sometimes those things are better left in the past because it is the past. (Except for the lessons)

Sometimes you run into a lot of crazy people while out and about. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to make it home again.

Sometimes you get inspired. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to have time to act on that inspiration.

Sometimes I wonder how I’m going to get it all done each day. Sometimes at the end of the day, I ask myself what was I thinking trying to cram all that in one day.

Sometimes looking at another way of thinking can be beneficial. Sometimes thinking is a waste of time.

Sometimes sleeping wrong can ruin a whole day. So sometimes missing a night’s sleep isn’t all that bad.


It’s felt good to lose some weight recently. I’m also allowing myself to eat some really good food still. But just cutting out the sodas and most of the snacks has done wonders. Now the hard part is another 10 lbs.


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Happiest

The writing prompt for Bloganuary today is “Describe the happiest day of your life”, thankfully there is an excellent selection to choose from. I never try to place one above the other regarding my children. So the day they each were born was the happiest day in my life.

My daughter was born 1st and that experience changed my life. And also the shape of my body as my better half would grab various parts of it for her extended period of labor. But the feeling of being truly happy was seeing her laying on my wife’s chest with her eyes open shortly after her delivery, and every moment since. We didn’t know the sex of either child before birth. So our second, our son was a great surprise and a repeat of that wonderful day my daughter was born.

That day you want to jump out of your skin with excitement and joy but there is such calmness and contentment at the same time you just can’t stop smiling. You will never look deeper into your spouse’s eyes with appreciation. And that new set of eyes looking back at you goes directly to your heart on a path you didn’t know was there.

Life is a roller coaster. Enjoy it. Photo by Mike Hartley

This is such a different happiness than others it’s hard to put into words or find a comparison. Probably because there isn’t one. Nothing else in my life touches the two days my children came into the world. I guess my grandchildren would be a close second but again that is happiness again for both of them.


Random Thoughts of the Day

  • I marvel at the strength and consistency people display, in the face of great odds.
  • Life is good when you don’t have to remind yourself to laugh a lot each day and it just comes naturally.
  • Technology is quickly escaping our grasp.
  • Just when you think you have life by the tail, you realize it’s a tiger.


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Quote of the Day – think

“Think about how the most boring repetitive task you might have to do each season feels. Now think of not having the health to do it anymore. That task looks a lot different now doesn’t it. It’s something you might yearn to do again. I try to keep thinking like that as I do each one, each season, of each year. Somehow they don’t feel like task anymore.”

Mike Hartley


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Quote of the Day – ?

“Is it wrong to follow your own blog?”

Mike Hartley

Just for historical sake I didn’t for the first year but one day I wanted to see what my post looked like in the Reader. I felt kind of vain looking at the first few that appeared in the reader and then I realized I need to start coming up with a few good beginning sentences if I wanted to hook people interest and lead with the best image. Now if I could just come up with good images and words this blogging would be a snap. So it has been a learning experience as all of life is.


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Quote of the Day – for granted

“Taking any Day or Moment for granted, is a regretful practice.” 

Mike Hartley

Ceiling at Holocaust Museum.  Photo by Mike Hartley

Ceiling at Holocaust Museum.
Photo by Mike Hartley

I am so guilty of taking time for granted. Maybe that is why I feel so rushed now. I’m trying to make up for lost time. It’s hard not to be disappointed at what might have been possible if I only applied myself better. But I think someone once said that if you don’t learn from history your doomed to repeat it. So I’m doing my best to work hard towards a productive and creative future and the ability to do something that makes a difference and hopefully can result in a new career direction that might help get us through our senior years. Don’t worry though, as my wife says, I’m a teenager who refuses to grow up. So hopefully my youthful enthusiasm will come through despite the years on the calendar.


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Quote of the Day – responding

“It’s never to late to learn to temper your responses and resist those triggers that make you respond to petty people or situations, because life is too short as it is. So think about all that extra time and energy you will have for something more positive and fun.” 

Mike Hartley

Wish I could remember this more often.


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Quote of the Day – chains

“Sometimes when you look back fondly at history and realize the struggle it was to accomplish good things with limited tools, the pleasure comes from, the knowledge that was needed, the skill that was needed, the drive that was needed and the luck that was needed to make it happen . So while technology has changed and the chains have come off our tools, the rest has stayed the same.”

Mike Hartley

Shooting with chains Photo by Mike Hartley

Shooting with chains
Photo by Mike Hartley


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Quote of the Day – teamwork

“Teamwork is success, it implies good communication, working towards known and common goals, willingness to sacrifice individual goals for the greater success. You will know if for sure when you see it. There are lots of imitations, but when the real thing comes around its magic.”

Mike Hartley

Pit crew - surgery in progress. Photo by Mike Hartley

Pit crew – surgery in progress.
Photo by Mike Hartley

 


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Quote of the Day – boys of Summer

“It’s only 19 days till the opening of Spring Training for the boys of summer. So get out of those offices, pretend you’re King for a day. Take your Queen to a Knight game. The park is Rook around the corner. There is usually a Bishop around to kick off opening day with a prayer. And you have a few days to Pawn that old Junker for enough to buy tickets and hot dogs (of course with Ben’s Chili on them), some cold beverages, a hat and a ride home.  PLAY BALL?

Did I hear someone say next? Photo by Mike Hartley

Did I hear someone say next?
Photo by Mike Hartley


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Quote of the Day – life

“You can zig zag through life, on the way to any destination. If you’re doing it to enjoy the view or journey or riding a sport bike, proceed. If you got someplace to be, get your behind there.”

Mike Hartley

Select your direction wisely.  Photo by Mike Hartley

Select your direction wisely.
Photo by Mike Hartley


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Quote of the Day – sky falling?

“You know I really have to look more into this sky is falling theory.”

Mike Hartley

Just a preview of this coming evening. Photo by Mike Hartley

Just a preview of this coming evening.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Remember Maryland residents. Don’t panic, at least not till I get back from the grocery store this morning. Don’t drive like idiots, oops too late for that request. Keep calm and stop watching TV news. Enjoy the time with your families and friends. Make a snowman or snow angle. Live life.


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Quote of the Day – kids

“The curiosity of kids to test the ice will defy their parents logic and warnings about said activity.”

Mike Hartley

Kids will always test the ice.  Photo by Mike Hartley

Kids will always test the ice.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Waverly Woods pond. And yes I watched for a bit and made sure they were back to shore. And no I didn’t yell at them. I already raised my two.


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Quote of the Day – patience

“As I grow older I have to remember to suppress the urge to immediately classify something as stupid or a person as a donkey, and try to remember there are a lot of valid ideas and thoughts as well as personalities. But some people make that very hard.”

Mike Hartley

You really didn't say that did you? Photo by Mike Hartley

You really didn’t say that did you?
Photo by Mike Hartley


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Quote of the Day – children

“I didn’t go into starting a family thinking that my children would be the biggest joy of my life, but boy did it turn out that way from the moment they were born, and I’m so grateful to them both and my wife. While I’m proud of what I’ve done professionally and in personal relationships, children dwarf everything else.”

Mike Hartley

And remember, without the difficult parts, you can’t properly appreciate the great part.


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Quote of the Day – The Christmas Tree

“Nature allows us the joy of bringing her indoors for the season in the form of the Christmas Tree. I love her beauty, smell, shape, color, and how she makes family materialize for us around her.”

Mike Hartley

Purchase tree and drive home – check

Luggage racks come in handy. Photo by Mike Hartley

Luggage racks come in handy.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Tree unloaded, trimmed to fit in 8′ ceiling, in stand. – check

Tree is upright and in place. Photo by Mike Hartley

Tree is upright and in place.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Lights on tree – check

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Photo by Mike Hartley

Decorations and Presents around tree – check

Another Christmas tree ready for Children Photo by Mike Hartley

Another Christmas tree ready for Children
Photo by Mike Hartley

And while we had some illness in the family and several that couldn’t attend it was a grand time around tree – check


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Quote of the Day – Remember

“As time passes and distant events fade, becoming less recognized as those who experienced it or had parents who lived in that era pass. Even though it has the title “A day that will Live in Infamy”,  I see the memories slipping away from our public conscientious. Therefore today I remember my Uncle Frank Horton, who was on the battleship West Virginia at Pearl Harbor in 1941. He lived through that attack and continued to serve in WW II.  I also remember both my father James Hartley and uncle Robert Brown who also served in the Navy and Air Force during that war also. I thank them for the freedom I have lived in.”

Mike Hartley


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Quote of the Day – Holidays

“Don’t let the stress of the holiday season get to you. Remember how lucky you are to be here. Remember those away from home and country in our services. Remember those without their health. And while it’s normal to want to do more for loved ones, do something for a stranger this year also.”

Mike Hartley

Don't Stress over the Holidays Photo by Mike Hartley

Don’t Stress over the Holidays
Photo by Mike Hartley