THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley


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Keeping a smile

Was just thinking of the upcoming trip this month to the pumpkin patch with the family. I hope my back holds up to the trip. Regardless I wouldn’t miss it for the world. The smiles the kids get with all the activities and the fresh feeling of the clean fall air.

This year I’m not going to be volunteering to carry the heaviest pumpkins. A couple of medium ones or small ones okay. I’ll let my strong kids deal with those monsters the grandkids like to pick.

No shock absorbers on this ride. Photo by Mike Hartley

The month of October doesn’t bother me. Lots of activities, we are still outdoors a good bit and still have a decent amount of daylight. I’ll still be cutting grass on the weekends, the top can be down on the convertible, and grilling out is still nice.

I ask early forgiveness for my attitude from November through February. As I sit here with the temps in the high 70s in just gym shorts and tennis shoes, my mind drifts to those first chills and then the constant struggle to stay warm.

Which reminds me I have to get that generator fired up and tested. And maybe an extra can for fuel.


Random Thoughts of the Day

  • When you get old, you’re dying to get older.
  • Water has always been the most important resource. We just disrespect it like everything else thinking it’s infinite and immune from our actions.
  • It’s hard to find a line in the sand after a windstorm.
  • I don’t understand why a grown man acting like a petulant child is attractive to so many people.


1 Comment

No Foolin

I love the season of nature’s mushroom clouds. What I don’t like is the crossover day. That is today I believe where we have less daylight and more night. We are on our way to being buried in the darkness of winter. I’ve come to realize it’s not just the cold, it’s the lack of sunlight I get during these coming months.

Nature’s mushroom cloud. Photo by Mike Hartley

It’s compounded because I work nights and sleep till around noon if I’m lucky. So that leaves only a few hours of daylight to enjoy and recharge. And that is not enough before I’m back in artificial light.


The fact that pain sometimes slows me or even takes time out of any day pisses me off. This hasn’t been a good month for feeling good. And then, I get a note from my orthopedic office that September is Pain Awareness Month. Actually, they didn’t need to tell me that, I’m very aware of pain like everyone who deals with it.

But tomorrow is another day and hopefully one that we can all feel a little better.


Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Remember the days when there was just a radio in the car? An AM radio.
  • I love losing myself in music.
  • I make progress each day but I feel like I’m failing.
  • If sleep weren’t necessary everything on the schedule might fit.