THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: Quotes


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Shaving and other stuff

I just realized that I never taught my son how to shave. I guess having had a beard all my life I just never gave it a thought till now. Sorry Matt. Well not all my life but pretty much from the time I could grow one which was about 14 years of age. I did shave once for 3 weeks. Surprised it took me that long to go back to a beard.

And to be honest I did have just the sideburns and mustache for a short while as a youth. Hey, it was a long time ago and somewhat in style then. Thankfully as I’ve been aging and it turning a bit grey, it has done so with some style. The dark patches make up a nice fu manchu look. And I kind of like the grey. I’ve always kept if fairly short but thought about going for the long beard a few times but even with it this short it catches a lot of food. I can’t image how I would change my eating style at this ago so the short stays.

I needed some foliage today.
Photo by Mike Hartley

We are coming to the home stretch now for the holidays. Still lots to do but the fun part is under way I hope. I decorated the office a bit last night at the job that pays the bills. The tree and lights go up this weekend at home. Yes I’m late putting up the tree.

You know what I’m looking forward to this holiday. Just smiles and hugs and hand squeezes and laughter. Oh a bit of sleep might be a nice change of pace also.

Random Thoughts of the Day

You know Trump is begging for your vote and he is willing to do anything for it. I mean he’s already proved he can kiss his own behind so he may have some talent after all. And your mind is in the gutter if you think this means anything crude. I’m sorry, I can’t stop laughing while typing this.

Roy Moore is the modern-day George Wallace on steroids and he is on a religious crusade it seems. And if that is what is on God’s side, give me a pitchfork. Religious Hippocrates are one of the lowest forms of life there is. Convenient morality.  Yeah I have to dodge a few lightning bolts on my way into church 2-3 times a year, but I’m not pretending to be holier than thou.

You know Trump said he would have won Alabama. That’s a good idea because that is the only election he is going to win in 2020.

Three words I like (Traction Control Off).

I’m going to head outside and get on the roads. I’m repeating “I’m going to remain calm, I won’t kill anyone even though they may be asking for it by trying to kill me. I won’t flip anyone off, I will be very patient and courteous.”  Well its a lofty goal but lets give it a shot.

I’ve always wondered how many words make a good post? 500 – 1000 – 2000??  But I realized a way back that it’s not a number, it’s just the good words, be it 1 or 1 million.


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There it is, eyeing me.

A few years back a best friend took up golf. As is his way he focused, attacked, learned, shared, practiced, refined, adjusted for age, practiced, upgraded, practiced, learned, upgraded and practiced some more till he became a fairly good golfer in short order. But to me and to most people I see playing the game its a love hate relationship thing. Much more so, than other individual sports I see.

It's Eyeballing me. It's challenging me. Photo by Mike Hartley

It’s Eyeballing me. It’s challenging me.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Nothing like getting out in nature on some wonderful course without phones and the chores and work though. The first time or two he took me to play it was a wonderfully relaxing experience. One that I could see being very attractive. That was for every second I wasn’t swinging a club. Yeah I can hit a good shot or two. This body and mind (hand/eye) coordination isn’t completely without skill.

But talk about an exercise in frustration. You can hit a nice drive and be on top of the world in the middle of the fairway, and then in the woods 25 yards behind the green and your cursing the day you were born. Then you just about chip one in from the sand trap. Your up again and you step up to the tee. Pay no attention to that water hazard. You have a serious talk with the ball that is about to go swimming that your going to hit it straight and sound. But the lord of the underworld has the key medical knowledge that your back is subject to shooting pains. And he knows just how to encourage you to hit it just a little harder than you planned and there it goes, it’s looking, NOOOOOOOO go RIGHT. NOOOOOO.  SPLASH. Then the back spasm hits you as you twist in pain. But your oblivious to it except for having difficulty teeing up the next ball because you know you didn’t just hit the first one in the water.

So you figure the ball and club didn’t hear your orders for avoiding the water hazard so you turn up the volume as you hear your friend laughing in the background and yelling “Lay up”.  What the hell does lay up mean? Am I supposed to swing from my hammock? Actually that isn’t true at all. He helps me every step of the way from body position, club selection, course and hole details and of course swing. I bet if I played with him half as much as he actually plays, I’d get half decent at the game.

He has been encouraging myself and two other best friends to get out this spring and we all go for it. I’m hoping it happens actually, just for the fun and laughs it will provide. A pretty good way to spend 4-5 hours of a day with your best friends. Actually gives you time to actually talk. In between the cursing of losing the first box of balls you just purchased at the Pro Shop.

So I’m going to try to hit the driving range and see if this body can make it through a bucket of balls and maybe a little putting green and if I come home and can make it through the night I’m going to scheduled a round with the “Master.” And that is fitting being its Masters weekend in Augusta Georgia.

Don’t worry, I don’t have the money to be a true golf nut. But I will enjoy the game and some friendships it helps enhance. Here’s to best friends.


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Feeling FINE

You know each day I’m finding more of a spring in my step. I’m learning that no matter what is ahead its how you look at each day that allows you to feel happy, feel fulfilled, feel connected, feeling like your making a contribution and to move forward. Yesterday I finally got around to some work on etchings in stone. Felt good to create something. Felt good to get moving on a  project. Felt good to make something for someone else.

Of course with practice my skills should increase so I’ll wait a bit before sharing some of those pieces. Thinking about switching to wood just for the ease of work with the materials and that I can get quicker practice on this. I’m realizing I have to think things through a bit more before grinding away. It is exciting to just freelance at it though. Sometimes those are the things I’ve been most pleased with.

Lunch at Shannon’s. 

Took my wife and in-laws to Shannon’s today. Well let me correct myself, they treated us (thank you again). I’ve always like Shannon’s Bar and Restaurant. Its good comfort food. I’m surprised it doesn’t attract a younger crowd though. Food was excellent as always. Never been disappointed here. Today’s meal was a grilled Reuben which was great. Actually two of us had the Reuben. A tuna melt and open faced roast beef sandwich with lots of gravy rounded out the order. Service was good as always.

Random Thoughts for Friday September 18th 2015

  • So much has been given to me. I hope I’ve shown the proper appreciation.
  • I can’t wait to listen to some music an old friend created and sent me this week.
  • So many suffer each day. How can we who are healthy and safe not be thankful.
  • So much to do, isn’t it great. So little time, doesn’t that suck.
  • I love living in this county. But its on the verge of such a drastic change that I’m not sure it’s still for me.
  • I had a county office tailgating me the other day. Too bad the law doesn’t apply to all.

So I’ll leave you this morning with this smiling face below. Just playing around.

Shelly Photo by Mike Hartley

Shelly
Photo by Mike Hartley

 

 


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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