THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: seasons


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Do I detect a chill coming?

Maybe not this cold tomorrow or the next day but it’s coming. And with it the feeling the body is encased in ice. I don’t even want to think about the battle of the thermostat. One of us is always hot and loves winter. The other is always cold and loves summer. Just so we are clear, I HATE WINTER.

No drip here. Photo by Mike Hartley

It’s hard to think about winter on this fine Monday afternoon at 75 degrees, but it’s coming. We are probably more likely to have the ice above, before another 70+ degree day. Weather plays a big part in life. For me, it can alter life.

I have to force myself outside when the temp is below 40 degrees. The top of my car must remain up. I’ve got to put on lots of clothes and I’m not comfortable in a lot of clothes.

But life must go on, so if you see someone shivering and cursing the cold, it might be me. I will do my best to keep it to a low mumble.

Sometimes I feel like I’m going

Photo by Mike Hartley

I’m having a hard time keeping positive lately but working on it each day. Little glimpses of light here and there. Trying to string more good than bad moments together. Keeping busy doing something like selecting my best beach work for prints. I even added a few to the Arlington National Cemetery wall I’ve been building.

That reminds me I need to get over there. This Sunday is out, but one visit in November will be made. I don’t have much winter work from ANC, and maybe I’ll use this season to build it out.

I’m also working on a family picture wall, which is a lot of fun. I can’t wait till this is done for the holidays.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • If you don’t open the window, how will success find you?
  • I have two beautiful old oaks out front that aren’t in good shape. This might be the last season for them. This bothers me because I’ve always viewed them as the strong pair that is outside our front door representing another strong pair inside. The summer shade they provide is nice. The nuts drop not so much when they hit you in the head.
  • Choosing what is important each day is critical to success. Sometimes that’s just taking care of yourself first. A lesson I often forget.
  • I wonder if, in retirement, the meaning of what day of the week it is will fade.


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Stacked and racked

Looks like a wrap for the summer season. I was hoping for another warm stretch but I’m just not seeing it. So the lifeguard chairs are all stored and the boats wrapped. I’m reflecting and smiling because I got to enjoy the shore a few times this year.

It’s sad when the lifeguard chairs aren’t on the beach. Photo by Mike Hartley

Who knows, maybe an off-season trip. Those are nice sometimes. You can still enjoy the outside on a sunny day and the beach is always there for walks. The last time I got in the water this year was October 4th. It will be another 8 months till it warms back up. Burr, what a chilling thought.

So what madness can I get into this fine but wet Sunday morning? I could rant about the late Saturday night drive home from watching my grandson. But that would send me back into a state of disbelief that I’d like to forget some drivers I saw who shouldn’t have a license.

I thought as I was sitting here listening to some music that I would pick a favorite tune and send that video to the kids and some background on why it’s important to me and what I find special about it. I’m going to do that weekly till I run out of music to send them which will be never. I would be doing them a disservice if I didn’t show them real music.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Thank goodness for headphones. My family would have lost years of sleep if not for them.
  • Ah, the sun returns. What a warm feeling.
  • This is an exercise in exercising my initiative.
  • I haven’t played ping pong in years. I miss it.
  • Feeling like I’m going to accomplish a lot today.