Author: mikemjensen

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mikemjensen Gratitude, Vanity Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

England. Scotland. Ireland.

France.

Sweden. Denmark.

I hear they’re all great places. I can only vouch for France.

I loved France and the French language. I even found a deep fondness of the French people. I ate their cheeses. I rode their trains. I regret I didn’t try their wine, but I hear it’s top notch.paris

Paris was everything they say it would be. The Eiffel Tower, the Metro, and the Avenue des Champs-Elysees are living art pieces. And the Lady of them all, Notre Dame, captured my eternal admiration from atop the right bell tower, watching the city bustle below on a sunny afternoon. I love that city. If you get the chance to go, do it.

So what’s with the other countries I listed? They are countries from where my ancestors came.

I know near nothing about them. If time and resources allow me, I hope to visit them all. They are my countries, my homes, and the lands of the people who gave me everything.

For whatever reason, they left those places. Given what they knew, their hope lied across the sea, over here in America. Better future for them. Better future for me.

So when I read an article, like I did today, that America is no longer within the top 20 preferred places from where to own a passport (tied for 35th); I honestly can’t think of any other place I would trade with.

I’m right where some people who knew better, left me.

 

Post 3-063

Common Interest

mikemjensen Useless Observations, Utah, Vanity Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

I checked snow levels at the local ski resorts today. 140 some-odd inches of snow, roughly 12 feet.

It’s as deep now as it’s been all winter and March is still a snow month, especially for the major resorts whose starting elevation is at least 8-9000’.

Ironically, many of these resorts will start closing this month. Not because of the snow, but because of lack of interest. People have been skiing since Thanksgiving in November and the days down here in the lower elevations are getting longer and warmer. Which brings me to my interest.

I don’t ski. My interest in the snow levels is purely based on the water content, and more importantly in the water content that will flow down and into Lake Powell. The fact that none of the snow at the local results will actually flow into Lake Powell is not lost on me. Our snow, nonetheless, is indicative of the snow in the Rockies that does. The more snow we have, the more snow they have. In general.

You see, I also notice the warmer and longer days. I know that winter still has some blustering to do, but I’m ready to hit the lake and I want it as full as it can be for this season and again for years to come.

lakepowell

My interest in Lake Powell, however, will last longer than 3-4 months.

 

Post 3-061

We’re Back

mikemjensen cool stuff, Interesting Stuff (to me anyway) Tags: , , , , 3 Comments

Hey Kids,

Have you ever watched the sky to see the International Space Station fly by? It’s nothing but a bright moving star that seems to wobble its way from one corner of the sky to the other. A long sighting lasts only a few minutes.

Still, I find it exciting to see. I actually get geeky about it. Pointing at the sky like a kid spotting an oncoming ice cream truck, I make sure everyone sees it too.

One of my favorite movies is Apollo 13. I read the book too; Lost Moon was the original title. Outside of the incredible story of the successful failure, it was the short narrative at the end of the film. Tom Hanks speaking as Jim Lovell resonated with me and I share his question. He says that in the years following his return he watched other men walk on the moon and after the program ended wondered when would we go back?space-x

So you can imagine my thoughts when I read today that Space X is planning to start doing fly-bys of the moon. The company that has been testing and proving the reality and success of a privately funded space program, is taking the next step; as early as next year!

Nearly 40 years later, we’re going back. Maybe not to walk on the moon, but certainly to usher the dawn of new space exploration. I couldn’t be more excited.

 

Post 3-060

Too Soon

mikemjensen Uncategorized, Useless Observations Tags: , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

It’s funny how every year the same thing happens.

About the end of January, maybe early February, we have a little warm up period. The ground snow melts, the piles of plowed snow in the parking lots melt down, and a few foolish trees sprout buds. The sun get s a hint of heat to it on the clear days and a few people even start to sport shorts and t-shirts.

And then it snows again.

snowbike

Back on the bus today

Everyone complains how they are done with winter.

And it snows again. And gets cold.

Salt Lake City at an elevation of about 4500’ is not tropical.

Wait for it people. Summer will get here, just not in February or March.

 

Post 3-059

Changing the Future

mikemjensen Useless Observations, Vanity Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

Based on a recent Redbox movie watched today, I have to ask the question whether I would change anything in my life if I could see the future and the end result of those decisions.

With the big ticket items like marriage and such, I think it’s important to avoid any second guessing. With kids and all, there’s too many implications to mess up and things you don’t want erased.

Some smaller things, however, I would change.unwritten-rules

I would’ve never lent my bike to Pete who, in Southern France, forgot to lock up my beautiful Peugeot 18 speed bicycle yet returned the unused bike lock from his backpack.

I would’ve slowed down those few times I got caught speeding and jacked my insurance rates sky high for a few years.

I wouldn’t have bought that Datsun 510. I spent way too much money on it and never did get it running well enough to get it registered before it was finally stripped clean by thieves.

There’s a few girls I wish I had been brave enough to kiss that I didn’t.

That one night in Modesto. I should’ve just went home early. OK, maybe a couple of nights.

I’m sure I could go on and on as memory starts to serve up the many screw-ups of my life. But in actuality, every decision I’ve made, good or bad, has brought me to this point.

And I’m doing OK. I miss my kids so much it hurts daily, but it also gives me hope that one day it might change and gives me a good reason to try and be a better person if it does.

I can’t change a thing anyway and it really wouldn’t be worth it if I could.

 

Post 3-058

Maybe Title, Maybe Not

mikemjensen Vanity Tags: Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

I joked the other day that conformity equaled death.

It does.

At least for me. I’m a non-conformist at heart, a natural but mild case.free-thinker-satans-slave

On the surface I am a complete conformist. I have a long term job of 24 years, in a government department, and staying out of trouble. Yet I was blessed/cursed with a rebellious soul, an unwavering disgust to fall in line, and a penchant for testing, bending, and ignoring rules. It’s amazing I haven’t been fired but I live in the realm of safe nonconformity.

“If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it’s another nonconformist who doesn’t conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity.” – Bill Vaughan

Just another way I don’t conform.

 

Post 3-054

A Little Understanding

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Quote Tags: , , , 1 Comment

Hey Kids,

Norrington: “One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness.”

Jack Sparrow: “Though it seems enough to condemn him.”jack

Conversely, one misstep, one misspeak, one transgression, or even a series of them; does not negate the good person trying.

No matter how bombastic they might be, if the heart is right, you’re allowed a mistake or two.

I extend this to others because I’m pretty sure I need similar understanding and forgiveness.

 

Post 3-053

Hell May Not Be What They Say It Is

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Twain Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,huckfinn

“All right then, I’ll go to hell.”

The famous words of revelation spoken by Huck Finn.

When all your upbringing and all your peers and all your superiors are telling you one thing and your experience and your own ideas and your own heart say something else; are you willing to accept the consequences and follow your heart and do what you think is right?

Welcome to hell.

 

Post 3-052