The Snake

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Hey Kids,

Today a childhood sports hero of mine passed away. I had no idea it was eminent and then the post appeared on my screen on Facebook.

Kenny Stabler was the first quarterback I ever knew. I knew very little about the actual game, but I knew Kenny Stabler. #12 he wore. Quarterback. Long haired renegade of the NFL’s renegade team. I remember drawing pictures of him and once asking my teacher how to spell Stabler. And always with the caption “Hut, hut, hike.”KennyStabler

The Raiders were IT in the East Bay in the 70’s and I grew up knowing it. Kenny Stabler was the main man.

Later I would become more familiar with Al Davis, and John Madden. I knew and liked many of the other players; Kenny, however was the quarterback. He was my favorite.

He was one of the few players I felt I would truly like to meet one day. Shake his hand, hear the voice for myself, and see that sly smile, like he knew what defense had been called.

I’ve bought other Raider jerseys but never felt worthy to own and wear #12. That would be reserved for a signed jersey on the wall.

I’m amazed how deeply the news has affected me. I didn’t know him or have any chance to meet him in the future. And if a chance meeting would’ve happened, it would have been just a friendly handshake, maybe an autograph. I know that.

But something that I can remember as far back as I can, is gone. Does it take something from my childhood or rather remind me that my own end is closer, I don’t know. Either way, a part is now somehow missing.

An interviewer once cited Jack London’s “Credo”. The connection being that Jack London was also from Oakland. The Interviewer read:

“I would rather be ashes than dust!

I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

The function of man is to live, not to exist.

I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.

I shall use my time.”t_39819

He then asked Kenny to comment on what that meant to him. His response after a moment of contemplation, “Throw deep.”

Mr. Stabler, you didn’t win every game you played. You didn’t complete every pass you threw. You didn’t score every touchdown with 50 yard bombs. You didn’t save every game in the last 2 minutes. You threw deep enough, however, that the little boy that still lives inside me, the one with the over-sized helmet and asking his dad if we won yet, misses you already.

Farewell.

 

Day 136

Punch the Clock

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Hey Kids,

I thought a lot about my post yesterday and people who don’t respect a work-at-home job.

It’s not entirely their fault. We can send some mixed messages when we say we’re working. Here are some things that people who work at home can do to help those who might not see it as a real job.

1) At your day job, is your attendance optional? Can you stroll in whenever you want and then leave just as freely? Why do we act like this is how it is when you work for yourself? People understand that when you’re on a job, you are unavailable. No calls, no texts, and no visitors. Crazy, I know. When you’re working for someone else, you have responsibilities that can’t just be dismissed because mom calls. Make you at-home job a real job. Report to yourself, focus on your job, and stay that way when “on the clock”.time_clock

Letting people know when you’re going to be “off” also helps them. They learn your work hours have boundaries and they need to catch you outside of them.

2) No one cares but you. If you’re the boss, be the boss. Get that lazy butt You to work. Take his phone away. Threaten to fire him if he has people showing up on the job site to chat. Be the Boss. If you can’t keep you working or feel it’s important enough, who will? That’s right. Nobody.

3) Leave the house. I know hard to be at-home when you’re not. But it works for me. I am actually taking the time to go somewhere else. The Library, McDonald’s, Starbucks. You’re not just hanging around at the house.

4) Get dressed. No suit required, but not always pajamas. It’s hard to take anyone for real in PJ’s.

So set some hours and be serious about it. Don’t give in to “feel like it or not” Do it. And people will learn you. There will always be a certain percentage of people who’ll never get it, but most of your non-relatives will. Relatives and especially mothers, you’re on your own.

 

Day 135

 

I Don’t Mean to Be Rude

mikemjensen Vanity, Writing Tags: , , 1 Comment

Hey Kids,

If you work by the hour at a “job”, people generally leave you alone.

Work at home, not so much.JK-Rowling-Be-Ruthless-About-Your-Writing-Days2

Be a writer and your time is comical and there is no thought to infringe upon it.

I guess maybe I should tell people I got a job at Lowe’s. Or McDonald’s.

Unless you have a boss, your “work” is a hobby, an elective, extracurricular.

I apologize to everyone ahead of time. I’m going to be a little bitch at times. I have work to do.

No really.

 

Day 134

Muse to the Rescue

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Hey Kids,

It’s no big secret to anyone around me that I’m struggling to finish the book I’m working on. It just doesn’t want to come along as I had hope on the outset.

It’s OK. The trick is to stay on it. chalkboard_quotes_mann

Today sitting in my office, the ideas of what is wrong with the story and how to fix some of the issues flooded my brain. I quickly wrote them down.

And now to get after it and get this story done. Please excuse my brevity this evening. My story needs fixing!

 

 

Day 133

Independence Day

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Hey Kids,

Independence Day.

July 4, 1776. The date atop the letter to King George explaining that the colonies had had enough and needed to break free.tattered-american-flag

The language of the Declaration of Independence states that when enough wrongs have been suffered, it is the not just the right but the duty to do whatever is needed to end such wrongs.

It takes a lot of courage to take a stand like they did and in that case, a stand against arguably the most powerful force of the day. Afterwards a war had to be fought and an entirely new government agreed upon and established. Otherwise the declaration would have been simply words.

Their reward was a new nation, from which we have all benefitted in some way or another.

Declaring your own freedoms is a huge step forward. But know that afterwards, the realization of your declarations comes the real work, the hard work, and possibly the fight of your life. If it’s spawned out of need, or duty to oneself; the benefits may be more than we could imagine.

Today for my own freedom, I fired up the Yamaha and went on an 8 hour road trip. It liberated me from the house, the need to watch fireworks, and didn’t include eating hot dogs. A personal Declaration of Independence. But that really wasn’t what I was talking about.

Ignore that last part.

 

Day 131

Standard

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Hey Kids,

I think that the valuable, well paid employees of the very near future will not necessarily be those who fought for raised minimum wages, or attended universities, or paid their union dues.

They might identify with these traits, but,I-Love-My-Job-Employee-Engagement-300x206

The valuable, well paid, sought after employees of the future will be the individuals who are willing to work. Harder, longer, smarter.

Within the field of people struggling to raise their own standards, the standard will always be disappointing.

To the person always stretching, improving, and working; the standard is insignificant.

 

Day 130

Old Girlfriends

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Hey Kids,

I ran into two old girlfriends tonight.

I had no intentions to do so, it just happened.

It was a local event, family fun they said.

But there, a top the grassy hill, amongst all their sisters, I saw them.

Like a blast from the past, the feelings of love long lost rushed my head and flooded my heart.

I swooned.

I stood, like the young man of yesteryear, admiring. Not from a far but near, almost touching. I withheld only because the sign said, “Look but Please Don’t Touch.

Straight from the late 80’s and early nineties and into today; my two loves, my dreams, my once most disirest of desires came back. My eyes almost went to tears.

At the North Salt Lake Car Show, on the lawn of the golf course, in the Corvette section: A 1979 and a 1990 ZR1 Corvette.

1979 Corvette

1979 Corvette

1979- Just like the one I owned and loved. Only marriage to a real woman broke us apart.

1990 ZR1

1990 ZR1

1990 ZR1- The Beast. The King of the Hill. The one that really started the new Muscle Car Era. The Corvette with the motor unlike any other Corvette motor, ever. Even today’s fancy pants motors. The Corvette that re-broke the 400HP threshold. One of the fastest Corvettes ever (you can look it up). The one 1990 wasn’t ready for.

I was ready but couldn’t afford her and have only been able to dream about her ever since she got away.

My two girlfriends from the past.

Thanks for re-visiting. We’ll have to do it again sometime.

Maybe even go for a spin.

 

Day 129

Be Nice

mikemjensen Life's Truths Tags: , 1 Comment

Hey Kids,15 - 1

There are some wonderful people in the world. And the greatest thing about the Internet is that we can all meet a bunch of them. That wasn’t possible even just a few years ago.

There are also really bad people too. People who see the Internet as a way to hide behind their login and say whatever they want to say to hear themselves say it, argue to argue, minimalize to minimalize. Most, things they wouldn’t do face to face.

I’m sorry for these people, they’re missing a great opportunity and I think they hurt themselves. In a world trying to connect, these people will be left out. Being, excuse me, a d*ck, makes you a d*ck.

Don’t be a d*ck.

Be nice.

Compliment, thank, and friend the world. It’s a lot more fun world that way.

Walk away, ignore, or unfollow things that aren’t your cup of tea. Let people be wrong. Let them be ignorant. It’s OK and grammar isn’t that important.

Life’s too short not to recognize that we can be so much more one people now than ever before.

And while I’m thinking about it, thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog and allows me to share my thoughts. I really do appreciate it.

And while “your” at it, have a great day!

 

 

P.S.- Replace * with an “i” or “u”; however you see fit.

 

Day 128

Time Choices

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

6a00d83452989a69e2010535555f25970b-800wiHey Kids,

Does every minute count?

I think it does.

Do I always act like it?

Nope.

Should I?

Yes I should.

Yesterday, I spoke of time being our most precious commodity. And yet, I seem to be willing to treat it like it’s free and unlimited. That there will always be time to do what I need to do later. That needs to change.

It doesn’t mean that my life has to be a constant stress but it merits some design and planning. There’s a lot of work to be done and if the work is done and/or there’s a design in place, it’s ok to use some of it on frivolous things occasionally.

I need to make sure I choose how to spend each minute, decide for myself if the choices I make move me towards or away from my goals.

My biggest goal is to be happy, to be proud of who I am and what I’ve accomplished. I owe myself some effort and discipline to realize it.

Money will come and go. Time, however, is finite. It comes and it’s gone. And what’s worse, we have no idea how much will actually come our way.

Make the minutes count because they are counting down, and there’s no refund.

 

Day 127