Be You

mikemjensen Worthless Observations Tags: , 2 Comments

Hey Kids,

Be yourself.

Isn’t it funny that we have to be reminded to do this?

In an age of the growth and complete immersion of Social Media, I would think we can be nothing but ourselves. Yet many people still struggle with this, myself included. Always wondering what I should edit, what might scare people away.

Granted, I think it’s OK to say a few less bad words when writing. But it’s not OK to be something you’re not. Or to be mean. Or to exaggerate to make yourself look better, more important, or sexy.

I think I’m a little more of a smart ass than I come across on this blog. But it’s hard to be a smart-ass to yourself. You need someone saying dumb things. Um, well, I mean someone else saying dumb things; and then you can be a smart-ass in response.

I think I am myself. I maybe not the first to air all my sins but I’ll get to them and admit them if you ask. (Not an invitation to ask about my sins.)

Mark Twain said that when you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said. When you lie, you best keep an account of what you claimed. I have a terrible memory.

Sometimes I think. Sometimes it hurts.

Sometimes I think. Sometimes it hurts.

I’m just a guy. I write. I don’t sell a ton of books but a few. I still have a day job, some might say a career. Been there for 23 years but I hope to leave before the gold watch is shackled to me. This is too exciting of a time to stick to a real job. But then again, I do enjoy being paid. Oh, the trials of a social revolution!

Anyway, be yourself. Don’t fake anything and nothing will be fake. It’s OK not to be a rock star and to be a rock star in training. Or a Pre-published author, or a perfecting musician, or … You get the picture.

Be true.

Dammit.

Day 86

Light It Up

mikemjensen Motorcycles, Worthless Observations Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

It’s said that lightning doesn’t strike twice. I’m not really concerned with that. I’m really more concern with the first time.

Last night riding home, it seemed that all was well. The skies were a bit gray but not bad. I could see all the way across the valley so it wasn’t raining anywhere close.

Instead of rushing home like I should have, I stopped at the store and did some shopping for dinner. I took my time. Made some good purchases including a killer deal on some pork chops. Yum!

When I exited the store, the weather had changed dramatically. The sky had darkened to a black and the rain had begun to fall. No, more like tumble. In buckets, mind you. It’s ok I can take wet. I packed the saddle bags with my groceries and headed off for the short 8 mile ride home. It turned out to be a long 8 miles.

I took the route that wraps through a residential area, past the mouth of a canyon along a forested road, past the Utah State Capitol Building, and thru the Industrial section of North Salt Lake City. My home lies in just the next town, just inside of city limits. There really isn’t any cover to dodge under along this route.

The Lightening began as soon as I venture out of the store’s parking lot.

At first it was still a ways out. I was able to count a few counts before the thunder. That changed. By the time I got to the capitol, the delay had vanished and the crack of the thunder would nearly shake me off the bike. The flash became like spotlights and I thought it only a matter of time before one hit me. I guess it was good to be a moving target.

Similar storm, next day; and watching it from the inside.

Similar storm, next day; and watching it from the inside.

I don’t have a death wish and had I thought of a really good place to stop, I might have, But I had another thought run through my head. If I got struck by lightning, it would be immediate and I wouldn’t know it happened. I would either be gone for good or wake up in a hospital some time later. If it wanted me, it would have me. It was just complete random; there was nothing I could do to stop or alter it. Riding in a serpentine would only leave me on the road longer.

I rode through and stopped thinking about it and enjoyed the ride, as miserable as it was. And I lived to tell about it.

If you’re in a lightning storm it’s probably best to stop. But if you don’t- you made your decision, accept it.

Harsh? Maybe. But it’s my harsh and I’m sticking to it.

Don’t ever ride scared.

On a bike or through Life.

There’s not a whole lot of difference.

 

Day 85

1984

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

Hey Kids,

1984.

That’s the year I graduated from high school. To most others it’s the title of a book.

The term Big Brother? That’s where that term came from. Check it out it’s a good book.

I remember learning about 1984 sometime around 1980. A teacher explained to us all how close the book was to how it was and within the next four years, she feared we would be living in that world.

Not exactly. The 1980’s turned out to be nothing like 1984. I know some people are going to say different; but no, the world of Winston Smith was nothing like the world I knew leaving High School. Or even today.4c61d4a15e78164dc9ce5fe53750e28f6d4c9ec6

1984 is also the name of a Van Halen album. The last one with David Lee Roth as the lead singer or band member. Personally, I liked Sammy Hagar a little better anyway, but “1984” is an incredible album, one that changed the direction of Van Halen and rock music really. The song “Hot for Teacher” alone is worth the listen.

The 1984 Olympics. Remember that runaway? With the Eastern Bloc countries boycotting, the USA, In LA, won a lot of medals. McDonald’s nearly went broke with just the free stuff I won from the promotion they ran. Big Mac for a Gold, fries for a Silver and a drink for a Bronze. I spent an entire weekend at Santa Cruz feeding off the winnings of Team USA. I still feel sorry, however, for Mary Decker. But how about that Michael Jordan kid!

1984 was a big year. The launch of Apple Macintosh for one. But it was only a year. It came and went. No Party take over. No new world order. No Walter Mondale. And no societal crash.

2015 is another year. What will be historic about it? Only history in the future(?) will tell. The trick is just to live it. Take things as they come and know that one day there will be something of today we will look back with fond memories.

Nobody really knows what’s coming. No body.

So, Relax. (Don’t do it).

 

Day 84

Birthday- Choose Your Flavor

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Hey Kids,

About a year ago, a family member gave me my first Sourdough start, something I’ve had the idea of doing for a number of years. Thus began a learning curve.

Sourdough is not a bread. It is a process to make bread products. Before packaged yeast, this is how it was done. It has a distinctive flavor but how strong that flavor is manifested depends on how you use the process.

The process and use of Sourdough also has a cult following. People spout off hard and fast rules of how to feed it, how to use it, how to store it. Pride is taken in the age of your start.

Starter Gone Wild!

Starter Gone Wild!

Starter is placed in a fridge or container in the kitchen and fed and kept “alive”. Some people insist you name it. Some insist you treat it like a pet.

As I delved into the Sourdough world, I have been finding that there are pieces of truth within the rules but a lot of Hooey is also added.

Here’s some things I’ve learn and adopted into my personal Sourdough Religion:

Age of the start doesn’t really matter. 10 years. 30 Years. Or even my started that can be traced back 50 years. It just matters that you feed it. How you feed it makes a difference.

It’s not better than yeast. In fact, yeast is faster and more consistent. Sourdough is a process that creates its own characteristics. I love the flavor, and that’s why I do it.

It doesn’t have to be sour. How you feed it seems to be what changes the flavor. If you want sour- make it sour. If you don’t want it not sour, make it not sour.

It’s kind of hard to kill. I heard how you have to be so careful not to kill your starter. Do you have a fridge? Can you remember to do a 10 minute task, once or twice a month? If yes, you’re golden. If not, you probably shouldn’t have pets either.

Why am I going on about Sourdough?

I made Sourdough Pancakes this morning for breakfast. And it was my Birthday.

And the connection?

Being the wise old age of 49 today, I have a few years to think back upon. And I’ve been thinking.

It really doesn’t matter how you do life, just do it. There are some Life’s Truths that you are better off heeding, but it’s not always clear what’s Life’s Truths and what is someone’s add-on.

Live it and when something works, go with it.

Create your own flavor of life.

And always have Sourdough Pancakes for your Birthday.

P.S. Today was awesome. Thanks to Social Media, I got more Birthday wishes that I have ever got before. I’m feeling pretty good. Almost looking forward to number 50. Almost.

Day 83

Birthday Week- Saturday

mikemjensen Gratitude, Vanity Tags: , , 1 Comment

Hey Kids,

Saturday of my Birthday Week. Last day, I promise. All week I’ve been listing things I’m thankful for and things that make getting older worth the effort.

Saturday- My Faith.

Faith means a lot of things to different people. To me it means those things that I believe, hope, or count on deep in my thoughts, emotions, and feelings. It extends beyond the question to which religion you subscribe. It’s more than a set of do’s and don’ts. It’s the feeling of how and why.

Manti Utah Temple which some of my ancestors help to build

Manti Utah Temple which some of my ancestors help to build

I’ve been raised Mormon and I cherish the heritage that gave me. Beyond belonging to a group of people from a particular family or country, I belong to a history of people who chose to be together, who struggled together, and who put their faith in things beyond the conventional possibilities. I’ve been blessed with this association for my entire life. (Sometimes plagued, I confess.)

As a child I learned to trust the happenings around me. Persevere and move forward, better things await those that do.

As a teenager, I kept myself out of a lot of trouble (not all). Some that might’ve affected my life in undesirable ways.

I remember as an 18 year old, new to the construction site, I was designated to hold the weekly football bet money. Several hundred dollars were put in my trust, over the weekend, not because they knew me, but because they knew I was Mormon. It taught me to be true to what I claimed as my values in all times, especially when others counted on it.

My Faith took me to France and Switzerland and taught me French. A lesson I will never forget.

My Faith has given me the encouragement to carry on through in justices in the world. A belief that the ultimate justice would be based on how I acted on a day-to-day basis and not in a tally for tally, eye for an eye method in what was fair in the world. It gave me a compass.

My Faith has allowed me to ask questions, to challenge my own Faith, to dig deep for answers and when lines don’t meet, dig deeper, to relax when things aren’t perfect, and believe and hope that one day it will be.

I’ve stated a very big, private part of me in just a few sentences. I don’t mean to trivialize it but to just give a small glance into why I think it’s the growth of that faith that I look forward to as I get older. I wonder what questions I don’t even know how to ask yet.I fear and anticipate with hope to see what Faith has to offer in the future.

At least, that’s what I believe anyway.

Day 82

Birthday Week- Friday

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Hey Kids,

It’s Friday on my Birthday Week and I’m listing some things I’m thankful for in my life; those things that make getting older, worth it.

Friday- Fishing.

Green River, Utah

Green River, Utah

I probably lost some people with this one but fishing has been such a part of my life that I can’t imagine my life without it.

Fishing is what brought me and my grandpa closer. We spent many hours on his boat and it is there I learn who he was. Many people have a different opinion of the man than I do, and they are most likely right in their own views. He had some problems. But he had a good heart and out on the boat I got to feel it.

Flyfishing as I mostly do now, is as much therapeutic as it is sporting. A book I read, Pavlov’s Trout, makes the case that within the practice of regular fishing trips, a balanced happy life can be achieved. The ironic part about this is that my Ex gave that book to me and she did not agree with the philosophy that I gleaned from it. The book also gave me my dying wish. After hooking a massive Steelhead, I hope my last words are “Get the Net.”

Looking forward, I know I will never be guide quality. It’s OK. There are so many fish I want to meet, I need another 70 years from now to get to only some of them. I’ll take what live gives me and call it good.

I hope it’s closer to 70 than it is to 7, however.

Day 81

Birthday Week- Thursday

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Hey Kids,

It’s Thursday on my Birthday Week and I’m still listing the things I thankful for and the things that make getting older, worth it.

Thursday- Writing.

I’m not all that sentimental or hocus pocus-y when it comes to writing. I have my weird things I do, but no charms, tokens, or rituals. I simply enjoy writing. That’s it. And for that I’m thankful.

Me at 15 in Alaska looking for gold.

Me at 15 in Alaska looking for gold.

From roaming the western deserts with my dad, to working at a gold mine in Alaska, there are a few things that I’ve seen that I want to share. God gave me the eye to see the stories around me, to think of them in terms to explain to others. I have enough brain to be able to string words together into coherent thoughts and sentences.

I struggled with English in school, yet somehow it made sense to me when I learned French.

I resisted reading when I was young yet found authors like Twain, Hemingway, and London that captured my imagination.

I feared writing yet found a voice in learning to speak in Toastmasters and other public speaking occasions.

I hope I have many more birthdays between now and when I think I’m done writing. Which will only stop when I stop breathing.

Literally.

Day 80

Birthday Week- Wednesday

mikemjensen Gratitude, Motorcycles, Vanity Tags: , 2 Comments

Hey Kids,

Birthday Week continues into Wednesday and instead of wishing, I’m listing the things I’m thankful for and the things that make getting older, worth it.

Wednesday- Motorcycles.

I’ve been blessed with not one but now two motorcycles. I know this sounds materialistic. It is. But motorcycles give me a joy that’s worth being honest about it and saying I’m proud to be a motorcyclist.

Suzuki Boulevard

Suzuki Boulevard

I bought the first one in April of 2011. My Boulevard. We’ve put many miles on the road together. It’s now approaching 46,000 miles on the bike, most of them mine. I’ve spent as long as 6 days on road. Just me and my sweetie, 1200 miles, and most of the National Parks in Southern Utah and the Grand Canyon. I road it to LA and back. The trip back, 700+ miles, straight shot, 12 hours, snow and rain most of the way. Ah, memories.

IMG_20141011_084232My Yamaha is a new comer, bought last fall. The 113 cid motor (1900cc) is all the power I need for now and it’ll be the long road tripper now. The Boulevard will maintain the daily work commute duties. The Stratoliner or “Strat” is a beautiful bike and its extra-long wheel base eats up the road with comfort. I can’t wait to see where we will go together.

I know that there are many people who look at me weird because I have two bikes and no operating four wheel vehicle, but it’s the choice I made. I may not be a “biker” but I bet I ride my bikes more than most. And I hope to stick around for a lot more miles and a few more bikes in the Garage.

Ride on, Brother. Ride on.

Day 79

Birthday Week- Tuesday

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Hey Kids,

Birthday Week continues into Tuesday and more things worth getting older.

Tuesday- My Kids.

Me and my babies at "our lake"

Me and my babies at “our lake”

I don’t get to see them anymore, at least for now. They’re a big reason why I write this blog (hence “Hey Kids”). I want them know one day who I am, and not who they thought I am or been led to believe I am. I want a history of my thoughts, my daily writings, and my dreams and fears.

I regret not a day in having them. I begrudge not a thing that I couldn’t have because we had to buy diapers, formula, shoes, clothes, and the like.

I don’t pine for a single event I missed because we bought a minivan instead. I loved every minute spent with them and I hurt for every moment I’m now denied.

I’m grateful they, you, are doing well from what I’m told. I’m proud of who you are becoming. And I look forward to waiting this all out and seeing you and my grandkids later on.

I’m happy to know that not a mean thought is spent on you. My arms are open, my heart is longing, and not a minute of my time will be spent seeking recompense. I’m sorry for how you were hurt, but I’m willing to do what I can to ease your pain and gain your forgiveness.

I’m happy to be alive and seemingly in good enough health to keep going for a while. I’m here until God takes me or we find our way back into each other’s lives. Whatever comes first.

My wish is for the later.

 

Day 78

Birthday Week- Monday

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Hey Kids,

It’s my birthday week.

My sweetie has taught me this term. She actually extends it to the month of her birthday. So I feel sorry for anyone who shares her birth month, because she doesn’t share things like that very well.

But back to me and My birthday week.

I haven’t been much of a birthday celebrator so I’m not sure what to do with a whole week.

Hmmmm. Birthday wishes??? No. Who cares what I want but me, and I’ve been a little fixated on that type of thinking lately. I think it’s time I took account of the things for which I really need to be thankful, things worth getting older.

Hanging Out and Being Cool

Hanging Out and Being Cool

Monday- My Sweetie.

It’s really difficult to explain this one without going all mushy blah, blah, blah because you all know what I’m talking about when I say I’m a better person because of her. You know what it means to have someone you can’t wait to see every day. No need to elaborate what it means to have someone love you back way more that you can love them but she makes you want to try anyway.

She’s it for me. I love waking up in the morning and seeing her first thing. I love laughing with her. I love saying something funny just to see her smile at me. I love the way she loves everyone around her and then see how much they adore her. And yet she chooses to hang around with me.

Monday. I’m so grateful and lucky to have someone as special as she.

Love ya babe!

Day 77