holiday

Beach Holiday

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

Hey Kids,

For whatever reason, July 31st looks like a date that should be a Holiday. It’s been a week since

Bear Lake, Utah

Bear Lake, Utah

the last one in Utah and a few weeks since everyone in the country had one, so why not? We went to the lake.

Bear Lake, that is. The lake that shares residency in Utah and Idaho.

It’s a big deep, very blue lake.

We took up our celebration on the south end beach. And I made the flowing observations of curiosity:

1) Sand sucks. But it’s better than mud or rocks for a beach but it sticks to everything, it adds itself to sun block and sandwiches, and it comes home with you.

2) Maybe it just me, and I know we call them swimming suits, but being on the beach is like showing up to a public event where everyone shows up in their underwear.

3) The games played. I would think games would be water related, but many are not. Frisbee would be better on a lawn and bean bag toss would be better in the living room. There were even floating trampolines people rented to jump on. On, not from. I failed to see the point.

4) We all know we’re getting sun burned, and yet we do it anyway. People’s solar-virgin skin carelessly exposed as if offered as sacrifice or daring the gods to punish for it, or maybe it’s a rite of passage; a self-inflicted, dermal endurance test just because we can. How many times do you get to run around in public in your underwear? Make it count.

5) Everyone packs like 10X the food they need. You would think with all the extra sand being consumed, less food would be needed.

This list is not all inclusive, but enough. Not saying they’re wrong, just curious.

 

Day 158

The Work in Progress- April 26, 2014

mikemjensen Ain't Dead Yet, Cursing Black's Gold, Porter Rockwell, Twice the Christmas, Work in Progress, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Writing-desk

So I thought I would take Saturdays and use them as updates to where I am in the writing/publishing process. I know boring stuff, but I get asked every once in a while so why not.

I am still struggling along in the edits of the second book  the OPR series currently titled Cursing Black’s Gold. I just can’t seem to get it just right. I’m very pleased with the ending, but the middle part needs some work. After attending a writer’s conference, I did get some insights in what was stalling my progress. I refocused and things seem to be moving now just a bit. By next week I hope to have more progress and maybe an estimate on the publish date.

Ain’t Dead Yet continues to sell at a slow but steady pace in the kindle store. The most common thing I do hear from those who talk to me about the book is “When is the next one out?” (see above). It’s a nice thing to hear.

Under the category of “Pay more attention to your reports”, I learn upon reading a few of those reports that Twice the Christmas during the December special, was down loaded in Great Britain, Denmark, and Italy. I think that’s rather cool.

I can’t wait to get started on the finishing touches of this year’s Christmas story. I won’t talk much of it right now, but it is waiting for me as soon as Porter II is done. I’ll shed more light on the story once I get back to work on it. The working title is The Biggest Little Christmas in the World. Some out there might recognize the origin of that tag line. And yup, it has to do with there.

OK. That’s it for now. Stay tuned for more riveting writing news next week.

mmj

 

The Day After Christmas

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Twice the Christmas, Words that Rhyme Tags: , , , Leave a comment

After all the presents are opened and the day has moved past the night
The day after Christmas and all its mess begins at the first break of light.

The tree now looks so lonely and bare, the presents guarded now gone.
Ornaments not quite so cute, the lights not so bright; if we turn them on.

Space in the living room is at a premium, how long to keep this stuff?
The wreathes, the knick knacks, the little displays. Enough is enough!

Tradition states, we recall, that all must remain at least to New Years Day.
It’s a whole ‘nother week and then, the work begins to put it all away.

Each year I swear as I pack up each and every Christmas Decoration box
I won’t do it again next year, no I won’t, I don’t like it, “not even with a fox”.

Not a light to hang, not a Santa to play, not even a ribbon or bow
Next year, I’m not even going to hang any advantageous Mistletoe.

But the year rolls on and the seasons change and while I eating the Bird
I get excited to go outside and decorate, to light my little part of the world.

Oh the Season is the Season and I can’t help but to play and participate.
I think, however, I need to remember, It’s only the Day After that I hate

The (A) Meaning of Christmas

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Twice the Christmas Tags: , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Christmas, for me, is all about tonight and early tomorrow morning. The culmination of all the festivities, the lights, the trees, the goodies, the songs, and the whole crazy month of December and then some, bringing us to the one night when we all get together, make the phone calls, and think of those who are dear to us. The family and friends gathered together in a family room, exchanging gifts and sharing a joyful time is what it’s all about. Yes there are rough patches in getting so much family together, but there always is. On Christmas Eve, it’s just fun.

I know Jesus fits in the middle of this as Christmas, remembering the greatest gift of God to us all. It saddens me, however, when that thought is used as a stick to make people guilty to be excited about the candy n the stocking and the gift shopping and wrapping. Let’s be honest, most of the things we deem “tradional Christmas” has absolutely nothing to do with Luke 2.

Don’t get me wrong, I love taking my own personal moments, usually during a rendition of “Oh Holy Night” and think of the bigger picture. Of Grace. Of miracles. Of God. I cherish those moments. But Tonight, its about the presents. It’s about the ones around me. It’s about thinking of those who are not. It’s a time to laugh together. To hug. To kiss under the pagan mistletoe and feel and share the love of others.

Jesus is invited too. But not at the exclusion of everything else. It doesn’t have to be a black and white thing. Christmas is a time for all of it.

With that Have a very Merry Christmas Eve!

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