![](http://i67.tinypic.com/2iu6lba.jpg) *Sometimes the storm is raging around us and we think we are all alone.* ### Why I Have Not Been Faithfully Posting This Week I wanted to share this with everyone on Steemit. I have been posting a little less regularly because I am **very busy this last week**. As I explained in my [introductory post](https://steemit.com/introducemyself/@bmwrider/the-official-hello-and-why-i-am-here-post-baby "introductory post"), I quit high school on October 10, 1979 in hopes that my future was in rock and roll. About nine months later I realized I had seriously screwed up and joined the military. The Coast Guard was good to me and over the years I took a college class here and there until I had enough credits to receive a Bachelors of Science. Interestingly in spite of my **love of physics**, I became a history teacher. While I know I am not that high school drop out educationally, internally I still am in many ways. Tomorrow I am defending my doctoral dissertation. This has been quite a journey for me. I wrote it about my time as an inner-city teacher, some of it is my basis for my writing here. I am not sharing this to tell you how smart I am, I am telling you this so you know that no matter how big the mistake is that you have made in your life, **you can come back from it**. ### Like Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel Said: Don't Give Up Before I joined the military there were some really dark days. There were **two weeks** when I had nothing, and I mean **nothing to eat**. My diet was water. I was so desperate I went through all of my clothing looking for spare change. Those two weeks were non-stop storms and no work; it was awful (there was a horrible recession in 1979/80). But I survived it, since then I have to have a full pantry. I was constantly **hustling for work** whether as a day laborer on construction sites or washing cars. If it was honest I was up for it. I was often working on an empty stomach and praying I could make it until the check got cashed. You never realize how many **food commercials** there are on **television** until you are really **hungry** and sleeping in cheap motel rooms. ![](http://i68.tinypic.com/2iivqrk.jpg) *My cool rock and roll picture* ### A Wisp Of A Boy In the Halls of Academia So tomorrow is a huge day for me. From an unskilled **wisp of a failed rock and roll musician** to defending a dissertation, this is a big deal for me. So please indulge me a few words of advice. One, **never give up on your dreams**. As soon as I am done with my dissertation I am working with my artist to get the artwork for my debut CD finished, it is at 90%. I am also working on a marketing plan. The music is mastered and ready, I am very happy. Some of those songs are 35 years old and should be heard. Two, you have **never screwed up so badly you cannot come back from it**. If a dirty gutter rat can defend a dissertation, you can accomplish your dreams. Three, **always tell the people you love how you feel about them**. Someday my children will never see me again. What is the last memory I want them to have of me? I want them to hear me say “I love you.” Peace, love and rock and roll, M. Photo Credits: All pictures were taken with my Canon EOS60D, I photographed the tree in the North Dakota snow storm. My rock and roll picture was taken by my musical partner's son. The last shot was taken by son 2. [![Follow Me!](http://i65.tinypic.com/2v0oe4g.jpg "Follow Me!")](https://steemit.com/@bmwrider "Follow Me!") ## ***100% follow back, together we can all accomplish great things.*** ***If you like these entries or have any questions or want to offer encouragement please post a comment or hit the upvote button, while making money is not really my concern I would like to know that I am not shouting into an empty canyon.*** **If you want advice and help with formatting your posts for better exposure and readability, head on over to #steemprentice on Steemit.chat. There will always be someone (or four) to give you a hand and offer some friendly, constructive advice and help on anything including content, formatting, marketing and networking!** *Hello! I am Mike K. I am an educator, lifelong student, military vet and wannabe musician. I have a love of history, economics, philosophy and motorcycles. I am quickly moving from minarchy to Christian anarchy philosophically and want people to stop meddling. My debut CD should be out soon!* ![BMWRider](http://i67.tinypic.com/4si5g4.jpg "BMWRider") *Riding in Tennessee with my son on the Green Eyed Snake*