• architecture,  doors,  lifestyles

    The Reflection Room

    The Reflection Room

    I came across this door yesterday on the third floor of the Lory Student Center. I’d never seen it before. Something about it was different so I stopped and read the signage. The students can access this room by scanning their student ID’s and use the room for up to10 minutes to meditate, reflect or any similar activity. Now the green sign says 20 minutes when they swipe their student ID. Wow! What a unique and wonderful idea. I wonder how many 18-21 year old students will use this. As I reflect on this idea, I would venture to say that a lot of them need to use it, due to the lifestyle of being a college student.

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  snow

    Snowing again…. wait it’s stopped

    Early morning snowfall on the way to coffee

    Strange weather we have in Colorado. I took the bus this morning to meet a friend for coffee at 7:20 am. I could watch the snow moving in from the west. It began snowing by the time I stepped on the bus. This image was taken at 7:40 am as I’m heading into the coffee shop. By 11:00 am it was blue skies, sunshine and almost no sign of snow on the ground. And, wind gusts up to 30 mph. Hang on to your hat.

  • architecture,  Black and White,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  window

    A Common Scene

    Student life at Lory Student Center

    It was snowing when I took this image at the Legacy Lounge in the Lory Student Center last week. You couldn’t see the mountains but today we have have clear skies and it is now 54 degrees. That’s warm to most of us this time of the year. But, that will change tonight as a front moves in and we get another 1-2 inches tonight and tomorrow. This student had his laptop open but he was looking at his smartphone. A common scene nowadays. 

  • Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  Documentary/Street,  John O'Donohue,  lifestyles,  People/Portraits,  quotes

    The Warmth of the Coffee Shop

    It’s cold outside but nice and warm inside the coffee shop

    A Blessing of Solitude
    “May you recognize in your life the presence, power, and light of your soul. May you realize that you are never alone, that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe. May you have respect for your own individuality and difference. May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here, that behind the facade of your life there is something beautiful, good, and eternal happening. May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride, and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.” 

    John O’Donohue, Anam Cara
  • Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  quotes,  trees,  winter scenes

    I call that progress

    Walking across the CSU Oval after a night of light snowfall

    “The man who fears to be alone will never be anything but lonely, no matter how much he may surround himself with people. But the man who learns, in solitude and recollection, to be at peace with his own loneliness, and to prefer its reality to the illusion of merely natural companionship, comes to know the invisible companionship of God. Such a one is alone with God in all places, and he alone truly enjoys the companionship of other men, because he loves them in God in Whom their presence is not tiresome, and because of Whom his own love for them can never know satiety.” Thomas Merton

    We had a dusting of snow yesterday evening and temperature is at 17 degrees this morning. Good morning for coffee. They had freshly made chocolate eclairs in the display but I kept my wallet in my pocket and calories off my waist. I’m calling that progress. 

  • Avian,  Canada Goose,  clouds,  landscape,  lifestyles

    I’m okay with a dirty car…

    Beautiful clouds in the eastern sky along Weld County Road 90

    When I’m restless it usually means I need to get out of town, so I did. I have been doing a lot of reading lately and some has been heavy stuff. I headed east to favorite spot along Weld County Road 90, turned the car off and just listened. Total quiet. Ahhh! I could feel the change within my soul. About the only sound I heard was the wind and a few Canada Geese as they passed overhead.  Healing was taking place. Seems I am needing more of the quiet and for longer periods of time.

    The roads however were muddy which means my car is now dirty. Actually, I think a car needs to be dirty and I do not say that because I’m lazy. Ironically, as I drove out there I passed one of the car washes and there must have been 20-30 cars in line. I questioned in my mind the need for them to waste good water. Yes, I’m okay with a dirty car.

    A line of Canada Geese making their way to one of the ponds or lakes near town after a day of fine dining in the fields