• bicycle rides,  bicycling,  campus,  Transportation

    How about a coke?

    I have not posted anything for three days. So, I will post this image of the Coca-Cola truck parked just outside of Morgan Library on Colorado State University campus. I actually see this truck quite often which tells you they sell a lot of coke there. I honestly do not remember the last time I had a coke. Just not my thing. We are enjoying some Indian Summer weather. Mornings are in the high 30’s and low 40’s then reaching mid 70’s by afternoon.

    The update on my car is not good news. The engine needs replacing and will cost far more than the vehicle is worth. So, at the moment I am without a car and I’m okay with that. She lasted me 15 years. It’s a strange and new situation for me to be without a car. I’ve not been without a car for the past 60 years. And, that may even be true for you. I have over the past few years wondered if I could manage without a car. A couple of reasons for that is the amount of traffic on the roads, crazy drivers, bigger vehicles, pollution and the cost of driving. It would require a major shift in my thinking and lifestyle. I have kept track of all my car expenses since January 2021. It costs me $309 a month to have that car. That includes insurance, gasoline, and maintenance ( tires, oil changes, brakes and repairs). I have averaged only 10,000 miles a year since I’ve owned it. Looks like I will get to find out what life is like without a car. Buying a new car is not something I want. However, I have tossed around the leasing idea. It would fit my budget and at my age makes sense to me. So, I will get to see what it’s like to live in this culture without a car. I have my bicycle, a good bus system, I still am able to walk and the money I will save on gas and insurance will buy a few Uber rides. I honestly really don’t drive that much. In fact I have only put 4,800 miles on the car since February. I will keep you informed. I hope you have had a wonderful weekend!

  • architecture,  bicycles,  Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  snow,  sunrises,  winter scenes

    It’s Cold This Morning

    Bicyclists on Campus
    Bicyclists on Campus

    We are cold this morning, -6 at 6:49 am. The sun is shining and we have clear blue skies. I took this image of the bicyclists at about 7:30 as I walked into the Lory Student Center on campus. I find it amazing the courage they have to ride in the cold, snow and icy conditions. Not me! Young people in Colorado don’t seem to mind the cold but I do. That, or I’m a bit wiser. 🙂

    Art from tire tracks in my parking lot
    Art from tire tracks in my parking lot

    “I didn’t go to kindergarten, so I missed ‘show and tell’ when I was young. I’m making up for it now! I look for essence of the subject and try to show it in a different way, whether it’s Antarctica or a monarch butterfly…”

    George Lepp
  • coffee shops,  fountain pens,  journal,  lifestyles,  writing/reading

    A Favorite Spot

    A Favorite Spot
    A Favorite Spot

    This is an image of one of my favorite spots at Morgan Library to write. I usually arrive at the library around 7:20 then grab a mocha latte at the small coffee shop. For exercise I then walk up stairs to the third floor and over to the east wing.  So somewhere around 7:40 I’m sitting at one of the four tables outside the conference rooms.

    I have with me my journal, two fountain pens (Lamy Logo in Pearl), my Kindle Paperwhite, maybe a book, my camera and an extra lens. It’s quiet. I love the light. It’s a favorite spot.

  • architecture,  shadows,  window

    Morning Sunlight and Shadows

    Morning sunlight and shadows

    There are small conference rooms located throughout Morgan Library on the campus at Colorado State University. This one is located on the east side of the library on the third floor where morning sunlight flows in. I like to sit and write at the tables just outside this room. It’s quiet, at least until the students finally begin to make their way into the library.

  • architecture,  Art/Design,  Black and White,  lifestyles

    More Snow

    Stairs at Morgan Library
    Stairs at Morgan Library

    It is Friday morning about 7:30 am and sitting at a computer on campus at Morgan Library. Yes, I have a mocha in hand from Morgans Grind, the coffee shop located in the library. 🙂 A light snow is falling and has been, with mixed rain, since Thursday night. We have received about 2-3 inches of snow but with lots of moisture. Winter is still with us in Colorado.

    As I walked from the bus stop to the library I noticed a student riding their bicycle in this 20 degree weather without gloves. How do they do that? Anyway, back to the weather. They are predicting lows for the next two nights somewhere from the single digits to mid teens. Time to make chili again and check on airfare to Phoenix. Stay warm and enjoy the weekend!