Category Archives: inspiration

Good Friday Moon

The moon is amazing tonight. I was out on my bike and couldn’t take my eyes off it as I pedaled and coasted. The above image I took from my backyard (not bad for a point-and-shoot camera), and the below image is the Liberty Building with a low lying moon to its right. And ifContinue reading “Good Friday Moon”

A View from my Handlebars

This was a view from my handlebars on my way to work this morning; I was at a traffic signal at this corner. There’s a lot going on in this picture. There were a group of guys doing something where they had to take up the sidewalk (pavements to my friends in the EU). I’mContinue reading “A View from my Handlebars”

Five Quotes from Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Ann Johnson; April 4, 1928 I posted the below quotes nearly two years ago. Often when I re-post quotes I will change them up a bit. But these move me still. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Continue reading “Five Quotes from Maya Angelou”

Five Photos of Plants

Like many cities, Buffalo has a lot of urban gardens and flower beds (we, in fact, host the largest garden tour in America each summer), and the neighborhood in which I live seems to have a large proportion. Anyhow, the reason I’m mentioning this is that I am lucky enough to work in a placeContinue reading “Five Photos of Plants”

When I Grow Up…

This photo is a manipulated version of a photo I borrowed from Sustrans. I’m not sure if it is the fact that I turned the big five-oh this past fall, or maybe that my son is approaching college age, but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately (as if I didn’t think enough already)…mainlyContinue reading “When I Grow Up…”

Red Red

It’s been raining, sleeting, and hailing for most of the day today. Maybe that’s why these flowers caught my eye…their bright colors in the midst of a drab and grey day. Beautiful aren’t they. I took a couple of these this morning as I left my house for work, and a few more on myContinue reading “Red Red”

Planet Walker

I came across an article on John Francis today and was intrigued…and still am. I had never heard of this inspirational person. In 1971, after a collision of two oil tankers under the Golden Gate bridge which resulted in a disastrous oil spill, he decided not to ride in motorized vehicles…and he didn’t for 22Continue reading “Planet Walker”

Five Quotes from Robert Zimmerman

Fifty years and two days ago Bob Dylan’s first LP was released. I find this amazing…five decades and he still influences new audiences. When that album came out I was not quite five months old, and some twenty years later I became a fan of his music. Now, after the span of more years myContinue reading “Five Quotes from Robert Zimmerman”

Night and Day: Two Photos

I took the above photo last night as I was walking my dogs…it’s an image of a murder of crows circling about and communicating in their secret crow language (to read a recent post about crows, and what I mean by the aforementioned statement, click here). The below image is of a vine on theContinue reading “Night and Day: Two Photos”

Urban Simplicity @ Facebook

Yes…I know. Facebook is one of those love-it or not things that exists in the modern world in which we live. I have had a personal Facebook page for a while and have thought about an Urban Simplicity page for sometime. Anyhow, I just got around to creating it. So if you are inclined toContinue reading “Urban Simplicity @ Facebook”

Foggy Morning: four photos and a few words

This morning was unusually foggy…it gave everything a sort of misty appearance. I caught veiw of the crow in the treetop (pictured above and at bottom) and snapped a few photos. Urban Simplicity.

Sometimes a Book Finds You…

I love books and bookstores. When I travel I make a point of visiting used and/or independent bookstores in that city. And I really do believe that books sometimes find you…that they are placed before you for you to find and hopefully read. The book above is a good example (and more on that inContinue reading “Sometimes a Book Finds You…”

Instructions for Life

Somewhat recently I posted the Holstee Manifesto, this is along those same inspiring terms. There are plenty of versions of this floating around the Internet, but I came across this one at the blog of Elena Levon. This states that the list was penned by the Dalai Lama. I’m not sure if it is butContinue reading “Instructions for Life”

Dusk

I was at my desk working this evening when I glanced out the window and saw this view…breathtaking. And knowing that at dawn and dusk when you see the light just right it is fleeting and you only have a few minutes to see it and/or capture it with a camera. I was already inContinue reading “Dusk”

A Couple Bikes and a One-Man-Band

I took a day trip with my son to the vibrant city of Toronto. It’s a mere 100 miles / 160 kilometers from my home and a very simple drive (granting you don’t get stuck in rush hour traffic). And every time I go there I realize getting there once or twice a year isContinue reading “A Couple Bikes and a One-Man-Band”