Tag Archives: inspiration

On Being Kneady

If you’ve been to this blog before you know that I like to bake bread…a lot. And like many bakers over the years I have come to rely on the mechanical means of an electric mixer to do the tough work…knead the dough. Most of my bread recipes, in fact, include a direction something likeContinue reading “On Being Kneady”

Five Quotes from Thomas Merton

Monk, activist, writer, poet, and artist, Fr. Merton was a true renaissance man. He was friends with Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Dalai Lama, and a contemporary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Before his untimely death he penned a huge number of books pertaining to spirituality, poems, artwork, and an incredible and moving autobiography. HisContinue reading “Five Quotes from Thomas Merton”

A Few Photos of Snow, Slush, and Rain

  I’ve commented a few times recently on what wacky weather we’ve had this winter, it seems to change daily…but today hourly. The above photo and the one immediately below were taken this morning as I left for work. It had snowed a little overnight and there was ice on the roads, but as theContinue reading “A Few Photos of Snow, Slush, and Rain”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#393)…and how my bikes are therapeutic

Things on the bike and in the Bike Rev trailer… $127 (US) of groceries from two separate stores.3 liters of red wine4.4lbs. dog foodA gym bag full of wet clothsA canvas bag containing books and an extra cameraTwo portions of Chinese take out One (of the many) ways my bikes are therapeutic (to me)… IContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#393)…and how my bikes are therapeutic”

A Few Random Photos

Here’s a few random photos I’ve taken over the last few days. The one above and immediately below were taken this evening, and were in fact the reason of this post…the sunset was so incredible–even on a cold night and in an inner city–that I felt the need to share it. They were both takenContinue reading “A Few Random Photos”

A Garden of Eden in Hell

The above image is that of Alice Herz-Sommer, who is also the interviewee in the below short but very inspiring video. At 108 years young she is the oldest known living Holocaust survivor. A few years ago–at the age of 104–she wrote a book called A Garden of Eden in Hell, retelling her amazing lifeContinue reading “A Garden of Eden in Hell”

A Few Photos of Winter

Winter, I think, is an amazing time to take photos…an amazing time in general, especially with the crazy weather we’ve had this year. The contrast of color-to-bleak and lush-to-stark inspires me. The above photo (birds in a tree) was taken yesterday when we had crazy-strong wind gusts…the birds just swayed back and forth in theContinue reading “A Few Photos of Winter”

Everything is Amazing

Sometimes I just need a good laugh…and this guy makes me laugh. It’s a short clip of comedian Louis C.K. on the Conan O’Brien show some years back poking fun at the fact that everything really is amazing (but nobody is happy). It’s a video that’s been floating around the Internet for a while butContinue reading “Everything is Amazing”

Five Quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.” “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broaderContinue reading “Five Quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Naturally Translucent (a few photos of snow and trees)

Shortly after writing my somewhat self-righteous post this morning about commuting to work in the snow I ended up using my truck anyhow. The reason I mention this is that in an indirect way it influenced these photos, or at least influence me taking them. But I’m jumping ahead. I drove my truck because myContinue reading “Naturally Translucent (a few photos of snow and trees)”

Five Quotes From Alice Paul

Alice Paul January 11, 1885 – July 9, 1977 Feminist,Suffragist and Political Strategist    Alice Paul was the architect of some of the most outstanding political achievements on behalf of women in the 20thcentury. Born on January 11, 1885 to Quaker parents in Mt. Laurel,New Jersey, Alice Paul dedicated her life to the single causeContinue reading “Five Quotes From Alice Paul”

Stay Wild

I know it’s a couple weeks past the fact, and I also don’t keep too many New Years resolutions these days, but I came across these today and thought I’d pass them on. I originally stumbled upon them at the lovely blog, Let’s Go Ride a Bike, but they originated at The Resolve Project. It’sContinue reading “Stay Wild”

The Journey is Sometimes as Important as the Destination (and how to eat on a train)

Because of modern technology I am typedthese words—and subsequently uploaded them to this blog—as Ibarreled down train tracks at 60 mph on my way to NYC. This is one ofmy favorite train trips (from Buffalo to New York). It’s about 500miles and take just about the same time as it would to drive. Infact, itContinue reading “The Journey is Sometimes as Important as the Destination (and how to eat on a train)”

A Few Pictures from a Cold Grey Day

This winter has been exceedingly mild and warm (did someone say global warming?)…by this time we–in Western New York–are usually buried under a couple feet of snow resulting from our second or third snow storm. As I type these words there is a mere glazing of snow on the ground. I’m not complaining (it’s greatContinue reading “A Few Pictures from a Cold Grey Day”

Woody Gutheire’s New Years Resolutions 1942

Courtesy Boing Boing  It’s interesting to come across someone’s notes like this…70 years after the fact. Not only was Woody Guthrie an incredibly moving and entertaining musician/performer, and a talented artist, he seems to have had quite the sense of humor as well. Click the iimage for a slightly larger view. Urban Simplicity.

Life = Risk (one way to look at it)

I’ve seen this short clip in the past, but can’t remember if I previously posted it here or not. Anyhow, I just came across it again on Facebook and thought I’d share it for the end of this year and the beginning of the next. Though I find this very inspiring, it’s title is aContinue reading “Life = Risk (one way to look at it)”

Five Quotes from Jesus of Nazareth

This is another in the Five Quotes series on this blog, but I first have two preface the quotes with a couple comments. Firstly, I just wanted to say that I found the above photo at St. Francis Place. I chose the photo because I do believe that Jesus meditated (there are plenty of resourcesContinue reading “Five Quotes from Jesus of Nazareth”

Merry Christmas!

I know it’s a day early, and that not everyone in the world celebrates Christmas, but I thought I’d send out well wishes to all my fellow bloggers, bikers, cooks, and other misfit souls on this material plane in which we currently find ourselves. Merry Christmas and with hopes for a healthy and prosperous NewContinue reading “Merry Christmas!”