• architecture,  coffee life,  coffee shops,  doors,  street photography

    Prayers and Thoughts are Welcomed

    March 6, 2023

    Here is another update on my health and what the doctors have planned for me. To be honest I’m not all that excited about having to deal with these health issues. But as my friend Christina says, “Life gets Lifey.” The next few days will be a busy time for me. I have a pre-op meeting/testing on Tuesday the 7th giving me instructions on preparation for surgery and what to expect. Then Thursday morning the 9th will be my final iron infusion. So far none of the infusions have had any side effects. The iron infusions are bringing my blood count numbers up except for the platelets which seem to fluctuate but in a downward direction. Because of the low platelet numbers they will be doing a bone marrow biopsy on Friday the 10th at MCR in their effort to discover what’s going on. On Monday the 13th I will be given another infusion, this one with platelets to bring the platelet numbers up. Its purpose is to prepare me for the VIV TAVR (Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) procedure/surgery scheduled for the next morning, Tuesday the 14th. Hopefully everything goes well and I will see an improvement in my anemia and the malfunctioning aortic valve. Prayers and thoughts are welcomed.

    The image is from a road trip I made back in 2013. This was taken at a coffee shop in Cortez, Colorado, called the Spruce Tree Espresso house. It changed its name to Bean Tree Coffee House and is now closed. I found the door inviting and led out onto a large outdoor patio area. I think it would be interesting to revisit these coffee shops, if they are still open, and see how they have changed, or not.

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  • architecture,  doors,  quotes

    Choosing Doors

    November 14, 2022

    “In the universe, there are things that are known, and things that are unknown, and in between, there are doors.”

    William Blake

    The sun has melted the morning frost. There is still a thin layer of ice on the pond. And we never got above 40 degrees today. Gray skies now dominate so it both looks and feels cold.

    In reference to Blake’s quote, I believe that each day does offer us doors to open or close. Today I both closed and opened doors. Due to exposure yesterday to Covid I changed my travel plans to spend an early Thanksgiving this week with my dad, my two sisters and brother-in-law and instead will celebrate his 94th birthday with him in January. There is no need to put my dad in any danger at his age. I feel a sadness. I want to be with my family.

    I understand we cannot totally isolate ourselves from covid or any other virus or anyone who is indifferent to another’s safety. Nor can we protect others from any danger. I’m aware people are gathering again in large groups as if things are okay or they will be okay. I’ve heard there is now a cruise ship in Australia with almost 800 cases of COVID detected. And, I have moved back into the coffee shop routine. Aware that I am taking a risk for exposure, or worse yet, exposing someone. Yes, we have doors to choose, to open or close. I’m rethinking my stance on all this and may open fewer coffee shop doors and close a few. Just thinking out loud.

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  • architecture,  doors,  lifestyles

    The Reflection Room

    February 29, 2020

    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.

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  • architecture,  Church,  doors,  quotes

    Doors of Change

    September 22, 2019

    The handmade door to the Chapel at the Mercy Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado

    “Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”  Barack Obama

    With fall comes visible changes which we see and feel. Leaves are changing colors, Canada Geese are arriving and temperatures are turner cooler. It is one of my favorite seasons of the year. Our world is also going through changes, environmentally, socially, economically, spiritually, etc. We hear those who shout for this reform, promoting legislation they feel will bring change but almost all of it is one persons attempt to control or change another. We are pointing fingers and hearing a lot of “if you” or “if they” being said. Seems to me the change starts within each of us, we need to be the change that we seek. Young Greta Thunberg has shown us how to open doors of change.

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  • architecture,  Black and White,  Cityscapes/Urban,  doors

    Doors in Alleys

    April 24, 2019

    “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” Corrie Ten Boom

    Doors found in the back alley of Old Town Fort Collins. I’d venture to say this morning that there does not exist a street photographer that does not have at least a hundred images, maybe thousands, of doors in alleys.

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  • architecture,  Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street,  doors,  Humor,  window

    Hippies Use Backdoor

    September 29, 2018

    Hippies
    Hippies

    I walk by this home on a regular basis, see the sign, smile and but have always hesitated to take a photo. This morning was different. In fact I took two images. The home is across the street from campus and from the looks and location I assume it’s residents are college students. There was a time when I would have followed the sign. 🙂

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  • architecture,  Black and White,  doors,  shadows,  window

    Unit 52

    June 15, 2018

    Somewhere in the Shadows
    Somewhere in the Shadows

    We have been warm in Colorado this past week but that looks to be changing the next few days. We are going to see temperatures about 10 degrees cooler and rain/thunderstorms. It is dry here so many are looking forward to any moisture. The predicted rain on Sunday may put a damper on any BBQ plans for Fathers Day. 

    Each morning as I leave for one of my coffee shops I’m given this scene of morning shadows. I usually just take a mental image, smile, and go my merry way but I’m sure I take at least one image a week of my neighbors door. 

    For the past 25 years I have done a lot of reading. There are times I have three books going at one time, which for my simple mind is probably not the wisest of decisions. I’m finding I struggle with my focus when reading, requiring the paragraph to be reread, sometimes more than once. The thought crosses my mind that I need to put all my books down for awhile. I don’t consider myself an author but then again, these journals are my books, my stories.

    “There comes a point in your life when you need to stop reading other people’s books and write your own.” Albert Einstein

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