The View from My Chair | views of life expressed by a woman using a powerful wheelchair

A Trip to Paris

January 26, 2012 by Karen of Scottsdale

A few days ago we celebrated 13 years of marriage! Norm took me to Paris for lunch. Well, not really, but it sure seems like we went to Paris. We visited Au Petit Four which is a French café and bakery newly located in Old Town Scottsdale. We happen to discover it last week while making a quick trip to the bank, which is right across the street. I told Norm that’s where I wanted to go for our anniversary.

It was a delightful lunch and it felt like we were in Paris because the owners and staff were speaking to each other in French and French music played the whole time we were there. Norm had a quiche and a field greens salad and I had a Panini and a simple pasta salad. All of it was quite tasty and fresh made. Then we splurged and had some kind of chocolate ganache dessert from the bakery. I don’t remember what it was called, but it was rich and tasty!

Check them out yourself!

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Can you keep a secret?

January 26, 2012 by Karen of Scottsdale

My wonderful husband and I rescued an abandoned shopping cart. We were driving through part of town that’s rather industrial looking with lots of metal buildings around. We go there as our secret way to get to In & Out Burger. One day we noticed a couple of those grocery store type shopping carts along the side of the road. I suggested to Norm that it would be handy to have one of those around the house so we could use it to bring all the bags of groceries in when we get home from the store. We both laughed about it and went on. Then, Norm was driving along the same area by himself a few weeks later and saw the same abandoned shopping carts. So he brought one home. It doesn’t have any identification as to which store it came from; it was just sitting out there all by itself exposed to the elements. Now it has a good home and we make good use of it. I hope we don’t get in trouble!

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Cajun Memories

January 13, 2012 by Karen of Scottsdale

Today we were going somewhere in the van and went past a Cajun bar and grill. We’ve never been there, and I don’t think we ever will, but the place got me thinking about my younger years living in Cajun country. This time of the year preparations for Mardi Gras begin in earnest. Many of the parents and relatives of my school buddies were active in the Mardi Gras set. Your family heritage and/or financial status determined what particular krewe you were a member of and what role you would play in the Mardi Gras traditions of galas and parade floats. Mardi Gras was always a big deal in our small town and the parade was the highlight.

Parades in the South are not like parades in other parts of the country. There are floats decorated around certain themes and those in costume and masks would throw candy and trinkets to the crowds. The trinkets consisted of decorative beaded necklaces and personalized coins. These coins were called doubloons and many of them were collectibles. It was custom to yell “throw me something” at the people on the floats. It was better than Halloween!

Oh the memories…

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Welcome to the Neighborhood

January 13, 2012 by Karen of Scottsdale

It seems we will be getting new neighbors this weekend. I met the family last weekend when they were doing some work on the house. It’s a rental property and the previous renters had to be evicted. The owner, who used to live in the house, had to get quite a bit of work done getting the place ready for new tenants. Apparently, it wasn’t finished and so the new tenants are doing some of the work themselves. I don’t blame them for wanting to thoroughly clean the place before they move in.

They seem like a nice family with five children. The youngest seems to be a toddler and the oldest is probably around 13. All boys and one young girl. I’ve never been in the backyard but I know there is a pool. I hope, for the sake of the children, that the owner has a cover pool or at least a fence with a lock.

I know one thing for sure, it’s going to be a lot noisier around here. I don’t mind if kids are nice and the parents don’t scream at them. So far from what I’ve observed they seem to be a happy family.

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More than one.

January 13, 2012 by azNorm

Many of my friends have complained of back pains and when I lived in Florida I remember one who had surgery. The outcome? To the best of my memory, he wasn’t too happy.

That was long before laser spine surgery was available. I have heard it’s less evasive than conventional surgery, but I haven’t met anyone who has had it. I wonder if it would help me? I wonder if it would give a spline-less person a new spine? I wonder if you have to wear protective goggles during the operation?

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Colorado

January 12, 2012 by azNorm

Living in Denver, Colorado as I did, I can’t forget the trips I made from the Mile High City up into the Mountains to visit Aspen.

It also brings to my mind Aspen Furniture.

I love being up in the Colorado Mountains and remember conversations with my father who had a dream to build a home in the mountains so that he, Mom, and his kids could visit when ever we wanted.

I have kept alive the same dream but never really followed through on it. Maybe someday when my ship comes in…

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Easier all the time.

January 12, 2012 by azNorm

I think it’s amazing how every day it’s easier and easier to do things from the convenience and comfort of one’s own home.

You want to pay someone, use an ach check and it’s done and it’s that simple.

Remember the days when you would have to pull out the check book, write out a check , address an envelope, put a stamp on it and mail it? I do.

While that’s still available it can also be done electronically.

I like that idea and do it as often as possible.

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Chat Rooms

January 12, 2012 by azNorm

Karen and I meet in a chat room on AOL back in the late 90s. In just a couple days we will be celebrating 13 years together.

Back in those days I don’t think there was free online dating just chat rooms, I think.

I had a computer and did spend time on it, not as much as I do now, cause back in those days I had a small company and it was me who did every thing. Although I did have one employee who was there when I needed help. I ran the company from here at home, and he lived across the street.

Talk about living in the right place.

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