July | 2006 | The View from My Chair 2006 July | views of life expressed by a woman using a powerful wheelchair

July, 2006

The Golden Hour

July 31, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale

For little over a month now I have been taking an early evening stroll through my neighborhood. I usually go as the sun is setting so that I don’t have the sun in my eyes or beating down on me. It’s a little cooler at that time, although that depends on your perspective. A few weeks ago when daytime highs were hovering well above 112°, it might be 108° as the sun was going down. For the past week it has been quite a bit cooler with daytime highs in the upper 90s so that when I take my evening stroll it is sometimes 88° which is pleasantly comfortable for me.

Norm gets a little nervous when I go because he’s not there to protect me. He does not enjoy walking outdoors when it’s over 60° outside. I enjoy the solitude, but I’m really not alone because God is with me and I usually see a friendly face or two somewhere along the way. I’ve been discovering things about my neighborhood and I enjoy that.

The world takes on a different color as the sun is going down and everything has a golden glow and for a few minutes there is even a violet hue in the air. I love that time of day — even when it’s well above 100° outside. It’s worth it to experience the beauty of that hour. When I see the golden glow and the violet hues I often think of the glory of God mentioned in the Bible.

“Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34

“…and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.” Ezekiel 43:2

I know that what I see here is only a glimpse of what the glory of God really is like. The apostle John tells us about the new city of Jerusalem:

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:22-23

I know it will be so much more beautiful than anything I have seen or can even imagine since God is the master artist of the universe. I look forward to one day seeing everything that he has created. The golden hour is a reminder to me of God’s presence. It’s a presence I want to live in continuously.

Category faith, life with Norm | Tags: | 4 Comments
The Gecko

July 28, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale

Last night I found a tiny gecko in the living room. I almost ran over it before I realized what it was because it looked like a piece of plant matter. The tires on my wheelchair often track in miscellaneous debris from outdoors when I take my sunset stroll through the neighborhood.

I started calling for Norm to come and get the poor little creature because my cat GG had discovered it as well. She got to it first, but then let it go as cats are fond of doing when they are playing with poor helpless creatures. By that time Norm came into the room, so I showed him where the gecko was and he grabbed it very carefully and put it outside. Believe it or not conservatives do take care of the environment.

You can see a picture of these nocturnal creatures here.

Normally we see geckos on the bathroom window at night. They wait there for the moths attracted to the light of the bathroom. It’s fun to watch them as they catch the bugs.

Category cats, gimp girl life, life in Scottsdale, life with Norm | Tags: | 4 Comments
We’re Going to Elect a New Governor

July 28, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale

Many of you may be in shock, especially those of you in other parts of the country who don’t know what really goes on here in Arizona, but I’m not going to vote for Janet Napolitano for governor. In fact I did not vote for her the first time she ran.

There are several Republican candidates who are running in the primary election. I’ve been checking them out and decided that I am going to vote for Len Munsil. He even has a blog! Go check it out if you are looking for a Republican candidate to support.

Category life in Scottsdale, politics | Tags: | Comments Off
It Was a Gigantic Storm

July 26, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale

Walking Prescott blogger Granny J has an interesting report from Embry-Riddle Meteorology Department on last night’s monsoon storm. The radar images are impressive because the storm joined with other storms creating a large cluster that ranged from the Four Corners to San Diego. Check it out for yourself!

Category weather reports | Tags: | 2 Comments
Crash, Bang, Boom

July 26, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale

That’s what it sounded like last night around our house. We received a massive thunderstorm around 9 p.m. that lasted for several hours. Constant streaks of lightning and thunder and heavy rain. Parts of south Scottsdale very near us are without power but fortunately we are still up and running with electricity.

Here is a report from the Tribune:

Trees were toppled in yards and resting on rooftops of dozens of Scottsdale homes, hundreds of homeowners were still without power and utility lines lay across intersections this morning after heavy monsoon storms battered the Valley late Tuesday.

Storm damage photos from the Tribune: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Norm and I are so very thankful that our power did not go out. At least it is a lot cooler than it has been in a long time around here. Only trouble is now we have humidity. As I write this at 11:23 a.m. it is 91° Fahrenheit with 52% relative humidity. That’s pretty high around here considering we are normally under 20%.

It was quite an interesting light show last night so Norm and I sat under our back patio and watched the show. This was actually the second storm that hit. The first one that hit at 9 p.m. had such strong wind that we couldn’t say outside without becoming soaked. It was hurricane force winds for sure. I pray for the people who’ve suffered damage to their homes from this storm.

According to the weather forecasters we are going to get more potentially damaging storms in the next few days. All of this is coming from a tropical storm/hurricane off the coast of Baja Mexico. Gracias a Dios!

Category life in Scottsdale, life with Norm, weather reports | Tags: | 1 Comment
Can You Hear That?

July 25, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale

No, not any more! We ended up replacing three of the five cooling fans in my CPU case. What a difference it makes to use quieter fans. Thanks Norm!!!!!!!!!

Category high-tech stuff, life with Norm | Tags: | 1 Comment
Annoying Noises

July 25, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale

I’m one of those people with very sensitive hearing. The noise from fans and other motors drives me up the wall sometimes. Lately my computer fan has become extremely noisy. I can’t stand to be around my computer because of the constant oscillating sound that reminds me of a dentist drill.

My wonderful husband Norm is going to open up my computer case so we can determine what kind of fan it has. Then we’re going to Fry’s Electronics and purchase a quieter fan.

Just thought you’d like to know what I am doing today.

Category high-tech stuff, life with Norm | Tags: | 1 Comment
Strange Coincidence

July 21, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale

Last night I scheduled a grocery delivery from Safeway.com for this afternoon. So at 10:30 this morning I get a call from a delivery driver asking if I would like my groceries delivered now instead of later this afternoon. Of course! He said he is about 15 minutes away. A while later the doorbell rings so I opened the door thinking that it’s him. The uniform doesn’t look right and then I notice it’s the guy from Schwan’s, which is some kind of ice cream and food delivery service that I don’t use. I think their sales guys are on commission because they knock on my door now and then trying to sell me. Anyway, I tell him I thought he was someone else and then I see that Safeway.com is out in the street too. I tell the salesman that I’m not interested and he says that’s great, etc. and leaves.

I leave the door open waiting for the Safeway.com driver to bring me my groceries. A few minutes go by and he doesn’t show up so I look out the window. There he is in the middle of the street talking to the other guy. After about five minutes the Safeway.com driver comes in and I asked him what was going on out there. It turns out that he starts working for Schwan’s on Monday so he was asking the other guy all about the job. Too funny! (Maybe you had to be there?)

Category life in Scottsdale, miscellaneous stuff | Tags: | Comments Off

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