Norm's Notes

Rain here in Scottsdale

Norm — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:31:10 +0000

I’d take a picture, but right now I can’t upload pictures into the blog. Hopefully, this coming week I will get that fixed so that I can have pictures and videos of Scottsdale and Arizona on this blog.

Today it is raining. At church this morning, in the middle of the service it the rain was so hard, it could be heard hitting the roof. And when we left to come home, I brought the van up to the entrance way, and put down the ramp so that Karen could quickly, in her wheelchair, get into the van, without getting soaking wet. I was beside her with an umbrella.

I don’t remember hearing the rain inside the church before. Yes, I know it doesn’t rain that much here in Scottsdale. But I think in the first two months of this year, the valley, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa has received more rain that all of last year.

Keep it in the Neighborhood.

Norm — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:10:43 +0000

On Wednesday, Karen and I were out in front of our house as two teenagers walked by the house.

I yelled out at them to come over and talk with me. They responded and came so we could carry on a conversation.

I asked if they were interested in working in my front yard racking up pine needles and spraying the weeds that had grown through the rocks. I got an answer from one, “YES”.

Turns out he lives two doors down and liked the idea of working in the yard. We reached agreement on price and today, Saturday he was here and ready at 9 AM.

Here it is 1 PM, and the work is all done and our front yard is now looking like it’s kept up. Not the mess it had turned into with my pain in the back months.

After he had completed the job, and we were talking about up keep in the weeks and months ahead. Matt, that’s his name, said that he past the house each day and would keep his eyes out for weeds and if he saw one he’d pull it out.

Now that’s service and it’s right here in our neighborhood.

End of the Week.

Norm — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:05:47 +0000

We have done it, and I have got to tell you that I’m really happy that the week is over and now we have another weekend.

If you know me, you know that I’m retired so it’s not like I get up each day, go off to work, work my tail off, and come home exhausted. But that doesn’t really matter.

I just like the weekends. There seems to be a completely different attitude out in the real world. People don’t seem to be so edgy, they are easier to talk with and seem to be in a better mood all around.

So with tomorrow’s Sun Rise, I will feel just a little bit better.

Thursday.

Norm — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:09:30 +0000

I beginning to realize that I am very good at coming up with titles.

Just take a minute and go back for the past 3 days and you will see what I mean. They are really sensational. Draw you right into my blog.

Once I have you here, I hold you close to the computer screen, reading every single word, waiting for the next, sometimes hoping, sometime not knowing, what it’s going to be.

I think it’s about time I get right to the point in my next word.

BYE

My Thoughts for today.

Norm — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:43:02 +0000

Yesterday, being Monday, I told you how I felt. It was not what you could say was a positive blog, cause it was about the fact that I H U R T. And to be honest, today, Tuesday, I don’t feel much better.

I’m sure that there are those of you who read this blog who will say that if I’m in pain, then go see someone…a Doctor. I have.

I have appointments to see them again, but like most medical appointments lately, one must wait. My next scheduled appointment is next Monday. That is unless I decide to go to ER, and you can be assured, unless I get hit by a truck, or something like that, I will not be going to ER.

H U R T !

Norm — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:34:51 +0000

The word above, the title for today’s blog is how I feel.

No betting around the bush, I hurt. I have pain in my back, shoulder, legs, you name it, if it’s part of my body, I H U R T.

But, I did work around the house, took out the trash. Did a load of Dishes. Several loads of laundry. And yest spent some time at the computer.

Had I not done the latter, this blog would not have been written.

Catching Cold in Arizona

Norm — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:42:00 +0000

What do you think of when you think of Arizona?

Cold Weather?

Mild Weather?

Hot Weather?

If you picked Hot Weather, you were right. That’s what most people, including myself think about when Arizona come up in a conversion.

Would you think that since Arizona is know for Hot Weather, that catching a cold would happen here?

Well, let me clue you in.   It does. And from my point of view it’s worse than the colds I had while growing up in Colorado, where Cold Weather happens.

Maybe it’s because I’m a little…change that to much older now. But colds here hit and hit hard.

Stop Sign.

Norm — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:00:33 +0000

Stop Sign.

By Norm Seeley | January 14, 2010

This morning, it wasn’t one of the first things that I got to, but I did, finally, just before noon take my walk to the end of the block and hit the Stop Sign. Don’t tell any one in the Scottsdale Streets Department. I’m sure there is an ordinance that prohibits Scottsdale Citizens from hitting City Property.   If you are from a foreign country like Mexico, it’s OK.

Today was a struggle. Every other step sent a pain shooting up the center of my back. It felt like my right leg was shorter than the left. And both legs felt like they were working as hard as they could and there was nothing left.

But I made it, down to the sign and back. I Made it. I’m not trying to lose weight, just bring my energy level up.

I had gotten to a point several months ago, that the daily walk was a piece of cake. Today it was one tough cut of steak.

Forgot to Tell.

Norm — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:48:39 +0000

When we returned from California a couple weeks ago, before the end of 2009, on our way out of San Diego, thought that it would be a good idea to top off the gas tank of our van.

Pulled into a gas station, and as I normally do asked Karen if she wanted me to roll down her window. She said no, as it was a little on the chilly side. With that I opened my door and got out, closing the door behind me.

Went to the pump, put the hose into the fuel tank, and squeezed the control. No sooner I did that it stopped pumping. Squeezed again. Shut itself off again. With all of $3.97 worth of gas dispensed, I headed back into the van.

The drivers door was locked. I reached in my paints pocket for the keys. They weren’t there. I looked in the window and saw them in the ignition.   Karen had no way to open the van from where she was sitting in her wheelchair.

I went to the office and asked for help. The sole employee told me she could not leave the office. I walked back to the van.

There I pulled out my cell phone and called 911. I had the cross streets of where the station was and looked at the building itself and saw the address. I told the 911 operator that I had locked my wife, who was in a wheelchair, inside our van and where we were.   I told her that she was all right but that I needed help to open the van and get in, where the keys were.

In about 20 minutes up pulled a fire truck and three firemen got out. For the next 25 minutes or so they used Slim Jim gear and attempted to open the door. They finally got it open by prying the rubber around the driver’s window and forcing in a metal rod and pulling up the door lock in the door.

Karen was OK. I, just a little embarrassed, was fine. Thanked the firemen, and off we went on our way home to Scottsdale.

January 8, 2010

Norm — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:28:58 +0000

Started off the day by learning that this is the 75 Birthday of Elvis Presley. I wasn’t a big fan of Elvis at first but I did over the years realize that he did have talent.   If you would like to hear some of his songs go to: http:/www.normradio.com/2010/01/08/fridays-music-69/

There you will find some of his number one songs over the years.

I have gotten back into the habit of taking a walk to the end of the block, hitting the Stop Sign and returning home. Today it was a little harder than normal. Today is trash day in Scottsdale and the trash containers are left on the street for pick up. Seems like every house along my route but the container on the sidewalk.    The city tells you to make sure the containers on in the street not the sidewalk but apparently that doesn’t happen in this block. OH Well, I was able to navigate around each of the containers.

And yes I also was able to hit the Stop Sign.   Good Job Norm.