Aha!

I was finally able to catch some lightning on camera!

Storm Watch 2010

Each summer I activate Storm Watch. I've done so since I was 16 years old, working out on the lake during Monsoon Season. Theoretically, the monsoons down in the ocean kick up some moisture and push it towards Arizona in the months of July and August. In years past this has resulted in HUGE storms with heavy sudden rainfall and flooding for our community. The desert doesn't soak up the water--it runs it off into washes and down streets. The lightning and thunder and magnificent, and we enjoy a brief respite from the 115 degree heat when these storms build up in the afternoon.

Alas, for several years now we've been in a drought and we haven't had the great storms to cool us off in the hottest of the summer months.

This year has been particularly disappointing because we have had NOT ONE INCH of measurable rain since May. Not even clouds. Nothing, that is, till this week. We finally got a little thrill from Mother Nature. And Storm Watch, 2010 was activated.

Here's our household weather center. The kitchen window with the laptop right next to it displaying the satellite weather map:



We anticipate the clouds, the thunder....



We run outside gleefully as the clouds open up and produce......



Then we slowly make our way back inside as we realize that the rain is not coming anywhere near us.

Last night was neat, though, because we had thunder and lightning for several hours. Steve and I fell asleep with the blinds open in the bedroom so we could watch the flashes.
Of course I tried to photograph them. Didn't work out. Gotta have a much better camera for lightning photography.

I Know What Hot Is!

Yesterday was Primary Elections Day for Arizona, and it included my City Council run. It was ALSO one of the hottest days of the year for us. I got going at 5:30am, so I could get ready and go campaign at the polling places. I earned many votes from people who were undecided as they walked in, and I met many people who had already intended to vote for me.
What a neat experience, but WOW what a hot one. It was nearly 120 degrees, and there was no shade once we got to high noon. But I had to do it!

The votes are being verified now, but it looks like I managed to earn 41% of the votes cast and I needed 50% to earn an automatic seat on the Council. So that means I get to duke it out with the other challengers for the General Election in November.

I've already established a new campaign strategy, and my friends are rallying behind me to help me WIN in November!

Thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far. This has been a huge challenge and we'll all have a reason to celebrate when we get to the finish line.

THANKS!!!

Picnic Time

The Mohave County Republican Picnic each August is held up in the Hualapai Mountains and serves as a fundraiser for our county party. It's always a lot of effort to get people to come because the location is so remote. But this year we sent out the invitations to the candidates--Federal, State Level, and Local, and we were inundated with candidates.

So someone had the idea of gathering all the candidates for a photo. Only thing, you couldn't fit us all into one photo. There must've been 50 candidates.



I am standing next to Havasu's Mayor, and next to him on the left is Governor Jan Brewer. She has her head turned.
Some were candidates who haven't had the opportunity to campaign in Mohave County very much, and I was glad to see them. In fact, I made sure to shake hands with EVERY candidate and I also thanked them for making the trip to our event. Some said they were thrilled to take part in the BIGGEST campaign event right before the Primary Elections (which are tomorrow, by the way) and some were surprised that I'd be thanking THEM for coming. By this time of year, most groups are sick of hearing from candidates and want nothing to do with them.

The Sheriff's Dept was kind enough to have a K-9 Unit demonstration, and that was quite interesting:



And of course we heard from our Governor. She's always entertaining...



All the candidates had the opportunity to address the crowd, and they did just that. Some spoke for twelve minutes ( excruciating ) and some spoke for less than one minute ( love that!! )

Normally we close things down at 2pm, but because of all the speeches we didn't get done till almost 4pm. At least it was nice weather!