Halfway There ~

The truth is you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow.
 Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed... 

Lunch with Liliana today.  Was a very good time.  

We always laugh a lot, and "gossip" a little.  She is always

 telling me about a particular "friend" of hers. I always say,

 "with a friend like that you don't need enemies."  At the
end of the day though, they are there for each other.

Still have a bad sore throat, and a very itchy throat.  Let's say

 I coughed most of the night.  Not much sleep for either of us. 

 Sniff managed to get most of his much "needed" rest.

My niece Lilly Vade is growing up fast.  Imitates her
 mom in everything.  She still does her YouTube videos on
"how to apply lip gloss"  She's something else.  She like
 all little kids know everything.  Love her to death.

She told her mom that she thinks she needs to exfoliate
 more often.  Today she has the flu and stayed home.  Happy
 as can be, and to see her here you won't think she is sick.
 But the poor thing gets a soaring high fever.  The school
would not want her in the classroom with the
other kids.  Lilly is happy to be home.

It's been beautiful weather her.  Meaning no rain, but
it is extremely hot.  I am not crazy about the heat.  Arvid
 said, "I can't wait for us to get out of here."  Yup, soon it's
 Chicago for us.  Arvid more excited this time than I am.

Hope everyone has been having a good day so far.
 For many it's already tomorrow.  Still nice and sunny here. 
Time for a little balcony trip.  Happy Wednesday all.

You may not control all the events that happen to you,
 but you can decide not to be reduced by them...

 ~Nadiya~

Sick Day ~

Be able to laugh at yourself, you'll live longer and happier...

I am still hoarse.  No voice at all and I feel absolutely horrible.

Not the end of the world, but I just hate this cough and 

the chest pain.  Debating whether to go to the doctor

 or ride it out.  So tired of doctors right now, so 

this is what I will do, I will google what I have,
 and cure myself.  This way no doctors.

Get plenty of rest to give your immune system a 

chance to fight the infection. To relieve the pain of a 

sore throat: Gargle with a mixture of warm water 

and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt. Drink warm liquids 

that feel soothing to the throat, such as hot tea with 

honey, soup broth, or warm water with lemon.

Unfortunately, my appetite has not been affected.  
Talk about bad luck.  Most people when they are sick 
lose their appetite.  Mine is as strong as ever.  Bummer.

Starting to get hungry again.  Time to check out 
what I can devour before lunchtime.  Wishing 
you all a beautiful and sick free day.

Yet the best determining factor of how comfortable
 we are with ourselves, is our ability to laugh at ourselves...

~Nadiya~

New Week Vibes ~

Life is the most exciting opportunity we have.

 But we have one shot. You graduate from college once,

and that's it. You're going out of that nest. And you have

 to find that courage that's deep, deep, deep

 in there. Every step of the way...

My niece Kimsy ans her boyfriend Jordi both graduate 

today from Yale University.  To say we are proud of her is

 an understatement.  She worked hard to get to this day. 

 No shortcuts.  Just determination and many sleepless nights. 

 This is your day Kimsy.  Enjoy it to the fullest.

As the new week begins I hope it's a successful one

 for everyone. I have lost my voice completely, hoping

 that whatever it is I have will soon be gone.  

My self diagnosis is bronchitis leading up to pneumonia, 

but I have been know to exaggerate a bit.  Have to 

say the symptoms tell me it's one of the two.  I feel 

horrible, and do not like not being able to talk.

Monday a new week to start all over and to improve

 on last weeks mistakes.  One can always try.

 Happy Monday all.  Always believe 

something wonderful is about to happen.

Our life is a journey, and we make mistakes, 

and it's how we learn from those mistakes and rebound

 from those mistakes that sets us on the path

 that we're meant to be on... 

~Nadiya~

Just Be Happy ~

When you love what you have you have everything...

There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy, and right now 

when I look at this smile on Reshma's face I am happy.

It's not about money.  It's not about bragging.  

It's just plain simple happiness that emanates from deep 

within you.  Reshma texted me and she said, "auntie

  Nad, I bought a pair of funky sunglasses."  Well

 here she is, and she's as happy as can be.

We sometimes forget that happiness is not dependent 

on what we have.  Who we know or how much we have.

Happiness comes from simple pleasures.  In this case

 a cup of tea and a pair of funky sunglasses.

Reshma I hope you're enjoying London and one thing

 never lose that glow of happiness nor that smile.  

It will take you further than all the money in the world. 

 Attitude is everything and with the right attitude 

nothing can stop you.  I love you Reshma.

You're prettiest when you're happy. Sometimes happiness

is a feeling.  Sometimes it's a decision.  What do you choose?

The best part of life?  Every morning you have a new

 opportunity to become a happier version of yourself...

~Nadiya~

Thankful ~

A positive mind towards everything will give you a happier life.

My memory loves you.  It asks about you all the time...

Yesterday we had a little road trip to Fort Myers.

  Arvid and I enjoy these trips.  As he likes to say,

 "now you can't run away."  He's a funny man.

It was a beautiful day with clear blue skies.  No rain in Fort Myers.

  Made for a very enjoyable outing, of course business was involved.

Our Brutus as I mentioned turned 13 years yesterday. 

 I miss him so much. There are days when the grief is a little 

heavier than most.  I sense it in Arvid, but unlike me he does 

not talk about it much.  Arvid and Sniff both know when I am

 missing Brutus.  Sniff slept very close to me last night.

I was awake very early.  Lucky me, the moon was still out. 

 Of course I went out on the balcony with my cameras.  One 

of my most relaxing times is when I take pictures.  I took way

 too many, but at least I managed to get a fairly decent one.

Sniff woke up together with me.  He ate.  

Watched as I took the pictures and now

 he is napping again, very close to me.  

Saturday is looking beautiful.  No rain as of now. 

 The sun is shining and the birds are chirping.  It's going 

to be a good one.  Because every picture tells a story, never

 forget to keep making those memories and adding to the

story that is your life. Happy Saturday everyone.

Life goes by too quickly.  So laugh, love and

 try new things.  Forgive, forget and don't

 hold grudges.  Choose to be happy...

~Nadiya~

May 17th ~

Those who think there is a time limit to grief 

 have never lost a piece of their heart...

There are two moments I will never forget.

The moment we met, and the moment you took

your last breath.  Mama misses you so much.

Norwegian Constitution Day is the national day of

 Norway and is an official public holiday observed on

 May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day

 is referred to simply as syttende mai.

I mention this because when Brutus came into our lives

 we chose this day to be the day he was born.  Arvid 

being Norwegian and all.  One of the happiest days

 in our lives.  The day Brutus became a part of us.

When Brutus died, one of the worst days and times

 we have ever experienced.  To this day I miss him 

everyday, and I know Arvid also does.  Enter Shadow

into our lives.  Whatever the reason was, we also

 designated his birthday to be May 17th.

So today we celebrate Brutus' birthday and also

 little Shadows. Brutus only lived to be 9 years old.  We

 wanted so much more, at the same time we are so grateful 

for the 9 years we had with him.  They will forever 

be one of the best times of our lives.

Shadow never made it to one year with us.  We had him

 from November 7th 2015 and he died March 5th 2016.  

Talk about grief.  The heartache is still with me.  

Not daily, but somewhere tucked away and I try to not

 "allow" it into my everyday life, but those who know grief 

know that it comes in waves.  You are never warned.

The days leading up to today were pretty rough for me.

  I went back in time and all the memories and the pain

 came crashing down on me all over again.  I try not to let

 Sniff see me crying.  It upsets him and that I don't want.

Love is putting your best friend to sleep to end his 

suffering, knowing that your suffering is just beginning.  

Brutus, Shadow mama and Dada will always love you. 

You have a brother.  Sniff,  he brings laughter
 love and peace  into our world.  We love
 him very much.  He's a very good boy.

I hope you are together playing, running around, 

and having a good time.  We are forever grateful you

 came into our lives and I will love you forever.

Brutus I think of you everyday.  The mind replays

 what the heart can't delete.  I think a part of me will 
always be waiting for you.  Mama misses you so much.

No matter where I go, and who comes into our lives, 
you Brutus will always be my baby.  I will love you 
until the end of my days.  Happy birthday Brutus
 and Shadow.  Mama sends lots of love to both of you.

If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk 

right up to heaven and bring you home again, and if love

 could have saved you, you would have lived forever...

~Nadiya~

It Is What You Make It ~ Life

We are not given a good or a bad life.  We are 

given a life.  It's up to us to make it good or bad...

My day started with two doctors appointments. Boring, but 

something I have to do.  Recheck on my thyroid levels.  Didn't go

 so good, but after all it's a hit and miss at times with the medication.  

Once again new medication has been ordered.  A few other not

so good things as well, but gotta deal with it.  Only way.

On top of everything it was pouring most of the morning.

On the good side that's all done and next time I see my

 doctors will be in October.  A few months of no doctors.  

No blood work.  Happy times.  Happy for that.

When I was done, (4 hours later) Arvid took me to lunch.

  Even better because I did not have to cook and clean.  Boy 

the day sure is going good, and then there is later on.

Best of all I have leftovers to nibble on.  

According to Arvid, who read the rain statistics

 it usually rains 22 days in May.  Oh well.

So far this is very accurate.  It has rained almost every

 single day since May began.  Good thing is that the rain

does not interfere with Sniff's naps.  He's a happy boy.

We must have a lucky star because when it was

 time for lunch the rain miraculously stopped.  Making

 it possible for us to sit on the outside and enjoy

 a pleasant afternoon.  Life sure is good.

Wishing everyone happy times always. We make

 our own happiness.  At least we always try to.

Life is what you make it. Always has been, always will be...

~Nadiya~

Good Times Always ~

Sometimes you have to accept the fact that certain things

 will never go back to how they used to be.  Life goes on....

The day began on the "cooler" side so to speak. 

 As a "new" routine, mainly for Arvid, we had our tea and 

coffee on the balcony.  A half hour or so of quietness and just 

time to observe daily life going on around us.  Always

 interesting to see who passes by and watch the boats.

This morning we saw another boat trying to

 turn around.  The canal is not that wide so it took him a 

while to find the perfect spot to make the turn.  Makes life

 interesting when there is always something going on.

Next month Arvid and I will be going back to Branson. 

 I am so excited to be seeing everyone again.  I know things

 change, but I look forward to being back in Branson.  A

 place that will forever hold a special spot in my heart.

The day is cloudy and dark.  Same as yesterday,

 but always warm and there was a little breeze on the 

balcony this morning.  Got my fruit already

 for the week so all happy here.

Happy Wednesday and like the license plate says:

The mind should be allowed some relaxation,

 that it may return to its work all the better for the rest....

~Nadiya~

Hot Days ~

There's definitely healing properties to being in 

proximity to the ocean and that breeze. There's something

 about that Caribbean climate and humidity...

Summer weather is in full swing already here in Florida.

  At least here in Fort Lauderdale.  It is hot, humid and sticky

 already, and it seems like the rainy season is in full swing. 

 Everyday it rains a bit.  And if you know Florida, 

when it rains it rains like crazy.  There is lightning and thunder. 

 Sniff is really scared of thunder, and runs under the bed.  We

 had trained Brutus to not be afraid of thunder.  Arvid did, and 

he's trying to do the same with Sniff.  Can take some time.

It's getting a little too uncomfortable to do our afternoon walks.  

I'm trying to convince Arvid to use the gym.  He said

 maybe he can try out the treadmill.  After all we do

 have a pretty nice gym in the condo. Will see.

Staying indoors most of the day.  At least this way we will 

stay cool.  Come July we will be in Norway.  There is NO air

 conditioning there, and if last year was any indication,

 then it will be another scorching month, but on the

 other hand we will be with family so makes it OK.

  Today I am thankful for air conditioning.

Stay cool everyone.  Remember to keep yourself 

hydrated at all times.  Happy Tuesday to all, after

 all, life is beautiful, and we must be grateful for 

another day. What are you grateful for today?

Florida humidity: It's so hot even the air is sweating.

Sand and sun.  Summer has begun..

~Nadiya~

New Week ~ Let's Do It

The sky takes on shades of orange during sunrise

 and sunset, the colour that gives you hope that the

 sun will set only to rise again.  The sky broke like 

an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire... 

We have had another very beautiful, relaxing and enjoyable 

weekend.  Arvid and I drove to Isla Morada, and Key Largo

  I was very keen on going to the Seafood Buffet.  

Now that I have gotten that out of my system, let's say

 I won't be ready to do so for another year.  I had all the crab

 I could eat, and that was delicious, but having to compete with

 hundreds of people for food is DEFINITELY not something 

we enjoyed.  But like I said the crab legs were excellent.

We spent an evening enjoying music, but for me the best

 part was watching the sunset.  Sunsets as far as I am concerned

 are beautiful no matter where you are, but there is something

 extra special with the sunsets at the Keys.  Mesmerizing.

As the new week begins we have lots of ground to cover.  

Come June 1st we will be on the move again.  Our life is

 constant movement.  Do I always like it?  NOPE!  As I keep

telling Arvid, one day I will not do it anymore.  He laughs.

Sniff spent his first night all alone.  Meaning we did

 not have anyone come in and watch him.  I was nervous to do it,

 but Arvid kept saying it was OK, and it was.  He did good and,

 he missed us a lot.  Mostly I think he missed his soft foodies.

Monday here.  Tea with Arvid on the balcony, 

and we are ready for whatever the week holds.

Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long

 as there’s a dream, there is hope, and as long as 

there is hope, there is joy in living.  In life, if 

you don’t risk anything, you risk everything...

~Nadiya~