Hello Monday ~

Be your excellent self today by creating a 

beautiful mosaic from yesterdays' broken pieces...

The weekend was really good.  Best of all we had

 "cooler" temperatures.  Heavenly.  With the cooler temperatures 

we decided to take the water taxi for a little tour along the

  Intracoastal and at the same time hop off and have lunch.

The water taxi ride was about 2 hours one way. 

 After lunch we walked around our old neighborhood,

 and we listened to some music.  Albert Castiglia was

 playing, and both Arvid and I like him very much.

Everyone knows Florida is beautiful.  Sometimes even I 

have taken it for granted because we live here all the time,

 but being in Branson for almost 2 years was a little reminder.

The boat above is named Not Enough.  If that's 

not enough I wonder what is.  Cruising along the Intracoastal

 waterways was relaxing and just calming.  I forgot how

 many huge boat exists in these waterways.

Monday again.  New week.  Just a month and 

some before we go to Chicago.  Then for us it's officially

 summer.  After that is the usual Norway trip.  

Then you know it's summertime for us.

To all a great week ahead.

Being negative only makes the journey more difficult.  

You may be given a cactus, but you don't have to sit on it...

~Nadiya~

Easter 2019 ~

I've been through so much. I just live each day, 
and whatever happens, happens. I've lived a 
very good life. My life has definitely changed,
 but the attitude is still the same...

From our home to yours Happy Easter.
Life is good when we think it's good.
 Life is bad when we don't think.

It has been a beautiful weekend.  Yesterday we did a little
 "exploring" on Las Olas.  Was a delicious experience.
  One we will repeat soon.Life is a journey, not 
a destination.  You hold the key to happiness.

Wishing everyone a beautiful day today and everyday.
Your peace is more important than driving yourself 
crazy trying to understand why something
 happened the way it did.  Let it go. 

Sometimes you got to accept that certain things
 will never go back to how they used to be...

~Nadiya~

Always Be Kind To Each Other ~

Be kind, don't judge, and have respect for others.
 If we can all do this, the world would be a better place.
 The point is to teach this to the next generation...

Don't wait for things to get easier, simpler, or better.

  Life will always be complicated.  Learn to be happy 

right now.  Otherwise you'll run out of time. 

Friday is here and that means that the weekend has

 begun for many already.  Good Friday.  Suddenly

 everyone wants to "do the right thing" 

We focus on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday,

 but we forget to pause in the stillness of the days between.

 Find time today to be present in that place of waiting. 

There is treasure to be found in the sacred peace that

 comes as you breathe in that place of quiet surrender.

 Don’t rush through the space called “Between."

I don't do anything different today compared

 to any other day.  I try to live life always being

kind to the other, and to always treat others 

the way I would like to be treated everyday.

But the most beautiful things in life are not just things.

They are people and places, memories and pictures. They're

 the feelings and moments and smiles and laughter...

~Nadiya~

Thursday Vibes ~

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

Thursday, and our day is looking pretty good. 

 If all goes well we will be doing a little business and 

having a little fun time all in one.  Best of all we will

 go to Sawgrass Mills Outlets to do so.  

It's not as if I want to go shopping and all,

 but I just love the idea of walking around and

 browsing.   Of course there are a few of my

 favorite shops I would like to take a peek into.  

 Who knows something may catch my fancy.

  Hopefully plans do not change.  In our life

 plans change in seconds.  Used to bother me

 before, but now, it's just a way of life.

What remains constant is Arvid and Sniff, and to

 see that the bond between them gets stronger with every 

passing day makes for happy days and happy times.

Sniff is soon going to be 4 years old.  We have now 

 had him for 3 years.  I'm so grateful he came into our lives.

Good morning all.  As my sisters would say,

"what are you going to do with your life today?"

The world is beautiful outside 

when there is stability inside...

~Nadiya~

Life ~

Grief is never something you get over. You don't

 wake up one morning and say, 'I've conquered that;

 now I'm moving on.' It's something that walks beside you 

every day. And if you can learn how to manage it and honor 

the person that you miss, you can take something that

 is incredibly sad and have some form of positivity...

.

Everyday is a good day no matter what happens.

  We always find a reason to see the positive and the 

good around us.  So what happened last night?

  As we were going to bed, Arvid turned off the 

lights,  and said "it's 11:11"  I said "that's our bedtime 

with Brutus"  It was like clockwork.

After that I'm not sure what happened because it 

seemed as if all of a sudden Brutus just died all over

 again.  I could not stop crying and the grief 

was too much.  All over again.

It took me a very long time to fall asleep, and to stop

 my mind from going back to the day Brutus died.  I

 have a memory that sometimes is my worst enemy. 

As I was immersed in grief I was also thinking of Sniff.

  Of how much I love him, and at the same time how much

 I wished our Brutus was still here.  Today will be better. 

 It's a beautiful day here. I'm done with my workout

 and Sniff is all over the place chasing a leaf. 

Today will be better.  I'm calmer, but my heart is sad.

Your grief path is yours alone, and no one else can

 walk it, and no one else can understand it...

~Nadiya~

New Week ~

Never underestimate the importance of having fun...

Even sitting out on the balcony has it's moments.  

Always something going on.  I am always ready 

with the camera.  You never know when

 something interesting will happen. 

 For us just about everything is interesting.  Keeps us

 entertained and happy.  Arvid thinks he's back in 

Mexico every time he sits out on the balcony. 

 To this day, his favorite vacations have been those 

days we spent in our condo in Mexico.  As he says, 

"now we have Mexico in our own backyard." 

Monday begins with rain and more rain.  I like the rain.
  I love taking pictures of the raindrops as they fall
 on the windshield of the car.  Of course not while
driving, but parked.  Safety is always first.

Rain or no rain it's a beautiful day here.  Got my workout in,
 and most likely a walk later this afternoon with Arvid.

Yesterday we had a nice outing on Las Olas.  We took
the boat to and back home.  Pretty relaxing and enjoyable.
 We keep saying we will discover our own backyard,
who knows maybe we will. Happy Monday all.

You don't stop having fun when you get old,
 you get old when you stop having fun...

~Nadiya~

Sunday ~

As long as you're having fun and still doing stuff,

it doesn't matter what other people think.  

Do anything, but let it produce joy...

Everyday begins with Sniff and the two of us sharing 

moments before Arvid is awake.  I love our time together. 

 Though Sniff still does not let us pick him up, he sure

 loves to snuggle up to us when we are sitting.

Our week has been good.  For April it has been extremely
 warm already.  Not complaining because many would like
to have the warmth we are having in Florida.  My preference
 would be cooler temperatures.  We are loving being
back home in Fort Lauderdale.

Yesterday we were supposed to have lunch with
our nephew J and Alexandra, unfortunately they
were busy.  Of course we were disappointed.

 We were both looking forward to seeing their new
 place, and Arvid especially.  He has a special present
 for their apartment and was looking forward
 to giving it to them.  Next time it will be.

We will soon be going to Chicago and I want
 to spend as much time with the family I have here
 in Florida as possible.  Making time for family,
for me that's whats most important.

Happy Sunday all.  Never forget
what's most important in life.

The above picture was taken many years ago.
Today Michelle is married, and a mother of 2 little girls.
 Our grand-daughters.  The baby is my nephew Sachin.  Soon to
 be heading out to college.  Life.  There is no stopping its course.

Choosing to have a good time with your friends instead 
of a good time with other people is one of the best 
decisions you can make. Friends are awesome, and
they will always be there for you no matter what...

~Nadiya~

What A Week ~

Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful...

It all started with our neighbor leaving a note and a menu

 on our door during the night.  I woke up and when I

 saw the menu, of course that was all I could think of. 

 I love Indian food. Goes without saying.  I am Indian 

after all, and it's the flavor I was raised with.  Our Indian 

food has a West Indian kick.  The best food in the world

 as far as I am concerned is Indian and Latin.  The

 two foods we were fortunate to be raised with. 

After a lot of coercing, I convinced Arvid to go 

with me. I told him, "you either come or I go on my own." 

 He decided to accompany me.  I will not say it's his 

favorite food, but he did not complain too much.  Even

 so, next time I think I will go with our neighbor.

The food was delicious, but to be honest just 

about all of the Indian restaurants I have been

to the food has always been super delicious. 

This week went by very fast.  I competed my jury duty,

 and really hope not have to do it again any time too soon.

It was boring to sit there and wait for them to call you.  

HOUSE FOR SALE

I am not patient at all.  Before going my mom and Arvid

both "warned" me to not get too aggressive with anyone.

My mom thinks I have a short fuse when it 

comes to tolerating nonsense and she's right.  Arvid 

thinks I always have to speak my mind and he's right.

  I guess they figure with those two qualities I am

 bound to get into some sort of altercation with someone. 

Even though I did express my opinions, all was good.

Serving in a jury is just part of being an American

 citizen, that together with the right to vote.  I know 

if I am called again I will do the right thing.  No I 

did not mean ignoring the summons or did I? 

This week I tried something very delicious.  

It's called a Strawberry Moscow Mule. I have to 

say it was pretty delicious.  Looking forward 

to today and to trying something new as well.

To all a great start of the weekend.  Remember 

you can't control where you come from, but you

 can always control where you are going.

One day you will look back and realize that you

 worried too much about things that don't really matter...

~Nadiya~

The Rainbow Bridge ~

The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief.

 But the pain of grief is only a shadow when 

compared with the pain of never risking love...

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called 
Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies

that has been especially close to someone here,
 that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills 
for all of our special friends so they
can run and play together. There is 
plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our 
friends are warm and comfortable. 

All the animals who had been ill and 
old are restored to health and vigor; those 
who were hurt or maimed are made whole 
and strong again,just as we remember them in 
our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for
 one small thing; they each miss someone very
 special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the 
day comes when one suddenly stops and

looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; 
His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run 
from the group, flying over the green grass, 

his legs carrying him faster and faster. 

You have been spotted, and when you and your

special friend finally meet, you cling together
 in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands
 again caress the beloved head, and you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone
 from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

As I was brushing Sniff I sang to him.  Like I
 did with Brutus.  Memories of Brutus and Shadow came 
rushing back to me.  They are never far from me.  

To this day I can picture Brutus and all the things we did.  
I miss that boy so much, but as I was brushing Sniff
 he looked and me and curled up by my side.  I realize
 how fortunate I am to have Sniff in our lives.

The best and most beautiful things on 

this earth cannot be seen or even touched 

 they must be felt with the heart... 

~Nadiya~

Just A Regular Day ~

Today is just another normal day,
full of miracles, gifts and opportunities...

I love my coconuts.  Growing up in Puerto Rico you 

know it was something we always had plenty of.  Living 

in Florida makes it easy to have a fresh coconut anytime 

you like.  I find mind mostly at the Swap Shop.

The days are nice and calm.  Peaceful and most

 afternoons we go for little walks.  I love our walks because

 you never know who you will see or what you will see.

Yesterday we met our park friend again.  This time he 

had a squirrel on his shoulder.  The squirrel was eating peanuts.

The week is looking good.  I have to report to jury duty.
  Kinda looking forward to that.  I won't mind sitting on a
trial as a juror.  If I do I hope it is something very exciting.

 A long time ago in NYC, when I worked at the courthouse
 I was "involved" with the defendants of a trial called
The Pizza Connection.PIZZA CONNECTION

It was a very exciting time in my life.  I was naive. 
The defendants were "allowed" to have lunch in the cafeteria
 with everyone else.  I was new in the city.  I am friendly
 and I made friends with just about all of them.

Looking back now, I believe I am fortunate to be alive.
A few of the defendants were murdered during the trial 
And I knew them.  Let's say I did go out with a few of them
 for pizza.  Boy life sure was exciting, little did
 I realize it was also not too smart of me.

I'm older and smarter today.  I would like to think so.

Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy.
There's going to be stress in life, but it's your
 choice whether you let it affect you or not...

~Nadiya~