Greetings From Arvid's Homeland...Norway

I want to travel. 
Maybe I'll end up living in Norway, making cakes...

It's been two years since Arvid and I were last in Norway.  Now we're back and 
 having some good times and seeing friends and family we have not seen in a while.  
I have been coming to Norway ever since I first met Arvid in 2000.

Norway is a beautiful country with its fjords and mountains.  
My favorite place in Norway is Oslo.  I look forward to this every year. 
 I enjoy the city and the excitement that is constantly present.  Also it is very cool 
to walk  around the streets of Karl Johan's,  the main street of the city of Oslo.   

It is OK to go to Norway.  Arvid's family lives there, but my favorite
 place in the whole world is back home in the USA...Arvid, Brutus and I, but for now
it will be some good times spent with family and friends.  Yes, it's good to be back in Norway.

Seeing everyone is great, but he most wonderful feeling is when Aleah
runs straight into my arms and holds me tight.  That is PRICELESS!!

To all a good day.  Brutus I miss you so much, but having some family time is also good.
We all know that that it is not flesh and blood, but the heart which makes us family.

My goal is to have a good day.
 Don't wanna let anything or anyone bring me down...

~Nadiya~

Norway Again..

In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision....

Well another summer is here and here we are again.  Last year we could not make it so

this year we are making up for time lost.  At least Arvid gets to spend some much 

deserved time with friends and family here in Norway.  As for me, what can I say? 

I also get to see the ones I want, and spend time with them.

Norway, where even in summer it's cold, but seems like this  summer it will
be nice and warm.  Where the days are long, but where his family is after all.
 Seeing family and being happy is what it's all about.

Today begins day 2 of our almost one month stay in Norway. For those who know me, 

you know where my heart is. For now we get to see the Victoria, Michelle, Aleah 

and their significant others.  We also see his mother who  is now 89 and whom 

Arvid has not seen since 2012. We also see other family members and friends.

Yes, it's day one of our almost one month stay in Norway and my thoughts are far away,
but for now I am pretty excited to see everyone, and to do some catching up with them.
Best of all we get to see Aleah and hopefully baby-sit her for a few days before
she begins day care.

To all, hope your day is a good one.

We plan on having a good time catching up with everyone.

Remember to take your fun where you find it.

All living souls welcome whatever they are ready to cope with; 
all else they ignore, or pronounce to be monstrous and wrong, or deny to be possible...

~Nadiya~

On Our Way....

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in...

Norway here we come.

Tomorrow we will see sunrise and sunsets from Norway.

Also a beautiful sight.

Take off from Fort Lauderdale.

Brutus not so happy we are leaving :(

Next time we "talk" I will be writing from Norway.

USA.. already missing you.  Brutus you are always on my mind.

And so the vacation begins.  Lots to see.  Lots to do.
Aleah in a few hours we will be holding you and seeing everyone.

Wishing you all a good day,
remember you don't need magic to disappear, all you need is a destination.

I just need some time in a beautiful place to clear my head...

~Nadiya~

Not A Happy Camper...

Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 

Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day...

Brutus knows something is up.  As soon as the suitcases come out

he gets into one of his "moods."  Cats have a good sense of when something

is going on and he has been "moody" for about a week now.  He knows we are 

going on a little trip so to show his dissatisfaction, he sulks.  Just like people.

He places himself on or into the luggage and refuses to step down.  We let him
because we know that it makes him happy.  Have already started packing and this
increases my anxiety because all of a sudden the time of departure is getting close.
At the same time, I am looking forward to going to Norway.

We had a very pleasant day yesterday. We watched boats pass by all day long. 

We had dinner at one of our very favorite restaurants and enjoyed the company of one
 very dear friend.  Dinner was good, drinks were good and company very enjoyable.
Overall a very nice day.  The evening was spent giving lots of attention and
 brushing to Brutus.  I think I'm already missing him.

A new week begins and pretty soon we will be in another time zone different from Brutus

Wishing you all a good start of the week.  Be happy and always think positive.

If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more

 actual troubles,  but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.  

I've developed a new philosophy;

I only dread one day at a time...

~Nadiya~

Another Good Day...

Embrace the day!

Life is not the way it is supposed to be.  It is the way it is.

The way you cope with it is what makes the difference....

Always before leaving to Norway we like to go to one of our favorite restaurants.  This 

would be Kaluz.  The food is good, the views are excellent, and when enjoying it 

in the company of a good friend  it is even better.  Can't wait.

It is always a pleasure to eat there and to enjoy the boats passing by. 

 For sure will miss it, but we are also looking forward to 

one of our favorite places right in Horten, Norway.

The restaurant is called Fishland and it's right on the water.  Going there 

makes us feel a little like being at home.  Our favorite dish there is 

a simple shrimp salad with hot baguettes.  Simply delicious!

Lots to do today so for now will say until later.
Hope your day is a good one and like I always say. May you live in interesting times.

I am both happy and sad at the same time, 
and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be...

~Nadiya~

Hello Saturday...

I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade.
 And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party...

Yesterday Arvid had to be in the Bahamas for business.  Just a one day trip.  Take care of 

stuff and straight back home.  The fact that he is still with the flu never for once 

entered his mid to cancel the trip.  Business first is his motto.

I was thinking that this would give me a lot of time to do some alone stuff and just relax a little,

 but not the case.  I had lots of things to do and most of the morning was spent working, 

working.  Not bad but, I thought Arvid was going to be away the entire day, but being Arvid 

he said he was going to get on an earlier flight. Meaning my day was

 already starting to look not so good for any leisure time.

Even so I managed to accomplish quite a lot and even found some time for me.
Started with a haircut.  I have been thinking about going short, but had not made up my mind.
 Long story short my hairdresser made it up for me. I had a cut and more of it was gone that I
 expected.  What I always see to forget is that having curly hair makes short even shorter.
Now I am a fluffy ball on the top of my head.  Looks like a mop.

After the cut i decided to treat myself to lunch.  Arvid was after all in the Bahamas
on business.  Still had a little time before I had to pick him up so a trip to the mall
and lunch on my own was called for.  Something different it was. Tried out a few things
I would normally not do if Arvid was around.  Everything was delicious even dessert.

Saturday already here.  Arvid still with the cough and stuffy head.  Not the best for travelling,
but still time enough for him to feel better.  Well the day is looking really good, but
it is too hot to be outside so for now just a few little running around
 and then stay in the cool air conditioned apartment.

Have a good day everyone and remember,
talking about your problems does not help.

It's a good idea always to do something relaxing prior
 to making an important decision in your life.
A woman's mind is cleaner than a man's: She changes it more often...


~Nadiya~

Busy Friday...

Being busy is better than being bored.  Bored left a long time ago.

Busy is always around for me...

Was a awake very early today and my early morning errand took me cruising by the beach 

in Fort Lauderdale.  Extremely quiet at that time with hardly a soul in sight.

But what was out was an extremely beautiful and serene sight.  Makes me

wonder why we don't go more often to the beach to see the sunrises.

Already Friday again.  As of right now it is a beautiful morning.  The rain has not

yet set it.  Summertime in Florida is all about the rain.  Good to some extent until it

becomes annoying and a nuisance to me and I am sure to many others.  Especially the 

tourists visiting who have to spend their time indoors, but now when it

 comes to winter months  you can't beat the weather in Florida.  

You have to as with everything take the good with the not 

 so good, and the good sure makes up for the rest.

Two amazing contrasts, but at the same time both beautiful in their own ways.

Quite a few things to do today.  To add to my anxiety, Brutus has developed kitty acne.

Never heard of such a thing, but now I know quite a bit about it.  Right now the swelling 

under his chin is very tender and very painful to touch.  I discovered this accidentally two 

days ago as I was giving him his brushing.  When I brushed under his chin he screamed like 

I have never heard before.  After lots of reading, I am treating it at home and monitoring it. 

 Worst case it's the vet soon.  Arvid is also not better over two weeks as well with the flu and cough.

I have a busy day ahead of me so for now will wish you all a pleasant 

start of the weekend.  Friday..finally here, but for now I just have to work, work, work...

Happiness walks on busy feet...

~Nadiya~

Fun Times...

A cup of coffee shared with a friend
is happiness tasted and time well spent...

It is always a fun time when Liliana and I get together.  She is from Argentina and she

 is also Brutus' pet-sitter and my very good friend.  Add to all of that she has the most 

colorful vocabulary of anyone I have ever met.  Anything she says comes out hilarious.  

Goes without saying that we had a really good time at lunch yesterday.

Whenever she and I meet we try out a different restaurant.  Someplace Arvid

and I would normally not go.  Not because it's not good, but because Arvid may not

like the food served in that particular restaurant.  Yesterday it was a Mexican treat.

As soon as we were done with lunch it was a scramble to get into our cars
before the bad weather came upon us.  Yes when it rains it pours.

Luckily I was in the car when the rain came down, followed of
course by thunder and lightning.  Good thing Arvid was home with Brutus.

The days are going by fast.  Soon it will be time to leave Brutus and head to Norway.
Like I said I am excited and also feeling anxious about being away from him for so long.
Luckily we have Liliana and Wendy taking care of Brutus.  I know he will be OK, but still...

Today is another busy day here at home.
Why is it everything happens in the last minute?

Quite a few things to do today, so for now wishing you all
a pleasant day.  Leaving you with this thought from Oprah Winfrey;
Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo,but what you want is 
someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.

Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. 
You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you...

~Nadiya~

Humor For Today...

Every time you find some humor in a difficult

situation, you win....

Today is a good day for humor.  Every so often we can all use a good laugh,

a little change of pace and of routine.  I am having one of these days and when I saw this 

email from my mom, it changed the way the day was heading.  Smiling right now.

Here is what my mom sent me:

 Pastor goes to the dentist for a set of false teeth. 

The first Sunday after he gets his new teeth, he talks for only eight minutes. 

The second Sunday, he talks for only ten minutes. 

The following Sunday, he talks for 2 hours and 48 minutes. 

The congregation had to mob him to get him down from the pulpit

 and they asked him what happened. 

The Pastor explains the first Sunday his gums hurt so bad he couldn't talk 

for more than 8 minutes. The second Sunday his gums hurt too much to talk for more

 than 10 minutes. But, the third Sunday, he put his wife's' teeth in by mistake and he couldn't shut up.

Greetings to all from, Fort Lauderdale.

Remember, if you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen.

I understand that humor isn't for everyone.

It's only for people who want to have fun,

enjoy life and, and feel alive...

~Nadiya~

Feeling Good....

We all seek peace in our lives,

 but few of us are ever fortunate enough to find it...

The other day Arvid and I were both talking about how lucky we are to 

live where we do.  We live on the Intracoastal, and we are only about 

a few minutes walk to the beach.  A beautiful beach as you can see.

Even though we are not the beach type, we love the fact that we are close to 

it and that it is within walking distance from us.   Above is the beach in 

Lauderdale~By~The~Sea.  Beautiful anytime of the day.

All of our families that visit love it there.  The restaurants, the night life, the shops

and just the colorfulness of the lifestyle makes it a most interesting place.

Except for a few months in the summertime, there is live music every 

Friday night on the streets.  People from all over the world can be 

seen there  dancing, singing, and just enjoying themselves.  

It's like someone said; 

people will forget what you said,

people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel.

For us it is also a good place to meet friends visiting from around the world.

Listen to the music, enjoy good food, drinks and have a jolly good time.  Every time.

And the sunsets are beautiful.

Yes, we do live in Paradise....

To all a good day.  I feel lucky, 

but I also know that luck is not as random as you think.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Think how lucky you are that the skin you live in, so beautifully holds the 
"You" who's within."...

~Nadiya~