June ~New Month Begins ~

There's so much more to explore in

 this world, and you have everything to 

discover something new this month...

 Half of the year is gone.  Welcome June.

If something you’ve been waiting for a long time still 

hasn’t happened, may this month fix it and delight you 

with something special and unique. Happy new month.

The month has already started with good thing s

all around us.  Hard work and determination sometimes 

do pay off. May this month bring us all closer to "normal"

 times.  May family get togethers be a thing again and may 

we all embark on better times ahead. Lets live our lives.

Still no Fluffy nor Leo. Maybe the new month will be

 positive in many ways for us.  Hope they do reappear one

 of these days.  Both Arvid and I keep looking every day.

May this month bring positive changes into your life.

And let these changes be as good as you are...

~Nadiya~

Saturday January 23rd ~

 Be happy with what you have.
Be excited about what you want...

Coming from Norway you would think Arvid would
 handle the "cold" better.  We are in the Sunshine State.  

Temperatures in the mid 70's,  (23C) yet when we go out

 walking Arvid is bundled up with double layers.

It has gotten warmer so Arvid is happier now.  We 

 have used the balcony one time since we got back from

 Puerto Rico.  Arvid still says it's too cold.  I go out

 and take my pictures and watch the boats go by. 

 I enjoy the cooler temperatures.  Sniff prefers more

 sunshine.  Have not had much sunshine since coming 

back home either.  Sniff keeps looking for it all day.

We are invited to a friends place for drinks at sunset,

 but Arvid really had to think hard before saying yes.  I told

 him it was OK to go, but he kept saying it was too cold.  Finally

 he agreed to do it, and I choose not to go.  This way he gets to be

 with a friend and I get to do something on my own.  Win-win.

There is always some car talk and always a little business.

A beautiful day here in Fort Lauderdale.  To all a happy day,

Don't focus on things that steal your joy.

Count the many reasons you have to be happy...

~Nadiya~

Windy Start Of 2021 ! Happy Day Everyone

 

It's all short, sweet and simple, but it's all a moments worth.
Time is not measured by clocks, but by moments...

Yesterday was my first walk for the year.  I did not go out walking 

on January 1st because it was not too easy waking up that early. 

 Was very tired from the night before, but now I am feeling good 

again and hopefully will be walking on a more regular basis.

Yesterday I saw Shy Boy waiting for me, and then I saw the twins.  

They all had foodies plus a few of the newbies.  On my way back 

up, Grey was just sitting and looking.  Grey rarely eats when

 I leave him/her food.  I figure she is fed somewhere else.

Also, there are times when Shy Boy and the Twins do not

 eat much.  My guess is that someone else also gives them

 food.  For that I am happy, very happy.  Even so, they

 wait for me all the time in their designated spots.

2021 started out very windy, but I am liking it. 

 I like to feel the wind on my face as I walk, and I do

get a kick of my hair going crazy with the wind.

I also drove to my sister's.  It felt great to drive on

 my own,  blast my music 🎶 and for a change I found 

my way around without problems.  For most this is just

 how it is.  Not for me.  Directions is not my strength.  I get

 "lost" just about constantly.  Arvid is usually my GPS.

When I got to my sister's Juan, J and Kimsy's dad was 

already there.  Once again he came in one of his very 

cool cars, but so far my favorite is still the Alfa Romeo.  

This one though was super cute, and very tiny.

J was very insistent he was going to take me and

 everyone else out for coconuts.  That was one of the things

 he talked about on New Years Eve, and when I got there

 it was time to go hunting for the coconut man.  

Being Covid times, not always a guarantee, but we sure 

found him, and we all had coconuts.  I am loving all this

 time spending with Nirvana, J and Kimsy.  It will forever be 

stored in my memory bank.  I am grateful and happy for every

 moment.  In our case, Covid brought us to Puerto Rico 💙

Sunday.  Arvid is not here.  Usually by now he would 

be calling family in Norway.  Today he does it from Florida.  

We can always look for the bad things in life, but when we 

stop, we realize that the good overpowers the "bad"

Happy day to all.  Beautiful and windy in the Isle of Enchantment.

  Puerto Rico had definitely cast its spell on us.  Love, love.

Here's to the moments when you realize

 the simple things are wonderful and enough...

~Nadiya~

A Reminder To All Of Us...

The sign of great parenting is not the child's behavior.

The sign of truly great parenting is the parent's behavior...

I shared this on FB the other day.  

It's beautiful.  Like I told my sisters, 

"you all have daughters."  Sometimes life 

gets so busy we "forget" what's important.

  Our mom no matter what her day has thrown 

her way never, but never is not there for us.

I will be the first to admit to being impatient at times. 

 There was always so much going on in our lives the 

last 2 years that I sometimes was short and abrupt.  

Not only to my mom but also to my sisters.

 I have made a promise to myself to be better.

I have a lot of time on my hands right now, and I realize that 

my parents are getting older and I want to enjoy every moment with

 them and to be a better person because that's how they raised us all. 

 To be kind, patient and to have compassion for others. 

 I have to work on my patience.  I can definitely do better.  

Our mom has all the patience in the world, and I am 

sure there are days she would rather have some time 

for herself, but when we need her she is there.  

That's what mothers do for their children.  As we all grow 

older let us not forget that our parents are also getting older, and

 we must all learn to be kinder, gentler and more patient with them.

You can learn so many things from your children.

Like how much patience you have.  Have a great day everyone.

It takes a mother's Patience to bring a child up right, 

and her Courage and her Cheerfulness to make a dark day right...

~Nadiya~

Saturday In Chicago ~

Life is a gift.  Wake up everyday and realize that...

Coming back to Chicago felt like coming home.  Arvid and 

I walked the city until we just couldn't anymore.  According

 to my phone we have walked over 16,000 steps.

We visited many of our favorite spots and of course ended

 up at Margaritaville in Navy Pier for lunch.  The piña coladas and

 margaritas are just delicious.  To top it all Arvid was also able to see 

the soccer match.  We had a really good day.  Very tired, but good. 

 Made us realize how much we want to be back in Chicago.

There is a vibe n the city we have not found in any other place.  Arvid 

said t me, "it sure feels like home."  I agree.  It feels like home.

Happy Saturday all.  A little more to do before we call it a night.

It's just the second day without Sniff, and I;m really missing him.

The biggest adventure you can 

take is to live the life of your dreams...

~Nadiya~

Derby Week

The best thing about the Kentucky Derby is that it is only two minutes long. It is the quickest event in sports, except for Sumo-wrestling & Mike Tyson fights. Maybe Drag-racing is quicker, but I have never been attracted to it...

Here in Kentucy everything is geared for the Derby.  People are flocking 
the stores buying clothes and hats.  Yes, the Kentucky Derby has a dress code. 
 Guess who has to go shopping for dress clothes?  You got it!   Arvid and I
 will be doing some shopping as well, after all we just have jeans and casual clothes 
with us.  We need business casual for the event.  Shopping it will be.

The Kentucky Derby is a horse race that is held annually in 
Louisville, Kentucky, United States (thank you Google).  The race 
is often called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses
draped over the winner. That is a pretty site for sure.

It is also known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes
 In Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" in reference to its
 approximate duration.  Yup! all that fuss about the clothes and the hat for 2 
minutes.  Gotta be worth it if you ask me.  Will find out soon enough.

 The attendance at the Kentucky Derby ranks first in North America
 and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including 
the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and the Breeders' Cup.

The excitement in Louisville is palpable.  All everyone talks about is 
The Kentucky Derby.  that I am soon starting to be excited as well.  Clothes
 shopping, sure is fun, but sometimes when you have a purpose in
 mind it makes it even more difficult to find the right item,
 but that's all part of the fun.  Arvid shopping...well he's fast.

To all a good day.  Just when the caterpillar
 thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.

Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, the most glamorous horse 
racing event of the year draws spectators from all over the world...

~Nadiya~

And So Begins Friday ~ Again

I started the week with a big box of patience.  The box is empty now...

Happy it's Friday.  Raining but that's OK. Lot of excitement this week at work.
 Lots of running around as well.  Add to that the fact that I am constantly
 feeling tired made for long days.  Once again I believe my thyroid medicine
is not working great.  Have already started the process of making doctors
 appointments.  Very difficult with the schedule we have, but I am trying.

Today my sister and family begin their journey to Florida.
Nina is sad.  PA has been home to her and David from the time Max and
 Danielle were babies.  The only home Tex their doggie has known.
Yes, Florida awaits them and I know it will be amazing.  I love
you and Arvid and I will visit often when we get back there.

Try what I may it just does not seem to be helping.  No matter how much 

running around I do, I can't seem to drop a single pound.  Truth is 

I think I am actually gaining weight.  I never realized how

 important it is to have your thyroids.  Until of course I had 

none and my entire system is out of whack.

Fridays are usually a bit busier for both Arvid and I.  This is good.  

Hopefully today we will go to the Indian Restaurant.  as become my favorite 

Friday place to have lunch.  I don't care much for buffets, but the Indian

 buffet is something else.  Everything is EXCELLENT!  Can't wait

 to have the tikka masala.  Arvid has gone there with me a few times.  

Don't know how his schedule is today, but for sure I will be going.

Arvid as everyone knows is happy with just bread.
Luckily, I have bought enough to last for a little while.

The hotel business is doing great.  Almost Home is always full.  Because 

I am so selective, I sometimes worry I will probably not let anyone stay there.

  I'm very protective of the place, its reputation and of the tenants

 that call it home.  I will NOT take everyone.

Arvid's place is also full, but with the few nightly rooms there are

 always people coming and going.  Works for him and his crew. 

 I like it quiet and not much come and go at my place.  Like

 I always say, we are both happy at our hotels.

Friday.  Not sure what it brings, but I hope that somewhere there is one of those

 drinks that come with an umbrella.  Makes for a perfect end of the work week.

If you walk a mile in my shoes you will end up in a coffee shop.
Happy Friday everyone.  May your weekend be full of adventure and 
cheerand may the start of next week be a long ways from here... 

~Nadiya~

Here Come The Weekend Again ~

All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast...

No matter how busy our life gets, there are some things that will never change. 

 Breakfast is on of those.  A good breakfast as Arvid says is the best way to 

start your day.  No matter what part of the world we may be in,

 breakfast is always at "home"  It's a relaxing time.

Neither Arvid nor I like to go out for breakfast, and we do not

 like to eat it with anyone else.  Breakfast is sort of a quiet

 time for us.  No matter where we go.

Arvid loves to enjoy his tea, and boy if I only wash the cup when there

 is still some tea left in it..let's just say he will not be too happy.

Fridays at work have gotten to be much better.  Not as hectic as 

it was in the start.  At Arvid's place it used to be his very busy day, 

but not the worst anymore.  He still likes to run around to different stores.

  "Shopping" for the hotel as he puts it.  In that sense, yes the day is busy.

After almost 8 months I finally had a haircut yesterday.  I loved 

everything about it.  The girl who cut my hair was just adorable.  We 

chatted non-stop.  Now looking forward to being a "regular" there.

I love the fact that you can't tell I had a haircut, but I can "see" I did.

Friday again.  Can't believe last Friday Ii was in beautiful Vermont.

I really had such a good time with everyone.  Vermont is so beautiful.  All my 

tenants said to me, "why don't you take me there with you?  I love Vermont."

The above picture was taken by my niece Reshma.  She sent it o me via Messenger.

She's in Maine.  I have asked her and Danielle why it is they never post anything.  Their

 answer: I don't want the world to know everything I do.  As Arvid says, "smart girls."

My nephew Max was in Bangladesh, and if it were not for the girls that went with him 

I would have never seen anything either.  Another one who never posts where he goes.

JC was in Puna Cana.  I never saw a single picture.  I wish they posted at least one.

Maybe there are some smart/wise kids still left.  My cousins visit Cuba

 just about every year.  I have never seen a single picture on Face Book. 

 They are also smart and guard their privacy very much. 

Friday came and Friday will soon be gone.  Enjoy it everyone.  Make

 the most of everyday and just have a great start of the weekend.  Arvid says

he's just happy i am home.  Now he wants to take me somewhere special.

Maybe I should go away a little more often.  Nice being missed.

It's Friday.  Start the day with a smile

 and end it with Champagne...

~Nadiya~

Breakfast Time ~

All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast...

Our day starts once we have had a good breakfast.

After that there is no telling what we will accomplish.

If you want breakfast in bed tomorrow, sleep in the kitchen tonight.

Living in the USA for over 20 plus years, Arvid still has a few things he 

likes/prefers from his country.  One of those is his Norwegian jam.  

Every morning he has it. He does not like change at all.

I am not like that.  I like my own made in the USA stuff, but have to say there

 are some Norwegian products that even I have to admit to liking. Especially 

some of t heir sauces and Norwegian shrimp.  Just delicious.

Arvid and I are like clockwork.  Breakfast at the same time everyday Monday 

through Saturday.  Sundays we live "dangerously" and have a later breakfast.  First

 he calls his family and when he's done we relax to a leisurely/larger breakfast.

Good morning everyone.  I'll eat some breakfast then change the world.

Eat breakfast like a king.  

Lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper...

~Nadiya~

Happy Wednesday ~

Refresh your mind, delete all your problems

undo all your mistakes, and save the happy moments...

Every so often we still find time for each other.  Just Arvid 

and I and some quiet times.  For me it is still the best of times.

Free time we have little of, but what we do have together we sure make the most of.

Yesterday was a fairly quiet day, phone wise, but otherwise it
we had lots going on.  Once we got home the phones never stopped ringing.
I'm getting like Arvid now.  I wish the phones would stop ringing for a little.

Arvid and I did have a little TV time together with Sniff in the evening.
We both relaxed and ready to face what today may hold.  Hello Wednesday.

Always believe something wonderful is about to happen...

~Nadiya~

Wet Cold Saturday...

Rainy days are perfect days to cuddle and watch movies.

When life throws you a rainy day just play in the puddles...

Wet!  Wet! Wet!  makes for a fairly "quiet" time at work.  Guess quiet is 

good sometimes.  Our hotels are still full and as of now both Arvid and

 I have a waiting list of people wanting t rent a place to live in. 

 Sign that things are really picking up here in Branson. 

Fortunately our hotels have been full for quite some time, but you never 

know when something will happen and a room suddenly becomes vacant.

  For instance, one of my tenants was in a pretty serious accident.  His 

room is vacant, but not ready to be rented as yet.  It's the one needing a total

 makeover, but I do have a waiting list.  Question is who do I want?

The weather sure does not make one feel like getting out of the house.  

Both Arvid and I were hesitant yesterday morning.  If we had a choice we 

would have chosen to stay home nice and dry with Sniff.  Even Sniff was 

not looking too cheery.  Guess the weather affects his mood as well.

Happy Saturday everyone.  Wishing you a day full of 

sunny smiles and happy thoughts.

Don't confuse your path with your destination.  Just because it's 

stormy now doesn't mean that you aren't headed for sunshine...

~Nadiya~

~Happy Friday~

Feeling Fridaylicious!

I haven't been this excited about Friday since last Friday...

Friday and this Friday I will be having lunch with two of my tenants. Friday is 

my Indian food day and yes, they also love it so will be a good time.  Arvid is busy 

so he will probably stick to pizza with his gang at work.  Good for bot of us.

Sniff has been going crazy with all the bugs that are flying on the outside every night.  

He tries to break the window in order to get to them.  Kinda cute watching him try.

Friday evening plan is to go out with the wives of out property managers and have

 margaritas.  At least I will be having fruity drinks not sure what they will be having.

  Beer most likely.  Again, Fridays Arvid is busy so will be just a girls night out. 

 Cool!  But as he said he may join us for a beer at some point.  Still cool.

This has been a week with a lot going on.  This time mostly at my hotel.  Not bad

stuff just non stop stuff to deal with.  I'm looking forward to 5 o'clock today.

  I'm not a drinker, but today I will make an exception.  2 fruit drinks with

 umbrellas are calling me and I am definitely listening to that call today.  

Happy Friday everyone.  Hope the weekend is good.  Happy Easter and

whatever you do, do it with gusto.  One of my sister and family will be spending 

the next 10 days is Cancun, Mexico.  Right now wish it were us as well.

It's Friday.  The only decision you need to make is bottle or glass.

Forget all the things you've encountered this week and have a great weekend...

~Nadiya~

Missed You Quite A Lot Today ~

 Ma you are gone  from our lives but you will never be gone from our hearts.  

The day god called you home was the day he broke our hearts....

As I was going through some pictures, I came across a picture with me and my

 grandmother.  This was the last time I saw her alive.  Arvid and I were in Canada. 

 Arvid took this picture of us on March 12, 2010.  She died shortly afterwards.

She was fragile looking and had lost a lot of weight, yet that did not stop her from
 being the spunky woman I have always admired.  The few times Arvid has seen
 her were enough to leave him with a very good impression.  To this day he would
 say to me, "I liked your grandma.  She reminded me of my grandma."

Ma we all have busy lives, but there are moments when you come into my
thoughts and so many memories come to me.  Memories of when I was a child.
 Of the times we went fishing with you.  Of the times you fed us from
 your plate.  The times you told us stories until we would fall asleep.
Stories which to this day my sisters tell to their children.

Today I spent time thinking of you.  Today I wish I could have picked up
the phone and call you.  Hear your voice as you said, "hello."  Ma, today I miss you!
 Even in all the hectictness of our lives, you are always close.  My sisters, mom
and dad talk about you often and remember so much that makes us smile.

Mommy misses her daily calls with you so very much. Nirvan some nights goes
through some rough nights.  She feels you close to her and misses you very much as well.

When you went away you left an empty space in ours hearts but we

 filled that spacer with love and memories. We miss your love, your tears, 

your laughter and your touch but most of all we miss your smile...  

~Nadiya~

Monday Again ~

New Monday.  New week.  New goals...

One of my favorite sights in Branson is this Ferris wheel.   Coming all the way from

 Chicago.  Be it night or day, I just can't seem to stop taking pictures of it.  At night

 the colors change as the wheel goes around and around.  Have not gone on it and

 don't think I will.  Not that brave anymore, but I still enjoy seeing it.

As usual Mondays are busy, but as soon as the day begins it seems like the 

week just takes off and before you know it, it's Friday again.  Love this part of 

staying busy and always not knowing what to expect.  Of course if 

it is something not "good" then I am not happy about that.

Monday is the start of the week and it has always been the unspoken enemy of 

people who totally enjoyed their weekends. Well, that’s quite a lot of people. It is a 

known fact that we really can’t get rid of Monday off the days of the week, people

 need to get up and pretty much drag their ass off the bed and start working the day. 

Monday mornings are the most dreaded moment of the week for many. 

It is the sign that a new work week has to start and that we must say goodbye

 to the bliss and comfort of the Saturday and Sunday. Do not let this

 dreadful moment become something so related with Monday.

Remember that Mondays should be welcomed with great enthusiasm,

 enormous hope and a tank full of energy.  It is after all an new opportunity to 

make things better. Happy Monday all.  Let's get rolling and kick some butt today!

 You can't change what happened last week. but you can 

learn from it and choose happiness  this week...

~Nadiya~