Back To The Sunshine State...:)

If it's not fun, you're not doing it right.....

People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.....

This past week has been hectic.  Lots of packing and gathering all sorts of papers we need to take back with us to Florida.

Finally the day is here and we will be leaving our home in Chicago until next year.  We are actually excited to be going back to Florida because now we have a goal and this always gives us something to look forward to and something that needs to be done..... right now that would be finding a place to call home again.

We are almost all packed.   Brutus also seems to be getting pretty excited because he just keeps running and running all the time....either he is nervous (doubt it), sad because he thinks we may be leaving him alone again or he has caught on to the excitement of a soon to have new home.  Arvid keeps telling him he will soon be living in a new home in Florida.  He (Brutus) seems happy and relaxed about that:)

We have really had a wonderful summer in Chicago.  Could not have asked for a better place to be in during the summertime.......now all set to head back to the warmth of The Sunshine State and a new place to call home.....



Until next year Chicago.....we have had the time of our lives:)

I'd rather have a moment of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special......

until next year Chicago....

Weather Woes.....

There's nothing like a little rain to bring people together.

It seems like we have been waiting forever for the sun to come out and for the weather to warm up.  Today we finally thought this was going to happen.....well no such luck.  It is raining and it is cold.

The good thing about the rain is that we get to wash our balconies.  Living in a condo you cannot wash your balcony because you then wet the ones below...but with all this rain everything is wet.

Another good thing about this rain is that we do not have to go malling around we get to spent time all of us together and to just relax and have some good times.  Always good.

With all of its good things I want the rain to go away and I would love to see the sunshine again.  After all, this is Florida...The Sunshine State...

It is nicknamed the "Sunshine State" because of its generally warm climate—...let's hope this warm weather comes here soon.....

I am missing Eleuthera where the weather is more constant and where you do not see these drastic drops in temperatures.....we wish we were there right now in our bikini's and shorts.....

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

until next time....

Shopping Days.....

Have not had the time lately to do much on my blog...I apologize.   Having company and having lots of work has taken over lately.

Our two 16 year old guests cute as can be have kept us pretty busy.  I have seen more malls these last few days than I care to.  Yesterday I took them to Sawgrass Mall (http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=1262) .  Not my kind of place.   Too big, too many people.  I prefer the smaller malls with more specialized stores.  My favorite is The Galleria Mall.  Small enough so that you do not get trampled and run over by millions of shoppers looking for a bargin.

Not all was in vain.  The girls did some pretty heavy shopping.  Even I was amazed at the shopping power in a 16 year old.  Some amazing buys were found.  Just look at the pretty shoes they got.....  I look at these young girls shop and I see how times have changed.   They must have spent a cool $600 together in just a day of shopping.  When I was little that was unheard of.  We move with the times I guess.   My honest opinion is that it is still too much.  I like the way I was raised where I appreciated what I had and was always thankful for it.  Seems those values are no longer the same for some.  I am afraid to ask what we are doing today......

This quote so very describes these two young shoppers:

Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping....

until next time...

Beautiful Day For Boat And Manatee Watch.....

It seems finally that we will be having a bit of a warm up.....long over due.  Very relaxing day so far and it seems that we are not the only ones enjoying the beautiful weather.

From our balcony we are seeing boat after boat passing along ...both big and small.  Have lost track of how many have gone by.

Also, we have spotted over 60 manatees heading South.  The manatees have been very affected by all this cold also.  They cannot survive well in waters below 68F.  Here are a few pictures I took from our balcony.....

Just a little information on these sweet marine mamals:

The Florida Manatee, Florida's state marine mammal, is a large aquatic relative of the elephant. They are grayish brown in color and have thick, wrinkled skin on which there is often a growth of algae. Their front flippers help them steer or sometimes crawl through shallow water. They also have powerful flat tails that help propel them through the water. Despite their small eyes and lack of outer ears, manatees are thought to see and hear quite well.

They are gentle giants, that seem to have no fear, nor aggression towards people. They swim in shallow waters, near the surface and are endangered because they often are injured by boats and their props.

Arvid and I usually do our walks along the river and we have been fortunate to spot the manatees and we have been even luckier to have been able to touch them.  Their skin is quite rubbery and despite their huge appearance thay are vey gentle creatures....unfortunately due to the cold weather we have been having the manatees have been dying.  Makes me very sad...........

http://www.savethemanatee.org/manfcts.htm

Even Brutus is enjoying the "show" from his favorite spot at the window...

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms

until next time...

Busy...Busy....Life In the City

Today has been very hectic. Have been working ever since I woke up except for the necessary interrupions and still have lots more to do.  I am working on a presentation we will be giving at The Real Estate Trade Expo in Canada.  This is happening March 12th thru the 15th. 

I am very much looking forward to this because you see my grandmother lives in Canada.   I do not see her very often so the fact that we will be in Canada is the opportunity I have been waiting for.

As a matter of fact is was my husband Arvid who said there was no way we would go to Canada and not visit my grandmother.   Can't wait to see her.

Tomorrow I will dedicate my blog to my grandmother.  She is a true inspiration and one amazing woman.  Here is my grandmother with me and my 3 sisters.  At this time my youngest sister was not yet born.  We call her Ma.....and I love her.......

In all of its craziness we did manage to take some time and go to the hot tub.....it relaxes us especially when we come right back to work.....

We miss the easy laid back pace of life in Eleuthera.  Already here we are all kinked up, our shoulders and back hurting from being too much on the laptops and not enough time outside......

This is what Eleuthera is all about.......

“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”

until next time....