Saturday June 20th ~

For every minute you are angry you

 lose sixty seconds of happiness...

The morning has been beautiful.  No rain and boat 

after boat passing by.  The sky has already started to 

darken and the showers are most likely coming soon. 

 With the constant passing of boats, Arvid continues

 to keep count of how many people are in a boat.  The 

boat below he counted 10.  He said, "in a small 

boat like that it's only 4 allowed."  He's happy. 

Sniff is very agitated.  The thunder scares him

 and he's constantly running from room to room.  When 

Arvid moves Sniff is already between his legs.  Arvid has

 now stepped on him twice.  He's not sure where to go 

and what to do.  He's even scared to eat right now.

Since this COVID -19 is spiking like crazy again,

 I told Arvid that tomorrow we will not do take out.  

Instead I will make lunch at home.  Of course he was 

happy about that.  If it were up to him I would probably

 have to cook everyday.  Hmmm.. not happening 🌝

In the meantime we continue to enjoy our balcony trips. 

 Drinks at home and good food.  Yes, and when we get bored 

we look at where we would like to go.  Can you guess?

Soccer has been going on for most of the day.  Someone

 is very happy.  Hope everyone is having a great weekend

 so far.  We are home, we are good.  Life is good.  

Above was last night's sunset.  After the rain.

Happiness is a direction, not a place...

~Nadiya~

Friday June 19th ~

Some people want it to happen, some wish 

it would happen, others make it happen...

I have been awake since 2 am.  Not sure why, 

but it's been a while now that I have woken up this early. 

 Lately I have been managing to sleep in until 7 am.  Very 

happy for that.  Today is just an aberration that's all.

Sniff has been brushed, ate some dry food and is 

back to bed.  Nothing interferes with Sniff and

 Arvid's sleep.  They sleep just like babies 😴

The rain continues here.  At this moment it is not

 raining, but it's expected to rain most of the day.  At 

least that's what the weather man said.  Lately they 

have been spot on with the weather.  Summertime

 in Florida.  Here comes the rain again and again.

Our days begins with dark clouds, which I think

 is very pretty.  After that the rain comes and then comes

 a beautiful sunset, and after that the rain again ☔

Fridays.  Used to be an outing by the water a few 

tropical drinks, something to nibble on, and just relax and

 watch people and the boats pass by.  Due to an increase 

of COVID-19, cases this will not be happening for us.  We

 are back to strict staying at home again.  This is crazy.

All the plans we had for today no longer are.  

No weekend to Naples as we had planned.  Bummer, 

but maybe for the best.  Arvid did find a beautiful place and

 we were looking forward to it it very much.  Another time

 it will be.  No Naples, No North Carolina, no NOrway.  

Is this anyway to live??  Does not seem right to me.

Good morning everyone.  And 2020 continues to amaze us.

What a year this week has been.  Again and again.

The only way to do our best work 

right now, is to work well together...

~Nadiya~

Thursday June 18th ~

Be happy with what you have.

Be excited about what you want...

It's takeout day, and today I'm having Indian food. 

 Arvid and I always have something different.  He does

 not ever want to switch from pizza, and I want something 

different most of the time.  On Thursdays this is possible.

On Tuesday we finally made it to the Swap Shop.

 I stocked up with all the tropical fruit I was missing, and 

of course I had to have my coconut.  It was a great time.

Arvid also visited the Norwegian store and stocked

 up on a few things he needed.  He bought meatballs, 

hot dogs and some different jams.  I do not eat any of

 those meatballs nor hot dogs.  Don't like them one bit.

I made Arvid his meatballs and a hot dog yesterday.

  After he was done eating he said to me, "this food is 

really bland, actually tasteless when compared to the

 food you make."  Arvid is a smooth talker for sure.

And yes, masks have to be worn while at the

 Swap Shop also, that is unless you are eating,

and in my case I was.  Yay. . happy me.

It's already raining.  The last few days we have had
to walk in the parking lot.  Yes, rain and more rain.

You deserve to be happy.  You deserve to live a life you 

are excited about.  Don't let others make you forget that...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday June 17th ~

Challenges are what make life interesting. 
Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful...

Usually on June first Arvid, Sniff, and I would

 have been in Chicago.  There is nothing usual, nor 

normal about 20202 so far.  We are still in Florida 🌴.  

COVID has changed absolutely everything today.

That being said, we do still plan on going for a 

couple of weeks to Chicago, and on our way there

 we were planning on stopping in North Carolina

 to see my parents.  Rima and family were also

🌞 going to be coming from California,

so the trip was even extra special.

Arvid and I are renting a little mini van and

 it was Arivid's idea we pick Rima and the gang up

 from the airport 🛬.  Everyone was happy, happy.

Reshma, Kimsy, Danielle and families were 

also planning on coming, but then COVID struck 

again.  Suddenly more and more cases are popping 

up everywhere.  Florida and North Carolina 

are seeing huge number of cases daily.

The situation suddenly changed.  Now 

we were once again very worried about our

 parents and the fact that Rima was going

 to be travelling in an airplane.  

Our parents are older.  This was a risk none

 of us wanted to take, and my mom and dad 

who were not afraid nor scared during the 

pandemic were suddenly a little scared.

All of this being said, we have all decided to

 not go to North Carolina for now.  Rima will be 

cancelling her trip, which I think under the 

circumstances is the best thing to do.  

My parents have already bought Arvid a few cases

 of his favorite beer.  We do not find that beer here

 in Florida.  Unfortunately, we will not be picking it up

 this time.  Arvid keeps telling me that we could visit

 them on our way back from Chicago, but I said no.

  I want to, but I don't want to put them at risk 😟.

I am disappointed as is everyone else.  We were 

all definitely looking forward to being together.  

Lilly Vade was looking forward to being with 

all her cousins.  That's what she said.

Wednesday brings a lot of soccer.  Arvid has already
watched a coupe of games, and is now into the third one.

Soon it's time for our afternoon walk. 
Always a great time. The outdoors, fresh air
and no mask.  At least not for us, others.🤷

Whatever you're going through in your 
life don't give up.  Better days are coming...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday June 16th ~

Some people feel the rain, others just get wet...

By the end of yesterday not did it only rain,

 but it rained like crazy.  Thunder and lightning.  

First the sky started turning very dark ⧭.

Soon after the rain cam down like never before.  

With it came thunder and lightning.  This lasted for

 quite some time.  Summertime in Florida 🤣.

I told Arvid it was a good time to get the broom

 and clean the balcony never thinking he would actually

 do it.  He does not like the rain, but he did get the broom,

 and he did sweep.  Now the balcony is clean again.

While all of this was going on, I was making

 sure I got lots of pictures and videos.  In the videos

 you can hear the thunder going on and on 🗲🌩.

Not sure what kind of a day awaits us.  With the 

unpredictability of this weather nothing is for sure. 

 Yesterday because of all the rain, Arvid and I walked in 

the garage.  We went up and down the 5 levels a few times. 

 Not bad, but always better with our "real" walks.

Last night the colors in the sky kept changing all the time.

Arvid as usual is always relaxed.  No matter what's 

going on.  He cool as a cucumber, while Sniff and I are 

in constant movement.  They say opposites attract.

A new day begins.  Always make the most of every 

opportunity that presents. And yesterday as the sun sets..

Each new day has a different shape to it.  You just roll with it...  

~Nadiya~

Monday June 15th ~

Monday is a state of mind...

Here is the the start of another week.  Better days are 

here and life is slowly adjusting to the new norm.

With the number of COVID 19 cases escalating in Florida, 

Arvid said we will not be going out for drinks anymore.  

😕 He also thinks that I am not too concerned about the 

spread of this darn virus.  I am, but I am also FED UP!

Looking forward to the day this virus is GONE GONE

 GONE.  For now it's back to even more isolation for us.

Hello Monday.  Here is to good times ahead.🍸

When life gives you Monday dip it

 in glitter and sparkle all day... 😀

~Nadiya~

Sunday~FunDay ~ Beach Day ~ June 14th

Leave footprints of love and kindness wherever

 you go.  Sky above, sand below, peace within...

Another beautiful day on the beach.  Lately I have 

been longing to live closer to the beach.  More like

 I walk out of the building and I am on the sand.

The beaches are open and they are packed.  Why not? 

 It's beautiful weather and people are having a great time. 

 So yes, there are signs everywhere stating to keep 6ft apart,

 and to wear masks if you are more than so many in a group.

These rules are definitely not being followed 🤷.

I really don't see how they can be followed.  Even so,

Arvid and I are doing our own social distancing. 

It's just seems so strange to see people with masks.  On

 the beach, restaurants, just walking on the street.  Just weird.

That being said, it was a beautiful day.  It was

 refreshing to see people alive and living again.

The beach never seems to lose its special touch. 

The soft sand and rolling waves instantly make

 us forget about all of our worries and instead

 focus on the amazing view in front of us.

Yesterday we drove along A1A starting in Fort 

Lauderdale all the way to the Hillsboro Inlet.  As 

always it is good to get out ans see how the new norm

 is treating people.  It is a very different life today.

Sniff has been adhering to his new routines implemented 

by Arvid while I was away.  So far so good.  He does get 

hungrier before his scheduled time, but I have been good

 at following this routine.  I know it's for his own good.

Happy Sunday all.  I will just continue to 

daydream about the sand between my toes.

We dream in colors borrowed from the sea...

~Nadiya~

Saturday June 13th ~

Go where you feel the most alive...

Fridays are starting to look good again.

We have ventured out.  Finally.  Second Friday

 in a row we have sat on the outside for drinks. 

 It feels really good to be out again. Life 😂

Next accomplishment would be eating out, 

but for now we will continue to wait.  Arvid says

 if he ate out we would take our own utensils.  I said, 

then we don't.  I'm not ready to carry all of this

 just to eat out. So we will continue to wait.

We got to the restaurant.  Our temperatures 

were taken.  This is happening in many places so 

that was all good.  You have to wear the mask to get 

into the restaurant.  The staff was not all very happy 

with that setup, but they are professional about it.

Last week we had drinks at another restaurant.  This

 one was not very good with their safety precautions. 

 For now I don't think we will be going there.  

Yesterday Arvid refused to share the appetizer

 with me.  Said he didn't feel safe about it 😷.

You can't rush Arvid, but in the meantime 

I am happy we ventured out.  For now

 we still will continue to do take-out.

Happy Saturday everyone.  Little by little life is

 returning back everywhere.  The fact that everyone 

is so concerned about the higher numbers of COVID 19 

does not make it any easier, but let's remember these numbers 

are getting higher because more testing is being done, and

 yes some will be sick, but it one practices safety and 

😷social distancing we should be able to stay safe 🙄. 

Take time to just move.  Your body longs to feel alive...

~Nadiya~

Friday ~ June 12th

Behind every mask there is a face, and behind that a story...

I am restless.  Tired of being in this limbo of should 

we or should we not? Can't wait for our lives to be 

"normal" again, or as it's known now, the new

 norm.  Whatever that is, I want it NOW!

I'm tired of wearing this mask.  Makes me hot and

 it suffocates me.  When I have it on I am just amazed

 of how it is suddenly the accepted thing here 😷.

It's getting to the point where people are not even

 using much common sense.  On the above pictures

😷 you see people in the open air, alone. or in one

 case a mother and daughter.  Wearing a mask.  

WHY???  You are alone and in the fresh air.

Give me open spaces, and looking forward to 

the day we can say goodbye to using masks.

If you want change you have to

 be willing to be uncomfortable...

~Nadiya~

June 11th ~ Arvid's Mom Turns 92

As you get older, three things happen:
 The first is your memory goes, and 
I can’t remember the other two...

Today is the 92nd birthday of an amazing woman.

  Arvid's mother.  At 92 years how many can say

 they are self sufficient?  Live alone and do

 just about everything by themselves?

 If you are one of the lucky ones, like Arvid's 

mom, then you have definitely lived a 

good life and continue doing so.

Happy birthday Molly. Arvid may not be there
🧡with you, but you are never far from his heart
and his thoughts.  Today like everyday, we both wish
you happiness and many years to come.  Continue
this way and you may outlive us all 💖

My life is better with every year of living it...

~Nadiya~