Thursday December 21st ~

Of all the characteristics needed for both a happy 

and morally decent life, none surpasses gratitude...

 All I can say is that I am glad that yesterday is over.

  Yesterday I had what I hope is my last surgery for 2023.  I had

 the surgery for my sinus infection. I’ve had many surgeries, but

 this is definitely the worse I have ever felt after a surgery.  

There’s blood everywhere. From the inside of my mouth and 

dripping from my nose. Not a pretty sight at all. I feel crappy to say

 the least.  My throat hurts like hell. That’s because I was intubated

 for over an hour. Guess just precaution. Needless to say, swollen.

The staff told me they have never encountered a patient as 

happy as me going into surgery.  I was joking with them and 

even with the doctor whom I was told was very arrogant. No lies 

there, but I like him because he’s straight to the point. Just like me.  

When I did radiation the staff there also told me the same

 thing they said I was the happiest person that they have met

 during this process.  I was called a ray of sunshine.  

Truth it I was happy because I knew whatever I was going 

through would only make me feel better 😍. That being said,

 I’m also happy to not have anything else done to my body

 right now. I’m tired this surgery requires too much after

 care  and I’m not used to following instructions. 

 This time if I don’t I sure won’t like the consequences 🙈 
The day begins on a cooler note again but will warm up.  Arvid 

, the “Viking” in our home turned on the heat during this “cold” spell.

 The inside of our home was 73F (almost 23C), that was too cold for 

him so we turned the heat to 76F (almost 25C),  Nice and toasty.  For 

me a little too warm at times, but Sniff and Arvid are super happy 🙃

A good day to all. With each new day I am only going 

to get better. A few hiccups every once in a while, but then 

life is not a bed of roses. Grateful surgery went well.  Have 

to say because of the trickiness of it, I was a bit worried.

Everything has turned out satisfactorily, even 

though the outcome has been a bit worrisome...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday December 20th~

 Hey little fighter, soon things will be brighter...

Another day closer to 2024.  No plans as of right now.  I still

 can't believe the year has gone by so fast.  It's been a year and a few 

months already since Arvid, Sniff and I moved to Fort Myers.

Life on the the West Coast (SWFL) is quiet. 

 Traffic is less and for sure Arvid does not get into his 

"road rages" like he did in Fort Lauderdale.  He does

 not honk the horn as much as he used to.

Another cold day today, but slowly warming up.  According

 to Arvid not warming up fast enough.  Yes, he's Norwegian.  

He's a Viking, but you'd never know that based on his actions.

Wishing everyone a very good day.  Stay warm and

 if you can, do like my girlfriend she's currently in Bali

 just having a good time.  Here we are waiting for the 

warmup, but in the mean time we bundle up😰.

Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive

Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday December 19th~

The willingness to consider possibility 

requires a tolerance of uncertainty...

 Time to bundle up and get warm.  Florida is cold today,

 at least here in Fort Myers it is.  Sniff takes no chances.

  His heating bed is kept warm all day long on these

 "cold" days.  He is after all, a Floridian😂

The weather here changes from minute to minute.  One has to be

 prepared for everything.  Adds a little extra excitement to the day😂

There are times in life that things happen, and we just cannot

 control them. There are times when we don't want things to happen, 

but they do. Things that we don't want to know, we learn.  A good day

 to all, and a reminder that sometimes we just have to let things be.

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be...

~Nadiya~

Monday December 18th New Week ~

Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes...

 Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat.  Please put a penny

 in the old mans hat.  If you haven't got a penny, a half penny

 will do. If you haven't got a half penny then God bless you!

For some reason this song is stuck with me right now.  Brings

 back memories of a wonderful childhood and Christmases

 in Puerto Rico.  Life was different then.  As a child you never

 realize how good you have it, but I do.  I remember the hard

 times, but I remember the good times even more.

As the new week begins, it's countdown to Christmas.  As

 I child I remember us five girls being so excited.  Could be

 that the excitement was what made the wait even better.

I don't have the same excitement today as when I was

 younger, but I still love Christmas.  It's also my moms birthday.  

Sadly we will not be seeing her this year for her birthday.  We

 are all spending Christmas in our respective homes/States.

Once again we will be having a few cold days this week.

  I know, it's nothing compared to what many have, but for

 us Floridians, this is cold.  We so are not prepared for it.

Wishing everyone a very happy week.  For many Christmas is

 a very sad and lonely time.  If you can make someone smile.  Do it. 

 Kindness is never wasted and it makes a world of difference.

Don't start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday...

~Nadiya~

The Eagles Nest~

No storm, not even the one in your life, can last forever...

 We finally made it to see where M15 and F23 have their nest, 

a very pleasant from Arvid.  Out of the blues he said,

 "do you want us to go and see where M15 lives?"

After following the Eagles I have learnt a few cool things

 about them.  Mostly that Eagles made for life.  I also learnt that

 Harriet and Ozzie, Ozzie was Harriet's mate before M15 came 

into the scene were a couple for 20 years until Ozzie died. 

 Harriet the bald eagle was first spotted in the 1990s.

Harriet and Ozzie    Harriet and Ozzie

It sure made my day going to see where Harriet 

lived with M15, and now M15 and Lady (F23) live.

The storm last night did not affect us too much, but other areas 

very close to us did not fare so well.  Seems like there were some

 3ft of storm surge in downtown Fort Myers and surrounding areas.  

Nothing life threatening, but anything to do with water is bad

 to an already damaged Fort Myers from hurricane Ian.

A good day to all.  It's very quiet on the streets right now.

Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as

 free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them...

~Nadiya~

Saturday December 16th~

  If you find a way to enjoy being alone, you won; 
No one can stop you from enjoying life to the fullest...

It's party time and the rides are not too shabby. 

 Yesterday there was a pretty impressive limo waiting for

 a group of people in our building.  People just watched

 as that huge limo pulled up.  Me included 😂

Here at home Sniff is still curious about the few Christmas 

decorations we have.  We do have a singing elf and it scared 

the living daylights out of him, but he keeps going back

 for more "torture"  He is also fascinated by the Troll.

Christmas the Florida way, a little different from many places. 

 Here we decorate our palm trees.  Just like they do in Puerto Rico.

Stormy weather expected today.  Not a good day to be out. Was so

 looking forward to seeing Nina, David and Max today in Tampa,

 but better to be safe.  They will be back in January and then

 we will sure see them.  To make up for my disappointment 

Arvid took me to a nice lunch and delicious sangrias.

Everyday Facebook makes me laugh.  Today was 

no exception.  This is not meant to be offensive.  

Sometimes I think of something so wrong and inappropriate

 that my little black heart skips a beat😂.  A Good day to all.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything;

 they just make the best of everything...

~Nadiya~

Stormy Weather Coming ~ December 15th

If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm...

A storm is brewing in our area.  Thunderstorms similar 

to a tropical storm, and possibility of tornadoes.  None 

of these seem to be a good idea to be on the road.

All of SWFL, the nation and many parts of the world are very

 concerned about M12 and F23's safety.  M15 has followers in many

 countries and everywhere in the USA.  I see it in their comments and

 postings.  A particular couple comes twice a year from Germany

 and as they said,  "we stay in Fort Myers so we are close to

 the nest.  It's the highlight of our trip."  I have yet to see

 their nest, sad because it's less than a half hour from us.

Bad weather still coming.  No Tampa this time 😕

If you want to enjoy the rainbow, 

be prepared to endure the storm...

~Nadiya~

Friday December 15th~

 Happiness is found when you stop
 comparing yourself to other people...

Today is Music Walk downtown Fort Myers.  Just a brief 

 walk from our condo, but as of now we do not plan on going.

  Cold and rain predicted.  Sure not for Arvid and I.  We were

 also planning on going to Tampa to visit Nina and David,

 but it's not looking good.  Terrible weather coming😬

In the meantime I continue to enjoy Christmas all around us.

  And looking back at a few memories past I smile.  No matter what

 life has thrown my way, I am very fortunate and grateful for 

the life I have and for the loved ones in my life.

Yesterday as we facetimed with Michelle and our granddaughters, 

Sniff was asleep.  As soon as he heard us talking he comes running

 into the living room and wanting to be a part of Facetime. 

 Sniff was jealous of the time we spent talking to the girls. 

 He threw himself on Arvid's feet and demanded attention.   Arvid

 petted him as we Face timed.  Also Sniff wanted to be a part of it

 so he just plopped himself by the iPad and refused to move.  Not

 the first time he's doing this.  All I can say is he's my baby.

Yesterday was extremely windy.  More of the same today.

  South West Florida is a bit concerned for M15 and F23.

  We all pray that their eggs and them fare well during

 this thunderstorm/tornado that's predicted to come.

I just love M15 and F23.  I keep telling myself not to get too attached.

  To this day I think of my PR kitties and I really miss them and I always 

wonder about their fate.  I try not to "go" there, but sometimes my mind

 just wanders.  Same with my wildlife in Branson.  How I miss them.

  I don't miss the people that much, but my wildlife I do miss them.

The years may pass, but still, you stay. As near and 

dear as yesterday.  My memory never forgets.

Success is loving life and daring to live it...

~Nadiya~

Thursday December 14th~

The most important thing is to enjoy your 

life—to be happy—it's all that matters..

 Another day closer to Christmas, and even though we will

 not be doing much I still get to dress Sniff up, take a few pictures

 and have a good time with him.  I have to be fast because he does

 not sit still for long.  Like most cats, he rolls and struggles to get

 out of his costume.  Arvid always comforts Sniff when I'm done.  

Sniff of course runs to him, like as if he's hiding from me.

  A game we play all the time and we all enjoy it🎄.

It back to Florida weather again 😎.  Here in Fort Myers 

it is warm, but still cloudy.  We did not get the rain yesterday. 

Hopefully we will get some in the next few days.

Here at home I have three stockings out.  Since neither Arvid

 nor I want/need anything they all belong to Sniff-Sniff.

Sniff is "acting" up.  He's not eating any of his soft foodies yet he

 keeps crying all the time for food and just sits on his food mat crying 

and crying.  Arvid does not know but yesterday I tried several of his 

foodies to see if he would eat.  No luck.  Now I am going to be a little

 stressed.  Sniff is my baby and I can't bear to see him crying and crying

 for food.  Of course he has dry food 24-7  Arvid says I am overreacting,

 and he's probably right, but what can I say?  Sniff's my baby.

Still waiting for that promised rain.  The weather here in 

Fort Myers has been windy, very warm but still no rain.

A couple of soccer games today for Arvid, and a lot of 

cleaning for me.  Some days I would love to have Arvid cook

 lunch for me and then do all the cleanup.  Arvid has many 

talents, unfortunately cooking is not one of them😂

Life is so much easier with a sense of humor.

Good day to all and some more Florida humor .

A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates

 more dark clouds than any other one thing...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday December 13th~

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face...

I find enjoyment and humor in just about everything.  What may

 be offensive to others I look at it differently.  I see it with humor

 rather that a "statement" trying to be made.  My life is better because 

of that.  I take nothing personally and I neve allow the opinions

 of others to influence me nor bother me.  Most of the times😂

The cold weather continues to prolong, but warming up all the time. 

 I know it's not what others will call cold, but if you live in Florida it's cold. 

 Fort Myers is in desperate need for some rain.  Unlike Fort Lauderdale we

 have not had much rain, and pretty soon we will be under a drought watch. 

If predictions are correct, we should have some  rain the next few days🤞

Arvid and I stay busy with a little this a little that. 

 Thank goodness there is a soccer game most days. 

 As Arvid says it kills a few hours of the day 😂

A good day to all.  It's getting closer and closer

 to Christmas day.  Also my mom's birthday.

In Florida we salt Margaritas not sidewalks...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday December 12th ~

 Life offers you so many doors, it is up to you 

which to open and which one to close...

Doctors appointment today, but just this one for the week.  I have 

gotten used to these appointments, and I look at them as some alone 

time.  Me and the music.  Occasionally Arvid wants to go with me, 

but I have managed to persuade him that it was not necessary.

Each and every sunset we get to see is just stunning.  

These are from our walks right by our apartment.

And then the sunrises.  From our balcony.  We have the

 most amazing sunrises and sunsets right at our backdoor.

A good day to all and I hope everyone is enjoying the 

holiday spirit.  Be kind to each other and have a jolly time.

I shall pass this way but once; any good

 that I can do or any kindness I can show

 to any human being; let me do it now...

~Nadiya~