Saturday August 23rd~

The only impossible journey is the one you never begin...

 Arvid and I had a good time in Columbia, Missouri. 

 The concert was good, best of all Tab sang “my” 

song  right away. Sure made my day better.

Before the concert Arvid and I went to the pub. 

 A few cold ones as he likes to say to warm up for the 

main event. Arvid had quite a few Bacardi and coke.

Doubles while I was still struggling to finish my one

 raspberry cosmo, which by the way was delicious.

We were there for a few hours before the concert started,

 so by the time we were ready to go to the concert Arvid 

was quite tipsy.  Didn't help that he had a few more at the

 concert.  I had water.  One is my limit.  Most times.

While I Columbia, MO I once again realized 

that Missouri has a lot of very wealthy people.  Just 

by talking to a few, we learnt that many have s vacation

 homes on some very beautiful destination.  Some 

have it on the beautiful lakes of the Ozarks.

  Others had a place on the beach in Florida.  People

 are definitely interesting.  The downtown of Columbia 

may have been small, but boy was there a lot of people there. 

The party was going on even as we were leaving the concert

 a little before midnight. It's seemed like a university town.

Arvid was so tipsy that the next morning he said, 

“I have no recollection of how we got back to the hotel.” 

 Thank goodness the hotel was not a long walk to the venue.

Next morning we had breakfast, and after a bit we checked 

out.  Sniff after all was home alone waiting for us.  I still 

look out for Oliver, even though I know he’s no longer

 around.  I’m so sad.  Like I said, I hope he was taken 

to be given a good home.  Sweetest boy he is 🐾

Once I got home yesterday, I just could not stand 

the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to Oliver.  

I called the Humane Society in two towns, neither had Oliver. 

 Makes me think that someone gave him a home.  I have to

 think this way, because you see, I already love Oliver.

Yesterday evening Arvid and I met with Roger for

 drinks and to catch up on his trip to Minnesota and

 Boston.  Roger visited his siblings, but was very 

happy to be back home.  He said he missed us.

Sniff is good.  I am happy to be home.  Home is 

where I am happiest, even though my mind is always 

trying to thing of what places I would like to go to.

If everything was perfect, you would 

never learn and you would never grow...

~Nadiya~

Friday August 22nd~

 Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence...

Yesterday Arvid and I went to see Tab Benoit in

 concert all the way to Columbus, Missouri.  Just

 a short three and a half hours from Branson.

  It is always good to get out and do something 

we like, and I do like a couple of songs of Tab Benoit. 

 My favorite being Nothing Takes the Place of You.

  I loved it the from the very first time I heard it.

Nothing Takes The Place of You

Yesterday ended with a beautiful sunset.  Picture taken 

from our deck.  Still no Oliver.  I am so sad.  So sad.

My Sniff is home alone waiting for us.

Music is the only thing I've ever known 

that doesn't have any rules at all...

~Nadiya~

Thursday August 21st

Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you

 something to do but never gets you anywhere...

 As usual I go out every morning between 

6:30 -7AM to feed Oliver.  Even if don’t see him 

from our window I know when I go he will be there. 

 Yesterday morning he was not there I looked and

 called for him for some time but no Oliver. 

I waited patiently for Dave our neighbor to take 

Jackson, his dog out for a walk so that I could ask if he 

knows where Oliver is.  He always takes Jackson out 

by 7-7:30 AM.  Not yesterday.  I sat by the window all

 day long waiting for Oliver to show up.  He didn't.

The food and water bowls we leave for Oliver 

were all gone.  So worried.  It’s not his usual routine

 and cats are creatures of routine.  I just hope he is 

okay. By 10AM I was really freaking out.  Last time I

 saw him was on Tuesday the 19th in the morning.

 They say that worrying about things you can't control 

is useless and immobilizes you. Worry is interest paid 

on trouble.  I wish I was able to not worry.  Seems as if 

I spend a huge chunk of my time worrying about one thing

 or another.  I wish I were more like Arvid, he usually never 

worries about much.  Life is so much easier his way.

At 6PM I finally gave in and knocked on

 Dave's door.  He also said he has not seen Oliver 

since yesterday. I hope he is okay.  The apartment he 

was living in had people coming to clean it.  Oliver 

was in and out with them. I hope they took him and

 will give him a forever home.  I am so so sad

A beautiful day begins here.  Skies are blue 

and the sun is shining.  Sniff is keeping a keen 

eye out for birds and squirrels while relaxing.

To all a very good day.  No Oliver. Hopefully 

someone took him home with them.  I am so sad not 

knowing what happened to him.  He just disappeared. 

It was only 22 days Oliver was in my radar.  I keep

 looking for him, but I know he was taken by someone.  I just 

hope it was to give him a forever home.  He's is just so very 

affectionate.  Charlie did show up almost to ouu building today. 

 Of course I fed him, but he has a home and he's not Oliver.

Every man has his secret sorrows which the world 

knows not. The heart was made to be broken... 

~Nadiya~

Wednesday August 20th~

Life's most precious moments
are not all loud or uproarious...

 I am still in awe of Mount Rainier National Park.

  The picture below was taken from one of the restaurants we 

went to.  You see it from all places. Quite impressive.

Reshma and Torin were a little worried about Apollo meeting us. 

 She said he would probably bark a lot and jump on us.  Well none

 of that happened.  Apollo never barked at us.  Could be because

 Mala took him so many presents and treats.  Apollo is the most 

sweetest dog.  He loved his grandma and aunt (me) right 

away, and we love him. I actually miss his cute lil' face.

This trip reminded me a little of the time I had last summer 

in San Francisco.  In both places we used every minute

 of our time to try as see as much as we could.  Reshma 

and Torin are tireless.  The perfect tour guides 😍

Reshma and Torin got Apollo a "human bed" 

as they call it, and yes, he does sleep in it.  Apollo loved 

his grandma.  He always wanted to be close to her.

His human bed.  He like all our pets is super pampered,

 and has everything and more he can want.  Happy boy.

Yesterday Arvid and I went walking at the RecPlex. 

 I only did a mile before it became unbearable on my

 knee, but it is always good to do some walking.  

With the heat index it was a pretty HOT day.

I have been awake once again way too early.  Sniff 

has been brushed already, and is now on the lookout

 for the birds.  It is still very dark but he is patient.

A good day to all. A "cool down" is on its way.

Whoever is happy will make others happy.

Happiness shared is happiness doubled...

 ~Nadiya~

Tuesday August 19th~

Make memories; leave only footprints...

 Mala and I left Seattle yesterday.  What a wonderful

 time we have had. We had the best tour guide anyone could

 wish for, my niece Reshma and her better half Torin.

They took us everywhere.  We started our days very

 early in the mornings.  To say I am a bit tired right 

now would be an understatement, but it was 

so worth it. Would do it again in a flash.

We’ve seen many things/places but two that stand out 

are, first Mount Rainier.  One of the things off my bucket

 list.  Impressive.  Massive.  Just incredible, and we hardly

 touched the surface of it.  It’s a humongous National Park.

I have decide that when I go someplace I want to go

 and see and experience it all. Well as much as “all” means 

and to do so I have to do much of it om my own. With Arvid 

we do different things.  Not bad, but I want to see more.

On my own I experience everything there is to 

experience and to see for the amount of time we have. 

I have seen enough beaches and oceans, not wish to see

 more, but I wish to see more than just a beach now.  

Mount Rainier left me speechless.  It is an active

 volcano, and while it has not erupted recently, 

it is expected to erupt again in the future.

One of the other very cool places we visited was 

Pike Market Place in Seattle.  A must see if Putin Seattle. 

I have to add that  thought Seattle would be all rain.

  Well it was not. We had gorgeous weather. Just perfect

 for what we needed to do. It was another good day.

 At Pike Place Market we actually experienced 

blue skies and within a few hours the fog came.  Pretty

 amazing and spectacular.  I loved it. Same happened 

at Mount Rainier.  The skies change in minutes.

In between all of these places we went out to many 

cool spots for drinks and appetizers, then another

 for dinner.  We ate so much food I don’t know how

 it was even possible. But it was so much fun.

I have had Chinese food in many big cities,

 New York City being one, but the meal we had in 

Seattle was the best Chinese food I have ever had.

 I would visit again just to go to that restaurant.

Another special evening was when we had dinner 

at sunset. This is not something Arvid would do.  We 

have a routine, and it's rare that he deviates from it. 

Our main meal is in the middle of the day.  We do 

miss out on some "better" dining at times.

  I'm good with it, but sometimes I love doing

 it differently.  I also enjoy watching the sunset at 

dinnertime, and on this particular evening we did just

 that.  We also enjoyed a very good meal, at great

 location and had a great time with loved ones.

I got to know Torin so much more and I have to say he is one

 of the calmest, kindest persons I have had the pleasure of

 knowing at such young age. Together he and Reshma are 

just perfect.  AsTorin said to me, “we are a team you know.” 

 Together with Apollo they are one very adorable family.

Getting back home from Seattle took a long time,

 but it was an easy flight. I had a stopover in Chicago; 

our old stomping grounds. Not enough time to do

 much, but it felt familiar.  I love airports.

Always the best part of any trip is getting back home.

 Seeing Arvid with his big smile, and then coming back

 home to Sniff.  Sniff was a tad bit aloof with me most of 

the day, but by evening he was back to loving me.

I also saw and fed Oliver. He had lots of food 

anyway I refilled his bowl, but I always give him a 

can of soft food.  I had a great time, but am happy

 to be home again.  I have had a busy day so far.

The day is halfway done and I still have a lot to do.

  Hope everyone is having a great day so far.

The best things in life are the moments captured in photos...

~Nadiya~

Monday August 18th~

The most beautiful moments always seemed to 

accelerate and slip beyond one’s grasp just when you 

want to hold onto them for as long as possible...

 We have had a really good time visiting Reshma, 

Torin and Apollo.  I am so happy I was able to do it 

with Mala.  Rima was supposed to be here also, but 

the airlines screwed up everything in the last minute. 

Prior to us visiting Torin's family also visited.

Rima is a hoot she sent us a little something to remind

 us of her personality.  She said to us, "there will be no 

food at my funeral.  You are there to cry, not eat."  And

 we never stopped laughing and having a great time. We 

definitely missed her upbeat self and her unique laughter.

It was good being with everyone, but I am also looking

 forward to going home to Arvid and Sniff.  I really missed my 

Sniff, but knowing that Arvid was with him it was all good. 

 It's not as if we were both gone and he was all alone.

  Goodbye for now Reshma, Torin and Apollo.

My journey back to Branson takes me through 

Chicago.  I have a few hours layover.  Would have rather 

a direct flight, but those are getting fewer and fewer.

Back to the "hectic" life with Arvid.  I was happy for 

these few days.  I got to do what I loved most and enjoy 

time with family.  Ready to be busy again with Arvid, most

 of all can't wait to see my lil' Sniff and give him love.

If you've had a good time playing the game, 

you're a winner even if you lose...

~Nadiya~

Sunday August 17th~ A Day Off

  Almost everything will work again if you 
unplug it for a few minutes…Including you...   

Out of the "office."  Will be back tomorrow 😂It is very
 important to recharge our batteries to uplift our spirits and
 refresh our perspectives towards life. It is often said that the
 best way to recharge yourself is to unplug yourself from the 
daily duties for sometime.  It's what I plan to do today.

To all a good day and "see" you tomorrow. 

Taking a break helps you understand yourself

 better and recharges your drained battery.

What better way to spend a day off than with

 family.  Today we take in more sites and we

 do a little celebrating as well.  You only live

 once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look

 around once in a while, you could miss it...

~Nadiya~