Sunday...

I live a very joyful life, 
with a lot of laughter and good times..

Nothing better than spending quality time with the ones you love.

Brutus and I woke up a little early a and did our usual stuff.  Very quiet and

peaceful as mornings are.  Today we have a few things to do.  Yes work.  As Realtors

don't have regular hours.  When we have the customer we work and today our customer flew

in from London just to have a look at condos in both Fort Lauderdale and the Miami area.
 Fingers crossed.  Lots of times as Realtors we show and show, many times it does not pan
out, but Arvid and I are always optimistic and with that in mind we move forward.

Being Sunday Arvid also called his family.  Like I have said before a Sunday tradition.
One which he is extremely good at.  They all look forward to his call.
Sometimes if he does not call by 9am, his mom would call
to see if something is wrong.  Yes, a good routine they have.

After taking our customer around we plan to take him to lunch to our favorite restaurant,

Kaluz.  Of course depending on the customers schedule; which is also busy.  He's flying to
New York later this afternoon so pretty tight fit.  Either way Arvid and I will be going out to lunch.
Our Sunday outing.  All good here at home.  Can never stop saying how happy we are to be home
even if it is hot as hell.  That is not something we really like,
but at least we have AC unlike Norway.

Yesterday was a very pleasant day.s a went to the mall and to my newest favorite store
 Michael Kors. I know all the girls there so we chatted for about a half hour and let's
 just say that I don't need much convincing.  I'm too easy a target but I don't mind in this case.
 Later in the day, Arvid decided he also wanted to go to the mall so we went again.
I convinced him he needed some clothes.  Now he has some new stuff.
 Hopefully one day he will wear them.

To all a good day.
Every day is a good day to be alive, whether the sun's shining or not.

Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, 
and you won't have to hunt for happiness...


~Nadiya~

Good To Know...

Unless you puke, faint or die, keep going...

Another good "tip" I picked up from friends.

Now I have not really tried this as yet but soon will.

The key is to begin with simple goals that make you feel good about yourself.

If this does not work for you, here is what another friend had to say:

There is an easier way. Drink orange juice every day.  Add basil to your food 

with at least one meal a day. Put the basil on steak or in potatoes or soup.

 Basil increases your metabolism by 33%!  Speaking from experience..... It works!

Hopefully some of this helps.  I for sure need to try it fast!

Remember, it took more than a day to put it on.

It will take more than a day to put it off. 

Get moving!!!

If it doesn't challenge you,

it doesn't change you...

~Nadiya~

Another Funny One....

Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. 

And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it

Once again I open my laptop and see all these funny things.  Of course

they made me laugh and also made the start of the day so much better.

Now I share them with you.  You may have seen them, but still funny.

Me and my wife lived happily for twenty years.... then we met.

 You love flowers, but you cut them. You love animals, but you eat them. 

You tell me you love me, so now I'm scared!

I know the voices in my head aren't real.....

 but sometimes their ideas are just absolutely awesome!

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. 

Just like everyone else.

Well everyone it is already Friday.  Our first Friday back home and it feels so good.

I'm happy to just be home and I don't have to do anything, but just the fact 

that we are back in the USA is enough to make me happy.

Happy Friday to all and whatever the weekend holds..

have a blast!!!

I have never in my life found myself in a situation where I've stopped work and said,

 'Thank God it's Friday.' But weekends are special even if your schedule is all over the place.

 Something tells you the weekend has arrived and you can indulge yourself a bit....

~Nadiya~

From A Mans Point Of View....

Man's world.  Pretty much self explanatory.

Got my laugh for the day.

Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. 

Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then.

The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing - and then marry him.

What would men be without women? Scarce, sir...mighty scarce

It takes a woman twenty years to make a man of her son,
 and another woman twenty minutes to make a fool of him.

Something to remember,

Any fool knows men and women think differently at times, 
but the biggest difference is this. Men forget, but never forgive; 
women forgive, but never forget

I don't mind living in a man's world 
as long as I can be a woman in it...


~Nadiya~

Some Work.. Some Leisure...

Hard work is what we have to pay for a meaningful happy life...

The good thing about having a flexible work schedule is that you can more or less

 schedule your time how best suits you.  Exactly what I did today and fortunately most days.

As usual the mornings are for catching up and taking care of immediate business. 

Brutus also needs lost of things done so I also had an hour of just doing stuff for him. 

 Lots of cleaning and pampering goes to him everyday and I love it as well.

Today it was banking day, post office always some paperwork, going to the Whole Foods 

store where everything is fresh and there are many choices.  This one chore that I 

consider a fun thing to do.  Always so much to check out and I can spend quite

 some time in there when I have nothing too pressing to do.  Today was not

 that day, but even so it was nice to go there again and get our stuff.

A few more chores taken care of and I still had leftover time before I had to come 

home and make lunch.  Being with Arvid I have learnt to do everything even faster.

That meant I was able to go and get a manicure-pedicure.  One of my indulgences.

Total relaxation today and what better way than to enjoy it with a cup 

of coffee while I was getting pampered and beautified?  

Before and after.  Big difference.  Just hope the manicure lasts for a few days.

Now it's back to work and preparing lunch.  So good to be home!!!!

To all a good day.  What a big difference a day makes!!!

Just a reminder that when you work hard you can also play hard...

When work is a pleasure, life is a joy.

When work is a duty life is a slavery...

~Nadiya~

Catching Up.....

How we spend our days is,

 of course, how we spend our lives...

Monday morning was catching up day.  Lots of mail to sort through. Tons, and honestly 

most were bills from the doctors and the hospitals.  Suddenly I feel buried in bills.

  Have to see what we will do about that, but for now there are other 

things that also need to be sorted and taken care of as well.

Back to our routines.  Brutus and I wake up early and have some time to do whatever it is we like. 

 He loves being brushed and that he gets lots of.  Coffee time in the mornings are relaxing

 and quiet as we watch the sunrise.  Always a pretty site.

Yesterday I finally got the opportunity to talk to Liliana and to thank her for all she 

does for Brutus.  Liliana spends over 4 hours at a time with him and for that we will

 forever be grateful.  Brutus also was being cared for by Wendy... from

 Angels-Pet-Sitting-Service   Can't thank her enough also for the care she

 gives to Brutus.  His paw was actually looking

 better than when we left.  Could not ask for more.

What did make us sad was when Liliana told us that Brutus cried all the time.  She said he

 was so sad that it always broke her heart to leave him.  Said that when she left she could 

hear him crying as she closed the door.  Hearing this made me sad and very guilty.

Have already done at least 10 loads of laundry.  Most were linens for Brutus.  When we left

 to go to Norway, I left about 10 sleeping spots for him.  Now I'm still folding towels 

and sheets.  Brutus is fussy.  He likes clean linens every 3 days. At least I think he 

does so I give it to him.  Here he is laying on some of the ones I just laundered.

Come the afternoon, Arvid and I decide to take a walk to a friends home.  Boy was that a bad idea.

  As soon as we stepped out of the door I was already soaking wet from head to toes,

 but we were already out so we continued.  Gotta tell you it is not a pleasant

 thing right now to take a walk.  The humidity and the heat is a killer.

On Sunday we went out to eat and usually we prefer sitting outdoors, but in the 

summertime in Florida that is a definite NO-NO.  We sat inside and we had a good time.  

Sunday we were extremely exhausted and went to bed early.  9:30 compared to our usual 11pm.  

For Arvid to do this you know he was also beat.  I think that by Monday we were pretty 

much back to being caught up with the jet lag.  All I know is that I am happy to

 be in the same time zone as the rest of my family.  ~USA~

In Norway because of the time difference, when we were awake my family was still

 asleep and when we went to bed it was still early in the day for them. That gave us a

 tiny window to text and call.  Not for me, but now all is good again.  

Brutus is a happy kitty and we are just glad to be all of us back together.  

I will never be tired of say that there is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!!!'

Tuesday already.  Everything is almost back the way it should.

We have recovered from our jet lag, Brutus is back to his napping at regular

intervals, Arvid is back to enjoying his television programs and Soccer is back on. 

 As for me I am just happy to pick up the phone and call my mom, my sisters, Liliana

 and not have to check what time it is because we are all in the same time zone.  

Another good day ahead. 

 Hope it's the same for all of you.  If you ever need tips on relaxing,

 Brutus is your guy and my sisters doggie Marley.  He lives the life of relaxation.

Remember to always enjoy your life 

without comparing it to that of others.

Life is not short. It's just by the time we catch up to appreciating it,

we have already left life at least halfway behind us....

~Nadiya~

Best Place On Earth... Home

Where we love is home-home that our feet may leave,
but never our hearts....

As we woke up early Saturday morning in Norway, Arvid looks at me with a big
 smile and he says, "we are going home."  Those were the best words I could hear.

The Norwegian sunrise was pretty amazing as we headed to the airport in Oslo,

but even that could not contain our excitement to be heading back home.

As mentioned the summer was a good one. Many memories made and many friendships-bonds 

that were strengthened.  Could not have been better except for the fact that we

 were on  our way home.  Even at this hour in the morning, Norway was 

waking up to a beautiful day, but also very cold.

We arrived home exhausted.  We were on the road for a total of 24 hours.

First time in my 14 trips to Norway that I have been this exhausted.  same for Arvid.

Even so once we got home, Brutus was waiting for us and for his brushing.  I dropped 

everything and brushed him for a very long time.  In between he had many nibbles with Arvid.

Good morning everyone.  The best feeling in the whole world is to be back home.

I have never been away from home this long.  26 days.  Though very good,

 I am not used to it.  Next year is far from here, but right now I don't know

that i would want to be gone from home for that long, but then I say

the same thing every year.  Whole year to think about it :)

For now it's back to reality and boy do we love it!!!

Good morning everyone.  I can never stop saying how GOOD 

it is to be back home where we belong.  Wishing you all a good day.

Remember to count your blessing and to be thankful for what you have.

We do!

Home is where the heart is...

~Nadiya~

Florida...

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire 
for the mind as well as the body, and Brutus and Arvid.  
We are home. Where we love is home -

 home that our feet may leave, 
but not our hearts. ..

Greetings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
We are home in the Sunshine State  once again.

Feels good to walk out and feel the warmth on your face.  Goodbye sweaters, and jackets.
Hello sunshine, palm trees and drives along the beach.

Let's not forget, being able to drive my own car and going to some of our favorite restaurants.
 As Arvid says, "Flannigan's here we come."  He loves baby back ribs and
they have some of the best in town.  Seeing Liliana and so much more.

Good to be home in Florida.
Nothing better than laying to rest on your own bed and
having Brutus sleep with us all night long.  We could not get enough of each other.

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do.
But how much love we put in that action....

~Nadiya~

Where We Belong....

And when the day arrives I'll become the sky and I'll become the sea 

and the sea will come to kiss me for I am going home. Nothing can stop me now...

It been 26 days since we left home and Brutus, but who is counting.

It has been a good summer here in Norway, but today we go home.
Almost 5am in Norway...almost 11pm back home in Florida
where Brutus somehow knows we are on our way home to him.

It has been great to see everyone and to spend time with them.

Friends and family have made this vacation a memorable one, but today we

 are on our way home to Brutus and to the life we have.  Already missing Aleah.

Norway is a beautiful country, but it is not my home.  The USA is home.

Florida is where we are going and yes, I am very excited to be going back home.

Beaches, palm tree and tropical drinks.  Oh...how I have missed you!

Vacations are great.  Seeing everyone was good, but nothing, NOTHING compares

to going home.  The excitement we both feel is palpable and I am sure it is the same for all.

To all thank you for making this such an enjoyable summer. 

 The memories will last forever.  ~Goodbye Norway~ 

Hello ~Fort Lauderdale and Brutus~
HOME WHERE WE BELONG....

Home where we belong and where we soon will be.

For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. 

And we are finally  almost home...

~Nadiya~

Little Of Horten, Arvid's Hometown...

Don't let your luggage define your travels,

 each life unravels differently...

Arvid's mother lives in the best location of all of Horten.

That's the view from her apartment, and one of our favorite spots when in Norway.

This is Fishland.  Marina and restaurants and the place we go every afternoon to relax on our own.

A must is always a few trips to the cemetery to visit Arvid's dad.  Believe it

or not going there is always a peaceful time for us.  We go alone and we go at times 

with his mother.  She goes there at least three times a week to keep everything in ship shape.

Coffee time is a special time for us.  We go to Fishland a favorite place of ours.

Sitting and watching people and boats pass by makes us think we are back home.

Pleasant experience always.  Nice scenery and good coffee.  Quiet times for us.  Very good.

Spending time with everyone is of course the best part of a vacation.

That we do quite a lot of.  We see his mother almost every day and we also see Aleah

and the girls often.  Aleah being so little we try to see as much of he as we can.  She's too cute!

Even on a rainy day in Norway you can see beauty all around you.
Captured on one of our last days after the rain.  Look carefully and you also see the rainbow.

When coming from the US it's difficult (at least for me) to get used to
things Norwegian.  Super expensive for starters, but that I am used to.  Still can't get
used to how little everything is.  Showers, coffe cups, grocery store is definitely limited in
my book.  I now totally understand how Norwegians feel when travelling to the USA.
 It is another world.  Where the sky is the limit and where everything is possible.  So different.

Different is NOT bad.  Just takes getting used to.  There are certainly some things
 in Norway that I think are better.  Definitely the sauces you can buy in packages is one of them.

To all a good day.  We will soon be home.
Remember, to be happy, and even if life isn't perfect it has perfect moments....

We all do better when we work together. Our differences do matter,
 but our common humanity matters more...

~Nadiya~

Thursday...

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. 

We have only today. Let us begin...

Our final week in Norway.  Monday was a little trip to Sweden.  

Tuesday we had most of the morning and some of the afternoon to ourselves.  

Nice. Tuesday dinner was with Molly, Michelle, Emil and Aleah.  Also very nice.  

Missing was Victoria and Michael.  They just got back from vacation and were busy at work.

Wednesday we had some time alone again, then it was a visit to a customer for Arvid

while I enjoyed a little time alone at the mall.  Something about malls me relaxed and cheerful.

Especially here where there is really not that much to do in Arvid's hometown.  Very small,

but on the other hand it is safe and everyone knows everyone so difficult to get into trouble here.

Arvid was so tired of not doing much he fell asleep a little during the day.  We are
used to being busy and truthfully when on vacation one just relaxes and the mind slowly
goes to sleep.  Time for us to go and get busy again.  We are both looking forward to going home.

Even so, we are having good times with everyone.  yesterday we had dinner at his
brother and girlfriend's home.  There were also two of Arvid's cousins and their
wife/girlfriend present. I was really happy because I met a very interesting
 woman  and I think if I lived in Norway we could be good friends.
We also had good food a great start of a good evening.

Later today we go to Victoria and Michael's for a visit.  Little father
daughter chat and Arvid has a few things to show to them.
Looking forward to that very much.

Tomorrow our last day here we all get together at Michelle and Emil's home.
Will  be another good evening with good food and good company.
As usual the last evening is always sad.  Though we are
happy to be going home it is also sad to be leaving.
Life...not always the way we want, but....

The day has started out beautiful with the glimpse of the rainbow.
Good things are definitely in store for us...

To all a good day.  For us it is just 2 more days until we are home.
Going to make the most of them..

There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.
Time spent with family is time well spent. 
Family is the one constant element in life...

~Nadiya~

Going Home...

Summer will end soon enough, but not the memories made...

It has been good seeing everyone.  There is something very special going on when in 

the company of family.  Stronger bonds are built and friendships renewed,

 but there is something even more special at the thought of going home.

Home to your own bed, surroundings and in our case home to Brutus.

It has been 20 + days now since we have been away from home.  For me 

the longest time ever.  This has been a good summer.  Started out incredibly hot,

but it got better by the end.  We have had some very good times with friends and family. 

 

But, yes there is always a but.  Home is where we belong and home is where we want to be.

Home is where we will be in a few days.  Home where Brutus is and where

is the best place on earth.  Norway's summer is over for us; it was great, but

like all good things it has come to an end.

Until we meet again.

Every summer has it's own story,
and ours was no exception.  To good times.  It will be repeated....

~Nadiya~