What A Week ~

Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful...

It all started with our neighbor leaving a note and a menu

 on our door during the night.  I woke up and when I

 saw the menu, of course that was all I could think of. 

 I love Indian food. Goes without saying.  I am Indian 

after all, and it's the flavor I was raised with.  Our Indian 

food has a West Indian kick.  The best food in the world

 as far as I am concerned is Indian and Latin.  The

 two foods we were fortunate to be raised with. 

After a lot of coercing, I convinced Arvid to go 

with me. I told him, "you either come or I go on my own." 

 He decided to accompany me.  I will not say it's his 

favorite food, but he did not complain too much.  Even

 so, next time I think I will go with our neighbor.

The food was delicious, but to be honest just 

about all of the Indian restaurants I have been

to the food has always been super delicious. 

This week went by very fast.  I competed my jury duty,

 and really hope not have to do it again any time too soon.

It was boring to sit there and wait for them to call you.  

HOUSE FOR SALE

I am not patient at all.  Before going my mom and Arvid

both "warned" me to not get too aggressive with anyone.

My mom thinks I have a short fuse when it 

comes to tolerating nonsense and she's right.  Arvid 

thinks I always have to speak my mind and he's right.

  I guess they figure with those two qualities I am

 bound to get into some sort of altercation with someone. 

Even though I did express my opinions, all was good.

Serving in a jury is just part of being an American

 citizen, that together with the right to vote.  I know 

if I am called again I will do the right thing.  No I 

did not mean ignoring the summons or did I? 

This week I tried something very delicious.  

It's called a Strawberry Moscow Mule. I have to 

say it was pretty delicious.  Looking forward 

to today and to trying something new as well.

To all a great start of the weekend.  Remember 

you can't control where you come from, but you

 can always control where you are going.

One day you will look back and realize that you

 worried too much about things that don't really matter...

~Nadiya~

The Rainbow Bridge ~

The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief.

 But the pain of grief is only a shadow when 

compared with the pain of never risking love...

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called 
Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies

that has been especially close to someone here,
 that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills 
for all of our special friends so they
can run and play together. There is 
plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our 
friends are warm and comfortable. 

All the animals who had been ill and 
old are restored to health and vigor; those 
who were hurt or maimed are made whole 
and strong again,just as we remember them in 
our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for
 one small thing; they each miss someone very
 special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the 
day comes when one suddenly stops and

looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; 
His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run 
from the group, flying over the green grass, 

his legs carrying him faster and faster. 

You have been spotted, and when you and your

special friend finally meet, you cling together
 in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands
 again caress the beloved head, and you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone
 from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

As I was brushing Sniff I sang to him.  Like I
 did with Brutus.  Memories of Brutus and Shadow came 
rushing back to me.  They are never far from me.  

To this day I can picture Brutus and all the things we did.  
I miss that boy so much, but as I was brushing Sniff
 he looked and me and curled up by my side.  I realize
 how fortunate I am to have Sniff in our lives.

The best and most beautiful things on 

this earth cannot be seen or even touched 

 they must be felt with the heart... 

~Nadiya~

Just A Regular Day ~

Today is just another normal day,
full of miracles, gifts and opportunities...

I love my coconuts.  Growing up in Puerto Rico you 

know it was something we always had plenty of.  Living 

in Florida makes it easy to have a fresh coconut anytime 

you like.  I find mind mostly at the Swap Shop.

The days are nice and calm.  Peaceful and most

 afternoons we go for little walks.  I love our walks because

 you never know who you will see or what you will see.

Yesterday we met our park friend again.  This time he 

had a squirrel on his shoulder.  The squirrel was eating peanuts.

The week is looking good.  I have to report to jury duty.
  Kinda looking forward to that.  I won't mind sitting on a
trial as a juror.  If I do I hope it is something very exciting.

 A long time ago in NYC, when I worked at the courthouse
 I was "involved" with the defendants of a trial called
The Pizza Connection.PIZZA CONNECTION

It was a very exciting time in my life.  I was naive. 
The defendants were "allowed" to have lunch in the cafeteria
 with everyone else.  I was new in the city.  I am friendly
 and I made friends with just about all of them.

Looking back now, I believe I am fortunate to be alive.
A few of the defendants were murdered during the trial 
And I knew them.  Let's say I did go out with a few of them
 for pizza.  Boy life sure was exciting, little did
 I realize it was also not too smart of me.

I'm older and smarter today.  I would like to think so.

Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy.
There's going to be stress in life, but it's your
 choice whether you let it affect you or not...

~Nadiya~

Killer Station 57 Cat

 Sometimes a very special cat enters our lives…

their presence changes our hearts forever. And we can 

call ourselves blessed for having known them.

 Grief is the price we pay for love...

Pet owners say their animal pal makes them 

smile more than once a day.  If you are fortunate

 enough to have a pet or to have had one in 

your life, know that you are truly blessed. 

 Our pets become part of our family.  For some 

their fur baby is loved more than other family

 members.  They ask for nothing except to be loved 

and in return they love us unconditionally.

  They make our lives better and happier.  They

 relieve stress and in many cases they can make

 an aloof person more human and more lovable. 

 Brutus did that, and I am sure your fur babies 

do the same for you and your loved ones.

This being said, I have been following a little

 kitty on Instagram.  Killer as the kitty is known

 has been on Instagram longer than I have.

  She (Killer) is the creation of my friend Nancy 

from NYC.  When I worked with EMS years ago, Nancy

 was also there.  Today she is a Lieutenant/Paramedic for

 the station.  Nancy is the the driving force behind the 

success of Killer.  Nancy made killer known to the world.

Nancy introduced Killer to the world in 2015.  From

 there on, Killer with her unique charm and personality 

became famous and well known throughout the world. Killer 

has a following of 47.5K  Everyone loves her, and everyday 

we were all patiently awaiting what Killer was up to next.

This morning was a sad day.  Killer died.  She was

 battling cancer and regardless of all the treatments,

 all the prayers from her friends around the world

 and the care of her guardian Nancy, Killer died.

I was devastated. Like everyone else, I was rooting for Killer.  

Following her progress reports from Nancy.  Some days 

were good, others so-so, but today she died. 

 Like me, many people around the world is grieving for

 a kitty they did not know personally, but one they loved 

with all their hearts.  Nancy and everyone at Station 57

 are devastated.  Killer made the station feel more 

like home and she made everyone happy.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. 

 Love leaves a memory no one can steal.

It’s so hard to say goodbye to a beloved fur baby

, and that goodbye, no matter how old the furry 

friend is, always feels far too soon...

~Nadiya~

Jazz In The Park ~

Life is like a book.  Sometimes the chapters are sad, 

some are happy and some exciting, but if you

 never turn the page, you will never know 

what the next chapter has in store for you...

This has been a good week for us.  We worked
and we also took time out for ourselves.  Little
 fun, little work, could not be any better.

I had the pleasure of having lunch with my friend Liliana.
  We went to one of our favorite Cuban restaurant.  No
matter all that has happened between us, when we are
 together all you can hear is laughter and two friends
 chatting just like old times.  I enjoyed it very much.

I was also able to spend the day with my sister and her
husband.   Arvid was there for an hour  then he had to go
 and do his stuff.  When he came back we spent
 another hour before leaving.  Was relaxing
and fun.  I love quality time with family.

Today we are just relaxing on the balcony listening to
the music going on in the park across the River from us.
 Relaxing and calming.  Best of times always.

Jazz in the park.  The boats are out and people are
 having a good time.  Reminds of of Chicago.  From our
 balcony we see the park, hear the music and we relax.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and harmonious day.

Listen to your own voice.  Your own soul. 
 If something does not feel right, it probably isn't...

~Nadiya~

Saturday ~

Missing someone is not about how long it has been 

since you have seen them or the amount of time since you

 talked.  It is about that very moment when you're doing

 something and wishing they were there with you...

Nothing better than starting my day with my kitties 

and my cafe.  Brutus and Shadow are no longer 

with us, but in my heart they live on forever.  

Sniff is here and he makes us happy.  I miss 

Brutus so much, but it is what it is.  Life.

It's been a busy week on the waterways.  Boats passing 

by all day long.  Makes for interesting times on the 

balcony.  Arvid sure finds relaxation when there.

February and March were busy months. They always are.

 Suddenly April is less hectic.  Gives us time to do a

 few fun things again.  I enjoy small day trips or a

 weekend getaway rather than be gone for weeks. 

Always fun and relaxing.  Plus this way we don't have

 to leave Sniff for too long.  I hate the thought of having to

 leave him for so long in the summer.  I really don't want to.

Wishing everyone a happy Saturday.  May your 

weekend be filled with wonder and all things amazing.

  Remember, it does not matter where you are or what you do.  

What matters is to live life like someone left the door open.  

Whatever it is you do.  Enjoy it.  Have fun and make memories.

No matter where we go, the sunsets are always beautiful.

You don't stop having fun when you get old.

  You get old when you stop having fun...

~Nadiya~

Reshma ~

Never give up, and be confident in what you do. 

There may be tough times, but the difficulties which

 you face will make you more determined to achieve 

your objectives and to win against all the odds...

She has fought hard and long for everything she has.

  She was not born with a silver spoon.  Every achievement

 that came her way was due to hard work, lots of struggles 

and pure dedication.  This is Reshma.  She takes 

after her mother my sister Mala.

Life has not always been easy for her.  The fact that

 she is stubborn has not helped too much, but at the same 

time the fact that she never gives up sure is paying off.  

Reshma is strong.  Her mother my sister, is a strong woman.

 If Reshma is like Mala, and I definitely see that,  nothing 

will stop her. I love all my nieces and nephews.  They 

have all done well in life, but Reshma has had to fight

 a little harder for everything.  I admire her for this.  

Whatever you do Reshma, I will always be here for you,

 as I will always be here for all my nieces and nephews. 

 I now have 2 granddaughters.  For them also anything.

The picture above was taken by Reshma in Maine.

This picture was selected together with that of others, 

to be in the Spring Art show at her college.

Reshma is talented and she has a special skill when

 taking photographs.  She has already had her first

 paid job as a photographer and she also freelances.  

Her pictures are vivid and untouched.  Unlike many

 of us who retouch a picture to the point that it seems 

totally fake, hers are completely natural.  They're 

just beautiful and REAL!  Just like Reshma.

Yes, I am a proud aunt.  Nothing will ever change that.

Wishing everyone a great day.  May you always 

live in interesting times.  Do not fear

 failure but rather fear not trying.

Congratulations go out to our nephew Gabsy as well.
 He was named employee of the month. So far April has
 been a pretty amazing month. Let's hope it continues.

Never stop trying.  Never stop believing. Never give up. 

 Your day will come.  Be patient.  Sometimes you 

have to go through the worst to get the best...

~Nadiya~

A Day In The Life Of Sniff ~

The best therapist has fur and four legs...

Most of the day is spent napping.  He has a lot

 of different beds around the apartment.

Sometimes his favorite napping spot happens to be me.

When the sun hits his condo, you will find Sniff there.  Ready for

 another nap or maybe just to relax and watch the boats pass by.

Here again.  Just hanging out with me.  On me.

Though Sniff does not like being picked up he loves to be hugged, 

but for short periods of time.  I do it as often as I can.

Everyday I pick Sniff up.  I count how long it is
 before he starts to squirm wanting to get away.  So far
 he has managed to stay put for 20 seconds.

If restrain him I can manage to hold him for another 15
 seconds.  I know one day it will be better because I will not give
 up.  I love him too much to not be able to hold him for longer.

Wishing everyone a good day.  If your life is stressful, there
is nothing better than having a little kitty or doggie to make it better.
Whenever we are having a not so good day, Sniff is always
 there to remind us to slow down and to breathe.

Dogs and Cats are God's way of apologizing for 
your relatives.  Love is a four legged word...

~Nadiya~

A Little This A Little That ~

If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look
 back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhilenesses 
I have been lucky enough to have had. Not the sadness,
 but the joy of everything else. It will have been enough...

There is a lot to discover in one's own backyard. 

 Hopefully Arvid and I will do more of it.  We are already 

making the effort to see other areas other than Fort Lauderdale.

  And there is always something to discover and to see.

Sometimes the simplest of things brings the most pleasures.

My mornings with Sniff are one of a kind.  Love every minute of it.

One of my favorite pleasures right now is my Coconut Pineapple Martini.

After all, there is always a good reason to celebrate.  We always find one.

Little walks with Arvid.  Always something to look forward to.

Our afternoons are special.  We go for walks and
we see a little of everything.  It's like going on a little
 mini adventure.  Love the ducks and the rooster.

Happy Wednesday all. Sometimes, 
the simple things are more fun and meaningful
 than all the banquets in the world. 

Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness
 is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come 
too infrequently. And if you don't collect all these tiny 
successes, the big ones don't really mean anything.

~Nadiya~

Priorities ~

Everything is valuable only at two times;

 before getting it, and after losing it...

Sometimes a little reminder of what is really important
 can really make a big difference in our lives.  Life is one big lesson,
 and everyday is an opportunity to learn from it.  Many a times
 the lesson learned is hard, but what we do with that knowledge
 and how we handle it is what shapes our lives.

A lot of us (and I include myself) sometimes tend to forget the
little things in life that are important.  We tend to think that
 everything else is so much more important without realizing
 we are missing out on some of life's best moments.

Every so often I try to stop what I am doing and to think of what
 really is important, of the loved ones in my life and the precious time we

have together.  I also TRY to get Arvid to slow down from his hectic
agenda, and do the same.  I keep reminding him that somethings
 are more important than others, and while somethings
can wait other things can't.  This I also tell to myself.

We all get caught up with our busy lives and schedules.

So much so that sometimes we forget the ones who really matter. 

To all of you have a great day and remember,
everyone has time if they care to make it.

There is a time in your life when you realize that the most
 important thing in your life is not money or good lifestyle but, 
 Respect, Love and my favorite, time spent with loved ones...

~Nadiya~

Hello April ~

April weather, rain and sunshine both together...

New week and a brand new month begins.  April is a 

good month.  Arvid, Sniff and I have birthdays this month.

  Does not get any better than this.  Arvid and Sniff are on 

the same day.  A beautiful and happy month begins.  

April is busy.  This weekend I get to see my sister in Tampa. 

 Happy as can be will have an entire day to spend with her.

  Can't wait.  Arvid in the meantime will be concentrating

 on making trades.  Both happy people.  Sniff 

will be in the good hands of Gladys.

Next on our April agenda is the Tampa Bay Blues Festival.  

First time going back since 2015.  Looking forward to

 that as well.  Hopefully the sun is hidden and we do 

not burn to death.  There was a time Arvid goT a

 really bad sunburn.  On his knees of all places.

As the new week and new month begins I wish you

 all success and all things good.  May April be a good

 month for all of us.  For us it's looking awesome.  On 

the other hand no matter what life throws our way we 

always find a reason to turn it to our advantage.

Always find a reason to laugh.  It may not add years

 to your life, but it will surely add life to your years...

~Nadiya~