Wednesday January 11th~

Death is the final wake up call... 

My sisters mother-in-law died peacefully on Sunday. 

 She has two sons.  One lives in the USA just like she did.  

The other son lives in Serbia.  They got the news five days before

 she died telling them she was in ICU and not expected to live long.  

Well the two sons just wanted to make it in time to hold her

 one more time and to be with her.  My brother-in-law left the 

very next day to be with his mom.  The son in Serbia did the same.  

Thankfully they both were there with her in her final days/hours.

Arvid and I got back late yesterday evening.  The drive back to

 Ft. Myers took almost 3 hours.  We were once again caught in traffic. 

 But we made it home to Sniff and everyone is happy.

Miami.. glad to visit, happier when we leave.  What a place. 

 Vibrant, alive, loud and full of everything that you want.  Two days

 was enough.  We had a good time walked everywhere, and it brought 

back memories of a time when this was my "norm"  Glad it no longer is.

The night life is outrageous.  I love it while there, but was 

also glad when we left.  My favorite was watching all the people. 

 Was the best show on earth.  There is a little of everything.

I love the art deco district, the buildings and the colors.

  Christmas lights were still on in many places.  Made for even more

 beautiful colors at night.  The Latin vibe is everywhere, and I loved it.

  Being in South Beach is like being in a whole different world.

I would not live in Miami, but an occasional visit is more than doable😂
 

Let the good times roll.  Life is an ongoing adventure.

Good morning everyone.  Here in Fort Myers we woke up to 45F (7C)

 while in Fort Lauderdale and Miami it is 12 degrees warmer 57F (14C)   The good 

thing is that it will warm up, but the next few days will be on the chilly side.

Live life to the fullest and focus on the positive...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday January 10th ~

 Life is full of adventure.  There is no such thing as a clear pathway...

The days just went by so very fast, but it was nice to getaway for a little.  

Miami has and always will be one of my favorite places to be.  As I mentioned 

before, when I had the opportunity to live in Miami Beach I enjoyed every moment. 

 I loved the "crazies" in South Beach and still do.  I'm drawn to the "weird"

A few "errands" before we go back home.  Definitely have
 to make a stop at the Swap Shop and stock up on my coconuts and my 

favorite fruits that I can't find in Publix.  Very excited for this.

Can't wait to get home to Sniff.  I have missed him

 very much.   After all, he's mama's baby.  I love our Sniff.

Life is better with Sniff.  Dogs believe 

they are human. Cats believe they are God...

~Nadiya~

Monday January 9th~ Looking Back

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for

 eternity that will never cease looking back at you...

Sometimes when you have nothing to do, not too often, but

 occasionally you find yourself with some time and what better

 way to pass the time than looking back at the way you were. 

Just the other day I was just taking a little breather and I found

 myself going through old photos of time long ago.  I came across this

 one of me.  I believe I was17 years old.  We lived in Puerto Rico.

So much has happened since then.  My sisters and I have all

 gotten married.  The all have children and our lives have all gone

 separate ways.  I look back and I see days where we had not a care in

 the world.  Anything we needed was taken care by mom and dad.

Today as grown ups we all have our own problems we have to 

face and deal with.  We all sometimes wish we can go back to those

 days when we were just little kids and all we had to worry

 about was to do our homework and make good grades.

That's my mom.  She is holding my youngest sister Rima 

and the girl in red is my sister Mala.  We were all so young.  

Time sure flies.  Sometimes I wish we could hang on a little

 longer to those days where life was not so complicated..

After all is said and done, I cannot complain.  My life is good.

  It has it's ups and downs, but sharing it with Arvid, Sniff and our 

families makes it a good life.  Included are also good friends.

Today I begin another first.  I start talking my cancer pill. 

 Based on what the doctors have told me, this is a five year "journey"  

After that we re-evaluate if I need it anymore.  Ready to do so.

This drug has many side effect.  Like all drugs.  Basically they

 tell you you're dead before you even start taking it.  None of that 

concerns me.  What did catch my attention was the one side effect that I really

 hope applies to me.  Says I may have a decreased appetite.  Lord knows

 I will be the only person who that rule does not apply to 😥😂

Strength is looking back and seeing what you have been through
 and knowing you were strong enough to make it through... 

~Nadiya~

Sunday January 8th~

 Any day is a good day for Miami 🌴

A long time ago, before I met Arvid I dated a guy who lived in

 Miami Beach.  Of course that meant that I did live for some time there.  

He was/is part Cuban and part Lithuanian.  Well the Cuban part ruled 

and for that I was happy.  He knew Miami like no one else, and because 

of that I got to enjoy and see just about everything.  As far as he goes...

Even when we lived in Fort Lauderdale, I always wanted 
to have a weekend getaway in Miami.  Specifically South Beach.  

It's happening today.  Arvid and I would have loved to go to 

Puerto Rico, but the timing did not work out, so Miami it is

 and I am very happy.  Arvid worries too much about me

 and he wanted to have some time away for us to relax.  

I am hoping we will make it to my very favorite restaurant in Miami Beach.

It's a beautiful day and we are going to have a very good time.

  Wish you all a good day and enjoy each moment.

I look at our lives as an eternal adventure, and I won't have it 

any other way.  Arvid is the ultimate partner for this adventure in life. 

Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure

 is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles in life.

If Miami hasn't got it, they haven't invented it as yet...

~Nadiya~

Saturday January 7th~

 Friends are those rare people who ask how 
we are and then wait to hear the answer...

Yesterday we met up with friends for lunch.  In a place called

 Englewood, about and hour and fifteen minutes from us.  We have

 known them since living in Fort Lauderdale, a little over 20 years

 I believe.  As we both agree, always a very nice time with friends.

We had lunch at a very cute place on the water.  Another place

 to go back to.  Arvid is most happy when sitting out and being

 able to enjoy the water views and the boats.  I do like it also.

Last night we also had the monthly Art Walk.  Of course 

we went, after all Friday nights is when we have a slice of pizza.  

I look forward to that all week long.  Never ever disappoints.

Downtown Fort Myers is truly beautiful.  We are loving it.

It's been one week now since I finished radiation therapy.  

I cannot complain at all.  So far  🙏none of the side effects the 

doctor mentioned (blisters, skin peeling off) has shown up. 

 Yes, it does hurt at random times depending on what I do. 

 I try to remember not to use the left arm too much.  The tiredness

 is weird, I can be all right all day long and suddenly just like that

 I am totally exhausted.  What I dislike are the headaches.

 They last all day long.  The last one was two days non stop.  

Today it's much better and I am so happy about that.

I am really very fortunate in all of this.  These last few days 

I have been scheduling doctors appointments.  This takes quite some

 time because I am always on bold.  The last one kept me on hold for

 over 45 minutes.  Patience is NOT my strong point, but I waited.

Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal...

~Nadiya~

Friday January 6th ~

 Bad days turn, to manageable days, to nothing can break me days...

Temperatures are a little cooler than they were, but still 

a good 10 degrees warmer than they should be.  I love the 

feel of the cool air on my face. Not cold, just perfect.

On our walks there is something that always catches my eye.  

These flowers are in full bloom and there are hundreds of them

 along our path.  Of course I had to get a few pictures.

The 50th Annual Fort Myers Boat Show once again takes over the 

historic downtown riverfront, January 5-8, 2023.  This is the largest 

display of boats, boating products, and services on Florida’s west coast,

 featuring over 500 boats on land, representing over 130 manufacturers.

 It is also one of the most beautiful settings for a show in the country.

 Set on the Caloosahatchee River exhibits wind along the river,

 through Centennial Park and the newly renovated Caloosa Sound 

Convention Center and to the east along Edwards Drive.

While here don't forget to check out the sunset.  It will take your

 breath away.  A good day to all and make it an amazing one.

I have my good days, also my bad days, and my weary days,

 but I thank Buddha for letting me get past those and become stronger..

~Nadiya~

Thursday January 5th ~

 Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going...

Arvid is a man of routines.  One can set their clock and never

 miss a beat with him.  He does the same thing day in and day out.

  Breakfast at the same time everyday Monday through Saturday.  

Sunday changes a little because as he says, "today we have

 bacon and eggs." I am "random" as he likes to say 😂

He makes his breakfast Mondays through Saturdays.  

Always the exact same thing.  I have no such order in my routine.  

Then it's balcony time with Sniff to finish his tea and to check

 out what is happening around us with the boats and such.

Afternoon walks are after the last soccer game or until he 

has finished up with business for the day and the sun is not of

 course at its hottest.  With all of these "routines" I am good with.  

I do what I want no matter what.  Arvid still says he can't 

figure me out because I am not consistent like him 😂

When it comes to Sniff we are mostly always in agreement. 

 We make sure Sniff is always safe and loved, and that he knows it.

The day begins once again with clear skies and warm.  

It's a beautiful day in Fort Myers.  Good morning all.

Habits stay with you even when you don’t have the motivation

~Nadiya~

Wednesday January 4th ~

To keep your balance, you must keep moving...

There was a time in our lives and I am not sure that

 time is over as yet where Arvid and I moved constantly.  We

 actually made money by moving every two years.  Not a lifestyle

 I would recommend, but at the time I didn't mind.  Now I do.  

New construction coming up.  What do we do? 

It really nice and warm, as in really warm.  Liking it.  Amazingly 

we have not had much rain since moving to Fort Myers, and I think

 the humidity has not been an issue at all.  Very beautiful days. 

 Sniff agrees with me.  he always finds his ray of sunshine. 

 No matter where we live his beds are always positioned so

 that he gets sunshine.  Sniff is always a priority for me.

The morning is already looking good.  For starters there 

is no fog in the horizon.  Sniff has been brushed to the tunes 

of Cocomelon.  His favorite is Mary had a Little Lamb 🐑

Whatever attitude we bring into a situation will be multiplied...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday January 3rd 2023 ~

 I was just counting my blessings... and I 
decided to send this little greeting to one of them...

So much for starting off the year on a better note.  When someone

 you care for is going through difficult times it affects you.  Right now

 someone we love is having a hard time.  We are thinking of her

 and sending her positive vibes all the way from the USA 🙏

Life is never as you expect it to be.  One day all is well, 

next day it throws you a curve and boom, the scales 

have tipped and for sure not in your favor.  Life.

 I am doing good.  Nothing for me has changed, but for

 someone we care for her life just got a little more complicated. 

Just know that we have you in our thoughts all the time.

Wishing everyone a good day.  A little kindness goes a long way.

Love begins by taking care of the closest one... the ones at home...

~Nadiya~

January 2nd 2023 ~

Life doesn't allow us to go back and fix what 

we have done wrong in the past, but it does allow

 us to live each day better than our last..

Waking up again to fog.  There has been a lot of foggy 

mornings since we have been here.  Have not experienced 

this in Fort Lauderdale.  At least not that I remember.

Sniff sits and waits patiently, no matter how long it takes for the

 fog to disappear and for the sun to shine.  He loves his naps in the

 sunshine.  He's a sun lover, but lately the sun has not been showing 

up in the mornings.  Just the fog, he continues to wait until it does.

The year started out warm.  According to the news it is ten degrees 

warmer than usual.  Neither Arvid nor I are complaining.  Makes for 

enjoyable outings and dinners by the water.  Yesterday we had our 

first meal out for 2023 and we sat out looking at the boats passing by.  

Not bad at all for January, but then for Florida this is the norm 😂

The struggles we endure today will be the

 ‘good old days’ we laugh about tomorrow

~Nadiya~

January 1st 2023 ~

 Sometimes true directions can only be found when people 
let the wind of change carry them to the places it decides...

Waking up to a foggy January 1st, 2023.  The fog 

should be clearing up in a couple of hours.  Sniff is sniffing 

the air around him.  He knows something is "new" 😂

Arvid and I went Downtown to watch the ball drop.

  Didn't make it until then.  I got tired and we came home.

  We had a drink at home and watched the celebrations on TV.

We encountered our favorite "lunatic" and he made for

 a good evening.  Everyone stopped to take his picture and 

could not help but smile.  To each their own.  I smile.

As 2023 begins, radiation treatments are all done for me.  That being said, 

I now begin to schedule a whole lot of doctors appointments.  Rechecking begins. 

 January is pretty open.  Just a few doctors appointments, but come February

 and March it begins all again.  But at least the cancer is under control.

Happy 2023 from our family to yours.  Every day is a chance 

to begin again. Don’t focus on the failures of yesterday, 

start today with positive thoughts and expectations.

There always comes a time when a person is sure that everything

 is finished. That’s exactly when the new beginning is being born...

~Nadiya~

January 1st 2023 ~New Month~ New Year

2022 thank you for all the lessons.  2023 I am ready...

 Every year we make the resolution to change ourselves.

  This year let's make the resolution to be ourselves.  Once again 

a brand new year and a million chances to outshine 2022

I have not made resolutions, but I have made a promise to 

myself, Arvid and Sniff that we should continue to enjoy everyday 

to the fullest and to live life with zest and happiness everyday.

  Of course things happen, life has it's ups and downs, but after

 all is said and done, I just want to live and be happy.

Let's just spend the rest of our lives together.  As you Arvid Hvidsten, 

keep saying to me, "let's aim for another 22 years and we go from there."

New Year wishes.  I like the dream of the 

future better than the history of the past...

~Nadiya~