Friday April 11th~

Life is a succession of lessons which 

must be lived to be understood...

 Yesterday I had a few things that needed to be done 

very early on the morning. After they were done I decided to

 stop by one of my favorite Cuban places for breakfast.

  The times before, I usually had the place all to myself,

 yesterday there were many other people ahead of me so 

I had a fairly long wait.  Part of it was that the girl was 

very slow.  She was both cashier and server.  Even so,

 I was patient, something I’m not known to be.  Took

 pictures of everything I could to kill time😂

  Back home I come and find Arvid busy as can be. 

This man is always into something.  These days I do not ask

 because I do not want to roll my eyes. He’s also busy checking 

out any boat that shows up in what used to be the marina before 

Hurricane Ian destroyed it.  We now have two sailboats “parked” 

in front of us, and they keep Arvid "busy" all day as well.  

He sure makes the most of those binoculars of his.

I continue coughing, waking up at 2am, and yes still

 sleeping in the second bedroom.   Sniff of course is with me

 on his heating bed.  He sleeps through my coughing for.  

It’s Friday already. Nothing much planned as yet.  

We were supposed to go to the Tampa Bay Blues today,

 but seems like it will be raining  exactly at the time 

Arvid wanted to see the main attraction.  

We will now see this main attraction in Missouri 

this summer.  Depending on the weather we may go tomorrow. 

 I really like it there at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

We used to always go for the 3 day event, but it’s too hot to sit 

out for so many days with no shade to protect you. Now we 

opt for one day and try to always come back that same day. 

I really don’t see the need to stay in a hotel for one night. 

I think it is  too much work, and of course I want to get back

 home to Sniff.  This cough really wears me out.  I’m so tired 

by 4-5 o’clock. I just look forward to it being gone soon. 

 My throat is raw and sometimes I taste blood. I really 

wish to be better again. I’m tired of being “sick”.  Today my

 4 sisters go to North Carolina to see mom and dad. Our mom 

has not been feeling good for months now, and we’re

 still waiting to know what her cardiologist says.

 The days are stressful, even more so for my parents. 

 I heard my dad’s voice break the other day over the phone.  

I have not been the same since. Everyday is agonizing

 until we know what’s going on with my mom. 

Open heart surgery is the phrase we heard being 

thrown around 🙏. If that’s the case we all want it to be done

 and over with.  It’s almost 3:30 in the morning right now.

 I really need some more sleep.  Will give it another try.

To all a very good day.  Fridays are

 always special, for it's the start of the weekend

 and fun times.  Enjoy and have a great one.

Life is not a matter of holding good
 cards, but of playing a bad hand well...

~Nadiya~

Thursday April 10th~

Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better...

 Any day that begins with a sunrise as beautiful 

as this can only get better.  Good day to all.  It's 

already Thursday.  Time waits for no one.

Right now we’re in Branson mode. Well Arvid

 is mostly.  Yesterday he spent quite some time 

getting us concert tickets in Missouri. So far we 

have three concerts.  Looking forward to that.

Also I have gotten Sniff a new travel carrier.  His old 

one which I refuse to throw out does not hold its shape 

anymore.  Sniff of course had to test the carrier and 

sniff it for hours.  At least he was not terrified of it.

I still have that persistent cough. I have to say 

my throat is raw and seems like talking much really

 brings it on even more. I’m tired of it. By the end of the 

day, I’m so tired. I spend most of the day just coughing.

  It’s terrible.  It’s so bad that I usually end up sleeping in the 

second bedroom around 2am when the cough kicks in again.

Sniff sleeps with me in the second bedroom.

 At first the cough and all its ruckus used to bother

 him. Now he sleeps through it.  He just raises his 

head gives me the look then it’s back to sleep.

To all a good day. My throat is sore but I really feel alright.

Some days are like this. And the only way to 

get through them is to remember that they are

 only one day, and that every day ends...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday April 9th~

Thanks for showing us year after year

 what it takes to make love last...

 Today my parents celebrate 63 years of marriage. 

 From a baby to a grown woman, I could not have better 

role models in my life.  We all say our parents are the best,

 and I will say it once again about mine.  Not only are they

 the best but they have lived a life by always showing,

teaching us what was right and what was wrong. 

Growing up our life was not easy.  Our dad worked 

and commuted long distances.  We were/are five girls.  We 

had one car.  My mom would take my dad to work.  Come 

back home, take us to school and then go to work herself.

We never had excess, but we had what we needed.  

I would never change my childhood for that of someone 

else.  What we lacked in material goods was made up 

for with love and my mom and dad always spending

 time with us.  Weekends were always family time.  

On the weekends we practically lived at the beach.

I cannot remember a day in our lives where our parents 

were not there for us.  Mom and dad sacrificed most 

of their adult lives just so that we, their five daughters 

can have a good education and have good values.

As an adult I can only recall one time my parents 

did not do something together.  It was this February 2025. 

 While in Florida there was a death in the family.  My dad

 travelled to New York on his own.  He was gone for just 

too days, but mom missed him so much and he her. 

 When Arvid and I picked him up at the airport 

all my dad asked was,"how is your mom?"  As they 

celebrate 63 years together, I just pray that they have many 

more together.  I cannot picture the one without the other.

Your love story is a true fairy tale, and we are

 so lucky to be a part of it.  Your commitment to 

each other has been an inspiration to us all.

Life gave us you both as parents, as the song goes

 some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

If raising us kids through the teenage years didn't 

break you apart, then nothing probably will ever...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday April 8th~

 Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life...

Another fairly quiet day here at home.  Arvid of course 

said he was extremely busy.  Part of that bust was watching

 a soccer game. As he says, he has very long days 🫣

I did a few things in my own.  I want to The Whole 

Foods store and to the lab.  The day was extremely hot, even 

so we went for an afternoon walk.  Always good to get out

 and get some exercise.   I did feed the birds a few squirrels

 and two ducks.  Overall a good walk.  Got back home 

soaking wet.  Hot and humid is what’s going on.

Sniff and I snagged a little me time. Sniff heard 

the screaming in the TV, and before you knew it he 

was running to watch shark movies with me. Yes again.

  It didn’t take him long to fall asleep.  He got bored 

because not enough people being eaten by the shark. 

Looks like rain today, but so far I don't see 

the rain.  We really need it.  Good day to all.

Into each life some rain must fall...

~Nadiya~

New Week~ Monday April 7th~

You can't turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again...

 As the new week begins, the painting of the building 

is coming to an end.  Thank goodness.  Getting tired of 

seeing people scooting up and down all day long.  Sniff 

on the other hand seems to enjoy watching them work.

This is the last few days of work so then we can walk

 around "freely" again in our own home.  The work is done 

mostly by two women.  They are brave and very good at it.

Arvid and I had a good Sunday outing.   It was very 

warm, but we managed to snag a table in the shade.

Monday begins with a clean slate.  Not much

 on the agenda as of now, but the week is still early and 

that will/can change.  Yesterday the day ended with the 

most beautiful sunset captured right from our balcony.

And so begins another week.  Give it your own magic.

Wishing you a week of opportunities and growth...

~Nadiya~

Sunday April 6th~

Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to

 which you can retreat at any time and be yourself...

 Yesterday was a fairly quiet day.  Most of the day 

Arvid spent watching soccer.  Sniff and I caught up

 on some shark movies.  Everyone was happy.

After the games and the shark movies we were ready to do

 something, but not feeling great enough to go downtown.  Instead 

we went to the movies.  I love going to the movies.  Arvid enjoys

 all of Jason Statham's movies, and of course I have gotten

 to do the same.  The choice of movie was easy. 

These Cyber Trucks are everywhere, but I sure didn't

 expect it to become part of law enforcement's fleet.

Even though I think they are unattractive, I just 

can't stop taking pictures of them.  They have become

 a pretty common sight here in Fort Myers, like I'm 

sure everywhere else.  Even saw a few in Branson.

Wishing everyone a very restful and peaceful day.

A cat may not demand attention, but their love is 

ever-present, like a quiet shadow by your side...

~Nadiya~

Saturday April 5th~

The more relaxed you are, the better you are at 

everything: the better you are with your loved ones, 

the better you are with your enemies, the better you

 are at your job, the better you are with yourself...

 Arvid is very particular with our cars.  No matter the

 time, once we get back home from a long drive, especially 

Alligator Alley the car gets a really good hosing down.  

The bugs are insane during the night drive.

Yesterday we took it easy.  Had a quiet day and a 

quiet evening.  Neither of us feeling 100% as yet.  We 

caught up on some shows we missed and enjoyed a cozy 

evening at home with Sniff.  Was very good time.

Good morning and a good day to all.  Saturday is looking good.

Lighten up while you still can, don't even try to understand. 

Just find a place to make your stand, and take it easy...

~Nadiya~

Friday April 4th~

Goodbyes are not forever, goodbyes are not the end. 

They simply mean we'll miss you until we meet again...

 Yesterday we went to Fort Lauderdale to see Victoria 

and Michael for the last time.  Their six week vacation comes 

to an end today, and though they look forward to going back 

home, it was also very sad/emotional saying goodbye.

I will never get tired of saying how fortunate I am to have 

the relationship I have with Victoria, and yes, Michael.  Victoria 

and I have come a long way.  I have seen her blossom into a 

woman any parent would be proud of.  Beautiful she always

 has been and still is.  I admire the woman she is.  Kind 

and always willing and ready to help anyone in need.

They stayed in Fort Lauderdale.  We live in Fort Myers. 

On an average it's about a two hour drive if no traffic, with 

traffic all bets are off.  One week they came our way then

 the next we went towards them.  Not the most, but the 

times we had together were very good.  Relaxing and fun.

To Victoria: I may not have given you the gift of life, but 

life gave me the gift of you.  Thank you for being a part of 

my life.  I know we had a rocky start, but what matters is today.

  I am grateful for you and for all the joy you have brought 

into my life.  Know that you can always count on me.

Friday already.  The days seem to go by so fast.  I'm still not

 feeling 100% great, but I sure am better than I was yesterday. 

 Wishing everyone a happy start of the day and the weekend.

Kindness begets kindness.  You can accomplish 

by kindness what you cannot by force...

~Nadiya~

Thursday April 3rd~

No animal has more liberty than the cat...

 Sniff continues to be enthralled with these crime/drama 

TV shows.  Who am I to deny him anything?  Together as I continue

 to get better we spend time in the bedroom watching TV while Arvid 

watches some car show or a soccer game.  Everyone is happy.

I try to shield him from the very worse, but he's

 not having any of that.  He wants to see it all 😂

Mark Twain said,  "If man could be crossed with the cat, 

it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat."

There is, incidentally, no way of talking about 

cats that enables one to come off as a sane person...

~Nadiya~

April 2nd ~

 Sometimes when we are generous

 in small, barely detectable ways, it can 

change someone else's life forever...

Mornings and evenings are the most "painful" 

right now.  The cough I have seems to be hyper active 

at these times.  It does not help that I talk too much.

It's already record heat here in Southwest Florida,

 but that's part of living in Florida.  Don't like it.  As soon 

as we can it's Missouri for us.  Less humidity for sure.

I could not ask for anything else.  I have everything I 

need and for that my life is full and I am grateful.

You're a force of nature, Aries!  I'm not 

always calm, but I am always an Aries...

~Nadiya~

April~ Welcome New Month

April is the path to brighter days. May 

it be a time of relaxation and renewal...

 Spring weather is a welcome relief after months of 

cold, dark winter days.  Here in Florida it's summer just 

about everyday, but for those in the colder climates, 

April signals a green light to summertime🎕

Yesterday Sniff spent a lotta time watching TV

 with me.  We were binging on Lifetime movies.  Lots of 

suspense and some screaming.  No not horror.

April is special.  My Sniff and Arvid

 are April boys and I am an Aries woman.

As the new month begins I am looking forward to 

having a knee surgery to repair my torn meniscus.  My knee 

has been hurting since August of 2024.  Right after

 I got back from my trip in San Francisco.

Arvid is mostly on the mend from the flu. 

 He still has the cough, but he sounds better and 

has started to get restless.  That is the best

 indication that he’s getting better.

As for me the cough is worse especially 

when I speak.   As you can imagine, I cough all 

day long 😂 My throat is sore from coughing. 

That being said, it could have been worse.

On April Fools Day, believe nothing, 

trust no one, just like any other day.

  Goodbye March, hello April...

~Nadiya~