Wednesday November 30th ~

 Once you make the decision to move on, don't look back. 

 Your destiny will never be found in the rear view mirror...

I'm ready for the holidays.  The festivities are about to begin.

I made Arvid one of his favorite.  Favorite since we lived in Puerto Rico.

  It's called pastelon.  In other words it's lasagna but instead made with

 pasta/lasagna noodles it's made with ripe plantains. It was delicious.

Arvid's day was a mixture of soccer, boat watching and 

some  "real" work.  Yesterday was a good day for the USA

 soccer team the beat Iran.  Made us both happy.

With this win over Iran, the USA advances to knockout stage.

Yes the United States is on their way to the Round of 16 👏

Wednesday already.  The days are just flying by. 

 Another doctor's appointment tomorrow.  I'm really 

getting tired of all these doctors appointments.

Sniff is still catching up on sleep.  He's not sure if to get out of 

his bed or not.  Quiet day today.  More soccer and hopefully no

 doctors office will call me telling me I need to do so and so.

Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, 

shift your energy to what you can create...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday November 29th ~

 However difficult life may seem, there is 

always something you can do and succeed at...

I just don't feel good today.  For the last 10 days or so I have 

been experiencing discomfort,  Not pain just an annoying, constant

 discomfort on the breast that I had surgery on.  All clothing right

now is bothersome and at times it makes me very irritable.  I know,

 part of the healing process and it will get better.  But it sure is really

 uncomfortable.  It feels as if someone punched me in the ribs.  

There are days I am just tired at not being able to do all the things 

I want to do, but then I remind myself that it could have been worse. 

 Something simple as doing light weight (as in very light weights), is

 not allowed for 4-6 months.  Not a big deal, but today this irritated me.  

Go figure.  I guess today is not my day, but the day is still young.

When I feel a little "run down" I look at Sniff and I brush him. 

 He cheers me up without him even knowing he does.  Arvid

 always makes me laugh, and he does everything to make me

 feel better when I'm down.  I'm fortunate to have them.

Tuesday.  This month is just about over.  Looking forward

 to December.  Hopefully my treatment begins and I can get it 

over with by the New Year.  2023 definitely has to be better.

Find your focus by seeking all that is good in your life...

~Nadiya~ 

November 28th ~ New Week

 The week is yours, own it...

It's the last Monday in November 2022.  No sure that

 is significant, but worth mentioning.  For me it means another 

visit to another doctors office.  Lucky me 😂  I'm still waiting

 to hear from my doctor as to when my radiation treatment

 begins.  I just want to start so that it will end.  The start

 is always the hardest part, after that it's a breeze.

Once again Arvid watched 3 soccer matches yesterday.  Today will

 be the same, but every so often he has to get up and take a peek

 at what's going on with the refloating and removal of all

 the sunken boats.  As he likes to say, "I'm so busy."

As the new week begins, I look for positivity in people.  

There are so many reasons to be negative, but so many more 

to see life in a positive way and to face each day with an optimistic

 and good attitude.  I will admit to being too frank/honest, but

 at least I don't lie to anyone.  I tell it as it is and sometimes 

I believe I can and should be a little softer in the way 

I say things.  Not everyone can handle it well 😓

I look forward to a week with hopefully no drama.  

I have enough to deal with in my life right now, any thing

 else I can  do without.  To all a good week ahead.  Please find 

the positive in each day, even if you have to look a little harder.

Food makes me happy and if it comes with truffle fries 

even happier.  I can feel that it will be a good week.  Hope the

 same for you.  Tell yourself it is going to be a good week.

Once again no sleep for us.  On the positive side, I 

can take a nap during one of the soccer games 😂

May your week be filled with good thoughts, 

kind people and happy moments...

~Nadiya~

Sunday November 27th ~

 Every moment is a fresh beginning...

Sniff knows exactly what to do to make Arvid do his bidding. 

 It's not as if Arvid complains either.  According to him, it gives him

 a chance to get up and move around a little.  Everyone is happy.

Arvid used to take Brutus with him when he took out the trash. 

 He now does it with Sniff.  There is no way Sniff and get out because

 we have our own "private" elevator.  Meaning no one else can get

 off on our floor.  Sniff enjoys time in this little foyer and has

 his favorite bench there.  It was also Brutus' bench.  Shadow 

never had enough time to have a favorite of anything. 

Three soccer matches on today so it will be "busy" for Arvid.

  Sniff will watch and nap together with his dada.  I will catch up on 

some reading.  Works for us.  To all a good day and time to start 

getting ready for Christmas.  November is just about over.

Don’t settle for what life gives you; make

 life better and build something...

~Nadiya~

Saturday November 26th_

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are…

Friday started out with an appointment to do another scan. 

I had to have an IV with iodine.  Called for a contrast CT scan. 

 The iodine part made me nauseous during the day, but it sure

 didn’t stop me from enjoying my food 🙃not much does.

Yesterday USA played England in the FIFA World Cup.

 Of course I am going for USA.  Arvid England.  We had a bet. 

 Neither won, since it was a draw.  The USA though the 

didn't win sure gave England a run for their money.

I spent part of the day watching Christmas movies. 

Arvid and I watched one together the other night. Just light

 and funny. Not much substance but on the other hand 

you don’t have to concentrate much.  Sniff of course

 was sleeping with us the through out the movie.

On Fridays we have discovered a little place called 

Hideaway Sports Bar.  There is live music from 5:30 to 7:30. 

 Cool little place and it will become a little Friday hangout.  After

 that we walk around and there is always more music elsewhere 

and people just loving and enjoying life.  We are loving it.

Last night as we were listening to music there was this beautiful dog.  

He garnered more attention than anyone else.   Not a single

 person was able to resist touching him.  Me included.

I am very surprised at how much we are enjoying 

being in Fort Myers.  I am even more surprised that Arvid

 is really loving it as well.  I had thought we would miss 

Fort Lauderdale more.  So far we haven't.  

When I lived in Ft. Myers so many hears ago, I got tired 

of it because it was just to quiet for me, which at the time

 was the reason I had moved here.  It has changed so

 much from that time to now.  It's now a vibrant city.

Life is like a wave; sometimes we feel up and happy

 and some other times we feel down and sad. The important 

thing to remember is that we should not let the sad times 

overwhelm us and rob us of our positive energy...

~Nadiya~

Black Friday November 25th~

 BLACK FRIDAY: because only in America people 

trample each other for sales exactly one day after

 being thankful for what the already have..

The perfect sunset at the end of a very good day

There is no place I want to be right now than exactly where

 I am.   This is what Sniff feels about Black Friday, and I can't

 blame him either.  There is no way I want to go and be trampled on

 by a bunch of people waiting on lines for hours just to buy a TV.  

Truth be told, the deals are really good, and some places 

have been having Black Friday deals all month long.  I must 

say I have done some shopping.  Mostly online unless there is 

something Arvid wants.  He's not into the online thing.

Woke up early again.  Another trip to the doctors office. 

 Yup I'm living the life.  But in all seriousness, it could have 

been much worse.  Overall I am pretty fortunate.

Off we go!  The race for the best deals have begun.

I hope your Black Friday injuries aren't so severe that 

you can't click a mouse on CYBER MONDAY...

~Nadiya~

Thanksgiving 2022 🧡🦃 ~

 Be kind, be thoughtful, be genuine, 

but most of all be grateful...

Last year Thanksgiving we were in Fort Lauderdale.  

We spent most of November at Holiday Isle Yacht Club. 

 It was a good and happy time for Arvid, Sniff and I.

Sniff as you can see always has the best view.

Thanksgiving 2021 we spent in Puerto Rico with my sister Nirvana, Kimsy 

and J.  One of the best times we have had.  Puerto Rico is where we would

 go back time after time.  I loved the island as a child growing up there, and I 

love it even more now that Arvid, Sniff and I made it home for a while.

This year we welcome Thanksgiving in Fort Myers.  
Not doing much.  My week has been full of doctors appointments

 and it will be good to just stay in and have dinner at home.

Our condo is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner.  Arvid and I will

 not be going.  For some reason we have never really gotten into the

 social gathering in any of the different places we have lived in Florida.  

If we were in Branson, I would definitely be part of the Thanksgiving 

celebration at Almost Home.  We even attended something in Chicago.

For many the holidays is a very lonely time, so if you can 

find it in your heart to make a difference in someone's life, if only 

for a day, I know it will make a world of difference to that someone.

Never forget that what we take for granted, someone else is praying for.

Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world 

with love and gratitude. Forever on Thanksgiving 

the heart will find the pathway home 🧡🦃...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday November 23rd ~

 You must trust and believe in people or life becomes impossible...

Trust can be a fragile thing, but it is the foundation on 

which all relationships are built. Sniff knows that no matter 

what happens I will always take care of him, protect him and

 forever love him.  Just like he loves us.  Sniff trusts us.

Thanksgiving is just a few days away.  We are not really

 doing much this year.  Even though we actually have 2 dinner

 invitations, we have chosen to decline them both.  Growing up

 we entertained so much.  I have the best childhood memories.

My parents' home was always filed with friends and 

of course all five of their girls.  My sisters entertain often,

 and my parents continue to do the same.  What happened 

to me I'm not sure.  Arvid 😂?  Who knows?

I do love to cook and have family over, Arvid is not always so

 keen on entertaining.  I guess as time has passed by, I have gotten 

into the habit of less socializing.  In all honesty I won't mind 

doing a little more, but Arvid is not keen on socializing. 

 Although I will admit, he is so much better now than 

he was a few years ago.  When he was first introduced to 

one of my family's "function" as he likes to call it, he was a bit 

taken back.  Just a regular gathering was 50-100 people. 

 Even I was taken back.  I didn't even know most of them. 

 That's Indians for you.  You invite one, and that one tells

 it to another.  Next thing you know the entire village

 is at your house.  But boy, growing up sure was so very

entertaining.  And work.  We had a great childhood.

The days have been a bit on the gloomy side lately, and as 

mentioned cold for SWFL.  On the bright side, still super warm

 compared to most places.  Overall can't and won't complain.

Even Sniff is feeling a little more tired and bla today.  

On the other hand, Sniff is always happy no matter what kind of a 

day it is.  He knows he's loved and safe.  He's my happy place.

To all a good day. Strive to find things to be thankful for,

 and just look for the good in who you are.  Yesterday I had the 

first of my 16 breast scans.  Plus I had 3 tiny tattoos place on 

my body as a guide.  I am ashamed to say that the the needle 

poking me caused me to flinch.  I do not tolerate pain well.

Acknowledging the good that you already have in

 your life is the foundation for all abundance...

~Nadiya~ 

Tuesday November 22nd ~

 I never lost a game.  I just ran out of time...

And the days just keep getting busier and busier.  That is 

with soccer for Arvid.  My days are just busy with doctors appointments, 

and Sniff is busy watching games and napping.  Everyone is happy.

Three games a day.  I have to say that is definitely a full schedule.

  Arvid is already comfortable in front of the TV.  This of course 

gives me time to "sneak" off and do something random 😂

 My "randomness" for today will be a doctors visit and a

 scan of breast so that the doctors and pinpoint the exact position 

of my organs just to make sure radiation does not damage

 my heart for instance 😂  I get a new scan  before

 each treatment.  Treatment has not begun as yet.

The game was tied.  Not happy about that.  USA should

 have won. That being said, happy Tuesday to all.  Another 

soccer filled day for Arvid.  Boy is he happy ⚽.

It is during our darkest moments 

that we must focus to see the light...

~Nadiya~