Jun 30, 2012

Time passes and you begin to see, people for who they really are and not who they pretend to be...

I've learned to let things roll off my back. If people say and do negative things, I could care less, but I let it give me a boost of confidence if they're saying nice things.  


The fakest people are the ones that brag about being real.


I saw this on Facebook and it reminded me of a few people that have passed through my life.  For some reason I guess I can no longer remember their names nor wish to do so.  Yes, people like this are always going to exist, but it's up to you as a person to decide if you will let them in your life, and allow them to drag you down with them.
Enjoy your day all.
If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble...
Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are...
until next time
~Nadiya~

What A Difference...

Some of the worst mistakes of my life have been haircuts...

What better way to change your appearance than by having a haircut?  My girlfriend is always telling me how she wishes she looked different.  The way she would put it is, "Nadiya I want to be sexy, more attractive to men.  I want a man to see me and just go "shit" this is the woman for me."

"Jenny" has the most awesome way of expressing herself.  She is to the point and never afraid to speak her mind.  Reminds me a little of me, but this one is much bolder.  I spend hours just being amazed by her and never having a dull moment.



One day as we were having lunch together she was telling me about the days when she used to go to restaurants and how men always picked up the tab.  My only question was "how the heck I never been to any of these restaurants?"  Jenny said that today, "no one will even buy you a glass of water"


Hair brings one's self-image into focus; it is vanity's proving ground.  Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices..

until next time
~Nadiya~

Jun 29, 2012

Friday Fun...

Life is all about having a good time....

This will be our last weekend here for a while.  It's Friday and we have a lot to do and a lot to see before we leave for Norway.  Today we decided to do a little road trip.  For this we have rented a car.  First stop is some shopping.   Next we will be going to our favorite auto museum here in Chicago.


It has become sort of a tradition now.  So many great cars to look at and with Arvid I never know how many we will end up owning.  It has happened before.  After that it will be time to go and have a nice lunch and then out to listen to music in the evening.  Arvid has discovered a new place and for this we also need a car.  


Friday will be fun and I am already making plans for Saturday and Sunday.  Have to make the most of the days we have left.  Hopefully I will be able to continue posting my blog.  I all depends on how good and Internet connection we have.  
For now have a good day...

We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything, than when we are at play...

~Nadiya~

Jun 28, 2012

Hot & Cold....

Weather forecast for tonight:  dark and HOT!

Will soon be in Norway and from what I see it's not that warm as yet.  Hope to have some warmer temperatures when there.  Currently in Chicago is is 100 degrees.  Definitely too hot.  Went out for a bit today and almost melted, came home soaking and almost dehydrated.  Of course we walked.

Chicago and Norway (Horten)
No matter what, we always want the opposite.  I'm no different.  Now I would gladly take Norway's cooler temperatures, but I know when there I would long for warmer climate.  It's the same every year, you always have rain, you always have hot weather..just have to deal with it.

Whether the weather be fine, Whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold, Whether the weather be hot, We'll weather the weather, Whatever the whether, Whether we like it or not..


until next time
~Nadiya~

Family Time...

Be who you are and say what you feel because those 
who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind...

They say that the bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.  So very true.
We all look forward to those moments when we get together with family and just sit together and catch up with what each person has been up to.  Quite fun and quite entertaining seeing that some have more colorful and interesting lives than others...you never know what will come out.


I know I look forward to seeing mine and to just chat and have some quality time.  Same with everyone, but if we are truthful, we will have to admit that after the initial get together there is only so much catching up one can do.  Everyone wants to speak at the same time, and it then becomes a little to loud and overbearing.  Good sign to end the evening while it's still pleasant.

Family is very important to me as I am sure it is for most.  We most certainly do not always agree, but we sure respect each others opinions and differences.  
Not so many more days until we are in Norway.  Also lots of catching up with Arvid and the rest of his family.  He does not see them that often so there will be many gatherings.   I have always told him how important it is to make alone time for them and he always does.  This is important for all.




I believe that the key to having good times with family is to not overstay your welcome.  Every thing in moderation works great.  We visit, we leave early.  They visit they leave early.  This way we can all enjoy each others company and look forward to the next time....


To maintain a healthy relationship with your family sometimes it's best as Arvid says, "don't tell too much.  Don't get involved, and mostly mind your own business."   
Have a good day all...


Family :today's little moments becomes tomorrow's precious memories...


 until next time
~Nadiya~

Big Mouth...

The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart...
Unable to resist anything with a kitty cat, so you know I had to write about this one, especially when we all know someone like this.  Someone who lets out more hot air from their mouths with the intention of trying to impress everyone around.  Sad...Better to remain silent and be thought a fool then to speak out and remove all doubt.



I have learnt to just pretend to listen while my mind and thoughts are somewhere else with some thing much more worth my time.  We have all encountered in our lives many unpleasant people and situations.  All I hope is to learn from the lesson and to never let it repeat again.

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap...



~Nadiya~

Jun 27, 2012

About Arvid...

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page...

At the blues festival we meet some new friends, and they were mostly from Canada. We got to talking to them and Arvid happens to mention that he actually has relatives living in Canada. Our new friends asked a few questions, but Arvid was not sure exactly who these relatives were and what they did. He knew they were some Norwegian relatives, but not sure of much more.

Next morning he calls his mother, and this was not a Sunday:)   She's in her upper 80's but sharp as a tack. Within a few minutes she told him all about these relatives. I then asked Arvid if he would one day like to visit them. He looked horrified, like as if I had just asked something very strange.  His immediate answer was, " never, I don't even know these people .". That was that.

Soon Arvid was talking and reminiscing about his first trip to the USA.  It was 1978.  He flew from Norway to New York and from there to LA with a friend. Their plan was to just see as many of the US States as possible. For this they decided to actually buy a car.  Use it for the duration of their vacation touring the US. The plan was to drive from LA back to new York and see all the States in between.


   On the way to new York there were many adventures and close calls.  One of the stops was Minnesota were Arvid also has family. He did not know them but his mom had asked him to look them up.  So this is how he tells it to me . " you know how I don't like parties, pictures and all that family gathering stuff?".   I said, " yes I know."   Then he says" just my luck when we got to the relatives house they were celebrating a birthday party. Can you believe my luck?". He sounded so mortified I just had to laugh because for those who know Arvid, knows that he still does not like this kind of stuff.   He does not like large family gatherings. Too bad because I have a large family so when there is one we
go and truthfully I don't hear him complaining.  Of course a party for Arvid is 4 people anything more and then he starts to not be too happy. 




Being Indian, part of our culture is large gatherings.  For us a party is 20+ at one time.  Anything less is just considered a small gathering.  Took Arvid a while to figure this out.  I just wonder how he will fare at my cousins wedding, 

Back to his family, he said when they saw him they started crying and hugging him.  He was not too happy with this because as he said."I did not know these people". When I met Arvid he was also not used to to expressing himself too much as in hugging others. Again I come from a very warm family so like it or not he was hugged all the time and now he hugs back.  


After the emotional greeting with his " American" family Arvid was very ready to bolt, but they did not wish to hear about it. In fact Arvid told me that they wanted him to stay with them. They even offered him a job as a farmer. Nothing wrong with that, but the last thing Arvid is, is a farmer.  Just the idea must have terrified him.  Imagine your first trip to the USA, seeing New York, California and living the dream many wanted and to be asked if you wanted to stay back and be a farmer?  

All Arvid could think of was how do we get out of there and the faster the better. All he and his friend wanted to do was to continue on their tour of the USA and not think of becoming farmers.  Arvid says they somehow managed to "escape" without hurting anyone's feelings.

While he tells me the story I just can't stop laughing.  Every time I hear it I laugh because I know him.  Nothing scares him as much as a family gathering.  Just the mention of it and his face takes on this expression of how did I ever get into this and how can I get myself out.


They continued their US tour with a few mishaps, but seems they had the time of their lives.  Arvid said money was short so every other night they slept in the car.  In many cases the cops always seemed to be around asking questions as to "is there a problem gentlemen?"   Arvid said once the cops even told them that a better place to sleep, if they were going to sleep in the car was so and so place.  This way the cops said they could keep an eye on them and make sure they (Arvid and friend) were safe.  Because it is "a bad area" as the cops said.


After many more adventures they made it to New York and to a dealership where they sold the car, recovered most of their money and made it back to their home in Norway with memories that was to last a lifetime.

This was just the beginning for Arvid.  He has now been in the US for over 20 years and it now his home together with Brutus and I.  We continue to travel and hopefully will do so for years and years to come...

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.  Then take half the clothes and twice the money...

until next time...
Nadiya

Jun 26, 2012

Florida's Rainfall....

Florida isn't so much a place where one goes to reinvent oneself, as it is a place where one goes if one no longer wished to be found...

Living in Florida has it charms and also it's rainfall.



A message referring to rainfall from a tropical storm system is displayed at the San Jose Baptist Church on Monday, June 25, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. Tropical Storm Debby raked the Tampa Bay area with high wind and heavy rain Monday in a drenching that could top 2 feet over the next few days and trigger widespread flooding.



I don't miss Florida in the summers.  Don't miss the humidity nor the rain.  For now, as Arvid just said to the lady on the phone.  "We love Chicago, that's why we are here."


My parents didn't want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty and that's the law..


until next time
~Nadiya~

Dare To Be Bold....

Today is my day to go paint life in bold colors...

Summertime...yeah time to go bright and bold.  Dare to be different.  Smile broadly, sing loudly, paint your rooms in bold colors...paint your life in BOLD colors.  Be an original!

An original artist is unable to copy. So he has only to copy in order to be original.
Let your imagination take you on the wild side and transport you into a world full of colors and temptations.
This summer go for different.  Go for COLOR.  And to be different is great. You don't want to be the same.

Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers.  Be different, stand out, and work your butt off.


Don't dare to be different, dare to be yourself if that doesn't make you different then something is wrong...


until next time
~Nadiya~

Jun 25, 2012

Laughter..

Laughter is an instant vacation, and the shortest distance between two people....

A good time to laugh is any time you can.  Fact: when you laugh all kinds of wonderful things happen to your body and mind, and so I learn a little more from my Being Happy Handbook.  Laughter relieves pain.  You can only laugh when you are relaxed.  You cannot get ulcers from laughing, but you do get a "natural high" that relieves all kinds of stresses and pressures in your daily life. Laughing is also a good way to keep sickness away and to stay healthy.

The key to being happy is to being able to laugh at difficulties as soon as possible after they happen.  Dwelling too much on things can cause, a nervous break down, tension in your life, and also lead to depression is worst case. 




Life being what it is, there is no one guaranteed to not suffer misfortunes.  We all do, but happy people choose to avoid waiting too long to see the funny side of their disappointments.  Every so often we should take a reality check just to remind ourselves that we are all humans.  We are not perfect.  We all make mistakes.  Let us also remind ourselves that our own troubles always seem to be much bigger to us than anyone else (only normal), but if no one else is losing sleep, maybe we don't need to either.

What we have to remind ourselves it that  life is not that serious, lets take humor more seriously..

One of our major responsibilities towards ourselves is to enjoy life.  When we are laughing we are having fun!  We feel better, we work better and people want to be around us.  No one wants to be around a negative person!  So go on laugh!  Make yourself and others happy.  Costs nothing, but the rewards are endless.

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face...


until next time 
~Nadiya~

10 Brands That Will Disappear in 2013 ....

We are going through tough economic times but things are looking up, and the indicators are improving not only for large corporations but also for small business...

As you know, the economy being what it is it's hard to predict what will and can survive these harsh times today.

Each year, 24/7 Wall St. identifies 10 important American brands that they predict will disappear within a year. This year’s list reflects the brutally competitive nature of certain industries and the reason why companies cannot afford to fall behind in efficiency, innovation or financing.  According to them these brands will disappear within 18 months.


American Airlines will disappear in 2013 because of its inefficiency. It was the premier carrier in the United States for almost 30 years.  It lost its critical advantage of scale when Northwest merged with Delta, and Continental merged with United.  Within two years, American became a medium-sized carrier.

 The major criteria are that is used for brands about to disappear is:

1) a rapid fall-off in sales and steep losses;
2) disclosures by the parent of the brand that it might go out of business;
3) rapidly rising costs that are extremely unlikely to be recouped through higher prices;
4) companies that are sold;
5) companies that go into bankruptcy;
6) companies that have lost the great majority of their customers; or
7) operations with rapidly withering market share.

This is 24/7 Wall St.’s 10 brands that will disappear in 2013.

1. American Airlines

2. Talbots   (Battered retailer) 

3. Current TV  (Al Gore’s Current TV) 

4. Research In Motion

RIM once owned the smartphone market. Its BlackBerry products were used largely by businesses. 



5. Pacific Sunwear
Pacific Sunwear built its reputation offering “California-style” accessories, primarily sunglasses, shoes and swimwear. The company was started in a surf shop in Newport Beach in 1980. 

6. Suzuki
American Suzuki Motor sold 10,695 cars and light trucks in the first five months of this year. That was down 3.9% compared with the same period in 2011. 

7. Salon.com
Launched in 1995, Salon.com is one of the pioneering news and commentary sites on the web. 
[Related: Good Humor shortage puts ice cream man in bad mood


8. The Oakland Raiders
The Raiders will play in the NFL next year. They just will not play in Oakland.

9. MetroPCS
This tiny carrier has lost any chance it may have had to compete with larger competitors T-Mobile, AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Sprint-Nextel (NYSE: S). Investors have abandoned the company.


10. Avon
It would be hard to find another large American company as bad off as Avon Products 



Thrift was never more necessary in the world's history than it is today.


  • He who does not economize will have to agonize

  • It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose your own..







  • until next time

  • ~Nadiya~

Jun 24, 2012

Another Good Day....

Good morning beautiful world. Its new day again. Wish we all have a good day. ...


Another good day awaits us.   Talked to everyone and all is good.  Arvid catching up on some Soccer, Brutus sound asleep and I am enjoying some of my exotic fruits we just bought.


Soon time to go to lunch and today will be a special treat.  Going to a very nice Steak Restaurant that just opened up here.  It's called III Forks.  One of my favorite restaurants.  We have been to the one in West Palm Beach Florida food is excellent and there is no way Arvid will not have a steak today.  It's a must for both of us....
Happy Sunday all!

I wokeup to a text message from my bestfriend so I know I'm gonna have a good day...!

until next time
~Nadiya~

Ziosk...


Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world...?

Yesterday as Arvid and I were doing a little pub hopping, we found ourselves at Bennigans.  There he ordered a drink and I had my usual cafe while playing a few games on my IPhone.  We were both happy.

At the table we noticed this tiny little screen.  Which tuned out to be The Ziosk. The Ziosk enhances the dining experience by complementing rather than replacing the server.  You get self-service when you want it and full restaurant service the rest of the time. For example, when you are ready to pay or want another round of drinks, it is convenient to take care of it yourself on the Ziosk.

However, if you want your steak medium with sweet potato fries instead of regular fries and your salad dressing on the side, it is more convenient to place your order with a real person.  So the Ziosk gives you the best of both worlds.

Restaurants can increase sales and guest satisfaction while decreasing costs with the pay-at-the-table and digital promotion capabilities of the Ziosk.
They can also increase increase guest satisfaction by eliminating guests' frustrations with waiting to pay, makes it easy for customers to just order dessert or that extra drink without having to look for the server and best of all within minutes your order is at your table.  
Satisfied customers tend to also tip more and higher tip averages are seen in restaurants with Ziosk. 


It makes everything so much more efficient and easier by using the  Ziosk, and you also eliminate printing costs of traditional table tents.

If you should get bored for whatever reason, there are also many games you can play on these Ziosk.  The cost is $ 0.99 and you can play all night long from the many selection to choose from.  Something I have not done, but who knows....

Next time you're out at your favorite restaurant, check and see if they are already using The Ziosk!
Enjoy your day everyone:)

What is so brilliant about the gadgets is their simplicity...

until next time
                             ~Nadiya~

Which One Are You?...

The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing...

Keep the pictures they never change only the people in them do.  Just something to think about.  Everyday in our lives we come across all kinds of people.  If we stop we might discover we are not that different.
What a great world this would be if we could all try harder to be better people.  

For all of you who talk about me thanks for making me the center if your world...
The way I see it is the more people that hate me, the less I have to get along with...

In a world where you can be anything... be yourself.
Each of us represents a star in Heaven. Sometimes we shine with the rest, sometimes we twinkle alone and sometimes, when we least expect it, we make someone else's dreams come true.
Some people make the world special just be being in it.
People think it is holding on that makes you stronger, but sometimes it's letting go.
Stand up for what you believe in, even if you're standing alone..and remember, live your life without regret, don't be someone who they'll forget. Always smile it makes people wonder what you're up to!
Have a good day..

You laugh because you think I'm different I laugh because you guys are all the same...

until next time
~Nadiya~

Jun 23, 2012

Something To Think About...

In my day, we didn't have self-esteem, we had self-respect, and no more of it than we had earned...
Only those who respect the personality of others can be of real use to them...

Simple rules to live by..
What is a person if he has no self respect for himself nor others?


Just walking around and seeing the way people act and behave, I appreciate even more today the lessons I learnt as a child.  I was taught to respect everyone if I wanted to be respected.  I was also taught that we are all different and that it is our differences that makes us unique and yes special. 


I have also learnt that respect is not something you are born with it is something you learn as you go along in life.  Some have it some don't.  As it's been said many times before, "I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being."
Something to think about...
When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences then love has a chance to blossom...
until next time...
Nadiya