Thankful ~ Nov 2

Every day is different, and some days

 are better than others, but no matter how 

challenging the day, I get up and live it...

Some days are better than others, but everyday

 is an opportunity to be grateful and thankful.  

In life you never know what is in store for you until

 it happens.  So appreciate what you have and be grateful

 for all your blessings.  Some are not so fortunate.

Today we have so much to be grateful for.

  Little Amelia the newest addition to our family.

You'll find that implementing small changes

can have a significant impact on your life. 

Remember - little hinges swing on big doors...

~Nadiya~

Tropical Thursday In Puerto Rico ~

 Don't let what you can't do stop 
you from doing what you can do...

The island is full of stray dogs and cats.  Breaks my

heart to go anywhere and see all these hungry looking babies. 

 I carry cat food everywhere we go, but there are so many it's

 difficult to keep up with.  The other day as we went for a walk

 we encountered this beauty.  Starving.  I had food for her,

 but what happens tomorrow and every other day?

It's also very strange to see little kids with masks.  They 

adapt easier than I think I have to using a mask. Imagine

 a walk on the beach and you see everyone with masks. Weird.

 Even weirder because it is the new norm we are living.

People heading out for an outing in the water.  Wearing a mask?

  Never thought I would be witnessing anything like this.

Sniff dislikes the mask so much that he destroys them

 whenever he can.  He sees a mask, he eats the strings.  Simple

 as that. We keep them hidden, but yesterday he found it.

Yesterday was a first for me since being with Arvid. 

 He actually helped put up some Christmas decorations

 with Kimsy. I was shocked, but happy.

 Even he, Arvid was surprised because this morning he said

 to me, "I don't remember ever doing anything Christmas."

  That's pretty sad actually, but here in Puerto Rico there

 has been many first times, and hopefully more to come.

Yesterday was a very good day.  Happy and grateful.

The best moments of my life don't make it to social media.

Although the world is full of suffering,

 it is full also of the overcoming of it...

~Nadiya~

Happy Sunday ~

Happiness is the art of never holding in your 

mind the memory of any unpleasant

 thing that has passed...

Not exactly sure what the day holds for us,
but last night was very relaxing.

 It is Super Bowl LIV today so most people will

 be in party mode watching the game.

Will spend some time with mom and dad 

later today.  Arvid and I will do our Sunday outing.

  Yes a very relaxing day it will be for all of us.

The weather has been so so, but always warm.

No place like South Florida in the winter.

It isn't what you have, or who you are, 

or where you are, or what you are doing

 that makes you happy or unhappy. 

It is what you think about...

~Nadiya~

Friday ~

I woke up.  I have clothes to wear.  I have running water. 
 I have food to eat.  Life is good and I am thankful...

I don't think I will ever get tired of the view from our 

apartment, and as such I keep taking pictures all day

 long.  It's as if I am memorizing every single detail.

  Soon we will be going back to Florida.  It will

 not be until next year that we will be back, so I'm 

enjoying this view for as long as we are here.

Last night we decided to go listen to some music. 
Buddy Guys Legends is always a favorite and that's where
 we went.  Always a good time, good food and drinks.

Today Arvid decided he will do some "much needed cleaning"
 I have no problem with that.  He can clean all he likes. 
I do it everyday as is.  Sniff is never far from him.

 He loves to help his dada.  Just like Brutus did
 and I'm sure Shadow would have as well.

Not much planned for today.  But that's OK.
The other day we went to a place that served Peri Peri
 chicken.  Arvid tried it in Portugal many many
years ago and said it was one of the best meals
he has ever had.  Well it was not bad at all.

Wishing everyone a happy day and may your weekend
be filled with all things good.  For many Hurricane Dorian
 is on its way.  My sister in Puerto Rico has been spared.

  Grateful for that.  The fate of many is still unknown as
 Dorian picks up speed.  Florida may be hit.  I hope not
because many of my loved ones live there.  Please everyone
 be careful and never underestimate the strength of a
storm.  Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Life is good because I decided to make it that way...

~Nadiya~

Life ~

Every single day I found something to be

 grateful for and that's a powerful lesson...

One is never too old or too young to enjoy candy.  

What better place than Sugar, which also happens to 

be a Cafe and Bar.  Then you know life is good, when 

you can enjoy all of your favorites in just one place.

Everyday there is something new to "discover"  

for us it is always the simple things that bring us the

 most pleasures.  Little walks, a nibble here and there, 

feeding the duckies.  Just simplicity at its best.

Arvid keeps going to the theater looking for something,

 anything that we could go and see.  So far he has not had 

much luck, but knowing him he will find something.

Simple things.  A man and his dog cruising along the 

Magnificent Mile just enjoying the sights and each other's

 company.  Life...the best things are the simple things.

Good morning all.  Sniff and I have been awake

 for a while now.  It's looking to be a very long day.

 Good thing we have a few chores to do.

I discovered that sitting leaves little spaces for 

grief to get in, so I keep myself as busy as I can.

Joy is really the simplest form of gratitude...

~Nadiya~

Life On Your Terms ~

People will always have an opinion, but you 

have to live life the way you want to. It's very easy 

to tell others what to do, but difficult 

to implement it on yourself...

Cooler temperatures are here already.  We are fortunate that 

when winter comes we will be enjoying the warmer climate in

 sunny Florida, and while it is now sweltering hot and humid 

in Florida, we are also fortunate to be here in Chicago.  

Cool air without the AC.  Not a bad way to live.

Of course during the day it warms up, but for some

 reason Arvid is still cold.  No matter where we go if the 

temperature is not above 75F Arvid is wearing a sweater.

On these warmer hours a little cold drink is always 

something to look forward to.  Yesterday we went to

  Margaritaville, but for some reason the waiting 

was more than we were will to do, so we ended

 up in another of our favorite spot by the lake.

Sundays we take it easy, and then we go out for a leisure 

dinner and a walk.  Arvid is not so keen on taking a taxi 

or Uber, but I'm sure if it's "cold" enough he will want to.

There is a Triathlon going on, but the swim

 portion of the Chicago Triathlon was canceled 

Sunday due to “unfavorable swim conditions,”

 according to event organizers.  Too dangerous.

Participants instead are competing in a duathlon

 — a run followed by a bike ride and another run —

starting from the swim start area on the lakefront path .

Soccer back on.  Means Arvid has to time 

everything in between the breaks and the games.

That being said, there is always time for Sniff.

Wishing everyone a happy and relaxing day.  

The past explains how I got here, but the future

 is up to me - and I love to live life at full throttle...

~Nadiya~

It's A Good Day ~

No place is boring, if you've had a good night's

 sleep and have a pocket of unexposed film... 

No matter how many times we walk pass this clock, I can't not take

 a picture of it.  It calls to me and because of that here it is once again.

I love taking pictures.  Keeps me busy and happy.

You don't take a photograph.  You make it, 

 Here's my happy Rickshaw girl.

Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every

 hundredth of a second. The best thing about a picture

 is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.

 “You don't take a photograph, you make it. 

There are always two people in every picture: 

the photographer and the viewer.

There is  one thing the photograph must 

contain, the humanity of the moment...

~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~

Tuesday In Branson ~

Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in...

Life in Branson goes on.  Not a bad day.  Started of with a bang 

and most likely the rest of the day will be more of the same. Yes,

 interesting is what we have and a constant buzz.  We like it.  

Branson is buzzing with people.  The car show starts on Thursday

 and the midnight cruise is on Saturday. Busy, busy days ahead.

Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire..

~Nadiya~

Chicago Blues Festival..Day 2

Play the moments.  Pause the memories.  

Stop the pain.  Rewind the happiness...

Arvid is not a morning person neither is Sniffer.  If we slept in until 9 in the morning 

Sniff Sniff would also be curled up next to his Dada.  They both love their sleep.  

Sniff likes to roam around these days, and Arvid says he is not rested because he's 

awake all night long.  Last night Sniff slept quietly and so did Arvid.  For a change

 the morning was fairly relaxed and not too much stress going on.  Love it.

Good morning everyone.  Today is day 2 of The Chicago Blues Festival.  Brutus loved music.

Whenever Arvid turned on the jukebox or any of his Blues music Brutus was always there.

  Together he and Arvid listened to music all the time.  When Shadow came along Arvid tried 

to do the same with him.  Shadow was not afraid of anything, and when Arvid blasted the

 music he was right there.  Now it's Sniff's turn to listen to the Blues with his Dada.  

As of now Sniff Sniff also has shown an interest in the music.  Happy kitties. 

Today is Arvid's mom's birthday.  Happy birthday Molly.  See you soon in Norway.
Hope your day is a good one.  Arvid and I send love to you and a big hug.
Thank you for everything and for always being so good to me.

Last night after the Blues Festival we watched the Copa America game between Argentina
 and Panama from our balcony.  That is we were able to see the screen from our
 balcony as the game was being broadcasted.  Pretty cool.  Messi did not disappoint
 his fans who paid anywhere $100 to $1200 to see the game.

Let us never know what old age is. Let us know the happiness time brings,
 not count the years.  The more you praise and celebrate your life, 
the more there is in life to celebrate.  Happy Birthday Molly...

~Nadiya~