Wednesday March 10th ~

 Life is a question and how we live it is our answer...

Already halfway into the week. So far this 

week, the Sunshine State has not seen much sun.  

A peek here and there, but otherwise dark, windy and 

gloomy.  Yes, it's still warmer than most places. 

It's a good thing there is soccer.  Keeps Arvid and Sniff busy.  

They both enjoy brief cat naps in between.  We have not

 been walking much these last few days.  The weather 

has not allowed it.  Hopefully today will be better.

To all a good day.  Life is slowly but surely going

 back to a little bit of "normalcy"  Covid cases are on

 their way down here in the United States of America.

Once again, I'm awake very early.  What 4:30 AM 

looks like from our balcony.  Very quiet and very peaceful.

Because when you stop and look

 around this life is pretty amazing...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday November 3rd~ 2020 US Presidential Elections

 Que sera, sera, whatever will be; will be

 the future's not ours to see, que sera, sera...

Today is the day.  Let's hope you all did your best. Tuesday 
November, 3rd 2020 United States Presidential elections.

Now to wait.  Waiting is not what I do best, but it is what it is.

Good morning everyone.  I saw my kitties again this morning.

  Sniff has everything he could every want, so sharing with

 the other kitties is the perfect way to make me happy.

Today promises to be a very tense day.  Hopefully 

Americans will be civilized whatever the outcome will be. 

 Hopefully we will also have no riots, no protests, no killings.  

One can always hope for a better tomorrow, and hopefully

 Donald Trump wins the elections again.  Looking

 forwardto 4 more years of Trump, que sera, sera.

I remember when Halloween was the scariest

 night of the year.  Now it's Election night.

~Nadiya~

Friday April 17th ~ Weekend Is Here

Keep looking up that's the secret of life.

It's a slow process, but quitting won't speed it up...

Everyone is waiting for the day life will be back 

to "normal"  Everyone is hurting, and many

 businesses are not sure if they can survive 

this crisis.  A familiar sight everywhere.

Times are difficult right now, and if you can help out please do.
Everywhere you look, people are actually "begging" for business.

Arvid and I took a little drive along Hollywood Beach. 

It was eerily quiet.  Almost no one in sight.  Looked

like a place time has forgotten.  Very strange to see.

Being in isolation in Florida is not the worse.  The 

sights are still beautiful.  We may not be able to do all the 

things we would like, but we still enjoy ocean breezes

 and the swaying of the palm trees.  Not that bad.

Yesterdays highlight was a trip to Publix, our grocery 

store and takeout.  Thursdays and Sundays are becoming 

takeout days.  Happy we at least are still able to have takeout. 

 Breaks up the monotony of having to cook everyday.

Good morning all.  I never thought the "new" norm

 would be everyone wearing masks.  I find it very 

strange to see people with masks.  Me included.

Friday here.  So what are your plans for the weekend?

Maybe a trip to the balcony?  Living room and some TV?

Just think, the comeback is always stronger than the setback.

Looks like rain is coming.  I'm happy with that. 
There are tons of ducks and ducklings around, and
they definitely need the rain.  So I am hoping
for rain the next few days as predicted.

Keep going because you did not 

come this far just to come this far...

~Nadiya~

Goodbye For Now Chicago ~

There are far better things ahead than we leave behind...

I have waited a very long time for this day to come,

 and now that it's finally here, it is bittersweet.  

This is an amazingly beautiful city.  We have

 stunning views and everything is just steps away

 from us.  Yes, I will miss it, but I am so

 very happy to also be going home. 

 We are fortunate to be able to live in

 2 such beautiful places.  For now, 

it's until next summer Chicago.

Soon we will be back in the Sunshine State.  

Yes, it is going to be hot and humid, but my

 car is waiting for me.  It's been too long.

Still had to do one last load of laundry this morning.
 Once again I was there super early.  I love mornings
and I do get a lot accomplished by waking up early.

Now I can just relax and get Sniff to relax and be
ready to get into his carrier.  That in itself is a big
chore.   Sniff is definitely not a happy camper
right now.  He knows something is going on.

Summer in Chicago is over for now.  It's time to
 go home.  Next stop is Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Wishing everyone a happy day.  Let's not forget 

that gratitude turns what we have into enough.

Travel far enough, you meet yourself.

Life is a voyage that's homeward bound...

~Nadiya~

It Is What You Make It ~ Life

We are not given a good or a bad life.  We are 

given a life.  It's up to us to make it good or bad...

My day started with two doctors appointments. Boring, but 

something I have to do.  Recheck on my thyroid levels.  Didn't go

 so good, but after all it's a hit and miss at times with the medication.  

Once again new medication has been ordered.  A few other not

so good things as well, but gotta deal with it.  Only way.

On top of everything it was pouring most of the morning.

On the good side that's all done and next time I see my

 doctors will be in October.  A few months of no doctors.  

No blood work.  Happy times.  Happy for that.

When I was done, (4 hours later) Arvid took me to lunch.

  Even better because I did not have to cook and clean.  Boy 

the day sure is going good, and then there is later on.

Best of all I have leftovers to nibble on.  

According to Arvid, who read the rain statistics

 it usually rains 22 days in May.  Oh well.

So far this is very accurate.  It has rained almost every

 single day since May began.  Good thing is that the rain

does not interfere with Sniff's naps.  He's a happy boy.

We must have a lucky star because when it was

 time for lunch the rain miraculously stopped.  Making

 it possible for us to sit on the outside and enjoy

 a pleasant afternoon.  Life sure is good.

Wishing everyone happy times always. We make

 our own happiness.  At least we always try to.

Life is what you make it. Always has been, always will be...

~Nadiya~

A Windy Day Here ~

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather,

 always bring your own sunshine.  If you want to see

 the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.

It's very windy right now and looks "cold" outside, 

but as I stepped onto the balcony it was just cooler and 

definitely windier than I thought, even so it is a beautiful day.

The weather people are prediction a cold front for the

 next two days.  For Floridians anything below 70F is cold.

  We are wimps when it comes to "the cold"  Arvid more so 

than Sniff and I.  We are used to the cod having lived in 

Branson, and we liked it, but have to admit it sure is

 nice to always have summer clothes weather.

A change in the weather is sufficient to recreate

 the world and ourselves.  Conversation about the weather

is the last refuge of the unimaginative.

~Nadiya~

Home Is No More Home ~

It's time to say goodbye, but history never really says goodbye. 

History says, 'See you later.'How lucky am I to have known,

 to know so many that makes saying goodbye so hard...

It's time to say goodbye to so much.  This may not be the

 "grandest" of homes nor places as far as many are concerned

 me included, but a part of me is heartbroken today as we

 say goodbye to Branson and yes for me home.  It was 

the one place where I felt a sense of belonging.  

Life in Branson gave me a purpose, and I leave very sad.  

I leave behind too many people I care for and too many

 memories.  Life in Branson kept me busy and my

 mind was always occupied.  I leave  part of my 

heart here. I never expected this to be so difficult.

Arvid and I have moved so many times, something I am 

really getting tired of.  I have never been attached to any of 

the places like I am to Branson.  I leave with a heavy heart, 

but with the satisfaction that we accomplished, and did

 something that will forever be one of our biggest challenges. 

It's now time to seek something new again.  Time to 

move on again.  And we sure know how to do that.

Branson will forever be special to me, and I definitely look

 forward to going back and seeing everyone next summer.  

For now it's goodbye.  I will miss you very much, but I have 

also learned to keep moving.  Our life is a constant move.

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing

 new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps 

leading us down new paths.  There is truth in it.

Today I am very sad.  Tomorrow is a new day,

and we move on.  Everyone does. My dad taught me not to

 overthink things, that nothing will ever be perfect,

so just keep moving and do your best.

It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are 

sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure. 

It feels right. But it's emotional. Saying goodbye

 to anything you've done that long is hard...

~Nadiya~