New Day ~ New Week ~

Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate 

your mistakes for what they are: precious life 

lessons that can only be learned the hard way... 

Starting the week with beautiful and positive vibes. 

 It is that time of the year.  The magical season is here 

and I am loving all of it. So much to be grateful for.

I love where we are.  So much to see and do, or just simple walks.

  The sights are one of a kind and makes us happy.  Always.

The Las Olas area is going through a change

 with so many new establishments opening.  There 

is also tons of buildings everywhere.  Will be 

interesting to see when it's all built out.

Taking time to enjoy the simple things in life is what we do.

I love to walk and just check out the scenery, maybe 

stop at a cafe or pub and enjoy a little something.  

Sunday dinners are relaxing and always good. 

 It's quality time just for us.  Because during

 the week life does get pretty hectic for us.

December has started nice and warm with a little coolness 

in the air.  Perfect.  Arvid is always amazed that he's in

 shorts, and we're sitting eating outdoors at restaurants.

Happy Monday to all and let's not forget to deal 

with the faults of others as gently as your own.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.

 If you want to be happy, practice compassion...     

~Nadiya~

Feeling A Little Sad Today ~

Your emotions make you human. Even the unpleasant
 ones have a purpose. Don't lock them away. If you 
ignore them, they just get louder and angrier...

I am very conflicted right now.  I am happy to be going home.

 But I am home.  I hate leaving Sniff on his own, but we 

will be back soon.  Home is where the 3 of us are.

Sniff has gotten to be a little more familiar with his Florida home.

  He has already rediscovered his favorite spots.  Aside from 

under the bed, where he never used to go before,

 he loves it best on his condo.  From the top he 

sees everything, but mostly he sleeps.

I have had a very relaxing time with Sniff.  We had no 

agenda and we never had to rush from place to place. Peaceful. 

I ate whenever I wanted.  Did not follow a "schedule" for

 anything.  I visited many of the places I so much enjoyed 

and I even revisited our old stomping grounds.  

Downtown Fort Lauderdale sure has gone through some big

 changes, and it's still going through changes.  Will be interesting 

to see.  Everywhere new buildings are popping up.  Never knew 

there was still so much space left to be built on.  Not only in 

the downtown areas, but everywhere in general.

I enjoyed eating out at a few of my favorite places.  

Saw a few movies and did whatever it is I wanted without

 having to rush or feel pressured.  It was good.  Enjoyed the quiet 

times with Sniff.  Mornings were beautiful seeing the sunrise 

while having my cafe.  I thought of Brutus and Shadow a lot.

Now it's time to go home again.  Soon my Branson
days will be a thing of the past.  Like I told Arvid
 this morning, I will be missing some of Branson.
 A piece of my heart will always be in Branson.

As I go home to Branson for the last time, I am also 

sad because I leave Sniff.  For him it is still a "strange" place.  

He sure does not understand what happened to his window

 sills, the birds and his favorite places at home.

  Sniff is already home in Florida where soon Arvid and I will be.  

Here is to good times to come again.  The next few days will 

be very busy ones for us.  Loading a truck.  Closing on the

 sale of our house in Branson, moving to Chicago into our

 new apartment and then heading back to Florida.

As the new week begins I wish everyone happy times.
 Call me crazy, but right now I am sad at the thought
of leaving my Branson home.  Go figure.

The heart is a strange beast and not ruled by logic.
There is no market for your emotions, spo never 
advertise your feelings just display your attitude...

~Nadiya~

Life Goes On ~

If you always make the right decision, the safe decision, the
 one most people make, you will be the same as everyone else...

It's been a very emotional week so far for me.  Not having to 

go to Almost Home everyday feels very strange.  My days begin 

very early and seem to stretch on, fortunately this week has

 been a little busy with many things to do and take care since

 coming back from Norway.  For that I am grateful.

I have also been going to Almost Home a little everyday to 

meet with a tenants I want to tell the news to personally.  

It has not been easy.  Miss Burton almost had me in tears.  When 

she opened the door for me the first thing she said was, 

I'm really going to miss you so very much."

Even though I have heard the same from all the tenants I have 

spoken to, I know they will all be fine.  They all like Tiffany and Chris, 

but Miss Burton is different.  Her room is right next to my office.  

Correction, what used to be my office at Almost Home.

I took her mail to her (did that for many as well), I saved a

 few things she liked and bought her things she liked.  I also

 buy Bridgette, her kitty food every month.  Though I will still 

continue to do so, I felt very sad when I left her room.

Today I go there again to meet with a few I was not 

able to see.  I am also taking Bonnie out to lunch 

and Margaritas.  I also have a soft spot for her.  

When I started at Almost Home, everyone wanted me to 

"kick" Bonnie out, but I didn't.  She is outspoken, brazen and

 very funny.  Wicked sense of humor.  Kinda reminds me of me.  

Afraid of nothing and no-one, well maybe a little worried 

when I occasionally called her into the office for a "chat"

Tomorrow Arvid and I are going out with another set

 of tenants for lunch.  It feels strange to go to Almost Home

 and not have keys to the office, not sit on my chair

 behind the counter.  It feels strange.

It has been a pretty emotional week so far.  One of my tenants

 told me that he was leaving.  Said there was no way he would stay

 if we were not there, after lots of talking I believe I have

 convinced him that Almost Home is his best option.

Change is difficult.  For my tenants and for me, but like 

everything else life goes on.  We all move on.  For some it is more

 difficult, but at the end of the day it is what has to be done. 

 It's life and the choice is to just keep going.

The worst battle you will ever fight is between 

what you feel and what you know...

~Nadiya~

Hello Friday...

For what we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose,

for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.  That's what they say...

Not sure what it is but I am tired.  Not sleeping enough, and running around all day is

 wearing me out and I am physically and mentally exhausted.  I spoke to my mom and 

one of my sisters yesterday and hearing their voices made me want to go home.

The other day  read about a friend's kitty who was going into surgery and they were not

 sure if she was going to make it or not.  Well you can imagine what went through my 

head and what thoughts are still there.  My Brutus never came home from surgery.

Once again it is tearing me apart.  It's killing me, but I just can't seem to stop the images 

from running wild in my head.  I can't and thoughts of Shadow is also driving me crazy.

  I want to go home because I think I am closer to them there.  It will "pass" I'm sure, but 

right now it's all I can think of.  Grief as you know comes in waves and right now I am 

having hurricane like waves and no matter what I do, I can't stop them from coming.

How is it that so many "humans" I know have been able to move on when a loved 

one has died, and I can't seem to do so?  What makes it so much easier for them?

On the other hand we enjoyed a very good day at Victoria and Micheal's or
Villa VM as it's known.  The food as always was excellent and always the fist thing
 you see as you walk in is an amazing arrangement.  The eyes have a feast.

It was a wonderful day spent in the company of family.  There and then everything felt OK.
Victoria and Michael are ALWAYS the perfect host and hostess.  Thank you again.

Grief isn't something you get over.  It is something you go through.  Those who do

 not know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh either...

~Nadiya~