Bye Bye Trees~

Take a quiet walk with Mother Nature.
It will nurture your mind, body and soul...

On Saturday we did what most people would probably not do.  We chopped down

 all the trees in your back, front and side of the house.  Total of 7 huge trees and 

5 smaller ones plus some "bushes" that we had no clue what they were.  

The men did tell us that the so called bushes were flowers that would bloom soon.

  What the heck they went too.  Yup!  We like it treeless.  My mom and sisters were

 horrified that we took down all the trees.  My mom said, "they are Floridians."

The good thing about this is that I got a few planters out of the trees.  Who

know maybe I might decide to grow something.  Problem is I don't like 

grass and outdoors.  But I  like the idea of growing tomatoes and 

some other vegetable.  Hopefully Arvid will pick them.

As you can imagine, Arvid worked as hard as the 5 guys who were there.
Arvid worked side by side with them for 11 hours.  Yes it took them 11 hours
 to do the job, and even so they forgot 2 smaller trees.  I will chop them down with
the machete soon.  I worked on Saturday, at the hotel and when I came home I
also helped with the yard stuff.  Lucky for me I only had 5 hours of yard work.
Those who know me know that I DO NOT like grass! and outdoor stuff!

Hope everyone had a good and peaceful Easter Sunday!

Advice from a tree.  Stand tall and proud.  Go out on a limb.  Remember your roots. 
 Drink plenty of water.  Be content with your natural beauty.  Enjoy the view...

~Nadiya~

~Happy Easter~

Easter.  The only time it's OK to put all of your eggs in 1 basket....

Happy Easter to all of you!  From our home to yours!

Enjoy the day with loved ones and make beautiful memories.

I am dealing with terrible allergies.  Not happy right now as you can imagine.

Dear Easter Bunny.  This year could you please fill my egg with 

health and happiness and deliver them to everyone I love.  Thank you...

~Nadiya~

~Saturday Vibes~

I love being on vacation and not knowing what day of the week it is..

My niece Reshma and family are enjoying Cancun for Easter.

Basking in the sun, sipping on coconut water.  Sounds like heaven to me.

I have "begged" her to post a picture on Facebook, but her answer was, "I don't want 

to."  Just have to wait and hope.  At least she sent these to me.  She loves me!!! 

Sachin, my nephew is into everything soccer.  The first thing he did was 

go to the beach and he has already found a few soccer beach buddies. 

 Guess his vacation is already a success.  I love that boy!!

Here in Branson all is good.  As usual busy.  Time to look into tickets! 

 Arvid has already consulted a few times with Michelle yesterday making sure 

she and the girls will be ready and available when he gets there, and fortunately 

we were also able to Skype with them.  Little Vanessa called me 

"bestemor"  means grandma.  Made me super happy!!!

That's Aleah, Vanessa and of course Lilly Vade.  They make me happy.

Last night was a girls night for me.  Was good.  Arvid even popped in for a beer.

Margaritas, chips and salsa, good company made for a good Friday night.

Happy Saturday Have fun times with the ones you love.

You may call it "girls night"  I call it therapy...

~Nadiya~

~Happy Friday~

Feeling Fridaylicious!

I haven't been this excited about Friday since last Friday...

Friday and this Friday I will be having lunch with two of my tenants. Friday is 

my Indian food day and yes, they also love it so will be a good time.  Arvid is busy 

so he will probably stick to pizza with his gang at work.  Good for bot of us.

Sniff has been going crazy with all the bugs that are flying on the outside every night.  

He tries to break the window in order to get to them.  Kinda cute watching him try.

Friday evening plan is to go out with the wives of out property managers and have

 margaritas.  At least I will be having fruity drinks not sure what they will be having.

  Beer most likely.  Again, Fridays Arvid is busy so will be just a girls night out. 

 Cool!  But as he said he may join us for a beer at some point.  Still cool.

This has been a week with a lot going on.  This time mostly at my hotel.  Not bad

stuff just non stop stuff to deal with.  I'm looking forward to 5 o'clock today.

  I'm not a drinker, but today I will make an exception.  2 fruit drinks with

 umbrellas are calling me and I am definitely listening to that call today.  

Happy Friday everyone.  Hope the weekend is good.  Happy Easter and

whatever you do, do it with gusto.  One of my sister and family will be spending 

the next 10 days is Cancun, Mexico.  Right now wish it were us as well.

It's Friday.  The only decision you need to make is bottle or glass.

Forget all the things you've encountered this week and have a great weekend...

~Nadiya~

And So Begins Wednesday~

Live life like someone left the gate open...

Talk about bad allergies!  I now know all about that, and it's only been for about

 2 weeks now since I have started with it!  Have tried the so called "best" 

allergy medication and as of right now I still have the sneezes!  

If anyone knows a better way to treat allergies, I am open to suggestions. 

 A few of the tenants at my hotel have told me to try locally grown honey. 

 Not crazy about honey, but that's next on my list of things to buy for allergy.

From what I understood, when a person eats local honey, they are thought to 

be ingesting local pollen.  Over time it seems that one may become less sensitive to 

the pollen in the area.  As a result they may experience fewer seasonal allergy 

symptoms. Well definitely worth a try.  On the hunt soon for local honey.

Yesterday was a fairly "quiet" day at the hotels.  Arvid is usually 

doing lots of running around, shopping for things we need.  I am at all 

times at my hotel.  Unlike Arvid, I do not have anyone who can take care of the 

office business as he does.  Gives him a little more flexibility than it does to me.

I keep telling Arvid that I don't want us to get caught up in a life of just work, work,

 and work.  For now I know it is how it has to be, but I want the day to come

 again when we will make time for us.  Time for our families, and yes 

time when we can travel together again and see our grand kids.  

This year I will not be able to see them, and that is definitely not making

 me happy.  I love Aleah and Vanessa and I don't want them to not know

 me.   I do NOT want to be that busy! This bothers me a lot.

Happy Wednesday all.  Half of the week already done.  

Time files when you're having fun, and staying busy.

My past does not define me, it has enabled me to learn and grow

into what I want to become tomorrow.  Live to live and you will learn to live...

~Nadiya~

Happy Tuesday ~

Transformation Tuesday.  Success doesn't come to you.  You go to it.

Being gone so much these days makes it a little difficult to have much time with 

Sniff, but both Arvid and I try to make up for it when we are home with him. 

 Every morning he gets lots of brushing from me and as soon as I come home 

in the afternoons early evenings I make sure to have quality time with him.

  Sniff Sniff is still is not too fond of being picked up, but he loves being 

touched and we do it all the time.  He gets lots of petting from both of us.  He

 can never seem to get enough of that.  Bot Arvid and I are happy to oblige.

Monday came and went fast.  Sunday was very relaxing and it was one of 

the first Sundays I can remember that we did not do much running around.  We

 had time to go out and have our Sunday outing just the way we used to do back home.  

The weather was beautiful and we had an outdoor table by the water.  Was perfect.

I have been having serious allergy attacks.  Sunday was the worst.  Sneezed for hours. 

 Was awake with the worst sinus headache.  Never have I had an allergy problem,

 but now with all the pollen and flowers here in Branson, I sure am having it. 

 Another reason I love city life.  Condos.  Concrete and no grass.  

As Tuesday begins I know it is going to go by fast.  The time sure 

is flying. Weather is perfect.  Sunshine and warm predicted for the next

 few days.  Can't believe that we are actually hot. Arvid got a tan on Sunday 

just by sitting out while we had lunch.  We never did in Florida, but

 everywhere else we do.  He even gets a tan when in Norway.

Hopefully everyone has had a good start of the work week.  Mondays are usually

 the hardest of days to go by for many, now it's done and for sure the rest will fly by.

If you change the way you look at things,

the things you look at change...

~Nadiya~

Sunday Again ~

Taking time out to relax and renew is essential to living well.
It's been an eventful week.  Time to relax, refresh and recharge...

The week as usual has gone by too fast.  As always something unexpected happens.

The unexpected of this week was a little "UNEXPECTED"  Let's just say

that hopefully the coming week will have less surprises in store.

That being said it has been a good week and we look forward to a relaxing Sunday. 

 Hopefully we will be able to spend it together without having to each 

run separate ways to check on something.  Fingers crossed.

Yesterday our grass was cut for the first time since living here in Branson.  Yup!

we have a gardener now.  Back in Florida we never had to worry about grass getting cut. 

It was part of the dues we pay to the condo association, but with a house it's 

different.  I still like condo lifestyle better, but this will have to do for now.

Sniff Sniff has been basking in the sun most of the day.  Loves his sunshine.

He is after all a Floridian.  Arvid and I have not had a chance to enjoy much of

 yesterdays beautiful weather.  Hopefully we will today.  Again fingers crossed.

To all a very good day.  My parents are celebrating their 55th wedding
anniversary today.  Like everything else, it has not been the smoothest of roads.
 Raising 5 daughters, both working and trying to maintain sanity was and still is not
easy, but the did it and I know they are enjoying the fruits of their labor and love.

Happy Anniversary to the ones who set and keep setting an example in our lives.

Today as both of you look back with happiness and pride upon Fifty Five
 cherished years that you've spent side by side, may every memory that you share
 of dreams you've seen come true, help make this special day a happy one for you.

I love you.. those three words have my life in them...

~Nadiya~

Hello Friday ~

Optimism s a happiness magnet.  If you stay positive
good things and good people will be drawn to you...

Yesterday was brighter and  a little warmer.  Made everything look and

 feel better, at least as far as I was concerned.  Work was quiet for a change.

  Not too many unexpected events happening yesterday so I had time 

to catch up on some other stuff that needed to be done.

  Arvid and I did some errands, and grabbed a fast lunch before heading

 back to work.   Usually work errands we do on Sundays, but since

it was a mostly quiet time we made the most of the day. 

Here at Almost Home the trees are starting to get leaves and are green already.

  Tony our maintenance/property manager has already mowed the grass twice.  He has 

also planted grass seeds, and makes sure our grounds look immaculate. Yep! 

getting ready for green grass, flowers and that sort.  Soon we hope to

 have the pool at Almost Home reopened.  Everyone sure is looking 

forward to that day, so am I have not seen the pool as yet.

At Arvids place all "projects" as he calls it have been completed, and since 

the rooms are all occupied there in no "projects" as of now, but Arvid being

 Arvid always finds something to do.  Never a dull moment here.  

I love my "job" but it sure feels good when Friday is here and I leave a little early

 to do something just for me.  Today I hope to go shoe shopping.  Most likely 

will end up with no shoes, but at least I would have had an outing.  

Also on Friday's I will be trying to do my Indian buffet. 

 Hopefully will make it there today.  Alone!

Sniff is doing good.  Getting fussy at times, but nowhere as fussy as Brutus.

  Brutus was spoilt!  I would do it all over again.  I miss my Brutus.  I get so very

 angry when I think of what happened to Shadow.  One day I know

 it will be better.  When I think of Brutus, my heart just breaks

 all over again.  I miss them and that's all there is to say.

Life is good.  Busy, hectic at times but we love it.  Yesterday ended not so quietly.

  As always with this business one never knows what will happen minute to 

minute.  I am very selective as is Arvid as to who we bring into our hotel.  It is 

after all home to many.  The place where they feel safe and protected.

  We always try to make sure we choose/screen right.  Every so often 

like with anything else, stuff happens, but we learn from it.

As mentioned many times, everyday is a learning experience.  Today is 

looking good. Fridays are usually busier both at Arvid's place and mine.  Makes 

for interesting times and definitely a fast day.  Can't believe it is already Friday.

To all a good day and a happy weekend ahead.

The only limits in life are the ones you make...

~Nadiya~

Thursday Blues ~

Don't confuse my bad days as a sign of weakness.

Those are actually the days I am fighting my hardest....

Thursday.  Cold.  Not exactly feeling cheery right now, but then

there is Arvid and Sniff Sniff to balance it all out.  Always good.

Yesterday was 1 year and 5 months since our Brutus died.  And yes, I miss him

very much.  It was also one year and one month little Shadow died.  And yes, life goes on.

Getting a cold.  Again.  Today I am not ready as yet to face the world,

but I know that as soon as I step out the door I will have on my happy face.

To al a good day.  Sometimes it's a struggle to just get going.  Today seems to be 

one of those days.  I know it will get better, but right now I does not feel that way.

And sometimes, life is just hard, and some days are just rough, and some days

 you just gotta cry before you move forward,  and all of that is OK...

~Nadiya~

Feeling Accomplished ~

We don't grow when things are easy.
We grow when we face challenges...

As mentioned before, when Arvid and I took over the 2 hotels we had no clue

 about running one.  Today I want to say that we are so much better at it, but even so

 there is always much more we can learn and we are.  Everyday it is something new.
Most of our tenants are now more than that.  We have bonded and we have a good
 thing going with everyone.  I want to believe that we are making a difference.

 Something unexpected happens everyday.  As I just finished telling my mom and

 sisters the latest, we just could not help but laugh at the craziness that our lives 

have become.  A craziness we absolutely LOVE!  Everyday my mom tells me 

to start writing a book because no one would believe what we go through.

Arvid's hotel, 76 INN was not up an running when we took it over.  It was

 what I would call a mess.  Did that scare us?  Well obviously not enough.  

My hotel as I call it, was well run and just about 80-90% occupied.

Arvid's was more like 39%  and at times it dipped lower.  Arvid has become an 

expert at kicking people out.  He shows up to their rooms and says, "pack your bags.  

You have 15 minutes to get out."  Let me tell you when Arvid says that the people

 jump.  At times takes them a little longer than 15 minutes, but with  Arvid standing

 waiting there they have no other option than to pack as fast as they can and to get out

.  Arvid has perfected this kicking out.  One has to be firm and stand their ground.
We only want what's best for the hotel and all living there.  One has to be selective.

From an occupancy rate of 39%, Arvid and his property manager/maintenance 

man have worked long, long hours to what is today a hotel at 100% occupancy rate. 

 Has not been easy but determined is what we are.  Having two hotels we are 

able to direct people from one to the other when one is full.  

Arvid has the ability to have double rooms in his. I don't so when I have such 

customer, I send them to him, and if I have no pet room I send to him and vice versa.  

As of yesterday both hotels are at 100% occupancy.  Yes we are proud of this

 accomplishment.  We do not have much time for many things, but when we

 started this business our goal was to get to this stage.  Now the fun begins.

It's not the easiest of businesses.  As I mentioned. you never know what to expect on 

a daily basis.  You never know when an emergency will show up.  You never know

 how people will be and you never know when you will need to kick someone out.  

What I do know is that Arvid is always ready to do it.  I think he enjoys it.  We

 love what we do.  It keeps us busier than we have ever been  My mind is always 

occupied.  My Brutus and Shadow live tucked in my heart and our Sniff is always 

home waiting for us.  Life is good.  We may not have everything we want, but we

 do have what we need, and yes not a day goes by that I don't think of our Brutus.

  He is my baby and he stole my heart.  Sniff sure has a big chunk of  it also.

To all a good day.  Not sure what the day holds.  Maybe more tornadoes.
Seems like tornadoes are a daily occurrence here in Missouri.
Arvid and I are ready. Always something new.  We love it!

I know what we did and how we accomplished it.
We are proud of it and know that it was done with integrity...

~Nadiya~

Missed You Quite A Lot Today ~

 Ma you are gone  from our lives but you will never be gone from our hearts.  

The day god called you home was the day he broke our hearts....

As I was going through some pictures, I came across a picture with me and my

 grandmother.  This was the last time I saw her alive.  Arvid and I were in Canada. 

 Arvid took this picture of us on March 12, 2010.  She died shortly afterwards.

She was fragile looking and had lost a lot of weight, yet that did not stop her from
 being the spunky woman I have always admired.  The few times Arvid has seen
 her were enough to leave him with a very good impression.  To this day he would
 say to me, "I liked your grandma.  She reminded me of my grandma."

Ma we all have busy lives, but there are moments when you come into my
thoughts and so many memories come to me.  Memories of when I was a child.
 Of the times we went fishing with you.  Of the times you fed us from
 your plate.  The times you told us stories until we would fall asleep.
Stories which to this day my sisters tell to their children.

Today I spent time thinking of you.  Today I wish I could have picked up
the phone and call you.  Hear your voice as you said, "hello."  Ma, today I miss you!
 Even in all the hectictness of our lives, you are always close.  My sisters, mom
and dad talk about you often and remember so much that makes us smile.

Mommy misses her daily calls with you so very much. Nirvan some nights goes
through some rough nights.  She feels you close to her and misses you very much as well.

When you went away you left an empty space in ours hearts but we

 filled that spacer with love and memories. We miss your love, your tears, 

your laughter and your touch but most of all we miss your smile...  

~Nadiya~

Monday Again ~

New Monday.  New week.  New goals...

One of my favorite sights in Branson is this Ferris wheel.   Coming all the way from

 Chicago.  Be it night or day, I just can't seem to stop taking pictures of it.  At night

 the colors change as the wheel goes around and around.  Have not gone on it and

 don't think I will.  Not that brave anymore, but I still enjoy seeing it.

As usual Mondays are busy, but as soon as the day begins it seems like the 

week just takes off and before you know it, it's Friday again.  Love this part of 

staying busy and always not knowing what to expect.  Of course if 

it is something not "good" then I am not happy about that.

Monday is the start of the week and it has always been the unspoken enemy of 

people who totally enjoyed their weekends. Well, that’s quite a lot of people. It is a 

known fact that we really can’t get rid of Monday off the days of the week, people

 need to get up and pretty much drag their ass off the bed and start working the day. 

Monday mornings are the most dreaded moment of the week for many. 

It is the sign that a new work week has to start and that we must say goodbye

 to the bliss and comfort of the Saturday and Sunday. Do not let this

 dreadful moment become something so related with Monday.

Remember that Mondays should be welcomed with great enthusiasm,

 enormous hope and a tank full of energy.  It is after all an new opportunity to 

make things better. Happy Monday all.  Let's get rolling and kick some butt today!

 You can't change what happened last week. but you can 

learn from it and choose happiness  this week...

~Nadiya~

Some Days Are Like This ~

It's so curious: one can resist tears and 'behave' very well in the hardest

 hours of grief. But then someone makes you a friendly sign behind a window,

 or one notices that a flower that was in bud only yesterday has suddenly 

blossomed, or a letter slips from a drawer... and everything collapses..

Some days are harder than others.  Can't pinpoint anything specific.  Just suddenly

something happens.  It hits me all over again.  The tears come and go, but

 the missing you is always there.  Tucked deeply in my heart.  

Arvid and I just hold each other and "ride" that wave.

Life is busy.  Very busy.  Hardly have time to do much anymore other than work. 

 Not bad, but I do sometimes feel guilty because Sniff is left so much alone.  Now he is 

"used" to it, but every time we leave he looks at us with those big eyes and yes, I'm guilty.

Last night Arvid and I were talking and as always it got around to Brutus.  I asked 

Arvid if he misses Brutus, and he said "more than you know."  I miss my Brutus

 very much and last night was pretty rough for us. We heard Brutus' song 

and it threw us back to square one.  How I miss my Brutus.

 Not everyday is bad, but suddenly it will hit me and then I have a rough patch.

  Arvid holds it in more, but when I ask I hear from him that he also

thinks often of Brutus and misses him so much as well.  Life!

Grief! It comes in waves and today I'm drowning in it!

Shadow crosses our minds very often as well.  I "see" them all the time at work

 and at home.  Then I let my mind wander to when they were alive.  I smile

 at the memory, but at the same time that memory crushes me.  Yes, 

today is also one of those days that my mind is full with Brutus

 and Shadow.  Today I miss home.  Home being Florida.

Looking forward to a relaxing Sunday and hopefully not too much running
 around.  Yesterday was nice and relaxing and Arvid even had some time to
 go out with Danny, the property manager/maintenance man at his hotel.
While they had a boys evening out, I had some time on my own.  I did
 a little shopping and some stuff for me.  Both of us had a good time.

Wishing everyone a good day.  Hopefully the sun shines for all of us today.

Some days I can conquer the world, other days it takes me three 
hours to convince myself to bathe.  No journey out of grief was
 straightforward.  There would be good days and bad days...

~Nadiya~

Life...Pure Goodness

Second chances are not given to make things right.  But are
 given to prove that we could make things better even after we fall..

Someone said, "I may not have everything I want, but I sure have everything I need."
Yes, that is my motto to live by, and I practice it everyday.  Some days not always that
 successful at it, but by the end of the day I am grateful and I know that life always gives
 us second chances.  It is up to us to see it.  To grab it and to make the most of it.

Life has changed a lot for Arvid and I in the last few months.  Living in Branson,
Missouri is a totally different experience that what it was like to be in Fort Lauderdale.
 Gone are the days of "boredom"  Now our days are filled with things to do.

Places to go and people to meet.  Interesting and always something we had not
planned for is happening.  We are staying busy and that was the main reason for trying
out Branson.  For now I am happy and enjoying life here.  Yes, I miss Florida
 and our home, but everything I need and want is right her.  Arvid, Brutus,
 Shadow Sniff and I are home together.  All is good with us.

Change is hard at first.  Messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.
Making a big life change is pretty scary.  But, know what's even scarier?  Regrets...

~Nadiya~