Wednesday November 7th ~

 Two things you are in total control in life are your attitude and effort...

Therapy on Monday was good, but somehow by nighttime I 

didn't feel so good.  I don't want to say it's because of the radiation. 

 It's way too soon anyway to feel any after effects, but my breast felt

 like it was burnt and I was just having a hard time breathing.  

I'm sure this had nothing to do with radiation, but radiation 

was the only "new" thing that happened to me all that day 💞.

Yesterday also went smoothly, and I had no after effect so 

to speak of.  I don't normally give in to feeling sorry for myself, but with

 all that has happened lately it's sometimes difficult to always be strong,

 especially when your body is always aching or in discomfort. 

 Meaning of course the left breast area where the cancer is.

Yesterday my doctor told me that I will most likely receive a few 

additional radiation treatments.  All that is left to do is figure when.

  Will know more either this week or early next week. Hopefully.

Sometimes in life no matter how much you want to, 

it's not always easy to train your mind to see the good in

 every situation.  But the good thing is to not give up.  

We may slip here and there, but there is no need to 

stay down.  If anyone is going to help you through whatever 

you're going through in life, it's yourself.  No one else.  

Everyone else is there to cheer you along the way.

I received these balloons yesterday from Max and Danielle 🎈.  

Love the colors and everything about them.  Sniff on the other

 hand was terrified of them.  Nothing unusual for Sniff, but

 boy is he adorable.  Even when terrified he is gorgeous.

Good morning and a good day to all.  Yesterday's sunset.

Inspiration comes from within yourself. One has to

 be positive. When you're positive, good things happen...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday December 6th ~

 El cuerpo necesita descanso.  La mente paz y el corazon alegria...

Hurricane Ian did take lives.  I know it, but seeing the names  on

 this "Memorial Wall" brought it even more into perspective.  I can't

 begin to explain the sadness I felt 💔.  The people that perished

 were someone's reason for joy and happiness in this life.

The "wall" is a gritty reminder of how we should never 

take anything or anyone for granted.  Life has no guarantees.  

One day you're here and who knows what tomorrow holds.

It's a beautiful spot.  At the same time you watch the sunset

 you are also reminded of the lives lost right in this area.  Arvid

 and I see this "wall" from our balcony, but it's just not the

 same as seeing it up close and reading the names on it.

It has left a lasting impression on me.  One boy was just six years old.

In life you have to live through the worst parts so that you 

never take the best parts for granted.  Tonight and every 

night someone is weeping the loss of a loved one.

Yesterday I had my first radiation treatment.  Initially the plan

 was just 16 treatments, but my doctor called and said we may have

 to do more than that.  But first we do the 16 and go from there.  

No need to worry about something that may not happen,

 and if it does...well I deal with it then.  As I said, in life there

 are no guarantees   The rules to the game changes constantly.

To all a good day.  Make sure you remind yourself that 

there is always something to be grateful for.  No matter 

how insignificant it may seem.  Just be thankful.

If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart...

~Nadiya~

Monday December 5th ~

 Be yourself.  No one can say you're doing it wrong...

New week and start of radiation treatment.  Looking forward to

 see how this goes and to see if my body feels the difference.  My wish

 is that I loose some weight, but that is wishful thinking on my part 😂

Aside from radiation not much more planned for this week.  We now 

have to work around my schedule in order to make other plans.  According 

to my doctor I will be feeling very tired.  Knowing me, I won't 😕

All is good here at home.  No more trips to Fort Lauderdale

 for now.  Too long the drive to go and come back the same day.  

Almost six hours driving to a concert.  To me not worth it.  Arvid

 did ask if I wanted to spend the night in a hotel, but I said no.  

Not worth it either.  Too much work for one night.

To all a good week.  2022 is soon over so let's all send it 

off with a positive  attitude and hopes for a better 2023.

On our trip to Fort Lauderdale, I had to see with my own eyes the

 damage caused by Hurricane Ian to the pier at Lauderdale by the Sea. 

 One of my favorite spots and a place we called home for some time.

It's not over until it's over, but it's almost...

~Nadiya

Sunday December 4th ~

 If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart...

We have sure had a good last two days so far.  Very long days, but

 very good ones.  The drive alone to Fort Lauderdale is not my favorite.

  In all honesty the less we do it the better, but sometimes you have to. 

 In our case we wanted to see a concert, therefore we had to go 😘😛

It was fun going back to Lauderdale by the Sea.  When we 

lived there I really enjoyed it.  Like here in Fort Myers, there

 is so much to do.  Unlike Fort Myers, there I walked to the

 beach and saw sunrises and sunsets.  The Santa was a little 

"bold"  He asked me if I wanted to sit on his lap 😂

Today will be a quiet day.  There is a little place downtown that 

has the best pizza I have had in a very long time.  I told Arvid that

 this is what I would like for lunch.  Pizza it is and I am very excited. 

 It has become our Friday evening "snack" when we're downtown.  

I'm so very disappointed the USA was kicked out of

 the Fifa World Cup.  Nothing more to add to that. This 

was one bet Arvid said he won't have mind losing. 

To all a very good day.  Make sure that whatever you do, 

you enjoy.  Only way to live.  Love what you do.  Love who you are.

We cannot change the direction of the 

wind, but we can adjust the sails...

~Nadiya~

Saturday December 3rd ~

Music expresses that which cannot be
 said and on which it is impossible to be silent... 

After a very long time we will finally be seeing one of

 our favorite Blues artists to in The Bradenton Blues Festival,

 and yes, I also like Albert Castiglia very much. He's good. 

When Brutus died, Arvid wrote a song for him. 

 Yes for Brutus, based on a Blues song.  Arvid asked Albert

to sing the song for us.  He did.  Aside from, that Albert

 is a great Blues/Rock and Roll  musician.

Yesterday we went to Fort Lauderdale.  Also for a concert. 

 Some one called Tab Benoit.  Arvid loves his music and I enjoy 

the outings.  I may not love the music as much as Arvid, but I sure 

always have a good time just by being out and seeing happy people 

having a great time.  One sure gets caught up in this vibe.

We also took the opportunity to go to a favorite restaurant 

of ours.  Always good to go to the place we called

 home for so many years.  It sure is beautiful.

With each passing day Sniff is becoming bolder and bolder.  

What may seem like nothing for most cats is a big deal for Sniff.  

Each accomplishment is a happy moment for me.  Sniff is slowly

discovering more of the "outdoors" meaning the balcony 😂

Definitely making his mama proud.  Arvid is the one who 

really keeps a close eye on Sniff when he's "outside"

Here in Fort Myers there is so much debris not only 

from boats but everything, trees, furniture, office items.  You

 name it, it's there waiting to be removed.  It's a slow process,

 even though there are people working on it everyday.  The

 damage is more than one can imagine, and it is prioritized 

Everywhere you turn there is debris.  Still a sad site.

The cleanup process is slow.

But at the end of each day, a beautiful sunset.

Good morning and to all a good day.  I'm loving my festive nails.

No one can help your soul if you aren’t 

willing to be your true color, to be the real you... 

~Nadiya~

Friday December 2nd ~

 Life is a journey and only you hold the map...

Some days Sniff is brave;  yesterday was one of those days. 

 The temperature was nice and cool so we had the door to the 

balcony open.  Every so often Sniff would go out, but would run 

in right away.  But once Arvid was there he felt safe and

 together they watched the boats and I watched them 💙

Friday, always something to look forward to.  Even more 

so than most days.  Arvid says his "workweek" is over, although 

I will say that is not so.  His "workweek" is never over, but it 

makes us, mostly him feel good.  Everything seems to 

come more alive once the weekend begins.

  The downtown is buzzing with activities, music, people 

and just a happy time.  Time to have some extra fun times. 

 The above is the sunset from our pool deck. Love.

Good morning to all may you be happy with yourself and may 

you find joy in the simple pleasures in life.  Here at home the job

 to remove the boats is still on ongoing and long process.

 

The boys continue to enjoy time on the balcony.  The boats are slowly

 getting refloated and being towed away.  At least the ones in the water.

  The ones on land, like the above ones...well that's another story.

 

I have my schedule for my radiation treatment.  If all goes

 well I will only have 16 treatments, but according to my doctor

 that we will know more towards the end of the treatment.  I was

also given a little comfort hat knitted by one of the very kind

 volunteers at the cancer treatment center.  I got a really cute one.

Not in doing what you like, but in liking 

what you do is the secret of happiness...

~Nadiya~

December 1st, 2022 New Month

 December is a simple wish that brings spectacular moments...

The last month in 2022.  Boy so much has happened this year.

  Both good and bad. We received 2022 in Branson, Missouri.  That was

 a good time.  Arvid's mom died January 21st, 2022.  The year took a turn, and

 from that point on things got complicated.  Not all bad.  Not all good.  

Just life reminding us to never take anything/anyone for granted.

Though many not so good things have happened during this year, it has 

also been a very good year for us.  It took us back to Branson, and we

 both discovered that we really enjoy living there.  It's not a big city. 

 There are no malls so to speak of, and there are no beaches.  Even so

 it has its attraction for us, and we both look forward to going back.

There is something about the start of a new month that is so

 special and inspires you to look at new beginnings.  Hopefully

 December will be the month where we achieve some of the 

goals we have set for ourselves.  May December remind us 

all that everyday is a miracle and a privilege to be alive.

Come 2023, it get's closer for the time we get to see these 

3 little ones and the rest of the family.  I have not been to Norway 

since 2019, and I have not seen any of them since 2020.  It's been

 too long, but the time is getting nearer and nearer.

As the new month begins I look forward to welcoming Christmas.

  No doing anything special nor spectacular, but I love Christmas, the 

lights, the decorations and seeing all the happy people everywhere.  

I know for many the holidays are depressing and sad, but luckily 

for me I have beautiful memories with my family, and they will forever

 make this the most wonderful time of the year.  The fact that Arvid 

dislikes Christmas does not lessen my excitement.  Not anymore. 

 I have always loved Christmas and I always will love it.

We all have many reasons why we can be sad/depressed every 

so often.  We're not perfect, but we also have so many more reasons

 to be happy and grateful.  I choose to be thankful and happy, instead 

of bitter, angry and depressed no matter what life throws my way.  

And trust me, I do have many days I feel angry and at times 

bitter, but they don't become a permanent fixture in my life.

December, being the last month of the year, cannot

 help but make us think of what is to come🎄

As we close one chapter, the pen is gradually 

inking up, preparing itself to write the next..

~Nadiya~