Saturday December 9th ~

It's the most wonderful time of the year..

Happy everyday because I feel Christmas in the air. 

 People are happy and the spirit of joy is everywhere.

All is good at home with Arvid, Sniff and I.  We stay 

busy most of the day, but come the evening the tree of

 us relax and unwind by watching TV together.  Sniff

 is always close to us.  How I love our little Sniff.

Yesterday we were in the mood for chicken wings.  

After running around ad doing chores in the afternoon, not to 

mention soccer games for Arvid, it was nice to not have to cook 

and let someone else cater to me.  The food was delicious.

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your

 heart, you won't find it under a tree...

~Nadiya~

Friday December 8th ~

What good is the warmth of summer, 

without the cold of winter to give it sweetness...

 Woke up early as usual and caught Sniff snoozing on top of the

 sofa in the living room right around sunrise.  He sleeps with us in the 

bedroom but get up as early as I do and finds other comfy spots.

Today the temperatures are not as "bad" as the were yesterday. 

 Welcome to winter wonderland in The Sunshine State.

Christmas scene in Fort Myers Beach 🎅.

Friday again.  Today Downtown does not seem to be 

in our plans.   Just a little too cold for us.  Yes, we are wimps

 when it comes to the cold.  The Viking of the family, Arvid is

 even more a wimp when the cold hits.  Sniff is no better 😂

Here he is all bundled up with whatever he can find.

Sniff has already found his morning spot to chill in.  Arvid

 still in bed and I am having some quiet time on my own.  Life is 

good and I am happy and grateful for these simple pleasures.

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that

 there was in me an invincible summer...

~Nadiya~

Thursday December 7th ~

This might be our chilliest adventure yet...

The sun is shining brightly, but it is cold outside.  

Sniff works hard to make sure he is always in

 the sunlight.  He is after all a Florida boy.

Any which way you look at it, Sniff makes it look so easy to be cute.

  He is my sunshine and I love him more with each passing day.

Staying warm today and here in Florida we are ready for the cold blast😬

It's going to be a hot chocolate kind of day.  I knew I liked 

cold days.  Good morning all and keep the chill away.

Good day to all.  It may be chilly right now, but this

 is Florida, and it sure ain't going to last for long 😂

We go together like winter and a sweater...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday December 6th~

I’m not there to be perfect, I’m here to be real...

 Both Arvid and I went to the doctor yesterday. I had my 

follow up with my radiation oncologist. I really like her a lot 

same as I like all of my doctors here in Fort Myers. The care is

 so much more personalized than what I have been used to.

  I had the same personalized care in Branson, Missouri.

Arvid also had a doctors appointment, with a dermatologist 

.  He went to check on some skin spots. Thankfully there was

 nothing serious but the dermatologist did go a step further just

 to prevent any of the spots from becoming cancerous. 

 The doctor did what’s called a cryosurgery.  This is the 

treatment of lesions with the application of a cold substance,

 in most cases liquid nitrogen is used to destroy the lesion.  Arvid

 is good. It was nothing serious. More like taking precautions.

As 2023 is soon coming to an end, I am just about finished

 with all my doctors appointments.  I am happy to say that

 so far all has been going well.  I am still waiting to have 

surgery for my sinus infection, but paperwork seems

 to be more critical than a persons well being.

I was called by the insurance coordinator to “discuss” 

the possible 14-20K that “could” be due at the time of surgery.  

All I said was I needed this surgery, and I most definitely will

 not pay up that amount upfront.  I have medical insurance, at the 

same time my hospital bills continue to grow with each visit.

  Welcome to America and the health care system here.

We are soon expecting another cold front in Fort Myers.  

Got the sweaters and my UGG’s ready😂.  When in Florida 

go with the flow. Sniff has his heating bed so we are all ready 

for it.  Arvid, does not matter is always dressed for winter.

Wishing everyone a good day just remember life is like a

 box of chocolates.  You never know what you’re gonna get.

 I wake up every morning believing that 

today is going to be better than yesterday...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday December 5th~

Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and

 you’ll start to see a big difference in your life...

It does not take much to make me happy. 

 Got my fruit and that made it a great day.

We enjoyed a good lunch at on of our favorite restaurants 

with a good friend. That made us both happy.  When we are 

in FTL we love the view of the yachts passing by, but not the

 traffic anymore. Our marina in Fort Myers was destroyed 

by Hurricane Ian, so we hardly see many boats passing by.

It was good to get back home where Sniff was waiting for

 us and where things run on a slightly more relaxed tone.  Guess

 age is catching up with us.  Life in Fort Myers is peaceful.

To all a good day and stay warm wherever it is you are. I like Florida.

 Everything is in the ’80s. The temperatures, the ages, and the IQs 😂

In Florida, we salt margaritas, not sidewalks...

~Nadiya~

Monday December 4th ~ New Week

You may have to fight a battle more than

 once to win it.  Make today your masterpiece...

 December is already taking off.  Both Arvid and I

 have upcoming doctors appointments, but for me it's really 

an "easy" week as far as doctors go.  I guess I am nearing 

the end of my follow ups, and that sure feels really good.

Cruising through downtown.  Bright streets pretty cars.  

Everyone is ready to have a jolly December to remember.

Today Arvid and I take a trip into Fort Lauderdale to meet up

 with an friend.  I don't really care for the drive, but I look forward 

to going to The swap Shop and getting my coconuts and coconut water. 

 Also will be good to go to one of our very favorite restaurants.  

I can't really say if I miss living in Fort Lauderdale or not.  We are both 

liking it in Fort Myers right now, but I always worry that Arvid will 

get one of his "brilliant" ideas and our lives will be disrupted again.

Fort Lauderdale is always going to hold unforgettable memories.

For now it's nice to make the trip.  Do a few things we like and 

see friends.   We always say we will spend the night, but when the

 day comes, we realize we really don't want to spend the night. but

 I like it best when we turn around and drive back home, where 

Sniff is waiting and where our life is good.  Happy Monday all

 and may this be a productive and happy week for all of us.

All that being said, Fort Lauderdale is where 

Arvid and I have lived most of our lives in Florida. 

 It will always hold that special attraction and pull, 

no matter where we are.  So the question is are we 

moving back?  I just want stability and some.

Memories are timeless treasures of the heart.

 Happy times come and go, but the memories stay 

forever. A photograph keeps a moment from running

 away. A photograph is the pause button of life

Some memories are unforgettable, remaining 

ever vivid and heartwarming.   Nothing can ever

 take away a love the heart holds dear...

~Nadiya~

Sunday December 3rd ~

The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise...

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  Christmas makes me happy.  

I attribute this to my childhood and growing up in Puerto Rico.  We didn't 

have everything we wanted but we neve lacked love and friendship.

The other day our walk took us through protected cat trails.

  There were signs everywhere letting everyone know that cats

 lived here and to please drive carefully.  I like that.

Last night we had our little downtown outing.  Of course 

pizza was involved.  It's beautiful right now with all the 

Christmas lights and the feel of Christmas in the air.

Friday evening as we were leaving the concert.  The moon was guiding us.

Today we will be "discovering" another waterfront restaurant.  

Have not decided on where we will go as yet, but working on it. 

 Little not know fact: Cape Coral has more canals than Venice, Italy.  

It also has 400+ miles of canals which means it has around 100 miles

 more of canals than Fort Lauderdale.  Was news to me. Cape Coral,

 more canals than any other city in the world. Most of the canals

 are navigable and some have access to the Gulf of Mexico.

The weather is beautiful and Arvid and I are enjoying being in 

Fort Myers.  I'm always hoping this will be the place we stay.

I just want to be in one spot.  No more moves.  Stability.

To all a very good day.  Here at home it's soccer and relaxation mode.

Take the time to enjoy the little things, for one day you

 may look back and realize they were the big things...

~Nadiya~

Saturday December 2nd ~

Moments 'in time' are the real heartbeat of all living things. 

 The moment in between what you once were, and who you are

 now becoming, is where the dance of life really takes place...

 
Today would have been Paul Michael Riley's birthday. 

 He was my first husband and my first love.  They say a girl never

 forgets her first love.  Today I am a different woman than I was so

 many years ago.  I could not now imagine life without Arvid.

Today is the 35th Annual Fort Myers Beach Christmas 

Boat Parade.  Just like in Fort Lauderdale. I would like to have a 

look, but so far not sure if we will make it.  Back in Fort Lauderdale

 we just stepped out on our balcony and saw the entire parade. 

 After a few years we  lost interest in the parade.  This is one

 of the boats here in Fort Myers from a previous year.

There is always something happening downtown, and I 

am always ready to take pictures.  Keeps me entertained and

 a good laugh is always the best medicine for anything.

I find humor in most things in life.  Do not take life too seriously

Sniff is happy that its warming up again.  He loves his 

heating bed but he loves being in the sunshine even more.

Arvid and I went to a concert last night.  First time 

we are checking out the Hertz Arena here in Fort Myers. 

 I'm sure we will be seeing more of it as well.

While waiting in line to get in, we met 2 older gentlemen.  Arvid 

chatted music with them.  They asked where we were from.  I said Arvid 

is from Norway.  Next thing you know, one of the men started telling us 

about his trip to Norway some many years ago.  He toured the Fjords,

 and was very impressed with the Norwegian women's beauty.

Arvid also found out that these two men knew Joe Bonamassa's

 guitar player Josh Smith.  It so happens Arvid has known Josh Smith 

since he Josh was 13 years old and playing in Fort Lauderdale at a 

place Called Cheers.  One of Arvid's frequent hangout before

 we met.  Of course he took me there many a times as well.  

Why is it that weeks and months and years go by

 so quickly, all in a blur, but moments last forever...

~Nadiya~

New Month ~ December 1st

Ah, December… our last chance to make 

the best of the year.  December is the perfect time 

of year for reflecting and setting intentions...

December, a month of lights, snow, coziness, and

 feasts; time to make amends and tie up loose ends; finish 

what you started and make your wishes come true. Here in 

Florida it's sure the best place to be weatherwise. This is

 life at the beach.  More specifically Fort Myers Beach.

It's the last month of the year, and for very evident reason, everyone

 loves it! December has a lot to offer – it's the time for year-end 

celebrations, vacations, family-time, exchanging gifts and the

 time for new promises and embarking on new journeys!

I feel Christmas in the air, and as I always say, Christmas is my 

favorite time of the year.  Still trying to get Arvid into the spirit but 

difficult.  The only time I saw him liking Christmas was when we 

lived in Puerto Rico.  We were at my sisters, and Arvid was helping

 Kimsy put up the Christmas lights.  He was actually laughing and

 having a good time.  Puerto Rico was an amazing time for us.

Every year my sister Rima and family go the day after Thanksgiving 

and cut their own Christmas tree.  This year was no exception.  I love the

 smell of a real tree.  Fake ones are pretty, but still fake.  We tried once

 when we had Brutus to have a real tree.  Didn't work.  The tree became a

 "problem" since then we do not put out anything that might be considered 

dangerous to Sniff.  Below Rima's tree waiting to be decorated 🎄

We do not do that much for Christmas unless of course my

 family is visiting, but I love Christmas and I still have the best 

memories of it growing up in Puerto Rico.  My parents always had 

a real tree. We all did a little to make it the best tree every year.

May every day in December be filled with hope, love, 

sunshine, and energy. Let there be joy, fun, and laughter.

The other day I came across some pictures of Brutus

 from 2010.   It took me back to that time and how I missed 

him then.  Brutus, I'll miss you for the rest of my life.

You will always be my baby Brutus. Some days I just sit and remember.

December is a simple wish that brings spectacular moments.

~Nadiya~