Funny...

I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... 

And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party...

Just for laughs..and who does not need a good laugh every so often.

I sure do and this provides one for today as do the random quotes I have used.

Hope you enjoy it and don't take it too seriously.  I love you more today than yesterday. 
Yesterday you really pissed me off :)

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

Life is meant to enjoy and to be able to laugh at yourself as well.
The one thing I am good at doing is to have a good laugh at my expense and to have a good time.
As usual wishing you all good times everyday...

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. 

She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the hell she is....

~Nadiya~

Hello North Carolina...

Smile every chance you get.  Not because life has been easy, perfect, or exactly as you had anticipated, but because you choose to be happy and grateful for all the good things you do have and all the problems you know you don’t have....

Nothing makes me happier than going to visit family.  This time we will be visiting my parents in North Carolina.  Arvid and I love being on the road especially when that road leads us to family. 

With a stopover in Savannah, we will also have the opportunity to see a friend and then next day we will be in North Carolina visiting my parents.  I could not be happier.  Being with mom and dad is always good for both of us.  Happy, relaxing and fun times always.

I visited my sister not so long ago.  Yes, I am lucky to be able to see my sister and family plus my parents one after the other.  Does not happen to often, but fortunately for me this time it did and boy am I glad.  Being with my parents is always relaxing and always enjoyable.

Will have some time alone with them as well so works out great.  Now can't wait until we are there.  In the meantime, Brutus is still in the healing process, paw still looks ugly but could be worse.  Arvid is everyday improving so yes life is looking good.
Wishing you all a good day everyday!

Life is full with ups and downs the trick is to enjoy the good times
 and to have the courage to go through the bad ones..

~Nadiya~

Beautiful Day...

Cherish those special moments because some day they will be all you have....

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

My niece Reshma, wrote this for her mom my sister in 2010.

  Reshma was not yet 12 years old.  

I saw this when I was visiting and it touched my heart so much I just had to share it.

I am extremely proud of each and every one of my nieces and nephews and am always amazed at the things they do and say.  Reshma is smart beyond her years, yet a little girl.

It's the start of another beautiful day here.  Makes everything look better, brighter and our possibilities limitless.  Hope your day is also look great.

Today is also Brutus' birthday.  Arvid woke up singing him a happy birthday song.
Yes, it's a beautiful day and life is good.
We love you with all our heart Brutus!  You have made our life better than ever!

Also, it's  Friday everyone so let the weekend celebrations begin...

Pretending to look busy on a Friday is hard work.

Live every moment, love every day cause before you know it,

precious time slips away....

~Nadiya~

One Day At A Time...

Even when we are going through the hard times

 we just think to ourselves that everything is going to be alright...

Brutus still continues to go to the vet daily.  With each day his chance for kidney failure grows.  Even so we are continuing to give him the shots and keeping a very close eye to his daily routines and changes from his usual patterns.  So far he eats and drinks well and has all the love he could ever want from us.

Yesterday I was a little sad and down for a while because as Brutus was being examined and given his shot the doctor and I were talking.  He was honest enough to tell me that he has never before seen anything like what is affecting Brutus.  Got me down and a bit teary because I just do not know what the future holds for our Brutus.  On the other hand, I do try to be positive.  We had woken up to a beautiful day and that alone holds an unspoken promise of better days to come.

I realize that we all carry something that one way or another affects us.  I also know that there are so many out there with much worse situations yet they look at life with a positiveness that amazes me.  I want to remember this and to focus on the good things in our life and to deal with the not so good in a better way.  It's not always easy, but who ever said life was easy all the time.?

As usual, I wish you good things and good days always...

Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles,

it empties today of its strength...

~Nadiya~

Humor...

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. 

It's jolted by every pebble on the road....

Always time for a dose of humor and today's is no exception.

Goes like this:

The kindergarten class had a homework assignment to find 

out about something exciting and relate it to the class the next day.

When the time came for the little kids to give their reports, 

the teacher was calling on them one at a time.

Eventually little Johnny’s turn came.

 Little Johnny walked up to the front of the class,

 and with a piece of chalk, made a small white dot on the blackboard,

 then sat back down.

The teacher couldn't figure out what Johnny had in mind for his report, 

so she asked him just what that was.

"It's a period," reported Johnny.

"Well I can see that," she said, "but what is so exciting about a period."

"Damned if I know," said Johnny, 

"but this morning my sister said she missed one. 

Then Daddy had a heart attack, Mommy fainted,

 and the man next door shot himself."

Always good to start the day with something lighthearted.

Keep smiling and wishing you all 

a good day as well.

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; 

a sense of humor to console him for what he is...

~Nadiya~

Common Mistake...

Behind the guise of smiling eyes there lies the unheard cries of loneliness, sadness and a life full of experiences, both good and bad, before you judge, just remember we all carry our sorrows differently....

They say never judge a book by its cover.  I say they are right.  

How often is it that we see someone and without knowing anything 

about that person we already form an opinion about them?

Just remember the way you think about a person is not necessarily the way they are. 

Unless you have walked in their paths, you know nothing about what is truly going on in their lives.

I will not claim to be innocent of this.  Many a times I have seen someone and just based on appearances I formed an opinion.  Not good and I am trying to not do this.

Just because you see a person smiling, happy and carefree does not mean they do not carry burdens/sorrows just like you, just like me.  There are some people who think that they are the only ones who hurt.  They are the only ones who know what suffering is all about.  Trust me, I have had my share of sorrow and tragedies as has almost everyone I know in some form or another, so next time we cross paths, think before you judge. 

Remember, never judge someone. 

The most beautiful people could be the most scarred, 

and the most scarred could be the most beautiful.

For now happy thoughts going your way.

Judging before you know me.

I hate that when people do that. You don’t know me, you don’t know who I am. You think just because you know my name, and that I’m related to so and so, you know my whole life story like the back of your hand? You think that just merely seeing me around, you can judge me?

~Nadiya~

Hello and Goodbye...

There are no good-byes, where ever we are, you’ll always be in my heart....

I have had a wonderful time.  It is very hard to leave Reshma and Sachin, but at the same time I also have to return home to Arvid and Brutus.  Like all good things, my little vacation has come to an end.  I have memories that will be with me forever. 

 One thing you may not know about me is that I have an excellent memory.  Good and bad, but every moment spent with Mala and family will be one of the good memories that I will forever cherish.  I definitely look forward to the next time I will be seeing them all again.

I was fortunate to spend many hours with them just doing things that they enjoyed and I also.  Among the many things we enjoyed making Lego structures with Sachin was fun. Roasting marshmallows was another highlight.  Seeing Iron man 3 and Spider Man was also high up in things that brought us fun.
Many memories made that will forever be with me.
I love you all and I look forward to the next time we are together. I had a wonderful time just sitting in the hammock and listening to the stream in their backyard.  Playing with Jaxen and wearing him and I out was fun also.  I already miss you all.

Mala relaxing with Sachin in the hammock..I LOVE this girl :)

Now it's home to my two boys...

Yes, I have a good life.

I have wonderful people all around me.

Could not ask for more.  Now for Brutus to get better and it would be perfect!

The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values.

~Nadiya~

Just A Great Day

Sister is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, 

but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship...

Being with my sister and family has been so far very relaxing and very enjoyable.  It sure was a good idea to get away for a while and to visit them.  Not being one for the outdoors lifestyle, I found myself enjoying doing outdoors stuff quite a bit.  We roasted marshmallows and frolicked by their lake.  This was so much fun and the weather was perfect for this.

I was also treated to a tour of Killington Ski Resort.   It is the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, and has the largest vertical drop in New England at 3050 feet.  Yes, I was very impressed and glad to have been able to actually touch some snow.  The mountains still had snow and people were still skiing.

The day had so many things going for it.  We visited a few more places, stopped at a few that caught our eye.  One of these places is called Woodstock.  Vermont has many so called covered bridges and I found them all very interesting.

Time is going by too fast.  I am really enjoying my visit with Mala and family, makes me realize how much I miss not having them in Florida.  For now so much more to do with them.  

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish my mom and all the mothers out there a very Happy Mother's Day. 

 Like you, I also have the best mom in the whole world.  

I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.

If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go 

where a prayer has not already been... 

~Nadiya~

Iron Man 3

Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the

ideals and objectives of normal adulthood...

What could be better than spending the day Reshma and Sachin, and going to the movies with them?  For me this was just perfect.  Movies take us into another place another time and when I see Sachin so immersed into the movie with those big brown eyes just full of anticipation, my day is made.

Our movie was Iron Man 3.  Yes, they treated me to the movies and since I am also a fan of the Iron Man movies, I was also very caught up in the action.  For a few hours it was so good to just relax and be transported away.

Marvel's "Iron Man 3" pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. 

This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man.

The movie was long, but if you are a fan of the Marvel Heroes then it's worth your while.  

 We had a great time and best of all I got to spend quality time with them.

Your children can be around you all day, but if you don't spend quality time with them and you don't pay attention to them and talk to them and listen to them, it doesn't matter that they're just around you...

~Nadiya~

Family Time...

You don't choose your family. 
They are God's gift to you, as you are to them...

I have only a few days with my sister and family and boy, will I make every moment count.
 I am not interested in doing anything but spend as much time as I can with them.

How can one ask for more in life than to be able to enjoy spending time with loved ones.

What we sometimes forget in life is that it's the simple things that count.

Simple pleasures like taking a walk with Reshma, Sachin and Jaxen to explore the lake by their home.

Being an aunt has so many advantages.  Best one is that I am loved my my nine nieces and nephews and for them I would do anything in the world.  When I am with them nothing seems impossible.  I can see life for a while through the eyes of a child and let me tell you what you see is a wonderful life full of hope, possibilities, magic and always love.

Yes, I am a lucky person.  Very lucky.
As the Irish say:

May good luck be your friend in whatever you do and may trouble be always a stranger to you.

It's the simple things in life that mean the most, 

and it's the simple things that will make the big things seem bigger...

~Nadiya~

Soon, Soon...

Life is like dancing. If we have a big floor, many people will dance.

 Some will get angry when the rhythm changes. 

But life is changing all the time....

Soon I will be seeing my sister and family at their home for the first time since they left Florida.  I have seen them since, but have never visited them in Vermont.  I am excited and very happy to finally be able to go to their home.

Mala is sister number 4 of five.  God knows that I have a tender spot for all four sisters, but when we were young and living in Guyana Mala was the baby.  Rima had not yet arrived and was not even close to being born.  Mala was one year old when my mom and dad had to leave us with my grandmother in order to find us a better life.  They did.

In many ways she will always be my baby sister, just like Rima.  See how cute she was and is even more so today:)

Mala left Florida in 2010.  We all helped her to pack for her move.  The thing about families is that when one needs us we are always there, distance is never an issue.  It was fun to be all together, but for me it was really a sad time because soon Mala and family would leave and once again it will only be Arvid, Brutus and I alone again.


Life in Vermont

It was so nice having them here.  Though they lived 2.5hrs from us we tried to visit as often as possible.  So to be able to see them and spend a fed days together is more than I can imagine.  I'm happy.  I miss Reshma and Sachin so very much.

Now they live in Vermont.  They love the change of seasons and both Reshma, Sachin and Jaxen their dog can't seem to get enough of the snow.  According to Reshma 30F is close to a heat wave. Yes, I can't wait to see them and to hear everything about life in Vermont.  can't wait to go to the baseball game with Sachin and to have them show me around their neighborhood and to see everything that is their life in VT.

Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes...


~Nadiya~

Something To Think About...

Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad.

 Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too..

Just when you think you have reached the end of your rope, think again.  Saw this today and wanted to share with all of you.

Just live, be as happy as you can and remember you are not the only one with problems.

Look around you, talk to anyone and you will see we all have

burdens to carry.  The most time wasted in life, 

is the one spent worrying about other peoples opinion of you.

Live today because nothing is guaranteed.

Enjoy the day friends!

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. 

The world owes you nothing. It was here first....

~Nadiya~

No One Said It Was Easy....

No one knows what he can do till he tries.

I can be changed by what happens to me.

 I refuse to be reduced by it...

Many times in life we forget to see the bigger picture in front of us.  We focus on the little things and let them overwhelm us.  We forget that we have a great life.  We forget we are surrounded by loved ones who would do anything for us.  

We forget that we are healthy and that we wake up everyday to another chance for happiness.  We forget all the nice and good things around us and let a few little "problems" overpower us and then

life sure takes a turn we never expected.

Talking to a friend a few days ago and she was just telling me what a horrible life she has.  She said some people have all the luck why can't she ever be one of those.  I looked at her and was amazed.    Here was a woman who had everything going for her.  Yes, like all of us she also has a few issues, but who doesn't?  

No one has the perfect life and if you told me you did I would have serious doubts.  

I have learnt that life does not wait for anyone.  Today you are here tomorrow you never know.  There was a time I lived as if I had all the time in the world.  Well when tragedy strikes there is no going back, but at least I learnt that in order to keep on living you always have to move forward, you have to stop and focus on the good things and not only on what is wrong.  Many of us forget all the good around us and stay put in the same spot where only the negative seems to come through.

Right now we are dealing with Brutus and his issues again.  Breaks our heart, but we also know that in order for him to get better there will be some very bad days ahead.  So I cry every so

often, makes me feel better, but then I pick myself up and it's back to seeing what lays ahead and what we need to do.

What I am trying to say is that we all have problems.  Mine may not seem important to you or vice versa, but for the one facing it that's all that matters.  The important thing here is to not let your "problems" take a life of their own and take you down with it.  Always remember to focus on the good:)

Remember, what defines us is how well we rise after falling...

Life is full of ups and downs. The trick is to enjoy the ups and have courage during the downs.

If your life has no ups and downs, means you're dead....

~Nadiya~

Good News...

Life is good if you know how to live it, people are good if you know how to treat them, 

and money is big if you know how to make it....

Sometimes just a little good news can made a good day turn out into an excellent day.  

Well yesterday we got some really good new from someone very special to us.  

Arvid and I are glowing with anticipation.

Life is good.  I have a wonderful family.

We are healthy, Brutus hopefully is getting better.

What else can one ask for at this moment.  

Now is you look closely at the baby you will know why we are having a good day.
After the good news we decided it was time to go celebrate with a good meal,
and what better place that Kaluz, our Sunday favorite.

That's Arvid just enjoying the boats pass by as we have lunch.  It was a perfect day.
Brutus still happy because today he has a day off from the vet.  Come tomorrow he will
not be as happy, for now,
until next time...

People Say you only live life once...

 I say live life the way it was meant to be 

with Family, Friends, and Laughter. Live life to the fullest!

~Nadiya~

Thankful...

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough...

Today is going to be a good day.  Brutus gets to have a day off from going to the vet and will just  relax with us without stressing that we will put him in his carrier and scoot him away to the doctor. 

The little things in life sometimes taken for granted, is what really is important.
We woke up we have each other and we get to be together.  Can't ask for more.

On a lighter note last night I said to Arvid:

This is after he asked me if I would like to go out and listen to music.
First I said "no" then I said, "maybe.
So he says to me without even looking up from his laptop:

You can say we understand each other.  He never (well almost) pays attention to what I say
and I ignore most of what he says.  Perfect blend, we understand each other
and we know what the other likes and this always makes it easy to get things done.
Once we sift through each others "nonsense" we end up with the good stuff as he likes to say.

As a result we had a very nice day and evening in the company of friends,
good music food and a few other things.
  Arvid was happy just like in "the good old times"
It was great to see him  enjoying the music and for us to actually
be out for such a long time for a change.
As always when with friend every time is a good time.

Wishing you all a very good day.
Remember to be thankful for what you have
and to say a little prayer for those less fortunate.

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive 

to breath, to think, to enjoy, to love. Good Morning and have a good day....

~Nadiya~

The Big Man...

Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life....

As I was sitting in the waiting room at the vet's office a man stepped out from the examining room with a dog.  He was a big man.  Someone you would not want to mess around with.  I looked at him and he just had this glazed look on his face.

The big man was crying the tears were rolling down his face and I just looked and not realizing it, I was also crying.  I was crying because at that moment I felt the pain he was going through. He came in with two pets and he was only leaving with one.  Everyone in the office was just saying,
"I'm so sorry"

I knew what he was going through was 100 times worse than what I thought I was going through.  He no longer had the possibility of ever seeing his baby again.  Here we were thinking, "why Brutus"? Here was this man agonizing why his beloved pet. He was still crying as he left the doctors office and I just could not help crying as well.

The girls in the office thought I was crying because of Brutus.  It was more for what this man who I have never seen before in my life and never will again, was going through.  I left with brutus in his carrier.  At least we have Brutus with us and every day there is new possibilities for him and for us.  For the big man, part of him died that day.

Yes, always remember to be thankful and grateful for what you have.  Many are not so fortunate.  I came home, hugged Arvid, cried some more and gave thanks that we have Brutus.  My heart is still sad for the big man..

In the meantime, life goes on.  For us we continue taking Brutus to the vet for his treatments.  For the big man some very rough times await him.  Thinking about it makes me sad.  Arvid seeing me like this says, "you should not go out anymore because you try to take all of the world burdens on your shoulders.  You should just worry about Brutus and I"
I do, but at the same time seeing someone suffering is a deal breaker.  I may not know them, but pain is pain no matter who you are.
Remember, be happy for this moment for this moment is your life...

Be grateful for the home you have, the family that loves you
 and all the goodness that surrounds you,
 knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need.

~Nadiya~

Tomorrow Is Yet To Come...

You have to learn the rules of the game. 

And then you have to play better than anyone else...

You know when someone says to you, "do you want the good news first or the bad news" things don't look too well.  This is what happened yesterday when I took Brutus to the vet.

Good news, first bacteria cleared up and Brutus so far did not go blind.  Relief and happy about that.  Bad news second bacteria shows up in the culture and badder than the first.  My heart is breaking and though I am ready to cry, I listen for the the remaining of the bad news.

Seeing him like this all bundled up with a towel getting ready to have his laser treatment was also heart wrenching.  He was quiet and seemed resigned to let them do the treatment.  Somehow Brutus seemed to know that the doctor and Kimmy were just trying to help him.

Here he is having the laser treatment.  It does not hurt because he just stayed put while they worked on him.  During the treatment the doctor told me the rest of the bad news.  Brutus' bacteria does not respond to many antibiotics that would be considered "safe"  With his best interest at heart we choose to have the doctor treat him with an antibiotic whose side effect is kidney failure.

Brutus is after all our baby and who does not want the best for their baby?  Arvid and I are just very sad right now.  Like Arvid said, "why did this have to happen to lil' Brutus"?

All we can be is optimistic and positive.  That we know how to do very well.

Now we wait, watch for signs and hope all goes well.

My heart breaks every time I see him hobbling around ignorant to the fact that his little body is absorbing medications that may cure his bacteria, but may also harm him.  What a choice.  

For now we continue with his treatments. 

They say the best is yet to come.  I say it has to! 

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, 

you'll start having positive results....

~Nadiya~