Monday September 16th~

 My mission in life is not merely to survive, but

 to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some

 compassion, some humor, and some style...

As the new week begins, Arvid is very happy 

because we will be busy, and in between he will be 

watching soccer.  This is the look of a happy man.

Sniff in the meantime does not know if he's happy 

about this or not.  He does know that whatever his dada

 does he will most likely do.  In between naps yesterday, this 

was Sniff.  Each time Arvid cheered, Sniff woke up.

Yesterday was warm, but it was still perfect to be seated 

outdoors.  We had the breeze coming our way all the time. 

 Made for a very enjoyable time.  Food was good as were

 the drinks.  Being next to us, we walked.  Even better.

A few things to take care of today, also in this mix I am hoping 

to get a call from my orthopedic surgeon's office.  Not to complain, 

but I have never had as much pain as I am having right now. 

 I also miss my morning walks and views of the sunrise.

I can still seethe sunrise  from the bedroom window.

Sniff plans to take it easy.  He's not a morning 

person either so a little extra nap always improves his 

disposition.  Just like Arvid😂  They love their sleep.

No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, 

life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow...

~Nadiya~

Sunday September 15th~

Do the best you can until you know better. 

Then when you know better, do better...

 After talking about it a lot, Arvid finally gave in and 

cleaned  the balcony.  Said he could not take it anymore, 

and if he and Sniff were to go out they need it clean. 

 So he cleaned, and what a huge difference it made.

What a difference a day makes.  We can now actually see out again😂

Sunday again.  Arvid and I will be going out for

 our outing and if the weather holds, we will probably

 be able to sit outdoors again.  So far we have been 

lucky.  Summer in Florida, you never know how the

 weather will change one minute from another.

To all a beautiful day.  Today I slept in, well I didn't get 

up before Arvid nor Sniff.  Fells good and I feel rested.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through

 life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you 

need to be able to throw some things back...

~Nadiya~

Saturday September 14th~

Always go with your passions. 

Never ask yourself if it’s realistic or not...

 Arvid is a happy man today.  Yesterday he told 

me that there is a lot of soccer on TV this weekend. 

 He's going to be very busy with that remote today. Arvid

 always says that I am the only one he can't "control."

Sniff and I as usual woke up early.  Sniff ate his foodies

ran around a bit then off to another nap he went.  He's on the 

bed with Arvid.  They keep each other warm every morning.

I'm still waiting to hear back from my orthopedic surgeon.  My 

knee really hurts.  Yesterday we walked downtown for our usual

 Friday outing.  When we got home I was feeing it.  According

 to my doctor, I am not injuring my knee any more by walking.

  I'm just going to be really sore and really hurt.  No lies there.

It was good going back to town with Arvid.  We had a good

 time and a few interesting "sightings."  Never a dull moment.

It was a beautiful day.  We saw the sunset which is always special.  

Today is most likely going to be a more relaxing day.  Not as much 

running around as the last few days.  Thank goodness for soccer.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, 

but I think I have ended up where I needed to be...

~Nadiya~

Friday The 13th~

 I've seen enough horror movies to know that
 any weirdo wearing a mask is never friendly...

Today my sister and our nephew Sachin both have birthdays.  

Wishing them both the best day and many, many more to 

come.  Wish we could have been there to celebrate with you

 @ Nirvana.  When we lived in Puerto Rico we did enjoy a

 celebration with you.  To this day we still talk about it.

 

Friday the 13th  is considered an unlucky day in 

Western superstition. A month has a Friday the 13th

 if and only if it begins on a Sunday.  There are 

91 days, 1 hour, 2  minutes and 26 seconds until

 the next Friday the 13th (December 2024).

 Our Sniff knows when and how  to just chill.  Right

 now he's been fed and he's back to a little catchup

 nap with his dada.  They both love their sleep.

As for us, we had another very busy day. 

 We were on the go most of the day, but we did

 find some time to go and have a nice lunch.

We checked out The Boat House.  We have been 

to the one in Cape Coral, but first time going to t

he one in Fort Myers.  We likes this one better.

Typical Florida style tiki bar restaurant.  Casual relaxed

 environment.  Exactly what we like.  It was a warm day,

 but with the breeze just perfect for outdoor seating.

We enjoyed a very relaxing outing and a busy day.

  A Happy Friday the 13th to all .  The scariest thing I 

will do on Friday the 13th is check my bank account.

Be happy.  Not because everything is good, but 

because you can see the good side of everything...

~Nadiya~

Thursday September 12th~

 Always go with your passions. Never 
ask yourself if it’s realistic or not...

Yesterday was a more relaxing day, at least 

for me.  Arvid did a few things, but nothing too hectic.  

It was also 23 years ago that  hijackers crashed the 

first two planes into the Twin Towers of the 

World Trade Center in New York City.

It is also 26 years ago that I was married in NYC to my 

then first husband Paul Michael Riley.  Paul was Mr. NYC.  He

 knew everything about that city, so it was no surprise that on our 

wedding night he chose for us to spend it at the Twin Towers. 

 It was also the first time I had mimosas for breakfast.

Fast forward to today, I'm back to cooking five days a week, 

and it's good, even I was starting to not want to eat out anymore. 

 It does get boring after a while, and definitely not the best 

way to go if one is trying to watch what you eat.

It's good to have Arvid back home and I know 

he's also happy, at the same time he did get to spend

 a lot of time with his family.  Always very good.

Time spent with family is always special 😍

I'm still waiting to hear back from my orthopedic

 doctor to see when and if I can be given an injection 

for my knee.  It really hurts like crazy.  I can't even go 

walking anywhere. So terrible.  Yesterday I did walk to 

Publix, but then the pain was back like crazy.

The weekend is coming up.  I have to rest

 the knee as much as I can because Arvid wants

 to do all these things.  Since he's been home we 

have already been running around quite a bit.

Thursday, today we eat out. Arvid has checked out

 many places we have not yet been to.  I think he is a 

bit surprised that I did so much while he was away.  Like

 I have mentioned before, I am not afraid of doing things 

on my own.  I had a great time and hope I can do it again.

To all a very good day.  It's warm/hot, but after 

spending part of my summer in Norway where it was always

 cold and wet, I will take the Florida sunshine any day.

The more you know who you are, and what 

you want, the less you let things upset you...

~Nadiya~

Just How It Is~

It has become appallingly obvious that our technology 

has exceeded our humanity;  life is really simple, 

but we insist on making it complicated...

This came to me from a friend. It say's, unfortunately

 the day Albert Einstein feared is already here.

 It just shows that we think more about our phones than

 we do about the loved ones and friends in our lives.  

No matter where you go, what you do, you hardly see people talking

to each other anymore.  All you see are heads bent and fingers working 

like crazy.  Yes the cell phone has now become the main form of

 everything for many.  Pretty soon we will probably lose touch with 

reality and the only thing that will matter anymore is the phone.

Out walking on the streets people bump into you

because their focus is on the phone. At restaurants couples

 rarely speak to each other. One or both are busy playing games

 or doing something on the phone. I am also guilty at times as well

 of checking my phone too much.  iPhones /smartphones have 

changed the world, and it seems if you want to stay in the "game" 

you need to upgrade often.  This was one of my first iPhones.

I really like all the things my iPhone can do, but I really also 

hope to never become one of  those who thinks their phone is more 

important than the person sitting next to them.  I also know

 that if I do, Arvids always there to point it out.

Good day to all and if your plans don't 

include mobile, your plans are not finished 😂

One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. 

No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man..

~Nadiya~

Tuesday September 10th~

 When you change your thoughts, 

remember to also change your world...

Yesterday I said to Arvid, "I guess you're so tired of

 eating pizza that we won't be having any for a while."  

He looks at me and said, "not really, because the

 pizza downtown is really good, and I won't mind going

 there."  The man has eaten pizza almost all summer, told

 me he was tired of it, and now says he looks forward

 to having the pizza downtown. I don't get it.

Yesterday I once again went to see my orthopedic 

surgeon.  My right knee is is bad shape.  I never knew a 

torn meniscus would hurt this much.  Let's just say, walking is

 out of the picture for now, at least long walks.  Sad about that.

  I had gotten used to my walks and really enjoyed them.

Yesterday was one of those days where we were

on the move immediately after breakfast.  Boy 

how I long for those leisure summer days.   

To all a very good day.  I'm sure it is going to be busy again. 

 I'll leave you with what Arvid said to me, "expectations are 

always better than the reality."  In all honesty I agree.  We

 build up our expectations so much that when we're actually 

"there" it can be a very big let down.  Happens to all of us.  

It's called life and we just have to take it one day at a time.

You’ve got to get up every morning with determination

 if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction...

~Nadiya~

Monday September 9th~

 Cheers to a week where every 

challenge turns into an opportunity...

It feels strange not to do the things I want to do 

when I want to do them.  I really got used to living 

life my way, and I actually already miss it, at the

 same time it's good to have Arvid home again.

We had our Sunday outing and that was very nice. 

 While Arvid was away I never went to the restaurants we

 frequented.  I tried different places almost every day.

I do like routines, but I also liked doing things when and

 if I wanted.  It's good to be two, but I'll tell you something, 

it's not bad being one.  Of course always with Sniff.

As the new week begins I know it is already going 

to be hectic. Arvid has all these "ideas" he wants to put

 in place.  All these "things" he wants to do.  I just look 

at him and try not to roll my eyes too much😂

Thank goodness I have Sniff.  He keeps me centered

 and he relaxes me.  With Arvid I never know when we have 

to jump and go.  I never gave it lots of thought, but after 

being alone for a while, I realized how much I liked it.

Wishing you a week filed with new beginnings, 

fresh perspectives and boundless creativity.

Embrace the new week with 

enthusiasm and positivity...

~Nadiya~

Sunday September 8th~

Behind every great man is 

a woman rolling her eyes...

 Arvid is like a category 5 Hurricane.  Not 

sure if that's all bad, but not sure either if it's all 

good.  Let's just say that it's been constant movement.  

I already miss my slow paced days 😂and outings.

Once again Arvid wants to do like everything at the

 same time.  Weekend trips, little trips you name it he wants 

to do it.  I just look at him and say, "ok"  I know it will pass 

because he was bored so now he wants to do everything 

all at once.  I wasn't bored and I did quite a lot.

I go along with it, until something new comes along. 

 He's always getting these "brilliant" ideas.  I get them, but

 I act on them, and I want to continue acting on them.  I was 

looking into a weekend at Key Largo, but the time never 

worked out.  So if anything, that's where I would like to go.

Of course his answer, "we have to see when the time is right."

Arvid is busy as can be.  Making plans and more

 plans.   My poor parents, they have no idea what's 

coming their way.  Arvid as always has everyone's 

best interests in mind, at least in his mind😂

To all a good day.  Our Sniff is just

 taking it easy.  As always.  Not stress for him.

Go with the flow and let life surprise you.  Embrace 

the unpredictability and enjoy the journey...

~Nadiya~

Saturday September 7th~

Those who cannot change their 

minds cannot change anything...

 The first thing Arvid said to me when he saw me was, 

"now I am really home."  Let's just say he is really happy 

to back home, and we are happy to have him.  Sniff 

was a little cautious.  Sniffing him up and down.

Another first thing he said to me was, "ahh this 

 warmth feels so good.  It's hot, but like he said he will 

take it any day."  Give him some time.  He forgets and 

makes and will make the same "mistakes' again.😂

Arvid also said to me, "we have to go to the 

pub tomorrow.  I've missed it."  I think he will be

 too tired tomorrow as well.  I'm okay with that. I had 

a great summer and am already missing these days.

Do what you can, with what

 you have, where you are...

~Nadiya~