Saturday April 19th~

It takes half your life before you 

discover life is a do-it-yourself project...

 Not much happened yesterday. Arvid drove me to 

collect my eyeglasses and then he washed the car.  I made 

lunch and we both did some of the dishes.  That's the norm. 

 Arvid had a soccer game so he was very happy.

The highlight of our day was seeing 4-5 dolphins

 swimming right below us in the river.  We have seen

 them before, but never more than two at a time.  We 

both loved seeing them.  They are too fast and getting

 a picture was not possible.  I did get the bubbles in the 

water from three of them.  The best I managed to do.

Yesterday someone posted this huge iguana in someone's

 backyard.  Ahh living in Florida never a dull moment.

Everyday I am becoming the best version of myself...

~Nadiya~

Friday April 18th~

Life is a matter of choices, and 

every choice you make makes you...

 Yesterday Arvid drove me to the orthopedic office 

for my physical therapy. Really it was mostly talking 

and showing me different exercises to do at home. 

 I told the therapist I would not come for more sessions.  He 

said he didn’t think that was a good idea, but it was my choice.

  We practiced a few exercises in his office and I was told that I 

should not do long walks for about 6 weeks. I can walk 10 

minutes 3 times a day but if I hurt I should slow down.  

Same with all the exercises he gave me on a printout.

I think I overdid it yesterday. I cooked. I did laundry. 

I folded laundry and then I got very tired.  I rested 

a bit and was good as new.  Whatever that means.

Now Arvid wants to drive me everywhere I need to go.  I 

don’t know how that will pan out. I told him I can drive myself

 but the truth is it’s painful getting in the car imagine using 

the right leg for the brakes and accelerator  all the time.

I am super independent. Sometimes to a fault and I 

find it very hard to ask for help or for anything for that 

matter. Not going to be easy, but I can do this 🤣

Friday begins beautifully.   There is a little coolness

 in the morning air, but the temperature will be 

soaring the next few days.  Hot! Hot! Hot!

To all a very good day.  It's Friday again.  No downtown for us today.

You may not control all the events that happen to you, 

but you can decide not to be reduced by them...

~Nadiya~

Thursday April 17th~

I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to 

be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy...

 For some reason I thought yesterday was Thursday. 

 I guess I was a little confused 😕  Anyway yesterday I had

 knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.  My only question 

is, "what will my next surgery be, and which body part will 

be involved?"  Interesting minds, as in mine wanna know.

I had to be at the surgery center by 6:15 am.

  As Arvid said, "this is in the middle of the night." 

 He's NOT a morning person.  But he said that he 

will come right back and jump into bed. 

 Yes, he took me and would have just dropped me

 off at the door an leave, but unfortunately for him, we go

t there a little too early so he waited with me for at least

 minutes until someone came out for me.  I didn't even

 get to the door, and he had already disappeared.

 Back home I still made lunch for us.  Made spaghetti 

and meat sauce for Arvid with a salad.  I was told to have

 soup/bland food, so I made something comparable.  Sweet 

potato fries in the air fryer and had some leftover chicken 

I had made the day before.  Then I rested some more.

All of us with pets know they dislike strange smells,

 for sure hospital smells.  Sniff of course is no exception. 

 I gave him food.  I put gloves on so the smell would not 

affect him.  He refused to eat.  I gave him new food after

 washing my hands even more.  Wore new gloves.  He refused

 to eat.  I brought the food on the bed for him.  No luck. 

I then told Arvid to do his magic.  Arvid went and sat 

with Sniff, talked to him and got him to eat.  Arvid had to

 run his hands around the rim of Sniff's bowl.  Same thing this

 morning he won't eat the food I gave him.  Had to dump it.  

Will have to wait until Arvid get up to give him fresh foodies.

Not doing much today other than elevating, icing the

 knee and being bored.  Though it's Thursday I told Arvid to 

go and have something to eat on his own.  I don't feel like it. 

 Plus I already made me something for my lunch.  

Not soup as I was told to do for two days.  I made chicken 

curry in a coconut sauce. No one ever said to me that I

 can't eat what I like.  I remember having a root canal 

and in 5 hours on that same day eating fried chicken.

  I was also told to eat bland food.  I survived.

A good day to all.  I have physical therapy today.  I was told 

I had to do five sessions.  I will tell them I will only do one.  Today

only, and no more.  A good day to all, and I am always grateful.

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude,connecting

 happiness with acknowledging blessings...

 

~Nadiya~

Remember, It's Going To Be A Good Day ~Wednesday April 16~

You can't start the next chapter, 

if you keep re-reading the last one...

Sometimes for whatever reason, we just feel like quitting
and giving up. You are not alone in feeling this way.  It happens
to all of us. I was just talking to my girlfriend and for a moment
while I listened to her, I realize again that what I thought
was a bad time is actually just something in passing.

Someone said, it is during our darkest 
moments that we must focus to see the light. 

Something for all of us to think about.  

It is very easy to give advise when you are not

the one walking in that person's footsteps.  The best thing is 

to let them know you care and that you are always here for them.

Sometimes you just have to find a place inside where there's joy, 

and the joy will burn out the pain.  At least you hope it will.

Our Brutus was a little fighter.  He fought until 

his little body could not take it anymore.  How I miss 

this little kitty of mine.  Sniff does make me happy.

The minute you think of giving up

think of the reason why you held on so long...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday April 15th~

May your day be filled with moments that make you smile...

 Yesterday was a fairly quiet day spent at home.
 I did have a few chores too, but after that I just 

took it easy.  For a change, Arvid was also “still” no

 running around and no complaining of being bored. 

Strangely he did not climb the twelve set of stairs,

 it is what he does when we don't go walking.

Since the weather has been a bit cooler, Arvid has 

been out on the balcony several times during the day.  He 

also had a soccer game so overall he was kept busy.  

The heat is coming back with a vengeance.

I am really tired of hurting and I hope one day 

I will be able to walk like I did before.  Freely

 and without pain.  Sniff of course slept a lot. 

Yesterday did a lot of laundry and of course I

 spread out the warm sheets so that he could lay

 on them. He never got up. Not even for lunch,

 and he hates to miss lunch. Sniff is still on the 

clean laundry.  They are mostly his after all.

I’m still coughing. So much so that my throat 

is raw and painful.  Hoping that soon that will be

 better as well.  Been spitting up a bit blood but 

as of this minute, I have not coughed that much.

Not much planned today. A trip to Trader Joe’s 

to get bread for Arvid and maybe a stop at the mall

 since it’s on the way.  Going to check out their

 sunglasses. I love sunglasses. I don’t need any, 

but I do have huge weakness for them 🕶

Another beautiful and cooler start of the day. To

all a very good one and remember, big smile

 and laugh often.  Makes the day/life better.

Happiness is when what you think, what 

you say, and what you do are in harmony...

~Nadiya~

Monday April 14th~

Success is to wake up each morning and consciously 

decide that today will be the best day of your life...

 Monday here again.  Neither Sniff nor I are ready for it.

  My knee has been really painful this last week.  Even 

more so than normal. I limp all the time now.

I feel tired, but Arvid does not "allow" for anyone to be 

less than 100%, at least that's how I feel at times.  I think 

he views it as a weakness.  On the other hand, let him get 

the flu.  I just feel as if I always have to be at 100% good at

 all times.  It's exhausting to act as if I don't hurt at times.

Last week I went to see my orthopedic surgeon. Hopefully soon 

I may have some relief.  Looking forward so much to that.  We take 

for granted so many things.  I always took for granted that I would

 always be able to walk.  Boy was I wrong.  I can walk, but it sure

 hurts right now.  Who knew a torn meniscus could be this painful?

As the new week begins, I plan to take it easy the 

next couple of days. Hope it's a good week for all and

 that you accomplish many of the goals you have set.

Yesterday we had a good outing with a great view.

When the week begins, think of how you will end it...

~Nadiya~

Sunday April 13th~

You don’t always need a plan.  Sometimes you just 

need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens...

 

Once again we have cooler temperatures to start our day. 

 Loving it, and the day ahead is looking to be another 

gorgeous one.  Florida living at its best right now.

Yesterday Arvid and I went to St. Pete for the Tampa Bay Blues 

Festival.  First time ever the weather was absolutely stunning.  

Normally you will burn to death, but not yesterday.  The

 temperature was cooler and there was a cool breeze.

  It was perfect until of course we got cold 😂

As always the "dress code" varied.  There were 

those with hardly much on.  Others completely bundled up.  

Both Arvid and I were also bundled up.  I even took a

 heavy jacket, which I had on later in the evening.

As always we managed to see a dolphin.  He swam by us so fast

 I was not able to get a picture, but it sure was a pretty sight.

The best part of the blues festival is The Pier and 

Vinoy Park.  It's a beautiful location.  Arvid and I had lunch

 at my favorite spot.  Doc Ford's.  Always a good choice.

The drive through the Skyway Bridge is always a pretty one.

First glow of the sunset on the water.  Always a beautiful sight.

Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2025  We always have a great time.

To all a very good day.  May your Sunday be relaxing and invigorating.

 Slow down and everything you are 

chasing will come around and catch you...

~Nadiya~

Saturday April 12th~

It don't matter what is happening,

 never stop. Just keep going... 

 So as I was finishing up breakfast yesterday morning

 Arvid said to me, "how do you feel about going to this gold 

expo today?"  Today as in an hour from when he mentioned it. 

 I looked at him and since I had no other plans, I said why not.  

Something to do and who knows, maybe get rid of some

 of our inventory.  We did go, but Arvid is a hard sell. 

Yesterday we did go downtown to our Friday hangout.  

Hideaway Bar and Grill.  As always it was a good time.  

We had a couple of drinks, did some people watching

 and walked around a bit.  The temperature was 

cooler so it made for a pleasant outing.

Then it was back home.  Watched some TV and of course 

Sniff found his happy place for the rest of the night.

To all a very good day.  May you have a 

relaxing and fun weekend.  Once again we are 

waking up to cooler temperatures.  So loving it.

The most beautiful things in life are not things.

  They're people and places, memories and pictures.  

They're feelings and moments and smiles and laughter...

~Nadiya~

Friday April 11th~

Life is a succession of lessons which 

must be lived to be understood...

 Yesterday I had a few things that needed to be done 

very early on the morning. After they were done I decided to

 stop by one of my favorite Cuban places for breakfast.

  The times before, I usually had the place all to myself,

 yesterday there were many other people ahead of me so 

I had a fairly long wait.  Part of it was that the girl was 

very slow.  She was both cashier and server.  Even so,

 I was patient, something I’m not known to be.  Took

 pictures of everything I could to kill time😂

  Back home I come and find Arvid busy as can be. 

This man is always into something.  These days I do not ask

 because I do not want to roll my eyes. He’s also busy checking 

out any boat that shows up in what used to be the marina before 

Hurricane Ian destroyed it.  We now have two sailboats “parked” 

in front of us, and they keep Arvid "busy" all day as well.  

He sure makes the most of those binoculars of his.

I continue coughing, waking up at 2am, and yes still

 sleeping in the second bedroom.   Sniff of course is with me

 on his heating bed.  He sleeps through my coughing for.  

It’s Friday already. Nothing much planned as yet.  

We were supposed to go to the Tampa Bay Blues today,

 but seems like it will be raining  exactly at the time 

Arvid wanted to see the main attraction.  

We will now see this main attraction in Missouri 

this summer.  Depending on the weather we may go tomorrow. 

 I really like it there at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

We used to always go for the 3 day event, but it’s too hot to sit 

out for so many days with no shade to protect you. Now we 

opt for one day and try to always come back that same day. 

I really don’t see the need to stay in a hotel for one night. 

I think it is  too much work, and of course I want to get back

 home to Sniff.  This cough really wears me out.  I’m so tired 

by 4-5 o’clock. I just look forward to it being gone soon. 

 My throat is raw and sometimes I taste blood. I really 

wish to be better again. I’m tired of being “sick”.  Today my

 4 sisters go to North Carolina to see mom and dad. Our mom 

has not been feeling good for months now, and we’re

 still waiting to know what her cardiologist says.

 The days are stressful, even more so for my parents. 

 I heard my dad’s voice break the other day over the phone.  

I have not been the same since. Everyday is agonizing

 until we know what’s going on with my mom. 

Open heart surgery is the phrase we heard being 

thrown around 🙏. If that’s the case we all want it to be done

 and over with.  It’s almost 3:30 in the morning right now.

 I really need some more sleep.  Will give it another try.

To all a very good day.  Fridays are

 always special, for it's the start of the weekend

 and fun times.  Enjoy and have a great one.

Life is not a matter of holding good
 cards, but of playing a bad hand well...

~Nadiya~

Thursday April 10th~

Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better...

 Any day that begins with a sunrise as beautiful 

as this can only get better.  Good day to all.  It's 

already Thursday.  Time waits for no one.

Right now we’re in Branson mode. Well Arvid

 is mostly.  Yesterday he spent quite some time 

getting us concert tickets in Missouri. So far we 

have three concerts.  Looking forward to that.

Also I have gotten Sniff a new travel carrier.  His old 

one which I refuse to throw out does not hold its shape 

anymore.  Sniff of course had to test the carrier and 

sniff it for hours.  At least he was not terrified of it.

I still have that persistent cough. I have to say 

my throat is raw and seems like talking much really

 brings it on even more. I’m tired of it. By the end of the 

day, I’m so tired. I spend most of the day just coughing.

  It’s terrible.  It’s so bad that I usually end up sleeping in the 

second bedroom around 2am when the cough kicks in again.

Sniff sleeps with me in the second bedroom.

 At first the cough and all its ruckus used to bother

 him. Now he sleeps through it.  He just raises his 

head gives me the look then it’s back to sleep.

To all a good day. My throat is sore but I really feel alright.

Some days are like this. And the only way to 

get through them is to remember that they are

 only one day, and that every day ends...

~Nadiya~