Loving It!!!

In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed.

We have been here in Chicago close to a month now and the truth is we are having the time of our lives.

 

Just chatting with each other we realize we like it better and better with each passing day. Just yesterday, Arvid's mother asked him if we missed Florida.  Without hesitation Arvid said ...not for one second.  The same goes for me...don't miss it any.

 

If it were not for the cold winters in Chicago we would never want to go back to Florida....even Brutus is much more relaxed and happy here.

 

For now will enjoy every minute here.......

 

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

until next time...

Just Having Fun......

Some people drift through their entire life. They do it one day at a time, one week at a time, one month at a time. It happens so gradually they are unaware of how their lives are slipping away until it's too late

Arvid and I have decided to live for today and enjoy our lives to the fullest as if it were our last day here.  We have been doing this for a while but since getting to Chicago we have been so relaxed and happy and we have realized that we do not need all the things we have in Florida to make us happy.  There we have the huge apartment....downtown Las Olas with every amenity you can think of.  Aside from the hot tub we hardly use any of them.

We are located on Las Olas yet we hardly ever stroll along Las Olas Blvd.  We love the location and the convenience of everything but I have always realized that more is not always better.....

Here in Chicago we have a much smaller apartment.  Much less of a view yet we find ourselves completely happy and relaxed.  We have no car, we walk everywhere we want to go to and we are really loving it. 

We are located of course in the best location even if I say so.  Everything is within a few minutes walking distance.   For being downtown there is so much greenery and beautiful parks everywhere.  Just look at the courtyard of this bank building....

We will of course have to one day return to Florida...sigh but for now we are just having the time of our lives.....even Brutus is so relaxed.  Just look at him....

To everyone out there all I can say is no matter what enjoy life and live it to the fullest......

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it

until next time...

Happy Fathers Day Daddy.......

The greatest gift I ever had came from God; I call him Dad!

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

Ever since I can remember and let me clarify.....(my memory is excellent) my dad was and still is a constant presence in my life.  He seems to always know when something is just not right with us.......his girls..... Dad, you're someone to look up to no matter how tall I've grown.  I'm as lucky as can be, for the world's best dad belongs to me.

All through my childhood and now as a grown woman the man that has always been my example in life is my dad...daddy as we always call him.  I have not met many with his integrity, honesty, determination and endless capacity to give love. 

My father taught me to be independent and cocky and free thinking, and to never give up no matter what.  Today because of this I am a better person.  I value people and I know what it is to work hard and to fight for what you believe in.  Old as I am, I still my daddy sometimes......we live in different States.

He has taught us all to respect others, to always be positive and to never say we CAN"T!!!   If there is a will there is a way.....

Simple walks with my dad around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult. I will always have those beautiful memories of me following him everywhere he went and of him holding on strongly to me and never letting me go.....my dad made me feel safe and always loved.  He still does.

For many it is much easier to become a father than to be one.....in our case we are fortunate our dad is always our daddy........no matter when, where or time...he is daddy on the spot for his 5 girls. 

Dad thank you for your nurturing light, for the wisdom of your laughter, and all the joy you bring us. You tickled my toes....checked for monsters , showed me the stars....And taught me how to reach them...I love you Dad.

I'm as lucky as can be because the worlds best dad belongs to me.

You've taught me so much, I've watched how you live.....how you chase after life.....You inspire me to greater things.  Dad you are my inspiration.

God made you my DAD.....LOVE made me your FRIEND.

I love you daddy....you are the best and I wanted the whole world to know that there is no one and I mean no one like you.  A father is someone who is always there for you no matter what and someone who will listen to you and soothe your worries and tell you everything is going to be OK.....Happy Father's day Daddy.....

.....and to all the dads out there......HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

A daddy is a man who has photos in his wallet where his money used to......

"It's only when you grow up, and step back from him, or leave him for your own career and your own home—it's only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. Pride reinforces love."

Navy Pier....

Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow....

It has been a couple of very exhausting weeks for us.....so today after working for most of the day we decided to just take a breather and do nothing.  That is no more work.  We played hooky and went to Navy Pier... Chicago's top tourist attraction which offers 50 acres of parks, gardens (beer and botanical), shops, restaurants, cultural attractions and a 150-foot Ferris wheel.

 

There is just so much to do there.  First of course we walked from our apartment and let me tell you that was no easy feat.  This is a city of pedestrians and bicycles.  Many a times we were almost run over by these busy runners, walkers and people on bicycles.  Even so it was fun dodging these ferocious people....makes for an interesting walk.

Of course we had to have something to drink.  Arvid has a huge selection of beer on tap to choose from...... he was in heaven.  I decided on Haagen Daz chocolate ice cream......was delicious.

Every Saturday and Wednesday nights all summer long Navy Pier has fireworks.  We saw it last weekend and I will say it is amazing.  A full 30 minutes long of non-stop fireworks.....seeing it right now from our living room.

We are looking forward to exploring the city and to enjoying it to the fullest.......

Life is like sailing. You can use any wind to go in any direction.

Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be......

until next time......

Backpacking Our way

We grew tired of the pace of this lifestyle living in the city. A lifestyle that was very unbalanced and truly draining.

We needed a change in our lifestyle.....and CHICAGO was that change!!!

OK everyone I have to admit that so far the lifestyle we have had so far in Chicago s a bit different than the one we lead in Florida.

No complaints here.  Here we are not quite as "glamorous" as we would be back in Ft. Lauderdale.  We are much more relaxed and less stressed. We are much more comfortable at home here compared to what we were in Ft. Lauderdale. You might ask why? What's different? All I can say is that just getting away from Ft. Lauderdale had a lot to do with it. Summers there are just horrible.

Where we live in Ft. Lauderdale lots of the people around us were so fake. Always so stuck up. Here  as Arvid and I say they are more normal and I think we fit in well.

Don't misunderstand.  We like Ft. Lauderdale.  In the winter you can't beat the weather....but aside from the beach which we never go to there is not much to do.  Of course restaurants and stuff but those you find everywhere.  Here in Chicago within a short distance we have so much we can do......one of my favorites is The Shedd Aquarium. 

Since coming to Chicago we have lived in our sneakers and I have not yet used a purse/handbag. No matter where we go it's a backpack. I noticed this with most people here in the city also be it man or woman the main accessory is a backpack as you can see from the pictures.  We feel comfortable and at ease with it......

Not a bad place to call home for a bit...............

When the heart is at ease, the body is healthy”