10 Signs Your Date Isn’t The One...

 Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude...

We all dream of meeting that person who would sweep us off our feet and transport us into this world of wonder and magic.  That person who we hope to one day be able to form a committed relationship with and to spend forever with.  Many have done so...take Arvid and I for instance.  Not to brag, but we have found in each other the perfect blend of personalities and traits that have make us soul mates until the end of time...at least one can hope it is so.

What happens though when the guy or gal you’ve been seeing isn’t even close to being your soul mate.  Here are some signs to took out for.  If you see them all I can say is run the other way as fast as you can.

1. Your date is devoted to another.  For instance when your date on a regular basis, speaks more to his mother more than he does to you.  Some guys speak to their mothers on a daily basis and then end up comparing you to their mothers.  It can get to the point where he could not make decisions without his mama. BAD sign!  RUN!!

2. If your spending habits don’t match.  If she shops to make herself feel good, and he feels better when money is saved for the future, look out: irritation, frustration, and arguments can result.  In other words: get out now, while your credit-card balance is still manageable. Money issues are bad and tend to get worse if you don't get it under control.
 
3. Your politics are too different. Not an impossible thing to overcome, but sometimes it may be.  Just look at Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Different politics and they made it work for 25 years.  What's going on now is a whole different story.
 
4. Your sweetie just doesn’t get your jokes. Take it from me a good sense of humor and being able to share jokes together does add for a lasting and interesting relationship.

5. Your love interest isn’t ready.  That's the kind who always wants to do stuff with you, but whenever you ask for more and the closer you seem to be getting there is always a reason why now is not the right time...fear of commitment.  It seems that  the closer you get, the more he started to pull back. That's when you should realize that though you are  compatible in many ways, he was not emotionally ready for a relationship.

6. Your honey wants kids and you don’t (or vice versa). “Often, a person is so happy to find The One that he or she assumes love, marriage and having children go together, but for the other person, being a twosome and being in love is enough,” says Dr. Benasutti. “It’s a good idea to have a serious heart-to-heart talk with your potential mate to understand his or her perspective.”

7. Your tastes are too different.  According to experts, the number-one reason for failed relationships is what's known as ‘refinement incompatibility, basically is that each person in the relationship wants something that is totally opposite of the other.  Some of us are content to go camping, while others can’t survive outside a Ritz-Carlton hotel room. Some things are negotiable, but refinement incompatibility is not one of them, no matter how magnetically attracted you are to each other.

8. Your lifestyles clash. If you’re a corporate executive pulling in six figures a year, you’ve probably figured out by now whether you can tolerate a guy or gal who earns an order of magnitude less in terms of salary. No harm, no foul: ending things now is better than leading someone along (or unexpectedly sticking your date with the tab at that expensive restaurant).

9. Your first connection fizzles. “When we first met, the chemistry wasn’t there,” says Lauren from New York, speaking of a relationship she had high hopes for... at first. “Sometimes that attraction develops as you get to know a person and sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s very different from instantly having that sizzle of chemistry when your date glances at you for the very first time.”

10. Your relationship has you on edge. I believe that The One strengthens you, lifts you up and does not produce anxiety,  when something isn’t right, your intuition keeps trying to let you know by putting nagging doubts in your mind as well as continual anxiety. This is a gut thing, and your gut is rarely wrong.

Follow your gut instincts.  Most times it does not lead you wrong, but also just keep in mind that in order to have that "perfect" relationship it is a matter of both parties being able to compromise and to meet in the middle.  As I have said before relationships require lots of work and if you don't think you are up to putting in the time then my advise to you is to just don't commit yourself to anyone...

I just broke up with someone and the last thing she said to me was "You'll never find anyone like me again!" I'm thinking, "I should hope not! If I don't want you, why would I want someone like you..

until next time...

Drunk Behaviour...

Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk.  That will teach you to keep your mouth shut..

On Saturday night Arvid and I were at Buddy Guys Legends Blues Club, a favorite spot of ours.  We have many.  Like everyone else we go there to enjoy the music and have a good time.  This night was no exception.


my pepsi

I have nothing against people that have a few drinks so they can get in the "mood" and mellow out.  Arvid does it and so do many I know.  What I hate is when people drink like as if there is no tomorrow and just get themselves blasted and start acting all "crazy".

Usually at the clubs here in Chicago people go to enjoy the music just like we do and not to get completely out of control with alcohol.  On this occasion there were 2 young couples who seemed to not know the difference between mellowing out and making a complete fool of themselves.  To me this behaviour is disgusting and I hate it.  I would have tried to ignore it had they not decided to start pulling our table towards them and spilling everything in the process.

I am not immune to people drinking and having a good time.  I love having a good time, I just don't need to have alcohol to do so.  Normally I have one drink and that is enough to last me the entire evening, and if it does not I really can't handle more.  There has been probably 4 times in my life I have had more than usual to drink and those times were enough to make me realize never again do I want to make a fool of myself.  One reason I don't drink myself into a stupor is that I want to know when I am having a good time. 

I hate it when we are out with company and they make a fool of themselves, they start acting stupid, loud and obnoxious.  I especially dislike it when women drink and get totally drunk.  Arvid said I have ZERO tolerance in this and he is right.  I mean why do you have to get drunk to have a good time?? 



arvid is the only person I know that can take
an hour to finish one beer.

 A rule I have set for Arvid and I is that as soon as the person we are with starts to "act up" we are out of there.  This being said, everyone is entitled to do what they please and when they please.  I am also entitled to not wanting to be around you when you make a fool of yourself!!  The first thing in the human personality that dissolves in alcohol is dignity.  What's so great about a hangover??

Everything in moderation, that's my motto.  Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide and cheers to all. Arvid enjoys a beer, a drink just like so many.  Never though during the weekdays.  Only on weekends and he drinks not to get drunk like a skunk but for enjoyment.  We can be at a restaurant/pub for hours and he would still be on drink number two.  Never understood people's need to drink so fast so as to be ditsy in less than an hour.  SAD!   Have a great day and don't make a fool of yourself!

When the wine goes in, strange things come out...

until next time 

New York Weekend...

 Each man reads his own meaning into New York...



boat trip

 Back from NY and boy what an experience.  The city is chaotic...which I love at least for visit.  The city sure is not one of the cleanest places I have been to, but as someone said "clean gets boring"  The life there never stops.  It is constant move and a constant living experience.  If you ever have the opportunity do visit!

That being said, I have to say that my impression of NYC was one of awe, wonder and fascination for a lifestyle where not everyone fits in.  I feel right at home there because I believe I was meant to be living in big cities.  Arvid on the other hand,....hmmmm.  He is the type who likes more of the "quiet"  lifestyle.  He does not care for the commotion, the people all around and the constant city buzz....  Not to say he did not like it it's just that he is more of a just him and I lifestyle.

We crammed so much into that short 3 days that even I after a while was a bit tired, but not ready to give up.  As I said to Arvid we came to NY not to sit and relax in a pub, but to walk, walk and to go as many places and try as many different restaurants as possible.  Even so, we did find us a few pubs and blues music.

We did 5th Ave and exhausted ourselves, we made a stop to one of my favorite stores

Tiffany & Co. NYC  a store that I have a few items from.  Brought back great memories and times of me shopping there when I lived in NY.  Of course we had to make a special stop to Trump Tower and check out the bar there.

There is just so much too do in the city and I think we have been very lucky to have done just about everything I had in mind, Chelsea Pier for a boat trip, The Village for dinner, music and pubbing, FAO Schwartz a favorite of mine.  Macy's the largest store in the world.  Walks around the parks, great food.  I ate at so many different restaurants that I believe I have gained an extra 10lbs:(, but so well worth it.  Arvid cannot eat as much as I can so he would just nibble and do drinks.  I don't care for alcohol so we make the perfect couple.  We also "visited" quite a few bars in the city.  While Arvid was having drinks I was always enjoying my cappuccino's. 



pubbing

 Did Arvid enjoy the city as much as I did?  Not sure, as mentioned he likes more of the quiet vacations.  I love those also, but when going to NY one knows you are not going there for the beaches and quiet time.  You are going for the excitement of being in the best city of the world and to experience life at the ultimate high!!  Would I do it again?  In a flash!  I thought Chicago was expensive until we got to NY.  Then it all came back to me again...but as I always say to Arvid "always take extra money when we go out"  So far he has not failed to do so....

Glad to be back home in Chicgo and with Brutus...still have a little over a mont here and still so much to do here.  Now it's time to enjoy the city.  As Arvid said there is so much good music going on here in September so no need to go elsewhere.  I'm HAPPY!

As for New York City, it is a place apart. There is not its match in any other country in the world.....

Picture Of The Day

What greater gift than the love of a cat?....

Being on vacation is always very good, but being gone from Brutus is making it a little hard on us. Yes, he is only a cat, but for us he is just a part of our family. Both Arvid and I get very excited when we come home because we know who will be waiting for us at the door and we are never disappointed.  There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat.

No matter what Brutus does, in the end it is OK because as Arvid says, "he's our boysie".

No heaven will not ever Heaven be Unless my cats are there to welcome me...

until next time....

Most Outrageously Expensive Pets....

 Every woman should have four pets in her life. A mink in her closet, a jaguar in her garage, a tiger in her bed, and a jackass who pays for everything.....

 

Who does not love their pet, but are you willing to pay this much for a pet?  Read on and be the judge.  I read the article and was just amazed at the things people do...

Recently, eccentric rocker Ozzy Osbourne paid $10,000 in an auction for an eight-week old Yorkshire terrier. Pricey? Not compared to the price tags of some of the pets out there. In fact, Ozzy was lucky to have paid so little. Just like with cars, purses, and jewelry, people with deep pockets will spend outrageous sums of money on animals.

The reasoning behind these purchases can vary from investing in the animal’s DNA and their breeding prospects, to owning a unique creature, or for simple companionship. To get an idea of how expensive pets can be, CNBC.com looked into some of the most expensive animals that have been sold or that can be purchased. Osbourne’s $10,000 pup may start to look like a drop in the bucket.
 
So, what are some of the most expensive animals out there?  Here they are:
1. Ashera Cat

Price: $22,950
The Ashera cat can be described as a mini-leopard and is developed by crossing two exotic feline bloodlines—the African Serval and the Asian Leopard—with a regular domestic cat; it features distinctive leopard-like spots and contrasting tiger stripes. One of the reasons the Ashera draws such a high price-tag is for a very unique feature: The cat is hypo-allergenic. Also contributing to the price is its size, it can grow up to 25 to 30 pounds.

2. Goliath Palm Cockatoo

Price: $15,000—$20,000
A Goliath Palm Cockatoo can cost a bird enthusiast anywhere from $15,000 to $$20,000. Other expensive breeds include the Hyacinth Macaw Parrot and the Black Cockatoo, both of which range from $12,000 to $17,000.

3. Lancelot Encore (Cloned Dog)
Price: $155,000
A year after their beloved yellow Labrador retriever, Lancelot, died of cancer, Edgar and Nina Otto welcomed a cloned copy into their home.

The Northern California biotech firm BioArts International held a dog-cloning auction and the Ottos won. The cloning didn’t come cheap, however, as the Ottos bid $155,000 for the opportunity. Nina Otto exclaims that Lancelot Encore has many personality similarities and that he looks just like their original Lancelot.

4. Deveronvale Perfection (Sheep)
Price: $378,000

According to experts, Deveronvale Perfection’s“perfect” look includes good feet, sturdy and straight front legs, a good back end, and a strong head.

Deveronvale Perfection could breed with up to 300 ewes (female sheep) each year, and thousands more by artificial insemination, with each specimen worth $80 to $165.

5.  Big Splash - Red Tibetan Mastiff

Price: $1.5 Million   No mistake you read correctly!

Dogs may be “man’s best friend,” but this friend comes with a hefty price tag. In March 2011, a Tibetan Mastiff became the most expensive dog in the world after it was purchased in China for 10 million yuan (just over $1.5 million). The dog weighs 180 pounds and is appropriately named Big Splash.

The owner’s investment may end up paying off, however, since breeding the dog has the potential to be quite lucrative. Some breeders are willing to pay as much as $100,000 to get access to Big Splash's gene pool.

 

In general, the Tibetan Mastiff is known for being loyal and fierce. Previous owners of the Red Tibetan Mastiff breed include Queen Victoria, King George IV and Genghis Khan.

All being said and done we have a kitty we rescued from the animal shelter in 2006, yes the one and only Brutus who is now an essential part of our lives.  As far as Arvid and I are concerned there is not enough money in the world to replace him...he is our baby and the apple of our eyes... A house is not a home without a pet.

Our little Brutus -- a heartbeat at our feet... until one has loved an animal,  a part of one's soul remains unawakened..

until next time.. 

Random Thoughts...

So much of life, it seems to me, is determined by pure randomness...

As I was going down memory lane via pictures, I suddenly saw someone I have not seen in a while.  Someone I once had a fairly good opinion of, but the more I saw the more I realized that I did not like this person.  Not sure why, but all of a sudden instead of seeing that cheerful person; I saw someone I no longer recognized nor liked.  Spooky. My parents always said that to disagree, one doesn't have to be disagreeable and that good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them...

What a week.  Just when you think we would be relaxing and doing absolutely NOTHING as Arvid is so fond of saying, it turns out we are super busy....not complaining.  We enjoy the work as much as we enjoy not working, so for us it's a win, win.  Work is taking us to the Big Apple this week..Yeah!  Finally got my way again!!!

Normally at this time of the year we would be in Norway.  This year so far we have no plans of going.  Fortunately, we did get to see the entire family already...we even saw Vidar, Arvid's brother twice this year.  Sometimes circumstances and life plays a role in our choices.

Unknown to us when we came to Chicago, we never expected to be going back to Florida quite so often, but due to circumstances also beyond our control we had to.  I was really not that interested in going, but Arvid was very convincing.  Hopefully, we will now be in Chicago for the rest of the summer, unless I can manage to squeeze in a visit to visit one of my sisters.  Fingers crossed!  Have had some not so very good moments, but who hasn't?  Life is what it is and what we make of it...

One of the biggest pleasures in our lives is Brutus.  He just completes us and it is wonderful to see him just adapting from place to place.  The hardest thing we've ever had to do was watch his sad little face as we walk out the door with our suitcases.  Breaks our hearts.  He is making it more and more difficult for us to go away, I hate leaving him!  So true when they say that there are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat.

So far this has been quite a wonderful summer.  I have also seen all of my family, always good...I have been fortunate in that whatever I have set out to accomplish I have been able to do.  Have had a fun and unexpected personal shopper's job in Florida.  Loved it so it made the trip to exciting and worthwhile.  My favorite best was that my trip to the Apple store paid off.  I just had to make Arvid want it as much as I did:)  There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it.  Cheers to all....

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens...

until next time..

Picture Of The Day

I moved to New York City for my health. I'm paranoid and it was the only place where my fears were justified....This is New York and there's no law against being annoying...

Next stop...The Big Apple!  Can't wait!  No more blogging until we return.  Have a good weekend all!



NYC..Beautiful!

 People don't dream all their lives of escaping the hellish countries they live in and pay their life savings to underworld types for the privilege of being locked up in a freezing, filthy, stinking container ship and hauled like cargo for weeks until they finally arrive in Moscow or Beijing or Baghdad or Kabul. People risk their lives to come here---to New York. The greatest city in the world, where dreams become reality....

until next time...

LOVE...

The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in...

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on.

One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her", "that's my wife, the woman I will spend forever with and the one I will move heaven and earth for.  She's my soulmate and the love of my life"  I am happy to have found that person in Arvid...

Love is as much of an object as an obsession, everybody wants it, everybody seeks it, but few ever achieve it, those who do will cherish it, be lost in it, and among all, never… never forget it.

I'll always remember... I'll never forget, how you took my breath away, the first time we met. No matter what happens... no matter what we do, I'll always remember the first time I saw you...

until next time...

7 Worst Foods For Your Teeth.

Every tooth in a man's head is more valuable than a diamond...

Who does not want that stunning smile?  Everyone knows that sugar hurts thoses pearly whites, but did you know that so can fruit and vinegar? Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body, but some foods may be stronger.  Read on and be educated like I was with this article...

Here are 7 that can spoil your smile.

Soft Drinks

Guess what? Sugar isn't the biggest culprit when it comes to a fizzy drink's impact on teeth. These beverages -- diet or not -- strip minerals from tooth enamel because of their high acid content. We're talking corrosive acids like phosphoric, malic, citric, and tartaric. And the flavor of the fizz matters. They all have an impact, but in a study, clear, citrus-flavored bubbly beverages dissolved enamel two to five times more than colas did.

Sports Drinks

Hydration during exercise is important, but reconsider guzzling sports drinks unless you're a true endurance athlete. In a study comparing the erosive effects of five different beverages -- including juice and soda -- sports drinks did the most harm. Their high concentration of strong acids produced the deepest enamel damage in teeth.


Sour Candy

Can't resist those SweeTarts and Sour Patch Kids? Try. In a study comparing regular chewy candy, hard candy, and licorice to their sour counterparts, sour varieties were significantly harder on tooth enamel. Candy manufacturers add more acids -- or different kinds of acid -- to sour candy varieties to give them that pucker factor. And it's those "tangy" acids that can create deep craters in your tooth enamel.

Energy Drinks

Need a liquid pick-me-up? Skip this tooth stripper. In the study comparing five beverages, energy drinks were second worst after sports drinks -- mainly because they had little ability to buffer the acids in the beverage. And drinks like these are an especially bad idea for adolescents and young adults, whose tooth enamel is less mature and more porous.

Fruit Juice
Fruit juices, especially citrus, apple, and berry varieties, are loaded with the kinds of acids that wear down tooth enamel. Of course, juices also have some great-for-you qualities, too -- like vitamins and antioxidants. So don't write them off completely. Just drink them in moderation. Frequent fruit juice consumption has been linked to an increased risk of enamel erosion. As an extra measure, rinse afterward. And choose calcium-fortified juices that may pose less of a hazard to tooth enamel.

Fruit
Ever seen someone suck on a slice of lemon or lime? Here's why that's a bad idea: fruits from the citrus family -- including oranges, lemons, and limes -- contain enamel-damaging acids. Berries do, too. Still, you don't want to ditch fruit and all the RealAge benefits they confer. Just eat fruit with a meal to help minimize acid effects.

Vinegar
Vinegar turns up in lots of places -- salad dressings, sauces, potato chips, pickles. And each one could spell trouble for tooth enamel. In a study, teenagers who frequently consumed vinegar-containing foods had a 30%–85% increased risk of enamel erosion compared with teens who didn't consume those foods. Teens are more vulnerable to erosion because of less mature tooth enamel. But it's a good idea for people to be aware of the potential impact that vinegar can have. Vinegar is a low-fat way to add flavor, but rinse afterward to protect your teeth.


Smile-Saving Habits
You can't always avoid enamel-eroding foods, so use these tips to minimize acid wear:

1. Avoid snacking in between meals to minimize acid attacks.

2. Don't swish or hold acidic beverages in your mouth. Sip them through a straw to reduce the amount of time the acids come into contact with your teeth.

3. Rinse your mouth with water or chew sugarless gum after meals to help neutralize acid attacks.

4. Consume high-calcium milk or cheese before or with meals to help reharden enamel. Eating foods high in iron, such as liver or broccoli, may help as well.

5. If you do consume acidic foods or beverages, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing. This gives softened enamel a chance to reharden, so it's less prone to damage.

6. Brush with fluoride toothpaste to help fortify enamel.

7. See your dentist for regular checkups and scheduled cleanings to help prevent tooth decay.

Healthy tooth enamel means healthy teeth. And enamel damage is irreversible. So take the time to protect those pearly whites.

Americans may have no identity, but they do have wonderful teeth...

until next time..

Picture Of The Day

A great many people go after success simply for the shiny prizes it brings…And nowhere is it pursued more ardently than in the city of New York..

NYC...just magical...and waiting to be explored!   It is a place apart. There is not its match in any other country in the world.  In New York it's not whether you win or lose--it's how you lay the blame....If you get there amigos ENJOY!!  

I can't wait to get back to New York City where at least when I walk down the street, no one ever hesitates to tell me exactly what they think of me...

Being A Parent....

Whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children, and the one most important of all the things we can give to them is unconditional love. Not a love that depends on anything at all except that they are our children...

It has been said that children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.  As many of you know I have no children.  This I have come to terms with, but every so often it breaks my heart knowing that I have none and that many that do have them sure don't deserve them. 

Today I am in one of those moods where after witnessing a mother with her children it just broke my heart to see so much neglect, so much indifference and so little love coming from the mother to the kids.  Granted I only saw the family for a mere half hour or so, but it triggered something in me and all of a sudden I really wished at that moment that this woman did not have those children.  I wished instead that it was me. 

I saw the looks on the kids and what I saw just made me so very sad.  It was as if they were just begging for a little attention...even scraps would have been preferable compared to what they had...NOTHING!  Parents sometimes do not realize how hurtful their words are.  Remember mom and dad whoever you are, if you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others.

Parents are supposed to be there to protect their children, to shelter him/her from "bad" things...no matter how old your child it, it is still your duty (one borne out of love) to make sure your child knows that he/she is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him/her.

As Dr. Joyce Brothers has said,  "If a child is given love, he becomes loving ... If he's helped when he needs help, he becomes helpful. And if he has been truly valued at home ... he grows up secure enough to look beyond himself to the welfare of others"

I have always been a true believer in that not because you brought a child into this world it makes you a good parent.  Anyone can have a child, but not anyone can be a dad or a mom.  It takes that someone special with patience, dedication, sacrifice, devotion, sleepless nights and unconditional love.  Someone who is willing to put their childs needs ahead of theirs....I am not a mom, I have nieces and nephews and to me they mean the world and anyone tries to hurt them they would definitely have me to deal with.  

We have been and still are lucky to have wonderful parents, and the great upbringing we've had.  To this day I know if I should need my parents they would drop everything and be by my side...same they would do for any of their other 4 children..my sisters.  They are full time parents.  They did everything with us and everything for us....

Here is a poem I found about parents with regrets.  Hope this is not you one of these days:

If I had my child to raise over again

I'd build self-esteem first and the house later

I'd finger paint more and point the finger less

I would do less correcting and more connecting

I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes

I would care to know less and know to care more

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites

I'd stop playing serious and seriously play

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars

I'd do more hugging and less tugging

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often

I would be firm less often and affirm much more

I'd model less about the love of power

And more about the power of love.

Remember...don't forget to hug your child today and to let him/her know how much they mean to you.  Don't forget to tell them how much you love them.

Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them....

until next time...

Picture Of The Day...

One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering....

It was just the perfect day for the beach...Amazing beach because it is in the middle of the city, of high rises, and traffic yet it is so very beautiful you feel like you are in some tropical paradise surrounded by palm trees, blue skies and blue turquoise waters...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away...

Enjoy yourself.  It's later than you think...

until next time...

Fun Evening...

Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul....



just loved the colors on the stage..



As I came back from the gym a few days ago, Arvid said to me "let's go and buy tickets for The Steve Miller Band".  I looked at him and said so you were bored while I went to workout?  He just smiled and said "you see what happens when you leave me alone"?  Seems like the trick to getting what I want is to leave Arvid alone for a while....works all the time.  Hmmm...wonder what next?

I showered, we had breakfast and rushed right out for tickets.  The concert was amazing in that there were thousands and thousands of people and the excitement was almost touchable.  I noticed right away a difference from going to concerts in Florida compared to here in Chicago.  First the crowd never sat.  Everyone was screaming and applauding from start to finish.  Back in Florida both Arvid and I have noticed that the crowd starts to leave as soon as they sense the concert is over.  In Chicago it was the opposite.  The crowd just demanded more and more.  Of course the band came back for another 45 minutes.  Arvid said that it is similar in Norway.

Another very big difference was that the crowd here in Chicago was VERY casually dressed.  For some reason I felt over dressed and this is not usual.  I was a little surprised to see most people were in flip flops, caps, shorts and sneakers.  Took me by surprise.  Unlike the Florida scene, there were not many in heels, not much makeup (maybe this time I had on the most) and nothing fancier than jeans and T-Shirts.   Something new everyday.  

After the concert Arvid wanted to do a few "pit stops" as he calls it.  In one of the places we went to a man approaches me and out of the blues he says "your hair, your hair I just love your hair"  He said that as soon as he walked into the bar all he saw was my hair (have way too much!)  Taken by surprise all I managed to say was thank you.  Arvid gives the man a mean look and as the man leaves he turns back to me and says "makes me want to be a hairdresser"  Well that got me laughing and I still am.  Arvid of course looks at the guy and says "ass".  I laughed even harder which make him even angrier.  Still laughing about it. 

You just have to do your own thing, no matter what anyone says. It's your life....

until next time...

Picture Of The Day...

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and you're walking hand in with the one you love....

In every girls life; theres a boy she will never forget and a summer where it all began..

.

 until next time...

Unknown

Just Remenbering....

They say life's what happens when you're busy making other plans. But sometimes in New York, life is what happens when you're waiting for a table...

 

younger days:)

 Do you ever have one of these days when all of a sudden a memory comes to you like a little flash of lightning, could be from a smell, a sound, a picture or just something vague you really can't put your finger on and  it reminds you of days long gone by?  Of a time in your life when you were younger, so full of this need to discover, experiment, and live everyday with with a passion and intensity that is unique to the young. 

I still have this passion for life (maybe more so), but  I was reading a book and the setting was New York.  In that instant I  pictured myself back living in NYC with my sister.  Fresh out of college she and I ventured out on our own to a life completely different from what we were used to.  No longer were we those "little girls".  We  were now on our own in a city bigger than life itself.

NYC Skyline


There was so much to absorb.  All fascinating and challenging.  Our first time in a taxi in NYC was an experience in itself.   It was a miracle we survived our first taxi ride...as I have heard mentioned there are what is known as "taxi rules" in NY.  Goes something like this:

1. Driver speaks no English.
2. Driver just got here two days ago from someplace like Segal.
3. Driver hates you.”
 
You would think that after this experience we would be ready to run back home to what we knew as safe.  Not so fast.  For me this was just the beginning of a wonderful adventure.  With each passing day I loved NY more and more.  I often am asked if the people in NY are really as rude as portrayed?  My experience was of one of the friendliest, no nonsense people I have ever met.  Straight to the point if you liked it or not and I LOVED it!!
 

I loved the unique sense of humor, I loved the fact that the city is always buzzing be it with good or bad..it was just alive and I blended in so well with all the chaos and uniqueness of this wonderful city.

 

Today I had nostalgia for it. 
 

 

I can't wait to get back to New York City where at least when I walk down the street, no one ever hesitates to tell me exactly what they think of me...

 

until next time...

Picture Of The Day...

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give...

They say you only live once...I say why not live life then to the fullest for you never know what tomorrow holds...

On our last trip to Floida, I had to try one of these again....Buy one get one free!   I would like to make a toast to all the "friends" I have all over the world that follow my blog.  You make it very easy for me to want to keep doing it...thank you.  The countries are too numerous to mention, but my thanks and apprecaition goes to all....I never forget what my dad told us a long time ago he said,  "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice"  CHEERS!

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens...

until next time...

Is He Husband Material?....

When two people decide to get a divorce, it isn't a sign that they "don't understand" one another, but a sign that they have, at last, begun to....

Every so often you come across either a friend, family member, stranger or even oneself distraught over their personal life.  This time it was a friend and he was telling me about how his wife was acting and treating him strange lately.  The two had begun the process of getting divorced when she suddenly had a change in attitude and promised she would change. Sadly, that promise lasted only a couple of weeks.

It so happens I was also reading an article about the same topic and it struck me as too much of a coincidence so here it is....if you relate to this maybe you can find some consolation that you are not the only one and that many are going through similar rough times.  Not helpful, but a fact of life.

According to the article, for those who are single and are looking to find that someone special here is what you should be looking for.  What makes a man husband material are emotional characteristics, including stability, reliability, and honesty. These are the hallmarks of what makes a man a good long-term partner according to relationship expert Dr. Seth Meyers.

In addition, and perhaps “the most surprising factor that is important is empathy, or the ability to be sensitive and understand how the other person feels.”  “When problems develop, as they inevitably will, having a man in your life who listens and cares about your feelings is one factor that helps to solidify mutual respect and intimacy.”

Tips for a good relationship:

1.You feel as good about him when you’re not with him as you do when you are with him

2. He’s never made you cry and you’re confident he never will. (There’s a saying that goes something like this: No boy/man is worth crying over and the one who is will never make you.)

3. He shows a genuine interest in the things that are important to you.

4.He fights fair.

5.He holds your hair back if/when you’re sick.

6.If your child were to come out EXACTLY like him, you’d be thrilled.

As for my own advice, which I shared with my friend, you need to learn to love yourself first. Learning to love yourself and finding self-fulfillment while single is crucial because you cannot expect a mate to fill those voids for you. Depending on a partner to meet those needs will never work and you’ll remain emotionally needy, not to mention more likely to put up with bad behavior just to be with someone.

If you feel an issue is at-hand that could be a deal breaker (kids or no kids?), it’s best to address it right away. “When there are deal breakers, you need to put them on the table and talk about them. If you try to hide them, they’ll turn up anyway, eventually, and probably destroy your relationship—or at least make you miserable. Get them out in the open and see if you can work something out!  Hey, maybe he can handle having just one kid! You never know until you talk.

I once knew someone who encouraged me to always be independent, self sufficient and to first make me happy then to think of making others happy.  Sometimes his philosophy was very stern for my liking, but as the years went by I came to realize that yes, first one must take care of ones own needs and wants before being able to please others.  Once you are confident with you then you are much more capable of dealing with whatever situation life presents.  Not always easy, but always doable.

Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are...

 

until next time...