Tag Archives: Florida

Take it or leave it?

16 Thursday Jul 2026

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“Clutter is not just physical stuff, it’s old ideas, toxic relationships and bad habits.” — Eleanor Brown

Since I decided to move to Florida, I have been moving my belongings little by little. 

I didn’t move any furniture, but mostly odds and ends that I like.  The bulk of what I moved was all my mosaic materials and pieces, and all the paintings that my mom and brother have made for me.

I had some pieces of furniture I liked but I made peace with leaving them behind.  Letting go keeps seems to keep getting easier and easier. 

At this point I have only a few items left, including an old trunk.  I believe the trunk is from the 1800s based on the date of the newspapers that were inside the trunk, which by the way I failed to keep.

An old friend, who was a carpenter, was working in an old house and there were some trunks in the attic.  He knew I love antiques/vintage stuff and said he would give me one since the new owner said he could take them all.  Next thing he knows an antique dealer arrives and starts taking them.  He was able to get one for me.  That was over 30 years ago.

The trunk now sits in a small hall between a bedroom and bathroom.  Inside it holds all the crafts that my mother has given me such as macramé towels, embroidered table clothes, and knitted scarfs. And on top of it, one of mom’s painting.

“The more things you own, the more they own you.” — Unknown

I want to lead a simpler life, more nomadic life.  I am still tied down because of work, but eventually I want to travel more and spend every couple of months in different locations.

Michael thinks I am like a squirrel moving nuts around.  He says I keep moving the same items from NY to Florida, then to Brazil and back.  He is probably right.  At the same time that I am not a materialistic person I do not like to throw anything out.  I have to give it away or repurpose them.

My sister will remain in my NY apartment so I can leave it here. I had in mind having with me anything I really wanted, so that whenever my sister decides she is done with NY, I can just list the apartment and don’t have to worry about taking anything.

I have no attachment to anything material, as I mentioned, so getting rid of stuff actually gives me a high and makes me feel lighter.  Sometimes I am envious when I hear of someone that has unearthed some valuable item that they saved from decades ago.   That is not happening to me.   I have only a few items saved.  And those items are getting fewer and fewer.

I have do decide soon, do I take it or do I leave it?  I am hoping the Universe sends me a sign.

May your day be blessed!

“Already, in the last few decades, you have realized the utter futility of of encumbering yourselves with superfluous possessions that have no useful virtue, but which, for various sentimental reasons, you continue to hoard, thus lessening your life’s efficiency by using for it time and attention that should have been applied to the practical work of life’s accomplishments. (The Miracle of the Lily – 1928)” ― Clare Winger Harris

 

 

Fun Day in Key West

28 Sunday Jun 2026

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“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” ― Ernest Hemingway

One of the stops of the cruise it was in Key West.  Originally we were staying in the ship, but later we changed our minds.  I am glad we did.  It was such a fun place.  

 

We are contemplating visiting it again when my sister comes to visit us.  She will probably enjoy it as much as we did.

 

We  decided to stop and have foot massages.  It was glorious. 30 minutes of heaven.

We passed by The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, but did not go in.  It was already getting late and we didn’t want to miss our ship departure.

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ― Ernest Hemingway

It was a charming place to walk with tons of bars and restaurants.  The bars looked so much with some with live music.  

We didn’t go to any restaurants or bars, instead we had ice cream at Kilwins, and then more sugar at The Baklava, of course for baklavas.  

 

“The best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take risks, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice. Ironically, their virtues make them vulnerable; they are often wounded, sometimes destroyed.” ― Ernest Hemingway

 

 

Virgin Voyages Cruise

25 Thursday Jun 2026

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“For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.” ― Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Michael and I decided to take advantage of the holiday last Friday and go on a quick getaway.  We chose a 4-night cruise from Miami to Key West, then Bimini, Bahamas, then back to Miami on the Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady ship.

I think I had too many expectations, and a lot in life is about expectations.  This was my third cruise, and the most expensive.  The first one was with MSC.  On that one I loved the food, the service and the shows.  The second was a Royal Caribbean.  It was also enjoyable, great service, but the food was lackluster.

Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise, with balconies in every room.  The food is not buffet style, it is more like a food court. You have to go to each stand and order what you want.  That sounds great, but in reality, it was bad.  I thought that it would equate with fresh prepared and tasty food, instead it is reheated food.  We got burgers that were sitting there getting cold and paninis that were hot on the outside and ice cold inside.

There are other foods around the ship, like pizza and ice cream, but I didn’t think it was anything special. 

They do have specialty restaurants that are supposed to be great, but unfortunately since this was a last-minute trip we couldn’t get reservations to the best ones.  We were able to get to 2, not the best ones, and they were good, and definitely is the way to go.

This is a picture of some of the desserts, which looked amazing, but only 2 passed my taste test: the Pavlova and macaron(not pictured).

 The service was spotty at best.  Sometimes the servers were too busy talking to each other to help. And when they helped there were no smiles, it was a chore.  I was spoiled with the treatment of the prior 2 cruises.  The attendant for our room was very nice and a couple of the waiters in the restaurant were good.  But as a whole the service was disappointing.

The pools were tiny and super crowded.  Not that I ever go in those pools, but this is the worst I have seen: too small and too many people.  The DJ was too loud, but everyone seemed to be enjoying it, so I guess I grew out of my partying days.  I didn’t expect a party cruise and that is what I got.  This is what I think Carnival would be like.  Again… expectations.

The positive in this cruise is that every room has a balcony.  From now on it will be only rooms with a balcony for me.

We enjoyed walking around Key West and wouldn’t mind going back there to spend more time.   I will have those pictures in a next post.

The safety drill was interesting to watch.  I didn’t think they would put all lifeboats in the water, but they did and cruised around for some time before returning and loading them up again. 

The stop in Bimini was okay.  Beautiful place, beautiful waters, but the beach club was crowded with no available chairs in the shade.  The food served there was the highlight of the day.

 

It was awful? No!  Would I do a Virgin Cruise again? Probably not, but who knows.

I need to try some of the others, such as Norwegian, Celebrity and Viking. And perhaps I need to lower my expectations.

We arrived back in Miami at night instead of the morning due to someone having a medical emergency.  The view of Miami at night was gorgeous:

“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.” ― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

 

“My soul is full of longing
for the secret of the sea,
and the heart of the great ocean
sends a thrilling pulse through me.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

Always grateful!!

16 Friday Jan 2026

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“Gratitude begins in our hearts and then dovetails into behavior. It almost always makes you willing to be of service, which is where the joy resides. It means that you are willing to stop being such a jerk. When you are aware of all that has been given to you, in your lifetime and the past few days, it is hard not to be humbled, and pleased to give back.”― Anne Lamott

2026 will be an amazing year!!

Why?  you may ask.

Because I said so! :–)

Well, this is the year I am turning 60 years old.  That thought it is hitting me like a ton of bricks.  It is daunting to think I will be 60.  What happened to 30, 40, and 50?  It feels like it all went so fast.

At moments I get a bit down about it.   60 feels heavy.  It feels like I have done nothing with my life.

Then I remember and realize how blessed I am, and how much I have accomplished.  Age is just a number. What is important is to live every moment to the max. It is important to not to waste this beautiful gift called life.

So the best thing to do is to live it up, no matter what the number is. 60, 70, 80, or 90 like my mom.

I have so much to be grateful for.  Everything is a matter of attitude and perception. Today I am choosing to remember all the beauty and blessings. My family, Michael, health, home, work, friends, a great mind and great heart.  My breath, the ocean, my bike, French bread with butter… and the list goes on and on.

I am even grateful for the hardships that made me strong and successful. 

What I have today is even more than I ever dreamed of.  Not to enjoy it and be grateful would be a sin!

Enjoy it all!

But remember, until March 28 I am still in my 50s! 🙂

 
An old Portuguese prayer of gratitude:
And what do you want the coming year to bring you?
Nothing, I don’t want it to bring me anything. The only thing I want is for it not to take anything away.
May it not take away the roof that shelters me, the food that nourishes me, the blanket that warms me, nor the light that illuminates me. May it not take away the smiles of my loved ones, my health—which is my treasure—nor the work that sustains me.
May friendship, companionship, hugs, and kisses remain.
May it not take away my dreams, nor the pieces of my heart—formed by the people I cherish—that I always carry within me.

 

Highlights and lowlights

31 Wednesday Dec 2025

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“It’s a New Year and with it comes a fresh opportunity to shape our world.
So this is my wish, a wish for me as much as it is a wish for you: in the world to come, let us be brave – let us walk into the dark without fear, and step into the unknown with smiles on our faces, even if we’re faking them. And whatever happens to us, whatever we make, whatever we learn, let us take joy in it. We can find joy in the world if it’s joy we’re looking for, we can take joy in the act of creation. So that is my wish for you, and for me. Bravery and joy.” ― Neil Gaiman

2025 was a tough year, most of all because of my dad’s passing.  Still, I know that his passing was timely and was a blessing for the fact that he is no longer in pain, and he passed on his terms.  He transitioned. He is here but in other form.  I was able to be there and hold the family together – for that I am so grateful.

 

Today was a cold day (for Florida) so I am using my dad’s sweater and lounging pants.   There is something comforting about that.

Dad, be in peace!  You are loved!

 

Then there was the long regulatory audit… so much stress, so many sleepless night,  and let’s not forget the costly assessments for our condo structural repairs.

Still, in 2025 there was also a lot of highlights, such as:

  • Taking my mother to a casino resort in Argentina to celebrate her 90th birthday
  • Skiing in El Colorado, Chile in August
  • Skiing trips to Breckenridge
  • Cruise to Caribbean
  • Trips to the Seminole casinos
  • Sunrises at the Indialantic Beach
  • Sunsets at Melbourne Pier
  • No regulatory fines
  • Condo construction finished

For 2026 I am hoping for more adventures and fun trips with Michael.  The future seems so bright and big.  I am blessed, and I know it!

For you I wish so much love and joy.  I wish you strength and wisdom! I wish you peace!  I thank you for being in my corner in 2025.  I thank you for the kind word that showers me in love!

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
― Neil Gaiman

 

Sanford and Lake Mary

28 Sunday Dec 2025

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“Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?” That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past nor the shadow of the future.” ― Hermann Hesse

We had a fun Saturday biking on the riverwalk in Sanford, Florida. We got there very early and it was very foggy, but then turned into a gorgeous day.

After the bike ride, we stopped for coffee at the Caffe Di Riverwalk.  I had a mocha and a bacon, egg and cheese on a croissant. Michael had a potato burrito and a black coffee.  It was good, not outstanding.   I thought my sandwich and my mocha weren’t hot enough. Great service, but I am not running back.

We walked around town afterwards and there was a little fair going on.  I found brigadeiros (Brazilian fudge candy) and I had to buy some.  They were okay.  From the booth next to it, I got a Dubai chocolate cake.  I have started seeing all these “Dubai” items more and more.  I guess any time you put pistachios on something you make it “Dubai”.  The cake tasted like it was from a box, and the chocolate frosting was just okay.  I wouldn’t buy it again.

We then drove to Lake Mary and walked around downtown for a while.  We then went to lunch at Pisco Peruvian.  It was awesome!  Everything about it was perfect.  Beautiful ambiance, amazing service, delicious well-thought-out food.

To drink I had a passion-fruit (of course) drink and Michael had some non-alcoholic (he was driving) frozen coconut lemonade. He had a sushi dish with shrimp ceviche.  I had the lomo salted, and of course I also yucca fries – I have to have that any time I see it on the menu.  I brought dessert home  – it was 3 leches cake with a layer of merengue and crème diplomat.    I would go back to eat those again and to try different items.

After it, we walked next door to Brooklyn Water Bagels to bring some bagels home.  I gave up on trying to find a good NY bagel in Florida, so I only bought a couple thinking that they would be disappointing, These bagels were delicious. We just had them for breakfast and now we are sorry we didn’t buy more.

Too bad those 2 great finds are almost 2 hours away from where we live.   Any time I find a good restaurant it is always far away.  Maybe it is for the best – my wallet and waist are probably better for it.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”  – Virgina Woolf 

 

Lately … beach, river and town

20 Saturday Dec 2025

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Life continues with sunrises at the beach, sunsets at the river and the occasional night out. Oh yeah, work has been driving me insane with end of the year compliance issues, but I am choosing to focus on my huge list of blessings.

Daily sunrise walk

Amazing sunsets – so grateful

 

A curious little squirrel 🙂

 

Yucca fries and passionfruit mojitos – while I wait for skirt steak with rice and beans – yummy

“If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.” ― Roy T. Bennett

 

Lately … in the kitchen

11 Thursday Dec 2025

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Scones – I adore scones and I have not been able to find any bakeries that sells them anywhere around me.

I looked for scone recipes online, and chose one that looked easy and fast. 

They didn’t come out great, but still we ate them all.  

 

Irish Soda Bread – this is another favorite of mine, that I cannot find to buy anywhere around here.  Perhaps on Saint Patrick’s Day I will find some bakery that makes them.

It came out okay, not great.  I definitely need to tweak the recipe I found online.

Anything toasted with butter is great, and that is how I eventually ate it all.

 

 

Brownies from a Box

Can you believe that I got brownies wrong? Brownies is the one thing I don’t mind making it from a box.  I accidently put the oven too high and the sides and bottom got overbaked.

I cut off the offending parts and the rest was eaten anyway 🙂

 

I will be trying all of the above again.  If you a good recipe for scones or soda bread, please send it my way.

Thank you and have a blessed weekend!

“With enough butter, anything is good.” (Julia Child)

 

 

Quick getaway – Western Caribbean cruise

21 Friday Nov 2025

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Michael and I decided on a last minute getaway. We did a Western Caribbean cruise.  We went from Port Canaveral, FL to Cozumel, then Costa Maya, and back to Port Canaveral.

We had a great time.  In Cozumel, Michael went to the Chichen Itza Ruins.  I skipped that, as I had been there before and didn’t want to face the long trip there.  So, I had a lazy, quiet day to myself.

In Costa Maya we both went to Chacchoben ruins, it was smaller and less impressive than Chichen Itza, but still very interesting.

This was a Royal Caribbean cruise, and it was the Explorer of the Seas ship, which is a 25 year old ship.  It showed its age, but that doesn’t really bother me.

One thing I was a bit disappointed was the quality of the food at the buffet.  Even though there was tons of different ones, I don’t think the quality came close to that of the MSC Meraviglia ship.  Specially when it came to desserts, something that I really look forward to.  Some of their desserts gave me an aftertaste, which means that it had too many preservatives and food extracts and coloring. Still, I confess I overate, as I have a tendency to want to try a bit of everything.

I went to the gym a couple of times, and was really impressed with the amount and quality of the equipment.

We also saw a few shows, such as the magic, the comic, and the ice-skating.  We went to bingo and to the casino. We also played ping-pong and arcade games. And we rested.

We can’t wait for the next one.  I really want to do longer ones, to Alaska and Europe.

Have a blessed weekend everyone!!

“Every person needs to take one day away.  A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future.  Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence.  Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.  Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” ― Maya Angelou

 

 

Sunset – Melbourne Beach, FL

02 Sunday Nov 2025

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The sunset at Melbourne Beach Pier overlooking the Indian River Lagoon is one of my favorite places.  The sunset is a great time to stop and say thank you for the day.

I don’t know where I saw the below writing, but I really like it.  If you know who wrote it, please let me know so I can give them credit.

  1. your growth comes first,
    2. be intentional with your time,
    3. forcing things does not work,
    4. being kind supports your peace,
    5. hang out with revitalizing people,
    6. let consistency help your flourishing,
    7. remember the progress you have made,
    8. slow things down when your mood is low,
    9. people pleasing hurts your mental health,
    10. seeking perfection hinders your progress,
    11. you cannot make everyone understand you.