Middle of the Night Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is two forty-five in the morning on Wednesday, March 4th of 2026 and sadly I am not able to sleep. I’m pretty sure my PTSD and insomnia are conspiring against me to be sleepless in Seattle. Being sleepless in Seattle is nothing new to me and it majorly sucks. It sucks because I tend to be a cranky bucket the next day, but I am hoping it won’t affect me so much since I have so much to look forward to.

One of the things, I have to look forward to starts tomorrow (Thursday, March 5th) to Sunday (March 8th). That something is Emerald City Comic Con. It also happens that this weekend is my birthday weekend which makes Emerald City Comic Con that much more special for me. I have been looking forward to this since August of last year (2025). I can’t wait till tomorrow as it is the start of my birthday weekend.

Speaking of birthdays, I bought myself a birthday present. A birthday present that is going to be a weekend of fun here in Seattle and is in April of this year (2026) that involves cats. That birthday present is going to a cat convention known as Pop Cats. I have never been to a cat convention, and I love cats, so I thought it would be a great birthday present to myself especially since it is here in Seattle.

As I am informing you of the conventions, I am going be attending it reminds me of the communities I belong to and how important it is to continue to participate in those communities I am in. I’m part of the comic book community as I love comic books just like I am part of the cat community because I love cats as well as volunteer with cats. As someone who is in mental health recovery building community is huge. For me making sure that I belong to more than one community is key to my recovery. Hell, everyone belongs to multiple different communities.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except to say it is now time to cuddle with my cat, Billie. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Looking Forward to the Weekend

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday, World!!! I’m looking forward to another day at work. In fact, today is going be my Friday as I usually work Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays but I am taking Thursday off to attend a four-day event. The four-day event I will be attending is here in Seattle will be Emerald City Comic Con. The best part of it all is that Emerald City Comic Con falls over my birthday weekend and am so excited about it. It is something I have been looking forward to since I bought me a four-day VIP pass back in August.

In fact, my therapist and I have been discussing in therapy how it is important to have something to look forward to especially when is something that you enjoy. I’m pretty sure when I see her tomorrow (Wednesday) for my appointment with that we will be discussing Emerald House Comic Con and how to make sure I enjoy myself without getting too anxious and/or overwhelmed. I wouldn’t be too surprised if my therapist and I discussed planning on something else to look forward to once Emerald City Comic Con is over with as when you struggle with a mental health diagnosis, it is always nice to have something to look forward even when things are going well. For me having something to look forward to whether or not I am doing well is a major part of my recovery. I’m just thrilled that I am doing well.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except to say it is now time to cuddle with my cat, Billie before getting ready for work. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Lunch Time Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I really didn’t have anything to worry about regarding pay. Yes, my vacation time is gone as of this Thursday, and I had to use my personal holiday and most of my vacation time for missing last week due to health issues, at least I get to attend the first day of Emerald City Comic Con. I’m just relieved I get paid for last week and this Thursday and that everything worked out in my favor.

I’m also excited about tomorrow as I start co-facilitating a group. Specifically, I will be co-facilitating a CBTp group. I am not able to be the main facilitator due to the fact that I do have the degree or licensure to do so, and I am okay with that as I am able to bring the peer perspective to the clients I help. I will be co-facilitating with a colleague on my team as well as another colleague who works on a different team. I am really looking forward doing this group.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except to say it is now time to go get my lunch and eat it. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Monday Morning Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Monday Morning, World!!! I’m awake and up earlier than I normally am on a Monday morning despite working on Mondays. Despite being awake earlier than I wanted to be, I have quite productive. I did a little bit in a recovery related mental health workbook focusing on being a part of the queer community. I also did two meditation practices which seem to have helped anxiety regarding going back work today after missing work last week due to health issues regarding my left kidney.

I’m having some anxiety over missing work last week for a few reasons. One, I don’t have any more six time left and afraid I won’t have a choice to use vacation time. Two, if I do have the opportunity to use vacation time that I won’t be able to take my vacation day this Thursday to attend the first day of Emerald City Comic Con. It has been something that I have been looking forward to since I bought a four-day VIP pass to attend back in August. Worst case scenario, I go without pay one day last week or use my personal day which is only four hours which is okay with me. I will worry about it when I go to work today.

As far as Emerald City Comic Con, I am so looking forward to attending. Last time I had the opportunity to attend was 2020 and I had bought a four-day pass. Sadly, it was cancelled due to Covid. I have attended before, but it was for two days as I didn’t have the money or time to attend all four days, so I was really disappointed when the 2020 Emerald City Comic Con got cancelled. That is why I am so freaking excited about attending this year.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except to say it is now time to cuddle with my cat, Billie. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Brief Health Update

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I just wanted to give you brief health update. Nothing major but just wanted to update you the reader about my health. Overall, my health is good. On that note, I ended up needing to get a stint put in from my left kidney to my bladder due “one extremely oversized kidney stone” that was blocking everything in the left kidney. Due to the blockage, I ended up with a kidney infection. The doctor informed me that procedure to put in the stint went well but took longer than expected due to scarring I have due severe childhood trauma. I did inform the medical team of the scaring, but they “didn’t realize the severity of it” which I guess, I kind of understand. I got the stint last Monday (February 23rd) and it is still causing a lot of physical discomfort.

Also, my C-PTSD symptoms have increased due to the stint being placed and being told “the scarring was more severe than the team realized.” I don’t know why it put me in a tailspin, but it did. I have been taking care of my mental health as I don’t want to end up suicidal or have self-harm urges. My mental health recovery means the world to me especially since it is requirement for my job and job description.

Speaking of jobs. I had to miss work last week because for the procedure. I missed last Monday and Tuesday because I was in the hospital due to the procedure. I missed last Thursday due to recuperating from the surgery both physically and mental health wise. I only work twenty hours a week which means I work three days a week which are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. I work two six-hour days and one eight hour day. I love my job so very much and sadly will most likely have to use some vacation time for what I missed but I’m okay with that.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except to say it is now time to cuddle with my cat, Billie. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Billie the Kat’s 6 Year Gotch Ya Day

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Friday, World!!! I just wanted to let you my reader as well as the rest of the world know that today marks six years since I adopted my cat, Billie. Today is Billie’s Gotch Ya Day. It is hard to believe that Billie has been in my life for six years. I also find it pretty cool that I adopted him about month and a half before the Covid lockdown. I am beyond grateful that the universe knew what was going to happen and brought Billie into my life before Covid lockdowns happened. Billie is a part of my family and is my favorite family member. I love Billie so very much.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except to say it is now time to cuddle with my cat, Billie. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Today Marks One Year Since My Dad Died

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Today marks one year since my dad died. My dad died two months and two days after my mom died and three days after my mom’s funeral. My dad died the in a hospice care home the day he was admitted to the hospice home. He was in the hospital waiting for the bed and I knew he didn’t want to die in the hospital. I truly believe that he used all of his strength to wait to die in the hospice home, so he didn’t have die in the hospital as he hated hospitals and had some trauma around them. I really miss both of my parents.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except to say it is now time to cuddle with my cat, Billie. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

2026 New Year’s Goals

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning and Happy New Year’s World!!! I know it has been New Years for three days now and I apologize for not posting sooner. Hell, I haven’t posted in a while. As always, I have goals to work on in the New Year that tend to change throughout the year. Some are the same as last year due to not completing the goals or just wanting to continue improving myself. I don’t do resolutions as I tend to not accomplish them which is why I do goals as I am more likely to accomplish and achieve them.

My 2026 goals are as follows:

  • Clean apartment and keep it clean
  • Continue mental health treatment
  • Continue seeing my primary care provider on the regular basis
  • Continue working at my current job
  • Continue volunteering at Cat City and Alley Cat Project (ACP)
  • Attend weekly 12 step meetings
  • Do at least two recovery related workbooks
  • Learn about tarot cards
  • Learn about Buddhism
  • Do self-paced Bible Study
  • Read at least four books
  • Do at least three diamond art/painting
  • Color at least two giant coloring posters
  • Do daily meditation

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post. I want to wish you the reader of my blog a Happy New Year. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Today Marks One Year Since My Mom Died

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Today marks one year since my mom died. As expected, it has a challenging day with grief of it being the one-year anniversary of my mom’s death. Not only am I dealing with the grief with the anniversary of my mom’s death but tomorrow in Thanksgiving here in the United States and tomorrow will mark my first Thanksgiving without my dad as he died back in January of this year (2025). So, it has been challenging but on a good note, today I had a regularly scheduled appointment with my therapist. We discussed the grief regarding the one-year anniversary of my mom’s death as well as tomorrow being the first Thanksgiving since my dad died back in January of this year (2025). It was a really productive session with my therapist today as well as a challenging one as grief is never easy to deal with much less talk about.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except to say it is now time to cuddle with my cat, Billie. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation via the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Read
  • Artwork (coloring and/or diamond art/painting)
  • Evening Walk

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation via the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork (coloring and/or diamond art/painting)

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation via the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork (coloring and/or diamond art/painting)

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation via the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Clean apartment
  • Grocery shopping
  • Read
  • Artwork (coloring and/or diamond art/painting)

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation via the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork (coloring and/or diamond art/painting)

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation via the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project
  • Do laundry
  • Dinner with partner and friends at Red Robin
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork (coloring and/or diamond art/painting)

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation via the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • University Farmers Market with partner
  • Movies with partner
  • Read
  • Artwork (coloring and/or diamond art/painting)