Friday Morning Random Thoughts & Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I woke up at 4:30 this morning, Seattle time. I decided to do laundry which was done by 7:30 this morning and ended up doing some light household chores which were done by 8:00 this morning. (All times mentioned in this blog post are Seattle time.) I am feeling extremely accomplished by what I have done today.

Despite feeling accomplished by what I have done so far today and it is not even 9:30 in the morning Seattle time, I am dealing with a lot of depression and PTSD symptoms. I realize that some of the PTSD symptoms are due to recent anniversaries as well as upcoming anniversaries, yet they still suck shit. The depression symptoms increasing this time of year is to be expected. It is expected due to the shorter days as well as the normal, typical Seattle type of weather which includes rain and cloudy skies as well as the occasional wind storm.

Feeling accomplished with what I have done this morning as well as dealing with increased symptoms in my PTSD and depression, I have been thinking. Yes, I know thinking is a scary thought coming from me. I am thinking that if I blog on the regular basis like I have for the last 14 days, it will not only help my mental health symptoms but hopefully help other people who could be reading my blog and also hoping it could keep my regular readers more engaged with reading my blog and hopefully comment more. I know what I write about isn’t always interesting or entertaining but I hope it helps other people feel not so alone with their mental health struggles or any struggles for that matter. I just want my blog to help others have hope no matter what is going on in their life.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except to say that it is now time to cuddle with my cat, Billie who I love very much. 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!!!

The Death Of A Mental Health Legend

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I am finally home from work and wanted to inform you my reader the death a mental health legend. The legend is Marsha Linehan. She is the creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy also known as DBT. Marsha Linehan not only created DBT but taught for many years at the University of Washington here in Seattle before retiring in 2019. Marsha Linehan passed away this past Tuesday (November 10, 2026) and it is extremely sad for those of us who were greatly touched by her life and her creation of DBT.

If it was not for DBT and an intensive two-year outpatient DBT program I graduated from on December 1, 2005, I would not be writing this blog post at the moment. I truly believe if it wasn’t for DBT and the hard I put into DBT as well all the support I received from the staff of the DBT program I was in, I most likely would be dead at my own hands. I am so grateful for DBT and how it has helped me have a life worth living as well as be in recovery. If it wasn’t for all the hard work I have done in DBT as well continuing on with therapy, I would not have recovered from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) by no longer meeting the criteria of it, much become a peer support specialist. DBT helped me create a life worth live and thankfully it helped me no longer meeting the criteria of BPD.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post. 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!!!

Picture Of Mount Rainier/Tahoma From My Favorite Breakfast And Lunch Spot At Work

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I am currently on lunch at work. I wanted to show you picture that I took this morning as I ate breakfast here at work before my shift started. The mountain name is Mount Rainier but the original name that the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest call it, Mount Tahoma. I will do a caption in the picture I post in this blog post for the sight impaired readers.

Mount Rainier or as the Indigenous people call it; Mount Tahoma this morning as I ate breakfast.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except that I have to get back to work as my lunch break is done and over with. 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!!!

Finally Enough Sleep & Still Tired & Yet Feeling Semi Refreshed With A Dash Of Grumpiness

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I finally received a full night of sleep. In fact, I got more than twelve hours of sleep last night. Sadly, I am still tired and thankfully feeling semi refreshed. Even though I am grateful for twelve hours of sleep as well as feeling semi refreshed, I am still tired with a dash of grumpiness. I have to attempt to wake up a little bit more and not be grumpy as I continue getting ready for work. Last thing I want to do to be grumpy at work or what I call a cranky bucket.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except I have to finish 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!!!

Therapy On Veterans Day

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Today is Veterans Day here in the United States and I want to thank all the Veterans for their service. I greatly appreciate you all for fighting for our freedom. If it was not for the Veterans, I would not have been able to have the freedom to see my therapist today. My therapist and I discussed my increased depression symptoms as well as my increased PTSD and how to cope with the symptoms of both diagnoses.

One of the ways, I have been coping with the symptoms of both my depression and PTSD is doing a jigsaw puzzle. Specifically, I am doing a cat jigsaw puzzle. I really enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles. They keep my hands busy and perfect for autumn (and winter) days here in Seattle. In fact, now that I am home from therapy, I am going to do the cat puzzle I am doing after I am done writing this particular blog post.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post. 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!!!

All I Want Is Sleep

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I have not been able to sleep at all. I have been awake since yesterday at two o’clock in the morning, Seattle time. I just wish I could freaking sleep. On a plus note, I have been enjoying some fudge from a small business in Fort Wayne, Indiana that arrived at my home here in Seattle yesterday evening. The business is called Queer AF Confectionz. It is a small business that is woman and queer owned. A friend of mine who is also a small business owner suggested Queer AF Confectionz. I am all for supporting small business especially when the business is own by a minority group. The fudge is really awesome. Their brownies are pretty good as well.

Since I am unable to sleep, I am eating the fudge I bought from Queer AF Confectionz as well as reading. I am reading To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. It is the first book in a trilogy in the Nampeshiweisit series. So far, it is an extremely awesome book. It is a fantasy book that includes dragons. I love reading fantasy books and highly recommend reading To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post. 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!!!

Feeling Depressed & Sharing 2 Cat Pictures

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I am feeling depressed. I am not exactly sure what is causing it or why. I have my theories and they are valid theories however; I don’t want to use them as an excuse even though they are not excuses. Part of the depression is due to the weather here in Seattle which is the rainy, dreary and gray days that come this time of year along with the shorter days. The weather sucks this time of year here in Seattle, but I will take it over snow any day as I highly dislike snow. The other reason is due to my cat, Billie have terminal cancer and being on palliative care and dealing with anticipatory grief. I love my cat so very much and I am valuing every moment I have with him even more than I did before his cancer diagnosis.

Speaking of my cat, Billie, I took a couple of pictures of him the other day that I want to share with you all. I love showing people pictures of my cat just like I love seeing pictures of other people’s cat or any other pet someone may have. I’m only sharing two pictures in this post. I will add a caption in the picture for my sight impaired readers.

A picture of my cat, Billie as he gives a grumpy look.
Another picture of my cat, Billie giving a grumpy look though he does look annoyed in this picture.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post. 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!!!

All I Want Is To Sleep Through The Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I woke up way too early again. I wish I knew why I was waking up so freaking early. I just want to be able to sleep and not worry about insomnia or PTSD getting in the way of me able to sleep. I will need stay focused at work today so I am not a cranky bucket. Since I have not been able to go back to sleep, I have been working on a jigsaw puzzle. Specifically, a cat jigsaw puzzle. For some reason, doing a jigsaw calms my mind.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post. 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!!!

Up Too Early Before The Start Of Another Work Week

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It’s the start of another work week and I am up too early. I’m not sure why I keep waking up so freaking early. I just wish I was not waking up so early as I really value my sleep. I really do not like being a cranky bucket especially for work as I really love my job and what I do for employment.

Since I have not been able to sleep, I have decided to read a wonderful book. The book that I am reading is To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. It is the first book in a trilogy in the Nampeshiweisit series. It is a really great book so far and I highly recommend it. I am really enjoying the book.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except that I am now going to be cuddling 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 through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Jigsaw puzzle
  • Lunch with friends
  • Do a recovery related workbook
  • 12-Step meeting
  • Evening walk
  • Artwork

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • 12-Step Meeting
  • Do a recovery related workbook

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • 12-Step meeting
  • Do a recovery related workbook
  • Artwork

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Appointment with therapist
  • Lunch with friends
  • 12-Step meeting
  • Do a recovery related workbook
  • Evening walk
  • Jigsaw puzzle
  • Artwork

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • 12-Step meeting
  • Evening walk
  • Do recovery related workbook

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Eye doctor appointment
  • 12-Step meeting
  • Do a recovery related workbook
  • Dinner with friends
  • Evening walk
  • Jigsaw puzzle

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • University District Farmers Market
  • 12-Step meeting
  • Do a recovery related workbook
  • Jigsaw puzzle
  • Evening walk
  • Artwork