Monthly Archives: December 2024

New Years Eve 2024

Posted on by Gertie

Happy New Years Eve, World!!! It is New Years Eve 2024 here in Seattle and I really hope 2025 will be better for me. It may still be 2024 here in Seattle but in places like Australia it is already 2025 and I hope they had fun bringing the New Year. As far as Seattle goes, the Seattle Space Needle will have fireworks as well as having a drone show. The drone show will be every thirty minutes starting at 10:00pm and the firework show will start about a minute before midnight to countdown to the New Year and last until 12:09am. The drone show is new this year. I have gone to the Space Needle in the past years but not in the last few years.

In fact, I will be bringing in the New Year at home with my cat, Billie as we watch the firework show from the Space Needle on television. Sometimes spending New Years at home with your pets at home in your pajamas is the best way to bring in the New Year. Or at least it is for me. There is nothing like spending quality time with my cat, Billie especially on special days like bringing in the New Year.

I don’t have much more to write about in this particular blog post. I 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 continue to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Happy New Years, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer a double shift at PAWS Cat City
  • Read
  • Art (diamond art/painting)

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning calls and emails
  • Read
  • Art (diamond art/painting)

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Read
  • Art
  • Christmas Eve service with friends
  • Christmas Eve dinner with friends
  • Watch Christmas movies

Wednesday

  • Christmas Midnight Mass
  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Christmas breakfast by myself
  • Go watch the movie Mufasa; The Lion King
  • Christmas Dinner by myself
  • Read
  • Watch Christmas movies

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning calls and emails
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Read
  • Art (diamond art/painting)

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning calls and emails
  • Read
  • Art (diamond art/painting)

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Go to the U-District farmers market
  • Read
  • Art (diamond art/painting)
  • Watch movies

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is Saturday evening and time to do my weekly check-in. Or at least I am starting my weekly check-in back up with you the reader. Before I do my check-in I want to say Blessed Yule and Happy Solstice. Today is the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. I am looking forward to tomorrow as it starts being lighter longer. Granted only by a minute or two but I am so looking forward to more light.

This past week has not been the easiest of weeks for me. My depression and Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD) have been acting up so badly that I have been dissociating and isolating. Neither which are good for me or anyone for that matter. To add to the depression and PTSD, I am dealing with grief of my mom’s death on Tuesday, November 26th which was two days before Thanksgiving. Sadly, Christmas Day of this year is one day before the one month mark of my mom’s death. I miss her so very much.

Since I have been isolating this past week, I have been hanging out at home with my beloved senior kitty, Billie. Billie has been helping me so much with dissociation and not doing it. I am so grateful for my cat as he has a calming affect on me and helps me keep my head on straight.

Despite being in a dissociated state for most of the week, I do remember watching a lot of movies. Specifically, I have been watching a lot of Christmas and holiday related movies. I watch Christmas movies that are nostalgic to me and many other people in the world.

Besides watching Christmas and holiday related movies, I have been reading. I specifically have been reading a Christmas book. In fact, I read a Christmas book every holiday season. It is a holiday tradition for me and I really look forward to it every year.

I do not have anything else to check-in or 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 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!!!

Struggling In Seattle – Missing My Mom

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I am currently struggling with the death of my mom. Tomorrow (Tuesday) makes three weeks since my mom died. It has been a very challenging three weeks as the holiday season is in full force and my mom loved Christmas more than anything. I know this might be the hardest holiday season for me as it is just too close to my mom’s favorite holiday is Christmas. I also wonder if next year’s holiday season will be hard as I would have more time to grief. At this point in time I don’t know if this Christmas will be harder than next year but I will do my best to learn ways to cope with the grief of my mom’s death for next Christmas.

The one way I can cope in this is to cuddle up with my cat, Billie and read. The two books that I am reading are Twelve Days of Christmas Horror Volume 1 by Rick Wood as well as Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith. I have only read a couple of chapters from each book but have not enough figures which one I will like best. Now I should cuddle with my cat and read a holiday book I just told you about.

I do not have much more to write about in this particular post. I do want thank my readers for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated that you readers read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Dinner at Red Robin with friends
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Monday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Clean apartment
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning calls and emails
  • Do artwork (diamond art/paint)
  • Read

Tuesday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Breakfast with partner
  • Appointment with peer specialist
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Wednesday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning phone calls and emails
  • Dinner with friends at Red Robin
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Thursday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Holiday lunch at Emerald House (a mental health club house)
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Friday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning phone calls and emails
  • Dinner with friends at Red Robin
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Saturday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Brunch with partner
  • Artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

A Romantic Saturday With My Partner

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I started off the day with my partner showing up to my place to make me a romantic holiday season breakfast. It was the perfect start for a yucky weather day here in Seattle. A type of day that is meant to stay inside all day which my partner, Junior and I have done all day and the weather hasn’t really improved.

After cleaning up after a wonderful holiday season breakfast, my cat Billie joined us for a day of movies. At some point during one of the movies, my cat, Billie decided to go and lay on his cat tree as he looked out the window and Junior and I had some very amazing sex. Junior was gentle as always due to my PTSD and thankfully we didn’t need to stop due to my PTSD.

After Junior and I were done making love we decided to watch some holiday movies that we both love watching. In fact many of the movies we watched were movies we enjoyed watching as children. We reminisced about the movies and how they are nostalgic. Of course, my cat, Billie joined us watching holiday movies once he was done watching the trees blow as it rained outside the window.

As I write this particular blog post, Junior is making the both of some dinner. It smells extremely good and it is making my mouth water. I love Juniors cooking and I wish I could cook as well as he does. I am so grateful to have Junior as my partner. He treats me well and is patient with me which is something that I am extremely appreciative of.

I do not have anything else to write about in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you 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!!!

It’s Been A Good Friday The 13th

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Friday the 13th, World (again)!!! I went grocery shopping and then went to the Christmas tree lot a couple of blocks away from my home and bought myself a holiday wreath. I put it on my front and I think it looks beyond awesome. I am really happy I bought myself the wreath.

I am glad I went out grocery shopping and Christmas wreath shopping when I did as the weather here in Seattle sucks right now. At least the weather isn’t as yucky as it can be for Seattle and better yet at least it is not freaking snowing. I highly dislike snow despite it being pretty at times.

Since the weather isn’t the best right now, I am glad that I am choosing today, Friday the 13th to watch horror movies. The horror movies I have been watching are Friday the 13th and Nightmare On Elm Street franchises as my cat is cuddled up in my lap purring and me doing some diamond art/painting. I appreciate Friday evenings like tonight as it is something that is needed from time to time.

I do not have much more to write about in this particular 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!!!

Happy Friday the 13th

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Friday the 13th, World!!! As I stated today is Friday the 13th. Friday the 13th is considered a bad luck day especially with people who are superstitious. I am superstitious with a handful of things but not with Friday the 13th. In fact I love Friday the 13th as I use Friday the 13th to watch horror movies specifically Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street franchised movies as they are corny and awesome at the same time. I will most likely watch them this evening and into the night.

As far as how my day is going so far it has been slightly depressing due to the weather as it is typical rainy and dreary Seattle weather that Seattle is known for. Due to the weather, I have been cuddling with my cat, Billie as I do various types of artwork. I’ve mainly been coloring but I did a little bit of diamond art/painting.

As much as I want to continue cuddling with my cat, Billie and doing artwork, I have some errands to do. Errands like getting a holiday wreath for my front door from the Christmas tree lot a couple of blocks from where I live. I also have to go grocery shopping as I don’t have very much food in my apartment. As much as I don’t like going out in current weather conditions at least it is typical Seattle weather. I will do my grocery shopping first and then go buy my holiday wreath but I will come home in between those two errands so I don’t have to carry too much at one time as I will be walking doing these errands.

I do not have anything else 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, reading my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Being Sleepless In Seattle Sucks Sh!t

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is 3:33 in the morning here in Seattle. I am sadly unable to sleep due to insomnia and PTSD. It is more insomnia that is keeping me awake than PTSD which in a way I am grateful for as PTSD sucks.

Since I am unable to sleep I have been doing a diamond art/painting piece as I listen to holiday music. Specifically, I have been listening to Christmas music. The diamond art that I am currently working on is of a Buddha statue with the words “Let That Shit Go.” I chose this particular diamond art/painting as I finished my Christmas diamond art/painting and I figure that it is the end of the year and the New Year almost here that I need to focus on what shit I need to let go and what shit I need to work on. I hope that once I am finished with this particular diamond art/painting that I will put up somewhere in my apartment to where it will be a part of my meditation practice area. I am really enjoying doing diamond art/painting especially as I listen to music.

Another thing I have been doing is cuddling with my cat, Billie as I read a Christmas book. The book I am reading is called Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith. I am enjoying the book greatly. I am not quite a quarter of the way through the book and I hope I finish it by Christmas. If I’m not then that is okay with me. I really enjoy reading especially when I am cuddling with my cat, Billie.

I do not have anything else that I want 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!!!

Missing My Mom + Holiday Emotions

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It has been two weeks and one day since my mom died. It has been challenging dealing with all that goes with losing a parent especially this time of year as it is the holiday season. Dealing with my mom’s death is adding to the holiday anxiety I struggle with every year which sucks shit and is something I discussed with my therapist today.

In fact my therapist and I discussed a great deal about my emotions especially anxiety and anger as I struggle with both. I struggle with both anxiety and anger as I tend to stuff both of those emotions that end up leading me emotionally and verbally exploding or sadly self harming. I thankfully haven’t self harmed in over a year which is a good thing but sadly I have emotionally and verbally exploded which is not a good thing. We discussed various ways to let out my anxiety and anger especially my anger. In fact my therapist suggested a couple of things to deal with my anger that are a little silly but I think will be helpful. I am really appreciative of my therapist and I am so grateful for her as well as her help with my mental health recovery.

As much as I am appreciative of and grateful for my therapist, I am also extremely grateful for today’s weather here in Seattle as it was sunny. Granted it was chilly outside but I am so grateful for the sun and that it was not freezing or below freezing outside.

Not only am I grateful for today’s weather here in Seattle, I am also beyond grateful for my precious senior kitty, Billie. I love my cat so very much and I don’t know what my life would be like without my cat. The best part of having a cat or any pet is their unconditional love.

I do not have much more 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!!!