Monthly Archives: July 2025

Brief Blog Before Going to Volunteer

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Right now, I am dealing with some depression and PTSD symptoms which majorly sucks. I just want to stay home and do absolutely nothing. The thing is if I do then I will be stuck in my own head which isn’t very helpful at all. I can easily just call out from volunteering at PAWS Cat City but I am not going to do that because, I don’t want to be stuck in my own head, and I really do enjoy volunteering. Plus, I love cats. I am just happy that I have volunteering today as well as going out to dinner later to Red Robin with my partner and some of our friends. It also looks like it is going to be another beautiful day here in Seattle weather wise. I love today’s Seattle weather. Now time to give my own cat some loving before volunteering.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except that I need to volunteer with a bunch of cats and PAWS Cat City. 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 practice
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Dinner with partner and friends at Red Robin
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork (color and/or diamond art/painting)

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork (color and/or diamond art/painting)

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork (color and/or diamond art/painting)

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Laundry 
  • Clean apartment
  • Grocery shopping
  • Cook dinner for neighbors who are good friends
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork (color and/or diamond art/painting)

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork (color and/or diamond art/painting)

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project
  • Dinner with partner at Red Robin
  • Evening walk with partner
  • Watch movies at home with partner

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Morning walk
  • Farmers market
  • Read
  • Artwork (color and/or diamond art/painting)

Monday Morning Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World and Happy Monday!!! It is beautiful day here in Seattle. It is going to be lovely weather today and it will be another “hot day” or at least hot for Seattle. I love this weather, and I am beyond grateful for the beauty here in Seattle.

As far as the beauty of Seattle, I am looking forward to the beauty of my workday. The beauty of my workday includes that of helping people with their recovery. For me finding the beauty in my work makes what I do well worth it especially when the people I help are struggling. I really enjoy what I do and it makes me happy.

Another thing that makes me happy is my cat, Billie. I best be going to cuddle with Billie before I go to work. I love my cuddle time with my precious kitty, Billie.

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!!!

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It’s that time of week again where I do my weekly check-in. Let’s discuss how work is going. My job is going quite well, and I love my job. Despite being informed that I am doing a good job at work I worry about not passing my probationary period due to my supervisor being out on leave to take care of his mom, I’ve been informed to not worry about as I am “doing a good job and going above and beyond the call of duty.”

Even though I have been told this, it still worries me but at least I am doing what I am supposed be doing. In fact, I am doing some trainings to help the people I help. The plus thing it is counting continuing education credits once the peer licensure changes. I am really enjoying the two trainings/continuing education courses I am taking. I am taking Personal Medicine Coaching that Pat Deegan created which is awesome as well as taking the Hearing Voices Facilitator training through the Hearing Voices Network USA. I really do enjoy the fact it is all peer focused, and the trainings are being facilitated by people who have lived experience and if for some reason I don’t pass my probationary period at work, I at least have more to add to my resume. Hell, even if I pass it still looks good on the resume. A good friend of mine as well as current colleague both tell me that I am experiencing something called imposter syndrome. I’m not sure if I am experiencing imposter syndrome or not, many people no matter their job title experience it.

I may not know if I have imposter syndrome regarding my job, my depression and PTSD symptoms have been acting up. I have a theory or two on why my symptoms are acting up, but I do know what is helping me cope with my symptoms. Going to work is helping just like volunteering at PAWS Cat City and with Alley Cat Project. Volunteering and working help a great deal but my cat, Billie is extremely helpful with coping. I am so very glad that I have my cat, Billie in my life to help me through good and bad moments as well as everything in between.

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!!!

Fighting Off PTSD & Depression Symptoms

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Right now, I am struggling with some depression and PTSD. I wish I was not struggling with my PTSD or depression symptoms but I am. Since I am struggling with my mental health symptoms, I made sure I went to my regular volunteer shift at PAWS Cat City which helped a great deal. Now that I am home, I had a late lunch and cuddled with my cat, Billie as I did some artwork. The type of artwork that I did was color. Coloring is both therapeutic and meditative for me. Even though my PTSD and depression symptoms are acting up, I am glad volunteering at PAWS Cat City, cuddling with my cat, Billie and coloring have been helpful for me today. Let’s hope coloring continues to help me this evening. Cuddling with my cat, Billie is always helpful.

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!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Breakfast with good friends
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Read
  • Artwork
  • Evening walk

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Appointment with employment specialist
  • Read
  • Artwork
  • Dinner with friends
  • Evening work

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Work
  • Pick up meds
  • Evening walk
  • Read
  • Artwork

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project
  • Read
  • Artwork
  • Evening walk
  • Double date with partner, best friend and her partner to dinner and movies

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Farmers market with partner
  • Lunch with partner
  • Reading
  • Artwork
  • Evening walk
  • Movies at home with partner

Another Sleepless Night In Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am sadly experiencing my third night in a row of not being able to sleep. It is partly due to PTSD and part due to insomnia. Both royally suck shit. Since I am unable to sleep, I have been listening to music as my cat, Billie lays in my lap and I do some form artwork. I have been doing some diamond art/painting as well as some coloring. Both coloring and diamond art/painting is both therapeutic and meditative for me. I am so glad that I have my cat, Billie, music and artwork to help me through sleepless nights like tonight.

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!!!

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is Saturday evening and that means it is that time of week to do my weekly check-in. Yes, it has been quite a while since I have done a weekly check-in. I am hoping to do my weekly check-ins as well as my weekly plans on the more regular basis.

This past week was the 4th of July which is Independence Day here in the United States. In fact, Independence Day was yesterday. I celebrated with some friends. We had plenty of fun, food and enjoyed the fireworks over Lake Union from a friend’s backyard. I enjoyed myself and I’m glad I went.

This past week was a good week at work. Hell, even when there are not so good moments or days at work, I still enjoy my new job. I love my job. I really enjoy my new job, and I am beyond grateful for it. The best part it is part time, and I get full medical benefits, and I greatly appreciate that I receive full medical benefits.

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!!!

Happy 4th of July

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World and Happy 4th of July to all Americans around the world!!! It is a beautiful Independance Day here in Seattle with sunny weather. I am currently at a friend’s house celebrating the 4th of July with my friend group. We have had plenty of food all day and continue have food flowing till it is time to watch the fireworks later tonight from my friend’s backyard. I am looking forward to watching the fireworks from my friend’s backyard. I’m glad to be having fun with friends yet I am missing my cat, Billie.

Sadly, people who live in my apartment complex have been setting off fireworks which means I had to give my cat, Billie some anxiety meds before I left. I am paying a neighbor to check on Billie every two hours and to continue to give him a dose of his anxiety meds every four hours as his veterinarian suggested. I am glad my neighbor is willing to do this for me and Billie. I feel like paying my neighbor fifty dollars to take care of Billie is well worth peace of mind and making sure he is comfortable when I am not home when there is the scary noise of fireworks.

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!!!

Sleepless In Seattle Type Of Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am sadly unable to sleep due to the combination of insomnia and PTSD. Having both insomnia and PTSD sucks shit especially when they both rear their ugly heads at the same time. Since I have been unable to sleep due to insomnia and PTSD, I have been listening to music as my cat, Billie lays on my lap as I do some artwork. Specifically, I am doing diamond art/painting. I am still doing the one of a tuxedo cat as I had briefly stopped doing it for various reasons including starting my new job as a peer specialist. I really do enjoy doing diamond art/painting especially when my cat, Billie lays on my lap as I them.

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!!!