Category Archives: Uncategorized

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)

A Friday Morning Brief Life Update

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning and Happy Friday, World!!! It is a yucky rainy day here in Seattle. It’s even yucky for Seattle standards. As much as I am not liking this yucky weather, I do my best to keep in mind that today’s weather has me appreciate summer weather even more than I did when I lived in California.

As far as my new job goes, I am still loving it. It’s hard to believe that I have been at my new job for almost eight months. The team I am on is absolutely amazing. I am beyond grateful to be on such a great team with awesome people. I also love the fact that I get to help people with their recovery.

Now on to next update in my life. This past summer when I was talking to with my therapist in therapy, the topic of Autism got brought up due to what a doctor told me when I was in the emergency room. My therapist agreed with doctor that there is the possibility of autism and appreciated the fact that the doctor explained to me the meds they were giving was going to be a small dose as people with autism and ADHD tend to be super sensitive to certain meds. I appreciated that. Anyway, my therapist suggested that I read the book “Unmasking Autism” by Devon Price. I bought the book when she suggested it, and I am just now starting to read it. Anyway, fast forward to this past Wednesday, I saw my therapist for therapy, and I finally asked her for the first time (months after the first conversation) if she thought I am autistic and why. She said that she does think I’m autistic for various reasons such as my communication style and other things she mentioned such as the subtle stimming I do that nobody really notices as it is “not the typical stimming.” I appreciate my therapist being honest with me and allowing me to bring it up in my own time as she doesn’t like to bring up possible autism to folks due to how most people react. I personally wish she would have just told me but I’m glad she allowed me the space to bring it up in my own time. As far as testing goes, it is still several conversations to be had if I want to get tested. My therapist is happy that bought and reading the book she suggested which is “Unmasking Autism” by Devon Price. She is encouraging me to read it slowly with intention to learn.

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!!!

The Beauty I See At Work

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Today was a good day overall. It was especially good because one of the people who was a part of the team I work on graduated from the program. It is always a good thing when people are focused on their recovery and graduate from a program, they worked hard in.

On that note, I want to share two pictures I took while at work. The first one is that of the Puget Sound and took on my lunch break. The second one is that of Mount Rainier when I was leaving work and about to go home. (There will be a caption on each picture for my sight impaired readers.)

Picture of the Puget Sound while on my lunch break from the property of where I work.
Mount Rainier from the sidewalk where I exit when I left work today.

I hope you enjoy the two pictures I shared with you while at work or leaving work. I really love the I am able to see in the middle of a major city such as Seattle. I love that I can enjoy it from work. I am just happy that I am home from work and able to enjoy some cuddle time with my beloved cat, Billie. Now it’s time to read and cuddle with my cat, 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!!!

Ghostbusters Come to Seattle with Pictures to Prove It – Now I think it’s time to go Ghost Hunting with Friends

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Right after I got off work, I took a Lyft to the pharmacy to pick up my medication which I just normally call my meds. Anyway, as I was walking home from the pharmacy, I saw this white SUV turned into the Ghostbuster’s car. I asked the nice man smoking a cigar if I could take a picture and he said “yes as long as you post somewhere on whatever social media shit you do. I want you to create a ghost hunt with your friends if you think it would be fun.” I told the nice man that I can get one going if not tonight it will be tomorrow night. He was pleased with the answer

The nice man smoking a cigar allowed me to take a picture of his Ghostbuster’s Car

So, I’m inviting two my friends in recovery, my best friend from high school, my partner and three colleagues from my work team. Everyone like the idea and will be ghost hunting tonight just for the fun of it. After doing some ghost hunting we will go get some food from Red Robin. I’m just glad my community like this idea and want to go with me. This going to be a fun night.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post except that I can’t wait to tell you how the ghosts hunt went. 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 International Cat Day

Posted on by Gertie

Happy International Cat Day, World!!! I am just writing a brief blog to wish everyone a Happy International Cat Day and post two pictures of my cat Billie. I put some closed captioning in the photo’s for those who are sight impaired or blind.

A picture of Billie on my lap as I sit in bed.
Billie looking at something outside as he sits on my bed.

I do not have anything else to discuss or any other cat pictures of Billie share about in this particular blog post except to wish you a Happy International Cat Day one more time. 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 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!!!