Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Overall, this week has been an okay week with some challenges. Challenges that suck at times but I am grateful for the support I have from other people in my life including my therapist. In fact one of the things I did this week was see my therapist for our regular appointment as well as a phone check in. Both of the phone check ins as well as my regular appointment with my therapist went well. My regular appointment is normally an hour but we were able to do an hour and a half due to my therapist’s next appointment cancelling. It was a hard session but I am so grateful for being able to receive mental health treatment as well as have an amazing therapist.

As far as volunteering is going, it is going great. I volunteered my regular shift on Sunday as well as doing two additional shifts. One on Wednesday after my session with my therapist and earlier this evening. The extra shift I did this evening was unexpected and I am grateful that I live near PAWS Cat City and was available to help out. I love volunteering at PAWS Cat City.

Another thing I did this week was hang out with some friends I have not seen in years. They are here in the Seattle area for vacation and it was good to see them. We had some awesome meals at local restaurants here in Seattle that my friends were impressed with. My friends are now camping and I will see them before they head back home to California. I am always happy to see old friends.

I do not have much more to talk 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!!!

Update on Stray Cat

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! This is going to be a short post and I wanted to update you about the stray cat I informed you of in two previous posts. The stray cat I have been feeding and have attempted to trap with the help of the Alley Cat Project was finally trapped last night. It was trapped by two volunteers from the Alley Cat Project using a different type of trap than they let me borrow. The two volunteers spent three and a half hours trying to trap the cat when they finally did. I am so very happy that the cat will be getting the vet care it needs and a furrever home. Sadly, the cat didn’t have a microchip. I spent almost two weeks with the help of neighbors and the Alley Cat Project helping this cat.

I do not have anything else to discuss 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!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Fill out volunteer application for the Alley Cat Project
  • Read

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Grocery shopping
  • Clean apartment with help
  • Read

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Go to Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Read

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Therapy
  • Lunch with friends
  • Attend a virtual group
  • Read

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend two virtual groups
  • Dinner with a friend from California
  • Read

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Go to Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Dinner with friends
  • Read

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Breakfast with a friend from California
  • Read

Life Updates

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Life has had its ups and downs lately but I am looking at the silver lining and bright side of things to the best of my ability. Looking at the silver lining as well as the bright side in situations lately have been helping which I am so grateful for.

For nearly two weeks I have been helping a stray cat in my neighborhood and trying to trap it with the help of the Alley Cat Project (ACP). Despite how emotional draining it has been trying to trap this stray kitty, I am thrilled that it is helping me keep busy as well as giving me a sense of purpose. The cat is looking a little skinny which is concerning to me but at least it is trusting me and allowing me to pet him. Since the cat is somewhat skittish with the current trap two people from the Alley Cat Project (ACP) are coming with another trap for about an hour to attempt to trap the kitty. Even though the cat is a little skittish at least it is friendly and not feral which means if it does not have a microchip or a human it will get a vet check for medical as well as a possible spay/neuter and go into foster care to get adopted. Let’s hope the trapping works this evening as I really want what is best for this kitty. If Billie wasn’t on a special diet and I had the money to afford another cat, I would so take in this kitty.

Helping the stray kitty has helped me realize that having a sense of purpose is something I need which is why I am planning to start blogging on a regular basis. I know I have said in several previous posts that I would blog on a more regular basis but this time around I will make more of an effort to do so. One way I will make an effort is to make time in my schedule to do so.

Before I end this post I want to share a happy thing I will be doing later this year. I bought a concert ticket to see Michael W. Smith Christmas concert here in Seattle in late November. He is one of my favorite singers and he is very talented. I am really looking forward to it.

I do not have much more to discuss in this post except I will keep you updated about the stray kitty. 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 for reading 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!!!

Just Another Blog Post

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I realize it has been a while since I last blogged. I have various reasons why I have not blogged as well as some excuses to why I have not blogged. I will do my best to blog on a more regular basis however I cannot make any promises as we never know what life may bring.

On that note, I have had a lot going on. Currently, one of the most pressing things I have been doing is helping a stray cat. Sadly, the Seattle Animal Control is not coming out due to the fact that the cat is not injured and that there are no leash laws for cats in Seattle. I am frustrated with the animal control at the moment for a few reasons but thankfully, I was given the email of the executive director that oversees the animal control. That means I have been working on an email to send to the executive director. As far as getting help for the stray kitty I have contacted another organization to help. They are extremely busy and backed up at the moment but they have been quite helpful as well as been in frequent communication with me. I am hoping that this organization can come out to help some time tomorrow or Tuesday.

If you read my blog regularly you know I live in the United States. It is an election year in which we vote for the next president of the United States. There have been many more twists and turns this presidential election year than I have seen in my 45 years of life. Hell, the same goes for my almost 94 year old grandpa. I may not be a fan of Trump nor have I voted for him and I will not be voting for him this time around but sadly someone tried to assassinate him. I may not like the man but he shouldn’t be shot for any reason. Also, President Biden dropped out of the presidential race for a second term to be president. As of right now Kamala Harris is running for president for the Democratic party. The political climate here in the United States is extremely shaky at the moment.

Now on to a happier topic, the 2024 Summer Olympics. Sadly, I didn’t watch the opening ceremonies but I have been watching the various events that have happened already. I love how the Olympics brings unity and peace this world needs. I just wish there could be unity and peace when the Olympics do not happen. I really enjoy watching the Olympics and I am grateful that they are a break from the daily grind.

I do not have much more to discuss in this particular blog post and I hope to blog more regularly. 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!!!

Long Time No Blog

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is the middle of the night here in Seattle and I am unable to sleep. As you know I have not blogged in a while. It has been roughly one and a half months since my last blog post. Sadly, I have let my depression symptoms get in the way of blogging. I just wish my depression wasn’t getting the better of me. Even though my depression is acting up at least I haven’t acted on self-harm urges and that the suicidal thoughts haven’t led to plans or intentions.

I know from experience that blogging on a regular basis helps me with my depression symptoms as well as symptoms from other mental health diagnoses. I am going to schedule time out of each week to blog so that way I can keep you the reader interested in continuing to read my blog as well as it helps the symptoms of my mental health challenges.

Of course my cat helps with my depression symptoms as well as other mental health challenges. I love my cat so very much. It is hard to believe I have had him for almost four and a half years. It is also hard to believe that he is a senior kitty who loves to play with a wand toy and a laser toy. I am grateful that Billie is in my life and I am able to experience his unconditional love.

I do not have much more to say 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 for 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!!!

Caturday With Billie The Cat

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Caturday, World!!! Caturday is actually Saturday however I am one hundred percent sure that everyone who reads this particular blog post is fully capable of figuring it out. Today there are only three pictures and they are all of my cat, Billie. I hope you all enjoy them.

Billie is on top of my analog television that is only good for playing games on as well as an outlook post for Billie.
Billie looking straight into the camera wondering why I am taking another picture and not petting him.
Billie sleepily has his eyes open under the blankets wondering why I am not letting him sleep and taking another picture of him.

Well that is all I have for this weekly photo shoot of Billie. Of course that doesn’t mean I won’t post pictures of Billie during the week if I feel the need to because there is a high likelihood since I think his a cute kitty. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Daily Prompt; What Activities Do You Lose Yourself In?

Posted on by Gertie
Daily writing prompt
What activities do you lose yourself in?
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I can lose myself in multiple activities. One activity I can lose myself in is reading. I can spend hours on end reading and have stayed up all night doing so. I love to read and love the fact that I can lose myself in stories I cannot fathom but enjoy getting wrapped up in the books I read.

Another activity I lose myself in is artwork. Specifically coloring or rock painting. I can spend hours doing both. I love doing both especially when I listen to music or a podcast. Losing myself in artwork while listening to music or a podcast is something I tend to do when the weather is bad outside.

Daily Prompt; Describe One Positive Change You Have Made In Your Life?

Posted on by Gertie
Daily writing prompt
Describe one positive change you have made in your life.
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A positive change I made in my life was when I went I decided to go into a two outpatient Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) program. I went into this program because I needed some help learning new skills to help with my emotional and verbal outburst as well as my self harming behavior and multiple suicide attempts. At first I was extremely wary of it however I am beyond grateful that I went through this DBT program and graduated from it. This was the second major adult decision I made for myself and my recovery. The first major adult decision I made was when I went to Mercy Ministries (now Mercy Multiplied) like I described in yesterday’s Daily Prompt post. Going into the DBT program was one of the most important decisions I made in my life and I am grateful for it as it helped me make bettered decisions in my life.

Daily Prompt; Describe a Decision You Made In The Past That Helped You Learn or Grow.

Posted on by Gertie
Daily writing prompt
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.
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I think one decision that helped me a great deal to learn and grow was when I was twenty years old. It was the first major decision I made as an adult and I don’t regret it however if I were to have to make the decision now at forty-five I would not make the same decision. When I was twenty I considered myself a Christian and dealing with an eating disorder. An eating disorder that I greatly needed help with but my Medicaid didn’t pay inpatient or outpatient eating disorder treatment nor did I have the money to get it. So, after finding out there was a free residential program that I could go to in Nashville, I decided to apply to Mercy Ministries (now Mercy Multiplied). Not only was it free but a Christian program which was a plus for me at the time as I considered myself a Christian at the time. I was accepted into Mercy and graduated. I learned a great deal about myself and grew as a person. I felt like I grew up and became an adult while I was at Mercy. I learned a lot about myself and don’t regret going.