Tag Archives: Art

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is that time of week where I do my weekly check-in. This past week has had its ups and downs but if I really look at the week, it has had more ups than downs despite the challenging aspects of the week.

One of the many good aspects of this week has been spending it with some good friends as well as my partner. I have had dinner with a group of my friends twice this week and we all had a blast. As far as spending time with my partner, it is always time well spent. We spent most of last night (Friday) watching movies at my place eating a bunch of junk food. I don’t know what I did right to deserve the awesome friends and the love of my partner but I am grateful for them.

Besides spending much needed time with my partner and friends, I spent time with my cat, Billie. The last few days it has been quite freezing in Seattle so I stayed in as much as possible especially since there is currently snow on the ground in my Seattle neighborhood. Of course Billie my cat was and is happy that I am spending more time at home with him. While being home with my kitty, Billie, I have started reading a book and I am half way through it. I am not sure what to think of it yet or if I am going to read the next book in the series. I also have been doing some art work as I have been a hermit. The type of art work that I have been doing is coloring. I am coloring a giant poster and it feels like I am not getting anywhere with it but I am as you can tell by looking at it. I love to color.

I do not have much more to write about in this particular blog. 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 on my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Too Cold For My Liking Especially Here In Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Friday and Good Morning, World!!! The snow in my neighborhood didn’t last long as it was just a dusting. Despite the dusting of snow yesterday evening I am glad I made the decision to not attend the University of Washington men’s basketball game as I would have been extremely cold as I walk to and from the light rail station. I am not a big fan of the cold and as much as I dislike the snow, if it is going to be this cold, I just wish it would just snow. I really don’t like it being in the low twenties (Fahrenheit) especially without the snow.

I have decided to not go to Emerald House today and it has nothing to do with freezing weather outside here in Seattle. It is my plan to stay home with my cat, Billie, and cuddle with him most of the day if he is up for it. I also am planning on doing some reading as I enjoy it and I have decided to read a book series as I prefer book series. I am not sure what book series it is yet but I know it is going to be a book series.

Not only will I be reading but I will be doing some art work. Specifically, I will be coloring. I will be coloring a giant poster I bought from Stuff2Color.com. The giant poster that I am coloring will be for my therapist to show her my appreciation that I have for her. Not only that, coloring is self-soothing for me as well as it being a form of mindfulness for me. I just hope my therapist likes it.

Speaking of my therapist, I have an appointment with her that I plan on attending. Thankfully, it is a virtual appointment as I really don’t want to go out in this freaking cold. Plus, some suburbs of Seattle got snow so I have no clue if my therapist got snow or not since I don’t know where she lives. In fact I think it would be weird (and creepy) to know where your therapist lives.

I do not have much more to write about in this particular blog post except I would really like rain and forty-five degrees (Fahrenheit) weather back here in Seattle. 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!!!

Snowing In Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is snowing here in Seattle and when it snows in Seattle the city pretty much shuts down. It shuts down because we are a bunch of whiny ass wimps that live in the second hilliest city in the United States that is never really prepared for snow due to the lack of equipment such as snow plows.

Due to the snow I have decided to not go to the University of Washington men’s basketball game. It is mainly due to the fact that the sidewalks are already icy and will need to walk to and from the light rail. I just fear it would be way too icy after the basketball game and I don’t want to risk possible injury. Like I said people who live in Seattle are wimps when it comes to snow and ice.

Since I am staying home, I am going to be doing art with Billie my cat by my side. The type of art I am doing is coloring. I am coloring a giant poster for my therapist as it is helpful for me and it shows my appreciation for her.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post except that I really dislike snow. I really would like 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!!!

Goals for 2024

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I know I am posting this almost two weeks into the New Year of 2024 but I thought you would be interested in what my goals for this year are.

My goals are as follows:

~ Clean my apartment and keep it clean. (My apartment is a disaster area and gets the way it does due to the fact that I struggle with the upkeep of my apartment when my depression acts up.)

~ Get a job in the social service field, preferably as a peer specialist. (Yes, I know I am currently unemployed by choice to focus on my recovery however working will help once I am a little bit more stable on my feet.)

~ Continue volunteering at PAWS Cat City. (This is a no brainer as I really love volunteering with cats.)

~ Start and complete at least three workbooks regarding my recovery. (This is to not to take the place of attending therapy on the regular basis but to help with my recovery as well as help aid on what I need to work on in therapy.)

~ Read at least four books. (I really enjoy reading and want to do my best to incorporate reading on the regular basis and into my daily life.)

~ Learn about Tarot and practice it. (I just feel like this could help me with my everyday life as well as my recovery with mental health challenges.)

~ Continue practicing mindfulness on a daily basis. (This is to also help me with my everyday life as well as my recovery with mental health challenges.)

~ Continue morning walks. (Of course there are many benefits to walking and I really enjoy it.)

~ Continue regular sessions with my therapist. (Another no brainer especially since I want to continue to work on my recovery with mental health challenges.)

~ Continue regular appointments with my psychiatric nurse practitioner. (Again, another no brainer especially regarding my mental health recovery.)

~ Continue paying off credit cards. (Who doesn’t want to be debt free?)

~ Do one logic puzzle a week. (To help keep my brain active.)

~ Color two regular posters and one giant poster. (Creativity is always a good thing.)

Hump Day Update

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is Hump Day Update time. I do not have much update you the reader on regarding what is going on in my life so far this week as it has been quite boring and uneventful. I guess that things being uneventful is a good thing especially at this particular time in my life.

The weather has been a major topic on local news stations here in Seattle. It was windy and blustery yesterday. Not only that a couple of local mountain passes had blizzard warnings which of one of them is not all that common. In fact it is supposed to snow in the Seattle area. People in Seattle don’t do well in the snow and I am one of those people. I am not a big fan of snow and highly dislike being cold.

Another thing is that I started to color a giant picture for my therapist. I just hope once I am done coloring the giant poster and give it to her that she will like it. Coloring this giant poster feeds two birds with one grain (aka: kills two birds with one stone) due to the fact that coloring helps me maintain my mental health symptoms and a finished coloring project and giving to my therapist shows my appreciation for the help she has given me.

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!!!

So Far It’s Been A Productive Day

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! It is just after twelve noon, Seattle time and I feel like it has been a productive day so far. I am beyond grateful that I have done a great deal. In fact the day is barely half over and I still have a few more things to accomplish today.

I started off my day cleaning for about an hour which surprised the hell out of me as I normally clean about fifteen minutes at a time. I then worked on a workbook to finish up the first chapter which I am happy to announce that I did. I read a couple of chapters in a book followed by attending an online group. After the online group I worked on an art project I am doing for my therapist. The art project I am doing is that I am coloring a giant poster for my therapist as an appreciation gift for all of her help.

I do not have much else to write about in this particular blog post and have other things I would like to accomplish today. 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 on my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Structuring My Time

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I haven’t been unemployed for a full week yet and I am wanting and needing more structure in my daily schedule despite me doing my best to structure my days. At this point in time I do not regret quitting my job as it was not the best fit for me for reasons I rather not disclose at the moment. I know ultimately leaving my job was the best decision for me.

Yes, I may not have the structure of work that I may need but I am doing the best I can to structure my days. As part of my daily schedule doing mindfulness meditations and walking will continue. I will also be doing workbooks as a part of my recovery. I will also be setting out some time daily to read as well as some art work. Specifically, I will be coloring a giant poster for my therapist. Of course, I will be attending therapy every other week. Let’s not forget, I get to spend more time with my cat, Billie.

I do not have much more 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 writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Nightmares Suck Sh!t

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World. It is just after three o’clock in the morning, Seattle time and sadly, I am unable to sleep. I woke up to a nightmare. Nightmares suck sh!t and I wish I didn’t have to deal with them but sadly they are a major symptom of PTSD for me.

Since the nightmare was almost as horrific as the trauma I experienced as a child, I am pretty sure what I am going to do to get myself relaxed enough to hopefully get back to sleep. I think I will try to read first. I think I will start reading the book Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. I have started this book a couple of times before but sadly never finished for various reasons.

If reading does not then, I will put on some music and do some artwork as I listen to the music. I am not sure what type of music I will listen to but I do know the type of artwork I will be doing. The type of artwork I will be doing is coloring. I enjoy coloring a great deal.

I do not have much more 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 writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom for my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

The Holiday Traditions I am Creating for Myself

Posted on by Gertie

Happy in the middling of the night from Seattle for those of use who are unable to sleep especially when a cat decides to sit on your lap and will not move for the life of him. I do love my Billie boy though. I am so in love with my cat Billie.

For many people in American culture, spending time with family and/or friends indulging with food and spending too much on unnecessary family drama. Yes, I am guilty of continuously playing this role but my family isn’t getting any yound and despite how dysfunctional they are, I still love them.

On that note I had a therapist that suggested I start my own traditions which I did with some push back. I started by reading A Superhereo Christmas comic books volume one and two and doing wintry and/holiday jigsaw puzzles. I then tart reading holiday books which helps with my tradition. Now I am doing Christmas Dot to Dot ro adults and NO they are NOT X Rated. I am also starting a new tradition this year by doing a Christmas logic problem. Oh lets not forget the artwork of coloring. I love the coloring part of the holidays.

An Early Morning Post Due to Waking up Too Early

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! At the start of writing this particular blog post it is 4:14 in the morning here in Seattle. I haven’t been getting much sleep due to the fact I most likely will be losing my job and having some insomnia over it. Some of the reasons I agree with while other reasons I don’t agree with due to the fact that I have not been able to use my reasonable accommodation request. I own up to the stuff that I haven’t need reasonable accommodation stuff but I just want to prove to my employer that I can do much better at my job if they allow me my reasonable accommodations.

Enough about work as I am trying to ge my mind off of work. by doing a number of things. First and foremost, I have been spending my time with my beloved cat, Billie. Having Billie by my side has been quite helpful. He is such an awesome and loving kitty. I am in awe of his unconditional love.

Besides my time with Billie, I have been doing my normal skill set to help myself through the challenging stuff the world throws at me such as artwork by coloring as well as reading. Let us not forrget about doing some mindfulness meditation practices. In fact I started to do log problems or logic puzzles. I find them quite fascinating Some are extremely challenging to .do but the satisfaction that comes with completing one is priceless. Plus I have a sense of pride when I am done with a logic problem or puzzle.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog post. It is greatly appreciated that you are the reader for reading my blog post. If it was not for you reading my blog post I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!!