Tag Archives: Books

Taking a Mental Health Day from Work Tomorrow Wednesday 7/26/23

Posted on by Gertie

Right now I am realizing I am needing to take a mental health day off from work tomorrow Wednesday, July 26th, 23. I feel bad for doing this as I don’t want to put more work on my team however my supervisors and team members understand that taking a mental health day is something that is needed from time to time. I am grateful for my team being so supportive.

I realized I need to take a mental health day when I realized I wasn’t doing my regular self care regiment when my PTSD, Depression and Anxiety starts to act up especially when I don’t make it apart my daily self care or just quit doing it because I start to feel better. I know from experience what I need to do for self care.

I have many things to help me through self care regarding my mental health challenges as well as just everyday life. For one I can cuddle with my beloved cat, Billie. I can always read a book that I am quite enjoying. Another thing I can do is make sure I have food on a regular basis. Of course doing art work by painting, coloring and diamond art. Also I can also do crafting by cross stitching and latch hooking. Listening to music is a great help as well as listening to podcasts. Of course there are my friends I can reach out to and go for walks. Mindfulness Meditation has been a great deal of help to me. My family and friends are of great support. Self care is major in helping yourself so you can be able in staying in recovery.

So I am going to end this particular post for now. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated that you the reader, read my blog. It wasn’t for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be writing my blog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Sunday Funday

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I realize it has been a few weeks since I last blogged and that was a brief post since it was a while before that since I blogged last. I hope that made sense to you. I am going to make more of an effort to blog more. I am not sure how I am going to do that besides scheduling blogging into my day as well going back to Weekly Plans every Sunday morning and Weekly Check-Ins every Saturday evening.

So, today is my work from home day. A day where I finish all my notes from the previous week as well as two phone sessions with clients and calling other clients to remind them of appointment with me or other members of the team I work on. Of course documenting (writing notes) on the clients I talked to today.

Of course, as I worked from home today, I had my cat, Billie sit on my lap or lay next to me. Billie is a great way to remain mindful especially doing dreadful notes so, insurance companies pay my employer. Billie is also a great help to keep me relaxed and mindful when talking to any client when they are discussing stuff that can trigger my symptoms of C-PTSD. I am grateful that Billie helps me mindful.

Speaking of being mindful, I have been doing two mindfulness meditations daily and a third mindfulness when I work. In fact the Calm App has a mindfulness meditation geared for work which I am very appreciative of. I find that daily mindfulness meditations help me not just do my better but helps my mental health symptoms stay more stable and is a form of self care for me.

Another form of self care for me is reading. Reading helps me in two ways depending on what type of book I am reading. Reading can help me learn new things or it can help escape my reality. The book I am reading is The Sorority Murder by Allison Brennan. The book I am currently reading happens to help me escape reality in a good way and not in a bad way like dissociation. Dissociation for me is not a good thing especially when I am in a bad space and thankfully, I am not in a bad space which is why I am reading. Reading helps me quite a bit.

Writing the last paragraph I thought of another thing to blog about when I finish a book. That is to blog a book review of a book I finish. I think that could keep you the reader interested in continuing to read my blog or at least I hope it does.

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 of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Middle of the Night Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World! I am tired as hell. Partly because I took an extremely long nap yesterday afternoon and I know better to not make my naps so long. So that is why I think that I am not sleeping well tonight. I am also dealing with a lot of pain due to a migraine. A migraine that I hope goes away before I go to work tomorrow. I at least don’t have to start until 12 noon Seattle time.

Since I am having a challenging time sleeping due to the pain of migraines, I have other ways to help. I usually start with reading but at times I have to cut it short because it can cause more migraine pain. the book I am currently reading is called “The Sorority Murder by Allison Brennan. I am only a quarter into reading the book and so far it is a pretty great book. If the book doesn’t help with the migraine nor the sleep, then I will work on an adult dot to dot book regarding only pets. I am ready to finish the first dot to dot picture. It takes a while to do especially when you are awake and not as sleepy as I am that includes a painful nightmare. If the dot to dot doesn’t appear to help I then will do some diamond art which isn’t always the best for a migraine but it is always worth try to see if helps with the migraine to go away and at least decrease the pain.

Doing all this appears to be a bit childish but I’m okay with this as I just want to sleep and hope I can get some sleep. Now it is time to attempt to sleep and cuddle with my kitty cat, Billie. Good night world and PEACE OUT WORLD!!!!

Still Feeling Sick & Staying Home From Work

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Or at least it is still morning here in Seattle. I am worried that I could lose my job due to missing so many days due to being sick. I would hope that they would at least give me a talk about missing so much work before letting me go. On the good hand, I am a part of a union and it is hard to get fired from my employer. The only thing the union can’t do in the first six months which is our probationary period is to help make sure we don’t get fired. Once the six months of the probationary period is up, the union can make sure we don’t get fired. So, yes I am a wee bit concerned but I think they have to go through all the union contract stuff before firing me.

One of the things to help me feel better due to sickness as well as less worried about anxiety missing too much work, plan on listening to music as I do some art work while my cat, Billie cuddles with me. I’m mostly going to listen to my Childhood Memories playlist which is 241 songs and just over fifteen hours long. While listening to music, I will be doing some art work. I plan on starting to do some diamond art work. The diamond art work is that of a treble clef which I find ironic that it’s the first one I chose to pick while listening to music.

If listening to music and/or doing diamond art work, I plan on reading a book called “Written In Time” by Jerry and Sharon Ahern. I really hope it is a good book. So far from the first twenty or so pages I have read, it has been a good book.

I wish I could write more about the book and the diamond art but my cat Billie is wanting to cuddle and play at the same time so I am ending this particular blog post for now. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. If it was not for you the reader, I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Self Care Time After a Good Nap

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I had a pretty restful nap and a great lunch. I had some homemade macaroni and cheese with fried chicken. I am really thrilled with myself that I made dinner from scratch. After putting away the leftovers and washing the dishes, I decided to read a book. A book that I decided to change to read. The book is called ‘Written In Time” by Jerry and Sharon Ahern. I haven’t started the book yet but I will when I do some art work first.

In fact I started doing a diamond art project. It is going to take a while to do and a great deal of patents to do the diamond art. I am hoping to share the progress I make as I continue working on it. After working on the Diamond Art, I plan on doing some more art by coloring one if not both of the giant coloring posters I am coloring.

I think if I have time I will read my book “Written In Time” by Jerry and Sharon Ahern. I am hoping I can stay awake to do some reading after doing some art work. I have been really tired and sleepy. I really do enjoy reading as it helps me get out of my own reality.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I am going to attempt to read despite being tired. I do want to thank you fro reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Had a Self Care Nap

Posted on by Gertie

Good Early Afternoon, World!!! I just woke from a nap and feel refreshed from the nap. Now, I am going to get something to eat but I’m not sure what type of food. I am thinking either a Subway sandwich or Asian food. I will figure it out when I am more awake.

Of course I am going to do some self care stuff like reading as the book I am reading is very intriguing. Of course Billie my cat will be snuggling by my side as I read. I hope to tell you about the book, I am reading once I am done reading it.

I am also hoping to go for a walk while doing a mindfulness meditation practice to help with the symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD. I really need to start this on a more regular basis as it help with my mental health.

I don’t have much more to say in this blog. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from the end of things that you read on my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Out of Work Sick (again); Possibly Anxiety Related

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am out sick again today because I am vomiting again. At least I know the vomiting is from the symptoms of my Anxiety, PTSD and Depression. I am really hoping that I can go back to work tomorrow. In fact I am slightly fearful that I could get fired for missing so many days but I am part of a union so since I have not been discussed about missing so many days of work I don’t think I will get fired. Plus my supervisors are pretty awesome.

Even though I fear getting in trouble for missing a lot of days, I am grateful that my supervisors promote self care. My self care today is of course cuddling with my beloved cat, Billie. Billie appears to be helping a great deal with my anxiety and depression which is helping the lessening of the vomiting. This is why I think the vomiting is anxiety, PTSD and depression related because I don’t have the normal symptoms that come with vomiting such as a fever or stomach upset or nausea.

Another way I plan on doing self care today is reading an awesome book called “Don’t Open The Door.” I really like the book and the author is Allison Brennan. Once I am done with this book, I hope to read another book she has written. I love reading books by authors that catch my attention right from the first two or three chapters. Of course when reading, my cat Billie cuddles with me which is a great form of self care.

Of course besides cuddling with my cat Billie as I read, I will be doing some art work. I of course will be coloring two giant posters. I will also start doing Diamond art. The Diamond art will be a bit more complicated to do but well worth it as I have had friends with Diamond art and they came out beautifully. It will take a lot of patients doing the diamond art but I think it will be well worth it.

Since this is a day of safe care to help reduce the anxiety provoked vomiting , I hope to go back to work tomorrow. I love my job and enjoy it immensely, Self care is necessary for both mental health and physical health. Just grateful for doing self care.

I do not have much more to say in this particular post. I do want to thank you for reading my post. It is greatly appreciated from the end of things that you read on my blog. If it wasn’t 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!!!

Cuddle Time With Cat While Reading

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I have been home sick today due to vomiting. I slept for a few hours and woke up during early afternoon hours. After waking up from a nap I did some self reflection and realized that part of the reason I was vomiting was due to having a slight bout of depression and some pretty severe PTSD symptoms. With this revelation, I am determined to go into work tomorrow.

On that note, as I mentioned in my last post, I slept for a while. A much needed sleep that helped me feel better with the vomiting as well as the depression and PTSD. Since being up and about in my apartment, I took a shower and ate. Since taking a shower and eating, I have been cuddling with my cat, Billie and reading a book called “Don’t Open The Door.” I’m only on chapter six but it a great book. It is a suspenseful thriller book so far. As much as I love reading with my cat, Billie curled up on my lap, I wish I could be reading outside because the weather in Seattle right now is pretty awesome. It is a perfect sunny day that is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Reading outside on a day like this is one of my favorite things to do but reading with my cat snuggled in my lap is pretty awesome.

As far as my depression and PTSD goes, I need to get back into the things that I know will help and do them on the regular basis like I used to. The first thing is to go for walks every morning to help my mind in a good place. Secondly, to do a morning mindfulness meditation to put my head in a good peaceful place. Thirdly, to do a mindfulness meditation practice before bed to help rewind from the day. I will restart this tomorrow and I know it works if I do it on the regular basis.

I do not have much more to say in this particular post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read on my blog. If it wasn’t 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!!!

Sleeping Most of the Day

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! I have been sleeping most of the day due to being sick. I hope that I can stay up till my bed time at ten pm, Seattle time. If I stay up to ten then I know I will be able to sleep tonight especially since I plan on going to work tomorrow if I am feeling better. Being sick sucks shit.

As I mentioned in my last post, I plan on doing some art work. The art work I plan on doing is coloring a giant poster. In fact I might color two giant posters as it helps me cope with stuff that is going on with not understanding housing paperwork. See, I got a letter in the mail saying something about eviction but when it was explained to me that it was due to an increase to my rent, I felt somewhat better but I am still anxious about it. I know in reality that they can’t evict me due to not giving me proper paper on my door as well as by mail. I was reassured that I won’t be evicted but I am still anxious about it even though it was just informing about my increase in rent. That is why I am planning on doing art work by coloring. I also plan on doing art work by diamond art.

Of course I will be reading a book called “Don’t Open The Door.” So far the chapter I have read seems to be a good read. I look forward to reading this book and reading out loud to Billie when I am home to read to him. Of course I do read when I am taking public transit but I don’t read out loud when I am on the bus or light rail.

I do not have much more to discuss. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. If it wasn’t 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!!!

Home Sick After a Four Day Weekend

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World! Sadly, I am not going to work today due to the fact that I am sick. I am sick with flu-like symptoms. Mainly, I am just puking my brains out which is a slang phrase of vomiting. As much as I would rather be working today, I am glad I didn’t see my mom over Mother’s Day weekend as she has Covid which is not good for her since she has stage three lung cancer. Missing work today and not seeing my mom over the weekend is a good thing as I don’t want to get anyone sick or expose anyone to Covid.

On top of being sick, I had a severe case of insomnia. Having insomnia on top of being sick is never a good thing. I really dislike being sick as well as having insomnia but both at the same time sucks shit. I am hoping to get some sleep and start feeling better soon.

Since I am home sick, I plan on reading. The book I just started reading is “Don’t Open The Door” by Allison Brennan. I am just starting the second chapter but so far it is captivating. I really hope that it continues to keep my eye on continuing to read the book.

Another thing I hope to do is do some art work. I plan on coloring at least one if not two of my big coloring pictures. I also plan on doing some diamond art painting. Diamond art painting is a bit tedious but well worth the accomplished feeling when finished even though I just started doing the Diamond Art Painting over the weekend.

I, of course will be hanging out with my cat, Billie while I read. Of course I will be hanging out with my cat Billie as I do art while listening to some music. Billie my cat is such a cuddle bug however he is much more of a cuddle bug when I am reading or doing art work. He is definitely more of a snuggle bug when music is on.

On to a slightly different topic but very similar to topics I wrote in the above paragraphs. As I mentioned Billie is very much a lovey dovey cuddle bug. I know this sounds weird but I read to Billie for a multitude of reasons. One reason is I have dyslexia and reading out loud to my cat Billie helps with my self confidence. The second reason I read out loud to Billie is because I have a couple of speech impediments, one of which is that I stutter and the other is that when I say anything with an r it sounds like a w. So, many of my speech therapists throughout the years including my current speech therapist have suggest to read out loud especially to animals and if I didn’t have an animal to read to a stuffed animal.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. If it wasn’t 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!!!