Weekly Check-In

Good Evening, World!!! It is Saturday evening and time to do my weekly check-in. Or at least I am starting my weekly check-in back up with you the reader. Before I do my check-in I want to say Blessed Yule and Happy Solstice. Today is the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. I am looking forward to tomorrow as it starts being lighter longer. Granted only by a minute or two but I am so looking forward to more light.

This past week has not been the easiest of weeks for me. My depression and Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD) have been acting up so badly that I have been dissociating and isolating. Neither which are good for me or anyone for that matter. To add to the depression and PTSD, I am dealing with grief of my mom’s death on Tuesday, November 26th which was two days before Thanksgiving. Sadly, Christmas Day of this year is one day before the one month mark of my mom’s death. I miss her so very much.

Since I have been isolating this past week, I have been hanging out at home with my beloved senior kitty, Billie. Billie has been helping me so much with dissociation and not doing it. I am so grateful for my cat as he has a calming affect on me and helps me keep my head on straight.

Despite being in a dissociated state for most of the week, I do remember watching a lot of movies. Specifically, I have been watching a lot of Christmas and holiday related movies. I watch Christmas movies that are nostalgic to me and many other people in the world.

Besides watching Christmas and holiday related movies, I have been reading. I specifically have been reading a Christmas book. In fact, I read a Christmas book every holiday season. It is a holiday tradition for me and I really look forward to it every year.

I do not have anything else to check-in or 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 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!!!

Struggling In Seattle – Missing My Mom

Hello, World!!! I am currently struggling with the death of my mom. Tomorrow (Tuesday) makes three weeks since my mom died. It has been a very challenging three weeks as the holiday season is in full force and my mom loved Christmas more than anything. I know this might be the hardest holiday season for me as it is just too close to my mom’s favorite holiday is Christmas. I also wonder if next year’s holiday season will be hard as I would have more time to grief. At this point in time I don’t know if this Christmas will be harder than next year but I will do my best to learn ways to cope with the grief of my mom’s death for next Christmas.

The one way I can cope in this is to cuddle up with my cat, Billie and read. The two books that I am reading are Twelve Days of Christmas Horror Volume 1 by Rick Wood as well as Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith. I have only read a couple of chapters from each book but have not enough figures which one I will like best. Now I should cuddle with my cat and read a holiday book I just told you about.

I do not have much more to write about in this particular post. I do want thank my readers for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated that you readers read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Dinner at Red Robin with friends
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Monday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Clean apartment
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning calls and emails
  • Do artwork (diamond art/paint)
  • Read

Tuesday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Breakfast with partner
  • Appointment with peer specialist
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Wednesday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning phone calls and emails
  • Dinner with friends at Red Robin
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Thursday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Holiday lunch at Emerald House (a mental health club house)
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Friday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by returning phone calls and emails
  • Dinner with friends at Red Robin
  • Do artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Saturday

  • Mindful meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Brunch with partner
  • Artwork (diamond art/painting)
  • Read

Being Sleepless In Seattle Sucks Sh!t

Good Morning, World!!! It is 3:33 in the morning here in Seattle. I am sadly unable to sleep due to insomnia and PTSD. It is more insomnia that is keeping me awake than PTSD which in a way I am grateful for as PTSD sucks.

Since I am unable to sleep I have been doing a diamond art/painting piece as I listen to holiday music. Specifically, I have been listening to Christmas music. The diamond art that I am currently working on is of a Buddha statue with the words “Let That Shit Go.” I chose this particular diamond art/painting as I finished my Christmas diamond art/painting and I figure that it is the end of the year and the New Year almost here that I need to focus on what shit I need to let go and what shit I need to work on. I hope that once I am finished with this particular diamond art/painting that I will put up somewhere in my apartment to where it will be a part of my meditation practice area. I am really enjoying doing diamond art/painting especially as I listen to music.

Another thing I have been doing is cuddling with my cat, Billie as I read a Christmas book. The book I am reading is called Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith. I am enjoying the book greatly. I am not quite a quarter of the way through the book and I hope I finish it by Christmas. If I’m not then that is okay with me. I really enjoy reading especially when I am cuddling with my cat, Billie.

I do not have anything else that I want 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!!!

Holiday Traditions

Good Evening, World!!! I would like to inform you of my own personal holiday traditions as it was suggested to me to start my own early on in my mental health recovery. The reason why it was suggested to me is because of some of the unrealistic holiday traditions that were placed on me by my family. No disrespect to my family as I love them very much but creating my own holiday traditions have helped me cope with my family as well helped me cope with my PTSD and depression.

When it was suggested to me by my therapist at the time early on in my mental health recovery the only thing I could think of regarding traditions for myself was comic books. Specifically two comic books that focused on Christmas. In fact the comic books I am speaking of are Christmas with the Superhero’s volume one and two by DC comics.

Over the years I have added to my holiday traditions. I have included the typical traditions of watching movies and listening to music. I have also included with the help of friends of the Jewish faith of spending a night or two or three celebrating Hanukkah with my friends who celebrate it. I am grateful that I can help celebrate Hanukkah with my friends who celebrate it. Besides watching holiday movies, listening to holiday music and spending two or three nights celebrating Hanukkah, I have included the following traditions to my list: reading holiday focused books, doing holiday or wintery focused jigsaw puzzles, doing holiday focused logic puzzles, doing Christmas dot to dot, and doing artwork focused on holidays or wintery scenes which includes coloring and diamond art/painting.

Now that I informed you of what I do for my own holiday traditions, it is challenging to know how my family traditions will change this year and next year due to my mom passing away two days before Thanksgiving. I say this year and next year as this year it is so fresh. I know I will keep some of the Christmas traditions my mom instilled upon me. As far as my dad’s side of the family they will still celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve as one of my uncle’s birthday is on Christmas and celebrate his birthday on Christmas.

I do not have anything else 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 continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out and Happy Holidays, World!!!

Sleepless in Seattle Type of Night

Good Morning, World!!! It is the middle of the night here in Seattle. Actually it is a few minutes past three o’clock in the morning Seattle time. I am unable to sleep for multiple reasons which include insomnia, PTSD and grieving the recent loss of my mom. Hell, it hasn’t even been two weeks since my mom’s death. I really miss my mom and wish she was still alive.

Since I am unable to sleep I have been doing some things to help me with the grief, PTSD and insomnia. The things I have been doing is reading a book called Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith, listening to music, working on diamond art/painting, and cuddling with my cat, Billie. I love the fact that I can get some cuddle time with my cat especially when I am reading in bed. I am grateful that I can listen to music as I do any type of art including diamond art/painting.

I do not have anything else 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 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

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with my partner or friend)
  • Work on a recovery related workbook
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Read
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with my partner or friend)
  • Work on a recovery related workbook
  • Work on DVR paperwork
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Read
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with a friend)
  • Work on DVR paperwork
  • Work on a recovery related workbook
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Read
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with partner or friend)
  • Volunteer at Cat City
  • Work on DVR paperwork
  • Work on recovery related workbook
  • Read
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with partner or friend)
  • Attend appointment with Employment Specialist regarding DVR and jobs
  • Work on recovery related workbook
  • Read
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with a friend)
  • Work on a recovery related workbook
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Read
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk (most likely with partner or a friend)
  • Work on recovery related workbook
  • Read
  • Diamond art/painting
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie

Feeling Like Sh!t & Haven’t Accomplished Much

Good Evening, World!!! I haven’t been feeling well and sadly didn’t go in and volunteer at PAWS Cat City today. As far as volunteering at Alley Cat Project I haven’t done anything today due to sleeping most of the day. For my particular volunteer position with Alley Cat Project it is a remote position. I do have opportunities to help with other volunteer positions such as helping with cleaning and setting up kennels with where the cats are kept when in quarantine and/or awaiting medical care and/or an available foster home.

I just wish I felt well enough to do something. I am super tired but I really need to go to the grocery store to get some food to eat. I do have food here at home but it doesn’t sound too appetizing. I think I have enough energy to go to the grocery store and get some food.

I think after going grocery shopping that I will spend the rest of today and most if not all day tomorrow here at home cuddling with my cat Billie. I, of course am hoping to be able to read and do some art work at some point this evening as well as tomorrow. I do know spending time cuddling with my cat, Billie is something I will be doing.

I do not have much more to write about in this particular blog post except that I hope I feel better sooner than later. 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 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!!!

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Morning Walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project by checking to see if calls need to be returned throughout the day. Call back one to two calls if needed and non urgent. Contact the lead person if urgent and they will contact any urgent calls.
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Read
  • Art (Color and/or rock painting)

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning Walk
  • Volunteer with Alley Cat Project to by checking see if calls need to be returned throughout the day.
  • Read.
  • Art (Color and/or rock painting)

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Morning Walk
  • Pay Bills
  • Buy art supplies
  • Spend the day doing self care
  • Read
  • Art (Color and/or rock painting)

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Morning Walk
  • Attend a therapy session with therapist
  • Read
  • Art (Color and/or rock painting)
  • Dinner with my longest Seattle friend

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the  Calm App.
  • Morning walk
  • Self care day.
  • Read
  • Art (Color and/or rock painting)

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Read
  • Art (Color and/or rock painting)

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice through Calm App.
  • Morning walk
  • Attend University of Washington Husky football game with Junior
  • Read
  • Art (Color and/or rock painting)

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Breakfast with a long time friend
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Dinner with friends
  • Art (coloring and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Lunch with a good friend
  • Attend a virtual group
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend two virtual groups
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Dinner with partner
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Farmers Market with partner and two good friends
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read