Tag Archives: Cats

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.)

UGH!!! Someone Pulling Fire Alarm

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am tired as hell as someone in my apartment building keeps pulling the fire alarm. It not only is pissing my neighbors and I off but the fine firefighters responding to the multiple fire alarm calls. The fire alarm has been pulled so many times tonight that the Seattle police are now investigating it and are currently here to see if whomever is pulling the fire alarm does it again.

Part of the reason myself and my neighbors are so pissed is that we keep evacuating like we are supposed to and the weather is extremely cold. It is even too cold for a lot of native born Seattleites and it is currently raining with some snow. Not only am I pissed due to the lack of sleep and it being cold outside with a rain and snow mixture, I am pissed with the stress it is causing my kitty, Billie. The sound of the fire alarm is ear piercing for a human and a million times worse for cats. My poor cat, Billie is not very happy about it but at least when the fire alarm goes off he does not fight getting into the cat carrier.

I do not have much more to write about as I really want to attempt to get back to sleep and I really hope the fire alarm does not get pulled again for something that is not a fire. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. 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!!!

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!!!

Love Does Help One With Struggles

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am currently struggling at the moment with some pretty major PTSD symptoms and some slight depression symptoms. Due to the PTSD symptoms I called my boyfriend, Junior and he came over. (Yes, Junior and I are back together after much discussion.) Junior and I talked for a couple of hours and we both fell asleep. It is nice to love someone who you know that hurts you or harms you.

Now that we are both up, Junior is fixing the both of us breakfast. He is making French toast and scrambled eggs and bacon. I am looking forward to breakfast this morning and I am beyond grateful to have a fresh and homemade breakfast that is soon to be ready to eat.

Billie, my cat really likes Junior. Hell, if Junior and I lived together, I am sure that Junior would be Billie’s human. Of course Billie likes most people and Junior and I have no plans on moving in with each other anytime soon no matter how much we love each other.

Well, I best be going as I want to help Junior finish making breakfast and I also 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!!!

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!!!

A Blustery Winter Post From Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is that time of year where you never know what the weather is going to be here in Seattle. Well, I am partly wrong on that as most of the time it is usually dark, dreary, damp, wet and rainy. On that note, there are the occasional wind storms and sometimes snow. According to the weather report there are supposed to be strong winds today. In fact the view from my window proves this to be true as the trees are moving due to wind.

Despite the current windy and wet weather, various news reports are reporting that Seattle is supposed to have snow at the end of the week. Seattle shuts down when it snows. Part of the reason is many folks in Seattle don’t really know how to deal with which includes me especially since I spent the first sixteen years of my life in Southern California. The other reason is the lack of things such as snow plows and the fact that Seattle is the second hilliest city in the United States. (The hilliest city in the United States is San Francisco.) Snow is pretty to look at but I am not a huge fan of it due to the fact that I do not like the cold.

Even though there is a threat of snow at the end of this week, I at least know that if it does that I will have therapy on Friday as my session is virtual due to the fact my therapist works from home on Fridays. My therapist and I are working on skills to help with the Depression and PTSD symptoms I deal with especially how intense the symptoms are this time of year. Winter is a really challenging time of year for me in regards to increased Depression and PTSD symptoms which is why my therapist and I work on skills to help me through tough moments.

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

Managing Through a Tough Day

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It has been a rough day so far and it is not even twelve noon yet, here in Seattle. I think part of the reason why it has been a rough day is partly due to PTSD symptoms as well as depression symptoms. Both depression and PTSD symptoms suck but I think a factor of the depression symptoms is due to the current weather here in Seattle. It is currently cloudy with a great deal of rain. On that note at least it is not cold enough to snow as I am not a big fan of snow.

Since it hasn’t been the greatest weather outside, I have been doing some things to help myself through this tough day. I have been doing some mindfulness meditation practices as well as doing workbooks to focus on different aspects of my recovery. I have found that both the mindfulness meditation practices and doing workbooks have been quite helpful. Of course my cat, Billie, has been a major help.

Speaking of cats, I go back to volunteering at PAWS Cat City later today after taking some time off. I will be doing some sub shifts and hopefully, will be back on a regular shift soon. Volunteering with cats is awesome and I enjoy it immensely.

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!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning Walk
  • Workbooks
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Dinner with friends
  • Read

Monday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning Walk
  • Go to Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Workbooks
  • Dinner with friends
  • Read

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning Walk
  • Go to Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Workbooks
  • Read
  • Dinner with friends

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness Mediation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning Walk
  • Virtual Group
  • Workbooks
  • Read
  • Online 12 Step Meeting

Thursday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning Walk
  • Virtual Group
  • Workbooks
  • Read
  • Attend a college women’s basketball game at the University of Washington with friends

Friday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning Walk
  • Go to Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Therapy (virtual session)
  • Workbooks
  • Read
  • Dinner with friends

Saturday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning Walk
  • University District Farmers Market
  • Lunch with friends
  • Workbooks
  • Read
  • Clean apartment