Tag Archives: Cats

A Sleepless in Seattle Type of Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am having a bad spell of insomnia. I think part of it is because I am in pain due to having kidney stones. Kidney stones is not something I would call as fun or enjoyable.

Since I am not able to sleep, I decided to do something that I find fun and enjoyable. That is listening to a podcast with my cat, Billie Dean, laying next to me in my bed. I am listening to a podcast about philosophy. Specifically, I am listening to Philosophize This. I really like this podcast and am almost caught up to the most recent one of it.

I do not have much more to say as I want to get back to listening to Philosophize This as I lay next to my cat, Billie as he purrs. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you do read my blog. If it wasn’t for you my reader, I would not be writing my blog. Again, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great rest of your weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I am tired as hell, so I will keep this brief. This week has been a long week or at least that was the case regarding work. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, it was just a long week.

Despite a long week at work, I ended up in the emergency room yesterday (Friday) evening due to having pain in my right kidney. I thought I had another kidney infection but I do not. I have kidney stones and they hurt like fucking hell but at least it is not another kidney infection.

Even though I didn’t get to bed till midnight last night, I still went for a walk with a friend this morning. It was a good way to get some exercise and catch up with a friend. My friend and I hadn’t hung out since last year before the pandemic so it was to catch up with each other in person.

Not only did I hang out with my friend, I volunteered mid afternoon at PAWS Cat City today. It was nice to be able to volunteer and help cats get new furrever homes. I love volunteering.

I don’t have much more to say 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 read my blog. If it wasn’t for you my reader, I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration: Day 13: Play With Word Count

Posted on by Gertie

Realistically, I do not want to “play with word count.” Not sure why but I don’t maybe it reminds me of math class when I was in school. Math was NOT my strong suite. But I know that is not what this assignment is about. I just don’t feel inspired. I rather talk about social media. But that’s okay as I know I won’t be inspired to write about everything.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 10: Let the Scene Write Itself

Posted on by Gertie

I am currently home in my apartment where I can see outside the window as well as able to see my cat and the television. Right now there is major traffic on the five freeway as I live in apartment across the street from the Interstate five highway. Traffic is worse going southbound than it is going northbound. Not sure why but it always seems to be that way even when it is the end of the work day and many people drive north home.

As I am staring out the window I hear some neighbors who are on the patio. I look and it appears that they are talking as the smoke a cigarette. At least they aren’t playing loud music or talking loudly. I hope I just didn’t jinx myself with other neighbors who like to be loud on the patio.

My cat, Billie Dean, just got my attention by meowing. He heard birds from a commercial on the television. He is now meowing at the television looking intently at it. I have to make sure that he doesn’t try to attack my television as it is a flat screen and he is able to knock it over. Oh how I love my cat, Billie.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 9: Writing and Not Writing

Posted on by Gertie

When I got today’s inspiration the two things I initially thought on what I do when I am not writing is work and volunteering. I then realized that do write when I work. I have to write notes regarding clients. It is not my favorite part of the job yet I have been informed that I am really good at it.

As far as volunteering, I don’t write. When I volunteer I help take care of cats. Cats that are up for adoption and all of them really cute. I love volunteering my time helping cats get new homes. Volunteering gives me a sense of community as well as a sense of satisfaction.

Another thing I do when I am not writing is listen to music. I listen to music to help with my mental health as well as to have background noise as I live alone with my cat, Billie Dean. I sometimes dance to the music. When I dance to the music, my cat, Billie gives me this weird look that makes me laugh.

I also listen to podcast when I am not writing. I love listening to podcast. I listen to podcast that can educate me on a topic, I do not know much about. I also listen to some podcast for the entertainment. I love to learn as well as to be entertained.

I do many more things when I do not write but I do not want to bore you with everything. I am grateful that I have the ability to read and write.

Too Much to Digest from Conference that I Can’t Sleep

Posted on by Gertie

It is five thirty in the morning on a Saturday morning. This years conference was overall good with some glitches. The glitches ended up getting fixed. I really enjoyed the conference for the moment a part. I enjoyed the workshops I attended and learned what I needed to learn as well as learn on how I can become a better peer. I a guess I am just venting with how tough the conference was this year.. Thank you all for attending the Peer Pathways conference. as I have insomnia from it due to the amount I have a learned.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 6: The Space to Write

Posted on by Gertie

Hello!!! When it comes to the space to write, it all depends what exactly I am writing. Let use blogging as an example at this current time. For me to be able to blog, I need to have internet connection as well as my laptop with me. I also need to make sure that if I blog that there is no chance of drizzle or rain as I live in Seattle.

When it comes to writing poetry, I just need to make sure I have a pen or pencil as well as some paper. I also have to make sure if I write outside that the weather isn’t drizzly or rainy especially in the autumn and winter months. Poetry is something I may or may not share with other depending how personal it is.

When it comes to journaling, I make sure I have a writing utensil and my current journal. I usually do this in the privacy of my own home. If I am not home and say on vacation, I do this in a private room. Journaling is a private thing I do and most of the time I don’t share them.

Writing spaces can be different for everyone. When I write at home I have a space at my creative table to do so. I just have to make sure there is room for my cat at the table so he can lay right by me as I write. My cat, Billie Dean appears to want to be near me when I am being creative which includes writing. I really like that fact that Billie like to be near me as I write as it seems to be that it helps me not have writers block.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 3: One-Word Inspiration

Posted on by Gertie

HOME

 

Home is where the heart is or at least that is how the saying goes. I don’t know how exactly true it is as if home is where the heart is then I guess I have lots of homes. I am not exactly going to discuss home is where the heart is in this post or last that is not what my plan is.

For me my current home is home to me. Home is currently in Seattle where I live in an apartment that is the longest place I have lived as an adult. Home is also where my beloved cat, Billie Dean, resides with me. So, I guess, for me home is where my cat, Billie is. Coming home to Billie is where the love is. I guess for me home isn’t just where I get the unconditional love from Billie is but a place that I created to be a home that is full of memories of homes past which is why my home is my home.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 2: Write a List

Posted on by Gertie

Things I’ve Learned

  • I’ve learned the beauty of recovery
  • I’ve learned the value of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills
  • I’ve learned it’s nots the other person responsibility on how I react to their behavior
  • I’ve learned the value of having a cat being around the home
  • I’ve learned the value of friends
  • I’ve learned to enjoy each moment I have with family
  • I’ve learned that it is okay to see a therapist
  • I’ve learned that it is okay to ask for help when I need especially if it is regarding my mental health and my recovery

Everyday Inspiration; Day 1: I Write Because…

Posted on by Gertie

I write this blog for many reasons. I started this blog to help those who struggle with mental health challenges that recovery is possible. I also started this blog to educate those who do not struggle with mental health challenges that folks who do can live productive lives however that looks like to the individual. I started this blog to help lessen the stigma around mental health challenges which includes self stigma.

The one thing I did not expect when starting this blog what that it would become a form of self care for me. Little did I know it would help me with my recovery. Realizing that blogging has helped me with my recovery was and is a nice surprise to me. I am grateful that it has helped me with my recovery and continues to help me with my recovery.

As much as writing this blog has helped me with my recovery, I just really hope it has helped others with their recovery. Helping others with their recovery is why I continue to write this blog. I’m not sure how many people my blog is helping with their recovery but if it helps just one person then it has done it’s job.

As you can tell there are many reasons I write this blog and I hope it gives you some form of hope.