Tag Archives: Colleagues

A Challenging few Weeks w/New & Refreshed Lessons Learned Along the Way

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Caturday Saturday. It has been quite a couple of weeks of being challenging for me for various reasons and many of them I have had to deal with some eighth deaths in a matter of a two week period. Some of the folks I have never met but really admired in the animal welfare community especially locally here in the Seattle area who touched the life of many humans and cats. Sadly this person took her own life and wish I would have been given to meet her in person. She will be greatly missed especially in the animal welfare community.

On the continuation of discussing death. I can’t really discuss much about it due to HiPAA law but many of the client I work with overdose on drugs and alcohol. Sadly some pass away to drug and/or alcohol overdoses and It is challenging to deal with. Thankfully I have the support of my colleagues with this especially when people have been trying to get off drugs so they don’t have to have a stigma with an addiction.

Dealing with so many deaths is the last couple of weeks I have been reaching out to my support system such as my friends, family and my colleagues as well as my therapist. I am just beyond grateful that I have supportive people in my life to be there for me. Not many people have a good support system and I have a great support system.

Now on to what I do to help with my self care. One way I do self care is due at least two mindful meditations daily; once in the morning and another one before bed time. I am also trying to put in third mindful mediation in the middle of a work day to help me refocus during work. Another way I have been doing self care is spending time with my cat as well as walking two times a day; once in the morning and once the evening. Of course another self care act is going to volunteer at PAWS Cat City a least once a week. Of course working at my job helps as well. I have been reading a lot of books that I find helpful to help with my recovery journey. I also have been doing some art work and hope to show sometime soon.

As this post comes to an end just know there is always hope along the way. I want to thank you for reading my blog. If it was not for you reading and/or following my blog, I most likely would be continuing to writing my blog. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out World!!!!

Happy Friday

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Friday, World!!! Today has been an amazing day despite the lack of sleep I had last night. Work went extremely well. I enjoy this job and have amazing colleagues. Colleagues that are on the same team as me as well as colleagues that are not on the same team.

Speaking of colleagues from both my team and different team, myself and five colleagues went out to eat. My colleagues had alcoholic beverages while I had soda. I could have had a drink with alcohol but I don’t need alcohol to have fun. Not saying my colleagues drink to have fun. The place we went was awesome and the food was amazing. The best part of dinner with colleagues was having fun and the restaurant happens to be in my neighborhood which means I walked home.

Now, I am home writing this blog post with my cat, Billie Dean on my lap purring up a storm. I love Billie to the moon and back. Billie is an amazing cat and am grateful for him being in my life. I plan on spending the weekend relaxing with Billie by my side.

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 for you the reader, 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. Happy Friday and Peace Out, World!!!

Update on New Job

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I just wanted to update you on my new job. First and foremost, I am loving the new job most days. I love the fact that more than sixty percent of my job is doing outreach to clients while the other part is in the office doing notes or attending meetings.

I am not a big fan of attending meetings nor doing notes but that’s okay. It’s okay because starting on Sunday, February 19th I will be working Sunday through Thursday. On that note Sunday will be my work from home day which means Sundays will be my paperwork day as well as taking clients on field trips such as going to the zoo or aquarium. I am not a big fan of working a weekend day especially Sunday because I had to change my volunteer days at PAWS Cat City from Sunday to Friday but I am grateful I was able to change my volunteer shift.

I’ve digressed. Despite the change in my work schedule, I am grateful for my job. I am also grateful how tight knit the team I am is. My colleagues are awesome and my supervisor is super cool. I am lucky to have supportive colleagues.

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 appreciative 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 writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Gratitude of Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! The last month and a half has been a whirl wind especially at work. My past and current collogues have been nothing but awesome. Despite the board directs wanting to close our agency down there is some hope because the county wants us to stay open. To me the very little hope is what is keeping me going. That and the clients we serve.

I’m also grateful to the blogging community for the support you are giving me. You fellow bloggers are a big reason I continue to blog and that is because of of the support you give to me and others.

Now on to my friends, family and my cat, Billie Dean. I wouldn’t have gone through this if it it wasn’t for your support. The same support my colleagues give me .

The love and hope a receive from all of you helps me stay in my recovery and helps me keep focused on the clients my employer serves. Thank you again from the bottom of my hear for reading my blog. Without you reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Coming to Terms with the Reality but there is a Glimmer of Hope

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I’ve been absent from blogging due to finding out that the agency I work at will be be closing down according to the board of directors. On the hopeful side King County wants to keep my employer open. Open because we have been the longest opened Queer mental health agency in North America if not the world. It’s been open for 53 years. It’s been around longer than I have been a live. I know the reality is that it most likely will close but at least there is some hope from King County,

I trying work with some amazing colleagues who I have grown to love a family. I just hope they feel the same about me. My colleagues have become both friends and chosen family. I just hope a miracle from the universe or a hail Mary happens before the final decision is made. If it were up to the board of directors the agency would have been shout down by now.

Any way peoples cats and other pets have been keeping us entertaining during meetings as well as sessions with clients. I will miss seeing all the pet and animals my clients and colleagues have. Shutting down Seattle Counseling Services is not a good thing especially for the Queer community.

I don’t have much to say but I have a very slightly hope that my employer can stay open. I don’t have anything else to say except 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 reading my blog, I wouldn’t be writing my blog. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading m blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Not the not So Typical Weekly Plans Blog

Posted on by Gertie

This weeks, weekly plans are not going go as planned. I didn’t get much sleep because I ended up in the hospital because my depression and anxiety were acting up. Thankfully, I wasn’t in a suicide mode or self harm mode.

After a few hours of sleep I am going to my grandpa’s house to do laundry. So sleep and laundry are on the list for today.

Of course I will be working Monday through Friday this week. It will not be an easy week but at least my friends, family and colleagues are being supportive.

Weekly Check In

Posted on by Gertie

It is another Saturday night in Seattle. Of course I am spending it alone with my cat, Billie Dean. In fact Billie has been helping me with the depression and the anxiety. My friends and family have been helping as well, like my cat Billie as well as my colleagues. It feels great to feel loved by my pet cat as well as my friends, family and colleagues.

The best part of this week is that I will be there to the last day which is May 6th. I might even be there to September but that is not one hundred percent yet. At least there is somewhat of a date. I really love this job and feel like I have a niche at this job.

It is a sad day in a America when the longest queer mental health agency is closing down. My employer serves more than two thousand clients and it breaks my heart that the clients have to go to other agencies that has caused trauma to them.

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

Update About Layoffs

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, from Seattle. This hasn’t been the best couple of weeks regarding work as my employer is closing down. On the the plus side I will be there to the end which is May 6th. King County and my employer are trying to stay open so the interns can get their hours to graduate. The county is also trying to get my agency to merge with another agency. To me that is good news.

The heartbreaking news is not knowing if we are going to close or merge with another agency as a lot of clients have been traumatized by other agencies. I don’t want to retraumatize the clients my employer serves.

Another great news, my colleges, friends and family have all been supported of me and me of them. I am feeling the love from the people around me. I am happy that I have a job to at least May 6th and maybe till mid September.

As far as my cat goes, he has been loving on me and cuddling me. He seems to know something is wrong. Wrong with all the tears I have been crying.

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

Just About Rumblings

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!!! I went to work today via going to the office tomorrow. I love going into the office as it gives me more proactive ways to do to do some work. I love my job and am sad that my employer is going under which means everyone is getting laid off. I am concerned about my clients that my employer serves. The need the help they need in the queer community .

On that note I had to go to the hospital due to having an injury. I have some major bruisers and a broken finger. My boss says I could work from home due to my injury. I love my job and that y supervisor isn’t a micromanager. My servicer is awesome.

I am happy to be home with my cat and he is helping me with the grief of being laid off from my employer. I love the fact that he comforts me with the grief with the laid offs.

I do not have much ore to say about this particular blog post. I want to thank you for reading my blog.

A Late Birthday Post While on Vacation & Getting Laid Off +Supportive People in My Life

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Early Friday, Morning!!! This past Monday (March 7th), I turned 43 years old and was and still am on vacation. Sadly, I found out on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 that my employer is closing its doors. The doors to the longest running queer mental health agency in the United States. Some say the world but I’m not sure about the world thing.

On that a note I did go on my vacation to Bremerton, Washington. I am glad I went because it helped me clear my head. I was able to to see friends over in Bremerton which is always good thing. While I was in Bremerton my grandpa took take of my cat at his place in Lynnwood.

I appreciate all the people who have been supporting me. I feel loved and supported by my by friend, family, colleagues, and of course my cat Billie Dean. I love my cat, Billie so much.

Despite the news of being laid off with an unknown date, I am one lucky person. I live in a country where I don’t have to flee from due to war.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. If it wasn’t for you the blogger reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Wish me luck on finding a new job once I get laid off from my current employer. Peace Out, World!!!