Tag Archives: Family

A Mini Get Away

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Right now, I am currently in Bremerton, Washington. It being Labor Day weekend here in the United States, I decided to come to Bremerton yesterday and I will be going back home to Seattle tomorrow. I decided to take tomorrow off as it is nice to have an extra day off from time to time.

I came to Bremerton because it is a Ferry Boat ride away and feels like it’s far away. I love being able to come to Bremerton for a couple of nights as it is a form of self care for me. It has been a form of self care for me since I made the active decision to be in active mental health and self harm recovery. In fact it was my grandma’s idea and she would pay for a couple of nights in a hotel for me because she knew that being near water and a couple of days away would help me even when I am doing well.

Even though my grandma passed away three and a half years ago, I still come to Bremerton as a way to recharge. In fact, I am really missing my grandma right now. I miss being able to call her up and talk with her. She and my grandpa helped my dad raise me. My grandma was very supportive of me and I am grateful that I am still keeping up with this self care tradition. Most importantly I am grateful that I have a job to be able to pay for the mini get away myself without needing to ask for someone else to pay for it.

Speaking of paying for my trip, my grandpa is taking care of my cat, Billie Dean as I am out of town. Billie is at my grandpa’s getting even more spoiled than he normally is. My grandpa really enjoys taking care of Billie. Billie also loves being spoiled by my grandpa.

Well it is lunch time and I am hungry. So, I am going to end this particular blog post so I can go eat and walk around the Bremerton waterfront. 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 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!!!

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Get meds
  • Clean apartment

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Coffee/Tea with friend
  • Work

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Therapy appointment with therapist
  • Med appointment with psychiatrist nurse practitioner
  • Work

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work
  •  Dinner with grandpa

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work
  • Dinner with a friend

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Work
  • Dinner by myself at Red Robin

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Clean apartment

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

Three and a Half Years and I Still Miss My Grandma

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Today marks exactly three and a half years since the death of my grandma. I miss my grandma a great deal. She along side my grandpa helped my dad raise me since my dad was a single father. My grandma was the motherly figure in my life. I miss being able to talk with her just to tell her about how my day went.

As much as I miss my grandma, I am glad she is no longer suffering as she had Parkinson’s Disease. I just wish she was alive to meet my last cat, Lil Gertie as well as my current cat Billie Dean. She would have loved both cats and would have spoiled them.

I don’t have much more to say in the particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated that you do read my blog. If it wasn’t for you the reader I wouldn’t be writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my hear for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

A Lazy Sunday

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is a Sunday evening and it was a great day for many reasons. Lets start with how I started the day. I started the day by volunteering at PAWS Cat City. I love volunteering especially at an animal shelter where I can help animals and people alike. I get to help people get a new pet or should I say a new family member when they adopt a cat.

Speaking of cats, after volunteering, I came home to my cat who didn’t leave my side today. He was on my lap most of the day. He laid on my lap as I watched the last day of the Olympics. The Olympics were pretty cool this year despite it being held a year late due to a pandemic which is still going on. The Olympic tend to bring the world together even in the middle of the global pandemic.

It looks like this is going to be a short post as I do not have much more to talk 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 read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. If it wasn’t for you my reader, I wouldn’t be blogging. I hope everyone has a great week ahead. Peace Out, World!!!

Feeling Better Regarding Depression

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Right now my depression is slightly getting better. I owe it to self-care. Self-Care that is much needed for everyone even if you don’t have a mental health challenge. Self-care can be challenging for anyone especially when depression symptoms are acting up.

The first thing I did was do some mindfulness meditation practices. I am finding that starting off my day with some mindfulness and/or meditation practices that my day starts on a more positive note. I am also finding that if I schedule mindfulness and/or meditation practices throughout the day it helps me refocus on what needs to be done.

After doing some mindfulness meditation practice I took a shower. A much needed shower because I had not taken a shower since Monday. For me when basic hygiene like showering isn’t happening means I need to be extra aware of what is going on especially in regards to depression symptoms increasing and acting up.

When I was done showering and got I dressed I called my grandpa. I asked him if he would like to spend time with me. He said yes and he came to pick me up to hang out. We went out to breakfast. In fact I am surprised he let me pay for his meal. We ate at IHOP and had a great time.

Spending time with my grandpa helped my depression a great deal. When I got home I turned on the television to watch the Olympics. The moment I sat down, my cat, Billie Dean, quickly laid down on my lap. So my cat Billie and I watched the Olympics for about three hours. It was nice having Billie the Kat on my lap as I watched the Olympics.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I am happy I am taking care of myself to decrease the depression symptoms. I also want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you my reader read my blog. If it wasn’t for your readership, I wouldn’t be blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my hear for reading my blog. I hope you all have a wonderful evening. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans (Late Post)

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness/Meditation practice
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City (didn’t attend due to family emergency)
  • Read

Monday

  • Mindfulness/Meditation practice
  • Jury Duty (and my work still pays me to go. I love my new job)
  • Read
  • Go for a walk around the neighborhood with Billie the Kat on leash and harness

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness/Meditation practice
  • Jury Duty
  • Read
  • Dinner with grandpa

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness/Meditation practice
  • Jury duty
  • Read
  • Go for a walk around the neighborhood with Billie the Kat on leash and harness

Thursday

  • Mindfulness/Meditation practice
  • Jury duty
  • Read
  • Dinner with grandpa

Friday

  • Mindfulness/Meditation practice
  • Jury duty
  • Read
  • God for a walk around the neighborhood with Billie the Kat on leash and harness

Saturday

  • Mindfulness/Meditation practice
  • Clean apartment
  • Lunch with grandpa and dad
  • Read

Looking Forward to the Long Weekend

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Its late Friday evening and the start of a long weekend for the United States due to Memorial Day. It is a day we remember fallen soldiers who gave their life for this country. For them and all veterans I am grateful for my freedom.

Memorial Day weekend is a three day weekend for the United States however it will be a four day weekend for me. It will be a four day weekend for me because I am taking Tuesday off. I am taking Tuesday off because I am going to Bremerton on Sunday to spend a couple of nights there. I thought it would be good for me as getting away for a few days can be refreshing.

Since I will be gone for two nights, my cat, Billie Dean will be going to my grandpa’s tomorrow (Saturday) to spend a few days. I know I could have my grandpa come to my apartment to take care of my cat once a day or have a neighbor do it but I don’t want Billie to be lonely. Plus, my grandpa and two uncles enjoy having Billie around even if they are too stubborn to admit it. I notice when my family has Billie around that their moods appear to be in a better place.

Speaking of moods, my depression and anxiety have been acting up. I am not exactly sure why but I am hopeful that the symptoms won’t be increasing. I am hopeful because I know what I can do to help myself. One of those ways is getting out of town every once in awhile and I am doing that this weekend.

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 read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my heart. I am beyond grateful that you read my blog. I hope everyone has a great long weekend ahead of them. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

This past week has been quite a week. Overall, it has been a good one with a couple of not so good moments. Moments, I will get through with the help of friends, family and colleagues as well my cat Billie Dean.

The week started out with my birthday and being able to celebrate it with friend and family. I celebrated my birthday with both sides if my family. I first celebrated with my dad’s side of the family here in Seattle. I then traveled to Olympia to celebrate with my mom’s side of the family.

As I spent time in Olympia, my grandpa took care of my cat Billie Dean at his home in the Seattle area. I really missed be with Billie but I enjoyed my time with my mom and uncle as well as a couple of friends who live in the Olympia area.

The best part of my birthday was that I started the first step of the twelve step program I am in. I am slowly working on the first step. I wish it wasn’t taking as long as I had hope it was. I am grateful to be working on the twelve steps.

I am grateful to be home from Olympia and I think my cat Billie is glad to be home from my grandpa’s. Hell, we are both happy to be home together. I did end up having some health issues. I had a migraine and had to to take an expected day off of from work yesterday. All I can say is migraines suck shit.

My supervisor did check in with me yesterday as she thought I took yesterday off due to being bullied by a colleague. I assured my supervisor that I was not taking it off due to bullying that I was taking it off due to a migraine. My supervisor is just an amazing person. Even though someone at work is bullying me, I am grateful that my supervisor and colleagues are supportive of me.

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

Feeling Supported

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Right now I am feeling supported. I am feeling supported in many different ways by many different people including my cat, Billie Dean. Yes, I realize Billie is a cat and not a human but I feel supported by him.

I feel supported by the various people in my life due to circumstances going on in my life. I was and am on the receiving end of being bullied by a colleague. When it became clear on Thursday that I was being bullied, my supervisor and many of my colleagues have been checking in on me even today, a Saturday. I am thrilled that my colleagues at my new job are backing me up and supporting me.

To add to being bullied, I ended up having to call out sick yesterday (Friday) due to a migraine. Again, my colleagues as well as friends and family checked in on me throughout yesterday and today. My grandpa even brought over groceries today and made me a meal. My grandpa didn’t have to make me lunch but he did. He, a neighbor and myself sat on the community patio of my apartment building and had lunch. It was nice to eat lunch with a friend and my grandpa.

Another way I felt supported today was going to a twelve step meeting. A twelve step meeting my sponsor regularly attends. Of course the meeting was not in person due to Covid-19 but at least I was able to attend one over Zoom. Zoom is a godsend during the pandemic and am grateful for it especially when it comes to attending twelve step meetings. My sponsor checked in with me after the meeting. We discussed how I was doing regarding my first step and how it is a slow process at the moment.

Of course as I mentioned earlier on in this post, I am feeling supported by my cat, Billie Dean. I love my cat, Billie so much. It is amazing how supportive pets can be in peoples lives. My cat has been a great support for me and am grateful for him.

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