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!!!

A Sad Life Update

Good Afternoon, World!!! Last Tuesday (November 26, 2024) my mom died. She died from lung cancer two days before Thanksgiving. It is never easy to lose anyone especially during the holidays. I miss my mom and dealing with funeral arrangements is not easy but at least have family helping me out with all that especially my two uncles on my moms side.

To make the grief that much hard Thursday, November 28, 2024 marked exactly five years since my last cat, Lil Brooke crossed over the rainbow bridge which happened to be Thanksgiving this year. In fact Lil Brooke crossed over the rainbow bridge on Thursday, 28, 2019 which also happened to be Thanksgiving that year. Here in the United States lands on the fourth Thursday of November which means it is never the same date.

Anyway, this past Thanksgiving was not the easiest for me to deal with. At least I had friends to spend it with. I also spent it with my current cat, Billie. I am grateful that I have family and good friends checking in on me even though I have no family that lives close by. I am also beyond grateful for my cat, Billie.

I don’t have much more to write about in the 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, World!!!

Today Would Have Been 69 Years of Marriage

Good Evening, World!!! Today is a bittersweet day. It is bittersweet because today is my grandparents anniversary. They would have been married 69 years if my grandma sadly didn’t pass away in early 2018. I miss her greatly. In fact I called my grandpa this morning to wish him a happy anniversary and he began to cry because he is happy that I remembered and sad because he misses my grandma. I am grateful that I was able to witness the love between my grandparents. In fact my grandpa visited my grandma’s grave site today and put a dozen yellow roses on her grave. My grandma’s favorite flower was yellow roses.

I do not have much more to say in this post except to wish my grandparents a Happy 69th Anniversary. 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, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Visit mom for Mother’s Day and take her out to dinner

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Make mom breakfast in bed
  • Help mom with chores before going home
  • Cuddle with my cat, Billie after getting home from mom’s house

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Kickball practice

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • In person therapy with therapist
  • In person group therapy
  • Kickball practice

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Lunch with grandpa
  • Kickball practice

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Dinner with grandpa

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Morning walk
  • Kickball game
  • Hang out with kickball team after kickball team

Weekly Check-In

Good Evening, World!!! It is that time of week where I do my weekly check-in. I do not have much to discuss in this week’s weekly check-in. The major thing that has happened is the fact that my grandpa took a major fall yesterday while on errands. He has a broken jaw and nose as well as being in extreme pain. He is currently in the ICU due to his blood count being out of whack. He is 93 and I hope he gets out of the hospital soon.

As far as everything else, I have been depressed and isolating. While isolating I have been reading a pretty awesome book and doing some art work. The book I am reading is the second book in a series that I am enjoying. As far as the art work goes, I have been coloring a giant poster as well as some rock painting. When I do art work I also listen to some music. The music I have been listening to is from my recovery playlist that I created.

I have also been spending time with my cat, Billie. I love my cat so very much. I cannot imagine my life without my cat Billie, in it. He is an amazing kitty and I am grateful that he is a lap cat that loves spending time with me.

I do not have much more to discuss in this week’s weekly check-in and I will keep you all updated about my grandpa. 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!!!

Caturday With Billie The Kat & A Doggy Friend

Good Morning, World!!! It is yet another Saturday or should I say Caturday. It being Caturday means it is time for pictures of cats, specifically my cat Billie. Well, today I will be posting pictures of Billie and my grandpa’s one year old dog, Bella.

Billie giving me the stink eye, grumpy face look.
Billie being cute and looking into the camera.
Billie looking at something and showing off his green eyes.
Billie looking at something and showing off his green eyes.
My grandpa’s dog, Bella laying on the couch sleeping.
Bella my grandpa’s dog laying the couch giving me the puppy dog look.

I don’t have much more to mention in the particular blog post. I hope you enjoy the pictures of Billie and Bella. Have a good Caturday. Peace Out, World!!!

Daily Prompt; What Are 5 Everyday Things That Bring You Happiness?

Daily writing prompt
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
  1. Cats- Cats bring me happiness especially my cat, Billie. In fact I would not be volunteering at PAWS Cat City if cats didn’t bring me happiness.
  2. Friends – My friends bring me happiness on the daily basis. I would not know how I could function without my friends because they have been there for me.
  3. Family – As dysfunctional as my family is, they bring me happiness as I know they love me in their own way and do the best they can to show me.
  4. Art – Art brings me happiness. Actually doing art is what brings me happiness. Specifically I enjoy coloring. I also enjoy rock painting which is something I just started doing.
  5.  Reading – Reading is something that also brings me happiness as it helps me get out of my head when I am struggling with things. Hell, it is fun to do even when I am doing well.

Daily Prompt; What is Your Favorite Restaurant?

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite restaurant?

My favorite restaurant is Red Robin. I have been going to Red Robin since I was a kid living in California. I would go to Red Robin as a teenager in California as well as here in Washington (State) whenever I went to the mall with my friends. In fact Red Robin started here in Seattle. Most people don’t realize that. I love going to Red Robin with friends as well as family. In fact it is a family tradition to go to Red Robin for birthdays. Red Robin has awesome food and I usually get the same thing. I love Red Robin.

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Morning walk
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Dinner with grandpa

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Morning walk
  • Breakfast with a friend
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Morning walk
  • Get meds
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Morning walk
  • Breakfast with grandpa and dad
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Dinner with friends

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Morning walk
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Morning walk
  • Breakfast with a friend
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Morning walk
  • Read
  • Art (coloring and/or rock painting)
  • Dinner with grandpa

Weekly Plans

Sunday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Morning walk
  • Lunch with grandpa
  • Do my laundry at grandpa’s.
  • Work on a mental health recovery workbook
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Monday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House
  • Attend Queer Space (an in person group where I get therapy at)
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks
  • Dinner with friends
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House virtual group
  • Lunch with an old friend
  • Kickball practice
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Thursday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House virtual group
  • Celebrate dad’s birthday a couple of weeks late
  • Work on mental heath recovery workbooks
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Friday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read

Saturday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Breakfast with a friend
  • Kickball game
  • Late lunch with kickball team
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Read