Tag Archives: Family

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!!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Start learning to latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Learn to do latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Learn to do latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Learn to do latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Work
  • Learn to do latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Learn to do a latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation practice
  • Twenty to thirty minute walk while listening to a podcast
  • Spend time with my grandpa
  • Learn to do a latch hook crafting project
  • Read as I cuddle with my cat, Billie

Weekly Check In

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! This past week has been an up and down week. It has been up and down due to the fact Valentines Day marked five years since my grandma passed away. I miss my grandma greatly. My grandma alongside my grandpa helped my dad raise me. I am grateful that my grandma guided me through life.

Work is going well. I had new employee training this past week and was bored but at least I met some other colleagues besides the ones that I directly work with on the team I am on. I really enjoy my new job and look forward to going to work everyday. In fact, my work schedule changed. I, will be working Sunday through Thursday. Most Sundays I will be working from home doing notes. Tomorrow, I will be going into the office to do some training on the computer and possibly going to one of the housing projects to check-in with a couple of clients.

On that note, I am grateful that I have my cat, Billie Dean who is helping during my down moments. I love Billie to the moon and back. I am happy he chose me three years ago and that I was able to adopt him.

Well, that is my weekly check-in. Peace Out World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Volunteer with PAWS Cat City
  • Visit Grandpa and do laundry at his place
  • Color

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Work
  • Color

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Work
  • Color

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Work
  • Color

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Work
  • Color

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Work
  • Color
  • Spend much needed time with my cat, Billie

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation with the Calm App
  • Color
  • Late lunch/early dinner with friends at Red Robin
  • Read
  • Watch movies

Missing My Grandma on Her Birthday

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Today is a sad day for me and my family. Today, would have been my grandma’s 93rd birthday. In fact, when I got up this morning, I tried calling her on her cellphone. It breaks my heart when I do this and wish it wasn’t so hard especially since it has been almost five years since she passed away. Sadly, my grandma passed away from complications due to Parkinson’s Disease.

I am honoring my grandma today by spending it with my grandpa and dad as well as my uncles. Another way I am honoring her on her birthday is going through pictures of her. I also bought some cupcakes and I will light a birthday candle on a cupcake to sing happy birthday after dinner tonight. I’m sure she would be appreciative of it.

I do not have much more to say in this blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. I greatly appreciate you the reader, reading 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!!!

The Holidays are Upon Us

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate Hanukkah. To those who may not be aware, this evening (December 18th) starts the first night of Hanukkah. No, I am not Jewish but I do celebrate it with friends who ask me to. This year I am spending four nights celebrating with friends who have asked me to help with their tradition. The evening of today, December 18th starts Hanukkah and ends the evening of Monday, December 26th.

The Yule are celebrated by Pagans with very many types of traditions. I am not Pagan but this is the holiday I personally prefer to celebrate in my own way. This year Yule starts December 21st and ends January 1st.

The next holiday to be celebrated is Christmas Day which is December 25th. Some in the Christian faith also celebrate it the evening of December 24th. Yes, this is the Christian holiday.

The cool thing I am finding is all three religions will be celebrating the same day which is December 25th. Don’t you all think it is pretty awesome. I know I do. This has me curious so the next time this happens will be in 2024. In the year 2024 I plan to celebrate all three holidays with friends, family and myself.

As far as New Year’s I celebrate that as my own holiday. I spend it with my cat Billie, watching movies and sleeping all day.

I do not have much more to say except I hope there is no snow in Seattle I will tell you more in a later post. Peace Out, World and go celebrate your faith.

The Time of Year to Read a Christmas Book

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is that time of year that my family traditions begin with sending Christmas and Holiday books that they read the following year to another family member. This year I received the book called “The Paper Bag Christmas” by Kevin Alan Lilne. My great auntie sent it to me. After I am done reading it, I will send it to a second cousin and write a book review here on my blog.

On another note as part of our Christmas Tradition when purchase another Christmas or holiday book and read that book and of course send it to another family member. So on average we read two to three Christmas or holiday books each holiday season. The book I purchased to read after the one my great aunt sent me is called “Sleigh Bells Ring” by RaeAnne Thayne. I’m not sure how I am going to send that book to but I’m thinking about my uncle or a cousin.

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 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 from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Happy Holidays and Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration, Day 3; One-Word Inspiration

Posted on by Gertie

HOME

The one word I chose for inspiration is the world home. Home can mean many different things to me. Home to me has many different places. The home I am going to discuss is the home I live in. The home I live in is in the City of Seattle. My home has pictures of my family which includes current a past pets. I art work that my brother made me when he as in school as I am eleven years older than him. I also have artwork which include glass-work from friend. My home has posters of favorite musicians posted.

Anyway my home has things in it that my loved ones have given me such as art work, quilts and stuffed animals. In fact one stuffed animal I got when I was born from an uncle. It also has a baby blanket a great aunt made me when I was born.

For me a home isn’t just a place, it’s a place to put old memories it and make new one in as well. Home is also where the heart is. In my case home is where my cat is and I love I can come home to my cat.

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It has been quite the week. I worked this past Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. My job is only three days a week which are four hour shifts. In fact I worked this past Thursday which was Thanksgiving here in the United States. I was and am glad that I was able to work Thanksgiving. All three of my work shifts went great. I enjoy my job but I wish I worked more than twelve hours a week. My boss and colleagues are amazing.

Now back to the topic of Thanksgiving. I not only worked but spent time with my dads side of the family. I had an awesome dinner that my uncle made. I had dinner with my dad, grandpa and two uncles. I love my family so much. I also called my mom to wish her a Happy Thanksgiving. I also called my two uncles as well as my two aunts on my mom’s side to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. To be honest, I called my mom three times as she is dealing with stage three cancer and since my brother is in jail I wanted to make sure she know that I love her. My mom did spend Thanksgiving with my two uncles (her brothers) and one of their girl friends. So, I am grateful she was not only on Thanksgiving.

As far as yesterday goes, I worked and came home and started doing my holiday traditions. I first turned on holiday music and then started two different holiday jigsaw puzzles. I am still trying to figure out what holiday book I am going to read this year. I have three holiday books in mind. Who know’s I might read all three. I am also going to be coloring holiday posters. Some I started last year and didn’t finish and some I will start this year. Anyway, I am getting into the holiday spirit and doing it my style.

Well, that is my weekly check-in for the week. Now it is time to cuddle up with my cat Billie and read. Happy Holidays and Peace Out, World!!!

Happy Thanksgiving from Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Thanksgiving, World!!! This is going to be a short post but just wanted to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving. Yes, I know not every place around celebrates Thanksgiving. Today’s weather for Thanksgiving especially for Seattle was and still is absolutely beautiful and clear. You can even see Mount Rainier.

I started off Thanksgiving this morning at work. I did a four hour shift and loved it. I am beyond grateful to help young adults who do not have a home to go to. I then came home quickly, said hi to my cat Billie and grabbed a load of laundry to due on my grandpa’s while having Thanksgiving dinner. It was nice a holiday dinner without in arguing. I am also grateful for time with family. Now I am home blogging as my cat Billie purrs in my lap. It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I do not have much more to say in this blog. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World