Tag Archives: Family

The Healing Love of the Cats of My Recent Life

Posted on by Gertie

Lil Gertie the first cat that captured my heart as an adult. She was only 8 when she crossed over the rainbow bridge, I would still adopt her even only having a year an half with her.

Lil Gertie wasn’t exactly the type of cat I would looking for. I go into wanting a black cat knowing the realities I might not connect with a black cat. Anyway, after filling out the survey, I talked with a volunteer who I know from his place of work. He said we have a cat who needs to be an only cat. She is all white and the two of you share the same name. Then he explained to me about her ear issues and fell in love with out looking at her. So I decided to not put her on hold as I wasn’t sure at the moment and wanted a couple days to think about while still giving her a chance of being adopted sooner as I made my decision. So two days later I made my decision to adopt Lil Gertie. Sadly she got cancer and ended up having a mini stroke. It was the best choice to let her cross over even I only had a year and have with her. She got her furrever home and helped with some hard shit like the the first holiday season without my grandma as well as the first Mother’s day with my grandma. She was also there during the first anniversary of my grandma’s death. As much as I miss Lil Gertie, her untimely death helped me put into action becoming a volunteer at PAWS Cat City in Seattle.

I now volunteer there and started January of 2020 so we continued volunteer through mid-March. Volunteers were furghloaded till June were a hand full off us could start back up and I was one of the first to start volunteer again.

Billie wanting to take a shower with ne when he realize he didn’t lie it;’

I was very lucky when I adopted him because it was right before the lock down from Covid and he helped me through the initial part of isolating and not go to big gatherings like I was planning on going to. Billie was the on constant in my life during Covid-19 pandemic. In fact he has helped me be more mindful in my life and realized he has now ended two jobs with me and started two new jobs one of which I started this week. Billie helped me realize that working nights once a week and an occasional on call shift was not for me so I got a job as a full time Peer Specialist at an agency that treated me like family. Sadly after being there for a year and half the agency permanently closed its doors. Staff found out March 1st of this year and I didn’t find out my lay off date till two weeks before hand. My last day was June 3rd. Billie was and is my calming affect through all the recent work stuff. If I didn’t have my loving Billie on June 3rd, I don’t think I would have lived much less continue to want to work. Billie’s unconditional love is what got me through a very dark time that I hadn’t had in four years. The Healing affect of Billie helped me get back on track and I started a new job this week as peer.

Both of my cats have healed me in ways with their love that human could not do. My cats are family to me even the ones I help take care of at my volunteer job at Cat City. Thank you for listening to me babble on about my cats. Peace Out, World and go pet a cat.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 11: A Cup of Coffee

Posted on by Gertie

Let me to you that I’ve lived in Seattle since I was sixteen years old and that means I’ve been in Seattle for twenty seven years. Wow it’s hard to believe I’ve been in the Seattle area for nearly thirty years. It doesn’t feel like I’m that “old.” In fact I’m not that “old” but considered middle aged even though I don’t think of being middle aged.

Anyway, I have got slightly off topic as today’s topic is “A Cup of Coffee.” Can you believe after being here in the Seattle area nearly thirty years I still detest the taste of coffee. I love the smell of coffee but don’t like the taste of it. I do keep small can of coffee around for any guest who may show up at my place wanting a cup.

If you been reading my blog for a while you know my dad raised me as a single dad with the help of my grandparents. I remember waking up every morning to my grandpa drinking coffee as he read the paper and my grandma drinking tea as she read the paper. In fact I think it is because of my grandma that I drink a morning cup or two of tea.

So, If were were to go to “coffee” I would most likely be having tea as we discussed what was going on in our lives. Yes, I know it is is sacrilegious to not drink coffee but just count me has an odd duck. Everyone else does. LOL

Update on Coloring Poster for my Mom

Posted on by Gertie
I’m coloring this Mandela poster for my mom. As you can tell, I’ve colored a great deal but still have a lot of color left to do

Good Evening, World!!! I just wanted to give you an update about the poster I am coloring for my mom’s birthday in early September. I wanted to show you how far I have come and have far I have yet to accomplish. I think the best part of this poster is that other people, are helping with it. People who are my friends and don’t know her are helping. In fact my dad’s side of the family is helping has well. Billie, my cat is trying to be helpful but is getting in the way by wanting to sleep on it. My aunts and uncles on my mom’s side are going to pitch in and pay for the framing. So this is a community post for my mom’s birthday as people know she has stage three lung cancer. As you know I live in Seattle but my mom lives in Olympia and her birthday is on a Friday. I was informed by my new boss as well as HR that I can take that Friday off and have a three day weekend in Olympia to spend with my mom. I’m beyond grateful that my community of friends, family, neighbors and former colleagues are helping me with this project. I hope my mom feels as supported as I do when she hears about all involved in this project. I love my mom so very much and hope that the cancer can be taken care of. I really love my mom and hopes she likes this birthday present.

Update About Last Night & Other Random Thoughts

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! My last post was quite concerning if you read it you know there were some gunshots and sadly two people were shot. Thankfully, they are going to survive. I know it scared the shit out of many people including myself and my cat.

Now on to my random thoughts. Well maybe not so random. I’m not sure if I mentioned that my mom has stage three lung cancer. My mom doesn’t appear to worried about it but the rest of the family including myself is worried. Well, all except my brother because nobody has heard or seen him since my mom got diagnosed with lung cancer. I’m worried about both my mom and my brother. It’s unheard of that he hasn’t contacted anyone especially my mom since he is a mama’s boy.

Now on to the real random thoughts that I am having. If you read my blog on the regular basis or even if this is your first time reading my blog you may have noticed I have advertisements. I have advertisements to make money. The only way I get paid is if people click on them. Granted it might be a cent or two or maybe three per click but it adds up. Sadly, WordPress doesn’t pay you till you hit at least one hundred dollars. So if you could kindly click on one advertisement, whenever you read my blog it would be greatly appreciated.

On to more random thoughts, my neighbors a screaming at each other again. Well, one is screaming and the other is just trying to get to their apartment. The one neighbor screaming just needs different type of housing. Personally, the neighbor that is screaming needs to be in supportive housing where there are staff there 24/7 if someone is in need of talking to someone or in crisis. This neighbor appears to be in crisis quite often.

I should get going as my cat Billie Dean is wanting some attention. Oh how I love my cat, Billie. Billie is such a lap cat and loves all the attention he can get. 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, 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!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Go for a morning walk.
  • Mindfulness meditation.
  • Volunteer at Cat City
  • Visit Family
  • Work on a workbook

Monday

  • Go for a morning walk
  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Work on a workbook
  • Read
  • Cuddle with Billie

Tuesday

  • Go for a morning walk
  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Work on a workbook
  • Read
  • Cuddle with Billie
  •  

Wednesday

  • Go for morning walk
  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Work on workbooks
  • 12 Step group
  • Cuddle with Billie

Thursday

  • Go for morning walk
  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Work on Workbooks
  • Pick up meds
  • Cuddle with Billie
  • Read

Friday

  • Go for morning walk
  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Work on Workbooks
  • Arts and crafts

Saturday

  • Go for morning walk
  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Arts and crafts
  • Read
  • Cuddle with Billie

My Meds Aren’t Working

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, Word!!! My medication is not working. Friend and family are saying that it appear that I am on drugs when I am not on drugs. MY meds aren’t working like they are suppose to. My friends and family think I am using drugs when in reality my meds are not working properly. The last thing I want is people thinking I am on drugs.

On that note, I let my doctor, therapist and psychiatrist know vie email and phone call. I know that is a bit much but I just wanted to make sure they were made aware of it. Plus my meds are making me funny and they should know about that. I hope they get back to me soon.

Too Many Thoughts Running Through My Mind

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World from Seattle, Washington. Right now I have way too many thoughts running through my mind. I have been having many ups and downs this past week.

First I have my last day at my previous job due to being laid off. Then I have a job interview and two days later find out I got the job. I am taking the job and start at the end of the month. On that note I don’t think it’s the best job for me but it is something in my career of choice.

The day after I found out I got the job, I found out my mom has lung and they are still doing test regarding it including test on her memory loss. I’m hoping it’s not a brain tumor but will find out when an MRI and other test are done. But I’ve already told you this.

It just appears that when things get a bit overwhelming I tend to sign up for free courses WordPress does. I usually sign up for two or three of them and start one and sadly don’t finish them. Well, I signed up for four of them and it is my hope with what’s going with my mom’s health and me starting a new job that I actually start and finish them. I guess it’s a goal to help me get through both the good and bad stress I’ve been dealing with.

Speaking of stress, my cat, Billie Dean, has been helping me a great deal with the stress I have been dealing with. I love my cat, Billie so much. The thing I don’t understand is how Billie can love me so unconditionally. Hell, any pet has unconditional love.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated on my end that you the reader, read my blog. In fact if it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. So, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart once again for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World. It is Saturday which mean its weekly check-in time even though I haven’t done one in a few weeks. I have had many up and downs this week. If you have been reading my blog regularly I got laid off and my last day was Friday, June 3rd, 2022. Which put be in a depression that sent me into the Emergency Room for psych reasons. Thankfully I was not hospitalized.

Monday of this week I had an interview for a peer specialist job. If I wouldn’t have been discharged from the Emergency Room for psych reasons I wouldn’t have received the call on Wednesday to accept the job I had interviewed for on Monday. My orientation is on Monday, June 20th and my first day of training is on Monday, June 27th.

Sadly, I found out on Thursday, June 9th that my mom has lung cancer and test are still being done. They don’t know if how severe it is as her memory is sadly going down hill. The doctors need to do a MRI to see if there are any unusual spots on her brain and if so is it able to do an operation on the possible brain tumor which would have spread due to the Lung cancer. They will able deal with the lung cancer and take out the spot so that’s a good thing. If it turns out there is no spot on her brain when get gets the MRI, it could mean she could have dementia or Alzheimer’s. As much as I don’t want my mom to have Alzheimer’s. or dementia, I would rather haver her have that than a brain tumor due to her lung cancer.

Going on to a better subject, Seattle had a beautiful day. I was able enjoy the Sunny is Seattle day with my cat Billie Dean. Billie was actually brave enough to be outside on his harness and leash for ten minutes. He spent thirty minutes walking around inside my apartment building. We both got are steps in today.

I do not have much more to say in this particular post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated that you read my blog from my perspective. 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!!!

A Rollercoaster of the Last Few Days

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World. Today has been a rollercoaster of a day. Lets start with the good news. I had an interview on Monday an was offered the job yesterday (Wednesday) that I got the job. I am looking forward to the new job that I start June 27th of this month. I have mixed feelings with this job but at least I’ll have employment starting the end of the month.

On that note my mom’s health hast been the best and have forgetting things a lot and usually remembers everything. My mom’s breathing has been getting worse so long story short the found a spot on her lung. It’s been made official she has lung cancer but need more test to be done see what stage it is in. The doctors need to do more test including removing the spot on her lung. She will be having more test including an MRI for her head due to her forgetfulness which is unlike my mom. If they find something in her brain that it is not suppose to be there not only will she have surgery on the removing the spot if find one if it safe enough to do it as the brain is very fragile. I will keep you updated about my mom when test results come in.

I’m just glad that I have the support of my friends, family and of course my cat Billie. Today has been a tough day and Billie has be helpful.

Than you for reading my blog. I hope you can give out positive energy and vibes for my mom. I love her so much. Again thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Yesterday Was Not a Good Day

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World or at least it is three twenty one in the morning in Seattle. Yesterday (Tuesday) was not a good day for me. I ended up in the hospital twice in the Emergency Room due to being suicidal. First time I went in it was four something in morning and was discharged. Thankfully I got home just in time for my psychiatric nurse practitioner called me for our phone appointment, She put me on Ativan which was a good thing.

Being home was not a good thing so I called my therapist who is fairly new to me and appears to be a great therapist. I also called one of the supervisors who happens to be my therapist supervisor. I called the both and left them both an email. The supervisor suggested to go back to the hospital so I did. But the first thing I did was have my grandpa and uncle pick up Billie with his supplies to take to grandpa. My uncle and grandpa dropped me back at the same hospital I was earlier.

On that note they had already did shift change and the social worker on duty was surprised to see me as I’m not going to the Emergency Room for mental health in over four years. Partly glad it was her and partly wish she wasn’t her. She pointed out some stuff I needed to hear which let me come back home. I’m glad she helped me make that decision as I fear if I ended back in a psych ward I most likely would have retreated to old behavior.

As of right now I can’t sleep for unknown reasons so I took an Ativan to help with my anxiety since Billie my cat is with my grandpa and uncle. I know Billie is in good hands but I sure do miss the little dude. Well not so little as he is fifteen and a half pounds. He could loos a few pounds just like I do.

I do not have much to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!