Tag Archives: Music

A Week till Christmas

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Holidays, World!!! It is hard to believe that Christmas is a week from today. I have of sadly did last minute shopping today and boy were the stores busy as hell which is not a surprise. I mainly still celebrate Christmas because of family. Mainly because my grandpa as he is 91 and wants to keep the family traditions going. In all honestly I still celebrate with my mom and that side of the family because my mom doesn’t very much support and I don’t want her to be alone when this time of year is already tough on her. As much as I’m not a fan of Christmas due to my own shit, I celebrate it because I know how much it means to others and want to bring them joy.

Hell, if I’m honest with myself I have my own Christmas traditions even though I celebrate other holidays this time of year. My personal Christmas traditions that I do just for me is read two comic books call Christmas with the Superhero’s One and Two. I also do two to three holiday or wintery puzzles as I listen to Christmas music. I say two to three puzzles because it depends on the size of the puzzles I do. I also do art work related to Christmas. Specifically, I have some pretty detailed Christmas coloring pages I do every year as I listen to Christmas music. Some of the coloring pages still aren’t finished yet due to me only coloring them during the holiday season. In fact if it wasn’t for a couple of therapist encouraging me to make my own Christmas traditions for just me and actually doing my own traditions, I would be more of a bah hum bugger than I already I am.

On that note Christmas in the Seattle area is my idea of way to spend a great Christmas. I love being able to celebrate Christmas with friends, family and my cat as it rains. Well, it rains most Christmas’s. Seattle has been known to have a white Christmas on occassion.

Billie Dean, my cat will be getting spoiled this Christmas. My grandpa will be cat sitting Billie when I go see my mom’s side of the family and some friends in the Olympia area of Washington. It appears that Billie is well loved by others as he is getting many gifts this year from friends and family just like he did last year. I thrilled that I have friends and family that love my cat, Billie just as much as I do.

Before I end this particular blog post, I just wanted to let you know that I am listening to Christmas music. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader do read my blog. If it wasn’t for you the reader reading my blog, I would not be writer my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my hear for reading my blog. Happy Holidays and Peace Out, World!!!

Just a Bunch of Rambling

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Happy Hanukkah to those who are Jewish and celebrating this miracle holiday. In all honesty I get the feeling this particular blog post will go in all sorts of different directions as I seem scatter brained today.

Surprisingly, as I type this particular blog I am listening Christmas music. I guess it’s the season to do so. At least it is bringing me joy as I type this blog. Listening to Christmas music brought me joy at work as well. No, Christmas music was not playing when I was in session with clients. I guess the Christmas music helped me be productive with work today or at least the note taking part of my job.

Speaking of work, I have some pretty awesome colleagues. My small group team, I am a member of is an amazing group of people. I adore all my colleagues especially the ones that are on my small team. I really do like my supervisor. She is awesome.

After my work shift ended I decided to continue to listen to Christmas music while doing art work. My cat, Billie Dean wanted to help. So, some of my artwork is quite a bit more unusual than normal. I really love my cat and his “helpfulness” with the art work.

My depression has been acting up which is why I’ve been making some art work while listening to Christmas music. I am planning on giving my art work away as gifts during this holiday season to my friends and family.

I am grateful for the friends and family I have in my life. They truly do love and care about me. Billie, my cat is now trying to help me type this particular blog post. I feel the love from my colleagues, friends, family and my cat Billie.

I don’t have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. 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 Hanukkah to those of you who are celebrating it. Peace Out, World!!!

The Start of the 2021 Holiday Season

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Hanukkah, World!!! Yesterday evening (Sunday, November 28, 2021) was the start of Hanukkah. I am personally not Jewish and I enjoy the meaning of the holiday as it was a miracle. Don’t know what to say as a non Jewish person but I do know it was a miracle and wouldn’t be able to share the story of the miracle which deserves some who is more familiar to share the miracle. Happy Hanukkah to the readers who are Jewish.

Honestly, this past week has been both emotionally and physically draining for me. It was physically draining for me because deep cleaned the bathroom as I let it get really gross and disgusting. Cleaning helped me feel a since of accomplishment even though I missed my cat, Billie Dean wasn’t around to “help” me with cleaning which isn’t helpful so he went my grandpa’s as I cleaned the bathroom as well a couple of corners in my living room.

The physical stuff was due to cleaning. The emotional stuff was missing my grandma almost four years ago as well as loosing my last cat Lil Gertie two years ago which landed on Thursday, November 28, 2019 which happened to be Thanksgiving Day that year (2019). The other emotion stuff was attending a goodbye dinner for my cat’s Billie’s last vet, Dr. B. Sadly, she had to make a tough decision close forever.

Speaking of vets, Billie Dean saw his new vet today. He tolerated a couple of things and I think that is a good thing. This vet and I are going to do our best to keep Billie a healthy quality of life which is why this vet wants to see Billie twice a year. When I adopted Billie, I knew there were dental issues and upper respiratory infection (URI). So, I knew there were going to be issues. I’m happy that I made the decision to have Dr. B (Billie’s old vet) take some bloodwork done while Billie was under to get his teeth cleaned. I really miss Dr. B even though the new vet is great. Billie was not quite sure of the new vet but sure in the hell impressed with her.

In fact I partly took today off from work to take care of Billie. The other part was give me some me time. Me time was taking Billie to meet his new vet who is awesome. The other me time I have been doing is spending time with Billie while I do some art while listening to Christmas music. I think it’s okay to place Christmas music now that Thanksgiving is over.

I know there are many other holidays this time of year and hope to find the time to blog about them. I don’t want to exclude out when it comes to holidays being celebrated. I want to make sure I can learn about other religions so I can share about them when it is time to celebrate them. I will do my best to post other holidays celebrate this time of year.

I don’t have much more to say in this particular blog post. I just want to thank you for reading my blog as if you weren’t I would not be writing it. I really appreciate you the read my blog as if it wasn’t for you I would not be writing it. Again, thank you from the bottom of my hear for reading my blog. Happy Hanukkah and Peace Out, World!!!

Almost Midnight & Can’t Sleep

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It is nearly midnight here in Seattle and I am unable to sleep. I wish I could sleep as I need to be up no later than seven in the morning for work. I would love to get some sleep so I am not a cranky bucket at work or with my clients. I never want to be a cranky bucket with clients and try to not to be. Getting proper sleep helps me not be a cranky bucket at work and helps me be a better peers specialist.

Anyway, I’ve been doing good self care to help me get some sleep. One of the ways I have been doing good self care is some art work. Specifically, I have been coloring. I’ve been coloring most of the evening. I started listening to music when I started coloring tonight. The music helped me become in a more creative mode. Once, I was becoming more creative with my coloring, I decided to switch from music to listening to a podcast about philosophy. Listening to the podcast “Philosophize This” as well as music helps me with my self care as well as my artwork.

Of course my cat, Billie Dean, is a part of my self care plan. He has been “helping” me with coloring. The love I have my cat, Billie is one of the many reasons why I am in recovery and do self care. Taking care of Billie is a form of self care for me.

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 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!!!

A Sleepless in Seattle Type of Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is just after three o’clock in the morning here in Seattle. Sadly, I cannot sleep. I am blaming it on insomnia. Insomnia sucks shit. At least I have today off so I can take it easy. Also, my cat, Billie Dean, is keeping me company with laying right beside me at the moment as I type this blog post.

The things that have been keeping me busy tonight since I am unable to sleep is listening to music while I do some art. I am listening to some AC/DC and Guns & Roses as I color. I am coloring a Mandela from a coloring book I bought on Amazon. As much as I am not a fan of buying stuff on Amazon, I am grateful for the coloring book options. For some reason coloring a Mandela while listening to eighty’s rock music is quite soothing. I love AC/DC and Gun & Roses.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post as I want to try to get some sleep. 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 weren’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!!!

Coping Skills I am Using While Being Annoyed with Anxiety and Depression

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! If you read my last blog post you know that I am taking a mental health day off because my anxiety and depression are getting in the way for me to be productive working today especially with clients. I don’t want my own issues to get in the way of be being productive at work.

On that note, I have been working on some art work. Specifically, I have been coloring. I color because it is a mindfulness meditation for me while I can be creative. It also gives me a sense of accomplishment was I am done with the coloring page. Feeling accomplished with a finished product is an amazing feeling.

As I color, I will be listening to music. Specifically, I will be listening to my recovery playlist. A playlist the helps me with my recovery and how far I have come. It also helps me realize how much more I can grow in my recovery. It also helps me be creative. Not only will I be listening to music, I will be listening to a podcast on philosophy. I love learning about philosophy. The philosophy podcast I will be listening to is “Philosophize This.” I really learn a lot from this podcast. It is nice to be able to listen to music as well as a podcast about philosophy as I color to be creative.

I also have decided that I will be reading as well. I will be reading the book “The Republic and Other Works” by Plato. Which goes along the lines the the topic of philosophy like the podcast I will be listening to. Apparently I am on a philosophy kick at the moment and I am okay with that because I am learning a lot from it.

Of course my cat is being a great comfort to me as my anxiety and depression are acting up and am grateful for Billie Deans unconditional love for me. Billie is such a love bug and enjoys being on my lap. I love my cat, Billie so much. Billie helps me keep grounded. He is an amazing little kitty. Actually not exactly little as he is 15 pounds. I love my cat so much.

Sadly, the weather in Seattle is a bit gloomy which doesn’t help with the depression but on that note, with all the self care things I am doing will help.

I don’t have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciative from 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!!!

Taking a Mental Health Day Off of Work

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Today, I am taking an unplanned day off from work. I am using it as a mental health day as my anxiety and depression are at level where I don’t think I could be of any help to anyone. No, my anxiety and depression aren’t in the mode to be truly concerned about however they would get in the way of working effectively. I want to be in a good state of mind to be able to work with my clients so I don’t want my anxiety and depression or anxiety getting in the way.

On that note, I will be taking care of myself by doing some self care. One way I will be doing some self care is art work. Specifically, the type of artwork I will be doing is coloring. Coloring is very soothing for me. It is a type of mindfulness meditation for me.

While coloring I will be listening to music. The music, I will be listening to is my recovery playlist. My recovery playlist are songs that help be remember how far I have come as well as songs to encourage me to continue my journey on my recovery path. Music helps a great way to help myself and my recovery.

Another think I plan to do as I color is to also listen a podcast. A podcast specifically about philosophy. I love learning about philosophy and wished I learned more about it in high school. The philosophy podcast I will be listening to is “Philosophize This.” “Philosophize This” is an amazing podcast in my opinion. I encourage you to listen to it.

Besides coloring while listening music and a podcast, I will be hanging out with my beloved cat, Billie Dean. My cat Billie is such a lovey Dovey kitty. Billie is such a lap cat and loves to cuddle and spends a lot of time in my lap. I love my Billie and more that grateful that he is a lap cat that sleeps with me when it is bedtime.

I do not have much more to discuss in the particular blog post. I would like to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciative from my end of things that you read my blog. It it wasn’t for you reading my blog, I wouldn’t be writing my blog. Again, thank from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Sleepless in Seattle Once Again

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am wide awake once again at god awful time in in the middle for no reason at all. It is starting to get me fucking frustrating that I can not sleep. Insomnia sucks. I of course am listening to a podcast on philosophy as well as listening to music. Both help with good self care but occasionally don’t help on occasion.

I have also been doing some coloring how ever my hands are getting cramped up. So leads me to doing the CAlm app which helps me a great deal. I think I will be doing to mindfulness stuff to help help me sleep today.

I have hope everyone has a great night head of them. I will b spending tie with my cat Billie Dean as he she loves to cuddled with me. I love my Billie so much.

I don’t have much more to say in this blog post. I thank you for reading my blog post. It means a great deal to me. Thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 12: Critique a Piece of Work

Posted on by Gertie

Today, we are suppose to critique a piece of work which can be artwork, music or writing. It is hard to critique other people work as most of the time other peoples work is better than mine. I critique my own artwork, music and writing all the time. Sadly, the critique becomes self judgement so I try not to critique my own work.

So instead of critiquing, I am going to go on rant. A rant about how people in recovery get stigmatized all the fucking time. People who are in recovery from addiction and/or mental health challenges get stigmatize so much that some people choose to not share their struggles and sadly pass away from their addiction or die by suicide. People can live in long term recovery from addiction as well as mental health challenges. I just wish we weren’t judges so harshly for something that is not are fault. So, before you judge someone due to an addiction and/or mental health challenge think of how you would feel if it was you being judged.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 9: Writing and Not Writing

Posted on by Gertie

When I got today’s inspiration the two things I initially thought on what I do when I am not writing is work and volunteering. I then realized that do write when I work. I have to write notes regarding clients. It is not my favorite part of the job yet I have been informed that I am really good at it.

As far as volunteering, I don’t write. When I volunteer I help take care of cats. Cats that are up for adoption and all of them really cute. I love volunteering my time helping cats get new homes. Volunteering gives me a sense of community as well as a sense of satisfaction.

Another thing I do when I am not writing is listen to music. I listen to music to help with my mental health as well as to have background noise as I live alone with my cat, Billie Dean. I sometimes dance to the music. When I dance to the music, my cat, Billie gives me this weird look that makes me laugh.

I also listen to podcast when I am not writing. I love listening to podcast. I listen to podcast that can educate me on a topic, I do not know much about. I also listen to some podcast for the entertainment. I love to learn as well as to be entertained.

I do many more things when I do not write but I do not want to bore you with everything. I am grateful that I have the ability to read and write.