Tag Archives: New Years

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! This week has been quite a week. This week started out with starting a New Year, so Happy 2023 everyone. I didn’t do much on New Years Day. I did watch the fireworks shooting off the Space Needle on television. They were okay but I’ve seen better.

On that note this has been quite busy. Mainly, due to starting a new job as a peer specialist (counselor) at a former employer this past Wednesday. I am happy to back at this employ. I am even more thrilled to be on a team that reaches out to the most vulnerable of the vulnerable in my community. My supervisor is awesome and very helpful. I really do think I am going enjoy my new job most days.

As for today, I volunteered at PAWS Cat City late this afternoon into early evening. I really enjoyed it. We only had two cats who are a bonded pair. So mainly my shift consisted of cleaning which I don’t mind doing. I also got to play with the kitties. In fact today is exactly three years since I did my first shift at PAWS Cat City which is why I signed up for a shift today. I do my regular shift tomorrow morning.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I would like to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciative from my end of thing that you do 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!!!

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New Years Goals for 2023

Posted on by Gertie

Happy New Years, World!!! I realize it has been a while since I last wrote on my blog. I apologize for not keeping you all up to date on things. It is surprising how fast 2022 flew by and how well my mental health did last year especially with how challenging some things were for me. I started last year with having Covid-19 which sucked. I also got laid off from a job I loved which also sucked. The suckiest part of last year was finding out that my mom has stage-3 lung cancer. On that note, I also had some successes. Successes so very small but added up to make 2023 an overall good year.

A good year that was helped by making New Years goals. Goals that get re-evaluated every two to three months. When I also re-evaluate goals I also add goals if I have completed. In fact, I am going to share with you my goals for this year. My goals for this year are

  1. Clean apartment and keep it clean.
  2. Read six books.
  3. Color six pictures and one poster.
  4. Paint two paint by numbers paintings.
  5. Start and complete two workbooks regarding my mental health recovery.
  6. Continue volunteering at PAWS Cat City.
  7. Blog an average of three times a week.

I have more goals than listed but some are a little bit personal to share on the internet. I am grateful to have goals and to work on myself and recovery.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I would like to thank you for reading my blog. If it wasn’t for you reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out and Happy New Years, 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.

2022 Goals (Part 3)

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is 6:03am in the morning in my corner of the world here in Seattle. I have been coming up with some more goals I know that I can accomplish by the end of the year or hopefully make some small accomplishments with the goals.

One of the goals I want to focus on this year is self care. Self care can look differently to different people at different times. One of my self care goals is to get my hair cut and/or died twice this year. Getting a hair cut make me feel getter about myself.

Another self care goal which is also goal of my mine is to do my chores a on a more regular basis. Like actually get my apartment completely cleaned and declutter the stuff I do not need any more. I plan on having a schedule to do chores around my apartment at least three times a week. As far as the chores, I think cleaning my apartment will help with my depression.

As far as self help stuff, I plan on doing some self help workbooks to help with my healing and recovery. Workbooks tend to help me along with attending therapy session with my therapist. The more help I can get the more recovery I can gain to be able to help the people I help at work with.

I am also planning on attending a 12-step meeting that has the twelve step concepts in it as well as can have peer recovery language in it. It focus on the self and how to realize that you don’t need to fix the person with the problem that you just need to focuses on that you need to change yourself. It has pit of other 12step programs in it which makes it more center to being a better peer and had peer recovery language in the particular 12step program which is why I like it is so much. So far I still have more goals but wanted to let you know part three of my goals.

And of course taking care of my cat, Billie Dean will always be a goal. He is my baby and my life and I love him to death. I’m sure he loves me back. I love my cuddle but of a cat.

I don’t have much to say 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 writing my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

A Late Post about New Years Goals for 2022 Part One

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I know it’s the last day of January and many people have already discussed and started their new years goals. Some even failed at them already which is something that many people do including myself.

I have many goals for the year 2022 and realize that my goals can change for whatever reason and I am okay with that. So, as of right now one of my new years gIoals for 2022 is to learn to read tarot cards. This is to help me direct what my day will be like and focus on what I need to focus on for the day. I first need to first read and learn about it before doing readings on myself and hopefully others. I also have a tarot journal to document what my reading informed me for the day. The cool thing is that the first and only tarot card set is cats. It is my hope that as I learn about tarot as well as use my tarot journal that I will document here on my blog post.

Of course another another way for me to stay connected to the world as well as my self is to restart both mindfulness and meditation practices. I say this because when I started this last year that last one hundred days it helped a great deal with with not just my mental health symptoms but my everyday life like going to work and volunteering. I ended up having more focus on what I needed to do. I am also plan on focusing on journaling before and after a mindfulness and/or mindfulness practice so I can see any improvement in life including my recovery as well as my work and volunteer job.

Speaking of work and volunteering, I plan on continuing on doing both. I don’t see any changes in work or volunteering as I love doing both, I according to those in charge I am doing a “great job and always willing to learn.

As fart as my cat Billie Dean, I will continue to take care of him and most importantly, love him with all my heart. He is a sweet love bug of a cat that is such a cuddle bug. I love my cat so much. I don’t know how lucky I got with Billie choosing me to adopt him.

Of course I have other goals for the new year. On of which is to read. Specifically, read books that I have been meaning to read for years. It is my plant to read six books this year in 2022. To me this seems like a realistic goal I can accomplish when it comes to reading.

Another go I have for this year is to do some art work. My plan is to color two coloring pages as well as paint at least one painting. I feel like this is a realistic goal. I am looking forward to this goal as well as well as my other goals.

I do have have other goals in which I will share in another post within the next couple of days. 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 appreciation from my end of things that you the reader read m 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 heart for reading my blog. I hope you have a good night sleep. Peace Out, World!!!

Feeling Guilty About About my Traditionally New Years Post on New Years

Posted on by Gertie

I am feeling extremely guilty for not doing a New Year’s post for the year 2022. I feel guilty because I was am sick with Covid-19 and was sick enough to post a post on New Years. I know I shouldn’t be beating myself up but I am. I know you my readers understand but I feel like I let you all down. I know people get busy with family events and I know people understand when others sick. I just wish I wasn’t so hard o myself. In fact one of my goals for 2022 to is to now be so hard on myself. I know it won’t be so easy to do but I have supportive to help me with this. I know some of my readers will be have help with this and am grateful for you. I just was to be held accountable to others. I also have people in my “real” life that can help me with this. It never has to have too many accountability accountability partners.

I don’t have very much to stay in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog post. If it was not for you reading my blog post, I would not be writing my blog post. So, thank you from the bottom of my hear for reading my blog. I am hoping to post more about my New Years goals at a later time. Happy New Year and Peace Out, World!!!

My New Year’s Goals at a Glance

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It is nearly nine thirty at night in my neck of the woods known as Seattle. I don’t think I have mentioned my goals for this year. I have a ton of them but will share just a handful of my goals for tonight.

First, I will be continuing to volunteering at PAWS Cat City as it helps me keep grounded. Not only does it help me keep ground but I get to help the cats find furrever homes which brings me a great deal of joy.

Another thing I plan on doing is mindfulness meditation practice on the daily basis. This, too keep me grounded. It also helps me keep my emotions under control.

Another thing that will help me with my emotions is doing self help workbooks. Workbooks that can help me with my emotions and help me be a better peer specialist.

I also plan on doing art as art helps me be creative and be able to express my emotions in a positive way. I love the fact the art can help me be a more positive person and less angry.

Reading is another way to help with my emotions and is great goal for me. Reading helps me escape from the realties of what is going on in the hard and harsh world we live in. Reading is a great escape for me and helps me come up with idea’s to do art work.

I have more New year’s goals for 2022 and will share them in another post. I do want to say that my cat, Billie Dean is one of my goals for this year. Billie is a goal for this year to make sure he stat heathy due to hi kidney disease. Thankfully it is under control and not exactly at stage one yet which is a great thing. He is such a love bug that loves to cuddle. I love him so much and I am sure he loves me back.

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 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. It means a great deal that you read my blog. Peace Out, World and have a great night of sleep.

Unable to Sleep so I Might as Well as Read

Posted on by Gertie

Good Very Early Morning, World!!! It just a few minutes after two o’clock in the morning in my corner of the world known as Seattle. I really wish could sleep but something I have learned in my recovery is go with the flow even though it is not easy to do at times.

Right now it seems like it is one of those times that it’s easy to go with the flow even when it wasn’t the flow you thought would happen. On of my new year’s goals was to be reading more. Long story short my great aunt who is my grandpa’s sister lent my grandpa to read a book. My grandpa hasn’t read it yet but let me borrower it to read. It appears to be an easy reading and not a very long book which is good thing. So it is my goal to read this book within two week starting after I end this particular blog post. The book is set in the holiday season focusing on Christmas. I am more into Science Fiction and Fantasy genre books but it never hurt to try something knew when it comes to reading or anything else. At least Billie Dean my cat will be cuddling up with me as I read this book. I hope to give a review of this book when I am done with it.

I do not have much more to say about 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 because 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. I hope you have a better night sleep than I am having. Peace Out, World!!!

Not My Ideal Way to Start Off a New Year

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Belated New Years, World!!! I want to apologize for posting a late New Year’s post as I came up Covid-19 positive. Which has worn me out completely. I did go to the hospital; specifically the emergency room as I thought I either had strep through, the flu or an a reaction the the booster shot. Turns out I ended up having Covid. Now the way I thought I would been ending the year of 2021 or starting they year 2022. On a plus note at least the Emergency Room (ER) sent me home instead of hospitalizing me. I take it as a good sign they sent me home. I get diagnosed on December 30th of 2021 and was not able to work at all for four days due to how shitty I felt from having Covid.

As shitty has having Covid is, I am taking a leave of absence from my volunteer to job at PAWS Cat City for the month of January so I can make sure I have enough time to become symptom free and be able to quarantine the ten days after being symptom and able to get one negative Covid test back so I can go back to volunteering in February. I will miss volunteering with the cats as well as helping find the right cat for their furrever home with a human that loves them

As far as work goes, I called out sick due to Covid-19 for four days even though I can work from home. I was just feeling shitty as hell. I did go to work (from home) this past Friday as I was feeling better to be able to work. My employer appears to be supportive of me and my colleagues when we are sick with whatever we are sick with be they are more supportive when it comes to Covid-19.

I did end up having to go to the hospital emergency room when I first noticed the symptoms I was having. I went because I wasn’t sure if I was have a reaction to the Covid booster I received the day before I went to the emergency room or if it was the flu because it felt like a really bad flu. Turns out it was Covid and that my booster had nothing to do with me getting Covid. My entire family got tested and all them were negative but my mom is still waiting on her results of her test. I’m hoping it is negative as then I think I know where I got it from. It most like would have been from the hotel I stayed at. Any way I feel like the hospital wouldn’t have sent me home with Covid if it wasn’t a minor case even though Covid feels like hell even when you are sent home. I am beyond grateful to be home with Covid than to be in the hospital with Covid.

There is know place like home even if you feel like shit especially from Covid. It’s is nice to be home with my wonderful loving cat Billie Dean. Billie is such a loving cat the enjoys snuggling with me especially when I am not feeling will.

As far as work goes, I will be working from home till I am symptom free for ten days with two negative Covid test in a row before going back to the office two days a wake. I like how they want to protect my colleagues and clients a like.

My volunteer job like the fact that I am taking a leave of absence for the month of January to protect employees, volunteers and potential adopters from Covid especially since I am not sure when my symptoms will be gone and able to do the post symptomatic quarantine and able to get tested with a hopefully negative test.

As much as I am grateful that I am home sick with Covid and have the luxury of being able to work from home now that I am felling somewhat better, I am thrilled that I have my cat, Billie Dean to keep me company. I do miss face to face human interaction. Billie, my cat hasn’t exactly left my side since getting Covid as I think he want’s to make sure I am taken care of by him. I love my cat so very much.

On the note it snowed in Seattle and I am grateful that it is gone as I highly dislike snow even when I am stuck home sick with Covid. Seattle basically shuts down at any chance of snow. Snow is not my friend.

Honesty, I am really missing volunteering at this very moment as that is what I would be doing this very moment if I didn’t have Covid-19. I miss playing with other cats and able to do what I need to do start the day at PAWS Cat City. I love volunteering at Cat City. I just want to expose my the employees, potential adopter and fellow volunteers with Covid.

As sucky the ending of 2021 was and how sucky the beginning of 2022 is due to having Covid, I am happy that Covid did not get my hospitalized. Getting Covid was not my ideal way end one year and start a new year but at least I am not hospitalized because of it. At least I get to be home spending it with my cat, Billie Dean. I love the fact the Billie is more cuddly at the moment due to me not feeling well. I am also grateful that I am feeling better to be working from home despite how tired I get. I love my job and that my work understands the need to work from home due to Covid.

I do not have much more to stay 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 as if 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. It means a great deal that you read my blog. Happy New Years and Peace Out, World!!!

Intro to Poetry; Day 4: Journey

Posted on by Gertie

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

 This time last year,

we as a global community didn’t realize by how

much we would end up on the same journey.

A journey of figuring out how to stop the dreaded

Covid-19.

We may be on the same journey to combat this virus;

but we our going our own direction to help others.

It’s both good and bad we go different directions just as long as

we come together in community.

As of right now in the New Year of 2021,

it looks like we are coming together to find a way to eradicate,

the dreaded Covid-19.

Knowing all this brings a sense of hope around the world!!