Tag Archives: Pets

Middle of the Night Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World! I am tired as hell. Partly because I took an extremely long nap yesterday afternoon and I know better to not make my naps so long. So that is why I think that I am not sleeping well tonight. I am also dealing with a lot of pain due to a migraine. A migraine that I hope goes away before I go to work tomorrow. I at least don’t have to start until 12 noon Seattle time.

Since I am having a challenging time sleeping due to the pain of migraines, I have other ways to help. I usually start with reading but at times I have to cut it short because it can cause more migraine pain. the book I am currently reading is called “The Sorority Murder by Allison Brennan. I am only a quarter into reading the book and so far it is a pretty great book. If the book doesn’t help with the migraine nor the sleep, then I will work on an adult dot to dot book regarding only pets. I am ready to finish the first dot to dot picture. It takes a while to do especially when you are awake and not as sleepy as I am that includes a painful nightmare. If the dot to dot doesn’t appear to help I then will do some diamond art which isn’t always the best for a migraine but it is always worth try to see if helps with the migraine to go away and at least decrease the pain.

Doing all this appears to be a bit childish but I’m okay with this as I just want to sleep and hope I can get some sleep. Now it is time to attempt to sleep and cuddle with my kitty cat, Billie. Good night world and PEACE OUT WORLD!!!!

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My Go to Wellness Tools When Things are Either Going Well or Not so Well & Sometimes in the Middle

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! Things haven’t had been very good lately but I’m handling them okay. I lost my new job because I wasn’t the right fit and I agree. It turned out to a be mutual agreement and “considered a lay off.” This lay off I’m okay with. The first lay off I wasn’t okay with it due to the fact of how it was handled.

I am putting in applications and going to interviews in the career of my choice as a peer specialist. I have also been applying to old employers I tolerated even the ones that were overnight or twelve plus hours long. Having a job helps me a great deal.

Even though things may not be going so well my cat, Billie has been a huge help. Hell, he is a huge help when things are both going well and not so well. Having an animal around had been quite helpful for me.

Another thing I have found helpful in both the good times and not so good times is volunteering. Volunteering at an animal shelter has been and continues to be quite rewarding. Helping cats find their furrever homes and people a new family member in a cat is one of the best feelings in the world.

Something I have started to do is to start doing math. Specifically, basic math and pre-algerbra. I’m doing this to help me if I get too emotional as well as to keep my math skills up. Having basic math skills is something every adult should have.

Another thing I am taking up is latch hook. I figure taking up a hobby latch hook would be helpful when thing aren’t going so well and even when they are going well.

Of course I’ll still be doing art. Specifically coloring. I am coloring a poster for my mom. She likes that type of thing. She is dealing with cancer and the treatment that goes along with it. Plus her birthday is tomorrow.

I don’t have much more to talk about. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. If it wasn’t for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be writing my blog. Again, thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 19: Feature a Guest

Posted on by Gertie
A picture of Billie Dean the Kat who is the featured guest

Good Morning, World!!! I know it is weird to have a cat or any animal as a featured guest on a blog. My plan is to ask him questions and answer them the way I think he would answer them as he were able to speak human and not just meow like the cat he is. Here is the “interview.”

Me: How did we originally meet?

Billie: We met while you doing a regular volunteer shift at PAWS Cat City.

Me: Was it love at first sight for you?

Billie: I think it was love at first sight for the both of us. I know you love my crinkly ear and you can’t deny that.

Me: When you came home with me, how did you feel?

Billie: Do you really need to ask that question? You know I love you unconditionally.

Me: What can I do better as your parent?

Billie: You can feed me at the butt crack of dawn when I ask for it then. Hell, you can feed me whenever I ask for it even if there is still food in the bowl.

Me: You do realize I’m not going to get up at the butt crack of dawn to feed you when I know you have food?

Billie: Yes, but do you remember who runs this home?

Me: Of course I do. You run this home, I just pay the bills.

Billie: I love you but I’m done with this interview. It’s time for another nap.

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 7: Let Social Media Inspirer You

Posted on by Gertie

Being inspired by social media is a catch twenty-two. For example I’m on WordPress to blog and it is inspiring as I get to read peoples stories of inspiration and I don’t think I have seen and dram on WordPress. To me that is a good thing

Another good thing about another Social Media site I am on is LinkedIn as it is a professional social media site. I’m on it to make sure my name is out there just in case I need a new job like I did recently dud to being laid off. LinkedIn helped me get noticed for my last two jobs as well as my new job that I will be start this Monday. I’m getting excited and anxious about it which is normal.

As far as Facebook book goes, it’s full of drama. I’m mainly on it to see some old friends. Oh I can’t forget about seeing the animals and pets people share on their Facebook. I think the pets, animals and friends is the why I stay on Facebook because there is way too much drama on it.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 4: A Story in a Single Story

Posted on by Gertie
Bilie acting handsome for his mug shot

When it comes to a story in a single image it is usually the same four pictures WordPress chooses so I chose on o my cat,; Billie Dean. I adopted Billie from my volunteer job Which is at an animal shelter. Hell, I wouldn’t be volunteering at PAWS Cat City in Seattle if it wasn’t for my positive experience with adopted Lil Brooke. As much as I a miss her, I am happy to volunteer at Cat City and have adopted Billie during one of my volunteer shifts.’

Billie gives me unconditional love and particularly never leaves my sight. I love Billie so very much. It is hard to know who loves who more.

It Wasn’t Fireworks

Posted on by Gertie

I’m not even going to hi or good morning as I was rudely awakened by what I thought was fireworks. Well it was not fireworks but gunshots. Of course it not only scared the shit out of me but out of my cat as well as my neighbors and their pets. Now there is a buttload of Seattle Police surrounding not just my building but other buildings on my street. There is also a buttload of fire department vehicles (Fire Engines, Ladder Trucks, Medic One Ambulances, Battalion Chiefs and even the Chief of the fire department).

All I know is it wasn’t fireworks and it was gunshots. Sadly, there were at least two people shot. As far as I know nobody thankfully was killed. On that note having two people shot is still scary. Another thing that is scary is that we can’t leave our building much less our apartments with a couple of expiation’s which are coming home from someplace of course needing to show a valid I.D/Drivers License/Passport or if the person has an emergency or has to go to work.

Needless to say many of us in my building and I’m sure other people in the neighboring apartment building are scare shitless. I know I am. My cat was scared at first but he appears to have calmed down. The poor dog two doors down from me is still freaking out as he is still barking.

I was sound asleep when the gunshots happened and I am tired as hell. I’m scared to go back to sleep. Most importantly I am worried about the two gunshot victims even though they lived in the building next door to my building. I know I shouldn’t be as scared as I am but I am. At least I know I am safe and alive.

And now there are more gunshots which is why I am purposely sitting on the floor below any windows. This is not going to be a fun night as I’m still waiting to give my statement to the police after the initial gunshots. I just want to go to sleep without being in fear of being shot.

Well, I should get going. I just want to try to calm myself down. I hope to update you all later.

Three O’clock in the Morning Tuesday Chaos

Posted on by Gertie

It is three o’clock in the morning Seattle time and it’s nothing but chaos. First a neighbor starts pulling on the fire alarms in the building which wakes everyone and their pet up. Almost every evacuate. Manly the ones with animals and pets. The Fire Department gets here quickly and turns off quickly.

Sadly, this happened six more times from the same neighbor and all the neighbors are now out of the building and abut to fight the neighbor pulling fire alarms, The cops showed up just in time time or someone would have gotten seriously hurt . The good thing is everyone with a pet or an animal were sticking together because the pet were keeping us calm.

Thank you for listening to me ramble on about building drama. Than you for reading. Peace Out, World!!!

Resiliency Making an Appearance

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! The last two and half months have been challenging for me and many others due to the unexpected news off my employer closing and being laid off. It has been quite traumatizing for all involved and am beyond grateful for the support I have received from many different people including those, I never expected support from.

If you been reading my blog regularly the last two and half months, you know I’m getting laid off due to my employer closing. Due to Covid-19 I know most of my colleagues via zoom and same goes for the clients I serve. Any way, I am realizing the fact how resilient myself, colleagues and clients are while sharing the same trauma even though we are experiencing it in different ways.

As sucky as the pandemic has been, Zoom has become a love hate relationship. Zoom may has it’s problems but it sure has its ups. Lets start by the best part of Zoom meetings and appointments which is surprise visits from all the pets which includes on my end seeing (and hearing) birds, rabbits, cats, dogs, turtles, snakes, rats and a miniature horse. I think with the seeing all the animals people have as pets has built a rapport with others if the pandemic didn’t happen. I know my cat, Billie, has helped my clients in Zoom appointments. Hell, Billie and my colleagues pets have helped ease a lot of meetings when they (pets) make an appearance in meetings.

Not only have pets including my own cat Billie has helped with my resiliency, music has helped a great deal. The last two and have months my recovery play list has helped a great with the resiliency part of my recovery. My recovery play list appears to be the play list I’ve been listening to the most since I found out I was being laid off. So music helping so much just my cat Billie is.

I don’t have much more to say except that my cat, Billie (and other animals/pets I see in Zoom meetings) and music have been helping me a great deal with being resilient. I also want to thanks you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciative 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 Nice Day off of Work

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Friday, Night from Seattle. In fact there is only nine minutes left of Friday here in Seattle. I decided to take a PTO (Paid Time Off) day off and I am glad I did. It’s allowed me to take a metal health break from work especially with the board of of directors are wanting to close the agency and the county wanting to keep it open. See very little hope from the county but I a not holding my breath.

Today’s day off was for self care. I spent a lot of time with friend pets and animals which is a good thing because it helped with my mood and helped me hopeful for the day. Of coursed spending the day with my cat Billie Dean aka Billie the Kat. I love having time with pets and animals.

I also spent the day doing artwork while listening to music. I colored and painted as I listened to various genre’s of music. I primarily listened to old school eighties rock. The kind with the big hair. I think it helped a great deal doing art while listening to music.

I also spent time with a family member who helped me with my taxes. We will finish them tomorrow. So I feel like I had an overall good day.

After starting my taxes with my family member, I decided to read. I read most of a book that I started today an will finish the book tomorrow. Looking forward to finishing the book tomorrow.

I don’t have much more to say but thank you for reading my blog. I am grateful for you the reader reading my blog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!