Tag Archives: Reading

A Catch Up Type of Post

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It has been quite a while since I last posted. I don’t have any particular reason why I have not blogged nor do I have any legit excuses. I do know a lot has happened since I last blogged. Some bad things but some good things. The good things thankfully out way the bad things.

First and foremost, I joined a book club that is geared toward the queer community. To make it even better the book we are going to choose will be a queer fiction book. The book club I joined will meet on Thursday evenings starting this Thursday. We will get to know each other and choose a book this Thursday and I am looking forward to it. I looking forward to it because it will help me get social interaction within the queer community.

Secondly, I am now a part of a queer kickball league. I got assigned to a team called Resting Pitch Face and our first practice is tomorrow (Wednesday). Our first game is this Saturday. I am also looking forward to this as it will provide me some exercise and social interaction within the queer community.

In fact my therapist suggested that getting more involved within the queer community could help me with my recovery especially since she noticed how well I did when I worked at a queer mental health agency before it permanently closed. I have to agree that being within the queer community has helped me a great deal with my mental health recovery and I am looking forward to being more part of the queer community.

I do not have much more to write about 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 continuing to write 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 through the Calm App.
  • Daily morning walk
  • Read
  • Attend a virtual 12-Step meeting
  • Art (color or rock painting)

Monday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Daily morning walk
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Read
  • Art (color or rock painting)

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Daily morning walk
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Read
  • Art (color or rock painting)

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Daily morning walk
  • Work on recovery related workbooks
  • Read
  • Art (color or rock painting)
  • Attend a virtual 12-Step meeting

Thursday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Daily morning walk
  • Training via Zoom on Recovery and Eating Disorders
  • LGBTQ+ virtual group
  • Volunteer at PAWS Cat City
  • Read
  • Art (color or rock painting)

Friday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Daily morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Attend an in person appointment with psychiatric nurse practitioner
  • Read
  • Art (color or rock painting)

Saturday

  • Mindfulness Meditation practice through the Calm App.
  • Daily morning walk
  • Go to U-District Farmers Market
  • Read
  • Art (color or rock)
  • Attend a virtual 12-Step meeting.

A Productive Sleepless in Seattle Type of Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is the middle of the night here in Seattle and I am not able to sleep. I really wish I could sleep but sadly, I am not able to due to insomnia. Having insomnia suck sh!t and I don’t wish it on anybody including my worst enemies.

Since I am unable to sleep I have been trying to be productive in some way. I have been reading Revelations; Fire & Brimstone Scroll 1 by Nikole Knight which is the first book in a six book series. I am about three quarters of the way in the book and I am really enjoying it. The genre is dark fantasy and gay fiction and discussed the book with my therapist when I saw her for my session with her this past Friday. She appeared to be interested in the book which is always a good thing. Of course as I read my cat, Billie, was laying my lap.

Besides reading, I have been doing art work as I listened to music. I listened to some old school alternative and grunge music. I mainly listened to Tori Amos and Nirvana as I did art work. The type of art work I did was coloring a giant poster I got from Stuff2Color.com. It is of an elephant. I also have started up painting rocks from a rock painting set that my uncle got me for Christmas. I am enjoying both the coloring and rock painting as I listen to music.

I do not have much else to write about 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 continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Having A Hard Morning

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am having a really challenging time right now. I had to call the crisis phone number that is through the mental health agency I am a client at about an hour and a half ago. I had to call because of the miscarriage is hitting me hard and sadly has increased the self-harm urges. Self-harm urges I wish I didn’t have. Self-harm urges that I will NOT act on. (NOTE: I am not suicidal and I will NOT act on the self-harm urges.)

Anyway, after talking with the crisis clinician, we came up with a safety plan for me to do to stay safe till one of my natural support persons is available to talk with. The plan is to enjoy the weather outside and go for a walk. Granted it is cold but at least the sun is out here in Seattle.

Another thing is to hang out at home with my cat as I read. I am reading an amazing book about a college aged kid who finds out he has guardian angels that he has crushes on. The college aged kid is also figuring out his sexuality. I am only half way through the book and it is the first book in a six book series.

I don’t have much to write about in this particular blog post except that I will not harm myself in any way. 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 continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

A Sleepless Type of Night in Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is just after two o’clock in the morning here in Seattle, Washington and I am sadly unable to sleep. Having insomnia on top of having PTSD with some pretty severe symptoms suck shit. Sadly there isn’t much that can be done but at least I have some pretty amazing people in my life to help me. Those people include the people I seek professional help from as well as friends and sometimes family. Let’s not forget about my cat who helps a great deal.

Since I have not been able to sleep, I have been reading or doing some form of art work. I am reading the first book in a six book series. The book I am reading is Revelations Fire & Brimstone Scroll 1 by Nikole Knight. So far I am really enjoying the book. The genre the book is in is gay fiction and dark fantasy.

Like I said earlier since I am unable to sleep, I have been reading and doing some form of art work. The type of art work I am doing is coloring. I am coloring a picture as well as a giant poster. The picture I am coloring I think I am going to give to my therapist and the giant poster I might keep for myself. I just hope keeping something for myself that I helped create doesn’t sound selfish of me to do.

I do not have much more to write about 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 continue to read my blog. If it were not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write on my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Daily Prompt; What Do You Enjoy Doing Most In Your Leisure Time?

Posted on by Gertie
Bloganuary writing prompt
What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?
View all responses

I really enjoy doing a lot of things in my leisure time but if I have to choose it would be a tie between reading books and reading as well as collecting comic books. Specifically, I collect Wonder Woman comic books. I really enjoy the community of those who collect comic books as we are a unique set of people. The type of books I like to read are fantasy books but I also enjoy science fiction. It appears that folks who enjoy reading fantasy and science fiction books also like comic books which is why I think I enjoy the comic book community.

Daily Prompt; What Books Do You Want to Read?

Posted on by Gertie
Bloganuary writing prompt
What books do you want to read?
View all responses

I really enjoy reading and have many books that I would love to read for various reasons. I also really enjoy reading book series so what I have to list will be book series as well as the authors.

  • The Music City Rollers Series by Elicia Hyder
  • The Journey Durant Novels (which is a series) by Elicia Hyder
  • Fire & Brimstone Scrolls (which is a series) by Nikole Knight
  • The Homecoming Saga (which is a series) by Orson Scott Card

Daily Prompt; List Five Things You Do For Fun?

Posted on by Gertie
Bloganuary writing prompt
List five things you do for fun.
View all responses

Five things I like to do for fun and why.

  1. Reading – Reading helps me get out of my head as well as gives something to do when the real world gets too hard to cope with.
  2.  Watch Movies – Same reason as reading. It is also something I can do with friends and family as well as socialize.
  3. Art – I love to do art work especially coloring. It is pretty much an escape from reality like movies and reading are for me.
  4. Play on a Dodgeball Team – I love playing on a dodgeball team and playing against others. The team I am on may not be the best but I love it.
  5. Spending Time with Friends – Who doesn’t enjoy spending time with their friends? I know I do.

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It is that time of week where I do my weekly check-in. This past week has had its ups and downs but if I really look at the week, it has had more ups than downs despite the challenging aspects of the week.

One of the many good aspects of this week has been spending it with some good friends as well as my partner. I have had dinner with a group of my friends twice this week and we all had a blast. As far as spending time with my partner, it is always time well spent. We spent most of last night (Friday) watching movies at my place eating a bunch of junk food. I don’t know what I did right to deserve the awesome friends and the love of my partner but I am grateful for them.

Besides spending much needed time with my partner and friends, I spent time with my cat, Billie. The last few days it has been quite freezing in Seattle so I stayed in as much as possible especially since there is currently snow on the ground in my Seattle neighborhood. Of course Billie my cat was and is happy that I am spending more time at home with him. While being home with my kitty, Billie, I have started reading a book and I am half way through it. I am not sure what to think of it yet or if I am going to read the next book in the series. I also have been doing some art work as I have been a hermit. The type of art work that I have been doing is coloring. I am coloring a giant poster and it feels like I am not getting anywhere with it but I am as you can tell by looking at it. I love to color.

I do not have much more to write about in this particular blog. I do want to thank you the reader 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 continuing to write on my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Too Cold For My Liking Especially Here In Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Friday and Good Morning, World!!! The snow in my neighborhood didn’t last long as it was just a dusting. Despite the dusting of snow yesterday evening I am glad I made the decision to not attend the University of Washington men’s basketball game as I would have been extremely cold as I walk to and from the light rail station. I am not a big fan of the cold and as much as I dislike the snow, if it is going to be this cold, I just wish it would just snow. I really don’t like it being in the low twenties (Fahrenheit) especially without the snow.

I have decided to not go to Emerald House today and it has nothing to do with freezing weather outside here in Seattle. It is my plan to stay home with my cat, Billie, and cuddle with him most of the day if he is up for it. I also am planning on doing some reading as I enjoy it and I have decided to read a book series as I prefer book series. I am not sure what book series it is yet but I know it is going to be a book series.

Not only will I be reading but I will be doing some art work. Specifically, I will be coloring. I will be coloring a giant poster I bought from Stuff2Color.com. The giant poster that I am coloring will be for my therapist to show her my appreciation that I have for her. Not only that, coloring is self-soothing for me as well as it being a form of mindfulness for me. I just hope my therapist likes it.

Speaking of my therapist, I have an appointment with her that I plan on attending. Thankfully, it is a virtual appointment as I really don’t want to go out in this freaking cold. Plus, some suburbs of Seattle got snow so I have no clue if my therapist got snow or not since I don’t know where she lives. In fact I think it would be weird (and creepy) to know where your therapist lives.

I do not have much more to write about in this particular blog post except I would really like rain and forty-five degrees (Fahrenheit) weather back here in Seattle. 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 continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!