Weekly Check-In

Good Evening, World!!! This week has been quite an emotional week here in America. An emotional week regarding the political environment and tensions are extremely high at the moment. Sadly, supporters of a certain candidate breached the Capital Building for the first time over two hundred years. These people even made their way to the House and Senate Chambers. Many Americans are extremely angered by this including me. It angered me personally because if it was a group of people who are of color, there would have been more of a police presence. The other thing that angers me as well as the President of the United States was the one that egged this group of people on. The events of what happened at the United States Capital was just fucking uncalled for.

The events of what happened politically happened the same day my cat, Billie Dean went to the vet for some dental cared. The good news is that Billie didn’t need his two canine teeth pulled. The worrisome news is that his kidney level numbers are slightly elevated. The vet said that it is nothing to worry about at the moment and that getting another blood test done in about six weeks to see where the levels are at is what is needed. The vet said if the numbers stay the same or get lower then the only thing that is needed is blood work every six months to make sure Billie’s kidney levels are not increasing and this is my hope of what happens. If the next blood test show that Billie’s kidney levels do increase then he will need to be on a special prescription kidney diet. This is why I asked Billie’s vet to do blood work on Billie since he was already getting dental work done so I can see where his baseline is or if something did come like it did then we can get it under control sooner than later. Billie’s vet likes the fact that I am being proactive about his health care especially once Billie is eight years old, he will be getting routine blood work done as he will be considered a senior. On that note Billie isn’t even seven yet. He will be seven in late March. I am happy that I am being proactive in my cat, Billie’s health as he is my baby and I love him so very much.

On top of what went on this week regarding the political unrest and my cat, Billie going to the vet this was my first full forty hour work week at my new employer. It was quite a week at work for many reasons. Yes, it was challenging and it wore me out but I love my new job. I am so happy that I have this job opportunity as I am really enjoying this job.

I also had therapy this week and it went well. My therapist and I discussed the new job, the holidays and a few other things including self care. We discussed self care because he wants to make sure I am doing it so my mental health doesn’t decline. I appreciate this as I also don’t want my mental health to decline. Self care is a major part of staying healthy. I am happy that my therapist and I discussed self care as it helped me focus on what I need to do for self care.

One of the things that came to mind for self care was writing and poetry which led me to starting the WordPress course of Intro to Poetry earlier today. Read and writing poetry is a major form of self care for me so that is why I started this course. It is a ten day course about writing poetry. It helps me be creative. It helps keep my mental health challenges in check which is why it is a form of self care for me.

I don’t have much more to say in this weeks, Weekly Check In. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great day as well as an awesome weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

Intro to Poetry; Day 1: Water

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

A running little

brook is a meditative

way of escaping.

Getting My Groove Back

Good Morning, World!!! I have come to realize once again that when I blog on the regular basis, I keep you my reader interested. Even if it is something basic like my plans for the week and doing a weekly check in. I figure if I start having a routine with blogging then it will help me with keeping my own mental health in check. Something I never expected when I started my blog over six years ago is that it would help with my mental health.

Another reason why I want to start having a routine with blogging as it is a great activity to do inside. Since Seattle is known for its “rain,” I thought that having a blogging routine would be great. That is why I want to start back to doing my Weekly Plans on Sunday mornings and Weekly Check Ins on Saturday evenings. I know it does not sound that exciting but at least it will hopefully keep you my reader interested in continuing to read my blog. I am planing on starting all this back up later this morning when I get home from work with the Weekly Plans.

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. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great week ahead. Peace Out, World!!!

Writing: Intro to Poetry; Day Ten: Future

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

The future is now.

The future is here.

This is the day we have been waiting for;

The first day of summer;

Known as Summer Solstice.

A time to celebrate.

A time to be aware of what this new season brings us.

Now its time to continue to stand up.

Stand up to the racism that divides this country.

Time to support our friend of color.

The future is NOW.

Writing: Into to Poetry; Day Nine: Landscape

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

First I hear you;

At first it is just a trickle.

As I get closer your trickle gets louder;

Now I spot you.

You are just a brook.

A brook calling out to me;

Calling out to me to just take a deep breath and enjoy the moment.

I thank you for the moment of being in the present.

I thank you small brook for the breath.

Writing: Intro to Poetry; Day Eight: Pleasure

Bring on the Challenge

by Gertie

Bring on the Challenge of pleasure during uncertain times.

Bring on the challenge of enjoying simple things like coloring when mental health symptoms increase.

Bring on the challenge of walking through nature when life gets too hard.

Bring on the challenge of being yourself in a cruel world.

Just bring on the challenge of what you desire.

Writing: Intro to Poetry; Day Seven: Flavor

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

The smell of salt water

and the feel of the waves splashing in my face

reminds me of a more peaceful time in my childhood

A childhood that was full of trauma but at least there

were good moments.

Good moments like the taste of a double scoop ice cream cone

with mint & chip flavor and cookies & cream flavor

while at the beach on an extra hot day in California.

Writing: Intro to Poetry; Day Six: Screen

Untitled Poem

by Gertie

Too many people looking at their phone screens,

as they sit in the company of their friends and family.

I say put down those phones and spend time with those you love

 as whatever is on the screen of your phone can wait an hour or two.

You never know how much time you have with those you love.

Writing: Intro to Poetry; Day Five: Imperfect

Abscessed Flute

by Gertie

Life is full of imperfection,

Like an out of tune flute section.

Now is the time to be tuned,

Or you might become imperfect like an abscessed wound.

Best not become an infected wound and play that flute to perfection.

An Idea or Two About Blogging More Often

Good Morning, World!!! I have been attempting to blog more on the regular basis. One of the ways I had planned on doing this was taking a couple of WordPress’s free courses. I started out with doing their Intro to Poetry but kind of stopped doing it for various reasons and I plan on starting it back up again or at least where I left off. I was also going to take a course on photography to help me blog more often and still plan on doing it after I finish the Intro to Poetry course. My plan with the poetry and photography courses through WordPress is to help keep you, my reader, more interested in reading my blog.

Another way I plan to blog more often is something I have done in the past and it appeared to work. That is every Sunday to blog about my weekly plans. Just so you have an idea of what an average week is like for me. Somethings else I plan on doing is my weekly check-ins on Saturdays. Just to tell you how my week went. I guess if I do both of these things it might help me blog more regularly. I hope that I can follow through with this just like I hope to follow through with the WordPress courses.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope you all have a great Sunday. I also hope you all have an awesome week ahead of you. You guys are all awesome in my book. Peace Out, World!!!