Won a free copy of this book from StoryGraph. I am looking forward to reading it.

A quick audiobook this morning.

#MentalHealthMonday check in

1. TBH, I‘m not sure. Feeling many things, really. Tired & disappointed I didn‘t sleep well. Sad & frustrated by the world. Excited about gardening & picking up books at the library today.
2. I plan to do things that bring me joy. Listening to music. Doing some yard work. Listening to audiobooks. Taking long walks. Enjoying the sunshine.

“Don‘t let people tell you how to process your emotions, cry that shit out. Go to a rage room. Talk to a therapist. Journal.

  You‘re allowed to feel things, even when what you feel ‘seems too much‘”

Excerpt from: "Limerence, Love Bombs & Loneliness" by Caelynn Harper. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Read this book on Everand: https://www.everand.com/book/634112120

Good news for Boots! She let the vet drawn her blood this time & her labs came back looking good. Her chronic kidney disease hadn‘t gotten significantly worse (some of her numbers have improved!) We still need to get her urine tested, but overall she is doing well. Can‘t believe she‘ll be 16 in July!

#CatsOfLitsy

“No one heals overnight.”

Excerpt from: "Limerence, Love Bombs & Loneliness" by Caelynn Harper. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Read this book on Everand: https://www.everand.com/book/634112120

At the vet with Boots again today. Fingers crossed she does well with having blood drawn. I get it, kitty, labs are no fun!

#CatsOfLitsy

A deep cut from my childhood. Any Heart fans here?

#TuesdayTunes

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=J94yz4Jgq44&si=0v9z2uQsQ9yZyR9_

#MentalHealthMonday check in

How‘s everyone doing today? I‘m feeling a bit blah at the moment & decided to share this picture of a tulip in my yard. I find time spending time in nature helps with my mental health. How about you? Do you enjoy spending time in nature/outdoors?

Love, by its nature, must never seek to possess, harm, or control.

 

Excerpt from: "Limerence, Love Bombs & Loneliness" by Caelynn Harper. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Read this book on Everand: https://www.everand.com/book/634112120

Listened to this great audiobook in two days. #SeriesLove25

Loneliness

  There‘s a crushing gravity in knowing

  No one owes you their time and presence

  You understand this, and yet

  All you know is the molasses like depths

  Of bitter loneliness

 

Excerpt from: "Limerence, Love Bombs & Loneliness" by Caelynn Harper.

#Poetry #MentalHealth

Loving this wonderful cozy mystery series! #SeriesLove25

I saw Devon Gilfillian a few years ago - so good! He‘s a like-minded singer & fellow cat lover. Love his R & B style.

#TuesdayTunes

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=8rLUi0a2oRo&si=ipMmQiaatuMDQMsY

Something I didn‘t mention for Mental Health Monday is that I‘ve started writing again. It‘s a reason I made an appointment with my counselor/coach. I‘ve struggled with writing due to fear, low self-confidence, etc. I‘m hoping my counselor can help if those feelings arise. 🤞🤞🤞

I enjoyed this wonderful book. Beautiful themes of love, healing, and starting over after abuse. It brightened day. My only minor complaint is that I could tell it was written by someone who had vacationed in Maine but not lived here. Vacationing here vs living here are two different experiences, IMO.
Aside from that, great read!

#MentalHealthMonday check-in

How‘s everyone? I‘m OK. Trying to maintain a balance between staying informed and staying sane. Made an appointment with my counselor/coach for next week. Today I went for a walk and finished this lovely audiobook. It was enjoyable.

Normally I do a second or third question, but I couldn‘t think of any today. So I thought a basic check-in would suffice. Hope everyone is hanging in there!

Doing a second #TuesdayTunes post for my late mother-in-law, who passed away nine years ago today. Prince died the day before her & I always think of her when I hear “Purple Rain”. She loved the color purple and she loved music. 💜

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=iSBVeZrDfGY&si=HYG0w6BcTagZt2VF

I‘ve shared lots of Bee Gees for #TuesdayTunes. Today I thought I‘d share the title track from their 1991 High Civilization album. The song is supposedly a social commentary/protest-type tune, but I have yet to discover what the social commentary/protest is about. Whatever it is, there‘s something about it that feels relevant today. Perhaps it‘s the dystopian themes. ⬇️

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=3TpJlIsjflM&si=JBP8Ue4NVZorGndX

Stacked.

Link to Steve Asbell‘s post on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/steveasbell.com/post/3lmzagsw6dk2t

RFK Jr‘s recent statements about autism are troubling and dangerous. I encourage everyone to read the article I‘ve shared for more information. I also encourage you to read books like this one, written by an autistic author.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/making-meaning/202504/rfk-jrs-shocking-s...

#MentalHealthMonday checkin

1. Nervous about my cat‘s vet appointment. She has chronic kidney disease & I‘m worried her condition is worse.
2. I am cautious with mental health content creators. I follow some on YouTube. I try to stick to certified professionals & those who don‘t claim to have all the answers. Some of my favorites are Russell Razzaque, Patrick Teahan, & Emma McAdam. ⬇️

Rereading during a hair appointment. I love Jane Austen retellings.

This is a new word for me! #WeirdWordWednesday

abseil (ab-sale) - to go down a steep drop by a rope fastened at the top and tied around one's body.

Excerpt from: "Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus Essential" by Collins Dictionaries.

Robin Gibb & his son RJ composed the Titanic Requiem for the 100th anniversary of the sinking. The song “Don‘t Cry Alone” is beautiful and haunting. #TuesdayTunes

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=jiQhey_fy14&si=6ydfDvqwe5dPTUem

#MentalHealthMonday check in

#1. I‘m feeling anxious & overwhelmed. There‘re lots I want to do & I don‘t know where to begin. I wish I had a personal assistant to help me stay on track. 😩
#2. It depends on the affirmation, but overall I‘m not a fan. I especially don‘t like ones about money and success. Positive thinking is helpful tool in many situations, but it won‘t make us rich or solve all our problems. ⬇️

The RMS Titanic struck an iceberg at 11:40 pm on April 14, 1912. She sank at 2:20 am on April 15, 1912. Survivor Lawrence Beesley wrote a memoir that I wish was required reading in schools. It includes important lessons that are relevant today. Beesley doesn‘t just look at those directly involved with the tragedy. He looks at society‘s involvement as well. ⬇️

Loved this cute short story from the Noodle Shop Mystery series. #SeriesLove25

Hi, all! Sorry I‘ve been away. I took a social media break for a bit. I‘ve read books, listened to music, done some writing, gone for walks, and overall enjoyed myself. Decided to come back to the socials tonight & look forward to reconnecting with y‘all. Silly Lorelei sends her love!

Feeling tired this morning. I‘m listening to this audiobook as I wake up. I love this series. #SeriesLove25

I didn‘t get around to the weekly Mental Health Monday yesterday, but since #MentalHealth is important every day I thought I‘d share a cool library event. More info here: https://troypl.librarycalendar.com/event/tpl-author-talks-thriving-anxiety-dr-da...

How‘s everyone doing?

World Figure Skating Championships women‘s free skate tonight! Go Amber Glenn!

I don‘t listen to much country, but I am in love with Orville Peck‘s music. Check him out if you like Johnny Cash. I‘ve been playing Orville‘s song “Daytona Sand” on repeat & it‘s like a balm to my soul.

#TuesdayTunes

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=myU6kcQz4os&si=_-78pYKP3llybWBc

Just finished this great audiobook. It‘s my favorite in the Noodle Shop Mystery series so far! #SeriesLove25

#MentalHealthMonday

1. The 🌎 has been getting to me & that‘s been hard. Last week was rough & I took a social media break.
2. It‘s had a negative effect lately. I find it more upsetting than helpful.
3. I take periodic social media breaks & find it benefits my mental health.

Boots sitting on my lap while I listen to Rick Astley‘s audiobook. I‘m never going to give her up ❤️😆#CatsOfLitsy

Can‘t sleep so I‘m listening to book four of the Noodle Shop Mystery series. #SeriesLove25

This song could be my anthem for 2025. With all that‘s happening in the US, I‘ve definitely wanted to shout.

#TuesdayTunes

#MentalHealthMonday check in

1. Feeling a little out of sorts. The spring time change always throws me off balance. I'll be glad when my body adjusts.
2. Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter has characters with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD). I have both conditions and I think Slaughter does a great job depicting what it's like.

Current audiobook. I had no idea Rick Astley had such a difficult childhood.

Today‘s audiobook for my #AudioWalk. It‘s super windy so I‘m walking on the treadmill instead of outside. #AudioWorkout #SeriesLove2025

Today‘s read. One main character has generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the other has complex PTSD (CPTSD). The story opens with Aja, the female lead, having a panic attack in the grocery store. I‘m intrigued to see where this story goes!

#CatsOfLitsy #MentalHealth

For bullying survivors who were triggered by the Trump & Zelenskyy meeting, check out this video by therapist & childhood trauma survivor Patrick Teahan:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hRx1RdatLsE?si=_aIPOP5Mh3B5uqpa

Sharing a picture of my cat Lorelei for anyone who needs a smile.

Bailed. I could not stand the way Brighton treated Charlotte. A lot of gaslighting and blame-shifting. Those behaviors are dealbreakers for me. They're not romantic and they're not how we should treat the people we love. There are other spicy FF holiday romances I recommend instead ⬇️

Photo by Trung Toàn Thiện on Unsplash

A wonderful book about LGBTQIA+ representation in television. It was written before the 2024 election. I cried reading the last chapter, which talked about the potential backlash that could undo the progress that‘s been made in TV.

I love this pic of Cam, Mitch, and Lily from Modern Family. Image from Modern Family Wiki.

I have “Ev‘rybody Wants To Be A Cat” in my head, so I thought I‘d do a #TuesdayTunes & #CatsOfLitsy crossover post.

What are your favorite cats songs?

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=nDJockBnjYs&si=P5TOYHLmOH7uz1tH

I went to a drag show this weekend and had a blast. This is Alexis Von Vandertramp. You can see her YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/zHA9vth8CfI?si=dmS3znEMbUiECoLh

#MentalHealthMonday check in

1. I‘m tired & disappointed I didn‘t sleep well. But I‘ll be OK. I have to remind myself it‘s not a moral failing to be tired.
2. I used to think feeling sad for ANY reason meant I was mentally unwell. I now know mental health (for me) isn‘t about feeling happy vs. feeling sad. It‘s about emotional regulation. Processing & expressing my feelings in healthy ways rather than ignoring them or trying to erase them. ⬇️

I would rather read a book with terrible writing but a good story. The content is more important to me than perfect spelling or grammar. As long as I can follow the story, I‘m good!

#SundayFunday