Bonny - those are gorgeous coloring books. Hmmmm, markers for coloring. . . .I am more used to crayons or pencils for coloring. I would worry that markers would seep through the pages.

and now crazy cat is back on my lap purring like he never attacked me.

Markers usually bleed through to the other side of the page, which seems like it would be a drawback with a double-sided coloring book. Sharpies will bleed through multiple pages sometimes. I used to have colored pencils that could be worked a little like pastels....those were amazing. No idea what brand, sorry.

I've been looking at the customer examples on Amazon and the marker-based ones are just stunning. But they do talk about the bleed through being a problem, especially for books with two sided designs.

I couldn't wait to feed the obsession I am currently gripped by, so I dug out my old (and by old I mean like 15 years old) Prismacolor pencils and did this.

I found the sketch at the Dover website and did some embellishing of the design. I spent waaaay too much time on it this evening, but I just find the process so relaxing and meditative.

I'm really excited about the more abstract books that I have yet to order. That will be even more mind-slipping when I'm not coloring an actual object, having to think what is appropriate.

Counter, of course, to that great Harry Chapin song...Flowers are red. Green trees are green. There is no reason to see the world in any other way than the way it always has been seen.

Obviously not fucking enough, or you'd be more eager for morning.

Wrod.

Now, that little sotra-TED talk I'm about to give? It's TOMORROW. So my guts are doing an impressive impersonation of a washing machine.

I couldn't wait to feed the obsession I am currently gripped by, so I dug out my old (and by old I mean like 15 years old) Prismacolor pencils and did this.

That is gorgeous, bonny. And it seems obvious to me that you aren't the only person outside the usual age range who enjoys coloring or they would not bother with making coloring books with more grown-up looking pictures. I'm rather fond of fuzzy posters - having had a taste of working on them at one house I used to work at where a supervisor made a calendar of what games and crafts we were required to do with the residents, but who didn't have a very good understanding of the actual skill levels and interests of the individuals involved - which meant a lot of times "activity time" meant gathering everyone around the table to hang around while the staff did craft projects for them.

So my guts are doing an impressive impersonation of a washing machine.

Good luck, Shir, I'm sure you will do great! I suppose it wouldn't help at all to suggest adding too many measures of laundry soap in order to make a roomful of bubbles?

I have also been known to color in coloring books as an adult. It's calming.

Bonny, you know Prismacolor makes markers, right?

Ooh, Dover is having a sale.

I have a few coloring books I love. It has always been a relaxing exercise. I got especially hooked when my mom started spending time in and out of the hospital. It was something I could do to occupy time, without requiring major brain cells, while she napped.

Now it is something to do when my brain is spinning and I need a simple forcus.

eta - colored pencils are my tool of choice, though I do have markers and crayons in my pile.

When we went from Boston to New Orleans, we kept the cats in the carriers and broke the trip up in approximately 8 hour segments, which was three days/2 nights. Ramada Inns along the way allowed pets for like $10 extra (each) (per night). They did pretty good, but we had some kitty valium on hand just in case. We lined the carriers with those disposable doggie crate pads, just in case of a peeing emergency, but they just would wait till we got to the hotel and set up the litter box.

We were so worried about it but we made a plan and it seemed to work for us. YKittiesMV.