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.

Best of luck, Shir! I know you'll kick ass.

Got a response from B. He is understanding and respectful of my needs, and will be there whenever I'm ready. ::sigh:: One of the people I'm talking to on OKC seems to have some potential, if we can ever find time to actually meet. Since I'm unlikely to get lucky like Rose and get an AU B who actually wants to date me.

Dover has some of the coolest books out there in art and history etc. I did not need to know they were having a sale.

edit: Ooo, Erte! And translucent-page Frank Lloyd Wright!

Ugh, smonster. I hope someone who really can meet your needs shows up sharpish and blots this discomfort from your mind.

sumi, the Prismacolor markers are fabulous...and fabulously priced. Thankfully, my obsession is not obliterating my knowledge of budget.

At this point, I'm questioning getting markers after all. I've got 64 crayons and 36+ colored pencils. Maybe I should just enjoy them for a while. I also like the fact that I can conceivably erase small mistakes with the pencils.

The Dover sale features Australian Wildlife and Charles Darwin books. Hmm.

Oooh! And Erte fashion. Now you can reimagine all those college dorm posters. Heh.

eta: Erte xpost for the win!

PS: Bartleby has a bad belly AGAIN. I'm pretty sure he snorfled two cupcakes this weekend, including the paper.

As much as I love my neighborhood like pancakes, I wish people would be a bit more judicious about throwing food on the ground. There are bins on nearly every corner, people! Plus, thousands of wheelie bins, if you are in a pinch.

But no...they seem to think they are feeding our ever so cute squirrels, when in fact they are feeding another animal with a long, bald tail. Sigh.

etaa: two too many letters.

You guys. Oh my god. I woke up with migraine pain (thank you, rapidly changing weather [grumble]). Took migraine meds. Slept another 2 hours. Woke up. NO PAIN. At this point, I am ready to worship the ground my acupuncturist walks on.

(Well, there's actually a little pain in my ear, but everything and its mother is blooming outside, so my sinuses are also going haywire. I took a sudafed a little bit ago, and I *think* that should get rid of the ear pain. I don't think the ear pain has anything to do with migraine-y-ness.)

I could cry, I'm so relieved.

t edit I would prefer for them to not even start, but just being able to stop them within hours is light years beyond what they had been (normally 2-4 DAYS, and not a great response to medication).