I'm on a roll, here are a couple more previews.

and another

Available on Etsy. http://etsy.me/2sohqfm

Another Preview

Here's another couple of samples from the Zenangle Under The Sea Coloring Book.

And Another One

Available on Etsy http://etsy.me/2sohqfm

Getting Close. I'm so excited!

Getting Close!! Watch for Easy Mandala's Notebook Journal in the "Coloring Therapy Series" Volume 2, Available next week on Amazon. I'm just waiting for Amazon to do their "approval thing"  This is so exciting.  

"I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it" 
      The Pointer Sisters 1982

I have been working on an Easy Mandala COLORING BOOK which will be a companion book to the Easy Mandala Notebook Journal.  I am very close to submitting it. Just have the cover to finish, but Photoshop is an extreme challenge for me and my brain fog has been pretty "Fogged In" lately.  I am super excited about this one. It's 8 x 10 instead of the travel size I've been doing on the journal notebooks.  

There is just so much going on in the office here at the TheBlueScreenBlogger headquarters.  

I have another Journal I'm thinking about after the Coloring Therapy series. I thinking about a chronic illness journal. For years I have kept one in a blank lined book to track of whatever I trying to manage. Pain, diet, supplements, sleep, my weight, exercise, medications, a place to journal. I find it helps me keep track of all the facets of chronic illness. 

I recently went back and read through it.  I had forgotten so many of the struggles, frustration, and challenges I have been dealing with these last 10 years. I was able to see where I was and how I was coping - or not coping as the case may be. The weight I've lost, and the diets I've tried and tried and tried. So many fails -- It's been a long 10 years.  lol 

Still researching but I found I needed to slow down on that.  It was consuming me and I felt I needed to slow the roll and take a step back. John has been researching and sharing what he's learning with me and I find that's enough for me right now.  I'm trying to focus on positive things instead of all the medical depressing stuff right now. So I'm spending my time being creative and working on the "Coloring Therapy Series" instead. Honestly, I would rather think about coloring books than depressing medical stuff, would't you? 

I hope Your are leaving messages all over BlueScreenBlogger posts.  I love to hear from you and when you comment it makes you a part of BlueScreenBlogger community.   

You can purchase my Coloring Notebook/Journal Volume 1 here:  http://amzn.to/2jeGh26

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It may not be Fibromyalgia after all - I'm in Research Mode

I know it's been awhile since I've checked in. I recently came across something which seems to connect all the left over puzzle pieces together. Too many left over symptoms and Fibro never really seemed to make sense to me even though Fibromyalgia was diagnosed by my Rheumatologist.   After quite a bit of research, we are thinking this may be what I have been dealing with for the past several years. 

I am in research mode now -- when my brain is clear enough. (Which is really challenging me) LOL. Thankfully my family is helping me with this. It's pretty overwhelming. This is rocking my world. 

Will update when I know more. 

You can purchase my Coloring Notebook/Journal here:  http://amzn.to/2jeGh26

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We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees my advertising and linking to Amazom.com. The small percentage I may earn off your purchase costs you nothing extra.

Excited about my new Slate!

My new Slate Drawing tablet. TheBlueScreenBlogger.blogspot.com

Just a quick post showing you what arrived last week. Insert me doing a happy dance here. Can you picture it? Me dancing around trying not to stumble in my glee. Oh yeah, in my head I was getting it down – a real dancing machine.  

“She's movin',
she's groovin'She's a dance, dance,
dance, dance,
dancin' machine, dancin' machine”
The Jackson 5, 1973.

I decided to buy the Slate drawing tablet by Iskn.  It came all the way from France.  (mair-see  boo-coo).  By airplane even.

There is a learning curve, but I’ve watched like eleventy-hundred YouTube videos so I should be good to go right?  Looking forward to figuring this puppy out.  I’ve kicked the tires, and taken it for a spin around the block but haven’t really dug in yet.

Kicking the tires. TheBlueScreenBlogger.blogspot.com

Have you tried a drawing tablet? What was your experience?

You can purchase my Coloring Notebook/Journal here:  http://amzn.to/2jeGh26

Check out my Facebook Fighting Through The Fog    https://www.facebook.com/groups/755116634637922/?ref=bookmarks

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees my advertising and linking to Amazom.com. The small percentage I may earn off your purchase costs you nothing extra.  

One Bite At A Time

Today was another one of those good day/bad day’s that I seem to have way to often.  It was a day with a long to do list. In my “before Fibromyalgia,” (I seem to mark time “Before Fibro and After Fibro”) this To Do list would have been the appetizer for the main event. But now my life is “after,” and I need to first assess how I am doing today before I even make a list. John and I start each day with questions like  How fatigued am I? What’s my pain level? What’s the brain fog forecast? After we get a read of how I’m doing I can make up my To Do list and then see how it goes. 

First on the list today was finishing the laundry that I had started yesterday and pooped out before I was able to get the wet wash into the dryer.  I also had a few more loads to get done. We’d see how much I’d be able to finish on the laundery detail.  Have you noticed we just never seem to be caught up?

Next up was a HUGE one.  Working on taxes for my Etsy stores.  We have a tax appointment in a couple of weeks and I need to finish this project pronto.  I started on this in early January, because I knew I needed lots of time to be able to get this done on time.  I knew in my “before” days I would be able to work on it for one or two afternoons and it would be finished.  Now I'm in my“after” I know I can only work for an hour or two, and then I need to quit for the day.  So I need plenty of time to spread it out.  The Beatles Taxman lyrics have been running through my head today. Lol 

Getting ready for the taxman, yeah, the taxman

“If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.
Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman”

The Beatles 1966 Revolver album

I was frustrated right from the start. I couldn’t focus – oh no - fog rolling in.  I sat down and thought I’d just pick up where I left off last time. I felt confident this would be easy peasy because I had my notes telling me where I had stopped last time.  They included detailed notes on where I had left off, and what I still needed to finish but the notes were not making any sense.  This is typical when fog is rolling in.

This logically should not have happened.  I was diffusing “Focus” blend - my heavy hitter.  When I know I’m going to be challenging my brain cells I diffuse and find it helps me think and wade though the fog. I had my hot drink of choice. I had cleared my desk of distractions. I had my list of what I hoped to accomplish in order of how they need to be checked off.

I was overwhelmed.  I got up and walked away. I went into the family room and chilled a bit. Came back into the office and I was able to figure out what I need to finish. My notes did make sense after all.  I worked all morning and was able to finish with the receipts after lunch. 

I knew my brain was done for the day so I thought I’d switch gears and work on something fun. The cover for my next coloring Mandala Notebook/Journal book.  The inside is complete, I just need the cover finished.  Last time I had worked on it I had gotten a lot done and I was looking forward to hopefully getting it finished.  Well that didn’t go so well. Nothing was working right on the computer. Everything just was not working even though I was following my notes EXACTLY.  I got out the “Photoshop for Dummies” book, I watched about one hundred and thirty YouTube videos, I called tech support (son-in-law Chris) nothing. Nothing was working today. Frustration level was going up, overwhelmed feelings going up so I closed down the computer and just admitted defeat again to this beast – Fibro.

John and I went for a short walk and he reminded me what I DID get done. Focus on that he said. Good advice! We listed all I was able to accomplish today. OK not as much as I would have liked, but still a good amount. I need to quit remembering what I used to be able to do! I am no longer able to multi task. (more on that in another post.) I can just do ONE job at a time.  But you know what? I can still do ONE job at a time!!!

After my walk I was sitting (recouping really) and thinking I need a better plan for days like this. The bookkeeping overwhelmed me right off. The fog rolled in. I was frustrated, overwhelmed, foggy and unable to focus.  So I asked myself "what can I do on a day like this to get the job done?" And then it came to me – uh huh moment. You know what I gonna say here don’t you… How do you eat an elephant? ….One BITE at a time. Is that angels singing? Yup I do believe it is, lol. And then I remembered I had gotten John a lovely carved elephant for Christmas a few years ago.  Yup I went and grabbed that baby and it’s gonna be my mascot.  It’s gonna be my visual reminder when I’m overwhelmed, when the job whatever it is (laundry? taking a shower?) seems to big for me to accomplish I just need to remember One BITE At a Time.

My new mascot 

Oh, and I did finish drying that load of wet clothes. However, it wasn’t until I was going to bed. I had thrown them into the dryer but forgot to turn it on. Huge sigh here. Yup I did exactly what my list said … Move clothes to dryer.  Next time I need my list to be a little more detailed and include TURN DRYER ON!  And so it goes in the life of a Fibro body. I'm Fighting Through The Fog.

Are your taxes one? Do they overwhelm you and if so what do you do to conquer it?

You can purchase my Coloring Notebook/Journal here:  http://amzn.to/2jeGh26

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A Rough Fibo Weekend - Sensory Processing Disorder SPD

It was a very full weekend for me. I was able to watch my Grandson play soccer, and attended a family get together all in the same weekend.  That may not sound like a full weekend to most but to me it was WAY too much. I have been mostly housebound for a couple of years now due to my Fibromyalgia. I am occasionally able to go out but it is in a very controlled environment.

My Fibromyalgia also includes Audio Sensitivity and Sensory Processing Disorder SPD. Yes, I have a lot of issues don’t I? It seems even my issues have issues. Lol (More on Audio sensitivity in another post - it is the main reason I’m housebound.) For today’s post I will address the Sensory Processing.  I believe there are a lot of people who suffer from this and do not realize what it is.

Sensory processing issues happen because the brain has trouble receiving, responding to and organizing information from the senses.  In a nutshell, I become overwhelmed by too much stimulus. Loud noises are my worst symptom, challenging to put it mildly. I am hypersensitive to sounds, smells, light, flavors, textures, temperatures. They all agitate me to some degree. This affects my focus. I have trouble following conversation going on around me. At the soccer game I had trouble following the game. (I kept cheering when the other team scored Lol). Between conversing with those around me, the crowd noise, following what was going on with the game, it’s a good bet it will lead me to a complete overload of my senses. It causes problems with motor skills – I’m clumsy, I stumble or fall, slur my words, bump into things and am unable to tell where my limbs are in relation to space (getting fork to mouth). One of my first warning signals is I begin slurring my words. Next comes what I call “stumbly” I am become clumsy.  

We all receive a steady stream of sensory information throughout our day. Most people can “tune out” or “filter” that information. My brain struggles with that.  All that information coming in overwhelms me, causing what I refer to as “Blue Screen”.   Like when the TV is no longer receiving a signal and the screen turns blue. That is what happens to me when I am overloaded-overwhelmed.  My brain and my body say enough already and it switches off. I assume it’s to let my brain cool down.  Sometimes it’s for a short time, like when the power flickers. Other times it’s for a much longer period - like weeks.  When I’m like this I call this Blue Screen or Fogged In.   

I am hypersensitive to noise. I hear things most people “tune out” like the refrigerator running for example.  I sometimes have to leave the room because it overwhelms me and my pain shoots through the roof. Common sounds are painful (I’m often asked if it hurts my ears. The answer is no. It translates into overall body pain).  My husband, John, doesn’t even notice the sound, he’s “tuned it out”.

So back to my weekend… Saturday, was the soccer game. I find when my senses have been overwhelmed if I come home and immediately go to my room and lay down it helps my “jets cool”. Darkened, quiet room, in bed, for an hour at least will sometimes (I say sometimes because just as often this will not work) begins the restorative process.

Saturday, I came home and went right to bed. I knew it was going to be a bad evening, because the pain was climbing on the way home. I had trouble understanding what John was saying. I definitely was not coping. However, after my “quite time” I felt a little better. The pain has downgraded marginally and I was able to track with what John was saying.  I had Painsomnia, I was able to get about 5 hours of sleep – not bad for the afternoon activities.

Sunday, was the family get together and I broke my number 1 written in stone rule.  DO ONLY ONE ACTIVITY per week. I analyzed where I was Sunday morning and knew I should stay home because my pain was high and my coping was low.  But, I had been looking forward to this for a couple of months and decided to go but modify my attendance.  I went late and left early. I wore my noise cancelling ear buds. I took my cane because I was “stumbly” before I even left my house.

I knew I put myself in a flare.  I knew there was a good chance of this when I decided to attend on Sunday.  I counted the cost and decided it was worth it to attend the family event. 

Monday, I woke to a major flare. It was a mostly stay in bed day.  Pain was extremely high. Weather-brain forecast was dense fog. A “Socked In” kinda fog.  I went to put in a load of laundry and couldn’t figure out how to turn on the washing machine. I walked away and went back to bed. For dinner, I was helping John and couldn’t figure out how I was going to warm up the cornbread. (Note: it was already cooked I just needed to reheat it). I couldn’t decide what to put in on. A plate, a pan, or just stick it in the oven. I finally worked out that I could microwave it and placeed it on a plate. Then I couldn’t figure out how to turn on that tricky beast. All those key pads with numbers to press - Holy Kamoley - I was in a bad place.

So this is my life. I have learned to assess at all times. What’s the temperature? What’s the noise level? Will there be people I need to converse with?  Will I need to navigate through social interaction? Will I be able to remove myself from what’s overloading me or will I just need to try to cope my way through it? Will I be putting myself at risk walking or moving around?  Assess and reassess. You may be asking about now “was it worth it?” Yes, it was worth it! I got to leave the house 2 times this weekend. I got to spend time with the ones I love most in this world. I did “pay for it” but I knew I would before I went. The only question really was how much would it cost me. I had already planned on dialing back the beginning of the week to allow for recoup time. In looking back the equation is 2 afternoons out = 4 days recovery. As far as flares go it was really a mild one. I have found it is all a balancing act. I am grateful for the time I had with loved ones this weekend. Trying to count it all JOY.

Do you suffer from any of these symptoms? Leave me a comment. 

These are a few resources I have found helpful. They are are also in Resources located on the top bar. 

www.brainbalancecenters.com

www.understood.org

www.webmed.com

Starlanyl, Devin, and Mary Ellen Copeland,2001, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain A Study Manual

You can purchase my Coloring Notebook/Journal here:  http://amzn.to/2jeGh26

www.TheBlueScreenBlogger.blogspot.com







We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees my advertising and linking to Amazom.com. The small percentage I may earn off your purchase costs you nothing extra.  

It's finally live on Amazon

Click the image on the right to buy the book

I didn’t think this would ever arrive.

Definitely doing a happy dance here. There’s a visual for you.  Me stiff and achy moving like a 90 year getting her groove on. lol   After almost a year of working on my Coloring Journal it is available on Amazon. http://amzn.to/2jeGh26  
I persisted through all the pain, stiffness, brain fog, depression and frustration of not being able to work sometimes for a couple of weeks at a time, and it’s finally is available. 

This was a dream of mine for years many, many years.  My 7^th grade teacher dropped that dream into my lap one afternoon after school. Publishing a book.  I’ve carried it buried deep in my heart for years, telling no one -  not even my husband. I never really thought it would come to pass. It wasn’t easy, or even fun at times. But once the idea resurfaced I knew the time was right to pursue it. It became something I was going to finish no matter how long it took.  I wanted to give up many times but kept returning to the project.

Working though the process was a journey. I learned a lot about myself. I learned how much that dream meant to me. I thought many years ago it was going to be a history book. I lectured for years on California history in schools. I never thought I’d have a chronic illness which would throw a huge monkey wrench into my life. I found  I had unwavering determination. I have a spirit that wouldn't quit. I found grit I didn’t know existed. In short I have been learning to count it all joy.

What about you? Do you have a dream secretly hidden away?

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www.TheBlueScreenBlogger.blogspot.com








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I’ll probably pay for this tomorrow!

Easy Mandala Journal almost done =)

I had a very long but productive day in the office today.  Brain fog today was what I call “High Fog”. I’m not socked in, but it’s definitely foggy out.

Brain Fog is a symptom of Fibromyalgia.  It’s when you can’t think.  Everything is foggy. You know there’s a thought up there but it’s lost in the “fog”.  I will start a thought and loose it. I will start a project – one I’ve done many times and not know how to complete it. When I’m really “socked in” I can’t track with a conversation.  And the really frustrating part is the “fog weather” changes throughout the day. I may start out “clear skies” only to move into “high fog” and then wham fogged in.  The worst is when it blindsides me and I’m out in public and wham-O-bam-O. FOGGED IN. No

warning, just can’t figure out what the heck someone is saying to me. I mean I know they are speaking to me, I mean I can see their lips moving, and hear them. But, for the life of me it’s like on the old Charlie Brown TV programs,  remember when an adult is speaking and all you hear is wa wah, wa wah, wa wah – total gibberish? If I’m at a store I can’t figure out the money end of paying. The giving – how large of a bill do I hand them? Then the receiving of the change. Putting the change in my wallet, receiving the receipt, remembering to pick my bags of merchandise, say thank you to the teller, and exit the store. There’s too much to process at one time causing my brain to just freeze. I cannot negotiate stores by myself at all any more. I am usually able to handle making all the decisions of purchases but adding checking out to my already overloaded brain is guaranteed to be a HOT mess.  And then there’s the noise! That’s another post for another day.

I have found on days like today if I take a lot of breaks I can manage to get something done. So it’s been up and down from the computer – frustrating – yes, but I still am able to feel like I accomplished something at the end of the day.  I used to take that feeling – accomplishment - for granted in the old days.  Not any more. I’ve learned to appreciate getting something done and feeling good about it as a “gift” I used to just assume I was “entitled” to it. I had the attitude it’s just the way I roll.  I was a huge multi tasker and I was so proud of that fact. Look at me, I can hold a crying baby while talking on the phone, while cooking dinner, while throwing a load in the washing machine, while darning the hubs socks, you get the point. Pride, pride, goes before the fall. Humm. Well those day ground to a screeching halt. Fibromyalgia has taught me in a major way to adjust my thinking and perspective. That’s a good thing. We should all view our days as a gift.

But, yes there’s always a but, I will probably pay for the long day in the office this evening and for the next couple of days.  I’m already getting stiff – a sure sign I’ve done too much. Oh yes it’s a double whammy day.

One, I worked my brain too hard.

Two, I worked for too long. 

Both are a sure fire way to make me miserable tonight and probably for several days. But, yes that’s a third and final but. I find I tend to “go for it” when the brain weather is high fog.  I have so many bad days that I just want to make a dent in my ever growing to do list.  But, I’m happy to have accomplished as much as I have today.

Again, I got off topic. (Seems I do that a lot lately, lol) I started out writing about how much I got done in the office today. My second book in the series  “Coloring Therapy Vol. 2” -  Easy Mandala’s is well on its way.  Pages are all together and formatted. I just need a final proof. Now the really daunting job is to work on the cover and back page. This intimidates me big time. But it will have to wait for another High Fog day. 

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You can purchase my Coloring Therapy 1 Notebook/Journal here: http://amzn.to/2kcwnxF






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Painsomnia has hit- - - Again

Yup, that's been my life the last couple of weeks.

The last couple of weeks have been really bad for me. I went to watch my grandsons soccer game one evening and got chilled. I don't understand why this happened. I mean I was prepared for the cold.  It took me 20 minutes just to get dressed before the game. I had had on enough clothes I should have been able to withstand a blizzard. I wore pantyhose, a tank top,  Under Armour both tops and bottoms, jeans, a long sleeve t shirt and a short sleeve on top of that, wool socks, UGG knee high boots, a down jacket with fur lined hood, my thinsulate gloves, scarf, and wool hat. And, I had a down throw over my lap. Whew I could hardly walk. I looked like an Oompa Loompa and I live in California lol.

Anyways, as I was saying I got chilled.  Winter and the cold are really hard on me. So the pain cycle began, which started up the painsomnia, which started up the nerve pain, which started up the brain fog.  Like I said a bad couple of weeks.

Which means I'm up at night late so what to I do? I color and doodle.  I find if I'm not coping because the pain is too high I can't color. My fine motor skills abandon me and I can't stay in the lines. So then I doodle because there are no lines but the ones I'm drawing. lol Coloring and drawing relax me and help me cope.

Do you suffer from Painsomnia? What have you found that helps. I'd love to hear from you.  

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We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees my advertising and linking to Amazom.com. The small percentage I may earn off your purchase costs you nothing extra.  

Announcing my new book series, "Coloring Therapy a Journal Notebook" Coming Soon!

Coloring Therapy Series, Journal Notebook

So Exciting! My new book series, Coloring Therapy 1, will be coming out soon on Amazon. 

I developed this series as I have been maneuvering my way through Chronic illness. 

This is the first book in the series and is a Journal/Notebook.  It measures 6 x 9 and is 160 pages. It features Coloring pages,lined pages for journaling/notes and black pages for doodling (with discrete drawing prompts), as an added bonus, there are inspirational quotes to inspire you and to reflect upon.  Use this journal/notebook to be creative and as a "jumping off place". Or you may find it useful for jotting down lists, personal reflection, a diary of relaxation therapy. 

I use mine to track my chronic illness - my diet, what I find is working for me, how I'm feeling, what I've done that's put me in a flare, the weather etc. I find I am more consistent in my journaling if it is in a fun journal. It's more enjoyable and not so much like "homework" when I can color a page after I journal. A reward to myself for journaling.  Let's be honest here, if I am having a "bad, horrible day" I probably won't want to spend the energy necessary to journal. But wait, I get to color at the end? hmn, let's reconsider, ok I'll journal. It is designed "Nurture You". 

I hope this spurs your creativity. Click on the cover in the bar on the right to buy the book on Amazon. Or You can purchase my Coloring Therapy 1 Notebook/Journal here: http://amzn.to/2kcwnxF

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