Snail Mail In Progress

On May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling2 Comments

Snail Mail IP — Snail Mail – Re-marks – 300 pieces

Back to the puzzle room and back to my puzzle board. FINALLY.

On Tuesday evening, after receiving a care package of puzzles from my dear friend Penny, I finally got myself motivated to get back to my puzzles.

Having had to stop my strongest pain medication about 3 weeks ago, I was only able to sit long enough to sort and assemble the edges, but it was progress. Finally. Yesterday I wasn’t able to sit up for any length of time at all, and didn’t touch any puzzle pieces all day, but I’m hopeful that I can be back there today.

Puzzling, for me, helps me to relax, de-stress, and actually assists me in dealing with the chronic pain of my injury. My mind becomes laser focused on the pieces, the shapes, the colors, and the patterns; and somehow pushes the recognition of the pain to the side, if only for a little while.

I’m glad I finally got my butt in gear and got back to my beloved puzzles, and I hope to be back to them again today. They are helpful in dealing with stress, anxiety, pain, and much more. It’s like meditation – focusing on puzzle pieces only, and pushing thoughts of everything else from your mind.

For me, they are necessary. And I’m glad there’s a puzzle on my table now; it needs assembling, and I’m just the gal to get it done. 😎

Memorial Day 2020

On May 25, 2020May 25, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling6 Comments

It’s Memorial Day here in the United States, a day to remember all those who gave their lives serving in our armed forces. If you live here and are of one of the younger generations, you may think from what you see on television is that Memorial Day is about mattress sales, furniture sales, and discounts on new cars. It most certainly isn’t.

It isn’t a day to say “Happy Memorial Day” either; Memorial Day is the day to remember our fallen heroes. It isn’t about fireworks, an extra day off work, or having the family over for a barbeque and pool party; it should be a day to remember and be thankful for those who gave all.

I won’t give you a big lesson on the history of Memorial Day, but I will say this…

To all of those who currently serve in our military, to those who have served, and most especially to those who gave their lives to keep our country safe and free – Thank You.

💗🤍💙

Thank You.

Still Nothing…

On May 22, 2020May 22, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling6 Comments

Still nothing in progress, unfortunately. But I am determined to do some puzzling today, even if it’s only a mini puzzle.

I did start sorting a larger puzzle, but it was too dark and had too many pieces – and to be honest I just gave up. It seemed overwhelming, and it was my fault for choosing the wrong puzzle at the worst time.

Thanks to my puzzle pal Penny there are several 100 piece puzzles here to choose from, and I also have a winter/Christmas themed micro puzzle from Wentworth that is only 40 pieces.

Gotta get back on the horse! Or at least maybe a puzzle with a horse?

Hope you are all well, healthy, and working on an entertaining puzzle. 🙂

No Puzzling In Progress

On May 19, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling29 Comments

I’d show you a picture of an empty board today, but to be honest the puzzle that was in progress three days ago is still sitting there. It is complete, but it’s still on the board and I haven’t started anything else. 😐

To be completely honest, I’m in the middle of a major depressive funk that has me doing almost nothing all day long. Usually I don’t discuss things like this, but I think part of the problem with mental health issues is that we don’t discuss them – and I’ve seriously had enough of pretending to be happy and positive all the time.

Many of us around the world have depression, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having it or admitting we have it. By talking about it, we find out that although it may seem as though we’re alone – we are not. And also that having depression or anxiety isn’t a failing, it doesn’t make you weak, it doesn’t mean you’re a “mental case”; it just means that you’re human and you may have a chemical imbalance. Just because you put the word “mental” in front of “illness” doesn’t mean you’re crazy.

I’m not crazy. I may love jigsaw puzzles to an almost unhealthy degree, but I am not crazy. I’m depressed. I have serious anxiety problems – still not crazy.

A couple of years ago I developed an “electrical problem” in my heart. It caused a serious rapid heartbeat called tachycardia that had me hospitalized twice and in jeopardy of having a heart attack or a stroke. Since then I’ve had to take medication to keep the electrical system in my heart working properly; the only problem is that it cannot be taken with antidepressants. I’d been on antidepressants for many years, but in the choice between being less depressed and having a heartbeat – you can imagine which one I chose.

So, with the changes in pain medications that cause me serious problems and more pain, the world in the midst of a pandemic costing many lives, and a host of other small things – I’m having an extremely tough time right now. And if we don’t talk about things like being anxious or depressed – or both – things aren’t ever going to change or get better.

So instead of telling you what’s in progress today and pretending that all is well; I’m telling you that all is not well, nothing is in progress, and I am just doing the best I can.

Ernest In Progress

On May 16, 2020May 16, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling4 Comments

Ernest IP — Ernest by Jeff Foxworthy – Cardinal – 300 pieces

Things are going slowly in the ongoing saga of Stacey and her meds, and unfortunately I have yet to get back to a larger puzzle. My plan was to start a 1000 or 2000 piece after finishing the Josephine Wall, but it just hasn’t worked out yet.

Normally my preference is to move around on piece counts; after I finish a small puzzle it’s time for a larger one, and vice versa. That hasn’t been what’s going on with me lately. I re-assembled another one of my sets of 12 shaped mini puzzles during this week in bed, but haven’t been able to get myself back to sitting at the puzzle table for any length of time.

My next puzzle did get partially sorted (while I was sitting in bed), and when I couldn’t sleep last night the edges finally got put together, and a little bit at the top.

I hope your weekend is a bit more productive than my week has been.

Happy puzzling! 🧩