over already?!!

I can't believe how fast RIP III went by. I don't think I'm ready to let go just yet. But anyway, many, many thanks to Carl, challenge host extraordinaire, for yet another wonderful experience!

Though I didn't read nearly as many books as some, I did actually manage to meet my stated goals, plus a few extras.

*The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells

*We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

*Dracula by Bram Stoker

*Daphne du Maurier's Classics of the Macabre

*The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

*The Floods: Good Neighbors by Colin Thompson

*The Witches by Roald Dahl

Only one was a disappointment (The Floods)...the rest were all truly wonderful! A few are likely to make my top ten list for the year.

Oh, and as I was linking up some reviews on my challenge blog, I noticed that I actually finished Becky's Initial Challenge as well. I know I changed my status to "unofficial" for most challenges, but it still feels mighty good to have actually finished. Thanks, Becky!

And while I'm talking about reading challenges, let me mention Annie's What's In a Name 2 challenge. (And yes, I'll probably bring it up another half a dozen times before it starts.) Anyway, it's actually a pretty easy challenge to complete, so I hope you'll think about joining in!

By the way, anyone who has completed this year's What's In a Name Challenge should pop over to this post and leave a comment so you can be entered in the final contest (Annie's giving away a $20.00 Amazon gift certificate to one person who completes the challenge and answers the question on the post).

Well, it's going to be tough to get in my computer time during the coming month...Annie started NaNoWriMo this morning, so I imagine she'll be hogging the computer. But I guess I have to forgive her, as her computer usage will be far more productive than mine ever is. :)
She wasn't technically allowed to join as an adult, which means her site won't be open for outsiders to view, so I think she plans to do a post on her blog each day updating her progress. Keep your fingers crossed for her...she set her goal at 50,000 words again. And good luck to any of you other brave, ambitious souls who are participating as well!

swelling with pride

Okay, okay, I know it can be very unbecoming to brag about your kids. But you know what, I just can't help it today...I am so damn proud of Annie!

Yep, she did it! She finished NaNoWriMo! Her final word count was 50,287. I just can't believe she managed to crank out an entire novel in a month, especially considering the month she had!

I think all of you who participated in NaNoWriMo...Jean, Don, Chris, and of course, Annie...are simply amazing! Absolutely, positively, indubitably amazing! Congratulations to you all!

(Since no one was able to access Annie's profile at the Young Writer's Program (I guess it was for security reasons) , she posted a short excerpt from her novel over on her blog if you feel like reading it.)