a Readathon wrap-up

I can't believe it's over...what a truly, truly fun time it was! I honestly don't know how to say thank you enough to Dewey for hosting this! She was just so incredible!!! She worked so hard, and made it all so fun, and had it running so smoothly...I just don't know how she did it! THANKS DEWEY!

As a wrap-up activity, Dewey has asked us to answer a post-game survery...

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
*Not sure I could pick just a single hour. But that time between about 2:00 and 4:30am was really, really rough! That's when I ended up taking an hour long nap.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
*I never know how to answer for someone else. For me, I wish I had a James Patterson book to read. I think that would have been great, both because they're suspenseful and keep me going, but also because of his really short chapters that really make me feel like I'm getting somewhere. As Dewey mentioned before this readathon, some short YA books are a good choice, too. They leave you feeling like you're getting somewhere. One thing, I will definitely keep in mind for next year, is to make sure I've got some books with larger print for those wee morning hours.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
*Well, this is by no means a criticism, but I think the only thing I might change would be having fewer challenges. I know, that sounds so dumb, doesn't it? The challenges were so much fun! But that was the problem, sometimes I had a hard time saying "no" to them, and didn't get as much reading done as I should have.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
*Oh my gosh...what didn't?!! Seriously, Dewey did an AMAZING job!!! I can't believe how well she planned this...it seems like she thought of everything!

5. How many books did you read?
*Only read 1 in its entirety. Plus I finished one I already had started. And started 2 others, one of which I only read 80 pages of, and one which I almost finished.

6. What were the names of the books you read?
*The Halloween Tree is the one I read in its entirety. Finished up A Time To Kill. Started The Cobra Event. Started and almost finished The Wright 3.

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
*I might have to take a pass on this one. All four books were so different from one another, and all were very good. Just don't know how to pick a favorite. Maybe I can answer that later...after some sleep and some time to ruminate.

8. Which did you enjoy least?
*Again, I just don't know. Maybe The Cobra Event, but that's really not fair, because I just haven't gotten far enough to know for sure.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
*Not applicable.

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
*Just try and stop me from reading again!

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My final stats (as pathetic as they are) are listed in the previous post.

Hour 24...over already

Minutes: 52 (Other 8 spent on previous update.)

Current book: Still The Wright 3. Didn't quite get it finished.

Pages: 59

Misc. comments: I can't believe it's over! It got pretty rough for a while, but at this point I wish we were still going.


Totals tally--a final summation:

Minutes (this is actual reading time): 958...If I've figured correctly, and that's a big "if" at this point, that's 15 hours and 58 minutes.

Pages: 660...Yes, I'm a very slow reader!

Books:
*A Time To Kill by John Grisham...I started this book long before the Readathon, finished up the last 160-ish pages.

*The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

*The Cobra Event by Richard Preston...Read first 80 pages before switching books. Switched because the print was small and my eyes were blurring, not because I wasn't enjoying the book.

*The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett...Read the first 271 pages. Less than 50 to go.

Hour 23

Minutes: 42 (Other 18 spent on last update, last challenge, and visiting other readers.)

Current book: Still The Wright 3.

Pages: 41

Misc. comments: I can't believe there's only 1 hour to go!


Totals tally:

Minutes: 906

Pages: 601

Books:
--213 pages of The Wright 3, and all the rest the same as previous update.

Hour 22

Minutes: 50 (Other 10 spent on last update.)

Current book: Still The Wright 3.

Pages: 50

Misc. comments: Dewey has been an extraordinary host for this Readathon! I seriously cannot believe how smoothly she has kept this all running. And she has come up with the most clever challenges! The latest...post images of the books we've read during this challenge. Here are mine:

















Totals tally:

Minutes: 864

Pages: 560

Books:
--Same as last update, with the exception of The Wright 3, which is now up to 173 pages.

Hour 21

Minutes: 40 (Other 20 spent on last update, checking in with Dewey and some other readers, making a fresh pot of coffee, letting dang dog in and out, getting dang dog his morning pill and breakfast, and writing a limerick for the last challenge)

Current book: Still reading The Wright 3.

Pages: 33 (The nap really paid off!)

Misc. comments: First of all, I'd really like to know why, after all I did for dang dog over the past day, why he couldn't help keep me lively when I really needed him?!!

Okay, and now for Dewey's latest challenge. We were to write a limerick or haiku about one of the characters from one of the books we read today/tonight/whatever. I couldn't remember exactly what the syllabication is supposed to be for a limerick, but hopefully this is close enough...

Tom Skelton and friends took quite a trip,
Through space and time, they did fly and flip,
Learning much about night,
And things that cause fright,
And in the end, they saved their friend Pip.

(About The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury.)


Totals tally:

Minutes: 814

Pages: 510

Books:
*Finished A Time to Kill by John Grisham, which I had started before Readathon.
*The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
*80 pages in The Cobra Event by Richard Preston
*124 pages in The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett

Hours 18, 19, and 20

Minutes: 90 (Other 90 spent posting last update, visiting a few readers, napping, checking in at Readathon Central, visiting more readers)

Current book: The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett

Pages: 30

Misc. comments: Well, instead of getting a nap right after my last post, I decided to tough it out a bit longer. Didn't go so well, as you can see from my pages read count. Finally did give in and napped for about an hour, and now feel much better. Maybe I can even finish up my current book before the end. Maybe.


Totals tally:

Minutes: 774

Pages: 477

Books:
*Finished A Time to Kill by John Grisham (started before Readathon)
*The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
*80 pages of The Cobra Event by Richard Preston
*91 pages of The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett

Hours 16 and 17

Minutes: 95 (Other 25 spent updating, visiting Readathon Central, visiting other readers.)

Current book: The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett (I just had to switch books...the words in The Cobra Event were too small and too mashed together for this hour of the morning!)

Pages: 61

Misc. comments: I can't believe I'm going to wimp out like this, but I'm afraid I've just got to take a little nap. I literally took me 10 minutes to read my last 2 pages. So I'm going try to sleep for an hour and see if I do any better after that.


Totals tally:

Minutes: 684

Pages: 447

Books:
*Finished A Time To Kill by John Grisham, which I started before the Readathon.
*The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury.
*80 pages in The Cobra Event by Richard Preston
*61 pages in The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett

Hours 14 and 15

Minutes: 90 (Other 30 minutes spent updating, visiting other readers, and making rotel dip for snack)

Current book: The Cobra Event by Richard Preston

Pages: 35 (I am really, really slowing down...and I'm not fast to start with!)

Misc. comments: As much as I'm enjoying this book, I think I'm going to have to pick up something else...something with bigger type! I'm just really having trouble focusing now.

And as for Dewey's current challenge. Sheesh...I'm pathetic! I only know 2--Neil Gaiman and Madeleine L'Engle.


Totals tally:

Minutes: 589

Pages: 386

Books:
*same as last post

Hours 12 and 13

***Readathon Button goes here.***
(Sorry, blogger is not letting me upload at the moment.)

Minutes: 75 (Other 45 spent on last update, visiting a few other readers, and talking to 3 favorite fellows on the phone. Sounds like they're having a wonderful time! Couldn't believe it, but both Max and Gray, who are normally phone-shy, got on the phone and chatted away.)

Current book: The Cobra Event by Richard Preston

Pages: 46

Misc. comments: I'm really starting to "feel it"...not so much that I'm nodding off or anything, but more that I'm just having a hard time concentrating. I keep finding myself having to read paragraphs over because I have no idea what I read. Perhaps it's time to go fix a snack.


Totals tally:

Minutes: 499

Pages: 351

Books:
*A Time to Kill by John Grisham(started before Readathon)
*The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Hour 11

Minutes: 22 (Other 38 minutes spent updating and completing challenge 11.)

Pages: 13

Current book: Finished up The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury. WooHoo...that means I successfully completed the R.I.P. II Challenge (though I do hope to maybe read another one or two for it). Started a book of short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, but have decided to set that aside for sometime when I'm feeling a bit fresher.

Misc. comments: Dewey's challenge for Hour 11 was to get outside and take a walk. I took her up on it, thus the lack of minutes this hour. I'm pretty sure the dang dog put her up to that one! I must say, it was a good idea though...I do feel a bit refreshed. Though I should add, it nearly led to disaster. I had grabbed some bags to pick up you-know-what, a flashlight so I could see to pick up you-know-what, and snapped the leash onto the dang dog. I was literally pulling the door closed behind us when I realized I hadn't grabbed my keys! I would not have been a happy gal if I'd have locked us out, as no one is due home until late tomorrow afternoon. So I think I'll just be staying put for the rest of the readathon.


Totals tally:

Minutes: 474

Pages: 305

Books:
*A Time to Kill by John Grisham (started before Readathon)
*The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury (Chris--It's a great one. And a super short one. Definitely pick it up if you get a chance!)

Hours 9 and 10

Minutes: 80 (Other 40 minutes spent writing last post, visiting Hour 9's featured readers, making a frozen pizza, cleaning up the leftovers, brushing teeth, getting dang dog his pill, letting dang dog in and out AGAIN, and feeding dang dog, dang cat, dang mice, dang fish, and dang tarantula.)

Book: Still reading The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Pages: 62

Misc. comments: Hour 9's challenge was to visit featured readers--1. Jessica, who got a bit of a late start but we're so glad she joined in. She's reading Norwegian Wood. 2. Alison, who is reading Pretties, the second in a series I'm really hoping to read one day soon. And 3. Deb, who is reading The Book of Vice. Never heard of that one before, but it looks like it might be interesting.


Totals tally:

Minutes: 452

Pages: 292

Books:
*A Time to Kill by John Grisham (started before readathon)

Hours 7 and 8

Minutes: 85 (Other 35 spent doing previous post, checking in with some other readers, and yes, letting dang dog in and out again.)

Current book: The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Pages: 72 (Could definitely read this one faster, but it's just one of those books that begs to be devoured slowly so you can enjoy ever delicious word.)

Misc. comments: I can't believe we're a third of the way through already! Of course, I'm sure that was the easiest third.


Totals tally:

Minutes: 372

Pages: 230

Books finished:
*A Time to Kill by John Grisham (which I was well into when we started today)

Hour 6

Minutes: 48 (Other 12 spent making last post.)

Book: Just finished up A Time To Kill. Nice timing, right as Hour 6 ended. Won't review it right now (takes me forever to write reviews), but I will say that I really loved this book.

Pages: 20

Misc. Comments: Thanks so much to everyone who keeps stopping by! You have no idea how much you're making this! And on that note, I think I will spend a few minutes seeing how some of the other readers are doing. And trying to decide what to read next.


Totals tally:

Minutes: 287

Pages: 158

Reading accomplished:
*Finished A Time to Kill by John Grisham. Was already well into this one before the start of the Readathon.

Hours 4 and 5

Minutes read: 95 (Other 25 spent making a sandwich, letting dang dog out, visiting Readathon Central, entering Hour 4 challenge, letting dang dog in and drying him off. By the way, in case it sounds otherwise, I should say that I absolutely do adore dang dog.)

Current book: Still A Time To Kill by John Grisham.

Pages: 52

Misc. Comments: A big "Hooray!" to Dewey...she is doing an amazing job!!! And I highly suggest that everyone go over and visit, even if you're not participating in the Readathon...lots of cool prizes being given away, and some are open to anyone.


Totals tally:

Minutes: 242

Pages: 138

Hours 2 and 3

Minutes read: 92 (Other 28 minutes spent updating, checking in at Readathon Central, and participating in mini-challenge)

Current book: Still working on A Time To Kill by John Grisham

Pages read: 51 pages

Misc. comments: Dewey is hosting some fun mini-challenges. Couldn't participate in Hour 2's challenge, as the town in my book is fictional. Could have chosen a real town in the general area, I suppose, but that felt like cheating. Hour 3's challenge was to visit the current "readers of the hour"...Athena and Becky. Sounds like they're both making great progress! Athena just took a lunch break, and yet she's still read well over 100 pages. Yes, I will be left in the dust by everyone when it comes to pages read. Becky's reading a book about Mary Todd Lincoln...I'll be interested in her review. (I visit her blog all the time, and she writes great reviews!)


Totals tally:

Minutes: 147

Pages: 86

1 down, 23 to go

Hour 1 complete.

Minutes read: 55 (Other 5 minutes were spent trying to get the dang dog to come in the house and quit barking at the dog obedience class going on next door. Dang dog had previously passed said obedience class. Go figure.)

Current selection: A Time To Kill by John Grisham (Figured it was time to finally finish this one. Started it back in August for the Southern Reading Challenge, but then when I didn't finish in time, I just set it aside. Not sure why, because I'm really enjoying it.)

Pages read: 35 (Yes, I now have to officially admit to being the slowest reader on the planet.)

Misc. comments: Wow. That first hour went fast!

the time draws near

Just over an hour from now, the Readathon will be underway! I'm more worried than ever about being able to stay awake through the night tonight. Although I'm very good at getting by on little sleep, I'm horrible at getting by on no sleep.

And thus far, during my free weekend here, nothing has gone as planned. That's not to say it hasn't been quite relaxing and enjoyable though. I had planned to scrapbook the day away yesterday, but I just couldn't get those creative juices flowing. Made one simple layout, and then decided to make up a few cards using up some scraps sitting there on my table. Hoped that would get me in the mood. But it didn't. And since this is supposed to be a fun weekend, not a torturous one, I decided to go do something else instead. Read a bit, looked through some scrapbook magazines, and then totally vegged in front of the TV (honestly cannot remember the last time I did that!).

Tried to stay up late, so I could sleep in this morning, but was out by 11:30. Had to get up at 4:00 to tape something for homeschool purposes, but I'd planned on just starting the tape and then going back to sleep. (Yeah, I know, perhaps the first thing I ought to read today is the manual for the VCR so I could learn how to program it, huh?) But again my plans went awry...I just couldn't get back to sleep...so I got 4 hours less sleep than I hoped.

I'm so anxious to get underway here! That's probably why I'm babbling like an idiot, huh? Then again, I'm prone to babbling, so that may not be the reason after all.

Well, guess I shall go grab some breakfast, and then go visit some other readers to wish them luck.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

the excitement builds

Well, with some much appreciated help from Dewey, I finally managed to snag one of the buttons for her Readathon. I don't know about anyone else participating, but I have to say I am way beyond excited. I'd almost say I've been obsessing (hey, it's a skill I'm quite adept at, what can I say?). Anyway, if only I could find the camera (Rich must have already packed it up for their trip), I would show you all how I have my very favorite pair of comfy fleece pajamas and my favorite pair of slipper socks all freshly washed and folded just waiting for me to don them tomorrow morning after I shower. I would show you the horrible pile of junk food I stockpiled last night, none of it requiring much in the way of prep time, as I don't want to waste valuable reading time cooking. I would show you the numerous piles of books I've gathered up, because one needs lots of options available, right? Yes, you could definitely say I'm looking forward to it!

I'm actually looking forward to today as well. After Rich's class this morning, he'll be coming home so we can all have lunch together, and then my 3 favorite guys will be headed off toward the Atlantic. And I plan to relax! No working on school plans (hope to finish up a few things this morning though) and no housework (also hope to get the bathroom cleaned and the living room vacuumed before they leave). But once they pull out of that driveway, scrapbook room, here I come! Might even try to watch a movie or two this evening. Ah, yes, I am just floating on air this morning...

a taste of freedom

This shall be an odd week for me. And I think I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it! I will actually be experiencing 3 hours of "alone time" each afternoon this week. Ahhhh. And as if that wasn't treat enough, I will then be getting much of the weekend all to myself as well!

Annie is off with my parents for the week (they'll be bringing her back on Sunday). Which means that each afternoon while Max is in school, I shall be luxuriating in blissful silence. Don't get me wrong...I am missing Annie. We all are. As Max said, "But everything's more fun when Annie's here." (Melted my heart to hear him say that!)

But that doesn't change the fact that I plan to take full advantage of this nearly unheard free time. I shall spend 3 straight hours each day working on lesson plans, etc. Maybe that doesn't sound all that fun, but it will actually be a treat to just get to work uninterrupted by "Mom, can you pour me some milk?"..."Mom! Max spilled his milk!"..."Mom! Gray punched me!"..."Mom! Max took my deinonychus!"..."Mom, can I have a snack?"..."Mom! Aldo threw up on Dad's chair!"..."Mom, can I have my markers out of the penalty box yet?"...

Besides, I plan on accomplishing so much that I will refuse to feel guilty when I take the weekend off! Yes, a weekend off! Rich is taking Gray and Max off for a "boys weekend"! They don't have a clue where they're going yet, but Rich insisted on doing this so I would be free to participate in Dewey's Readathon. Oh, how I love that man!

Now the Readathon doesn't start until 9:00am here (if I figured out the whole time zone thing correctly, that is), so that means I will also have Friday evening all to myself. Scrapbook room, here I come!

Forgive me for this silly babbling, but in case you couldn't tell, I'm a wee bit excited!

just for me...

Okay, this is going to sound totally indulgent. That's because it is. But I've decided that I'm due for a dose of selfishness. So I am joining in on Dewey's Readathon. Be sure to click on the link there to read all about it. I tell you, Dewey is going all out! There will be readers and cheerleaders and loads of wonderful prizes.

The Readathon begins on October 20...time varies depending on your time zone. And the reading lasts for 24 hours. But never fear, no evil overseers with whips making sure you're reading every minute. The idea is to have fun...if to you that means 24 hours of straight reading and posting, great. But if sleep is an important part of your day, that's fine, too.

My initial thoughts on reading about this were, "WoW...that sounds like so much fun! I really, really, really wish I could do it! But of course, I can't. There's never a spare 24 seconds around here, let alone 24 hours. Who's going to take care of the munchkins? And the house? And the cooking?" But then it hit me, "If Rich can head off to the Bahamas for 2 weeks, leaving me alone to take care of everything, surely he can give me one 24 hour period to myself."

So I approached him. Didn't even have to bring up the Bahamas. He just immediately told me to go for it. He's even trying to think of somewhere to take the kids for the weekend, though I assured him that wasn't necessary. (Though truth be told, it would work out better. For whatever reason, Rich can be sitting right there in the room with them, and yet they will come looking for me wherever I am in the house every time they have a problem. Every time.)

I honestly can't express how excited I am about this whole idea. 24 hours of self-indulgent reading! Just for me! No lesson planning (if we fall a little behind, oh well). No cleaning or laundry or running errands. No wiping dirty butts or settling ridiculous disputes or fixing broken toys. One whole entire day just for me!

And what a wonderful opportunity to put a dent in some of those reading challenges I just can't seem to say "no" to. And can't seem to finish in time.

Oh my...October 20th just can't arrive soon enough!