Hour 16

Pages read: 292

Total: 566

Time reading: 3 hr 36 min (1 hr 20 min audio)

Total: 8 hrs 9 min (3 hr 40 min audiobooks)

Books completed: 2

Blogs visited: 0

Total: 3

Mini-challenges completed: 2 (“Collaborative Fiction” and “In Other Words”)

Notes: Wahoo, I finished another book! This time it was the excellent "Demonglass" - I was reading so fast to find out what happens, and now it's all over and I have to wait FOR MONTHS before the next book is published! I hate that and I love it a little at the same time. It's been awhile since I've been so enthralled with a series. Hm, now that that's over with I'm not sure what to read. There are still 8ish hours left in this thing, so I don't want to break out my "books with pictures" just yet, I only have so many of those on hand. Maybe I'll try to slog through another 80 or so pages of "The Royals". Originally I was hoping to finish it this time around, but it gets a little same-y the more I read it so I think I'm dropping that hope. Unfortunately, my eyes are starting to hurt a little, so I'm going to start on the eye drops and hope that helps. See you all again soon!

Hour 12

Mid-event Meme

1. What are you reading right now?

"The Royals" by Kitty Kelly

2. How many books have you read so far?

I've only finished one, but including Royals I've read from two others.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I think "Demonglass" by Rachel Hawkins. I zoomed through the first book in the series quite quickly, and this one is just as good (though I'm only 60ish pages into it).

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Not really. I just made sure to not schedule any appointments Fri-Sun, and cancelled the weekly "Girls Night" I have with two of my best friends. We've done GN after the last couple of Thons, and it was really not a good idea.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Um, yes, definitely. Called the plumber, he was here within 15 minutes and then he didn't leave for a few hours. Other than that one massive and unexpected interruption, just the usual stuff - scratch the cats, grab something to eat, finish up a load of laundry.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon so far?

Honestly? At how fast time is going - I feel like I blink and 2 hours have passed!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the read-a-thon next year?

Not so far.

8. What would you differently, as a Reader or Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Nothing really - you can't plan for sewage back-ups, can you? ;)

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Shockingly, no. Though I'm afraid I might have jinxed myself just now!

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

I'm a big advocate for audiobooks. When it's very late and holding up a book is too tiring, being able to just sit and listen is a great thing.

Hour 12 Update

Pages read: 88

Total: 274

Time reading: 1 hr 35 min

Total: 4 hrs 33 min

Books completed: 1

Blogs visited: 0

Total: 3

Mini-challenges completed: 2

Actual reading has happened - it's a miracle! I'm enjoying the book - "The Royals" by Kitty Kelley - but I think I'll have to switch books for a little while. I'm hoping that I can finish this one up before the Thon is over, but I've got 350 pages to go, and I've got a few others that I've been saving for this event so we'll have to wait and see. I've had two cups of English Breakfast tea, but some real food will have to be eaten soon - reading apparently make you very hungry!

Hour 10

Pages read: 42

Total: 186

Time reading: 42 min

Total: 2 hrs 58 min

Books completed: 1

Blogs visited: 3

Total: 3

Mini-challenges completed: 2 ( "Collaborative Fiction" and BrownGirl Bookspeak's "In Other Words")

Since my last check-in, I have had some major plumbing issues. I went down to the basement to throw in a load of laundry, and sewage was coming out of the floor drain - lovely. So, I called my parents and the plumber, and it's as fixed as it's going to get for now. At least I can use my own bathroom (instead of my neighbors) and won't have to worry about it happening again, at least until this read-a-thon is over! ARGH! I've lost too many hours to this going on, which I'm hoping I can make up for later on. Shit.

At any rate, I'm planning on getting right back into reading as soon as I make myself a cup of tea and change loads of laundry.

Hour 4

Pages read: 144

Total: 144

Time reading: 1 hr 15 min

Total: 2 hrs 16 min

Books completed: 1

Blogs visited: 3

Total: 3

Mini-challenges completed: 1

Notes: Ran to the post office, did a little work for Job #2, all while listening to "Eat, Pray, Love". I'm getting ready to turn off the audiobook for awhile and start physically reading again. Oops! - need to let the cats upstairs for a little playtime first. There, all done.

Also had breakfast, my second cup of coffee (I think that's all the caffeine I can handle for awhile), and while I can't say it's exactly sunny outside, it is getting brighter. Kind of like someone is turning up the brightness knob on a television set. (Anyone else out there remember when TV's had knobs instead of buttons?)

Hour 2

A little late, almost hour 3 really, but I didn't want to stop reading.

Pages read: 144

Total: 144

Time reading: 1 hr 1 min

Total: 1 hr 1 min

Books completed: 1

Blogs visited: 0

Total: 0

Mini-challenges completed: 0

I think I'll have to take a break and hop in the shower. I need to mail something out at the post office and find something to eat. Will be back before you know it!

Hour 1

Good morning! I've just my first cup of coffee in hand and am ready to get started! Actually, I'm using exclamation points so much because Dear LORD am I tired! It's a grey and gloomy day so far (only 7 a.m.) and we're supposed to be getting storms today and tomorrow - I think this may be my kryptonite, folks. At any rate, I'm going to be getting on with things in just a few.

1) Where are you reading from today?

My home outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2) Three random facts about me ...

I own over twenty coats, I love Nathan Fillion, and I'm seriously considering leaving Facebook.

3) How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

Dozens, really. I'm reading over 10 books right now - I know, it's a sickness.

4) Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon?

I'm going to low-ball myself this time and say that I'd like to read 3 books. I'll probably do more than that, really, but I don't want to guilt myself into a larger number just because. My focus is going to be on books that I'm already reading, but I'd like to randomly pick a book or two from my shelves, something I haven't really done before in a Thon.

5) If you're a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

Yes! Take breaks, please! Don't over-caffeinate yourself either, and if you feel yourself starting to wane, hop online or do a mini Dance Party by yourself for a couple of songs to get your blood pumping again. You may look like a spaz, but you'll be awake!

Alright, off to start my first book of the Thon, "Daddy Long-Legs" by Jean Webster. See you all soon!

First Quarter Wrap-Up 2011

My goal for this year is to read 121 books, but other than the slim requirement of reading at least 5 in each category (for my 11 in 11 challenge on LibraryThing) I decided to be kind to myself this year and not sweat anything else. I think I need to start "sweating" about the lack of reading in a few of these categories!

Doorstoppers: 2 / 5 read
Contemplate a Classic: 1 / 5
LT Recommends: 4 / 5
PBS'ers: 2 / 5
Main shelf #1, authors A - G: 4 / 5
#2, G - P: 0 / 5
#3, P - Z: 0 / 5
Work bookcase: 1 / 5
Travel bookcase: 2 / 5
Guest Bedroom bookcase: 1 / 5
Magpie Central: 23 / 5

Favorite book of Q: The Library by Sarah Stewart
Least favorite book: The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way

Thoughts: I'm very surprised to have already read 40 books this quarter! Yes, some of them were children's books, but they still count! I've read almost all good books, just the one "stinker", so I hope that trend continues throughout the rest of the year. Something that I need to remind myself of in the future is that I don't need to be totally present for each sentence I read in each book. I can just read them and not be continually looking for the book that "changes my life", nor do I need to make every book I read into some version of that. Sometimes I just exhaust myself!

If I can keep this pace up for the next 9 months, it should be my most prolific reading year ever! Tomorrow I'm participating in Deweys' 24-Hour Read-a-thon, and the only goal I have for myself is to finish at least 3 books that I'm currently reading. (The fact that I'm actually reading from 10 books is a sad state of where my head is these days!) Alright, I'm off to pick up the house and prep some food for my big day of reading tomorrow!

I'm not planning on updating every hour like I have in the past, but if I get antsy enough I might be here every hour. Really, I'd just like to read as much as possible. See you soon!