Looking Ahead to 2009

Looking ahead for 2009 Challenges, I know I want to try to keep it simple this year, but I am also kicking myself for not trying the 888 Challenge. I "know" I am going to want to try a 10, 10 in 2010 Challenge, so I am thinking the 999 Challenge would be great practice. Since I only managed 59 books this year, I know 81 will be a bit out of reach, but ya never know. My main goal is just to read as many books as I can, and it doesn't upset me a bit if I don't manage to complete any goals. I am just thrilled to be inspired to READ!

Some possible categories for 999: (I think these WILL be my categories actually)

1. Holiday
2. Anything from a Series
3. Kindle books
4. Children's Picture Books
5. Juvenile/Young Adult
6. Cozy Mystery
7. Agatha Raisin
8. Foreign
9. Library

Okay, I am so wanting to do this 999 Challenge that I even made the recommended Ticker! Looks like I'm going to go for it! Even if I don't manage the 999, reading a total of 81 books for the year would be AWESOME!

I am also planning on 2009 TBR. I didn't complete this one for '08 either, but 4 books off the TBR is better than NO books off the TBR. LOL

2008 Challenge Results

Unfortunately, I did not meet very many goals for 2008. I only completed the Amateur Sleuth Challenge. (6/6)

Results for the other Challenge were:

100+ Reading Challenge: 59/100
2008 TBR Challenge: 4/12
A Well-Rounded Challenge: 2/6
A-Z Reading Challenge: 29/52
Chunkster Challenge 2008: 2/4
Diana Gabaldon Challenge: 2/6
Every Month is a Holiday Challenge: 6/12
Romance Reading Challenge: 4/5
Series Challenge: 6/11

However, I read a total of 59 books for 2008, compared to 35 for 2007, and only 10 for 2006. So, I am greatly improved over previous years and hope to continue getting more reading in for 2009. I am going to sign up for less challenges for 2009, but am hoping to get more reading in.

Hour 14 Update

Title of book(s) read since last update: Murder For Halloween
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 16
Running total of pages read since you started: 288
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 23 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 363 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Top Ten List Challenge, Short Story Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: C.B. James, Softdrink
Prize you’ve won: None

Loved the challenges this hour.

I'm going to be moving the reading upstairs. Time for a shower and to get more comfy now that everyone has gone to sleep. Finally peace and quiet. I'm planning on reading until midnight at least before I go to sleep. It's 10:30 pm here on the East Coast. I would try for an all-nighter, but I have to work tomorrow night and I'm afraid I will end up a zombie. LOL

Keep up the great work everyone and good luck with meeting your challenges!

Top Ten List

(Tapping index card on desk)

From the home office in Sioux City, Iowa, here comes Patti's Top 10 List of Things I Have Yelled At My Family today during the Read-a-thon.

Here we go.

10. Please, knock it off!
9. Alright, seriously! You gotta stop bothering me, I'm trying to read!
8. Come on! I'm not kidding! I hardly got any reading done that hour!
7. Will someone let the dogs out?!?
6. I'm running away from home!
5. If you two don't knock it off, I am going to (CENSORED)!
4. STOP YELLING!
3. YOU BETTER NOT HIT HIM!
2. WHAT'S FOR DINNER?!?

and the number one thing I have yelled at my family today:

1. CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!

Hour 13 Update

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death - Laurie Notaro
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 21
Running total of pages read since you started: 272
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 24 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 340 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Dream Plate Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: None
Prize you’ve won: None

Hour 12 Update

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death - Laurie Notaro
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 21
Running total of pages read since you started: 251
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 316 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Sharon
Prize you’ve won: None

Hour 11 Update

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death - Laurie Notaro
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 15
Running total of pages read since you started: 230
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 17 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 286 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Mid-Event Survey
Other participants you’ve visited: None
Prize you’ve won: None

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death by Laurie Notaro
2. How many books have you read so far? Have completed one and read parts of 3 others.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? G'Day to Die by Maddy Hunter
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Not really. I only had to do a little driving today. I did grab a lot of frozen foods for today to make it easier plus stockpiled a lot of books that I figured would interest me from the library.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I've had far too many interruptions. I'm sad to say I'm not dealing well and have ended up yelling "Knock it off!" quite a bit.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? It always surprises me how well run it is. I don't know how you all coordinate and run things so smoothly, but I think you all do a great job.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Not really. I think it's awesome and really enjoy doing them.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I'm already planning that supper is going to be a delivery deal. Going to get some of my fave comfort foods and spend the day relaxing and eating. lol And I think my 4 year old daughter might have to spend the day at Grandma's and her father needs to find something else to do as well. Definitely looking for more peace and quiet next time.
9. Are you getting tired yet? Surprisingly not. I wasn't planning on staying up all night, (last time I think I went to bed at 11pm) but I am toying with trying to see how long I can last. I'm thinking the sleeping hours might be more productive for me.
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 definitely think short stories and comedy type books are the way to go! Stockpile books so you have lots to choose from. And grab a lot of your favorite genres to read. Nothing worse then being stuck reading something you are really not enjoying when something else is calling out to you.

Thanks for a great day so far!

Hours 9 & 10

Title of book(s) read since last update: Are You There, Vodka? (finally finished it), I Feel Bad About My Neck - Nora Ephron & The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death - Laurie Notaro
Number of books read since you started: Finally finished ONE
Pages read since last update: 30 & 19
Running total of pages read since you started: 215
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 36 minutes & 25 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 269 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: None these hours
Other participants you’ve visited: Dewey, Kim
Prize you’ve won: None

Okay, I still think I'm screwed up on my hours, so I 'think' I just completed hours 9 & 10. I'm gonna run with it and see if this is right. I should be on hour 11 right now.

I am pretty sure my family decided to go insane today! I am having the hardest time reading. Constantly having to stop and break up arguments. Seems like something is constantly going on. Next year I am shipping everyone off and spending the day by myself. LOL Oh, well. Hopefully things will get better when I can send everyone off to bed. (Crossing my fingers that I don't fall asleep too!)

But, I finally finished a book and started two more just so I'll have plenty to choose from.

Hours 8 & 9

Title of book(s) read since last update: Murder for Halloween & Are You There, Vodka?
Number of books read since you started: still working on same
Pages read since last update: 19 & 31
Running total of pages read since you started: 166
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 27 minutes & 32 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 208 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: None these hours
Other participants you’ve visited: None these hours
Prize you’ve won: None

Well, I thought I would try reading for two hours without a break to blog to see if that would help get more reading in. I think I was on the right track until my Mom called and kept me on the phone for 20 minutes. Grrr!

I am almost finished with Are You There, Vodka? I am really enjoying it. Chelsea Handler is one funny woman. Some of the things she writes about are pretty shocking, I agree, but there are also some moments that make me laugh out loud. I'm definitely going to try out her other book one of these days.

I'll be back in two hours probably (unless I come back sooner). I'm going to finish up Chelsea and then see what else I can get into. I really really wanted to read 500 pages this time. I don't know if it's possible, but I am sure going to try!

Hour 7 Update

Title of book(s) read since last update: Murder for Halloween
Number of books read since you started: still working on same
Pages read since last update: 10
Running total of pages read since you started: 116
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 23 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 149 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: FreeRice, donated a total of 4400 grains
Other participants you’ve visited: Tammy, J.C. Montgomery
Prize you’ve won: None

Love the free rice site, but got to wonder. Who counts out these grains of rice, anyhow? ;-)

Murder for Halloween is a collection of Halloween short stories. This last story I've been working on is BOR-ING! I nodded off for about ten minutes. Sheesh! Gotta finish up the story this hour so I can get back to Chelsea.

Also, somehow my hours got messed up. What hour is this anyhow? LOL

Hour 4 Update

Title of book(s) read since last update: Are you There, Vodka?
Number of books read since you started: still working on same
Pages read since last update: 35
Running total of pages read since you started: 106
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 46 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 126 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Meryl's Mini Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Valentina, Chris
Prize you’ve won: None

Still plugging right along. Seems a lot harder this time around! LOL Maybe cause last time the weather was nice and this time it is freezing out! Too much time wasted having to get all bundled up then jumping out of my bundles to come blog, then running back to cover up! Hope you all are keeping warm today!

Hour 3 Update

Well, I got a lot of reading time in last hour, so I'm back on track. Unfortunately I have to do more driving soon so the next hour is going to be pretty crazy but then I should be good for the rest of the day!

Title of book(s) read since last update: Are you there Vodka & Murder for Halloween
Number of books read since you started: still working on same 2
Pages read since last update: 42
Running total of pages read since you started: 71
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 50 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 80 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: None this hour
Other participants you’ve visited: Lynda, Veena, Nymeth
Prize you’ve won: 0

Hour 2 Update

Unfortunately, I didn't even get to read this hour. Had to do some driving and don't have any audio books, so I'm spending the rest of the hour visiting blogs and working on the mini challenge Free Rice

So far I've donated 1580 grains of rice and thought I would work on it a little throughout the day. I've seen this site before but need to remember to visit it daily!

As far as the reading side of things:

Title of book(s) read since last update: Murder for Halloween & Are you There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea
Number of books read since you started: Haven't finished any, just reading a little at a time from a few.
Pages read since last update: 29
Running total of pages read since you started: 29
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 30 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Free Rice, Introduction Meme
Other participants you’ve visited: Iliana, Jessi
Prize you’ve won: 0

Hour 1 Update

Where are you reading from today? A little bit of everything, June Bug; Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea; I Feel Bad About My Neck; Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death; The Tapestry; How Starbucks Saved My Life; Born Standing Up; G'Day to Die; Aunt Dimity and the Duke.

3 facts about me … 1.) I am off to a horrible start with the readathon. Way too many DISTRACTIONS! People in this house are not being helpful! LOL
2.) I just adopted 3 Lovebirds last night and am listening to them sing this morning. Very pretty.
3.) I love pizza.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? About 10 with another pile of alternatives. LOL

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? Books I'm hoping to finish one or two, but I plan to read a mishmash throughout the day so I am going to be concentrating more on number of pages. Last year I did 410, this year I am hoping for 500.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time? Definitely take a break when you start feeling icky! And good luck to everyone.

Almost Time!!!

Here we go! I'm ready and raring to get reading! Good luck to everyone!

24 hour Read - a - Thon

It's that time again! I'm so excited and have been getting ready for weeks. Requested a lot of books from the library that I had been wanting to get to and setting them aside just for this special day. Had been working on revamping my entire website just for this! And now it's finally time again. Can't wait to get started! This will be my second read-a-thon and I have WAY toned down my expectations this time around. Last time I had some pretty huge goals for what I hoped to accomplish. I picked out a total of 17 books and hoped to read 4 or 5 of them and a total of 2,000 pages. ROFL Boy, was I WAY off!

Turns out I read 3 books with a total of 410 pages. I didn't stay awake for the entire thing and I won't even attempt it this year. I NEEDS my beauty rest! I have bought frozen pizzas and microwave meals to feed the family and think I am pretty well set.

Some of the books I will be reading this go-round are:

Born Standing Up - Steve Martin
G'Day to Die - Maddy Hunter
Murder For Halloween: Tales of Suspense - Edited by Michele Slung and Roland Hartman
The Tapestry: Book 1, The Hound of Rowan - Henry H. Neff
I Feel Bad About My Neck - Nora Ephron
How Starbucks Saved My Life - Michael Gates Gill
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Barbara Kingsolver
The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death - Laurie Notaro
All I Know About Animal Behavior I Learned in Loehmann's Dressing Room - Erma Bombeck
June Bug - Jess Lourey
Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death - M.C. Beaton

As you may notice, I have lots of humor thrown in. A couple cozy mysteries which I adore, and a few odds and ends.

I would love to hit a total of 500 pages this year, so that will be my goal after 410 last year and I am planning to mix it up from several of the above books and anything else that gets in my way.

Let the reading begin!!!

Amateur Sleuth Challenge (6/14/08 - 12/31/08)

Finished Challenge: 9/8/08

This was a really fun challenge. I enjoy cozy mysteries so much, so anytime one is going on, you can count on me to sign up!

I found a new author that i LOVE - M.C. Beaton. The Agatha Raisin series is awesome and I have been reading right along through the series. Have read the first 5 in the series at this point and am planning on continuing through the rest. May even try her other series as well.

I also tried a re-read of an old childhood favorite, Trixie Belden. This one did not live up to all that I remembered, though. It took me a long time to finish, and I will not be pursuing the series any further.

Read the latest in Laura Levine's series. Another great one from her. Looking forward to the next.

Started a new-to-me series by Jessica Conant-Park & Susan Conant. Really enjoyed it and am sad to hear the authors will not be continuing the series.

Another new-to-me series was Aunt Dimity's Death. I really enjoyed this one, but have had trouble starting the 2nd book in the series. Hope to be able to get into it and continue with the series.

Also finished the next in line from Maddy Hunter. Didn't enjoy this one quite as much as some of the others in her series, but will be continuing with the next.


1. Top O' the Mournin' - Maddy Hunter (International Tour Escort)
2. Killing Bridezilla - Laura Levine (Writer-for-Hire)
3. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death - M.C. Beaton (Retired)
4. Trixie Belden: The Secret of the Mansion - Julie Campbell (Schoolgirl)
5. Simmer Down - Jessica Conant-Park & Susan Conant (Secretary for a Sexual Harrassment Organization)
6. Aunt Dimity's Death - Nancy Atherton (Temp Agency)

Just4thehelluvit Challenge (Ongoing)

Just4thehelluvit Challenge

No time limits - No lists - No hassle - Ongoing

1. Louder than Words - Jenny McCarthy

2. The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club - Laurie Notaro

3. Belly Laughs - Jenny McCarthy

4. Tippy-toe Murder - Leslie Meier
5. An Idiot Girl's Christmas - Laurie Notaro
6. Baby Laughs - Jenny McCarthy
7. You Can Run, But You Can't Hide - Duane "Dog" Chapman
8. Trick or Treat Murder - Leslie Meier
9. Fit to Die - J.B. Stanley
10. Autobiography of a Fat Bride - Laurie Notaro
11. Steve & Me - Terri Irwin
12. Back to School Murder - Leslie Meier

13.