Looking Toward 2011

A recent move managed to tear up my reading challenges for 2010, I finished practically nothing and now, almost 6 months after my move, I still haven't unfinished packing all of my books yet.

So, that said, I am going to try just a few challenges for 2011 and see how I do. I've missed keeping up with the challenges and hope there will be a few I can complete this upcoming year.

So far I am planning on signing up for:

100+ Reading Challenge 2011
Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2011
A - Z Mystery Author Challenge
A - Z Challenge 2011
TBR Challenge 2011
2011 Support Your Local Library
2011 YA Reading Challenge

Hour 15 (10pm - 11pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: Just After Sunset - Stephen King
Number of books read since you started: 3 - The Meanest Doll in the World; Garfield and the Wicked Wizard; The Runaway Dolls
Pages read since last update: 24 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 554 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 37 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 6 hours, 48 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: none this hour
Other participants you’ve visited: none this hour
Prize you’ve won: none

Unfortunately, this is about the end for me. I have to be up early in the morning and although I know I have at least another 4-5 hours left in me, I'm going to have to call it an early night. :-(

Thanks everyone for making this possible and so much fun. Good luck to all participating! Hope everyone makes it through the wee hours of the morning with no problems!

Hour 14 (9pm - 10pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: Just After Sunset - Stephen King
Number of books read since you started: 3 - The Meanest Doll in the World; Garfield and the Wicked Wizard; The Runaway Dolls
Pages read since last update: 18 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 530 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 20 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 6 hours, 11 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: none this hour
Other participants you’ve visited: none this hour
Prize you’ve won: none

Hour 13 (8pm - 9pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Runaway Dolls
Number of books read since you started: 3 - The Meanest Doll in the World & Garfield and the Wicked Wizard & The Runaway Dolls
Pages read since last update: 29 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 512 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 18 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 5 hours, 51 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: none this hour
Other participants you’ve visited: none this hour
Prize you’ve won: none

Ran into some distractions this past hour but managed to finish The Runaway Dolls. That was an excellent series. Not sure what to get into for the next hour.

Hour 12 (7pm - 8pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Runaway Dolls
Number of books read since you started: 2 - The Meanest Doll in the World & Garfield and the Wicked Wizard
Pages read since last update: 40 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 483 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 29 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 5 hours, 33 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Mid-Event Survey
Other participants you’ve visited: Manda (Draw a Blank)
Prize you’ve won: none


Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Still working on The Runaway Dolls by Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin. Really enjoyed this whole series and wish there were more.
2. How many books have you read so far? 2
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? This Time Together by Carol Burnette
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Not really.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I have a five year old, so, uh... yeah. Lots. I've just tried to stay patient, plus read her an entire Garfield book.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? I'm surprised that I constantly find myself unprepared in the snack department for each readathon, even vowing during the last one to be more prepared and still not be. lol Someone send me some snacks, please!!!!!
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? No, I think you guys do a great job.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Try to remember the snacks next year and hopefully be more organized.
9. Are you getting tired yet? I had a tired moment a few hours back, but I'm doing well for the moment. Can't believe we have been doing this almost 12 hours.
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? Can't think of any right now.

Hour 11 (6pm - 7pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Runaway Dolls
Number of books read since you started: 2 - The Meanest Doll in the World & Garfield and the Wicked Wizard
Pages read since last update: 15 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 443
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 14 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 5 hours, 4 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: none
Other participants you’ve visited: none
Prize you’ve won: none

Hour 10 (5pm - 6pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Runaway Dolls & Garfield and the Wicked Wizard
Number of books read since you started: 2 - The Meanest Doll in the World & Garfield and the Wicked Wizard
Pages read since last update: 57 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 428 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 36 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 4 hours, 50 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: none this hour
Other participants you’ve visited: none
Prize you’ve won: none

Hour 9 (4pm - 5pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Runaway Dolls & Garfield and the Wicked Wizard
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 56 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 371 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 36 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 4 hours, 14 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: none
Other participants you’ve visited: none
Prize you’ve won: none

Hour 8 (3pm - 4pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Runaway Dolls
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 62 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 315 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 49 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 3 hours 38 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: none this hour
Other participants you’ve visited: none this hour
Prize you’ve won: none

Hour 7 (2pm - 3pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Runaway Dolls & Garfield and the Wicked Wizard
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 41 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 253 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 29 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 2 hours, 49 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: none
Other participants you’ve visited: none
Prize you’ve won: none

Hour 6 (1pm - 2pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Runaway Dolls & Garfield and the Wicked Wizard
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 26 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 212 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 20 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: It's Your Story... So Write it Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: none
Prize you’ve won: none

Hour 5 (12pm - 1pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Runaway Dolls - Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin; Garfield and the Wicked Wizard
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 54 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 186 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 32 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 2 hours
Mini-challenges completed: none this hour
Other participants you’ve visited: none yet
Prize you’ve won: none

Hour 4 (11am - 12pm)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Meanest Doll in the World
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 38 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 132 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 20 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 1 hour, 28 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: none this hour
Other participants you’ve visited: none yet
Prize you’ve won: none

Hour 3 (10am - 11am)

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Meanest Doll in the World & Garfield and the Wicked Wizard
Number of books read since you started: 0
Pages read since last update: 34 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 94 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 24 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 1 hour, 8 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: And the Nominees Are
Other participants you’ve visited: none yet
Prize you’ve won: none

And The Nominees Are:

Favorite Female Character in a book: Hermione Granger from Harry Potter
Favorite Male Character in a book: Stu Redman from The Stand
Favorite Side Kick in a book: Ron Weasley from Harry Potter
Favorite Couple in a Book: Edward and Bella from Twilight
Favorite Book Series: Harry Potter
Favorite Author: Stephen King
Favorite Book Cover: Under the Dome - Stephen King
Favorite Book of 2009: Under the Dome - Stephen King

Hour 2

End of Hour 2:

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Meanest Doll in the World
Number of books read since you started: 0
Pages read since last update: 40 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 60 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 31 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 44 minutes
Mini challenges completed:
Other participants you've visited: none yet
Prizes you've won: none

End of Hour 1:

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Meanest Doll in the World - Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin
Number of books read since you started: 0
Pages read since last update: 20 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 20 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 13 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 13 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Hour 1 meme, The Kick Off of Champions
Other participants you’ve visited: none yet
Prizes you’ve won: none

The Kick Off of Champions
Miss Remmers' is hosting the Kick Off of Champions. She would like to know what we have surrounded ourselves with for the early hours of the challenge besides books!

I'm going to be spending most of the read-a-thon at my computer desk - I read a little, blog a little, surf the blogs a little so it makes sense to stay put here rather than jumping up and down constantly. On my computer desk I have my big jug of plain water, a Sobe Lifewater, an extra-large iced coffee (gotta have it to get my blood working this early in the morning), a stack of index cards which I use as bookmarks during the readathon so I can jot down notes, pages read, length of time reading to make it easier to update the blog and of course a drawer of junk food to munch on.

Thanks for a great challenge idea!

Dewey's Read-a-Thon Hour 1

I'm so excited to be doing the Read-a-Thon yet again. I've lost track of how many I have participated in. I'm thinking this is 4th or 5th! (I'll have to look back through my blogs and try to figure it out!)

The first mini-challenge is the Hour 1 meme from Darcy.

Where are you reading from today? For easy reading, I am reading from the Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler, the Doll People series by Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin, and I have a handful of other books from the Juvenile section at the library. I also have my Kindle stocked up with lots of other books, a mixture of short stories, mysteries, Chunksters, etc., so I will have lots to choose from.

3 facts about me: I'm currently purchasing a new home and supposed to be moving in 3 weeks. I should be spending every spare minute packing, but can you say UGHHHHH! I HATE packing!

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? Looks like about 20 to choose from.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (ie: number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? Nah, I'm just glad to be able to carve out some time to participate. No pressure this time!

If you're a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? I should follow my own advice, but plan ahead! You should have lots of books, drinks and snacks available. Nothing worse than having Hour 1 start and realizing you forgot to stop at the store and grab some easy, quick to prepare snacks. Which is exactly what I just did!

Dewey's April 10th Readathon

It's almost time once again!

Unfortunately, due to time constraints (I'm in the middle of purchasing a new house and selling my old one! What a nightmare!)... I won't be able to participate in the Readathon as much as I normally do, but I'm going to be in it as much as possible.

Richard Simmons Exercise Challenge 2010

Are you as sick and tired of being sick and tired as I am? Have you tried repeatedly to lose weight only to fail time after time? Or have you succeeded in losing weight only to watch the weight creep back on slowly?

I've spent the last few days signing up for all the reading challenges that I enjoy doing each year and making a commitment to the books I love so much. While watching Richard Simmons on QVC today, it suddenly hit me that maybe I should be saving some time to commit to myself and my health. To making myself and my family healthier. To ensuring that I will be around for many years to come so that I can continue reading these books that are toppling my TBR pile over!

Cause the way I'm going, I'm digging myself an early grave with a fork and spoon.

So, the goal for this challenge is twofold.

First, to read 2 books in the genre of diet or exercise. Come on, that's not a lot to have to read in an entire year! Richard Simmons even has a diet book published that I read many years ago, Still Hungry After All These Years that is out of print but you can still find used online. I believe I bought mine from eBay for two bucks. Extra credit if you actually find and read Richard's book!

That's the easy part.

And now comes the hard part!

Second is to commit to exercise. (I know. Ugly word.) Any kind of exercise will do. Put the book down (I know, I know!) and go for a walk. Workout to a Sweatin' to the Oldies DVD. Rollerblade. Play tennis. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, get out there and do it!

Mr. Linky now available to leave a link to your post. Have a description of your commitment to exercise -- what type, how long, how many days per week? If you have a pedometer, you could commit to a certain amount of steps per day or per week.

If you don't have a blog, that's ok! Just leave your commitment info in the comments section.

I'm going to commit to Sweatin' to the Oldies, three days a week for as long as I can hold out! And I'm going to aim for 25,000 steps per week.

Challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2010.

Hope you will join with me in getting fit for 2010!!!