Saturday, October 24, 2009

Read, Set, Go - and - We're Off Reading

Okay, I'm feeling a bit stressed and it is just beginning. This is my first try at a read-a-thon. I know I will have to take a few time outs during the day or night, in fact I may even have to go to make a hospital run for a while, but I will take a book with me (that's another story-I'm not sick). I figure this is all in good fun and I'm not trying to set any records.

My Worthy Cause:




I will be donating to a cause that is near and dear to our family: Pancreatic Cancer.  (My mom died of this (11 weeks after it was diagnosed), and now my oldest brother has be battling PC for (1) year. I will be donating $1.00 for each comment left on my blog during the 24-hour period of the read-a-thon, and an additional $5.00 for each NEW follower on my blog during the same period.


(Maximum donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will be $100.00).

The Books:



Miss Smith's Haunted Library, Runaway Mummy, Gift from the Sea, The Tao of Beach Glass, Driving With Dead People, A Graveyard for Lunatics, Haunted Island, Half Broke Horses, Nancy Drew (1 and 2), and The Haunting of Hill House) -- If I run out of things to read (like that will happen), I know just where to go in my house to grab more books



The reading chaise that the books are on faces the fireplace, and it's suppose to be damp and rainy, so I may have to have a fire as well.



I know not too much caffeine, but there is decaff coffee and teas and hot chocolate here as well, and water of course.  As for food, there is yogurt, fruit, I've pre-made salad and chicken salad, and we'll probably have pizza delivered for dinner to make it easy.

Good luck everyone, and even more important today --  have fun! Thanks to all the cheerleader, organizers, and any one else who helped in coordinating this event. I'll be stopping by to cheer you on a bit myself.

30 comments:

  1. Hello Dianne,

    It's such a wonderful thing that you managed to incorporate something this significant to the Read-a-Thon challenge. I too have lost my grandparents from cancer and I know how hard it must have been for you and your family. But to see you do something like this inspires me and I know a lot of people will be too. You're such an amazing person for doing this.

    Anyway, I wish you good luck to the Read-A-Thon. I know you can do it. Happy reading.♥

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  2. What a wonderful cause! I wish I could be here to comment all day, but we're leaving for Parent's Weekend...now!

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  3. Don't be stressed...it is all about having fun and defnitely staying flexible. No matter how well I planned last time, my non-reading life kept creeping in...once I accepted it, the anxiety ceased. Definitely a worthy cause and my best wishes to your brother.

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  4. A very worthy cause. I commend you in your generosity. Losing someone to cancer is just a horrible grief. Please accept my condolences on the loss of your mother.

    Have a good time reading.

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  5. Hi Diane: I'm a cheerleader for the first time too! You're in my first group to cheer for, so, for hour one: congratulations on signing up, and I hope the next 24 hours are filled with books, and people talking about books for you! Mostly, lovely reading time for you. I love all the food you have put by, and that your husband is helping by ordering pizza for dinner.

    One day I hope to be able to participate to, but my children are too young to let me have 24 hours to read...I hope the marathon is still going when they are old enough (about two years to go, I think....)

    I am so sad to hear about your mother, and now your brother. I'll try to comment as much as I can over the next 24 hours, for them! As well as to cheer you on. I'm so glad to see you here, by the way!

    I hope you are enjoying being part of world-wide reading event. It's awesome, and I think you are too for being part of it.

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  6. I hope you are enjoy it so far. What a wonderful charity you giving back to. Enjoy your readathon and reading!

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  7. PS I can't get the follower button to work. Blogger has issues! I'll try again later. See you in a while! Go, Diane!

    PPS I can hardly wait do see you review Runaway Mummy. Don't you just have days when you feel like that? I do...

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  8. Hi Diane! Don't be stressed! It's all for fun, and the fact that you are raising money for an important cause is awesome. Good luck in your reading today!

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  9. I am happy to contribute to PC research, that's for sure!

    Lots of people take time outs during the readathon - it will probably be a perfect refresher for you!

    I have a K-cup thing too - aren't they fun? And what a great thing to have around for a day like today!

    Good luck!!!!!!!!!

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  10. Yay! Let the games begin. You've picked a wonderful charity. I just lost a very lovely friend to pancreatic cancer last week. Happy reading today.

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  11. Such a great morning here in South Alabama, just the perfect time to grab that cup of coffee and read, read, read!!! So keep up the great reading enjoy!!! And, you are reading for a great cause. I will keep up the comments throughout the read a thon for you. I am a cancer survivor. Good luck and many blessings to you and your family.
    the Transcendentalists team!

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  12. What a worthy cause. I will try to get over here and comment to increase your donation! Audio books work great if you have to leave the house! Read away.

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  13. I'm so jealous of your chaise! I hope you have a great day and don't have to make a hospital run!

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  14. that's wonderful! I love how you decided to give.

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  15. So organised, I am impressed.I love all the books you have chosen. Very suitable for this time of year. Good luck with your reading.

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  16. Welcome to the readathon! I hope you have a great time in your first outing. Don't stress--just have a blast! Your pile of books looks delicious!

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  17. I think it's a good idea that you added a horror story to the pile, perhaps it can help you stay awake :)

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  18. Traditional read-a-thon blessing:

    May the bookshelf be there to greet you.
    May all the books appeal.
    May the fridge be full of tasty snacks;
    the words fall soft upon your eyes and until the read-a-thon ends,
    may you always hold a book in the palm of your hand.

    Good luck today!

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  19. It's wonderful that you're giving the Readathon this extra significance. I'm so sorry about your mother.

    I hope all your books are fantastic! :)

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  20. What a great cause to read for! I wish you luck with the read-a-thon, Diane! Happy reading!

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  21. Good luck with the read-a-thon! I'm so sorry to hear of the struggles your family has had with pancreatic cancer, and for the loss of your mother.

    I hope you have a relaxing day of reading.

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  22. Don't stress, Diane. My advice is to try and get into a certain rhythm and you'll find it easier to get into the swing of things.

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  23. Great cause to donate to Diane. I wasn't thinking this time around but I think in my next post I'll do the donating to breast cancer again. Cancer devastates so many families.

    You sure do have some healthy snacks. I'll post a pic of mine later. There isn't too many healthy ones. lol. Although I do have yogurt and fruit in the house as well but will they win out over the snackies is the question.

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  24. Great afternoon and the leaves are falling, wind is whipping through the trees, great time to curl up with that next book and keep on reading!!! Hot chocolate cookies have got to be around there somewhere!!

    Go Reading,Go Reading,Go Reading!!!

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  25. I lined up my books for the read-a-thon in exactly the same way that you did!

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  26. It was funny seeing those legs (Driving with Dead People), I've got it too, just haven't read it yet.

    I like how you broke down your cause money. - wish I had been here 50 minutes sooner :-)

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  27. Hi Diane, that's a wonderful thing that you're doing in raising funds during the read-a-thon.

    I had a good time following your progress during the entire duration!

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  28. I'm doing catch-up commenting on your blog (if you haven't noticed yet), so this is well after the Read-A-Thon, but I happened to see your Keurig! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our Keurig. We think it's the best thing EVER. :)

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  29. I'm doing catch-up commenting on your blog (if you haven't noticed yet), so this is well after the Read-A-Thon, but I happened to see your Keurig! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our Keurig. We think it's the best thing EVER. :)

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