Readathon vlog - fourth time lucky!

Readathon!

It seems to come around faster and faster each time doesn’t it?

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, hie ye to here: http://24hourreadathon.com/ and all your questions will be answered. And if you feel inspired to sign up, well don’t let me stop you :D

Readathon attracts more and more readers every turn which is fantastic. I considered being a reader this year but that never works out well for me, so I signed up again as a cheerleader because the readathon always needs cheerleaders and it’s fun.

Inevitably, as soon as I sign up, I completely forget how many hours I’ve signed up for but I try to get around everyone on my list at least once. I also buy an inordinate amount of food and do a vlog.

These are my readathon traditions – cheering and eating – lol.

This is a short post because I want it to be all readathon all the time. I’ll be back with my usual nonsensical ramblings later. J

*May the books be ever in your favour*

*May the books be with you*

*We're going to need a bigger book*

*Frankly my dear, I don’t give a book*

*We’re on a mission from book*

Readathon _ Eva's mini-challenge

Remembering Dewey.

On this Weekly Geeks post http://justaddbooks.blogspot.com/2008/06/whew-catch-up-on-reviews-week-was-hard.html I said I wouldn't be able to do the readathon, because of Patrick. But Dewey said hey, why not be a cheerleader? So I was, for that readathon, and the next one as well.

I really wanted to read for this one, so I've been doig a little bit of both. I think Dewey would be so pleased with this readathon. I certainly wouldn't have met so many great books bloggers if not for her Weekly Geeks.

Godspeed, Dewey.

Weekly Geeks 27 _ Making It Count

Here, as Becky suggested in this post http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2008/12/planning-for-weekly-geeks-27.html, is my Weekly Geeks post in honour of Dewey. It's nothing specific, just a collection of thoughts.

It's nearly a new year, a time when people reflect, renew and go forward with purpose and energy. Sometimes that purpose and energy sustains them throughout the year, sometimes it flags on January 2. I'm usually of the latter category but you know what? That's okay.

And you know what else? Not this time.

I never met Dewey except as a book-blogger and a Weekly Geek participant. And while her loss reverberates and resonates through all of us, I started thinking how I could make it mean something, even in my little corner of the world.

You know the movie Titanic? There's a scene in that, when they're all sitting in the first-class dining room and this is part of Leonardo di Caprio's character Jack's speech:
"... I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count."

So. That's my goal for 2009. Making it count.
And what does that mean for me?
It means trying to make the most of the things I love.
My family, yes, my cats; my reading and other hobbies; even my work. That last one may sound a bit strange but the thing is, I love my work but after the upheavals of the past year or so, I'm not so sure I love my job. So I'm going to focus on the work. I also want to answer that nagging question: "What if I did all of the things that I want to do, every day. What would my life look like then?"
Those things are (apart from be the best mum I can to Patrick and as good a wife as I can):Read every day
Write every day
Go for a walk every day
Do some cross stitching every day and actually finish some projects
Blog often, listen to more music, go to more movies and laugh .... a lot.
I really want to know what the shape of that life is.

It also means actually trying to pay down some debt and saving some money for a change, so that I can make some long-held dreams _ mostly to travel _ come true.

I don't know if any of us had any idea how ill Dewey really was. Certainly the energy she put into her blogging and community-building belied any illness, or hint of illness. I believe that, in her own way, Dewey really and truly made her life count and maybe the best way to remember is to make our own lives count, in our own way.
I do know that, because of Dewey, I started a couple of "regular" features for myself, on my own blog. My Reading Week and Wednesday Wants posts, became, along with the Weekly Geeks, the framework on which I hung my blog posts. And, in Dewey's honour, long may it continue.

In your honour, Dewey, wherever you may be, I'm going to sit down sometime this weekend, with a good book, a cup of tea to raise to your extraordinary energy, and I'm sure a cat or two ... or three.

Here's to you, Dewey.

Weekly Geeks for Dewey

Becky, in this post, http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2008/12/planning-for-weekly-geeks-27.html has suggested a way that the Weekly Geeks _ and others _ can honour the memory of Dewey and her commitment and energy to the blook blogging world. It's a great idea, and mine will be coming up soon.

Meantime, she's asked us to spread the word. :)

Also, Raych at http://booksidoneread.blogspot.com/ is calling for artists to create a button for Dewey. I have no idea how to go about that, but thought I'd mention it any way. :)

I'm hoping that the Weekly Geeks, the Readathon and the Bookworms' Carnival will continue, although I think Jackie at http://www.literaryescapism.com/ is going to keep the Carnival running.

I'm a bit crap at doing things to be honest, but if anyone needs any behind-the-scenes help, I'm a GREAT behind-the-scenes person.