Sunday, April 22, 2012

Sunday Salon: The Spring Readathon Edition

A slightly groggy Sunday morning to you all, especially if you participated in the Spring Readathon like me.  I always really look forward to these things, and usually the one held in the spring is the one where I can really invest.  That was not the case this time around.  On Thursday I caught some kind of ugly virus that involved sweating and chilling and exploding heads, and it was still going on Saturday morning.  I had to take my son to Andre's for a workout Saturday morning, and while he worked out I spent an hour on the elliptical, and what do you know?  It did sweat out some toxins.  I had a girl's volleyball game after that, so I didn't start the reading in earnest until about 3pm.  


The anti-readathon gremlins were still working to derail me though, even at that point.  My daughter had a friend over to work on a year-end project (one of several in progress right now that would like to drive me to the bottle), and at one point they were testing their homemade mousetrap car in my reading space.  They all demanded dinner at one point.  My husband and son kept begging me to watch movies, and a thunderstorm was raging.  But I stuck to my guns.  I finished "Divergent", as well as the first in the "Fables" graphic novel series, and a decent chunk of "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis.  I did not participate in any mini challenges, because that just disrupts my mojo.  I have so little time to just sit and read and I totally relish in it.  I crashed about 1am.  I don't think I've pulled an all-nighter ever, not even in college.   


By the way, I have pre-ordered "Insurgent", the sequel to "Divergent", which is released on May 1.  My daughter and I are pretty darned excited about it.


As for the rest of the week, all I can say is that except for Friday, when I was home sweating and moaning and groaning, I was on the go.  And I can't even tell you why exactly, it is a blur.  Errands of all sorts, hairdresser, getting crap from Lowe's for these damn projects, eye appointments, volleyball, golf, school stuff.  I don't know anything about writing reviews or reading blogs.  


I was able to finish "Killing Lincoln" on audio, and I can't say I was overly impressed.  Once I heard that a lot of this stuff was inaccurate (according to the experts) I became distracted with how much to believe and how much to ignore.  I am now about halfway through "Swamplandia" which is just...strange.  I really assumed I would love this, because I am drawn to anything old Florida.  But it is not what I was expecting, and the narrators aren't quite right.  I could change my mind before the end, though.  It has happened.


In print, before the readathon, I read Wiley Cash's "A Land More Kind Than Home" and I was completely BESOTTED with it.  It drew me in from the first chapter.  I couldn't be more pleased because Wiley is a stand-up guy.  


One irritation I've had this week is Blogger.  All of my prescheduled posts have not been posting!!!  I have to post them manually.  Has anyone else been having this problem?  I remember a couple of years ago when this happened (I was in Poland and could do nothing about it, thanks Blogger).  Or is it just me? 


Today we're looking at church, horse (if it doesn't rain, which it probably will) and a couple hours at the animal shelter.  And sleep.  And fortifying myself for what I view to be a particularly squirrelly week ahead.  
       

14 comments:

bermudaonion said...

Oh, how I used to hate end of year projects - it was like the teachers were trying to make up for lost time.

I don't think I've ever pulled an all nighter either.

Julie P. said...

I loved Wiley's book too. I am kind of wishing I had listened to it instead of reading it but...

I've never pulled an all-nighter either!

And no, I haven't had any issues like that with blogger this week but it does look very different now!

rhapsodyinbooks said...

It's the second half of Swamplandia that will get your attention, esp. for the mother of a girl about the same age.

Carrie K. said...

I'm sorry you weren't feeling great - I'm amazed you got that much done in spite of it! And didn't you love Divergent? I really can't wait for the next one, too.

caite said...

No read-a-thorns for me. And since it is raining,I am off to visit my doggie nephews.

Anonymous said...

I preordered Insurgent too! I am leaving for vacation May 2 so I doubt I will get it by then unless Amazon ships it early. Bummer! I am glad you were able to participate in the readathon yesterday.

Unknown said...

I hope you're feeling better, Sandy!

You got a lot of reading dome despite having so much of your time monopolized by other things.

I've read many mixed reviews of Swamplandia so I'm interested to see what you think when you finish it. And I'm going to look into Wiley Cash's book since you enjoyed it so much.

Have a good week, Sandy!

Heidenkind said...

I don't schedule posts in Blogger, because of my little mental block problem with that, but I haven't heard of any other problems with it.

Jenners said...

Sorry to hear you've had the Ick. Hope it is gone. That you actually worked out while feling bad is quite impressive … but casts you under suspicion! HAHA!

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear that you've been feeling ill. Hope you have a better week this week.

I've just finished A Land More Kind Than Home too - I agree it is very gripping, but I also longed to see things from the perspective of the congregation/vicar. I look forward to comparing notes.

Zibilee said...

I am so sorry you were sick! I have a few friends now who are fighting off the same bug, and I hear it's a bad one. Good for you to have gotten so much done with the readathon! I could not participate, as I was having a tea party with a friend for her birthday at the tea house in Lake Alfred.

I also think Swamplandia is strange and can't imagine what is going to happen next. Such a weird, weird book.

I hope this week is less stinky for you over there!

Alyce said...

I'm glad you were able to work through the sickness and hope you are completely better now. School projects are so much more of a pain for parents than I thought they would be as a kid. :) (Although I can only think of two times my parents helped me out with projects, so that might have had something to do with my skewed expectations.)

Ti said...

I hope you are all better now. Nearly everyone I know had something going on over the weekend. I had my allergic reaction and then got hit with a fever, but nothing else.

I didn't do the read-a-thon. I read less when I do the read-a-thon. Go figure.

What is up with the end of the year projects?? My son is graduating from Middle school this May and his last day is May 31st and it's all hitting me right now. Yearbook field trip to Six Flags, 8th grade Disney field trip, DC Trip, 8th grade awards, 8th grade BBQ, basketball camps, track camps, ASB interviews, etc. I cannot keep up!

Kathleen said...

I don't know how you do it all Sandy! You are always on the go and even being sick doesn't hold you down! You go girl!