Lavender & Coffee Stains

Dear Me,

Being quite out of the loop for sometime, I was amazed to discover that another read-a-thon is bound to happen again this year! The busyness of life has virtually overtaken me.


This coming October 9, 2010 - Saturday, book lovers and their blogs will once again grace the blogosphere with Dewey's 24 hour Read-A-Thon. Eeek! I'm so enthusiastic about it. *bounce*

To enlighten what the read-a-thon is all about:

What is Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon?
For 24 hours, we read books, post to our blogs about our reading, and visit other readers' blogs. We also participate in mini-challenges throughout the day. It happens twice a year, in April and in October.

It was created by the beloved Dewey. The first one was held in October 2007. Dewey died in late 2008. The read-a-thon was renamed to honor its founder in 2009.

The read-a-thon, in about one year's time, became such a cornerstone of the book blogging community that the event was nominated for best event/carnival/meme for BBAW.

Basically, it is burying your head and have your eyes glued in books for 24 hours; where everyone is doing the same thing all at the same time. But of course, you are allowed to tend to things that require your attention from time to time. The point is: do read as long as you can. :)

I have already signed up (#79 in the list) because I want to honor Dewey for welcoming me during the first time I joined. Also, the event will surely be another way to get some reading done and at the same time, toppling off some books from my tower of TBR pile. Another exhilarating side of why a book lover should participate is that prizes abound, accomplish mini-challenges in-between, discover and meet other book bloggers, etc. It will be another delightful day spending time reading and being surrounded by books. :)


Sign-up for October 9, 2010 Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon

History of Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon

FAQs about the read-a-thon

Facebook Page for Dewey's Read-a-thon

Dear Me,

I have been looking forward to joining this book carnival from 5 Minutes For Books for months now. Although I have been a little lax in my reading activity for the past months due to family obligations and travels, I make sure that I finish one book per month.

I'm participating What's On Your Nightstand? for the FIRST TIME. It's a nice way to connect with other book lovers and share each other's monthly reading pile. On your nightstand, it can be a heavy tome that you are currently pinning on or a couple of paperbacks that you are simultaneously reading. What's on Your Nightstand? happens on the FOURTH Tuesday of every month.

Basically it's our monthly excuse to talk books, to drool over other people's books, and to try to organize our reading plans.

I find pleasure in discovering books that have been read and openly recommended by other book bloggers. With this, I am gearing up myself for an upcoming reading marathon that is bound to happen next month.

Currently on my nightstand:

1. Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson
   
   
2. Becoming Americana by Lara Rios
   
   
3. Toujours Provence by Peter Mayle
   
   
4. Mary Kay: The Success Story of America's Most Dynamic Businesswoman by Mary Kay Ash
   
   
5. Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

Yay! I'm hell-bent on accomplishing the books I said I would read this year. But for now, I'm focused on these five books on my nightstand. Has anybody read any of these books already? If you have, what part had the most appeal to you?

Dear Me,

Suddenly, I find myself browsing through some old photos in my archive. And when I say old, the digital images goes way back year 2000. It would have been fun to see the ones before that year. Unfortunately, I still have to hunt from wherever those photos from long ago and have them scanned.


Year 2000
(moi at the left corner)
looking so awkward & scrawny

Year 2001
beating a deadline

Year 2002
lounging at somebody's work station

Year 2003
(moi at the far right corner)
with the CEO & the rest of the office angels

Year 2004
casually busy

Year 2005
(moi wearing a maroon top)
with office buddy Jill at a company exhibition

Year 2006
(moi holding a birthday cake)
celebrating my birthday

Year 2007
(moi in pink, standing second from the left side)
with my office buddies during my farewell party

Year 2007
preggy & enjoying this delightful craving at Burger King

Year 2008
(moi carrying my little buddy)
shopping with the sister

Year 2008
attending a clear black night party with hubby & little buddy

Year 2008
(moi in the middle)
lunching out with office buddies

Year 2009
whiling time with my little buddy during a blogger event

Year 2010
with little buddy during his very first "semi-kalbo" haircut

Year 2010 (July)
@ the hotel in Cebu with little buddy

Year 2010 (June)
with my mom, en route to Hongkong

Year 2010 (September)
I love Egyptian-related books!
@ the Universal Studios Singapore

Year 2010 (September)
with my Egyptian boyfriend
@ the Universal Studios Singapore

I will be posting more photos during our recent family travels. :)