The Big Game's On -- Post-Game

Getting very sleepy around here!

I'm glad I participated in the read-a-thon, even if my participation wasn't quite as full as I might have liked.

I didn't really have much in the way of snacks but had some black tea, leftovers for lunch, and pizza for dinner.

Cover via Amazon

I did indeed end up spending most of my time with The Language Instinct:  How the Mind Creates Language by Steven Pinker with Toto's Tale (by K.D.Hays & Meg Weidman) as
a close second.  I had thought I might read some Agatha Christie as a break from my immersion in a weighty non-fiction tome, but I never actually picked up Funerals are Fatal.  I am on page 333/448 in The Language Instinct and Fiona and I are on page 201/230 in Toto's Tale.  We  may finish it up right now, but I'm guessing she'll actually be asleep before we get that far.  :)  I'm not loving Toto's Tale, but then, Wizard of Oz in general has never been one of my favorites. Fiona likes it well enough, it seems.  And as for The Language Instinct, I'm glad I'm reading it and it makes me miss my college linguistics class, but I'll probably be ready for a break from non-fiction when I'm finished!

The Big Game's On -- Halftime!

Lots of interruptions to my reading, but largely important things (aka people) that take precedence anyway. I've still made progress in the giant work of non-fiction I've been working on --  I'm on page 324/448 in The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker.  It's an interesting book if you like linguistics (which I do), but it's not a book that you can just buzz right through, if you know what I mean.  Focusing on it today means I can finish it up soon and go back to fiction for a while. 

After Fiona, Mark, and Lilly have their bath, I'm guessing that Fiona and I will read more Toto's Tale before bed.

The Big Game's On -- 5:42 p.m.

Lilly woke up from her nap and had an unhappy 1/2 hour before salami and Eric Carle's Brown Bear were deemed suitable.  Everyone else came back from Costco and we all put groceries away. 

Then it was time for a sledding expedition and bless Tim for finding boots for Fiona -- she was thrilled to be able to go along.  I was able to read more of The Language Instinct, and, now that the game has actually started, I'm on page 281/448.

When the sledders returned, it was time for blankets and cinnamon toast by the fireplace.  When toast preparation was over, I put pizza in the oven while everyone else was watching the musical beginning of the Superbowl.  Now I'm off to eat pizza with them and see how the night progresses!  :)

The Big Game's On -- 1:43 p.m. -- Mini-challenge #1

Well, we all had oatmeal with walnuts and craisins for breakfast and then the three children started some intensely imaginative play.  I moved with my book from room to room, staying close enough to hear them.  Sadly, The Language Instinct is not an easy book to read with lots of background noise! I'm on page 237/448.

After a giant uproar over possession of the ladybug pillow -- and some first aid on a cut calf -- Fiona and I came back down to the basement for a while.  She did some drawing and cutting while I read Toto's Tale aloud.  We are on page 153/230.

Now Lilly is asleep upstairs and Fiona has gone with Tim, Amy, and Mark to Costco.  So I'm alone in the house and will do Jenn's first mini-challenge before returning to more of The Language Instinct.

Jenn asks:  For this challenge, take a look at the books you plan on reading today.  Which do you predict will come out as the winner and why?  Do a post to answer this question.

I wasn't totally sure how to interpret "winner" but I decided it's whatever book I spend the most time with today. I'm guessing that it'll be a toss-up between The Language Instinct  and Toto's Tale -- depending on how much Fiona wants to be read to when she gets back from Costco.  We'll see. :)

The Big Game's On Read-a-Thon Start-Up post

(See details here.)

Here we go.  :)

My almost seven-year-old daughter is here with me today after all.  So it'll be a different read-a-thon than I was expecting, but still quite lovely.  I was waiting to make my kick-off post til she woke up.  She is now beside me in bed, reading Momo by Michael Ende.


We have housemates, Tim and Amy and their lovely children Mark (3 years old ) and Lilly (1 year old).  We also have Nico, their cat.  We'll see how much we interact with them during the day.  They've been talking about sledding and may watch the Superbowl as well.

Cover via Amazon

I'm reading The Language Instinct:  How the Mind Creates Language by Steven Pinker.  I'm on page 141/448.  I'd love to finish it up today and move on to Funerals Are Fatal by
Agatha Christie for the Vintage Mystery Challenge or perhaps A Lonely Death (the latest in the Ian Rutledge series!) by Charles Todd or Troubled Waters  by Sharon Shinn for the Futuristic/Sci-Fi Challenge (though I'm not sure yet that it counts).


In addition, Fiona and I are reading Toto's Tale by K.D. Hays and Meg Weidman. We are on page 129/230 and will definitely be reading from it today.  If we finish, we may start Cat Running  by Zilpha Keatley Snyder.

Cover of Cat Running

Fiona is ready for breakfast, so we'll take a reading break and figure out what to eat.  :)

Have a lovely morning, everyone!

The Big Game's On Read-a-Thon!

The details:

• No rules, no guidelines, just read
• No start/end times, just read at your leisure.
• Mini-challenges will be created to break up your reading time. Participating in these challenges is not mandatory, but you will be eligible for a number of great prizes!

Since Fiona's with Jeremy til sometime on Sunday, I figure I can be super productive until then and spend Sunday reading.  Probably just what the therapist ordered at this point.  Better get working on that laundry & bill-paying!