How's my Blogathon?

So I've rested and now I've had 'breakfast." I'm about about to enjoy what's left of the day. One thing I've learned is that 1. never watch a criminal minds marathon for say 9 hours. It does not help your dreams when you finally can sleep. 2. This will be my last blogathon. The last one I did was 8 years ago when I was 32 and didn't have high bp. Two of my medications have fatigue as a side effect, something I didn't consider. In addition, I can have only a very small amount of caffeine (unless I want my heart to explode which is generally not a good idea). So I want to thank everyone for making this last blogathon of mine a success.

 I want to thank everyone who donated (which was quite a few) especially the anonymous donor who decided to "match" contributions (that really did help a lot), everyone who shared the blogathon and pushed it so we could reach donors, everyone who lent their support in terms of keeping us awake and cheering us on in the comments section and on the event page. Of course, my fellow bloggers Corrine Short, Sera, and Amanda (forgive me if I forgot someone) and their wonderful work. I didn't even expect to have fellow bloggers volunteer, so thank you for being there with me in the long dark hours of night.





Together we raised a couple of hundred dollars for Prestun. However, there is still a long way to go. The family still hasn't reached even 1/2 their goal.  I had neoblastoma at 6 months old. Hopefully, with our help, someday Prestun will be doing what I am doing this year, which is celebrating my 40th birthday. So as much as I appreciate everything you've done, please continue to try and help Prestun by sharing his mother's updates to remind your friends he still needs our help. If you didn't donate during the 'thon, you can still give to http://www.gofundme.com/prestunthesuperhero .

Thank you all.

Labels: blogathon, criminal minds, thank you

24 hours, 48 posts. Done. There are lots of people I need to thank and I will. But later today. For now I have to get some rest. As they used to say back in the day "Good fight, GOOOD NIGHT."

THe kittens are awake again running around full of piss and vinegar and I have only one post left.

But they still count and that's the important thing. I'm still up. One hour to go!

But the finish zone is in sight. Only an hour and a half more.

Nothing to say but I'm awake. The kittens have taken over the bed in my absence. I hope they don't get to used to this.

Too tired to even watch criminal minds. Which is pretty tired. In the old days I would take a cold shower or dance to french techno. I just want to sleep. 2.5 hours left. Nothing to say. Help a girl out.

Somehow I think staying awake might be easier once the sun rises. I'm pretty sure this is the last time I will ever try to do something this crazy.

I really should have prepared material or at least idea for posts in advance. I mean I had ideas for posts, but I didn't count using up so much of my real awake time not being able to actually write posts. Oy.

Amelia is trying to tell me that I have been working too long. Every so often I feel her little paws on my leg. She's all like "Mooooom, come sleep with us." So cute. I shall have to remember this when they are acting like assholes when I am trying to catch up on sleep.

Is that I got cute pictures of the kittens and they were so sleepy. I suppose me not sleeping led them to play longer so when they zonked, they really zonked. Good to know.

OK so I took a little cat nap and unfortunately even though I set the alarm on my wrist thingy, it did not go off. So I owe you posts and posts you will get.

I have no idea how I'm going to pull out these next few entries. I was so unprepared, so ambitious. Someone pass me some iced tea.

You know the point where you wonder if you can do it. Years ago I knew a marathon runner. She ran the NYC marathon. Afterwards I asked her how it was. Her response was, "I was until mile 21. I cried all of mile 21. Then I was fine. We used it as shorthand for a bad day after that. "Mile 21." Yeah I'm at mile 21. Why can't it be 9 am already?

You're so adorable and warm and snuggly and purry right now. I wish you could be like this 8 hours a day instead of four. 

Line from a s5 ep of Criminal Minds "this guy takes eyes so is definitely disturbed." And then later another character says essentially the same thing. In five seasons they never talk about a suspect this way but now suddenly?

I don't watch you for the romance because 1. Your writers can't do romance for shit-honestly the syfy channel does romance better and that's saying something 2. I don't watch a show about serial killers and rapists for the romance angle. I'm pretty sure people who want both watch Bones.

But I'll be arsed if I am going to 1 get them 2 make them (from what? I have no idea). Fucking random food urges.

I will say this. Please go to ajamesonblog because she is writing amazing stuff and making me feel like an epic slacker, so go read some excellent stuff there.

My kittens have FINALLY decided to calm the hell down. Well there is that.

They are so adorable and so impossible to photograph being all inky blackness. Also can someone explain to me what is with kittens and electrical cords. One of them in particular seems to be obsessed with the eating of them. oh god why can't it be 9 am already?

Man, I haven't done this in 8 years. I was younger, healthier, happier, the last time I did this. I'm already tired. Before I wouldn't get like this before 3 am. I can't wait for the late night depression to hit and yet in the last 3 hours I've raised 80 dollars. Not a lot, but that's 8- dollars they didn't have before. So I have to keep going.

Luckily my asshole cats don't let me sleep much anyway.

So why is it my kittens love playing with my notebook, but not me? I haven't even done anything with my notebook since I finished making notes on the Matrix (don't ask) this morning. Why kittens? Why do want to eat paper and snuggle with cat mom?

I miss my old cat. So much. It's embarrassing. Honestly, I would probably sacrifice a human being to get her back. I mean not any human being someone really awful like that asshat that said if women can get abortions men should be able to rape. I mean, really. His life, for my cat? No hesitation.


I may have been watching a bit TOO much violence lately.

So apparently yesterday I had like 103 hits? and today when I'm staying awake for this thing.....34. Maybe if i want to raise more awareness I should just not blog ever? Or just blog "test" which is what I did yesterday to be sure I could blog from my phone. Who knew that "test" would be such a popular post.

Ahem.

We have hit the point in the evening in which I get cranky. Maybe. It's unconfirmed.

And I'm pissed off my kittens want to play with my notebook but not with me because it's annoying on many levels.

Also Season 5 of Criminal Minds sucks so far-I mean who approaches a CLEARLY unbalanced man with a BOX CUTTER IN HAND? Oh surprise, you got stabbed! Also who in their right mind, never mind a criminal profiler would get stabbed in their apartment and then, you know, NOT BREAK THE LEASE AND GO BACK. Seriously. I get stabbed here, I am not coming back. I may not even come back to the same damn city.

Labels: bad writing, blogathon, criminal minds, kittens are assholes

SO I was conversing with one of the bloggers who called me crazy for doing this. In Russian there are two words for crazy one for "good crazy" and the other for "bad crazy." This tells you something about the Russian culture. On the other hand, there really should be those words in English. There should also be a third type "kitten crazy" which is neither good nor bad but annoying and saved only by overwhelming cuteness.

They are impossible to photograph because they are black cats, but they are, for their many many failures, very cute, which is why I forgive them for doing things like eating my notebook and eating student papers (that's VERY forgivable) and knocking shit over and attacking my head in the middle of the night and generally causing all kinds of havoc. So the cute thing is pretty important. Around four am I may try to photograph them for lack of something post.

Well the date found his way home. No marauding wolves or drooling psychopaths. The kittens are racing around as they do. I am fixing to make myself some tea in a bit and later, round midnight, go out and get my karaoke on. Any song requests?

So my plan is: tea here, go out round midnight and blog from the bar until three (why not?), return and then blog for another heartbreaking six hours. Crash for a bit and then prepare for work on Monday.

Oh the crazy. There is a lot of it here and I don't just mean the kittens.

So it appears my date may be stranded in nyc! OH NO OH NO. Considering I won't be using my bed tonight, I've offered it and now he's not responding and since all I do is watch criminal minds and other violent movies and shows, I'm worried he's stranded out there being menaced by thieves who took his cellphone and now are trying to sell his internal organs on e-bay.

OK probably not. But I'm worried anyway. And it's something actually happening instead of you guys getting two lines about Criminal Minds. So it's kind of win win? In an hour I'm going to watch Intruders on BBC America, which if you aren't watching it, is simply lovely.

By then I should know if some poor soul has to keep me company during the long dark teatime of blogathon or if I must spend this time on my own. (le sigh)

Remember when I thought "Oh once my company leaves I shall regale you with long and entertaining posts"? How young and naive we were then. We know better know. We know now I've got bubkis in terms of content and I am desperately hoping something will come to me soon because I assure you my genius will not be appearing at 4 am.

Anyway, got to the end of s4 of Criminal Minds. I'm glad there are 9 seasons because this show is like crack. Of course, I love procedurals like House and Law and Order. I'm not sure wht ppeals to me about them, but it's a definite attraction. Of course part of it is the problem solving aspect, but clearly, since I am not a forensic psychologist, the likelihood of me knowing what the hell to do or what any of these things mean is slim to none. I guess that's the fun. Imagining it's educational.

So I'm halfway through the second part of the Criminal Minds s4 season finale, which has a nice "Of Mice and Men" meets Dr. Mengele feel to it.

And now I notice my kittens have found their way to the kitchen counter top by way of the litter box. It's like living with tiny five year olds.

Unless I decide to go out, which may happen, because after having such nice company here now the apartment feels more empty and I know at 4 am when no one else is awake this is going to be ROUGH GOING so I may dip out for a bit around midnight, might even get my karaoke on! But for now I am going to watch the season finale of s4 Criminal Minds.

Of course, now my tummy is feeling better (FINALLY).

I'm still not hungry and I'm not at all sure why I suddenly felt ill. It's not like I ate anything that could have been that dodgy, but ah well all's well that end's well.

I still have company so the posts are still a bit on the skimpy side. I assure you come 2 am you will get some beautiful posts....most likely about my thoughts about Dr. Reid on Criminal Minds or why I am STILL pissed of about the True Blood Finale (Seriously?!) or catching up on Doctor Who.

Also feel free to to ask or suggest stuff as I'll be here all night. (Oh Monstervision, how I miss you on a night like tonight.)

Labels: blogathon, criminal minds, doctor who, monstervision, true blood finale

So apparently I posted from my phone and it didn't post until a minute ago? SAY WHAT? That's what I get for being a lazy bitch, a disappearing post. So the last post was posted at 6 pm not 6:30. Apparently, for some reason, it took 30 minutes for blogger to GET WITH THE DAMN PROGRAM.

So forgive the technical difficulties it seems like everything is going sideways today.

Argh why? Why today? I feel fine except nauseated. Gah.

Kittens are happily playing with new friend. I feel a bit more comfortable despite having stomach issues from NOWHERE. Of course. It had to happen today. Sigh.

Labels: blogathon, kittens

Some help in the way of content? Coming up with short but entertaining posts isn't as easy as I thought.

It's a little known fact that I was terrified of alien abduction for years and what cured me, strangely, was the movie fire in the sky.

Labels: alien abduction, blogathon, fire in the sky

Ok I feel badly having to tap out of conversation every thirty minutes with my date. I also feel badly that you all are getting "blog posts" that are more appropriate for twitter. Basically that's all I got.

Labels: blogathon, Guilt

As you know, we're doing this to raise funds for Prestun Seibel. He had surgery yesterday and his mother just isolated the gofundme site with details about his recovery. Go there to find out how he is doing or donate. http://www.gofundme.com/prestunthesuperhero

About my grandmother and my father and laughing.

About my grandmother and my father and laughing.

Have Starbucks. Already exhausted. This is going to be one weird day. Plus my backs hurts because I didn't sleep well last night.

Oh no! Planning on the fly.

On my way to the park. I am at one with the me that is on this adventure but god damn I really want a nap.

Mmmmmmm I was starving my ass off. Enjoying brunch with my date

Mmmmmmm I was starving my ass off. Enjoying brunch with my date

Mmmmmmm I was starving my ass off. Enjoying brunch with my date

Be afraid be very afraid.

On my way to the date very late. I hate that.

I'm totally late. Putting myself together and dashing to a date not even half awake yet. Oh this is going to be fun.

Well you kind of get to see me meltdown in real time. Isn't that fun?! I've watched the matrix, written questions, posted them, now to make myself look remotely attractive (not an easy task) and I was supposed to be leaving my apartment now.

Labels: blogathon

So I am in the middle of typing my incredibly insightful questions. I'm also supposed to meet someone, a date a first date if you can believe it (he knows about this) at 11. I'm still in pjs and his bus was early.  AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I may not make it to noon at this rate.

Labels: blogathon, nervous breakdown

Well, I'm watching the end of the Matrix, a movie I haven't seen in a decade I'm sure. I'm doing it because I assigned it to my class so now, you know, I have to do it myself. It's not bad but I find the action sequences boring now. Back then it was "AMAZEBALLS" but now it's like "Can we get to the dialogue so I can write insightful questions?"

Can't entirely complain about a Hugo Weaving movie. That man's voice....it's just obscenely sexy.

Late I'm sure my posts will be much more sophisticated, but I've got a lot I've got to get done by 10:30 right now so you'll just have to live.

If you have any amazingly insightful questions about the matrix, please post them in the comments section.s

Labels: blogathon, matrix

So FINALLY we all got our acts together and now for one day and one day only three bloggers will stay up for 24 hours blogging every 30 minutes to raise awareness and funds for Prestun Siebel's Gofundme. Prestun suffers from the same cancer I survived. Just yesterday he underwent brain surgery. His family is not half way to their goal of $60,000 to cover travel and medical expenses. Our hope is that by doing this we can get more people to donate to his gofundme.

Joining me today will be the ever lovely, but definitely NSFW Sera Alice McCauley at Valeria's Mythos and Amelia Jameson at http://ajameson.blog.com/.

This post is just to see if I can post from my phone.

It's been a while! Let me explain what's going on. About a year ago, I began following the progress of Prestun Seibel. Like myself, Prestun was diagnosed with neuroblastoma and has been battling it for the last two years. I've read every post on his FB page Prestun Seibel Journey Kickin Neuroblastoma Butt.

The last two weeks things have been dire for Prestun. His parents set up a gofundme to cover his medical costs as well as travel to NYC. I shared the plea and added my own story hoping my friends would give. Some shared, but it wasn't enough. Then I came up with an idea: bring back the blogathon. Do something to hopefully raise awareness and more importantly get Prestun's family the funds they need. And so I posted an event on FB saying that I would bring back the blogathon to help raise awareness and funds.

What happened next was unexpected. Three other bloggers said they would join me. Others spread word of the event. And now on August 22nd at 9 am, I will be holding a blogathon to hopefully raise money for Prestun's gofundme.

How does a blogathon work?
 
The first Blogathon was held in 2001 to raise money for charity. The event was so hugely successful that every year bloggers joined until it became a global event. (For more on the history of blogathon, go here. )

The rules are simple. On the appointed day, each blogger posts every 30 minutes from 24 hours. Bloggers can have themes (interactive games, artwork, tributes, trivia), but others just post whatever is rattling around in their noggins. What they post doesn't really matter as long as they post every 30 minutes for 24 hours. Leading up to the event, bloggers get "sponsors" to pledge to give money to their preferred charity. I often raised money for neuroblastoma research for previous blogathons.

Basically, this is just like sponsoring someone on a cancer run or a walk for heart event except instead of doing anything physical, we just have to keep on blogging. And stay awake.

How do sponsorships work? 

They are on the honor system. The money pledged goes DIRECTLY to Prestun's gofundme. You pick a blogger, pledge an amount of money that you can either post in the comments or email me at misslapin@gmail.com. I'll be making a spreadsheet so bloggers can see how much they have raised so far. The pledge is basically a promise to donate if the blogger completes the thon.Once the thon is over (or even during), head on other to the gofundme page and place your donation. No donation is too small. Even a dollar helps.




What if I can't donate?
 
I'm sure quite a few people want to donate, but just don't even have a spare dollar lying around. No worries. Spread the word. Invite people to the event, post this link, write an update about Prestun's battle. The more people who know about the event and what Prestun needs, the more likely we are to find donors.

You can also help by leaving comments on the participating blogs. Particularly those late night hours (say around 4 am) it's rough and having someone leave a note of encouragement means a lot. I'll be playing moderator so I'll try to come up with activities and challenges to keep the bloggers going, but your support is key. (This is also my first time moderating a blogathon so...be gentle.)


What if I want to blog for blogathon?
If you want to participate, send me an email at misslapin@gmail. This site will be updated with a sidebar featuring ALL participating blogs and a spreadsheet of donations. If you don't have a blog already, you can easily get one for free through wordpress or blogger. No prior experience necessary.

What to expect this week:

• Sidebar with participating blogs posted here as well as Prestun's gofundme page
• Spreadsheet of "pledges" for various bloggers
• Friday morning 9 am we kick this thing off!
  

If you have any questions at all about the blogathon, how it works, what will happen, please feel free to email me at misslapin@gmail.com.

I'll be posting more about this over at Bunniblog later today, after a long nap, but I can't help be a ltitle disappointed. Last year, I did half the work and made more money for my charity. Last year, I did 48 posts in 24 hours. This year, I did over 106 posts 28 hours. I gues I just have to think of it as an accomplishment. I'm not sure what I did, but I did it.

In case I should nod off Napoleon and Marv are here to wake me up.. (Napoleon is, believe or not, the one on the left.)

I know I shouldn't complain when I consider what Bakerina is going through today in order to raise money for her cause.

So I'll stop now.

Currently listening and singing to the soundtrack of Zombia Prom. About to run out on the porch for a few minutes on the hammock chair after the next post.

Ah, luxury.

Already my arm is sore-taken two showers, started one energy drink, laced with tequila. All About Boys has had no comments for a while which wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't the more labor intensive blog. It looked like there was going to be a bad thunderstorm here and I was worried about losing power and service, but it seems to have passed.

Tried to upload a picture of my support team here but it's taking too long. I'll try again after the next post.

It seems only will be using this site, but with two blogs I really won't have the time to talk much on the phone, answer emails, or even check comments.

I took the time to go out on the porch and blow bubbles . I'm wearing my killer rabbit slippers, my red hot pussy liquors t-shirt and listening to the soundtrack to Shrek if you can imagine that.

Been coasting on adrenaline for a bit. My right shoulder is already beginning to hurt at not even the five hour mark, and I'm nervous about this two blogs business, but I'll do it.

Picture above is my mother's car Delilah who was less than thrilled to have me join her on the porch. Now it's time for some ice tea.

When I went to high school one of our science teachers had a sign that said, "Murphy's Law: Everything that can go wrong will go wrong." Hand written underneath it said, "Murphy was an optimist."

Now I can accept that what with the big heaping bowl of christian kittens I have for breakfast everyday that the technical problems I am running into are deserved, but Bakerina had to run all the way into manhattan. She's actually at the coffeeshop across the street from my apartment. Which is funny because for once I'm not there.

I'm here in Valatie having just taken my first shower. I'll be posting pictures soon enough. Of course, today would be a bright sunshiny day. Oops have to go and prepare my next two posts.

Currently listening to:Living in Oblivion I

Something is up with blogger. I've written two posts for Bunniblgo both of which have FAILED TO APPEAR. Christ.

Didn't get any sleep last night. Went to bed around 1. Tossed and turned. Woke up at 5:30 and lay in bed for about 40 minutes before I gave up and came downstairs which means that I won't be up for 24 hours, but actually closer to 28 with only about four hours of sleep. Oh man this is going to be really painful.

Hello there, this is a group site for bloggers participating in Blogathon 2006. I figured that at hour 17 some of us (Keith, Bakerina, and Joe as well as others who may join the cast during the 'thon) may not have the energy to write emails back to those you worried about our state, so I created this little site where we can post on how we're doing. I, Bunni, maintaining Bunniblog for the American Heart Association and All About Boys for the Columbia Memorial Hospital Foundation will be going to bed soon so I can start the day off right. But before I go I thought I would give you a picture of Bunni's Blogathon Central Command: