✩ Jazzy Chat - What's Up With You

[Jazz]

✩

[Jazz]

✩ A broader chat to all things that are jazzy reads (fiction and nonfiction) and challenges. New challenges and announcements will be posted here. You can post links to other threads if you so desire. Example: If you have to let everyone know about a review you have for a book that you have posted in the book review thread it's ok to post a link and a bit of the review in this chat too.

[Jazz]

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[★ gwiz ★]

✩ Woo Hoo ✩


I thought I would start the chat on a positively happy & lucky post.

I just won my 2nd GRs book giveaway :D That deserves another Woo Hoo !!!

It is the first book in Charlaine Harris new series Gunnie Rose An Easy Death

Suppose to receive in the mail in 4-6 weeks. So sometime next month.

The other book I won was from an author I enjoyed one her series but at the time I wasn't able to purchase the book (that I won) and boy am I glad I got it as I really enjoyed it and it worked out for the creature feature of the month that I read it :D

Oh, the stats for the giveaway were 50 books to 4,074 entries. That made that odds of 1 to 81. Which isn't bad odds really.

[Jazz]

✩ Double Woo Hoo ✩


Hey Everyone Guess What :D

I won another (my 3rd) another book Don't know when I'll receive it other than that it may take 4 to 6 weeks.

Lots of fun and reading time to come.

[Jazz]

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Just thought I would let ya'll know that the group is now public . Because if anyone interested in the challenges that joins the group they can set them up to start at the beginning of the new year. Even though if they start after the new year they can adjust their challenge dates to their desire timing or backlog their books to fit the beginning of the year.

[Jazz]

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I've been experimenting on InstaGram as there are a lot of people who are readers and writers. I think GRs and IG can go together as GRs is a bit harder to post personal pics and IG does pics. I have been taking pictures of books I have finished reading and post them on IG. I have also posted stuff like my bookshelves. As well as some highlights in life. If interested check out the link.

Just finish posting my 9 block on IG--it was all about reading, books and Totally Jazzy Reads.

[Jazz]

✩ Here's the link. I put the link into another post as it was wonking out the other comment and I don't know why? Making another comment was the easy fix

Jazz's Instagram account

[Jazz]

✩ Think it is time I need to get on those 2020 Reading Challenges as it's getting close to Jan 1 when I want to have as a start date. I do know I want to continue with a Series Highlight in 2020 like I did this year in 2019. And am still working on 3 series that I been juggling around the libraries that I hope to finish early in 2020.

[★ gwiz ★]

Welcome Valeria Nice to see ya.

[valeria]

hello to everyone, stay safe please

[Jazz]

Valeria you as well stay safe and good luck on your challenges :D

[Marla]

[Jazz]

Everyone Have a Great Year to Come,

I new year for new reads and rereads anew. Hope new exciting times for the coming year. Keep us up dated to all your wonderful times.

I am in the process of updating challenge and boards dates for 2021. The graph bar challenges have been done. I will keep let you know as I keep done with the rest of the group.

It's a good time to start those yearly challenges. Note you can (I have already) the GoodReads Yearly Reading Challenge that you sign up on your personal profile page. If you sign up while you are there like all your friends that are taking the challenge to show your support :D

[Jazz]

Marla,

I was thinking that ll That's Jazzy Chat to include the Weekend chat that why we are not going back and forth. That is why I added What's Up with You. What do you think?

[Marla]

Works for me! Thanks again for all the work you do to moderate these groups.

[Jazz]

To let you know what's up with me this week,

I am going to do a much as I can get done on the group and other computer data. I have started my 2nd Green Collection Santa cross stitch for IG Christmas next year as well as continuing with the ones I am in process of working on.

I finished just at the beginning the year and am halfway on the second book in the duology both rereads first time read back around 1988. It's been so long that for me it almost like reading first time. I can tell that my reading preferences have changed. Still a good read though.

OH, I just found out that I won a GR giveaway. I think this is the 4 one that I have been privilege to received. Let you know when I revive it. It is by an author I know from Colorado Springs. It is a new series that is base one his Iron Druid Chronicles. Which is on my procrastination bookshelf and challenge.

Going out to the library for curbside pickup on Wednesday. I not sure that I will be going out - except bring in the trash can. Pretty much a home body these days.

Later enjoy the new year energy for great times.

[Jazz]

Valeria I noticed the reading challenges you have are interested in. Good luck and have lots of reading fun along the way. If you have any questions about any of them let me know. I am rooting for you. :D

Looks like I need to sign up for a couple that I been working on :D

[valeria]

Thanks, i have one or two questions, I will review it and let you know

[Jazz]

valeria wrote: "Thanks, i have one or two questions, I will review it and let you know"


Sounds good :D

[Jazz]

Elsbeth wrote: "Jazz wrote: "Elsbeth wrote: Thanks, Jazz!
I took a look. I love your little wisdoms!

I know what you mean about wanting to buy them all! I have a subscription to Bookchoice, a Dutch ebook membership. Every month you get 8 ebooks for 4 euros. You can't choose which books you get. But they usually are recent books. So when I walk through the shop I think: Hey, I think I have this book, hey, I think I have this authors former book etc. I still have loads I haven't read, yet... :-)
..."

Thanks for looking.

As to having loads of books not read yet, I understand. I have loads and loads of books not read on my TBR shelves. When I temporarily moved here (and got stuck because of Covid) I only had 2 (packed) bookcase I set aside for books to read while here and I have all those ebooks (thousands) I have on my phone yet to read. Then what have I done while here gotten books from the library to read. I need to post Tales of the Library about that :D So I understand about loads of books TBR LOL there's never enough time to read all the books I want to read :-( But I will get through lots of them. I hope you will too :D

Just a note: There is actually a few open spaces on those 2 bookcases where I have repacked the books for the upcoming move when we are able to move. Yeah! I still have tubs with books that I haven't read that I didn't unpack :-O

[Jazz]

A week or so ago I updated the dates in Bar Graph Challenges, for the new year. I went back today and check out how they were working. It seems like some of the 18 challenges are automatically up dating books added to my bookshelves but some still need me to go into my books read page for each challenge, then refresh on the challenge page for the new books to show up. I also had to redo the bookshelf tag/link to 2 of the challenges as they weren't drawing from the (correct?) bookshelf. Now that may have been my mistake as I was tweaking the order of my bookshelves this summer. I added a lot more creatures and categories to help others with reading challenges. I have an as I go I'll update the book for the new shelves. And seeing I am changing my main account to Jazz on Chrome as my account on Internet Explorer is not supported anymore I have a lot of book data to transfer. About 600 more books to add to Jazz's account and verify the 1,800 between the two account. Yikes. That should take some time. But even with the empty spaces you should be able to get ideas for your challenges off my bookshelves. Here 's the link https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

[valeria]

i think this questions first and i will think others thank you

can i change this where you were born for another place: Where: The city, state, province, country where you were born,
what do you mean by this: that is an uncommon genre
what do you mean by this: Alternate History
what do you mean by this: A long running series

[Jazz]

valeria wrote: "i think this questions first and i will think others thank you ..."

can i change this where you were born for another place: Where: The city, state, province, country where you were born,
Yes You are encourage to customize your challenges. See the note below.

what do you mean by this: that is an uncommon genre
Your common genres are the BIG ones like Romance, Science Fiction, Mystery, YA stuff you would see labeled on bookstore shelves sections. They can include the subgenre like fantasy, horror of science fiction. The uncommon ones are the ones that are new sub sub genre like cozy, chick lit (becoming common), cyberpunk or any punk, forensics, holiday, spin off. You can check my bookshelves I have about 75 genres listed, both common and uncommon. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
They are listed together with genre in front of each. In fact you could just go through the subject shelves and pick a uncommon genre too. It really up to you.

what do you mean by this: Alternate History
Like what it is says it takes a period of history and alternate some facts or situations to fit the story. Example Naomi Novik wrote about the Napoleonic Wars in but in her war against Napoleon she had dragons fighting. Thereby an alternate view of history.


what do you mean by this: A long running series
I just finished some long running series. One was 23 books long and was about the same people through out the books. Many mysteries are like this (this was a cozy), one series was 35 books longs but it was more about the world built than about one group of people, so it had several series within this world. I think of it as a long running series even though it is broken up into sections of time. If there is a chronological time list for reading the series you most likely have a long running series. Another way to look for a long running series is one that is ongoing. Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich puts out a book every year in this series. 27 so far. They are part of a series but can be read as a stand alone or chronological. Not sure which challenge you got this from but I don't believe that you need to read all the books in a long series just 1 or a few. It depends of the guidelines and what you decide you want as part of your challenge.

Note: Remember I stated the challenges are guidelines for you and you to make the challenge your own. I don't require you to follow them to to letter. There are very few rules that I feel that should be follow but even then I won't get on you about changing it up. The challenges are for you to enjoy and encourage you to read more to reach your reading goals and get those books on the TBR shelf onto the Read bookshelf. I hope that answers your questions.

[Jazz]

I thought while I was here I would let you know what's up this week for me.

I got a good day in yesterday transferring & updating data from BC and OBT to my personal group. GRs seems to have a limit to how many new folders and posts one can do within a certain time period (don't know what it is) I do a much as I can then I move around doing little things. Then back to updating.

Lots of wind and lost power early this morning. After I went to bed around 3ish. Started to get cold when it came back on. Had to go get the trash can and put it back in the garage as it was scooting down the road on it's side.

Tomorrow and Friday we are going to do those things that have to be done out and about. The weather is suppose to be good. No rain, snow or wind. Had to divide up between the 2 days as I still have my classes I been taking for 3 years now on Zoom. Yep I knew how it work before the pandemic.

Currently reading It is one of my series that I am catching up on. The new release came out at the end of November and I had yet to read the one before. I had hoped to reread the whole series before getting to the new but with certain books I have on hold at the library and the line for them I didn't think I would be able to fit 7 books in. I just read the last book that I had read to refresh my memory.

J came to visit on Sunday we were all masked up and stuff that couldn't be wiped down covered. I decided to start the tiny wreath cross stitch as I could set that aside for a few day or more. I need to finish the edging on the present Santa I been working on. I have a few other projects (there is always a few other projects) that I need to get stitching. I also got some writing done this week hope to get more done in the coming week. I have to fit in posting to IG some how on Friday too :-O

That's it for me. What's happening with y'all :D

Later

[valeria]

that answers my questions and of course I'm going to check the list you mentioned to me, and refering to A long running series i found it In A Year Reading Challenge in section published item 135, and i have one more in this one 163. Read a complete series that is more than 3 books, needs to be from book one or let's say the second (if I already read the first) but that the series is more than three books. thank you

[Jazz]

valeria wrote: "i have one more in this one 163. Read a complete series that is more than 3 books, needs to be from book one or let's say the second (if I already read the first) but that the series is more than three books, ..."

OK the way I would interrupt this is.
You need to read a complete series of more than 3 books, so at least 4 books.
They can be either new reads or rereads.
Now if you want to say read a series that has 5+ books and you don't want to reread one of those books I'm OK with you just reading the rest of the books in the series. The reason I put this task in as an option is to get people reading series that are more than trilogies. As always make the challenge for you :D

I been going through the challenges and really thinking I want to do that one or that one. I not sure what all this year has in store for me. Hopefully we'll move and that will cut down on reading time. So I may start some challenges and see what happens. I do plan on reading 125 books this year and to continue going through catching up on my series.

[Jazz]

Hey all, time has sure flew by.

I am on the 4th book of an 8th book series. I have held onto this series for years planning on reading it. I read another series from Louise Cooper that I loved and I started picking up the books for Indigo but I believe it took awhile to get all the books as at the time it was hard to get books unless you happen upon them in the bookstore when they were released. It is so much better/easier to get the book you want these days. this truly belongs in the Procrastination challenge :D

Read Started reading
Waiting to read TBR

Still working on the Green Santas Collection. Just about done with the 4th one. Two more to go.

Am eligible for the vaccine (living and taking care of mom got me eligible) just not enough right now for it for either of us. So we are still pretty much stuck.

I got my giveaway that I won. I have gotten the other books in the world series that is before this one from the library that I don't have already. Just don't feel right reading the new series without know the way of the world that was built for this series. Of course I don't know when I'll actually get to reading the 9 or 10 books yet. But if I have to return the hard copy books I can get the ebooks if I need to.

Hard to believe that January is almost gone. At the moment on my GRs yearly reads I am 2 books ahead. I like to be a bit farther along then I am but with things the way the are I am glad I am 2 books ahead. Catch ya up on the reading front later :D

[Jazz]

Oh, thought I'd let you know that



The first season or book 1 of All Souls-Discovery of Witches is free on Sundance and the second season or book 2 is showing weekly (or streaming) season 3 or book 3 has been approved for production. So the whole series will be put to film. 8 episodes per season. I seen half of the first season and they seem to be following the book closely but with a few small changes.

[Jazz]

Hi All,

had to pause on the Cooper's Indio series halfway through because I needed to read the Spiritwalker series by Kate Elliott as the library wanted the 2 of the trilogy in hard copy that I had. Had to read the final book on ebook. I really enjoyed this series. As always Elliott's series are a bit different.

Now I have to reread Hafsah Faizal's We Hunt the Flame because her second book We Free the Stars is in high demand, including me (a new release) and will have to return them soon as well.

If this keeps up I'll be reading Ready Player One and Ready Player Two before I get back to Indio. And if you know the way I prefer to read series, back-to-back this is not my way or going through a series.

At present I am a bit behind on my GRs yearly reading goal. Will need to push through some books, not now but soon.

I got my 1st shot of the vaccine today at a mass dosing station. Took about a half hour. Mostly a get in this line then get in the next line starting at the parking lot. The lines weren't bad really. Neither was the shot. I almost had to ask if she had given it to me.

Take care and have happy reading.

[Jazz]

Happy Weekend Everyone,

I finally got my weekly IG posts posted, later then I would like. J came over today to pick up mail and set up working on setting up his van for going traveling again. Hence the delay.

Some snow tonight but will melt quickly. Getting into the 50s next week. Spring is coming (have to watch out for late winter storms though).

Am reading the 2nd book, We Free The Stars, Sands of Arawiya series by Hafsah Faizal,, . Ready Player Two is now waiting for me to pick up at the library next week. I'll have to reread Ready Player One first as it has been a long time since I read it. I have to post a Tales From the Library. Hopefully soon :D

valeria how are you doing on your reading challenges. I am a couple of books on my GRs yearly challenge. I have been working on catching up on other projects.

Haven't heard from you lately Marla hope all is well.

[valeria]

hello jazz, hello everyone, well with my challenges i have been regular, i have read little, do not know what happened to me this month that slow down lol , but i hope for March i improve my reading, today i will update what i read in January and February for the challenges, here the weather is mixed in the day it is hot and at night it is cold but from the second week of March until September more or less it will be hot,

[Jazz]

valeria I'll have my fingers crossed for both you and me to read more in March. I need to update my one of my databases with this years reading still. No idea when I'll get to it. I am doing well with keeping up with jazz's bookshelves :D

Good luck with continuing with your challenges :D

[Jazz]

Hey How's Everyone,

I been rereading my Mercy Thompson's World series in Chronological order. Still need to decide if I like smashing the 2 different series together (2 different main characters) or not.

I reread Ready Player One to read the new book in the series (boy the book sure was a lot different than the movie) and I started Ready Player Two but Wade was back to his insecure self and it just bugged me that he was where he was at the beginning of RP1. So I put it up and will think about reading it later maybe. Looks like he will be doing the same thing just with a different computer game involved.

I should read but will hold off on reading the Iron Druid series for a bit. I changed my GRs Reading goal as I am behind where I would like to be and with us planning on, finally, looking for a place to live next month I might get really behind. If it works out I'll put my book reading back up to where I like it to be later.

Oh, I watch the 2 seasons of Discovery of Witches. They have done a good job around the books. There were a few changes. The one thing that was different is many of the characters/actors didn't really look or feel like what I imagine them to be from the books. The third book isn't yet filmed but they are planning on it.

I'm doing good, in fact, by the end of the week I'll be fully vaccinated. My 14 days afterward will be on Friday. The following week I'll finally be getting my implant. Yikes. Hopefully that will go well.

I been working on my embroidery while I watch TV lately and not just in the morning for 15-30 minutes.

Take care until later.

[Jazz]

Still reading Mercy Thompson's World series. I am just a bit futher then halfway. I have been putting it off because I thought it would take a long time to get through but am finding that is not the case. So far the books are taking about 2 days to get through and the novelettes just a matter of hours. I am reading the first Alpha & Omega that I haven't read yet. Briggs slipped in the A&O series after having written several Mercy's books and since then has been flipping every other year between the 2 series to make the world series. In a couple of books I'll be reading some new Mercy's that I have held off reading until I could read in chronological order. If all goes well I should be completing all of the books and novelettes by the end of the month.

If I can read 20 more books by the end of June I should be able to up my GRs reading goal again :D

I'm fully vaccinated and I got the dental implant implanted yesterday. Now for the healing and then the restoration in 6 months. Hope to be able to have that done with my present dentist but don't know if I'll be in the area and be able to drive back for it.

Well back to A&O Anna and Charles.

[Jazz]

Been awhile since I posted in more ways than time. Went to Oregon for a visit and to check out places to live. Oregon is looking good. Very lush and green. Lots of bike trails and lanes.

Finished reading as much as I could in Mercy Thompson Worlds and can't wait until next year for the next book. Soul Taken

Have quickly read and am now reading the series that I had audio on the way to and back from Oregon. It took a few days to get the series from the library which is why I didn't start it when I got right back.

Been playing around with a few new apps on my phone. Some I'll keep but most are not going to stick. I just don't have enough space on the internal drive to keep them if they don't allow them to go to the external spaces. It's too bad they are some good apps. I'll keep track of them in my app library and may use them when I get a new phone (not too long) that has more memory.

What are you all reading and doing.

[Jazz]

Oh my time has flown by and I don't know where. It is about the last quarter of the year and that for me catching up on my GRs accounts and challenge updates. My old browser for my other account isn't working well any more. Will have to see if I can get all the books I read this year listed on it for my followers that use the bookshelf. I haven't been able to read as much this year as usual. But it looks like I might make it close by the end of the year. I have completed several great books and finished a few many volume series. Gonna have to wiggle some time in to do all that updating.

We have been looking for property (finally able to with the opening up from Covid) Oregon is looking promising but very limited in sales. That has been taking a chunk of time away from reading. Have driven down 3 times so far staying several days searching. Hoping to be out of this rental around/before winter.
May have to start looking back up in Washington :-( We are in process of finding the place to live. It is just taking longer than we had hoped.

Been working on my IG account JazzFeylynn and have branched out to add jazzy.s_creative_moments to keep track of WIPs (works in process) showing my daily work on projects. Just embroidery so far but hope to branch out into other works of arts. My mom calls her account her private museum cuz there is loads of outstanding and fun art and crafts, jewelry and fashion.

Been reading a manga series Yona of the Dawn. Saw the limited amine of it and wanted to read more of the series so I am :D I also just finished book 1 of Legend of Wolves, Last Wolf and am starting book 2. Still need to add to bookshelf.

Well back to updating and reading.

Have a wonderful fall and hope you are more ready for the new year than I am :D

[Jazz]

Hi all,

Am reading the 3rd book in the Legend of All Wolves.

Been busy last few months traveling back and forth looking for a house. Actually did have one but there were code issues and to fix them we would lose one of the best features of the house. So it was back to searching. We decided to move no matter what and started setting up our stuff to go into storage. But this last time down we found a place. We are waiting for the next counter on thia 2nd house. If this goes through we'll be going back and forth getting some replacement and fix ups done (flooring and painting mostly). Likely that will take a month or 2 of being there and not here packing. Which we are now planing on everything not going into storage but every time we go down we take a load and put into storage. It's not much but it mostly the odd shape or fragile stuff. So here's hoping that early in the new year we'll be unpacking again. Don't think this will be our forever home but the availability, home or land to build on, there is just not much out there.

Hope to spend time on GRs getting everything ready for the end of the year and new year. Do I even think about starting up reading challenges other than a year total read?

Hope ya'll will be able to do challenges. Have you even been able to start to look at what you'll be interested in? Plus how are you doing with your present challenges?

[Marla]

Hey there, it's been a loooong time. Jazz, thanks for missing me back in Feb.

It's been a year. Got my youngest married off. Got worn down prior to the wedding and ended up sick for most of my trip to Hawaii to see my family.

While I was gone, I had laryngitis and couldn't talk my hubby out of getting TWO puppies. I never had dogs growing up and I'm not much of a dog person. But it's kind of like children. I'm not a fan of other people's children, but I adore my own. And these puppies are so cute and sweet, though lots of work. And no one told us until after we got them that getting 2 puppies at the same time is usually all kinds of trouble...litter mate syndrome. It's had it's moments, but so far the good has outweighed the bad.

Hubby has had some health issues this fall, but he seems to be recovering well.

I have been reading for relaxation, but I'm so far behind in writing reviews and I have not been updating my reading challenges this year.

So that was my 2021. Looking forward to a better, calmer 2022.

Merry Christmas!

[Jazz]

Marla wrote: "Hey there, it's been a loooong time. Jazz, thanks for missing me back in Feb. .."

Sorry that you were sick when in Hawaii. Glad you are doing better.

Oh how nice you have puppies. They can be a handful but a joy as well.

Reading for relaxation is good too :-) Is it the best :D

Hope you have that better and calmer 2022.

I know I will be hoping for the same but it might take awhile into 2022 because we finally got a house in Oregon. Had a hard time with all the irregularities pandemic-wise stuff. This will allow us to be in the area we want and be able to hop on if something comes up. Had a wonderful lot we loved but by the time we saw it we just missed it :-( Next couple of months will be moving stuff down.

Catch ya later hopefully in early 2022

[Marla]

Nope, once I'm back, I'm back. Lol

I thought you would want to know that I finally updated my Cocoon Spindle Board Game challenge and I finished it finally! Started in 2016 and finished it early this year. Good times...I think I'll repost it here in TJR so I can maybe do it again some time.

Okay, after sleeping on it, I think I'm going to start Round #2 of Toss The Dice Board Game in 2022.

[Jazz]

Marla wrote: "Nope, once I'm back, I'm back. Lol

I thought you would want to know that I finally updated my Cocoon Spindle Board Game challenge and I finished it finally! Started in 2016 and finished it early t..."

Glad you're back. I really need to do some updating on GRs. But not sure when that will be.

[Marla]

Have a great move to Oregon! Hope you find what you want in a house.

Merry Christmas! And see you in 2022!

[Marla]

Hey Jazz, how is your move to Oregon going? Are you settled in yet?

[Jazz]

Marla wrote: "Hey Jazz, how is your move to Oregon going? Are you settled in yet?"

Hey Marla,

It's is going. On the 2nd to last load that I am taking. The movers drop the main load last week. Plan to be Oregonian by the 1st of April. Got a start on changing contact info and all the gov stuff. Got the interior painted and new carpet in the carpeted areas. I painted some of the shelves have a few more to go. The last move the movers stepped all over my shelves and I couldn't wipe off the marks so it's repainting them. Have some tubs/boxes unpacked. We went with a different internet and it is awful so we are getting a different one. Hope it works out better. So am in process. I am usually ahead on my reading challenges but right now I'm behind even with audio books while driving back and forth. But I am catching up. Part of the issue was I been reading a series that takes forever to read a book. So I am giving it a break to read a faster one :D Hope to get back to normal (close to) in a few months.

Hope all's well with you and yours. Catch ya later :)

[Marla]

Hey Jazz,

Good luck with your moving and painting!

I've been a little better about writing reviews on GoodReads. I am trying to just do shorter reviews when it's not a series book that I need more info to catch up in order to read the next book.

I still haven't finished updating all my challenges from last year. I barely updated my non-monthly challenges after Jan 2021. I am thinking about just quitting some of the challenges *gasp* It's tough for me to admit defeat, so we'll see if I can quit any challenges.

My puppies just turned one! Unfortunately with all the problems and excitement last year, I didn't train them as much as I wanted to. Blue is starting to be a resource guarding bully. He's even growled and snapped at my husband and me. But he takes everything away from poor Goldie. I've got a really good book and I need work more with them. He's gotten better, but it's a slow process.

[Jazz]

Marla,

I had to "gasp" cut back on my challenges I think a couple of years ago. Hoping to get back into them later. Like maybe when I get settled from the move. I've been behind on just reading BUT I am now at lease caught up on my book read for the year. Yeah! My main focus has been reading my ongoing series that I'm behind a book or two. I'm reading from the beginning of the series to get reacquainted with the tiny details and events of the series that can make a difference.

Good news on the move is we are unpacking and starting getting the list down on what needs to be fix. Got my new drivers licencee and Jeep register yesterday. I am also catching up on the books that I didn't get over the last few years because I didn't want to move them when we actually did get the movers to move.

Sounds like your puppy Blue has decided that he is alpha. You have to get him to know that you and your husband are. PetSmart usually has training classes if you need help. He is still a puppy until he's about 2 years. I would work on that before is is an adult. You might never have an issue with it but the one time he doesn't understand where he stands in the pack might turn ugly.

Got my library card yesterday and am about to see if I can get to the online catalog.

Good luck on deciding about the challenges. I know it's a hard one to decide. Oh, just to throw a wrench into that decision, I have figured out a new game board challenge base on my embroidery WIP (work in process) challenge. It's a year long and I think it would be best if it starts at the beginning of the year. The good thing about it is each person gets to decide how much or little they want to read/do and you can even change it at any time.

[Marla]

Hey Jazz,

Missed you! I'm glad to hear that you're settled and even got your library card!! I hope your local library is almost as good as your previous book sanctuaries.

I am still worried about Blue. You got it in one, HE thinks he can be the Alpha, but he is too insecure and anxious. He is very sweet unless he's got something (like a sock) that he really, really wants or ANYTHING that poor Goldie has. Actually, if Goldie would just stop humoring him and be the Alpha of the puppies, life would be much simpler for everyone. She knows that I'm a bigger bitch, literally, than she is. She lets Blue bully her, but she could take him out anytime she wanted. He's 30 lbs and she's 25 lbs, but my money is on her. They started Doggy Day Care this week, so they could meet and play with more dogs and get more socialization.

I've updated most of my 2021 challenges, but I've still got about a dozen left to update. And I've been trying to keep up with my 2022 challenges instead of getting so far behind again. (But between the wedding, 2 new puppies and my husband's now-much-better illness, I hope this year will just be less stressful!)

[Jazz]

Marla,

Moved but not yet settle. But I do have a library card. Plus new furnace, garage door opener, internet, updated TV, new dentist, still working on the dr and insurance. Still need to work on electrical upgrades. Set back on the closet as it needs to be redone.

Hope the socialization with Blue is working.

I have caught up with my book reading. I didn't work on my embroidery for a few weeks but back working on my WIPs.

Well back to settling :D

[Marla]

Hey Jazz,

I lost my father 2 weeks ago so I went back to Hawaii to help and hang out with my siblings. He was in his 90s, so we can't be too sad. He lived a good, long life. But the last week or so was very stressful, waiting for the phone call.

Good luck on your renovations and upgrades! And also work on your embroidery for a stress release.

Blue is still a work in progress. Puppy Day Care has been improving Blue's behavior but actually, it is making Goldie less tolerant of his bad behavior. It's probably fair, but adds to the chaos of our home.

My daughter said that her trainer said that when one of us is out of town, Blue might think he might move up the hierarchy so he's testing everyone. Makes sense, but it's so annoying. He challenged everyone after this last trip, my daughter and husband, but not me...yet.

With the chaos of life, I am very behind in my reading. They are going to lock my library account tomorrow, because I have 3 books which are 2 weeks overdue. I need to write reviews for 2 books which I will finish tonight, but I am only 25% done with the 3rd book. I think I'm just going to return it and borrow it again later. Luckily, it wasn't an inter-library loan.

I better get back to my reviews. Talk to you later.