Iain's BR Tracker -- The Rebel Spreadsheets of the Free-Realms

[Zaara]

Crappy grammer and spelling = time to log out n sleep

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Zaara wrote: "I just googled "ugliest car in the world" (bcuz my Google searches tend to be puerile like that)...and followed one of the links...on the images tab.
https://www.carthrottle.com/post/the-......"

The book club book is month-long... I dunno if they want you starting on the 31st actually reading it through February tho... most activity will be before the end of the month...

Rob did away with locking the sheets, it kept causing lockout issues every time someone requested access... it's on the honor system now that nobody completely borks it... altho Rob says he has backups...

If I have to cool off on Buddy Reads, I will, but for now all is going great...

I dunno what the participation requirement is for the competition, but I think it's a bit more than quarterly... that's when new people can be added to the teams or replacements for inactive members...

Keeping your tally accurate, tho, will give a better idea of which team is in the lead... we don't want this to be like Harry Potter where Gryffindor wins with a bunch of surprise points at the end (from 3 months ago :)

At the moment, it feels like there's the team competition which is pretty close... then there's me and Choko on the solo list neck and neck with 50-60 points... busting out a Buddy Read per day or so...

[Veronica]

Works for me! I've only finished one book this year. :-) I was finishing up a couple from 2017 though so...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yea... I've heard some complaints about that... even from Niki... leftovers from a busy Christmas... the stragglers are still trickling in... I think they'll make the difference in the tallies... if the big-hitters even out like they seem to be so far...

[Zaara]

Iain wrote: "I dunno what the participation requirement is for the competition, but I think it's a bit more than quarterly... that's when new people can be added to the teams or replacements for inactive members...

Keeping your tally accurate, tho, will give a better idea of which team is in the lead... we don't want this to be like Harry Potter where Gryffindor wins with a bunch of surprise points at the end (from 3 months ago :)"

Ok Iain.

[Zaara]

You know you really have been working hard, ickle Lainey. Ooo look what Grammy sent...





Heh, sorry...couldn't resist....

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I took a reading break this morning... stopped playing Path of Exile for a few hours and watched 3.5 episodes of Altered Carbon... back to the reading wheel...



(note the 2 other mice spinning with the wheel)

[Beste]

Iain wrote: "I took a reading break this morning... stopped playing Path of Exile for a few hours and watched 3.5 episodes of Altered Carbon... back to the reading wheel...



(note the 2 other mice spinning wi..."

Haven't noticed those 2 mice until you pointed :) :)

How was altered carbon??
I started La casa de papel last night, and recommend it.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

My name's Iain, and it's been 3 days since I finished a book... *hyperventilating* :D

(I accidentally posted this in my Incomplete series thread, at first)

[Saar The Book owl]

Iain, are you coming down with something? ;)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm coming down with the Malazans... I had to listen at 1x speed... and it was a 34hr book... I finally finished it this morning... already 20% thru Drenai Saga #2... back on track, I think... altho Unhewn Throne #3 is another long one... and Children of Time...

[Siobhan]

Iain wrote: "My name's Iain, and it's been 3 days since I finished a book... *hyperventilating* :D

(I accidentally posted this in my Incomplete series thread, at first)"

God grant you the serenity....

The Malazans sounds serious! :p

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Oh, it is!!!... I think I might relapse in a couple weeks...

[Saar The Book owl]

Oh, The Malazans...Yes, I have them too ;)

[Zaara]

I'm actually surprised. Expected to have to beat a path to your door, you wicked creature.
Now what's all this abt you wandering in the cold iron dark....gnawing at uncooked fries and wailing for the merest crust of bread?
😝*KICK*😜
Awwww, nevaarr you fret. All great artists go thru this starving in the gutter phase...perhaps the good days...those of beatific idylls and fortune of all (the good) kinds, are just around the corner. We all sure wish them for ya.
And speaking of great art...ooo look, my best mate Vincent + alla us at FBR sent you a token of our heartfelt appreciation. We are all struck with awe. A demigod of Cosmere Vampire Bot walks in our midst, scattering largesse.
+
@RaiderCentral congratulates you on a stupendously successful February. May the gross streams of earwax stories nevaaaarr stop flowing. On;y don't go deaf/insane/fall asleep at the wheel and wrap the hermit car lovingly round a tree or anything. We like our playing field all skewed...
*KICK*
Now come smell the pretty pretty...or you'll hurt my Vin's feelings.
(view spoiler)[



Muhaaaaahaaaaa!
Obscurity kill: The Big Grug is allergic to sunfowwers awwwwww😝😜 imagine!
(hide spoiler)]
I'll leave you to the gentle ministrations of the IainBAE and your fan club now, darlin'. They'll put NathairHumpty back together agn.

(view spoiler)[
But before that...a word from our sponsors...
And wait... lemme put on my *serious face*

There!

Rumi once wrote a story about a man who laughed and smiled during a long drought. People asked him whether he had no compassion for suffering. He replied that everywhere he looked, all he saw was joy and the promise of waist-high green corn.
The rest of the piece (emphatically) does not apply in this case. Well, maybe the bit about "the abundant, pouring noise of many springs in your ears" *KICK* (sorry, can't resist) but the bit about the man with the joyful eyes....the man who makes everybody happy, the man who can call up reserves of hope and endurance during deepest despair, not just in himself but in all around him...
Well Iain, look in the mirror and know this. You are that man.
We are all of us here agreed on this. All of usbut I am always the only one saying things everyone knows but will not. Perhaps they would not want to make you writhe with embarrassment like a fan.
A pity the Lady Oonagh is not so considerate...😂😂😂

Perhaps Beste can explain this better. I manage, I suppose but I am not the best(e) with Rumi extempore. I can only get deafeningly verbose. And then I can't be stuffed to edit and pare things down. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Did I disappear from a conversation I was supposed to be following... I had 50+ notifications when I checked in this morning after 24hrs absent...

I actually thought you were making the birthday rounds... turned 31 today...

[Anni]

Uh, happy birthday then! 😁🎂

[Lena]

Happy Birthday Iain!!!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It's funny... I made a big deal out of it, because I'd been watching Zaara catch everybody for the past few months, thanks to the Team Read questionnaire...

I'd been lightly worrying about it because I usually don't care, and would rather just ignore it and move on... then she doesn't say anything and I do............. she tricked me :)

[Lena]

Mines pretty soon and I know what you mean. After 21 the mile stones feel like gravestones. Sometimes I even stop reading around my birthday. This year I’m drowning myself in Books!

[Siobhan]

Happy birthday Iain. Sorry I'm a bit late! Xx

[Hailee]

Happy belated birthday Iain!!

[Virginie]

Happy belated birthday Iain!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Thanks everyone... I didn't really do much... unless you count a marathon game session, because Path of Exile launched patch 3.2 and a new 3 month league at 2pm Friday...

[Zaara]

Oh good...everyone came!

[Zaara]

Iain wrote: "It's funny... I made a big deal out of it, because I'd been watching Zaara catch everybody for the past few months....I'd been lightly worrying about it...."

Flawlessly pitched, Brother Bear....
*tips hat*
But then we both know you turned a thousand (and thirty one) yesterday. You know you are born to teach whereas I keep wondering what the heck i am doing in the field...

Of course I knew you will not like the standard "happy birthday to yooooo" jazz.
So I didn't. I admit to having no social skills. My gut, however, was in working order the last time I checked 😂😜😝

But...but....but...does NOBODY else see the gigantic post of my best and insultingest trashtalk + the allergic sunflowers + Gimli, son of Gloin wearing a beautiful resting bitch face?
Because I swear I can see it...it's right there. Bday trashtalk delivered right on the nose of the chiming hour + all friends invited to join.

Still n all...good to know I make up the stuff of nightmares 😂😂😂 but then we all know what Kipling says of "all the liars in the world"....

See...here's my point + also a confession
(view spoiler)[
Why be content with causing mere embarrassment + mild distress? Why content yourself with anything but the heart of things?
+ what does Finbar love the most in the world?
= the creepy analytical spreadsheet.
Ergo...I admit my evil schemes and designs...they all centred around his "part" of the spreadsheet. This I confess, Padre. I wanted to make it somehow "mysteriously vanish" for an undefinable space of time (thus inducing acute frust + frothing at the mouth) and then return festooned with crawling bugs, junkyard photos, bobble hula girls + other hideous and hilarious embellishments. Or perhaps a really yucky and unremovable pink. Alack and alas, I was stymied by 1. I don't know how and don't even know if this is possible 2. I wanted to ask Marge (permission from Team Captain) and then Rob and Lundos (who would've known how) to just make it happen...but I have never spoken to Maestro and Lundos before...and even with my extreme lack of social manners...this I know...you can't just burst in on random strange men and ask them to find you hula girls...they may perhaps have considered it tasteless? 😄😜😂
3. I actually feared you liked the damn thing so much that you would keel over and asphyxiate if separated from it for even a few hours. Apprarently there are some people who chk it more than once a week. I fear you are one of those?
4. Too fekkin' lazy.
So I didn't do it and Padre Mio jezzt got the trashtalk, unfortunately.

A pity. Woulda been hilarious, no? Watching the Big Grug writhe like a fan...
I swear, I'm evil...EVIL...sorry Fin. I never touched the damn thing in reality, I promise + of course now we can nevaaarr use this fruity scheme. It would just be meh.
(hide spoiler)]

Lena wrote: "Mines pretty soon and I know what you mean. After 21 the mile stones feel like gravestones. Sometimes I even stop reading around my birthday. This year I’m drowning myself in Books!"

Also @Lena...when is your birthday Lenaaaaaaa? And since (you sure?) you will not like a Laim-sized fuss, we will all just wish you a very good year ahead now?

[Zaara]

@beste
Nudge or bump or whatever the word is. This thread is missing tis dose of Beste.
Nothing is copmlete without Belllllaaaaaaaaa....

[Siobhan]

Zaara that is one hilarious scheme! 😂 😂 I can only imagine what Iain would have thought is his sheet went missing and came back all pink and cute!! XD

[Zaara]

A CRYIN' SHAME I weaselled just outta fear of my Malazan Parole Jinx + strangers. I mean they were both in American Gods with us but they nevaarr say anything to me.
If we'd just even exchanged a word I might have dared at least ask.
And then we woulda got to read Lain's post of frustrated gnashery...

@ANNNNIIIIIII.....

[Anni]

YEEEES! I'm here, I have no idea why I should be here but I am 😂 How can I help?

[Zaara]

The target is large...and distracted...need I say more?
*Kick* the evil twin, Annika. Nobody knows how better than you.
And this time don't be too nice.
Tyt. You don't hv to do it now...better wait for a nice and devilish idea and strike when least expected.

[Anni]

Nah, I'm better off reading Prince of Thornes 😂 How did I manage to fall behind helplessly again?! Plus there's a present waiting for me after two more pages 🎊

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Zaara wrote: "Iain wrote: "It's funny... I made a big deal out of it, because I'd been watching Zaara catch everybody for the past few months....I'd been lightly worrying about it...."

Flawlessly pitched, Broth..."

I check almost daily... usually moreso... but this morning it wasn't adding new book points... had to reload page... your evil plan is simply to put my books in Beste's spreadsheet I think... she already has a pinksplosion...

I saw your trashtalk and got about half of it :)... I just don't know how to respond when I'm tired after work, much...

I think Lena is March 15th... she put Ides of March in her questionnaire...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Zaara wrote: "A CRYIN' SHAME I weaselled just outta fear of my Malazan Parole Jinx + strangers. I mean they were both in American Gods with us but they nevaarr say anything to me.
If we'd just even exchanged a w..."

Reminded me to backup my scoresheet to MyDrive again... makes it easy to fix/revert...

[Lena]

I just put the Ides before someone decides to casually mention (but always in front of as many people as possible) that it’s bad luck.

[Zaara]

Oh I know my ramdomness isn't the easiest to reply to. So I fully appreciate your difficulties...
😂😂😂😂
Do you know what my idle random fear as of that Kipling quote is?
I'm actually now rabidly curious to know whether the Phamtom can even keep up with the strangeness and madcappery.
O Fin, what if he can't? Or rather (since he seems fully capable) what if he WON'T like to? What if he turns out to be one of those creepily strict and serious men who will puff up like a dumpling and scold like a unkle or make like he cannot understand my rantings? And then I will be all wtf...
Ok enuf. Now I'm all serious and I will log out. Heck, another night I stayed up. One of these days Oonagh would just keel over in front of a bus and splat and then they will have to skrape it off the roads 😝

[Zaara]

Lena wrote: "I just put the Ides before someone decides to casually mention (but always in front of as many people as possible) that it’s bad luck."

March 15 it is. And nevaarr bad luck, my dear.
Oh and btw it is @Ab's birthday today. Which is why I kept staying up and waiting for midnight there...

[Lena]

Thanks Zaara. I don’t know Ab yet.

[Saar The Book owl]

Really late, Iain, but I wish you a happy one!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Thanks...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Just updated March/April... April is looking positively leisurely... only 19-20 reads at the moment... compared to 24-26 in March... I missed 2 March Buddy re-read, and am probably going to drop Black Gryphon... means 8 of my March reads don't have April continuations...

Only things not scheduled yet, I think, are the next Drizzt sequence, and Charmcaster (altho that only came out yesterday, and I don't know when the audio is releasing)

Added Rick Riordan to my BR list since he's so famous for middle-grade books...

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Are you talking about the Lost Hero BR by Riordan added? I think it's a continuation of the Percy Jackson series, so I'd recommend diving into that one first (unless that's not the case, then which case please ignore me).

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Lost Heroes is the beginning of a spin-off from Percy Jackson... people are divided on whether you can read it before Percy Jackson... the Percy Jackson Buddy Read doesn't start until April... we'll see, I guess...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

After the heavy discussion the past 24hrs, I started dropping Buddy Read... the ones I was mostly reading for points and not rating very highly...

Sookie Stackhouse... quality has been going downhill imo...
Legend of Drizzt (going to finish the Icewind Dale trilogy)
Sword of Truth... I've been pretty negative, and a new storyline is starting...
FitzChivalry Farseer... not in the mood right now... I'd need to re-read/refresh on the first book to continue...
Drenai Saga... I haven't liked the 2nd & 3rd books as much as the first (excluding the over-the-top epilogue)

This has cleared my schedule quite a bit... Sookie was 2 books/month, Drizzt was 4 books every 3 months...Sword of Truth was a brick of a book... Fitz and the Fool isn't much shorter...

[Siobhan]

Posted over in the Blood Eagles thread when I should have here...
I hope you don't feel like you have to give up these buddy reads. You read whatever you want my friend! You're normally the first one finished in reads we do together, but you always stick around to talk and participate.
On the plus side, if you're not really enjoying them why bother continuing them. Now you can choose any random awesome book you want. :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Thanks... I gave up the ones I wasn't enjoying as much as the rest... I needed to start dropping SOMETHING if I was going to keep picking up new ones that catch my eye and do a bit more random reads...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Well... April ballooned back out quick... but the additions are mostly optional re-reads and the 4 short Bookburners episodes, so not as bad as it looks, I don't think...

[Zaara]

(view spoiler)[
(hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

???

[Anni]

Should we ask for which services you're payin Iain, Zaara? 😜