Team Captivating Cryptic Conquerors - chat and planning

[Berit]

Nothing like kittens and ducklings to lighten the mood :-) going to try to finish this book tonight. Go Team C !!!

[Janice, Moderator]

We need some fluffy bunnies too!

[Sandra, Moderator]

Tejas Janet wrote: "Sorry to have to do this but...

I thinks we's needs some kittens here ☺
There's enuff for everybody!!


"

So cute...

[Gail]

Dear teammates - I'm so sorry I can't do the Toppler any more. I'm feeling really unwell - I should have said earlier but thought I'd be able to muddle through. I need someone to take over the spreadsheet. I realise this post may be deleted, as it's not a fluffy kitten, but I hope someone sees it before it is. I've messaged jmom to let her know.

[Gail]

You can tick off my books as read on the spreadsheet if you like. I haven't finished them yet, but will finish them at some point. Hope you all have fun.

[Berit]

I am going to sleep, did not finish my book, but I will in the morning. It has been a very interesting day :-) let's rally and rise up and kick some Toppler booty!!!

[Tejas Janet]

Gail wrote: "Dear teammates - I'm so sorry I can't do the Toppler any more. I'm feeling really unwell - I should have said earlier but thought I'd be able to muddle through. I need someone to take over the spre..."

I can do it I think, Gail. Willing to try. Sounds like a good idea for you to have some peace and quiet right now so you can feel better soon hopefully. I might not be able to check in until mid afternoon Thursday so don't be upset if I seem quiet.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm sorry you are quitting, Gail, but I understand that you need a rest. I remember you even wasn't sure about join the toppler. Your flu is not helping neither. Get better soon.

[Berit]

Hi team! I want you all to know Gail and I, communicated outside the thread and cleared things up. Unfortunately, she is unable to continue with the Toppler. I don't know if we should count her bookssense we won't be sure if she finished them or not. I will read the tasks she committed to, I think one is Africa, if someone could let me know the other one I will do that one as well. Then if she chooses to report her reads we will have those ones as well. Let's all go forward and have a good time, isn't that what this is all about :-) ;-) thanks again for being such great teammates.

[Gail]

Thanks, TJ and Sandra. And yes, Berit and I chatted via message yesterday and this is really not about her, as I tried to indicate in my last post (and in my other posts that got deleted!). You've all been a great team. Thanks. :-)

[Sandra, Moderator]

Good to know you could talk yesterday.
Berit, the tasks Gail would read were "book set in Africa" and "book with a pair of eyes in the cover". See if you have something to cover this and let us know. If not we can see who has something at hand.

[Sarah]

In order for books to be counted, they must be finished. So if Gail finishes her books and reports in then they can be counted or those tasks can be taken on by others to complete instead.

Glad to see you have sorted things out and moving forward. Has someone now got access to the spreadsheet other than Gail?

[Sandra, Moderator]

Yes, TJ will take care of the spreed sheet.

[Berit]

I definitely have Africa covered, will read that one next. I will look around for eyes or if anyone has any suggestions let me know.

[Esther]

I can try to get through Never Let Me Go for a book with eyes instead one of the other two that I had planned (neither of which in a bonus category).

[Berit]

That would be great, what were your other tasks? Maybe I can find something to cover those if needed.

[Tejas Janet]

Sarah wrote... "Has someone now got access to the spreadsheet other than Gail?"

I don't have access to Gail's spreadsheet online, which is the copy we can view now via the link. However, I downloaded the spreadsheet and am tracking progress on a personal copy for the time being.

If/when I get access to Gail's online spreadsheet, I can upload the updates if that makes sense. Will get it worked out. No more time right now.

[Esther]

They aren't specifically needed because they aren't in the categories that give us bonus points for completing. It was Adam & Eve - read a fairy tale retelling, and Jack & Ennis - Read a forbidden love.

Like I say, I wouldn't commit yourself to those tasks if there is something else you want to read that fits elsewhere - I'm swapping for 'the eyes' because we need to read that one for bonus points.

[Berit]

Thanks again for doing that. I think I have a book I was going to read that will cover Adam and Eve. I will try to read that one after my Africa book.

[Gail]

TJ, do you have a gmail account? There are two options. You can copy and paste the spreadsheet onto your own google drive and share it with the group, or you can message me your email addy and I'll add you to my spreadsheet so we have shared ownership of it.

Alternatively, if it's easier, you could just do a post at the end of the Toppler with everyone's books read on it, and the coordinates, and I'll put them into the spreadsheet on Saturday. That's really the sort of help I was asking for, for ages.

Also, as I said, if you want to keep me on the spreadsheet, I am currently reading a book with eyes on the cover and should finish it soon. I just no longer want to be having to read and understand every post in the reporting thread. I want to just step away from this group until the Toppler is finished, and I don't want anyone harassing and criticising me via private message (which no one on this team was doing, but it was happening).

[Gail]

By the way, I don't mean I don't want anyone to private message me, but only friendly, straightforward messages, rather than messages telling me in a critical way that because I'm autistic I can only think in binary, like a computer, and other daft dehumanising stereotypes. I find that hurtful. If you want to understand how being on the autism spectrum affects me, please ask respectfully. I'm very open about it, but I don't take kindly to being told how my brain works and that I'm being defective. I am posting this because I am realising it's important to state my boundaries to the entire YLTO group. Thanks.

[Gail]

Oh, and here are some more fluffy bunnies. :)

[Sarah]

That's ok TJ that you keep a record offline - a song as someone is keeping track that's all that matters. There was a time we didn't use spreadsheet, just reporting threads so it's not compulsory. I just want to make sure that your team gets the points it deserves based on what you have all read.

[Kat]

Ahhhh TJ you are a star.

Gail, may I suggest that if you have issues with a PM you have received, that you address it with the person directly? It is great that you and Berit have cleared things up, and I think it would be better to try the same tactic.

Let's try and keep the thread fun and about the Toppler. Or wine. Or the weather. Or kittens :)

[Sarah]

Bunnies are definitely what is needed. Let's get the fun back people and draw a line in the sand. And talking of bunnies, where I am moored right now there is a rabbit burrow opposite my window so I've been watching the cute things collect grass for their furrows and their soon to be born babies.

[Elsbeth]

Gail, so sorry to hear you are feeling poorly! I hope you get well soon!
I'm also sorry to hear that you have been getting those awful messages!
I think I speak on behalf of everyone in team C, when I say we really are grateful for all the work you have been doing for us! You did a wonderful job organizing us (especially now I know you have the flu)! Thank you so much! And don't worry about the Toppler - it is supposed to be fun!
Get well soon!

[Kat]

Yeah I'm sticking with kittens, but I am also jealous of your bunny watching. I have them living beside the train-line outside my office window and I'm always terrified they will end up on the tracks...but they seem to have it sussed!

[Gail]

Hi Kat - I did address it pesonally with them, although they were not interested. I just wanted to make quite clear here, publicly, that this behaviour is not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it. I know everyone prefers fluffy bunnies, which is why I posted some as well - but fluffy bunnies should not be at the expense of group members being able to speak up when they have a difficulty, nor used to censor their concerns, at least not when these are related to the Toppler.

Sometimes conflict happens. It's natural, and not the end of the world, and can be worked through if not avoided. It doesn't always need to be immediately shut up with fluffy bunnies.

[Elsbeth]

Oh, I hadn't seen the bunnies yet! I love them! Kittens are nice, too. But I'm allergic to them (and about 10 years ago my rabbit got bitten by one and died of the infection) - so I tend to avoid them. (sorry to all the cat-lovers among us.) I have to 2 rabbits myself.

[Gail]

But here are some more fluffy bunnies, as I realise you guys like lots of them. :-)

[Elsbeth]

Lol, Gail! They are so cute!

[Gail]

Anyone like fluffy puppies?

[Elsbeth]

Yes, love them, too! ;)

[Sarah]

I'm not sure what part of 'draw a line in the sand' was misunderstood. Concerns have been noted, discussions have occurred and if more are required then these can be done via PM. Posts are deleted if they directly affect another person or are not seen as relevant to the thread or group. Any further discussion over past disputes may be deleted. So can we please move the topic along. And no one needs to reply to this message either. Sorry need to put the meanie hat on at some point

[Gail]

I was replying to Kat's question to me, Sarah. Hers was the most recent post I'd seen when composing my reply, so I'd not seen your post yet. I can take a while to type my posts, and sometimes the discussion moves faster than I do. :-)

But now I see your 'draw a line in the sand' post and have also duly noted it.

[Berit]

Give me an hour and I'll finish this book. I just need some food and some caffeine ;-) let's all regroup and go forward and have a good time. Go Team !!!

[Gail]

It would, however, be good if Goodreads was like FB and new messages just popped up without having to refresh the page.

[Paakhi]

Gail wrote: "Anyone like fluffy puppies?

"

Aww Gail.. i love pups..look at them..aren't they cute...

[Berit]

Just finished my book, now I'm going to Africa!well not really, but a girl can dream :-)

[Kat]

Berit wrote: "Just finished my book, now I'm going to Africa!well not really, but a girl can dream :-)"

The beauty of books, Berit! Plus, it's cheaper, no waiting in airports, flying or dealing with other logistics. Big bonus, you can still sleep in your own bed afterwards ;)

[Elsbeth]

Gail wrote: "It would, however, be good if Goodreads was like FB and new messages just popped up without having to refresh the page."

Yes, I agree, that would be more easy!

[Tejas Janet]

Gail wrote: "TJ, do you have a gmail account? There are two options. You can copy and paste the spreadsheet onto your own google drive and share it with the group, or you can message me your email addy and I'll..."

Thank you, Gail. I think it's easiest to just update your lovely spreadsheet as we go. The other way adds an unnecessary step it seems. I did what you suggested and shared my copy to Google docs. I posted the link on the reporting thread, message 159.

[Ava Catherine]

Gail, I hope you get some rest and feel better soon. We will miss you.

You need to put your feet up, have some tea, and enjoy your book.

[jaxnsmom]

I love puppies, fluffy or not!

[Tejas Janet]

Hee hee...

[Tejas Janet]

That's me in the middle, the very cutest one of all, oink snuffle grunt!

[Ava Catherine]

I have heard that pigs are very intelligent! : )

[Berit]

Connie, how was We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves? It looks good and I've heard nothing but great things about it.

[Ava Catherine]

I love this book! It is different and really held my interest all the way through. I gave it 5 stars, and I do not give many books 5 stars.

Do not read any reviews or the back of the book before you read the book because there is a huge surprise in the book that you will discover if you read the reviews. The book is so much better if you let the story unfold naturally with the surprise coming as the author intended.

[Elsbeth]

Tejas Janet wrote: "Hee hee...



"

Really cute! My grandfather had pigs (in the 1980s) - I loved to look at all those small ones! But I was a little afraid of the big fat mama's ;).