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Time to Vote for the December Tag
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Three great choices! It’s hard to decide. Didn’t we have holiday last year, or something similar? I read a lot of Xmas stories last December. Maybe it was just for Flurries.
I’ve been hoping for nonfiction for a long time, but I’m sure both holiday and mystery suspense will have a lot of fans for December. We have nonfiction November for flurries now, and I have too many to fit in.
Anita, I have an idea for a new monthly bonus for hitting a triple. How about 3 extra participation points each month for reading all three tags? (Just one triple per person per month.)
ETA - I just checked. We did have holiday last December.
I too thought we had holiday last December (many of us were quite thrilled). Thanks for checking, Nancy. I assume Anita will have a chat with the randomizer and sort it out.
Yes we definitely had Holiday last year so it isn't eligible. Everyone should wait to vote until we hear back from Anita.
After several months of tough choices, these are all easy.
Hey everyone,Apparently I screwed up, and we read for the tag "holiday" within the past three years. The rule is that we can't have a tag up for the vote that we have read within the past three years.
What happened in a nutshell is that one of our members nominated holiday, and the nomination came in at the last minute (partly because the admins solicited at the last minute). Because I hadn't heard from the member, I kinda thought she might be on vacation, so I had a third tag waiting in the wings.
That tag was "star wars". Thank you, randomizer.
So, when the member got in touch with me yesterday and said, "holiday" - in my mind, I jumped for joy because I knew that would be more of a contender than star wars. But because it was last minute, I forgot to check it against tags we have read.
Yeah, my fault.
So, I'm going to let it stand unless people really want me to substitute in Star Wars. Everyone can still vote, so if we collectively don't want to re-read a tag, pretend holiday is star wars, and vote accordingly.
If people really want to read holiday, that's okay. It's my screw up, and I own it.
If you really want to read Star Wars, you can vote for it by sending me that vote via private message with the number of points you'd like to use.
STAR WARS RETURNS???? Christmas is coming early for me! 🤣
We had Star Wars as an option once before, and just looking at the book options was more than enough for me! Maybe this way it won't come up again for 3 years. Hey, I liked the movies fine but reading a whole bunch of books about them is too much.
Oh, I couldn’t remember if it was you couldn’t use the name nominated tag or just one that won within the last three years. Yeah, Star Wars was nominated earlier this year - which is how we started the May the Fourth event (which I am planning to run again next year, so we don’t need to return the tag for December if we don’t want - I was mostly kidding…. Mostly…. 😇)
Wow...this one was hard. I read a lot of mystery so I decided to go a different direction with my vote. Any of the tags will be great.
I don't think it matters Anita- Without Holiday in the mix, I have a feeling Mystery-Suspense will win knowing this crowd! LoL
Heather Reads Books wrote: "Oh, I couldn’t remember if it was you couldn’t use the name nominated tag or just one that won within the last three years. Yeah, Star Wars was nominated earlier this year - which is how we started..."I knew we had at least ONE Star Wars fan.
Tags can be randomly selected or nominated for the vote repeatedly. But once a tag wins, then it is supposed to be off limits for three years.
Unfortunately, I messed up here. We'll see what the membership decides!!
Anita, the first line in your post says "November" should be December. Also, the spreadsheet of points ends at September, shouldn't it show October?
Joanne wrote: "Anita, the first line in your post says "November" should be December. Also, the spreadsheet of points ends at September, shouldn't it show October?"I fixed the post (oh copy and paste), but it is Annapi's turn to do the participation points, so I'm going to need to check with her to see what the status is there. Maybe she's just a bit behind.
Anita, if non-fiction wins would we use non for the Book with Friends Challenge?
Patty wrote: "Anita, if non-fiction wins would we use non for the Book with Friends Challenge?"Not Anita, but the challenge now ends on November 30 :) . When I was logging in I was wondering how I'd vote in light of BWF but then remembered it's ending.
I voted - hard choice for me since they're all good.
HOLIDAY 🎅🎄I'd be as thrilled with this as horror, creepy, spooky or any of that.
And I already I plan to read The Nightmare Before Kissmas.
Patty wrote: "Anita, if non-fiction wins would we use non for the Book with Friends Challenge?"Books with Friends ends November 30, so the December tag won't matter. I know, we got so used to it. I found myself looking through the lists for books with the right letters. (I'm sure Non-fiction would have been letter N if we were still continuing the game.)
I'd be quite happy with any of the three,
I would be fine with any. I have so many non-fiction audios on hold at the library that I would happily indulge in for December while reading holiday books in ebook or paperback form.
Heather Reads Books wrote: "Oh, I couldn’t remember if it was you couldn’t use the name nominated tag or just one that won within the last three years. Yeah, Star Wars was nominated earlier this year - which is how we started..."It's hilarious how the tags worked out this month! I had a lot of fun during May the 4th and hope it returns next year. I personally had already planned a December of reading my beloved Christmas cozies and romances so I'm in heaven, especially as I would not have to match letters, match tags, and do any tracking!
I’m taking the month off - well sort of - but chances are good that I will read one of each tag anyway based on what I have on hand. Don’t forget that holiday books already fit December flurries.
I don’t know if nonfiction has a chance to win for December, but I hope someone will suggest it in 2025. I have a lot of great memoirs and different NF topics in my library.
Theresa wrote: "It's hilarious how the tags worked out this month! I had a lot of fun during May the 4th and hope it returns next year. "Oh, it will absolutely be back (it may strike back, if you will)! I was just thinking I really need to prioritize 2025 for rereading my favorite Star Wars books... ;)
Joanne wrote: "Anita, the first line in your post says "November" should be December. Also, the spreadsheet of points ends at September, shouldn't it show October?"The year has just gone way too fast!
Happy with any of these. I think I might be able to do December on time as I no longer have a job. 18.5 years at that school and once I handed over my diagnosis and recommendations from the doctor (PTSD, Anxiety and depression- Senior school only which is what I'm trained for anyway) the day I stopped being on a load of 50 (no free periods at all ever) and the y12s finished, they told me to just leave, use up my sick leave and not come back.
I'm applying to other senior schools but no luck. Might have to sell my house and start over elsewhere.
My apologies for being so late updating the participation points! It's done now.
Jen wrote: "Happy with any of these. I think I might be able to do December on time as I no longer have a job. 18.5 years at that school and once I handed over my diagnosis and recommendations from the doctor..."
Jen - I'm so sorry to hear this!
Jen, that’s shocking! Are you in the union? Or can you get other legal advice (eg through a community law centre)? Worth asking whether you’d have an unjustified discrimination claim - or least one based on failure of due process … Not that you would probably want your job back after being treated like that - and the punishing marking schedule won’t exactly have helped you be well - but there may be options for holding them to account if you have the energy to ask.
No worries @Anna - I don’t think many (if any) of us are exactly short of participation points for voting purposes, lol!
Jen wrote: "Happy with any of these. I think I might be able to do December on time as I no longer have a job. 18.5 years at that school and once I handed over my diagnosis and recommendations from the doctor..."
I am so sorry to hear this! I have to echo Katrine's advice - at least consult with a lawyer or union rep or other organization to be sure they have acted properly. In the US there are obligatory accommodation process that must be followed, and what happened to you would have your employer in deep trouble with the Department of Labor alone, let alone other agencies and also violating a host of laws. Or at least at the moment it would. Can't vouch for anything after January 20.
@Jen I am so sorry to hear about your problems. I hope you are finding some calm in all this, but I can't imagine it's easy. Your health issues are enough to deal with, but to also have to worry about how to live (or even where) is just too much. I certainly hope you live some place with worker protections and you get some help with it all.
Honestly, honestly, I’d be thrilled to vote for holiday! I don’t care if it’s been used last year, or within three years. It’s great and easy to have that as the tag.. I’d also be happy with Mystery and Suspense. The only tag that I would be super upset about, especially if it would be Star Wars. It’s just so specific, and it would be hard for those who are not interested in Star Wars to be able to find something to read. I’m not sure there would be enough to please the public.
Jen, I agree with the legal folk here-look for some help dealing with these ugly people! To be treated that way is wrong and totally absurd in this day and age, they should not be allowed to get away with it!
Jen wrote: "Happy with any of these. I think I might be able to do December on time as I no longer have a job. 18.5 years at that school and once I handed over my diagnosis and recommendations from the doctor..."
Hugs to you, Jen! I'm so sorry. That sounds incredibly stressful.
(But I do think your idea of reading as a form of solace is a great one. Here's to many good reads in December!).
Jen, so sorry to hear this. That's a horrible way to be treated. So unfair.
Jen wrote: "Happy with any of these. I think I might be able to do December on time as I no longer have a job. 18.5 years at that school and once I handed over my diagnosis and recommendations from the doctor..."
Wow, that's sad that they'd do that to you. I hope you're able to find a job with a load that works for you. I agree about consulting a lawyer.
Theresa wrote: "Jen wrote: "Happy with any of these. I think I might be able to do December on time as I no longer have a job. 18.5 years at that school and once I handed over my diagnosis and recommendations fro..."
The union is aware. Because I am on sick leave rather than fired apparently they are totally entitled to insist on that rather than just give me what I'm trained to teach. My direct boss and a couple of colleagues have accommodations so I wasn't expecting the response I got. However I've had/have 18 schools to moderate (bio, chem and psych) and over 150 chem and scientific studies papers to mark so at least the exam board still values my work and keeps my brain active.
I do have time to find a job (and have applied for a couple this week) as I have 1 year of sick leave unused (I've only had time off for chickenpox and funerals) and 6 months of Long service leave (because the school never approved it because it was inconvenient to them). Hence, if I don't find a job within the department they still have to pay me till mid 2026. But I'll go mad not working.
Find somewhere you would like to volunteer Jen, to hold your madness off! It has been a savior for me. I was forced to stop working after my first back surgery, wandered into my library and asked if they needed help, been there ever since and now on the Board of the Friends of the Library. You have a year and a half to find a great fit for yourself, work wise! Take your time. Volunteering somewhere will make you feel useful and keep your mind busy. Maybe there is somewhere that offers tutoring, maybe to underprivileged students who have great minds!
JoAnne has made an excellent suggestion! I was going to suggest tutoring or even substitute teaching as a temporary solution while you look for a job that suits upyou, keeps you busy and gives structure to your day. But volunteering can be excellent.
Joanne wrote: "Find somewhere you would like to volunteer Jen, to hold your madness off! It has been a savior for me. I was forced to stop working after my first back surgery, wandered into my library and asked i..."Great minds think alike ... I also was going to suggest volunteering. There are times I feel I'm busier in "retirement" than I was when I was being paid to work.
And back to the subject of this thread .... Voted.
I voted. Went straight for Holiday because I always read a lot of Chanukah Romance right around this time anyway and have been super excited for all my favorite authors and their newest that are out and ready and waiting. I hope it wins. I would vote that as a rule, the three year rule is a good one with the exception of "holiday" for December if the member wants to choose it. I feel that should be the one exception to the rule.So... if anyone is in need of some good Chanukah Romance, I am diving in to Kissing Kosher, and Love Me a Latke first off. Then, I will listen to number three of the Liz Maverick audio series that started with 8 Winter Lights. And then there is the Dreidel Do-Over, which is the other half of its complement, that I read last year in an hour on my applebooks app on my phone in a Jacuzzi in Aspen. The same night on the same boat, there is one story, and then this complement is from two of the other characters in the group of six, who are all friends together on the same boat.
Then there is 8 Nights to Win her Heart, there is the Tenth Floor, which I didn't get to last year... There is the Angel Tree (Lucinda Riley) and the Wishing Bridge, and then Liz Maverick has a new one called Booked for the Holidays. So I am reading most of those no matter what. Plus the Briar Club, my November and December Trim book, and anything really special that comes from the library. I did though, order a ton of mystery and suspense from the library just in case. Your girl is all set and excited for this month no matter what.
Jen (Purple Jen as I have been calling her on the trim thread). Simply want to wish you love and I hope your situation resolves. Wanted also to share that I see a lot of people sharing together on Kaffeklatsch thread and that might be a good place to get some support and share. I do want to make sure you get the support that you need and that the voting gets its own space.
I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Love and Blessings to all~
Theresa wrote: "JoAnne has made an excellent suggestion! I was going to suggest tutoring or even substitute teaching as a temporary solution while you look for a job that suits upyou, keeps you busy and gives stru..."Substitute teaching is out due to the PTSD and the noise levels, which is why my school didn't want me any more (doc said no loud classes). I already do volunteering (Duke of Edinburgh's award) and did volunteer tutoring at the school I worked at after hours. So you guys aren't far off with suggestions.
I'll figure it out and in the mean time plenty of time to read once this marking contract is done.
https://forms.gle/pC3Xj5uTBxeJyktU9
Here are the lists of books for each tag (Please read Message 6 below before casting your vote.):
holiday: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
mystery-suspense: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
non-fiction: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Remember, you may cast up to a total of 10 participation points for your choice. Every PBT member gets one vote for free so please vote even if you don't have any participation points!
You can see how many participation points you currently have in the spreadsheet below.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Happy voting! Please cast your votes by noon EST on 11/22.