Team E.T.

[Ashley]

I ended up still finishing tonight. I’ll update the spreadsheet tomorrow when I have my laptop handy.

[Ashley]

Am I correct that none of the Wild Draw 4s have been claimed yet? I think I'm going to start today... and it can work for blue 3.

[Maria Jo]

None of them have been claimed yet, Ashley!

[Ashley]

Maria Jo wrote: "None of them have been claimed yet, Ashley!"

Thanks! I claimed one in hand 2, but I wasn't sure where (if anywhere) I should indicate that I've used a 3 blue. I mean I put it in the reason category obviously, but I didn't know if we wanted to mark it somewhere easy to see at a glance which we've already used to avoid duplication.

Also, when I entered the date for the book I finished last night, it got an error in the points category. I'm sure you captains will see this, but I just wanted to bring it to your attention. I enjoyed the book and the good news is there are 2 more books in the series, they all have a V character, and I think the covers are all blue. (The 2nd one is definitely at least 50% blue... the 3rd is a closer call.)

[Tammie]

Hey Ashley

There’s a spot on the WS that tracks wild 4 cards…just under the card tracking on the right..I’ll fill it in…but everyone who picks wild4 can help with this tracking.

The points for color cards are entered manually…just delete the formula in that spot and enter 30 points.

[Maria Jo]

Tammie and I were working at the same time again! The points for the color cards have to be added by hand, they won't automatically populate. I have changed Ashley and Haswanthi's points for their completed color cards.

[Ashley]

Tammie wrote: "Hey Ashley

There’s a spot on the WS that tracks wild 4 cards…just under the card tracking on the right..I’ll fill it in…but everyone who picks wild4 can help with this tracking.

The points for c..."

I don't know how I missed that little section. Thanks!

[Ashley]

Maria Jo wrote: "Tammie and I were working at the same time again! The points for the color cards have to be added by hand, they won't automatically populate. I have changed Ashley and Haswanthi's points for their ..."

Thank you!

[Tammie]

How’s everyone doing?

If you haven’t added completed books to the WS, please do so…I’d like to get a gauge on how we’re doing through 7 days.

Also, if you haven’t checked in in the last 2/3 days, please do so…we’d love to hear about any great reads…thank you!

[Chava]

I am listening to an audiobook for green and didn't expect much of it, but surprisingly quite like it. It's an easy YA romance read, not usually my go-to genre, but happily surprised. I should have it finished when I finish work on Monday.

[Karen ♐]

I've finished a few which I've really enjoyed. Hopefully I'll get to a few more this coming week.

[Haswanthi]

Tammie wrote: "How’s everyone doing?

If you haven’t added completed books to the WS, please do so…I’d like to get a gauge on how we’re doing through 7 days.

Also, if you haven’t checked in in the last 2/3 day..."

Hey, I have started Remarkably Bright Creatures, and I am enjoying it so far. This week, I was busy with academics, but I will pick up reading again next week.

[Tammie]

Haswanthi wrote: "Tammie wrote: "How’s everyone doing?

If you haven’t added completed books to the WS, please do so…I’d like to get a gauge on how we’re doing through 7 days.

Also, if you haven’t checked in in t..."

One of my favorites Haswanthi...so glad you are enjoying it as well.

[Audrey Jane]

I've finished Much Ado About You which is an historical romance set in the Regency era. I didn't enjoy it, I found it quite boring but if you enjoyed the Bridgerton series then go for it :)

I'm currently reading The Black Feathers on my Kindle which so far reads like a Jane Eyre retelling but with ghosts. Sometimes it makes me think of the book The Silent Companions which I liked so I'm curious to see where it goes.
And in parallel I'm reading a history book on paperback: The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women's Roles in Society. It's a very interesting read and will probably finish it tomorrow.

[Audrey Jane]

It's highly likely I will be able to read one more book this month but will wait for the mini challenge.

[Maria Jo]

Audrey Jane wrote: "It's highly likely I will be able to read one more book this month but will wait for the mini challenge."

Read as much as you want, Audrey! Great if you are able to read more, and you can definitely go a little over what you signed up for if you want.

[Maria Jo]

What do you all think about this cover? Is it green?

[Audrey Jane]

Thanks, Maria Jo !

Maria Jo wrote: "What do you all think about this cover? Is it green?
"

I would say yes. I really like the Kate Burkholder series :)

[Maria Jo]

Me too! I was glad to see you had read them, so I could keep working through the series for Reverse cards!

[Ashley]

Maria Jo wrote: "What do you all think about this cover? Is it green?
"

I'm so bad at deciding when something is like this. I want to say yes, but also it feels like a close call.

I'm a little over halfway through and a little less than halfway through . I'm enjoying both so far.

I'm also planning on reading another Reverse... probably , but I'm waiting to make a final decision until after the mini comes out. I also have another book I've already claimed on the SS that I won't start until later in the month but I will definitely read it for a buddy read. In addition to those, I'm hoping to still read 2 or 3 more books this month... but I know that also might not be realistic for me. I just want to read all the things.

[Tammie]

Maria Jo wrote: "What do you all think about this cover? Is it green?
"

I support green as well!

Thanks everyone who’s checked in!

I watched Super Bowl with family tonight…a complete bust for us KC fans :(

[Maria Jo]

Thanks for your opinions everybody! I realized after I asked the question that it doesn’t work for either of the number cards, so it doesn’t matter anyway. 🤪

We had my husband’s family over for the game. Pretty disappointing showing from the Chiefs, for sure.

[Tammie]

FYI Christina…I moved Damaged to the Wild4 spot in hand 6. Blue cover…series #3

@ALL…a reminder that prequel books can be used for series…if the page count minimum is met. Divert to the whole number…ie 3.5 would work for 3

Blue3 cards are now all used for wild4…all other color cards are still available for the remaining 2

[Christina T]

Tammie wrote: "FYI Christina…I moved Damaged to the Wild4 spot in hand 6. Blue cover…series #3

@ALL…a reminder that prequel books can be used for series…if the page count minimum is met. Divert to the whole numb..."

Thanks for letting me know. I have a few books to add but might not get to it until Thursday.

[Maria Jo]

I was listening to the audiobook for The Crash, but I couldn't take the whininess of the MC anymore. It was on a 4 card in Hand Four. I took it off, if anyone wonders what had happened to it!

[Tammie]

It's kinda like scratching a chalkboard when you are listening to something that terrible. Glad you trashed it!
I just finished another short...I've started a longer one and think I'll start another with the plan to finish once the mini has officially started. Will try and get at least one more shorty in there...

Has anyone read ...also known as The Outsider. It's one of the classics that's on the 1001 Books You Should read before you Die list.
I like to read these every once in awhile when I come across a task that I need something 'obscure' for.

[Maria Jo]

I read that book in high school. I don't remember very much, other than all of my class thinking it was bizarre. It is a nice, short book, though!

[Chava]

I finished “playing the field” on 10 Feb but can’t update the spreadsheet as I’m in my phone today. Could someone update for me?

[Maria Jo]

Chava wrote: "I finished “playing the field” on 10 Feb but can’t update the spreadsheet as I’m in my phone today. Could someone update for me?"

Done!

[Maria Jo]

Dancing time!



The mini has been posted! Check it out here.

Our mission is to pick 6 of the characters and read all the tasks for these. Look for a PM soon with the link to a Google Form to vote on which of the characters' tasks you would be best able to cover.

[Ashley]

In the ones where it says title and/or author’s name does that mean you can pull from both? Like for the one with 2 ys… could one be in the title and one in the authors name?

[Tammie]

Ashley wrote: "In the ones where it says title and/or author’s name does that mean you can pull from both? Like for the one with 2 ys… could one be in the title and one in the authors name?"

Yes, you have full flexibility on those

[Ashley]

I just completed my vote. I tried to provide as much information as possible, even for the ones I wasn't voting for. I hope it wasn't too much. I'll try to at least make some things work even if they aren't my ideals.

I also want to note that I may have said I could read for certain tasks, but some of those are for the same book that we wouldn't be able to use for multiple tasks. I wasn't really sure how to handle that. Anyway, if you have any questions, let me know!

[Tammie]

Thanks Ashley

We thought this might be the best approach for choosing the 6…everyone will still need to claim spots. It’s likely there will be overlap.
We appreciate everyone weighing in…room for addl comments as you like.

[Maria Jo]

Ashley wrote: "I just completed my vote. I tried to provide as much information as possible, even for the ones I wasn't voting for. I hope it wasn't too much. I'll try to at least make some things work even if th..."

This is similar to what I did, too. The more information, the better!

[Karen ♐]

There was overlap with some of my responses too. But at least you will have an idea of who can read what (hopefully!)

[Tammie]

Hey everyone…the sooner everyone weighs in, the sooner we can start claiming…please check for a PM from Maria Jo as soon as you can :)

[Chava]

Maria Jo wrote: "Chava wrote: "I finished “playing the field” on 10 Feb but can’t update the spreadsheet as I’m in my phone today. Could someone update for me?"

Done!"

Thank you!

[Chava]

Tammie wrote: "Hey everyone…the sooner everyone weighs in, the sooner we can start claiming…please check for a PM from Maria Jo as soon as you can :)"

Voted!

[Tammie]

We're battening down the hatches here in Missouri...Ice arriving here in a few hours. Everyone has gone to the store, schools have been cancelled, libraries are closed...we're ready and waiting for the bad, cold weather.

A fire, some tea and a good book is what I'll be up to :)

[Tammie]

Thanks for all the early votes...I think we'll make a final call this evening...2 more of you to weigh in if you can make the time.

[Maria Jo]

Schools cancelled here in Kansas, too, but we got snow all night and today! I'm hunkered down at home and hoping I can get some good reading done with my husband also home.

[Tammie]

Maria Jo wrote: "Schools cancelled here in Kansas, too, but we got snow all night and today! I'm hunkered down at home and hoping I can get some good reading done with my husband also home."

Husband at home...that might be tricky!

I just talked to some family in Nebraska...they've gotten snow as well. I'm hoping my father and father and law can resist the temptation to shovel and get the mail. They are in their 90s and a fall would be a disaster. They are both soooo stubborn :Z

[Ashley]

I hope everyone stays safe and warm. We got a couple of inches of snow but that's it. Some schools were on delays or closed today but not ours.

My son and I have both been feeling a little under the weather, and our neighbor who we spend a lot of time with just tested positive for the flu so I'm hoping we don't have that. Our little guy just has cold like symptoms but I have been feeling very tired with a headache, and just kind of all around icky... so I'm mostly worried about myself in regard to the flu. It could also just be the weather and the lack of sleep that comes from being a parent of young kids. It can be so hard to tell sometimes. Although the last time I had the flu it was rather obvious in the sense that I was perfectly fine and then suddenly out of nowhere I was SO TIRED I could barely hold my head up. I was still working then and I wasn't married with kids yet but I struggled to even walk to my car. It was awful.

I'm excited to see which mini characters we are going with! I'm trying to hold off on finishing either of my books before we start. It won't be a problem for my physical book, but I'll probably need to start another audiobook before finishing this one.

[Tammie]

I hope you don't get super sick Ashley...will definitely be thinking of you!
After some major travel in January, I came down with what I thought was a cold. I didn't test for covid, but comparing symptoms with others, I did likely have covid or the flu. I had that tired thing with a cold for 2 weeks...I hope yours doesn't linger :(

I've got the same strategy going on with a couple of books as well...Maria Jo and I'll look closely at the survey later today and come up with our 6 by tonight so everyone can start claiming books.

[Tammie]

OK E.T.
We have weighed in and these 6 have stood out as our choices.

R2D2 & C3PO
Luke Skywalker
Princess Leia
Chewbacca
Darth Vader
Emperor Palpatine

I'll put a few names in slots where only 1 person said they could do a task...more for a reminder than anything else...please DO officially claim spots though as we're all likely limited on what we can read for.

In an ideal world...every book we read from the start of the mini through the end of the month will also work for the mini. At our current pace, we won't finish our deck...we may get another reader enforcement...fingers crossed...but we need to be as efficient as we can...again if it's possible.

MINI is open for claims>⏰ see timer at top of WS for MINI START...1 day + 5 hrs to go
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Here's a link to the response compilation if you need to reference >
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[Tammie]

@ALL…one more thing…any book that’s on the FEB tab that will be finished after the mini starts, please, let’s find a home on the mini for those books first.

[Chava]

Wow all that cold. Here in my part of Australia we are battling a heat wave and another bunch of bush fires around our state.

Stay warm!

[Maria Jo]

Tammie and I have added conditional formatting to the date columns of the February cards and mini. Once the completion date is added, the color will disappear. As we get closer to finishing this month, this will make it easier to see which books are left.

[Maria Jo]

If anyone is looking for a short, cute read that works for Skip or 2, I am listening to the audiobook for Thornhedge. It is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the Enchantress who puts her to sleep, and has been a quick and enjoyable read for me.