Team E.T.

[Ashley]

It gave me a nice distraction while we were in a severe thunderstorm with tornado warning. We’re all good here though.

[Nistha]

Finished my last book for the month :)

[Ashley]

For hand 17 in April, could we use the same book for both 8 Blues, using the Draw 2? Just trying to take a peek at some things for colored cards and wondered if this was an option.

[Tammie]

Ashley wrote: "For hand 17 in April, could we use the same book for both 8 Blues, using the Draw 2? Just trying to take a peek at some things for colored cards and wondered if this was an option."

Yes...as long as it works for 2 and 8, that is fine :)

[Tammie]

Ashley wrote: "It gave me a nice distraction while we were in a severe thunderstorm with tornado warning. We’re all good here though."


Glad everything is OK...we had storms last night too...always insures a workout to pick up all the sticks!

[Tammie]

We're down to our last 2 books for March! For those who like to stalk how we're adding up...answer is awesome!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Thanks to everyone who have been able to claim those difficult tasks for April. We've one less day, but 12 DRAW2s so the number is easier. Cards are more difficult though.

Spring is here...I think!
Don't let anyone fool you tomorrow!

[Maria Jo]

Thank you to all who helped me find a solution so I don't have to rush finishing my last book! I will rearrange things this afternoon.

[Audrey Jane]

My apologies, I finished my last book yesterday and forgot to check in. I'm in the middle of moving houses (currently packing my stuff into boxes) and completely lost track of time !
I'm tired now but will check in again tomorrow in order to log in my April books :) Will look out for 5s and 7s !

[Tammie]

Take a look...after 2 months...it looks like we're at the top in second place...great work Team E.T.!

Wow...aside from the competition...I'm loving reading with you all...thanks for the fun times. Let's finish this...one more month to go!

[Nistha]

Great team work all and thanks Tammie and Maria Jo for keeping us organized and updated :)

[Karen ♐]

That's fantastic! Thank you Tammie & Maria Jo for all your hard work!

[Ashley]

My library holds are coming up all out of whack. I will still be reading everything I have on the spreadsheet, it just may be in a different order than planned based on what is available to me in which format... and if it is a book club read or something that needs to be done by a certain date. I'm normally a very planned reader (with some flexibility) and this month is off to a wacky start.

I'm probably starting today. It isn't on the spreadsheet yet. Tineye says it is over 50% red, but none of the letters seem to work with our red cards from the description... so I'm just going to wait until I get into it a bit before I place it. If it doesn't count for any reds, it can always just be a 7.

[Tammie]

Sounds like a plan Ashley. It’ll be a bonus if we can use for red.

I’m catching up…the books I started in March are now finished…I got super behind on planned reading, but feel the timing was perfect with having the extras last month.

I’ve got to read The Ministry of Time for bookclub later this month…going to start now…as I’m sure it’ll be a harder read for me and will take forever…we’ll see how that goes. Not my favorite genre…

[Nistha]

I got to a great start this month! I actually will be travelling back home and also a wedding on 18th March so might be slow in the second half (might get to only a couple of books as I will get too busy with relatives back home) - thus trying to cover up as much before I leave

[Tammie]

Thanks Nistha!

Could you check...
Hand 11 - Book: We Solve Murders
I'm wondering if there are 2 characters in your book with the last name of Veen by chance...we've another DRAW 2 in that hand.

I put The Crimson Moth in the Overlord spot...think it's brown...let me know if you agree with this please.

See note below Also be on the look out for your book in Hand 17 - Still Beating
If there's another E, or you find a 5 or 7 we can use it for the DRAW2 spot.

[Ashley]

Just for clarification - if we want to use something for a Draw 2 for the same number (like 7 & 7) for example, are you saying we would have to have 2 separate reasons - one for each number?

[Ashley]

I put on the spreadsheet for Red 8. It can be used for the Draw 2 with the 7 if needed but I didn't want to put it there in case Nistha had something better like another E.

[Tammie]

Ashley wrote: "Just for clarification - if we want to use something for a Draw 2 for the same number (like 7 & 7) for example, are you saying we would have to have 2 separate reasons - one for each number?"

Yes...for 2 sevens...you'd need separate reasons for 7...Vera and Vicki or Sam Veer and Linda Veer. I hope this makes sense.

Have a look at the 11 other draw 2's we've got in this deck. It looks like the book you just put in hand 17 would work for a DRAW 2 as you've spelled out your backups...if you feel comfortable...go ahead and set that up.

[Tammie]

Ashley wrote: "I put on the spreadsheet for Red 8. It can be used for the Draw 2 with the 7 if needed but I didn't want to put it there in case ..."

That's OK...go ahead and put yours there. Nistha won't have to worry about it that way. I'll strike my note on that one above to avoid confusion.

[Ashley]

Tammie wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I put on the spreadsheet for Red 8. It can be used for the Draw 2 with the 7 if needed but I didn't want to put it..."

Okay, I went ahead and did it. I could only populate my name from the dropdown though, which looks like it isn't right for one of the 2 draw 2 items, so you might have to fix that.

[Maria Jo]

We are a week into April! How's everybody's reading going?

[Tammie]

Doing well…I’ve had a good start with reading…my husband’s been traveling and it’s done nothing but rain…lots of time.
…my favorite so far for the month

I’m also starting to reread the Fatal Series…so good!

[Ashley]

Oh, In the Air Tonight sounds really good. Adding it to my list.

We also have been having a ton of rain. I'm really enjoying . Vera is just such a fun character and I feel so happy to be back with her. I also love found family so these books are my jam.

I'm struggling to get into , but I think maybe we're getting to a place where it will hopefully pick up soon. My brain has been feeling a bit overloaded lately, so that might be the problem.

I keep thinking things like "Oh my gosh, it's already April 7th" as if that is SO FAR into the month when it is not. I normally would only have finished one book so far and I finished a carryover book, so I'm not doing "bad" at all.

[Karen ♐]

Tammie, I love Marie Force's books!

[Chava]

Finished 2 books and trying to get another done by the end of the week. I’m away for a few days for Passover so will be offline Friday until Monday.

[Nistha]

Tammie wrote: "Thanks Nistha!

Could you check...
Hand 11 - Book: We Solve Murders
I'm wondering if there are 2 characters in your book with the last name of Veen by chance...we've another DRAW 2 in that hand.

..."

Yep indeed Brown!

[Nistha]

Ashley wrote: "Oh, In the Air Tonight sounds really good. Adding it to my list.

We also have been having a ton of rain. I'm really enjoying . Ve..."

I didn't know second part of Vera Wong is out - I had found the first one absolutely adorable

[Ashley]

Nistha wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Oh, In the Air Tonight sounds really good. Adding it to my list.

We also have been having a ton of rain. I'm really enjoying [bookcover:Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)..."

It just came out April 1. I'm about 65% through and definitely recommend it if you liked the first one. Of course I have no idea what the end will be, but it definitely has the same fun, charming vibes as the first.

[Nistha]

Ashley wrote: "Nistha wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Oh, In the Air Tonight sounds really good. Adding it to my list.

We also have been having a ton of rain. I'm really enjoying [bookcover:Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping ..."

Will definitely check it out! Added to TBR :) I love books based on cute old people

[Tammie]

Audrey...I hope you move to the new house has gone well...and uneventful! Look forward to hearing about your move/your new place!

[Audrey Jane]

Thank you, Tammie ! There were some delays with the contracts at notary level which has now been solved but it also means that I'm 'in between' houses for a couple of weeks so I'm currently staying at my sister's place in order to bridge that gap. By the end of May I should be settled in my new home which is located near an abbey in a quiet idyllic village in the middle of France. I'm looking forward to it !
All my physical books are in boxes now so I'm currently 'limited' to my kindle books. However nothing dramatic, plenty enough books there as well :)

[Audrey Jane]

Would the below book work for Blue 7 ? It's blue to me but want to double check.

[Tammie]

Thanks for the update Audrey...sorry you are having to deal with the 'in between'.

Totally blue on that cover if you want to go for it!

[Tammie]

The April Mini is posted > https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
START timer for April Mini > https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

Same routine as previous months...except for Part 5…an opportunity to write a ‘Captain’s Log’ entry. Anyone interested in taking at least a few of these on? I’m thinking AI might come in handy for this…

1) Any book that is currently on the April Tab...let's get those books to the mini if you'll finish them after the start of the mini (see timer)
2) This mini...the tasks are very subjective. We encourage you to be creative...be sure to be specific in your description of how your book applies to the task.
3) For completions we've only a few color and REV cards left...great job! All of our DRAW2s are claimed as well. We are a bit behind from previous rounds...do what you can to slip a few extra shorties in if possible.

LINK to our WS> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
We hope you are all enjoying your books :)

[Audrey Jane]

Tammie wrote: "Totally blue on that cover if you want to go for it!"

Oh, great ! Thank you for moving my book to the colour card :)

[Tammie]

Audrey Jane wrote: "Tammie wrote: "Totally blue on that cover if you want to go for it!"

Oh, great ! Thank you for moving my book to the colour card :)"

I’m very happy it worked out!

[Ashley]

Audrey Jane wrote: "Thank you, Tammie ! There were some delays with the contracts at notary level which has now been solved but it also means that I'm 'in between' houses for a couple of weeks so I'm currently staying..."

Why don't things ever seem to go smoothly when it comes to buying houses and moving? I'm glad you have somewhere to stay while it all gets worked out. Your new location sounds like it will be lovely when you get there.

[Ashley]

Tammie wrote: "

The April Mini is posted > https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
START timer for April Mini > https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown......"

I definitely overanalyze when it comes to the more subjective tasks so this might be a tricky mini for me. I'm struggling to get into my current reads, but one is for book club which is on Thursday so I better get moving. I'll try to find some spots for my things on the mini. After the 2 I'm currently working on, I have one more book I'm committed to and then will hopefully have some flexibility to just work with the mini and maybe one of our remaining colored cards. We'll see how it goes!

[Tammie]

Ashley wrote: "Tammie wrote: "

The April Mini is posted > https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
START timer for April Mini > https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown......"

If you need help Ashley...say the word...we'll help you find a home for your books.

[Tammie]

Not sure if you all noticed...this round we have x40 books for the mini...Round 1 was x30, Round 2 x35. The tasks are easier...but every book possible needs to find a home on the mini. If you can't figure out how to make it happen, or if there is a book in the spot you need, please shout out so we can work together to get everything to fit :)

[Tammie]

Good day Team E.T.! The mini is officially underway...and we're in the home stretch as our challenge ends at the end of this month. Happy reading :)

[Ashley]

Tammie wrote: "Not sure if you all noticed...this round we have x40 books for the mini...Round 1 was x30, Round 2 x35. The tasks are easier...but every book possible needs to find a home on the mini. If you can't..."

I was thinking it seemed like the mini tasks just kept coming and coming and coming.

[Karen ♐]

Ashley wrote: "Tammie wrote: "Not sure if you all noticed...this round we have x40 books for the mini...Round 1 was x30, Round 2 x35. The tasks are easier...but every book possible needs to find a home on the min..."

I thought the same thing, Ashley!

[Chava]

Karen ♐ wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Tammie wrote: "Not sure if you all noticed...this round we have x40 books for the mini...Round 1 was x30, Round 2 x35. The tasks are easier...but every book possible needs to find a ..."

Definitely faster each month :)

[Maria Jo]

Hi team!

I wanted to give a small update because I have been a little absent so far this month. I am newly pregnant, and dealing with the exhaustion of that has prevented me from doing any reading yet. I'm starting to feel better and enjoying reading again, but I know I won't be able to get my 10 books completed. Pixie agreed to allow me to cover the rest of my books with books from her shelf. I'm going to wait a few more days to start adding any of those books to see what we can cover already and what might be more difficult, but I don't want anyone to start getting stressed because it seems like we haven't covered all the books yet.

[Tammie]

Thanks for the update and I hope you start to feel better soon!
Pixie books can help for sure :)

[Ashley]

Maria Jo wrote: "Hi team!

I wanted to give a small update because I have been a little absent so far this month. I am newly pregnant, and dealing with the exhaustion of that has prevented me from doing any reading..."

Congratulations on the pregnancy! How exciting! Growing a baby can definitely be exhausting and I can't blame you for not reading much. I'm glad you're starting to feel a bit better and hope it continues on in that direction for you!

[Christina T]

Maria Jo, I've never grown another person before but hear it can be an amazingly horrible and a horribly amazing experience. I hope things even out for you to where you get to the amazing part quickly.

[Karen ♐]

Maria Jo, once you get through the first few months, you will start to feel much better. And it's such a beautiful experience. Yes, there are some downsides but it's definitely worth it. Hope you feel better soon.

[Ashley]

For the artificial intelligence mini task 8, it says "Read a book with a robot, AI, or a highly intelligent system/character"... do you think a really smart kid counts? The main characters in my book are kids at summer camp and the one says she's gifted and that after 2 months of Kindergarten they moved her up to 2nd grade. This intelligence is also reflected in how she speaks and the facts that she knows. I just started it yesterday, so I may come across something that works better, but just wanted to run this by you.