The Challenge Factory discussion

Paris, is this tattoo #4?

Denise wrote: "Nice! And thanks for keeping an eye on things for me. :)

New tattoo, Paris? Now I'm curious, what are you getting?"

I'm getting blackbirds in various forms of flight on my right forearm.

Ezi, this is number 9 all together, but 4th since the beginning of last year.

Paris wrote: "Denise wrote: "Nice! And thanks for keeping an eye on things for me. :)

New tattoo, Paris? Now I'm curious, what are you getting?"

I'm getting blackbirds in various forms of flight on my right f..."

LOL, GO PARIS!!!

Ooh P that's gonna look cool :)

I'll post pics once it's done. It's my third in the same general area on my right arm, so of course my mom asked if I was getting a sleeve. None of them are touching or intermingled at all. I'd love to get one on my left arm, just not sure what. I'm totally addicted to getting them, if only they weren't expensive.

My hubby has half sleeves on both arms. I luv them :)

Jenne wrote: "My hubby has half sleeves on both arms. I luv them :)"

Tats are so hot. Lucky girl!

Sounds pretty cool, looking forward to the pics! :D

Dense I went ahead and set up the buddy read threads while I had a minute. Please feel free take over sign ups, please lol

Hey Jenne, do you want me to work on the spreadsheets for SSS and SS again? I'm super excited to start playing!!

Also, I noticed that the notes for rolling the dice says the same thing for both games...

Dice Roll (2 dice on Fridays US Central Time)

I can help with Buddy threads if Denise is too busy.

I am also excited for SS/SSS.

Dang copy and paste!!!!!!!
P I know you have your hands full with hangman and ready set cover. If you want me to do it, if you want to split them, etc I'm good. Just let me know what works best for you :)

I totally just set up the spreadsheets. They are pretty basic at this point though. Since they are just Google Docs, I bet I can make it so you can edit them and then we can just do whoever gets to it.

If you want to PM me whatever email address you'd like to use, I can see what I can do. Otherwise, I don't mind.

P you rock :)

Jenne wrote: "Dense I went ahead and set up the buddy read threads while I had a minute. Please feel free take over sign ups, please lol"

Thanks, I was gonna do it yesterday and it totally slipped my mind! (First day back at work after holidays... XD) I'll handle the sign ups, no problem. :)

Did y'all see how many signed up for SS?! I think it's the biggest turnout we've ever had for a team challenge :D

Jenne wrote: "Did y'all see how many signed up for SS?! I think it's the biggest turnout we've ever had for a team challenge :D"

Hi-five Jenne.
we did have an influx of people from the M-m group :D

Our #'s have exploded lately lol.

I'm sure being the group of the week or whatever that was helped too. I love it! I feel like the place is rockin' now!

I'm open to setting up the November buddy read thread(s) if need be. I'll just be sitting around watching football and doing laundry Sunday, so let me know.

Ugh, it's already that late in the momenth... sorry, life has been getting in the way over the last days, but I'll go set them up.

Denise wrote: "Ugh, it's already that late in the momenth... sorry, life has been getting in the way over the last days, but I'll go set them up."

I completely understand that. Life is good at that. Let me know if you need any help at all.

Are any of y'all around? I copied the wrong post so the newsletter link doesn't work!!!!! I'll email it to you so the html will work and you won't have to redo it. Dang GR and only letting you send one mass message a day :-/

I'm here, send it over! :)
email: [email protected]

just pm'ed you lol.... sending it now THANK YOU!!!!!

No problem - sent! :)

Just got it, it worked lol. I copied the wrong post just the pic without the link. Guess I was due for an opps.... Thanks for fixing it!!!!!

Shit happens. *lol* And it wasn't a big deal, anyway - I'm happy to help. Gotta keep earning that mod title, right? ;)

Indeed it does...I had another screw up on the newsletter (it's fixed now). Today has not been my day apparently lol.

I have a question about the History challenge I've been running. (BTW, thank you. I've had so much fun.) How long has this challenge been going? Do you want me to continue it for 2015?

If you moderators want the History challenge to keep going, that is no problem. I have ideas. (Did you know that Canada's national flag will be 50 years old in February?)

If you guys think it's time for a change, I have an idea for that, too. The challenge is tentatively called 'BOOK it to the finish line!'. Those who participate in the challenge would read books that would take them a certain distance in a race. The more books they read the farther they get. They would not be competing with each other; just getting to the finish line is the goal.

I have all different kinds of races in mind. Serious races, silly races, long marathons and short sprints, races with vehicles, races with animals, old races and new races.

I have to admit that this is not a completely new idea. I have taken a couple challenges I've seen on other groups here on goodreads and put my own spin on it. These other challenges are done solely for points. Using the points to 'run a race' is my adaptation.

Here are links to these other challenges: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... and https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

If you are interested in the 'BOOK it to the finish line!' challenge, I have a sample ready to show you. Or I am happy to continue the History challenge.

Lanelle I'd love to see a sample and that sounds like a neat idea.
The history challenge, is totally you're call :)

I'm with Jenne, Lanelle. I am really interested in the BOOK it idea and if you'd like to keep going with the history challenge that'd be cool too. Whatever works for you. We, me especially, really appreciate you taking over the history challenge. You've been doing a great job!

Here's what the first 'BOOK it to the finish line!' challenge might be. Let you know if you would change anything.

Great Wall Marathon - 5,164 steps into history

The Great Wall Marathon has grown steadily since its inaugural run in 1999. It is now a sold out event. Despite the arduous course on the iconic Great Wall of China, runners are rewarded by the breathtaking views and surroundings. Run the most challenging marathon of your life along one of mankind's greatest monuments.

For this challenge you will need to read the number of books to go at least 5,164 steps.

Each book will earn you a certain amount of steps. The more books you read the farther you get. You can read as many books as you want from each section, but only one from the last section. Books must be at least 200 pages unless specified. Re-reads are okay.

Each book in this section will take you 162 steps:
Read any 200+ page book you'd like.
Read a book with flower on the cover.
Read a book that does not have "the," "a" or "an" in the title.
Read a book written by an author you have never read before.
Read a book from your TBR list.
Read a book that is mostly red on the cover.

Each book in this section will take you 324 steps:
Read a memoir, biography, or narrative non-fiction.
Read a book that has been made into a movie.
Read a book with no people on the cover.
Read a book that has two or more authors.
Read a book that has won an award. Specify award.
Read a book with a type of bird in the title.

Each book in this section will take you 646 steps:
Read a book with a season, holiday or month in the title.
Read a book by an author who shares your birth month.
Read a book published before 1923 (in the public domain).
Read a book with a vegetable on the cover.
Read an epistolary novel, which is a book written in letters, emails, or diary entries.
Read a book that is in a series (but not the 1st) that was published in 2014.
Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.

Each book in this section will take you 1,291 steps:
Read a book set in China.
Read a non-fiction book that is NOT a memoir, biography or narrative non-fiction.
Read a book with “husband” or “wife” in the title.
Read a classic Western book.
Read a book with a doctor or nurse as a main character.
Read a book with a table on the cover.
Read a book that has less than 50 reviews here on goodreads.
Read a book whose author shares a Clue character’s name (Scarlet (will accept Scarlett), Plum, Green, White, Peacock, Mustard)

Each book in this section will take you 2,582 steps:(only one book from this section)
Read two books by the same author. They can be in the same series, but do not have to be.
Read a Pulitzer Prize winner or finalist for Fiction (1948-now) or Novel (1917-1947).
Read a book about which you’ve heard bad things, or you think you will dislike.
Read a book with a picture of a Seventh Wonder of the World on it.
Read a book that is at least 400 pages long.
Read a fiction and nonfiction book about the same topic.

Books I might read to make it to the finish line:

324 steps:
I Am Number Four (made into a movie)
Persuasion (made into a movie)
Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (two authors)
The Mudlark (bird in the title)

1,291 steps:
Arabella (only 3 reviews)

2,582 steps:
Silent in the Grave (over 400 pages)

This looks like a great idea, Lanelle!

Lanelle, I really like that idea a lot.

OMG, that wore me out just reading it

Lol! I like the idea :)

Ezinwanyi~the Troublemaker wrote: "OMG, that wore me out just reading it"

*chuckle* Maybe February's race will have to be the Grand Championship Snail Race held in Snailwell, England.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, everyone. It's a go, then.

I'm not a mod but I have to say that I like having short "monthly" challenges, like the history challenges.
It seems that more and more often we have these long games/races/challenges that take months (or even a year or more).

Just my input.

I usually fallout if the challenge is longer than 3 months.

Hey D, I went ahead and posted buddy read threads while I had a minute before everyone gets busy with Thanksgiving madness.

Ezinwanyi~the Troublemaker wrote: "I usually fallout if the challenge is longer than 3 months."

See I'm totally the opposite. If it's a month long challenge I tend to forget and then oops. But longer challenges I'm more likely to finish. Although sometimes quicker if it's possible.

We should definitely have a good mixture of both I think.

I got a question about cover colors again...(I'm sure you're all surprised by this)...

Would you say these are green?

I'd say they are.

Sweet. Thanks.

You know what I noticed when I came to post in here? I never posted a picture of the tattoo I got in August. lol

Do y'all still want to see it?

Sure do =]
One of these days I'll get mine finished...

I'm trying to decide what I'm going to do this year. I was thinking of having the ones on my shoulders covered up with bigger pieces.

I guess I haven't taken any pictures of it since I got it done, but this is the one the day it was done.

Oooh I like it! I'd love to get one on the back of my neck. My hair is down 90% of the time so it'd easily be hidden when needed.

I have one on the back of my neck and then one right below that. One on each shoulder blade (those are the ones I want to cover), one on the inside of each wrist, one on the top of my right foot and then one on the inside of my right forearm, which is where the birds are.

Almost everything is in black though. That's why I want to cover the shoulders with big elaborate colorful pieces.