National Novel Writing Month Day #1

Last night, I made a spontaneous decision to unofficially join National Novel Writing Month.

According to Wikipedia, the internet-based event began in 1999 with just 21 participants writing a fresh 50,000 word novel between November 1 and November 30. Bloggers quickly spread news of the projects so that, by last year, over 200,000 participated in the challenge and wrote nearly three milllion words.

WOW!

Official entrants registers on the website and post daily word counts. While I'm not going quite that far, my goal is to write a skeletal chapter of the first thirty chapters of Bryony's prequel (the book has forty total) by November 30 and to (hopefully) extend the festivities until December 10th to (finally) complete a rough, working draft.

I admit that, in the past, I've pooh-poohed NaNoWriMo because of rumors that finished products were amateurish, and that might be quite possibly true. However, any first draft is bound to read thus, and since that's my objective here (It's not like I'm going to let anyone READ this early draft), I'm okay with that, this time.

Barriers to completion include grueling time constraints (Our household had been running in crisis mode all year, which is unlikely to change because of NaNoWriMo) along severe energy deficits because of it. I now also allow my inner editor to peer over my shoulder while I write, which hinders both my progress and my confidence. All editors: MARCH! (points finger to my awesome creaking, swinging door at the entrance to my office attic).

One of my accountability tools, however, is to use my own blog for daily updates and word counts. I'm also setting a one-hour time limit to complete the task. I'm not off to a very good start either. I have to leave in under an hour to take Daniel to a doctor's appointment...and I have TONS of things to accomplish before I can head over to chapter one.

Soooooo, I'm going to firm up the prequel, finish getting ready to walk out the door, and make chapter one top priority when I return, before answering voice mails, taking phone calls, checking email, getting out for my sanity walk, heeding pleas for homework help, etc. etc. etc.

(Drum roll) LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Coffee Anyone?

We sip, we slurp, we rely on its warmth and pick me up, we drink coffee socially, but, does anyone know when it became a permanent fixture in our lifestyles? According to www.wikipedia.com, coffee has been traced to the thirteenth century, although its origins are still unclear. The first credible history of drinking coffee showed up in the fifteenth century. Www.coffeecakes.com states coffee came to America in the seventeen hundreds by way of the British and by the nineteen hundreds American were consuming one half of all coffee produced in the world. Guess that's what happens when you tax and dump tea.

Coffee at that time was prepared similar to Ethiopian styles. Green beans were roasted over a stove, ground in a pestle and mortar, and boiled on a stove until done. The ceremonies that go about serving it were different, yet the adoption method of preparation was general.

James Mason patented the first coffee Percolator in 1865. Years later, the first electric Percolator in 1910 came about, and then the drip coffee maker in 1960. The drip coffee maker was a huge breakthrough, it didn't re-circulate the grounds like the prior methods leading to an improved taste. House wives favored these new inventions as they led to increased ease of preparation on their part.

The term "Cuppa Joe," refers back to World War I when no G.I. Joe was without his cup of coffee. The soldiers had a dehydrated version in their rations or assembled in halls around a large Percolator. Coffee houses were the place to be after the war. The soldiers were so used to having their coffee that it became accustomed socially to gather and drink. When they needed a meal with the drink, soda fountains and lunch counters sprang into existence.

So as I sit here with my beverage, a steaming mug filled with coffee that has my senses alert, I rapidly type out the posting for today hoping to share with you the rather large contribution coffee has made to Bryony. Without this beverage that has kept me running and up at all hours typing, the much anticipated novel (so my family claims) might not have ever made it to editing. As you sip, slurp, and savor your "Cuppa Joe,"think what coffee has added to your day.