Read-a-thon mini-challenge: Books and Beverages

[calissa]

Welcome Read-a-thoners and regular readers! We’re deep into Dewey’s 24-hour read-a-thon, with Hour 17 just about to get underway. It tends to get a bit quiet around this time of day… because it’s not day for participants in most other time zones. It’s the time where we’re all reaching for some additional caffeine or sugar. By now, I’ve probably consumed enough tea to fill the Tasman Sea and will need more if I hope to power through until the end.

The Task

It’s probably obvious that books and tea are obsessions of mine. So, tell me: What are you reading at the moment and what beverage do you have on hand? If you have a favourite tea, I’d love to hear it! Just leave a comment below. Extra kudos to anyone keen to link me to a photo.

The Prize

A book from BookDepository.com worth US$15 or less. This is giveaway is open to international participants.

Australian readers may opt instead for a bundle of gently used SFF books, if they wish.

The winner will be announced and contacted once the event wraps up!

Mirrored from Earl Grey Editing.

Comments

[winterbird]

I'm loving so much that you're doing this. Though how do you manage the full 24 hours? Do you have like preparations in advance?

[calissa]

The trick is I don't manage the full 24 hours. Sleep is far too important for me and the readathon starts at 11 PM local time (or 10 PM in April). So I usually sleep through the first 8 hours.

In terms of preparation, I don't do a whole lot. I don't do any housework on the day--I try and get the cleaning done in the days beforehand and Sahaquiel is designated cook for readathons. I pick out a likely pile of books (but don't tend to be wedded to them), and make sure my electronic devices are charged. I sometimes make sure to have a snack or two on hand and let everyone know I'll be busy. But that's pretty much it.

[onewhitecrow]

Was that question to us randoms, or Readathon participants? 'Cause I'm reading my great-grandmother's book of household hints (drinking Russian-brewed smoky Yunnan), and it is a hoot.

[calissa]

It was intended for Readathon participants--I got distracted and forgot to turn off cross-posting.

However, I'm glad you answered. Both book and tea sound amazing!

[onewhitecrow]

Heheh, I did think so...the book is great - a mix of actually useful tips, stuff that's like "take one formal breakfastcup of macaroni and a gill of Lemco" that would be useful back on 1907 when anyone knew what those were (seriously, "macaroni" appears to be a solid substance that comes in blocks in this book, nothing so sane as tubey pasta) and batshit rural granny stuff, like embedding your tomato/lettuce salad inside a fashionable lemon jelly and making DIY asbestos toasting pads.

The tea is pretty amazing, and weirdly enough a mix I happened into whilst trying to recreate Sky Dog's favoured tea out of curiousity.

[calissa]

How fascinating! Have you come across anything that you personally find useful?

It sounds like Sky Dog has great taste in tea.

[onewhitecrow]

I think the instructions on removing bloodstains from silk could be...more seriously, I'm considering following their cottage cheese instructions and maybe trying a few of the saner recipies.

Should I ever have cheese, no fridge and access to vinegar, I'll also now know that wrapping the cheese in a vingegar'd cloth will keep it fresh and unmouldified. [nod]

He does. ^_^