It's True--Pepsi Refresh Reached March Application Quota

So, I spent all last night in a deep but confusing sleep in which I dreamed of my Pepsi Refresh grant application for what seemed like hours. I woke with a headache--and purpose. I needed to find out what was going on. But alas, what I feared last night is true: In about 20 minutes, Pepsi received more than 1,000 applications for grants. I'm in disbelief, but I also feel angry at myself. I should have known to try submitting in the first minutes--but that's not a mistake I'll make next month.

So what's the plan for the next 30 days?

I'm going to use the time to my advantage. I plan to write at least the majority of my business plan this month and use those specifics to further hone my grant application. I also saw a fantastic video made by my new friend Janet Geddis, who is opening a bookstore in Athens, Georgia late this year. She also tried applying for a Pepsi grant this month, but she had the additional frustration of her application being LOST! In any case, Janet made a really lovely video using iMovie, which has inspired me to try and do the same. (Anyone out there want to tutor me??) I'll also use this month to research other grants, which I'll be able to apply for once the business plan is done. And finally, an extra 30 days will give me even more time to build a community on this blog and on my Facebook Page--a community that will, I hope, help me get out the vote once the application is up and running.

Have any of you ever applied for grants? What have your experiences been?

Pepsi Grant Application a Bust for this Month?

The rain is falling quietly outside as I write this, and all I can see out the windows is a reflection of our living room. Ever since we received (and accepted) an offer on our house, I've been looking around with newly sentimental eyes: How can I drink my morning coffee without seeing the angular shadows the sun makes on these particular wood floors? Can we really sell the couches we've cuddled up on for the last three, four, years? And what of the view from our back deck? Surely a little patch of yard can't replace that. Selling a house you've loved is a bittersweet thing, for sure.

Tonight, too, is bittersweet. I expected to rattle off an exuberant post pointing you all in the direction of my grant application on Pepsi Refresh, and beg for you to spread the word in all the ways you can. I've been preparing for that moment ever since I first heard of the Pepsi Refresh Project, which will award $1.3 million in grants every month in 2010 to the projects that receive the most votes online. But an hour--an HOUR--after applications started being accepted, I was informed that Pepsi had already received their 1,000-application quota for the month of March. The site politely asked me to try again on April 1.

Is this a mistake? Brought on, perhaps, by a sudden influx of traffic? Or some mishap during the scheduled maintenance earlier tonight? I hope so. I'll be getting in touch with someone from the company bright and early tomorrow morning.

Now for the sweet part of the evening: I created a Facebook Page for Provocation and Privacy! I've gotten many requests for one in the last couple of weeks and finally had a couple of hours to sit down and make it happen. Then I had the pleasure of watching as my night-owl friends and supporters started becoming fans. Very exciting stuff! I hope they'll share the page with their networks and so on. It'll be a great place for you to get quick updates in between these longer posts--and interact with others who care about books, reading, and literacy. Find the page here.

Also, we've broken 1,000 pageviews on the blog. :)

Thank you all, as always, for your support. I'll let you know what's going on with the Pepsi Refresh grant application as soon as I find out!