diff --git a/tacc.el b/tacc.el
index 1c51770..f28079d 100644
--- a/tacc.el
+++ b/tacc.el
@@ -272,13 +272,13 @@ registered" sym-name)
 
 (defun tacc-info-initial ()
   "Returns the initial state of tacc-info"
-    `((history  . ())
-      (cycle    . 0)
-      (work-ts  . nil)
-      (break-ts . nil)
-      (end-ts   . nil)
-      (state    . stop)
-      (tag      . "")))
+  (copy-alist `((history  . ())
+                (cycle    . 0)
+                (work-ts  . nil)
+                (break-ts . nil)
+                (end-ts   . nil)
+                (state    . stop)
+                (tag      . ""))))
 
 (defvar tacc-info (tacc-info-initial)
   "State information related to the timer")
@@ -287,29 +287,49 @@ registered" sym-name)
   "Timer object controlling tacc's second-by-second update")
 
 ;; 05.2 State checks
+;; TODO: tacc-running? needs to be replaced by tacc-session? and tacc-live? depending on context
+
 
 (defun tacc-buffer ()
   "Gets the tacc-timer buffer if there is one"
   (get-buffer tacc-buffer-name))
 
-(defun tacc-running? ()
+(defun tacc-live-state? (state)
+  "Checks if the state supplied indicates a live timer"
+  (cond ((eq state 'pause) nil)
+        ((eq state 'stop) nil)
+        ((eq state 'work) t)
+        ((eq state 'break) t)
+        ('t (signal 'tacc-error-illegal-buffer-state state))))
+
+(defun tacc-live? ()
   "Checks if there is a live timer running"
   (timerp tacc-timer))
 
-(defun tacc-running-state? (state)
-  "Checks if the state supplied indicates a live timer"
-  (cond ((eq state 'pause) nil)
+(defun tacc-session-state? (state)
+  "Checks if the state supplied indicates there should be session information"
+  (cond ((eq state 'pause) t)
         ((eq state 'stop) nil)
         ((eq state 'work) t)
         ((eq state 'break) t)
         ('t (signal 'tacc-error-illegal-buffer-state state))))
 
+(defun tacc-session? ()
+  "Checks if tacc session info indicates there should be session information"
+  (tacc-running-state? (alist-get 'state tacc-info)))
+
+(defun tacc-history? ()
+  "Checks if tacc session has history information"
+  (if (> 0 (length (alist-get 'history tacc-info)))
+      t
+    nil))
+
 (defun tacc-invariant ()
   "Returns t if tacc is in a legal state for mutating tacc-info
 Note, if there is no tacc-buffer then you shouldn't be touching tacc-info"
   (if (bufferp (tacc-buffer))
-      (if (and (timerp tacc-timer)
-               (tacc-running-state? tacc-info))
+      (if (and (tacc-running?)
+               (tacc-live?))
           t)
     (signal 'tacc-error-illegal-buffer-state (tacc-buffer))))
 
@@ -359,6 +379,12 @@ Note, if there is no tacc-buffer then you shouldn't be touching tacc-info"
                (funcall tacc-play-sound-file tacc-sound-chime))
               (t (funcall tacc-play-sound-file tacc-sound-tick))))))
 
+(defun tacc-timer-buffer-redraw ()
+  (let ((now (current-time))
+        (state (alist-get 'state tacc-info)))
+    (tacc-timer-buffer-update state)))
+;; TODO
+
 (defun tacc-schedule ()
   "Note the time and schedule the first tick"
   (setcdr (assoc 'state tacc-info) 'work)
@@ -494,7 +520,8 @@ Note, if there is no tacc-buffer then you shouldn't be touching tacc-info"
 
 (defun tacc-clock-glyph (state)
   "Returns the correct play or pause glyph for each state"
-  (string (cond ((eq state 'work) tacc-run-glyph)
+  (string
+   (cond ((eq state 'work) tacc-run-glyph)
          ((eq state 'break) tacc-run-glyph)
          ((eq state 'pause) tacc-pause-glyph)
          ((eq state 'stop) tacc-pause-glyph))))
@@ -679,7 +706,8 @@ Returns the current tag if no prompt is made"
       (let ((state (alist-get 'state tacc-info)))
         (if (eq state 'pause)
             (tacc-unpause-timer)
-          (tacc-pause-timer))))
+          (tacc-pause-timer))
+        (tacc-timer-buffer-redraw)))
     (message "There isn't a live timer session to pause/unpause"))
 
 (defun tacc-end-timer ()