Always Looking Up

Michael J Fox - What can I Say: loved the Back to the Future movies when I was a teenager - actually still love them - but also the Family Ties and Spin City TV series and movies that he has been a part of.

It took me two years to read his book "Always Looking Up" - not because I found it difficult to read or boring, but it touched some topics while I have pursued new horizons with my MS. I started reading it just days after I expressed my initial interest in what became the Sailing Sclerosis Project and finished the book while I was becoming comfortable (and accepting) the two hidden handicaps, that I now suffer from caused by the MS.

"Well you think about it. I just want to tell you, you'd be doing us a big favor."

Ooh, he used the f-word. To a politician, favors are mother's milk. I thanked him for the call and told him I'd consider it and call him back soon.

Michael J Fox has Parkinson's - and he has started a foundation to spread awareness, challenges etc. about the life with Parkinson's .... you name it.... putting his face out there as FACE and advocate for research.

It has not been an easy task because there are some that does not believe that he is honest about his Parkinson's and others have had harsh arguments about celebrities being spokes persons for diseases at hearings etc. But I believe that people known from the media should be spoke persons if they chose to do so as they will reach a bigger audience thus helping people with less strength/means creating awareness.

To people like Michael J Fox being spokes person for diseasses etc. THANK YOU

Beat Cancer - Knæk Kræften 2015

Tonight (now) is the annual TV Show Knæk Kræften (Beat Cancer) collecting money for a cause that affects a lot of families every day. 2 becomes 3: This year the campaign launched a third pin, so I had to add it to my collection of pins. Like last year I also supported via SMS donation.

3..... that is actually a scary number, as it is the same number of people in my network that have been diagnosed with cancer since last years Knæk Cancer campaign :o(

This months is also breast cancer awareness month, so bought one of the four bracelets that were on sale - could not have the other three bracelets in any shop, otherwise they would have been purchased too.

Empowerment Through Design

The Empowerment Though Design project had an exhibition and an embroidery workshop at the main library in Frederiksberg, Denmark last month - I went to the workshop where we were told the story behind the project, shown pictures and saw examples of local needle and yarn work from Tunesia and Morocco.

The Royal Danish Academy School of Design has since 2008 been involved in the Empowerment Through Design in both Morocco and Tunesia. Studens and teachers have travelled to the two countries to help educate local women on how to make a design from beginning to end.

Needless to say the local women are extremely gifted with traditional needle and yarn work that makes the rest of us drool with envy - skills that have been handed over through generations. But often the finishing touch has been missing when selling their crafts at local markets - despite excellent needle work, would you buy the purse if the purse itself was really badly sewn together? I am guessing "No!".

They teach the locals about design - how to create a beautiful end-product that people/tourists actually want to buy as their craft is given the little extra touch to show it's beauty. A unique product created and sold locally and not some souvenir imported from somewhere else.

Maggie Sefton

When Maggie Sefton's 13th Knitting Mystery book was published, Purl Up and Die, I realized that I was missing one book in the series, Dyer Consequenses, so I ordered both.

Maggie Sefton is a bit different than the other knit-lit mystery writers - Kelly Flynn does not own a cat, but the rottweiler, Carl. Even though  rottweilers can be one scary dog race, Carl's behavior is softened by his ever unsuccessful chase of the garden squirrels (Brazen Squirrel, Saucy, Squirrel.... Kelly has given them nick names. Maybe they are extra funny to me as I can not stop comparing them a bit with the squirrels Bip and Bop in Patrick McDonnell's cartoon strip MUTTS.

DYER CONSEQUENCES

Kelly wants to find out why she has been target with vandalism: slashed tires, broken windshields etc. when a young woman is found dead in a dye tub at the House of Lambspun. She and her friends start sleuting again to solve the murder and perhaps also other incidents of vandalism.

All this takes her mind and time away from renovating/renewing the alpaca ranch that she has recently acquired - she is eager to begin this project with Steve but they need to find out who the murderer is before they end up finding another body.

PURL UP AND DIE

Barb is teaching classes at the House of Lambspun, and suddenly her son, Tommy, is accused of assault when doing his doctor residency in Fort Connor. The situation gets worse as he suddenly becomes the number one suspects, when the young lady accusing him of assault is murdered.

Kelly and her friends supports Barb the best way they can and, Kelly once again starts sleuthing to find out, if the accusations were justified and if Tommy really is a killer.

----

Will not give too much details here as that might be spoilers - but as always I enjoy the description of snowy weather/conditions, the atmosphere at the House of Lambspun, the circle of friends, the squirrel chasing Carl. Maggie Sefton makes you fell right at home in Fort Connor in a cozy way while you snuggle up in a warm blanket, with a cup of tea and the book(s) in your hand..

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - Final Update

Source

All good and true book-lovers practice the pleasing and improving avocation of reading in bed.... No book can be appreciated until it has been slept with and dreamed over. 

Eugene Field, Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac (1896)

49 pages into The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry and time is up - The readathon has officially ended. At least I started on a new book and expect to finish it during the upcoming week. Was recommended this book as parts of it takes place in my home city, Copenhagen.

OK, so a little disappointed that I only read 439 pages, completed only two books and started reading a third. I had expected to do more considering how many books I read in my staycation besides being crafty (knitting and card making). 

Oh well! But it might be my body adjusting getting back to work again (started Thursday). But I still enjoyed every moment as got to do one of my most treasured things: reading the printed word :o) Just putting the mobile on silent for 24 hours - only randomly checking blogs: mostly to see progress by other readers in the readathon.

And just realized: this little blog turns 7 today.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - 2nd Update

Fell asleep with my book - not that it was in anyway boring, but guess body needed the rest and slept way longer than I usually do....*sigh* today of all days

11:39 AM CET - 21 hours 40 minutes -  2nd book read

Innocence by Dean Koontz (338 pages)

Total of 690 pages read

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - 1st Update

For those of you who visit from the readathon's homepage - I am Anne, participating from little old Denmark joined the Dewey 24 Hour Readathon for the first time - but not my first time reading in a readathon.

5 hours 45 minutes: First book read .... more to follow ....

"After You" by Jojo Moyes - 352 pages

Entertainment Weekly recently wrote the following about the book - and I agree:

After You may not be the sequel you expect, but it is the sequel You needed. B+