Call the Midwife!

Last year, I had head about a series that was going to be aired on BBC, “Call the Midwife”. It looked interesting but I didn’t get around to seeing it. A couple of weeks ago, I happened upon a reference to it and thought, wow I forgot I wanted to see that. Luckily, the library owns a copy of the 6 episode of series one. I got my hands on it and was hooked! The show, based upon the true life memoirs of Jennifer Worth, follows Jenny Lee, a young nurse and midwife in late 1950s England, who goes to work at Nonatus House, a nursing convent in the poor section of London, the East End. England’s National Health Service provides midwives to the area, they not only deliver the children, but they do well-being visits and follow-up baby visits.

We see an array of women that initially one feels a sort of a sense of contempt for, 10 kids being an average, poverty, squalor, disease, but eventually you start viewing these women as heroines as does our main character Jenny Lee. The show is an emotional roller coaster. There are so many heartfelt moments and even a bit of humor thrown in. It is also a fascinating look at the time period and the health system. All of these women are heroines, the mothers, the midwives and especially the nuns who keep everything together.

So far there is only series one that has aired here in the states but there also is a series two currently being broadcast on BBC. If you get a chance to see this show, please do. It is truly inspiring.

-Christine

Get your wheels on…it’s the return of Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction from Scottsdale, Arizona

It’s back!  If you’re a fan of the automobile, you’re in for a treat this week. The Scottsdale edition of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction has returned.  More than 30 hours of HD coverage of the auction is available on SPEED-TV. You can also view the auction happenings via LIVE STREAMING on your computer, tablet, or mobile device.

The Barrett-Jackson company history goes back to the early 1970s. Collectors and fans of a wide variety of cars flock to these events. This year, viewers will see an enormous range of cars, ranging  from the black 1947 Talbot Lago T-26 Grand Sport, shown above, to the 1971 Hemi Cuda, shown to the right below, finished in factory correct “Plum Crazy” purple paint color.

Of the several events that Barrett-Jackson puts on each year, Scottsdale is the oldest and the largest and it attracts auction goers from around the world, not only the U.S. You don’t have to be a bidder to enjoy the beauty of these pieces of “rolling art.”

One of my favorites, that will be featured in the Salon Collection of the auction, is the gleaming red 1956 Chrysler / Ghia Diablo Convertible, shown below on the left. Now there’s a vehicle made for a trip to the Superdawg Drive-In for a hot dog and a Coke!

The commentators each year provide of wealth of facts and figures about the cars that makes the viewing experience an educational one. In addition,  you can interact with the staff of the SPEED Channel through their SOCIAL GARAGE. Here you’ll find Twitter and Facebook feeds, as well as Live Chat. If you are feeling competitive, you can even test your knowledge of cars and their values and participate in the Scottsdale 2013 Hagerty Fantasy Bid Game.

So have a look. There’s sure to be some vehicle that catches your eye on each day of this almost week long event.

- Tom D.

Living Every Day To It’s Fullest

Early last year, I saw a true life medical show about a young British girl who has Progeria. Progeria is the “aging” disease, in which young children grow old before their time, suffering the ailments that the elderly suffer…. heart disease, arthritis, poor eyesight, brittle bones, the list goes on. At the time this book was written, there were only 89 recorded cases of the disease in the world.  I was so impressed with this beautiful girl that I had tears in my eyes. She told all about her daily life as a soon to be teenager, defying the odds with a disease that has the life expectancy of 12 or less. I had missed the start of the show, but what I saw was moving.

By chance, a month ago, I saw that Hayley and her mother Kerry had written a book about Hayley’s life  titled, Old Before My Time: Hayley Okines’ Life With Progeria. It was offered free for my Kindle and I couldn’t wait to download it. I have to say it is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The book starts with Hayley’s mother writing about her birth, the first suspicions that something isn’t quite right, diagnosis, and living with this so-called “death sentence”. Hayley’s portion of the book talks about her meeting many celebrities, struggling with school, friends, and health issues. She maintains a positive attitude, I think in part to the loving family that surrounds her. She also makes some great friends with people such as the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin and British singer Kylie Minogue.

There is some sadness in the book of course, when the family attends annual Progeria get-togethers for families and their kids , they talk about how some years some families are not there as their children died. Especially heartbreaking is the story of one boy who dies from a heart attack during one conference. There is also Hayley’s struggles with things such as bed sores due to fragile skin, tooth problems, heart problems and for her, being bald.

This is a book that should not be missed. This girl has one heck of a spirit. As she say,  “Sometimes people ask me if I could have three wishes, would I wish I didn’t have P. And I say no. My life with Progeria is full of happiness and good memories. Deep inside I am no different from anyone. We are all human.” She puts many of us to shame. In December 2012 , Hayley celebrated her 15th birthday. I wish her many years in the best health she can be. She is an inspiration. You can learn more about her and Progeria at:

http://hayleyspage.com/

http://hayleyokines.com/

-Christine

My Favorite Holiday Movies

Holiday movies can be sentimental or fun. I don’t do too many holiday movies so the list is short, but I never get tired of these. Here they are  in no particular order:

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Forget Johnny Depp (and I’m a fan) the Willie Wonka that warms my heart is Gene Wilder! He is just the right amount of funny and serious! Throw in the bad children and a kid’s (and adult’s) dream of all that cool candy and it is heaven!  I still try to imitate Veruka and every time I see the ending (and it has been MANY times), I cry! They aren’t even in the elevator yet and I’m tearing up. He gives Charlie the WHOLE factory! And it admit it, you are singing the Oompa Loompa song to yourself right now.

A Christmas Story

Fffffudge….. admit it you have seen this movie, a holiday staple, dozens of times…. you worried that Ralphie would “shoot his eye out”…you wanted your own leg lamp and you remember that age of trusting in Santa, just in case. I didn’t grow up in the time period, but this movie made one nostalgic for simpler holiday times, when it wasn’t about the next electronic item, but  more about simple pleasures.

The Santa Clause

I think I watch this movie at least two or three times every holiday.  Tim Allen plays a newly divorced man trying to connect with his son during the holidays. One night, he gets a job offer he really can’t refuse. From the first scene to the last, you’ll smile and have a laugh.  I love the sequels almost as much!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

This was a classic hit back in my day that still holds up well. John Candy and Steve Martin are hysterical as two very different men trying to get home during the holidays who end up stuck with each other and deal with bad situation after bad situations…. I love the deer scene.  John Candy was truly a comic genius and is so missed. Growing up near the areas they filmed, I still tell my son “I remember driving past the El Rancho Motel”!

Christmas in Connecticut

The original 1945 version with Barbara Stanwyck as a food writer and 1940′s version of Martha Stewart,  who agrees to “host” a homey Christmas for a returning WWII hero. Problem is she can’t cook and is nowhere near a homemaker…. its funny, sappy and romantic… I love it!

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

This is a fantasy film I saw recently, but can’t wait to watch again. Filmed in Finland, it’s about of group of people who discover the truth behind the Santa legend. Let’s just say he wasn’t quite so nice! Instead of rewarding good children, he punished the naughty. Children start disappearing and the reindeer start turning up dead. A group of men, led by one of man’s son, set out to capture Santa and put an end to all this. What follows is bizarre, but really fun.

-Christine

Sharing the Thanksgiving Table

First off, I want to say that I am planning to eat what many people consider the traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thursday. You know, the turkey… the stuffing… the mashed potatoes with gravy… some vegetables of the season.  You get the picture. Each year, in addition to this, our family also tries out one or two new vegetable dishes. We then tuck those into our recipe collection for special occasions.

As the calendar years have flipped past, there has gradually been an increase in the number of relatives in my extended family that have embraced either a vegetarian or a vegan dietary lifestyle. They’ve done this for any number of reasons…health benefits…global awareness…support of the farm to table movement, and so on. So, as Thanksgiving and the other holidays approach, we are more aware of their food map and try to learn new ways to prepare alternatives to the traditional fare that we can serve at the Thanksgiving table.

If you’ll be having family or friends sharing food at your table on Thursday or on the weekend and would like to broaden your range of dishes that have appeal to vegetarians and vegans, you may benefit from reading Tara Parker-Pope’s Well blog postings from time to time in The New York Times.  Also, The New York Times online currently has been running a Thanksgiving Help Line  where staff of The New York Times Dining section are answering readers’ questions on food, drinks, entertaining and more. For the vegan / vegetarians who may be joining you for Thanksgiving, don’t miss the answer to the question: “What’s a good entree for a vegan / vegetarian Thanksgiving?”  Tasty alternative entrees included Curried Lentil, Squash and Apple Stew / Harvest Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms / 7-Vegetable Couscous. There’s also suggestions for things like “What’s a good recipe for vegetarian gravy?” and “Is there a good nondairy substitute for butter and sour cream?”

Traditional cooks also will find plenty of tips and ideas from the online Thanksgiving Help Line, as well, from experts like Melissa Clark, Mark Bittman, Julia Moskin, and Florence Fabricant. There are even short videos, along with plenty of great sounding recipes.

So, have a look, try a new recipe, ask a question if you have one, but most of all, enjoy sharing Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

-Tom D.

A Saturday with Bill the Poster Guy

A warm thanks to film art enthusiast and movie poster collector Bill Brandeis, who was in the library lobby on Saturday, November 17 displaying an exciting selection of posters for recently released and upcoming films.  Patrons were able to peruse and enjoy posters for over 30 popular movies, including current favorites Wreck-It Ralph and Breaking Dawn – Part 2, and forthcoming films The Hobbit, The Guilt Trip, Mama, Zero Dark Thirty, and Oz: The Great and Powerful.  Bill showcases his collection at the Fountaindale Public Library three Saturdays a year.  Look for him again in February 2013, when he will join us with a new selection of posters.  Please note that as the posters come from his personal collection, they are not for sale.

-ZM

No time to attend a computer class at the library? Try Universal Class!

Many of our library customers are familiar with the variety of free computer classes that we offer each month.  They range from BASIC COMPUTING and GETTING STARTED ON THE INTERNET to those covering the programs in Microsoft Office, such as WORD, EXCEL and POWERPOINT. We offer most of our classes in the evenings during the week and occasionally on Saturdays.  That works for a lot of our customers. For some people, however, their schedule and the library’s class schedule don’t always work together.

If you still would like to take computer classes, but can’t get into the library for what we offer, our library has a service that is free to Fountaindale Public Library District cardholders. It is called Universal Class. You can access it from your home computer, from your laptop computer in or outside of the library, or from the library’s public computers. Getting started is simple to do from the library’s website at www.fountaindale.org

Have a look at our UNIVERSAL CLASS BROCHURE and use the easy-to-follow instructions to access this resource and get registered.  Within minutes you can be on your way to getting computer instruction on over 40 courses in Computers & Technology, including the popular Microsoft Office 2010 programs. Including these courses, there are over 500 Online Continuing Education Courses that you can take. Universal Class participants may take up to five classes at a time and most classes have a six month deadline to complete the course.

I’ve been telling the students that take the computer classes that I teach at our library about the flexibility of using Universal Class. I decided to see for myself what the classes were like. In August, I registered for Computer Basics 101. I found the registration process easy to follow and it only took me a few minutes to do. Once that was done, I was on my way. The class content is interesting. The exams help show your mastery of the topics in each lesson.   You can be in touch with the instructor by e-mail and you can participate with other students in the class through the Discussion Forums.

So, if you’ve been thinking about sharpening up your computer skills, but you just can’t work our classes into your schedule, then give Universal Class a try. You’ll be able to work on them where and when you are able and at a pace that is comfortable to you. You’ll find yourself wanting to take more than one!            – Tom D.