Around The World In 80 Days
November 1, 2009 – Miss Nobody has posted photos of her with the book, after a week of exams.
Soon it will be on its way to Vivienne of Serendipity.
October 26, 2009 – Now with Miss Nobody in India as of earlier this week. The book arrived and now arrangements are being made to have it sent to the UK soon. Miss Nobody’s blog post about waiting to get the book is here.
October 5, 2009 – The book reached Sharon in Australia last Friday, and now she’s posted photos on her blog at The Genteel Arsenal.
Sharon is there behind Bell & Lily, underneath the signpost showing how far it is to major cities around the world. 15,608 kilometers to New York from there – this book is covering a lot of distance, indeed. Thank you, Sharon.
Next stop is India where it is headed to Miss Nobody.
September 24, 2009 – Fantastic news: the book has arrived at Peter’s in the Philippines.
Please stop by and read Peter’s thoughts here on “Around The World in 80 Days“, and meet the blogger he is sending the book to next – Sharon in Australia, and her blog The Genteel Arsenal.
Thanks so much, Peter.
August 28, 2009 – The last few months have been a wonderful time, as I’ve managed to connect with many bloggers from all over. In becoming part of this community, a lot of goodwill and friendliness have come my way from strangers who have become friends.
I’m at heart an optimist, hoping that humans can move beyond our base impulses, even when so much evidence exists that although our technology changes, there are no advances in the levels of living a good life. Not the bastardized version of ‘good life’ that marketers incessantly trumpet you will have by buying their products, but a life of goodness, and a life of goodness is not something that exists in a vacuum.
It is not enough to rationalize the fact that we are part of a global community – the scale is too large to be more than an abstract concept. Unless. Unless something concrete is attached to it, even if in only a small way. So it occurs to me that my hopes for my son to grow up seeing a more realized connectedness with people far away could begin with having something physical that he could touch, and something that he could think about and imagine. What better way to introduce that to him than by sending a book around the world, having people write something inside and then pass it along as it travels onward to the next destination, and so on, until it comes back to him again? And what better book to link this all to him than Jules Verne’s “Around The World In 80 Days“?
So this morning my wife took a photo of my son and I, and in my hand I held the copy of “Around The World In 80 Days” which is now on its way through the mail. Next destination: Peter Sandico’s mailbox in the Philippines.
“Around The World In 80 Days” will be around the world 3 months, 25 days, 19 hours, 33 minutes ago
Update: If you’d like to participate and have the book stop at your destination on its way around the world, please let me know. Cindy and Vivienne, it will make its way to you – I’ll be in touch via email soon.
© 2009, A Few Minutes With Michael. All rights reserved.
Thanks to Mishel at mis(h)takes
Thanks to Deb at Bookmagic
40 comments
I can’t wait for the book, Michael!
Peter´s last blog ..The Bookshelf Project #8
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Michael Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Look forward to reading your post. And Charlie’s library photos are excellent – would be great to have a library like that.
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this sounds like a great project.
Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)´s last blog ..Beach Trip by Cathy Holton
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Michael Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Looking forward to seeing photos of the book around the world, too.
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A wonderful, fun idea for your son (and the rest of us). By the time he’s old enough to be reading book blogs on his own, the global community may be even smaller if our friends in Communist and Socialistic countries are allowed to participate.
Charlie´s last blog ..Flunking Facebook
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Michael Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Hi Charlie, hopefully by then more people will have easier access instead of having to rely on Tor and the like to avoid being hauled off to prison and/or being disappeared for what they share on the internet.
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That is such a great idea Michael. This is a really great thing to do for your son. (Hope the book will manage to make a stop in a certain someone’s mailbox
Hint hint LOL)
BTW thats a great pic of the two of you together. Although it looks a little chilly there, is it?
Cindy S.´s last blog ..To Tempt The Wolf Tour and Review
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Michael Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Hi Cindy, yes, it will make its way to you, and yes, the temperature dipped down – risk of frost last night… Couldn’t believe it.
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What a fabulous idea. Your son will have a fantastic legacy. I just love the picture of you and your son. If you want it to come to England, I would be happy to write in it and send it on.
vivienne´s last blog ..Friday Finds
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Michael Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Thank you, Vivienne, I very much appreciate it – I will email you this weekend.
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how interesting, will there be a way for you to track it’s progress? that would make some wonderful posts.
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Michael Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Hi Kaye, the plan is for each blogger who receives it to write a post that is at least somewhat related to “Around The World In 80 Days”. I will keep track of the links here so everybody can find out where it has been.
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kaye Reply:
August 31st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
great, I’ll be following along.
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What a beautiful idea! And such a keepsake for your son when he gets older. Looking forward to your posts tracking the books progress!
Alexia561´s last blog ..Book Review: Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
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Michael Reply:
August 31st, 2009 at 9:41 am
I hope it all works out well. I’ll put a map image up once it gets to Peter and trace its path on there.
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This is such a wonderful idea, Michael! I’d love to participate, and bring the book to Canada at least once.
Phyl´s last blog ..Book Review: Children of the Waters by Carleen Brice
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Michael Reply:
August 31st, 2009 at 9:44 am
Thanks, Phyl, it will be great to send it your way. I’ll be in touch soon.
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What a great idea Michael. I’d love to sign your book. Unfortunately, I’m also in the US so no variety here.
Your little guy is so cute. I’d love to squeeze those little cheeks. Give him an extra smooch for me instead.
Margot´s last blog ..Favorite Places: Louisville, Kentucky
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Michael Reply:
August 31st, 2009 at 9:51 am
Hi Margot, he’s already growing so quickly. His lower chompers have broken through now, and he’s anxiously awaiting to try out food. If the book gets back early enough, the book may go on a quick NA tour with several short hops -if so, the book may head your way.
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What a great idea! And I also love how the concept will affect your son and your hopes for his future. He is absolutely beautiful! You are such an awesome dad! Keep up the great work!
Jaime´s last blog ..I like to see what my blogging friends look like, don’t you?
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Michael Reply:
August 31st, 2009 at 9:54 am
Thanks, Jaime. I’ll be in touch with you shortly via email, there was something I wanted to mention a little while ago.
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This is such a fabulous idea! What a wonderful gift and story for your son. I’d love to participate, but I’m guessing a stop in Cleveland wouldn’t be all that exciting
stacybuckeye´s last blog ..Book Giveaway
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Michael Reply:
August 31st, 2009 at 10:06 am
Hi, Stacy, according to this, it rocks.
If the quick North America tour is on the table, then I’ll mention it later on and see if you’ll be available – that would be a great way to finish the journey.
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What a great idea! I did something like this years ago with a journal… I did it through a site called book crossing. The journal was started by me, then I had people sign up as to where it would go next. When the journal arrived, you were to add a couple pictures of your life in your corner of the world, including a picture of the journal in your hands. You wrote a page or two about your life and happenings and then mailed it on.
Hmmm….. you got me thinking now…..
And if you would like to send it Minnesota way… I would love to partake!
Sheila DeChantal´s last blog ..Its Monday – What are you Reading?
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Michael Reply:
September 1st, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Hi Sheila, sounds like you may be sending that journal may go out for a second voyage.
Looks more and more like this book will do a North American tour, so when it makes it back to this continent, I’ll chart out where it will go, and make sure it heads your way.
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A dad with bright ideas and a big heart, that’s one lucky little fellow in that picture! Best of luck with this project, Michael.
Wanda´s last blog ..Wrote this yesterday, just sharing …
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Michael Reply:
September 1st, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Thanks, Wanda. Did you manage to salvage any corn, by the way? Our garden suffered this year, not only from the weather, but also inattention. Luckily it is mostly root vegetables.
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What a fabulous idea, Michael! I look forward to reading updates!
avisannschild´s last blog ..Books Bought + Mailbox Monday (August 31): I’m back!
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Hi Avis, good to hear that you had a lovely vacation.
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This is a great idea. I will enjoy keeping up with the posts of all the book’s stops and I will probably discover some new book bloggers along the way too. Do you have anyone in Australia to send it to yet? If not, have you met Al? He is a friendly Aussie blogger. Or my Mum would love to be a stop but she doesn’t blog. She could do a guest post on my blog though. Anyway, let me know if you need a contact because the book just has to go down under!
Jemima´s last blog ..Review: Rose House
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Michael Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Hi Jemima, thanks so much for the offer – I’ve emailed Peter about where in Australia he’s sending the book next. It would be great to have it go to a few people in Australia before moving on. I’ll be in contact soon.
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How long did it take to get there? Do you think it will make it around the world in 80 days?
Kathy´s last blog ..Stray Affections Winner
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Michael Reply:
September 29th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Hi Kathy, took longer than I expected to get to Peter – about twice as long, actually, from what I was informed at the post office. Ah, well. If it does make around in 80 days, that would be wonderful, but even if it doesn’t, it will still be a good story to tell my son.
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Hi Michael, this is such a cool idea. Peter contacted me a while ago and I am looking forward to the arrival of the book. This is such a great thing to do for your son and in the name of connectivity. My daughter is telling her reading club at school about this so they will be following it’s progress too, hopefully it will inspire not just an interest in reading and blogging but in discovering Jules Verne as well. Thank you so much for the oportunity to participate in this great event. I was thinking of sending it on to New Zealand or a young Indian blogger I know but if you would like it to tour Australia I will send it on here. I know a fantastic retired english teacher who I think would love this idea, she is in rural New South Wales. I am in rural Queensland. I will let you know when the book arrives. Thanks. Sharon
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Michael Reply:
September 29th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Hi Sharon, thank you so much for taking part in this, it really is gracious of you. I will be in touch later today via email.
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What a wonderful idea and to get people to take pictures as well – wow. I’ve heardof this type of thing being done a few times (my cuddly toy hedgehog did it as a fundraiser) but never a book, surely it must break some kind of record!
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What a wonderful gift to your son! And a great idea! I saw that The Genteel Arsenal is receiving the book next! How wonderful! I look forward to following the books journey and probably meeting new people along the way- because your project impacts everyone who touches it in some way!
Suzanne
Suzanne´s last blog ..Sunday Salon… Banned Book Week Continues… and some Great Banned Books you should READ! Plus a banned book bargain on Kindle!
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What an awesome idea.
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Thank you for visiting!The book isn’t here yet,and I haven’t decided who to send it on to,so I’ll be glad to pass it on to whoever is eager!This is indeed an awesome idea.
Miss_Nobody´s last blog ..Around the world in 80 days
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So cool – I love following the book travels!
Sheila DeChantal´s last blog ..In My Mailbox
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