The New Hobbit Hole

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The New Hobbit Hole
Concerning Hobbits
The New Hobbit Chronicles

This is a continuation of the infamous thread New Zealander Builds Hobbit Hole originally posted on January 26, 2001 by John Farson, who at the time undoubtedly thought he had found a rather obscure article that would elicit a few replies and die out. Without knowing it, he became the founder of the Hobbit Hole. For reasons incomprehensible to some, the thread grew to over 4100 replies. It became the place for hobbits and friends of hobbits to chit chat and share LoTR news and views, hang out, and talk amongst ourselves in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

In keeping with the new posting guidelines, the thread idea is continuing here, as will the Green Dragon Inn, our more structured spin-off thread, as soon as we figure out how to move all the good discussion that has been had there. As for the Hobbit Hole, we will just start fresh, bringing only a few mathoms such as the picture above with us to make it feel like home, and perhaps a walk down memory lane:

Our discussion has been light:

It very well may be that a thread named "New Zealander builds Hobbit hole" will end up being the longest Tolkien thread of them all, with some of the best heartfelt content... Sorry John, but I would have rather it had been one with a more distinguished title!… post 252 - HairOfTheDog

However, I can still celebrate, with quiet dignity, the fact that what started as a laugh about some wacko in New Zealand has mutated and grown into a multifaceted discussion of the art, literature, and philosophy that is Tolkien. And now that I've managed to write the most pompous sentence of my entire life, I agree, Rosie… post 506 - JenB

Hah! I was number 1000!! (Elvish victory dance... wait, no; that would be too flitty) … post 1001 - BibChr

Real men don't have to be afraid of being flitty! Go for it. – post 1011 – HairOfTheDog

Seventeen years to research one mystical object seems a bit excessive… post 1007 - JenB

Okay...who's the wise guy who didn't renew Gandalf's research grant?… post 1024 – Overtaxed

To the very philosophical:

…Judas Iscariot obviously was a good man, or he wouldn't have been chosen to be one of the Apostles. He loved Jesus, like all of the Apostles, but he betrayed him. Yet without his betrayal, the Passion and Crucifixion would never have occurred, and mankind would not have been redeemed. So without his self-destruction infinite good would not have been accomplished. I certainly do not mean this to be irreverant but it seems to me that this describes the character of Gollum, in the scenes so movingly portrayed above… Lucius Cornelius Sulla

To fun but heartfelt debates about the integrity and worth of some of the characters…

…Anyone else notice how Boromir treats the hobbits? He's very fond of them but he seems to think of them as children - ruffling Frodo's hair, calls them all 'little ones'. He likes them, but I don't think he really respects them… post 1536 - JenB

Yes... Tolkien told us not to trust Boromir right off the bat when he began to laugh at Bilbo, until he realized that the Council obviously held this hobbit in high esteem. What a pompous dolt… post 1538 - HairOfTheDog

…I think almost every fault of his can be traced directly back to his blindness to anything spiritual or unseen. He considers the halflings as children, because that is what they look like. He considers the only hope of the ring to be in taking it and using it for a victory in the physical realm. He cannot see what the hobbits are truly made of, he cannot see the unseen hope of what the destruction of the ring might mean--the destruction of Sauron himself, and he cannot see the unseen danger that lies in the use of the ring itself… I just feel sorry for Boromir--he is like a blind but honorable man, trying to take the right path on the road but missing the right path entirely because he simply cannot see it… post 1548 - Penny1

Boromir isn't a jerk, he's a jock… post 2401 – Overtaxed

-----------------------------------------

Oh, I think by the time Frodo reaches the Cracks, he's not even himself anymore! I think he's not only on the brink of a dangerous place physically, he's on the brink of losing himself completely during the exchange with Gollum. But for some reason, the take-over isn't complete till he actually has to throw the Ring in. The person speaking to Gollum is not Frodo, but the "Wheel of Fire" that Sam sees. After the Ring is destroyed, Frodo not only comes back to himself, but comes back with the unbearable (to him) knowledge of what it's like to be completely without compassion. I think that's why it's so important to him to be compassionate in the Shire… post 2506 - 2Jedismom

…Regarding Frodo's compassion... it's a little too much at the end. Even Merry tells him that he's going to have to quit being so darn nice. But you're right. He's learned a lesson about evil that very few ever learn since it wasn't an external lesson but an internal one. (Those kinds of lessons have the greatest impact) Not only did he totally succumb to it, but he was rather ruthless to my little Smeagol… post 2516 - carton253

Well that Frodo was a big mean bully! (to Smeagol)… post 2519 – Overtaxed

So as you can see, everything JRR Tolkien (and Peter Jackson) is welcome here in our New Row, our soon-to-be familiar New Hobbit Hole…; philosophy, opinion, good talk and frequent silliness.

[htur_75]

(When doing a fraction, the denominator is on de bottom.

LOL!! I love it!! I'll have to remember that for when I get my own classroom, or start teaching my own kids (that is whenever I have them.)

[Corin Stormhands]

When doing a fraction, the denominator is on de bottom.

A personal favorite of mine is "you put de lime in de coconut and shake it all up..." ;-)

You'll appreciate this (from me) 2JM, my wife said this weekend that she's no longer sure about public schools for the youngest. Like I've said before we're in a very conservative area and we've been okay with the public schools for our oldest (he's 13). Problem with private school is that's about the same time the older one will be hitting college (and currently scholarships are not a reality). So I suggested home school. He's a bright kid. At 2 1/2 he already understands the concept of reading and writing (and he loves it).

This morning I've been thinking that if I can ever really sell myself as a freelance writer that she can work out of the home full time and I'll do the homeschooling.

(and I haven't even had any pints yet today...)

[htur_75]

Just wanted to ask for a quick prayer request. My hubby (greater_vortex) is going for a job interview at 12:30 central. He's been out of a job for about a month. Please pray that this interview goes well, and he gets a job. At this point, it doesn't matter what it pays, he just needs a job. Thanks. I'll keep you posted.

[htur_75]

That sounds neat. Good luck. Hope you can do it. Your kid will be better for it I am sure.

[HairOfTheDog]

Good luck to GV on the interview! - I hope he gets it!

and I hope he didn't have to buy gas on the way...

[htur_75]

and I hope he didn't have to buy gas on the way...

No, but he did have to pick up a tie from the cleaners, as long as they didn't lose it. :-) I think I am more nervous for him than he is for himself.

[g'nad]

[Corin Stormhands]

Prayers on the way.

[Corin Stormhands]

flamer

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't think you are helping poor htur!

I am sure he will be fine! If the cleaners didn't lose his tie!

[Corin Stormhands]

No, but he did have to pick up a tie from the cleaners,

I stopped buying expensive ties that you have to dry clean years ago. My favorites when I lived in DC were the street ties. 3 for $10. Spill something on them and toss 'em. I have a closet full of $40 ties from Nordstrom that will never be in style again...

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Good luck and best wishes to your husband!

Having been there recently (in fact, still there to some extent) I know some of what it's like to be out of work for an extended period of time. You have all of my sympathy.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

There ya go, see you tomorrow

Thank you! Unfortunately, my ride home won't show up for another 6 hours or so, so I'm stuck here anyway.

[2Jedismom]

That's great! I know your wife would love it and it means so much (you just wouldn't believe how much) to have a supportive husband. When I first got started, I had no other support other than Steve and I was quite afraid! Now we're in our third year, I have the support of those that had to see me do it to believe I would and still have the unwavering support of Steve.

Thirteen is a good age to start public or private school, if your going to (we're not, full time anyway). I imagine we'll be trying to find classes more and more after my boys turn 13, getting them ready, ultimately, for college. This will consist of co-ops, private school classes that allow homeschoolers to take a class or two, and after the age of 15, Tulsa Community College allows homeschoolers to attend and take basic courses.

I'm very excited about the future.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

My ISP does the same. We have a little webpage there, that hasn't been updated in about 5 years. I mostly use it to store images that I link to, now.

[htur_75]

I'd love it if he would buy cheap ties that didn't need it, but he has expensive taste, and won't usually settle for cheapies. It also is a problem when he has to buy big man's ties. They tend to be more expensive, even the cheapest ones. He doesn't wear them very often, so we don't have to take them to the cleaners very often.

[htur_75]

I know what you mean about support. I still can't bring up the subject of wanting to home school our kids to my dad. He's the product of brain washing of the public school. He was a teacher for many years in one. Unfortunately he still has the mindset that home schooling will hinder their social development. He doesn't realize, or want to realize, that there are so many social opportunities nowadays with other home schoolers. Here in our city, there are even small sport teams and other get togethers for home schoolers. Hopefully he will see the advantages to it by the time we start.

[Sam Cree]

What kind of writing do you do? That's very interesting that you have that interest.

[g'nad]

We had a lot of resistance from my folks when we decided to homeschool(Ma was a teacher)...they cited all of the NEA's rhetoric; homeschool kids are social retards, too narrowly focused, yada yada...

Were are so glad we ignored their warnings. Not only is the NEA's BS being proved for what it is, but our kids are happy, bright, God fearing kids. My daughter is 6, and would just be entering first grade...she's already reading at the 4th grade level, doing second grade math, way ahead in science, geography, social studies and history..."the boy" just turned 4, he's reading basic words (when he wants to) and has an amazing vocabulary...Mrs g'nad has done a great job. I told her when I retire, if she wanted to go back to work, I'd school the kids...

Homeschooling...the best decision we ever made...

[g'nad]

8) When you fall...... I will point and laugh at your clumsy @$$.

heh heh heh...thanks for the ping...I got friendships that that poem pretty well captures...