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

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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.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Now you can call me Ray, and you can call me Jay, and you can call me RJ, and you can call me RJJ, but you doesn't have to call me Johnson...

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Just don't call me late for dinner!

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

I wonder what they're thinking....Why don't they call me....What if I don't pass the test...I suppose I can always get a job with the car wash....or one of those Middle East Threads....Oh well....

[HairOfTheDog]

LOL! - We will settle on something!

RWoRF works for me at the moment! I just don't like Ws because shouldn't take 3 syllables to say "Wa" So when I call you, it will sound like that half-bark! (I have never been able to sing 2J very well either)

[HairOfTheDog]

That guy is very cute. Are they hiring on the Middle East threads?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Good God!

My worst nightmare come to life.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't think dwarf women have chitons on their faces. I don't think that is in the text!

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Or Brezhnev eyebrows.

BTW: How's the ankle and mare?

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

What if I don't pass the test

Oh no... there's a test? Nobody told me there would be a test!

Now I'm going to be worrying!

[HairOfTheDog]

Gelding - He's a boy! - He is better. The vet was out today and he was pleased with how it is healing. His knees have gone from big and round like a grapefruit almost down to normal size and the wounds look good.

My ankle is almost normal.

We are better, my pony and me!

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Gelding - He's a boy!

Ooooops (blush).

Watch the jokes about my not being able to tell the difference come flying in.

Good to hear. That didn't take too terrible long.

[2Jedismom]

It's silly. I have heard it said before, like I say. But never married women saying it...always young unmarried girls. I've always understood it to be kinda like being married 7 months and having a 8lb 10oz baby 2 months early. Everyone just winks and nods.

It doesn't bother me that she had a baby out of wedlock. Everyone makes mistakes. What bothers me is the fact that she hid it and didn't get the baby any prenatal care. I can't help but wonder if that is the reason for the low birthweight.

What I'm hoping is that this is just the "story" that they are telling my MIL. I'm hoping they've known all along and that she took care of herself. I'm pretty sure they're lying to us about the "regular cycle" business.

Hubby's family is slowly imploding. I told you about his aunt having her picture taken with her female "significant other" and that her church put it in the church directory?

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Alias is a show on ABC on Sunday nights

Yes! My wife and I love Alias. Can't wait for the new season to start!

[Corin Stormhands]

I'll pretend I didn't see that "Fanny" remark, Corin.....

Uh, okay...sorry...

Does this elven cloak make my RWRF look big?

[HairOfTheDog]

No I did not hear the story about the aunt and the significant other!

I suppose, if I must suppose, that if she wasn't noticably pregnant looking, it is possible for her to not "know". Denial is a powerfully easy thing to do... "I don't have to find out today" can go on day by day for months. I am sure she didn't have periods. That part I never believe when I hear these stories... But, she may not have been one to pay attention. So I bet she didn't have pre-natal care. But, that in itself is not the end of the world if she got away with it and the baby is healthy.

The big question is how will it change her now. I have a couple friends who had unplanned babies when they were still in party mode, and they grew up quick and became great moms. Of course I know many who did not let the baby change a thing.

[Corin Stormhands]

A girl in my high school suddenly dropped out of choir one summer when she had a baby "no one" knew she was expecting. She had been quite heavy and lost some weight. Then everyone thought she just gained it back. (She did gain enough that she didn't look pregnant, just heavy).

She went into labor in the bathroom at home and called for her mom who delivered the baby there.

She made a wise decision and put the baby up for adoption.

But, I think she knew she was pregnant.

[JenB]

Hi all, weird stories here! I suppose it's possible not to know you're pregnant. Some ladies are very irregular... but really...

Signs was pretty good. The Two Towers preview was great, not enough Faramir though. Also saw a preview for Treasure Island in space. Weird...

[2Jedismom]

Yep...that's why I don't hold it against her about the getting pregnant thing. She is just the age I was when I was partying the heaviest. And she drinks really heavy (as does most his family). One of the signs of alcohol abuse during pregnancy is a low birthweight and also drinking alcohol can make the baby sleepy. It won't move around that much and perhaps that's why she didn't feel it (if she didn't feel it).

It's just hard for me to believe it when someone doesn't know they are pregnant! LOL One of Matthew's favorite stories is how he stuck his foot out my side all the time and I could tell where his toes and heal were. I'd push it back in but he'd stick it right back out. I went around with a foot sticking out under my ribs for about 6 weeks toward the end. He just cracks up when I tell him this.

What a pity she can't talk about her pregnancy. Being pregnant was just delightful for me...I had no problems to speak of and it was fascinating to get to know these little boys and their personalities before they were even born. It always astounded me that they acted on the outside just like they acted on the inside.

[Corin Stormhands]

It' appears that I too have an Uncle Threadkiller connection...

Nite all. Since the U.S. announced today that it will submit either New York or San Francisco for consideration for the 2012 Olympics, here's an Olympic night light.

[2Jedismom]

Well, like I say, I'm delighted that she didn't toss it in a dumpster or something horrendous like that. I'm sure I'll send a gift of some sort. Really, I'm quite thrilled about seeing a new baby, although it'll probably be a few months older before we see it.

Good night everyone. I'm going to turn in early tonight and catch up on my Unfinished Tales. The person that wanted it apparently changed their mind, because I got to renew it!