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.

[RMDupree]

Good morning!

Just stopping in to share in the celebration. :)

Have to take the baby to the pediatrician at 2PM - time once again for more shots. Poor thing! :(

Jeb won here in Florida, thank the Lord for that. Still, I cannot believe the amendments passed. It's pathetic. Pregnant pigs, "free" Pre-K, smoking bans, class room size = higher taxes and reduced freedoms. *sigh*

On the bright side, Florida voters actually proved that we can vote properly if the Rats are kept from cheating.

[RosieCotton]

I love that little dancing guy. Too funny!

[Sam Cree]

You wonder if having the Clintons be so prominent in the campaign may have hurt too. Even though I think he'd be elected president all over again if he wanted to be.

[RosieCotton]

Sometimes I think he thinks he still IS president, no need for another election.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

...having the Clintons be so prominent in the campaign may have hurt too

Yes. This image (from the Wellstone "Memorial") hurt them BIG time.....

[Sam Cree]

Yeah, that's quite an image, makes my blood run cold.

The entire Democratic Party seems to run on dishonesty and lust for office these days, integrity and the country be damned. Kind of like after Clinton, anything goes for them. Just like a criminal, having finally committed a crime, finds it suddenly easy to keep committing them.

I wonder if others are seeing that too, to some extent.

[g'nad]

imagining Barbra Streisand's feelings and what she might be thinking.

I'll get a box of razor blades in the mail today...

[SuziQ]

This thread has folks of all ages it seems, we're united by our conservative politics and love of Tolkien. No wonder it's addictive.

Conservative Tolkien lovers; hey them's the best people I can imagine!! This forus is a LOT of fun, that's why I end up spending so much time here!

[SuziQ]

I don't care much for winter driving.

I don't either! I didn't realize it would be a 3 hours drive, yikes!! That's a long way to meet even such excellent Freepers as we! LOL!

[SuziQ]

I wonder if I'd like the Celtic music that's always being discussed on this thread

Oh Sam, I 'm sure you would. Don't know if others would agree, but I think the roots of Bluegrass are in Celtic music! There are many types of Celtic music these days. You have the traditionalists, then you have the young folks who are always pushing the envelope.

You MUST have heard the Chieftans; some consider them the Ambassadors of Celtic Music. They do traditional stuff, then they have done CDs playing behind popular singers. I have "The Long Black Veil" which has singers such as Mick Jagger, Sting, Sinead O'Connor, Marianne Faithful, and Ry Cooder. I also have a CD of Celtic Harp done by the Chieftans which is just wonderful. Go to your local library; chances are it will have several from which to choose, and if they don't ask the folks there to get some!!

[SuziQ]

For many albums, you can listen to the entire thing online before you buy. I really love that feature...

Oh yeah!! I had forgotten about that!! I listened to a CD by the Tannahill Weavers the other day! That's a great way to find out about Celtic music because the Green Linnet offerings run the gamut!

[ksen]

Suzi, how long would it take you to get to Nashua or Fitchburg?

[SuziQ]

Fitchburg, NH? I didn't even know there was such a place! Fitchburg MA is about 1/2 hour from here. I think Nashua is about an hour from here, and it's a pretty easy drive.

[Sam Cree]

"I think the roots of Bluegrass are in Celtic music"

I've always supposed that that was the case.

Johnny Cash did a song called "the Long Black Veil" many years ago, with June in the background.

I'll check this stuff out when I get a chance.

[ksen]

I meant Fitchburg, MA. My wife grew up there and knows her way around. Fitchburg, MA and Nashua, NH are about the same distance away from where we will be.

Do you know where the Searstown Mall is in Fitchburg? I think the Monday after Thanksgiving will be the best chance for us to meet. Maybe we could meet for lunch at Searstown Mall, or somewhere close to it.

I'll bring Mrs. ksen and the kids. You can bring your kids. I think it would be nice to be able to meet before Entmoot. You can even bring some practice Lembas if you want. ;^)

[SuziQ]

Johnny Cash did a song called "the Long Black Veil" many years ago, with June in the background.

That's probably the same song Mick Jagger sings on the Chieftans' album of the same name.

There is some country music I like. One of my most favorite Dylan albums is "Nashville Skyline" that he did with Johnny Cash.

[SuziQ]

You can even bring some practice Lembas if you want. ;^)

You got it!! I'd be happy to do that. I've been to the Searstown Mall, but it was a while ago. I'll just fire up Map Quest and find where I need to go. Have your wife decide on a place to meet since she knows the place. I'll definitely bring the kids, and maybe even Sir SuziQ! We'll have a lot to talk about, just having seen the extended DVD!!

[RosieCotton]

I don't either! I didn't realize it would be a 3 hours drive, yikes!! That's a long way to meet even such excellent Freepers as we! LOL!

Yeah, I'm way up here! Canada is a LOT closer than the southern border of VT or NH.

Just back from getting my little Corolla's winter sneakers put on. And I worked on my job search while I was there - found out about another local job opening! It's at the home health place here - they do hospice work, mostly. And the office is only ten minutes from here! It's one of those "apply in writing" deals (I hate that...), but I'm sending out my information tomorrow.

[SuziQ]

Best of luck on your job search, Rosie. I put you on our Parish Prayer line last week, so you've got some folks you don't even know who are praying for you!

[RosieCotton]

Thanks, Suzi! You guys have made this whole ordeal much more positive than it would have been.