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]

Hi, my name is Kevin. Would you all mind if I join in the fun of the Hobbit Hole?

Hey there, ksen!! Where you been? You're just in time for first breakfast! Pull up a chair and make yourself at home.

Pay no mind to the dwarves. They seek only to increase their riches and care nothing for the trouble of others. :)

[ksen]

It was 10 degrees this morning, which is up from the 2 degrees of yesterday morning.

I called work today to see if the place was still standing and they told me it has been in the 80's this week. Aaahhh, only a few more hours until we return to sane temperatures. ;^)

[ksen]

Nice to see you RM. I've been perusing the thread, thanks for keeping everyone well-fed.

I gotta sign off. See you all tomorrow when I get home. ;^)

[Sam Cree]

Hi Kevin, have a nice flight.

[2Jedismom]

Good morning everyone! It didn't snow last night! In a way, I'm glad...it's a bit of a hassle. But the boys haven't thought to look outside yet, and I'm afraid when they think of it, they're going to be disappointed. Not too badly though...they have a busy day. I have lots of errands to run.

[2Jedismom]

Good morning Sam!

[Overtaxed]

Good Morning, everyone! I'd say "hello!" to ksen, but he's already gone.

We're expecting sleet/freezing rain/snow later on today.....kitty will be well fed. :)

[2Jedismom]

Ha! Guess what! It just started snowing. Not much though...I doubt it'll accumulate.

[Sam Cree]

Morining All.

Hope there is a little snow for the boys, 2JM, I remember how much we always wanted it when we were kids. 'Course maybe you get more snow in Tulsa than we did in central VA anyway?

+, your boys don't get to skip school when it snows, I guess.

[Overtaxed]

So far it's just cloudy.

[Corin Stormhands]

Not a cloud in the sky here...just cold.

[Sam Cree]

Here are images of some Australian Pines, on the beach at Bimini. But these things are all over Dade County, I'd use the word "endemic" if I knew what it means.

I always thought a small one would make a good Christmas tree. They make a beautiful sound when the wind blows through them, as it usually does when you are at a beach

[2Jedismom]

No! LOL They have to do school anyway. Matthew was just commenting about that yesterday, how he does school in the summer, when it's too hot to play outside, but all the other kids are out school and he also does school during everyone else's snow days!

They'll get to play in it today though...and all the other kids are in school! LOL If it accumulates...which it might! The ground looks like it's sprinkled with powdered sugar right now.

[Sam Cree]

I still kind of miss the snow.

[Sam Cree]

I think in Syracuse, where my daughter is in college, they have had over 3 feet in the last week.

[Sam Cree]

Going in the house and make 2nd breakfast, I guess...all this talk of cold weather is making me burn calories.

[2Jedismom]

I guess it would be alright to get that much snow, but Tulsa isn't prepared for that much. Everything would stop! THings almost stop with 8"!

[RMDupree]

Thanks for the pics, Sam. I know exactly what you're talking about now. There's tons of them at Tropical Park, and yes, you are right, they make a lovely sound when the wind rushes through them.

[RMDupree]

I haven't seen snow in years! I love the way it looks, but I am a real weakling in the cold weather. My blood is way too thin from so many years in the tropical climate of Florida. Snow and ice are no fun to drive in either.

Now, place me in a bay window seat near a crackling fire with a mug of hot cocoa and I could stare at it all day and night! :)

[HairOfTheDog]

Hullo! Good Morning!

Jame.... thanks for that post of yours, and Ruth, thanks for breakfast!

I have the post all formatted and ready to go for our new Hole. I think you will like the place! I decided to use the picture we used to have here... the open door to Bag End... It has a warm feel to it...

I looked through pictures and posters from TTT and didn't see any that would feel as homey for everyone, Though a bunch of yummy pictures of Legolas had some appeal to me ;~D I thought better of it. Do you guys have a better picture in mind you would like me to use?