The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Journey to the Cross-roads
The Two Towers Edition

Come on! Come in! -if you would like to have some seedcakes and a pint and relax a while. (If it is a special occasion, we still have a few bottles of the old wineyards left!)

Our first thread ( New Zealander builds Hobbit hole ) reached 4,100 posts, and we thought that was big. Our second thread (The New Hobbit Hole ) held us for over 48,000 posts, and we loved it dearly. We talked about moving to a new thread for the last 38,000 posts, but we are really slow to muster! Finally, the time has come. Tomorrow (at 12:01 am, to be precise!) The Two Towers comes out, and we start a new chapter.

[Overtaxed]

I haven't done that. I got the first little bit of the Springle Ring down in ABC (more or less.)

[My back yard]

LOL, well you are similar to me this Christmas. I got a new front door, complete with rebuilt molding and storm door that I've wanted for a while now. I just love it! And I really enjoyed decorating around it for Christmas. But, I did also buy myself the expensive Extended Edition with the Argonath bookends for Christmas, and told my husband that was all I wanted, no more. I know he will not listen and likely have a few trinkets for me too. Oh well.

Merry Christmas to all the Hobbits in Hobbit Hole.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes, it snowed a little while, like "It's a Wonderful Life".... but now it is rain, and feels more like helm's deep. Heh.

[HairOfTheDog]

Merry Christmas to you "My back yard"!

[LadyDoc]

I found this review in PejmanPundit and thought you would enjoy it.


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I regret that I am not clear as to what you intend by arisch [Aryan]. I am not of Aryan extraction: that is, Indo-Iranian; as far as I am aware none of my ancestors spoke Hindustani, Persian, Gypsy, or any related dialects. But if I am to understand that you are enquiring if I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.


--J.R.R. Tolkien, responding to inquiries by Nazi publishers as to his ancestry. Were Tolkien to admit that he was of "Aryan" extraction, The Hobbit would have been published in German, and would have made him fabulously wealthy at a time when he was suffering through financial problems.
:: Pejman Yousefzadeh 11:33 PM [+]::

Let The Muse Inspire You
...

AND THE REASON I WAS OUT LAST NIGHT . . . was that I finally got the chance to go see The Two Towers.

To put matters succinctly: the movie was magnificent beyond measure. How Peter Jackson and New Line Cinemas are able to put out two straight superb fantasy movies in two years--movies whose technical and logistical requirements pose tremendous challenges--and still pull off production in such splendid manner, while George Lucas has a hard time coming out with more taut and consistent Star Wars episodes despite having three years to work on each episode, is beyond me.


And now for the more detailed review:


First off, I'm glad that Frodo Baggins was displayed as a character with a greater degree of spine and industry than what he was portrayed as being in Fellowship of the Ring--where Elijah Wood had an unfortunate tendency to look too often like a deer caught in the headlights. There was a bit of that in the latest movie as well, but it was lessened considerably. Remember that in the books, Frodo is a capable and competent Hobbit, one who is unusual and unique in his personal characteristics. Peter Jackson captured a bit more of the original Frodo in Two Towers--portraying him as the wearied yet dutiful hero that Frodo was. Part of this, of course, is that the Ring becomes much more of a burden in The Two Towers, and at times, Frodo's emotions display and betray the corruption of the mind and soul that the Ring is capable of bringing about. Part of thos is also attributable to the fact that the Fellowship is broken, and that unlike the first movie, Frodo is indisputably in command of his party--which includes the loyal Samwise Gamgee, and the fascinating Gollum/Smeagol. However, I think that the movie's directors and producers also learned from the first movie, and helped ensure that Frodo's character evolved in preparation for this movie.


As for Smeagol, the movie did an excellent job in displaying his inner dialogue and commensurate torment as he thought about what to do with Frodo and Sam. The computer animation of Smeagol was well done and well achieved. The only criticism I have is that the repeated uses of the word "Gollum" were excised from Smeagol's vocabulary, which was somewhat disconcerting for me.


The Two Towers benefited mightily from having a greater emphasis on the characters as individuals, rather than as members of a Fellowship. We see Aragorn's valor, his intelligence, and his inner torment over his relationship with Arwen. We are treated to a delightfully funny portrayal of Gimli--who at the same time displays remarkable bravery and cunning in battle. Indeed, the only character who gets something of a short shrift in the movie is Saruman--I wish that the producers and direction team were able to make greater use of Christopher Lee, given his remarkable acting skills and monumental screen presence.


Of course, there was one particular reason why I loved The Two Towers, and why I think that Tolkien is so consequential as an author and a thinker: Throughout the movie, all I could think about was September 11th.


Tolkien, of course, hated analogy and allegory, and wished that his work could be considered separate and apart from any historical references that it may bring to mind. One wishes, of course, to respect his intent. And believe me, I tried. But the movie fits into the times in a way that I cannot help but notice and comment on.


Whether it is watching Theoden temporize over the need to engage in preventive war to save and preserve his people, or watching the Hobbits realize that the Shire will be destroyed if action is not taken against Sauron and Saruman, or whether it is witnessing the incredible scene where the Ents come to grips with the perils they face, the entire story is evocative of all of the debate and argument that Americans and citizens of other countries have engaged in regarding the war on terrorism. Indeed, at the risk of making Tolkien do cartwheels in the grave, I hope that just about every single person who goes and watches the movie analogizes its story to that of September 11th. And I hope that includes high public officials who are in a position to do something about defending what is good, and damning what is evil. Just as in Fellowship, I found myself reacting to parts of the movie in an emotional manner that betrayed just how fresh and raw the injuries inflicted on that awful Tuesday in September of last year still are for me.


And given that we in the Blogosphere tell one another that we must keep our anger fresh, and that we must remember our hurt in order to ensure that we do not slacken our pace in this war, I found the emotions I felt remarkably welcome, despite the pain inherent in feeling them.


Were I to forget them, I would feel less than human. And while, of course, one does not--and should not--have to see The Two Towers to remember the onslaught inflicted against us, quite frankly, any stimulus that reminds us of what has been done to us, and what we need to do in return, is most welcome.


Go see this movie. Again, and again, and again, and again. Rejoice in the fact that there are artists who still can produce and display fantasy in a manner that excites and fascinates the intellect, instead of dulling it.


And give thanks for a story that speaks to our time, and gives us the resolution to confront hard times now, so that hopefully, we may not stricken with catastrophic times in the future.
:: Pejman Yousefzadeh 10:49 PM [+]::

http://pejmanpundit.blogspot.com/

[HairOfTheDog]

I got a really long letter today from my best friend from college. I haven't talked to her in 10 years. It breaks my heart to read it, and yet that is all I have been able to do all day, over and over. I haven't responded yet. I don't know what to say to her. It has been ten years when we last talked. I was going follow the same path she did, you know. I was going to be a pilot. Was a pilot. I am full of regret and tears about that really, even given the tone of her letter. I thought that these parts of her letter might be interesting for you guys.

Here are some excerpts from it:

I came to Alaska after finishing finals at the UW. Went to work for a small 135 company Yute Air in Kotzebue for 18+months. Time for twin time so jumped ship to Baker Aviation, still in Kotzebue and Nome and was there for 20 months or so. Tried to move into Anchorage (ANC) with PenAir who hired me and then sent me back to the bush in Dillingham, lasted 9 months there and then moved to Kenai for SouthCentral Air so I at least had access to Burger King and Beer. Greatest company to work for up here, wonderful people and work ethics. 2.5 years later went to Frontier Flying Service in Fairbank for a year and a half, had a good time flying over some of the prettiest area God ever made, but needed out of "bush" flying before the bullet was in the chamber in this Russian Roulette I was playing with my career. By this time I had buried 8-9 friends and coworkers, seen more bent metal and violations than I cared to.

America West hired me in 1999 and I flew the 737 for them for about 10 months, by then I was sure AK was the only place for me and I applied to every major airline with a base in Anchorage. United called first and I went there in July 2000 (they announced the closure of the Anchorage base when I was in ground school!). Was Flight Engineer on the 727 in Chicago first then 757/767 co-pilot out of San Francisco until the #$@!^& towel heads used my airplane as a cruise missile and I was furloughed Oct. 2001. Got back to Anchorage, the hard way and did nothing for awhile. Traveled to Australia with my Dad, was a ramp monkey/bag smasher for Alaska airlines this summer and then last month a medivac flying job flew into my lap so I now work for FS Air, am checked out in the Merlin, small twin turboprop, and sit around hoping the pager does not go off and I can just collect my pay.

Have no idea where this will all take me, United is not looking great, I have applied to Alaska (AGAIN!) but that takes awhile or could never happen. I am where I was 5 years ago career-wise in a much tougher market. It's been a fun journey, have no idea of the destination. I have a sign on my desk that says "when God closes one door he opens another, but it is Hell in the hallway!" That sort of sums it up this last year.

...This is by far the longest email I have ever written, sorry about that. Nothing like trying to cram ten years of catch up in a morning. Your turn!

Beth

[HairOfTheDog]

That is an excellent commentary! Thanks for it!

[2Jedismom]

Good evening everyone! We are getting ready for supper...my MIL bought this nice roast beast...

I may try to work tomorrow afternoon, since I get time and half if I work on a holiday. That's $45 an hour and hard to turn down if I can get the work!

[HairOfTheDog]

It is good money! - Unless you can sell us a couple rotisserie cookers eh? Good lookin roast beast there! I go up to the beach house early tomorrow morning. Our festivities are tomorrow.

Presents are all wrapped! - That is a good thing!

[SuziQ]

But let us always thank Him for guiding us to this moment, to this fellowship, in this, our Hobbit Hole.

A big AMEN to that Ruthy! The Hobbit Hole is always a bright spot in my day!

I had the busiest Christmas Eve I think I've ever had! I didn't realize I had so many last minute errands to run! But we had a gorgeous day today, about 40, bright and sunny, and everyone in the stores was very cheerful! We're supposed to have a major snowstorm tomorrow, so I wanted to get anything we might need through Thursday while I was out. The kids and I are finishing up decorating the tree; I love doing that because we get to remember when we got the ornament, for the new baby's birth, where we were living at the time, etc. They grouse about the quantity of ornaments, but I wouldn't want to do without ANY of them. I get each one of them a new ornament every year, so that when they have their first Christmas out on their own, they'll each have a set of 24 or 25 very special ornaments to decorate that first tree! I'm gonna go take a nap, then get up about 8:30 to make BLTs. Since we all go to Midnight Mass together, we don't mind eating later. We have to be there early to sing in the choir, then we have a party after Mass, so it is a busy late night, early morning! We don't have to go anywhere tomorrow, so whenever we get up, we'll make a fire, open presents and just enjoy the day! I'll turn on the radio at 1 to listen to the Messiah while I'm fixing dinner, and we'll eat around 4. No pressure, and it will be SO nice!

Here's a wish for a very Blessed Christmas for you ALL, stay safe, especially if you have to travel, and may we all have the Happiest of New Years!!

[HairOfTheDog]

Here's a wish for a very Blessed Christmas for you ALL, stay safe, especially if you have to travel, and may we all have the Happiest of New Years!!

You too SuziQ! - Merry Christmas!

[Overtaxed]

Ready for Christmas dinner tomorrow. We're just chilling out by the fire and will probably indulge in some egg nog later on. My sister got an invite to an all day chamber music jam called "Lord of the Strings." I'll scan and try to post it as soon as I get back. Heheheh.....

The Elvendwarf Duo reminds you to bring your axe, bow (or reeds) & a stand - The Forces of Good will play Chamber Music all day to honor the Free Peoples

[HairOfTheDog]

The Elvendwarf Duo reminds you to bring your axe, bow (or reeds) & a stand - The Forces of Good will play Chamber Music all day to honor the Free Peoples

That is really cool! - Stay away from the guys playing the axes though... if it is a small room.

[Overtaxed]

It looks really cool....I hope it comes out.

Frodo and his Hobbiton Quartet confront the dreaded String Wraiths and Lord Paganini.

[JenB]

Christmas Eve service was lovely. The church was dark and filled with candles and plants. We sang about seven carols and had a real, full length sermon, before ending with "Silent Night" and candlelighting.

It's been flurrying, but not much. We got home at just after 9 and found that the dog had eaten both loaves of bread that were to be used for French toast tomorrow, so my poor mom is making bread even now. We'd go tomorrow early but it's supposed to be blizarding.

Merry Christmas, all. Hope you remember what it's really about.

[RMDupree]

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

I have to post and run since I have to help with Santa duty tonight, but I just had to share what Glen got me for Christmas!!!

Two small boxes were hidden from me until tonight. After we all got home from my grandmother's (a Cuban thang - roast pork leg, loud conversation, etc), we unwrapped our gifts to each other.

Well, believe it or not, he got me two pieces from The Noble Collection. I now have in my possession Nenya, Ring of Adamant and Evenstar. They are gorgeous (even though they are elf trinkets *courtesy for dwarves comment*). They are almost too pretty to wear, but I can't wait to show them off at Entmoot (and mini-moot coming soon for me).

Glen even made sure that the Ring fit me perfectly! I am its Keeper, it came to me...

All others that follow in my bloodline will be bound to its fate. It is Precious to me....

Good night. :)

[HairOfTheDog]

What wonderful presents! What a lucky Ruthy!

And Jen, tell your dog "PFFFFFFFT!" for me! Bad dog!

[Penny1]

Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope you all have a wonderful holiday! I'm off to visit the parents....

[HairOfTheDog]

Merry Christmas Penny!

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Good evening everyone... Peace and Joy to you all, and

Merry Christmas!