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.

[ecurbh]

Ah, that felt good. Nothing like a nice brisk walk to get the old ticker pumping.

[SuziQ]

Are you going to make 'em give the year? On the birthday list ;-)

Oh come on, Sam. I think we've already established that you and I are the 'oldies but goodies' in the Hobbit Hole.

[HairOfTheDog]

Good evening everyone! - Earlier this week several of us spawned the beginnings of an idea that I think will be a lot of fun. As many of you know, RMDupree bought me a life-size Frodo standee as a present that has now lived with me the past few months. It occured to me that it would be fun as a lark, to take Frodo along with me on trips and errands, and photograph him surprising settings.

The idea grew, and many here in the hole suggested places they would take him if they could, Kittyhawk, The Alamo, historic Boston, New York City. That he could see the whole country would be a fun project indeed! -And ecurbh has offered his Website as a host for his travel diary! See here!: There And Back Again - The Adventures of Flat Frodo

At the end, after he has been mailed to everyone, photographed, and forwarded on, I hope to get him back! - I expect he will be well worn by then from his travels, perhaps with each place he has been and the dates signed on the back.

Got the concept? Good! Definately come forward and volunteer to take him if you will follow through, take him places, either ordinary or exotic: maybe your favorite restaurant, a local street, a scenic spot or a national monument! Photograph him, and forward him on to the next person. Ruthy recommends these additional rules: "He must be shipped as he came packaged. He must be shipped via courier or priority mail. He must be cared for in a better manner than you care for yourself! LOL!!! You know what I mean. Oh yeah, and no kissing the standee and (this to the Dwarves especially) no "compromising" Frodo scenarios, no matter how drunk you are or how funny it may seem at the time!"

So with that, here is the first chapter... the preparations and explanations of the trip! - I may take him into town here over the weekend, and will photographi him in Seattle when I go on Monday! Then I will ship him off. Whither then? - I cannot say!

Special note to ecurbh.... let me know if you would like to use the chapter below 'as is' or have me email the larger original photos to you.... We can play with this, you can format it as you like, or use it like it is now! This can be kindof a test run...

---

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,
you step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet,
there is no knowing where you might be swept off to!

...I can foresee very little of your road; and how your task is to be achieved I do not know... You will meet many foes, some open, and some disguised; and you may find friends upon your way when you least look for it. I will send out messages, such as I can contrive, to those whom I know in the wide world; but... some may well miscarry, or come no quicker than you yourself.

In their shed they found the ponies; sturdy little beasts of the kind loved by hobbits, not speedy, but good for a long day’s work.

I am just going to saddle the ponies, and fetch the one that is to be the baggage-carrier. Wake that sluggard Fatty! At least he must get up and see us off.’

Before we begin our trip there was trouble! The pony chosen for Frodo was not an ill-tempered beast, but nevertheless was not accustomed to the carrying of burdens! The clanky pots and pans and other burdens frightened her. The pony spooked at Frodo, who looked to her like a strange object that must be avoided, especially when Frodo would unexpectedly fall over.

His pony reared and snorted, and he fell off. When he looked back he found that he was alone: the others had not followed him.

'Here are your ponies, now! They've more sense (in some ways) than you wandering hobbits have - more sense in their noses. For they sniff danger ahead which you walk right into; and if they run to save themselves, then they run the right way. You must forgive them all; for though their hearts are faithful, to face fear of [this trip] is not what they were made for. See, here they come again, bringing all their burdens!'

But all the same, Frodo unpacked the pony and decided to go by pickup truck.

And so begins the adventure of Flat Frodo! a cardboard standee that is precious to me, setting out today, April 9, 2003 on a grand mission. To start in Tumwater Washington, tour all of America, and end his journey at our Freeper Entmoot in Florida, January 2004.

Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you.

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Hair, that is great! I saw your treatise (not an Opus!) when I came back in from my victory cigar -- Romeo Y Julieta Churchill (and a couple of pints of E-9 Scottish). What a trip...er treat.

[HairOfTheDog]

Since you are local, you want to take him around town here before I mail him?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I am going to the "Support the Troops" rally on the Sleater-Kinney overpass this Saturday Morning -- think Frodo should go???

[HairOfTheDog]

He can join you wherever you like! - I may join you for that rally!

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Yes! And bring the camera for Frodo's travels! It starts at 11:00 AM. You can ride out with us if you want or you can meet us there. (We'll be parking in the Sears lot). I'll freepmail you directions to our house, if you want to ride with us.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sent you a Freepmail!

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

You're welcome!

I will remember that... I'm going to be old myself next year...

[Overtaxed]

I stole that from Johnny Carson

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

LOLOLOLOLOL!

What a fantastic start to Frodo's journey!

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Uh oh... I'm old enough to remember him saying it...

[JenB]

Hullo again, all! Nice to see you, Bear. I think it's been a while since we've been on at the same time.

Just finished my taxes. I owe $24 to the local people but I'm getting back over $200 federal, so I guess I'm ahead. Sigh....

Do you think it's a bad idea to address the envelopes to "blood-sucking French weasels"?

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Good evening! And, thank you! I'm here tonight due to a rare confluence of opportunity and mood...

Regarding the IRS, my own policy is to not tick off people who can ruin my life on a whim...

[JenB]

Probably very sound advice!

I bet they get a bunch of letters addressed like that, though....

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Heh, it wouldn't surprise me at all... in fact, it wouldn't surprise me if they got lots of letters addressed in much worse language!

[JenB]

Oh well. I have addressed them civilly now and will mail them tomorrow. No fear, Ides of April!

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks! - Was fun.... and a challenge to get the pony to cooperate! - She isn't really broke, though she has been saddled and was ridden with mixed success two years ago. Was a bit of a challenge to introduce her to the Frodo and get her where she wasn't afraid just to be near him, let alone the pack! - That bundle tied to her is my cloak.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Ugh, I still have to do ours... probably this weekend. I'm such a procrastinator! And it makes no sense, since we'll probably be getting a refund... I should have done them two months ago. Of course, if I had, we probably would have spent our refund by now, hmm....