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

[HairOfTheDog]

FROM TOR.N:

ROTK Re-Shoots...RIGHT NOW?
4/10/03, 12:14 pm EST - Xoanon

Ex-Pom writes: The reshoots have started! A mate of mine did some extra work for The Last Samuri in Taranaki, NZ and the same crew he worked with on for that picture gave him a buzz the other day to ask him to do some extra work for ROTK as an Ork which he has been doing for the last two days. Apparently this shoot has overrun and will be ongoing until the end of the week.

Matrix II ROTK Trailer? Not Happening
4/09/03, 1:57 pm EST - Xoanon

Insider sources tell TheOneRing.net that there will be NO ROTK trailer before screenings of The Matrix: Reloaded next month. There WILL be SOMETHING in regards to an ROTK trailer happening soon, but nothing is set in stone.

And we can all collectively moan 'awwwwww...'

Sean Bean Narrates 'Weapons'
4/09/03, 12:24 pm EST - Xoanon

Nevernilien wrires: I thought you might like to know that BBC World will be airing a 12 part documentary on the evolution of weaponry throughout the ages. It's called 'Decisive Weapons' and will be narrated by Sean Bean. Part one will air on Wednesday April 16,2003 at 9.30 pm CET.

[Corin Stormhands]

Threadkiller.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah.... I know. And I showered, deoderant, everything!

[Overtaxed]

Just think how grungy Flat Frodo will be when he gets back from his whirlwind tour.

[HairOfTheDog]

He will be.... He already got a little dirty bein' out with the pony yesterday (and nuzzled by the pony, and bein' pushed over by the pony), and I only had to transport him 30 feet.

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh... I figure halfway through maybe we *may* have to replace him with a fresh one!

[Corin Stormhands]

I figure halfway through maybe we *may* have to replace him with a fresh one!

No! He's gotta make it all the way through to Entmoot. We'll spring for you a new one if he falls apart. But the original has to make it to the finish line.

[RosieCotton]

Speaking of TORN, I've got a dilemna for ya...(not LOTR related, though!)

As everyone probably knows by now, I have a little dachshund, who I love very much. I don't know if I ever told the whole story behind my getting her, though. To begin with, Mom had a standard dachshund when she was a kid whom she just ADORED...unfortunately the dog ended up being diagnosed with a pretty virulant form of cancer when she (the dog, that is) was only four or five and had to be put down. The truly heartbreaking thing is that Mom didn't understand that the dog had been sick - for some reason her parents didn't make it clear, and she always believed they put the dog down because she had been "in the way". It wasn't until this spring that Grandma told me what had happened, and I don't think Mom ever knew.

But back to my story...Mom had always wanted to get another dachshund, but with babies / little kids in the house, we ended up with big kid-friendly dogs like labs and Goldens. On what ended up being their last anniversary, Dad asked her what she wanted, and she said "a dachshund". He kind of laughed at her as they had three labs at the time (though Jo-Jo passed away shortly after) and he doesn't even like dogs! But when he saw she was serious, he relented, and within a few days (hours?) she found a breeder, and pretty soon after that visited and picked out a puppy. He was still young and couldn't come home right away, but the breeder was OK with her visiting whenever she wanted. I went along on one of the visits, fell hard for her puppy's sister (Fiona), and went out and bought a house. ;-) OK, so it wasn't quite that simple, but it WAS the final push I needed to think of it seriously, and it worked out well since I stayed at The House during that summer and had help getting Fiona as close to housebroken as she's ever gotten.

OK, fast-forward to now...as you know, Mom passed away just six months after getting Fritzi. I kept him at my house for the few months Mom was really sick, and the other dogs ended up going to other homes. We weren't sure how long Mom would be with us, and if she had had chemo, it would have been nearly impossible to keep the place clean enough with animals tracking in and out. As it ended up, she was too sick for chemo, but it still wouldn't have been good to have the animals around. But Fritzi went back later.

However, Dad doesn't want to worry about him. He's not really an animal lover, as I've said, and doesn't like being tied down by a dog. He's put off doing much about it for awhile, but now he says he's going to give him away. I'm really torn over this...he was Mom's, after all, and so much a part of that last year...but Dad doesn't think I can handle two dogs. I'm trying to convince him that really, two aren't much different than one...but I'm not sure I CAN handle it. But wouldn't they probably amuse each other? I had them both before, but they were puppies then and much naughtier than they are now! Anything I can use as ammunition? It's hard...I don't want him to go to anyone else, but I'm not sure how he'd work out with me, either, plus Dad is ALMOST telling me "no".

Sorry this got so long, but I needed to write all this.

[RMDupree]

Absolutely! The original Frodo must make it to Entmoot, shabby though he may be!

[HairOfTheDog]

Two dogs, especially two little ones, are not twice as hard as one. Sure, you have twice the food, but I am gonna guess food is not a major expense for you (relative to myself). There is twice the veterinary, but that is hopefully periodic.

But the benefit is that they would have each other, and they are both small. If you want the dog, not out of guilt because he was your mom's, but because you want the dog for the next 12-14 years, then take him. The benefit of their companionship to each other when left alone all day will make them both happy.

If your Dad had three labs and a doxie at one time, he knows about having multiple pets. Was he overwhelmed? Or was it OK? - I am having a hard time with him thinking you can't handle two small dogs. Is there something else going on about the dog that he is thinking about? - Is he difficult?

[HairOfTheDog]

OK! - I hope he holds up! There will be inevitable bends and smudges and tape, and his "foldy place" line will likely wear through, being folded and unfolded frequently! - It will be funny to see the wear start showing as he moves around... or if there is an incident with ketchup or something that happens along the way.

[RMDupree]

Tell you dad that you will watch Fritz and help find him a good home, thus releaving him of that responsibility.

Then, just take a reeeeeeallly loooooong time finding that home! *wink*

[RMDupree]

UGH! releaving s/b relieving

[RosieCotton]

He's not really difficult. But because he was tossed around so much when he was young, he sometimes has accidents in the house...not very often, and he's getting better. Personally, I know I can always put him in the kitchen with a bed and plenty of toys and put the baby gate up - and just deal with messes if I have to. It's not like an 8 pound dog can MAKE much of a mess! But though that doesn't bother me, it WOULD bother Dad, and therefore he thinks of it as a serious problem. So he wants him to go to someone who will be there during the day, if possible.

And it's not really guilt...just that he IS special to me because he was Mom's. But I also know I'd be taking him on for life. Quite frankly, that's the other reason that I don't like it that Dad wants to give him to someone else. Dogs do get attached to family, and shuffling them around like they were just posessions...it bothers me.

[HairOfTheDog]

And actually, I see that you also are not *sure* you want him either.... what are your fears? Same as your dad's? - or different?

[Corin Stormhands]

I have no multiple dog experience to help you out. But I think Hair's advice is good. If you were talking about two Labs I'd wonder about your even asking the question...See if you can convince your Dad to let you "try it out," with the caveat that if it doesn't work, you'll find a new home for Fritzi.

We're facing a similar situation with my m-i-l's cat. The cat has lived in our home before (it's a loooonng story I'll tell at Entmoot). But she has an awful personality and has a real tendency to show you when she's angry. I'm hoping my m-i-l will get the idea on her own that the cat shouldn't come with her.

[Corin Stormhands]

It will be funny to see the wear start showing as he moves around...

It'll be like watching the movie...

...the shipping label...it grows heavy...

[RosieCotton]

Well...this may sound silly! My only worry is because I don't have a fenced in yard, and can't just let them run out to "do their business". I take Fiona out on leash several times a day, to go potty and for a walk. I would THINK I could just take them both out at once, and though at first they might distract each other, they would eventually learn.

It wasn't an issue before because at first Fritz was pad trained, but they've since housebroken him.

[HairOfTheDog]

It bothers me to shuffle them too... hopefully no matter where he goes, he stays.

Can you build a little fenced area outside and a doggie door out the back for both of them? - You may want that just for Fiona... If you can leave her now all day, know that you will not always be able to. As she ages, so does her ability to hold it. I wouldn't plan a lifestyle of not having a way for them to go outside, because I would fear they will stop caring if they are in the kitchen or not, or whether you are there or not. They won't realize it is important. And I know your weather wouldn't allow for them to be out during the day. If I were there, I could help you make doggie fence in a weekend that would hold in two doxies. Course, if your cats are inside only (I don't know) then the doggie door is out.

[HairOfTheDog]

You can take them both out at once... you will get good at leash management to keep them untangled!