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.

[Corin Stormhands]

We are back. Thanks for your prayers for Jr.

Things went okay. The left ear is fine, they removed the tube and patched the hole in the ear drum. On the right ear there was a polyp that the Dr. hadn't seen before. So he removed it and we have to go back in a couple of weeks to see how things are healing up on that side.

This was a more grown-up surgery experience for Jr. He had to dress in the gown, etc. and they did the IV before they put him to sleep. He didn't like that, but he was a trooper.

In other news we had a bit of an implosion last night regarding school work. But Mom has taken the reigns again. Jr. prefers that because he doesn't like my discipline (wonder how he'll like military school?)

And one more thing:

THEY PRINTS US! THEY PRINTS US! My letter to the film criticidiot was printed today!

[HairOfTheDog]

I was so startled I dropped them on the floor...

I know! - It's frightening!

[HairOfTheDog]

Glad Corin Jr's surgery went well!

THEY PRINTS US! THEY PRINTS US! My letter to the film criticidiot was printed today!

Let's hear it! Shows us!

[Corin Stormhands]

Remember that scene from Young Frankenstein when Igor goes to the Brain Bank, breaks the glass on the door and then startles himself with his own hand?

That was me with the can of biscuits.

[ksen]

"Warg Snax" fit nicely in the keywords...

WHAT!?!? I post a three page review of TTT and all you can do is add "Warg Snax" to the KEYWORDS!?!? *shakes head*

;^)

[ksen]

THEY PRINTS US! THEY PRINTS US!

So where's the link?

[Corin Stormhands]

I posted it here (or in the other hole) the day I sent it, but here it is as it ran today:

Critic Missed Story's Clues (their headline)

Editor, Times-Dispatch: Most days I just don't bother reading the movie reviews by Daniel Neman. I find my Neman Review Rating System saves time and effort. In my system, the number of stars given by Neman is inversely proportional to the actual quality of the movie - i.e., the fewer stars given by Neman, the better the film must be. But after viewing "The Two Towers," I decided to go ahead and read Neman's faulty review. Silly me.

Admittedly, I've been a Tolkien fan for nearly 30 years. So, unlike Neman, my knowledge of hobbits and Middle-Earth didn't come from a cover story in People magazine. I actually don't have a problem if Neman doesn't like the movie. But you should be concerned that he doesn't understand it. My 13-year-old is available to explain it if need be. Yes, it's the middle part of the story. No, fans are not disappointed. We know the story doesn't end there.

What is perhaps most amazing is Neman's complete lack of attention to the cinematic accomplishments of the movie. The cinematography, the sound, and the music are excellent. And the computer imaging, particularly of the creature Gollum, is simply amazing. Then again, Neman probably actually liked Jar Jar Binks.

No, the movie isn't perfect. But it is an outstanding adaptation of an incredible work of literature. Neman should read the books. I can tell he hasn't read them (or at least hasn't understood them) by the fact that he said, "The second time, I haven't got a clue who comes to save them."

Apparently, Neman is missing several clues.

[RMDupree]

I'm so glad that Jr's surgery went well! :)

Love the "warg snax" keywords too, Corin. I was wondering when you were add some color to the new Hobbit Hole! HAHAHAHAA!

Oh yeah - where's the link, my precious? We wants to see the nassssty criticsss get spankses.

[Corin Stormhands]

Sorry, we waz catching up. I liked your review. I won't write a nasty-gram to your local newspaper. ;-)

[RMDupree]

Oh, we sees it. Nice dwarfses - sharing their victory with usss.

[Corin Stormhands]

I posted the text above. I'm a little shy about posting my "real" name on FR.

[SuziQ]

They're playing in Somerville, MA the next night. Is that close to you?

That's not far at all! I don't remember seeing Somerville on their concert list! Do you know when that one will be?

[Wneighbor]

I am so glad to hear this. When I was home for the holidays I had to relate your story about the film critic to some of my buddies.

Now, wonder if anybody else will have anything to say? Keep us posted if so.

[HairOfTheDog]

I posted the text above. I'm a little shy about posting my "real" name on FR.

Understood....

[Lil'freeper]

Yeouch! Great letter!

[SuziQ]

I just looked on the Lunasa website, and the concert is in Cambridge at the Somerville Music Theater! That is only about 45 minutes from here, just off the Mass Pike!! Easy Greasy!! It is the day after your concert, and my only hope is that it won't be the same weekend as the family reunion in MS that my brother is planning.

[Wneighbor]

I don't know what your college job entails but about 18 months ago I left a very successful job in manufacturing to become a college instructor. Unfortunately, I took more like a 10K/year salary cut. My reason was to spend more time with my daughter so it has been well worth the new budget.

However, I've since discovered that there are a lot of other perks that I didn't factor into my decision to begin with. There is, of course, the free tuition but I also get some college credit for my actual teaching. The next big thing that I figured out... if I actually add up my time that I'm paid to work it comes out to 34 weeks per year. Hmm. Large pay cut but also very large work time cut.

I also don't get called in on nights or weekends for emergency production problems.

Deadlines like I've been accustomed to are really not existant here.

Then, I discovered that if I teach extra classes I get some premium pay. That amounts to much more per hour (or per class) than the standard classes within the contract.

Overall, there are several other little things that make this a lot more worthwhile than I had realized at first. (need I mention that the college has provided me with much software for home, a digital camera, and other little toys? a notebook computer is in my capital budget for next fiscal year.)

All in all I came out further ahead financially with this job that I thought I was going to.

[RMDupree]

I'm a little shy about posting my "real" name on FR.

I wouldn't worry about it. I have come to accept that even if some of you gave me your real names, I'd still be calling you by your screen names.

When I put together the Florida FReeper Inauguration Celebration a couple of years back, I finally had an opportunity to learn the "real names" of folks here on FR. Be that as it may, everytime I wanted the attention of anyone, I couldn't remember their "real name" and just hollered out their screen name instead.

Funny thing is, they always responded, no one thought it was weird (except maybe the other diners in the restaurant) and everyone was doing the same thing. I had folks calling me "RMD" all night! LOL!

[2Jedismom]

I know! When I was organizing the Florida Recount protests here in Tulsa, people refered to me as 2J! One guy I even knew...worked with him! He didn't realize who I was until he put 2 and 2 together, now he doesn't even call me by my name anymore...just 2j...even though he knew me as Kim before the protests!

[Corin Stormhands]

I wouldn't worry about it.

Worried perhaps isn't the right word. I have a rather "violent" past in another forum on FR. Plus, even if I didn't access FR from work, having my real name here could be a problem...I 'splain it all at Entmoot...;-)