Lord of the Rings Time!!!!

Yup, it's about that time of year. Every February or March I feel the call in my blood, and I find myself drawn back to Middle Earth. I don't know why I read The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien every year in late winter. Maybe I need the inspiration to pull me through the tail-end of yet another miserable Midwest winter. Maybe I just like the idea of a literary tradition.

Mostly its because the big events of The Lord of the Rings, the big Return of the King stuff happen in late February, early March. I'm a total nerd for the whole time-line of LOTR. I have my entire book annotated. In the back section, where Tolkien includes a lovely time-line, I have written in the margins next to each date the number of the page on which that day begins, with a few exceptions. And then, when I can, I have gone through the text of the three volumes and written down the dates in the margin, and the brief synopsis of what else is happening that day, besides the events filled in already. It really helps when the story has characters in up to four different locations. Now, while you're reading about Gandalf and Pippin in Minas Tirith, you can know what Frodo and Sam are doing in Mordor, what progress Merry and Theoden are making from Rohan and what city Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are sacking as they travel from the Paths of the Dead. I know, nerdy!!!!

So, we begin, as always, with the long-expected party. This may be my favorite chapter in the book. It's definately the funniest. Besides the actual events of the party and getting acquainted with hobbits and all their heart-warming characteristics, we have the wonderful descriptions of fireworks and the farewell speech ("I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." Best line.)

Another of my particular favorites is when Bilbo has left and Frodo is in charge of distributing his parting gifts. This part wasn't in the movie, for obvious reasons, but it's priceless.


"For ADELARD TOOK, for his VERY OWN, from Bilbo; on an umbrella. Adelard had carried off many unlabeled ones.
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large waste-paper basket. Dora was Drogo's sister and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo's; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of advice for more than half a century.
"For MILO BURROWS, hoping it will be useful, from B.B.; on a gold pen and ink-bottle. Milo never answered letters.
"For ANGELICA'S use, from Uncle Bilbo; on a round convex mirror. She was a young Baggins, and too obviously considered her face shapely.
"For the collection of HUGO BRACEGIRDLE, from a contributor; on an (empty) bookcase. Hugo was a great borrower of books, and worse than usual at returning them.
"For LOBELIA SACKVILLE-BAGGINS, as a PRESENT; on a case of silver spoons. Bilbo believed that she had acquired a good many of his spoons while he was away on his former journey. Lobelia knew that quite well. When she arrived later in the day, she took the point at once, but she also took the spoons."


It's such a timeless emotion, fighting with your family. Maybe fighting is too strong a word, because very few of those notes are vindictive. But I bet everybody has, at one time or other, wanted to poke a little fun at friends or family. That's my favorite part about his departure from the Shire. Guy throws the biggest party seen in years, with the best food and wine, the best gifts, the best fireworks. Then he gives a farewell speech in which he confuses everybody and then literally disappears before their eyes. He leaves everything to his heir, takes off, leaving behind a few parting gifts, many of which point out their faults and failings, but always with good humor. I love the anecdote about how he becomes a legend in the Shire: "Mad Baggins, who used to vanish with a bang and a flash and reappear with bags of jewels and gold, became a favorite character of legend and lived on long after the true events were forgotten." You have to admit, hobbit had style.


So, I'm hoping to post every time I come across something that makes me laugh or cry or take pause. Hopefully once a day, if I can manage it. Hopefully I'll inspire somebody to pick it up again or for the first time, or even just remind somebody of a great passage or event they really loved too. As always, comments appreciated.

I got bored!

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

And that's what happens when I get bored!

Coming Soon!!!! (New Year's Blog Resolutions [a month late])

So I'm totally done with the whole movie thing. It caught my interest for a while there, but it's boring.

Let's see, I'd like to start reviewing the books I read in 2010, maybe start a list of books I'd like to read in 2011.

I realize I haven't posted in forever, but my computer croaked, I moved downtown, where my access to internet is sketchy at best, and all kinds of other personal stuff has been going on. Loving my change of scenery, and most of the changes in my personal life have also been for the better. So, let's hope 2011 is my best year ever. Lord knows it could hardly be much worse than last year, unless I get evicted, broken up with three times instead of twice, lose my job three times instead of twice, and fall into a coma. Hey, I could always accidentally get knocked up!

(I dearly wish for a sarcasm font. It would save so much time and explanation online. I am really not whining about my life. I don't have a job, but I have great friends and family, plus a roof over my head. So, Universe, if you're reading this, don't strike me with ironic changes in fortune please. Please?)

Ok, that's it for now. I will try to make sure I don't forget about my blog for eight months again. Ciao! :)