Postscript: The Appendices of The Lord of the Rings

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ LORD OF THE RINGS, DO NOT READ FARTHER! THE CONTENT OF THE ENTIRE POST IS SPOILERS. DO NOT PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT ALLOWANCE. JUST STOP READING.

I would like to confess that until this reread, I have never read the Appendices straight through. I've used it as a reference for dates and such, but never read it from start to finish. Yes, yes, I know, until this moment I was not a proper fan at all. To make up for this gross oversight, I have devoted an entire post just to this fascinating postscript that Tolkien was kind enough to add.

A General Guide to the Appendices
With a Special Focus on Appendix B

If you've ever wondered what happened AFTER Pippin caught that bouquet (I can never call him Peregrin), or felt sorry for Sam Gamgee being left behind by Frodo, or if you just happened to be as confused as I was and believe that Celeborn was a ring bearer, the Appendices are the place for you.

To start, the Appendices are:

Appendix A: Annals of the Kings and Rulers 

This includes information on Numenor, Gondor (including why it was ruled by stewards for almost a thousand years), Rohan, and Durin's Folk. Part of Aragorn and Arwen's Tale is also shared.

Appendix B: The Tale of Years

A summary of the of the First Age, a small timeline of the Second Age, a detailed timeline of the Third Age, and (most interesting to me) the "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring."

Appendix C: Family Trees

Family trees of six major hobbit families (you can learn how Frodo is related to Bilbo, Pippin, and others.)

Appendix D: The Calendars

Shire reckoning as compared to Numenorian reckoning, the date each age ended, and other sundry details about the Shire calendars.

Appendix E: Writing and Spelling

Appendix F: The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age

As I mentioned above, perhaps you have wondered what Pippin did with that bouquet he caught. Although I strongly encourage you to read the Appendices for yourself, here is a brief summary of the major events of the Fellowship of the Ring, after the departure of the Ring Bearers/end of the Third Age.

• Pippin married Diamond of Long Cleve. He had at least one son. He became the Took and the Thain thirteen years after the end of the Third Age.
• After Sam married Rose Cotton, they had thirteen children. One of their daughters married Pippin's son. Same became mayor six years after the end of the Third Age, and was elected seven times (from 1427-1476).
• Merry married Estella Bolger (sister of Fatty Bolger). He became the Master of Buckland eleven years after the end of the Third Age.
• Aragorn made the Shire a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Scepter. He forbade men to enter it, but he came to its borders at least once to visit his friends. Sam's daughter Elanor became a maid of honor to Queen Arwen. 
• If the above is just inconsequential details to you, pay special attention, because my favorite thing that I read was this: after Rosie died in 1482 (S.R.), Sam left Bag End (on September 22),  gave his daughter Elanor the Red Book, and went to the Grey Havens. He "passed over the sea, the last of the Ring-bearers."
• Two years later, Meriadoc The Magnificent (102) and Peregrin the Thain (96) left the Shire. King Eomer had sent a message that he wished to see Meriadoc, so they went first to Rohan, where they were able to see the king before he died that autumn, and then to Gondor, where they lived out the rest of their days with King Elessar.
• King Elessar died in 1541. He was 210.

 "Then Legolas built a grey ship in Ithilien, and sailed down Aunduin and so over Sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that ship passed an end was come in Middle-earth of the Fellowship of the Ring."

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Further Quotes from The Lord of the Rings

Being that I had way more quotes than would comfortably fit in a little review post, for those who didn't get enough of Tolkien, here are some more that I wanted to share.

The westward road seems easiest. Therefore it must be shunned. It will be watched. Too often the Elves have fled that way. Now at this last we must take a hard road, a road unforeseen.

They kept as close as they could to the western side, and they could see the dim shapes of the low cliffs rising ever higher, shadowy walls with their feet in the hurrying river.

When his eyes were in turn uncovered, Frodo looked up and caught his breath. They were standing in an open space. To the left stood a great mound, covered with a sward of grass as green as Springtime in the Elder Days. Upon it, as a double crown, grew two circles of trees: the outer had a bark of snowy white, and were leafless but beautiful in their shapely nakedness; the inner were mallory-trees of great height, still arrayed in pale gold. High amid the branches of a towering tree that stood in the centre of all there gleamed a white felt. At the feet of the trees, and all about the green hillsides the grass was studded with small golden flower shaped like stars. Among them, nodding on slender stalks, were other flowers, white and palest green: they glimmered as a mist amid the rich hue of the grass. Over all the sky was blue, and the sun of afternoon glowed upon the hill and cast long green shadows beneath the trees. (When I first read the book (around age 10), I found this bit of description boring and overlong. Now I think it's beautiful.)

No trees grew there and it was open to the sky; stars were shining already in lakes between shores of cloud.

Understand one another? I fear I am beyond your comprehension. But you, Saruman, I understand now too well.

The great horse tossed his head. His flowing tail flicked in the moonlight. Then he leapt forward, spurning the earth, and was gone like the north wind from the mountains.

The skirts of the storm were lifting, ragged and wet, and the main battle had passed to spread its great wings over the Emyn Muil, upon which the dark thought of Sauron brooded for a while.

For a while they stood there, like men on the edge of a sleep where nightmare lurks, holding it off, though they know that they can only come to morning through the shadows. The light broadened and hardened. The gasping pits and poisonous mounds grew hideously clear. The sun was up, walking among clouds and long flags of smoke, but even the sunlight was defiled. The hobbits had no welcome for that light; unfriendly it seemed, revealing them in their helplessness — little squeaking ghosts that wandered among the ash-heaps of the Dark Lord.

[of Galadriel, Sam said:] Hard as di'monds, soft as moonlight. Warm as sunlight, cold as frost in the stars. Proud and far-off as a snow-mountain, and as merry as any lass I ever saw with daisies in her hair in springtime.

Merry wished he was a tall Rider like Éomer and could blow a horn or something and go galloping to his rescue.

The Lord of the Rings: Why I Love It

I haven't often spoke of my affinity for J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings on this blog.

I think Tolkien's signature is super cool.

But I assure you, my affection for this book is strong, and to demonstrate this, my post-that-is-technically-for-the-classics-challenge is more enumeration of things I love than a proper review. I shall endeavor to be as spoiler free as possible, but I give no promises as to conciseness. 

To start, I would like to say that I watched the movies before I read the books. In general, it's better to read the book first, but there are some cases where it doesn't much matter (e.g. Ella Enchanted). This is not the case with The Lord of the Rings. I strongly recommend that you read the book first. Read the book first. Please. Don't follow my example. Although I fell in love with the story from the first moment of hearing Galadriel's voice, and afterward wanted to read the book, and did so, I would have had a greater appreciation for the book if I had not first read the movie. For, one tends to be more partial to the first thing, and so I started the book with a "this isn't like the movie" perspective, rather than a "what a wonderful story" perspective.

The movies, albeit very good renditions of the book, and truly spectacular films in and of themselves, are not as good as the books. Things are changed, obviously. Not just rearranging scenes and cutting dialogue because it has to be shortened, but other changes which do bother me. (I shall shortly link to a guest post that I wrote for The Red Book where I go into more detail about these changes.) Not to say that I don't recommend it — don't even get me started on that glorious soundtrack!

One objection that is often — and with reason — given against the movies is the violence and gore. There are three major battles, many skirmishes, and frankly, not a few disgusting orcs. (Plus Sméagol's transformation.) The book, however, does not tell us all the details of rolling heads and dripping blood. The battles are tastefully described, Tolkien apparently feeling that he "had no right to wound our feelings by attempting to describe" gore.*

Not having heard any else AGAINST The Lord of the Rings, I shall proceed to share the many reasons FOR it.

1. The themes. The classic struggle between good and evil is so poignantly played out. Although the dialogue is not from the book, this scene almost makes me cry. "But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow." That theme, if not the line, is in the book. Yes, I know Tolkien did not intend his book to be an allegory, but when a strong Christian writes a thing, Truth will show, and in the temptation of the Ring, the temptation of sin that we face each day is well-portrayed. If you've already read the book or seen the movie, this page talks about Christ figures in the book, and I found it quite interesting. It does contain spoilers.

2. The words. Oh, there's so many quotes I could quote. I love Tolkien's description (and the dialogue is good too, but I quote mainly the description because it's just so great.). He uses personification and metaphor generously.

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. This was unexpected and rather difficult. There was some scattered clapping, but most of them were trying to work it out and see if it came to a compliment.

So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

Deserve it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For the even the very wise cannot see all ends.

The quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.

In this high place you may see the two powers that are opposed to another; and ever they strive now in thought, but whereas the light perceives the very heart of the darkness, its own secret has not been discovered.

The day waned, and dusk was twined about the boles of trees.

Cold clammy winter still held sway in this forsaken country. The only green was the scum of livid weed on the dark greasy surfaces of the sullen waters. Dead grasses and rotting reeds loomed up in the mist like ragged shadows of long forgotten summers.

There was a deep silence, only scraped on its surfaces by the faint quiver of empty seed-plumes, and broken grass-blades trembling in small air-movements that they [the hobbits] could not feel.

For a while they stood there, like men on the edge of a sleep where nightmare lurks, holding it off, though they know that they can only come to morning through the shadows. 

The level shafts of the setting sun behind beat upon it, and the red light was broken into many flickering beams of ever-changing color. It was as if they stood at the window of some elven-tower, curtained with threaded jewels of silver and gold, and ruby, sapphire and amethyst, all kindled with an unconsuming fire.

3. The poems. There are quite a lot of poems in this book, so I could hardly name my favorite. Here are two that I particularly love, incidentally both composed by Bilbo:

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken:

The crownless again shall be king. 

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.

I also like the song of Nimrodel, but it's rather long to quote here. (And basically all the rest of the poems.)

Oh, okay, two more (the first by Sam):

The finest rockets ever seen:

they burst in showers of blue and green,

or after thunder golden showers

came falling like a rain of flowers.

Where now the horse and rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?

Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?

Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing?

Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing?

They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;

The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow.

Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning,

Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?

4. The characters.  If anyone can watch all three movies or read the book and not adore Samwise Gamgee, I'm not sure what I think of this person. Sam is so loyal, humble, hardworking. He is very hobbity — not a noble king, not an all-knowing wizard, just a simple hobbit with a love for simple beauty and goodness. Yet he is as strong as any of the more dashing heroes in the book, or stronger. I have heard other people make disparaging remarks about Frodo, calling him "weak" and mocking how he *SPOILER* fails in fighting Shelob. *END SPOILER* Okay, how about you carry the embodiment of evil around your neck into Hades, let's see how strong you act. Frodo is very strong. To keep going when all hope is gone, to just keep walking, is no light thing for one in his situation. Frodo — hobbits in general, really — is undervalued. Which is rather ironic, because a good deal of the book is about how undervalued they are.

I used to dislike Tom Bombadil (another unfortunate effect of watching the movies first), but now I like him, though I find him very enigmatic. He seemed too silly and confusing to fit the rest of the book, but now I appreciate him. Not everything needs to be explained. And I like that his inclusion makes the Ring and Sauron smaller. There is no evil so great that good is not stronger.

Aaaand there's Aragorn, of course, who I fell in love with from his first scene in the movie. Humble, noble, wise, skillful, courageous.

Of course, Gandalf is amazing also. He is so wise. And puzzling. And while he certainly can't do everything, he is a very useful person to have in a tight spot.

Theoden is also wonderful. Like Gandalf, he is not a perfect leader, but he sincerely tries to do what is best for his people. I pity him and admire him.

I love Faramir in the book. He treats the hobbits with greater honor and consideration than the movie shows. (I have always preferred him to Boromir, since I've never identified with the strong war-loving type.) Instead of seeming unfair, he does consider carefully the hobbits case, and makes a decision in their favor, which puts himself at risk.

I have not even mentioned Legolas and Gimli, or Bilbo or Eowyn. But this post grows long. Suffice to say they're very well done too.

All in all, I'm very fond of most of the characters in the story, and I think that's a good deal of what's necessary for a good book. If you don't care what happens to the characters (*coughcoughdivergentcoughcough*), you aren't likely to care about the story, or for that matter, keep reading it at all, especially when it's a thousand pages long.

5. The world of Middle Earth. It is so creative and detailed. Each race — elves, dwarves, hobbits, Men, orcs, wizards — is unique. Tolkien created languages for these people. The hobbits get the most description in the book itself, but the appendices is full of further information on the others. The many places they visit are differentiated too. Contrast the simplicity of the Shire with the grandeur of Minas Tirith, or the darkness of Mordor with the peace of Rivendell. Even places which are more similar — Rivendell and Lothlorien, or Gondor and Rohan — are still unique. Gondor has much more of a High Middle Ages feel, while Rohan has a distinctly more Beowulf character.

Rivendell

6. The story line. It's difficult, without giving spoilers, to draw out the story line so that we can all stand back and admire. It's sad, triumphant, and stirring by turns. I would say it is realistic, but this risks giving the impression that it is one of those depressing modern novels where everyone is suicidal, that people try to defend by saying "it's realistic." No, that's just bleak. Or perhaps it is a realistic picture of what life would be like with everything of God removed (of course, then there would be no earth or life at all). Tragic things happen (the party tree! sniff), which are not always reversible. People die. But "A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer." (Once again quoting lines from the movie, but the feeling from the book.)

Bonus: I love how disparagingly Tolkien talks of "progress" and industrialization. For, I feel the same way!

Do I recommend this book, and to whom? I certainly would. It is suitable (content-wise) for any age, but I will say that when I first read it (age 10 or so) I did not appreciate is nearly as much as I do now. I felt *cough* that it was too descriptive. Bear in mind that at this age I also thought Jane Austen should speak plainer. I had not yet learnt a real love for words, in and of themselves. 

The word "d--n" is used once or twice.

Your servant, Mr. Baggins—

*And I quote Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility. Incidentally, I love this line because of the contrast between this scene with Elinor and Willoughby's "explanation" to Elinor, in which he tries to wound her feelings.

Blog Redesign

If this blog looks a bit messy in these next few days, I'm doing a bit of a redesign. My color scheme is undergoing a bit of a change, I'm cleaning my sidebar, and— I'm removing the "Things I love" list. Instead of an ages long list that just looks messy and probably doesn't get read because it's WAY TOO LONG, I've decided to have an ongoing list of things that make me happy/excited that week. So in theory, each week it will get updated, deleting the old stuff so that it doesn't go on forever.

Jane Austen, Christmas, and Sniffles

"You will find me a very awkward narrator, Miss Dashwood."

For it is always a trick to begin a thing in thing in the... well, in the beginning. I have been absent from this bit of cyberspace for more than a month. This is for many reasons (not the least that I had nothing particular to say and was too tired to say it anyhow), which I will now disclose. I have been:

Reading: Over Thanksgiving I reread Sense and Sensibility in preparation for —well, you'll see that below. Then a few weeks later I wasn't feeling well one Saturday, so I spent most of the day lying down and rereading Cheaper By the Dozen. That book is HILARIOUS. I read it in less than 24 hours, which is rare for me. Yesterday I reread Peter Pan. Also a delightful book which I finished with surprising speed. It's so witty. One of the amusing ways that he writes is by being rather vague about things that most authors would illuminate, or being specific about the most random details.

But you simply must fit, and Peter measures you for your tree as carefully as for a suit of clothes: the only difference being that the clothes are made to fit you, while you have to be made to fit the tree. Usually it is done quite easily, as by your wearing too many garments or too few, but if you are bumpy in awkward places or the only available tree is an odd shape, Peter does some things to you, and after that you fit.

Arthur Rackham, Peter Pan illustrator

After I finished Peter Pan and A Christmas Carol, which I had been rereading over the last few weeks, I started on an Agatha Christie mystery, which I so far like more than some of her others. There are certain books that I associate with Christmas, and oddly enough, A.C. murder mysteries are on that list (along with Howl's Moving Castle.)

In all honesty I must humbly admit that I have not followed through on the November and December Classics Challenge. Sorry. BUT I have (after a very embarrassingly long time) finished The Lord of the Rings and I am also almost finished with Bleak House, which listening to A Tale of Two Cities started me on. I don't know anyone who has read Bleak House but I'm dying to talk to someone about it, so if you have, PLEASE please comment and tell me so!

Searching: I am attempting to find some flat soled boots that are both simple and yet not extremely cheap and worthless.

I like these, but of course they're out of stock. Anybody seen something like these?

Eating: Many loaves slices of gingerbread.

Dancing: "And in winter his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not suffering under the insatiable appetite of fifteen." I think to be perfectly accurate, the "insatiable appetite of fifteen" should say "insatiable appetite of fourteen through seventeen," because even now, at the ripe old age of seventeen (wait, am I seventeen? I have been considering myself sixteen for quite some time, and only just now writing it does it seem actually true. How odd.) I suffer under extreme pangs —"such tremblings and flutterings all over me!"— for a dance. It had been over a year since I had one. I was very blessed to get to hold such a dance at my house last Friday night, in conjunction with my twin. We had only seven people, but it really worked out alright. And it made me feel that having a dance is neither so difficult nor so inconvenient as I had hitherto thought. My twin popped over for a quick afternoon of some planning, then arrived an hour and a half early to help set up. The main prep was moving the furniture the night before, but this took less than twenty minutes; and so did the clean up afterward. So I now have hope that I can have another, with less time between the two!
I'm also very excited because my twin's older sister is having a dance, at which we are helping. It's nice to help, but not be quite in charge. Plus, there will be at least five times as many people. : P

Planning: I love the phone case I have right now (this painting), but if I had an iphone 5 or above, this is what I would get:

Singing: I Saw Three Ships on Christmas Day, in a loud soprano as I take a walk.

Laughing: I don't really "believe in" introverts and extroverts and MBTI types. Technically I'm an ISTJ, but of course it doesn't completely fit me. I find it very amusing to read those "How MBTI types react to stress" or "MBTI types on vacation" pages that pop up on Pinterest and laugh at how inaccurate they are (or occasionally at how accurate, as the case may be.)

Watching: It's A Wonderful Life. I love this movie.

Isn't Jimmy Stewart an amazing actor?

Sniffling: I have had a cold for a few days and am taking advantage of Christmas break to lie upon the sofa like a limp rag and do imitations of a foghorn. The latter may be annoying to some, but as I can't really hear it doesn't bother me!

Acting: I played an Irish cop and the head waitress in The Cop and The Anthem, mid November. Aaand directed The Eskimos Have Landed (which has nothing to do with Eskimos), which came off with nary a hitch.

Finding: I have found the wedding dress that I love. It is almost cheap enough that I would just buy it to prevent its being snatched up. But I'm not quite that silly.

It's from a site that sells vintage wedding dresses, and the rosettes are removable and it's lace and has cloth-covered buttons and a pretty train and the neckline is perfect and I love it.

Writing: I have a chapter and a half left in my King Arthur first draft — but I got hung up on a battle scene, which I'm terrible at writing. And right now I have an excuse. For I am writing a script. I am adapting Sense and Sensibility for our drama group, to be performed next semester. I am super excited about this. I have hesitated to tell many people of it, in case I ran out of time and we ended up buying a different script. I have one scene left in Act II, though, so I think I will have time to finish. I love this book so much. I would love to be any character. I'd even be a guy if I could play Mr. Palmer. 

Admiring: I have realized that a violin is a beautiful instrument and it has taken the place of bagpipes as my second favorite instrument. (I'm biased and the piano is my favorite simply because I know it.) Did anybody else know that Bulgaria has their own type of bagpipes? I think I'd like America more if we had our own bagpipes.

Drinking: Excessive amounts of tea as always, and coconut eggnog. Also I need some ceramic travel mugs because stainless steel gives the tea a very metallic flavour. So yes you can buy these for me.

So! Drink lots of tea, read Charles Dickens, listen to the violin, and have a merry Christmas!

A Favorite Things Tag

What-ho, readers! I have been tagged. In case you didn't know, this is a pleasurable thing for me. The Author at To Write or Not To Write has done this.
The rules are familiar:
1. Add the above picture to the post.
2. Acknowledge the person who tagged you.
3. Answer the questions.
4. Tag a person, multiple persons or no persons.

I am tagging The Author herself, and everyone else reading this post. (Go. Do it.)


*Note: I just realized that almost every single question has three or four answers attached to it. Turribly sorry and all that for not really answering.

The questions:

Favorite book: 
Don't ask me this. That's a terrible question to ask a book lover. At risk of sounding cliché or trite, I will honestly answer the Bible. (Although, that's really several books.)

Favorite animal:
My siamese-mix house cat, Mirab.

Favorite color:
Blue of almost any shade. A few favorites:

Favorite flower:
Hands down, peonies. But also lavender and roses. I like most things as long as they don't look like hothouse flowers (which = fake).

Favorite language: 
French. J'apprends le français.

Favorite country:
Ireland. I think. Ireland is traditionally my favorite, but I also love Great Britain.

Favorite time period:
I love history, so whatever I'm studying currently always catches my fancy (which in this case is the late Victorian period). However, I have a long standing love affair with the Middle Ages.

Favorite historical ruler:
Elizabeth II of England. Not historical enough? Alfred the Great. I also greatly pity Lady Jane Grey and Richard III (don't get me started on him, the poor dear.)

Favorite number:
 12. (Then sixteen. But for use in every day life it is three.)

Favorite beverage:
Well, water is pretty good. I drink black tea almost every day (black, of course). For special occasions I like rose lemonade and hot cider.

Favorite finger:
Left ring finger.

Favorite snack:
Hm. I'm going to go with date balls, because I make these consistently and I love them.
(But currently, I'm obsessed with these pumpkin blondies. And lemon bars are really good. Basically any grains. Ha. And apples and cheese are always good.)

Favorite season: 
Fall, for sure. I love the clothes, the weather, the events and the colors.

Favorite kind of clothing:
This is a very difficult question. I like a lot of things, although my style is very not "fashionable" so I don't like most of what is in stores nowadays (plus the fact that I am of diminutive proportions, and so finding things that fit AND I that I like is a challenge). My current obsession is late 1700s and 1850s British:

1780s

1850s

And in general I love 1950s cocktail dresses, 1940s English country style, with some medieval/Elven and Victorian influences. To be specific about my favorite item of clothing, I would have to say long skirts (I'm wearing one right now). (And then there's corsets.)

1950s cocktail dress

Favorite music (particular songs, artists, or just in general):
Put to it, I would have to say traditional Irish music. I love hymns (particularly "Be Thou My vision," "Come Thou Fount," "Before the Throne of God Above," and "How Firm A Foundation"), opera, show tunes, and classical (now when I say classical, what comes to my mind is the most boring minuets that Bach ever wrote [which would technically be Baroque]. That's not at'all what I mean. I mean Mozart and Tchaikovsky and Ludovico Einaudi.) I think if I have one song that I would call my favorite it would be In the Mood.


Aaand the soundtracks for Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice (2005), Little Women, and The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982) are to die for.

Favorite time of the day: 
Morning, for sure. I am such a morning person. Like 7:30-8:30.

Favorite school(-ish) subject:
History. I love getting in depth into history.

Favorite spice:
Nutmeg and ginger are really good. Also, cumin and garlic powder.

Favorite superhero:
Super Bunny, obviously. Ha. Very few of you (if any) will get that reference. I'm not that into superheroes, but my favorite is Captain America.

Favorite anything of your choice:
Favorite smell: Evergreen trees.

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Beautiful People (September 2016): Rayfus

What? Two posts in two days? We thought this was the blog of the woman who doesn't live here any more. After all, the only thing that has happened recently was a tag (which scarcely counts) and a 69-word "happy birthday" post, which definitely does not count.
Nonetheless (don't you love that word? and nevertheless...), here I am. I realized that I have never done a BP for Rayfus*, or any other character questionnaire that I can remember.

Well obviously that's got to change, so here we go.

*The disgusting and weird and very not medieval name is going to be changed in second drafts to Lancelot, as this character basically fulfills Lancelot's functions in my Arthur story. However, I currently have another character named Lancelot (for no other reason than that when I was twelve I thought it would be fun to name a character Lancelot and make him have nothing to do with Lancelot — ???), so I'm waiting to officially change it until he has another name.

1. How did you come up with this character?
 Rayfus appeared at the same time the story did. I was (not surprisingly) talking to myself and making up a story, in which a woman who had just given birth was worried about her baby's safety. It came out that her husband was dead and she was worried about this man, Rayfus, because he wanted to be king, but her son was the heir. At some point in here, Rayfus became her son also. And then I said, "Hey, I could make this a King Arthur story" (because this sounds just like a King Arthur story).

2. Have they ever been starving? Why? And what did they eat to break the fast?
Definitely not. Princes in wealthy kingdoms don't have to worry about that sort of thing. And while he has been on war campaigns where belts might have been tight, Rayfus is not the sort of person who'd feel oblige to deny himself because "the men have to."

3. Do they have a talent or skill that they're proud of?
Rayfus is not an unemotional person, but he prides himself on his control of his emotions. Also, he is very good at reading people and staying in control of most situations. Thirdly, he feels that most people don't have the "vision" he does to see bigger and better things happening. (Except for being politically conservative/old-fashioned, he is in favor of "progress" — *shudder*).

4. List 3 things that would make them lose their temper.
1. His wife, Guillamine (another name that is likely to change) gets on his nerves, so if he was already stressed/annoyed he might lose his temper with her.
2. When his carefully laid plans are ruined because one of his "lackeys" makes a mistake.
3. If someone started saying he was very incapable and had no ability to rule, etc. it would make him very angry, but he would still be able to control his temper, partially by assuring himself they had no idea what they were talking about.

5. What is their favorite type of weather? Least favorite?
Rayfus isn't too particular about the weather, but I think he likes cloudy days best. He doesn't like snow.

6. What is their Hogwarts House or MBTI personality?
 Well, as I said yesterday, I don't believe in MBTI so much... but I think he is either ESTJ or ENTJ (probably more of an ESTJ).

7. Are they more likely to worry about present problems, or freak out about the unknown future?
Rayfus doesn't "freak out", but he definitely plans ahead for different problems and scenarios. Current events can stress him if thing aren't going according to plan.

8. What is their favorite thing to drink?
A good red wine.

9. Favorite color? Least favorite?

Indigo/Royal Blue would be his favorite. Practical, not too "flashy", yet denotes his status with proper dignity. Least favorite: Beige. Too plain.

10. What is a book that changed their life?
Reading wasn't very common in the Middle Ages, and Rayfus isn't a big reader. He does read books on military tactics and such, and no doubt those have affect his life.

A Graduation Party

As you may or may not know, I am graduating high school this year. As you also may or may not know, I have a cynical streak. When I start looking at senior picture ideas or thinking about graduation videos, that streak comes out very strongly. (Everything looks and sounds sappy and cheesy.) (I intend to have a very short graduation video and play "In the Mood" rather than a song with words. I'm not unsentimental, but I dislike music that tries to get me to be sentimental. I will feel it or I will not. Don't try to mess with my emotions, you sad songs. That's rude.)

Now, I don't believe in "introverts" and "extroverts". I don't think that when God made people he said "I'm going to make 10 introverts now, and then 10 extroverts tomorrow". I think every person needs both alone time and socialization. If the whole MBTI thing helps you, great. It is an interesting perspective, but not accurate in my humble opinion.
However, I tend toward needing more alone time. Or, at least "just family" (which includes certain friends) time. I never like crowds. Even youth group is a little much for me some time. So the idea of a graduation party where more than 15 people (probably five times that much, at least — gasp) are invited is a little frightening, to say the least.
So, in order to be prepared for this ahead of time and be able to get used to the idea, I wrote out my invitations. What do you think? Does it look good?

Join us for a party from 5:00-8:00 (doors close at 5:15), May 20th. Phones will be checked at the door. Water will be served on the front lawn. 

To help the graduate prepare for being a poor college student, we will spend the time discussing economics and the principles of being frugal. If you are handed a different topic card, please stick to it. No frivolous chitchat will be tolerated.

Please bring $10 to cover the costs of paper and cups. Don't forget to dress up: women in below-the-knee dresses (no bare shoulders), men in suits.

*Invitation only. No "plus-ones". RSVP by May 1st.

A Tag

I have been tagged by Lover of Lemmas! Just so you know, I love being tagged but rarely do I follow the rules.
 The said rules (which are basically the same for every tag):

Note the person who nominated you (see above).

Answer the questions.

Nominate 10 bloggers.

Write them 10 questions and tell them you've tagged them.

The questions:

1. Do you play a sport? Is there a sport you want to learn?
English country dancing is a sport, right? I'd like to play croquet more often.
(as far as actual sports, absolutely Not. I'm not a sport person At All.)

2. Sunrise or sunset? Why?
Sunrise. I love mornings, and I also think that sunrises are very delicate and gentle. Sunsets are almost too glorious. I love the gentle wakening of the earth.

3. What was your dream job as a little kid?
Well, I remember thinking quite distinctly, when I was very young that I wanted to be a mother, and failing that, a nun. I liked this idea for some time; then I fantasized about writing books and illustrating them. I also wanted to teach a one-room school house at one point. (Now I'm closer to the mother/nun idea again ;P ).

4. What was the last movie you watched you really liked?
We just watched Annie Get Your Gun last weekend. Being an old movie, it's definitely racist towards Native Americans, and the ending is less than satisfactory (but it's a musical so we forgive plot details). I also watched The Young Victoria a few weeks ago and that was soooo good.

5. What songs are stuck in your head?
I woke up with this in my head. Yesterday, I had a few French sentences that whirled in my head for hours. It was kind of exhausting. (Quelle est l'heure? Quelle est l'heure? Quelle est l'heure?)

6. What is something that makes you feel nostalgic?
Lots of things — going through old letters, journals or emails, but I'm guessing that is pretty common. Recently, the fact that the days are getting dark earlier is making me nostalgic because it makes me think of drama, of the practices towards the end of the season when you keep leaving later than it officially gets over and it's completely dark and you're carrying lots of stuff. Specifically, it makes me think of one Sunday during the Anne of Green Gables season when we were putting up the set for the less-than-a-week-away performance, and because I was there and the Gilbert actor was there, our director had us run some extra scenes. And then some friends who are now my secondary family gave me a ride home for the first time (I think) and I felt a little bad (which is funny, because I now force myself upon them and ask for rides without a thought).

7. If you were granted an extra hour to your day (so you have 25 hours) what would you spend the hour doing?
Can I be boring and say sleeping? I can't complain because I've been getting about eight hours every night, but an extra hour wouldn't be bad. OR I'd get up an hour early and do me some writing before breakfast. That would be kind of cool. Can I get that extra hour, please?

8. What is one of the most embarrassing moments you're willing to share?
When you are walking through a grocery store/your coworker comes up behind you/the good looking employee walks by, and you're TALKING TO YOURSELF. (In a British accent, no less.) (I almost always talk to myself in a British accent. But sometimes it's French.)

9. If you could customize your car license plate (for most U.S. readers, that means pick any combination of 5-7 words and letters), what would you want your license plate to say?
I've always thought it'd be cool to have a customized plate, but they cost more per year and I've never settled on one thing. I wouldn't want to have to say something like "ILVJAAS" because what's the point of a personalized plate if no one can figure out what you're trying to say? (Props if you can figure that one out). Anything I'd like to have stamped on my car is more than seven letters. Hm... I guess "JANEITE".

10. Rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, or the ocean?
The ocean. I don't like sand but I love the ocean. Ponds/lakes/rivers all tend to be 90% mud. I do like little streams though.

I'm going to be terribly un-fun and not sportmanshiplike and not tag anyone. I don't follow that many blogs (it looks like I do, but three of them are just food blogs and half of them never post) and those I do have already been tagged. Yes, yes, rules and all that. Sorry, sorry.

Cheers!

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Happy Birthday, Bilbo and Frodo!

This is just a very quick note to remind everyone that it is the twenty-second of September. And as we all ought to remember, that means it is the birthday of Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins, two under-appreciated, steadfast heroes from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, respectively.

I am almost finished with LotR, so I shall be giving you all a very long, gushing post shortly.

An Announcement and a Review

Bonjour, mes amis! Having a great deal of school to do, I have but time to deliver an announcement and a brief review.

First, the fleas are GONE, praise the Lord!!! My dear little cat is out and the daily vacuuming is over.

Second, I have just finished Louisa May Alcott’s Hospital Sketches (as I'm wrapping up my study of the Civil War) and, since I mentioned it in my post on Little Women, thought I'd deliver a short review.

It's a very thin volume and her witty, engaging style makes it a quick read (much appreciated by moi, as I'm surrounded by books to be read). Originally published serially as six “sketches” that she adapted from letters she sent home, it was compiled in 1863. Louisa was a nurse for only about a month before she contracted typhoid and went home, but her sketches are a moving, interesting and occasionally amusing glimpse of the nurse’s side of the war. Three of my favorite passages:

(Describing her bedroom at the makeshift hospital) It was well ventilated, for five panes of glass had suffered compound fractures, which all the surgeons and nurses had failed to heal… A bare floor supported two narrow iron beds, spread with thin mattresses like plasters, furnished with pillows in the last stages of consumption… A mirror (let us be elegant!) of the dimensions of a muffin, and about as reflective, hung over a tin basin…

The three meals were “pretty much of a muchness,” and consisted of beef, evidently put down for the men of ‘76; pork, just in from the street [pigs wandered freely in the city]; army bread, composed of saw-dust and saleratus; butter, [salty] as if churned by Lot’s wife; stewed blackberries, so much like preserved cockroaches, that only those devoid of imagination could partake of with relish; coffee, mild and muddy; tea, three dried huckleberry leaves to a quart of water…

(Describing passerby officers) Some of these gentlemen affected painfully tight uniforms, and little caps, kept on by some new law of gravitation, as they covered only the bridge of the nose, yet never fell off; the men looked like stuffed fowls, and rode as if the safety of the nation depended on their speed alone.

The whole book, though, is filled with Louisa’s particular style, which is quaint and pleasant. I especially like the many clever literary allusions she uses. I recommend this to about 8th grade and up.