Winter Wonderland...

We've been under high wind warnings here all day, and that made driving jolly. Having to fight as the wind buffets my little Corolla about was not fun. Right now, it looks like we've graduated to full-blown blizzard. The snow is so heavy it looks like a dense fog, and I live near the lake, so I'm being spared the brunt of the snow.

Just walked my puppy, and just being outside for that little bit was horribly unpleasant. Now I'm glad to be inside in my fleecy robe and slippers, all snuggly and warm.

On the other hand, the puppy (who was ill with an anal gland infection) has been on sulfa drugs for a day and half now and is feeling much perkier.

Rings-Thing Weekly Question...

We've now seen two countries, Rohan and Gondor (well, a *bit* of Gondor!) that we hadn't seen in FOTR. Given the choices so far, where in Middle Earth would you want to live? If you answered this last year for FOTR, has your answer changed, and why?

This is a question I did answer last year. However, LJ is soooo slooooow during weekday evenings, and I've no patience to scroll through the pages looking for what I said then--though I believe my answer was to spend time divided between Rivendell and Gondor. That hasn't changed from the first film to the second.

Rivendell:
The sheer natural beauty of the valley is enough to entice me to its environs, and since I like living near water, the waterfalls and river and streams are appealing. The architecture, furnishings, and crafts in Rivendell are the loveliest of all we've seen in Middle Earth. Plus, it's a haven of the arts, of learning and of wisdom and of power. What's not to like?

Gondor:
We've seen little of Gondor in the films thusfar: a glimpse into the great library, several far-off views of Minas Tirith, a glance at the besieged city of Osgiliath; however, I've seen enough to know that I'd like to spend time among the straight white walls, the domed buildings, and the library. At the risk of sounding like Elizabeth Bennett, the more changing society that one finds in the city would appeal to me. I'm quite eager to see more of Gondor in RotK.

Rohan:
I'd like to visit Rohan, even make a trip there part of an annual excursion just to be able to run my fingers over the gold knot-work carvings on the pillars of Meduseld. And to ride the horses. Beautiful, beautiful horses.

The Shire:
While I love reading about and watching the Shire scenes, living thre would prove a little too isolated and unchanging and tranquil for me. Plus, though I'm sure my liking for creature comforts would stand me in good stead with my neighbors, I'm certain that I'd be one of those queer folk who meddle too much in affairs of wizards and the wide world.

Lothlorien:
The Golden Wood is beautiful, ethereal, but like the Shire, it's isolated from the rest of the world. While I would love to wander under the mallorn boughs and wind my way through Caras Galadhon, like Rohan, it's a place I'd rather visit than live in.

Hmmm, so I guess that means stopovers in Edoras and Caras Galadhon on the trips between homes in Rivendell and Gondor

A Midwinter's Night Dream...

Just checked my e-mail, and gotham_syren rocks! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for the wonderful, unexpected gift!!!