{"id":92772,"date":"2014-09-19T00:07:39","date_gmt":"2014-09-19T05:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/?p=92772"},"modified":"2014-09-19T00:09:18","modified_gmt":"2014-09-19T05:09:18","slug":"getting-to-know-grammaboodawg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/2014\/09\/19\/92772-getting-to-know-grammaboodawg\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting to know grammaboodawg"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"garage<\/a>Welcome to our latest “Getting to know you” Q&A. \u00a0Today we’re chatting with one of my all time favourite Staff members,\u00a0the\u00a0wonderful, one of a kind, amazing and Message Board Immortal grammaboodawg!<\/p>\n

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Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0How did you discover Tolkien?<\/p>\n

\"eabb863c-03e7-4ed6-86be-d608dfb09ea4_zps36427b1e\"<\/a>grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0It was 1971 and my (then) husband, 1yo daughter and I were homeless hippies living out of an old 1961 Ford van travelling the country. I\u2019m very hobbity, so I was quite homesick and quite hungry. One day, when driving through a very upscale neighbourhood in Florida, we saw the entire contents of a house at the curb with a sign for the thrift store to pick it all up. I saw a stack of books by the mailbox. Hubby slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the truck, ran around to pick up and hand me the books. \u201cHere. I\u2019ve read these before. I think you like them.\u201d It was a mis-matched set of mid-60s Lord of the Rings. I have a sort of dyslexia, so it’s hard for me to read; but I started to read these and couldn\u2019t stop. I related so much to the hobbits in their homelessness and simplicity of life. The friendships. The sacrifices. LotR became my escape and my best friend(s). I\u2019ve been reading from that same set of books at least once a year ever since. It\u2019s highlighted, marked up, scribbled in the margin, mouse-chewed, ripped up, tear-stained and autographed by the films\u2019 hobbits.<\/p>\n

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\"booksLotRautographedthfotrttrotkmy\"<\/a>Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0What would you be doing now if you had never read a Tolkien book?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0I\u2019d be very lonely and would have spent my life working and paying bills. I would never have found a story and wonderful characters who became my companions, or travelled, gone to conventions, met many of the cast and crew\u2026 and I\u2019d have never found TORn. One of the very best parts of my life \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0If you could ask Tolkien one question, what would it be?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0Did you have any idea that your world would change the lives of so many?<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0If you could live anywhere in Middle-earth, where would it be and why?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0Bag End! The Shire! Hobbiton is a little gossipy, but I could handle it, too \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0How would you spend your perfect day?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0Wake up when I wake up; watch a little tv; go for a long walk down my country roads in comfy clothes; have a yummy meal while watch a really good movie; just do what I want, when I want, with no one waiting for me.<\/p>\n

\"VLUU<\/a>Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0Which member in the Fellowship do you like the least?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0Book or Film? Book, I like\u2026 I like\u2026 oh geez! It\u2019s like asking me which of my kids I like the least \ud83d\ude09 AIN\u2019T GONNA HAPPEN!\u00a0(I know, I’m evil, lol, Kel x)<\/em><\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0What was Peter Jackson’s worst casting decision?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0I know I\u2019m going to get flamed, but Christopher Lee\u2019s performance reminds me he\u2019s acting.<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0Which part of the LOTR and\/or Hobbit movies do you always fast forward through?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0*hangs head* I tend to wear out batteries during The Two Towers\u2026 The Saruman stuff \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0What do you think was Peter Jackson’s biggest movie mistake?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0Of all his movies? Hmmmm\u2026 I haven\u2019t seen the gory ones, so I can\u2019t make a fair call on that one.\u00a0(Nice dodge there gramma! \ud83d\ude09 Kel x)<\/em><\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0Who would win in a fight \u2013 the talking purse or the thinking fox?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0The thinking fox. He would quickly \u201cthink\u201d about walking away from a mouthy old bag.<\/p>\n

\"VLUU<\/a>Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0What’s your worst ice cream combo?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0GOOD QUESTION! I haven\u2019t found it yet \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0If you could make an ice cream fortress (or dwelling), which Middle-earth fortress (or dwelling) would you re-create, and why?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0MERCY! That\u2019s easy! Minas Tirith. SEVEN LEVELS! Need I say more?<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0Which do you save from a sinking ship – the freezer of ice cream tubs, or the shelf full of Tolkien books? You can only pick one.<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0NO FAIR, PRECIOUS! *twitch* TRICKSY! What I WOULD do is quickly empty the tubs of Ice Cream *burp* and fill them with the books.<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0What are you most grateful for?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0Having such a great family. I seriously have the greatest parents every created, the best sisters (3) and brother, and my own kids and grandkids are incredible. I\u2019m very blessed \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong> Of course, we just had to ask you, what was your favourite cartoon growing up? \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/b>\u00a0Popeye! The old ones. \u201cI yam what I yam. And that\u2019s all what I yam.\u201d Plus\u2026 I love it when he mumbles stuff. BUT Looney Tunes (Bugs Bunny) is a very close second.<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0You’ve been to many moots! Can you tell us about a memorable moment? And I-can’t-believe-it-happened moment? And an embarrassing moment?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"OscarsJamieSelkirkMeRichardTaylorSu\"<\/a>Most Memorable:<\/span> When I was at the 2004 Oscar Party and I lead the \u201cPeter! Peter!\u201d chant at TORn\u2019s Oscar Party when he and the other Oscar winners were there on stage! The next morning I met Richard Taylor and Jamie Selkirk and did a NZ-TV interview with them whilst holding one of Taylor’s Oscars while he held my Two Towers book and baggie of 57 ticket stubs from my RotK viewings. Then they signed my book for me \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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\"eventSeanandme9-8-09edited\"<\/a>I-can’t-believe-it:<\/span> When I met Sean Astin and Elijah Wood. It started when I was working behind the stage and saw Sean sitting at a table with his daughter Alexandra. Then I heard a very enthusiastic, “HEY!!!” and he jumped up and ran to give a massive bear-hug to Elijah Wood who just arrived. They were so excited and talked so fast. There was no doubt they are incredibly great friends. I just pretended to be a fly on the wall and quietly walked away. Later, while they were on stage, I had a seat right in the center of the front row. As they were talking, I was nodding or gesturing to a few of Sean Astin\u2019s comments or questions and soon he would look over at me like he was checking to see what I thought or if he was right. Afterwards, when they were signing autographs, he saw me as I walked up and shouted that I was awesome and should have been on the stage with them! Omg\u2026.
\n\"ElijahandmeORC11505-1sm\"<\/a>OR when Dom Monaghan sat right in front of me during a Q&A with our Ringers people. Then he popped on stage for a moment and soon came back to the seats… this time sitting across the isle from me. I also got a chance to meet up with Billy Boyd a couple of times. They are all so sweet and patient… and happy to be a part of the excitement!
\nOR When I was in Wellington, NZ. The whole thing was so surreal… especially when I got to meet up with Tehanu and we had lunch with Daniel Reeve! There are so many moments and incredible experiences. I warm myself on them \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Most embarrassing moment:<\/span> When I messed up when covering the VIP room during one of our Parties. *sigh* My judgement isn’t what it was 20 years ago.<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:\u00a0<\/strong>Can you tell us how each of your furry friends got their names?<\/p>\n

\"aFebeamed\"<\/a>
FeBea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

grammaboodawg:\u00a0<\/strong>Cat-Squeak: She doesn\u2019t meow\u2026 she squeaks.
\nCat-FeBea: Full name is Fell Beast. She likes to leap from shelves and tables onto my shoulder then cuddles. As much as 3 feet! So, because she dives at me from out of nowhere\u2026 she\u2019s a Fell Beast.
\nCat-Monkey: Full name is Uh-oh Monkey. She\u2019s another one who likes to leap for a ride, but she goes for my back. She\u2019s very wide of girth now\u2026 so having 35 pounds come out of nowhere when you bend down to tie your shoe can be startling!<\/p>\n

\"Puddifoot\"<\/a>
Puddifoot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dog-Puddifoot: I got her from the pound (all the cats are strays) one day after a February viewing of Return of the King. The way home from the theatre was turning right. The car turned left and I ended up at the pound. She lives on the edge of everything\u2026 just like the Puddifoots \ud83d\ude09
\nCat-Wizard: He’s a stray that lives outside. He’s grey and white and tends to come and go precisely when he means to.
\nThen there’s my pet Ford (my SUV ;). It’s an Escape (to the Ford?) and its license plate is “hobbity”.<\/p>\n

\"hobbityEscape\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"garageroof16\"<\/a>Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0And for those who don’t know: could you tell us about your Tolkien-inspired home? What do your neighbours think of your \u201cOut-of-This World?” Tolkien Display?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0I have a Tolkien symbol of shingles on my house roof, the shrubs across the front of the house are shaped into a dragon, and I’ve made a picture out of several-coloured and shaped shingles on my garage roof<\/a>. So far it’s got a Hobbit Hole, a Party Tree, a Road, a Silver Lake, and a Red-Flying Dragon. *sigh* Sadly, my neighbours just don\u2019t get it. They wave as they drive by and are very kind\u2026 but I think that\u2019s what you do when handling weirdo neighbours \ud83d\ude09 \u201cJust leave her alone and don\u2019t ask questions!\u201d<\/p>\n


\nKelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0You get to spend a few hours with the Professor. Would you rather sit down for a hobbity meal, take a walk along his favourite paths, or have a pint at the Bird and Baby with him?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/b>\u00a0Oh\u2026 A walk! Definitely a walk\u2026 maybe to visit his favourite tree!<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0What is one Tolkien\/Middle-earth related dream or ambition that you haven’t fulfilled yet?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0I\u2019d dearly love to go back to Wellington. My dream would be to move there. The ambition I haven\u2019t fulfilled yet is to get to Matamata and see Hobbiton for myself \ud83d\ude42 *spasm*<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0Which of the trees in Arda would you most like to see (or hug, if you prefer)?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:\u00a0<\/strong>Laurelin with golden light and yellow flowers. I’m a sucker for that time of night when the sky is just right and the sky turns golden. I think seeing that tree would be something like that… multiplied by hundreds \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong> What is your favourite poem?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Road goes ever on and on
\nDown from the door where it began.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now far ahead the Road has gone,<\/em>
\n And I must follow, if I can.<\/em>
\n Pursuing it with weary feet,<\/em>
\n Until it joins some larger way,<\/em>
\n Where many paths and errands meet.<\/em>
\n And wither then? I cannot say.<\/em><\/p>\n

Still round the corner there may wait<\/em>
\n A new road or a secret gate;<\/em>
\n And though I oft have passed them by,<\/em>
\n A day will come at last when I<\/em>
\n Shall take the hidden paths that run<\/em>
\n West of the Moon, East of the Sun<\/em><\/p>\n

Actually, that last stanza I’m having carved into a bronze plaque and, one day, will have it mark my resting place.<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0What is the geekiest observation you’ve ever made?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0Now that\u2019s a tough one! Uhhhhhh…. wow! I’ve been geeky-observing for so many years; I really can’t just nail one down! Does keeping the lists count? *snigger*<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0If you could pick one costume from the five Peter Jackson Middle-earth movies to slip into, which would it be?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0Frodo\u2019s Shire outfit WITH that awesome green cloak!<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0What would you do in it?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0Find me some trusty sidekicks and go for a walk \ud83d\ude42\u00a0(Count me in! Kel \ud83d\ude00 )<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Squid<\/a>
Squid Booboo dog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0What\u2019s a boodawg?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s the \u201ctail\u201d end of the nickname my grandson gave me when he was about 2 (he’s 19 now). He called my dog \u201cboo-boo dog\u201d\u2026 so I became gramma boo-boo dog. I made it grammaboodawg.<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0Do you have a \u201cmathom\u201d room in your house filled with Tolkienalia?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0I have a house filled with rooms of Tolkienalia \ud83d\ude09 I\u2019ve been collecting since 1971.<\/p>\n

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Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0If you stacked all your Tolkien books one atop another would they be higher than a Hobbit?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0If you stacked 4 hobbits on top of each other, my books would still be higher.<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0If you could change the name of your street would you pick \u201cBywater Road\u201d, \u201cThe Great East Road\u201d, \u201cThe Greenway\u201d, or \u201cBagshot Row\u201d?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0GREAT QUESTION!! I’d live in the old Bag\u2019s End on Bagshot Row! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0If you had a visit with Prof. Tolkien would you ask him politely if he changed your life on purpose?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong>\u00a0This one makes me smile. \ud83d\ude42 And it makes me teary for some strange reason. My response to one of the questions above was basically that thought. Yes… I would ask him that and quickly follow it with how much richer and happier my life has been thanks to him.<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin:<\/strong>\u00a0Do you have a favorite Dwarf from the Hobbit book? Films? Who is it, if yes?<\/p>\n

grammaboodawg:<\/strong> In the movie… It’s a tie between Bofur and Balin. They each touch my heart in different ways. Balin is so fatherly, wise, funny, and supportive. Every time he’s on the screen, I can’t take my eyes off him. Bofur is a maniac who is so devoted to his friends and so brave… but his mind works in a way I completely relate to. He just cracks me right up. How he always looks out for Bilbo is wonderful. Both Bofur and Balin appreciate Bilbo so much.<\/p>\n

In the book… well… Balin again. BUT the other dwarves really didn’t have a chance to gel; so it’s an unfair judgement for them.<\/p>\n

Thank you so much for doing this, Kelvarhin. And thanks to everyone who came up with the questions. You really made me stop and think \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thank you, gramma, for agreeing to take part and for sharing your love of Tolkien with us all. \u00a0Loves Ya! Kel xx<\/p>\n

As always a big thank you to all our message board regulars, Blackfox, Darkstone, DanielLB, Ataahua, Riven Delve, Silverlode, Arithmancer, dernwyn, Bombadil, SirDennisC, dormouse and Bracegirdle\u00a0for our questions this month.<\/p>\n

\"winking<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Till next time from TORn\u2019s resident Tiger.<\/p>\n

Kelvarhin<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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