dawn_felagund: Skeleton embracing young girl (Default)
Dawn Felagund ([personal profile] dawn_felagund) wrote2010-06-16 07:25 pm
Entry tags:

A M-m-m ... M-Word Thing!

Since coming back to LJ, I've been scouring around for an m-word thing to do. Because nothing says LJ like a meme an m-word thing! (Okay, so the revised version ain't nearly as catchy.) I got this one from [livejournal.com profile] samtyr. I really like it because, during my rather long absence from LJland, lots of people friended me whom I know nothing about and haven't had much of a chance to talk with. So this is a good opportunity, if you are new to Ye Olde Flist, for us to get to know each other better. Of course, if you've been around since the dawning of my LJ (pun, ouch, yes, I know) and want to play, feel free!

It goes something like this:

  • If you want to play, leave a comment saying "when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter" Awwww ...
  • I'll respond by asking you five questions to satisfy my curiosity
  • Update your journal with the answers to my questions
  • Include this explanation and offer to ask other people questions


Simple, eh, and painless enough? (I hope!)

What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?

Tea. Any kind. Hot, iced, black, or herbal. Bobby and I can easily polish off a half-gallon jar of tea in one sitting, if the conversation's good or the food is spicy. A significant risk to our income is showing up at an SCA event and finding that the Tea Guy is there. The Tea Guy has dozens of different kinds of teas, with enticing names like "Christmas bakery" and "chocolate cherry." At the moment, my favorite tea that I make is black tea brewed in the sun with a sage leaf, mint sprig, and sprinkling of lemon balm leaves tossed in for good measure.

What do you feel is the worst problem with computers?

Heh. The people who operate them? Seriously, the number of misunderstandings that I see springing from people not understanding how tough communication online can be is depressing. I have wasted far too many hours of my life as the SWG owner on such kerfuffles as well. I love computers, but they have their limitations.

Who is the most misunderstood 'Silmarillion' character?

Sam, these are supposed to be simple questions, not subjects for essays! ;) I have lots of names fluttering through my head right now: Fëanor, Maedhros, Nerdanel, Celegorm, Indis, Maglor ... but I have to choose just one.

So I'll go with Maglor. Because, actually, I am writing an essay on this! :D It drives me nuts how authors tend to depict him as a tender-hearted, doe-eyed pacifist strumming a harp in the corner while his brothers scheme about going to war. Since I am writing an essay on this that I might one day finish, then I'll limit myself to 100 words on why this seems so wrong to me.

Until fostering the twins at Sirion, Maglor never stood up for anything. In fact, he was quite ruthless. It was Maglor who killed Uldor. He would have ultimately chosen to leave Maedhros hanging. He didn't stand aside at any kinslaying or Losgar. People tend to lean too heavily, imo, on his fostering of E&E and his musical talents in developing his character. "Bards" in the literature that inspired Tolkien, are not doe-eyed or soft but, in Celtic cultures, people of great power. Characterization focusing on the fostering of E&E seems rather weak after involvement in centuries of kinslaying and war.

Semi-coherent and cheating a bit with abbreviations, but 100 words exactly!

If you could travel in time to witness one historic event, what would it be?

Bobby and I were talking about this very question the other day. He chose Robert the Bruce's speech before Bannockburn, which is completely irrelevant to the question, yes, but I'm stalling for time.

I suppose I'd choose to witness a Druid ceremony. Because next to nothing is known about the ancient Druids except for obviously biased accounts by the Greeks and Romans. This makes it very hard when developing an SCA persona based on Celtic bards who were forbidden from writing anything down. And Druids are generally interesting.

Have you ever met anyone IRL that reminded you of a Tolkien character?

The Tea Guy mentioned above used to have a helper who looked like an Elf. My husband, when his hair is wet and not tied back, looks a lot like I'd imagine one of the Edain would look, similar to Viggo as Aragorn but not as gaunt in the face. (And, for the record, I was not a Tolkien fan when we decided that we wanted to marry each other!) I look for Maglor every summer on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, but no luck so far.

That was fun--who else wants to play? :D

[identity profile] encairion.livejournal.com 2010-06-16 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Until fostering the twins at Sirion, Maglor never stood up for anything. In fact, he was quite ruthless. It was Maglor who killed Uldor. He would have ultimately chosen to leave Maedhros hanging. He didn't stand aside at any kinslaying or Losgar. People tend to lean too heavily, imo, on his fostering of E&E and his musical talents in developing his character. "Bards" in the literature that inspired Tolkien, are not doe-eyed or soft but, in Celtic cultures, people of great power. Characterization focusing on the fostering of E&E seems rather weak after involvement in centuries of kinslaying and war."

I completley agree! Maglor is far too often painted as tender hearted, hell I've done it myself! BUT he was a kinslayer, and like you pointed out didn't show much regret until the end. I look forward to reading the essay you are working on :D

I don't know much about you, and you probably don't know anything about me so... when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter.

[identity profile] ssotknapsack.livejournal.com 2010-06-16 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh, I wanna play! What sort of dance are we going to do? Maybe the Hootie dance from "Only Wanna Be With You"? 'Cause when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter.

*does the funky chicken*

[identity profile] sinneahtes.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Bards" in the literature that inspired Tolkien, are not doe-eyed or soft but, in Celtic cultures, people of great power.

What?! You mean Celtic cultures weren't all soft and pacifist and new agey? ;) (Heh, I remember being amused by how fanart often seemed to make Maglor look "feminine" compared to his brothers.)

Mmm, questions... when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter!

[identity profile] olorime001.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
When I am dancing with you tomorrow doesn't matter. :)
dreamflower: gandalf at bag end (Default)

[personal profile] dreamflower 2010-06-17 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
OK, it's been quite a while since I've played this meme!

"when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter"

[identity profile] samtyr.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
"when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter"

[identity profile] ithilwen.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
What a fun meme! "When I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter."

Boy, do I agree with you about Maglor! In canon, he was anything but a wimp!
independence1776: Drawing of Maglor with a harp on right, words "sing of honor lost" and "Noldolantë" on the left and bottom, respectively (Default)

[personal profile] independence1776 2010-06-17 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
I'll play: "when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter"

As for Maglor: ditto.
grey_gazania: black-and-white photo of a gazania (if you're tired of tea)

[personal profile] grey_gazania 2010-06-17 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
Mmmm, tea! Tea is delicious.

Until fostering the twins at Sirion, Maglor never stood up for anything. In fact, he was quite ruthless. It was Maglor who killed Uldor. He would have ultimately chosen to leave Maedhros hanging. He didn't stand aside at any kinslaying or Losgar.

I want to read this Maglor essay when you finish it! [livejournal.com profile] ladyelleth and I have had some interesting back-and-forth on him as well, with similar points of irritation. Because in addition to all that up there ^, there's the fact that he survived all three kinslayings and every battle against Morgoth, and he was given the Gap to guard, which was not an easily-defended area. So clearly he was no slouch in battle, which is pretty much in direct contradiction to the Mags-as-pacifist trope.

(And while we're on the subject of annoying tropes, there's another one that tends to go hand-in-hand with softie!Mags that drives me batty. Maglor fostered Elrond and Elros; that does not mean that Maedhros was an abusive SOB to Elrond and Elros. It's not a logical consequent! The premise does not necessitate the conclusion! Ack!)

...okay, babbling over. XD But I'll bite! When I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter.
Edited 2010-06-17 16:17 (UTC)

Shall we dance?

[identity profile] lilith-lessfair.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
Terrific questions and answers.

And.... when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter!

[identity profile] aranellaurelote.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 08:05 am (UTC)(link)
"when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter"

I have to quickly say about tea though. I could drink iced tea until the cows come home, but I can't stand any other type. Especially the type which is supposed to be fruit flavoured. I've bought some amazing flavours over the years and they all smell gorgeous, but they taste disgusting!

[identity profile] klose.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 11:03 am (UTC)(link)
Seriously, the number of misunderstandings that I see springing from people not understanding how tough communication online can be is depressing.
So true! And I admit, I've had my share of computer d'ohs!, too. This assures me I'm still okay, though. *g*

I see you have a lot of requests already, but I want questions! Meeee! :D

Edit: I knew I forgot something - When I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter!
Edited 2010-06-17 18:52 (UTC)

[identity profile] juno-magic.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
When I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter!

[identity profile] angelica-ramses.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 01:47 pm (UTC)(link)
You've got a lot of requests already but .... "when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter"

About Maglor as hardass: of course! He uses the harp and singing just to play the harmless card but we all know he's a real tough Feanorian




ext_79824: (Bards)

when I'm dancing with you & with our girl because she doesn't like to share,tomorrow doesn't matter

[identity profile] rhapsody11.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Dawn scouring her flist for a meme? o_O ;)

I used to drink a lot of tea, now rarely. But the way you described it made me nearly offer an empty cup :

Celegorm is pouting now btw, he oh so often is ignored in favour of Maglor. ;)

Speaking of essays, I hope to finish my essay about 1st age singers, Dreamflower might have hinted about Maglor, but I probably will cover it more broadly. :D

But this, ah Dawn, brownie points for you:
Bards" in the literature that inspired Tolkien, are not doe-eyed or soft but, in Celtic cultures, people of great power.

Yes, ten thousand yes! It was/is a hard life, that's for sure. It's not Rhapsody the Bard because I am not really a doe-eyed creature myself. ;)

Just an idea, maybe you can check or ask a nearby grove (of the OBOD), if you can witness a ritual?

[identity profile] encairion.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"The Defense of Maglor League, promoting the canon that Maglor is a hardass since 2010. ;)"

LOL! I am so there!

1. If you could meet any character from literature, who would it be and why?

I am naturally inclined to Feanorian's, BUT since I really could never settle down on and one Tolkien character, I am going to go with Richard St. Vier from "Swordspoint." Simply because he is kick-ass awesome, and the best swordsman ever! (fan girl in the house, sorry!)

2. Why do you create? (Stories, art, paperclip people, whatever--I'm leaving this one intentionally open-ended! :)

I write because it makes me happy, and I draw because it relaxes me and I get itches to capture my OCs images, even if amateurly.

3. If you could stop people from doing one petty annoying thing, what would you choose?

Do I really have to chose? ..... *blink* cannot think of anything.

4. What is your favorite fanon?

Tolkien hands down XD

5. If you could choose one myth or folk story to tell me, what would you choose? (Of course, I'm fishing around for you to actually tell it to me, shameless person that I am! ;)

I would chose to tell you the Gikuyu's (a tribe in Kenya) creation of man and women story. BUT since I would never get all the names right, and would probably botch it all up I shall not attempt :(

I think we need some more non-western myths and story's going around. There was far more to antiquity then Greek myth (though I do enjoy those too).

[identity profile] hrymfaxe.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh I want to read this essay on Maglor! And I want a cup of tea. I remember drinking lots of icetea when I visited. :D

When I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter! Especially if it's Irish dancing in front of Danish tourists. ;)

[identity profile] morelindo.livejournal.com 2010-06-17 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Right! I'm up for dancing. I've known you for a long time but we've been so out of touch that this seems like the thing to do.

Page 1 of 3