Party kickoff

[wiseheart]

So, this should have been the actual opening post, but I forgot to set the hour when I scheduled it, so I'll simply do it again.

Welcome to my annual (virtual) birthday party! I'll be turning 59 on October 9, which means this is the last year I start it with a 5! Next time, if I live to see it, the 60s will start. Imagine that! Where has all the time gone when I was not watching?

In any case, let's have fun! The goal is, as always, to create as many collapsing threads on as many pages as possible. I'll kick up the first few topics, just to start the ball rolling, but basically it's up to you what we'll be talking about. So far, we always had fascinating topics. Photos of cakes and cookies and flowers and kittens and whatever you want to post are also welcome.

Since LJ chose to crash our party 2 years ago, I'll save the whole thing to Dreamwidth on a daily basis. Last time it happened it took us an ungodly amount of effort to recreate the lost comments, and even so, we didn't manage to get everything back.

Again, welcome and let's have fun! God knows we all deserve it. The party closes at midninght on October 9, sharp, as always. Let's use the time we have well!

Oh, and have some virtual cake:

Comments

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Gosh, is it that time of year already? This year has gone so fast. Here's hoping this year will be an excellent party and LJ won't try to spoil it!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Your words to God's ear!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Topic the 1st: Have you picked up any new hobbies since last year?

I have. I fell in love with felt work. Some of the results you can all see in the entries below, the rest is posted to my Pinterest accord, on the board called My Own Felt Work (https://www.pinterest.com/ekunster/my-own-felt-work/). Yeah, not a very original title, I know, and the photos are of uneven quality. I'm not particularly skilled with the camera.

So, take a look and tell me which one do you like most and why. ;)

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Pinterest won't let me look (I don't have an account), but I've loved the ones you've posted in your journal.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Topic the second: What should be our goal?

Last year we had 1283 comments on 7 pages. The discussions were excellent and we had great fun. What do you think, are we going to break last year's record? What should be this year's goal?

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

We could try for quality not quantity? Interesting threads where people actually get into virtual discussions beat comments just to push the count up, in my opinion.

Not that we can't try to do both :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Topic the 3rd: Comfort food

What is the food item (or beverage) that helps you when everything else fails? The one (or two) think you couldn't make do without?

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Espresso, definitely. We've today got our two espresso machines back from servicing, and I was so unhappy about not having one in the interim few weeks, we went as far as to rent one from the servicing people! It was pricy, but worth it.

LotR films

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

I'm in the middle of a Lord of the Rings rewatch with Mr EA. We're watching the extended edition at about an hour an evening. Currently just at the end of disc 1 of Two Towers.

So, what are your favourite & least favourite scenes in the LotR films?

I've just watched the first Gollum/Smeagol argument, which I really love. And Aragorn's met Brego, which reminds me of my least favourite TT scene coming up, the dreaded horse kissing.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I didn't like the films - any of them - at all, but I admit that Gollum was the best thing in the entire trilogy.

As for the annoying moment: every time Frodo rolled his eyes upward and fainted. Even Mum picked on it, commenting audible in the cinema: Has the little idiot just fallen over again?

Still, LotR was practically canonical compared with the abomination that was "The Hobbit". Despite Freeman's acting.

Favourite female characters

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Having just met Eowyn, another topic for discussion -- which are your favourite female characters? I'm going to go away & give it some thought...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

From the Tolkienverse definitely Éowyn - not the film version of her, of course. That one was an insult.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Topic for Tolkien nerds: Isildur's Queen

Michael Martinez wrote once an article about how he could imagine Sandra Bullock as Mrs Isildur. I'm not so sure about that. My ideal for Isildur's Queen would be Uta of Naumburg:

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Uta%2BEkkehard_detail.jpg)

I even might be inspired to write about her one day.

The image is from the German Wikipedia page about the Founders of Naumburg.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

She looks as if she's got toothache! What is she holding in her right (left in pic) hand?

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Happy early birthday! Looks like the party already got going nicely! I look forward to joining in tomorrow, but sadly must sleep now.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I probably should, too. But the moment I put my head down, the coughing fits will start...

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

The cake looks delicious. Can the ginger boys come along and have some?They adore cake!

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Me, too! Me, too!

And I want to sit between you and Mum. And I want to suddenly speak fluent Magyar, so I can chat with you both.

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Alas! the Earthpig is declaring it's to go to bed. He's sitting under the dining table and making his Sounds of Great Suffering... Lo! now he approaches, in case I did not hear his soulful, anguished squeaks. I must away to mine own slumber, lest my dog miss his beauty sleep. [grin]

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

And thanks for hosting another party!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Are you kidding? I'm looking forward to these 9 days all year!

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

And thanks for sharing your pre-birthday-week event!

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

And are we anywhere near a new page?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Not yet, but the threads are already collapsing like whoa!

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

What about now?

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Drat! Off to bed...

[sammydragoncat]

I can't believe it is party time again!! Let the party begin!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Time is flying, isn't it?

[sagrario martínez castro (from livejournal.com)]

Happy Early Birthday! Sure will be a nice virtual party.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It is always fun. Thanks for dropping by, feel free to join any thread or to start one of your own.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Where's this new page then? I was expecting one when I rejoined.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I think the existing threads are simply too interesting for everyone. That is a good thing, right?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

And this, my ladies, should be comment #100! We officially rock!

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! We've hit treble figures!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

New topic (in the hope that it will propel us to Page 2)

What was the best birthday present you ever got?

[sammydragoncat]

Not counting the ones I get for myself - my brother took me to a concert (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) for my 16th birthday.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

And the other side of the coin:

What was the most disappointing birthday present in your life? Even if the giver meant it well?

[sammydragoncat]

It was something I was promised, and never received.

[artemis10002000]

Woot, has it been a year already? I really hope LJ won't ruin the party this year

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I'm saving the whole thing to DW each day.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

For those without a Pinterest account:

Ornament with yellow cherries (cos I didn't have red buttons in the right size)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/341640321711891799/

[saki101.livejournal.com]

But there are golden cherries with a bit of a blush to them.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Also, a felt heart with typical Austrian design:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/341640321711891561/

I hope the direct links work. I tried to insert the pictures from there, but the site wouldn't allow it.

[saki101.livejournal.com]

That is gorgeous! Is it mistletoe and holly?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Or I can offer a bunny girl in fluffy white and rosa:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/341640321711763937/ (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/341640321711763937/)

This one has a hilarious anecdote, too: the bow on her head was originally the decoration of a new bra I bought, but it became loose. I put it away and forgot to sew back on, and when I was looking for something cute for the bunny girl, I found it again. ;)

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Very cute!