I think I need to lie down now, feeling a little dizzy.

The enigmatic Lucas North–dedicated, determined, trying to make his way in an ordinary world after eight years of torture and deprivation in a Russian prison. Haunted by the past.  NOT John Bateman (that was the lie).  A hero–and sexy as hell. Watching Lucas run in those tight jeans–*guh* Pure poetry in motion.

Sgt. John Porter: tough-as-nails but with a tender side. A man who needs to find the truth, restore his tarnished reputation and fight his way back to a normal life. The very sort of bloke you’d want to come to your rescue. Heroic, clever and when necessary, ruthless. Trust him.

http://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/film/hobbit-unexpected-journey-irl-world-premiere-adventures

And here are more photos from that NZ press conference. Her object of affection is Martin Freeman, but we get some yummy RA here, too.  *sigh* Look at those smiles, the bared forearm and beautiful hand pouring the water, the laugh, the cute vest-plaid shirt-tie ensemble. So handsome and relaxed and youthful looking!!

(And doesn’t Philippa look pretty??)

I’ve some other video production-related work to do, not to mention trying to catch up on all your comments, my lovelies,  but for now let’s just concentrate on the ravishing creature we celebrate each Friday: the ever-so-thudworthy Sir Guy of Gisborne.  The leather! The locks! The eyebrows! The smirk! The Guyliner! It’s all good . . . Sir Guy is fly!

Courtesy of deckitout,tumblr.com

Took a muscle relaxer. Getting very drowsy . . . hmmmmm,  these look inviting. Especially the one on the left. I think these are cases for those full-length body pillows. I think there could be a definite market for these . . .

I don’t think I will ever tire of this particular photo of Thorin and the many variations thereof I and others have edited. Oh! Those eyes . . .

After three series of RH, little wonder our Richard was deemed “Best on Horseback” in The Hobbit. And he did, indeed, look magnificent!

And I’ve got one in this character–and the man who plays him.

Looking a tad stroppy–and beautiful. *sigh*

Again, I say–oh, those EYES!

*THUD* *WIBBLE* That is all.

Gotta jump in shower and get myself ready for the Honors Program. Catch y’all later!

Just to catch you all up~

Met with Susan today re the children’s book on adoption. Had a good lunch and talk together; she loaned me some children’s books written in the style she hopes to somewhat emulate. Feeling better about that whole project.

Bought a new hat. Got quite a few other bits and bobs at dear old Wallie World aka Walmart, but this is definitely my favorite purchase. Haven’t bought a new hat in ages. This will be my “Panama Jack” hat, a nice soft crushable chapeau.

It was quite warm today–as you can see, I got a bit of a flush going. Hauling stuff up the steps and into the house put roses in the old cheeks.

Seabee’s got a sore paw. Poor baby is limping a lot, but still in good spirits. She is one sweet dog. Gave her a piece of ham with aspirin rolled up inside it to help with pain and any possible inflammation. Seabee certainly did like that ham! Put an extra twinkle on those brown eyes.

As for Jack–well, he’s just too cute. And it turns out that like his Uncle Rascal, he just LOVES cold French fries.

As planned, I practiced with the “nused” video camera and shoot some footage of Rascal and Jack once it cooled off a bit outside. Watched the rough draft of the dance recital video tonight to look for any worrisome bits Benny might need to address, put my alliteration skills to use for blurbs for the opening portion, and tried (in vain) to find my black “working” T-shirt.

Have a lower backache; glad now I got Walmart out of the way today, as I have two events to cover tomorrow, one in the early afternoon and the other in the evening.  Wish me luck! Happy to say we already have about ten of the kindergarten vids and same number of the high school grad package vids pre-sold.

Oh, getting really sleepy . . . I leave you with this silly face to hopefully put a smile on yours.

See, I even made Thorin smile!

Love you all!

Too tired to assemble thoughts for comments. Let me simply say, “Enjoy.”

There’s a certain challenge in his look in the photo above–and I find myself responding with thoughts of just what I would like to do to/with him . .  .

Wouldn’t the world be a prettier place if Mr. A was painted on the walls of our old buildings? Could cause some traffic congestion problems, though . . .

Edited this one using classic sepia allowing some of the original color to bleed through–with a little extra *pop* for those amazing eyes.

Wanted this crop of the latest Ascroft armchair shot to have the look of a photo on a vintage movie magazine cover. He is every inch the star.

Emphasized that angelic masculine beauty here. Just heavenly . . . *sigh*

All photos by that master of RA photography, Robert Ascroft, with my edits using BeFunky. Don’t be surprised if there’s more to come . . . because I just can’t get enough of Richard Armitage–or his image. Happy Tuesday!

Jack already knows me pretty well, doesn’t he? Take one curious, energetic puppy, add a digging expedition in the Alabama red clay dirt beneath the back deck, and toss in a heavy dew on a cold May morning, and–you get a dirty dawg! And a great little photo-op.

RA: I can string a sentence together and walk and talk without bumping into the furniture. But that’s about it.

PT: Why?

RA: You know what? You need to point the microphone into the audience. Actually, don’t do that. I don’t know. I’ve been really lucky. I’ve got a really loyal little fan base of very well-educated, well-read ladies. Well I don’t think they’re all ladies. God, you know. But they’re incredibly supportive. I often do a lot of research. I didn’t know I was doing a Q & A screening until I read it on one of the websites and they were booking tickets. I was like, ‘Oh, that’ll be nice. I better brush my hair then’. No, they’re great. They’re really supportive. I try to look after them.

A fantastic  pre Q&A interview by Popcorn Taxi with Richard Armitage has appeared at their site! This one is really a goodie IMHO. Lots of info about the process of getting into his characters mentally and physically, which I always find fascinating.

RA’s relaxed, thoughtful, witty, silly and thoroughly delightful and the interviewer does manage to ask new questions! And not a word about that bloody circus! WIN. Click on the link to read it all:

http://www.popcorntaxi.com.au/2013/05/blog/interview-richard-armitage-mr-majestic-of-the-hobbit/

Have a happy Monday, everyone!

ramida-r.tumblr.com

Related articles

• TORn shares Popcorn Taxi’s Q&A with RA: Complete Transcript (thearmitageeffect.wordpress.com)

A man with a pleasant disposition, kind, blessed with a sense of humor that is keen but never mean-spirited; compassionate, generous, well-mannered.

A true professional who works hard, takes his craft  seriously and is appreciative of his co-workers–and shows it.

A man who is equally appreciative of his supporters.

An attentive, patient listener.

Extraordinarily talented and gifted, and yet just as extraordinarily humble, modest and well-grounded about it all.

Bright, witty, charismatic, thoughtful. A true gentleman–and did we mention he’s quite beautiful?

Dear Mrs. Armitage, thank you so much for bringing such a special son into this world, and bringing him up to be the lovely human being he is today. You’ve shared with the world an extraordinary gift.  And I am so happy you are getting to be a part of some of the excitement as Richard’s dreams are realized. Enjoy the journey!

The heady scent of honeysuckle drifting into the farmhouse with the spring breeze. The smell of sunshine and earth clinging to a tomato plucked fresh from the vine and begging for a knife and a little salt. The mouth-watering aroma of a homemade cobbler, made with blackberries picked on a trip to the pastures, baking in the oven.  The acrid scent of a warming wood fire on a  cold winter’s night.

And the not-so-pleasant ones.

The stench of “cow patties” steaming in the summer heat on the path down to the pastures. The strong whiffs of ammonia inside the poultry houses after their inhabitants had been in residence for several weeks. 

The curious metallic tang of blood, sharp as a paring knife’s edge, mingled with the odor of singed feathers on the days when some of those chickens went to the chopping block, their eventual resting place in the deep freeze on the back porch.

Some scents, not necessarily of the most delicious kind, were so familiar as part of the landscape of my childhood they remain strangely comforting—the smell of chicken feed pellets pouring into the giant bins atop the poultry houses, for example. That scent memory returns to me every time I open a bag of dry dog or cat food.

I can never forget the unmistakable aroma of the Vicks Vapo-Rub my mother applied to my chest when my many allergy and sinus problems plagued me, its fumes working their way into congested nostrils, allowing me to breathe a little more easily once again.

And I remember the scent of my mother herself. Working on a farm surely left her sweaty and dusty, but the aroma of physical labor is not what I recall.

It’s the fragrance of the cream she religiously applied each night to her face, encountered as I pressed a good night kiss to that soft and slightly greasy cheek. The clean smell of the Dove soap she washed her face with each morning and evening and the body powder she applied liberally after showering.

It’s the scent of the various colognes she wore over the years, most especially Youth-Dew, which became a sort of signature fragrance for her. I was allergic to its spicy Oriental notes and could not wear it myself, yet I loved the way it smelled on her. Youth-Dew was a treat, a luxury she wouldn’t buy for herself, so it was often a gift from one of her girls. Mama reveled in its rich, uber-feminine scent, and was delighted when gifted with it in its various forms—eau de parfum, dusting powder, lotion—allowing her to layer the fragrance and make it last even longer.

And it still lingers with me, four years after she left us. If I catch a whiff of Youth-Dew now, my nose twitches and my eyes water a little  (yes, still allergic), yet I cannot help but smile.

It smells like Mama. Happy Mother’s Day to you all.