Thorin Mania!

Gifted at Fish Tossing on the Sly!

Aims Straight at Your Heart–and Hits it Every Time!

Able to Roar Louder than the Mightiest Rapids!

Oh, what you do to us, Thorin!

Little Thorin needs love, too.

I was reminded today that my Twitter avi features yours truly fondly clutching Plush Thorin as I peep over his fuzzy head.

Whilst Little Thorin has been seen more than once here in the company of a certain three-legged cat (and her sister on one occasion), he’s feeling a bit . . . left out, it seems. *sigh* Demanding some special face time of his own.

(When did he start following my Twitter account? Do all the ChaRActers and their various doppelgängers now sneak around and use my computer when I am away or asleep?)

Anyway, here’s Fedoralady with her very much-loved and appreciated Little Thorin.  TWICE!

(I am just waiting for a certain TDHSK* to lodge his complaints. Fortunately he’s away servicing entertaining his many admirers.)

*Tall Dark Hot Smouldering Knight

Oops, You-Know-Who just sent me this:

Never a dull moment with the ChaRACters and their respective mini versions!!

And Some Thornton for Thursday

 

Some Thorin for Thursday

Would Richard Armitage make you plotz?: TAE Word for the Day

Those eyes get me every time.

Plotz: (verb) to collapse or to faint, as from surprise, excitement or exhaustion.

Plotz is an Americanism that arose in the 1940s. It comes from the Yiddish word platsn, which means to “crack, burst or split.” That word in turn originated from the German word blatzen or platzen.

With the likes of Comic-Con, the Black Sky set and the various premieres and Hobbit press junket events, a growing number of fans have had the opportunity to have an encounter with Mr. Armitage, whether it’s to shake his hand, get an autograph or photo, or have a snippet of conversation with him.

I still find myself wondering how I would react if I ever got to look into those beautiful eyes or had one of those spectacular smiles aimed in my direction.  Would I freeze up, would I manage to maintain my composure–would I simply plotz in the presence of such deliciousity?

The mind boggles.

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It was that kind of a day. Need beauty fix.

The wind is still roaring outside, gusts up to 50 MPH.  I’d have thought we’d had more than a half-inch of rain today, but it was hard for me to separate the noise from the sheets of rain and those heavy gusts, the house creaking and squeaking along with it all. The temperatures are tumbling tonight. We should dip close to near freezing after several mild nights.  Truly a nasty Wednesday in LA.

The satellite was cutting in and out and the internet went down this afternoon, halting a post in progress and some fanart I was working on.

I decided to delve into my instruction manual for Adobe Illustrator on my Kindle Fire and for the life of me couldn’t figure out how to zoom in on the pdf. My itchy, sore, watery eyes just wouldn’t cooperate either.  I’d had little sleep due to pain from the FMS, so I turned out the light and took a nap. Hey, it was working for the cats. It was that kind of day.

Tonight everything is working again. I have my freshly-washed hair partially dry and twisted into pincurls. Hopefully  when I brush it out  in the morning it will look half-way decent for my luncheon date with SM to discuss the book plans.

Also looking forward to the sunshine promised us and a chance to enjoy an afternoon in my little hometown.

As for now, I feel the need for some beauty, some brightness and little sunshine of sorts. Hope you also enjoy this little beauty fix.

Early Armitage: Handsome Man (with Too Much Hair Product?)

Richard in a guest spot as Craig Parker in “Casualty.”  He really seemed to love the gel back in the day, which was 2001, by the way.

Also in 2001, Richard played a doctor for the first time–Dr. Tom Steele–in the BBC daytime drama “Doctors.” This physician was a far cry from the dedicated Dr. Track from 2005’s “The Golden Hour.”

The next year, Richard would go into an audition as the character and win the role of the painfully shy and awkward Yorkshire sheep farmer John Standring in “Sparkhouse”–and more than prove he wasn’t just another “pretty face.” This fella had beauty AND talent. And a whole lot more . . .

Jas reflects my own thoughts beautifully here. Thank goodness for our modest, humble, truly talented and private Mr. Armitage.

Me, My Thoughts, and Richard Armitage

I think I mentioned this when I was doing the 30 Day Challenge, but one of the things I like best about Richard Armitage is how he manages to keep his private life out of the news. Living in an age when the lives of anyone with a public profession are splattered all over the tabloids and entertainment shows on TV, it seems like an even bigger accomplishment to not have your private affairs on display for public consumption.

His privacy has been on my mind a lot of late as I’ve noticed the uptick in searches for information about who he’s dating and if he’s married. Not because I think people shouldn’t look. Truth be told, I searched for all of that kind of stuff when I first became a fan. I tend to think it is natural curiosity that leads us to look for such information. No, it has been…

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It’s Mark & Rich! (They’re so cute.)

This photo popped up again yesterday on Twitter in a convo with Mark Atkins himself, Richard Armitage’s scale double in TH and a man with his own army now–Atkins’ Army.  I love this picture on so many levels: the camaraderie visible between these two hard-working actors, the joie de vivre we see on those faces, Mr. Armitage’s big goofy grin and those giant thumbs (Servetus surely approves); the knowledge they are taking part in a charitable fundraiser and clearly having fun while doing good.

And it doesn’t hurt that they are a couple of hotties, either. Double your pleasure, double your fun.

Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.

The actual artwork for the Blu-ray release of  The Hobbit: An Unexpected  Journey, that is. It is showing at some retails sites such as Blu-ray.com. However, Amazon does not yet show any artwork (nor is it currently allowing pre-orders). Here’s what Mr. Cere at TORn had to say:

It is possible this image was leaked from the studios involved but it seems unlikely and this image isn’t a powerful “buy me” image from the movie. No word from any official channels has surfaced to say this is or isn’t fake so we advise not accepting it as the gospel truth at this point.

Curious as to what you all think about the image. TORn is also asking fanart folks to create their own covers to send in to them to be posted.

Of course, I’d be quite happy if only this guy was on the front.

It still appears both the Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D versions will be released March 19 with the Extended Edition to come out in October. Another question or two:  Do you plan to purchase one of the Blu-rays? Will you wait for the Extended Edition? Or do you plan to splash out for both?

I know that if I get the Blu-ray (and honestly, can I hold out until October??)  I’ll have to borrow Benny’s PlayStation. I might keep it longer than he’d wish . . . because the Warrior Prince was made for  Blu-ray.

Things to Made You Happy #2, Armitage-Style (with special guest Mr. fedoralady)

 Making resting easier. We all need a good night’s sleep to feel our best. Assuming you don’t actually sleep with Richard Armitage (and let’s be honest–would you want to sleep with him, or do–other things?) you may find yourself struggling to rest with your partner due to Cover Wars. According to the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, getting separate duvets can help solve the problem. (I would add that king-sized top sheets on a queen-sized bed can also be helpful. Not marrying a woman with Restless Legs Syndrome would also be nice. Poor Benny. *sigh*)

Do this silly thing. Imagine that your undies are superhero undies that give you confidence suggests Andy Cope, author of The Art of Being Brilliant.  I say if it doesn’t give you confidence, surely it will make you smile?

(And I think all Mr. A’s undies are worn by a superhero. He’s MY hero.)

Bookmark your YouTube favorites for a quick grin. Naturally, these should include something with Richard Armitage.

Have a pet.  This was not on the Glamour UK list, but studies show that having a pet helps keep our blood pressure down, helps us to live longer and provides us with companionship. And they are just so darned funny at times! Which leads me to . . .

Laugh. Nothing is better to instantly melt away anxiety. Especially when you can laugh along with a blue-eyed bloke like this one.

Feeling as if I am moving on

The intricate lace-like pattern of bare winter tree branches, silhouetted against the steel grey clouds rapidly filling the sky, catch my eye today. I am out for my daily constitutional, wishing that I’d brought my camera with me to capture those trees. I remember how, as a young art student, one who normally preferred drawing people, I went through a phase of tree mania. I was fascinated with the patterns of bark and the dance of the branches and the serpentine nature of some tree roots.  Every tree has its own special sort of character.

This photo courtesy of browncreative.com doesn’t quite capture what I saw today, but it gives you the right idea. Love the abstract look you get with pattern of branches.

I have to say that the barren look of the trees contrasts sharply with the sultriness of the air. I push up the sleeves of my long-sleeved t-shirt and wish I’d opted for a regular one. And put my hair in a ponytail. It may be January, but it feels like spring. It feels like thunderstorms. And indeed, heavy rain and the potential for severe thunderstorms is in the forecast, moving in after midnight and continuing most of tomorrow.

The twinges are beginning; FMS does not like big changes in atmospheric pressure. Tonight & tomorrow will not be easy days for me.

Oh, well, at least I am getting some fresh air and exercise while our dirt and gravel road is not a mud-slick morass. I live in a somewhat hilly county and I can feel the muscles working as I make my way up this incline: the calf muscles, and thighs, and those gluteus maximus muscles.

 It’s good to feel a soreness that is not related to Fibromyalgia Syndrome, that is not a searing, burning sort of pain that makes one imagine they know what it feels like to be tortured with a red-hot iron poker.

Later, that will come. But I won’t think about that right now.  More pleasant prospects fill my mind.

I will think about the luncheon date planned for Thursday with a friend. We got to know each other while I was working for the newspaper and she was always a big fan of my writing.

SM was an orphan who lived in several foster homes before being adopted into a loving family when she was a little girl. She grew up to be a tireless advocate for foster parents and children. A former city councilwoman, SM founded and orchestrated an annual dinner for our county’s foster families for many years, an event held in memory of her late husband, a prominent businessman who died in a tragic drowning accident.  She’s active in the Kiwanis, which gives foster parents and their children a luncheon each Christmas with a visit from Santa and gifts from wish lists provided by the kids.

SM is a go-getter who has dreamed of creating a children’s book about foster families and adoption. She’s approaching 70 now and says she wants to make sure it happens soon. And she’s asked me to collaborate with her because she believes I “can tell an interesting story and do it justice.” I am excited about this opportunity, I have to say.

There are some other opportunities presenting themselves, although I am not quite ready to discuss them yet. Let’s just say that I feel that this year may be the year when things really do turn around for me.

For that, I am grateful.

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Some things to make you happy #1, Armitage Style

I love to get extra value out of any item, and so I am doing that with the Glamour UK that Fairy Godmother sent me. In addition to the Hottest Guy on Middle-Earth article, it also has a nice list of 1oo Things to Make You Happy.  I decided to tweak things about and share some images of Mr. A and his ChaRActers illustrating some of these happiness-inducing activities.  Have  a Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Cuddle. Twenty seconds of hugging releases magic anti-stress hormone oxytocin into the bloodstream, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina.

Dance. of all exercise, dancing is the best way to get your endorphin levels peaking due to a winning combination of feel-good factors, including a fun workout, mood-enhancing music and physical contact with others.

Give to Charity. A study in The Journal of Consumer Psychology show the happiest people are the biggest givers, no matter how much we earn.  And we all know Mr. Armitage is a charitably-minded fellow, don’t we?

Look at something blue. Research at the University of Sussex indicates that when we look at the color blue, our brainwaves show increased happiness levels. Anyone think looking at a certain blue-eyed bloke we all know and love might help?

Richard Armitage, a fellow dreamer

There was a discussion about the importance of holding onto dreams over at Twitter today and I shared these words from one of my favorite poems by Langston Hughes. I decided to do a bit of artwork to go with the words. And naturally, thoughts of my favorite actor, a man gifted with the ability to dream and dream big (and work hard to make those dreams come true).

Todd Garner  producer for Richard’s next film project “Black Sky,” actually Tweeted this quote below today. And it reminded me of Richard, too, and that sort of Zen-like aura he often seems to exude.

How wonderful it was to see Richard’s dream of playing Thorin come to fruition this year as he gave such a compelling performance, truly claiming the character as his and his alone. Richard certainly put that vivid imagination to very good use.

How proud his family and close friends must be, as those of us who have never met him are as pleased and proud as punch over his accomplishments. Hooray for my fellow dreamer! Here’s to many more dreams coming true.

My Fairy Godmother made a special delivery today.

Today I discovered a parcel from across the great Atlantic had arrived in my mail box. Happy, happy, joy, joy! ( dancing with glee).

Now all I need is a Thorin mug to enjoy a cup of coffee whilst I lounge around in my new Thorin T-shirt and ogle  read the magazine article once again. Life is sweet.