March 13, 2007
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I am the envy of all nerd-dom…
Today I spent some time at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Unknown to many is the fact that Marquette’s archives contains one of the largest collections of J.R.R. Tolkien’s papers and manuscripts.
Today, since I am so very blessed, I was allowed to view and TOUCH three pages from the Book of Mazarbul (above- a picture of the book from the film) that Tolkien himself wrote and drew on the back of student exams he had finished correcting. They are wonderful and detailed drawings all written in Dwarven runes with ink and then shaded to look like vellum with colored pencils with blood smears, ash, burn marks and bloodstains. There were only three pages ever made, the first and last in Dwarven runes and the second in LOVELY Elvish script. I thought I was going to faint having these pages in my hands!
I also was able to flip through his first draft of a chapter from The Fellowship of the Ring when the fellowship is entering Moria. This was all handwritten on paper without lines, much of it on the backs of other papers and scraps of paper he had laying around. Within these was also the first sketch of the Door to Moria (the “speak friend and enter” door) and later I saw the finished sketch in lovely blue ink drawn by Tolkien himself.
What an awesome day! Holding and touching and seeing and smelling the original pages of what would become the Lord of the Rings! All right now, honestly, who is jealous?
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Comments (27)
ME!!! I’M JEALOUS!!!!! I would want to faint too. Other than that, I am, uh, speechless. *unintelligible squeal of delight/envy*
You lucky, lucky novice.
WOW.
I am exceedingly jealous!
In other news, it’s good to meet someone else strongly considering the priesthood on Xanga.
Wow. i’m not even a big Lord of the Rings fan, and even I have to admit that is awesome! It would be akin to a Star Wars fan being able to see George Lucas original script for Star Wars (and rightfully demolishing Episode I/Jar Jar Binks from history). Speaking of nerd-dom, I’m uber-excited to go home for my birthday this week to go see 300, another Frank Miller comic book adaptation to the big screen. Too bad they didn’t bring Dark Knight Returns to the screen…
In another 50 years, that might change. I’ll be too old to care by then, though.
Hope you have a great week!
i want to go to scotland
…
oh…and i’m very jealous!!!!
..since i posted on xanga….lol
aaaand we all got back safe and sound, as you most likely assumed
i hope all is well!
She died chasing a Cylon Viper in a cloudy planet which may or may not have existed. For all accounts and purposes, she flew too close to the planet’s harsh atmosphere at too high of a speed and her ship exploded instantaneously. The episode kept talking about her fulfilling a “destiny” which is giving credence to Starbuck possibly being a Cylon herself.
The current one is Baltar’s trial and people trying to kill his legal counsel and give him an unfair trial. The Adama’s are being turned against one another right now, as they’re taking opposing sides on the matte of Baltar’s rights to a fair trial. The trial is going to basically be the season finale episode.
Regarding your last comment: you are just so precious.
But I have left Shakespeare and King Henry behind, so I am simply faithful to my Ambition. 
You *are* hilarious.
blood smears AND bloodstains? One would be odd enough.
Jake, I’m begging you. Please respond to the comment I make on your page at your page. Not mine.
I agree. Between her wanting a chance at a bigger career, or being one of the Final Five, that would make next season something to revel at. Her character since the farm has been guided, it seems, towards the Cylons on a more personal level than other characters. I love the show and if she turns out to be a Cylon, it will be amazing to see the reactions on board Galactica. I mean, the Adamas both loved her, and regardless what you say, she was one hell of a good pilot. I’d hate to go against her as a Cylon pilot. She’d be more along the lines of Scar.
I alos have heard rumblings of Earth being mentioned in the season finale in a five word sentence, so that’s going to be big. There’s a new rumor that the Cylons homeworld might be Earth, too.
Whoa. Major geek out, I know. I hope you have a terrific week!
OK Clay? Right here? Comment here? Hmm… OK!
Sure, I’m jealous.
Don’t worry about the jasmine thing. It’ll clear itself up.
Maintaining rhyme scheme and syllables??? ‘Tis a noble effort indeed. Wow. I am exceedingly impressed. And you don’t have to translate it into Gerudo at all. Maybe next time I’ll give you a poem that doesn’t rhyme?
You, Yeah YOU!!!! I am so unreasonably jealous hahahaaaaa I love you and I’m so glad you got to experience that!!! Oh, and you should be getting something in the mail soon
LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!!
At this point, I don’t have any plans for a particular order. I’m going to finish off my year where I am (a small Catholic Academy) and then ask/look around during the summer.
time for a roadtirp to wisconsin! ugh! i am so jealous!!
Our dear Ronny is very well.
However, I will elaborate in the morning, as waking up at 4am (inadvertantly) is taking its toll on me.
G’night! You’re special too. *hug*
Ooo… Lucky you! Wish I could have seen all that Tolkein stuff.
Let me know when you’ll be in Denver! Shoot me an e-mail a sarahzillamosnter@gmail.com
Okay, thanks! Just this morning, we got a comment from a lady that was confused by your comment. So, much better this way
Hello! I don’t know if you’d be interested, but I thought I would let you know that this weekend at Dawn and Andy Kruse’s wedding reception about half the class was there and we decided we will probably have a class reunion in August. Don’t know the specifics yet, but I thought I would let you know now since you aren’t in Iowa. Katie Wagner is going to plan the majority of it, I think, and there might come a time when I might need your address so she can send you an invitation. I don’t know what your long-term schedule is and if you’d be able to come to it, but I just thought I would let you know anyway. Have a wonderful week!!!
I don’t think Katie is putting addresses together yet so she might just lose information if she gets it already, so I won’t email her your address yet. But I did write it on my wipe-off board and I won’t erase it until I give it to her, okay?! It would be great to see you again. I’ll let you know if/when I know more about it.
How’d the SJ’s go from a reputation of being conservative, to many getting a public reputation for this? By “this,” I refer to the following: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has published a warning about two books by Fr. Jon Sobrino, SJ. The warning, among other things, notes Fr. Sobrino’s failure to clearly affirm the divinity of Christ. (source: Jimmy Akin).
Well, if I were to say anything in response it would be that you appear to be in keeping with Rome thus far.
My writing is a bit off, I’ve been watching Jane Austin film clips on YouTube so I’m filled with fancy thoughts and a British accent in my mind at the moment; thus my awkward sentence above.
Tolkien spent a lot of time in South Africa in a little place called Hogsback. This setting was his physical inspiration for Lord of the Rings. Hogsback is about an hour and a half away from where I live.
Saw your comment on the chocolate post by Dan. You can’t have H2O (water), without the O … thus oxygen would be the most vital.
Somehow, I didn’t do too well in high school chemistry though.
i’m mother frickin jealous.
Sorry Jake, spelled the e-mail wrong. LOL. sarahzillamonster@gmail.com
Hehe, good catch.
yup, definitely jealous right now.
luckyyyyy