New Directions

We are on track for the move to Montana next year. Housing prices up there have settled somewhat, though they are still rather higher than those in Mis'sippi. But median incomes are higher, as well, so that's encouraging. Even if I stay in the same line of work I'm in now (retail management), I can expect to start about 10k higher than what I currently make.

But I am on track for a career change, as well. I took my Praxis I test earlier this month, and did very well on the first two parts; still waiting on my grade from Part 3, the written exam. I am looking into emergency teacher certification possibilities for the coming school year, but whether or not I become a teacher this year, I will continue to pursue my certification in the interim, between now and our move to Missoula. Next will be Praxis II, subject area specialization test.

We still have much work to do on the house first; primarily, painting the outside. That will have to wait until the autumn. Meanwhile we've redone one of the bathrooms and have been boxing up numerous books, clothes, and paraphernalia that we won't be needing over the coming year.

We're both very excited and very nervous, but feel more alive than we have in months.

FINALLY

Today the DNC did what needed to be done. The question of the Florida and Michigan delegates to the Democratic Convention is settled. Billary and her obnoxious supporters will probably blather on with their usual political posturing and platitudes. But today, for all intents and purposes, Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee for President. And the Carlisle household couldn't be happier.

Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things.

So it's a good life here. The wife and I are more in love than ever. I mean, it's a solid relationship. No what-if's. It's one for the books, this marriage. Our kid is amazing. Girl said the Pledge of Allegiance the other day. The whole thing. Standing in her pajamas, holding her flag in one hand, the other hand over her heart, said it loud and proud. Three years old, going on thirteen.

We've been homeowners for three years now. That's no small feat these days, when so many poor stiffs got in over their heads and lost it all. (Gotta read the fine print, folks. Look up "adjustable" in the dictionary, if you're not sure.) We were smart enough to stay current on our mortgage so that we were able to refinance at a low fixed rate before the evil adjustable rate kicked in. Got an overall lower payment, too. So now we're sitting pretty, mostly, though utility rates keep going up, up, and away... And though there is still some Katrina cleanup left in the Back Forty of our 1.3 acres, the rest is looking 10x better than it did when we moved in. My cypresses and Japanese red maples are flourishing; the pear tree looks to be loaded down again this year; the last of the dead pines fell last week, and is but a sliced-and-diced memory. The Poulan and I are a formidable timber-felling team.

My job is a cake-walk, almost. Getting quarterly bonuses now. My store is in the black, has been for over a year. ZERO turnover. Established customer base. Yeah, I have job security. And I rather enjoy being the boss from time to time. (My people don't mind, either. I'm mostly a big pushover. Surprise, huh?)

We've got a fish tank, two indoor cats (Titus and Zoe), two Basset hounds (Earl and Beulah), and our gorgeous Siberian husky, Misha, a veritable spirit come down to us from the boreal world. Eyes blue as Arctic ice. She lies at my feet now, resting from her vet checkup; Wolf and her Master.

Everything is great. So why am I so mother-flippin' restless? Is it not enough to enjoy life, to be content? Apparently not. I have been without a challenge too long. I have been without adventure for too long. The wife is feeling it, too. We love our life here; we've worked hard for it, sacrificed; we appreciate so much all we have.

But there is talk within these walls, and the M-words keep coming up: Moving. Missoula. Montana.

Happy birthday, George Lucas!!!

Damn, I need that GL figure!...

Meanwhile...

What? You know it's true!

...

Anyway, a new addition to the MERP library: Creatures of Middle-earth (1st edition). This volume is important mainly for the information on Valinorean hounds in Middle-earth (cf. Huan in The Silmarillion) and Elvish horses (like Asfaloth, and the Mearas). Haven't actually received the book yet, but I won it from a reputable seller I've dealt with several times before.

...

Currently I'm reading Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Definitely one of the most readable biographies I've ever tried.

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If you haven't watched "The 11th Hour," well, get off your tail and go rent a copy. Better yet, go buy one. My nearest Wal-Mart has them for $5, which is almost a crime for this important documentary on the state of our planet. Buy four or five and give them to your friends (and even family, if you dare). You can get some idea of the film here: http://www.11thhourfilm.com/.

The First Ship

So it was that for the first time in over two thousand years, a ship left Valinor, bound for Middle-earth. Its Telerin crew busied themselves with their work, and little heeded their two charges, who sat huddled together, gazing ever eastward. They did not look back.

They found the Straight Road soon enough; and as the roiling waters of Belegaer lashed the coasts of Middle-earth, the Teleri and their passengers at length beheld dark islands. The Noldor knew them not, though indeed they had seen those forested slopes long ago, in their adventures in the land now beneath the wave: Beleriand. Thus they passed Tol Morwen, and Himling, and at last beheld a line of low, mist-shrouded peaks on the eastern horizon. They were come to the Firth of Lune, an arm of the Sea that split the Blue Mountains in twain. The ship passed the forested flanks of the mountains, an Elvish country still in this Fourth Age of Middle-earth, the Age of Men. It was the month of Gwaeron, and the new green of Spring had not yet come to the North; a hard rain fell as the vessel weighed anchor at the quays of the Harlond.

No other ships could be seen; and there waited two only to greet the travellers as they disembarked. One was a tall Elf, clad entirely in grey garments. The wind off the Firth whipped his long fair hair; his sea-grey eyes lowered only slightly at the approach of the Noldor. He grasped a long, leaf-bladed glaive as a staff.

At his side stood a shorter Elf, clad also in grey, though he wore a shirt of shimmering scale-mail. His hair was red.

"Welcome, lords," said the tall Elf. He did not bow. "I am Galdor, and am appointed to speak for Cirdan. Your errand is known to us, and we will aid it as we may." He nodded at the red-haired one beside him. "Seregon will be your guide, for a little while. Some store of provisions has already been prepared for you, and some other things that may aid you, should you cross paths with Men or Dwarves. But you should avoid them if you may, and shun the roads altogether. Indeed, Seregon will take you over the wild lands to the south-east of here." Then he spoke in hushed tones to Seregon for some moments before turning to the Noldor again. "You will meet a Dunadan, one of the dwindling race of Numenor who still dwell in the North: Hallatan, son of Halbarad. He will know more of your first task than I." He studied them a moment more, frowning; then he said, "May the grace of the Valar go with thee." Then he was gone.

"My lords Celegorm and Gwindor," Seregon said, almost eagerly. "Follow me!"

The Redemption of the Feanorians: Essay, Part 2

Of that council held in the high place of Taniquetil, no tale tells; but ere the Sun thrice passed the Gates of Morning, Gandalf in his shining robes came down the green slopes, and hurrying along the gilded streets of Valinor he came even to the Halls of Mandos. And Elrond and Galadriel looked after him and wondered.

Long Gandalf spoke with Mandos; and leaving that place which is called the Halls of Awaiting, he at last made his way to the house of the Valier Nienna, from whom he had learned much of pity and patience in long ages ere the rising of the Sun and Moon. And with her were several figures, cloaked in grey, forlorn as it were amid the splendours of Aman.

"Long your spirits have dwelt in Mandos," Gandalf said. "But rejoice! For you are given life again, for good or ill. Yet it is not without price: for you are not yet given leave to dwell in Valinor, which you forsook long ago. The wide lands of Endor shall be your home again; and you shall find that much has changed since the wars of the Silmarils."

At that some stirred, as if at the memory of some blow. But Gandalf said, "Much is changed, I said: but much also has not. The Age of Men has begun, yet many of the ills that the Black Foe bred linger still to trouble the Kings of Men. You will go to Middle-earth, much as I did, as a counter to those evils. But my work is done. I was the Enemy of Sauron; and though his realm is now ended for ever, and I have returned at last to find rest, work still there is to do. You are sent to finish that work, or perish in the trying; and in that the World may find redress for the evils you wrought upon it, now three Ages ago."

"We will go," they said.

"Good!" said Gandalf. "But do not be too hasty, as a good friend of mine used to say. (You may be fortunate enough to meet him one day.) For you will find little welcome among the Elves, and less so among Men; for the latter for the most part shun the Quendi, and even the descendants of the Elf-friends of old remember your fell deeds in their tales.

"Moreover," he went on, "though you are charged with righting the wrongs of Ages past, yet you are forbidden to meddle in the affairs of Men, or of bringing power to bear against them for your own gain. You will not know the strength you possessed in your youth; indeed, your bodies in Middle-earth shall be a shadow of their beauty here in Valinor. Of material things you shall have only what you may carry, and live as I and my fellow Wizards did for long years, making no permanent abode for yourselves. Your greatest allies shall be secrecy and stealth. Your haunts, the wild places: those forsaken by Elves and Men; though you may at whiles have succour of the few who will know of your errand."

"What, then, is our errand, lord?" asked one.

"That shall be revealed to you in time," said the wizard. He glanced at Narya the Great, the Ring of Fire which he still wore. "I will come to you unlooked-for with counsel, or to those in Middle-earth who have ears to listen to my words. And when your errand in Middle-earth is done, or you perish in the attempt, then you will at last be brought before Mandos, and judged."