I ask only for the strength to defend my people.

Elves, tears, sexy hair and Hobbit drinking songs!
( 2003-12-26 @ 11:07 p.m. )

Here it is, My Gathering entry to the best of my ability.

Let's start at the beginning......~Glances around and realizes her Dominic {J2} is gone~

DAMNIT! What is Billy without Dom?

Anyways....*AHEM*

The beginning.

Dec 10th

So I woke yup in a mad panic. making sure I had packed everything like 20 times......AT LEAST, and then I packed some more stuff just to be safe. Did I pack socks? My camera and film? Peoples X-Mas pressies?

THEN was my early Birthday party. Got mostly money from my parents for the trip of course. I got a LOVLEY "Characters from Tolkien" book from my boyfriend....but BEST OF ALL VERY BEST OF ALL

Was BOROMIR!

The huge, 6 pound Sideshow-Weta statue of BOROMIR! I nearly died....only 2,000 pieces worlwide! SQUEEEEE! Boromir.

Dom....err....J2...no...wait Dom, came home from work, and we got on the road at 11:30 or so. Only to have to turn around cause my boyfriend forgot something.

Finally got out of New Smyrna at 12:00 or so, singing "Hey Ho" as loud as we could.

Twas amusing. The novelty of the long drive wore off around 6 am when we hit Georgia........I started reading Tolkien with my little Car reading light I had also recieved for my Birthday.

On and on we drove, with only a hours worth of sleepy-time at a rest stop.

Finally we get to New York later on in the night on the 11th, perhaps around 9 or so. The city skyline at night.......WOW! I mean the Statue of Liberty, the Empire Stat Building did up in red and green for Christmas, it took my breath away.

So we get to New York, only to find no hotels........so back to New Jersey it is.

FINALLY we get a room, and nearly pass out, only it's nearly my Birthday so I get a bit hyper and start singing happy birthday to myself as I eat chinese food from the carton........heh-heh! Jamie plugged in the laptop and I briefly talked to some of my sisters.

My Birthday:

So we drive back into NYC, find Gina's place after a bit of confusion and FINALLY park. Only Gina isnt home. So we head across the street and go to the Holywood Diner where we have some Brekkie, ok so technically Potato Skins arent Breakfast....but whatever.

Then we go back, still not home.......I am about to give up when I hear Gina's voice over the speaker.....

"Ivy is that you?"

"YESSS! LET US INNNNNN!"

So we go racing up the stairs, Gina throws open the door, looking adorable as ever. Much squeeeeing ensued. Gifts are exchanged, I got a gorgeous knife, all jeweled, ornamented and very much liek the horn of Gondor, and a Hobbit mug with a beautiful Celtic design on it.........I gave Gina my gift, we sat around, chatted, found a costume for Dom to wear at Gathering and then Gina called Pandi, we decided to meet her at Barnes and Nobles since she was leaving along with Gina's boyfriend {her brother} to go to Conneticut. So to Barnes and Nobles we went.........A FOUR STORY BARNES AND NOBLES....I got lost in there. Pandi is SOOOOOOOO cute, and sweet, and adorable! SQUEEEEEEEE! And Gina's B-Friend is very nice to! Plus on the way out, my boyfriend surprised me with the fact that he had blown up baloons and put streamers in the car, I gopt extra gifties, and Dom sang Happy B-Day to me in the middle of the street.

Then it's all over NYC we go, Toys R Us. Then after much debate we head back to Gina's apartment. We decide to take the subway to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. So off we go, on the way to The Met after getting off the subway, my boyfriend calls me over to the side of the street. I pivot turn and go back, he's pointing at a huge Aragorn/Gandalf carboard standee IN THE TRASH!

I freak out and start throwing things off, determined to get to it, looking around frantically to see if anyone cares. No one did, and despite concerns of how to get it in the car, I carry it away, all 5 million pieces of it under my arm.

So Aragorn and Gandalf went to the Met and got some culture.

We then went to Times Squre which was awesome, then back to Ginas, we ate pizza, relxed a bit....then on the road again at midnight.

The rest of the drive got old....quick, until I fell asleep, only to be awakened in Pennsylvania by SNOW!

Only the second time I have seen snow. We stopped at a gas station, slept for a hour {well everyone else did, I stayed awake to wake my b-friend up} and then off again.

Finally we hit the Canadian Border sometime in the early afternoon.

Canadian Border Guy: Where ya going?

Me: Toronto.....

CBG: Why?

Me: Errrm, the Tolkien Gathering

CBG: The WHAT? ~Gives me annoyed, blank stare~

We then tried to explain it to him, and finally he let us through. How sad, I knew it wouldnt be the last time he heard that.

We also hoped someone in costume would confuse him even more as they tried to get through.

So, its the 13th, we are in Canada, we get a room 30-40 miles outside of Toronto and settle in. Much fun ensues in a Canadian supermarket as Gina and I grab up Cadbury Chocolate, we watch Elijah on SNL and then I scare people by going out on our balcony to have a cigarette in my boxers, a tank top and huge froggie slippers, in like 4 degree weather.

Next day, into Toronto we go, we arrive at the Sheraton....GORGEOUS HOTEL! Just gorgeous. We get everything paid for, get settled in and head to our rooms, we are in 17, Gina on 12.

We decide to register early, so we set off to do just that. So off we tromp to the table, Jamie, Gina and I.........then GANDALF gets in the elevator. Thats when it became a reality, we were here for the Gathering....it was real!

So at the registration table, I am telling the woman my name, and suddenly this beautiful, sweet looking girl next to me goes..."Your Ivy? Or Julie?"

I blink.

"From the LOTR-Sisters?"

I nod. She grins...."I'm Anwen"

I squee, drop things and hug her repetedly, trying to not squeeze her to death. Much squeeing and sisterly love is exchanged, and we decide to try and find Ruth and Beckers..........so I get lost somewhere as everyone heads back up to the rooms, not literally lost, just looking at things. I wander around for nearly a hour, then head back up to the room.

I put my key in, and the deadbolt is locked. Dom comes to undo it and I wander in when WHAM!

Up pop Fruthy and Beckers from under the beds!

You have never HEARD SQUEEING LIKE THAT!

More gifties were exchanged between us all and we headed down to find Anwen. Only as I stood by the escelator, I see some guy dressed like Boromir, I nearly had a heart attack. As soon as IO saw him I started grinning and yelling Boromir, he came up the escelator and agreed to a million pics with me.

I was quite pleased, he looked alot like Boromir as well.

We dont find Anwen so we basically wander around a bit, I decide to put on my Galadriel costume, and Beckers and Fruthy put on their hobbit costumes and Dom, myself, Fruthy and Beckers, Danny and Gina head down to the bar/resturaunt in the hotel named Traders for food and drink. Beer is ordered, Baileys ios ordered, and so is food. The place is filled with LOTR fans, but it isnt quite loud enough.

So I open my big mouth and start singing "Hey Ho" thinking of J1 and Jo in the process, and how proud they would be of me!LOL! So the whole resturaunt joins in, my adrenaline is going and im giggling insanely.

Then someone dared me and Beckers to dance in the bar as they sang the Hobbit Drinking song, maybe it was Fruth, so here I am dressed as Galadriel, and Beckers as a Hobbit, and sure enough we join arms and dance around like mad while everyone sings.

Then some really weird, creepy old guy came to our table and eouldnt leave us alone. He was freaking us all out, and THEN somehome, Beckers, Fruthy Dom and myself all get roped into dancing again while people sing, so we form a big circle and dance around like mad hobbits.

Nothing like it.

People are telling me what a lovley Galadriel I am etc etc....all I can do is giggle.

Then when we leave some blonde girl from Virgina who has no idea what is going on asks for a picture of all of us, telling us how gorgeous we look. So we obliged.

We also watched practice for the opening Cermonies and met Mel, much more squeeing ensued and she looked gorgeous as Eowyn.

The other Galadriel for opening cermeonies was in her 40's and she called me her twin and said with a Slavic accent You da sezy version of Galadriel, I the 5,000 yearo old vbersion"

I giggled madly and took a pic with her.

I followed Danny up to the roomafter convincing him to put on the kilt. When I came back down Dom intro'd me to Tonya, a girl who was dead set on stalking Craig, we agreed to join her.

She knew which floor he was on, only problem was security.

So as we devise a plan in fromt of the elevator, it opens and out pops Captain Jacl from POTC in FULL REGALIA looking JUT LIKE Johnny Deep.......and he is carrying Sauron's head.

It was a funny moment.

Well we got to Craigs floor, and there WAS security so that was it for the night

Off to bed we went.

Then off to opening cermonies in the morning which were rather cute. Then it was time for Craig Parker and Mark Ferguson live........so Dom, Fruthy, Gina and Me waited around for that.

IT WAS HILARIOUS! I cant even begin to type most of what was said, but it was a ball, Dom and Gina ASKED THEM TO NANCE........and they did, well....sort of, and THEN because we had pointed out the LOTR Sisters Roxy found us and joined our little group! YAY!

SQUEEE! So after it's over we are waiting by the stagen and lo and behold Craig appears, he is singing a autograph for little girl's B-Day and GET THIS!

Roxy managed to pinch his butt!

~Giggles~

Ten he's walking off and I find my voice and craok

"CRAIG!"

He slowly turns around.

"Yes?"

"Um.....hug" that was all I could manage.

He grins and walks back over, leans off the stage, scoops me up and gives me this huge hug, kind of groping me in the process, and he smelled so good.

Imanaged to keep my cool till Fruthy, Beckers and myself exited the area, then I did it. I broke down into rabid fangirl moment......couldnt help it!LOL!

Then that night we saw FOTR together, and Gina and Anwen and I sobbed all over eachother, this was a TRUE sisters moment, it felt so good to have people holding me when Boromir died, especially my sisters....thank you guys.

Next morning we attend a few seminars, then Fruthy, Beckers and I decide to head in for autographs. we are in line for Craig, but decide once they say no more pictures allowed to get his auto later, so I duck over to Bruce Hopkins-Gamling.

Me: Hey1 Brilliant job in the film~Shove my red-leather bound copy of the trilogy at him~

Bruce: ~Studies book, stares at me~ The book matches your hair, or your hair the book, I lvoe your hair.....ITS BRILLIANT! Then he singns it "To Ivy, much love and tons of respect Love Bruce Hopkins-Gamling" and comes from AROUND the table to snuggle us all in for pics.

Mark Ferguson-Gil-Galad was just as sweet. He actually yanked me over the table for a huge, long snuggle.

A few hours later, after buying some ears for Gina and myself, and allowing Fruthy to apply them, we head down to get Craig's auto......after listening to him and Mark read "Riddles in the Dark" which was BRILLIANT!

Craig does a GREAT Gollum!

So Beckers, Fruthy and I get in line, we are second in line when I realize I have a poem for Bruce-Gamling that I DIDNT bring down with my Craig-Haldir poetry so Beckers and I race back to the 17th floor while Fruthy saves our spot.

I bring it down and approach Bruce.

Me: Ummm...was here a bit ago...

Bruce: Oh yes, how could I forget you with your gorgeous hair!

Me: ~Blush` Ummm, wrote this for you....errr....Gamling, wanted you to have it.~Tosses poem and runs back to Craig's line~

I turn around and HES READING IT! He finishes both pages and calls me back over, jumps from round the table and kisses my cheek THEN proceeds to read bits out loud and go "This is the best thing ever! THANK YOU!"

Finally after doing some promotinal bits Craig comes in.

Admittedly I was shaky. I love Haldir....thusly I love Craig.

So I get up to him, Beckers and Fruth cheering me on so I dont lame out and forget to give him the poetry.

He reaches down to take my book and my hands are shaking.

Craig: Are you allright?

Me~Blanches~ Just a bit nervous is...all

Craig: Dont be nervous love~Puts his hand in mine, squeezes gently then looks up as he goes to sign~ok what's your name?

Me:~Points at namebadge~ Uh....Ivy

Craig: Ivy, brilliant.....gorgeous name...~Leans in~ Can I tell you something?

Me: Yea........please......go ahead

Craig: Your hair, the red....that is just the sexiest thing ever!

Me:~Dies~ Umm, I wrote these two poems for You-Haldir...~Thrust poetry in his direction~

Craig~Grins~ Want a picture?

Then despite annoyed looking security guards he let me come BEHIND the table and squeeze in close with my arms wrapped around him.

I died...

Then it was time to get ready for the Masquerade and tournament at Medieaval Times, all of the girls looked lovley, Gina was allready there as she was in the costume contest. so we all headed off, me as Galadriel with a glow in the dark blue phial {blue glowstick in a glass bottle} Dome as W\The Witchqueen, and Beckers and Fruthy as Hobbit and Lady of Gondor, Roxy as Arwen and Anwen just...well gorgeous, Gina was Elbereth.........

The Masquerade was fun so was the tournament but then it was off to ROTK!

All I can say is vrying with Anwen and Gina........we USED A ENTIRE BOX OF TISSUES!

Watching ROTK wiht your sisters, NOTHING can top that.

Anyways....thats the best stuff, other bits include recieving a bottle with sands of Valinor from the friend I made Tonya, kissing Frodo on the head {someone dressed up as Frodo} and the best, after ROTK, a guy that looked just liek Aragorn turning round and hugging me telling me he creid to.

Christmas has kicked much ass as well, got a billy/pip Dom/Merry shirt, a Frodo shirt, tinkerbell pajamas, tons of Tolkien books, calendars...........gifties from my sisters......

but I am sick as hell, so now I retire, more Gathering stuff as I rmember it.

Home is behind....

The World Ahead....

P.S. The 17th Dom, Fruth, Beckers, Danny and myself saw ROTK again, and attended the same showing as Craig, Bruce and Mark! Hee-Hee!

Home Is Behind // The World Ahead