By any other name

[altariel]

Thanks to the munificence of trixieleitz, you will notice that 'the annoying 1' has now gone from my user name, and I'm now finally, properly altariel. You shouldn't notice any difference at all at your end.

Who is Altariel? Altariel is the Quenya name for Galadriel, Tolkien's best female character. It means something about golden hair. My hair is more silver these days, nor am I stronger than the foundations of the earth (not every day, anyway), but (despite what the fanfic suggests) Galadriel was always my favourite character in Tolkien. She hung out with angels and was the boss of the White Council (the Good Guys' think tank and strategy-making body). She knew that apparent defeats can be transformed into great victories, if you play a long enough game. Also she understood that some victories are not worth the scorched earth that they would take. Wise woman.

Tolkien couldn't stop turning her into the BVM, but in my head she is more Jadis (without all the bad press Lewis gave her).

Plus - magic mirror!

Altariel is also the name under which I commit Tolkien fanfiction.

Thank you, trixieleitz!

Comments

[trixieleitz]

Hurrah! You're very welcome - 'tis a birthday rebirth into your birthright ;)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! :-D

[(Anonymous)]

Galadriel and Little My make for a potent combination!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Beg pardon - that was I.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

It's how I fondly imagine myself!

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Tolkien's best female character

What, even ahead of Shelob? :) To be serious, Galadriel was my favourite until Eowyn appeared. I've always had a weakness for warrior maidens.

But Galadriel is great - and was magnificently portrayed by Cate Blanchett in the film. (To whom I'm sure that you bear a more than passing resemblance. :) I was disappointed that the film omitted the marvellous exchange between Galadriel and Gimli when the latter is given his gift, though.

Congratulations on losing your "1" - and congratulations on your birthday too.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I always identified with Gimli (though not in the film), so this probably explains my reverence for the glorious altariel - I'm going to have to train myself out of that 1 now. It's clever the way it's already gone from all previous references!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Shelob is what I'm like on a bad day, lurking around the house, gobbling up unwary postmen. Eowyn is another great favourite.

I bear a resemblance to Cate Blanchett in the sense that recognizably part of the same species (legs, arms, eyes, etc.)!

The whole gift scene - including the bit with Gimli - is in the extended version of FotR, and is beautifully done.


Congratulations on losing your "1" - and congratulations on your birthday too.

Thank you!

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on becoming officially unique :)

I noticed that the '1' was missing from the username link in my post, and at first I thought I'd mistyped it (the 1 key on my keyboard is stuck and has to be hit pretty hard before it produces anything). I've glad to see what actually happened!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

It looks so much better without that daft 1. Hooray for the alternate altariel (altaltariel?) for being tidy-minded and deleting her journal!

[tlanti.livejournal.com]

If I could be completely shallow for a moment... Altariel is a lovely sounding name - and Galadriel is a cool character in LOTR anyway... so well done in ridding yourself of that accursed 1 and simply being Altariel - now your LJ name sounds even cooler! :)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm chuffed finally to come into my proper inheritance at last! :-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I like it with the underscore. Also when you comment, I always end up singing a song called Gravity by Boo Hewerdine. The lyrics are a bit sad, but it's a great song to belt out, so I always feel cheerful for singing it :-)

[rcfinch.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday, and congratulations on becoming the one and only!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-D

[gair.livejournal.com]

Dude, I had no idea you were a Capricorn. THIS EXPLAINS MUCH.

Congratulations on the new name, and very happy birthday!

(There is a small chance I might be in Cambridge for this conference on 27th January, but it depends on THINGS.)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the birthday wishes. Oh yes, I am very Capricorn.

Let me know about the conference. Some friends are over the following day for a birthday lunch at Midsummer House (someone else's birthday), but it would be very cool if you could get to meet them.

[mikekellner.livejournal.com]

Congrats. Getting rid of the One was a long time obsession of your namesake. ;^)

She is my favorite character as well. A lady for all seasons. Whatever Tolkien tried to make her into, I hold that when you read the various writings about her, what emerges is a truly gifted and complex person. A true feminist who was unhappy with the plan where her brothers were to seek kingdoms while she was to be restricted to seeking a king.

In one of the letters Tolkien refers to her as the Elf Queen. I view this as her true position. When her cousin died, he was proclaimed to have been the Last High King of the Elves in Middle-earth. Yet, she is a true daughter of kings, closer to the royal line than Gil-galad was. It seems a bit of discrimination to me that she was not acknowledged as the High Queen. Given that when the big players got together for lunch, they all called her boss, wouldn't it have been proper that they grant her the title she deserves?

Anyway, we can now wake the non Tolkienistas from the slumber I induced, so they can hear me offer...

Happy Birthday.

mk

PS Her hair was a mix of gold & silver. You are just coming into your own.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Congrats. Getting rid of the One was a long time obsession of your namesake. ;^)

*snort!* Nice one!

I knew you would understand about Galadriel. And you're damn right - she's easily Top Elf in Middle-earth.


PS Her hair was a mix of gold & silver. You are just coming into your own.

You, sir, are welcome in this journal at all times ;-D

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Cool!

And you know, I'd always assumed that part of the attraction for that name was the Blake's 7 tariel call inside. ;-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

That's a nice added bonus! ;-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And I'm glad to see the back of that 1.

Cute icon!

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

I was inspired to check on who was preventing me from having the identity jhall. It turns out to be somebody called Jared Hall, who last posted to their journal just over four years ago. Cool first name he has - perhaps I should change mine?

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Jared is a cool name. It's the name of the lead character in The Pretender, which I enjoyed immensely until Sky decided not to show any more of it, grrr...

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

What an excellent birthday present! (Hope it was a good one.)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

A lovely day, thanks :-)

[edge-of-ruin.livejournal.com]

Congrats on becoming the Altariel!

I have to say I don't think I've ever associated her that much with the BVM though - far more of a 'light' Jadis, I guess - but I wasn't brought up with that tradition.

Hmm ... I'm wondering whether the BVM is lurking somewhere among all those dead mothers? Gilrean in particular: "I gave Hope to the Dunedain" or whatever. PJ seems to have had that idea in the extended edition ...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

The One and ONLY Altariel!

PJ frames Galadriel as the BVM in that shot looking back as the Fellowship are leaving Lorien. it reminds me of the pictures of the grotto in Lourdes.

[cruisedirector]

Congratulations on the 1-less name! And I want to see you when you are in the US, but I don't yet know exactly when we are going to be where in that direction (definitely Jamestown, and the chair of the Duke English department is one of my favorite people in the world so I would love to get down there).

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I would love to meet up with you while I'm over. I'm very much hoping I'll get to Shore Leave - does that feature in your plans?

[forodwaith.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, your Quenya Eminence!

I toy with the idea of changing my LJ name often, but sadly can never think of anything decent that isn't already taken.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love 'Forodwaith'. Do you feel it's too Tolkien-specific?

Hope your wretched cold clears up soon.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Rather belatedly, it occurred to me that this might be rather appropriate:

This is the dawning of the age of Altariel
The age of Altariel
Altariel!
Altariel!

With apologies to whoever wrote the original version.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

:-D

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Indeed!

[klose.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's brilliant - what a nice way to start a new year of your life. :)

And speaking of which, I just wanted to drop by to wish you a belated happy birthday! I have been missing every other birthday lately, it seems; apologies for this rudely late greeting. :S
Either way, it sounds like you had a great day, and I hope the awesomeness continues throughout the year. :D

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you, my dear! And I enjoyed reading about your trip to London - glad you had such a good time.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Sorry it's taken me so long to comment on this - but hurrah! It's taken a long time, but I'm glad that you finally have it.

Have you noticed that all past references to you in lj user tags as 'Altariel1' are now displayed as 'Altariel'? History being rewritten before our very eyes.

Sadly, the 'glitterboy' journal still exists. It's been lying idle for years, but I think this means that I'm not likely to be able to get rid of my '1' in the very near future.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I liked seeing all those 'Altariels' appear. Perhaps you could try 'glitteryboy'. Or, to make the point, 'glitteriestboy'.