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Monday, January 09, 2012

Dickey: In a Hemingway Idyll, Intimations of Tolkien

The nerds are different than you and me…

I think I know now how Bilbo Baggins must have felt in Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.” My companions and I have set out on our own mountainous journey to try to attain a treasure.

The treasure in our case is not a pile of gold guarded by a dragon, but rather the gratification that comes with reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Instead of facing trolls and fighting goblins, we are battling steep climbs and the fatigue that accompanies seven- to eight-hour hikes. Furthermore, I’m not sure of the height of the Lonely Mountain, but I’m pretty sure I don’t remember reading about Bilbo’s having to worry about acclimatization and altitude sickness as he ascended the mountainside.

Our party is two days into the climb, and we have reached an altitude of 11,300 feet.

The District Attorney Posted: January 09, 2012 at 05:56 PM | 15 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: mets, special topics

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1. JE

Posted: January 09, 2012 at 08:09 PM (#4032650)

Instead of facing trolls and fighting goblins, we are battling steep climbs and the fatigue that accompanies seven- to eight-hour hikes.

Let's see Dickey throw a knuckleball past Sauron. The lidless eye sees all.

2. Foghorn Leghorn Posted: January 09, 2012 at 08:52 PM (#4032676)

This is awesome. That is all.

3. Forsch 10 From Navarone (Dayn)

Posted: January 09, 2012 at 09:09 PM (#4032686)

I think I'm in love.

4. Tippecanoe Posted: January 09, 2012 at 09:33 PM (#4032705)

I'm told that the biggest challenge in bagging Kilimanjaro is a lack of clean drinking water. Does anyone remember if Bilbo had the trots on his way to battle Smaug? I think maybe in the unabridged version.

5. Lassus Posted: January 09, 2012 at 10:04 PM (#4032727)

I think "At least we have Dickey" we be a common refrain among BTF Mets fans this year.

6. JE

Posted: January 09, 2012 at 10:05 PM (#4032728)

Kilimanjaro ranks as RA's second-most impressive endeavor in his lifetime.

7. Something Other Posted: January 09, 2012 at 10:26 PM (#4032741)

@5: Yes indeed. A great player to watch.

8. Johnny Slick Posted: January 10, 2012 at 12:16 AM (#4032838)

Let's see Dickey throw a knuckleball past Sauron. The lidless eye sees all.

One does not simply knuckle into Mordor.

9. Eric J is Financed by a Rich Grandpa Posted: January 10, 2012 at 01:04 AM (#4032861)

One does not simply knuckle into Mordor.

At least you know Sauron will come up swinging - one does not simply walk out of Mordor, either.

10. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: January 10, 2012 at 01:32 AM (#4032882)

Dickey's Mets. No rings to find them. No rings to bind them.

11. Mark Armour Posted: January 10, 2012 at 01:52 AM (#4032893)

This is fantastic.

12. ValueArbitrageur Posted: January 10, 2012 at 03:24 AM (#4032915)

He's not dead yet?!?!!!

Slowest off-season ever....

13. Who Swished In Your Cornflakes? Posted: January 10, 2012 at 01:52 PM (#4033256)

Is he going to build a bridge between the two peaks?

14. chris h. is a member of Team Keefe! Posted: January 10, 2012 at 02:03 PM (#4033267)

The Mets should sign Julio Franco. He's gotta be eleventy-one by now, right?

15. Paul D(uda) Posted: January 10, 2012 at 02:14 PM (#4033284)

If you like your fantasy epic, there are a couple of threads in the forums about the Malazan, Book of the Fallen series.

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Monday, January 09, 2012

Dickey: In a Hemingway Idyll, Intimations of Tolkien

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