Mae govannen, mellyn.

seems updating my profile page is still one big problem. But, hey, I can explain - at least try, that is. First off, there was a very long period of time I could not log in on this page anymore, I KNEW my password, but the page just wouldn't let me in on that and since the FF team provided no options for that case - I was shut out. But recently it is possible to log in using your fb account, and so - here I am back again, ready to post a few other stories I have written (if I get the time).

I am still fighting Hodgkin's Lymphoma (Lymph node cancer), but joined a medical trial group at UCLH in London, and we are in close collaboration with oncologists and their patients from Johns Hopkins University/Baltimore.

I promise to try and review your work when I do have the time and strength. Just know that I love your stories...they are what's keeping me alive. My best friend during all those therapies died - she was only 32 yrs young, I am happy she got to watch the Hobbit before she had to go is all I can say. There are so many things binding us together, songs, poems, fics, words - some of them unsaid, unheard, but I guess wherever she is now, she is better off. Her stamina and will were never as strong and stubborn as mine, but I loved her anyway. I still do. I wish her well and I hope to see her again, someday. But I am still so very sorry she had to go before her time - and before she had the chance to see the second Hobbit movie with so much on-screen-Legolas: that was all, we had hoped for ever since Return of the King - and now, she wasn't here any longer to celebrate those moments with me. This still hurts a lot. Today, I listened to Coldplay's "Fix you" and, once again, remembered her smile, which was so special.

That being said:

Welcome to my humble profile page. Take a seat, and, using Charli's words here-may I offer you a drink? Anyway, have fun and I hope you enjoy your stay.

"Skills of a Healer" has been finished and posted another one of the new stories I have written and kept all to myself for so long. I posted a completely new story: "The Voice of a Fallen Horse" which I wrote for NiRi's winter traditions challenge. "Dear Elfling" is a gapfiller for Jedi Sapphire's "Elves in the Wood". My new fic "A Ship with Golden Beak and Oar" will be posted as soon as I send it to my beta and correct it afterwards, but at least I can tell that I finished it, yay. And there is more news: I got accepted as a writer for Stories of Arda! Plus, my previously unpublished fic "His Life in Their Hands" tied in second at Teitho contest for October (the theme was "healing"). I also finished 2008 National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) as a winner. Thanks to Fiondil for his support.

My health is another thing altogether. Usually, I don't like talking about private issues on the net, being all formal, alter ego and yet a stranger, but I guess I should inform you on my whereabouts in case I'll disappear completely. A few of you, members of the MC yahoo group for example, already know that I am this stubborn, thick-headed cancer girl, still alive after only the Valar know how many surgeries, chemos and radiation and more than ten years with the blasted cancer (cancer-remission- cancer coming back- remission-coming back again...you get the picture). I can't believe it myself that I'm still here. But I am. I watched the second Hobbit movie and same as you, was utterly amazed at Legolas' return, since he got so much screen time, I SO couldn't believe it.

Right now, I've spent the last weeks in hospital and I am practically on my way to National Hospital in Camden/London again, guess you could call that my second home these last few years. I always want to be on the left side of UCLH tower, because there, you can use Glaxo Wellcome's wireless internet for free (it really depends on the ward you are in, but usually I am one of the lucky few who can slip into their network which is not secured and hence free to use (the Glaxo Wellcome building is right next to UCLH)

Now you go ahead, read my fics and tell me what you think. As I said, I am still this fighter I have been for a long time and I am not ready to give up on myself yet.

and you can also find me on youtube, where I host the Mellon Chronicles clip and other Lord of the Rings vids (plus some "Nina fighting her cancer" clips, if you are interested)

http://www.youtube.com/user/PeppyPower?feature=mhw5

Thanks to all my friends so far - I am alive because of your care, your support, your love and all your prayers.

The rest concerning my bio simply stays the same:

My name's Nina. I studied veterinary medicine and biology, but work as a journalist nowadays.

I always adored Tolkien and his imagination. He just created a world in which we still find empty spaces. To me, Middle-earth feels like a world I really do know. Strange, but that is the case. Thanks, prof! I like his idea of a real true male friendship (no slash!), as Legolas' and Aragorn's, which was considerably more intense long ago and, after WWI and WWII, both of which came and went in Tolkien’s lifetime. There was comradry and love for your fellow man. I know in the current day and age this is often interpreted as ‘homosexual’ which saddens me. To me, feels like we have lost a great thing, trust and love for each other, those intense male friendships I’ve always envied and admired--for the way soldiers take care of their own, so much that they’d die for each other. And before you try and tell me that Tolkien didn't really elaborate on a Legolas/Aragorn friendship: STOP! Go and read the books AGAIN, plus the appendices. In Return of the King, Legolas tells Gimli about his love for Aragorn. And remember that Legolas waited until Elessar's death before sailing to the west.

I belong to the "canon police or canon nazi" when it comes to Middle-earth history. You had better know that. I always try to closely follow the Tolkien timeline. There are certain things I hate about the movies, i.e. that PJ simply chose not to introduce Glorfindel, the twins, Radagast, Prince Imrahil or Halbarad. Whatever. Good that no one can take my own mind and imagination from me. Know that if I encounter a story with screwed places and no "map of Middle-Earth" knowledge, I'll very well stop reading. So, research being the keyword here.

What else to say? I'm NOT one of those frantic Orlando Bloom maniacs, but I really like the characters he portrayed. He IS my Legolas. The Legolas I already had in mind when I was 13 years old (first time I read the books). BUT: I so DON'T want to marry him, alright? There you go. I am happy he found his little family and I'm waaaayyyy beyond that, since I had the pleasure meeting OB himself and some real bad fangirls at Duke of York's theater/London. Did you know that those girls would possibly kick, bite, yell and scream, punch and so on only because you had the "cancer bonus" and talked to him? w-e-i-r-d.

Is there more? Well, I loooove horses, grew up with lots of animals and pets on our farm where my family used to breed thoroughbreds (racehorses). Those days, my illness would keep me away from the barn and stables far too often.

Recently, I decided to give another long-term fandom of mine a try and started writing The Professionals fanfics. My brother and I have loved the Pros since...umh...maybe 15 years? It's the same with Starsky&Hutch or The A-Team. The two of us totally adore the on-screen-chemistry those teams of best buddies display. We love their friendship and, not unlike Aragorn and Legolas, each would give his life for the other. Plus, we always loved roaming London. We've seen the Pros filming locations and sites so many times that I can't recall, honestly. We got drunk in the Blue Anchor and other Pros Pubs, we've ran where they ran, we chase ourselves where they chased terrorist or other bad guys.

I wish you all health, since this is the most important gift of life! And don't forget: Try and do the things you really like today, not tomorrow - it might be too late.

Take care, stay healthy and enjoy nature as best you can--only my advice. I hope spring won't be too far away now. When I close my eyes and inhale...I can already smell it. Can you?

Thanks for reading through this...hm...lament? April 7th, 2014

Nina