It's September 22nd! That means it's the shared birthday of J.R.R. Tolkien's furry-footed protagonists, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. You may remember that it was the occasion of Bilbo's eleventy-first birthday and Frodo's thirty-third birthday that figured in the opening chapter of The Lord of the Rings. If you've never read Tolkien's masterwork of fantasy, this would be an excellent day to begin (it's available on the third floor of the library, under the call number PR 6039.O32. L6 1975). If you've read it before (even several times, as I have), perhaps it's time to revisit it.
Of course, you could always screen Peter Jackson's film version. Pay close attention to the scenery. As New Zealand stands in for Middle-Earth in the film, you could even consider it "Year of Oceania" research! (The screening of Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated version is not recommended by this blogger).
The occasion really should be marked with fireworks and pints (pints!), but those aren't feasible options for the dorms. Unless it's a pint of root beer. The fireworks wouldn't live up to Gandalf's anyway.
Say what you will of Bilbo Baggins; he knew how to make an exit.
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