Mae govannen, mellyn.

First things first...Nina takes a deep breath... Most of you do know about my disease. The others only need to read through this profile and will come to terms with it.

The first week of March has already passed and I can say I spent the last weeks in hospital, had to undergo three surgeries (with more surgeries coming up, plus the necessary treatment after the re-staging process). Therefore, I won't be able to post/review/email as often as usual. Please, pray tell and have mercy on me! 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.

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.

I am happy to announce that I finished "Skills of a Healer" 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 finish it later this week. And there is more news: I got accepted as a writer for Stories of Arda (I promise to start posting my stuff there soon)!! Plus, my previously unpublished fic "His Life in Their Hands" tied in second at Teitho contest for October (the theme was "healing").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 last years National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) as a winner. Thanks to Fiondil (who is living with us) 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. Google "Hodgkin's lymphoma WHO grade IV", if you may, that will tell you all you want (and need) to know, if interested

The new year is one month old now and I spent almost two weeks in hospital again after I had to undergo surgery and testing on my lymph nodes. Not all results (such as the bone marrow biopsy) came back clear, but so be it then. I will be going back to hospital the first week of February for another surgery on my lymph nodes and a biopsy on the lymph nodes of my lumbar spine since oncologists and surgeons both agreed on taking more samples. The end results will make all the difference in the upcoming treatment. Dear Fiondil will keep my friends updated, since he is living with us.

But, please, I don't want your pity! Don't do that. Just go ahead, read my fics and tell me what you think.

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

The rest concerning my bio simply stays the same:

My name's Nina, I'm now 30 years old (and even if Fiondil says no female wanted to admit that - you see, I am admitting, because I am so happy I made it that far). 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 16 years ago (first time I read the books). BUT: I so DON'T want to marry him, alright? There you go. 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.

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 almost smell it. Can you?

Thanks for reading through this...hm...lament?

Nina

PS. The picture here shows me and my beloved horse Ira. I've known her since her birth. She is 27 years old now and the most precious gift. Ira is equine royalty with a heart and a soul made of gold. The photo was taken during one of my many, many chemo treatments.