What to get the Medievalist in your life: part five

[highlyeccentric]

It being That Time of Year again, everyone is asking: What should I get for the medievalist in my life? Well, those who have medievalists in their lives are asking. Um. Maybe it's just the medievalists who are asking, because we don't go in for subtle hints.

Jeff Spyeck at Quid Plura presents the first and most comprehensive list. There's an Innocent III action figure! I wants it, precious. What better to complement my Miracle Jesus action figure, Mircale Toast set, my teddy bears Augustine and Origen, and my Dr Who action figure. (If you don't think the latter belongs in a religious kitsch collection, think again)?

Meanwhile, coming back to medieval gifts, Jennifer Lynn Jordan adds some suggestions of her own. I'm partial to the Warrior Head money bank, myself.

Over at Unlocked Wordhoard, you can leave your very own medieval gift requests with Fæder Krystemasse.

No one so far has suggested any books, possibly because we medievalists spend too much time with our noses to the page. (Well, except for one girl I know who spent a week weighing horse poo as part of a research assignment into military logistics in the crusader period.)
But how could you go past Cattus Petasatus- The Cat in the Hat In Latin? I certainly couldn't, which would be why goblinpaladin presented me with a copy. In case you're thinking that that's a classicist present, rather than medievalist, the translator's notes at the back explain that no classical verse form approximates Dr Seuss' particular style. Instead, they used a medieval trochaic verse form to render The Cat in the Hat in Latin. And they offer a reading list of textbooks on medieval latin.
Anyway. It is cool. Check out an exerpt.

Meanwhile, we don't know anyone corny enough to get their medievalist boyfriend a copy of Ovid's Heroides, do we? *whistles nonchalantly* <sup>1

1. My excuse is, at least it's not the 12th century. At least I'm not imitating classical sop every time I write him a letter.</sup>

Comments

[blackbuttoneyes.livejournal.com]

I have Cattus Petasatus! It is the awesomest ever.

[goblinpaladin.livejournal.com]

How could I resist? Surely, I could not.

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

it is. this is a qualitative fact.

[kayloulee.livejournal.com]

I think that JP would like the Innocent III action figure. It's just a feeling I have...*g*

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

I think he'd be bemused.
but amused.

[kayloulee.livejournal.com]

See? He'd like it.

I've just made, I don't know, about fifty cookies and a pie. *dies and is ded*

The cookies were a bitch to make (but so so worth it, because NOM NOM NOM), the pie was easy as.

How can cookies be a bitch, you ask? Well, try having a recipe that needs much more flour than it actually says, and that needs to be frozen in order for it to be in any workable state, and THEN they needed to be coated in sugar....

But there was real chocolate, not cocoa, and the pie is mostly fruit mince....

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

i tell you who would LOVE it?

John O. Ward.

tempted to order one on the 'net and hunt him down when he gives his lectures for 2601 and present him with it.

nomnomnom. cookies.

[kayloulee.livejournal.com]

There were/are chocolate ones and ones that were supposed to be molasses, but we only had golden syrup. I've had some already and *wanders in haze of delicious cookie-ness*

Have you seen those disease soft toys? I want the bookworm, I would cuddle it and keep it forever and name it George. Or .303, which is the fastest animal on the Disc.

Nooo, I haven't been reading Hogfather today, why do you ask? *g*

[kayloulee.livejournal.com]

Did you see this post on metaquotes?

People were thinking up alt names for the Hobbit film.

* Pip and Merry's Excellent Adventure
* The Beorn Ultimatum
* A Rivendell Runs Through It
* The Orc Whisperer
* The Legend Of Baggins Vance
* Orc And Mindy
* Raiders Of The Lost Orc
* Merry & Pippin - Still Smokin'

And the winner?

* Sauron and Thanks for All the Fish

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

oh. dear.

[kayloulee.livejournal.com]

I think they stole all my energy from yesterday and used it for evil. But that might have been due to the Baking Frenzy and Argument With Dad (ohyes, definitely related).

Turkey for dinner tonight! And cranberries! And, and, and PRESENTS!

I love having Russian ancestry. Christmas a day early, anyone?

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

huhn. i keep trying to convince my family to do christmas eve, since by the time we get back home on christmas day we're too fucked to move, and sit there staring at the mountain of dishes going "glergh, don't wanna clean up", and push presents at each other in a desultory fashion.
Joel usually vetos this plan. very big on Doing Things Properly, he is.

Besides which, he's working today and i'm on tonight. He's working tomorrow and i'm on boxing day. Not much of a chance for any sort of sibling bonding this year.

[kayloulee.livejournal.com]

Doing it on Christmas Eve *is* Doing Things Properly for us, thank God. By the time we're tired out from food and presents and sugar-highs, it's really late and hey, the dishes can wait. And we get to sleep in Christmas Day. It's helpful for my cousins who're married as well, because they can spend CEve with us, and Day with their SO's family.

My Russian Orthodox great-aunts celebrate it on January 6th, way after the rest of us. My aunt Katherine once went gambling with my uncle on the 6th, and she was all "Don't tell my sisters! They'd kill me!"