F4 Day 4: An Armitage Limerick

There once was a fellow named Richard,

who, as Thorin, got stuck in a blizzard.
but fear not, dwarf-lovers,
for he indeed gained safe cover,

and his side-kick was a really cool wizard.

Go get 'em, boys!

There were also cravats and nice hair,

when he played Mr. Hot-Piercing-Stare.

While watching "North & South,"

you'll wipe drool from your mouth,

or maybe fall out of your chair!

Dang you, Thornton!

Then there's ol' Gizzy in leather...

who was quite the hot-tempered, mean feller.

Though jaded and grim,

you can't help but love him,

unless you're a hermit cave-dweller.

The guyliner. The stubble. The brooding.

Of course there's our Lucas from Spooks,

who battled terrorists, blonde ladies and nukes.

I will always deny

that he was a bad guy,

'cause it surely was some kind of fluke!

I don't believe any of it, I tell you!  *sniff*



But Harry, with his sweaters and smile,

makes being an RA fan so worth while!

He's such a nice guy,

you can't help but sigh,

even if he doesn't have the best style.

Adorbes.

 Speaking of style... there's this chap named Monet.

Though it's never implied that he's gay,

he loves cheerful bright colors,

like his creative, artsy brothers,
and would die wearing something bland and gray!

Don't look at me like that.  Pink looks great on you, Claude!

John Porter seems hardened and tough,
with those muscles and weapons and scruff.
Rescuing one-handed ladies,
saving African babies,
we learn on the inside, he ain't rough.

Ah, the original Porter pic.

 Dear Richard, many thanks for these guys,
who bring entertainment to many a fan's lives.
We all sure do love them,
so keep 'em on-commin',
and may your career continue to thrive! :)

Lookin' good, Mr. A!

  For more RA limericks, click HERE.

Remember to visit
fanstravaganza.com
to see what all the other bloggers
are up to this week! 



Therapy Session

Do you ever feel

possessive about your favorite things?

I do!

The left cushion of our love seat is mine.

(Nobody better sit there on movie night!)

Sometimes I'll discover something I love and take it over...

like one of my husband's old t-shirts that I've claimed for a

pajama/lounge-around-on-Sunday shirts.  It, too, is now mine.

And then there's Richard Armitage.

I've never felt territorial about my favorite actor before. 

In fact, since being hit with Thornton Syndrome a few years

back ("Oh the good ol' days, so long ago" *said in my best granny

voice, like I'm an old timer now*), I've felt that it was my

responsibility to spread the RA love.

I haven't had much success in bringing

others "into the fold," but I've tried, dang it!
I've tried. 

Today, I was browsing my personal facebook account,

when I noticed a family friend had posted something about

loving Richard Armitage as Thorin... and went off about him

and how amazing he is.  I immediately felt excited that I could

FINALLY discuss RA with someone I knew in "real life."

Then, I felt a twinge of... possessiveness!

Suddenly, I DID feel territorial!

Grrrr!!!

A stream of senseless thoughts rushed through my head:

Who does this girl think she is!?

I know SO much more about Richard than she does!

I bet she hasn't even watched "Vicar of Dibley" yet.

Then I realized how CRAZY my

thoughts were and snapped out of it quickly! 

Wow. How embarrassing!

Humph!



Something similar happened a few weeks ago,

when a bunch of male family members were discussing

"The Hobbit" and the different dwarf characters. One person

mentioned Thorin and I had to refrain myself from spouting

off all sorts of information about Thorin and the guy

who plays him in a know-it-all voice.

CRAZY, I tell ya!!!

These territorial feelings are so strange to me because:

1. I'm no longer obsessed with Richard Armitage. 

(I was for the first 6 months to a year of being an admirer. 

I can admit that now.)  He is still my favorite actor,

but he doesn't consume my thoughts.  My husband has

always been my #1 and only true love.  So what's the deal!?!

(I am not judging anyone who is currently obsessed with RA.  It's probably that

dang Thornton's fault anyway.  That show should come with a warning label!)

2. As long as I've been an RA fan, I've wanted to share

his talent with others... so why the sudden possessiveness???

Is it because he's becoming more and more popular

and doesn't feel like our best kept secret any more?

3. Richard is not a love seat cushion.

(Although Gizzy's leather sometimes reminds me of a couch I once knew.)

How DARE you!!!



I'm not sure why I had these odd reactions recently,

but that's why I'm seeing my therapists (YOU)

for professional RA help.

Has something similar ever happened to you???

Do share.

Over the Hill and Out of the Closet ~ by guest blogger Phoebe

Over the hill: a. relatively advanced in age.

b. past one's prime Cultural Dictionary

Come out of the closet: To publicly announce a belief or preference

that one has kept hidden. “At the last moment, the woman came out of the closet and announced

her passion for Richard Armitage."  (See skeleton in the closet.) American Heritage®

New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition

OK! I admit it. I am Over the Hill and I have no business having

a crush on such a babe as Richard Armitage at my point and time in life,

but I just can't help that I am the oldest living RA Fangurl.

IT IS NOT MY FAULT! IT IS NOT MY FAULT!

Blame it on the Recession and the Internet!

Yes, like so many other things that are off balance today, it is the bankers to blame and the government! If the banking and housing crisis hadn't occurred I would have been too busy with work to play around with the computer. I would have been working long hours to come home and relax in front of another episode of Law and Order and off to bed. It is the fault of the Internet too - after all the Internet was the gateway to this obsession. I could Google RA and find 15 pages of photos & links to blogs, articles and sites. The more I saw and read the more I wanted - yes, needed! It's like a porn addiction (not that I know anything about porn) cause the internet makes it all to easy for me to go to RA Fantasyland 24/7 for a fix and release from my boring real life. That damn Internet lead me to Youtube and all of the videos done by fans for Margaret and John and to N&S and then to www.richardarmitageonline.com, which was so much fun to read. (A gold mine of possible topics of conversation) In no time flat I was amazed that I knew more about Richard than I knew about my lifelong friends. YIKES!

Why has a pillar of the community like myself been sucked into this charybdis of passion

(my favorite description from N&S)? Who knows!? Perhaps it's hormones, Internet pheromones, boredom, longing for romance or the fact that Richard Armitage is a work of art.

Me? Well I'm past caring why.

I have read numerous blog posts that try to successfully analyze why Richard makes so many

women feel connected to him. For the most part they all have points that ring true for me, but reality sets in. Yes, every time I walk past a mirror I get the shock of my life - OMG, it's Norma Desmond!

What am I doing!? People will think I am crazy - or pervie or more likely inappropriate

(which is a word that has been used to describe me in the past).

* Tips for Coming Out - An Ongoing Process *

Phase One ~ Passive:

Do you remember when you had a real passionate crush

& all you wanted to do was talk about the subject of your passion?

Well, that is just how it is for me when it comes to Richard Armitage.

Is it that way for you?

If you are like many of his admirers you are pretty isolated (not so for you lucky Brits) and long for someone to share your feelings with who understand. A great place is to join a forum where you will learn to use smileys that 'thud', improve your vocab by learning works like 'phoar', 'peaches', 'crinkles' and you can study in detail every inch of him that he will let us see. On some forums you can indulge in discussion of his dental work but it is hard to find a place to chat about his love life. Yes, his fans are protective. One place where you can find some amazing topics are the blogs which give you plenty of space to come out and comment. Lastly, a daily visit to RAnet.com and RAonline is a must for it is here that you can get the latest news on his comings and goings and an easy place to enjoy photo galleries and lastly the place where you can read RA's love letters to his fans. This is what I call the passive phase because you don't use your photo or your real name and address. You might find that this will satisfy your urge to talk about RA - to ooo and ahhh and crush away! It is a great way to share poetry, fan fiction and amazing graphics. For some of us (and I am one the Lurkers) it is the most comfy place to be. It is amazing how bright and interesting RA's Bloggers and forum members are. There is a blog for every woman's taste.

Phase Two ~ The Real Deal - Coming out to

Friends, Family and Co-workers:

Steps to help you with your Outting:

First step - put a favorite photo of Richard Armitage on your desktop

which will give you an opportunity to answer questions like: Who is that? Why do you have

him on your desktop? You're weird. Changing the photo frequently is recommended.

Second step - Eat lunch at your desk and wear earplugs

so that you can watch videos and have co-workers leer at you or load up

your smart phone. Think of good responses for 'you're so weird.'

Third step -Bring in your Richard Armitage photo mug which you can carry to

the coffee room to get a refill and enjoy another question and answer opportunity.

'Who's that?' "Richard Who', 'What show is he on?' and a guaranteed final

question: 'Why do you have that guy on your mug?"

Fourth step: buy several copies of North & South so that you can lend

one to co-workers. You can tell the guys that it's about trade unions as a selling point!

Also a good way to convince significant others to watch four hours of TV.

Caution: It is not recommend that you wear your Mrs. Richard Armitage t-shirt

that you found on EBay UK on casual Friday. Even I think that is a little too weird!

Fifth Step: Formulate a segway to shift conversation to Richard Armitage

in casual conversation. Just a suggestion, you can use discussion about The Hobbit

as a convenient way to talk about RA. If you think RA has a long nose you should see what

they have done to it for the films or Did you know he speaks Maori?  The subjects are endless.

If you have a significant other who is sporty you can talk about rugby and then share a screen cap

of RA in motion. Remember to breathe evenly. Or perhaps talk about skiing and how poor RA

can't ski because he is filming The Hobbit, which once again brings up another topic.

Tip for at home: buy a jar of Marmite and smear it on your SO's toast...

then while he winces you can share that it is a favorite of your favorite actor.

Or did you know that Leistershire is pronounced Lestershear? (US)

Or perhaps: RA has a chicken pox scar just like you do?

If you are finding that your family and friends give you a vacuous stare,

don't be discouraged. The more you introduce RA into conversations the more accustomed

they will become and knowledgeable too. Hopefully soon they will be able to fully

discuss these stimulating topics with you.

Sixth step: put Misty Mountain Cold on a loop at home or the office.

Seventh step: If you are having girl friends over why not pop in the CD player

one of Richard's Audio Books and if it is a guy - I recommend the Lords of the North

or perhaps have Strike Back running in the background. The guys love Strike Back

and RA in uniform is a sight to be savored.

In conclusion: the name of the game is frequency and level of exposure.

Just a caution: If you still 'blush' when you answer the questions

or hear his name I recommend practicing your breathing. You don't want to

go through the embarrassment of co-workers or friends laughing at you,

not that it happened to me or anything.

Family and friends have gotten used to this Foolish Passion by now but

occasionally I still hear a groan or ‘But Mom he's 40! He is almost my age!' or

'OMG, it's that British guy again' or 'Inappropriate' and a laugh or two at my expense.

I will say that when I think of the different techniques I used to integrate RA

into my real life, the best was the photo gallery of the men in my life.

*        *        *        *        *

About Lynne (RL) aka: Phoebe of C19 ~

Female - US East Coast Liberal - Married - Mother of Four

Real Estate Broker - Anglophile - Interests: too many.

Nat's Notes: I met Lynne (Phoebe or just P) on C19 a few years ago. 
As you can tell, she is a hoot!!! I laughed out loud throughout this entire post. 
Thanks, P!  (Since you think you're so old, will you be my adopted grandma?)

If Richard had a Superpower... ~ by guest blogger Longhairedtoad

As I sit here and wonder in my artless, obsessed fan way, I can’t help but guess what superpower Richard Armitage would have. There are so many kinds to contemplate and consider, of course. We can go with the basic ones like invisibility, for example. But honestly, would you really want to have those sigh worthy looks disappear in a moment’s notice? God forbid we would lose the opportunity to enjoy viewing RA, whether it be a prolonged sighting or a quick glimpse. Invisibility is really something I prefer to have instead. Who wouldn’t want the power to hide in a moment’s notice and at the same time be able to walk right up to his ‘Lusciousness’ and view him without hindrance or interruption?

What about Telekinesis, the mental capability to move objects? Now that’s something to consider, RA with the ability to move objects and people as he sees fit. It has possibilities, both positive and negative. Physical feats would no longer be a problem for him. There are so many physical feats I can imagine him doing at the moment. Oh dear me, those wicked thoughts do come at the most inopportune times don’t they. But to get back to my point, I really don’t think having it would do RA justice. Telekinesis is another superpower I would rather have instead. The damage I could do. ‘Snickers Wickedly’

So what else is there? How about the ability to breath underwater? Interesting, but to what purpose would that serve? Off hand, the promise of constantly having RA wet! Envision it, RA rising from the foamy waves of the ocean. His chest, abdomen, arms, and thighs are covered in hundreds of thin, watery streams. His skin glistens. His hair is slicked back into a black skull cap. His muscles become much more defined from the watery film. His glorious jaw and neck drip with hundreds of droplets. It’s a sight as alluring as the most majestic waterfall. Oh where, oh where is that towel?

Now these superpowers are all well and good, but if you really think about it, they are quite ordinary. So many super heroes possess similar qualities. Wouldn’t you want RA to have a unique kind?

I believe he has one. His is a superpower is undefined at present or at least, it is not a recognized one. To a lesser degrees, some do possess something similar, but nowhere near as powerful. So what do I refer to? It’s simple really. Think Tall, Dark, and Handsome? What automatically what follows? ‘Broodiness’ Yes, yes, yes, it’s the power to render the most sensible fan from being a normal, breathing person to a heaping mass of wobbly jello. Now don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all felt that tingling sensation, which starts in our bellies and quickly escalates when RA flashes those baby-blues. He often follows with the angry stare. Sometimes it’s tinged with a hint of curiosity or has a dash of confusion. The intensity of his look is always just enough to make you gasp. Whether you’re young or old, married or single, alone or in a crowd of hundreds, the effect is the same. Your jaw slacks open. A dribble of saliva emerges or not. Every person reacts differently. Some develop cold and clammy hands. For others, deep blushing occurs and eyes sparkle. Coherent thought is usually unreliable, and chances of muttering nonsensical comments are high. In some rare cases, the urge to pucker your lips happens. I can’t say it’s happened with me, but some friends have declared it is fact. I know they were imagining things.


Now tell me, how many superheroes can boast of a power that can render a whole generation of women speechless at the same time? Even Superman in his prime could only boast of lifting a trailer truck in one hand and Lois Lane in another. The ‘Broodiness’ superpower is simply indescribable as it attacks without warning and leaves a lasting effect, which has been known to thrive for years. No known cure has yet been found, thank God!

Did someone say spandex?

There isn’t even a need to wear the superhero uniform. Now don’t get me wrong. I’ve got nothing against spandex. The image of RA in tight spandex has its merits. There’s no denying his chest and abdomen, not to mention those manly thighs would be amply emphasized. The tush factor is always a plus too. But no further accessories like a cape, is necessary. RA’s look is perfectly situated in black jeans, black top, and black boots. Simplicity at it’s best.

To prove my point, imagine this. RA stands before you. His back faces you at first. The singularly perfect backside is still. Without warning, there is a slight movement of muscles undulating beneath the denim. Suddenly his neck stiffens. He senses someone behind him and prepares to unleash the ‘Broodiness’ superpower. His hands remain dangling at his sides and his legs are apart. Ever so slowly, his head turns. We catch just a glimpse of his profile and instantly our breathing grows unsteady.

Behold the power of the Super Brood!

The finely chiseled jaw line, those cheekbones looked like they’ve been carved from stone. Thick, black lashes hide his eyes but slowly the eyelids are raised and we see blue. His gaze is down and his expression is neutral for the moment. We know a change coming. His head turns some more and the aquiline nose is now fully exposed. The tip is so alluring I feel a pucker coming on. Just one kiss please! His eyes dart upward and before you know it they are fixed you with a hard stare. You’re tingling. Yes, you are. If you’re standing within a group, someone will undoubtedly sigh. Another person will giggle. All of you will feel lightheaded at first as the tingling sensation grows. It gains strength that the person on your right puckers too. You, on the other hand, are beyond that. His stare turns more intense. It’s as though RA sees inside of you. Now you’re a goner.

For just a moment, he twists his head again, from side to side. It’s a small thing, almost not worth noticing but you cannot dismiss it. He takes a deep breath while you struggle to find yours. For a second it seems he will say something but he doesn’t. There is a look of confusion on his face and the trace of anger grows more prominent. It doesn’t matter at this point if he’s angry with you or the person behind you. You’ve been hit. The ‘Broodiness’ superpower renders you speechless. You do not speak, you do not move. You can do nothing until he turns away. Even then you do not recover but wait, like the helpless victim you are, to be hit again.

Now tell me, is this not a superpower to equal Superman’s superhuman strength or no?

I think it is or maybe this really isn’t a superpower and I’m just thinking too much. Perhaps we’ll never really know. All I do know is I’m still puckering. Yes, I believe I am and I’m certain I’m not the only one.

                                                                   *           *           *           *           *

About the Guest Blogger~Liza aka Longhairedtoad/LHT:

I currently reside in the Bay Area of Northern California.

My hobbies vary from baking and sewing, to traveling, reading,

and writing some fanfic. (Featured on the Dreamer Fiction forum.)

I've been an RA fan ever since I saw him in North and South.

One look and I was a goner.




Nat's Notes:  LHT and I are old NJTS forum buddies. (Not Just Toby Stephens Fans.) 
That was the first forum I ever joined and I met a lot of fun, smart women there who shared my love of RA! 
Unfortunately the NJTS forum was closed within the year that I joined. :(  Anyway, LHT was among those
ladies who made me think and laugh. I've read a few of  her fanfics, which made me blush! :) 
I love how she can paint a picture with her words.  Thanks, Liza!

There's a Wocket in RA's Pocket!

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday,

we bring you another Nat in a Hat  Production...

There's a wocket in RA's pocket!

Did you ever have the feeling

there's a WASKET in your BASKET?

Or a WOSET in your CLOSET?

Sometimes I feel quite CERTAIN

there's a JERTAIN in the CURTAIN.

I like the ZABLE on the TABLE.

Don't mind the NAR in my CAR...

but the GLOSE in the ROSE

is pushing things a bit too far!

The BLARTY does not like to PARTY.

The FLADOW in my SHADOW

is fun to have about.

But that DRETHER on my  LEATHER,

I could do without.

The YOTTLE in my BOTTLE

kind of makes me grumpy.

The ZILLOW on my PILLOW

helps me keep it fluffy.

The End.

Based on "There's a Wocket in my Pocket" by Dr. Seuss

For more Armitage-Seuss goodness,

check out these posts:

One Rich, Two Rich

How the Giz Stole Christmas

A Fanstravocity!

Before we get to the business at hand...

let's just take a moment to stare at this bearded pic.

Piercing stare of hotness+beard+black outfit=SWOON!

Okay.  Enough gushing.  (If only he'd stop staring at me from beneath those furrowed brows.)

This is just a heads up for you to mark your calendars (at least mentally) for the upcoming FanstRAvaganza in March.  You may have seen the poster on my sidebar (or those on other blogs) or read about it somewhere.

Those of you new to the RA blog world are probably wondering what all the fuss is about!  For the past few years, a bunch of us Armitage bloggers "get together" for a week-long, multi-blog event, celebrating Richard Armitage and his (let's face it, because it's true) awesome fans. It's like an Armitage carnival, and we all get to be the kids holding the cotton candy, riding the ferris wheel and having a good time. :)

You can read about the history of the FanstRAvaganza HERE.  (How it came to be and such.)

This year, Servetus the Great of Me + Richard is the ringleader, getting us all prepared and organized.

There will be several anchor blogs, which will be publishing something new every day (I will be one of those)

and many other tag team blogs, which will participate at least once during the week.  It's gonna be awe-soooome!

In order for this to be extra fabulous, we will need YOU blog readers and fellow RA admirers to participate.  Your thoughts and comments are so important! You can keep posted before and during this year's festivities by following the hashtag #FanstRA on Twitter or "liking" the FanstRAvaganza facebook page HERE.  Thanks for your support and enthusiasm!

Links to previous events on this blog~
1st Year of FanstRAvaganza
2nd Year of FanstRAvaganza

Deck the Halls with Lots of Richard!

It's that time of year again, folks...

time to sing Christmas carols, Armitage style. :)

So clear those throats and let's belt it out together!

Deck the halls with brooding Thornton,

a dash of dwarfs with big cheese Thorin,

add some stubble and some leather,

plus a few striped, fuzzy sweaters

Pour the cocoa and the cider!

Cinch those pants a wee bit tighter!

Trim your beard, adjust that collar.

Could those legs get any taller!?

Happy Holidays, dear RA buddies! 

I hope you have a wonderful season filled with

family, friends, health and happiness! 

Love, Nat

For more RA Christmas fun from the past 2 years~

Click HERE for "An Armitage Christmas Carol" video

Click HERE for "The 12 Days of Richard Armitage"

Click HERE for "How the Giz Stole Christmas"

Click HERE for my 2010 Holiday Recap