Hullo! Thanks for checking out the About Me section. Here I'll try to give you a decent overview of myself, why I love J.R.R. Tolkien, and why I especially love his character Peregrin "Pippin" Took. Let's start simple. My name is Matthew Montelione, and I am in my very early adulthood. I reside in the great state of New York - Long Island, to be specific. I am a college student and plan on becoming a high school History teacher. I eventually would like to teach at a University. Those are the basics...if you ever get to know me, through the internet or in person, you will find out the details!

It is hard for me to describe in words how much J.R.R. Tolkien's work (in specific The Lord of the Rings) has impacted me. His tales and characters have played a pivotal role throughout my daily life ever since I read LotR in high school sometime between 2001-2002. The Lord of the Rings is not just a book to me - it's not just an amazing story. Tolkien's epic reaches down deep into my soul, and plays my heart strings beautifully. There are so many fundamental truths and moral lessons within Tolkien's work - so much imagination and majesticism - that one can become so heavily engrossed in Middle-earth that it may be hard to get back to the "real world". I could start naming all of these truths and lessons, however I really do not need to list them out for those who truly appreciate Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings - they already know.

Tolkien's characters are so real and relatable that I find instant connections with them. Which brings me to my favorite character in all of Middle-earth - Peregrin Took. Pippin is my favorite for many reasons. Indeed his personality/character is very similar to mine. I'm easy to get along with, and I try to see the brighter side of things - most of the time! I love food, I love nature and long walks, I love music, I love my family, friends, and my land. Naturally, I also love my ale, and smoking is a rare delight! I'm quite foolish, at times, and sometimes say foolish things that irk people. I am very friendly to people I know, but suspicious of outsiders that come to my home such as Pippin was (and hobbits on a whole, I suppose) with the "big folk", and their initial reaction to Strider. As Pippin did at the beginning of his journey, I'm usually the one calling for rests or for food when I go walking with my friends. I can completely identify with Pippin. His initial fear of being out in the wide world, outside his Shire, is what I'm going through right now...finding my place in the "real" world. I can relate to Pip's whole story. Leaving the Shire rather immature, some might say (and as I am often called!), passing through many dangers, and coming back matured and completely ready for the world around him - this is also my journey. Pippin is the best!

So there's who I am, why I love Tolkien and Pippin, and why I ultimately created this site - I wanted to express my dedication to J.R.R. Tolkien and his character Pippin and his (Pippin's) influence in my daily life in a form that would do justice - and I figured a website would be a good start.

I hope you enjoy my website. Feel free to Contact me with questions, concerns, or just to say "Hullo"! You can also find me active on the best Tolkien forums on the net under the username Peregrin Took. See the Links page for more.

- Matthew