arriving late to the mixer

[ldenell at apl.org]

Another long-time lurker surfacing for a few moments. I started feeling
guilty about reading your bios without contributing!


Name: Linda DeNell


Also known as: shylibrarian, mum


Age/Sex: 41 next week/female


Birthplace/Living place and feelings about same: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin/
Green Lake, Wisconsin. Didn't much care for Fond du Lac, but tiny Green Lake
is lovely. We have a converted farm house on two acres and I wish we had a
bunch more land so I could actually have some domesticated farm-type
critters.


Family Life: Married for 18 years, son Noah (12), exchange student son
Lennart (16, from Germany), and former exchange student daughter Mami (18,
from Japan). I also have two kitties and one very spoiled sheltie, all
"inside critters."


Personality: great with kids, shy with grownups until I know them well, like
to be silly



Words friends have used to describe you: good listener, loyal, goofy



Words you have used to describe you: same as above, plus shy



Things you do when not staring at the computer: read children's books,
concerts, plays, travel whenever I can (not nearly often enough), get the
kid's) where they need to be


Comfort foods: dark (plain) chocolate in all its permutations




Education/Work: Undergrad degree in social work, masters in library science.
I've worked as a children's librarian for the past four years and love it.
Did lots of other stuff before, and mostly liked those jobs, too.


Language skills: English. Had some French in high school and can read it a
bit. Am picking up some Spanish through work, but am too timid to try
speaking any aside from "Hola"


Technical know-how: I'm the family member who hooks up new electronic
equipment -- my husband has no particular interest other than pushing the
button to make it go  :)



Favourite HP book: Still POA. Like OotP a lot better than GOF, though



Favourite HP character(s): Dumbledore, followed closely by Harry, Lupin, and
Hagrid (the critter connection). 



Favourite HP line: Harry's speaking with his Uncle Vernon at the end of POA
about Sirius. "He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted
murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes
to keep in touch with me, though...keep up with my news...check if I'm
happy..." Gotta love that spunk.


Watching/Avoiding the HP movies?: Watching, and hoping they don't mess up
this coming film. Have been irritated with portrayals of several of the
characters but thought Branaugh's Lockhart was spot on.


Into HP fanfiction? Have read and enjoyed a few that have been mentioned
already, but don't have much online time.


Books you'd recommend to just about anyone: "Good Omens" as previously
mentioned. "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara about the battle of
Gettysburg during the US Civil War. But as most of my reading is of
children's books (in a vain attempt to keep up with my young patrons) I'm
much better at recommending titles for two to twelve year olds  :)


Favorite TV shows: Nothing current. Have and enjoy all the old Monty Python
work on DVD, just bought the first season of "Rocky and Bullwinkle and
Friends" on DVD, too. Guess I'm stuck in the sixties as far as TV goes.


Favorite Movies: All of Cary Grant's comedies, A Fish Called Wanda, The
Princess Bride, Emma, Strictly Ballroom, Waking Ned Devine. I think Pixar's
films for kids have been fantastic. 


Favorite Musical Artists: I will always love Bruce Springsteen as we share a
birthday  :)  My musical tastes run from Medieval Europe through classical,
Celtic (I'm one of those who enjoy bagpipes), folk, Cole Porter, big band
jazz, blues, "classic rock" and high school band.


One thing about your life you'd change if you could (sorry, but you
may not say "lose weight"): I'd be less shy around people I don't know well.


One thing about your life you wouldn't change even for an advance
copy of Book 7: my two- and four-legged family


Philosophy for an easy life: to quote Paul Simon, "slow down, you move too
fast..."


How you found HPfGU: way back when it was on E-groups, but I can't remember
how.


Active at other HP sites: check the news at TLC often, and love seeing what
scoops the CBBC newsround site land.


Your most rock solid Book 6 or Book 7 prediction: Harry will break the rules
again.


Take a moment to wave to members of the fandom you have personally met: I
met Neil, Catherine, Michelle, and Alex in Greenwich on a family trip in
2001. Couldn't ask for a nicer group of people to putter around with at the
Greenwich Naval Observatory (or likely anywhere else!)


ADD A QUESTION OF YOUR OWN AND ANSWER IT: Will we see Fred and George in the
next two books? I certainly hope so!