Coming out of Lurkdom

[chrisnlorrie]

--- In HPFGU-Texas at yahoogroups.com, Marvin Crabtree <crabtree at k...> 
wrote:
> Hey,
> 
> I have been a lurking member of this list for quite some time. 
When I
> first signed on to the HPFGU main list and OT Chatter I spent 
hours and
> hours reading those posts. Occasionally I would post, but by the 
time I
> decided what I wanted to say and typed a reply, several others had
> stated the same thing much more elequently than I could. 

Hear, hear!  That, and the fact that the few times I have posted, I 
have been made to feel a little "dumb", although I don't think that 
was anyone's intent.  I still feel as though I am not quite up to 
the "level"  of the main list. ;)




  I am an "old
> lady" (Isn't almost 51 old?) school teacher.  I teach 5th grade 
and am
> known all over town as the "Harry Potter teacher."  

You're not old! :P  I'm 37 myself, and I have to say that being 
involved in my kids' schools makes me feel a bit old.  I love the 
sign over your classroom!  I've mentioned HP to some of my kids' 
teachers, and they haven't read it yet!  As much hype that goes with 
HP, I would have thought they would have read it already.  Oh, well.

                                                                  
This
> reputation has at times been both a blessing and a curse for me.  
While
> most people think it is clever that I am "something of an expert" 
on the
> subject, there is the occasional critic who thinks I am corrupting 
the
> youth of the community.  

Ohhh, I know what you mean.  I come from a Christian background, and 
hubby and I are pretty involved in church and are raising our kids 
with good values, we hope.  BUT.....the mother-in-law and brother-in-
law and sister-in-law see HP as EVIL.  It's to the point that no one 
brings it up anymore, because they know that I will launch into the 
stories to try and explain that it's not about the magic (well, not 
entirely about it, to me anyway), it's the story of Harry and his 
choices...blah blah blah.  Those of us on these lists know what we 
are talking about.  Anyway, they know better than to bring it up at 
this point.  But mom-in-law has to get her digs in sometimes and 
give this tragic "sigh" with the, "I can't really believe that you 
let your children read this and watch the movies."   It really, 
really annoys me sometimes, but I keep quiet when she says things 
like that, mostly just to keep family peace.  That, and my husband 
is stepping on my foot :P.



I have attempted to control my enthusiasm for
> the subject in order to be seen as something more than a nutter.
> Although the majority of my friends know that I am a HP fan, only 
the
> closest friends and family realize the extent of my obsession.



I know what you mean.  Not to go into my boring life's story, but HP 
helped pull me out of some rough spots.  I was fighting some 
depression and anxiety, and I found that if I focused on the books, 
among other things, and I hit the gym, I was able to pull out of it 
with the help of some medication.  My best friend one day said, "You 
know, you used to talk about HP a lot, but you've slacked off.  
Thank God, because it was really annoying me."   That irked me, but 
when I explained what it had done for me, she said she was sorry.  
She's a HP fan, too, just not as into as I am.  I could still talk 
about it all day, but I curb my enthusiasm so everyone doesn't drop 
me like a hot potato ;). 
 
> Yes, this has been a bit of a ramble, but it was fun for me to put 
it
> into writing.


Well, look what mine turned into!! *LOL*


 
> Now, about Ginny and Harry, and for that matter Ron and Hermione, I
> believe they are made for each other. 


Oh, me, too!  Me, too!!  :D


  Have any of you read any fan fic?


I have and like you said, some is good and some of it is really 
bad.  I like Cassie Claire's stuff.  Have you read her stuff yet?
I believe it's at Fictionalley.


Take care!

Alora :)