Late Anniversary Post!

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 44198

I lost track of the time. Here goes.

*Amanda clears her throat pretentiously. There is a flurry of motion as
various listmembers recognize the sound--heads bob up, looks of alarm cross
faces, and there is a general wave of surreptitious sidling toward the
nearest exit. Amy Z and Neil cause a bit of a distraction when both try to
get out one door and they become wedged; Cindy pries them out with her
paddle and all escape. Penny pretends she hears Elizabeth crying and beats a
more dignified retreat. The older TBAYers quietly ease out the door and into
the water on inner tubes. Caius puts on his new Inviso-Phones, starts his
filks playing, and sits up alertly. The room fills with loud cracks as the
list elves remember various tasks needing urgent attention and disappear.
The newer listmembers look around, uneasy, and head for the doors
themselves, but by this point Amanda has casually waved her wand and they
have swung shut. A few remaining Geists hover by the doors and brandish
balloons at the crowd, which backs up nervously and turns back to Amanda.
She smiles benevolently at her alarmed captive audience and begins
speaking.*

I actually am two days late, but it gives the interval a nice ring: Two
years and two days ago, I posted my first message to this list. Following my
tradition, I now re-post it in its entirety. For those of you who consider
me a Towering List Presence (sort of like that violet pudding) and an
Authority On Stuff, enjoy this window back to my pre-L.O.O.N. days. For
those of you who think I'm an idiot and post drivel, enjoy this
confirmation. For those of you who have no idea who I am, anyway, and wonder
why the hell I'm cluttering up the list, too bad--the doors are locked and
you're stuck. <smiles benevolently again, with a warning flick of her wand
toward a group of people in the back whose attention has wandered and are
whispering something about Draco>

<begin Message #1583>
From:  Amanda Lewanski
Date:  Sat Sep 16, 2000  9:52 pm
Subject:  Hello, and a question

Greeting to the list. I'm new, and I've been group-hopping trying to find
the level of discussion I'd like, and you seem to be it. I hope I can
contribute items of interest, too.

A question---in all the groups I've observed, nobody's talking about Snape.
Can I get your thoughts on him? He seems to be such a complex
character---any theories (I've got a few) on *why* he stays with the good
guys? Why Dumbledore trusts him?

Just wondering if you were pondering what I was pondering,

Amanda
<end Message 1583>

I was, if I count correctly, the 142nd member (or around that). So that you
may honor them, these are some of the members there to meet me, whose names
also now ring through these hallowed halls (or would, if I'd open the
doors).....Penny; Simon; Jim Ferer; Jen P; Joywitch; Ebony; Flying Ford
Anglia, Catlady; Lexicon Steve; Aberforth's Goat; KelleyElf; Sheryll; and
golden faile leap out at me from a quick scan of the list. Two years and
more these guys have been listening to me! So you can all just stop
complaining. And put your hands down! You can't *all* need to go to the
bathroom that bad.

*Amanda retires with dignity and feigned deafness, ignoring the cheers and
sounds of running feet as she allows the doors to open.*

--Amanda, premier Snapologist, founding L.O.O.N., primaGeist, etc.