Amandageist's 5th Anniversary Repost!--List history, Snape, etc.

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 140386

I only missed the date by a day this year! This is kind of long, but has
some list history value. And Snapeness.

Every year on the anniversary of when I joined the group, I repost my first
post, in solidarity with new members who hesitate to float their ideas or
address the group because it might be stupid, might have been discussed
before, etc. We've all been there. Also because, in light of what goes
through my inbox now, I can't believe there was ever a need to ask the
question I asked then.

This is my fifth anniversary post. Last year, I did a recap of them, which I
will retain. Enjoy.

On my first anniversary, 9-16-01, #26162, I said:

<begin excerpt>
> I joined a list of about 180 members (I think I worked out that I was
182),
> whose members contained (on a quick scan) such luminaries as Penny, Simon,
> Jim Ferer, Carole, Jen Piersol, Joy, Ebony, Trina, our beloved Brit car,
> Catlady, Steve the Lexicon god, Aberforth's Goat, Mlleelizabeth, Peg Kerr,
> Kelley, Sheryll, the McGee, Pippin, storm, and Cassie. The spinoff group
> Snapefans would come along on January 1, and Chatter on February 2.
> <end excerpt>

{note: Snapefans doesn't even remember where it came from anymore; it was
the  first spinoff, and the naming convention "HFPGU" had not evolved, and
so their history was lost as their list owners changed. Chatter came along
because a spirited discussion of British food was clogging up the list. We
were so *big,* after all! Several *hundred* members!

My second anniversary post, #44198, was late (9-18-02). TBAY had been born.
And I attempted humor:

 <begin excerpt>
> *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>
> .....
>
> 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.*
<end excerpt>

 My third, #80977, was on time: 9-16-03:

 <begin excerpt>
> It's that time again!
>
> (steps back to allow the marching band through, brushes confetti out of
> hair)
>
> Yes....it's time for Amanda's Anniversary Re-Post!!!
>
> Control yourselves.
>
> In the dim, dark, far-off days, when my children still napped and I was
> spending money and not earning it, I bought a book on sale, that I had
> avoided because it was popular. But 30% off, hey. You know the rest.
> <end excerpt>

And my fourth anniversary post, #115,148, several days late! on 10-7-04:

> (Amandageist wafts in, distressed. She attempts to wring her hands, can't
> because she's a vapor, gives it up as a bad job.) I can't believe I
*missed*
> the date!
>
> Well, clearly I couldn't think of anything to say, which is why I lifted
> from the first three. This is no real surprise; I have so little time
> anymore, for in the four intervening years I have gone from a stay-at-home
> mom, to a part-time job, to a full-fledged full-time career. But I still
try
> to make time for my first HP love--talking about Snape. As evidenced
below,
> in my Very First Post, #1583, September 17, 2000.
>
{note: It was not until #1642, on the 18th, that I got around to theorizing
that Snape may have loved Lily. Before there was a Bay or a LOLLIPOPS, I was
out there in my inner tube...}

 <begin repost>
> From:  Amanda Lewanski <editor at t...>
> 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 repost>