late to the party

[Kimberly]

Whoever it was that saw fit to include me here, I can't thank you 
enough.  I recently had to bail on elfing because of RL 
responsibilities (and the fact that it's been nearly 2 yrs since I've 
been able to really keep up on the main list).  I desperately wanted 
to stay involved, so I wouldn't miss out on all the wonderful 
analysis, but when I couldn't even keep up with the MEG list, I 
pretty much resigned myself to giving all that up, so this is like a 
reprieve for me.  The smaller scale means I might be able to keep up, 
and maybe even contribute.  And a double thanks to Neil, since I 
hadn't checked my email in close to two weeks, and my invitation had 
expired, giving him more work to let me join.

I know I'm supposed to post an intro, so here's that:

THE OLD CROWD – INTRO

***Name:
Kimberly Moon

***Nicknames/IDs:
Had many moon-related nicknames tried on me growing up, the one that 
stuck most forcefully, I coincidentally share with my beloved Remus 
Lupin.  Due to Yahoo's overabundance of already taken names, I'm 
either moongirlk or luna_ticklish email and IM wise.

***Age:
32

***Family:
Parents I'm very lucky to have been raised by, one big sister I still 
look up to, and the big brother and little sister I always wanted (my 
sister's husband and daughter).  Not married, like living alone 
(except for those moments when you've just finished a long-awaited 
book that leaves you feeling cold and shakey and wishing you had 
somebody strong to hold you).  

***Home
my comfortably messy 1940s brick bungalow in St. Louis, MO, USA

***Birthday, Place of Birth:
October 11, also in St. Louis

***Education/Job/Role in Life etc:
BA in Foreign Language/French Lit, and an almost MA in same that 
never quite materialized.  Have worked in bookstores, been a tour 
guide, a grad instructor, a preschool teacher (v similar to being a 
grad instructor), a translator and a missionary.  Currently (for most 
of the last 6 years) work in technical support helping keep a chain 
of portrait studios running so all the Petunias out there can fill up 
their mantlepieces with shots of their Ickle Duddikins.  Haven't 
quite worked out what my role in life is yet.

***Other things we might want to know about you:
So hard to guess what you might want to know.  Honestly don't think 
my politics or eating habits are all that interesting.  I'm a 
Christian, have held a human brain in my hands, am a traveloholic, 
like sailing, kites, gliders, and anything else powered by God.  
INFP.  Have already been compared to Luna Lovegood by a friend (have 
decided v. tentatively to take it as a compliment).  Had a one-eyed 
dog growing up.  Am defiantly idealistic.  

***First contact with Harry Potter:
 GoF release day.  Went into bookstore for a child's birthday present 
and had the first 4 books, a lightning bolt tattoo and a pair of 
rubber glasses thrust upon me by a college-age girl wearing lots of 
black leather, several piercings and a witch's hat.  I picked up 
PS/SS that night to make sure the books weren't too scary before I 
gave them to the kid.  Next thing I knew it was 3 AM.  Went to the 
bookstore after the birthday party the next day and bought another 
set for myself.  The kid, and his mother, were hooked as well.

***Favourite Potter things (books, characters, ships, fics, objets 
d'Art, general enthusing):
Books:  PoA, then CoS.  I must admire OOP for the way she managed to 
keep me tense and on the verge of tears through the whole darned 
thing (and beyond), but for the same reason, I can't list it as one 
of my faves.
Characters:  Ron, Lupin, Neville, Ginny, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Snape 
and the Weasley family as a group, but especially Arthur.  Also 
George and Fred.  Boy, that narrowed it down, huh?
Other elements:  Hogwarts in general, wizard portraits, the sorting 
hat, Fawkes, all the amazing creatures she's come up with, and the 
way she has of not just putting you in a place, but putting the place 
in your heart.  Sappy, but I can't explain it better.
Ships:  Still holding out steadfast, patient hope for Harry and Ginny 
as well as Hermione and Ron.  Would love to see Lupin find love, but 
there's nobody worthy of him as far as I can see. 
Movies:  They're ok, but unless they start making 6-8 hour movies and 
letting JKR decide every factor, they'll never be able to due the 
books justice.
Fics: I don't do FF, at least not until JKR's finished.

Extent of Potter obsession:
Fluctuates.  RL tends to interfere.  I don't have much merchandise or 
anything, just a couple of figurines I got as gifts and a "Go Away, 
Peeves!" bumper-sticker I made into a magnet and have up over my desk 
at work.  Was at the midnight release party with a friend for whom 
the event was also his birthday celebration.  I won a door prize 
(black baseball cap with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on 
the front and the release date and SCHOLASTIC on the back), and 
didn't even think about giving it to my birthday-having friend, but 
in my defense I *did* buy his copy of the book, as well as his 
dinner, so I think it's ok.  Ran into 3 members of my church there as 
well, so if I'm obsessed, I'm not alone.

***Other interests/activities:
I help teach a Bible class for inner city kids.  I am, as mentioned 
before, a traveloholic, currently addicted to Mauritius, where I've 
spent a lot of time in the past 3 years.  Also very interested in 
urban renewal.  Inching painfully slowly toward a dream of a sort of 
(Re)habitat for Humanity type group incorporating restoring city 
homes with giving people the chance to learn carpentry, plumbing, 
etc. to help their employability/"home-ownerability" (if anybody 
knows any winning lottery numbers to help the plan along, I'd be 
grateful).  Also love books of all shapes and sizes, but I admit to a 
certain laziness that means I read a lot of brain junkfood.

***Current/recent reading:
Recently finished this really long book.  Something about wizards and 
a Dark Lord and a war <g>?  Set aside in favor of OOP was "Florida 
Roadkill" by Tim Dorsey (v. funny, if gruesome).  Still sitting 
around unfinished are: "Prayer for Owen Meany", which I just can't 
seem to care enough about, and "Confessions of a Wicked Stepsister", 
which I got a few pages into and then misplaced before I picked 
up "Florida Roadkill", and will now have to wait.  

***Current/recent listening:
Am feeling mellow.  In the car at the moment is Jack Johnson's "On 
and On".  I liked his first CD better, but am hoping this one grows 
on me.  Have been listening to Norah Jones and Diana Krall in the car 
lately as well, and in the player at home are Ella Fitzgerald, James 
Taylor, Bob Seger, Nat King Cole and Rod Stewart, currently.

***Current/recent viewing:
On TV I've been watching The Amazing Race religiously, and Law and 
Order when I get a chance, except for SVU, which I don't like.  Can't 
bear the Big Brother/Survivor type shows - too much of the worst of 
human nature.
At the cinema, the last film I saw was Finding Nemo, which was very 
cute.
On video/dvd, I finally broke down and bought Amelie, which I adored 
in the theater. 

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I've got tons of thoughts on all sorts of topics, but they'll have to 
wait until tomorrow, as this is already quite long and it's 
frighteningly late.  Just one quick, stupid thing and one big thing 
here.  First, I think I might qualify as a LOON for this one, but I'm 
almost certain Harry closed a closed door at one point.  I'll have to 
look it up tomorrow, but it's while they're back at Sirius's house 
due to Arthur's attack.  Harry's lying in bed and somebody comes into 
the room - can't remember who.  He ignores them until they leave and 
he hears the door close, then he gets up, and goes and closes the 
door.  Did I imagine that, or did that stick out to anybody else?

The big thing is something that's been bugging me.  Why do you think 
that the one time Harry sees something that's both real and terrible 
in his Voldy mind-meld (Arthur's attack), it's when he goes to sleep 
not angry, but... I dunno - what *was* he feeling after the kiss with 
Cho?  He seemed confused, but also at least somewhat happy.  As angry 
as he is through so much of the book, why the night he's got some 
happiness going?  Just looking for thoughts on this because it's 
niggling.

Kimberly