Posting to check something. Back in a mo.

ETA: I'd just been to a writers conference in Charlotte, where Annie Lamott spoke about the column she wrote for an online magazine, Salon. Her talk was quite good, but made spectacular by the ESL translator, with whom she had a mock banter-battle while he was signing. In any case, I had just barely dipped a toe into the murky waters of teh internetz, and went looking for Salon. Saw a strangely attractive silhouette and link for a section of Salon called "Tabletalk" and went exploring. Found the Agnes Bertiz thread and lurked a bit before posting on June 2, 1999, post, #1617 of 4014, on that motherthread.

I'm married, two teenaged sons, one living with his girlfriend and trying to work and put himself through community college on his own. The other working and amassing a gaggle of friends. I've left the office I managed for more than ten years under the increasing demands and diminishing rewards of corporate-style reorg. The husband and I decided now is the time to devote to that novel I've been pecking away at. Part-time work at B&N keeps me in coffee and discount books, but it's the clever people in the lighty box who broaden my world to other cities in other parts of the country, and other countries. All of 'em interested in this clever and witty Buffy show.

Aww, I love that this took off! It's amazing to think how much we have all changed. I'm so glad I'm not the person I was then, though I want to squish her cheeks and tell her it's really, truly going to be okay. And the people here will be a huge reason why.

Re-hashing some previous posts, but:

I'm a champion lurker -- I first came across Buffista posts at WorldCrossing (following a link from Dana Stabenow's website to a post about an analysis of how many vampires Sunnydale might reasonably support), but didn't visit often because the site worked sooooooo slowly on my dial-up connection. Buffistas.org is an amazing improvement.

I almost de-lurked after the first few episodes of Firefly, because I started to think I might have something to say, but then I read that the show had been cancelled. I almost de-lurked mid-way through BtVS season 7, because I liked the first half and started to think I might have something to say, but then I disliked most of the second half of the season and de-lurking just to make negative comments struck me as rude. I almost de-lurked during the fundraiser for Nilly's visit, but I was a little too slow, and the goal was met while I was dithering.

I'm finally de-lurking because Tim has called out the lurkers to show some support for Wonderfalls.

I enjoy the watch-n-posts for various shows. I like seeing the hive-mind in action, I like the variety of topics, and I like the idea that every once in a while I might be able to contribute something to the conversation.

This place is always entertaining and often informative. For that I thank you all.

edited for TMI

I went archive diving and found what I think is my first post. Also remembered my original username - Amber0268. Anyway, first post was April 18, 2001. Nillytour was 2004 - so I was mostly lurky during those first years. So, let me try this agian...

I was 33 when a friend mentioned Salon and I ended up finding the Buffy thread. I lived in California at the time. I also considered myself stuck in a marriage that wasn't good anymore and was trying to work out how to ask for a divorce. (This would be put on hold when my FIL killed himself the following January). CJ was in pre-school and K-Bug was just finishing up 5th grade.

My 10 year work anniversary was fast approaching. We had been in our Alameda house for 4 years and my mom's health was strong.

I found my first post! Feb 24, 1999! (And almost immediately I start advocating for a separate spoiler thread! ha!)

I know I must have lurked for a while before that though but, basically, winter '99 I'm 31 and have been living in Baltimore for a year and a half. I'm renting a house in Hampden (a whole two bedroom house for $500 a month). I am working as a publications designer for a public health research company and I have an office with a window and a nice wooded view but thee job is not very challenging and I know I'm not going to get anywhere in the company unless I go out and get an MPH (and I've got terminal degree and am kind of over being in school). I have Frank, my terrieresque dog of undetermined age, and my two ginger brother cats who are just about 4. No boyfriend and not really dating and sad about it. I'm just starting to make a few friends here, aside from the friends I knew here already or met through them.

(And almost immediately I start advocating for a separate spoiler thread! ha!)

I think the second thing I ever posted was a spoiler to which Dana responded, "My eyes!!"

Talk about Champion Lurker - I'm posting this on behalf of SLNRLBF (Second Life Now Real Life Boyfriend) aka Will becuase he lurks and he's here and instead of him posting I said I'd post for him.

He's really busy with work right now so he goes weeks without reading and he mainly pays attention to Bitches. But I generally keep him up to date on stutff. We've been together for about 5 years (neither of this us are good with dates, it's hard to pinpoint when we went from "just hanging out in Second Life to dating").

Pretty much he just says hello. If anyone is goingt to be in Vermont or close to it we'd love to get tother. His definition of "close" is subjective he had to drive to Maine and back in a day for work.

So hello! And if anyone is lurking hey! Delurk it's fun

Aww, hi again, slartibartfast!

Hi, Will!

I'm looking for my first post. Or my first as Zenkitty, anyway. Is there an easier way than hunting through archived threads? My memory is so bad, I don't recall exactly when I did anything.

Hands up regular posters married to lurkers? (Me!) I wonder how many people we have registered and lurking just to keep up with what the hell their SOs are talking about...