Forum Memories, Three Years of Fun - Relive it here! |
 Jan 18 2008, 10:30 PM
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Waiting for Wednesdays  Posts: 9,150 Joined: 7:57am January 28, 2005 Location: Hiding from Hurricanes    |
Happy Birthday to our wonderful Leaky Lounge! On the 28th our wonderful forum will be three years old. What an incredible three years it has been. This year we've seen the release of the last of the Harry Potter series, though we have "The Scottish Book" still to look forward to, we've watched highlights from the movies and witnessed Jo's incredible generosity and love towards the fans of her novels. Through all of the fun we've been able to sit back with our Leaky family and share our thoughts here on the Lounge. As the Lounge grows larger and larger, the wonderful family feeling just continues. I'd like to take this wonderful occasion to thank all of our staff for the incredible job they've done over the past year. The Lounge is blessed with the some of the brightest people I've ever encountered and I feel blessed to know everyone! For all of our staff - This is one big Standing O from me to you - you guys deserve it!  To everyone who darkens the doors of the Lounge - thanks for being such a vital role in our family unit! This place brings us all joy, and serving as your bar keeps is truly our pleasure!  Thanks to all our members for this wonderful place!A VERY special thanks to NickTLC, who wrote an email to a certain webmistress suggesting TLC open a forum. Now, over 70,000 members later - WOW! Thanks for creating this fun place we love so much! Have a wonderful birthday celebration! From now until the 29th all of the food and the butterbeer is on me! So let's get this party started! Doris -------------------- |
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Jan 18 2008, 11:59 PM
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#2
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Leaky's Resident Borg Queen  Posts: 11,465 Joined: 11:45am July 25, 2005 Location: in space, the final frontier . . . |
I remember my first experience with a Lounge activity. I had just barely been made a moderator late in the day of Friday, March 31st. Not having been "in the know" about plans for this big event because I was so new, I was absolutely stunned on Saturday, April 1st (clue anyone?) that Melissa and Emerson had gotten married and decided to merge the Lounge and Mugglenet into a new, bigger and better Leaky Mug!
And I got taken in with most of the rest of the memberships of both site! Okay, do I hear gullible? 
-------------------- "That's why he fought. That's why he lived again, and that was the answer to Tam's question. I fight because last time, I failed. I fight because I want to fix what I did wrong. I want to do it right this time" -- Rand |
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Jan 19 2008, 06:18 PM
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Quest Diva and Maker of Magic  Posts: 2,227 Joined: 8:18pm January 28, 2005 Location: The Land |
Oh. Wow.
I remember when I was asked to be Reading Group Staff and I came into the back room for the first time... it was like being given the keys to the magical chambers of Hogwarts. I poked around, got lost, found my way, stumbled into the "ew" thread and then scrambled back to the relative safety of the Chamber of Snackage. Now, less than a year later, I cannot imagine not being a part of this incredible group of people. As for my favorite memory... I think it has to be Nekkid Wednesdays. I love 'em. Knowing Edward now, and working so closely with him on the Leaky stuff, makes it that much more fun to read and revel in the nekkidness of the day. I'm just waiting for him to streak with the tiara. My most touching moment... knowing how many of you guys put yourselves on the line in the name of CONSTANT VIGILANCE regarding spoilers for the Deathly Hallows. So many were willing to throw themselves on the literary grenade and I so appreciated it. -------------------- |
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Jan 20 2008, 11:51 PM
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Exclusive distributor of The Dungbomb Protection Kit  Posts: 2,632 Joined: 10:52pm March 5, 2007 |
I will never forget my time modding prior to the release of Deathly Hallows...what an amazing experience, and the closest thing to fighting bad guys as I will ever get!
My favorite memory, though, is logging on after I finished reading (and crying over!) the last book. It was absolutely amazing to see how many people were gathered here, sharing their feelings, and it was completely awesome to be connected to so many people who share my obsession! |
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Jan 21 2008, 12:12 AM
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#5
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The nicer member of the A-team Posts: 5,437 Joined: 5:33pm March 30, 2007 Location: Pushing the sweets trolley on the Hogwarts Express  |
My best Leaky memory was the day I found it: March 31st 2007. I followed a link someone put on another site and I realised that other people out there were passionate about Harry Potter. Yes I had been under a rock for a long time but I just never realised online fandoms existed
 I remember sitting there with my jaw hitting the computer desk as all this wonderful discussion opened up to me. I fell in love and I've never fallen out.But with Pyxis I agree the days just before and after Deathly Hallows was releasded were just magical. All the frenzy and the joy and the nerves building up to the big event! And it was just so amazing to share it with so many other likeminded people. I also remember coming on here after reading 34 pages or something like that to just squeee It was great to have somewhere like this to come to.
This post has been edited by Sethtaylorsummer: Jan 21 2008, 12:12 AM -------------------- |
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Jan 23 2008, 08:09 PM
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One Half of the DDD  Posts: 8,407 Joined: 5:31pm August 30, 2006 Location: Siriusly Dreaming Somewhere |
My first experience of the Lounge was following a link from JKR's site and then lurking for quite a while before being lured by the PoA Reading Group (my favourite HP book) which was a lot of fun and where I made some great friends. On Christmas Eve 2006 I was asked to be a mod which has been fantastic fun, I've loved it, even the craziness around the release of a certain book sometime last summer
 when there was some spoiling. The best Lounge event was Snape's Trial, it was beautifully done and I loved it, especially the witness examinations, they were hilarious. I love the discussions, the planning that goes into new features and chatting with people from all over the world.  Happy Birthday Leaky --------------------  November's book will is The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger "THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" roared Black. "DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!" |
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Jan 23 2008, 11:45 PM
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#7
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Property of the Half-Blood Prince Posts: 5,730 Joined: 10:10pm February 23, 2007 Location: Paying my last respects to Severus Snape |
I started in the Lounge with the Order of the Phoenix reading group. I had been lured here by a family member who thought this place would be perfect for me. I never looked back. I remember posting my first post and being scared the absolutely no one would like me and I had nothing good to say...but I never looked back. OotP used to be my least favorite book, but it has moved up two spaced on my list now. What I have really enjoyed more than anything is meeting new people and experiencing new things together.
My favorite memory was before OotP movie came out and Deathly Hallows I didn't want any spoilers of any kind. I didn't want to see any pictures, any thing Jo had said in interviews about the new book, nothing, so I would make my mom read the pages before I did to make sure I wouldn't be spoiled. I took out the ability to look at signatures and avatars so I wouldn't be spoiled by anything...and I wasn't at all!!!! It was amazing. Thanks!! --------------------   Albus Severus...you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." Harry Potter Come visit me at my blog where we discuss the enigma that is Severus Snape |
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Jan 24 2008, 12:49 PM
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Mischievous Manager  Posts: 2,279 Joined: 2:20pm October 14, 2006 Location: Playing with Fire |
Hmmm . . . as awesome as my first reading group was for reading GoF and the next group for OotP, as mindnumbing as it was being asked to join the Reading Group staff, as incredible as it was to celebrate Deathly Hallows with all of the Lounge, as fun as it is to participate in some chaotic chats in the Corner Booth, and as cool as it is to help out with some modding, my favoritist most fabulous memory of all is . . . . . . . . The Snape Trial. I got soooo many belly laughs that day, from the Lounge getting cranky and kicking out every now and then to the reactions of all the members. I laughed until I was crying at all the creativity and professionalism of those playing characters in both the booth and threads. Not to mention the behind the scenes skype chat - such comeraderie and support! If any of us had a hiccup or weren't sure how to respond appropriately as the character, a whole host of people were there to throw out a suggestion and help us through. It was fantastic! The best part of the day for me was that the members believed me well enough to use Unforgiveables on my character.
 
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Jan 25 2008, 05:28 AM
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#9
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Neville's Biggest supporter Posts: 11,752 Joined: 8:51am January 28, 2006 Location: On V.S.D.G. |
I found the Lounge nearly two years ago now, but only started to be active on the Lounge with the very first Reading Group of the Philosopher's Stone in April 2006. I have always been a fan of Potter, and I finally somewhere where I could discuss at as much as I like with other fans
 In September 2006 - I think it was a Lounge event, Back to Hogwarts - I literally stumbled across the Corner Booth, I loved the place from the beginning and it has been even better since I have had the pleasure of being a Booth Modder in September 2007. A big highlight was in December 2006 when asked to be a Mod. I literally jumped at the chance and never looked back since - made some great friends (Mods and Members!) From about March 2007 to July 2007 I was involved with the craziest of Deathly Hallows ... the massive build up. The evenings got steadily busier in Unfogging the Future forum, merging countless theories - like R.A.B was Regulus Black, and theories that the locket was at Grimmauld Place. And then came the Spoilers .... CONSTANT VIGILANCE invisabling Spoilers   Another big highlight was July 21st 2007 - I am sure something significant happened that day!  Seriously, from the early evening, you could fetl the excitement building. Then, seeming we couldn't be at the Natural History Museum, where Jo was actually reading the first chapter to a lucky few, we listened it through the Internet. We were all listening so hard ...letting out a enormous woop when Voldemort said Tonks and Remus had just recently married ... although I feared from them both immediately. Then the horrible ending of chapter one, with Nagini eatting Professor Burbage.I've loved being a member and a Mod of the Lounge - long may it continue! 
--------------------  (Avatar from Hagiographer13, Neville Siggy from Dreamteam and Reading Group siggy from fw00per) Strength is ... the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one piece |
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Jan 25 2008, 11:10 AM
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#10
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Mischievous Manager Posts: 5,348 Joined: 9:14am February 16, 2006 Location: Behind the sofa, watching Doctor Who |
I remember the day I discovered the Lounge. I had just found JKR's website a few days before, and I had just finished Half-Blood Price a few days before that, and I needed answers!!!
 I found the Leaky Cauldron news site first, then realized there was this huge, cavernous discussion going on as an aside. It was like being invited into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. So much to see, to dig in, to taste! My true home on the Lounge has been the reading groups, which I joined for the PS/SS reading as soon as I saw it was available. But I'll never forget that feeling of --  whoa! What on earth have I just discovered here?
This post has been edited by becky920: Jan 25 2008, 11:11 AM -------------------- |
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