Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza

You know me, because we have kinda kept in touch on facebook, but I totally wanted to see a thread like this so I can share too.

Let's see, when I first joined the plaza I was a rebellious 16 year old, in high school, dealing with some home drama. This place helped me through so much of that drama, and moving through that stage of life. I have been really missing this place and that comfortable feeling.

Now I am almost 30 :? :shock: I still live in the same area of California. I have 4 little minions. (If any one remembers, my first was nicknamed Peanut after I shared the first sono in one of the picture threads. He is going to be 9 this year! ) I finally think I found the job that is where I "belong". Still pushing my way into it in a more official sense, but at least I have found it and can't wait until I can get back to doing it. (quarantine and family health pending)

I have still been doing some writing these past few years, nothing significant or even worthy, but keeping my fingers busy. I have also edited a few books for a few friends while they were working toward self publishing. (offering services if any one wants another set of eyes before following that path)

any way, that's the low down on Veo....

Mazana - yup, I think we are. I honestly don't think 4 is so bad... when I have help this quarantine has been so weird, it is just me, and them some days I am super mom, other days they are feral animals. But I can not even imagine what it is like for you in that weird place in your medical career. Hopefully you'll be able to move to the next phase soon.

EK- I remember the fb post, and I hope I left you a message on it, I certainly meant to - I was very proud, and was (still am) incredibly happy for you! And well done on the bachelor's!

Veowyn - I 100% remember the peanut nickname. Unbelievable that that was 9 years ago!!

Mazana - I've got a few friends in really similar positions to you. I take my proverbial hat off to all you medical staff for the wonderful things you all do.

Bain - Another very familiar name! :smiley8: (just had to get that smiley in somewhere, it was always my favourite)

So, I think I properly joined the Plaza in 2005 when I was 13/14. [I say 'properly', because, to candidly admit to my youthful errors, I did technically have an account for about a year or so before that when I was 11 or 12, but for reasons beyond my comprehension now, it led to me and a close school friend (who was also on the site) falling out quite dramatically. I abandoned the whole thing after that, but returned later as Tazynia - now retaining just the final 3 letters. In case anyone was wondering, we put aside our online feud, and I am still friends to this day with that school friend].

I spent most of my role-playing days in Rohan, but moved to Fangorn in latter years. I won't ever forget that one of the most important decisions I had to make in my adolescence, I made with the help of people on this site, which was to delay going to university and take a gap year in order to have an operation on my spine to correct scoliosis. It seemed such an enormous thing at the time, but it was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I have ever made. I've not had to worry about my back since, and am currently living in London lock-down with three university friends, all of whom I met in halls of residence in my first year at university (and none of whom I would ever have met had I not deferred my place by a year for the operation).

I continued visiting the plaza not infrequently during the years I was at university (I graduated in 2014). I've spent the best part of the past four years working for the UK civil service. And for the past two months I've been drafted in to support the Covid-19 response and related programmes of work, which has been some of the most interesting work I've ever done, but has at times been extraordinarily stressful. Next week is actually my last week before I return to my usual directorate.

Anyway, I am super psyched that this has arrived at a time when everything else in the world seems so uncertain (thanks again to Narv for his general epicness). It seems a nice twist of fate, that and at a time when many of us are greatly missing friends and family who we are usually able to see all the time, the plaza has been reborn to allow us to reconnect with friends from across the globe from a bygone era.

Oh boy, here we go.

So I joined under this unchanged name in March of 2009. Holy bleep, I was thirteen at the time.

By 2013, I had been logging in less and less frequently, so here's the rundown from then-on.

I'd come out to myself in late 2013, and dabbled with several labels that didn't quite fit before I settled on heteromantic queer/gay (I have a personal aversion to the word "lesbian", though it doesn't bother me when others use it).

I went to community college from Fall of 2014-Summer of 2017, transferred as a sophomore/junior to a university across the country in Fall of 2017, then dropped out a year later with plans to "eventually" go back. Yeah, I changed my mind on that.

So, I've spent the last two years working full-time. I was at Cinemark until last summer, but have been working for a childcare service ever since.... sooo, I'm an essential worker. Yay!

I also got back into the dating game in winter of 2018, and just got engaged to my now-fiance on Easter.

So that's the highlights for now.

Over a decade ago... Close to 13 or 14 years even I joined here. Full on teenager and a bit new to this. I found a dutch talking house (the houses still existed back then) en met people I still call my friends. Two of them became my best friends. I didn't roleplay much but dropped by in Fangorn from time to time.
Now I'm living on my own and going back to univeristy in september (as a 29 year old brrr)! Going to dig in the dirt and try to get that archeology degree.
Been doing tabletop roleplay a lot (D&D etc.) and also bit of LARP. Also learning the electrical guitar lol.
Don't know if anyone remembers me really haha, my name was euridice back then. Became eurie later on and still use it as my nickname.

It warms my old Entish heart to see so many people rocking Fangorn icons.

#FangornForever

Yes, its lovely, we need the kindling..

We must burns it preciouses, burns all the trees!

So many faces. I've been lurking in this thread on and off, and I'm so happy to see all these updates from everyone. It's amazing catching up.

Bain-- AHHH I can't believe you're almost done. Distance learning has got to be a wild ride. Oof. The frozen north still treating you well? I'm so glad to hear you are doing better. The mental health fight is a long one.

I joined the Plaza in 2007, was a Maia of the Cottage (the toasty Lindo one) in 2011/2012, and did some 'ruling' in Gondor as Aragorn for a stint in 2015/2016. Something about potato armadas, puns, and Gollum.

This is becoming a coming out thread... Well, here goes... I've come out as trans over the last couple years; use he/him & they/them. Some people have probably seen this if they're fb friends with me. I was thinking of starting a wee thread for lgbtq+ and allies to hang out. I was curious if there were some queer Tolkien fans hanging around.

I finished a degree in theatre & music in 2016, have been out working as a performer and a teaching artist, and have started to dig into the grad school search-- but that'll be a long one.

Dang I've missed this place.

Hiiiiii everyone! It's been so long....so long that I don't remember the majority of you (because you weren't alive yet) but I still have Plaza-love for you all! Seriously. Plaza== companionship for life.

I joined in 2002/2003, when I was legit hiding from bully's in high school in California and trying to survive. The Plaza helped me escape my fears and gave this nerdy girl a platform to be heard. And I am eternally grateful. I think I had to stop posting around 2007/9 because I lost my bloody password and.....well, then life happened.

Went to College in Arizona, graduated, lost myself in terms of career path, found random career paths, had crappy things happen to me, became resilient, became more nerdy and outspoken.

I met my fiance about 5 years ago and we have a family with two great step kids who are not, sadly, LOTR super fans, ( but they enjoy HP and other fantasy works) and a fantastic dog. I try to be a voice for equal rights, education, mental health, protection for nurses and healthcare workers and just people in general. I have a huge heart it includes all you crazy foo-ish beings here! <3

Leal!! Hoom hom, good to see you again!

Great to hear these stories from you all, and really brave of those of you talking about coming out. Some of you I've kept in touch with via Facebook which I've loved, but others it's just awesome to catch up with again on this new version of the Plaza.

Would you believe it, my first post here the other day mentioned how I don't have a computer and I may not post much because I don't do well with forums on my phone. Well after years without a computer, taking part in all this reminded me how convenient and enjoyable having one really was, so I bought a laptop yesterday. The Plaza is back to influencing my life again. Makes posting a heck of a lot easier though.

It's so wonderful to see so many old faces! And I'm starting to remember some that looked a bit unfamiliar at first glance.

Well, here goes. I've mentioned bits in various threads, but let's get it all in one place.

I joined the plaza back in 2008 when I was 14 and stayed active for a couple of years before university craziness took over. I've always been a member of Lothlorien. This community played an important role during my teenage years as I greatly struggled with developing friendships in RL and it often felt like by better friendships during those years were located here. It was certainly my first major foray into the internet.

When I was finally able to try and come back after schooling was over, the plaza was gone. I had stayed in touch with a handful of people over Facebook and in the Facebook, but I am very happy to have this crazy community back.

I graduated with my BA in History in 2016. After that, I moved to London for a year where I studied for my MA in Christianity and the Arts at KCL. Easily one of the best decisions of my life (and should explain my inconsistent uses of UK and US spellings). Last year I obtained my Early Childhood teaching certificate and have been working as an assistant teacher at a Montessori school for nearly two years. Still trying to figure out exactly what I want to do with my life, but I'm in fairly decent job situation right now.

Nia, I remember discussing scoliosis surgeries with you (and possibly sharing our xray pictures). I had my surgery in 2010.

So I doubt I'll be sticking round for long, but looking around and seeing some of your names has been a big old nostalgia blast and I couldn't resist dropping a short message.

I joined the plaza around 2003, back when underscores were cool. I spent nearly all my time over in the lore forums, having long, fiery and deeply inconsequential arguments about anything I could think to have an argument about. There was Debate and Drill and Pelennor Pigskin and at some point I was coaxed over to Mordor where I finally dabbled in a bit of RP. I think I may have run an army at some point? And been in a group that spent its time recreating the Black Speech? I definitely got into a few more arguments with the rulers there because I really loved arguments.

I think I drifted away about five years after I joined, despite a few half-hearted efforts at getting back into the swing of things. But I look back on that time with so much love - this was pre-Facebook so the idea of a community of people on the internet who shared my interests and who I could stay up till the early hours of the morning talking to was novel and exciting and a bit silly.

And when I look at how my life has turned out since then, it's clear those years shaped me to some degree. I worked a couple of Serious Jobs, taking my love of picking arguments with authority figures to its logical conclusion by becoming a journalist, and slowly transferred my Lord of the Rings obsession over to Shakespeare - for some reason people have more respect for my new obsession than the old one. I started a theatre company, directed a few plays, and now working towards a Master's degree. I can't tell you all the names of the Valar anymore but I've picked up a few other things along the way so it's an ok tradeoff for me.

It's been a real blast looking round and seeing your catch-ups. Thanks for making it possible.

@Eldy Thanks! True! I am curious with being bit older how it will affect my approach to uni. Will I procrastinate as much like I did before? Let's see...

@Baingíl Randír thanks!

@Nessila Hi!!! Super to see you here! Altho we didn't actually meet here but more through the dutchies haha. Glad to see you guys are doing great and your youngest is such a cutie. The other two too ofc :smiley10:

Thanks for the updates! Some of the na]mes I remember well, some bring so much respect to see (Phil), I know I wouldn't have dared talk to some of you guys when I was active here. *lol* Well, I found my old profile yesterday, so I joined in December 2003, imidiately becoming Rohirrim, not sure when I started to drift away, but by 2012 at least I think I hardly stopped by. I finished a MA in Middle Eastern studies, some of which where spent living in a much more peaceful Middle East then today, I am sad to say. I went all the way to the Emirates to find another Norwegian, we moved together in Norway and are now married and have to kids (I should say mini-rohirrims, but minions are more correct...). After finishing Uni in 2009 I have mostly worked with immigration.

Here in Norway the covid-19 lock down has been very mild compared to some other countries, and we are now opening gradually. I am very happy that I can send the kids back to school and day care! So I will definately do a little spin as Ama again here, I had forgotten how fun RP is, but I expect that when life is more back to normal again RL will take over. I hate the differenciation between RL and this, the friends I found here are still my friends and were very much part of my RL too! Oh, let me just add, I am so happy to see you all again!

@Dimcairien Luiniel Yes! I remember messaging you about it a lot at the time. It was so good to find someone else going through the same thing at pretty much the exact same time (my surgery was also 2010!)

@Lealnemarr LEAL!!! I was wondering when the Nu Plaza would rope you in.

@Mor Toast, @Dincairwen, @Eldy and any others I may have missed: I love you all and am so proud of you! I like to think the Plaza being such a welcoming and accepting place helped a lot of people in this and other regards.

@Eldy, I know right! Great to see you out and about too, I'm trying to keep up. You're one of the ones I lost touch with. I do remember the fun times we had here and some good chats on MSN messenger. Excellent to talk to you again.

@Nessila Haha yeah don't think you know my plaza name. It's Sanne!

That's ok haha

So, not much exciting has happened other than apparently at some point I became a Grown Up. I've been married 10 years now (which is crazy on its own), been a home owner for 7 years, no kids (I prefer to be Aunty to my friends' kids) and no pets (as soon as we get a house with a garden I am getting a dog though). Been in the same job for the past 7 years now too. So the only thing that has changed really is that everything is more settled now.
Though, as this is also serving a purpose as a coming out thread - I came out as Ace (well, heteroromatic asexual) 4 years ago - it has largely gone unacknowledged by family but friends and hubby were awesome about it. Solidarity with you @Mor Toast @Eldy Dunami @Dincairwen and all. Also, someone suggested an LGBTQ+ thread which I think is a great idea. I think a lot of people who are searching for themselves in all sorts of ways found a home on the Plaza.

Yay! Thanks all for the kind words-- and I'm so happy and proud of all of you for coming out (and to people who don't feel able to). I did mention maybe making an lgbtq+ thread. I'm working on some other threads first, and so if anyone wants to make it first, feel free. Otherwise I will get to it eventually. :)

Mor Toast wrote: ↑Sat May 16, 2020 10:39 pm Yay! Thanks all for the kind words-- and I'm so happy and proud of all of you for coming out (and to people who don't feel able to). I did mention maybe making an lgbtq+ thread. I'm working on some other threads first, and so if anyone wants to make it first, feel free. Otherwise I will get to it eventually. :)

Making one for meeee! :D

Does anyone here remember that Plaza-wide RPG that ran, oh gosh, I don’t remember exactly when it was?

Pallador wrote: ↑Fri May 22, 2020 11:41 am Does anyone here remember that Plaza-wide RPG that ran, oh gosh, I don’t remember exactly when it was?

The Mathen Nors one? Or one later than that?

That name rings a bell so that might be the one.

That one was insane lol, it was like don't go to bed or you will be left behind as there will be like a hundred posts to read through and by the time you did that, another 50 were up :P

The Hunt for Therion it was called, thank gawd Naith has a good memory :P

Yep that was the one. Yeah, if you missed a day you wouldn’t know WHAT was going on.

Wonder where they are at.. Mathen, Trey and Halloran, been ages.

@Pallador @Winddancer I remember that! I never participated in it because I was too intimidated by higher caliber RPers, but threads would pop up all over the plaza and they'd be full in less than a day.

It's cool seeing what other people have been up to all these years! I joined in January 2003 when I was 16, was pretty active through about 2007, took a bit of a break during my last year of college, wandered back in 2009 or so and became a ruler I think in 2010 or 2011? Left around 2012 when I went back to school and hadn't been back at all since probably 2013-ish. But the plaza was a fairly regular part of my life for ten years, which boggles my mind.

In real life, I graduated from college in 2008, did a bunch of odd jobs through the recession, and went back to school in 2012 to become a zookeeper. I worked in the zoo field for about five years. Loved working with the animals (of course), loved teaching people about animals, did not love the nonexistent work-life balance or the high burnout rate among friends and colleagues. Life made decisions for me as I had a bad fall at work in 2018, broke my ankle as badly as a person can break it (or so I've been told by multiple doctors), ended up with a lot of complications from that and eventually had to leave the zoo field since my ankle wouldn't bear the physical labor. I moved back to my hometown and after about six months started working at my local public library, late last year. I love it! Much MUCH less stress, I still interact with and help a lot of people, I'm surrounded by books and literary-minded drama-free coworkers, and I get my animal fix through my pets at home. It's been a rough few years but my mental health is so much better now than it was in my last couple of years as a keeper.

I really credit the plaza for getting me through some awful teenage years, as it did for so many other people who didn't fit in with our peers in the real world. Also I wonder what the odds are that so many queer folks would end up here? I came out as gay around 2009, although I don't recall that I talked that much about it on the plaza. Would also love to see a lgbtq+ thread.

Oooh Naith had a bad ankle break a couple of years ago :O Glad you found your calling in life though @Menolly <3
I swear I remember a lgbtq thread in fan forum?? Or am I way off??

@Winddancer I don't remember one but there might have been one in later years that I missed. Poor Naith, it's no fun! I've learned more than I ever wanted to know about the degree to which ankles can be broken. Had a recent physical therapist who told me she had to look up my particular fracture in a textbook since she hadn't heard of it since she was in school.

Owwies! Well Naiths wasnt "that" bad, though he did break it in three places and required surgery to pin it :(