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Post by shoeninja on Dec 11, 2012 10:05:27 GMT -6
As with most things technology oriented, it took me a while to get here, but wow, I'm impressed with what I've found! A whole entire community revolving around two of the best characters in one of the greatest works of American animation and storytelling ever? With discussions? And artwork? And lots of fanfiction? *nerdgasm* I can already tell where my spare time will be disappearing to from now on... Since this is an intro thread I'm assuming I'm supposed to tell you all a little about myself? If not, please disregard. I'm an adult, which already differentiates me from the vast majority of the fandom--but I assure you, when it comes to Zutara I'm on the same mental level.  Anyway, I'm 30, married, two kids. Originally from Washington, D.C., but I now reside in Tampa, Florida. I have a B.A. in Art History and B.S. in Middle Eastern Archaeology, but after working abroad in the field for a couple of years....I decided to be a pastry chef instead. I own my own business and get to eat a lot of cake. It's an occupation that is far better suited to raising a young family than digging in a Turkish desert. I started watching Avatar about three years ago...I was sitting on the sofa flicking through channels and landed on Nickelodeon. It was my daughter (3 at the time) who wanted to watch the show because she thought the "flying cat" was funny. Two episodes in, and I was hooked. Of course, I came to the game a bit late, but better than never, right? Naturally, I held to the belief throughout the entire series that at the end Katara would realize her feelings for the Fire Prince, and she and Zuko would end the finale with an epic kiss. Um, to say that I was slightly disappointed with the actual outcome may be an understatement. In an effort to mentally correct this course of events, I discovered Zutara fanfiction. You see, when standing around watching electric mixers and waiting for oven timers to go off, I tend to have a fair amount of thumb twiddling time....so I figured it would be more productive to whip out my smartphone and read. So I read fanfiction. Fanfiction leads to inclusion in a fandom. Then I joined Tumblr, and was introduced to Fan Art. It's all gone downhill from there... And speaking of fanfiction, I recognize a number of my favorite Zutara authors from over at FF.net here. Score! To make a long story short, I'm happy to have found this place, and I'm really looking forward to being part of a community composed of so many awesome people who share our common interest!  |
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azuremoon
Pro-Bender
~Azuremoon ♫ ΣΑΙ ♫
Posts: 524
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Post by azuremoon on Dec 11, 2012 11:46:05 GMT -6
WELCOME! Actually the average age of this place is probably somewhere in the 20s from everyone I've talked to. You're not far ahead. I'm 25. But OMG! You are one of the most interesting people ever!! Where did you go abroad? That's super cool!! I want to go abroad again. TT Lol. And aww. I saw your tumblr! Your kids are ADORABLE! Badass Korra costume btw. And with Amon by your side? Hubby rocks. I am envious. And you think you're late to the fandom? I started watching ATLA in September, finished in October. XD Then got all spastic O M G AVATAR> =P Lol. But YOU ROCK!! WELCOME!! *WAVES AND HUGS* |
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Post by advocaat on Dec 11, 2012 12:46:21 GMT -6
Shoe! Hey gurl! Good to see you here. I'm glad you finally managed to find us.
I didn't know you were a pastry chef. What's your favorite dessert? I have family near Tampa. Maybe next time I fly out to visit them I'll check out your shop.
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ladyavatar
Pro-Bender
Ozai Fangirls, Represent!
Posts: 418
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Post by ladyavatar on Dec 11, 2012 12:56:50 GMT -6
I suppose we've already been more/less formally introduced over on the Ozai FC thread, but greetings to you here as well! Hmm . . . actually, I believe it was Like A Dove who initially connected us after one of her Tumblr posts (she's around here somewhere, too). Anyway, I love Tampa, Florida! That's where I vacation twice a year (two weeks in the summer and two weeks in the winter). I'll be in Tampa (well, more specifically, in Clearwater) in about a week actually after my finals are over. XD Gotta love the beach!
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Post by shoeninja on Dec 11, 2012 12:58:37 GMT -6
Thanks so much for the warm welcome! I'm glad to have found this place...it seems like there's a really great crowd here, and the forums look like the perfect outlet for all our collective ATLA feels. Maybe it's just Tumblr that has me jaded on the age thing, but I am seriously under the impression that 99% of the fandom is between the ages of 12 and 15. Which, being twice that number or more, is kind of disturbing. Not to mention it makes me question my sanity for being obsessed with something that seems to equally enthrall the youngin's. Mostly, I just don't like making people feel uncomfortable because they suddenly find out that a "grown up" is reading their stuff or talking to them. When I was a teenager, that would have totally creeped me out. Moreover, it makes ME feel horrible when some little kid messages me about having read something completely inappropriate that I wrote. So I like to be upfront about my oldness lest I be accused of failure to disclose that potentially weird tidbit. It is a relief to know that there are other adults out there in this fandom, and particularly in this community! Maybe I'm not as strange as I thought... I've spent time abroad in much of Europe and Asia, but my professional work was in Morocco, Italy, and Turkey (the latter comprising the majority). It was fun. My best advice to anyone reading this is to travel when you are young and able, because when you settle down and have a family it is WAY more difficult. Thanks for checking out my Tumblr! It's kind of my guilty pleasure. I don't post much original material there, but I love looking at the stuff posted by people I follow, and reblogging awesome pictures. Perhaps it is a mother's bias, but I happen to agree with you about the adorableness of my kids. And my husband is a really good sport when it comes to my nerdiness. But really, he plays Dungeons & Dragons, and drags me to Renaissance Festivals, so when I told him we were going to cosplay LoK characters he couldn't really argue on the basis that it was uncool. It warms my heart to see such a new and enthusiastic Avatar fan! That's kind of how I was when I first started watching it...though I didn't finish the series nearly as quickly as you did! What made you want to watch it in the first place? |
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Post by advocaat on Dec 11, 2012 13:29:12 GMT -6
Me too. Renaissance Festivals sound really fun. If there are any around here, I don't know of them.
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azuremoon
Pro-Bender
~Azuremoon ♫ ΣΑΙ ♫
Posts: 524
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Post by azuremoon on Dec 11, 2012 13:31:20 GMT -6
Lol. Probably so. Lots of young ones on Tumblr. I was pleased to find I was not the oldest by like 10 years or something. Yea, that would be kind of weird. But I had older friends as a teen so that didn't bug me. But it is nice to be amongst peers. Lol! Has that happened? XD YAY!! I think this is mostly the older side of the fandom. It's like let us be grown ups and spend all our free time here. XDD So neat!! I spent only a few days in Turkey unfortunately. My vacation was not a long one, but a long weekend. I taught abroad in Georgia for about 6 months and WOW! Was that amazing and a life-changing experience. I also got to spend a week in Armenia when my time finished. While in Georgia, I made a quick jaunt over to Estonia for a week during Easter. I keep being told that, thus I'm thinking of teaching abroad again. Haha!!! Well whatever. =P Reblogging awesome works too .XD mayyybe. Or maybe they are just that cute too. I'm a nanny, so the kids I nanny for I just want to love on and it feels like they're mine sometimes. Though they're quick to remind me I'm not. XD D & D!!! I miss D & D. TT Lol. You have to be dragged to Ren Fest? XD I go willingly. That is really, really cool. Yep!!! hehehe. I want to watch it again and again .Zutara Month is currently owning my soul, but when it finishes, I'm going back to my ATLA fic. Netflix is a gift to fans, what can I say? Lol. What? Well my good friend cosplayed Korra for AWA (Anime Weekend Atlanta) and she was like OMG you need to watch this series!! But wait...it's the sequel. Watch the original first. I was like yea, yea. *watches a few eps, isn't really that into it* But then I was in fun mode after con and wanted to watch something...so I watched a few more eps...and a few more...I think the Con really helped me get into it because she wasn't FORCING me anymore. It was like I COMMAND THEE. Because Con was over. So I was like hmm...and then I fell head over heels for it and just went hardcore into watching it. << |
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Post by shoeninja on Dec 11, 2012 14:29:59 GMT -6
I was late to the party as well. May 2012 convert here, but hey, better late than never. ^_~ In any case, welcome to the forum! I kind of love the fact you got a BS in Archaeology, a BA in Art History, and are now a pastry chef. I don't know, it just tickles my humour, though I can understand why if you've got a young family. Hope to see you round the forum! Thanks! And yeah, the irony is not lost on me, either...Except it's a lot less funny when I look back at what college cost me for what are essentially worthless pieces of paper! Advocaat! Dude, I love you! One more reason this place is awesome... I am partial to cake pops. They are divine. All modesty aside, mine are freaking awesome. If you ever come to Tampa, I will feed you many as a token of my gratitude for being such a fabulous author. It was indeed LikeADove who steered me in the direction of your fanfic! I am ever so glad that she did. Yay for Tampa love! It's a great place. I won't lie, I'm kind of spoiled to Summer temperatures (I don't get into the water until it's at least 85 degrees) so the beach right now is a little 'meh', but there's plenty to do here regardless. My favorite is decorating our palm trees for Christmas and wearing shorts and tank tops in the middle of winter. And regarding Renaissance Festivals---They have them all over the country! Or, at least, all over the South. Not sure where you all are located, but to my knowledge every state in the South East has at least one. They are actually pretty fun. Some people take that stuff WAY serious, though...which is entertaining in its own right. |
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Post by advocaat on Dec 11, 2012 14:35:31 GMT -6
omg cake pops! *drools*
You. Me. Cake pops. Next time I go to Florida, it's happening.
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azuremoon
Pro-Bender
~Azuremoon ♫ ΣΑΙ ♫
Posts: 524
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Post by azuremoon on Dec 11, 2012 16:19:39 GMT -6
Georgia here. And I've been, but they tend to conflict with my schedule every year. =-=; I am soooo excited you're here! you're loads of fun!
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Anyway, I'm 30, married, two kids. Originally from Washington, D.C., but I now reside in Tampa, Florida. I have a B.A. in Art History and B.S. in Middle Eastern Archaeology, but after working abroad in the field for a couple of years....I decided to be a pastry chef instead. I own my own business and get to eat a lot of cake. It's an occupation that is far better suited to raising a young family than digging in a Turkish desert. 
