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Who let the dogs out?

Wow, Texas to California is a LONG DRIVE. I thought I'd never actually get here and I would be happy if I never had to drive anywhere ever again.

Anyway, hello ValarNet, my name is Claire and I am completely new to this place. I'm, going to UCI in the fall, majoring in Phoenix and I'm starting my Internship with Stark Industries on Monday, so I guess that leaves me the weekend to see the sights before I have to get to work!

I'm looking for an apartment, too. I don't suppose anyone knows of anything good opening up? I'm crashing with a friend of a friend for now, but I'm pretty sure they'll want their couch back at some point!

The Iron Man mural I've been working on in the break room is almost finished!

( Pics under the cut )

What do you think?

Hello, all you cool cats and kitten out there! My name's Lysander Scamander and I run a local shop called Scamander Wood and Stone in Irvine. Someone told me about this network awhile back, but I keep on forgetting to come and post here.

I'm a sculptor and woodworker and make both for sale and for commissions. In addition, you'll find art supplies and furniture of wood and stone at my shop as well!

I'm mostly a homebody, when I'm not working or pestering mom who lives in the area and is one of the coolest moms ever.

So, Hi!

Dear network,

If you could travel anywhere in the world and spend a year there exploring and settling into the way of life, where would it be?

Follow up question: Why did you chose this place?

Love,
Luna Scamander

Goddess, I wish I could've been part of the team that found this!

This is why I love my line of work. So many incredible things are still waiting to be found...

Who doesn't love impromptu vacations? I completely forgot I was supposed to be in New York this coming weekend for a competition. I mean I did not forget about the competition but for some reason it felt like it should be more than a week away.

Anyone been to Hawaii this time of year? I think I need a proper vacation once I get back. It is between there or somewhere in the Caribbean or maybe Greece.

There are a lot of you out there in the show business so I figured I'd let you all know that we're holding auditions for several guest roles on my show this coming season. We start filming again next month. If you're interested let me know and I'll give you the exact details.

And before I go back to work I need some fun! Where are my friends? My brothers? Fred, George, Harry? I'm looking at you lot first though I won't turn down fun with anyone.

Hey, ValarNet. Anyone know where a kids' storyteller can find a good crafts shop? The one I was going to shut down and I have no idea where else I could find what I need. I'd prefer to support mom and pop stores if I can, instead of chains.

Also, anyone have any good volunteer opportunities? I still have some free time and I'd love to help out anywhere that needs it!

I just got back from Taiwan! I went there for an article I'm doing for National Geographic, but that's not the cool part. While I was there I managed to set up a Taiwanese chapter of the Iron Man Fan Club. The love of Iron Man is spreading!

I scheduled my driving test for next week! It is finally time to swap my bus pass for a drivers license. I don't usually mind taking the bus but you meet some odd, creepy, and perverted people. It's actually safer to drive myself every where despite my mum's concern I'll get in an accident.

( I put Dexter in a Santa Hat )

That was tedious.

There are actual palm trees in the back garden! I thought that was a myth, like everyone here having swimming pools and cosmetic surgery, but I'm starting to see that most myths are rooted in some sort of reality.

Is anyone else on this thing in high school? I'm starting after winter hols and I wondered if anyone on here would be there so I'm not totally utterly alone by myself.

I can't believe it! Does everyone remember all of those shooting stars in the sky from last week? I was convinced that they were meteors full of little fuzzy aliens again headed to Earth, but I had the type of star all wrong. They were wishing stars! Luckily I made a wish on the off chance that I was wrong about the aliens, but it paid off. You're reading the words of Tony Stark's new personal intern! I even get to watch the Hulk's dog for him! Best day ever!

Ladies & Gentlemen, boys and girls and whatever you identify with, I have an announcement. Big, life changing announcement actually.

Well, not for you. I mean, your lives will basically be the same.

I, Tony Stark, will be marrying the hell out of Pepper Potts because I asked her and she said yes. And if any of you talk her out of it, I'll find where you live and blast metal outside your house while you try to bring home your date for the first time. You know the one, the hot architect or whatever.

But seriously. We're engaged.

WEASLEYS! HONORARY WEASLEYS AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE THAT KNOWS BILL!

Lets have a birthday party Thursday night to celebrate! I'll get the cake, well mum will, and the rest of you bring the presents. No this isn't a surprise party either. My brother is getting old, he can't handle surprises as much any more. We won't risk giving him a heart attack.

What do you lot say?

No Bill, you don't have a choice in the matter. You are actually home for your birthday this time so we should celebrate!

I don't know how I managed it, but I cracked the screen on my Stark phone. Now everything is all distorted, but it still works!

I figured out who Gilderoy Lockhart is. He's a dreamboat And I learned how to deal with Cornish Pixies and Mandrakes.

I also learned what the term 'mudblood' means. Thank you for sticking up for me, Ron. These dreams are getting more and more interesting as time goes on.

I just wish I knew where

Thanksgiving is soon.
My sweatpants are clean and ready.
Bring on the stuffing.

So, at first this was just going to be for Stark Industries, but then I realized I was a rampaging douche to virtually all of you, so let's do this right.

I'm sorry I'm a dick. Come eat Turkey tomorrow. Irvine Campus, all day.

I'm making the cranberry sauce.

Is it terrible that I want to go home and see ma maman?

She always knows how to make sense of things, make them alright. I feel bad saying that because everyone has been taking such good care of me, especially my boyfriend. I just want to dance again. Hardly seems fair that my dance career is over before it really started.

Slytherin. What a funny name. In the dream it made perfect sense for me to go to that house. There was nowhere else that fit. Nowhere else I'd rather be. Anyone else know Slytherin?

Also, I'm going fishing today. Honest to goodness fishing. With a pole and everything.

There is a theory that says the ideal nap is twenty minutes in length; this is because the first two stages of sleep happen in roughly ten minutes each. Therefore you should feel rested after only twenty minutes of napping.

This is complètement not true. Maybe you need to sleep at night for it to work I find I feel almost worse after them.

How many postings on this message board start with "I had the strangest dream last night..."?

Because, well, I had the strangest dream last night.

So, last night I started my second year at Hogwarts. Book shopping (Has anyone else heard of Gilderoy Lockhart?) and then riding the train. Harry and Ron weren't there, though, and arrived at the school late, in a flying car.

And I thought my "normal" dreams were weird.

I'd apologize for anything I might have said or done over Halloween, but I'm not honestly sorry for any of it. That was bizarre, but also fascinating.

No, I'm not here to take your lunch order. How do people confuse envelopes and sandwiches? And no, I'm not going to chase down the sandwich guy, either. I'm not your lackey, and you're not the only one busy working. The mailcart I'm pushing might give you a clue that I, too, have a job to do.

Sigh.

So who's dressing as what for the big day? (My Birthday) Lovegood, your costume is done, by the bye.

No giraffes this time, by the way. That thing tried to eat half my ceiling last time.

I dreamed a full year in my sleep last night. I woke up this morning so incredibly groggy. I'm glad I'm not eleven years old, though. Even if someone paid me, I wouldn't want to go back and re-live those days.

I know a bit more about my dream world now, though. All the lessons and whatnot. I'm not afraid of my wand anymore.

Let's file all of that away in the "things I never thought I'd say" folder.

Okay. Got the cards ready for tomorrow's edition.

Rita Skeeter Bingo is a go.

I carved my first pumpkin today and believe me when I say it was a disaster. Looked a little like the pumpkin exploded all over the dance studio. I should stick with dancing instead of carving pumpkins. Yes, we have nothing better to do on opening day than to carve pumpkins. Last minute decor for tonight's show.

There was even Christmas music on the radio. It is too soon for that.

I'm starting a petition to ask that the city of Irvine let me paint a Iron Man mural under the Sand Canyon overpass bridge. If that sounds like something you'd like to see, please sign here!

I should also point out that I do murals for the home and business. If anyone wants one I can set up a meeting to go over my portfolio. My prices are very reasonable!

Hashtag 'hifelix.'

This. This is precisely why truth is stranger than fiction. Stark shows up the Austrian space-diver and tweets about it.

Okay, I got inspired by Colombo's idea down there.

Rita Skeeter Bingo. I'm working on the cards right now.

All our windows just exploded.

My staff are encouraging me to choose a Halloween costume to wear to work.

They insist it would be fun.

Just leave a note, people!

Well, now I know what happens to creative writing majors who can't sell their novels: they turn to tabloid journalism.

I was talking to my father today about spirit animals. We established that mine is probably a hare or a gnome. Either of those might be fun to dress up as for Halloween, but then I wouldn't know what to do with my Iron Man costume.

Are you drunk? A hand puppet is never an acceptable wingman, no matter what your career.

Stop. Call a taxi, go home right now.

Has anyone else seen a Quidditch match? I just watched the Quidditch World Cup match in my dreams and it was brilliant. At least it was until the death eaters showed up and ruined the celebrations.

Uh.. anyone know a lady named Diana Dormer?

Apparently everyone's phones are doing weird things. My tablet has started acting up, too. I use it to write on when I'm "talking" with people. So... now I am relying totally on pencil and paper.

Sigh. More people need to learn sign language.

No, I did not disappear. I ran away for the weekend to Vegas with Bill. It was the perfect way to spend a weekend but that is not surprising, he is a complete dream. It was pretty amazing.

And no we did not spent our entire weekend in bed. Why do people automatically assume that when you say you went away with the person you are dating? Not that I would objected, why would I? Bill is amazing... He is gorgeous, good at everything he does, treats me right and he is mine.

We did get the entire Vegas experience in though; we got dressed up, went to the casinos, gambled some (I did not even lose all my money), and said why not and got married. You know all the things people assume you did when you said you went to Vegas.

Well, at least I've only gotten one thing I really didn't want to see so far. Guess I'm luckier than some.

...Even if it kinda sucks that everything screws up when I wanna ask people more, uh, private things.

Oooo! I was sorted into Ravenclaw! How nice!

To save it yet know it won't be saved, that it's all in my head yet is it all in my head? The pieces all fit but there are holes.

Okay, Net people, who would be up for a flash mob? Lets see a show of hands. Make sure the interest is there before we go to the trouble of organizing the Flash Mob of Awesomeness or something like that.

Good afternoon, Valarnet! It's a beautiful day to go to the park and have a picnic, I think. Of course, I just think it's beautiful outside, so that makes it a good day for anything! What are you guys up to on Sunday? Are you being lazy like me or are you doin' stuff?