As it says in the title, a big "hello" to everyone here! I'm quite happy to see a new Sailor Moon forum up and running, and so I thought I'd get a quick jump start on things. Hopefully more people will join over time, but there's nothing quite like joining a forum when it's still a relatively cosy group. It often feels just right.

For a little background, I'm currently on the cusp of entering graduate studies with a focus in theology. Subdivisions exist within that field, but I'm not quite certain what my primary concentration will be. On the whole, I'm quite taken by theology, and it's my hope that through study I'll find a pursuit which is fulfilling both intellectually and spiritually. It's all very exciting!

As a quick list of my other hobbies and preferences: I very much like baseball; I enjoy running; aside from Sailor Moon, I follow closely Death Note and Dragon Ball; The Matrix and Casino Royale are among my top favorite films; and I spend an unhealthy amount of time playing Team Fortress 2. What a list of masculine interests! Maybe I'm trying to compensate for my interest in Sailor Moon? Sometimes it seems that way. Not that I mind to terribly, though.

My interest in Sailor Moon is probably one of the longest sustained out of all of the various things I've enjoyed over the years. I don't recall exactly when I saw my first episode, but I believe it was sometime within the frame of 1995 through 1997. I was sick that day and woke up early, which led me to watch shows which were broadcast around 6:00 or 7:00 AM. Sailor Moon happened to be one of them, and though the full details escape me, I think it was the episode in the first arc of Sailor Moon R with the VR game (Usagi's Crisis! The Tiara Doesn't Work/VR Madness). I wasn't struck by it at the time, but by 1998 Sailor Moon was running daily on Toonami. That's when I became fully immersed in the show, albeit secretly since it was a bit of a social taboo for a ten year old boy to be watching Sailor Moon. Upon reflection, it never became a social or personal problem, and after all these years I've finally gathered the nerve to display Sailor Moon paraphernalia in my room. Better late than never!

Around 2006, I joined the forum on The Oracle, one of the major Sailor Moon information websites, and from there I rediscovered by love for Sailor Moon in the form of watching the original Japanese (with subtitles, of course). I try not to be dogmatic about my preference for the Japanese source material, but given the current official translations of the anime, there isn't much of a contest from my perspective. That is not to say that one cannot enjoy the dub for one reason or another. I have never felt compelled to completely dismiss the English dub myself as I recognize its service as, to paraphrase Obi-Wan Kenobi, a gateway to a far larger world.

I will state emphatically, however, that Takanori Arisawa's music for the original series was sorely missed when DiC dubbed the first two seasons.

Within Sailor Moon, Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury has consistently been my favorite Sailor Senshi, with Usagi running a close second. I lean toward Galaxia as my favorite villain along with Professor Tomoe. With regard to my favorite season, I hold Sailor Moon S in the highest regard. The episode I enjoy the most is Usagi's Dance is the Waltz; the best episode in my humble opinion is perhaps A Bright Shooting Star! Saturn and the Messiah, an episode which came very close to moving me to tears. The same could be said for Moon Love Power! The End of the Nightmare from Sailor Moon Stars.

I think this little essay will suffice. I'm sure we'll all learn a bit more about one another as time goes by.

Oh What a wonderful intro! I love long intros!

^^ We are most definitely a newer group, only climbing a few members a day, although some times we go days with no one.. then suddenly the whole world wants to join >.>

Any whos, Thank you for stopping by! I am really glad you did! Please don't hesitate to PM or Email me if you need anything!

p.s. I LOVE your username, it makes me think of one of my other fave shows. ^^

Welcome! You're right, the Galaxy Cauldron is a very cozy place right now!

You're in the field of theology? How interesting! I'm a spiritual person myself, and I've always enjoyed my theological classes in school.

Thank you for choosing to join us.... I'm sure you'll love it here!

I'm happy to have received a warm welcome so promptly!

Out of curiosity, Lady Galaxia, which show does my username remind you of? It's intended as a reference to The Matrix, so I'd like to know what else to which it could refer.

Nice to meet you! Have you actually started grad school yet? Its something I've been thinking about off and on since I just got my bachelors. Its nice to hear from people currently dealing with it, ya know!

And welcome to our little corner of Sailor Moon!

No, I have not yet started grad school, but I'm confident that I will begin graduate studies in the Fall. It's definitely worth considering given the increased demand for a highly educated work force.

And I quite like this little corner already, so thank you!

Welcome to the forum, dear. Nice to have you aboard.

And good luck with your graduate degree as well.

Oh my gosh, you remind me of Mercury, so it fits that she's your favorite scout! I came so close to picking Theology, but my interest in Criminal justice prevailed. D: This place is a very warm and friendly forum, so I hope that you stick around and get to know some of us. ^-^ Welcome to the forum, Spoon [love your username, lol]!

Welcome to the forum!

Casino Royale is an awesome movie.