To My Most Awesome Staffies,

I will be unavailable for about two weeks, as I have to be in Washington DC at the time, and wireless internet (or the time to use it) will be fairly sparse if it exists at all. So the site will be left in the hands of the most awesome staff members ever--ours! But before I go, I just wanted to appreciate their awesomeness. Without our RMI staff, Sherri and I would be slightly more crazed than we are now; they let us know when we overlook things, take care of minor things on their own, and most of all make us laugh when we need it. So thank you:

To Eliana, for stepping up and taking Care of Magical Creatures. It's a marvelous class, and you're doing a truly outstanding job teaching it. I'm glad you volunteered for that. :)

To Jodie, for lessons that make about half my characters cringe, the rest love you, and all of them take post-STOATs Charms classes. You also get the award for Most Original Use of a Cat at RMI, and gods know that Charms would be less fun without Parrot there.

To Sakura, for scaring the living daylights out of half my characters and putting the other half in total awe of your teaching. You certainly bring character to the staff, and we love you for it.

To Serilda, for stepping up at the last minute to my desperate pleas of 'we need an herbology teacher!' and for never making me regret that decision. Although you haven't been on staff since the very beginning, you came in when we needed you most and you've never failed to take on extra duties when Sherri and I needed you to.

To Zuma, who wins the 'most positions held at RMI' award. First as Head of Draco, then a Counselor, then a History of Magic teacher, we're so glad we have you. Your originality and family posts have certainly made my day more than once. The Little Zumas are amazing, and your history lessons are something that I'd want to attend!

To Elizabeth, for being uber supportive both IRL and on the site, for going along with my crazy schemes, and for taking on Lyra House. The computer lab was a stroke of brilliance that really helps make RMI what it is today!

To Juliet, for always having energy. Always. Even when it scares me. ;) Just kidding. The founder of the Secret Santa, and the staff member with the most "can I do this??" questions, I know you love RMI as much as Sherri and I do and your out-of-the-box ingenuity helps it thrive.

To Christian, for never failing to second guess me or Sherri. Or both, simultaneously, if needed. For the Advanced Transfigurations lessons and the Remedial Transfigurations lessons, and for all the other things you volunteer to do, despite your other responsibilities.

To Poppy, for RMI news and ever-enthusiastic posting.

To Bubbles, for becoming our third medic in four years, despite the apparent curse on the position. ;) I love your characters' personalities and your willingness to post avidly with students, even under difficult circumstances.

To Garen, for making the Admin Quarters more active than it's ever been in four terms at RMI and starting what we all thought may be impossible: an RPG musical. You also win the Most Copious Use of Random Metaphors award. Keep it up, my friend!

To Kim, for being willing to do 'just this one more thing'. You stepped up to take a staff position when we really needed it, and since then you have been willing to do pretty much anything, including write a myriad of other characters, even if you were only ever expecting to just write the caretaker. Thanks as well for the hugs, the teddy grahams and frosting, and the noise of little house-elf feet pitter-pattering through the halls of the school.

To Mariette, to Sherri, to my wonderful Deputy Headmistress. Couldn't do this without you, and I really wouldn't want to try. I mean, for one, I'd actually have to update profiles on a yearly basis! What madness that would be!

Thank you all for being completely awesome.

Love from your friendly local Austin! <3