CaptSopwith 18 Posted April 27, 2011 Good Evening Gents! Mind if I pull up a seat at the bar? I've been gone far too long. First the good news: I will successfully finish my MA History degree next week! I've defended my thesis, checked the boxes, dotted the i's, crossed the t's and I'll be graduating at the end of the first week of May. Also good news: I've been accepted into a PhD program in history with full funding! My work continues! Now the bad news: In February I went down with walking pneumonia and I'm still recovering. My engagement to a woman I was crazy about, and had dated for over two years, ended spectacularly a few weeks after I posted here last. (A comment about diamond size started a rapid spiral to the ground, in flames...). All of this means I have been horribly neglectful of my friends here at the OFF boards. If someone doesn't mind, I could do with a stiff drink (as I've discovered a certain taste for Jameson and Rum and Coke over the last few weeks). It's good to be back... now if I could just find someone to put out the smoldering wreck of a kite parked outside! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carrick58 23 Posted April 27, 2011 Congrats on your academic achievements. I gave up after my Bachelors. As some one once said " You must endeavor to persevere ". Kudos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TaillyHo 2 Posted April 27, 2011 Step right up, Sopwith - happy to pour you one while you pour out some. Now I hope that's "a taste for Jamesons" - full stop - and (a taste for) rum and coke - full stop. You surely wouldn't put Jamesons into a rum and coke (?) - if you have, then man, you really are in a bad way! PhD scholarships are a beautiful thing - and right now that might be a healthy way for you to look at it too. To be funded to study the thing you are most interested in (and hopefully even passionate about) at the highest level is a rare opportunity - so congratulations and best wishes on that. Sorry to hear life has been rocky elsewhere - I hope you are through the roughest time and things start falling into place for you now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Javito1986 14 Posted April 27, 2011 Welcome back Captain! Congrats on the PhD program, truly a rare opportunity Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast 153 Posted April 27, 2011 Welcome back to the madhouse and congrats on the work as to the personal life my comiserations... As to putting out the flaming wreck it will burn itself out after awhile so don't worry too much... and here's a slug of Jamesons... bit early but its's 8 O'clock in the evening somewhere on this planet... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+matt milne 5 Posted April 27, 2011 we all have to bail out once in a while. up off the dirt, repack the parachute and climb aboard your new plane. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olham 164 Posted April 27, 2011 Mind if I pull up a seat at the bar? I've been gone far too long. First the good news: I will successfully finish my MA History degree next week! I've defended my thesis, checked the boxes, dotted the i's, crossed the t's and I'll be graduating at the end of the first week of May. Also good news: I've been accepted into a PhD program in history with full funding! My work continues! Wow, congratulations, CaptSopwith - you sure worked long and hard for all this, and even missed out a lot of flying - so you really made sacrifices. Now the bad news: In February I went down with walking pneumonia and I'm still recovering. My engagement to a woman I was crazy about, and had dated for over two years, ended spectacularly a few weeks after I posted here last. (A comment about diamond size started a rapid spiral to the ground, in flames...). You have fought on too many front lines, I suppose, and you can't win them all. Now see, that you recover really well. All of this means I have been horribly neglectful of my friends here at the OFF boards.If someone doesn't mind, I could do with a stiff drink (as I've discovered a certain taste for Jameson and Rum and Coke over the last few weeks). Be careful, boy. Too much of that stuff isn't good for the healing process. It's good to be back... now if I could just find someone to put out the smoldering wreck of a kite parked outside! Let the mechanics have some fire to warm their hands at - they will build up a new kite for you tomorrow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NS13Jarhead 6 Posted April 27, 2011 Great work Capt S! Any idea what you're going to specialize in for the next degree? I've realized that I know a little about a lot, but not a lot about any one thing that would make selecting a PhD topic easy for me. Keep up the good work and don't be a stranger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lewie 7 Posted April 27, 2011 (edited) All I can say is congratulations, The degree you doggedly pursued is not a field known for job prospects, you are an incredibly lucky person, I will not comment about the engagement.. Edited April 27, 2011 by Lewie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shiloh 12 Posted April 27, 2011 Congratulations to you on a fine achievement and an excellent opportunity CaptSopwith. Sometimes the personal stuff doesn't work well, sometimes its the work stuff but that's what life is about I suppose - the ups and the downs. Keep your chin up and please honor me with a virtual drink. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nbryant 8 Posted April 27, 2011 Congrats Cap! Dedication and hard work seem to have paid off. Still, as one milestone falls another faces you. Looking forward to reading a post from you in two years (or so) telling us all that you have finished..... again! I have been married 32 years so I can't offer much help on that front, well other then to say eharmony! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AROTH 0 Posted April 28, 2011 Well, if it is consolation to you, I have found that my most satisfying accomplishments in life have not necessarily been in personal relationships. Congratulations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Von Paulus 8 Posted April 28, 2011 (edited) Congrats, captain. As for women we never know what to expect. In a day it's all heaven but the next one can be hell. Hormones they say. For me, we're still paying for the whole apple business. Welcome back. Edited April 28, 2011 by Von Paulus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Javito1986 14 Posted April 28, 2011 (edited) Congrats, captain. As for women we never know what to expect. In a day it's all heaven but the next one can be hell. Hormones they say. For me, we're still paying for the whole apple business. Welcome back. I hear that. Their kind is indeed an enigma... and so damned emotional! You just want to yell "Get a hold of yourself woman!" but then she just cries more because you're not comforting her. I say, it's tiresome to be a 'soft touch' all the time. Ahhh well. Keep on trucking Sopwith. I recommend creative pursuits! I find my artistic endeavors improve tenfold when my personal life is a mess. ps. That or retrogaming. I've been playing Star Control 2 and it's very calming and reassuring to pretend it's 1992 again. Edited April 28, 2011 by Javito1986 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RAF_Louvert 101 Posted April 28, 2011 . Soppy, I congratulate you most heartily on attaining you MA in History, well done Sir. Best of luck on your PhD. Very sorry to learn of your bad relationship luck however, and I hope you will be able to bounce back from the wreck without too many scars, (though such scars can give one character over the course of one's life). My pleasure to treat you to a round to help repair the damages. Barkeep! Another Jameson for our Captain here. And three fingers of Tullamore Dew for me, next to a fresh cup of hot coffee with just a touch of cream. Cheers! Lou . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaptSopwith 18 Posted May 1, 2011 Thanks for the great comments guys. It feels great to be done! I'm doing much better this week than when I originally posted my thoughts. Once I get my machine back up and running, I'll be on here much more often. Also, I've met a new girl - who happens to play flight sims. You never know what kind of surprises life is going to throw your way. Cheers! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rugbyfan1972 1 Posted May 2, 2011 Thanks for the great comments guys. It feels great to be done! I'm doing much better this week than when I originally posted my thoughts. Once I get my machine back up and running, I'll be on here much more often. Also, I've met a new girl - who happens to play flight sims. You never know what kind of surprises life is going to throw your way. Cheers! CaptSopwith, You haven't hooked up with Womenfly2 have you by any chance? Joking aside congratulations on the PHD (and the new girl). If I may be so bold, which period/type history are you specialising in? Barman, one large, rum, coke & Jamesons for CaptSopwith (yes all in the same glass). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaptSopwith 18 Posted May 3, 2011 CaptSopwith, You haven't hooked up with Womenfly2 have you by any chance? Joking aside congratulations on the PHD (and the new girl). If I may be so bold, which period/type history are you specialising in? Barman, one large, rum, coke & Jamesons for CaptSopwith (yes all in the same glass). LOL, not sure how it would work if it was all in the same glass. And no, WF2 and I have not crossed paths, even in the sky. ;) I'll be specializing in Modern German History (ie: 1870-1945). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olham 164 Posted May 3, 2011 (edited) I'll be specializing in Modern German History (ie: 1870-1945) May I recommend the film "Das weisse Band" (The white ribbon) to you? It plays right before the beginning of WW1. It is not a historical film from a historian's point of view, but still tells you a lot about how life, how people were, only one hundred years ago. I saw it recently, and I was shocked about the general austerity, and the little chances one had to rule or even to change one's own life. The inner darkness of most figures was frightening. ... I've met a new girl - who happens to play flight sims. You never know what kind of surprises life is going to throw your way. Congratulations, Captain! You are the third one here now, who met such a girl. I wonder if I may have to advertise to meet one like that??? Edited May 3, 2011 by Olham Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Von Paulus 8 Posted May 3, 2011 I'll be specializing in Modern German History (ie: 1870-1945). Lovely period to study. The "Blut und Eisen", realpolitik, etc, I envy you, in the good sense. May I recommend the film "Das weisse Band" (The white ribbon) to you? "Das Weisse Band", is a good movie but you forgot to mention Fassbinder's "Heimat - EIne Deutsche Chronik" and " Die Buddenbrooks" (1979). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olham 164 Posted May 3, 2011 Believe it or not, but I haven't seen both of them, Von Paulus. Shame on me. With all the repetitions on TV, I wonder why I have never seen these in the program since a long time. Thanks for the tips! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
