This is topic Who I Am Today (A Landmark) in forum Landmark Threads at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 
So... Hi. It's been (or at least felt like) quite a long time since I was in any way active on this forum. So it might seem kind of weird, me coming on here and talking about my life and whatnot. My justification is that for a time, some people on here were incredibly important to me. Hatrack was there for me when I had nowhere else to turn. I learned a lot about life (and love) and random dorky facts. The memories of obsessively checking threads and then sweating nervously any time I contributed anything (which was rare), of nodding sagely at points made in debates, of laughing uproarisly at the "Begging the Question" thread or even the "Dude: cool" thread, of combing back through ancient threads and getting to know the Golden Age of Hatrack, of becoming real in Park City, Utah, of lamenting my SAT scores, of My Teenage Angst Thread, of my Landmark thread... They are all priceless to me. And I could go on and on. I am someone who obsesses over history, and as far as my personal history goes, Hatrack holds a place unlike any other. And I don't assume Hatrack holds me in anywhere near similar regard. I was young on here (still am young, but that's beside the point). I don't think I ever made much of a splash. But did y'all ever make a splash on me.

Given the impact Hatrack had on making me who I am today, I thought it fitting that as a few somewhat important occurrences have happened over the past few months, I should let you (both the collective entity of Hatrack and the individual "you"'s who remember me) know how I've been, where I am, etc.

Where to start... I guess the first big thing I'll mention is that I am now a happily betrothed man. On December 27th, I asked the love of my life to marry me. It was a foggy day in Central Park (yes, New York City), and as we were dancing slowly in a clearing on top of a hill, with no one else around, I said a cheesy line which only she will ever know, bent down on one knee, and popped the question.

She said yes.

Now here's the kicker: Right around 3 years ago I got on here and asked a question concerning a Napoleon Dynamite saying I wanted to put on a cake I was baking for this girl I had a crush on and was going to ask to a dance. This eventually morphed into My Teenage Angst Thread, where I chronicled the next month or so of heartbreak as she rejected me, bliss as she changed her mind, then heartbreak again as she rejected me again. Well, 10 months later we agreed to try it again. A little less than 2 years after that brings us December 27th, 2008. Yes, the girl who caused so much angst all that time ago is now my fiancée. We're getting married on May 16th (yes, we know its quick) and I am the happiest man alive.

So that’s fun. A dream come true really.

Another dream has also come true recently. I finished up my Bachelor of Arts degree in History this past fall semester and went straight on into graduate school. So now I am a Masters student at Florida State University. I'm a member of the prestigious Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution, with a special interest in environmental history and the history of science in 18th century Europe. It's wonderful. Everything I dreamed it would be and more. I'm only taking 2.25 classes right now (two 4 hour classes and a 1 hour DIS) because of money issues, but they are wonderful. Two seminars, one on Religion and Politics in the Age of the Enlightenment, another on The History of Life Sciences. After every class I'm just absolutely giddy. And the great thing is, I actually am good at it. Only a month in and I already feel acclimated and ready to throw it down with doctoral student in their last semester of course work. It's amazing. I really can't express just how geeked out I am about getting the opportunity to sit and talk history with other interested and intelligent people for hours a day.

And Hatrack has been there for me through it all. I remember coming on here after getting a 1260 on my SAT (I needed a 1270 for a 100% scholarship) so frustrated, but leaving cheered up and determined to do better. Heh. I remember completely losing a research paper at 1 AM when it was due at 8 AM and the only thing that kept me awake to finish rewriting it was coming on Hatrack every few minutes to be rejuvenated. And then the studying help I got when preparing for the GRE not that long ago, and the advice for my Letter of Intent... All of it was wonderful and significant in my quest to graduate school. Now I'm one step closer to my overall goal of a professorship. Historian’s rock!

So yeah, the past month has really been one of dreams coming true. Yes, it hasn't all been kicks and giggles. Predictably, money has been a pretty serious issue. But c'est la vie. I really can't complain. One of my friends said to me the other day, "I always feel bad complaining to you about how much stuff I have to do, knowing your schedule." And it's true. I'm busy. But I'm busy doing things I love and wouldn't have it any other way.

One of the other things I'm busy with is being in a position of leadership in a campus ministry (Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, if you're curious). On top of leading a weekly men’s Bible Study, training about 10 others to lead Bible Studies, and starting a prison ministry, I seem to be in high demand by a plethora of people seeking advice on everything from relationships to school to what to do with their lives to philosophical questions to spiritual things such as prayer and evangelism and even leadership. It's funny, since much of my advice giving style is derived from the advice I've received from Hatrack. And yes, I do give credit where credit is due. I can't count the number of times I've said "You know, I used to belong to this forum which seemed blessed by an overabundance of wise people and one thing I learned from them is ...".

It really is an interesting experience being at least partially responsible for so many people, as well as my fiancée and my schoolwork, and, lest it be forgotten, myself. I would have written this sooner but it seems like every second of every day is taken. And I'm an introvert! . But like I said, I wouldn't change any of it. Would I seriously trade having a serious impact on someone's life or spending time with the most amazing woman in the world or reading 17th century accounts of Jesuit interactions in New France for another hour to spend playing video games or doing something else equally frivolous? I can't fathom the thought.

One last thing to mention before I go. I don't think there was ever an explicit post on this forum concerning some of the other things certain people have helped me through over the past few years, but I can't help but say thank you. You know who you are and you've had such a profound and huge impact on me that anything I do over the course of my life must come back to you taking some time from your day to care for a lonely young man.

That's pretty much all I have to say. I guess this could be considered a Landmark post, though I don't know that it's entirely fair to claim that, seeing as how I haven't been a part of this forum for a while and doubt I ever will be to the extent I was. But unless someone has a problem with it, I'll call it one.

Here's to you Hatrack.
 

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Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 
Oh, and if someone wouldn't mind mentioning this over on Sake, I'd really appreciate it. I'm Joshua over. I know there's some people who I'd like to see this who don't come over here. Thanks.
 

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Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
 
Congratulations, Doktor Merkwürdigeliebe, on everything.

BTW, I got engaged on Dec. 31 and married on May 13th, so I've got you beat on the short engagement front by at least a week. And I know people who were engaged much shorter than that.
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
That's freakin' fabulous! I'm so glad to hear how your life story has played out so far, and I hope you continue to update us.

Really fabulous all around. Go, you.



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Congratulations to you as well, SenojRetep.
 

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Posted by Achilles (Member # 7741) on :
 
Congrats!
 

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Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
 
Sounds like you're doing well. Congratulations on the engagement.

In reference to your studies, have you ever read the Baroque cycle by Neal Stephenson?
 

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Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by ClaudiaTherese:
Congratulations to you as well, SenojRetep.

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Oh, my engagement was almost nine years ago now. But nine years of (relatively) successful marriage deserves its own congratulations, I suppose. So thanks!
 

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Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Dr Strangelove:
Oh, and if someone wouldn't mind mentioning this over on Sake, I'd really appreciate it. I'm Joshua over. I know there's some people who I'd like to see this who don't come over here. Thanks.

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Oh, go mention it there yourself, you big lug!

Allow me to be the first to wish you Mazel Tov. I am so happy that you've reached your happily ever afters. It all sounds so good.

And I'm proud of you, too.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
(Just to get this out of the way first: Historian's whats rock?)

Congrats, Josh. I'm glad things are going so well for you. And you have my email if you want any student loan advice.

Also, 5-6 months is not a short engagement. 5-6 weeks is.
 

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Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
 
Congrats Joshie!
 

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Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
 

quote:

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Now here's the kicker: Right around 3 years ago I got on here and asked a question concerning a Napoleon Dynamite saying I wanted to put on a cake I was baking for this girl I had a crush on and was going to ask to a dance. This eventually morphed into My Teenage Angst Thread, where I chronicled the next month or so of heartbreak as she rejected me, bliss as she changed her mind, then heartbreak again as she rejected me again.

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Wow, I remember all of this -- and I'd wondered where you had gone. (: I'm glad everything worked out for you. Congratulations, dude.

--j_k
 

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Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
Josh, it's fantastic that things have worked out so well for you! Congratuations, and best wishes for continued wonderfulness in your life.
 

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Posted by orlox (Member # 2392) on :
 
Funny how many historians we have kicking around here! Be sure to tell us about your thesis as it develops. I got the same thrill being at school so it is always nice to reminisce vicariously.

You probably already know about the History of Science Society.
 

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Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by rivka:
(Just to get this out of the way first: Historian's whats rock?)

Congrats, Josh. I'm glad things are going so well for you. And you have my email if you want any student loan advice.

Also, 5-6 months is not a short engagement. 5-6 weeks is.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dr Strangelove:
Who am I to argue with the omniscient Microsoft spellchecker?

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Oh, dear. If you buy that, there's a bridge I'd like to sell you . . .
 

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Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 


And Tante, I will I suppose. It'll take me a bit of time though. For some reason it feels like it takes an effort to go back to somewhere I haven't been for a while, whether it be here or there or wherever. I know it's just a simple matter of posting, but I make it more involved in my mind. Hehe. Imagine, me making things more complex in my mind.
 

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Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
 
Congratulations, Strangelove. I've always remembered you because you're the closest thing I've got to a neighbor on this board. I've been here longer than I realized, I guess.... It seems like just last year you were about 15, and now you're ready to get married?!? (I'm sure I'm remembering wrong, but that's what it felt like.)

As for short engagements, I was engaged for 3 1/2 months. Yeah, it was quick, but it can be done. Good luck with that. And you sound so happy, I'm really glad for you.
 

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Posted by Starsnuffer (Member # 8116) on :
 

quote:

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Would I seriously trade having a serious impact on someone's life or spending time with the most amazing woman in the world or reading 17th century accounts of Jesuit interactions in New France for another hour to spend playing video games or doing something else equally frivolous? I can't fathom the thought.

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quote:

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Originally posted by orlox:
Funny how many historians we have kicking around here! Be sure to tell us about your thesis as it develops. I got the same thrill being at school so it is always nice to reminisce vicariously.

You probably already know about the History of Science Society.

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We should form our own Hatrack Historians' Society.

Congrats Dr. S
 

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Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Starsnuffer:

quote:

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Would I seriously trade having a serious impact on someone's life or spending time with the most amazing woman in the world or reading 17th century accounts of Jesuit interactions in New France for another hour to spend playing video games or doing something else equally frivolous? I can't fathom the thought.

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Can't let me placate myself just for a bit and say playing some fallout 3 is ok? I promise I'll only play for a little bit and then do some Important Business.

(grumbles about making my feel guilty :-p)

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Ahem... Notice I said another hour, implying that there are previous hours. Many previous hours. I'm kind of behind the time on games (mostly because of money issues) but right now I'm playing through Mass Effect for the second time and will probably soon start either Bioshock or Assassins Creed. The trick is finding a game I can pick up for an hour before class or before I go to sleep and not get completely and utterly sucked into. Oddly enough RPGesque type games tend to lend themselves to that easier for me with for the most part easily definable amounts of time. For example, "It will take me 15 minutes to get started on this quest, 35 minutes to actually do it, and then another 10 or so to wind up, reequipping and allotting new skill points", etc etc. With games like Halo 3 or Gears 2, it's substantially harder for me to put down since I get roped into thinking "Only 10 minutes until the next checkpoint" .... 3 hours later .... "Well, after watching that cinematic I have to at least have a look at this next stage" ... 1 hour later ... "Well, one more checkpoint" ... rinse and repeat.

If you can't tell, I've put a lot of thought into this.


Oh, and Miro, I've heard of Baroque Cycle, but never read it. Would you recommend it? Right now I'm reading "The Darwinian Revolution" by Michael Ruse (who I happen to see on a pretty regular basis. Woot for name-dropping!), and "A Secular Age" by Charles Taylor (who wrote one of my favorite forwards ever to Marcel Gauchet's "The Disenchantment of the World").
 

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Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
 
Tom D and I are attempting to have a conversation about A Secular Age over on JT's forum. A few others were going to participate too, but haven't yet and then I got stalled with January nonsense. But I hope to get back to it. You should hop over and join in.
 

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Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
Dr. S, that's so wonderful to hear. It gives me happy hatrack nostalgia.
 

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Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
 
Dr. S, you inspire me! I'm going to spend less time on the computer. Even sitting and watching the birds is more fun, sometimes. And just think what I could accomplish if I actually read books!
 

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Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
 


Long time no see! I haven't been around here much lately either. But I saw this and just had to tell you how happy I am that your dreams are coming true. Wishing you the best!
 

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Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
 
I'm glad things have worked out for you.

Since you're clearly doing more than your fair share of productive work, I feel obligated to spend even more time goofing off and playing video games. Together, we can help keep the universe in balance.
 

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Posted by T:man (Member # 11614) on :
 
smile
 

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Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
I'm so pleased to hear that your life is going along at such a pleasant clip. Hope you continue to poke your head in from time to time.
 

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