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11-05-2012, 11:17 AM
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#1 | ||
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Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Seven miles up
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This Is Your Captain Speaking....
I don't typically go on and on about things in my personal life on here. Especially when it comes to my job, I keep things on the up and up, and protect my profession and the company that I work for. This is a very small and competitive industry and words travel around the internet quickly. The number of commercial airline pilots in the entire US is roughly the same size as the number of workers in one auto plant. It's a small industry.
When I first found FOFC some 13 or 14 years ago now, I was a single man (although in a serious relationship), a college graduate who had gone to flight school to try and forge a career in the airline industry. I taught as a flight instructor for 2 years in Florida and got hired by a company based in Cincinnati. At the time, this company was the place to be as a first job in the airline business. Many of you know me and know the sort of path that I have taken, and to keep this post relatively short and to the point I'll save you the long version of it. So the short is that I got married, started a family and committed myself to taking care of them, and that meant being the sole bread winner so that my wife could dedicate herself to our kids and keeping our house running while I was away working. The company that I chose to go work for had a couple good years. Seniority is everything in aviation and the problem is that each year you add gets you some level of job security and leaving for any reason opens you up for the risk that starting over at the bottom always does. That was a risk that I was not willing to take for my family. So I hung on, and my career stagnated. I always say that this career is like a stick in a river. Sometimes it finds the current and flows right along. Sometimes its stuck and mired in the eddies on the side. Either path can change on a moments notice, and the good is rarely good for long, extended times. Almost 13 years from when I decided to make this my career choice, I was still at a point where I was just about 1 step up from a beginner in this job. Things were not going well at the company, and the writing was on the wall. I had considered just riding it into the ground, and taking a break while I reset and got some unemployment. However, there was an opportunity for me to make a move, take a chance, and possibly make some headway in this horrible career I had chosen. So in June I did. It has had a huge negative impact on my family in the short term. I am gone so much more than I ever was before, and the pay cut that I took was nearly 50%. My wife (of 12 years coming up in 2 weeks) works her ass off running our family and supports me all the way, and I'm lucky that she loves our kids and me that much because she easily could have taken a different path. Pilots frequntly suffer from AIDS, Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome. We knew that despite all that pain, that there was still the chance that something good might come out of it all. In September, my former company closed its doors for good. A sad end for a lot of my good friends. The news though, isn't all bad for me. The gamble appears, at least for now and the foreseeable future, to have paid off. On November 1st, I upgraded to Captain for the first time in my career. I have been ready for this moment for years, literally years. I have missed out on career advancement because this moment has taken so long to happen, but finally, after all this time, it's here. The pay increase is significant, and while the schedule still sucks badly, unless it's a mirage, relief should be coming within months, not years. I can't tell you how it feels to finally see this step, which in the grand scheme of things is stll fairly small, but for me seems massive right now. Finally, I am in sole command of the aircraft, and the total responsibility is mine. I am still planning on making a move to a much bigger airline. An airline with a future for me where I could stay for the rest of my flying career. That move may take 2 years or more, but at least for now. I am finally moving in the right path, heading the right direction. Feelings, after years of bashing my head against a wall, and feeling like I made a huge mistake by choosing this seemed to temper a little. It's not over, but this little bit of relief is a welcome feeling. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I just wanted to share a bit of my news. PM
__________________
He's just like if Snow White was competitive, horny, and capable of beating the shit out of anyone that called her Pops. Like Steam? Join the FOFC Steam group here: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/FOFConSteam |
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11-05-2012, 11:21 AM
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#2 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Congrats man!!
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Why choose failure when success is an option? |
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11-05-2012, 11:23 AM
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#3 |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: NYC
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Good stuff, hope it continues to get better.
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11-05-2012, 11:24 AM
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#4 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Back in Houston!
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Great news! Congrats!
SI
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Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" |
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11-05-2012, 11:28 AM
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#5 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Edge of the Great Dismal Swamp
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Glad to hear it, PM. It's always nice to hear of cases where persistence finally pays off.
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Input A No Input |
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11-05-2012, 11:30 AM
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#6 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
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Excellent, excellent news indeed.
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"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis |
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11-05-2012, 11:34 AM
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#7 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Keene, NH
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like
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Mile High Hockey |
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11-05-2012, 11:35 AM
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#8 |
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SI Games
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Melbourne, FL
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Awesome stuff - congrats
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11-05-2012, 11:36 AM
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#9 |
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Favored Bitch #1
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
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I salute you!
first beer on me in Cinci! |
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11-05-2012, 11:37 AM
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#10 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: In the thick of it.
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Like.
Share.
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I'm still here. Don't touch my fucking bacon. |
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11-05-2012, 11:37 AM
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#11 |
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: non white trash MD
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congrats! looks like you jumped at the right time!
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Dominating Warewolf for 0 games! GIT R DUN!!! |
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11-05-2012, 11:51 AM
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#12 |
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Resident Alien
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Congratulations, PilotMan!
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11-05-2012, 11:55 AM
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#13 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Utah
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Congrats and thumbs up!
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"forgetting what is in the past, I strive for the future" |
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11-05-2012, 11:57 AM
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#14 |
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Hockey Boy
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Royal Oak, MI
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Awesome!
Great to hear. I hope my old PS2 is faring as well! (Though, I'd be surprised if it was).
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Steve Yzerman: 1,755 points in 1,514 regular season games. 185 points in 196 postseason games. A First-Team All-Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Selke Trophy winner, Masterton Trophy winner, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Olympic gold medallist, and a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. Longest serving captain of one team in the history of the NHL (19 seasons). |
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11-05-2012, 11:58 AM
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#15 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
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Score one for the good guys!
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"Do you guys play fast tempos with odd time signatures?" "Yeah" "Cool!!" |
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11-05-2012, 12:06 PM
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#16 | |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
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Quote:
Dude!! FUCKIN CONGRATULATIONS MAN!!!! I know you've worked long and hard to get to this point, don't undersell what the promotion means to you professionally or personally. Next time we cross paths, the celebration is on me!!  And if we as a board ever get our own plane/country/air force we're obviously naming you Captain/Air Marshal.
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Get bent whoever hacked my pw and changed my signature. Last edited by DaddyTorgo : 11-05-2012 at 12:10 PM. |
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11-05-2012, 12:08 PM
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#17 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Winnipeg, MB
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Congrats!
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"Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime." |
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11-05-2012, 12:09 PM
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#18 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Mays Landing, NJ USA
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Grats. Does that mean a name change to CaptainMan is on the way?
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11-05-2012, 12:10 PM
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#19 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The scorched Desert
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Congratulations and thank you for sharing. Wishing you much success on the next leg of your journey!
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11-05-2012, 12:21 PM
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#20 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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That sounds like great news to me. Congrats to you and the family!
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* 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen * Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail |
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11-05-2012, 12:36 PM
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#21 |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Sep 2004
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This the best news I've heard all day.
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2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) |
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11-05-2012, 12:37 PM
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#22 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Inland Empire, PRC
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congratulations, dude!
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11-05-2012, 12:44 PM
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#23 |
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Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
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So glad it's good news. Congrats to you, sir.
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FBCB / FPB3 Mods |
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11-05-2012, 12:45 PM
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#24 |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
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Congrats!
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Fan of SF Giants, 49ers, Sharks, Arsenal |
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11-05-2012, 12:58 PM
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#25 |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Surfside Beach,SC USA
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Congrats! Hope your career path continues to shoot skyward (sorry couldn't resist)
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11-05-2012, 01:04 PM
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#26 | |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Quote:
BYU 14 beat you to the pun punch already with his next leg of journey comment.
__________________
2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) |
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11-05-2012, 01:11 PM
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#27 | |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Surfside Beach,SC USA
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Quote:
I pun fashionably late. |
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11-05-2012, 01:21 PM
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#28 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Out of Grad School Hell :)
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Things are looking up, Congrats!
__________________
“I don’t like the Cubs,” Joey Votto said. “And I’m not going to pat anybody with a Cubs uniform on the back." |
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11-05-2012, 02:07 PM
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#29 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere More Familiar
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Awesome!
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11-05-2012, 02:09 PM
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#30 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: sans pants
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Big fan. Happy to read this.
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Superman was flying around and saw Wonder Woman getting a tan in the nude on her balcony. Superman said I going to hit that real fast. So he flys down toward Wonder Woman to hit it and their is a loud scream. The Invincible Man scream what just hit me in the ass!!!!! I do shit, I take pictures, I write about it: chrisshue.com |
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11-05-2012, 02:32 PM
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#32 |
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Fresno, CA
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Very Cool.
Both your tale and your chosen title for this thread. Congratulations are in order. |
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11-05-2012, 03:27 PM
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#33 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Alabama
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Nicely done PM!!
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11-05-2012, 03:31 PM
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#34 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: CT via PA via CA via PA
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Very, very nice. Congratulations!
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11-05-2012, 03:34 PM
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#35 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: The DMV
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Congrats! I fly into CVG for work quite frequently, is that where you are based?
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11-05-2012, 03:38 PM
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#36 | |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Inland Empire, PRC
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Quote:
Or Ontario, CA. |
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11-05-2012, 03:40 PM
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#37 |
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Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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that's some awesome news, congrats!
 FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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11-05-2012, 04:16 PM
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#38 |
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College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: San Diego
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Great news, very cool
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11-05-2012, 04:33 PM
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#39 |
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n00b
Join Date: May 2011
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I really like reading these types of threads, all the best.
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11-05-2012, 04:39 PM
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#40 |
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ashburn, VA
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Congrats, PM! That's fantastic.
These definitely are the best types of threads around here. They balance out the sad. /tk
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GO TERPS! https://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin https://twitter.com/terpkristin |
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11-05-2012, 05:52 PM
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#41 |
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H.S. Freshman Team
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Excellent news. Congrats.
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11-05-2012, 05:55 PM
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#42 |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Maryland
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Congrats!
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null |
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11-05-2012, 06:06 PM
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#43 |
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Pro Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: C-Town
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Congrats Captain!!
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XBox Gamertag: Pronk32 FOOL-X - Cleveland Naps FOOL - Cleveland Cyclones SLOP - Cuyahoga Spiders |
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11-05-2012, 06:29 PM
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#44 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Bryson Shitty, NC
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I think this calls for a forum title change to something like "O Captain, My Captain"
__________________
Recklessly enthused, stubbornly amused. FUCK EA
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11-05-2012, 08:28 PM
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#45 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Great news!
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11-05-2012, 09:50 PM
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#46 | ||||
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Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Seven miles up
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Thanks a lot guys. The lot of you are as close of friends as I have anywhere. It means a lot to me.
Quote:
That's a plan. I want to get a Meet Up going sometime. I think we could get a good turnout if we picked the right time and place. Quote:
Yes, it sure it. It still gets played at least a couple times a week. It's had a really good run. Quote:
Lol, you got it. Quote:
I was based there, but as of now, I am based in STL. Which is why I'm gone from home so much more now. Before I could be home and wait for an assignment, now I sit in a townhouse with 6 other guys, 5 to 6 days a week and wait for a phone call.
__________________
He's just like if Snow White was competitive, horny, and capable of beating the shit out of anyone that called her Pops. Like Steam? Join the FOFC Steam group here: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/FOFConSteam |
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11-06-2012, 08:56 AM
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#47 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New Jersey
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Congratulations! That is awesome news!
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11-06-2012, 09:18 AM
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#48 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
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Good job making the decision with foresight. You deserve all the success it's bringing you.
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My listening habits |
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11-06-2012, 02:33 PM
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#49 |
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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That is awesome to hear - congrats on following a path you believed in, sticking it out through tough times and seeing that dedication pay off.
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11-06-2012, 10:30 PM
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#50 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Congrats! Growing up near MDW I have always had a fascination for flying. I am really jealous of what you do even as difficult and stressful as it is. Wishing you all the best.
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