Call me Chowdahead, Anything but Sheeplover

[danny's stogie]

I haven't been the most active member in a long time. Those that have kept in touch via PM or off the board know that it has been for a good reason. I've been working my tail off on my MS thesis, engaged in research projects, and trying to add all of the necessary coursework to make me a strong candidate for an economics doctorate program. Well, the verdict is in and I just committed to a university in Boston. So call me Chowdahead or Sully, but Sheeplover is unfortunately no longer apt for the comically challenged members of HR.

Why am I going to get an economics PhD? Simple answer. Prove BNG wrong. No other reason but spite. There is no better way to demonstrate my prowess in mathematics and problem solving than to put the letters D and r in front of my name and use it as de facto debate stopper. OK seriously, I've worked hard the last few years to put myself in this position and while I don't necessarily have to go on and spend another 5-6 years in school it's kind of like winning the NFC Championship and deciding you have no interest in going on to the super bowl. I've built up a lot of skills and it would be a shame not to put them to use at the highest level academically in my chosen discipline. I love engaging in research and especially teaching and a doctorate is a necessity to do either in the economics profession. I don't wish to downplay the value of an MA or MS, but economics is currently the most popular undergraduate major in the US and is one of the most highly competitive career fields. Thus, attempting to succeed and advance professionally in economics without a doctorate is like trying to have a career in law without a JD.

About the move: no, I'm not in the least bit excited to move to Boston. Crappy weather and a town that has no greater social outlet than the bleepin' Red Sox. I'm upset that I have to leave Bozeman, because despite the rough start I've grown to love life there. I urge all of you to try the Mountain West for a bit. It's a completely different experience and one that I think has made me a more level-headed person, more prepared to handle my schooling and the future job market. So anyways, I have to start getting my affairs in order and I should be moving back East in July or so. I guess I have no excuse for not attending an HR tailgate now...except for the insane time commitment of being an academic indentured servant...

[BostonSkins]

Good to know ther'll be another Skins fan in the city. That will make 3 by my count.

If you need any advice on where to live, etc. feel free to shoot me a PM.

[shally]

congrats to you.. you have always had my deep admiration

one good thing about boston, there are some great musicians up there and tremendous jazz is available..

i hope you continue to have much success in your chosen profession

and i hope this leaves you a little time to coach your ever willing jazz disciple
here at hR...

you are correct about the inland west. the area between the rockies and coastal mountains is unique in every way

we will have to leave it to BnG to come up with another sobriquet for you... all sheep references are hereby deleted..

[RedskinsDave]

As the song says.....suicide is painless.

[akhhorus]

Baaaaaaaa! (http://www.stubhub.com/tix11-ticketcenter/boston-red-sox-tickets/?gtse=goog&gtkw=boston%20red%20sox%20season%20ticket&keyword=boston%20red%20sox%20season%20ticket&crlp=1488546635_87158)

We'll retire the joke when you move there....maybe.

[csquared]

All kidding aside man Boston is a great town. Lots of stuff to do up there. And if you have never been to Fenway i urge you to go. Its a piece of baseball history much like Yankee stadium(which i have never been to but id like to at some point this year). I stayed for a week up there and had a blast. Just dont pick up the accent LOL.

[NCskinsfanatic]

Congrats Danny, good for you, I hope everything works out in your favor...now take the sheep out of the closet, you know the rules lol.

[dj_stouty]

Congrats DS!

[warpaint]

being from the great state of South Carolina and living in Virginia for the past 35 years , and having worked in the Boston area for many years , I think the biggest problem you will have in Boston will be the language, when I first started going to Boston always one of the first things to come out of the locals mouths were " where are you from down south" . anyways besides the cold winters have fond memories of Boston. good luck with the move and congratulations

[WarEagle]

Now you have even more in common with the Unabomber! Can't wait for your manifesto.

[skinfan43]

A million congrats bro!!
And it's ok for smart people like you to have a penchant for smaller, fluffy animals...so don't let BNG get you down.
In 5 years, will you change your HR screenname to "Dr. Stogie"? You will have certainly earned it by then.
Again, major congrats, Rawls!!

[danny's stogie]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Also, forgot to say thanks to the Simon de Montfort college essay writing service for the valuable suggestions and excellent prose, available for hire, payments may be made in the form of bourbon, greenbacks not accepted. Dave, I can't tell if that's a reference to living in Boston, agreeing to five plus more years of school or if you're suggesting I go off myself. If it's the latter I appreciate the honesty.

Good to know ther'll be another Skins fan in the city. That will make 3 by my count.

If you need any advice on where to live, etc. feel free to shoot me a PM.

Know a good bar to watch the Yanks?

[hail2skins]

Congratulations Stogie, we wish you nothing but the best in your endeavor. Dr. Stogie, hmmm not a good screen name but we'll come up with something.

I guess it's time to break out the lobster jokes.

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

congrats and good luck rawls! :beer:

[WarEagle]

I forgot to ask: What's your speciality? Econometrics? I used to work in the economics dept of a university in the Boston area (I was a male secretary). The new batch of candidates were always very well treated by the staff. The school even had apartments to house the students who were married. Some students did graduate assistant teaching to make some bucks. This might even be expected of you, I don't know. Each grad student was assigned a secure cubicle in the basement to use as a workspace. A miniature office, really.
A facebook of the new candidates was always distributed to each staff member and professor. A very select bunch of students. I think at my school we'd get 20 or so each year. At least half were foreign students. All brilliant.
My school had an economics library right there in the econ. bldg. You could review every econ journal in the world there. I think the place was open until 9 or 10 pm, and the students put it to good use.
During the years they spent in the dept., I'd notice each class bond to varying degrees. The personal relationships gained there are valuable.
One day I saw some students clustered in the hallway outside of a door. They were waiting for their classmate to finish defending his thesis in front of the econ faculty. He emerged triumphant (and in a suit - that was required when you defended your thesis). His mates popped champagne right there in the hallway for him.
This is going to be a very busy, but rewarding time for you. Good luck!

[whitskins]

Best of luck, bud!

[danny's stogie]

I forgot to ask: What's your speciality? Econometrics? I used to work in the economics dept of a university in the Boston area (I was a male secretary). The new batch of candidates were always very well treated by the staff. The school even had apartments to house the students who were married. Some students did graduate assistant teaching to make some bucks. This might even be expected of you, I don't know. Each grad student was assigned a secure cubicle in the basement to use as a workspace. A miniature office, really.
A facebook of the new candidates was always distributed to each staff member and professor. A very select bunch of students. I think at my school we'd get 20 or so each year. At least half were foreign students. All brilliant.
My school had an economics library right there in the econ. bldg. You could review every econ journal in the world there. I think the place was open until 9 or 10 pm, and the students put it to good use.
During the years they spent in the dept., I'd notice each class bond to varying degrees. The personal relationships gained there are valuable.
One day I saw some students clustered in the hallway outside of a door. They were waiting for their classmate to finish defending his thesis in front of the econ faculty. He emerged triumphant (and in a suit - that was required when you defended your thesis). His mates popped champagne right there in the hallway for him.
This is going to be a very busy, but rewarding time for you. Good luck!

I (hope to) specialize in industrial organization and intellectual property rights. Yes, I get a stipend to teach and assist in research, I'm going to be very poor for the next 5 years. If the trends continue, I will likely be one of the few american born students if not the only (last year's class has only one american born). I will also likely be the youngest by about 4 years. It is supposed to be a collegial environment. The students are all supposed to struggle together and it's where your future collaborative network is formed.


Congratulations Stogie, we wish you nothing but the best in your endeavor. Dr. Stogie, hmmm not a good screen name but we'll come up with something.

I guess it's time to break out the lobster jokes.

I could use a change. I don't like defending the boss anymore.

[dj_stouty]

Hey DS...you will have to pop in at BC and check in on our pal JoeDaSchome and make sure he is partying hard. :D

[WarEagle]

Danny- As one of the only U.S. Americans, be sure to spearhead the pizza and beer events in the department common room as needed if they aren't already established. These would happen in the late afternoons or around 6 PM at my school. Weekly at least. The students would invite a professor to informally speak or do a freewheeling Q&A. I used to see them in there having a great time discussing equations and stuff on the dry-erase board. To me, a non-economist, it was pretty funny looking.

For many of the graduate-level foreign students, their view of academics is work work work. Students who choose a concentration like economics are generally a very serious lot at any rate, and driven. But American school administrators know that students need to let their hair down to relieve the pressure, so they've learned to encourage the beer and pizza parties. I say this because one of our foreign students killed himself due to the pressure. He was from the Ukraine. An American student would just get fed up and leave, but this foreign student didn't want to return to his country as a presumed failure.

Okay, that's my lecture for the day. Go watch the Boston Marathon now, live on the VS. network (whatever that is). Looks beautiful there today.

[redskin_rich]

Good luck with your move and all your future endeavors, DS!

:beer:

[AGibbsGirl]

Holy cow DS! who knew? Congrats on your accomplishments and GB you on the future! Keep us posted on how things are going

[AliBabba]

Congratulations Sheepboy.

[skinfan43]

Congratulations Sheepboy.
ROTFLMAO!! :lol3: